obx-adventures

[obx-adventures]

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ♡

Steve Harrington x afab!reader || Masterlist || Steve playlist

summary: A year has past since you left for college, but now you’re back in Hawkins for the summer and reunited with your best friend Steve. The friend who you have been in love with since forever.

word count: 14.4k

warning/tags: Smut (18+, mdni!) No Upside Down au. Language. Smoking. Food/eating. Childhood friends to lovers. Fluff. Thigh riding. Tit sucking. Vaginal fingering. Cunnilingus. Blow jobs. Protected p in v. Haven’t been beta or proofread.

You drum your hand against the wheel off your dad’s car as the familiar streets of Hawkins pass by outside. The summer breeze swooping over your face through the rolled down window, tingling your skin as it carries a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. 

It’s been a year since you left for college, and you came back last night to spend the summer with your family. The small town hasn’t changed much, but you can’t help but notice the few subtle differences in the familiar surroundings as you drive towards Family Video.   

You can’t wait to see Steve again, feeling a rush of excitement and nerves at the thought of reuniting with him. You were actually not supposed to return to Hawkins until next week, but after being away for a whole year you had made the decision to come home a little earlier. So, here you are, cruising down Main Street, heading towards the one place you know Steve will be. Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington, your best friend in the whole world, and the boy you’ve been in love with since middle school, but that love has always remained unspoken. Your feelings for Steve being your deepest secret. 

As you pull up to the familiar red brick building of Family Video and park a little down the street from the store, you spot Steve’s merlot colored BMW and your heart skips a beat. You take a deep breath to calm your nerves before stepping out on the sidewalk, the pavement beneath your feet echoing the memories of your childhood, all the times you and Steve had rented movies together, arguing over which one to choose and then staying up all night watching them and talking about everything and nothing, the laughter and the inside jokes shared between the two of you. 

Steve was always there, effortlessly charming and protective. The thought of seeing Steve after almost a year sends butterflies fluttering in your stomach. You wonder if he feels the same way, if he’s missed you as much as you’ve missed him. The anticipation builds with every passing step, and you can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as you approach the building.

You can’t help but smile as you push open the door and are immediately greeted by the familiar sight of rows and rows of VHS tapes, the little bell above the door chiming merrily as you enter. The store is quiet, except for the soft humming of fluorescent lights and the gentle whir of VHS tapes being rewound. And there he is. Steve is standing behind the counter, his hair perfectly styled as always. You feel how your smile widens as you spot him, exactly as you remember him. His arms bulking under the short sleeves of his t-shirt, and you feel how your smile turns softer as you spot the little orange name tag reading ‘Steve’ tagged to the right side of his green work vest.       

Steve’s eyes widen as he catches sight of you, and a wide grin spreads across his face. Your name escaping from his lips in a surprised squeal. And before you even get to step much further into the store, Steve’s already placed his hands on the counter and in his excitement to see you he jumps over it, too eager to use the extra five seconds it would take to go around it. 

You let out a surprised giggle as Steve vaults over the obstacle, landing gracefully in front of you. His honey brown eyes sparkle with delight, mirroring the joy radiating from your own. Without a second thought, he wraps his arms around you in a tight hug, enveloping you in warmth and familiarity. The familiar scent of his cologne envelopes you as he pulls you close, his arms wrapping securely around your body.

“I thought you weren’t supposed to be back until next week,” Steve murmurs into your hair, his voice filled with genuine affection and happy surprise. 

“I wasn’t, but I thought I would surprise you, I flew in last night,” you reply, a smile playing on your lips as you lean back to look at his face. Steve’s smile widens even further, his eyes sparkling with happiness. 

“Well, surprise me, you did!” he exclaims, his tone laced with excitement. You feel a rush of relief wash over you as you realize that Steve is just as happy to see you as you are to see him. It’s not that you had thought he wouldn’t be, but it’s still nice to be confirmed about it. “I’ve missed you,” he admits, his voice soft and sincere. 

“I’ve missed you too,” you reply, feeling a wave of warmth and affection wash over you. For a moment, you both just stand there, holding onto each other, caught up in the emotions of the reunion. The world outside fades away, leaving just the two of you, wrapped up in the warm hug. 

Eventually, Steve pulls back slightly, his hands resting on your shoulders as he looks into your eyes, a soft smile playing on his lips. “I’m so glad you’re back,” he says, his voice filled with sincerity. 

“Me too,” you reply, a smile tugging at your lips. “You got plans later?” you ask, not wanting to waste a single moment of your time back in Hawkins. 

Steve shakes his head, his smile widening. “Nope, nothing I can’t blow off, I just have to work for another three hours or so and then I’m all yours,” he replies with a wink. You feel a surge of happiness at his words, knowing that you have the whole evening to spend with Steve.

“You don’t have to blow off plans because of me,” you say, even though you know you would do the same for him in a heartbeat.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s just Henderson, I told him I would help him change his bike, he can wait till tomorrow. Besides, I’d much rather spend time with you than anything else,” Steve reassures you, his eyes filled with warmth and sincerity. 

You are just about to say something, what you don’t even know, the intensity of his stare making your heart race, when suddenly a loud crash echoes off the world followed by a ‘oh, shit’. 

Robin comes bursting through the back door of the store, a sheepish expression on her face as she tries to regain her composure, a giant pile of video tapes at her feet. Steve rolls his eyes at her, but there’s a fondness in his gaze and a sweet smile on his lips as he turns away from you to help his coworker pick up the tapes she dropped. 

“I told you not to carry that many at once,” he chuckles as he squats down to help her. You can’t help but notice how nice his ass looks in those jeans he is wearing,  your face getting a little warmer as you walk over to help too. 

“Oh my gosh, you’re here!” Robin exclaims, her eyes widening in surprise as she looks up at you. 

You can’t help but grin at her, her excitement for seeing you is sweet and infectious. “I am,” you reply, smiling back at her as you begin helping to pick up the scattered VHS tapes. Robin stands up, a bright smile on her face as she hugs you tightly, which surprises you slightly, but you hug her back, nonetheless. 

Her and Steve had become friends last summer as they started to work together at Scoop Ahoy, you had already left for college by then as you had decided to start early with a summer semester. But you had had a few classes with her in high school since she was only a year younger than you and Steve and you have heard much about her from Steve’s phone calls and letters in the last year since the two of them had become such good friends

“I thought you’d first come back next week? Steve has been counting down the days like a kid waiting for Christmas,” Robin says as she lets go of you, teasing Steve as she hands him a few VHS tapes to put back on the shelves. “Do you know how much he talks about you? He practically hasn’t stopped talking about you since you left for college.”she continues with a mischievous grin. Steve blushes slightly, shooting a playful glare at Robin as he finishes organizing the tapes. 

“Shut up, Robin,” he mutters, but there is a fondness in his tone that doesn’t go unnoticed.

You laugh at Robin’s teasing, shooting a playful glare in Steve’s direction. “Oh really? I had no idea I was that missed,” you say, a hint of sarcasm in your tone as you help Steve with the tapes. 

Steve just grins sheepishly as the pink blush on cheeks darken ever so slightly. “Okay, okay, guilty as charged. I might have mentioned you a couple of times,” he admits, his eyes shining with amusement.

You can’t help but feel a warm, fluttery feeling in your chest at Steve’s admission. It’s comforting to know that he has been thinking about you as much as you have been thinking about him. You know that the feelings you have for Steve run deep, deeper than just friendship. But you also know that it’s a delicate balance, and you don’t want to ruin the friendship that means so much to you. So for now, you’ll just enjoy being back in Hawkins, spending time with Steve, and soaking up every moment of summer before you have to head back to college in the fall. 

As you finish organizing the VHS tapes with Steve and Robin, you glance over at Steve, his eyes meeting yours with a warmth that makes your heart skip a beat. You know that no matter what the future holds, you have this moment, this summer, and the memories you’ll make together to carry with you. And for now, that’s enough. Despite the feelings you have for him he is your friend first and foremost, and that will always be the most important. 

The bell over the door chimes again, and before neither you nor Steve can react, Robin has already headed for the counter, “I’ll take this one,” she exclaims, leaving you and Steve to stand alone by the back door. 

“So, yeah… That’s Robin for you,” Steve says with a chuckle, shaking his head fondly as he looks after her.

“She seems cool,” you reply, smiling at the easy camaraderie between the two of them. 

“She’s the best,” Steve says, his voice filled with genuine affection for his friend before you both fall into a short moment of silence as you both process that you’re back in Hawkins.   

“So, what do you want to do later?” Steve asks, breaking the silence, running a hand through his fluffy hair. 

“I’m up for anything,” you reply, feeling a rush of excitement at the thought of spending time with Steve. Steve grins, his eyes sparkling with excitement. 

“Well, as I said before I still have three hours left of my shift, but how about you go home and I finish up here, then I can come pick you up later, we can pick up food from Benny’s or wherever you prefer and just catch up,” he suggests. 

“That sounds perfect,” you say, feeling a warm glow of happiness at the simple yet perfect plan. Steve reaches out to take your hand, his grip warm and comforting. 

“Great,” he says, a smile playing on his lips. “It’s good to have you back.”

You squeeze his hand in return, feeling the familiar warmth of his touch. “It’s good to be back.”

With a final squeeze of your hand, Steve turns back towards the counter, leaving you with a smile on your face as you head out of the store. The early afternoon sun, warm and golden as you make your way back to your dad’s car. As you drive home, you can’t help but feel a sense of contentment wash over you. The familiar sights and sounds of Hawkins fill you with a sense of nostalgia, but also a renewed sense of excitement for the summer ahead. You can’t wait to spend more time with Steve, catching up on everything that’s happened in the past year and just enjoying each other’s company.

· · · · · 

Steve can’t help but look out the glass door even long after you left, a smile still lingering on his lips. Robin watches him with a knowing smile, leaning against the counter.

“Looks like you’re happy she’s back,” she teases, raising an eyebrow. Steve turns to her, a genuine smile on his face. 

“Of course I am, I’ve missed her,” he admits, his voice soft. Robin nods in understanding, her expression softening. 

“I can tell, It’s good to see you two back together, it’s like you never missed a beat,” she says, her tone filled with warmth. Steve’s smile grows at her words, grateful for her understanding. 

“Yeah, she’s my best friend. Always has been,” he says, his eyes reflecting the truth of his words but he knows that there’s more to it than just friendship, at least from his part. He’s loved you for so long, but he’s always been too afraid to say anything, worried that it might ruin the bond you share. 

Robin nods in agreement, a small teasing smile on her lips. “You should tell her, you know,” Robin says, her tone gentle but firm. Steve looks at her, surprise evident in his expression. 

“Tell her what?” he asks, even though he knows exactly what she’s referring to. Robin rolls her eyes, shaking her head slightly.

 “That you’re in love with her, you idiot,” she says, her teasing smile turning into a knowing one. Steve’s heart skips a beat at her words, the weight of his feelings for you suddenly feeling heavier. He runs a hand through his hair, contemplating her suggestion. 

“I can’t,” he finally says, the words heavy with regret. “I can’t risk losing her.” 

Robin gives him a sympathetic look, understanding his fear but also seeing the longing in his eyes. “You won’t know until you try, Steve. Life is too short to hold back on your feelings,” she says, her voice gentle but firm. 

Steve sighs, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I don’t want to ruin what we have,” he admits, his voice filled with sadness. Robin walks over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder in a comforting gesture. 

“You won’t ruin anything, Steve. You both care about each other deeply, I can see that, and I’m like the most clueless person ever, you’ve literally told me that. So if I can see it then it must be real. If anything, being honest about your feelings might just bring you closer together,” she says, her words filled with wisdom.

“I can’t risk it, okay. Besides, how do I even know if she feels the same way?” Steve asks, his voice filled with uncertainty. “She’s also, like, way out of my league.”  

“You were literally one of the most popular boys in school, you were king Steve, for christ sake,” Robin chuckles, shaking her head.

“Yeah, and now I’m a loser working full time at Family Video while she is off to college living her best life,” Steve replies, a hint of self-deprecation in his tone. 

Robin gives him a knowing look, her eyes soft. “Steve, you’re an amazing guy, and anyone would be lucky to have you. Including her,” she says, her voice reassuring. Steve looks at her, gratitude evident in his gaze. “Even if you’re a loser now. Also ouch, don’t disrespect Family Video’s dedicated employees like that.” 

Steve chuckles, a small smile tugging at his lips, but his smile quickly falls, his heart pounding heavy in his chest. “But what if she doesn’t feel the same way? What if I lose her?” he asks, his voice filled with fear. 

Robin sighs, giving him a knowing look. “You won’t know until you try. And trust me, she cares about you just as much as you care about her. Take a chance, Steve. You never know what might happen,” she says, her words filled with sincerity. 

“Hmm…” Steve hums, feeling torn as he molds her words over. His mind racing with thoughts and doubts. But deep down, he knows that Robin might be right. He can’t keep his feelings hidden forever, and if he never takes a chance, he might never know what could have been. “Maybe you’re right,” he mumbles, his voice filled with uncertainty.

“Of course I am, Harrington,” she says with a smile before turning to attend to a customer who has walked into the store.

· · · · · 

You are standing in front of the full length mirror of your childhood bedroom, taking a moment to collect your thoughts. It’s been a little over four hours since you left Family Video and you know that Steve can be here any minute and as much as you want to suppress it, you can’t deny the flutter of excitement in your stomach. 

It’s weird really. You have known that you have feelings for him for years, but you have always been able to keep them in check, to keep them hidden, buried deep beneath the surface, never wanting them to potentially ruin your friendship.  

Taking a deep breath, you smooth down your outfit, trying to calm your nerves. You’ve never before been nervous to see Steve, but something about coming back after a year away has got you feeling all jittery. 

But you’re brought out of your thoughts as you hear a car pull up in the driveway, your heart skips a beat. You take one last look in the mirror, a determined look in your eyes, before heading downstairs to greet Steve. The doorbell rings, and you can feel how your heart beats a little faster in your chest.

Opening the door, you’re met with Steve’s bright smile and warm gaze. The green Family Video vest has been disposed of, and he has changed his shirt that’s now under a thin jacket as well, but he is still wearing the jeans that have been clinging to your thoughts since earlier in the day. He looks as effortlessly charming as always, even though you’re one of the few people who knows how much Farrah Fawcett spray he really goes through to get that perfect hair. You’ve been best friends forever, after all; you know all of his secrets, or so you think.

“Hey,” he says, his eyes lighting up as he sees you. His silhouette glows in the golden light of the low hanging, evening sun and it is making his brown hair shine like spun gold. You feel how your heart skips a beat at the sight of him. You’ve missed him so much and the familiar warmth of his smile makes you feel like you’re finally truly home. You are so captivated by it that it takes you a moment to notice the bouquet of bright colored flowers in his hand, your heart fluttering at the sight. 

“Hey,” you reply, softly returning his smile as you step out onto the porch. “Are those flowers?”

“Ye-yeah,” Steve stammers, a slight blush tinting his cheeks as he holds out the bouquet towards you. “You kind of surprised me, I thought I had a week more to get you a ‘welcome back’ present,” he explains, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand.

“Gee, Harrington, you really know how to make a girl feel special, if people saw us they would think you were taking me on a date or something,” you tease, a playful smile dancing on your lips as you try to play it cool, but on the inside your heart is racing. Even just the idea of Steve giving you flowers in a romantic way sends a thrill through you. 

Steve blushes slightly at your comment, a sheepish smile on his face as he hands you the bouquet. “Sorry, I just wanted to do something nice for you.”

You take the bouquet, the sweet scent of the flowers filling your nostrils as you admire them. “Don’t apologize. They’re beautiful. Thank you, Stevie,” you say, a warm smile on your face as you look up at him. The nickname falls so naturally from your lips, a nickname only you really use. You had called him Stevie Nicks after he one time in freshman year had nicked himself shaving, and had to wear a bandage on his jaw for a few days. Stevie had just kind of stuck ever since. “But you seriously didn’t have to get me anything.” 

“Maybe, not, but I wanted to,” Steve replies with a shrug of his shoulders, his eyes meeting yours with sincerity. You feel a rush of warmth in your chest at his words. “I’m glad you like them,” he adds, a soft smile playing on his lips.

“I should probably get them in some water,” you say, breaking eye contact as you turn to head inside. Steve follows you, stepping through the door to follow you into the house. 

As you enter the kitchen to find a vase for the flowers, Steve takes a moment to look around your childhood home, taking in the familiar surroundings. “It’s good to have you back,” he says, his voice filled with nostalgia. 

You nod in agreement, a soft smile on your lips. “It feels good to be back,” you reply, turning to face Steve. There’s a moment of silence between the two of you, the air filled with unspoken words and emotion. You notice how something flickers in Steve’s eyes, something soft, he is just about to open his mouth to say something, but he doesn’t get the chance to before your mother steps into the room, a bright smile on her face as she greets Steve warmly. 

She’s always been fond of Steve, treating him like a second son. “Steve, it’s so good to see you! How have you been?” she asks, her voice filled with genuine interest as she moves to give him a hug. Steve returns the hug, a smile on his face as he answers her questions and engages in friendly conversation while you take care of the flowers.

You watch the interaction between Steve and your mother, feeling a warmth in your chest at the sight. Steve has always been welcomed with open arms in your family, and it feels so right to have him here with you, their chipper chatter turning into sweet background noise as you busy yourself with cutting the stems of the flowers, letting yourself get lost in thoughts.

“Oh, my,” your mother says, as she finally notices the giant beautiful bouquet you’re arranging, she had been so excited to talk to Steve that she hadn’t even seen what you were doing. 

“Yeah, they’re beautiful, aren’t they,” you reply with a smile, setting the vase with the now arranged flowers on the middle of the kitchen island. “They are a ‘welcome home’ present from Steve, if you can believe it,” you add with a teasing grin, glancing over at Steve who is blushing slightly at the attention. 

“Of course I can believe it. He’s always been such a gentleman,” your mother comments, giving Steve a warm smile. 

“I don’t know about that,” he mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck a little self-consciously, but your mom simply laughs, giving him a playful look.

“Oh, come on, Steve. Don’t be modest,” she says, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “You’ve always been such a sweet boy,” she insists as she pats his arm affectionately.. 

Steve smiles back at her, his cheeks still slightly flushed. “I try to be,” he says, his voice filled with warmth. 

Your mother then turns to you, a curious glint in her eye. “So, are you two going out tonight?” she asks, a knowing smile on her face. 

“We’re just going to grab some food and catch up,” you reply, trying to play it cool, giving you mom a stern look to prevent her from teasing further. 

“Well ,I’m going to leave you to it then,” she says, “have fun, you two,” giving you both a smile before heading out of the room and leaving you and Steve alone once again. 

You turn back to Steve, a nervous energy buzzing between you. “So, Benny’s?” you suggest, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves at the prospect of spending tonight with Steve.

“Yeah, sounds good to me,” Steve replies, his smile warm and inviting as he takes a step closer to you, a comfortable silence settling between the two of you. 

As you make your way out of the house and into Steve’s car, a feeling of contentment washes over you. Despite the crushing weight of your true feelings for him, being with Steve is easy, it feels like coming home. You can’t help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort as the car pulls out of the driveway and onto the familiar streets of Hawkins, the memories of your shared past flooding your mind. 

You sit in silence for a short while, Steve’s eyes firmly planted on the road ahead and yours on the passing scenery, but you can’t help occasionally glancing over at him, taking in the sight of him driving so effortlessly, his profile bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. The warmth of his presence fills you with a sense of peace, a feeling of being exactly where you’re supposed to be. 

But after a little while Steve breaks the silence, his voice gentle as he speaks. “So, what’s college like?”

“I don’t know, it’s like…” What is it like? “I mean it is cool, but…”  your voice trails off.

“But?” His voice is gentle as he prompts you to continue. 

“I don’t even know,” you confess. “It’s just different, you know? Different from high school, at least, that’s for sure.”

Steve nods in understanding, his gaze flicking over to you briefly before returning to the road. “Yeah, I can imagine. It must be a big change,” he says, his voice filled with empathy. 

“Yeah, but it’s also been good, I’ve met some amazing people and learned so much,” you explain, trying to put your feelings into words. “Got some really cool new friends.”

“Oh, should I be worried?” Steve teases, a playful glint in his eyes as he shoots you a smirk. 

You playfully nudge him, a smirk tugging at your lips. “Don’t worry, you’ll always be my number one,” you reassure him, a warm smile on your face as you feel a rush of affection for your best friend. Steve returns your smile, his eyes soft as he looks at you. 

“Good to know,” he says, his voice filled with warmth before another stretch of silence settles between the two of you, each lost in your own thoughts, until Steve breaks the silence yet again. “And uh… Those college boys treating you all right?”

“Yeah, they’re all right,” you reply, trying to keep your tone casual even though your heart skips a beat at his question. 

“That’s… That’s good,” Steve says, his voice laced with a hint of something you can’t quite place. 

The truth is you have never really been that interested in any of the guys you’ve met at college. You’ve kissed a few at some parties, but you’ve not been doing more than that after you left for college. None of them have made your heart race or your stomach flip like you had hoped they would. 

You had dated a few boys in highschool, and it had been nice enough, but nothing ever really felt quite right. You had told yourself that it was just a matter of finding the right person, but deep down, you had always known who that right person was. Steve. It was always Steve who made your heart race with just a smile, who made you feel warm and happy just by being in his presence. 

But you had also always pushed those feelings down, telling yourself that it was just a silly crush on your best friend, that it was normal to have those feelings for someone you were so close to. But deep down, you knew that you were doomed.

It had been hard to see Steve be the popular guy in high school, dating other girls and being adored by everyone, while you stayed by his side as his best friend, silently loving him from afar. But you never let it show, always supportive and happy for him, even though it hurt to see him with someone else.

 But now, sitting beside him in the car after being apart for so long, the weight of your feelings for him is pressing heavy on your chest. 

“And how have you been?” you ask, changing the subject slightly, your voice laced with genuine interest. 

Steve shrugs, a small smile on his lips. “I’ve been good. Just working and hanging out, nothing too exciting,” he replies, his tone casual. But you can see a hint of something in his eyes, a depth that hints at more going on beneath the surface. 

“Just same old, same old, huh?” you tease, a playful glint in your eyes as you look over at him. 

Steve chuckles, a warm sound that fills the car. “Yeah, pretty much,” he replies, his smile widening. 

“Hanging out with Robin,” you tease with a lifted brow and a little smile. 

Steve chuckles, a slight blush tinting his cheeks. “Yeah, Robin has been keeping me entertained, that’s for sure,” he admits, a playful glint in his eyes. “But she’s a good friend, you know that.” 

You nod in understanding, a warm feeling swelling in your chest at the mention of Robin. “Yeah, she seems really cool. I’m glad you have her,” you say, genuinely happy for Steve. 

“Yeah, me too,” he nods a warm smile tugging at his lips before he continues. “But, eh, it is just platonic, by the way. Like, platonic with a capital,” he adds.

“Mm, I see,” you reply, still keeping the teasing tone, but you know that what he’s saying is true, and if your intuition is right, you know that you have absolutely no need to worry about it changing anytime in the future. You’re happy that Steve has a good friend in Robin. “And how’s Dustin and the other’s doing?”

“Dustin’s good, the other kiddos are good” Steve says, a fondness in his voice as he talks about them. “Lucas and Max keep breaking up and getting back together again though. He keeps coming to me for advice, as if I would have a clue about what to do.”

“Oh, young love,” you reply with a small chuckle, shaking your head. “They’ll figure it out eventually.”

As you continue to chat and catch up on each other’s lives on the drive to Benny’s, you feel a sense of peace settle over you. The easy banter between the two of you fills you with a sense of comfort, a reminder of the deep bond you share and before you know it you roll up in front of the burger shop. 

As Steve parks the car, the two of you get out and head inside, a familiar sense of nostalgia washing over you as you step into the cozy diner. You decide to get your orders to go and soon you are back in the car with the food in your lap, the warm paper bags warming your thighs as Steve put in the key to start the engine. 

“I thought we could go to the lake and eat there,” Steve suggests, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he looks over at you. 

“Lover’s lake?” you tease, raising an eyebrow at him with a playful grin. Steve blushes slightly, but his smile widens at your comment.

“Hey, it’s just a nice spot to eat, okay?” he defends himself, but you’re not oblivious to the way his eyes soften as he looks at you.   

You laugh, feeling a rush of warmth at his choice of location. “I’m just messing with you, Stevie. Lover’s lake it is,” you say, a smile playing on your lips as you settle back in your seat.

As Steve starts the car and drives towards the lake, the anticipation of spending time with him in such a familiar and special place fills you with excitement. The sun is beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the landscape as you arrive at the lake, the water shimmering in the fading light.

You find a spot to park, overlooking the water as you sit on the hood of his car like you’ve done so many times before. You’d never be able to count the amount of times you’ve sat like this with him all over Hawkins, but you have never taken you here before, not unless it was with a group of friends since you were kids. It was like when you turned teenagers the implication of the ‘Lover’s’ name kept you away, even though you had played there so much as kids. 

You remember how you and Steve would run around the wooded area, skipping rock on the water and building forts out of fallen branches. The memories flood your mind, a wave of nostalgia washing over you as you take in the sight of the lake at dusk. You’re brought out of your memories as Steve hands you your food and some napkins, a warm smile on his face. You thank him as you fold out one of the thin paper napkins and place it over your lap. 

“Been awhile since I was here last, I almost forgot how beautiful it is,” you comment, your eyes tracing the ripples on the water as the last rays of the sun dance on its surface. 

Steve nods in agreement, his eyes soft as he looks out at the scene. “It’s always been one of my favorite spots in Hawkins,” he says, his voice filled with nostalgia. 

“You’ve taken a lot of girls here before?” you tease, a playful glint in your eye as you take a bite of your burger. Steve chuckles, shaking his head.

“Not really, actually. Just you,” he admits, his voice soft. Your heart skips a beat at his words, feeling a rush of warmth and affection towards him. You can’t help but feel a pang of hope at the thought that maybe, just maybe, he feels the same way about you. “It would be a little too clich�� to bring a girl here, don’t you think?” he adds with a playful grin. You laugh, feeling a happy warmth spreading through you at his words. 

“You should have told that to Marcus Jenkins. Did you know I popped my cherry in the cargo bed of his dad’s pickup truck? Marcus borrowed it one night and we drove out here. Took me at least 30 minutes to get rid of all the pine needles and dirt afterwards,” you laugh as you recall the awkward memory of your first time, too lost in the memory to notice that Steve hasn’t joined in on your laughter or how his face falls slightly, your gaze fixed on the water.  

“Nah, I didn’t know that,” he says, his voice sounding a bit strained as he looks away, his jaw clenched.

You nod, feeling a rush of embarrassment at the memory but also a sense of humor about it now. 

“I played basketball with him, you never said anything,” he adds, his voice low to the point that you could barely make out what he was saying. You turn to look at him, noticing the slight tension in his shoulders and the distant look in his eyes. 

“We just saw each other for a few months. You were dating Nancy Wheeler so you were pretty occupied at that time” you explain, feeling a pang of guilt at bringing up a past lover. “Plus, it’s not like it was anything serious with Marcus, I didn’t think it was important to tell you, I didn’t have a suspicion that you and him were particularly close outside of basketball,” you add quickly, trying to ease the tension as you think he feels betrayed that you didn’t tell him about being with one of his friends.  

“It’s fine, really,” he says, his tone casual even though his eyes betray a different story. “It’s just, I never imagined you with him, that’s all. Especially not in the back of a pick up truck.” he adds.

You can sense that there’s something more to his reaction, something deeper that he’s not saying. You want to ask him about it, to dig deeper into what’s going on in his mind, but you hesitate, not wanting to push him too much, so you decide to try to turn the conversation in a lighter direction.

“Now what’s that supposed to mean,” you tease playfully, a small grin on your face as you bump your shoulder against his in a playful manner. Steve looks over at you, a small smile tugging at his lips as he meets your gaze. 

“Oh, you know, just never saw you as a pine needle and dirt kind of girl,” he quips, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

You can’t help but laugh at his comment, feeling the tension from before fading a little as you fall back into your easy banter. “Are you calling me a prude, Steve Harrington?”

Steve chuckles, a warm sound filling the air between you. “Not at all, just saying I always saw you as more of a classy lady,” he replies, his tone filled with playful teasing. You can’t help but smile at his words, feeling a rush of warmth at the easy camaraderie between the two of you.

“Sure,” you reply, a smile playing on your lips as you take another bite of your burger. The two of you fall into a comfortable silence, the sound of the crickets chirping in the background, the fading light casting a warm glow over the scene as you slowly finish your meal. You gather your napkins and fry wrappers in the empty burger bag before Steve jumps down from the hood to throw them out in a nearby trash can. 

Remember when we used to come here all the time as kids?” Steve says suddenly, his voice soft as he breaks the silence as he walks back to you, taking a seat on the hood next to you once again as he pulls a pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket. The nostalgia in his voice tugs at your heartstrings, reminding you of the countless happy memories you’ve shared at Lover’s Lake.

“Yeah, those were some of the best times,” you reply, a warm smile on your face as you reminisce on the carefree days of your childhood. “We were always getting into some kind of mischief.”

Steve chuckles, nodding in agreement as he lights his cigarette and takes a deep drag before offering you the pack and lighter. You accept and pull one out of the carton, but before you can take the lighter from him he has already lit it, his hand shielding the flame from the soft breeze. You lean in and pull life into the cigarette, feeling the smoke fill your lungs as you exhale slowly. 

“I miss those days,” Steve admits, his voice tinged with nostalgia as he puts the lighter and pack of smokes back in his pocket. “Life was so much simpler back then.”

You nod in agreement, taking in the peaceful surroundings of the lake. The sun has almost fully disappeared over the horizon, leaving the sky painted in shades of pink and orange. The sound of crickets fills the air, and a gentle breeze rustles the leaves of the surrounding trees.

“Me too,” you say softly, exhaling a plume of smoke as you lean back against the windshield of the car and a little stretch of silence unfolds between you as you both sit in shared reminiscence of the past, slowly finishing your cigarettes.

“I’ve really missed you, you know,” Steve says, breaking the silence with a soft tone, his voice filled with sincerity.

You turn to look at him, feeling a rush of emotion at his words. “I’ve missed you too, Steve,” you reply, a soft smile playing on your lips. “It’s been so weird being away from Hawkins for so long.” 

“I know what you mean,”  Steve nods, a look of understanding in his eyes. “It’s been weird being here without you, it’s just not the same without you around.” 

You feel a rush of warmth and affection for him at his words, a surge of emotion swelling in your chest. You want to tell him how much he means to you, how much you’ve missed him, but the words stick in your throat, fear and uncertainty holding you back. Before you can say anything, Steve clears his throat, his eyes meeting yours with a soft gaze.

“You know as a kid, I never really imagined my life without you in it,” he admits, his voice filled with sincerity and vulnerability. “You’ve always been such a good friend, even when I wasn’t the best person in high school, you were always there for me. I just… I don’t know what I would do without you.” 

Your heart swells at his words, feeling a wave of emotion wash over you. The depth of his feelings for you is clear in his words, his vulnerability touching something deep within you. You reach out and place a hand on his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze as you meet his gaze.

“Can I tell you a secret?” he asks, his voice soft and vulnerable. 

“Of course,” you reply, your voice equally soft as you look into his eyes. 

“I was so relieved when me and Nancy broke up. I know it sounds terrible, but it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. And then she got with Jonathan, and I was just so happy that I wasn’t standing in the way for that anymore,” he confesses. “And every date I’ve been on after has been a disaster, but for some reason I’ve been relieved about that too, cause I really couldn’t see myself being with any of them.”

You listen to his confession, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside you. Part of you is relieved to hear that he felt the same way about his past relationships as you did, but another part of you can't help but hope that maybe, just maybe, his feelings may extend beyond friendship for you. You take a deep breath, summoning your courage to speak the words that have been weighing on your heart for so long. 

“Has there ever been someone you could see yourself being with?” you ask, your voice soft but filled with hope and vulnerability. Steve looks at you, his eyes searching yours for a moment before a small smile tugs at his lips. 

“There has always been this one girl, I kind of thought I would grow up to marry her when I was a kid,” he admits, his voice filled with emotion. “She’s always been there for me, through thick and thin, and I can’t imagine my life without her in it.” 

You feel your heart race at his words, a rush of emotion swelling inside you. You open your mouth but before you can say anything to answer him, a loud splash breaks the moment, causing you both to jump and turn towards the sound. 

You see a group of teenagers messing around on the other side of the lake, laughter echoing across the water as they splash each other and play. The moment shattered, you and Steve share a smile before turning back to each other, the warmth of your shared moment lingering between you. 

“Looks like we’re not the only ones enjoying the lake tonight,” Steve comments, a playful grin on his face. 

“Yeah, looks like it,” you reply with a chuckle, as you look back at the scene before turning your gaze back to Steve.

You take a moment to just look at him, gathering your courage which is a little difficult when he looks so handsome under the fading light of the sun. 

“That girl you talked about… what happened to her?” you finally ask, your voice barely above a whisper  you hold your breath. The answer seems so obvious, but you’re still afraid that you somehow are wrong, hope and fear mingle in your chest, making it hard to breathe for a moment. 

“Well, she is, like, really smart, and really amazing, so she got into college in another state. She’s been there for a year now, studying something important that she’s really passionate about, and I think she’s doing really well. I miss her a lot, but I know she’s doing what’s best for her,” Steve replies, his voice filled with a mix of pride and sadness. 

You feel a lump form in your throat at his words, the weight of his confession hitting you hard. You know he’s talking about you, and the realization fills you with a rush of emotion. “Yeah, that girl sounds pretty great,” you reply, your voice barely above a whisper.

“She is,” Steve says, his gaze soft and filled with emotion. “And I can’t imagine my life without her.” The weight of his words hangs heavy in the air between you, the unspoken truth of his feelings lingering in the space. 

“I can imagine she feels the same,” you say, as you look into his eyes, the depth of your emotions mirrored in them. 

“You think so?” he asks, his voice soft and vulnerable. 

“I know so,” you reply, your tone filled with sincerity and warmth.

“How do you think she would feel if I kissed her right now?”

“I think she would be a little afraid that she might have burger breath, but I also think it would make her very happy, and that she has been waiting for that moment for a very long time,” you whisper.

A smile plays on Steve’s lips as he leans in closer to you, his gaze unwavering as he searches your eyes for any signs of hesitation. Without a moment of doubt, he closes the distance between you and presses his lips against yours. 

The kiss is gentle but filled with a depth of emotion that leaves you breathless. He tastes of cigarettes and burgers, but underneath that familiar taste is the sweet essence of Steve that you have missed so much. The warmth of his lips against yours ignites a fire inside you, a rush of emotions swirling in your chest as you melt into the kiss, savoring every moment of it.

You wrap your arms around him, pulling him closer as the world around you fades away. The moment feels like a lifetime, but also like a fragile bubble, ready to burst at any moment. When you finally break apart, both of you are left breathless, hearts racing as you look into each other’s eyes. The weight of years of unspoken love and longing finally lifted, replaced by the sweet thrill of knowing that you both feel the same way.

Steve slides down from the hood of the car and steps in front of you so that he can step between your legs, cupping your face in his hands as he looks into your eyes with a mixture of love and adoration. “You mean so much to me,” he whispers, his voice filled with sincerity. 

“You mean a lot to me too, Steve,” you reply, tears prickling in your eyes at the depth of emotion in his words. Without hesitation, you lean forward and press your lips against his again, feeling a rush of euphoria as he responds eagerly, deepening the kiss. It is much more desperate than the first one, years of pent-up emotions pouring out in this moment of raw honesty and vulnerability. His tongue slides against yours, making an electric rush course through your body and you can’t help but squirm a little in your seat on the car as you feel a dull throb of desire between your legs.

Your hands wander through his hair, feeling the soft strands beneath your fingertips, while his hands rest on your waist, keeping you close to him. The kiss is a mix of passion and tenderness, a culmination of years of hidden feelings and unspoken love finally being expressed.

When you finally pull back, both of you are breathless and smiling, your hearts racing with the intensity of the moment. “Wow,” Steve breathes, his eyes locked with yours in a mix of joy and vulnerability.

“Wow,” you echo, your voice filled with awe and happiness. The weight of years of unspoken love and longing has been lifted, replaced by the sweet relief of finally being able to express your feelings for each other.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for years,” Steve admits, his voice soft and filled with emotion.

“I’ve been wanting you to do that for years, thank you for bringing me here Steve,” you reply, a smile playing on your lips as you gaze into his eyes. “And this is so much better than being covered in pine needles in the back of a pick up truck,” you joke, the tension between you finally broken as you both laugh, the warm sound filling the space between you. 

“Yeah, I’d say this is definitely an upgrade from that,” he agrees, his eyes sparkling with happiness. “But I wouldn’t mind doing it in the back of a pick up truck if it was with you,” he adds, a mischievous grin on his face that makes your heart skip a beat.

You laugh, feeling a rush of affection for him as you shake your head in amusement. “You’re impossible, Steve Harrington,” you tease, leaning in to press a quick kiss against his lips before resting your head against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath your cheek. Steve wraps his arms around you, holding you close. 

“I wouldn’t mind doing it in the back of a  BMW 733ii," you confess, making Steve freeze up a little against you. 

“You can’t just say stuff like that without warning,” he says, his voice a mix of surprise and amusement. You can feel the heat rising to your cheeks at your bold statement, but you can’t deny the thrill of the moment.

“Sorry, couldn’t resist,” you reply with a playful grin, looking up at him with a twinkle in your eye. 

“Come here,” Steve whispers, before pulling you in for another kiss, this one filled with a newfound sense of intensity and desire. His hands grasp your waist and he slides you down from the car, pulling you closer to him, You gasp into the kiss as you feel the firm press of his body against yours, the heat of his touch sending shivers of pleasure down your spine. 

You can’t help yourself, you’re just so caught up in the heat of the moment. You start to slowly grind against the denim of his jeans, making Steve groan into the kiss, his hands gripping your hips tighter as he responds eagerly to your movements. 

The sun is now fully gone and the stars begin to twinkle in the darkening sky, the reflection of the stars shimmering on the lake’s surface. 

“Fuck,” he breathes out between kisses, the sound of his voice sending a jolt of arousal through you as you continue to explore each other’s mouths, the taste of each other mingling in a heady mix of desire and affection. 

Every touch, every caress, feels electric, sending sparks of pleasure through your bodies. You can feel the heat of his body against yours, the hardness of his muscles beneath your fingertips as you run your hands over his back, feeling the strength of him against you. In a moment of unbridled need, you find yourself pushing your hand up under his shirt, the warm skin beneath your fingers making you shiver with anticipation.

“Car... now,” you whisper between kisses, the urgency in your voice matching the intensity of the moment. 

Steve nods in agreement, his hands trailing down your body as he opens the back door of the car, guiding you inside. The space is cramped but the heat between you makes the enclosed space feel like the most intimate place in the world. The sound of heavy breathing fills the air as Steve settles back into the leather of the seat and you straddle him.  

You feel his hands roam over your body, the heat of his touch igniting a fire within you as you press your lips against his once again. You start to slowly move against him, his muscular thighs under you,  the friction between your bodies sending waves of pleasure coursing through you. Your hands roam over his chest, feeling the firm muscles beneath your touch as he groans softly against your lips. The sound only fuels your desire, and you deepen the kiss, your tongues dancing in a passionate dance. 

He leans a little forward, his back leaving the leather backrest without breaking the kiss as he shreds his light blue summer jacket. Your hands immediately grasp his, now exposed, biceps, feeling the strength and warmth of him beneath your touch. 

The intensity of the moment is overwhelming, the rush of desire and affection between you building to a crescendo. The air is thick with heat and need, your bodies moving in sync as you lose yourselves in the passion of the moment. Steve’s hands find your ass and you let out a surprised gasp as he starts to move you against him in a slow steady rhythm. You can feel him hardening under you, making you moan into the kiss, the sensation of him pressing against you sending shivers of pleasure down your spine.

 Your hands roam over his chest, feeling the rapid rise and fall of his breath, the heat of his touch igniting a fire within you as you continue to move against him. The urgency of your need for each other consumes you, the desire to be as close as possible to him overwhelming your senses and as the heat between you escalates, you find yourself reaching for the buckle of his belt, but his hands find yours, gently stopping you before you can start unbuckling it.

His lips are leaving yours, and you feel how your heart sinks.

“Wait, wait don’t,” Steve breathes out, his voice filled with a mix of desire and restraint. 

You freeze, feeling a rush of embarrassment and self-consciousness wash over you as you realize how carried away you were in the heat of the moment. “You don’t want to...”

“No.”

“Oh...” You feel how your world shatters by his short single syllable answer.

“No! no, wait, that’s not what I meant,” he quickly assures you as he sees how your entire demeanor fell. “I do want this, I really do.  I’ve wanted this for so long, you won’t even believe it, I just… I want to do this right. I’m not going to have our first time together be in the back of my car, okay? I’m not Marcus Jenkins,” he explains, his voice filled with sincerity and a hint of playfulness to try and ease the sudden tension between you.

 You feel a rush of relief flood through you as you realize what he’s saying, a mix of embarrassment and gratitude for his thoughtfulness. “No, that you are not,” you giggle softly. He is Steve, your Steve, and you’re so thankful for that.   

“I want this just as much as you do, probably even more. But I want it to be special, you know what I mean?”  Steve says, reaching out to cup your face gently with his hand, his touch warm and reassuring. 

You nod, you do know what he means. 

“Listen…  My parents aren’t home,” he says, suddenly sounding almost shy and you can’t help but finding it incredibly cute, his big brown eyes looking into yours with a mix of vulnerability and longing. It doesn’t surprise you that his parents aren’t home, they have always been pretty absent, he has basically had the house for himself more often than not since you started high school. “We could go back to my place, and...” he trails off, the unspoken invitation hanging between you. “Do it right…”

 You look into his eyes, feeling a rush of excitement at the prospect of being alone with him, of finally being able to fully explore the depth of your feelings for each other. “I’d love that,” you say softly, a shy smile playing on your lips.

 Steve’s smile widens at your words, his eyes shining with anticipation. “You would?” he says, his voice filled with excitement as you nod eagerly before planting a firm kiss to his soft lips. 

“Lead the way, Stevie,” you whisper as you pull away, your voice filled with a mix of longing and desire. Steve leans in to press another gentle kiss against your lips before pulling back with a smile. His eyes are sparkling with anticipation and with a last quick peck to your lips, he helps you out of the car before stepping out himself, opening the passenger seat door for you and guiding you in. When you’re seated he leans in over you, pulling your seat belt tightly around your waist with a soft touch, his eyes locked with yours in a silent promise of what’s to come.

With a final kiss and a knowing smile, he closes the door and rushes over to the driver’s seat, starting the engine as he looks over at you with a grin. The drive to his house is filled with a mix of nervous excitement and anticipation, the air thick with the energy of the moment. 

As you drive through the familiar streets of Hawkins, the warm glow of streetlights casting a soft light on the world outside. Steve’s right hand is firmly planted on your thigh for most of the drive, his fingers gently digging into the soft skin beneath, and his thumb stroking small circles on your skin, sending shivers of pleasure up your spine.

You squeeze your thighs together as you feel the heat of his touch igniting a fire in your belly that continues all the way down between your legs. You can feel how wet your panties are by now. The anticipation builds with every passing moment, the desire between you and Steve palpable in the air. 

Finally, you arrive at his house, pulling into the familiar driveway. As he parks the car, he turns to you with a soft, almost boyish smile, his eyes filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Without a word, he unbuckles his seatbelt and steps out of the car, moving around to your side to help you out. You take his hand, feeling the warmth of his touch as he helps you onto the driveway. 

The two of you make your way to the door and you can’t help but laugh as he clumsily struggles to get the key into the lock, his eagerness betraying his normally cool and collected demeanor.

“You’re really cute, Steve Harrington, did you know that?”

He laughs, a blush rising to his cheeks. “I try my best,” he replies with a sheepish grin before finally managing to unlock the door and with a hand gently placed at the small of your back he leads you into the house. As soon as the door closes behind you, Steve turns to you. Without a word, he steps closer to you, his hands finding your waist as he leans in to capture your lips in a sweet, passionate kiss, it’s a little clumsy as you both toe out of your shoes without breaking the kiss.  

His touch is electric, sending shivers of pleasure through your body as you deepen the kiss. You wrap your arms around him, one hand tangling in his hair as you pull him closer. He hums softly into the kiss, making his soft lips gently vibrate against yours. His hands start to wander, slowly roaming over your body, leaving your waist and making a trail of fire in their wake as they softly grab your ass, making your whimper with desire. 

“Steve, bedroom now,” you whisper against his lips, the urgency in your voice matching the intensity of the moment.

Steve nods in agreement, his eyes locked with yours, “Yeah, let’s go,” he breathes out, breaking the kiss and his hand finding yours as he leads you further into the house and up the stairs. The sound of your footsteps echoing through the hallway as you make your way towards his bedroom.

As you enter the room, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casts a warm, cozy light over the space. The room is a mix of chaos and order, his belongings scattered around but with a sense of organization in the mess, making the place feel so much more alive and lived in than the rest of the house. The familiar checkered wallpaper you have teased him about for years makes you feel instantly at home and the bed inviting and enticing. 

Steve turns to face you, his eyes searching yours as he reaches out to gently cup your face in his hands. “Are you still sure about this?” he asks, his voice filled with sincerity and a hint of vulnerability. You nod, feeling a rush of excitement and longing as you lean into his touch. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” you say softly, a smile playing on your lips as you meet his gaze. 

With a gentle smile, Steve leans in to press a soft kiss against your lips, his touch tender and full of emotion. The kiss is sweet and unhurried, filled with a depth of love and longing that has been building between you for years. Without breaking the kiss, Steve guides you towards the bed, his hands firm and confident his lips leaves yours as he helps you lay back on it, the rustling of the sheets as you settle down on the soft mattress fills the air, the heat between you palpable as you break gaze into each other’s as he follows you, hovering over you as he continues to press kisses against your lips, your neck, your collarbone. The warmth of his touch sends waves of pleasure through you, making you moan softly with need.

“I think you’re wearing too much clothes,” you murmur, your voice heavy with desire as you reach up to start playing with the hair at the back of your neck. 

“Oh, you do?” Steve chuckles softly against the skin of your neck. 

“Yeah , I do,” you reply, giggling slightly, you really can’t believe that this is real.

“Alright then,” Steve replies with a playful grin, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he leans back, his hands grabbing the hem of his t-shirt, pulling it over his head to reveal his sculpted chest. 

You can’t help but admire the sight before you, the planes and curves of his muscles defined under his skin as he discards his shirt. “You’re so hairy,” you mumble softly. It is not the first time you have seen him without his shirt on, but he used to shave his chest when he was on the swimming team. He looks so manly now and you can’t help but  reach out to run over the soft hair on his chest, feeling the warmth and strength of his skin beneath your fingertips. His breath hitches at your touch, a soft gasp escaping his lips

“Eh, yeah, sorry about that,” he chuckles a little shyly, but you can also tell he appreciates the attention as he leans down to press gentle kisses along your jawline, trailing down to your collarbone. You feel a surge of desire swirling through you, a mixture of longing and excitement overwhelming your senses. 

“I’m not complaining,” you reply with a teasing grin as you keep running your hands over his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin against yours as you explore the contours of his body. “Quit the opposite, actually.” 

Steve’s chuckle turns into a soft groan as he continues his exploration of your skin with his lips, his hands roaming over your body in a mix of reverence and desire. The heat between you is overwhelming, the anticipation building with every touch and kiss. You gasp softly as his lips find the sensitive spot at the base of your neck, sending waves of pleasurable sensations through you. Your hands move down his chest, down over his abs and slip beneath the waistband of his jeans, making him groan as you gently cup his hard on through the denim as he keeps kissing you.  

“God, you’re so perfect,” he whispers against your skin, his voice filled with awe and longing as he gently lifts himself off you to pause and look into your eyes. The intensity of his gaze sends a shiver of pleasure down your spine, the raw emotion and desire swirling in the depths of his eyes capturing you completely. Without breaking eye contact, he sits back on his heels and you follow him, propping yourself up on your elbows. “Your turn,” he says with a soft smile, sneaking his hands up under your shirt, but he doesn’t begin to pull it up before you give him a small nod of approval. 

He starts to slowly peel off your shirt, slowly revealing your bare skin to his hungry gaze. His touch is gentle and reverent, his fingers tracing patterns along the curve of your waist and up to the swell of your breasts. You feel a rush of desire building inside you as his hands find their way to the clasp of your bra.

He looks up at you, his eyes seeking permission, not going further before you give him a nod to indicate that he can continue, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation fluttering in your chest. As the fabric of your bra falls away, you feel the cool air against your exposed skin, the sensation of vulnerability and desire mingling within you. He leans back slightly, his beautiful eyes filled with adoration as he takes in the sight of you, his gaze soft and reverent. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice filled with awe as he looks at you before leaning in to press a soft kiss against the swell of your breast, his lips warm and soft against your skin. 

Your hands find the buckle of his belt and start to slowly undo it, the urgency and need between you building with every passing second. Steve groans softly, his hands trailing down your sides as he continues to press kisses against your skin. “Pants off,” you whisper, your voice filled with desire as you tangle your fingers in his hair, pulling him closer to you. Steve nods in agreement, his hands finding the button of his jeans and quickly getting rid of them, his erection straining against the fabric of his boxers and you gasp as you feel it against your body. 

“Your turn,” he counters, his voice filled with desire and longing as he helps you remove your pants. Steve leans back, his eyes locked with yours as he settles between your legs, his hands smoothing over your skin as he leans in to press a soft kiss against your lips, his touch tender and full of emotion. The kiss is sweet and unhurried, filled with a depth of love and longing that has been building between you for years. Without breaking the kiss, Steve guides you towards the center of the bed, the soft cotton of the sheets cool against your heated skin as he settles on top of you, his body pressing against yours. 

“You’re so amazing,” Steve whispers against your lips, his voice husky with desire as he trails kisses down your neck and chest, his lips leaving a trail of fire in their wake. You gasp softly as his lips find their way back to your breasts, the heat of his mouth sending waves of pleasure through you. Your hands roam over his back, feeling the muscles tense and relax beneath your touch as he softly pops one of your nipples between his lips, gently sucking, as his hand grabs your other breast, gently neading the soft, plump skin.

The sensation of his touch sends shivers of pleasure through you, the heat between you igniting a fire deep within your core. You arch your back, seeking more of his touch, more of the sweet sensations he’s awakening within you. Steve’s tongue starts to swirl around your hardened nipples, sending waves of pleasure through you as you gasp and moan with each touch. His mouth leaves your breast and he starts leaving a slow trail of kisses and soft nibbles down your abdomen until he reaches the waistband of your panties.

He looks up at you, his eyes seeking permission before he slowly starts to peel them off, revealing your soaked, glistening pussy to him. “Wow, you’re so wet,” he murmurs, his voice filled with desire as he leans in to press a soft kiss against your inner thigh, his lips warm and gentle against your skin. The sensation of his touch sends a rush of pleasure through you, making you moan softly with need. “Can I taste you?” he asks, his voice sounding desperate, like he is a man dying of thirst and you are his last drop of water. 

“Yes, please,” you nod eagerly, the throbbing between your legs growing stronger with every passing moment. 

Steve smiles up at you, his eyes darken with desire as his strong hands find their way to your hips, his touch firm and sure as he leans in to press a slow, sensual kiss against your clit, his tongue swirling against your sensitive flesh as he starts to eat you out, his touch sending waves of pleasure through your body. 

You can barely contain the sounds of pleasure that escape your lips as he expertly works his tongue against your folds. You arch your back, your hands tangling in his hair as you guide him closer to you, feeling the heat of his breath against your most intimate parts. His tongue alternates lapping into your center and making slow, teasing circles against your clit as you keep moaning with pleasure, the sensations overwhelming your senses. 

“Fu-uck, Steve,” you gasp, your voice filled with need and desire as you feel the coil of pleasure building deep within you, the pleasure and desire swirling inside you until you almost can’t take it anymore. “So… So good,” you whimper, your voice thick with need as you guide him closer to you, making him moan against you, sending a sweet vibration into your weeping cunt. 

Steve brings a hand to your wet folds, coating his fingers in your slickness before slowly inserting first one, then two  fingers into you, his touch sending shockwaves of pleasure through your body. The sensation of his fingers sliding inside you makes you gasp with pleasure as he curls them, hitting just the right spot that sends you over the edge while his mouth keeps sucking and flicking over your sensitive clit. 

The last string that is holding you together finally snaps, as your climax wash over you in hot, electric waves of pleasure. You cry out his name and grip the sheets beneath you. Steve continues to work his fingers and tongue against you, helping you ride out the intense wave of pleasure until you collapse back onto the bed, panting and completely sated. 

As you come down from the high of your climax, Steve climbs back up your body and you reach out to him, pulling him down over you as you kiss him deeply, tasting yourself on his lips as he wraps his strong arms around you, sending a content shiver through you as you feel the strength and warmth of his body against yours. 

“You’re amazing, Steve,” you whisper, your voice filled with awe and gratitude. 

Steve smiles against your lips, his eyes shining with love and affection as he gazes down at you. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” he replies, his voice soft and filled with emotion. 

You giggle softly at his words, feeling a rush of happiness at his confession. “I think I have a pretty good idea now,” you tease, a playful grin on your lips before you leave a sweet peck on his mouth. “And now it’s my turn,” you whisper against his lips, a mischievous glint in your eye as you start to trail kisses down his neck, laying your palms flat against his chest, feeling the heat and strength of his body beneath your fingertips.

Steve gasps softly as you start to explore his body, trailing kisses and light nips along his chest and abs. You softly push against his chest, prompting him to lay back against the bed as you continue to explore his body with your hands and mouth, straddling him as you take your time, savoring the taste and feel of his skin, every touch sending a rush of pleasure through you as you kiss and nibble your way down his body. Steve groans softly as he gently guides you lower, his body trembling with desire as you reach the waistband of his boxers.

With a mischievous grin, you slowly start to peel off his boxers, releasing his hard cock from its cotton prison, his thick shaft smacking against his abdomen. 

You feel a rush of desire flooding through you as you gaze at him, taking in the sight of his cock. He is big, both long and girthy, and the sight of him, hard and throbbing for you, sends a thrill of excitement through you. “Wow, Stevie,” you whisper, your voice filled with desire as you lean in to press a soft kiss against the tip of his cock, feeling the heat of his skin against your lips. Steve gasps softly at your touch, his sharp intake of breath sending a shiver of pleasure down your spine.

His hands gripping the sheets beneath him as you part your lips, letting a drop of saliva fall from your mouth landing on his eager tip before you wrap your hand around him, stroking him slowly and purposefully as you smear the spit down his shaft. “Fuck, you’re so good at this,” he groans, his voice husky with desire as you lean in to press another soft kiss against the head of his cock, tasting the saltiness of him on your lips.

With a wicked grin, you part your lips over his tip. He breathes out, his voice filled with need as you start to work your way down his shaft, your tongue swirling against his sensitive flesh as you take him in your mouth, his groans of pleasure driving you further. The sensation of him filling your mouth, the taste of him against your tongue, sends waves of desire through you, making you moan with need.  

You take him in as deep as you can, feeling the tip of his cock hitting the back of your throat, letting a hand take care of the base of his shaft, as you work to please him, your own desire building with every touch and kiss. A flood of praises and sweet words leaving Steve’s lips which only fuels your own arousal. You can feel the tension in him building, the tightness in his body as he grows closer to the edge, and you continue to work him with dedication, wanting to bring him to the peak of pleasure, but he suddenly pulls you off him, his hand grabbing yours as he guides you back up to him, pressing a passionate kiss against your lips. 

“As much as I’m enjoying this,” he breathes out, his voice filled with desire. “I don’t want to finish that way. I want to be inside you when I come. I want to feel you around me. I want to be inside you when we both come,” he adds, a sense of urgency in his tone . 

“Fuck, Steve” you moan, your voice heavy with need and desire as you nod eagerly, feeling a surge of excitement at the prospect of him being inside you. “Please,” you whimper, your voice thick with need as you guide him closer to you, the raw intensity of the moment overwhelming your senses. Steve’s eyes darken with desire as he gently flips you onto your back, his hand reaching for the drawer of his bedside table to grab a condom. 

You watch him with anticipation, feeling a mix of excitement and longing as he sheaths himself, his hard cock twitching in anticipation as he settles back between your legs, his eyes locked with yours as he positions himself at your entrance.  He gazes into your eyes, seeking permission, and you nod eagerly, a rush of anticipation and longing sweeping through you. Steve leans in to press a soft kiss against your lips, his touch tender and full of emotion as he slowly starts to push inside you, his thick cock stretching you in the most delicious way as he slowly gives you more and more, letting you adjust to his size. 

“You’re doing great,” he murmurs, his voice filled with reassurance and affection as he, with a slow, steady push, he finally slides all the way in, filling you completely as you gasp. He gives you a moment to adjust to the feeling of him inside you, his eyes locked with yours after he has left a series of sweet pecks to your lips and cheek, as he waits for your signal to continue. 

After a moment, you nod, a soft whimper escaping your lips as you cling to him, your nails digging into his back. “Please, Steve” you beg, your voice thick with desire as you urge him to move. Steve wastes no time, starting with a slow, gentle pace before gradually picking up speed, his thrusts deep and powerful as he fills you completely, the sensation overwhelming your senses as pleasure courses through your body by the way he is now pounding his thick cock into you, in complete contrast to the way he so sweetly kisses you. 

Your whines and whimpers being swallowed up by his sweet lips, all the while as he drills into you, deep and purposefully. His hair has started to cling to his forehead and neck. “You’re, fu-uck, you’re so good,” he groans, his voice thick with desire as he leans in to press a soft kiss against your lips, his touch tender and full of emotion. The room is filled with the sounds of your bodies moving together, skin colliding with skin. “I always imagined you would feel like heaven, but damn.” He groans through gritted teeth. “You are taking me so well.” He encourages. “Feeling so fucking good.” 

“Steve, ugh, I-I’m so close,” you whimper, your voice filled with need and desire as you feel how the coil in your stomach keeps tightening and tightening, he is hitting that magic spot inside of you that is driving you closer and closer to the edge. “Don’t stop, please, I’m so close,” you beg, your voice thick with desire as you cling to him, feeling the wave of pleasure building inside you, ready to crash over you at any moment. Your tits are being squeezed against his broad chest, the feeling of his chest hair tickling against your sensitive nipples. His heavy balls are slapping against your skin with each thrust.  

“I’m close too,” Steve gasps, his voice strained with the effort of holding back his own climax. His hips rock against yours in a steady rhythm, his thrusts becoming more urgent and desperate as he chases his release.

“Then come, Stevie, please... Please come for me,” you gasp, your voice filled with need as you urge him on, feeling the intensity of the moment reaching its peak. 

And with a few final thrusts, you both reach the edge together, the wave of pleasure crashing over you in a sweet, intense climax. 

“Fuu-uck,” you moan, your bodies spasming in unison as you ride out the intense pleasure together, your moans filling the room. Steve collapses on top of you, his body shaking with the force of his release as he buries his face in the crook of your neck, his breath hot and rigid. His hand gently sneaks between your bodies to grab the condom as he carefully pulls out, tying the rubber before disposing of it in the trash beside the bed and collapsing back against the bed, wrapping his strong arms around you and pulling you tight against his chest, plastering your forehead in a series of sweet kisses. 

Both of you pant heavily, the room filled with the sound of your ragged breaths as you cling to each other, basking in the afterglow of your shared pleasure. “Wow,” Steve breathes out, his voice hoarse with emotion as he looks into your eyes, and you can hear the soft smile in his voice. 

“Yeah,” you reply, a soft smile of your own tugging at your own lips as you turn to face him, your hearts still racing with the intensity of the moment you just shared. You reach up to cup his face in your hands, feeling the warmth of his skin against yours. “That was... incredible,” you murmur, your voice filled with awe and gratitude. 

Steve nods, his eyes shining with emotion. “It was. And it was even better because it was with you,” he replies, his voice soft and filled with sincerity. “I can’t believe that tonight was even real. All this feels like a dream.”

You smile, feeling a rush of happiness at his words. “It was real, Steve. And I wouldn’t have wanted to share it with anyone else but you,” you say, your voice filled with love and affection. You lean in to press a soft kiss against his lips, feeling the warmth and tenderness of the moment lingering between you. 

As Steve pulls away his eyes are filled with adoration as he gazes at you, his dark lashes casting soft shadows on his cheeks, the beauty marks peppered across his face like constellations. You’re so caught up in the way he looks at you, so full of love and tenderness, that you almost miss the words leaving his sweet mouth.

“I love you,” he whispers, his voice soft and filled with sincerity as he says your name like it’s the most precious thing in the world, “I’ve loved you for so long.”

 You feel the weight of his words settle in your chest, your heart swell with emotion, your gaze turning blurry as tears start to prick at the corner of your eyes from his confession.

 “I love you too, Steve,” you reply, your voice filled with emotion as you cup his face in your hands, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath your touch as you crush your lips against his in a passionate kiss, your feelings so deep in this moment that you don’t know how words could ever measure explaining them, so instead you hope to pour the depth of your love for him into the way your bodies press together, the way your lips move in sync with each other, and the way your hearts beat as one, the way your souls intertwine in that moment of pure connection. 

You pull back, your cheeks now shining with tears of joy as you gaze into his, the love and adoration reflected back at you in equal measure. “I’ve really, really missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” Steve replies with a soft smile, wiping away your tears with his thumb before pulling you into a tight embrace. The warmth of his body against yours and the ways his arms engulf you make you feel safer than you ever have before. 

He keeps leaving sweet kisses to your forehead as you cuddle together, wrapped in each other’s arms, the room filled with the sweet scent of sex and the sound of your soft breathing and you feel such an intense sense of contentment wash over you that you’ve never felt before. The weight of years of unspoken love and longing finally lifted, replaced by the sweet relief of being able to express your feelings for each other. 

You lay like this for a while, a comfortable silence falling between you as you bask in the moment, but then all of the sudden the silence breaks, the both of you bursting out in a spontaneous laughter, the sound filling the room with joy and lightness. 

Steve pulls back slightly to look at you, a wide grin on his face as his eyes sparkle with happiness. “I can’t believe that you’re really here and all this just happened,” he chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief. 

“Me neither,” you giggle, wiping away your tears of joy as you lean in to press a quick kiss against his lips. “But I’m so glad it did, I’ve waited on it for a very long time.” 

“Me too,” Steve replies, his voice filled with sincerity and warmth as he pulls you closer, wrapping his arms around you in a tight embrace. The two of you lay there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the warmth and comfort of each other’s presence filling the space between you. “I love you,” Steve whispers, his voice barely above a whisper as he presses a sweet kiss against your forehead. 

“I love you too,” you reply, your voice soft and full of emotion as you close your eyes, feeling the weight of his love and the depth of your own emotions wash over you in a wave of pure, unadulterated bliss. You have been knowing it for years, but as you lay here in his arms you know that you are exactly where you were meant to be, with the only person that has ever been the right one for you.

Thank you for reading! Reblogs and comments are always greatly appreciated ♡

[obx-adventures]

There's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you dear - S.H

Steve’s completely and utterly in love with his best friend

A/n: friends to lovers, valentines theme, florist!reader, love confession 

Warnings: kissing, 

Word count: 3.8k

February, 

She always smiled when she saw him. She always said she missed him, and if there were no customers she ran to hug him. It didn't matter if he had seen her the evening before or that same morning, she always seemed to miss him no matter how long it had been. He understood that more than she knew, he felt it with her constantly. 

The windows were a little misted up that evening. Fogged up in the corners like it was always meant to be like that. It got colder the second the sun set but no matter the time of year, no matter if it was snowing or raining, after Steve’s day ended he walked right down to the florists to see her. 

It was pretty inside, he imagined it was supposed to be like that but sometimes, almost all the time, he liked to give her credit for it all. For the perfectly placed flowers, all somehow fading into one another, soft blues into bright pinks. 

And that oh so pretty smile when she saw him, standing outside with his hands in his pockets, a boyish grin on his lips no matter how tired he was, his fluffy hair and his unfixed collar. 

It was busier today, so she gave him a little nod to come inside, sticking her nose up like a cat rubbing against his leg. He wasn’t sure how it was possible but everything she did was cute. 

He wouldn't get to hear the bell above the door ring right before she crashed into him today, running out into the cold just to greet him like she normally would, he crossed his fingers for tomorrow. 

“Sorry.” She mouthed as he walked in, her eyes so soft that his heart could’ve broken right there all over the lavender. It was like every time they were apart he forgot how one look from her made his knees weaken. 

Steve wandered around for a little while, keeping his hands at his sides, careful not to break anything, just waiting for things to slow down. Really, he could have just gone home, he could’ve got in his car and headed straight back, none of his friends would’ve waited around like this. 

But he was content with waiting and he liked the little walk to his car where they talked and he liked how her perfume stuck to the seats long after he dropped her off. 

He also liked watching her. Watching how she smiled at every single person who walked through the door, even though he knew she was shy, she forced herself to be kind and that accidentally made Steve a little jealous at times. How she lit up when someone asked her a question or how she softened over when someone came in and told her they needed flowers for a girlfriend or a boyfriend. 

When it died down and they were left alone, Steve went and leaned on the counter, just like she did when she visited family video, they always seemed to be leaning towards each other. 

The corners of his mouth were already flicking up without permission, he guessed he had missed her more that day. She had pretty specks of gold and silver by her eyes, it always made him do a double take. He pressed his nails into his palm to stop from brushing the fallen glitter from her cheek. 

Steve hated her makeup, he hated how it made him want to touch her, how he wanted to fix her shiny lip gloss and accidentally linger a little too long on her lips. Honestly he just hated that he wasn’t her boyfriend and he wasn’t allowed to do those things, that she wasn’t his girl and he couldn’t just-

“I have to stay late today Stevie.”

His eyes darted back to hers, away from her lips, hearing her pretty little nickname for him made the blood rush to his head, and it somehow made it feel a lot hotter than it was. No one else called him that, he didn’t care for it until she started saying it and how could he ever correct her. 

“No.” He pouted, eyes dropping into a puppy-like stare, hoping he could play on her heart a little and make her come with him. It was selfish and childish but knowing he was the one that got her home every night, that he was the one telling her about plans with their friends, made him feel more important to her. 

Her eyes softened with sadness, which at least told him she didn’t want to stay either, that she wanted to go with him too. 

“I’m so sorry I was going to call and let you know, and now you’ve walked all this way- and It’s freezing.” She glanced outside the window, as if there was some horrible snow storm coming down and it was all her fault. “Steve, I feel awful.” She put her head in her hands, even when apologising, for something she didn’t need to, she was adorable. 

He placed his hands around her wrists, pulling them away, trying not to smile too hard. He could feel her pulse under his fingers and the patterned thumping almost made him drop to the floor. He swallowed down hard, letting her go, trying not to think about dragging kisses along the inside of her wrists. 

“Can I help?” Steve’s voice cracked slightly, he just hoped she didn’t catch it. He didn’t mind all the pollen making his eyes itch if it meant he could steal a little time with her, and maybe if it got late enough and they were tired he could tell her. 

He wouldn’t but he liked to think about doing a lot. 

Her eyes lit up and he swore he could have kissed her, just for the sake of kissing her, nothing more. “You want to?” She asked, nervously-excited like he hadn’t already implied it. Like he wouldn’t drop everything for her in a heartbeat. 

Including sitting on the floor crossed legged surrounded by ribbons and paper hearts. Valentines day was just two weeks away, and the one girl he wanted to take out was sitting across from him, tying pink ribbon and looking unbelievably gorgeous while simply just existing. 

She never noticed when he was staring, it sounded foolish but when he was busy looking at her like she held the stars, she was helplessly too caught up in his puppy dog eyes and his soft smile to see it. 

When Steve drove her home after her shifts, he always opened the car door for her, he always played the cd’s she liked even if he didn’t like them so much. And she still didn’t know. The whole town knew he was head over heels but she was far too busy daydreaming about him to notice. 

He always looked extra pretty when he drove her home, the passing street lights and the warm orange from the car light made him look golden. She doubted there was any kind of light that could make him look bad. He always just looked right. Everything fitted him and it made her head spin.

Right down to the way his car smelled faintly like cigarettes and Obsession cologne.

“What are you thinking about?” Steve leaned back against a table leg, clearly uncomfortable but clearly not wanting to say so. 

He wasn’t going to tell her that sitting on the floor like this was making his legs ache like he had just been running around town three times over. She would’ve told him to stop helping her and to go home and he really didn’t want that.

Steve had been watching her for a while and slowly she had started to lose focus and almost seem to drift off somewhere. He knew because he found himself doing it so often around her. There were many mislabelled tapes lying around at family video just because he was thinking about what perfume she was wearing the evening before and why it made his head spin.

His voice made her flinch slightly, not in a bad way, simply because she was so busy thinking about him that she forgot he was sitting in front of her. She felt the blood rushing to her head, like Steve could somehow know he had caught her out. 

“Nothing.” She didn’t mean to stutter but when he had moved he had started leaning his shoe against her knee, it was harmless and he probably didn’t even notice. However innocent it was, it didn't stop her heart from thumping. “Why?” She hated the way her voice cracked. 

He nodded his head towards her crossed legs. “You're cutting it wrong.” He smiled softly, not for one second wanting to make her feel bad. 

“Oh.” 

There was a mess of ribbons and paper in her lap, Steve was right, she really hadn’t been paying enough attention. She really was starting to wonder if he knew. Was it obvious when she was thinking about him? 

The following week the entire town seemed to be covered in pink and red with flowers in every store window. It made Steve smile as he walked, it was like seeing a little reminder of her everywhere. Because like always, he had missed her all day like he hadn’t seen the night before.

It was strange, he should've hated everything about Valentines, he was lovelorn for a girl who was one of his closest friends. But it was hard to be miserable while being in love with her, no matter if she didn't feel it back. 

Sometimes it hurt, sometimes his whole body ached, but then she'd smile at him or talk and it would be worth it. He got to the florists, he hadn't remembered how, he guess he got too caught up in thinking about her, but he was here now.

The little bell above the door rang as she came out to greet him. She had no idea how hot the back of his neck had gotten from just seeing her, And when she threw her arms around him, he worried she might feel the thumping of his heart through his coat. 

“Oh, Stevie, I missed you.” He smiled, holding her a little tighter, his hands spread across her back. “The ride home was so much quicker last night.” She pulled back, pouting a little, he was so very glad she agreed with him. Even if it took the same time as always. 

“I know but at least we can hang out tonight.” He took the keys from her fingers, he always locked up for her this time of year. Steve hated her getting cold hands because she was fussing with the door lock. 

He wasn’t just driving her home tonight, they were heading to some bar Robin had been obsessing over. Steve didn’t care for crowded or even empty bars much anymore but he doubted he could’ve gotten out of it, plus the second Robin said that the girl standing beside him, waiting for him to lock up was going, he knew he would be too. 

She smiled at that. “Sounds like a plan.” She started to walk off, she knew where his car was, and she knew Steve would follow. 

Everyone was talking over the music playing, huddled up in some corner even though it was Hakwins and the bar was half empty. He didn’t mind that everyone was practically sitting on top of each other because Steve was sitting next to her.

Her thighs were pressing into his, their knees accidently touching every time the other moved even just slightly. And every time she laughed or spoke, he was the first to hear it. He could feel the heat coming off her, it only made the perfume sitting on her neck stronger, but being this close made Steve more quiet then normal. 

How was he supposed to talk or even join in in any conversion happening before him when she was right there. Lips smudged with something shiny that could easily become sticky, eyes batting away like she had no idea what she was doing to him.

He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her in front of all their friends. He wanted to kiss her hidden away in the bathroom just for them to know. He wanted to kiss her everywhere. 

“Right Steve?”

He turned hearing his name and hurt his neck from the sudden snap of attention. He really hadn’t been listening and suddenly everyone was looking at him, and some of them, mostly Robin and Eddie, seemed to be laughing about something. 

The girl beside him looked bashfully at the floor, what had he missed?

“Yeah.” Steve wanted nothing more than to be left back out of the conversation. They seemed to take his voice breaking response, which was slightly embarrassing, and carry on talking amongst themselves. “What was that about?” He whispered to the girl next to him. 

“They were just joking about-” She stopped herself, she was nervous, he could always tell. “About, about you staring at me.” She continued staring at the floor like she didn’t find the joke funny at all. He didn’t either.

She hadn’t thought he was staring. She presumed everyone was making a joke that she just didn’t understand. Why would he be looking at her and why would that be so funny to them? But then the red hint in Steve’s cheeks gave him away. 

Maybe he had been staring. She looked at him and it felt different, she felt different. She was flustered now, more than she ever had been when any other boy had looked at her. And there was something darker in his eyes, something wanting that made her lips suddenly feel so unused.  

They didn’t talk much for the rest of the night, better yet, Steve didn’t talk much. He just whispered to her when he had missed something or when he was asking her if she wanted a drink. It made her wonder why he had even gone.

They left together because they always did, someone else could't given her a ride home but Steve always did so why would they. It wasn’t even a question anymore, he was just always willing and ready to get her home safe. 

He grabbed her hand to lead her out after saying goodbye, it wasn’t busy enough for him to have to do it but she didn’t let go. He held her hand gently but there was no chance of her slipping from his hold. She didn’t think her hand would’ve let her let his go anyway, so instead she squeezed his hand back and followed him outside. 

Steve let her go the second the cold air hit, maybe his hands were just cold but it still made her heart sink. It would’ve been nice to hold his hand for a little longer, it would've been nice to stay longer too, not for the drinks or necessarily the comply, but because it was nice sitting so close to Steve. 

She could’ve rested her head on his shoulder and stayed there all night if he wanted. 

He stopped, right in the middle of the road, by where his car was parked. She almost walked right into him, too preoccupied thinking about how much bigger his hand was to hers. He was breathing deeply and quickly, it must’ve been the cold. 

But she wasn’t so sure because when she looked up at him, he had this look in his eyes, something she could’ve mistaken for being afraid but she couldn’t tell. He almost looked sad in a way, kind of like his heart was hanging vulnerably off his sleeve. She didn’t know what he could’ve been so twisted over, nothing had happened. 

Unless-

Steve stepped forward, the ends of his sneakers brushing hers. It made her lightheaded, she could practically taste the peppermint on his tongue, mixing with the Pepsi he had drunk. It was completely head spinning and he was getting too close. They had never been this close before, had they?

She felt the air getting thinner as her eyes fell on his lips.

She stumbled back slightly, her back hitting against his passenger door. She never moved away from him on purpose, she always leaned towards him but having him so close was making her nervous. Steve only followed her. 

He was warm, she could feel the heat coming off him, or maybe he was just making her hot, she couldn’t tell anymore.

He went to say something, parting his lips but letting no sound out. He just kept breathing in like he had forgotten to breathe out. He placed his hand on the roof of his car, trying to steady himself but for her, that only shut everything else out. All she could think or feel was Steve. Steve, Steve, and she-

“Can I kiss you, please?” He sounded desperate, they way he said it was so sweet, so Steve. He wasn’t just asking to kiss her he was begging, his eyes were soft and sad and he wanted to kiss her. No one had ever said please when asking to do anything to her before. 

She nodded, quickly. She didn’t think she could have spoken without stuttering or making a fool of herself. He pressed a hand to her waist, his thumb digging into her soft skin, making her feel jealous of every girl who had been in this position before. 

He tilted his head down, lips just ghosting over hers for a moment, his nose nudging against her own. As he wet his lips in anticipation he accidentally touched her bottom lip and that was enough to break the softness of the moment they were having. 

Suddenly he was kissing her. Pressed up against his car in the middle of the street. He really did taste like Pepsi and peppermint, she hadn't imagined that. The taste of him glossed over her lips and she barely noticed Steve’s hand leaving her side just to wrap around her wrist and put her hand on his neck. 

The car door was cold against her back but she didn;t mind because Steve’s hands were warm, his neck was hot and his lips were burning. “God, I love you.” She heard him mutter between kisses and her heart stopped. 

It was all she had ever wanted to hear him say and yet she was completely unprepared for how the words from his lips would stitch onto her heart with the sharpest needle. He stopped for a moment, breathing heavily, this time breathing out too.  

His eyes were closed and he looked prettier than ever with her lip gloss smudge across his face and his cheeks flushed red. She found she quite liked having her hands around his neck, she tagged her fingers in his hair, not missing the slight groan he made at the feeling.

He looked down at her, that little hint of fear back in his eyes. She wanted to kiss that feeling away, like he had done for her. She decided on admitting what she had known for a long time instead. “I love you too Steve.” 

He instantly smiled, a boyish, lovesick, Steve Harrington kind of smile. He held her face delicately, tilted her jaw up, rubbing his thumb over the corner of her lip. “Hey,” He quickly kissed where his touch had traced, making her smile. “What are you doing on Valentine's day?”

She shook her head and he laughed softly at her. He couldn’t be doing what she thought he was, she had just told him she loved him, he had told her he loved her, he couldn't be asking if-

“Wanna go out with me?”

Oh sweet Steve. 

He turned up at her door on February fourteenth, a collection of pink and orange Lilies in his hand, tied together with a white ribbon, he hadn’t got them from her so he must’ve gone out of town. The little sentiment made her heart leap. 

He had sweater hair, like he had been rushing to get ready and pulled his red jumper over his head and forgotten how the static made his hair so fluffy. He looked soft and sweet, and that was before she even noticed the red vines in his other hand. 

Steve’s eyes flickered over her little dress, over the wool cardigan keeping her warm, it was a soft pink that made the white of her dress look even more pure. She looked like how he imagined this holiday would look if they were a person. 

“You look, you’re-, always so-” She felt her face burn, he was stuttering because of her. He stepped through the doorway, feeling like he might just fall to the floor at any moment. “You’re just so pretty.” 

His eyes never left her as he said it, he was shaking his head like he almost didn’t believe it. He handed her the flowers, smiling at the way she held them close and breathed them in. She was already saddened that one day they were going to wilt and die, she'd have to keep the ribbon somewhere for safe keeping. 

“You’re pretty too Stevie.” She didn’t mean much by saying it, she was so busy looking at her flowers that the thought just slipped past her lips in a soft mutter. She shut her door and went to place them on the kitchen table, he just followed her like she guessed he would.

The blush in Steve’s cheeks came out, spreading a little to his neck. The freckles that dotted across his skin were always such a distraction for her, the way his neck strained was too, and now she could add how it looked flushed to her list of distractions. She wondered what it might be like to kiss his neck. 

His hand slipped over the backs on one of the chairs as he stepped closer to her, she stayed still this time, anxious for him to be nearer. 

“Stop you’re going to make tonight torture.” He breathed out desperately, making her head hurt, not knowing that her simple words had made his entire soul ache for her. 

He held his hand to her cheek, smoothing her skin with his thumb, catching her eyes in the sparkling chandelier hanging above them. The light touching across his face made him look kissable, not that he didn’t before, but it was somehow worse now.

She swallowed down nervously, last time he had kissed her it had been perfect, but this moment felt a little different, they knew what it was like now, and Steve hadn’t kissed her again since, he said he wanted to take her out properly first, which had been torture, 

“You’re the one doing that.” She whispered to him, hands getting lost in his hair as he smirked down at her. She pulled slightly, letting him know she wanted nothing more for him to kiss her again. Their plans for the night slowly slipping away, because once Steve kissed her he wouldn’t be able to stop. 

[obx-adventures]

Sincerely, Yours:

bestfriend!steve harrington x fem!reader

summary: a movie night, a confession, an offer, your Calvin's bunched up on the floor of your best friend's BMW...and other places | 18+ Only, NSFW | main menu

the song: Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds - all of steve's music

6.6k words

warnings: "inexperienced" reader - in the form of never really making out/receiving none/not great foreplay - masturbating for comfort/ease before sex, SMUT (public - in the back of Steve's car - "caught" by Hopper when you're done, oral, fingering, steve cums in his levi's cause I'm a sucker for doing this to him, what can I say?)

A/N: Once upon a time, I asked for requests, and I failed to fulfill many of them (you may have heard this story before), but this one sat in the drafts for many many months, and then I really chickened out posting it for a long time. Everyone say thanks to @palmtreesx3 - I owe her and the request for the prompt "we're not really just best friends, are we?"(which isn't even used in this, but you get the picture) and The Breakfast Club for this fic 💛

He didn’t hear it at first, over the last remaining popping kernels. 

“What?” He called around a mouthful of the snack he was already dipping into before it was finished. 

In the other room, your attention was strictly on Judd Nelson, but you tried again, with no real power or meaning behind the words. 

“Want me to pause it?”

“No,” he shook his head and rolled his eyes to no one but himself in the kitchen, “Don’t think you need to pause the movie I’ve seen three times…this week.”

“I’d love one, thanks!”

Steve snorted at your response that made no sense, it becoming apparent you weren’t listening to him at all.  He should have known this was his fate after the way you acted when it was showing at The Hawk. You saw it with him, then Robin, then Nancy, and Steve put his foot down when you tried to drag him down there for a fourth time.

Now here he was, dumping the popcorn into a large bowl and watching it again. He didn’t even know what number of views he was on with you, which had him worried about your sanity, ‘cause you had to be watching it without him too. 

Steve snagged two cans of Coke out of the fridge, assuming that’s what you’d love one of, and kicked the door closed with his heel. 

He cradled the popcorn bowl against his side and held each of the cans with one hand and spread fingers, socked feet slipping on the hardwoods when he rounded the corner and saw you again. 

Despite becoming incredibly bored by the movie, he did love watching you watch it, because somehow, it’s as if you’re watching it for the first time every time. 

Your white tube socks were stark against the dark wood of the coffee table, bunching around your ankles that led him to the exposed skin of your calves. Which led to the way your blue skirt fanned over your thighs all nice, then the Queen shirt he got you for your birthday tucked into it, your thumb between your teeth with your eyebrows bunched together. 

His best friend was really fucking pretty. 

He almost said it out loud, which had him flopping onto the couch a little quickly, a little too heavy with his fall. Careless in his aim of the cushion and causing popcorn to spill from the bowl into your lap as his shoulder jostled yours. 

Before he could even say sorry, you were grabbing the popcorn from your lap like it was the bowl, blissfully unaware it wasn’t, all the while making heart eyes at dreamy Bender.

“Thanks,” your appreciation came out heavy around the buttery and salty handful of the snack, the Coke you’d love sitting on the coffee table, already forgotten.

Steve hummed, his amused lips twitched in a losing fight against a smile at your captivated stare fixated on the screen. He suppressed an eye roll at the scene about to happen, as he swiped condensation off the cool metal of the can with his thumb. 

He popped the drink open with a loud hiss, slurping his first sip - a habit you’d normally swat at his chest for - but you were too busy focusing on the words about to leave Judd’s mouth. 

“Have you ever kissed a boy on the mouth?”

They sort of just tumbled out of Steve too, while his eyes glanced over the popcorn bowl, searching for a perfectly buttery piece. Which is why he didn’t see that he, your best friend, quoting the scene that has dialogue that got you all hot and bothered more than others, had your entire body freezing. 

Steve tossed the acquired piece into the air, catching it in his mouth before he turned to face your profile. He found you with widened eyes, chest rising and falling a little too quickly, and he grinned. 

“Have you ever been felt up…over the bra…under the blouse…your shoes off, hoping to god your parents don’t walk in?”

He’s simply delighted when he quotes the scene again and your body shifts, toes curling as you arched your neck away from. You kept your eyes on the screen, not giving him the satisfaction of eye contact because of what he was slowly, finally, realizing.

You were totally turned on and he couldn’t wait to tease you about it forever.

Steve leaned in closer, whispering along with the movie, “Over the panties…no bra…blouse unbuttoned…Calvin’s in a ball on the front seat past eleven on a school night?”

He’s gearing up, about to tease you, make some dumb boy comment about being hot for the school freak, when your quiet, barely a breath response had him pausing. 

“No.”

Did you just say that out loud?!

Your head turned to find Steve blinking at you, creases in his forehead deepening beneath the stray locks of hair that fell forward. 

Looks like you did.

“Ste-”

“What? What do you mean no?”

Your eyes closed when you both spoke at the same time, avoiding his curious stare. Hands roamed to your cheeks to hide your face as your head fell towards your knees. 

As you shook your head no, your response gets muffled into your skirt. “I meant no.”

Steve’s hand nudged at your shoulder, prodding for clarity and for you to sit up. He failed to sound casual when his question came out incredulously.

“No, you’ve never kissed a guy?”

Your hands still covered your face as you fell back against the couch with a groan, “No, I..I have. I just…”

Steve pulled at your hands, his heart racing like it was overtime. All these years, he thought you’d been with all these other guys, his quiet jealousy seething under the surface of his tinged green from envy skin. 

A breath, well, more of a huff really, slipped past your lips as your gaze dropped to the hands holding yours in your lap. “I’ve never really made out with anyone? Just like…a quick kiss or two. I don’t even know, can you even count it as kissing? Over before it starts kind of thing…”

The ramble trailed off, the room silent save for the movie still playing and the giant, loud, big, fat, zero response from Steve. You counted the threads in the carpet, the pieces of popcorn in the bowl as your skin grew hotter and hotter from the reveal he’s left just hanging there until he  finally sputtered out a sorry excuse for one.

“Are you shitting me? We’re like…old.”

It doesn’t come out how he meant it to at all, he’s just shocked. He’s wincing almost immediately as the words reach his ears and brain, he knows how it sounded. He wishes he could take it back when your head whips up, hurt eyes meeting his as you ripped your hands away from him. 

“Yeah, Steve,” you scoffed, jaw pulsing as your voice dripped with sarcasm that tried to cover  the embarrassment, “I’m shitting you. Thought it’d be real funny to trick you into thinking your best friend is a loser who’s barely been kissed even though she’s so old.”

Pieces of popcorn fell from your lap as you stood, not letting yourself wonder where they came from as you stomped around the coffee table and towards his entryway. 

“No, honey, wait-” he stumbled after you, spilling Coke down the front of his shirt as he did, “Shit.”

He patted at his chest like it’d do anything, shirt damp and sticking to his skin as he rounded the corner and found you lacing up your converse and shaking your head. 

“It’s fine, Steve. I’m fine. I just don’t feel like talking about it. I’m gonna go home. Don’t worry about it. Girl stuff.”

“No, please, I didn’t mean-”

His words stopped just as abruptly as your body, when the front door swung open to reveal an out of nowhere downpour. 

Your head fell as you started to ask, and he was already one step ahead of you.

“Can you please-”

“I’ll grab my keys.”

He was tripping up his stairs by the time he finished saying it. When he returned, it was in a clean shirt, jumping from the second to last step as he swirled the keys around his pointer finger. 

The light blue fabric of his new shirt pulled at his shoulders that hunched when your glare remained unwavering despite the apologetic puppy dog eyes he had going for him. 

You understood Steve didn’t mean for the comment to start the hole he was digging, and you knew you weren’t being fair for being so upset. It’s not like it was his fault, it was just your own insecurities manifesting in an anger towards him. 

The nagging feeling of being some sort of freak who’d never made out while even the little twerps who clung to Steve were, while your best friend was Steve Harrington, former king of Hawkins High only grew stronger. The thought of Steve thinking you were some sort of weirdo for being old and never making out had something in your gut churning, had a familiar sting behind your eyes forming that you tried your best to ignore. 

When Steve opened his mouth, about to try to make it all better again, you simply turned on your heel and stalked out into the rain. He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes at the way you stomped through it, pretending to not be drowned. 

He quickly rushed behind you and got to the door first and swung it open, to which you rolled your eyes at, but slid in and got comfortable while he closed it for you nonetheless. 

Unsure why he went and changed as he raced around the hood and shot into the driver’s seat, totally soaked through to his skin now. He cranked the heat before swiping fingers over his eyes, a large hand ran through his hair and pushed it back only for it to fall into his eyes again. Steve reached over with wet and shaking fingers at the same time you held yours up, both of you pausing and glancing at the other’s hands. 

Steve was about to cup your fingers between his and blow warm breath onto them, just like he always did, but you ripped your hands down to your lap, and curled your body against the door, like you needed to be as far from him as you could be. 

Your damp forehead touched the cool glass of the window as he sighed, “Please don’t-”

“Just take me home, please?”

The tone in which the words were said has something in his chest breaking. Like you were really fucking sad, embarassed, it was a real plea to just take you home and leave you alone. 

So he wasn’t gonna do that, ‘cause he never was a great listener, so why start now?

He pretends though, he backs out of the driveway and heads in the direction of your apartment. He lets the radio fill the space and he turns the heat down when the air inside the car is heavier and warm despite your cold shoulder. The orange glow of the street lights slanted inside the car in a soothing rhythm as his wheels spun over the pavement until he was coming to the last four way stop before your apartment. 

It unfolds just as he had planned, when he’s still stopped at the deserted intersection, as your breath fogged up the glass when you asked, “Harrington, you planning on leaving the intersection anytime soon?”

His bottom lip wobbled as his teeth continued to press into it, thick fingers rubbing at a scruff dotted jaw as he thought out loud in an attempt to sway you. 

“Well, you see, I could go straight and take you home-” he started. 

“Right. Let’s do that.” You waved your hand towards the direction of the apartment that held the ice cream you were desperate to eat and wallow with while watching Pretty In Pink. 

“Or,” Steve interrupted right back, tapping on the steering wheel with his finger as he did, “I could go to the right. Pull into the diner. Buy you a milkshake and say sorry?”

The thing was, he was gonna go to the right regardless of your answer. He knew once you pulled into the parking lot there was no way you’d not at least go in and get fries and a shake, if not a whole burger. You’d done this dance before, him putting his foot in his mouth was not a new occurrence. 

Your lips twitched, but your arms stayed crossed as he hummed and whispered, “Tough choice…tough choice…”

Shoulders fell in defeat, but your mouth stayed downturned in a forced frown as you grumbled, “And fries.”

Steve smiled, turned on his blinker and nodded. He cleared his throat.

“And fries. Definitely.”

“And none of that you order yourself a vanilla shake and I order strawberry and you drink half of mine because it’s better and eat all the fries shit.”

“Of course,” Steve scoffed, “I would never do that.”

Steve slipped his straw into your shake, pulling the glass across the sticky tabletop as you did the same with his. He tried not to smirk around the straw when you did, dipping a fry in his vanilla he ordered for a reason despite the strawberry being better. 

“Do you think Claire is a prude for never doing anything?”

He shook his head no almost immediately, swiping at stray ice cream from the corner of his mouth with his tongue. 

You fiddled with the straw wrapped between your fingers and narrowed your eyes at him. 

“Would your answer be the same if, say, Eddie was sitting here asking you? Not me, your best friend, who you have sudden pity for?”

He blinked at you and sighed, “I don’t have pity for you.”

“Your mouth and your eyes are telling two different stories Harrington,” you waved a fry at him as you spoke, gesturing to his face with it. 

Your gaze stayed on the fry you were ripping in half, focused on watching it sink into the sweet vanilla as he dared to say, “I just don’t get it.”

“What, that I haven’t done that and I’m so old,” you tried to tease, to move past it. 

But the way you were licking salt off your finger had him wondering if he swiped his own through the salt on the tray and pushed the pad against your lips if they would part like they were now, if he could taste it on your lips if he just leaned forward and-

“No, ‘cause you’re so fucking pretty.” 

He definitely said it out loud that time. 

You blinked at him, cheeks suddenly too warm for the cold and damp Spring that had been surrounding you all day.  

“Ste-”

“And so smart,” he licked his lips, leaning forward, unable to stop now that it was out, “And funny. And…and sweet, you’ve got the biggest heart of anyone I know, I just don’t understand how guys aren’t falling over themselves, unable to do anything but make out with you, or more or-”

“I never said I didn’t do more,” you whispered, ignoring all of his compliments that made your chest feel all tight and sticky and choosing to argue with him instead because that was easier. 

“But you said…if you haven’t made out with anyone…” 

Your body slipped lower against the squeaky seat, embarrassed as you shrugged and Steve felt too hot in the tiny little booth, thinking about all those guys’ hands on you again, and then what you said, what it meant, really clicked. 

“Hold on…how…how’d…you didn’t, build up to it?” He asked softly, eyes bouncing over your face with worry. 

“Steve,” you grabbed for the other shake, and sat up straighter, “We don’t need to talk about this. It’s not import-”

“It’s so important,” he grabbed your hand and squeezed your fingers lightly, “Half the fun is all the build up to it. And,” he swallowed, forehead creasing with deeper worry, “And then it, it doesn’t hurt. ‘Cause tell me if I’m wrong, but if they weren’t making out with you, were they doing anything to make sure you felt good?”

You squirmed in your seat, fingers pushing up against his mindlessly, aimlessly, as you shrugged again. “It’s only hurt a few times. I learned that if I…um, If I got myself ready beforehand, that I was, uh, more comfortable.”

Steve’s fingers let go of yours with the excuse of grabbing a fry, because he was trying not to be a gross guy, but all he could think about was you in your bedroom, with your fingers between your thighs now. Did you play music? What song? Did you have underwear on? What color? With a shirt that your nipples were visibly hard through as you touched yourself and maybe it was his shirt or maybe you said his name or-

“Right,” Steve nodded, “Um, right. And that’s great, lots of people do that for a date, so like if you need or want to beforehand that’s not…that’s great. It just shouldn’t be the only thing, you know? They should be putting in the work, they should be wanting to. And dates! They should watch a movie with you, and dinner and drive around and then kiss so much you feel dizzy and then if you want, more.”

He finished his rambling speech and you smiled softly, unsure of what to say, because you knew he wasn’t wrong, it’s just that they had. 

“They did,” you sighed, “Well, not Paul.”

Steve scowled at the table, “Yeah, well, I’m sure you weren’t missing much. Who wants to yell out Paul?”

“Oh,” you laughed, “And Steve is so much better?”

He looked up at you, your smile sweet and kind and your eyes a little sad, but trying not to be and he wanted to say yes. He wanted to tell you that if it was those lips and that voice saying it, it was better, because how could it not be? Like his name only had the best letters, like it belonged to the best guy in the world, one that belonged to you and no one else. 

But you were swiping at ice cream on your lips and sighing, saying something that made his chest ache instead. 

“They were nice dates. And it’s not like the sex was bad. But,” you looked out the window, eyes tracking the droplets of rain twinged neon from the light hanging above you both, “The kissing till I’m dizzy sounds nice. Is it…is it fun?”

“Yeah,” Steve whispered, admiring the way the red and blue lit up your profile before you turned to face him. 

And then he was saying something before he really thought it through, because god you weren’t just fucking pretty, you were the most beautiful person he’d ever met and no way in hell was he letting anyone treat you the way you’d been ever again. So this was his chance, and he was taking the leap.

“I could…” he blew out a breath and smiled. He sat up straighter, and he searched for some sort of lingering king steve confidence he could latch onto without all the douche as he asked, “I could show you?”

To both of your surprise, you’d said yes, and he paid and you were in the car, driving, and parked somewhere in what felt like seconds. Now your best friend sat across from you, both of you facing the center console, but not daring to do more. 

The rain beat against the roof of the maroon car, each drop a punctuated tick of a nonexistent clock - a meter for how much time was passing without movement, without words. Just both of your breathing filled the space. First exhaling, then desperately inhaling for more air as your chests rose and fell ragged. And then, like in some unspoken agreement only best friends can have, you both started to lean forward cause you just knew. 

Your heart’s thrum threatened to drown out the rain, building and building, screaming to break out of your chest, pounding in your ears while your cheeks grew warm and your stomach dipped as Steve’s tongue slipped out quickly and wetted his lips. 

But then he leaned and his eyes started to close and you giggled, fingers slipping over your lips as his eyelids shot open. 

“Sorry,” you gasped and shook your head and your hands out as you tried to be serious, “Your ‘I’m about to kiss you’ face is real cute, Harrington.”

Tried being the definitive word. 

“Cute?” He groaned, smiling, “Not sexy?”

You leaned in, faster this time, a smile matching his as you shrugged, “It’s nice. Never thought I’d be on the opposite side of it, is all.”

It’s easy to tilt your head and welcome the hand that reached up to cradle your jaw as he softly promised, “Your ‘I’m about to be kissed face’ is really cute too.”

The pad of his thumb brushed over the apple of your cheek in the tenderest touch you’d ever felt, before his fingers curled under your jaw and tilted you gently, slowly, up so his lips were right over yours. 

It felt like he was handling you like the most precious and fragile thing, like a prized possession that he’d only ever hold with care and never let another soul touch. 

His breath fanned over yours, warm and sweet smelling, vanilla and cherry just out of reach for you to taste as you dared to quip back again. “Alright, I’m gonna have to cross reference these lines with other girls you’ve promised to make dizzy, Harrington, cause if that’s the first time you’ve used that, I’m afraid it’s far too smooth…”

Steve’s heart felt like it was trying to claw out of his chest as you laughed, smiling at him when he responded, “And, I think that’s enough out of you.”

Which you couldn’t help but reply back to with, “Yeah? Have some fancy trick to get me to stop talking?”

He laughed, low, muffled and deep in his chest. “A few.”

A sharp inhale slipped past your lips when his nose bumps yours, not realizing how close he’d gotten while you joked back and forth nervously. There wasn’t a protocol on how to let your best show you a proper make out, on how to just dive in and start, you just knew you wanted to. 

Steve’s swallow bobbed his adams apple as the leather beneath you creaked from shifting weight, needing to get closer. And as you did, his eyes found yours, mossy and dark in the low light, the browns and golds washed away in the rain. Their gaze flitted down to your lips, back up to fluttering eyelashes, and then his own eyelids were closing. 

All it took was another breath in, an exhale out, and his lips were on yours. A simple, slow press, holding your top lip between the both of his. Strawberry and vanilla teasing you, and soon he was moving, now bottom lip between his and you got it. Your mouths parted together, lips slotting in a rhythm that came naturally, that clicked. 

Something in your stomach fizzled and crackled like the sparklers you lit every year in his driveway on the fourth as the sigh from his nose hit your cheek. Body warm and sticky in a way that was usually reserved for Summer when his fingers skated over your jaw, up and around your ear, until they were cradling the back of your neck and pulling you closer. His mouth moved with yours in a way that could only be described as frantically graceful - needing more, hurried, hungry, but with the promise and precision of someone who knew what he was doing. It had your stomach dipping, like a freefall, like the greatest and scariest thing you’d ever felt. 

If he’d have opened his eyes, he’d have found you with your hands suspended between your bodies though. Fingers not quite brave enough to reach up and get lost in his hair, but not content to just sit in your lap and do nothing either. 

And if you'd opened your eyes, you’d have found his other hand gripping the center console like he was hanging on for dear life. ‘Cause holy shit was he trying to go slow, but kissing you was like chasing the last few minutes of sunlight in July - sweet and fleeting and magic - something you needed to make last, to soak up every last drop of until you couldn’t any more, not by choice, but because the sun has to set and he has to breathe.

In a shared gasp for air, you parted, but his lips were back on yours immediately, making your stomach swoop even more, like an entire family of butterflies had decided - hey, we live here now and we’re gonna make a ruckus so get used to it.

You didn’t mind. 

Steve’s fingers found yours and without breaking his rhythm, he tugged, guiding them to his shoulders that were practically on your side of the console now, which wasn’t doing something great to his already somersaulting stomach. 

He slowed down as your fingers brushed over and back on the collar of his shirt and his hands cradled both of your cheeks, pulling you off of his lips regretfully. You were both breathing like you’d run a marathon, his forehead pressed to yours as he gasped out, “Dizzy yet?”

“No,” you lied. 

He grinned, tip of his nose tracing the bridge of yours as he admitted, “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to kiss you like that.”

You couldn’t even respond, couldn’t tell him you wanted that too, couldn’t tell him that it was something you only dared let a daydream or two convince you it could happen before you were shutting it down, cause he was still talking. 

“And now that I have,” he swallowed, his thumbs glided down opposite sides of your neck as he shook his head, “I’m never stopping.”

Then he was kissing you again, and if you thought he was frantic before…

You had this feeling that even if those other guys had made out with you, kissing them wasn’t and never would be the same as kissing Steve Harrington. 

Soon one of your feet was on the seat, the other bracing yourself in the footwell. He had a hand on your hip and the other on the back of your neck and yours were finally starting to dare to journey past their spot on his shoulders and then your skirt was caught on the gearshift and he was stopping you again. 

“Honey, what are you doing?”

“So was that ‘never stopping’ just a nice sentiment or are you planning to back it up with action?” You huffed, distracted by pink lips that twisted into a crooked smile as he looked at your pretzeled body. 

Your shoulders fell as you nodded your head towards his side of the car and admitted, “I just want to be closer.”

“Oh, right.” Steve swallowed, and you wondered if it’d be weird if you kissed every freckle and mole you could find on his throat. Something told you he wouldn’t mind when he asked, a little more eager than you’d heard tonight, “Backseat?” 

And you clambered out of the car, the slowing rain soothing to heated and flushed skin under the mussed clothes, and then you were both meeting in the backseat, but the nerves returned. The way you both glanced at the space between you and were immediately and acutely aware of the lack of anything between you except doubt and fear. Was this a mistake? What about your friendship?

Steve looked at the space, at you, and then held up his finger in the symbol for one sec as he said, “Hold on,” and half climbed back into the front seat. His torso draped over the console as he loudly opened the glovebox and rummaged around inside, before he was fiddling with the radio, and falling back into the seat. 

His cheeks pink, but his smile wide as he looked at you again. “Hey! I’m so glad we could do this tonight. You look beautiful. Ready to watch your favorite movie?”

“Wh-what?” You laughed, totally and utterly confused. 

He tugged on your fingers, and pulled you to the middle, until you were slouched next to each other, shoulders touching as he shushed and said, “The Breakfast Club is starting.”

And the music playing over the radio,Simple Minds, a cassette he must have put in, had your chest swelling with something that was sure to burst and explode and kill you, because the boy was actually pretending you were on a couch, on a date, in a living room, watching a movie - it was perfectly Steve and you, and the best first date you’d ever been on. 

His left hand picked up yours, resting it on your thigh and played with your fingers. The pads of his traced up and down and over your hand as he stared at the windshield, his temple resting against yours. The music played, and his fingertips swooped between the curves of each finger aimlessly, the sides of his fingers running down yours and back up making it really hard to concentrate on the non-existent flick. 

When you finally relaxed into his side, when you flipped your hand over so he could draw little loop de loops on your palm, he quietly asked, “Who’s your favorite?”

“Brian,” said without hesitation. 

Steve groaned, in pain, “Ugh, you would like him the best.”

You laughed, turning to look up at him a bit from where your head had fallen to his shoulder, “Don’t knock him Steve,” you spoke softly, fondly, “You’re a lot more of a dork like him than you think.”

Steve made a pft noise, fingers now interlaced with yours as he turned his head, the tip of his nose touching yours as he looked down at you with the sort of look the guys give the girls in the movies, one that should be illegal from the way it had that family of butterflies shouting about their presence again and fluttering around. 

“Hey Steve?” 

“Hmm?” He hummed, eyelashes fluttering as he sighed when your thumb brushed over his knuckles.

“This is a really great…first date?” You asked, hopeful that it wasn’t just an offer, that you weren’t some game, that the guy next to you was just as crazy about you as you were him. 

“Yeah?” He smiled, proud, and then bragged, “Wait till the second one.”

It was your turn to hum, to look into his eyes and get a little lost as his mouth parted and you both scooted closer, waiting, as he squeezed your fingers wrapped around his. 

“You’re making the ‘I’m about to kiss you face’ again, Steve,” you whispered, lips brushing his as you did.

“Right,” he whispered back, bottom lip catching yours as he suggested, “Which means you should probably stop talking again.”

This kiss wasn’t as easy and smooth, made difficult by grins of fools who were totally in love but wouldn’t admit it just yet, but how could you both not be after years together?

But you smoothed it out quickly, and soon he was swiping his tongue over your bottom lip as his hand gripped at your waist a little tightly. He traced over your top lip as your entire body turned towards his, like a plant in search of sunlight, his body on yours fundamental to your survival.

He gasped as you straddled him, your mouth swallowing the sound as his hands roamed up your sides, taking the hem of your shirt with it so his fingers could scrape at the skin just under your ribs before they dared to drift along the band of your bra.  

You let out a sound that he’d never forget as long as he lived when you finally lowered yourself, skirt fanning over your laps so the sinful way he pressed up against your pristine soaked Calvin’s was slightly hidden. The unclip of your bra and the removal and toss over the seat was fluid, and you couldn’t think about it because the way his hand on your chest felt, the thumb over a pebbled nipple was something you’d only let yourself think about in moments of need before a date that wasn’t him. 

Steve was wrong, the build up was more than half the fun.

The way his hands buzzed against your spine like the air after fireworks, the way his tongue brushed yours, the way he couldn’t help but guide your hips to rock against him. Denim hitting cotton in the exact right spot so the nerves underneath it got the friction they were aching for, while your mind ran away from you, thoughts about how this was just getting started. How there was more. 

His lips left yours and his smile pressed to your jaw when the action got a soft whimper to fall from you. He tutted into your neck, lips grazing over an erratic pulse as he whispered, “Can I touch you?”

“Is that,” your breath hitched around the words as his tongue licked a thick stripe over your neck that extended, “Is that a part of making me dizzy or the more, when I’m sufficiently so?”

“You’re not yet?” His teeth scraped at where his tongue had just been. “I like when you say words like sufficiently, ‘s’hot.”

You laughed as his lips kissed the same spot, and then he was sucking, skin beneath his tongue warm and sending a message to your brain that you liked that a lot. 

“Yeah,” you hiccuped, eyelids fluttering in their view of the car’s roof as you arched and his hands gripped your hips, “Yeah, touch me.”

He didn’t have to be told twice, arm around your waist holding you steady while the other traveled under the hem of your skirt. His mouth moved to below your ear and as his fingers glided up your thigh. He sucked and kissed, and sent that message to your brain again, having you say his name and god’s in the same desperate sentence. 

Steve wasn’t gonna last much longer. 

Especially when his fingers met the wet cotton and you moaned, so much filthier than he’d have thought possible. Especially when he circled over your clit through the fabric and you rolled your hips with the movement, far dirtier than he thought you were capable of. 

“Fuck baby, you’re soaked.” He mouthed at the collar of your rucked up shirt, looking down at the way your hips rolled over his but he couldn’t quite see what was underneath. 

You hid in the crook of his neck, hot, and you didn’t know if it was because the windows were fogged and Steve was so fucking good at this or because you were embarassed by how turned on you were from his next words. 

“Please, I gotta,” he slipped a finger under the fabric and you shuddered as it ran down your slick and back up, “I gotta taste you. I need to put my mouth on you. Let me make you feel good, yeah?”

You were on your back, Calvin’s in a ball on the front seat, with Steve crouched between your thighs not even a minute later. 

Thick fingers toyed with the hem of your skirt from his spot, blown out pupils taking over his stare up at you. One of your converse pushed to the other side of the car against the door as your fingers curled around the base of the sweating window above you. 

Steve kissed your knee, and made his way higher between your legs slowly, until he was flipping your skirt up and swallowing as he stared at the space like it was a fucking artwork. 

You giggled, nervously under the intense awestruck stare, squeezing your eyes shut as he strained to get out, “Fuck, honey, you’re trying to kill me.”

He was mesmerized, the way you clenched around nothing, his thumbs spreading you so he could see just how wet you were for him. 

He was really not gonna last much longer. Straining in his jeans painfully like a teenager. 

And that was before you whimpered, before you said:

“Steve, please.”

“Only,” he swallowed, leaning down so his breath hit your cunt in a way that had your hips wiggling, and him closing his eyes, “Only cause you asked so nicely.”

His thumbs held you open, massaging the sides as his tongue licked once, slow and broad, following the path of his nose up to your clit. He did it again, and again, and again. Until his fingers were slipping inside of you, pumping in and out of walls that held him tightly and his mouth sucked at your clit. Then you tugged, forcefully at the curls at the back of his head and practically screamed his name. Like it was full of only the best letters. Like it was yours. 

Your stomach burned, the butterflies angry and in your chest now too, on fire, but happy about it. Steve’s fingers inside of you and mouth on your clit better than any orgasm you’d ever had, and you couldn’t help it when you came without warning, toes curling inside of your converse that kicked at the door and his thigh, while your fingers slipped on the window and your chest ached for a breath as it yelled his name in a way that the whole world would have to know how you felt when they heard it. 

He didn’t pull away until you were gasping and your thighs were shaking and your fingers loosened in his hair. His cheek pressed to your thigh as he stared up at you and gasped out a proud, smug, “I’d like to see Bender of Brian do that.”

You laughed, tired, but happy, and he crawled up your body, kissing any part of it he could find while he ignored the uncomfortable wet patch in the front of his Levi’s. 

Except you noticed and raised your eyebrows at it, a little smug yourself as you said, “Bet Claire couldn’t do that.”

Steve rolled his eyes, but then you were both flinching as a loud smack of something hit the back window. He glanced up and cursed under his breath, rolling down the window slightly as he called out from on top of you, “Hey, Hop.”

There was a loud, deep, sigh from outside as you both sat up with apologetic faces and Steve rolled down the window further. 

Hopper’s cigarette smoke wafted in as he looked at the pair of you with a touch of surprise when he saw it was you next to Steve in the fogged up beemer. He shook his head, frown under the mustache forced.  “It’s past eleven. On a weeknight. Have some decency and do this at home in front of a movie like normal people next time, yeah?”

You both nodded, your teeth pulling at your lip in a terrible attempt at not smiling. 

He walked away, and you and Steve slapped hands over each other’s laughs and snorts, but you still managed to catch the quiet, “Bout damn time.” 

And when Steve dropped you off at home, with a kiss to seal it all and a promise of a real date tomorrow that he’d pick you up for, you shoved the bunched up Calvin’s in his front pocket with your own promise, whispering in his ear the words “Sincerely, yours” before you left him with his mouth open on the front steps, watching you walk away. 

[obx-adventures]

🍭 “I love you.” “You do?” with jj maybank :)

i haven't written for this himbo in a hot minute, so thank you for this anna baby!!! pls enjoy pining jj <33

jj maybank x reader, short lil best friends to lovers + love confession, 1.6k

“Holy shit, he’s here and I’m not ready yet! J, go stall for time!” You exclaimed, angling your head towards your bedroom, where JJ had been camped out on your bed for hours now, having been the poor soul relegated to help you choose an outfit for your date tonight. The doorbell had just rung whilst you were in the middle of doing your makeup, nearly sending you into a frenzy. 

“Got it!” He yelled back, heaving himself to his feet and stomping down the hall to answer the door, albeit a bit begrudgingly.

There was nothing he wanted to do less than make small talk with yet another guy that wasn’t him taking you on a date. But you asked, and JJ always did what you asked. It came with the territory of being head over heels in love with your best friend. 

He plastered a neutral look on his face, pulling open the front door only to be met with some dude who he vaguely recognized as being one of Sarah’s slightly less stuck up Kook friends—Preston who the fuck knows what. Probably some fancy ass last name like Berkeshire. Harrington. Vanderbilt. Something hyphenated, or with a Jr. or II tacked on the end of it. 

Preston something or other looked a bit surprised to see him standing on the other side of the door but recovered quickly, guy nodding at him suavely. “Hey man. Is Y/N here?” 

“She’s almost ready.” JJ replied, leaning against the doorframe with crossed arms. Preston nodded again, shifting on his feet. He looked nervous, JJ noticed. Good. Then he noticed the bouquet of flowers clutched in his hand. “Carnations, huh?” 

“Yeah, you think she’ll like them?” He straightened the cellophane surrounding them, tucking a stray leaf back into the bunch. 

“Oh, totally.” JJ was being one hundred percent sarcastic, but Preston didn’t know that. If he really knew you at all, he would know that you hated carnations. That you thought they were tacky and too bright. And if JJ wanted to be a good guy, he’d tell Preston before he made the wrong impression on you. But he wasn’t going to. He knew he probably should, but he wasn’t going to. Call him selfish. “So tell me, Preston, what’s the agenda for tonight? Where are y’all going?” 

“Uh, nowhere special. Dinner at that new bistro on Main and maybe a walk around town afterward.” Preston chuckled awkwardly, licking his lips. 

Damn it. That was actually a really good date idea. 

“Preston, hi!” You interjected breathlessly, rushing past JJ to give the other boy a brief hug. “Sorry to keep you waiting, I hope this one didn’t tell you too many embarrassing stories about me.” 

“I would never.” JJ mock gasped, pressing a hand against his chest. 

“Yes, you would.” 

“Alright, maybe I would.” He shrugged. “Anyways, whatever! Get outta here, kids, go have fun. Not too much fun though, Preston my man! No funny business, have her home by eleven, yadda yadda.” 

“Bye, J. Try not to burn down the house while I’m gone.” 

“I’ll try my best.” He saluted you, ignoring the warmth in his chest when you rolled your eyes playfully at him. Then you were gone, leaving JJ alone. 

He did admit, he worked himself up a little too much waiting for you to come home. Maybe he almost paced a hole in the floor just thinking about what could happen if this date actually went well. He could see it now, ten, fifteen years into the future—you were a Figure 8 trophy wife with two kids who looked annoyingly just like Preston, and JJ was still here on the southside, hopelessly in love with his happily married, Kook-converted best friend. 

Okay, maybe he was overreacting a little bit, but he couldn’t help it. Nothing he did seemed to quell the thoughts ping-ponging around in his brain; all he could do was wait for you to come home and tell him everything, like you always did. 

-------

He straightened up the second he heard your key twisting in the lock, swinging his legs down to the floor from where they’d previously been hooked over the back of the sofa. Play it cool, bro. 

“That’s it!” You huffed, throwing open the front door and traipsing inside, kicking off your shoes before flopping down next to him rather dramatically. “I’m calling it now! I’m never gonna find anyone!” 

JJ thumped your forehead from where your head had landed in his lap upon landing. “I take it the date didn’t go well?”

“That would be the understatement of a century.” 

“Well, I didn’t like him anyways, so.” You squinted up at him, frowning. “What? He got you carnations, Y/N. You hate carnations.” 

“Yeah, but I didn’t hate Preston. He seemed nice, but the whole night, he was just…off, I dunno.” You sighed, waving a vague hand. “It was weird, I saw him this morning and he said he was excited, but when he came here it was like his whole vibe changed.” Part of that was probably his interaction with JJ, but the blond boy held his tongue. You sat up, angling yourself to face him with furrowed brows. “What did you say to him when he got here earlier?”

“Me? I didn’t say shit, I was just sussin’ him out. Simply exercising my duty as best friend.” 

“Bullshit, you were probably sabotaging me!” Grabbing a pillow, you shoved your face into it, letting out a strangled groan. JJ patted your leg soothingly (he hoped), lips pressing into a thin line. “It’s whatever though. I don’t care anymore. I’m just never gonna find love in this lifetime.” 

“Hey, don’t say that,” He chided, easing the pillow away from your face. “That’s not true. You’ll find love.” With me, he wanted to add. He didn’t. 

“Thanks, J. But I don’t…I really don’t know anymore. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but it just feels like everytime I think ‘wow, this could be the time’, it just doesn’t work out.” You mumbled, picking at a loose thread at the hem of your shirt. “Makes me think that maybe it’s me, maybe I’m just unlovable.” 

And that—you thinking that you were unlovable when JJ had loved you all his life—that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

“I love you.” He blurted, brows furrowing. 

Your breath caught in your chest, and you hesitated a second. “You do?” 

“Fuck—yeah. Yeah, I do. ‘Course I do.” He sighed, dragging a hand through his already unruly hair, causing it to spring back in every which way. “How could I not?” 

“Since when?” 

“Are you kidding me? Since forever, Y/N. Honestly, probably since the first day we met, back when we were what, seven? You told me you liked my hair. Said it reminded you of gold, then you shared your fruit snacks with me. And that,” JJ chuckled, shaking his head, “that stuck with me, ever since then.” 

“I remember.” You said softly, the memory bringing a small smile to your face. You’d met JJ on the first day of second grade, and it seemed like you’d just been attached at the hip ever since. He knew everything about you, you knew everything about him—except for the fact that he’d been in love with you ever since.

So really, maybe you didn’t know him as well as you thought you did. 

“I can see the gears turning in your head right now.” He bumped his knuckles against your knee, ducking to meet your gaze. “You don’t have to say anything right now, I know it’s—it’s probably hard to take in. But it’s the truth. You were never unloveable, Y/N, you’re fucking perfect. You just…hadn’t found the right guy to love yet. And it might not be me, but I just needed you to know that you’re not doing anything wrong. Those guys are just fucking stupid if they didn’t see what I see in you. What I’ve always seen.”

You didn’t respond, instead just leaning forward and taking his face in your hands and pressing your lips against his, kissing him before you chickened out. If JJ was surprised he masked it well, only taking less than a beat to react. He reached out blindly, hands finding your waist to pull you onto his lap as he kissed you back eagerly. 

“That was—what was that?” He breathed, pink lips parted and now shiny with your lipgloss, eyes bluer than the summer sky gazing wide right at you. 

“Wanted to see if it felt right.” You whispered.

His chest rose and fell, pushing against yours with every deep breath he took in an attempt to keep calm despite his electric nerves. “And did it?” 

“It did.” You confirmed with a nod, a small grin stretching your lips. 

Everything was making sense now, like pieces slotting into a lifelong puzzle. The reason you were having such a hard time finding someone to love and someone to love you was because the person you needed and didn’t realize you wanted had been right in front of you for years, and you’d been too blind to see it all this time. But you saw it now. 

You saw JJ now, and nothing had been clearer. 

“I love you, J.” 

JJ’s eyes fluttered shut almost blissfully, head lolling back against the couch cushions. “Shit, you have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to hear you say that.” He gave your waist a quick squeeze before letting his hand come up to give himself a light slap on the cheek. 

“What’re you doing?” You giggled, tugging his hand away from his face. 

“Making sure this isn’t another one of my dreams.” 

Your brows lifted teasingly. “You dream about me?” 

“All the fucking time, sweetheart.” His fingers traced the inside of your wrist, basking in the feeling of your soft skin warm against his, the view of you sitting on top of him looking like the epitome of beauty. He’d imagined this moment countless times, but never once did he think it would ever become a reality. 

“And how do those dreams usually end?” 

JJ smirked, eyes now gleaming with mischief. “You want me to show you?”

[obx-adventures]

There's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you dear - S.H

Steve’s completely and utterly in love with his best friend

A/n: friends to lovers, valentines theme, florist!reader, love confession 

Warnings: kissing, 

Word count: 3.8k

February, 

She always smiled when she saw him. She always said she missed him, and if there were no customers she ran to hug him. It didn't matter if he had seen her the evening before or that same morning, she always seemed to miss him no matter how long it had been. He understood that more than she knew, he felt it with her constantly. 

The windows were a little misted up that evening. Fogged up in the corners like it was always meant to be like that. It got colder the second the sun set but no matter the time of year, no matter if it was snowing or raining, after Steve’s day ended he walked right down to the florists to see her. 

It was pretty inside, he imagined it was supposed to be like that but sometimes, almost all the time, he liked to give her credit for it all. For the perfectly placed flowers, all somehow fading into one another, soft blues into bright pinks. 

And that oh so pretty smile when she saw him, standing outside with his hands in his pockets, a boyish grin on his lips no matter how tired he was, his fluffy hair and his unfixed collar. 

It was busier today, so she gave him a little nod to come inside, sticking her nose up like a cat rubbing against his leg. He wasn’t sure how it was possible but everything she did was cute. 

He wouldn't get to hear the bell above the door ring right before she crashed into him today, running out into the cold just to greet him like she normally would, he crossed his fingers for tomorrow. 

“Sorry.” She mouthed as he walked in, her eyes so soft that his heart could’ve broken right there all over the lavender. It was like every time they were apart he forgot how one look from her made his knees weaken. 

Steve wandered around for a little while, keeping his hands at his sides, careful not to break anything, just waiting for things to slow down. Really, he could have just gone home, he could’ve got in his car and headed straight back, none of his friends would’ve waited around like this. 

But he was content with waiting and he liked the little walk to his car where they talked and he liked how her perfume stuck to the seats long after he dropped her off. 

He also liked watching her. Watching how she smiled at every single person who walked through the door, even though he knew she was shy, she forced herself to be kind and that accidentally made Steve a little jealous at times. How she lit up when someone asked her a question or how she softened over when someone came in and told her they needed flowers for a girlfriend or a boyfriend. 

When it died down and they were left alone, Steve went and leaned on the counter, just like she did when she visited family video, they always seemed to be leaning towards each other. 

The corners of his mouth were already flicking up without permission, he guessed he had missed her more that day. She had pretty specks of gold and silver by her eyes, it always made him do a double take. He pressed his nails into his palm to stop from brushing the fallen glitter from her cheek. 

Steve hated her makeup, he hated how it made him want to touch her, how he wanted to fix her shiny lip gloss and accidentally linger a little too long on her lips. Honestly he just hated that he wasn’t her boyfriend and he wasn’t allowed to do those things, that she wasn’t his girl and he couldn’t just-

“I have to stay late today Stevie.”

His eyes darted back to hers, away from her lips, hearing her pretty little nickname for him made the blood rush to his head, and it somehow made it feel a lot hotter than it was. No one else called him that, he didn’t care for it until she started saying it and how could he ever correct her. 

“No.” He pouted, eyes dropping into a puppy-like stare, hoping he could play on her heart a little and make her come with him. It was selfish and childish but knowing he was the one that got her home every night, that he was the one telling her about plans with their friends, made him feel more important to her. 

Her eyes softened with sadness, which at least told him she didn’t want to stay either, that she wanted to go with him too. 

“I’m so sorry I was going to call and let you know, and now you’ve walked all this way- and It’s freezing.” She glanced outside the window, as if there was some horrible snow storm coming down and it was all her fault. “Steve, I feel awful.” She put her head in her hands, even when apologising, for something she didn’t need to, she was adorable. 

He placed his hands around her wrists, pulling them away, trying not to smile too hard. He could feel her pulse under his fingers and the patterned thumping almost made him drop to the floor. He swallowed down hard, letting her go, trying not to think about dragging kisses along the inside of her wrists. 

“Can I help?” Steve’s voice cracked slightly, he just hoped she didn’t catch it. He didn’t mind all the pollen making his eyes itch if it meant he could steal a little time with her, and maybe if it got late enough and they were tired he could tell her. 

He wouldn’t but he liked to think about doing a lot. 

Her eyes lit up and he swore he could have kissed her, just for the sake of kissing her, nothing more. “You want to?” She asked, nervously-excited like he hadn’t already implied it. Like he wouldn’t drop everything for her in a heartbeat. 

Including sitting on the floor crossed legged surrounded by ribbons and paper hearts. Valentines day was just two weeks away, and the one girl he wanted to take out was sitting across from him, tying pink ribbon and looking unbelievably gorgeous while simply just existing. 

She never noticed when he was staring, it sounded foolish but when he was busy looking at her like she held the stars, she was helplessly too caught up in his puppy dog eyes and his soft smile to see it. 

When Steve drove her home after her shifts, he always opened the car door for her, he always played the cd’s she liked even if he didn’t like them so much. And she still didn’t know. The whole town knew he was head over heels but she was far too busy daydreaming about him to notice. 

He always looked extra pretty when he drove her home, the passing street lights and the warm orange from the car light made him look golden. She doubted there was any kind of light that could make him look bad. He always just looked right. Everything fitted him and it made her head spin.

Right down to the way his car smelled faintly like cigarettes and Obsession cologne.

“What are you thinking about?” Steve leaned back against a table leg, clearly uncomfortable but clearly not wanting to say so. 

He wasn’t going to tell her that sitting on the floor like this was making his legs ache like he had just been running around town three times over. She would’ve told him to stop helping her and to go home and he really didn’t want that.

Steve had been watching her for a while and slowly she had started to lose focus and almost seem to drift off somewhere. He knew because he found himself doing it so often around her. There were many mislabelled tapes lying around at family video just because he was thinking about what perfume she was wearing the evening before and why it made his head spin.

His voice made her flinch slightly, not in a bad way, simply because she was so busy thinking about him that she forgot he was sitting in front of her. She felt the blood rushing to her head, like Steve could somehow know he had caught her out. 

“Nothing.” She didn’t mean to stutter but when he had moved he had started leaning his shoe against her knee, it was harmless and he probably didn’t even notice. However innocent it was, it didn't stop her heart from thumping. “Why?” She hated the way her voice cracked. 

He nodded his head towards her crossed legs. “You're cutting it wrong.” He smiled softly, not for one second wanting to make her feel bad. 

“Oh.” 

There was a mess of ribbons and paper in her lap, Steve was right, she really hadn’t been paying enough attention. She really was starting to wonder if he knew. Was it obvious when she was thinking about him? 

The following week the entire town seemed to be covered in pink and red with flowers in every store window. It made Steve smile as he walked, it was like seeing a little reminder of her everywhere. Because like always, he had missed her all day like he hadn’t seen the night before.

It was strange, he should've hated everything about Valentines, he was lovelorn for a girl who was one of his closest friends. But it was hard to be miserable while being in love with her, no matter if she didn't feel it back. 

Sometimes it hurt, sometimes his whole body ached, but then she'd smile at him or talk and it would be worth it. He got to the florists, he hadn't remembered how, he guess he got too caught up in thinking about her, but he was here now.

The little bell above the door rang as she came out to greet him. She had no idea how hot the back of his neck had gotten from just seeing her, And when she threw her arms around him, he worried she might feel the thumping of his heart through his coat. 

“Oh, Stevie, I missed you.” He smiled, holding her a little tighter, his hands spread across her back. “The ride home was so much quicker last night.” She pulled back, pouting a little, he was so very glad she agreed with him. Even if it took the same time as always. 

“I know but at least we can hang out tonight.” He took the keys from her fingers, he always locked up for her this time of year. Steve hated her getting cold hands because she was fussing with the door lock. 

He wasn’t just driving her home tonight, they were heading to some bar Robin had been obsessing over. Steve didn’t care for crowded or even empty bars much anymore but he doubted he could’ve gotten out of it, plus the second Robin said that the girl standing beside him, waiting for him to lock up was going, he knew he would be too. 

She smiled at that. “Sounds like a plan.” She started to walk off, she knew where his car was, and she knew Steve would follow. 

Everyone was talking over the music playing, huddled up in some corner even though it was Hakwins and the bar was half empty. He didn’t mind that everyone was practically sitting on top of each other because Steve was sitting next to her.

Her thighs were pressing into his, their knees accidently touching every time the other moved even just slightly. And every time she laughed or spoke, he was the first to hear it. He could feel the heat coming off her, it only made the perfume sitting on her neck stronger, but being this close made Steve more quiet then normal. 

How was he supposed to talk or even join in in any conversion happening before him when she was right there. Lips smudged with something shiny that could easily become sticky, eyes batting away like she had no idea what she was doing to him.

He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her in front of all their friends. He wanted to kiss her hidden away in the bathroom just for them to know. He wanted to kiss her everywhere. 

“Right Steve?”

He turned hearing his name and hurt his neck from the sudden snap of attention. He really hadn’t been listening and suddenly everyone was looking at him, and some of them, mostly Robin and Eddie, seemed to be laughing about something. 

The girl beside him looked bashfully at the floor, what had he missed?

“Yeah.” Steve wanted nothing more than to be left back out of the conversation. They seemed to take his voice breaking response, which was slightly embarrassing, and carry on talking amongst themselves. “What was that about?” He whispered to the girl next to him. 

“They were just joking about-” She stopped herself, she was nervous, he could always tell. “About, about you staring at me.” She continued staring at the floor like she didn’t find the joke funny at all. He didn’t either.

She hadn’t thought he was staring. She presumed everyone was making a joke that she just didn’t understand. Why would he be looking at her and why would that be so funny to them? But then the red hint in Steve’s cheeks gave him away. 

Maybe he had been staring. She looked at him and it felt different, she felt different. She was flustered now, more than she ever had been when any other boy had looked at her. And there was something darker in his eyes, something wanting that made her lips suddenly feel so unused.  

They didn’t talk much for the rest of the night, better yet, Steve didn’t talk much. He just whispered to her when he had missed something or when he was asking her if she wanted a drink. It made her wonder why he had even gone.

They left together because they always did, someone else could't given her a ride home but Steve always did so why would they. It wasn’t even a question anymore, he was just always willing and ready to get her home safe. 

He grabbed her hand to lead her out after saying goodbye, it wasn’t busy enough for him to have to do it but she didn’t let go. He held her hand gently but there was no chance of her slipping from his hold. She didn’t think her hand would’ve let her let his go anyway, so instead she squeezed his hand back and followed him outside. 

Steve let her go the second the cold air hit, maybe his hands were just cold but it still made her heart sink. It would’ve been nice to hold his hand for a little longer, it would've been nice to stay longer too, not for the drinks or necessarily the comply, but because it was nice sitting so close to Steve. 

She could’ve rested her head on his shoulder and stayed there all night if he wanted. 

He stopped, right in the middle of the road, by where his car was parked. She almost walked right into him, too preoccupied thinking about how much bigger his hand was to hers. He was breathing deeply and quickly, it must’ve been the cold. 

But she wasn’t so sure because when she looked up at him, he had this look in his eyes, something she could’ve mistaken for being afraid but she couldn’t tell. He almost looked sad in a way, kind of like his heart was hanging vulnerably off his sleeve. She didn’t know what he could’ve been so twisted over, nothing had happened. 

Unless-

Steve stepped forward, the ends of his sneakers brushing hers. It made her lightheaded, she could practically taste the peppermint on his tongue, mixing with the Pepsi he had drunk. It was completely head spinning and he was getting too close. They had never been this close before, had they?

She felt the air getting thinner as her eyes fell on his lips.

She stumbled back slightly, her back hitting against his passenger door. She never moved away from him on purpose, she always leaned towards him but having him so close was making her nervous. Steve only followed her. 

He was warm, she could feel the heat coming off him, or maybe he was just making her hot, she couldn’t tell anymore.

He went to say something, parting his lips but letting no sound out. He just kept breathing in like he had forgotten to breathe out. He placed his hand on the roof of his car, trying to steady himself but for her, that only shut everything else out. All she could think or feel was Steve. Steve, Steve, and she-

“Can I kiss you, please?” He sounded desperate, they way he said it was so sweet, so Steve. He wasn’t just asking to kiss her he was begging, his eyes were soft and sad and he wanted to kiss her. No one had ever said please when asking to do anything to her before. 

She nodded, quickly. She didn’t think she could have spoken without stuttering or making a fool of herself. He pressed a hand to her waist, his thumb digging into her soft skin, making her feel jealous of every girl who had been in this position before. 

He tilted his head down, lips just ghosting over hers for a moment, his nose nudging against her own. As he wet his lips in anticipation he accidentally touched her bottom lip and that was enough to break the softness of the moment they were having. 

Suddenly he was kissing her. Pressed up against his car in the middle of the street. He really did taste like Pepsi and peppermint, she hadn't imagined that. The taste of him glossed over her lips and she barely noticed Steve’s hand leaving her side just to wrap around her wrist and put her hand on his neck. 

The car door was cold against her back but she didn;t mind because Steve’s hands were warm, his neck was hot and his lips were burning. “God, I love you.” She heard him mutter between kisses and her heart stopped. 

It was all she had ever wanted to hear him say and yet she was completely unprepared for how the words from his lips would stitch onto her heart with the sharpest needle. He stopped for a moment, breathing heavily, this time breathing out too.  

His eyes were closed and he looked prettier than ever with her lip gloss smudge across his face and his cheeks flushed red. She found she quite liked having her hands around his neck, she tagged her fingers in his hair, not missing the slight groan he made at the feeling.

He looked down at her, that little hint of fear back in his eyes. She wanted to kiss that feeling away, like he had done for her. She decided on admitting what she had known for a long time instead. “I love you too Steve.” 

He instantly smiled, a boyish, lovesick, Steve Harrington kind of smile. He held her face delicately, tilted her jaw up, rubbing his thumb over the corner of her lip. “Hey,” He quickly kissed where his touch had traced, making her smile. “What are you doing on Valentine's day?”

She shook her head and he laughed softly at her. He couldn’t be doing what she thought he was, she had just told him she loved him, he had told her he loved her, he couldn't be asking if-

“Wanna go out with me?”

Oh sweet Steve. 

He turned up at her door on February fourteenth, a collection of pink and orange Lilies in his hand, tied together with a white ribbon, he hadn’t got them from her so he must’ve gone out of town. The little sentiment made her heart leap. 

He had sweater hair, like he had been rushing to get ready and pulled his red jumper over his head and forgotten how the static made his hair so fluffy. He looked soft and sweet, and that was before she even noticed the red vines in his other hand. 

Steve’s eyes flickered over her little dress, over the wool cardigan keeping her warm, it was a soft pink that made the white of her dress look even more pure. She looked like how he imagined this holiday would look if they were a person. 

“You look, you’re-, always so-” She felt her face burn, he was stuttering because of her. He stepped through the doorway, feeling like he might just fall to the floor at any moment. “You’re just so pretty.” 

His eyes never left her as he said it, he was shaking his head like he almost didn’t believe it. He handed her the flowers, smiling at the way she held them close and breathed them in. She was already saddened that one day they were going to wilt and die, she'd have to keep the ribbon somewhere for safe keeping. 

“You’re pretty too Stevie.” She didn’t mean much by saying it, she was so busy looking at her flowers that the thought just slipped past her lips in a soft mutter. She shut her door and went to place them on the kitchen table, he just followed her like she guessed he would.

The blush in Steve’s cheeks came out, spreading a little to his neck. The freckles that dotted across his skin were always such a distraction for her, the way his neck strained was too, and now she could add how it looked flushed to her list of distractions. She wondered what it might be like to kiss his neck. 

His hand slipped over the backs on one of the chairs as he stepped closer to her, she stayed still this time, anxious for him to be nearer. 

“Stop you’re going to make tonight torture.” He breathed out desperately, making her head hurt, not knowing that her simple words had made his entire soul ache for her. 

He held his hand to her cheek, smoothing her skin with his thumb, catching her eyes in the sparkling chandelier hanging above them. The light touching across his face made him look kissable, not that he didn’t before, but it was somehow worse now.

She swallowed down nervously, last time he had kissed her it had been perfect, but this moment felt a little different, they knew what it was like now, and Steve hadn’t kissed her again since, he said he wanted to take her out properly first, which had been torture, 

“You’re the one doing that.” She whispered to him, hands getting lost in his hair as he smirked down at her. She pulled slightly, letting him know she wanted nothing more for him to kiss her again. Their plans for the night slowly slipping away, because once Steve kissed her he wouldn’t be able to stop. 

[obx-adventures]

All of these are so good ❤️

Steve Harrington daydreams

(* indicates 18+, smut, mature)

Fics

Cruel summer

Right side of my neck part two

I'm your man

Forever winter

Peace

All too well

Cowboy like me *

Meeting Steve in college, where his king Steve title never really faded, 7.1k

And when I'm feeling alone you remind me of home

Christmas is getting closer but Steve's favourite girl has lost her Christmas spirit, and Steve's more than happy to help her get it back, 3.1k

Broken and blue *

After the events of season three Steve and his girl get a little caught up, 1.6k

We're the best of friends

She's been pulling away and Steve wants to know why, 1.7k

All that you ever wanted from me was sweet nothing

Soft hopelessly in love Steve 2.4k

Maroon*

Steve has major problems with his parents and there's one way he can let them go, 1.9k

Sweet tea in the summer

Steve falling helplessly in love with a pretty girl the first time he meets her, 2k

Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover

Steve gets hired as a date for a wedding and can't help but wonder why the pretty girl he had a thing for in high school even needed him, 3.6k

Spring breaks loose

Soft boyfriend Steve, 0.5k

Glitch

Living in New York Steve makes a friend that seems to blur the line of friendship, 3.8k

Untouchable

Steve asksing out a pretty girl, 0.7k

Whispers of "Are you sure?" *

Steve plans a group trip just to spend time with his favourite girl, 3.3k 

The way you call me "baby" *

Steve’s been so patient with his girl but he just can’t take it anymore and neither can she, 2.4k

Our secret moments in a crowded room *

Going to one of Band!Steve’s shows, 1.9k

Our love lasts so long

A picnic date in spring, 1.1k

I'm not a bad girl, but I do bad things with you *

Steve invites his favourite girl over to watch sixteen candles and have a sleepover, 2.2k

I don’t want to think of anything else now that I thought of you

Steve starts enjoying working a scoops ahoy when a pretty girl starts coming in, 2k

Love story *

Summer 1990, Steve's been living in the country his whole life, when suddenly there's this new girl and Steve's instantly infatuated with her, 15.1k

Superstar *

The girl of Steve’s dreams finally comes to see his show, 4.4k

Tangled up with you all night *

First time with soft boyfriend Steve, 3k

Hey Stephen *

Steve meets a girl on his trip to Greece, 8k

This love *

Steve's goes to his family's beach house every summer, but there's a new girl there who he's convinced is the one, 14.1k

I get mystified

A summer day with Steve, 1.8k

I want your midnights

A first date with Steve, 1.2k

Mine

Summer break spent with best friend!Steve who’s secretly lovesick for his favourite girl, 3.3k

I’m wonderstruck

Steve takes his favourite girl home, 1.5k

Absentmindedly making me want you *

A movie date with Hawkins it boy, 2.4k

Moss

Camping with Steve, 6.3k

He is in love

Steve finally realises what everyone else has known forever, he's in love with his best friend, 1.2k

When you splashed your wine into me

Steve’s instantly hooked on the pretty girl behind the bar, 1.8k

I would've read your love letters every single night

Steve falls for a girl he's only ever written to, 2.9k

I can’t dare to dream about you anymore

Late nights at family video with Steve, 5.2k

Jessie's girl

Steve is deeply into love with his best friend's girl, 1.2k 

Outside they're push and shoving

While spying on another team the pretty girl in the hall was just best kind of distraction, 2.3k

This happens all the time

Steve's completely gone for the girl from the hallway, 0.6k

Christmas lights glisten

Steve makes sure his girl gets her perfect Christmas, 2.2k

There's glitter on the floor after the party

A new years eve party forces Steve to admit how he really feels, 4.8k

Willow

Steve gets taken on by the Byers farm but there's a pretty girl that lives there too, a friend of the family and poor Steve is instantly taken by her, 7.4k

And I couldn't be sure, I had a feeling so peculiar

Steve meets a pretty girl in the woods just when he needs to, 1.8k

Headcanons

All tagged under - silly little Steve thoughts

Moodboards

All ragged under - steve harrington moodboards

[obx-adventures]

🍭 “I love you.” “You do?” with jj maybank :)

i haven't written for this himbo in a hot minute, so thank you for this anna baby!!! pls enjoy pining jj <33

jj maybank x reader, short lil best friends to lovers + love confession, 1.6k

“Holy shit, he’s here and I’m not ready yet! J, go stall for time!” You exclaimed, angling your head towards your bedroom, where JJ had been camped out on your bed for hours now, having been the poor soul relegated to help you choose an outfit for your date tonight. The doorbell had just rung whilst you were in the middle of doing your makeup, nearly sending you into a frenzy. 

“Got it!” He yelled back, heaving himself to his feet and stomping down the hall to answer the door, albeit a bit begrudgingly.

There was nothing he wanted to do less than make small talk with yet another guy that wasn’t him taking you on a date. But you asked, and JJ always did what you asked. It came with the territory of being head over heels in love with your best friend. 

He plastered a neutral look on his face, pulling open the front door only to be met with some dude who he vaguely recognized as being one of Sarah’s slightly less stuck up Kook friends—Preston who the fuck knows what. Probably some fancy ass last name like Berkeshire. Harrington. Vanderbilt. Something hyphenated, or with a Jr. or II tacked on the end of it. 

Preston something or other looked a bit surprised to see him standing on the other side of the door but recovered quickly, guy nodding at him suavely. “Hey man. Is Y/N here?” 

“She’s almost ready.” JJ replied, leaning against the doorframe with crossed arms. Preston nodded again, shifting on his feet. He looked nervous, JJ noticed. Good. Then he noticed the bouquet of flowers clutched in his hand. “Carnations, huh?” 

“Yeah, you think she’ll like them?” He straightened the cellophane surrounding them, tucking a stray leaf back into the bunch. 

“Oh, totally.” JJ was being one hundred percent sarcastic, but Preston didn’t know that. If he really knew you at all, he would know that you hated carnations. That you thought they were tacky and too bright. And if JJ wanted to be a good guy, he’d tell Preston before he made the wrong impression on you. But he wasn’t going to. He knew he probably should, but he wasn’t going to. Call him selfish. “So tell me, Preston, what’s the agenda for tonight? Where are y’all going?” 

“Uh, nowhere special. Dinner at that new bistro on Main and maybe a walk around town afterward.” Preston chuckled awkwardly, licking his lips. 

Damn it. That was actually a really good date idea. 

“Preston, hi!” You interjected breathlessly, rushing past JJ to give the other boy a brief hug. “Sorry to keep you waiting, I hope this one didn’t tell you too many embarrassing stories about me.” 

“I would never.” JJ mock gasped, pressing a hand against his chest. 

“Yes, you would.” 

“Alright, maybe I would.” He shrugged. “Anyways, whatever! Get outta here, kids, go have fun. Not too much fun though, Preston my man! No funny business, have her home by eleven, yadda yadda.” 

“Bye, J. Try not to burn down the house while I’m gone.” 

“I’ll try my best.” He saluted you, ignoring the warmth in his chest when you rolled your eyes playfully at him. Then you were gone, leaving JJ alone. 

He did admit, he worked himself up a little too much waiting for you to come home. Maybe he almost paced a hole in the floor just thinking about what could happen if this date actually went well. He could see it now, ten, fifteen years into the future—you were a Figure 8 trophy wife with two kids who looked annoyingly just like Preston, and JJ was still here on the southside, hopelessly in love with his happily married, Kook-converted best friend. 

Okay, maybe he was overreacting a little bit, but he couldn’t help it. Nothing he did seemed to quell the thoughts ping-ponging around in his brain; all he could do was wait for you to come home and tell him everything, like you always did. 

-------

He straightened up the second he heard your key twisting in the lock, swinging his legs down to the floor from where they’d previously been hooked over the back of the sofa. Play it cool, bro. 

“That’s it!” You huffed, throwing open the front door and traipsing inside, kicking off your shoes before flopping down next to him rather dramatically. “I’m calling it now! I’m never gonna find anyone!” 

JJ thumped your forehead from where your head had landed in his lap upon landing. “I take it the date didn’t go well?”

“That would be the understatement of a century.” 

“Well, I didn’t like him anyways, so.” You squinted up at him, frowning. “What? He got you carnations, Y/N. You hate carnations.” 

“Yeah, but I didn’t hate Preston. He seemed nice, but the whole night, he was just…off, I dunno.” You sighed, waving a vague hand. “It was weird, I saw him this morning and he said he was excited, but when he came here it was like his whole vibe changed.” Part of that was probably his interaction with JJ, but the blond boy held his tongue. You sat up, angling yourself to face him with furrowed brows. “What did you say to him when he got here earlier?”

“Me? I didn’t say shit, I was just sussin’ him out. Simply exercising my duty as best friend.” 

“Bullshit, you were probably sabotaging me!” Grabbing a pillow, you shoved your face into it, letting out a strangled groan. JJ patted your leg soothingly (he hoped), lips pressing into a thin line. “It’s whatever though. I don’t care anymore. I’m just never gonna find love in this lifetime.” 

“Hey, don’t say that,” He chided, easing the pillow away from your face. “That’s not true. You’ll find love.” With me, he wanted to add. He didn’t. 

“Thanks, J. But I don’t…I really don’t know anymore. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but it just feels like everytime I think ‘wow, this could be the time’, it just doesn’t work out.” You mumbled, picking at a loose thread at the hem of your shirt. “Makes me think that maybe it’s me, maybe I’m just unlovable.” 

And that—you thinking that you were unlovable when JJ had loved you all his life—that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

“I love you.” He blurted, brows furrowing. 

Your breath caught in your chest, and you hesitated a second. “You do?” 

“Fuck—yeah. Yeah, I do. ‘Course I do.” He sighed, dragging a hand through his already unruly hair, causing it to spring back in every which way. “How could I not?” 

“Since when?” 

“Are you kidding me? Since forever, Y/N. Honestly, probably since the first day we met, back when we were what, seven? You told me you liked my hair. Said it reminded you of gold, then you shared your fruit snacks with me. And that,” JJ chuckled, shaking his head, “that stuck with me, ever since then.” 

“I remember.” You said softly, the memory bringing a small smile to your face. You’d met JJ on the first day of second grade, and it seemed like you’d just been attached at the hip ever since. He knew everything about you, you knew everything about him—except for the fact that he’d been in love with you ever since.

So really, maybe you didn’t know him as well as you thought you did. 

“I can see the gears turning in your head right now.” He bumped his knuckles against your knee, ducking to meet your gaze. “You don’t have to say anything right now, I know it’s—it’s probably hard to take in. But it’s the truth. You were never unloveable, Y/N, you’re fucking perfect. You just…hadn’t found the right guy to love yet. And it might not be me, but I just needed you to know that you’re not doing anything wrong. Those guys are just fucking stupid if they didn’t see what I see in you. What I’ve always seen.”

You didn’t respond, instead just leaning forward and taking his face in your hands and pressing your lips against his, kissing him before you chickened out. If JJ was surprised he masked it well, only taking less than a beat to react. He reached out blindly, hands finding your waist to pull you onto his lap as he kissed you back eagerly. 

“That was—what was that?” He breathed, pink lips parted and now shiny with your lipgloss, eyes bluer than the summer sky gazing wide right at you. 

“Wanted to see if it felt right.” You whispered.

His chest rose and fell, pushing against yours with every deep breath he took in an attempt to keep calm despite his electric nerves. “And did it?” 

“It did.” You confirmed with a nod, a small grin stretching your lips. 

Everything was making sense now, like pieces slotting into a lifelong puzzle. The reason you were having such a hard time finding someone to love and someone to love you was because the person you needed and didn’t realize you wanted had been right in front of you for years, and you’d been too blind to see it all this time. But you saw it now. 

You saw JJ now, and nothing had been clearer. 

“I love you, J.” 

JJ’s eyes fluttered shut almost blissfully, head lolling back against the couch cushions. “Shit, you have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to hear you say that.” He gave your waist a quick squeeze before letting his hand come up to give himself a light slap on the cheek. 

“What’re you doing?” You giggled, tugging his hand away from his face. 

“Making sure this isn’t another one of my dreams.” 

Your brows lifted teasingly. “You dream about me?” 

“All the fucking time, sweetheart.” His fingers traced the inside of your wrist, basking in the feeling of your soft skin warm against his, the view of you sitting on top of him looking like the epitome of beauty. He’d imagined this moment countless times, but never once did he think it would ever become a reality. 

“And how do those dreams usually end?” 

JJ smirked, eyes now gleaming with mischief. “You want me to show you?”

[obx-adventures]

❤️❤️❤️

dress | j.m.

inspired by “dress,” by taylor swift

summary: ANGST!!! fem!reader and jj are best friends that hook up one night after a party. afterwards, you are left with feelings for jj that are more than friendship, but he insists it can never happen again and that makes you certain that you don’t want him like a best friend. 

warnings: marijuana use, alcohol use, making out, mentions of sex, cussing

word count: 7.9k

italics = flashbacks

Our secret moments in your crowded room. They’ve got no idea about me and you. There is an indentation in the shape of you. Made your mark on me, a golden tattoo.

It’s been a week since it happened, but you still can’t believe it. 

JJ was sitting in the doorway of the screened porch after the end of a long night at the Boneyard when you approached him from behind and decided to lower yourself to sit next to him. It wasn’t a rare occasion for the two of you to be the last awake after the group returned to the Chateau. It had been a particularly hard day for him with his dad which he tried to forget about at the party. Everyone else thinks it worked, but you know him a little better. 

“You okay?” you ask softly while laying your head to his shoulder. Your legs are touching because of the confinement of the doorway and the skin of your knees almost stick together from the humid air. A storm was rolling in. 

“Yeah, I’m good. You know I don’t like to let it get to me for too long,” he says to the wind.

“Want to do a little more forgetting with me?” you ask slyly as you present the bowl you’d packed for the two of you before you sat down with him. This was one of your rituals. The two of you ending the night smoking a bowl before bed after everyone else had gone to sleep. 

JJ turns his head to face you, your faces only inches from each other because of how close you were sitting. “You know me too well,” he says with a smile, agreeing. You pass him the bowl and JJ takes the first hit, inhaling the smoke and holding it for several seconds before blowing out the cloud and passing it to you. He always lights your hit for you with his zippo lighter since your burned your finger one time years ago.

You and JJ share the bowl for a few minutes in silence, listening to the wind pick up, the water splash against the dock, and the leaves rustling by. When the rain starts, JJ asks if you want to go inside and you say “No, let’s stay.” So you sit for several more minutes, just like you were, legs touching and heads resting on each other until you see the hammock struggling in all of the wind. You were supposed to bring it in every time there was a storm. 

“JJ, the hammock,” you say and raise your head from his shoulder. 

“Oh shit, I’ll go get it,” he groans and makes his way up from you and out into the rain. 

“Not if I get it first!” and you rush from behind him, racing him in the rain to get there. 

You beat him of course, given your head start, and together unhook the hammock from its post, laughing the whole time at the situation you’re in. Soaking wet, high as kites in the rain, struggling to unhook a hammock in the dark so that it doesn’t fly away. 

When you return to the screened porch, you reclaim your seats on the steps in the doorway, just as close as you were before. You’re completely out of breath and smiling as the raindrops fall from your hair, over your eyes, and down your nose. The two of you share a laugh at the fun you just had. 

When the laughing fades to silence, you turn your head to look at JJ, and he’s already looking at you. His expression is not like one you’ve seen before. The soft smile on his lips is enchanting and the glimmer in his eyes earns him an even bigger smile from you. His hair is drenched just like yours and it’s sticking to his face. 

You’re only inches from each other as you look to one another to say something. But neither of you do. Instead, you find yourself drifting closer and closer to him, pulled in by his magnetic golden charm that you thought didn’t work on you. Eagerly, he surges forward and closes the short distance between your lips. Your best friend is kissing you and you’re surprised how good it feels. You’re not sure if it’s JJ kissing you or the effects of the tonic in your system that make this so stimulating.

He brings one hand to your face to deepen the kiss and wraps the other around your waist pulling you closer to him. He’s warm, despite being soaked with rain and smells so good. When his tongue slips into your mouth to brush yours, that’s when you’re certain it’s not the tonic in your system. It’s him. He’s electric.

Entranced, you begin pulling his shirt up and above his head to reveal his abdomen and chest, which you immediately run your hands over. Reciprocating your actions, JJ’s fingers drift under the hem of your shirt and begin stroking at your collarbone and floating down to your chest. When he doesn’t take your shirt off, you break your kiss for a moment to remove it for him. 

You pause just for a moment, saying nothing to one another, only staring at each others bodies and letting your eyes drift back up to where they meet the other’s. Instinctively, you collide again. You bring your hands up to hold either side of his face while he wraps an arm around you to lower you onto your back, scooting you all the way on to the screened porch and using the other to steady himself over you. You open your legs to accept him between them and let out a moan when you feel his lower body pressed against yours. 

“My god, Y/N” escapes his mouth in a whisper against your lips and it sends a surge of electricity through you. It’s the first thing either of you have said. You’ve only communicated with your sixth sense for each other until now.

Your kisses continue until his hands can’t help but travel to your shorts and tug at the hemline. You nod into the kiss, giving him permission to unfasten them. He unbuttons your shorts and breaks your kiss momentarily to slide your soaked shorts down your legs and toss them to the side. 

When he returns, you wrap both of your arms around his neck to pull him as close to you as possible, and he holds you with one arm around the small of your back and the other resting between your waist and hip, holding you to the ground. 

“Let’s go inside,” he whispers against your lips, but doesn’t give you time to answer before he’s kissing you again, tongue exploring deep in your mouth. 

“JJ, what are we doing?” you break your kiss to say quietly with your lips parted into a big smile. 

“Whatever we want,” JJ answers hungrily, repeating the group’s philosophy for the coming summer and bringing his eyes to meet yours. You see how dark his eyes have gotten from his dilated pupils, and it drives you crazy with desire. 

Left in only your swimsuits from earlier that day, JJ picks himself up, extends his hand to help you up from the porch floor, and guides you through the Chateau quickly and quietly to his small room in the back of the house. You pass Kie and Pope passed out on the pull out couch, careful to keep your breath hushed and control your clumsy footing to be sure not to kick anything over and wake one of your friends. 

JJ opens the door to his room and shuts it behind you two. He leads you to the bed and sits on the edge, pulling you to stand between his legs while his hands wrap behind your legs and graze the tops of your thighs. He pulls you in to him and begins kissing your stomach and looking in to your eyes. When he pulls away, you bring your lips to his and you’re finally kissing again after what feels like a long few minutes. 

“Are you sure?” he whispers to you while keeping his forehead pressed firmly against yours. “Yes,” you respond with a kiss, and feel JJ tighten his grip on your legs to pull you down on top of him on the bed you’ve shared with him countless times, but never like this. 

And it was there in his crowded room at the Chateau that you slept with your best friend for the first time.  

“Y/N…. helloooo?” Kie snaps you out of your memory. “I asked what you think of this one?” she motions to the dress she’s holding up in front of her pressed to her body in the thrift store. 

“I love it,” you respond with a smile to your friend, bringing you back to the present moment: dress shopping for prom tonight. You and your friends were not planning to go until yesterday when John B figured out a way to sneak you all in to your school’s dance for Sarah since she didn’t want to go to her’s. So you, Kie, and Sarah had only today to find something to wear. 

The three of you combed through the dress rack of every consignment and thrift store on the island in search of what to wear. After your last conversation with JJ, you were hoping to find something he couldn’t resist you in. 

When you woke the next morning, you were not immediately alarmed being in JJ’s bed. That’s happened plenty of time before. You were alarmed after sitting up and realizing that you were naked. Until the night’s events came rushing back to you. Smiling to yourself at the memory, you bring your fingers to touch your swollen lips at the memory of JJ sucking on them just hours before. That’s when you realize he’s not there. He must already be up. 

Hurriedly dressing in your bikini from yesterday and one of JJ’s shirts from the floor, you exit the room and squint your eyes at the brightness of the morning coming in from the living room windows. 

“Ah, there she is,” John B greets, “sleep well?” He’s asking sincerely, not with the John B smirk you know he’d be displaying if he knew. You nod. 

“Man we were knocked out after that party,” Kie says, motioning to Pope. Sarah and John B agree. 

You finally let your eyes rest on JJ, seated at the kitchen table. He hasn’t looked up to you yet. You get a sinking feeling in your stomach. 

“We’re drying your clothes from the porch,” Sarah announces after silence falls over the group. 

When you say nothing, she adds “JJ told us that you ran into the rain to get the hammock then left your clothes out there so they wouldn’t drip in the house.”

Finally he looks up to you. His expression is unreadable. You’ve never been here with him before. 

“Yeah, you all know my high-deas.” he motions with his fingers to his head, “they never make the most sense.”

And that’s when you knew. 

Everyone cleared from the living room and kitchen one by one to get the HMS Pogue ready for the day you all had planned, leaving the two of you in the kitchen alone. You’re seated at the kitchen table with your legs brought to your chest, holding your cup of coffee on top of them like your life depends on it. 

JJ is standing behind you and it’s silent for several seconds after Pope leaves before he clears his throat and says “Y/N.”

Your head drops as you hear him continue “we shouldn’t have done that,” and you begin to lightly cry. 

At the sound of your sniffle, he’s kneeling next to you, reaching up to have one hand touching your legs and the other firmly behind your neck to rub your shoulders in support. 

You raise your eyes to meet his and finally see his expression soften. 

“It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it,” he jokes, eliciting a sarcastic half-laugh from you.

“It’s just..” he continues, “that we’re best friends,” with emphasis on ‘friends.’

“And I’ve lost too many things to lose such a great friend, you know?” he pleads. 

Those words register with you. You know how much he goes through. He doesn’t need any added stress to his life. You force yourself to choke back your tears and the feelings building up inside you to give him a simple smile and nod. 

“There we go,” he says to your smile and wipes your last tear from under your eye. 

“Think we can handle going out today?” he asks as he motions his head in the direction of the dock, where the others are waiting. 

“Yeah,” you finally mutter with a fake smile, “you go ahead and just give me a few minutes,” you stand from your chair and set your coffee mug on the table, freeing your hands. 

As soon as they’re free, JJ envelops you in a hug, bringing you close to him and digging his face into the nape of your neck. After a moment of surprise, you wrap your arms around his broad back and hug him back, dipping your head to his shoulder and breathing him in one more time before having to pretend to return to normal. 

But inside, you know there’s no way you can return to how it was. He’s changed you for good. From now on, you’ll always know what it felt like to be with him, he’ll always be a part of you. More so than he was before. 

“Oh that’s the one, Y/N,” Sarah says, once again pulling you back to the present moment. You’re holding a dress from the rack, just the color and style you were hoping for. It will hug your figure just right and hopefully make JJ feel the same way he felt one week ago. 

“Yeah, who are you trying to impress with a dress like that,” Kie adds. 

“I would love to be him tonight!” Sarah jokes.

“Ow ow!” Kie howls, as you pull it from the rack and take it straight to the cashier, nerves building inside for the night to come. 

All of this silence and patience, pining and anticipation. My hands are shaking from holding back from you. 

At Kie’s house, the three of you are getting ready for the night. You all decided that you’d get ready there and the boys at the Chateau so that when you meet at the beach for the dance, you’ll get to see each other in full effect. Great plan for Sarah and Kie who can be obvious about their feelings. Terrible plan for you since you’re trying to suppress the way you’re feeling for JJ. 

Sarah and Kie are dancing around to the playing music, fixing their hair in the bathroom while you nervously finish your makeup at Kie’s desk. 

“Y/N, girl what’s wrong?? Aren’t you excited?!” Kie yells from the bathroom. You haven’t been talking to them at all. 

“Yeah!” you shout. “Just trying to focus on this makeup.”

“As if you need it!” Sarah responds. “Come in here and take a shot with us!”

As she demanded, you get up from the seat after finishing your mascara to take a pregame shot with the girls. You’ll definitely need it. You have no idea what will happen tonight. 

After shimming into your dresses and taking self timer pictures in Kie’s backyard, you all three pile into Kie’s car and make your way to the beach where you agreed to meet the boys. The entire ride you’re thankful for the music blasting to cover up for your lack of talking. You can’t think of anything else, and you can’t tell Kie and Sarah. All you can find yourself doing is looking out the window at the passing trees, nervously trying to make a plan for yourself tonight. But you have no idea what the night will hold. 

At the rendezvous, you see the boys waiting at the beach. The pit in your stomach grows larger and larger as you walk towards them, JJ dressed his best becoming more and more clear to you. You love him in a long sleeve t-shirt just as much as this button down and tie, but you can’t let yourself focus on it too much. 

Sarah and Kie hug John B and Pope, leaving you and JJ alone in each other’s presence momentarily. He leans in to hug you lightly and says “You look so beautiful,” in your ear before pulling apart and gesturing to Sarah and Kie “you all do.” Of course he can’t let them notice him giving you any special attention. 

“Not too bad yourself boys,” Kie sings out to her best friends, making a silly bowtie gesture to toy with them. 

“Yeah, yeah we clean up good,” Pope shrugs as the group turns to make their way to the back of the venue that aligns with the beach. 

Kie and Pope walk with their arms around each other, John B and Sarah walk hand in hand towards the dance, leaving you and JJ trailing behind. Of course, you’re all talking as a group, making it fine for you to suffer in silence and try to calm your nerves. Your hands begin shaking as all you want to do is desperately grab on to him. No one seems to notice. 

Finally, you’re inside and have other friends from school who can fill the void of JJ and distract you from every move he’s making. Even with the distraction of friends, all you can seem to do is glance in his direction, aware of every place he migrates to. 

After sneaking a shot from a friend’s flask that they snuck in, you finally relax for long enough to join Sarah and Kie on the dance floor when JJ and the boys sneak off somewhere. 

For two or three songs, you dance with your girls, feeling great in your dress and happy to be there with them. Maybe you won’t regret coming to this as much as you think you will. 

In the middle of a song, the boys finally return and find you three on the dance floor. Joining you, they playfully dance along with all three of you, grabbing your hands to spin and dip you. John B and Pope have both grabbed your hand to share moments of the songs with you, but JJ has kept at least one or two people between you the entire time. 

The nervous pit in your stomach begins to build again as it takes every bit of your strength to stay away from him. You simply can’t continue like this, but the night is still very young. 

Inescapable, I’m not even gonna try. And if I get burned, at least we were electrified.

With the six of you still together, you’re catching your breath after the last song when a slow song begins playing. This is the moment you’ve been dreading all night. You knew it would come eventually. 

As Kie and Pope, Sarah and John B pair up, you and JJ are left standing in the crowd, staring at each other with questionable eyes, waiting for the other to make the first move. 

JJ steps towards you, reaching out his hand. Finally, your shaking steady as you place your hand into his outstretched palm and he pulls you in to dance. 

“It would be weirder if we didn’t,” he declares, moving you into position.

Your left hand is placed at the nape of his neck, laced through the hair, while your right hand is being held in his. His right arm is draped behind the small of your back, holding you close so that your chests are touching. Your faces are inches from each other again and you feel like this is a dangerous proximity. 

“You’re quiet, Y/N, are you having fun?” JJ directs to you. 

“Mhmm,” is all you can muster when his eyes are on you like this. 

“You looked like you were having fun dancing earlier,” he admits to watching you. You smile. 

“Are you having fun?” you manage to get out. 

“It’s torture actually,” he says throwing his head back, “but I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you this week.” He’s referencing how you’ve been avoiding him since last weekend. 

“Sorry,” you whisper back, “catch me up,” diverting responsibility for conversation back to him as he delves in to all the things you’ve missed during the week.

Watching him talk, you see the brightness of his eyes shine as he recounts his days, sparing no detail for you as you watch him under the string lights of the venue. His smile is beaming and his hold on you tightens when he looks into your eyes. 

It’s in this moment that you decide there is no way you can continue down this path. Your feelings are inescapable and the pain of holding back from him is unbearable. You’ve had him and now he’s different to you. You’ve seen him in a different light, and you can’t unsee it. You can’t think of anything else, and there’s no way to avoid him for much longer. He knows you too well, he’ll see right through you. 

You’ve spent the last week weighing all your options and resolved that this is the only one. You have to get this weight off your chest so that you can at least think of something else. And while you thought of everything that may go wrong, at least you’ll always have that one night. One night can be your forever. 

“Which brings me to tonight,” JJ finishes his week in review just as the song ends. He brings you in and kisses your cheek before he slips his arm from your waist and runs fingers through his hair looking at the rest of the group. It’s shocking to you how normal he’s able to act. 

With him turned from you and the rest of the group ending their dances together, it’s the perfect opportunity to slip away and catch your breath. 

Say my name and everything just stops. I don’t want you like a best friend.

The woods begin on the outskirts of the party, and in the beginning of the tree line, you find shelter behind one of the large oaks. You just need a moment to catch your breath. It’s all become too much. The pretending, the pressure of telling him, the fear of rejection, the possibility that this would ruin you friend group. 

With your back pressed to the large tree, you finally let yourself feel what you’ve been swallowing all week. You can’t help it anymore. The tears you’ve been choking back resurface and spill over. Your breaths become more shallow and quicker in between, causing you to press at your stomach to try and deepen them. Gasping for air, you cry with your back against the tree, still careful not to close your eyes so that it won’t be obvious in your smudged mascara when you return. 

For a few minutes, you just let yourself feel it all. The realization that maybe you’ve felt this way about JJ for longer than you realized before, and the pain of burying those feelings all this time. 

But your tears and shaky breath do not change your resolve to tell him. You let your feelings wash over you, and once your tears dry and your breath slows back to normal, you wipe your under eyes and run your fingers through your hair. 

With a new confidence, you push off of the strong trunk that had been supporting you and turn to exit the shelter of the woods, wiping at your eyes once more as you walk before returning to your friends.

You stop dead in your tracks when you see JJ approaching you. 

With another girl. 

They are holding hands and laughing between each other as they walk in your direction. He hasn’t noticed you yet because they have their attention on each other. 

When he sees you, he stops abruptly, letting go of the girl’s hand as she continues walking towards the trees. 

“Oh shit, Y/N” you hear him whisper to himself before walking the rest of the way to be in front of you. 

“Don’t be too long, JJ!” she calls after him in a flirty tease as she walks past you, towards the dark privacy of the tree line.

And there you were alone, but not at all how you planned. JJ is surprised to see you. Surprised to be caught is more likely.

“Nice,” is all you have to say with a sarcastic understanding nod and snide tone. You move your eyes to the side, unable to look at him. 

“It’s not what you think,” JJ hurriedly pleas. 

“What am I supposed to think JJ? Please tell me,” you pointedly ask, turning your head back to him to meet his desperate eyes. 

“What are you thinking, Y/N?” he begs, “You haven’t talked to me at all since,” alluding to the night you shared. 

You stare at him for a moment, unsure if you’re going to follow through with your plan. Unsure if he he deserves to know. If he deserves your affection. Tears well up again and threaten to spill over. You choke them back, but it doesn’t go unnoticed. 

You bite your lip and shake your head to yourself before answering “I think…” you pause to decide, “that I’m a damn fool,” you state coldly before rushing past him to get away. But you’re spun back around to face him by his grip on your wrist. 

“Y/N, no,” he says firmly. You’re startled by his sudden movement and your breath hitches in your throat at your name falling from his lips in that tone. Everything around you falls silent, nothing matters. Your attention is solely on him.

“What is going on with you?” he pleads with you, his eyes searching in yours,  desperate to figure it out as he brings both hands to either side of your face. 

You selfishly lean in to his touch, certain that it will be the last time. 

With your cheek balanced in his hand, you tilt your head to bring your eyes to his. Through tears, you feebly admit “I don’t want you like a best friend.” 

It washes over him and you see the moment he understands displayed in his eyes. He looks at you, opens his mouth to speak, but remains silent. 

His silence sends an ache through your body as you close your eyes and turn on your heels away from him. You set off, walking away from him as fast as you can, wiping at your tears as you go and ignoring his calls to you. 

“Y/N!” you hear him shout. 

“Y/N, please!” he screams after you again. 

And finally, he lets out a drawn out “Fuck!” just as you slip from his vision and back down to the beach from where you came. 

Flashback when you met me. Your buzzcut and my hair bleached. Even in my worst times, you could see the best of me. 

Once you got to the beach, you ran. You ran until the heels you were wearing slipped off, but you left them. You ran in your dress down the beach and as far away from the dance as you could until you couldn’t run anymore. You had to put as much distance between him and yourself as you possibly could. 

Luckily for you, your home was on the one part of The Cut that connected to a natural part of the beach on the bay side. You knew if you just kept walking, you would make it there. 

So you just kept walking. And walking, dragging your feet through the sand as you recounted the exchange you just had with JJ. God, why did you do that? You think to yourself. Rolling your eyes up and tilting your head back to see if that would keep the tears from spilling out. It didn’t. 

When your house comes in to view, you pick up your pace to a jog again, just wanting to be at home. You enter through the back, checking around to see if anyone was home. 

“Mom?” you call out, but get no response. She must have been out. 

You head straight for the freezer, grabbing the vodka you’ve stashed in there for emergencies. Your mom had you at a very young age so she’s never questioned the things another parent would. It feels like she understands since it wasn’t so long ago she was going through the same. You head straight back out to your little stretch of beach. You plop yourself in the sand, waiting for the waves to come and crash at your toes. You twist the cap off of your vodka quickly and immediately take a long pull of the clear liquid, burning your throat on it’s way down. There’s only one way you’ll be able to make it through tonight. 

This little stretch of beach has always made you feel close to JJ. You’re afraid it may be all you have left of him after this if you’re never able to face him again. 

At eight years old, you were out on your “secret beach” as you called it collecting shells with your mom when another woman and her son approached from the path back to your house. 

“Hello,” your mom greeted them. The lady’s son stood shyly behind her, peeking out to stare at you. 

“Hi,” the woman said, “we live down the street and saw you just moved in. Just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood,” and she extended a bottle of wine to your mom, “this is my son JJ,” she ushered behind her. 

“That’s so kind, thank you! This is Y/N,” your mom said, and you smiled. “Would you like to open it with me?” your mom asked.

The woman agreed and after an exchange of words, they were walking back to the house, “Y/N, can you stay with JJ while we run to the house to get some glasses?” your mom called to you as she walked with her new friend. You agreed, leaving you alone with the new boy. 

Almost unrecognizable to the long blonde haired boy you love now, the boy was shy with clipped hair. He stood staring at you for several minutes without saying anything. You noticed he had a little bruise on his arm and a scab on his knee, and thought to yourself about how that probably hurt. Even as a kid, you observed every little thing about him. 

“Want to pick up shells with me?” you asked him with a friendly smile. You didn’t have any friends there yet. 

His shy expression broke and he nodded with a smile, finally moving towards you to help search in the surf. 

You searched in silence for several minutes, no idea what to talk to a stranger about. Was he even your age? Did he like school? Had he read any of the books you’ve read?

You got lucky when out of the sand, you pulled a weird shell, triangle shaped. Not one like you’ve ever seen before. 

“Hey, look at this one,” you call to him, and he walks over to inspect.

“No way! You found a shark’s tooth!” he yells out, grabbing the hand you’re holding it with to get a closer look. “That’s the best one I’ve ever seen!”

“It’s really a shark’s tooth?” you ask him, amazed.

“Yeah it really is,” he says. “They can have 300!” 

The two of you spent the rest of the night chasing each other in the tide and running around the beach while your moms watched and became best friends. 

At the end of the night, JJ’s mom had to drag him by the arm when they were leaving because you were having so much fun. As he and his mom made their way back to their house, you felt the shark’s tooth in your pocket and ran up the path to catch up with them. 

“Wait!” you called out, getting them to turn around and stop for a minute. 

When you caught up, you went up to JJ and handed him the shark’s tooth. 

“It’s for you,” you say, and after he saw what you placed in his palm, he wrapped his arms around you in a hug for the very first time. 

He still wears it. That was the first of many times that your mothers got together with the excuse of you and JJ having “play dates.” They became best friends, so you and JJ naturally became best friends too. They always came to your house, and you and JJ got to spend your time on secret beach, no matter how old you got. Even after his mom left and he started to come by himself.

It was there that you told him about every one of your problems whenever they came, so that he could take your side and tell you that you did the right thing. Even if you did the wrong thing. 

Flashback to my mistakes. My rebounds, my earthquakes. Even in my worst lies, you saw the truth of me. And I woke up just in time. Now I wake up by your side. My one and only, my lifeline. 

“Hey, have you seen Y/N?” JJ asks the girls as he rejoins the group. 

“No, not since we were all dancing,” Sarah responds, “Why?” she begins to become concerned when she sees the expression on JJ’s face. 

“What happened?” Kie asks, bringing her hands to JJ’s shoulders to ground him in the moment and stop his frantic searching.

When JJ didn’t answer, she asked again. 

His prolonged silence and fidgeting alerted the boys. 

“Dude, what’s wrong?” John B questions him. 

JJ starts to say something but can’t find the words. Frustrated, he brings his hands behind his head and looks off in the direction you left. 

“JJ you’re scaring us, is she okay?” Sarah pleads.

“Yeah, man just tell us,” Pope says as he brings a hand up to his shoulder to brace him. 

“I fucked up,” he admits. 

He cuts his eyes to meet John B’s, and his best friend understands instantly, having had a conversation with JJ before about it. John B lets the realization wash over him, evident in his expression, uttering a simple “Oh,” with raised eyebrows. 

“What?” Sarah begs. “What does that mean?” she questions the exchange. 

“Fuck,” JJ mutters to himself, gritting his teeth and preparing for them all the know the truth. 

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath and wonders if he’s ever fucked up this hard, and he’s reminded of plenty of times. He can remember you chasing after him after every fight even when he told you not to. He can remember you telling him why he did something before he even realized why. And you loved him anyway. 

He opens his mouth to explain. With four pairs of eyes staring at him, he drops his head to say “We… we hooked up after the party last weekend.”

Slowly, he trails his eyes up to meet his friends’ expressions. He sees more smiles than he expected. 

“That’s it?” Kie chuckles out, shrugging her shoulders, “JJ, we’ve been waiting for that for….. I don’t know… years?” she looks to her friends to agree. They nod in agreement. 

“No..” JJ starts.

“What else?” Pope directs to him. 

“I told her it was a mistake and we couldn’t do that again because we’re best friends!” JJ defends. The smiles around him begin to fall. “I thought it was fine! I thought she was fine! But…”

“Clearly she’s not,” Sarah interjects. Kie adds an understanding “Yeah.”

“I have noticed that,” Pope joins with a slight nod, glancing to JJ. 

“And tonight?” John B asks. 

“She told me…” JJ begins, closing his eyes and cursing himself before he can say it, “that she wants me as more than a best friend.”

The smiles return to their faces, making JJ feel a little bit better. At least they’re okay with it. The girls turn to smile at each other, a sharp inhale elevating their expressions. 

“That’s great, man!” Pope exclaims, hitting JJ’s shoulder with excitement. 

“Except she saw me walking to the woods with another girl,” JJ states bluntly, rushing to get it out. 

“That’s… that’s bad,” John B says with a nod after considering all of the ways it could have been perceived. 

“Well, what did you say?” Sarah and Kie press him. 

“Nothing!” JJ declares with exasperation.

“Dude!” Pope lets out while the girls exclaim “Nothing?!”

“What?! I’m sorry! I was in shock!” JJ screams, arms outstretched in defense, “And she ran off before I could respond at all!” he gestures down the beach. 

“Shit,” Pope curses. JJ nods, thankful for the acknowledgement. 

There’s silence for a few moments while they all appreciate the gravity of the situation and offer their support to JJ. 

“So go get her man,” John B states plainly, like there’s no question about it. 

“And say what?” JJ pleads. 

They all laugh. 

“That you love her, JJ,” Kie laughs out with an eye roll. 

“But..” he begins.

“JJ,” Pope interrupts, “why do you think you interfere with any guy trying to talk to her at a party?” 

“Or have never been serious with anyone else?” Kie questions. 

“Or are only ever fully relaxed when she’s there?” Sarah adds. 

“Or feel the way you feel right now, knowing she’s out there thinking you don’t feel the same,” John B finishes, with a knowing look. 

The realization surges through JJ. “Shit,” JJ says, eyebrows raised. And just as fast as it came over him, he was sprinting away from his friends. 

“Thanks guys!” he called out to them as they cat called after him. 

Of course he loved you. How could it have taken him so long to realize? It’s just that he’s felt this way about you for so long that he didn’t realize it was love. 

As JJ got to the beach, he debated where on Earth you’d go. If you were trying to hide from him, there’s no way you’d go to the Chateau. And then he knew. He made his way quickly down the beach in a steady jog, mind reeling with all the moments he’d been tempted with you before but buried it. 

You were in your room when he approached the window. Bobbing your head along to the music you had playing, working on homework. JJ smiled sweetly at the scene, it made him debate burdening you with this at all. 

He tapped softly on your window, drawing your attention from your notebook. You jumped slightly a the sudden noise, blushing at the little embarrassment when you realized who it was. JJ couldn’t help but smile at that. 

“Hey,” you said with a sweet smile as you opened the window, leaning out a little to be eye level with him. 

“Can I come in?” JJ asked. 

“Yeah, you want to come around?” you gestured behind you, implying through the door. 

“Uh, no, I kinda was hoping your mom wouldn’t know I was here,” he asked, eyes dropping to his feet. 

You stood there, puzzled for a moment, wondering why he wouldn’t want your mom to know he was there, but shook it off, just glad he was there. 

“Sure, hand me your bag,” you reached for his backpack so he could lift himself inside through your ground floor window. Once inside, you wrapped him in a hug as you usually did, but felt him flinch under your squeeze and pulled back immediately, searching his eyes for explanation. 

“I just, kind of hurt my ribs,” he explained sheepishly.

“And your lip?” you questioned him gently, motioning to your lip after noticing it for the first time once he was in the light.

“Oh yeah,” he remembered, “it was a nasty fall off my bike,” he lied. 

“No scrapes on your arm?” you politely interrogated, holding his wrist and running your hand up his arm investigating. 

“Yeah, no idea how,” JJ shrugged nervously, walking past you to look at the photos you had hung up on your wall. As he walked by, you could see part of his ribcage that wasn’t fully hidden by his cut out top. You saw a large dark purple bruise creeping up his side and the feeling in your stomach increased, confirming your existing suspicion. You choked back tears, not giving any reason for him to be comforting you right now.

“JJ,” you call sternly after him.

“What?” he turns around, a fake smile spread across his lips. 

“You don’t have to lie to me,” you whisper, careful not to sound too aggressive. 

“What are you talking about?” JJ attempts to laugh off. 

“You’re lying JJ…” you start, “and it’s okay, you don’t have to say it. I just want you to know that you don’t have to lie to me. I’ll know,” you plead with him, telling him that you know him too well to believe that. 

You walked closer to him and wrapped your arms around his neck, careful not to touch him where he was hurt. JJ stopped insisting that it was something else, confirming she was right. 

That was the first time he really admitted it to anyone, and all he had to do was stop lying because you already knew. It was also the first time you cleaned up his cuts and bruises, and cuddled him in your bed to show you love after feeling the opposite. But it certainly wasn’t the last. 

You could always see through him, knew him better than he knew himself at times. If you always knew when he was lying, why couldn’t you see it this time? He thought to himself as he continued down the beach to reach you. 

Say my name and everything just stops. I don’t want you like a best friend. Only bought this dress so you could take it off. 

“Y/N,” you hear from behind you. And your breath hitches in your throat. Only one person does that to you. You lift your head, indicating that you heard him. But you can’t turn around to face him yet. You keep your eyes fixed on the moon that’s hanging above the horizon, trying to find comfort in the stars that you’ve talked to for so many years. 

“I thought you might be on secret beach,” he says through a smile. 

“Don’t you have someone else to be attending to?” you hiss, trying to build a wall to hide behind now that he’s found your hiding place. 

“That’s not fair Y/N, you didn’t give me time to say anything!” he shouts, throwing arms out in defense, “please look at me.”

But you’re frozen, terrified of what he’s going to say. 

“I didn’t know what to say,” JJ pleads, “and I’m sorry I let you run away and took this long to get to you,” he says as he walks closer to you. 

When you don’t move, he moves in and seats himself next to you. “Fine,” he utters in frustration as he joins you. His presence immediately softens you, unable to keep up your hardened act with him.

The two of you are silent for several moments, looking out to the ocean just like you’ve done many times before. 

“And now?” you ask.

“Hmm?” JJ hums, turning his head to face you. 

“Do you know what to say now?” softening your tone and turning your head to look at him too, seeing a soft smile spread across his face when he can finally see yours. The sweet expression that he’s so used to returning to your eyes. 

JJ pauses, unsure where to start. 

“Y/N,” he whispers and tilts his head as he explains “the only reason I was with that girl was to try and see if I could stop thinking about you.”

You open your mouth to say something.

“And I know I shouldn’t use girls like that,” he interrupts with his finger up to you. You close your mouth, glad he knew what you were going to say before you had to say it, “but I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” he stresses, “and I thought we were supposed to be forgetting about it.”

“I couldn’t either,” you admit, embarrassed, bringing your eyes to meet his with an understanding expression. 

“And….” he begins, but trails off, losing confidence. 

You chuckle at your best friend next to you. The anxiety he’s riddled with so unlike the self-assured boy you’ve come to love.   

As a peace offering, you pass him the vodka bottle you’ve had sitting on your other side this entire time. 

“You’ve had that this whole time?” JJ shouts, betrayed. Taking it from you and immediately bringing it to his lips for a long sip. You take his free hand in the mean time for reassurance that you’ll love him no matter what he says next. 

He lowers the bottle and exhales a long breath, shoulders falling from their apprehensive position, and he relaxes next to you, realizing that you’ve grabbed his hand when you give it a little squeeze.

“And,” he picks back up, “And I think I’ve felt this way about you for so long that I didn’t know it was love until you kissed me the other night.”

“You kissed me!” you shout and slap at his shoulder. His intentional slip up earning a laugh from you both. 

When your laugh quiets, you lace your arm through the one that he has balanced on his knees and lay your head on his shoulder. 

“I love you too, JJ,” you confess through an exhaled breath, and lift your head slightly to kiss his cheek. You can feel his cheeks tighten into a smile against the crown of your head. 

“You ruined your dress,” JJ says against the top of your head, alluding to the amount of sand and sea water that now cover the hem. You laugh breathlessly. 

“Well..” you respond, lifting your head from his shoulder to see him. 

“Well?” JJ flirts.  

“I only bought this dress so you could take it off.”

JJ lets your words wash over him, closing his eyes and grinning at your words. 

The moment he opened his eyes, he was reaching for your face, placing a hand on either side of your face to bring you in to him. 

And then, after an excruciating wait, you were kissing your best friend again. You crawl closer to him to deepen the kiss, placing a hand on both of his shoulders to balance yourself as you lower your body onto his lap. 

“I love you, JJ,” you whisper into his lips. 

“I love you, Y/N,” he responds between kisses, “more than I know how to tell you.”

“Show me then,” you dare him. And he accepts. 

Carve your name into my bedpost. Cause I don’t want you like a best friend. 

After the beach, you led JJ back to your room hand in hand and laid on your sides in your bed facing each other, talking for hours and returning to how you were before. The same two people, only now fully honest with each other about their feelings. 

As you drifted off to sleep, you could hear JJ fidgeting with something, but you didn’t realize what it was until the next morning.

“What are you doing?” you question JJ after returning from the kitchen with drinks for the two of you years prior. 

“Nothing,” he shuffles nervously, closing his knife and putting it into his pocket. 

“Cute,” you say, noticing where he was hovering, and motioning to your first and last initial that he carved into your bed post while you were away. 

And now, you’re looking at a freshly chiseled “JJ +” right over it. 

[obx-adventures]

Sleeping With A Friend

summary: You wake up in Bucky’s bed after a night you’re certain will only break your heart.  pairing: bucky x reader word count: 5.6k warnings: smut (18+), idk no real other warnings this time folks, two love sick idiots pining for one another?  a/n: this was written for @fvckingavengers​​’s quarantine writing challenge ! I had the prompt of Sleeping With A Friend by Neon Trees ✨

And why mess up a good thing baby? / It’s a risk to even fall in love So when you give that look to me / I better look back carefully ‘Cause this is trouble / Yeah, this is trouble I’m scared but if my heart’s gonna break / Before the night will end I said, ooh ooh / We’re in danger / Sleeping with a friend

You’re woken by a glimpse of sunlight as it streams in through the bedroom window. It escapes through the sliver between the curtains and you tuck your face into the crook of something warm. Still, it eclipses over your shoulder and you grunt a little as it seeps beyond closed lids and beckons you awake; gentle, at first, but there’s something in its presence as your eyes flutter open that exposes the room around you.

You feel it as you lift your head from the comfort of a broad, bare shoulder, as the delicate touch of a hand slips off your spine and falls to the mattress – a pang of regret. It boils deep down into your stomach. It takes a swift hold of you as your heart starts to race and you glimpse down to the face of a man you’d loved almost as long as you’d known him. A man you’d sworn off, a man who occupied the entirety of your heart and soul and still, always at an arm’s length.

Keep reading

[obx-adventures]

Pinch Me

After your first date with a familiar face from home, waking up next to Steve feels like something out of a dream. 

or

This is a follow on from Clean Slate but can be read as standalone fic. 

Word Count: 4.5k

Warnings/Content: Both you and Steve are in your late-twenties and were in school together; you met again on a blind date almost ten years later. This is an 18+ fic; oral (reader receiving), penetrative sex. Spoiler but use of ‘good girl’ in a sexy content. Steve Harrington being a smooth mf comes with it's own warning.

I have tried to leave physical descriptions as neutral and inclusive as possible! Some mentions of anxiety and insecurity. Plenty of kissing to make up for that! 

Author’s Note: Clean Slate was intended to be a one off fic but here we are! This is my first attempt at smut in a fic, so hopefully it’s not horrendous! Thank you for reading, enjoy!

Thank you to my lovely @specialagentmonkey for beta reading for me💖

Once again, this is an 18+ fic. Please do not do any AI fuckery with my work or repost on other sites.

(divider by me)

Ever since you were little, your bed had been one of your favourite places. Soft sheets, books on the bedside table and a perfectly curated stack of pillows all topped off with the quilt you had made with your grandma before her arthritis got too bad. 

In your mom’s photo albums there was more than one snapshot of you as a sleepy toddler with a wild bed head peeking up from your pillow on Christmas morning. Another few of you reading Nancy Drew in a pillow nest with a gap toothed smile. 

By now, you had made your own little nest out in the big bad world now; a surprisingly roomy studio with big windows and noisy neighbours on one side. You had bought new sheets and a duvet printed with dusty pink roses on porcelain white cotton, curated a new stack of pillows and added too many decorative cushions on top of the same quilt that had made the move with you to Indianapolis and on to Chicago. There were still books on your bedside,  a little dish for your jewellery to sit in while you slept, and an accumulation of lip balms, pillow mist and a candle or two to set the mood. 

After long shifts and bad dates, your bed was still your haven. When you were particularly anxious, you could still hear the shrill of your old alarm blaring in your ears; the sound of that clock that had dragged you from sweet dreams in your beloved bed on chilly winter mornings. Some mornings, as you rode the subway to work, you swore you could hear your bed’s own siren song calling you to get off at the next stop, come home to read and nap the day away. 

The sanctuary was for you alone, save for an occasional sleepover with your best friend Annie. Your dates were never invited to stay and make themselves comfortable. But this morning, waking up with Steve Harrington in your bed? That was new. 

It was safe to say that your blind date went well. Really well. 

You had resolutely avoided talking about school, only mentioning people each other might have remembered in the context of a story about your lives outside Hawkins. Steve was still in touch with a lot of people from home. You recognised some of their names; Robin who grew up a street away from you, Eddie Munson who you knew from art class and the occasional house party in your youth, even Nancy Wheeler. The way he lit up with so much fondness for ‘his kids’ who weren’t kids anymore made your face ache from smiling.

And Steve had listened, wanted to hear how you had liked Indianapolis for college (he had spent some time there too before making the move to Chicago with Robin after Eddie had sussed the place out and found an apartment near his own for them that they still shared). He had asked about your job, your life in the city, and took a real interest in you. 

His attention had stayed on you, never straying to see who else was around or looking for an escape route. His honeyed gaze had stayed focused, watching how you used your hands when you spoke and dipped occasionally to look at your lips. Steve’s hand had stayed close by when his fingers weren’t outright intertwined with yours. He did this thing with his thumb, stroking it across the bone of your wrist, and a few times he had squeezed your hand while you spoke as if to say ‘go on, I’m listening’ - it was so centering for your often anxious mind.

You had a few more drinks, picked a few songs on the jukebox, kept talking and talking until you were sitting close enough to hear Steve’s stomach growl, making his cheeks flush pink. 

“I know a pizza spot close by if you’re hungry?” you suggested. 

“DiFontaines?” Steve smiled a little, nodding at your suggestion. “Yeah I love it. Let’s go.”

Neither of you wanted to end the night yet, say goodbye. So you didn’t. Instead you headed hand in hand into the warm night air, nicely buzzed and in search of hot pizza and crispy cold sodas. 

The sun had dipped in the sky, taking the worst of the heat with it, but the night stayed humid and sticky. Despite the warmth, Steve held your hand and between stories, as you walked down the next block, he lifted his arm to twirl you when you passed a bar blaring Achy Breaky Heart onto the street; Billy Ray’s crooning was eclipsed by your laughter. 

“You’re such a dork,” you giggled, pushing him gently before Steve quickly hugged you against his side again. Never had you felt so comfortable on a first date - but this wasn’t just any blind first date. 

“Dork?! You been talkin’ to Robin?” Steve smiled down at you, sparking heat in your belly. 

“Guess your reputation precedes you, Harrington.” With a burst of bravery, owing it to your younger self, you bounced up on your toes to peck his cheek before taking off a few steps ahead, turning to grin back at him as he jogged to catch up before you swerved into the pizza place. 

You joined the line of late night pizza lovers and Steve had slipped an arm around you, leaned his chin on your head as your heart pounded hard. “So, what’re we getting?” he asked.

The familiarity of it all made you feel fuzzy around the edges, his thumb stroking your shoulder, the heat of him pressed against your side. 

“It’s probably sacrilegious but the New York style slice, veggie or… artichoke.” Feeling brave again you cover his hand with yours and squeezed. “You?”

“Okay so we’re both sinners then.” He hummed, considering his options. “You’re vegetarian right?”

“Yeah, I try to be.” You liked how he had remembered a tiny detail from a story told hours ago.

“Okay. Four cheese then.”

“You sure?” Your interest piqued. 

“Yeah, ‘course. You might not want a goodnight kiss if I have pepperoni breath.”

You swear your jaw dropped as Steve schooled his smile, watching the group of tipsy tourists ahead of you order their slices before his eyes darted back to you. 

Steve was more timid, his voice quieter as he filled the silence between you when you had been too stunned to answer. “It’s also totally fine if you don’t want to kiss me, sweetheart. I know I can lay it on ki-“ 

Instead you rocked up to close the gap between you, ignoring the pinch of your sandals to lay a kiss onto his lips. Steve was quick to cup your cheek, keeping you there to kiss you back just as sweetly. 

His nose has nudged against yours before he let you go, gazing into each other’s eyes until your attention was pulled to ‘order or get out’. His arm had stayed around you as you placed your orders, splitting a third classic deep dish slice between you so you wouldn't be run out of town with torches and pitchforks. 

Full of pizza and soda and bravery, you had taken Steve’s hand again and strolled through the sticky Chicago night, steering him toward your apartment with the guise of proving that the same pink scrunchie you wore in high school was in fact on your bedside table. You both knew what you were really suggesting. 

Part of you niggled away, expecting him to make a polite excuse to head home instead. But Steve only had eyes for you and sealed the deal with another kiss. You lost yourselves in each other, feeling younger together, and made out with Steve’s back against the shutters of somewhere long closed for the night as he squeezed your hips and you toyed with the ends of his hair. It was with regret that he had to tear himself away from your lips to hail a cab for you both, where you did your best to behave on the way to your apartment.

As you lay in bed that next morning, watching how Steve’s chest rose and fell with breath, how soft he looked in sleep, you felt warm and happy. His golden glow was just as dazzling in the morning light.  

Your night together had been unrushed. Steve hadn’t just hit it and quit it with you. No, instead you had kissed and kissed, making out and letting your hands roam like two teenagers except there was no hurry; no seven minute deadline or someone pounding on a guest room door to see if it was occupied. The rumours in school had been true; Steve Harrington was an amazing kisser. You had listened to a friend of a friend rave about his soft lips after a lucky spin the bottle in junior year; now you had tasted him for yourself, you understood why she had brought it up so much. But Steve was in your bed now, not hers, you thought smugly. 

On the way from the couch to your bed, he had unzipped your dress and you made sure his powdery blue shirt wouldn’t be too creased in the morning, draping it over the back of a chair instead of leaving it balled up on the ground. 

Steve had made sure you knew how beautiful he thought you were, kissed you everywhere before taking his time with you and spent an age between your legs as he worked you open for him. Lying there the next morning, you could feel your face heat up when you remembered how his touch set you on fire. The pleasant all over ache weighed you down into your mattress. 

With a messy bed-head, Steve woke a little after you and saw you smiling dreamily to yourself. He reached out to pull you closer, tucking his face into your neck. 

“Mornin’.” His voice was gravelly and deep. 

“Morning.” You brush his hair back gently and dot a kiss to his forehead before stroking your fingers over his shoulders soothingly, dragging them down his arm.  

“S’nice,” he said, lips moving against your neck before he pressed a few kisses there. 

Lying face to face on your pillow, your fingers played with the fine gold chain that settled around his throat, dipping lower into the thick hair on his chest. 

“I had a really good time last night.” Steve’s fingers walk up your arm, before twirling your hair around one carefully. 

When you look up at him, he’s got this little smile on his face. He inches closer, letting his gaze drop to your own smiling mouth before you share a slow morning kiss. 

“Me too,” you whisper, settling your hand on the side of his neck before returning his kiss again. Your fingers skate across and behind the lobe of his ear, the underside of his jaw and the shade of stubble there. 

With his large soft hands, he drags you closer still, pressing you right up against him. The t-shirt you had pulled on after the sweat on your body had started to cool last night was rucked up over your hip as Steve’s thumb strokes the dip there. 

You sigh into his mouth, feeling warm all over despite the chill of your box fan to cool the room down. This morning you're warmed by the heat and glow that radiates from Steve Harrington, hotter than the sun itself. 

“You’re really beautiful,” he murmurs against your lips, shifting his weight so you’re on your back again with one of his thighs slotted between yours. Steve brushes your hair back, fanning it out over the pillow before dipping down to kiss you again. He leaves you breathless before his lips trail lower to your jaw and neck. 

It’s an intimacy you hadn’t had with anyone in a long time, feeling safe enough with Steve to let yourself be loved on like this. You will yourself to be present with him, bask in his glow as it warms you, but barbs of anxiety have crept in to distract you.

Last night was amazing, slow and syrupy and tender. If that had been the last time you ever saw Steve Harrington you could have probably died happy - happier than before anyway. But instead he stayed, and as he kisses you again (morning breath ignored and forgotten). Steve didn’t care that you had faded into the background of your shared high school halls, he had loved how you had the bravery to break out of Hawkins and be you now. 

Steve notices you tensing up and peels himself back, thumbing your cheek again as he says your name. “Do you want me to stop?” he asks, concern in his eyes. It makes your heart ache. 

You shake your head and cover the hand on your cheek. “No. Never.” You pull him to you again and relish the weight of him on top, your hands over his shoulders. “I’m getting in my head. You’re straight out of a dream, Steve. I feel like asking you to pinch me.”

You feel a little embarrassed about being quite so honest with him like this, but he oozes a magnetism and calmness that makes you want to tell him everything. But you don’t want to scare him away, be left waiting for another call that’s not coming, or hear him say ‘that was fun but I’m not looking for anything serious right now’. 

He smiles and leans his weight on one strong arm so he’s not totally crushing you. “I can, if you want. But I promise I’m real. And I’m just some guy.” 

You laugh. “Some guy? Nah Steve, I think you might be some sort of apparition. Or like, a Greek god.” You squeeze his bicep for emphasis. “Definitely dreaming.”

Steve rolls his eyes, playful, and pinches your cheek lightly. “See? Silly.” He presses a kiss to where he pinched before going in for another on your smiling mouth. Steve was not shy or stingy with his kisses, you had learned. You liked that a lot. 

“I think you’re pretty amazing, y’know. If you’re not sick of me yet, would you wanna go for breakfast with me?” Steve kneels up between your thighs, the sheets pooling around his hips. Your eyes go right to the white Calvin’s pulled tight over the thickness of him. Your eyes rake up over his body until you’re caught staring, ogling, and Steve smiles when you pull a pillow over your face. You certainly hadn’t been so shy last night; he laughs and lifts it away to gaze down at you, hoping you will say yes. 

“C’mere. Then you can take me for breakfast.” You coax him back down, hooking one leg over his hip. “Prove to me again that you’re not just in my imagination?”

Steve grins and rolls himself down over you. “You been imagining me like this? Scandalous,” he teases before resuming his kisses from earlier, which you are eager to return. Your bodies move together, hips tilting toward each other seeking out that pressure that makes your tummy sizzle. As Steve’s hands slip under your sized-up sleep shirt again, your own dips down to cup him through his underwear. His breath hitches, eyes fluttering shut. 

“Baby…” 

Baby. 

You smile and repeat the movement firmer this time before beginning to coax him to hardness, breaking your hold on him only to help him remove your tshirt. It’s lost to the floor along with Steve’s briefs. His breath is hot against your mouth as your bodies press together. The feeling of Steve’s hands on your breasts draws out a whine that’s swallowed by another kiss; his hands are so big and they feel like they are everywhere, like Steve is everywhere. His mouth and hands trail lower, spreading you out for him on your dusty rose bedsheets. He cups you there, thumb swiping in a delicious rhythm that has you gasping against his shoulder. 

“I’ve got you,” he whispers, kissing the tops of your breasts. “Let me hear those pretty noises again, baby. Please?” 

You whimper as his fingers ease you open, so gentle like the polite ‘please’. Steve had proven he was a talker already last night, his words making you feel hot all over as he had pushed so carefully inside, turning tipsy giggles into needy gasps. You felt the same heat engulf you now as he lay wet kisses to your tummy, your hips, pausing only so that he could lie comfortably between your thighs after shouldering his way between them. 

He’s looking up at you, his cheek against the meat of your thigh. Lips curve into a smile when you meet his gaze, and he closes his eyes when you stroke his hair back. One of his hands takes yours and rests together on your belly as he dips to kiss you where you need him, humming against you when you gasp his name. 

Your eyes drop closed, fireworks bursting behind them as he makes you feel so good. The once or twice any other man had done this was lacklustre in skill and enthusiasm, which Steve possessed in every cell of his being. When you chance looking at him you spot his hips shifting against the mattress, chasing relief for his own ache which makes you moan louder. His whispered “good girl” sends your eyes rolling back into your skull. 

Steve brings you to your peak quicker than anyone ever had before. Mindful that you might be a little tender from the night before as he presses one long and thick finger inside before a second joins it a few moments later, gentle but with a purpose of making you forget your own name. His shoulder presses firm against your thigh, spreading you wider as his fingers pump steadily, keeping the pace and press against the spot inside you that makes you feel fit to explode. 

You squeeze his arm while your capacity for coherent speech vanishes, focusing only on the swirl and suck of his mouth and the crook and curl of his fingers. It’s so sudden, and you swear you’ve never made a noise so loud as you moan for him, trembling all over. He whispers his praise against your thigh before bringing his mouth back to where you’re weeping for him and doesn’t stop until your thighs are crushing his ears, muffling your voice. 

Chest heaving, you feel him move up to check on you. He brings you close, holding you as you glow with him and presses feathery kisses to your hairline. “You still with me? Not still dreaming about me?” 

“Mm, think I died,” you manage, peeking up at him with teary eyes. Another tender kiss to the dopey smile on your lips. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me, sweetheart.” 

His grin is deservedly cocky, earning himself the warm grasp of your hand around his length. The prettiest frown graces his face as you squeeze and slowly pump your hand, your lips moving to his neck. 

Steve’s gaze moves from your face, dragging down your body to where your hand holds him. His size makes your hand look small and you feel the kick of his arousal on your palm. You manage to swing one wobbly leg over him, sitting on the breadth of his thighs with new confidence as he holds you steady. 

You lean across him, earning kisses to your chest as you fish for a condom to rip open and roll on to him before lowering yourself down into his lap. 

Sinking your teeth into the fat of your lower lip at the stretch of him, Steve huffs out a breathy swear against your chest. His hands settle on your hip and thigh, grounding and never rushing as you breathe into the feeling of him inside you before beginning to move. 

“Fuck,” he murmurs, watching you in awe. “So pretty f’me.”

That spurs you on, chasing the tingle deep in your abdomen. Your fingers lace with Steve’s on your thigh, the other hand braced against the wall behind his shoulder. 

His head leans back by your hand, turning to kiss your wrist as you move in his lap. You curl your arm around him, bringing each other close as his hips hitch up to meet you. 

“So good, baby,” he murmurs, kissing you again as his breath comes quicker now. “You’re so fuckin’ pretty.”

Gasping his name, you hold him tight to you as you move together. He can’t take his eyes off of you, “Good girl, so gorgeous.” 

Messy kisses broken by gasps and Steve’s praise are traded back and forth. His hands feel huge where they hold you at your waist. 

The cord of pleasure deep in your pelvis winds tighter. Steve’s jaw twitches as he holds on to you, and you kiss the tense muscle before whispering, “You make me feel so good.” The sound he makes is almost a whimper and he squeezes the meat of your ass. Your hips continue their rise and roll, you feel like every cell of your body is aflame. 

Steve watches you, praising words fanning the fire low in your belly. The burn in your thighs makes you pause and he takes the chance to kiss you stupid again. 

“Feel good? Yeah?” When you nod, feeling spaced out, he pecks your swollen lips and whispers, “Let me take care of you, sweetheart.” You wonder if he lets anyone take care of him, return his generosity and affections. 

He is so gentle as he holds you to his chest and slouches lower on the bed. You close your eyes at the feeling of being held like this, cheek to his broad shoulder. His feet are flat and firm on the bed and the experimental thrust up into you makes you sigh his name. Steve sweeps your hair to one side so that he can kiss your neck again, checking in with you before continuing. 

His name echoes on your bedroom walls as he grazes the elusive spot inside of you; the way you press right against his pelvis gives a rub of friction that makes lightning zing through your limbs. “That’s it. Huh? Right there?” His voice is tight as he drives up into you again, faster now with the new angle. 

You can hardly summon the sense to make a sentence, babbling now with how good he’s making you feel, the occasional broken curse or plea. After last night and this morning, the neighbours won’t be happy or forget Steve’s name anytime soon - not that you give a fuck. 

You kiss him again, though now you’re both so far gone it’s messy and needy, hot breaths against each other’s cheeks. The lick of his tongue against yours makes you shiver. You feel ready to burst, pleasure building as his hips drive up hard into you

With the feeling of him so deep inside of you, you fall over the edge again. The feeling of your orgasm, clenching and fluttering and soaking, drags him with you, groaning against your neck when his hips slam and stutter still. His arms are tight around you, both heaving deep breaths together. 

Steve eases you both down onto your sides, tangled together. You feel dazed and heavy but the stroke of Steve’s fingers on your hip, his hot breath on your collarbone grounds you until the sounds of Chicago on a Saturday morning remind you that this wasn’t a dream. 

“You okay? That.. Jesus…” Steve’s voice is breathy, but you hear his smile. 

“Yeah. I’m…amazing.”

“Yeah, you are.” 

There’s comfortable silence as you both come back to earth. 

After a few moments Steve dots kisses to your cheeks, forehead and nose before he eases out of you to bin the full condom. Soon you’re back in bed with him, held safe in his arms. His cheeks are pink and you want to squeeze them. 

“You’re so gorgeous, Steve.” Your fingers brush over the moles dotted along his cheekbone, and he catches your hand to kiss your fingers sweetly in distraction. “Hey. Look at me, Harrington.”

“Back to Harrington?” he teases, looking into your eyes with faux intensity to make you giggle. “M’lookin’.”

“Steve. Steven.” You match his teasing with pretend-seriousness.

“Not Steven. Please, baby.” His mouth turns down, exaggerating his unhappiness with you, but the stroke of his fingers on your hip say otherwise.

“Ms O’Donnell called you Steven.”

“Please don’t bring O’Donnell up while my dick is still out.”

You both dissolve into giggles, pressing your face against the chain on his chest. “Shut up, she had that much of an effect on you?! Calling you Steven gets you all worked up? Okay perv, good to know.”

“You’re sick in the head.” His voice is shaky with laughter against your hair. “S’a good thing you’re cute.”

“Mhm. Definitely a sicko. Two cute sickos.” You take his face in your hands again. “You’re a great date Steve Harrington.”

He smiles, but it falls a little - you just about catch it. It makes your heart hurt. Your inability to just say that you don’t want this to be a one time thing makes you want to pull your own hair out. 

“I do my best. I had so much fun with you. I’m just kinda… sick of first dates though. Yknow?” 

“I do know. But that’s not how last night felt.” 

There’s a flash of recognition in his eyes as he nods. 

“Definitely helped that we had a bit of a head start on the ‘where are you from?’ shit..” There’s a twinkle of playfulness in his heart wrenching sincerity. 

“I hate that part.” You look into his eyes. It makes your chest flutter, how he looks at you.

“I know we didn’t know each other all that well in school..”

“Since kindergarten.” Your shrug is tiny, you smile playfully as he groans. 

“Since kindergarten. Shit. What’ve I been doing all this time…” he asks the ceiling.

“Same as me. Getting out of Hawkins. Going on crappy dates...” 

“Mm, true. Growing up, I guess.” He’s quiet for a moment, “Last night wasn’t crappy. Best date I’ve been on in a long long time.”

“Me too. I think I’ll let you take me out again, if you want to…” you say, whispering bravely as you act all playful despite your hammering heart. 

The smile on Steve’s face makes the butterflies in your stomach swoop again. You weren’t the only one who felt so dimmed by dating around, having your heart broken. There’s a beat of silence, charged electric as Steve looks at your lips and you touch his chain again. 

“You like pancakes, or waffles?” Steve’s eyes twinkle. 

You squeeze the bulk of his bicep. “French toast.”

His head tips back in laugh, showing off his delicious throat. “Oh she’s fancy?”

“She is.” 

He leans in to kiss you in more time. “I can do fancy, baby.” 

“You’ve done fancy twice. Fancy is hungry, Steve.”

Your laughter echoes in the golden morning light that fills your room as his fingers skate over your ribs, finding the ticklish spots before he hauls you as close as possible again. 

Steve’s nose presses against your cheek, smooching one more kiss there before sitting up to find his pants. As you stargaze at the constellation on his broad back, you think this might just be the start of something really amazing.

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[obx-adventures]

tell me again; steve harrington

summary: steve was fully aware that his feelings for you went beyond “just friends” but the fear of ruining years of friendship kept him radio silent. however, a murderous wizard wreaking havoc around hawkins and a little bit of encouragement from his younger friends has him finally admitting the truth.

pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader

requested: yes

warnings: slight st4 spoilers

notes: i’m so sorry this took so long i wasn’t really sure what to write so hopefully this is okay, i think this is the longest steve fic ive ever written. also thank u sm for 2500 followers!!! i’m v grateful and appreciative, the feedback on my fics is always so amazing so thank u v much for that :)) you can find my masterlist here.

steve was completely unable to keep his eyes off you for more than ten seconds at a time, no matter what he was supposed to be focusing on, his attention always found it's way back to you, gaze soft but tinted with concern. he'd let his eyes linger on you while trying to hold a conversation with nancy and robin, struggling to come up with ideas to help figure out the ins and outs of the curse but failing miserably because of his fear that you might become the next victim. there wasn't anything in the world steve harrington was more afraid of than losing you.

you'd been a constant light in his life since you were both twelve years old, a never changing force attached to his hip through everything. every up and down you'd been there, every fight with his parents, every failed test, his rocky relationship with nancy and his downfall from king steve to the designated babysitter. you'd been with him through it all, always there to give him your best pep talk and that earth shattering smile that would have him forgetting why exactly he needed a pep talk in the first place. steve knew deep down there would never be anyone like you again, his heart would never react to anyone like it does to you and he wished, god he so badly wished, he'd not wasted so much time on things that didn't matter. because hawkins was going under and steve was scared he'd lose you before he got the chance to show you just how much you meant to him.

for the hundredth time that night he let his eyes seek you out again, tuning out dustin and lucas' conversation about getting more supplies to eddie as soon as possible. nancy and robin had disappeared upstairs not too long ago, robin mumbling something about getting food before she passed out. you, however, were sitting on a mattress across the room from the sofa he was perched on, your back against the wall, legs crossed as max lay with her head against them. the two of you were mumbling quietly to each other, max's head tilted at an angle to meet your eyes, your head dipped low as though to hide your conversation from the others. steve watched the way your fingers sifted gently through the younger girls hair, an almost mother like gesture that sent a pang of longing through his heart.

max being cursed and you all so unsure how to save her had tilted the groups axis significantly, however steve knew you had been completely thrown overboard with the revelation. max had always been like a sister to you, you'd taken her under your wing her first week in hawkins after an unfortunate run in with billy and, as dustin had been with steve, she'd clung to you ever since. even after everything that happened at the mall, you were the only person max didn't push away, the only person she let take care of her when there was no one else around. steve knew you were hurting, knew you felt lost and unable to help and he wanted to pull you into him, to wrap you up in his arms and kiss you until you stopped worrying. but he knew that wasn't possible. like steve, you wouldn't stop worrying until you were more than one hundred percent certain that all the kids were safe.

your lips suddenly tilted into a soft smile, that smile that had steve's knees threatening to give out, and you playfully flicked at max's forehead, a brief moment of normality passing between the two of you. max's smile wasn't as bright, didn't quite reach her eyes, but it settled steve somewhat because he knew it was real and that meant it would ease something inside of you too. max curled her fingers around yours and held your hand to her chest, tilting her head even further as she muttered something that made you nod. slow but full of purpose and then your fingers returned to her hair.

"dude, don't you think it's time to tell her how you feel?" dustin's elbow landed in steve's ribs following his mumbled question and the older boy winced and groaned, pressing his hand firmly to the spot. he finally managed to tear his gaze from you, eyes instead landing on the two boys watching him with knowing looks.

"what are you talking about, henderson?"

"don't you "what are you talking about" me, harrington. you know exactly what i'm talking about." dustin nodded his head in your direction before falling back against the sofa, slouching with a book settled on his lap. "if you keep staring at her like that she might start to melt."

"i'm not staring at her. i'm making sure she's okay, making sure they are okay." steve huffed like a petulant child at being caught out. he knew he wasn't exactly the most subtle when watching out for you but still. friends watch over friends. steve does it with all of them.

"you're staring at her like she might disappear if you blink." this observation came quietly from lucas, and sliding his gaze over, steve found him watching max. the expression on his face was so clear to steve, so obvious. it held every single thought and emotion that had been running through steve's head for the past few hours and in that moment he knew, just like him, lucas' heart was already sitting firmly in max mayfield's hands, whether she knew it or not.

"i don't-" lucas shook his head before steve could continue, running the tip of his finger repeatedly around the mug he was nursing between his hands.

"i get it. i feel like max might disappear if i'm not looking too and it's the worst feeling i've ever had."  the words tumbled from his lips, edges harsh and jagged, raw with emotion that screamed to steve. because it didn't matter how young lucas was, how little time he might have known max, he was in love with her and steve understood the gravity of loss when love was involved. "none of us know what's gonna happen next, steve, but i think y/n deserves to know how you feel. don't leave it until it's too late."

"i can't. i-" steve shook his head and dragged a hand through his hair, a light feeling of nausea rolling over him at the thought of finally coming clean. he'd kept his feelings locked away for so long he wasn't sure how he was meant to tell you. what if you hated him for leaving it so long? what if you thought of him as only your friend and he ruined that by making things awkward. he'd rather have you as a friend, unaware of how much you meant to him, than not have you at all. "she knows i love her." which was true enough. you knew steve loved you to some extent, that just above the surface love that he felt for the rest of his friends and he thinks deep down he could live with you only knowing that level of his feelings if it meant never having to say goodbye to you.

"you're in love with her, there's a difference." dustin pointed out, thumbing at the pages of his book, his eyes darting between steve and you. "look, we have no idea who might end up cursed, we have no idea what's gonna happen to us all, don't let something so important slip through your fingers because you're a coward."

"i'm not a coward. i just can't lose her and if she doesn't feel the same then i've fucked up years of friendship and i can't do that."

"and what if you lose her anyway? what if you never tell her and the world fucking ends and she's stuck thinking all she ever was to you was a friend."

"i don't think she'd be all that bothered about-"

"jesus christ, harrington, y/n is so obviously in love with you. she looks at you like you hung the moon.” lucas shook his head, the words hissed lowly in order to keep quiet from the two girls having their own secret conversation. "the way you two look at each other, like there's no one else around, like you'd run straight to fucking hell and back for the other with no hesitation. that goes way beyond friendship and if you don't do something now there are so many ways that you could lose her. there are so many things that i wanna say to max and i don’t even know if i have the time to say them all. make your move before it's too late."

lucas took a deep breath and let his attention settle back on max, that troubled look returning to his eyes. steve knew max and lucas were going through somewhat of a rough patch and his heart gave a twang of sympathy for the other boy. he knew exactly how suffocating it felt to have so much to say and no idea how to say it. you and max were still huddled together, whispering words back and forth, your fingers still running comfortingly through the tangled strands of her hair. as though feelings steve's eyes on you, you glanced up with that favourite smile of his, the one that so easily sent his thoughts skidding away. little did he know as he sent you his own smile, that max had been giving you the exact same speech he'd just gotten, a speech that in just a few hours would change everything.

everyone was sleeping, soft snores and light breaths the only sound in the wheeler's basement but you couldn't seem to settle, tossing and turning on the tiny mattress in front of the sofa every five seconds. it was hot and stuffy and your mind was racing from your earlier conversation with max. the younger girl had lectured you on not being honest about your feelings for steve, had almost scolded you for hiding your feelings when, in her words "steve worshiped the ground you walked on and it was time you both stopped dancing around the truth". she was right, obviously, about your feelings, but your fear of steve's rejection was a dark cloud over your head and was enough to keep you quiet. you could love him in silence, that had always been okay.

max's constant reminder to you of the curse and how there was no guarantee in life also wasn't helping you sleep. you were running out of time and options and you weren't at all ready to say goodbye to the girl you'd come to think of as a sister. you would save her, you had to. a sigh puffed from your lips, unintentionally loud as you flopped on to your back, eyes turning towards the ceiling. steve was sleeping on the sofa above you and you jolted when his hand appeared over the side, fingers prodding lightly into your cheek as he gave a soft grumble.

"stop wriggling." he mumbled, words muffled from what you assume was a result of his face being smushed into his pillow.

"sorry," you tried to keep quiet, fighting the urge again to flip back on to your side. "can't sleep, everything's uncomfortable." steve was silent for a few seconds, his hand still dangling over the edge of the sofa, fingers so close to your face and then suddenly his head was hanging over the edge too. his eyes were heavy and sleepy, hair a complete mess from the pillow and your stomach flipped, goosebumps rising across your arms at how effortlessly pretty he looked. he cocked his lips in a lopsided smile and tapped his fingers against your chin.

"c'mere." then he disappeared again, slumped back into the comfort of the sofa but you didn't move, stayed rooted to the mattress because you weren't entirely sure you'd heard him correctly. that was until he gave a breathy laugh and spoke again. "come here, y/n." his voice was low and still full of sleep and it stirred something inside of you, made your mind race a mile a minute.

sitting up you turned your head to see steve settled back into the sofa, his fingers curled around one corner of the blanket to hold it open for you. his eyes seemed to twinkle, that lazy smile still glued to his lips as he waited for you. without too much thought you climbed up beside him, laying on your side, your face in line with steve's and you gave a quiet hum when he let the blanket fall back around you both. his hand fumbled to wrap it around you, tucking you in so tightly that your chests were almost pressed together. he was warm, the heat radiating from him and it made your thoughts a little foggy.

"better?" his breath fanned your face and this close you could make out every freckle across his nose, every fleck of green in the browns of his eyes and you never wanted to look away.

"yeah." you gave a small nod, slightly flustered and unsure of where to put your arms and so you kept them awkwardly sandwiched between you. so awkwardly in fact that steve chuckled and took one hand in his own, lifting it to his lips where he skimmed teasing kisses across your knuckles. his gaze was intense, so much so that you wanted to squirm and you were more than shocked at the gentle press of his mouth on your skin.

"wanna tell me what's going on in that pretty head of yours?" you just shrugged, not really wanting to voice your worries about max and the curse, feeling as though saying it out loud would make it all the more real. steve hummed in understanding and it tickled against your fingers before he dropped them again, his hand stayed locked around yours however, thumb sweeping back and forth over your palm in a way that had you fighting back shivers. he was still watching you with that same overly intense look in his eyes, your faces so close together from resting against the same pillow. "you know i'll never let anything happen to you, right?"

"there are things that even you can't save us from, steve." you mumbled the words softly, unsure whether he was talking about you alone or the group but the flicker in his eyes suggested it was the former. he gave your fingers a quick squeeze.

"i'll do anything to make sure you're safe, i need you to know that. i can't lose you, y/n.”

"i know. me and you against the world, right?" you shuffled in closer to him, thankful for his warmth because it seemed to have calmed you somehow, a layer of comfort wrapped around you. steve sucked in a breath when your knees bumped against his legs, a soft pink tinting the tops of his cheekbones. he let go of your hand, his gaze still locked on yours and instead brought his fingers to your face. he brushed the backs of them over the curve of your jaw before tucking your hair carefully behind your ear.

"i can't lose you."

"you're not gonna lose me," you curled your own fingers around his wrist and tilted your head into it, an unfamiliar boldness washing over you as

you pressed your lips to the soft skin. steve's lips twitched into a smile, one that felt like liquid heat inside of you. "gonna be stuck with me for the rest of your life, whether you like it or not, harrington."

"i think i could live with that." his eyes searched your face, taking in each and every small feature as though he was committing them to memory. the way he was looking at you made the hairs on your arms stand up, heat curling in your stomach as your heart gave a thud. he'd never looked at you with such intensity before and you weren't sure how to handle it, your body feeling hot under his attention. his palm found your cheek, soft against the skin, and you melted into him with the first swipe of his thumb beneath your eye. "you're so beautiful."

you let out a startled breath that fanned across his lips and it was only then that you realised you'd moved so close to him, your faces only inches apart. his eyes fell to your lips, gaze dark and every thought in your head turned to dust in that moment, steve's fingers the only thing you could focus on. the entire room seemed to have fallen silent as though waiting for one of you to move, even dustin's bulldozer snores seemed muted to your ears. 

"steve-"

"i love you." the words tumbled from his lips, a little harsher than he intended and you blinked in surprise, lips parting again on his name but he was speaking already. "i mean, i'm in love with you." those words were a lot softer, muttered almost nervously into the room and you didn't miss the flush on his cheeks or the anxious waver of his voice.

"you're in love with me?"

"so in love with you." his nod was slow, his lips curving into a tentative smile. his thumb trailed to your bottom lip and he carefully brushed over it, tugging it down ever so slightly before letting it snap back into place. "you have no idea." you were frozen, eyes locked on steve but he was staring at your mouth, eyes glassy and a little unfocused and you wanted to know what exactly was running through his head, wanted to know if his thoughts were as jumbled as yours.

steve harrington was in love with you. your best friend, the boy who teased you about your braces, the boy you fought russian's with, the boy you'd been in love with since he first offered you his chocolate bar when you were twelve years old, was in love with you. your mind wouldn't let you believe it, your heart hammering in your chest as you wondered over whether he was just joking with you. but he looked so serious, so set and the nervous glint in his eyes made you think that he maybe was being honest.

"you don't have to say it back, i know you probably don't feel the same but with everything that's happening with the curse and us having no fucking clue what we're doing, i just needed you to know." you arched your eyebrows at him and shuffled impossibly closer, lifting your hand to brush his hair back off his forehead.

"you seriously think i wouldn't feel the same?" he just shrugged, suddenly looking shy, his eyes flickering around your face and you gave a quiet laugh, head shaking. "steve, i've been in love with you since we were twelve." you felt his entire body go tense against you, his thumb pausing it’s back and forth motion across your chin and the awe struck expression on his face made you giggle quietly.

“why didn’t you say anything?”

“why didn’t you say anything?” you prodded his cheek playfully and he sent you a sheepish grin, ducking his head ever so slightly. you watched him, slipping your hand over his neck until his hair tickled the tips of your fingers. “i guess looming death is a great way to get a love confession out of someone, hm?”

“lucas made me realise that i want you to know just how much i love you in case the worst happens. i need you to know how much you mean to me, that i don’t just look at you and see my best friend, that i look at you and i see someone i wanna spend the rest of my life with. however long that might be.” a slow smile curved your lips at his words and you pushed your fingers completely into his hair, leaning in to nudge your nose against his. your chest felt light but hot, completely fuzzy because steve loved you.

“i love you more than i thought was ever possible, i’m so in love with every single part of you steve harrington.” steve’s grin was wide and full blown, almost taking up his entire face and it was that smile that made your first kiss so ridiculously awkward for the first couple of seconds. it was a clash of teeth, a bump of noses, the gentle knock of his chin against yours until you giggled and he laughed and then he was kissing your properly. full and with so much love your blood seemed to sing in your veins and your heart hammered so harshly against your chest you were certain it was trying to reach his.

his fingers gripped lightly at your chin to keep you tilted towards him and the soft noise he let out into your mouth when you shifted your fingers through his hair was decidedly your new favourite sound. his lips were warm and soft, so soft you were determined to know what lip balm he used, and he tasted of mint, his toothpaste not yet having warn off, with the tiniest hint of the coffee he’d been stealing from you all day. you felt dizzy, drunk on his kisses and in that moment you’d do absolutely anything he asked of you. steve’s body shifted until he was half hovering over you, the blanket thankfully covering you from any prying eyes however you hoped everyone was still fast asleep.

this moment was one you wanted to stay in forever. in time, whenever you thought of fleeting happiness, it would be this moment. steve’s lips on yours, his previous declaration of love branded into your heart like an immovable stamp. he nipped ever so slightly at your bottom lip and then mumbled his next words directly into your mouth, the sound muffled and messy, his voice a little shaky.

“tell me again.”

“hmm?” you couldn’t concentrate. not when he was kissing you the way he was, when you could feel every inch of his body up against yours, the heat of him swirling white hot happiness in your stomach. he pulled back slightly, lips only inches from yours and sent you a small smile. the tops of his cheeks were flushed and his hair was messy from your fingers, falling carelessly over his forehead, just kissing the tops of his eyebrows.

“i wanna hear you say it again, so i know i’m not dreaming.”

“you had me like this in a lot of your dreams, harrington?”

“a few of them, although we’re both usually wearing a lot less clothes.” you smacked his shoulder at that, eyes rolling despite your grin because you’d be a liar if you said you hadn’t had similar dreams. steve smothered his laughter in your hair, trying his hardest to stay quiet and not wake the others. he was guaranteed to be teased once they found out he finally admitted how he felt and he’d much rather have shared a few more kisses before that happened. he took a few seconds to calm his giggles and then tipped his head back to you, dropping a kiss to your chin and then the corner of your mouth. “tell me again.”

with a sigh you took his face in your hands, palms soft against his cheeks and stared headlong into those dark eyes that had you hooked from day one. your thumbs brushed beneath his eyes and you lifted your head to nudge his nose. “i love you.” there was such finality to your words, a solid statement, a fact, something that would never change and that was all it took for steve to bring you in for another kiss. this one was deeper and a little more desperate but still so utterly and completely toe curling. you had been through your fair share of kisses but nothing would ever come close to this one.

[obx-adventures]

Amazing!

i can see you

♫︎ i can see you - taylor swift ♫︎

pairing(s): steve harrington x fem!reader

summary: The secret history of your long and arduous relationship with Steve Harrington.

aka: the 5 times you pined over each other, and the time you actually did something about it

words: 17.6k (we're NOT gonna talk about it lol)

cw: explicit, smut, piv sex, flirting, making out, heavy petting, slight exhibitionism, oral (f receiving), fingering, marking, biting, steve harrington has a big dick, themes of infidelity/cheating (sort of), skipping out on dates, bad dates, steve steal-your-girl harrington, almost-kisses, jealous!steve, jealous!reader, possessive behavior, smoking, alcohol consumption, allusions to marriage but it's never actually mentioned, canon compliant, reader and steve are the same age, 5+1 things, songfic, angst, fluff, humor, hurt/comfort, pining, mutual crush, slow burn one shot, mild twist ending, begins in season two (1984) and ends in the 90s, high school, scoops ahoy era, family video era, waiter!steve, steve harrington (the eras tour), vignette, one instance of billy hargrove slander, original characters created for plot, inspired by i can see you by taylor swift, other taylor song inspo throughout bc i'm insane like miss swift

a/n: hi and welcome to ✨rose's mental breakdown✨ yes this song will be my number one on spotify wrapped bc i listened to it on a loop for five days straight while writing this. idk. anyways this is So Much and i'm tired of looking at it so if there are any mistakes i apologize. anyways whoever can point out the most taylor song references aside from the obvious titular one gets a doubloon

ALL OF MY WORKS ARE 18+ MINORS DNI

You brush past me in the hallway, and you don’t think I can see you, do you? I’ve been watchin’ you for ages, and I spend my time trying not to feel it…

Hawkins High, September 1984

He’s so pretty sometimes that it’s disgusting.

That’s really the only thing you think when you watch Steve Harrington sneak up on his girlfriend, Nancy Wheeler, and swoop her off the ground in front of her locker. From across the hall, your locker hangs open, your body turned halfway toward them so that you can pretend that you’re not staring.

You stare a lot.

It’s not exactly the hair, you think- everyone shits a brick about his hair, for some reason that you don’t understand. Yeah, it’s nice… but you like everything else about him, too. You like how sweet he looks when he laughs. You like the way that he holds himself and the way that he looks when he puts his hands on his hips and stands around like he’s directing the traffic around him. You like how much of a prince charming he is, really. It would surprise you if he doesn’t win prom king at the end of the year. They already call him King Steve, it’s not too far of a stretch.

You close your locker just as Steve kisses Nancy, in front of god and everybody in the C Corridor hallway. Steve’s arms wrap around Nancy’s petite frame and he dips her, like they’re in some sort of George Peck and Audrey Hepburn movie. Not that the place is much of a cinematic setting, though. Down the hall, the science rooms are doing their dissection units, so the whole place smells like formaldehyde and disinfectant, and you sort of feel like curling up into one of those dissection pans and dying, yourself. 

That should be me, your brain screams. Me!!

It’s always been like this. You’ve had a crush on Steve since freshman year- the fact that he’s dating Nancy, who’s a year younger than him, doesn’t escape your jealous mind. You’ve been in classes with him for four years, you’ve admired him quietly, you’ve hoped and prayed that he somehow noticed you noticing him.

You don’t think he knows you exist. Four years- and now you’re both seniors, about to graduate, and he still doesn’t notice you. You should really stop caring, or stop trying, or stop… pining. Or something. 

You hike your bag up onto your shoulder and juggle your books in your arms. The bell rings, and quite suddenly the entire hallway erupts into pandemonium (predictable, sure, considering everyone loiters around instead of actually getting to class on time). Kids fly around you in all directions to get to their next classroom. Nancy Wheeler ducks away from Steve Harrington, avoiding yet another kiss.

God, you wish you could kiss him.

Someone slams into your shoulder from behind, muscling past you to get to science lab 5, rat central. Your binder slips out of the stack of books in your arms and clatters loudly to the ground, just as someone walks past and kicks it across the floor.

“Fuck,” you spit, chasing after it. The back of your neck feels hot. For the first time in four years, you hope to god that Steve Harrington doesn’t notice you. 

You duck around people’s legs, trying to grab at your binder, while not trying to drop any more of the books in your arms. Loose papers are starting to fall out of the binder as it skitters across the floor, and this is becoming more and more of a comedy of errors by the minute.

Your fingers just brush the corner of it before someone kicks it again. 

“Do you mind?” you snap as they walk away, not even looking in your direction. Crouched close to the floor, you don’t matter. Maybe you could count that as a blessing, considering you don’t want to be perceived right now.

You finally just throw away all dignity and crawl across the tile floor- disgusting and dirty and covered in sandy grit, as though it hasn’t been cleaned all year- to get to your binder. 

And you come face to face with a pair of white Nike’s. Ones that you know way too well, because you’ve stared at them every time they’ve passed you in the hallway. 

Nonononono- You clench your jaw and then look up, way up, to find Steve Harrington towering over you. 

He looks like he was about to just step around you, but then he notices you gazing up at him from all fours, and his hazel eyes lock on yours. You blink at each other for a second before he flushes, a pink blush breaking out on his cheeks and crawling up his neck, and he looks away quickly, but crouches down to grab your binder before your hand can land on it. 

“Sorry,” Steve says quietly, gathering up the couple papers that had started to slide out of the folders inside. You sit back on your heels, your blood rushing in your ears, mortified. His big hands gently poke the papers back into the folder as they should be before he hands it to you. “Looks like you’re gonna be late to class.”

You scoff. “Look who’s talking.”

Steve’s eyes find yours again, and he’s finally so close to you that you can admire the little bit of green in them. You’ve never been close enough to notice before.

He cracks a lopsided smile, one that he uses to charm people, you know- you’ve seen him use it on teachers and cute girls alike. “I’m always late to the party. But I get there, eventually.”

“I hope so.” He cocks his head at you. He doesn’t know the real meaning to your words- or, at least, you don’t think he does. 

I hope you don’t stay oblivious forever, Steve Harrington. I hope you get there, eventually.

You take your binder from him, but you pull your eyes away from his a bit later than you properly should. “Thanks, Steve.”

You get up and take off toward your next class, walking quickly so that you don’t come off like you’re lingering too long. But, halfway down the hall, you look over your shoulder at him.

Steve hasn’t moved, still crouched down close to the floor, with his head bent like he’s deep in thought. With his back to you, you can still see the pink flush on the back of his neck, peeking out above his collared shirt.

‘Cause I can see you, waiting down the hall from me, and I can see you up against the wall with me. What would you do? Baby, if you only knew that I can see you…

Hawkins High, April 1985

Prom season sucks. Always has, and always will. 

Maybe it was your fault for hoping that Logan Sawyer, popular prick extraordinaire, was serious about wanting to take you to prom. He seemed serious enough, stopping by your locker during passing period and leaning over you as he asked you, his mega-watt smile making you blush. You’d counted yourself lucky- you didn’t think anyone was going to ask you, and people aren’t allowed to go to prom stag.

It took Logan two weeks to find a prettier girl to go with, though. You don’t know why it hurts so much. Maybe it’s because you wanted to believe that you were someone’s first choice, but it never quite seems to turn out that way.

You wipe your tears in the mirror, scowling at your puffy, bloodshot eyes. The bathroom next to the girls’ locker room in the sports wing is completely deserted at this time- the boys’ gym class is in session now, and you’re cutting into your lunch time, but you really don’t want to have to go and cry at a lunch table, in front of a bunch of your bitchy peers, who will inevitably make fun of you for it.

Sniffling, but slightly more composed, you head out of the bathroom. The sports wing is ridiculously bigger than any other wing of the school (typical of American public schools, to prioritize sports over every other department). The wing boasts weight training rooms, dance rooms, three separate gymnasiums, and a door directly to the football field, with the locker rooms on the farthest end to allow for easy access to the field. Connecting all of these rooms is the longest corridor in the building, which seems to run for half a fucking mile.

You’ll have to walk that half mile, because in order to get to the cafeteria, you’re gonna have to traverse the entire building. You might not get to eat much today, but it was a sacrifice you were willing to make. Maybe Mrs. Marshall will be kind enough to let you snack on a granola bar in your next class period.

Halfway down the long hallway, you feel the angry sting of tears behind your eyes again, and your face screws up in frustration. You stop, turning halfway back toward the girls’ bathroom, wondering if you should just go back in and allow yourself to cry some more.

Suck it up, you think to yourself, smacking at your tear stained cheeks. He’s not the guy you really want to ask you to prom, anyways.

You press your fingertips into your eyes to relieve the sting of tears, taking a deep breath. Being in high school is driving you crazy. At this point in the year, the teachers have given up teaching, the students have given up learning, and you’re basically just biding your time in a glorified babysitting service until you can inevitably grab your diploma and get out of here. You can’t wait for that time to arrive. 

A door opens further down the hallway, in the direction of the cafeteria. You wipe your nose once and keep moving in the direction you were going, not wanting to draw attention to yourself, standing in the middle of the hallway having a breakdown.

Moving forwards, you keep your eyes on the ground. Once you hear the door that had been opened slam shut again, you figure that whoever it was has moved on down the hallway, and you lift your eyes again. 

They have not, in fact, moved on. And you suddenly have the urge to turn and fucking run back into the girls’ bathroom, because Steve Harrington is bent over at the drinking fountain, directly outside the boys’ weight room.

What the fuck, what the fuck. You suck on your teeth, trying not to falter in your stride. Maybe he hasn’t seen you, and you can just pass him up. It’s fine, he hasn’t seen you crying. 

Your mind backtracks to the beginning of the year, you fumbling your binder all the way across the hallway and ending up right in front of him, crawling toward him. Looking up at him and probably, most definitely, making him really uncomfortable.

You have English class together, where you sit at the desk closest to the door. He comes in late almost every day, so he passes by you every time. Some days he looks at your desk. On good days, he meets your eye. But he hasn’t spoken to you since that day in September, and you really shouldn’t hold out hope that he will. 

You definitely don’t want him to notice you when you’ve been crying, your face is a mess, your hair is limp and you look bedraggled. You just want to fade into the background of your next class with whatever snack you can get from the cafeteria snuck into your bag, so you can stress eat it without any guff from a teacher (like you aren’t 18 and capable of deciding when you are and aren’t allowed to eat).

You keep your eyes down. If you don’t look at him, he doesn’t exist.

Except, Steve Harrington always exists, in the back of your mind, and in your periphery. He is impossible not to notice, as per usual. He really just draws the eye like a magnet. Try as you might, your eyes keep flicking up to take stock of him. 

He’s wearing a uniform gray P.E. shirt and gym shorts that don’t leave a lot to the imagination, and you fixate on his thighs more than you should. He has sweat dripping down his neck, wetting his hair on the sides of his face and the seam of his shirt. It shouldn’t be attractive. He shouldn’t be attractive. With his face a mess. And his hair limp, and looking bedraggled. Truly, you make a priceless pair, being the only two people in the hallway.

We’re perfect for each other, a voice says in your head. And you manage, for the first time in an hour, to crack a smile down at your shoes.

He finishes getting his drink at the fountain, and you figure that he’ll just go back into the weight room and not see you. But, of course, luck is not on your side.

Steve Harrington looks at you. And you look away, quickly, acting like you hadn’t been staring at him. And in your periphery, again, you see him stretch his arms over his head, and then turn and lean against the cinderblock wall beside the door to the weight room, with his hands on his knees as though he’s catching his breath.

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

He does it so casually, and with the way he’s sweating and his face is flushed, you’re sure that he probably does just want to take a break before going in and lifting more weights. But something in the back of your mind says that the maneuver was too purposeful, immediately after he laid eyes on you. 

It could just be wishful thinking on your part. You heard through the grapevine that Steve and Nancy Wheeler broke up in a nasty way just before winter break, and it doesn’t seem like he’s been interested in anyone since. He hasn’t dated anyone, hasn’t flirted with any girls or showed up at any parties. Nancy must have really broken his heart.

You know too well what that feels like, right now.

Nearing where he leans against the wall, you keep your head down and you plan on just passing by without any acknowledgement from him, same as it ever was. If he’s still carrying a torch for Nancy, you’re sure that he doesn’t want anything to do with you. You’ve nearly convinced yourself of it.

But then you hear your name called quietly, and it nearly makes you jump. You look over at him, thinking you’re just hearing things, but you look directly into a pair of hazel eyes again, and you feel yourself rocketing back in time to September.

You didn’t even think he knew your name.

You slow to a stop. It would be rude not to stop, right? “Uh… hi, Steve. You good?”

Steve Harrington looks you up and down, while he leans against the wall and breathes a bit heavily, like he’s out of breath. He peers at you through long eyelashes, looking impossibly inviting despite everything; the setting, your appearances, the way that you feel like dissolving into a puddle right in front of him. “Yeah, great. You?”

He’s scrutinizing your face now. You shrug, since he’s already seen you, and there’s no way to pretend you weren’t crying thirty seconds ago. “I’m fine. Just being dramatic, don’t worry about me.” 

“When people say not to worry about them, it usually means that you should,” Steve muses. He looks coy, like he’s speaking from experience. 

You sigh, stepping forward to get your own drink from the drinking fountain. “Logan Sawyer called off our date for prom.”

“Oh.” Steve pauses for a few seconds, watching as you bend down and take your drink, more silent than he usually is. “I mean… that really sucks. I’m sorry. But… Logan Sawyer?” 

“Yeah.” You wipe your mouth, and then wet the ends of your fingers and use the cool water to rub at your stinging eyes again. When you’re done, you lean up against the wall beside him, letting your back settle into the cinderblock.

“The guy’s a fucking douche.”

“Tell me about it.”

“No, I mean it, I think it’s a good thing you’re not going to prom with him. He’s really shitty to girls.” You look up at Steve, who’s watching you with his arms crossed, with the most serious expression you’ve ever seen him wear. “I mean, the only guy worse than Logan is probably… I dunno…”

“Billy Hargrove?” 

Steve laughs. Actually laughs. You’ve wanted to make him laugh like that for four years. His cheeks turn crimson and he grins down at his shoes, snickering like there’s way more to the joke he’s laughing at than you even know about. “Yeah. Yeah, he’s gotta be the worst.”

You chuckle, albeit with a sadder tone than he has. “Well, I’m not going to prom with either of them. So, I can count my blessings. I guess.”

Steve frowns, and he looks like he’s going to say something else, but you’re already turning away, not wanting to continue the depressing conversation about your lack of dates. Especially not from the one guy who you desperately want to go on a date with.

You get a few steps away before he takes a step after you, saying, “Wait. You, uh-”

You stop, and look back at him. He looks dumbfounded, his arm outstretched like he was going to try to grab you if you didn’t listen to him. When you frown, he steps back against the wall, bringing his hand up to run through his hair. 

Oh. That’s a nervous tick. You know it, because you’ve watched him do it more than once in English, in front of the class during a presentation.

Steve looks down at his shoes, his brow scrunched in thought. He looks like he’s really trying to find the right words to say. In your head, a hopeful part of you imagines what those words could be. ‘Will you go to prom with me?’

Finally, he looks up at you resolutely. “You’ll find someone to take you to prom. I’m sure of it.” He nods a little, like he’s reassuring himself that he said the right thing. 

You can’t help the smile that springs onto your face. It’s incredulous, of course, but he can’t know that. Keep trying, baby. You’ll get there, eventually.

“Thanks, Steve.” It’s the second time you thank him in the course of the year.

But what would you do if I went to touch you now? What would you do if they never found us out? What would you do if we never made a sound?

Prom Night, May 1985

The dress you’re wearing is sleek and a lot simpler than some of the more popular styles on the dance floor, but you like it more than you care to admit. You’d just grabbed it off the rack at Macy’s, and beyond that you didn’t want to go all-out for prom. It turns out that your lab partner, Gavin Connelly, needed a date, too. So, you’re here with him, because you knew that if you missed prom, you would probably regret it.

Except, well.

Gavin, stoned out of his fucking mind, is sitting at one of the tables, nursing a cup of punch, looking like he’s two seconds from falling asleep. You’ve taken to making the rounds and saying hi to anyone you can call a ‘friend,’ because you’re tired of just loitering next to him. Something tells you he didn’t want to even be here.

The speakers are playing ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart,’ and couples are swaying on the dance floor in a Bonnie Tyler-induced haze. At a loss for people to bother, you wander back over to your date to find his head plastered to the white table cloth. 

You glance to the guy sitting next to him, a kid with glasses who you don’t recognize but who seems to know your date, because he’s just patting Gavin’s back. “Is he okay?”

“Oh, no, he’s dying.” The kid shoots you a sarcastic smile. 

You nod, pressing your tongue hard to the roof of your mouth. “Well, if he wakes up, tell him I’m getting some air.”

Fuck this. Fuck prom. Fuck high school boys.

Your heels, which are killing your feet already, click loudly on the tile hallway floor as you exit the gym. The table where you can check your bag and coat are located at the other end of the hall, where everyone is supposed to enter through the door to the football field.

You can hear voices from the far end of the hall, and Bonnie Tyler’s voice fading out the further you get from the gym. You might never be able to hear that song again without thinking of your ruined slow dance opportunity.

As you pass by, someone coughs off to the left and you turn your head to see Steve Harrington, black tie and all, loitering in the shadows. You stop a few feet from him and squint into the dark.

You can’t believe it. He always seems to show up at the worst times. “What are you doing, skulking around?” 

“I’m not sulking.”

You snort, stepping into the shadows with him. “No, skulk- like, sneaking around?” 

“Well, I didn’t mean to sneak-” he looks over his shoulder at the gym entrance. “I’m just getting some air.”

“Funny,” you murmur. “I was just about to do the same thing.”

He eyes you, a lot like he did a few weeks ago in this same hallway, further up toward the other end of it. He takes in your hair, styled painstakingly to ‘perfection,’ or as close as you could approximate it, and your off-the-rack department store dress. You suddenly feel like you aren’t as pretty as you thought you were at the beginning of the night. 

But then he meets your eye, and all those insecurities fade into the back of your mind. He’s smiling at you, and that can only be a good thing.

“So, uh…” Steve leans back against the wall, his hands in his pockets, “You found someone to take you?”

You press your lips into a tight line. You don’t really want to think about your date right now, but- “Gavin Connelly.”

“Who?”

You laugh, kicking the heel of your shoe against the ground with a soft clack. “Yeah. God, I wish I didn’t know him right now.”

“Why, what’d he do?” Steve sounds perturbed. You look up to find him scowling already.

“Oh, he just ate a pot brownie before he picked me up and passed out at one of the tables.” You finish with a tired giggle, shrugging at Steve as he peers at you with an annoyed expression. “Who did you bring?”

“Kelly Palmer.” 

You know Kelly. She doesn’t say much, but she’s gotten a scholarship to a big art school. “Do you like her?”

“Yeah, she’s nice,” he says mildly. Unconvincingly.

You can understand the subtext. She’s not Nancy. When you look at his face, he seems tortured in the low light coming from down the hall.

“Guess I’m oh-for-two,” Steve adds after a pause. “Last year’s prom, Nance and I didn’t have such a good time, either.”

You nod. It seems like there’s more he wants to say, but he doesn’t. “I’m sorry,” you offer. You don’t know the ins-and-outs of Steve and Nancy’s relationship, aside from watching them suck face in the hallway five paces from you for a year and a half. “Prom sucks. High school sucks. These can’t be the best years of our lives, trust me.”

“Yeah, I hope not.” 

“I just can’t wait to get out of here, you know,” you grumble, allowing your sour mood to come out a little more than normal. It seems like Steve is just really good at getting you to let your guard down. “I’m planning to go to Chicago for college. This is all just… you know, it’s just the starting point. What about you, any big plans?”

“Dunno. I didn’t get accepted to any schools, so I’ll just be getting a job here in town until something better comes along.” Steve shifts, his heel hitting the wall behind him. He looks disappointed when he says, “I think I made too many mistakes.” 

You frown, chewing on your lip. “What do you mean?”

He gives you a heavy look, like he’s gearing up to say something important, something game changing- and then his gaze softens. 

“You’ve got an eyelash.” He gestures to his own eye, like it’ll make you understand exactly where the loose one is on your face.

“Oh.” You falter, lifting your manicured hands and wiping at your undereyes. “Did I get it?”

“No, uh- here, I can-” Steve tentatively reaches forward, and you step toward him to let him touch your face. 

Steve Harrington is touching your face. 

His fingertip brushes your cheekbone, so featherlight you would barely feel it if you weren’t hyper aware of everything that he said or did. His touch glides across your cheek and toward your temple, and then he seems to keep it there, his hand hovering just over your skin.

Reflexively, your hand comes up to rest on his shoulder. You’re inches from Steve’s face, your eyes falling to his lips.

You could kiss him. You could live your fantasy, right now.

Steve’s gaze lingers on your face for a moment, and then he says, “You’re so beautiful.”

Your heart lurches in your chest. He doesn’t say that you look beautiful. He doesn’t say it conditionally, like it’s just for tonight. You are beautiful. Even when you’re crawling on all fours after your binder. Even when you’re crying, and your hair is limp, and you look bedraggled.

“Steve…” you whisper, inching closer to him. 

“STEVE??!”

You jump away from him like he’s burned you, and peek around the hall corner to see Kelly Palmer standing outside the gym looking up and down the hall, searching for him. She looks lost, and sad, like he must have ditched.

She looks an awful lot like you just did, coming out of that gym.

You feel Steve’s hand where it had fallen to your wrist, dragging your attention gently back to him. You take his hand and squeeze it once, giving him a tight smile. 

“You brought her here for a good time,” you say with your bravest smile. “Just don’t pass out at one of the tables on her, okay?”

Don’t be a douche. Don’t be like Logan Sawyer. 

Steve swallows, and gives you a short nod. You think he finally got there.

You give a soft pat to the lapel of his suit jacket. “Go get ‘em, tiger.” 

He touches your arm one final time before he slips around the corner, just as Kelly turns to go back into the gym. You watch him walk away, and you think to yourself, That’s the last time I chase after Steve Harrington.

Wherever there is, it’s not with you.

Steve loops his arms around Kelly’s waist and lifts her, earning a thrilled squeal as the silver taffeta of her dress glints blue in the light from the gym. You wait until they’ve disappeared back into it before you turn and high-tail it toward the coat check table.

And we kept everything professional, but something’s changed, it’s something I like. They keep watchful eyes on us, so it’s best if we move fast and keep quiet…

Starcourt Mall, June 1985

“Come on, it’s ridiculously hot outside,” your best friend, Shelly, groans as she pulls you along by the wrist. “I can’t believe they only have one ice cream place here.”

“I’m sure they have slushies at the-”

“Ice. Cream.” You know better than to argue with her.

Scoops Ahoy has a novelty nautical theme that makes you want to both laugh and break down in tears when you see it. The PA is playing a cutesy rendition of Drunken Sailor on accordion, and you think that if you keep looking at the striped wallpaper behind the counter, you might get literally seasick. In the mall. In landlocked Indiana. 

Or… is it landlocked if it fronts Lake Michigan? It doesn’t matter. You’ll be in Chicago in two days, anyways.

You let Shelly drag you along until you look towards the front counter, and you see something that nearly makes you trip and face plant into Shelly’s fresh perm.

Even Shelly pauses. “Is that who I think it is?”

It’s something about the stupid little sailor’s cap and shorts, and that he’s so, so pretty in it, you think. It’s also something about how you have the perfect vantage point to watch him try and fail to flirt with the girl that approaches the counter to order. You’re enamored with him. There’s no other way to describe it. 

You have half a mind to run away, after what you promised yourself on prom night over a month ago. You’d done good, you didn’t search for him in the halls, you ignored him in your last couple of class periods with him. You’d even been in the bathroom when his name was called at graduation. 

But, here he is. Steve Harrington, absolutely obliterating his chances of getting a date with the girl ordering a sundae ahead of you. 

Honestly, you don’t know what you’re waiting for. Maybe an invitation? A sign from god that today’s the day that you’ll make a move? Or maybe this is just a test of will.

You stop resisting Shelly’s attempts to drag you along, and straighten your spine. You can do this. Four years’ worth of pining won’t make a difference in whether or not you order a strawberry ice cream cone.

He’s even prettier up close, his rosy cheeks framed by sunkissed, wavy hair. When he sees you he stalls, going a bit wide-eyed and then seeming to realize he’s supposed to do his job. He leans heavily against the counter. “Ahoy, ladies! Would you like to set sail on this ocean of flavor with me? I’ll be your captain, Steve Harrington.”

“Uh-huh.” You stare at each other for a long moment. “How much do they pay you to recite that script?”

“Absolutely nothing, I do this for pure enjoyment.” You’re almost sure that he doesn’t. He pauses, a hand poised on his hip. “Too much?”

“I’d dial it back just a smidge. Maybe keep the ahoy and the captain thing and toss the rest.” 

“Noted.” He nods slowly, his eyes fixed on you. “I thought you were going to Chicago?”

“I leave the day after tomorrow,” you shrug. “Still time for me to burn the place down, you know.”

“Well, I’m glad you stopped by,” Steve chuckles. “I could show you where the gas line is, then we’d all be in trouble.”

“Oookay.” Shelly gives you a curious side-eye, and then turns back to Steve. “Well, I’ll have a U.S.S. Butterscotch with a chocolate dipped waffle bowl, if you don’t mind.”

Steve tears his eyes away from you long enough to grin at Shelly. “Coming right up. And for you?”

You freeze, glancing up at the menu. It’s written in an infuriatingly cutesy code-language that you have to decipher. “Um. I’m still deciding.”

“All right, then. Just let me know, when you’re ready.” 

Steve slips away to make Shelly her sundae, a heaping pile of ice cream and butterscotch syrup that looks like the fast track to a heart attack. You alternate between trying to comprehend the menu and being distracted by Steve in that stupid sailor’s uniform.

The script on the menu may as well be written in a foreign language. Blackbeard’s Delight. Treasure Island Turtle. U.S.S. Sherbet. The sizes are even harder to understand. Fathom. League. Nautical Mile. You don’t have the capacity to decipher it- your eyes are seeing the words, but your mind is traveling back to prom night, and feeling Steve’s finger on your cheek as you gear up to kiss him.

“Are you ready?”

“Mhm…” It takes you a second to zone back into the present moment, where Steve is standing in front of you, on the other side of the counter, waiting to take your order. He waits, with a patient smile on his face, while you blink dumbly at him.

What did you say? What did he say?

“I… um.” You’re sure you look completely out of it. Your eyes flick nervously up at the menu, that you still can’t fucking read. Shelly’s already gone to sit down with her sundae, the traitor.

“It’s kind of hard to understand, isn’t it?” Steve says quietly after a moment, dropping the phony customer service charade. “I hate it. I think we should just be able to say what our favorite ice cream flavor is and be done with it.”

“Yeah,” you murmur, still squinting up at the menu. Blackbeard’s Delight: blackberry swirl with blueberry syrup and a gold doubloon. “The fuck is a doubloon?”

Steve snorts, and reaches under the counter before bringing back a handful of gold foil-covered chocolate coins, which he dumps into your outstretched hand. “You want more? We get them wholesale.”

“I’m good,” you giggle, juggling the chocolate coins before they go cascading to the floor. “I think… I don’t… I don’t understand a thing on that menu.”

“What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?” He leans forward to ask you, like it's a secret. Just between the two of you. His head bent a little to peer at you closely, so close that you can count the freckles on his skin.

You glance over your shoulder. Shelly is seated by the far wall, under a painting of a kraken, giving you an indignant look. When she notices you looking, she mouths an emphatic, ‘LET’S GO!’

“Don’t tell anyone,” you whisper, and Steve affects his gravest expression as he nods. “Strawberry.” 

“A classic,” he grins. “Fan of sprinkles?” 

“I can dig a few sprinkles.”

“Perfect. I think we have something up your alley.” He grabs a scooper out of the bin and twirls it once, just to show off. “Sex on the Beach.” 

“What?” You don’t remember seeing anything about that on the menu.

He glances up to smirk at you before shrugging. “It’s strawberry ice cream with peach syrup. You’ll see.”

You keep an eye on his hands behind the glass partition, watching them put two scoops of strawberry into a medium sized carton. Completely unable to rein in your thoughts before they get away from you, you’re thinking about how good they would feel under your shirt. You follow a treasure map of freckles trailing up his arms, disappearing under the blue sailor’s shirt he wears. You want to kiss every single one of them.

You finally reply, “I guess I have to put my faith in your professional ice cream slinging abilities.” 

“Oh, haven’t you heard?” Steve mutters sardonically as he squirts peach syrup across the two scoops of ice cream, giving it a golden sheen. “I’m the king of cream.”

You purse your lips as it takes Steve a second to realize what he just said. When he does, he snaps his head up to meet your eye in horror. 

He opens his mouth to take it back, but you shake your head, holding back laughter. “Don’t ruin it.”

“I think it’s pretty much ruined already.” He turns crimson, blushing down at the half-made sundae as he rapidly shakes yellow sprinkles onto it. “I was doing so good, too.”

“Who says you aren’t still?” You give him a cute smile when he looks up through his lashes at you, still arranging toppings on the sundae. You’re not sure what happened between prom and now to change him so much, but it’s almost as if he’s… goofy. He’s less concerned with appearances, he’s more laid back and willing to make fun of himself. 

You like it a lot. 

You watch him plop two maraschinos onto one ice cream mound, and wedge a candied orange slice into the other, inverted, to look like a setting sun. As he passes it over the counter to you, he says, “Here you go, one Sex on the Beach. On the house.”

“What? No, I couldn’t-”

“I mean it. For overlooking my stupidity,” Steve insists. He gives you a meaningful look when he adds, “A million times over.”

“I’m not overlooking anything when it comes to you, Steve,” you tell him fondly, and drop one of the doubloons into the tip jar. It’s gaudy, gleaming artificially gold in the middle of the crumpled up dollar bills. “Hang onto that. You might be able to cash it in for a kiss someday.”

Steve blinks rapidly, leaning across the counter as you walk away. “After you come back from Chicago, right?”

You look over your shoulder, and you wink at him.

When you finally stop in front of Shelly, and you use your plastic spoon to dig into the adorable sundae that Steve crafted for you, you remember that you’d gone up to the counter with every intention of ignoring Steve and acting like you didn’t even know him.

You winked at Steve Harrington. You said you’d kiss him. You think back to the girl who was so afraid of Steve even noticing her, almost a year ago, and wonder where she went.

You look down at Shelly. She’d graduated a year before you, so she wasn’t there to witness every blunderous interaction you’d had with Steve in school. You never told her how in love you were with him.

Now, she looks up at you coyly. “So. Steve Harrington, huh?”

“Shut up,” you grunt, looking up and out at the food court outside of the Scoops Ahoy storefront. “As if you know everything.”

“Are you gonna try to make something out of that…” she gestures vaguely with her spoon toward the counter, “before school starts?” 

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” you say honestly, still poking at your sundae. “Anyways, I leave too soon for anything to really happen. What- I screw him tomorrow and then fuck off forever? It’s just wishful thinking, probably.” You finally take a bite of the ice cream, just to punctuate your sentence.

“Hm. Probably. How is that?” Shelly nods at the ice cream in your hand. “Looks pretty.”

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted.” You’re being honest. Something about the peach syrup with the strawberry base literally evokes the flavor of a sunset. “They should give him a raise.”

Humming, Shelly stands and takes her half-eaten sundae. She nudges you in the direction of the door. “C’mon. We’ve gotta eat these before the next showing of The Breakfast Club.”

Steve watches you and your friend leave, with the wistful gaze of someone who just watched their greatest opportunity walk away from them. He never knew that it was possible to hate an entire geographic location, but he really wishes Chicago would get blown off the map in the next 24 hours. 

The wooden partition doors slam open, and Robin’s head appears in the window to the kitchen. “The cream king? Do you want me to actually hurl?”

“I said, ‘the king of cream,’” he groans, digging his knuckles into his eye sockets. “Kill me, Robin. Load me into the freezer. Bury me at the fairground.”

“You think you’re valuable enough to displace that much ice cream?” Robin rolls her eyes, and with another loud thwack, her white board appears in the space behind her. “We don’t make anything called Sex on the Beach. This is a family establishment.”

“I made it up.” 

Robin coos, “Aww. Be still my heart. You love her to the point of invention.” 

Steve whirls around. “Love? Who said anything about love?” 

“I did.” Robin uncaps her dry-erase marker and draws a tally mark under the side that reads, you rule.

“Uh, Robin,” Steve snaps, pointing at the board condescendingly. “I think you put that on the wrong side. I fucked it up.”

“Dingus. Please. As much as it makes me gag- and you know I gain immense pleasure from counting how often you screw up- I could practically hear her heart eyes.” She sets the white board down, begrudgingly. “I think you found the only girl alive who’ll find all this-” she waves her hand at him, “endearing. Who was she? Some ex of yours?” 

“If only,” Steve sighs, shaking his head. When he turns back to the counter, his eyes land on the single chocolate coin glinting in the tip jar.

He scoops it up with two fingers and pockets it.

You won’t believe half the things I see inside my head. Wait ‘til you see half the things that haven’t happened yet…

Family Video, March 1986

The air conditioning nearly blasts you backwards into the parking lot. You don’t know why they need it blasting so hard at 7pm, in the middle of March. It’s not like it’s the height of summer- your spring break takes place earlier than the local school’s, but it just means that you get to beat the crowds when you come home to visit your family.

Of course, they love to send you to run errands. You end up picking up the groceries, and the housewares, and, on this occasion, the choices for family movie night. 

This Family Video’s selection isn’t necessarily as extensive as the ones in Chicago, but it’s good enough. You enter the store, and it dumps you directly in front of a cardboard cutout of Phoebe Cates about to flash you. Family friendly entertainment, and all.

The TV in the corner is running the final scene of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly- Ennio Morricone’s score plays dramatically into the empty store. There’s no one behind the counter currently, so you pull the list of videos your extended family members had all requested. The Breakfast Club. Camelot. The Birds. Pretty general selections for your family, but it seems like you’ll have to hunt them up on your own. 

You’re wandering down the romance aisle, since The Breakfast Club was nowhere on the new releases or comedy shelves, when someone finally emerges from the back room. You see a flash of a head moving toward the front counter from over the top of a rack, and you take it as your chance to ask for help.

“Excuse me? Do you guys have any copies of The Breakfast Club, or-”

You stop short, choking on your words. Steve Harrington turns around to look at you, carrying a stack of VHS tapes perched under his chin, and holding a folded up piece of paper between his teeth.

You stare each other down for a second, before Steve gracefully spits the paper over his shoulder and onto the counter. “Hey, um… long time, no see?”

“I’d say.” You tilt your head. Funny how quickly your eyes will hone in on his lips, like searching for a target every time. “We always seem to run into each other like this. What happened to the ice cream gig?”

“Starcourt burned down,” Steve says, plopping the stack of VHS tapes down on the counter beside the paper he spit out. “Right around the Fourth of July, last summer.”

“So, right after I last saw you?”

Steve smirks to himself before he turns back to you. “Yeah. Like, a week or so after. Did you manage to burn the place down, after all?” 

“I wish.” 

You pause, taking the time to size him up. It’s amazing what the better part of a year will do to someone, inside and out. With a striped shirt and green vest, he looks much more relaxed and casual than he had at Scoops Ahoy. His hair’s a little longer, his eyes a little darker as they rake over you, in return. 

You’re a little bit desperate to see what’s going on in his head, if it’s anything like what’s happening in yours.

You wish you could say that you tried to seek him out when you got back to town- a year ago, maybe you would have. But you’d pretty much given up on the idea of him, moving up to dating college boys who don’t string you along, who don’t wait until the last minute to finally try their hand at flirting with you. If he ever passed through your mind, it was with the attached hope that he’d found greener pastures than Hawkins, Indiana. Foolishly, you hoped that as long as you told yourself that he’d moved on, it would be true. And then maybe what could have been wouldn’t matter anymore.

You’d stepped back into Hawkins after half a year of college, the graveyard of all hope in your happily ever after, and you hadn’t even thought of Steve Harrington. Except, seeing him now, everything comes flooding back. All the days spent pining over him. All the close brushes you’d had with finally getting the ending you wanted. 

You have to be honest. “You look good, Steve. You always do.”

Steve chuckles, tilting his chin down as he shoves his hands into the pockets of his light wash jeans. “Better without the sailor costume, right?”

“Aww, I liked the sailor costume.” You step closer so you can whisper, “I thought it was sexy.”

Steve peers down his nose at you, drawing himself up to tower above you at his full height. He tries to look unaffected, but you can see his ears glowing pink beneath wisps of golden highlights. “Watch it. You’re gonna give me an ego.”

“We don’t want that, do we?” You unfold the list of movies you’re here to collect, holding it up to him between two fingers. “Got any of these movies?” 

Steve reads the short list, and nods to himself. “I know we have Camelot, but I’m not sure about The Breakfast Club. Let me check in the back?” 

“I’ll be here.”

“All right- don’t get up to any trouble, though. I’ve got my eye on you.” He points at you coolly, feigning an authoritative expression. He tries to hide his smile, but the creases around his eyes give him away. 

“I hope you do.” You try to appear casual as you breeze past him, but you have to fiddle with your jacket collar to hide their shaking. Still, you feel the sweep of his gaze on you like rays of sun on your skin. It frightens you how easily you can fall back into the old back-and-forth routine you established in high school- how he gets you to say things you never meant to voice, but that live in your head effortlessly. 

Steve watches you disappear down the drama aisle before he takes in a huge breath of air and bolts toward the back room. Any and all coolness he was performing disappears like so much smoke. Slamming open the door, he nearly shouts, “Do you have a doubloon?!” 

Robin startles, swinging around in her seat, looking away from her computer screen. “A what? Why are you yelling?”

“A doubloon, a f-fucking-” Steve looks quickly over his shoulder, out the door, and starts hunching over as he whispers, “a chocolate coin. Like one of those ones we had at Scoops, remember?”

“Why do you want a chocolate coin?” Robin squints at him. “Stop crouching like that, you look like Nosferatu.”

Steve hisses through his teeth, and he’s got a frantic edge to his expression that Robin doesn’t like. “Okay- remember that girl, the one who showed up at Scoops that time, and you gave me my one and only ‘You Rule’ tally?” 

“No.”

“Great. Well, she’s here, and she told me if I gave her one of those chocolate coins she’d kiss me.” Steve shoves his hands through his hair, mussing up the already disheveled style. “Please, Rob, I can’t let her get away again. I’ve done it, like, a thousand times already.” 

“Okay, Romeo,” Robin humors him, turning around in her seat. “So you’re saying this babe, who I very much don’t remember because you always struck out while we worked at Scoops, told you that if you bribed her with chocolate she’d kiss you?”

“Yes.”

“And you don’t think she was maybe joking?” 

Steve opens and closes his mouth like a fish out of water. Truthfully, he hadn’t. He’d overlooked the idea that, after everything that had happened between you, you might just be joking about kissing him. 

“You know you could use your actual charm to get a girl to kiss you?” Robin dips her chin, shaking her head like it’s obvious.

Steve frowns. As if he hasn’t already tried that. “Do you have any chocolate coins or not?”

Robin sighs exasperatedly. “I don’t think I’ve seen one of those things since we worked at Scoops. Sorry, bud. You’re out of luck.” 

“FUCK!” Steve’s hand smacks the door as he heads out of the back room, making Robin scowl after him. She shakes her head as she turns back to her work.

Back out on the sales floor, the credits to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly have finished, and white noise fills the empty space. Steve turns in a circle by the checkout counter, searching for you among the aisles.

Where did you disappear to, this time? A part of him dreads the answer. He was the one who fucked everything up- he shouldn’t have chickened out when he had the chance. He should have asked you to that fucking prom, but he was too scared to commit after what happened with Nancy. 

If this is his last chance, he needs to make it count. 

He coughs into the dead air, and says, “Looks like we’re all out of The Breakfast Club.” There’s a disconcerting amount of silence that leaves him cold, almost certain that you’ve left already, for the last time.

Then, you appear from behind the red curtain to the adult videos section.

Oh. 

“Everything okay?” you ask sweetly as you approach, holding a couple tapes that you must have picked up while you shopped around. “I heard some yelling back there.” 

“Oh, yeah. Just, uh… shelving issues.” Steve backs his way behind the counter. He repeats, “Sorry, I couldn’t find the movie for you.”

“I heard. I’m not worried about it.” You plop the tapes that you did find on the counter. “It was nice of you to look for me. Thanks, Steve.”

“Always.” Steve starts scanning your tapes; it looks like you managed to find the other films on your list, along with one for yourself. From the adult section. 

You watch in amusement as you can see the cogs visibly turning in Steve’s head, while he stares at the front of the porn video you picked. Spring Break Sex Party II. Not that you’d ever seen the first one, but the cover of this one was suggestive enough- a bunch of drunk people naked on a beach, lying in a great big pile. Looks like fun, in your opinion.

You always love seeing Steve blush. The prettiest shade of pink colors his cheeks before he glances up at you. “Should I ask…?”

“It’s the closest thing to getting a Sex on the Beach, here.” 

Steve chokes, and he scrambles for a response to that. “I- I was gonna ask for an I.D.”

“You know we’re the same age,” you deadpan.

“Y-yeah. I, uh- I know… I know that.” He hangs his head and pinches the bridge of his nose, his eyes tightly shut.

You wonder if this is what you looked like to him, that time in the hallway when he loitered by the fountain to talk to you. “Breathe, Steve.”

A blast of laughter leaves his mouth before he can swallow it. If only you knew how hard it actually is, to act like he’s not just fucking melting right in front of you. When he hangs on every word you say, and every other thought he has is about how badly he wants to tell Robin to get lost and take you in the back room. You don’t know how much he’s fixating on your curves and how they’d feel against him, how much he wants to taste every inch of your body. He’s practically vibrating in place with all his pent up frustration, and you’re here buying porn, like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

Steve clears his throat, shakes his head. Christ. “Okay, well. You know that this is a sale item, it’s not for rent. You can return it within 10 days as long as the packaging hasn’t been opened.”

“I know.”

“Okay.” He’s still nodding as he puts it into the bag with the rest of your rentals. 

“Are you always this affected by people buying from the adult section?” you ask mildly. 

“Nah, usually I don’t care,” he replies without thinking. 

“Good to know that you care about my taste in pornography,” you tell him with the most shit eating grin on your face, taking the bag from him. “I’m flattered.”

He makes a clumsy noise in the back of his throat, somewhere between a laugh and a grunt. He’s right back to working at Scoops Ahoy, fumbling every attempt at flirting, losing his cool at the sight of a pretty girl. It’s… humbling.

He’s sure Robin would say that he can always use more humility.

“It was good to see you again, Steve.” And just like that, you’re sand slipping through the cracks in his fingers. 

Desperately, he tries to block the flow, closing his fingers around you in an attempt to keep you in his grasp. “Do you- uh-” He lurches forward, white-knuckling the counter like his life depends on it. You turn back towards him, an eyebrow raised at his sudden outburst. 

You’re back in the school hallway, senior year. Crying over Logan Sawyer. Harrington is up against the wall by the drinking fountain. You want him to just say the words and ask you to prom.

“I mean… if you have the time, while you’re in town… do you want to go for a cup of coffee? With me?”

“Oh, Steve.” You sigh, and it’s the most heartbreaking noise he’s ever heard in his life. Soft sand, falling through his fingers, disappearing back the way you came. He already dreads your answer before it comes. “I wish… you know, if I had come in here and met you about a week ago, I would have said yes in a heartbeat. But I have to catch the train back to Chicago tomorrow. My break’s almost up.” You offer him a reassuring smile. “I’m just glad that you didn’t completely miss me, at least.”

“Right, of course.” Steve smiles back at you, feeling more like an idiot the longer this drags on. He’s like Sisyphus rolling that rock up the fucking hill. “I… I’m glad I got to see you, too. Maybe next time.” 

Oh, it hurts. It hurts way more than you thought it would, to have to turn Steve down- after all the years pining for him through high school, after the time you turned him away when he would have kissed you. You think about kissing him, now. He would let you do it- he’s asking you out, and he looks so sad that you’re saying no.

You could. But wouldn’t it make saying goodbye this time even harder than it already is?

“Yeah. Maybe next time,” you tell him. You don’t want this to hurt more than it does. You truly hope there’s a next time, another year down the line when you run into him over winter break. Maybe you’ll find him at the Radio Shack. 

Steve watches you leave, once again. Fumbling his chance, again. When the door swings shut behind you, Steve bends at the waist and drops his head against the countertop. 

Typical Harrington. Late to the party, miss the girl.

“Well. That was… really painful to listen to.” Robin emerges from behind one of the shelves, crossing her arms. Gently, she adds, “On the bright side, I don’t think the chocolate coin would have mattered.”

Steve picks his head up, and he thwacks his forehead back down onto the counter.

And again.

And again.

And I can see you being my addiction, you can see me as a secret mission. Hide away, and I will start behaving myself…

Sur La Table Restaurant, Chicago, April 1991

You shake your umbrella out as you step into the warm foyer of, quite possibly, the most upscale restaurant you’ve ever set foot in. The carpet is deep, blood red, the walls a dark chestnut wood. The white covered tables are each spotlit within the otherwise dark dining room, and the atmosphere is flavored by soft piano and the quiet din of hushed voices. 

You had been hesitant to accept Theo’s invitation to dinner- he seemed too stuck up for your taste, but when Shelly introduced you to him, you had to admit that the name of the restaurant piqued your interest. Sur La Table. Chicago’s premiere Michelin Star restaurant. 

As you hand your umbrella over to the coat check clerk, you’re greeted by a smiling hostess. “What’s the name for the reservation?”

“Um… Theo Bowman. I believe he’s already here?”

“Yes, ma’am. Right this way.” 

Theo stands as you’re shown to the table. Tall, with dark hair and a wide smile, he reminds you of someone you knew once, but you just can’t seem to place it. Then, when he towers over you to shake your hand, standing far closer than necessary, you’re able to pick it out from the recesses of your mind.

Logan Sawyer. 

“You look nice,” Theo says pleasantly, and you chalk up your initial comparison to nerves, on your part. You don’t often let friends set you up on dates, so you’re a little bit out of your element as it is.

As you go to sit down, you admit, “I was so glad when you picked this place, I’ve always wanted to eat here, since I moved to Chicago.” 

“It’s not the nicest place I’ve been,” Theo shrugs, taking the seat across from you.

Your smile falters, for a second. “Oh, no?” The water has already been brought to the table, you guess while he was waiting for you. You take a long drink.

“Nah, I’ve been to Le Bernardin, in New York. That’s fine dining.” Theo waves his hand at the upscale dining room. “This is… okay.”

“I see.” You lift your menu, hoping that he’ll do the same.

“Yeah, New York is so much nicer than Chicago, in my opinion,” Theo continues, fiddling with his napkin as he talks. “There’s a lot more to do. Have you ever been?”

You hope this is just his nerves talking. “No.” 

Theo keeps talking as you stare at the menu in front of you, at a loss. It’s an a la carte menu, clearly, but extensive and all in french. Salade de poires pochées. Coquilles Saint-Jacques Gratineés. Filet au poivre vert. You’re scrutinizing the fine print of what all the dishes include when your waiter steps up to the table. You know when it happens, because Theo finally stops blathering about New York. 

You break your eyes away from the menu to glance at the server’s waistline, at eye level with you. He wears a crisply pressed suit and tie, his hands clasped in front of his belt. 

“Good evening sir, ma’am,” the server says in a hushed tone, to keep the volume of the dining room down. “Welcome to Sur La Table. I’m Steven, I’ll be serving you this evening. Before we begin, are there any questions about the menu?”

You peer up into the darkness to try to see Steven’s face. He’s standing just outside of the spotlight over the table, only able to be dimly lit from the indirect light reflecting from the tablecloth. Once your eyes adjust, they lock onto a pair of familiar hazel ones.

Oh my fucking god.

It’s got to be fate, or kismet, or some force of nature that keeps bringing you together like this. Steve Harrington’s face hasn’t changed in five years. Maybe he looks just slightly older, a little more filled out in his suit and tie. His hair is a bit shorter at the back but still that same shade of golden brown, neatly groomed and tidy for the formal atmosphere- but you can see it being tousled on his off days, still flopping across his eyes in waves. And those are the same lips you dreamt about kissing, the same eyes you admired in the school hallway, the same nose that you always wanted to grind o-

“No, I think we’re ready to order,” Theo announces, louder than necessary. You throw your gaze at him, your eyebrows raising despite your best efforts to remain calm. 

Is he really going to order for you? Just like that?

“Well, I was going to ask-” you begin, wanting to get a little more specification on how the filet is made, when Theo cuts you off.

“It’s okay, I speak French,” he insists. Not that it makes a difference to what your question was.

You press your lips together in irritation and glance at Steve, who looks back at you stoically. You wonder if he recognizes you like you do him- it’s been long enough, and you’re sure that you look a bit different than you did the last time you saw him. And then you notice the creases around his eyes.

He’s playing it off well enough, sure. But Steve is doing that same look that he did there in the Family Video five years ago, trying to pretend that he’s not affected by you, swallowing back his smile. He sends you a knowing look that says, What a fucking douchebag, am I right?

Suddenly, this date just got way more entertaining. You give Steve a minute roll of your eyes, only enough for him to notice. Tell me about it.

“We’ll start with the Bordeaux,” Theo is already reciting to Steve as you settle back in your seat. Steve pulls a little notepad out of his jacket pocket and begins writing. “For an appetizer, the coquilles. Then for the main, I’ll have the canard montmorency, and she’ll have the mignons de veau.” 

You watch Steve’s hand pause as he’s writing, and he looks to you. He raises his eyebrow, saying everything he needs to with the one gesture. Is that what you really want? “The veal?”

“No,” you say, digging your thumbnail into your palm, where it rests on your lap. “Actually, I wanted to ask about the filet. What brandy is the sauce made with?” 

Steve smiles, leaning a little bit closer to you. “We use Courvoisier.”

“Great. I’ll have that, please.” 

Steve nods encouragingly at you. As he jots down the order, he says, “Wonderful. I’ll get this to the kitchen for you, but before I can bring you the wine, I’ll just need to see the lady’s I.D.”

“Are you serious?” Theo snaps. 

“It’s all right,” you murmur, hiding your face as you dip your head to fish your I.D. out of your clutch. “He’s just doing his job. Right, Steven?”

Steve meets your eye as he takes the card from your hand. “You can never be too careful.” You watch him smirk as he looks over your I.D., his eyes lingering on your name for a second before he hands it back to you. If there was any doubt in his mind that you are who he thought, it’s gone now. “Interesting. We’re the same age.”

You laugh. Probably a little louder than is respectable, but you can’t help it. Leave it to Steve Harrington to remind you of the time you bought porn from him, while you’re on a date. 

You watch Steve write something else on his notepad, and rip the page out before folding it up. He tucks his notepad into his pocket as he says, “I’ll get this started for you. I hope you enjoy your evening.”

“Thank you, Steven,” you offer just as he starts to walk away. 

Steve shoots you a sideways glance. “Always.”

Your heartbeat pounds in your chest as you turn back to your date. Theo looks disgruntled, but he just lifts his water to his lips.

“So,” you begin, “what do you do?”

“Marketing manager,” Theo says, with a click of his tongue. “For Bowman Wine & Spirits.”

“Oh,” you nod. “No relation, I suppose?”

“My father owns the company.”

“Right.” God, help me. 

Across the dining room, Steve watches you over his shoulder. His jaw sets as he sees you, the girl of his literal dreams, sitting across from some idiot who doesn’t even know that you don’t order for your date without asking her what she wants first, you fucking weasel. 

That’s all right. You seem to have the situation under control, for now. Steve watches you calmly sip your water, staring at your date but not listening to a thing he’s saying. 

Steve sighs. He’s never been much of a schemer, but he’ll just make sure that you won’t leave with this guy if you don’t want to.

His fingers brush the note in his pocket, and he pinches it just as he passes the front of house manager, Taryn. Without breaking stride, he slips the note into her hand, heading toward the back hallway and down to the wine cellar.

As Steve passes by, Taryn unfolds the note he slips her, and raises one eyebrow at the request he’s written.

I can see you in your suit and your necktie, pass me a note saying, “Meet me tonight.” Then we kissed and you know I won’t ever tell…

Overall, you enjoy Sur La Table immensely. The restaurant itself, anyways. The wine is wonderful. The atmosphere is great. The food is exquisite. 

You’re about to jump the waiter’s bones. 

Theo got his second wind sometime after the scallops arrived, and you think he hasn’t paused for breath since. You’ve been calmly eating your food, while Theo tells you literally everything about himself. It’s the best case scenario you can see happening on this date. You enjoy the food, mumble a non-committal acknowledgement now and then, and Theo entertains himself with his own voice the rest of the time. 

You’re gonna kill Shelly for setting you up with him, but that’s tomorrow’s problem. 

Right now, you’re focused on finishing your glass of wine while he talks about camping, of all things. 

“So we got up into the Rockies,” he’s telling you, gesturing with his hands like it’ll make you more engaged. “We ended up freezing our keisters off. No joke, I have frostbite scars.”

“That’s, um… that sounds like fun.”

“No, are you listening? I mean, it was terrible. We couldn’t move for, like, two days. And when the snow stopped we were so tired and cold, we almost died.” 

You knock back the rest of your wine with one gulp, and say with a sticky voice, “Wow. A near death experience must have been really scary, I’m sorry.”

Theo frowns. “No- I mean… It wasn’t… it wasn’t near death-”

“You just said-”

“It was more like a serious inconvenience, you know. But we pulled through. I wasn’t scared. A little snow isn’t gonna kill me,” he laughs incredulously. “It was just-”

Theo stops as Steve approaches the table. You catch him giving the back of Theo’s head the most murderous look imaginable before slowing to a stop and plastering an easy customer service smile in its place. “How did you find everything this evening?”

“It was fine.”

“The food was wonderful,” you tell Steve reassuringly. Your date, on the other hand…

“Yeeeah, could we get the check, please?” Theo asks, finally looking up at Steve. 

You watch Steve’s brow twitch, such a small movement you could have imagined it. “Certainly. But first-” from behind his back, he reveals two white gift boxes and places them on the table in front of you and your date, respectively. “We like to give each of our customers a signature chocolate truffle, as a token of our appreciation.”

Everything in you aches. “Oh, that’s nice. Thank you so much.” You look down at the box in adoration, thinking for a second that it might be the only time in your life that Steve Harrington gives you something similar to a ring box. 

“I’ll be sure to have our hostess come through with the check,” Steve adds delicately, making a gracious exit. His finger just slightly brushes your arm as he passes by- a dangerous move, but one that nearly electrifies your entire body at the single touch. You shiver as he says, “Have a lovely night.”

You watch Steve walk away from you, and your heart sinks into your stomach. You want to chase after him. The 18 year old you, who almost kissed him on prom night, is trying to claw its way out of your skin and bolt after him. 

When Steve disappears from view, you have nowhere to look but at your date. Theo opens the white box in front of him and pops a neapolitan colored truffle into his mouth. “Well, that was underwhelming.”

You don’t want to watch him chewing anymore, like a cow gnawing on grass. You sigh, running a frustrated hand across your forehead, and flip open the box in front of you. The top of it rears up like a clam shell, and you freeze, your fingertips suddenly sticking to the sweat beading on your brow.

You don’t have a neapolitan truffle- you have a single golden chocolate coin. You stare at it in shock for a second before you even notice the note pasted to the lid of the box. 

Meet me outside- the door past the bathrooms. 

“Aren’t you gonna eat yours?” Theo asks suddenly, as the hostess approaches holding the check. 

Your eyes snap up just as your heart shoots back up into your chest. “I think I’m gonna save it for later.” You flash him a smile as you close the box swiftly and shove it into your clutch. “Do you mind if I hit the bathroom real quick?”

“No, go ahead. I’ve got it.” Honestly, it’s the kindest thing he’s done for you all night. You might have to thank him some day. 

Once you’re out of your seat, you chase after Steve like a shot. Around a block of tables and into a tiled corridor, you walk past the kitchen doorway just as another server comes backing out, carrying a tray of dishes. 

There’s a door at the end of the hall, labeled exit. You never actually thought you’d be escaping a bad date through the back door; the notion was too clichéed, you thought that sort of thing only happened in movies. But you find yourself nearly running past the men’s and women’s bathrooms, until your hands slam down on the bar of the back door and thrust it open into the wind. 

The rain has picked up, more of a downpour than a light drizzle now. In your haste, you’d left your umbrella and coat with the coat check. Not that it would have been at all discrete if you’d gone to collect it before running towards the bathrooms. 

The door clicks shut behind you, and you gaze around in the dark. The alley behind the restaurant is only partially lit by a yellow street lamp, making it even more difficult to find him than it was in the dining room. “Steve?” 

You catch movement in the corner of your eye, and turn in the direction of the street lamp. Steve stands up from where he’d been sitting on an overturned crate- apparently the only accommodations the restaurant staff gets during a smoke break. The rain has already soaked into his hair, messing up the tidy style and turning it stringy, falling across his forehead, shining gold in the yellow light. He takes one last puff of the cigarette in his mouth before tossing it into the gutter, and he looks at you. 

He sees you. And it’s all you’ve wanted since the day he first walked into your geography class, freshman year of high school. There’s been some kind of a magnetic pull between you two for years. Something keeps bringing you together, it’s just never been the right time. Until now. 

Finally, you’re running towards him, and Steve’s arms finally come around you, pulling you against his body. Your hands find the back of his neck just in time for his lips to crash against yours. 

You had lost count of the amount of times you watched him kiss other girls in the hallway in high school- not just Nancy, but any and every girl he attached himself to (for a while, it seemed like he couldn’t make up his mind who he was dating at any given moment). All you knew was that it was never you, and you wanted it to be so desperately that it consumed your mind half the time. He looked like a good kisser, and you fantasized about going up to him and testing that theory for yourself.

But you never expected that his lips would slide over yours with an urgency that you could feel through to your very core, probably even more desperate for your kiss than you are for his. Steve’s fingertips press into your body through the thin fabric of your dress, holding you firmly to him like he’s afraid you might disappear on him again if he doesn’t absorb you completely. Your mouth opens with a soft gasp, and Steve’s tongue against yours tastes like tobacco. 

It happens so fast that you can’t even think- and you don’t really want to. You’re tired of thinking everything through, finding reasons upon reasons why it’s not a good time, why it’s a bad idea, why it won’t work. He moans into you, grabbing the side of your face as he stumbles with you to the wall, pressing you up against the side of the brick building. 

You meet his moan with a whimper of your own as his hand slides down over the curve of your ass, and he hikes up the skirt of your dress to grab at your skin with abandon. There’s a ferocity in Steve’s kiss that you don’t know what to do with, like he’s trying to stake a claim to you right there in the rain, with no one around to see it happen but the moths in the street light overhead. Not that he needs to- he’s already got you. You already chose him. 

Steve gives you room to breathe with a soft sigh, his forehead resting against yours. “Been wanting to do that since high school,” he admits, just loud enough for you to hear, before pressing a featherlight kiss just beside your mouth, and again to your cheek.

“Y-you fffucking-?” you gasp when he latches his lips around a sweet spot on your neck and sucks. “I had such a huge crush on you, Steve.”

“I know. I- I should have- I should…” Steve drops his head against your shoulder and groans when your nails rake against his scalp. “Fuck.” 

He grinds his hips up against yours, biting your lip as the hard length of his cock presses up against your core. “Gonna fuck me in this alleyway, Harrington?” 

“I’m seriously considering it,” he growls into your ear. His lips find yours again with a passion, his hand holding your jaw still. A hot breath escapes him, pouring over your skin and making you shiver. You’re lightheaded, so close to just letting him do it, too, when the back door of the restaurant swings open. 

Steve still takes a second to pull away, a little too absorbed in kissing you to really care who sees him do it. If he had his way, he’d have everyone see that you’re his- that you belong with him, and have for a long time. He finally glances over his shoulder to see one of the cooks, Liam, walking off in the direction of the employee parking lot.

“Where did you get the fucking doubloon?” you whisper into his ear, sounding so fucking adorable that Steve can’t help the lovesick look he gives you. 

He brushes his nose against yours. “I sent my manager on a treasure hunt.” You giggle, pressing your forehead up against his, and he can’t help but chuckle along with you. “I wanted to give you one at Family Video, that time.”

“I know,” you say, and he pulls back to look at your face. “I heard you yelling at your coworker in the back room.” 

Steve snickers and turns red with embarrassment, hiding his face in the crook of your neck. You run your fingers through his rain-soaked hair, a content smile on your face as you feel him grin against your skin and shake with laughter. “Take me home, Steve.”

You don’t have to ask him twice.

What would you do, baby, if you only knew? That I can see you throw your jacket on the floor, I can see you make me want you even more…

The drive to Steve’s apartment downtown is made with light conversation and the heavy, heavy weight of his hand on your thigh, creeping up further with each mile. But aside from the implication of sex hanging in the air, it’s as easy as breathing, chatting about the night with him. Shitting on Theo.

“Did you notice the way he said coquilles,” Steve murmurs to you at a red light. “I thought he was gagging on something. He was just trying to impress you, you know.”

You grunt. Could’ve tried a little harder. “He didn’t even like them. He said he didn’t like shellfish,” you laugh in return as you lace your fingers through Steve’s. “Why the fuck would you order scallops, then?”

“The price.”

“The price.” 

It’s sweet, talking to him all the way to his apartment building, just catching up like old friends. He tells you that he’s going to culinary school now, and he’s been working at the restaurant for a little over a year, just to pay the bills.

“Culinary school? Really?” you say, with a note of awe in your voice. 

“Turns out I’m really fucking good at cooking,” Steve chuckles. “Who’d have thought? Maybe someday I’ll stop waiting tables and work back there in the kitchen.”

“I can see it,” you tell him softly. “I can see you being the world’s best chef. Three stars and everything.”

He scoffs, but a pink blush creeps up the back of his neck. “You have too much faith in me.” 

“Those are fighting words, Harrington.” You wag your finger at him. “Throwing down the gauntlet?”

“You just want me to cook you something,” Steve tuts.

“Absolutely, I do.” You consider him for a moment, in the passing light of a streetlamp. “Am I that transparent?”

Steve tilts his head to eye you meaningfully, and he smirks. “Always have been, honey.” His thumb rubs a little circle on your thigh that has you squirming in your seat.

The first thing you see of Steve’s apartment is the kitchen, and beyond that the dormant living room, but you don’t get that far before you’re sidetracked. Steve throws his keys onto a drop station by the door, and pins you up against the refrigerator before you can even think to ask where to put your shoes.

Your clothes are still damp, your hair still pasted to your clammy skin. Steve’s lips are attacking yours and his hands are grabbing at everything he can touch, but it’s still not enough. He’s not able to feel all of you at once, and it’s driving him insane with every passing moment.

Steve roughly yanks his suit jacket off, throwing it onto the tile floor beside the kitchen island. “Lay down.” 

“What?” you whisper to him as he kisses your neck, guiding you away from the side of the fridge. “Here?” 

“Right here,” Steve states, not joking in the slightest. You wobble on your feet as you kick off your heels, but his hands on your hips keep you steady. “Been waiting too long for this- can’t wait anymore.”

“I- wwhuh-?” you gasp as Steve kneels in front of you, and your knees buckle involuntarily as he lays you down across his discarded jacket. Your hands grab his shoulders as you tumble backward, taking him with you. 

He face-plants into your stomach with a noisy, “Oof.” Cackling, you run your fingers through his damp hair, as he laughs and shoves his blushing face further against your torso. Steve litters your stomach with kisses, giggling against you with a note of nervous energy. He’s adorable.

You pet your fingers down the side of his face and he leans into the touch. “Can’t even wait long enough to take me to the bedroom?”

“Well, I would have fucked you in the alley,” Steve points out as his fingers breach the hem of your skirt and find your panties. He tugs as he says, “Be thankful I even got you home.” 

Your cheeks burn hot. You fidget, trying to press your thighs together to abate the throbbing ache between them. “Careful, baby. You’re starting to sound desperate.”

Steve pauses, his hazel eyes lighting up when they lock on yours. “Call me that again,” he requests, pressing a kiss to your ankle as he pulls your panties off your feet. He tosses them over his shoulder, but you don’t see where they land as he continues peppering kisses down your calf.

You hold his gaze. “Baby?” His eyes flutter, his lips parting as they drag up toward your knee. “You like when I call you that?”

“I like when you call me anything,” Steve admits. “But as long as you call me that, it means I’m yours.”

Your breath stutters in your chest. Steve Harrington is yours. It doesn’t matter if it’s just for tonight- what matters is that you have him now, and he wants you just as badly.

“You’re mine, aren’t you?” he murmurs quietly against your skin, his voice crackling with brimming need. He’s flushed, his cheeks pink and his hair drying in tousled waves over his forehead the longer he drags this out. 

Nodding your head, you reach down to lace your fingers through his, where they’re bunching your skirt up around your hips. “Yes, Steve.” Always have been.  

He turns his head and sucks a spot on your calf, just below your knee, resting your ankle over his shoulder. Still, despite your desperation, you nervously keep your thighs pinched together.

Steve tuts, “C’mon, baby, you’ve gotta spread your legs for me. You wanna let me see that pretty pussy, right?” 

Still clammy and cold with rain, the air on your exposed skin makes you shiver almost as much as his sweeping hands do when they gently part your thighs. You let go, let him take control as you still and keep your eyes focused on his face, because looking anywhere else would remind you that this is real, and not a dream.

Steve sighs, “There she is. Y’gonna let me taste you, sweetheart?” He bats his pretty eyes at you in a way that makes your heart stop dead in your chest. He can’t keep his mouth off of you, even for a moment, his lips and slight stubble dragging across your skin as he says, “Been wanting to forever, you won’t even believe-”

“Please, Steve,” you start to beg before he even finishes his sentence. “Please, my god, I- I just- I just want you so much-”

“Sh-sh-sh-shh.” His tongue licks wet and hot against your inner thigh before he whispers, “I’ve got you, baby. M’not going anywhere, I’m staying right here ‘til you cum.”

You’re instantly hot all over, your blood fucking boiling beneath your skin and your wet dinner dress. Steve’s fingers dig into the meat of your thighs as he yanks you toward his face, the fabric of his jacket beneath you audibly zipping along the kitchen floor. 

Steve dips his head, and his mouth closes over your cunt right at the same moment that yours falls open with a moan that won’t come out, because you’ve suddenly forgotten how to breathe. The noise stalls right at the beginning- your lungs stop working and you can’t seem to get them to start again, because Steve’s tongue is everywhere, dripping wet and gentle on skin that’s way too sensitive to handle it right now. Your hips try to jerk away from him in resistance, but he slams his hand down on them, holding you hard and still against the tile floor, his shoulders pushed up against the backs of your thighs to keep them open. 

Steve takes a break just long enough to grin evilly up at you, because he’s been waiting for five years to tell you to, “Breathe, sweetheart.”

“Fffffuck,” you manage to spit out finally, your voice cracking on the word like it didn’t even really want to put in the work to make it happen. Your breath comes back into your lungs all at once, rapid firing with a dozen moans for punctuation. Steve’s lips quirk against you, and he rumbles a noise of satisfaction against your pussy that makes you jolt in his hold again. “Steve…”

He pulls off of you with a slow, slow stroke of his tongue over your clit, making you whimper high and tight in your throat. “That’s it, baby,” Steve whispers, his breath fanning across your slick cunt, his left hand leaving your hip so that he can drag his knuckles teasingly through your swollen folds. “Feels good, doesn’t it? Feels so right.”

Two long fingers sink into you with ease, stirring the need in you to have him just simply destroy you. You moan loud, your hand shooting out and wrapping around the leg of a bar stool for the kitchen island beside you. 

“Poor thing’s just so sensitive, huh?” Your head arches backwards against the floor, your pussy clenching tight around his fingers as he curves them with practiced accuracy. Steve’s voice is a deep murmur, distant thunder rolling over your nerves, “Relax for me, honey. You’ve waited long enough, just let it happen. Let me give you what you want.”

His lips shine when you look down at him, your hand reaching to run through his hair. Stifling a whine that threatens to come out when he kisses your clit and bends his fingers within you, you stutter out, “J-just want… I- ha-ah! Just want you.” 

Steve purrs. “I know.” The crisp white fabric of his shirt scrapes against your thighs, almost rough in comparison to his tongue flat on your pussy. You can hear the wet, salacious sound of his fingers pumping into you, pulling you toward the edge of oblivion. He hisses through his teeth, shaking his head slightly. “God, I’m so fuckin’ lucky.”

“Y-you-?” you manage a laugh, scraping your nails along his scalp lightly. “You’re lucky? You have n-no… fffucking idea-” You cut off with a sob when Steve wraps his lips around your clit, sucking long and hard enough that your leg twitches, your heel dragging up the back of his pristine white blouse. Your breathing picks up just as all your muscles lock down tight. “Jesus Christ-” 

“There you go,” Steve praises as your orgasm shakes your body, your hand gripping his hair so hard that he groans softly into your damp skin. He doesn’t stop moving his fingers, lewd wet noises picking up and echoing through the quiet kitchen. “That’s a good girl. Mmm, felt so nice to let go, didn’t it?”

You don’t know if he really wants you to answer that- you’re still twitching, coming down from your high as he pulls his fingers from your spasming cunt and sucks them into his mouth. The pause gives you a gentle reprieve, sinking back onto his suit jacket beneath you. Then, his mouth finds your pussy again, his tongue delving deep into your entrance and laving up to your sensitive clit. 

You gasp, throwing your hands down into his hair. “Steve-?!”

He moans in response. “Just needed to taste you some more, honey. Taste so fuckin’ sweet, I can’t get enough.” Steve relents, crawling up your body to hover his face over yours. “Still wanna see the bedroom?”

You nod excitedly, your hands finding his smiling face and stroking the hair away from his eyes. With a gentle kiss of his wet lips to yours, Steve gathers your still-wrecked body into his arms and carries you into his bedroom. 

He’s struck by how blissful you are as he sets you down on his bed, so soft and inviting. He encourages your arms up, his hands finding the zipper of your wet dress and finally, finally, pulling it over your head so that he can see you. All your curves and edges on display for him, after all this time imagining what he couldn’t see with the naked eye. 

“You’re so beautiful.” Steve repeats what he told you all those years ago at prom- he meant it then, and he means it now. Maybe even more this time, now that he’s not a stupid teenager, now that he finally has his head on his shoulders. 

You shiver against him when he unclips your bra- black lace that matches the underwear sitting in his entryway. A possessive part of him rears up, knowing that you’d worn them to a date with some asshole who couldn’t treat you right, even for one hour of the guy’s miserable life. Steve dips his head and kisses your breast, so much softer now than he was before, feeling your heartbeat against his lips.

“Hey.” You gently tug him by his tie, loosening it and his collar. You look into his eyes, and his heart melts. “Where’d you go just now, sailor?”

Steve blushes, his eyes flicking down as you remove his tie and start unbuttoning his blouse. “Just thinking...” he trails off, eyeing you thoughtfully. “Just thinking I could have missed you again if I wasn’t careful.”

“Mmm,” you hum, your hands smoothing up his chest and over his shoulders to get his shirt off of him. It drops to the floor with a whisper. “I don’t think so. I think this was meant to happen, eventually.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” You scrunch your nose cutely, in a way that makes Steve’s pants tighten even more uncomfortably across his hips. “We’ve run into each other too many fuckin’ times, baby. Karma’s on our side.”

He laughs. “Karma.” He shakes his head as he undoes his belt.

You quirk your brow at him as your hands fiddle with the fly of his suit pants. “Don’t believe me?” 

Steve grunts, shifting to lean over you. “I’ll believe anything you say when you’re taking my pants off, honey. I’m easy that way.”

Your nails rake through the hair on his chest- you can’t keep your hands off of him now that they’ve got him. You trace over two blotchy scars, one on either side of his torso that mirror each other. “What happened here?”

He blows a puff of air out of his mouth, rounding his cheeks as he shrugs. “Some… animals decided I looked really tasty, at one point. I know, they aren’t very pretty.”

Steve’s brushing over it like it’s nothing. You search his face, and you decide to do the same. “Actually, I think it’s kind of hot.” You drag your hand up to lay flat over his chest. You whisper conspiratorially, “Plus, I think you look really tasty, too.”

Steve quirks an eyebrow. “Y’gonna bite me about it?”

“Probably.” You wink. “Most likely.”

Your gaze falls indiscreetly to his cock, hard and flushed, glistening with precum and curving up toward his stomach. Girls talk, especially when they’re all trying to one-up each other; you knew that he was big. You’d heard the rumors. You’d seen him wearing those tight fucking jeans all the time, and you didn’t have to have much of an imagination to figure it out.

Still. It’s… a little overwhelming. You reach out a tentative hand, lightly wrapping your fingers around his base. They barely meet. Jesus Christ.

He groans, and kisses you until you can’t speak, resting his weight on top of you until you sink gleefully into the mattress. There’s a smile on your lips that transfers onto his, happiness and ease still flowing between you even as he grinds his hips up against yours. 

“Ready?” Steve murmurs softly into your mouth, stealing your breath when you feel his cock slide through your folds, hot and fat. 

“Dunno,” you tell him teasingly, but there’s an edge of reason to your words. Your hips squirm and you feel him even worse, slippery with your arousal. You whine. “I think you might kill me with that thing, Harrington.”

“I’ll go slow,” he whispers, hoarse in the back of his throat, his voice already shaking. “I’ll make sure you feel every bit of it, yeah?”

“Yeah,” you agree as you reach to line him up properly. “I’m all yours.”

Steve gives a relieved sigh as he slides into you, his head falling heavily to your shoulder. His cock aches, his torso shaking as he tries to steady himself. “Oh my god.”

“Baby,” you coo, choking on a moan when he bottoms out. He’s so thick- your nails dig into his shoulder blades as you try to remember how to breathe. It’s certainly a big stretch to try to fit him, but you can’t help wanting more just as soon as he comes to a stop. You can feel him trying to hold steady, holding himself back as though it’s the hardest thing in the world for him to do. 

Because it is. You can’t see it, the way that his brow is furrowed in concentration, his eyes screwed shut. He didn’t know it would be like this- that he’d be in danger of blowing it just as soon as he started. 

Your heel digs into his ass, and he doesn’t know if you do it purposefully, but he almost whimpers. 

You take a shuddering breath. “Please- please move, Steve, I can’t take it.”

Oh, you can’t take it? “You know what,” Steve says with a hint of strain in his voice, picking his head up to nuzzle his nose with yours, “I think you like me.”

You snort, and kiss him lightly. “What gave you that impression?”

“Y’so fucking cute.” Steve hums and sloooowly pulls his hips back, dragging his cock through your walls so deliciously that your toes curl. “Could be all those times you stared at me in class-” He watches your face as he pushes forward, until his hips are flush with yours and your head arches backwards against his sheets. “Could be when you nearly let me kiss you at prom-” Out. In. Steve runs his tongue up the length of your throat, and bites at your earlobe. He whispers, “Could be that you came on my tongue ten minutes ago.”

He picks up his pace, just a bit. Just enough to have the bed creaking under you with the rhythm, to have you moaning in tandem with him- needy and high pitched, leaping from your throat into the hot, sex-charged air.  

Steve’s lips latch onto your neck, and he sucks hard. He eases up after just a couple seconds, dragging his tongue over the sensitive spot, but you know what he’s just done- he’s marked you, right where you won’t be able to hide it in the morning. 

You want him to do it all over your body.

Your jaw goes slack and you’re losing all integrity. He’s even better than you imagined- sleepless nights wanting, hoping endlessly that you’d find yourself here, under him, couldn’t have prepared you for how perfect it feels. His hand finds yours and laces your fingers together, pinning it to the mattress beside your head, squeezing with every slow and purposeful thrust of his hips. 

Steve’s cock finds your g-spot like it’s nothing, like he’s known your body for ages. He barely even has to try before you’re whimpering, raking your nails up his back and leaving long red trails behind. 

Your teeth latch onto his shoulder and you bite, probably harder than you should, but you just can’t refuse the urge to mark him the way that he’s left his mark on you. He moans, a deep and boyish sound in your ear, as you drag your tongue along his shoulder, soothing the bite, tasting his sweat. The salt and the sweetness of his skin, mixed with the heady smell of sex in the room, have you losing yourself in him.

“Biter.” You hear him chuckle dangerously, rumbling along your skin while his nose skirts your jawline. 

“You’re so good, Stevie-” you whine, hot pleasure rearing up in you like a tidal wave. “Oh, you feel so fucking good, I love- love how you feel inside me.”

Steve groans loudly into your shoulder, his teeth grazing your collarbone. You think he has a mind to bite you back- maybe he’d do it harder. You can see Steve drawing blood, when the mood suits him. 

But his hand squeezes yours, his other sweeping broadly up your thigh and hitching your leg up further over his hip. “Yeah?” His voice is rough, bordering on a growl, “What’d’ya say we stay like this forever, huh? Just like this?” 

His pelvis grinds up against yours, his pubes crushing against your clit making you gasp. Everything’s wet- your skin, his skin, the sheets. Sweaty bodies sticking and sliding against each other, your hips meeting his in the middle.

“Like this?” you gasp, your head reeling. His forehead presses against yours, and it’s just about the only thing bringing you back into focus. Steve doesn’t falter, keeping the same pace and rhythm while he watches you try to form a coherent reply. “Mm- I- I, hhuh-”

“C’mon, babygirl,” he breathes against your damp skin, “you can do better than that. You love my cock so much, you wanna keep it warm all the time? Wanna stay in bed with me forever, is that it?”

You nod fervently, your hands grabbing at his neck, his hair, his shoulder- anywhere you can touch. “Yes, yes. God, Steve, I- you’re gonna make me cum, shit-” 

“I know it,” Steve murmurs, tugging your lip between his teeth and making you whine again. Your cunt pulses around him, and he hisses, his hand slipping on your thigh. “Love seein’ you all drunk on my cock- shit, you’re so gorgeous like this.” He pauses to kiss you, making you lightheaded, making you tug at his hair. “Y’look so pretty under me, baby. Pussy feels so good, I wanna stay here, too. I can see us doin’ this for the rest of our lives, huh? How’s that sound?” 

How does it sound? You and Steve Harrington, together forever? Intertwined, knotted up with no way to lose each other, no disappearing and then reappearing years down the line?

“S’that a challenge?” you whimper shakily at him. “Throwing down the gauntlet?” 

“I don’t think I could let you go, now,” Steve tells you firmly, his hand leaving your thigh so that he can grab your jaw possessively, his tongue darting out to trace gently across your bottom lip. “I’m never gonna let you go, baby.”

You wrap your legs around his waist. “I don’t want you to.”

“I hope so,” he whispers, his breath mingling with yours.

Steve kisses you long and slow when you cum. You swallow his moans when he does.

What would you do? Baby, if you only knew that I can see you, oh, I can see you…

You almost think it’s a dream. When you rouse in the morning, you feel like you imagined it. But you’re surrounded by the scent of Steve, of musky cologne and sweat and sex, and maybe just a little bit of hair gel stuck to his pillows. 

You flop over and stare at the ceiling. You’re alone in a king size bed, fitted with gray sheets and a few too many pillows. The other side of the bed is still warm, but your paramour is nowhere to be found. His bedroom is fairly stark, with a few little things arranged on the dresser top and clothes thrown around the floor. It doesn’t feel like a room he spends much time in, aside from sleeping and dressing in the morning. 

You immediately think about what this all means for you. Whether he really meant what he said in the heat of the moment, if he really wants this to be a long-term thing or if it was just pillow talk. It doesn’t take you long to determine which one you want it to be.

There’s commotion on the other side of the closed door. You lean over the side of the bed, searching for something to put on before you just waltz out there naked. Ultimately, you pull on his blouse from last night.

You emerge from the bedroom squinting against the light in the room. The blinds in the living room are open, casting bright sunlight across the room and into the kitchen. You find Steve in front of the stove.

“Hey, there she is!” he announces happily. “Just in time for breakfast.”

Steve looks so comfortable in the kitchen, moving around quickly and efficiently, whereas you tend to blunder about. When you wander over to the island, you notice he’s already picked up his suit jacket, and laid it across the bar stool next to the one you choose. 

Your underwear is nowhere to be seen.

You grin at his back, plopping down onto the bar stool. The metal is cold against your bare ass, nearly making you squeal and jump back up. “Is it a Sex on the Beach?”

He laughs gleefully. “Nah, if only. How was that, by the way?” 

“The ice cream, or the porn?”

He turns to grin at you over his shoulder. “Both.”

He’s wearing glasses. Round wire frames that complement his face perfectly, making him look distinguished in his gray sweats and black t-shirt. Just like that, you're spiralling. Suddenly, you’re picturing yourself being here, with him cooking breakfast in his glasses and PJ’s every morning, on and on into the future. Doing domestic shit, grocery shopping, dancing around in the kitchen at 3 am, kissing in the rain- well, you’ve already done that one. 

But you can see it. That future, with him by your side, it’s right there. You just don’t know if it’s the one that he wants. You don’t really know how deep this runs for him.

Funny what just an accessory can do to your train of thought.

“Um.” You swallow. What was the question? “The ice cream was great. Still the best sundae I’ve ever had, by the way. The porn was bullshit, I didn’t get through twenty minutes. I just wanted to make you blush.”

“Brat.” He spins around, and plates an omelet right in front of you. You watch his face, tracing the easy smile he wears. “I hope you like it- but if you don’t, you better not say anything. I don’t think I could handle the pain of your rejection.” He looks up at you, hazel eyes shining gold in the sunlight. “You’re staring.”

“I-” you blink at him. You don’t fucking say. You open your mouth to ask- you want to ask what this is, what he feels, did he mean it. Do you want to do this again? Is this serious for you? Because it is for me, if you want it. You just don’t get that far.

“You’ve been staring since we were fourteen,” he chuckles, sliding you a fork. 

That startles you. “Well,” you click your tongue. “I didn’t realize you were looking so closely.”

“Oh,” Steve shrugs, turning to place the pan in the sink with a nonchalant hum. “Just since freshman year. When you read Juliet’s monologue in English class. Remember?”

You tilt your head. Vaguely. It was just a class project, where each person had to choose a Shakespearean monologue to recite in front of the class. You thought he only even became aware of you senior year.

Romeo, doff thy name, And for that name which is no part of thee, Take all myself. 

“Are you telling me,” you say, palms flat on the counter as you peer at him incredulously, “you’ve liked me just as long as I’ve liked you?”

“Told you I’d get there, eventually.”

Your brain refuses to compute. You stare at his back, his tousled hair, and want to yank him toward you and squeeze him like one of those fucking squeaky toys that you get at the pet store. The ones the eyes pop out of.

Steve turns to you with a smirk, leaning across the counter to mirror you. He reaches forward to trace the mark he made on your neck, still tender, while mocking your pout back at you. His eyes crease at the corners, like they always do when he's trying to be coy.

“Eat your breakfast, baby. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

[obx-adventures]

Amazing 🤩

Of Books & Beasts

Prompt: virginity

Paring: best friend!steve harrington x f!reader

Genre: romance, slow burn, friends to lovers, one bed trope

Notes: wc 9.1k // my first kinktober story (one of five) // hope everyone enjoys it // it’s very soft // a little scary movie night sleep over // reader falls asleep next to steve and things get a little steamy // i wrote everything to have as much consent as possible // steve is a bit of a perv lol

Warnings: MINORS DNI, 18+ ONLY, NSFW // slight somnophilia, dry humping, virginity loss, vaginal fingering // masturbation // smut // 'just the tip' is used once or twice // please let me know if there is anymore that need to be added!

ao3 // kinktober masterlist // full masterlist // lazy ghoul’s kinktober prompts

-:-:-:-:-

The night was meant to be a simple one. After weeks of assignments, exams, quizzes, and extracurricular activities at college, all you wanted to do was relax. Well, you still had one more assignment left to do, but maybe you were able to kill two birds with one stone, right? 

Luckily, this assignment was one that you could easily ask for help with from your friend. Someone who always stole movies for you to borrow on many weekends anyways. With your class being based on books which turned into film adaptations, it means a lot of time spent reading and watching. In truth, you felt bad for your classmates who had to rent out the tapes for extended periods just to finish analysis for assignments; all while you didn’t even need to bat an eyelash in Steve’s direction for him to hide movies in your backpack while his manager wasn’t looking. 

With the theme of this particular assignment matching the season and going with horror films, a movie night was something that you craved. Thick sweaters, even thicker blankets, a bit of hot chocolate, and candy from the grocery store that had the orange and black packaging — they were all of the aspects to the marathon you proposed when you walked into Family Video on a Friday afternoon after you got off the bus. Despite all of your convincing tactics, your friend already had his answer long before you began to ask.

“Anything for you, dove. I’ll get everything on this list for us,” Steve smiled at you, after looking at the assignment rubric, as you stood on the other side of the cash register. 

“Alright, maybe I should place a pizza order now so that we don’t starve during the Friday dinner rush tonight,” you said sweetly as you nervously thought about what to order. 

“Don’t you worry about it, it’s on me. Let me treat you a little.” 

“I’m the one who asked you to have a movie marathon with me, I should really be the one paying,” you insisted while you brought your hand closer to the telephone. 

But, quickly, the man was able to grasp it lightly to stop you from moving towards the numbers. You could never admit just how much your skin tingled at the touch. “I’m serious. This shift finishes in twenty minutes, then I can drive us home and I’m all yours. Do whatever you want with me, dove. I can even help out with your stress relief later. Maybe I’ll bend —” 

“Please don’t continue that sentence,” you cut him off easily. Steve always loved to tease you and any eavesdroppers who may be listening in and theorizing if you two were dating or not. The town is full of gossip fiends. “Any louder and people will start to believe you.” 

The younger Harrington chuckled as he got out from behind the counter to stand fully in front of you. He adored to see the way you outwardly pretended you hated the fake moves he would pull. From him putting his arm around your shoulder whilst walking around town, whistling every other time he picked you up from the city bus stop, to intimidating every guy who looked in your direction for too long. However, both of you never knew the other wished for it all to be real. 

“Fine, fine, I’ll be good and stop teasing you,” he chuckled lowly. 

“Thank you,” you smiled to yourself before looking up at Steve with wide eyes. “So will you also be buying garlic knots tonight too?” 

“Yes, as long as you promise to stay awake until the final movie, sleepy girl.” 

-:-:-:-:-

You, in fact, did not stay awake the whole movie night. It wasn’t Tim Curry’s fault either. Normally, it was tradition for you two to end off every evening like this with one musical or something more lighthearted to offset the mood. But the day just exhausted you from every angle, that once you finally got to relax and watch a movie for leisure — you relaxed a little too hard. Adding the components of the cold pizza and Steve putting a blanket on you while continuously keeping a grasp on your knee, you were bound to knock out before the movie ended. Later, it was Steve who woke you up with a whisper in your ear. The sound shocked you at first, and then when you opened your eyes to see the man kneeling in front of you, it did cause a slightly loud gasp to escape your lips. After some groaning on your end about not wanting to intrude, you finally gave in to the invitation Steve gave to let you sleep over tonight. The main contributing factor had to be the fact that the man had a really nice blanket and pillow set that felt like it came from a hotel. 

However, as you both ended off the night in your room, it was Steve who began to groan — although, it was due to pure frustration.

“I don’t have any clean clothes,” your host said as he rummaged through his drawers. 

“How about any sweater and some of those long johns your mother always buys you?” you giggled as you sat on the bed now, reading a book you recently checked out from the library. 

“Or you could always sleep naked, I heard it’s really healthy for you. Plus, I would not mind at — ow,” Steve was on his little sarcastic joke before you threw an old pair of socks at his head. 

“Maybe I should just head home, this feels like such a nuisance to you,” you smiled and whispered shyly. 

Steve really was trying hard to find you something to sleep in. So much so that it caused some sweat to drop on his forehead. But, truly, the man was standing there trying to work up the courage to ask you to put on one of his old swim team sweaters and a cotton pair of shorts he knew would hug your body beautifully. 

Yes, you have slept over before when you were younger. However, those were all planned out with you bringing something from home. Well, there was one emergency where you stayed the night due to a horrific snow storm; but, Mrs. Harrington was there to give you your Christmas present a few weeks early and allow you to sleep in some pyjamas which were covered in cute bunnies. This was the first time you would be here spontaneously alone with Steve — and god, did he feel like all of his prayers were answered. The amount of times he has imagined you laying on his bed, committing the most sinful acts, in various positions and scenarios, could be seen as absolutely perverted. So to have the opportunity to have you on his bed, wearing his clothes, covered in his blanket; it all seemed unfathomable to the man. 

“Here,” Steve exclaimed quickly so that you would actually stay. “Maybe you would be alright with this sweatshirt and some shorts?” 

“This is more than alright. Thank you, Steve,” You skipped off to the washroom to finally get ready for bed and let your friend change into his own pyjamas. 

However, when you got the clothing on, it was so embarrassing to stare into the mirror. Everything fits fine — and on a normal day at home, you would probably wear something similar. But remembering the fact that you would be sleeping next to your best friend was so nerve wracking. It was just a lot shorter than what you would usually wear around him if you did wear a skirt or shorts. You just thanked the heavens that the blanket would be covering your legs so that you didn’t feel as exposed. 

Not that you believed Steve would try anything; not that you didn’t want him to try anything either. But, you were scared of getting so cold and cuddling too close to him like you did last December during the winter storm. Waking up in Steve’s arms caused your heart to flutter so harshly that your heart rate didn’t go down for days. It made you think about how badly you wished you could wake up to his handsome face everyday. Most especially, it made you think about how nicely his leg felt right in between your thighs, and the way it massaged your — 

No. 

This was an innocent sleepover like the thousands that other best friends have had over the years. All you had to do was sleep next to him with a pillow between your bodies and hope you didn’t accidentally roll your way into his arms again. You weren’t sure if you were ready for the heartbreak of knowing that being entwined in each other’s arms would not last forever. 

“Do you want the left or right side of the bed?” Steve called out from the other side of the door, startling you out of your thoughts. 

“Anything is fine,” you replied whilst opening the door. Seeing that Steve was laying in the middle, ready to roll over to whichever side you preferred. The image of him with arms and legs spread out made you giggle. 

“The left side is closer to the lamp if you’d like to read a bit before sleeping,” he said as he shifted over to the ride side of the bed and patted to your new spot. 

“Are you a mind reader or something?” you chuckled between steps.

Steve put the book in the air as you tucked yourself into bed, a nice distance away from him. Once he saw you were comfortable, he placed the book gently in your lap and said: “no, but I could tell your little nap will probably have you staying awake for the next hour or so.” 

“Oh, if the light is gonna bother you then I can turn it off and head to sleep too.” 

The concern in your eyes was absolutely beautiful. As you started up at him with the lamp glowing behind you, you looked like a nymph in the night. And oh how Steve knew he would be the luckiest man alive to sleep next to you. 

“Go ahead, dove. I can sleep through anything,” he whispered lowly whilst rubbing your thigh that was covered by the thick blanket. “What’s it about anyways?” 

You took a deep breath to calm down before speaking. Steve’s touch caused you to feel warm, even more so when he squeezed your thigh every few moments. “Not too sure about the entire plot since I’m only on chapter two. But it’s about a prince and his beast companion. They’ve been best friends for a long time and are going on adventures. This was in the romance section so I’m guessing the best friends fall in love,” you rambled, getting quieter with the last few words. 

What a dream. 

“Is it dirty?” Steve teased as he sunk further underneath the blanket. 

“No, I-I’ve never read a story like that before,” you said sternly. 

“Oh, I believe you,” his voice got deeper and slower with each word, only indicating that he was bound to fall asleep any second. “Have fun reading.” 

They were the last words he said before drifting off to sleep peacefully next to you. Luckily, that meant it was a lot easier to read the rest of the book until you felt your own eyes start closing and the words on the page started to become blurry. 

It was a beautiful story, full of lore and love, a mix of historical fiction and mythology. After reading and watching stories based on the horror genre for a few weeks now, it was nice to have a little bit of a break and just read about love. Your heart started to feel warm and giddy as each page passed — even going as far as quietly giggling when you felt your cheeks feel warm as a result of the prince’s romantic actions throughout the book. You didn’t even notice that you were sinking further and further into the blanket because you were so engrossed in the imaginary world. It didn’t even matter that the angle made your back hurt a little. 

Well, not really. Once you started to feel stiff, you moved into a straighter position. However, you were interrupted by a low and groggy voice. 

“You want to get under here?” Steve asked you through half-lidded eyes and his arm moving to invite you to move even closer into his body. 

Wordlessly, you accepted the offer and went right up to Steve’s body. The book was on his chest while your cheek was at his side. Everything felt so comfortable and domestic — a part of you wished this could last forever. 

But right then, the storyline of the book went on a different path, to say the least. 

You see, the prince got hurt whilst fighting off some evil spirits. He was bleeding everywhere and in so much pain. But the companion, a beautiful wolf-demon, was able to heal his wounds to the point where it wouldn’t be so life threatening. It was so simple, to use a little magic and bandages in hopes of survival, but the author was able to portray it wonderfully. To thank the woman, the prince moved his arms around her to hold her a warm embrace. It was so sweet, just like the position you were in now. However, it took a turn for the romantics. A little too romantic. An activity you definitely were not currently doing with Steve. 

The man kissed her sweetly: from her shoulders, up to her neck, then finally landed on her plump lips. It was beautiful, so serene, accompanied by a drawing of the two in bed with locked lips and legs. Slowly, she started to rock against his leg, adoring the pressure against the place no one had touched before. As she gasped into each kiss, the prince smiled in tandem. Even moving his hips to help the lady feel more pleasure. You wondered how that felt, it was only a slight movement of the hips — there was no way it could feel that good.

But you were so wrong. 

Just as you tried to move positions, Steve moved his leg upwards, moving his thigh right against your heat. It felt so good, to the point where you bit your lip to suppress the whimper that was about to escape your lips. The man next to you, tried to find a better position to sleep in too, moving his legs some more until it found solace as it intertwined with your own legs. 

Fuck, it felt really good. You tried so hard not to move your hips in tandem so that you could amp up the pleasure. So instead, you continued to read, trying to focus on the writing techniques and nothing else. However, you only began noting the things the characters did with one another. How they whispered sweet nothings as they continued their game to see how long it would take the lady to climax. And you noticed the way you felt warm between your legs, a slight throbbing to seal the deal. 

Maybe in another world you would wake up Steve and ask him to let you out of his embrace so that you could excuse yourself to the washroom and down. But not in this one. In this world, you were at peace in his arms. In this world, you really didn’t care about the throbbing ache between your legs because you were extremely sleepy. In this world, you would convince yourself that it would pass. In this world, the sound of both your hearts beating as one was enough of a lullaby to cause even the most stubborn of characters to sleep. Just as you did now, with the book still on Steve’s chest, and your bodies squeezing closer together. 

-:-:-:-:-

Steve was an extremely heavy sleeper when he was with you. Most of the time, you would be awake first during these little sleepovers and do something before he even pried his eyes open and then decided to keep them shut because of the sun seeping through the windows. It wouldn’t surprise Steve to see you reading at your desk or braiding friendship bracelets when you had that arts n’ crafts phase a couple years ago. This time, however, he was the one who awoke in the middle of the night to movement from beside him. Maybe it was due to some level of paranoia he has gained over the past few years regarding a life that he wishes you would never need to experience. It’s funny that you were reading books with monsters the world has nightmares about, while he was one of the people who was facing them. He wishes so badly to protect you from all of it. So when you started moving in your sleep, something you never do, Steve felt his body wake up in an instant. 

His eyes were having trouble fully opening themselves as he could hear faint whimpering sounds coming from you and slight movements near his thigh. It was enough to turn his head to the left to see what was wrong. But nothing was wrong per se. If anything this was right out of a perverted fantasy he has had millions of times before. 

As his eyes finally came into focus at what was in front of him, Steve could only smile and thank the heavens. You were laying in the same position you initially fell asleep in: book held in your hand, it being face down on Steve’s chest on a particular page, while your own face was on the side of his chest. But, the thing that surprised him the most was the grip your thighs had around his own. Slowly, your hips were thrusting back and forth against his leg, humping over and over. Whenever your body hit the perfect spot against your clit, you would mewl against his chest, sending a vibration through his body. Your hard nipples would poke Steve’s stomach once in a while too. 

Good Lord, he was so distracted by the vision of you thrusting against his thigh, that he didn’t realize just how hard he had become. He only noticed it when your leg tensed up and moved towards his crotch, touching the underside and head in the process. 

You were about to become the death of him tonight. 

Curiously, he picked up the book you were reading to put it on the bedside table, when the words jumped out at him. 

“And then the prince lifted the dress of the maiden beast. How scary she was to the eyes of the kingdom, but how beautiful she looked with swollen lips and lust-filled eyes. She was wet, so wet that it seeped through the layers of clothing.”

Just then, Steve looked down to notice how your wetness was doing the same thing. Your arousal had gone past your shorts and went onto the cotton bottoms he was wearing. But he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The man skipped a few paragraphs to see just exactly what the prince and his lady were up to. Words of biting, screaming, thrusting harshly against the wall, even scratches along one another’s backs. It was pornographic, it was beautiful, and Steve was shocked that your virgin eyes read through some of this before falling asleep. 

If only he could recreate it with you. Seeing you moan and move to your lust-filled slumber was more than enough of a dream come true to the man. But this was wrong. So wrong. You both were best friends. He loved you, wished he could be more with you. But he believed that wasn’t worthy of you. You were the princess this whole town adored while he was just a former playboy many people seemed to dislike sometimes. There was a part of him that wanted to see how long it would take for you to come against his leg. However, his guilt took over quickly. 

“Wake up, my dove. It’s getting hot in here.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. The mixture of blankets and his arousal made Steve sweat through his clothes easily. 

“Hm? What?” You rolled more onto his chest, your weight atop his body nicely. It would have been the world’s most comfortable position, one that would start off most of his perverted fantasies about you; however, he had to stop himself from thrusting against your thigh that was now perfectly on top of his hardness. “Feels so nice, Stevie,” you murmured, still half-asleep. 

“Fuck — you really like that, huh?” The man whispered as you looked up at him with glazed eyes. You were still not cognizant that what you were doing was not in a dream. 

“I feel so warm down there, your leg is massaging me nicely,” you moaned whilst humping some more. “Kiss me, please.” 

Every move you were doing, every word you were saying, every whimper that came out of your throat — the man has imagined it all before. You were all of his greatest fantasies come to life. He wished so badly to ravish you on the spot and satiate all of the pent-up pleasure your body needed to release. Your lips were swollen now from all of the biting you’ve been doing to quiet down your moans; but, good god, the man was going to memorize it all for the sake of his future sessions with his right hand. 

Steve really needed to stop this, and fully wake you up as soon as possible. This wasn’t the normal you, you didn’t even realize exactly what you were doing. “Pretty girl, no matter how much I want to continue this, we can’t.” The words fell from his lips painfully. 

“Why not? You don’t feel good?” You whimpered as you reached up and put your arms around Steve’s neck, stopping your hips’ movements all together. 

“Feels so good, baby,” Steve moaned loudly this time as he thrusted against your leg like he imagined a million times before. It wasn't helping that you thought your face closer to his in order to hear his breathy moans easier. The man was so close to leaning forward and kissing your plump lips. “But, this isn’t a dream, and you’re not fully awake. I don’t want you to regret this—”

The man was going to ramble on and continue to comfort you into waking up fully. However, you got the message loud and clear. So much so, that your heart dropped and you gasped. 

“Oh, I’m so sorry, I’ll move over t-there — ah.” The moan coming out of your mouth was completely involuntary as you lifted your body up and intended on moving down and away from Steve’s figure. 

“Did that feel good?” Steve teased, now that you were both fully cognizant of your sleeping status. 

“I don’t know why I did that, I’m sorry.” If only you could apologize a million times, because you would; your guilty conscience would make sure of it. 

“You probably had some sweet dreams, huh?” 

Just as you were separated from the man, you heard his words and looked over at his figure. Through the dim lighting of the lamp, you could see that he was holding up the novel you were reading before bed, and it was open to the very scene that inspired any of your hormone-induced movements tonight. 

“Oh no,” you whispered. Looking down, there was a wet spot on Steve’s thigh where your heat was pressed against. He was admiring it as if he were memorizing just how it looks. And he was. “This is so embarrassing,” you though out loud

“It’s no big deal, dove. Guys have nudie magazines and a video here and there. I would never judge you for a little novel,” Steve chuckled as he sat up to the headboard to mirror your actions. 

“I didn’t know it was going to be like that in the story,” you whispered. 

“Did you like it?” Your friend was genuinely curious. Throughout your history as friends, you had never even asked him for advice about relationships — this erotic chapter of the novel must have been a shocking first exposure to it all. 

You thought about the question for a few moments. Remembering the emotions and fire you felt in different parts of your body, you could really only tell him the truth. “Y-yeah, I suppose so.”  

“Then don’t feel embarrassed or bad about it,” Steve nudged your shoulder sweetly to make you feel less embarrassed over the situation. “Never thought you were into reading it in front of other people though.”

“Don’t tease,” you pouted, putting your head under the blanket to hide from the embarrassment. 

“I’ll stop, I promise. But, you did give me a wonderful way to wake up,” you could hear him smiling just by the sound of his voice. 

Those words made you slowly peek your way out of the thick blanket to see Steve looming over you with a smirk that teased your soul. The lamp in the room made him glow, while the moon’s beams that were seeping through the blinds made him look like one of the many drawings of the prince in the book you were just reading. It took all the strength within you, not to squeeze your thighs together and satiate the throbbing between them. 

“Let’s never talk about this again,” you whispered, the blanket still covering your mouth. 

“If that’s what you would be comfortable with,” Steve chuckled as he laid back in his spot. 

“Y-yes, I would be.” 

After a moment of awkward silence, you both in regular sleeping positions, Steve wanted to break the ice a bit. “It is a well-written book. Maybe I could borrow it sometime.” 

“You’re so annoying,” you giggled, grabbing a small pillow on the bed and lightly hitting his chest with it.

“Learn anything while reading? You could use me as a practice dummy.” The man laid on his side now, looking at you as he put on a seductive tone. 

“You’re just a dummy, Steve,” you playfully scoffed with a giggle. 

“That was the last one, promise. Sweet dreams, dove.” 

In truth, Steve wanted you to sleep as quickly as possible so that he could make his way to the washroom and get rid of his hard problem. It was hurting now, even as he tried to think about anything else that would possibly subside his arousal. Your movements and moans will never be erased from his mind. Steve’s imagination was running wild with how you actually sounded as you were feeling pleasure. 

No one has ever thanked a book more in the history of mankind. 

“Is that what sex is like?” You whispered into the night, cutting off the man’s thoughts. 

“What do you mean?” Steve replied as he turned to his side to look at you staring up to the ceiling.  

“In the book, they talk about it like it happens so fast and hard,” you said the words with a concerned tone while turning your body towards his to face him. 

“Well, it can be fast and hard if the couple wants it that way. But, taking it slow is nice too,” the man next to you chuckled sweetly. 

You felt dumb asking the question. For years, you have known that Steve was a lot more experienced than you in the department of relations with the opposite sex. There have been countless times where Steve would tell you about any dates that he has gone on, or imply lewd acts he committed with his girlfriend of the week. And all you would do is nod out of pure curiosity. However, this was the first time you outright spoke about sex with him. 

“Right, right, that makes sense. It must feel really nice,” you continued your thoughts. 

“It does. Everything is so warm and wet. The noises too are something you’ll never forget. My hand and imagination does not do it justice sometimes.” Right then, Steve’s mind went through flashbacks of times he has laid in bed with the image of you stuck as his muse. He has imagined the way you would react and moan to things he would do with you. Would you bite your lip whilst looking down between your bodies? Would you whimper in the same way you do when you beg Steve to drive you somewhere and he just had a long day at work? Anything you would do would be erotic, and enough fire for him to reach the happiest of endings. However, by the end, he would pray for the day he could experience the real thing with you.  

“I wonder what it will be like for me,” you giggled, bringing the blanket close to your face again. 

“You got a good idea a few minutes ago,” Steve teased as he looked you up and down. 

All you could do was hit his shoulder then hide your face into it as he leaned back onto the bed. “It did feel really, really nice, Steve. I’m so sorry.” 

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You liked it, didn’t you?” he said, trying to soothe your embarrassment of it all. As he squeezed his arm around you tighter to have you closer to his chest, Steve realized that your bare thighs had found their way around his again. You looked so beautiful cuddling next to him, tightening your legs slowly. “Then, maybe I can help. You didn’t get to finish, sweet girl.” 

The deepness of Steve’s voice resonated through your entire body as you looked up at him with desperate eyes. His proposal sounded so good. You felt this constant throbbing between your legs that only increased ten-fold every time you and Steve accidentally breathed too close together. As you gripped his chest with your hands, and his thigh with your own — you really craved to continue the pleasure you were feeling moments before. 

“I didn’t even know that I started,” you pouted. 

“Oh, but finishing is one of the best parts,” he teased whilst moving his thigh upwards to massage your cunt slowly. 

“Steve—” you moaned like music to his ears.

Your friend began to move his thigh up and down to stroke your pussy, hitting your clit from the right angle to make you bite your lip in between whimpers. He held your face sweetly, making sure that he could see how every movement affected you. Steve was sure that the image of your pupils getting darker would be engraved in his mind forever. 

“My best friend needs help, and you know I would do anything for you,” he whispered, hovering his lips above yours. 

“More, please.” 

“So polite,” Steve teased, quickening his pace and moving one hand to your breasts. “Doing such a dirty thing and now you’re being so nice.” 

“I feel so — I feel like I need more,” you said quietly as if it were a desperate plea. 

Steve squeezed your right breast sweetly, pinching your hardened nipple through the thick sweater fabric. He noted how you thrusted yourself against his thigh and nearly fell onto his lips as you moaned. 

“Is your body on fire? You feel nice, dove,” he smiled, kissing your cheek to tease you. 

“So good. Kiss me, Steve, please.” You weren’t sure what took over your body in that moment, but you gripped onto his hair and leaned your lips towards his. Yet, he was the one who kissed you first. It was a kiss that made the angels sing above you, one that you both have been imagining for years and years. Hearing all of the stories of girls in school raving about his talents with his mouth and tongue — a part of you could never believe that he would be that amazing.

But, you were wrong, so wrong. 

As he kissed you deeply, poking his tongue through to taste you more, you couldn’t help but whimper loudly into the kiss. Steve adored it, promising himself to try everything he could to hear every variation of your beautiful sounds. Just when he brought a hand down to your back, urging your hips to move forwards on his leg, you swear you were about to see stars. This is what all the magazines were talking about. This is what all the whispered conversations during girl talk were giggling about. This is what the novel you were just reading was writing about when it came to the pleasures of the flesh. You remembered what the lady did in the book, and decided to emulate her actions. Although you were slowing down your kisses, your hand found its way to Steve’s clothed hardness. It was nearly peeking out of the sweatpant elastic by now which made you gasp in surprise. 

“God, what did you learn in that book?” Steve moaned as he felt your delicate hand on him. 

“The characters in the story were really good friends too. She was always tempted to be the one who helped him out when he was really stressed out.” You smiled into the kiss, noticing how teasing him only made you wetter. 

You hand gripped his hardness some more, focusing on the large head that could be felt through the fabric.

“Here I thought that was going to be my job tonight,” Steve’s voice was low now as he kissed you down your neck and moved the hand that was previously on your back, to your front. The shorts you were wearing rode up to tighten upon your cunt. The fabric squeezed your clit, and caused your arousal to get all over the place where your thighs met. 

Steve pushed the fabric to the side, noticing how you didn’t wear panties to sleep, and started to lightly massage your clit. “Oh God,” you moaned into his mouth while arching your back. 

The movement made Steve want to lay you down on your back to have easier access between your legs. Although you whimpered in slight disappointment when you didn’t feel the pressure of his thigh, that all went away when the man teased your wet entrance with his fingers before going up to your clit again. 

“No panties, huh? You’re bound to be the death of me.” 

“I normally don’t wear any to bed if I’m wearing shorts,” you whispered, moving yourself to feel his fingers more against your nub. 

“Is it alright if I take these off?” He barely got the question out before you began to nod. 

Looking at you in all your glory was absolutely mind blowing to Steve. He swears that he felt his cock twitch in excitement when he saw your arousal dripping on his sheets. The light from the lamp made you look like you were glowing, and the man was so tempted to taste what he has been craving for so long. But, he took it slow, circling your clit faster and faster as he leaned down to kiss you deeply. As every moan was swallowed by him, Steve began to thrust himself upon the side of your hip to satiate his arousal. 

The moment he stopped kissing you for a moment, he wordlessly looked you in the eye, teasing your entrance now with his fingers. With a nod and smile through bitten lips, you gave him full permission to fill your hole that has been desperately throbbing around nothingness.  

“Feels so good, Stevie. Keep doing that, please,” you groaned as he fingered you deeper and deeper. 

“Are you close, dove? Are you gonna come? You’re so tight, can barely fit these two fingers,” Steve teased as he kissed your neck to make you moan louder. 

“More — need more.” The grip you had on his hair became tighter as you pushed yourself down on his hand, nearly fucking yourself on his fingers. Feeling so stretched out was a brand new experience. You were never one to masturbate, even when everyone mentioned it was so much fun. Everything from seeing a hot guy at the mall, a rockstar who was shirtless on the cover of a magazine, or the angle of a showerhead accidentally focusing on a sweet spot — none of those experiences ever happened in your life. In truth, nothing ever made you curious enough to even try to see if other things would have a similar effect. But something about this night made you want to experience it all with Steve. 

The man quickened his pace with his fingers, using one hand to thrust into you while the other massaged your clit sweetly. Your moans echoed through the room as you arch your back in ecstasy. The feeling of Steve’s lips on your throat made you want to thrust against his hand harder, but you were too overwhelmed to move your hips in tandem. Instead, you lifted up your shirt and started to squeeze your lonely nipples. 

You aren’t sure what took over — all you knew was that everything felt so good. 

“Fuck, you really do have the most perfect tits,” Steve whispered to himself when he got up from your neck. He felt your movements and thought something was wrong. Instead, he was greeted by the sight of your swollen nipples, eager for some sort of touch. When he saw your fingers squeeze your right nipple, he could not handle it anymore and dove down to suck on them, leaving marks on your smooth skin. 

“Steve, everything you’re doing feels so good,” you moaned. 

“Are you gonna come for me, baby? I know you can do it.” 

And you did. Loudly. Just those words, working in tandem with his fingers and mouth, were more than enough to make you orgasm into oblivion. Steve had two fingers inside of you whilst his thumb was massaging your clit in small circles. You barely had the strength to tell him how good it felt since you were shaking below him in pleasure. All you could do was grasp Steve’s hair as he kissed one nipple of yours to the next. It was your very first orgasm, and you were welcoming it with open arms. 

“So nice —” you whimpered incoherently. 

Steve kissed you, swallowing in your moans of ecstasy. “I’m never gonna get tired of that sound,” he teased as he took out his fingers from inside of you and just massaged your clit as you got down from your high. 

“So much better than reading a book,” you giggled as your body calmed down. 

“Maybe we gotta find you crazier books then,” Steve smiled with you while kissing your soft lips. 

The kiss became deeper as you embraced one another. Your friend found his way on top of you which felt so surreal. Throughout your friendship, you never believed that some of your naughty dreams that you pushed to the side, would ever come true. Steve was having the same thoughts; however, he never pushed those dreams to the side. More likely, he would take care of any hard problem that was in between his legs. But, kissing you only made him throb harder. Especially now that he knows what your pussy felt like on his fingertips, 

“Again — I can take more,” you whispered between kisses. 

“Needy girl, you really want to?” Steve asked, making sure this wasn’t a dream for him now. 

“Mhm, yes, what if we slipped it in?” your hand moved down his body and to the waistband of his pants. Without even stretching the fabric, you looked up at him with sweet eyes. “Would it feel good too? Maybe just the tip?” 

Fuck. 

Steve needed to calm himself down. He was already on the verge of cumming in his pants, watching you orgasm on his sheets. Even now, as the remnants of your arousal covered his fingers, he wondered how it would feel against his hardness. But, Steve couldn’t do that to you now. Especially knowing the fact that it would be your first time. However, the lust that clouded your eyes as you pouted up at him, was convincing him slowly. 

The conflict on Steve’s face was so apparent that you whispered: “oh, we don’t need to—”

“Fuck, I want to,” Steve kissed you sweetly. “Are you sure, baby? Sure that you can take it all?”

“Yes, yes, I promise you that I can,” you smiled up at him and then bit your lips out of a mixture of excitement and nervousness. 

You kissed one another again, not being to stand the time your lips were apart from each other’s. As you did so, Steve brought his hands under your sweater to nearly rip it off of you — leaving you beautifully naked on his plaid sheets. His hands were calling to him, telling him that one day he needed to take a picture of you like this. But, there is going to be another time, surely. Right now, he wanted to satiate your body’s cravings. As you stared up at him and squeezed your thighs together, Steve was truly about to combust. 

“It’s kinda cold,” you giggled as you stared down at your hardened nipples. Then, you sat up slightly to meet his lips again, but not without whispering close to his mouth. “Can I take off your clothes too?” 

With those words, Steve helped you take off his tight shirt and sweatpants. You’ve been teasingly touching it throughout tonight’s escapades; however, seeing his hardness in all its glory, stunned you. It was a lot thicker and longer than you initially believed. In truth, there were countless moments where you had gotten a glimpse of his size. Like the times he invited you to his backyard to swim, and he always seemed to choose tighter swim shorts every week. Or the one time he forgot to bring a towel into the shower so you brought one to him, thinking that he was going to keep the shower curtain atop his body for some modesty; however, when you were on your way out the room, he let go of the plastic curtain a bit too early and you saw a definite outline from the side of your eyes. Every single time, no matter how crazy the situation may be, you felt warm all over your body. This time, however, seeing the way it hung and the precum leaking out of it, you were hypnotized to say the least. 

“One sec, dove,” Steve whispered as he saw that you were about to touch it. You looked to see that he bent his body to reach his nightstand and take out a little clear bottle. 

“What is that?” You asked innocently as you began to stroke him while he wasn’t looking. 

“I-it’s — fuck — it’s lube. We could use a little if you wanted to,” Steve said seriously before bringing a hand to your arousal and massaging your clit sweetly. “Not sure if we will need much,” he teased. 

Steve kissed you again, having you lay down on the bed fully. He thrusted his hardness against your pussy a few times, seeing how you reacted to the feeling. You adored it, mewling every time the head of his cock coincided with your clit. In truth, you both could have been doing this for the rest of the night until you two came; however, you were throbbing around nothing and you craved to feel more stretched out than with Steve’s fingers. 

You broke away from the kiss, eyeing the bottle of lube curiously, before Steve grabbed it and put it in your hands to look at closer. There were times you saw a similar bottle in the drug store and noticed they were next to the condoms and pregnancy tests. You saw that there were big bold letters on the front: ‘for her pleasure,’ which confused you slightly. But, you decided to give it a try anyways — it must be something good, you guessed. 

“Let's use a little, Steve.” 

“Yeah, sure. You want me to put it on?” He asked sweetly as he outstretched his hand. 

“N-no, I wanna try something,” you smiled up at him before putting a dollop of the gel in your right hand. “You’re so big, Stevie. You’re gonna stretch me out so good.” 

Your words were hypnotizing the man above you as you circled your hand over his cock and stroked a few times. And to think that he believed that he was to be taking the lead tonight. 

“F-fuck, dove. Your hands are so soft.” Steve’s moans were making you wetter by the second. You felt your heat throb harshly around nothing, before you moved your hips upwards a little and guided his cock into you. 

Just the tip — you said the words before. 

But, fuck, it felt so nice that you both needed so much more. Steve stayed still above you as he watched the way you move your hips to bounce on his cock from below. Inch by inch, you thrusted yourself upon his lube-covered hardness, causing moans to echo through the room as you got stretched out. 

This was so much better than you both could have ever dreamed of. 

“So hard,” you whispered as you got in the last inch and took all of Steve’s cock in. 

“You’re taking me so well, dove. So fucking wet,” he said as he kissed you and let you get used to the large size. 

“Feels nice.”  

“Tell me if you don’t like it,” Steve whispered as he kissed your lips one last time before moving his mouth down your neck and finally thrusting his hips into you. 

Everything seemed to amplify ten-fold. All of the pleasure, moans, tingling, stretching — it all felt so nice. It was if you two were the only people in the world, with the sky changing from a navy blue to a bright orange. Sweet nothings were whispered into the air as you both wanted to give each other the poetic justice you deserved. 

Steve kissed you every time he heard your moans get louder and louder, wanting to taste your ecstasy. He moved back and forth from kissing your lips, to your neck, to your breasts. It all made you grip his hair tightly no matter where he was focusing on your body. 

“Keep going please, Steve. Everything feels so full,” you screamed incoherently.  

“God, you're throbbing around me. I don’t think I can take it.” The man above you was thrusting into you at an increasingly faster pace, missing the feeling of your warm pussy every time he was even an inch out of you. 

“Steve, I wanna feel you cum,” you whispered before grabbing his hair to have him stop sucking on your nipples in order to look at you. 

He adored how needy you were. “Dirty little mouth, Princess.” 

“Need more — need you to go faster.”

“You know I've been dreaming about this moment time and time again. Who knew all it would take is a dirty novel, isn’t that right?” Steve teased as he reached town and pinched your clit playfully. 

“You’ll never regret driving me to the bookstore from now on,” you giggled in between whimpers.

In truth, you didn’t notice the way you were moving yourself upwards to meet his thrusts. It made Steve bite his lip to stop himself from cumming inside of you prematurely.  “Dove, you're taking me so well — fuck — better than I’ve ever imagined,” he moaned. 

“What have you imagined? What were we doing?” you asked it so innocently, stroking his chest as he continued to thrust into you. 

Where did you learn how to do that? — was what he really wanted to ask. Instead, his mind started to blurt out his fantasies. 

“Sometimes I’d have you like this: fucked out and cock drunk in the middle of the night. Other times it would be me bending you over while you’re studying. Always wearing those tiny skirts with the slit.” 

“For you, I wear it for you. I know the yellow skirt is your favourite, isn’t it?” You teased him now. 

You always noticed the way he would ask you pick things up from the floor, mention that your shoes were untied while he was standing behind you, or the way he would always take off a piece of lint from the back of your skirt — even if you had just used a lint roller on it a few moments before. He loved the way the fabric would sway, and you loved the way he looked at you. It made you feel so warm even on the windiest and coldest of days. 

One thing was for certain, it definitely felt like such a tease in comparison to how your heart and body felt right now.  

“You little minx,” Steve moaned as he thrusted into you faster. 

“Do you think I don’t imagine you ripping my skirt into a million pieces every time you stare at me?” the words fell from your lips breathily while Steve’s pace increased more and more. “You’re not so good at recognizing mirrors in front of you when you’re staring at the back of my tiny skirt, huh?”

“God, you like it when I’m being your perv, naughty girl,” Steve stated.

“Makes me feel nice. Just like this.” 

Just then, Steve made sure that his thrusts and massages on your clit were working in tandem with the way your pussy was throbbing on his cock. He could tell with the way you were arching your back more and closing your eyes, that you were bound to orgasm soon. “You’re so beautiful, dove. So beautiful and taking me so well.”  

“Oh my—” your voice sounded so sweet as you looked up at him with desperation in your eyes. 

“That’s it, let it happen,” Steve grunted, making sure to stop himself from cumming so that he could time it with yours.  

“Faster, please,” you nearly screamed now as everything was hitting you in all the perfect spots. 

Steve took that as his sign to move faster: from his hands to his hips. He loved to see the way you were reaching your climax on his cock — an image he would never get out of his mind for the rest of his life. You were squeezing his hardness tighter and tighter, with your moans getting louder in tandem. And so, Steve angled his cock upwards to try and hit your sweetest spot inside of you. 

And he did. 

Good god, he did. 

“That’s it, that’s my dove.” He chanted over and over as you were shaking beneath him, orgasming harder than you did previously. 

“S-Steve, fuck.” You rarely swear, but to know that he was the one to cause this little word to fall from lips with such grace — it was the final straw for Steve. 

He began to cum inside of you, your pussy milking him with each thrust. All of his arousal was filling you up to the point where it started to spill out and glisten all over your thighs. “So tight,” he whimpered above you. 

For a few moments, you both came down from your highs. With a few thrusts and kisses, you allowed your bodies and heart rates to calm down as one. It was beautiful and so bewitching to experience it all. You weren’t so sure what it would be like now. Being friends for so long meant that you both knew so much about each other. However, now, you two seemed to see a lot of each other too. There was no turning back to what it was before. Not after everything felt so good in this way. 

You both looked into each other’s eyes before kissing sweetly, enveloping each other in one last kiss before breaking apart under the morning sun’s rays. 

“You are so beautiful,” Steve whispered as he moved to lay next to you. 

“So are you,” you smiled while cuddling close to him. 

“Are you alright?” He asked sweetly, kissing your forehead in the process. 

“Yeah, I guess I feel a little sore,” you giggled as you moved your head upwards to feel your lips on his again. 

Steve gasped into the kiss, breaking it apart to get some tissues from his nightstand. “Do you need a bath, some water, or food?” He asked whilst wiping the remnants of his climax away on your thighs. 

“I’m fine, Steve, I promise.” You smiled as he looked at you with the biggest hazel gaze. 

Truthfully, you looked like a goddess glowing next to him with the dawn reflecting on your skin. He wasn’t sure if there were enough words in any dictionary to describe your beauty. Maybe not even from the book you were reading before bed. “How about you sleep for a bit and then when you wake up, I’ll have all your favourite breakfast foods on the kitchen table?” The offer was so tempting coming from Steve’s lips. 

“Hmm, what if I want to help you?” You giggled. You weren’t sure if you wanted to be separate from him for too long. The place in between your thighs was begging for his touch again. “There is a scene in that book where the prince and the lady were eating breakfast and then—”

You stopped speaking when you saw Steve reach behind him to find the novel on his nightstand, before flipping pages in the book to see what you were talking about. “Maybe you should read this story to me another day and I can help you every time you get really excited during a scene,” he winked. 

“Another day?” 

“Yes, for now, we could get started on writing the beginning of our newest story, dove. If you would like to, of course.” Steve whispered the words as he hovered his lips above yours, teasing you with each breath that tickled your skin. 

“I’d really, really love that,” you smiled up at him, bringing your arms around his neck in the process. 

If one thing was for certain after tonight: both of you found comfort and love in each other’s arms — and later on in a few different sections of the book store too. 

-:-:-:-:-

[obx-adventures]

Good Enough - JJ Maybank

No warnings just huge angst and fluff. Childhood best friends to lovers trope. Any feedback is appreciated. Lots of love xoxo

Angry waves crashing through the boneyard, wind whistling angry words mimicking the feelings within Y/N’s brain as she was sat legs dangling over the pier, beer in hand but suddenly she couldn’t stomach another sip. Sand and salty air mixed with unpleasant conversations, wishing she just stayed at home instead of giving into his best friend’s invitation to attend – yet another – late summer night kegger. She couldn’t help her heart clenching as she stared into the distance, thinking about where she went oh so wrong.

Y/N believed in fate, she believed everything happened for a reason and all people came into her life because they were meant to be there. She always knew it was written in the stars for her to meet JJ Maybank in the third grade on that afternoon on the school grounds. When a group of mean boys knocked her packed lunch out of her hands, laughing at her shocked gaze and disappointed eyes teary from embarrassment and sheer pain because why her? Why could they not just leave her alone in peace? But as she watched them run away, eyes glued to the ground scattered with crisp crumbs and a PB&J sandwich now covered in dirt, she spotted another pair of shoes, very muddy and holes all around the place. Afraid, she couldn’t get herself to look up not wanting to face anymore confrontation.

“Here – I’m not hungry” She heard an unfamiliar yet unusually calming voice above her. Slowly looking up, she spotted blonde, messy locks, piercing blue, concerned eyes from a boy she vaguely recognized knowing he was in her grade but never spoken to him previously.

“Take it” He mumbled, his arm reaching out towards her holding a banana and a packet of unopened crisps with sincerity in his voice. Y/N nodded shyly, accepting the generous gift from the boy, the items hitting her hands and as soon as the exchange was done, he turned around walking away from her.

“Wait!” She shouted out, finally finding her voice. The boy stopped in his tracks, turning around with furrowed brows.

“We can share?” She suggested with an inviting smile on her lips. The boy unsure scratched his forehead and with a nod took a few steps towards her before taking a seat on the concrete beside her, back leaning against the wall.

“I’m Y/N.” She introduced herself, opening the packet of crisps and placing it between them, while breaking the banana in half and offering the slightly bigger piece back to him.

“I’m JJ Maybank.” He claimed, looking at her offering a friendly smile.

“Thank you JJ. You’re nice”. Y/N said a grateful glint in her eyes as she examined the boy further. He looked a mess, shirt dirty, shorts slightly too baggy around his legs, skin a little pale but he seemed like an angel sent from above. A slight blush creeping to his face at her words, having to look down at his hands in sudden embarrassment not used to the praise that he received.

That was the moment their forever friendship began. The two were inseparable ever since, joined at the hip like they needed to be near each other or they wouldn’t survive. Every happy moment the two experienced somehow involving the other. All hurt seemingly feeling better if they could just comfort in each other. Every heartbreak, every disappointment mended by their own hands. Friendship so deep, they were sure they were soulmates, they were made to have each other. And as the years passed, the line between friendship and love blurring more and more until they were hopelessly in love with each other. Too stubborn to ever admit it though, never believing that the feelings could be reciprocated as they both never felt worthy of truly having the other person. ‘They are just too good for me,’ they both believed.

Their friends could tell the truth though. The lingering hugs and sneaky touches just to feel the others’ skin, always looking for the other across the room, always ending up in each others beds unable to get a proper night’s rest without having their arms around each other. Yet Y/N was oblivious to the way JJ was longing for her for the longest time, before he even understood what love was. Always feeling the need to protect her, to uplift her, hating when something had her upset and that beautiful smile was not beaming on her face as she was looking at him. Y/N always wanting to be there for JJ when her father turned into a monster, taking his demons out on his son, patching him up, whispering sweet nothings into his skin hoping her words somehow could mend his pain. Friends didn’t look at each other the way these two did.

Y/N never thought she would cross the line of friendship with JJ. She was so good at hiding her feelings for him. She pushed and pushed her emotions as deep as she could each day, it not being in her nature to not be able to control the way she felt.

This moment, however. She felt herself bubbling over from rage, as he just talked and talked beside her and she just simply had enough.

“Y/N are you even listening to me” JJ scoffed offended as he looked down at her zoned out, just staring into space knowing she completely lost track of what he was telling her.

“I was.” She whispered, voice not sounding as convincing as she would’ve hoped, still not being able to turn her head to meet his gaze.

“No you weren’t.” He rolled his eyes, playfully bumping his shoulders into hers to give her a little shove. “I really want your help with this. I want to ask her out and don’t want to mess it up. You know what girls like!” He sighed, practically begging for her to give him her attention and answer his plea.

Y/N bit her lip and slightly shook her head as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Sure, she knew JJ loved a flirt! It was just in his nature to have girls swooning over him more than relishing in the fact that they found him attractive. Innocent tourons that would fall for him as he was talking that sweet talk to them at a random party, for him to not even remember their names at the next one, leaving them heartbroken. Not that JJ was doing it on purpose, it was all innocent to him, just savouring the attention he never got growing up.

But this was different. He never dated. Never wanted anyone, not really. Not being scared of someone rejecting him, never being interested in what people thought about him.

And this had Y/N breathless, feeling like she could drown in her sorrows at the thought of losing the boy she never truly had.

“What’s the matter with you Y/N? You can’t even look at me!” JJ looked at her worried with a line between his brows drawn together from confusion, not understanding her quiet, reserved demeanor. “Have I done something?” He asked, concern lacing his low voice as he was staring into her side hoping to catch her eyes.

All Y/N could do was let out a forced laugh that had humour missing from it completely, still refusing to give her attention to the desperate boy beside her.

“Y/N please talk to me. I don’t know what I said, but tell me so I can fix it.” He was begging, body completely turned towards her, hands reaching to hold hers, but she just snatched them away, creating physical distance between them to match the emotional one. JJ’s heart broke slightly at her reaction, never having experienced this coldness from his best friend before, the act sending chills down his spine.

Y/N thought for a moment before finally meeting her eyes with his. She could see the hurt radiating from him, her lips immediately twitching at the site, her eyes filling with tears now suddenly clouding over and fighting to not let them go. She had enough and could not take her heart breaking anymore. He may never be hers, but she could not be the one helping him impress another girl into dating him. She wasn’t strong enough for that.

So as she finally reached her breaking point, shuffling to stand up beside him in a quick motion, words leaving her lips before she could think twice, she decided enough was enough.

“What is it about me that’s not good enough for you?” she let out, a choked sob following her words so unexpectedly, it shocked them both. Before JJ even had a moment to process her words, she was gone, turned around in a hurry the only sound being her footsteps against the wooden pier as she tried to get away from him as quickly as possibly, just wanting to get home and sob into her pillows, her whole body now in pain from her heartache.

JJ sat there, frozen in his spot mouth agape, confused and hurt from the accusation thrown at him. His breath quick and shallow, hands grabbing at the ends of his hair as his palms slid down on his face trying to gather his thoughts. Could she really mean that? Could it be possible? He would have noticed, if she had feelings for him, he was sure of it. There was no way someone like her thought she was not good enough for him. Does she not realise that his whole life, he’s been longing for her only?

“Damn it!” A frustrated grunt left his lips as he too stood up after god knows how long, and slowly made his way towards the sandy beach, his brain unable to keep up with the intensity in which his thoughts swirled around in them. He never felt more confused, hopeful yet terrified of the idea of her reciprocating his feeling. Even just a little bit, because there was no way she loved him the way he loved her. From the moment she smiled up at him with the kindest eyes he’s ever come across, he has been putty in her hands ever since. He would travel to the moon if that’s what it took for her to send a smile towards him. She was his lifeline. His Y/N. The only person he ever needed and could never imagine losing. Hence covering his emotions all this time. Having her as a friend was way better than not having her at all and he accepted a long time ago that that’s the way things will always be. Him pining after her, melting at every moment he laid eyes on her and her just being his best friend.

There was no way JJ was not going to find answers to his questions. So as he made his way towards her house in a hurry, not wanting to wait a second longer, his heart almost beating out of his chest, he allowed his mind to wander at all the possibilities tonight could bring.

Y/N thought she imagined the sound of knocking coming from her window as heartbreak and exhaustion started taking over her. Face in her pillows, the cover stained with salty tears, tissues scattered everywhere. She felt sick, throat dry, eyes stinging and aching from all the rubbing, nose no doubt red. The only source of light illuminating her room coming from the poorly hung fairy lights above her bed.

But as she heard the sound again, she stood up, making her way towards her curtains, pulling them open with trembling fingers, knowing exactly who she would find behind the glass.

Her breath still hitched at the sight of the blonde locks and almost cold expression. She debated just turning around and pretending that her problems didn’t exists until they eventually disappeared, but after her confession earlier, she knew that he wouldn’t leave her alone until he got answers. With that in mind, she carefully lifted her window, creating a gap for JJ to crawl in with such ease after all these years that it was clear he took this route a thousand times before.

“I hate when you walk home in the dark alone” – JJ mumbled as he closed the window as he took a deep breath before turning to face her. His gaze softened in an instant as his eyes met her devastated look, the scene just about shattering his heart into a million pieces.

“JJ, you need to go. I can’t do this tonight” – Y/N shook her head as she tried to find her voice, yet her words came out shaky and no certainty was found behind them. She made her way back to her bed as she sat down facing her best friend, legs dangling above the floor, her gaze locking into the wooden floorboards, not wanting to face him.

“You can’t just lash out on me and expect me to not come to you talk Y/N! Did you mean it?” He threw his arms up in frustration as he began to pace around the room, all his anxiety now bubbling out of him helplessly, waiting for her to just tell him what’s going on.

“Did I mean what JJ?” She sighed, watching him stop and look at her with a look she did not yet recognise. A mixture of sweet and harsh, hopeful and already given up, not knowing how to react to the change of atmosphere.

“You tell me! Just please tell me!” Almost begging, he turned towards where she sat, quick steps catching up as he was now beside her on the bed, body hands touching hers as he was searching for the girl he knew for so long beneath this shadow self that was one he did not understand.

“For God’s sake JJ! I love you! I’ve loved you for so long I don’t even remember a time anymore when I didn’t! Don’t tell me you didn’t know!” She finally let her guard down completely as she laid all cards on the table, too late to take any of it back now. With her eyes fixated on JJ, who was now staring back at her wide eyed and she thought they might fall out from behind his skull for a minute. She just sat there as she watched the blonde boy open and close his mouth with no words coming out, her strong façade fading with every second that he didn’t say anything.

“It’s okay if you don’t feel the same JJ, I don’t expect you to. But I couldn’t keep listening to you ranting about another girl and I’m so sorry if that makes me a horrible best friend. We can just pretend this never happened because I don’t want to lose you.” She rambled as her eyes dropped to her hand that was still in his hands, anxiously starting to play with her bracelets, including one of his that he traded for one of hers a few years ago.

“Do you truly believe you’re not good enough for me?” JJ finally broke his silence, with Y/N expecting just about anything to come out of his mouth as a reply to her confession, but this.

“Wha-“ she began, but before she could get any further, his voice took over the conversation again.

“Because if you honestly do then you’re the dumbest smart person I’ve ever met”. He shook his head with a small smirk playing in his lips, but it didn’t meet his eyes.

“I’m head over heels in love with you Y/N! She doesn’t compare to you, not even a little bit. I had no idea this is how you felt and I am so sorry for ever making you feel this way. I didn’t think I would have a chance with you. I want no one but you.” Tears collected in her eyes again at his words as she finally got the courage to face him again. He was already looking at her, longingly and lovingly with sparkly eyes, ones she has never seen before but knew she would never be able to get enough of them now. He raised his hands to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ears, feeling electricity running through his whole being from the proximity to her.

He couldn’t help shuffling closer to her, hearing her breath getting caught in her throat as he instinctively looked at her puffy, pouty lips, desperation in his whole being as he slowly closed the gap between them, waiting for her signal. Y/N closed her eyes and leaned in ever so slightly, until his lips brushed hers, both of them letting out a shaky breath. Just as she had a chance to realise that what she wanted for years is finally happening, JJ gave in and pressed his lips against her with a small moan escaping from his throat, a smile forming on Y/N’s lips as she melted into his touch further. The kiss was magical, careful, slow and full of the burning passion the pair has felt for eternity. And with that, they knew eternity truly just began for them.

Taglist: @mvybanks

[obx-adventures]

promise | jj maybank

gif creds to it’s respective owner ! <3

SUMMARY: after confessing your feelings to your best friend in a swirl of emotions, resulting in probably the worst outcome you can imagine, you soon come to realize he was in just as much pain as you.

PAIRINGS: jj maybank x fem!pogue!reader , pope heyward x fem!pogue!reader (platonic)

WORD COUNT: 10.6k (she do be a long one, but it’s worth it)

WARNINGS: angst, fluff, depictions of smut

A/N: hello! this is the first imagine that i ever posted on tumblr. hope whoever reads this likes it, it's one of my favourites so i wanted to start off strong. grab a drink/snack and enjoy :) <3

☼ ☼ ☼

You sit frozen even under the blazing sun. You’ve buried your feet beneath the sand, gripping the couple seashells you caught while surfing in your hand until lines press into your skin. You try to focus on your burning soles or the sting from the shells, but his voice is too prominent in your ears to drown out.

“Y/N? Can you please listen, this is important.” JJ playfully nudges your arm and lingers his hand on your shoulder.

You quickly pull back from his touch and wrap your arms around yourself protectively, trying to pay no mind to the slightly confused expression that contorts his features. You’ve done enough overanalyzing with him to know that he doesn’t mean anything by these seemingly affectionate gestures. He never does.

“What, JJ. I’m not in the mood right now.” You sharply say, keeping your gaze on your black-painted toes sticking out from the sand. And it’s true. You really did not want to hear about all the ways JJ could ask Kiara out properly.

He huffs and rests his hands on his knees, still remaining seated on the towel next to you. “I just want your advice. What’s up with you today? You were fine this morning, and now you’re acting all irritated with me.”

Yeah, maybe because I couldn’t pretend to be okay anymore after seeing that stupid smile on your stupid face when Kiara kissed your stupid forehead at 7 in the morning. Or during school, seeing you pass notes in class and winking when phones clearly exist, like you just have to rub it in. Or after school at John B’s house watching you trying to braid her hair while the rest of us were doing homework. Or before we left for the beach as she rubs sunscreen all over your back, when that’s usually my job.

But of course, you didn’t say any of that.

“Whatever. Like you care.” You scoff and look up at the ocean, watching your friends laugh and push each other off their surfboards.

“I do care, Y/N. You’re my best friend, your opinion means the most to me.” He pauses for a moment and runs his hand through his golden hair. “Did I do something?”

Your heart clenches in your chest, and for a second you want to drop the angry act and hug him, comfort him and reassure him that he could do no wrong. That he was everything and more. But you had to block out your pain, and anger was just the emotion strong enough for the job.

You keep your stone cold glare, and manage to turn it towards him. He’s already looking at you, but not in the way he looks at Kiara before she notices. Not in the way where he looks at her and sees his purpose for existence. Not in the way you look at him.

Instead, he’s looking at you with a lost expression, brows furrowed in confusion, eyes asking for answers. As your glare locks into his soft pale blue eyes, he closes his mouth and looks away. At least he knows not to push you any further.

After an excruciating 10 minutes of sitting in awkward silence with nothing but the waves and seagulls, you hear Kiara’s melodic voice travel over the water and sand to reach your ears. “Ayo, JJ! Y/N! What are you guys doing? Get in the water before it gets too dark!”

Even the sound of her voice makes your ears hot with jealousy and your chest ache with pain. The worst part wasn’t even that she was the girl JJ held in his heart, it was the fact that she was also your best friend, and an absolute angel. She did nothing wrong, and you had no reason to feel so negatively towards someone as kind hearted as her. But the fact that she unknowingly took JJ from you was enough.

She’s waving her arms frantically to get you two’s attention, as if you don’t already see her. It makes you wanna flip her off, but JJ beats you to any action by laughing and standing up, the towel he was sitting on -- your towel -- still hooked in his arms. He throws the damp pink and green fabric around his neck before cupping his hands over his mouth to yell, “You got it, Kie! There’s a sick wave rolling in!”

You roll your eyes, and he notices, but still presses his lips together in a sad smile. “You coming or what, my angry girl?”

Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry. You repeat this in your head over and over again before you dare to speak. ‘My angry girl’, he had said. Like you were his, like he was yours. Like you were his girl. But you weren’t, so why did he think it was okay to keep up with his little spur of the moment nicknames, when they so obviously had no ounce of affection behind them?

You stand up and grab your surfboard. JJ’s face lights up as he shoots you a bright smile, happy at the fact that you’re over whatever it was that was bothering you and are ready to finally have a good time.

But he was wrong. That’s not why you stood up and grabbed your things.

“Have fun.” You say coldly, clenching your teeth to prevent you from saying anything else, for you know that if you did you’d erupt into tears. You tighten your hold on your board, yank your towel from his shoulders, and turn on your heel to walk off the beach.

You can’t take the Twinkie back to your house, since that was John B’s car and the gang’s ride, and JJ knew that too. As you walk by the van, ready to take your walk home alone under the setting sun with just your bikini, towel, and board, you can’t help but hope that JJ will come after you, or call out your name. Just something to show that he doesn’t want you to leave, that he wants to find out what’s wrong, that he wants you safe with him.

But when you turn your head slightly over your shoulder to see if your thoughts have manifested into reality, you’re met with his sculpted back running towards the ocean, diving into the thrashing waves and tackling a laughing Kiara.

The salt dripping from your hair melts with the salt on your cheeks.

~ ~ ~

That night on the beach was only one out of many, many other occurrences in which you had to protect your bleeding soul from any more pain by ultimately being a bitch to the boy you’re in love with.

You didn’t always resort to hostility. There was a time where you would fake a smile and push aside any feelings for the sake of your relationship with JJ. But after a while, it all got too much. You remember the first time you felt any hint of insecurity.

It was about a year ago, a couple weeks after Kiara officially joined the gang by announcing she’s done with the kook academy and would now be spending all her time with you guys. You were so excited at first, for you guys hung out with her once in a while when she wasn’t trapped with the kooks, and now she would finally always be there. Of course, JJ hit on her when they first met, but you didn’t think much of it. He flirted with everyone.

But those feelings quickly got diminished when you and JJ were waxing your surfboards alone in John B’s shed. It was going well like it always did, and you were blushing like you always did when it was just you two. But then he said it, the first hint that he actually liked Kiara.

“It’s amazing that Kie is always here now, isn’t it?” He said, muscles flexing as he thoroughly waxed his white board.

You diverted your gaze away from his arms to see him smiling aimlessly, though you doubted it was directed at the task at hand.

“Oh, uh. Yeah. She’s great,” You replied honestly.

JJ looked up at you, the same smile on his face. “It’s so much better with her here.”

It’s so much better with her here.

Those words have never left your mind since he said them a whole sun’s revolution ago, and it still bothers you all the same. How could he say that, after only 2 weeks of her being there? How could he say that, when you were the one who’s been his best friend since you were kids, before John B or Pope? How could he say that, when he should be feeling that way about you?

Overtime, it got worse.

When you showed up at his house, backpack in hand filled with you two’s favourite snacks and his favourite alcohol, ready to go for your normal weekend hike. “Oh shit, sorry Y/N. I told Kie I’d go surfing with her today. Next week though, yeah?” And he kissed your cheek, like he always did since he was 10. But, the hikes stopped.

At the bonfires when you reached for the red solo cup in his hand, and he pulled it away, laughing. “Oh-- This is for Kiara. Vodka cran. Can you believe that? So ridiculous.” But he smiled admirably the whole time. Usually he got you a drink, so you were used to just reaching for it. He still did get you drinks now, but only after Kiara got hers.

At Midsummers, when you were so excited to show him your red dress that you picked specifically because he said he liked it when walking past a store window. But of course Kiara walked in a second after you in her beautiful silky purple dress. “Wow, look at you.” JJ had said, and you prayed that he meant you, but when you looked up he was practically ogling at the glowing goddess next to you. Kiara laughed and told him to shut up, to which he grinned back and linked his arm with hers. “Shall we, you kook?” He jokingly said. As they were walking out of the hallway and into the party, leaving you behind, Kiara was the one who asked if you were coming. JJ didn’t say a word to you the whole night about your dress.

And the rest of the year was all a blur from there, just the obvious favouritism and admiration of her whenever the pogues hung out. You didn’t even want to think about what went on when it was just JJ and Kiara. And now that John B had Sarah, you felt even more forgotten than ever. Little did you know that there was one certain nerdy boy left in your friend group who was more similar to you than you thought.

~ ~ ~

It was now about a month after the beach, and the second last week of school before the summer. You were all sitting in second period, the class before lunch, working on review before the exams that would take place next week.

Not only were you stressed from school, since you haven’t really given it much thought recently, but today you were just extra irritable. You were tired, insecure, upset, and trying to memorize these goddamn history facts.

You were biting your nails and bouncing your leg at a very fast pace when you felt a wad of paper hit your head. You freeze and clench your jaw. You know exactly where that came from. You slowly turn around and see JJ awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

“Sorry, Y/N. Can you pass that to Kie? She’s too far from me,” He whispers, slightly leaning forward.

You’ve had enough.

You pick up the note and don’t even bother to read what’s on it. Instead, you get up to your feet and throw it right back at him, hard. He’s a bit startled as it hits his chest, and he looks up at you, bewildered.

“Give it to her yourself,” You spit, clenching your fists. “And fuck off.”

People in the class are looking at you, including your friends, but you couldn’t care less. John B mouths ‘what the fuck?’ at you, Kiara is staring at you wide-eyed, and JJ just… JJ just looks sad. You make eye contact with Pope, but he isn’t looking at you like some freak, like everyone else. He’s looking at you with kind eyes. He sends you a sad, knowing smile that sofly curves his lips. You almost tear up looking at him, and you aren’t even sure why. Why was he looking at you like that?

Your thoughts are interrupted when your teacher calls your name. “Y/N, excuse me! Wh--”

You cut him off by raising your hand. “Yea, sir, I know. I’m leaving.” You leave the classroom without another word, leaving your friends and peers looking after you, confused.

~ ~ ~

Later that night as you lie lazily on your couch, scrolling aimlessly through your phone, you get a text from John B.

JB: Hey psycho

You roll your eyes and swipe the message away. A couple minutes later, you get more.

JB: That was a joke

I’m kidding

You’re not actually a psycho

Well… sometimes

To stop him from spamming you anymore, you groan and reluctantly text him back.

Y/N: holy shit what do u want

JB: Ah there she is

Come to the Chateau

Y/N: no

JB: Okay well first of all rude

Second of all I already sent JJ to get you

You shoot up in bed, breathing heavy. Are you fucking kidding me? Boys are so goddamn stupid sometimes.

Y/N: john b, NO.

seriously, what the fuck is wrong with you?

JB: Woah, why you getting mad at me for?

Y/N: were you not in class today?

JB: Yeah, we all were. Pretty sure the whole school knows about your outburst towards... You know. Your best friend? Who’s coming right now? And will be there in 2 minutes?

You couldn’t even text him back, with how mad you were. Why couldn’t they understand you wanted to be alone? You were clearly upset, and they wouldn’t respect your space. Maybe if you got upstairs before JJ showed up, you could avoid this whole thing--

“Y/N, it’s JJ.”

You sigh and look towards your glass door. JJ is there, hands in pockets and red backwards hat keeping the hair away from his face. He’s looking at you with an unreadable expression. Well, there goes your plan to just hide away from the world.

You don’t move, and remain seated on the couch, crossing your arms and looking down at your feet.

“Can you please come outside?” He says through the screen. His voice is so fragile, as if trying to be careful not to overstep and get you more upset. It makes you want to cry.

“Universe, be with me.” You mumble to yourself as you weakly get up from your spot and make your way to the door. He steps back a bit to give you some space as you step outside. The cool night breeze quickly nips at your bare stomach and arms, as you’re only in a black crop top and jean shorts. You wrap your arms around yourself and force yourself to look up at him.

He purses his lips together before pulling his grey sweatshirt over his head, leaving him only in a white tank top. He holds it out to you.

Your heart swells at him noticing your slight chill, and for a moment you were about to take it from him. Your fingertips barely graze the soft fabric as the scent of his cologne, sea water, and cocoa butter already reaches your nose. But then you remember two nights ago, when you were all hanging out in your backyard by the fire. Kiara was still cold, so JJ gave her his sweater. It was a different one, but still. You won’t be the second choice.

You shake your head and retract your hand to hug yourself tighter, looking out at the road. Anywhere but his eyes.

You hear him sigh, “Just take the sweater, Y/N. I know you’re upset with me, but it’s cold. I can see you shivering.”

“What would Kiara think if she saw me in your sweater?” You surprise yourself.

“What?” He asks, confused. “I… I don’t know. I don’t think it would matter.”

“Yeah,” You scoff, “Of course you don’t.” He’s so oblivious to everything. It must be nice to live in a world of ignorance, not knowing who you’re hurting or what you’re doing wrong.

A few moments of silence go by between you two, so you decide to just start walking to the Chateau. You quickly walk down the steps and onto the side road. JJ catches up with you shortly after, and you two walk side by side.

About halfway there, he breaks the silence once again. “Y/N, please.”

“Please what, JJ?” You mutter, trying to sound uninterested.

“Please tell me what I did.” You notice him looking at you through your peripheral vision but force yourself to keep looking straight ahead. “It’s killing me.”

You bite down on your tongue. It’s hard to believe that he’s so affected by you distancing yourself from him. “Why?” You ask, though it wasn’t really a question. “You have Kiara, you don’t need me.”

He lets out a dry, fed up laugh, “Y/N, I don’t understand! Why do you keep bringing up Kiara when I’m trying to talk about you?”

“It’s so much better with her here, isn’t it?” You quote, voice slightly shaking at the end as you finally look at him.

At first his eyes are blank, searching for meaning behind your words. But after a bit, you see the gears lock in place.

“I--” He starts, “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Do I know that, JJ? Because it sure seems like it. You’re completely obsessed with her. It’s like I don’t exist.” You feel the familiar sting of tears cloud up your vision. “So you should be grateful I’m no longer getting in your way.”

“Grateful? Y/N, did you not hear me? It kills me. Every time you look at me like you don’t want me there, it kills. Every time you push my hand away, it kills. Every time you walk right past me without so much as a glance in my direction, it kills.”

You quickly wipe your eyes. You will not break in front of him. Stay strong, Y/N. Rage over pain. “Yeah, well. Now you know how I’ve felt this whole year.”

“What do you mean?” He asks, raising his voice. “I’ve never treated you the way you’re treating me.”

You halt in your tracks, looking at him with wide eyes. You feel like you’re going to throw up. “Are you fucking kidding me?” You yell. He’s visibly surprised at your outburst. “You haven’t been treating me like shit? Really? You’re gonna say that with your whole chest?”

He starts to shout back at you, “No, I haven’t! Okay, maybe I should have paid more attention to you… Or-- or, or not cancelled so many plans. But I never treated you like I didn’t want you around, I always want you around!”

“Well, you did JJ! You fucking did! You don’t have to roll your eyes at me or push me away to tell me I’m not important to you anymore. Just giving all your energy to someone else says enough. Recently I’ve only been seeing you when the whole gang would hang out, because the rest of the time you’re fucking Kiara!” You scream, voice cracking as you finally let the angry tears escape your eyes.

You turn and start to quicken your pace, but he doesn’t let you go far. You feel his hand grab your arm and pull you back towards him.

“Y/N, seriously! For fucks sake! What the actual fuck are you talking about!?” He shouts, tightening his grip. “I’m not fucking Kiara!”

Your skin burns from the pressure of his fingers digging into your skin, “I bet you wish you were, though.” You grit out, yanking your arm away from him. You feel the pulsing of flesh from where his nails just were.

“Why should it even matter if I was, anyway? It’s not like me and you are together.” He clenches his jaw.

For a moment, you’re at a loss for words. How can you say anything else without giving it away even more that you were hopelessly in love with him? He was right, you weren’t together. If only he knew that was the reason for your pain all along. There was absolutely no way he didn’t at least have an idea that you loved him, after all the fighting and obvious jealousy.

You had nothing to lose.

“Yeah, we aren’t together.” You swallow and brace yourself for the worst possible outcome. “But we could be. Should be.” No going back now. The words left your raw throat and were now spoken out into the universe.

For the first time since you’ve met him, JJ was speechless.

You couldn’t take it anymore, just him staring at you in complete shock. What was he thinking? Did he absolutely hate you for ruining the dynamic between you two? Did he want to turn around and never see you again? Could he… Could he possibly, even a tiny sliver of him, feel the same way?

You decided to put the ball in his court. “Come on, JJ. Don’t act like you didn’t know. Even if it was just a little part of you.”

He remained quiet for a few more seconds before finally opening his mouth. “Y/N…”

“You knew.” You spit out, glaring at him. “I know you did.”

“I… I thought the reason you were mad at me was just because I was neglecting you. I honestly didn’t think it was because you--” He stopped himself, as if trying to find the right words. “Because you liked me.”

You sigh and look down at your hands, twisting your rings around your fingers. “I don’t just like you, JJ.” You truly had no idea why you were being so bold, before you would have sworn on your grave that you would never let him find out. But there’s only so much hurt a person can take before they crumble.

You look up at his apprehensive face. He looks almost… scared. Scared of you saying it and making it real. But you can't protect anyone's feelings anymore, you’ve been doing that too long. You take a deep breath, and look at his doubtful ocean eyes.

“I love you.”

He sucks in a breath, and to your surprise, you see red rimming the whites of his eyes. “Why, Y/N?” He cracks, “Why did you have to say that?”

“Because it’s true,” You weakly confess, tasting tears on your tongue.

“No, no, no. Fuck,” He gasps out and takes off his hat to run his hands through his hair.

“I’m in love with you, JJ.”

“Jesus Christ, Y/N.” He closes his eyes and shakes his head.

“You can’t make me take it back. It’s how I feel.”

“But why-- Fuck, Y/N. Why are you telling me this now?” He asks, a pained tone in his voice.

You frown at him, wondering what he’s getting at, “What do you mean?”

“I mean-- you couldn’t have told me this before?! Like, not even a few months ago?!”

“I don’t… I don’t understand how that would have changed anything.”

“It--” He turns around so that he’s no longer facing you and throws his head into his hands. Then, very quietly that you think you might’ve imagined it, he says, “It would have.”

The slight rustle of trees in the background seem deafening in your ear as you stand watching his back.

Then your whole world falls on you, crushing you deep into the earth’s core and sucking all the life from you.

“But it doesn’t anymore.” JJ says as he turns back to you, eyes red and watery.

“I don’t understand,” You whisper softly, so gentle that you see JJ’s face mould into a painful expression at the sound of it.

He takes a step forward and slowly wipes the tears from under your eyes where they have spilt many times before. Then, he presses his forehead against yours, keeping his hands on your face. “I’m so fucking sorry, Y/N. I’m so sorry.” He murmurs. “I’m sorry that I didn’t realize sooner. I’m sorry that you didn’t tell me when you first felt it.”

You choke on a sob, “I first felt it as soon as I met you, as kids, when you accidentally stepped on my sandcastle.”

“No,” He shakes his head against yours, “No. That’s not when you first felt it. You couldn’t have loved me all that time.”

“Yes, it was.” You retract a bit so that his hands are still on your face, but you’re looking at each other. “I have loved you before I even knew what it was.”

He looks as if he’s restraining himself from saying something. The veins in his neck protrude through his smooth skin.

“What did you mean,” You continue, “when you said it would have changed things if I told you sooner?”

He lets go of you, and you feel like collapsing.

“It doesn’t matter anymore. That’s the problem, Y/N. I…” He looks down, away from your eyes. “I have feelings for Kiara now.”

“N-Now?” Your throat trembles. “What do you mean, ‘now’? You didn’t before?”

He ignores your question. “She kissed me. I was going to ask her to be my girlfriend tonight. It’s… it’s what I was asking you at the beach before you stormed off.”

He doesn’t say anything else as you slowly walk to the Chateau. You don’t say anything either, because you can’t. There’s nothing else for you to say. Your face is frozen in a pained expression, the tears in your eyes stuck in place, neither going away nor spilling. You keep your eyes on the ground beneath your worn out running shoes, hands still rubbing slow circles on your arms.

As you reach the house, before making your way to the backyard where the pogue’s voices were heard, JJ turns toward you. “Y/N--”

“Don’t, JJ.” You quip. “Just don’t say anything else, and neither will I. I promise. I’ll leave it alone.”

He clenches his teeth, and nods once. Then he takes your hand and places his grey sweatshirt into it. “Just take the sweater, Y/N. Please.”

You swallow, feeling the walls of your throat scratch painfully together from trying not to cry. And you nod.

~ ~ ~

It’s half past 11. John B is inside with Sarah, failing miserably at making cookies. JJ and Kiara have snuck off to who-knows-where. You didn’t know where they ran off to, you only knew it was somewhere in the forest behind the house since before they left your sight hand-in-hand, JJ met your eyes with an unreadable look. So now it was just you swaying pathetically in the hammock, staring at the remnants of the dying fire. In a way, you were grateful this awkward night was finally at an end. It was harder than you thought to pretend that the conversation with JJ didn’t happen, and to avoid the looks you two would send each other. You thought for sure that your friends must have noticed, but if they did, they didn’t show it.

As you were wondering what JJ and Kiara were doing, and how John B and Sarah’s cooking was going, you realized you had no idea where Pope was. That was, until you felt someone climb into the hammock beside you.

“Hey.” It was Pope.

You open your tired eyes and manage to smile at him, “Hey, Pope.”

He smiles back and gets more cozy beside you in the hammock. You two just sit listening to the crackling of the fire and the faint sound of Sarah’s laughter from inside the house. The peace is quickly interrupted when you hear the fire alarm go off in the distance.

You and Pope burst out into laughter as you hear John B’s frantic screams and Sarah’s panicked orders.

“They’re a mess,” You giggle.

“Yeah, they are.” Pope agrees. “They’re perfect for each other.”

“So, uh,” You clear your throat, “What happened after I left school today?”

“Well, the class was kinda quiet for a second, but then teach just yelled at us to keep doing our work so… It was forgotten about pretty quickly.”

You nod, thankful that it wasn’t made a big deal. “Thank you for not looking at me like I lost my mind. I know I’ve not been myself recently… or like, the past few months… but still. Everyone just kind of looked at me like I had two heads when I blew up at JJ.”

Pope nudges your arm with his shoulder, “I understand you, that’s why.”

You look at him, “Huh?”

He purses his lips as he contemplates continuing, but he does. “JJ.”

That’s all he says. That’s all he needs to say for you to understand what he means.

You let out a defeated scoff as you play with the sleeves of JJ’s sweatshirt that you were wearing, “Well, apparently everyone knew but him.” You shake your head, trying to rid yourself of the painful thoughts. “How do you understand how I feel, anyway?”

He shifts his gaze towards the forest, a sad look fogging his dark eyes.

And it hits you. All those times you were focused on JJ with Kiara, you forgot to pay attention to Pope, and where he was during all of this.

- -

“Oh shit, sorry Y/N. I told Kie I’d go surfing with her today. Next week though, yeah?” JJ had said. Later that day, you went to get coffee with Pope, who told you that he asked Kiara to study with him, to which she said she had plans.

“Oh-- This is for Kiara. Vodka cran. Can you believe that? So ridiculous.” JJ had said. 10 minutes later, Pope offered Kiara a drink, to which she said she already had one and gestured to the cup in her hand.

“Wow, look at you.” JJ had said. “Shall we, you kook?” Pope had told you he liked your dress, but he was looking at Kiara dancing with JJ. You had told him you liked his suit, but you were looking at JJ dancing with Kiara.

- -

“Kiara,” You say, coming out of your flashbacks. Pope simply nods, looking embarrassed. You let out a sarcastic laugh, “Why does everyone like Kiara?”

He snorts and rebuttals, “Why does everyone like JJ?”

You both chuckle, though it leaves a melancholic tone in the air. You lean your head against his shoulder, to which he returns the gesture and rests his head on top of yours. You try to only focus on your best friend next to you, trying to find comfort in the fact that someone else shares your pain.

As the hammock stills and your breathing levels, you fall asleep holding on to your best friend who you’ve really underestimated all this time.

~ ~ ~

“Ow, what the fuck!?”

You jolt up from the hammock at the sound of Pope’s screech, as he frantically looks around to see who threw an empty beer can at his head. You rub your eyes to adjust to the burning morning sun blaring through the tree leaves, and your blurry vision finally locks onto a tall, lean figure.

As your gaze finally clears, you notice it’s JJ standing over you two. He has another beer can in his hand, and he’s looking at Pope with a clenched jaw.

“Morning,” JJ says dryly and throws another can at Pope. “You two sleep well?”

“Would you stop-- Ow, what the hell man?” Pope flinches and swipes the empty cans onto the grass.

You groan and massage your head at all the commotion. You might’ve drank more than you thought last night in an attempt to numb your feelings. Pope notices, and relaxes his posture a bit as he puts a hand on your back and rubs comfortingly. “Shit, sorry Y/N. You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks Pope,” You kindly smile at him and put your face in his neck to block out the brightness. “Ugh, I’m so fucking tired.”

“Why don’t I take you home then.” JJ quickly says and steps towards you guys. He grabs your chin and pulls you to face him and off of Pope.

“JJ, stop!” You hiss as a sharp pain shoots from your head down to your stomach. You feel like you’ll throw up if you move too much.

“Yeah, man. Just let her relax,” Pope agrees and soothingly pats your hair. “You’re hurting her.”

As you get settled against Pope again, you mumble, “Yeah, he does that a lot.”

Pope awkwardly presses his lips into a line at your comment and looks at JJ for a split second -- who swallows and looks down -- before lying down against you again.

“Seriously, Y/N.” JJ sighs and gently presses his fingers against your arm. “You’ll feel better if you sleep in your own bed.”

“What’s the problem, JJ? She’s fallen asleep here many times before, most of the time with you.” Pope mumbles and puts his hat over his head to cover his eyes from the sun.

“What time is it, anyways?” You ask as you weakly reach for your phone in your short pockets. The dim screen reads 6:47 am. You groan, “Are you fucked, JJ? It’s not even 7 am and you’re waking us up? It’s fucking Saturday.” When he doesn’t say anything, you continue, “Besides, where’s Kiara?” You feel Pope stiffen beside you.

You hear JJ shuffle his feet as he stands. “Uh… She’s--”

“I’m disappointed, guys.” Kiara’s voice is heard coming into earshot. “Empty beer cans in the grass? Have I taught you nothing?”

You don’t even bother to say anything back, and instead turn your whole body completely over so that you are fully facing Pope. As if thinking the same thing, Pope turns as well and throws his arm around you both, providing ultimate protection from the brightness -- and the two people who broke each of your hearts.

You sense Kiara picking up the cans, and she says, “Oh wow, look at them.” She laughs, “What happened last night guys…?” She asks suspiciously, yet a playful tone is tinged on her lips.

You decide to play along with her suspicions, “Wouldn’t you like to know.” You say against Pope’s shirt. He chuckles and whispers ‘nice’ in your ear so low that you know no one else heard it.

“What did he say?” JJ asks, sounding irritated. When Kiara says she didn’t hear, he asks again, “Pope, what did you say? Y/N?”

“He said he wants you to go away,” You lie. Pope snorts.

“We’re trying to sleep,” He adds.

“Okay, J. I need you to drive me home,” Kiara says.

“J? Is it that hard for you to say an extra letter?” You sarcastically quip, earning yet another laugh from Pope.

“Uh… Okay…” Kiara says in a confused tone. “Don’t know what that was.”

“Y/N,” JJ begins.

“Seriously J, let’s go, my parents are gonna kill me.” Kiara continues.

“Yea, J. You’ve got somewhere to be,” Pope says.

“Shut up, Pope,” JJ snaps. “Y/N, meet me at the country club after my shift at 5 tonight, yeah?”

You throw your free arm around Pope. “Can’t. Me and Pope have plans.”

“Okay, bye guys.” Kiara says, and no more is heard from either of them.

After a few moments of just listening to the morning ocean waves and chirping birds, Pope slightly lifts his head. “Are they gone?”

“I think so,” You inquire and sit up as well. As you both sit up from your position on the hammock and notice it was indeed just you two, you breathe out and rub your temples. “Jesus. Do you have any idea what the actual fuck that was?”

Pope sighs and gets up, stretching. “No idea. JJ was acting weird as hell. Why did he… throw freaking beer cans at me to wake me up? And only me, not you?”

“Fuck if I know,” You let out a puff of air through your cheeks, “Why were they up before 7 in the morning anyways?”

“Yeah I know, and the fact that he wanted you to leave so badly.” He pauses. “Could that… maybe mean something, do you think?”

You quickly shake your head, “Pope, don’t even try to give me false hope. The little gestures he does never mean anything. Like, he still kisses me on the cheek for fucks sake.”

“Still? From when you were, like, 10 years old?” Pope asks, and you nod, throwing your arms up in defeat. He continues, “Well, if he really asked Kiara to be his girlfriend last night, it’d be weird if he still did that, right?”

“I guess so…” You chew your lip. “Whatever, I don’t wanna talk about it. So, what are our plans?”

“Oh right,” Pope laughs. “I forgot for a second that we were ‘busy’ tonight. How about the new book store that just opened?”

“Sounds perfect,” You grin, and intertwine your arm with his as you walk back to the Chateau to get some breakfast. You would have no idea what to do if you didn’t have Pope with you, standing by your side throughout it all.

~ ~ ~

The next month goes by more or less the same way. John B and Sarah completely in love and oblivious to it all, JJ and Kiara kind-of together (you weren’t exactly sure what was going on there), and you and Pope spending most of the time that the gang wasn’t hanging out with each other, since you were the only ones who understood one another. It provided a good distraction from the pain. For instance, every time you saw Kiara grab onto JJ’s hand and you felt that emptiness in your chest, you looked at Pope, who understandably smiled at you. The same pain was evident in his eyes, and you were reminded that you were going to watch a crime documentary with him later on. That’s how you both held on. Distractions and friendship.

There were so many nights that ended with you crying in Pope’s arms, the movie playing quietly in the background. Or Pope falling asleep in your lap after hours of venting to you about his feelings toward Kiara. Or silent coffee runs where you would just sit in each other's pain. But it was at least a bit better than before. At least you both had someone to help with the aches, to hold your hand or hug you when you needed to be loved.

You didn’t believe that the pain would ever go away, that you would ever heal. Not as long as JJ wasn’t yours. But at least you had something to hold on to.

One night, in the middle of June, you and Pope were sitting on the beach. You guys were in a special spot that he didn’t know about. Around the rocks, on the right side by the hill, there was a patch of sand that led to an opening on the beach. A perfect spot for anything... surfing, swimming, or even chilling on the sand. It was completely hidden from the rest of the world, like it’s own enclosure. You guys decided to hang out after you overheard Kiara talking about bringing JJ by The Wreck to ‘officially’ meet her parents.

“Why didn’t we ever come here before? It’s so nice.” Pope says, leaning back on his arms.

You look out into the ocean, admiring the moon’s reflection on the still water. You shrugged, “It was me and JJ’s spot. We found it when we were 12 years old, never showed anyone.”

You close your eyes to prevent tears from forming as you remember all your favourite memories that took place here.

- -

12 years old. You accidentally fell off a rock while climbing. You closed your eyes, expecting to crack your skull, but luckily landed on a soft surface. “Y/N! Oh my god oh my god oh my god…” You hear young JJ’s frantic voice call after you from the other side. You rub your lower back and groan, “Here, JJ! Behind the twisty rocks! I’m okay!” Soon, JJ’s 12 year old head popped up from behind the rocks, a worried expression on his face, and you smiled at him. “Woah,” he had said, “You found the most perfect place ever. I can hide my dad’s weed here!” You rolled your eyes, “JJ!” He climbed over and joined you in the patch. “What? For when we’re older, stupid.”

13 years old. First time he told you about his dad. You tried to hug him, but he brushed you off and said he was fine. When he noticed you got a little sad at his action, he kissed your cheek -- like he always did -- and said, “Thanks, Y/N. I got you for life, remember that. I won’t ever let anyone do to you what my dad does to me.”

14 years old. He was finishing his second joint of the day, and decided to try and go surfing. You could see his bruised knuckles gripping his board from when he punched Topper Thornton in the face because he called you trash. “JJ, no. You’re not going surfing while high. You can’t even walk in a straight line. We only started smoking this year, we’re not used to it yet.” But he only ruffled your hair and ran towards the water, almost tripping on his feet. You weren’t that good at surfing yet, let alone at night and under influence, so you decided to watch from the shore. After a while, you noticed you couldn’t see him anymore, and this spot was a completely different section from the rest of the beach, hidden behind rocks and hills. No one could see or help if he didn’t come back. You started to cry and call out for him, screaming bloody murder into the night. After a few minutes, you ran into the water to get help, completely getting all your clothes wet, your badly done eyeliner smudging down your eyes. Suddenly, you felt someone grab your arm. You screamed, and were met with a hysterically laughing JJ. “Holy shit! Did you see that!? That was fucking awesome!” You let out a choked sob and hugged him tightly, the angry night waves kicking harshly against your legs. “Woah, Y/N, why are you crying? I’m fine, I just fell off the board.” But he hugged you back. “I’m right here. It’s okay.”

15 years old. You had recently been feeling all sorts of new… emotions and sensations. Ones that you didn’t understand yet. Like what that weird feeling in your stomach was when JJ would put his hand on your thigh. Or why you had to squeeze your legs together when he whispered in your ear. Or why, right now, you sat up straight in the sand and held your breath as he laid his head in your lap. You tried not to look at his shirtless body that was lying down literally on top of you. It was now sculpting into something different than it had been all the other years you’d known him, and you’d definitely noticed. You wondered if he noticed your body blossoming as well, how your chest was filling into its shape, and your curves got more accentuated. You wondered if he felt the same way when you touched him. As all these thoughts churned in your mind, you started to run your fingers through his hair and continue reading your book to stop your mind from thinking, but after less than a minute, his eyes shot open as he lifted his head off your thighs and hunched over. “Uh--” He had started, standing up quickly and walking towards the water, keeping his back turned on you and arms in front of him, “I’m gonna go for a quick swim.” You sat there for 10 minutes wondering what happened until he came back. “I’m just gonna… sit here for now.” He sat about an arms length away from you, giving you a weird smile and sitting in an awkward position.

16 years old. You two jumped off the rocks and ran into the patch, holding hands and laughing. He helped you off the last of the rocks by grabbing your waist and catching you from your mini-fall. You heard the kooks calling after you from the other side, but you lost them. No one could find this spot unless they knew where to go. “I can’t believe we just did that,” You laughed, resting your hands on your knees and trying to catch your breath. “Those fucking kooks deserved it, it’s not like they use it anyways, it‘s just sitting there collecting dust in their storage container. It’s a tragedy. I’m so proud of you.” He cheered as you handed him the keys you stole from Sarah Cameron’s beach bag. You heard Rafe’s voice in the distance yelling that he was going to kill you both, and you just laughed harder. “I’m finally gonna know what it’s like to drive that beauty of a boat.” He said and pulled you towards him, spinning you in a circle. “To going full kook, baby girl!” He shouted in bliss, laughing. “To going full kook!”

17 years old. A couple months after Kiara had fully joined the friend group. You two were sitting on your surfboards in the water, talking about anything and everything as the sun began to set. As you watched the orange and pink skies turn the water into a deeper navy, you noticed him staring at you. “We haven’t been here much lately,” He said, “It used to be our go-to spot”. You looked at him, how the golden hour poured beautifully onto his skin, illuminating the blue of his eyes. “It’s not going anywhere.” You said in return. He dipped his hand into the water and splashed you. “I’m serious, Y/N. I miss this.” He jumped off his board and swam over to you. He placed his hands on your board at either side of your hips and pulled himself up between your legs, smiling at you. “Don’t forget about this spot, ever. And don’t show anyone else. This is only ours.” You bit the inside of your cheek, feeling very nervous as his nose brushed yours. “I won’t.” You said. He pressed his nose against yours, “Promise?” You chuckled and pushed him back into the water. When he emerged from the dark water, laughing, you smiled softly at him and held out your pinky. He interlocked his own, and you said, “Promise.”

- -

Now you are both 18 years old, and you haven’t been here once. Instead, you were here with Pope. Guilt immediately consumed you as soon as you remembered that last memory. You had promised him that you would show no one else this spot, and here you are. With someone that isn’t him.

“It’s fine. He probably took Kiara here a million times already,” Pope says, as if he could read your mind. “Besides, I’m glad we’re here. I had to leave the Chateau as soon as I saw them looking like they were about to makeout.”

You close your eyes and slightly shake your head, as if to brush the image out of your mind. Then suddenly, you say, “We should kiss.”

Pope looks at you with wide eyes, “What?”

You laugh, “Relax. It’s just for fun. Everyone else is going around and kissing each other, so why can’t we?”

He smiles at you and wipes some sand off his legs. “True, I guess there’s no problem with that. Except for the fact that we’ll still be in pain.” He laughs, sadly.

“Yeah well, beggars can’t be choosers.” You grin and turn towards him as he does the same. You robotically place both hands on the side of his face, and he mimics your action on your waist. You both struggle to keep in your laughter as you lean in. “Okay, how ‘bout this?” You say, “I pretend you’re JJ, and you pretend I’m Kiara.”

Pope lets out a laugh and says, “Deal.”

And then you were pressing your lips against his. You didn’t move or anything, just simply lingering on each other’s mouths. You tried to envision JJ, but you couldn’t. No matter how hard you tried to distract yourself, all you could think about was the fact that you were here kissing someone who wasn’t him, in the spot that was supposed to be only for you two. You felt some salt on your lips between you and Pope, and you honestly weren’t sure who it belonged to.

You are about to pull away and talk about how stupid this was, when a certain voice chills your blood to ice.

“Y/N? What the fuck?”

You whip around and get to your feet quickly, heart practically pounding out of your ribcage. “JJ,” You breathe, quickly wiping your eyes with the back of your hand. Within seconds, Pope is up by your side as well.

“Are you--” The clouds fold over in the sky and open up a space for the moon to shine through, landing on his perfect face. “Are you fucking serious?”

His voice was trembling and his fists were clenched tightly by his sides.

“JJ, what are you doing here?” You ask, moving your hair away from your wet face.

“What do you mean ‘what am I doing here?’ What the fuck is he doing here?!” He yells, throwing out an arm to gesture to Pope.

“He--” You start.

“This is our spot! That we’ve had since we were 12 fucking years old! Or have you been too busy with Pope to remember?” You could have sworn he was crying. If he was, he was very good at hiding it. “And not only do you bring someone else here, but you kiss him too?”

You straighten your back as if you are about to break. “Why should it matter? If I bring someone or kiss them, why does it fucking matter anymore, JJ?!”

He makes his way over to you, looking so angry. He is standing right in front of you, so close you could feel his hot breath on your face.

You don’t let him get another word in yet, “Don’t act like you haven’t brought your girlfriend here before!”

“I don’t have a fucking girlfriend!” He yells in your face. “Even if I did, I would never bring her here, or anyone else!”

Both you and Pope stiffen, and you subtly look at each other. He looks just as confused as you.

“But… But you and Kiara--”

“We’re not together! And you would know that if you actually still came here!”

“What do you mean?!” You shout back, head pounding. “You don’t make any sense!”

He angrily runs his hands over his face, and you could practically see the frustration oozing out of him. “I’ve been coming here every day, Y/N! Every fucking day since our fight last month. And you haven’t showed once.”

“You asshole! That’s not fair!” You push his chest, but he only stumbles back slightly. “How was I supposed to know that?! You were always with Kiara!”

He scoffs, dryly. “Bullshit. If you weren’t too busy always running off with Pope, you’d see how desperate I was to speak to you.”

“And if you weren’t that much of a pussy and actually told me that you wanted to talk--”

“And if you just told me how you felt about me before all this shit happened then--”

“Oh, fuck you!” You scream, pushing him once again, this time much harder so that he actually has to stop himself from falling. Pope tries to grab your hand to calm you down, but you pull away from him. “Fuck you! Do you know how fucking scared I was that you didn’t feel the same way? Every girl that looks in your direction, you make it known that you’re attracted to her. And then when Kiara came around, it was only about her for so long!”

“That’s not true!” JJ’s voice strains as he breathes heavily. “It was always about you!”

You let out a barked laugh, “Oh, please. In what fucking world was it ever about me?”

“In every world! In my world!” He yells, but his angry expression softens.

“Well,” You pause, collecting yourself. “Not in mine.”

You had nothing else to say. You wish you could jump in the ocean and never come back. To stay in the nothingness forever. But you can’t. So all you did was tear your gaze away from the blond boy and your shocked best friend, and climb onto the rocks and back to the other side, leaving them both alone in the spot that used to only harbour precious, secret memories.

~ ~ ~

You don’t know how long it’s been that you’ve locked yourself in your house, not talking to anyone. A couple days? Maybe a week? You didn’t really care. The last thing you wanted was to face everyone, especially JJ. You’ve shut your phone off a long time ago, so you had no idea what was even going on with the outside world.

You just woke up from a nap. You usually fall asleep after crying. Your eyes still felt raw, but you squinted through the blurriness to read the time on the kitchen stove. 2:33 am. God, you really needed to stop falling asleep on the couch. You get up and make your way to your fridge to pour yourself a glass of water in hopes of finding some relief for your burning throat.

You take a few sips, the cool liquid soothing your inflamed walls as you swallow. You have a slight pulsing lingering in your temples, and you lean back against your counter as you try and focus on your breathing. A few still moments go by, and you’re grateful for some peace.

There’s knocking at your door.

You jump, slamming the cup down on the counter and reaching towards one of the drawers for a knife. You grab the first one you can find -- a butter knife -- and slowly walk to your living room. As you peek your head around the corner, you warily ask loudly, “Hello?”

“Y/N.”

“Oh, Jesus Christ.” You let out a breath of air and place a hand on your chest as you drop the knife on the coffee table. “JJ. What do you want?”

Your eyes adjust to the darkness as you walk closer. You see his silhouette, but not his face.

“Can you please open the door?” He weakly asks.

You feel anger bubbling up inside you once again, and as you swing open the door in rage you say, “Why don’t you show up on Kiara’s doorstep at 3 in fucking morn--!?” Your words are quickly cut off as soon as the door fully opens and you look at him.

There he is. Though he is taller and much stronger than you, he appears so small and fragile as he stands with his hands shoved into his sweatpant pockets. And his face… he is looking down at the ground, but you can see him covered in blood and bruises.

“I don’t want Kiara,” he says softly, wincing at the pain.

“Oh, JJ.” You whimper and quickly pull him inside your house, leading him all the way to your bathroom. You motion for him to sit on the counter next to the sink as you pull out your first aid kit from behind your mirror.

You stand between his legs as you get to work. You’ve done this so many times before, you can’t even keep count. The first time you cleaned him up after his dad hurt him was when you were both 13 years old. He always hated it, he hated relying on others or seeming like a burden. But you hated seeing him in pain even more. He could never be a burden to you. Since then, it was basically a given that he would come to you whenever he needed help.

He hasn’t come to you with this during the past year, which would frequently get you worried. But since you thought we was with Kiara, you just assumed she was the one who was helping him.

After a while, you just had to finish cleansing his cuts and bandage what was needed. “You okay?” You whisper to him, gently feeling around his chest and stomach for any painful points.

He slightly shakes his head. “I don’t want Kiara,” He repeats himself from earlier, just above a whisper. You don’t say anything, too unsure of what direction to approach this from. But you don’t have to, because after a few seconds of just staring at each other, JJ bursts out into a broken sob as he grabs your waist, pulling you into him and burying his face into your neck.

You immediately hug him back, wrapping one arm around his shoulders and burying the other in his hair.

You allow him to softly cry into your shirt for as long as he needs, just holding him and soothingly rubbing his back. Eventually he pulls away and leans his forehead against your collar bone. “I can’t do this anymore, Y/N. I can’t keep doing this.”

“Doing what?” You ask, running your fingers over his arms.

“What we’ve been doing. Ignoring each other, snapping at each other, acting so distant and cold. I can’t anymore.” He sniffs and fully lifts up from you. Looking at his hurt face makes you want to cry, but you won’t. You’ll stay strong for him. “I miss you. I miss you so fucking much. This past year has been hell for me, let alone this last month. Do you understand, Y/N? Do you understand that all I think about is you?”

You nod, and allow him to keep talking.

“And when I saw you kissing Pope in -- in our spot. The one we promised each other would be only ours--”

“JJ,” You swallow, “I am so fucking sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking, I truly don’t. I guess I just let my anger and pain take over me, and I assumed the worst of you. I don’t know how to ever tell you how fucking sorry I am. But I can tell you this -- nothing is going on between me and Pope. Like, at all. All this time that we’ve been spending together was just to distract ourselves from watching the people we want be in love with someone else.”

He takes both of your hands into his before bringing them to his lips, kissing your knuckles softly as he closes his eyes. “I’m not in love with anyone else.”

You slowly breathe in as his raw eyes lock into yours. “JJ… Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.”

“No, Y/N. I do fucking mean it. I’ve never been so sure about anything in my entire life. I didn’t even need this last month to prove it.”

“But I don’t understand,” You shake your head as a couple tears escape from your waterline. “What about everything with Kiara… You said it was too late and that you had feelings for her.”

JJ stands up from the counter and steps into you, gripping your hips as his damp forehead presses up against yours. “I was lying. I was fucking lying, to myself, to her, and to you. I ended things with her a while ago, but she kept wanting to try. You heard what I was saying, about why you didn’t tell me before and shit… It’s because I love you too, Y/N. I’ve loved you for so fucking long, but never said anything because I never would have guessed that you felt the same. So I distracted myself with other girls and-- and Kiara. And when you confessed to me, I wanted to so badly hold you in my arms and never let go, to tell you that this was all I wanted. But I have been trying for so long to get over you, and I thought I might have even done it. I was scared to throw it away and give myself to you, in case you were wrong about how you felt. Because I-- I thought for sure that you would never love me back, so I tried to convince myself that I could maybe love someone else. Not ever like how I love you, but… maybe enough so that I could forget you.”

He reaches one hand up to wipe your teary under eyes before resting his thumb gently over your bottom lip. “How stupid of me,” He mumbles against your mouth, “to think that I could I ever forget you?” His thumb drags slightly across your lip. “My sweet girl…”

You grab the back of his neck and push your mouth roughly against his. For a second you taste blood and forget about his busted lip, but he doesn’t seem to mind as he kisses you back with just as much passion. You kiss him with all the hunger you’ve kept inside you for years, and he reciprocates the exact same energy.

You kiss him until you’re sure you’ve developed your own busted lip, and you pull apart, breathless. He smiles into your mouth and presses one more wet kiss against your bruised mouth before pulling away himself.

“Okay,” You weakly say, feeling tingly all over. “New promise.”

“Anything,” JJ says, leaning forward to press soft kisses along your jawline.

“We are never -- And I mean never --- doing that stupid shit again. From now on, we’re honest with each other about everything. 100% of the time.” You say, trying not to sigh at the feeling of his teeth on your flesh.

He pulls his head back up and kisses you again, “I promise. And something else too -- I promise to love you completely and fully. I promise to never make you feel that insecure again.”

“I promise, too.” You whisper, “I love you.”

He shakes his head as if he can’t believe what he is hearing, a stupid grin playing at his mouth. “I love you so fucking much.” He wraps his arms around you, pulling you into his chest. “Even if you think a butter knife is a suitable weapon for an intruder.”

You laugh into his neck, “Shut up.”

“Kiss me.” He says into your ear.

And you do, until you can’t anymore. Until you can’t take the building tension and you’re coming undone beneath him as he presses you into your bed, making you feel all the things you’ve only dreamed of since you’ve known him. Until he’s falling asleep on your naked chest, your arms holding him close. Until you know you can finally say he’s yours, and you are his.

[obx-adventures]

Only love can hurt like this

Part 2 of 2

Summary: your heart gets shuttered when your lifelong best friend, your forever protector, your JJ betrays you in the worst possible way.

Pairing: JJ Maybank x reader

Warnings: cursing

“Fuck!” JJ’s frustrated scream echoed in the dark street.

A few people that chose to hang outdoors lingering nearby turned around to look at him, quizzical and slightly shocked expressions on their faces. A glare from JJ was all it took for the tipsy teenagers to turn on their heels and start heading towards the house, quiet giggles leaving a girl’s mouth as they walked away.

JJ didn’t have time to care. Not right now.

His hands came up to pull at his hair as panicked pants left his lips, and he felt anxiety consuming his whole being. One hand abandoned his hair to clutch the fabric covering his chest.

The too fresh memory of your beautiful face painted with nothing but betrayal on it was all it took for him to scream out again, “Fuck, fuck!”

It pained him to even think about the expression on your face, to think about the way your glistening eyes had looked away, heartbreak clear in them as you tried to fight back the tears. But what pained him even more was the thought of what you would be thinking about him. He had been there every time she had made you cry, bringing a smile back on your face every time she had stolen it. He knew what you had gone through because of her, and it was destroying him to even think about the way you would be feeling after seeing them like that.

What if you never wanted him back?

“JJ!” Kie’s voice suddenly called.

He lifted his gaze to be met with the pogues running to him, worried expressions on their faces.

“What the hell just happened?” Sarah voiced out confusedly as they reached him.

JJ groaned and threw his head back, hands returning to pull at his hair.

“Fucking Cassie William is what happened.” Kie answered quickly.

She moved to get closer to JJ, a hand barely lifting to place itself in a comforting touch on his shoulder when she was interrupted by a girl’s voice sounding behind them.

“Ouch, that was mean.”

They all turned around just to be faced by none other than Cassie Williams walking shamelessly towards them, coming from the direction of the house. Apparently she too had decided to chase the two outside, except the glad smirk on her face was a stark contrast to the concerned frowns the pogues sported.

It took barely two seconds for JJ to get to her, pointing finger accusing her as his previously stressed features contorted in an angered one at the sight of her.

“Why the fuck would you do that?” He screamed at her.

Cassie’s confident façade stuttered for an instant, before she put it right back on and took a small step back.

“Why? You didn’t like that?” She asked, as serious as ever.

Kie wore her infamous what the fuck look and a small gasp left Sarah’s mouth as she seemingly began connecting the dots.

“JJ, what did you do?” Pope intervened flatly, eyebrows raised.

“Nothing! I didn’t do anything!” He screamed again, turning around to look at his friends again.

They had gathered behind him and the girl, anxious to find out what had happened.

“Uh, extremely confused over here.” John B spoke up.

“When are you ever not confused?” Kie remarked with an irritated edge in her tone.

“Shut up!” Pope shushed them, just wanting to understand why his friend stormed off less than ten minutes ago.

“JJ…” Cassie’s voice silenced them all, a strained tone in her words.

He turned around again to find her already looking at him with an almost desperate hint in her expression.

“I thought you’d want that.” She spoke when he returned his attention to her.

JJ grew confused as Cassie’s tone turned more serious every time she spoke.

It was his turn to take a small step back, his head slowly putting the pieces together as she desperately searched for his eyes.

“What?” He whispered.

She took one closer to him, and Kie was quick to come stand in between the two, an infuriated expression on her.

“You fucking psycho.” She interjected, narrowing her eyes at her.

Cassie mirrored her, growing irritated at the fact she was interfering with her and JJ’s conversation.

“Somebody please explain what is going on?” Pope asked again, tone a bit alarmed as his eyes widened at the scene unfolding in front of them.

“She kissed him, that’s what’s going on.” Kie answered, her eyes never leaving Cassie’s, “I was coming out of the bathroom when I saw her literally throw herself at JJ. Of course Y/N happened to walk in on them, except she didn’t stay long enough to see J push her off of him.”

The ache in JJ’s chest slightly decreased at knowing that Kie had seen it all. That it wasn’t his fault. That she could tell you it wasn’t like it had seemed.

Sarah breathed out a small “What the actual fuck?” turning to look at Cassie.

She just stood there, eyes never leaving JJ, an almost hopeful glint in them as she waited for him to say something. But he didn’t, instead trying to shook the disbelief off his face while the pieces started to fit together.

So she retaliated Kie’s statement instead.

“I wouldn’t put it like that.”

This time, JJ couldn’t control himself, his anger. He gently pushed past Kie to stand directly in front of her again.

“Why the hell did you do it?” He inquired angrily.

She tilted her head slightly, narrowing her eyes.

“Because I like you.”

“Woah.” John B breathed, widening his eyes.

JJ knew right then his theories were correct. And anger was all that flooded through his veins right in that moment. Not compassion, not surprise, just pure anger.

“So what? You ruin her whole fucking life because of a stupid crush you have on me?” He raised his voice, his arms in the air as he shouted.

Cassie blinked a couple of times, her confident attitude starting to falter.

“I don’t have a crush on you. I’ve been in love with you ever since we were eight.” She suddenly shot back, frustration clear on her face, “Why else would I do that?”

Kie scoffed behind JJ, the pogues immediately understanding every thing out as well now. The reasons behind her behavior towards you, everything.

“You’re insane.” She laughed in disbelief.

“Fuck off, Kiara.” Cassie’s eyes left JJ to look at her.

She shouldn’t have done that. Kie was already fuming from seeing her best friend crying because of her, now all she wanted to do was rip her hair out.

For years she had tortured Y/N, and looking back at it now it all made sense. Of course she would be in love with JJ, her hate towards her best friend had always been so random that they had all been confused as to why she would ever randomly start bullying the girl and decide to keep it going for all this time. She had bullied you all those years because you were the one standing by JJ’s side, the one he would give all of his attention to. It was just pure, mere jealousy.

“Bitch.” Kiara let out before she literally threw herself at the girl.

Thankfully, JJ still stood in between the two of them. His left arm raised to put itself in front of Kie, stopping her from assaulting the other girl. His arm blocked her, pushing on her stomach as she fought to dive forward. He turned his back on Cassie to fully manage her, his hands on her shoulders to keep her back. She had managed to slap her, her own arms free before the John B and Pope ran to grab her. She struggled against their tight grip as John B’s arms wrapped around her and carried her a couple of steps back, Pope in front of her trying to calm her down. Sarah was quick to help too, but nothing seemed to calm her down.

JJ let out heavy breaths, agitated by the sudden outburst from Kie.

“It’s okay, Kie.” He told her quietly, locking eyes with her.

He didn’t look at her long enough to get her answer, turning around to face Cassie again as the pogues’ silent pleas to Kie to stop distracted them and gave him time to speak to her alone as he spoke his next and last words to her in a whisper.

“I don’t know what you thought you were doing.” He whispered, “But you can’t just take her away from me. You knew how much she means to me, everyone does, and you still did that.”

“But JJ-“

“That what you call love?” He shook his head, disappointed, “How could you even think I would ever look your way?”

“JJ, I just wanted you to realize that we could have all of that and more.” She weakly told him, and she looked so desperate JJ couldn’t believe he had never realized the feelings she had for him.

“I’d never do anything to hurt her. I love her.” He breathed out.

It took everything in him to admit it to someone else — out loud even, for the first time since he had last confessed it to John B two years ago. But it knew it was necessary to tell her that you were the one for him if he wanted her to leave you alone.

“I know.” She said, taking a small step back.

Her eyes showed nothing but heartbreak, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad. Not even a little bit. All these years of her bringing down his best friend flooded his mind, your pretty face ruined by the constant frown and tears whenever Cassie would make a snarky comment about you in front of everyone was impressed in it and it was all he could think about in that moment. He knew it was wrong, that he should’ve felt bad, he he couldn’t. She didn’t deserve to suffer, he knew that, but in his heart he knew that she brought this on herself.

“And I want you to stay away from her. From us.” His voice was sharper now, not feeling an ounce of pity towards the girl who had mentally destroyed the girl he loved since she was just a child.

The pogues had grown quiet, their attention now on the two of them again. Kie had seemingly calmed down, and she was out of John B’s grip right now.

Cassie merely nodded, looking at him defeatedly. Her glossy eyes finally let the first tear fall, then another, and another, until it was a stream of tears cascading down her cheeks.

JJ looked away, not standing to see her cry. It all seemed so hypocritical of her to be crying over him when all she had ever done was make his Y/N cry. He wanted to scream at her again, a deep urge to push her and fucking tell her to stop surged in him; but he would never do that to a girl, even if it was Cassie Williams. It just wasn’t JJ, and as much as he wanted to humiliate her, to get back at her for what she had done, his heart just wasn’t like that. JJ’s heart was pure, and loving, and it didn’t seem right for him to scream at her when his words had already shuttered her heart. Even if she deserved it.

So instead, he left silently. Never turning to look back at her.

The pogues quickly followed, surprisingly not shooting her one more glance nor saying anything to her — Kie’s lack of fiery jab directed to her especially coming as something unexpected.

“You need a ride to Y/N’s?” John B asked him, squeezing his shoulder compassionately.

They had agreed during their short path to the cars that the boys would give JJ a ride to your house, meanwhile the girls would go to the Chateau and start a bonfire up. JJ had barely spoken at all.

They reached the Twinkie, him getting in with John B and Pope as Kie and Sarah got in Sarah’s car.

The ride was pretty silent, neither of his friends wanting to make things worse. They knew when it came to you JJ was the most serious he’d ever be.

JJ’s heartbeat began racing again as they neared your house, his lungs suddenly being drowned by panic again at the thought of confronting you.

“Good luck, buddy.” John B gave him a sympathetic path on the shoulder before he got off the wrecked, old van.

He just forced a tight, almost non existent smile back before walking to your front door, and the sound of the Twinkie’s wheels on the road as it drove away did nothing to ease his nerves.

He quickly got the spare keys from under the rocks sitting in a vase on the left of your front door, specifically placed there for him. He didn’t bother knocking, seeing as you wouldn’t let him in — he knew that much, and that was your parents would be working tonight. They worked night shifts most of the time, a thing that had been weighing on you ever since they had started to when you turned thirteen, deciding it would be a good age for you to be able to start looking after yourself — the fact that JJ was always around helped a lot too. You were grateful for what they did, you truly were, but sometimes you missed them. They would come home in the morning, sleep for a few hours, before starting their day shifts they picked up to earn extra money and coming home late afternoon, just to sleep, eat and start the cycle again. They would sometimes alternate so that one was home when the other wasn’t, and sometimes they wouldn’t. You knew it was hard, and that they did that to give you a future, but you couldn’t help sometimes but to miss them a little bit.

He opened the door and walked in, heart beating wildly against his ribcage.

Please let her forgive me.

He thought as he entered your room.

But you weren’t there. He looked everywhere, even the small bathroom connected to your room. Empty.

“Y/N?” He called out.

His boots sounded against the wooden floor as he walked to your parents’ room, silently praying you were in there although he already knew you wouldn’t be.

Empty.

The kitchen and the living room were too — although he already knew you weren’t in the last one, he had walked in through it to begin with, but it wouldn’t hurt to double check.

He let out a frustrated breath, hands pulling at his hair as they often did when he was stressed as a groan came deep from his chest. His eyes were shut as he thought about where you could be, worry filling him at the thought of you driving while in that condition.

What if something had happened to you?

Then his mind suddenly cleared, it was like a spotlight illuminated a certain thought buried deep in his mind. The idea pushed all of his worries aside as he quickly got out of the house. He shut off the door behind him and began running.

Your house was situated near the beach, it sat on the other side of the road that separated it from the sand, the beach extending in all its beauty right after that. It was your favorite spot.

Everything felt better now that the salted ocean air was filling your lungs, you took deep breaths to enjoy the fresh oxygen at its fullest. You sighed, the warm breeze caressing your face, as your hands dig in the sand. You sat at your usual spot, eyes looking at the crashing waves as though you were waiting for something.

And you were.

You heard the footsteps before he spoke up, you heard him approaching you. And he knew you had.

He didn’t say anything. He just sat down beside you, not a single sound as he too stared off at the dark ocean in front of you.

You felt your breathe stutter, having to close your eyes to not let anymore tears fall.

You couldn’t stand being in his presence, not when his lips had been pressed on hers just less than an hour ago. You couldn’t stand his intoxicating scent, his intoxicating presence. His mere presence was enough to make your heart beat faster until it was thrumming against your ribcage trying to break free from its cage. It was as though your whole body reacted to his being so near you, you felt your whole being crumble under his crushing presence as you shivered.

“I hate you.” You whispered softly, hugging your knees tighter.

JJ stopped breathing. It made his heart crack, to hear you say those words to him.

But you didn’t mean it, because you didn’t know what had really happened. He reassured his self with this thought over and over again, shifting his gaze to you.

But then you broke out sobbing, pressing your forehead to your knees so that your face would be hidden, not wanting him to see you fall down in pieces.

That, JJ couldn’t handle.

Forget his heart cracking. The little crack in it had fucking tore his heart open. It actually broke.

His arms were around you in a matter of seconds, coming closer to you. He held you in between his arms as you sobbed, resting his chin on your head.

“Why did you do that to me?” You broke down.

He had wanted to wait for you to calm down, but he couldn’t anymore. Not when you were crying like this, not when the sound of it was making him feel things he had never wished to feel. This was his fault, he felt his chest tighten as another sob left your swollen lips.

“But I didn’t, baby.” His low tone sounded.

You freezed for an instant, but didn’t move to look at him. You wondered if this was a joke to him.

“What?”

He sighed deeply, wanting nothing more than to look at those beautiful, beautiful eyes of yours.

“She kissed me. Like, out of the blue. She just said something to me, and when I didn’t get it and asked her what she’d said, she threw herself at me. All of a sudden.” He explained softly, an hand coming up to caress your hair, “I swear to God, Y/N. You didn’t se me pushing her off of me.”

You considered it for a moment, but you couldn’t bring yourself to trust them. Not because of JJ, but because of Cassie. She had always ruined everything you had, so it didn’t seem like something crazy for her to seduce JJ to get back at you, purely because you had him, because she wanted do destroy that. She’d done that with Dean too, she simply enjoyed taking everything away from you.

“Stop, JJ…” you sniffled.

You pushed gently against his arms, breaking free from his grip to get some distance between you two so you could finally look at him.

His breath got caught in his throat when he finally looked into your eyes. The last time he had, was at the party and it was brief, you’d been quick to escape the situation and never look back at him. Now, looking into your bloodshot eyes to see them so hurt, seeing your pretty face crying because of him made the pain in his chest return. It destroyed him, it physically hurt him to look at you like this.

“I swear, Y/N.” He pleaded again, eyes searching desperately for yours, “Kie saw it all. She wouldn’t lie to you, you know that.”

A shaky breath of relief made its way past your wet lips. Maybe you had been too quick to take off. And thinking about it, it even made more sense. Her throwing herself at him to get back at you, because JJ would never do that to you. That’s why you’d been so heartbroken, because it was him.

Or maybe there was more?

“Is there more?” You asked quietly, returning your gaze to the dark ocean in front of you.

You would speak to Kie later, you didn’t have the strength to do that right now. But you knew once he mentioned her knowing what really happened, you could trust him. Kie wasn’t one to lie, especially to her best friend. She was the most upfront person you could think about. She would never hide the truth from you, especially if you were hurting.

You digged your hands in the sand once more, your arms finally leaving the tight embrace around your legs.

JJ noticed this. You were slowly letting him in, opening up.

“I really don’t know how else to tell you, bub.” He continued, a strain tone in his voice, “But she told me she’s in love with me.”

You stopped the movements of your hands in the sand.

What?

You turned to look at him, and as much as you’d been hurt by him so little time ago, you still knew him so well — better than anyone else, to see that the look in his eyes held nothing but honesty.

A shaky sigh left your lips, and you once again looked away from him.

It all made sense now. Everything made sense. The side glances she would throw him everytime you two would have a banter, the little random hey JJ’s she would throw out there in the middle of humiliating you, the hurt looks he would give him every time he took your side, the way he looked at him.

A silent gasp.

That’s why she had hated you for all this years. That’s why she would humiliate you in front of everyone all the time. It wasn’t because she had randomly started to hate you one day, it wasn’t because you had bumped on her that day in fourth grade. It wasn’t anything like that, no. It was because of JJ.

You felt so stupid, how could you not realize that?

You knew the only thing you should’ve been feeling was surprise, realization, but you couldn’t help the slight pang of jealousy from growing inside of you. It slowly consumed you, because JJ had always been your safe place, the only thing that had kept you sane during those tormented years. Had she really tried stealing him away from you tonight?

“She said she’s been since she was eight.” He finished then.

You sighed, frowning slightly as you turned to look at him.

“But you don’t, right?” You asked.

He seemed confused, tilting his head a bit when he answered, “What?”

He looked so adorable right now that you felt your heart swell at the sight of him.

You felt so relieved knowing it hadn’t been real. Knowing she hadn’t taken him away from you. You felt so relieved at knowing he hadn’t done that to you, because it would have completely destroyed you.

It was like you could breathe again.

“Love her.” You whispered.

An incredulous look made its way on his face, and suddenly he was looking at you like you had two heads. Like you had just told him something so stupid he couldn’t believe it.

“You can’t be serious.” He chuckled humorlessly.

“I don’t know.” You shrugged briefly.

A frown was now on his face, beautiful eyes staring intently at you as you shifted your gaze to the sand.

“How could ever even think that?” He asked you.

The disappointment in his tone made you shudder, never wanting to upset him.

You stayed silent, the dry tears on your cheeks cold against your skin whenever the breeze would blow softly on your face.

“Talk to me.” His voice was tender, soft.

And you couldn’t say no to that.

You continued to look down at the sand, fingers tracing invisible figures in its grains.

“I don’t know. I just think she’s so beautiful and smart.” You explained quietly.

He didn’t answer for a few minutes. It made your heartbeat quicken with anxiety, thinking he could agree with you. But it was the truth. Cassie had always seemed so put together to you, so beautiful, she knew her way with words, and was actually very smart.

“Do y’know what I told her?” His voice was quiet, so quiet that you wouldn’t have heard it if you weren’t so close to him.

You shook your head no, still looking down.

It was his next words that finally made your fingers stop and your undivided attention to shift to him and his beautiful eyes.

“I told her that I love you.”

Your breath got stuck in your throat. You suddenly couldn’t breathe. You could swear on your life that your heart had stopped beating for a few moments. It surely felt like it, at least.

The look in his eyes was so intense you would have averted your gaze any other time. But this was not one of those times.

You tried to search for something in his them, anything that told you he was messing around, that it was some sort of joke. But again, you knew him better than anyone else. And there wasn’t an ounce of lie in those blue eyes of him.

“JJ.” You breathlessly whispered.

It was like you couldn’t form a coherent sentence, words were swirling around your head in a senseless stream and you couldn’t grasp one.

What you could very clearly make out was the immense sense of relief washing through you. You could feel happiness flowing through your veins, invading every fiber of you. This didn’t seem real.

He closed his eyes for a second, supposedly mistaking your silence and your befuddled expression for reject.

“You don’t have to say anything. I just couldn’t stand pretending anymore. I’ve been in love with you for years now, I think I made it pretty obvious. ‘Cause, y’know, how could I not be?” He rambled, “Actually, don’t say anything — like, at all. I don’t want this to come between us. To ruin-“

“I love you.” You stopped him.

His eyes shot to yours. He, too, seemed like he had stopped breathing.

“You do?” He asked breathlessly.

You nodded, letting your eyes linger on his lips for a moment before they were back on his, somewhat hopeful, eyes.

A small smile painted itself on his beautiful features, the corner of his lips lifting up in a genuine, soft grin.

You couldn’t help but to mirror his expression, butterflies exploding in your stomach, fluttering around and making you feel lovesick.

You couldn’t really tell if you were dreaming, if this was some joke, or if you’d been drugged. Maybe this whole night had been an hallucination.

But nonetheless, there he was, in front of you with the most beautiful look you had ever seen him wear — because he fucking looked like he was in love with you.

It couldn’t be a joke, or else how could the way he was looking at you be fake? It seemed like the most real fucking thing you had ever seen.

“Don’t mess with me.” You warned him, a small part of you still thinking he was joking.

His smile grew, and you felt your cheeks grow red, your heartbeat impossibly quicken, your legs shake and your breath hitch. You couldn’t handle the way he was looking at you.

“I’ve been in love with you since forever.” He brought a hand to gently rest on your cheek, his thumb caressing the skin, “But I bet you already knew that.”

And a small part of you did. Everyone did. How could he not when he’d always been there? His touch had lingered on you since forever, his body searching for yours every time the two of you were together, he couldn’t even fall asleep without you in his arms.

And of course, everyone knew about your feelings too. It wasn’t that much of a secret anyway. The way you would always find shelter in his touch, the way you would always need to be by his side, the way your hand would grip his fingers every time you were together.

It had only been a matter of time before the two of you would get together. So you couldn’t really act that surprised. But it still didn’t felt real, you had waited for this so long that it felt like a daydream.

And so you kept your gaze on him, on your golden boy, wanting to memorize every single detail about the moment that you’d been dreaming since forever. Your eyes scanned his beautiful, chiseled features, and how could he be real? It didn’t seem possible for someone to be so effortlessly perfect.

And he too seemed to be memorizing everything about the very moment his whole life had lead him to.

Then his eyes flickered to your lips, briefly, before they were back on yours.

“You know there’s no coming back from this, right?” He asked distractedly.

“That’s the good part.”

And then he captured your lips in a kiss before you could even understand it was happening. And it was as natural as the ocean before you, and as powerful as the waves hitting the shore in an ever so calming lullaby. It was as magic as the moon casting a glowing shadow on the rocking waters.

Your whole body felt on fire, like it hadn’t truly ever felt alive before this moment. Everything felt fuzzy, as if electricity was running through your veins.

He pulled you on top of him by your waist and you didn’t hesitate as you straddled him. You melted into the kiss, bringing your arms around his neck in a sweet embrace. His hands found their usual, natural place around your waist, bringing you closer. Your bodies became one, curves fitting perfectly like a puzzle. It was almost as if your bodies had been made to fit together, the become one. His lips felt soft against yours, his scent now completely engulfing you making your mind go blank.

“Fuck.” He whispered against you, lips curving up into a smile.

You smiled too. It didn’t matter that your smiles were ruining the kiss, neither of you could stop, because this was the awaited moment you two finally ended up together, the one you both had been waiting to happen since forever.

To think stupid Cassie Williams would be the one making him finally confess.

“I was so scared.” You whispered, not breaking the kiss, “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

He pressed one last kiss on your lips before retracting.

“I’m sorry, pretty girl.” His hand came to rest on your neck, making you shiver. His thumb traced your jaw and his touch ran smoothly over your skin until it reached your bottom lip, rubbing slightly to get some smudged lipstick off, “In all seriousness, tho. I was literally waiting for Kie to walk out of the bathroom when she appeared out of nowhere. She started talking to me but the music was too loud, and next thing I know she’s pushing me against the wall and she’s kissing me.”

Although his typical JJ rumbles made you internally smile, you couldn’t help but tear your gaze away from his when he repeated the story once again, a frown etching on your face as jealousy once again flooded your body.

“No need to be jealous, baby.” His thumb continued tracing small circles on your cheek, making you forget about the two of them together.

You sighed, happily melting into his touch.

“I’m not.” You replied absent-mindedly, completely lying.

“That so?” There it was, JJ Maybank’s signature smirk.

Your heart fluttered.

He felt, and was, like a daydream. Every thing you had ever wanted was right in front of you right now.

You suddenly felt the need to feel him, to touch him. You wanted to be his, and for him to be yours.

You closed the space between the two of you, lips clashing into yet another kiss.

This time it wasn’t as gentle, it was more passionate, hungry, rushed. You kissed deeply, with all the need you had ever felt for each other. Tongues intertwined, exploring each other’s mouths in an heated dance. You felt fire explode within you.

What had been a passionate kiss turned into a sloppy, heated one before you reluctantly retracted.

“Let’s go for a dip.” You muttered suddenly, your unexpected offer surprising him to say the least.

His eyebrows shot up, watching your every movement as you stood up. You took a step back, and the nerves building inside of you kept you from looking at him, too scared to see what his reaction would be.

You wordlessly unbuttoned your shorts, shaking your legs slightly as they slid down on them, before pooling at your ankles. You stepped out of them, before bringing your arms up to remove your tank top, too. The next items you took off were your shoes, shortly followed by your socks, leaving only your black-laced panties and matching bra covering your body. You had undressed quickly, opting on ripping the band-aid off straight away instead of letting his gaze intimidate you or shy you away.

It’s not like he’d never seen you like this before, the two of you had been half-naked around each other countless of times, growing up together on a beach, surfing all the time, changing in the same room as the other, sleeping in your underwear when the weather got too hot. Nothing new.

But this time it was much more intimate than that, and although many times he’d expressed how much he loved your body and shot flirty comments your way, it felt like him seeing you for the first time.

“Sounds like an offer I can’t turn down, cupcake.” He chuckled.

Reassured by his flirty comment, you finally looked at him to see him slowly standing up until he was standing in front of you — or more like he was towering over you, as he playfully looked down at you.

You couldn’t ignore the way his eyes scanned your body with a new found hint of hunger in them.

As he removed his own clothes, you started backing away, then turning around to walk into the ocean.

The water was warm against your skin. You swirled around happily and you turned back to shot him a grin.

“Coming!” He screamed while removing his shorts.

He let out a happy howl before he started running towards the water. You shrieked when he dived in, splashing water everywhere and completely soaking you.

He re-emerged, right away swimming your way with a breath-taking smile on his face. You giggled when he swept you off your feet to pull you into him, the water swishing around you as he brought your legs to wrap around his waist.

Your giggles slowly faded out as you hugged him to you with your arms around his neck. This moment felt surreal, you thought your heart would explode any minute now.

“I love you.” You repeated.

He started pressing wet kisses all over your face, and it seemed as if you couldn’t stop giggling.

“Stop!” You laughed, trying to get him away from you when he wouldn’t stop tickling you with his wet hair as he kissed you over and over again.

“What? Can’t hear you.” Another kiss, and another.

“J.” You whined playfully, while yet another one was pressed the left side of your mouth.

Then suddenly his lips were on yours, and you smiled on them as he kissed you deeply.

“How am I ever gonna stop kissing you now, pretty girl?”

Taglist: @gillybear17 @70smaybank @my-baexht-ls @hockeybabe87 @notdisneychannel @daddydraco0 @sycamoregirl444 @siriuslydepressedmoony @thenextteen @kaylinfayezink @bjrmaybank @kiarasbiggestfan @drasticemotions @myguiltypleasures21 @jj-maybanks-girl @buckys2thicc @tccv @pixelated-pogues

[obx-adventures]

You

Paring(s): JJ maybank x fem!reader

Summary: Request- John b's little sister grew up with JJ. Both boys are protective of her but when John B and Sarah leave on the boat, she only has JJ. She realizes she has feelings for him, not knowing he feels the same.

Authors note: I decided I could give you guys a sprinkle of fluff and slight smut after the last two pieces! This takes place at the beginning of season 2 where they believe Sarah and John b are dead.

Also, someone complained about the length of my pieces. I know they’re long but it’s just my writing style. I like for the readers to feel what the main character is feeling. If the length bothers you, then don’t read it!

_______________

Angry.

That’s how I felt.

At myself. At my dad. At John B.

When we first lost our dad, it didn’t feel real. I waited outside on the steps of the chateu hoping to see him come back on his boat. Suddenly, hours turned to days which turned into months and the hope that filled my chest shrank bit by bit until I no longer sat outside.

Instead, John B and I did what we could. After successfully evading CPS, we decided it was best to lay low. That was the thing about us, we always managed to make the best out of a shitty situation because let’s face it, being born on the cut was shitty situation after shitty situation.

Unfortunately, it felt like the stress had finally caught up to me. Being surrounded by unfamiliar people caused a bitter sense of panic to fill my very core. My anxiety had amplified tenfold as the once out going girl became completely sheltered.

It was safer that way. At least, if I isolated myself, losing someone else won’t hurt as bad as this. Because as long as I had my brother, everything else was manageable.

Losing my dad was tough, almost impossible but at least I had John B.

Until, I didn’t.

It didn’t hit me until I saw the boat capsize with my brother and Sarah in it. I was truly an orphan, in every sense of the word.

My knees had given out as every emotion crashed into my body like a violent tsunami. A silent scream leaving my body as I could no longer hold myself up.

Familiar arms caught me just as I was about to hit the floor, the rain pounded into my skin like thousands of needles. As I drew in a sharp breath, my voice impossible to find, a delicate smell of sex wax and salt filled my nose.

JJ.

“Please breathe. I need you to take a b-breath,” He pleaded, his voice shook in obvious grief. He had just lost his brother too.

I couldn’t seem to do what he was asking. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing for this nightmare to end, but thought after thought slammed into my head repeatedly. My chest squeezed tightly, so tight that I began to claw at it, desperate to relieve the tension.

Yet, nothing seemed to work. I could see him now, his image blurred due to the tears falling from my eyes. His mouth was moving but I couldn’t hear anything.

My fingers slowly started to cramp due to the lack of oxygen from my inability to calm down. The tidal wave known as anxiety pulled me deep, my vision slowly becoming black before my unconscious body falls limp in the arms of my brother’s best friend.

_________

I hated this sign.

My eyes glared at the makeshift headstone my friends made for Sarah and John B that was carved into the tree.

It served as another reminder that my brother left me.

I’ve become close friends with anger and sadness.

Our friends tried to give me a sense of stability and normalcy, one that I’ve been lacking since the moment our dad died. Kie always stopped by bringing left overs from her parent’s restaurant. Pope would help me with my homework and go over scholarship options. I knew he was trying to help me plan for the future, but we both knew he was the only one that could really get out. I welcomed the distraction and tried to enjoy the small bubble I’ve created for myself.

And then, there was JJ.

JJ was special.

He all but moved in to the chateau, never leaving me alone in my thoughts for too long. He took up a serving job at some kook club to feed us and always brought me with him. I would sit in a small corner throughout, his shifts and enjoy his company.

In a way, I think it was for him just as much as it was for me. We had both bonded over the loss of my brother and it caused an invisible string to tether us together in a way that almost felt intimate.

I blew out a breath.

Standing up, I wiped off the dirt from my thighs and flexed my hands. JJ was on his way to pick me up and take me to the annual bonfire here on the island.

When he asked me, my first reaction was an immediate no. I had avoided going near large groups of people since they believed my brother to be a murder, therefore, making me guilty by association. Just the thought of surrounding myself around those people made my skin itch.

But I also knew that we were both desperate to feel the closest thing to normal that we could find.

What he didn’t know was that feeling of normalcy could only be achieved when he was with me. Breathing was easier when he was with me, living was easier.

The familiar sound of a bike engine caused my stomach to flutter with nerves.

“You ready?”

Inhaling deeply, I turned around to see JJ leaning against his bike looking every bit as handsome as the first time I laid eyes on him. He was grinning, something he reserved just for me, with a toothpick on one side.

If he was here, then I’d be able to do anything.

“I go where you go.”

JJ’s blue eyes shined at my words. He shot me his infamous smirk that nearly caused the butterflies in my stomach to erupt.

“You got that right. Get on the bike, let’s get the fuck out of here.”

My brain was my biggest enemy. It had a tendency to disrupt whatever sense of peace I had and destroy it with every self sabotaging thought I’ve ever had.

In this case, my brain wanted to know just how many girls sat there before me.

Noticing my hesitation, JJ raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. “What’s up?”

“I just don’t want to get cooties from all the girls you let on this thing.”

He rolled his eyes. “Get your ass on the bike.”

My feet moved towards the bike as I mumbled under my breath. Stopping in front of him, JJ brushes some loose strands of my hair out of my face before grabbing the helmet that was on the seat.

I reached for it but JJ shoved my hands away, shooting me a flat look. Huffing, I stood there as JJ placed the helmet on my head, tightening the strap under my chin.

“Why do I have to wear a helmet and you don’t?”

“Because you matter.” His response was immediate.

Speechless, I said nothing more as he continued with the unnecessary pampering before he finally let me on the bike. Revving the engine, JJ kicks up the stand before reaching behind and grabbing my arm, settling it around his waist. He tapped my thigh twice to signal we were going and we took off.

I clung to his body, watching as the greenery blurred into one large mass, my thoughts doing the same.

You matter.

You matter.

You matter.

But what did that mean? What did it mean to him? What did I mean to him?

Because, I knew exactly what he meant to me.

There were small moments we shared. Our eye contact would stay on each other for a beat too long or his hands would linger just a minute longer than normal.

I knew, at least for me, our friendship had reached a very blurred line. My feelings for him seemed to consume me but I couldn’t tell how he felt. No one ever could, JJ didn’t let them.

He would say things like this that would completely throw me out of the loop. So we settled into a routine, one that resembled a relationship yet we weren’t in one.

The familiar cackle of the fire and shouts of excitement signaled that we were close to the party. Unease leaked into my bloodstream as I flexed my fingers into JJ’s shirt, the nerves sky rocketing.

JJ parked next to some truck but my focus was broken. My eyes jumped all over, taking in the scene all while trying to remind myself to breathe. People were shot gunning while others were playing beer pong, kooks and pouges alike.

Everyone was laughing and smiling, but it all seemed foreign to me. This was what I used to do, when things weren’t as complicated and dark as they were now. It felt almost wrong to go dancing and drinking when my life was in shambles.

A small touch to my wrist pulled me out of my thoughts as I turned to face JJ. A look of concern painted his face as he pressed his fingers against my wrist, checking my pulse.

“JJ, I’m fine.” I said exasperated but secretly, I adored how he took care of me. It made me feel like to him, I was different than all the other girls.

I just couldn’t decipher if he took care of me out of obligation to John B or because he actually cared for me.

He picked up this habit after I passed out in his arms. JJ always brushed his fingers against the inside of my wrist, just to double check that I wasn’t going to pass out again.

My anxiety was yet another monster I had to tackle after I lost John B and JJ was the only one that could calm me down. He weighed me down like an anchor.

“Look at me,” he demanded, his fingers lifting my chin causing my eyes to meet his.

His gaze ran over every inch of my face before a small satisfied smile played his lips.

“Do you believe me now?”

JJ shot me a wink, before cupping my face gently. “I’ll be back with tequila, don’t move.”

A small laugh left my mouth. “JJ, I don’t hang out with anyone else.”

“I’m all you can handle anyways, baby.”

My stomach dipped at the term of endearment. Laughing it off, I shooed him away and within seconds people were calling out his name, tugging him into their groups.

He seemed relax—happy even—to be surrounded by familiar people that I’m sure made him feel normal. I wanted him to have that, god, did I want him to have that.

So I ignored the nausea that nipped at my throat and spent the next five minutes looking around, hoping to spot Pope or Kie with no luck.

JJ deserved some time that didn’t involve watching me.

Only, I didn’t expect him to disappear for the rest of the night.

Hours later, I pushed passed the sweaty, overheated bodies as the bass of the music trembled through the air rattling my chest. The mass of bodies caused a layer of sweat to cover my body the further I went into the crowd. Intense rap music was being blasted instantly getting a reaction by the drug induced people around me.

Just by a simple sweep of the overcrowded property, I gave it a solid half hour before the cops showed up.

A large figure stumbled into me, beer sloshing onto my top. I gasped, stepping back slightly wincing at the cold liquid dripping down my stomach.

"Sorry," He slurred before stumbling back into the mosh pit of raging teens.

A familiar laugh rang out and almost immediately my body reacted to it. It was odd. After years of hearing his voice and his laugh, you would think I'd have gotten used to it by now, but no.

The effect he had on my body left me stunned.

My eyes were drawn to him instantly. I blocked everything else out.

His head was tilted back as he belted out another laugh. JJ was leaning against a wall with a hand holding a beer bottle loosely and the other moving as he spoke animatedly to the group that surrounded him.

His sun touched skin complimented his bright blue orbs that shined with a child-like wonder. JJ’s golden colored locks were thick and fell into a messy heap on his head, loose strands brushing against his forehead.

The black cut muscle tee he wore displayed every muscle as he continued to move his arms to accompany his storytelling.

JJ Maybank was a sight for sore eyes.

He was still talking rapidly when he glanced up and locked eyes with mine. JJ’s ocean eyes shined as he shot me a megawatt smile nearly sending me to my knees. He stopped mid-conversation and motioned for me to come over, his eyes once again gleaming with a unspoken level of affection.

I remained frozen. Sometimes this happened. I got overwhelmed by just how much I needed him.

JJ managed to knock me off my feet a solid five times a day. Each time welcomed even more than the last.

He bit his lip, stopping a smile as he bid his friends goodbye and began walking over to where I stood, running a hand through his hair messily.

I opened my mouth, not knowing what to say when a manicured hand rested itself on his stomach, stopping him in his tracks.

“Haven’t see you in awhile. Where ya been?”

Stacey Williams had this thing about her.

What it was, I couldn’t say, but it was enough for JJ to keep going back for more. She was the only other girl in his life that he gave a fraction of his attention to.

That fact alone made me nervous.

Just walk away, JJ. Please just walk away.

Instead, he took a seat next to her and shot her smile that was reserved for me.

People stumble between us, blocking my view but I could still hear them conversing.

“You know me, Steis. I’m here, I’m there. Just doin’ me.”

She let out a giggle causing me to roll my eyes. He’s really not that funny.

“You haven’t been answering my calls. I figured, tonight you could come over and we could talk.”

My stomach tied itself in knots at the silence on his end. It was almost like he was contemplating going.

“I -I can’t tonight. I came with John b’s sister.”

I winced. That’s all I was to him?

I could see Stacey lean forward and slip her hand along the open slit of his muscle tee. “She follows you around like a lost puppy, JJ. It’s almost sad if it wasn’t so weird.”

I saw him shake his head. “It’s not like that, we’re both just dealing with everything the best way we can.”

Stacey rolled her eyes before she took a sip of her drink, “JJ, your hot but please tell me you’re not that blind. The girl is basically in love with you.”

Judging by the way JJ froze, I now knew that I misjudged every interaction we’ve had to this point. He didn’t even notice how I felt.

“What-I mean-no. She’s just a girl that needs help. I mean, come on. She’s just John B’s sister.”

The only thing more humiliating than finding out the person you want doesn’t want you, is finding out they were only there for you because of an obligation.

I wasn’t special to him. I was just John B’s little sister.

I think another part of me died right there, because yet again, I have lost another person I loved.

But this time, he wasn’t gone, no—he was right in front of me, but he might as well have been a million miles away or six feet under.

Eavesdropping is the quickest way to a broken heart. Words not meant for your ears strike your heart in a brutal assault until nothing remained.

Finally, the crowd that separated us moved and I stood there stupidly staring at him.

Feeling the weight of my gaze, JJ turned his head and his eyes widened before settling into a look of guilt.

I tore my gaze off of him and looked at her. The smug smile she wore told me she intended for me to hear what he had said.

My face heated, and I glanced down at the drink in my hand. How could I be so fucking stupid?

Ignoring the sickening twists in my stomach, I tossed back the strong liquor in my cup. The burning trail the tequila left is the feeling I decided to focus on.

Spinning around, my eyes searched for another cooler, desperate to keep the burning feeling going.

“Shit-Wait,” I could hear JJ shouting for me but I kept moving.

Finding a handle of tequila, I flicked the top off and took a pull. The bitter burn fell over my body with a fuzzy warmth.

JJ knocks the bottle out of my hand.

“What the fuck is your problem?”

“Since when do you drink like that?” He asked.

“Go away, JJ. I don’t need you to babysit me anymore.”

“Listen, if this is about what I said-“

“You’re free, JJ,” my voice trembled with pain,” You don’t need to waste any more of your time on me.”

I grabbed a red solo cup, sniffing the contents, and just as I was about to chug it back, his hand slaps it out of my own.

“Will you stop fucking drinking that-“ JJ’s baby blues narrowed as he growled at me.

“What are you, my dad? You’re taking this baby sitting gig a little too seriously.”

It was, then I noticed how many eyes were on us. The music was still blasting, but no one was dancing.

My breathing picked up at the sudden attention. I dug my nails into the palm of my hand to distract my body from the ever growing panic that plagued my body.

JJ’s eye clock in on my nervous tic causing his glare to soften. A figure approaching pulled my focus off of him.

Topper strides over with a drink in his hand and a lazy smile. “Hey man-“

“Top, your wearing sandals bro. Step off.”

“I’m just saying man, she doesn’t want to talk to you.”

JJ’s eyes darkened as a threatening smile slowly graced his lips. “Wanna run that by me again?”

“I forgot that you pouges are missing a couple brain cells,” Topper lolled his head to the side and shot me a wink, “Since you’re clearly a bit slow, I’ll spell it out for you. She. Doesn’t. Want. To. Talk. To. You.”

“I dont remember you being this cocky with a gun to your head.” The words were spoken softly but the threat was clear.

A storm brewed in JJ’s eyes as the bright blue was replaced by something much darker.

My heart jumped at his tone and the look in his eyes made me swallow hard. Disgust filled me as heat began to build between my legs forcing me to press my thighs together.

Hands up on surrender, Topper shot me a look before heading back to his friends. JJ’s eyes stayed on him for a beat ensuring that he wouldn’t come back.

When he was satisfied, JJ moved towards me in quick strides making me yelp in surprise.

His ring covered hand grasped my upper arm and tugged me back to his bike. I shrugged out of his hold and crossed my arms across my chest, hoping it’ll keep a safe distance between the two of us.

I couldn’t think clearly when he was close.

“Listen-“

“No thanks.”

“If you would just-“

“Go away.”

“Can you please stop acting-“

“Why don’t you go back to Stacy? I’m sure she’d find this conversation enlightening.” I spat, shoving his reaching hands away.

“I dont want to talk to Sta-“

“Are you sure? You seemed to have a lot to say be-“

“Jesus Christ, would you just shut up?” JJ shouted with his hands in his hair.

My mouth opened and closed in shock.

“You’re the most frustrating person on this fucking island.” He growled, shaking his head in false amusement.

“Then why are you still talking to me?”

“Because it’s you.”

Throwing my hands up in defeat, I let out a bleak laugh. “What does that even mean? Stop pretending you care. Stop pretending to be my-“

“I wasn’t pretending.” He shook his head, the blue orbs pleading for me to understand,”Stacey was just saying shit to get a reaction-“

“She wasn’t wrong.”

He stopped talking and stared at me, almost confused.

My body trembled slightly with nerves as I prepared to finally expose every bit of my heart to the blue eyed boy in front of me.

“What she said—about how I feel about you. She was right. Anybody with two fucking eyes can see how I feel about you, except for you.”

I furiously wiped my eyes stop the tears from falling. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

“But now I know you only see me as John B’s little sister. It’s just humiliating that you chose to say that to Stacey instead of me.”

I was going to throw up. My stomach churned and swayed but I swallowed down the urge.

JJ let out a harsh sound, “I feel fucking guilty, okay? I feel guilty that I don’t see you the way I should. John B was my best friend and now I’m falling for his sister? It’s eating at me.”

“Then leave-“

“Shut up,” He snapped. “You’ve already got to say what you wanted. It’s my turn.”

My throat tightened as I braced myself for his confession.

“I look at you and I have to stop myself from kissing you even though it’s all I can think about.”

His eye contact seared into my very soul. I could feel it pierce my pounding heart.

“So you aren’t the only one that feels something.”

My heart was in my throat as I processed his words.

“But you said-“

“I lied.” He cut me off with a shrug and advanced towards me, clearly fed up with the distance I placed between us.

In a last ditched effort, I put up my hands to stop him in his tracks. I needed to think. I needed to breathe.

“Don’t touch me.” The plea itself was weak at best.

At the sound of my sob, JJ ignores my demand, and shoves my hands away, despite my weak attempt to keep him out of my space.

Instantly, his fingers curl themselves along my wrist and take note of my pulse. He let out a distressed sound from what I can only assume is the pounding of my pulse and whispers soothing words.

Taking in gulps of air, he slowly counts me down to a manageable pace of breathing. My shaking slowly begins to subside and my very focus is just on him.

Resting his forehead on mine, JJ whispers pleadingly, “Please stop crying.”

Another kiss lands on my nose. “I’m sorry.”

His request along with his sweet pleadings, causes my defenses to crumble down. Another sob tears from my chest as I relax into his embrace.

“I didn’t mean it.” He muttered, brushing my tears away with his thumb.

“Then why did you say it?” My words were soft, barely a whisper.

“Because she’s not important enough to know how I feel.”

Our eyes were glued to each other, a deep unknown longing singeing us together.

“You said I was just some girl.”

JJ tilted my head up, his fingers trailing softly along my bottom lip, “I meant my girl.”

“I have a lot of baggage,” I gave him one more shot at leaving.

“Good thing I have a truck.”

“But she-“

He shook his head, leaning down so there’s just a sliver of space between our lips, so close that we were inhaling each others breaths.

“You’re the only one I want.”

JJ bent down, his arms circling themselves directly below my ass, and picked me up causing me to shout out in surprise.

My hands curled onto each of his arms, my stomach fluttering at the flex of his muscles. He set me on the seat of the bike, his large calloused hands gripped my upper thighs tightly sending a wave of heat right to my core.

JJ’s half lidded eyes dart between my gaze and my lips. “Tell me to stop.”

The words never crossed my lips.

He let out a sound of satisfaction, tugging my legs open to stand in between them.

His ring covered fingers danced along the strands of my hair before nesting themselves at the root, gripping the nape tightly, "You’re mine.”

Heat instantly swarmed my belly as I drastically tried to collect my thoughts. My lips trembled as he hovered over me, his figure towering over my small frame.

JJ swiped his tongue along my parted lips before biting gently. Instantly, my body jolted forward and we were chest to chest, perfectly aligned.

My grip on his biceps tightened as I tremble with anticipation.

Finally, he pressed his lips to mine, slowly guiding our kiss. Gripping my hair tighter, he tilts my head sliding his tongue inside.

A small whimper escaped my lips causing a groan to erupt from him. Almost lazily, he pulled back slightly and pulled my bottom lip into his, sucking softly.

White hot lust seared itself into my blood. I let out a whine and pushed myself up, pressing my lips to his, desperate for another taste of JJ.

My blood was pounding in my ears as I tugged him closer. Almost lazily, I teased his mouth open and slid my tongue inside. Humming with desire, I gently sucked on his tongue causing him to flex his grip on my thighs.

JJ pulled back giving me the opportunity to catch my breath. His fingertips left a heated trail along my face as he caressed every inch.

He shook his head, laughing to himself softly,” It’s you. It’s always been you.”

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I love sassy JJ. Sorry for the delayed upload, I got into a car accident and am just now starting to get better:)

Please let me know what you think!! Next piece will be yummy smut with Rafe