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loveshotzz · 1 year

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Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

My Favorite Customer

Summary: You’ve been buying weed from your new dealer for a few months now. Always leaving it in your mailbox while you’re at work, you two never cross paths until one Friday night when you come home early.

word count: 3k

Warnings: None really besides some kissing at the end. This just a little meet cute with our favorite weed dealer. (Not meant to be a series, just a fluffy one shot) mentions of weed obviously.

A/N: I missed Eddie and this idea came to me based off my real life of buying weed from my weed man for over a year. Have yet to come face to face with him, but there’s always weed in my mailbox when I need it lol. For my twin @boomhauer and thank you @superblysubpar for helping me find my Eddie voice again.

Lifting up the lid of your mailbox, the smirk that tugs at your lips can’t be stopped when a fresh bag of weed sits inside, his usual hand written note attached making your face hot. You look both ways before snatching the eighth quickly scuffling back into your apartment like you were hiding a pound of cocaine and not just enough green to last you a few days.

It had been like this for a while with Eddie. You’d call him up by the number given to you from Robin who swore up and down that he was the best.

You remember thinking his voice was cute the first time you heard it, and you started to wonder if he thought the same after the third call. A flirty edge hidden behind his words every time he’d pick up and realize it was you.

“Ahhh my favorite customer.” He’d tease starting to get these calls multiple times a week.

It wasn’t your intention to never meet Eddie, it’s just how it always seemed to happen. That first time you talked he could hear the desperation in your voice. The stress from the move here and starting your new full time job fresh out of high school, he could tell you needed to relax. Rattling off times he could come by, none of them ever lining up to match with yours.

“You got a mailbox or somewhere I could stash it?” He finally gave in after exhausting almost every other option.

“You’d do that?” You couldn’t help but be embarrassed by the obvious excitement in your voice and he just laughed.

“If the money’s there sweetheart, why not?” The nickname made your heart skip a beat biting your lip to try and hide your smile.

You don’t even know what he looks like.

So this is how it started playing out after that, you’d call with your order and he’d make you blush every time he’d kick the flirting up to ten.

Instantly comforted by his mellow voice, you found yourself looking forward to those few minutes so much that you weren’t sure if the amount you were smoking was from stress or from just wanting to hear his voice again. Then he started adding little notes to your deliveries and now you were almost positive it was the second.

His sloppy handwriting started appearing on each bag with the word ‘favorite’ always scribbled at the top.

Cheeks heating up the first time it showed up, you couldn’t stop trying to imagine what he looked like. Too scared to ask Robin, you knew she’d just follow your intrigue with a line of questioning of her own.

Settling for the vague faceless man you’d conjured up in your clever mind. You let the memory of his voice be the thing that secretly encouraged the movements of your fingers between your thighs every night.

—

Friday morning had you waking up with a smile, your stash low enough to do the thing you’d been thinking about since you hung up the last time. Taking a deep breath you dialed his number that you now had completely memorized. It only rings three times before his voice fills your end of the receiver.

“Is this who I think it is calling me this early in the morning?” The grin in his voice is evident when he answers.

Shuffling your feet nervously, the smile on your own face was starting to make your cheeks hurt.

“Do you always answer the phone like this?” You wonder if he can hear yours too.

“Only if I know it’s you.”his tone sends a shiver up your spine, legs pressing together on their own accord.

“And how’d you know that it was me Eddie?” You draw out his name sweetly, silently squealing when you hear the hitch in his breathing from it.

“Because sweetheart, you’re the only one who calls this early for weed.” catching the way he almost whispers the last part, you hear a gruff voice in the background.

“Boy if you don’t leave soon!”

“Sorry, is that a problem? I just wanted to catch you before it was too late.” The urge to crawl in a hole is strong as you slap your palm on your forehead.

Your eagerness to talk to him becoming more than obvious, the man yelling at him in the background definitely wasn’t helping your new bashfulness.

“Pshh are you kidding me? I love it. Get to start the morning off talking to my favorite girl.” He lays his response on thicker than syrup. Your palms start to sweat noting the way he didn’t say customer for the first time.

Your embarrassment subsides for a split second before the voice from before cuts in again.

“If I get another call that you were late again, boy I swear to -“

The line shuffles on the other end and all you can hear is the sounds muffled arguing before another loud rustle, his voice returning with more irritation in it than you’d ever heard before.

“You want the usual?” He’s short when he answers and you know it’s not supposed to be directed at you, but you can’t help but squirm.

“Y- yeah if that’s okay?” You didn’t mean to give yourself away by stumbling over your words, but when you do Eddie makes a quick recovery.

“More than, listen you have a good day at work today Sweetheart. I really gotta go, but check your mailbox when you get home.” Hanging up before you get a chance to finish saying goodbye you hear Eddie yell “I”m leaving alright?!”

——

Work was exceptionally slow for a Friday night, the unexpected thunderstorm that rolled through killed any possibility of a dinner rush. Cutting you less than half way through your shift, your giddy excitement couldn’t be contained. Friday evenings had become non-existent since you started at Enzo’s. So when the opportunity to actually have one came around you couldn’t turn it down. Stopping at Family Video on your way home, Robin helped you pick out something she swore was good while you did your best to ignore the eyes her friend Steve was giving you.

Strumming your fingers against the steering wheel while you listened to Kiss a little too loud, the heavy rain turned into something less than a light drizzle as your tires splashed through puddles. Planning out your evening alone you didn't even think of what this could mean as you pulled into your parking spot hours earlier than normal.

Too caught up in trying to land the notes to I Was Made For Loving You, you didn’t see the van parked in front of your small complex. Head in the clouds with the possibilities of the night mixed with your bad habit of looking down when you walked, you didn’t see who was right in front of you. The sound of the voice you’d been daydreaming for months about cuts through your mumbled singing. Stomach dropping to the floor when you hear

“Son of a bitch.”

Freezing in place, your eyes slowly trail up towards your front door. Standing at almost six feet tall was a curly haired metal head. Mumbling profanities as he struggled against the lid of your mailbox, his jacket looked caught on something. Broad shoulders covered by a battle vest adorned with a giant Dio patch, you still couldn’t see what his face looked like as he struggled with the sleeve of the leather jacket beneath. Taking in his ripped black jeans and scuffed white Reebok’s, your heart was already threatening to beat out of your chest. If his face was cute, you knew you’d be fucked.

A few more violent tugs of his arm, he finally breaks free as your mailbox creaks dangerously close to coming unhinged off the brick wall. His zippers jingle as he shakes out his wrist, flipping up a ring clad middle finger he chuckles proudly to himself before turning around. Big brown eyes meet yours like a deer in headlights, so cute they punch the air out of our lungs.

Yeah, you were fucked.

Brows furrowed under messy bangs his eyes go from your stunned face down to the keys in your hand with your VHS tape before he takes in your frame. Catching the way they linger just long enough to still be polite. He meets your shocked stare as something clicks in his head. A dimple filled smile pushes past his plush lips, yours threatening to do just the same at the sight.

“Eddie?” Surprised you were able to get his name out of your mouth, his face seems to light up even more as his suspicions were confirmed.

“That depends.” Rocking on his heels he crosses his arms over his chest “Favorite, is that you? Cause boy, you’re even cuter than you sound.”

Blood rushing to your cheeks hearing your nickname in person like this, you suck your bottom lip between your teeth at his compliment.

“That depends.” Looking up at him from under your lashes the dimples in his cheeks deepen at your response.

Twirling one of his curls over his lip, you notice all of his rings “What if it’s your favorite weed dealer?”

Cuter than anything you could have conjured up in your mind you were silently scolding yourself for not meeting him sooner. Straightening your shoulders a little you take a few strides closer to him, watching as his eyes don’t try to hide as they take all of you in.

“I’m sure you call all the girls that, but yes it’s me Eddie.” Smiling bigger than you can help, it’s his turn to take a couple steps closer.

“Nah, that nickname is just for you sweetheart.” Standing close enough to catch hints of corner store cologne trying to cover up cigarette smoke, everything about him made your brain short circuit. Looking down at the movie in your hand his eyebrows raise in disbelief before meeting your eyes again. “Alien?”

“Robin suggested it to me for my unexpected night off.” Flipping it over in your hand to read the back, you could feel his stare on your face rather than on the tape. “Ever seen it?” glancing up at him, he doesn’t try to hide what he was actually looking at.

Nodding, he grins down at you “Buckley’s got great taste.”

Catching the double meaning in his words an electric current that could light up all of Hawkins dances between your bodies. Static vibrating from your fingertips, you couldn’t stop the sigh that slipped between your lips.

The raindrop that hits you between the eyes is jarring, you blink fast before more start a slow and steady decent splattering all around. Raising a large hand up to try and shield his curls he looks annoyed that Mother Nature was cutting his time short.

“I hate to deliver and dash sweetheart, but I don’t wanna keep you in the rain.” Doe eyes taking in your face like he was trying to commit it to memory he moves to step around you.

Panic rises and constricts around your chest as you watch his retreating form, biting the inside of your cheek you work up enough courage to do something you’ve never done. Make the first move.

“Doyouwannwatchitwithme?” Words jumbled together and almost yelled as they fell out of your mouth, your mumbled nonsense stops him dead in his tracks. Turning around, having his full attention like this was making it even harder.

“Come again princess?” The new nickname threatens to send you six feet under when you feel your knees shake. Clearing your throat you gather whatever confidence you can muster under the intensity of his stare.

“Do you want to come watch this movie with me?” Using it as a makeshift umbrella you start walking backwards towards front door “I actually just got this pretty good shit delivered you should try it.”

The smile that breaks across his face is infectious, feeling it in the way your lips stretch so much it makes your cheeks hurt.

“Oh yeah? I mean if you’re talking about who I think you’re talking about, that guy’s got the best shit in town sweetheart.” The laugh he pulls from you, he swears it makes your face glow. “I’d be honored favorite, I thought you’d never ask.”

—-

Your living room lays in a blanket of haze from two joints successfully smoked, touches lingering more and more as you two passed them back and forth. Half way through the movie you were giggling through cupped fingers leaning into him as you both sank deeper into the cushions of your couch. His bad jokes and over the top commentary kept you both laughing with shoulders pressed together for support. Neither one of you making any effort to move when you both finally calm down.

Peeking at him from the corner of your eye, you were mesmerized by how handsome he was this close. Your stare following the curve of his round nose to the fullness of not one but both his lips, a light sheen coating them from being freshly licked. The sharp planes of his jaw lead you to the thickness of his neck, catching the silver chain that disappears into his shirt.

Time is an illusion in your foggy brain - especially under his spell, losing yourself trying to remember every curve and scar on his face you stare long enough to to get caught. Chocolate eyes connecting with yours, the corners of his lips tug up and like looking in a mirror yours do you.

“Hey favorite”quiet enough for just you to hear, there’s a soft rasp in his voice from all the smoking.

“Hey Eddie”biting your bottom lip, his eyes watch the way your teeth scrape across the silk of it.

Leather creaking loud enough to hear over the sound of the movie and the rain outside, he drapes his arm over the back of the couch. The dip pulling you deep into the warmth of his chest.

“Is this okay?”for the first time you see a hint of nervousness in his eyes as he tries to read the expression on your face.

Nodding you slide a tentative hand up his chest feeling his muscle twitch under your palm, looking up at him you repeat his own question.

“Is this okay?”

His hand reaches up to cup the side of your face, the weed helping you melt into his touch as the pad of his thumb traces your cheekbone. Searching your eyes for any sign of protest he nudges his nose with yours. The heat of his breath fans across your parted lips as your eyes flutter closed completely overcome by him being this close.

“Sweetheart, if I’m reading this wrong please tell me now.” Your top lip brushes with his bottom when he asks the question and you think you might combust if you don’t close the gap.

Tilting your head just enough to get what you want, your lips move together like it was something they’d been doing for years. Each lazy drag setting your skin ablaze.

Swiping his tongue against your bottom lip he quietly asks you for more. Granting him access to something you’re sure you’ll never deny him, you don’t hesitate to let him deepen the kiss.

Tongues meeting each other in the middle, they battle for dominance as your fingers find their way into the thickness of his curls. Tugging slightly, you smile into the kiss when a groan erupts from deep in his chest.

With the rest of the world long forgotten, the two of you stay like this for longer than you can keep track of. Hands exploring curves and grabbing hips, it almost becomes too much when you nip his bottom lip.

Eddie’s the one who breaks away reluctantly when the need for oxygen becomes too much, and his body starts to react a little too strongly to your touch. The screen on the TV had gone blue long ago when the movie ended, leaving your dark living room in its pale bright light. The coloring of it all hitting his face just right.

Nudging his nose with yours he leans his head back against the cushions of the couch. Chocolate eyes looking at you through half closed lids, a lazy smile spreading wide across his kiss swollen lips.

“We should probably stop, and I should probably go.”jutting his bottom lip in a pout he catches the disappointment you try to hide flash behind your eyes. “Not that I want to, I just actually had other stops that I was supposed to make tonight, but it’s not like I was going to say no to you inviting me to hangout.”snorting like that was the craziest thing he could ever imagine, his face lights up when he earns a laugh from you.

“Yeah, I’d be pretty pissed if I was them.” Using his chest to try to push yourself up with your hands, he stops you from getting too far. Collecting your lips one last time, he only lets you pull away enough for your noses to stay touched.

“Besides having a few more drop offs, I’m hoping the next time I kiss you like that is after you let me take you on a date?”catching the nerves in his voice, you couldn’t actually believe he thought you’d say no.

“Bold of you to assume there’s going to be a next time.”raising a brow you do your best to remain straight faced as he narrows his eyes at you.

He brushes his lips lightly against yours again before asking “there’s not?”

Giving in almost instantly you add pressure pushing yourself closer, chuckling as he pulls away, you stop trying to fight the smile that’s threatening to spread across your own face.

“Fine, you caught my bluff.” Huffing in mock annoyance, this time he lets you push yourself up.

It still takes another thirty minutes for Eddie to work up enough willpower to get off the couch, your easy conversation and pouty soft lips making it a near impossible feat.

More stolen kisses and stumbled words fill the empty space on the walk to the front door followed by even more before he finally goes. Sweet just like the nickname he gave you, he couldn’t wait to make you his.

——

taglist: @munsonology @munsonmunster @elthreetimes

#eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson smut #joseph quinn

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kneelingshadowsalome · 4 months

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Hey girlie, I'm such a big fan of yours!! I think your work is PHENOMENAL, like IM LITERALLY FOAMING AT THE MOUTH EVERYTIME YOU POST. So, the other day, me and my baby cousin were watching Frozen. And you know how there is this one big sweet guy that got mad because he got offended (I think his name is Oaken? You can look him up) and I IMMEDIATELY thought of König. Imagine him having his own little wooden shop( like that man from Frozen) up in the cold Alps, and one day, our dear Engel comes through the door, shivering from the big snow storm outside, saying that she's seeking shelter at least until the storm outside subsides. What would König do?

Omg this is just another cabin König to me! But with a pinch of silliness 🧚🏼‍♀️

Guy wanted some solitude after failing in life big time, he has no interest in socializing (or so he tells himself at night), he’s perfectly happy here in the middle of nowhere with no one to hold close his heart when there’s a blizzard outside…

Even hot chocolate tastes better alone, yeah, and ski trips are nice when you can set the pace yourself and admire the mountains with no one in sight. It’s not like he ever imagined a cute girl beside him on those warm sunny days when the snow looks like gelato and glitter, just the sort of thing he'd wrestle her into and then steal a kiss...

Nor does he miss the sound of soft, light-hearted giggle as he skis downhill to his cabin and heats up the sauna, wondering how lucky he is that there’s so few customers here and all of them are men. Otherwise he would have to be careful when he’s walking around in nothing but a towel–

The bell chimes, and someone comes in, of course it’s a woman, the first woman he’s seen in these parts or in his little shop ever. And here he is, sheened in sweat... Wearing only a thin white towel about his waist, the linen already wet and clinging to his thighs from the heat of the sauna.

There's an actual woman standing inside his humble tradepost, looking like a creature born from wind and snow, like a little Christmas tree decoration that has frosting all over it.

Cute little lips, a kissable mouth; that’s the first thing he notices on her, and he never thought of kissing Christmas decorations before… Men usually look like ice devils when they arrive inside his hut, but this little lady only looks like a winter night’s spirit, a little confused and lost. Her spirit eyes are glued to his junk before they rise to meet his softening stare, and who can blame her for staring when the first thing she sees upon coming in is a half naked man?

“Uh, welcome,” he manages to say while his cock gives a happy little jump under the towel as well, giving its own excited welcome to this woman.

She'd not dressed properly at all for a weather like this – why anyone would insist on wearing a dress in these temperatures is beyond him, but if he was her, uhm, brother or father, he would never have allowed her to go outside without proper winter gear.

Poor thing looks like she’s freezing to death, the bottom half of her dress coated in crystalline snow. If he had known that this lady was out there, trying to get somewhere warm, he would’ve come to her rescue at once…

“Um. Are you the shop owner…?” She asks delicately, still hugging herself from the attempt to stay warm.

“Yes. I mean, no... Uh… This is a trading post,” he stutters with his words, as if talking to women was somehow completely different than talking to men.

She furrows her brows and examines his body again, not at all interested in the items he has in stock. No woman has ever seen him in this state, no woman has ever looked at him like he’s the item here. She looks like she’s not sure if she wants to buy him or not.

“There’s also a sauna,” he says with a hint of pride in his voice, because he is damn well proud to have such luxury here. “Do you want to come…?”

“Do I want to come to the sauna…? With you?”

“No, I mean, you can go by yourself. It’s free of charge for the ladies.”

Such brazen discount he came up with just now, desperately wanting for her to stay. Besides, she needs the warmth after whatever adventure she’s been through. It would not be gallant to charge her for warming herself and getting that dress dry.

He wonders how she would look like in one of his woolen shirts. She would have to wear his clothes after the sauna, of course, he has no spare women’s clothing here. He will have to remember to be apologetic about it while presenting her with his clothes, secretly hoping they will catch her scent once she snuggles safely inside them and thanks him for everything he's done for her so far... She would probably look the cutest in his dark green knit, or the midnight blue one...

“Oh,” she says, slowly warming up to his offering. His cock is more than half hard by now, and he clasps his hands in front of it, trying to feign the movement as a casual posture shift although he’s anything but casual and relaxed.

And she’s not easy to trick; he might as well have pulled the towel away and shown her his cock in all its glory. She eyes his covered erection with a cat-like curiosity, a small little smile playing on her lips. Long lashes reveal a playful stare, slowly melting under the dim lamps of the cabin.

“I mean, of course you can come with me, if you want…”

Shit... That just came out of his mouth even if he tried to swallow the words. The inviting smile on her lips starts to quiver: she’s stifling a laugh, she’s giggling at him.

A flush rises on his cheeks, he can feel it, the erection now jumping against his palm, wildly and demandingly, as if wanting to join her in her mirth.

#this is so silly lmao #I'm just imagining him lounging at the sauna #maybe jerking himself off #languidly cause he's finally somewhat relaxed #he's trained himself like pavlov's dog that sauna time = fapping time #and now he's supposed to go to the sauna with this BABE and tell his erection that now is not the time???#impossible!

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katyswrites · 2 years

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don't call me 'baby'

PART 1 | SERIES

Pairing: Steve Harrington/fem!reader

Warnings: Sugardaddy!Steve, swearing, sexual harassment/men being gross, alcohol use, smoking, age gap

Wordcount: 4k

A sugar daddy modern AU, a whirlwind summer romance in Italy, and two people from completely different walks of life, somehow finding each other in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. But, what will happen when summer ends?

PART 1 | in the same room, at the same time

This wasn’t supposed to happen. That’s what you would tell yourself, later. But, life is funny that way - nothing ever really goes the way you’d expect it. And, when you had taken the last-minute shift at Enoteca Bruni, the fine-dining restaurant where you worked as a cocktail waitress, you could have never predicted where the night would take you.

It had started with a large reservation that had come in around 8pm, four businessmen in suits and watches that you imagined cost more than your entire month’s rent. You were used to that type - considering the prices on the wine list, nearly everyone you served here lived at least three tax brackets above you. It wasn’t a job meant for everyone - a lot of these types of customers were dismissive, rude, and expected those who serve them to disappear in the background, not to interrupt whatever they were doing, which was obviously oh-so-important. But, the tips were phenomenal, and the late night hours worked perfectly with your daytime shifts at the cafe in the city’s center.

Still, the most intriguing thing about them was that they weren’t Italian, like you had gotten used to - nor were they speaking Spanish, French, German, or any of the other languages you had learned to recognize over the last few years. No, they were American. It wasn’t often that you heard your native tongue and accent nowadays - no, it was actually jarring. But, you welcomed it. The oldest man at the table, a gray-haired, thin man with a sharp face and tailored three-piece suit, smiled when you greeted them with a hello.

“How wonderful,” he had exclaimed. “Someone from our side of the world.”

“Finally,” a younger man with a smattering of freckles on the other side of the table had said, exasperated. “We’ve got someone who actually speaks English around here.”

“Well,” you said, “To be fair, you are in Rome. I suppose you could say we are the odd-ones-out.”

He rolled his eyes, and shrugged. “Yeah, well, I guess I’m just trying to say it’s nice to actually understand who I’m talking to for once, you know? Not that I’m looking for her to talk back.”

Unfortunately, that didn’t even crack the top ten worst things a customer had said to you in your time working here. So instead, you just plastered on a cheerful smile.

“Of course. In that case, what drinks can I get started for you gentlemen?”

As the hours wore on though, it was becoming harder and harder to feign kindness. With each wave of dismissal, or snap of their fingers, you wanted to take the drinks you were serving and throw them in their faces. The worst of the bunch were probably the first older man you had spoken to, who had such a vile demeanor about him that you couldn’t quite put your finger on it; and perhaps worse than him were two of the younger men, the dark-haired one with freckles, and a sandy-haired guy with what you could only describe as a mullet.

1982 called, it wants its hairstyle back, you thought to yourself.

It was those two who you could see undressing you with their eyes, who called you over for nonsense requests, asking you to bend over the table to get things that you knew they were perfectly capable of reaching themselves. And, you weren’t deaf; you heard the comments they made as you walked away to fetch more wine and scotch.

Look at that ass go, one of them said. I’d definitely hit it.

As if you could pull that, the other said. Besides, you’ve already got two bitches on the side Billy; leave some for the rest of us.

Don’t look at me, the sandy-haired man who was apparently named Billy retorted. If anyone around here needs to get laid, it’s Harrington.

With your back turned, you rolled your eyes, and wondered if they’d notice if you spit in their drink - that was, until no-first-name Harrington replied.

Guys, lay off - just let the girl do her job, yeah?

You took a deep breath, and recomposed yourself - it was the bare minimum, but it was something - someone who saw you as a person, maybe.

You carried the tray over with a wide smile plastered on your face, handing out drinks as you surveyed the table. You glanced at Harrington, the quietest one in the group - you had hardly heard a word from him all night, until right now. He was handsome, on the younger side of the group, but you’d estimate still about a decade your senior; he had a thick, slightly wild head of chestnut hair, and more of a boyish look about him. And with the exception of his perfectly-tailored suit and ostentatious Rolex, he didn’t look to have much else in common with his colleagues at first glance. While they sat at ease, laughing and conversing over their drinks, he sat up straight, stoically swirling his wine.

You pulled the post-dinner cigars they had asked you to bring out of the box, slicing the end with the guillotine cutter and handing the first one to the oldest man, striking a match and lighting it for him until he drew smoke. It felt humiliating sometimes, to light the Suits’ cigars for them as if they couldn’t do it themselves, but that came with the territory in a place like this, you had learned.

You reached Harrington last, only for him to shake his head.

“Oh, none for me - thank you though.”

Thank you - he was probably the first one from the table to say that all evening.

“Can I get you gentleman anything else?” you asked stiffly.

“That’ll be all, for now,” the gray-haired man said, waving you off.

You nodded, and at the bar, decided it was high time for your smoke break. You glanced at your watch - your shift was over in less than an hour, and your high heels were killing you. You signaled to the manager behind the bar that you were taking fifteen, and shouldered your way out the door.

*****

The first few minutes outside were peaceful, and relatively quiet - at least, as quiet as Rome could be at this hour. There was still the distant sound of traffic, the bustle of people on the sidewalk, many drunkenly stumbling and laughing, in the midst of making merry on a Friday night. You took a drag from your cigarette and inhaled deeply - even just a few moments off of your feet, and sitting out here on this bench in the fresh air, was starting to take the edge off. Still, you couldn’t shake that table of men - your manager had warned you that it was a very high-profile client, explaining that the dinner was likely a pretense for some multi-million dollar deal to be discussed. Still, you found yourself muttering under your breath, practicing the retorts and profanities you had wanted to throw at them. The shield you had built for dealing with customers was only so strong, and if your job wasn’t on the line, you probably would have told them to fuck off hours ago.

You were so lost in your thoughts that you don’t hear someone approaching, not until they’re right next to you, clearing their throat.

“Oh! Jesus, hi,” you say, clutching your chest with your hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

Harrington was standing above you, hands in his pockets and his tie loosened.

“It’s fine - I promise, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

His smile was friendly, and a bit apologetic. He looked different in the dim light, a bit younger, and not at all like someone who spends his days in an office doing… whatever those men inside did.

“You mind if I sit?” he asked, gesturing to the empty spot next to you on the bench. You just shook your head, a bit wary of him still.

He smiled, and started fishing around in his pockets until he pulled out a small baggie of tobacco and a pack of rolling papers. You raised your eyebrows, and smirked.

“You roll your own cigarettes?” you asked.

He nodded, not quite looking at you, focused intently on the task and hand.

“Yep. It’s so much better than that crap you smoke, trust me.”

You scoffed, despite the fact that this man was technically your customer, and your shift wasn’t quite over yet.

“Yeah, well, I’m doing just fine with what I’ve got. Thanks though…” you trailed off, looking at him expectantly. He caught on and turned to face you, grinning.

“Steve. Steve Harrington.”

He extended a hand towards you. You hesitated for a moment, caught off-guard by the simplicity of the gesture from someone like him, but you took it, telling him your own name. His much bigger hand was warm and calloused, shaking yours firmly before pulling away.

You stared at him intently, desperately trying to figure him out as you placed your cigarette between your lips and inhaled. It was hard to figure out what exactly his deal was - but, he was talking to you like you were an actual person, so that was at least a step above most of the people you’d waited on here.

When he finished rolling, he stuck the cigarette between his lips, then sighed.

“Shit - d’you have a light?”

You nodded, reaching into your handbag and pulling out your small blue lighter. He leaned in close, close enough that you could faintly smell his cologne, feel the heat radiating off of him in the cool May evening. It took a moment for the flame to catch, then he was leaning back and he took a drag, letting his eyes flutter shut.

You looked away quickly, staring at the street ahead. Your black cocktail dress didn’t offer much coverage, causing you to shiver slightly as a breeze picked up. It was Steve who broke the silence, after a few moments.

“I want to apologize, by the way - my, uh, colleagues… they’re assholes.”

You nearly choked at his words, whipping around to face him.

“I’m sorry… what?”

“I - I don’t know how much you heard in there, but -”

“I heard enough,” you said quickly.

His face fell, then hardened. He looked… angry? Or, perhaps disappointed.

“I really am sorry. I know I probably should have said something, but…Brenner’s my boss. And, there’s a lot of people who would kill to work for him. So, you have to understand… I mean, Tommy and Billy, they’re real jerks. I can’t stand them, most of the time. So, just know that if you want to punch them in the face, I’d understand.”

You laughed at that, shaking your head.

“Well, just between you and me, I do want to punch them. But… I would really like to keep my job, and actually get a good tip at the end of the night. So, if I can make it through the next -” you glanced at your watch, “- half an hour or so, I’ll be alright. I’m kind of used to it anyway, working here.”

You felt his eyes on you, but didn’t turn to meet his gaze. Then, he said more softly, “I’m sorry to hear that. Really.”

You shrugged.

“It’s fine. But, thank you - most people don’t take the time to say that, I guess.”

A moment of semi-awkward silence fell between you and him, before you added, “But, it’s good to know that I apparently have a nice ass.”

He laughed at that, choking on the smoke he was inhaling.

“Oh God - Billy and Tommy really are the worst. Did you hear that they actually were trying to make a bet about you in there?”

You raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.

“What kind of bet?”

He suddenly broke eye contact, staring straight ahead as he shook his head vigorously.

“You know what - nevermind, you’d be disgusted -”

“Well now you have to tell me,” you conceded, inching closer. “C’mon, it can’t be that bad -”

“They said if I manage to get you to go home with me tonight, they’d agree on this huge deal with HNL that they’ve been trying to close with our European counterpart for months - they said it because they knew it wouldn’t happen, of course, I don’t really -”

“What would you get?” you asked bluntly.

“Huh?”

“If they thought you won the bet, like, would that be good for your job?”

He scoffs, nodding fervently.

“Um, yes - my yearly bonus would probably quadruple -”

“Then let’s do it,” you said.

His mouth fell open, and he was staring at you like you had three heads.

“Do what, exactly?”

He suddenly looked flushed, frozen in place as he stared at you. You felt a devilish grin spread on your face as you looked back at him, stubbing out the cigarette with the toe of your shoe.

“Here’s what we’re going to do, Harrington.”

*****

You had made sure he arrived back at the table only moments before you. The group of cajoling men were louder now, Tommy slurring his words and Billy in a heated debate with Brenner. Steve flashed a smile at the group, then started sipping his drink as if he had never left.

“What I’m saying is, if we offer them 14 percent -”

“Well, at that rate, we may as well sell them the whole goddamn company -”

“We’re going to have to budge at least a little if we want to make headway, otherwise Upside Tech might outbid us -”

“Harrington!” Tommy cried over the other two men. “Where th’hell ‘ave you been? You left me stranded with these two, they’re actually trying to work right now -”

Then, he spotted you, suddenly flashing a grin that was too wide for your liking.

“Mademoiselle - might I say, I think you’ve only gotten hotter since I last saw you -”

“That was only about twenty minutes ago,” Steve said firmly, cutting Tommy off. “Also, we’re in Italy, not France.”

Tommy waved him off, leaning closer across the table, towards where you stood.

“May I ask, how’re you getting home tonight, little lady?”

You just smiled.

“I’m actually so happy you brought that up - while I appreciate your concern and all, I’ve got that covered.”

You then turned to Steve, who froze in place.

“Ready to go, Steve?” you asked innocently.

All conversation stopped, then, the other men around the table stopped to gape at him. A smug smirk appeared on Steve’s face, and he stood up slowly, smoothing out his suit.

“Of course, sweetheart.”

Despite yourself, your heart fluttered at the pet name, as ridiculous as it felt.

“What?” Billy said, his jaw nearly on the floor.

But before they could ask any more questions, Steve was holding out his bent arm, which you graciously hooked yourself through. You pressed yourself into his side, flashing another grin back at the group.

“I’ve left your bill on the table - thank you gentlemen for a wonderful evening, and we hope to see you soon!”

Then Steve surveyed the table, adding, “I suspect you’ll be in touch about negotiation meetings shortly? Since that was the deal and all. I’ll see you at the office on Monday.”

Then, you and Steve turned a corner and headed out the door, to where a car was already waiting for you.

Steve gestured for you to go in ahead of him, opening the backseat door. You slid across, greeting the driver quickly and Steve followed, shutting the door behind you. The second it was closed, you both looked at each other, and burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“Oh my God - did you see their faces?”

“I’m going to live on that for years,” he added, fighting to breathe. You threw your head back, practically cackling at the memory of their dumbfounded expressions.

“That was amazing,” Steve said, regaining his composure. “Seriously, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it - I think I got off of it more than you.”

“I doubt that.”

You met his gaze, and your breath stopped for a moment. He really was handsome, his honey-brown eyes staring into yours with such sincerity that it was actually overwhelming. You looked away quickly, staring straight ahead.

“Well, if anything, it made my shift more interesting, so thanks,” you said, fiddling with your hands in your lap.

“Yeah, and you just made me my yearly bonus, so thank you.”

After a moment, he cleared his throat.

“So, uh, where do you live? So I can get you home.”

“Oh! Right,” you said. “Um, do you have any ID or anything?”

Steve furrowed his brow, confused.

“Why are you asking?”

“Look, don’t take this personally - I’ve watched way too much Criminal Minds in my life. And, while I’m sure you’re nice and all, I’m not exactly gonna tell a strange man I’ve never met where I live without some precautions. So, I’m going to take a picture of your ID and send it to my roommate, so she knows who to turn in if I end up on the news, yeah?”

Steve just smirked, and pulled out his wallet.

“So, you think I’m strange?”

You shrugged, fighting a smile.

“Obviously, yes.”

Steve chuckled softly, fishing his license out of his wallet.

“Fair enough - as long as you’re not trying to steal my identity or anything.”

“Oh, definitely,” you said sarcastically. “I was actually going to buy a mansion in your name, if that’s alright.”

He laughed, handing you the card as you took a photo. The address was in Indiana - interesting. He was also 30, judging from his birthday - nearly ten years older than you. Also interesting. You handed it back, shooting a quick text to Robin:

I’ll explain later, but in case I get murdered!

You attached the photo and pressed send.

Satisfied, you leaned forward, telling your address to the driver, who nodded and pulled onto the busy city street.

You leaned back in your seat, staring out the window. You passed dimly-lit alleyways and bustling restaurants, groups smoking on the sidewalk and couples kissing on benches as the evening started winding down. The silence in the car is comfortable enough, considering that you met the man beside you a few hours ago. It’s him who breaks the lull in conversation, once again.

“So, why did you do it?” he asked quietly.

“Hm?”

“The bet? Well, kind of - at least, why did you make it look like I - like we -”

You shrugged, shifting to face him.

“Honestly?”

He nodded, gaze fixed on you.

“Well - a few reasons, I guess. I knew it would get those jerks off of my back. And, I knew it would help you, with your bonus and all.”

“And why did you want to help me, though? You know nothing about me.”

“Not true,” you said firmly. “I know one thing.”

“And what’s that?”

“You’re kind.”

It was simple, but true - for the type of clientele you usually served, he was a rare breed. Maybe it wasn’t much, but it was something.

“I mean, you were nice to me, and actually treated me like a person. I can’t say that for a lot of people, not in that place.”

“Oh,” he said softly.

A beat. Two. Then, he added, “Oh no - I didn’t even ask, did you have a car, back at the restaurant? Because we can go back and get it -”

“No, don’t worry about it - I don’t have one. I usually take the bus.”

“Oh - alright.”

You tried to stop yourself from rolling your eyes - Steve probably wouldn’t be caught dead on a bus. Or any public transport, for that matter. But, you kept it within yourself, and turned out towards the window again - the sights were getting more familiar, the buildings a little more run-down - closer to home.

You noticed your phone light up in your lap, and glanced down - a response from Robin.

Um… congrats???? Getting laid???? You’d better tell me EVERYTHING!!!!

You laughed under your breath, and saw Steve move to look at you out of the corner of your eye, curious. Before you could respond to her message, the car came to a halt right outside of your apartment building. You sighed, and turned to face the man beside you.

“Well, this is me. Thank you. For the ride home, I mean - you didn’t really have to do that.”

“Of course I did,” Steve said, waving a hand. “Had to make sure you got home safely and all, it was the least I could do.”

You both looked at each other for a moment, faces soft. You shot him another appreciative smile, and popped open the car door.

“Goodnight, Steve Harrington. Until we meet again!”

You knew the chances of seeing him ever again were slim at best, but it felt like the right thing to say, given the hilarity of the situation. After slamming the door shut, you rooted through your bag for your keys, taking the steps up to your door two at a time. Before heading inside, you turned and waved to the car one more time - Steve wasn’t visible through the tinted windows, but you liked to imagine that he was waving back, maybe even smiling fondly.

******

Two days later, an envelope was pushed through the mail slot in your door. It was Robin who brought it in, plopping it down on the kitchen table as you sipped your coffee.

“What’s that?” you asked.

She shrugged, carding through the other envelopes and flyers.

“Don’t know. But, it’s made out to you. The envelope looks fancy though - I mean, who the Hell puts a wax seal on letters anymore?”

You felt your heart skip a beat, and snatched it up, turning it over in your hands - it was thick, the nice kind of stationary that you had to go out of your way to buy. There was a return address, but it seemed like it was for an office building of some kind, with no name associated. And, right on the center, a red wax seal with an H. You felt your face grow hot, your stomach doing somersaults as you practically tore the thing open.

Inside was a simple piece of paper with a note scrawled on it. After writing out your name, it read:

Thank you again, for the other night. You have no idea how much that helped me out. Plus, it was probably the best time I’ve had at a work event… well, ever. But, since you provided such great service… you really should be tipped appropriately. I also made sure to leave a glowing review with your manager the next day. Buy yourself something nice.

S.H.

You glanced back in the envelope, and gasped - loudly enough that Robin stopped what she was doing, and joined you in her awe.

“Is that -”

“Yeah,” you whispered. “It’s a shit ton of money.”

He had sent a stack of €100 notes - you hadn’t counted yet, but it had to be over €1,000, at least.

“Dude, that’s like, at least two months’ rent right there, right?” Robin asks, flabbergasted.

“I - yeah.”

“Okay, be honest - are you a drug dealer? Is that, like, a side gig you’ve got going?”

You shook your head incredulously, gripping the money - the most cash you had ever held at one time in your life.

“No,” you admitted. “That would be a lot easier to explain.” Steve Harrington, you thought to yourself, what’s your deal?

Notes: a brand new fic! A ton of credit goes to my friend Em, who indulges my fantasies and headcanons with plenty of ideas of her own. Also, I've never been to Rome, so bear with me here. Also, please always read content warnings before reading each part!

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sunshine-theseus · 6 months

Text

Put Your Head On My Shoulder | Jessie Fleming x Reader

Words: 4k Summary: you and jessie go through many ups and downs but things work out in the end Warnings: angst, fluff, mentions of depression and taking medication for it, covid didn’t happen, pretending the game vs real madrid was at Stamford bridge not in Spain

Jessie Fleming and I met at the 2015 world cup, both freshly 17 and competing in our first big tournament. Despite the fact we didn’t play each other, I found myself stumbling into her on the sidelines of Canada’s game against The Netherlands. Words were exchanged but we didn’t see each other again until the next year.

We knew we were both on athletic scholarships for the Bruins at UCLA and promised to try and meet outside of training to keep in contact without sport. It was surprising however, when my box was knocked out of my hands as I crashed into the young Canadian, both of us trying to enter the same room. She was clearly struggling to see over her own stuff, stumbling over words as her cheeks flush a very familiar red, trying to apologise.

“J, if you say sorry one more time I’m asking for a new roommate. Which I had no idea we were until now.” I crouch to pick up my books and writing equipment that was in my box as Jessie tries to manoeuvre to her decided side of the room.

I give up and rush to help her when she stumbles over her own foot and nearly goes flying.

“Jessie! You’re going to break something before the season even starts Jesus Christ be careful!” my hands gripped her waist tightly to stop her from tilting forward, then I grab the top box so she can actually see. The same red blush covers her cheeks.

“Sorry, my mum just insisted I try to take all my stuff in as little trips as possible, which is proving to be difficult. I’m sorry about your books.” With her stuff firmly on the ground she finally looks as me.

“They put the Australian and the Canadian in the same room knowing we just basically kicked you out of the Olympics?”

“You did not!” the joke was rare coming from her. She was funny and kind but still rather serious and shy, preferring studying statistics and players over team bonding or spending time with people after a game.

I understood that, I felt that, and that’s how we worked. Us against the world. We trusted our team and confided in them, but we’d really only want each other in times of need. Obviously there were people like Sam or Christine, who were like our big sisters for our respective national teams, but Jessie and I were just drawn to each other.

After UCLA came Chelsea. Both of us were about to start our last year of uni when her offer came through, far before mine.

By this point we’d been inseparable for four years, so I worried we’d be split; her making the move to England and me stuck in our dorm. Except it’d be much emptier and lonely, or filled with some stranger’s things.

And it was just like that. Time zones caused issues with keeping in contact. Eventually that became other things. Study, because she still had to finish her course. Team bonding, practice. What would be a call once a day became once a week until it filtered out, and her texts would be answered in seconds while mine sat in wait for whenever she decided she was free.

My offer came in the January transfer window. Emma had been in contact with me for a couple months, clearly trying to convince me, and 6 months ago I wouldn’t have even thought about it. But when I stare at the ‘merry Christmas’ and ‘I got the offer’ messages left unread and think about seeing the girl I thought would never leave me, I take the time offered.

And a week later I find myself sliding into Sam’s spare room groaning into the pillow as she fusses over the Australian snacks I did manage to get through customs.

“What’s got you in a mood chickadee?” I feel the bed dip beside me and her hand rubs my back.

“J.” the older Australian lets out a hum before taking a moment to reply.

“She talks about you all the time. About how much she misses you and everything you got up to at uni. All of which I already know because I hear it every camp.” I can feel the joking eye roll despite not seeing it.

“She talks about me but doesn’t talk to me. That means nothing. And I know she’s busy but so was I. Just because I was captaining a university team instead a stupid professional team doesn’t mean I wasn’t busy or doing something important! And I still kept in contact!” by now I’ve rolled over onto my back and started fiddling with Sam’s tattooed fingers, trying to distract myself from the pit of loneliness and despair that’s been slowly eating my stomach.

I dare not mention to anyone the decline in my mental health or the required psychology sessions Emma was going to provide for me once every few weeks. Everyone knew I was sad and that’s all they needed to know. But once upon a time, Jessie would have known everything, holding my hand tightly the whole way.

“You should sleep, big first day tomorrow. I’ll make you breakfast. Alarm-”

“8:30, I know. Every day, same time. Thank you Sam, really.” She smiles and pats my head before leaving.

To say my first day didn’t go well would be somewhat of an understatement. At exactly 8:30 my alarm went off. At 8:32, the pill bottle rattling at the bottom of my bag was fished out and 1 was being washed down by water. At 8:43, Sam was banging on my door calling for breakfast and I was rushing to make sure the pill bottle was hidden after changing. No one needs to know I’m taking anti-depressants, including Sam.

When we pulled into Cobham, I started to feel sick, and I told Sam just that.

“I’ll catch a train home.”

“It’s just nerves, you’ll be fine.”

“No-”

“You stay until at least lunch time, then we’ll see.” A pointed finger is shoved into my face, but I begin to stroll alongside her anyway.

I do almost book it for the nearest train station as soon as I enter the locker room. Sitting in the cubby next to mine, tying her shoelaces, is Jessie Fleming. During the chaos of the move and my first day, I manage to forget the way our numbers are right beside each other.

“You’ll be okay. You don’t even have to talk to her.” Sam whispers as she makes her way to her own cubby, greeting people on her way through.

So I try. Placing my bag in the nook and beginning to change into my training kit without the Canadian even looking up. It’s when I place down the same styled Tiempo Legend 8s I’ve been wearing since they released, that I can see her head turn from the corner of my eye. I don’t acknowledge it, continuing to slide the boots onto my feet and tie them up. But that doesn’t stop her.

“Oh my god! Hey!” there’s a lightness in her voice that I used to be so familiar with and it makes my heart clench.

I take a moment before deciding replying would be too rude for my liking.

“Hi.” Short and simple, and quite blunt.

“I didn’t know you signed, or that you even got the offe-” forget being nice.

“You would’ve known if you bothered to keep in contact with me.” With that I slide out of my seat beside her and make my way to Sam.

It gets worse when Emma splits us into pairs for dribbling drills, and she slides me toward Jessie.

“Of course.” I sigh but accept my fate as a ball rolls our way.

“What’s wrong?” a phrase that, coming from her mouth, used to have me spilling every small emotion I was feeling.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Come on Beans, tell me.” The nickname had been created in our first year of university. She learnt I loved green beans and I’m rather tall, so the name fit. But she didn’t feel like the same person who I let make the funny name.

“You don’t get to call me that anymore.”

“What? Because I moved?”

“No! You left for Chelsea and I was happy for you, we had a plan to stay in contact until I followed along to somewhere in England. But you stopped trying. You stopped answering. You left me alone when I needed you the most. I would’ve done anything for you to have the career you deserved but you got it, without me. I just thought I’d still have my best friend when it happened.”

To say that training was tense from then on wasn’t a stretch. Emma never paired us up and any time one of us entered the locker room, everyone else would wait in silence for a burst similar to the one on the pitch. It never came.

It was after my first session with the psychologist that things began to change.

Because the psych was only here for me, Emma was kind to lend her office to us for the 50 minutes while she did other work around the grounds. I assume the girls were grateful to escape the tension for the moment.

“Same time, 2 weeks from now! It’s good you’re making progress!” The rather lovely lady shouts just as I’m closing the door, waving and smiling in thanks.

But as I turn around, I nearly bump into a small figure. A rather familiar one at that. Jessie begins to fall backwards but I grip her waist, holding her in place. It’s a familiar scenario, the feeling of my hands on her waist and her burning red cheeks are something I struggled to ever forget.

“T-thanks” her cheeks burn that same red.

“No worries.” I mumble in reply as I remove my hands, taking a step back.

“Who were you talking to? That didn’t sound like Emma. And what are you making progress on?” the questions don’t come rapidly but I still struggle to process them. Jessie’s smart, she can put two and two together, so I should tell her. But what if she laughs? There was a time where the thought wouldn’t have even crossed my mind, she’s not that type of girl. But things change.

“I- I-” Jessie places a gentle hand on my arm and nods, confirming it’s okay to take my time, but please continue. I sigh.

“She’s a psychologist.”

“A sport psychologist?”

“Well yes and no. I… I’ve been diagnosed with depression, and Emma wants me to have someone professional to talk to.” Her grip tightens but I know it’s in concern.

“When- when did you…”

“A couple months ago. Don’t worry, it wasn’t just because of you, a lot of things happened.”

“But it was partially because of me. I wasn’t there for you when I should’ve been. You’ve always been there for me and I got here and treated you like shit. Discarded you like you were nothing. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” tears well up in her whisky brown eyes, but I smile.

“J, if you say sorry one more time, I’m asking for a new roommate for the away match against Man City. Which I did know we are… for once.”

“You can’t just forgive me.”

“I’m not, it’ll take time, but I want my best friend back. Sprout.” Jessie charges forward and wraps her arms around my waist.

“I’d do anything.” Her voice is muffled as her head presses into my chest, but I smile.

~~~~~

Things changed once again a few months after that. The 2020 Olympics had been delayed due to natural disasters, but we still found ourselves milling around the Olympic village together in our very little spare time. I also found myself admiring her for every little thing, every detail. Eventually I had to admit to myself that I’d developed a crush on the girl.

“What’s going on in that busy brain of yours?” Jessie had been by my side every step of the way with my mental health after she found out, and this question wasn’t uncommon, but the answer would be.

“I know this could ruin things, I’m very aware of that, but I have to tell you now otherwise I don’t think I’ll ever have the courage to.” Gaging her reaction was difficult, Jessie was a very stoic person.

“I-, I’ve found myself growing feelings for you. Feelings that surpass best friends, or how I feel when you show up for me. I like you, a lot. And I need you to know that. Standing in the middle of a pathway surrounded by half naked athletes in Olympic Village, I like you.” I look her in the eyes. Those burnt umber eyes, so warm and comforting, that always draw me in.

“I really like you too. Everything about you. I want to care for you and be there when you need me. I want to wake up in your arms and be able to admire every feature as the sun beams down on you like the miracle you are. I would even go as far as saying I desperately want to be your girlfriend.” I barely let Jessie finish what she’s saying before I lean down, a significant way, and kiss her with everything in me.

~~~~~

2 and a half years later and Jessie hasn’t left my side since. Most of our quarrels are just that, silly fights that are solved by the end of the night. We moved in together after 3 months and were rarely been seen apart.

That included tough games.

Real Madrid was our first game of the Champion’s League season, and we knew it was going to be hard. They were physical most importantly, so we had to play to that. We knew that when we were up 2-1 in the 78th minute.

“Jessie Fleming challenges Athenea Del Castillo, barley missing the ball and clipping Athenea on the foot! Oh, and the ref is calling for a penalty. I’m certain first contact was outside the box.” Is what would be heard by anyone watching the match through a screen, but you didn’t need a commentator to know the ref made an unfair call.

The contact was clearly outside the box and yet we’re forced to line up and watch Olga Carmona take the wrongly rewarded shot, me grasping Jessie’s hand in my own as a way to reassure her.

It’s obvious the referees are against us when Niamh makes a shot on goal, the ball sliding in, but it’s claimed offside. Something to do with Sam supposedly messing with the defence, another false claim. There’s nothing we can do when the final whistle blows and we’re tied, all of us dropping to the ground in exhaustion and disappointment.

After shaking hands with the Madrid players and briefly talking with Hayley to catch up and talk about things that happened between our last camp and now, I travel toward Jessie.

My girlfriend stands solemnly with her head in her hands. I managed to pull them away momentarily to see the tears drifting down her cheeks, but she’s pulling her hands away and turning around before I can ask what’s wrong.

“Darl, it’s not you’re fault.” I don’t want to invade her space while she’s upset so I walk around her and simply stand, hoping she’ll reach for me.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Jess-”

“Leave me alone Y/n.” not another word is uttered as she turns toward Fran and Niamh and walks away from me.

I similarly turn to Sam and Erin, with a shocked look, jaw hanging and rejected tears looming on my water line.

“She probably just needs to be alone.” As Erin tries to comfort me, we all turn to look at the subject of the conversation, only to see her being comforted by Fran, Niamh and Ashley, despite her effort to insist she’s fine.

“Maybe I didn’t push hard enough?”

“No you should never push when they clearly need space.” Sam places a reassuring hand on my shoulder

“But why is it only me she needs space from? I’m supposed to be the one she seeks comfort in. That’s what girlfriends do.”

“I don’t know chickadee.”

I expect Jessie to already be back at our apartment by the time Erin drops me off. Our shared car had been taken from the parking lot at the stadium and Jessie had disappeared, so those dots connected themselves. But our designated parking space is empty as I stroll along the bitumen.

There are no familiar white shoes next to the door in the same exact spot she puts them every day, no kit bag hanging on a hook, waiting to be washed tomorrow. No Canadian waiting in our bed, curled up in one of my already oversized shirts or hoodies and shorts, begging me to hold her.

I try not to worry when I call her and she doesn’t pick up. Maybe she went the long way and there was traffic? So I call Niamh to ask her if she knows where Jessie went. She doesn’t have an answer. Then I try Fran, and Zecira, and even Emma.

I ask everyone to try and call her too, Sam offering to take Kristie and search every corner of London, Erin offering the same. It’s midnight by the time I give up trying to contact her, asking Aggie if I could borrow her car tomorrow to look around if she wasn’t back, her living down the road from us. The young forward is insistent on joining me if it comes to it.

When I wake up the next morning and find Jessie curled up against me, in one of my hoodies and shorts, relief washes over me. Her brown curls are messy, her soft pink lips cracked open to allow air into her lungs. The sun trickles in through the curtain and lights up her face, freckles looking like bursts of light against her skin. Her eyes are still puffy from last night and tears have dried upon her cheeks, and I can’t resist the urge to reach up and lightly wipe them away.

As my thumb drags across her tan skin, tracing her face, her eyes flutter open, and I remember how easy it is to get lost in them. So warm and inviting.

“Mornin’ honey.” I press a gentle kiss to her nose, her cheeks, her forehead and her eyelids.

“I’m sorry for last night. I just felt horrible, if only I didn’t make the tackle.”

“I know darl, but that’s what I’m here for. I love you, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you yeah? I was bloody worried though.” Jessie nestles her head into the crook of my neck and nods, pressing her own kisses on any skin she could reach.

I wrap my arms around her and pull her up until she’s laying on my chest instead. My cold hands sneak under her hoodie and she jumps from the shock, swatting at my hands beneath the fabric.

“I reckon I make us some tea and brekkie and then we can do whatever you want all day. How’s that sound?” I flip us over so Jessie can go back to sleep for a while, but she clings onto me, pulling me down aggressively by the front of my old Chelsea travel shirt. Her lips press against mine with energy and love and I get caught up in the feeling. A moan slips past someone’s lips, which of us I’m not quite sure, but I slowly pull away, trailing kisses down her neck until I reach her collar bone.

“Let’s save that energy for later yeah?” I swiftly wink as I finally roll off the bed.

I’m making scrambled eggs when I feel Jessie’s arms wrap around my waist. She presses soft kisses across my back as I sway us back and forth to the slow jazz song spewing from the record player.

The next song comes on and I abandon the meal completely, turning off the stove and twisting myself in Jessie’s hold so I can face her. I take one of her hands in mine and rest the other on her waist, her spare landing on my shoulder.

“Put your head on my shoulder; Hold me in your arms, baby” the lyrics continue as we follow along, her head resting against my chest, my chin balanced on top. We dance slowly through the kitchen, the music carrying throughout the house.

As the song finishes, I dip Jessie, leaning over her as her leg kicks out. My gaze flickers between her eyes and her lips and within seconds I’m kissing her again, still in the dip. When I pull her back up, she jumps into my arms and pulls my lips to meet hers for more, the force making me stumble back into the counter behind me.

“I want to slow dance with you around our house when we’re old and can barely kick a ball anymore. Our kids and grandkids playing around while it just feels like the two of us. Because it’s always been the two off us and I never want that to change.” Jessie whispers against my lips. My heart clenches with love as I take her in.

“Will you marry me?” The words escape both our lips almost in complete synchrony. I almost drop her, but my grip on her thighs upholds as I kiss her again, and again, until I can’t kiss her anymore.

“I stole this video from Y/n’s phone not long after Jessie and her broke the news of their engagement. Y/n had texted me that morning saying she wanted ideas for a ‘day in the life of a woman in love’ video she planned on making that very day, and I knew that she would have forgotten all about the phone while she and the love of her life shared a special memory together.” Sam takes a pause to look at Jessie and I, sitting side by side at the front of the room.

“What isn’t shown in the video, is the ring that was sitting in the pocket of Yn’s shorts, waiting to be place on the only hand it was made for. The ring went with her everywhere for at least a month before this cute dance proposal. Every day in training, Y/n would tell me a new plan she had come up with to ask Jessie to marry her, and I always told her ‘you should do it when the moment feels right. Don’t force it.’, as I clearly had experience with this sort of thing… And she told me that was a bunch of absolute bullshit.” Our friends and family laugh while my wife’s face drops in shock, her elbow lightly nudging my side. I let out a snicker and kiss her cheek, wiping off the lipstick residue that is left behind.

“Well it turns out I was right. As always. And I’m honoured to be standing here as a best woman in front of two of my best friends, the most amazing young players out there, two people who were made for each other; sculpted by the stars and the earth, to be in each other’s lives, celebrating that love. You’ve both overcome a lot, personally and as a couple, you deserve this love.” A tear escapes my eye as I stand to hug Sam.

“Now can the two nerds please make their way to the dance floor for their first dance?” I take Jessie’s hand in mine and pull her along.

Her suit coat is left on the back of my chair and her waistcoat is unbuttoned and she looks fucking good. Her hair rests on her shoulders and her slack pants fit perfectly around her thighs. Jessie holds part of my dress train, so we don’t trip as we hold each other in similar fashion to the day that led to this, the same song playing on the large speakers in each corner of the room.

“Put your head on my shoulder Whisper in my ear, baby Words I want to hear, tell me Tell me that you love me too”.

Jessie stands on her tippy toes, my heels not helping our height difference.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

#woso x reader #woso #womens soccer #wsl #woso fanfics #canada wnt #jessie fleming #jessie fleming x reader #chelsea fcw #chelsea women

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from-the-clouds · 1 year

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texas sun - joel miller x f!reader - vol. iii

series masterlist | series playlist | writing masterlist | previous chapter | gif credit

chapter summary: Somehow, you realize you've accidentally ended up spending almost every weekend for the last month and a half with either one, or all of the Millers. pairing: pre-outbreak!joel miller x f!reader words: 8.7k chapter warnings: some angst, alcohol consumption, marijuana use, suggestive thoughts (but no smut), referenced parental neglect, implied age gap. reader has daddy issues (shocker!) & a fear of intimacy. a/n: this chapter is so disgustingly sweet it might give you a cavity. truly. but its also a little self-indulgent because joel is in my dream blunt rotation :/ please be patient with updates because i have a career/social life/apartment, and am a perfectionist! i promise i will always (try) to make the wait worth your while. Also, here's a link to the song Joel plays on guitar, since it's not on Spotify so I couldn't add it to the playlist.

-April 19, 2003-

“Well, that was awkward.”

Obviously, Joel thinks to himself as Sarah turns to watch the retreating form of her teacher, while Joel stares straight ahead at the crowd in front of him. At first, he had thought she was just being polite. It was the right thing to do, to say hello to a parent and a student if you see them outside of class. But…they were seeing each other at a bar. And she’d asked him to dance.

We just got here, maybe later? Joel can’t even remember what he had said, something along those lines. It wasn’t a flat-out refusal, but he had been acutely aware of Sarah’s eyes boring into the back of his head from where she sat beside him, and he sort of blacked out, couldn’t recall what had caused her to get the hint, to walk away.

Joel grunts an affirmation to Sarah, and drums his fingers against the tabletop. There’s a dance floor full of people in front of him, all under various levels of intoxication, all of them dancing.

“Do you believe me now?” Sarah asks.

“I never said I didn’t believe you.”

How he had allowed Tommy and Sarah to talk him into coming here tonight, he’s not sure. Probably, it had something to do with how much he loved them both. How he would, ultimately, do whatever they asked if he knew it’d make that happy. But still, honky-tonking is the last thing he wants to be doing at the end of a long week.

There was pretty much only one decent bar in town, so he wasn’t exactly shocked he had run into someone he knew. Everyone came here – to dance, to drink, to eat, or to drown their sorrows. To see their friends, or even to find someone to take home for the night. And over the years, as a frequent customer, Joel had used this place to do all those things.

Tonight was special though, a little more family friendly. It was swing night. It happened once a month, and Joel had always made a point to take Sarah a couple times a year. When he was young, his mother had taught him and Tommy to dance, and he felt it was only appropriate to pass the skill along, even if it was almost obsolete. He hoped Sarah would be able to do the same someday, if she ever had children of her own.

“Will you dance with me, at least?” Sarah asks.

“Of course I will,” Joel answers.. “But let’s wait for Tommy, he’s ordering our drinks.”

“You mean your drinks.”

“No, you got a Shirley Temple.”

Sarah narrows her eyes. It’s the same expression that Joel has only seen her use recently, and he actually prefers it less to the eye roll. This time, he’s glad it hasn’t come with a question from her, because when it does, it’s always a little more frightening. “Come on, you know that’s not the same.”

Before Joel can respond, he’s cut off by Tommy’s voice.

“Look who I found.”

This is what he and Sarah have been waiting on, and Joel turns to sees Tommy with all three of their drinks in hand. Over his shoulder, there’s a woman who looks vaguely familiar, wearing daisy dukes and a plaid shirt. After a second, he realizes it’s you.

Most of the time when Joel sees you – from across the street, of course – you’re in a power suit, a pencil skirt. Sometimes, it’s more casual – athletic clothes. There was also that black silk robe he can’t seem to shake from his memory. But this is so…different. It’s clear you’re trying to blend in with the crowd, but you don’t. Not because you’re not pulling it off – you definitely are, effortlessly – he’s just pretty sure if he walks into any room you’re in, his eyes will always be drawn in your direction.

Joel doesn’t see, but rather feels – Sarah recognize that you’re in front of her, because when she does, she’s tapping him on the arm before he can utter a greeting. “Dad, can I get out and say hi?”

He’s standing to let her out just as you step closer to the table, and you come chest to chest. “Hey,” he says.

“Hi, Joel,” you say, a soft smile on your face. Your eyes remain locked on his just a moment too long, before Sarah is wrapping you up in a hug, and you’re focused on her when she draws back. “How are you?” you ask.

Joel doesn’t hear Sarah’s response, because his brother is pressing a drink into his hand - a Jack and Coke, same as what you and Tommy are drinking.

“Sit down, please!” Tommy encourages.

“Are you sure?” you ask. “This looks like a family thing, I don’t want to-”

“Please!” Sarah exclaims.

“What she said,” Tommy seconds Sarah’s sentiments.

For a second, you seem to contemplate the offer, and then you accept the invitation, sliding into the booth across from where Sarah has settled back next to her father. Joel makes eye contact with his brother, sitting next to you. Tommy’s eyebrows are raised suggestively, and there’s a playful smirk on his face when he tilts his head in your direction. Joel gives him nothing, already irritated by his brother’s goading.

“Is that a Shirley Temple?” you point to Sarah’s drink. When she nods, you continue. “I haven’t had one of those in forever,” you say.

“Want a sip?”

“Sure,” Sarah slides the glass across to you, and you sip from the straw, pondering. “I should’ve gotten one of those instead. They were my favorite growing up.”

“Can I have a sip of yours?”

“No,” you and Joel say at the same time.

“You’re not gonna like it,” he adds.

“You always say that, but how can you know?”

Joel sighs. “Okay, fine. Try mine.”

Sarah seems pleased to get what she wants. When the bitterness of the whiskey registers, the triumphant expression leaves her face completely.

“Told you,” he says. Sarah grimaces, accepting defeat, and returns to her beverage.

Tommy leans forward, urging Joel to start making conversation as if this is a date and it’s his responsibility. But before he can think of anything, Sarah pipes up.

“Guess what?” she asks you.

“What?”

“My teacher’s here.”

“Yeah?” you ask. Joel takes a long pull off his drink, hoping it’ll loosen him up a little.

“Yeah, she tried to hit on my dad.”

Joel feels the cocktail of whiskey and soda get caught in his throat.

“Oh….” you sound intrigued, and you lean forward. He wonders if this is the dynamic between you and Sarah when he’s not around. Like you’re two friends, engaging in some harmless gossip. “Really?” Your gaze flickers between him and Sarah.

Sarah bobs her head once. “She has a thing for him. I can tell.”

“What makes you think that?” his brother joins in, moving closer to Sarah, crowding you between himself and the wall and putting his elbows on the table. Joel feels a flash of envy when you shift your attention towards Tommy.

“She just asked him to dance.” Sarah looks over her shoulder, nods her head towards the woman in the corner of the bar who’s probably already focused on his table anyways. Joel already knows what you’re seeing. Miss Davis is pretty, bubbly, outgoing. Probably about your age, if he had to guess, though it’s hard to say how old you are. He imagines he has ten years on you, give or take a few. And for all intents and purposes, Sarah’s teacher is the type of woman he should be interested in.

“She’s pretty,” you say it like you’re appeasing Sarah, but you’re looking directly at Joel. He’s not sure why you kind of frighten him a little. You’re sweet, he knows, even if you’ve tried to tell him otherwise. But there’s something else there, enigmatic and alluring, that continues to draw him in.

Tommy chimes in. “So are you gonna dance with her, Joel?”

“Uncle Tommy,” Sarah says dramatically. Her face drops for a second, though, her shoulders slumping as she angles herself towards him, lowers her voice. “I mean, if you want to, that’s fine, I guess. But I….I don’t know.”

Joel is taken aback by how long this conversation has gone on with absolutely no input from himself. Not to mention how honest Sarah is being. She doesn’t usually have much to say about his choice in women – he can usually just tell what she thinks. For her to express something so directly makes him realize how serious she is. But at the moment, he can’t find words to assure her everything will be fine.

It must be his lack of response that causes you to lean across the table and speak to Sarah. “You know, that’s valid,” there’s a tenderness to your tone. It dawns on him that you’re trying to comfort her. “It is kind of a conflict of interest.”

“Right?” Sarah perks up, just slightly, you’ve given her some support. “It’s one of those things you said you had going on at work the other day an….an ethical…”

“An ethical dilemma?” you finish her thought.

“Ethical dilemma! That’s it.” Sarah turns back towards Joel. “I think it's an ethical dilemma.”

For just a split second, he wonders why he’s been letting his already-precocious child hang out regularly with a lawyer. He’s accidentally creating a monster. But thankfully, Joel is finally able to find his voice. “There is no ethical dilemma, because I wouldn’t ever consider it.”

That seems to placate Sarah, and hopefully everyone will decide to drop it. Joel catches your eyes, and there’s something akin to wistfulness there, chin propped on your hand, before you blink once and focus back on Tommy, who's asking you a question. “So, are you here alone?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Not at all,” Tommy smirks, not dropping his eye contact with you. “...It’s just surprising, is all.”

Joel stiffens.

“Oh, well…” you smile a little. “I’m just trying to get to know the town a little better. Trying to engage in the community, I guess. But…I’m not sure if I am doing that great of a job fitting in.”

“You are,” Joel interjects, and maybe it’s a little forward, but he’d rather say it before Tommy does. “That’s a nice flannel.”

“Thanks,” You look down at your oversized plaid shirt – the sleeves rolled up to the elbows – that hangs open over a tight white tank top. Joel can see a sliver of the black lace bra you’re wearing that pokes out above the low neckline. He wonders what it might feel like to press his face there, to feel your fingers carding through his hair, but does not allow himself to entertain the idea for very long. Not the time. “I actually had to go and buy it because I didn’t own any plaid. And by the looks of it,” You gesture towards the dance floor. “I need to invest in some cowboy boots, too.”

“One thing at a time, right?” he asks, and you agree.

“So what are you all doing here? Family outing?”

“We actually had to drag this one kicking and screaming out the door,” Tommy points to Joel.

“You did not,” Joel defends himself.

‘We kinda did,” Sarah says. “Do you know how to dance?”

You shake your head no, look at the people twirling and dipping and dancing in pairs. “Not like that.”

“It’s really easy! I can teach you. My dad taught me.”

“Cute.” Joel looks towards Sarah, and catches you staring instead. Your eyes flit back immediately to his daughters. “But I’m not sure I’ll be any good.”

“You’ll be fine,” Sarah says like it’s already settled. Joel knows he’s spoiled her, that she ultimately gets what she wants. He worries sometimes that others won’t find her quite as endearing.

“Sarah,” he warns. “You’re making it sound like she doesn’t have a choice.”

You hide a smile behind the rim of your glass. “It’s okay. You can teach me. Might as well learn, if I’m trying to fit in.”

Sarah seems satisfied.

“Joel tells me you grew up in New York City.” Tommy says it, and Joel notices you raise your eyebrows at the implication. He’s talked to Tommy about you. And now you know. He’s pissed at himself for doing it, but at the time he’d been drunk, a little more chatty and vulnerable than usual, and had mentioned you more than once. Too much to be a coincidence. The issue was, Joel had never expected you would talk to Tommy again. If he’d known you would, he wouldn’t have said anything. He doesn’t want to imagine the damage he had done when it was just the two of you, alone at the bar. But even now, he’s completely at his brother’s mercy.

“Yep,” you nod.

“You don’t have much of an accent,” Tommy remarks.

“Not everyone has them.”

“That’s fair.”

“I did, uh, go to a boarding school in a different state, though, so I wasn’t around it too much.”

“Boarding school?” Sarah turns to Joel.

“Basically you live at school,” you answer her question. ”Kind of like college, but earlier. I started going when I was nine.”

Sarah frowns. “Wouldn’t you miss your family?”

“Yes, and I did.”

“So why would you go?”

“Well…” you trail off, shift your weight. “It wasn’t up to me. My dad worked a lot, so it made sense.”

“What’d he do for a living?” Asks Tommy.

“He’s a criminal defense attorney....owns his own firm and it does pretty well, so…” you shrug. “He was very busy.”

“And that’s why you’re a lawyer? To work for your dad?”

“At one point, that was the plan, yes."

“What happened?”

The question appears to make you uncomfortable, you cross your legs and glance down at the table. “Uhm….pass.” Joel sees your face go blank for a split second before you look up with an easy smile. It’s like the desolate look you’d been wearing was never there, and you point to your drink. “I’ll need a few more of these if you want that story.”

“Might as well order another round,” Tommy flags down a waitress.

You have one more drink, but you don’t really touch it as the four of you continue to talk. Joel has two more, and Tommy has three, because he’s Tommy, and also not driving. Both you and Joel also have to vehemently refuse his request to do a round of tequila shots.

After a while, Sarah gets bored, then insists on teaching you to dance. You agree, but seem awfully reluctant. Joel wants to pull you aside and let you know that you don’t have to entertain everything Sarah offers, but once you’ve stood up, and he watches her arm link through yours as you both walk to the dance floor, he can’t bring himself to intervene.

He’s never seen Sarah be so taken with someone before, and he’s filled with a vague sense of regret. He always thought that she was content with just him and Tommy. Maybe she has always needed more. It’s partially his responsibility, Joel thinks – what could he have done to stop her mother from leaving? Even if he could’ve stopped it, they would’ve been a miserable couple…which might have been more damaging to Sarah than her mother not being around at all.

Once you’re long gone, Joel can sense what Tommy is thinking before he even opens his mouth.

“Shut it,” Joel says before he can even hear his brother's ribbing.

“I wasn’t even gonna say anything about that!” Tommy raises his hands, but Joel knows he’s lying.

“We should go over there,” Joel says. He trusts you, but in a bar full of drunk people isn’t interested in being far away from Sarah for too long. Both he and Tommy abandon their booth to mosey their way towards the dance floor.

Sarah has taken you into a back corner, far away from the band playing, where the crowd has thinned a little. There’s room for him and Tommy to lean up against the wall and watch you both.

Both your hands are clasped with Sarah’s, and she’s teaching you the counts, the steps, while you study the way that your feet move.

Joel has a feeling that if it weren’t for his daughter, you wouldn’t have hung out with his family for so long. It’s just like the hike, and as usual, he feels more like a third wheel than anything else. You’re right that you do look a little out of place here. Maybe you don’t belong, but he likes it. You’re wearing a pair of beat up hi-tops, which are a sharp contrast to Sarah’s baby blue cowboy boots that are covered in rhinestone butterflies. He’d gotten them for her for Christmas that past year, and she only wore them during special occasions like this.

Joel is doing the best he can not to think about the way your legs look in those fucking daisy dukes. All on display, and he wonders what it might feel like to drag his tongue up the soft skin of your inner thigh, feel you quiver and whimper as he works his mouth closer to– Enough. He’s disgusted with himself for thinking about you like that right now.

“Dad, look!” Sarah says, and it seems you’re catching on all right, but none of it looks graceful. Sarah’s trying to lead – which she has never done – so she falters often, and also can’t quite reach all the way above your head when she tries to spin you around. “Oh no, look at his face!” Sarah points. You turn his direction, and Joel realizes he has to neutralize the grimace that has crept onto his visage. “We definitely aren’t doing good.”

“I’ll get the hang of it,” you turn back to Sarah, assure her. “You’re a good teacher.” You’re being nice. Too nice, humoring her and laughing it off, even if she’s making a fool of you both. But you don’t seem to mind, because it’s making her happy.

All of the sudden, the toe of Sarah’s boot catches on the scuffed wood floor and she lurches forward. Joel immediately pushes himself off the wall as though he could close the space and catch her before she faceplants, but he can’t, and he can already see a vision of himself sitting in the emergency room at 2 a.m waiting, while Sarah holds an ice pack on her nose. But you reach out before the image is fully realized, arms wrapping around her shoulders. “Careful!” You warn. And even though you shuffle forward with the weight of her, you keep her from falling. Once she realizes she’s safe, Sarah giggles and throws her head back, her eyes catching your own.

He’s not sure what makes him do it. It could be the liquor, the way you look, the unspoken pressure from Tommy. Or maybe he’s just been wanting an excuse to be closer to you. Most importantly, at this rate, he feels like Sarah is going to hurt herself and also you in the process. Regardless of what the reason is, Joel decides to step in. He walks onto the dance floor.

“Alright,” Joel says once he’s gotten closer, looking at Sarah. “I can’t watch this anymore.”

“What?”

He halts in front of his daughter, jerks his hand. “Move. I’m takin’ over.”

Sarah rolls her eyes, but smiles a little, and drops her hands from your shoulders. Joel offers you his hand. “You mind?”

You look between Joel and Sarah, and she gives you an encouraging nod. “He taught me, he does know what he’s doing.”

“Well okay,” you take Joel’s hand. “You better not embarrass me,” and then you actually fucking wink at him. Already overwhelmed by the delicate weight of your hand in his palm, it almost sends him over the edge. He’s lucky he’s in public, with his family, because he doesn’t think he’d behave himself otherwise.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Joel answers. “Besides, I don’t think anything could be worse than what I was just watching.”

You giggle, and step forward when he tugs you just closer to dance, taking you fully in his arms. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Sarah dragging Tommy onto the dance floor. Everyone is taken care of.

You’re smart. And because of it, you’re a fast learner. Even people who can’t really dance can usually figure this out, himself included. But in Joel’s opinion, it’s always been less about getting the steps right, and more about who’s keeping him company.

And you’re great company.

Eager, willing, gentle…soft. He’s embarrassed at how long it’s been since he’s been this close to an adult woman, and normally he might be a little nervous, but instead, he just feels…comfortable.

But Joel is a selfish man. He always wants more. Wants the band to play a slower song, so then he’d have an excuse to pull you closer. Wind an arm around your waist, whisper things in your ear that no one else could hear, and feel your breath hitch when they register. But this isn’t really the dance for that, and the rest of his family is just steps away. He’ll have to compromise – which he doesn’t like.

“I’m going to dip you,” Joel says, matter-of-factly.

“No you’re not.”

“I am,” he insists. “It’s essential.”

“I seriously doubt that.”

“Look,” he tilts his head to Tommy and Sarah, and the latter is laughing as she pitches all her weight backwards into his arms. He nearly drops to one knee to catch her, she’s still so petit, but their form is actually pretty good. And they aren’t the only people in the room doing it.

“Okay,” you say, and give him a warm smile for a split second before becoming stone-faced. “But if you drop me-”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” Joel drawls.

He puts his arms around your waist, one of them catching the middle of your back, the other on a patch of exposed skin on your hip – your tank top has ridden up slightly with all the movement. You dig your fingers into his biceps, cling to him like he had hoped you would.

And even when he draws you back up, eyes locked with your own, your grip remains the same. You stay close.

“My turn,” Tommy interjects, and Joel can’t help the dirty look he gives him over your shoulder. He’s playing the annoying little brother, doing everything he can to piss him off. His brother wants to see Joel break, but he’s not going to give him the satisfaction.

Plus, Joel is happy to dance with Sarah, which is the whole reason they came here in the first place. She’s so excited to be there, and he wonders if there will ever be a time when she’s too grown up for things like this. He hopes not.

He ignores the sound of Tommy’s laugh mingled with your own. You were not laughing that much with him, and that causes a pang of jealousy. Joel doesn’t like acknowledging it, but he’s always resented Tommy for his ability to be the charismatic one, the charming one, the happy-go-lucky one. Even when they were kids. That’s what it’s like to be the oldest sibling. Never as fun, always more practical, more serious, the voice of reason. Always in service to their siblings, all in the name of love.

Eventually, you and Sarah are back dancing together, and since you’ve had some practice separately, it’s not as sloppy as before. It allows Joel and Tommy to return to their post against the wall, just out of earshot.

Joel feels his brother’s eyes on him as he watches you and Sarah. “Dude,” he finally gives in, looks over at Tommy. “Just ask her out already.”

Joel rolls his eyes. “Tommy-”

“You’re into her.”

“Maybe,” Joel says, because he knows it’s pointless to lie. “But she’s got a boyfriend.”

Tommy elbows him. “So what?”

“I know you’re alright bein’ a homewrecker but I-”

“It makes sense Joel. She’s fuckin’ smart, and funny, and pretty. And Sarah fucking loves her-”

In any other situation, he would’ve acted weeks ago. But he’s starting to understand why he’s dragging his feet. Tommy’s right. Sarah adores you. Joel will fuck something up, it’s inevitable. And when you decide you never want to speak to him again, Sarah will lose you too. He’s already let her down enough.

“I should’ve never fuckin’ told you–”

“Take her to drinks, to the movies, dinner, show up at her house with a bottle of wine, hell, something. If you don’t ask her out already, then I will.”

Joel punches his brother on the shoulder. It’s not enough to incite an actual fight, but it’s definitely not playful. “Ow!” Tommy grips at his arm. “What?” When Joel doesn’t answer right away, he rolls his eyes.

“Speaking from experience, I’m surprised you haven’t already,” he raises an eyebrow.

“Once, Joel. That was one time. Will I never hear the end of it?”

“No,” Joel says. “And I see what you were doing tonight, too. Don’t think you’re slick.” he hopes to change the subject, and it seems to be working.

Tommy sets them back on track. “Well, I was just trying to get you to wake the fuck up and see what’s in front of you.”

“Uh-huh.”

“What happens when Sarah grows up? Goes to school, leaves the house? Then, what are you gonna do? You’re just gonna be alone?”

“You are treadin’ on some mighty thin ice, Tommy,'' Joel hisses. ““You barely know this woman-”

“I’d like a family, too, Joel. When that happens I won’t be able to keep you company anymore. You might want someone else. And maybe it’s not her, fine. But there should be someone.”

For as much as he hates to admit it, Joel knows Tommy is right.

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

-April 25, 2003-

It’s six at night. and you’re already in your pajamas.

A couple years ago, you would’ve thought that was pretty sad. These days, it’s only a little sad. You prefer things this way. That’s the perk of being an adult living alone. If you want to put on pajamas before the sun sets on a Friday night, you can. If you want to get stoned on the back porch of the house you bought yourself, you can. If you want all those things to happen while you watch the sunset and listen to yacht rock, you can. And you’re going to.

You’re toying with the new digital camera your brother bought for you. Vincent likes to argue with you, but he always feels guilty after a conversation gone wrong. Rather than use his words, however, he just buys you gifts. You had apologized over the phone a few days ago…this was his way of doing the same. The shutter clicks as you snap a photo of your backyard, and you look at it in the viewfinder before discarding the camera on your coffee table.

Martini is on the porch with you, doing that thing where he stands just out of reach but chirps at you until you pet him. When you reach out, he moves away. He’s not great at accepting what he wants. Maybe it’s why he’s sort of the perfect cat for you – you’re the same.

You light your bowl, and you’re mid-inhale when you hear someone call your name.

“Hey!”

At this point, you’d recognize Joel Miller’s voice anywhere. You don’t want to admit it’s because you’ve tried to commit it to memory, daydreamed about how it might sound for his smooth lilt to read you a book until you fall asleep, or listen to him take a phone call in the other room.

Realizing it’s him, you inhale sharply, forgetting what you’re in the middle of and taking a much bigger hit than you had intended. You begin choking violently on the smoke while simultaneously scrambling to hide your piece and the related paraphernalia sitting out, and manage to do so just in time for him to round the corner.

You scramble to hide your bowl under the pillow of the outdoor couch you sit on, just in time for Joel to appear at the screen door.

“Hey,” you say, covering your mouth. Your throat burns, and you cough again. Stay cool, stay calm. Everything is good. “What are you doing here?”

“Sorry, I tried your front door and you weren’t answering, so I thought I’d see if you were back here.” It’s hard to see him from here, through the door, and he’s backlit by the sun that’s shimmering behind his dark hair, catching it in a golden halo.

You rise to open the door, and when you do, he continues. “I’m here to pick up Sarah’s soccer jersey.”

Right. Of course he was. She had left it a few days before, and you had assumed she’d come get it before her game on Saturday but it didn’t dawn on you until now that she ever had.

“I would’ve sent her, but she’s at a sleepover tonight.”

“Oh yeah,” you nod, standing in place. You’re trying so desperately to act normal, words evade you.

Joel squints at you, a slight smirk on his face. “I didn’t catch you off guard or anything, did I?’

“No, no, not at all,” you lie. “Come on in.”

Joel steps over the tiny dish of cat food you’ve left on your back step for the stray you feed, and into the screened-in porch. Now that he’s under the dim light, you get a better look at him. A loose-fitting flannel hangs open over a worn green t-shirt that barely meets the top of his jeans. His hair is damp, like he’s just showered, and he smells clean. In any other situation, you’d want to climb him like a tree, and he’s not even trying. But right now, you’re just doing your best impression of a sober human that is definitely not doing anything illegal. The truth is, you should’ve made him wait outside.

“This is nice,” Joel says, looking around. And you really wish he wasn’t because you notice that you left the clear plastic baggie containing your weed out on the couch. It sort of blends in with the green floral pattern, so you hope for the best, because there’s no way for you to sneakily grab it without drawing his attention. “I didn't know this was back here.”

“The last owners added it on,” you say, because that was the type of thing the realtor had said to you about the features of this house. And you supposed a carpenter or contractor would probably be interested in it. It was a good distraction.

“I can tell. Looks new,” he looks up towards the wooden beams that span the ceiling. The top of the porch is still covered, so during the few times it’s rained, you always sit outside to listen.

“I’ve got her jersey in the kitchen,” you tell him. “Wait here.”

It doesn’t take long for you to pick out the bright blue athletic gear from your pile of dry cleaning. It stands out against all your neutral-colored pantsuits. Joel has his back to you when you return, one of his hands clenched into a fist.

“Here,” you say, and he turns.

“You had it dry cleaned? You didn’t have to do that.”

“I kind of wasn’t sure if it was safe to run through the machine,” you explain. “But now that I’m thinking about it….it wouldn’t make sense to give a bunch of 11-year-olds dry clean only jerseys.”

“It wouldn’t. But it’s probably more convenient than scrubbing the grass stains out yourself.”

“Speaking from experience?”

“Unfortunately. But again…thank you.”

“Of course.”

This is where Joel should leave, walk across the street, and go home. And he does, well, at least, he starts to. He steps away, reaches for the handle to your back door, and then pauses. “You know,” he says, glancing over his shoulder. “The Watsons were tellin’ me the other day you’ve been complaining about a family of skunks living under your house?”

You freeze, recalling the lie you’d come up with on a whim when your sixty-year-old neighbors had started asking too many questions.

“Well, it does smell a little over here.”

“Uh-huh,” you give him nothing.

“Something like that….you should really call animal control. Get rid of the problem,” Joel’s facing you now, eyebrow raised.

“If I call animal control…they’ll just kill them,” you answer. “And I don’t want that. So…I think I’ll just have to live with it.”

“That’s fair,” Joel says. “But you know, Sarah’s over here all the time, and I’ve never heard her mention it.”

At this point you know he’s just fucking with you. But years of remaining stone-faced through business negotiations and family dinners has prepared you for this, so even if you’re a little stoned, you’re not going to let him win.

“Yeah, it sounds like a coincidence. But they’re never around when she’s here,” you say, in your own defense. “Ever,” you add for emphasis.

“I guess that’s good.”

You both stare at each other for a second, and your blood buzzes slightly because even though this is just a playful standoff, you’ve never made such intense eye contact with him. It feels electric. After what feels like an eternity, Joel lifts his hand from his hip, and you see what he’d been holding in his fist, now pinched between his thumb and forefinger. He raises an eyebrow.

When you see the plastic baggie dangling in front of your face, you purse your lips. “Alright, you got me,” you lift up your hands, but snatch the bag from him.

“And here I thought you were such a good girl.”

You don’t even want to acknowledge the full body chill that runs down your spine at the sound of those two words, coming from him. Snatching the bag back from him, he gives you a cheeky smile. “If you give me a hit, I won’t tell anyone.”

Your jaw drops, and you look up at him. “Oh, you’re trouble.”

“I’m not the one lyin’ to my neighbors.”

“And I’m not the one snooping through my neighbors' things.”

“It was right out in the open.”

Joel doesn’t seem bothered at all. But it’s Texas, so you can never be sure. “Okay, fine,” you say. “If you want….I could roll us a joint. Unless you have other plans.”

“The alternative is a house to myself for the evening and some chores, so…yeah. Whatever you’d like.”

“Great.”

Joel follows you to sit on the couch. As you settle on opposite ends, he speaks up. “So you think you could explain to me why my daughter keeps tellin’ me she wants to be a lawyer?”

You snicker. “Believe me, Joel. I’ve tried to talk her out of it already.”

He chuckles. “It’s okay. Probably a more lucrative career than what I’m doing. She’s really taken a liking to you, you know that? I don’t think I’ve ever seen her warm up to anyone so quick.”

“Well, I’m the first adult she knows that’s not an authority figure.”

“I’m sure there’s more to it than that.”

“I remember being that age,” you look down at your work. “It’s nice to have someone older to relate to, who you can talk to without being afraid of getting a lecture.”

“She probably needs it,” Joel says. “She told me you talk about girl stuff. I’m not so great at that.”

“I don’t know,” Your tongue darts out to wet the edge of the paper and finish rolling the joint. You put it between your lips, and rummage through the drawer of the coffee table to find your lighter, gesture between the both of you. “This is about ninety percent of how I spent my time with my friends at her age…and so far you’re doing alright.”

“Now you’ve got me worried about what’s going on at that sleepover.”

“Okay, well, I was maybe a little older. And with her? You’ve got nothing to worry about,” you shake your head.

He rubs the back of his neck, and his eyes glow with the reflection of your lighter as it’s flicked on. “I don’t know.”

“She’s fine, Joel,” you say, bringing the lighter closer and shielding the flame from the calm breeze of the evening. “She’s great. Really.”

“She is,” he agrees. You inhale, let the smoke settle in your lungs for a moment, before exhaling. You take your time, feeling warm from the weed and the feeling of Joel’s eyes on you, and he accepts the joint when you pass it over.

“I really didn’t really expect this from you,” he exhales, studying your handiwork before taking another puff. “You’re pretty buttoned up.”

“This is hardly rebellious.” Instinctually, you like the idea that he thinks you’re buttoned up. Deep down, however, you don’t actually want him to.

He looks so dreamy, the smoke curling though his eyelashes, tracing along his defined jaw, and then up, up, where it settles and shifts under the porch light, before disappearing completely.

Martini, who has been in hiding, hops up on the couch, and Joel reaches out, your cat nuzzling its face into his palm. “Didn’t know you had a cat,” he mumbles. And then, like some sort of magic, the cat plops down on Joel’s lap.

“I do…but…” you say out loud, then trail off because you’re in such shock. You glance up at Joel, who looks confused. “I’m sorry, I’ve just never seen him do this.”

He passes the joint back to you. “Do what?”

You take a final puff, and then put it out in an ashtray. It’s only about half smoked, but you can get into it later if either of you wants to. Plus, you’re more interested in what’s unfolding in front of you. “I kinda want a picture of this.”

“What?”

“I’ve had him for five years and he’s never sat on my lap like that,” you say, and you can’t keep the resentment from dripping into your tone. “What makes you so special? I’m a little jealous.”

“Of me? Or the cat?”

Something honey-thick drips down your spine at his words. You can’t conjure a witty response, opting instead for: “Shut up.”

You snap a couple photos while Joel’s still laughing, one hand on his chest, the other on Martini’s back, and then put the camera down, and lean against the back of the couch, curling your feet underneath you.

“You’ve got a nice view of the sunset,” Joel says softly.

There’s a distant fear you might never get to see him like this again, and you want to take him in fully before you drag your eyes to see what he’s looking at. Your backyard slopes down into a small patch of woods, the sky opening even wider to let in the aureate light.

“I know,” you agree. “It’s why I spend so much time back here.” The high continues to settle over you, strokes your shoulders, tugs at the corners of your lips.

“Surprised you like things that are so peaceful…being from the city and all…”

“The city is peaceful,” you say, thinking of the leaves swirling from the trees in the fall, and the snowflakes falling onto your family's porch in the winter, melting on the tip of your nose as you lean over the balcony to see the glittering lights below, car horns and engines and sirens piercing the darkness, white noise. “In its own way.”

“You miss it?”

“Everyday,” you say.

“What do you miss the most?”

“Uhm…probably the bagels,” you lie. Well it’s true. But it’s not what you miss the most. You think of your brother, flopping onto your bed on a Saturday night – a rare weekend when you visit home – and you’re trying to read A Tree Grows In Brooklyn for school but he’s begging to take you around the corner to get a milkshake. It’s the image of him you’ve so desperately tried to cling to and the recollections you share with him have only gotten more and more unpleasant as time goes on. “The bagels here suck.”

“Really?” Joel seems amused by that.

“And uh…I don’t know. It’s part of me. I have a lot of friends there, a lot of good memories,” you smile to yourself, lean forward towards him. “I had this apartment before I graduated, right? It had the best view of this little Italian restaurant, and I’d sit and watch people through the windows, eating and talking. I was supposed to be studying, but…it was great. I loved it.”

“What’re you doing here, then?” Joel asks, and you look back at the sunset. Here you are, waxing poetic and you’re sure he can hear it in your voice. “You runnin’ from something?” You look over to find he’s staring at you. Like he knows you aren’t being honest, and he’s asking you to stop lying.

So you do the only thing you can think of, which is to ask him a question in response. “What makes you think I am?”

Joel considers this for a moment. “I don’t know. I grew up in Austin. All my friends are here, my family. If I ever moved someplace else….it’d have to be for a good reason. And even if I did, I’d be lonely.”

You stare down at the floor. “Maybe I am.” Lonely? Or running from something? The answer is both, you know, but you’re not going to clarify. “My family. Things are pretty fucked. I thought distance would help, and it does, a little. But….that shit still follows you anyways. They’re always with you, no matter what.”

Joel nods.

“But… I have a life here. When I lived downtown, I definitely did. I don’t mind the quiet, and….I have friends.”

Joel looks at you. “You got a boyfriend, don’t you?”

Why would he think that-oh. You had tried to forget it, the morning he’d caught you still wrapped up in your robe – not the fluffy fleece one you liked the most, but the one you specifically only wore when you had guys over, cause they loved that shit.

“Oh, right,” you say. “Bradley. Yeah, uh. He’s…he’s….not my boyfriend. But…” you shake your head. “It’s a little complicated.”

“I’m sure it ain’t that hard to explain.”

“I mean…” you avoid his eyes. “He’s kind of an asshole, but we’re not really commited to each other in a meaningful way. Plus, he’s not around that much which is kind of perfect…for me.”

“Really?”

“Less to worry about,” you answer, purse your lips. “But…I don’t know. I sorta wish he got my heart rate up a little more.”

“He’s not your type?”

“I don’t really have a type,” you shake your head. “I like what I like.”

Joel rasps. “I feel the same,” and he’s made sure your eyes are on him when he says it.

You swallow, nod, smooth your hair back. “Anyways. Why’re you asking me all this?”

Joel doesn’t seem to find an answer right away. You narrow your eyes at him, studying his face, looking for something that will give him away. It’s a trick you’ve learned…silence…a bit of skepticism. It makes people uncomfortable. And Joel shifts his weight, squirming beneath your gaze. Until something in his face shifts, and he smiles….just a little.

“So that’s where Sarah learned that.”

“Learned what?”

“That look you’re giving me.”

“What look?”

“Like you can see right through me.”

“Can I?” You narrow your eyes further.

“You’re tryin’ to.”

He’d done a good enough job of avoiding your question, and you’re not gonna ask him again, and instead opt for a different one. “So what about you, then?” you poke his knee with your foot.

“Oh, I’m not answerin’’ that.”

“What? I just told you, that’s not fair.”

Joel runs a hand along his jaw, ponders. “Most women don’t want to be with a man who already has a kid so…things on that front are not always easy.”

“I have a hard time believing that. I mean, don’t you have an upcoming date with Sarah’s teacher or something?” you tease.

“That’s not happening,” he assures you. “But….I work so much these days I don’t have the capacity for much. So I get what you mean, sometimes it’s easy to not get emotionally involved but…I’ve never really been great at that.”

“You’re a relationship guy?”

“I mean, Tommy has been pestering me about this lately. Says at this rate, once Sarah’s grown, I’ll end up old and alone. Annoys me to hell, but he’s right. I wouldn’t mind…some kind of companionship. Someone to tell you you’ve done alright at the end of the day.”

“You sound awfully romantic,” you at him blink slowly.

“I can be, when I want to.” Joel rolls his eyes. “But right now…I think I’m just stoned.”

That makes you giggle. So he’s just being honest. “I didn’t really see much great come from settling down when I grew up, so I’ve always been a bit of a pessimist when it comes to love. What you’re saying….it’s a nicer way to think of things.”

You rarely connected with the men you dated. You chose to date douchebags, to date cheaters. It was better that way, to know up front what you were getting yourself into. The best ones didn’t ask for much, just the odd fuck here and there for a couple months, and you’d step away when things were no longer fun, if they evewere to begin with.

Actually getting married, settling down, didn’t feel like a real possibility for you. So you’d never allowed yourself to indulge in what seemed like a fantasy. Some women aren’t meant to be a part of a family. Your father had told you once – during one of few times he’d attempted to comfort you after your mother didn’t call on your birthday – as if it excused his own neglect.

“Yeah, and it hasn’t all been bad. I mean, I’ve had a couple good girlfriends over the years. They were sweet, fun. I enjoyed the time I spent with them, they just…never made it through the real litmus test.”

“Sarah?”

He nods.

“It would be hard, I imagine. For her. Accepting someone new into her life.”

“Yeah.”

“You really care about her,” you say. “About how she feels. It’s nice.”

“I’m doin’ my best.”

The way he talks about Sarah makes you nauseated. It’s something pure, and you can’t help but feel bitterly nostalgic.

“I wish my dad would have been like you.”

It slips out, and you immediately regret it. It’s been too long since you’ve gotten stoned with someone else, and you’ve forgotten your filter. And even though you’ve already divulged more to him about you than you normally would, this feels like too much all of the sudden.

This isn’t something you can backpedal, and before you know it, Joel is leaning towards you. There’s concern written in his features, he wants to comfort, and you thank God for what happens next, or it all would’ve been too much.

His shift in weight causes Martini to jump off his lap and sprint to the door of the porch. He stares at you and then meows.

Even though Joel isn’t touching you, you have to tear yourself away from the hold he’s got you in. ““I gotta let him in, or he’ll get annoyed.”

You move to open the door, and the cat slips inside.

“Is that a guitar in there?” Joel asks, catching a sliver of the gleaming body in the dim light.

“Yeah.”

“You play?” He questions, and you come to sit back on the couch.

“Not anymore. It’s more of a decoration. How about you?”

“A little.”

“A little?”

“A lot.” Joel smiles, looks at the ground like not sure why he’s telling you this. “I actually uh, used to want to be a singer.”

“What?” you ask. “You’re kidding.”

“No,” Joel shakes his head.

“Joel, what?” you put a hand on his arm and lean forward, then look at the guitar.

“Why not?”

“I was…young when I had Sarah. And I had to do something that could actually help us get by.”

“Okay well, you have to play me something, then,” you rise to step inside and retrieve it off the wall.

“No, no-”

“Come on, please?” you ask. “Don’t be a tease.”

Joel just stares as you bring the guitar out to him.

“Although this might be out of tune…” you strum once, and wince at the tinny sound it makes. “Definitely it is.”

“Here,” Joel takes it from you. “I can do it.”

It takes him a moment, but he’s plucking the strings in a way that feels so instinctual, purposeful, you can already tell he knows what he’s doing. Once he’s finished, he strums a few chords, and everything is magically in tune.

“Alright,” you prompt, when he hesitates. “What are you gonna play me?”

“You know any Neil Young?”

“Of course,” you answer.

Joel nods once, looks down at the guitar, and starts playing. You’d recognize the opening chords to anywhere, but he somehow makes them sound even moodier, and bittersweet.

Come a little bit closer, hear what I have to say…

He can sing. You’re taken aback. You’re not sure what you expected, but it’s definitely better than that. Deeper, raspier, and now you have new information about him that’s going to bounce around your brain when you’re bored during meetings at work, while you’re lying in bed at night, trying to sleep.

Because I’m still in love with you, I want to see you dance again…

You shift your weight, sling your arm over the back of the couch, and rest your chin on your hand. Suddenly, you’re feeling a little tired. He’s all-but putting you to sleep and, somehow, that feels like the highest compliment you can give. It could be because you’re stoned, but you feel warm all over. You close your eyes, just listen, until he’s finished.

Even after he’s finished, you keep your eyes closed, settling. Until you feel something graze against the back of your hand. Joel’s. He’s matching your own pose, facing you, but reaching out…

“That was nice,” you say, earnestly. You’re good.”

Joel smiles bashfully, tugs your hand from beneath your chin and pinches your index finger between two of his own. Your nails are painted a glittery purple, and Joel studies them. Sarah had painted them earlier this week when she’d hung out after school, and had picked out the color.

“So are you,” he shifts closer.

He’s not quite close enough to kiss you himself. But it’s enough…he’s just giving you the chance to lean in, to close the gap. The proximity makes you dizzy, and you’re a little overwhelmed. It’s too much. It’d be too much. You can’t. You’re afraid of what he might do to you.

“We should be good, then,” Gazing at him from under your lashes, you pull back just enough. It’s not a rejection, and you can tell he doesn’t see it that way either. There’s a mutual understanding, you’re on the same page, but you aren’t quite sure what it is. The warmth of Joel’s hand leaves yours, and a part of you is filled with regret.

And then, like it never happened, the two of you spend another hour talking. He’s engaged, intuitive, thoughtful, funny. By the time he excuses himself, long after the sun has fully dipped below the horizon, you feel like he’s an old friend. An old friend you want…badly, but, you know him on a level you hadn’t before.

“Gotta be up tomorrow for a soccer game, otherwise I’d stick around,” Joel says as you’re guiding him to the front door.

“It’s alright,” you say. “You’re welcome to do this anytime.”

“You sure?” he tilts his head, leaning against the doorframe on his way out. “You might regret offerin’ that….”

“I won’t.”

part iv

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simpsforwomen · 1 year

Note

May I request a (Wednesday Addams x fem reader) where reader is from the south and hides her accent, but then one day she gets mad at someone (maybe Tyler or Xavier for hitting on Wednesday), and then let’s loose the thick southern accent and everyone is just like- “who’s this and what happened to reader?!”

Thank you for reading my request and have an amazing day! :]

✧ reply: HELLO ANON! Yes. Just yes. I think this is really funny so I've decided to make it so that both Tyler and Xavier are fighting over Wednesday. I'm not Southern by any means though, so I hope my research helped make this more accurate. I'm sorry this is short. Thank you and enjoy!

❦ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲...?

✧ warnings: n/a

✧ pairing(s): Wednesday Addams x gn!reader

✧ summary: (request)

✧ word count: 412

✧ a/n: i realize that this one-shot is pretty ass and that i made you guys wait a long time. i've been very busy lately and i know i always say that but it's true, i swear ;-; i'm currently working on my six other drafts as well so i'm going to try and pump at least one of those out by the end of this week. (it's show week for the production i'm in so it's going to be a challenge but i'm trying my best)

☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎☠︎︎

You had just finished eating when you heard a very familiar argument coming from the two boys sitting across from you and your girlfriend.

"I ain't gonna sit here and watch the two of y'all fight over Wednesday!" You said, loud enough for everyone around you to hear.

It was during lunchtime in Jericho, and to be honest, you didn't care about what others thought anymore. You were so tired of them bickering that you just had to say something about it. Besides, you had given them countless signs as to how a certain brunette was clearly taken but it seems as though your words went in one ear and out the other. Just like how it's always been with them.

The customers all turned and frowned at you. Most of them were people from school who'd also come out to dine. Some with an expression of curiosity and some shocked by your sudden accent outburst.

Tyler on the other hand frowned in confusion. "What just happened to your voice...?"

"And since when did you start caring about our weekly Wednesday talk?" Xavier added.

"Since the both of y'all invited me to hang!" You rolled your eyes. "Besides, Wednesday's very much off limits. She's mine. And for your information, I've had this accent for as long as I can remember."

Xavier gasped dramatically. "Clearly she's more into me. Like, come on."

You hadn't told your friends about the two of you being together yet so they obviously didn't believe you.

Even Wednesday was surprised and you couldn't blame her. You never told anyone about how you hid your accent all this time.

"Y/N, why haven't you told me about this?" The brunette asked you curiously. "Is it because you were insecure?"

"No." You responded. "I just didn't wanna stand out. Besides, I didn't wanna tell ya in case that would change your mind 'bout datin' me." You bit your lip and looked down shyly.

Wednesday didn't want to admit it but she secretly found your accent cute. She took your left hand and lowered her head, placing a gentle kiss on your knuckles.

Softening her gaze, she looked back up at you. "I love you just the way you are, cara mia. Don't ever forget that."

And of course as soon she said that, both Tyler and Xavier turned to you in shock.

"Told y'all." Was all you said before shrugging and walking out with Wednesday, hand-in-hand.

#wednesday series #wednesday fanfic #wednesday x y/n #wednesday x reader #wednesday addams x reader #wednsday addams #wednesday #nevermore #oneshot #gn reader #request #fem reader #jenna ortega x reader #jenna ortega #wednesday x you #wednesday netflix

566 notes · View notes

forever-rogue · 1 year

Note

I’m new to your blog and am LOVING your fics, and of course I’ve been rewatching narcos so I’m daydreaming about Javier Peña constantly

I like to imagine a scenario where Peña is at the bar again after a shitty, stressful day at work, and you (stranger) inquire about why he’s so gloomy, and soon you have him laughing and genuinely having a good time. Total fluff. Hardass Peña blushing and full belly laughing? My heart.

I just wanted to share but of course feel free to use it if you want! I just am obsessed 😂

AN | Just some softness with our fave DEA agent! Enjoy ❤️

Pairing | Javier x Fem!Reader

Warnings | Language

Word Count | 2.1k

Masterlist | Main, Javier

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

You’d seen him walk into the bar many times now. He’d come in all sorts of moods, easily evident by how he carried himself. It was also easy to tell how his day went from the amount of drinks he ordered. You always made them, passing them along to him silently, never engaging in much conversation of any sort besides taking his order and payment. You wondered if he even really remembered you or if you were just another part of his evening routine.

Whatever he thought of you didn’t change the fact that you were curious about him. But you weren’t about to impose yourself upon him. If he ever wanted to talk to you, you’d indulge him but that would have to be on his terms. You didn’t want to scare away one of your best and most regular customers after all.

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

It had been a slow day with few patrons throughout the evening. You were half tempted to close up shop, but decided you weren’t that pressed to go home and opted to keep the place open. The worst that would happen was that you had no more people come through and you’d be left to your own devices. If that happened, you figured you’d get a head start on some deep cleaning. It really wasn’t too bad, plus you liked the bar you managed. Unlike so many others, it had a warm and inviting ambiance and most of the people that came through weren’t too bad.

Just when you were about to give up that any one else would come in, you heard the front door open, accompanied by a soft sigh that had become very familiar. You looked up from the book you were reading - cleaning could wait, you had decided - and smiled when you saw that it was him. He was the last person you had expected to see tonight.

He came up and sat at the bar, at his usual spot, not even bothering to wave you down today. There was no reason to after all, it wasn’t like your attention was occupied by anyone else. You tried to squash your nerves as you walked over to him, wondering what type of mood he was in today. It had been hard to read from his walk for once so you quietly padded over to him.

“Hi,” you cringed slightly when you realized how high pitched and squeaky your voice sounded, “hey. What can I get you?”

He hesitated for a moment before turning his eyes towards and looking you over. If it had been any other man, you might have felt worried or awkward, but no with him. His gaze was not unkind; and you liked his eyes. Warm brown with crinkles in the corner that you were almost positive showed up whenever he smiled, “you’re not from here.”

You blinked at him a few times before slowly nodding in response. A small smile tugged up the corners of your mouth, “no, I’m not. Have you just noticed or is it just a guess?”

He hesitated before sitting back and stifling his laugh, “it might be the fact that you just started speaking in English to me.”

“Oh,” you mentally slapped yourself; you normally didn’t make that mistake anymore but apparently your mind had gotten the better of you. Plus, you knew that while he was fluent in Spanish, he was American. It was easy to tell when you were in the same boat, “oh. Well, yeah, yes, you’re right. I’m not from here. And neither of you.”

“Nope,” he agreed as you grabbed a glass and started to pour him a drink, “Texas.”

“Texas,” you repeated, passing him the drink, “I’d ask what brings you here, but somehow I have a feeling you’re either not allowed to tell me or you’re not going to.”

“A bit of both,” he took a long drink as he studied you intently. He was fairly certain that you were friend and not foe, but he wasn’t quite ready to take the full plunge into trust just yet, “mostly the latter. What brings someone such as yourself to working in a bar in the middle of Cali?”

“Came to Columbia for school and then just…didn’t end up leaving. And I don’t just work here - I manage this fine establishment,” you gestured around, feeling proud of the space you’d turned into a friendly and cozy space, “you’re around a lot, so it can’t be too terrible.”

“Not at all,” he agreed, setting his glass down and tapping his fingers along the counter of the bar, “company’s not too bad either. Can you have a drink or is that…a big no?”

“Normally I don’t drink on the job,” you admittedly as you reached for another glass, “and I’m not a big drinker to begin with but I’m willing to make an exception every once in a while. Like you said - company’s not too bad.”

And then he laughed. A lovely sound that went straight to your heart and made your bones feel like jelly. You really liked him so far, so all you could do was hope he wouldn’t turn out to be one of the bad ones, but something in your guy told you that he wasn’t.

“What’s your poison?” he watched as you combined a few things to make your drink.

“It depends,” you decided to take a chance and make him one as well, “but tonight it feels like an old fashioned kind of night.”

"Classy," he raised his glass to you in a small salute as you snorted in amusement, "so you're making a special exception to drink with me, huh?"

"Mhmm," you took a long sip and leaned against the counter, "like I said, it's not what I normally do, but I feel like I can trust you."

"Trust me?" He asked. You nodded, "how so?"

"You've never hit on me, you've never been rude to me or anyone else, and you tip well," you swore you could see a slight blush well up in his cheeks, even in the low lighting, "which makes practically a dream man."

"Now you're just flattering me," but he was laughing - a deep, warm sound that seemed so genuine, "I'm sure there's plenty of men out there just like that but better."

"You've clearly never been a young woman out by herself late at night…or anytime really," you sighed lightly, "it doesn't matter if it's here in Columbia or anywhere else in the world. A lot of men are just…terrible."

"Yeah," he let out a long sigh and shook his head, "unfortunately I know what you're talking about."

"And you haven't done anything like that," you grabbed the bottle from under the counter, "which is why tonight's tab is on the house."

"What's the catch?" Oh yeah. This man could read your mind. You poured his refill before smiling coquettishly, "you're trouble, I can already tell."

"The catch is," you leaned on your arms on the counter so you were as close to him as possible without jumping over the counter, "you gotta tell me more about yourself. Deal?"

He studied you - intensely - before offering you a crooked grin, "deal."

"But?"

"You have to answer my questions too."

"Deal," you held out your hand which he eagerly shook, "deal."

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Your deal turned into a lot more than you bargained for. In only the best ways, which you hadn't really seen coming.

When you struck up that first conversation with him, you'd ended up talking for hours, well into the early hours of the morning. And it had all felt so natural and easy, like you'd known each for so long and so deeply.

It became a regular thing after that, with Javier coming in regularly - not to drink necessary but to spend time with you. It was easy and made him less nervous when it was under the guise of getting a drink.

He came and found you at least a few nights a week, and you'd come to know so many sides to him. You could easily tell when Javier had a stressful day, when he'd had a good one, or was just tired to his bones. You still weren't positive exactly what he did for work, but you knew it wasn't anything to take lightly.

He'd even become what you considered a friend. You hoped he thought of you as a friend too.

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

You could sense that he was in a fantastic mood as soon as he came into the bar, a visible spring in his step. It made you feel better too - lighter, happier.

"Hi Javi," you turned your attention to him immediately as he sat down in his usual spot. You leaned against the counter and gave him a smile that always made his heart skip a few beats, "how's it going?"

"Better now," and oh. His answer made you positively weak. You felt your entire face warm up as you took a second to look away so you wouldn't completely lose it, "how was your day, trouble?"

"Same old, same old," you shrugged, "uneventful but much better now."

"Dime," he mirrored your position and you were suddenly overwhelmed by how close he was. The idea that you could lean in and kiss him was dizzying.

You could play coy, could pretend you had no idea what he was talking about…but you felt bold. You were well aware of the fact that you'd both been beating around the bush, playing a little catch and mouse game. But something had to come to a head, right? You cocked your head to the side and gave him a coquettish smile, "you."

"Me?" You swore you could see a little flush of pink coloring his cheeks, "you sure about that?"

"I am," there was no going back now but somehow you didn't mind that, "you make my day better, Javi. Even if you're only there for a little bit at a time."

You watched his jaw tense as he seemed to be mulling something over deeply. Part of you was already panicking and worrying about having said the wrong thing. But then - he smiled and tapped his fingers along the countertop, "yeah?"

"Yeah."

"You make my day a lot better too," he let out a long weary sigh and you couldn't help the lovesick little expression you gave him, "you're going to be the death of me, you know? You're just trouble."

"But the good kind, I hope?" you were sure there were other people around there needed to be helped for once but you were more than happy to let your coworkers step in and help for once. At least tonight. Javier made a small sound before playfully shrugging, "Javier!"

"Yes," he promised after a few beats of playful silence passed between the two of you, "the best kind, sweetheart."

"Consider your drinks on the house tonight," you went to go and grab a glass but he caught your wrist and stopped you, "Javi?"

"This is probably stupid of me to ask," he sighed for just a moment, more at the situation than anything else and you raised an eyebrow, "but do you want to go out sometime? Maybe not for a drink but…something?"

"Are you asking me on a date?" you blinked at him with wide eyes, almost unsure if you'd heard him correctly.

"Umm…yes?" His first thought was that he had fucked something up, "but only if you want to of course. No pressure-"

"Yes," you cut him off as soon as the realization of what he had said hit you, "yes. I'd love you to."

"Really?" You were surprised that he seemed so surprised. Had he not gotten the very strong signals you'd been putting out? You thought you were being so obvious this whole time.

"Really," you promised, "I was wondering if you were going to ask."

"You-" he paused for a moment before laughing softly, "you are something else."

"I am," you gave him a cheeky wink, "you'll find out. But Javi - I really like you too."

"When are you free?"

You looked around the bar and decided it was empty enough, "now?"

"Now?" He repeated and the two of you grinned at each other like fools, but you nodded, "now is perfect."

"Let's go!"

#javier peña #javier peña x reader #javier pena x you #javier pena x fem!reader #pedro pascal #javier pena one shot #javier pena imagine

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yanfeisty · 1 year

Text

— Voicelines about Creator!Reader (Mondstadt version) ♡ ！

⊹ [ characters ] — Albedo, Amber, Barbara, Bennett, Diluc, Diona, Eula, Fischl, Jean, Kaeya, Klee, Lisa, Mona, Noelle, Razor, Rosaria, Sucrose & Venti. ◞

⊹ [ synopsis ] — Let's see what they think about you. ◞

⊹ [ cw ] — religious themes. ◞

⠀‣ Albedo

About The Creator: Learning

"It is quite unfortunate they don't remember anything about their past life and how they created everything in this world, I would have a few questions to ask...but learning about them is still interesting, especially how they seem to affect me, for exemple I get distracted by them during my work, but not because they are beside me, it's because they aren't."

About The Creator: Consort

"You seem rather surprised, it's true that I have troubles in finding time for socializing, but it doesn't feel difficult with them, as it was almost a natural thing that we were simply meant to be, that's why I accepted their proposal, to investigate this feeling that warm my body even in the coldest place of Dragonspine... Anyway, do you want to see my sketches of them? I don't know why but I'm not able to catch their full beauty, maybe you could help me."

⠀

⠀‣ Amber

About The Creator

"You know, when I first heard about Y/n, I thought they were super serious and all but when I met them they were nice to talk to! We passed so much time talking and I even taught them how to glide! But I couldn't shake the feeling that they must felt so lonely... people view them as their God and so they are either scared or don't think they are worthy to talk to Y/n. I can't help but feel sad, I'm happy to have them as a friend and to be one for them too!"

⠀

⠀‣ Barbara

About The Creator

"I was so happy to learn our Creator finally descended, even during my first concert I didn't feel so anxious to sing in front of someone.. Oh, they're so kind too! They always tell me to relax around them and they compliment my singing, telling me it's healing their soul! Ah... I feel like my heart is going to burst because of how joyful I am!"

⠀

⠀‣ Bennett

About The Creator

"Oh, they're like a super important person here, so much so that I don't have the right to approach them. I was surprised when they sneak out to go talk to me, they're always telling me to take care and wish me luck, that doesn't help my luck at all but I appreciate the worry!"

⠀

⠀‣ Diluc

About The Creator: Traditions

"My late father was a firm believer, teaching me and Kaeya the traditions and to always thank The Creator for the good things like the bad ones because they make us stronger. I still do both."

About The Creator: Consort

"You heard the news? I should have expect that... I wish that our relationship was kept more private. I heard that I was... 'overprotective', and frankly.. I do not care what others say, this world is dangerous, danger can come from anywhere, especially when their name is known all around Teyvat. They always worry about me and my night activities, asking me to just drop it for one night, to the point of threatening me with the silent treatment. Let's just say being worried over each others is how we work, but people can't mind their own business... That's why I didn't want people to know."

⠀

⠀‣ Diona

About The Creator

"They're nice, they even wanted to help me to destroy the wine industry, but I had to fire them because not only they attracted more customers to the Cat's tail, everyone was being delusional and asked for more of their drink! Hmp, I kind of miss them rubbing my ears though... Y-You heard nothing!!"

⠀

⠀‣ Eula

About The Creator

"It's a custom of the Lawrence Clan to worship its Creator as they were the one to bless us with nobility, so I have to address them with my utmost respect, however they always tell me to just 'relax' and 'drop the act', I shall make them pay to tell how a Lawrence should behave! But to be honest, I'm not so sure if I can since they are the God we worship, nobody in the Clan planned a rule for this occasion.."

⠀

⠀‣ Fischl & Oz

About The Creator

"Fate was sealed when the holy name fell to the soon blessed land to greet the one bereft of sins, both born in this universe from the sea of stars with The Knowledge which the infinity is powerless to conceal, and yet, I, Prinzessin der Verurteilung cannot comprehend the absolute truth for the disciples of this world, as I can only hear the sound of darkness produced by its light.

What does she means is that she thinks The Creator is worth of her friendship and would like to know them more, but their way of speaking with their 'slangs', are quite difficult to understand."

⠀

⠀‣ Jean

About The Creator: Work

"I understand it might be overwhelming for them, that's why I'm trying to manage their schedule and reassure them. I know they told me to take a rest for a while but I can't help but be concerned, I only wish for them to be confortable and free from worry."

About The Creator: Consort

"We've been close for quite some time, I truly felt touched when they asked me, it's quite embarrassing to say but I was lost for words, and I don't usually loose my composure... But I was happy to accept their proposal, they're someone I can turn to when I need to, they do bring me comfort, I hope they think the same thing about me... Sorry, I get a bit distracted when talking about them."

⠀

⠀‣ Kaeya

About The Creator: First Impression

"Oh... so you've heard about The Great Creator of Teyvat, have you met them yet? I'm sure you'd like them, their personality don't quite match their title, but don't worry, you're not going to be disappointed."

About The Creator: Consort

"You want to know more about me being a consort? Don't you think it's a bit inappropriate... Hehe, I'm just teasing you, I have to admit they caught me off guard when they proposed to me, but how could I say no to such an adorable face, they're so cute when they're shy, very fun to tease. Oh, if you excuse me, I have to meet them for some... private stuff..."

⠀

⠀‣ Klee

About The Creator

"Y/n is the best! We do fireworks together, it's less fun than fish blasting but it's so pretty... They also take care of me sometimes with Albedo, it's so fun when we're the three together!"

⠀

⠀‣ Lisa

About The Creator

"We've been on a few dates together, for book recommendations obviously, haha. They wanted to know more about their past life, unfortunately there is so little about The Creator in the library. I have to say the way they're portrayed in the books isn't as endearing as the real version."

⠀

⠀‣ Mona

About The Creator

"Asking me to look at their destiny is like asking me to look at the constellation of a constellation... The Creator is the stars themselves and everything that exists in this world. Hydromancy is a simple magic trick compared to their power, but they seemed to have lost it with their memory too. Do you know how much Mora some Acolytes offered me to show The Creator their past?! Of course I didn't accept but that was a beautiful thought to imagine..."

⠀

⠀‣ Noelle

About The Creator

"Once I was helping them to search an object, it took us the whole day but we finally found it, I proposed my help if they had any other troubles and they told me I didn't have to do that but I told that made me happy that I could help them. And after that, they looked a bit down, maybe it's because they aren't use to people helping them out of kindness, but because of their important position we gave them, so as asual I wanted to help by cheering them up and that is how we became friends."

⠀

⠀‣ Razor

About The Creator

"Hm, Cre-ator? I don't know them... Y/n? Yes, they're nice and kind, very kind. My lupical also likes their smell."

⠀

⠀‣ Rosaria

About The Creator

"Since they came back, there has been more work for the sisters, making sure to welcome them every time they visit Mondstadt, new choirs and prayers to learn, urg... Though I have to say it's quite a funny sight to see them just as bored in those neverending ceremonies as me."

⠀

⠀‣ Sucrose

About The Creator

"Oh yes, they're an interesting person, I wanted to observe them, o-of course not without their agreement, but I was afraid to ask... However, Mr. Albedo told me to go and talk to them because he needed to investigate about something, he wanted to see how someone else is affected when talking to The Creator. I'm not sure what conclusion I needed to draw but I discovered they were really nice and told me I shouldn't be afraid of talking to them more... Ah, I hope we can have another chance to discuss together again."

⠀

⠀‣ Venti

About The Creator: Songs

"Ah, yes, many people in Mondstadt believe in them, that's why I dedicated multiple songs about them and the wonderful land they created! Those really help me when I don't have enough money to pay... Ehe~"

About The Creator: Consort

"It's always a delight to hear people talking about our union, they're such a wonderful partner, how lucky I am! I still write many songs about them, just a different type this time and they're more personal. But I can write thousands of lyrics with the most beautiful words and somehow it will never be enough to demonstrate my love... Hmm... I like this topic! If you want we can talk more about them over a drink, or perhaps I can show you my new poem for them."

799 notes · View notes

moonrachas · 2 years

Text

mirage | two

pairing: hybrid!ot7 x human(f)!reader

genre: hybrid au

word count: 4.5k

warnings: mentions of mistreatment, mentions of stalking, swearing, y/n gets horny (for like one second), smut in later chapters

summary: Your daily life was getting repetitive until one morning when your friends force you to adopt some hybrids. Coming home with four, things seem to be going well until three animals show up at your door, and they don’t seem to want to leave anytime soon...

a/n: hi guys! i was planning on making a taglist for this story. If you're interested, just comment or send an ask and i'll add you!! also, i'm going to make a post for visuals on how each of them look like.

You quickly wipe your eyes, turning to your friends.

They scan the room, searching for the cause of your sudden tears, until their eyes land on the familiar black fur, looking almost identical to your previous cat.

”It’s okay y/n, do you want to look at any of the other enclosures?” Kai says, rubbing your back.

Part of you wants to listen and just look at the other animals, but another part of you is drawn to the cat. You lock eyes, and you look away, embarrassed. You almost forget that it’s part human.

Eventually, you decide that you will just listen to your heart and purchase this cat. You were planning to just ignore it, trying to avoid the future “I told you so”s from your friends, but you can almost feel the connection.

“No, thats okay, I think i’ll just get that one.” You walk over to the worker in the end of the room.

“Excuse me, I’d like to adopt that black cat hybrid over there in the corner.” You point at the small enclosure. The cats are watching you intently. You wonder how long they’ve been waiting in this place. You see some rush up to the front, wanting to be the one noticed and chosen by you.

“That one?” The worker says with a confused look on his face. “Are you sure? He’s in that little place for a reason, you know.”

“What for?” You turn back, confused. The cat doesn’t look harmful, well, to you at least. It looks like it’s doing the same as any of the other cats in the room. You watch as it attempts to pick up a ball, only for the ball to fly up and hit the cat in face. It jumps and runs away, mortified. You press your lips together and hold back a giggle, turning back to the worker.

“Well, we can’t really enclose specifics to our customers, but that little thing is a troublemaker.” He scratches his head, looking you in the eye. “If you really want it, just know that it might be a little rowdy.”

You nod in agreement. “I’ll see about that.”. You watch as the worker goes inside the enclosure, picking up the scared cat that was hiding in it’s cat tower from the ball. It looks up at him, confused. You miss the way the gray cat in the same enclosure tries to grab it’s friend, resisting his grip.” The worker then manages to pull it away, and walks back to you.

“Hybrids usually mostly stay in their human forms, but they may shift from time to time from either wanting to play or being scared. He never been owned before.”

He? Owned? It now comes to your attention that you are adopting someone, and it feels morally wrong to do so. But your kind heart wants to save him in a way, since you know you would go crazy if you were the one living in the enclosure.

“He will be in the front when you’re ready!” The worker places it in a cage, carrying it out of the room. You turn around, noticing that your friends are gone. Pulling out your phone, you read a few texts from Kai.

Huka: Hey y/n, we wanted to give you some space so we split up and decided to look at the other enclosures.

You quickly send back a “sounds good” as you are now left alone with your thoughts. Feeling the rush, you decide to go and check out another enclosure. Getting one more can’t hurt, right? It’s not like Yuna and Kai are here to tell you no! Besides, your cat hybrid seems like he would need a friend.

You turn over to the other side of the room, walking up to the dog section. You look around the room, watching all of the dogs playing, chasing each other, or wrestling. As your eyes focus on what’s in front of you, you spot a big dog with golden fur staring at you, panting. It’s cute eyes and seated position shows that it wants to play.

“You’re so cute.” You coo, pouting your lips.

You decide to check out the other dogs first. But every time you move to the side to see, the dog walks in the same direction as you, blocking your way. You stare at it confused, and it stares back, almost smiling at you.

You stand on your tippy toes to try to look over it but it just stands on its hind legs, scratching at the glass.

“You little-”

“Hey! What are you doing outside of your enclosure?” The worker runs up to the dog, picking it up. The dog whines as he tries to escape the worker’s grip.

“Wait wait wait, I want to adopt that one.” You say as the worker is about to place it back, surprising both him and yourself.

“This one? Are you sure? Hes a good dog, yeah, but he’s full of mischief.”

“Yeah i’m sure.” You say confidently. The worker brings up the dog hybrid to the front as well.

You thought you would stop there, but no. You need more, your heart and brain having two conflicting thoughts as you decide on whether or not to stop. But your decision was already made as you walked to the next room, filled with the small animal hybrids. You know you need the company, since coming home to a quiet, empty house has been bringing down your mood for so long. Maybe your friends were right, maybe all you needed were some friends.

You observe the small animal hybrids, watching them run around. In the middle, you see a little maze set up for them. Guinea pigs are sleeping in little sheltered beds. You hear their cute squeaks of joy as they play.

In yet another small enclosure, you spot a bunny and a hamster fighting over.. an apple? You watch as the hamster nibbles on the golden brown bunny’s ears, causing it to jump back in surprise. The hamster then runs for the apple, it’s tiny feet only carrying it away slowly as the bunny follows closely behind.

Intrigued, you fight back the tiny voices in your head that are telling you to stop, and ask the worker for those two. There’s no way you could separate them. They get taken to the front, and you find Yuna and Kai back at the big animal enclosure.

“So, did you find one that you wanted?” Yuna grabs your shoulders, staring down at you.

“I did.” You say back, deciding not to reveal anything else.

As you walk back to the front, you notice Kai holding a hedgehog in his arms.

“What- or who, is that?” You ask, staring at the little creature.

“Oh, this? This is Odi, i bought him for my friend Soobin. He’s been a bit lonely in our house recently.”

“Huh, looks like a lot of people came to buy hybrids today. I could’ve sworn there was like no one in each room..” Yuna says, staring at the hybrid cages next to the worker behind the register.

“Actually, those are all mine.” You say, look up at them. You watch as the golden retriever hybrid pants happily.

“I’m sorry, what? What happened to you being against it?” Kai says, pointing his finger at you and tilting his head. “You were all like I’m an independent women with goals and hybrids would only distract me blah blah blah” he says in a mocking tone.

“Shut up!” You whisper shout, smacking his hand away. I’m a new woman.”

He mumbles a “whatever” as you go up and purchase the hybrids.

“Welcome back y/n! I hope you found your hybrids without any issues today. So the first one is a black British Shorthair cat hybrid. This one’s a Golden Retriever hybrid. And these two..” he points to the small animals, “are a golden Palomino rabbit and a golden hamster. Since you’re buying four, I’d hope you have a stable income to take care of them. Just sign these papers and you’ll be all set!”

“Alright thank you!” You quickly sign the stack of papers, all being about the safety of you and the hybrids. You hand over the papers back with a smile.

The three of you- well, eight of you, leave the building and walk over to the car, with Yuna carrying the small animals, Kai carrying the dog hybrid and Odi, and you carrying the cat hybrid. You place the hybrids in the trunk of your car and sit inside.

Arriving home, your friends wave goodbye and wish you good luck. You miss the three pairs of eyes that were watching you outside, hiding behind a bush.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

Your hybrids stand awkwardly behind you in your living room, now in human form. You’ve managed to give them clothes from your ex that forgot to take his stuff back. It was a little loose, but it would do for now.

It was very hard to focus straight when you were alone in your house with four very handsome men. You never expected this, but you had to make do.

“Hi everyone! You can call me y/n. I hope you all feel welcome in your new home. Let’s sit on the couch to discuss a few things.” You lead them to the couch, and you sit opposite of them. They walk weirdly in a single file line, stumbling a little, not used to being in their human form. The dog hybrid walks closely behind the cat, almost like it’s for comfort.

Surprisingly, the tiny hamster hybrid is actually the tallest in human form, his sharp eyes making your insides feel weird. The bunny hybrid has a black mole on his face, with golden brown hair.

You stand up to go and get some water for them, so the hybrids were left alone on the couch. The dog hybrid looks around, scanning the room and making sure there was no way you could hear them. “What are we gonna do about the others?” He asks, one ear up to listen for any sign that you are coming.

The hamster hybrid pauses, thinking. “We might have to sneak them back out.” He looks at the others for their approval.

“Are you crazy? They caught us last time! Who’s to say they won’t do it again? Anyways, we can worry about that later. Y/n seems nice and maybe we could get her to help us.” The cat hybrid shrugs, more relaxed than the others.

“Help us? She would never.”

“I’m back, sorry for the wait. I was trying to carry four glasses but i realized i could just carry four bottles.” You laugh at yourself, handing each of them a bottle. “So, I was thinking of ways you guys could start to get to know each other-” You get interrupted and turn your head to see the golden retriever hybrid silently laughing. Realizing you are looking, he masks it with a cough. He mumbles a sorry, clearing his throat.

“Um anyways, I think we should start with names?” You say, looking up at the bunny hybrid sitting on the left. “We can just go in order.”

“Hello everyone, I’m Sunghoon.” The bunny hybrid says, waving at everyone. You immediately take note of his deep, raspy voice. The rest wave back at him and you all turn your attention on the hamster hybrid.

“Hi I’m Heeseung.” He says with a smile.

The dog hybrid starts, “Hi, I’m Jake.” You notice his cute Aussie accent. Immediately after he introduces himself, he starts laughing, unable to look anyone in the eye without losing it.

“Okay can someone tell me what’s going on?” You say, tired of being confused.

“Okay fine. We already all know each other. You can call me Jay.” The black cat hybrid says. “We weren’t always in that little hybrid adoption center. We lived freely for a while, until one night we were captured and they told us about this rule about hybrids having to be owned by humans. We got split up in the center, so this is basically our first time talking to each other in a while, and it’s a bit awkward.”

You suddenly feel sorry for them. Knowing they were a part of the same group and then being separated just because they’re hybrids breaks your heart. “I’m so sorry that happened! I don’t want it to seem like I own you, just picture me as a friend, like how you guys see each other.”

The hybrids all give each other a look, and then turn back to you. “You see,” Sunghoon starts, “It doesn’t really work like that.”

“What do you mean?” You get interrupted for what feels like the hundredth time by scratching on the door. You get up from the couch, walking with the boys following closely behind. Looking through the peephole of the front door, you don’t see anyone, so you assume it may be a package. Opening the door, you look outside to see no one, so you almost step outside until you hear a loud bark, making you jump.

“AH! What the hell!” You look down to see a fox, cat, and dog sitting closely together, shivering slightly due to the wind. The sun was starting to set, so you couldn’t really see them properly.

“No fucking way.” You turn to the boys behind you, who look like they’ve just seen a ghost. Jake doesn’t realize you’ve turned around, still mouthing something to the three animals. You then realized that they know each other.

“You guys better explain this.” You signal the animals to come inside as you shake your head.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

The hybrids are now all in their human forms, sitting on the couch with the three unknown ones sitting on the ground in front of them. With the other dog hybrid sitting in front if Jay, he reaches down and pets the other dog hybrid’s hair and back of ears. You stand in front of them, crossing your arms and pinching the top of your nose.

“How the fuck did you three get out of the adoption center?” You squint your eyes at them.

“Relax! This wasn’t even the first time.” The dog hybrid smiles proudly.

“Relax? I could get in so much trouble for this. I don’t even know your names.”

“I’m Niki, the one next to me is Sunoo,” the fox hybrid waves at you, his smile looking adorable, “and next to him is Jungwon.” Jungwon also waves, dimples on full display.

“I’m y/n.” you reply with a small wave. “Wait, the first time? You’ve all done this before?” You raise your eyebrows, confused. The situation keeps getting worse, and you worry that this may end horribly. What if I get caught with them? You wonder. Or worse, end up in jail? You pace your living room, freaking out. All of a sudden you feel strong arms being wrapped around you. You turn over to see Jungwon hugging you with a smile.

��Are you okay y/n? Please let us stay with you. I promise we’ll be good!”

How could you say no to him? He’s looking at you like you with so much adoration, and you can’t help but smile at that. You remember how they mentioned them being split up, so you can’t help but feel sorry for them. But looking at the rest of the boys, they don’t look too happy.

Jay’s jaw is clenched, ears sticking out and tail stiff. Heeseung is gripping the edge of the couch, a low hiss coming out as he stares at Jungwon.

You look back at Jungwon, slightly pulling away. “Fine, I’ll let you guys stay tonight. It’s been a long day, and all I want is some rest.”

“Great!” Jake suddenly appears next to Jungwon, pulling him away. "You should go and get some sleep, we’ll take care of everything!”

“Okay, you guys need to share rooms, there’s three available. Goodnight you guys.” You say as you walk upstairs, going straight for the shower.

As soon as they’re alone, Sunghoon breaks the silence. “What are we going to do? We have to convince her to let us all stay.”

“What do you mean? She already said we could.” Jungwon replies.

“No, she said you can stay tonight, shes probably going to wake up tomorrow and once she starts thinking properly again, she’s probably not going to know what to do.” Heeseung interrupts.

“Whatever let’s worry about this tomorrow I’m tired.” Sunoo whines, dragging out the last word. They make their way upstairs. Outside the first door, they hear the water running from your shower.

Jake turns to Sunghoon, wiggling his eyebrows and smirking.

“Dude, seriously, stop.” Sunghoon says, shaking his head. The rest turn to face the two.

“Stop what?” Jake acts confused to make Sunghoon look stupid.

“Can you two stop? We need to decide on rooms.” Jungwon scolds them, and they both nod. Once the rest turn back around, Jake smirks at Sunghoon, and the bunny hybrid groans.

After walking a bit more, they reach the hallway with the bedrooms. On the walls near the end there are four doors, with the very end being the last door. Heeseung opens the door closest to them, and then first sees a bed with beige sheets and colorful character plushies on them. On the wall are posters of various bands. He quickly shuts it, realizing that it's yours. They open the next three doors, all consisting the same things with different layouts; A bed, a dresser, and a small bathroom connected to it.

Sunghoon and Jake decide on the room next to yours. At first, Sunghoon was hesitant to room with Jake, but after a long please and puppy eyes, he was quick to reconsider. The room across from yours was taken by Jungwon and Sunoo.

The last room, which was also the biggest room, was taken by Jay, Niki, and Heeseung. They didn’t mind who they were going to room with, so they were okay with anyone as their roommates as long as they had the biggest room. You all fall asleep, excited for the next day.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

You wake up to the smell of fresh pancakes and coffee. Coffee was something you couldn’t resist, so instead of staying in bed for an extra thirty minutes like you usually do, you immediately get up. After washing up in the bathroom, you head downstairs.

Walking into the kitchen, you see a shirtless Jay cooking at the oven with Jake, Sunghoon, and Sunoo sitting down at the table. Your eyes scan Jay, watching as his back muscles whenever he moves. Jake and Sunghoon are still half asleep while Sunoo is eating his pancakes. “Do you like pancakes, y/n?” Jay turns around, watching as you struggle to form words.

“O-of course I like pancakes.” You quickly rush over to join the boys at the table, purposely facing away from Jay to keep yourself together. Sunoo looks at Jay knowingly and then turns back around to continue eating his food. The others join you, having to force Heeseung out of bed, and you can’t help but smile. You can’t remember the last time you had company for breakfast. The usual quietness of your home is replaced by the sound of laughter and conversation as you finally have people to surround yourself with. Taking a bite of one of Jay’s pancakes, you groan at how amazing it tastes. “Mmm, I didn’t know you were such a good cook Jay!”

“I used to cook for everyone before. This isn’t even half as good as what I used to be able to make back then. I missed cooking, so thank you for letting me use your kitchen.” He smiles at you.

You return a smile back, and Jay insists he washes everyone’s plates. While everyone is still in the kitchen, you decide it’s best to tell them the plans for the day.

“I was thinking about everyone staying here and I wanted everyone to have more of their own items in our home, so how does going shopping sound?” You ask. Everyone agrees excitedly and heads up to change upstairs.

You drive everyone to the store, and they couldn’t stop moving the whole ride. “You guys can go around now, I’ll meet you when you’re done.” You say as you enter the store. They rush off into the store, and you get bored only 5 minutes in, with nothing to do. So you walk over to the toys aisle, where you spot a familiar pair of red ears. Turning the corner, you see Sunoo staring at the stuffed animals, Niki and Jake closeby. “What do you think about this one y/n?” Jungwon holds up a grey cat tree in between his arms. “It could fit both me and Jay!”

“That looks nice!” You say as you push him your empty cart to place the item in.

“I’d bet y/n could fit in there. She’s tiny.” Niki laughs.

“Hey, what about this hamster plushie!” Sunoo waves it around, wanting your approval.

“We don’t need that, we already have Heeseung.” Niki laughs, causing you all to laugh too.

“Don’t forget to shop for clothes too.” You walk away, looking for the others.

You see Jay looking at graphic tees, his cart next to him. Walking over, you look inside his cart, and find it completely filled with ramen, meat, vegetables, and new cooking tools. “What’s all this?” You ask.

“Oh, Heeseung just wanted some ramen.” He says, unphased.

“Yeah? And what about the rest?”

“Oh..” He puts the shirt down to look at you. “Sorry, am I not supposed to get this?” He asks, ears flat against his head.

“Oh no don't worry, it’s all good!” You reassure him. He says thank you and you wait for the boys at the front.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

You are met with a smiley group of boys and three completely filled carts. You wouldn’t have bought this much for them, but it’s so hard for you to say no at them when they’re looking at you like this. You have a lot of saving anyways, since you have been living alone for a while.

The first cart has hoodies, sweatpants, shirts, and jeans. There are slides, two being black, two being white, and 3 being gray. “We wanted to get matching ones with our roommates.” Sunghoon explains.

In the next cart, there are toys. There is a cat tower that Jungwon showed you earlier, tennis balls for the dog hybrids, a wheel for the hamster hybrid, and plushies for the fox hybrid. “Who put that there?” Heeseung points to the hamster plushie, the three youngest snickering in the back.

In the last cart, there is food and cooking supplies combined with hygiene products. To your surprise, there is a complete set of skincare products. You question their knowledge on it, but realize they haven't been able to use any in a while, so you let them get it.

You think about other things they might possibly need, although the three full carts make it nearly impossible to come up with any. You then remember that they may need cell phones for an emergency. What if you were out at work, or hanging out with Yuna and Kai? What if someone breaks in, or they get lost somewhere? You suddenly feel like a mom leaving their kids for the first time.

“Should we go pay?” Niki asks.

“Actually, you guys need a phone for emergencies.” You think of an idea since buying a phone for all seven of them would be impossible. “All of you should share one phone.”

You all walk to the phone section, letting them pick the one they wanted. They take a bit too long, so you go and check on them. Jake and Niki are giggling in the corner. You check to see what they’re doing, and see them spamming pictures of themselves doing funny faces on the poor phone. You scoff and see the other five actually decided between two phones. They finally grab a black phone, showing it to you. You ask a worker to get you a box, and buy it at the small counter there.

About to puchase the rest of your things, you pause. “Wait, we need to get you guys some collars.”

“Collars? For what?” Sunoo asks.

“You’re not allowed to be outside without a collar. Otherwise they’d take you back in the shelter again.” You explain, and their faces drop. The shelter tries to treat them well, but with more and more hybrids getting taken in, the enclosures are getting more full, meaning they had to say in packed areas, with barely any room to play. They also barely had chances to go outside, so their insticts haven’t been well trained for a while. They enjoy staying in your home, so getting captured again would be their worst nightmare.

“Even us?” the fox, bunny, and hamster hybrid asked.

“Yeah, I guess.” You lead them to the collar section. There were many different patters, ranging from stripes to hearts, but they wanted plain ones. Deciding to match with their roomates again, Jake and Sunghoon grab blue collars, Jay, Niki, and Heeseung got black collars, and Jungwon and Sunoo got pink collars. You can’t help but wonder how they would look with those on in human form, and you clench around nothing at the thought of that.

“So, are we all set?” Heeseung interrupts your thoughts.

“Oh yeah sorry, let’s go.” You buy all of the items, with the total being more than 2 weeks of work. Going home, The three youngest start to set up their toys while the rest put the food away.

Being alone for so long has left you miserable. You’re so used to an empty home, with most of your nights spent by watching shows or scrolling on your phone, that you feel so warm inside with the hybrids living with you. You want to be able to talk to them about your life, but you guys aren’t that close yet. Your main goal right now is to just make them feel at home here and feel free, just like any other human being.

But how can you guys get closer? You remember this park that you’ve always wanted to visit ever since you moved here, but you never went since you were so caught up with your ex. You walk into the kitchen, where the boys are making dinner.

“Hey guys, how do you feel about going to the park tomorrow?”

a/n: reminder that i am making a taglist for this story, meaning you will be tagged in any future updates whenever the next chapters are posted. comment or send an ask if you're interested!!

#enhypen #enhypenfanfic #enhypenfanfiction #enhypensmut #hybrid!enhypen #enhypen heeseung #enhypen jay #enhypen jake #enhypen sunoo #enhypen niki #enhypen sunghoon #enhypen jungwon #enhypen fluff #enhypen x reader #ot7 x reader #hybrid au #hybrid enhypen #enhypen fic

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pascaloverx · 2 months

Text

Rewrite The Stars

Chapter Twelve

Summary: One photo changes your whole life, when you accidentally bump into a celebrity and the world starts to believe that you are a couple.

Notes:

In this chapter, we have an extra character called Enzo, whom I'd like you to imagine as the actor Enzo Vogrincic. And for those who enjoy the fanfic, I appreciate if you reblog or like. Thank you to everyone who is following the fic.

chapter eleven chapter thirteen

It's been over two months since the chaotic breakup with Pascal. You'd like to inform that you're better than ever. That the fact that the relationship was fake made everything end well. But you'd be deceiving yourself if you thought you were fine now. At least your life has changed. You moved to a slightly more comfortable area, given the fact that Pedro had to pay you compensation for ending the relationship alone. You found a job that doesn't involve pretending to date anyone. In fact, you went back to working at a restaurant. But it's a restaurant closer to where you currently live and it's cozier and more spirited than your old job. It's clear that you've been avoiding anything related to Pedro Pascal, including him. He tried to contact you a few times, but you feel it's necessary to avoid talking to him or seeing him, at least until you no longer feel romantically attracted to him. You're almost finishing your shift at the restaurant when you hear that an important person is coming to dine and that the staff should prepare a specific area for them. It sends shivers down your spine to remember that this is how everything with Pedro started. But it's almost impossible for him to come to your new workplace. Besides being far from his home, it's not a very famous establishment.

"Boss, do you need me for anything else?" You ask after helping the restaurant staff organize an area for the important person coming to dine. Your boss looks at you, seeming a bit nervous. It's probably someone truly significant coming.

"I just need you to make sure to serve our last customers of the night with kindness when they arrive. Once they're taken care of, you can head home assured that I'll personally greet them and close up the restaurant." Your boss speaks gently, and you feel relieved. Finally, you'll be heading home to take a long shower and binge-watch a series.

"I'll head to the front of the restaurant to wait for the customer." You say, grabbing your notepad to jot down orders. Shortly after, you find yourself at the restaurant's entrance. As soon as you reach the entrance, a strong gust of wind blows towards you. Your whole body shivers, and you feel as if it's an omen. You see a man approaching, but then you remember that the table is reserved for four people. As the man gets closer, you start to recognize him.

"What are you doing here?" You say as you approach the man, making sure your boss doesn't see, and then you hug him. You're surprised he came here, but at the same time, it comforts you. After all, it's not every day that an ex-boyfriend travels to see you. You almost feel like this is your mother's doing.

"Your mother was worried about you, and I had to close a deal with a supplier here. I think it was a beneficial situation for everyone. And don't worry, I'm staying at a hotel so I won't bother you." Enzo speaks in a playful tone. You look at him gratefully for coming. You don't think it's a bad idea to have a distraction right now, and Enzo is a great distraction.

"You won't bother me at all. Besides, there's space at home if you want to stop spending money on a hotel. I'll just have to escort you to a table or the bar because there's an important client coming." You speak, lightly holding Enzo's arm and guiding him to a table near other customers who were already enjoying their meals. Enzo ordered a burger and a beer. You quickly informed the restaurant manager but then returned to the front of the restaurant to wait for the distinguished clients to arrive. And just when you think your night couldn't get any more surprising, you see the clients arriving. And your fake ex-boyfriend is one of them.

"Good evening, tonight I'll be your waitress and responsible for making your night even more magical here at La Noche Bela. I hope you enjoy the service and our food made with the freshest organic produce in town. Follow me, there's a table waiting for you." You speak as sweetly and politely as you can manage. Pascal is accompanied by a woman, and Oscar Isaac and his wife, at least that's what you think. You serve them as politely as possible, managing to maintain your composure even though Pascal is among the customers. You give Enzo, who is seated in another area of the restaurant, as much attention as Pedro and Isaac.

"How long are you going to avoid me?" Pedro asks when you're leaning against the area near the bathrooms. He must have come here purposefully to talk to you. You look at him, angry, but you know you can't make a scene or argue about your relationship in your workplace.

"You should return to your table and enjoy the delicious meal that awaits you. Along with the lovely company, of course." You're being fake because you know you're burning with jealousy inside.

"No company is more delightful than yours. I... miss you. Every day." Pedro speaks with his eyes almost sparkling, looking like a puppy that got left behind. You stare at him, definitely wanting to hug him but knowing you can't falter.

"Would you like me to come to your film set and discuss how I've been going crazy since we stopped seeing each other?" You ask, being direct but in such a gentle tone that anyone seeing your conversation from afar might think you're just having a casual chat.

"It might be inappropriate, but at least I'd know how you feel. Look, bothering you at your workplace is the last thing I want, so just... give me a chance." Pedro Pascal speaks, and you feel a strong desire to kiss him. Because he seems so sincere and passionate. Which would be crazy. Because he couldn't be in love, right?

"Pascal, do yourself a favor. Give a chance to the woman who came with you. Maybe with her, you'll have something real. Something that makes you feel love. Now, I need to go." You speak, even though it hurts inside. The hardest part is convincing your heart that Pedro will find with that woman, or anyone else, something you wish he had with you.

"I want to feel that with you. Unfortunately, you don't seem to have grasped that yet, but know that if you do, you can find me. I'll be waiting for you." He speaks almost behind your ear, and you can feel his hand lightly touching yours. Feeling the urge to turn around and hold him, you keep moving forward. Heading to change before finally leaving. As you're leaving, you notice Enzo at the exit, waiting for you. You wonder if you should stay and wait for Pascal. Maybe tell Enzo to go back to his hotel. But you prefer to do what's most sensible now. Acting with your head and not your heart.

"Ready to head home, cowboy?" You ask, teasing Enzo with the old nickname he had when you were dating. He smiles charmingly and accompanies you. Not only did he come to visit you, but he also brought your car that you left at your mother's house.

"Let's go. I'll give you the chance to drop me off at the hotel and get your car back. But tomorrow, let's take a tour of your city. I need to see everything before I leave." Enzo says, guiding you to where he parked his car. You smile, hugging him and silently thanking him for being with you.

tag: @wanniiieeee , @hungrhay and @leilanixx

#pedro pascal x you #pedro pascal x reader #pedro pascal series #pedro pascal fanfic #spotify #female reader #pedro pascal #oscar isaac #enzo vogrincic #enzo vogrincic x reader #fake dating au #angst #fluff #two idiots in love #Spotify

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am-i-the-asshole-official · 9 months

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AITA for not picking up on my friends “hints” + cutting off a friend after they ghosted me?

So a while back I (22 F) visited my friend (22 F) in another state to celebrate our 21st birthdays (hers was two months beforehand but I had to cancel my visit due to a family emergency). For context, me and this friend have been best friends since we were 9-10 years old.

Before we got together we got on FaceTime and made a very loose plan of what we wanted to do during my visit. That outline included things like ‘shopping’, ‘going out for dinner’ on my birthday, ‘baking a pie’ (since Friend had previously mentioned she admired my baking skills and said she thought it would be fun to bake together) and ‘roller skating’ since it was something we always did as kids. When I arrived at her house I said something akin to “I’m so excited, I saved up a ton of money so we can do whatever we want” and she said “same, I saved up about a thousand dollars” but proceeded to say she wasn’t broke and didn’t have any money for the rest of our time together.

I already know this is going to be long, so tldr; we did all our planned activities except going to the roller rink for reasons I’ll explain later; she paid for two ride shares on my first day and offered to buy me lunch, which I accepted. I paid for the next five rides, and we split any other meals that we didn’t eat at her home, except for when she offered to buy me an iced latte my birthday. The night of my birthday we, to my knowledge, didn’t have any concrete plans for dinner. She suggested one restaurant but for whatever reason I wasn’t feeling it so I asked if there was anything else we’d both like. She suggested a Japanese restaurant and that’s where we ended up. The dinner extremely uncomfortable—she didn’t seem outwardly angry, but she only gave brief responses any time I tried to make conversation, and when I couldn’t get anything else out of her we ate in silence.

Her birthday present to me were custom roller skates she’d ordered in my favorite colors. It was a very nice present! But at the time it felt like a slap in the face because by that point I figured that I’d be paying for the rest of our rides, something I didn’t plan on, and I neither had the money nor thought it was fair for me to do that, so we never went roller skating. When it was time for me to leave I asked if she could mail the skates to me (and I’d pay her back whatever it cost to mail), because I already had several large bags to take with me on the plane and would be uncomfortable carry the large box of skates around the airport as well. She never sent them, and i later found out she returned them.

I was very angry and frustrated when I got home, and didn’t text her for about two weeks (this was not intentional, I got busy with work). When I finally did text her she ignored me and ghosted me for four months. When she did finally reply she said a lot of the things I did during the trip upset her. We called to talk it out and she essentially said she felt taken advantage of because she felt like she was made to pay for everything (rides, food, etc.) She said I bought something at the mall but she felt like I was pressuring her into buying it for me (never in all our years of friendship have I asked or expected her to purchase random things for me? I asked her what I did to make her feel this way and she couldn’t give me a straight answer?) and that she spent so much money she had to borrow from her parents for the rest of the month. But I don’t know what I could have done since we split everything besides what she offered to pay for me? She also said that she made reservations at the first restaurant she suggested and paid them to make a cake for me, and had to pay a cancellation fee because we didn’t go, but she never told me that because it was a surprise and just hoped I’d pick up on ‘hints’ instead. She also says she was upset that we baked the pie because ‘her family didn’t even like pie’ and it went to waste. She said she tried to give ‘hints’ that she didn’t want to make it, but she didn’t have any objections when I first suggested it? It wasn’t super important to me, just a fun thing to do, so if she didn’t want to I wouldn’t have minded at all?

She also was upset with me because on the day I left, I wanted to visit my father (he lived in the same city) before my flight. When I mentioned where I was meeting him, Friend’s father said he knew where I was going and could drive me since it was only 10 minutes down the road. Friend said she felt like I was using her family and that it was wrong of me to ‘ask her dad for a ride’ because he works so hard and was tired all the time. But I didn’t ask, he offered? And my mother has been a surrogate parent to Friend since we were children, helping her with everything (relationship advice, finances and medical debt, driving her across states to go apartment hunting) her actual parents neglected to. So I didn’t understand why having that kind of relationship with my mother is okay, but me getting driven 10 minutes down the road crosses a line? In the moment I was happy to have talked everything out with her, but the more I thought about her gripes, the more angry and frustrated I became. And I bottled this anger until I couldn’t take it anymore and sent her a brief text that basically said I was better off when we weren’t talking and I was learning to live my life without her (this was a horrible and mean thing to say to her, and I have since apologized). A few days later she sent me a message back saying I was a very special person to her, that she’d always love me. We didn’t talk properly for about a year and a half after that. She’d text me on my birthday and holidays but that’s it. We’re speaking again now, but she said she still felt like I used her for money or that I’m somehow in the wrong for not picking up on her ‘hints’ during my visit, and that me ghosting her was deeply hurtful and she cried for weeks about it. I have complicated feeling about that though because I didn’t WANT to hurt her, i only wanted to remove myself from a situation that was making me so perpetually angry I was getting headaches daily, and I wouldn’t have even considered ghosting her until after she ghosted me.

She mentioned visiting each other/going on a trip together sometime in the future, but the idea gives me so much anxiety because I don’t want to go through this all over again. Did I use her? Was I in the wrong for not picking up on her hints or ghosting her?

What are these acronyms?

#aita #am i the asshole

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buttercupd1ed · 11 months

Text

RINGS (TREATMENT PT. 2) YOUNG SEVERUS SNAPE X READER

warnings: wolfstar? 😏

It's an autumn Hogsmeade day for the students. I've decided to go with my cousin, James Potter, and his friends: the Marauders. I do regret it, though, since i've been thinking to go with Severus for the day. James was the first one to ask me anyway, and besides... he needs help to find a promise ring for Lily who also decided to join us.

"Y/N! Where are we going next? We've already gotten our stomachs full, got candy, looked at brooms..." James asked and I pondered.

"Oh! James and Sirius, I have a surprise for you two. Remus, Lily and Peter, you guys can go to..." I suggest. Trying to think of a place the three can go to.

"Zonko's Joke Shop!" Sirius suggests and I nod eagerly.

"Um.. okay.." Lily says and I smile, waving at her and the other two as they leave. Lily is the only one that doesn't know what's going on, actually.

"Okay, let's go." I signal the three and we dash to a store in Hogsmeade where all the prettiest and most expensive jewelries are. That's where James is going to buy the promise ring for Lily.

Eventually, we reach the store and we enter. The chime above the door signaling that we did. Shockingly, we are the only customers in the store... or so we thought.

"Good afternoon... Potter, Black... L/N..." A platinum haired boy greets and I smile a bit.

"Good afternoon Lucius. Are you buying a ring for Narcissa?" I ask casually since Lucius has recently became my friend. So did a few more Slytherins who are friends with Severus. I could already feel two pairs of eyes staring at me in suspicion.

"Yeah.. her mother wants me to propose to her by the end of the year." He responds and I nod slowly in understanding.

"How about you, and... Potter along with Black.." He scoffs saying the last names of my friends.

"Will you be buying a ring for S- I- I mean your significant other?" He asks and I sigh out. He knows well that James will kill me once he finds out i'm dating Severus. I'm glad he didn't allow him to find out, though. A loyal friend he is.

"Yeah, and James will buy one for his Lilyflower." I mock and I feel James nudge my arm powerfully, causing me to grip it painfully. Damn those Quidditch arms..

"Alright, alright. Have fun finding your ring." He says, sneering at James. In the corner of my eye, I observed James rolling his pair at Lucius.

"Will do!" I say back to diffuse the tension and I approach the selection of rings. As I arrive, the rings shine in my eyes beautifully, but none of them seemed to match perfectly... yet.

"You have a lover, Y/N?" James whispers to me and I slowly nod. Still examining the rings in front of me.

"Who is he? What's his house? How old is he? Please tell me it's not Snivellus." James says rapidy and I sight out.

"He's in Ravenclaw, he's in the same year as me and no. He's not Severus." I lie. I'm great at lying, actually. I've been able to get away from troubles just by doing so.

"Snivellus." He 'corrects' me and I scoff, rolling my eyes at him.

"Whatever." I answer, but as soon as my eyes stay in place, I spot a beautiful ring. A thick silver ring with a small rectangular-shaped emerald at the top. The silver part was rather detailed. It had carved lines and a crown like shape on it.

"Woah..." I breathily say as I stare at the ring in awe. I quickly raise my hand to get the attention of the one running the shop at the moment, and she approaches me.

"How may I help you?" She asks.

"How much for that silver ring with a rectangular emerald on top?" I follow up with a question.

"100 Galleons. Would you wish to buy it?" She asks and I nod eagerly. As she fixes the ring for me into a small black box, I take out my wallet. Taking 100 galleons out quickly.

"Woah, woah, woah, Y/N. This much for a boy?" Sirius asks and I look at him.

"Yes, Sirius." I respond quickly.

"Are you serious?" He asks and I chuckle a bit as the woman hands me the box.

"No, I'm Y/N." I respond and he glares at me siriusly.

"No, i'm serious, Y/N." He says with a stern voice now. I already place the 100 galleons on the counter.

"Of course you are! You're Sirius Black, how can you not be Sirius?" I joke and I leave them. Scurrying away from the two.

"HEY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HELP ME FIND A RING FOR MY LILY FLOWER!!" I hear James shout and I laugh. I'm glad I didn't help him.

I then push the door open and I dash going to my favorite store in Hogsmeade... besides Hog's Head Inn, of course. My favorite store being Tomes and Scrolls. A bookstore, and Severus' favorite space as well. I figure he'd be here the whole day since he doesn't really have anything to do.

Soon enough, I arrive at the front of the store. I stop in my tracks to take deep breaths in and out since I lacked bloody oxygen in my body. Once I recovered from that, I went into the store. A chime signaling my entrance just like the previous shops.

As I enter, I look left, right, up and down for Severus. Fortunately, in an instant I find him. At a corner, standing up. Reviewing a book. He looked attractive once he did so. His tall figure well lit as he stood with a proper posture. His lips slightly apart and his hair positioned in the right places.

I then approach him slowly and normally. My breathing pattern shifting to a slower one, and my heart pounding hardly and quickly in nervousness.

"Good afternoon, Severus." I greet him quietly and he turns his head to me. His scars healed much better compared to last month. The only scar visible was the one on his lip, but he didn't mind, and so did I.

"Good afternoon, Darling." He greets me back. Closing his book and sliding it back into the shelf. "How are you?"

"I'm great. You?" I ask back.

"I'm alright.." He mumbles and I chuckle slightly. That meant he's pretty happy, from what I learned.

"I- I want to bring you somewhere.." I say and he furrows his eyebrows, but releases it eventually.

"Go ahead." He says and I nod. Grabbing his hand quickly and pulling him out of the shop. I quickly walk and he quickly walks as well. Matching the rhythm of our steps.

"This reminds me of the afternoon of our first kiss. Doesn't it for you?" He asks and I chuckle.

"It does, actually!" I laugh into my words, and I hear him laugh slightly too. I swear I heard him laugh. I'm happy he did!

Luckily, it's sunset so when I give the ring, it will be gorgeous. I'm bringing him to the top of the hill where not much people go to since it takes long, but hopefully, no one will be there. I hope it will just be him and I. Just him and I.

Eventually, I arrive to the top and I drag him. Making him face me. I hold his two hands with mine and I genuinely smile at him with my lips.

"What's this, love?" He asks with a smile. Oh my Merlin how much I wanted to see that gorgeous smile again.

"Well..." I start. Letting go of his hands slowly and reaching into my deep pocket. I then slowly kneel down on one knee on the ground covered in the orange leaves of autumn. I then pull out the black box and open it, as if I were proposing.

"I can't promise you that life will be easy, that I can easily clear up the cloud above your head and make the sun shine immediately. I can't promise that the cousin of mine will accept you being my soon to be fiancé and husband." I say and he chuckles, so do I.

"But what I can promise you is that I will do my best to make you happy with all my heart, be loyal, stay by your side, and most importantly..." I pause, looking down and back up at him.

"I promise to love you. Forever and always. No matter the cost, the reputation, the dangers." I say then I stand back up. Removing the ring from its holder and taking the hand of Severus. Sliding the ring on his ring finger.

"I love you so much, Y/N." He says and pulls me in. Our lips connecting and colliding like all the stars in the universe. Fireworks sparked in my body as we moved in sync. His hands snake down to my hips, and my hands find their way to his black curls. I comb through the tangled, yet soft, feeling of them and wrapped my arms around his neck. ————————————

James Potter's Point-of-View

"Come on, love! It's not that far." I tell Lily. Supporting her from the back.

"I know, and i'm fine, James. You don't really need to help me." She says and I sigh. Looking at her lovingly.

"You will need my help if you'd like a child. You know how." I flirt with her and she rolls her eyes with a smile. Her cheeks reddening quickly. I give her a wink and I look back at my three friends behind us. Giving them a signal as we near the hill. A great place to give Lily the promise ring.

"My dear Lilyflower..." I say, reaching for my pocket and slowly pulling out a box, but everything changes until I see two people... snogging each other... but they're not just two people... that's...

"Y/N!?" I shout out and she parts her kiss with the man. The man who's a friend of Lily, and a man I despise. I drop the box back into my pocket and I approach the man.

"WHY ARE YOU SNOGGING MY COUSIN, SNIVELLUS!? WHY ARE YOU PLAYING WITH HER!? HUH?" I ask. Holding Snivellus by the collar and showing him my clenched fist. One I will use to punch him.

"JAMES! STOP IT, JAMES!" I hear Y/N yell at me and I look at her furiously.

"YOU TOO, Y/N! WHY ARE YOU KISSING BLOODY GREASY HAIR HERE!? YOU ALSO SAID YOU WEREN'T DATING SNIVELLUS, AND THAT THE CHAD IS A RAVENCLAW!" I shout at her.

"Okay. First of all, he's my boyfriend. The one Lucius was talking about. Second of all, I lied!" Y/N says and I grow angrier.

"Boyfriend! BOYFRIEND!?" My fist nearing Snivellus' face.

"That's enough, James." Lily says, trying to stop me, but no one and nothing can stop me. My fist then nears Snivellus' face once again. My fist a centimeter away from his incredibly large nose.

"STUPEFY!" I hear Y/N cast and I get pushed back. I groan as it hurts when I land on my back. I swear I heard a snapping sound of some sort... probably the leaves though.

"Severus! Are you alright?" I hear Y/N distantly and I sit up. Looking up at her and smelly Snivellus.

"I'm alright, Love. All is good." He reassures her and I roll my eyes. Sneering at the young man. I hear Y/N and... Snivellus chuckle. Since when did he ever smile? Bloody hell...

"Sorry for James. I love you." I hear Y/N say and I stand up aggressively. Not yet making a move on Snivellus yet.

"I love you too, gorgeous." He says and smiles. Showing his bloody teeth which i'm jealous of since it's whiter... whiter than my teeth. But he does something I desperately hate. He leans nearer to Y/N's face and they... THEY BLOODY KISS!

I storm to the two, but I get held back by, who I believe, is Sirius and Peter. Remus then steps in front of me and hands me a piece of chocolate, which I bite. Along with his fingers as I try to rip them off.

"AAAAAAAAA THAT HURTS JAMES!" Remus shouts and I continue to bite. Even harder.

"LET GO OF MY BOYFRIEND JAMES!!" I hear Sirius shout out and I release Remus' fingers from the pain of my sharp teeth.

"BOYFRIEND!?!?" I exclaim. Tears already falling from my eyes from all the information I have gotten today. The pressure is too much.

"Yess Wolfstar.." I hear Peter say and we all look at him. He's acting queer. Very queer. High on drugs?

#fanfiction #harry potter #young severus snape x reader #severus snape x reader #snape x reader #severus x reader #marauder's era

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