#assignment expert in sunshine

[httpvomitello]

Could you do a Pansy Parkinson x Hufflepuff!reader where it's a enemies to lovers type deal (btw I love your new theme)

Hello, helloo! Awn, thank you for liking the new theme. I hope you like it ~ ♡

Love and Loathing .｡*･ﾟﾟ

Summary: You and Pansy Parkinson have never gotten along. She thought you were too soft for a Hufflepuff, and you thought she was the most insufferable Slytherin to ever exist. The insults, the glares, the endless competition—it was a cycle neither of you had any interest in breaking.

pansy parkinson x m!reader

You had no idea what you had done to deserve this level of punishment.

Professor Snape stood at the front of the classroom, his expression impassive as he read off the last of the partner assignments.

"And lastly—Parkinson and Y/N."

Your stomach dropped.

A few muffled laughs sounded around the room as you turned, locking eyes with her.

Pansy Parkinson was already glaring.

"Are you serious?" she snapped, crossing her arms. "You’re pairing me with him?"

"Unless you’d like to fail this assignment, Miss Parkinson," Snape said dryly, "I suggest you take your seat and get to work."

You sighed, moving toward the empty chair beside her. "This is your worst nightmare? Imagine how I feel."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You should be grateful to be partnered with me."

"Grateful?" You let out a disbelieving laugh. "For what, exactly?"

"For saving you from getting paired with some idiot who doesn’t know a bezoar from a rock," she said, flipping her hair dramatically.

You gave her a look. "Yeah. This is definitely my lucky day."

Working with Pansy was a nightmare.

Not because she was bad at Potions—on the contrary, she was actually pretty good. But because she had an opinion on everything.

"You’re stirring it wrong," she snapped one afternoon, snatching the spoon from your hand.

You gritted your teeth. "Pardon me, Your Highness. Didn’t realize you were the Stirring Expert."

She ignored you, fixing your work.

And then there was her ability to complain about literally anything.

"Merlin, Hufflepuffs are so boring," she groaned as you two sat in the library. "How do you even survive with all that sunshine-and-rainbows nonsense?"

You raised an eyebrow. "Yes, because Slytherins are just bursting with warmth and charm."

She smirked. "Exactly."

You shook your head, but despite yourself, you almost smiled.

Almost.

It was late one evening, and you were both the only ones left in the library, finishing up your final draft for the project.

Pansy was unusually quiet.

You glanced up, surprised to find her staring at nothing, her expression almost... sad?

"What?" you asked, setting your quill down.

She blinked, snapping out of it. "Nothing."

You tilted your head. "Pansy."

She rolled her eyes. "It’s just—after this, we go back to normal, right?"

You frowned. "Normal?"

"You hating me. Me hating you," she said lightly, but there was something in her tone that felt off.

You hesitated.

Did you still hate her?

Sure, she was annoying. And arrogant. And infuriatingly stubborn.

But she was also... funny. Sharp. And maybe—just maybe—not as awful as you had always thought.

"...Do you want to go back to normal?" you asked cautiously.

She glanced at you, and for the first time since you had known her, she actually looked... uncertain.

"Honestly?" she muttered. "I don’t know."

The project was done. The grades were given.

You and Pansy should’ve gone back to ignoring each other.

But instead, you found yourselves not ignoring each other.

It was little things—small nods in the hallway, less venom in your teasing, a lingering glance that lasted just a second too long.

And then one night, everything changed.

You were leaving the Great Hall, walking back toward your common room when you heard her voice.

"You’re really just going to leave without saying anything?"

You turned. Pansy was standing there, arms crossed, looking at you like she was trying to figure something out.

"What do you want me to say?" you asked.

She scoffed. "I don’t know. But you could at least admit it."

"Admit what?"

She stepped closer. "That you don’t hate me."

Your heartbeat stuttered.

You swallowed. "I never said I did."

"Then prove it," she whispered.

Before you could second-guess it, before you could talk yourself out of it—

You kissed her.

And to your surprise—she kissed you back.

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

Geography professors in a failed marriage of convenience inconveniently reconnect for an emergency mission in this swoony historical-fantasy rom-com.

Professor Elodie Tarrant is an expert in magic disasters. Nothing fazes her—except her own personal disaster, that is: Professor Gabriel Tarrant, the grumpy, unfriendly man she married for convenience a year ago, whom she secretly loves.

Gabriel is also an expert in magic disasters. And nothing fazes him either—except the walking, talking tornado that is his wife. They’ve been estranged since shortly after their wedding day, but that hasn’t stopped him from stoically pining for her.

When magic erupts in a small Welsh village, threatening catastrophe for the rest of Britain, Elodie and Gabriel are accidentally both assigned to the case. With the fate of the country in their hands, they must come together as a team in the face of perilous conditions like explosions, domesticated goats, and only one bed. But this is easier said than done. After all, there's no navigational guide for the geography of the heart.

Review:

A marriage of convenience between two polar opposite Geography professors that goes astray but now they are forced to work together on a new case and maybe finally make their marriage real because despite all their miscommunication, they might have been in love with each other all along. Elodie is chaotic, she’s sunshine, and she is determined to be taken seriously in the academic field. Gabriel is straight laced, grumpy, and can’t express his feelings all that well. Elodie and Gabriel are both geography professors at the same university and decide to get married to benefit one another... but things go wrong and they go from lovers to barely being able to stand being in the same room. Yet when a magic outbreak occurs and only they can solve the case, they will be forced to work together and finally face the issues of their marriage... or come to the realization that they’ve both been pining for one another secretly this entire time.

This was an absolutely delightful and romantic read. I can’t even begin to talk about the amount of times I was laughing and blushing over how adorable this book was.This is the perfect mixture of Anne of Green Gables x Twisters with magic and cozy romance. I love Gabriel and Elodie so much and their chemistry was fantastic. The slow burn, the pining, the absolute YEARNING was so well done. I love this series and I can’t wait for the next book. Every book just keeps getting better and better!!!

Release Date: April 8, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[scottsmajorshipbracket]

I feel u on the positive galaxy duo stuff, scott ship acc admin

Thats why imma try and give u my Galaxy duo interpretation across seasons, with a happy ending! :]

in last life they made food and would eat together. Pearl would sing silly little improvised songs per usual, Scott was more of a gentle humming kinda guy. The humming could put Pearl to sleep very easily, good at taming dogs, I suppose. + Last Life took place during summer. Warm happy summer, bright sunshine coming in through the windows, swimming by the river, tending to crops together, feeding the birds. Fun comfy summer together with who you love most. (this will be important later on.. /silly)

during double life soulmates shared some physical traits, due to mind fuckery done by the watchers tho, they didn't notice these changes on anyone til they found their own soulmate. Scott and Pearl got their hair ends the color of the other. Pearl tried so hard to cut it off, chopping her hair with an axe, but the teal ends only grew upwards on her new ends. In the end she resorted to "dying" it, with stuff like berries, flowers and animal blood... it sorta did the work and made her happy, but ppl also thought he smelled TERRIBLE and it was another reason to not approach him. + Double Life took place in winter, cold cold winter killing crops and freezing stray animals to death, snow storms forming like a dispute between parties, who once loved one another, now falling appart. The love is still there tho, it is and it always will be. To hate with such passion, you have to love first.

in limited life, while they *said* they were okay with one another and acted friendly while in a group environment, they still had some unresolved issues to cope with. Pearl probably looked down at the coral isles, from the frog tower. Yeah their teammates, neighbors and your mother could tell they were still not normal about eachother, but hey petty pranks and odd looks are better than torturing eachother! They still miss being together, but for both their sakes they gotta wait it out more. I can still recall our last summer, I still see it all. + Limited Life took place in autumn (different year). Autumn, where leaves start dying off, falling off trees. All that dead waste... it leaves the trees, it prepares for change. For once spring comes... they'll grow stronger once again :)

in secret life they finally found peace, forgave eachother mutually, better than they could have ever before. My sister, a flower expert (/hj), assigned them daisies, for they represent new beginnings. They finally get to be happy together, and they can be in different alliances! They have a good time when they do see eachother, no petty pranks for no reason. Scott even went out of his way to remind Pearl she didnt say "I love you" to him, to which Pearl immediately goes to apologize and say "I love you Scooott♡ does it still count?", and I swear I can HEAR him smirk as he goes ".. I'll take it..". People focus a lot on the finale I think. Healing is a process, it has ups and downs, of course Pearl is still hurt over double life, but she doesnt hate Scott. It wasnt just Gem who offered Pearl to join them, Scott very much wanted him with them aswell, and I refuse to think it was just out of "fear". He didn't wanna have to be up against Pearl again, theyd allied again, finally, fixed their issues. Just to be forced to fight again. I think they found peace in the end tho, while the Scar stays alive the other dead people stay around as ghosts, having to wait til the watchers get bored and make another season. I think they made up again after the finale. + afterall, Secret Life took place on spring. New life, a colorful flowery view, beautiful fields. All to share with a new bond, a new beginning. The new spring of an old connection. Beautiful and sweet. Similar to the summer they met.

Here's where it gets gay as hell tho so uhh yall can stop reading here if u dont like my mlm majormoon vision

.

.

in real life... I have NO platonic explanation for this, im so sorry but theyre literally a married couple. They ADOPTED A KID!! (Cleo, jokingly)("there you go little Cleo" "thanks mum!") I actually think they probably got engaged after the secret life finale, as ghosts, they spent a LONG time there afterall. Winners Void marriage!! Martyn officiated the wedding, Scar was Pearl's best man (theyre siblings to me but thats unrelated), Grian was their witness, I mean he had no option BUT to wintess this so.. also, during that kiss they shared, there was a spark of light in the void, in that deep darkness, the moon and his stars iluminated all around them. Back to the actual season, they can now joke around the old times no problem, they *can* have other alliances, but theyre back to good old. Like Scott said in secret life, "its destiny". Theyre faithed, way past double life, that was just a physical representation of soulmate bonds, but the connections are still real after, and were real before. I see these two bicker during real life and see a married couple, not one that hates eachother, but they tease eachother and roll their eyes at eachothers stupidity at times. They love eachother so much even with their quirks. + Real Life i'd say takes place in summer once again. Years have passed, and they passed them together. They already had something going on in last life but denied it, they were young and unsure. They've matured and are more sure of who they are and what they want. They have fun, once again, like last time.. walks along the seine, laughing in the rain, our last summer, memories that remain♡

Thats it thank you for listening to my TED talk

:O

[terzosbignaturals]

may i offer some ghoulette comfort hcs in these trying times?

i got no explanation for this really i failed a midterm and i'm sad so take these -- CUMULUS.

this woman is the cuddling expert

you barely have to even say anything to her-- her arms are already wide open for you to sink into

she's one of the more emotionally conscious of the ghouls, and even if she didn't pick up on that particular scent humans have when they're holding back tears, she'd be able to tell from your glassy eyes and stiff posture

she has an arm draped over your shoulders as she leads you to her nest to wrap you up in her fluffiest blanket and hold you close. accompanying you in The Nest(tm) are countless very-well-loved stuffed animals which she might pile on top of you to make you smile eventually, but for now...

has you rest your head on her chest and cards her fingers through your hair soothingly, whispering gentle words of comfort.

if you want to talk about it she's the most amazing listener, if not, she's content to just lie there and hold you until you're feeling a bit better!

eventually she'll start humming to you and it's pretty much impossible to not fall asleep wrapped in her arms (and you bet she's gonna be there when you wake up as well, getting up while you sleep is the equivalent of moving a cat sleeping on your lap to her.)

-- CIRRUS.

not as good at picking up on it as cumulus is at first, but if you know her well you bet she's memorized all of your mannerisms.

PROTECTIVE MF

like as soon as she notices you're feeling down, she's scooping you up and taking you to the ghoulettes' wing.

doesn't care if you're in the middle of ministry duties-- gives an absolutely withering glare to anyone who tries to stop y'all or tell you you can't leave.

once you're alone, urges you to tell her what's going on, she wants nothing more than to understand so she can help you properly

if you're sad because someone did or said something to you, lord help them

you can see the way her eyes darken as soon as the name leaves your lips, although her expression remains soft

"don't you worry about them, hun, I'll take care of it from here."

they might go missing in the next couple of days, maybe the next week, but don't you worry your pretty little head about it :)

plays her keyboard for you!!! has you sit on the bench nestled between her legs, leaning back against her as she plays a little concert of your favorite songs just for you

if you're a musician, she'll walk you through some of the chords so you can learn to play them yourself! places her hands over yours and moves your fingers so you can memorize their placement and satan her touch is so soothing

-- AURORA.

THE friend to rant to

even if you're mostly sad about whatever happened, as she listens to you speak, she'll get absolutely pissed on your behalf

"are you-- oh my satan are you SERIOUS?! that's fucking bullshit!"

you will most definitely have to talk her out of yelling at someone on your behalf, whether that's a shitty boss who assigned you way too much work for one person or a professor that gave you too little time for an exam.

even in her human glamour she can be intimidating as fuck, after all--

-- and that's just on her own. when there's something she particularly finds unjust, she'll rope cirrus into it as well

and oh boy you do NOT want to be on the receiving end of those two's wrath.

not so experienced with the whole comforting aspect of things, but gives excellent hugs-- tight, secure, and will lift you off the ground no matter if you're taller than her or not, she's stronger than she looks.

-- SUNSHINE.

this calls for an emergency intervention.

no sooner does she see your face, she's aggressively speed-dialing

"dew? swiss? get over here, we've got an emergency. bring the switch."

at first, you're a tad concerned that you'll have to keep the Terrible Trio from stabbing someone with a switchblade on your behalf

but your concern is swiftly and thoroughly alleviated as you're treated to the most intensely chaotic game of Mario Kart you've ever experienced.

the stakes are astronomical. you've gotten three noise complaints from three different siblings. you're all crowded so close to the TV that you're pretty sure you'll end up with eye damage, throwing your arms up in triumph as your green shell smacks Dew's kart head-on, prompting a rainbow of hissed-out curses

swiss has fallen off rainbow road seven times-- you've kept count-- and is somehow still tailing you and Sunshine, giggling maniacally

it's the third lap. the finish line is IN SIGHT, and Sunshine is whooping in pre-victory, just barely keeping her grasp on first place by the inch or so between your karts.

"OH MY SATAN COME ON PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE--"

you catch a glimpse of the blue shell before Sunny does

and you'll never forget the sheer art of her expression as her victorious euphoria melts into absolute and utter horror

someone's screaming at the top of their lungs

dew falls to his knees, overcome with emotion

swiss is somehow driving backwards now

and the moment the pixelated 1st symbol appears on your screen, you're leaping to your feet in triumph, nearly losing your grip on your controller as you thank the hells below for your hard-won victory

"SHUT UP!" yells someone who is probably Rain from the room over

and you find you can't even remember what you were sad about in the first place

[tothesoundofthefreakyclock]

Era IV - V Ghouls HCs (part 2)

Color shows who made what hc - reblogs are appreciated!

Cirrus

She/they/zir

Summoning day is April 4th, 2016

Favorite animal is kookaburra because of their laughter

MY WIFE OMG I LOVE MY WIFE SO MUCH

Wine aunt 2

Cat girl

Point to the fucker that hurt you, she'll take care of them

The sticking out tongue thing usually seen at Rituals is actually a habit even off stage. She doesn't even know how it first started

Definitely protective of Cumulus when the two were first summoned

Owns one of those cat pianos

Would hunt you down in the woods in the middle of the night while Leave It All To Me from ICarly plays in her head (you will not make it out alive)

Catgender

Huge fan of Avril Lavigne, Paramore, and Evanescence

Swiss [Quintessence, fire, and air]

Any pronouns. Mainly he/him, they/them, and /xe/xem/xyr

Summoning day is June 24th, 2015

Favorite animal is snow leopards because how silly they can be and how high they jump

The ADHD™

One of my three weed smoking girlfriends

“wtf is a gender lmao” (agender)

An accidental summon

Feral before being summoned. Took a much longer time to get him to calm down and learn the human world.

If he had a full legal name it would be Swisstopher Robin

Swiss would bring in prey from hunting and torment play with it before finally killing it

Has three favorite Rustycage songs (Family Friendly Noose Song, Jump Off The Trampoline, and The Cuss Word Song)

Second suspect of Smoke's torment. Sometimes teams up with Aether to be annoying.

Nearly killed someone when first summoned.

Any time someone takes away his phone he always manages to find extra, old and crappy phones that barely work, but he still uses them for gits and shiggles. Nobody knows where he keeps finding these old phones.

Has a “it's is my life - Jon Bovi” tattoo. Smoke fucking hates it.

The embodiment of those “never let them know your next move 😈😈” videos

Steals the ministry’s money to spend on mobile game currencies

Loves attention. He’ll mess with people just to get it

He would go into a different room, scream really loudly, and then come back into the room that he was previously in

Always has his hair in different, crazy colors and the colors change each day

—

Sunshine [Fire and air]

She/it

Summoning day is October 12th, 2018

Favorite animal is penguin because of how curious they are and how they slide on their bellies

Transfem (mtf)

Went back to the Pits when done. She loved every second of it, but she also missed her packmates

Girl really is a ray of sunshine. There's no way you can't smile when she is around!

Knows how to trick vending machines with fake money and the good ol "dollar on string" trick

Pokemon fan! Assigned everyone a Pokemon

Does everyone’s nails

—

Aurora [Air and fire]

She/they/it

Summoning day is February 15th, 2020

Favorite animal is rainbow lorikeet because of their color feathers and the different sounds they can make

The ADHD™

Also a Disney princess

You wanna learn makeup? Please ask her, she will teach you EVERYTHING.

Aurora has also done the whole "get fingertips wet and pretend to sneeze on sibling" thing with Phantom when younger. Probably still does to this day.

Must run around to let out energy. Down the halls, in a room around in circles, or outside is ideal. She gets zoomies the most and more intense than the others

Play bites the most

Has tiny wings since she’s not a full air ghoul

Hyperfixated on space and stars

—

Phantom

They/he/it

Summoning day is February 15th, 2020

Favorite animal is the maned wolf because of their uniqueness and their rare “roar bark”

The ADHD™

I know damn well he'd be a master at dodgeball

Please don't leave him unsupervised, especially with Aurora. It's guaranteed that something expensive is going to break

Expert at Clone Hero - he can play blindfolded

Tried really hard when first summoned and during the first few weeks of his first tour to fit in with the others, but he grew more comfortable being himself over time.

Puts band aids all over himself just for looks

Loves the laser pointer

Link to the first post!

[dystopicjumpsuit]

Hi! I made the new tooka friend! Here is his picture.

Sheet I used as a base is by @cloneenthusiast

Everything else coming in the form!

Thank you and lots of love!

Sunshine

OC Sunday: Revel aka Revy (OC of @sunshinesdaydream)

SUNNYYYYYYY!!!! I am obsessed with Revy! I have perished from the cuteness and am typing from beyond the grave! Force ghost DJ, reporting for duty 🫡

The TT number?! "Tooka Trooper"?!? There are so many adorable details in this, and I couldn't stop laughing and reading it out loud to my partner (who agrees that Revy is indeed the goodest tooka).

Want a Datafile for your Star Wars OC? Find out how to get one here! Or check out other OC Datafiles I’ve created here!

Transcript in alt text and below the cut.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

Personnel Datafile

Name: Revel aka Revy

Rank: Corporal

Identifying number: TT-4122

Duty assignment: Emotional Support Medic Assigned to Mask Squadron

Status: Active

Service Record

Prior service: Rodent Extermination at Jedi Service Corp outpost in outer rim.

Qualifications: Stealth - Expert

Mischief - Expert

Cuddles - Expert

Tracking and Recon - In Progress

Medical record: Vaccinations - Current

Scheduled Flea Treatment - Current

Health as of last assessment - Excellent

Remarks: Recruited by Pvt. Livewire

Approved by Jedi General Jade

Supervised by Sgt. Cypher

[roguetelepaths]

Last Confession

Prompt: Death Ritual Character(s): Kilana Content warnings: Implied major character death, religious trauma Summary: En route back to Dominion space after her disastrous final mission, Kilana reflects on her failure and her fate.

Kilana’s fate was sealed from the moment she was given the assignment. 

Oh, she was an expert negotiator— no one who wasn’t an expert in their field lasted past their first iteration. And up until this mission, she’d been a credit to the Diplomatic Class. Her first mission— negotiating for the release of a Dominion-sympathetic politician from a dissident base where he was being held hostage— had given her a reputation as one the Founders could trust to handle delicate situations with tact, discretion, and a notable lack of bloodshed. (The Jem’Hadar had still firebombed the base after her target was extracted, but that had less to do with her handling of the task and far more to do with the Dominion’s doctrine of not allowing ideological contamination to proliferate. She thought it was terribly sad, but the Founders were wise in all things.) 

But she’d never encountered anyone quite so stubborn, quite so mistrustful, as Benjamin Sisko and his away team. Oh, she tried. She tried diplomatic offers of goodwill, and when that did not work, she tried seduction (it pained her, but her faith sometimes required her to do things she found personally distasteful), and when even that did not work, she found herself at a loss. The one thing she could not have done, no matter how it would have helped matters, would be to tell him about the Founder on the ship. Because what would this Federation have done with a Founder, if they’d known that there was one present? Experimented to find new ways to kill them? Tortured them for information? Or many worse things that she could scarcely even imagine? 

Stop trying to justify it to yourself, she inwardly scolded. You let a Founder die. You know what will happen after their remains are delivered to Kurill. 

Yes, she knew. She knew her line would be terminated. She knew she’d stand in the presence of her Gods once more, to answer for her transgressions against them, and then never again. Those terminated for inadequacy in the line of service had no afterlife— where those whose lines were terminated with honors after many iterations of faithful service were promised an eternity of joyful rest in the Founders�� all-encompassing embrace, the inadequate simply ceased to exist, their consciousness destroyed along with any backups of their body, leaving no trace that they’d existed at all. She would never serve again. She would never feel her Gods’ approval of her, the way it seemed to illuminate the world and warm her heart like the first rays of sunshine at dawn. Like you deserve it anyway, she told herself. Like you have ever deserved it. 

There was only one thing left to do. If she was going to face the Founders one last time before the death of her line, she should prepare, so that she could approach them in humility and in acceptance of what was to come. 

She prostrated on the floor of the shuttle, tail coiled around her kneeling form, and began to pray. 

“Before the blinding light of the Ineffable, this servant confesses to imperfection,” she quietly recited. 

It began like the same prayer she’d said countless times before— a confession, a prayer for swift correction and instruction in the path that the Gods had ordained. To be solid was to be limited, and life in the Founders’ service was a constant struggle to transcend these limits in emulation of their divine perfection. 

But this time was different, this time was final. There was to be no correction, no merciful instruction to cleanse her of her transgression and lead her back to the true path. The true path was forever closed to her. 

“This servant is unworthy of instruction, and unworthy to beg for it. This servant has been shown mercy, has been raised from darkness to light and has been given a place in the order of things, and has—” she choked back a sob, face this with dignity, no one will be charmed by your pathetic solid displays of emotion— “has squandered it at every turn. May the order of things—”

She couldn’t finish the sentence. It felt dishonest. It might be her fault according to Dominion doctrine, but something in her revolted at the idea that it was her fault. She’d tried her best, hadn’t she? Done everything correctly, as protocol demanded?

She was doomed anyway. One more sin would not doom her further.

“May the order of things recognize, in the end,” she prayed, “that this servant did what she could.”

[islepropertiesguam]

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[versatilestructur]

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A custom shade sail provides ample shading while protecting against UV radiation, which is why it’s widely used in sporting clubs, childcare centres, playgrounds, commercial establishments, domestic areas, and council parks. If you’re interested in having one made, work with a trusted installer who can create a stylish system that provides reliable protection from UV rays and light rain.

Improving outdoor spaces

Shade structures can transform your property and boost its value — and they don’t need to be expensive to install and maintain. Shade sails made of waterproof fabric can be a great choice if you want a low-maintenance system, as rainwater helps wash down dirt and debris to keep them clean. You can also choose retractable versions that you can close or open as necessary to create comfortable and functional outdoor spaces all year round. They are ideal for alfresco areas, especially restaurants and cafes looking to extend their usable space.

High-quality materials and expert installation

It’s best to engage expert installers for custom shade sail designs to ensure high-quality fabrics like high-density polyethylene. This fabric is treated with UV additives that absorb or reflect UV rays. Moreover, the monofilament weave extends the shade sail’s lifespan, ensuring long-term savings.

Reputable installers can customise the installation according to your property’s requirements. Fixed shade sails can span greater distances without several poles or support structures, making them ideal for grandstands, covering swimming pools, or car park shading. Installers will carefully inspect your site and assign a draughtsperson to consider the area’s 3D geometry, overall shape, and location to ensure secure, precise, and appropriate install posts.

Designed for your needs

Custom shade sail designs provide shading that suits your exact requirements. The fabric is tested to AS1530 Parts 2 & 3 to ensure reliable fire performance and fire-retardant properties against radiant heat. Additionally, installers can use steel coatings to match site-specific conditions.

Transform your outdoor space with a custom shade sail by Versatile Structures. Their shade sails are proudly made in Brisbane using only the best materials to guarantee durable and reliable shading solutions. Call 07 3271 4519 or 0405 401 500 or ask about a custom design on their website.

About the author:

Versatile Structures is a provider of high-quality shade structures in Queensland for commercial, government, council, and domestic clients. They provide an extensive selection of shade solutions, encompassing shade structures, shade sails, commercial shade options, membrane sails, aluminium screens, gates, billboard structures, and specific residential applications. Their main service region encompasses Brisbane, Greater Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Ipswich, and all of South East Queensland, with the potential to extend to a broader area based on the project's requirements.

[msclaritea]

Are Title IX Protections for Women's Sports About To Disappear? | Opinion

Women's Sports

Women

Joe Biden

United Nations

Published Feb 13, 2024 at 4:49 PM EST

Updated Feb 14, 2024 at 9:59 AM EST

By Kristen Waggoner

CEO and President, ADF

As winter gives way to spring, many athletes across the country will welcome the return of sunshine and warmth. But this spring holds something insidious for half of the sports community. The Biden administration has promised to announce new changes to Title IX—changes that will undo decades of groundbreaking achievements for women and girls seeking equal athletic opportunities. And now even a top United Nations expert is sounding the alarm on where America is headed if it doesn't reverse course.

The administration's proposal would require schools to allow male athletes to participate on female sports teams. We don't have to look far to see the effects of such a policy. From coast to coast, women and girls suffer when radical ideology replaces biological reality.

In Connecticut, four female student athletes were forced to compete against males and as a result, were deprived of honors and opportunities at elite track-and-field levels. Attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom are representing the athletes—Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, Alanna Smith, and Ashley Nicoletti—in a lawsuit because the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference adopted a policy that allows males who identify as female to compete in girls' athletic events. Those male athletes won 15 women's track championship titles—titles that were once held by nine different girls.

In Idaho, collegiate athletes Madison Kenyon and Mary Kate Marshall know from personal experience how demoralizing it is to train your hardest and best, only to be forced to compete against a male—and be pushed down in the rankings.

From World Masters' athletes to middle-school girls in West Virginia, from NCAA swimmers to skateboarders, every woman and girl must be allowed to compete on a fair and level playing field, with other women. This is not only basic common sense and the right thing to do—it also complies with the United States' international human rights obligations.

In a recent official communication to the U.S. government, Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, called out the administration's proposed changes to Title IX as an impending human rights violation. "If the proposed changes are adopted," she wrote, "they would contravene the United States' international human rights obligations and commitments concerning the prevention of all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls on the basis of sex."

Indeed, the administration's proposal would not only result in the "loss of athletic and scholarship opportunities" for women but, as Alsalem explains, could also cause women and girls to suffer "the loss of privacy, an increased risk of physical injury, heightened exposure to sexual harassment and voyeurism, as well as a more frequent and accumulated psychological distress."

Biden Administration Should Learn From Connecticut's Mistakes on Title IX

We've already seen what's at stake. School districts assigning girls to share hotel rooms with male students on overnight trips without notifying the students' parents. Government officials trying to force a shelter for women who are victims of domestic and sexual abuse to provide a bed for a drunk, belligerent man wearing a dress and claiming to be female. School officials placing girls in awkward and vulnerable positions by allowing male students to use their locker rooms and restrooms.

The irony is that Title IX was adopted to remove obstacles to women's flourishing. Title IX is the main legal bulwark against sex discrimination in college admissions and financial assistance, sexual harassment on campus, and discrimination based on pregnancy status. And it has been instrumental in expanding athletic opportunities for women and girls. In 1972, the year of its adoption, male high school athletes in America outnumbered female athletes 12 to 1. Today, that ratio has shrunk to nearly four to three.

With this policy proposal, the administration is threatening to gut the protections that have done so much to advance the rights of women and girls over the last half century. Women are equal to men, but they are also fundamentally different—a fact I never thought we'd have to defend in court. When law and policy refuse to reflect truth, it is women and girls who bear the cost. The world is watching to see whether the Biden administration will prioritize the protection and safety of women and girls or its own radical agenda.

You know, it's getting more and more difficult to ignore the hidden strings that are affecting President Joe Biden.

[univworkkrish]

Don't Get Left Behind: Why Practical CS Assignment Help is Essential in Australia

Aussies are known for their resilience, resourcefulness, and laid-back attitude. But even the most chill koala can get stressed when it comes to computer science assignments in Australia.

The land of sunshine and surf boasts a thriving tech scene, and aspiring coders flock to universities across the country to hone their skills. However, the climb to becoming a tech wizard isn't always smooth sailing. Complex algorithms, endless lines of code, and tight deadlines can leave even the brightest minds feeling lost in the digital outback.

That's where practical computer science assignment help comes in. It's not about shortcuts or magic tricks; it's about providing the support and guidance you need to navigate the challenges of CS assignments and emerge victorious.

Here's why practical CS assignment help is essential for Australian students:

1. Mastering the Material:

CS concepts can be intricate and abstract. Grasping the nuances of algorithms, data structures, and programming languages often requires more than just textbook reading. Practical assignment help connects you with experienced tutors who break down complex topics into digestible chunks, using real-world examples and interactive approaches. Imagine finally understanding the intricacies of binary search trees through a fun analogy involving sorting koalas at the zoo!

2. Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice:

Theoretical knowledge is crucial, but it's only half the battle. Computer science assignments in Australia are all about applying your understanding to real-world scenarios. Practical help can provide you with the perfect platform to practice your skills on projects that mirror industry challenges. Think building a website for a local wildlife sanctuary or developing a mobile app to track the migration patterns of humpback whales.

3. Conquering the Time Crunch:

Between lectures, part-time jobs, and social lives, finding enough hours in the day to tackle all your assignments can feel like an Olympic feat. Practical CS assignment help can alleviate the pressure by providing you with time-saving strategies and efficient coding techniques. Learn how to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines effectively, and avoid procrastination pitfalls. Remember, a well-rested and organized coder is a productive coder! ⏰

4. Boosting Your Confidence:

Getting stuck on a coding problem can be discouraging, especially when you're surrounded by peers who seem to be breezing through. Practical CS assignment help provides the encouragement and support you need to overcome roadblocks and build your confidence. Tutors can offer personalized feedback, celebrate your successes, and help you develop a growth mindset that embraces challenges as opportunities to learn.

5. Ensuring Academic Success:

Ultimately, the goal of any student is to achieve academic success. Practical CS assignment help can play a significant role in boosting your grades and ensuring you stay on track for graduation. By receiving expert guidance, mastering complex concepts, and practicing your skills, you'll be well-equipped to excel in your assignments and impress your professors.

Remember, seeking help is not a sign of weakness; it's a sign of intelligence and resourcefulness. Just like a seasoned surfer seeks out a local guide to navigate the treacherous waves of a hidden reef, a smart CS student knows that seeking practical help can be the key to unlocking their full potential. ‍♀️

So, don't get left behind in the Australian tech wave. Embrace the support available and ride the wave of success with confidence!

[alancito989]

Module 11 Assignment: Anatomy of a Scene 

             Moonlight 

The drama film Moonlight portrays a timeless and poignant tale of a young man's quest for love and self-acceptance; each act depicts a distinct phase of Chiron's life and the struggles and changes he faces along the way. The film has outstanding performances, a deep narrative, and an examination of thought-provoking issues.

It uses dramatic cinematography to create a visual ambiance that reflects Chiron, the main character's emotional journey. The movie is renowned for its use of personal close-ups, which let viewers empathize with the characters on a deep level. The emotional effect of the movie is enhanced by these close-ups, which highlight the minute details of the actor's facial expressions and feelings.

Similarly "Moonlight" has expert editing that keeps the story's emotional effect intact. The three separate acts that make up the film's structure let viewers see Chiron's transformation from a helpless youngster to a tough adult. The editing creates a coherent and emotionally compelling story by smoothly alternating between these levels.

                                                  Some like it Hot

As Joe and Jerry battle to keep their disguises while fending off amorous attempts from both men and women, the movie explores misidentification, genderbending, and absurd circumstances. The movie builds to a tremendously entertaining and memorable conclusion that has made "Some Like It Hot" one of the most popular comedies in movie history as the mobsters close in and the romantic entanglements get increasingly complicated. 

The scene where the interaction was the sensual interaction between Tony Curtis's character, Joe, who is disguised as Josephine. In this scene, the all-female jazz band's gorgeous and slightly naïve singer Sugar Kane is having trouble applying suntan lotion to her back. Joe, posing as Josephine, takes advantage of the chance to assist her in putting on the lotion, which sparks a seductive and amorous exchange. Joe's awkward attempts to suppress his passion and keep his mask intact make for a hilarious lesson in seduction.

Additionally, The water and the surrounding shoreline serve as the scene's backdrop, which is a sun-kissed Florida beach. The characters' interactions and reactions are highlighted by the thoughtful composition of the photos. The segment is dominated by close-ups and medium views that highlight Joe and Sugar Kane's expressions and body language. The chemistry between the characters is shown in these pictures when the viewer is given a close-up look at them. In addition, the beach contributed to the romantic and relaxed atmosphere. The relaxing environment encourages the characters to let their guard down and engage in their interactions.

Similar to that, this scene's natural sunshine plays a crucial role in heightening its sensuality. The figures are bathed in a warm, pleasing glow from the sunshine, which draws attention to their features and heightens the romantic atmosphere. It shines on their skin, adding to the scene's emotional appeal.

Furthermore, this scene's effectiveness is greatly influenced by the editing. The cuts are deliberate and tactical. The impression of attraction and desire is heightened by rapid cuts between the faces of the protagonists. Close-ups of Joe and Sugar Kane highlight their emotional bond as they exchange looks and comments. Longer shots let the audience fully grasp the scene's comedy and sexiness by capturing the characters' changing dynamic.

[wooahaes]

trsr - realizing they love you

pairing: hyung + middle trsr line x gn!reader

prompt: request from anon: hi! can i request treasure realizing that they love you?  like you’re in a relationship with them and they realize that they love you? thank you!!

warnings: just fluff (+ vague food mentions & skinship). intentional lowercase + no proofreading!!

daisy’s notes: i took three months to write this. anon if u are still here, i am SO sorry!!! i ended up cutting out the maknae line because i felt uncomfy writing them + i think they were the reason i was being tripped up for so long :( sorry!!

choi hyunsuk

hyunsuk realizes it when you fall asleep on him one night. it isn’t the first time, and it certainly won’t be the last, but you’ve always supported him unconditionally and make time for him when it works with him. part of him feels like it might be a little unfair that you have to work by his schedule most of the time, but he always gets the reassurance that one day it’ll be easier and that keeps him going. sometimes you sleep over when he doesn’t have to worry about a schedule too early the next morning (he and his friends have become experts at sneaking you out, though) just to spend some extra time with him. he’ll be working on his own assignments while you sit on his bed and work on your own. there’s no pressure to make conversation when he needs to focus, and your presence alone is calming.

sometimes the two of you check in with each other, sometimes taking a few minutes for a break, but nothing to stop you completely from working. there always comes a point where he’ll bring his laptop over to his bed, sitting beside you to finish off his work so that you can snuggle closer to his side. he just... looks up and realizes how much he loves you when he finds that you’ve dozed off against his shoulder again. he’ll always gently nudge you away when you do, setting aside his things when his work is done, and telling you that you can go back to sleep after the two of you lie down. he’ll always lean forward to give you a little forehead kiss and apologize for working too much, even if it’s always met with you just being glad you’re there with him.

park jihoon

jihoon is busy--that much both of you are fully aware of. which means, despite the fact he’d like time for you, he rarely gets it (and it frustrates him, to be honest: it feels so unfair to you that he can’t openly spend time with you unless he’s on a break). but sometimes you’ll be let into the dorm without him knowing, and sometimes you’ll just... pretty much hang out in his room while he’s focused on his work. he’s used to people sometimes coming in to check on him when he’s really busy, so he honestly just doesn’t notice while he’s trying to keep up on his coursework. but the third time you came back into his room with a snack and his refilled water bottle (when did you even grab that?), he realizes it and apologizes immediately for not greeting you properly.

but you just give him a kiss on the cheek and ask him how his day has been, how his classes are going, an so forth. it just makes him realize how much you care about him--which isn’t to say he isn’t cared for by anyone else or that he thought you didn’t care about him. it’s different with someone he doesn’t live with and someone who makes room in their own schedule to be with him. yet you check on him every day, either with the rare in person visit or your typical texts, just to make sure he’s taking care of himself. he just loves you. and that feels right to say that he does. he’ll have to bring his studies over to your place one day so he can dote on you for once. its your turn to be cared for.

kanemoto yoshinori

despite being a ball of sunshine and kindness, yoshi sometimes gets into bad moods. everyone’s capable of it, but his friends usually picked up on it whenever he was stressed. maybe from classes, maybe he just woke up and felt off, but it was clear he needed either a person to confide in or a little bit of space until he was ready for that.

unless he got texts from you. maybe it’d be a selfie, or a picture of flowers you saw on a walk, or a dog you saw, and it was like his entire day changed. he liked sending you pictures in turn, too, of things he’d want to show you later. it takes a few times of it happening for the others to pick up on just how fast his mood changed, and hyunsuk jokingly calls him whipped before saying that he really does change--only for the rest of the group to agree. yoshi’s always been sweet, but on a bad day there’s nothing that picks him up faster than you. he really loves you, doesn’t he? and that’s how he realizes it. he loves you because you’re dating, sure, but that’s always been different from capital-L Love in his mind. but he does capital-L Love you, and that’s what makes him realize it.

kim junkyu

junkyu realizes it when you come to visit him one day. he’s waiting at the bus stop for you, watching for your bus to come in when he sees you. you have headphones on, and you look a little bored. he waves excitedly, hoping to get your attention, and yet you don’t. for a minute, he’s hurt by it: you were too focused on putting away your headphones and getting things in order, sure, but he thought you might have been watching for him.

then you step off that bus and you smile so wide at him that every bit of hurt disappears. he swears his heart swells at just how happy you are to see him, and he realizes it right then and there that he’s in love with you and always wants to see that smile. you run to greet him, and he hugs you so tight and peppers kisses onto your face--judging people be damned. he doesn’t get to see you every day, so he might as well take full advantage of having you right there in front of him. he’ll keep kissing you when you’re back at his place, but he tells you he loves you and holds your hand so tightly.

takata mashiho

mashiho realized he loved you when he realized just how much you cared for him. it was clear in the way that you’d make sure he was eating well, that he was staying hydrated and healthy and taking care of himself when things were getting rockier in his life. but one day he had asked you for a bit of space, just for a few hours, and you immediately told him that you’d be right there if he needed you--all he had to do was text you and you’d be there. he didn’t have to put up a front, to act as though he was okay. he could just be himself with you.

in the end he ended up texting you if he could come over later, and he ended up cuddled into your arms. his rough day seemed so distant when you held him, just letting him be quiet for a bit and enjoy your company. that was the moment he realized it: he didn’t have to just be happy, sweet mashiho who was funny and loving and caring toward the people in his life. he was just your mashiho, flaws and all.

yoon jaehyuk

you put the color back into his day. despite being known among his friends as one of the happiest, sweetest people they knew, jaehyuk had his off days. sometimes it was tiring to wake up and immediately have to be sunshine-y, and he’d feel those days from the moment his alarm went off. he’d drag himself out of bed and start getting ready for his day, and soon enough he’d hear his phone chime with a message from you reminding him to take care of himself.

all it took was seeing your face or whatever picture you sent him from your morning walk to class for things to start feeling right again. even if he’d feel off for a while after, your mere existence brightened his world up when he felt like it was starting to gray. he’d always text you back with a promise to eat a filling breakfast and a wish for you to take care of yourself in turn, and he’d always smile to himself when you sent back a plethora of hearts in response.

hamada asahi

asahi realized he loved you when he realized just how right things were. sometimes that came in the form of idly drawing things that reminded him of you whenever you pushed your way into his thoughts. other times, he’d be out and he’d see something small that he knew you’d love, and he’d either take a picture or buy it for you just to see the way your eyes lit up when he gave it to you.

it didn’t fully click until one day when you took a nap with him. he woke up before you did, and he looked at you with sleep-ridden eyes and it just... hit him how natural all of it seemed to feel. it felt like you had always been right there by his side, even though he hadn’t known you all his life. like things were right when you were around, because you knew him well and loved him for all that he was. it was sweet, and he smiled to himself before taking a picture of your sleeping face just to immortalize the moment.

bang yedam

he didn’t have the words for you anymore.

yedam could be a romantic, and he knew that for a fact. sometimes he wrote love songs for you, endless words at his fingertips to build lyric and melody that painted a picture of how much he loved you. he wrote songs for you before he dated you, too, to cope with the crushing stage until he discovered the feeling was mutual. everywhere he went, there was always you on the back of his mind and an itching urge to dedicate one more song to you (there always always the urge for one more song to say how he felt).

and then one day, the words stopped coming. at first, it was distressing until he realized there were no words to describe what you meant to him. he could try to pen them down, but nothing felt right. like nothing would be enough to illustrate how he felt about you. he could craft metaphor after metaphor in a song for you, but they couldn’t touch the reality of his feelings.

and after a while, he was okay with that. you were beyond words, and he loved that about you--on top of everything else.

[atlabeth]

everything happens for a reason part 3 - zuko x fem!reader

I feel so much, I get carried away

part 2 | masterlist | part 4

a/n: enjoy the fluff in this chapter bc its not gonna last

once again for reference - this chapter takes place 2 years after the last one so y/n is 11 and zuko is 12

warning(s): eating/food, but otherwise its pure fluff

wc: 3.3k

chapter title comes from carried away by madison beer!

i ran out of kid zuko gifs so i had to make my own smh if you want something done you gotta do it yourself

The young friendship only flourished after that fateful day. Zuko and Y/N began spending almost all of their freetime together between Y/N teaching him about her culture, their usual talking in the hallways, and finding ways to hang out together outside of her schedule. She was absolutely delighted to be teaching Zuko though, so she always made sure there was time for her self proclaimed academy.

Y/N was constantly busy around the castle, so in order to hang out they had started waking up extra early — the pair had become experts at sneaking around the castle with the first rays of the sun. The gardens were a favourite because of its availability, and of course, the turtleducks. It also gave Y/N a chance to bend outside of healing, something that they began to take advantage of as they got older.

Sparring sessions became a regular between them as a way for Y/N to get some practice with martial bending, Zuko to experience fighting against a waterbender, and just another way for them to spend time together. Of course, they had to keep it as quiet as possible to avoid alerting anyone of their presence, but that became the least of their worries over time.

They each pushed each other to be better, and with Y/N’s healing skills, they were able to walk away every morning without any injuries. But after discovering a very unfair advantage that the prince held, she decided that morning sparring just wasn’t enough.

(“Firebending gets stronger in the morning,” he had told her after a particularly brutal blast resulting in some emergency bending on Y/N’s part to extinguish a tree. “My teachers always say that we rise with the sun.”

“Well,” she had said with a smile. “We rise with the moon. You just signed yourself up for some late night sparring sessions.”)

Y/N had truly started to come into her own. It had been two years since her capture, and though she had in no way made peace with her life in the Fire Nation, she was trying to take advantage of it as much as she could. Even though she despised being at the beck and call of nobles and guards, she couldn’t deny the opportunities it gave her to hone her abilities. Her healing had improved tenfold and her martial bending wasn’t too shabby either. Between all of the time spent with Zuko and practicing her bending, she was able to distract herself from her dim reality.

But the world was a cruel, cruel place, no matter how much she tried to ignore it. It didn’t treat souls like Zuko and Y/N kindly, a fact that they would soon become aware of.

In the moment though, Y/N was more focused on not getting burnt.

She twirled to the side as a small flame shot past her, just barely managing to dodge it as she bent a stream of water out from the pond and sent it at Zuko. He turned it to steam as he blocked it with his own fire, which he then sent back at her with a combination of a punch and a kick. Y/N raised her hands and bent up a large wall of water from the pond, and with a small grunt on her part, sent it flying towards Zuko. He tried to conjure up his own fire shield in an effort to extinguish the water once more, but it was too little too late and he ended up getting knocked to the ground and completely drenched.

Y/N couldn’t stop the giggle that fell from her lips as Zuko wiped water off of his face, sputtering incoherently while he pushed himself up. “Did you really have to do that?” he complained.

“You know I do.” She grinned as she walked around the pond to his side, cracking her knuckles before she began to bend the water out of his clothes. “This was in the morning, too. Admit it, I’m getting better!”

He cracked a smile of his own. “You really are. I just wish that you getting better didn’t end up in me getting soaked every time.”

She bent the water she had extracted from his clothes back into the pond and held out her hand to help him up from the ground, which he took gratefully. “That just makes it more fun.”

As she helped pull him up, Y/N found herself more than a little transfixed. The rays of the rising sun shone down on him perfectly, and the smile still on his lips made her feel flutter bats in her stomach.

Y/N didn’t know when she had started seeing Zuko in a different light than usual. When his laughs became melodious, his smile like a ray of sunshine on its own, his company coveted. While she was usually able to trade verbal jabs with him without a second thought, doing her self-assigned job of keeping him humble, something had changed in the past year.

They grew steadily closer over the years after they had met, but one event in particular all but pushed Zuko into her arms.

Ursa’s banishment.

Of course, they didn’t know that she had been banished. No one aside from Ozai knew the true nature of her disappearance — to her children and the other inhabitants of the palace, it was just that. A disappearance.

It was suspicious, yes. All in the span of a day, Princess Ursa vanished, Fire Lord Azulon mysteriously perished, and Ozai took his place, but nothing could be done. It was a somber day for every servant — Ursa showed them a kindness that couldn’t be found anywhere else in the palace, and to rub salt in the wound, a man just as cruel as Azulon had risen to the throne.

Zuko was devastated. He had always been close with his mother, and the only thing she had given him before leaving was a short goodbye and a kiss. He was angry beyond belief at the abandonment, and that anger overshadowed his grief.

Y/N tried to help him, but he lashed out at her.

“Your mother is still here and she loves you! Mine left me like I was nothing. Don’t try and say you know how I feel.”

“But my father is gone. I do know how you feel Zuko, and I want to help you, but I can’t help you if you keep pushing me away.”

“…you don’t know anything.”

It hurt, but she knew he needed space. She gave it to him, letting him brew alone and take out his anger however necessary, but let him know that the door was open when he was ready to talk.

He did — he had apologized for what he said and she accepted, and Zuko ended up spilling every emotion he had to her over the next few weeks. She listened, offered advice when she could, and made Zuko feel a little bit less alone in the scheme of it all. It was a horrible experience, but it brought them closer together, and the prince was eternally thankful that he had a friend to help him through the ordeal.

The night that he came to her room, admitting that he was hurting and asking for her help — Y/N thinks that was the moment she fell for him. She cursed herself at the time for developing feelings for her only friend in the palace, but over time she learned to cover them up. She had to remember her place.

She understood her role, but it got harder and harder to keep up with it the more time she spent with Zuko — this moment was no exception.

“Yeah, yeah. I just hold back because I don’t want to burn you.”

“Liar!” she exclaimed, hitting him playfully on the shoulder. “You forget that I can heal myself if anything goes wrong. Besides, I know you’d never burn me. I trust you.”

Zuko smiled and smoothed his clothes back down, the only sign of their sparring session now gone. “Good, because I trust you too. No matter how many times you totally drench me.”

She snorted as she started to walk back to the palace. “Like I said, that just makes it more fun. And as fun as it has been completely crushing you in combat, duty calls.”

He sighed, giving a reluctant nod as he started to follow her — then his eyes lit up, and he grabbed her arm to stop them. “Wait, how much work do you have today?”

Y/N thought for a few seconds then shrugged. “Dunno, it varies. I got stuck working with Jaysa all this morning, so that’s going to take forever, I have my usual healing lessons with Master Rika after, and then I usually just end up going around with whatever else comes my way for the rest of the day.” She grinned and lowered her voice as if the subject of the matter could somehow hear her. “I’ve been working on a dress for my mother in secret because her birthday is coming up soon, so the free time I get between my shifts that isn’t spent with you has been going towards that.”

Zuko gaped. “You’re making her a dress all on your own, with no help? How?”

She held up her hands with a proud smile. “These things are good for waterbending, sewing, and hitting best friends.”

He gave her a sideways grin at that. “I’m your best friend?”

Y/N snickered and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, dummy. You’re like, the only person that likes me in this whole nation. Of course you’re my best friend.”

“Well…” he started. “Would a best friend like to break the rules even more tonight?”

Her eyes lit up in turn, completely betraying her excitement despite her attempt to look nonchalant about it. “That depends — what d’you have in mind?”

He grinned and leaned forward, dropping his voice to a whisper as he spoke in her ear. “So, after you finish work for the night, we…”

-

It was a struggle to get through all of her work after the plan that she and Zuko had formulated — sure, they broke the rules all the time. The basis of their entire friendship was breaking the rules, but this was going farther than they ever had before. Y/N wasn’t thinking about the consequences though, she was thinking about the journey — that was her first mistake.

She had rushed through all of her chores with Jaysa, hardly paid attention in her healing lessons, and made quick work of the rest of her day until she was finally able to meet up with Zuko at one of the various servant entrances that she had shown him.

“You’re finally here!” he exclaimed, his body buzzing with nervous energy. “I thought you were never gonna come.”

“Some of us actually have work to get done, mister crown prince,” she joked as she bumped his shoulder with hers. “But that doesn’t matter — let’s get going before someone catches us! I don’t want it to get too dark either.”

“It’s gonna be fine,” Zuko reassured. “My dad is in war meetings all day, no one is going to catch us. Now come on!”

Zuko pushed open the door, grabbed her hand, and began to pull her along. A laugh fell from her lips as they ran, unable to stop herself from casting a cautionary glance behind them as they got farther from the palace. Y/N tried to push her worries out of her mind — like she had told Zuko earlier, she trusted him.

That was her second mistake.

It was surprisingly easy to sneak past the guards around the wall and just as quick to get through Royal Caldera, and before Y/N knew it, they had arrived in the city.

It was nothing like she had ever seen before.

The village she had grown up in was miniscule compared to anything in the Fire Nation, and she was especially awestruck upon entering the city. As home to more middle class citizens than anything, it was a bustling marketplace filled with workers and nobles alike — if she hadn’t been preoccupied with the stars in her eyes, she would’ve been able to see the way Zuko was absolutely beaming at her.

“Come on!” he exclaimed, grabbing her hand once again as he began to walk — at a much more moderate pace than their run here — down the streets. “There’s so much here that I wanna show you. Have you ever been out here?”

She shook her head, allowing herself to gawk at her surroundings while they went down the street. “We aren’t really allowed to leave the palace since we’re technically still prisoners, just… ones that work. My mother always had to give her money to one of the other servants so that when they went out to buy their things, they could pick some stuff up for us as well. This is all totally new.”

Once again, a frown found its way onto Zuko’s face, but only for a split second before he pointed at a stall opposite to them. “Oh— there’s a fruit stand! Come on, you have to try this.”

Y/N let Zuko pull her over to the stand, looking at the array of fruits on display while Zuko conversed with the merchant. A few silver pieces later and they were walking away with a basket of produce — miraculously, the prince hadn’t been recognized, so she figured he wouldn’t need a disguise. Third mistake.

“Here,” he said, offering her a mango from the basket. “You haven’t lived until you’ve tried Fire Nation mango.”

She took the fruit from him and bit into it, her eyes immediately widening as she turned on Zuko. “Tui’s gills, this is delicious! You’re telling me that you people just have this on hand but we don’t get any of it?”

He shrugged and took a fig from the basket as Y/N wiped some juice off of her chin. “There’s a reason I’ve helped you break into the kitchens so many times. Now, where do you wanna go next?”

-

The pair spent the next couple of hours browsing the marketplace, enjoying their day on the Fire Lord’s coin. Zuko was more than happy to show Y/N parts of his culture after all she had taught him, and she was more than happy to experience it. They had been able to buy lanterns for the upcoming Festival of Szeto, purchase their own blends of tea leaves, and of course Zuko insisted on getting fire flakes and gummies.

(Y/N thought he was insane. Why in the world would the Fire Nation want to make food that hurt them on purpose? She was going to stick with her newfound love for mangoes.)

But Zuko hadn’t even brought her to the best part yet.

“Can I open my eyes now?” She asked, her anxious tone betraying her curiosity.

“Now you can.” Y/N was met with Zuko’s grin and as she focused on the stand in front of them, she had to make a conscious effort to not gape.

Zuko had brought her to a sewing stand with all the threads, fabrics, and silks that she could dream of in all kinds of colors. She immediately rushed forward, unable to stop herself from running her hands over and through each and every piece of material — she was in a seamstress’s heaven.

“I take that as a sign you like it?” Zuko asked happily.

“Oh, definitely,” she confirmed, still completely caught up in all the choices. “This is so much better than all the material we’re given to work with!”

“That’s why I brought you here. I thought you could get some stuff for yourself, and some stuff to help with the dress you’re making for your mom. I don’t really know how sewing works, but I thought that this was one way I could help.”

“That is so sweet of you!” she gushed. “Thank you so much — you should probably get around to some of the other stalls because I… I think I’m gonna be here for a while.”

Zuko laughed and fished out of a couple of golden pieces then set them in her hand. “That’s okay. I’ll meet you over by the steps; we can watch the sunset together.”

They nodded as parting gifts and each was enveloped in their tasks; Y/N beginning to ask the merchant questions about everything at their stand and Zuko off to entertain himself for a few more minutes.

Soon enough, Y/N had her own small bundle of silks and fabrics, her mind already going off in a million different ways of how she could incorporate it into the design. She found Zuko sitting on the steps and as she took her own seat next to him, he handed her another mango.

“Did you find everything you wanted?” She nodded and hummed gratefully as she accepted the fruit, taking a bite as her eyes fell on the skyline in front of them.

“I had a really great time today, Zuko. I really can’t thank you enough for taking me out here. I… I think I forgot what it was like to feel like this.”

“Like what?”

“...happy.” She paused for a second before allowing herself to meet his eyes. “All the time I spend with you in the palace… It’s one of the only times that I really do feel happy. And being out here today, getting to walk around where I wanted and buy things and just— I feel free, Zuko. And that means everything to me.”

She felt the heat rush to her cheeks and she turned away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go on like that—“

Zuko gently reached out for her hand, drawing her attention back to him and the soft smile on his face.

“Well… I care about you. You’re nice to me, and you take time out of your day to help me which you don’t have to do. This is just me trying to pay you back for all you’ve done to help me. We can do this more often — whenever my dad’s busy.”

Her own smile grew on her lips and she nodded as she laced her fingers with his. “I care about you too. And.. I’d like that.”

Y/N leaned her head on his shoulder and together, they watched the sunset over the city.

There was no place either of them would rather be.

-

Y/N and Zuko made their way back to the palace as quickly as they could after realizing how late it had gotten. Y/N was sure that she was going to get the talking-to of her life after what she had done, but she was almost giddy after what had just happened. She could deal with any of Kura’s consequences later — right now the only thought in her mind was the feeling of Zuko’s hand in hers.

The night had been nothing short of perfect. She had felt freer than ever before out there in the city with Zuko, and knowing that he reciprocated the feelings she had for him was enough to make her heart burst. She cared for him, and he cared for her.

Of course, there was that nagging question of how they would continue now that their friendship had morphed into something more, but once again — it was something she would deal with later. Her fourth and final mistake.

But as a guard turned the corner, Y/N realized she might not get the chance. She quickly let go of Zuko’s hand and tucked it under the bundle of fabric, hoping that the gesture of affection had been missed by the man.

If he had noticed, he showed no sign of it. He stopped in front of them, a gruff voice speaking from behind the mask with words that made her heart stop.

“Prince Zuko, the Fire Lord has requested an audience with you.”

-

haha OOPS

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[fairyoftbz]

it's never too late... | b. jacob

🏀 pairing: crush! basketball player! jacob x fem!reader 🏀 genre: high school!au, fluff, (sort of) strangers/acquaintances-to-lovers 🏀 word count: 5.2k 🏀 tw: very cliché 😳 and it goes kinda fast lmaoo 🏀 a/n: lisa I'm sorry I took this long to do your request, but I hope you'll like it nonetheless!! ALSO: to my fellow Americans, here football = soccer!! 🏀 requested: yes! thank you lisa!! @skrtbabe

╰☆☆☆☆╮

You had waited for this time since the beginning of your academic journey there. Graduating from high school was two months away, and it felt just as exciting as weird.

It felt like you had started your first year last week, but the amount of work and time spent in those dull buildings makes you feel like you’ve been there for at least five years.

It was exhausting to attend classes and see the same people every single day of the year, with repetitive subjects, annoying or cool teachers depending on your luck and everything that followed. The homework, the assignments, the small -or not so small- fights between classes or groups of people, you were praying that university wouldn’t sound like that.

However, at the same time, you were almost starting to feel nostalgic for this time. The last years where you could remain a bit silly before entering the adult world, being in your last teen years with people that you appreciated and met there. You chose to do this before letting them go and live your own lives, memories that will disappear if you don’t cherish them enough.

So, with Soyeon, your best friend, you decided to enjoy the time that you had left to do things together while still studying and revising for the exams, which was sometimes not easy to do. Yes, you shared classes, but personal and private activities sometimes came in the way and prevented you from hanging out.

“It’s life after all,” she said one night over the phone as you shared your opinion on this topic, “it’s good that we can be together almost 24/7, but sometimes, things don’t allow us to be together. It might be for the best, we never know,” she said, trying to be positive no matter the situation she was in, but you knew her well. As much as she wants to appear strong, you had found her many times crying on her own. But it was her personality, and no matter how hard you tried to change her, what's bred in the bone comes out in the flesh.

Soyeon wasn’t your only friend, you were getting along well with most of your girl classmates, as well as the boys that weren’t suffocating under the number of pick-me-girls that were populating your school and your class.

Sadly for you, you’ve been eyeing the most popular (and prettiest) boy in your whole school since you crossed gaze with him at the very beginning of your first year there. Jacob, your crush, was also the star basketball player of your school, and constantly surrounded and attracting cheerleaders or rich, random, good-looking girls, which had a knack for getting on your nerves. He was always spending time together with his pals and teammates, but other people as well. Everyone wanted to be his friend because you know, he had a promising career ahead of him, so it was always nice to be friends with a potential future celebrity.

As defeated as you were, there was still a small voice in your head telling you to do something before he left to go back to his home country, South Korea, where he had a career already planned and traced out.

You were confused as it was almost impossible for you to get a chance with him since you were not one of those girls and you simply couldn’t compete against them, but Soyeon and her boyfriend Sunwoo were always there to praise you and reassure you about your potential chances of dating him. Never convinced by your friends’ words, you had tried many times to get him out of your head and focus on someone else, but it never worked. Everything came back to him. He was unique and oh so nice, everything reminded you of him, and it was sickening at this point.

“He won't get out of my head, it’s getting on my nerves,” you shared your thoughts to your best friend as you braced your head in your hands, slapping your cheeks as if it were going to change anything and help you throw Jacob out of your brain.

“Why do I keep this stupid boy in my head when I know I don’t stand a single chance against those girls,” you slapped your cheeks harder and whined as Soyeon’s hand landed on your wrist.

“Y/N, stop your nonsense. You are perfect, you don’t need to change anything for him!”

“It’s easier said than done, you pulled the football star player!” you exclaimed, and she rolled her eyes, shifting closer to whisper.

“He pulled me because he knew that I am pretty, and that wouldn’t change a single thing for him. If he’s not happy with who I am, he can leave,” she shrugs, signalling you to do the same if you dated Jacob.

Sunwoo was also among the popular boys, but your friend remained the same, not even trying to fit in with the popular girls. She claimed that Sunwoo fell in love with her for her true self, so she didn’t see the point of changing to please other people. And you wished you had her confidence and her strength, admiring her for not changing anything about herself to please others.

Back to the present.

You felt stuck, desperately in love with an unapproachable boy who was too popular and way out of your league to be lucky to have his eyes sparing you any sort of attention. Even if he was a sweet young man, he was always surrounded by popular people, who were trying to hook up or use him for his school fame and sharp features.

One day, while studying with your best friend at the library, Sunwoo and one of his friends, Hyunjae, the football captain, burst into the library and come not so quietly to your table.

“For the love of God, can you both be quiet for once?” Soyeon whispered-yelled but her voice got toned down by Sunwoo vividly pressing his lips on hers, an arm wrapping around her shoulders. Hyunjae laughed but quickly gagged as they didn’t stop the kiss as quickly as the captain wished.

“Gosh, please, get a room,” he mumbled before hugging you, your knee resting against his as his arms pressed you against his chest.

Your friendship with Hyunjae felt more like siblings, he was genuinely nice and caring with you, making sure that you were okay and that you had enough of everything before allowing you to go home. Despite all the teasing and a few rumours going around school, you were not dating and didn’t have any romantic feelings for each other. He simply checked that you had an older brother figure since you were the first-born child, and it felt relieving.

The thing you did not know was that Jacob and a few of his basketball teammates, Juyeon, Eric and Younghoon, were a few tables away from yours, your back facing them, the future star looking at you and Hyunjae from the corner of his eyes. He nodded at his friend at your table, who gave him a wink as an answer, Jacob’s eyes burning holes into your back as Hyunjae was close to you. Too close to you for the basketball player not to feel something churn in his stomach.

Two long, manicured fingers snapped in front of his eyes to get him out of his reverie, lazily looking at the girl that sat across from him, who he was supposed to get help from.

“Jacob please, pay attention to meeeeee,” she whined and pouted, giving him puppy eyes that he couldn’t give a single fuck about, too busy in his mind to hear what she had to say.

She had volunteered to help him study History, but she wasn’t any better, probably worse than he was. It was already the third time Juyeon corrected her basic knowledge without being an expert himself, not even caring about the death glares she kept sending him. It only made him smirk as he knew it irked her dearly yet amused the rest of the table a lot.

They all sighed as she finally took the hint and left their table, Jacob bitterly chuckling as Hyunjae rolled his eyes when she walked past your table, his demeanour making you laugh.

╰☆╮

“Bro, do you think I should ask Y/N for help? Isn’t that a bit… lame?” Jacob sat on one of the soccer balls, hands joined and panting as Sunwoo practised his dribbling skills before shooting the ball in the cages, aiming for the up-right corner. He trotted to his friend and collapsed on the grass next to him, the last rays of sunshine offering his skin a wonderful, honey glow. He ruffled his hair after plopping down, checking his phone for any message before answering.

���If you need help, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask her. I mean, she’s super smart in every subject, but she’s just the boss in History. Her presentations are always golden, and she explains things a lot better than some of the teachers.”

“I got Smith as a teacher,” the basketball player grimaced, his left hand holding his right wrist as his gaze wandered in the grass.

“We’ve got Antal, and I can tell you that she’s always mad when Y/N does a presentation because they honestly just sound better than her lessons,” Sunwoo chuckled as Jacob pondered his friend’s words, the gears of his mind working at full speed.

How is he going to be able to approach you and get to talk to you?

╰☆╮

“Bestie, no. I swear I saw that in the other book,” you said as you found yourself back in the library the following week, bending over the table to grab the book your best friend was resting hers on. You started flipping some pages when a loud, masculine chortle followed by some whispers of annoyance drawing your attention.

“Hi, babe! Hi Hyunj- Oh hi Jacob!” your neck almost snapped as you abruptly lifted your head up at the mention of your crush’s name, a small, embarrassed smile making its way on your mouth. You were a bit sad that your brother best friend was not here with Sunwoo, but you weren’t going to complain to have your crush instead.

“Can I sit here?” the basketball player asked in a soft voice while pointing at the empty spot next to you, making you quickly nod and gather your stuff to make him some space.

You resumed searching for the precious paragraph you were searching for your project as if it were nothing, trying to ignore your stammering heart in your chest and the couple eating each other's mouths. The only thing you hoped was that Jacob couldn’t hear the loud, irregular beats in your ribcage because it would give in your attraction to him.

“Hum, Y/N?” the voice next to you made you flinch, surprised that he knew your name and that he said it aloud.

“Y-Yes?” you said, cursing in your head as you stuttered.

“I heard that you were the Ace when it came to History,” Jacob started, and you couldn’t look at him in the eyes, fire spreading in your chest up to your face.

“I can’t really say that I’m the Ace, but I really love that subject, so yeah I have some… knowledge,” words tripped over your tongue, and your best friend pulled away from Sunwoo and scoffed.

“Some knowledge? Are you kidding?” she said, Sunwoo placing a hand on her mouth as she was louder than intended. She removed his palm and furrowed her brows at him, before turning her head back at you with the same angry expression.

“She knows so fucking much that Antal hates her because she feels humiliated compared to Y/N. So let me tell you one thing, Cobbie, if you need help, you’ve come to the right person. Y/N is just a living encyclopaedia,” your best friend proudly smirked as you glowered at her, Sunwoo chuckling at his girlfriend’s behaviour before immediately stopping.

“Wait, did you call him Cobbie? How come you call him like that when I get nothing other than babe or baby?” Sunwoo argued while pouting, and your best friend sighed, ruffling his hair before pressing her lips against his one more time, making you slightly grimace as envy flooded your veins.

You sighed and dared to look at Jacob, who was reading the beginning of your essay written on your computer, leaving Sunwoo and your best friend bicker like the cute couple they were.

“Do you have this project too?” you asked, and he shook his head, eyes remaining glued on the computer screen.

“It’s so interesting what you wrote, I like your way of writing and explaining stuff,” he offered a small smile as he looked at you, clearing his throat. For someone that was super popular and constantly surrounded by friends or people at parties, he behaved and sounded quite like an introvert.

“W-Well, thank you,” you said with a smile and turned your head to the side for a second, taking a deep breath before looking back at him, opening a new tab on your computer after he gestured to you that he was done reading.

“What do you need help with?”

╰☆╮

You were astonished at how quick-minded Jacob was. Behind his fit, muscular appearance and obsession with basketball, he had the soul of a thinker and grasped the knowledge of historical concepts quite easily and rapidly. He just wasn’t good with the way Smith was teaching, the method not suiting him.

“You retain things well for someone who hates History,” you joked, and he shyly smiled, scratching his neck. His smile looked gorgeous, and you were pleasantly surprised at how much of a genuine person he was.

“Well, History is not my cup of tea, but it might be a bit more thanks to you,” he said, and you tried to stifle a smile, thankful that your best friend was no longer sitting across from you because she wouldn’t have let you two live.

“It’s nothing. You can come back to me if you need help, I really don’t mind. I actually like explaining things,” you said, and he nodded, clicking your pen close before placing it in your pouch.

“Thank you, really. Sunwoo was actually the one that told me about you, so I have to thank him as well,” you stood up and slowly started to pack your stuff, shutting down your computer with a smile.

“I’m glad he did so, I just hope it was positive,” you giggled, and he quickly joined you, twirling his pen in between his fingers as he cleared his throat.

“You know, it’s Sunwoo. It can only be nice and positive,” you genuinely smiled at him and fall in silence, throwing glances at each other from time to time as the conversation was slowly starting to die down.

“And... How’s basketball going by the way? Is everything going well?” you asked, and his heart skipped a beat at your question as it took him off guard.

“I-It’s going pretty well, I’m excited to finish high school to be able to focus on basketball. I’m gonna have to take some of my last finals in South Korea because the season and the training start pretty early in Summer so…” his voice trailed as his eyes widened, a hand slapping his mouth as you both stood up.

“What?” you quizzed, confused by his sudden change of behaviour.

“I… was meant to keep this a secret,” his voice trailed, the end of his sentence falling in a whisper as he started panicking. “Can we pretend you didn’t hear what I said?” he asked as you placed your bag strap on your shoulder, taking your sweater before pushing the chair against the table.

“Said what?” you replied with a smile, and Jacob sighed in relief, somehow feeling like his secret was safe with you, even if you’ve talked to him for the first time at the beginning of the afternoon.

╰☆╮

The rest of the month rolled off smoothly, yet the stress and the revisions became more intense as the days went by. You didn’t hear anything back from Jacob, but you’ve caught him staring at you a few times, offering him an awkward wave and a smile as not to get noticed by some of his “fan girls”, as they called themselves.

You still had a whole month left before finals, and you felt blessed as summer decided to start a bit earlier this year. It was only the beginning of May, but you were already able to wear shorts and dresses. It felt good to see the blue sky and being surrounded by the warmth of the sun hitting your exposed skin after the cold, lonely winter and spring you’ve just got out of. Everything looked prettier and warmer, and it did nothing but make you happier and brighter, despite the stress of the finals piling up on your shoulders.

So, to get rid of this pressure, you decided to leave town with Hyunjae and let him drive to one of the lakes that surrounded your town, knowing that the beach and parks would get crowded in no time. It was a place that you used to go to with your parents when you were still a child, memories that you shared with your friend coming back flooding in your mind.

Hyunjae and his family tagged along to give you some company and take care of you as your parents were busy looking after your newborn twin sisters, Hyunjae and his younger brother acting like elder siblings to you.

After driving for a few dozens of minutes, you settled your stuff in the shade, right under a weeping willow that offered you freshness throughout the entire day. Your best friend napped almost the entire time you were there, hand lingering on his abs while the other plucked out some grass until he dozed off, trying to store as many hours of rest as possible before finals. By his side was you, reading a book and enjoying the chilly water to cool down from the hot temperatures of early Summer, playfully nudging the young man next to you each time he was starting to snore.

It’s near the middle of the afternoon that you heard another car pulling up near the lake, a bunch of excited teenagers coming out of a van. You didn’t pay much attention to them, only sighing as your peace was about to get ruined, their screams when they jumped in the water woke your best friend up.

He abruptly sat up next to you and rubbed his eyes, some sleeping marks lingering on his face, making you giggle. Being the short-sighted idiot that he was, he squinted to try and recognise some people, but he didn’t have to.

A young woman screamed and started jumping up and down, waving her arms above her head in your direction, hearing her scream something towards you.

You looked at each other with Hyunjae, confusion painted on your faces, hearing your phone buzz in your small bag hidden by your folded clothes.

“Hello?” you said as Hyunjae’s phone started vibrating too, picking up the call as well.

“Y/N, it’s us! We’re on the opposite side of the lake! Come and join us!” you heard your best friend yell in your ear, hearing her as well through Hyunjae’s phone, who picked up a call from her boyfriend.

“Okay, we’re coming!” you excitingly said as you hung up, waving at your best friend from your spot as you started packing your stuff to get back in the car and meet up with your friends.

Your best friend excitingly jumped in your arms as soon as you got out of the car,

“Tt’s crazy how we’re so connected! Did you also think that the beach would be crowded?” she asked, and you nodded with a smile, happy to see her this joyful to see you.

The inseparable duo was here, as well as Younghoon, Jacob, Eric, Juyeon and Sangyeon, the striker of the football team. They all engulfed you in a tight hug, Jacob staying in the background the entire time.

“Hi Jacob!” you brightly said and wrapped your arms around his neck, hugging him close. “Hi Y/N,” his answer vibrated in his chest and had repercussions in yours, sending your heart flying in your ribcage.

You looked so good being this carefree, it was thankfully a sight that he managed to imprint in his mind despite the shortness of the moment. Being surrounded by all your friends felt so good that you forgot to be awkward and worry about the stupidest things, and Jacob adored seeing you this natural and smiling in the company of your friends. He was a bit sad that he wasn’t fully the reason for your smile though, but he still managed to enjoy the rest of the day with you and your mutual friends, whether you were on the ground or in the water.

Sangyeon, Younghoon and Juyeon copied Hyunjae and joined him in a restoring nap, while Eric, Sunwoo, Jacob, Soyeon and you played different games in the water, improvising a volleyball match with an imaginary net and the ball Sunwoo took with him as the volleyball, but it did the job. It was just a bit hurtful for the liberos since it wasn’t as soft and bouncy as a volleyball, but the joy of the moment allowed any type of pain to become bearable.

The evening eventually started to settle in, and you all got out of the water, drying yourselves before deciding to spend a part of the night here. You helped Sangyeon build a bonfire in the safe area by bringing some different branches, the eldest placing them correctly before lighting them with his pocket lighter.

“Hyung! I didn’t know you were a boy-scout,” Sunwoo exclaimed and made everyone laughed as you all were sliding some marshmallows on a stick, Sangyeon smiling with modesty at everyone.

“Ya, don’t say this,” Sangyeon mumbled, and you smile, rubbing his upper back as he sat down next to you, thanking him when you handed him over his marshmallow stick.

“Oh no! Mine burnt,” Soyeon pouted when she retrieved her snack from the flames, and her boyfriend was quick to give her his sweets, Eric cooing at the gesture of affection.

“Give it to me, I like them burnt,” he mumbled as he bit in the fluffy texture, immediately regretting it as it was boiling. His girlfriend handed him water as he stood up, bouncing up and down to try and reduce what felt like flames in his mouth.

“Oh my, thanks babe,” he muttered with his mouth stuffed when he gulped down everything with a pained expression on his face. Eric’s eyes filled with boredom locked into yours and you both chuckled, your friend shaking his head.

“When is it gonna be my turn,” he huffed and Sunwoo hit him playfully in the back as you all laughed around the bonfire, relating to your friend.

“When you’ll stop being obsessed with football and mango juice,” Eric grunted and folded his arms over his chest as Sangyeon called him out, making you coo and playfully run to him, holding him against you as he fake-cried on your chest while everyone was laughing at him.

Except for Jacob, who only offered a weak smile, but you didn’t catch it, too busy having fun and being light-hearted with your friends.

After your stomachs were filled with sweets and soda, Sunwoo pulled out his guitar and strummed a soft melody until some became heavy-eyed or fell asleep against the other, his girlfriend succumbing to his musical talents first. Jacob looked exhausted as well but forced his eyes open, finding him even hotter with hooded eyelids and his hair slightly curling with the humidity of the air and the lake water.

When it was time to go home, Hyunjae, as well as Younghoon, Sunwoo, Soyeon and Eric decided to jump into Hyunjae’s car to go to the beach, feeling the urge and the thrill of going skinny-dipping. On the other hand, you and the rest of the boys were too exhausted and modest to do this, only wanting to go home and get some good rest.

Just like they had arrived, Sangyeon was behind the wheel while the rest was either next to him or in the back seat. And you didn’t know how it happened, but you got stuck between the window and Jacob, who was struggling to keep his eyes open.

“You good?” you asked, and he turned his head towards you before offering you a tired yet sweet smile, moving his head up and down.

“I'm just exhausted, tonight was simply amazing,” he mumbled, and you expressed your agreement by a happy hum and a nod, bringing your attention to your eldest friend.

“Are you sure you’re awake enough to drive?” you enquired on the current situation and Sangyeon looks at you through the inner rear-view mirror, eyes forming two crescent moons as he smiled.

“I just jumped in the water, I’m nothing but awake,” he clapped in his hands to motivate himself and started the engine, your best friend’s car already gone.

Jacob rested his head against the headrest and closed his eyes, his head rolling to the side each time Sangyeon took a turn. You settled yourself on the window and let the vibrations of the car lull you to sleep, the small talk that Sangyeon and Juyeon were having in the front seats acted like a background noise, which helped you dozing off.

However, when the car pulled up in front of your house, they didn’t expect you to have your head resting against Jacob’s shoulder, his hand on your knee. The two men smiled at each other before Sangyeon got out of the vehicle, drawing the door open. As he was about to carry you to your doorstep, Jacob’s arm was quick to wrap itself around your waist, keeping you close to him.

You woke up confused, blinking a few times as you saw the striker standing next to you with a wide smile on his face. He removed a limb around your body, and you felt someone groan under your right shoulder, noticing in dread that you snuggled up to Jacob for some warmth in your sleep.

“You gotta go before the beast wakes up,” Sangyeon joked and winked as he helped you get out of the car, closing the door behind you. It opened again a few seconds later, Jacob looking just as confused as you were.

“Come on, lovebirds, we don’t have the night.”

“Lovebirds?” Jacob and you asked in unison, the basketball player rubbing his eye with the back of his hand. He jumped out of the van and gestured to Sangyeon to get back in.

“You can go, I live just around the corner,” he drowsily said as he vaguely gestured behind him.

“You sure? Your house is on my way back home, I can drop you off,” Sangyeon suggested but he refused, offering a handshake to the striker before letting him go.

Being more awake now, you waved at your friends driving away before turning to your crush, who looked even more adorable as he was super sleepy and just woke up.

“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay? You look really tired,” you asked, voice still laced with sleep yet sounding caring, which made Jacob’s heartbeat fasten. He nodded and weakly smiled, taking a step closer to you. His attitude was a bolt from the blue as he wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you to him, nuzzling his face in your neck.

“You felt so warm during the ride, it’s almost like I could get used to this,” he tiredly said with a smile, gently pulling away to stare at you, his fingers leaving your back to come and slide a wild piece of hair behind your ear. Your whole body stiffened at his words as he stared at you in the eyes, noticing a small, washed-out smirk plastered on his face.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit... late to start something with someone? I mean, we have finals and then y-you’re le-leaving for South Korea and-” you started stammering as his thumb gently stroked your cheek, loving watching you lose your composure at his display of affection.

“It’s never too late when you love someone,” he whispered, feeling his warm breath tickling your lips in such a delicious manner that you have to resist the urge to move forward and press your lips against his.

His words punched the air out of your lungs, leaving you breathless as he kissed your cheek, mouth slowly moving to the side until it reached your lips. The kiss was soft yet a bit on the rougher side as if he wanted you to understand every feeling he had for you. Instinctively, your arms wrapped around his shoulders, and you kissed him harder, deeper, his hands on your lower back pulling you flush against him.

You had dreamt, wondered about what it was like kissing Jacob, but it never felt as good as you were experiencing it now. Fireworks and butterflies were erupting in your stomach, leaving you dizzy with love and passion as one of his hands came and cupped your cheek, the pad of his thumb gently caressing the skin.

Once you pulled away for oxygen, you held onto his shoulders for your dear life and he chuckled, his mouth slowly travelling down to your neck.

“I-I think my… my- oh my god, my parents will worry,” you gently pushed him away and he stared at you with a smile before diving in to capture your lips in another soft kiss.

“I'm only letting you go if you're free tomorrow. Let's put that off to tomorrow, shall we?” he asked, and your eyes widened at his suggestion.

“We can go back to the lake if you want, but only if we’re alone,” he said, his hand caressing your cheek while the other was busy stroking your upper back up and down.

“I want to enjoy this with you and you only,” he added, mumbling against your mouth and this time, you’re the one pulling him for a kiss.

“Come and pick me up at 10, then,” you said as you pulled away.

“I’ll be there, I promise,” he answered and started walking towards your house, closing the front gate behind you, waving at him with a smile.

He sent you a flying kiss with a smile and you waved at him one last time before closing the main door of your house behind you, both sighing with a huge smile and warmth painted on your faces.

You peeled the clothes off your skin and went straight to the bathroom to take a shower, shaking your head left to right while chuckling as you recalled what just happened in your last month of high school.

Nothing was making sense, you didn’t know how you got there, but you were happy.

And that’s what mattered the most.