#so excited to start day 1 of the challenge tomorrow

[sabrgirl]

ramadan mubarak :) ☪️

may Allah accept all of our duas and fasts and bring us closer to Him than we ever have been before, Ameen ♡

#so excited to start day 1 of the challenge tomorrow #ramadan

[un-pearable]

desperately need to sleep rn but can i just say how much i love the “most famous hedgehog in the world” marketing on sonic o n e. bold ass statement for a guy who JUST started existing. love that for him

#sonic the hedgehog #sonic #31 days of sonic #yea this related to my 31 days of sonic day 1 art hush #i got a much later start than i expected and i’m busy tomorrow so. it’ll be posted tomorrow and i’ll make day twos way simpler #but i AM committed to doing it or at least most of it i have many ideas #mostly a twitter challenge but shush i’m excited it’s fun to brainstorm

[hobie-enthusiast]

UNLIKELY CLASH !

— rulebreaker!hobie brown x perfectionist!gn!reader

— enemies to lovers, swearing (more than last and fuck too), mutual pining, making out, small bit of harassment, rebellious teens, confused feelings, getting together

— hobie brown was everything you weren’t, so maybe that’s what attracted the two of you together so well (pt. 2)

— here part two gang! honestly i have an idea for part three in mind but if that’s something u honestly want pls lmk asap

— part 1 | part 2 (here) | part 3

The next couple of weeks were.. odd between you and Hobie.

Even after a heartfelt confession about the pressure you felt, you still had a reputation to uphold. You kept treating him the way you normally did; ignoring him and pretending he didn’t exist.

At first, this didn't really bother Hobie. He was used to chasing after you, messing with you and poking fun at the student council president. But he was getting bored. The small bits of making you late to class or taking up your time were amusing, but he wanted more of a reaction from you.

When he started interacting less and less, you grew confused. As much as you hated to admit it, you liked the attention and small interactions.

Though it was small, being late and skipping class (very rarely at this point), made you excited. It made you feel.. alive in a way.

But all that was dissipating. And you were upset about it.

You sat in your room after a long school day, mindlessly scrolling through your computer. Your parents had asked that you try and find a prom outfit, but that became boring really quick. You could never wear something truly exciting; just some fancy outfit plain coloured with fancy hair.

A knock on your window startled you from your thoughts. Glancing out, you see Hobie looking in, motioning for you to open the window. You walk over confused, deciding to open the window.

"Brown? It's.." You glance back at your alarm clock. "..10 pm. What are you doing here?"

"Awe, come on sweetheart. After such a confession, shouldn't we be on a first name basis?" He says, inviting himself into your room.

You scoff. "One, no, as you don't use my first name. And two, you can't be here! My parents are right down the hall!"

Hobie shrugged as he looked around your room, analyzing the decor. He noticed the clean desk you had, along with a neat bookshelf of many scientific books and knick-knacks. It suited you, every detail down to the way your game console sat neatly on your TV stand, not a speck of dust in sight.

"Did you show up just to judge my room?"

Hobie shook his head. "Nah, came t' ask ya somethin'." He said, sitting on your desk chair. "Up for an adventure?"

"Excuse me?" You question, taking a seat across from him on your bed. "When?"

"Now."

You know Hobie was.. absolutely crazy in some ways. But this? Going on a random adventure on a Friday night, and asking the person he wants to go with by entering their room via window was.. not the kind of crazy you would categorize him as.

You raise your eyebrows, crossing your arms. "You serious right now?"

"As serious as I always am." He responds with a shrug. "'s up to you. We'll be gone 'till tomorrow. Either 'u're up for a challenge or not."

A challenge he says? Hobie knew that you could be riled up from being challenged to do something. Perfectionists always had to win in his eyes.

And he was right.

"Give me five minutes."

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Next thing you knew, you were on a train from your isolated little town to Brooklyn itself. Hobie blindly led you onto a train, told you to not worry about tickets, then let the train take you both to the destination in mind.

Of course Hobie remembered what you said at the tree. He had been holding onto it for a while now. He knew you wanted to go to a city, do whatever you wanted, just for a little bit. And he was going to be the one to give that to you. Why? Well, that's a question he couldn't answer for himself.

"Brooklyn?" You questioned, looking out of the train window. "Why Brooklyn?"

"You said it under the tree. Ya wanted to go to the city, no?"

You nodded slowly, looking back out the window with a small smile. Of course you were flattered that he remembered your words. At least, you were hoping he did, you practically poured your feelings out.

Once the train stopped, you both stepped out of the station to admire the tall buildings towering over you. Hobie couldn’t help but be amused at the way your eyes shined at the new scenery. He practically came here everyday.

But he couldn’t tell you that. Not without plausible answers to the inevitable questions.

“So..” You turn to look at him, eyes still bright. “What do we do?”

He shrugs, hands in his vest pockets. “Whatever ya want. ‘s ‘ur day, no?”

"But I don't know where to go. I've never been to the city before."

Hobie's eyes widened for a moment, shocked at your words. You were really so sheltered you hadn't been to the city right beside your town? The thought alone was crazy to Hobie. He never understood why adults were so.. controlling.

He sighs, walking ahead. "Follow me then. I'll show ya ‘round."

And so you did just that. You followed Hobie around the city, taking in the sights he's showing you. All around the city, passing and weaving through people, making sure you had a nice time.

There was something you noticed. Before Hobie took you somewhere, he provided you with options on where to go. He didn't force you to go one place with him. He didn't strictly follow an itinerary. He always asked what you wanted to do, giving you full control of the day.

It was.. refreshing. This sense of freedom was exactly what you needed. To feel the fresh air of the city without worrying about impressing anyone. Hobie wasn't judging you, and you certainly weren't judging yourself.

The end of the day came quicker than your liking, and the two of you were on the rooftop of an apartment complex. The sun was setting behind the tall buildings, and Hobie brought the two of you some noodles to eat (he definitely didn't steal them).

You take a bite, setting the cup down with a sigh. "Today was.. actually really nice. I don't think I ever felt that, free before, if that makes sense?"

"Don't worry, you can say it." Hobie said, nudging your arm.

You roll your eyes with a small smile. "Mm.. guess I can. Thanks, Brown."

"Y'know, you can call me 'obie, swee'heart." He responded, shrugging. "'s better than m' last name, I think."

"I can't give you that satisfaction. Not yet."

Hobie raised an eyebrow, a shit-eating smirk crossing his face. "Yet?"

You're ready to correct yourself, but the words die in your throat. You couldn't help but like the sound of "yet". It meant more time with Hobie.. and you enjoyed that. Hobie's company was something you were starting to crave. Almost like a drug.

Hobie glanced over at you. "Gotta admit, didn't expect ya t' come with me. Considerin' 'ur parents don't know ya snuck out."

“Yeah well..” You sigh, looking out onto the building with a soft smile. “Maybe I just needed something different.” You finish, looking over at Hobie.

You’re suddenly very aware of how close the two of you are to each other. Hobie’s eyes flicker; your eyes, your mouth, and back a couple times. It’s almost like.. he was asking you for something. The longer you both stared, the more tempted he became, and you honestly couldn’t blame him.

So why did you pull away?

As soon as he started leaning in, you pulled back, clearing your throat. His eyes widen before narrowing, scoffing gently. Guess he misread the situation.

You really couldn’t tell him he didn’t.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

The next weeks Hobie Brown didn’t show up to school.

You had a feeling you were the cause. Brushing him off like that was such a dick move on your part. You knew that. You wanted nothing more than to find him and run to him, kissing him like there was no tomorrow.

But you couldn’t. You had an image to maintain. A reputation. All the trust you worked so hard to accumulate would go down the drain in an instant.

Of course.. Hobie may be worth that.

Hobie to you is worth that risk. All his rule breaking and crazed adventures are just what you need in your life. Something that gives you the freedom you longed for.

But you had to go and screw it up. And now here you were, three weeks after the incident, at your locker with a guy trying to talk you up.

“C’mon, [Name], just one night! It’ll change your life!”

You groan, slamming the locker shut. “Dude, I said no. Can you stop?”

“Why? I gotta know why!” He persisted, grabbing your wrist as you tried walking away.

You yank your arm away, trying to escape. “I don’t owe you that! Let me go.”

“Not until you-”

“Hey.”

You turn at the sudden voice, shocked at who it belonged to. There stood Hobie Brown, eyes filled with anger.

“They said, let go.” He said, grabbing the guy’s arm and yanking it away. “Learn t’ take a hint, aye?”

The guy’s eyes narrowed. “And who do you think you are, Brown? Their boyfriend?”

“As a matter of fac’-”

Then, Hobie turns you to him, bringing your lips to his. No warning, no asking, nothing. Just does what he’s been craving after three weeks of disappearance.

Everyone in the hallway around you two watched with shocked faces. Nobody could have seen this coming, not even you.

A thousand thoughts rushed through your head as Hobie kissed you, but one screamed to push away. So you did, giving him a shocked look before grabbing his arm and pulling him away from the scene. You drag him to a storage closet, shutting the door.

“Brown, what the hell was that?!” You immediately ask, eyes narrowed. “What, do you disappear for three weeks then kiss every person you were hanging out with? What the hell?”

Hobie sighed, leaning against a shelf behind him. “Guy needed t’ be taught a lesson. Made sure he won’t bother ya.”

“I can do that on my own!” You respond, shoving an accusing finger in his chest. “Where have you been?!”

“Thinkin’.” Is all he responds with.

You groan. “For three weeks? Shit Hobie, I..” You words fall short. You want to say it.. squeeze it out. “I.. missed you.”

Hobie’s eyes widened as he takes in your words. You.. missed him? He never would have seen this coming; a confession from the president in a dingy storage closet? Not on his bucket list.

Your eyes watch Hobie, doing that same pattern he did on the rooftop; eyes, mouth, eyes. You wanted to kiss him again.. feel those lips again on yours. No.. you needed it.

You know what? Fuck this perfect image.

You grab onto Hobie's vest, pulling him in to connect your lips. Your rough with your movements at first, closing your eyes tightly and latching onto him with a white-knuckle grip. Hobie's eyes widened for a moment before they showed a more prideful look, kissing you back with just as much emotion.

His hands find placement on your lower back, pulling you into him as the kiss escalates from one to many. Hobie was like a starved man, slotting his leg in between yours to support you, pushing you back against the shelf and knocking over some cleaning supplies.

That could be fixed later.

Your original intention of one passionate kiss to show him how you felt turned into many heated kisses. The bell for class was drowned out by how into the moment you both were.

“Fuck.. Hobie..” You whisper, diving back in for another kiss.

Hobie groaned in turn, pulling you impossibly closer. “Shit sweetheart.. can’t say m’ name like that.”

“Hmm.. why’s that..?”

“‘s gonna drive me crazy..”

Suddenly, the doorknob to the closet rattles, causing you both to pull away. Your eyes go wide as Hobie grabs it from where he stands, bringing one finger to his lips to make you stay quiet.

The person on the other side tries to open the door, but ultimately fails. They groan and mumble something before walking away. Hobie looks over at your expression, a small laugh escaping his lips.

“Let’s get out of here, yeah?” He whispers, planting a kiss to your jaw. “Or are ya gonna keep pretendin’ you’re too good for it?”

You sigh, rolling your eyes as you take his hand. "Nah, not this time. Come on."

some ppl who wanted to be tagged (🫶): @serenn08 | @rksses | @youronlyauthor | @dotheyevenknowmars | @xoxobabe

#NEW ARTICLE || OUT NOW !! #hobie brown x reader #hobie x reader #hobie brown #across the spiderverse #spider man: across the spider verse #atsv x reader #atsv #atsv hobie #hobie brown x you #spiderman #hobie spiderverse #spider man atsv

[dilemmaontwolegs]

Shades of Grey || CL16 {1}

Summary: You may be the newest F1 driver for Williams but you have known Charles since your karting years. Being rival drivers never changed the fact he was your friend and would always look out for you, on and off the track. The only problem was you wished you could be more than friends. Warnings: 18+ only, reader injuries, angst. Word Count: 2k

F1 Masterlist || Part One || Part Two || Part Three || Part Four || Spotify Playlist

Adrenaline was always running through your veins the night before a race. It was the same explosive mix of brimming excitement laced with a hint of fear. So when the track was closed and the flood lights went dark you would quietly leave your motorhome and walk the grid. 

The silence was peaceful in a way that couldn’t be found at any other time. 3am was like a parallel universe where all the distractions and worries were lost to the stars above. You were in a world of your own.

“You should be sleeping,” Charles said as he looked down where you lay under the starting lights. 

You hadn’t even heard his footsteps approaching as you imagined the track, your fingers twitching with the memory of its banks and turns. Though it was cold asphalt beneath you, it was the memory of the moulded seat that you felt against your thin clothes. 

As the first and only female driver there was a pressure that the other drivers would never feel. You had to fight for not just your position but for all the future female drivers who aspired to race in Formula One. If you didn’t meet the expectations then it wasn’t just your future at stake and you felt the weight of that every time you sat in the car. It drove you to push harder and test the limits of the car, it drove you to practise more than the other drivers. 

You were pulled from your thoughts and looked up the length of his body. You took in everything from the loose grey sweatpants to the plain white t-shirt and then to the eyes that had been witness to your greatest and worst moments. 

“Lie down,” you said as you patted the cold ground beside you. “It’ll be like old times.”

“We’ve come a long way since F3.” Despite the words, he laid down beside you and you laced your hand with his. He had always let you take comfort in the touch since he knew how nervous you got, even after years of racing. Those nerves had only increased after your recent debut into Formula One. 

“Does it get easier?” you asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the silence of the night. 

You looked across at him, the moonlight illuminating his eyes that seemed torn between wanting to calm you and wanting to be honest. “It doesn’t get harder.”

You lost yourself in his eyes and remembered dreaming of a time when you thought the friendship might be more. That dream had slipped away as his career took off and yours remained the same. Your paths had no longer crossed often but you had still tried to keep in touch despite the newfound distance. If friendship was all you could have then you would take it if the alternative was having nothing. But you would always ask yourself ‘what if’.

“You’ll catch a cold lying down here all night,” Charles said, cleaving through the moment and shaking you from your daydream. “Vamos.” You groaned but let him pull you to your feet and he slung his arm over your shoulders. “Can’t have you anything but your best for tomorrow.”

“Maybe it will be the day I finally beat you.”

Charles chuckled. “Would I still have to be your slave for a week?”

You laughed at the reminder of the challenge that had been set years ago and shook your head. “I wouldn’t know what to do with you for a whole week.”

He looked down the corner of his eye at you and his lips twitched up. “I’m sure you’d think of something.”

Your heart skipped a beat at the deepening in his tone and the way he swallowed afterwards like the words were thick with meaning. Were you reading too far into it? Was it just hope leading you to misunderstand the innocent statement? 

You would never be brave enough to ask him and risk making a fool of yourself, so you parted ways when you reached your motorhome. 

“Goodnight, Charles,” you murmured as you reached the first step and turned, the added height leaving you eye to eye.

He leaned in slowly and you froze as his cologne infused with the air you breathed before his warm lips pressed softly to your cheek. “Goodnight, Y/N. Sweet dreams.”

You hated starting towards the back of the grid but there was only so much you could do with a car that didn’t have a big budget like some of the other teams. Still, Williams had given you an opportunity no other team had so you would make the best of it. 

The first light turned red and you began your starting sequence. At lights out the world faded away. There was no one and nothing but four wheels and the track. 

Accelerate, brake, turn, repeat.

Your pace was strong but it wasn’t enough and though you overtook a McLaren, an AlphaTauri and a Hass, the leaders were coming from behind to lap you. You kept aside on the straights, letting Max, Lewis and Checo overtake with their DRS that you couldn’t match and then a familiar red Ferrari appeared in your mirrors. 

The last straight of the lap was coming to an end but Charles moved to take the outside and you spared a glance as he passed. You swore he looked right back at you despite the concentration he needed to keep on the tight corner he was entering. 

It all happened so quickly but on the contrary time seemed to slow down. 

You turned your steering wheel into the corner and felt the tension pop as the entire console dislodged from the locking system that held it in place. The corner was rapidly closing and you were stuck on a collision course towards the barrier with a console that wouldn’t click back into place. You slammed your foot on the brake and all four wheels locked, tread burning plumes of smoke as the friction melted the rubber.

Charles turned into the corner and you begged the universe to let him pass before you reached him. A shudder rippled through the chassis as your front wing clipped his back tire and a new fear gripped you as he spun back around to face you. For a moment you were face to face and his gloved hand reached above the halo as if he could save you from what was to come. 

You took comfort in that small gesture and crossed your arms over your harness to brace for impact. 

Weightlessness washed over you as the car hit the gravel side on and the right hand tires dug in, the shift in the mass lifting the left hand wheels off the ground. Pain exploded through you as the entire weight of the car slammed down into the gravel and flipped too many times to count. 

Sky. Gravel. Sky. Gravel. Sky. Grass. Sky.

Your radio crackled in your ear as the world stopped spinning and you stared up at the blue sky over Imola. “Are you okay?”

The taste of copper filled your mouth and when you tried to speak only a pained wheeze came out. You couldn’t understand what was happening as the sky turned grey, the sunlight fading before your eyes. 

“Y/N!” 

You could hear Charles screaming over the ringing in your ears but you couldn’t answer him, though you desperately tried to. It was getting harder to breathe through the bubbling in your chest and the little air you could pull was laced with smoke and fumes. 

You looked up at the grey sky again and felt the sudden heat against your back. Not clouds. Smoke. 

You reached for the harness and screamed through the pain of trying to unbuckle them with the ribs that were undoubtedly broken. 

“Let me go!” Charles screamed. “Help her!” 

The heat was unbearable even with the fireproofs and there was a moment where the world seemed to fall silent, like the very air had frozen still. The bubble burst out in a shockwave. White hot light flashed blindingly bright and in an instant the pain was gone. 

The track was empty and the debris had long since been cleared. The only reminder of the horrific crash were the deep gouges in the grass verge and the damaged concrete wall that had stopped you going any further. 

You didn’t belong here. You didn’t belong in this black and white world, this place where all the colour had faded away like a photograph left in the sun. Where you had once seen the world in vibrant blues, lively greens and…Ferrari red, it was all now shades of grey.

Was this the end? Was this how your eternity would be spent, anchored to the last place you remembered?

“Happy Birthday.” A quiet voice broke your revelry and a moment of warmth filled you as he unknowingly stepped through the spot you stood. A shiver went down his spine and the petals of the bouquet he held trembled before he placed them on the scorch marks that stained the concrete wall. 

Your birthday? How much time had passed while you stood rooted to the track?

“I’m sorry it took so long to visit.” He sank to his knees on the grass, not caring about the mud that stained his jeans as he dropped his head in his hands. “I miss you.” 

You wished you could ease his pain but the hand you placed on his shoulder went right through. Arthur’s didn’t though, and you watched as his brother comforted him in a way you no longer could. 

“I miss you too,” you whispered to the wind that picked up down the straight. 

“She was so nervous before the race. What if she felt something was going to go wrong? What if I missed something?”

“Charles, you can’t beat yourself up wondering ‘what if’. It was an accident, and it doesn’t make it any easier to swallow but they happen,” Arthur said as he sat beside his older brother. “You’ve read the report, the steering console malfunctioned.”

“Arthur’s right,” Pierre said as he arrived with his own bouquet of flowers, placing them beside Charles’. “There was nothing anyone could have done.”

Charles sighed with defeat and seemed to shrink in upon himself as he plucked out the black blades of grass. “I could have told her how I felt. I always thought we would have time, I always thought I would have her.”

Your soul shattered at his admission and if you could cry in this state the track would have become an ocean. All those years wasted when if you had just told him how you felt you would have found out he felt the same. 

You would give anything to have that time back.

“You’re talking like she’s dead already,” Pierre snapped and you jerked your head around to him. “There’s still a chance she could wake up.”

Charles scrambled to his feet and the agony in his eyes nearly drove you to your knees. “Shut the fuck up!”

Charles ran his hands through his hair and tugged at the stands until he screamed to the heavens above. Birds erupted from the treelines and took flight at the piercing sound but Pierre just shook his head sadly.

He didn’t want to have hope. He didn’t want to be shattered by it again.

“She’s not Jules, Charles,” Pierre said, flinching when his friend glared at him. “Just go visit her, if anyone can bring her back it’s you.”

Charles turned his back and started to walk away without a goodbye and you took a step without realising it, then another. The invisible anchor that had kept you trapped at the crash site untethered from your feet and you were able to follow Charles. 

He paused beneath the starting line and looked up at the lights you had laid beneath. Gone were the stars that you could wish upon, now only dark grey clouds remained.

“If anyone up there is listening, I could really do with a miracle, or a sign, or anything. Just something. Please.” His voice broke and he wiped his eyes on his sleeve before sniffing and departing the grid.

Click here for part two.

#charles leclerc x female reader #charles leclerc x reader #charles leclerc x you #charles leclerc fanfic #charles leclerc imagine #formula one fanfiction #f1 imagine #f1 rpf #driver!reader

[charmedreincarnation]

I got into the void using your challenge: live update

Day 1:

I said isn’t it wonderful once every hour: everytime I felt doubt I reminded myself isn’t it wonderful and the doubt went away. It kept me in very good mood and my desires did feel closer to me more than ever

Day 2:

Like the challenge said I started my day with Isn't it wonderful that I love and accept my godly ability to choose my reality, and I said that once and mediated on my limited beliefs to and tried to question why I should have them when I am god. I felt like a new person

I manifested so many things. Free coffee’, a cute man asking for my number, so many compliments from strangers which rarely happens, and not being late to class even though I’m always late. I was already becoming my dream self I envision after the void

I have a good vision board I was using for my visuals. Everytime something reminded me of my 3D, I stared at it on my phone to remind myself of the life I am living so why am I concerned, and I repeated isn’t it wonderful to remind myself of my wonderful life, it worked like a charm pun intended

It is night time so I am going to listen to the third video you recommended.

Tomorrow I will write about how grateful I am for all my desires that have manifested and meditate on the phrase it is done. My dream life is already here even if not in the 3D yet I have already become my imagination and I’m excited to fulfill my desires on the fourth day and I will message you my success story.

Day 3:

Today is my last day and I am already fulfilled. It really is wonderful. This morning I got up at 3 am (Happy Aïdd) and prayed on all the things I am grateful for. I went to sleep and woke up again. And journaled about all the wonderful things I have. My wealth, my beauty, my kind heart, the wonderful celebration in my beautiful house I am having with my family, my wonderful fiancé, mastery of the void state, the millions dollars of income I have flowing in my bank account yearly, my healthsafety and protection from god, all things that will be fulfilled the next time I close my eyes and open it. Then I wrote all my goals for the rest of the year, business plans, school plans, wedding plans, trip plans etc etc. this is a normal thing for me. All I could think is it is done this is my life MashaAllah

Update:

I was not planning into going to the void until after I went to bed. But I took a nap and woke up in the void thank you so much for this wonderful challenge

I woke up from my nap in a room I did not recognize I feared I had died, but it is here. I am not shocked or surprised, I don’t know how when I cried for this to happen for months but I have been fulfilled since the first day of the challenge so thank you dear 🙏

A shortened version of my desires

Living a luxurious life in Dubai

Living with all my family members in a 12 bedroom mansion in Dubai

Many house help who are treated with love and kindness and paid well

Loyal wealthy loving and god fearing handsome fiancé whom my family approve of

Attending zayned university

Hourglass body, and 36 inches of long healthy hair that never gets matted

Misgyony free household

10/10 beauty

Long natural nails that never break

High IQ that is respected

A white phantom rolls-Royce as my car

And a lot more 🙏 thank you to Loa tumblr and god himself. I pray all of this for you kind dearing souls

Another update

Tomorrow we throw a celebration and none of my family knows I did this, it is like we have always been rich and happy when we were poor and torn apart. I decorate and set up with my sisters, my mother is cooking 30 dishes, and my father for once is helping her clean up. He now worships here rather than abuses her. I am already getting many gifts, purses and jewelry I could only see in my dreams. My closet is very large the size of my old apartment 😂😂 I have hundreds of shoes and even more clothes and purses. I am in awe and greatful 🥰

Happy Aïdd😭😭🎉🎉💕 the fact that you got your desires on this wonderful day makes me so happy !!! You honestly did the challenge in more depth than I gave and it worked out so beautifully I am beyond happy for you beautiful anon 😭🫶🫶

#law of assumption #manifesation #void state #manifesting #reality shifting #law of attraction #void success

[fictionalmenmakemecry]

Fuckin' with the Ecosystem- Chapter 4

Character: Carmy Berzatto x Reader

Summary: You decide it was time for a new chapter. You pack up everything in New York and drive back to Chicago with Carmy by your side. Due to the stress you both feel from the move, you're both on edge which leads to a mess you have to deal with.

Warnings: Angst, cursing, fluff

A/n: Chapter 4 is here! The further this goes the more twisty it's gonna get! I'm only getting started. Poor Carmy always has the best of intentions but seems to get caught on the delivery. Thank you for all of the support guys. I really appreciate it. I have a taglist going, let me know if you want to get added!

If you haven't read, here's: Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 and Chapter 3

Enjoy!

As you put the key in your door and walk into your apartment, it hits you that you're starting a new chapter. Once you made the decision to move to Chicago, you rang your landlord, letting him know that you were moving out. He wasn't too pleased to hear about it. You told him that you'd find someone to sublet it for the remaining 3 months you had left on your lease. You knew it wasn't going to be a challenge as New York was continuously dealing with a renting shortage.

The two weeks flew by. You felt like you were always catching up on what needed to get done. But never being able to finish a task completely. You put an ad out for your sublet, and to say people were desperate was an understatement. You had several responses in minutes and multiple viewings arranged. Once you picked the few people who were good to sublet, you handed it over to your landlord, as he had the final approval. Within a day of that, you had an official date to move out, and suddenly, everything felt real. Before this, in your mind, you felt like you could change your decision, and it would have been okay. But now, you don't have an apartment next week, so now you had to move, whether you had wanted to or not.

"Getting cold feet?" Carmy voice spoke out of your phone.

"No, no.. just seeing my things in boxes is... making it real" you looked around seeing your frames leaning against the wall and your possessions all over the place disorganized.

"Your flight is good?" You asked, bring your focus back on the task on hand.

There was a moment of silence.

"Yea, think so. Here, let me send you the link to my flights" Carmy muttered

Your phone vibrated with an email notification labeled as "NY flight".

"Okay... well... I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?" You asked, feeling your stomach flip realizing you'll be seeing him.

Since you've been so busy organizing everything, you forgot the whole point of the actual move. To start a new job in a new city, with great people and a close old friend. The stress was nearly over when it came to closing the chapter in New York, and was replaced that was excitement for Chicago.

"Sure will, don't stand me up." You sensed a smile off of him

You waited at the arrival gate, scanning the bundles of people coming out. Your eyes hopped face to face, until you finally recognized one. He walked up to you with open arms carrying his backpack on one shoulder. He was wearing his wool coat and white shirt combo. Always a classic for him. You gave a quick hug, breathing in his usual smell which was a mixture of cigarettes, deodorant and gum.

Carmy was relieved to see you waiting there. He noticed you before you noticed him. A warm sensation spread across his chest when your eyes landed on him and a smile broke out on your face immediately.

You both hopped on the subway, Carmy telling you everything that happened since you've been gone. He explained how Richie, Fak and Marcus has been busy breaking down the place. While Tina and Ebra have enrolled into a short eight week course in culinary school. Syd has been busy researching new flavors and themes for the restaurant.

"Suga' has been dealin-"

"IRS are being a pain in the ass" You cut him off walking down the street getting closer to your apartment.

"Yeah.. how did you know?" Carmy looked over surprised.

"We've been chatting on the daily. She keeps me in the loop. She's also been helping me find a place in Chicago." You grinned at him pulling out your keys as you came up to building.

"Oh.." He hummed and looked down.

"So, you know everything already. Why didn't you stop me?" He asked, him now feeling out of the loop.

"I like the sound of your voice babes" You mocked, opening the door.

You looked back at Carmy, who followed you into the lobby, giving you a smirk.

You both arrived at your apartment and swung the door open. He followed you in, dropping off his bag at the door.

"I have most of the small things packed away. It's alotta awkward big stuff I'm gonna need help with." You turned around to see Carmy looking around while walking further into your living room.

You felt vulnerable now that he was standing in your safe place. The place you called home for 4 years.

"I know- its not much bu-"

"It's.. its nice. Cosy," he landed his eyes back you, giving a gentle smile.

Your apartment was small and not the most modern. But over the years, you tried your best to make it yours. Your kitchen was a joke. You barely could swing a cat in it. But lucky for you, you worked in a restaurant which mostly kept you fed and you never really cooked anyway.

"That kitchen is an abomination," He stated, pointing at it in shock.

You chuckled knowing he was going to judge your kitchen.

"You wanna know the worst part?" You walked over and grinned.

You leaned over to the stove which was crammed in the corner of the kitchen. You opened the door of the oven. The door stopped 3/4 of the way before hitting the wall in front of it. You glanced over to Carmy who's jaw was open. He raised his arms to his head in dismay.

"What the actual fuck" He uttered, walking away with his head shaking.

With a busy couple of days ahead of you, you started getting errands done. Tomorrow was the final day, and there was still a lot of shit that needed to get sorted. He started breaking down your your bed frame and tables you had.

"Ikea piece of shit" He muttered to himself as he struggled with taking out a screw that was stripped.

"Who the fuck made this bed?" He yelled out to you from the bedroom.

You smiled to yourself, knowing he was going to love the answer.

"Take a guess" you yelled back.

"Dickhead Nick" He spat finally getting the screw loose.

You giggled to yourself hearing the string of curse words Carmy was uttering.

"Finally" He huffed, after half an hour of struggle.

You popped your head around the corner and watched Carmy gather the parts of the frame and put them all together in the corner of the room. The frame was heavy, but Carmy lifted it like it was nothing. You couldn't resist looking at his arms flexed with the movement of each piece. His arms against the tight sleeves of his shirt.

"You okay?" You snapped back to notice Carmy looking over at you, dusting his hands off.

"Yeah- yeah, sorry. I'm just tired," You walked away, feeling yourself blush from the thought of getting caught admiring him.

Carmy went to collect the rental truck as you finished off putting the last few things in boxes. That night, you both slept on the floor with a blanket and pillow. It didn't matter how uncomfortable it was. You were exhausted to the point of passing out.

You woke up with the sounds of your alarm. You picked up your phone to see 5:00 am. You looked over to the sight of Carmy laying on his stomach, his face smooshed into the pillow with his mouth half open. As you sat up, the floor boards creaked, making him stir. He stretched out his arms, yawning. His white shirt tossed beside him.

"Warm?" You rubbed your eyes.

He looked at you with his eyes half open. You flicked your eyes to the white bundle beside him. His eyes followed, and realized what you were talking about.

"Um- yeah. This place is fuckin' boilin' at night," he muttered sleepily, sitting up.

"Yeah, that's the one thing I don't like about this place." Your eyes traveled down to his bare chest. His gold chain resting against his skin. Your dragged your eyes away before he noticed.

You thought back to years ago when he was way more scrawny. He really had grown into his... physique. His shoulders were a lot more toned and built than you remember.

Hold up, you caught yourself. You stopped yourself going down that rabbit hole. It's been awhile since you've gotten any but you and Carmy have never been like that.

He leaned over and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing his hair all over, pushing his arms through.

"So... let's get ready, and pack the final things in the truck, sweep the place, and we should be good to go before traffic gets bad," you commented getting onto your feet and made your way to the bathroom.

"Heard" He mumbled rubbing his eyes.

You both worked your way through the apartment and played Tetris a little with trying to cram as much as possible in the truck.

"I'm tellin' you, if you take that out, you're just going to undo all the work we did last night." You grunted, getting annoyed with the constant struggle of your belongings.

"Lemme try." Carmy snapped back, glaring at you.

He handed you the box that you were both struggling to fit. You were beyond exhausted, and the thought of driving 12 hours put you in a further bad mood.

You watched, annoyed, as Carmy readjusted the lamp that was taking up too much space.

"I know you don't wanna have this in front with us, but you goin' hafta." He took out the tall lamp awkwardly, losing his patience with it. He wiggled it and angled it out. Then, he took the box off of you. He slotted it into the gap that was left behind by the lamp. He slammed the doors and turned to you, a small smile appearing on his face.

"What?" You barked, frowning back at him.

He stared at you for a moment.

"Nothin," he shook his head, the smile still on his face.

If he was honest, he couldn't stay annoyed at you when he looked over and saw how pissed you were, holding your lamp. He thought about how rough you both were . Your hair tied away from your face, and his just a bush on his head. Both sporting bags under your eyes. You standing there holding a lamp angerly, just shifted something inside him. To him, you looked ... cute? He couldn't place the words. He dismissed the thought quickly but with the remnants of the smile left behind. You both had a lot of shit to get through today, and he's thoughts weren't on top of the list.

You entered your old apartment for the last time. Completely empty. The walls looked bare after so long filled with your favorite pictures and posters. You walked through all the rooms and checked the closets to make sure nothing was left behind.

You glanced down the hallway to see Carmy leaning against the wall, playing with the truck keys absent-mindedly. Two months ago, you were minding your business, figuring out your next job in New York. With one phone call, now you're moving to Chicago to work in a non-existent restaurant.

You made your way back to him, and you took one more look before closing the door.

"Ready?" He asked, looking back at you.

You nodded, smiling back at him.

With a long road ahead of you, you decided to take turns driving the truck. Carmy offered first. You didn't know if because he saw how tired you were, or he was just being kind. Twenty minutes into the journey, you were conked out.

One arm on the steering wheel, the other resting on the door, he would glance from time to time over to you. You leaned up against the other side of the truck with your head against the window using your hoodie as a make-shift pillow.

Carmy had a constant knot in his stomach the last week. He felt excited to see the plan that you made actually happen. It really did feel like a new beginning had started. The restaurant being remodeled and you moving to Chicago, it felt real. For once, he was actually feeling hopeful about the future.

Along the journey, you made a few pitstops for bathroom breaks and snacks.

"Where... ar wehh?" Carmy lifted his head feeling the truck coming to a stop outside a gas station.

" I dunno, fuck middle nowhere Pennsylvania," you said before getting out of the car.

"Still? Fuckin' hell. How big is this state?" He groaned, readjusting his head.

You came back with two energy drinks, and you threw him a bag of chips.

"Thanks," he mumbled

"It's the only payment you're getting for helping me move." You smirked, cracking open a can.

You heard him give a light chuckle before putting his head down again.

Once the sun came up, you both felt more awake. It a crisp winter morning. Cold, fresh, but the sun was shining with a clear sky.

You pulled over for another pit stop.

"Huhh" Carmy readjusted in his seat, completely disorientated from his power nap.

"Needa pee" you said restlessly.

"Again?" Carmy complained

"Energy drinks run through me"

The truck came to a halt. You jumped out and raced inside, barely waiting for the automatic doors to open fully before going in.

Carmy sat up in his seat and decided it was his turn to drive. He made his way to the driver side. He thought to himself for a moment before turning on the truck, putting it into drive, and pulled away.

He had no idea what got into him, but he wanted to fuck with you.

He had moved the truck to the other opposite side of the gas station, to the point where you would have to turn around to see it as you walked back to the old parking spot.

He watched the door waiting for you to come out. His hand resting against his mouth, tapping his finger on the steering wheel.

You walked out in the direction where the truck was parked, to see it not there anymore. You swore you parked it right there, took glance around to your left and right.

Were you losing mind?

Did Carmy take off?

Doubtful but it did pop into your mind.

Carmy continued to watch from the driver seat. A sneaky smile emerging on his face, he watches you look around. He could tell you thought you were losing your mind.

He gave the steering wheel a light push, and a short horn blared out of the truck. He saw you whip around from the sound, and a smile popped up on your face.

You went to the truck and got in the passenger side.

"You fucker" you giggled punching him lightly in the arm.

"Gotta keep you on your toes." He chuckled, rubbing this arm where you hit.

"I thought you dipped." You said securing your seat belt.

"Na, I'm not that bad," Carmy pulled out of the gas station.

For the next couple of hours, you chatted about random things, trying to keep you both dying from boredom. The conversation would get interrupted with Carmy's road rage of people cutting him off and traffic building up as you got closer to the cities.

"Why the fuck would Google Maps bring us on this route, it's slammed" He glanced at his phone

"Cause someone wanted to avoid tolls" You rolled your eyes to him.

"You fuckin' think I'm willing going to pay 90 dollars to those bastards?" He lightly hit the steering wheel in frustration.

"Well it would only be half-"

"It's not about the money..." He broke off as you both crawled along the road.

Nine hours into the twelve hour road trip, and both of you were starting to feel it. You were looking rough to begin with, but now you both felt just as rough.

With you behind the steering wheel again, you glanced over and saw him gaze out the window, his head leaned back. You didn't know if he was asleep. The sun was slowly starting to make its way down. The dusky sky was followed by an early dark night.

"Pull over at the next gas station." Carmy spoke up, looking over at you.

"Why?" You checked your rearview mirror and blind spot before turning your blinker on.

"Chicago is a mess when it comes to one ways. It'll be easier if I drive the rest of the way" He explained licking his lips.

You didn't fight him on this. You hated driving in a new city, the stress of the traffic, especially in a truck that was a lot bigger than your old car, you were glad he offered.

You switched sides and felt a ping of sadness that the road trip was near to an end. You were glad that the move was finally over, but wished you appreciated being around Carmy more. You felt the need to cling onto every minute spent with him. The feeling that you got in your stomach, your gut. You haven't felt that in a long time. The peace you had with him when cruising down the highway.

"What's your address?" He asked as you pulled up to a stop at a red light.

You pulled up your email confirming your lease contract on your new apartment. He glanced over, his eyebrows immediately popping up.

"You're fuckin' kidding me, ight?" He scoffed.

"What?" A hint of worry in your voice.

"Could you have picked a rougher neighborhood?" He asked sarcastically.

"I asked Sugar an-"

"Suga hasn't a fuckin' clue. Why didn't you ask me? Or anyone else...." He ridiculed.

"It can't be that bad." You dismissed his attitude, trying to reassure yourself.

There was a moment of silence with the red light turning green.

"Fuck- okay. it's fine. But if any- I mean any shit goes on, you immediately call me or Richie, okay?" He took his eyes off the road staring at you.

"Yea- yes, of course" You nodded pressing your lips in a fine line.

As you traveled through Chicago, you looked through the perspective of it as your new home. You took note of maybe some cafes and shops you wanted to go visit. You started to see more and more neglected buildings as you got closer and closer to your new apartment.

"I didn't have many options." You blurted out.

"With the timeframe I had and what I can afford right now. It was between this place and another, but I would have to wait another week before getting the other place, " you explained, feeling uneasy looking out at the streets.

"W-why didn't you tell me? We could have worked something out? You know I would have fixed you up with somethin'," He said softly.

You looked over and saw his eyes soften. You felt guilt, layered on top of all the negative feelings that were in your stomach right now.

"I didn't want to be in the way. I felt like I was already a burden with taking you away from the restaurant for the last couple of days" You brought your head down not wanting to go down this train of thought.

Carmy brought his hand up to his face and rubbed his forehead. He didn't want to make the situation worse. He wanted to pick his words carefully, feeling your uneasiness beside him.

"Look, the place isn't probably that bad and it's not forever" He gave a small smile trying to comfort you.

"Six months" You whispered feeling completely disheartened by the change in atmosphere in the last couple of moments.

"Yea- that's good. That'll fly by" He smiled again.

But it was too late, his first reaction was the real one and not what you needed. To move to a big city by yourself is hard enough. To do it in the bad part of town is not something you wanted to also deal with.

"What number?" He asked, looking out his side window

"Two thirty," you whispered.

Carmy continued down the street at a slow speed, keeping track of the numbers on the buildings.

"Here" He pointed in front of him pulling over to the curb.

You didn't even want to look. The weight in your stomach was keeping you from looking up. The adrenaline from New York had worn off, leaving you with disappointment and worry.

Carmy hopped out of the truck and was looking at a building that was a little run down, but the entrance was clean, and there were no dodgy people around that he noticed right away. He looked up and down the street to see a corner shop and a laundromat closest. He instinctively took out a cigarette and light it inhaling the smoke. He turned back to the truck window to still see you in the seat, looking down.

"Shit" He muttered to himself knowing he fucked up. He had to say exactly what was on his mind. He couldn't just keep it to himself and wait til' you got here. He mindlessly kicked a pebble on the ground while finishing his cigarette, trying to think what would be the best thing to do. He didn't want to make things worse. You were both on your reserves when it came to energy and patience with each other. He didn't want to stumble at the final hurdle.

After a few minutes, you heard the door being pulled open on your side.

"Hey... Look, I'm sorry... this is a really nice building from what I can see..." He braced his arm on the door jam.

"You're just sayin-"

"I'm not... I'm really not. I'll promise to tell you if your apartment looks like a shithole when we go see it"

You looked up to see his dead serious face break into a smile. You felt a smile creep up on your face even though you didn't want it to.

"C'mon" He nodded up, bringing his hand out for you to grab.

He helped you down off the truck, and you went inside with him right behind.

As you went to the building managers office, he walked around feeling out the place. He walked to the mailing room, which was a mess with piles of neglected mail from past tenants.

The place overall smelt like stale bleach. It was dated and worn, but it was clean. He was grateful for that.

"Got it"

He noticed how quiet you were. He would looked over and you give him a weak smile. But deep inside he knew you weren't okay. He wanted to hug you and hold you. He never had the intension to hurt you and he was pissed off with himself that he did.

You made your way to the fourth floor and made a wrong turn on the hallway before turning back.

"Here it is, 46C," you hummed, sticking the key in the hole.

With the door swinging open, you both walked in. The layout was close to your old apartment. The door opened to the living room with a hallway to your left where the kitchen and bedroom lead.

You walked into the living room where blank walls faced you with two windows looking out to the street below.

"Bathroom isn't bad" you heard Carmy call out further in the apartment.

You walked over to see him sitting on the toilet lid.

"I see you're giving it a test ride," you chuckled.

"Someone has to." He shrugged jokingly.

Him seeing you chuckle, even if it was a light one made him feel somewhat better than he didn't completely wreck the evening.

You turned around to see the bedroom directly across. It could comfortably fit a queen bed, which was a relief. From the pictures, you couldn't tell if the bed would be cramped in it.

"So, I was thinking the bed would be here?" You whipped around, spreading your arms, imitating the size of the bed.

"In the middle?" Carmy asked walking in behind.

You nodded, turning around to face the wall.

"Yeah... I think that would work," you grinned seeing the potential in this room.

You continued to imagine how the rest of your belongings would fit in your new bedroom.

"Let's get started. There's a lot to move still," he made his way out of the room.

The curse words that were uttered from both of you as you awkwardly moved the big pieces of furniture first. It was a close call when it came to the mattress fitting in the elevator. Carmy was adamant that it was going to fit.

"No way in fuckin' hell was I gonna drag this shit up four floors." He gave out as he was crushed against the elevator holding the mattress.

Both of your faces were flushed red and sweat gleaming from the heavy lifting.

Carmy and you struggled as you dragged the plastic covered mattress down the hall to your apartment. It was the last of the big pieces with mostly boxes left to carry.

Another hour, and the truck was finally empty. You took your phone out of your pocket to check the time. Eight o clock shined back at you.

"Damn, getting pretty late" You huffed, pushing the stray hairs from your face.

"I'll return the truck tomorrow," you continued watching Carmy close the back doors of the truck.

You stood there looking at each other for a beat.

"I better head home," Carmy said, taking a few steps back.

"What? No- I owe you dinner. It's the least I could do", you crossed your arms, feeling the cold around you.

"You sure?" He checked, with his head down looking up through his lids.

With Chinese on your lap, you looked across to see Carmy lean up against one of your many boxes with his legs stretched out in front of him on the floor.

"You're right, it's pretty good," you hummed, enjoying the burst of flavor in your mouth.

Carmy nodded along, tucking into this food eagerly.

The apartment was mostly quiet with the odd random distant yell from outside, you presumed to be crackheads.

"I know you won't believe me, but I really do like this place" He looked up around your living room.

"The location is shit, but..."

"I know, but this place has potential." You smiled, finishing off his sentence.

"Yeah," He said in a soft tone, turning up the corners of his mouth.

His eyes lingered on yours for a moment. You traveled your eyes down his neck, chest, and down his arms.

You would be lying to yourself if you didn't notice his arms when he helped your lift heavy boxes. He refused to let you lift anything that he thought you might struggle with. He was considerate. Always thinking about you in a way that no one else would. Your friendship meant so much to you. In a moment like this, you felt that you might need his friendship a lot more than he might need yours.

Here you are, in Chicago. Working with one of your closest friends. Nothing else is here, only him. The vulnerability you felt in that moment, developed fear that you hadn't felt before.

"I can't believe you're actually here" Carmy spoke out, breaking your swirling thoughts.

"I know, it's just hitting me too," you said in a dissociated daze.

His eyebrows furrowed for a brief moment, wondering what you were thinking. Were you regretting your decision?

"I think you'll like Chicago," He said positively, keeping his eyes on you.

"Mhmmm," you murmured, your eyes glazed over and your mind in another world of your own.

"Y-you're not regretting your de-"

You snapped out of your trance and glanced over to Carmy to see his face covered in concern.

"No- no, no." You shook your head and smiled reassuringly.

He played with the food left over on his lap.

"Well... um.. you know I'm here, right?" He questioned.

"I know," you murmured, bringing your head down.

"I'm not goin' anywhere." He continued, leaning forward, trying to meet your eye line.

There was this sadness that you couldn't shake since getting here. You could feel it deep in your stomach. Was it anxiety? That reality has finally hit you in the face? The excitement that you felt earlier wasn't there and it worried you even more.

Carmy knew there was something up. You weren't present since you've arrived. It was a long few days for both of you, and it could have been exhaustion, but he didn't want to leave you alone. He felt guilty just walking away, especially when something was up.

You kept your head down, not wanting to make eye contact with him. You were afraid that if you did, you would completely break down and cry.

A moment later, you just heard him shuffle. You felt a warm hand on top of yours. You saw inked fingers grasp yours and a body of warmth wrapping you in a hug.

You couldn't hold back. You felt your tears spill over. You turned into his chest and buried your face into his white t-shirt.

"It's okay... you'll be okay. " He hummed and pressed you closer to him.

You sat there for a couple of moments. No other words were spoken. His embrace eased the anxiety that you were feeling. You had no idea what came over you. This was not the feeling you were expecting when first moving in.

You eventually pulled away, wiping your puffy eyes. Your face was red hot from all the crying.

"I-I'm sorry." You forced a smile on your face.

He looked at you with a comforting smile, his blue eyes flickering between yours.

"Don't be." He whispered, his arm still wrapped around you.

"I'm.... just glad to be here for you." His thumb caressed the back of your hand.

Both of you sat in your new apartment floor in between several boxes scattered. The apartment was cold and bare, but Carmy was radiating heat. You leaned into him with your legs against each other. You looked away from his kind blue eyes and sniffled. You wanted to savor this moment. The peace you felt with him.

Your soft hand under his rough fingertips made him realise that he would be happy staying like this all night. If you wanted him there, he wouldn't budge. His thoughts carried on from what your hand felt like to what maybe your lips would feel like. He could only imagine the tenderness he would feel against his.

What the hell is wrong with you?

She needs you. Don't fuck this up.

You eventually looked up at him again. Your eyes gazed at his beautiful messy hair, his fatigue blue eyes, and... his lips.

You went back to his eyes to catch him looking down at your lips. Your breath caught in your throat. Both of your eyes met in that second. Your faces inches away from each other.

Both of you scared to lean in. Both of you wanted it more than anything.

His rough fingertips grazing your cheek so lightly.

In that moment, you realized what you were risking. Did you really want to go down the same path you went down before? You move for a boy, fall for a boy... get hurt by a boy.

Carmy was all you got right now. You didn't want to risk anything that would make you lose that. As much you wanted to kiss him and give into every urge you had, the sting of your previous mistake was still there in the back of you mind. In this moment, you needed to take a step back before you did something you might regret.

You dropped your head not wanting to look into his eyes with what you were going to say next.

"Carmy...I-I can't," your voice barely audible.

"Fuck, I'm sorry- I don't..." He fumbled.

"I just... I've been here before. I can't make the same mistake,"

Carmy pulled away from you completely. His hands left yours, you felt the absence of heat immediately after he pulled away.

"I-I fucked up, I'm sorry" He shuffled to his feet.

"It's not that..." You tried to get words out, but before you knew it, Carmy had grabbed his jacket and was on his way out.

"Carmen," you sternly called out, getting up from the floor.

But the door was already shut. Your gut was twisting back and forth. You were so dazed on what just happened. It was too fast for you to even digest. You stood there for several moments trying to understand what was going on.

The last thing you wanted to do was hurt him. You felt your stomach churn realizing that you might have destroyed one of your closest friendships. You wanted him, you wanted to explain how you felt. You wanted him to convince you that you weren't making a mistake.

The deep feeling of anxiety in your stomach had emerged again, only this time much worse. As tears rolled down your face, you barely had the energy or will to tear the plastic wrapping off your mattress and root in the box, that was labeled 'bedding', to get a pillow and blanket. You let your body fall back on the mattress and instantly closed your eyes. This was suppose to be a new beginning in a new city. That clearly wasn't happening now that you've hurt one of the only people who you were close to in this city. The sirens in distance helped you phase into a deep sleep. Fatigue finally taking over your body. You didn't have any energy left to do anything else.

Carmy got back to his apartment, his stomach in knots. repeating the last moment he had with you. Remembering the pounding in his heart when looking into your eyes. Then, the sensation morphing into a sharp pain when you said his name in a negative tone.

He couldn't stop thinking about it over and over. He didn't even remember walking home. After you said his name, everything turned into a blur. The tone in your voice made him feel ashamed of himself. Were you disappointed in him as a friend when you needed him most? That you thought he was trying to take advantage of you at your most vulnerable? All these thoughts were whizzing around in his brain. His rational thoughts were no longer pushing through.

Should he have stayed to explain himself? Explain what he felt for you was something real that he's never had before. It's the surest thing that he has in his life right now, his feelings for you.

The last few days his thoughts made it plainly obvious that he wants to be more than friends. He was able to admire you when he usually couldn't. The everyday you. The you that was sleeping, eating, just living. He caught himself smiling to himself multiple times for no real reason. The only difference was, he was around you.

He kicked his shoes in the corner, dropping his jacket on the ground before dropping back on the couch. To say he was deflated was an understatement. The thought of seeing you tomorrow would usually make his pulse speedup but now, he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach.

He went through all the awful scenarios in his head. Were you going to ignore him? Or tell him to fuck off? Or tell him that you only ever saw him as a friend? Nothing else.

The last one drove a lump in his throat. He knew he wasn't going to get much sleep tonight. He didn't even care if he didn't. The only thing he wanted now was tomorrow to go by as fast and painlessly as possible.

Chapter 5

Masterlist of other fics

Taglist: wabi-sabi1090

#fanfic #fluff #smut #fanfiction #love #carmy berzatto #carmy the bear #the bear #carmy x reader #chicago #the bear hulu #the bear fx #carmen berzatto fluff #carmy berzatto fluff #carmy berzatto x reader #carmy berzatto x you #carmen berzatto x you #carmen berzatto #carmen berzatto x reader #fuckin with the ecosystem #jeremy allen white

[surftrips]

COOL FOR THE SUMMER

OBX WRITING WEEK DAY 1 — AU W/ JJ MAYBANK 

word count: 1502

summary: in which JJ and Y/N are working together as camp counselors for the summer, cut off from the rest of the world for eight weeks straight. 

a/n: this was super fun to write, i'd love to write more blurbs for them because i think a summer camp setting is so cute haha. welcome to day 1 of obx writing week, make sure to support all the other authors under the tag! :)

“Ughhhh,” Y/N groaned. She was in desperate need of a job for the summer. None of the internships she applied to had gotten back to her, so she was left to scour the internet for entry-level positions, when finally she stumbled upon something promising, 

Hiring camp counselors! $16/hour, room and board included. Provide high-quality educational and recreational opportunities and enjoyable experiences for camp participants. No experience needed. CPR-certification preferred. 

She had spent a summer in her junior year of high school as a lifeguard, but she wasn’t the biggest fan of the outdoors. And from what she could tell, this position would require her to be outside a lot. But what choice did she have? It was either this, or be unemployed and broke for four months. She sighed and uploaded her resume without much thought. 

Exactly one week later, she received a call from an unfamiliar number in North Carolina. She almost didn’t pick it up, but she quickly realized the camp position was located on the Outer Banks. 

“Hello? Is this Y/N Y/L/N?” a faraway voice asked. 

“Yes, this is her.”

“Hey, Y/N! This is Lucas, I’m calling from Camp Cedar Brook. We saw your application for the counselor position and would love to offer you the position! Are you still interested?”

“Oh, of course! Thank you!” she said. 

“Great! We’ll email you the onboarding details this week, but welcome to the team! It’s going to be a great summer!” Lucas said excitedly. 

Y/N hung up the phone, a little less excited now that the reality of working at a summer camp was setting in. Being in charge of little kids. Having limited phone access. Cut off from the rest of the world. Working outdoors in the scorching Carolina sun. Just eight weeks of this, she sighed. 

“Need some help with that?” a blonde boy asked her as she tried to gracefully carry her two suitcases up the creaky wooden steps to her cabin. 

“No, thanks,” she was quick to dismiss him. The last thing she needed was a knight in shining armor, or rather, a muscle tee and cargo shorts. 

“Hey, challenge by choice right?” 

“What?” 

“Challenge by choice,” he repeated. “Something the counselors here say to the kids. Are you new?” 

“Yeah, is it that obvious?” 

“Well, considering you’re trying to lug up two suitcases at once into the wrong cabin, yeah, it kind of is.” 

Y/N quickly glanced up at the sign above the door. Shit, it was the wrong cabin. Not off to a great start.

“Can I help you now?” the boy asked.

She gave in, “Yeah, sure, fine.” 

“I’m JJ, by the way.” 

“Y/N.” 

“Y/N, that’s a pretty name.” 

“Okay, JJ, can you please just help me carry this to the right cabin?” 

After settling down in the right cabin and unpacking, Y/N finally had a chance to catch her breath. She pulled out the itinerary for the next day and audibly groaned. The day was packed with activities: ziplining, archery, climbing wall, and hiking. But it wasn’t all the outdoor happenings that caused her to groan, it was the fact that the returning counselors were being paired with up a new one as their “mentee.” And luck behold it, she had gotten JJ. 

She crashed down onto her bed, mentally preparing herself to deal with him tomorrow. 

When she woke, it wasn’t to the sound of her usual alarm, but the jarring blow of an airhorn which had to have been right outside her window. 

Y/N pulled herself out of bed, tousled hair and all, to see who had interrupted her precious sleep. Pulling the thin curtains aside, she saw nothing but the glaring sun before her eyes adjusted to the blonde boy on her front steps. 

“How are you literally everywhere all the time?” she said, opening her door. 

“Good morning, gorgeous!” JJ turned around, “Oh, we’ll work on that last part.” 

Offended, Y/N quickly adjusted her hair. 

“I’m just kidding!” he said. “But to answer your initial question, that’s literally in my job description.” 

“To be super annoying and ignore my personal space?” 

“Princess, it’s a summer camp. There is no such thing as that here.” 

“Okay, don’t call me that. And second, why are you up so early? I thought we weren’t supposed to meet until 11 am.” 

“It’s 10 am,” he said matter-of-factly. 

“Yes, and?” 

“Won’t it take you like an hour to get ready?”

He was right. She must’ve slept through her original 9 am alarm or put it on snooze while half-awake. She was going to be late if she didn’t start getting ready right now. 

Without saying anything, she slammed the door shut and proceeded to put herself together. JJ smirked on the other side of the door, knowing that he had won this round. 

The first activity of the day was archery, something Y/N happened to be terrible at. Her Hunger Games obsession in middle school was unfortunately not enough for her to enroll in archery lessons. 

“Okay, so what you’re gonna want to do is line yourself up with the target,” JJ was explaining. 

“Got it, now what?”

“Alright, now place your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your back straight.”

Y/N was losing confidence in herself. “I look ridiculous.” 

“No, you don’t. Come on, now point your bow down and put the arrow in the string.” 

“Like this?”

“Yes, perfect! Now use three fingers to lightly hold the arrow away from the string. Then you’re gonna point toward the target again.” 

Y/N was getting more nervous. What if she missed terribly and hit someone? She had already embarrassed herself several times in front of the boy and didn’t need another reason to be made fun of. 

“Pull the string back, aim, and release,” JJ said, snapping her out of her thoughts. 

Quickly, she did just that. And she hit it. 

Granted, not the center of the target, but at least she was on the board. 

“There you go! Not bad for your first try!” JJ put his hand up for a high five, which Y/N gave into. “Let’s practice that a few more times then you can teach the kids.”

“Teach the kids?” 

“Yeah, did you forget you’re a counselor?” 

“No, I just thought I would get more time to learn, that’s all.” 

“Listen, if you want private lessons I’ll be happy to provide that for you, but for now, this is all the practice you’re gonna get.” 

Y/N groaned at his comment, lightly pushing him away. She felt her hand lingering on his chest for a moment, and his heartbeat picking up. 

“Ahem,” JJ cleared his throat, pulling them both out of their heads. 

“Sorry about that.” 

“Don’t be, let’s just get back to work.” 

Y/N and JJ spent the remainder of the hour lining up shots and practicing. She was getting significantly better, considering she had barely even picked up a bow and arrow prior to this. JJ hit the center nearly every time, but Y/N was slowly proving to be a match for him.

By the time the kids showed up, Y/N was able to guide them on her own and most of her campers were able to hit the target, or get very close. They even split themselves into two teams and made it a competition to see who would get the most points. JJ won, but it was a really close game. 

Later that night, Y/N found herself sitting by the campfire next to JJ, who had visibly mellowed out since the morning. His high energy was too much for her at 10 am, but she could get used to this calm JJ. 

“So, how was your first day?” he asked, nudging her shoulder with his own. 

“Honestly, Maybank. Not that bad.” 

“Maybank? Oh, we’re on a last name basis now, Y/L/N?” 

“I guess we are, I think it’s more professional, don’t you?” she smiled. 

“Who said I want to keep this relationship professional?” 

“Who said anything about a relationship?” 

“I don’t know, your hand on my chest earlier didn’t mean anything?”

Y/N blushed, not expecting him to bring it up again so soon. 

“That’s what I thought,” he smirked when she didn’t respond. 

She went to push him away again, but for fear that they would end up in the same situation as this morning, she held back. Instead, she said, “It’s not as bad here as I thought it would be.” 

“Of course not, I’m here.” 

“Ughh, how many more weeks of this?” 

“Just 55 more days, princess.” 

She allowed him to lean into her side as they sat and watched the flames sparking in front of them. This was going to be a long summer.

#obxweek23 #jj maybank #jj maybank x reader #jj x reader #jj maybank imagine #obx #outer banks #obx x reader #obx imagine #rudy pankow #rudy pankow x reader #jj maybank x you

[alreadyblondenow]

Who’s gonna drive you home? (Part 1.)

Pairing: Racer Jaehyun x female reader x Racer Taeyong

Genre: Love triangle, racer au, fluff, smut, angst

WARNINGS: Unprotected sex which is not advisable in real life situation, mentions of alcohol, one night stand, cursing, mentions of being fuck buddies, kind of bathtub sex, kind of and almost kitchen sex, kind of illegal racing, betting. NOT PROOFREAD, SORRY.

NOTE: THIS STORY IS PURE FICTION AND A 100% MADE UP FROM MY MIND. Inspired by Jackson Wang’s ‘Who’s gonna drive you home’ song. Oh gosh i love that song :(( Part 1 is the chillest part of the story HAHAHA part 2 is crazy. Decided to put it in half because the story was so long. Pls enjoy, let me know what you feel through ask!

———————

“You have to win today’s race dude, the car prize is absolutely gorgeous. Plus, we all can’t afford to loose any more money. The shop is—“

“On the line. I know. I heard Taeyong’s going to race tonight? How come I don’t see him around?” Jaehyun said while searching through the crowd. It was a normal race night where the crowd was wild, cars are all lined up looking pretty and such, they’re all just waiting for the number one contender. Lee Taeyong. The unbeatable racer, Jaehyun’s number one enemy in the streets.

“Alright people lets get down to business. Money and bets down!!!” Mark announced through his Megaphone excitedly.

“Taeyong hyung will be here in a minute” Mark continues and quickly glanced at Taeyong’s trailer.

“Five thousand cash and a date with Johnny’s girl” Jungwoo said which made everyone “oooh” in excitement, but Johnny is already furious about it.

“That’s not fair— dude, my girlfriend is not a prize” Johnny exclaimed, if Haechan wasn’t there to stop him, he will be punching Jungwoo this instance.

“Well Johnny hyung, rules are rules. We can only hope that Jungwoo looses— Jaehyun hyung?”

“Ten thousand cash and Taeyong’s car”

And the moment Jaehyun dropped those words, the area went quiet because what Jaehyun just said is a total shot to the moon. Impossible but everyone knew that Jaehyun is a good driver too, and if Taeyong looses his car his reputation as the greatest racer is on the line.

“Jeong Jaehyun, you know how to challenge me” Taeyong said out of nowhere, “Call. You want my car, I want your shop”

And in an instant, the tension became even more extreme for Jaehyun did not see this coming. He looked at his friends with worried eyes, seeing them shook their heads for neither one of them don’t want to loose the shop. But for Jaehyun, it’s all or nothing.

“Deal. Let’s race”

You on the other hand, is freezing at the back of Jisung’s car, waiting for the perfect timing to tell him to pull over.

“Aaah as expected, Taeyongie hyung is leading the race again” he said as cars passed by in front of you and Jisung now, seeing Taeyong’s car first.

“You never watch him race, how come?” The kid curiously asked you.

“I always wanted to watch him. But he kept our relationship secret, so I’m not allowed—“

“But you’re here tonight? Why?” He cut you off. What’s up with this kid you thought.

“And it’s my biggest mistake Ji, he broke up with me tonight because he told me—“ And in the middle of your sentence, it reminded you how Taeyong broke up with you earlier. Hot tears started falling uncontrollably, and you can feel your heart breaking into half… again.

Earlier that night

You were excited to surprise Taeyong tonight even though he told you don’t come to the race, but you haven’t seen him for days and you thought he was going to be happy and excited too once he sees you… but it turned out to be a disaster.

“You’re being childish, can’t you wait until tomorrow?” Taeyong asked in an angry tone.

“What is your problem—“ he’s never been like this.

“You. You are my problem. You have to leave” he was gently pushing you away, his arm is around your waist but still you don’t like what’s happening right now.

“Are you hiding something from me? Why do you keep me out from your world Tae? Were dating for months already. Do you have someone else? That’s why you don’t want me to go to your races?”

“Again. You’re being childish— I can’t deal with this tonight, the race is about to begin. Jisung will drive you home” he said with angry eyes, but before he leaves he tried to kiss you but you refused.

“I am here Tae. We have a problem to fix and your damn race is more important?” You scoffed, “maybe it’s better if we stopped this so I could never bother you again like this” you didn’t mean it, and for a second you really thought that he will stop you from breaking up.

But he didn’t.

“If that’s what you want. Do whatever you want. I honestly think that our relationship is already too much for me,”

And he left without saying another word. Just like that.

Present time

Jaehyun lost the race and at the same time he lost his shop and all his friends are mad at him for putting the shop on the line. He kept on thinking about his mistakes tonight while downing shots in front if him.

If only he was fast enough. Faster than Taeyong, he thought.

If only he could bet on something else other than his shop…. But he got nothing.

“Is this seat taken?” You disturbed him,

“N-no, I’m alone” Jaehyun said with surprise, stuttering because he was strucked by your beauty. The whole night that you were drinking beside him, he was secretly watching you with the thoughts of maybe driving you home because you seem so drunk already.

“If you got something to say, just say it” you said out of nowhere, it was obvious that he was watching you. And if you’re being honest it’s not a bad idea to start a conversation with someone so handsome… even after getting your heart broken tonight. What will Taeyong do? Surely talking to this handsome guy is not a crime.

But given that you’re both drunk and not to mention the sexual tension was quick to arise. Jaehyun leaned forward and drank your lost shot. “I think you should come with me, I’ll drive you home” he said with all the courage he has left.

He lost his friends, the race, and his shop. Of course he thinks he deserves a decent fuck tonight. That is… if you want it too, he thought to himself.

“How about you take me to your place?” You said, as if you were reading his mind.

Of course the two of you didn’t waste more time in that cheap bar, you and Jaehyun went to his place fucked the whole night until you say ‘stop’. He fucked you on the dining table, his bedroom floor, and of course his bed. He was good, big, gentle but can be rough if you ask him to. He was the perfect fuck you needed tonight.

“Fuck— please. I’m so weak” you pleaded as you feel your knees give up while he continues to fuck you from behind, your left hand was reaching behind to stop his lustful thrusts, but the man wrapped both his arms around your body and started touching your boobs… making you want more of it but you just can’t fucking handle it anymore.

“Give Taeyongie one last round” the man behind you whispers and started licking your neck and placed wet kisses afterwards.

Wait. Taeyong?

You looked behind you and saw Taeyong’s lustful eyes. Smiling weakly at you handsomely. It was one of those looks where you feel so loved and protected by this man. And it just makes you fall even harder for him. You shut your eyes gave in to his touch, letting him fuck you for another round. In fact, you were asking for more and moaning so beautifully to let him know that you love what we was doing to your body.

But by the time you opened your eyes, it was all just a dream. And then your broken heart greets you ‘good morning, you lost Taeyong last night’

“You’re awake” Jaehyun brought you to reality and reached for his thick blanket to cover you up. His beautiful face was the first thing you saw, realizing what you’ve done together last night but you didn’t have any regrets. So the good fuck from your dream was because of this man beside you.

A one night stand. That’s all.

After you cleaned yourself up and made yourself decent, you sat at the edge of his bed while he was looking so hot shirtless in bed. His face was lit up, pink and beautiful with those deep cute dinples. Beautiful and handsome at the same time. You couldn’t believe this man fucked you senseless last night.

“Please tell me you remember giving me your phone number last night” he started, teasing you in some way.

“Yeah I remember and that’s for emergency use only” you flirted back.

“I hope the man who left you regrets every second of it” Jaehyun said. You don’t remember telling him about that part but truth is Jaehyun dried your tears last night while you were sleeping.

——-

Days after the breakup you haven’t heard anything from Taeyong. But little did you know, the man was having a hard time, now that you’re gone. If only he could tell you the real reason why he broke up with you… but he can’t.

“Jungwoo hyung was bold last night, asking a date with Johnny hyung’s girl” Mark informed Taeyong.

“Good thing I won then,” Taeyong said without emotions while continuing to repair the damages from the previous race. “That’s why I couldn’t risk the world knowing about me & y/n— she couldn’t understand that I’m protecting her from my enemies…”

“But hyung, you love her—“

“And I will regret for the rest of my life if something bad happens to her because of my doing. This is for the better”

“Anyway, about Jaehyun hyung’s shop… should we visit him now?” Mark changed the subject,

“I just broke up with Y/n, Mark. I can’t handle business yet. I’ll talk to him soon… also dont you think what I did was too much? His shop was all he has, I’ll make another deal and talk to him”

“G-got it… I’m sorry about Y/n, hyung”

And when Mark left Taeyong to be alone, your ex-boyfriend can’t focus with almost everything he tries to do because he misses you. On days like this, you’re usually with him, watching his fix his car while he tells you how he won last night. He misses your curiosity, the randomness of every question you ask him. In other words, this is him regretting that he broke up with you.

But hearing about Jungwoo and Johnny’s bet last night made him think that he did the right thing even though you’re both hurting.

———

While Jaehyun was cleaning his shop and preparing it to its new owner, he couldn’t let go of the stress and heartbreak that’s happening right now. It has been days since he lost from the race, but Taeyong haven’t contacted him yet. Nonetheless, he was still struggling to let go.

The shop gave him friends, which are all mad at him right now and he’s too ashamed to call them. This place was their safe space, an escape from reality. Not to mention, everyone in town loved this car shop and they had loyal customers.

“Hello? Anybody here?” you knock on the car shop’s locked door… but the sign says ‘open’. But just before you leave the place, someone from the inside opened the door which made you both froze.

“Uh— well… uhh… this is a surprise. Do you work here?” You asked Jaehyun. Honestly, you’re not sure if that’s his name.

“I sorta… ehem… own this car shop— what do you have here? Looks heavy—“ he then carried the box that you were carrying and invited you in. It was clear as the day, that the place was indeed closed and he was just too busy flipping the sign.

“The shop is closed because?” You started, and your question gave hurt Jaehyun.

“Lost a bet. Long story short— well, well, what do you have here? These car parts are expensive… these yours? You drive?”

“Ex’s. Long story short” Jaehyun nodded and immediately got the message. You were trying to forget your ex. Good for you, you thought.

“Well, if were being fair right now… these aren’t technically yours… so,” he teased you, just making you smile. “How about, I take you to dinner in exchange for these good car parts?”

You got to admit, the man is smooth. It wasn’t a bad idea after all. He was a good distraction. “Okay, tonight then? Where are you taking me?” You smiled and leaned forward. Oh you missed his smell.

“Somewhere breathtaking,” he smiled back and placed a kiss on your cheek. He shouldn’t have done that, but he can’t help it he thought.

The sudden sweetness made your heart flutter, you didn’t expect that he’s capable of being this sweet. “What a gentleman,” you giggled, “pick me up at 7?”

But Jaehyun arrived earlier than expected, he was that excited to see you. Maybe, this wasn’t out of desperation to forget his current situation and problems. Maybe, he really wanted this to work. And change his life.

Little did he know, you were actually trouble.

As you were looking through the window to see Jaehyun outside, you suddenly remembered how Taeyong took you out on your first date. Back then you didn’t know anything about his world, you just knew that Taeyong is so handsome and you scored a kind hearted man. That night, Taeyong brought you to a fancy restaurant and ate steak, drank expensive wine and had a great time in his bed until the sun comes out.

Now you’re just not sure anymore if going with Jaehyun is the right thing to do. It’s not right to see someone who’s nice like him, while you’re still hurting from your past. So tonight, you decided to be honest with Jaehyun. You will finally tell him about Taeyong, and that you are not emotionally ready for him. Yet.

“You race? Guess I was too drunk to realize that your car was fast, during our first night” you gave him a hug before you get in his car. You noticed how his car was like Taeyong’s. Shiny and expensive.

“I wasn’t driving fast that night. Figured I might startle you— do you know something about racing?”

First of all, you wanted to say that it will not bother you even if he goes fast because Taeyong always drives fast. Second, you didn’t really want to talk about Taeyong now, you’re saving it for later and admit that you know a few things about racing.

“I can drive, let’s just leave it to that,” you smiled and put your seatbelt on, “you can drive fast, I don’t mind” you added. He just smiled his usual handsome, dimpled smile. “So where’s this breathtaking place?”

“Oh you’ll see” he smiled again, and started driving. “I should drive safe. Especially that you’re with me. That will put me at ease”

The date went on beautifully. You learned a lot of things about Jaehyun, while he gets nothing from you. Yet. But Jaehyun wasn’t in a rush, he was simply happy and thankful that you’re okay with spending time with him. Yes, he may be handsome and all the girls wanted to date him, but he never really gave them attention. But you, you have his attention. And even though he was nervous and unprepared, he liked this feeling that you’re giving to him.

“Did you enjoyed the dinner?” Jaehyun asked, keeping his eyes on the road while peaking from time to time on your side, just so he could look at you more. “Sorry if you’re expecting something grand for tonight— it’s my first time taking someone out on a proper date—“

“Jaehyun, I have to be honest with you— I’m not yet ready for this, I literally got my heart broken the night we first met. And I’m secretly, still wishing that he will come back, that T—“

“Don’t do this tonight. I understand. I really do,” Jaehyun let out a heavy breath before stopping the car just so you two can talk better. “Just let me try, let things flow and if we don’t work out then at least I didn’t let the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met go without taking the chance”

And again, the sweet words got into you. “And besides, you need a distraction” he added and showed you a very handsome smile.

————

When you let Jaehyun enter your life, you didn’t expect great changes in your life. He was supposed to be a distraction from your heartbreak, a guy who’s willing to make you cum and warm your bed almost every night. But the more Jaehyun stay in your life…. The more you want him to stay for a little longer.

It started when mornings felt light because you knew he stayed and his face will be the first thing that you will see in the morning.

When his kisses felt different and you love receiving them especially when you haven’t seen him for hours or days, and you just miss him so much. He would kiss you in public, in front of the people he knew, wrap his arms around you and whisper, “You don’t know what you do to me when were apart” and spread kisses on your face.

The day you admitted to yourself that you love him, you knew that you’re with the right person. And that you’ve completely understood what love really means. Although Jaehyun never told you he loves you, but you can see it as clear as the day.

When he takes you out on a cheap date because he wanted to do something special for you.

When he goes an extra mile with making you home cooked meals.

When you just kiss lovingly before you two go to sleep.

Jaehyun knew he won already. And that his love is already accepted, he’s just waiting for you to tell him.

“I’m almost done, where are you?” Jaehyun spoke through the phone. He was still in the car shop, he works there now. He’s not the boss, but at least he can still be with the place. “I’ll be home soon, let’s have dinner together, I haven’t had lunch. Cook for me?”

“Mhmm. I’m already cooking right now, so you need to be home fast— you know you can move in with me, I’d love to share my place with you” you said which made Jaehyun giggle. You hate how he can’t take care of himself when you’re not around.

“We’ve talked about this,” he giggled again, “I’m saving up for our place. I don’t want to be a freeloader, and besides it’s good investment for our future” he teased you, you knew he was talking about marriage.

When Jaehyun was on his way home, he was so excited to see you that he was going too fast that other cars were pissed at him. And that gave him an idea. If he can go back to racing again, he can save up fast and he could ask you to marry him. Jaehyun smiled at that thought, but he immediately remembered that it’s a life he already left because, well, now that he has you… he has someone to lose now.

“Wow you’re dirty…” you greet him the moment he enters your place. His white shirt was full of grease, hands were dirty too, but he was still handsome as ever. “How many satisfied customers today?” You kissed him on the lips as part of your way of saying ‘welcome home, you can relax now’.

“A lot” he smiled back and pulled you closer. “How about we shower together?” He suggested with a smirk.

“How about I give you a bath and clean you up? And then we’ll have dinner. Thought you were hungry?” You tug his shirt and push him towards your bathroom and prepared a warm bath for him.

He was quiet while you were washing his hair, careful not to put shampoo in his eyes. His right arm is resting on the tub, while the other one is reaching for yours as if you’re going somewhere any minute. You wonder what’s on his mind.

Of course it was the racing. Jaehyun was thinking long and hard about it, over and over again. He never told you about the reason why he stopped from racing, he never told you the reason why he lost his shop. You just know that he is not in trouble, and that he’s genuine as he can be. And that’s one of the many reason why you love him.

“There all clean,” you sat beside the tub, playing with his clean fingers under the warm water. He was still quiet while his eyes were glued in the ceiling.

To catch his attention, your hand traveled through his hard rocked abs and touched it softly. No reaction.

You then reach for his hand, and licked his point finger and put it in your mouth that’s how you got his attention and went hard in an instant. With no other words, he attacked you with kisses and helped you remove your damped clothes. Joining Jaehyun in the tub and sitting on top of him. “What were you thinking?” You moaned out when you feel Jaehyun suck you boobs and knead them, pinching the other with his wet hand, making you real sensitive.

“You. Are you tired?” He asked, while putting shower gel on your body and applying it gently in your skin. Making it slippery for his liking, kneading your boobs, your ass cheeks and gently massaging your back.

“Do you want me to give you a massage tonight?” You asked, stroking his hard cock under the water while he was rinsing you with the shower head.

“I want to make love like crazy tonight” he said which made you both giggle.

You don’t know what’s up with Jaehyun tonight, but you can feel that he’s longing for you almost like he was saying through his kisses that he’s afraid of losing you. He was pulling you closer, whispering sweet things, and the things he want to do to you tonight…. Starting with flipping your body on the mattress, face flat on the clean and fluffy sheets but your ass is up in the air. You shivered when Jaehyun blew cold air on your wet slit. Running his fingers up and down until you’re wet and good before he licks you softly.

It’s his hand placed on your hip, soothing you whenever he feels like you’re giving up.

But he wanted more. And so he spreads you ass cheeks, licked your entrance oh so fucking slowly that your legs couldn’t take the tingling. Earned a light smack in the ass, before Jaehyun continues to lick you from behind. Enjoying how your ass would shake in front of his face. And the moment you came, Jaehyun was kissing your ass cheeks, teasing you further and making you giggle. He made his way beside you, checking if you’re still awake.

“Can you stop playing already?” You said with a small laugh. He rolled on top of you, spreading kisses on your face and neck while he made you swing your arms around him. Oh he loves being close to you like this.

You feel his hand sooth your left leg before he spreads it and line his cock. You moan at feeling of the tip of his cock teasing your wer entrance. “You know, I can cum with just gliding my cock on your slit” he said with a low voice but of course he will not be satisfied. He then slowly pushed in, watching every inch of his cock go inside you and watch you melt with his stroke. He did not move for a few minutes, kissing you one too many times and telling you how much you feel so good around him, even asking you if you’re okay. And when he finally pulled out, he sees his cock glisten with your pussy juices and was happy that he made you so wet.

Moving slowly with a slight force, your boobs were moving up and down and Jaehyun loves the sight of it. You reached for his hand and made him touch your boobs, but he decided to pinch your nipples instead and put it in his mouth. He was moaning so hard, moving his hips rhythm while you receive every ounce of pleasure and admiration. And whenever you peek at him, you see him looking straight into your eyes with all the love he has for you.

“I love you too,” you said moaning. He heard it well. He stopped for a second to let it sink in, reached for your hand and kissed it.

After your confession, his thrusts became sharper and made you weak in an instant. Gripping Jaehyun’s hands so hard as he fucks you, begging him, moaning his name, and making the night even memorable for the two of you when you reached for his face and before you came. You breathing so hard. So hard that you wanted to push him away, but you can’t be apart from him.

“Oh she’s sleepy, don’t you want to make the night longer?” Jaehyun said, teasing you while kissing your hands again. He was giggling when you fell asleep while still gripping his arm like you’re still telling him to stop. He was the one who put on clean clothes on you and made sure you’ll have a warm bed tonight. But even though he was the reason for your beautiful sleep, Taeyong is the one in your dreams and still make you tear up in your sleep.

Jaehyun hold on to you. Physically and figuratively. He reached for your hand and intertwined your fingers together,letting you know that someone is waiting for you. And that he loves you, more than you can ever imagine.

“Good morning” you didn’t have second thoughts with waking him up with kisses. You missed him already and you can’t get enough of him.

“Aren’t you tired?” He smiles and pull you close. Oh he’s so cute.

“I am but I really want to start our day already,” you poked his dimples m. “It’s our first day, officially”

Jaehyun’s eyes went big immediately and smiled sweetly. He rolled on top of you and showered you with kisses, making you feel so loved this morning. So this is love you thought.

The day went on slow. You’ve never flirted like this before and if you’re both being honest, it fees like you haven’t been seeing each other for months already. Everyday together is a new feeling, like a new gift you’re excited to open. That’s how excited you are with your commitment with Jaehyun.

And to think that, you’re the one who pushed him so many times because you weren’t sure with your feelings and you still love Taeyong… you just hate yourself with the thought of hurting him that way.

“You made me skip work, but you’re the one who’s not here with me” he giggles and nuzzles his nose on your nape which tickled you and brought you back to reality. “What are you thinking?” He smiled, curious while leaning towards you by the kitchen table.

“Hmm. Nothing. I just remembered how I used to push you away and look at us now” you said, racking his soft hair and pulling him closer in between you bare legs.

“Told you. I’ll keep coming back,” he smiled back put his hand on your waist and started kissing your neck with want. As if his kisses were telling you that he’s not going anywhere. Soon his hands traveled under your borrowed shirt and feel his cold hands on your skin.

“We haven’t had breakfast” you whispered near his ear.

“You’re my breakfast,” he smirked and put his hand inside your panties, not wasting anymore time and started making you wet with his fingers. Slowly gliding it up and down, not rushing and rather taking his time with torturing you. This time, his kisses were slow but hungrier, his tongue made you weak and made you want for more. You can’t stay still because the pleasure was building up and it’s building up fast. “Spread your legs” you asked nicely with a sexy tone, you wanted to melt right then and there but you can only follow what he says. “How do you like my fingers?” He asked once again while you’re getting comfortable on the kitchen table with your legs wide open and Jaehyun in between them. “Slowly like this?” He ran his middle finger on your wet slit oh so slowly which made you weak and moan his name. It was a slow, feather like touch from him. No sign of pressure from his fingers, just pure teasing and pleasure.

Jaehyun saw the effect from he did, he smiled and went back to kissing you with want as he continues what he was doing down there. And when he felt your legs closing, and everything was already too much for you, he focused on your clit and made you cum from teasing it. You were so frustrated and wanted something other than teasing, but your boyfriend was enjoying. You can only roll your eyes at him but still give him the kisses he asks for. “We have all day. I’ll make it up to you” he giggled and you two continued kissing each other while talking, having a sweet time together.

Until Jaehyun’s phone kept on ringing. Which he continues to ignore because it was an unknown number. After a few missed calls, it stopped ringing.

Then your doorbell rang. By this time you hate how the world continues to ruin your quality time together. “Ugh. I’m not expecting anyone today—“

“It’s okay, I’ll go check on it. You can go fix yourself first” he kissed you and helped you down. Jaehyun then grabbed his shirt from the couch before opening the door, and there Taeyong was standing.

Taeyong was surprised but he didn’t show it. He saw Jaehyun wearing his shirt as he opens the door.

Then you arrived to the scene shortly, wearing a man’s shirt and short shorts.

It wasn’t hard to solve Taeyong thought. You two completely slept together… and now he’s boiling with anger. But of course he’s not showing it.

“Tae… what are you doing here,” Your heart was breaking again as you said his name. He changed so much. He got thinner, the sparkle in his eyes were gone and you almost didn’t recognized him.

“Came to talk to you,” Taeyong answered coldly, “but I see that you have company already,”

It’s been months since the breakup and you didn’t thought that he wanted to fix what you had together. You wanted so bad to hear what he has to say, and truth be told you wanted to talk to— but suddenly, Jaehyun interfered.

“She doesn’t want to talk to you” Jaehyun said with pride.

Taeyong gets what he wants. Always. But this time Jaehyun is the one leading in this race, and he will not let Taeyong win.

“And who are you to speak for her, Jaehyun?” Taeyong replied and by this time you were shocked to the core that they knew each other.

“Jae, you know him?”

“I’ll explain everything later,” Jaehyun said to you.

And while Taeyong was watching you two talk, it was clear to him that he lost you already today. And so with a heavy heart and no goodbyes or whatsoever, he walked away from the two of you. But you were quick to follow him. And as you chase Taeyong, Jaehyun on the other hand hot hurt with your actions. He didn’t stopped you anymore and let you follow Taeyong. Clearly you wanted to talk to him too, Jaehyun can only hope that you wont forget that he exists.

“Tae— how are you?” You stopped Taeyong from getting in his car. He turned and faced you, sadness in his eyes were visible.

“Do you love him?” Taeyong asked with a firm tone. Almost mad but this time he didn’t want his anger to ruin what he can still fix . “Do you love him?” He then once again asked with a softer tone.

“Because I’m here to bring you back Y/n,”

You stand in front of Taeyong in shock. Confused to what is happening right now, but most importantly… why can’t you answer his question when you just said to Jaehyun that you love him. Last night while you two were making love.

#nct smut #nct imagines #nct scenarios #nct fluff #nct angst #Jaehyun smut #nct jaehyun smut #jaehyun x reader #love triangle au #nct x reader #nct #nct 127 smut #taeyong smut #nct 127 #jeong jaehyun

[thesupreme316]

i have another request it goes to my other one about you getting injured how about aew boys reaction to you returning after getting injured 🫶🏼🫶🏼

AEW Stars React to: You Returning From Injury (Part 2/Standalone)

Pairings: Hook x Reader, Eddie Kingston x Reader, MJF x Reader, Dante Martin x Reader, Kenny Omega x Reader, Daniel Garcia x Reader, Ricky Starks x Reader

Word Count: 957

Supreme Speaks: heyyy, this was supposed to be out sooner but my internet cut out and my shit erased (not my bad but my bad). thank you @cassiesworldsworld for requesting a part two and for supporting me. I shall upload tomorrow as well. I hope everyone is having a great day and please know that you are appreciated and loved.

Warnings: not proofread (just grammarly), reader pronouns are not specified (gender-neutral)

Taglist: @cassiesworldsworld @wwenhlimagines @triscillal @hooks-martin @hookerforhook @sheinthatfandom @eddie-kingstons-wifey

Link to Part 1

Your return:

After being out for 1 1/2 months, you were finally given the green light to return to the ring

Even though it was less than 2 months, it felt like two years of being away from the ring

Arriving at the arena, you decide to surprise everyone; so you went straight to a private locker and changed into your gear

For your return, you either run out and help a talent going against the Outcasts or a heel tag team (think of Willow helping Skye Blue or Rodrick Strong helping Adam Cole)

Or you answer an open challenge from a person (male or female) and win the match to the crowd cheering and chanting your name (or make up your own, it’s your world)

When you get backstage, you were met with a smile from your boyfriend and or best friend

Dante Martin:

AGAIN THIS MAN IS A BABY

He’s feelin a bit bittersweet

It was nice to have someone with him while he was on the shelf; he didn’t feel lonely

But now he feels like gonna be back to square 1

Until you ran up and gave him a big hug (still being mindful of his leg)

You let him know that he never getting rid of you and you’ll always be his person

He smiles and says “Well 1 1/2 person is better than just 1” (get it? Cause he’s still injured so he’s the 1/2 per-)

Posts you on Instagram saying how proud he is of you

Hook:

Mans smiling from ear to ear backstage

Gladly picks you up while hugging you

“You’re gonna kill it. I know it”

Still keeps asking you how you feel about your shoulder

Mans wouldn’t say anything to anyone, but everyone could see how happy he is

I think depending on how your return goes, he would go out and establish an on-screen “friendship”

Would definitely celebrate with you afterward

Like Dante, he would definitely post a picture of you in his signature black-and-white scheme

MJF:

Posts a tweet confirming your return even though you didn’t tell him (he bribed the doctor to tell him the news)

Cuts a promo and references you

“My best friend/significant other is back, better than ever, better than you, and you know it.”

Will take all the credit for you getting better (to which you throw a shoe at him)

After congratulating you for making your return, he goes right back to roasting you on Twitter and on commentary

Is just pleased that you’re in a healthy position

Is very happy that you’re back and will try to figure out how to get you two in a storyline

If you say no, he will start some drama (will take back the scarf he made)

Eddie Kingston:

Is EXCITED to see you back; again runs around with his head cut off

Makes a small tweet about you

“Hey @Y/N, nice to see you back…now pay me for taking care of your fragile ass dawg.”

Will still be careful when imitating physical contact (hugs and etc.)

Continues to do almost everything for you out of habit

But he'll say it's because you're still depend it on him (to which you hit up side his head)

Like MJF, he will reference you in a promo (but will actually praise you for your durability and fearlessness)

Playfully will hold this over your head and says that you owe him if he gets injured

Ricky Starks:

You couldn’t keep the secret and told him that you were returning the minute you found out

Somehow, he managed to pull strings to get you involved with his storyline

He says it’s because he really just wanna work with you

But you know it’s because he wants to keep an eye on you (and to get even closer to you)

“It’s because you’re a child and I need to look after you.”

Still has a lot of your stuff on standby just in case something happens (always check on you to make sure that you’re comfortable)

Hangs your bedazzled cast/brace up in your living room

Daniel Garcia:

Daniel had a match after your return match/segment

MANS WAS DANCING IN THE RING TO CELEBRATE

And dancing at the club (just look at Isiah’s last vlog)

Will drag you on what he calls a “comeback tour”; and if you thought he was acting up when you were injured, wait until now

“Dude, it’s only 2 AM…why are you trying to go to sleep?” “-_-“

Is happy that you’re relationship/friendship was strengthened

Now that you are on the road, you were made his permanent road buddy (especially with Isiah being out of action)

“Zay, don’t blame me…blame Y/N, they insisted that I replace you because they have no friends”

Kenny Omega:

(side note; i need another kenny gif cause this one is causing me to gain more feelings for this man)

THIS MAN WOULD BE HAPPIEST TO SAY THE LEAST

When you first appeared and the crowd roared, a smile grew on his face

Was training with you up til you returned (you had to tell him cause essentially he is your boss)

Hugged you tightly and frequently checked up on your shoulder throughout the convo

He’s still scared that you’re not 100 percent

You: Kenny, you don’t need to keep checking on me

Kenny: Yeah, but- I think I see your bone poking through…Are you a zombie?

Will perform your signature move as a nod to your relationship

Does it all with a smile

#aew #all elite wrestling #aew imagine #daniel garcia #eddie kingston #aew hook #aew hook imagine #all elite wrestling imagines #eddie kingston x reader #eddie kingston imagine #daniel garcia x reader #daniel garcia fic #ricky starks fic #ricky starks x reader #ricky starks imagine #kenny omega #kenny omega imagine #kenny omega x reader #mjf #maxwell jacob friedman #mjf x reader #mjf imagine #dante martin #dante martin imagine

[sleepy-wyvern]

Billy Hargrove x Female!Reader (SMUT CHAPTER 3)

Image 1, Image 2

Chapter: 3/4 (smut in next chapter) Part 1, Part 2, Part 4 coming soon. AO3 link here

Summary: Billy pursues an uninterested reader trying to gain her adoration. When reader finds her crush kissing someone else that's when she realizes her feelings are towards the wrong guy.

Okay so I know I said this chapter will have smut, but I got way too carried away on the date night but I PROMISE it will be next chapter, the last one. There's still some nice and streamy scenes in this one I promise!

TW/CW: persistent flirting, cigarettes, marijuana, violent threat (not towards reader)

This fic only contains characters that are 18+ and will contain smut, as such 18+ readers only, minors absolutely DNI

For the lovely @strangelysupernatural ! If you like this fic DEFINITELY check out her Billy ones, my personal FAVOURITE is tease! She's so much better at writing Billy than I am, thanks so much for challenging me to write this work! Love you!

You were just about to leave the school building when you heard your name being called down the hall.

“Y/n,” his voice was smooth like butter “wait up.”

You stopped and turned, faced to face with Billy Hargrove. You fluttered your eyelashes, nervous that in mere hours you would have a date with him.

“What’s up? Bailing already?” You smirked at him and he mirrored you, icy blue eyes glimmering.

“Wouldn’t dream of it. I wanted to tell you to wear a swimsuit tonight.” He replied and you were fixated on the movement of his lips.

“Where are you taking me exactly?” You hummed, tapping a finger on your chin. “I can’t swim well.”

He started backing away with a playful look “you’ll see! It’s a surprise!”

“Billy!” You called out but he just wove as he walked the other direction, his other hand in his back pocket.

Now, you sat at the dining room table in your house knowing both your parents wouldn’t be home until tomorrow from their trip. It was nice to have the privacy you needed to sort through your emotions.

Still, you found yourself excited. You could feel the presence of butterflies, relaxing on flowers yet stretching their wings preparing for what’s to come. Exactly what you weren’t sure but you were both afraid and excited.

That’s when the three knocks on the door made you bolt upright.

Behind the door stood him; jeans, jean jacket and white tank. The look was complete with dark sunglasses that hid his eyes. You folded your arms pretending to be unimpressed with an eyebrow rose. The way he was leaning against the door frame and brushed his curly hair back made your heart leap. The cherry on top; he licked his teeth in the way he had to have known you loved.

“Are you ready sweetheart?” He asked and you nodded.

You brought a tote with you, filled with a towel, soap and shampoo in case he did take you to the pool. Though it was closed this time of day so you weren’t sure what exactly he had been planning.

“Come on,” he nodded behind him as he practically skipped down the driveway.

You couldn’t help but smile, what had gotten him so happy?

You followed him along getting into the passenger side of his Camaro. It felt so odd, so surreal to be in Billy fucking Hargroves car. Yet you were, as the music blasted with the windows down.

You tried to relax but it was hard as you leaned back into your seat. You stole a glance over at Billy, watching him lean cooly back against the driver's seat. He had a hand out the window and the other on the steering wheel. Your cheeks blush red as he notices you looking at him.

He smirks to himself as he opens his mouth to say “see something you like sweetheart?”

“Where are we going?” You ask sharply, trying to mask your slip up.

“It’s a surprise,” he ran a finger along his upper lip in thought “you don’t like surprises much do you?”

You look back down at your legs, letting the cool breeze calm your nerves as it blows through your hair.

“No,” you admitted before looking back at him, “I don’t.”

“You were the kid who used to try and find Santa’s gifts weren’t you?” He asked, tapping his finger against the steering wheel.

“That would imply I didn’t find them,” you laughed.

He grinned before replying “well, you don’t have to look any further. We’re already here.”

He pulled into the driveway when you realized you were paying too much attention to him and not where you were going.

“It’s not open,” you say, watching him curiously as he parks.

“I know,” he replies matter-of-factly as he turns the key to his car, stuffing it into his pockets afterwards.

He clicks his seat belt excitedly, opening the door and jumping out before you have time to unbuckle yours. “Well, come on slowpoke. Before it gets too dark.”

“Are we breaking in?!” You stuttered opening the passenger door and getting out, grabbing your bag.

“Not exactly,” he smiled mischievously, approaching the metal fence ahead of you.

Billy looked over his shoulder once as he brought the metal keys to the gate door, unlocking it swiftly.

“Are we allowed to be doing this?” You asked but you could feel the adrenaline of doing something wrong filling your body.

“Nope!” He replied, “my boss owes me though. So it's all ours tonight.” His gaze was fixated on the lock and you couldn’t help but notice how beautiful he was. He had long flowing lashes, thicker than anyone you knew.

“You work here?” You asked impressed, “you’re a lifeguard?”

He turned and looked at you with a smirk that would make any girl faint, “you think I’d let a girl who doesn’t know how to swim in here on her own? No way.”

“I-I can swim!” You stutter, “just not well.”

You walked through the gate as he held it open, closing it behind him. He winked as you walked past, a quick ever so slight movement that would’ve been missed had you looked away. You caught it though, and savoured the way it waved through your entire body.

You walked to the edge of the poolside noticing how gorgeous it was with the orange sky reflecting off the waves. The day had been warm and sticky and you were glad to have some relief from the waves below.

You considered going to the change room but since your bathing suit was underneath your clothes you thought it better to tease Billy a little first.

So when he caught up with you you started unbuttoning your blouse, catching him in his tracks. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, running his tongue over his lips before you shook your head and wove your finger at him.

“Turn around,” you demanded with a sly expression.

He sighed, irritated.

He obliged though, “two can play at that game.”

He turned around, deftly undoing his belt letting it fall to the ground with a slight clang against the tiles. He took his jacket off next, sure to flex his muscles as he did.

You bit your lip forcing yourself to turn around, abandoning your blouse and skirt in a pile at your feet. You turned hoping he was finished but he wasn’t yet. He wore his bright orange lifeguard swim trunks, his jeans a puddle at his feet, and he was just lifting his white shirt over his head. The way it made his curls bounce made your heart catch in your throat.

He looked over his shoulder smiling innocently at you as he dropped his shirt to the ground. You struggled to keep your eyes level with his as he turned to face you. You gulped hard and deep, folding your arms trying to pretend it was no big deal and that he wasn’t the sexiest man you’ve ever seen.

“Well, darling,” he looked at you as if nothing else existed, “are you ready?”

He held out his hand and you took it gently, taking in his warm, rough touch. You couldn’t help it as you stole a glance over his body. He was beautiful.

“I think so,” your voice was more confident than your words as he led you down the pool steps.

Your body shuddered and you gasped at the sudden cool water around your ankles but you enjoyed it against the heat.

“When you’re ready,” he said more softly.

His change in demeanor was sudden but you knew it was genuine. You could feel his eyes watching you before you glanced over. The way he was looking at you surprised you, his expression was soft and caring as he watched your every movement with concern. To say he looked at you like he was inlove with you was an understatement. But that couldn’t be true, could it?

You didn’t let yourself think it over too much as you stepped down, this time the water made it to your knees. He held your hand strongly though, making sure you wouldn’t fall. The next step had the water rising to your chest and then you knew you were ready.

You were still only in the shallow end as you let your body submerge to your neck, Billy following suit.

“You haven’t swam before have you?” He asked.

“Define swim,” you said with wide eyes as you put your other hand out to grab his.

He chuckled and held both of your hands as you let your body relax under the cold. He pulled you along as you figured he would to teach a child but you didn’t feel patronized by it. The feeling of your body gliding along the water was soothing.

“Not so bad, yeah?” The corner of his lips twitched up in a smile.

“Okay, not so bad.” You admitted.

“Ready for the deep end?” He asked.

Your heart skipped a beat as you fluttered your eyes between his. There must’ve been a look of fear in your eyes because he quickly corrected himself.

“We’ll hold onto the edge here,” he guided you to the edge of the pool.

You couldn't help but admire the muscles in his arm as he rested against the side of the pool. You didn’t want to admit you missed the feeling of both of his hands in yours, but appreciated the one hand holding yours as he guided you past the shallow end.

Soon enough there was no longer the pool floor against you. The feeling of your feet not touching the bottom made your heart race but it was intoxicatingly surreal.

“So are you actually going to teach me how to swim? Or just hang here? Not that I’m complaining but if I slip off I’m a goner.” You laughed nervously.

“That’s the plan. Easiest style is doggy, my personal favourite,” he winked, making your cheeks turn red.

“I’m surprised you didn’t say breaststroke,” you rolled your eyes and he laughed.

“Well, that too. This one’s easier though. Just cup your hands and paddle like a dog would. Kick your feet like you’re riding a bicycle.” He instructed.

You practiced your leg kicks while your arms held the edge nervously. You were pleasantly surprised when the motion pushed you upward. Testing the hand motion with one arm, you realized perhaps it wasn't so hard after all. When you felt confident you let go of the edge completely.

Billy smiled wide at you as he rested both of his arms behind him on the pool edge. His eyes seemed to glimmer as he followed your movements.

“You’re a natural,” he commented.

“I don’t know about that,” you said slyly as you rejoined him at the pool's edge, more confidently now.

“Are you ready?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

“For what?” You asked with wide eyes.

“You’re going to swim to me.”

“Talk about throwing the student off in the deep end!” You laughed.

“Are you scared?” He asked, running his tongue over his lips.

You glanced down at the bottom of the pool as you rubbed your lips together before replying, “a little.”

“I’ve got you,” he whispered as he moved one large hand to your waist.

His grip was strong and made you feel safe, rather than taking the opportunity to feel you up he wanted to make you feel secure above everything.

You nodded “okay but I have to swim to you, you’re not going to be there.”

“I’ll be there, watching. I’m a lifeguard, remember?” His smile was cocky and he deserved it, but you rolled your eyes anyways.

When his hand left your waist your body sighed, the water seemed much colder now. He swam to the line where the shallow side ended, standing there waiting for you. The water was up to his collarbone nearly, he held his hands above the surface beckoning you to come to him.

You plunged forward, sure to keep your head above the surface as you paddled your heart out. You closed your eyes in concentration as you swam forward, before you knew it you were met with two warm hands against your waist.

You let your legs relax as your feet touched the bottom of the pool, opening your eyes. You were face to face with him, merely inches away but you were too excited to be nervous.

“I did it!” You declared with a small laugh.

“You did it!” He repeated.

Your eyes darted between his icy blue ones, caught in a moment of pure bliss. Your eyes moved down to his lips and before you knew it, you were moving closer to him. You were reunited in a kiss, warm and sweet that quickly turned heated from your adrenaline.

You found your tongue brushing against his lips, asking for permission he granted. High on victory, you wrapped your seemingly weightless legs around his waist, pulling your body against his. His hands quickly climbed up your thigh, feeling heavenly even through the water.

You gently ran your hands over his shoulders, down the muscles of his arms.

Your wet arms wrapped around his neck lovingly when suddenly you pull your face back, feeling your body rise above water level.

You watched the water drip over the muscles of his chest, cursing to yourself mentally that he was having an effect on you. You sighed feeling the heavy air weighing you down, even though you were still held up by his grip. The sky was already darkening and although the air was cold against your skin, his body heat warmed you.

“Let’s get outta here, shall we?” He offered.

“We shall.”

===

tag list: @alienthings my lovely loons 💙 & my new follower @littlestarfighter03 thanks so much for all of your support!

Thanks so much everyone for reading, chapter 4 with smut will be released very soon!

-Wyv

💙💙💙💙

#billy hargrove #billy hargrove imagine #billy hargrove smut #stranger things billy #stranger things billy hargrove #billy hargrove x reader #billy hargrove x female!reader

[loveforlandonorris]

🎤 Lando at the Drivers' Press Conference before the Chinese GP:

(The video is from F1Fever on YouTube)

Transcript:

Interviewer: And Lando, what about your expectations coming into the weekend?

Lando: Probably not as high as Suzuka. I think that's our opinion. But still in a good position. I think we've been happy with how the season started. I think we're in a good qualifying battle with Aston, Mercedes, it’s very close and even last weekend ahead of Ferrari, but I think the order is still clear.

And I think in the racing we've done a good job. Not as good as Red Bull but and Ferrari, but I'm a head of Aston and Mercedes. So I think we're in a good spot. This wasn't a great circuit for us in 2019 but many things have changed since then. So I'm so optimistic we can have a good weekend.

Interviewer: What is it about this layout that gives you less confidence?

Lando: The long corners. Just, like, Turn 1. Yeah, this type of corner is just not good for us. Similar to, say, Zandvoort, that kind of experience for us. So yeah, we've got some things to try. And we're constantly trying to improve these areas. But it's an area we know is one of our biggest weaknesses, and maybe we kind of get away with it in qualifying but especially into the race becomes a bigger problem for us.

Interviewer: There were some race day frustrations for you in Japan, but afterwards, your boss Andrea Stella, said that the team can win this year. How quickly do you think you can do that?

Lando: Not anytime soon, that's for sure. I think we can. Right place, right time, if we improve the car how we need to. Honestly, there weren't too many frustrations with Suzuka. I think everything went pretty much as expected. I don't think we did a perfect job and I think we probably should have finished one place higher up, potentially. But I don't think it was far off. We've been the same place all season. We've been behind Red Bull, we've been behind Ferrari and we've been a bit of a step ahead of the other two teams come the race. And that's exactly how last weekend went.

So I don't think there's too many frustrations. But we know the issues, we know what we have to improve. And if we can improve them. I think Andrea is right. I think we can win races this year. And we can be competitive with these other two teams ahead of us. But that's an if. And you know, we have to work hard to improve the car in some of these certain areas, which have been a big challenge for us over the last many years, not just for years, but last many years. But if we can, then I'm confident we can have some good races.

Journalist Questions:

Q1 (Ian Parkes – New York Times):. I don't know if any of you drivers have had an opportunity to inspect the track as yet. But Charles mentioned it earlier, and a couple of other drivers have mentioned it in their media sessions earlier today, that the track has been painted. What does that means pecifically? Do you know? Does it cause any concerns? What issues are you expecting from such a track?

Lando: I have no idea. So I think we have to wait and see honestly, I think that's something new, something we don't think we've seen before, so hard to predict exactly what's going to happen. So I honestly have no idea. So I'll see you tomorrow.

Q2 (Michael Butterworth – Xinhua News Agency) To all the drivers briefly. It's been a while since we've been to the Shanghai circuit. Just keen to hear your thoughts on it. And any particular features that make it especially challenging or memorable for you?

Lando: I always raced here once, but I didn't finish the race. So not the best memories. But yeah, it was still in my first season. So everything was new back then. But it's always been a cool track to drive. Definitely was not my back then. But excited to give it another crack and see what we can do this weekend.

Q3 (Henry Clark – Daily Mail) I was wondering, obviously a lot of tracks that we come to, it's only been a year or so since you've last been here. But for everyone here there has been no race for at least five years. I was wondering what are the unique challenges that brings? Does that make this weekend particularly exciting? Or are there extra worries that come with that?

Lando: I guess just excited. Always excited for every weekend, but especially when you haven't been to a place for a while. For me, I didn't get a proper experience of it back in 2019. So things have changed. I'm a very different driver to what I was back then.

So I'm excited to see what it brings and how the whole weekend pans out I think anyway being a Sprint race and having two opportunities to try and nail the set-up for the first quali and then the set-up for the second quali. I think also there is plenty of opportunity. So I don't think it’s not going to be exciting for anyone. I think there's a lot of opportunities on the table, there's a lot of things that can go wrong at the same time, so excited for all of it.

Q4 (Henry Clark – Daily Mail) With all due respect to some of the more senior drivers, a question to a couple of the younger guys on the panel. When you see Fernando committing his future to racing well into his 40s, how impressive is that dedication? How much does it take to keep doing that? And also, do you see yourselves wanting to race for as long as that in your own careers?

Lando: I’d better be careful what I say. I think it takes a lot of dedication. I don't think anyone thinks Fernando lacks that in any way. I think he shows that with everything that he does in life. Whether it's at the track or away from the track, you know, in different sports or whatever. So it depends what you want to do. Everyone is different.

It's rare that you see someone commit for so long in any sport, you know, he's probably one of the oldest guys competing at the top of any sport in the world and I think to be able to do that at the level that he has done and continues to do, you're probably never going to potentially see it again, you know within Formula 1 and if you do, it's going be extremely rare.

So yeah, I think a lot of respect for that kind of thing. I have no idea if I want to do it in 20 years’ time, if I'm still going strong, but I love where I am now and I continue to do such a thing. Yeah, we'll see.

#lando norris #landonorris #ln4 #mclaren #chinese gp 2024 #formula one #formula 1 #f1

[spideyanakin]

10 Things I Hate About you - Chapter 2

Eddie Munson x Harrington! reader

Synopsis - A new rule strikes the Harrington household: if Steve wishes to date ever again, his sister needs to find a boyfriend first. As Steve becomes desperate and thinks of everything in his power to set her up, only one guy comes to mind that will take up a challenge such as that: Eddie Munson.

warnings - Season 1 Steve 👎 , ft. Eddie the mechanics, underage drinking, and free cookie if you spot the Titanic reference.

word count - 12.5k

proof read by the amazing @inknopewetrust

series masterlist 🌻

the playlist

"He tried again over lunch today," Steve slumped his shoulders, looking up to the sky. This was supposed to be a new day, a new opportunity for Eddie to try and seduce you, but instead, Eddie almost ended up having your yogurt in his hair. And even if the plan was failing, Tommy, who would have paid good money to see The Freak with yogurt stuck in his brown curls, was disappointed you hadn't gone through with it. 

"I'm starting to think this is a bad idea."

"You gave him a fifty bucks a date deal, I'm sure he'll try again," Carol said through a mouthful of Steve's Kudos bar - the extra one he had packed for himself, but her sneaky hands had found it anyway.

"He told me he would," Steve climbed down from the hood of his car when he spotted you leaving the school building. "I'll see you guys tomorrow," He sighed, taking a seat behind the wheel.

"Hey, loser." Tommy snickered at you, taking a new puff of his cigarette and almost blowing it in your face.

"Oh my god, Tommy." You squinted your eyes, pretending like the smoke didn't bother you. "Are you losing your hair? You look balder than the last time I saw you up close?" You watched as his face twisted, placing a hand in his hair as if to protect it from your comment.

"Stop bullying my friends!" Steve yelled from the open window. 

"Stop bullying my friends" You mimicked his voice as you settled yourself in the passenger side. "I'm Steve and I think that my dumb friends are actually really smart and good company."

"I don't talk like that."

"Yeah, you do. Oh my hair, my precious hair!" You mimicked again, putting a hand in your own hair as you did. "Wait until people find out it's because you use girl's hairspray.”

"And they never will, because you'll never tell them," he sang the words. "Talking about hairspray, I'm running out. I'm going to have to go to the supermarket before I can drop you off."

"Seriously? Can't you go later?"

"Nope. Don't have the time."

"I hate you."

"Look on the bright side, you can go to the comic book store in the meantime." He spoke to you like a toddler, you hated that.

"Right. Because I'm so excited to get the new Iron Man comic."

"Aren't you?" 

You were.

 But he didn't need to know that.

~

"You have to stop being so aggressive." Steve noticed as he watched you remove a few coins out of your wallet and hand them to the seller behind the counter.

"I'm not aggressive!" You argued back, side-eying your brother before thanking the elderly man as he neatly placed your comics in a plastic bag and handed them to you over the counter.

"You just fought a 9 year old over Lord of the Rings." Steve eyed the road through the shop's window, the little boy in question had a big frown on his face as he climbed into the back of his mother's car.

"But he was wrong! I don't know what he read, but that's not how the end of the Two Towers played out! And Saruman does die at the end of Return of the King." 

"Why do I even bother with you?" He pinched his nose, his other hand on his hip in annoyance. You watched as the white plastic bag with the Farrah Fawcet hair spray bumped with his hip as he moved. He shook his head before putting his sunglasses back on. "Do you know that people around school are starting to call you a ‘heinous bitch’ more and more often?"

"You forget I don't care what people think." You pushed the shop door open, the little bell ringing with it.

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't," you chuckled, looking at him through his sunglasses. "You don't always have to be who they want you to be, you know?" The words came out of your mouth before you could even think them over. 

"I happen to like being the king of Hawkins High, thank you," He gave you a chuckle as if you had just said something stupid. The pang in your chest started stinging even more at seeing the careless, stupid, and even sometimes mean facade your brother had created himself just for popularity becoming clearer and stronger. You knew deep inside he wasn't this way.

"Right." Your word came out stiffer than you wished as you opened the passenger door, Steve following you in from the other side. "You know you're paying for my car repair, right?" You asked as you watched him start the engine.

"Uh, no, I'm not."

"Steve, you're the one who put the wrong fuel in."

"Yeah, but it's your car."

"Mom said you were going to pay!"

"Yeah, and?"

"And, so I'm not going to pay for your mistakes. What is this? Asshole day?"

"Why are you like this? You're making a fuss about everything lately."

"Right yeah, because I'm the one with terrible grades and who bugs his sister like it's her problem. You broke my car, Steve."

"I did, but I don't see how I should pay for it."

"Agh!" You wanted to rip your hair out, a groan of frustration slipping out of you. "Please just drive. I have a car to pick up and the less time I have in here with you, the better. I don't want to argue with you anymore."

The air was so thick for the rest of the ride you could cut it with a knife. The only noise that could be heard was the engine mixed in with Steve's frequent huffs, and the chatter of the streets that would come and go at every red light.

When the bright blue banner of the garage came into view, Steve didn't even bother with parking and stopped right in front of the shop. 

"I'll see you at home." He gave you a tight smile you ignored, stepping out and closing the door as loudly as you could.

You mumbled something about how annoying and unfair he was being, the ringing from the little bell at the door making a minimum of your frustration dissipate. John, the owner of the place, sat behind the counter; head stuffed in the day’s newspaper, cigarette dangling from his lips. He barely looked up from his paper as he heard you walk in.

"Afternoon," you greeted, walking towards the counter, sighing your feelings away as your hands rested on the cold surface. "You said my car would be ready by today?"

"Oh yeah," He didn't remove the cigarette from his lips as he spoke, his small eyes still fixed on the paper and smoke coming out between words. "We're a bit late on schedule," He turned a page, "Realized the fuel fucked up the engine more than we thought. Munson's still taking care of it in the back."

"Munson?" The name felt familiar.

"Yeah, Eddie Munson." The lightbulb lit up in your mind. You knew exactly who he was talking about.

"I didn't know he worked here." 

"Mostly on weekends. But he's filling in for Rob today. You know him or something?" He lifted his eyes up to gaze at you through his blue square glasses.

"We go to school together."

"Alright. Well if you want to go see your car I'm sure he won't mind." You nodded and took this as your cue. Walking toward the doorway, the actual door was missing and was replaced by strings of blue and red clay beads. Now that you were closer, you could hear Metallica's The Four Horsemen faintly playing in the background.

The beads made a soft sound as you passed through them. The smell of fuel, rubber, and the metallic pungency of tools invaded your senses the second you walked in. The garage looked messy to an outsider–yet it was no different than other shops of the kind. A staple of car repairs in Hawkins, this little shop had seen business from every family and knew them all by name. The garage door was opened, giving out to a parking lot and letting the fresh air merge with the unnatural amount of toxins that emitted from each car, tire, and tank served. A range of different colored cars neatly parked outside, each either waiting for their turn to get repaired or for their owners to return. 

Your car was parked in the middle of the room, and indeed–the boy you knew as Eddie Munson, the school's proclaimed freak and trouble maker who had decided to suddenly ask you out, was working on it. 

His hair was tied back in a ponytail, head bowed into the hood. His black shirt was tight and hugged his torso perfectly, his jean jacket resting on a chair in the back of the room. The electric blue denim jumpsuit he called a work uniform was tied at his waist by the sleeves. The pants of it were decorated with car grease in large uneven patches on the sides as if he deliberately wiped his hands on them multiple times.

He blew a strand of hair away from his forehead as he leaned back to look at his work from a higher angle. His fingers were stained with black as they toyed with the wrench in his hand. He looked so focused. The crease between his eyebrows was evident as he figured out if his work was good enough.

"Thought you didn't want that date?" His voice brought you back from your staring, shoving away the odd feeling in your chest you hadn't noticed was there. You blinked, your expression changing. 

"And I still don't. I came to see my car."

"This is your car?" He asked, eyebrows raised as he pointed to it with the tool in his hand. 

"Yep." You patted the roof with pride.

"I didn't take you for a girl to confuse which fuel to put in her car." He smiled to himself, looking up from the car's engine to you. 

Now he couldn't deny you looked nice–nicer than in that ugly Hawkins high sports uniform you had been wearing yesterday and at lunch again today. Something about volleyball tryouts. 

Eddie had never really taken the time to see you. You had always been just a face in the crowd, but a cute one. His thoughts quickly processed and he remembered his mission. He knew loud and clear that he was just in this for the money, however, it didn't hurt that he found you pretty, and it definitely didn't hurt that you were wearing an Ozzy Osbourne t-shirt.

"Actually, that's my brother's fault." 

"Ah, now I understand."

"Probably never going to let him use my car ever again."

"Yeah, he fucked it up pretty bad," he noticed. "It seriously poisoned the engine."

"How much longer do I have to wait?" 

"Oh, I just finished!" He gave you his most charming grin before wiping his hands on the bottom half of his already disgusting jumpsuit. You could see the white patch with his name on it poking out from the folded top around his waist as he walked to where you were standing. "I just need to try it, see how it starts."

You took a step back to let him open the door and sit in the driver's seat, you could faintly hear the song fade away and the radio host taking over. Eddie left the door open as he turned the key and started the engine. The sound of the buzzing motor came and fully drowned the radio as it came loud and clear.

"It works!” He said as though it were a miracle. “And no smoke this time!" He seemed so happy it made you smile. "All set, princess." He turned the key and slipped out of the car, making his way back to the front and reaching up to close the hood.

"Thank you. I thought I was going to commit murder after a week of Steve driving me." 

"No problem," he chuckled.

"How much do I owe you?" 

"Nothing," he shook his head with big movements, making his ponytail sway from side to side. "On the house." 

"You know that won't make me say yes to that date?" You put a hand on your hip, making him chuckle. 

"I know."

"Don't think that getting me gifts is the way to my heart."

"What is the way to your heart?"

"That, I won't tell you."

"Just thought you shouldn't have to pay for what's your brother's fault."

"That's what I told him!" You pointed out. "No, but seriously how much do I owe you?"

"Nothing, I promise. Just get in the car and go do whatever pretty girls do on Wednesdays after school."

"Will John be happy you're giving away free service?"

"I'm sure good old John won't mind. C'mon! Get in! Get away from this smelly garage!" He waved towards the car when you didn't move.

You shook your head in disbelief before getting in and opening your window. "100% sure I can just leave?"

"Yes! Now go, before I change my mind." He watched with a smile on his face as you turned the car back on, smiling when everything worked perfectly. 

"Thank you!" You cheered, waving as you made your way out, Eddie watching you disappeared down the road.  

He breathed in heavily, walking to the half-broken sink in the back of the workshop. Once his hands were clean and dry he turned the radio off and reached for his coat which was still laying on the chair next to it. He reached in the pocket to remove his pack of cigarettes and lighter before fumbling with the jean, turning the jacket around to get access to the second pocket, pulling out some of the cash Steve handed him yesterday.

The blue and red beads made the familiar sound as he passed by the front desk.

"Did you let another girl leave without paying?" John looked up from his newspaper. "And I won't take a 'but she was pretty' as an answer this time."

"No," Eddie chuckled. "She gave me the money directly." Eddie put forty of Steve’s cash on the desk.

"Good."

"I'm taking my break." He nodded before stepping outside, cigarette already between his lips.

~ 

"Harrington! My new best friend!" Eddie cheered, a skip in his step as he made his way to Steve's locker the next day. Sleep still in Steve's eyes while Eddie's were bright and awake.

"What do you want?" Steve wondered as he stuffed his copy of Romeo and Juliet in his locker, only so he could forget it there and never see it again.

"I need your help."

"I thought you were the one helping me? And,” Steve paused his movements, “why is my sister still single?" 

"I'm working on it… It's only been two days. And talking about your sister, if you want this to work, I need you to tell me what she likes."

"Well, she likes that same crappy music you listen to."

"I already knew that, not very helpful. Can't you tell me her interests? Her hobbies? What does she read? What does she do on weekends?"

"Well, I think she might read the same nerd stuff you do, but I don't know."

"You don't know? She's your sister," Eddie crossed his arms as he leaned on the neighboring locker.

"Can't you ask her out without all this information?"

"Nope. You saw what happened, I need to be smart about this," Eddie tapped the side of his head with his finger.

"Fine," Steve sighed, closing his locker. "I'll make a list and give it to you tomorrow."

"Works for me!" Eddie smiled and knocked a fist on the locker behind him before turning around to walk the other way. 

"What was that about?" Tommy appeared out of thin air. His eyes fixed on Eddie who was already halfway down the hallway.

"He wants to know more about her. I have to make a list of stuff she likes." He took the hook of his backpack in his hand before he started to walk away. 

"And you don't know all of that?"

"No, why would I?"

"Because she's your sister?"

"And?" He shrugged. "Shouldn't be my problem."

"What are you going to tell him?"

"I'll search through her room. See what I can find."

"Doesn't she hang out with that Barb girl? You could probably ask her for some stuff."

"Maybe."

"Plus isn't she like Nancy's best friend? Could make you gain some Nancy points."

"Yeah, that's not a bad idea," Steve nodded along.

As if on cue, you appeared in the hallway with headphones over your ears. Steve looked at you with narrow eyes as you made a stop at your locker. You were wearing a Star Wars t-shirt; that could be useful information.

The lunch bell broke his thoughts and he suddenly remembered it was pasta Thursday. Steve watched the students who were still stuck in class start filing out of classrooms, he would have to leave quickly to get in line before the additional cheese would have to be wrestled for and leave the students last in line with only butter for a minimum of flavor to the over-cooked dish.

Like every Thursday, the cafeteria was crowded. The chatter of students echoed loud and clear through the large room. Food had already been spilled and laughter could be heard. Everyone seemed to be exactly where they were supposed to be. 

Steve with his friends, cheese proudly sprinkled on top of the macaroni that cooled just enough to be edible. 

Eddie was at his table. The Hellfire club was a full house; each member munching at their food, anticipation and excitement coursing through their veins as they waited for tomorrow to come to continue Eddie's campaign.

"I'm telling you, this is a terrible idea!" Jeff nodded along Oliver's words.

"Why? It's good money," Eddie leaned back from his seat at the table, his eyes landing on you. You were at the table you normally sat at, talking with Eddie's physics partner: Barb. 

Were you two friends? He wondered as he watched the interaction. You had a reputation for being a loner, yet you seemed to be smiling. A pretty smile that radiated over your features. Eddie noticed your Star Wars shirt, grinning to himself at the thought of a pretty girl like you being a fan of something he enjoyed too.

He hadn't noticed, but the entire hellfire table was staring at him, throwing looks at each other at the sight of their fearless leader cheesing it over some girl. 

"This is bad," Eddie's right-hand man, Olvier, whispered into Jeff's ear. "Really, really bad."

"It might be good money, but don't you think it's, like, a little unethical?" Another boy from the table wondered. 

"Unethical?" Eddie blinked at the words. "Since when have we had any ethics to begin with?"

"I don't know," the boy shrugged. "Just, imagine if she actually falls for you, and she finds out it was all a scam just so that her brother could get some?"

"She won't find out," Eddie cracked open his Mountain Dew, taking a sip from the tin can before continuing to speak. "And she's tough. You all saw what she did to Jeff's nose," the boy in question looked away in embarrassment. "I'm sure it would take her more than a few dates to fall for me."

"Right… Because leading someone on is totally the right thing to do to gain some extra cash," Gareth spoke up. "I still don't know why you've agreed to this. I don't want to be there when she finds out. Don't count on me to buy you flowers and dumb 'get well soon' cards for when she puts you in a coma."

"Don't think he'd even pass by the hospital," Another boy snorted. "He'd directly be put to his death." That made the entire table laugh, apart from Oliver.

The blonde had a serious shine to his eyes, a frown on the verge of forming. That wasn't what he was worried about, but he couldn't voice his worries, not right now.

~

That evening, Steve knew he had to work fast. He knew he only had an hour to get home from school, sneak into your room, and make a list of everything that could be useful before you'd be back from your hour of babysitting.

The second he swung the door open he was met with a sea of records and posters. Your bed wasn't made and your desk was a mess. Steve started his search with the desk. His eyes first landed on a big poster with four guys which, at second glance, he swore one looked like Eddie. He looked to the side to find another smaller poster of the same guy, smiling with his guitar. His name was written in bold on the side, but Steve didn't bother to fully read it. He shook the thought from his head before opening the main drawer. A collection of chapsticks rolled to the front, while random notes and spare coins sat at the back. He pushed some of the things around only to find concert tickets of events from eons past. 

When he wasn't satisfied with the search, he moved to the smaller ones at the foot of the desk. Opening and inspecting each one with meticulous precision. When he opened the third one, his eyes went wide.

"Oh my God!" Steve reached for the blue game boy. His blue game boy he thought he had lost the year prior. He could see your pink one in the back of the drawer, the screen broken. He grabbed his, moving his hand through the different games to take his pick. 

He put the console and games on the floor by the desk to reclaim them as his but continued his search. The fourth drawer had a magazine opened to a page showing multiple different electric guitars. You had circled one, Steve marked it down on his little piece of paper.

You liked guitar.

And you wanted an electric one, a specific model in particular.

Steve walked towards your shelf and scanned through your books. He made a face when he saw your small collection of Shakespeare. He wrote that down too. After that, he saw a few books by the same author. He recognized The Lord of the Rings, writing it down on his list. But then when his eyes scanned over the other works by the J.R.R Tolkein guy, he had to squint and reread the word at least 3 times to register it and to check if he had written ‘Silmirillion’ right. You had stacks of Rolling Stone magazines next to it except Steve barely bothered to skim through them.

His eyes landed on the big Star Wars poster next to him and on the spaceship on your shelf. He wrote that down as well.

Once he was satisfied, he grabbed his Gameboy and the selected games from the floor and left as though he had never been inside of it at all. 

~

Steve's socked feet dropping from step to step down the stairs caught your attention. Like every Friday morning, he was wearing his blue shirt - his favorite one Tommy had gotten him for his birthday. His bag hung on one shoulder as settled for breakfast.

However, he wasn't looking at where he was going or making a cheeky comment to piss you off so early in the day.

His eyes were focused on the blue brick in his hand. The noise of the game rang before the realization hit. The familiar opening of a chest echoed through your ears and your eyes went wild.

The goddamn Gameboy. 

"Are you playing Zelda?" He didn't own a Zelda game–you did.

"Yes. On my Gameboy that I found in your room! Also, I don't know how you can play this. It's too complicated."

"What were you doing in my room!?" Your hand collided with the table, making your breakfast jump. 

"I was searching for it!" He bit back. 

"Dad-"

"You shouldn't have taken his in the first place. You have one of your own. Steve, you shouldn't go into your sister's room, that's private. It's settled. End of argument. Can we eat in peace now?"

You grumbled something, melting in your seat before poking at a blueberry.

You were glad your car was repaired because you couldn't take another drive of Steve's whining and him complaining about how Zelda was too hard. 

Fridays were the best. Not only because it was the day when you didn't have any classes with Steve, but also because it was a chain of your favorite classes that led right to the weekend.

But, Friday’s also went by faster than lighting because of it. 

"Barb! You're sort of friends with my sister, right?" Steve appeared next to her like a child high on sugar.

"Yeah?" She looked up from her textbook and papers.

"I need you to tell me what she likes."

"What she likes? Why?" She placed the stray papers inside the textbook before putting them inside her bag, her gaze going to the classroom door where students were starting to leave. It was Friday. She wanted to run out of there and not spend any more time than she needed to in these horrible halls.

"Is that so bad that I just want to know my sister better?" He poorly defended himself, placing a hand on his hip to try and sound more convincing.

"That’s weird coming from you," she zipped her bag closed.

"Okay,” he brushed it off, “first, what does she like to do on weekends?"

"Steve-"

"Please just answer the question." He pressed on.

"Well, um… She really likes to go to The Hideout."

"That weird bar on the edge of town?" Steve made a disgusted face. 

"Yes, she says she loves seeing new bands play and makes fun of them when they're terrible."

"Okay," Steve started writing it on his hand like notes for an upcoming exam. 

"Are you really writing this down? Steve-" Barb lamented. 

"I want to remember! Can't you just accept the fact that I want to be a better brother?"

"Right."

"Ok, what else?"

"She likes Hard Rock and Metal… She would die for Kirk Hammett and Axl Rose."

"Wh-who?" 

Barb rolled her eyes. "Kirk is that guy from Metallica?” It sounded more like a question than an actual statement. “I think he's their guitarist." 

"Oh! Is that the guy from the posters in her room? The one that has the same hair as Munson?"

"They all have the same hair as Munson," she pointed out. "But yeah, Kirk kind of looks like him, I guess." Barb blinked as she remembered your room from the little times she'd been there "Axl is the main for Guns ‘n Roses; blonde, blue eyed guy with long hair. Always wears a bandana and eye-liner." 

"Mm-hm" He nodded for her to continue, writing keywords on the back of his hand.

"She also really likes the arcade and roller skating. Um, she likes fantasy stuff like those Star Wars movies and those big books…” Barb trailed off to think of the name. 

“Lord of the Rings?” Steve filled in for her and she snapped her fingers in recognition. 

“Yes! Lord of the Rings. And I think her favorite character is Darth Vader?"

"Is he from Lord of the Rings?” Steve asked and Barb furrowed her eyebrows at him like she couldn’t believe that is what came out of his mouth. 

“Are you serious?” 

“It’s… not?” Steve faltered and she shook her head. 

“Star Wars… Bad guy…?”

"The guy with the helmet?” 

“Mhm,” Barb hummed in reply. 

"Okay, thank you! I think I'm all set."

"Are you sure you need this information just to be a better brother?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Thanks!" He beamed before running out of the room. Steve charged down the halls until he recognized the door with the theatre posters all over it. 

"Here!" Steve burst into the drama room, earning a questioning gaze from Eddie. 

He was alone. Feet on the table that was even messier than the last time he was there. A book in his hand and he was practically one-hundred percent sure he had seen that same cover sitting on the shelves of your room.

"I have ‘the info.’" Steve slammed the note onto the table, in between the figurines and dice, before taking a seat in one of the rickety side chairs. 

Eddie looked up from his book with a raised eyebrow and removed his feet from the table before scanning what was written.

"You missed the a," He pointed out and Steve looked at him strangely. "Silmarillion, not Silmirillion," Eddie showed him the cover of the book he was still holding.

"Whatever," Steve dropped his hand on the table. "That's the information I gathered."

"That's not a lot to work from," Eddie pointed to the paper with Steve’s scribbles on it. 

"Look it should be enough," Steve huffed as Eddie read through the information. "But I've got more."

"She likes guitar, that's cool. She wants the same model I have."

"Oh yeah! She has a crush on that guy from Metallica, the one with the guitar."

"Which one?"

"I don't man, the one that looks like you."

"You mean Kirk?"

"Yeah! That's his name."

"Alright, good. I can work with that," A smirk rose on Eddie's lips. A sudden burst of confidence rose to his chest. He was your type. "Anything else?"

"I think her other crush's name has something with roses" he looked down at his hand, the writing so sloppy he could barely make it out.

"Axl?"

"Yep, that's the one!" Eddie could work with that. He basically owned half of the same wardrobe.

"She likes to go to The Hideout–you know that dodgy bar? She likes to go and judge the bands that play apparently."

"I'm in a band that plays at The Hideout."

Steve's mouth hung open into an 'O' shape before he spoke again. "Well, that's actually kind of perfect." He noticed, a bit more to himself than to Eddie. "She also likes the arcade and roller skating."

"Okay,” Eddie nodded, “What's her favorite arcade game?"

"I don't know? She stole my Donkey Kong game so she might like that?" It came out as more of a question than anything.

"Steve, what do you know?"

"Are you being sarcastic?" He narrowed his eyes. 

"Maybe."

"Also her favorite Star Wars character is the villain."

"Palpatine?" Eddie scrunched up his nose, tilting his head.

"Pala-who? No, no, the other one, the guy with the helmet."

"Darth Vader?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it's arguable that's he's the villain-"

"Please keep that nerd bullshit for my sister," Steve cut him off and Eddie closed his mouth, crossing his arms against his chest, "that's all I have."

"Alright. I'll see what I can do." Eddie nodded before looking back to the table. "You should go," he tapped his watch, "Campaign's about to start."

~

"I'm home!" Steve yelled as the door closed behind him.

"Steve, can you come help me with the laundry?" Your mom called out from the laundry room. A large basket of folded laundry in her hands.

Steve rolled his eyes before slipping his shoes off and dropping his bag by the entrance. As he did, he noticed a pair of shoes and a bag he didn't recognize sitting by the doorway.

"Why can't Y/n do it?" 

"Because she's babysitting. Here," she handed him the basket. "This side is your clothes, and this one your sister's. Just put yours in your room and put the basket with the rest in hers. Is that so hard to do?"

"Babysitting? But her shoes and bag are here?"

"Yeah, they're in the kitchen, baking."

"Ah," he grumbled something else before doing as told.

"So, got any plans for the weekend?" You asked Dustin as you placed the cupcake wrappers in the little molds. 

"I'm going to Mike's. We're going to continue his campaign!" The curly-headed boy had a big smile on his face as he mixed the batter with all his might. 

"That's nice," you smiled before you dipped your finger into the batter and stole a taste. "Our cupcakes are going to be amazing," you nodded, "high five." 

One of his hands removed its grip from the bowl to collide with yours while the other stayed on the whisk.

"Do you need someone to drop you off or pick you up from Mike's?" You questioned as you started washing your hands, speaking a bit louder over the running water.

"No,” Dustin shook his head and his curls went bouncing, “mom said I could go all alone this time!"

"Oh my god," you put a hand to your heart. "Is my ‘lil Dusty growing up?" You faked a sniff, "are you going to fire me?" you wiped a fake tear. 

"No!" He giggled at your dramatic sighs. "I still need you. I'm bored when you're not there and I have to spend entire afternoons home alone." 

"I hope so," you pointed a finger at him, a small smile playing on your face as you turned back to the cupcake batter. "You still have to teach me how to play D&D, by the way. My half-written character sheet is still somewhere in my room." 

"Yes! I promise. Once Mike's campaign is finished, we will do it."

"Deal," you grabbed the bowl and started to pour the mixture in each of the cupcake molds while Dustin washed up. 

"What are you doing this weekend?" He wondered as he came back around, watching with big eyes as you skillfully poured just the right amount of dough into each section.

"Homework, probably." 

"That's it?" His eyes went wider. Sometimes he thought you never had fun outside of babysitting him. 

"No," you giggled. "Might go judge whoever is playing at The Hideout."

"I wish I could come with you," he sighed. "It sounds so much fun."

"Promise when you're a little older. I'll bring you and we can even make a bingo sheet out of it."

"What would we put on the bingo!?" His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Well, stuff like, ‘did the singer's voice crack’, or ‘did he sing a wrong note’, or ‘did the guitarist mess up his chord?’ Oh! I forgot to tell you, last time I went, a band that came from Arizona was playing and the drummer threw up on his snare."

"Ew!"

"Yeah, it was disgusting. The whole band had to stop playing and the show was canceled."

"I'm surprised that you haven't met anyone there," Dustin sighed as he watched you put the cupcakes in the oven. 

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you always said that the boys in high school are unwashed miscreants," you giggled at the fact that he remembered your words. "You must have met someone cool at this bar."

"How many times must I tell you that I'm not interested in dating?" You laughed. 

"But everyone is! Dating can be fun!"

"Not everyone, Henderson." Steve's voice came from the doorway. "Y/n is a peculiar breed of mean girl. No boy would even be interested in her, they're all terrified of her or either think she's a loser." Steve made an ‘L’ with his index and thumb, bringing it to his forehead as he poked his tongue out to you.

Steve thought you'd be in a better mood after he saw you laugh with Dustin, that you'd joke back like you always did, but when your eyes met his, your gaze became cold again. You were glaring daggers at him when he reached for the orange juice in the fridge.

"That's not true! She's like the coolest person on earth!" Dustin argued and a mocking chuckle came from your brother. Dustin's eyes were wide and angry as he looked at Steve pouring himself a glass and placing the bottle back in the fridge. The younger boy burned a hole in the back of Steve’s head before he disappeared into the living room.

"Don't listen to him," Dustin grumbled. "I would definitely ask you out if I was older!" That made you laugh; the hurt that started forming in your chest dissipated with his words.

"Well, thank you. But I do get asked out." ‘Especially recently,’ you thought. "I'm just not interested," You could see in his eyes he still didn’t take that as an answer. "Alright, my young padawan," you changed the subject and ruffled his hair. "Enough boy talk. Let's finish up your homework while these cupcakes bake."

~

"Why are you acting like this?" Steve's head poked from over your shoulder.

"Why am I acting like what?" 

"You've been in a bad mood ever since Tuesday morning," Steve sat beside you by the kitchen counter. He quickly eyed what you were doing and saw your neatly written paper with all the answers to the history questions Mr. Click had assigned. Steve grabbed it but you quickly snatched it away.

"You're really asking me why I'm acting like this? Steve, you've been bugging me all week because you think I'm the answer to all your problems!" You dropped your pen in frustration. "It's not my fault you didn't do your English homework and it's not my fault you got shitty grades so now you're not allowed to get a girlfriend. And you're certainly not going to copy my history homework. You didn't even want to pay for my car and you were basically bullying me in front of the boy I babysit."

"But I always bully you," he pointed it out as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Saying it like his words were meaningless sibling banter and not him reinforcing ideas everyone thought. "And you said it yourself, the guy didn't even make you pay for the repair!"

"That's not the point! You have to stop acting like the things you do are my problem; stop asking me to get a fucking boyfriend and to read a book for you! And stop snooping around my work!" You almost screamed. 

Steve was glad your parents were away at Enzo's for dinner because he would have gotten a really long lecture about bribing you to get a boyfriend and he didn't need that right now.

"But you won't get a boyfriend so now I'm stuck home on a Friday night."

"Wow, is that so bad?" You mocked before aggressively grabbing all of your pens and shoving them in your pencil case, stacking your papers before taking everything in your arms and walking up to your room.

"No! Don't leave!" 

"Then stop annoying me!" You screamed from the top of the staircase. He heard your loud steps stomping the ground before your door closed with a loud thud and the small clicking of your lock.

You dropped your books and homework on your desk, sighing when you turned the lights on. Frustration burning in your veins, you turned your radio on and brought the volume as high as you could. 

The start of Rainbow in the Dark started playing.

It was therapy. It was a cool cloth on the back of your neck on a hot day. Most of all, it was the remedy to tune Steve out and the world around you went silent sans the music that raced the airwaves of your room. 

Steve could faintly hear it from the living room but chose to ignore it. This time, he will not give you the satisfaction of being annoyed.

You hummed the lyrics to yourself as you went through your bag, cleaning the empty wrappers and menial scraps that had accumulated through the week. You opened your planner and scanned around the homework for Monday.

Math

English

History

Spanish

You made the list as you went through the stack of textbooks on your desk and neatly placed the ones you needed on the side. You were about to turn around and decide which tape you wanted to listen to after this one when a knock came to your window.

You thought that you heard wrong. Maybe it was a chord in the song you hadn't noticed before. But when the sound of a rock hitting the glass struck again, this time you had the visual. It was a surprise you could still hear the soft clink over the loud music, and as you stepped to get closer, another one clashed with the glass.

You pushed the window up, Dio now playing loud and clear in the cool night air. You looked down to be faced with the last person you expected to see.

"Munson?" You raised an eyebrow. "I thought I told you to stop bothering me?"

"You haven't actually said those words," He echoed from down below. 

He had a large smile on his face. His hair was loose and going wild while he was wearing a dark blue shirt that was ripped on the side–you knew you had seen the same shirt somewhere. Skinny jeans of matching color with chains dangling everywhere and purple reeboks complete the look.

It was a look. A completely chaotic, mismatched look that he made work because it was uniquely him. 

The light from your window spread a glow over his features as he played with an additional pebble in his hand. For a second, you caught yourself thinking he was handsome. You found yourself shoving away the same weird feeling that had popped up after seeing him at the garage beside your car.

"What are you doing here?"

"I want to take you out," he beamed, dropping the pebble and taking a step closer to your window when the chorus of the song echoed louder through the air.

"I have homework to do."

"C'mon, it's Friday night, please?" He pouted, big brown eyes looking at you like a lost puppy. "I'm playing at The Hideout in 30 minutes, please just come. My van is parked a street away. Doesn't have to be a date."

"You never give up don't you?"

"No," he smirked.

You thought for a second. Dustin's words echoed from earlier: ‘dating can be fun.’ Maybe you could allow yourself just one night at the seedy bar where you would lose your shell. Maybe you could give Eddie Munson the chance to show you who he was behind all the rumors and 'scary' facade.

"I'll come with you on one condition," you levied at him and there was a spark of surprise that washed over his eyes. 

"That is…?" He could feel the plan working. He could feel you giving in to him. 

"Free drinks."

"Alright, yeah," he thought about the rest of Steve's cash stashed in the door of his van. "Deal." 

"Give me a second to change, I'll be right back." You closed the window, then curtains before scurrying off to your closet.

Eddie was in it for the cash. That's what he told himself going into the deal, and that's what he had to remind himself when he watched you climb out of your window as Holy Diver played from your stereo and your feet hit the grass. You were wearing white pants. They were ripped almost everywhere and a chain was hooked to the one side, almost matching the way Eddie's wore his own. Black boots and a loose Metallica shirt brought the look together in some fever dream he was immersing himself in. 

Eddie bit back a smile, nodding towards your shirt, "you have a great taste in music."

"I know." You looked at him up and down. "Is that Kirk Hammett's shirt from that cover of Rolling Stone they did two months ago?" You had noticed it when you came to your room and your eyes landed on said magazine.

"Maybe," he smirked. "Might have made it myself when the cover came out."

"Well, it's very nice. Suits you." For a second, you almost thought he looked like him. The same hair, eyes, and cheeky grin. Your heart doing a loop in your chest when you were starting to compare them; the guitar, being in a band. You shook the thought away quicker than it came and walked past him, turning back around when he didn't follow. "C'mon, what are you waiting for?"

"Nothing," Eddie smiled, dipping his chin into his chest before shaking his head and catching up to you.

"Are your parents not going to notice you're gone?"

"They're at dinner. They'll probably assume I'm sleeping by the time they're back."

"And your brother?"

"Nah. I turned the lights off, and the music will stop eventually. He'll have just about an hour left of Dio before he can have his peace."

"Sneaky."

You had never really noticed Eddie's van before. White with blue stripes and the smell of weed permanently stuck to its seats. It was oddly clean on the inside–with no stray papers or candy wrappers laying around like in yours. A guitar pick was dangling from the rear mirror and a bobblehead dragon stood on top of a dash like those Hula girls. 

"I like the dragon," you noticed, tapping the top of his head with your fingers to see it move.

"Thanks. I won it at the arcade."

"You go to the arcade?"

"Yeah! Like all the time."

"Me too," you smiled to yourself, watching as he fixed his shirt when he settled in his seat.

"What proves to me that you weren't sent by my brother, the devil spawn?" You narrowed your eyes at him as he closed the door. Eddie's heart squeezing in his chest at the question, his hands began to sweat. You were smart. Really, really smart.

"Sweetheart,” the nickname fell from his tongue as if it were second nature, “you really think your brother would even think of talking to me?" That made you laugh. "I'm sure the idea in itself makes him shit his pants." 

It did. But that was before Steve realized Eddie wasn't doing ritual sacrifices on the floor of the drama room.

"Yeah, you're right, sorry to assume," you laughed. "Just thought that maybe he would get really desperate and send the only guy in Hawkins who wouldn't be scared of me." Dammit you were smart. And if Eddie hadn't had as much acting practice from playing Dungeons and fucking Dragons he probably would have been busted the second the question left your lips.

"You don't have that much self-confidence do you?" Eddie narrowed his eyes and looked right at you, trying too hard to change the subject. "Look at you! You really think guys don't want to ask you out, just… because?"

You shrugged and played with the dragon's head again, watching it go up and down every time you touched it. "It's not that I don't, it's just… I'm not very approachable. People are usually scared of me and call me a heinous bitch. Steve gracefully reminds me of it every single day. Either that or they want to date me to be friends with 'Mr. King of Hawkins High',” 

"Well, I definitely don't want to be friends with him," Eddie shook his head, making a weird face at the thought. "And I'm no picnic myself," his soft laugh echoed across the little space. 

"Yeah, we both have a reputation, don't we?" You scrunched up your nose.

"Definitely," he grinned like it was the best badge a person could wear. "And for the record, I don't think you are a heinous bitch," He smiled, a real genuine smile that definitely wasn't an act. "I think you're very cool, Harrington. I don't know how I hadn't noticed you earlier," he meant it.

"You think I'm cool despite the fact that Steve ‘The Hair’ is my brother?" You raised an eyebrow.

"Despite that."

"Well, I think you're pretty cool too," a stare lingered a little bit too long between the two of you, causing Eddie to clear his throat and put his focus on starting the van.

"You know, never in the world did I think that ‘The Hair's’ sister would listen to Black Sabbath and Dio and like Star Wars."

"Why would you think that?" You smiled because to you, the assumption that you didn’t like any of those things was ridiculous. You wore shirts, listened to the music at near full volume through the hallways, and made it no secret that you weren’t afraid of liking the things you did just because some people found them ‘odd.’

"Because you're Steve Harrington's little sister?"

"So, you think I'm like my brother?"

"Oh, Christ, no. But, I thought you might be. Imagined you to be like a cheerleader of something until I realized that the second Harrington was the girl terrorizing everyone she crosses paths with."

"Jesus," You chuckled. "Imagine me dancing with pom poms."

"Now that's a sight I'd love to see."

"No,” you shook your head amused, “I would look ridiculous."

"I'm sure you'd look amazing."

"I would be a laughing stock! Then people wouldn't be scared of me anymore and where's the fun in that?"

"Yeah," Eddie chuckled with you. That was a fair assessment on your behalf. You weren’t the cheerleading type. 

When he parked on the familiar grounds of The Hideout, he reached up for the switch, the small ceiling light making your eyes blink as they adjusted to it.

Eddie leaned toward you to open the glove box. Hand over your knees, he popped open the compartment and his hand barely grazed them as he reached into it. As he rummaged through it, he found a spare ring in the process. Eddie didn't hesitate to wear it on his one ring free finger the second his eyes landed on it. 

"Ah-ha!" He smiled when he found what he was searching for. A long thin black tube was between his fingers that made your eyebrows raise high. 

"Eyeliner?"

"What? Every rock star wears it." You laughed at the idea of Eddie putting on eyeliner, but it died on your lips when you realized he was being serious and started applying it around his eyes. "Don't look at me like that! Axl Rose wears eyeliner all the time!"

"Yeah, you're right. Axl Rose does wear eyeliner," you smiled at Eddie's comparison to him. Watching his movements as he looked at his eyes through the rear mirror. He definitely wasn't an eye-liner expert; the start of his lines were messy and he was making everything uneven.  

For a long minute, he looked like a panda and had to rub some off the black with his fingers. It was far from perfect, but he seemed happy with it. 

"How do I look?" He gave an award winning, teeth baring grin when he fully turned to face you. 

Now, if you from Monday asked yourself what you thought you would be doing on Friday night, the last thing that would have crossed your mind would have been sitting in the parking of The Hideout with Eddie Munson, gaping at him like a fish as he turned to you with the most adorable grin you had ever seen, wearing eyeliner and comparing himself to your two favorite musicians, and every word dying in the back of your throat as the same unknown feeling that had now crossed you twice upon gazing at him came back.

"Good," you attempted but your words came out in a mumble, blinking the shock away. "You look good. A real rock star." In all truths, he looked really really good. So good you wondered how you had never noticed it before, especially from all your past trips to The Hideout.

Surely you would have noticed someone you went to school with or someone who looked like that. 

"Great," he smiled even wider, grabbing the pick necklace from his rearview mirror. "Can't forget the lucky charm,” he winked before opening the door of his van and jumping out.

The Hideout was familiar. 

Always the same people flocking to the little joint apart from a few new faces that changed every weekend. The same dark ambiance and washed-out lighting, the same pool table with the same five drunks playing every weekend and sometimes on Thursdays after the monster truck race outside of town. 

It wasn't crowded. It never was. But on Fridays, there were always enough people to consider it a crowd, causing a cheerful spirit to hang in the air. Even Madame Bijoux seemed happier on Friday nights. Maybe it was the only day of the week she and the people of Hawkins forgot she was a French woman that came to the bar every day at six, drinking whiskey while wearing all of the jewels she owned and claiming she was waiting for her long-lost love to come back. 

It was some Shakespearean tale playing out before your eyes each week. 

She was a treasure, practically a ghost from another world but she sat drinking her whiskey with a mystical whimsy about her. Those jewels, the long-lost love… it was all too good to be true most days. 

The same stage stood in the back, a banner with Corroded Coffin written in black doubled with red, hung on the side. One of the boys you knew to be in advanced English was still working on setting up his drum set.

But you didn't know why this time everything felt different.

Maybe it was because this time you hadn't gone alone. This time you were accompanied by the leader of its band who played there three times a month. Or that you had suddenly found him handsome and your mind became a mess of thoughts and your body was vibrating with unknown feelings. It certainly didn't help that his eyes wouldn't leave you as you made your way through the small crowd to reach the stage.

"That's Gareth," Eddie pointed at his friend once you were close enough to see. "He's a Freshman and a smartass."

"Is that why he's the only Freshman in advanced English?"

"Exactly why,” He nodded. "Joined Corroded Coffin last year when our drummer graduated."

"Question, why are you in advanced English?"

"They said that it would gain me more points. That I'd have a better chance of graduating if I took it." 

"How’s that working out for you?"

"Horribly," Eddie chuckled, waving hello to someone behind your shoulder before continuing. "Definitely quitting at the end of the year. They can shove their extra points up their asses."

"Awww, and I won't get to stare at your empty seat for hours every week? What. A. Shame." Your words brought a fighting smile to Eddie's lips. 

"Yeah, sadly. My sincerest apologies," he smirked, "but the year isn't over. Maybe I can think of showing up so you can stare at something more interesting than an empty chair."

"You would do that for me?" You gasped. "I'm impressed."

"You should be."

"This is bad," Oliver leaned his chin in the palm of his hand, his fingers covering his mouth as he sighed.

"You realize you say this every time you see them talk or we mention her?" Jeff side-eyed his friend before looking back to the two of you from their spot. They were standing in the back of the room, right near the stage–a place perfect for spying the crowd.

"Yeah," Oliver nodded, "but I'm saying it because it's true."

"You know the worst that can come out of this is Eddie having to take a trip to the emergency room?"

"No," he shook his head, blonde hair moving with him. "It's his heart I'm worried about."

"His heart?" 

"Think about it. Y/n has always been described the same way people have always described Eddie. It's a mystery they weren't friends before this," Oliver crossed his arms. "Eddie asked Steve to gather up some info on her–I read it and Eddie doesn't see it, but they're practically soulmates."

"Oh."

"And her celebrity crush is Kirk Hammett"

"Oh."

"Yeah!"

"This is bad."

"It's very, very bad. I know Eddie. He wears his heart on his sleeve and cares too much. He's going to end up falling for her, I can already see it happening! Her too, and then when she finds out her brother paid him it's going to be like an atomic bomb going off. She's never going to forgive him and we’re all going to burn along with him." 

Jeff didn't have the words to reply. He continued watching the two of you from a distance; Eddie had just made a joke, his face sparkling with joy. You were laughing loudly, the sound barely audible in between the chatter, and Eddie was definitely blushing. 

Oliver watched, almost angry at the situation when Eddie placed the hand that wasn't holding the guitar strapped on his back in place on your back to escort you through a cluster of people. 

Both your laughters became audible when you were just a step away.

"Hey guys!" Eddie turned his head to face his friends. His features lit with something more than usual–Oliver didn't like one bit of it. 

"Hey," you greeted them with a shy wave.

"Guys, this is Y/n," Eddie pointed to you, both of them giving small waves in return. "This is Oliver, he's on second guitar," Oliver stiffly nodded. You could feel the cold in his eyes upon eye contact, as if he didn't want you here. It made you awkwardly look away towards Jeff, but that didn't help the awkwardness you were feeling. 

"Um, that's Jeff," Eddie's voice became low as he said it, knowing your past interaction with the boy. You gave another awkward wave but he just glared at you. Great, you definitely did not feel welcomed by his friends.

"I'll have to leave you here," Eddie turned back to you, gloriously saving the moment from turning into an awkward silence. "Need to get ready with the band."

"That's alright. I'll go find a seat and get something to drink," you smiled, a warm smile that warmed Eddie's heart. His gaze followed you until you were lost in the sea of people.

"You should flirt less," Oliver said before looking back to his guitar, fixing the strap before placing it around his shoulders. 

"Huh?" His words took Eddie by surprise.

"You should: Flirt. Less." He repeated, accentuating the words with each syllable. "Can’t have her really think this is going to lead to a real relationship," Eddie blinked at his friend's words.

"Have you seen the way she is around me?" Eddie pointed to the crowd as if pointing to you. "I don't think she's even close to thinking about actually dating," Eddie scoffed and brushed the words off his shoulder.

"Are you blind?" Oliver’s eyes went wide. Did he not just see the way he was laughing with you? Or acting around you? The way he touched you and blushed and made your own person radiate an energy Oliver only associated with the magical powers of flirtation and charm. 

"What?"

"Nevermind," Oliver had enough. If Eddie wanted to put himself in this situation, then he would let him.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Eddie raised his voice as Oliver walked towards the stage and away from him. 

"Nothing. You should set up your guitar and mic. We play in five."

You had seen Corroded Coffin play a hundred times. And each and everyone of these times you knew they were getting better. Each new song they wrote dripped of a new skill, stronger lyrics, and more passionate skillful music. As the band got older, the songs got better. They were all goddamn talented and from the hundreds of other bands you had seen play in this shitty bar, you knew that they had a better chance than anyone else who stepped on the bumpy wooden planks of this stage to become big. 

But when the lights went out and everyone started cheering, it felt like you had never seen them before.

The first chords of Eddie's guitar rang through the darkness like a ship finding its port in your soul. You recognized their most recent title: 'Walking in the Dark' . The song started with a guitar solo, almost slow, melancholic, until the whole song was flipped upside down and it became worthy to be featured in a Metallica album.

When the second chord started after a beat, the spotlight set on Eddie. And maybe it was the sip of beer you had just taken, but chills climbed up your shoulders as he started to play. He looked so focused, more than he could ever look while fixing cars just for extra cash. Your eyes lit up as you watched him play the most difficult part of the riff. His hair was going crazy, crazier than ten minutes earlier when you were still by his side and a small smile crossed your cheeks when he shook his head in a poor attempt to move strands of hair away from his face.

People cheered when the rest of the band started to play, and the lights came back in on rhythm with the music. When Eddie started singing, a few drunks joined in like they were singing along to their favorite song. Corroded Coffin having become a staple of the joint, the most fidel clientele had started to know most of the lyrics by heart–you included. 

And you hadn’t even realized that this Eddie had been one you admired from afar every time they played, three times a month. 

The whole place lit up like fire. The crowd was chaotic–as chaotic as a crowd of drunk Hawkins residents and travelers who had stopped at a motel for the weekend could be. People were raising their drinks with the music, and you felt yourself enjoying the show more than you had in a very long time.You never wanted it to stop.

But everything good had to come to an end. As your beer decreased in its glass, Corroded Coffin’s setlist came to an end. The crowd of singers became smaller, and the alcohol in their veins augmented with time. A fight that had broken out over a spilt drink was taken outside, and the wood on Gareth's drumsticks was periodically chipping away, threatening to split in half with every hard beat.  

The last notes rang through the bar and the seven lonely drunks left on the makeshift dance floor attempted to clap, accompanied by the few tables that were finishing up their drinks or food that was left over from their dinner's, the waiters and of course; you.

The entire band was catching their breath, smiling at each other and sharing 'we did well' looks. You watched from your spot at the bar as Eddie shook his head and wiped the sweat of his forehead with the back of his hand. He had the brightest smile and you couldn't help but mimic the sight when his eyes met yours from across the room. 

Five minutes later, he was standing right next to you, ordering beers for the entire band and another for you.

"So, you like it?" 

"Better than other times. You guys are getting better," you smiled, your hand fiddling with your empty glass. 

"That's because this time I knew you were in the crowd," he winked, his smile burning even brighter than before. He dropped a ten dollar bill on the cold surface as the women behind the counter handed him the five glasses.

"On the house," she smiled and Eddie was glad you hadn't noticed the way he flinched when he had to repocket the bill he was trying to get rid off. 

"Thanks," he nodded, trying his best for his smile not to look fake before turning to you. "Will you help me? The rest are sitting at that booth over there," he pointed with his head, already grabbing two beers and holding the third one by the tip of his fingers in between the two others.

You grabbed the last two before following him.

"You sure you don't want to be alone for your date?" Oliver stated a bit too dryly when you carefully placed the beers on the table. 

"Oh this isn't a date" you smiled, your tone directly opposite from his. 

"It isn't?" 

"No, I refuse to date in high school," you sat down, Eddie sliding into the booth next to you. 

"Then what are you doing here?" He narrowed his eyes.

"First of all, I'm not new to The Hideout. I come here all the time. I was there when you fainted on stage two months ago," you pointed to Oliver with your drink before taking a sip.

"Holy shit! I remember that! It was so embarrassing," Gareth chuckled in between beer sips. 

"Secondly, I came here with him so he would stop bugging me," you nudged Eddie's shoulder. 

"Is that so? Is it not because you find me incredibly handsome?" He put on a fake offended look, placing a hand to his heart. 

"No," you giggled. "Sorry to bruise your ego" 

"My ego is very bruised" 

"You'll recover"

"I don't think I can."

Oliver looked away, his look just getting colder. Eddie seemed to notice, looking at him inexplicably before glancing back at Gareth. Oliver and Jeff might have been giving you the cold shoulder, but conversation flowed naturally with the youngest member of the band. 

Around an hour into the conversation, Jeff left. ‘Curfew at 1 am’ were his words before he walked out without even giving you a proper goodbye. But Oliver stuck around, despite the bad feeling that rested at the pit of his stomach when seeing how much you and Eddie got along.

"Wait! So you actually kicked Kevin in the balls?" Gareth held his stomach to try and stop from laughing. 

"YEAH!" You laughed with him. "He was being rude to Barb and I think that he hasn’t removed his jock strap since."

"You’re a menace!" 

"Kids, as much as I love hearing your laughter and enjoy seeing people have a good time, we're closing up,” the waitress you knew as Clara pointed to the clock on the wall. 3:30 am. 

Your eyes went wide, you had never spent that long at The Hideout before. You all looked at each other, Gareth's eyes went to his drum set with a desperate sigh. 

"I'll help you put it in your trunk," Oliver said as he finished off the rest of his glass.

"We can help too!" You proposed but Gareth shook his head no. 

"No, go home. Don’t worry about it."

"Are you sure?" 

"Yeah." 

"It would go faster if we helped." 

“Don’t worry about it,” Oliver’s stiff words snatched the smile right off of your lips and Eddie placed a hand on your shoulder.

“They’ll be fine,” he turned to you with a tired smile. "C’mon, “I’ll go grab my guitar and I'll bring you home."

"You better because you're the one who drove me here," you joked, making him smile a bit wider. 

It was so easy to keep smiling without remembering every second was based on a bet. 

Eddie kept the grin on his face as he walked towards the stage, removing his instrument from its stand before shouldering it. 

Your gaze fell back to Oliver and Gareth who were still planted in front of you. Oliver was still glaring icy daggers at you while Gareth just smiled. A sweet smile that made Oliver’s gaze less terrifying.

“I’ll see you guys tomorrow?” Eddie asked as he came back towards you. 

“Yep, bye!” Oliver waved you both off before running off towards the stage.

“What’s up with him?” Eddie asked Gareth who gave him his best shrug of the shoulders. 

“I don’t know.” That was a lie, and he was glad Eddie was preoccupied with you or else he would have seen right through it.

“Weird,” he looked at his friend who was battling with a screw from the drum set. “Shall we?” He turned back to you.

“Yep.”

“Bye!”

“Bye Y/n!” Gareth’s smile warmed the cold of Oliver’s goodbye.

Eddie’s hand didn’t leave the small of your back until he had to push the big two doors open. A breeze came rushing in, making you instantly shiver.

"Fuck, I should have taken a sweater," you had somehow forgotten you were barely at the start of spring and that the air was still cold and called for layers.

"I think I have one in the van," Eddie said as he watched you rub your shoulders with both your palms.

"No, it's alright-"

Before you could protest, he opened the back and carefully strapped his guitar to the side before rummaging through a big green bag he always kept there. Eddie fished a balled up sweatshirt from it. 

"Here," there was a sincerity in his words that you couldn’t protest. As the cool spring air passed you by once more, a new shiver was sent tumbling down your spine. 

"Thanks," you took the black washed out fabric in your hands before placing one arm in each and hooking it over your head. The end of the sleeves were ripped, and small holes were at the edges of the neck, but you didn't mind. It smelt so much like him it almost made you swoon. And you weren’t a swooner. Weed and cigarettes mixed in with his cologne that smelt like wood and cinnamon. You even put the cuff of the sleeve up to your nose when he wasn't looking. But you weren't going to admit that.

The ride was peacefully quiet. Eddie hummed something you didn’t recognize. You thought it may have been a new song he was working on. The dragon’s head on the dashboard was going up and down almost in rhythm to his music as the van made its way in the direction of your house. Everything felt so perfect you had to do your best to stop from dozing off from pure contentment that washed over you as the dark, early morning streetlights fluttering in and out every second his van sped down the road. 

Everything was peaceful, relaxing, and absolute against your better judgment. You weren’t used to feeling this way, let alone willing yourself to reflect on the emotions that surged through your veins every moment spent in his presence. 

“I’m sure he’ll come around,” You blinked the sleep away as the words fell out of his mouth. You looked at him, questions as to who was written all over your features. “Oliver. I don’t know why he was so cold.”

“It’s alright,” You looked at the trees passing by. “You know I’m used to people being that way around me.”

“Hmm,” He didn’t sound convinced. Something in his eyes telling you he wasn’t happy with how his friend treated you so poorly. Jeff had a reason, but Oliver didn’t. Even Jeff had acted more civil than Oliver. 

The ride came to a stop faster than Eddie wished; parking himself in the same spot he had hours before when he picked you up.

“Thank you for the ride,” You gave him a small smile as you reached to open the door.

“You don’t think I’m going to let you walk back alone at this hour?” He raised an eyebrow and every reply was stolen from your lips. He chuckled when he saw your dumbfounded expression. “C’mon! Let’s go!” 

You stepped out of the van, the air getting colder again. Eddie’s sweatshirt suddenly felt like your best friend when another rush of wind blew. 

The forest road felt so quiet. High trees surrounding a crumbling strip of pavement Hawkins liked to call a road. A cat stood up on the gates of your neighbor’s home, glaring at you with his big eyes. Halloween was still months away. You started walking through the little gravel road that separated your parents' property with the others, Eddie ducked when some branches almost collided with his face.

"What are you doing?" You stopped as you watched him crouch next to the big rose bushes of your neighbor's home. Quickly, he stood back up, a brightness washing over him in the night as he waddled back towards you, a pink rose in his hand. Not wilted, perfectly formed. 

"I just wanted to show this rose how incredibly beautiful you are," he pointed it to you with a wide grin. He was pulling from a playbook you never heard from. 

For a golden second, you let the feeling invade you. That vulnerability of being loved, feeling appreciated. But it never lasted long with you. The years of people calling you mean and unapproachable, those words and this identity that you wore as a shield always came back. The bricks of a wall willing to crumble given the chance were fortified again, building higher and higher until you couldn’t see who was on the other side. Before the heat could be felt in your face, where it couldn’t stay for too long, you grabbed the rose and rolled your eyes. 

If you couldn’t enjoy the romance of it, you could jest the humorous aspect of it. 

"Holy hell, that's the cheesiest thing someone has ever said to me." 

"Well, you're welcome. I guess?" Eddie chuckled, pocketing his hands as he walked beside you. He wasn’t embarrassed. Eddie took that statement with pride because now he had a one up on the rest of the guys who tried to hit on you with textbook lines that made no impact at all. He would gladly take ‘cheesy.’ 

"This is my stop," You smiled. "I should probably give this back," You made a move to remove the sweatshirt from your body but Eddie shook his head.

"No, no. Keep it," You were glad it was dark because you felt the blowback of his words strike you with surprise. It was all over your face, and it was all at the thought of keeping his sweater. 

"Thanks," a light wind blew once more and you brought it a bit closer to your body. Boldness coursing through your veins, you leaned in and kissed his cheek as you prepared to depart. "I'll see you on Monday." You gave him a soft smile that brought butterflies to his stomach. He watched as you skillfully jumped over the barely three-foot high fence.

"Does that mean I can finally take you out on a real date?" 

"Maybe!" You turned around to answer him. Winking before disappearing in between the trees of the mini forest surrounding your house. 

Eddie could still spot you by the bright white of your pants, a dopey smile on his face as butterflies fluttered inside his stomach. 

And maybe he wasn’t in this just for the money. 

But the aspect that he was… well, that turned everything upside down.

Be added to my taglist

Crossed out are the ones tumblr won’t let me tag

@lepologannie @marsbars09 @princesseddie @ashyyboyy @moony-artemis @seidenbros @fckyeahlames @thatnerdygirljudy @imsouyya @nightless @yaskna @Tayhar811 @ccosmic-illusion @fandomsunited @miserablecunt @seshacoono @echo-is-worth-more-than-2000 @Peaches-and-plums-motherfucker @athenasarahsstuff @audhd-dragonaut @authorlovers @beepisbeep @efvyqrs @thewondernanazombie @trashpackbitxh @daydreaming-mood @shelbysbitchh @Mead0w @ellalafrella @toobsessedsstuff @meshlasolus @parkershoco @asiavalz @sanfransolomitatm @munsonmolls @bazpitchsotrue @aprilmia @Rain-ky @ajkamins @myshwords @angelbabyivy @mommymunson @harringt8ns @jonkentsglasses @folkwhorexx @spookygally @missmunscn @localcryptid444 @gayforandimack @tsundere-exe @levylovegood @yellenabelovaa @littlemiss-yeehaw @bibieddiesgf @gloomiigloom @darktimelegends

#Eddie Munson #Eddie Munson x reader #Eddie Munson x you #Eddie Munson x y/n #Eddie Munson imagine #Eddie Munson fan fiction #Eddie Munson fluff #Eddie Munson angst #Eddie Munson series #Eddie Munson one shots #Eddie Munson fic #stranger things #stranger things vol 2 #Joseph Quinn #Joseph Quinn x reader #Joseph Quinn x you #Joseph Quinn x y/n #Joseph Quinn imagine #Joseph Quinn fan fiction #Joseph Quinn angst #Joseph Quinn fluff #10 things i hate about you #heath ledger #stranger things season 4

[jonquilyst]

Day 1 - Socialization Day (part 2)

As the day went on, Alexis (KC) spent her time splashing in the water while Anika (KC) joined Kenzie (KC) at the campfire. So far the Killer Cowplants are getting along!

It's a little more chaotic for our Screaming Llamas, however. Terrance tricked Lilium into believing he was going to vote her out while Camden and Aster? Let's just say Aster really gets on Camden's nerve...

The contestants later gathered for meal-time at the mess hall. Poppy (SL) was the main converser at the table. Anika and Dahlia (KC) expectedly sat next to each other; these two are becoming fast friends and will likely make valuable allies of each other! Anika's growing friendship with Kenzie also might prove fruitful for them in the long-haul too. Not a bad start!

Meanwhile, Cassie (KC) was taking a real good look at Lilium...

Night fell, and Camden expressed his excitement for the competition by cheering into the sky! With the first challenge beginning tomorrow, I think he knows what's at stake and doesn't want to lose!

Lastly, in the middle of the night, Elli (SL) was unable to sleep in their bed in a room full of strangers and left the cabin to crash on the couch in the mess hall. Besides Dahlia, Elli hasn't really been interested in interacting with others...

Today's Confessional: Dahlia Grove

Every day, one contestant will express their thoughts using the confessional booth! It's actually just an outhouse toilet, but... it works!

Anyway, here's Dahlia: "Most people here aren't too bad, I don't think... After meeting Anika, I feel so happy I'm not the only one who wasn't expecting to be here. I just hope I do okay since I'm stuck here. Anika seems to know what she's gotten into, so maybe I should follow her example."

"I feel very weirded out by Cassie, though. I'm not sure what it is, but something doesn't feel right about her."

@thebramblewood @comfyinn @wastelandwhisperer @aniraklova @seyvia @simsinfinitylt @mayzie-grobe @akitasimblr @softle0 @micrathene-w @ashubii @void-critters

#Total Drama Sims #Alexis Youngblood by thebramblewood #Anika Patel by comfyinn #Kenzie Ritchie by wastelandwhisperer #Terrance Vellard by aniraklova #Lilium Pond by seyvia #Camden Reese by simsinfinitylt #Aster Ernst by mayzie-grobe #Logan West-Harper by akitasimblr #Cassie Fuller by softle0 #Poppy Sparks by micrathene-w #Dahlia Grove by ashubii #Elli Proudmoore by void-critters

[liaromancewriter]

Last Shift

Premise: It’s Cassie’s last day as a resident, and she has plans to commemorate the occasion with Ethan.

Book: Open Heart Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Cassie Valentine) Rating/Category: Teen. Fluff. Words: 1,705

A/N: Submission for @choicesprompts Rewrite Challenge. This fic is inspired by The Rookie TV show, season 3, episode 9 when Lucy runs through a relationship checklist with Tim on her last day as a rookie. I'm also using @choicesflashfics week 43, prompt 1.

The day was finally here. Three soul-crushing years of being at the beck and call of attendings. Three rewarding years of tackling the most challenging cases in medicine. Three awe-inspiring years of working with her medical hero, Dr. Ethan Ramsey.

Three years of laughter, tears, disappointments and hope. Three years of living in Boston and making it her home. Three crazy years full of shenanigans with her friends, she thought, eyeing everyone around her as they exited the T station and walked toward the hospital.

Cassie Valentine still couldn’t believe it was her last shift as a resident. Starting tomorrow (or in a few weeks since she was taking some much-deserved time off), she would be an attending physician in Edenbrook’s internal medicine department.

After much haggling, her offer letter and contract were sealed, signed and delivered. Ethan had been amused by the back and forth, but no Valentine accepted the first offer presented. Max would’ve never let her hear the end of it, and her grandfather would’ve tried to disown her again.

Still in disbelief, she reached out and pinched her friend and roomie, Jackie Varma.

“Ouch! What the fuck, Valentine?!?”

“Sorry, but I can’t believe it’s our last day as residents!” Cassie said in a sing-song voice.

“So you pinched me instead of yourself?”

“Well, yeah. If I pinched myself, how would I know it was real?”

Jackie rolled her eyes and changed places with Sienna as they neared Edenbrook’s gleaming façade. Aurora threw both of them an amused look but kept walking.

“Is Dr. Ramsey doing anything special to memorialize your last shift?” Elijah asked.

“Yes, he is. He just doesn’t know it yet,” Cassie quipped, sharing a conspiratorial wink with Sienna.

Only her besties were aware of the list she’d prepared with steps one should take to ensure a healthy parting in a relationship. She’d found it in one of her Psychology textbooks and decided it was the perfect way to mark the end of this stage in her career.

Once inside the hospital, they split off to their respective floors after making plans to meet for lunch. Their last one together as residents, Cassie thought, getting teary-eyed at the thought.

Technically speaking, most of them were staying here. Jackie was Chief Resident for a second year, Sienna would start as a senior Pediatrics resident, and Elijah staying on as a researcher.

Bryce still had one more year in his surgical residency and would likely remain at Edenbrook for a fellowship. Only Aurora was leaving to work across town at Mass Kenmore.

“Are you getting emotional again, Rookie?” Ethan teased when she walked through the Diagnostic Team’s glass doors, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.

Last night at the graduation ceremony and dinner, he took great pleasure in needling her about getting sentimental. Her parents and Max had flown in for the occasion. Their effusive pride in her accomplishment was dampened by Ethan’s uber-rationality.

“When I was your age, I couldn’t wait for my residency to finish,” Ethan said, leaning back in his chair.

“I’m excited. Believe me,” Cassie said. “But I also know the importance of acknowledging your loss when going through something like this.”

“Acknowledging your loss?” Ethan looked wary. “Is this from one of your online pop psychology quizzes?”

“Funny you should say that,” she said eagerly, pulling up a list on her phone. “One should follow a series of steps to ensure a relationship ends amicably. We are going to work through every single one of them. Today.”

“Are you breaking up with me? Was I just a residency fling?” Ethan said morosely, gazing at his fingernails.

“What? No, of course not,” Cassie tripped over her tongue, shocked.

“I hope you know by now how much you mean to me,” he said, his expression crestfallen.

“I do, completely.” Cassie felt her heart hitch at the thought of their personal relationship ending. “Ethan…”

Anguished, she started to reach for him, stopping mid-step when he looked her straight in the eye and smirked nastily.

“Gotcha!”

“You’re such an ass,” she shrieked.

“You know nothing’s changing tomorrow except your title, right?” he said reasonably, coming out from behind the desk to stand before her, arms crossed.

“Not true,” Cassie said, disgruntled at how obtuse Ethan could sometimes be.

“Well, yes,” Ethan nodded. “You might get one of the closet-sized offices reserved for new attendings instead of squatting in mine.”

“So, you won’t miss working with me at all?” Cassie said skeptically, waving away the second part of his statement.

“No.”

“Mm. Denial. Check,” Cassie hummed, ticking the item on her phone.

“Besides,” Ethan continued, ignoring her comment, “your new inflated contract, one you spent weeks negotiating, guarantees you a permanent spot on the Diagnostics Team. You’ll likely spend most of your day here.” He paused for dramatic effect. “With me. Like you’ve done for the last two years!”

“Okay, we’ve moved on to anger. This is progress.”

Ethan threw his hands up in frustration and turned away to grab files off his desk.

“Put your list away,” he ordered. “Baz and Tobias should be here shortly. We have a new case. The patient is being transferred from Portland Memorial.”

“Might as well,” Cassie grumbled, taking her seat at the conference table. “The next step is to surround yourself with people who support, value and energize you.”

“I’m offended,” Ethan shot back. “I support, value and energize you plenty. Or did you forget where my mouth was last Saturday night?”

Before Cassie could retort, the door slid open, and the team filed in. She threw Ethan a vexed look that promised retribution and switched her attention to the case.

It was late afternoon by the time she had a moment free. Desperate for coffee, she texted Ethan to check if he wanted to join her at Derry’s. He texted back a thumb’s up emoji, and five minutes later, they met in the atrium to head out together.

“What’s next on your list?” he asked curiously, folding her hand in his as they strolled down the street and cut through the square with its manicured pathways.

Cassie reached for her phone and pulled up the notes app with one hand. “Reflect on the lessons learned — good and the bad — and express gratitude.

“Okay. So what have I taught you?”

“Not to second-guess myself,” Cassie acknowledged. “I was so scared of you my first day as an intern. When Annie coded, you berated me, telling me I should think seriously about becoming a doctor. That sent me into a tailspin, and it took me months to feel like I could do this. Thank you for not giving up on me.”

With a grin, she tapped the phone and turned the screen so Ethan could see the checklist. “Four down, one more to go!”

He rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything.

They arrived at Derry’s, and Ethan stepped aside to hold open the door for her. For the next half-hour, they put the list and work aside and simply enjoyed their coffee date and each other’s company.

Finally, it was the end of her shift. True to form, she’d spent every minute of her last day as a resident doing precisely what she loved. And with the best people imaginable.

“Good job, everyone,” Ethan said to the team gathered in the office. “I’ll send a copy of the treatment plan to the referring attending at Portland Memorial. Clock out and have a good night.”

Cassie exchanged pleasantries with Baz as Tobias saluted goodbye.

“I’m buying you a round at Donahue’s,” Baz said, smiling. “See you there?”

“Absolutely. I have to empty my locker, but should be there in thirty.”

With a wave to Ethan, he joined Tobias in the hallway. Heads together in discussion, the two of them disappeared from view.

“We did it!” Cassie clapped her hands, rubbing them in glee.

“No, you did it,” Ethan commented, handing her an envelope.

“What’s this?”

“My evaluation of your entire residency,” he said, leaning against the front of his desk. “As you know, I’m not allowed to formally evaluate you, given our personal relationship. But, nothing stops me from doing it informally.”

Cassie stared at the envelope but didn’t open it. She hadn’t admitted to herself until now how much she needed this. She had come to Edenbrook to learn from this man, and despite everything, she needed Doctor Ramsey’s approval. Not just Ethan’s.

“Everything okay?” he asked, concerned.

She nodded. With a deep breath, she tore open the envelope and unfolded the piece of paper inside to read the words aloud.

“Dr. Cassie Valentine, MD, is the best diagnostician I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. The Diagnostics Team and its mission couldn’t be in better hands.”

“Thank you,” Cassie said, tearing up again, much to Ethan’s chagrin.

“I couldn’t be the doctor I am today if you hadn’t mentored or challenged me to excel.” She squeezed his hand to let him know how much she appreciated him. “I’ve learned to trust my medical instincts, even if it’s not how you would do it. And I found my own path to being a doctor, just like you said I would the night we lost Dolores.”

“You’re welcome,” he straightened from the desk and framed her face between his hands. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Not even me.”

“Acceptance. Our checklist is complete,” she said with a watery smile before adding. “I have something for you too.”

Cassie reached inside the pocket of her white coat and handed Ethan a small envelope. He stared at it quizzically, turning it over, trying to guess what was inside.

“Open it!” she said, steepling her fingers under her chin, practically vibrating from excitement.

“What the fu—"

She laughed uproariously as Ethan stared in confusion inside the envelope. He quirked one eyebrow and held out the four one-dollar bills she’d stuffed in there.

“One dollar for each year of private lessons and a dollar tip.”

With a wink and a pat on his cheek, Cassie left the Diagnostics Team office for the last time as a resident and junior fellow with a jaunty spring in her step.

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

All Fics & Edits: @annfg8 @bluebelle08 @coffeeheartaddict2 @crazy-loca-blog @doriopenheart @genevievemd @headoverheelsforramsey @lucy-268 @jamespotterthefirst @jerzwriter @lady-calypso @mainstreetreader @peonierose @potionsprefect @queencarb @quixoticdreamer16 @rookiemartin @socalwriterbee @takemyopenheart @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction

Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Ethan & Cassie only: @cariantha @custaroonie @hopelessromantic1352 @mrs-ramsey @youlookappropriate

#open heart #ethan ramsey #open heart fanfics #playchoices #open heart fanficton #open heart choices #choices fic writers creations #cfwc fics of the week #choices fanfics #choices fanfiction #ethan ramsey x mc #ethan ramsey x cassie valentine #writers on tumblr #short story

[fckinwild-kiwi]

Dec. 13th: Comfort in His Voice

Day 13: Laundry Day/Just Can’t Sleep

Guys, I’ve made it to Day THIRTEEN!! of @comp-lady’s Domestic December writing challenge!

Warnings: Maybe Swearing, *Slight* Allusions to Smut (This is an 18+ blog, minors dni)  Word Counts: 0.8k+ Words Pairings: Steve Harrington x Reader

The relationship with Steve, though new, felt natural in a way that brought us both comfort. So much so that sleeping over felt like second nature. It was not often that we found ourselves in separate beds. And even though I still lived at my parent’s house, we ended up splitting the nights pretty equally between our houses. Even though Steve was concerted at first he began to realize that my parents understood that we were both adults and we stayed respectful of their boundaries. Physical intimacy was always something I thought you found within sex. I realized though, the physical intimacy that I craved the most was feeling the weight of his body pressed against mine, no sex on the horizon, just comfort from each other’s touch.

There was something so beautiful in recognizing that, while the sex was extraordinary, it was not the most important part of the relationship. It didn’t compare to knowing that your emotional needs were being met and that you were an equal in the relationship. 

I struggled with falling asleep on nights when we found ourselves at separate houses. I craved the comfort and feeling only Steve could provide when we shared a bed. Tonight, Steve was taking Robin and Eddie to a dive bar in the neighboring town, I decided to stay home because I had to work early the next day. But here it was, 1:30 in the morning with no sleep in my future. The bar had to have been closed or close to closing so I took my chances in calling Steve, hoping his voice would help me find comfort.

After six rings, I heard a voice on the other end, “Hello?”

“Stevie?”

“Baby,” He sighed out. “What’s wrong?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” I whispered in the receiver. “Missed you too much. How was your night?”

“I missed you too, baby,” He echoed. “Robin went crazy, the alcohol she drank tonight must have given her a personality change because she suddenly had the most confidence known to woman-kind.”

“Really?” I questioned, giggling at his excitement. “What happened?”

“She had three shots and decided that she found the love of her life, she walked right up to this woman, and within a few minutes they were making out, in front of everyone!”

“No way that was Robin,” I argued. She was a comically shy person in public but with our group of friends she was exceptionally outgoing, I was so happy to hear about her willingness to believe in herself. 

“Oh yeah, so she left with her about an hour later and Eddie decided that he was going to sing karaoke but he was also three shots deep and it didn’t take long for them to kick him off the stage because he was hogging the mic,” Steve said, beginning to laugh at the memory he was sharing. “He took a few more sad shots and then I gathered him up and took him home.”

“Wow, that’s a quick night for you guys,” I continued whispering. “Did you have fun at least?”

“Oh yeah, I did,” Steve reassured me. “I would have had more fun with you there to make fun of Eddie with me.”

“You need to be nicer to him, be a better wingman,” I reprimanded. 

“I know,” Steve sighed into the receiver. “I’ll be better. How was your day today and night?”

“It was fine,” I started. “My boss was on my ass about the new product and its layout for the holidays. I have to finish the setup tomorrow. Dad grilled some hamburgers for dinner and we watched ‘Wheel of Fortune’ after dinner. Some real party animal shit.”

“I hope your day at work goes better today, honey,” Steve said. “If it makes you feel any better, I work the late shift today so I’ll have to do all the restocking and cold calls to remind people to pay their late fees.”

My face fell, I had completely forgotten that Steve was working late today. “It doesn’t make me feel better.”

“Will you do me a favor,” Steve whispered back to you even though he had no reason to be quiet. “Tomorrow, when you leave work, will you come to my place? Stay with me?”

“Yes, please,” I said, releasing a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“I just sleep better when we are together,” Steve said, rambling. “You’ll be here for a few hours before I get here but all of your favorite snacks are in the pantry. If you’d rather stay at home, I get it and I could come to you. But if you’d rather have another night apart, I get that-.”

“Stevie,” I interrupted him. “I don’t want another night apart, I sleep better next to you too. In case you forgot, I couldn’t sleep tonight and I called you at almost two in the morning because I missed you so much. After work, I’ll head home to yours, I’ll even make you dinner for when you get home.”

“I love you,” Steve mumbled into the receiver. I could tell that sleep was starting to creep up on him. “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

“I love you too, handsome,” I echoed. “Get some sleep, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Tonight though sleep came slowly, I found comfort in his words and that would be enough.

#Steve Harrington #Steve Harrington AU #Steve Harrington Fluff #Steve Harrington x Reader #Steve Harrington x Reader Fluff #Stranger Things #Stranger Things AU #Stranger Things Fluff #fckinwild kiwi #fckinwild kiwi writing #domestic december #comp lady domestic december #stranger things fic

[tokiro07]

Undead Unluck Week 2024

Day 5 - Favorite Arc: Intro Arc

This is without question the hardest prompt this whole week for me. I don't even have any arcs that I dislike, and you want me to pick the one that I like the most???

How am I supposed to choose between Andy and Fuuko beating Victor by learning that they can reinterpret their Rules in the Autumn Arc, the Union clashing with Under in classic shonen battle manga fashion in the Spring Arc, every Negator banding together to see Fuuko safely to the next world in the Ragnarok Arc, and Feng learning that he's a simp for Fuuko in the Hong Kong Arc??? This is a cruel question that makes me second-guess every decision I could possibly make for it!

However, after much deliberation, I realized that for me, there's only one answer that I could definitively be satisfied with, and one that I think deserves a lot more love than it gets: the introduction

When I say the introduction, I don't just mean the first couple of chapters in Shinjuku, I mean everything leading up to Andy and Fuuko officially becoming seated members of the Union. From their meeting in chapter 1 right up until Juiz challenges Fuuko to work her way up the ranks to become the First Seat of the Roundtable, I consider that entire span to be the first major arc

This is because this is the prologue to Fuuko's development and every single plot beat to follow; from believing herself to be unworthy of living, to realizing that life is worth living, to resolving to make life better for others, the journey of Fuuko's life begins here. Unlearning the lie she believes, learning the truth that she needs to understand, to gaining the confidence to spread that truth, none of that happens without first meeting Andy, then Gina, then Juiz

I really hate to sound like a hipster, but whereas other people had a tough time getting into UU when it started because they felt chapter 1 was too rough, I mean no exaggeration when I say that I fell in love with it instantly. It really did feel like I was the only one who knew it was going to be great all along, and while I'm ecstatic to see that I was right, there's a little bit of a bitter taste mixed in there considering that to this day I see people dismissing its origin

Both fans and haters alike talk about the introduction as if it's this arduous hurdle, something so unlike what comes later that they wish it weren't even there, but to me (and I hope more people reading this than I'm giving credit for), that "rough patch" is an absolute necessity. It is simply unskippable! To appreciate how far Fuuko and Andy come over the course of the narrative, you need to understand where they started, not just as individuals, but as a couple! Everything that Undead Unluck is, was, or will be can be summed up from the events of chapter 1, and the immediately following chapters set up the dynamic of the entire story to come

Without that arc, if somehow Tozuka had skipped straight to Spoil and started in media res, I don't know how attached I would have been to the story. But that's not what happened; instead, I turned every page with wrapt attention, engaged with every single panel, desperate to know what was coming next. And four years later, that feeling has not faded

Every Saturday night I go to bed like it's Christmas Eve; "Undead Unluck tomorrow!" I wake up, roll over, grab my tablet and just start reading the moment it gets uploaded. Everything else in Jump I read in chronological order, but UU? That cannot wait! I need to know what happens ASAP!

All of that excitement, all of that joy, all of that love was inspired by chapter 1 and reinforced by the arc that followed. Other arcs reached incredible highs that I never could have seen coming back then, and nearly all of them are much more refined by nature of Tozuka's growing experience, but the sheer wonder that I could feel being sparked in me from the very beginning? The feeling of the fire continuing to burn is completely different from the feeling of its ignition, no matter how much more brightly it shines

Perhaps future arcs will find a way to overturn this opinion; maybe the final arc will be so spectacular and such a perfect culmination of everything that came before that I can't imagine the story ending any other way, but for now, the beginning that so readily convinced me to follow this series and allowed me to feel so spectacular for so long has to be the one that I consider my favorite

#undead unluck #fouryearsandananime #uuweek2024 #uu spoilers