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irwintry · 5 years ago

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the air before a storm

Warnings: just a bunch of good old fluff, swearing, alcohol

Author’s Note: yes this takes place in the outer banks no u are not allowed to mention the show—they are nothing alike. anyway i’m back :) hi

Summary: Y/N and Luke are neighbors in a beachside town where tourists are annoying and tropical storms aren’t rare. And they just can’t stop flirting.

Word Count: 5.6k

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Pelican Perch was a dead-end street.

It was well-wooded, wax myrtles and river birch kissing sandy chunks of pavement while homes too small for the average nuclear family were nestled behind thick, invasive vines. Quaint homes designed to keep the rain and the bugs out. Local homes. Each had their own shimmering windsock hung out front that was already tattered from storms, gifted to them by the neighborhood community last spring. Personalized homes. Beach homes that shared every aspect without even trying. Almost every shingle had been defaced by weather damage throughout the years. And the air always smelled of hot gravel and honeysuckle on breezy days. Homes on this road were loved.

You loved yours most of all.

With a front porch stuffed full of plants—ferns, strawberries, tomatoes, the lot—and knick-knacks you had collected throughout the past year, it was easy to love and call home to something that had once been temporary. The baby blue bike perched against a yaupon bush was proudly your preferred mode of transportation. Snuck far up the driveway sat a rusting 2005 Toyota Corolla with sand painted across its rear, and it was not well-loved, though it had been well-lived. The windsock hung off of your porch matched the color of your bike.

The last house on the street never put their windsock up. That house was right beside yours.

He had been there longer than you—you weren’t entirely sure how long, but your arrival prior to last season was greeted with his kind smile. A kind smile, gentle words, and eyes that melted into the ocean, far beyond the whitecaps where the sky touched the sea. All of that beauty, and you never caught his name.

For months on end, you watched him when he wasn’t looking. He left for work during your kitchen stumble for cold brew, nothing but a plain white tee and mesh shorts as he climbed into his jeep, sunkissed and sleepy. Minutes later, you would bike to work and find his Jeep along the way. He worked at the Island Rescue Squad, a small building that held more responsibility than being a simple motel receptionist. He paid his bills by saving lives; you paid yours by telling guests that they couldn’t swim naked in the swimming pool.

You didn’t know him beyond the sights through your kitchen window. But the evenings you crossed paths were treasured.

“Hey, how’s it going?” he’d ask, a nonchalant smile gracing his cheeks before darting his gaze the other way.

After some time, you found enough confidence to reply, “Not bad—you?” as you knocked out the kickstand on your bike.

He was always in the middle of hoisting a backpack over his shoulder. And then he would shrug, smile never fading, and say, “Not bad,” right back. That would be it.

You knew that his blond curls were your favorite thing before you even knew his name. But you also knew, in good faith, that the latter half was going to change.

That was why you should at his door late in the evening in July, a saran-wrapped plateful of coconut macaroons in your hands while your eyes scanned the details of his front porch. A white surfboard beside the front door had experienced its fair share of weather discoloration on the tail. At the end of the deck, withered plants were lined up along a wooden shoe bench. The doormat beneath your feet had nylon paw prints stitched in beside the welcome lettering. When you knocked on the door, a heart-stopping voice called out, “Just a minute!”

You tucked your ankles inward as his face appeared behind the screen. His smile was bold and bright, and from up close, you could hardly breathe.

“Hey, how’s it going?” he asked in his normal fashion, opening up the screen door so he could step outside with you. His gaze fell to the plate of macaroons while he leaned up against the door. “You’re kidding—did you make those for me?”

Six more words than the usual conversation; you were off to a successful start.

“Yes,” you said, fingers brushing his beneath the ceramic plate when you passed it over to him. “I had to figure out a good way to come over here and formally introduce myself. A whole year later. Better late than never, I guess.”

He smiled along to your words and nodded. “These look so good. Thank you.” He held out one of his hands for you to shake.

His name was Luke. He was only a few years out of school. Taller than any man you knew and flirtatious with his grin, and he kept his eyes locked on you as you spoke. He shared information through little words yet maintained a steady conversation. Talking to old friends was harder than this.

It was difficult to stomach—the way his quiet chuckles and wide smiles were decidedly the best things in the world and how your heart was a concrete block in your chest. It occurred to you, after waving goodnight on your way down the porch steps, that his smile never died. But you pinned it all on his kind heart over anything else.

Life between the two of you felt cyclical. Until one morning he caught you on your way to work.

“I’m gonna be up in Manteo,” he began, tossing a duffle into the backseat of his Jeep with a quiet grunt. “Just a few days. Some ridiculously boring conference that could probably be summed up in a Skype or whatever. Better than leading rope rescue trainings again though.”

Your lips pulled down into a playful frown. “You’re leaving me?”

Luke’s responsive laughter was a good start to your morning. “I’m sorry. Promise I’ll be back. They’ve got us all in some four-star inn. Free wifi and breakfast.”

“Oh, look at you. Living like a king.”

“Right? I’m tired of paying for my own Cheerios.”

It was nice to have someone to talk to, you thought, but you knew you were searching for more than a friend in him. Your heart was warm under his company. You didn’t know how, but it felt easy with him.

“Would you be able to do me a favor?” he asked as he leaned against his car. He kept his distance, his driveway to yours while the patch of dry grass between you watched with intrigue.

“Anything but mowing the lawn, yes.”

Luke cracked a grin. “I’m not that mean. No. Could you—uh, could you water a few plants for me out front? Just once or twice. I’d pay you back in macaroons, but I’m a shit baker.”

“No worries,” you said and situated your bike against your thigh. “I’ll water your plants. But that just means you’ll have to make up for the macaroons somehow. I’ll let you think on it.” You started off down the driveway before he could answer.

“Hold me to that!” he called after you. You sent him a smile in response and sped off toward the main road.

Later that evening, you found that Luke had left a note beside each potted plant on the shoe bench. Betty – allow to dry between waterings next to the Begonia, Calum – keep moist for the Caladium, Tom – water twice a day for the newly planted tomato plant, and Babe – water sparingly for Basil. Each note was signed with a smile and a heart.

—

The next time you heard from Luke, he wasn’t alone. Four days plus a hankering for human interaction—aside from tourists that asked for restaurant suggestions every hour—had left you craving a different kind of intimacy. An intimacy that didn’t require physical touch but was only fulfilled through his presence. Just knowing that he was next door comforted you in ways you couldn’t explain. You didn’t know him, but you knew that he was someone you could rely on.

You heard his car door slam before anything else. Through the window of your kitchen sink, you peeked out into the darkening night, searching for his lanky figure only to find a small animal instead. A dog. You forgot that you had been staring when Luke came into view. His wave tore you from your gaze.

You cracked the window open before you could hesitate. The overwhelming buzzes and clicks of cicadas were immediate to greet you.

“Are you gonna introduce me?” you called out to him, grinning wide as you pressed your elbows down onto the window sill. With the edge of the sink digging into your abdomen, the position was less than comfortable, but you didn’t think about it.

Through the waxing darkness, Luke’s smile was bright. “Only if you come give her a head scratch—then she’ll fall right in love with you,” he said.

You were outside within a few seconds. The side screen door slammed behind you as you hurried over, knees meeting the rough grass so the lovely lady could easily bound over to you. She nestled her nose into your palm and let out a snort. Above you, Luke chuckled at the sound.

“Name’s Petunia,” he said, bending down beside you to pet Petunia’s bum. “A friend of mine is moving ‘cross country—couldn’t keep her. I love the damn girl, so I immediately wanted to take her in. How’re the plants doing?”

“She’s the sweetest,” you mumbled. To him, to yourself—it didn’t matter. You were captivated. “And Betty, Calum, Tom, and Babe are great. The names, by the way? Genius. You have a talent. I’ll have to get you to name my plants. So far, I just have Candace and Big Mama.”

“Big Mama?” Luke’s short giggles filled the air. “I think you’ve got the talent, too.”

Petunia leaned into your scratches before turning back to Luke. So, you stood, brushing sandy dirt from your knees, and Luke soon followed.

“If you ever need someone to take care of her,” you said, “I’m always around. And I won’t make you bake anything. I’m a big dog person, so that’s already enough. I mean, I’m not opposed to a few cupcakes every now and then.”

A lopsided smile grew on Luke’s cheeks. “Red velvet?”

“It’s like you already know me,” you gasped out. “How was Manteo? That’s where you were, right?”

“Well, nothing beats free Cheerios in the mornings, so it wasn’t too bad,” he told you as he wrapped Petunia’s leash around his wrist. She nudged herself between his legs. “Manteo actually has a real downtown, so that was kinda nice.”

“You better not be thinking about leaving me.”

“Leave you? Never.”

Your heart fluttered in your chest.

“Besides, tourists down here are the reason any of us even have a job.” He scratched the corner of his eye as he spoke. “I’d rather not be saving drunk middle-aged men from rip currents, but I’d never leave Hatteras.”

The corners of your lips twitched upward. “Good, cos’ if you leave,” you said, pointing to your other neighbor’s house, “then I’m stuck with Judy and Ted. You can’t do that to me.”

“Oh, God, no.” His eyes widened as he shook his head. “I’d never do that to you. Or I’d just make you come with me.”

Now, your heart was on fire. You raised a brow in reaction to his statement, and his eyes widened again. The words had slipped out—that was easy to understand, but he couldn’t take them back. You wouldn’t want him to.

“Um, yeah—” Luke placed a hand on the back of his neck and backed away toward his home, Petunia following in tow. “Thanks for watering my plants. Expect cupcakes soon.”

“Don’t you dare.”

His grin reached his eyes. “Goodnight,” he said.

You were certain that you were a fool.

—

NC-12 was worse on Saturdays. The highway was congested with incoming and outgoing travelers, some careless and some too careful. On the way to work, you were among its passengers. Your baby blue bike was swallowed up whole by the minivans and SUVs that occupied the road. Somehow, you made it out alive every time. All it took was a spontaneous sharp turn from a truck to send you rolling onto the pavement.

It was a miracle you ended up with a dozen scrapes and a sprained wrist. The medical bill wasn’t worth missing a few days off of your paycheck, no matter how horrible the weekends could be. A few members of the rescue squad had shown up at the scene of the minor accident—you were glad that Luke hadn’t been with them. But you also wished that he had.

When you powered through the pain as you pedaled home, you weren’t sure if you wanted to see him. You weren’t sure if you wanted to see his reaction—mild injuries and all, and you weren’t sure if you wanted him to buy out all of the cupcakes on the island to make you feel better. Nevertheless, you didn’t have a choice. He was already getting out of his car once you pulled up.

He waved and smiled, and then his eyes grew wide. The scrape on your left cheek told all.

“Shit, love, you okay?” he said, walking towards you slowly. He kept his movements careful and calculated—he had seen the tears fill your eyes before you realized they were there.

“I’m dandy,” you replied breathily, waving your hand to shake off the emotions. The faux smile you put on only faltered, and the skin beneath your eyes stung.

Luke looked horrified. You could see the twitch in his hands, the way he almost reached out for you as he approached, but he held back. And you could see it in his eyes—all he wanted to do was make you feel better.

“You don’t happen to have any cupcakes, do you?” you asked with a sniff. Your smile wavered, and a small tear slipped down your cheek.

When he chose not to hold back—when he chose to pull you in close, then you decided not to hold back either. With his arms circled around your waist, you didn’t care about soaking through his t-shirt with your tears. You didn’t care that your breathing had picked up to near hyperventilation. You felt safe and warm, so you couldn’t care.

The hug lasted until your quiet sobs calmed. Luke’s chin pulled away from the top of your head as you wiped your cheeks with the back of your wrists.

“What happened?” he said, voice soft.

“Dumb vacationers—” Sniff. “—can’t use a fuckin’ turn signal.”

Luke let out a quiet sigh.

“I’m fine, I just… hurt.”

He glanced at his home over his shoulder and then back at you. “Would you wanna come over? I don’t have any cupcakes, but I have frozen pizza. And Petunia misses you.”

You could hear the unspoken words in his voice. I miss you.

This was what happened when you finally learned someone’s name.

You didn’t know how to explain it, but his living room looked like him. Light blue, wooden walls with collected posters unevenly nailed onto the panels. An old couch was the centerpiece, tan and woven with Petunia snuggled onto it with a blanket beneath her. Bookshelves full of CDs and vinyl records stood on either side of the room, but they had been untouched for some time. The home smelled like him, as strange as it sounded. Warm, woodsy, and comfortable.

From the couch, you sat up straight once the oven door shut. You counted each smell beep as the timer was set. Luke walked into the living room a moment later.

“You sure you don’t want some Advil or something?” he asked. “Or—I dunno—a beer? Maybe? I don’t have a lot, but—”

“A beer actually sounds good,” you said to him, folding your hands over your lap. “It’s been a bit of a shit day.”

He continued talking to you as he headed back into the kitchen. The home was small enough for any voice to carry, and you were glad he could maintain a conversation. That alone told you how much he cared. Despite how long you had lived on the island—a year and four months—and despite how long it took you to know him, it mattered greatly to you that he cared. You cared about him, too. It would be hard to see such a friendly face every day and think otherwise.

“Where’d they take you to get checked out?” he called to you from the next room over.

“Urgent care in Nags Head.”

“You’re kidding.” The sound of bottles clinking on the counter followed.

“Wish I was.”

Pop tops landed into a quiet clatter as he said, “how long were you there?” He joined you in the living room a few seconds later and handed you a bottle of Corona.

“Six hours.”

“Six hours?”

You nodded, sharing your best laugh before taking a sip of the fizzing liquid. “You better believe it. All for some cuts and a sprained-frickin’-wrist. And I’ll bet you my bill is gonna be chewing me up for the next year.”

Luke furrowed his brows and kept his gaze low. He appeared to be thinking about something else. “Did they call my squad?”

“A few guys showed up, yeah.”

He bit his bottom lip. “Dunno why they didn’t call me. I would’ve just took ya home.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

You couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t know that everything he said made your heart race pick up. If your day hadn’t been so long, then your nerves would’ve eaten you alive by now. You were lucky, for the katydid calls outside masked any hint of tension between you.

“Thanks for the drink,” you said, words heavy in your throat. Thinking about your nerves only made them worse. And being around him only made you want him more.

He had called you love earlier; it had to mean something.

Luke’s smile was small, but it said enough. “Anytime.”

Although the pizza was cold in the middle and the taste of your drink had gotten old, what mattered to you was the company. Not the sprained wrist that ached with each movement. Not the tight bandages that tugged at your skin because you shifted a certain way. Nothing about the day mattered because it brought you to this.

His laughter was hypnotic—intoxicating almost—and it took away your breath every time. Making him laugh was addicting. Getting to see those few moments when his eyes light up with joy put shame to the ocean only a mile or two away. You wondered how on earth it had taken so long to know him.

And still, you didn’t know him. Just a name, a face, and a dog named Petunia.

“So, the rescue squad, huh?” you teased at one point as you situated yourself closer to Petunia. You learned that her nickname was Piggy and that, while she was cute, she also had the stinkiest farts—according to Luke. Nevertheless, you pressed your face close to hers and smacked a kiss to her forehead. She rolled over to give you access to her tummy. “What’s it like?”

Luke’s soft smile was etched into his skin. “Fuckin’ stressful,” he answered. “But great. It’s like a family.”

“I can imagine it’s not the prettiest job.”

“No.” He shook his head, and his smile fell. As he spoke, he twirled his bottle on the edge of the coffee table. “It’s not. A lot of tourists just don’t pay attention to the ocean, y’know? We put a million signs out there, and they just think that it will never happen to them. Suddenly you get waves going different directions, and you’re floating out with the current. You never know what’s gonna happen.”

You furrowed your eyebrows as you listened. He took his job seriously; some people didn’t.

“It’s just—uh, s’just terrible to see it,” he continued, keeping his head down low. “When you save someone from the surf, but they’re not breathing… and then their families are there—their fuckin’ families are screaming and crying. They just wanted a fun day on the beach. And you gotta make sure that no one dies. I’m just lucky to not have seen it much.”

“It’s horrifying.”

He hummed. “Yeah. And I don’t like it when people call us heroes. Cos’ we’re not. I’m not. We’re doing our job. We wanna keep people safe. We wanna make sure no one has to go through that. B-but when it comes down to you, and you have someone’s life in your hands—” Tears pricked at his eyes, and he swallowed thickly before continuing. “—how the hell are you not gonna try to save them? People over-glorify hero moments. We’re all just trying to take care of each other so we’re not mentally scarred along the way.”

“I’ve seen it.”

“You have?”

“I used to vacation here as a teen with my family,” you said, “before I officially decided that tourists are the fucking worst. I just wanted to live here and be on my own. And you’re right—about the screaming and crying. The families stand there to break your heart. I bit my tongue until it bled when I saw that jet ski go out on the water. It doesn’t happen every day, so I just never assumed it would happen around me. Didn’t think forty minutes would pass with nonstop chest compressions. Didn’t think anyone would give up either. Maybe ‘hero’ isn’t the word, just ‘good people’.”

Luke’s eyes were glassy, but he smiled through it. His fingers twitched in your direction on the neck of his bottle. “So—” He cleared his throat. “—what do you do?”

“Oh, it’s my turn now?” you said, biting back a smile. “Just you wait until you hear about all of the trauma I get from being a motel receptionist. I’ll have you beat.”

Once again, his laughter filled the room. All you felt was warmth.

The house rocked after then, lights flickering with the gust, but the wind quickly died. You and Luke shared uncertain glances.

“I’m guessing it doesn’t usually do that.”

Luke shook his head. “Not usually.”

An empty bottle of Corona sat between your palms, moisture growing on the surface from how he made you feel. You asked yourself it was normal to feel this way, if it was something more than the sudden admiration of a mysterious neighbor. You liked him, but how much?

You wanted to spend every moment with him to figure it out. But the last thing you wanted was to overstay your welcome.

“Thanks for this, by the way,” you said, ducking your chin. “For the pizza and stuff. Maybe you’re not a bad neighbor after all.”

Luke smirked. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

Your knees creaked as you stood, bones still aching from the impact of the pavement. You wondered how many bruises would appear on your body by morning. Luke stood along with you, towering high but keeping his presence small. He had to know how much he affected you.

“Love you, Piggy,” you mumbled to Petunia with a quick scratch behind her ear.

She huffed in response.

Luke laughed. “She said I love you, too.”

“I’m gonna have to learn how to bake doggie treats for her.”

“But then she’s gonna love you more than she loves me.”

You smiled over your shoulder on your way toward the front door. His eyes had already been burning the back of your head. “That’s the goal,” you told him with one hand on the doorknob. “See you tomorrow?”

He bit the inside of his cheek and nodded. You swore you could see a hint of pink tint his cheeks. “See you tomorrow.”

—

A tropical storm was set to hit two days later. It became a hurricane overnight. Category 1. Category 2. It finally settled on 3, its path set for the Outer Banks before it was meant to swing up the East Coast. A mandatory evacuation was set in place by the next morning.

The air was thick, trees restless and wind loud as it picked up. The sky was a permanent dark gray, and the clouds looked like something one would see in a disaster movie. It wasn’t your first time dealing with tropical storms and hurricanes, but they never failed to make your heart race. The unpredictability—the fate of your home, your belongings, and so on—always scared you.

You loaded as much as you could into your Corolla. The wind didn’t care about your disheveled hair or how high it blew your shorts. It didn’t care that it was tossing sticks off of trees, down onto the roof of your home. You said a quick goodbye to the shingles while you were at it; a few were bound to end up in Pamlico Sound by the end of the week.

As you shut the car door, another door opened behind you. Luke rushed out of his home with Petunia toddling behind.

“You okay?” he called to you. He had two bags over his shoulders, another in his hands before he tossed them into the back of his Jeep. “Know where you’re headin’?”

“Think so,” you said over the wind. “Can’t wait to pee my pants in traffic. Any of the guard staying?”

Luke nodded as his curls danced around his chin. “They’re gonna be spotted up and down the coast. You stay safe out there, all right?”

“Yeah, you too.”

It wasn’t the preferred way of saying goodbye, but the hot, stale air trapped itself in your lungs. You were ready to greet the clicking air conditioner of your broken car like an old friend, and then one turn of the ignition turned into two, three, four, and many more. The headlights flickered off and on, yet the light never stayed long. You hit the steering wheel with the base of your palms in frustration.

A sudden knock at your passenger side window took all of the frustration away.

Luke opened up the door and said, “come with me.”

That was how you ended up beside him, stuck in two-hour traffic while you thought about the way his lips molded around words. Soft rock played quietly on the radio as you sat without making a sound. But it was comfortable silence. Thankful silence. The air before the storm disguised the thick tension.

Petunia wandered around the back seat, on occasion whining before flopping back down onto her blanket. Every so often, you would lean back and scratch her head, and Luke would smile at you. Unspoken words were better than no words at all.

“Tell me about yourself,” you said after a while. With the Bodie Lighthouse to your left, the ocean to your right, the wasn’t much else to keep you occupied. “Not like, childhood trauma stuff, but basic stuff. Favorite color, favorite food—that stuff.”

Luke had one hand on the wheel, the other pressed against his chin while he leaned on the car door. He faced the road yet had his eyes trained on you. “Well, what if I really wanna open up about my childhood traumas?” he asked playfully.

“Hey, I’m all ears. We’re gonna be stuck in traffic until the mainland.”

He chuckled and rubbed beneath his lips. You didn’t know that such a small action could make your cheeks flush. “Favorite color? Hm. Blue, I guess. Favorite food has gotta be those damn macaroons you made me. They were absolutely delicious, babe.”

Your smile lit up the car.

“If you wanna know everything about me, all you gotta do is check out my mum’s Facebook,” he said. “Liz Hemmings. She posts every photo I send her and talks about my love life when she’s bored.”

“Love life, huh?”

He huffs quietly. “Her profile has been a little dry lately then, I guess.” When his eyes found yours, a small smile grew on his lips. “She’d love you. I’ll have t’let you know when she comes to visit next.”

“Oh man,” you said. “I’m already meeting my neighbor’s mom.”

Luke chuckled. “Uh oh. I didn’t push it too far, did I?”

“Didn’t know we were there yet, s’all. But I’d be happy to meet her.”

He set his hand down on the gear shift. Inches away from yours. “She’d just wonder what the hell you’re doin’ around me. Tell you that you’re too good for me. Stuff like that. I mean, it’s true.”

“Just tell her that I can’t afford to move, so I’m stuck with you.”

“Aw, you don’t mean that.”

“Unfortunately, no. I don’t mean that.”

“Good,” he mumbled, glancing out the window. “Cos’ I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

—

The hurricane made landfall at two in the morning. The hotel walls of the Quality Inn shook and rain pattered hard against the window. The alarm clock beside the bed turned black. From across the room, you could barely hear Luke stir in his own bed. And despite the storm, your heart still tugged at the thought of him there with you.

The wind was the worst thing of all. You thought about your home, the plants you dragged inside, and the windsock you forgot to take down. Maybe Luke would let you borrow his. But all that mattered, in the moment, was the voice calling your name through the pitch-black night. Somehow, it carried over the storm, over the howling wind and the rain coming down in sheets. It pulled your heart right out of your chest.

Your eyes were heavy with sleep as you said, “Luke?

You could hear him turn over in bed, but through the dark, you could only make out the edges of his figure. You hoped he had turned to face you.

“Hey. You okay?” His voice was soft, and you felt the storm slowly slip away.

“Can’t sleep” you answered. “Not a big fan of storms.”

He was barely awake, quiet words of “wanna come over here?” floating in the air-conditioned air. Your own words were stuck in your throat. So you didn’t answer. You rose from your bed instead, feet padding to the opposite side of his bed before crawling under the sheets beside him. His warmth radiated off of him.

Luke’s hand was right beside your hand. You swore you could hear his breaths over the wind. If you were able to see his features so close to yours, you would cease to exist. Your heart had found a comfortable home in your throat.

Fingers wove in between yours, gentle and warm like they were barely there, but they were all you could feel. Rough in the right places. Luke’s hand rested on yours, his pulse beating low and steady.

You knew that words would steal the moment away.

As his fingers traced your skin, the heat in your chest grew. It was normal. It was beautiful. And it was yours. So you held his hand right back.

When his forehead met yours, you knew you were done for. The storm completely faded from your mind. Noses touched and breaths fell into sync, but your heartbeat was loud in your ears. All you could think about was the feeling of his lips brushing yours. You couldn’t remember when your eyes closed. The last thing you felt was Petunia nudging your foot at the end of the bed, and then you fell asleep in Luke’s arms.

The kiss was nothing but a dream.

You were allowed back on the island three days later. Unsaid things invaded your mind on the ride down the coast, but you couldn’t bring it upon yourself to say a word. Luke was busy humming along to every song that came on the radio. That was all you needed to hear.

Pelican Perch road was covered with leaves and natural debris, but the homes were well intact. As the car neared the end of the street, you caught a glimpse of your windsock swaying in the breeze. It was a miracle it hadn’t blown away.

Luke helped you with your bags in silence, a small exchange of smiles and brushing hands to fill in the empty space instead. This wasn’t how you wanted it to be. Yet, you never said anything.

Once the night crept in, you could no longer distract yourself with streaming movies through overused cellular data. The power was still out on the island. Everything in your fridge had gone bad, and your phone was near death by ten o’clock. And the winds, despite the long-gone storm, carried on.

You slipped on a pair of flip-flops—never mind the wet, sandy dirt caked around the edges—and walked over to Luke’s. The bugs were especially loud that night. There were no lights to guide you, no way of knowing where you were stepping, and then something hit you. Someone.

“Jesus,” he muttered, gripping your elbow to balance you.

“Luke?”

“It’s me.”

You set your hand on his arm just to feel him. His hold on you never left. “What’re you doing out here?”

“Well—” His hand slipped down to your wrist as he chuckled. Beautiful. “Comin’ to find you, I guess. You okay?”

“I’ve got a hankering for ice cream, but it’s all melted,” you said. “But I don’t suppose your freezer is working anyway. I just didn’t wanna be alone.”

“Me either, darling.”

“Darling. That’s nice.”

“Yeah?”

“I like it.”

He stepped closer to you, slow hands finding yours.

“Coming to find me, huh?” you asked.

Luke hummed and set his forehead on yours. Now, you didn’t know what to say. You figured it was best to not say anything at all. You leaned into the kiss and allowed his lips to mold against yours. Every moment you were apart was replaced with another kiss, excelling in desperation and satisfying any need through its touch. It was heavenly and full of heat and desire.

He cupped your cheek, pressing himself closer to you as he deepened the kiss one last time. You were breathless and cold without him near.

“I still owe you cupcakes, don’t I?” he asked quietly. You could see his smile through the night.

“At least two dozen by now.”

His chuckle filled your heart with warmth. “Anything for you, love. Would you like to come inside?”

You tightened your grip in his hand. “Gladly.”

—

hey! thanks for reading! since i haven’t been in the game for a while, i’m gonna tag a few ppl, if that’s ok! @goth5sos @irwinkitten @sublimehood @softforcal @cxddlyash @wildflowergrae hi y’all <3

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babylon-cal · 5 years ago

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Wildflower {c.h}

Pairing : Calum x Gender Neutral Reader

Requested : by @wildflower-tae : hiiii!! first of all i love your blog,i've followed you for a long time and i love your content. can i request like a scenario/imagine/one shot idk what's the difference haha,with calum based on their song 'wildflower' ? you can do whenever you want with it. hope u have a good day/night. love u,stay safe ♡

Warnings : Mentions of Non-Descriptive Sex

Word Count : 1.7k

Wildflower (noun) a flower of an uncultivated variety or a flower growing freely without human intervention.

Nothing about how you two met was cliche. It wasn’t like those moments in cheesy HBO rom-coms where the two love interests would lock eyes with each other from across the room in a party, immediately knowing what to say and falling in love soon after. It wasn’t bumping into each other on the street, causing a clumsy exchange followed by soft glances and one of them asking for the other’s number. You and Calum had met naturally, on a random Saturday night. It wasn’t fate. It just happened. Maybe it was a coincidence.

You had snuck out your bedroom window, your feet landing on the grass below. Dressed in your large coat that was wrapped around your old t-shirt and fell to the mid-thigh of your jeans, you jogged across the lawn and out onto the street. The wind blew against your face and hair as you did so. You didn’t have a plan on where to go but you just let your legs carry you to wherever it wanted to, turning left into another street and past the corner shop that you always bought your ice cream from. You were walking now, your hands in the pocket of your coat, one of them fiddling with your pack of cigarettes, the cardboard slightly torn on the edges.

You approached the neighbourhood football field, the only source of light being a streetlight that stood a few metres away. The empty mass of green in the darkness was such a contrast to the usual bright and cheerful atmosphere of children running around after a football for hours, their giggles and yells floating into the air. The two goals that were on either end of the field had rusted posts, the white paint chipped in some places, exposing the reddish brown metal underneath. On the adjacent sides of the fields, were some empty wooden bleachers that looked unfamiliar since they were usually occupied by parents during the friendly football matches that the neighbourhood committee organised every month.

As you approached one of them, you noticed someone sitting on the top of the bleacher seats. He was wearing a dark coloured hoodie and sweatpants, with a beanie nestled neatly on his head. He had a cigarette between his fingers and he didn’t notice you to the left of him, swinging over the railing to land about 3 feet away from where he was.

“Got room for one more?,” His head turned to notice you, hands in your coat pocket, a small smile on your face. He blinked for a few seconds before speaking up.

“Sure, why not?” He took another hit of his cigarette as you sat next to him, a few inches of space between both your legs. You took out your pack and pulled out a tab. “Here, let me,” Calum said, offering to light it for you with his lighter. He was definitely more friendly that you would have thought him out to be, judging from how he looked at first glance. His thick eyebrows accompanied with the moderate amount of facial hair above his lip and across his jaw and chin made him come across as slightly intimidating, his voice being a contributing factor to that as well. You placed the cigarette between your lips as he lighted it for you, his eyes meeting yours momentarily. You used this to give him a cheeky, flirtatious look causing him to awkwardly look down at the flame, only to find a particular interest in the shape of your lips as an orange hue from the fire casted itself on them.

“I’m Calum, by the way,” his voice was deep but also soft at the same time, like the feeling you get across your arms when a warm blanket wraps around them when it’s raining outside. Tingles that lasted for a few seconds.

I hear you calling out my name, I love the sound

“Calum?” you repeated and took a puff. You hated how terrible it tasted - like a bunch of household chemicals, which was easy to say it might as well be, to be fair. The first time you smoked, you remembered it being so dry and it burned your throat but it calmed you down. Since then, it always felt like your lungs were wrapped in a warm blanket - like Calum’s voice did to you just a few seconds ago.

I love the taste

Only yourself and Calum knew how you ended up connected at the lips, the cigarettes dropped from your hands and falling through the crack between the rows and onto the grass below, burning themselves out. Your hands were wrapped around his neck, while he had one hand on your thigh as his other pressed against your back. You could taste the herbs and chemicals on his lips and was certain he could taste them on yours as well. However, you were too busy focusing on how it felt - surprisingly soft, not at all chapped, and the tiny hairs around them poked at your face. It tickled a little bit. His hand on your thigh radiated a heat that you had never found anywhere else.

And I can see it in your face, you’ve got a side you can’t explain

Kissing Calum felt like an escapade from the daily hustle of everyday life, being a victim of capitalism and forced social conformity. Conventions trying to label everybody and categorise them into boxes. Kissing Calum felt like a “fuck that” to all those things. It felt like eating chocolate cake at 3a.m. because no one can tell you not to or taking long drives across the empty streets at 7a.m. to watch the sunrise in a lookout because no one really takes the time to appreciate something like that anymore. Not like you would ever let this man you just met know this, regardless of whether he had his tongue in your mouth or not.

You always thought your mind to be like the universe - ever-expanding with all its multiple complex structures and forms, where no one really understands what they’re ALL for or how they got to be but it takes a long time for an outside body to discover and understand its functions, compositions and complexities. That was just how your brain was wired, you let it do its own thing - there was no need for intervention.

Unlike you, kissing a random stranger they had just met was out of Calum’s nature. At least, since he turned 20. However, there was something about your energy and presence that made him feel impulsive, dare he say maybe even careless. All of his personal convictions and promises he made to himself seemed to shrink and hide themselves in the back of his mind when he let go of his inhibitions to impulsively press his lips to yours.

You’re telling me you wanna come over, you wanna be closer

You pulled apart from the passionate exchange, your lips distanced by only a few inches. The heavy breathing led to the smell of tobacco and tar overwhelmingly stimulating your senses causing slight discomfort to settle at the back of your throat. Calum’s hand had moved further up your thigh, his large hand now resting on the side of your ass and the warmth radiated through the material of your jeans.

“Let’s go back to your place,” you suggested and he fully agreed. Going back with a man you just met? Sounds like a wish for the most awful things you could think of but you took the risk anyway, especially when he gave your ass a gentle squeeze and kissed you again for a few seconds. He let out a low hum as he did so, the small transfer of vibrations from his throat drove you absolutely mad.

Cuz I know where tonight is going

The walk back to Calum’s house was spent with paced footsteps and your hand gently held in his. The air was colder now, and you felt it breeze through your hair. During this time Calum had learnt a few things about you, realising that you were quite the opposite to him. As the headlights of the black Subaru shone as it drove in the opposite direction of your walk, the conversation between the two of you had led Calum to ask you what your plan for the future was.

“I don’t know,” was all you replied, a small smile tugged at your lips. His face was drawn to confusion soon enough, his eyebrows furrowing as he glanced at you.

“You don’t know? How do you not know?” By this point you were at his front door. He searched for his keys and unlocked the door.

“Less talking,” you replied, closing the door behind you as you entered and pulling him in by the collar to connect your lips hastily. Soon enough, a trail of clothes were left leading up to his room with the night ending in heavy breaths and the creaking of the beds shrouded in secrecy within the four walls.

You’re the only one that makes me…, everytime we…,

Calum had found your carefree, liberated nature absolutely fascinating and the sex felt like something out of a dream. Intense, passionate and almost like a haze when it ended but it was the best each of you could have asked for. It happened again, and Calum knew that if he gave in, you would be up all night tangled with each other.

I’ll tell you what I like

He had asked you for your number as you put your clothes on at the foot of the bed. If it wasn’t for the bedside lamp that he had turned on, the room would be in pitch darkness. As you tied your shoelaces, you looked up to him when he asked the question, the covers now covering the lower half of his body. You blinked over the tattoos that were intricately spread out across his torso, noticing a MMXII under his right collarbone.

My wildflower

“Well, I usually don’t give my number out,” you said walking towards him. “because i just like meeting people or bumping into them,” you paused “but..” you leaned in closer to his face “maybe I’ll see you around the football field again,” you pressed a kiss to his cheek and proceeded to leave his house, leaving him wondering and desperate to see you again and as much as he wanted to be able to see you what he wanted, he figured by now that you’re a wildflower, growing freely without human intervention.

#calum hood imagine #calum hood one shot #calum hood x reader #calum imagine #calum hood #calum one shot #calum #5sos imagin #5sos one shot

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bluuxriising · 4 years ago

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-- compass points you anywhere (. closer to me .)

everytime you leave – i prevail (ft. delaney jane) / the crow & the butterfly – shinedown / halo – starset / take me to church – hozier / easier – mansionair / beautiful mess – kristian kostov / runnin’ – adam lambert / center of attention – jackson waters / goodbye apathy – onerepublic / love lies – khalid (ft. normani) / nothing without you – tanerelle / make me feel like – saint motel / wings – birdy / compass – zella day / carnival of rust – poets of the fall / fix you – danny olsen (ft. jadelyn) / all of me – john legend / ocean eyes – billie eilish / somebody to die for – hurts / the cure – lady gaga / say when – the fray / you are the reason – calum scott / dusk till’ dawn – zayn (ft. sia) / pieces – red / diamonds – rihanna / here without you – 3 doors down / it’s not over – daughtry / sweater weather – the neighborhood / sky’s still blue – andrew belle / banana clip – miguel / mirrors – justin timberlake / die for you – starset / stargirl – the weeknd (ft. lana del rey)

[LISTEN HERE]

#WINTER IN BLUU II * BLUU x BUCKY #playlist #this took a whole day to make but I did it!#the white wolf and the goddess of the sea #I KNOW THOSE EYES II * REDWINTERXWHITEWOLF #these two have my heart forever and always

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heartcal · 5 years ago

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snowmen; l.h.

and finally i have finished this weekend’s holiday writing! (albeit i’m a tad bit late as it’s already monday now lol) i’m excited this upcoming weekend’s pieces, they tackle a more serious topic that seems to resonate with this year.

anyway i hope you all are staying warm and staying safe this upcoming winter! please continue to wear masks to protect our frontline workers, the elderly, high risk, and your family! :^)

enjoy! (let me know if there are any mistakes!)

check out the others: ashton // michael // calum

my masterlist!

pairing: luke hemmings x reader

genre: fluff!

wc: 393 words

“Why’d you make him so tall?” You whine as you struggle to put the two buttons on the snowman’s head.

Laughing at your attempts, he grabs the buttons and puts them on the head, “I thought you were taller!”

You roll your eyes at him before laughing with him.

Taking a few steps back together, you admire your work. He was lopsided, due to his height, but it was endearing. He had one long arm, with three tiny branches for the fingers, while the other arm was smaller in length but thicker in width and no fingers. The scarf was your failed attempt at making Luke’s birthday present earlier that year when you began learning how to knit, and his “hat” was the shovel head Luke tried to use to clear a path to the shed (not realizing it had rusted).

“Should we give him a family?” Luke asks, scratching his beard.

You nod, heading to the left of the snowman while Luke heads to the right.

“I can give him a partner, you can give him a kid since you’re small,” he teases while adjusting his mittens.

You grab a handful of snow and throw it at him, “Stop making fun of my height!”

He laughs and kneels, letting you make the snowman’s partner while he makes the child.

You tried to make the snowman’s partner just as tall as the snowman, but you couldn’t seem to get it high enough. Settling on making it your height, you take off your scarf and wrap it around the new snowman, grabbing some rocks scattered around you for the eyes and mouth. After putting in the sticks for arms you step back, Luke finishing at the same time as you.

“You know,” Luke begins, putting his arm around you to pull you closer to him as he takes in the three snowmen, “this could be our family portrait.”

You blush, “I think it’d be a cute Christmas card, like announcing a pregnancy or something.”

His attention diverts to you, “Are you…?”

You smile softly, shaking your head, “Not yet,” you look towards the snow family in front of you, “but I’d take a picture of this family for future use if you’d like.”

His smile mirrors yours, widening as he takes his phone out to take the picture.

“I like that idea a lot.”

#5sos imagines #5sos blurbs #5sos drabbles #5sos one shots #5 seconds of summer imagines #5 seconds of summer blurbs #5 seconds of summer one shots #5 seconds of summer drabbles #luke hemmings imagines #luke hemmings blurbs #luke hemmings drabbles #luke hemmings one shots

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pettynam · 4 years ago

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Biko

Willet

Dallon Wheeks

Askari

Baguette

Waffle

Baliyo

Woodson

Linkers

Sage

Sausage

Feta

Sâhasí

Midnight

Growler

Pancake

Critter

Kugabu

Taco

Sixtus

Renatus

Ignatius

Little King Trashmouth

El Diablo

Janja

Genji

Lykoi

Gir

Zim

Coffee Bean

Uncle Max

Yogi

Turbo

Lutra Lutra

Moo Moo

Blinkin

Niall

Mango

Aslan

Koi

Frog King

Akkoro Kamui

Kuchi Kopi

Scottjon Dansteve

Big Ben

Dumbledore

Toboggan

Chubs

Taj

Lionel

Hans

Hendrix

Colonel Fluffers

Kestrel

Aang

Skip Marooch

Pesto

Ridge

Sparrow

Sphinx

Uncle Feathers

Harrison

Wilder

Zev

The Beaver

Wagstaff

Meadowlark

Lautoro

Heron

Dr. Ernest Hawk

Gannet

Kojima

Money Goose

Syrup

Mr. Cow

Jaribu

Wiko

Chumvi

Lance

Mr. Pinecone

Pine

Meadow

Sudeikis

McConkey

Zazu

Apollo

Aspen

Caspian

Rafiki

Dove

Buddah

Clover

Namaste

Ghandi

Drew P. Neck

Pickles

Cheese

Fromage

Bat Broom Mr. Flapjack

James Van Der Beak

Armisen

Rust Stain

Mr. Fishsticks

Appa

Zox

Simba

Pumbaa

Scar

Mufasa

Jackknife

Gator

Rosewood

Carlo

Peregrine

Sphenoid

Incus

Mr. Bear

Moon

Thorax

Ozuru

Ortega

Paco

Jericho

Bosco

Starling

Bruno

Zorobabel

Norbert

Ted Leo

Kyro

Sparrow

Letchworth

Zamir

Talon

Remus

Clarence

Percy

Puppy

Albus

Goigoi

Dogo

Ivo

Artemis

Pudge

Zito

Octavian

Ziga

King Sokwe

Majinuni

Shujaa

Kiazi

Pãgala

Bob Burger

Krud'dha

Burger

Bambun

Ajabu

Abu

Kambuni

Domog

Bogino

Kifaru

Young Rhino

Bupu

Boboka

Hitashi

Nabasu

Kwato

Masikio

Kongwe

Azaad

Moose

Old Civet

Tompok

Makuu

Hadithi

Art

Seisou

Yun Mibu

Pete Zaparti

Binga

Flint

Kopa

Echo

Happy

Shark

Kinyonga

Mapigano

Kitendo

Valentine

Loki

Zucker

Bird

Rain

Calum

Crawford

Chai

Grover

Rex

Crow

Lotus

Lyman

Benjiro

Ichiro

North

Kazuo

Ringo

Vail

Oricorio

Pumpkaboo

Rockruff

Bernie

Skiddo

Keldeo

Zekrom

Rufflet

Bear

Pablo

Montero

Abel

Shauku

Vullaby

Cubchoo

Beartic

Sawsbuck

Vincent

Deerling

Roserade

Rampardos

Luxio

Piplup

Sealeo

Walrein

Whiscash

Swablu

Spinda

Torkoal

Wailord

Vigoroth

Wingull

Swellow

Taillow

Luicolo

Zigzagoon

Stantler

Houndour

Houndoom

Mantine

Octillery

Corsola

Qwilfish

Quagsire

Sunflora

Jumpluff

Skiploom

Sudowoodo

Azumarill

Bellossom

Xatu

Crobat

Chinchou

Onyx

Noctowl

Furret

Quilava

Seaking

Horsea

Fred

Quintillius

Tulius

Gopher

Baton

Murph

Gulliver

Pidgey

Barack

Greene

Rutherford

Wailmer

Kylo

Sharpedo

Keith Moon

Hugo

Ned the Elephant

Little Jimmy

Horace

Kovu

Lake

Meadow

Tarintino

Remington

Lobo

Static

Elon

Ludo

Hornsby

Roscoe

Rocco

Aliki

Cousteau

Quillson

Bones

Mjomba

Goose

Inkwell

Jairo

Mr. Business

Indigo

Croque

Frobert

Ribbot

Wart Jr

Quint

Ezra

Quentin

Forrest

Enzo

Leland

River

Dalton

Oscar

Gus

Dallon

Silas

Draper

Irving

Judah

Emmett

Isaac

Basil

Walter

Wilbur

Miles

Jasper

Adam

Beau

Warren

Leif

Ronan

Cedric

Levi

Cecil

Atlas

Edgar

Finn

Leo

Rowan

Romeo

Everett

Keith

Lucius

Remus

Bruno

Lowell

Arden

Horatio

Ike

Winston

Rudy

Keaton

Errol

Bjørn

Rory

Valentino

Emerson

Ross

Servius

Sven

Dexter

Gem

Julio

Dorian

Gustav

Oskar

Cyril

Felix

Peep

Speedy the Snail

Boss Beaver

Toucan Dan

Rabbit

Gonzo

Fletcher

Denali

#boys

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sysba · 5 years ago

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𝔹𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕒 & 𝔼𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕟: ᴀ ᴘʟᴀʏʟɪꜱᴛ

i. need to know (calum scott) // ii. it will rain (bruno mars) // iii. temporary love (ben platt) // iv. i almost do (taylor swift) // v. where’s my love (syml) // vi. adore you (harry styles) // vii. she (elvis costello) // viii. chemicals (dean lewis) // ix. white blank page (mumford & sons) // x. soldier (james tw) // xi. falling (trevor daniel) // xii. next to you (of rust & bone) // xiii. heart’s on fire (passenger) // xiv. ocean eyes (billie eilish) // xv. dive (ed sheeran)

#ethan ramsey #myedits #myposts #kat tag

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the-boy-branithar · 5 years ago

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Luke and Michael are the ones who /look/ the most broken, with all their rust and stuff, but Calum's the one who malfunctions the most. He usually brushes it off as fine and Ashton and Michael have to physically hold him down so Ashton can fix him.

tumblr deleted my answer right before i posted so let me see if i can remember

What if Calum’s creator hadn’t built many automatons before so right from the beginning there were so many issues :(( Ashton is having to fix/replace all his parts as fast as they can get new ones, but Calum’s body is incompatible with everything in some way, so for every repair they end up with a bunch of new problems :((

#ask #5sos #its time for angst!

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cassiusreyes · 6 years ago

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&&.words unspoken // cassius&.giselle

@giselleendiron

#( each step i take forward; i take three steps behind | musing )#( my silent fears will grip me long before i reach the phone | cassuis&.giselle )#playlist #wow love myself haven't even DONE ANYTHING YET

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glitter505 · 7 years ago

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Stop Apologising (Calum Hood)

Hi guys, got a Cal pic for you, idk if I wanna write a part 2 for this just yet, but if you want it lemme know.

Based on this request: was thinking maybe an imagine where calum and her are in uni and she’s majoring in international relations and gets picked to go abroad for a semester to help a developing country and calum is like mad about it and SHE COMES BACK ANDS ITS LIKE AJDNDJD THEY MEET AGAIN AND HE REGRETS BEING SO RUDE OR WHATEVE PLEASE

This request has been sitting in my notes for AGES (I’m sorry to the anon who requested it) and I’ve only had inspiration for it now! (Cal also isn't in much of this so i probably will make a part 2 for this with maybe some soft smut)

Warnings: Swearing

Masterlist

“Look, it’s only for a semester.” You screamed across your dorm room watching as Calum pulled at his hair in frustration.

“I know it’s only a fucking semester but you could have at least told me you were leaving!” He shouted back, his voice hoarse from the screaming match that had gone on for well over an hour.

“Nothing was-“

“I know nothing was certain but we’ve been together two years and you didn’t think that I might want to know you’d be away in Iran for four fucking months.”

“Look, I’m going and if you don’t want to be here when I get back then that’s fine.”

The memories of the last time you and Cal spoke whirled through your head throughout the taxi ride back to your University house. As much as you still loved Cal the way he’d reacted to your semester away still left the seed of resentment rooted in your mind. You just couldn’t wrap your head around the way the situation had panned out, you’d never had tried to stop him from chasing his dreams like he had with you. But then again you had kept him in the dark about it until the day before you left.

You took in a sharp inhale as your taxi pulled up outside your house and the driver began unloading your bags. “Thanks.” You smiled flatly as you begrudgingly paid the driver and stepped out, throwing your backpack on your back and pushed the door open, cringing as the rusted metal scraped together.

You barged your front door open with your shoulder, immediately allowing your heavy back pack to slide off of your shoulders and thump onto the hard-wood floor. Your housemate Frankie poked her head out of the door at the commotion squealing as soon as she saw you stood in the lounge. “You’re back!” She exclaimed as she ran through your apartment and pulled you in for a hug. “Right get ready, we’re going out for drinks and I want to hear all about it.”

As exhausted as you were from travelling you couldn’t stand being in the same apartment you’d broken up with Cal in just four months earlier, the air still felt thick and heavy with sadness. “Sure, what should I wear?” You asked, pushing a reluctant smile onto your face.

“Well, I was thinking we could go to the new Italian that opened while you were away.” Frankie smiled knowing how much you loved pasta. “So like, jeans and a nice top.”

You nodded your head, looking forward to binging on your favourite cuisine after months of craving it. And the thought of getting a little dressed up ignited excitement inside you; after spending the past four months in loose fitting clothes, with your hair covered out of respect for the Iranian culture it would be nice to apply a little makeup and style your hair nice.

You hopped in the shower enjoying the feeling of the warm water washing away the residual tension from your flight. Your fingers massaged your shampoo into your scalp as you thought back to before you’d gone away. Of course you regretted leaving the country with any animosity towards Cal, it left an agonising veil hanging over your whole trip when you’d return to your hotel room every evening with no one to call and gush about the amazing things you’d seen. The bitter truth was you were still in love with Calum, even now, and no matter how hard you tried push your feelings down, accept that you were no longer a couple, the thought of him smiling at you with those deep brown eyes rose into your mind and sent a flutter into your heart.

You shut the water off, scrunching your eyes together as your tears mingled with the water droplets gliding down your face. You grabbed the fluffy, purple towel you’d thrown over the brim of the sink and pressed it to your eyes, as you pulled yourself together. You wrapped the towel around your body and exited the bathroom into your bedroom. You quickly dried your body and changed into some clean underwear before flinging your wardrobe doors open and rifling through the hangers draped in clothes. Overwhelming was the only word you could think of as you looked through the overflowing rail of fabric. After months of coping with a few select outfits the pressure of choosing your clothing overwhelmed you massively.

“Frankie!” You called through your apartment as you poked your head through the door, giggling to yourself as she emerged into the lounge one half of her face made-up, dressed in the silk robe Luke, her boyfriend had brought for her.

“You okay?” She asked with a worried frown on her face, clearly oblivious to you being stood in your underwear.

“Yeah, just need a little help deciding what to wear.” You smiled as she followed you into your room. “‘M gonna wear these,” You pulled out your favourite pair of blue wash mom jeans, “Just don’t know what to wear them with.”

Frankie pondered for a second, her index finger tapping against her lips as she looked into the mess which was your wardrobe. “Oh!” She exclaimed as she ran back towards her room, returning with an emerald green camisole in her hand. “This would look perfect.”

You took it from her, your fingers fiddling with the lacy neckline. A bra would definitely be out of the question, you thought, as you noticed the spaghetti straps. “Thanks.” You nodded as she left the room.

“You’re welcome. Will you be ready to leave by 6?” She asked as she stopped in your doorway.

You nodded, “Yeah, I just need to get changed and throw some makeup on.”

“Okay, fab.” She grinned as she continued padding back to her room.

Once she was gone, you pulled your jeans over your legs, surprised to see they buttoned up a little easier than they did before your trip, before unclasping your bra and pulling the cami over your head. You studied yourself in the full-length mirror attached to the outside of your wardrobe and tucked the cami into the jeans. You felt good. The outfit accentuated your figure and the green of Frankie’s top looked beautiful next to your skin tone.

You quickly applied a think layer of makeup, wanting the healthy glow your skin had picked up in Iran to shine through. “You ready to go?” Frankie smiled as you flicked the mascara wand through your lashes.

“Yep.” You grinned as you fastened the cap back on and zhushed your hair up before spritzing yourself with your signature perfume and grabbing your purse.

The restaurant was as amazing as Frankie had made it out to be; fairy lights were strung from the ceiling, small candles adorned the table, the bare brick walls contrasted perfectly with the distressed wood tabled. And the food was to die for. You sat opposite Frankie as she tucked into her risotto, a bottle of wine rested in a metal cooler beside you as you poured yourself a glass.

“So you never told me how your semester away was.” Frankie smiled as she took a sip of her wine to wash down her food.

“Oh Frankie, it was amazing!” You gushed through a mouth full of your pasta. You swallowed the food quickly, taking a sip of your own rosé, careful not to drink too much as you’d been living in a dry country for four months and your body was no longer accustomed to the effects of alcohol. “It was so beautiful and the people are so friendly. And the history is so fascinating, you could be there for a lifetime and there would still be new things to see.”

Frankie smiled as you enthused about your time away and she couldn’t have been more proud of you. She’d met you on the first day of university two and a half years ago; she was a few years older than you and decided to approach you. You’d been as timid as a mouse back then and wouldn’t say boo to a goose; and looking at the woman you’d evolved into now caused her heart to swell with pride. You were travelling the world, doing what you wanted to do. “I’m so proud of you.” She squeaked as she grabbed your hand, receiving a bashful ‘stop’ from you, the shy girl who you came to university still poking through.

“So have you called Cal to tell him you’re back?” She asked, completely unaware of what had gone down before you’d left.

The colour drained from your face as you downed the rest of your wine. “Didn’t I tell you?” You asked.

“Tell me what?”

“Cal and I broke up before I left.” You confessed watching Frankie as an unreadable expression flashed across her face.

“What?! Why?” She exclaimed, her voice booming above the indistinct chatter of the restaurant. You sunk down into your chair avoiding a few fleeting stares from other customers in the room but most of all to avoid Frankie’s eyes boring into you.

“We had a huge argument before I left and I said some things I really regret now.” You confessed, pouring yourself another glass of wine; and judging by the look Frankie was giving you, you were gonna need it.

“What happened?” She asked consciously trying to lower her voice.

You frowned slightly, not wanting to live that night out again. “I didn’t, uh, tell him I was going away for the semester until the night before.”

“You didn’t tell him?” She whisper-shouted as you cringed in your seat.

“I know it was stupid of me. But my visa only came in the day before I was supposed to leave so nothing was certain. It all just sort of escalated from there.” You smiled feebly, tears threatening to fall down your cheeks. You knew you should’ve told him before but by keeping it to yourself you could believe that you didn’t have to be without him for a semester.

“Oh, Y/N.” Frankie smiled at you sympathetically, taking your hand in hers. “Are you gonna reach out to him?”

You sighed, the million dollar question was whether he’d actually talk to you.

“I don’t know.” You muttered as you pushed your food around your plate, the pasta you’d found so delicious ten minutes ago now made you feel like you were going to throw up.

You were so deep in your thoughts you didn’t notice Frankie checking her phone, Luke had messaged her saying that the apartment was ready for the two of you to come back to. Her fingers were quick on the screen as she typed out, is calum there?. Her fingers picked at the curled edges of her screen protector as the three dots appeared as the side of her screen.

yeah, we literally had to drag him here though x

Nerves settled in Frankie’s stomach as she shoved her phone into her bag. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. “Want me to grab the cheque?” She asked, drawing your attention.

“Are you sure?” You asked, seeing food still on her plate.

“Course.” She nodded towards you as the waiter approached your table.

By the time the two of you were climbing the stairs to your apartment whatever had gone down at the restaurant was long forgotten and you were back to your usual selves. Although, you could tell the wine had obviously began to make home in your system and you were starting to feel a little giddy.

“Bare with.” Frankie giggled as she began fiddling with her keys, trying to find one that unlocked the front door amongst the one you didn’t even know what they were for.

“Let me.” You chuckled taking the keys from her hand and pushing the right one into the lock and pushing the slightly stiff door into the lock.

A chorus of “Surprises” caused you to jump out of your skin as you entered the threshold of your lounge. The keys dropped to the floor with a crash as you scanned the room which was filled with your friends from university and ‘welcome home’ banners and balloons.

“Oh my God.” You squeaked, your hands covering your mouth as you scanned the grinning faces staring back at you, until you reached the pair of brown eyes you were most anxious to see. They were boring into you making it impossible to look away.

“So what d’ya think?” Frankie grinned from behind you, your reaction making her jump for joy.

You were speechless as you turned around and pulled her into a warm hug. “I can’t believe you did this.” You whispered into her ear completely in awe of how she kept this a secret, usually Frankie blabbed whatever secret she found out within five minutes of knowing it.

You released her from your grasp, leaving her side to greet and mingle with party goers until you realised there was one person you hadn’t spoken to and he was nowhere to be found. You frowned, looking through the hoards of people in your apartment, eyes focussing on his group of friends but he still wasn’t there. You shook your head knowing exactly where he’d be. You quietly wandered into your room and closed the door silently behind you, the curtains billowing at the end of the room immediately catching your attention.

You pulled your boots off and padded across the room and climbed through the window onto the metal grated floor of the fire escape below. The metal froze your feet as you stepped along the walk-way until you reached the stairs. “Thought you’d be out here.” Your voice was smaller than you were expecting, you were almost surprised when Cal tilted his head up to look at you, the smoke from his cigarette drifting from between his plump lips. “Budge up.”

Cal silently slid along the stair, leaving enough room for you to perch down next to him. “I’m sorry.” You breathed, “About everything. I was so stupid for not telling you and not calling and I know we can’t go back to how we used to be but-”

“Stop. Stop apologising.” He said, his large hand interlocking his fingers with yours, his thumb gently rubbing against the gold ring he’d brought you for your first anniversary, the one you hadn’t taken off throughout your entire semester away. “You were a massive dick for not telling me you were going.” He stated, laughing as you pulled your hands away from his. “But, my feelings for you haven’t changed.”

Your eyes turned up to look at him to find his gazing down at you longingly. “Mine haven’t about you either.” A sheepish smile grazed across your mouth. “So where do we go from here?”

“I mean, you haven’t told me about your semester abroad yet, so we can start with that.”

A giggle escaped your lips as your lips as you stood from the cold metal steps, holding your hand out for Cal to take. “I’ll tell you everything one we’re back inside in the warm because it’s freezing out here.”

-x-

Feedback is always appreciated and please let me know if you’d like a part 2 for this!

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