#i need pics of them together on one of their phones next season | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

somejazzinthemorning · 1 year

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tightrope. 03

Pairing: Carlos Sainz x Original Female Character Warnings: Language Word Count: 7.241 Previous chapter: 02.

Drowning myself in work is my go-to coping mechanism for more than half of my problems.

I'll either resort to racing or tracing brand strategies in an attempt to avoid having to face whatever problem throws my way and, that night, being 11 pm on a Wednesday, my laptop and the small whiteboard on my desk became my saving grace.

Despite the burning eyes and my aching back, after hours sat at my desk, my mind was still racing, high on whatever feelings the brush of his lips had evoked in my body. I fell asleep to the memory of his eyes and the velvet lips.

There was no way to escape it. We were already falling.

I woke up late, the next day.

My phone had a full wall of notifications ready to present me. A single text in the middle of the dozens of work-related emails, most of them answers to the ones I’d written during the night and scheduled to be sent in the early hours of the work day. I only realised I was smiling, probably high on my own expectations, when I felt my smile drop, after seeing who sent the text. Amanda. Not him.

“those updates on the project at 3 am??? r u okay?”

“sorry! i remembered to schedule the emails, but forgot about the notes on the project.” "got some good work done, tho”

"need to take a moment to reread all of your incoherent notes” "all that rambling is… wow” "BUUUUUT come to the office” "the things from the berlin store just arrived, you will love them”

"can’t make it today” "send pics!”

"come tomorrow, then! ill get churros for breakfast”

My phone went back to the nightstand and I pulled up the comforter, wrapping it around myself in an attempt to find some security and calm of mind. I peered out from under the comforter, staring at the dark room, only lightened by some streaks of light created from a gap in the blinds. I was still tired from the night, and my mind scrambled from everything we had shared.

Eventually, I left the bed. My mom was downstairs, and a copy of Shadow of the Wind rested on the kitchen counter while she cooked lunch. Frank Sinatra played on the old record player in the living room and the music continued to stretch around the house as we ate together. Luckily, her birthday party was keeping her busy; busy enough that she didn't remember to ask me about the dinner from last night.

Truth be told: I'm a terrible liar. I would never be able to escape her questions.

At the end of the day, I met Rocco for a workout, in a nearby gym. He was waiting for me, leaning against the reception counter, teal Puma t-shirt paired with an amused smirk; I knew he was more than ready to put me through my paces. And I was right. It only took me a couple of exercises to lay on the floor, panting and sweating."Have you thought about what you're doing next season?" I looked up, in the direction of the voice. Rocco was standing in front of me, holding my water bottle.

I sat up straight and extended my hand to grab it. "Not yet," the water was cold and refreshing. Just what I needed. "Maybe a third year in the Challenge and," I paused to breathe. "You know, the reserve seat. Not ideal, but yeah."

He frowned, sitting down on one of the plyo boxes near me. "But yeah?"

"Yeah. Works." I answered, laying back down on the green turf. The small fake grass ticklish on my legs and arms. "Not much, but it's racing."

"I think I'll pretend you didn't say that."

"Why? It's just how it is."

He cleared his throat, the deep sound making me open my eyes and stare at him again. "Up," he commanded, refusing to help me get up. I brought the hand I'd just held up to the floor, to help me get up.

"I thought we were done," I said. He didn't even need to say anything to make me understand that we were, in fact, not done. "Are you mad?"

“Annoyed,” he turned back to me. “What the heck was that answer? Of course, a third year in the Challenge and a reserve seat in WEC are not ideal. I was hoping for a real answer, not some… whatever that was.”

“It’s the reality,” I shrugged. Instead of turning back and going back to do whatever he was about to do, he just kept looking at me. Not the conversation I was hoping for today.

“You had a plan. What happened?” He asked.

“Nothing happened. I had a plan. And it’s going as it’s possible.”

"Excuses, Eva," Rocco exclaimed. He stepped forward and looked me in the eye. "You have a plan. You know what you want. And you have the talent."

“Congrats, you just solved gender inequality.” I gave him an ironic thumbs up, my mind still scrambled from the efforts of the workout and the encounter from last night. This kind of conversation was not what I wanted.

“You’re more than capable of getting a decent seat next year.”

“As we know,” I wiggled my finger between both of us, “It’s a tough path. Being capable won’t get me a seat. ”

“Locking yourself in an office keeping track of TikTok trends will?” I sent him a look. He held up his hands in defence. “You’re making excuses. There are other drivers fighting for the same things as you are and they are not taking no for an answer.”

“Neither am I.”

"Come on," he chortled, eying me carefully. I could tell that he wanted the best for me, but I was not really in the mood to discuss this at the moment. "When was the last time you actually planned something for yourself, and not just some new fashion designer or boujie vegan chef?"

I felt a little bit of annoyance creeping its way up my spine. I had been pushing myself so hard for the last few months, and I was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with all the pressure.

“Can we focus on the races I have left to win?” I asked, my voice taking on an exasperated tone. “We can talk about this after I win this championship?”

“Sure.” He bent down to grab a 15 kg power bag from the floor and dropped it off at my feet. "This wasn't planned, but that self-pity is annoying me."

“A punishment?" I took my hands to my hips, a light chortle abandoning my lips. "Burpees and never-ending lounges? That's what you think I need right now?"

"No, no burpees," he said, his grin widening. "But maybe a few extra lounges wouldn't hurt." He was clearly enjoying this. I rolled my eyes and glanced down at the power bag in front of me.

“It was not—”

He cleared his throat, cutting me off, and I went silent. Then, looking at him, I saw that he was grinning at me once again, content. Yeah, it was self-pity. Yeah, the future is scary, especially when you’re a 25-year-old woman in motorsports and your career seems to be stuck.

I took a deep breath and bent over to pick up the bag, the cold weight of it dragging my body down to the ground. Rocco took a few steps back and then motioned me with his head to start.

"Andiamo," he said. “20 steps back and forth. Three series.”

So I did. I started lounging with the bag, back and forth across the green patch of turf on that side of the gym, trying to keep a steady pace. With each step, the pressure of the bag weighed me down. I kept going, pushing forward and gritting my teeth against the pain. When I finally reached the twentieth step, I dropped the bag and breathed out, my body aching from the effort.

By the end of the third series, I had pushed my body to its very limits and back. I sunk down onto the cool grass beneath me, feeling the relief of the softness beneath me—my muscles aching and my body dripping with sweat, my hair matted to my neck and temples.

Rocco sat near me, guiding me through a couple of moves, helping me to loosen my tight muscles and stretch out my body. Despite the big (and somewhat threatening) muscles he had a gentle touch.

“What’s on your mind?”

"Hm?" I frowned, my eyebrows furrowing together as I closed my eyes, feeling his hand pressing down on my thigh, pushing it firmly against the hard floor. I could feel the pain radiating through my body, but I tried to focus on the sensation of his grip.

“You always complain this hurts,” he said. I opened one eye. Now, I could feel the pressure from his grip. Probably something shifted on my face because he instantly asked, “Now it hurts?”

"It hurt before, I was just distracted." I shook my head, closing my eyes again and focusing on the sensation of his grip. “I’m free to feel like shit when things go badly." I let out.

“Things are not going badly,” he sighed, leaving my leg and switching to the other. “You’re simply letting yourself fall behind.”

I took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly, my head falling back against the floor. I stayed there for a few moments, my heart pounding against my chest and my thoughts racing a million miles per hour. When I finally opened my eyes again, I looked up at Rocco, this time because I felt my thigh burning with discomfort, he was still looking at me, waiting for an answer.

"Too much." I glanced below while patting his arm. He raised an eyebrow, implying more pressure. "Ei!" I scrunched my nose. He just arched a brow. Sadistic fucker. “What? Are you going to hurt me until I hold someone at gunpoint and ask for a seat?”

“You talk like you don’t have good offers, Eva.”

“What is a good offer? Driving against 19-year-old boys in Formula 3? It’s humiliating.”

“W Series?” He suggested.

“I want to race with men and show people I can win against them.” I sat down. Rocco took his hands from my legs. My muscles tingled with the same intensity my thoughts did. “I like the Challenge because I’m showing them I can do it. But the team does not have a budget to race in other series. And I can’t be a reserve forever. So I can do another year and hope things change.”

“See? You’re choosing to fall behind.” He took a deep breath, understanding my frustration. "You can always look for sponsorship," he said, his eyes focused on the floor. "You have the talent, the connections—"

“I spent my teenage years sending letters and desperately trying to talk to people. You saw how that went.”

“You have results to show them, now. In two weeks you’ll have a championship.” I dragged my hands over my face. Instant regret. Both my hands and face were tingling with the same intensity my thoughts did. “W Series will give you exposure. Will give you points. You need points..”

“Why are you so interested now?” I arched an eyebrow, feeling a bit suspicious. “The year is long. Anything can happen. A lot can change.”

“I just don’t see you planning ahead.” He deadpanned, his expression unreadable. “What if you can’t do another season of the Challenge? Will you be content with just being a reserve in WEC?”

“Why so many ifs?” I asked, still feeling a bit apprehensive.

“Motorsports are unpredictable,” he replied, his voice steady and sure. “I’ve been around long enough to know that. And I’m your coach, not just a trainer. It’s kinda my responsibility to do this.”

“Nah, I’m not having it.” I paused, still not entirely convinced. “Do you know something I don’t?”

Rocco just shook his head. The dark strands of his hair moved in unison. “Eva—” He shrugged. I could see the wheels turning in his mind. Whatever he was about to say, it seemed like it wasn't completely true. "One," he continued; his tone shifting. "I don't want to be left without a job when you get bored of racing." I threw my towel at him, though I knew he was only joking. Unfortunately, he dodged it. "Two," he continued, "you're racing like a pro. You should race with the pros."

At least, in one thing he was right. I was racing like a pro.

On the other hand, I was not acting like one.

My team and my dad, the main sponsor, were the only support I had. Despite having other offers, none met our expectations. I had been a third, fourth, or fifth driver for too long. I had spent too much time in the garage, running simulations, and taking part in test sessions. Years of it. Each of these experiences had demoralized me.

Racing in the Challenge, learning with my team, taking time to understand the car and driving it to a podium made sense to me. Standing in the garage and hoping for someone to get food poisoning or COVID was not only morally wrong but also quite dull.

“Did you make this whole drama when Rio told you he wanted to stop racing and just go to college and become an engineer?” I asked, getting up from the floor and picking up my towel, still lying on the ground.

“It was worse actually,” my trainer said, following me. “I think I almost killed him when he told me.”

“We make quite the pair, don’t we?”

He smiled and nodded. “Yes, you do. Your poor father has his hands full with you two.” We stopped walking when we reached the locker room. “Go have a shower and get some rest.”

The second I reached my locker and opened the wooden door, I reached for my phone, looking for a message that hadn't arrived. Pathetic. A part of me considered taking the initiative and being the one to call or text him but, to be honest, what was left for me to say?

I had already told him everything by asking him not to kiss me and I might have told him even more by refusing to let go of him.

The office smelled of churros, so I knew Amanda was around. Either that or someone else had the same idea as her.

Familiar faces smiled back at me as I crossed the corridors and the work areas until I finally reached the common area and took one of the available seats. Since I had chosen to work remotely, and only visited the office casually for occasional meetings or when I needed a place where I could focus, I wasn't given an office.

The room was filled with the buzz of people chatting and the occasional laughter, making me feel a bit out of place. I knew most of them (read: I knew their names and which projects were under their purview), but rarely talked to any of them. Amanda, one of my friends from college, and the one who had introduced me to this agency was the only one I regularly talked with.

I sat down in my chair and pulled my laptop out of my bag. After talking with Rocco yesterday, I decided to take action on my career and spent last night looking at emails and reading my dad's notes on the sides of those he considered important enough to print. So, when I opened my laptop, my screen showed me my Notion board, which honestly felt like a showcase of my own failures. Not the first thing I wanted to see that morning.

A knock on the glass divider of the office made me lift my head up and find Amanda on the other side of it. A beautiful purple jumper highlighted her beautiful curves; her hair was pulled up in a ponytail. In her hands, a white box.

I waved at her.

“Vamos,” she motioned with her head. “Before anyone tries to steal these from me.”

I smiled and grabbed my laptop, zipping it up before getting up and walking towards her. “You know I have an important weekend ahead, right?”

She laughed, opening the box. “A churro won't weigh you down, don't worry.”

I took one of them and walked near her to the cafeteria. The morning light was soft, and the day was not too warm. Ideal to sit on the balcony and talk for a while. So, that's what we did. I grabbed coffee for both, while she walked outside.

The sunshine on my skin was just a slight warmth as I leaned on my chair, and the smooth breeze of the morning cooled off my skin. Traffic sounds in the background, the ruffle of chairs and the occasional bark of one of the dogs playing on the balcony of the start-up that shares the building with us.

While having a sip of her coffee, I noticed Amanda's eyes widening, and I could practically see the bell ringing in her mind. Instantly, my brows were drawn together. Brace yourself, Eva.

"So, I heard on Twitter dot com…" I rolled my eyes at the last part, and despite provoking a small chuckle from her, she didn't stop talking and her gaze still remained twinkling mischievously. "Carlos was in Mugello last weekend."

Oh, for fucks sake.

"If that's what Twitter says, it must be true."

"Yes. So," she paused. Her head tilted slightly, honestly looking like a pup who saw a threat in the distance. "Did you two talk?"

I shook my head; my fingers busy on the handle of my mug, desperately trying to seem unbothered by the question. "Nah, we didn't talk."

"You sure?" She asked, her eyebrows raised in suspicion.

"Yes, I'm sure," I said, my voice steady. "It's not like we're friends or anything."

"That's too bad," she murmured, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "It's not like Carlos and your brother are still like, the best of friends and maybe— maybe he went there to visit him and you end up talking?"

I sighed. "Stop it."“You're a terrible liar, Eva.” Amanda said bluntly, her gaze intense.

“Amanda,” I said, my voice stern and my eyes piercing. "Stop it."

“So, you talked.” Amanda gave me a knowing look. "I knew it. I saw those tweets and I realised we had barely talked this week, and that only happens when you're too busy overthinking. And then boom, I woke up to dozens of notes made at 2 am? You always go to bed early." She crossed her arms, her gaze still intense. "Come on, just tell me what happened. If it’s not him, it’s anything else. That worries me too. I'm here for you, no judgement."

I sighed. "Fine," I said, setting my mug down and leaning back on the chair. "We talked. A lot. We actually had dinner."

Amanda's gaze softened, but then she frowned again. “Dinner? The three of you?”

“The two of us.”

"Just the two of you?" Amanda's eyes widened in surprise, lips smiling brightly. I nodded to her question. "What did you talk about?"

A part of me wanted to end it there. The other part of me needed some guidance. And Amanda was a friend, she always had good advice. On the downside, she loved to gossip. But we were friends. Guidance. But gossip.

I shrugged. “Just normal things. Racing.”

“Okaaaay, that’s good.” At this point, her lips were curving up like she was the one having dinner with him. I couldn’t decide if her reaction annoyed me or made me happy. "So, what now? Are you going to keep in contact with him?"

I shook my head. "I don't think the dinner changed anything.” Liar.

“Eva,” she propped her elbows on the table. “You’re a terrible liar. Spit it out. What happened? If you don’t want to talk about it, tell me that. Just don’t lie.”

Talking about it would make a big deal. A bigger deal, actually. I dragged my hands over my face, tired and confused. Thinking about it was challenging enough and I truly didn't want to transform all my confusion and emotions into words. Amanda, on the other hand, couldn't hide the fact that she wanted the truth, her gaze so strong it almost made me melt over the iron (and obnoxiously red) chair I was sitting on.

So I told her. Every single detail. From the glorious vision of him under the bright lights of my garage, which for a second made me feel like I was living in an alternate world, through the call at dawn, to his gauze under the beautiful sunset glow. His warm, velvety lips brushing against mine. I told her about the “I think I might have loved you, too”, and the way that even in my dreams I couldn’t seem to forget his scent when he hugged me goodbye.

I felt so exposed, so vulnerable, as I spilled my heart out onto that small table, and when I finished all I could hear was the sound of her sigh. A ridiculous rom-com kind of sigh.

“I just feel like we messed it up because of pure desperation,” I said, crossing one leg over the other and looking around. “He messed it up. I think we just missed each other so much we… I don’t know. Got confused on the feelings?”

“He messed up?”

“I didn’t kiss him back. I just asked him to please, don’t.” It was more ridiculous saying it out loud now than when I recalled the moment in my mind.

“You’re even stupider than I thought,” was her answer. I arched my brow. “The guy cooked for you, at his place, told you he “thinks he loved you too” and tries to kiss you and now you’re mad because he didn’t text you?” She paused. “What the hell will he say? Of course, he won’t text you. What would you say to someone after being denied a kiss? Text him yourself.”

“No.”

“Why not?” Why not? I asked myself the same question. Because I can’t trust him to stay. Better, because I can’t trust him to not leave. “Don’t be stubborn, come on. Just by looking at you, I know you’re dying to get that kiss.”

“Can’t we go back inside and talk about work?”

“Oh, no, missy.” She shook her head. “Those AB tests can wait. I want to talk about you and how you’re so dumb you might lose the chance of your life.”

“You’re exaggerating. As always.”

“Eva.” She was stern, her eyes burning on me. “He was your best friend. At least try to mend that friendship. Even if you don’t want anything else. Whatever the reason.”

I sighed, bowing my head in defeat. Amanda had a way of making me see sense, even when I didn't want to. "And if I can’t see him as a friend but still can’t give a step in the other direction?”

“Then, you give it time. Just don’t give it too much space.” She got up from her chair. Mug on one hand. The empty white box on the other. “Remember how that worked up last time.”

Fact one about Amanda: she was probably the most curious person I knew. Any arguments in the office, celebrity rumours or gossip of literally any kind she knew by heart, down to the last detail. And while that was remotely irritating, especially at exhausting times, like during Amber and Johnny’s trial, or when (especially when) the news broke about Pique and Shakira's divorce, it could also be a blessing. At least from my point of view. Perhaps all the stories contributed to her having a broader view of relationships and, as a result, being so good at giving advice. Fact two: there was no one more insistent than her, so, evidently, she couldn’t leave the office without reminding me to text him.

It was 5 pm, and I was utterly absorbed in the presentation for the new restaurant. I was head down, consumed by the details of culinary and marketing analytics, and, to tell the truth, my mind was so focused on this project that I couldn't really think of anything else.

Amanda was getting ready to leave. Jacquemus purse over her shoulder and a strong pink lipstick on the place where a less saturated one had been during the day.

“You stay?” She asked me.

“Aham,” I briefly made my eyes leave the screen to look at her. “I need to finish this. Next week I’ll be too busy.”

“You leaving for Italy on Monday?”

“Tuesday,” I corrected her, my eyes going back down to the laptop. “Don’t want to leave this to the last minute.”

“Okay. I’ll try to have a look at it before you leave. Also,” my eyes went up again. “Send the man a good luck text.”

I sighed, rolling my eyes at her. "He doesn't need my luck text.”

Amanda nodded, her eyes still twinkling mischievously. "Okay, send him a whatever text, then. An emoji. Like his Instagram story.”

“I’m afraid liking his story won’t work.” I leaned back on her office chair, which I had taken in the middle of the day when she needed to leave for a meeting and left me to use her small office.

“Text him, then. Anything. I wouldn’t let Carlos Sainz escape, but you do you, babes,” she shrugged, turning her back to me to walk to the door.“Enjoy the weekend. Besos!”

“Bye!”

I didn’t text him. Of course. In the same way, she was insistent, I was stubborn.

Actually, let me rephrase it.

I didn’t text him then.

Mid-afternoon, Rio had called inviting me to dinner, and when I asked about the kids, he told me he had booked a nanny, so they would stay home. It was either business or pleasure. I didn't need to ask; as soon as he mentioned my dad was invited, I knew we'd be discussing business. And after Rocco's worries last night, I knew it was partly my business, too.

My nerves were on edge as I prepared to leave the office. They only worsened as I neared the restaurant - a way too fancy place for a Friday dinner with the family.

Crossing the sidewalk, my heels clacking on the cement, my head spinning from the long hours in front of my laptop, and the anxiety building in my chest, I looked inside. My dad was seated at the end of the table, with an empty seat to his right - the seat I was supposed to take. Marjorie was already waving at me. Smiling politely to the man standing at the door, I said, "They're waiting for me." He nodded and let me enter.

My eyes drifted to their table, and I allowed myself a few seconds to study the mood. They were laughing, but my palms were still sweating as I settled in for what would surely be an uncomfortable conversation.

"Sorry, traffic," I said, punctuating my apology with a kiss on each of my parents' cheeks. "Am I too late?"

"No, no," my dad said, his voice warm and comforting. "Your brother was about to tell me something, but you just distracted him. Go ahead, Fabrizio."

I turned to him, curious.

"I'm sure we can wait a bit more. Just... after the food," he said.

"Why are you so nervous?" Marjorie asked, her violet fingernails softly laying over his arm in a gentle caress. "It's something good," she said to me. "Don't worry."

"Are you pregnant again?" my mom asked.

"No! No, no!" my sister-in-law responded quickly, her voice almost echoing in the room. Even Rio seemed surprised by her rapid response. "It's Rio's news. Not mine."

“After the food, then,” my father said.

“I hate it when I do that,” I muttered to my brother, grabbing the menu from the table and letting my eyes drift through the print. “You haven’t ordered yet, right?”

My dad shook his head. "We were waiting for you.”

I glanced at the menu one last time before setting it back down. My dad's hand called for a waiter and, after the young man left, the conversation resumed. As usual before any Grand Prix, the race weekend was the matter on the table and, that night specifically, Carlos' penalty was the urgent matter. Ferrari had the pace and Carlos had the skill, but as I sat there, hearing my brother and dad's input on how wise the choice had or hadn't been, my attention diverged to the DNF he had suffered in Austria, less than two weeks ago. Vivid images of the flames engulfing the car, the heartbreaking words on the radio, and the cheers that echoed through the crowd as his teammate stepped onto the top step filled my mind.

One feeling the glory, the other one consumed in ruin.

“Good luck out there this weekend.” "Don’t pull another Austria. That one was scary.”

Done. I’d texted him. For better or for worse, it was done. And I didn’t have time to put the phone back in the purse before it vibrated again in my hand.

“Thank you. I really need it.”

I checked the time.

“Shouldn’t you be resting?”

“I’m resting." "Listening to my teammate rant about food, but resting.”

“Why? Did you tell him about the cheese-less pasta you tried to feed me?” “If I expect Leclerc to teach you something is how to cook pasta."

"He’s a terrible cooker.” “I’m better learning it from you.”

"I’ll be sure to give you a lesson someday."

"I'll hold you to that."

"What are you smiling about?" Marjorie asked, my attention immediately being grabbed from my screen to the table.

"Nothing, sorry," I said quickly, tucking my phone back into my purse. "Amanda just texted me about the work I was finishing.”

"Ah, Eva, if you put that effort into racing…" he said, as the waiter came back with our food. I tried to ignore him, especially because there was no use fighting back his comment.

Even with the food on the table and the anticipation to find out about Rio’s news tugging on my chest, the conversation didn’t go further from Formula 1. My dad, a lifelong Italian Ferrari fan and a very biased Carlos supporter was ranting over the lack of professionalism he was sensing from the team and how the choices they repeatedly made ruined not only the drivers but the prestige of the team. Nothing new. Rio and I have been listening to the same tirade for a long couple of years and nothing seemed to change, even after the amazing start to the season the team had.

“I had my reservations at first, but you could be a nice fit for the team, actually”, my dad said, pointing at Rio, with the knife he was using to cut his steak. Rio looked confused at him, and then, at me. “Have they given you an answer?”

What?

For a moment, I felt like I’d fallen on a different table, a completely different conversation. My gaze shifted from one to the other, confused by my father’s question.

“Who’s they?” I asked. Marjorie was biting her lip; her violet fingertips on my brother’s arm, once again.

“Ferrari,” my father responded, clearly stepping over my brother’s feet. Rio seemed bothered; clenched jaw, restless fingers that Marjorie tried to calm by positioning hers over. “Are those the news?” He asked him.

Rio nodded, his jaw unclenching and his lips transforming to a slight grin. "Yep. They offered me a job." He looked around the table, his gaze caught mine for a second but quickly left again. “I need to let them know my decision until Monza.”

“You applied for a job at Ferrari?” I asked. Honestly, I was so confused I couldn’t piece all the things together. “We’re doing so good at the Challenge, you could have waited for just one m—”

“Eva.” My dad interrupted me. The strong stern voice pulled my attention. The authority value of his words over the sweet comforting voice of the beginning of the dinner. The mood had definitely shifted “Wait? You’re the one that’s always urging the team to aim for higher heights.”

"Exactly. The team won't do that without Rio."

"But your brother will. And so will you." I tried to interject but with no success. He continued before I even had the chance to talk. "You can't possibly think your brother would stay with the team knowing he could have this huge opportunity."

"I didn't know about any opportunity." I was replying to my father, but my eyes were directed to Rio. "What about the team? And the Challenge?" I inquired.

"In less than two weeks, the championship will be over. I have no doubts you will win it. You're just losing time there," my father's tone was bothering me, but the fact that he was still cutting his steak as he talked was really aggravating my temper.

Rio, on the other hand, didn't react. His expression didn't even shift. He remained silent, eyes shifting between mine and dad's face. In his silence, though, he was telling me much more than he thought.

"This is not a formality," I said to my father. "Can you please look at me while you talk about our future?"

Finally, he put down his cutlery and remained silent for a few seconds. Deep blue eyes looked up at me, cold and serious.

"There's no future for you if you're afraid to take a serious step," he said finally. "I won't let your brother get stuck in the Challenge when I know he can do so much more. I won't let you make him fall behind because of you."

"Because of me?"

"Why else would he stay at the Challenge?" I stayed silent, feeling my fake sense of confidence being stripped away with the weight of my dad's question. The answer that my conscience gave me was selfish and I refused to say it out loud. I was afraid of staying alone, rather, I was afraid to see Rio flying solo in the higher aims I ambitioned for me and not being able to carry along. Only if he waited, we could jump up together. "Why would he choose anything less than Formula One?"

"So, you have it decided, then?" I asked Rio. "How did that even happen?"

His tongue crept in between his lips, eyes wandering on my face, afraid to reach my eyes. It was making me nervous. Not just because he was about to leave me, but because he didn't tell me about it, prior. My dad knew about it. He even thought that I knew about it. And like a lightning bulb lighting up on my head: Rocco knew it, too.

"It was proposed to me. The job. At Silverstone, a few weeks ago." Even though Rio was stuttering, and his words barely constructed a sentence, piece by piece it all fell together. "Apparently, Carlos talked to someone about you. About the Challenge. And he mentioned me, my results..." he explained. "Carlos invited me there for the Grand Prix and surprised me with an interview."

Why didn't it surprise me? Carlos. The “right time”, of course.

"Your results? Why hide this from me?” I asked, looking around the table. “Clearly, everyone else knows.”

“I wanted to tell you, but didn’t get the chance to do it.”

“But what?” I asked, half defeated, half annoyed. Angry, even. There was so much going on inside me, I couldn’t think straight. “You just said you had the interview in Silverstone. Weeks ago. You had plenty of opportunities.”

“I knew you would snap and react like this,” Rio tried to justify himself.

“Snap? I’m not—” I paused and took a deep breath. At this point, I was seething with anger. “I’m asking questions. I’m not… snapping.”

“You should be happy for me,” I would if I didn’t feel betrayed. “I know you well enough to know that you would react… badly to the news. Especially if you knew Carlos was involved**.**”

Even though his name was blinking on my head, in bold red letters, I tried to set apart his involvement in this story. So, I carried on,

“And you’re just going to do it? Leave the team, the whole project and ditch us? Without even consulting me?”

He shrugged. “I’m consulting you now.”

“This is not a consultation, Rio. Please.” A pause. “This is you telling me what you’re going to do, without even considering my opinion or the team that’s behind your great results.”

“Go ahead.” He made a gesture with his hand. “What’s your opinion, then? You are the one that’s always telling me to aim higher. This is my dream. Always has been.”

“What? Formula One? I thought your dream was to drive in Formula One. Or was that before you noticed you’re a shitty driver? Enlighten me.”

“Eva, enough,” the deep voice cut me off.

I felt like I was going to burst. I wanted to scream, to cry, to express my anger somehow. But my dad's stern gaze kept me in my place. I felt completely helpless and unheard.

“You’re being ridiculous,” said Rio, cutting through the silence. “Childish, even. Ungrateful.”

“Ungrateful? I’m not the one leaving.”

“Why does leaving need to be bad?” The question settled in for a second. “Grow a bit, and maybe you’ll get some good opportunities too.”

“Sure, maybe then my friends will get me jobs, too. Is that what you mean?”

“Enough.” My dad's fist hit the table, loud enough to silence us, but not to the point of attracting too much attention.

My gaze lingered on his clenched fist on the table. I nodded, forcing myself not to say anything else. I placed my napkin on the table and got up, making sure my chair wouldn’t make any noise when pushed back. Before turning around, I paused briefly, my gaze now resting on my brother. “Good luck with your new job.”

It didn't surprise me when I saw Carlos fly through the track the next day, setting amazing times in the qualifying session, despite the penalty waiting for him for the race. He was dancing with the car, tracing beautiful lines within the colourful ones Paul Ricard was known for. Carlos would start P19 the next day, only ahead of Magnussen, who also had a back-of-the-grid penalty.

I traded the interviews for a dip in the pool and lingered there for the remainder of the afternoon. Perhaps because I was not the best person to have around that day, my parents had left just before lunch and didn't get back until after dinner. Alone, with music echoing throughout the house and the crippling anxiety the events that week had provoked, I felt myself get lost in the doubts and uncertainties.

My phone rang when I was already getting ready for bed. On my nightstand, the name Carlos appeared over an old photo of both of us. Like I couldn't control it, I walked to the phone and sat on the bed. I let it ring a few times before picking it up.

“Hi,” he said. I just looked through the window, to the dark backyard. “No good luck text today?”

“Guess not.”

“And why's that?”

“Did you know Rio had an interview to work at Ferrari?”

“Yes...?” He paused. “Is that a problem?”

“Did you know he got a job offer?”

We both fell into a moment of silence. A long sigh stretched through the line. I closed my eyes, not sure what to expect from the conversation. The next time his voice was heard, it was more serious.

"Can we stop asking questions instead of answering them?"

"The timing is funny," I said. "Just that."

"What do you mean?"

"You coming to Mugello? Was that a coincidence?"

"Eva, what?" Carlos was silent for a few seconds. "Don't make this into a drama," he said. "Rio is talented and if he got a job offer it's because he earned it. The things are not remotely related."

"I'm not complaining about him getting the job."

"Then what are you complaining about?" Carlos asked.

"That it took you years to finally come back and talk to me and it happened just when he got a job in your team. Did you really want to talk to me or did he make you do that?"

"I didn't do it for him," Carlos said. "I did it because I wanted to see you."

"I wish I could believe you."

"And why don't you?"

"It's been three years. Coincidences don't just happen."

I could hear him breathe. Silence weighed down my chest. He wasn't denying it. He wasn't telling me why he was there, that night. "Can I see you this week?" He asked me, before a long sigh.

"No."

"I'll be in Maranello for a few days." I bit my lip, shaking my head to the void. "You'll be in Imola, right? I can go there—"

"I don't want to see you." I talked over him and then paused for a brief second. "Don't show up there, please. It's an important week and I don't really need more distractions."

“Eva, por favor.”

“Good luck tomorrow.”

I put my phone away and let myself sink into the bed, feeling nothing but the warmth of the comforters on my skin and the instant sense of security that came over me. I allowed my eyes to close and my mind to drift away, and before I knew it, a prayer for Carlos came into my thoughts.

I prayed for strength for both him and me, for us. I knew that, whether we were on or off the track, we would need to find a way to get through whatever was to come.

Next Chapter: 04.

Thank you for your support in the previous chapter! Carlos will become a more present character in the future. Pinky promise. Don't abandon me until that happens, please! <3

#tightrope #carlos sainz x you #carlos sainz x reader #carlos sainz smut #carlos sainz imagine #carlos sainz fanfic #carlos sainz #f1 imagine #f1 one shot #f1 fanfic #f1 x you #f1 x reader #fanf1ction #carlos sainz angst #carlos sainz fluff #carlos sainz jr

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spacehostilityy · 1 year

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Part 2 of my NNT rewatch !! ep 7-12

In the midst of 1000 training videos for my job, I am rewarding myself with episodes, let's fucking goooo

My thots under the cut :)

I totally forgot abt Ban's angst ridden guilt arc. "Real, genuine sins can never be atoned for..."😒😔 whatever you say beautiful

Literally one of the coolest shots in the whole show

Also I want you all to know I am a little dumb and do not screenshot any of these pics... I take pictures with my phone from my laptop of TV and crop them🤡

Anyway i love Guila so fucking much what a little psycho

Ban's literal special ability just being stealing is really funny actually

Ban/Elaine/King arc ouchie

Elizabeth constantly talks about becoming useful and yet it still takes her 3 seasons to develop abilities and become useful in battle 😃 its good, kween, u were just subject to unfortunate writing choices😔

Fr tho chapter 0!Elizabeth would never

King straight up stabbing through Ban to get to Guila is so fucjing funny actually

Like hello 😭😭??

"What is that on you face? It's... not half bad actually🤔" HELBRAM AJSKKALFLD

Also the one time the perv joke was actually funny is this specific screen cap in which Meliodas describes his bond with Elizabeth, his lover he has died for and becomes the demon for as a "grope and get grope kind [of relationship]" while opening his shirt and placing Elizabeth's hand on his chest. Like yes king, have ur immortal lover touch ur bewbs

I'm in love with Howzer, he's so girlfail

King and Ban snuggling against King's will is so yes

If demon blood can turn holy knights into the new generation, does that mean that Meliodas's blood could do that?

Vaizel fight fest one of my all time favorite arcs it's just so comfy🥰🥰

EUEHEHEHEHE wtf is that laugh😭😭

Diane as Matrona is so badass I love her !! Seeing her demolish dozens of men she's literally so babygirl

"Hey where'd you get that jacket?" AKDLSLLF

*howzer putting dots together* " Nahh, you two guys got totally different names😝 my mistake🤣" God he's stupid I love him

"It looks like we fooled him" " because he's dumb"

Griamore is supposedly 7 ft tall and 400lbs. Ban is 6'11 and 170 lbs... make it make sense

Even meliodas doesn't weigh enough lol

Diane is h*rny. Good for her.

King vs Cain top 10 nnt fights for sure. The only one that could beat it would be king vs the cat in which king loses

I love Ban's facial hair growing, it's such a small detail that I enjoy. Like so tru, he HAS been locked up with no way to shave for years. He WOULD look crazy

Meliodas calling him Undead Ban😭😭😭

I love the gymnast!Meliodas posts bc they are so canon. What a flexible little guy

Meliodas activating his demon mark literally just to beat his best friend is actually so real

My most controversial seven deadly sins opinion? I like diane x howzer more than I like kiane🫣

I feel like they cursed a lot more in the first season, more like they do in the manga

Meliodas going as demon as he can with sealed powers will always be one of my all time fave scenes he's so fucking cool I love demon characters

They really needed to do more with spell beads bc like where did those go?? What are they??

And that's the end of episode 12 !! See yall next time for 13-18 !

#tess rambles on her nnt rewatch #tess rambles #seven deadly sins #nanatsu no taizai #7ds #nnt #elizabeth liones #elizabeth nnt #meliodas #bandit ban #banlaine #howzer #gilthunder #guila nnt #king nnt #ban nnt

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bepractical · 2 years

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Kin: Season 1, Episode 5, Part 1

It's episode 5 of the first season of Kin and you know what that means? Heist time! I love the family melodrama but sometimes you need a heist. In this part of the recap I will spend an inordinate amount of time waxing poetic about my love for Michael Kinsella. But first, a warning. These recaps will spoil you for the entire first season of Kin. THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR.

See the masterlist here.

This recap's looking like a three parter, so buckle up!

The episode starts with a dude in what looks like a security uniform sitting at a table, innocently eating something out of a bowl in front of his tv. The doorbell rings and two masked men rush into his house with guns. It’s Eric and Jimmy. The dude is Con Doyle’s son.

In Eric’s former car, Amanda pulls up his GPS route and prints out the results, so you know that's gonna bite Frank and Eric in the butt in the near future.

Meanwhile, Con Doyle’s hanging out at a boxing gym when he receives a text message with a pic of his son on his knees being threatened, followed by a pinned location. He zooms out of there with a quickness.

Cut to Michael waiting for Con, an old van behind him.

Con arrives reasonably worked up. His car skids to a stop and he comes out holding a piece of pipe. Michael is completely unimpressed. He holds out his phone and tells Con to take a look. It’s a video of Jimmy pouring gasoline on his son. Wow, does that sound so much worse when you type it out. I am here to drool over Michael Kinsella, not question his morality. Still, we’ll get to it.

Con’s pissed; his son has nothing to do with this. “Neither did Jamie,” Michael says. Ohhhhh. Con repeats the company line, that Jamie’s death was an accident. That crap doesn’t hold any water with the Kinsellas, not anymore. Unlike Jamie, Con’s son is still alive and he’ll stay that way as long as Con helps them. I love that this plan hinges on Con loving his son enough to steal from Eamon. Con tries to make Michael the bad guy, but he’s helped kill five of their allies over the past however many days and who knows how many people he’s killed in the past. Michael’s over it.

Michael: How many people have you killed, Con? I’ve lost count. Spare me the sermon. What happens now is up to you.

This is why I give the Kinsellas somewhat of a pass here. Eamon and his flunkies have been terrorizing them for the flimsiest of reasons since they killed Caolan Moore. Con, like his boss, can dish it out but not take it.

Michael gets it down to brass tax, they want Eamon’s gear (drugs). He gives Con one minute to decide while he waits in the passenger seat of the van. Michael, at the very least, isn’t bluffing. After about thirty seconds he lifts his cell phone to make the call, prompting Con to drop the pipe and storm over to the van while Michael calmly puts on his seat belt. He’s such a shit.

In the most awkward car ride ever, Michael questions Con about where they’re headed. We find out it's some kind of guarded facility and the guard works for Eamon. Michael is unphased. Michael is always unphased.

He hides in the back of the van while Con talks his way into the facility, a building full of giant storage crates. Once safely inside, Michael climbs out and Con prepares to bring one of the crates down.

Meanwhile, Frank is waiting in his car for the next phase of the plan. It’s an important plan and he needs to be focused so of course he immediately SNORTS SOME COKE.

What is it with the men in this family getting high while Michael is in dangerous situations? Get it together, man! Now is not the time!

Back at the facility, Con brings down an enormous crate full of drugs. Together, Con and Michael empty it out into the back of the van.

I like how the minute Con made the decision to go along with the plan to save his son, he just followed through. You can almost pretend they're partners. Then Con threatens Michael, tells him he’s a dead man and that Eamon will make an example out of him. Michael is…yep, still unimpressed, and starting to ride the high of what he’s managed to pull off.

Now THIS is the most awkward car ride ever. Michael has Con take him to a restaurant and get out of his van full of the entire country of Ireland’s drug supply and wait for a call from his son telling him where to find him. Con angrily gets out. He can’t help but spit out one more toothless threat. “I’ll see you buried, Michael.” No, honey, you won’t.

As Con walks into the restaurant, Frank slides into the driver’s seat next to Michael and the two take off.

Frank asks how much they got. It’s a lot. So much Frank momentarily confuses the 60K of coke and 80K of heroin for grams. But it’s kilos not grams, and it’s worth about 50 million Euro. Michael laughs, ACTUALLY LAUGHS, and they take a minute to enjoy the score, the enormity of what they’ve done hovering just out of sight.

Ok, let’s take a minute to talk about Michael. I have some very biased, unvetted thoughts to share. This episode may as well be titled ‘100 Reasons I Love Michael Kinsella.’ I’ll spare you and only cover a few.

This opening starts to paint a picture of Michael’s general mien as a criminal. When Con comes at him with his pipe, Michael doesn’t move. He keeps one hand in his pocket while the other holds his phone out a few inches. He doesn’t even extend his arm, forcing Con to get closer to see the video.

When Michael rides in the back of the van alone, it seems like his biggest concern is getting jostled around when there could have been anything waiting for him.

He shrugs off Con’s threats like they’re nothing. This kind of fearlessness and/or recklessness is like catnip to me, but what really puts it over the top is his expressions. He can’t hide those big old puppy eyes, but he can make the rest of his face as calm as possible. As a result he doesn’t look overly cocky or aggressive, and there’s little playfulness or provocation. His swagger is his lack of swagger. He’s confident he has the upper hand and, instead of capitalizing on that (picture Eric in this same situation), he keeps it lowkey. He did the same when Eamon approached him at the funeral, and when Frank gave Jimmy the money from Caolan Moore. He’ll do it again at the end of the season, when he kills Eamon. The most we get out of him during this entire heist is a pinch of excitement once all the drugs are loaded.

I wonder if he was always this way, or if his younger self had more of that traditional swagger. Maybe jail changed him, maybe his dead nephew/son and terrible relationship with his daughter made him reckless and numb. Regardless, it’s the perfect temperament to ensure things don’t escalate in the middle of a volatile situation while pissing people off afterwards AND adding to his reputation. He just calmly walked into Eamon’s storehouse and stole 50 million dollars worth of drugs like he was going to the grocery. You can also see what kind of team he and Jimmy must have made, Jimmy all explosive violence while Michael stands by like he’s waiting in line for the DMV, bored and a little annoyed, knowing if someone needs to die he’ll be the one to do it, like anyone else takes out the garbage.

On that note, we're barely ten minutes in but that’s it for this post. Check out part 2 here!

#kin amc #michael kinsella #hot men are hot #frank kinsella #kin

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rijallaw · 3 months

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Taking The Right Path To Approval After NOID

Did you recently get a NOID and don’t know what to do? Does it feel like your application was already rejected? First, it’s important to remember that no, it hasn’t been rejected. Not yet. There’s still time. That’s where we can help. Here at the Rijal Law Firm, we have helped many who were in the exact position that you are right now. They reached out to us and we helped them to secure approval after NOID. Now, we can put that experience to work for you.

What Is A NOID? For starters, it’s not a rejection. It’s not a “no.” Think of it like getting an “incomplete” on an assignment. Actually, it signals that you still have a shot at successful completion. You do have to respond to it properly and on time. But, you have a real chance.

What Should I Do If I Receive A NOID? First things first—take a deep breath. The clock is ticking with a NOID, typically giving you a mere 30 days. That’s not a long time, but it’s not due tomorrow, either. This is the moment when many folks reach out to an experienced attorney.

Next, make a copy. Some folks don’t even finish reading the entire document before making a physical copy. Sure, snapping a pic on your phone is okay, but having a tangible duplicate is crucial.

Why? Because your NOID needs to be in your response package. Lose it, and the chances of obtaining a new one in time are slim. Simplify your life by making a copy right away.

What Can I Do To Receive Approval After NOID? To give yourself the best possible chance, reach out to an attorney that’s helped with NOIDs before. Indeed, navigating the complexities of immigration law, especially when faced with a NOID requires the expertise of a seasoned immigration attorney.

Responding to a Notice of Intent to Deny involves understanding the reasons behind USCIS’s potential denial of your petition. The provided list of reasons serves as a crucial starting point for crafting a strategic response. Addressing each issue raised in the NOID is imperative; a piecemeal approach is often insufficient to secure approval.

We can help you to meticulously gather and submit substantial evidence for each reason stated in the notice.

How Can An Attorney Help Specifically? Every case is different. But, we tend to favor an “over-evidencing” strategy, ensuring thorough coverage of all issues raised by USCIS.

There are no restrictions on the volume or type of evidence you can submit, as long as it directly relates to your case.

Considering that your response to the USCIS NOID will likely comprise a substantial bundle of documents, a cover letter becomes indispensable. This letter serves to provide clarity on the content of new documents, additional evidence, and revisions or changes made to existing documents. Its purpose is to guide USCIS officials through the submitted materials, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of your case.

In addition to presenting new evidence, revising and closely reviewing previously submitted documents is crucial. If initial submissions lack clarity or fail to communicate specific information effectively, revisions are essential.

How Can Rijal Law Firm Help? We can help you through every step of the NOID process. Instead of trying to put it all together yourself, you’ll have an experienced pro by your side guiding you through it all. To see how we can help, schedule a free case evaluation through our site or by giving us a call.

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wonhaz · 4 months

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hospital hearts - p.sh

pairing : sunghoon x fem!reader genre : doctor au (both sunghoon and reader are doctors), angst, fluff, unrequited love, mutual pinning, inspired by jeongwon and gyeo-wool's scene in - hospital playlist wc : 2.6k warnings : hospitals, anything medical related, eating, kissing, skinship, (lmk if there are more!) synopsis : your friend jake invites his friend to eat lunch together and you meet sunghoon. he is cold and serious and you don't know why he doesn't seem to like you, after a bit of warming up, you think everything is fine. the routine lunches together end because of your contrasting schedules, and you realize you like sunghoon. when jake informs you that sunghoon plans to leave, it's up to you to talk him out of it before it's too late. a/n : i love jeongwon and gyeo-wool's scene in hospital playlist so much :((, i was going to use jungwon since jeongwon is the name of doctor in the kdrama but sunghoon's pics in the doctor costume are so good i had to use them. 😭 disclaimer: i know nothing about medicine or doctors and googled most of this so please don't take it seriously!

"ugh, how many people get sick in a day?! there are so many people and it's only noon!" you complain to your coworker jake who also lets out a sigh. "i know, i was hoping to clock out early but it looks like we'll be working overtime again.", you give him a sad smile and nod. staring at the clock that read '12:34', you shake your head, and try your best to focus on the computer in front of you when your stomach growls, jake looks at you with wide eyes and laughs, "i'll go make us some cup noodles, i'm starving too." he says and walks to the cabinet full of instant food. you thank him and take off your coat to help him.

jake was one of your best friends at the hospital, unlike the other older doctors with short tempers, jake was always cheerful and made you laugh even when he himself was stressed. he was a hepatobiliary surgeon and his patients loved him. you on the other hand, were a general surgeon that assisted many different surgeries. all the surgeons plead and beg you to help them during their surgeries but you always pick to help jake.

"by the way (name), can i invite a friend to eat lunch with us? he just got out of surgery so he's probably hungry." jake says emptying the seasoning packets into each cup. "sure, we all need to eat anyways!" you say with a smile and he picks up his phone to text his friend. after settling down and sitting at the table to eat, the door of the shared office space bursts open revealing a panting doctor around your age that looks like he just ran a marathon. "jake- ramen- now- please- hungry-" he says in between pants, holding his knees as he catches his breath. both of you dumbfounded at the sudden entrance, you can't help but stare at him, you had to admit, jake's friend was attractive, especially in his coat.

when jake's friend finally looks up and sees you, he suddenly straightens his posture and his facial expression becomes serious, "hello jake." he says not sparing you a glance. you watch as he walks to the seat next to him and read the name tag on his coat, 'Dr. Park - Pediatric Department', no wonder he was running, the pediatric wards was 4 floors above. still staring at him as he quietly eats his noodles, you look at jake confused. "oh" jake says "(name), this is my friend sunghoon, sunghoon this is my friend (name)." he says, looking up, sunghoon nods and gives you a little bow with his head and goes back to eating. jake looks at you with an apologetic smile and you give him a soft smile and shake your head signaling that you understood, 'maybe this sunghoon guy is just really tired and hungry from surgery' you thought.

sunghoon started joining you and jake for lunch more often, sometimes even ordering food for all of you to share. his cold facade was still there but you could feel it slowly melting off. he smiled at you more and even tried to start conversations. you found out from other coworkers and jake that he was one of the more popular pediatric doctors for his skill (and his good looks of course) and that many (if not all) the girl doctors and nurses admired him at one point. some even trying to ask him out but getting politely rejected. you thought it was cruel of him to reject every single one of them without giving them a chance, maybe he already had a girlfriend?- jake confirmed that sunghoon was in fact, painfully single and that he has been trying to set sunghoon up with one of the other nurses he was good friends with because all he does is work. jake even asked you if you wanted him to set you up with sunghoon to which you refused saying you weren't interested in being in a relationship right now and that your time should be dedicated to caring for more patients.

one morning, jake informed you before hand that he had a scheduled surgery that would last for the whole duration of lunch break, you told him not to worry and that you would be fine eating lunch alone and it wasn't that big of a deal. but it was a bit lonely working alone in the room all day without jake's occasional comments and jokes, you get up to start heating the instant tteokbokki you had found at the convenience store when you hear the door open, "why are you back so early jake? i thought you had a surge-" you say and turn around to find sunghoon standing at the door holding a plastic bag full of food. you quickly cover your mouth and apologize for mistaking him for jake, "sorry sunghoon.. i thought you were jake umm.. why are you here?-" you say a little bit too straightforward "to- eat? wait, where's jake?" sunghoon asks looking around the empty room. "he's not here, he has a surgery and won't be done until later, jake didn't tell you?" you say tilting your head, you would have thought jake told sunghoon first for sure since they're best friends but apparently not. "no, he didn't.. but since i'm already here and i bought food, do you wanna eat?" sunghoon says though his tone a bit hesitant, you agree and sit down to help him take the food out of the plastic he's holding.

your mouth practically starts watering at the sight of the samgyupsal and fried chicken in front of you, sunghoon notices and lets out laugh, "go ahead, i know your hungry." you quickly flash him a smile and thank him before devouring chicken wings. sunghoon starts eating but keeps his eyes on you as he eats, you notice and ask what's wrong. "are you that hungry? don't you eat breakfast or snacks while you work?" sunghoon says, to which you shake your head, "no time, either i have to help prepare a surgery, organize documents, or do my rounds." you say in between as you chew. he laughs again, "make sure to eat, it's important. i don't want you getting sick." he says and smiles and continues to eat his food. you look up and can't help but blush a bit, sunghoon doesn't notice as he's too busy eating his food but he basically said he is worried about you and doesn't want you to get sick.

maybe lunch without jake isn't so bad after all.

after your lunch with sunghoon (that was mostly spend in comforable silence), you sit in your office chair and think about it. sunghoon was attractive and was really nice. yes, at first you thought he was a jerk but you found out he had a good heart. when not rejecting the doctors and nurses, you had found out that he secretly donates to the hospitals funds for children. once, when you were assigned to assist a surgery for a little girl, you were doing your rounds when you saw him sitting beside her in her room making her laugh. peeking from the doorway, you hear the girl tell him not to leave her because she couldn't fall asleep and he promised he would stay until she did, when you came back to check, you found that sunghoon had fallen asleep with his head resting on the bed holding the sleeping girl's hand. sunghoon wasn't so bad after all. who knew doctors that were good with kids was your type? you didn't tell anyone about your little crush, you were embarrassed to have anyone find out. especially not jake.

"(name), are you okay? this is the 5th time you've zoned out today." jake asked with a worried tone. "huh? oh sorry, just a bit distracted, i have a lot on my mind lately." you say, jake rolls his chair closer to yours until your faces are inches apart, "and what could that be? hm... could you be thinking about park sunghoon perhaps?" he says wiggling his eyebrows at you. you push him away and look down. he takes your silence as a yes and jumps up from his chair, "i knew it! you like sunghoon! man i knew i shouldn't have listened to you! if i set you up ages ago you both could've been a 'thing' by now!" you quickly defend yourself "no jake. we will not become a 'thing' and we never will be! he's so busy that'll be impossible!" you say crossing your arms and glaring at him. "you didn't deny your crush though!" jake replies jumping up and down and running around the room. once you get him to calm down, you make him promise not to tell anyone, especially not sunghoon. jake may have promised not to tell sunghoon but you know he has tricks up his sleeve.

visits to the pediatric wards were rare, but when you did, you couldn't help but smile at sunghoon talking to the kids. his cold experession replaced by a happy smiley one. jake on the other hand was plotting who knows what. frequently coming up with excuses to leave lunch early (not before you give him glares while sunghoon isn't looking) so you and sunghoon would be left alone in the room. sunghoon acted no different around you, both of you mostly eating in silence after jake leaves the room. you take his silence as a sign that he's uncomfortable and as much as you want time alone with him, you stand up and apologize making up an excuse saying you need to check on a patient. he gives you a small nod before looking back down at his food and eating, you feel terrible but it's what he wanted, right?

jake's plan was backfiring, sunghoon became busy and was too tired to come to your office to have lunch and he eventually stopped going altogether. you still ate with jake (after telling him what happens between you and sunghoon after he leaves), but you you miss sunghoon's presence. "sorry (name), i was trying to make you guys closer but instead i ruined it altogether.." jake says with a sad expression, you shake your head and reply. "it's okay jake, like i said, i knew nothing was going to progress between the two of us anyways." and you give him a small smile. "you know sunghoon's thinking about leaving, as in quitting being a doctor altogether." jake blurts out, you look at him with wide eyes, "what?! but he loves his job! why would he leave?" you ask, "he said he's getting tired and it's not as exciting as it used to be, doesn't make his heart race apparently. he plans to leave in a month, i passed by his office earlier and there are already a few boxes for him to pack up." jake shakes his head. "oh... doesn't make his heart race.." you whisper to yourself so jake can't hear. your heart drops at those words, your feelings for sunghoon have done nothing but grow. seeing him with kids makes your heart flutter, anything he does makes you go crazy inside. how could he just decide to leave?

later that night, you decide to work until late despite jake telling you to go home and rest, you wanted alone time. you let out a sigh and lean back in your chair, the only thing filling your mind is sunghoon. according to jake, sunghoon leaves at 11pm, you look at the clock, '10:43'. you think for a while and leave your office. walking around the empty halls of the hospital is peaceful, you greet a few patients and their guardians you see on the way to the elevator. you do your best not to make any sound when you get off at your floor, walking down the halls to a door with a dim light on. you press your back against the wall beside the door and take a peek through the small window in the door. sunghoon is inside, opening drawers from his desk and putting them on his desk to sort out, you see him put them into a box beside him, 'this is what jake was talking about. ' you think to yourself, he really is planning to leave. you stand in front of the door and bring your hand up into a fist and close your eyes.

knock knock knock..

"who is it?" sunghoon says from inside the room, "it's me, (name)..." you say quietly, you hear his footsteps near the door and he opens it, "(name)? it's late, what are you doing here? come in." he says opening the door wider so you can walk in, you lean on the table in the middle of the room and he walks to lean on the wall across of you. you can feel his gaze on you as you look down at the floor in silence. you both stay like this for around 2 minutes until sunghoon finally speaks up.

"did you.. want to say anything?" his deep voice is intimidating. your breath hitches when you look up to meet his eyes.

"sunghoon, i..." you trail off, looking back down at the floor, lips quivering as you struggle to make out what you want to say.

"sunghoon, i-i like you..." you say softly, but loud enough for him to hear, you still feel his gaze on you as you look up and take a step back. "i'm sorry..", your eyes start to burn as tears start to escape, breathing becoming heavy. "i-i know it's your decision but, please stay at the hospital, stay with me." you look up to see that his eyes have softened "i'm sorry." you say again looking down to let your tears fall to the floor.

sunghoon slowly stands straight and you hear him take a few steps towards you. you can practically see his shoes because he's so close. you are taken by surprise when you feel his hand brush through your hair, and you look up at him. you see his eyes flicker from your eyes to your lips and he leans in.

sunghoon is kissing you.

you can't help but lean into his touch, savoring the moment and closing your eyes. when you finally part, he holds your face with one hand, the other holding yours. you're confused when he smiles, looking at you. "how did you know i was going to leave?" he asks and you stutter out a response, "j-jake said you were tired of this job, that it didn't make your heart race anymore." he lets out an airy laugh and shakes his head. "i'm not leaving anymore." sunghoon says, and you ask why.

"because of you, i like you too, (name). my heart races when i'm around you." he says and brings your hand to his chest to feel his racing heart. "my heart goes crazy when i'm with you, whether we're eating, or doing rounds, it's so loud i worry you can hear it without a stethoscope." he laughs. "i'll stay in the hospital if it means staying here with you." he smiles and you nod, bringing his hand closer to feel your heart too. the only other thing that can be heard is the ticking clock in sunghoon's office.

'11:36' it reads. sunghoon's shift has gone overtime. but he doesn't mind, because his heart is with yours and it won't be going anywhere.

just 2 hearts in a hospital, alive and beating for each other.

extra:

a few days later, jake comes looking for sunghoon in his office. he lets himself in and notices the visible lack of boxes that were there a few days ago. confused, he walks to sunghoon's desk and opens the drawer.

jake pauses and smiles. all of sunghoon's things have been put back into their places. grinning from ear to ear, jake does a little dance to the door out of happiness and walks proudly out of the door, earning weird looks from patients and visitors passing by. but jake could care less. there were some bumps along the way, but his plan worked.

"pfft- never gonna become a thing she said." he says to himself and shakes his head with a smile.

#wonhaz #enhypen #sunghoon #park sunghoon #enhypen sunghoon #enhypen imagines #enhypen x reader #sunghoon imagines #enhypen fluff #enhypen angst #sunghoon oneshots #enha x reader #enha sunghoon #enha imagines #park sunghoon x reader #sunghoon x you #sunghoon x y/n #enhypen scenarios #sunghoon scenarios

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maeum-your · 2 years

Text

PARK YOU

CHAPTER 41 | one step forward and three steps back (written)

word count: 3.9k

warning(s): fluff seasoned with the occasional angsty thoughts, two absolute idiots, (very few) sexual jokes, one (?) curse word

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“let‘s go on a date,“ he had said.

“what?“ y/n.

“we can post pics on twitter and if we‘re lucky someone from school will see us together,“ he had said. it had made sense.

“ugh, fine,“ a sigh, “but don‘t think I‘ll enjoy it.“

“I won‘t either.“

liars. both of them.

it felt like her heart had grown a beak and a pair of wings. it picked at the lock and tried to squeeze through the cage of ribs as she sat there in the library. her eyes darted around nervously, not focusing on the homework that was spread out on the desk. she was convinced that her heart was beating into a megaphone, the amplified sounds reaching every student's ears and telling them the truth. the truth of how she came to sit there for two hours, anxiously doing anything but her homework and waiting for her fake boyfriend to finish practice to take her to an equally fake date. it had been just yesterday that they had shown up at school with their hands intertwined. the stares they had elicited had continued well on to the next day. strangers she didn‘t know had come up to her, trying to pry the full story out of her but like a knight on a white horse jay showed up every time without fail and swept her away.

it was quite simple really. all she had to do was go on this date with him, not act like she hated him when there werr people around– or more accurately: pretend that she wasn‘t pretending, seeing that he had made her lose her grip and fall down to the pits of fiery desire – and act like she was struck by cupid himself (again: she didn‘t need to take on a career of an actress for this).

she was drumming her fingers on the table and tapping her feet. she kept on glancing at her phone, the last digit changing with every passing minute but it felt like time had been slowed down, a minute in the real world ten in this altered one. if the fakeness of this date scratched even just the surface of the halfway mark of lia‘s behavior then she should have no reason to be nervous. yet she couldn‘t help the stampede taking place inside her heart.

it was thirty seconds later. she sighed. she had to calm down and seem chill when he texted her. she didn‘t want to risk seeming like she was actually excited about this. which she wasn‘t. of course. after fifteen seconds she checked the time again and still no text. the clock struck six. should she pack her things or wait? a minute later still nothing. what if he stood her up? what if this was just some cruel joke to embarrass her, to see if she would actually be willing to go on this date with him. she, the kid everyone knew as the weird harry potter obsessed cat girl who tended to hiss at people and make a fuss if jay even as much as glanced at her. she‘d have deserve it.

the screen flashed bright. she gave a start and snatched her phone, the girl sitting at the opposite table granting her a judging stare.

I‘m finished. where are you?

the library

omw

no wait let‘s meet at the entrance

this bitch, y/n thought at his audacity of leaving her on read. how long would it take him to come up here? she grabbed her things in a hurry and stuffed them into her bag. she brushed her hands over her hair to smooth it down and straightened her clothes. she headed straight for the door in hopes that she might not meet him here where there were so many people but she came to an abrupt halt as she almost collided with someone‘s chest. damn, jay was fast.

“hey,“ she tried to laugh the awkward tension away.

“hi,“ he breathed. a soft smile adorned his face. cute.

“let‘s get going.“ y/n accepted his hand. her mind went hundreds of miles per hour whenever they held hands. her palm fit in his very well oddly enough but she tensed up so much that it still managed to feel unnatural. warmth spread through every fiber of her body like gas trying to fill up a space. it left no part of her empty, rising up to her heart and warming it like a blanket on a rough winter‘s day.

trying not to smile was a real challenge. but wait! who said she couldn‘t? it would be more suspicious if she were to walk around with a frown. she let herself relax a little and the corners of her mouth automatically rose up.

he opened the door on the passenger seat of his tesla and she mumbled a surprised thank you. she quickly checked in the mirror if her embarrassment was showing on her cheeks and it did. she turned to look outside the window during the ride but she couldn‘t help her eyes wandering back to him. she‘d love to say he dressed especially nice for their date but jay wasn‘t known as a fashionista for nothing. he was wearing a white turtleneck, a grey half opened button up on top. his pants had a loose fit and were of a dark blue shade. the whole outfit was held together by a same color belt. his side profile was all sharp edges and angles. y/n dared say – or didn‘t actually – that his side view even surpassed what was to be seen from the front.

“you‘re staring,“ he remarked.

she quickly averted her eyes. “you have something on you face.“

“it‘s called handsomeness.“

she scoffed at his outrageous claim. he was right, of course, but this remark made it easier for her to shift her attention away from him again.

“you never told me where we‘re going.“

“oh, right. I thought we could go grab something to eat first and watch a movie afterwards.“

“are you asking me to netflix and chill?“

he laughed. “I see what you think of me but no. I heard that lia is going to be there so this might be a good opportunity for us.“

“wait, lia?“ y/n's throat closed up.

jay sensed her body going rigid, put his hand on her thigh and squeezed it reassuringly.

“it‘s okay. I won‘t let her hurt you again.“

his hand seemed to burn through the fabric of her pants. their eyes met for a moment and she could feel her heart skipping a beat.

impatient honking tore through the silence and jay quickly pulled away and saw that the stop light had indeed gone green. the red he had stopped at had now transferred to his cheeks. he was trying his best not to make this whole ordeal awkward but it was like his body disobeyed him in her presence. it would act on its own and his mind and heart would have to deal with the consequences later. all he wanted was to make her feel comfortable and safe.

he took her to a small but incredibly adorable bistro in town. she had expected him to have reserved a table at some fancy restaurant where a napkin was worth more than what she would get if if she sold her arm on the black market. she should’ve judged jay better.

the bistro was managed by an old lady with pastel pink hair like cotton candy and y/n decided that‘s what she wanted to look like when she got older.

“thank you, mrs. jeon.“ jay bowed his head as she placed their beverages on the table and smiled affectionately.

“it‘s been a while since I last saw you, jongseong. I almost feared you had gotten tired of coming to see this old lady. but I should have put more faith in you, after all, you used to come here almost everyday."

he looked flustered. “I could never get tired of coming here. especially since you do indeed make the bests mac n cheese in entire country.“ mrs. jeon laughed heartily.

“there is so much delicious food to choose from and yet you still order from the kids menu. It‘s been, what, seven years since you‘ve been coming here but you never seem to get tired of getting the same thing. and it‘s also the first time you showed up in company.“ her kind eyes now fixed on y/n. “who is this lovely lady you brought here? is she your girlfriend?“

y/n almost choked on her iced tea. “no, ma‘am, we‘re just– “

just what? she thought about it. they could hardly consider themselves friends but they weren‘t really dating either so what was she supposed to say?

“you guessed right.“ jay enclosed her hand in his, “we‘re dating.“

y/n looked at him confounded, in hopes of conveying the sentiment of what the fuck are you doing but he didn‘t mind her.

mrs. jeon clapped her hands together so excitedly that y/n couldn‘t bring herself to correct him. her eyes were overcast with joy and, oh, how it would break her fragile heart if they told her the truth.

“congratulations! I am so happy for you, jongseong, and a pretty one she is at that, too. I bet she is just as smart as you are. my dear, you have such an intelligent look in your eyes. I am just so glad my little jongseong finally found someone to make him happy. he used to sit here eating his mac n cheese all sad and alone. I hope you can be each other‘s joys for a long time.“

“mrs. jeon,“ jongseong whined.

“ah, I‘m sorry, my love, I must be embarrassing you. I just can‘t help being exhilarated at the thought of you having someone by your side now. you used to look like an abandoned cat whenever you came in but when I saw you walking through that door just then your eyes sparkled with life. it's the same look you had whenever you‘d talk about that girl in your class. oh,” she stopped herself, eyes widening in realization. “silly me. I am rambling again, don‘t mind me. I‘ll leave you two lovebirds alone now.“ she ruffled jay‘s hair and left.

he had turned as white as the wall next to him and had slowly redacted his hand. he seemed mortified. his blown wide pupils were shaking as he intensely stared at the ground. y/n wasn‘t sure if she understood what mrs. jeon had been talking about. the idea of jay crushing on someone felt like a low blow to her stomach even though she had no right to be jealous. she was the one who had pushed him away first. claiming to hate him had seemed easier than to love him.

jay walked through the world with lots of pride and confidence so to see him seemingly shaken by mrs. jeon revealing this crush was strange. it made her feel bad. she didn‘t want to have to see his frown.

“mrs. jeon seems quite fond of you.“ jay‘s face immediately brightened at the mention of the old lady. he exhaled a sigh of relief. I didn't matter if y/n actually didn‘t know or just pretended not to, he was grateful. a soft smile played on his lips.

“she practically raised me. I used to come here everyday after school and she‘d make me mac n cheese and no matter how much I protested she always gave me a muffin on the house too. I sometimes helped her out in the kitchen. actually, that is how I discovered my passion for cooking. shs is truly an incredible woman and has shown me nothing but kindness and respect. this is place is very special to me.“ and he had decided to bring her here.

“she seems lovely.“ y/n meant it. he nodded.

“but why did you have to tell her I was your girlfriend? I fear she might be hiding a ring in my food now.“ jay laughed.

“it was a great way to practice authenticity. I‘m sure we‘ll be having to use that line a couple of times. also, you never know who is listening. and don‘t worry! if you were to choke on the ring I‘d remember to publish all the writing wasting away on your computer.“ she tilted her head.

“what...“ she raised her eyebrow. “how do you know about my writing?“ her writing was a topic she never even discussed with her friends, too insecure they might think it was horrible. she preferred to keep it to herself and let no one else join her in her little bubble.

“you accidentally shared one of your documents with me.“

she facepalmed. “which one?“

“it was the short story about the aristocratic dog and the stray cat who run away together to france to open up a bookstore by the louvre. I was astonished by how real and raw the characters felt. the storyline had me tearing up and I don‘t even have the words to describe how much I loved your writing style. you are depriving the world of a beautiful masterpiece by keeping it hidden.“ he was being dead serious.

y/n couldn’t help the tears welling in her eyes. she had never even once thought that she was good enough and that anyone would even be interested in reading her stuff. she must have accidentally shared it with him while editing at 4 am. not only had he read the thing in its entirety but he had also liked it and had complimented her. park jongseong wasn‘t one for meaningless compliments.

she fidgeted with her fingers and didn‘t dare to meet his eyes.

“thank you,“ she whispered so quietly that not even the passing fly could have heard her. jay furrowed his eyebrows in incomprehension.

“thank you,“ she managed to get out a bit louder this time, the overwhelming emotions cracking her voice like clay. “it means a lot to me.“

he waved it off but couldn‘t help his eyes transforming into two little crescents.

“all you need to do is find a publisher and I guarantee you‘ll make it big. I can already see you in your famous author era.“

she pouted. “don‘t feed into my delusions. I doubt that anyone would be interested in reading my story. but knowing that at least one other person approves is more than enough for me!“

the two of them sat there, in a little bistro in the heart of seoul, staring at each other as if scared they might disappear at any given moment, their lips curved upwards in a never-ending smile. this might well have been the first time they‘d had a normal conversation without constantly firing insults at each other‘s heads. y/n found that spending time with jay could be fun and enjoyable and jay found himself getting addicted to making y/n smile.

y/n didn‘t find a ring hidden in her food and ate so much that her stomach felt like it was going to burst. jay hadn‘t been kidding. the mac n cheese was immaculate. they remembered to take plenty of pictures to upload later and they even had mrs. jeon take a couple of snapshots of the two of them together.

they spent about two hours eating – mrs. jeon had insisted on giving them crème brûlée on the house – and chatting away. they were left with about half an hour until the start of the movie. jay suggested going for a walk along the han river.

there was almost no one around, yet jay held out his hand. y/n accepted it without much thought and they went on to walk through the chilly autumn night which sent shivers down the girl‘s spine. an enquiring hum escaped her lips as she felt jay‘s warming hand slipping out of hers. he wordlessly took off his jacket.

“but you‘re going to freeze,“ she protested but he was already set on helping her put it on.

“I‘ll be fine. I‘m wearing multiple layers so I won‘t be cold.“ yeah, that‘s because he had prepared for this exact moment and had dressed extra warm that morning.

“thanks.“

this time the silence was less awkward than it usually was. they watched the moon reflecting on the water, how the silent waves were breaking it apart and distorting its image. they didn‘t linger for long and soon started making their way to the movie theater.

upon entry she found the ticket stand in front of which a big group of girls were waiting. she felt her heart drop. she had completely forgotten that she‘d be here. she instinctly reached for jay‘s hand. he gave her a firm but reassuring squeeze.

“don‘t worry. I won‘t leave you,“ he whispered in her ear. he nodded encouragingly. she smiled unsure but let herself be led to the ticket stand,

“oh hi, lia. long time no see. what a coincidence to meet you here.“ jay was rivaling regina george at this moment, flashing her a huge but fake smile. lia narrowed her eyes. y/n thought she looked like a snake ready to attack. her viciousness soon turned into confusion as she spotted their linked hands.

“I didn‘t know you guys were a thing.“ she said slowly.

“we were keeping it lowkey for a few weeks but we‘ve been hashtag out and proud since yesterday morning, haven‘t you heard?“

“I have more important things to attend to than listening to unnecessary gossip.“ she rolled her eyes. her girl friends snickered as if she had just said something terribly witty.

“the rumors going around are quite scandalous, I thought those were exactly your type of thing.“ he leaned in closer. “they say we were making love on sunghoon‘s pool table all night long.“ he pulled y/n closer by her waist and winked. “the rumors are true.“

the disgust evident on each of their faces was worth the small humiliation. “congratulations.“

“I am worried whether y/n and I can keep our hands to ourselves. we‘re going to be sitting in the back row after all, you know. things can get quite steamy in these kind of situations. right, baby?“

trying to hold back her laugh, all she could do was nod with as much innocent enthusiasm as she could. he turned to her and dedicated an exaggerated horny and longing stare to her.

“I could ravish you all night, my pooh bear.“

jay tucked a loose strand of pink hair behind her and came impossibly close to her face. she could hear some coughs.

“I guess this is our cue to leave.“

the clique went running. while pretending to fight the overwhelming urge to make out in public, y/n could feel lia burning holes into her back.

jay pulled away as soon as they were out of sight. he patted her head. “see, that wasn‘t half as bad.“

y/n – albeit quite involuntarily – slapped his hand away and whined.

“but did you have to put it on so thick? I‘m not quite sure she bought it anyway.“

he gasped in fake offense. “if I hadn‘t exaggerated she might have looked through as straight away so rather than complaining you should be thanking me and my genius brain. and who knows,“ a sly smirk crept onto his face, “what might‘ve happened if heeseung hadn‘t interrupted us that one time.“

y/n elbowed him quite hard at his statement. “don‘t you ever shut up?“

he blew her a kiss. “no, you.“

she groaned and they finally went to get their tickets. jay bought a large bag of popcorn to share and a ginormous soda with two straws. y/n just hoped that putting it on thick would actually help her case.

once they were comfortably settled in their respective seats, jay pretended to stretch his body as he yawned and let his arm rest on y/n‘s shoulder.“

“literally what the fuck is this 2/10 fuckboy move?“

“oh you know, just in case lia or one of her minions decide to stalk us and we don‘t look infatuated enough. and a 2/10 is great. a lot better than I expected! I appreciate your mastership, senpai.“ he started humming to some tune and took a sip from his – your – soda

it didn‘t take a genius to realize he was indeed quite enjoying himself. but he was right. lia‘s hawk eyes kept on glancing back at them and she‘d tilt her head like a dog who can't comprehend the meaning of a word he‘s never heard.

whenever jay noticed her prying stare, his grip on y/n would tighten and he‘d pull her closer. y/n thought about telling him to relax a bit but she enjoyed the feeling of warmth and comfort so she let him be.

the many late hours or revising and writing started catching up to her and whispering sweet nothings to convince her to slip into dreamland. her eyelids kept on fluttering shut and her head would fall forward, waking her up for a moment before she doze off again. as much as jay had actually been excited to watch this movie with her, he couldn‘t help but frown at the thought of y/n overworking herself to the point of exhaustion. that eye-opening conversation with heeseung had been haunting him like a poltergeist ever since the party.

he gently caressed her cheek and guided her head onto his shoulder. the smell of her shampoo infiltrated his mind and bewitched his senses. he smiled to himself.

y/n was awoken by a stirring under her head. the movie theater had already cleared out and the end credits were rolling. she lifted her head and rubbed her tired eyes. she looked over and realized with a start that she must have fallen asleep on her fake date‘s shoulder. but jay looked neither angry nor displeased and wouldn‘t accept any apology.

“do you feel more rested now?“ concern reflected in his brown orbs.

y/n averted his eyes, an uneasy feeling making way in her stomach.

“hmm,“ she hummed. it had been so much easier to just hate him.

he dropped her off at her house. she had already warned jungwon to stay away from any and all windows and to switch off the light in his room. she wasn‘t about to risk finding out how jay would react to his team member being her little brother.

jay rushed to the passenger side while she was checking if she had everything and opened the door for her. there they stood, two complete idiots, staring into each other‘s eyes. both wore expressions that the other couldn‘t decipher.

“don‘t forget to post the pics we took today,“ he said.

“don‘t worry. I‘ll come up with the cheesiest captions ever so that no one will ever dare to doubt our relationship,“ she teased.

“perfect.“

it felt like their faces were two magnets, pulling each other inevitably closer. his ragged little breathes were fanning her lips. they both leaned in and were in the process of closing their eyes when jay abruptly pulled away. he put himself at a safe distance from her, distress clearly written on his face.

“I should probably leave. sleep well,“ he stammered and rushed back to his car.

y/n was left standing there in her front yard, fingers hovering right above her lips where his had been just a moment ago. they had almost kissed and dread overcame her at the realization that she had wanted it. she would have let him. but he had left and all she could do was pull the jacket tighter around her body to shield her from the sudden cold.

a/n: y/n and jay being civil for once? who would have thought? I worked really hard on this and am surprised to see that I am quite proud. please tell me your thoughts tho, I would really appreciate it <3

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summary: y/n hates rich people and park jongseong is no exception. they have been academic rivals since freshman year (which he doesn't like to acknowledge) and always argue about the dumbest of things. but what happens when y/n's brother jungwon joins the dance team led by jay and their friend groups begin to mingle?

taglist 1 (closed): @sophiko22 @missmadwoman @jungwons-rat @msxflower @minato-ariato @person-standing @blessed-sky @staysstrays @yaeluvz @jaywonlix @nar-nia @bekah931215 @sirephines @revemixer @jjhmk @heelariously @ddeonuism @fylithia @dxlicateee @acciomylove @kyleeanne @solitxre @strwbryparfait @beibybtch @tomorrowbymoa-together @vantxx95 @sunshineshouchan @winter-berries @lilacboba @chewnotgyu @chaeflms @wondering-out-loud @wonniesimp @dinosdance @3ggieyolk @sunbokie @sadmusiclovs @zhaixiaowen @seollyeong @staerrymariam @hae06 @bigtoewinwin @enhasengene @centheodd @joti17 @soobin-chois @jungwonswifex @sweetjaemss @indelicate-macalino @chiyuv

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ramp-it-up · 3 years

Text

The One

Pairing: Chris Evans x Reader

Warmings: 18+, Minors DNI. Curate your own experience. Cursing, drinking, running, a raging argument in an established relationship, name calling, taunting, drunken raging, Twitter. SMUT, explicit, rough sex, fingering, tit slapping, orgasm denial, spitting, oral sex (mostly female receiving). Also, I’m sleepy. 😴

A/N: Not proofread. Also, I know very little about Chris and Jenny, and have no real opinion about their relationship. I made up the scenario about what happened there for the purposes of the story. THANKS FOR 400 FOLLOWERS TONIGHT! 🥳🎉🎊🍾👏🏽🎈

This fic is based on the following ask:

Anonymous asked:

Imagine idea :

Chris is drunk after a fight with the reader. He was On Twitter and saw some pics with Jenny and when the reader comes in he screams at her and says that Jenny was the one and not the reader. The reader get sad because she was always kind of insecure about the age gap with Chris. The day after he didn’t know what he says and she don’t say anything because she got the feeling that he was right. But one thing both didn’t noticed that Chris was drunk calling Scott and he knows everything Chris says and drive to Chris to give him a good clamp ahahhaha Chris was drunk and Just mentioned her name because he saw a post with Jenny.

------------------

It had been the perfect day.

You slept in, then had a late brunch at home.

You saw a message from Chris’ former co-star, Heidi, light up his phone that he’d plugged in on the kitchen counter when you two were tidying up.

You wondered why he was texting the bitch even after you told him that she wanted him. And after he agreed to cut off contact out of respect for you.

Heated, you didn’t even look around before you picked it up, put in his code and read a string of friendly, if not borderline flirty, texts.

Chris walked in the kitchen, caught you, and yelled at you for being in his phone.

“What the hell is going on?”

“Exactly! What is going on, Chris. I thought we talked about this?”

Chris rolled his eyes. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Oh, it’s a big fucking deal.”

You threw his phone on the marble countertop, which caused Chris to pick it up to see if it was cracked. Your temper was too much.

“We’re just friends! She knows we’re together, y/n!”

You rolled your eyes.

“And I know women, Chris. That doesn’t fucking matter to her. Sometimes you’re so oblivious. Or act like you are.” You huffed and rolled your eyes.

“I know you want to leave me for someone more glamorous and beautiful. Someone who will put up with your shit, everyone the media says you’re fucking. Go ahead and just do it!”

Chris’s temper was really rising now. You could tell as the red creeped up his chest to his neck.

“Stop fucking saying that!” Chris was screaming now. “Is that what you want? To end it? Because you don’t have to make me do it. If you want to leave, just leave.”

You said shit like that a lot. And it scared and angered him. He wanted to know if you were trying to make him break up with you so you would be free.

“Why are you being such a fucking…” Chris stopped himself. He knew better than to call you out of your name.

Your head almost spun around. You smiled evilly.

“Go ahead, say what you wanna say, Chris. Or are you scared?”

Chris exploded. “A fucking BITCH.” He was shaking because you went there.

“How many times do I have to tell you, I’m not fucking anyone else!”

Chris lost it and punched the wall, making a hole in the drywall and definitely injuring his hand.

You just stood there with your mouth open and in silence. You went toward him to look at his hand, and he just put both of them up, backing away from you and going to the liquor cabinet.

He retreated to the deck with a bottle of Jameson’s. He wanted to dull the pain, in his hand, and in his heart. He hated when you hurt each other.

You understood that you both crossed the line, so you let him be. You went upstairs to change into your running clothes to get out and clear your head.

Chris settled on a deck lounger, started drinking from the bottle and got online, which is never a good thing, but he needed something to distract him. He started reading tweets about himself, and following a thread of Chris + Jenny stans.

The more he drank, the more he started reminiscing.

There were good times. He was happy. Mostly. He thought she was the one. Sometimes. But she broke his heart. He was just a rebound.

Her handsome arm candy.

Then he thought of you. His heart melted; you really loved him. He was sure of it. But loving him was hard. He realized that you felt the same way about him that he felt about Jenny. Always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Insecure.

And you had good reason to be. Everything you’d said about women coming after him was true. But what you didn’t realize is that since he’d met you other women didn’t matter to him.

You were the one, not Jenny.

Chris began to get melancholy. He’d fucked up. You were nothing but good to him and you just asked him to respect you and listen to your feelings. He’d ignored that.

Shit, why did he yell at you like that?

He went to erase Heidi’s contact and block her number. He was confident that you were never going to throw him away like Jenny did. She was the one who’d hurt him. Not you. Never you. He recognized that you wouldn’t ever hurt him on purpose.

His mind was racing with how to apologize when you came back. He was an idiot. The pain in his heart was replaced with regret and his hand had slowed to a dull throb.

But then 30 minutes turned to 3 hours, and by the time you got back, the bottle was empty and Chris’s eyes were red with rage and worry.

Maybe you were just like Jenny after all.

--------

You ran, and then went to get some coffee. You ran into Shelby at the cafe and distracted yourself with mindless chatter, then walked back. You were ready to apologize by the time you opened the door.

When he heard the door, Chris picked up his phone and met you in the living room. He was obviously shitfaced.

“WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN!?”

Chris’s voice boomed throughout the house and you jumped. Then you just stood there, shocked at his outburst.

“The hell are you talking to me like that?”

He was unsteady on his feet. He leaned toward you, and you could tell that someone was spinning the room for him.

“I don’t want it to be you!”

He had to let you know that he knew that you wouldn’t be the one to hurt him. Chris pointed his phone at you.

“You’re not the one. Jenny’s the only one. Not you! Not ever you!”

You couldn’t believe your ears. But then again you could. It was what you were afraid of. You were head over heels. And Chris could find someone on his level. Like Jenny.

“Well, Fuck You very much, Chris.”

You brushed your tears away and ran past him up the stairs to the bedroom, locking the door and crying your eyes out. You got out your suitcase.

----

Chris started up after you, calling your name, and then suddenly needed to duck in the downstairs bathroom to throw up.

He tried to make it up the stairs and had to sit down on the floor near the bottom. Then, he needed to lay down just for a minute.

The next thing Chris knew, it was morning, and he woke up to a pounding on the door and in his head. He rolled over on the floor, and something stabbed him in the side.

Groaning, he reached down and saw your keys to his house, his cars, and his life, all on the Tiffany heart keychain he’d given them to you. He was staring at them, confused, when Scott opened the door with his key.

“There he is. My brother. The fuck up.”

Chris groaned again, sat up on the bottom stair and held his head.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Nevermind me. It’s not often I get to say that, only when you publish your dick pic to the internet or you RUN OFF THE BEST THING THAT’S EVER HAPPENED TO YOU!”

Chris winced when Scott yelled, his head a pounding mass of meat wrapped in fuzzy cotton.

He didn’t understand why he was being tortured and he didn’t understand why his hand hurt. He looked at it, all bruised up, and the keys inside it.

“Just tell me, Scott. Why are you here?”

Scott leaned up against the door.

“Did you know you drunk dialed me last night?”

Chris looked up at Scott, and his face was a sight as his brother told him what he’d said to you.

“Fuuuuuck me!” He put his head in his hands again.

“I don’t know if she ever will again,” Scott joked, but Chris didn’t laugh.

“I called her after you apparently passed out and wouldn't pick up your phone. She was ready to catch an early morning flight, but I convinced her to sleep in today and leave tomorrow.”

Chris moved his hands down from his eyes and stared out the patio doors, trying to think.

“I put her up in the Four Seasons, on your dime of course. Room 6145. Penthouse. Could be pretty romantic. If she were in that kind of mood.”

Chris looked up at Scott, smiled weakly, jumped up and hugged him, then made for the door. Scott jumped in front of him.

“Trust me, you’ll want to get some water and coffee in you, and shower and brush your teeth. You look and smell like shit.”

“Right.” Chris nodded, flexing his hand. He could still move it. He was glad it wasn’t broken. “Thanks, bro.”

“No problem.” Scott walked into the bathroom as Chris went to the kitchen, groaning when he saw the hole in the wall. He’d have to ask Scott to get it fixed before you saw it again.

If he could convince you to come back.

----

It was 11 am, and Scott had verified that you were still in the room. Chris just stood there, nervous and terrified that you were just going to be done with him.

Room service came and headed toward your door. Chris waved them down and when they saw his face, they stopped in their tracks, shocked.

“Hey, can you do me a favor?”

----

You climbed out of the wonderful deep jetted tub, having soaked until the water got cold and your fingers were wrinkled. You pulled on the plush Four Seasons terry cloth robe that was provided with the suite.

You felt calmer than last night, and after some sleep and relaxation, you realized that you’d been a fool to think that Chris would want you forever like you thought.

It was for the best that you leave and start over, to focus on your consulting business and yourself for a while.

You opened the door with a smile on your face for the attendant, and you let them into the room, your back turned to the door while they brought the cart in. You turned back around and there was Chris.

You grew heated, and your heart began to race while the attendant scurried out. Chris’s face was a welcome sight, but you were still angry.

There you were, looking so beautiful, curls tied up in your favorite silk scarf, cocoa skin radiant in a white fluffy robe. You should have been comfortable, but your eyes were wide and scared.

He’d done this to you.

“Fuck, y/n… I…”

You interrupted him.

“You’ve got some mutha fuckin nerve. How dare you just run up in here, using that fucking face,” you flung your hand up, “using who you are to get into my room. How did you even know where…?”

Your mouth dropped open at the realization of what Scott had done. You turned on your heel to get your things. You didn’t care that you were naked under your robe. You didn’t care that you still loved Chris. You were out. This second.

Chris moved to block you from entering the bedroom of the suite. You tried to push past him, all 5’ 4” of you versus 6 feet of him.

“Move, Chris!”

You glared up at him, your body responding to him in ways you weren’t prepared to admit. You were betrayed by your pussy.

“I just want you to listen to me. Then you can leave, stay, do whatever you want. Just hear me out.”

You and him physically was always the shit. His arms across his chest did things to you But you kept mean mugging him, making him hard for you.

You stepped back and said, “Okay. You have 10 minutes. Then I’m out, Chris.”

You paced back to the couch in the living room of the suite, watching him warily.

Chris paced in front of you, making it inevitable that you follow his lean form back and forth across the carpet. You noticed that his hand was bandaged and that he kept flexing it.

You hoped it wasn’t broken. No matter what, you cared what happened to him. You would always love him. Even if it was the end of your relationship.

“First of all, I’m sorry. My anger got the best of me, and I was violent and that is never acceptable. Even though I didn’t touch you, it’s not ok, and I know it was intimidating. I take responsibility.”

He stopped and looked at you, you melted a little, but you didn’t give any outward sign. Being a business owner taught you a mean poker face.

But the shirt he was wearing made his true blue eyes pop and you could see a hint of his chain around his neck under the fitted henley.

You suppressed a shiver at the memory of the things you did to have that chain and medallion wave in your face, to have it clenched between your teeth as Chris had his way with you, and you with him.

You focused on him, pointedly looking at your watch. Chris’ anxiety peaked when he saw that.

He stepped toward you and thought that he recognized the look in your eyes. He was almost sure that you still wanted him, sure that you still cared. He could only hope as he came closer.

“And then I started drinking. And while you were gone, I came across some posts about me and Jenny. And it took me back there.”

At those words, you crossed your arms and averted your eyes, defenses up. You didn’t want to hear about how much he loved Jenny.

Then, Chris swiftly moved to sit on his haunches, becoming eye level with you.

“And I realized that she never really loved me. Not like you loved me.”

Chris speaking about your love in the past tense made you a little angry and you stared him in the eyes.

It was just the reaction he hoped for. Your attitude. He loved it. He hid a smirk so that he could continue, but you saw the glimmer in his eyes. And you rolled yours.

Chris then picked up the sash to your robe and started playing with it, your eyes drawn to his thick fingers. You didn’t know why that was getting you hot, but it was. You opened your mouth to breathe.

Chris’s voice cracked when he said. “And to me she was the mountaintop. Another, different kind of conquest. But I realized that I never really loved her. Not like I love you.”

Present tense.

Now you were looking into his eyes, about to fall into them. Shit. He had you hooked. But then you remembered, and drew back.

“Yeah, I know what I said, but what I was trying to express was that I know it could never be you to hurt me like Jenny did. That I didn’t want you to hurt me like she did. Not when I’ve thought about forever…”

He moved even closer. “I mean forever, forever, with you.”

All of a sudden you couldn’t breathe. Chris got on his knees.

“I want to be in this position again with you one day. One day soon. But not like this. I don’t want it to be to try to get you back. I want us to be good.”

He sighed, pensive. “I want you to be smiling and happy, and even have our families there.”

You don’t know how your face looked at that moment, but Chris started smiling at you. You were so beautiful to him right now.

“I was drunk, and I couldn’t use my words correctly. I yelled and I screamed and I punched the wall. I fucked up and may have lost you forever, but I’m sorry, Y/N. I’m so sorry.”

You felt yourself get emotional, but you tried to calm down.

“I’m just so fucking scared that you will get tired of all the bullshit that comes with me and leave… and I absolutely wouldn’t blame you. But there’s no one else, y/n. No one else can compare…”

“Chris…”

You raised your hand to his face, eyes searching his. You could tell he was being honest.

Chris grabbed your hand and started kissing your palm.

“So.” He looked at you with those eyes. “Is this goodbye?…” His lips were giving you shivers. “Or hello again? Can we start over?”

Chris trailed his lips from your palm, to the pulse point at your wrists and lingered there, licking the delicate skin. Then he moved up your arm to the opening in the robe.

He pushed his torso in between your legs and leaned into your neck, inhaling the lavender bath oil that was your favorite. And his, too.

He moaned as you leaned your head to the side, giving him access. But he didn't just want the physical. He breathed into the shell of your ear.

“Please come home, baby…”

You just moaned as he started sucking right below your ear, your spot. Desire took over for Chris when he heard your sounds.

“Fuck it. I can tell that you still want me. If this is goodbye, then I’m going to make it worth your time.”

Your back arched and Chris palmed your bounteous ass over the robe, pulling you flush to his crotch. He smiled as he felt the warmth coming from you.

“You’re so fucking warm, babe. Are you wet, too? Are you wet for me? Do you want my cock? I mean, do you want your thick, fat, cock to fuck you babe?”

Chris was kissing down your neck into the cleavage that the robe was revealing with each sentence as you opened your legs. Your pussy was quivering for him, but you still didn’t answer him.

Chris looked up at you with those eyes and pulled on the robe sash. It fell open and he looked down and bit his lip, taking in your warm skin, lovely breasts, and elegant pussy, with the manicured triangle of hair kept like he preferred, and offered up for his taking.

You still looked like his girl, and he smiled as he looked up into your eyes. But he had to be certain. He lowered his head, keeping eye contact and descended toward one small hard mountain peak, kissing it gently, tentatively, while watching you.

You were mesmerized as his tongue peeked out and licked it, then he opened his lips and enveloped it, moistening it with his pink lips.

The look on your face compelled him, and he fully enveloped your nipple and started sucking roughly, still keeping eye contact. You were determined not to close your eyes, but it was difficult. You bit your lip to stay still.

Chris’s bandaged hand was dangerous, however, and it came up to pinch and roll your other nipple. You arched into his hand as he became rougher and rougher.

He switched nipples and hands and his saliva made your breast that much more pliable and sensitive. He slapped it, and then rubbed it with the rough bandage, making you cry out and moan as his other hand trailed down your body to your cunt.

“This pussy will still be mine, even if you leave me.” He smiled cockily while looking down on it.

He looked at you, before lifting his hand to his mouth, looking straight into your eyes and spitting on his fingers before bringing them down to your cunt.

“I think, that if even if you leave and move back to Houston, and I come to town, that if I I call you, even if you’re with someone else, you would meet me in a parking lot and let me fuck you over the hood of my rental car.”

He was faintly tracing your pussy lips and instantly your control was gone. You were sopping wet, because of his words and because of the knowledge that what he was saying was the truth.

“Oh,” was all you could say. You were adding to the wetness of the saliva on his fingers.

Chris smiled and tilted his head as his two thick digits breached your opening. He had his answer as you threw your head back and let him finger fuck you while he rolled and slapped and pinched your nipple.

His thumb was lightly brushing your clit and you wanted so much more. Chris could sense that and he pressed down roughly on it, causing an electric jolt up your body, which you keened for, arching your body into his hand.

Chris moved his hand from your breast to your neck and applied the pressure that you wanted and needed and that he was expert at while he stuffed another finger inside you and circled your clit with his thumb.

You floated among the clouds as you came like fireworks, and all over his hand.

He watched you come undone, and come down, rubbing his hard cock through his pants with one hand while he sucked your juices off his fingers, releasing each with a loud pop. When you opened your eyes, you smiled.

You pulled his hand and started licking yourself off him, flattening your tongue against his palm.

“I forgive you Chris. I forgave you when you conned your way into my room, you ass.”

You smiled against his hand as he groaned, relieved and desperate for you.

“But you still have some work to do.”

“What do you want? Anything.”

Now Chris was breathless, anticipating payback.

“First, you need to take those damn clothes off.”

He quickly moved to take off his shirt, and then stood up to take off his pants. You smirked as hs cock sprang up immediately when he peeled them down. He wasn’t wearing underwear.

Chris caught your look.

“What? I wanted to be prepared.” He chuckled softly while pumping his cock lightly, expecting to immediately fuck you.

He moved toward you. But you quickly moved off the couch and into the bedroom, forcing him to follow you, and his dick, into the other room.

You sat on the edge of the bed as he remained standing.

“What do you need, babe?”

You reached for his cock and tugged it toward you, opening your mouth and deep throating it, wetting it from root to tip and then spit on it. Chris moaned as you started to stroke. Then you stopped.

“I need you to jack off for me.”

“Ugh! You’re so fucking nasty. I love you.”

Chris instantly started where you left off. This didn’t seem like work.

You leaned back on your elbows, watching him, and licking your lips.

“And I need for you not to stop, and not to come. Until I tell you.”

You looked him in the eye and that was when Chris knew he was doomed. A chill ran down his spine as you reached down and started playing with your pussy.

“Fuck!”

You looked so damn good. He licked his lips and stroked harder and faster, his balls drawing up already.

“Shit, y/n.”

You watched his eyes, and got wetter at his blown pupils and glazed look.

“You like that?”

“Fuck yeah.”

His voice was broken and desperate. He fisted his cock, and held his balls, trying to stave off the inevitable.

You turned around, got on your knees and reached back between your legs and ran your fingers up and down your slit.

“How about that?”

“Goddamnit!”

Chris grunted as he tried to hold it in. You were a goddess. He licked his lips. Wanting to taste you. So he did.

He dove in, tongue competing with your fingers to command your slit. You finally gave in to his expert mouth and he savored your salty goodness.

“Fuck, Chris, you better still be…”

“I am. Christ.”

He was leaking in his hand, but he had it under control. Barely.

Chris stopped eating you out for a second, grabbed your ass cheek with one hand, stretched you open, spit on your tighter hole, and watched it slide down your satin lips to drip onto the bed.

His warm saliva made your pussy quiver and he watched it lovingly. Then he dove in again.

He sped up his movements with his other hand and you could hear the smooth skin of his dick sliding on his palm while his tongue did forbidden things to you.

“Ffffffuuckkkkkkk! Chrisssss.”

You came, burying your scream in the mattress, and even harder than before. You couldn’t believe that he’d turned the tables on you.

Chris ate you out through your orgasm, holding you down with one hand like it was nothing.

He was god of war, love, and sex, all at once.

Fuck Captain America.

You came again, almost immediately.

When he was done with his meal, he let you go, wiped his mouth with the back of his free hand and stepped back.

“Fuck, what do you want me to do? I can’t take it much longer…” Chris’s sexy growling voice got to you.

“What do you wanna do, Chris? How do you want to take me, Daddy?” Chris’s cock jumped in his hand, he slapped your ass, and watched it jiggle.

Chris entered your wet, wet pussy, and marvel how if felt like it was choking the life out of him. He had to stop moving, or he would burst almost immediately.

“How the fuck are you so wet, but so tight. It’s like a fucking vice grip, geeze.”

You both waited and felt it jump inside you, then Chris reached down, grabbed you by the neck and pulled you upright and flush to his chest.

One hand clutched your throat and the other arm hooked under your leg, allowing him to piston up into you upright while your other leg dangled, your big toe barely touching the ground.

Chris held you and fucked up into you, grunting each time the large mushroom cap head of his cock was stuffed into your pussy.

“Ugh, gatdamn it, you were thinking of leaving, ugh, you wanted to leave this, mmmmmm, this dick that, ugh, that fucks you like this?”

Chris’s mouth was near your ear, which was on his shoulder because your head had fallen back on his chest. He was using you like a sex toy as he fucked you senseless.

His dick slicked in and out of you with obscene wetness, Chris somehow lifting you up and slipping completely out of you and pounding back into you with force.

“Chris!!!”

You started shaking, your center of gravity being where you and he were connected.

He fucked you even harder and faster, chasing his release, but he maneuvered his hand to find your clit, refusing to come before you.

“Fuck! You know you were going to miss this cock that your sweet cunt fits… like… a …mutha …fuckin… glove!”

"Ahhhh!"

You screamed as you fluttered around his cock. He could take only so much before he had to shut his eyes and bite down on your collarbone. Chris’s legs were trembling now.

"Take all of it!." He was hitting your spot. "How does it feel?"

Although the feeling was intense, you tried to speak.

"L-l-l-like h-heav-v-v-ennnnn."

The sound of your voice made his release start to build.

With each of his thrusts, the sweet tightness began to build until you came, screaming and moaning in pleasure.

“Oh shiiiiitttttt!” Chris exploded inside your tight wet cunt. He wanted to fill you up like never before. He wanted to put his baby in you and tie you forever to him. That made his balls empty.

He fell back on the bed, with you on top of him, slipping out of you and depositing you on the bed beside him.

Chris couldn't help but smile as you both came down. He was made for this.

Chris put his hand on your cheek, brushing your beautiful lips with his thumb. You smiled under his attention into his sea blue eyes.

“I love you.” You grinned.

“God, I love you.” You sobered up, taking in the weight of his words.

“Is it weird that I want to get you pregnant before we’re married?”

You made a face.

“Who says I want to marry you?”

Chris scooped you in his arms and rolled you over on top of him.

“You don’t want to marry me? You’d say no if I asked?”

You held in a giggle.

“Nah. I’m gonna move back to Houston and marry someone else so you can come in town and fuck me over the hood of your rental car. That sounds hot as fuck.”

Chris released an anxious breath.

You took his head in your hands.

“Easy now. Ask what you want to ask.” Chris started to speak. You put your finger over his mouth.

“When you want to ask it.” You looked into his eyes again. “I won’t break your heart.”

Chris smiled at you and said, “I know.” He kissed you.

And when you pulled away, breathless, he told you, “You’re the One.”

----------- Read Part Two: It Takes Two

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seijorhi · 3 years

Text

Patience of a Saint

An Ushijima x virgin reader commission for the wonderful @hearteyes-candyskies, I hope you enjoy it, bby! 💕

Ushijima Wakatoshi x female reader

TW non-con, nsfw, smut, virgin reader

“Wait, you’re kidding me, right?”

Ushijima simply shrugs, “Why would I joke about something like that?”

Semi and Tendou share a glance, the former hiding a smirk behind the glass rim of his beer bottle. Tendou had been the one to drag them both downtown for ramen in the middle of the night, an impromptu reunion of sorts, now that the volleyball season had wrapped up and Tendou was back in Sendai.

Perhaps his first mistake had been to allow his friend the option to stay with him instead of booking a hotel. Though, truth be told, Tendou would have undoubtedly monopolised his time regardless of where he was staying, and Ushijima would have allowed him to.

They were friends, after all, and that was what friends did. He was just glad that Semi had been roped in alongside him.

When and how the conversation had steered towards his relationship with you, more specifically the details regarding your bedroom exploits together, Ushijima isn’t entirely sure, but he has no reason to lie to his friends.

The disbelieving look on Tendou’s face, however, makes him wonder if he’s said something wrong. “You mean to tell me that you’ve been dating this girl for how many months now, and you haven’t actually slept together yet?”

At that, Ushijima shakes his head. “We’ve slept together,” he corrects, taking a sip of his own beer. He likes sleeping with you, finds an odd sense of comfort he’s never felt before, waking up to find you curled against his side.

Most mornings Ushijima has no trouble getting out of bed for an early start. He’s found that lately, at least on the nights you stay over, that’s no longer the case.

The snort from his right is abruptly cut off into a choking cough as Semi tries and fails to mask his amusement. “He means sex, dude. You haven’t fucked her yet, have you?”

“No.”

The loud cackles from the ex-middle blocker are enough to draw the attention of several other patrons, but Tendou pays them no mind. “Why the hell not? Is she hideously ugly or something?”

“Nope,” Semi answers in his stead, a little too quickly for Ushijima’s liking. But he supposes he cannot blame his friend for noticing your attractiveness. You are, of course, beautiful - he’s told you many times.

A lone, red eyebrow quirks, glittering amusement dancing across Tendou’s face, “Are you… are you having trouble performing, big guy?”

Semi almost chokes on his mouthful, and even Ushijima feels the tips of his ears flush red. “No,” he asserts with a frown. “She…” he pauses, unsure for the first time whether this might be a line that he’s crossing to reveal something so personal between the two of you.

It’s not like he hasn’t discussed sex with them before. He has an almost uncomfortable amount of knowledge regarding the girls the redhead has been with, and Semi is no better.

(Semi was actually far, far worse.)

And truth be told he’s never been shy to share his own exploits with his friends, either. You might be the first girl that Ushijima’s ever loved, but love is not a necessary requirement for sex. He ensured that his partners left satisfied and so did he, there wasn’t anything more to it than that.

But you mean something to him. You mean everything.

“She… wants to wait,” he says quietly. “She’s-”

Tendou’s red eyes widen, his face transforming into an expression of delighted surprise as he puts it all together. “She’s a virgin?!”

“Hey, dumbass,” Semi grunts, smacking his old friend over the back of his head, “you wanna say that a little louder? I don’t think the entire restaurant heard you.”

Tendou waves off his admonishment with a flick of his wrist, his attention firmly fixed on the ace. “So I was right then? You found yourself a cute, innocent little virgin for a girlfriend?”

Ushijima doesn’t reply, he doesn’t need to.

He can still remember the scared look on your face the first time you stopped him, the way your hands shook and your pretty eyes filled with tears as you explained. Did you truly believe he would leave you over something as simple as that?

While he might have been… somewhat disappointed, he understood. He loves you, he’s known that for a while. He could be patient, wait for you to become accustomed to him, wait for you to get over your fears and apprehension.

Not that you make it easy for him. He knows you aren’t teasing him on purpose with low cut dresses and too short skirts, cuddling close in bed at night just so you can grind your ass against the swell of his cock, you’re too innocent for such things.

But that doesn’t make it any easier to ignore the heat that pools in his gut, the stirrings of desire and twitch of his cock every time you bend over in front of him and he’s rewarded with a perfect view. He’s lost count of the number of times he’s had to excuse himself to the bathroom, bracing himself against the wall, bent over and fisting his cock to the mental image of you spread out naked, desperate and begging before him.

“Wait, wait, hold up. I’m still a bit ticked off that you’ve been dating this girl for months and managed to hide her from me, your very best friend. I wanna see pics!”

Ushijima exhales, “You will meet her tomorrow-”

But it’s a fruitless endeavour, as Semi’s already scrolling through his phone to pull up your social media. Dutifully he passes it across the table, and Ushijima can only watch as Tendou’s eyes widen and a wicked grin creeps across his face.

“You, my big, beautiful, brawny friend, have the patience of a saint. My condolences.”

—

He meets you the very next day, and there’s a strange feeling in Ushijima’s chest as he watches you collapse into a fit of giggles at Tendou’s joke, the redhead’s arm slung casually over your shoulders.

He’s pleased that you get along with his old friends, it’s not something he’s ever had to concern himself with with his previous partners. They were nothing more than blips on a radar - not necessarily one night stands, but hardly worth introducing to the people who matter most to Ushijima.

Yet he can’t help but linger on Tendou’s comment from the night before.

You hadn’t told him that you were waiting for marriage. It wasn’t a religious vow you’d taken. It was just that you weren’t ready for sex yet. You asked for time.

And he’d understood. Your relationship was new, and he supposed that for your first time he was perhaps intimidating. You were shy. Nervous.

It was to be expected.

But hasn’t he proven by now that he can be gentle? That he loves you, and he has absolutely no intention of leaving you? You’re the only one he wants to be with - the only one he’ll ever want to be with. If you’re waiting for the right ‘one’ to lose your virginity to, what more does he have to do to convince you that he’s it?

Which makes him consider, watching you smile at him as you duck into his kitchen to grab some more snacks, whether you might not be as invested in this relationship as he is.

He doesn’t doubt that you love him, but even as you sidle up beside him, letting him tuck you to his side where you belong, he can’t help but question whether the true reason you haven’t allowed him to take you as he wants is because you’re still under the assumption that your relationship has an expiration date.

The thought doesn’t sit well with him.

Sex is separate from love, Ushijima knows that, but he’s also firmly of the belief that it can be an act of intimacy, an expression of love deeper than words or other actions can convey. He wants to feel that with you.

He wants to watch you writhing beneath him, your pussy squeezing around his cock, milking it for all it’s worth, lost in the ecstasy that only he can bring you.

He wants to know what sounds you’ll make, what pretty moans and gasps he can draw out from you as he fucks you within an inch of your sanity.

He wants to look in your eyes the first time he makes you cum, wants to take his time, to kiss you slowly, baptise you in pleasure and watch as you surrender yourself completely to the love he has for you.

Ushijima doesn’t have time to waste on romantic flings and relationships that will go nowhere. You are his future, so it does not make sense for you to keep holding yourself back where sex is concerned.

The sound of your laugh breaks through Ushijima’s musing and he’s pulled back to the present as you recount the story of how the two of you met to the redhead. He’s told Tendou before, but somehow the way you tell it made it sound better. You paint him in a better light, make yourself out to be the awkward one, stumbling over your apologies when it was his fault that you’d tripped in the first place.

You don’t have a clue about the weeks leading up to that moment, but it hardly matters. He’s content merely just to listen as you speak, your cheeks warming, long lashes fluttering as you glance up at him with that gentle smile of yours.

He loves you.

Across from the both of you, he catches the pointed look in Tendou’s eye-

It will be good for the both of you.

-and comes to a decision.

Unsurprisingly, the redhead just grins brightly when Ushijima corners him shortly afterwards, telling him that he will have to find somewhere else to stay for the night.

“No worries, I can crash at Semisemi’s,” he sings, rocking up onto the balls of his feet. “You two need your space, I get that.”

Ushijima nods, turning to leave, only for Tendou to reach out and stop him. “Yes?”

“You know, I kinda like her, Ushiwaka. Think she’ll be good for you, so try not to break her in two tonight, yeah?”

He frowns at the comment, causing Tendou to break into a fit of laughter.

By now, he should be used to his friend’s ribbing, but the thought of hurting you even as a joke doesn’t sit well with the ace.

To his credit, Tendou plays his role well. You all but beg him to stay for dinner, but he just mournfully shakes his head, sighing about Eita twisting his arm and forcing him to go watch him and his band play at some local bar.

And then, it’s just the two of you.

In hindsight, perhaps he should have put more effort into making this romantic for you. He’s never had to try with things like that before. He should have cooked dinner, and maybe considered candles and roses, or even music.

Instead, you order takeout and eat it sprawled across Ushijima’s lap, and he cannot find it within himself to mind. The most mundane activities are made better simply for you being by his side, he’s found.

He waits, fingers casually stroking along your arm as you curl up to his side to watch something on TV. You seem to be enjoying it, if the giggles that spill from your lips are anything to go by, but Ushijima finds himself distracted by the gnawing feeling deep in the pit of his stomach, an eagerness that has him twitching to act.

It doesn’t help that he’s all too aware of the softness of your body pressing against his.

But he won’t have your first time together be on his living room couch, of all places. He has enough patience to wait for weariness to set in, and when you yawn trying to muffle it against his shoulder, Ushijima almost smiles. “Why don’t we go to bed?”

You nod, and he presses a gentle kiss to your hair before helping you up.

He knows that you like to shower before sleeping, and while there’s a voice in his head that whispers for him to go and join you, Ushijima simply strips out of his clothes, sits on the edge of his bed and waits.

When you emerge from the steam, smelling faintly of the vanilla and citrus body wash he’d bought after the first night you’d stayed over, he stiffens. Instead of your usual sleeping attire (an old tee-shirt and a pair of sleep shorts) you’re clad solely in one of his fluffy towels, hair still damp, skin glistening with stray droplets of water.

“Hey, sorry I forgot my-” you pause, words trailing off as you take in the sight of your boyfriend, utterly naked. For a split second, you freeze in place, eyes wide and lips softly parted, like a deer caught in headlights.

And then, just as Ushijima moves to stand, you snap out of it.

“Oh my god!” you cry, whirling around and clutching the knot of your towel, hiding yourself from his view and burying your face in your hands. “I-I’m sorry!”

It’s rather adorable how flustered you get by something as natural as nakedness.

“Why wou- you know what, nevermind. I…uh, I forgot my clothes, they’re just on my bag I think, could you, um- could you please pass them to me?”

He spies them, folded neatly on the top of the overnight bag you’d packed. Instead, he reaches out to take your hand and gently tug you back towards him.

“Wakatoshi, what are you-” but your surprised protests are swallowed up as he leans down to kiss you. Yet instead of softening to his touch, allowing him to take the lead as he usually does, you stiffen in his arms, your hands finding their way to his bare chest, trying to push him away.

“Toshi, just- just stop for a second, please?” you gasp, managing to extricate yourself from the kiss.

That won’t do.

He has to be gentle with you, but with anticipation coiling in his gut, his cock stirring at the thought of your almost naked body pressed against his, it’s easy for him to forget his strength as he rids you of the offending material, bends down and hefts you up into his arms.

“Shh, little one,” he says, ignoring your shouts as he takes the three steps over to his bed so he can lay you down. “I know you’re scared, but you have no need to be. I won’t hurt you. I’m going to make us both feel good, I promise.”

He bestows another kiss against your forehead as he climbs over your trembling frame.

“Babe… Toshi, please- I-I’m not, I don’t-” your eyes are wide and filling with tears and you’re shaking your head - it fills him with a flicker of unease, but he knows deep down that this is just temporary.

You need this as much as he does, and once he shows you how wonderful he can make you feel, you’ll thank him.

Cradling your cheek with one large hand, he tries to tell you as much.

But your breath is coming in quick pants, your terrified eyes darting past his broad frame as if you’re trying to look for an escape route while pleas and whimpers spill almost incoherently from your lips, and he realises that words won’t be enough.

He’ll just have to show you.

“I love you,” he murmurs, kissing you once more before turning his attention to the rest of your body. It’s not the first time he’s seen you bared, of course, but it is the first time he’s been allowed the luxury of taking his time to enjoy it.

Your whimpers are soft and distressed as his lips trail down the column of your throat, resisting the urge to nip and suck at the tender skin, and you squirm under him when his mouth finds your breasts. The sounds you make for him, your choked little gasps only feed the pit of hunger deep inside of him. You must be able to feel his cock, big and thick, rutting up against your stomach, leaving a shining trail of oozing pre-cum across your skin as he busies himself playing with your tits.

They’re soft and pillowy, just the perfect size for his hands to grasp and knead, and the way that you keen for him, jerking a little when he sucks a nipple into his mouth and laves his tongue over the pebbling bud is utterly captivating. You’re so caught up in the attention he’s paying to your chest that you miss the hand that trails down your side, snaking between your trembling thighs.

At least until long, thick digits swipe along your folds.

Like a frightened little rabbit, your eyes widen and you jolt into action. “Wakatoshi, stop!” you cry, hands finding his chest once more to try and push him off of you, your legs kicking out uselessly beneath him.

His expression softens, his thumb sweeping against your thigh in what he hopes is a reassuring manner. “Shh, it’s okay. I need to prepare you to take me, otherwise it will hurt.”

If anything, your expression only becomes more panicked. “No, no, no, no-”

“Let me take care of my girl. You’ll feel good,” he murmurs, and already his fingers are sliding back to your pussy. You’re not as wet as he’d like, but it’s no matter, as his thumb finds your clit, his other fingers returning to tease at your entrance.

The soft little moan you try and fail to bite back as one finger slides inside of you sends a rush of blood straight to his cock. It twitches and throbs, aching for relief and perhaps if you were anybody else, he might throw caution to the wind and fuck you right then and there, regardless of whether you were ready or not.

But as you shiver, gasping as he curls the thick digit inside of you, he’s reminded that he needs to have patience. You are not worth rushing, and despite the feral beast inside of him that’s snapping and snarling to sink into your heat, he wants to savour this.

You only get one first time, and he’s determined to make yours unforgettable.

“That’s just one finger,” he tells you, his thumb circling your clit in slow, steady movements. “You’re going to take three before I can fuck you properly, understand?”

He doesn’t want to break you in half, after all.

You still writhe beneath him, shaking and jolting as he teases your shining pearl and coaxes your pussy into accepting another finger, and when he lowers his mouth back to your tits to add to the pleasure building inside of you, a sob bursts free.

“Please- please, Toshi!”

A third finger prods at your entrance-

“Please don’t!”

He almost winces at the sharp hiss of pain that escapes you, but he reassures himself that it will only be for a moment. The stretch and burn will give way to pleasure as he fucks them into you slowly. Your pussy is so warm, so tight, sucking the digits in deeper and when rough fingertips brush against a particular spot on your walls and you cry out, Ushijima allows a small, adoring smile to cross his face.

“Good girl,” he purrs, quickening his pace.

You’ve always been so beautiful to him, but when you cum for him that first time, face flushed and dewy, bottom lip caught between your teeth as you try not to scream in pleasure, he doesn’t think there’s anything on earth that could possibly compare.

The same could be said about the way you taste, he thinks, greedily sucking your juices off of his fingers.

“Wakatoshi,” you beg, lying spent across his bed still reeling from the afterglow of your orgasm as he slides your thighs further apart so he can settle between them. He grunts a little as he wraps his hand around his flushed cock and guides it to your sopping entrance, marvelling at the way you shiver and mewl when he nudges it against your oversensitive clit.

Olive eyes find yours, and he cannot resist leaning down to claim your lips once more as he sinks slowly inside of you.

The sound that escapes him is deep and guttural, but the feel of your warm pussy clenching around his throbbing cock is simply heaven, and he almost - almost - loses control.

Forcing his eyes open, he watches your face as you take his cock, feeling every vein and ridge stretch you out, the pained whimpers that slip from behind clenched teeth. He knows that he’s bigger than average, that his girth is impressive and that even with his foreplay you’re still squeezing around him like a vice, but he forces himself to take it slow, to allow you the time to adjust.

He almost starts when you reach out to grab him, fingers painfully sinking into the muscles of his forearm as you fight off another wave of tears, so he pauses for a beat, peppering your face with more kisses. “You’re doing so well for me, such a good girl.”

When your grip eases, he resumes moving, drawing his hips back and trying not to curse at the friction your slick walls are creating.

“I love you,” he grunts, “so much.”

And then he rocks his hips forward - steadily, filling you up again, allowing you to get used to his girth. He kisses you, trails rough fingertips gently along your skin, teases you finding all the sensitive spots that make you moan for him.

Gradually, he feels you relax around him.

The obscene sounds of his cock sliding in and out of you, the rhythmic slap of skin against skin is drowned out by your soft whines and pants as Ushijima slowly picks up the pace. He fucks you deeply, but not roughly, taking care not to hurt you anymore than necessary.

It’s slow and sensual - your body can’t help but respond to his ministrations, and when you clench around him, sucking him deeper Ushijima can’t help but groan, feeling the tight coil of heat in his core burn as pleasure ripples through him.

He wants more. Needs it.

Ushijima’s hands wrap around your thighs, easing them back towards your chest so that your ankles fall over his broad shoulders. He kisses at your calf when confusion flickers across your face, but doesn’t offer any explanation as he snaps his hips forward once more. The choked scream that leaves your lips is beautiful, but he can barely focus on that when he finally bottoms out, his balls slapping against your ass as another hoarse groan leaves him.

He promised himself that he would be gentle with you, but as your velvety walls quiver and convulse around him and your lips fall open in another soundless scream as your second orgasm hits, he’s not entirely sure that he’ll be able to keep that promise.

There’s a tightening in his balls and he can feel the tether he has on his control fraying little by little as you moan for him, your hips rocking up to meet his fervent thrusts. You’re beautiful, perfect, and he’s losing himself to the feeling of being buried inside of you. It’s indescribable, the way your pussy’s fluttering around him, clenching and pulsing, kissing his cock with sweltering heat - it feels like the very edges of his sanity are blurring as he fucks himself deeper inside of you, his cockhead hitting your cervix with every thrust. He wants to cum, wants to fill you up with his thick load again and again and again, wants you so full it’s leaking out of you-

It won’t be enough, it’ll never be enough.

He loves you, and Ushijima won’t ever be satisfied again without the feeling of your pussy wrapped around him, milking him for every drop that he’s worth.

#yandere haikyuu #yandere ushijima wakatoshi #yandere ushijima x reader #yandere ushijima #yandere ushijima wakatoshi x reader #tw non con #virgin reader

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fearfully-fiction · 3 years

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St. Albans pt.1- Dakota Laden x Reader

word count:2603

warnings: very slight angst, fluff I think that is it for now! if not let me know! i do not own any of the content from the episode, all i own are the parts of story i have incorporated.

summary: based on season 1 episode 4! Reader doesn’t like the fact that they are going back to place that has affected them so badly.

part2! part3! part4!

(pic not mine!)

You had just finished the packet read for St. Albans and you had a heavy feeling on your chest. Worry swam through you at the thought of them going back to that place. Everything that had happened there that you read made your stomach turn, and knowing the history they had with the location made you all the more worried. Chelsea had to leave the building after being charged in the old bowling alley. They didn’t make it through the night last time, and it made you unsettled that the place may remember them. It may remember Dakota.

Everyone else piled back into the RV but you fell behind a bit. Dakota turned around to see you standing there with eyebrows furrowed and lost in thought.

“Babe?” You heard him call, and it broke you out of your trance-like state. “Huh?” you questioned as your eyes met his quickly. “We’re getting ready to leave, are you alright?” he asked before closing the door and walking towards you. You met him halfway and wrapped your arms around him resting your head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around you as well and kissed your head. “I don’t like you going back there Dakota.” your voice was slightly muffled against his jacket. He squeezed you a bit tighter. “It’ll be ok (y/n), I’ll be ok.” he tried to reassure you. You sighed before nodding, not wanting to keep the rest of the team waiting. “Ok, Kota. Let’s go.” you pulled away from him and turned to walk away. He reached out and grabbed your wrist bringing you back to him. You let out a little yelp at the sudden movement and you’re now facing him once again. He looked at you seriously and put his hands on your waist. “Hey, do you trust me?” he asked. You looked at him with doe-eyes, “of course I do.” you said and placed your hands on his biceps gently running your hands up and down them in a soothing motion. “Then trust me when I say everything will be ok. I promise,” he said and rested his forehead against yours.

You pressed a kiss to his lips and pulled away. “I trust you, Dakota,” you affirmed. He kissed your lips one more time before taking your hand and leading you towards the RV. He opened the door and both of you walked in and settled down. Everyone was just relaxing or on their phones not really paying attention to your entrance.

Dakota sat with his back to the wall at the table and you sat between his legs leaning your back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around you and kissed your head. You rested your head on his shoulder and looked up at him pressing a kiss to his jaw and nestling your face in his neck. He held you a bit tighter and sighed. He had his worries too but he knew he had to do it, to overcome his fear and beat the place that made them quit.

You lied next to Dakota that night unable to sleep comfortably knowing your friends could be in more danger than usual with this location. The thought that lingered in the back of your mind was what Dakota had said earlier that day. You had been speaking about the basement and he had mentioned that it was demonic. It made your heart stop beating for a few seconds at the thought of maybe sleeping alone in that part of the building.

Now that you knew that he, Chelsea, and tanner had been there before, you felt incredibly sick at the thought of them returning. You knew for a fact that Chelsea was just as upset as you were. You were upset with Dakota for choosing that location, but at the same time, worried for his safety.

You ended up lying on your side, facing your sleeping boyfriend. You let out a quiet sigh and reached out to gently trail his features with your fingertips. You began to get lost in how peaceful he looked and before you knew it his eyes fluttered open. Your fingers traced his lips softly and he grasped your hand to press a kiss to your fingertips. You let your hand slip from his and onto his chest.

“What’re you doing awake?” he questioned groggily. You let a small smile grace your lips at the sound of his sleepy voice. “Can’t sleep,” you answered truthfully, and gave a small shrug. Even through the dark, he could see the worry in your eyes. He reached his hand up and placed it on your cheek letting his thumb sweep across your cheekbone. “Still worried huh?” he said, even though he knew the answer was yes.

“No, I’m just not tired, that’s all.” you tried to not let it show even though you knew he could see through you.

His eyes softened. “C’mon babe, I can feel the anxiety radiating off of you.”

He moved his hand from your face and down your arm giving it a gentle squeeze. You sighed and buried your face in his shoulder. He kissed your head and wrapped his arm around you pulling you closer to him. “I didn’t want any of you hurt Kota. I really don’t like this location. I trust you, but I don’t trust anything in that building. Not even for a second.” you admitted to him. You swore you felt a sense of annoyance from your boyfriend.

“I know I said that before, but it’s true and I’m only saying it because I love you, I love all of you and want you to be safe. I would risk my safety for yours any day. I would spend a month alone in that building if it meant you wouldn’t have to. You hovered over him on your elbow so you could see his face, he sighed heavily.

“You know I’d do the same for you. But (y/n), seriously I said we’d be fine, so please just stop pestering me and go to sleep. just stop your worrying and leave me alone about it.” he huffed. You laid back down on the bed and turned to face the wall. You had no intent to pester or annoy your boyfriend. All you wanted to do was let him know that you worry about him and love him. But it seemed like he didn’t want to hear it anymore, so that’s exactly what you would give him. You would keep your mouth shut.

The next morning arrived and you kept quiet through all the interviews, didn’t let out a peep of worry. When asked if you were worried about that night, you shrugged your shoulders. “No, you can handle yourselves.”

Dakota sat beside you and slung his arm over the back of the seat. He expected you to lean into him like usual but you stayed exactly where you were. He expected you to reach over your shoulder and interlock your fingers but still, you didn’t move from your position. Your hands sat on the table next to your camera as you mindlessly fiddled with it. Chelsea looked at you with slight confusion in her eyes, noticing that you weren’t as warm and affectionate as you would normally be. You were closed off, not expressing your feelings about the location or shooting love-sick glances at her brother.

“Well damn, I was not expecting that answer from you (y/n/n/),” Alex spoke up. “I trust you guys to take this on. We’ll be fine,” you stated, though the worry still crept up into your mind. You didn’t want to pester any of them with your worry and so you decided not to show anything at all.

The cameras were shut off, and you let out a small sigh, checking your phone for a few seconds. Dakota leaned in to place a kiss on your cheek and you couldn’t help but let it happen not wanting to raise too much suspicion on your feelings. When he pulled back you spoke up. “I think I’m gonna try and get some more rest before tonight. I’ll see you guys a bit later.”

They all looked at you and nodded, “Yeah, ok hun try and get some rest.” Chels acknowledged you. “Do you want me to come with you? I know you always sleep better with me there.” Dakota asked sweetly. You looked at him and shook your head before getting up from your seat and heading for the back of the RV. They all looked as you walked away with confusion scrawled across their faces. You and Dakota usually stayed together, they all knew you slept better with him next to you and so they were all a bit freaked out.

“Man, is she ok?” Tanner asked with his brows furrowed.

“Maybe she just needs some space…” Dakota responded to his friend’s concern. Chelsea looked towards the back and decided she was going to go check up on you.

“Hey guys, I’m just gonna go check on her I’ll be right back.” they all nodded in agreement before she followed your path.

You laid on the bed and closed your eyes, you tried not to feel bad about what Dakota said last night. You just couldn’t help it, it hurt you, you never meant to bother him you were just voicing your concerns not wanting anything bad to happen to the people you loved. Not wanting anything to happen to him.

Him telling you to just leave him alone made you feel horrible. You didn’t know you were such a bother to him, so today you tried not to be.

You felt the familiar stinging behind your eyelids and a small lump form in the back of your throat. You clutched the blanket beneath you tightly trying to calm yourself down. You hadn’t even noticed that someone was standing next to the bed. You were trying to take deep but quiet breaths to bring you back. Chelsea carefully sat down next to you and delicately placed a hand on your shaking shoulder. You jumped at the feeling and your eyes snapped open to look at who was next to you.

You quickly sit up and look away rubbing the tears out of your eyes as best as you could. You cleared your throat and turned to face her.

“Hey Chels, did you need something?” you asked. “I need to know what’s wrong,” she answered softly. You looked at her and sighed. “I’m just really tired, I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m sorry for being so weird out there, I’m just exhausted and need a break that’s all.” you lied beautifully through your teeth. She looked at you with a raised brow, disbelief floated in her eyes but she decided not to push it. She leaned over and gave you a hug before getting up. “I’m here for you ok. Dakota is too, maybe you should let him know,” she advised. You looked at her, you knew she saw through you. “Ok…” you breathed out heavily. She nodded and let you know she would send him back. You sat there with fear in you, not knowing what to say. Not wanting to lie, but not wanting to admit that he hurt your feelings.

You heard his familiar footsteps and shut your eyes tightly trying to get a grip before he saw you. “You’re fine. It’s ok, just tell him. You need to fix this, but you don’t want to annoy him any further.” you spoke in your mind.

You felt the bed dip and a hand run over your hair, you looked up to meet your boyfriend’s concerned eyes. “Babe, what’s wrong? Chelsea said you wanted to talk to me. Did I do something wrong?” he asked with a timid voice.

You sighed and screwed your eyes shut again.

“I’m just tired is all. I didn’t sleep too well last night, guess I’m just exhausted.” you let the words tumble from your mouth.

“Why didn’t you sleep well, babe?” he asked and pulled himself closer to you. “I don’t know, I just couldn’t seem to calm my mind enough…” you trailed off. “I could’ve helped you, you know I’m always here to help you,” he reassured you.

He seemed absolutely oblivious to what had happened last night, and it made you upset.

“I didn’t want to bother you more than I already had. I wanted to leave you alone so you could get some rest,” you told him, hoping he would catch on and you wouldn’t have to say it.

It was then that you saw a flash of recognition about the night before. He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a big sigh. “(y/n), I’m sorry. I know you get worried I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. I know you were just letting me know that you loved me, and I’m sorry for ever letting you think you bothered me. I was just tired and irritable thinking about tonight. I didn’t want to think of it anymore and I hurt your feelings I’m so sorry babe.” he apologized. You could hear his sincerity, and understood where he was coming from you had been there too. “I know I talk about it a lot, and it must get annoying sometimes so I’m sorry too,” you spoke up. He looked at you with regret-filled eyes. You sat up on your knees and situated yourself on his lap to wrap your arms around him. He pulled you close, and kissed your neck where his head rested.

“I’m sorry for acting like a bitch today. I shouldn’t have done that it was stupid of me.” you apologized for your earlier actions. “It’s ok (y/n), just remember I would never mean to hurt you, and if I do talk to me about it.” he gave you a sweet reminder. You nodded against his shoulder and relaxed in his hold.

“I love you, Dakota.” you expressed before pulling back and placing a kiss on his cheek. He gave you a silly grin. “I love you too.”

He flips you over so you’re on your back, pinned beneath him and the bed. You let out a breathy laugh and smiled up at him. His hair already falling from its original slicked back place. Lying gently above his brow, making him look less put together and more playful in a way. It always gave you butterflies.

“You’re too handsome for your own good Laden.” you gave him a goofy grin. He chuckled before leaning down to press his lips to yours. “And you’re too beautiful to be mine.” you blushed and playfully smacked his shoulder trying to hide your face in your hands. He sat up a bit to pull your hands away from your warm face. “Don’t hide from me!” he let out a laugh. “You’re too beautiful to hide,” he spoke quietly before leaning back down to press his lips against yours. You stayed that way for a while before the need for air became more and more obvious. He pulled back and smiled at the sight of your closed eyes and content smile.

“Now why don’t we get some rest before tonight. We’ll need it,” he suggested softly.

“I’d like that,” you replied as you switched positions so he was lying on his back with your head on his chest.

He kissed your hair while running his hand up and down your arm. His steady breathing and rhythmic heartbeat let you close your eyes and drift off.

Taglist:

@jaziona92 @beautybyfire

@thefandomthings

#dakota laden #Destination Fear #dakota laden imagine #dakota laden x reader #gac dakota #dakota laden one shot #dakota laden fic #dakota laden fanfic #dakota laden fluff #dakota laden angst #destination fear imagine #destination fear x reader #destination fear trvl channel #destination fear x you #chelsea laden #alex schroeder #Tanner Wiseman

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megsmulti · 3 years

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#11: Can you please come and get me?

This takes place in between season 8 and season 9 when Brettsey was still in the best friends stage of their relationship. I loved s8 Brettsey, ngl.

Prompt comes from this prompt list. Once I saw this particular prompt on there, an idea sprang into my head instantly and this fic was born! Enjoy!!

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Matt was sitting at Molly’s drinking his beer and listening to what Severide was saying before his phone rang, interrupting their conversation in the process.

He smiled when he saw the name Sylvie Brett as the caller ID. Kelly raised his eyebrows in curiosity.

“I gotta take this,” Matt said, walking outside to avoid the loud crowd inside. “Hey, Sylvie. What’s up?”

“Matt, I need your help.” It sounded like there was some slight panic in her voice. He accepted her help because he would always be there when she needed him. “I was on my way to Molly’s when my car broke down all of a sudden. Can you please come and get me?”

“Yeah, absolutely. Where are you?”

“I’m at the corner of Halsted and Fullerton, which is the worst place to be stuck in when your car is done for, by the way.”

“Ok. I’m on my way. See you soon.” Matt walked back into Molly’s receiving questioning looks from everyone in the bar area. He immediately took his jacket off of the stool he was sitting on. “Sylvie’s car broke down. I gotta go pick her up and bring her here. I’ll be back.” When he walked away, Kelly was smirking. He knew how much his best friend was in love with the PIC, but he wished that Matt would use his words and tell her how he feels.

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It wasn’t long before Matt showed up and saved the day. Or night, rather, since it was dark outside. Right as he saw her silver sedan, he parked behind her.

“Matt!” Sylvie was ecstatic that he was here. She hugged him when he got out of his truck and while he was caught off guard at first, he reciprocated it. “I’m sorry this is on such short notice.”

“No. It’s not a problem at all. Don’t worry about it,” Matt replied. Why was he the sweetest man on earth? It’s what she loves about him, amongst many other things. But, he doesn’t know that. “What needs to be fixed? I can work on it if you want.”

“Matt Casey, a contractor and a mechanic?” Sylvie asked, raising her eyebrows. She definitely didn’t know that.

“I’m a man of many talents, Sylvie Brett.” Yes, that was flirting and yes, that was intentional. “When I was younger, Christie’s car broke down many times and I was always the one that fixed it.” Sylvie’s never heard that story before. She loves it when Matt tells her stories about his life prior to the CFD, both the good and the bad.

“As much as I appreciate that offer, I already called a tow truck before you got here. They should be coming any minute now.” Matt nodded.

Soon enough, the tow truck did show up and Sylvie requested that her car be taken to an auto body shop near her apartment. She did have Matt’s new fact about him saved in her back pocket for future reference, though. He didn’t look offended about it, so that was a good thing.

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Sylvie was in the passenger seat of Matt’s truck, staring longingly out the window. Matt was worried because she’s usually this bubbly, talkative, ray of sunshine that puts a smile on everyone’s faces. That wasn’t the case at the moment.

“Everything okay?” he asked, concerned about his friend.

“Not exactly.”

“Talk to me, Sylvie. What’s going on?”

“With my car in the shop now, I don’t know how I’m gonna get to the firehouse. I can’t walk because my apartment is too far away. I could always take the bus, but that isn’t always the cleanest—“ Sylvie knew she was rambling a mile a minute, but Matt didn’t seem to mind. He interrupted her anyway because her rambles tended to go off topic quite a bit.

“Sylvie,” she turned around to look at those gorgeous blue eyes, “you don’t have to worry about a thing.” She was confused. “I’ll pick you up and take you to work until your car’s out of the shop.”

“Really? You would do that?”

“Anything for you.” He sure as hell meant it too. God, just when she couldn’t fall more in love with him than she already is, she ends up doing just that.

“Thank you.” Matt nodded. He pulled his truck in to park at Molly’s. Time flew by really fast in the span of the conversation they were having. Both of them walked in together, which received different looks from their friends. Stella and Kelly shared a smirk, Mouch had a look of confirmation, Herrmann was baffled, and everyone else just wasn’t paying attention to what was going on. It didn’t mean anything, they tried telling them, but none of them were buying it one bit.

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True to his word, Matt was right outside Sylvie’s apartment on time the next morning to take her to shift. He had fresh coffee waiting inside the passenger cup holder for her, which was something she appreciated greatly. They would talk about anything and everything under the sun from how his construction jobs were going to the latest Taylor Swift album.

The truck ride wasn’t a temporary thing though. Even after Sylvie’s car got out of the shop, she would continue riding with Matt because it was more fun and no one has ever had coffee waiting for her until this became a daily occurrence.

If this is how Sylvie gets treated after something happens to her vehicle, maybe her car should break down more often.

#one chicago #chicago fire #brettsey #brettsey fanfic #matt casey #sylvie brett #megan’s fics

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robinofinashiro · 3 years

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“look, i know we don’t know each other that well, but i’m still worried about you. no one deserves to be alone.”

characters: hoshiumi kourai x fem! reader / slight miya atsumu

request status: OPEN / please send any reqs you guys have! my inbox is currently empty and im lacking in any kind of writing inspiration...like seriously lacking lmao. there could be a part two if any of you are interested in one.

you looked at your now ex boyfriend, trying to keep your tears at bay. the two of you were standing outside the bar, not knowing what you were planning on saying the man you loved as you saw him with a girl on his lap, laughing and giggling at whatever he was saying.

“you could’ve just broken up with me, it would have saved me time and effort,” you told him with a stone cold face. you could tell Atsumu was in a straight panic, not knowing what to say or do, “honestly, I would have handled the break up a lot better than you would have assumed I would have.”

Atsumu reached out to grab your hand but you quickly snatched it back, putting it behind your back, “no, you don’t get the right to hold any part of me anymore. whatever you were doing, do it with the girl you were just with,” you exclaimed, a laugh of bitterness leaving you, “but I don’t want that girl, I want you!” he yelled.

you rolled your eyes, not believing a word he was saying, “no, you wanted a girl to fuck with on the side while I waited for you at home. you’re just angry you got caught, Miya, that’s all,” you stated. Atsumu felt stray tears falling down his face as you noticed a familiar face with snow white hair popping out of the front of the door.

“as wrong as this is to say, I was always preparing myself for this. my grandmother always said to have a envelope of cash and money as runaway money in case I ever needed to get away...” you played with you finger nails before looking up to him for one final time, “I’ll be moved out in a few days. the apartment is under your name and I don’t mind getting a new place,” you added on.

Atsumu saw you walking away, not believing that you were actually leaving him. he grabbed your ankle, practically putting on a scene for everyone who was hanging out in the front of the building, “Atsumu, this is embarrassing for you. quit it while you still have some dignity left, jesus christ,” you said not realizing the mantrum that he was throwing, “you really should’ve thought this all out before you decided to cheat. I always had one rule and you knew it. I could quickly replace you as fast as we got together and this was your one chance.”

you kicked yourself out of his grip, walking into the bar to have yourself a drink. you saw the girl who was on Atsumu’s lap not wanting to look you in the eye as she sat on her chair in shame, “enjoy him girlie because as you can tell, he’ll quickly replace you when he gets bored,” you tipped your glass of dark liquor to her in a ‘good luck’ type of way before finding an empty seat.

that familiar snow white hair you saw earlier happened to be Hoshiumi who was walking towards you. you being the former Inarizaki manager made you know the names to the most popular players from each team they played so Hoshiumi was no stranger.

“hey,” you heard his voice say over the music. you gave him a smile with a small wave, not wanting to say, “you okay? I accidentally overheard your situation with Atsumu earlier,” he asked, pulling the seat out from the other side of the table.

you shrugged knowing that all the raw emotions from the argument and what you just had saw hadn’t settled in yet, “I don’t know,” you said truthfully, “my boyfriend of three years was cheating on me and if I’m okay right now, I know I won’t be tomorrow,” you explained.

Hoshiumi nodded understandingly, “do you mind if I sit with you for the rest of the night?” he asked quietly, in a sort of shy way, which was odd considering Hoshiumi was just as hyperactive as Hinata Shoyo from Karasuno way. “look, i know we don’t know each other that well, but i’m still worried about you. no one deserves to be alone.”

you felt that pang in your heart as you saw the warmness on Hoshiumi’s smile. you tried to contain your tears as best as you could but Hoshiumi saw right through that. he tracked down the waitress and ordered the two of you another round of drinks, your choice of course as he tried to focus the conversation on anything that wasn’t Atsumu or your breakup.

from that night forward, Hoshiumi was by your side for the entirety of your breakup. he was of help when you needed an extra hand to move all your things out of your shared apartment with Atsumu.

it didn’t sit right with Atsumu at the fact that Hoshiumi was seemingly close to you all of a sudden. he had saw him that night at the bar but he didn’t think he would take advantage of the situation and so quickly. never once in the entirety of your relationship with Atsumu did you ever mention befriending Hoshiumi and so closely but seeing the way he was helping you move out and making sure you were okay threw him way the hell off.

once you were finished taking your things out of the apartment, you looked to Atsumu and wiggled the set of keys that were on your keychain out. you gave him one last look before handing them to him, “so I take it that you won’t accept the job with the Jackals?” he asked.

“I think you know that answer, Miya.”

you walked out of the apartment, leaving a teary eyed Atsumu at the door as Hoshiumi waited for you at the front of the building. your place a few minutes farther from Atsumu’s place. it wasn’t as nice of a place in comparison to how you used to live but it would do until you found a job.

“what are you plans now?” Hoshiumi asked as he helped you unpack things from the box. you shrugged again, “I really don’t know. Atsumu had gotten me a job with the Jackals and those were plans for quite a while but considering that relationship is long gone, I guess I really have to start looking for a job before I go broke.”

Hoshiumi laughed, feeling his phone buzz multiple times. he looked down to see a few texts from Ushijima and Kageyama. to your luck, the Adlers had also gotten a job opening for a few positions with a team. Hoshiumi had mentioned to the team that he knew someone that could possibly take the position of the old manager and they had been grilling him about it since.

the pre-season was about to start and they needed an experienced manager and quick. considering your qualifications with Inarizaki and the degree you got in college, he knew you would do well on the job and all you would need is a bit of polishing up in order to be great if not even better than their former manager.

“listen, I don’t know how willing you will be to accept what I’m about to say but Schweiden has an opening for a positions and one of them is to be the team’s manager and assistant. I might’ve pushed your name because I know you’ve done the managerial position before and we need a manager as soon as possible.”

your eyes doubled down in confusion as Hoshiumi showed you the hiring paper. you quickly skimmed it down seeing that you had the qualifications for the job. you saw that it was a text from Kageyama Tobio that read if you had accept the position yet before their coach killed them.

“wait, how long would I be there?” you asked, gripping his phone. you looked at you, now slightly confused himself, “what do you mean? you’d be there as long as you want or until you quit. the position is permanent.” you read the application again and smiled, “I just got this place but tell them I’ll be available for an interview at any time.”

Hoshiumi tackled you into a hug, his hyperactive attitude running rampant again, “THANK YOU! THANK YOU! the team is gonna be so happy, I know it!” he exclaimed, quickly dialing his coaches number as you sat there, taking in your all new reality.

after a run through of a few interviews, the Adler’s ultimately gave you the position as their manager and assistant. they found you the most suitable as you had experience under your belt and got along with most of the team. well...as best as you could considering Kageyama and Ushijima weren’t really the talkative type to begin with.

the move to Tokyo was a bit easier than expected. Hoshiumi quickly helping you into your new apartment as he showed you around the Adler’s gym and even the town when he wasn’t busy. you had your own office since you were assisting the team’s coach with a few office related things but most of your duties were strictly to the team.

with your new job came new team photo’s for the year as well as your organizations employee id photo. your uniform consisted of black leggings or athletic shorts if Tokyo was particularly hot that day and a Schweiden sweater/t-shirt on game day. on non-game days where you had to be in your office, the general uniform was business casual unless it was Friday’s where you could wear your game day uniform.

the team photo day was around the corner and the Adler’s even had a few professional makeup artist for anyone who wanted to have their makeup done for the photos. Hoshiumi and to your surprise, Kageyama, landed in the makeup chairs right next to you as they both wanted to be concealed so their under eye bags weren’t as prominent.

“you ready for the pics?” Hoshiumi asked with an excited smile. you nodded just as excitedly, “working in volleyball again feels so weird but I can’t wait for the season to start!” you exclaimed as Hoshiumi gave you a high-five in agreement.

unbeknownst to you but known to the entire team, Hoshiumi had fell entirely head over heels for you. his heart eyes weren’t a secret to anyone besides you and if everyone was being honest, they really wanted Hoshiumi to get a move on with asking you out so he could stop coming to practice with a lovesick puppy look on his face.

after all of you were called to the gym to take the photos, they had all the players and coaching staff take their photos first before any managers and front office staff had their turns. while you waited for your turn, you were talking with the other manager so was an ex player of the team and had recently retired due to permanent injury to his arm.

“so how do you know Hoshiumi?” he asked as he saw the wave Hoshiumi was giving you. you smiled and waved back, “he was a friend of mine through high school and we just kept in contact since. Kourai and I are basically best friends if I’m being honest,” you explained.

he gave you a look before giving out a belly laugh, “just best friends? you have to got to be kidding. there’s more to your relationship with Hoshiumi than just best friends,” he admitted. you were a bit taken back by his answer as you asked him to explain, “come on, it’s not obvious? the decoy is in love with you. he follows you everywhere and has heart eyes for you and I can sense the feeling either is mutual or it’s starting to be on your end.”

you sat in silence, debating whether or not what he was saying was true. you had never taken into account romantic feelings Hoshiumi could have for you and vice versa. you knew deep down, you did harbor feelings for Hoshiumi but up until this point, you had never put it to the forefront of your brain.

“managers! it’s your turns now!” the photographer said. you nodded, going up to the small set up they had.

they had you do a bunch of different poses. one photo of just you smiling, another of you holding a volleyball, and a few with the other manager on the team. they had informed you that this year, they would be displaying team player photos along with head manager photos in the front of building, right outside of the gym to show appreciation to the entire team.

after the photo’s were finished, your head was still playing the conversation you had earlier. the idea of dating Hoshiumi did not sound so bad in the long run and you knew that it now wouldn’t come off as a surprise if you did in fact show feelings to him.

“Kou, what are you doing tonight?” you asked as he helped you with your bag after practice. he shook his head, saying nothing, “wanna come over? I wanna pig out on food before the season officially starts,” you giggled seeing his excited face as he grabbed your wrist and practically dragged you over to his car, exclaiming you both could get food and snacks.

the night came down to you watching a few movies from both of your childhood and basically talking/snacking the night away. it eventually got to the point where you moved closer to Hoshiumi, trying to find warmth as your AC was on full blast and you both were too lazy to get the blankets you had underneath your couch to actually get warm.

“hey Kou,” you said, trying to get his attention. he looked down to you, a warm smile on his face, “would you ever...be interested in dating? I heard a few members of the team saying that you liked me and for a while, I didn’t want to believe that but I figured there was no harm in asking because I totally feel the same,” you finally confessed.

Hoshiumi sat there, mouth wide in surprise as your heart basically fell your ass. your thoughts were immediately plagued with the idea that you had ruined your entire relationship with him but that was quickly put to rest as grabbed your closer and held your face as softly as ever before placing a kiss on both your cheeks before reaching your lips.

“honestly, I was about to ask you out tonight too. I’ve been having these feelings for a while now and I’m glad you finally confessed. I’ve truthfully liked you since the night I saw you with Atsumu but I didn’t want to make it seem as though I was being pushy.”

you laughed, pushing yourself away from him a bit as he dipped you down once again and kissed you again. you ran your fingers through his hair as he kissed your neck a bit and parts of your upper chest.

“you’re the best. I literally thought the best day of my life was the day I got the job for the Adler’s but this beats it by far!” he exclaimed, hugging you now. you laughed, shaking your head at his excitement, “I could say the same,” you giggled as you kissed him again.

a few weeks finally passed as the season was in full swing now. you were working a few days a week and going out on the days you had off with Kourai. the only dreadful part in all of this was that the Adler’s were playing Msby soon and you knew that you would in fact be seeing Atsumu during, before, and after the game.

Hoshiumi could see the slight nervousness and panic on your face the day of the game against the Black Jackals. you weren’t as excited as you were usually were and you were responding to the team in snippets and very short sentences. the team could sense your shift in attitude but didn’t bother to question it.

“hey, you okay?” Hoshiumi asked, pulling you to the side a few minutes before warm ups. you gave him a questioning look, “I can see you’re nervous and I’m pretty sure it’s probably because of Atsumu being here,” he assumed as you reluctantly agreed.

he sighed, bringing you in for a hug, “you don’t have to work today. I can make up an excuse that you got sick and say you’re in your office watching the game,” he said. you shook your head, “no, it would be immature of me to miss a game because of that fucking idiot. I’ll be okay, I promise,” you whispered, giving him a kiss of reassurance before letting him go.

a few feet behind, Atsumu had saw the entire interaction happen. his heart was admittedly broken, seeing the way you were kissing and hugging Hoshiumi. he hadn’t known that you were working with Scheweiden nor did he know that you were even dating Hoshiumi.

when the team had walked into the gym, he had saw your photo in the hallway entering the gym. your smile was one he missed and he felt himself get angry all over again. it had been months since the breakup but you had yet to unblock him from any social media so all of this news at once broke him.

the game was a lot more intense than they assumed it would have been. Hoshiumi and Atsumu playing to 100% and even getting into small scuffles. you had saw the interactions and knew it was probably because of you but were arguing when it came down to plays so it didn’t look as immature on the court.

ultimately, Schweiden won the game, beating the Jackal’s by a landslide in their last set. you were smiling at Hoshiumi as the game ended, bringing him a water and giving him a kiss before handing off the waters to Ushijima and Kageyama next. you had ran out of the gym for a few seconds to refill waters for a few players when you ran into the last person you expect.

“if you can excuse me Miya, I need to refill these,” you said, not even looking at him in the eye. he moved out of the way, seeing thew way you refilled the bottles as quickly as possible. once you were done, you were about to head back into the gym when he stopped you, “how are you?” he asked shyly.

you sighed, “fine Miya,” you said curtly. Atsumu growled in annoyance, “are you together with-,” “with me!” you heard Hoshiumi’s voice scream through the hall. you smiled at the sight of him as he pushed you behind him and sizing up the much taller Atsumu.

“this had nothing to do with you, Hoshiumi.”

“oh but it does! she’s my girlfriend, our manager, and a member of the team so whatever you need to say to her, you can say to me!” you laughed at Hoshiumi’s confidence as Atsumu looked at him, rage filling his eyes, “what? what’re you gonna do? hit me? you’d get suspended and look like a complete idiot to the entire V-league!”

“do we have an issue?” Ushijima asked, looking at Atsumu and Hoshiumi as Sakusa followed him, “no issue at all,” Atsumu gritted as Hoshiumi wore a proud grin on his face.

“that’s great to hear. come on ( your name ). Hoshiumi you better be in the gym in the next minute.”

“lets go Atsumu, you don’t win anything out of creating a scene,” Sakusa said as he grabbed his friend and tried dragging him out of the hallway. Hoshiumi waved at Atsumu as cockily as possible, “remember Atsumu! not only did we win the game but I also won your girl!” he screamed.

Atsumu went to jump but was pulled back by Sakusa and Bokuto as you walked out of the gym again to grab Hoshiumi. he grabbed you by the wrist and kissed you in front everyone that was in the hallway. Atsumu could hear Bokuto telling him to calm down but he wanted nothing more than to run over to Hoshiumi and kick his ass before reclaiming you as his again.

#haikyuu!!#haikyuu #haikyuu imagine #haikyuu x reader #atsumu miya #atsumu miya imagine #atsumu miya x reader #atsumu miya x you #hoshiumi korai #hoshiumi korai imagine #hoshiumi korai x reader #hoshiumi korai x you #sports anime #sport anime

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alyblacklist · 4 years

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So about that kiss...

I apologize for ignoring a whole bunch of asks this weekend, but I wanted to share my thoughts on that emotional, beautiful, bittersweet, angsty scene on my own terms and not in response to an ask. Because wow, it’s been a long time coming. And yes, it was worth the wait.

It is so typical of the plight of a Keenler shipper to have Ressler and Liz’s first kiss delayed 8 months by a pandemic, and then filmed only under COVID restrictions because what - we’ve only waited seven years, right? Patience is always required when it comes to Keenler and this time was (and is) no exception.

Overall, I thought the scene was beautiful and that Megan and Diego did an incredible job conveying the message that the emotion between Ressler and Liz that led to the kiss was absolutely genuine despite Liz’s play at the end with the gun. (Something later confirmed by the show runners, but that wasn’t a confirmation I needed - I thought it was obvious from how they played the scene). Anyone who insists these two are nothing more than good friends is watching a different show than I am, for sure. I feel like this was a turning point for the writers to finally acknowledge that, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out over the rest of the season. This was the kind of moment that a lot of Keenler shippers wished for back in S3 between them before she went on the run and while I don’t think Liz “on the run” is going to last very long based on the promo pics for next week, her abandonment and betrayal of the Task Force may not be so easily resolved.

Let’s start with the meeting. Liz texted him and asked to meet in person. Why? She could have talked to him on the phone and asked him for time. Instead, she chose to take the risk of an in-person meeting and trusted him enough that he would show up alone and without the cavalry in tow. And no, I don’t think it was for the purpose of seducing him or nabbing his gun - she had her own weapon when she was driving the transport van with Dom, she didn’t need his except to prevent him from following her. And I’m sorry, but I just have to shake my head at the idea I have seen floated by some that Liz was somehow emulating her mother in that moment as if the tale of a 15 year old forced to sleep with American soldiers somehow inspired this? Please. I think Liz asked to meet with Ressler in person because she knew she had seriously betrayed his trust by lying to him and she knew she needed to see him in person to try to convey that. I think that’s evident in the early part of their conversation as she sees the hurt on his face and she tries to explain herself.

I don’t think she headed into this meeting intending at all to kiss him. I loved how they built up the scene between them slowly, and I thought Megan and Diego played their characters’ emotions perfectly. In fact, it was Ressler who stepped closer to her first (and it looks like he took her arm or her hand?), pleading for her to come with him and telling her he’ll back her no matter what.

You could tell how much that meant to her, and I loved how her lip trembled as she admitted that while she still needs the favor, she also needs him to keep believing in her. Because that matters to Liz, and it always has.

In fact, her reaction reminded me of the moment in the SUV on the way to the courthouse in 3.09 (also a Cerone episode) when she reacted to him telling her that, for what it’s worth, he believes she was framed. Both times, she had tears in her eyes.

Except this time, he does too as they have that long pause before she finally leans in to kiss him.

And I loved how he gently snaked his arm around her waist to pull her closer to him during the kiss.

And afterwards, his first words are "I won’t give up on you.” That’s it - that’s setting the stage for the rest of this season. He meant it when he said “not on my watch” in Brothers. He’s not going to let her slip away permanently into the darkness. But at the same time, he reminds her that he still has to do his job, although you could see on his face how much that pained him. And he’s back to calling her Keen instead of Liz, despite the kiss, already putting some distance there.

And I think this is the moment where Liz decides to take the gun. Not when she first decided to kiss him, but when he reminds her that he can’t just let her go. Because she didn’t have to kiss him to get close enough to take his gun - and certainly not on the lips as she did. Moreover, if the purpose of the kiss was purely to get the gun, she could have disarmed him mid-kiss instead of waiting. She took it only when she realized she had to in order to prevent him from coming after her - they’ve been down this road before.

And she knows as she does so, that she has hugely broken his hard-earned trust once again as she slips away into the night. The regret is palpable on her face.

So - where do we go from here? I think the writers have set Ressler and Liz up for a lot more short term angst and eventually a beautiful reconciliation. It was so typical of The Blacklist for their first kiss to come at precisely the wrong moment, but that’s also why it happened because it finally got them to cross that line. I am curious to see if Red and Ressler work together to bring Liz back from the brink. Red knew in S3 that Ressler had feelings for Liz - I don’t think it’s going to take long for him to figure out the current lay of the land. And especially not if Dembe is in fact returning Ressler’s gun in 802.

I’d love for Ressler for once to tell Liz how her betrayals have affected him, to really call her out and for Liz to feel what it’s like to not always have him at the ready. But I also look forward to seeing how they interact with each other now that they have both mutually acknowledged feelings that go beyond simple partnership and friendship. I have a feeling their next kiss - and there WILL be a next kiss someday - will be very different.

And on that note, the logistics of how they performed the scene honestly did not bother me - mannequins for the close ups, and live photo doubles (or “stunt kissers” as Zee called them) for the distance shot - they did the best they could in the world what we live in right now and I thought Megan and Diego sold the scene beautifully with everything that came before and after. Of course we’d all rather have seen Megan and Diego do the whole thing but none of that takes away from the fact that the *characters* of Liz and Ressler had a “real” kiss no matter how it was filmed, and that moment is canon. If COVID restrictions get lifted, they can go back to filming like usual. If they don’t, I’d much rather see the actors play it safe than put themselves at risk for a little extra fan service. And to those gleefully mocking the mannequin moments - all I can say is laugh away, because we both know that if it was a different ship, you’d be lighting off fireworks in celebration no matter how it was filmed.

I’m still pinching myself that we got canon Keenler in the very first episode of the season! Looking forward to more - much more - to come as it sounds like their story will be a big part of this whole season. I still believe the ultimate outcome will be a good one for them - they have endured so much and come so far. Thanks to those who made it this far.

#keenler #keenler kiss #8.01 #long post

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rijallaw · 3 months

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bbrandy2002 · 3 years

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Fearless

Chapter 2: Take My Hand And Drag Me Headfirst

Book: The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir

Pairing: Prince/King Liam x MC (Riley Brooks), Drake Walker x OC (Alyssa Devereaux)

Series Premise: Riley Brooks and Alyssa Devereaux became best friends as freshmen at Syracuse University, a borderline-sisterhood that lasts forever after. When Riley meets a handsome prince and is asked to compete for his hand in a mysterious faraway kingdom, she invites Alyssa along for moral support.

What the girls think will be a crazy temporary adventure becomes two sets of happily ever afters … with twice the shenanigans to show for it.

A/N: This series is written in loving collaboration between @bbrandy2002 and @burnsoslow.

Series Warnings: Smut 🍋🍋, language, canon violence (gun violence, bombing, terrorism), drug use, probably more stuff as we think of it. By reading this series, you agree that you are at least 18 years old and are prepared to deal with adult themes.

Thank you @burnsoslow for the beta and putting some of your magical finishing touches where needed.

Chapter 3 will be written by @burnsoslow , I’m so excited for that!!

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Propped against the railing of the rear deck of a small tugboat in the middle of the Hudson River, the warmth of Liam’s arms wrapped around her from behind, Riley thought back to the words Daniel spoke to her earlier about fairytales and happy endings. Maybe it was the hope in his voice she needed to hear during a vulnerable moment to lift her spirits, but she was really starting to believe them herself.

The newly fired, down-on-her-luck Riley Brooks had left the Tapped Out Bar with a mysterious man that she plowed over during an escape from rats while taking out the garbage. A little while later, she accidentally attacked him again in the alleyway of her former employment with her sad little stick. They struck up a conversation, and through some awkward stalling on his part, he finally worked up the nerve to ask her out for a drink.

Riley wasn’t someone who normally took off with random guys she just met to flit about the city, but there was just something about Liam that was different -- that was special.

Call it intuition. An inclination. Instinct or inkling. Whatever it was, was a possibility. Of what? That remained to be seen.

After talking to his friends about his plans, and at her behest, the pair headed west on foot until they reached a busy late-night cafe that overlooked the choppy waters of the New York harbor. Sitting on the open deck, moonlight cascading off the ripples of the sea, a light jazz tune playing through the outdoor speakers, they talked for over an hour about everything and nothing, while sipping coffee and plucking at a large cinnamon roll they shared. It was the most Riley had spoken in a long time. When you live with and are friends with the more outgoing Alyssa, you learn to appreciate the fine art of listening. She spoke about her dads, her friends, places she traveled to and what not. All very light, casual conversation. Liam mentioned he had family, his country of origin, how much he was enjoying New York, but never revealed too much.

Not wanting to sound too whiny and pathetic, she stuck with the positive things in her life; she surprised even herself that there were a lot more than she realized. But he captivated her in a real way that made it so easy. Liam laughed with her and made her feel interesting and personable; maybe even desired.

And as the night carried on and the patrons of the cafe dwindled down, a Miles Davis tune began to play: “Blue and Green.” A bright smile tugged on the corner of Liam’s lips as he pushed his chair back and rose from the table to offer his hand. “My lady.”

Riley looked around the deck to see if anyone else was dancing -- they weren’t -- but how could she say no?

She didn’t want to say no.

Beside their little round table and under a string of hanging white pearly lights and garland, they slowly swayed together like it was the most natural thing in the world. It was chemistry in motion with every soft blare of the trumpet, rhythmic taps on the snare drum, and light pitter pats on a piano played in G major. The tempo was leisurely and elegant, creating the perfect ambience for the feelings that were stirring within them.

With her head resting snugly against his firm chest, the thrumming of his steadily-beating heart reverberating in her ear, Liam revealed, “I’m the Crown Prince of Cordonia, Riley.”

Never breaking their stride, Liam lifted one of her tiny arms in the air and twirled her around gracefully. Riley smiled up at him as they returned to formation; their hands intertwined between them. “And I’m one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.”

Liam laughed as they continued their gentle side-to-side movements. “I know it sounds crazy, but I’m not lying to you. Perhaps I should have been a little more upfront with you from the beginning, but I’m normally not allowed to go out without the Royal Guard.” He paused for a moment to lower her into a deep dip, sensually inhaling the perfumed scent around her decolletage, before pulling her back into his arms. “And I was only allowed out on the condition that I kept my identity a secret. But, just for one day … I wanted to be free.”

It was one of the most romantic nights Riley had ever experienced in her life, but as the music continued to play, their steps gliding in sync, she nuzzled her cheek against his firm body and responded, “You’re so full of shit.”

Liam pulled away, amused by her choice of words and disbelief. “After I told you all of that, you still think I’m lying?”

Riley shrugged. “I dunno.” She casually pulled out her chair under his watchful eye and sat down, crossing her legs. Lifting a coffee mug to her lips, she winced at its cold temperature, and the fact that she hated coffee. “So, I’m not really into the whole role-playing thing, but if you’re gonna be this ... Prince of Condomania, how about if I play the sultry villainess spy who comes to steal the treasures from your castle and you catch me in the act?” She batted her eyelashes and splayed her hands across her chest. “I will neva surrenda, Prince Liam. If you wont me, you’ll haf to take me right heya.” Riley animatedly flung her arms out and arched back over her chair.

Liam knit his brow. “What the hell kind of accent is that?”

Riley sat up and smiled proudly. “It’s Cajun. I have this friend and I really like how he talks; it’s so sexy. Do you think it sounded convincing at all? Maybe a little too nasally? You want me to try to do your accent next?”

With a grin, Liam shook his head and took the seat across from her. “You’re something else, you know that?”

She sighed. “That’s what they tell me.”

Reaching into his jacket pocket, Riley watched curiously as Liam pulled out his phone and began typing something on it. He held it out to her. “I want you to look at this, Cajun Villainess Spy. Tell me what you think?”

“Oh God, you’re gonna show me a dick pic, aren’t you?” Riley slammed her eyes shut as she reluctantly reached for his cell, but sort of peeked out one eye.

“Eh, no. That’s never really been my style.” He gestured insistently for her to look at the screen as he sat back and crossed his arms. “I think you’ll find everything you want to know about me right there.”

It only took her a second to study the images and gloss over the text he pulled up, but a satisfied smirk formed on Liam’s charmed features while watching her eyes grow larger. Riley jumped up from her chair, the momentum causing it to tip over. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a real prince?”

Liam guffawed, “I did!”

“No, you didn’t! You had I’m joking written all over your face. How was I supposed to know your serious face and your joke face look the same?” She tossed the phone back to him like it was molten iron scorching her palm. “I’d rather have the dick pic.”

After picking up her tipped-over chair and getting settled again, she took a moment to just process the identity of the man she had spent the last couple of hours talking and dancing with. Her real-life Prince Charming. This incredibly sweet, hot guy sipping coffee in front of her was part of a royal family, and she was an unemployed everything. What on earth possessed him to want to spend time with the likes of her?

She looked up from her fidgeting fingers that were picking at the green fabric covering her thighs and smiled softly at him. “I’m sorry I overreacted. It’s just …”

“A lot to learn about someone? No, no, I get it. I probably would have had the same reaction if I were you.”

“So ... what happens now?”

What happened next was what led them to the boat they were on for an impromptu midnight ride to see the Statue of Liberty.

Liam laid out the details of his situation: He was a prince visiting New York City with his friends who were throwing him a last-minute bachelor party. Riley listened attentively while he explained his upcoming social season: not knowing yet who he was going to marry, but that duty required him to take a wife by the end of the year. He had hoped while he was in the city to visit its most famous statue; however, his friends hadn’t planned for it. Riley heard the disappointment in his voice and it tugged at her heart.

It was definitely too late to catch one of the many tours that traveled to Ellis Island during the day, but Riley was determined to do what she could to make it happen for him. Part of her was motivated by the fact that she liked him a lot and enjoyed his company; he was charming and refined, different from anyone she’d ever met. The longer she got to spend with Liam and got to know him, the better. But there was also this other part that felt sorry for him. Riley could see the struggle in his eyes and the weight on his shoulders between what he wanted to do, and what his position forced his hand to do. In her mind it was clear that Liam was the kind of guy who got everything -- except what he wanted.

In some ways, she knew the feeling.

To Liam’s surprise, Riley assured him she would find a way for him to see that statue. So, while he paid the tab, her mind raced with how the hell she was going to pull this off. And just before the actual possibility of having to hijack a vessel began to fully take shape in her mind, she pulled out her phone in one last-ditch effort to not break the law. Riley knew no one who owned a boat, but there was one person in her life that seemingly had a connection to everyone in the damn city.

Riley bit at her fingernails as the phone rang, glancing over her shoulder once to watch Liam paying the cashier. “Come on, come on. Pick up. Pick up.”

“Heyyyy!”

“Alyssa,” Riley whispered in an urgent tone into the phone, unclear whether her friend would even hear her over the party music and raucous chatter that was blaring in the background. “I need your help with something.”

“Riiiiley!” she slurred. “My bestie. My sister from another parents. I love you soooo much. More than everyone in the whole wide ... something. Hey, guys! Riley’s on the phone; say hi to her!”

“Wait, Lyss! No.”

A loud chorus of drunken greetings could be heard through the receiver as Alyssa held it up in the air.

“Alyssa!” Riley repeated in frustration while listening to her best friend start another conversation with a partygoer about the perfect symmetrical shape of the cheese cube she just ate. Apparently, it looked like a “tiny little house, for teeny, tiny little cheese people.”

Riley smacked her forehead. “Alyssa!”

Liam returned from paying the bill, his hands stuffed in his pockets and bouncing on his heels. He raised his eyebrows at Riley as if asking eagerly whether she was ready to head out on this adventure she told him she would make possible. Riley smiled back and raised a finger, indicating she’d be ready in a moment. Panic started to set in as she cursed under her breath and continued to try to get her friend back on the call. “Lyss.”

“Riley,” Alyssa laughed. “You’re still on the phone? No way! Hey, guys! Riley’s still on the phone. Say ‘hey’ to her!”

“NOO! Please, Alyssa, I need your help.”

“Whatcha need, Ri? You know I’ll do aaaanything for you.”

“Ok, do you remember when you caught our dorm room on fire senior year cooking ramen noodles in the microwave, and all my stuff burned up?”

“That checks. Sure.”

“Well, it’s time to pay up on that favor you said you’d owe me.”

Somehow, the planets must have been aligned just right, because a very inebriated Alyssa comprehended Riley’s request enough to talk to Damien about it and have it actually make sense. Luckily, the private detective knew a guy who drove a tugboat for the Port Authority working the night shift and was more than willing to see what he could do for Alyssa’s best friend.

-----------

Riley felt Liam’s arms tighten around her waist as the Statue of Liberty came into view. She had seen the landmark more times than she could remember in her life; perhaps she had become so accustomed to it being there that she took for granted how it would affect someone seeing it for the first time. It wasn’t until she twisted around in his arms to view his reaction, to see this beacon of freedom reflecting in his mesmerized eyes, that it all made sense. Liam was a beautiful man with a beautiful soul; if anyone deserved this moment to reflect on what it truly meant to embrace the freedom he longed for, it was him.

“What are you thinking, Liam?” She broke the silence.

He shook his head in wonderment. “It’s magnificent, Riley. I’ve heard art has meaning because of what it makes the viewer feel. Whether it’s ink splatters on a canvas or on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it only matters if it moves you.”

“And?”

Liam let out a sigh of contentment and lowered his gaze to her. “And right now, looking at this view with you … I feel like … anything is possible.”

“I feel that way too.” She slowly nodded, finding herself lost in his eyes, his voice, his embrace. Nothing in this moment mattered to her anymore: the long stream of bad luck, the crappy job she just lost, her epic failures at relationships. They all seemed to just wistfully fly out into the ocean and bury themselves below its sandy bottom.

Wrapped in each other's arms, surrounded by the salty sea air and a skyline full of hopes and dreams, Liam pulled her as close to himself as she would go, his other hand moving up to caress the side of her face. Both searched longingly into each other's eyes, waiting for the other to make that next big move.

Feeling an awakening of courage and fire in the depths of her fluttering stomach, she threw all fears and caution to the wind. Riley grasped on to the lapels of Liam’s jacket and gently lowered him to her eagerly awaiting lips.

The kiss was tender and brief, but magical; it left her spellbound. Riley could swear she floated out of her body and traveled into the clouds that blanketed above them and enveloped her wholly.

Liam rested his forehead on Riley’s; his hands reached down to grasp hers and swing freely alongside them. “You’re full of surprises tonight, Riley.”

“Is that before or after I knocked you out earlier?”

He chucked, rubbing the bump on the back of his head. “Both times. I’m certainly not sorry about either, though. I’ll never forget this night … or you.”

If you have a concussion, you might. She smiled up at him, “Me either.”

As their boat rounded the island, Riley took one last glance back at the statue that now represented so much more in her mind. Her gaze traveled across the expanse of the gleaming torch, down the long arm of the statue, over to the dim lights shining through the glass within the crown. Something caught her attention -- an odd movement -- and she couldn’t help but squint real hard to make out the image that was quite small from her vantage point. She tilted her head, trying to figure out what the hell she was seeing before it finally became clearer to her. She let out a loud gasp. “Oh my God!”

From behind, Liam leaned down next to her face. “What’s wrong?” he asked curiously, trying to match his view with her line of sight. “What are you seeing?”

Riley pointed up. “I see ass cheeks!” she replied in disgust. “And not just any ass cheeks … big, gigantic ones smooshed right up against the window. There’s two people up there just going at it and … oh, no wait, she just got turned around. Yep, yep, those look like boobies now. Who does that kind of thing, having sex where anyone could just see? And in the Statue of Liberty, of all places?”

Letting out a forced cough then clearing his throat, Liam squeezed Riley’s shoulders several times and laughed awkwardly. “Yeah, I know. Sick freaks, huh?”

The pair watched the display for a second longer than they should have before turning to look at one another, blushing and smiling sheepishly. Riley only hoped she played off her disgust well enough that he didn’t realize she was a sick freak too.

Liam looked away, hoping the same.

---------

It was well past midnight.The Brooklyn streets were mostly bare, with only the occasional late-night dweller cruising the sidewalks or a yellow cab making its weekend rounds. Just a stone's throw across the bridge, the city that never slept, with its flashing lights and bustling tourist, lay in deep contrast to this quiet residential district that was only lit up at that hour by street lamps and halogen headlights.

Riley considered where she lived to be a fairly safe neighborhood. Crime and lawlessness weren’t unheard of, but it was rare for that area. Like many women of her young age, walking alone in the dark wasn’t something she usually set out to do unless she had no other choice. That’s why when Liam insisted he accompany her the few blocks from where they finished their excursion to see her home safely, she was more than willing to oblige him.

“This is my stop. Home sweet home.” Riley stopped at the bottom of the stairs that led to the entrance of her building and turned to Liam. She looked more gleeful than she actually was.

He glanced up at the plain red brick building. It was nothing special, but he made a mental note of the address numbers over its clear glass entryway. He knew it was unlikely he’d ever see her again, but on the off-chance, maybe someday if he was ever in the neighborhood … no, he thought … there’s no point in going there. “I see that ...it’s nice.”

Riley looked at him with a hopeful expression. “I know you said you had an early flight in the morning, but … if you’d like to come up …”

“I wish I could, Riley. Trust me, I want to more than you know; however, the limo will be here soon with my friends, and ...” he swept a strand of blowing hair from her face, memorizing her every feature. “... I don’t want to make this harder on either one of us.”

Nodding, Riley gave a half-smile. “I understand.”

They stared at one another for a moment, hoping to prolong the inevitable. “Come here, you.” Liam pulled her into him and wrapped his arms around her. ”I can never thank you enough for everything tonight, Riley. I’m so glad I ran into you. Well ... actually you ran into me.” Riley let out a soft laugh that made his heart skip a beat. “You were the best part of my trip, Riley. I mean it.”

Before they knew it, the limo pulled up alongside the sidewalk in front of Riley’s apartment. Both felt a sinking feeling, knowing this was the end, and embraced a little tighter as the squeak of the limo’s brakes dulled and the awaiting engine ran in the silent backdrop.

Riley drew in a breath, the heels of her shoes tapping one another. “I guess this is goodbye?”

Frowning, Liam’s palms moved up to her face and rested along her jawline. “I’m afraid it looks that way.” He leaned down and kissed her gently, her arms winding around the back of his neck to hold him there for as long as she possibly could.

Knowing if he didn’t end it there, it never would, Liam broke their kiss, stroking his hand through her hair and said, “Take care, Riley.”

She smiled back. “You too, Liam.”

Not wanting to leave until he was sure she made it inside safely, Liam watched from the sidewalk while Riley slowly made her way up the concrete steps, scouring through her bag as she did so. When she reached the top, she stepped in front of the locked door, frantically digging and shaking her bag in search of the keys to get in.

“Everything okay up there?” Liam called up to her as she knelt down and started frantically tossing items from her purse, slamming them down next to her feet: wallet, cell phone, lip gloss, ink pens, breath mints, hand sanitizer, a half-eaten bag of skittles, a box cutter she didn’t know she had, a marshmallow bunny from Easter, Midol, tampons …

“Mother fuck,” she grumbled in frustration to herself before yelling back cheerfully, “Yes, just looking for my keys. They’re always at the bottom,” she laughed, trying to make light of it.

“They’re in your hand, Riley,” she heard him point out when she finally gazed down into her hand and slowly opened her palm. Liam let out a laugh when he saw her face twist up, realizing she had them the entire time.

“Get out of here. You said you didn’t want to make this harder.” Riley began stuffing everything back into her bag.

He continued to laugh as he threw his hands up and stepped away. “I’m going.”

As soon as she unlocked the door and walked inside to the lit-up entryway, she heard the limo pull away. Everything in her wanted to look back in hopes he’d stayed behind by some chance and was walking up those steps, approaching the door, wanting her to let him in. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath; the greatest guy she’d ever met was gone, and the only way to see him again would require a Google search.

In her mind, though, she had made a prince’s dream come true. Maybe she wasn’t half bad after all.

In a huge way, Liam did the same for her. Too bad he would never know it.

___________

Riley opened the door and stepped inside her dark apartment, closing it behind her. After such a long day, feeling a little disheartened, all she wanted to do was slip into some comfy night clothes, wash her face, brush her teeth and crash until next week. Taking two steps away from the door, her foot caught on something and she went flying forward, landing with a hard thud to the floor.

It felt like the wind had been knocked right out of her chest when she hit the ground. “Son-of-a--?” She pushed herself up on her knees, shook out her sore hands, then reached over to flip the light switch on.

“Alyssa?” Riley whispered.

Lying on the ground, curled into a peaceful little ball, was her roommate, still in the same clothes she last saw her in, hands pressed together and tucked under her cheek like a sleeping cherub. Riley crawled over to Alyssa, swept her hair out of her face, and checked for breathing. The strong smell of alcohol emanated from her tiny sighs -- Alyssa wasn’t a heavy drinker.

Concerned, Riley jiggled her arm. “Sweetie, are you okay?”

An angelic murmur was the only answer to her question.

Not wanting to leave her on the floor, Riley stood up and bent down, her hands grasping both of Alyssa’s wrists before she pulled her down their hallway as gently as she could and stepped into her best friend's bedroom.

Huffing out of breath, she made it next to Alyssa’s bed. Riley crouched down and tried to lift her onto the mattress, but Alyssa was dead weight. Maybe she had no other choice but to leave her there.

Riley pulled a blanket and pillow from the bed, rolled Alyssa to her side, and got her as comfortable as she could. After placing a wastebasket next to her friend and leaving a bottled water on the night table, she patted her back. “I have so many things to tell you in the morning, Lyss. You’d be so proud of me.” Riley swallowed down the emotions that had threatened to escape since she realized Liam had left for good. Her voice broken and feeble, she continued, “I took that risk. I was fearless, just like you told me to be. It didn’t work out the way I had hoped, but …” she sniffled through a small smile, blinking back tears. “... I have no regrets.”

Riley rose to her feet and headed for the door when she heard a faint voice call out from behind that stopped her in her tracks. “Ri?”

She turned her head. “Hmm?”

“I’m always proud of you.”

Switching the light off, Riley smiled back at her friend, who still appeared to be resting in a calm slumber. “I know. Good night, bestie.”

---------------

The next morning, just as the sun had peeked from behind the clouds and the air was fresh with newness and warmth, Riley woke. Today would differ from every day before. She didn’t want to lie in bed all day and dwell on what-might-have-beens or how her life was a dead end to nowhere. She was determined she wanted something more out of it -- whatever that may be.

Slipping on a pair of trainers, running tights and a long sleeve shirt, she pulled her hair up in a high ponytail and headed out.

She made it two blocks before collapsing on a bench, gasping for air, and flipping off a kid on a bike who was laughing and taunting her.

After five more blocks of running and taking a break at nearly every bench or stoop along the way -- that same jerky kid still deriding her as he circled around each block -- Riley made her way back to her building, hunched over and sweaty. She didn’t jog as far as she’d liked to, but she made the effort, for which she was pleased with herself.

It also didn’t hurt that there was a mouthy kid out there somewhere with two flat bicycle tires, crying to his mom, that was giving her a new boost of life.

Reaching for the door of her building, she chuckled to herself thinking about his pouty little face -- haha, sucks to be you, kid -- when someone yelled out her name.

“Shit,” she panicked, thinking the boy’s parents had found her and had come to beat her ass. Riley fumbled with her keys, trying to make a quick getaway inside.

“Hey, Riley! Stop.” The voice sounded oddly familiar, and curiosity couldn’t stop her from whipping her head around to take a quick peek. She instantly recognized the man who was racing up the stairs towards her, from the bar. He was one of the guys from Liam’s party last night who helped after the collision.

Pulling the keys from the lock and gripping the pepper spray attached to them, she jumped back when he suddenly hopped up next to her like a fireball of energy.

“Riley. I’m so glad I caught up with you. I’m Maxwell -- we met last night -- and this is Rashad.” He pointed over his shoulder. The man gave a simple nod in return. “He was there, too.”

Her brows knit in confusion. “Oookay. You both aren’t here by chance upset over a couple of slashed bike tires, are you? Because that wasn’t me. I saw who did it, though, if you need a witness statement.” Riley’s eyes shifted around, looking for a person to match her fake would-be description.

Maxwell shook his head with a chuckle and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, her gaze falling to it. “Nah, I came to talk to you about Liam. You’re all he could talk about when he got back to the hotel last night. He went on and on about the cafe, and the trip to the Statue of Liberty, and how beautiful you are ...”

“He -- he did?” She was pleasantly surprised, her heart bursting at his words.

“Yeah. We’re heading back to Cordonia so Liam can find someone to marry and all that jazz. But before I go, I wanted to officially extend to you an invitation to join us for the festivities in Cordonia. Sooo … is there somewhere we can talk?”

----------------

“You want me to do what?” Riley jumped up from the sofa, her eyes wide and mouth gaping as she gawked back at Maxwell, who was sitting at the far end. Her trembling hand shot to her forehead before she paced back and forth. “Let me get this straight. You want to sponsor me to compete to marry a man I just met last night? And not just any man, a prince. You’re going to fly me halfway across the world -- You could be the Official Royal Serial Killer, for all I know -- then prance me around like some beauty pageant contestant? And all I have to do is say ‘yes to the dress’ that you can’t afford? Just hop right on a plane with two strange men, huh? How naïve do I look to you?” Riley paused for a second. “Don’t answer that.”

“I’m not doing it for you. I saw how Liam looked at you last night at the bar, and later when he returned from your date. I’ve never seen him that happy before. Honestly, I don’t want him to lose that. We’re kinda crunched for time, though. I’ve got a plane leaving in an hour.”

“An hour?” Riley questioned as she plopped down on the coffee table, her back to Maxwell and the guy in the chair across the room who hadn’t said a word the whole time. It was a once-in-a-lifetime offer to travel somewhere new and exciting and literally rub elbows with royalty. To live out that fairytale that most girls could only dream of. But more importantly, it was a way to see Liam again, and she wanted to so badly … if Maxwell was indeed telling the truth.

Even if nothing came of it, there was no job tying her down anymore. Her dad had just gotten married to her stepfather and stayed busy as a chef for Beyonce and Jay-Z, so he would be fine, and she had enough money in savings to pay her portion of the rent while she was gone and expenses for her travels. There was just one thing she would insist on.

Riley spun around on the table, her eyes flashing between the two men. “I will do this -- on one condition.”

Maxwell clapped his hands excitedly. “Yes! Just name it and it’s yours.”

“Max.” Rashad leaned forward in his chair, his elbows pressed into his knees. “You don’t even know what she wants yet.”

“I’m getting to that.” Maxwell turned to her with an arched brow. “Okay, Riley. What is your condition?”

She hadn’t even asked Alyssa yet, but Riley steepled her fingers and volunteered her, anyway. “My roommate has to go with me.”

“No problemo.”

“What -- Really?”

“Sure. She can ride the jet back with us and I’ll even help her find a good hotel room nearby so you two can visit … if you’re able to find time in between all the competitions, balls, traveling, lessons, and what not. It’ll be great!”

Riley shook her head adamantly, not willing to budge on the issue. “No! I want Alyssa there for all of those things. If I even have the slightest chance of being a serious contender and a fully functioning human being, I need someone there to make sure I don’t do anything stupid … and I will … a lot. Plus, she’s my best friend, and I’m not doing this without her.”

Feeling the pressure to relent and the seconds ticking away until takeoff, Maxwell’s shoulders slumped, taking in Riley’s pleading expression. “I -- I don’t know what to do. Your friend would have to be sponsored also in order to stay with you. She would have to be a suitor and compete for Liam’s hand just like you and all the other ladies, and there can only be one sponsee for each noble house. If you’re our pick, then she would need to have someone of nobility who doesn’t have a suitor yet and knows it’s all a ... ruse …” he trailed off, grinning impishly, as an idea suddenly popped into his head. Maxwell’s gaze swept across the room and landed on his friend, Rashad, who had a deer-in-the-headlights look, knowing exactly what he was getting at.

“Oh no. Leave me out of this,” he insisted while waving his hands back and forth. “This is all on you, Maxwell.”

“No, don’t say that yet.” Riley sprang to her feet and grabbed a picture frame from a nearby table, falling to her knees in front of Rashad to beg. “This is Alyssa.” She cheerfully pointed her friend out in the picture, delighted when the Lord of Domvallier’s eyes grew and seemed more than intrigued. “She’s not only beautiful, charming, and supportive, but she’s the smartest person I know. Everyone just loves her. And even though she won’t want to win because of me, she’ll represent your house with the greatest of integrity and propriety. I swear it.”

“It’s for Liam,” Maxwell interjected, wagging his brows. “Imagine how grateful he’ll be when he finds out your part in making this happen for him.”`

Rashad let out a heavy groan. “Max, you know I would do anything for a friend -- especially Liam -- but it’s not that simple. There’s a reason why Domvallier opted not to have a suitor join this season: I have business dealings in California that coincide with some of the competitions. And with Mother’s and Father’s health in decline, I couldn’t possibly burden them with traveling and overseeing a suitor. It just wouldn’t work.”

Riley turned to Maxwell. “Well … couldn’t she just hang out with us most of the time? It’s not like she’d be in it to win it, anyway.”

“I don’t see why not.” Maxwell shrugged. “We all travel and stay together for the most part anyway.” He glanced over at Rashad, who could do nothing but stare at the two of them bouncing like eager children with big cheshire grins, while he literally decided the fate of a woman who had no idea she had just been volunteered to “pretend” compete for the hand of a prince the entire summer, in another country, and had to board a plane in just under an hour.

Rashad sighed and took the photo from Riley’s hand, giving it a quick glance. He was definitely smitten by the bright, blue-eyed woman with the big dimpled smile and wouldn’t mind getting to know her better, particularly if she was everything described to him. “I should have gone with Drake back to the plane.” He shook his head and handed the photo back to Riley. “Can’t believe I’m doing this, but --”

Before he even finished his thought, Maxwell and Riley leaped to their feet to celebrate, whooping and howling around him, ruffling his jet black hair, hugging, and clapping him several times on the chest.

“What’s going on?”

The three of them whipped their heads around at the raspy-sounding voice that caught their attentions.

“Lyss!” Riley’s eyes lit up at the sight of her best friend standing there; she couldn’t wait to share all the good news with her. Maxwell, and particularly Rashad’s, jaws dropped at the sight before them. They both did a double take of the picture in the frame and then back to the petite brunette who wore a rumpled party dress, was missing one flat shoe, and sported smudged mascara under her sunken eyes and hair flying in every direction.

Riley moved over to Alyssa, placing a gentle hand on her arm with a smile. “Alyssa. These gentlemen are from Cordonia -- It’s somewhere you need a plane ride for. This is Lord Maxwell Beaumont.” She gestured and received a wave back. “And this is Lord Rashad of Doberman Pinscher,” she stated in a posh accent.

“Domvallier,” he corrected, stunned and still unable to take his eyes off his new suitor.

“Lords?” she questioned in a feeble tone; Riley nodded back at her.

Alyssa smiled at the two strangers, then lowered her head and curtsied like she was wearing a ball gown before them. “How do you do? Welcome to House Devereaux-Brooks. It’s so kind of you to stop by and make our acquaintances. Please do make yourselves at home.” She straightened back up and immediately turned to Riley. “I’m dying. Where’s the Advil?”

Riley insisted Alyssa have a seat while she retrieved the Advil and a glass of water for her. Feeling that was a fair deal, Alyssa stumbled over to the couch, accidentally stepping on Maxwell, who held onto her arms and helped her the rest of the way. When she was seated, she leaned forward, rubbing soothing circles around her temples, willing the room to stop spinning. Riley shuffled back with two pills and a cool bottle of water, and handed them to Alyssa, who hastily threw back and chugged nearly the entire thing. She couldn’t remember a time when she felt so thirsty.

No one knew really how to respond just yet. Rashad conferred in hushed tones with Maxwell, as Alyssa kept her eyes closed for a moment, taking in slow, deep breaths. Everything from head to toe ached and throbbed.

Finally, she smacked her still-dry mouth and announced, “Okay, I’m going back to bed. Goodnight, everyone. It was so nice to meet you all.” She moved to the edge of the sofa when Riley pressed lightly on her shoulders, holding her back.

“Wait a minute, Lyss. I have something I want to talk to you about.”

Lowering the shades in the living room to block the sun from Alyssa’s sensitive eyes, Riley began to explain how she met Liam at the bar last night and was asked to go out for a drink with him. Alyssa nodded her head slowly as she followed along, somewhat remembering their phone conversation about the date, how he was a prince, and the Statue of Liberty -- Lyss was proud of herself for being a part of making that happen. The next of their conversation continued on to Liam returning to his country for the social season in which he was expected to find someone to marry by the end of the summer. “I’m so sorry he had to leave, but what does any of this have to do with you, Ri?”

Riley glanced over her shoulder. “That’s where these two guys come in.”

Alyssa followed her friend’s gaze then shook her head. “I’m not following.”

“Maxwell wants to sponsor me to travel to Cordonia to compete for Liam. And we leave in an hour. Yay!” She raised her arms in a V, trying to garner excitement from her roommate, knowing she’d probably freak out.

And she did. “YOU CAN’T GO TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY! FOR ALL YOU KNOW THESE GUYS ARE SERIAL KILLERS OR SEX TRAFFICKERS!” Alyssa looked at Rashad and smiled shyly. “Not you, of course.” She then eyed Maxwell. “Probably him.”

“I know, I know. But that’s kinda, sorta where you come in.” Riley’s eyes danced around the room while tugging on the hem of her shirt.

“What do you mean?”

Maxwell checked the time on his phone as Riley laid out the details, point by point, to her friend, who guzzled the last bit of her water as she found out she had basically been enlisted into becoming a suitor as well. Alyssa spit out her water. “WHAT?”

Rashad sighed and looked for paper towels to dry off his lap.

Taking in Alyssa’s bug-eyed stare, Riley scrambled to make the whole situation sound more appealing to her.

“There’s skiing --”

“You know I can’t ski.”

“There’s ice skating --”

“Are you trying to break both of my ankles at the same time?”

“There’s horseback riding --”

“Oh, God, horses?”

“And beaches.”

Alyssa started to complain before stopping herself. “Okay, that doesn’t sound so bad. But still, Ri --”

“Please, Alyssa,” Riley pleaded, her still-small voice just above a whisper. She sat down on the coffee table again, across from her friend, eyes glassy. “I would never ask you to do something so big for me. But, I want you there … I need you there. This … this is the guy, Lyss. He’s the one.”

Seeing the hopeful expression staring back at her, Alyssa’s heart sank. She set aside the empty bottle and leaned forward, placing a compassionate hand on Riley’s. “First of all, you don’t need me. You’re more than capable of doing this on your own. I mean, give yourself a little credit … you landed a prince.” They both let out soft laughs before she continued. “But, secondly, you know I’m a hopeless romantic. So if this is the only way you’ll go … count me in.”

As the two of them hugged and Riley expressed her fervent thanks, Maxwell cleared his throat and interrupted their happy moment. The girls turned to him as he stated, “I hate to break all of this up -- I really do. This is like the totally awesome stuff I live for -- but we’re pressed for time now. Our friend Drake is already on the plane waiting and isn’t above leaving without us.”

“Oh good. Doesn’t he sound like a little ray of sunshine?” Alyssa scoffed, causing Riley to snicker and drawing half a smirk from Rashad.

The guys headed down to the limo while the girls rummaged through their rooms, stuffing as many of their things as they could possibly fit into suitcases and bags. After taking turns getting quick showers, being vigilant of the time, they double checked to make sure they had what they needed for an extended trip, planning to call friends and family on the drive to the airport to let them know where they would be.

Alyssa slipped on a pair of sunglasses as she stepped into the hallway, while Riley locked the door to their apartment behind them. “And you’re sure this Liam is worth all this?”

Riley regarded her thoughtfully before letting out a contented sigh, “Yeah. He’s worth it.”

Alyssa shrugged and pushed the sunglasses higher on her nose. “Well, if we don’t die, we’ll have a hell of a story to tell.”

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