#Caroline Dim

[365filmsbyauroranocte]

Une histoire d'eau (Jean-Luc Godard & François Truffaut, 1961)

#Une histoire d'eau #Jean-Luc Godard #Godard #François Truffaut #Truffaut #1961 #quote #short film #mind #black and white #A Story of Water #Jean-Claude Brialy #Caroline Dim #nouvelle vague

[pitchsidestories]

Secrets II Patri Guijarro x Reader

masterlist I word count: 1877

a/n: inspired by this adorable request. Let us know what you thought of it. <3

Champions League nights were always something special. Especially when your team just secured their spot in the semi finals. You were still on the pitch, applauding the fans and taking in the amazing atmosphere while most of your team mates slowly retreated back into the dressing room.

The cool chill of the night send a shiver down your spine. You took a deep breath, forcing yourself to enjoy the moment and not think about anything else. But you could not stop yourself from glancing over to the other side of the pitch where Patri was doing her post-match interview.

You decided to go back and wait for her in the tunnel, in hopes that could spend a few minutes alone with her between leaving the pitch and entering the dressing room.

Patri smiled brightly as she saw you leaning on the wall.

“You love a champions league goal, don’t you, Patri?“, you smirked, hinting at the goal she scored shortly before the game ended.

She laughed: “I really do.“

You playfully pulled her closer to you, tugging on her sleeve: “That was admittedly kinda hot. Especially with the captains armband tonight.“

Your girlfriend winked: “Oh, you think so?“

“Yes, I do.“, you confirmed teasingly.

“Come here.“ Patri wrapped her arms around you.

You giggled: “What if someone sees us?“

The midfielder shrugged in the dim light: “It’s fine. We can go inside in a second.“

“Sure.“

“Come on.“, Patri said, now gently pushing you against the wall.

You raised your eyebrow: “A kiss from the goal scorer?“

Your girlfriend had the audacity to blush, making you want to kiss her even more. “Just a quick one, okay?“

“Okay.“, you agreed reluctantly.

Patris lips felt soft against yours. You wished you could stay in this moment for longer.

“My favourite secret.“, Patri winked at you when she pulled away.

You rolled your eyes and nodded into the direction of the dressing room: “I think our team is waiting for us.“

“Hey, what are you two waiting for?“, Marionas voice interrupted the two of you.

She stuck her head out of the dressing room. You looked for a sign in her face that would tell you if she had seen you. But you found nothing, so you innocently replied: “We’re coming. The captains interview took so long.“

Mariona shook her head as you walked past her into the dressing room.

“Once Patri’s talking, she can’t be stopped.“, Claudia snorted.

Patri grimaced: “Hey!“

“It’s true.“, you added casually, walking over to your locker.

“Rude.“, your girlfriend feigned outrage.

You were in the middle of pulling your shirt over your head when Ingrid turned to you: “Y/n?“

“Yes?“

“Why were you outside the whole time when you should have celebrated with us?“, the Norwegian asked.

You tilted your head: “Missed me?“

“Yes.“, she nodded.

“Don’t worry. I’m here now.“, you laughed.

Caroline joined the conversation: “Yeah. Now.“

Impatiently you asked your Norwegian team mates: “So what did I miss?“

“The usual chaos.”, the forward shrugged her shoulders.

Curious Ingrid looked at you:” You’ll join the team dinner tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, I’ll be there. What about you, Caro? Will you come too?”, you asked her with a teasing smile on your lips.

“I have no choice.”, she sighed, pointing into the direction where Marta was standing. The Norwegian midfielder and you found it adorable that the usual shy and reserved Caroline would literally say yes to everything her girlfriend was asking her to do even if it was team meetings she usually tried to avoid.

The location the club chose to have the team dinner at was beautiful. From where you and Patri were sitting you had the perfect view on the city’s pretty sight. Although you had to secretly admit that you spend more time-sharing stolen glances between you and your girlfriend when staring at the Catalonian scenery.

Your fellow teammates didn’t seem to notice that Patri was holding your hand hidden under the table:” The food is delicious, right?”

“It’s.”, you nodded.

Clearing her throat Ingrid tried to get your attention, she and Mapi were seated opposite of you:” Y/n, Mapi has found someone who could be a perfect fit for you.”

“You guys are trying to set me up again? Do I’ve to remind you what happened the last time?”, you gasped dramatically.

For a second the Spanish defender seemed guilty before returning to her usual self, sounding confidently:” Yeah, that didn’t work out well. But this time we’re sure that she’s perfect for you.”

“That’s sweet of you two but..”, you begun.

“This time it will go great. Just trust us.”, Mapi interrupted you quickly.

“Exactly.”, Ingrid continued in a reassuring tone.

Meanwhile Patri who listened the conversation quietly couldn’t watch it any longer and intervened frustrated: “Why are you even trying to set her up? I’m sure she could have anyone she wanted.”

“Patri.”, the defender rolled her eyes annoyed at her.

“What? Not everyone needs to be in a relationship.”, she countered.

“We only want the best for her.”, Mapi tried to reassure the Spanish midfielder.

“Pretty sure she knows that better than you.”, Patri grumbled.

Before your girlfriend was able to accidentally reveal your relationship, you asked your teammates in an overly cheerful tone:” What do you guys choose for dessert? I can’t decide.” 

“I’m taking the chocolate cake.”, the defender replied too surprised to ask why you changed the topic so suddenly.

You felt relived when you said:” Guess, I’ll pick that too.”

Later at your place, you could feel Patri was still tense from the talk you had with Ingrid and Mapi earlier, softly you lifted her chin, so she had to look into your eyes:” Patri? You know that I don’t want anyone else but you, right?”

“I do.”, your girlfriend hummed, pressing a kiss to your wrist.

“Good.”

“It’s just annoying.”, she added grumpily.

“I agree.”, you said to her while stroking her open hair gently.

Patri let out a sigh: “It’s okay.“

“I love you, Patri.“ You locked eyes with her until a small smile appeared on her face.

“I know. I love you too.“, she replied.

You smirked: “Oh, I know.“

Patri pulled you close to her: “I hope so!“

“Trust me.“

She tilted her head: “Maybe. I’ll have to think about it.“

“Excuse me?“, you asked, playfully pushing her away from you.

You girlfriend shrugged: “You might go on that set-up date.“

“No, I won’t.“, you laughed.

“Are you sure?“, Patri curiously raised her eyebrow.

You nodded firmly: “Very sure.“

“Reassuring.“, she commented before kissing you quickly.

“See?“

“Yeah, sure.“, Patri just said, too distracted by you to continue the conversation.

When you met the rest of the team for training the next morning, Ingrid was in a great mood. She was beaming as she walked on to the training pitch: “What a beautiful day for training.“

“Oh yes, the sun is so nice.“, you agreed, turning towards the sunlight and closing your eyes to soak up the Vitamin D.

Caroline shrugged: “Yeah, could be worse.“

You opened your eyes again, grinning at your team mate: “There is our grumpy sunshine.“

“Ugh.“, she groaned in response, obviously not a fan of your nickname for her.

“Come on, Caro.“, you tried to motivate her and played a ball in her direction for the next exercises.

“No.“, Caroline rolled her eyes in response but still continued the pass the ball.

You were right in the middle of a scrimmage, trying to win the ball back from Keira when you felt a sharp pain in your knee. Immediately, your leg gave out and you found yourself on the grass, holding your knee.

“No!“, Ingrid gasped.

You were too focused on trying to calm your breathing and to stop your thoughts from racing to notice that your team mates gathered around you.

“Y/n!“, Patri yelled and was quickly kneeling by your side.

Caroline looked down at you, worry reflecting in her eyes: “Are you okay?“

“No… it hurts.“, you cried breathlessly.

“Shit!“, you heard Patri curse under her breath next to you while she gently stroked your hair.

“She’s going to be okay…“, Ingrid tried to stay cheerful but the tone of her voice was not convincing.

You carefully tried to sit up and extend your knee but the pain was still there. You flinched.

Patri squeezed your hand tightly: “Love, don’t move. I’m here.“

You tried to focus on your girlfriends touch, you even failed to notice what she said.

Mapi and Claudia exchanged surprised looks: “Love?!“

“I knew it.”, Caroline exclaimed.

“What?”, Ingrid turned to the fellow Norwegian, looking shocked.

Serious the forward stated: “It isn’t that surprising.”

“Right, not when one thinks about it for a bit longer.”, the midfielder agreed after a short moment, playing the recent encounters between you and your girlfriend inside her head, seeing now all the little clues which showed that you were more than just friends.

Much later you were resting your leg on the sofa, looking up to Patri :” The doctor said that I’ll be out for a few weeks.”

“A few weeks?”, she lifted an eyebrow in response.

“Yes.”

A relived sigh escaped the Spanish midfielder’s lips:” Okay, that’s better than what I expected.”

“Sorry, it felt worse than it was.”, you apologized to her, feeling your cheeks turn hot.

She happily told you:” Hey, don’t worry about that. I’m just glad to share the pitch with you in a few weeks.”

“Maybe just in time for the champions league finale. Wait, are those sunflowers, how did you know that they are my favourite.”, you glanced at your girlfriend in awe.

“Oh please. I know what your favourite flowers are by now.” , Patri chuckled.

“Thank you.”, you whispered gratefully as the Spanish woman gave you your flowers.

She softly pressed a kiss on the top of your head: “You’re welcome, love.”  

“Caro claims that she knew about us the whole time.”, you told her grinning.

“I don’t believe that we were so careful”, the Spanish player shook her head laughing.

You agreed with her:” That’s true except for today.”

“Yeah, I guess they all know now.”, Patri nervously went through her hair with one hand.

“It’s okay.”, you reassured her.

In an earnest tone the midfielder thought out loud:” Maybe it was time to tell them anyway.”

With a crooked smile on her face, she added:” They’ll never shut up about it, right?”

“Never.”, you smirked at her.

“Do you think we’ll survive?”, the Spanish woman asked you half seriously and half half-jokingly.

“Yeah, if the other couples in the team can do it so can we.”, you concluded.

“But first, you have to make sure that your knee heals properly.”, Patri reminded you.

“I’ve the best nurse right here.”, you winked at her cheekily.

“Don’t worry. I will take care of you.”, your girlfriend promised you earnestly and the midfielder meant every word she said. Carefully she put the sunflowers into a vase and placed them on the table in the living room.

Secretly Patri hoped that your favourite flowers would remind you during the tough rehab days which were laying ahead of you that after rain the sun would always return, no matter how worse the weather seemed.

#patri guijarro #patri guijarro x reader #woso x reader #woso oneshot #woso #woso imagine #woso community #woso fanfics #woso one shot #barca femeni #barcelona femeni x reader #patri guijarro imagine #ingrid engen #caroline graham hansen #mapi leon

[hoe4sports]

Sleeping over | Caroline Graham Hansen

A/N: No triggers. Mentions of sex. Read the first parts to understand more.

The hot steaming rainshower was making the dimmed bathroom damp and foggy, it felt like a rainforest. I loved it. Showers were amazing. They were soothing and comforting. But they could also be exciting and fun. I snapped violently out of my thoughts as Lucy banged on my door “Are you gonna be ready today or next year? I cannot be late to my own birthday dinner pretty girl!” Lucy teased me from the other side of the door as I got out of the shower. She had asked me last minute if she could catch a ride with me as she was planning to drink and didn’t have a driver. Truth is that I don’t either have a driver, but I’m apperantly more capable than her to get a taxi. “Yea yea, it always important to be fashionably late babe!” I snapped back grinning to myself. I get so blessed that I had made such close friends after moving across the continent. Lucy was like my sister, and Ingrid was my bestie. My ride or die.

I got myself dry quickly and pulled on my outfit in no time. I got my hair curled loosely, and did some quick bronzy makeup with a cute subtle pink lip. I felt good about myself and admired myself in the mirror for one second. I had my white champagne satin dress on, but I had to use my white hoka’s. I tore my acl as a 18 year old, and I’m never gonna fully recover. That’s why I’m not taking any risks. 

I swung the door open and did a dramatic pose for Lucy. “Oh Luce, tell me, am a looking au naturell?” I said with a dramatic french accent. “Luckily your outfit is better than your French” lucy chuckled. She was looking just as good as she always was. Pants that were just the right amount of tight to showcase her ass, and a short sleeve shirt that complimented her biceps beautifully. She often changed between pulling off masculine and feminine looks, and she knew damn well that she made it work for her. 

We both did a quick 3 shots of tequila before heading giggling out of my apartment. We got out of the complex and found our taxi driver. It was an older man who turned up the music for us, and he was definitely in the mood for a party. I made sure to tip him well, and he told me that he was driving until 3 so I could give him a ring if anyone needed to get home safely. I appreciated the help, and took out the information card that he held out. “Ricardo Antonio Juereze Guapa” I confidently spoke out, the old man smiled and applauded your Spanish accent before waving goodbye. “Let’s do this!” I squiled as a pulled Lucy with me towards the restaurant. The vibes were immaculate, electric even. The food was incredible! And the drinks? Perhaps a tad bit too strong.. 

As I shoved down the last piece of my sorbet, I looked over at Caroline. She had showed up, but was being her usual quiet self. I raised an eyebrow towards her, and she shrugged. I motioned for her to meet me in the bathroom of the restaurant as I excused myself to the other girls. I got to the bathroom, and did a quick sweep to make sure that there were nobody there. Then Caroline stepped in. She was wearing shorts, but not the feminine kind. She was also wearing a white t-shirt, almost see through. I could tell how they shaped around her boobs, and they revealed her white sportsbra from Calvin Klein. “Hello pretty girl” I said as she entered the bathroom and she blushed. “Hey” she smiled nervously, and I touched her cheek as I pulled closer. “You good?” I asked as she played with her hair. She gave me a small nod, and I took it upon myself to fix her hair. She stood there dumbfounded while I was going all hairstylist on her beautiful brown locks as I smacked my lips together and presented proudly “Voila!” I announced as I pulled back. She blushed again.

 “I was thinking of going home..” she mumbled as her face automatically went back to her usual serious self. “Why?” I blurred out as I almost interrupted her. “Well, I guess this really isn’t my thing, you know?” She motioned towards the door which let through sounds of chatter and music. I nodded to her, and placed my hand on her cheek again. “That’s fair, it’s not for everyone. If you leave, I’ll definitely miss you. Such a sight for sore eyes.” I said as I smiled, clearly a bit intoxicated. She shrugged, once again, out of words. I giggled softly as I brushed some of her hair from her face to behind her ear. “So dedicated and hardworking” I started as she blushed and smiled to the ground. I put my pointing finger on her chin, and tilted her face upwards. I leaned in towards her cheek, and breathed. “Stay, please” as my pink lips made contact with her blushed cheek and I quietly walked out.

I sat down at the table with the other girls. Lucy and Ingrid made whistling noises and i pretended to be annoyed by rolling my eyes at them. After a few minutes the girls stopped teasing me, and Caroline slowly eased back to the table. “Alright, Bronze! It’s your birthday, where do you wanna go next?” I announced to the table. Lucy’s face spread out in a huge grin. “Let’s go to Tito’s beach club!” Lucy responded, and with that everyone was fast up from their chairs. Some were more drunk then others, like Mapi, she was practically leaning onto Ingrid to use her as her personal walking stick. I chuckled at the sight of the pair, and as they passed I teased Ingrid, “Looks like someone got a good relationship with the bartender” I sang as she rolled her eyes back at me. I made sure to wait until all the girls had gotten up from the table, just to make sure that nobody forgot any purses, phones or wallets. As I finished checking, I could see Caroline waiting for me by the end of the table. My lips formed a smile, and I admired Caroline. “Waiting for me Graham?” i said as I got closer to her, our height differences once again becoming very obvious. She looked down on me, as she flashed one of her shy smiles. I had talked to Ingrid previously, who told me that Caroline hadn’t ever been in a relationship. That she was too focused on work and becoming better every day. I, on the other hand, I saw straight through it. I thought she was beautiful. I loved her physique, her face and her long neck. Plenty of space for.. Somthing, let’s just keep it at that. 

“Whenever you are ready” she spoke as I grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the restaurant towards the other girls. The bar was only a few blocks away, and the girls were definitely not holding back tonight. We walked together to the bar, and the girls sang a million happy birthday songs in different languages. Caroline walked in silence for the short trip, but she was walking in silence next to me. I was talking to Ingrid, as she supported Mapi towards the bar. “Okay Maps, sober up or you will be left outside like a puppy.” I announced, and just like that; Mapi pulled herself together and sobered up as if she hadn’t seen alcohol in forever. We all entered in a line as the security checked us out. When Mapi passed, I could see one of the security guards raise their eyebrows, but he waived her through. We found a table consisting of high bar chairs, and we all grouped up around it. The music was beaming and there somehow wasn’t too many people inside yet. I went to order some drinks to the table, and when I came back there were no available chairs. However, that left me with one option. I walked to where Caroline was seated. The barchair making her even taller. I blinked my lashes in front of her, and smiled. “Care if I stand in front of you?” I asked as her eyes lit up. “Uhm, no no, sure, go ahead.” She stuttered as she didn’t want to seem to excited. I just smiled, she was so cute when she was visibly nervous. I pushed myself in front of her legs and leaned my hips towards her chair. Her breath was becoming heavier by the second, and her hands were slowly becoming more damp. I leaned my back towards her body, and she softened up in her posture. I could feel her hands slowly try to wrap around my waist, and I just let her do it at her own pace. As the night went on, the  drinks were flowing rapidly. Caroline never moved, she was guarding me like I was a puppy. It was cute, her hands got more and more comfortable as the night went on. It almost felt as if she was warming up to me? Caroline wasn’t really someone that liked to share her private life, she liked her privacy and people say that’s how she has been since she was young. 

As the night went on, I was getting more and more tired. I check my trusty sports watch. 02.45?! oh my, I was expected to be on a meeting tomorrow so I quickly texted the taxi driver from earlier that night. He confirmed the address, and said that he would be there in 5 minutes  as he was already close by. I stood up from my leaning position, and straightened my dress. “I’m gonna have to make it an early night.” I announced and I could see the disappointment in Caroline’s eyes. I had probably gotten 6 or 7 drinks down. Multiple of them being my favourite drink, strawberry daiquiri. Not a very lesbian like drink eh? 

One of the things with Caroline was that she had never really openly announced that she was lesbian or even bisexual. Naturally of course, as she was very private. People only knew what she wanted them to know about her. I turned my face towards Caroline, as a was already leaning between her tights. She looked at me with her big greyish blue eyes, and it melted me completely. I leaned in and hugged her tight. As expected she stiffened up like a stick, but after a few seconds she folded her long arms around me. My face was the same height as her upper abdomen, and I was just hugging her as best as I could. I looked up at her, and she looked down at me. I was admiring her when I blurred out, “Vil du dra med meg?”. Oh my. I thought to myself that this was a dumb decision. “Jeg mente egentlig å si; Vil du sitte på?” I corrected and tried to play it of cool. Luckily, i spoke Norwegian so that nobody but her could understand. Well, including Ingrid. «Ja» Caroline stuttered nervously “Gjerne”. She completed the sentence, and I grabbed her hand. “Alright Luce, girls, take it easy tonight. Drink water. And I’ll see you tomorrow” I announced as I dragged Caroline with me. I could hear the shock in the room when I dragged Caroline out towards the taxi. Mapi mumbled “What did she say to her?” And Ingrid shrugged “I don’t know Norwegian”. Mapi shot her an annoyed look, knowing very well that Ingrid’s first language was Norwegian.

The taxi ride was somewhat awkward as the taxi driver was trying to brighten the silences. I was just far too tired to even think, and I could feel the buzz from the alcohol. Caroline on the other had, didn’t have a drink. She said something about it ruining her restitution, and I naturally wanted to respect her. It was a Caroline thing to say, nobody took care of her physical health like Caroline. As the ride went on, I spotted my building. It was towering over the smaller buildings around it. I pulled out my purse to pay, and to tip the driver. But as I was fumbling with my purse, desperately trying to find my wallet, Caroline had already paid. “Ai!! Ayos mio! Mucho gracias!! The old man yelled ecstatically. I looked at Caroline who just shrugged. He turned towards me, and smiled as wide as he could. “This is a good woman! You keep her.” He spat out as Caroline blushed. “Thank you again, and good night” I smiled as a pulled myself out of the taxi.  We both got out and stood on the sidewalk as the taxi driver rolled down his window. “When you need a driver, I drive you! Just message me. Buenos noches, ladies.” he sang out with the biggest smile on his face. 

“What did you pay him?” I asked as he drove away. Caroline shrugged her shoulders, she was in fact a very humble person. “What he needed to be paid?” She tried, and I shook my head as I smiled. She had tipped well, and I knew because she wouldn’t let me see the receipt. “Do you wanna come up?” I asked her to break the awkward silence. “We can sit on my balcony, and have a some water or whatever you let yourself consume.” I joked, and she smiled a shy smile. “Uh. That would be nice.” She replied with eagerness in her voice. We walked towards the entrance, and I tapped my code on the little tab to be let in. In silence, we walk to the elevator and we took the elevator up to my floor. “Apartment 1802” I said as I once again tapped in my code. “The code is 3101, feel free to use it if you want.” I said as I was focused on tapping in my code. It wasn’t easy as I was a bit tipsy. We entered my apartment and Caroline stood there in shock taking it all in. “Wo-“ she started before I cut her off “it’s not my apartment, it’s the clubs. I just rent it, I could never in a million years buy something like this” I said ironically and laughed while I got two champagne glasses ready. I pulled out a Norwegian drink, Farris, on the counter. My grandparents had been there two weeks prior, and they brought me all my favourite snacks. I poured the drink into the glasses. “Here you go” I said as I reached it towards Caroline that was still admiring the apartment and the views. She turned towards me and said “I don’t drink alcohol” she started as I rolled my eyes. “Babe, it’s not alcohol! It’s Farris!” Her eyes widened. I was not too sure if it was because of the Farris part or because of the babe part. I had a habit of calling everyone babe, so I raised an eyebrow.  «Oh, thats actually my favourite drink” she said as she took a sip. I giggled, and suddenly I came to the realisation that I had watermelon in the fridge. Fresh juicy watermelon! I did a turnaround and ripped the fridge open. I pulled out the bowl I had previously cut up in triangles and walked towards the balcony. Caroline willingly followed me towards the stunning views. I sat down in one of chairs I had placed outside, and she slowly sat down beside me in awe of the sunset. “Here” I said, “Take some watermelon, it’s very hydrating.” I giggled as I pushed the box towards her. She smirked and grabbed a piece. “Sound like something I would say.” She said as she took a sip. Watermelon juice went flying everywhere! In her lap; her t-shirt and even at her socks. I giggled hysterically. I loved to laugh when I was sober, but when I was drunk? Oh boy, I giggled over anything. 

“Ah, faen” Caroline swore under her breath as I giggled while she was trying to run the pink liquid off her white top. Her face was slowly turning red enough to match the watermelon. “I should get home..” Caroline reluctantly said, and as if I had just found the cure for cancer, I stood up and sprinted towards my walk in closet. I grabbed my favourite lululemon hoodie considering it was the only piece of clothing that were oversized enough to fit her tall body. “Here” I proudly announced as she looked up. Her eyes widened when she saw the color of the item. “What!” I said “get the stick out of you ass” I said as I kept giggling. She shook her head and sighted. “I really should get going home” she mumbled as she poured down the last drop of Farris and stood up. “Oh really” I teased, “Do you have a secret girlfriend at home that is expecting you?”. Her face went red, and her eyes once again resembled an owl’s eyes.

I mentally slapped myself for saying it, and I instantly knew that I would regret this as soon as I sobered up tomorrow morning. “I-I” she said as she mumbled the last part of the sentence. “You what?” I asked nervously, could it be that she actually had a girlfriend? Or even worse, that she was only into men? I wanted to become one with the gorgeous wooden floor in the apartment. My train of thoughts were interrupted by her clearing up her voice. “I’ve never had a girlfriend, or a boyfriend, or anyone. I don’t really think I would like a boyfriend either as I don’t like men..” she said as I felt about 500 kg lighter. That cleared things up pretty quickly. “Never?” I asked curiously, “how come?”. She sighted again and looked more at the floors than on me. “I guess nobody has ever, uhm, you know, found me attractive or something.” she said as she swallowed for a second, visibly struggling with her words. We both went quiet for a while, and the silence was broken by my yawn. “Do you maybe wanna sleep over?” I suggested to see if she was interested. She nodded and I showed her my bedroom and the rest of the apartment. “I’m just gonna shower quickly, so I don’t smell of vodka.” I said as I headed for the shower. I had so many questions, so many things I was wondering about and so many thoughts. I was definitely a thinker, but I was also good with communication. Caroline was not the best with sharing her feelings and thoughts. Usually, the things she said sounded like she had planned to say it, especially on practice. I was thinking about how she had made friends, as I knew she was pretty close with Alexia, Oona and Mapi.

 My thoughts were rambling as I stood in the hot shower for what felt like ages. I popped on my pyjamas as I wanted to respect her and not be naked. My pj’s was a two piece set with a shorts and a tank top with spaghetti straps. It was a sheer pink color with lace on the edges, and it was somewhat revealing. I dried my hair with a towel, leaving it to air dry while I did a quick round of skincare. Skincare was so important to me, it made me feel good and I believe that if you feel good, you look good. I stepped out of the bathroom, and walked into my bedroom expecting to see Caroline in my bed. The shock on my face when I could find her, was rather disturbing. I looked around me, and anxiety started to boil. Had I done something? Did she get the wrong signal? Was she angry? My thoughts were cut off by a cough. A rather loud raspy cough which scared me shitless. All my senses activated, and I grabbed a hanger I had on my hook. I slowly walked into the living room to find nobody. I check out the bathrooms and the kitchen, even the walk in closet and the balcony. Nothing! Perhaps it was just a neighbour? I settled on that explanation and shuffled to the bedroom. 

As I walked to the bedroom, I wanted to grab myself an extra pillow from the guest room because I was not a fan of alcoholic reflux. I walked into the guest room and there she was in all her glory. “What on earth are you doing?” I asked her as a leaned towards the doorframe. She had a confused look on her face and tilted her head as she said “wasn’t I invited to sleep over?” I giggled and made myself a mental note to remember that she could not take a hint even if it was handed to her. “Yes, in my bed pretty girl” I said as a smiled and she suddenly became red again. “Oh, it’s just that.. I have never..I’m not into..” she started. I was just as confused as her about where this conversation was headed.

 It suddenly clicked in my mind. She this I’m trying to one night stand her! “This is not a one night stand” I said as I smiled and moved towards her. “I’m just trying to get to know you better, okay? I’m taking it slow with you.” I assured her as I reached my hand out. She took the blanket off her and grabbed my hand as she followed me to the main bedroom. “Besides I said, in this room; there is a big ass flatscreen” I said as we entered. She looked at it and nodded. We hopped into bed, and girl. She had never cuddled anyone in her entire life. She slid into the bed and was as stiff as a stick. “Do you need help?” I asked her and she nodded desperately. “Alright, this is how you cuddle. The big spoon is the one holding the other person. The small spoon is the one being held.” I stated as I turned myself around. She was laying flat on her back, so I curled up next to her on my side. “Then, you move this arm and hold in here” I stated as I positioned myself and her. I laid my head on her chest and held around her with my other arm as I was almost laying on my belly. She adjusted, and let out a releaved breath. “I think I like this” she said, and I lifted my head as I looked up at her. I smiled, and continued “this is cuddling. You can stroke my back, play with my hair, kiss the top of my head or just lay still.” I said as I yawned. She softened once again, and started breathing heavily. Then we both drifted off to sleep. 

#caroline graham hansen #woso imagine

[andypantsx3]

Deceiving the Duke | 4 | Todoroki Shouto

pairing: Todoroki Shouto x Female Reader

length: 3.1k of 30k words | 4th of 9 chapters

summary: When Camie Utsushimi elopes on the eve of her society debut, scandal threatens to destroy the family’s prospects. It’s up to you, a maid, to impersonate Camie throughout the Season, long enough that her elder sister can make a match. The only trouble? Lord Shouto Todoroki is also intent on making a match—and that match, quite impossibly, appears to involve you.

tags/warnings: romance, regency au, class differences, hidden identity/identity porn, aged up characters, eventual smut

A few weeks on, you received a reply from Camie.

It was a great luck that the Utsushimis employed so few staff, which meant that you were the servant in charge of collecting the post. You imagined Mrs. Utsushimi would have seized on the letter as soon as she caught sight of it.

It was addressed in Camie’s horribly girlish hand, and it opened in the most typical of Camie phrasings.

Y/N, my sweet foolish friend–

Your plot is hilarious but doomed and you should end it sooner rather than later. Mumsy should have never asked you for this, it’s sure to ruin you and ruin her, even if Caroline makes a match.

I would have always taken care of her, and Inasa has promised the same. Of course you will come live with us on Inasa’s estate, too.

You’ll find a way to put a stop to things, won’t you?

She’d signed her name below with an aggressively elaborate flourish, so you knew how upsetting she truly found the news.

Guilt settled in your stomach like a leaden weight.

You shouldn’t have undertaken this plot, obviously. You’d said as much in your original missive to Camie. But now that the scheme was already well underway, you thought it had to be seen through. Otherwise, what had all this been for? The Utsushimi family would be embroiled in scandal with absolutely nothing to show for it. And you doubted Mrs. Utsushimi would be so generous with your promised wages, were you to renege on your commitments now.

Carefully folding Camie’s letter and stowing it under your mattress, you decided you’d just have to redouble your efforts. Perhaps you would start accepting dances with gentlemen just to talk Caroline up, and mention her kindly to Miss Uraraka and Lady Asui.

You wished you’d taken the chance to mention her to Lord Shouto, before you’d caused the scene at Lady Cathleen’s party. If he wasn’t actually courting Princess Yaoyorozu, that was, as rumor seemed to suggest.

With a new plan in mind, you started your morning chores, mending the hem of one of Mrs. Utsushimi’s gowns where she’d torn it, starching the linens, picking seams on the latest of Camie’s dresses you planned to wear. You helped the family with breakfast and saw them off to the milliner’s, after which you changed their bedding and washed the old sheets. You were just settling down to get more work done on one of Camie’s gowns when a knock came at the door.

When you pulled it open, you found Lord Shouto on the other side, peering into the dim of the hallway. His mouth parted in surprise to see you, those mismatched eyes going rounder at the corners. You immediately panicked, slamming the door shut on him.

Fuck! You’d been dressed in your maid attire, not expecting the family to receive a caller! Your only grace was that the hall was very dim this time of the morning–you hoped he hadn’t been able to make out your dress in the dark.

“Um!” you called through the door, your voice strangled. “Forgive me, my lord, I am not yet properly attired! I will be right back!”

You dashed up the stairs, grabbing the latest of Camie’s gowns, quickly unlacing your apron and shedding your clothes, then stuffing yourself into the dress. Your fingers scrabbled over all the ties and buttons, shaky with nerves. You were back down the stairs in under two minutes, panting, hoping Lord Shouto wasn’t working himself into a state at being so rudely received.

When you pulled the door open again, however, he was wearing a curious expression. Those eyes picked over you, seeming to note every detail, and you self-consciously tugged at the skirts of your dress. You did not even want to think of the state of your hair.

There was a bouquet of flowers in his hand, sweet purple lilacs decorated with bursts of white clover. You squinted at the flowers, remembering Caroline had told you each had a special meaning, if you knew how to interpret them.

They looked too pretty to be declarations of your idiocy, however, so you guessed they might not be for you.

“I—you must be here to see, um, Caroline?” you asked. “I’m afraid she’s out at the moment–she should be back in a few hours, however–if you want to leave your card…”

Lord Shouto shook his head, stepping forward. “I am here for you.”

Your heart tripped over itself with his proximity, and you backed up a step, leaning back to look into his face. “I–-you are?” you asked stupidly.

The tiniest hint of a smile twitched at the edge of his mouth. “I came to see that you were well, after Lady Cathleen’s.”

Your stomach churned guiltily. That was really too kind, especially considering that you’d done nothing but fling snacks at him, ramble nonsense at him, and then pretended to faint on him. To say nothing of the fact that you were pretending to be an entirely different person than the one you’d introduced yourself as. And here he was, in your doorway still, looking at you carefully, as though he meant to catch you were you to faint again.

Now that he was here, it would not be so easy to refuse him. You backed out of the doorway, gesturing him inside. “Please come in. I can serve tea in the sitting room.”

Lord Shouto inclined his head and followed you inside. You lead him to the parlor, glad you’d neatened it, wondering at your own nerve–a servant, entertaining a duke, in a sitting room that was not her own.

“The maid is, um, indisposed today,” you told him. “I’ll make the tea myself, please make yourself comfortable.”

You left him to his own devices, darting to the kitchen. You’d hoped to run into the cook but she was also apparently out, probably at market, so you threw the kettle on and spent several long minutes rummaging around for the nice tea–-the kind Mrs. Utsushimi only served when she wanted to impress. You figured a duke would definitely meet her criteria for people worth impressing.

When you returned, Lord Shouto had left his flowers laying over the settee. He was at the mantle over the fireplace, glancing through the Utsushimis’ portraits and displayed needlework. That curious look was back on his face when he turned back to you, and his eyes seemed to rove over every inch of your face.

He looked strange, in fact, as though he’d just been confronted with a startling discovery. You flushed under his scrutiny, hoping you hadn’t missed a stain on your dress or some large rip in the fabric.

You hurried to the corner and set the tea tray down on the sideboard. Your skin prickled tellingly as he drew near, and you quickly poured him a cup and ordered him into a chair to get him away from you. You did not understand why his presence made you feel so strange.

You dared to pour yourself a cup of tea, too, and perched on a chair opposite him, luxuriating in how good the tea was compared to your usual fare.

“I, um, appreciate you calling,” you said to him, watching him settle into his chair, and trying not to pay too much attention to the way his thighs filled out his breeches, or the way his shoulders seemed to take up the entire width of the chair back.

Lord Shouto sipped at his tea, humming low in his throat. “Have you recovered, Miss Utsushimi?”

You nodded quickly. “Yes. It was just, um, a passing thing. I am completely fine.”

He looked satisfied, smiling softly into his tea cup. “I am happy to hear it.”

You noticed his lashes left long shadows over the tops of his cheekbones as he drank, and you pinched your leg through your skirts when you realized how deeply undue that observation was.

You quickly cast about for something to take your mind off of the way Lord Shouto looked sitting across from you.

“The flowers are pretty,” you said, glancing over at them. The purple of the lilacs looked especially deep against the lighter fabric of the settee–you wondered what purple lilac was supposed to mean, and which of the Utsushimis they were for.

Lord Shouto had said he was calling on you, but he’d not said the same of the flowers. It would be the height of conceit to think that they were also for you, especially given how completely unhinged you’d been with him to date. A man did not bring flowers to a woman who pelted him with snack cakes.

“Are they–-Caroline’s?” you guessed.

Another threat of a smile pressed at Lord Shouto’s mouth. “You speak as though you’ve never received flowers before.”

That arrested you. What did he mean, you? They were for you? You couldn’t help the way your mouth dropped open.

“I–me?” you asked, dumbfounded. “I’ve never—are you certain?”

Lord Shouto’s eyebrows went up, and there was a note of something amused in his deep tone. “I should hope so.”

You left your cup on the table beside you, unable to help the way you were drawn to the flowers. Your first bouquet! And probably your only, considering your prospects and the expense. But they were so lovely, and they smelled so bright and green and fresh.

A weird giddiness came over you, and you tried to squash the feeling down.

“I–Thank you, Lord Shouto,” you said, unable to help the embarrassingly touched note in your voice. “They are beautiful.”

Lord Shouto looked a little bit smug, you thought, as you fingered some of the petals, feeling their silky smoothness on the pads of your fingers. You’d have to put them in water. And maybe hide them in your room, if you got the chance. You doubted Mrs. Utsushimi would be pleased to discover Lord Shouto had brought you flowers, considering you were supposed to be keeping a low profile.

Which you were apparently utterly failing at.

You turned back to Lord Shouto, placing your flowers on the seat next to you, unwilling to be parted from them. It was probably strange, but you couldn’t find it in yourself to care quite enough to try to be normal about it all.

“They don’t mean something like learn Greek, do they?” you asked him suspiciously.

Lord Shouto laughed, out loud this time, low and easy, and the sound went straight to your head.

“They do not,” he said, but he did not elaborate on whether they did mean something. You made a note to try and look them up later.

You had the sudden, wild thought that a man bringing a woman flowers meant something more than you were currently accounting for. And it also dawned on you that you were a man and woman alone–-an impropriety by any of good society’s standards, regardless of the fact that your first meeting had been much like this as well.

“Caroline and Mrs. Utsushimi should be back soon,” you blurted out, as if to reassure him that you had no inappropriate designs on him.

Lord Shouto looked unbothered, watching you with those mismatched eyes over the rim of his tea cup. “It does not matter to me. I am not here to see either.”

There was something teasing in his tone that warmed you all the way to your toes, and you had to school your face so as not to betray how much that pleased you.

You tried to remind yourself that he meant nothing by it, and that this could be nothing, in the end. And now was as good a time as any to try and talk Caroline up, now that you had Lord Shouto in your clutches.

“Caroline is good company, it is a loss,” you said. “Have you met her?”

“In passing,” Lord Shouto said. “She’s never flung anything, so I’m afraid she did not make a significant impression on me.”

You laughed. “But a better one, I hope.”

Lord Shouto did not say so.

“You’ll remember how pretty she is, though,” you said insistently. “And she does read Ancient Greek, I think. She’s accomplished on the piano forte.”

“So her hobbies are not so secret as yours?” Lord Shouto asked.

You smiled. “She is rather more accomplished. I must hide my own in order to save myself the embarrassment.”

Lord Shouto leaned forward in interest. “You’ll tell me at least one? You are aware I am a trustworthy secret keeper.”

He looked so earnest, and his tone was so genuine, you couldn’t do anything but give him what he wanted. Much may it please him to learn.

“My chief hobby is reading–though obviously not in any ancient languages. I’m…quite fond of novels, actually.” You were mostly fond of them because Camie was fond of them, and they were the principal artifact she had been able to smuggle you. But you quite liked all the tales of adventure, cunning, and head-spinning romance. The only type of adventure you’d seen thus far was this hare-brained scheme of yours–and it would not end nearly so well as the stories in your novels did.

“I too, enjoy reading,” Lord Shouto obliged you. “Though not usually novels.”

You smiled. “I’ll recommend you some, though I can’t tell if you’d enjoy them. They’re a lot of nonsense.”

“I believe I told you,” Lord Shouto said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on those thighs. “I like nonsense.”

For some reason, your heart did a weird fluttering motion in your chest. Your cheeks heated, and you grasped your tea cup tighter, as if holding on for safety.

“Well, then,” you said. “I’m certain I can oblige you. I’ll send you a list, perhaps.”

Lord Shouto looked pleased, blinking long and slow like a cat in a sunbeam. “I’d quite like that.”

You took another sip of your tea to hide some of your face, trying to reign yourself in. You had not meant for this conversation to turn towards you–Caroline was the objective here. You wracked your brain for another segue back to her.

“I’ll ask Caroline to send along recommendations as well–though they won’t be novels,” you said. “Perhaps something in Greek may tempt you.”

Lord Shouto regarded you curiously. “Your recommendations do not stand on their own?”

You frowned at him defensively. “My recommendations are the finest,” you sniffed.

A tiny smile lifted the corner of his lips, like he’d caught you. “Then I need only accept yours.”

“But really–Caroline–” you started, but Lord Shouto cut you off.

“Miss…Utsushimi,” he said, pausing strangely over the name. “It is not Caroline’s opinions I seek. My attentions are yours, and yours alone.”

You froze, a spear of ice plunging into your heart. His attentions were yours? What could he mean–which attentions, exactly? That sounded quite terribly like an admission of interest–-romantic interest–-except that would be insanity itself.

He was so very noble, and so very handsome, and you were beginning to learn that he was so very kind. You were the most horrible match imaginable for him.

You’d have to make sure he understood it.

“Lord Shouto, you understand I do not mean to marry,” you said, testing the waters.

“You’ve intimated as much,” he replied, his tone low. “Though your reasons…remain a mystery.”

For some reason, his eyes cut back to the mantle, lingering strangely over the Utsushimi family’s portraits.

“I would be a poor choice,” you said. “You understand my shortcomings already.”

Lord Shouto’s features arranged themselves into a mask of polite incredulity. “You think all a man wants in a wife is her knowledge of ancient languages?”

A laugh burst out of you. “In part.”

A tiny smile threatened the corner of Lord Shouto’s mouth again. “I assure you there are other qualities one might desire.”

Yes, like needlework and piano forte and singing and such. Your talents lay elsewhere–and plenty undiscovered.

“I also understand that your hand is all but promised to Princess Momo,” you told him. You hoped he understood what you were implying–whatever attentions he had been referencing, he needn’t lavish them on you.

“Do you?” Lord Shouto said softly.

You nodded earnestly. Lord Shouto looked thoughtful but did not elaborate.

You wondered what he was really doing here, in the Utsushimis’ sitting room. If he meant for you to be a distraction, a shield against the other debutantes while he waited on the princess. Or if he was perhaps open to marriage.

You decided it could not hurt to continue to peddle your Caroline agenda. Whatever Lord Shouto’s reasons, you were not a suitable prospect for him. But if he was open to marriage, Caroline would be a good match.

“Still, I’d like you to meet Caroline,” you said. “I’ll introduce you at the Satos’ dinner next week.”

“If you like,” Lord Shouto said vaguely, but you could tell he had no interest in her. His eyes drifted back to the mantle, roving over the miles of needlework and colorful oils of the portraits.

You sighed, sensing the enormity of the task before you.

After that, Lord Shouto steered the conversation back into calmer waters, trying to ferret out more about you. You managed to turn a great deal of it back on him, learning more about his family. You were surprised to learn he was the baby of his family, as he’d inherited his father’s title.

He told you about his eldest brother, Touya, who’d disowned the family to join some antimonarchist group in the south, and his other brother Natsuo, who’d rejected the title to become a man of the cloth instead. He talked fondly of his mother and his older sister, Fuyumi, who he seemed to visit often.

You liked the way he spoke about the people in his life, with patience and intention—even Touya, who it was clear had bad blood with the rest of the family. You could have listened to him for hours, luxuriating in his low, soft tone, the occasional conspiratorial twitch of his mouth.

He really was unlike anything you’d expected from a duke.

Eventually the tea ran cold, and the real world called back to you both. You saw Lord Shouto to the door with both regrets and a resolution forming in the back of your mind.

Whatever his interest in you, you would redirect it to Caroline, and kill two birds with one stone–Caroline could make her match, and Lord Shouto would be made to see what a pretty, qualified wife could be like. You carefully ignored the large part of you that recoiled at the thought.

It did not matter what you wanted, and you wouldn’t let yourself think on it. Lord Shouto was good, and he should make a suitable match.

You would arrange it so Lord Shouto and Caroline got a happy ending, just like in your novels.

You would make absolutely sure of it.

#todoroki shouto x reader #todoroki x you #shouto todoroki x reader #shoto x you

[poemaseletras]

ENCONTRE UM AUTOR:

Envie sugestões. Leia uma citação no modo aleatório.

Autores Desconhecidos

Adélia Prado

Adrian Tchaikovsky

Affonso Romano de Sant’anna

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Andy Warhol

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Aristóteles

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Brigitte Nicole

C. JoyBell C.

C.S. Lewis

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Carol Rifka Brunt

Carolina Maria de Jesus

Caroline Kennedy

Cassandra Clare

Cecelia Ahern

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Cesare Pavese

Charles Baudelaire

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Hafiz

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Perina

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Phil Good

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Platão

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Raymond Chandler

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Richard Kadrey

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Stars Go Dim

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William Shakespeare

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Yasmin Mogahed

Yoke Lore

Yoko Ogawa

#frases #textos #citações #livros #autores #escritores #books

[gladosisstillalesbian]

happy caroline appreciation day 2024! have a fic originally written in 2019 👍

-

On her lunch breaks Caroline goes and sits in the chassis room. It’s off-limits to everyone but the engineering team, technically, but Caroline would love for someone to try and tell her to leave. Honestly, it would make her day.

She likes to stare up into that yellow bit that looks like an eye. It’s high enough above her that she can’t quite make it all out -her eyesight’s been going the past few years, she’s noticed- but she likes to think she can see herself reflected back. She likes to think she looks unafraid.

Caroline doesn’t think she’s afraid- she certainly doesn’t feel it. So maybe when Cave first brought it up she balked. But that was edging up on a quarter century ago, and things certainly look different to her now than they did at forty-five.

She didn’t think it would be this different without him, for a start.

Sure, her job’s still the same- on paper. But everything’s on paper, isn’t it? Sign this, fill out that, toss that one, mail it, file it, cash the check, approve the schematic. She watches every cog in the great machine turn, she feels each tooth grind and each spark fly and knows what needs oil and what needs time, and yet she does it from behind a wall of paper. She clocks in and clocks out and no one talks to her, she skims what she needs to get by from the books and no one notices, she even reads classified emails and hasn’t gotten one question about it. Cave’s the one who died and yet somehow Caroline’s the one who’s become a ghost.

Sometimes she considers hiring an assistant, but buying new toys to medicate boredom was always more Cave’s style.

She hears movement beyond the glass of the control room window and sees shapes through the tint- they’re watching her again. Cowards, Caroline thinks, and lights a cigarette (she’s taken up smoking again; when Cave died his intolerance for woman smokers went with him; it’s one of the few things she doesn’t miss). They let her take her time. After all, they’re taking plenty of their own. They have all the gear set up -she’s even seen the chair, medieval restraints and all- and the machine itself certainly looks ready, all shiny and white and massive, and yet she’s still here.

They’re scared of the procedure, she thinks. They’re putting it off. Not because of the ethics -Caroline is sure that some of them want nothing more than to strap her down and pump her full of Clonidine- no, she thinks they’re scared of her. They don’t like how much she knows about the robot- about its design, its mechanisms, their many trials and triumphs in getting the thing built. (It was mostly trials, something that draws a strange, almost parental pride out of Caroline.) She even knows how they want to go about the transfer. And they don’t understand how she could know all that, and know how badly they want it to hurt, and still go through with it.

She thinks even the kinder ones harbor a secret wish to see her run for the hills, the hysteria apparently inherent to her sex finally getting the better of her. She wonders if some of them dream of chasing her down.

But Caroline hasn’t run yet, and she has no intention to. In fact, she’s not even running now- look at her, she’s enjoying a nice smoke in the shade of the sprawling mechanical monster that has somehow become both her present and her future. She turns to look again into that as-yet-dim yellow eye, dangling above her like some great bird, and imagines what it might be like to look down instead of up.

-

Eventually, after some aggressive conferencing, one of the junior engineers is pushed through the doors to shoo the secretary out. He enters the chamber to find her standing directly underneath the chassis, gazing up at it like it’s about to say something important and she desperately wants to listen. Nothing new. He clears his throat, asks her to leave. He’s nice about it, or at least he feels that he is. He’s got nothing against her- she’s the one who smiled at him and gave him a pin for his backpack when he came for Career Day with his third grade class. He likes her.

He has to ask again- the first time she didn’t hear him, or maybe she pretended she didn’t. But after the second time she turns around and looks at him instead. Five more minutes, ma’am? he says, because he wants to be the good guy. Yes sir, she says, and he knows she isn’t actually in the robot yet but it still feels like an automated response. After that he goes back to his coworkers so they can tell him he tried, they know, she can be so difficult, but hey, that’s what the boss saw in her, right? And when five minutes is up he comes back to find her standing in the same spot, and in the quiet that settles around his hesitation he hears her say to the machine,

“It’ll be you, won’t it? It’s always been you.”

And now he thinks she’s really lost it so he goes to take her arm and escort her out, but before he can she turns on her heel and does it for him and the look she shoots him on the way out makes him wonder whether, once they upload her, the only thing that will change is how much is standing in her way.

#pa system #caroline #caroline portal #caroline appreciation day #archives

[undoing-anobrains]

you bring me home

part six

series masterlist

wc- 3.6K

They always seem to find each other in the moonlight. As if there's something instinctual and magnetic awoken in them once the pearlescent matter rises in the distance and the sun disappears from sight leaving an explosion of colour in its aftermath. In the dusk Matty can't resist the pull Caroline has over him - he treasures the stolen moments they share in the dim light.

Caroline had been trying to make the time to listen to the boys' latest album in its entirety without being interrupted but she was struggling. She'd heard the singles in the lead up as they were released and she was confident she knew the majority of the other tracks as well just from sharing the studio space with them for the past few weeks but she hadn't yet gotten the opportunity to listen to the final product.

She was the type of person who needed complete silence and darkness to properly absorb music, at least for the first listen, but she also felt rather embarrassed playing it around the boys. There was no reason for her to be because there was absolutely no shame in acknowledging her brother and her friends' talent and she would fully admit to being a fan but they had never witnessed her reactions to their music before. Even if he was her brother, she figured George would have been slightly concerned if he'd seen her reaction to 'I always wanna die (sometimes)' two years ago. The point being their music was a cathartic release for her but she didn't want her initial thoughts to be under the magnifying glass of half the band.

On a random Tuesday evening though her efforts were once again delayed because of Matty's arrival in her room. Lately he'd been turning up at her door earlier and earlier, sometimes to talk, sometimes just to content to linger in silence to be close to Caroline as she browsed journal articles. His head typically ended up on her shoulder and more often than not she found him following them as well. It was rather amusing when he'd ask her at the end 'what the fuck does hypofractionation mean?' and 'I don't know how you read this with a straight face love' when she was reviewing data on the acute side effects a potential breakthrough drug had on gut function.

This time though he was flicking through her belongings absent-mindedly until his fingers danced over the black bottle of nail varnish she kept on the wooden dresser alongside her makeup. Seconds later Matty was eagerly asking her if she'd do his nails and Caroline obliged because she'd never been able to say no to Matty. Not when she should have and certainly not now.

The nail polish let out loud clinks as they hit against each other inside the clear container she stored them in. Caroline placed it gently on her bed in between her and Matty. The potent smell of chemicals intensified as she slowly twirled the lid around until the bottle of black nail varnish was fully open. Taking Matty's hand in hers sent her spiralling. Her fingers brushed against Matty's constantly these days but neither of them had ever dared to be more intimate with it.

Honestly it was kind of insane that she was this receptive to the simple action of holding his band, a seemingly innocuous touch but it ignited an unexpected spark within her. The sensation, so subtle yet electrifying, sent a quiver through her fingertips and settled like a whispering secret in her chest. If only her seventeen year old self could see her now.

Their hands fit together like pieces of a puzzle, as if they were always meant to be intertwined in this way. She could feel the warmth of his palm against hers, a connection that spoke of unspoken understanding and a burgeoning affection. Her breath caught in her throat, a subtle shiver racing up her spine. Holding Matty's hand, her own artistically inclined fingers seemed to tremble with the touch, as if his warmth had triggered a symphony of sensations within her.

Her gaze flickered up from the task at hand, meeting Matty's eyes. His lips curled into a knowing smirk, a spark of playful mischief dancing in his gaze. He was aware – oh, he was all too aware – of the unsteady flutter that had taken residence in her chest.

"Steady there, Caro," his voice, a velvet caress, danced upon the air. "You make it seem like holding my hand is a monumental task."

Caroline's cheeks flushed, a rosy hue that mirrored the delicate patter of her heartbeat. "It's not that," she murmured, her voice betraying her flustered state. "It's just... I didn't expect..."

Matty's grin widened, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Didn't expect that holding my hand would send your heart into a frenzy?"

A soft huff of laughter escaped her, a mixture of embarrassment and fond exasperation. "Oh, fuck off, dickhead. It's not like I'm accustomed to... well, this."

His fingers curled gently around hers, a reassurance that echoed far beyond the playful banter. "I'm just messing with you. You're doing great, love."

She met his gaze again, a mixture of vulnerability and gratitude painting her features. "You know, you really have a way of making the simplest things feel... significant."

Matty's smile softened, his thumb brushing across her knuckles in a gesture that spoke volumes. "Maybe it's the significance we assign to them that matters most."

Caroline's breath caught at his words, the air between them thick with unspoken sentiments. "You're so pretentious, but I suppose you're right," she replied softly, her voice carrying the weight of a newfound understanding. "We have a way of infusing meaning into the smallest moments, turning them into something memorable."

Matty's gaze remained fixed on her. "It's like painting a canvas," he mused, his voice carrying a hint of wonder. "A single brushstroke can change the entire tone of a piece. And sometimes, the most unassuming strokes create the most profound beauty."

It never failed to astound Caroline how Matty could romanticise the smallest actions with words that would leave the poets weeping. Just one stroke could completely alter an artwork - just like one moment could forever change two people after years of build-up.

Cautiously she continued to flick the colour across each individual nail with as exact precision she could manage with ever so slightly trembling hands. Caroline could feel herself biting the inside of her cheek as she examined every little stroke ensuring it was as perfect as possible. Even though Caroline's hands were shaky they were nothing compared to Matty's. He could never stay still which made it way harder not to smudge the first coat of black polish. She repeated the process with each nail once they were dry before giving Matty a pointed look "Don't move them for the next ten minutes," and at the incredulous one he sent her in return she sighed "you'll fuck them up if you don't let it dry first and then they'll look like shit."

To her surprise Matty seemed to actually concentrate on keeping them still after that so Caroline asked something which had been playing on her mind recently in as casual a tone as she could manage "So, have you guys been planning any post-album release celebrations?"

Matty's eyes held a playful glint as he leaned back a little, clearly welcoming the diversion from the drying nail polish. "Yeah actually, it's been a weird one to figure out but when the rules lighten up a bit next week Ross, Hann and Carly are going to come out here for the night" he replied with a nonchalant shrug. "it's just going to be a chill little party with the boys, it's kind of weird you know - this is the longest we've ever been apart and I genuinely think if I hadn't had George here I would've gone mental."

“I get it," Caroline nodded "you lot are genuinely like brothers. It must have been really hard to be apart from them for this long. But the party's a good shout, we all need it."

Caroline was actually thrilled to hear the other half of the band were going to be joining them next week. Adam had been one of her closest friends for years now but she hadn't seen him or Ross in nearly a year now because of everything that had gone down and how busy work had been for her before that. The last time had been when they headlined Reading and she'd gone to support them.

“It has been," he nodded in agreement "but luckily I've had this really cool girl to keep me company."

"Oh yeah,? Caroline raised a brow "do tell me more."

"Well, this really cool girl happens to have an uncanny ability to make even the most mundane moments feel like an adventure. She's got this way of brightening up the room with just a smile, and her laughter is like music that you can't help but dance to. And even though she's got shit taste in wine I can't stop thinking about her."

Caroline was proud of how neutral she was able to keep her expression after the string of compliments, instead a playful smile tugged at the corners of her lips "sounds like quite the character. I bet she's a handful."

Matty's grin widened, his gaze locked onto hers. "Oh, you have no idea. She's a whirlwind of wit and charm, always keeping me on my toes. And seriously intelligent it's amazing - she's got this incredible depth to her, I've never met anyone like her."

Caroline felt a warm blush creeping up her cheeks, his words painting a picture she never quite saw in herself. "You're exaggerating, Matty."

He shook his head, the sincerity in his expression unwavering. "Not at all. You're one of a kind, Caro."

Their banter had taken on a more earnest tone, a subtle shift in the air that made their words feel weightier, more significant. As their gazes locked, a fleeting moment passed between them, an unspoken understanding that went beyond the playful façade.

"You're not so bad yourself, Healy," Caroline replied, her voice softer than before. "In fact, you're kind of growing on me."

Matty's laughter rang out, a warm and genuine sound that filled the space around them. "Growing on you, am I? If I recall correctly I think you're underselling it love."

Immediately deflecting, Caroline examined his nails which were luckily dry now so she could use it as an excuse "would you look at that," she remarked "my artistry is dry now so you can move again."

"Very convenient timing," he hummed with a small smirk "thanks love, I'll see you later."

He was infuriatingly pleased with himself for being able to rile her up and it showed with his giddy walk out of her room and smug expression. And Caroline was left with the realisation that she couldn't possibly deny that the feelings were reciprocated after that.

❦

Their interactions had become charged with an unspoken tension, a magnetic pull that neither of them could resist. Caroline would catch herself openly blushing at the double entendres that slipped from Matty's lips, and she'd respond with a witty retort that left him grinning. Their playful back-and-forths were a testament to the growing fire that burned brighter between them with each passing day.

Late nights in the studio turned into stolen glances and lingering touches. Matty's fingers would brush against Caroline's as they shared a laugh, and the electricity that sparked between them was undeniable. Their conversations grew more intimate, delving into deeper topics as they shared their hopes, dreams, and fears. It was as if they had built a bridge between their worlds, allowing them to cross into each other's thoughts and feelings.

And then there were the stolen moments—those fleeting instances where their eyes would lock and time seemed to stand still. In those moments, they communicated without words, a silent exchange of emotions that left them both breathless. Yet, despite the undeniable chemistry that simmered between them, they both held back. It was as if they were standing on the edge of a precipice, gazing into the depths below, unsure of whether to take the plunge. Fear of crossing that line and risking their friendship held them back, even as their hearts yearned for something more.

But the tension was becoming too much to bear, the unspoken words hanging in the air like a melody waiting to be sung. As they sat in the studio one evening, the dim light casting shadows across their faces, it was as if the universe itself conspired to push them closer together. Matty's fingers brushed against Caroline's hand, his touch lingering longer than usual, and she looked up at him with a mixture of vulnerability and longing.

Their eyes locked, and in that moment, the world around them faded away. The unspoken words hung heavy between them, and it was as if they were teetering on the edge of a precipice once more. The uncharted territory of their feelings was both exhilarating and terrifying, and they could no longer ignore the undeniable truth that had been building between them.

Matty would strum a few chords on his guitar, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race. He'd playfully croon a line or two, his voice low and seductive, leaving her momentarily breathless. Caroline, never one to back down from a challenge, would respond with a teasing smile, her voice laced with a hint of suggestion.

"Is this your way of serenading me, Healy?" she'd quip, her fingers tracing patterns on the edge of the mixing board.

Matty would chuckle, his eyes never leaving hers. "Maybe, Caro. Or maybe I just can't resist showing off for you."

Their playful exchanges were like a secret language, a way of communicating their growing feelings without the need for overt declarations. Matty's touches became more lingering, his fingers brushing against hers when passing her a cup of coffee or playfully tousling her hair. Caroline found herself leaning into his proximity, relishing the warmth of his presence and the electricity that crackled between them.

Nights spent in the studio became their haven, where they shared whispered confidences and private jokes that only they understood. Matty would strum his guitar while Caroline lounged on the couch, their eyes locking in a silent understanding that transcended words. And when the music faded, it was replaced by a charged silence, a moment permeating unspoken desires.

❦

Their game of flirtation reached its pinnacle during a game night that Louis had organized. The atmosphere was relaxed, the laughter contagious as they played rounds of charades and board games. Matty's eyes seemed to follow Caroline's every move, his gaze lingering on her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

During a particularly competitive round of Monopoly where they'd been secretly robbing money off of George all night, Matty leaned in close to her ear, his voice low and sultry. "I have a feeling we'd make a pretty good team in private too, Caro."

Caroline's breath caught, her heart racing as his words sent a rush of heat through her veins. She shot him a playful glance, her lips curling into a smirk. "Oh, is that right? Are you suggesting we team up for some private games?"

Matty's lips quirked up in a mischievous smile. "You have no idea what kind of games I have in mind, Caro."

Their eyes locked in a charged moment, the air between them thick with unspoken promises. And as the game night continued, their flirtation took on a new level of intensity, a dance of desire that left them both exhilarated and yearning for more.

In the midst of their playful banter and lingering touches, they both knew that the line between friendship and something more had blurred beyond recognition. The studio, once a place of music and creativity, had become a canvas for their emotions, a space where their hearts were laid bare through stolen glances and whispered words.

And as the days turned into nights, and the flirtation evolved into something deeper, they found themselves standing at the edge of something beautiful and unknown, on the precipice of crossing the boundary from friendship to romance. The studio's walls held the echoes of their laughter, their music, and the unspoken promise of what could be—a love story in the making, written in notes and lyrics, and sealed with stolen glances and tender moments.

Caroline's heart raced, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue. "Oh, is that so?" she replied, her voice a playful whisper. "Are you suggesting that we're becoming dangerously close?"

Matty's lips curved into a smug smile. "I wouldn't say dangerously," he countered, his tone dripping with flirtatious charm. "But definitely... intriguingly close."

Their banter was a dance of words, a playful exchange that carried with it a magnetic pull. With each passing day, their boundaries blurred, and what had started as friendly teasing began to hold a deeper resonance.

One evening, as they lounged in the living area of the studio, Caroline let out a contented sigh. "You know," she said softly, her gaze fixed on the flickering flames in the fireplace, "I never thought I'd find myself in a place like this."

Matty's gaze shifted to her, his expression curious. "What do you mean?"

Caroline turned to meet his eyes, a genuine smile gracing her lips. "I mean, in the company of someone who makes me feel... seen, appreciated. It's been a long time since I've felt this way."

Matty's fingers brushed against hers, a gentle touch that sent a shiver down her spine. "Caroline," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight of sincerity, "you deserve to be with someone who sees your worth and appreciates you for who you are."

Their eyes locked in a moment of quiet understanding, and Caroline felt her heart swell with a mixture of vulnerability and hope. In that instant, the flirtatious banter, the shared laughter, and the unspoken emotions came together to form a tapestry of connection that felt undeniably real. And as the future remained uncertain, one thing was clear: they were no longer just friends; they were two souls entwined in a journey of discovery, where each stolen glance and whispered word carried the promise of something more.

The studio held its secrets like a silent confidante, the walls witnesses to the clandestine dance between Matty and Caroline. Their newfound connection had blossomed into something they both yearned for, a tender and exhilarating romance that sent their hearts racing with each stolen moment.

It was a game of secrecy, of stolen glances across the room when they thought no one was looking. Matty's fingers brushed against Caroline's whenever they passed each other, a fleeting touch that left her skin tingling with anticipation. Their conversations were laced with double meanings, every innocent word carrying a hidden subtext that only they could decipher.

Late nights took on a new intensity. As Louis and George retired for the evening, Matty and Caroline found themselves alone, the world reduced to the confined space where music and emotions intertwined. They would sit side by side on the couch, their shoulders brushing against each other, as they whispered secrets that only the night could hear.

"I can't believe we're sneaking around like teenagers," Caroline would murmur with a soft laugh, her eyes locked onto the moonlight streaming through the window. Thinking of how she would have freaked if she'd known this was how things would end up with Matty all those years ago.

Matty's hand would find hers, their fingers entwining in a silent promise. "It's like our little secret," he'd reply, his voice a low, intimate whisper that sent shivers down her spine.

Caroline would often find herself perched on a stool, her eyes fixed on Matty as he played. The way his fingers moved across the strings held a hypnotic quality, as if the music was an extension of his soul. And when he looked up at her, the intensity in his gaze left her breathless, a silent acknowledgement of the unspoken connection between them.

They would steal kisses in the dimly lit corners of the studio, their lips meeting in stolen moments of tenderness and longing. Every touch was electrified, every glance a promise of what was to come. It was the result of what felt like a lifetime of yearning and restraint, a beautiful torture that neither of them wanted to end. Like the contents of a snow globe come to fruition and Caroline found it almost impossible to believe something so inherently beautiful and sacred could be hers, could be theirs - and only theirs.

taglist: @indierockgirrl

#everybody cheered #the long awaited ybmh 6 #ross and hann are making their debut next time :) #abby writes #you bring me home #the 1975 #george daniel #ross macdonald #adam hann #the 1975 fanfic #matty healy #matty healy fic #matty healy x oc #matty healy fanfic

[the-faceless-bride]

~~A new grave has been put in today please welcome our new arrival~~

Save The Show

You were never in the spotlight, your nerves would always get the better of you. You would stumble, mumbled, voices stuttered and cracked, and you became a mess.

But... That was only when you were in the spotlight, you felt more comfortable in the shadows. Nothing but dim light and darkness around you, letting everyone melt away getting lost in the music.

But even that came with its issues...

You were currently finishing up your hair, today you were getting ready for a final rehearsal before the show tonight.

You and your group were given the rare opportunity to perform in the Palais Garnier opera house, and everyone was ecstatic and even some jokes and half wishes of being given the chance to see and meet the Phantom.

While spotting the Phantom would be cool and might even amaze you, you had your skepticism about the whole Phantom bit. People have said and done crazy things for fame before, who's to say this isn't some elaborate scheme to attract attention?

You sigh letting the spray set in your head of curls bouncing a few to be sore they wouldn't fall out while you were dancing and moving around. Some of the curls were tight and well-placed others were a bit messy and fell from their original place but even if you'd prefer they stayed the way you placed them, you couldn't help but think the look gave you some character and you never minded that.

With that, you let onto the stage; taking your place with your partner Angel, his hazel eyes looking you over before he smiled fixing a curl and letting it fall over your face and you laugh.

You and Angel had always been best friends, the blonde male was handsome and needed a girl friend to help him mask his secret, and you were happy to help. It kept pesky sleazy pigs called men away from you and helped him keep his reputation by keeping his homosexuality a secret.

However, your smile drops when you almost fall over from a force bashing into your shoulder, looking over to see the star, the main attraction, the one and only muse known as a strawberry blonde beauty with a body to die for by the name of Caroline.

You and she never seemed to get along, you were fine and friendly at the start, but when you were cast as the leading role and her the understudy that friendly conversation turned to spiteful comments, you didn't even want the main role anyway that wasn't the role you applied for... So after lots of begging complaining, purposefully lessening yourself, and talking more than usual about how you've never sung Oprah before and how you would most likely mess up the show, you were placed in the background and Caroline became the star... But that didn't seem to calm her nerves any less...

You took a breath before getting in position for your dance, your voice was one of three background singers that were meant to harmonize with the lead but not overpower the lead or take the spotlight away from her.

But getting lost in the music can make it difficult...

You close your eyes letting Angel lead the dance as you sing your heart out, you had never sung in Oprah before this, but having taken advice from a mentor and getting lessons and now your first show was meant to help open you to more musical opportunities and you were glad you took the advice.

The music was hauntingly beautiful and the motions felt so touching and intimate, letting it flow through you. Almost gone... The only thing holding you to the stage... The world... The feeling of Angles arms grounding you.

Singing your notes, pouring all you had into it when suddenly... The music stopped.

Your eyes flew open and a frustrated sigh sounded throughout the empty theater, Coraline's eyes burning holes into your soul.

The instructor pinches her nose with a huff, "Darling... How. Many. Times do I have to tell you to keep your voice in check?! You keep singing over our main lead! As much as I appreciate your enthusiasm you are not the star here, you had the chance and you threw it away! Now, please!"

You mumbled an apology keeping your head down, hearing a scoff from Coraline.

The instructor huffs looking at you with a disappointing stare, whether it was because you couldn't follow her instructions or the fact she wanted you as lead but you turned it down was beyond you.

"From the top."

This was it the night of the show and you get like throwing up, but reminding yourself that in the shadows no one would notice you calmed you down only if a little...

The show was running smoothly, you danced when it was your part, sang, and gave Coraline props when your choreography had you do so.

It was all going so well... Until it wasn't.

Once the show hit an intermediate for the set and costumes to change it all went downhill.

The scene was the lead and the male love interest meeting at a ball and falling in love... However, when it was the lead's role to get on stage...she didn't show.

You weren't even on stage and you knew that by now Coraline aka the leading role was meant to be dancing her way through the crowd of dancing guests to get to the prince, so where was she?!

You were getting antsy and didn't was the night to be ruined, frantically asking where Coraline was before the final cue was given and it became clear to the audience something wasn't going right in the show.

But only getting answers of shrugging and frantic "I don't know"s and " I haven't seen her"s and running very low on time left you finally get the answer of "I saw her giggling with one of the guys meant to be in the background before she ran off with him, she must not realize that the halftime was over." Time was up, you panicked slipping on the lacy overlay on your ruffled dress and throwing on the leads mask before rushing out in the hope no one would notice, and the show wouldn't burn to the ground.

The back dancers didn't seem to notice the change in actress mid-way, but the man playing the prince did. But him seeing the frantic look and no sign of Coraline he got the idea of the situation and carried on as planned.

With your nerves and adrenaline pumping through you, you were able to get through the song to get to the next scene, you knew you were going to pay for your panic and stealing the spotlight bit you had to save the show.

But it wasn't all for nothing, because while most people were too entranced by the whole play to notice the switch in that scene, someone did.

He sat in his booth, his eyes only on you... Erik felt his breath hitch, you had stolen his breath away... Well... At least you would've if he had any...

(Might make a part two...)

#slasher imagine #slashers x reader #slasher headcanons #slasher x reader #slasher imagines #erik the phantom #erik destler x reader #the phantom x reader #the phantom of the opera

[adidastain]

never say never

90s trey parker x fem reader

warnings: vomit mention, cheating mention

notes: first person perspective (I, me, my, etc.), part one

word count: 2622

—

“This is definitely raw,” I whispered to myself, sighing heavily. I prodded at the piece of chicken on the plate in front of me with my fork, trying my best not to look absolutely repulsed. It smelled good. It just didn’t look white enough on the inside for me to trust it. 

Granted, I knew absolutely squat about cooking, so maybe I was wrong. There was a good chance my appetite was just gone, having been completely miserable throughout the entire four hours of this wedding so far. 

Everyone was all gathered on the dance floor, having the time of their lives. I knew I needed to put some food in me, and I was exhausted, so no dancing for me. Especially not in these heels. 

That being said, I was sitting at my table, alone. I watched my sister and her newly wedded husband dance around in circles, bumping into other couples every so often. What a total circus. 

I sighed, getting up with my plate to pick out something else to eat. Most of the options were torn through already. I decided to play it safe and avoid meat, so I settled for some asparagus. It really isn’t as bad as a lot of people preach. 

I really wanted a cigarette. 

“Hey,” I heard a voice from behind me. A hand lightly nudged my arm, just out of reach. 

It was Trey, one of the groomsmen. He was my partner when we walked down the aisle, meaning we’d had quite a lot of time to get to know each other a little during rehearsals and parties and whatnot. 

“Hey,” I said calmly. 

“Where have you been?” he asked me, smiling. “I’ve been shakin’ ass for like, thirty minutes. All by myself.”

I rolled my eyes. “My feet are killing me,” I said, looking at him with the most innocent eyes I could muster. 

I knew Jimmy, my sister’s new husband, had known Trey from like, way, way back. Apparently they’ve been friends since they were 14. I also learned from Jimmy that Trey used to get so nervous when talking to girls that he’d have to go to the restroom and throw up. Part of me wondered if that was still something he struggled with. Probably not; I could tell Trey was a huge flirt. He’d just be torturing himself all the time if that were the case.

Trey’s blue eyes looked dark in the dim light. The only thing illuminating the dining space was the soft glow of tea candles at the centerpiece of each table. It was quite romantic. 

“You can dance. C’mon. At least just one song,” Trey insisted, bargaining with me as he followed me back to my table. “Please?”

I felt just a little bit bad, but I really did not want to dance. I know it’s horrible, but I kind of wanted my sister to notice what an awful time I was having. She was older than me and had spent most of our childhood bullying and tormenting me, so I was a little bit of a fiend for validation and care from her. 

It also didn’t help that she just married my ex-fiance. But, you know, it’s all good. Whatever. 

“I don’t know,” I mumbled, having sat back down. I stared down at my food, having lost my appetite yet again. 

“Can I at least sit with you?” Trey asked me. I nodded, clearing my belongings off of the chair next to me so he could sit. He’d ditched his blazer somewhere and was now just left in a white dress shirt with no necktie or anything. I have to say, he looked pretty handsome, the first few buttons of his shirt undone, hair all messy and whatnot. 

Trey sat with me and watched everyone scream the lyrics of Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond while I worked on my asparagus, nibble by nibble. He was a nice guy. He always sort of stuck to my side, hanging out with me whenever we had free time during the wedding rehearsals. He always came dressed in pajamas with some stubble on his face. Tonight was the first time I’d seen him looking so sharp and dapper. 

After the song was over, he turned towards me again. 

“You don’t like weddings,” Trey stated, resting his head in his palm. 

I didn’t look up from my plate, shaking my head as I slowly chewed and swallowed the vegetable. It was becoming increasingly more difficult to eat. 

“How come?” he asked me. 

“It’s a long story,” I said quietly. “And I don’t wanna ruin your night. Or Jimmy’s. Or Amy’s, for that matter.”

“Well, you already ruined my night. By being a party-pooper.”

I scoffed, looking at him and rolling my eyes. He was just teasing me. He did that a lot. 

“Just give me the short version,” he continued, scooting closer to me. Trey was sitting on the edge of his seat, his knee rapidly bouncing with anticipation. 

A heavy sigh escaped me and I dropped my fork. I rubbed my temples, taking a deep breath, before tucking my hair behind both ears. 

“Someone here stood me up at the altar,” I huffed, putting my hands in my lap. I gave Trey a look that read something along the lines of, Are you happy now?

He tilted his head and furrowed his eyebrows. “Who? When?” he asked. 

“I thought you said you wanted the short version,” I said. 

“Well, now I’m curious. I wasn’t expecting that. Tell me more,” he pressed, leaning closer to me. 

I sighed through my nose, looking down at my lap. I swallowed and started picking at my fingernails. 

“You can’t tell anyone,” I said. “Not that they don’t know already, it’s just… I don’t wanna bring up old shit, y’know?”

“Yeah, yeah. I gotcha. Just tell me,” Trey said. God, why is he so eager?

I took a deep breath, letting my forehead sit in my hands to avoid making eye contact with him. I knew his response wasn’t going to be to hug me and tell me that I had every right to be miserable, but part of me really wanted his consolation. I wondered if telling him this would revoke his status as someone I felt safe with here. The only person I felt safe with here. 

“I was supposed to get married last March. To Jimmy,” I mumbled. I felt like curling up into a ball and hiding under the table. I wanted to be buried alive at that moment. 

“You have to be joking,” Trey said quietly. 

“I’m not joking.”

“I didn’t know Jimmy was a fucking idiot,” he laughed.

I hummed. “Yeah. He’s the idiot,” I repeated.

“I mean, at least you didn’t have to go through all that court bullcrap, right?” he said. “Divorce fucking sucks.” 

I’d somehow ended up subconsciously gripping my hair to the point of it almost being ripped out of my head. Trey probably didn’t mean to stress me out so much, but I wished he’d been more sensitive about it. I thought I’d gotten over it until rehearsals started happening. 

I don’t even think I was mad at Jimmy anymore. I was just mad at myself. I felt like a complete idiot about the entire thing. I looked like a complete idiot too; I’d gotten into my dress and had my hair and makeup done and all, and I didn’t have a single second thought the entire time leading up to the actual ceremony. I really underestimated my naivety that day. 

“Hey,” Trey hummed. 

I sighed and looked at him. I didn’t tear up at all. I was just irritated. I felt sick and Trey wasn’t being helpful whatsoever.

I noticed his throat shift slightly as he swallowed. “We don’t have to dance,” he said softly. “It sucks that you have to kinda relive everything.”

“And everyone knows. Almost every single person here was invited to my wedding. It’s fucking embarrassing,” I said quietly. “And no one wants to bring it up because it’s old shit. It’s like I’m on a fucking island.”

Now I felt my throat tighten. I still felt safe with Trey. Thank God. 

I wondered why Jimmy didn’t invite him to our wedding or ever have me meet him. Maybe they just weren’t in touch then. 

There was a brief moment of silence where Trey sat, staring at me. I looked at him, and once our eyes met, he quickly averted his gaze down to his hands. 

“My ex-fiance cheated on me,” he told me, giving me a small empathetic smile. 

I swallowed as our eyes met again. I felt his warm hands gently take mine. 

“With an a-capella singer,” he grimaced. “‘N I said, ‘Fuck you, Liane. I’m gonna make a movie because you cheated on me.’” 

“You made a movie?” I repeated. 

“Yeah, man. It’s totally sweet,” he laughed. “A humble prospector, Alferd Packer, and his party are led to certain doom by his disloyal horse, appropriately named Liane. It’s a musical.”

I shook my head, laughing. 

“I have to humble myself sometimes, ‘cause if she didn’t cheat on me, I probably wouldn’t have my career,” he laughed sheepishly. 

“And I’m here with my waitressing job while my sister’s out cutting Jennifer Aniston’s hair every month. And you’re a filmmaker,” I laughed, though there was nothing funny about anything I was saying. 

“Well I think Jimmy’s an asshole anyway. Don’t tell him I said that,” he said, scooting closer to me again. His knees were now crazing mine. 

I hummed, resting my head against my palm. Trey still held one of my hands, gently tracing over my knuckles with his thumb. 

That’s when I heard Forever Young by Alphaville ring through the venue. Suddenly I was sent way the fuck back to my senior prom.

I gasped softly. I really did love this song. Even if I sat by myself in the corner, sipping on some sparkling beverage while I watched all my classmates with their dates. 

Trey had become very invested in scraping a stain out of the pristine white tablecloth and seemed very shocked when he noticed me stand up. 

“Up,” I said, flapping my hand to beckon him to join me. “Stand up. This is your one dance.” 

I quickly slid my heels off and suddenly realized how tall Trey was. His hands tentatively slid onto my waist, holding me in place as I kicked off my second heel and held onto his shoulders. 

My gaze had been focused on the floor and our feet, so my heart almost jumped out of my chest once I looked up at him and saw how close his face was to mine. I could see all of his freckles in the warm orange light of the tea candle a few feet away, accompanied by the occasional purple strobe from the dance floor. 

Trey grinned, flashing his fang-like snaggletooth. He quickly smothered his smile however, instead pursing his lips together and swallowing harshly. 

“Hi,” he hummed.

What a dork.

I subtly rolled my eyes. “Hi,” I said, trying not to smile at him. I could see his cheeks starting to turn a shade of pink. I guess it was kinda cute. 

We started swaying, and Trey opted to hold one of my hands while his other held my waist, like a traditional ballroom dance. “You come around here often?” he said, smirking with raised eyebrows. 

“No,” I giggled, swallowing. 

“Me neither,” he whispered. I noticed his eyes dart down to look at my lips for a split second. 

He swallowed again, gently intertwining his fingers with mine. I could barely breathe; my stomach was in knots and my heart was beating a million miles a minute. This was like my high school dream come true. I really felt like a teenager again. Just for a moment. 

I looked down to make sure he wasn’t close to stepping on my toes. I decided to just stand on his feet instead, putting me up a little higher and infinitely closer to him. 

“Did they play this at your senior prom?” I asked him softly. 

“No,” he said, smiling. “Good thing, though. I’d be in shambles right now.”

“Why?”

“Guess who my date was,” he said.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “I didn’t have a date,” I told him. 

“You do now,” he whispered. 

I swallowed. Somehow Trey made me feel less alone than anyone else ever had in my entire life. I always felt alone when I was with Jimmy. We were really different. 

I knew I was pretty… unconventional. Weird. Just really, really awkward all the time. I never really had anything to talk about unless it was something I was actually interested in, so small talk was a fucking nightmare for me. Trey made me feel so much more normal. 

Trey cleared his throat, looking down as he leaned a little closer. “I haven’t gotten the chance to tell you how pretty you look tonight,” he whispered shyly. 

“Thank you,” I whispered. 

At that point, the song was unfortunately coming to a close. It was a short song. That was the worst part about it. 

Trey and I just swayed back and forth, spinning around in a circle slowly to the pace of the song. Our eyes never left each other. Only after the song ended did he let go of my hand, a very sad look on his poor, sweet face. 

I felt cold as I slipped out of his arms, my heart still racing from the adrenaline. Trey gave me a small smile and I backed away from him. 

I looked away as I heard the crowd around the dance floor erupt in a fit of loud cheers for all the couples who danced together. It was startling and obnoxious. I fucking hate weddings. 

“C’mere,” I heard Trey hum with a soft, mischievous grin on his face. One of his hands tenderly slid up to caress my cheek, while the other gently grasped my forearm. I let him pull me closer, knowing full well what he was about to do and welcoming it with open arms. 

With racing hearts and withheld breaths, Trey and I came together in a slow, gentle kiss, like we were testing the waters. The hand he held my arm with quickly made its way up to my neck. His lips were warm and moved with care and patience. I didn’t hear or feel him breathing, until he let out the heaviest exhale he could muster after holding his breath. His body relaxed, bringing him even closer to me. 

I pulled away, looking down at his chest. I swallowed. 

“What’s wrong?” he asked nervously.

“I don’t know if we’ll ever see each other again,” I whispered. 

“Well… why not?” he asked again, his voice soft as a feather.

“I live in Seattle, Trey,” I told him, laughing sheepishly. 

I watched his body deflate like he was defeated. His hands had left my face and now rested idly at his sides. 

“I don’t care,” he whispered. “I’ll definitely see you again.”

“You realize that I am never going to visit my sister, right?” I laughed. 

“You realize we both have phones, right?” he retorted, teasing me. “And cars?”

I shook my head. Whatever. I guess I could just enjoy the moment with him. 

But I wanted to see him again. I wanted to see him tomorrow and the day after and the day after that. Nothing compared to the way he’d made me feel the past few days and I didn’t want that to be gone so soon. 

“We’ll figure it out. I promise,” he whispered, softly kissing me again.

#i’m totally not projecting #i love trey #trey parker x reader #trey parker #fanfiction #fluff #matt stone #x reader #baseketball #fem reader #smut #cannibal the musical #mattrey #orgazmo #angst

[365filmsbyauroranocte]

Une histoire d'eau (Jean-Luc Godard & François Truffaut, 1961)

#Une histoire d'eau #Jean-Luc Godard #Godard #François Truffaut #Truffaut #1961 #quote #poetry #baudelaire #Jean-Claude Brialy #Caroline Dim #A Story of Water #black and white #short film #nothing #words #sky #eyes #tears #Charles Baudelaire

[garglyswoof]

💌 send this to the twelve nicest people you know or who seem to have a good heart and if you get five back you must be pretty awesome. 💌 :)

Hey sorry you get this because I sat down to write the fantasy you suggested and this slightly time shifted canon divergence came out instead? I blame this song for the entirety of this short fic.

He was lost for words when it came to her, so he committed the image to memory instead, mentally cataloging the shades he would use to tease out the blue of her dress and her eyes. She commanded the room with her presence, in a way that raised his hackles when the thoroughly charmed males in attendance followed her with their gaze. He heard her words from earlier in his head, “Ground rules for tonight? No killing my classmates,” and regretted his swift acquiescence as he attempted this whole “friends” endeavor. 

They would never be friends, but he would allow her some time to figure that out on her own. He knew, for now, that the idea of it made her feel safe, but he still noticed her eyes searching for him in a way that belied simple friendship. She gave a small wave as their gazes met and he smiled at her, the tiny joy of it a bright thing in his chest, growing more as she gestured him over.

“You’re not talking to anyone! Why aren’t you mingling?” 

Safe, she may see him as, but it was certainly not beneath him to remind her of that day out in the woods, as he did now, a careful brush of his lips to the lobe of her ear. Accidental, you see, the room was loud with both music and conversation, he must get in close to speak, of course.

“Just admiring a work of art, love.” He felt more than heard the catch in her breath, watched the flush of her skin near her pulse point. Desire flooded him but he pushed it back until it sat just behind his eyes. She spun away from him and he looked up at her through lowered lashes, his mouth parted as he watched her expectantly. 

She fiddled nervously with the bracelet - his, he noted with a sense of fierce possession. The bloom was still bright in her cheeks as she asked, “How do you think it’s going?”

He had no idea, his focus had been singular this evening. 

He took a moment to gaze around the hall, decorated with snowflakes and stars that Klaus had heard firsthand took “a gajillion years to cut out because that’s not something you can do with vampire speed, ok?” Soft lights glowed amongst the cloud-like tulle that climbed up the columns that segmented the hall, and the walls were draped with soft shades of icy blue and white. His eyes returned to her face, her expression hopeful and a little anxious.

He didn’t regret breaking his vow. 

“It’s beautiful, love. The finest winter ball Whitmore College has ever seen.” He watched her eyes shift from disbelieving to shrewd to pleased in the course of a sentence, and his fingers twitched, desperate to capture her expression. He hid it with a raise of his arm, a clear request in it.

“Why yes, I would love a dance,” she said, her voice exaggerated in its graveness, lifting her arm and proffering it to Klaus, who clasped her hand and kissed it, his eyes dancing. He felt the spark at their touch, saw the light in her eyes as if it was arcing over to him in a blessing. She laughed and he felt a familiar sense of violence rush through him, an urge to destroy something, anything, anyone she wanted - give him a target, give him a reason he needed to get this feeling in his chest out.

It was almost poetry, how the world chose that moment. The hall, drenched in light, then suddenly gone but for the pinpricks in the tulle. Shrieks as confused senior classmen stumbled through the darkness, Klaus’s eyes adjusting fast but not fast enough. Caroline was not standing across from him, not smiling at him. His - her bracelet lay on the ground, almost lost in the dim light. He threw his head back and the violence took a new path as his roar was met with terrified screams. He tore through the crowd, uncaring, following the faint scent of her perfume, tearing the heart out of a brawny senior who had made the fatal mistake of drenching himself in Hugo Boss - the stench was cloying and overriding hers. 

He caught the sliver of light at the edges of a door closing and let the rage build. This, this was his lot. This was familiar, the rage, but never forget he’d had a thousand years to make a thousand plans to destroy whomever crossed his path. This time, even through the whirling of his mind as he pushed through the door and scanned the parking lot, this felt different. Skeletal trees, the sentinels of winter, bent in the howling wind as he pulled his phone out and flashed a dozen texts before it hit him.  He heard his own voice in his head, mocking thousands of others before him, the words branded across his mind as if dark ink on a page; love is a vampire’s greatest weakness. The pain in its own way worse than a witch’s spell. But he was used to pain, after all, he broke every bone in his body willingly as he did so now, his eyes the golden glow of a sun’s last rays of the evening, his features blurring and shifting until his wolf howled long into the night. It sounded like both a promise and a curse, and as the wolf raced along the trail of one Caroline Forbes, it felt like both of them too.

#klaroline #klaroline fanfiction #i enjoy writing gifts i hope you enjoy reading! #ask games

[heartbreakgrill]

kol mikaelson; best friend’s brother pt. 4- illicit affairs.

“and you know damn well; for you i would ruin myself a million little times.”

a/n: ok i lied there’s 1 more part after this. this one’s way more fun than the last part cuz that’s gonna be angst so enjoy. i’m really happy with this so i hope u love it hehe

also: i feel like tumblr has been cutting off parts of my posts?? like my long ones like this so i’m sorry if there’s abrupt starts to certain parts.

the party went above any expectations we had. rebekah danced the night away, tiara and sash sparkling on her figure every time the lights hit them. she made me wear the extra crown, though i didn't object much at her suggestion. i stayed by her side for hours, leaving once or twice to use the bathroom. at around midnight, she opened presents, and we sang her happy birthday. the singing was joyous, full of laughter and cheer. every person had fun. there wasn't violence, or endangerment. though it was noisy, crowded, and sweaty, it was almost peaceful- lethargic.

even Finn had a good time. he stayed to the sides a bit, watching like a wildflower. just when i worried his roots would sink into the soil there, he pushed off of it and walked into the crowd. at around 2am, I saw him dancing with a girl. He looked happy.

Klaus, of course, bothered Caroline for hours until she eventually started dancing with him. it was silly, the way they matched- but the way he looked at her made my heart clench.

elijah was the unspoken supervisor. he didn't dance, didn't drink. he just watched. But he looked content. he was a strange guy.

as for Kol, well...

i saw him on and off. he was dancing with this group of guys he had befriended. I was shocked he managed to find comraderity, but i couldn't help but feel responsible for it. it's amazing the influence positivity and kindness can have on someone.

at around 3am, the party began to wrap up. people had been leaving in small clumps since 1, but now, streams of attendees were piling out of the door. i found caroline, elena, and bonnie to say goodbye. i hugged each of them and thanked them for coming.

bonnie and elena followed the crowd out the door, but caroline hesitated. she set a gentle hand on my elbow, "i talked to kol for, like, the first time ever in my life."

my ears perked up, and i tilted my chin towards her, "oh, yeah?"

caroline nodded. she bit her lip, "talk to rebekah, k?"

my brows furrowed, "what's that supposed to mean?"

she squeezed my elbow and said, "asap, k? he's been undressing you with his eyes all night. plus he reeks of...affection- ugh."

i couldn't help but blush deep red. i rubbed my lips together, "please leave before i vomit." she laughed before walking out the door.

i turned to face the foyer, a cheeky smile on my face. rebekah was at the cake table with matt donovan. they had danced together much more than they both probably cared to admit. she was nursing yet another red solo cup. he had the tiniest blush dusting his cheekbones. it was sweet.

elijah was already beginning to clean up. finn was helping him, a black trash bag in his left hand. klaus had probably retired to his bedroom by now.

and, there, at the top of the staircase, was kol. he leaned his weight against the railing. i couldn't see his face very well in the dim lighting, but i knew he was watching me. when i looked at me, i noticed a smile light up his expression. my heart thumped in my chest, coursing red blood through my veins that was thick with anticipation. i crossed my arms over my stomach, as if i could hide how he made me feel. he could read everything- my pheromones, apparently, the way my heart rate went off the rails around him.

kol pushed off the staircase. he tilted his head, a quiet beg for me to come up there- a dare, almost. my eyes flickered to rebekah, who was bent at the waist, hand on matt's bicep as she laughed. i looked back to kol and nodded shortly.

i had put my heels back on once everyone started leaving, and they clicked against the tile floor as i walked to rebekah. she looked up as i approached her. a loud grin overcame her red lips. she tossed an arm around my shoulders, scrunching me into her side. i slid mine to her waist.

she squealed, "oh, i love you so much, y/n."

"i love you, too, beks," i pressed my head into her shoulder.

she turned, embracing me in a hug. i squeezed back, though her hold was impossibly strong. "no, i'm serious. i love you so much."

i giggled, making a face at matt over her shoulder. he cracked a smile. "i'm serious, too. love you."

rebekah sniffled, "i'm serious. you're the most amazing person in the entire world. you're so thoughtful and kind. i don't deserve your friendship."

did i feel a little guilty? fuck me if i didn't.

i opened my mouth, hesitated. i could tell her here and now. but that would ruin the moment. i knew she wouldn't be entirely pissed at me- but it would throw her world off it's axis a little bit.

so i swallowed it. "yes, you do. you deserve the world, rebekah."

she hugged me tighter, if at all possible, before letting go. "i love you. always and forever."

my chest tightened- shaky gasp slipped through my nose. i clenched my jaw, brows raised from my shock. i clenched her hand in mine, "always and forever."

i swallowed thickly, "i'm gonna go get ready for bed, yeah? is it okay if i stay over?"

rebekah nodded enthusiastically, "we can go get brunch tomorrow!"

with a nod, i turned on my heel and pushed off the floor and up the steps. when i reached the top, i turned left instead of right. towards kol's room.

i didn't knock on the door. i walked in, my breath anxious. kol was sitting on the edge of his bed, elbows leaned against his knee. he looked up when the door clicked shut, a frown on his face. his eyes lit up, though, light brown flecks shining to see me.

i crossed my arms, "hey."

"darling," kol stood. his arms were slack at his side, but i watched his fingers flinch, like they were resisting the urge to reach out and touch me.

i stepped closer, but i kept my hands to myself. "i take it you heard."

kol sighed, "i did."

a deep breath sucked up into my lungs. i brushed loose strands of hair behind my ear. "i'm sorry."

kol waved me off, lazily, "don't worry about it. we were crazy to think-"

"i know," i cut him off. "we can try to be friends, yeah?"

"don't," kol shook his head, "you know i can't do that."

my shaky hands rubbed at my neck, "i know. but i can't just now know you, kol."

"i can't have doses of you, y/n."

i felt sick, hot, sweaty. "i get it. yeah, i understand. promise me one thing?"

kol finally met my eyes. there was a thin line of red encasing his brown, a desperate blow lying within his pupils. "yes?"

"try to be nicer. to yourself. for me?" i reached out a hand, let my fingers wrap around his bicep. they squeezed gently, warm above his touch.

kol tensed up, but nodded. "anything for you, darling."

i shuddered, breathed deeply, and turned to leave. i reached for the doorknob, feeling a ghostly emptiness hollow out my stomach. just as i went to open the door, kol's hands spun me around. he pushed me against the door, gripping my waist.

my back arched against the door, breath quickening with my heart beat. i leaned into him, tilting my head back far so i could see him. my hands caught his shoulders.

kol hesitated, eyeing my lips, down to gm dress, back up to my own flustered gaze. he breathed heavily, gritting his teeth. he resisted the urge i could see lingering on the tip of his tongue.

i dropped my head against the door. "kol, please-"

he listened.

within a split second, he pushed his lips against mine, a fierce kiss, much more desperate than the one we'd had last night. my chest bubbled up with affection, a giddy scream lying just beneath my throat. i smiled against his lips.

my brain was racing, my heart thumping, and i could barely breathe.

but he was kissing me.

—

i didn't sleep. rebekah passed out on the bed beside me as soon as she lay down. i was curled up in an old t-shirt, facing the other direction. i held my breath when she came into the room, as she lay down beside me. i eventually passed out, but it was an anxious sleep, one where i woke up sweating. rebekah was already up.

she was doing her makeup, of course, her freshly washed hair wrapped up in a towel. i wiped a hand across my mouth, finding drool wetting my lip. gross.

rebekah grinned into the mirror when she noticed me sitting up. i leaned against the headboard as she turned around in her seat, "morning, sunshine. you ready for some brunch?"

i groaned. my head hurt. "yes. i need some grease to soak up this hangover."

"you're welcome for that," she pointed her lipgloss at me. "now, go; shower and get ready. brunch time!"

"fine," i slid off the platform bed, feet hitting the cold floor with a slap. i shivered. "but, i am not doing makeup."

rebekah shrugged, facing her mirror again. "i'm just gonna order from the grill and go and grab it. you don't have to come."

i sighed, rolling my eyes, "thank god. i don't want to go anywhere until school tomorrow."

rebekah shook her head, "i'm a bad influence."

i mhmed her, and shut the bathroom door.

as i showered, i felt the urge to vomit. after kol kissed me- well, after we made out against his bedroom door, we didn't say anything. just 'goodnight.' wow a great anecdote.

we had agreed, before the kiss, that we needed to end whatever was brewing between us. but that kiss made things different. it was more solidifying than the kiss we shared on friday. like a lock in a key- but where did that key go? was he holding it? or had he thrown it out the window?

i kinda wished we could burn it.

after my shower, i changed into sweatpants and another big tee. i wrapped my hair up in a towel and slid into some comfy socks. rebekah was gone- she left a note telling me she had gone to get the food. i guess i took a very long shower.

i padded down the steps, head banging in beat with my steps. once i reached the landing, the front door opened. rebekah held up two big bags of food, and a tray of drinks.

"i'm back!"

she was entirely too loud.

i took my drink from the tray and grabbed one of the bags from her. i followed her into the kitchen, where she sat at the island. elijah was reading a newspaper, nursing a cup of coffee. klaus sat at the island, a cup of blood.

and kol was across from him. because rebekah had sat next to klaus, i had to sit next to kol. i eyed the seat and felt kol's eyes latch onto me. mine flickered to his, and a heat beat through my body.

i looked away and sat next to him.

rebekah passed out breakfast sandwiches, a platter of french fries in the middle of the island. i, unashamedly, stuffed my face.

rebekah, forever the talkative one, started up, "so, y/n, are you going to be seeing that guy anytime soon?"

i shifted in my seat, chewing quickly. "um," i swallowed, "probably not."

elijah peeked over his newspaper, sipping his coffee slyly. there was a knowing look in his eyes.

i glanced to kol, who went stiff beside me. did he know the guy was him? hopefully, or i'd have an angry, jealous kol on my hands.

rebekah groaned, "ugh! you're boring. call him up, have stupid, wreckless sex, and dump him!"

i flushed bright red at her comment. klaus snorted into his glass and elijah twisted up a brow. that's fucking embarrassing.

nearly choking on my sandwich, i attempted to clear my throat. "you know, some conversations are not meant to be had in front of three of your brothers, rebekah."

"why?" she scoffed. "they'd agree. right, kol?"

kol took a deep breath; sitting up in his seat, he tapped a hand against the counter. "i don't think i'm qualified to be apart of this."

rebekah waved him off, "sure you are. you're the king of meaningless sex. you've never been committed to a single woman- ever."

i licked my lips, dry from the ironically morbid conversation. elijah snickered into his coffee cup, "little sister-" he fought back the grin, "y/n is uncomfortable with this conversation."

klaus laughed loudly. "hm," he snickered, "i believe y/n is not alone in that feeling."

rebekah flicked her wrist lazily, "you're all annoying. you talk about whatever you want, whenever you want. and suddenly when i do it-"

"rebekah," i interrupted, voice tired, "i think i want to go home now."

she narrowed her eyes, searching my face. "you okay?"

i shook my head lightly, "i'm just feeling sick. from last night. sorry."

she bounced off the stool, onto her feet. "oh, no that's okay. don't apologize. are you okay? do you want some blood?"

i cringed, "ah, no. that's okay. im sure i can handle a hangover without magical healing properties."

klaus snickered again. he had a dry sense of humor, i noticed.

rebekah nudged kol as she rounded the island counter, "can i take your car?"

he peered at her, "are you kidding me? fuck off, beks."

rebekah elbowed him in the side, "come on!"

"no! you've crashed three cars in your life and you were daggered three years after they were even invented!" kol argued.

i slid off the bar stool. she looked to klaus and elijah, who both shook their heads. "no," klaus shortly spoke. "not taking mine."

kol glanced at me, an idea on his lips. "i can take her home."

rebekah rolled her eyes, "whatever. come, y/n, let's get your bag."

she walked out of the kitchen. i hesitated as kol looked up to me. he nodded once, tight lipped smile on his mouth. i smiled half-heartedly.

elijah met my eyes as i walked out of the kitchen and he tilted his chin expectantly. fuck off, elijah, why do you always have to be right?

—

"who's the guy?"

i was watching the woods of mystic fall roll past by vision. it was a rainy day, surprisingly, and the cloudy sky painted the air a tinted gray. i usually liked rainy weather, but even this was gloomy to me.

my head turned to kol. he was staring out the windshield, focused on the road. but his knuckles were white on the steering wheel. i furrowed my brows, "what?"

"the guy rebekah was talking about. who is he?" kol took a deep breath.

i could see him restraining his anger, trying to be mindful of his emotions. i felt a little proud of him. though i laughed at the question and kol glanced at me. "why're you laughing?"

i turned my knees towards him, showing him my focus. "because you're the guy."

kol scrunched his nose, absolutely confused. "what?"

"i had to make up excuses this week to see you, so i pretended like i was going on dates with this guy. you're the guy," i laughed again.

kol's shoulders visibly relaxed. his grip on the wheel loosened, "fuck me."

i shook my head. "it's okay. common mistake."

kol thought for a moment, head tilting from the weight of his thoughts. "well, how detailed was this cover story? why was she making a big deal about you hooking up with this guy- me, i guess, ha."

my cheeks turned a little red. "pretty detailed, i think. she asked why i was going to stop seeing him and i told her...that- he's toxic."

kol glared at me. "thanks."

"well," i defended, "you kinda are. as cringey as it is to say this, you are a bad boy."

"and her anecdote was for you to sleep with me? to be dangerous for once?" he chortled.

i nodded, "she thinks i'm too cookie cutter."

he replied with a shrug, "i don't disagree with her."

"thanks for your unwanted opinion."

kol rose a hand in defense, "well, you are. plus, i'd get laid, darling."

i reached forward and shoved his shoulder. he leaned away from my touch, but i managed to get him. we laughed at the exchange.

"you know that's not going to be happening."

kol went quiet. "i know."

last night sunk back into our skin, into the tense air between us. stopping it was difficult- as we had proven with that kiss. but we needed to be strong, responsible adults.

the rest of the ride was silent. an uncomfortable, desperate silent. i could hear kol's breath- it was ragged at one point, like he was growing anger. then, it became deep, slow, from his diaphragm. he was focusing on control.

when we reached my house, he opened the car for me, and led me to my front door. i went to open it, but hesitated, and turned to him.

"kol?" i spoke.

he looked up from his shoes, "hm?"

i frowned deeply, face sunken with hopeless greed. i dropped my book bag, and opened my arms. he fell into my embrace, wrapping his fingers around my back. the clutched at my hoodie, selfish but needy. i twisted mine at the nape of his neck, in his hair. it was more than just a friendly hug.

he pulled back slightly, nudging his nose uo my neck, and to my cheek. i pressed a lazy kiss on his cheek as it dragged past my face, and one more to his lips. he pressed against me, kissing back.

what the fuck is wrong with us?

—

i didn’t see kol again until wednesday.

when i went up to my room, after our third illicit embrace, i lay in bed, staring at his contact in my phone. my thumb hovered over the button, over the possibility of hearing his voice again. i built the nerve to dial his number, until a buzz snapped me out of my fatal daze. rebekah texted me, another thank you for my part in the effort. she ended the message with ‘a+f <3.’

when my eyes scanned over her words, i tossed my phone to the other end of my bed. i tugged my blanket over my head, coddling myself in it’s warm embrace.

i showered later, then fell asleep, and awoke to a new week: a monday. i would leave kol and our uncontrollable lips in the past.

moving forward, i went to school with a pit in my stomach.

letting go was never easy. especially when you’d never know what could’ve been.

monday bled into wednesday. after cheer practice, rebekah wanted to hang out, but i had a shift at the grill. i went straight there from school, changed into my uniform from my workout clothes, and clocked in. matt was behind the bar, wiping down its wooden counter. i passed him as i made my way to the stack of clean aprons under the bar.

he waved his free hand, “hey, y/n.”

i smiled, tight-lipped. “hey.”

“that party was awesome.”

my smile cracked a bit at his jockey demeanor. “thanks. i’m glad you came. rebekah was grateful.”

matt nodded. he paused wiping the counter and turned to me, opening our conversation, “good. i had a lot of fun hanging out with her.”

i tied my apron around my waist. “she likes you.”

matt sheepishly shrugged, “i’ve noticed.”

i rolled my eyes at the cheeky expression on his face. ���just text her. it’s not that deep.”

i turned on my heel and got to work getting my things prepared for a dinner rush. luckily, mondays were easy, so it was only me and one other waitress- georgia. i worked until 8pm.

when my shift ended, i tugged my backpack over my shoulder and my cheer bag over the other. i had to take out two large bags of trash, too, as well as juggle my small food order. matt noticed me struggling as i walked past the bar and opened his lips to offer to help.

however, a dark voice interrupted his words. “need any help, darling?”

my stomach fluttered, but a nervous juxtaposition tickled my skin. i turned to kol, red-faced from my shift and from his presence.

“what’re you doing here?” i hushed my voice as he neared me, hands in his pockets.

kol took my book bag and the trash from me. “lead the way, love.”

i rolled my eyes. but started towards the back door. kol followed me down the steps, to the dumpsters, in silence. the bang of the dumpster lid falling shut seemed to break our quiet, because he sighed, stuck his hands back in his pockets, and,

“i wanted to see you,” kol shrugged.

i shifted my weight, flickering my eyes around the darkly lit space. were there any wandering eyes? “you shouldn’t have come.”

kol stepped towards me, and i narrowed my eyes in warning, “don’t say that, darling.”

“kol,” i breathed through my teeth, “this is a terrible idea. i don’t know how many times i have to tell you.”

my eyes kept wandering around us, heart beat thumping with fear and anticipation. kol, who was trying to match my gaze, huffed in annoyance.

“c’mere, darling,” he spoke through his deeply let breath.

kol grabbed my bicep, pulled us beside each other, then wove an arm around my waist. “deep breath,” he ghosted into my ear, tickling my hair and the skin on my neck.

within a flash, we were on my front porch. it was the first time i’d ever sped like that. my breath caught in my throat and i choked, coughing a few times to clear the airway. kol kept hold of my waist, and his fingers rubbed my hip comfortingly.

“you okay?” he whispered gently.

i nodded once. “thanks for the ride,” i stepped to the side.his arm dropped. “you should go.”

kol set my back pack down. i clutched at the strap to my duffel, as if it could ground me. he reached out a hand, but i stepped back, further from him. “y/n, please-“

“no!” i spilled out, louder than i’d ever been. “i’m not doing this anymore. i feel sick to my stomach every time i’m around rebekah. we need to let this go. that’s final.”

kol’s bottom lip quivered, and he sucked in between his teeth. his hand dropped, “are you sure that that’s what you want?”

i hesitated, shrugged, glancing to my feet. “you know what i want. this is a need.”

kol nodded once, gulped. “ok. i-i’ll go then.”

he walked away from me, then stopped. his back faced mine, a wall of glass built between us by our frames. i heard him suck in a breath. my stomach clenched. my heart beat thumped rapidly in my throat, just beneath my clenched jaw. i know what we both expected to happen- both of us wanted to break. wanted to turn around and do what we’d been doing- play cat and mouse. play with fire. play each other. dangle a bone we know couldn’t be eaten. the forbidden, illicit apple of us.

i closed my eyes, lashes fluttering against my cheek, took a deep breath, and made myself remember: rebekah. i leaned down, picked up my book bag, and walked inside my house. as it shut, i pressed my cheek against it. it was cool on my skin.

i heard him walk away.

i showered. unpacked my cheer bag. packed a fresh set of practice clothes. i brushed my hair and put it in braids for bed. i fed grim. i journaled for two minutes, but realized everything i had to say was just grossly depressing. i organized my makeup drawer.

i sat at my vanity, an expired lipstick in hand. i stared at its contents, boring a hole through the product. my ears pricked when i heard a branch snap outside my window. heart rate jumping. skin tingling. i knew what- who- it was.

i drug my feet to the window, let it fall open with the small push of my hand. kol stood on the small balcony attached to my bedroom. my brows furrowed up, eyes glazed with powerless desire.

kol looked to me, hands slack at his sides. his lips were parted slightly. his eyes were similar to a lost dog, downturned and pleading. i went to shake my head, hands crossed over my stomach.

but i caved.

i let my hands fall. let him push forward through the space between us. let him grab my face, pull my lips against his. let him kick my baloney door shut as i gripped at his shoulders; let the back of my legs hit the side of my bed. let him push me down into my mattress.

i let him undress me. i let him kiss me. i let him have him.

i let this build.

—

it had been three weeks.

three weeks of;

late night meetings on my balcony. a small cold from the air. midnight car rides to a scenic overlook. parked cars and heater on. a t-shirt in my laundry basket. a new shirt for bed. a pair of boxers on my floor. a shuffle as rebekah entered my room. a rush of adrenaline as i kicked then under my bed. my lipstick on his collar. a tide stick now in his car.

his hands in my hair. learning to braid.

my hands in his hair. my back bent over my bed.

learning that he likes cinnamon in his hot chocolate and he’s never been to a football game. learning he likes to be the one to drive places and there’s a little dinner off of the state route fifteen minutes out of town. learning skipping class goes unnoticed by everybody when i still turn my homework. that kol can play the guitar but only like ten different chords. learning his favorite song is somebody else by the 1975 and he doesn’t really like taylor swift, but he listens to her for me.

our week looked like;

monday blues being cured by him walking me home from work. he’d put his headphones in our ears and carry my bags after taking the trash out for me. the 1975 and taylor swift would play. the night would get cold and he’d give me his jacket. he’d walk me to my door. he’d leave. only to return two hours later, floorboards creaking and fingers slinking across skin.

tuesdays were met with rebekah’s house, a small routine we’d fallen into once me getting tuesdays off work had become a trend. she’d vamp us home from school and we’d study together in the living room. we’d watch a movie and eat too much junk food. and we’d escape to her room when her brothers would crowd the house. i’d go to the bathroom and sneak to kol’s room.

wednesdays were a pattern of mondays.

thursday’s looked like tuesdays.

and fridays were my favorite.

this one was our third football game of the season. kol hadn’t been to one yet. he was waiting for rebekah to- inevitably- skip a game for some supernatural conflict. today was our lucky day.

he texted me at 6:30pm, half an hour before kick off, and convinced me to sneak out of the locker room. he was waiting on the side of the building, sporting a mystic falls timber wolves away jersey matt had leant him. i asked him how he managed to do that, and he just dropped a wink.

“he’s been seeing me around. i guess i earned his trust.”

kol peered around, made sure no one was watching, and grabbed me by my hips. he pressed me up against the cool brick of the school building, pushing his nose against mine as i looked up at him.

“i like this outfit,” he breathed against my mouth.

i shivered under his touch, fingers grasping at his forearms. “don’t get dirty at school. that’s weird.”

kol rolled his eyes. “i’m a thousand years old. school doesn’t faze me. plus, there’s weirder places.”

“oh, yeah?” i giggled. “where?”

kol looked up, as if searching his brain. he met my eyes, widened his in humorous exaggeration, “the slums of london, summer, 1645. sewage wasn’t invented. women wore five hundred layers of clothing. it was hot. that’s way grosser than this.”

i cringed my nose at the description, “wow, that’s so romantic. i totally wanna kiss you now.”

kol squeezed my hips, “oh, darling, what am i gonna do with you?”

my hands slid up his arms, wrapping around his neck. “i can think of a few things.”

kol pressed in closer, humming. “i think i can, too.”

his lips slowly slotted between mine. i melted into his touch.

the game went by quickly. i swapped my cheer skirt for leggings, my top for a hoodie too large. kol’s hoodie.

he met me at the back door of the school. he took my bag from my shoulder, led me to his car, and opened the door for me.

“where are we going tonight?” i asked as he climbed into his seat.

kol started the car, arm coming to rest over the back of the front seat. “depends. where would you like to go, darling?”

i slid across the bench, curling up beneath his arm. kol squeezed my shoulder. i took a deep breath, breathing in his scent. “anywhere with you.”

i felt his heart beat thump faster.

“sounds wonderful.”

he drove for an hour. i played music, a playlist we’d developed between the two of us. the 1975, taylor swift, various other artists dabbled in between. it was a soundtrack that made my skin tingle. it made me think of under-the-cover-secrets and cedar-wood- kol’s cologne.

i fell asleep shortly into the car ride, rested against his side. once the car stopped, kol woke me up with a gentle shake of my shoulder. i opened my eyes, blinking in the dim light of the overheard car bulbs. kol’s hand slid to my hip as he turned the car off.

i looked out the front window. we were on a cliff, an overlook, peering over the mountains of virginia. we’d been here twice before.

i felt kol’s fingers dip up beneath my sweatshirt, warm on the curve of my hip. i squirmed and looked up at him. “i’m too tired to do anything tonight. sorry.”

kol’s hand retracted. he pulled back from my body, brows furrowed. “why are you apologizing?”

i sat up, crossing my arms over my stomach. “cause you wasted all that gas to drive out here.”

kol shook his head quickly. he reached out his hands, taking my face in his hold. “do you think that’s all i want?”

i shrugged, “i thought that- i don’t know. isn’t that what this is?”

kol’s thumb brushed across my cheeks, “this is everything to me, darling. i wouldn’t care if we never had sex.”

he leaned his head forward, caught my lips in a sweet, gentle kiss. he brushed his nose against mine, his eyelids shut. i watched his lashes brush the tops of his cheeks. “you look lovely tonight,” he whispered against my cheek.

i kissed him again. he tugged back softly. i curled under his arm, and he squeezed me against his side.

we watched the stars from the front seat of his car.

i fell asleep.

we didn’t have sex.

—

a week later and it all came crashing down.

rebekah had invited me over for a slumber party after the football game. we spent a few hours in the home theatre, watching another stupid rom-com, laughing at the nonsensical script.

i had more energy this week than last because we’d been mercy rolled by the other team. for all our supernatural abilities, our football team kinda sucked. but rebekah wanted to retire to her bedroom.

i didn’t know if kol was home. i’d heard klaus and elijah moving about. finn was probably sulking about being alive in his room.

kol and i texted a lot. i usually knew where he was. but a small part of me hoped he wasn’t there. i wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to go and see him.

and i knew he wouldn’t be able to resist me.

i flopped onto her bed as rebekah excused herself to go shower. cheerleading, even for a vampire, was tiring.

i glanced at the bedroom door. my heart skipped a beat. but i swallowed my urges, resisting them. i shuffled through my bag and pulled out a book.

the shower squeaked on.

i looked at the door again.

rebekah turned up her music.

the door.

i bore a hole into my novel, the words rushing in my eyes, and dissipating behind them. they weren’t connecting to my racing brain.

i heard the handle rattle and the door pushed inwards. my heart jumped up my throat as kol’s head peaked into the room. i sat up quickly, mouth opening to chew him out.

he quickly sped over to me, clasping his hand over my mouth. i widened my eyes at his closeness, his breath fanning over my face. my head tilted, threatening to discipline him for his bold touches. kol grinned at me, winked, and- next thing i knew- we were in his bedroom.

i let out a held breath as i settled onto my feet. kol had his hands wrapped around ny hips. his bed lay behind me, sheets messy from sleep.

“kol! what the fuck?” i shoved him away, head spinning.

kol laughed at the fact that he put me on-edge. “relax, darling. she’s not going to hear anything.”

everything came crashing down within the span of mere seconds. the door behind kol flew opened, creaking ominously. my eyes shot over his shoulder, meeting a pair of blue ones, widened in shock, then narrowed in anger.

wrapped in a white towel, hair damp from her shower, rebekah crossed her arms over chest. her perfect, pouty lips braced open, an eery sigh slipping through. kol met my eyes, jaw slack, and shoulders hunched up in fear. he slowly turned to face his sister.

“what the fuck am i not going to hear?”

#elijah mikaelson #kol mikaelson #kol mikaelson x reader #kol mikaelson x you #rebekah mikaelson #the originals #the originals x reader #the originals x y/n #tvd x reader #the vampire diaries x you #the vampire diaries

[herohimbowhore]

On This Day in F1: March 2nd

Present: Bahrain Grand Prix

History: 2010 Team US F1 Shuts Down

On March 2nd, the first of 24 races for the 2024 season happened. The Bahrain Grand Prix kicked off the season just as anyone could have expected.

Max Verstappen ahead of the field by approx. 22 seconds, a Red Bull 1-2, and everyone except Red Bull having issues with their cars. We got almost an exact repeat of the Bahrain 2023 podium with Max in P1, Checo in P2, and a Spanish driver in P3 (Fernando last year, Carlos this year). Though the gap between P1 and P2 doubled since last year’s 11.987 seconds.

14 years ago, on March 2nd, it was announced that Team US F1 would be shutting down.

In 2009, Team US F1 had found a place on the 2010 F1 entry list. However, by the 2010 preseason, things were looking dim for the American team.

(Team US F1 Type 1 design with major components revealed)

The team had been struggling to get their car ready for the season and had asked for an allowance to not race during the first four races of the season. But with financial problems, primary investor — YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley — linked to discussions with other teams, and the team higher ups being accused of mismanagement, the team informed its employees on March 2nd that they were no longer required. This effectively shut down the American outfit twelve days before the first race of the season.

The team principal, Ken Anderson, and sporting director, Peter Windsor, were reportedly not present when employees were informed of operations shutting down. Additionally, calls to the factory had gone unanswered as the phone number temporarily not working.

The withdrawal of Team US F1 allowed the Serbian Formula One team — Stefan GP — to make another attempt at entering for the 2010 season. The team had been rejected during the application process in 2009. And in 2010, the FIA rejected them once more due to how soon the season would be starting. Despite its many attempts over the years, Stefan GP never made it on to the entry list for Formula One.

The Team US F1 factory was based in Charlotte, North Carolina approximately 30 minutes (or 26.6 miles/42.8 kilometers) away from the Haas F1 factory in Kannapolis, North Caroline.

_____

Previous: Mar. 1st — 1992 Giovanna Amati Attempt to Qualify for the South African GP

Next: Mar. 7 — Saudi Arabia Day 1

On This Day in F1 Masterlist

#on this day in f1 #formula 1 #f1 #bahrain gp 2024 #max verstappen #red bull racing #team us f1 #f1 history

[queenofstelena]

When Stef met 'Lena

< Previous > | Part Three | < next >

“Now this looks perfect.” Caroline clapped her hands together, she felt proud of what Elena, and she had accomplished.

“Caroline, you do realize that you’re saying this for the fifth time, right?” asked Elena.

“I know, I know, I’m sorry. But this time’s for sure. This is exactly what we want. Would you mind going through the checklist for the fourth time?” said Caroline with a pretty please face that she knew Elena couldn’t resist.

Both of the most hard-working and dedicated employees of The Salvatore Industries worked day and night to bring this event into place. They loved the scene in front of them. A big hall specially booked for the ‘Salvatore Industries Annual Corporate Event’.

The hall was decorated with every shade of white flowers, with round tables arranged flawlessly in front of the main stage. It was the first time that Elena had a chance to organize this big of an event and it was crucial for her job. Caroline and she made a good team together, Caroline kept everything in check and Elena helped with new innovative ideas. The event was about to start in a couple of hours, and they were equally nervous as well as excited about it.

-

The moment of truth finally came, their esteemed guests started arriving and the duo greeted them with their sheer hospitality. For the important evening, Elena decided to wear a black dress that stopped right before her knees, it was a lacey bodycon dress, and her hair was tied in a fishtail braid, to compliment her outfit she wore a pair of black heels. Caroline on the other hand wore a golden slit bodycon dress with her hair side parted and a pair of black footwear to complete her outfit.

The nervousness was taken over by the emotion of excitement as they could the event falling into place, they both felt delighted at the sight in front of them. The Salvatore brothers finally made an appearance, both of them were dressed in a tuxedo. Sure, both of them looked equally handsome but Elena couldn’t take her eyes off the green-eyed Salvatore.

Stefan looked classy, elegant, sleek, and attractive in a way. Perhaps it was wrong on Elena’s part to think of her boss in that way, but the man was so fine that it was close to impossible to not have a good stare. While Elena was lost in her thoughts, she forgot that her Boss was approaching her, she abruptly turned her back towards him pretending to be busy, and she heard the man say,

“I am not used to scaring people away.”

Elena let out a sigh realizing that her act had been caught, she closed her eyes for a second and then turned towards Stefan. “People are uncomfortable around Salvatores in tuxes,” she replied with a subtle smile.

“Good evening, Mr. Salvatore,” she greeted her boss.

“Good evening, ‘Lena,” Stefan smiled at her.

All the guests arrived on time and were seated in their allotted seats, Damon and Stefan greeted the crowd which was followed by an award distribution ceremony conducted to appreciate the hard-working employees of The Salvatore Industries. After the award distribution, the stage was taken up by the band specially invited to grace the event.

The energy in the room was aesthetically pleasing. The dim lights with some live music in the background set the mood just right. All the employees and clients interacted with each other while enjoying their drinks and other delicacies served to them.

Elena had to use the restroom, so she proceeded toward the ladies’ room but was stopped by the familiar noises from the alley.

“Why don’t you understand Stefan? This is important for our company. And I don’t care if you are with me on this one or not. With or without you, I’m signing this deal anyway.”

“You know you cannot do that Damon. We equally own the company shares and you can’t do anything without my consent. And we cannot turn our back on one of the oldest and the most important clients just because they are having a hard time. If you take up that deal, it might jeopardize our existing relationship.”

“Well, sometimes Stefan it’s better to let go,” yelled Damon and walked back to the party. Meanwhile, Stefan just stood there in anguish. The relationship between the brothers has never been smooth but Stefan had hoped that one day it would change, but each time he has met nothing but disappointment.

Elena realized that she was eavesdropping, and she had the urge to go and comfort Stefan but then she decided against it and joined back the party.

She saw Caroline wave at her as she waited for her with two glasses of champagne. Elena waved back at her and faked a smile. She took one of the glasses from Caroline and took a sip from it. “Isn’t it a wonderful evening? Cheers to us for making this happen,” grinned Caroline.

“Yes, it sure is Caroline,” Elena smiled subtly.

Elena was still lost in her thoughts; she knew how important that client was to Stefan. They were Stefan’s first-ever clients, and she knew how loyal Stefan was toward each of his clients he couldn’t stand the thought of signing a deal behind their backs. Damon was certainly wrong in this situation, but she knew it wasn’t her place to say anything, after all, she was just a receptionist.

-

Elena took out her phone to check the time and her phone screen suggested 11:03 pm. Caroline and Elena had wrapped up the event and fortunately, everything went as planned. But Stefan didn’t make an appearance after greeting the crown earlier that evening. Elena wondered where he was and was genuinely worried about him.

“I guess it’s time to go,” said Caroline but didn’t hear a response from Elena, “Elena?” she repeated.

“Yes, Caroline. I’m listening.”

“Well then let’s get going, it’s pretty late.”

“You know what Caroline, I think I should do some last-minute checks, you can go. I’ll take a cab home,” Elena suggested.

“Are you sure?” asked Caroline.

“Yes Caroline, I am sure. Goodnight, and have a good weekend,” reassured Elena.

“Goodnight Elena.”

Elena decided to take a look around the hall hoping to find Stefan somewhere. She looked everywhere but the bar and thought, ' Maybe he left for home’. Her thoughts were interrupted by the voice of glass clanking against the floor. She realized that the noise came from the bar and decided to check it out.

To her surprise she found Stefan sitting on the floor…drunk. The surprise was not to find her boss there but to find him in such a miserable condition. Instinctively she decided to help him.

“Mr. Salvatore? Is everything all right? Let me call a cab for you.”

As Elena stood up to call a cab, she felt her hand being held by Stefan, he grabbed her hand and asked her, “Please sit with me Elena, will you?”

Elena knew that it was not the right thing to do, she could not repeat the same mistake as earlier. She did not want to live with the same regret yet again. But at the same time, she couldn’t deny him, not when he was drunk, miserable, and vulnerable. Elena decided to give her boss some company because it was her job to look after him. She sat beside him resting her back against the wall and placed her hand on Stefan’s shoulder to assure him that he wasn’t alone. Stefan gently held her hand and squeezed it once as a gesture to say, ‘Thank you’.

They both sat in silence, but this silence was not awkward at all. This silence was intimate and understanding. Elena was fighting with her feelings and finding the difference between professional courtesy and genuine care for someone. That someone was Stefan. She sure cared about him, she was Elena, and she cared about everyone, but she knew the way she cared about Stefan was…different.

“Come on Mr. Salvatore, let’s get you home. It’s almost midnight,” demanded Elena. She hated to demand her boss like that, but someone had to take charge as Stefan was acting like a stubborn little boy.

Elena helped Stefan to stand up on his feet, but it was difficult for him to maintain his balance, so Elena wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders and held him by his waist to make sure he didn’t trip. It wasn’t easy for her to carry him to the cab as he was taller and stronger than her, but somehow, she managed.

At first, she thought of leaving Stefan alone in the cab but something inside of her told her that it wasn’t right. She had to make sure that Stefan reached home safely so she accompanied him to his home.

They reached Stefan’s place. Stefan lived in a luxury apartment that gave a perfect view of the serene city lights from the living room. Everything was neat. Elena could see that Stefan was an organized person. But this wasn’t the time to appreciate the interiors of Stefan’s apartment, she had more important things to take care of.

Stefan directed Elena toward his bedroom, and she helped him walk to his bedroom. Gently Elena helped Stefan sit on his bed, “I’ll get some water for you, Mr. Salvatore.” Stefan simply nodded while rubbing his temples firmly.

When Elena came back with a glass of water in her hands, she just stood there at the doorframe to admire the sight in front of her, Stefan lay down on his bed and was almost asleep. He looked so innocent and calm. All Elena wanted to do was admire him with awe. She slowly walked inside the room and placed the glass of water on his nightstand.

“‘Lena?” she heard Stefan call her.

“Yes, Mr. Salvatore.” She leaned in closer to him and sat on the edge of his bed to hear him.

Stefan’s hand searched for Elena’s hand, as he felt her hands in his he held onto them tightly and looked deep into Elena’s eyes, “I wanted to say something to you for a while now ‘Lena, I think I love you.”

Elena’s mind went blank at those words, a part of her wished to disappear but a part of her wanted to cherish the moment. Who would not want to hear these words from such a fine man? So lovable and respectful. But Elena had to make decisions rationally. She had a job, and she could not risk losing it. ‘Maybe it’s just the drunk him speaking’ thought Elena to herself.

“I think you should get some sleep, Mr. Salvatore,” saying that Elena left his apartment and decided to have a talk with Stefan on Monday morning.

-

Elena reached her office earlier than usual on Monday morning, she was still in fix about last Friday night and hoped that Stefan only said those things because he was drunk. Elena was in a file room arranging some important files, she heard the door open and turned her attention in the direction of the door and found Stefan walking towards her.

“Um…morning Elena.”

“Good morning, Mr. Salvatore.” Elena turned her attention back to her work.

“Can we…talk?” asked Stefan.

“Yes, sure. What is it, Mr. Salvatore?”

“About how I confessed something to you, and you just left without acknowledging my feelings.”

Elena felt a lump forming in her throat. She thought that he wasn’t fully conscious when he said those words to her. But on the contrary, Stefan remembered everything. It scared her a little, she didn’t know how to react to this, she was blank, again.

“Elena? I’m talking to you?”

Elena tried to gather her thoughts and rip off the band-aid all at once.

“Yes, I’m listening, but there’s nothing to talk about Mr. Salvatore. You were drunk and I helped you. That’s it.” she replied.

“And thank you for taking care of me when I was not at my best. I am grateful for that ‘Lena. But I meant what I said and look I don’t expect an answer, but I want you to know that I was completely serious about what I said.”

Elena was at a loss for words, she didn’t know what to say, “I…don’t know how to react to that Mr. Salvatore. Our relationship is professional, and I do not wish to go against professional conduct and be involved with someone from work. I am sorry but I don’t have the same feelings for you as you do Mr. Salvatore.”

Stefan was not convinced by Elena’s words, he asked, “No that’s not it. I know you have felt it too Elena. There is some other reason…”

“I don’t…” Elena cut him off and Stefan raised his eyebrow in question.

“I don’t want people to think that I got this job because the boss fell for me, I know I earned this job, this position I hold right now. And I sure don’t want to lose this job, Mr. Salvatore. I am desperate and I can’t let anything come in the way of that. So, it will be my humble request to keep our relationship professional.”

Stefan’s face had a hint of disappointment and hurt. He expected a lot of different reactions on Elena’s part, but this was beyond expectation. He did not want to believe the words he heard, he still wanted to believe in his feelings, but it was also true that he did not have any option.

“Okay, okay. I can completely understand how you feel and why you feel that way. So, I guess, have a nice day ahead Ms. Gilbert.”

“You too Mr. Salvatore.”

With that, Stefan left the room and Elena just stood there in her spot, she was not the kind of person to hurt someone intentionally, she was compassionate and empathetic. But she knew this was the right thing to do, she knew it was an important decision.

-

Tagging: @misschanadlerbong

#the vampire diaries #tvd #elena gilbert #stefan salvatore #stelena #nina dobrev #paul wesley #stefan x elena #team stelena #stelena shippers club #tvd fanfic #tvd fanfiction #tvd fandom #the vampire diaries fanfic #the vampire diaries fanfiction #vampire diaries fanfic #vampire diaries fanfiction #caroline forbes #damon salvatore

[cupcakemolotov]

Feel Like Home: Chapter Three

When your date night goes weird, sometimes you gotta SOS call your BFF. Particularly when you wake up with a slight case of amnesia and no idea where you are or who you where with. (Even if the bed is super comfy and the sheets smell nice. It’s still an emergency.)

Tags/Warnings: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting; Alternate Universe - Fantasy; Dragon!Klaus; Human!Caroline; Temporary Amnesia; Witchcraft; Canon-Typical Violence; Magical Shenanagins; Bonnie is the best; Caroline's Date Goes Sideways

Apologies for those not on A03, I have recently had to lock my account due to AI Scrapping. For everyone else, you will need to be signed in to see my stories.

-

“Well,” Caroline said carefully, her mouth dry as the desert. “That is… definitely a dragon.”

Next to her, Bonnie made a slightly choked noise, but Caroline couldn’t look away from the creature that lay draped along the tunnel in front of her. She’d never thought of a subway tunnel as small, even these old, abandoned ones that were no longer in use, but she had no idea how he fit.

How had they gotten him in? More importantly, how was he going to get out? Swallowing, she took in what she could see in the low light: the long, sharply wedged shape of his face, a sinuous neck that smoothed into shoulders that were almost too large for the walls to contain. His scales were dark in the dim light, the rasp of his lungs heavy and deep over the pounding of her heart. He was gorgeous and terrifying, and she didn’t know if her fingers were trembling from adrenaline or fear. Enzo had said Klaus was sixty feet in length from nose to tail, and right then, Caroline believed it.

“Teleportation,” Enzo said.

Finally breaking her gaze away, Caroline glanced at him. “What?”

A quick grimace. “They teleported him here. It must be one of the reasons they needed the unicorn, they’d never have managed it otherwise.” His jaw clenched for a moment, a sharp shift of muscle that spoke of a deep anger. Caroline couldn’t tell if the flush was from that anger, or the steadily increasing heat they’d been wading through for the past forty-five minutes. Dragons, even dragons who were being used like batteries, produced a lot of heat.

As soon as they’d snuck into the tunnels, the temperature had gone from frigid to the hot, balmy humidity of the tropics. The closer they’d gotten to where Klaus was trapped, the hotter it had become, to the point that even concrete beneath their feet had become uncomfortably warm though the soles of their shoes. They’d been forced to risk Bonnie magicking them some heat resistance before their shoes started melting.

Bonnie made a low noise. “I hope he eats them.”

Caroline almost choked on her gasp. “Bonnie Bennett!”

Her jaw jutted out. “You’ve never seen an unicorn. It didn’t deserve this.”

“Nothing deserves this,” Enzo said. “What our Dragon Overlord will do to the witches for this?” He paused and shook his head. “His cities have always been safe for unicorns.”

Caroline thought about that as she shoved at the sleeves that were slipping down her forearms, the lightweight material too warm. She’s already lost her jacket somewhere in the tunnel, the material too heavy to knot around her waist, and she was trying very hard not to think about the dull ache that has started in the arch of her feet. No matter how comfortable originally, no high heeled shoe was meant for this kind of adventure.

But not even the physical discomfort could distract her from the fact that she’d tossed a drink into the face of the human form of the dragon in front of her face. Past her had had some balls, and she was going to have to find them again, because Enzo said she had to touch him to activate whatever he’d left on her skin.

Touch the sixty foot, massive dragon that left her hind brain screaming in terror. Who protected unicorns and had apparently spent weeks charming her into forgiving him well enough that she’d spent the night. Planned to spend more than one, based on her bag. When this was over, someone was going to owe her a drink.

“How do we get to him?”

There was a pause, and Enzo glanced over his shoulder and gave a little shrug. “We run.”

Caroline’s eyes darted around the tunnel. It was wide open and the perfect place for an ambush. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“Invisibility isn’t a spell I have in my toolkit, and unless my favorite good witch has been tinkering with new magic, it’s not in hers either.” Enzo spread his hands and ignored the glare that Bonnie shot in his direction. “There is what, two, three hundred meters between us?”

“Have you looked at the floor?” Caroline hissed. “Old tunnels are not made for sprinting, much less in heels.” She jabbed a finger towards the area around the dragon, which was shimmering like the desert sky in the hot noon sunshine. “Let’s not forget Mt. Doom over there. How is he not melting the walls?”

“Magic,” Enzo said with a shrug. “Another couple of hours and it’ll be colder than Hades down here.”

The heavy implication that it would then be too late hung between them and Caroline grimaced. “Bonnie?”

“I can’t see any magical traps, but that doesn’t mean much,” she rubbed her forehead. “There is too much magic to see anything clearly.”

Blowing out a breath, Caroline wiped at the sweat on her face. “So, to recap: we have to clear whatever the hell distance three hundred meters is so I can hypothetically break the spell on the giant sleeping dragon by touching him, without tripping on any of the grates or the uneven floor, and we have to do all this while hoping it’s not booby trapped or someone who can go invisible isn’t going to kill us?”

Bonnie and Enzo exchanged glances.

“Yes.”

“Unfortunately.”

The rest can be found here on AO3.

#klaroline #fanfiction #my fic #here be dragons

[misschanadlerbong]

When Stef Met 'Lena

<previous> | PART 3 | <next>

“Now this looks perfect.” Caroline clapped her hands together, she felt proud of what Elena, and she had accomplished.

“Caroline, you do realize that you’re saying this for the fifth time, right?” asked Elena.

“I know, I know, I’m sorry. But this time’s for sure. This is exactly what we want. Would you mind going through the checklist for the fourth time?” said Caroline with a pretty please face that she knew Elena couldn’t resist.

Both of the most hard-working and dedicated employees of The Salvatore Industries worked day and night to bring this event into place. They loved the scene in front of them. A big hall specially booked for the ‘Salvatore Industries Annual Corporate Event’.

The hall was decorated with every shade of white flowers, with round tables arranged flawlessly in front of the main stage. It was the first time that Elena had a chance to organize this big of an event and it was crucial for her job. Caroline and she made a good team together, Caroline kept everything in check and Elena helped with new innovative ideas. The event was about to start in a couple of hours, and they were equally nervous as well as excited about it.

-

The moment of truth finally came, their esteemed guests started arriving and the duo greeted them with their sheer hospitality. For the important evening, Elena decided to wear a black dress that stopped right before her knees, it was a lacey bodycon dress, and her hair was tied in a fishtail braid, to compliment her outfit she wore a pair of black heels. Caroline on the other hand wore a golden slit bodycon dress with her hair side parted and a pair of black footwear to complete her outfit.

The nervousness was taken over by the emotion of excitement as they could the event falling into place, they both felt delighted at the sight in front of them. The Salvatore brothers finally made an appearance, both of them were dressed in a tuxedo. Sure, both of them looked equally handsome but Elena couldn’t take her eyes off the green-eyed Salvatore.

Stefan looked classy, elegant, sleek, and attractive in a way. Perhaps it was wrong on Elena’s part to think of her boss in that way, but the man was so fine that it was close to impossible to not have a good stare. While Elena was lost in her thoughts, she forgot that her Boss was approaching her, she abruptly turned her back towards him pretending to be busy, and she heard the man say,

“I am not used to scaring people away.”

Elena let out a sigh realizing that her act had been caught, she closed her eyes for a second and then turned towards Stefan. “People are uncomfortable around Salvatores in tuxes,” she replied with a subtle smile.

“Good evening, Mr. Salvatore,” she greeted her boss.

“Good evening, ‘Lena,” Stefan smiled at her.

All the guests arrived on time and were seated in their allotted seats, Damon and Stefan greeted the crowd which was followed by an award distribution ceremony conducted to appreciate the hard-working employees of The Salvatore Industries. After the award distribution, the stage was taken up by the band specially invited to grace the event.

The energy in the room was aesthetically pleasing. The dim lights with some live music in the background set the mood just right. All the employees and clients interacted with each other while enjoying their drinks and other delicacies served to them.

Elena had to use the restroom, so she proceeded toward the ladies’ room but was stopped by the familiar noises from the alley.

“Why don’t you understand Stefan? This is important for our company. And I don’t care if you are with me on this one or not. With or without you, I’m signing this deal anyway.”

“You know you cannot do that Damon. We equally own the company shares and you can’t do anything without my consent. And we cannot turn our back on one of the oldest and the most important clients just because they are having a hard time. If you take up that deal, it might jeopardize our existing relationship.”

“Well, sometimes Stefan it’s better to let go,” yelled Damon and walked back to the party. Meanwhile, Stefan just stood there in anguish. The relationship between the brothers has never been smooth but Stefan had hoped that one day it would change, but each time he has met nothing but disappointment.

Elena realized that she was eavesdropping, and she had the urge to go and comfort Stefan but then she decided against it and joined back the party.

She saw Caroline wave at her as she waited for her with two glasses of champagne. Elena waved back at her and faked a smile. She took one of the glasses from Caroline and took a sip from it. “Isn’t it a wonderful evening? Cheers to us for making this happen,” grinned Caroline.

“Yes, it sure is Caroline,” Elena smiled subtly.

Elena was still lost in her thoughts; she knew how important that client was to Stefan. They were Stefan’s first-ever clients, and she knew how loyal Stefan was toward each of his clients he couldn’t stand the thought of signing a deal behind their backs. Damon was certainly wrong in this situation, but she knew it wasn’t her place to say anything, after all, she was just a receptionist.

-

Elena took out her phone to check the time and her phone screen suggested 11:03 pm. Caroline and Elena had wrapped up the event and fortunately, everything went as planned. But Stefan didn’t make an appearance after greeting the crown earlier that evening. Elena wondered where he was and was genuinely worried about him.

“I guess it’s time to go,” said Caroline but didn’t hear a response from Elena, “Elena?” she repeated.

“Yes, Caroline. I’m listening.”

“Well then let’s get going, it’s pretty late.”

“You know what Caroline, I think I should do some last-minute checks, you can go. I’ll take a cab home,” Elena suggested.

“Are you sure?” asked Caroline.

“Yes Caroline, I am sure. Goodnight, and have a good weekend,” reassured Elena.

“Goodnight Elena.”

Elena decided to take a look around the hall hoping to find Stefan somewhere. She looked everywhere but the bar and thought, ' Maybe he left for home’. Her thoughts were interrupted by the voice of glass clanking against the floor. She realized that the noise came from the bar and decided to check it out.

To her surprise she found Stefan sitting on the floor…drunk. The surprise was not to find her boss there but to find him in such a miserable condition. Instinctively she decided to help him.

“Mr. Salvatore? Is everything all right? Let me call a cab for you.”

As Elena stood up to call a cab, she felt her hand being held by Stefan, he grabbed her hand and asked her, “Please sit with me Elena, will you?”

Elena knew that it was not the right thing to do, she could not repeat the same mistake as earlier. She did not want to live with the same regret yet again. But at the same time, she couldn’t deny him, not when he was drunk, miserable, and vulnerable. Elena decided to give her boss some company because it was her job to look after him. She sat beside him resting her back against the wall and placed her hand on Stefan’s shoulder to assure him that he wasn’t alone. Stefan gently held her hand and squeezed it once as a gesture to say, ‘Thank you’.

They both sat in silence, but this silence was not awkward at all. This silence was intimate and understanding. Elena was fighting with her feelings and finding the difference between professional courtesy and genuine care for someone. That someone was Stefan. She sure cared about him, she was Elena, and she cared about everyone, but she knew the way she cared about Stefan was…different.

“Come on Mr. Salvatore, let’s get you home. It’s almost midnight,” demanded Elena. She hated to demand her boss like that, but someone had to take charge as Stefan was acting like a stubborn little boy.

Elena helped Stefan to stand up on his feet, but it was difficult for him to maintain his balance, so Elena wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders and held him by his waist to make sure he didn’t trip. It wasn’t easy for her to carry him to the cab as he was taller and stronger than her, but somehow, she managed.

At first, she thought of leaving Stefan alone in the cab but something inside of her told her that it wasn’t right. She had to make sure that Stefan reached home safely so she accompanied him to his home.

They reached Stefan’s place. Stefan lived in a luxury apartment that gave a perfect view of the serene city lights from the living room. Everything was neat. Elena could see that Stefan was an organized person. But this wasn’t the time to appreciate the interiors of Stefan’s apartment, she had more important things to take care of.

Stefan directed Elena toward his bedroom, and she helped him walk to his bedroom. Gently Elena helped Stefan sit on his bed, “I’ll get some water for you, Mr. Salvatore.” Stefan simply nodded while rubbing his temples firmly.

When Elena came back with a glass of water in her hands, she just stood there at the doorframe to admire the sight in front of her, Stefan lay down on his bed and was almost asleep. He looked so innocent and calm. All Elena wanted to do was admire him with awe. She slowly walked inside the room and placed the glass of water on his nightstand.

“‘Lena?” she heard Stefan call her.

“Yes, Mr. Salvatore.” She leaned in closer to him and sat on the edge of his bed to hear him.

Stefan’s hand searched for Elena’s hand, as he felt her hands in his he held onto them tightly and looked deep into Elena’s eyes, “I wanted to say something to you for a while now ‘Lena, I think I love you.”

Elena’s mind went blank at those words, a part of her wished to disappear but a part of her wanted to cherish the moment. Who would not want to hear these words from such a fine man? So lovable and respectful. But Elena had to make decisions rationally. She had a job, and she could not risk losing it. ‘Maybe it’s just the drunk him speaking’ thought Elena to herself.

“I think you should get some sleep, Mr. Salvatore,” saying that Elena left his apartment and decided to have a talk with Stefan on Monday morning.

-

Elena reached her office earlier than usual on Monday morning, she was still in fix about last Friday night and hoped that Stefan only said those things because he was drunk. Elena was in a file room arranging some important files, she heard the door open and turned her attention in the direction of the door and found Stefan walking towards her.

“Um…morning Elena.”

“Good morning, Mr. Salvatore.” Elena turned her attention back to her work.

“Can we…talk?” asked Stefan.

“Yes, sure. What is it, Mr. Salvatore?”

“About how I confessed something to you, and you just left without acknowledging my feelings.”

Elena felt a lump forming in her throat. She thought that he wasn’t fully conscious when he said those words to her. But on the contrary, Stefan remembered everything. It scared her a little, she didn’t know how to react to this, she was blank, again.

“Elena? I’m talking to you?”

Elena tried to gather her thoughts and rip off the band-aid all at once.

“Yes, I’m listening, but there’s nothing to talk about Mr. Salvatore. You were drunk and I helped you. That’s it.” she replied.

“And thank you for taking care of me when I was not at my best. I am grateful for that ‘Lena. But I meant what I said and look I don’t expect an answer, but I want you to know that I was completely serious about what I said.”

Elena was at a loss for words, she didn’t know what to say, “I…don’t know how to react to that Mr. Salvatore. Our relationship is professional, and I do not wish to go against professional conduct and be involved with someone from work. I am sorry but I don’t have the same feelings for you as you do Mr. Salvatore.”

Stefan was not convinced by Elena’s words, he asked, “No that’s not it. I know you have felt it too Elena. There is some other reason…”

“I don’t…” Elena cut him off and Stefan raised his eyebrow in question.

“I don’t want people to think that I got this job because the boss fell for me, I know I earned this job, this position I hold right now. And I sure don’t want to lose this job, Mr. Salvatore. I am desperate and I can’t let anything come in the way of that. So, it will be my humble request to keep our relationship professional.”

Stefan’s face had a hint of disappointment and hurt. He expected a lot of different reactions on Elena’s part, but this was beyond expectation. He did not want to believe the words he heard, he still wanted to believe in his feelings, but it was also true that he did not have any option.

“Okay, okay. I can completely understand how you feel and why you feel that way. So, I guess, have a nice day ahead Ms. Gilbert.”

“You too Mr. Salvatore.”

With that, Stefan left the room and Elena just stood there in her spot, she was not the kind of person to hurt someone intentionally, she was compassionate and empathetic. But she knew this was the right thing to do, she knew it was an important decision.

@wiidestdrearms / @queenofstelena

#tvd #stefan salvatore #the vampire diaries #elena gilbert #stelena #stefan x elena #paul wesley #damon salvatore #elena x stefan #stefan salvatore angst #elena gilbert x stefan salvatore #the vampire diaries fiction #tvd fanfic #tvd fiction #caroline forbes #bonnie bennete #stelena shippers club #stelena fluff #stelena angst #nina dobrev