#that is ignored for the sake of kissy kissy which boy do I like | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

chironshorseass · 3 years

Note

I u want, could u mayhaps write about annabeth seeing percy after a long time apart and realizing his voice grew deeper? I saw a post about it once and I think u would nail it perfectly<3

TIME PASSES SO QUICKLY AHH but here it is! I also got another request of pre-relationship percabeth and let’s just say that y’all read my mind. Also sorry that I can’t seem to write anything under 1k words 😩

read on ao3

“So I heard Percy’s coming today,” Silena said casually, holding a basket against her hip.

Annabeth yanked one of the strawberries so hard that its leaves came along with it.

“He is?”

She didn’t try to shroud her excitement like she would’ve done, not too long ago.

“Yeah. Charlie told me.”

She felt a twinge of jealousy that Percy hadn’t even mentioned it to her, but she quickly clamped it down. It wasn’t his fault. Not entirely, anyway. They’d IM’d at the beginning of their semester as freshmen, but then it had gotten to the point of him mentioning Rachel all the time, and then the year had gotten busier, and…

Well, they’d lost contact.

Realizing she’d zoned out, she blinked away the fog from her eyes.

“But honestly I wasn’t supposed to tell,” Silena was saying. “He said something about it being a surprise or whatever. I just wanted to see your reaction.”

Annabeth must’ve been doing something strange with her face, because Silena gave her a smug look, raising her eyebrows. She was used to her doing that, so she didn’t mind.

Well, maybe a bit.

But the daughter of Aphrodite already knew everything there was to know about her feelings for Percy. Probably before even Annabeth first realized that she was in love with her best friend. So again, it was pointless to hide from her.

“So.” Silena bumped her gently on the shoulder. “What are you gonna wear?”

Annabeth lifted her sun hat and stared at her for a couple of seconds. The latter looked as perfect as ever, despite the grueling sun. With her pink crop top, mini shorts, perfect makeup, and her dark hair pulled back into a low bun, Annabeth had little doubt that she could help her choose a different outfit other than her torn camp wardrobe. But, still, this was Percy.

Her best friend.

“Mmm...no, it’s fine. We’ve got to finish the south side of the strawberry fields, so, we can’t lose time, ya know?”

Silena gaped at her, then scoffed.

“What am I going to do with you, Chase?” she muttered, crouching to the ground again and shoving her hands into the foliage. “But whatever—it’s your call. Like, you’re so pretty that you actually look good in that sorry excuse of an outfit.”

Her eyes roved over Annabeth’s shirt and jeans. She felt herself blush at the attention.

“Hey, is that blood?”

“Uh...Maybe—but it’s old! Don’t worry.”

“A lost cause, I tell you.”

It had been too long since she’d caught a glimpse of that tell-tale curve of the shoulders and those raven curls.

Percy was early. Most of the summer campers always came the next week or so from this one, but she wasn’t complaining about his untimely arrival. Not when he looked that cute in his school uniform and with that ridiculously messy hair.

She regarded him from afar as he chatted with Beckendorf by the Big House porch, a bag slumped over his shoulder. Something about him—in the way he laughed or how he suddenly looked taller—made her stomach drop like a volleyball, made every blade of grass seem brighter.

Running up to him, she yelled, “Hey, stranger! Why so early?”

He turned to the sound of her voice, flashing her that crooked grin of his. Gods, she’d missed him.

“Hey yourself!”

When she finally reached the two boys, she skidded to a halt in front of Percy and gave him an exaggerated once-over.

“Why’d you still have your uniform on, Seaweed Brain?”

“Do I?” he gazed down at his white shirt and gray pants. His eyes flicked to her again, smiling sheepishly. “Oh. Kinda forgot I had it on, I guess.”

“Man, I’ve already told you,” Beckendorf said. “Leave the fancy shit home.”

“I forgot, okay? You know I hate this stupid uniform.”

In her honest opinion, the uniform seemed to be quite the opposite of stupid. Really, it should've been a crime to look that good in white and rolled up sleeves.

“Yeah, whatever.” Beckendorf glanced back and forth from Percy to Annabeth. He smirked and patted Percy on the back. “Anyway, I’ll leave you to it.”

She watched him stroll to the Big House and step inside. He’d probably been here—with Percy—in the first place because of a favor from Chiron.

They stood there, letting the silence build up.

His eyes were warm, green like the shallow sea. Annabeth had always thought that she’d get used to that color, that luminescence. But she never did. Every time she peered up at them, it felt like the first time all over again. She could drown in those eyes and beam up at the fading sky and not beg for breath.

But now, it was worse. It was worse because she could tell that he’d grown. Actually grown. She didn’t quite know how to feel about the fact that his voice had abruptly dropped at least an octave lower than from last summer and that from now on, she’d have to lift her chin to meet his eyes.

“You’ve changed,” she blurted out.

She probably winced a little. Hopefully, she’d sounded casual.

“In what way, exactly?” His mouth twitched into a grin, cheeks dimpling, and her nervousness faded to a quiet buzzing. “That I’m finally taller than you?”

She pushed him away lightly to cover up the flush that was surely painting her cheeks a light pink. This was stupid. He was just being stupid. It was just Percy, for gods’ sake.

“Yeah, taller than me by like, an inch.”

“Admit it, you’re jealous.”

“I hate you.”

That was a lie, and Percy knew it.

“No, you don’t.”

“How am I supposed to keep things out of your reach, now?”

“See, that’s the point. Now I get to pick on you. Shortie.”

Annabeth stuck her tongue out. “You’re such a child.”

He laughed again, giving her whiplash from how different the sound rang in her ears. His laughter had always been a comfort to her, something that made her chest warm and gave her the motivation to try and let it out of him, again and again.

And it still was.

But this new laugh, however, had a richness to it that she felt down to her toes. He threw his head back, eyes crinkling like they always did. And yet, she found new angles to it. Saw a strange glow. He stood under the spotlight of a brand new theater, making everything he did seem like something new and foreign.

It dawned on her that she was staring like an idiot, even after Percy’s smile had faded to a lingering tug of the mouth.

“I’ve missed you,” he said, plain and honest. In many ways, he hadn’t changed. Not really.

“Me too.” Their eyes stayed interlocked for a couple more seconds. She cleared her throat. “Have you, uh...told Chiron you’re here?”

“He already knows.”

“Psh. So am I the only one that didn’t know about you coming here?”

She didn’t mean to sound so accusatory, but there was no backing out, now.

He ducked his head. It was barely recognizable, but she could always tell when he was blushing.

“I...well, you know, wanted to, um—surprise you.”

Another awkward pause.

Percy scratched the back of her head. “Do you, uh...wanna walk with me? To my cabin?”

“Sure.”

“You know,” he said. “My mom made you cookies.”

“Are they any good?” she teased.

He turned to give her an incredulous look. “This is my mom we’re talking about. Of course they’re good.”

“Okay...well, what are you waiting for? Hand them over, Seaweed Brain.”

“In a sec. I’m too lazy to open my bag right now, in the middle of camp.”

As they walked, Annabeth noticed how heads turned when the campers got a good look at the two of them together. Most of them just stared at Percy. They passed by some of her siblings carrying spears; she saw Malcolm wink and felt herself blush again.

“Anyway, you wouldn’t have guessed what I got on my finals,” Percy was saying.

She glared pointedly at Malcolm, then whirled her head to look at Percy again. “What’d you get?”

“Guess.”

“Oh my gods, Percy. Just tell.”

He smiled and gave her a sideways glance. “You’re no fun.”

But even if he said it casually, the comment dug deeper than she would’ve liked. Did he think Rachel was fun? She decided not to dwell on that.

Annabeth was the one talking to him. Not Rachel.

He glanced at her once, but seemingly decided to fix his gaze forward. His eyes sparkled in a way that she knew meant he was trying to hold back a grin. He’d failed in the attempt, though.

“Okay, I’ll just say it: A ‘B’ plus.”

Her jaw dropped. “Percy!”

“Yeah,” he laughed.

“Oh my gods!”

Clarisse, standing by the Ares cabin, mimed Annabeth, mouthing her words and making kissy faces. She mostly ignored it, too distracted on what Percy had just said.

Her heart swelled at the thought of all the work he must’ve put himself through.

She grasped his arm. “I’m so proud of you, Perce.”

“Yeah, me too. Paul helped, though. And mom.”

“Give yourself some of the credit.”

He sighed happily. “I guess I can say that I didn’t cheat. Well, maybe a little.”

She tried to shove him, but he danced away.

“Ohh, don’t tell me that you’ve never cheated on anything.”

“Okay.” She rolled her eyes. “Like maybe once or twice.”

“See?”

“But whatever. You got a ‘B’ and that’s what matters.”

“Yeah. It is.”

They smiled at each other for a second, then, he shouldered his bag and stopped by cabin three. The abalone shell seemed to glow brighter when he stood next to it.

Before she could stop herself, she said, “We should celebrate.”

He lifted one of those thick eyebrows of his and leaned back against the door frame. “What do you mean?”

“You know…” she kicked some of the stray pebbles from the ground, suddenly flustered. “Your grades. It deserves a celebration, don’t you think?”

His face lit up once more. “Oh! Yeah, like a picnic or something? We could eat the cookies Mom made—unless you want them for yourself, which is fine—”

“No!” She bit her lip. “I mean—sharing is cool. I’d like that.”

Annabeth decided it best not to visibly cringe at herself. Who’d even say “sharing” and “cool” at the same time?

Luckily, Percy nodded along with her. “Okay. Cool. Wait—that reminds me…” He unzipped his bag, hands already roaming around inside it. “Ah, here it is.”

He took a take-out like box with red flowers painted around the sides. They looked handmade. She accepted the gift with a smile.

“Who made these?” she asked, examining the paintings closer. “They’re pretty.”

When she saw his smug look, she didn't have to think twice about who had decorated it.

“I did,” he said. Her expression must’ve still been akin to impressed shock, because he chuckled. “What? You think I can’t be artistic?”

She shrugged. It was a simple fact, really. “Since when did you learn?”

“Uh, Rachel taught me.”

“Oh.”

He nodded tightly.

Right. While she’d lived on the other side of the country, alone and with a family who still wasn’t that comfortable around her, he’d been off with his new mortal girlfriend. And how much time must it have taken for Rachel to teach him how to do those precise brushstrokes? To combine those colors properly? Days or more, she knew.

They’d been busy.

She pretended not to care, anyway, opening the box to check on the cookies. “They, um...They look good!” She met his eyes so that he could see just how sincere her words were—because they really did look divine. Divine and blue. “Give Sally my thanks. And you must’ve worked really hard on this. So, thanks also.”

Annabeth noticed how he relaxed at the change of subject. Idiot.

“I will. And nah, it was nothing. I just really wanted to, um, to contribute with the gift. I guess. And mom loves you, so…”

“Loves me more than you?”

He snorted. “Probably.”

The edges of her mouth quirked up. “So...when are you up for that celebratory picnic thing?”

“Uh...from what I remember, I think my schedule’s got like, free time at around five. That sound good?”

Her mind buzzed through her list of daily activities, relieved to find something else to think about other than the awkwardness that now lingered in the air.

“Yeah, I think I’m free at five, as well. Tomorrow, right?”

“Sounds good to me.”

It wasn’t the same. That, she could tell.

She bit the inside of her cheek, watching him fight with Clarisse. So they’d go on a picnic together. Big deal.

She’d just barely stepped outside cabin three when Silena had dragged her away, begging for every detail.

Annabeth wasn’t going to lie: she was excited. More so than she’d let on. And yet, she wasn’t sure if he liked her that way.

Not with other girls fanning over him, now. Girls like Rachel.

How could she have let him go so easily? How was this the first time in months since she’d last seen him?

She’d spent the day pretending it was fine. Her heart ached whenever he was near, but it also hurt when he was gone. She couldn't have it both ways.

So yes, everything was fine.

Maybe if she said those words enough, then she'd start to believe it and stop with this feeble act of hers. This pretending that none of the shit they’d been festering against the other mattered. And in the process, also pretend that these new feelings she had for him—that didn’t feel so new—never existed in the first place.

Then again...what was she thinking?

This was her best friend. Her best friend whom she’d tried to kiss about a year ago and who hadn’t even breathed a word about it since. Who talked to her like he was stepping around eggshells. Who was clearly not interested in her in that way if what she suspected about Rachel was true and who had suddenly become one of the most attractive guys in Camp Half-Blood.

She hated this. This sensation of her heart beating faster, her breath coming short. Her brain fading any thought away, leaving it lustrous with the image of Percy. Percy this and Percy that. His stupid smile and his stupid laugh and—

Ice-cold water struck her skin, stopping her thought process short like a shock wave.

“Sorry,” Silena said, not actually sounding sorry. Stray water dripped from her hand. “You were spaced out for a while.”

Their canoe boat rocked back and forth along with the gusts of wind.

“Okay,” Annabeth said, glaring at her friend. She wanted to wipe that cheeky grin off her face. “Now you’re just asking for it.”

With a sharp, practiced tug, she flipped them over. Silena’s screech died when they hit the water.

She resurfaced, spluttering, splashing Annabeth again and again.

“You little shit! I am going to kill you!”

“What?” Annabeth laughed, choking on water. “I thought your makeup’s waterproof!”

Silena threw more water at her.

“Your point?”

And okay, maybe they looked like fools fighting in the middle of the lake, laughing and joking around. But it was fine; no one was there to witness it except perhaps the naiads and the cicadas that roared in the woods along with the rogue monster.

Well...there was one person.

But the girls didn’t have the mind to notice him.

Percy sat on the back of the pier and smiled, shaking his head.

Maybe someday, they could move on from this strange faze. From skipping around each other, then acting like friends all over again.

Someday.

The sound of the conch horn in the distance brought a reluctant stop to the chirping of the crickets. Dinner time.

He stood up and made his way back, wishing that just maybe, he could be brave enough to tell her how he felt. To unashamedly look at her and no one else as though she were the fading sun, inviting for the naked eye to gape at directly as it caressed the sea and the tree tops while coloring the sky a deep purple. To kiss her in front of all those stupid people and hug her and make her laugh and smile, all golden and beautiful.

Rid himself of the worries, once and for all.

But it couldn’t be.

Maybe, just maybe…

Someday.

#percabeth #percabeth fic #pjo fanfiction #pjo fic #annabeth chase #percy jackson #charles beckendorf #silena beauregard #anon #Percy Jackson and the Olympians #look mom i can write

174 notes · View notes

luke-patterson-owns-my-soul · 3 years

Text

Hey Jealousy – Part One.

Add yourself to my taglist

Check out my masterlist!

Charlie Gillespie x Reader

Summary: The reader and Charlie grew up together, were the best of friends. It didn’t work well for her having boyfriends until she goes to college. Is her best friend jealous, or is everyone imagining things?

Requested: Yes / No

TW: Swearing, implies sexual intercourse, swearing, drinking Author’s notes: I had a weird dream (non-sexual) about an ex of mine and trying to make Charlie jealous (as you do), and this idea came from that. Whether it makes any sense at all remains to be seen.

Acknowledgements: The gorgeous @dream-a-little-bigger-x listened to me waffle on about this and read through most of it for me. Thank you my love.

Pairing: Fem Reader x Charlie Gillespie (eventually)

Words: 10,076

I have no idea when I’ll be posting Part Two as I am yet to write it... but I was way too impatient to sit on this.

Growing up being the best friend of Charles Gillespie was equal parts the best and worst thing. The best because he was genuinely the nicest guy, ever. He was outgoing, inclusive of everyone, and so much fun to be around. Charlie never sat still, didn’t do well with being bored, so it meant we made a lot of memories together along with our other friends.

The worst because for some reason, being best friends with a guy was off putting to other guys. Hanging out with Charlie ninety percent of the time seemed to prevent them approaching me. Even when I made it obvious I liked them, they seemed too scared to speak to you beyond a ‘hi’ or a ‘how you doin’?’. Charlie never seemed to notice how frustrated I was.

When Charlie moved to Toronto to follow his dreams of becoming an actor, it felt as if I’d lost a limb. I’d known him my entire life, had been friends for the whole time, had gone through all our firsts together, and with him not around, I didn’t know what to do with myself.

Admittedly, I was starting college just over the border in the US so there was that to keep me busy, but it wasn’t the same. Moving away from home, not having him with me, laughing at the other freshmen to help relieve my nerves. But I was alone and had no idea what I was doing.

Once I’d found my dorm room, I sat on the bed, surrounded by bags and boxes, and pulled my phone out of my bag. I needed my best friend right now, despite knowing he was probably out at auditions. I pull up my favorite contacts and tap on Charlie’s name, hoping he’ll be able to answer.

“Hey. I only have five minutes. How did the move go? Is your roommate cool? Any guys took your fancy? Have you had a chance to look around yet?” Eventually he stopped asking questions long enough to take a breath, letting me finally cut in to speak.

“Jesus Christ, Gillespie. I know you don’t have long, but do you really need to pepper me with so many questions? Don’t answer that otherwise I’ll never get to say anything.” I take a shaky breath and slowly start answering his questions. By the time I finish filling him on my day so far, he’s grinning at me.

“Sounds great, Trouble. I’m really pleased for you.” I rolled my eyes at his use of the nickname he gave me when we were seven and I punched a boy in the nose for tripping Charlie over and laughing at him cutting his chin on a small rock. “So, what do you have planned for the rest of the day?”

“I have some orientation thing, then I don’t know. Maybe just chill in my room, get to know my roommate when they finally get here.”

“Hey, listen. I gotta go. But I’ll call you when I get back to the apartment so you can tell me more. Especially if your roommate’s pretty.”

“You’re such a fucking horndog, Gillespie. Love you.”

“Love you too, Trouble.”

My ‘don’t call me that’ died on my lips as the call ended and the photo of Charlie and me camping at the Bay of Fundy a couple years back that had been my wallpaper since his sister took it filled the screen. My happiness of speaking to him faded as I realized I was alone, again.

:: ::

I had been at college for three months, and I was almost at the end of my first semester. Charlie was busy with filming a show he’d booked. I knew nothing about 2nd generation, but he was so excited, I couldn’t help but be so happy for him. We spoke most days and texted so much that all my friends thought we were dating. No matter how much I told them we were only friends, no one ever believed me.

The wall above my desk was covered in photos of the two of us and our other friends, and your roommate, Lena, was obsessed with him.

“Honey, if you ain’t tapping that, if he ever comes to visit, I’m stepping up.” She’d told me the first time she looked at a photo of Charlie. Every time the two of us facetimed, and she was in the room with me, she would butt in and flirt outrageously with him. I would laugh at him flirting back, enjoying the fact my two closest friends, one old and one new, got along.

I’d found it easier to settle into college life than I expected without having him with me. Maybe, if I was honest, him not being around was possibly the reason I was finding it easier. As much as I loved him and having him around, having something that was just for me meant something special.

I’d just finished a class and was walking across the quad when my phone rang in my bag, Charlie’s ringtone blared out. He’d picked En Vogue’s Whatta Man when we were about thirteen because ‘Trouble, it just describes me perfectly’. I’d just never got around to changing it, and now it always made me smile whenever I heard it.

“Hey, Trouble.” A groan and an eyeroll. “Whatcha doin’?”

“I just finished my classes for the day. I’m going for coffee with Lena. How’s things over there?”

“Yeah, we’re going strong.” There was a lot of indistinct background noise I couldn’t identify behind him, and it was hard to hear him. He hadn’t facetimed, which was strange, but it was probably a flyby call while he was waiting for a scene to be set up, or whatever actors did. I had no clue despite him telling me multiple times.

“That’s great.” As I walked beside Lena who was making kissy faces at me as Charlie and I spoke, I couldn’t help but smile at hearing his voice. It wasn’t the same as having him with me in person, but it was the best we’d have until Christmas break.

“Look, give me five and call me back. I just gotta speak to someone real quick.” Before I could answer, he cut the call.

“Well, that was the quickest call I’ve ever seen you two have.” Lena commented, a small smile on her face.

“He wants me to call him back in five.” It was typical Charlie, start something, then expect me to finish it.

“I swear, you speak to him more than your family.” She wasn’t wrong.

“He’s kind of like my security blanket. He talks me off the edge whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed and stuff. He’s never judged me for the way I overthink, and he’s so easy to be with.”

“I swear, if I didn’t know better, I would think you’re in love with him.”

“I do love him. He’s like the brother I never wanted and often get frustrated with, but I couldn’t imagine my life without him.”

“Uh huh…” She didn’t need to elaborate. She’d been saying the same thing since our first day. She was insistent that there was more to mine and Charlie’s relationship than there was. I was used to her by now and was able to ignore it now. “You better phone him back.” She reminded me as we neared the campus coffee shop. With a smile, I hit call on his contact.

Behind me, the sound of P!nk’s Trouble, my ringtone on Charlie’s phone rang out. Confusion washed over me as Lena started laughing. I spun round to see Charlie leaning up against a tree, a wide smile on his face.

I cut the call and ran over to him, throwing myself at him. As always, he caught me, his arms wrapping around my waist and pulling me in tight against his body.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked when he finally placed my feet back on the ground below me.

“I have the weekend off, so I drove down to see my best girl,” he looked at Lena with a smile, “and you, Trouble.” I punched him in the arm as he pulled my roommate into a hug.

“Remind me why I keep you around?” I asked him as the three of us entered the coffee shop.

“Because you adore this pretty face.” I rolled my eyes as we found a table after making our orders.

“You keep telling yourself that, Gillespie.”

:: ::

For the entire weekend, I showed Charlie around the campus and took him to parties. We got wasted, he enjoyed meeting my friends, but my favorite moment was on the Sunday when it was just the two of us, about a half hour outside of town, walking along a hidden trail.

“Trust you to find this place. I never even knew it was here.”

“You need to take more time for yourself, away from campus. Remember what it’s like to just be.”

“Do you get much of a chance to do that?” I asked as we walked, our arms brushing together the way they always did whenever we spent time together.

“Not as much as I like, but I try to get out at least once a week. It’s not the same though, not without you.” I looked up at him and saw a softness to his face not many people got to see.

“I’ve missed you, you big goof.”

“I’ve missed you too, Trouble.”

“You gotta stop calling me that.” I rolled my eyes, making him laugh and nudge at me with his shoulder.

“Never gonna happen, kiddo.”

“Kiddo? For fuck’s sake, Gillespie. You’re like two months older than me. You’re not exactly drawing your pension just yet.”

“It all counts.” He lifted his wrist and looked at his watch. “I better head back to my car and start heading back. I’ve got an early call in the morning.”

My heart sank at his words. I’d known the entire weekend he couldn’t stay forever and as we turned around to walk back the way we came, I felt a feeling of sadness wash over me.

“Hey, don’t do that.” He scolded me.

“Do what?”

“Fold in on yourself. We’ll both be home for Christmas.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ve just enjoyed having your ugly face around.”

“Ugly? You wound me.”

“Whatever.”

Silence fell over us as we continued walking, and the closer we got to the parking lot, the sadder I became at having to say goodbye to him again. He took hold of my hand, interlinking our fingers the way we always did.

Finally, we reached his car and came to a standstill next to it.

“Thank you for coming to see me. I needed this weekend.”

“I’ll always be there when you need me.” I knew he meant it too. He always did.

“I know. It’s one of the main reasons I adore you.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed him tight. I wasn’t ready to let him go, but knew I had to. Knew I had to carry on with this new chapter of my life that didn’t revolve around our friendship, knew he needed to get back to work and forge his way in his chosen career.

“Love you, Trouble.” He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead before pulling away from our hug and unlocking his car. “Gonna miss you.”

“Gonna miss you more. Let me know when you’re back, so I don’t worry.”

“I promise.”

Lena walked to stand beside me as I watched Charlie climb into his car and pull away. We stood and watched him drive away until I couldn’t see his car anymore.

“That boy is in love with you.” I ignored her as I turned to walk back to our dorm. “Just as much as you are with him.”

:: ::

Christmas break had been crazy. My large family and the Gillespie family always mixed for the holiday, and it was always loud, full of laughter, and more than a little raucous. It was my favorite time of the year.

This year was no different, but it was over all too soon, and I barely saw Charlie. He got back home on Christmas Eve, and had to leave again the day after Christmas Day thanks to reshoots and stuff I didn’t really understand. Most of my time had been spent with his sister, Megan, but there was a hole in my celebrations. A Charlie-sized hole.

He didn’t even make it back home for New Year, and I saw in midnight on the back porch of my parent’s house alone, a glass of champagne untouched next to me. I’d tried facetiming him, but my calls had gone unanswered.

Arriving back at college was a relief, and the holiday period had made me realize I’d become so co-dependent on my best friend, I was holding myself back from living my life.

“Hey bitch, how was Mr. Tallish, dark, and gorgeous?” Lena asked as we both unpacked from our vacations.

“Busy. I hardly saw or spoke to him.” I could hear the bitterness in my own voice and hated it, but I also kind of didn’t care.

“I’m sorry, babe. How about we head out to a ‘welcome back’ party, get dressed up, and break some hearts?”

After thinking about it for a split second, I grinned and agreed.

“Fuck it. Why not?”

Usually, campus parties were casual affairs; sweats and tank tops, but the flyers about this one was emblazoned with the words ‘dress to impress’, so Lena and I went all out.

Walking across campus in my favorite LBD and a pair of amazing stiletto pumps, I felt like I could conquer the world. I’d made an effort with my hair and makeup, and when Lena was ready, we’d taken a shit ton of selfies, posting them on Instagram. It was amazing what getting dressed up did for a girl’s self-esteem.

“Honey, when Charlie sees those photos on insta, he’s gonna be calling you like crazy.”

“Well, it’s a shame my phone is on silent in my purse, then. Tonight is for me and you to have a great time.”

“And maybe try and get over one guy with another?”

“Lena, I don’t need to get over Charlie. He’s my best friend, and I adore him. But that’s all it is.”

As we entered the party – in a frat house, naturally – I couldn’t help but be impressed with how dressed up everyone was. I followed Lena through the crowd into the kitchen where we managed to grab some drinks.

“Yeah, okay. You keep telling yourself that. I can only go by what my eyes show me, and there is more going on between you two than either of you want to admit.” I opened my mouth to say something, but she cut me off. “I’ll shut up now. Let’s go, Momma’s in the mood for dancin’.”

I didn’t see Lena for three days after the party. She’d met some guy and had spent the entire time in his bed. It had been nice to have the room to myself as I caught up with movies and TV shows on Netflix I had missed over the holiday period. By the time classes started back up, she was back and seriously study mode.

“John was asking after you again today.” She told me two weeks back into classes as we walked in the wintery sunshine to get some lunch.

“Oh.” I had no idea who John was, but I was going along with it.

“You don’t remember him, do you?”

“No clue, sorry.”

After gasping, she proceeded to fill me on John. Apparently, I’d danced with him a lot at the frat party. He was six feet tall, well built, but not huge, and had a hint of red hair. None of it was ringing any bells, but seeing as she was sleeping with his roommate, she saw him regularly.

“How can you not remember him? you were all over him.”

“Lena, I’d almost drank my weight in tequila, I would have been impressed if I’d remembered my own name, never mind someone else’s.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket. After tapping on the screen for a couple of minutes, she turned it so I could see.

The guy on screen was gorgeous. Piercing green eyes that reminded me of the forest near my house, and a wide, friendly smile.

“Judging by that reaction, you’d have no problems coming out with us tonight? Nothing heavy, just a few drinks and some food.”

“I wouldn’t be averse to food and drinks.” Laughing at my answer, she linked our arms and steered me into our favorite sandwich bar.

:: ::

The first meeting turned into a first date, then a second, a third, and before I’d even realized, John and I were dating, and it had been three months since that first meeting that I could remember. He was easy going and fun to be around, plus he loved being outside rather than cooped up in a room with another person. Especially when that person was his roommate who was often making out for hours with my roommate. We spent a lot of time on the hidden trail I’d discovered with Charlie, often taking a blanket so we could have a picnic under the lush canopy of trees.

John was a photography major, and never went anywhere without his camera – unless there was going to be alcohol – and my photo wall in my room was soon full of photos of the two of us, of me and Lena, and random things he saw that made him think of me. I had never been tagged in so many photos of me sober on Instagram in my life, and I loved every minute of our time together, but while I was happy, and living my best life there was still something missing. A 5,8” dark haired something.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d spoken to Charlie for longer than five minutes, and never mind an actual facetime call. He’d finished up with 2nd Generation and had gone back home for a few weeks. I’d seen photos of him and his family, mostly his cousin Madi, doing the things I would usually be doing with them. Spring break was coming up, and while most of my friends were planning crazy trips down to Florida or Mexico, all I wanted to do was to go home.

“Hey, what are you doing for Spring Break?” I asked John as we lay tangled together in my bed, a sheen of sweat on both of our skin.

“I haven’t made any plans yet, why?”

“Fancy coming to Canada?”

:: ::

Pulling up in the drive outside my parent’s house, I look over at John in the passenger seat. He looked nervous as hell which made me chuckle. I unclipped my belt and leaned over to give him a quick kiss.

“Stop panicking. It’s going to be fine.” I told him. My parents were looking forward to meeting him. “I should be the nervous one. I’ve never brought a guy home before.”

“What? Never? Not even in high school?” I shook my head. “What about your prom date?”

“Me and Charlie went to prom together. We did everything together, and it stopped guys asking me out and stuff. So yeah…” I drifted off, realizing that this was my first relationship, my first boyfriend.

“That’s cool. Come one, let’s get this over with so we can both calm down.” He gave me another kiss before getting out of the car, retrieving our bags from the trunk. By the time I’d got out, he was standing beside me, holding out his hand. I took hold of it and led him to the house.

“Mom, dad? Anyone?” The house was silent when I let us in, John dropping our bags on the floor in the entry. “Hello? Favorite daughter is home for a week.”

“Only daughter you mean.” My younger brother, Tyler came bounding down the stairs, skidding to a stop when he saw John standing next to me.

“Okay, I wasn’t expecting that.” I glared at him. “I mean, I’ve seen photos and shit, but I didn’t expect you to be so big. Nice to meet you, man.” Tyler held out his hand for John to shake, which he did, chuckling at my brother’s lack of brain to mouth filter.

“Ty, where is everyone?”

“Out in the yard. Dad’s cleaning off the barbecue and mom’s making sure he does it right.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Not that I expected it to, but nothing had changed. Tyler took off through the house out into the back yard where my family were waiting.

“Ready for a trial by fire?” I asked John, looking up at him, smiling.

“Best to get it over and done with.”

Turning my whole body so I was fully facing him, I wrapped my arms around his neck and stood on my tiptoes to give him a kiss.

“They’re gonna love you, I promise.” I murmured against his plump lips. He took a deep breath, gave me another quick kiss, and untangle me from him.

“Let’s do this.”

Once again, with our hands linked, I led the way, this time through the house I’d grown up in and out into the large back yard. Which was full of people, not just my family. Of course, the Gillespies were here too.

As John and I came to a stop on the ack porch, I cast my eyes across the space before me, looking for Charlie. It was a mixture of habit and wanting to see him, but I couldn’t find him.

“He’s not here.” Megan had jogged over and pulled me into a hug so she could whisper into my ear. Her words caused a wave of sadness to wash over me. “And we finally get to meet this guy who is all over your insta?” She grinned at John; her smile achingly similar to that of her brother.

“John, this is Megan, the little sister I never wanted, but got stuck with anyway.” As the two of the chatted, the three of us moved down into the garden so I could introduce my boyfriend to everyone.

:: ::

John had been stolen away by my dad, Tyler, and Charlie’s dad, leaving me to spend time with my mom. We sat on her favorite garden seat, watching everyone in silence for a few minutes before she turned to me.

“He’s nice. I can see why you like him so much.” I looked at her, waiting. Eventually, I realized she wasn’t going to say it.

“But? I know there’s a but in there somewhere.”

“No, no but.” She was lying, I could tell by the way her voice was at least an octave higher than usual.

“Mom. You can be honest with me, I’m not gonna bite your head off.”

“I just worry you’re rushing things. At college everything so… intense, and you’re constantly aware of it ending, that you’ll be leaving that part of your life behind you one day. What then?”

“I-we-I…” I didn’t have a coherent answer for her. She wasn’t wrong, but she’d also always told me that college was supposed to be the best time of my life, so why wouldn’t I spend it with someone I not only enjoyed being with, but who I was attracted too at the same time?

“Honey, I’m not trying to make you question things, I just want you to remember who you are and what you want in life.”

“Well, I want to be with John for now. Isn’t that enough?”

“If it is for you, it is for me.” She pulled me in for a hug. I loved my mom, but she’d confused me with our conversation. “You do realize your dad’s going to pitch a fit when he realizes you’re sharing a room.”

I stared at her. I’d assumed my parents would make him sleep in the spare room.

“Wait, what?”

“Sweetheart, neither of us are stupid. We know how things are at college, and as long as you’re being safe, I can’t tell you what to do anymore.”

Before I could say anything, Megan came over to pull me away. Arm in arm, we walked to the end of the garden, away from the house. Well, she led me, I merely went along with it.

“What’s up?” I asked her. Usually, she was a lot like her brother, constantly moving and talking, but now she was quiet and subdued. “Meg, seriously. You’re making me worried.”

“Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to get you on your own so we can talk about that gorgeous hunk you brought home.” Relief flooded through me and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Jesus Christ, you scared me.” We sat down on an old swing my dad had made when I was a kid and talked. She peppered me with questions about college, the guys, the parties, and most of all, about John. She was a senior in high school and couldn’t wait for her own college experience. She’d chosen to stay in Canada to study.

I answered all of her questions, but we were soon interrupted by our being called to finally get some food. I was starving and practically sprinted over to where my dad was piling food on a table laden with salad, fried, and all kinds of family favorites. As I loaded up my plate, John hovered next to me, doing the same.

“Oh, look what the cat dragged in.” Megan’s voice was loud, making me turn my head. Charlie was walking toward us, wearing his hiking gear grinning at us all. I put my plate down and ran at him, our usual greeting.

“Trust you to show when the food’s ready.” I grinned at him as we broke apart and went back to the table to retrieve my plate, pulling it out of Charlie’s reach as he tried to steal a rib. “Get your own, there’s plenty.”

“But we always share, Trouble.” I rolled my eyes.

“Not today, Gillespie. This is all mine, and I may even have seconds.” I stuck my tongue out at him. A throat clearing behind me reminded me John was still with me. “Oh hey, you can finally meet John.”

“Yeah, great to finally meet you, man.” Charlie shook my boyfriend’s hand, his smile still on his face, but I noticed it didn’t completely reach his eyes.

“You too.”

“Well, I’m hungry, catch up later?” As Charlie nodded, I led John away so others could help themselves, over to a table with my parents. Why had that been more awkward than I’d expected? As I sat down, I caught Megan watching me, a strange look on her face.

:: ::

As the sun began to set, and things began to wind down, I decided to take John for a walk around the neighborhood I grew up in. We left the house, hand in hand, and walked along the street, passing Charlie’s house. I averted my eyes from the building, not wanting to make John think my attention wasn’t all on him.

“It’s nice here, very calm.” He commented as we reached the end of the street. “I grew up in the city, and it never got this quiet.” When I looked up at him, he was smiling softly.

“Come on, there’s a great playground just up the road.” I led the way, tugging on his hand as a laugh escaped me.

As we sat on the swings, both of us swaying back and forth as the sun set around us, bathing the sky with a vibrant orange. It was my favorite part of the day, one that made me think back over what had happened and made me realize that a new day was coming, a new chance to experience life. Charlie and I had spent so much time as kids on these very swings at this time, reflecting on choices we’d made throughout the day.

At the thought of my best friend, a slight movement caught my eye. When I looked at the path leading to the gate of the play park, I could see a figure retreating. Despite not being able to see the person’s face, I knew it was him. His shoulders were hunched, and his hands were shoved into the pockets of his shorts. The sound of John’s camera taking photos distracted me and I looked away for a minute. When I looked back, my best friend was nowhere to be seen.

“Stop taking photos of me.” I groaned, knowing he wouldn’t.

“How can I? you’re the most beautiful thing around.” Standing, John walked over to me and took hold of the chains with side of me to still the movement of the swing. He stood between my legs and bent his head and captured my lips in a kiss that started off slow and soft, but soon turned heated.

Letting go of the chains, John managed to lift me off the swing, holding me against him. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and my arms around his neck. Slowly, he began to walk across the playground, only stopping when he reached the large wooden playhouse I’d played in as a kid.

Putting me on my feet and letting go, he removed the camera from around his neck and placed it in a safe place before climbing into the playhouse, removing his shirt and placing it on the wooden boards. When he looked over at me, his green eyes which were usually the color of spring grass were now the color of a lush, dark forest.

“What? Here? Are you trying to soil my childhood memories?”

“Totally, now come here before I have to take matters into my own hands.” He palmed the bulge in his shorts, locking eyes with me. With a laugh that was huskier than I’d ever sounded, I climbed in after him and straddled his thighs.

:: ::

Waking up at the crack of dawn, wrapped in John’s strong arms, in my childhood bedroom should have felt weird. But it didn’t. I was warm and content, but as we had a busy day planned, I couldn’t stay in our little cocoon. We had a camping trip to get ready for.

I crawled out of his arms and dived into the bathroom for a quick shower. By the time I emerged wrapped in a towel, John was sat up in my bed, scrolling on his phone.

“Come on you, we’re going camping. Up and at ‘em.” I was excited. It had been far too long since I’d been down to Fundy and I couldn’t wait to get on the road.

“Babe, it’s not even 6a.m.” He groaned.

“Yeah, and? Come on. Need to fuel up with a good breakfast.” I pulled on some clothes and left the room, skipping down the stairs. ‘My dad had always been an early riser, so it was no surprise to find him in the kitchen holding a steaming cup of coffee as he read a book at the breakfast bar.

“Morning daddy.” I kissed his cheek as I passed him to get to the coffee pot.

“Morning, sweetheart. Sleep well?” I could hear the unasked question behind his actual question.

“Yes, like a log. Stop worrying about me, I’m not a little girl anymore.”

“Don’t I know it. Please, just tell-”

“Dad. Nothing happened last night. And even if it had, I would be careful. I’m not an idiot.”

“Could have fooled me.” Tyler interrupted us, grinning when I gave him the finger.

“Stop picking on your sister. And you,” he looked at me, “put that finger down.”

I laughed as I sipped at my coffee before telling them I was going out to grab the camping gear.

“I’ll go and make sure Charlie and Megan are up and ready.” Tyle put his own cup down and left the kitchen. I froze on the spot I stood in

Shit. I didn’t realize he’d invited them.

“Everything okay?” Dad asked.

“Yeah, just trying to work out what we need.” I lied before flashing him a quick smile. I could hear John coming downstairs. “Please, no interrogation.” I hissed at my dad. He drew a cross over his heart as my boyfriend entered the kitchen, his hair damp from the shower.

“Morning, sir.” He greeted my dad.

“Please, John. Sir was my father. Call me Frank like everyone else.”

After giving John a quick kiss, I went out to the shed to gather up everything we’d need for a couple of days down in Fundy.

An hour later, Tyler and I had expertly packed up the trunk of my car and were just about to climb in when Charlie and Megan pulled up in Charlie’s car.

“Ready to rock and roll?” He called out of his window, a wide grin on his face.

“You know it. Last one there buys lunch.” I called out our usual challenge as I jumped into the driver’s seat, Tyler urging John in as Charlie pulled away with a screech. Within minutes, the doors were closed, the engine started, and we were on our way.

“Is she always this competitive?” John turned to face my brother in the back seat as I turned the radio on, looking for something to sing along to.

“Only with Charlie, so yes. Constantly. They can make a contest out of everything.” I rolled my eyes.

“No I don’t.”

“Sis, I love you, but you do. You and Charlie are a fucking nightmare at times.”

“You’re talking bullshit.” I tried to change the subject, but Tyler was on a roll.

“Remember that time you two tried to eat more popping candy than the other and you ended up barfing all over yourself?”

“Really? You bring that up? I was fifteen, Ty. And I’d drank about a gallon of soda. It was the gas.”

“Whatever. What about the time when you-” I cut him off.

“That’s enough. Babe, did you go camping much growing up?” I looked at John who had gone quiet. He was looking out of the window, and it took me tapping him on the knee to get his attention.

“Nah, not really. I’m a city boy, so we didn’t really do the whole ‘great outdoors’ thing.”

“Not even on vacation?” Tyler asked.

“Nah, we did Disney and Universal, stuff like that.”

“Well, you’re in for a treat. This is our favorite place on Earth and your camera’s gonna get a good workout.” I smiled at him as I intertwined our fingers as I drove.

:: ::

Thanks to my brother have the bladder the size of a pea and three cans of soda, we arrived at our usual camping ground over half an hour after Charlie and Megan. They’d already set up their tent and were waiting for us as if they didn’t have a care in the world, music drifting softly from the stereo in his car.

“Tyler potty breaks, again?” Charlie asked, laughing.

“He travels back with you.” I grumbled as I opened the trunk and began to drag our gear out. Instantly, Charlie was on his feet, unfolding the tents to put them up with Tyler’s help.

“What do you need me to do?” John asked me.

“Take those coolers of food and drinks over to Megan. She’s always in charge of that stuff, makes sure we don’t live off candy and chips.”

I couldn’t help but watch the muscles in his back as he lifted the two coolers out of the trunk. He wasn’t overly muscly, but his form was impressive. I stood back and admired him for a minute.

“Hey, Trouble. Give me a hand with this. Your brother’s still useless.” Charlie called out.

By the time the tents were all up, one for Tyler, and one for me and John, we were all starving.

“Hey, losers. You owe us lunch.” Charlie called out, giving his sister a high five.

“Let me just get changed, and we’ll go.” In the middle of the camping ground was a café that served some of the best food. I ducked into the tent and changed my shirt and jeans for a bikini top and denim shorts. As I emerged from the small space, I pulled one of Charlie’s old cut off shirts over my head. “Right, let’s go and introduce John to poutine.

“What?”

“Oh, man. It’s the best.” Tyler slapped him on the back as he led the way. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Charlie watch as John took hold of my hand.

:: ::

The sun was setting and the five of us were sitting around a campfire. Charlie had his guitar and he and Megan were singing some of their favorite songs. As always, I was blown away by their talent and how well their voices blended together. I’d always been a bit jealous of how musical the Gillespie family was. All of them sang, played instruments, and dance – well Charlie didn’t that well, but he always gave his all when his sister dragged him into it.

John sat next to me, his camera lifted up to his face as he took photo after photo, something he’d been doing all day. He’d told me he’d been blown away by the beauty of the place and that gave me a warm feeling, being able to share one of my favorite places with him.

“Hey, Trouble. Your turn.” Charlie handed me the guitar.

“Not tonight, Gillespie.” I was exhausted and it had been far too long since I’d played or sang. I knew I was never going to sound as good as him and Megan; I rarely did.

“Nope, you’re not getting out of it. Come on, you know you wanna.” He was egging me on, and knew I’d give in eventually.

“Come on, it’s tradition.” Megan joined in with the cajoling as Tyler called out his two cents worth. With a sigh, I took the guitar from Charlie and propped it on my knee.

“Any requests?” I asked.

“Under the Bridge.” The Red Hot Chili Peppers song was one of my favorites and I loved singing it.

“I didn’t know you played.” John sounded surprised.

“Yeah, Charlie taught me a few years ago. It’s been a while though and I’m rusty as hell because I never got my own guitar.” I ran my fingers down the strings before making myself a bit more comfortable. “Hey, you got a spare pick?” I asked Charlie. He reached into the pocket on the front of his soft guitar case before leaning over to hand me the small piece of plastic. I couldn’t help but laugh at the poop emoji design on it. I’d ordered him a bunch of them as part of his birthday present the previous year.

I ran through the song in my mind reminding me of the lyrics and chords before I began to play.

Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner

Sometimes I feel like my only friend

Is the city I live in, the city of angels

Lonely as I am, together we cry

I drive on her streets 'cause she's my companion

I walk through her hills 'cause she knows who I am

She sees my good deeds and she kisses me windy

Well, I never worry, now that is a lie

As I expected, Charlie joined in on the bridge, harmonizing with me. We’d always sang this song together. It had become a bit of a tradition at gatherings with our families and friends. As always when we sang together, Charlie and I locked eyes, a small smile on his face made me smile back as we sang. There was a connection between us when we sang, one that had been there from the day we became friends.

I don't ever wanna feel

Like I did that day

Take me to the place I love

Take me all the way

I don't ever wanna feel

Like I did that day

Take me to the place I love

Take me all the way

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Finally, the song came to an end and silence filled the air around us. Without saying anything, I handed the guitar and pick back to Charlie without looking at him. I leaned over, picked up my bottle of beer, and drained the last of it. For some reason, a weird feeling had come over me while we’d sung, and I didn’t know how to read it. In the end, I decided to ignore it and escape into my tent.

“I’m tired guys. I’m gonna turn in.” As I faked a yawn, I didn’t bother waiting for a response as I stood up, dropped the bottle in a trash bag, gave John a quick kiss, and crawled into my tent. As I stripped out of my hoodie and sweats and crawled into my sleep bag, Megan stuck her head through the flap.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, just tired. It’s been a long day.” It hadn’t really, and she knew it hadn’t. We hadn’t done anything different to what we would normally in Fundy.

“Okay…”

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Sure. Night.” With a small smile she disappeared from the opening of the tent, leaving me to settle down and try to get to sleep.

I was still wide awake when John crawled into the tent an hour or so later. He tried not to make too much noise as he stripped down to his boxers before getting into his own sleeping bag. The lamp hanging from the tent roof was turned on low, just about lighting up the space around us.

“Hey.” I kept my voice low, knowing from experience how the sound travelled at night.

“Hey.” He repeated as I turned to face him, propping myself up on one elbow.

“Have you had a good day?”

“It’s been great. I can see why you guys love it out here.

“Yeah, it’s great. We’re lucky having all this pretty much on our doorstep. I couldn’t imagine not being able to get out here. I bet you got some great shots.”

“I did. I can’t wait to get back and start editing them. Some should work well for school too.”

“Hey,” I dropped my voice even lower. “Wanna join the bags together and… snuggle?” I waggled my eyebrows at him in the dim lighting, making him smile softly.

“Not tonight. I’m so tired after all the hiking and swimming you guys made me do today.” He turned his head to look at me. “That okay?”

“Of course.” I leaned over and kissed him before getting comfortable again against his solid form. This time, I did fall asleep.

:: ::

When I woke up, the light was bright around me, despite being inside the tent. I was also alone. Sitting up, I wiped the sleep from my eyes and crawled out of the tent. John was sitting on his own, a cup of coffee cradled between his hands.

“Morning.” I press a kiss to his cheek as I sit down.

“Aren’t you cold?” he asks, looking at my bare legs. I’m still only in t-shirt I slept in.

“Not at all. It’s not that cold.” I chuckle as I pour myself a coffee. There’s a slight hint of steam in front of my face as I speak.

“It’s freezing, babe.”

“I’m Canadian, remember. This is a gorgeous spring morning.” I lean over and give him another kiss, this time it’s more than a simple and perfunctory peck. John’s hand cups the back of my head, his fingers tangling in my hair. When we pull apart, I notice he’s breathing a little heavier than he was before and it makes me grin.

“You’re crazy.”

“You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Tyler’s voice surprises the both of us. When I turn, he’s standing over us, smirking at me.

“Uh… why am I suddenly nervous?” John asks my brother. They seem to have gotten on really well which pleases me. Tyler tipped me out of my seat before making himself comfortable in my place. Glaring at him, I moved around and sat on John’s lap.

“How are you with heights?” Tyler asks.

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

“How do you feel about deep water?”

I knew where this was going, so I decided to go and grab a shower in the shower block. As I ducked into the tent, I heard John exclaim.

“She does what?”

“Yeah, she and Charlie cliff dive.” I turned to look at John and laughed at the look of horror on his face. “It started out as a dare, of course, and now they do it every time we’re here.”

Leaving the two of them talking, I grab my washbag and take a walk over to the block of showers. Thankfully, there isn’t much of a queue and I’m able to snag one pretty quickly. The water’s not exactly hot, which means I don’t dawdle as I wash. Eventually, I emerge fully dressed, a towel wrapped around my hair and almost bump into Charlie.

“Woah, hey. You’re up late.” He commented, steadying me so I wouldn’t fall over.

“Not really.” It was barely 8 a.m., which to Charlie was practically a lie in. “I was up before you.”

“Nope. I was up at sunrise and went for a walk.” I rolled my eyes.

“Of course you were.”

“Are you heading back?”

“Yeah, I want to get ready for the cliffs.” I grinned at him. He fell into step beside me, and we walked back to the tents together.

“Remember that time you pushed me before I was ready, and I belly flopped so hard?”

“Oh my God, you screamed like a little girl who got a pony for her birthday. It was hilarious.”

“It also hurt like a fucking bitch.”

Charlie and I approached our tents, laughing to find John, Tyler, and Megan watching us as if we’d lost our minds.

“Who’s ready for the cliffs?” I asked, wiping the tears of laughter from my eyes. The memory of Charlie screaming lived in my head, rent free, and I couldn’t not laugh about it.

“Uh…” John looked nervous. After throwing my washbag into the tent, I bounced over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Charlie turn his back and crawl into the tent he shared with his sister.

“No need to be nervous. You don’t have to dive if you don’t want to, just stay near the top, take photos, and enjoy the view. It’s all Megan and Ty do, because they’re both massive chickens.” As I spoke, I looked over at my brother who was flipping me off. “Don’t decide now. See how you feel nearer the time.”

Once we were at the cliffs, Megan spread out a blanket and sat down, a book in her hand. Tyler joined her, scrolling through his phone. John and I stood at the edge of the cliff, looking down into the ocean. We were nowhere near the top, as over the years we’d worked out this was the best place for jumping into the water without it taking an age to get back, but it was high enough to get my blood pumping.

“Yeah… I think I’ll sit this one out.” Moving back, John joined Tyler and Meghan, but remained standing, his camera at the ready. I moved back a little but stayed fairly close to the edge so I could get ready.

“Gillespie?” I called out my challenge as I stripped out of my shorts and tank tops, kicking my sandals off, revealing a mismatched bikini. Behind me, I heard a sharp intake of breath and turned to grin at John, but he had his back to me and was taking photos of the view.

A roar sounded and Charlie ran past me, launching himself off the edge of the cliffs. He ‘battle cry’ could be heard the entire way down until it was broken off by a splash.

With a grin on my face, I followed, dipping myself forward into a dive. I cut through the water, plunging deep before arcing up to break the surface.

“Show off.” Charlie called out as he tread the water.

“Of course. I need to make you look bad at something.” I swam over to him, taking hold of his hand and pulling him back to shore so we could start the climb back to where the others waited. There was a lot of pushing and shoving between the two of us as we made out way, and when we finally reached them, I was out of breath from laughing so much. Charlie’s arm was slung over my shoulder as he struggled to keep himself upright.

“Then you just whipped your top off and jumped.” He was howling with laughter. “That’s why we’ve never given you tequila since.”

I gave him a friendly shove.

“It wasn’t just the tequila, and you know it Gillespie. We hadn’t eaten all day, then you pulled out Jose and it was game over.” He grabbed me around the waits and walked toward the edge, as if he was going to throw me. Admittedly, if he did, it wouldn’t have been the first time. I screamed at him to put me down, hearing my brother and Megan laughing. Eventually, he did as I asked before diving off the edge again, this time executing an almost perfect dive. “Asshole.” I muttered as I grabbed a towel to wrap around my waist.

It wasn’t until I sat down next to him, that I realized John was very quiet and was scrolling through his phone.

:: ::

Arriving back at my house early evening, I was ready for a hot shower and my own bed. Tyler ducked into the house while John and I unloaded the trunk and stored the camping gear back where it belonged. He’d slept for most of the trip back, and I could tell something was bothering him.

After having dinner with my parents, John excused himself to try and get some sleep. It had been a pretty full on couple of days, but not enough to wipe him out. After a few minutes, I decided to go and check on him. I didn’t want him getting sick or something.

When I got to my room, I was surprised to find him packing his stuff into his bag.

“Hey, what’s going on?” He clearly hadn’t expected me to come upstairs and my voice made him jump even though I hadn’t spoken particularly loudly.

“I’m heading back to my dorm.” I moved into my room, closing the door behind me. When I reached up to touch his shoulder, he flinched away from me.

“Woah. Why?”

“Look, I can’t play second best. I really like you, but it’s very clear that your heart lies elsewhere.”

“John, babe. I have no idea what you’re talking about here.” I put my hand on his arm, trying to get him to turn and face me. Eventually he did, sinking onto the edge of my bed.

“Look, we’ve been having fun, right?” I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. “Neither of us expected anything serious, and while I thought I might have been falling for you, the past few days have made me realize you could never feel the same way about me.”

“W-w-what?”

When John looked up at me, meeting my eyes with his gorgeous green ones, there was no sadness in them. There was only what I could describe as an acceptance of some sort. It confused the hell out of me.

“I know you tell everyone he’s your best friend, but it’s obvious to everyone who spends any kind of time with the two of you that you’re both head over heels for the other.”

I couldn’t help it, but I burst out laughing.

“Me and Charlie? No way. You’ve got it all wrong, believe me.”

“See, you say that, and I think on the surface that you believe it, but deep down… I’m a photographer. I literally look at details of the things around me all the time, and there’s no mistaking there’s something going on between the two of you. It’s just taking both of you some time to realize it; although, I think Charlie might be there already. He’s crazy jealous of me.” A snort escaped me before I could stop it. “I’m serious. Whenever we were together the past few days, he either turned his back, walked away, or interrupted us. You may see him as your best friend, but he’s in love with you. And I can’t compete with that.”

Standing back up, John finished packing his stuff, telling me he had a train booked in an hour. Knowing I wasn’t going to change his mind, I offered him a ride to the station, but he refused saying he’d book an uber.

Rather than watch him leave, I went out into the garden and sat on the swing. I’d never had a breakup, so I had nothing to compare it to, but I didn’t feel as sad as I expected to. In the movies, girls lay in their beds for days on end with messy hair and mascara running down their faces until their friends ran an intervention. Yeah, I was sad that John had broken up with me, but it felt like I was losing a friend more than a boyfriend. Even if the reasoning was ludicrous. There was no way on Earth Charlie Gillespie, the guy all the girls wanted, was in love with me. Sure, I knew he loved me – we were best friends, but that was it.

As the sun set around me, I finally made my way inside. I could hear the TV playing in the lounge, but didn’t feel like being pitied by my family, so I made my way up to my bedroom. When I was there, it felt empty without John’s big, solid frame. He’d only been here two days, but he’d made an impression on my space.

Not sure what to do with myself, I sat on my bed, hearing a crinkle. There was an envelope on my pillow.

I’m sorry it ended like this, but you need to know and understand that I don’t hate you – just in case you were wondering. Yeah, I’m upset, but I’m a big boy and I’ll get over it, and when I do, I hope we can still be friends. I honestly love spending time with you, and meeting your family was great.

I know you didn’t believe me when I told you about Charlie, but I hope these prove it to you.

See you soon, John.

Inside the envelopes were a couple of polaroid photos. I’d forgotten he’d brought his along with his big one. We’d all taken turns taking silly shots of one another, shaking them as they developed around the campfire we’d had.

The first was me holding Charlie’s guitar. I was clearly singing, looking at him, but there was something in the way I looked at my best friend. A softness to my face that could only be interpreted as affection – unsurprising, considering how much he meant to me, how much we meant to one another.

The second, was after our first jump at the cliffs. We were walking toward the camera, arms wrapped around one another, laughing. If it was anyone else, I would say it was quite an intimate photo, but it was me and Charlie. We were always like that, always touching, always laughing.

Putting the letter and photos on my desk, I lay back on my bed. I was confused as hell and didn’t know what to think or who to talk to.

As if summoned, my phone began to ring, Lena’s name flashing on the screen. When I answered, she didn’t bother with a greeting.

“So, when are you and pretty boy getting it on?”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“John text me, told me what happened, said you might need someone to talk to. He finally saw what I saw.”

“And what did you see?”

“You and Charlie boy. All the feels.”

“Lena, there are no feels. We’re friends, best friends.”

“Honey, I know you’re a bit blind to the fact that that boy is crazy in love with you, probably has been for years, and you…”

“I what?”

“You look at him like he hung the moon. I don’t look at my best friend like that. I know it’s a lot to take in, but think about it, logically. Try to look at your relationship the way an outsider would, then tell me you’re not gonna end up ridiculously happy, living in some gorgeous apartment somewhere, surrounded by gorgeous babies.”

“And what if I come to the realization he’s just my friend?”

“Then I would say you’re blind as fuck. Look, I gotta go, my nanna’s lethal at dominoes, so I gotta make sure she doesn’t cheat. I’ll see you in a few days.” Lena ended the call. I was no clearer on the situation I had been before we’d spoken, but I least I had something to do.

Could everyone be right, and I was wrong? I loved Charlie, adored him, but I wasn’t in love with him. We were friends, the best, and that was all. Wasn’t it? I was pretty sure it was for me.

I needed air. I made my way back downstairs, grabbing my car keys from the side unit and went outside. It was late, but maybe a drive would help. As I unlocked my car, I heard my name being called. Turning, I saw Charlie jogging over to me.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“I just need to clear my head.”

“Where’s the big man.” Something flashed in his eyes as he asked about John. I tried not to read too much into it, but if I didn’t know better, it looked like jealousy. I gave myself a mental slap around the back of the head for projecting John and Lena’s words onto myself.

“He left. Went back to campus. We’re over.” Immediately, Charlie’s arms were wrapped around me and I was pulled in tight against his chest. My senses were overwhelmed by the feel of him, the sound of his heartbeat, and the scent of him. It was too much and I pulled away.

“Are you okay? I know you liked him.”

“Yeah, I’m good. It wasn’t that serious.”

“Serious enough to sleep with him.” An undertone of something I couldn’t work out laced his voice.

“Charles. I wasn’t a virgin when I met John. I may not have had any serious relationships, or relationships in any capacity, but I wasn’t innocent. Just the way you’re not, so don’t pull that bullshit with me.”

Boys at high school may have been wary of Charlie, but he wasn’t around at college when I discovered meaningless one night stands weren’t for me.

“I’m sorry. I just don’t want to see you hurting.”

“I’m not. Maybe I should be more upset, but I can’t fake it.”

“You sound upset.” I looked up at him, stepping back slightly to move closer to my car. “I don’t like it when you’re upset, even when you don’t think you are, like that time when-”

“Look, I’m not here for a trip down memory lane. I want to go for a drive. Talk tomorrow?”

“Sure.” He turned to walk away an I pulled open the driver’s side door. Before I could sink into the seat, I was spun around. Charlie had hold of my wrist in one hand, but it was a gentle hold. He slammed the door and walked toward me. Nerves took over me and I back away from him, my back hitting the car behind me.

When he let go of my wrist, he placed his hands either side of me, resting against the cool metal of my car. Swallowing, I locked eyes with him, feeling very unsure of myself. I opened my mouth to ask him what was happening but didn’t manage the words before he crashed his lips against mine.

Tagging:

@dream-a-little-bigger-x @calamitykaty @crybabyddl @morganayennefertyrell @lovesanimals @sunsetcurvenotsunsetswerve @echocharm17618 @kinda-really-lost @n0wornever @all-in-fangirl @kcd15 @charliesmountains @amazinggracy @happinessinthedarkesttimes @xplrreylo @5sosmukefan

#Mich writes fic #charlie x reader #charlie gillespie fic

90 notes · View notes

idle-writer · 4 years

Text

think before (6)

THINK BEFORE (6)

pairing: rk800 connor x reader

warnings: none

chapters: MASTERLIST

A/N: Thank you so much for your patience as always! There will be a message to readers on the ending notes. Hope you enjoy reading! :)

“Look, as I’ve said before. The faster you give us the information we need, the faster you can leave.”

“No, no. I won’t speak to you either, old man.”

You glare at the woman through the large mirror of the interrogation room.

“Tell you what. I’ll only speak to the cute droid boy earlier. Is he there?”

Connor is silently standing next to you. The woman look straight at the mirror, making you groan in disgust when she started winking and making kissy faces at your direction. She has been constantly flirting with or rather at Connor the whole time after you pick her up.

-----

You are seating at the passenger seat, eyes on the rear view mirror, regretting calling shotgun.

“If only I knew the DPD has someone like you, I would’ve come sooner.” She is seated way to close to Connor, her hand twirling and smoothing the android’s tie. Connor is looking down at her hand, but not making an attempt to remove it or whatever, and for some reason, it pisses you off. “You can even cuff me, officer."

Oh that’s it. You awkwardly clear your throat so hard you feel like it will feel raw later but at least the woman inched away from Connor, but not before she gave you a wolfish smirk. You choose to ignore her, your eyes fleeting to Connor whose own set is now fixed at you through the mirror. He tilts his head cutely slightly to the side, as if asking if there’s something wrong. You roll your eyes, sighing, choosing to look out the window instead. How can someone be both smart and stupid at the same time?

You hear Hank snigger at your side. Great, even Hank thinks it’s funny now.

“No, you’re the one who’s funny,” he remarks, his eyes are focused on the road but you can see them crinkle in mirth.

“What did I do?” you asked in hushed whisper for which he only shakes his head in answer. Knowing you won’t get anything else from him, you stare out your side of the window, throwing glares at random objects passing by, not knowing the android seated at the passenger seat has his eyes on you the whole time.

The second Hank put the car on park, you immediately bolt from your seat and onto the passenger door. Sending a sickeningly sweet smile at the woman, you escort her out of the vehicle, purposely slamming the door shut, escorting the woman into the precinct. Okay, maybe you’re still upset

Hank is supposed to get out of his seat when Connor speaks. “Did I do something, Lieutenant? The detective seems upset with something I did.”

“Oh for god’s sake, you ask her. I’m not playing cupid for both you.” Hank huffs before exiting the vehicle, leaving an even more confused android.

-----

Connor suddenly calls your name, unintentionally making you send your murder glare (aimed at the woman) at him, the intensity of it making him worry even more if that’s possible. “Did I do something to upset you?”

His voice is so small you can’t help but instantly soften your eyes. You feel bad, because 1.) He looks genuinely sorry about something he doesn’t know he did and, 2.) you know he did nothing wrong .

“I-“ Your voice cracks, your throat raw both from the silence and your stint earlier. You open your mouth to explain but Hank is already opening the door. You didn’t even notice him exit the interrogation room.

“Connor, you’re up.”

Connor just stands in his place as if he didn’t hear the lieutenant. He just stands there, waiting for you to say something

Hank clicks his tongue in annoyance, “Connor.”

Connor is jolted from his reverie. He gives you one last look then he turned to Hank, giving him a nod before exiting the room.

When he already disappeared from the room, you let out a breath you didn’t know you held. You watch as Connor waltz in the interrogation room, voice clear, completely professional. Unlike the Connor who was standing with you a few seconds ago. You can’t stop the small smile that formed in your face.

“He asked me if he did something to upset you.” Hank is not looking at you as he speaks. “Told him to talk to you cause I’m not playing fucking cupid for you, kids.”

It’s your turn to smirk at him now. “So why are you telling me this?”

Hank shrugs. “Because you’re both idiots, that’s why.”

Hank isn’t going to admit it but he rather have you and Connor look like lovesick puppies than kicked ones.

-----

You sit on your desk, too lazy tired to do paperwork. Today is oddly exhausting, more than usual. Connor was able to coax the information out of the woman so at least she’s gone now. You laid your head on your desk, sighing deeply. You catch a whiff of something. Feeling a presence beside you, you turned your head to see Connor holding a paper cup to your direction.

“Ginger tea. It’ll help with your throat."

You sit up, mumbling a soft ‘thanks’, before taking the cup from his hand, your fingers slightly brushing his.

He stands awkwardly beside your desk and again you feel bad. He seems to be walking in eggshells around you now.

“Connor, why don’t you pull up a chair so we can talk?”

-----

Hank drops a ton of paper at your desk, making your laughter cease. “I see you’ve kissed and made up.”

“Well, we haven’t kissed yet but we definitely made up.” You quip, sending a toothy grin at Connor.

“Detective is just explaining why our informant wanted me to cuff her. Apparently, it's a form of sexual- ”

You beam proudly at Connor, nodding, while Hank grimaces at you, grumbling at how you're back to your old ways of corrupting the boy.

--------

A/N: Not sure if any of you will read this but if you do, thank you! I just want to let you know that even though I'm starting to write outside of DBH, this fic is my happy place, and I'm extremely grateful for your patience and your comments (they're a delight to read). Anyway, have a great day to you all. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)

Tag list (thanks for wanting to be tagged!) : @butterfly-bonez @jellicorn05

Let me know if you want to be added to the tag list :)

#idle-writer #connor x reader #connor x you #connor imagine #connor detroit become human #dbh connor imagine #dbh connor x reader #fic: think before #rk800 imagine #rk800 x reader #connor rk800 x reader #detroit become human

132 notes · View notes

clean-bands-dirty-stories · 5 years

Text

His Sister (Stan)(Part 4)(final)

A/n: We’re gonna skip ahead to senior year, so they’ve been dating for almost two years now and are, like, 17 or 18. So, yay :) Also, yes, I’m faceclaiming Jessie Eisenberg for teenage Stan lmao enjoy. Enjoy!

Word Count: 3596

Anon: Pidge

MASTERLIST

The Losers’ senior year of high school was coming to a close and they were all graduating. Tensions were already high with stress and cramming and figuring out university situations, but then Bill and Mike started fighting. They couldn’t be together for long without bickering, which would only too soon lead to full blown arguments. Richie and Y/n, who were put on edge by yelling - especially so when Bill would shove Mike or Mike would get really up in Bill’s face and it was a miracle that Stan and Eddie were there to comfort the twins otherwise they would have completely lost it.

The arguing quickly drew a rift in the Losers Club, with people taking sides. No one thought anyone was especially right in any of the arguing, since it was clear they were both yelling just to yell, but it evened out that Ben and Mike ended on one side with everyone else on the other, just because the original five were very loyal to each other and had been through more together. Despite the current friendships they had, Y/n, Richie, Eddie, and Stan were closer to Bill than Mike. Ben just didn’t want Mike to be alone.

The breakup was almost a relief. Almost.

Mike pushed Ben away and the two went on their own for the last few months. Time seemed to be undoing itself, reverting all of them back into what they used to be before the summer none of them could remember. Mike started to remember things. Things he didn’t really want to, but couldn’t help thinking of. Feeling like an outcast again brought up memories of a summer that made him nauseous.

Ben, isolated and alone, started to have the same thing happened. Except instead of facing it he just became a womanizer, drowning his memories in alcohol and women, trying to block out the image of red hair and glittering green eyes and smile that made his heart flutter- a girl he didn’t want to remember and the summer when she had been apart of his life.

Bill began to push his friends away, becoming immersed in his writing instead of his art, creating gory horror stories and ignoring everyone outside of his paper world. And so it was down to four- Richie, Eddie, Stan, and Y/n- held together only by the fact that Eddie and Richie were dating, so were Y/n and Stan, and Y/n and Richie were siblings. Bonds that couldn’t be broken without ripping them completely in two.

After losing his best friends (especially Bill, who they always thought would be by their side), Stan was on edge to say the least. Scared of losing Y/n, which would also lead to losing Richie and Eddie as well. The idea of losing Y/n made him want to throw up.

Throughout the year, the four had applied to colleges, trying for a lot of the same ones so they wouldn’t be separated or too far apart.

Eddie went through his first, opening the six letters in his hand and quickly reading the beginnings out loud to his friends. “You got accepted into TWO?” Y/n gushed. “That gives you options!”

Richie leaned over, placing a kiss on Eddie’s cheek. “That’s my boy.”

Blushing, Eddie pushed Richie away, but his grin gave him away. “Open yours, Trashmouth.”

Richie obeyed, obviously shaking as he opened his five letters. From the two he had coordinated with Eddie, Eddie had gotten into one of them, so he opened that one last. After getting into three (including the other one he and Eddie coordinated with each other), he opened the one letter he wanted a yes from.

His smile faded. “I didn’t get in.”

Eddie moved close, kissing his boyfriend’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Richie. We won’t be super far. We can visit and write letters and call and all the cheesy long distance stuff. We’ll have plenty of chances to make up for lost time.” Richie smiled and they kissed, Y/n giggling as Stan pretended to gag. “Okay your turn,” Eddie declared, leaning into Richie’s side as he motioned to Stan.

Stan went, revealing that he’d gotten into three out of the four colleges he’d applied for. Two of them were the ones he and Y/n were both aiming for, so he was happy with his results. He leaned over, leaving a chaste kiss on Y/n’s cheek. Over the last year he’d definitely changed significantly in how romantic and publicly lovey he was, but for the most part he was still pretty reserved unless alone with their friends two on two. “Your turn.”

Y/n grinned, pushing aside the two in her hand that Stan had gotten into. She had two chances. She hadn’t done as well as she’d wished in high school, getting hit with one of the worse cases of senioritis and biffing it hard. She was hoping that her turn around in the second semester would come through, after she had done a lot of work to counteract it with her friends’ help and had also done fairly well in school before this year. She was sure she’d at least gotten into ONE school, surely.

As she opened letters, though, her heart sunk into her toes. She’d applied to nine colleges- NINE- and seven of them hadn’t accepted. She held the two in her hand that she’d set aside, anxiety rising in her throat to choke her. “Guys what if I haven’t gotten into college at all?” She looked tot her friends, her eyes wide and terrified.

Richie’s hold on Eddie tightened but he hid his nervousness with a smile. He didn’t know what he would do if that happened, but he had to comfort his sister right now. “You’ll get one, Y/n. This is just the universe’s way of telling you that you and Stan were meant to never part.” He made kissy noises, successfully getting everyone to laugh and Stan and Y/n to blush.

Stan moved right up next to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. “Come on,” he whispered. “Rip the bandaid off.”

So she did, tearing the two letters at the same time and taking out the first. She about threw up as she read out loud, “Thank you for sending your application in... blah blah blah... but we’re sorry to inform you... and so on.” Richie and Stan exchanged looks as Y/n pulled out the last letter with shaking hands. She held it without opening it or reading for a long time before she took a breath, her voice shaky as she opened it and started to read, blinking around her tears. This was important. She HAD to get into at least ONE college after all that work, right?! “Thanks for your application... mhm... yeah... I swear these colleges all have the same introduction like get original... we wish to inform you...” Her face became blank and her eyes widened, her body freezing.

“What?” Eddie snapped. “Did you get in?”

Stan scanned the paper quickly. “We wished to inform you that we- we accept your application and appreciate the hard work and dedication you showed. Wait, what?” He grew quiet. “Oh, one of your teachers sent a letter of recommendation to them!” He grinned. “Y/n you got in!”

“I got in,” she whispered.

The boys all jumped up, the letter still in Y/n’s hand as she began crying, all of them patting her on the back or ruffling her hair or shaking her gently by the shoulders, grins on their faces as they congratulated her. She finally snapped out of it, tears of relief falling down her face. “Oh don’t cry,” Eddie whimpered, pulling her into him.

“I’m just so happy,” she whispered. And soon they were all group hugging and giggling quietly, relieved at the wonderful outcomes of the night.

A few months later, they were all graduated and using the following summer to pack and plan for the next coming school year. Stan and Y/n were headed out together, Richie and Eddie on their own.

Richie wrapped his arm under Y/n’s head, locking her against his chest. “You better call me every weekend!” He threatened. “Or I might have to track you down and beat you and Stan the Man up both.” Stan laughed at the idea of Richie beating anyone up, Eddie muffling his amusement for the sake of his boyfriend’s pride. They were all hanging together for a last night in Derry meal and after Y/n had insisted that everyone better stay in contact, Richie had lashed out jokingly to tease her. And here they were.

Y/n’s hands weakly pawed at Richie’s arms. “HEY!” She interjected, her face screwing up even though he wasn’t really hurting her.

“Promise me!” He insisted.

She huffed, glaring at her best friend and boyfriend as they sat back and laughed, simply watching. “Fine!” She groaned. “I promise!” Richie cackled, rubbing his knuckles against the top of her head. “WHAT THE FUCK, RICHARD?” He finally let her go, laughing too hard to keep a hold on her. She shoved him and then Stan, who was still laughing. “You all suck ass!”

A few hours and enough teasing to last the time away they’d endure with the distance, the last standing Losers moved to the three cars in the parking lot of the diner, each one packed and ready for a long trip and a new life. They had a surprisingly small amount of stuff they wanted to take and save from the life they thought they were leaving behind forever, far too ready to leave and start over with only each other as a reminder of their old lives in the shitty town they all hated.

The Losers exchanged last hugs (even the boys did their dumbass bro hug considering how long they’d be apart) and Richie and Eddie kissed. “Call me when you get to your dorm,” Y/n told the two boys. “That way I’ll know you’re safe at the very least.” They nodded and then they all parted ways except Stan and Y/n who got in their car together.

The first months of uni were spent adjusting and finding new jobs as soon as possible and hitting it all headlong. It was better people-wise, but had more work that was harder. Stan and Y/n were living on campus for now, seeing each other mostly to study or go on their weekly date to catch up or vent or just spend time together. With everyone so busy between school and work and maintaining relationships, the calls from Richie and Eddie got less and less but Y/n knew that they were okay- just busy, like her.

Just as her and Stan were falling into a nice, comfortable routine, Y/n got a call from Richie. “Hey I was wondering if you guys wanted company for Christmas? I kind of don’t have a lot of friends here and no one else to visit so...”

Y/n covered the receiver end of the phone, turning to Stan to whisper, “It’s Richie.” The boy nodded, returning to his homework, leaving the twins to talk. “We would love to have you here!” Y/n said to her brother, smiling. “Are you bringing Eddie?”

There was a pause. “Uh... oh. I hadn’t told you?” Y/n’s smile faded. “The distance was too much for us- Eddie and I broke up.”

Y/n’s eyes widened. “Oh. I- I’m so sorry Rich.”

“It’s fine,” Richie covered quickly, moving on. “I’ve been busy with school, haven’t thought about it too much. You and Stan still together?”

Y/n smiled weakly. “We are. He’s here right now, want to say hi?” Stan looked up, a frown drawing on his face at Y/n’s bittersweet expression.

“Nah,” Richie hummed. “Tell him hi for me. I’ll head down the day before Christmas Eve and stay until after Christmas if that sounds good to you guys?”

“That sounds perfect,” Y/n managed, her heart suddenly heavy and sad, knowing how broken-hearted her brother was when he loved Eddie with all he had in him. “It’ll be so good to see you again. I’ve missed you.”

Richie chuckled softly. “I’ve got months of teasing to make up for,” he joked weakly.

Y/n’s smile strengthened. “I look forward to it. See you in a few weeks.”

“See ya.”

The call ended. Y/n hung up the phone, moving to her spot at the kitchen table with a heavy sigh, her hand pulling through her hair. “What’s wrong?” Stan asked, putting his pencil down and turning his attention to his girlfriend.

Y/n frowned at the table. “Richie and Eddie broke up.” She pulled herself together as Stan let that process, falling part as she gathered her strengths. “And then there were three.” The joke was weak and neither of them smiled. “Come on, homework.”

The rest of the day they sat in silence, Y/n reaching over to touch Stan’s leg comfortingly when the dark mood settled longer than either of them at all wanted. Richie and Eddie were supposed to be the ones to make it. Despite everything and all odds, they were perfect and made for each other. After losing all of their friends and now the world’s best couple breaking up, it seemed the Losers were doomed to lose each other. Y/n didn’t know why Stan was so upset since she was only sad for her brother, but Stan got the horrible feeling that it was only a matter of time before he lost Y/n too.

When they finished, Y/n began packing her things. “I’ll see you later?” She asked, kissing Stan’s cheek. When he didn’t respond, she frowned.

“Actually,” he croaked out. “Could you stay?” He looked up at her and the anguish she saw in his eyes made her frown even more. He stood, pulling her close and kissing her passionately, their bodies flush together and his fingers smoothing over her waist, her hands in his hair on instinct. “Stay,” he mumbled against her lips after he softened the kiss.

She half smiled. “Of course, Stan. I’ll just borrow one of your shirts for tomorrow.” She chuckled, putting her bag back down on the chair she had sat in before. Stan was pleased. He stayed quiet as she moved to make dinner, seeing what they had before settling on spaghetti. Which only served to remind her of Eddie - and, inevitably, Richie and Eddie together - which made her sad all over again. But she sucked it up and started cooking. Stan came up behind her, his arms around her waist, pulling her into him from behind. His lips ghosted her neck and she smiled. “What’s up with you?” She asked, chuckling. “I would say you’re horny but you’re acting too timid right now for that. The last time you got shy about wanting to have sex with me was the first and the last time.” They both smiled at the memory as Y/n finished up dinner, turning off the stove and then facing Stan with a concerned expression. “What’s wrong, Lover Mine?”

Stan almost smiled at the nickname, his eyes scanning and taking her in as if it was the last time. “I’m sorry to worry you. I just...” his face twisted. “I don’t want to lose you. Like Bill lost Mike and Richie lost Eddie. Like how we miss all of our friends. I’ve been anxious about it since Bill and Mike broke up, but after losing everyone and now Eddie and Richie breaking up I just feel like the end is waiting around the corner. I want you here. With me. Close. I want you to know how much I love you. How much I want you. I just... I don’t want to lose you.”

Touched, Y/n gently cupped Stan’s face. “I love you so much, Stanley Uris.” She pulled him close gently, more guiding, until their foreheads touched. “You will not ever lose me unless you want to.”

“I never will,” he interrupted very seriously.

“Then I’m not going anywhere,” Y/n eased. “Ever. I’ll be right here by your side forever, Stan the Man.”

Stan smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Thing Two.”

They both laughed. “Oh god it’s been ages since we used those nicknames,” Y/n groaned.

Stan kissed her nose. “I like them. We should use them more often again.”

The girl nodded. “If you want.”

They parted to eat dinner, keeping conversation a constant stream with breaks of warm, comfortable silence. They cleaned the table together and then got ready for bed together, Stan hovering close to Y/n. She didn’t much mind, liking how close and gentle he was being after having to spend so often separated and busy and stressed and alone. They crawled in bed, cuddling up and falling asleep after a last kiss and exchanging whispered, sleepy ‘I love you’ declarations.

“Good morning!” Y/n declared toward her brother as she woke up Christmas morning. The last day had been spent decorating and reliving traditions, Y/n insisting on waiting until Richie was at the house to do it. They’d had loads of fun and then ended the day with Christmas movies and one present opened each, where Y/n brought presents for the boys specifically, insisting they open the one she gave them and save the rest for tomorrow. They were Christmas sweaters that fit each of the boys’ dorky quirks.

Richie’s was made with loud colors and crazy designs framing a snowman with sunglasses on and his middle finger up. Richie was still laughing for hours afterward.

Stan’s was warm and soft and simple, with his favorite bird on the front. It made him smile, prompting him to pull Y/n close for a sweet kiss. Both boys were wearing their sweaters that morning and it made Y/n’s mood sky rocket.

Richie smirked, looking between his sister and best friend. “It will be,” he finally responded, referencing Y/n’s bright greeting.

The twins looked at each other. “That was vague and slightly ominous,” Y/n edged. She looked at Stan. “What’s going on?”

Stan’s face gave nothing away. “Just Richie being a moron. Let’s open presents.” Trusting that it must be a present Stan had told Richie about, Y/n went along with it. They sorted the gifts and then began opening, going one by one in turns from oldest to youngest.

When all the presents were done, they put their new stuff away and joined up again in the living room. “Y/n?” Stan asked. She looked over. “There’s one more present I haven’t given you yet.” He held out a wrapped box that fit in his palm, his smile bright but closed lipped. Y/n looked at Richie but for once the Trashmouth was purposefully keeping his face blank so she wouldn’t know anything- that made her more nervous than anything else could ever have.

Richie took out a camera to record as she took the present, unwrapping the box. It was black and velvety which made her heart explode in her chest. What had Stan GOTTEN her and why was she so incredibly nervous?! When’s she opened it, she was confused. “It’s empty. You got me an empty box?”

Stan suddenly took a breath, reaching into his pocket and pulling out something small, holding it between his fingers. Y/n looked at Richie who was grinning like there was no tomorrow and then looked back at Stan just as he got down on one knee.

Face red and nervousness obvious, Stan held up the ring for Y/n to see. Her hands flew to her mouth, the box dropping to the floor. Richie snorted as Stan jumped and for a second Y/n thought she had ruined the moment before Stan collected himself and began talking. “Will you, Y/n Tozier, make me the happiest I’ll ever be and agree to marry me?” Y/n stared at him with pure shock, her hands and lips quivering as she tried to regain he composure. The silence stretched on and Stan looked at Richie, who nodded to him encouragingly. Stan stood, chuckling. “Thing Two? What do you say? Hm?”

She lowered her hands. “Oh my god Stan YES!”

A grin like none other Stan had worn before exploded on the boy’s face and he slipped the ring on Y/n’s finger before scooping her up and pulling her close, kissing her passionately.

Richie stopped recording, cheering and whooping and hollering.

There should have been more noise and commotion. In another world, Ben would have been squealing and Mike would have been laughing as Bill, Richie, and Eddie saw who could yell louder without sounding any less happy. Bev would have been crying, bouncing on her feet. Mike would have pulled Bill close, their eyes meeting and a promise for the future clear in their smiles. Bev would have kissed Ben’s cheek and Eddie and Richie would have flat out kissed each other right there, having to be pried apart for the betterment of everyone having to watch them, Y/n and Stan crying and laughing and surrounded by their friends that had long since been family. The Losers’ Club, all grown up and still together despite all the odds.

But this wasn’t a different world. This was their world. They had to settle for the short moment of bursting, sparking energy and Richie alone hooting and hollering and stomping his feet despite neighbors to make up for the silence around them. In the happy moment, they felt the absences of each friend- even the ones they’d forgotten like Ben and Beverly.

For now it wouldn’t bother them. It was Christmas and Stan and Y/n were engaged and that’s all that mattered. Just for tonight. Just for tonight.

65 notes · View notes

whirlybirbs · 6 years

Text

studying.

pairing: college!peter x reader rating: all audiences welcome to this fluff what to listen to: roll up by fitz & the tantrums a/n: for the anons who gave me some ideas, here is the start of a potential series? or, as i would say, peter crushes on his TA.

After months of applications and tours and accepted student days, Peter had finally settled on MIT.

(It had helped that Tony had written his recommendation letter. A lot.)

September brings a new leaf.

Peter trades in the hustle and bustle for NYC for that of Boston. It is less shiny, less new. He likes it though; likes the cobblestone, the spirit, the history and the rhythmic rattle of the T under the Kendell stop. The late summer breeze is crisp as Peter shrugs his hoodie on, bagel dangling from his mouth as he chews and launches himself up the steps towards the quad.

His sense are in a haywire; it is the new environment. His sunglasses are maybe a little darker than they should be.

A week ago, his phone had been buzzing with kissy emoji from Aunt May, a good luck text from Tony and of course Ned -- his friend had settled in only a few T stops away at Harvard. The first day of classes had come and gone, bringing it with it an overwhelming sense of belonging. For once, Peter didn’t feel like an outlier.

The only text Peter is paying attention to this morning is yours, though.

pls help me study for my bio quiz later, peter, i am begging u

It makes him laugh. Peter grins, dimples digging in a little bit as he settles into a quick pace. Strawberry converse beat against the jagged cobblestone.

I mean, he wasn’t going to lie to himself -- you were, like, gorgeous. And funny. And you thought it was cool that he’d binged the entirety of Jason Todd and the Outlaws in one night. The fact that you’d excitedly added him on Facebook last Friday after class was enough; he’d messaged you, asking if avoiding the chicken at McCormick was a smart move.

You were a sophomore. You knew the ropes. Peter is totally using it as an excuse.

it’s literally the second week??? who is giving quizzes already??? who’s THAT evil???

You’re laughing, crossing the quad on the opposite side of campus when you get his texts.

It was only happenstance you two started to become friends. His first class, an 8:30am entry-level history course run by Professor Frankfurt (which was really just one big Captain America fanboy session) happened to be the class you’d decided to TA for -- and in turn, the class you’d first met Peter in. Forced to sit front row after arriving late -- he’d had trouble finding the Tang Auditorium -- he ended up being the one to sit next to you.

He was wearing a Saint Motel t-shirt. You’d stopped him after class, nervously chirping your admiration of that particular album. He’d stuttered in surprise. You were a little mortified, mostly since you had realize how pretty he was. He had big brown eyes and dimples. Dimples.

From that point forward, it was like you couldn’t escape him. He joined the Broadcasting club -- and you’d laughed out loud when he walked through the door wearing a different Saint Motel t-shirt. Comic Roundtable wasn’t safe either, as Peter Parker had suddenly become the fresh face among the small club of eight. It truly culminated when you realized Peter had taken up residency on Danny’s floor -- the R.A. was a fellow Anthropology major, and one of your closest friends.

So, yeah, texting him and asking for help on a Gen Ed Bio course quiz was kind of pushing it. You wanted to hate Peter, honestly -- as a freshman he’d already met a handful of prerequisites through his famed Stark Internship, working his way through a good half of the first year Computer Science and Molecular Biology course load. The air at MIT was competitive, but for some reason Peter didn’t feed into it. You felt okay admitting a fault.

It wasn’t like you were going to go to Academic Computing. They’d definitely roast you for not understanding cell structure and osmosis and all that other shit. You were an Anthropology and American History double major for god’s sake. You didn’t need that stuff in your brain. You needed room for other things.

So, you text Peter back.

it’s prof steck. don’t play urself. stay away from her. but is that a yes??? bc if it is i’ll swipe for u at baker!!!

Peter’s slipping through the auditorium doors when he texts you back.

Your phone buzzes on your desk, and you laugh a little when you read the message.

only if u buy me mozzerella stix!!!!

He shoulders you as he sits down. The touch is enough to light up Peter’s nervous system; he ignores the happy tingle that creeps up his back.

The stack of graded papers is jostled a bit by the movement -- Frankfurt had done an assessment on Wednesday, intending to get a gage for what he was working with in the class. So much for syllabus week. You, of course, had been tasked with grading. Not that you minded, though, it had distracted you from asking Peter to come out with you on Saturday night.

“You know,” you chirp, “Baker has make your own stir fry tonight...”

“No way!” Peter’s voice clips a bit, high and excited, “Then forget the fried cheese sticks, buy me stir fry.”

“Only if you don’t make fun of me,” you hum, rolling your eyes a little, “This quiz on is the simple stuff and I don’t know why, I just don’t get it.”

“Well,” Peter chides, settling back in his seat. His fingers dance across the trackpad of his laptop, waking it up, “Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.”

You deadpan.

Peter grins. It’s toothy.

“Is that what the Stark Internship taught you?”

His laugh is boyish. Those dimples are back. Your chest caves a bit, face hot with a gooey expression. What the hell is wrong with you? Going gaga over a freshman?

“Naw, memes taught me that one.”

“Oh,” you wave your hands as Professor Frankfurt throws himself into the auditorium in a huff, “Even better.”

You’re both silenced into a hush as the rest of the first year class follows suit. Professor Frankfurt calls roll. Your name is called after Peter’s. You hand out the exams, and then sit beside Peter for the rest of the class, basking in the warm glow of his semi-permanent smile.

“You know it’s not a date, right?”

Your roommate has her fists halfway into a family sized bag of doritos. Netflix glows from the top bunk. You’re fixing your hair in the mirror hanging on the door.

“I know, but,” you sigh, “He’s cute.”

“He’s a freshman,” she waves as The Office drones on, “He’s fresh meat -- dead in the water. That’s social suicide, you know. At least wait until after Rush Week.”

“Peter doesn’t seem like the fraternity type.”

“Yikes.”

“That’s not a bad thing!” you huff, tugging your hair up and away, “Seriously, there’s a reason why you keep getting your heart broken by dumb boys.”

“Is it because I have an affinity for beefy rich assholes named Brad?”

“That’ll do it, honestly.”

“Fair enough,” she tosses a grin your way, “Good luck on your dinner date with Peter.”

“It’s not a date!”

It’s not a date.

Totally not?

Why is he so nervous?

Oh god, his hands are sweating.

“I’ll have the sweet and tangy sauce, please.”

The box of stir fry is handed to him -- you’re already digging in with a goofy grin on your face. You much on the lo mein noodles happily. You’re covering your own nervousness well. Thank god for deodorant because Peter has you sweating -- literally. It had climbed into the high 70s by late afternoon, leaving Parker in a t-shirt that seemed too tight to be legal and a pair of shorts. He was tan. And he had freckles. Everywhere.

Your hair is swept into hazy curls by the late summer heat. Peter watches the curls along the back of your neck as you both work your way through the check out in the dining hall.

You both make your way to the Hayden Library, strides slow. The sky looks gold, and the clouds glow in the deep blue of the September evening. Traffic drums on, but you both are locked into conversation. Nothing is breaking it -- not even the wave of friends across the street.

“So, New York, huh?”

“Yeah,” he laughs, taking a bite from his takeout container, “My Aunt told me that if I ever went to a Red Sox game, she’d murder me in cold blood.”

“Yikes,” you chatter, “You’re missing out -- I mean, no Big Papi anymore, but Hanley Ramirez is a big deal. Be a shame if you never saw him play in Boston.”

“Are you trying to convince me to go to a Red Sox game?” Peter’s voice hitches, “Because that’s not happening.”

“C’mon, the Yankees suck,” your smile is challenging and Peter laugh as you take a few steps ahead, turning around to watch him as you skip backwards, “Turn to the dark side, Peter! It’s more fun! We have a green monster.”

“I think I’d rather take the Hulk, honestly.”

“Me too,” you wink, “Bruce Banner is an absolute babe.”

Peter laughs at that -- loud and rowdy in the late summer heat. It’s intoxicating.

Your takeaway boxes have been abandoned, licked clean, in favor of a biology textbook and notepads. Though, it wasn’t a welcome abandonment. You wanted to pull your hair out. It showed.

Your lips are pulled into a pout. Peter watches your brows screw together. The study room is filled with the chatter of a Bio101 Youtube video he’d pulled up, hoping to explain osmosis and semipermeable membranes and the importance of saline.

“See?” Peter’s pen taps the screen, “From high to low!”

“Always?”

“Always.”

“Sounds fake,” you hum, mushing your cheeks together as you lean on the wooden table, “But okay.”

“It’s not fake! It’s science.”

“So,” you lean back, waving your fingers, “... magic?”

“Basically,” Peter shrugs, “My formal title after grad school will be Wizard.”

“I want to be a wizard.”

“Then --”

“And make this whole quiz disappear.”

Peter drops his head into his hands, laughing softly as he rubs his brows together. You were getting it, albeit slowly. He couldn’t say he really minded losing his Monday night to you -- in fact, he found himself enjoying this a little bit too much. Your knee brushes his under the table as you shift, eyes drawn back to the video.

His skin tingles. Hot and prickly.

“How about one more hour of studying?”

“Thank god,” you whisper, “I can do that.”

“Power hour?”

“Power hour.”

He walks you back to your dorm.

Even though it’s in the opposite direction of his.

“I hope I helped,” he sighs, “Even if it’s a little bit?”

“You helped a lot -- seriously, I think I’m a wizard now.”

You blossom with pride as he giggles, eyes screwing shut as his head falls backwards. His converse scuff against the pavement as he shoves his fingers into his pockets. Peter glows under pinks and yellows of the streetlights. It’s cute. You wind your own fingers together, toeing the ground.

There’s a weighted pause between you both. Brown eyes burrow into your own.

It’s broken by the door to your dorm swinging open and a group of guys bustling by. It prompts you both to laugh again.

“I’ll see you on Wednesday, then?”

“Yeah! And, uh, I’ll let you know how I do on my quiz!”

“Make me proud!”

He waves, you wave, and you swear it’s the warmest you’ve ever felt.

#peter parker imagine #peter parker x reader #peter parker x you #spiderman imagine

389 notes · View notes

midnightcrowisabadname · 6 years

Text

Love on Ice Chapter Two

Because I no longer know how to write just a oneshot. Still based on this ask

When Yuuri opened his eyes the first thing he saw was his fiancé’s face and he had to resist the urge to pinch himself in order to see if he was still dreaming. Although it had been almost two years since they’d met, most of that time they’d spent being engaged, the fact that Victor Nikiforov was in love with him still seemed like an impossible thing. The black-haired man had idolized the skater since he was a child, he’d even taken up ice skating himself because of him, and it had been the reason Phichit had called him at three in the morning one day.

“You’re not going to believe this!” His friend practically screamed into his ear after he managed to answer the phone in his half-asleep state. “You have to audition, it’s the chance of a lifetime!”

He hadn’t understood what Phichit had been saying, it was too early and he’d stayed up late playing Don’t Starve the night before, and instead of responding he’d simply hung up. The Thai boy had only screamed louder when he called again only seconds later.

“Victor Nikiforov is looking for a boyfriend!” That had gotten his attention, which had probably been the point. “Yuuri, he’s signed onto one of those dating shows and they’re looking for people to be on it, they want athletes or former athletes to apply and you need to do it!”

“No.” He’d hung up again and Phichit hadn’t called him back, no instead he’d waited until Yuuri had properly woken up and came to his apartment to persuade him, and he’d been prepared. He had used his social media powers for good and obtained several articles on the new show in addition to his usual bribery binder of Victor pictures that he’d gotten from his reporter friends. As usual, it had worked and in exchange for an unused photo from a perfume advertisement the application was filled out, if only to shut his friend up.

A month later he’d gotten a phone call from an unknown number and he’d almost ignored it, but some weird impulse told him to answer and Yuuri found out he’d passed the first screening phase. He’d had to send a video of him talking about himself and his interests with cheeks flushed from embarrassment partially because of how awkward he felt and the fact Phichit kept making kissy faces from behind the camera.

Another month passed before the second call came and changed his life, “I think I’m going to be sick.” He muttered after he’d hung up and his friend stared at him with wide eyes.

“Did you not make it?”

“That’s the thing, I passed the auditions and I’m going to appear in Love on Ice...”

Phichit had screamed again, launching himself at Yuuri and hugging him while simultaneously shaking him. “Oh my baby’s all grown up and appearing on TV!”

“I’m older than you are.”

“Shhh, someone has to take care of you and the only way you can get me to stop is if Victor replaces me.”

Somehow he’d survived the months before he needed to fly out for the show, he even survived the six hour flight and car ride to the largest mansion he’d ever seen, not that he’d seen many. Upon seeing the massive white building, three stories tall with an entrance lined with stone columns and sprawling gardens, it finally sank in that what was happening was real. He’d kept expecting someone to pop out of nowhere and tell him that he was the victim of some elaborate prank, for someone to say it was a mistake that he’d been chosen, but nothing had happened.

“Name?” A man with a clipboard and an earpiece stared at him disinterestedly.

“Yuuri, Yuuri Katsuki,” he stammered as he played with the zipper pull on his messenger bag, the rest of his luggage would be brought to his room while he met with the producer along with the others. The inside of the mansion was no less impressive than the outside, a huge staircase rested against the opposite wall with a crimson carpet leading to the gray marble floors his shoes clicked against as he walked. Windows were set every few feet in the walls, stretching nearly from ceiling to floor and hung with curtains that matched the carpet. Potted plants rested in alcoves and on tables in glass vases, and on the wall behind the staircase sat a large painting of a forest at nighttime.

He and the other nineteen men were shepherded into an office off the entrance hall where a short man with thinning black hair addressed them about what would be required of them while they stayed in the mansion. “I’m not saying that we don’t want you to act as you normally would, but there might be kids and teenagers watching so don’t do anything too inappropriate while the cameras are rolling. That being said I don’t want anyone harassing another person while filming isn’t happening, if I see someone acting in such a manner I will not hesitate to send you home immediately.” He took a sip of water before continuing. “On the other hand, if you feel uncomfortable with anything that’s going on I want you to tell a crew member, even if it’s Victor making you feel that way; we want everyone to get along even though it’s a competition.”

It was nice to hear that the director actually cared about the contestants, at the very least Yuuri wouldn’t be pressured into awkward situations for the sake of good television. It didn’t erase the twisting feeling in his stomach though, and the day before shooting was about to start it only took an hour of staring at his closed eyelids before he accepted that he couldn’t sleep and needed to get away. There had been a bar he’d noticed during the tour of the town and it seemed as good a place to go as anywhere, maybe some alcohol would relax him enough to actually fall asleep.

The black-haired man remembered sitting down at a table and ordering a drink, then another when the first one vanished too soon, but anything after that was a blur and he’d woken up the next morning with a throbbing head. “I’m going to appear on TV for the first time ever, and I have a hangover,” he stared at his reflection before taking a handful of painkillers and going down to the makeup and clothing people. His hair had been gelled off his face and he’d been forced to put his contacts in before he was practically shoved into a suit he vaguely recognized as his own, the tie had been a gift from his mother who was somewhat confused about fashion.

Everyone was herded into the entrance hall and arranged into lines, last minute adjustments to hair or clothes made before the cameras and microphones turned on and the announcer began speaking although he wouldn’t actually appear. This was real, Yuuri felt sweat break out on his palms as his insides lurched, why had he drank again?

“Presenting Victor Nikiforov!” Oh god, it was happening, the man he’d idolized and fantasized about as a child was descending the stairs in front of him and all he could do was pray that he wouldn’t pass out. The skater had agreed to this show because he’d been forced to sit out this season due to a torn ACL which had required surgery to fix but he walked without issue, the only thing that seemed off was his expression. It was a look Yuuri was familiar with, one he’d grown used to seeing during interviews with the man in recent years, a forced smile without any real emotion in it; it was almost painful to look at.

Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs the silver-haired man merely aimed a finger into the throng of men before him. “You, with the black hair slicked back and the ugly tie,” Yuuri pointed to himself and received a nod in confirmation. “Yes you, step forward.”

On shaking feet the black-haired man took a few hesitant steps forward, the other contestants moving aside as he made his way to the front and stood by himself wondering just what he did wrong to have been eliminated off the bat.

“What’s your name?” Victor gave a small smile but it was already more real than the one he’d had on his face moments ago.

“Y-Yuuri... Yuuri Katsuki,” he stammered as his cheeks flushed with color and he wanted to cry.

“Yuuri Katsuki?” His name sounded wonderful coming from Victor, but he was too terrified to do more than nod. “I pick you, everyone else can go home.”

He was one of the many people to shout in confusion, but apparently the skater was deadly serious and refused to change his mind; they’d been separated from everyone else so they could be interviewed separately. “He says you met last night in a bar,” the announcer asked from behind a camera. “Is this untrue?”

“I don’t really remember anything when I drink...” Yuuri tugged on his collar, a nervous habit he hadn’t been able to shake. “I know I went to a bar but the details are really fuzzy... Sorry that’s probably not helpful.”

Victor burst into the side room grinning more than the black-haired man had seen in years and wrapping long arms around his chest. “Yuuri!” “What kind of cake do you want at our wedding?”

“Wait, what? Wedding?” Yuuri’s felt his face flush even more and he turned to look into the camera before mouthing the words “help me” before the skater had one hand around his wrist and dragged him out of the room. They walked in silence before coming upon a set of huge double doors and entering the room behind it, a room with the largest bed he’d ever seen in it.

“I’m sorry, I just needed to talk to you away from all the cameras, although there might be ones set up in here but...” Victor glanced around the room before shouting. “There had better fucking not be or I will be very upset!”

Yuuri stared at the man before him and wondered if he was dreaming, before he could stop himself he’d slapped one hand across his cheek; it hurt, it hurt quite a lot if he was being honest with himself, which meant one thing.

“Why did you do that? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?” The skater ran his fingers over the skin that had already started turning red before jerking his hand away as though he’d burned himself. “I’m sorry, it probably hurts I shouldn’t have done this.

“I’m not dreaming,” Yuuri rubbed his cheek dazedly before a bubble of amusement swelled in his chest and burst free. He couldn’t help it and Victor stared at him in confusion as he laughed until his sides hurt, before he stopped and wiped tears away from his eyes. “I’m sorry, it’s just... I don’t know how to react right now, I don’t really understand what’s going on.”

“What don’t you understand?” The skater looked concerned, his silver hair had become mussed slightly and his tie was crooked but he seemed more human than ever.

“I, I’m nothing special... I can’t see why you’d pick me out of everyone, especially right at the start...”

“Yuuri, I told you last night that I didn’t want to do this show to begin with and after meeting you I considered just quitting; the last thing I wanted to do was be forced to go on dates with other guys when you were all I could think about. God, I even dreamed about you and I didn’t know your name, so when I saw you among the others I felt like it was destiny or something.”

“I don’t remember last night,” it had to be said, before Victor got more attached. “I just, I had a lot to drink and it’s all hazy.” As if the mere memory of how drunk he’d been the night before was enough to overpower the painkillers his head gave a painful throb.

“Are you okay?”

“Hangover, I’ll be fine,” Yuuri groaned before returning his gaze to Victor’s. His blue eyes were wide with both confusion and concern and he looked as though he wanted to... hold him?

“You don’t remember anything? We talked for hours,” he sounded dejected as he broke eye contact.

“I’m sorry, drunk me is really different from sober me and it’s okay if you want to change your mind about everything...”

“Why would I do that? You’re still you, and I want to get to know the real you even if we have an audience for our dates.”

“I don’t understand, why are you so interested in me? Yuuri had to know, he needed to find out if he was being led on as some cruel prank.

“You were the first person to see me for who I am in years, you could see that I wasn’t happy skating anymore and that I didn’t love the ice like I used to. It was like I’d been underwater for years and you pulled me up out of the surface, everything looks different now and I have you to thank for it. I want to be with you, if you’ll have me.”

Without realizing it Yuuri had started crying, and he was not pretty when he cried, his nose got red and his eyes became puffy but the tears wouldn’t stop. “Oh no, I’m sorry! Please don’t cry!” Victor looked terrified now, completely out of his comfort zone and unsure of what he should do.

“I... I’m happy,” he sniffed and wiped his eyes with the back of a hand. “I’ve been your fan since I was a kid, my childhood friend owns an ice rink so she showed me some of your routines when I was ten and I was captivated. I’d already been doing ballet for years but I started skating because I wanted to be like you, but my anxiety got in the way and I choked at every competition so I gave up. I just dance now, I’m a ballet instructor, but I never stopped being your fan.”

“My friend Phichit, he told me about this show, made me send in an application even though I didn’t want to; then I got chosen and I thought it would be enough to just spend time with you even if I didn’t win. I never thought... I never expected to hear you say that you actually want to be with me.”

Victor stared at him with wide eyes for a few second before pulling him into an embrace. “I am going to have to thank this friend of yours.”

#Yuri on ice #yuri on ice fanfiction #yuri katsuki #Katsuki Yuuri #yuuri katsuki #Viktor Nikiforov #victor nikiforov #victuuri #victuuri fanfic #victuri

1 note · View note

thebuniperspective-blog · 7 years

Text

The First Blog, Wherein I Come Out As Queer & Dunno How Long Titles On Tumblr Should Be: I Had a Weird Week

Hi, I’m Michael Bennett producer of The (Bunny) Buni Perspective! and I had a bad week. Kinda of an amazing week. And here I am, talking about things I’m now no longer embarrassed to disclose.

I’m going to talk about the week in sections as they come to me, so this might jump around a little, but it ends with Bunny Bennett and a promise to see you tomorrow.

Warning frank discussion of sex, pot and LSD use and cursing you fucking dumbshits. I promise not to be too gross.

I Joined, Figured Out, and Then Deleted Grindr, In One Single Day.

Pause for applause.

Grinder is not for highly specific queers. The title queer is feeling like the correctt word for me, as it also means weird. . So I’m polly, so far I’m deeply in love with two girls. I’ll be writing more about Heather and Meghan in the next few blogs. Promise girls.

I’m turned on by femininity. Not just sexually, feminine things were the bane of my childhood and now they draw me in. To make this simple my ideal girl, in pop culture for many, many reasons, is some variation of:

...35 and inserting gifs that make you blush...shame....

The thing is, I have for years been drawn to femboys and just shoved the feeling down. I can see the first guy I wanted to ask on a date vividly in my mind. I have a really hard time explaining it, but if Pearl were a boy, he’d be my dream guy.

I’m also polly, so on the Internet I’m a ‘faggot cuck’

I promise tomorrow I will discuss the polly aspect of my sexuality in ore detail, for now just know I’m just complicated.

Ok so, how do I convay any of that on Grindr? I can’t. I want to have a conversation. You cannot say that because it starts ‘hey’ then it’s just dick pics or boring, predictable bullshit.

I had a big realization. I’m a fucking jerk. I’ve been chatting online for decades and have treated the majority as badly as these guys treated me. Not that I sent dick pics, but if they didn’t do what I wanted I wasn’t nice or polite. Often I wouldn’t read their info well. I dunno. I felt pretty bad being ignored and hit on cause apparently I’m adorable?

...fat piece of shit.

The REALLY cute girls on grindr were a minimum 100 miles away. None want to do a long distant thing, which is really what I want right now. And frankly the guys I want to meet are girls. And I know I’m queer because the other day I said, ‘That cock is adorable’ and that is not what a straight man says.

I feel a lot better saying all that. Let’s talk about my favorite game I need to quit.

I Can Spot A Catfish A Mile Away After Two Full Days Of Talking Out Loud

I was playing League and I out of no where got a friend request. I take all of these, usually remembering them from a recent game. Not this time. First thing ‘she’ said was “I always get call a catfish” DOT DOT DOT

This ‘girl’ played well, we chatted in game, ‘she’ was REALLY flirty and I bought ‘her’ many skins in game, maybe 50$ worth? Can’t remember for my embarrassment's sake. I begged this person to talk to me face to face on skype and they made it into a fight every time. So I cut it off.

This happened to me recently. This person refused to talk to me while we played games (me out loud into my headset, and ‘she’ replying in chat). Every hour I begged this person to talk to me in anyway. At first they told me they only spoke Japanese and ‘she’ was embarrassed about the language, ‘she’ understood me too well for that, think I literally said, ‘What are you Chewbacca?’

I basically just talked. They replied and were REALLY needy. I mentioned skins at last and they changed how they talked a lot but then suddenly, this person couldn’t talked to me because of childhood tongue biting induced tongue paralysis. Also their name was Soka Hui? Apparently?

They told me their family was massacred. Like RECENTLY. So I looked it up:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-wolf-family-murders-north-dakotas-most-brutal_us_57fbe48ae4b0b665ad818798

That’s scary tho if that person recorded me.

I Fell in Love With a Guy

I did not want to. I could hear the mocking voices of my brothers from my childhood, the ghosts of my high school, the word ‘faggot’ as anything but gross, not something that turned me on. Not something I whispered to a guy, begging me to...he didn’t love me. He sounded really fucking pretty when he said I love you. He said my name so beautifully the echo of it makes me cry as I write this now.

I would have called him a fucking faggot in 1997 and been angry. Might have gotten violent.

Now I wish Dexter would just say anything, perched in my lap and...

Well it’s stupid to dwell on things. I learned a lesson. The lesson here is ‘you can’t win, but always try.’

Here’s why: I did everything right, this is how Meghan and I began. Dexter and I have talked on and off for months. For about 8...maybe a year. Dexter was my dirty little secret.

He called me and moaned and we...you know whatever, but always behind Heather’s back (she knows now). I hated to admit that guy was really...

Well he got a hold of me at the beginning of the week.

He told me that he wanted me to make love to him, say ‘I love you’ to me on his boyfriend’s bed. I took this too mean he wanted me to be in love so...we talked.

We talked for an hour and I was so in love. He was interesting and funny. He had comedy bits memorized. He loves Star Wars.I wanted to keep talking. I thought we’d at lest text later.

I wanted to Love Star Wars with him. I wanted to meet him and do whatever he wanted. He cut off the call...I should have known an hour was kind of short compared to girls I had talked to in the past.

I didn’t hear from him for 3 days.

I had all this confused love in me. I barfed it all up. He was masturbating. Trying to get me to talk about sex and I was stammering and nervous and near crying. I told he was my first guy...the guy I was in love with, for real and he cut me off. There was a really hard to describe, painful, awkward silence.

I flashed back to all the folder of evidence I had that he loved me, the saw the mountain of facts that said he was just getting off to me using him. Or...something. We haven’t spoken since.

I told him ‘I have a lot of cosplay ideas’ and he laughed.

He said he had to go and I said ok. He said ‘Talk to y-’ but I hung up and threw the phone. Cried. Last my game of League. Told Heather and Meghan. Cried in the shower.

I told Meghan and Heather about this guy throughout the three days he went silent. Meghan has a number of really hot ideas involving some third male person. Heather is asexual but really really like the idea of live yaoi.

Dexy...Dexter hurt me, really badly. I tried anything for a few days to distract myself, the catfish, grindr, other guys I know from chat rooms. I over bared myself to them when I could just do that here and link it.

That leads me to:

If We Got Married No One Would Have to Change Their Last Names, Cartoonist Who Draws Like Me, Puppeteer Who Made a Way Better Puppet Than Me and I Love It and Other Reason Why I Might Be In Love With Isabella Bunny Bennett

A long time ago. And right now I’m pausing to see if I can find the thing...

Ok as far as I know it’s gone? Maybe I can get it from Linkara’s title card artist.

He and I interviewed Isabella back when she in the long ago times and it was one of the all time best conversations I had ever had in my life. She is bright and funny and clever and i’m crying again, what the...Ok I came back in twenty minutes later to fix this mess. I did start crying a little. It’s hard to remember it all but Bunny was so natural, we finished each other’s thoughts. I really wanted to talk forever. She’s so...shit literally crying...

This was a very long time ago, John was still in the band.I lost track and my internet presence took a nose dive. That will get many blogs.

Her twitter posts recently (Sept’17) are really lining up with how I feel.The normal places I thought I could meet someone online, are failing me. It’s frustrating, but I can do one thing at least. Flirt with Isabella. I flirt with art:

I got no context for this guy at the bottom...he didn’t get my context clearly.

Anyway

...

.....

...in the song Burning in the Stratosphere she makes a kissy noise and says...’I love you’ but at the beginning in a near whisper...chills. I wasn’t expecting it, really hadn’t visited the album it’s on til tonight.

I hope to talk more about Isabella in the future. I’m a chaos magician, so it’s likely to happen.

#bisexual #bi #puppet #cartoon #cartoonist #crushes #love

2 notes · View notes

girlcrushchaeng · 7 years

Text

Ownership of your actions — MiMo

Title: Ownership of your actions Pairing: MiMo [Hirai Momo/Myoui Mina] Fandom: TWICE Genre: Romance, drama Summary: Mina and Momo used to date, but when Momo suddenly shut Mina out, she couldn't believe what was happening. Months passed, and old lusts strengtened by alcohol came up one night, causing great damage or... the beginning of something new? Word count: 7000+ Rating: T A/N: Excuse the grammar mistakes, I am not a native english speaker.

Read it on: AO3 & asianfanfics

Mina nuzzled her face a little deeper in the sea of soft, fluffy pillows, her mind still occupied, amazed and in love with the memories of last night. She could still feel Momo's lips upon hers, soft but rough at the same time. Her hands all over her body... The amazing feeling those mouth and hands had caused... She'd almost become flustered again thinking of it. And now, she laid in bed with the woman she had had a crush on for two years already. It almost seemed like a dream. It wasn't something new. In fact, they had kissed before. They had slept with each other before too. But it felt like the very first time again, because they had been apart for a few months. Mina felt like a sixteen-year-old school girl again, like she had to hide her girlfriend for her parents, who were always watching her. They even had had a relationship, you know, but eventually it just didn't work anymore. Not because of their busy scedules or the dating ban; Momo had suddenly stopped talking to her. It had probably been the darkest time in her life. Mina had been hopelessly in love with Momo. And she reckoned that Momo had been with her too. The way they'd acted around eachother wasn't just fan service. It was real. Sure, the way she acted around the other members, even if it was fan service, was real too. But most idols who acted clingy and kissy-kissy with other members do it because of the sake of their fans, or to tease. Mina and Momo never had that problem. They wanted to kiss eachother as badly as it seemed. That first time had been magical. They hadn't even been drunk or under other influences. They had just sat on the couch together, zapping through some channels when they eventually encountered a new drama called Lily Flower. In the first few seconds it was clear that it was about lesbians, girls who like girls, and Mina had never felt as nervous as she had back then. She felt like she had a huge sign pointed at her, as if it was saying: 'Look here Momo, your friend is actually a lesbian!'. Momo's face had stayed expressionless, as if she was watching another boring documentary. Eventually, Momo had turned it off and turned towards her friend. "Mina, we're friends right? Good friends?" Momo had asked her. Mina had nodded, of course. Best friends... the word had stung back then, but despite her wanting them to be more, it was still true. Momo had nodded, seemed to struggle a bit. "I like girls too," she had eventually said quietly. Mina's face had been so surprised that Momo had immediately apologized for telling her that, probably thinking that Mina didn't approve of her sexuality. In fact, she had been completely zoned out and had done a happy-dance in her head. She hadn't felt as happy as she did back then. Mina had been the first to bow down to Momo. At least, she had thought she did, because Momo had immediately understood where she was going to and bowed practically at the same moment. It was amazing. Better than kissing boys, way better. Mina didn't remember a time where she enjoyed a kiss with a boy as much as she enjoyed that kiss with Momo. In fact, she couldn't even remember her own name from the moment the blonde's lips touched hers. They had started something that evening. Their romantic and sexual tension that was often there between them turned into something real. They still had to hide most of what they were doing for the other members — even though Mina knew one hundred percent sure that Jihyo and Nayeon had figured them out long time ago, maybe even Jeongyeon too — and the staff. But at least they didn't have to hide their feelings for each other anymore. They could confide in each other like never before and it had made her feel weirdly liberated. She had finally understood why people called a relationship the best thing that could happen to you. Mina had even introduced Momo to her parents. They had been happy. For a while, at least. Mina still didn't understand what had happened. From one day to the other, Momo had called everything off. She had broken up with Mina by a text, telling her she didn't love her anymore. That this was all just a fling. That she just needed to hold someone for a while — which had been Mina — and that she was fine now, ready to be on her own again. She didn't need her anymore. Mina had been heart broken. The other members had no clue why she was often full days absent, alone in her room after that. Not reading a book or watching a drama or whatsoever, but... just staring at the ceiling. She cried, yes, but not while the others were near or in the house. She couldn't afford to let them worry about her, nor would she be strong enough to tell them it was nothing. She'd break down in front of them so she didn't want that. Mina cried easily and often, but she didn't want to make them worried. Not really. Momo had been fine, she acted fine as ever, and she had to be too. Mina couldn't eat or drink. She would've gotten ill if Jihyo hadn't brought a plate of food in her room at least once a day. Oh, what was she thankful for her beautiful leader right now. But back then, she hated her for interrupting her in her misery and self-pity. Seeing Momo getting along with her new best friend Jeongyeon so well broke her heart even more. After two weeks of shutting herself out of the group, she slowly had started to rejoin the groups activities. Watching a movie together, playing a game, going out, that kind of stuff. But every time she went out, she wished she had gotten back in. Momo was always there. Acting as if never happened. No, that's not entirely true. She completely ignored Mina or her existance. That was the only thing that had changed. Instead of being all cuddly with Mina, she was cuddly with Jeongyeon. Mina had felt only numbness back then. She had long given up on their relationship. One time, she saw Nayeon longingly looking at Jeongyeon and Momo too. They catched eyes and exchanged a look of understandence. One comeback, another hairstyle and a few months later, Mina had gotten over Momo. At least, she had told herself that she was. Mina didn't cry anymore because of Momo or felt jealous or sad if she and Jeongyeon acted up once more. But in reality, she still thought of the way Momo's lips brushed over hers like she was the most beautiful thing the blonde — now a brunette — has ever seen every night. It felt like an incurable desease. Momo had stopped with ignoring her completely. They had small-talks every once and then. It was more meaningless than a discussion about the weather, but Mina was glad they could act normal again. She knew the members were relieved too, because even young Tzuyu and Chaeyoung had noticed that something was terribly off between the two Japanese girls. They used to be so close, and from one day to another, it all changed. Mina had never told any of the members what had really happened; that'd stay a secret, a mystery to be unsolved. They wouldd never grow together like they once had done. They'd never touch each other's arm again without thinking of those few months where it was more than platonically. And Mina was fine with that. They had had a good time, right? Maybe it was good that TWICE had a three-yeared dating ban. She'd be able to get over Momo without experiencing the hearbreak of seeing her girl with someone else. Until last night. The members had been all out. At least, those who were old enough to go out. Tzuyu and Chaeyoung had decided to see a movie in the cinema. Mina had politely refused to the offers of both groups to go join them. She didn't like going out and she had already seen Finding Dory — thank God for the people who illegally put freshly aired movies online — so she decided to stay home for the evening. A bit of rest from her always loud members was something she could defenitely use. Mina had been watching her drama that night on the big screen of their communual television — which was something she would never have been able to r do when the members were there, because they all had their own shows that of course aired at the same time — and had treated herself on some popcorn. Little did she know that she'd get an unexpected visitor that night. It was about midnight when Mina had decided to call it a day. She left the lights and heater on, but turned everything else off, since Chaeyoung and Tzuyu would probably come home in an hour or something. Even though Mina wouldn't be there anymore to greet them, it was still more welcome to come home in a warm and lighted house than in a dark cold one. Mina had been just clearing everything from the table when she heard the door slam open. There, surprisingly, had been no sound, which had alarmed Mina a bit. It was only the front door that had banged open, but she hadn't heared happy chit-chat from the hall. From her position in the kitchen, she could neither see who it was. "Chaeng? Tzuyu? Are you back already?" she had asked, raising her voice a bit. Mina had waited for a moment, but still no sound. She had decided to go see who it was, leaving the dishes forgotten in the sink. At that moment, it started to creep her out pretty badly. She had never been really scared for horror movies but being in a real life one wasn't on her to-do list. Slowly, she walked over to the living room. She heard things moving, a soft curse from a voice that she had long forgotten to love. Before Mina could open te door to the hallway, someone stumbled out. Her eyes had widened a little bit by the sight of a drunken Momo. There was nothing left of the sweet giggly blonde that Mina had always known. Her eyes had been darkened with an expression that scared her but also turned her on at the same time; her pink lips had been slightly parted; she seemed like she had run for a couple of miles, her hair had been ruffled up, Momo had been panting slightly and her black bomber jacket had hung loosely from her shoulders. Mina could smell the stench of the alcohol from here. "Where are the others?" Mina had asked softly. An uncomfertable feeling had crept upon her and she had looked down to the ground, rubbing her lower arm softly. "I can get you some water and an asperine. It's best if you go to bed, then you won't have a hangover tomorrow because we have a busy scedule tomorrow and-" "I don't want to." Momo had spoken without a lisp, but had switched from Korean to Japanese. Mina had jerked her head up in confusement. Momo had looked at her.. no, stared at her, with an almost hungry look. Mina, transfixed by those big eyes, couldn't — or hadn't wanted to — look down anymore. Her heartbeat had risen and she had caught her lower lip between her teeth to keep herself from saying stupid things like: "What do you want then?" Because she damn well had thought to know what was happening. And she had been hella into it. "I want you." Momo had never let her eyes falter from Mina's. "Tzuyu and Chaeyoung are home and-" she had tried, also going over in Japanese, but Momo had chuckled lowly. Her voice had dropped a few octaves and Mina had found herself holding her breath. "They're not. I don't see their shoes nor their coats." Shit, there went her escape plan. It wasn't like she didn't want Momo anymore. It was more that her concience was playing a huge part now. What would happen if they did stupid things? Momo wasn't thinking rationally with that much alcohol in her body. Both of them would reget it the next morning... Then why had her stomach twisted in a sweet way that she hadn't felt in a long time. And why had her hands been aching to wrap themselves around Momo's neck and her lips aching to kiss hers again? Why? "You want me too." Spot on. Momo had always been able to directly see through Mina's closed-off attitude. She used to love it that only Momo could understand her, but now it was a huge burden. She had wanted her so badly, yes, but she was able to contain herself... for now. If Momo went on, she might snap and she didn't want that. So she had shaken her head, had tried to get Momo off her back. "I don't," she had muttered softly. "You made your intentions very clear a few months ago." Momo had now let her jacket fully slide from her shoulders, not even bothering to pick it up. It had fallen on the ground and she had stepped closer to Mina. She had let out a shaky breath she didn't even know she was holding and bit her lip harder. "You do..." Momo had said, pronouncing every word with care. Mina had gulped. The blonde had stepped even closer, until they were only a meter apart. Her lips had been slightly parted, leaving some of her perfect white teeth bare to be seen. The tip of her tongue had peeked through. She had been so close it made Mina break out in a sweat. She had clenched her hands into fists, trying to keep herself from stupid things. Why did Momo have to make it so hard for her? God damn, she had wanted to kiss that face so badly. She had almost replied: "Yes, I do." She had contained herself once more, but it was getting harder every second. Mina had shuddered when Momo had reached out and had touched her neck. Her hand had been cold, probably because it had been snowing outside, which made it even worse. She had felt like she was burning. Momo had let the tip of her tongue slowly run over her lips and that almost had made Mina faint. When had been the last time she did that because of her? She couldn't remember, but she had remembered the feeling at had made her feel. She had started to feel that fire again. She didn't want to. Oh, how she wished she could just turn her back towards her old lover and walk away as if she didn't feel a burning desire to kiss Momo furiously. She had wanted to kiss her so badly, to make her regret her decision to break their relationship off. She had wanted to make Momo beg for her and her love. She had wanted to be desired, to be loved. Only by Momo. And now she finally had Momo before her, wanting her again. It suddenly felt wrong to hold back. "I never stopped loving you..." Momo had mumbled. Mina's eyes had widened, but that's all she had done. Her mind couldn't even process what was happening right now. She had stayed quiet. Momo's eyes had moved away from hers and pointed them at her lips for a long second. The tip of her thumb had slowly carassed the edges of her mouth, tracing their ways to her lips. Mina had tried to pretend she wasn't turned on by that at all, but her shaky breaths and trembling body had betrayed her. Momo's gaze had saddened. She had bitten down on her lower lip and had wanted to take her hand back, but Mina had caught it with hers and kept it in her neck to cup her cheek. "Fuck it..." she had whispered, before she lost control of herself. Their lips had crashed down upon each other in the heath of fury and lust. Mina had let her mind go blank, because she had been sure that she'd pull back if she started thinking again. In times like these, 'not thinking' was the best option. She had been already doing stupid things, at least she could let herself enjoy it as long as it lasted. Momo hadn't hesitated to kiss her back. In fact, it had only been a few seconds before Mina's foreward action had been used against her. She had been pressed up against a wall with slight force. A gasp had left her mouth when her back hit the hard brick wall, but Momo hadn't paid attention to that. She had used Mina's slightly opened mouth as an excuse to bring in her tongue. Mina hadn't been embarassed to moan when she tasted the alcohol that Momo had purchased that evening. In fact, it had made it even hotter. She had thrown her arms around the elder's neck to pull her even closer. A good shiver had gone down her spine when she felt Momo's still cold hands creep under her sweater, to place themselves at her hips. Mina couldn't help herself to buck her hips up against hers, increasing the beginning heath that had started to form between her legs. A heated moan — that had been a mixture between Momo's name and 'Hmmm' — had left her lips when Momo went over from her lips to her neck, placing deep kisses on her most sensitive spots. She had wrapped her legs around Momo's waist and her eyes had fluttered shut once more. Mina's fingers had been tangled in Momo's blonde locks, trying to pull her closer. Because even though Momo's body was fully pressed up against hers now, she still felt like it wasn't close enough. Momo's lips had moved from her neck to her collarbone. They had lowered until the they found the collar of her sweater, then stopped. Mina opened one of her eyes to look at what she was doing, because she desperately had needed her to move on. "I want you, now," Momo had breathed in a husky voice. Only that voice would've been enough to drive Mina over the edge right there and then. "Do it," Mina had answered, with no hesitation. She had hoped her voice would've sounded sexy too, but it sounded more like a squeeky mouse. Momo had looked up to her. For a moment all they did was both just stare and breathe. Then Momo's lips had found hers again and they continued. But while Mina had thought the first thing Momo was going to do was take off her shirt, she felt her hand slide inside her shorts. Mina gasped of surprise. Mina had never been more glad to have stayed at home. She slowly exhaled through her mouth. The corners of her mouth pulled themselves up into a lazy smile, eyes still closed. It was warm underneath the thick blankets of Momo's bed, so Mina let her chest unbared. Thank God Momo had left her bra on last night. She had never been quite fond of being completely bare and Momo hadn't even tried to touch it. The fact that she remembered that even whilst being drunk was actually very cute. Mina reached out for Momo, let her hands go over the sheets. She had always been a cuddly person and she craved for the brunette's arms around her again. Maybe she had missed that even more than the hot sex. "Momoring~" Mina mumbled, when she couldn't find anything. "Where are you?" She sat up straight, covering her partly nacked body with the sheets. Her head turned in all directions, looking for the girl she was so in love with, but there was nothing. Only her clothes that were scattered across the ground, while she knew she had taken off quite some garments off Momo too. Only then Mina heard some dimmed voices coming from the livingroom. Her eyes widened a bit. Shit, the other members. "Momo?" she asked again, a bit quieter, but still no response. Mina bit down on her lip and held in a sigh. She let herself fall back onto the pillows and lifted her legs. She kicked a few times firmly the bottom of the upper bunk. She even lifted the matress, but there was no sign of Momo's roommate; Jeongyeon. Thank God for that too. Because if Jeongyeon would've found out that they had slept together, she would hear a life time of teasing comments and jokes. Jeongyeon had probably fallen asleep in someone else's bed. It was typically something for the short-haired jokester to forget which room was hers and to just fall asleep with another member. Ten bucks it was Nayeon. Fifteen if Momo and Mina weren't the only one with a little fun last night. Now that she knew the room was safe, she kicked off the sheets and stepped out of bed. Mina quickly grabbed her clothes and put them back on. They felt dirty and sweaty, what shamingly reminded her her activities last night. Her sweater smelled like Momo. She took a look in the mirror to fix her messy hair, but it was almost impossible to fix it just with her hands, so she grabbed one of Momo's bands and put her hair in a loose ponytail. Mina sighed and mentally prepared herself for the teasing of the other members. They used to be very discreet, but even a drunken person would've been able to puzzle out what had happened last night. Mina was almost completely sure that the members who had gone out hadn't returned until after they had fallen asleep, but she wasn't so sure about Chaeyoung and Tzuyu. Mina had seen the clock when they finally laid next to eachother; a quarter past two in the morning. A movie that started at half past 10 defenitely didn't last until two o'clock; they must've come home while they were... fucking... With slightly red cheeks she opened the door of Momo's bedroom and peeked her head out. Most of the members were probably still asleep, because only Chaeyoung, Tzuyu and Jihyo seemed to be up. Jihyo looked more dead than alive though; probably a hangover. With a cup of damping coffee she sat at the kitchen table, with her head in her hands. Chaeyoung and Tzuyu looked just fine though, both lazing around on the huge couch watching TV quietly. When Mina walked past to the kitchen, Chaeyoung looked up and chuckled softly. Mina looked around and Chaeyoung made a face and grinned, which made Mina's cheeks colour even redder and she quickly walked off to the kitchen. Jihyo didn't even look up when Mina entered. "Where's Momo?" she asked instantely. Jihyo made a whiny sound before she spoke. "She's getting us asparines. She just left," their leader mumbled. Mina's eyes widened. She furrowed her eyebrows. "Which supermarket?" she asked. Jihyo lifted her head a bit and looked at her minor with a mixture of confusion and annoyance. "If you need something, just text-" "Ji-Soo, please," Mina interrupted. Jihyo rolled her eyes, giving up already. It was clear the younger blonde really needed to get to Momo and she wasn't the person to stop her. "To the convenience store around the corner," she eventually said. Mina smiled weakly at gave her a quick kiss on her head. Jihyo just whined again and swatted the blonde away. Mina immediately ran off towards the hall to slip in her sneakers. "What are you going to do?" Tzuyu's voice sounded from the livingroom. "To the conveniece store." "Can we tag along?" Chaeyoung chimed in. "No," Mina spoke harshly. She heard some chuckles and a soft 'I told you so' from Chaeyoung. God damn those minors. She ran off without a coat or keys. It was cold outside. Despite the fact that it had stopped snowing, the temperature was still near zero degrees and Mina was freezing. Last night's snow had packed itself on the pavement, making her leave footprints as she walked by. There was a slight breeze, that made a shiver run down her spine. She wrapped her arms around her body, already regretting that she didn't bring a coat with her. But she kept walking. Why? She didn't exactly know. Mina just had this feeling that something was wrong, that she needed to get to Momo. Back when they had been dating, Momo would never leave the bed without telling her or waking her up. She'd always stay and cuddle, because Hirai Momo was actually a great cuddler. They once stayed in bed until two in the afternoon. Momo wouldn't leave her like that without saying anything, even to get the other members asparines. She just hoped it was nothing. Maybe she was just overthinking everything. Or maybe she was hoping too much. People slept together after breaking up without it meaning anything, right? Maybe Momo had just wanted a good fuck... Still, she went on. The convenience store was right around the corner. Due to the early hour — it turned out to be only nine o'clock — there was barely anyone on the street. Nobody saw the worrying blondine without a coat, trying to make her way as fast as possible to the store without slipping on the thin layer of ice that had formed on the side walk this night. Mina bit down on her lip to keep it from shivering. She entered the shop. Immediately, she was greeted by the warmth of the radiator. Mina exhaled relieved and let her arms drop from her body. For a moment she just stayed there, enjoying the feeling of the warmth on her skin, but then she remembered why she came here in the first place and started looking for Momo. The convenience store wasn't big. It was like a local tiny supermarket, but Mina still had to seek efficientely. The shelves were taller than she was — they almost reached the ceiling — so she couldn't look over them to spot Momo. She randomly turned in an aisle and started searching. There weren't many people in the store yet, but those few who were, looked weirdly at her. Of course, a girl in shorts, a sweater, sneakers and no coat was a little weird, especially if she almost bumped you over because she ran past you. Mina walked down every aisle, but she couldn't find her brunette, which made her an extra bit nervous. She just wanted to leave the store again, when she saw a certain person in front of the counter to pay for her asparines. Mina let out a breath she didn't know she was holding when she saw her friend... girlfriend, whatever. She walked up to Momo when she was done paying. "Momoring~" she exclaimed. She saw the brunette stir for a moment before she looked up, clearly startled. A small chuckle left Mina's mouth. Momo blinked a few times shocked. "You startled me," she mumbled. Mina smiled and hooked her arm through Momo's. The brunette looked at her but Mina didn't respond. Instead, she placed her head on Momo's shoulder. It was a bit hobbly while walking but it wasn't bad. It made her feel better, in fact. They left the convenience store together. But almost as soon as they stepped outside, Momo wiggled her shoulder to get Mina to lift up her head. Momo took her arm back and placed her hands in her pocket instead. Momo speeded up her pace, leaving Mina a few steps behind. A little confused Mina looked up, trying to catch up again. She placed her hand on Momo's shoulder again to make her slow down, but the brunette ignored it and kept on walking. "Momo, wait up. What's wrong?" she asked concerned. Momo shook her head slightly and refused to look at her. "It's better not to, Mina," she only said, before continueing her fast pace. "What?" Mina muttered. "What are you saying?" Momo took a deep sigh and lifted her eyes up to the sky for a moment. She let her teeth bite down on her lower lip for a moment before speaking. "It's best if we do not continue this. It's better if I leave now," she said. Even though Momo had spoken slowly, Mina still blinked a couple of times of confusement. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing would come out. What? What did Momo mean? It felt like her heart stopped beating. "A-are you going to leave me again?" Her voice was already quivering and shaking. Mina's throat was clenched to hold in the upcoming tears. Damn, she hated herself when she cried in situations like these. "It's for the best," Momo simply said. It felt like a slap in the face. The only thing she could do was stare. Her disbelief suddenly changed in pure hopelessness, that converted into anger. Mina clenched her hands into fists. "Are you fucking kidding me?" she breathed. "You're not going anywhere until we-" Momo didn't even look around to meet her gaze. "What? Am I not even allowed to walk home alone?" she asked nonchalantly. Mina's cheeks turned red of anger. "That's not what I fucking meant, Moguri, and-" "Don't call me that." Mina let out a heated breath and gritted her teeth together. "Whatever. Just stay here, please," Mina said, although it sounded harsher than she meant it to be. She really wanted Momo to stay. Mina grabbed Momo's hand, but she shook it off immediately. "I really have to go. The members need their aspirines," Momo said quickly. Mina slowed down a few passes. Momo just kept wlaking, leaving her behind. Her anger had left her body rather quickly and was replaced by sadness. Seeing Momo leave like that was truly achening. She wanted to be so badly with her, to rebuild their previous relationship. Only now she realized how much she had missed Momo. and she had thought that she had her back again, but it all turned out to be in vain. How could she be so stupid? But Mina was not planning on letting Momo go away again. It felt like she was living in a déja-vu; Momo was again leaving her behind without a proper reason. She was just plain up ignoring her, telling her to get lost. Last time she was too overpowered to talk back or to get her to stay. But this time she wouldn't let her go that easily. Not when she gave her false hope. Not when she made her heart beat with a new purpose again. At least not without a proper reason. Mina ran after Momo and grabbed her hand, making her turn around with some force. "Take ownership of your actions," she hissed. Momo blinked surprised, probably the first time seeing Mina this angry. And oh damn, she was angry. Mina might be a little shy, but that didn't mean that Momo could do whatever the fuck she wanted. "We used to be fine, we were happy and then suddenly you shut me out! You didn't even give me a reason why you left! It has been months and I finally was working up to get over you but then suddenly you turn up, drunk as hell, kiss me and sleep with me. How the fuck can you not even acknowledge that you did that, Momo? How can you just push away everything that has happened last night? You told me you still love me. Does that mean nothing to you?" Mina breathed hot-heatedly. Momo moved her eyes away uncomfertably. She let her head turn towards the ground, so her brown strans of hair hid her face a little bit. Mina still had her fingers wrapped around her wrist and she noticed she was pinching. She softened her grip, but still held on in case Momo decided to take a run for it. There was a silence. "Believe me that I wanted us to work, but-" she started, but Mina let an angry breath escape through her teeth. "That's bullshit, and you know it. You were happy. I was happy. We were secretive but happy and you threw that all away. And I want an explanation. I want an explanation why you so needlessly needed to break my heart.. now," she interrupted the brunette. Momo looked up and bit her lower lip, like Mina does all the time. "I never meant to break your heart, Mina..." Momo's voice sounded small. It threw her off a little, because she had never seen her ex-girlfriend so vulnerable. Though, Mina could not be more glad. At least she knew she was taken seriously right now. Mina pressed her lips upon each other until they formed a thin line. "Well... you did. And you knew," she said. Her voice had turned softer too. She was still mad, oh she really was. But how could she act mad when Momo was on the edge of tears? "I did..." Momo admitted. "I knew exactly how you felt." "Then why did you leave me? I don't understand it.." Mina said. Momo lifted up her eyes to meet Mina's gaze for a second, then she turned away again. "It was a stupid decision.. Whatever we had is gone anyway. We can never fix it like before," Momo said, shaking her head. Mina felt that she was already closing up again. Her fingers pinched her wrist again, to keep her with her. She needed Momo to be open now, she needed the real Momo to be with her. "We don't have to, we can rebuild it into something better," she said. The hopefulness sounded through her voice clearly and Mina immediatlly regretted saying that. She didn't want Momo to know exactly how much she wanted to have her with her again. Again, Momo shook her head. "We can't," she said sharply. Mina let go of her wrist in surprisement. "What? Why not?" she asked. Momo looked away and carelessly shrugged for a moment. Her teeth digged into her lower lip again. Mina's hand reached up to Momo's neck. "What's going up inside there?" she asked softly. "Don't shut me out, Momo. Why can't we do this again? The members? Damn, I think Jeongyeon has been shagging Nayeon long before we started. Jihyo isn't that close minded that she'll throw us out, she'll care for us. The high schoolers are even more openminded than we are. JYP will never find out about it, they don't care abuot us that way. Only if we'd snog right in public they'd care, but we are smarter than that. We have no one to fear about." Momo sighed troubled and frowned her eyebrows. "It's not just JYP, or the members... I don't think I can-.. Never mind, it's nothing," Momo mumbled. Mina frowned her eyebrows and gripped her neck a slightly more insistent. "That you can, what? Don't shut me out like that, please don't," she said, almost pleading. Momo blinked a few times with her eyes and took a deep shaky breath. "I'm not good enough for you, Mina, I never was and I never will be." Momo's voice sounded sharp and hard, like she had already formed her opinion and wasn't planning on letting Mina change it. The only thing she could do was just stare at her. This was the biggest piece of shit she had ever heard. Momo tried to look away again, but Mina kept her locked in her grip. She isn't usually like that, but she really wasn't planning on letting Momo go. Mina made sure Momo looked back up to her. "Let me be the judge of that, okay?" she said quietly. Momo 's lower lip quivered and she let out a tiny breath. Mina rubbed with her thumb over Momo's skin, to ease her a little bit. The brunette was almost shaking. "I can't do this if everyone is hating us, Mina..." she said quietly. Mina shook her head, not understanding. "Who is hating us? I told you, the members would never do that. JYP will never find out. Your mom was okay with it, she said it herself. The only people who might be a bit uncooperative are my pa-..." Suddenly all the pieces fell together. Mina's eyes widened and her mouth fell open. She frowened her eyebrows. Momo looked away, a little ashamed. She suddenly remembered how they had broken up only a week after they came back from Mina's place. "You're scared of my family..." Mina said softly. Momo sighed and didn't reply. She let her face relax a little bit and sighed, just like Momo did. She let her hand go from Momo's neck, which made the other girl look up for a moment. Instead, she loosely wrapped them around Momo's waist, pulling her in for a hug. It took her a few moments to react, but eventually she found the brunette's arms around her neck nevertheless. Mina nuzzled her face in the crook of Momo's neck and exhaled slowly. "You know, I have been cross with my parents for years now... I have struggled with my sexuality since I was 15 years old. I have struggled with my parents since 16. Our relationship has been troubled for years already," she started. Mina felt Momo tense a little, but the brunette didn't let her go. "My dad has always been strictly against same-sex relationships. To find out his only daughter, one that was supposed to become a national ballet dancer, didn't live up to his expectations.. I don't think he ever was the same after that. We used to be together all the time, but after that he just ignored me. He didn't say good morning to me anymore or wished me good night. He didn't support me when I wanted to become an idol nor liked it when I came home for a few weeks. I loved him, and I still love him. But he's a jerk." "You shouldn't call him that way," Momo mumbled softly. "He manipulated you into thinking you're not good enough for me, that our love is wrong. He ignored me for years. He once told someone he didn't has a daughter. I learned to live with it, but I won't let my first love be taken away from me just because he doesn't approve. He can't hurt us, I'll make sure of that. Don't you think I wouldn't have kissed you if I didn't know for sure that I could give everything to this relationship? If I would be scared of my dad, I would have never kissed you back, Momo. I'm not scared and neither should you. Please, don't turn your back on me because of something stupid like my dad." Mina's voice had gotten softer and more emotional with every word she spoke. At least she knew what had been bothering Momo then. Their trip to her parents hadn't been pleasant for both of them, but Mina had wanted her parents to meet her girlfriend. Little did she know that Momo was so selfless to end their relationship so her parents would like her again. If only Momo had known then that her parents were never going to love her like the once used to. "Mina..." Momo's voice sounded exactly like hers. It seemed like she was on the edge of tears. Mina pressed her body closer towards Momo's. Only now she noticed how cold she actually was. Her passion and adrenaline had shut out any other feeling during their discussion, but now that she was done talking, she noticed how her toes almost froze off. She shivered. "Or.. if you really don't love me anymore and yesterday was just a rebound, then I guess-" Momo freed herself from Mina's grip and looked strictly at the shorter girl. She cupped Mina's cold cheeks with her equally cold hands, lifting her head up and making her look in those deep brown eyes Mina had once fallen so hard for. "Don't talk like that. I do still lo-... You were not a rebound," Momo said insistent. Mina swallowed. She couldn't help it to hold her breath a little. "Then prove it," she breathed. Momo let the tip of her tongue run over her lower lip for a moment. Their eyes locked and Mina's heartbeat went up again. This time not of anger or lust but of actual excitement. She was excited for what Momo was going to do. She was excited for anything that was going to happen after today. She was excited to re-start her life again, this time with Momo by her side. Momo didn't pull her hands away from her cheek. In fact, they moved over to her neck, softly stroking the sensitive places her mouth had been all over yesterday night. It was a nerve wracking moment. Eventually, Momo bowed forward. Slowly, inch by inch. They never looked away and Mina wished she was faster but Momo had always been careful. She had always asked for permission and always checked if Mina really wanted this. Right now she just wanted Momo to kiss her. Mina lost her patience rather quickly. Her hand grabbed the back of Momo's neck swiftly and pushed her closer until their lips met. Momo let out a moan and Mina couldn't help it to love her even more. The kiss was better than any kiss they had ever shared before. It was as sweet and tender as it used to be, with her lips slowly moving over each other and Momo's hand hand in her neck. But it also contained a hint of desperateness. It felt like they hadn't seen eachother for a thousand years and needed to catch up with this one kiss. They wanted each other, they needed each other, they wanted to feel each other. And oh damn, this was the best kiss she had ever shared with someone. They eventually had to end it. For Mina it wouldn't have made a difference; she'd either faint because of a lack of oxygen or because of Momo's lips were upon hers. They were both gasping for air, never far from each other. Eventually, Momo bowed back all the way and mina couldn't help it to pout her lips for a moment. The brunette smiled by the sight of that and zipped open her coat. She hung it over Mina's shoulders. Thankfully, she placed her arms in the sleeves. "Let's go home. We still need to take care of those drunks back home," she said. Mina let a chuckle escape her mouth. She hooked her harm through Momo's and smiled up to her. "We're literally the only adults around here, aren't we?" Mina said. Momo chuckled and ruffled through her blonde hair, before pressing a kiss on her head.

#ownership of your actions #mimo #twice #twice fanfiction #fanfiction #hirai momo #momo #myoui mina #mina

1 note · View note