merrybloomwrites

[merrybloomwrites]

I’m really enjoy it too! I think it’s definitely different from what I’ve read before and it’s intriguing! I’m wondering who will break first when it comes to showing her affection? Will an angsty event make them comfort her or will she initiate it? Very excited!

I’m so glad you’re enjoying it! I love how my most common feedback is “different from what I’ve read before” haha I get that comment a lot and it genuinely makes me happy to write something that hasn’t really been done much

I’m also wondering those same questions haha I have ideas but nothing is 100% set in stone. Kind of letting the characters do what feels right in the moment as I go

[merrybloomwrites]

I’m loving this new series! I wonder if the boys will ever feel possessive about the omega reader 👀

Thank you so much for this message! I haven’t really gotten any feedback on this story so it makes me so happy to see that you’re loving it!

As for if they’ll feel possessive, let’s just say they’re being stubborn for now, but eventually they’ll get their heads out of their butts and things will start to change

Let’s be honest, I can never write angst for too long. I’m too much of a sucker for the cute stuff

[merrybloomwrites]

When The Wolves Come Out (Chapter 3)

Story Summary: When Y/N gets hired to play drums for One Direction, the last thing she expects is to find herself as part of their pack. Especially since it seems that they don’t want her there. Only time will tell if they’ll accept her, or if the omega will have to deal with rejection from the others.

Chapter Summary: Throughout rehearsals and the start of tour, the boys continue to keep their distance from Y/N, leading to her developing touch deprivation.

Previous chapters: One , Two

Word Count: 1.9K

Tags/CW: omega verse, omega reader, alpha Harry, alpha Zayn, alpha Louis, beta Niall, beta Liam, poly, cat calling, touch deprivation

AN: Normally I write longer chapters (like 3k-6K words) but I’m enjoying these shorter quicker chapters for this series. Feels like it works better, plus there’s less waiting time between posting, which I know I enjoy as a reader haha

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The beeping of your alarm slowly wakes you up, and you get ready hoping that today will be better than yesterday. It’s your first official rehearsal with the band, and you hope to win over the others by being able to show off your skill. If yesterday's meeting is anything to go by, you won’t be winning them over by your charming personality. Not when they’re apparently so determined to not let anyone get close to them. 

Just before leaving you pick up your bottle of scent neutralizers, about to methodically put them on before remembering the rules Simon had for you. He told you not to wear blockers, that they should always be able to pick up on your floral omega scent. You don’t really like this, as it makes you feel vulnerable, especially in a city you’re unfamiliar with, but you follow the rule anyway. 

The rehearsal space is a bit farther than the offices were, so you leave early to make sure you give yourself enough time to walk there. A wrong turn takes you down an alley that leads to a side street. Checking your map app shows this will get you where you need to be, so you follow it rather than turning around. 

The main street had been loud and filled with people, most probably on their morning commute. But this way is quiet, practically deserted. You nearly jump out of your skin when a voice shouts out, “Hey pretty thing!”

Turning around you see a man behind you. You can get just a whiff of his scent but it’s enough to know he’s an alpha. Internally cursing yourself for taking a back road, you start walking faster. 

The footsteps behind you grow louder, and you know that the man has picked up his pace to get closer to you. Now panicking, you start jogging down the road. You just need to get to the end of the street so you can turn back to the busier part of the city and you’ll be safe. 

Just as you get there he seems to admit defeat, and angrily shouts out, “You shouldn’t be wandering all alone with a sweet scent like that!” 

Doing your best to ignore that comment, you finish your walk and arrive at the rehearsal space. You try to compose yourself, but you’re still shaky, and you know your scent has probably turned a bit sour from the fear you’d just been feeling. 

After taking some deep breaths you walk into the room. Niall, Louis, Harry, Zayn, and Liam are all there, and they turn to look at you. After quick good mornings they go back to what they’d been doing. Not wanting to bother anyone, you head to the drums and take out the music you’d been sent. 

As you flip through the pages, you sense eyes on you. Looking up you see Louis staring your way, his eyes calculating, even a little bit worried. Like he can sense something is wrong. Maybe he does have some alpha instincts in him. But instead of coming over to check if you’re okay, he simply shrugs and goes to talk with Niall. 

Finally the rest of the band and the music director arrive and it’s time to actually get to work. It’s a bit chaotic at first, but it doesn’t take long for everyone to click. By the time you break for lunch, any negative feelings have gone away, replaced now by excitement. 

You grab food and sit at one of the tables, soon being joined by the boys. At first you think this is an improvement in your friendship with them. But then they start talking among themselves, barely acknowledging that you’re there. 

Rehearsals last a few more hours, and everyone’s ready to head home by the time you’re dismissed. As you head outside you’re surprised by Zayn saying, “Good work today.”

“Yea, you’re really talented,” Harry adds. 

“Glad you’re on the team,” Louis then says before all five of them get into their car. 

While walking home you think about that interaction. The words were nice, even if they seemed almost reluctant to say them. Sighing to yourself, you accept that for now, you’re looking at an amicable working relationship at best. 

You just hope Simon can accept that as well. 

Weeks pass in a flurry of planning, rehearsing, fittings, and numerous meetings to make sure everything is ready for the upcoming tour. 

A few days before setting out, Louis gets called in to meet with Simon once again. 

“Y/N will be joining you on your bus,” he states with no preamble. 

“Excuse me?” Louis says, shocked by this news. 

“She’s an omega. She’ll need to be close to alphas while touring.”

“She’s an omega. What if she slips into heat? Or one of us goes into rut? It’s not safe!”

“You know that won’t happen,” Simon answers. “You’re all on the best suppressants, not a chance you’ll fall into a cycle unexpectedly. You just don't want her around, and to be honest, I'm disappointed in you boys. You’ve rejected her since she got here, pushed her away, ostracized her.”

“We didn’t ask for her to be here. She’s a great drummer, and we respect her as a musician. But as we said before, she isn’t going to just push her way into our pack.”

“And as I’ve said before, you cannot be a pack without her. She will be on your bus. Maybe the time together will open your mind.”

Louis leaves that day feeling frustrated, like his words don’t matter. He gets home and shares the news with the rest. 

“I don’t like this,” Zayn says. 

“Seems like a bad idea,” Harry agrees. 

“What if having her around triggers one of your ruts?” Liam asks nervously. 

“I said that to Simon, he said it won’t happen cause of our meds,” Louis replies, clearly still agitated from the meeting. Niall moves close to him, tucking to the alphas side in an attempt to comfort and calm him. It helps, but Louis suddenly thinks that it might be nice to have the true calming pheromones of an omega when he’s upset. 

He shakes away the thought a moment later and instead enjoys a night with his pack. 

He manages to put the news of their bus mate out of his mind for the following days, but as they load up to get on the road there’s no denying it. 

“D’ya think you could wear some scent blockers?” Louis asks you the first night. 

“Not allowed,” you reply curtly. 

“What do you mean not allowed?” Harry asks. 

“I mean that Simon told me I can’t wear them. It’s one of my rules.”

“He’s such a wanker,” you hear Zayn say under his breath. 

Not wanting to cause any problems, you get into your bunk and try to sleep. Even with all the stress you’re feeling, the familiar lull of the bus driving down the highway helps you fall asleep in minutes. 

The next morning is tense, and you can feel the boys' annoyance at your presence. The logical human part of you knows it must be difficult to have someone new, especially someone with a strong scent, invade their bus. The omega part of you is less understanding. It’s on edge, upset at the rejection of the others. 

Luckily you arrive at the first venue, and you no longer have to worry about your dynamic with the others. Now it’s time to just worry about your job, about putting on a perfect show for the fans. 

And that’s just what all of you do. Opening night is a success, and everyone heads back to the bus on a high. You’re even invited to hang with them in the lounge as everyone comes down from the adrenaline of performing. 

For a little while, everything feels right. But then it shifts once more and you find yourself being pushed out of the conversation again. Not only that, but you watch as the boys huddle closer together. Liam rests his head on Louis’ chest, and Niall finds himself sandwiched between Zayn and Harry. The betas look perfectly content, and your omega cries out for that kind of affection. 

Not wanting to broadcast your feelings to the others, you rush out a good night and head to your bunk. You spray scent neutralizers on the curtain that separates you from the rest of the bus, hoping it will block your scent from getting out. 

More than that, you don’t want the boys knowing about the scented clothes from your former pack mates. You still have a couple from both Kevin and Joe, and you pull out one shirt from each of them. You place them by your pillow so their scent will be close to you. It’s a sad imitation of a nest, but it’s the best you can do. 

As weeks pass you start feeling drained. You write it off as exhaustion from the constant work and travel. But then you start to get shaky, cold, itchy, not to mention the headaches that seem to get worse daily. 

The European leg of tour ends, and you all spend a few weeks in South America for a run of shows there. After the first few days you finally admit that you’re experiencing touch deprivation. It shocks you, since you’re constantly surrounded by alphas. Their scents around you should be enough to keep this all at bay. 

But their constant rejection of you must be distressing your omega more than you’d realized. It’s never that they did anything major. They were never mean, or rude. They included you at mealtimes, would check in and see how you were doing. But it was always them just being polite. 

You’d also learned the dynamic between the five of them was deeper than you originally thought. On numerous occasions you’d walked in on them being physically intimate with each other. You’d seen duos, trios, even walked in on all five of them on the floor together sharing kisses. 

Even though you hadn’t expected that, it didn’t bother you. Part of you was happy for them, glad they had one another, and that they all seemed to have a healthy relationship. 

The part that did bother you was the jealousy you felt. You wanted that type of intimacy as well. Every time you watched the alphas dote on Niall or Liam, you’d feel another pang of jealousy rip through you. It’s not like you were looking for a relationship, but seeing how happy they were, it felt like they were rubbing it in your face. 

Plus the pheromones. They were overwhelming. Especially whenever the boys would get intimate. That always led to you hiding in your bunk and breaking the no scent blockers rule. Anything to prevent the others from picking up on the sweet smell of your slick. 

As the symptoms of touch deprivation worsen, you count down the days until your first US show. It’s at MetLife Stadium, and you consider it your hometown show. Your family and previous pack members will be there to support you. If you can just make it to New Jersey, you can spend time with Kevin and Joe. Hopefully being around the alphas will help with the depri. 

And hopefully your bandmates will accept you as one of their own before it’s too late.

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AN: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! The next one should see the dynamic between reader and the band starting to shift, which I’m excited for!

[merrybloomwrites]

When The Wolves Come Out (Chapter 2)

Story Summary: When Y/N gets hired to play drums for One Direction, the last thing she expects is to find herself as part of their pack. Especially since it seems that they don’t want her there. Only time will tell if they’ll accept her, or if the omega will have to deal with rejection from the others.

Chapter Summary: Y/N heads to London to start her new job, and receives a less than warm welcome.

Previous chapters: One

Word Count: 1.8K

Tags/CW: omega verse, omega reader, alpha Harry, alpha Zayn, alpha Louis, beta Niall, beta Liam, poly, scenting, Simon Cowell (is this just a tag, or a warning?) , Jonas Brothers

AN: Two chapters in two days? Insane. Honestly I started this weeks ago, got stuck, then wrote a bit making fun of Newark Airport and that got me back in it. Probably going to be longer before chapter 3 is up, but hopefully not too long!

These first 2 chapters are kind of background/exposition, the next chapter should have a lot more interaction between reader and the others!

Enjoy!

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You check your packing list one last time, ensuring that you have everything you need in order to fly out to London.

It’s weird, knowing that in just a few hours you’ll be on a red eye flight by yourself to travel to Europe for a new job. Traveling isn’t new to you, but you’ve always been with your pack.

Growing up next door to the Jonas family had shaped your life in ways your parents never would have expected. First, your two families had merged to form one pack together, essentially giving you brothers when you were an only child.

Kevin, Joe, and Nick had always loved music. And hearing them play it constantly got you involved as well. Which is why you had picked up drumsticks as a child and never put them down.

Your life was exciting, so different from all of your peers. You were only a child when you all started touring. It was little places at first: malls, parks, high schools. And then the venues got bigger, as did the crowds.

And then it all came crashing down. You don’t blame Nick for breaking up the band, not really. He was a kid when it started, and you could see he was completely burnt out. But you still would’ve appreciated some warning first.

Luckily it didn’t take too long for you to get a new job. Surprisingly, it had practically fallen in your lap. Word that you were available had apparently made its way through the music-world grapevine, all the way back to those in charge of hiring band members for One Direction.

Accepting the offer had been a no-brainer. It was only after you’d signed the contract that you paused to wonder what you’d gotten yourself into. Looking at the history, you’re the first girl to ever be in their band. And you can’t see a record of there ever being an omega either. Of course, they could have lied to hide it, but based on the way the music industry works, you’re pretty sure what you see is the truth.

You admit that your situation is unique, and that if you hadn’t been family, and pack with the Jonas Brothers, you probably never would have made it in the music world. People just don’t hire omegas, and that was that.

But for some reason, you now get to prove yourself even more. You hope that by going out there and succeeding in this, you can at least start changing how omegas are viewed.

Before you can get lost in your spiral of thoughts, your mom pops into your room.

“Kevin is here,” she says.

“Ok, can you send him up please?” You ask.

“Will do,” she replies.

You take a deep breath, steeling yourself to say goodbye to one of your closest friends. You’d already seen Nick and Joe, and that had been hard enough.

“Hey kid,” Kevin says as he walks in, bringing his calming scent with him. He sits next to you on the bed, and you’re both quiet for a moment.

“How are you feeling?” He asks.

“Anxious. Excited. Little scared, little happy.”

“So just everything at once,” he sums up.

“Pretty much,” you reply.

“You’re going to do amazing, you know that, right?”

You turn to look at him, and you’re suddenly hit with overwhelming emotions. Sensing the distress in your scent, he holds you close, subtly scenting you. He technically shouldn’t, not now that your pack has broken up, but he can’t help it. Not after being an alpha in your life for years.

“You really think that?” You ask once you’ve gotten your emotions under control.

“Of course I do. You’re incredibly talented. And so smart. And a little bit mischievous, which used to drive me crazy, but I think it gives you the edge you need to survive in this industry. And I for one, cannot wait to see you shine on this tour.”

“Thank you,” you say as you turn to give him a hug, the embrace telling him all the words you can’t say.

“I brought you some scented clothes, just in case,” he says as you pull away. “Did Joe give you any?”

“Yea, he gave me a bag with some stuff yesterday.”

“Ok, good. I mentioned it, but I wasn’t sure he’d remember.”

“He did. And Nick gave me a stuffed animal to bring. Said even if he can’t scent things, he still wanted me to have something from him.”

“We’re all going to miss you,” Kevin says.

“I’m going to miss you too,” you reply.

“I should let you finish packing, your mom said you’re heading out soon.”

“Yea, about an hour till we need to leave.”

“Hey, have fun at Newark!”

“Oh, so fun, my favorite airport in the world,” you reply with an eye roll.

“Make sure you tuck and roll at drop off, cause god forbid the car come to a complete stop.”

“I can’t believe how many times we’ve been yelled at by those security guards for simply existing there.”

Kevin smiles and is quiet for another moment before saying, “Be safe, omega. And if you need anything, you call me. Doesn’t matter what it is or where you are.”

“I will.”

He pulls you in for another hug and you say your final goodbyes.

Once he’s gone you check that everything is packed, and before you know it you’re heading to the airport.

You’d washed off traces of Kevin’s scent, and sprayed on neutralizers to cover your own. You’re not exactly famous, but you’ve gained a decent following in the past years. If you get spotted in public while smelling like an alpha it could raise questions and lead to speculation. So while you hated washing away Kevin’s comforting scent, you know it’s for the best.

When you get there you say goodbye to your parents and head inside. It’s a surprisingly smooth travel experience, and before you know it, you’re landing in England. You head to the hotel to settle in, since your first meeting isn’t until the morning.

It’s tough waking up the next day, not yet used to the time change. But you’re excited to meet everyone and start this new adventure so you hurry to get ready.

Your first meeting is with Simon, the boss man, head honcho, and truthfully, you’re terrified. Part of you wishes you could put this off, but another part of you is happy to be getting it over with.

The hotel is in walking distance, and you’re grateful for the fresh air and exercise to help you center yourself before the day ahead.

You get to the building and show your ID to security. After confirming that you’re supposed to be there, you’re given a pass as well as directions on where to go.

One quick elevator ride and you find yourself in a well decorated lobby.

“Hello, welcome to Syco, I’m Amelia. You must be Y/N,” the receptionist says. “Mr. Cowell is finishing a phone call and then you’ll be able to go in. Do you need anything while you wait?”

“I’m fine, thank you,” you reply. She gestures to the chairs and you follow the unspoken direction, taking a seat on the edge of a chair.

Luckily it’s not too long of a wait, and a few minutes later Amelia is leading you down the hall. Before you know it, you’re sitting face to face with Simon Cowell.

He’s intimidating, but charismatic, and you get more comfortable as the meeting progresses. It’s mostly administrative information, schedules, rules, expectations. It’s going well, and you begin to wonder why you were so worried in the first place.

And then he says, “Now, let’s talk about your status.”

“My status?” You ask, confused.

“Yes. Your omega status. As I’m sure you know, we’ve never had an omega touring before. And I’m sure you also know Louis, Harry, and Zayn are all alphas.”

“Oh. Right, of course. I promise that my focus is on the job and the music, not on trying to find myself an alpha. I’ll be completely professional around them.”

“Actually, I’m looking for the opposite. It will be good for the boys to have an omega around. I want you spending time with them, being seen with them in public.”

With this new information you try your best to maintain a poker face. Is that why you’d gotten the job? To act as omega for them? To get them more publicity or some crap like that?

You should have seen it coming.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he says. “And no, we didn’t just hire you for this. You’re talented and experienced. But you being an omega is a perk. These boys have been by themselves for too long. I worry that they’re losing some of their instincts, never being around omegas. I’m just looking out for them. Do you understand?”

“I do.”

“I’m sure in your position you’re inclined to suppress your omega side. That’s what society tells you to do. But that’s not what I want you to do. Don’t hide it, embrace it. Now, let’s go meet the others,” Simon concludes.

So that’s how it will be. Simon dictates, and everyone listens, no discussion. Somewhat disappointing, but not entirely surprising. He stands, so you do too. You follow him out of the room and down the hallway to a conference room.

Opening the door, he announces “I’d like you all to meet your new drummer.”

You take a deep breath before entering the room. When you do, the five boys stand, and one by one they introduce themselves. They’re polite, but appear very reserved. You sense some hostility even, and it makes the hair on the back of your neck raise, a clear sign of your inner omegas anxiety.

The alphas shift uncomfortably, and even with your scent blockers, you know that they can sense your negative feelings. Clearly they can tell you’re distressed, but rather than doing anything to fix it, they all sit back at the table, putting distance between you and them. You sit as well, and Simon stands at the head of the table.

“A reminder boys, that you are expected to be welcoming to everyone on our team. Now, prep for tour begins tomorrow. I expect all of you at the rehearsal space at 8am. You’re dismissed.”

The others stand immediately, and as they leave you hear Louis say something about getting back home. It makes you feel like an outsider, like you’re trying to infiltrate somewhere you don’t belong.

As you stand to leave, Simon stops you and says, “See what I mean? They’re closed off, sticking amongst themselves. They don’t have any instincts when it comes to omegas. I’m worried about them.”

You study him for a moment, unsure of his sincerity. Part of you wants to leave, say no to being used this way. But you know this is too good of an opportunity to pass up.

So instead of quitting, you say, “I’ll do my best to help them.”

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AN: Thank you for reading! Please lmk if you’d like to be on the tag list!

[merrybloomwrites]

When the Wolves Come Out (Chapter 1)

Story Summary: When Y/N gets hired to play drums for One Direction, the last thing she expects is to find herself as part of their pack. Especially since it seems that they don’t want her there. Only time will tell if they’ll accept her, or if the omega will have to deal with rejection from the others.

Chapter Summary: The boys find out about their new band member.

Word Count: 1.8K

Tags/CW: omega verse, omega reader, alpha Harry, alpha Zayn, alpha Louis, beta Niall, beta Liam, poly

AN: So excited to finally start sharing this! I’ve had this planned for easily a year now, and it’s taking me some time to write because I really want to get it right. Since I don’t have a schedule for this I’m going to do a tag list so that people will be notified when a new chapter goes up. If you’d like to be on that please comment or send me a message.

I hope you enjoy!

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“So, what do we think this meeting is about?” Niall asks anxiously.

He, Harry, Louis, Zayn, and Liam are together at their home in London eating breakfast and discussing the day ahead. A last minute meeting had been put on the schedule for later that morning. It has them all a bit on edge, since technically they’re on break for another week before tour rehearsal starts.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Zayn reassures. As the alphas of the band, Zayn, Louis, and Harry are always making sure to look after the betas, Niall and Liam. It’s in their nature to protect others, especially omegas, but with no omegas around, those feelings are transferred to the betas.

“They might just be going over the schedule for the upcoming weeks,” Louis says.

“I know they’ve hired a few new people for the team,” Harry adds. “This could be to introduce everyone so we’re all comfortable before we really get into planning for the tour.”

“Makes sense,” Liam replies, seemingly unworried, but Zayn places a gentle hand on his shoulder anyway. Liam is used to this, the casual affection from the others, as he understands their need to care for those around them. It did feel a little overbearing to him and Niall at first, but now over three years in, they’ve grown to love the attention.

“Everyone be ready by ten,” Louis says as he gets up to bring his plate to the sink. They all finish breakfast and go their separate ways to get dressed. The alphas take an extra minute to properly put on their scent blockers, knowing that they’re not supposed to broadcast their scents whenever they have meetings.

It’s one of those things they didn’t question at first, but now find a bit annoying, and honestly somewhat of a hypocritical rule. Simon, and the other alphas on their team don’t have to hide their scents, but the band members do. Louis tries not to think so cynically, but he can’t help but feel like this rule is there to keep them in place, ensuring that he, Zayn, and Harry can’t be seen on the same level as the other alphas.

Pushing these thoughts aside, Louis heads down to the entrance, putting on his shoes as he waits for the others. He receives a text that their car will be arriving soon, and shouts a five minute warning through the house.

As the eldest in the group, Louis had become the official leader. It hadn’t started that way, though. Liam had the most leadership qualities and naturally filled the role. But due to his status, others outside the band wouldn’t listen to him. He always says it doesn’t bother him, and that he was relieved to not be in charge, but his friends were still a bit angry on his behalf.

“That’s just how society is,” Liam had said.

“It shouldn’t be that way,” Harry had replied.

“But it is. Maybe it will change someday, but for now, I’m okay with it,” Liam had stated, ending the conversation.

From then, Louis had been the point person. If they were an official pack, he’d be their pack alpha. But they weren’t one. They weren’t allowed to be one. They couldn’t be a true pack, not without a female, and especially, not without an omega. They would always be seen as incomplete.

And therefore, management had forbidden them from bonding. It had been a huge debate the previous year, when the five boys had realized that they were already bonded for life, and wanted to make it official. It was then that they were told if they tried, they would be dropped from their management team and from their label. They would never be able to make music again.

So they’ve put off the topic of becoming an official pack. For now.

The five of them pile into the van when it arrives, and it’s a short trip.

“Head up to Simon’s office,” the receptionist says. “He’s waiting for you.”

And that’s a surprise to all of them. Rarely do they actually meet with Simon. The few meetings they do have with him often end in lectures or new rules. It’s not normally good news.

The five of them get in the elevator, and Harry can feel the anxiety radiating off of Niall. He places a calming hand to the back of his neck, a gesture of protection, and Zayn does the same for Liam.

Arriving at the office door, Louis knocks, standing tall and doing his best to channel his authority as pack alpha.

“Come in,” they hear Simon call out, and they do as they’re told.

“Have a seat,” Simon directs without so much as a hello.

Simon is behind his desk, five chairs set up facing him, as though they’re a group of students in the principal's office. Still, they listen, Harry and Zayn taking the outside seats, Louis in the middle, and the betas sandwiched between the alphas.

“Thank you for coming this morning,” Simon says, as though the boys had any choice. “I know you’re still on break, but I have some news to share with you.”

All five of them are on edge waiting to hear what this could be, their minds making up dozens of scenarios in an instant.

“As you know, Danny will no longer be touring with us. So we’ve found a new drummer.”

And that’s, well, anticlimactic. For a Simon meeting that’s barely news. They knew they were getting a couple new band members, at least one person changes every time they tour, but it’s never been taken so seriously.

Louis senses the others relax around him but he stays on alert, figuring there has to be a catch.

“Who is he?” Louis asks.

“She,” Simon states. “Thought you had an open mind,” he adds.

“I do,” Louis retorts. “You’re the one who has always insisted the band is all boys.”

“Well maybe I’ve decided it’s time to branch out. Her name is Y/N Y/L/N.”

“Wait, isn’t she the drummer for the Jonas Brothers?” Harry asks.

“She was. But they broke up, or are on a break, I don’t really know. All I know is we needed a drummer and she needed a job. Apparently she grew up with them and has been playing drums since she was a child. She’s skilled, talented. Plus she’s toured with a major boy band before so she knows what she’s getting into.”

“And she’s an omega.” Harry states.

This really catches the attention of the other four. The fact that this new hire is a girl was shocking enough, but also an omega? There has never been an omega in the band, not even part of the touring crew. Management had never allowed it, said that it was no lifestyle for them, that the constant stress of traveling would be too draining. Plus, omegas can’t be away from their mate or their pack for long, or it would lead to touch deprivation, causing them to be physically sick.

“She’s used to this lifestyle, I have no worries that she won’t be able to handle it,” Simon replies.

“Will her alpha be traveling with her then?” Louis asks.

“She doesn’t have one. She was a part of the Jonas pack but that’s, well, saying it’s in shambles seems a bit mean. Doesn’t mean it isn’t true though. So she’s very much a free agent at this time.”

“I know you said she’s used to touring,” Niall says, “but she’s used to touring with her pack. Pretty sure both Kevin and Joe are alphas, and if she grew up with them then they could provide her the touch and comfort she needs. She won’t have that here.”

“Why won’t she?” Simon asks.

Silence falls in the room as they all try to figure out what he means.

“Wait. Us?” Zayn finally asks, causing the rest to look at him in confusion.

It clicks for Louis and he says, “No way! This is our pack. The five of us. We’re not adding some random omega girl to our pack just because you want us to.”

“She’s a good fit for the band, and she’ll need you boys-”

“Don’t pretend you’re doing this for her,” Zayn says.

“This is just a convenient way for you to sneak her into our pack and get the public image you’ve always wanted for us,” Harry adds.

“You are not a pack!” Simon shouts. “The five of you will never be a pack.”

“Because you won’t allow it,” Louis says.

“Because society won’t allow it! This isn’t my rule and you know it. This is the way it is. No pack is considered complete in the eyes of the law without at least one omega.”

The boys are silent once again, knowing it’s true but not wanting to admit it.

“She will be here next week. You will be welcoming. Kind. We’re done here. Louis, please keep an eye on your email for your rehearsal schedule.”

Knowing they’ve clearly been dismissed, the five of them head back to the car. They’re tense on the drive home, no one sure what to say, each processing the news.

They spend the afternoon separately, everyone off doing their own thing. It isn’t until they sit down together for dinner that they bring up the meeting.

“How is everyone feeling?” Louis asks.

“Annoyed,” Zayn states.

“Elaborate?”

“I’m annoyed that he’s trying to make this decision for us. I don’t mind her being in the band but he can’t make changes to our pack.”

“I agree with Z,” Liam says. “It’s our pack, not his. He has no right telling us what to do.”

“And who is this chick anyway?” Niall asks.

“An incredibly talented drummer,” Harry replies.

“Doesn’t mean she can just come and force her way into our pack,” Niall says.

“We don't know that that's her intention,” Louis says.

“We don’t know that it isn’t,” Zayn argues.

“Nothings going to change, right?” Niall asks meekly.

The alphas look between Niall and Liam, and notice that both of them seem nervous. They understand their worries, that if an omega joins their pack then the alphas attention will turn to her.

“Nothing will change,” Harry says.

“No matter what, you will always have us,” Louis confirms.

Seeming reassured, Niall and Liam relax, though that doesn’t stop the alphas from releasing calming pheromones.

“We’ve still got another week before she gets here. Let’s just enjoy that and then we’ll take it from there,” Zayn says.

Everyone agrees, and they finish the rest of dinner in peace.

That night they all end up in Louis bed together, cuddling and basking in each other's presence. And if they do that everyday for the rest of the week, well, no one has to know.

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AN: Thank you for reading! Please comment or message me if you want to be on the tag list! I’m looking forward to sharing this story with you all!

[merrybloomwrites]

Changed my mind about scheduling

I’m going back to posting what I feel like, when I feel like haha

I go through phases where I want to be super organized and have weeks worth of posts ready to go, and then phases where I just want to randomly upload when it feels right.

Currently, I’m in a randomly upload mood. So Chapter 1 of my new 1D x reader story will be posted later today. I’ll also be doing a tag list for that so people get notified when I upload since it won’t be at a set time like my last series was

[merrybloomwrites]

All You Will Get From Me Is My Support

Summary: Giles comforts Anya after an attack at the Magic Box.

Word Count: 1.5K

CW: talks of violence, blood and injuries, attempted kidnapping

AN: Recently rewatched all of Buffy and was reminded how much I love both Anya and Giles, and how much I enjoy their dynamic. I also realized how little comfort Anya is given, and decided to fix that with a fic! Title is a Giles quote from the episode “Innocence”.

I really enjoyed writing for a new fandom, and it definitely helped me get past a bit of writers block. Also I did this completely on mobile (actually I hand wrote and then typed on my phone) so I apologize for any errors! I’m sure I’ll go through it again later and find and fix anything

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In the months following Glory’s downfall and Buffy’s sacrifice, Giles spends many nights alone in his quiet condo. The scotch that kept him company didn’t worry him. Not at first when it was just a glass or two every few days.

But when he finds that he can’t remember the last day he spent totally sober, he knows he needs to make a change. His home is where he’s most likely to drink, so he tries to spend less time there, especially at night when the temptation is most intense.

He goes for walks, sometimes wandering until he’s dragging his feet from exhaustion. Other times he patrols, his grief and anger helping him take out vampires and demons.

Occasionally he’ll drive to the Magic Box. He gets lost in the tedium of cleaning, or doing inventory, or rechecking paperwork to make sure everything is in order.

Deciding that he isn’t up for a walk or a fight tonight, Giles gets in his car and heads over to the shop.

As soon as he arrives he can tell something is wrong. The door is open and the lights are on. He steps inside and gasps at the scene in front of him. Tables are overturned, books are scattered, and various items are shattered on the floor.

Giles walks behind the counter and sees that the cash register is open and empty. Scanning the room once more, he concludes this must have been just a normal burglary.

But then he notices blood on the floor. Moments later, his eyes land on two familiar objects that make his blood run cold.

Anya’s purse and coat.

Anya was here when this happened. Giles hopes that maybe she saw them coming and fled, leaving her belongings behind in her rush to escape.

But the blood. That's a sign of a struggle. And Giles can’t shake the feeling that Anya has been harmed. Thinking that she might be hiding somewhere in the shop, he calls out for her.

“Anya! Are you here? It’s just me now,” he says, but he gets no answer. He quickly checks the basement and back room, but there’s no sign of her.

Giles doesn’t know what to do. Xander is away for a work training, Tara and Willow are out of town on a couple’s getaway, leaving Spike to watch Dawn.

It’s up to Giles to find Anya.

He decides to start with her apartment. It’s an optimistic thought, but he has to start somewhere. Grabbing her belongings, he gets back to his car and heads for her home, making it there in record time.

After parking his car, he looks at the unit he knows belongs to Anya and Xander. He sees movement through the window, and is cautiously relieved. He can’t tell who is in the apartment, or if they’re alone, but he hopes that he’s found her.

He heads into the building, goes straight upstairs, and knocks on the door. The shuffling noises he heard suddenly stop, and he tentatively says, “Anya, is that you? It’s Giles.”

Silence continues for another long minute and then finally the door opens. Just like before, Giles gasps at what’s revealed to him. Anya stands there, visibly shaking, her skin covered in cuts and quickly forming bruises.

“May I come in?” he asks, not wanting to force himself into her space.

She nods, just a swift jerk of her head as she steps away from the door. Giles enters the apartment, turning to close and lock the door. With his back to the room, he takes a deep breath and controls his emotions so he can properly handle the situation.

“Do you have a first aid kit?” he asks. Best to start with that before diving into what happened.

“In the kitchen,” she replies. “Cabinet under the sink.”

Anya starts walking to the kitchen so Giles says, “You sit. I’ll grab it.” He locates the kit and heads back to the living room, only to find Anya still standing, now reaching out for it.

He doesn’t hand it over, leading Anya to ask, “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to check your injuries,” he states. “Is that alright?”

“Oh,” she says, seeming hesitant. “Yes, I guess that’s alright.”

The two of them move and sit awkwardly next to each other on the couch. Giles rifles through the box to find the supplies he’ll need. Once he’s ready he turns back to Anya, only to find her already watching him warily.

It’s strange to see her quiet and reserved when she’s normally so extroverted. And then it hits Giles that she seems to be genuinely scared of him.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he says softly.

Anya’s expression doesn’t change, but a moment later a tear runs down her cheek. Slowly, carefully, Giles reaches out and wipes it away. At the touch, she gasps in a shaky breath.

“It was awful,” she whispers.

“What happened?” Giles asks, his voice just as quiet.

“I was closing up like normal. And then these four guys ran into the store. They demanded I give them what was in the cash register. You know how much I love the money, I would never give it away. But there were so many of them. And they had weapons, I didn’t have a choice,” she explains.

“I understand,” Giles replies. “You did the right thing.”

“You’re not mad?”

“Of course not. I don’t care about the money. Anya, I care about you.”

“Why?” she asks, seeming truly confused by this.

“First of all, you;re my business partner. But most importantly, you’re my friend.”

“I am?”

“You are,” he answers with a kind smile. “I know we didn’t start that way, but I’ve grown rather fond of you over the years. You’ve changed in many positive ways. Become someone I can trust.”

Not knowing how to reply, Anya reaches out to squeeze his hand and gives him a shy smile, hoping the gesture will communicate how grateful she is.

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” Giles says.

Carefully, he wipes away all of the blood and bandages the worst cuts. When that’s done, he checks her over once more to see if he missed any injuries. There’s bruising, but none of it looks too bad.

One spot on her arm catches his eye. A series of bruises that he studies for a moment before realizing what it looks like. His stomach churns as he can now clearly see where one of those animals had grinned her arm so hard that it left behind marks in the shape of his hand.

“Anya,” Giles says, his voice full of hesitation. He knows he has to ask this next question but he is afraid of the answer. “If they wanted money and you gave it to them willingly, why was there a fight? Why did they hurt you?”

Another heavy silence falls on the room. Giles doesn’t rush her, even though the suspense is killing him.

Anya takes a deep breath and explains, “After they took the money, they said they wanted me too. I don’t know why exactly, but with over one thousand years as a vengeance demon I have some guesses of what they’d do. They overpowered me. They would have taken me. But I saw a talisman and used that to cast a protection spell. I’m a little out of practice so it kind of went crazy, hit a lot of the merchandise. I’m sorry for the damage.”

“Never again apologize for doing what you needed in order to save yourself. Things can be replaced. You cannot. I’m so sorry that this happened to you. And I am so proud and impressed by how strong and resourceful you were. I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’re safe.”

Tears well in Anya’s eyes so she stands and looks out the window so Giles doesn’t see.

“Xander won’t be home until tomorrow,” she says suddenly. “I don’t, uhm. Could you maybe stay? So I’m not alone?”

It breaks Giles’ heart, seeing her so vulnerable and unsure. “Of course I’ll stay,” he replies.

“I’ll grab some blankets,” she says and walks into the other room. When she comes back Giles rises and takes the stack from her, leaning down and setting it on the couch.

As he stands straight he’s nearly knocked over by the force of Anya hugging him. It’s not the first time he’s been surprised by a sudden embrace from her, but it is the first time where he doesn’t hesitate to hug her back. As he continues to hold her, the fear and panic from earlier washes away, and a new feeling of fondness takes its place.

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AN: Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear what you thought!!

[merrybloomwrites]

Going old school

Got a (mini) binder to write my stories in. I forgot how much I love handwriting things and how satisfying it is each time I fill a page

[merrybloomwrites]

Help me pick a name!

I’ve decided to name the original character for the Buffy story I’m writing. She’s Giles daughter, and at the start she’s just a baby. I want something that has a cute nickname but I’ve been stuck on exactly what that name should be.

Below are some options I’ve come up with, but I’m open to suggestions as well! Any input is much appreciated!

Thank you for helping me!

[merrybloomwrites]

In 2010 I watched all of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the first time the summer before starting high school

In my mind, I rewrote the series to include a character I could’ve played. Now I’ve learned that I was essentially writing reader insert fan fiction

And now I’m rewatching the series 15 years later, and I STILL want to write this story lol

It’s Giles x daughter reader, and I’ve already started it!

I felt like I was getting kind of repetitive with my Smosh and 1D stuff, and I think changing gears for a little bit and getting this story out of my mind and finally on paper should help me with my writing slump

[merrybloomwrites]

A Livestream Love Story

Summary: Your story with Spencer, as told in a series of livestreams.

Word Count: 3.1K

AN: I got 2 requests (request 1, request 2) that had to do with livestreams, and decided to do a story much like my "Podcast Love Story" oneshot. Hope you enjoy!

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Rocking Out In Guitar Hero 

“Are we live?” Spencer says as the livestream officially starts broadcasting. 

“It’s live,” Brennen answers from behind the camera. 

“Wait, actually right now?” Spencer asks. 

“Yes, right now,” Brennen confirms. 

“Wow, that was too chill,” Spencer says before launching into an explanation about today's livestream. He and Courtney will be playing Guitar Hero, and they’ve managed to upload some of their favorite songs to play. 

For the next half hour, they show off their skills for all the people watching. 

You’ve been busy filming another show and happen to end early, meaning you can pop in and watch them stream for a little while. You try not to be spotted, not wanting to interrupt of course, but also not wanting anyone to see the way you swoon over Spencer. 

The crush you’ve been harboring on him since you started working at Smosh has only continued to grow. Keeping it hidden has been getting more difficult, and peaking in to watch him now is probably a bad idea. 

Because for some reason, him absolutely effortlessly shredding on Guitar Hero is way more attractive than it has any right to be. You try not to stare too much, but the way his fingers move so dexterously on the keys has you feeling some sort of way. 

Of course you can’t hide for long, and soon enough Courtney is calling you over to join them. 

“Y/N, were you a guitar hero girlie?” Spencer asks. 

“Well I played a lot as a kid but it’s been awhile. Might be rusty,” you answer.  

“Give it a go,” Spencer says. He stands, shifting and brushing up against you in the small space. Trying not to blush at the contact you sit in his now empty chair and Courtney passes you the guitar. 

You scroll through the songs, reading comments from the chat as you try to find one you want to play. 

Seeing a comment about how well Spencer is playing, you say, “I feel like people don’t know how good of a guitar player you really are.”

“You actually do play guitar,” He says, leading you to reply, “Yea but you actually play guitar too!”

Courtney smiles watching the two of you compliment each other, then gets surprised when you hand her the controller asking her to pick a song for you. 

After finally settling on “That’s What You Get” by Paramore you put it on medium, not wanting to embarrass yourself by failing on hard mode. 

You begin to play, chatting with the others as you do and you’re pleasantly surprised by how well you do. You’re especially happy when Spencer compliments you at the end. 

Though you try it head out once you’re done, but Courtney encourages you to stay for one more song. You watch as Spencer plays “Five Nights at Freddy’s”. Since it’s one of the songs they uploaded, it only has one difficulty: extreme. 

That’s no problem for Spencer, as he begins to shred on this toy guitar, barely missing any notes. You dance around, covering up how badly you want to just stare at his hands as he plays. 

Once it’s done you compliment him another time before thanking them for having you on and leaving the stream. You have a meeting starting soon, but you detour to the bathroom for a minute. You take some deep breaths, splash a little water on your face, and tell yourself to get your feelings under control. 

We Stream Resident Evil 8 For The First Time

You’re not entirely sure how you got roped into this. Well, you kind of knew, but it all happened so fast! 

You weren’t supposed to be on this livestream. It was meant to be Spencer playing with Amanda and Angela watching, just like in the recorded series. 

But Angela came down with a stomach bug, and here you are, filling in for her. You’re not a big fan of these games, the jump scares and freaky characters really creeping you out. Which of course is the reason you got picked. Because they knew you’d have big reactions which makes for good entertainment. 

So while you don’t love these games, you confirm you’re on board when Spencer checks in with you right before streaming. 

The three of you get set up, you next to Spencer with Amanda behind the two of you. Before you know it, the stream begins, and Spencer starts explaining everything to the audience. 

It’s only a minute later that he starts the game, and the first jump scare occurs. You and Amanda both yell at him to get away from the monster, and he tells you guys that it’s a cutscene and he has no control yet. 

“Oh, Y/N, you should close your eyes,” Spencer says. “You won’t like this part.” 

Choosing to trust him, you shut your eyes until he says it’s safe to open. You’d heard Amanda shout out but couldn’t tell exactly what had happened. 

“Spencer just killed a pig!” She says when you turn to her, confused. 

“I had to! I needed to get food,” he says to defend himself. 

You’re glad that he’d warned you, since seeing that play out definitely would have upset you. 

As the stream continues, you start to get more into it, asking questions and even giving out some helpful ideas. 

There are a couple parts that make you anxious, and as though he can sense this, Spencer leans his leg against yours. It’s hidden beneath the desk, ensuring no one will see, and that simple connection helps you stay relaxed. 

At one point Spencer pauses, saying that he has a headache and is suddenly not feeling well. He asks for water and you don’t hesitate to grab yours to share with him, truly worried by him suddenly acting like this. But a moment later Alex hands him a bottle of water, and Spencer sprays some of it on his hand.

You and Amanda both shout out, realizing that this was just a bit, since the character is always healing himself by spraying water on his hand.

“We were worried about you!” Amanda yells at him.

He just laughs, and you roll your eyes fondly, admitting that he did a good job at fooling the two of you. It’s nearing the end of the stream, so he unpauses and plays a little longer.

Just before you hit the three hour mark, there’s one final jumpscare. It startles you so badly that you nearly tip your chair over and fall. Amanda quickly steadies the chair while Spencer reaches out to grab your arm.

It’s clear you’re flustered when you sit back up, and you hope people will assume it’s because you nearly fell, and not because of how it felt to have Spencer’s hand on you.

After the stream is over, Spencer thanks you for filling in at the last minute. And just like that, the three hours of anxiety and elevated heart rates is worth it.

Seriously Super Stupid Sleepover: Charity Livestream 

“Welcome to the Seriously Super Stupid Sleepover!” Ian shouts as the livestream officially starts. 

“For the first time ever, we are doing a 24 hour charity stream,” Anthony says. “This is for a cause near and dear to us, and we want to start by saying we appreciate every dollar you all donate over the next day.”

“We have lots of activities planned, and various guests will be joining us, so get ready!” Ian adds.

You’re sitting in the conference room with some of your coworkers, watching the start of the stream. Since it’s going from noon on Friday until noon on Saturday, you’ve all been given a schedule of the times you’re set to appear on screen.

It’s been a big undertaking planning for this, but you know it will be worth it. Not only is it for a good cause, but there’s the added bonus of everyone getting the following Monday and Tuesday off. 

You’re not actually appearing on screen until that evening, but once you’re on, you’re there for a while. You know you should try and squeeze a nap in at some point in the afternoon, but you know that you’re likely going to be too excited to manage that.

You watch as the squad kicks off the stream with a classic TNTL, followed by George Primavera leading some of the Games crew in a new tabletop RPG. This together fills the first couple of hours, and you decide to head back to your desk to continue doing some work there. 

“Hey, Y/N, dinner’s ready in the conference room,” Kiana says, bringing you back to reality. You’d gotten lost in your writing, and it was a surprise how much time had passed. You grab something to eat, and by the time you’re done, it’s past 7pm. No time to take a nap now, since you’re due to stream in less than an hour. So of course, you make yourself a latte using the new fancy machine in the kitchen, and drink it as you get yourself ready to appear live. 

The first show you’re appearing on is Beopardy. It’s one of your favorites, since you love trivia, and it gets your energy up for the night. You get a quick break while some pre-recorded content plays, and then you’re back on for Angela’s funeral roast. Due to the number of people involved, this one takes quite a while, and by the time that session is done, it’s already 10PM, and you’ve been on screen for nearly 3 straight hours. 

You get a short break while Anthony does an interview with Mac. During that time, the rest of you change into pajamas for the overnight portion of the stream. 

Now dressed in your starry pajama pants and oversized Smosh crewneck sweatshirt, you wander into the kitchen looking for a quick snack. 

Spencer notices when you walk in, and he gives you a smile as well as a package of your favorite cookies. You thank him with a shy smile of your own, and the two of you chat for a few minutes. 

You haven’t seen him for a while. He’d been on the stream early and had a break, during which he managed to squeeze in a nap. But now he’s back, joining you, Olivia, Courtney, and Noah for some classic sleepover games. 

You start with the awkward dance party, and then do the Urban Dictionary Challenge, where one of you reads out a term from urban dictionary and the rest have to guess the definition. 

As it nears midnight, you all settle on the couches for a couple of Jackbox games. Due to the late hour, it’s no surprise that the answers you all give grow sillier and sillier. 

In the very early hours of the morning, you find yourself on the couch, Spencer on one side, Amanda on the other. There are a few other people on chairs throughout the room, and you’re all set to play Geoguesser. 

Half of your group is very clearly hopped up on caffeine, especially Angela, while the other half is starting to fade with sleepiness. You fall into the second category. It’s especially hard to stay awake since this game doesn’t need too much input from you. 

Amanda notices your eyelids getting heavy and drops a blanket in your lap. You bring your legs up on the couch, curling them under you and wrap yourself in the blanket. Within seconds you’re cozy enough to fall asleep, but you fight off the drowsiness. Luckily, you recognize the next location to pop up, and it re-energizes you for a second as you lead the others to find the right place on the map. 

But that energy doesn’t last long, and soon your eyes start to droop shut again. Not realizing what you’re doing, you shift to get comfortable, your head resting on Spencer’s shoulder. The rest of the group notices that you’re asleep, and while they make a couple jokes about it, no one tries to bother you and wake you up. 

You stay like that for the next twenty minutes as they finish playing the game. Occasionally you’ll move and snuggle closer to Spencer, and he does his best to hide the pleased smiles that your actions cause. It’s clear to anyone paying attention how soft he truly is for you.

When the segment ends another pre-recorded commercial airs, giving you all some time to exit the set. 

Spencer gently nudges you until he sees your eyes blink open. You’re confused, then embarrassed, but overall, what you feel most is tired. 

“C’mon, let’s get you to the lounge, they’ve got beds set up,” he says. Spencer then wraps his arms around you, helping you stand and guiding you to one of the free air mattresses. You’re both quiet, not wanting to wake anyone who’s already asleep. 

You lay down and Spencer tucks the blanket around you, saying a soft goodnight before finding a mattress of his own. 

A few hours later you wake up, still groggy but at least somewhat rested. Looking around you see a few people still sleeping, so you tiptoe out of the room. 

You get dressed and freshen up, knowing you’ll be appearing in the stream one more time. All cast is expected to participate for the last hour, making sure to close out the stream with a bang. 

There are a few people hanging in the conference room so you grab some breakfast and join them. You stay there for a bit, and a minute before you’re going to head back to the set, Spencer walks in. 

Suddenly, memories of the night before enter your brain, and you realize what had happened. What you’d done. 

You’d fallen asleep, on the live, with your head on Spencer’s shoulder. 

And you’re now mortified. Spencer gives you a soft smile, but you don’t have a chance to talk to him since you need to get back to the stream. 

One last commercial break airs, allowing you all to get set up. When you’re live again, everyone starts to banter, talking about the last day. You’re happy to hear that you weren’t the only one to fall asleep in front of everyone, though it seems you were the only one who used a coworker as a pillow. 

Finally, it’s time for Anthony and Ian to wrap everything up. They thank the audience for all the kind donations, and suddenly, the stream is over. 

A couple crew members who weren’t working overnight are set to drive everyone home, so that no one drives while sleep deprived. Which means you don’t get a chance to talk to Spencer before leaving, as you don’t want to hold up the other people in your car. 

Then comes the long weekend. Which is lovely and a nice, well appreciated break. But you can’t stop thinking about what happened Thursday night. You’ve already seen the moment clipped and giffed online, people clearly starting to ship the two of you. 

Even after days of thinking of what to say, you still avoid Spencer when you do get back to work. You’re embarrassed by your actions, and afraid of what he might think of you. But at the end of the day, Spencer asks you to talk, and you take a deep breath, knowing you can’t avoid this any longer.

The two of you sit in an empty office, and it’s quiet for a moment. You bite the bullet and break the silence, saying, “Sorry for passing out on you the other night.”

Spencer shifts in his seat, and you hate that you’ve clearly made him uncomfortable. But then his answer is something you never would have expected. 

“Truthfully, I didn’t mind. I uhm, it was nice. I liked that you were close to me,” he says. You notice the way he looks down as he says it, the slight pink on his cheeks that wasn’t there before. 

“Really?” you ask and he nods, his confirmation giving you the confidence to admit, “I liked it too.”

“You did?”

“I did. I mean, I know I was asleep but I’ve seen some of the gifs and it just makes me happy.”

Spencer takes a deep breath and says, “Y/N, do you want to go on a date? With me?”

You’re surprised by the question, but quickly steady yourself enough to answer, “I would like that.”

And just like that, a moment you thought would forever embarrass you has instead led to the happiest outcome. 

Teaching Y/N Fortnight

It’s been a few months since the charity livestream and the subsequent start of your and Spencer’s relationship. You haven’t exactly gone public with it, but you haven’t kept it a total secret either. Fans have started to speculate, and you guys are okay with that.

You’re just not ready to make it publicly official yet.

It’s a Thursday afternoon, and you’re once again getting ready to do a livestream, this time one where Spencer will be teaching you to play Fortnight. 

He gives you a quick kiss before you both settle in for the stream, and it causes you to smile, as his shows of affection always do.

Making sure to be professional, you turn to the camera as Alex gives you the warning that the livestream is about to begin. Spencer does the intro, then gets into teaching you all of the controls and objectives of the game. 

A few minutes in, there’s a slight issue that leads to Spencer having to leave the room to fix something, while Alex sits at the computer to solve the problem on that end. 

While this is happening you’re trying to keep the viewers entertained, making jokes and telling some stories that you hope they’ll find interesting. 

“You know, I have to admit something,” you say.

“Oh yeah, what’s that?” Alex questions.

“I’ve played Fortnight before. Not enough to be good! But like, I kind of already know all the basic stuff.”

“So why let Spencer explain it all?” Alex asks.

“He just gets so excited to teach! It’s cute,” you explain.

And yea, you know the fans will be freaking out with that moment. And this being a livestream, you get to see those comments in real time.

Once the tech problem is solved, Spencer comes back and sees the way chat is freaking out, and asks what happened. Without hesitation, the viewers immediately tell him your admission, leading to him pretending like his pride has been ruined. 

But when he sees why you kept the secret from him, he can’t help but melt a little inside.

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AN: Thank you for reading, and thank you to those who sent in the requests that made this happen!

[merrybloomwrites]

Little Posting Update

Between work and other hobbies, I haven't had as much time to write lately.

The Spencer story for tomorrow is almost done and my plan is to upload that as usual

But I'm going to take a little break in April. I'm not going to promise any uploads for that month so I can focus on writing the 1D series as well as some 1D and Smosh oneshots. There's always a chance I'll randomly get motivated and post a oneshot, but I'm just not putting pressure on myself to do so for April. I can feel the burnout/writer's block coming so this is my way of making sure that doesn't happen.

I feel like the same thing happened last year, where the weather got nice and I'm no longer trapped inside on my computer and I write less haha

That beings said, I'm looking forward to writing the upcoming stories! Once I have a good amount written I'll post a May & June schedule!

[merrybloomwrites]

Question for the Hunger Games fans

I've read the original trilogy (a few times) but haven't read them in a while. I also haven't read the 2 prequels.

I want to read all 5, so my question is, should I re-read the original 3 first and then the prequels, or should I do chronological order and start with the prequels so I'll have all the backstory while re-reading the trilogy?

Would love to hear some thoughts, but please no spoilers!! Thanks!

[merrybloomwrites]

I Hear Them Calling (Extra: Bonding)

Story Summary: Alpha Harry Styles and omega Y/N Y/L/N meet under less than ideal circumstances. Overtime their paths will cross and they will be drawn to one another in ways they never expected.

Chapter Summary: You and Harry head to Madison Square Garden to watch Niall perform. It brings up some memories for both of you, and leads to a lifechanging decision that leaves the two of you happier than ever.

Word Count: 3.8K

CW: mentions of previous attempted assault, smut, knotting, biting, ABO

AN: When I saw Niall at MSG last summer I knew I wanted to write an extra for this series where Harry and Y/N watch him there. I also knew the next major thing would be them bonding so decided that can all go together! Hope you enjoy!

Previous Chapters can be found here!

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“Can I scent you before we go tonight?”

You’ve just gotten out of the shower, towel wrapped around your body with your hair dripping down your back. You hadn’t noticed Harry standing in the bedroom, and you’re startled by him asking you a question. 

“Sorry, didn’t mean to sneak up on you,” he says. 

“It’s fine. You want to scent me before the show?” You ask. 

“Yea, if that’s alright with you.”

“Harry, of course that’s alright with me. You’re my alpha, I always like when you scent me. But you don’t normally do it when we go out together. Is everything okay?”

“My alpha’s a little on edge. I think it’s because we’ll be at MSG. I'm excited to watch Niall, but I think I’m nervous because of what happened to you there.”

You know exactly what he’s referring to. The first time you had been at MSG, an unknown alpha had followed you and used his alpha voice to corner you. If Harry hadn’t come to your rescue, there’s no telling what this man would have done to you.

Being an omega, you are amongst the most vulnerable and often targeted group in society. You were always on edge in public spaces, and that event had confirmed your worst fears. But, it had also introduced you to Harry. You’ve been dating now for almost two years and had gone public with your relationship a few months prior. 

“I’m nervous too,” you say. “But I’ll be with you. And I know you’ll keep me safe.” 

“Always.”

“Let me get ready and then you can scent me, okay?” He nods in agreement and you grab your clothes. 

You’ve put a lot of thought into your outfit for the night. This isn’t the first time you’re going to be seen with Harry, but you know it’s going to be a big deal. Harry being at Niall’s show is huge. Everyone will be losing their minds seeing him there to support his previous band mate. There’s no doubt that people will be recording Harry, and therefore, recording you. 

You take your time with your hair and makeup, making sure to look nice without going over the top. When you’re finished, you walk out to the living room where Harry is sitting on the couch and tying his shoes. 

He looks up when he hears you walk in and stares for a moment. 

“Do I look alright?” You ask. 

“You look beautiful,” he replies, his voice soft. 

“Thank you. You look good, I like this shirt. Is it new?”

“Nah, found it in the back of my closet.”

You sit next to him and he says, “Can I-? Is it still okay if I scent you?”

“Yea, please. I know I’ll feel more at ease if you do,” you explain. 

“C’mere,” he says, and you move to straddle his waist. It’s not necessary to be in this position, but both of you like it. It helps you feel connected, and gives Harry access to the scent glands on either side of your neck. 

He leans in, starting with a gentle kiss to your neck. Your eyes shut automatically as you focus on the feeling of Harry all around you. He runs his nose along both sides, then begins to kiss and nip at the glands. You’re doused in his scent, your own omega smell mostly hidden. While you’re proud of being an omega, sometimes it’s nice to not have to worry. With your scent covered by your alpha’s, you know that others won’t be able to find you by your smell. 

Not like last time. 

The car arrives, and you head out. Harry normally prefers to drive, but tonight required a bit more planning and security involvement, so Harry had chosen to be on the safe side. While you like when it’s just the two of you, it is nice to ride in the backseat with him, your hand intertwined with his on the seat between you. 

After the drive you’re escorted into the building through a back entrance. You’re greeted by Arlo, a nice beta on Niall’s team. 

“Ni’s just about done getting ready and would love to see you before the show,” Arlo says. He starts leading the two of you down a series of hallways, and you begin to grow anxious. 

Even with his thorough scenting, Harry can pick up on the slight distressed pheromones you’re producing. 

“What’s wrong?” He asks quietly. 

“I think we’re about to go through where it happened,” you reply. 

“Do you want to see if we can go another way?”

“No. It’s okay. I’m okay. You’re here.”

“I’m here,” Harry confirms and wraps a protective arm around your shoulders. 

As you walk past the spot where that alpha had trapped you, you take a deep breath of Harry’s scent. You look at the wall you’d been held against, and remember how Harry had come to save the day. And from that moment on he had never left your side. 

Any fear and anxiety you’d had is now gone, feelings of love and contentment replacing them. Harry senses the shift and smiles beside you, gently squeezing your arm. 

After a few more turns, Arlo knocks on a door which opens a moment later. There’s an excited shout, and then Harry is engulfed in a hug. 

“Harry!” Niall exclaims. “I’m so glad you’re here!” 

“I’m thrilled to be here, Ni. Can’t wait to see you on stage!” Harry replies. 

“This must be your lovely girlfriend,” Niall says, looking towards you. 

Harry beams as he introduces you, saying, “This is my omega, Y/N.” 

“Omega,” Niall says, his face beaming at the two of you. “I hadn’t realized you were an omega. I am so happy for the both of you!” Being one of Harry’s closest friends, Niall knew that Harry always hoped to find his omega. With most people being betas, it seemed unlikely that it would happen. But fate, and luck had been on your side, bringing you and Harry together. 

The three of you sit and chat for a few minutes before another woman walks in. You see Niall’s face light up as she enters and you know right away this must be his girlfriend, Amelia. 

After more introductions, you and Amelia talk a bit about what it’s like to be dating these big pop stars. You end up exchanging numbers, happy to have someone who understands the craziness of this specific lifestyle. 

As it nears showtime, you and Harry say goodbye to Niall and Amelia and make your way to the suite you’ll be in. You point out Harry’s banner which is hanging across from your seat, and feel a swell of pride as you watch Harry look at it with a smile. 

Del Water Gap opens the show, and while you don’t know all of his music, there are a few songs of his you know and love. You and Harry dance along to the music, enjoying this time to let loose. 

When Niall comes on stage a bit later, the cheers are deafening, especially from Harry. It’s fun to watch him support his friend this way and you can see the connection the two of them have, as Niall glances up to your suite during Stockholm Syndrome. 

You always thought that out of the five boys, Niall wrote the most romantic love songs, which is why you’re so excited when he starts singing Black and White. Harry sings along, leaning in close for the lyrics “I promise that I’ll love you for the rest of my life.” You look at him a second later, and you can see that those words are undeniably true. 

At that moment, you know that he’s it for you. This is the man you want to bond, marry, and raise pups with. And you don’t want to wait any longer. 

Towards the end of the show, you and Harry head backstage to watch the final songs with Amelia. You and Harry enjoy every minute of the concert, and dip the second it ends in order to beat the traffic. 

You ride home with his arm around you and you talk about the show, and Harry reminisces about his time in the band. It’s always nice when he talks fondly about those memories. You feel honored to be able to hear about that time. 

Back at home, you get ready for bed side by side, reveling in the domestic bliss. This only confirms what you were thinking earlier, that this is how you want to spend the rest of your life. Add in the sweet and gentle way he makes love to you before cuddling you to sleep, there’s no question.

You wake up the next morning, still wrapped in his arms and he presses a sleepy kiss to your head.

“Good morning, my love,” he says, his voice still gruff with sleep.

“Good morning,” you reply.

The two of you lay together for a little while, just basking in each other's presence and running your hands along one another’s bodies. Your next words are ones you’ve been thinking, but you don’t mean to say them. At least, not by blurting them out.

And yet, suddenly you’re breaking the silence by saying, “I want to be bonded to you.”

His shocked silence only lasts a moment before his eyes light up with joy. “You do?” he asks excitedly.

“I do. I think I’ve known for a while now. But after last night I just couldn’t wait any longer. Harry, I want to be connected to you, in every way. I want to be your omega.”

“I’d love nothing more,” he says, and leans in for a kiss. You quickly deepen it, pulling him close. But he breaks off the kiss a moment later.

“Did you mean right now?” he asks.

“Yea, did you not? I just thought-” you cut yourself off, now feeling silly that you thought he’d want to bond immediately. 

Seeing how you draw back, he realizes that you took that as a rejection. Wanting to quickly reassure you, he says, “I want to make it special.”

“Harry, all I need for it to be special is you.”

You feel him start to rumble and begin to purr in response. 

“Still,” he says. “This is an important moment. Can I please do a little something to mark the occasion? I can have it all ready tonight, promise!”

And well, how could you say no to that?

“Sounds perfect,” you reply. “I love you, Harry.”

“I love you too, Y/N,” he says. His hands are still on you, and they run gently along your body. The two of you lay together for another few minutes, and then Harry says, “I’m gonna get ready. Busy day today.” He smirks, then gives you another kiss and climbs out of bed. 

You watch as he gets dressed, taking in every glimpse of his bare skin, especially the parts reserved only for you. When he’s done, he sees your hungry expression and says, “C’mon, let’s go eat breakfast. You look ravenous.”

“Oh I am. Just not for food.”

“Trust me, I’m aware, you cheeky omega,” he says as he leans down to pick you up and toss you over his shoulder.

“Okay, manhandling me is not going to make me less in the mood, you know that right?” you say through giggles as he carries you from the bedroom to the kitchen. It’s a true statement, and Harry knows how much you get off any time he shows off his strength. Plus, as an omega, knowing your alpha is clearly strong enough to protect you and your future pups is a turn on. 

He places you gently on the kitchen counter and begins rummaging around. He pulls out ingredients and you offer to help, but he turns you down. “Let me take care of you,” he says.

You eat breakfast together, Harry insisting on doing the dishes as well. Afterwards, he heads out, saying he has some things he needs to get at the store. 

While he’s gone, you take a shower, fully cleaning and pampering yourself to get ready. 

Tonight, you’re going to be bonded. You always thought this would be a scary thing, that this big event would fill you with nerves. But you’re not nervous. You’re only excited. That’s how you know this is the right move. The thought of not being bonded to Harry makes you anxious, and sad, so clearly, you’re meant to be together.

Harry gets back home, keeping all the items he purchased hidden, saying you’ll know later. 

“So, Niall and Amelia will be taking you out for the afternoon,” Harry says. 

“This all part of your plan?” you ask.

“Absolutely. Need to work in secret so you can come home and be amazed!”

“Alright, I will accept you kicking me out of the house, since you’re planning a surprise for me.”

“Thank you, my love,” Harry says, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “They’ll be here in about fifteen minutes,” he adds. 

You finish getting ready and soon enough, Niall and Amelia are there to pick you up. 

The three of you start with lunch, Niall explaining that Harry had taken care of everything. Of course he has. You can tell your alpha is set on ensuring you have a perfect day while proving he’ll always provide for you. 

After lunch you head to do some window shopping, spending time looking at plenty of items but not buying anything. 

Not until you and Amelia head into a very upscale lingerie store. You’ve never really been into lingerie, but you’ve acquired a few pieces since you started dating Harry. 

You’re looking at a sheer lace matching set, the color just right to make your eyes pop. Amelia notices the way you focus on it and says, “You should buy that. Your alpha won’t be able to resist you, might bond you the second he sees you in it.”

You blush, and Amelia says, “Wait, are you? Are the two of you ready to bond?”

“We are,” you reply quietly, but don’t reveal more details. 

“That’s wonderful. You guys seem perfect for each other.”

It always makes you feel warm inside when other people say things like that to you and Harry. It confirms you’re not just in your own bubble, that you’re the only ones who think you’re good together. Not that other people’s opinions matter, but it just shows you that outsiders view the two of you as compatible. 

You decide to buy the lingerie, and are grateful the purchase can be hidden in a small, discreet bag so you can sneak it in the house without Harry seeing. 

Meeting back up with Niall who had been next door looking at watches, the three of you end the outing with some coffee. You’ve been successfully distracted for the past few hours, but as Niall drives you back home, you begin to grow restless. 

“Anxious to get back to your alpha?” Niall teases. 

“Something like that,” you reply. 

“You know, I’ve known Harry for a long time. And it brings me so much joy to know that he’s found his perfect mate,” he says, completely serious now. “I am extremely happy for the two of you.”

“Well, thank you. And Harry and I are both happy for the two of you as well,” you say, causing both Niall and Amelia to smile and blush. 

Finally, Niall is dropping you off back home, and you thank them for such a wonderful afternoon. 

Harry sees you pull up, and waits on the front porch, smiling big enough for his dimples to make an appearance. Suddenly, you need to be in his arms, so you practically run up the path to meet him. 

“Hi my love,” he greets you as he wraps you in a hug. “Did you have a good day?”

“I did. It was nice spending time with them,” you answer as Harry leads you inside. 

“Are you ready for the surprise?” Harry says. 

You’re anxious to see everything he’s set up, but there’s one thing you have to do first, so you reply, “Just need to use the bathroom and then I’m all yours.”

“All mine. I like the sound of that,” he says with a smirk.

“You would, you possessive alpha,” you joke. And it really is a joke, because while Harry is protective, he’s never been overly possessive like some alphas are. Just another reason why you love him. 

You slip into the downstairs bathroom and do your business and refresh yourself. You also quickly manage to change your undergarments, putting on the new lingerie you’d purchased. It makes you feel attractive, sexy even, and gives you a boost of confidence for what’s to come.

Rejoining Harry in the entryway, he extends his arm, inviting you to loop yours through his like a true gentleman. He leads you to the dining room, and the sight takes your breath away. The lights are dim, candles and soft music creating a gentle and romantic ambiance. A beautiful bouquet of flowers acts as the centerpiece, and a delicious smelling meal is already plated and waiting.

“Harry, this is amazing!”

“You deserve all of this and more, sweetheart.” 

He pulls out your chair and helps you settle before sitting across from you. The two of you enjoy a delicious meal while you tell him about your day with Amelia and Niall. But as you’re finishing dessert, you know it’s time to talk about what’s going to happen next.

“You’re definitely ready for this?” Harry asks.

“I am. I’m more than ready,” you reply, you’re voice strong and sure.

“And you’re ready for the shared heat and rut that will start once we bond?” he checks. 

“Absolutely,” you answer. Not only are you ready, but you’re looking forward to it. Days of passionate lovemaking with your alpha? Yea, that’s not exactly a hardship. 

“Good. I made some meals and stocked the room with everything we’ll need.”

“Thank you for taking care of everything.”

“I will always take care of you,” Harry states. And you know it’s true. He stands and cleans everything up, not accepting your offers to help. He then checks that the door is locked, that the alarm is on, and that the oven is off, before blowing out the candles. 

Once you’re sure that everything is taken care of, you stand and walk to face Harry.

“Alpha?”

“Yes, my love?”

“Take me to bed.”

He doesn’t hesitate, quickly lifting you over his shoulder in a show of strength that has you producing slick faster than you thought possible. You’d be embarrassed, especially since there’s no hiding it, not with the position you’re in. But there’s no need to be self-conscious, not when Harry lets out a lust-filled growl at the scent. 

The bedroom is also decorated, but neither of you are focusing on that right now. What catches your eye immediately is what is on the bed itself. The most gorgeous nest you’ve ever seen. Harry places you down gently in the center of it, and you pick up the way both of your scents are blended together.

“Harry, it’s beautiful,” you say, causing him to blush as he hovers over you.

“I’ve never really nested before. Wasn’t sure if you’d like it,” he replies bashfully. 

“I love it, Alpha. It’s perfect.”

He leans in for a kiss, and while it starts tame, it quickly turns heated. Clothes are quickly removed, until Harry is completely bare and you’re left in just your bra and panties. That sight slows Harry down, and he takes his time admiring you.

“You are perfect.” He states as he presses a kiss to your tummy. “You are beautiful.” He says next, the kiss landing on your collarbone this time. He continues to shower you in kisses and compliments, driving you completely mad with desire. 

Just when you think you’re going to burst, he finally removes those last articles and begins to touch you where you need it most. His mouth on your core is just what you want, and he doesn’t disappoint, eating you out until you’re writhing beneath him.

“Can’t wait any longer. Need you. Need to bond you,” he says as he lines up his hard cock with your dripping entrance. After confirming your consent, he slides inside with one intense thrust. He tries to go slow, but neither of you want that right now. He picks up the pace, going hard and fast, and both of you quickly near your peaks.

When you’re on the precipice of your orgasm, and you can feel Harry’s knot start to grow, you tilt your head to the side, giving Harry the perfect view of your bonding spot. 

“You’re sure?” he manages to grunt out, and you confirm one more time. 

He leans down, thoroughly scenting you, licking and nipping at your neck to prepare you. And then, finally, just as you tip over into bliss and his knot locks inside, he sinks his teeth into your neck. There’s a tiny prick of pain, and then, the feeling of pure euphoria. Harry licks over the bite to seal it, and you sink into this pleasant, floaty feeling that comes with the post-orgasm glow. 

Once Harry is happy with the bite, he pulls back so he can look at you.

“Are you alright?” he asks.

“I’m amazing. That was amazing. I’ve never felt better,” you reply.

He leans in for a sweet kiss, and you makeout lazily until Harry’s knot goes down. For the next half hour, you cuddle together in the nest, feeling more connected than ever before. When it starts to feel too warm, you know your heat is beginning. The way Harry’s hands travel more insistently along your skin lets you know he’s sinking into rut as well.

When the need to be filled starts to overwhelm you, Harry says, “Let me take care of you.”

And he does. For the next four days, even though he’s fully in rut, he still ensures you have everything that you need. When you both come up, he changes the sheets, runs you a bath, and absolutely pampers you.

You think back to before you met Harry, how you suffered from touch deprivation, and the thought of one day having an alpha was a far fetched fantasy. You could never have predicted that this would be the outcome. But you are so happy it is.

You make a new nest, and you and Harry lay together, resting after days of vigorous activities. 

And while you’re content with your life exactly how it is, when Harry runs his hand along your stomach, you can’t help but wonder what it would be like if your family of two were to grow.

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AN: Thank you for reading! If you have any requests for this story please let me know!

Little cliffhanger at the end, maybe I'll come back and write a story about them raising some pups together??

[merrybloomwrites]

Can you write about Harry x Louis x reader where maybe Louis and reader are both sick with a cold and Harry has to take care of them both?

Thank you for this request, I've added it to my list! I've written my fair share of sickfics so it may take me some time to write something that doesn't feel too repetitive, but I've got a couple ideas on how to keep this fresh!

[merrybloomwrites]

Hi! Just wanted to say that I loved your Ian!brother fic!! It was so cute! I live for platonic fics even though they’re so hard to find :(

Thank you so much for this message, I'm glad you like it!

I feel like I've started writing more platonic fics lately, especially for Smosh. If you (or anyone) has any requests, I'd love to hear them!

[merrybloomwrites]

Head First, Always

Summary: A night out with friends leads to a chance encounter.

Word Count: 1.4K

CW: alcohol, kissing

AN: Thank you to the anon who requested this one! I enjoyed writing a Smosh story that took place outside of Smosh haha

A fun change of pace to have the reader be a stranger instead of a coworker

Title is an Ian quote from some video where they're all in party hats except Damien who is in an anime costume? Idk, I found it in a compilation and liked the idea of "head first" as like, getting to know people

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After putting on your shoes you look in the mirror, checking your outfit one last time. It's Friday night, and after the long week you’ve had filled with annoying managers and endless meetings, you can’t wait to meet up with your friends. 

You’re headed to Barnaby’s, one of your favorite bars. It’s been weeks since you’ve been able to hang with the girls, and months since you’ve gone to Barnaby’s, so you are extra excited about tonight’s plan. 

Satisfied with your look for the evening, you grab your purse and order an Uber. Twenty minutes later, you’re entering the bar, a few minutes ahead of schedule making you the first of your group to arrive. You quickly grab a high top table and soon are joined by your three best friends. 

You order drinks and some appetizers to share, and start catching up, talking about jobs, movies, sourdough, and most importantly, relationships. 

Maddie is just filling you all in on her most recent tinder fail, when another group starts setting up at the tables next to yours. They’re an eclectic bunch, somewhat rowdy, but you can’t help but notice how attractive many of them are. 

You hadn’t had much to say to your friends during the relationship part of the conversation, not having been in a relationship for over a year now. The last date you’d gone on had been months ago. You were officially in a dry spell. 

Hence why you notice each of the cute boys in this group. You watch them from your periphery, trying to decipher which of them might be single. The blonde ones out, the ring on his finger and the arm around one of the girls are pretty obvious clues. 

The others, well, that’s less clear. There’s a fluffy haired brunette, and you think you hear him mention a girlfriend, so he’s out as well. 

But the brown haired boy with the glasses. By your eavesdropping, you’re fairly certain he is single. 

The goal of this night out isn’t to meet anyone or get a guys number or go home with someone. It’s not what you’re aiming for. But if the opportunity presents itself? Well, you’d be silly to turn it down. 

“That boy is looking at you,” Caroline says. 

You realize she’s talking to you and resist the urge to turn and look at who she means. 

“Which one?” You ask

“What, did you take inventory when they got here?” Maddie asks teasingly. 

“Absolutely,” you reply, feeling zero shame about that. “So, which guy looked?”

“Correction, which guy is still glancing over at you every 2 seconds,” Ellie says. 

You try to keep your cool as Caroline answers, “Shorter brown hair, glasses, brown jacket.”

She’s describing the boy who caught your attention the most. But you need to play it just right, not looking overeager, so you just shrug and say, “Well, I guess we’ll see what happens.”

A short while later, the lights dim and the volume of the music increases, indicating the switch from evening to night. Normally you don’t like when bars do this, but tonight you actually like the change in atmosphere this brings. 

You and Ellie get up to grab another round of drinks for your table. When you get back, you see that Caroline and Maddie have started talking to some of the people from the other group, essentially blending the two parties together. 

You’re introduced to everyone, trying to catch all their names but you admittedly can’t remember all of them. Not when it’s loud and you’re on your second mixed drink. You do remember one name for sure. 

Ian. 

The boy who caught your eye, who had been watching you earlier, is named Ian. Your brain has absolutely filed that away. 

A girl named Angela and a boy named Chance get you and your friends to dance with them, and for a while you get lost in the music, laughing and smiling with the rest of the group. 

You turn, and your eyes meet Ian’s. Feeling bold, you smile, and by the way he raises his eyebrows, you know he got the message. That smile was just for him. 

After another minute you decide to grab some water so you break away and head to the bar. As you wait, you sense another person slide up beside you. Wanting to play a little hard to get, you don’t look at him right away. You wait until the glass of water is placed in front of you. Only after taking a sip do you turn to the man beside you. 

“Can I buy you a drink?” He asks. 

“Sure, that’d be nice,” you reply. 

He orders you another of what you’d been drinking earlier, confirming that he was paying attention to you through the evening. 

The two of you clink your drinks in cheers and each take a sip. 

“This might be forward,” Ian says. “And cliche. But uhm, I couldn’t help but notice you.”

“That’s convenient, because I couldn’t help but notice you either.”

You banter back and forth, neither of you pros at flirting, but that doesn’t matter. Slowly, you get closer and closer, until his arm brushes up against yours. 

It sends a spark through you, and for the first time in a long time, you feel desired. Noticing your positive reaction to the touch, Ian purposefully reaches out again, his fingers gently grazing your forearm. 

His eyes dart to your lips, and as much as you want him to just lean in and kiss you, you’re aware that all of your friends are nearby and probably watching. 

“I could use some fresh air,” you say. 

“Mind if I join you?” He asks. 

“Oh, I guess you can come,” you answer with a cheeky smile. 

The two of you head outside, waking around the corner to stand by the side of the building. You exchange looks, rather than words, and finally, Ian leans in. His hand comes up to cup your cheek, and his lips press gently against yours. 

It’s soft, tentative and sweet. You gently slide your lips together for a while and then it gets heated. Ian places his hand on your hips and gently guides you against the wall. He steps forward, pressing against you, and the soft kisses turn into full blown making out. 

You get lost in it, lost in the feeling of Ian against you, surrounding you. It feels good, and you’re truthfully more than a little turned on. 

It isn’t until you hear the wolf whistles that the two of you are brought back to reality. The previously empty sidewalk now holds your friends, as well as some of Ian’s. You blush at the realization that you had an audience, especially when they all begin to tease the two of you. 

But while you're slightly embarrassed, everyone seems to be happy for you if their smiles are any hint. 

Ian clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the attention as well. 

“Sorry to interrupt,” Maddie says. “But we’re heading to the diner down the street. You guys in?”

After sharing a look with Ian, you both nod, and all of you make your way to the diner. Unsurprisingly, your friends orchestrate the seating arrangement, making sure you and Ian are squished together in a booth. 

But you don’t mind. It’s really not a hardship to have your leg against his, or have his arm occasionally brush against yours. 

By the end of the night you’ve exchanged numbers, Ian promising to call you to set up a real date soon. He waits until you’re safely in an uber before calling one for himself, and texts you later to make sure you made it home okay. He may be some guy you met at a bar, but you’re impressed by the number of green flags you’ve noticed just in that little bit of time you’ve spent together.

Your friends ask why you didn’t go home together, and you try to explain that a one night stand isn’t what you want with Ian. Because he seems like the real deal, and you want more than just one night. 

And when he calls the next day to officially ask you on a date, you know you made the right choice. You’re not sure what the future holds, but one thing is certain: a night at Barnaby’s has brought you exactly what you need.

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AN: Thank you for reading! LMK if you have any requests!