#pwmov x reader

[milliesfishes]

still have yet to read the book yet (probably will this weekend) but maybe something like you getting hurt on your vacation?? like i can imagine maybe you step on coral and get your foot cut real bad and so then there is the comforty fluffy part of him carrying you around so you don’t have to walk after the angst of him trying to get you to relax when you’re panicking at all the blood (little no clue if this is in character but it’s cute regardless lmao)

this is from. a long time ago. but it's cute I love you Phantom🫶

⋆౨ৎyou get hurt on vacation with alex⋆౨ৎ fem reader x alex nilsen

Blood on the floor. You cursed yourself when you saw it trickling from your shoe, trying to lift your foot so there was less damage. The motel staff had enough to deal with without you bleeding all over the place.

Limping to the bathroom, you clenched your jaw as the pain sharpened on the underside of your foot. Trying to take deep breaths, you sat on the counter, leaning back against the mirror. It was cool against your head, and you tried to focus on that.

Your heart was stuttering in your chest as your breathing became shaky. Still salt-combed from the sea, your hair was dripping pearls of water down your shoulders onto your breasts. You hadn't bothered to put your shorts or tank top back on, mind too preoccupied with the problem at hand.

Were there even bandages in here? You doubted it. Kicking off your ruined shoes, you bent your leg so the damaged foot was resting on the counter. Reaching for a washcloth, you cringed as your blood stained it, but held it in place, putting pressure on the wound. Biting the inside of your cheek when the fabric met the gash, you held back a cry. It hurt, more than you'd have expected it to.

The door opened and shut, and you barely noticed. Eyes closed, you were trying to center yourself, somehow make the pain go away. Maybe if you focused, you would get used to it.

"Babe?"

You looked up, accidentally letting a tear slide down your cheek. It could have been mistaken for the other droplets on your face. Alex was standing in the bathroom doorway in his running shorts and shirt, earbuds and phone in hand. His collar was sweaty, hair sticking to his forehead. Seeing his furrowed brow, you had the urge to smooth it out with your thumb.

"I'm okay Alex, I just-" He was already coming over, setting his phone on the counter with a clatter and leaning over to examine your foot. The washcloth had a big red spot in it where the blood had soaked through.

He tried to be gentle as he peeled it away, but you whimpered, grabbing his wrist. "Don't."

"Shh, I know, I know it hurts," he soothed, voice soft. Alex very carefully removed the rest, your hand squeezing his wrist the whole time. You took in shaky breaths as he held your foot, lowering it from the counter as he knelt in front of you. His touch was so delicate that you almost cried for a different reason. When he looked up at you, blue eyes so worried, you did shed another tear and he lifted his other hand to your knee, rubbing gently. "What happened?"

Sniffling, you brushed away another tear. Somehow his presence numbed some of the pain. Or maybe it was your anxiety put at ease because he was here. Either way, you didn't feel as hopeless anymore. "I just wanted to go swimming...and when I got out...there was a sharp rock and I didn't see it..." You swallowed, trying not to cry more. "This is gonna ruin the rest of our trip-"

"No, no," Alex shook his head, his expression reassuring. "Sweetheart, it's not gonna ruin anything. This is just another adventure, okay?" His thumb drew a soothing pattern into your knee. "We're gonna laugh about this someday, right?" He was repeating something you'd said to him several times when something bad happened, and it made your lips turn up a tiny bit.

Alex reached for a clean washcloth, folding it over and holding it carefully to your wound. He leaned up, kissing your knee, resting his chin there. Your shoulders slumped and you smoothed back his hair, as a distraction. Leaning his head forward, he dropped his lips to your lower thigh, nose smushing there.

For a moment it was just that- his head on your leg, hands gently holding the washcloth to your foot. You breathed in softly, the weight of his head on your bare leg a comforting thing.

Lifting his head, Alex put one hand on your knee, scratching gently as he took another look at the gash. "Okay. It doesn't look too deep, it's just bleeding a lot." He reached for your hand, kissing the knuckles. "I'm gonna go see if the front desk has any bandages, okay? Will you be alright for a minute?" When you nodded, he tucked your leg back into its original position, making sure you were holding the washcloth before he let go.

Kissing you on the forehead, he left with the promise to be back soon. You breathed easier, leaning against the mirror again. It was miraculous how he could fix what had felt like the end of the world.

When he returned, bandages in hand, it was like your guardian angel had arrived. Alex stood this time, dabbing medicine onto the gash, wrapping your foot snugly and bending over to kiss it once he was done. "There. All better, cutie." He hooked his hands under your knees, sliding you forward so they were hooked around his hips. "C'mere."

You sniffled, leaning into him as he hugged you tight, hardly registering how sweaty he still was. With your head in the crook of his shoulder, you realized now it was less leftover from his run and more because he was worried. You clung to him tighter once you realized.

He pressed a kiss to your temple, rubbing his hand up your back. "I'm gonna shower really quick. Do you wanna go back to the bedroom or stay here?"

"Here," you decided immediately, crossing your ankles over his back.

"Okay." Alex squeezed your thigh, gently removing your legs and disappearing into the other room. He kicked off his running shoes on the way, leaving them by the door. You heard the drawers opening and closing, and then he was returning with clothes for both of you, underwear included. "Here, you can take your swimsuit off." He chucked you under the chin, thumb lingering. "It looks pretty, but I know you wanna get out of it."

Smiling lovingly at him, you returned his kiss when he gave it. While he stripped himself of his clothes, you worked your swimsuit off, replacing it with your underwear. He handed you your hairbrush when you reached for it, leaning over to start the shower. You pulled the brush through your hair, giving him a squinty-eyed smile when he kissed your cheek before pulling back the curtain and getting in.

He showered quickly, and when he got out, hair curly and sticking to his forehead, you were fully dressed, hair brushed out and drying. Alex toweled off and pulled his clothes on, reaching for you and murmuring, "Still hurting?"

"A little," you admitted, not wanting to make it seem worse than it really was. "Just...it's okay. I can probably walk on it."

"Uh uh." Alex pulled you forward and re-wrapped your legs around him. "You shouldn't have to walk at all right now." He lifted you off the counter, carrying you into the next room. When you opened your mouth to protest, he silenced you with a kiss to your nose. "I took my pills. It's fine."

Though the logistics were shaky, the walk was so short that you didn't say anything more. He set you down, easing a pillow under your foot and grabbing his laptop, starting to type with one hand while sliding his other arm around you. "We'll watch one movie and then we can try walking, okay?"

You cuddled under his arm, pressing a kiss to his chest and resting your head there. Already, your foot was starting to throb a little less. He kissed your forehead as the opening credits began to roll on his laptop, running his hand up and down your arm.

His skin was warm from his shower, and you inhaled softly, the scent of his soap only calming you further. And as he held you close, checking in every few minutes and looking over at your foot, you got the overwhelming sense that he would always take care of you.

No matter what.

[lucysgraybird]

masterlist

a ✷ denotes 18+ content

WILLIAM H. BONNEY (billy the kid; tv)

hats off to you

you, whom my soul loves

to show hospitality to angels

from hearts large and small

the closest to divine love / the nearness to hellish fear

exam season blurb

road trip blurb

such a wonderful, wild party

it's just good public relations!

live in that one moment

i mean camaraderie! ✷

just to be here / someone always knew you would

the two headed calf

should have been a father (what a waste!)

exothermic reaction ✷

when the wine runs out

any short form/blurb writing under 'billyblurb'

CORIOLANUS SNOW (the ballad of songbirds and snakes; film)

you'll just have to taste me too!

testing the waters / for what you are not / it is mere appetite ✷

any short form/blurb writing under 'coryoblurb'

LUCY GRAY BAIRD (the ballad of songbirds and snakes; film)

hats off to you

any short form/blurb writing under 'lucygrayblurb'

ALEX NILSEN (people we meet on vacation; book, film)

have you ever tried this one? ✷

blood sugar, baby! ✷

every glittering kiss

i have measured out my life with coffee spoons

any short form/blurb writing under 'alexblurb'

POPPY WRIGHT (people we meet on vacation; book, film)

blood sugar, baby! ✷

any short form/blurb writing under 'poppyblurb'

CLARK KENT (superman 2025 & smallville; film & tv)

an emotion in motion ✷

any short form/blurb writing under 'clarkblurb'

[welcometounicornworlds]

PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION

some updates about "people we meet on vacation":

according to IMBD the film is currently in post production;

apparently the total budget of the film is $14,287,504.00;

MOTION PICTURES RATED the film PG-13 for sexual content, drug use, nudity and brief strong language;

a teaser could be presented at the next Netflix TUDUM 2025 which will be live on Saturday, May 31st, for the United States and Sunday, June 1st, for Europe;

there have been several private test screenings of the film "People We Meet on Vacation";

the film's runtime is 1 hour and 49 minutes, according to a post on TikTok;

the reviews that can be read on Letterboxd range from very positive to more drastic opinions;

emily henry saw an early cut and said "it's also totally different […] the director's baby […] it's not something that I made."

emily henry speaking to vogue said about tom blyth and emily bader: "They have so embodied them that there are now new levels to these characters than there were before" […] "adaptation is that there are some new scenes", […] "extra Alex and Poppy content that didn't previously exist".

yesterday 22 April 2025 emily henry regarding pwmov said to good morning america: "That's true. I don't have a release date that I can share but I have seen a cut of it. They (tom and emily) did such a beautiful job. I think the readers are going to be so thrilled because I was so thrilled. Feels like they took the characters and breathed life into them in this new way. The characters are forever changed in my mind now. I was lucky enough when they first cast Tom and Emily to play, I was able to watch their chemistry read.

We just have to wait for news! See you next time!

[phantomamour]

𝐢 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫

alex nilsen x fem!reader

cw// angst, mentions of grief/loss of a parent, eldest brother trauma, anxiety, fluffy ending - thank you to the wonderful @milliesfishes for proofing this fic over the last few days you're amazing!!!

There was little you didn’t know about Alex after a year of dating. You were well aware of so many of his small quirks, and you knew how to soothe his anxiety, but even after having been together for quite a while, the one thing he never fully opened up about was his family. He was the oldest of his brothers, and his mother had died years ago; that was where your knowledge started and ended. Anytime he got a text in the tone you know he must have set for his family, he tensed greatly around you. You weren’t sure why he didn’t want you to know, but you also vowed never to push him on it. It was his burden, and you wouldn’t help him carry it unless he gave you permission to do so, even if you desperately wanted to. 

Alex spent many nights in your tiny dorm room once you had finally upgraded to a single. The bed was still too small for his long legs, but he insisted that was “nothing that some cuddling couldn’t fix.” He proved that point now as he curled himself around you every morning, holding you with your back to his chest and his head tucked into the back of your shoulder. His legs tangled amongst yours and kept his feet from dangling off the end of the bed. Falling asleep was a challenge you two had found; trying to give him enough space not to touch while he fell asleep usually resulted in you squished against the wall until he reached for you in his sleep, and you finally fell asleep tucked into his chest. 

The sun beamed down on the two of you from your cracked window, letting in the cool breeze of the warmer spring mornings that Chicago had been blessed with as May arrived. The spring quarter would be wrapping up at the end of the month, and you both planned to enjoy every morning possible together in the small space; it had begun to feel like your own sanctuary. A sanctuary that popped like a bubble around the both of you as Alex’s phone started to ring. The all-too-familiar ringtone woke Alex from his sleep. He startled up, and you moved to grab the phone for him as he sat up. You recognized the name as much as you recognized the ringtone. David, his youngest brother, was calling.

When he read the name, Alex gave you an apologetic look that you shrugged off as you kissed his forehead and moved to get out of bed. You heard his hushed voice as he answered, the anxiety laced through it overpowering any frustration he had about being woken up. Slipping into the kitchen, you prepared two coffees, and when you came back, Alex was already half-dressed, slipping his legs into his khakis.

“I have to go to Linfield,” he announced, already sounding tired in a way you knew wasn’t from a lack of sleep. The sound of his already-present exhaustion made you want to hold him close, and he took one mug from you with a half-hearted smile and a kiss to your hairline before taking a sip and setting it down. Your anxiety started to claw its way through your chest, taking up all the space in your lungs as you watched Alex close himself off from you again. 

“I should be back tomorrow or the day after. I’ll take you out to dinner to make up for leaving so suddenly-”

“I’ll drive you.” You weren’t sure where your voice had come from, but you wouldn’t take the words back even if you could. You vowed not to push him, but you didn’t vow to let him drown when you could offer a hand to hold him above the surface. Alex froze where he was, dropping the shirt he had grabbed on the bed before facing you, chest bare and the morning sun illuminating him from behind. 

“Baby, no. I’m not taking you with me,” he tried to argue, “I’m not dragging you into this shit with my family.” You stepped forward, watching Alex contemplate a step back, and took his hands in yours as you tried to plead, “You’re not dragging me. I’ve been waiting to dive headfirst into it if you’d let me. Let me help, Alex. Whatever it is.” There was only hesitance in his eyes, looking at you as if he was worried the baggage he carried would turn you away from him. You laced your fingers through his as you quietly added.

“Let me in. You’re not going to lose me. No matter what it is.”  Three little words hung on the tip of your tongue, and no matter how badly you wanted to say them, you weren’t sure if they would help at that moment. You felt his hands tighten around yours as he thought over your words, every muscle in his body contracting and relaxing before he took a deeper breath and finally said, “Okay… but I’m driving. You know I wouldn’t be able to breathe the whole time if you drove.” You smiled as you brought a hand up to cup his jaw and guided his head down to kiss him softly. 

“I’ll get dressed and be ready in five,” you mumbled against his lips. 

“Take ten. I don’t want you to feel rushed.” 

~~~

Alex’s hand rested on your thigh as he drove to Linfield, anxiety drumming through his chest as you traced soothing circles on the back of his hand. You wished you could take every ounce of his unease from him and wrap him in warmth as you could feel him nearly shivering in his seat. It wasn’t until the two of you stopped to fill up on gas that he turned to face you, not having pulled away from the gas pump yet. 

“It’s my dad. That’s why David called me. He just… he never adjusted to my mom’s death,” he explained, eyes darting between your own and anywhere else in the car. “I stepped up when he couldn’t do it anymore.” Your heart sank as you took in the meaning of his words. Alex had to be a parent from an age when he should have only been a kid. His brothers counted on him in a way he never should have been asked to show up for them. Now, he was doing that again selflessly. 

“They just need my help to get my dad back on his feet. I don’t know what I’m walking into, and I don’t want you to think less of me-”

“Alex Nilsen, I could never think less of you for something like this." You brushed his curls back from his forehead as your voice softened. “I only think higher of you for it, honestly.” He tried to hide how his cheeks flushed, but you caught it immediately. Your thumb brushed over his reddened cheeks as you cupped his face and directed his eyes to yours. 

“Look at me. Whatever you’re walking into, I’m walking into it with you. Do you want me there- or maybe I could get your brothers out of the house? I could take them for dinner and a movie.” Alex sighed, the tension leaving his shoulders just slightly as he nodded and quietly responded, “That would be great. I think they could use it. I’ll pay you back for everything.” But you shook your head in response, “You absolutely will not. You’ll treat me to dinner when we get back to campus. That’s all I need.” You could see that light you loved in Alex’s eyes come back at your reassurance. He just needed someone who would go to bat for him in ways his family hadn’t before; you were more than willing to do that.

Even though you had managed to alleviate some of his stress at the gas station, you swore you could feel it come circling back around him the second the sign for Linfield came into view. His hand slowly tightened on your thigh until you pulled it off and laced your fingers through his, bringing his knuckles up to your lips with a whispered, “I’m here.” He waited for a red light to look over to you, and you could see that he wanted to say something, but instead, he gave you a half-hearted smile before fixing his eyes back on the road. 

His fingers flexed around your own as he pulled into the driveway before reclaiming his hand to put the car in park. He stayed looking forward as he sat in the driver’s seat for a moment, letting out a long sigh before you unbuckled your seatbelt and moved in your seat to fix his hair. 

“Do you want me to go in with you? Or wait out here for you to send your brothers out?” He let you continue to fuss over his hair, placing each curl back in place carefully for some sense of normalcy despite being back in the place he often dreaded returning. He waited another minute, relishing the feeling of your hands on him, before he turned his head to look at you.

“Wait out here? I just… I want to make it presentable, at least, maybe. I don’t know what it looks like in there.” You could tell he was in his head again, worrying this would be the straw that broke the camel’s back, the camel being your relationship. But you simply moved to press a kiss to his cheek, and he melted into your touch. 

“Text me if you need me back earlier or you need us to stay out later, okay?” Those three little words came rushing back to the tip of your tongue, as they always did lately, but you swallowed them down to try not to add any more stress into his bones, especially if he wasn’t ready to say them back. He smiled as best he could as he pressed a chaste kiss to your lips before getting out of the car, and you hopped over the center console to sit in the driver’s seat. 

~~~

Though you hadn’t met his brothers before, that was a small detail he often shared with pride about his life in Linfield. Bryce, Cameron, and David truly were something he held dear in his heart, and as you watched the teenage boys sit around you in a booth at a local diner, you understood why. They spent the whole dinner praising Alex and sharing details about the man you’d grown to love that you had only previously hoped to one day hear. 

“He used to make us peanut butter sandwiches for lunch all the time. It was easy to do when he had to try to wrangle us all up to go to school.” You smiled at how David talked about him, a love for his brother in his eyes that you understood too well. 

“He makes me peanut butter sandwiches when I’m sick,” you added before sipping your drink. You understood why Alex was fond of this place, even if it sometimes brought back chilling memories. It felt homey; you could understand why people settled down here. Bryce laughed as he set down his food to speak, but you were distracted by the buzzing of your phone–a text from Alex.

Whenever you want to bring them home, I’m just cleaning. You picked up bits and pieces of what the boys were discussing as you typed back.

How are you doing? How’s your dad? Three bubbles popped up in response before disappearing promptly. Even through the phone, you swore you could feel Alex’s hesitance; you wished you had some way to reassure him without a shadow of doubt that he can’t scare you away. 

It’s going to be okay. We can leave tonight, I think. You couldn’t hide your frown at his insistence to “protect” you from something that he didn’t need to. David nudged your side to get you to look back up at the boys all concerned around you.

“Is he okay?” Cameron asked, all three of them knowing who you were texting. 

“He’s okay. I think he just feels bad about leaving you guys. He loves you all so much. He’s got a different ring and text tone for you three,” you tried to explain, hoping to alleviate their stress, but Bryce simply frowned as he spoke. “We try not to bug him. We told him to go to Chicago when he got the offer. Normally, we can handle Dad still, or David can jump in as his favorite.” David tried to interject a protest, but Bryce kept talking, “I feel like we’re still taking advantage of him. It felt like we did as kids, at least.” You reached a hand across the table to squeeze Bryce’s hand reassuringly. 

“He loves you. He hasn’t told me much about his childhood, but he has told me about you guys. He talks about you with so much pride that I swear I feel it when he does.” The three boys all managed the same half-hearted smiles you were used to from Alex in this state. “Let’s finish up here and get you guys home to him, yeah? He’ll be happy to see you all.” You tried to cheer them up, but you could feel the melancholy the whole drive home until they walked in the door and made a beeline for Alex. You took the chance of Alex being distracted by his brothers’ loving rough housing to take in the sight of everything in front of you. Clothes were strewn about the living room, and takeout containers covered the kitchen's counters while tupperware filled the sink. On any other occasion, you’d scoff about the mess of boys, but you knew it was more than that here. This was a family that never fully learned how to heal from their loss. 

“You gonna stay the night? You could kick our ass at horse in the morning instead of going on a run.” Bryce asked as Alex looked to you. 

“We’ll be here in the morning. I look forward to watching these supposed basketball skills of his. We’ll be here as long as we can help,” you answered for Alex. He couldn’t ask you to stay, but you could tell him you would over and over again. Alex visibly relaxed at your words as he nudged his brothers away from him and told them to head to bed. You smiled at the collective groans as the boys went down the hall and yelled out goodnights to you, while Alex came up to wrap his arms around you, taking a deep breath from his spot nestled in your hair. 

“I have the guest bedroom all set up. You don’t have to help me finish all this,” he mumbled as he pressed a kiss behind your ear, but you shook your head. “I want to help. Where are the trash bags? I’ll deal with the kitchen while you get this into the laundry.” You motioned to the pile of clothes on the couch as you stepped away from him, pressing a kiss to his shoulder before walking into the kitchen. 

~~~

Moonlight seeped through the kitchen window when you heard a sniffle behind you. Your head snapped over to the living room where Alex was working to wipe down all the furniture, and you could see the glimmer of tears brimming his eyes. Taking quiet steps up to him, you took the rag from his hand and set it on the coffee table before guiding him to sit on the now clean couch. He just looked at you with what you swore may have been the saddest eyes, holding back his tears and his hands trembling in your hold. 

“‘s okay. I’m here. Just let it out,” you tried encouraging him as you brushed his hair back. One moment passed, then another, and then the dam broke. His tears fell, clearly against his will, and you brought a hand behind his head to let him bury his head into your chest. Shaking hands gripped your shirt below where he hid his face as if he was terrified you’d disappear; you were still sure that was a real fear of his. You rubbed his back as sobs racked his body, forcing him to melt into you and find comfort in that moment. 

“I shouldn’t have left,” he choked out after a few minutes, voice muffled by the fabric of your shirt. “They told me to go, and I listened, but they need me still.” Your heart broke at the sound of his every worry. He didn’t want to leave them, but you knew he wanted to live simultaneously. You let him drag himself down to rest his head on your thighs, holding onto you still, a silent plea not to leave him. 

“They told you to go,” you shushed his hiccuped sobs. “They wouldn’t have encouraged you to do it if they truly needed you all the time. When was the last time they asked you to come back?” He didn’t look up at you as he replied, “This is the first. But I just… Baby, they shouldn’t have to do this.” You ran your hand through his hair soothingly as you tried to think through how to word your thoughts about it all. 

“And neither should you, Alex. You’ve been gone nearly two years already. They’ve got it. They just got overwhelmed this time. The whole time we were at dinner, they all just talked about how wonderful you are. They hate thinking they’re taking advantage of you after everything you’ve already done for them.” You wiped his tears as they started to slow, one hand staying in his ear as his grip lessened, growing more sure you would stay. It took him a moment to force himself to sit back up, wanting to look you in the eyes when he quietly confessed. 

“I love you. Maybe this isn’t the place to say that for the first time, cleaning up my family’s mess, but I… I don’t want you to think otherwise. I love you.” You wipe his last tear as a nearly painfully wide smile graced your features. 

“I love you, Alex. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.” He smiled back, no more half-hearted smile, but the big beautiful smile you were used to from him. “This isn’t a mess. If you want to see a mess, you’ve got to come to my parent’s house when my mom decorates for Christmas. It becomes a wreck then. This is nothing,” you joked, and it got a small chuckle out of him as he moved to cup your cheek, pulling your lips to his own. You both smelled of Windex and dust, but you swore you’d never had a better kiss than this. You wrapped your arms around his neck and let him pull you closer, smiling against his lips as you started to lose the air in your lungs, though you didn’t need it if you gave it to him. 

“Can we finish cleaning in the morning? I just want to go to bed with you. Bryce took over my room, so we’ll have to take the guest bed,” he asked breathlessly. He rested his forehead against yours, pressing a small kiss to your nose when you nodded. His hands ran through your hair as you pulled back to look at him. 

“I love you,” you whispered again, having wanted to say it for so long and finally getting the chance. He smiled brighter as he whispered it back, picking you up in his arms to carry you to bed, trying not to laugh too loud when you squealed, shushing you so you wouldn’t wake up his brothers. He had grabbed some old clothes of his for you two to change into before pulling you under the covers with him. He had a partner to go to bat for him now. You wouldn’t let him feel alone in dealing with this kind of thing ever again. He squished himself close behind you, his chest flush to your back, and even though it was a full-sized bed in the guest room, he still cuddled up to you as if it were the tiny bed in your dorm. 

[lucygxybaird]

12 Days of Christmas - Day 7

You really should have seen this coming.

Your balance has never been good, as proven multiple times over the course of your childhood. 

You still have a small scar on your left knee from an accident suffered when you were learning to walk (why your parents let you toddle around on your gravel driveway, you still don’t understand). It took you nearly four months to learn to ride a bike, because you kept falling over every time your dad let go. After your mother enrolled you in a gymnastics class, as a result of you begging for months, she had to take you out again after you first lesson because the balance beam represented such a risk to your safety — and the safety of the other children — that she feared a lawsuit. 

Even as an adult, you can’t wear those fluffy slipper socks on stairs for fear of serious injury. 

So you really don’t know why you decided to volunteer to hang up the green-and-red streamers over the gymnasium door. Point of fact, you don’t know why you agreed to help decorate at all. You mean well, but you’re not crafty. Every stamp on the Christmas cards you sent out this year were crooked, for God’s sake.

Your only excuse is that you really, really want to fit in at this school. You’ve always wanted to be a teacher, and the high school in East Linfield seems like a good one. 

It certainly didn’t help your worries that you started so late in the year, because the previous teacher had moved with his husband to Palm Springs. The kids hadn’t even finished reading A Tale of Two Cities, and here you were trying to fuse your own lesson plan with the one they’d been working on. You were excited and frazzled and anxious all at once, a potent cocktail that meant you had your guard down. 

So when another woman in the English department asked if you were free tonight, because they really needed an extra hand decorating the gym for the Winter Snowball, you found yourself smiling and saying, “Sure! I’d love to help out.”

Which is how you find yourself balancing on your tiptoes, on the very top of a stepladder, and you’re so, so close to getting the tinsel where you need it to be. If you could just get it a little bit — you push yourself a smidge higher on your toes, your fingers brush the nail where you’re meant to drape it, and — 

There’s a very concerning creak, and you feel rather than see the stepladder slip out from under your feet as it collapses like a house of cards in a wind tunnel. You clutch uselessly, desperately, at the yard of tinsel in your hand as you fall backward, your arms windmilling like that’s going to help you in any way whatsoever.

Bang!

You wish that was the sound of the stepladder hitting the ground, but that flimsy thing couldn’t make so much noise if it was bounced around in a car trunk by a very tiny, very angry gorilla. No, in actuality, it’s the sound of your head smacking against the gym floor hard enough for you to see stars. Which is something you thought was a cliche, but it’s true. Points of light explode behind your eyes, one after the other, like silent fireworks.

When you open your eyes — not that you remember closing them — you see a face hovering over yours, and you realize you aren’t actually on the floor anymore. You’re being cradled in someone’s arms, propped up in their lap. It takes you a few moments to realize that the arms and the face bent over you, concern etched all over it, belong to the same person. 

Moments after this realization comes another one. 

You know this guy. 

“Alex,” you say fuzzily, and his anxious expression melts — momentarily — into a smile. 

“That’s right,” he says. “Yeah, I’m Alex. We met last week, remember?”

You do, if only because you’d thought then — as you do now — that he’s very, very cute. “I remember,” you assure him.

He smiles at you again. “Okay,” he says. “I’m gonna try to get you up now, alright? You ready?”

You nod.

“Okay,” he repeats. “Alright—!”

And then he scoops you up into his arms, standing up with a little grunt of effort, and you clutch at him like you’re holding onto a life preserver in the middle of the ocean. Both your stomach and your vision stage separate revolts, like they’re eighteenth century American colonists and French citizens, respectively. You clutch at Alex’s shoulders for a moment while he looks at you with increasing alarm. 

“Are you okay?” he says. “We should get you to the emergency room.”

Your stomach flips all over again at the thought of doctors, not to mention the astronomical bills you’ll have to pay. “No, no, I’m fine,” you assure him. “You can put me down now.”

“Oh—” It seems like he’s forgotten you’re even in his arms. “Oh, yeah, right, of course, sure.”

He sets you down, his hand still on the small of your back. By now, other people are starting to rush over, all of them looking concerned, although you think at least one of them — the woman who asked you to help, for one — might be more worried about how litigious you are than the state of your skull.

“I’m okay,” you tell all of them, a statement which immediately collapses as soon as you try to take a step forward.

The moment that you do, your knees buckle as a wave of dizziness washes over you. Multiple pairs of hands reach for you, but when you’re actually able to focus again, it’s Alex’s face that you see.

“I don’t think you’re okay,” he says, his tone so deadpan that you have to bite on your lower lip to keep from laughing. Maybe he mistakes this for a grimace of pain, because his eyebrows beetle down lower over his eyes as he frowns anxiously. “Really, I think you need to go to the hospital.”

Maybe it’s because you’re too dizzy — and increasingly nauseous — to think straight, or maybe it’s because Alex looks so endearingly concerned, as if you’re more than some coworker he only met a few days ago. As if he really cares. 

You cave.

“Okay,” you say. “Yeah, okay.”

Alex lets out a breath as you agree, not so much a sigh of relief as of resignation, as if now he’s gotten one item on his checklist done and he has to move on to another. “Come on,” he says, and he anchors an arm around your waist, supporting you as he leads you toward the gym doors.

From the corner of your eye, you see everyone else just standing there, looking bemused if not helpless. A few of them start drifting back to whatever tasks they were working on before you so elegantly displayed how graceful you are. They all seem perfectly happy to let Alex take care of you, but you can’t fault them for that.

You’re perfectly happy with it, too.

As Alex nudges the doors open with his shoulder, you say, “You’ll stay with me, right?”

The doors swing open to admit the two of you into the hall, and as they bang shut behind you, Alex pauses to look you right in the eye. “Yes,” he says. “Unless somebody with a stethoscope and a degree way beyond my capabilities tells me I can’t.”

You can’t help but smile, and when you do, his face softens again. While he’s looking at you like this, you really have no choice but to revisit the he’s very, very cute idea again. And very tall. Which you suppose isn’t saying much, since you stopped growing when you were around fourteen.

“Thank you,” you say softly.

He gives a little bow of his head, a movement that’s oddly formal but nonetheless absolutely adorable. “Of course.”

Alex helps you to his car, tucking you into the passenger seat. “Hold on,” he says, and lopes around to the trunk, which he unlocks — you wonder how old his car is — and then rummages around in.

He returns a few moments later with a first aid kit, which he balances on the dashboard in front of you before popping it open. After a few moments of semi-frantic rummaging, he pulls out a cold compress and gently cups the back of your head, laying the cold compress against the rising knot poking up near your left ear.

“What are you doing?” you mutter, as he takes your hand and puts it against the other end of the compress, before moving his own.

Alex jogs around the hood of the car and slides into the driver’s seat, starting the engine before he answers you. “It’s for the pain,” he says. “And to bring the swelling down.”

“Oh.”

He navigates out of the school parking lot and you tip your head back, pinning the cold compress between your throbbing skull and the headrest. 

You reach the center of town without incident, but then — 

“Oh my God,” Alex says, and you can’t help a snort-laugh (although you wish you could, because it makes your headache worse).

It’s as close to bumper-to-bumper traffic as a relatively small town is capable of exhibiting. Looking at the sea of cars stretching beyond the windshield, you let out a faint moan. Alex shoots you a worried look from the corner of his eye that you aren’t meant to see, but you do, so you bite your lip.

“Are you okay?” he says. “I mean, do you feel — I don’t know — queasy or anything? Or like you’re going to pass out?”

You consider this. “No,” you say. “My head just hurts. I’ve never had my had squeezed by the Hulk but I’m guessing it would feel pretty similar to this.”

Alex huffs out a laugh. 

“Don’t worry,” you tell him. “I don’t think I’m going to throw up in your car.”

“I’m not worried about that,” he says. “I’m worried about you.”

You smile, looking over at him. “You’re telling me  you wouldn’t absolutely freak out if I threw up in your car right now?”

The line of cars ahead of you moves forward a few precious feet, and Alex manages to weave his car ahead of a few others. He’s concentrating so much on this maneuver that he doesn’t respond to you at first, but then he admits, “Well…I’d try to keep my freaking out to myself as much as I could.”

“I appreciate that.”

It takes nearly half an hour for the hospital to come into view, and even then, it takes another fifteen to finagle a way into the parking lot. By the time Alex has actually found a spot and parked, you do in fact feel a little queasy.

The whole time, though, Alex keeps asking you questions, probably just trying to keep you awake (although you’re pretty sure you read somewhere the whole “concussed people shouldn’t be allowed to sleepthing” is a myth or something, but still). 

Where are you from?

You told him, and he says that he’s been there on a vacation with his best friend. You asked him what he liked best. He said the food, which made you laugh. “Did you go to this place called Justine’s? They have the best friend chicken in the world.”

No, he’d said, and you told him that the two of you would have to go back someday and you’d take him. The words had slipped out before you could stop yourself — this was the first full conversation you’d really had with him, and here you were offering to whisk him away — but Alex had only smiled at you. “That sounds nice,” he’d told you.

He asked you when you realized you wanted to teach — in the sixth grade, when you met an English teacher who encouraged you to write, and you never forgot that — and why you moved to Linfield. You said that it was far enough from home for you to have independence, but not so far that traveling back home would cost an arm and a leg.

You’re pretty sure he’d said, I’m glad you chose this place, but at that point you’d hit a speed bump and an invisible railroad spike had been driven into your skull. By the time Alex had finished apologizing, the moment had passed.

“Okay, here we are,” Alex says, pulling into a space. “Wait for me.”

He hops out and is about to slam his door before he takes a look at your face. Closing the door so carefully it could be made of porcelain, he hustles around the front of the car and opens your door for you, scooping his arm around your waist and helping you to your feet. 

“Almost there,” he says encouragingly, his tone suggesting you’re lagging in the final leg of a marathon.

He propels you through a pair of automatic doors and into the waiting room, which is — of course — packed, but fortunately not too packed that you can’t find two chairs together. Alex deposits you in one of them while he hurries to the front desk.

He returns a few moments later with a clipboard loaded with insurance forms, which he looks apologetic about. “I know this seems like a lot,” he says, waving the clipboard around, “but I’ll help you. I’ll write stuff down if you want.”

“Please,” you say.

So he sits next to you, his shoulder bracing yours, and writes down your answers in his careful printing. You smile. “You have really nice handwriting,” you say. “It looks like typography.”

Alex chuckles. “Thank you.”

When all the forms are finally done, you realize your head is on his shoulder. It feels very, very heavy, but you do your best. “Sorry,” you say.

To your surprise, Alex reaches over and puts his hand on your cheek, pushing your head back down. “It’s okay,” he says. “Leave it, if you’re comfortable.”

You are. His shoulder is broad and warm, and with your head nestled there, you catch the faint but distinctive scent of pine. “Okay,” you sigh.

Alex pats your knee gently. “Okay,” he agrees.

The two of you sit in (relative) silence, before you say, “Alex?”

“Hmm?”

“Why are you being so nice to me? We barely know each other. You could have just as easily have dropped me off and gone back to your day.”

From the corner of your eye, you see him shake your head. “No,” he says simply. “I couldn’t have. It’s not how I am.”

It’s not the most verbose explanation, but you don’t need one. His words strike you cleanly and easily as true, as if someone has told you the sky is blue or water is wet. You don’t have to look out a window or dunk your head in a lake to know that. Alex just isn’t the sort of person who can turn his back on someone who needs him.

“Thank you, anyway,” you say. “I’m glad we’re getting to know each other, even if I might have lost a few brain cells in the process.”

He chuckles. “I don’t think that’s how that works,” he says. “But me too.”

“It’s okay,” you say. “It was probably just some math brain cells. I was never very god at that, anyway.” 

“Two plus two is?”

“Mmm — 22?”

“So close.”

Later, you try to blame it on the fact that your brains have been scrambled around in your skull like the little white flakes in a snow globe; a little while later still, you think it just felt right. It takes you a while to realize you’ve even done it, but eventually, you look down to discover that you’re holing Alex’s hand.

And not lightly, either, but with your palm nestled into his, your fingers laced together. You frown down at this, puzzled. “When did this happen?”

Alex glances down at your linked hands. “I don’t know,” he says, and gives a little shrug, the motion small enough not to jostle your head. “It’s okay.”

And then he squeezes your hand, running his thumb lightly over your knuckles in a way that indicates maybe it’s more than okay.

A voice calls your name, and you reluctantly pick your head up from Alex’s shoulder. “We’re ready for you,” a nurse is saying, and Alex helps you to your feet.

You hop up on the little table-bed thing with its crackly wax paper spread over the top, your feet swinging idly. You catch Alex muffling a smile into his collar, and you smile back at him just as a nurse steps into the room.

By the time you walk out of the doctor’s office, clutching a prescription for pain medication, Alex looks marginally more relaxed. “At least we know you’re okay,” he says, letting out a long breath. “Do you have anyone to check on you?”

“Check on me?” 

Alex nods. “You’re supposed to check on someone with a concussion to make sure they’re breathing normally,” he says.

You blanch. “Is that unlikely? That I’d be breathing normally?”

At once, consternation washes over Alex’s face. “No, no, no,” he says quickly. “No. It’s just…I mean, they say it’s okay to check on someone with a concussion, to make sure — you know — but — I mean, I guess…I’m — I feel like it’s better safe than sorry, and I don’t want…”

You smile, mostly to reassure him but also because it’s adorable, the way he’s babbling, trying to comfort you. “Alex, if you’re trying to invite yourself over, you can always just ask.”

He smiles back at you. “Can I come over?”

“Sure.” 

You direct him to your apartment, and he insists on helping you up the stairs, like you’re a feeble little grandma whose hip will shatter if she lifts her foot at the wrong angle. When you let the two of you into your apartment, Alex asks where your linen closet is.

“I’m not a middle-aged woman with a collection of needlepoint throw pillows,” you say. “I don’t have a linen closet.”

“Okay, so where you do you keep your extra blankets?”

You tell him you keep them in a storage ottoman at the foot of your bed, and he says, “Oh, a linen closet is too old for you, but a storage ottoman is the peak of youth culture?”

“Did you ask just to make fun of me?”

“No.” He nudges you toward your own couch. ���Sit.”

So you do, and you turn on the TV, flipping through your streaming services until you just pick something and try to find a show or movie that you both might like. Which is difficult because you have no idea the sort of thing Alex likes to watch, so you settle on a docuseries about the Love Has Won cult. Doesn’t everybody find that fascinating? At least in the “can’t look away from a car wreck” kind of way?

You look up to find Alex carrying a couple of blankets and a pillow, all of which he tucks around you until you’re shaped rather like the Michelin man. He settles down beside you and raises an eyebrow. “Isn’t this the Mother God woman?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm.” He wriggles his shoulders until he’s more comfortable beside you. “Interesting. Good pick.”

You find yourself smiling way bigger over that little sliver of approbation than you probably should.

When the show is over, the streaming service offers up similar choices, and you let Alex pick. It’s another multi-episode show, which takes you four hours further on, and then he lets you pick the next.

By the time that one is over, it’s pitch black outside, and you hesitate. “Don’t you have to get home?”

You don’t want him to leave.

“No,” he says. “My cat has an automatic feeder. She’ll be okay without me until morning. Actually, she’ll probably appreciate the solitude.”

“What’s her name?”

“Flannery O’Connor.”

You hum softly. After a moment of hesitation, you put your head back on his shoulder. “Well, she was wrong,” you say.

“Who?”

“Flannery. A good man isn’t hard to find.”

You think there’s a smile in his voice. “No?”

“No,” you say. “I found one right here.” 

The two of you sit in companionable silence for a moment, watching a former cult member detail how she had to change her name to Aurora and give up all her credit cards. After a few moments, Alex’s hand finds yours again.

“Do you have plans for New Year’s?” he asks quietly.

“No,” you say.

“Would you like some?”

You smile. “Yes.”

A pause, and then he says: “With me?”

You laugh. “Yes, Alex.”

His fingers tighten briefly around yours. “Good,” he says. 

You wonder if he’s thinking about the possibility of a New Year’s kiss. You certainly are. When you flit a glance up to Alex’s face, he’s already looking at you.

Judging by the look in his eyes, you don’t have to wonder if he’s thinking about kissing you at midnight on the last day of the year.

He definitely is. 

[a-romantics-guide-to-life]

݁౨ৎ⋆ valentines "specials" 2025 ⁀➴༯

not really specials but just more fics to celebrate love!

݁౨ৎ⋆ how do i love thee? let me count the ways ⁀➴༯

alex nilsen x reader

you and alex loved your jobs, your home, and each other which is why you and alex always put on a show every special occasion

݁౨ৎ⋆ she walks in beauty; like the night ⁀➴༯

billy the kid x reader

valentines day in your hometown has always been so special but it becomes even more magical when you have someone to share it with

݁౨ৎ⋆ theres nothing sweeter than my baby ⁀➴༯

coriolanus snow x reader

ever since coriolanus was a child suffering through the war, he craved the sweet smooth chocolate he once knew. but, as an adult, the only sweet he wanted was you

݁౨ৎ⋆ the only heaven ill be sent to is when im with you ⁀➴༯

clark kent x reader

you've always dreamed of going to paris with your lover to kiss at sunset in front of seine. good thing your superhero boyfriend can (allegedly) fly at mach 10

[spideysquake]

people we fell in love with on vacation

tom blyth x costar!reader

one

yourbestfriendsuser

liked by youruser, tomblyth, and others

yourbestfriendsuser what a weekend!

read all 54 comments

youruser okay i admit, you were right about that green dress

⤷ yourbestfriendsuser i told you baby, that silhouette on you is everythingggg

tomblyth i had a blast! thanks for the invite

⤷ yourbestfriendsuser thank my girl!! but i have a feeling you'll be at a lot more of my parties

yourcollegefriend it was so nice getting to see you again youruser! and getting to meet your friend ;)

youruserfanpage

liked by user11, yourbestfriendsuser, and others

youruserfanpage god all these fan photos and selfies from the pwmov shoot are keeping us fed and i couldn't love it more... also did anyone see that photo dump with the photos of tom and y/n from yourbestfriendsuser last week??? i have my theories about it but i don't want to jump to any conclusions

read all 36 comments

user11 they just look so perfect together, they make so much sense

user11 i know we're supposed to like, let them live their personal lives and not speculate about whether they're dating but i just want them to be dating sooooo bad

user12 oh he loves her bye

youruserfanpage liked this comment

yourbestfriendsuser i can neither confirm nor deny your theories and conclusions buuuuut i can say that they're adorable and very fun to be around

youruser

likedby tomblyth, yourbestfriendsuser, and others

youruser in my poppy wright era 🌼

read all 12,846 comments

yourbestfrienduser give her twelve oscars! give her all the awards!

user13 poppy wright just might be her best role yet, she's fully glowing

youruser liked this comment

tomblyth i guess we have to make flannery o'connor a dog so noodle can be in the movie too

⤷ youruser oh noodle would love that !! emilyhenrywrites what do we think?

emilyhenrywrites and tomblyth liked this comment

user14 matching leather coats... tom and y/n i know what you are

deuxmoi

liked by tomandynfanaccount, user15, and others

deuxmoi Newest Emily Henry darlings youruser and tomblyth were recently spotted cozying up at a New York Knicks basketball game. Sources sitting near them said they spent most of the game giggling to each other and leaning into each other.

read all 15,275 comments

ynandtomfanpage they just make so much sense together like it was destined that they would fall in love... like look at this material

user15 i'm not usually one to ship real people but they HAVE to be together they're defying the wishes of the universe if they're not

user16 god he can do so much better than her idk why he would settle for her

⤷ ynstanaccount god you haters can't even string together a coherent argument for why they shouldn't be together... he would light you on fire just to keep her warm btw

pwmovupdates

liked by ynstanaccount, tomblythupdates, and others

pwmovupdates tom and y/n were spotted in new orleans this week doing reshoots for pwmov before its release this summer

read all 8,523 comments

ynandtomtruther the photo of them kissing on the beach chairs OH I LIVE

tomblythupdates he looks so good, she looks so good, they both look so good... this movie is gonna eat

user17 i love pwmov so much and this casting is literally perfect, they ARE poppy and alex

tomblyth's story

youruser

liked by tomblyth, emilyhenrywrites, and others

youruser i have loved every second of this project with my entire heart. poppy has become a part of my soul, and i will carry her with me through every day of the rest of my life. it has been my joy to play her, and to tell this story of love and loss and friendship and resilience.

and to tom, my favorite person ever, the alex to my poppy - i couldn't have picked a better partner through this journey. spending every day on set with you, exploring these characters and their love for each other, has been the greatest joy of my life. you are the light of my life and i'm so proud of you and of your alex nilsen. i love you most ❤︎

read all 26,847 comments

tomblyth you're the poppy to my alex forever, i'm so thankful for every single day of this project. i love you forever

⤷ ynandtomtruther i love you both so much I LIVE IN YOUR WALLS

⤷ ynupdates i'm just so glad that they are so happy together... i'm also VERY glad i was right

emilyhenrywrites you have been the absolute perfect poppy wright, and i am sooooo taking credit for getting the both of you together

⤷ youruser we love you so much!! and noodle loves you for letting flannery o'connor be a dog so we could hang out with her all the time

yourbestfriendsuser i love the both of you together so much, and i'm so happy for you guys on literally every single front

author's note: she has discovered the 3x3 graphic and she will be using it copiously!!!! anyway, enjoy this one of me projecting because i looooooove emily henry and i loooooove tom blyth

love y'all!!

xx daisy

[phantomdialogue]

˗ˏˋ. ݁₊ ✶ ˖ 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐲 - 𝟒.𝟐𝟓/𝟓 ☆ . ݁ ˖ˎˊ˗

premise: when daphne's fiance, peter, leaves her for his lifelong best friend, petra, daphne is left to pick up the pieces of the life she made in waning bay for him. she just so happens to connect with petra's ex, miles, who has a spare room she can stay in. now she works to get to the end of the summer when she can finally leave her small town behind unless miles can find a reason, or make one himself, for her to stay.

couple: miles nowak and daphne vincent

tropes: roommates to lovers, opposites attract, forced proximity, fake dating, somewhat grumpy x sunshine

review below!

review:

this was an interesting read for me. i went into this with admittedly high expectations. both because it's an emily henry book and the three others of hers that i have read were all 6 star reads for me and because a lot of people love this book. but for me, it just fell a bit flat. i did still really enjoy it though. it has heart and you can really feel that emily henry charm in it still.

my main issue comes from a lack of urgency and weight to the plot. despite each chapter counting down to an inevitable date, the characters themselves put little emphasis on it that it doesn't carry any weight amongst them or drive them towards something. even as the romance starts to pick up, any roadblocks that come up aren't in relation to that count down. the romantic issues are centered around the characters rather than the plot and while this does work in some cases, it didn't work for me personally in this book. i felt like there needed to be more of the obstacles in relation to that set timeline rather than just leaving it on its own because it doesn't make it a point of stress for the reader without that extra bit of angst.

however... miles nowak... damn. i love that man. i IMMEDIATELY understood why people fancast dylan o'brien as him as well because he's just got that humorous loving vibe that feels so perfect for a book boyfriend to have. he just is such an interesting character with a depth that is so classic to emily henry's characters and writing and i loved him deeply. i was also a big fan of daphne but similar to the plot, i felt like there was something lacking for her character. maybe it was in relation to the lack of urgency that the plot gave because in return, it felt as though daphne didn't feel that urgency herself and it didn't feel as connected as perhaps poppy did in pwmov. you felt poppy's urgency in the timeline of the book and how important certain things were but we didn't get that same urgency from daphne that made it feel a bit disjointed.

overall, i will likely never dislike an emily henry book in all honesty. i love her writing and i love her characters and while i do believe, out of the 4 i've read now, this is her weakest, it's still a masterclass in the romance genre and how good writing can truly elevate some of the tropes we know and love into something a bit more profound.

q & a:

are they endgame? - this is one of the only emily henry couples i'm a little less sure about. they are so cute and i really loved them but i think that they both have some problems they need to work through and we don't get to see that as readers so it's hard to imagine a super solid endgame without knowing that they deal with those. miles has some issues in relation to his family and while daphne has those too, i think they are different enough to clash and cause some problems for them in the future. i think an endgame is 100% plausible and possible. but they may have to work for it a bit.

did i cringe? - i don't think so. i mean... the ending line is pretty damn cheesy but you can imagine that it would end like that with the title of the book so i was kind of expecting it.

favorite part? - am i going to sound like a broken record if i say miles again...? probably but it's true. he really is the star of this book for me. he brings such a lightheartedness to it while still having his own conflict and issues that arise that feel right for the story. his story with his sister was really interesting to me and i really enjoyed having that extra character along with the typical emily henry best friend of the fmc to push the story along and drive the main characters.

least favorite part? - i have mentioned the lack of urgency in the plot already but i think something that stood out a lot at the end of the book was how rushed it felt. i think it would have been way better with a few more chapters or even an extended epilogue. going from the last chapter into the epilogue really felt like it kind of discounted the last chapter and what conclusions were made because we only jump a year in time and everything that daphne had said she wanted, we skipped over as readers. not getting to see her get those desires made them feel less important when i think there were supposed to hold more weight.

favorite quotes (some spoilers here, of course, but minimal):

Life, I’d learned, is a revolving door. Most things that come into it only stay awhile.

And I never knew what it was I was running from, or to, until he said it. Home.

“She’s the love of my life,” he says. “The love of your life sucks,” I tell him.

“Smug little prick.” “He’s six four,” I say. “Smug giant douche,” he amends.

“Are we evil or just immature?” he says. “I think maybe just bitter,” I reply.

“I’ve got stuff to do, but if you hear from your ex, tell him I said . . .” He holds up his middle finger. “If you hear from yours, tell her thanks for the new boyfriend.” “Gladly,” he says, and turns to go.

“You should have told me you had food sensitivities before I ordered for you.” “It’s not, like, EpiPen serious,” I say, following him to the door. “Still,” he says.

“He told you to trust him, and that’s what you did,” he insists. “That’s what you’re supposed to be able to do with people you love. They just don’t always live up to it.”

“I will happily go back into the woods, find some sticks, and build you a tripod, Daphne,” he says.

“I like that it feels like I can live as many lives as I want,” I say. “What’s wrong with this one?”

“Or maybe,” he says, eyes crinkled against the sun, “everything worth doing comes with some risk.”

“If you’d been my librarian, I would’ve read a lot more.”

I’ve never met someone who was so . . . ‘in the moment,’ and that’s where I have to be, because if I think too much about the past or the future, I come apart.

The fact is, the most memorable parts of my childhood are the ones he missed, his absence exactly what gave them their weight.

I don’t want to go back to feeling unsteady. I don’t want it to hurt every time he lets me down. I already feel it again: the aching emptiness where my dad’s love should be.

I can be here, in the moment, instead of watching for smoke, ready to run.

But a part of me kept hoping I had changed enough that he couldn’t hurt me, or that this new iteration of me would be the one worth sticking around for. That I’d fixed whatever’s so broken in me that I can’t be loved.

I think you’re the first person who’s really seen me. Past what I want people to see.

“I won’t hurt you, Daphne.” “You don’t know that,” I whisper. “I know how hard I’ll try,” he says.

[meyhew]

Which of the Emily Henry's book did u read!? I've read 'beach read' and it was okay-ish? I gave it a read for the plot was interesting but it was marketed as enemies to lovers which was just miscommunication so I was disappointed. Start was pretty good but was frustrated by the end. Even the writing for okayish..idk if you'll believe me but I've read ur work seed and I think I'd prefer yours over her anytime! Hope you're well x

SCREAM this is so deeply offensive to some of my friends but very much a compliment for me personally. will be printing this out. anyway i’ve read beach read & pwmov. i didn’t think the writing is like… groundbreaking by any means but i gave them both 4 stars bc i did enjoy the books. i think i just have bad luck finding romance novels bc the writing styles lose me; a lot of times they break the fourth all and talk to the reader, which irks me a lot so i liked that miss henry doesn’t do that. would love some recs if u have any!

[spideyhexx]

blog navigation

kit - writer - 23 - she/her

do not steal or plagiarize any of my writing!

Who I Write for Currently:

Billy The Kid (btk on mgm+)

Coriolanus Snow (TBOSAS)

Alex Nilsen (PWMOV)

Clark Kent (Superman)

Sam Woodbridge (OC)

Jack Prescott (OC)

below the cut : masterlists, disclaimer, request guidelines, emoji anons, etc.

DISCLAIMER

- I do not tolerate ANY hate, misogyny, racism, homophobia and etc. Most chances are, if you're rude, you'll be blocked. If you don't like my content, just unfollow, it's easy.

kinktober 2024

Late Night Thoughts - Collection of short fics

Tom Blyth Characters

Sejanus x Reader x Coryo

James Bucky Barnes

Captain Steve Rogers

Loki Laufeyson

Yelena Belova

Peter Parker

Matt Murdock

Sylvie Laufeydottir

MISC.

Favorite Comic Panels

Comic Reviews

Request Guidelines

ANONS;

💋, 🦢, 🐎, 🎀, 🌸, 🐝, 🥂, 💸, 💌, 🚬, 🪼, 🌟, 🪵, 🩰, ⚾️

[milliesfishes]

౨ৎ꣑ৎStocking Stuffer౨ৎ꣑ৎ

౨ৎ꣑ৎ12 Days of Christmas Masterlist౨ৎ꣑ৎ [fem reader] contains: fluff :) pairing: fem reader x alex nilsen summary: you and alex determine who's naughty and who's nice author’s note: first alex 12days! Spotify Playlist

Stirring your hot cocoa, you hummed a Christmas tune you'd heard on the radio a few times today, peering out the window at the snow flurrying over a backdrop of grey. In your opinion, this was the coziest time of year, and you fully intended to take advantage of it. Case in point, your outfit consisted of a pair of pajama pants, fuzzy white socks, and a light pink sweater. And still you'd been shivering since you opened your eyes this morning.

Alex was in the living room, trying to get the space heater to work. You could hear him fiddling with the buttons and knobs, grunting occasionally. With a smile, you lifted the two mugs on the counter, padding into the next room.

He looked up when you sat on the couch, tucking your feet under you. "I think I've almost got it." You giggled, gently setting one mug on the coffee table and keeping hold of your own to warm your freezing hands. Alex stared at the heater for a moment, holding his hands up "And...there!" You heard a faint whirr as it started up, blowing warm air in your direction.

Exclaiming in delight, you reached out your free arm. "Come sit! Come keep me warm." Alex's smile lit you up as he clambered over, adjusting himself so you could sit cuddled into him. You sighed when he wrapped an arm around you, resting your head on his shoulder. He was warm, always so warm. It kept you content in these months since you always ran cold.

"You're freezing," Alex remarked, carefully pulling your legs across his lap. His pajama pants matched yours, and you smiled at the sight. "I think your feet gave me frostbite this morning." Reaching for a blanket, he wrapped it tight around you, leaning in to kiss your nose. "There you go. Much better."

You looked up at him adoringly, nuzzling your head into his shoulder. "Thank you for fixing the heater."

"You're welcome," Alex muttered, taking your drink so he could draw you closer. "I don't wanna come home one day and you're an icicle." He kissed your forehead.

You snuggled into him. "Tell me about your day." It was something you always asked him no matter what.

"Well, I've been home with this really pretty girl," he started, and you giggled, laying your head on his chest. He smoothed your hair down. "Oh, I got the best email today."

"Email?" You lifted your head. "What was it?"

"It was from work," he started, hand on your side stroking up and down. "You know how we get community emails too? They were asking for someone to play Santa at the elementary school."

"You should do it," you giggled, springing up and adjusting yourself so you were facing him on his lap. "You'd look sexy."

"If I'm gonna look sexy I should not do it," he countered, putting your drink on the coffee table so he could hold you by the hips. "It's for kids."

Laughing again, you moved the blanket so it covered him too. "Alright, maybe you shouldn't then. Or else you'd have a lot of thirsty moms sitting in your lap."

"Well, that's charity in and of itself," Alex said, rubbing your sides. "But you are the only one I want in my lap."

"Good. You can be my Santa," you decided, reaching back for your cocoa and taking a sip.

"Have you been good this year?" He asked it confidently, then cringed. "I'm never saying that again."

That sent you into another fit of giggles. "Of course I've been good."

"Are you sure about that?" He lifted his eyebrows, giving you a Look.

You mock-frowned at him. "Hey."

"Awh, babe," he chuckled, squeezing your sides. "For the most part you've been good. You're a very good girlfriend."

Smiling triumphantly, you wrapped your arms around his neck, bouncing a little on his lap. Alex grunted, holding you still as you asked, "So what have I done that isn't good?"

"You bite me," he said immediately, prompting another laugh out of you.

"That's not my fault," you pouted, leaning in to brush your nose with his. "Your arms are so..." trailing off, you eyed his shoulder. He watched you lean in slowly, sinking your teeth in, his only reaction a "hmph". Pressing a kiss to the spot, you looked up at him, satisfied by how it had felt in your mouth.

He stared at you. "See, that's something I'd count as naughty."

"You bite me back!"

"Back."

"Well..." you pursed your lips, trying to think of something naughty he'd done. "You..." Frowning, you crossed your arms. "Why are you perfect?"

Alex cracked a grin. "Nooo, sweetie." He took your face in his hands, pressing kisses to your cheeks, then your forehead, then your nose. "You're perfect. Biting and all." You started to smile again, and he caught your lips in a long kiss, brushing his thumb over your cheekbone. "See?" He reached behind you for his hot cocoa. "I can name way more nice things than naughty things."

"So I've been good this year!" you said triumphantly, watching him take a sip of his drink.

His smile spread across his face as he watched you. "Yes. Very good." When he kissed you, he tasted like peppermint.

"I love you," you murmured, snuggling into his chest. "You keep me warm."

"Yeah?" Alex thumbed your sides after he put his drink down.

"You're my favorite part of Christmas." You smiled as you said it, nuzzling into his chest.

"More than pink mittens?"

"Uh huh."

"And hot cocoa?"

"Yes."

"What about snow?"

"Snow is cold," you laughed. "I love you lots more than snow."

"I'm honored." Alex slid his hand under your sweater, reaching your back. He rubbed it softly, trying to warm your skin too. Once his fingers reached your bra, he paused, fingering it. "What's this?"

Lifting your chin, you shifted on his lap. "You like it?"

"Is that...ribbon?" He tilted his head.

"Uh huh," you mused, swaying back and forth. "Thought you could unwrap me later like a present."

"Oh, did you?" Alex leaned to the side, getting an eyeful of the window. It was still snowing hard. "Well, looks like we're not going anywhere." He smiled, rubbing your bare sides. "How about I warm you up a little more, baby?"

In a barrage of giggles, you lifted your arms as he shucked your sweater off you, pressing his mouth to your collarbone and groaning when you tangled your fingers in his curls.

"Oh what fun it is to ride," you giggled, and he nipped you, lifting his eyes and fully pulling away, giving you another Look. It made you laugh, and you kept going. "D'you have blue snowballs?"

"Alright, that's enough," Alex murmured, lifting you off his lap and laying you down on the couch and positioning himself over you. "If you're gonna keep saying stuff like that..."

"Stuff my stocking, Alex." You giggled when he blushed, hiding his face in your neck and nosing a few more kisses there.

"You gonna be like this all month?" Still, he reached under you, giving the end of the bow tying your bra together a swift tug.

[milliesfishes]

⋆౨ৎyou're alone on halloween and alex comes to see you⋆౨ৎ fem reader x alex nilsen

Swiping the wand over your lashes, your eyes fell to your phone when it buzzed on the counter. Alex was trying to call you. Ignoring it, you leaned forward in the mirror to get a better look at the state of your makeup. Fish purred contentedly by the sink, lifting his chin in a kitty smile when you looked at him.

It was always hard spending a holiday away from Alex, even if it was a minor one. You always took the major holidays together, like Christmas or Thanksgiving, but you longed for the simple pleasures of fun ones like Halloween. All your friends were bringing their boyfriends to the party tonight in coordinating costumes while you were stuck with your solo act.

Maybe if Alex was here you would have done something cute from a movie you both liked. But since he wasn't, you had gone generic, donning a short white dress and angel wings. Staring at your reflection, you capped your mascara, shoulders slumping a little. You felt pretty. You'd look good in whatever pictures your friends posted tomorrow. But the ache in your chest was apparent, and you wished with all your heart that he was with you.

The two of you had talked about him maybe relocating to the city when you'd first accepted this job a few years ago, but nothing had come of it until this past spring. You both agreed that he should spend at least another school year in Linfield and maybe start looking for teaching jobs this winter so he could move right after school ended. You were so excited at the prospect of him coming to live with you finally after missing him so often for so long.

That still didn't make days like today any less hard.

Your phone buzzed with another text from Alex, but you didn't bother to read it. In a minute you would FaceTime and show him your costume and the little bow you'd put around Fish's neck. He would let you see Flannery O' Conner, Fish's littermate, and probably tell you he would be staying in tonight.

Petting Fish, you smiled a little sadly when he stood, rubbing his head on your side. You and Alex had gotten your cats together, picking them out at the town shelter. Fish was a tie to the man you loved in that way, and you were grateful for it.

There was a knock at the door, and you called, "It's unlocked, come in!" It was probably Jules here with the Uber. She was early.

Deciding to find a quiet-ish place at the party to call Alex in, you picked up your phone and gave Fish one last pat, trailing from the bathroom to the kitchen and living room. Your white heels were sitting by the couch, and you internally debated the logistics of bringing a purse before you realized who was standing in front of the door. Not Jules.

Alex grinned at you, somehow more handsome than when you'd seen him last. His hair was a little messy, and he looked a little tired. But he was here. "Hi baby."

Your mouth fell open, and you hurtled toward him, crashing into his open arms as he dropped his carry-on and squeezed you tight, lifting you off your feet. You'd told him a thousand times not to do that because of his bad back, but today you shelved your concerns. His clean scent filled your nose as you buried your face in his chest. "You're here...how are you here?"

"It's amazing what they're doing with teleportation these days." You lifted your head up, raising your eyebrows and meeting his eyes. He smiled, thumbing the side of your cheek. "I took today and tomorrow off. Decided to take a long weekend and come see you."

You giggled, almost in disbelief. wrapping your arms around his neck. "You did all that for me?"

"I missed you." Alex pressed his lips to your forehead, leaning down and catching your mouth in a kiss as sweet as candy corn. "Missed my girl."

Tummy fluttering from both his words and his lips, you squealed lightly, hugging him tight again. "I'm so happy you're here."

Pushing you back just a bit, Alex's eyes roamed over your body, your dress. "You look sexy. Were you going somewhere?"

"A party," you mused, staring up into his eyes, your previous plans already nearly forgotten. "But now that you're here...I'm not going anywhere."

He gave you a look. "We can still go. You got ready and everything and you look gorgeous-"

Reaching up, you kissed him needily, effectively silencing his protests. Losing yourself in his touch, you nudged your nose against his. "I wanna do something else."

He slipped off his shoes as he kissed you, letting you walk him over to the couch and push him gently to sit down. The grin on his face hadn't faltered once for the time he'd been there. When you began to take off your angel wings, he sat up, reaching out. "Wait, wait. Did you take any pictures in your costume?"

You shook your head, a little dazed, mind clouded around everything except him. Alex reached into his pocket and pulled his phone out, using his hands on your hips to scoot you backwards a bit. Flopping back on the sofa, he swiped right on the screen and pointed it at you, the shutter clicking. Over and over you'd teased him for not turning off the phone's standard device sounds.

After a few seconds of posing, you gravitated back towards him, sitting on his lap despite his protests. "Just a few more...okay." You were already cuddling into his chest, your wings poking his arm. Looking up with puppy dog eyes, your cheek squished his shoulder. He sighed, smiling and setting a palm on your other cheek. One final click of the camera was heard as you smiled adoringly up at him.

Tossing the phone aside, Alex settled his hands on your hips, giving you a fond look. He rubbed you gently, and you melted under his touch.

Remembering what you'd wanted before, you stood from his lap and slipped off your wings, setting them on a nearby chair. Letting his arms rest on the back of the couch, Alex shifted so he was sitting up straighter, grinning. "Whatcha doing babe?"

"I was gonna send you a picture later," you smiled, slipping one strap of your dress over your shoulder. He watched, almost entranced, as you removed the other one, beginning to shimmy the fabric down your chest and over your knees. His eyes widened as you kicked the dress aside, smoothing your hair behind your shoulders.

Your lingerie was white and lacy, hugging your body and effectively stunning your boyfriend. He wordlessly reached for you, hands glued to your hips as he pulled you right down into his lap again. "Baby..."

Sliding his hand to your breast, you kissed him lovingly, pressing yourself against him. Alex kneaded your hips, hands sliding over your bottom and tugging you into him.

His lips ebbed and flowed over your skin in the way you'd missed so desperately, and you tangled your hand in his hair. It'd been nearly a month since you'd seen him last, felt him like this. He shifted you off his lap so you were sitting beside him. You were about to protest, when he knelt in front of you, pulling your legs over his shoulders.

When your phone buzzed on the coffee table, you reached for it, seeing the text from Jules. She was on her way. Alex frowned, squeezing your thigh. "Baby."

"Hold on, I need to tell her I'm not going tonight." You tapped out the text quickly, using more abbreviations than usual.

Alex pressed his mouth to your thigh, still pouting. "You weren't so eager to respond to my texts."

"I was going to call you," you giggled, hitting send and putting your phone back on the table. "And show you my costume."

"Hmm." Alex kissed your knee, dipping back down between your legs.

It was dark when the two of you finally stopped, trying to catch your breath, skin sticking to one another. He kissed your forehead, reaching for his boxers and tugging them on. Taking the blanket from over the arm of the couch, Alex unfolded it, spreading it over your body before getting to his feet.

He went to the carry-on bag that he'd abandoned earlier, kneeling and unzipping the top. You sat up sleepily, holding the blanket to your chest. "Did you bring more sweatshirts?"

Alex threw a smile back at you. "You don't have enough of my clothes?" But he tugged out what he was looking for, holding the maroon sweatshirt up triumphantly. "I'll have to borrow one of the others I've left here."

With an excited squeak, you sat up, making grabby hands. He laughed, bunching up the sweatshirt in his hands. "Lift your arms, baby."

You did, smiling wide as he pulled the neck opening over your head and adjusted it over your bare body. He gave you a loving peck on the nose, leaving for your bedroom to find a sweatshirt of his own. The one you were wearing was an old one from college that was soft and cozy on the inside.

He returned in a forest green one, smiling and diving into the couch, taking you into his arms. Pressing warm kisses to your neck, Alex nuzzled there, murmuring, "You're so pretty."

"Wanna put on a movie?" you murmured, rubbing his chest.

Alex nodded, kissing your cheek. "Scary?" You scrunched up your face, and he laughed. "Alright. Not scary. I'll pick a Halloween movie though."

Remote in one hand, Alex kept you cuddled close with his other arm, kissing your hair as he flipped through movie options, selecting one of your favorites. You were pleased when his other arm slid around you as the opening credits began. Fish found his way over, jumping on the couch and purring as he settled into Alex's lap. It seemed you weren't the only one who'd missed him.

Every second with him you soaked up, reveling in his warmth. As the movie played, you talked softly about everything and nothing, the stupid little things you always wanted to tell him but felt strange doing when he wasn't physically here.

You knew eventually you would have to escape your bubble, find a way to say goodbye until the next time. But for now you were content in his arms, able to pretend that he would never leave.

tagging @kellielovesmovies because <3

[milliesfishes]

Hi my love!!! I just absolutely love your writing 🥹 The way you write all the characters is just so unique and good 🤌 I was wondering if I could request something with Alex pls ? Something where the reader is like a pre-medical student and just stressed over classes and stuff and doesn’t think their good enough for it and Alex is just there to comfort and motivate them ??? I’ve been so stressed with classes and everything and you writing something like this would just make everything 100x better ❤️

(to both anons MWAH🫶🫶🫶🫶) ꣑ৎ౨ৎalex when you're overworked in school꣑ৎ౨ৎ fem reader x alex nilsen

The words on the page in front of you were blurry but you pushed through, able to make out the fundamentals. Your handwriting had become progressively messy over the past few hours, and you knew you'd regret it when it was time to study later. In between paragraphs you debated filling your empty coffee mug but your feet remained tucked underneath you, sleeve of your sweatshirt covering your fingers as you leaned on your hand.

It was a gorgeous Saturday that you wouldn't know anything about since you hadn't left your room all day. There were people coming and going all around your apartment, chattering loudly but you paid them no mind. Your phone had buzzed about a thousand times where you'd left it on the counter, and you ignored that too. No distractions. This was a study day.

Truthfully, all the thoughts in your head were making it terribly difficult to focus. They raced a million miles an hour, rattling off endless lists of things you still needed to do. And with each lap, the pit of dread in your stomach grew heavier. There was an essay due next week, reading that needed to be done the next day. And to top it all off, midterms were in ten days, poking at your back like a hot poker.

You sighed, squeezing your eyes shut. Just a few more minutes, just a few more pages. And then maybe you could do something relaxing, like highlight your notes. Yes, that would be good motivation. Opening your eyes, you stared determinedly at the book, scanning and rereading paragraphs. Not much information was being retained, and you found yourself stuck on the same page as before.

A frustrated noise escaped you, and you picked up the book, setting it upright. Maybe the new angle would make things better? You stretched your legs out in front of you for a second before putting them back where they had been before. Finally, you were able to turn the page.

There was a knock on the door but you didn't look up. "It's open!"

The hinges creaked and you heard heavy footsteps enter the room. Still, you kept at your reading, even when an arm wrapped around your collarbone and a kiss was pressed to your hair. "Hi," you greeted absentmindedly.

"Hi baby." Alex knelt beside you, reaching a hand up to your cheek to turn your head in his direction. He smiled when you met his eyes, raising his eyebrows and giving you a look. Recognizing it, you dutifully leaned forward and gave him a brief peck, turning back to the textbook immediately.

You could practically hear the frown in his voice. "How long have you been like this today?"

"Awhile," you murmured, blinking tiredly. "There's a lot going on."

"Hmm." His hand was on your thigh now, warm through your leggings. "I feel like you've been studying nonstop since school started."

"Me too." You turned to him, clenching your jaw to avoid crying. For nearly a week you'd constantly been on the verge of tears, suppressing it for the sake of productivity. But the concern in his bright blue eyes nearly sent you over the edge. Looking away again, you stared at the page number of the book. "It's fine."

"Uh huh." Alex didn't sound convinced. He was rubbing your knee now, the gesture soothing. You melted a little, risking a look back up at him. He reached for your hand with his other one, clasping fingers together on the desk. "Maybe you should take a break. Aren't you...?" He furrowed his brow in thought. "You're on your period now, right?"

"I haven't gotten my period yet," you said quietly.

"Tomorrow's the first."

"Yeah."

Looking at your joined hands, you inhaled softly. You could only imagine what you looked like right now. It'd been days since you'd showered and you hadn't bothered to do more than finger comb your hair today and then pull it back. The sweatshirt you were wearing happened to be one of his, but it was the third day in a row you'd thrown it over your leggings, his scent comforting you as you studied.

Alex flattened his lips together, squeezing your hand lightly. "Maybe you should take a break. We could go grab some dinner. When's the last time you ate?"

"I can't stop now, I've only got twenty pages left," you protested, turning away and ignoring the fact that you hadn't eaten anything other than a few granola bars scattered between assignments. "I'm fine."

"Baby, you're stressed," he tried, squeezing your hand again. "C'mon, let's-"

"I can't stop!" you burst out, yanking your hand away. "There's too much to do and I'm behind and I don't even know why I'm studying because I'm gonna fail anyways and-" you swallowed, feeling tears rise in your throat. "And..." water was welling up in your eyes and you blinked rapidly, feeling the corners of your lips turn down fast as a landslide.

He was pulling you into his arms just as quickly, sitting up on his knees and wrapping his arms around your waist. You sniffled, sliding from your chair to the floor with him and burying your face in his neck, feeling all the emotion you'd put off come flooding back. Now you were crying and you didn't know how to stop.

Alex rubbed your back, kissing your hair and starting to rock back and forth. "Shh, I know, I know."

"I'm gonna fail," you sobbed, practically shaking in his arms.

"You've been working so hard," he murmured, smoothing a strand of hair that had fallen out of your ponytail. "You're gonna be okay."

That only made you cry harder, and he started rubbing your back again. "You're gonna take a break for tonight, okay? How's that sound?"

"I can't," you said miserably, hiccupping on your own words. "There's too much to do."

"It'll all still be here when you come back," he assured you. When you looked up, he smoothed your hair and gave you a little smile. "It's okay to take a break. In fact, I think it's highly encouraged by medical professionals."

You sniffled again, lightly nudging his chest. "You're not pre-med."

"No, you are." His smile was warm, and you felt a little of the weight alleviate. "And you can stop looking at pictures of insides for a few hours, I promise. The supreme doctor of the universe isn't going to come find you."

That got a little giggle out of you through your tears, which were staggering now. You reached for his hand again, nuzzling into him. "I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"You're under pressure right now, I get it," he murmured soothingly, fingers gliding slowly up and down your back. "But you still need to take care of yourself."

It had been a long time since you'd heard that, and even longer since you'd told it to yourself. You took in a sharp breath, nodding hazily and croaking, "Okay."

"Atta girl." Alex thumbed your chin. "D'you wanna go get dinner? Or we can bring it to my place?" You noticed how he didn't say to bring it back here, and there was a little spark of warmth in your heart. He wanted you to get out of the space intoxicated with your stress and let it clear for awhile.

"Your place," you decided, turning and kissing his chest. He stroked the top of your head affectionately and started to stand up, bringing you with him.

"Alright, let's go!" Alex lifted you up in his arms, spinning you around once and starting to walk away.

You laughed, holding onto his elbows. "Wait, I wanna shower first."

"Nope! You can shower at mine." Tugging you to the door, he only put you down to let you squish your feet into your shoes and grab your phone, putting it in his pocket. "C'mon. You can shower and I'll go pick up dinner."

True to his word, Alex dropped you off at his apartment with the promise that he would have food in twenty minutes. You felt much of the pressure alleviate as you stepped under his showerhead, washing your hair with his soap and just letting yourself relax/ The more time you spent here, the more you realized why he hadn't let you stay where you'd been. With your homework in the next room there wasn't any way you'd be able to calm down.

It was miraculous how well he knew you, better than you knew yourself.

He arrived bearing rustling takeout bags that smelled like Chinese food as you were toweling off. Poking his head into the bathroom, he smiled at the sight of you, hair wet and clinging to your cheeks. "Hungry?"

"Starving," you countered, tucking the end of the towel under your arm. He stepped fully in, big hands finding your cheeks as he kissed your forehead and you swore you had never felt more at home.

Ten minutes later you were nestled into a fresh sweatshirt of his and a pair of his boxers, munching on an egg roll. It was the happiest you'd been in a long while. You were on his couch under his arm, careful to catch any crumbs on your plate. The silence was comfortable, like a cat curling up all warm beside you.

"Want to put a movie on?" he asked casually, taking a bite of chicken. You pressed a kiss to his shoulder, nodding. It'd been quiet so long that now you were thinking about all the stress from before again, and how you could be doing homework right now, and-

Alex took your plate from your lap, setting it beside his on the coffee table and pulling you into his lap, legs over his thighs. He took the remainder of your egg roll from your hand. "Open." You let your mouth fall open and he popped it in, waiting until you swallowed to push you against his chest so your head was on his shoulder.

You mumbled, "The food's gonna get cold."

"I'll make the whole damn apartment smell like sesame chicken microwaving it if I have to," he retorted gently, rubbing your back. "Just let me hold you for a minute."

Whatever thoughts of dread for the upcoming weeks you'd had dissolved as he trapped you in his warm embrace. Leaning back and forth slightly, Alex whispered, "You've been doing such a good job staying on top of things. You deserve a rest." His words nearly brought tears to your eyes again.

You snuggled into his chest, closing your eyes for just a moment. Your life was always on the go, never time to stop and look around. He put your world on pause, let you just be. That was how it had always been.

"I can rest," you repeated, looking up at him.

Alex stroked your hair lovingly. "You're always 'on' for other people. Let me be the one you don't have to be for." He kissed your nose. "I love you. Every version of you."

A smile started at your eyes and spread to your mouth. You pushed his hair back and his eyes sparked with adoration.

"Alex Nilsen, there is no world where I couldn't love you."

[milliesfishes]

Hi sweetest girl in town, Millie! Can you by chance write something angsty for Alex? I love the best best friends to lovers trope before they are officially together, like in pwmov after they hooked up and felt really hurt and heartbroken. But they actually both loved each other!! Or love an “unrequited” love confession and just all the feels. Have a lovely night!

꣑ৎ౨ৎOcean Blvd꣑ৎ౨ৎ

[fem reader] contains: angst pairing: alex nilsen x fem reader summary: you and alex hook up on vacation author’s note: I very much hope this is good Pinterest Board Spotify Playlist

From this angle you could see your pale pink bra where it had been unceremoniously tossed the ground. Alex's fingers were nimble, and the swiftness of the removal had only made your heart beat faster.

Inches away was your top, further your shorts. Your panties were closest to the bed. His clothes were discarded at equal intervals, lying beside your things like a couple's picture. Close to the entrance of the motel room were both of your shoes, one of his lying sole up atop your sandal.

The sheet was cool around your chest where you had pulled it up once he'd gotten off of you, suddenly self-conscious despite what you'd just done. His hand was resting palm down by your hip, elbow on the mattress, thumb stroking your side lazily. You weren't sure if he was looking at you. A part of you hoped he was.

Turning your head to the side revealed that he was staring at the ceiling, his chest not rising and falling as quickly as it had a few minutes ago. Alex's hair was a mess from your fingers running through it, and you suspected your own was along the same lines.

When he shifted, your eyes fell away, focusing on the edge of the pillow under your head. Your hair was cushioned under your ear, ends splayed out toward him. Silence like suffocating smoke was filling the air, pierced only by the sounds of doors opening and closing outside, keys jingling cheerfully as their owners' flip flops thumped their heels.

Just minutes ago you'd been breathing his name, his lips ghosting your neck, hands gripping your waist so hard you wouldn't be surprised if there were bruises later. And now it was quiet. And you hated it.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. It was just another annual vacation with your best friend, the one you loved and trusted more than anybody else in the world. This trip to a sunny coastal town in southern California was supposed to be an escape from your problems, not a place to create new ones. But the tension had been thick, connecting both of you like an iron bar.

Today especially had been bordering the precipice. The two of you had walked, shoulders bumping, through the less-than-busy streets with grass and daisies growing between the sidewalk cracks. Ice cream from your cones dripping onto your fingers, you'd hardly stopped giggling the whole morning, playing a game of I Spy with the quirky things you spotted.

"Me," Alex had said, unwrapping a finger from around his ice cream to point at a stone figurine of a cat wearing a frog hat.

You nudged him with one elbow, chasing a droplet running down your cone with your tongue. "I think you'd wear it better."

"Of course I would, I'm adorable."

This continued until you stopped at a low stone wall close to the beach, sitting and resting your feet. You'd popped the pointed end of the cone into your mouth and set your bag down, stretching and tilting your head, gasping when you nearly fell backwards. Quicker than lightning, Alex reached out to steady you, forgetting that what was left of his ice cream was still in that hand.

When the cold of it smeared your side, you instantly knew what it was. As he pulled you in closer to him, away from where you would have fallen into a bed of sea grass, you could see the realization on his face. You braced a hand on his chest, laughter bubbling from your lips. "Is your hand sticky now?"

"Yeah." He cracked a smile upon seeing that you were unbothered, fingers starting to lift from your side.

You stopped him, grabbing his arm. "Keep it there. It'll hide the stain until we get back to our room."

Alex didn't argue, reaching down to pick up your bag and sling it over his shoulder. The two of you carefully stood up, walking side by side as you crossed the street. He adjusted his fingers where they laid a few times, and you felt electric just from that. Feelings were poking through your bubble without breaking it, swirling around inside you like fairy dust. The quiet that settled between you was comfortable.

It was the stark opposite of now.

You felt dread land like a lead ball in your stomach as he turned on his side to face you, hand reaching out to brush yours. "Are you-?"

"I'm gonna go to the pool!" Plastering a smile to your face, you stood up, ignoring the flush in your cheeks when you remembered you still weren't wearing anything. Pushing through it, you ignored the slight tremble of your knees in favor of finding your suitcase on the ground and pulling out a bikini. It was the only one that wasn't drying over the edge of the bathtub, but also the most revealing one. Not helpful.

Alex sat up, not bothering to cover himself. You averted your eyes, tugging on your bottoms and beginning to tie the back. He cleared his throat once. "You're...okay, I..." You looked up, and he scratched the back of his neck.

"I'll meet you down there," you offered, brushing your hair behind your ear as a distraction and adjusting your top over your breasts. Cramming your sunglasses on your head, you met his eyes again, saw the confusion swimming in them.

He ran a hand through his hair. "Uh...yeah. Maybe."

You felt a stab of guilt. "Okay." Taking your bag stuffed with sunscreen, a towel, and a book, you padded to the door, only stopping to pick up your shorts from the clothing trail and pull them on. Slipping your feet into your sandals, you slithered out the door like a snake, feeling like one too.

All the way to the pool, your eyes stung with tears, his tone echoing in your head. Depositing your bag on the chair next to you, an automatic habit in case he came down, you drew your knees to your chest, squeezing your eyes shut. There were a million feelings blooming in your chest and they were all foreign.

That scared you.

He'd been a constant in your life forever, truly the one person you could depend on, trust. And you might have just ruined it. The thought brought forth a tear from your eye, and you just let it fall. Nobody else was at the pool, the temporary residents of the motel likely off to town for the evening.

You felt like a fisherman trying to reel in a whale. The sparks you'd always felt with Alex weren't candlelight anymore, they were a fire, and it was consuming you. For so long you'd fought it, hidden away and told yourself you were only imagining it. But the truth was rearing its ugly head, even now causing you to close your eyes as if that would make it disappear.

You couldn't love him. He was your best friend. You couldn't.

Reaching for your book, you opened it to a random page, trying to veer your attentions away from something you desperately wanted to avoid right now. Your vision was blurry, and you could hardly make out the words before you. They may as well have been in Greek.

Everything in your brain had dissipated save for seconds-long memories like a montage of what had happened. Unlocking the door. Pulling off your shirt, laughing at something he said. Going quiet when he saw you topless. Pulling you in. Lips finding yours.

"You're beautiful."

His hands skimmed the line of your panties, thumbs hooking on the edges.

You were bare before him.

So was he. He was beautiful too.

The worst part of all of it was how right it had felt. Your bodies fit like they were made to be pressed together, swelling and flattening in all the right places. His touch ruined every sensation in the world, and you wanted to feel his hands on you over and over, like rolling waves on the tide. Late at night when you were too tired to deny anything about yourself you had wondered...thoughts wandering...how would it feel to touch him that way? To kiss him?

Alex kissed like he'd been craving you, his lips practically devouring yours. He knew just where to touch you, as if you'd done this every day for years. Even though you'd been able to feel how much he wanted you, he'd kept you on his lap, legs on either side of his thighs as he kissed you long and slow and sweet.

Now you knew. But you'd likely paid the price with the person you loved most in the world.

It was sunset. The colors were streaking the sky, some heavenly being's creation to ease mortals into the night. You would have snapped a picture if you hadn't left your phone back in the motel room.

Alex hadn't appeared once since you'd come down, and ever minute without him made you feel worse. This was the longest you'd been apart since the trip had begun, including the plane ride. You always drove to the airport together since it was so far from Linfield, splitting the parking for one car. His head always found your shoulder on the plane ride, your hand clasped with his because he often grew anxious at takeoff.

Already you were mourning the loss of these memories, ones you thought would repeat themselves over and over. This could very well be your last trip together. All because you couldn't rein in your emotions after seeing how he'd looked at you when you were only wearing a bra.

It was a sour ache because he was such a fixture in your life. Alex inhabited every part of you, had worked himself into so many details of your life. He took up a good fifty percent of the pictures in your phone. You'd shopped for all your furniture together when you got your own apartment, and he helped you put it together. So many of the little trinkets in your room were things he'd gotten for you, and even the bikini you were wearing had undergone his approval before you hit purchase. Not that it mattered- whenever you sent him pictures of things, he told you you'd look good in them.

Alex Nilsen's essence was draped over every aspect of you, tangled into your mind and firmly set like a mold around your heart. It was a wonder something like this hadn't happened sooner. A part of you wished it had, because then this wouldn't hurt as much. The other part was happy you got to have every moment with him.

Tears sprung to your eyes again, but you clenched your jaw, not wanting to cry anymore. This is stupid. You haven't even talked to him, one part of your mind insisted. You buried your face in your hands, trying to keep your breathing steady. Working yourself into a panic attack wouldn't help anybody. No, you just ran away at the scene before he could get a word in.

"Hey." You looked up, a strand of hair escaping your sunglasses headband and falling into your eyes. There he was, standing in front of you in his swimsuit and short sleeved shirt unbuttoned. The one you'd sent him a picture of as a joke because it had tiny mermaids dotted all over it, but he'd ended up buying.

Both your phones were held in one hand, and he set them down by your beach bag, sitting at the edge of the chair. "Are you alright?"

Your fingers flew to the ends of your hair, twisting them. "Yeah."

Alex gave a half-smile, his eyes never leaving your face. "Me too."

He understands. You let go of a breath, and finally met his gaze. "I'm sorry I left like that."

A single nod. "I get it." He held out a hand into the space between your chairs, and you met him halfway, clasping his fingers. Even his touch comforted you, easing the sharp feeling that had been cutting slowly at your being for the past while. "I took a walk. Had some time to think about...everything."

You cast your eyes to the ground. "We don't have to play any games. If you want to forget it ever happened..."

"No." When you looked back up at him, he looked surprised. Squeezing your hand, he asked, "Is that what you want?"

"I..." you were speechless. "I just thought..."

"Why did you hook up with me if you just wanted to forget about it?" Alex's words hit you like a punch to the stomach. He let go of your hand, and you felt tears rise to your eyes all over again.

"I didn't...I don't..." you were grasping, trying to find your words. "Alex..." Taking in a shuddering breath, you felt panic begin to constrain you. As you recognized the signs, you turned away, pressing a hand flat to your chest.

He touched your shoulder. "Hey. It's okay...you're okay-" You felt a weight on your chair as he sat beside you, fingers rubbing your skin. "C'mere." You didn't resist, turning into him and hiding your face in his chest. Alex's hand pressed lightly on your back, and you were too tense for his warm touch to cause anything but comfort.

You were flushed with humiliation- in all the time you'd known him you needed less than one hand to count how many times you'd cried in front of him. He let his chin rest on the top of your head, fully engulfing you in him.

"I don't want to forget any part of you," you breathed, voice hitching. One of your cheeks was pressed to his chest, half to skin and half to his shirt, one button digging into your face. He ran his hand up your back once.

His hand was at your lower back, two fingers lingering at the waistband of your shorts, the others splayed out on your skin. Now the sky was a brilliant orange, lighting the sun's glowing path as it sunk into the earth, lighting the day of somebody else. You watched it fall over his shoulder, legs half tangled over his thigh. The sunset shadows were thrown behind you, your silhouettes intertwined in a perfect shape that imprinted on your heart.

Alex waited for you to pull back first, keeping his hands at your waist, just in case. You met his eyes. "I don't want to forget you."

His shoulders slumped, and he removed a hand from your waist to cup your cheek. Rubbing your cheekbone gently, he murmured, "I don't want to forget you either."

You shifted, half-sitting on his lap now, and he touched your thigh, tracing your kneecap with his other hand. "Look...you know me. I wouldn't hook up if there wasn't...if I didn't feel something."

There it was. That scary, indescribable sensation in your chest, that fluttered your heart like a pair of butterfly's wings. Your instinct was to shrink away, but the way he was looking at you nearly sent stars shooting just so you could wish on them.

Reaching for his hand on your knee, you squeezed it. If there had ever been anything you struggled with, it was expressing yourself in words. But he deserved to know. "I feel it too."

Alex's face brightened like a light had gone off inside him, and your heart ached. He was so eager to love you. Exhaling softly, you looked away, focusing on the fringe of your beach towel. "I just don't want to ruin anything."

"Ruin anything?" He turned your cheek so you'd look at him. "How would that ruin anything?"

"Because I love you and I don't want to lose you," you pleaded, hand finding his wrist. "If we do this and it doesn't work out, I don't want us to become strangers. I don't want to see you in a room someday and know everything about you and not be able to talk to you."

It was clear the instant realization dawned on him. Your lower lip trembled just slightly, and you squeezed your eyes shut, a single tear dropping to your thigh. Alex pulled you into him again, smoothing a hand down your hair. You wished he could iron this out the same way.

"We don't have to go there yet." His voice was quiet, subdued. Drawing back to look at you, he tucked a stray strand behind your ear, adjusting the strap of your bikini top. "Just...know that I love you. In every possible way."

The sky was golden as you leaned into him, his arm around your shoulders. You watched the sun fall into the sea, stars beginning to dot the sky like an entity threw a handful of glitter over the dark canvas.

You wrapped your arms around his torso, the salt air hazy around the space. "I love you too."

He pressed his lips to your temple.

Maybe everything would be okay.

[milliesfishes]

alex comforting you while you’re on your period and accidently bled through 😭

⋆౨ৎalex when you get your period⋆౨ৎ fem reader x alex nilsen

Consciousness. The sheets under your smooth legs, blanket pulled up over your waist. Alex's hand was low on your back, one of your legs hooked over his thigh. Even though the two of you always fell asleep close yet separated, you always ended up finding your way back to each other, like lovers in the grave.

You shifted, eyelashes fluttering. There was a tiny pain in your lower belly, a twinge that made you open your eyes as you began to realize its familiarity. Oh no.

Sitting up, ripping the covers back and yanking yourself away, you were horrified to see red staining the spot between your legs, ruining your favorite sleep shorts. There was a splotch of blood stark on the sheets, and even more humiliatingly, on Alex's pajama pants.

You whimpered, tears stinging your eyes. This was hardly the first time you'd bled through overnight, but never had it happened with your sleeping boyfriend right next to you. Dread curdled under your skin as you thought of the work that laid ahead- changing the sheets, washing the blood from your clothes, dealing with another week of bleeding and cramping just because you weren't pregnant.

Alex stirred next to you, his hand finding your thigh before you could dart away to hide in the bathroom. He rubbed his eyes with his fingertips, sitting up with you. "You okay?" He followed your eyes to the red stain on the sheets. "Ah."

Hiding your face in your hands, you dry sobbed, embarrassment flooding your system and burning your cheeks pink. Immediately Alex put his arms around you, rubbing your shoulder and kissing your head. "Honey. It's okay. It's completely okay, you're okay."

"I'm sorry," you whispered, shaking your head. Now that you were conscious, the cramps were coming in full force, stabbing at your insides and causing you to draw your knees to your chest in hopes of some relief.

"No sorrys," Alex murmured, bringing your head to rest on his shoulder. "Shh, it's okay. What'll make you feel better?"

"I want to shower," you managed, gathering the courage to lift your head.

"Okay. Okay, you go shower," he said softly, drawing gentle circles into your back. "I'm gonna get you some breakfast so you can take Ibuprofen okay?" He kissed your hair when you nodded, patting your thigh and standing up, leaving you by yourself.

Retreating to the bathroom, you took a lengthy shower, letting the steam unburden you from the womanly ache that stretched you thin. You let yourself relax, ignoring the sounds outside the door and trying to clear your mind.

Once you were changed into your comfiest leggings and one of Alex's sweatshirts, you emerged, strings of wet hair clinging to your cheeks. Finding your way into the kitchen, Alex turned around almost the instant you passed the doorframe, smiling in his sweet way. "Any better?"

"A little." You lifted one sweatshirt-sleeve covered hand to rub your cheek. "I need to eat something."

"I've gotcha. Go sit down," Alex said, nodding at the couch in the living room. You obeyed, too sleepy to even try to fight back.

He sat beside you shortly after with a bowl of yogurt and berries, Ibuprofen bottle tucked under an arm, corresponding hand holding a steaming mug of tea. You sighed, feeling close to tears again just at how thoughtful he was.

Alex set everything down on the coffee table and let his hand settle on your hip, rubbing slightly. "Do you need anything else?"

You shook your head, reaching for the yogurt. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, baby." Alex kissed your head and stood up, thumb lingering on your cheek. "I'm gonna go change the sheets and then I'll be back."

Your cheeks flushed, and he shook his head, rubbing your jaw. "Don't. It's no big deal. I'll be right back." The casual way he went to take care of something you'd built up to be so embarrassing in your mind was practically heroic to you, and you nearly cried for the third time today.

Alex came back to you in fresh pajama pants just as you were taking your medicine, the bowl of yogurt scraped clean. You gulped down the pills with a mouthful of tea, taking in a breath and bringing a hand to your head. He smiled sympathetically, reaching over to rub your back. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Cuddles," you murmured, turning and reaching for him. He obliged instantly, taking you in his arms and letting you adjust yourself into a comfortable position. Once you were settled, he slid his palm under your sweatshirt, right over your belly. You breathed easy at the feel of him holding you there, the heat of his hand chasing away some of the pain while you waited for the pills to kick in.

He kissed your temple. "I'm sorry you're hurting, baby."

You hummed, half into sleep already. His body was so warm around yours, lulling you into a restful state. The cramps that had been pulsing through your body were softening, his presence and the pills both doing their job.

Alex let his chin rest on your head. "I've got you. Just rest."

[milliesfishes]

⋆౨ৎalex with a girl who has anxiety⋆౨ৎ fem reader x alex nilsen

Tossing your keys into the repurposed ashtray, you hung your purse on the wall hook, slipping shoes off as quietly as possible. It all felt robotic, almost like it was someone else performing these actions. That was always how it felt after doctor's appointments, no matter the type. You had just come from a checkup and your heart was pounding Morse code into your chest that you didn't at all want to translate.

Running a tired hand over your face, you wandered down the hallway, happening on Alex on the living room couch, squinting at his laptop. He'd changed out of what he'd worn to school this morning, now in a t-shirt and grey sweatpants. Upon hearing you, he lifted his eyes from the screen. "Hi baby. I called you, are you-?" Noticing the look on your face, he cut himself off.

Biting the side of your cheek, you shifted on your feet, feeling the color flood your cheeks. Even though he'd assured you a million times that your worrying wasn't something to be embarrassed about, you still felt the twinges of it every time.

Setting his laptop on the coffee table, Alex frowned, reaching out for you. "C'mere. Did everything go okay?"

You flew into his arms, burrowing into his chest. He let out a quiet oomph when you landed unexpectedly on him, but adjusted, rubbing your back. "What happened? Is everything good?"

"Yeah," you murmured muffled into him. "I just...going makes me feel icky."

"Gotcha," Alex said, stroking your hair and letting his hand trail down to your back, rubbing it lightly. He was quiet for a moment before saying, "Do you wanna talk about it?"

You shook your head, and he pressed a kiss to your head. "That's okay. Do you wanna go change? I'll wait right here for you."

Nodding, you stood a little reluctantly, trying to keep your breathing steady. In a haze, you found your way to the bedroom and stripped your clothes away, replacing them with one of Alex's shirts, a soft one from so many times being washed.

He smiled when you reappeared, reaching a hand out. Now his feet were on the couch, legs parted lazily. The space between them was an invitation, and you accepted it. Alex settled you comfortably between his knees, back to his chest. He pressed a hand to your heart, and the firmness of it caused the poor thing to slow down. His presence sobered you from your panic, and you took in a deep breath, feeling like smoke had been cleared from your lungs.

Alex leaned his cheek against your head, letting the quiet stretch and curl around you like a cat. He waited a minute to speak, and when he did, it was a mumble. "My shirt's big on you, huh?"

"Mhm," you hummed, closing your eyes. This was heaven; being safe with him. It was cozy with your head resting on his chest, him half-slouched, half lying down with one hand on your chest, the other splayed on your belly.

"Do you wanna order in tonight?" he asked casually, drawing delicate circles into your hip.

"Yeah." You smiled finally. Even without talking about it, he knew what you needed. Food and cuddles were the best medicine to worrisome events for you, and he was always happy to provide them in tenfold.

Alex pulled out his phone, propping it on your stomach and looking up the name of your favorite restaurant with his chin on your head. He held the screen still while you tapped out your order, then added his share, kissing your head while pressing the confirm button. "Thirty minutes," he announced, even though you could see it.

You turned in his arms so that your stomachs were pressed together, snuggling right into him. Alex smiled fondly, smoothing your hair behind your shoulders. "That means thirty minutes of cuddles."

The peaceful feeling clouding your senses was becoming dormant, and you nodded into him. "And more after."

He'd reached over to his laptop without letting go of you, typing a streaming service into the search bar with one hand and pulling up one of your favorite movies. Burying his nose into your hair, he nudged his lips against it. "Lots more after."