#lots of date jokes don't work here and i'm slightly angry at that

[helloalycia]

a bitch [one] // leigh shaw

summary: you're used to leigh's constant mood swings and unpredictability, but didn't expect she'd ever do something to hurt you like she did.

warning/s: cheating

author's note: an angsty leigh shaw imagine was requested, so here we are! there's one more part to this so enjoy 😊

part two | masterlist | wattpad

Leigh Shaw could be a very unpredictable woman.

Ever since the unfortunate death of her husband, Matt, she'd become very erratic. It was hard to remember what she was like before he died, but then she'd flash me a smile and say something adorable and I remembered. Other times though, she could be as explosive as they came. If you ever got swept up in her mood swings, you'd be screwed.

Despite this, I remained by her side. That's what best friends did. Even when she yelled at me or gave me the cold shoulder or treated me like dirt, I stayed because I knew that was what she needed.

One time, a few months after Matt's death, I was stopping by to see how she was. A prime example of the cold effect she could have on people.

I raised my hand to knock, but the door suddenly swung open, revealing a peeved Jules and a pissed Leigh further behind her in the hallway.

"Hey," I greeted her sister with a smile, but she moved past me moodily. I glanced at Leigh before catching Jules' arm, stopping her. "What happened?"

Jules smiled bitterly. "You know, you should reconsider where you put your care, Y/N. Some people just aren't worth it."

At that last part, she glared over my shoulder, no doubt at Leigh. I turned to look at Leigh, who merely stuck a middle finger up at her sister before storming towards to the kitchen.

"What a bitch," Jules mumbled, making me wince because it was such a horrible word.

Jules shook me off before marching to her car to leave. I sighed and turned around to let myself in to their house. Closing the door behind me, I followed after Leigh and found her making toast in the kitchen angrily.

"Hey," I began softly, not wanting to give her another reason to get pissed off. Sitting on a stool at the island, I asked, "What happened?"

She forced a smile as she grabbed her toast from the toaster and dropped it on a plate. "My sister can't respect my space is all."

I pursed my lips awkwardly, watching as she grabbed butter from the fridge. Noticing my silence, she glanced up at me through her eyelashes.

"What?" she deadpanned, pausing from her actions.

"I don't think Jules is trying to upset you," I began, knowing I'd probably regret it. "I'm sure she understands you want space, but she loves you. And when you see someone you love hurting, you feel like you have to do something."

A sour smile broke out on her face as she scoffed. "Wow. Could you have your head stuck any further up Jules' arse?"

"Leigh, that's not what I'm–"

"What the hell are you even doing here?" she snapped. "I didn't invite you, Y/N."

Tensing my jaw, I refrained from getting annoyed. "Believe it or not, I actually wanted to check on you."

She curled her lips into a frown. "Well, I'm fine."

As if to prove that she was, she continued to butter her toast, but when she set her knife down, it slipped off the edge of the table and clattered to the floor. Frustrated, she slammed a fist on the countertop.

"It's okay, I'll–"

"Just get out," she cut me off when I was making a move to help her. I paused, wondering if she meant it, then her deadly green glare settled on my face. "Leave."

Sighing with defeat, I nodded and wordlessly left.

—

Sometimes Leigh wouldn't apologise. She'd act like nothing had happened and we'd move on. Other times, she actually would, surprisingly recognising that she'd done something wrong.

There was this one time when I'd invited her over for the evening to eat dinner and watch some films. The dinner went perfectly fine – we talked, we laughed, we spent time together – but then when we settled in the living room to watch a film, things started to unravel.

I can't remember exactly what she'd said. One second we were choosing a film on Netflix, then she was trying to make plans with me on the weekend. Unfortunately, I already had plans with my girlfriend, Alex, and Leigh didn't seem to like this. She'd made a comment under her breath and though I don't remember it specifically, I knew it wasn't polite.

Before I knew it, we were screaming at each other, arguing over the dumbest things. It started off being about my girlfriend and then the most unrelated stuff was being brought up on both of our ends. Sometimes she could be so aggravating, managing to rile me up and bring the worst out in me. The argument lasted a few minutes before she left, leaving me seething and full of hurt.

It was the following day at work when she came to see me next. I owned a café a few doors down from her mother's dance studio and was working a shift when her sister came through the front door.

I smiled at her when she approached the counter dressed in gym gear, her usual getup when at work with her family.

"Hey, how're you doing, Jules?" I asked.

"I'm good," she greeted with a smile, before it faded. "Just a warning, Y/N, Leigh is incoming in one minute. She wants to apologise."

Eyes rolling with mild annoyance, I let out a sigh. As dreadful as our spat was last night, I knew I had to also apologise to her. I'd said some hurtful things that made me feel all icky inside. Going to sleep after a fight was never a nice feeling.

"I don't know how you've put up with her for this long," Jules commented, picking up a cupcake from the display. "She can be so horrible to you."

I frowned, not feeling comfortable talking badly of Leigh behind her back. "That's not fair, Jules. You know what she's going through."

Jules gave me a knowing look. "I do, but that doesn't give her a free pass to treat you like she does."

Shrugging, I busied myself with cleaning up the crumbs from Jules' cupcake and giving her a plate.

"I take it you're going to forgive her then," she stated, though she definitely knew the answer judging from her expression.

"We both said some things we shouldn't have," I tried to explain so it didn't seem like I was giving in so easily, which deep down, I definitely knew I was, but Leigh was worth it.

Jules chuckled. "Yep, you're forgiving her. Looks like it's Leigh's lucky day."

I didn't say anything as she picked up the plate, ready to take a seat at one of the tables. Just as she was about to leave, she paused thoughtfully.

"You know, if you didn't have a girlfriend already, I'd say you were whipped," she said casually.

Ignoring her words, I watched her take her a seat on one of the spare tables. She made jokes like that a lot, but the truth was that I would probably do anything for Leigh. We'd been best friends since university – that was way too long to simply throw away our friendship because she was going through a tough time. And yes, the girlfriend talk threw me off at times... by the time I'd realised I liked Leigh as more than a friend, she was engaged. And I got over it, but Jules continued with the jokes and I continued to dismiss it.

As Jules warned, Leigh entered the café and caught my eyes with a nervous smile. I returned it, just as nervous as she looked, before watching her approach the counter. She was dressed in gym gear, like her sister, but a fine layer of sweat coated her skin which made me think she may have just finished teaching a class.

"Hey," she said with a rare gentleness to her voice. Her hands rested on the counter, fumbling slightly, before she put them by her sides instead. "How are you?"

Uncomfortably, I played with a loose thread on my apron. "I've been better, not gonna lie."

She exhaled regretfully. "I want to apologise, Y/N. Last night... it wasn't fair what I did. Just snapping at you like that."

I didn't know what to say, so I stayed quiet and avoided her eyes.

"I just get so angry sometimes," she admitted, noticing I wouldn't speak. She sounded exhausted and I looked up to see her running a hand through her hair. "I can't explain it. My anger at you wasn't about Alex or the plans, it was just me."

"It's because you're still hurting," I told her what I'd observed, shoulders relaxing. "And you're not very good at expressing that."

She shook her head, eyes drifting to the till distractedly. "I should be because I keep hurting the people I love."

My heart ached at the devastation in her voice and I put my hand out, motioning for her to take it. Thankfully, she did and I squeezed hers gently.

"Look, let's just forget it happened," I said with a small smile. "I... I didn't exactly say the nicest of things either."

She grimaced, letting go of my hand. "No, I get why you said it. It wasn't fair of me to just start on you like that. You were just defending your girlfriend... God, I can be such a bitch sometimes."

I winced at the word, it grating my ears. "That's not true, Leigh."

"It is." She nodded slowly, rolling her eyes. "Everybody thinks it. Including you."

"I don't think that," I said with creased brows, meeting her saddened eyes. "You're not a bitch. I've never once thought that."

"Really?" She raised a brow, smiling with defeat. "Not even that time when I stole your doughnuts after that fight we had two weeks ago?"

I shook my head. "Nope."

"Not even when I snapped at you for no reason the other day when you tried to help me write my article?"

"Not even then."

Her expression softened with guilt. "Not even when I called you a selfish jerk last night for not wanting to spend time with me even though you have a life of your own?"

I rounded the counter and stopped before her, looking between her guilt-ridden eyes. "Especially not then, Leigh."

She breathed out quietly and I pulled her in for a hug, glad when I felt her relax beneath me. Her arms clasped around my waist and I was glad we were good again.

—

It was a year later when Leigh and I eventually got together as a couple. It was a long time after I broke up with my girlfriend and it was completely unexpected.

I'd invited Leigh to be my 'date' to my mum's birthday party, since the two had gotten on so well in the past. She was happy to oblige, but as soon as we arrived, her mood changed.

I was helping collect the pizzas from the delivery guy when he started to flirt with me. At the time, I didn't even realise, but I knew that Leigh had acted different since it happened. When I finally confronted her about her sudden mood swing, she proceeded to make out with me completely unexpectedly and then admitted she was in love with me.

I'm not gonna lie, it was a good time. Since breaking up with my girlfriend, I'd been single and falling for my best friend all over again. Leigh making the first move was all I'd needed to finally share how I felt, too.

That was six months ago, and since then, we'd been going strong. Of course, there were still times when she had her mood swings and took it out on me (and literally everyone else) without realising, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. I was used to it, used to her. So much that I should have trusted her even when presented with conflicting evidence.

We were at her workplace, Basically News, where she wrote columns part-time. It was a work party she'd been invited to and she'd asked me to be her date, which of course I said yes to. At the moment, we may or may not have been a little tipsy as we stood in the corner, drinking from flutes of champagne.

"Thank you again for coming here tonight as my date," Leigh said with a grin, arms laced around my neck as she held me close.

Pressing a kiss to my lips briefly, she pulled away and left my head spinning, and not just because of the alcohol.

"Any excuse to not be on the closing shift at work is good enough for me," I said playfully, resting my hands behind her waist.

She gasped. "Oh? So it wasn't me who persuaded you to come tonight?"

I pulled a face, feigning forgetfulness. "Hmm, I'm not too sure. Maybe you'll have to remind me why I agreed to come."

She bit her lip to contain her grin, eyes flickering to my lips. Leaning in, her lips met mine and I closed my eyes, enjoying the way she combed her hand through my hair and tilted my head towards her so she could get better access. She was a really good kisser and she knew the effect she had on me as I felt her smirk into it, catching her breath, before chasing down my lips and nibbling on them temptingly.

Remembering where we were, I gently pushed her back and tried to contain my smile. "Make it PG, Leigh. You're at work."

She licked her lips and began to laugh, green eyes darting between mine. "You're just so cute."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "I don't want everyone here knowing how irresistible you are or they might try to steal you away."

Her laughter filled the air, making my stomach flip at the sound.

"Though I think they may already know that because of how sexy you look tonight," I added, eyes fluttering down her body to appreciate just how well she pulled off her fitted black dress.

She raised her brows with surprise, making me mirror her expression comically.

Leaning close to my ear, she said above a whisper, "D'you wanna know something not-so-sexy?"

Her breath tickled my ear and sent shivers down my spine, making me tense up slightly. Judging from the expression on her face, she was very much aware of what she was doing to me.

"What?" I asked with amusement.

"I really need to pee," she said, and I began to laugh because she did, too, and I knew she wasn't kidding. Pressing a kiss to my cheek, she added, "I'll be right back."

Letting go of me, she waved goodbye before going to the toilets. I busied myself with getting to know her colleagues whilst I waited, until five minutes had passed and I realised she still hadn't returned. Deciding to check on her, I headed in the direction of the toilets, only to freeze when I saw something I definitely wasn't expecting.

Leigh was kissing another girl outside of them.

It was her colleague, Abby, that was the first thing I noticed. But I didn't stay to make out anything more as I immediately turned around and walked away, trying to make my brain catch up to what I'd just seen.

Leigh was kissing somebody else. Somebody that wasn't me. Somebody who I had always suspected had a thing for her, but I never considered that maybe Leigh had a thing for her, too.

Definitely not tipsy anymore, I found the nearest table and took a seat, trying not to assume the worst. But how else could I perceive what I'd just seen? It could have been a mistake, though I was so shocked and hurt and angry that I couldn't imagine how. Maybe she'd explain herself to me. Or maybe she'd tell me what actually happened. Maybe.

Leigh returned not long after, finding me at the table. Smiling like nothing had happened, she pulled me up and led me to dance. Not once, for the remainder of the evening, did she suggest that anything was out of the ordinary, nor did she explain herself. And I couldn't help but wonder how I had the worst luck with women.

This one hurt way more than the last time because it wasn't just anyone – it was Leigh.

—

A year and a half ago:

"Danny mentioned the breakdown you had last week because they didn't have doughnuts, so I, er, brought you these just in case."

Leigh cracked a small smile in the passenger's seat before accepting the box I held out to her. I'd just parked up outside the place where she went to her grief counselling group, having offered to drop her off. It had only been a few months since Matt died, but sometimes, the old Leigh shone back through and it made me feel hopeful that she'd make it through this.

"Thank you," she said genuinely, fingers wavering on top of the box, before she lifted her gaze to meet mine. "And thanks for the ride. You didn't have to."

I shrugged, thumb tapping the steering wheel mindlessly. "I don't mind. I just wanna make sure you get here okay."

She sighed, shaking her head, though a ghost of a smile was on her lips.

"Text me when you're done and I'll be happy to pick you up, too," I added casually.

"Thanks," she repeated, though didn't make a move to leave my car just yet. I didn't rush her.

Sadly, the silence was broken when my phone began to ring and my girlfriend's name flashed on the screen in my car where my phone was connected to. Glancing at Leigh, I just about made out the eye-roll she did.

"Sorry," I apologised, before declining the call instantly.

"Why d'you do that? Could've been urgent," she said with a clipped tone.

Oh, no, I thought. Whenever she used that tone, it meant she was picking a fight.

"I'm here with you," I said like it was obvious, hoping that one thing didn't ruin the moment.

She tensed her jaw, looking down as her hair fell around her face. "Whatever."

Before I could think of a way to make her feel better, the screen lit up again and my ringtone echoed through the car. I winced at the glare Leigh sent to the screen. If looks could kill, my car would be toast.

Declining the call, I looked to her worriedly. "What's wrong, Leigh?"

Her glare fell to me. "Why the hell do you keep declining it? She's calling you for a reason."

I raised my eyebrows. "Because I'm here with you? Alex can wait. I'm taking you to grief group."

"Well, I'm here at grief group," she mocked, turning to face me with an unexplainable frustration.

I didn't understand why she was so touchy all of a sudden. The car ride here, she'd been fine. Just a moment ago, she'd been fine. But now... now she was acting unreasonable.

My phone buzzed in my pocket suddenly, followed by a tone that signalled I had a text. Leigh smiled bitterly, rolling her eyes.

"Let me guess," she muttered. "It's her."

Still very much unable to keep up with her mood swings, I didn't answer. Her gaze snapped to mine as she stared at me with disbelief.

"Why the fuck aren't you checking it?!"

I grimaced, my own exasperation slipping out when I blurted, "I'm a little confused to what you want from me right now, Leigh!" Breathing out slowly, I said, "I'm sorry if this is bothering you. I'll turn off my phone next time."

As if I'd deeply offended her, she raised a brow incredulously. "Are you kidding me? Why would this bother me?"

Okay, I was extremely confused now.

"I don't know," I admitted, bewildered.

"Is that what you think of me? Some clingy bitch who won't let you live your life?"

I widened my eyes. "What?! Leigh! I never said–"

"Sorry if taking me is such a task," she said abruptly, moving to put the box of doughnuts on the dashboard.

"I never said that," I told her sternly.

"You didn't have to. I know already. I'm just a burden on everyone."

She got out of the car and slammed the door shut behind her. Meanwhile, my confusion was still trying to make out what the hell just happened.

"Don't bother picking me up," she said through the open window of the passenger's door. A scowl was on her face as she added, "You should go spend time with Alex. She's probably missing you."

Breathing out, I leaned back into my seat and watched her walk away and to the entrance of the building. When she acted like this – so push and pull with her emotions – I was so conflicted. What could possibly be going on in her mind that she managed to flip everything that just happened? A complete 180?

Knowing she'd just need some time to cool off, I shook my head and focused on leaving. But then I remembered my phone went off and pulled it out to see what was so important. Aside from two missed calls from Alex, I saw I had a voicemail, too, not a text.

Grumbling fo myself, still disgruntled by Leigh's attitude, I raised the phone to my ear to have a listen, whilst hoping it wasn't actually anything life-threatening.

At first, all I could hear was some very faint laughing and vague noises, kind of like material rubbing together and breathing. I assumed Alex had left me a voicemail without even realising since I'd done that countless of times to other people, having dropped my phone in my bag without realising it was still on. But then the noises became more distinct and I made out words.

"Jake, stop messing about," a voice said, whom I instantly recognised as my girlfriend.

I furrowed my brows. Jake? Jake as in the guy she worked with Jake?

"If you stop teasing me then maybe I will," a gravelly yet devious voice responded.

My throat went dry when I heard more laughter before it went quiet. It didn't take a genius to understand what was happening, especially when the moans that followed echoed in my ear, begging me not to forget.

Unable to listen anymore, I hung up and threw my phone onto the passenger's seat. Tears welled in my eyes as I glanced over at it hesitantly, almost wishing it hadn't even existed. And as much as I didn't want to accept the glaring fact, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

She was cheating on me.

[voxmortuus]

Silly Crush | Chapter 5 - First Fight

Stu Macher x F!Reader

Scream (Movie) FanFic

TW: Language | Angst This is your first fight with Stu | Fluff | Smut

Chapter 1 Silly Crush | Chapter 2 Movie Date | Chapter 3 Dinner Date | Chapter 4 Joy Ride

GIF Found on Pinterest

After your night with Sidney you had gone home, not seeing Stu for a few days, he had called you, you talked, but there was something Sidney had said that really hurt, it kind of hit hard and you trusted her, she would never steer you wrong. Stu had invited you out for a drive. You had agreed, as long as it was just a drive and no one else was involved. He had agreed, promised even. With some reserve about it, you agree to the promise. Sitting on the edge of your bed you look out the window and let out a heavy breath. Your stomach hurt, and you hoped it was just some sort of accusation, like a game of telephone, just the ending message was all twisted. The thing is, what you were told you didn't honestly surprisingly have a problem with, it was the fact that he never told you about it.

Your mom calls up. "Stu's here honey."

"Okay mom, thanks!" You respond looking out the window you notice that it was just him. Letting out a small breath you grab your jacket and head down the stairs.

"Have fun, Honey. I'm pulling a double shift so I won't be home until tomorrow night." Your mom calls out to you.

"Thanks, Mom." You give a faux smile and head out the door. Getting in the vehicle you look at Stu and then look out the window.

"What's wrong?" He asks you, genuinely worried.

You close your eyes and look at Stu. "Why didn't you tell me about the bad things you do Stu?" you ask him.

He furrows his brow. "What bad things?" He asks.

"Well word has it you're involved in some really bad dark shit Stu, like you were involved with a few murders? The fuck is that?" you state.

Stu lets out a chuckle. "Are you kidding me?"

"No."

"I would ne--" You stop him.

"Stu, it all makes sense, your late nights with Billy, you vanishing at times, your coincidence in times with when bad things have happened. I'm not mad that you're doing them. I'm mad that you didn't come to me." You tell him.

Stu stays quiet, not quite sure how to process this. He goes to your favorite spot. You keep quiet, fidgeting with the fabric of your jeans, the rip in the thigh, the loose strings, rolling them between your fingers. You lean your head against the window, the rain starting to pick up. He pulls into the abandoned lot and shuts off the car and looks at you.

"You assume." He states.

"Yes, I assume, and it adds up. I'm not blind Stu." you retort.

"If I was doing bad things do you really think I would want to expose that? I'm not stupid!" He kind of snaps.

"I never said you were stupid Stu, don't snap at me." you let out a low growl and get out of the car and go sit on the hood of the car. You look down at your boots as they start getting wet from the rain, your jeans speckled, turning darker black, your jacket sounding with the pitter-pat of the rain. He gets out of the car.

"Don't do that!" He yells.

"Do what?!" You yell back standing up looking over at him.

"Get out! Walk away!" He stated. "You didn't talk to me for a whole week! Don't treat me like I've done wrong! I haven't wronged you Y/N! I never would!" He adds.

"Then be honest with me!" You demand. You're to the point of tears.

"I am being honest!" He snapped.

"Take me home Stu. If you're not going to be honest with me than this just isn't going to work out." you tell him, your jaw clenched. But he refuses to get in the car, shaking his head.

"No." He stated.

"Then I'm walking." You state it wouldn't be the first time you've walked it. You start to walk past him and he growls as you pass.

"Stop!" He demands but you keep walking. You weren't going to tolerate the lies. He looks at you as you walk away, watching your hips sway. He growls at himself again shaking his head. "I've killed 3 people. I liked it, I liked it a lot. There! Now you know the truth."

You stop walking and let out a soft breath. Looking down you turn around and look at Stu. "Why didn't you tell me?!" You demand the answer.

"I was afraid. I was scared you wouldn't love me anymore! I was afraid you'd go to the police, and chances are you will." He starts walking to you. "I was afraid to lose you, I love you. I don't want to lose you. You're the only one who seems to truly understand me. You don't judge me... you don't question me." He states as he approaches you cupping your face. "I love you Y/N, losing you would break me." He tells you.

Looking over his face you start to cry, and here's the kicker, you don't know why, you're angry because he lied to you, he wasn't honest and he didn't tell you from the beginning. You're hurt because he was scared, and you're madly in love and don't like the fact that he was afraid. You look at him. "I love you. I don't care what you've done, next time, take me with you." You tell him. "I'm not joking." You tell him.

Leaning down he kisses you deeply. You wrap your arms around him. "My mom's not home. Let's go back to my place, she won't be there until tomorrow night." You tell him.

He takes your hand and brings you back to the car, both of you soaking wet. He drives back. By the time you arrive at your house, your mother is gone. She left you a note with 50 on the fridge telling you that she loves you to order out that she won't be home for a few days because of having something to do at the hospital but she will try and stop home tomorrow night to check on you. You and Stu kick off your boots leaving them at the door.

You take Stu's hand and bring him to your room and he looks at you and then looks at the blue dog and the goldfish and smiles. Leaning in he kisses you deeply picking you up he places you on the bed and climbs on top of you kissing you more. You flip him over and straddle him taking your shirt off. His hands move up your sides, over your curves as he undoes your pants. Looking over your face he smiles. "You're so beautiful." He smiles.

You smile back looking at him. "Shut up." You chuckle as he grabs at you and turns you over back on your back and takes off your pants and slides off your panties disrobing himself he climbs on top of you and looks over your face. You reach into your top drawer and hand him a rubber. Smirking he unwraps it slipping it on before he climbs back on top of you and leans in teasing you with the tip before he gives you a soft thrust and kisses you. Moaning into his mouth you let out a soft gasp aching into him slightly your hips meeting his. Though it doesn't take long before you are on top of him riding him.

The grunts, groans, moans, and smells all hit you not holding back your hips move and buck like riding a bull and your nails dig into his chest as you hit you peek. "Come on my cock baby, come on." He beckons you. Without any hesitation, you slam your hips down and let out a heavy moan and you keep going, waiting for him to finish, only to finish again.

After a few hours and a couple rounds, you look at him and smile. "Pizza and movies?" You ask him. Nodding his head.

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea. Maybe we'll talk about the next victim..." He smirks.

Nodding your head. "Okay." You grin and wrap in your top sheet and head downstairs to call in dinner.

Taglist: @luciferslittleastre @ms-ghostface @ginger-called-beth

[stubbedbakutoes]

Hot Date

pairing: bakugo x reader

word count: about 2k

genre: friends to lovers, jealous!bakugo

Bakugo and Y/N have this thing. They're so alright with one another and the two of them can truly simply appear at one another's places whenever to chill without calling prior and they'd presumably be allowed to hang. In spite of the fact that there are days when Y/N comes over similarly as he's going to go out and the other way around, they actually spend time with one another for the couple of moments before they go to any place they must be (despite the fact that they'd both extremely prefer to simply remain in one another's company throughout the day and night).

So when Bakugo heads toward her home, he's hoping to see her open the entryway in a couple of joggers and a shirt, possibly shorts rather than joggers. Be lo and behold, he's welcomed with her resembling a goddess and his mouth hangs open and his eyes as wide as possible as they trail down her figure. He’s never really observed her spruced up like how she is currently so he's sort of considering what did he actually do to merit this since she's so lovely and standing not too far off before him and he needs to simply up and get her and pull her in for a kiss yet he can't on the grounds that he doesn't accept that she really likes him back the way that he needs her to.

"Uh… "

"Bakugo?" Y/N chuckles a bit. "You okay?"

"What?" He squints, eating his eyes up to her face. Goddamn, that is a wonderful face. "Good, uh. Better believe it. I'm – " makes a sound as if to speak, carrying a hand to scratch the back of his neck, "– m'good. No doubt. M'good."

"Great," she grins, entertained.

"Where are you, uh. Where are you going?” He asks with a little smile, venturing into the house since she'd moved to one side to let him in.

"Not gonna lie, you came in at the wrong time." Y/N shoots him a sorry smile (and he swears he sees her do that thing that she does when she's nervous yet she can't in any way, shape or form be anxious, right? What might she be nervous about?).

"Hot date?" He jokes, and he hears the voices in his head repeatedly saying "don't say you do." Bakugo watches her shut the doorway and nod with her back facing him.

Bakugo's heart drops, "Huh? With who? When did he ask you? Do I know him?" He panics, not holding back.

Y/N finally faces him, taking small strides towards him but then the door swings open and Bakugo's eyes goes from the extremely beautiful young lady before him to none other than Kirishima standing smugly by the door. Bakugo's eyes broaden much more and he's certain he looks laughable at this moment. "Kirishima?" He glances back at Y/N. "You're going on a date with Kirishima?"

The red-haired boy wheezes and Bakugo has never detested him as much as he does now. "Why're you saying it like that, bro?" Kirishima asks with a faked hurt look all over. He inhales out a laugh, shaking his head, "nah, Im only kidding," and directs his attention to Y/N. "You ready?" He asks with a charming grin, removing a hand from his pocket and offering it to her.

"Gimme a sec. Let me get my bag first." Y/N grins back at Kirishima before leaving the two friends with one another – which wouldn't have ever been an issue since they're best mates yet the tension's too much at this moment.

"Y/N? Seriously, Kiri? Fuckin' Y/N?" Bakugo fumes the second she's too far to hear their conversation.

"What?" Kirishima shrugs. "She's hot and interesting and out of this world so is there any valid reason why I shouldn't?"

"You do know I like her, right? Ever heard of the bro code?"

Kirishima chuckles, "Sure do. However, I don't see you making a move on her. You must admit though that it's better that she's going out with me rather than some douche out there who most likely just wants to have sex with her."

"That's not anything near to being better since it's not – " He cuts himself off when he notices Y/N approaching them.

Kirishima grins once again at her. "You look so pretty," he praises, grasping her hand once more. "I'll see you later, Bakugo." Y/N simply waves at Bakugo.

"Wait!" Bakugo calls out, wrapping his fingers on her wrist gently and basically pulls her back like she's a rope and he's having a back-and-forth with Kirishima, but he's by and large far more delicate because of the fact that this is Y/N. He can't actually hurt her. "Can I talk to you for a sec?" He finally, asks sheepishly, swallowing hard.

"Sure," Kirishima says as a smile is plastered on his face yet it goes unnoticed by Bakugo and is excessively clear to Y/N.

Bakugo just pulls her aside, heading off to the kitchen so Kirishima won't have the option to listen in. "So… "

"What's up?"

Bakugo avoids her eyes, "Kirishima, huh?"

She shrugs, "Why not, you know? He's cool and stuff," she murmurs.

"Do you, um. Do you like him?"

"Uh," Y/N's mouth is suddenly dry as hell, "Ofcourse?" (It's intended to come out as a statement yet it's come out as a question and Bakugo starts to think he's hearing things)

"D-don't go on a date with him," Bakugo says out of nowhere, looking straight at her. She blinks, brows furrowing slightly, taken aback at how he’d gone from this stuttering mess to confidently blurting out that she shouldn’t go out on a date with his bestfriend. “I know what Kiri’s like, okay? He’s a great guy, really. Awesome friend. Fun to be with. But, like. He won’t treat you properly. He’s a dick. He drinks too much, parties too much. He’s not good enough for you."

Y/N’s eyes widen then. Then he's sighing, shaking his head. “No, no,” he mumbles. “Those are lies. He’s probably going to be the best damn boyfriend ever but, like. I, um. I don’t. Um.”

"Spit it out,” she smiles, bringing a hand to his upper arm gently.

“I don’t want you to date him,” he mumbles eventually, cheeks filling with colour as he does so. “I want you to date me. Not him. Not my bestfriend. I want you. And, like, Kiri knows I like you, so I don’t know why he’s doing this to me. Just, like. You belong with me, you know? Not him. So, um. Yeah. Guess I made things weird. Sorry,” he mumbles again, about to make a move to get out of the kitchen and leave the house with his head down and preferably staying in bed for the rest of forever afterwards.

"You’re serious?” She asks from behind him, quietly.

He turns, though he’s still staring at the ground, “Hmm?”

“You’re not… taking the piss? Like, just saying that you like me because I’m going on a date with Kiri?”

He snaps his head up then, brows furrowed tightly together, “Why would I do that?” He asks, and Y/N shrugs in response. He steps closer towards her, “I like you, a lot. I have liked you for a long ass time but, like, I never thought I’d have a chance, and I guess I was right in some sense – since, you know, you’re going out with Kirishima and stuff. But, um. Yeah. I do. I really like you.”

“My work here is done,” Kirishima’s voice chimes in then and they both turn to look at him with that smug smirk on his face. He salutes them, then he’s walking out the front door without another word.

“What…?” He trails off.

“He and Kaminari, they, uh,” Y/N starts. “They wanted to make you jealous, or something. Because they know I, um, like you, and they said you liked me back but, like, I didn’t believe them? Because, you know. You’re you, and I’m me, and I couldn’t comprehend you ever liking me so they came up with this dumb plan and really, I was alright with trying to move on, but then they insisted that you liked me and that by making you think I was dating someone else then you’d, you know, – ” she gestures to him, then. “– do that. So, like, um, sorry for making you think that I was going on a date with Kiri and uh – ”

Y/N’s cut off then. Not because he's angry that they’d kind of manipulated him (although he did look a little frustrated), it’s because Y/N blinked and then he's right there and he’s kissing her. And well. She’s kissing him back as hard as he’s kissing her with her arms wrapped around his body while either of his hands are cupping her face and his thumb’s stroking small circles on the skin of her cheeks.

He pulls back then, a magnificent grin lighting up his handsome face and his eyes twinkling brighter than she’s ever seen them before. “You have no idea,– ” he leans in to kiss her again, “– how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

"Trust me,– ” she mumbles back, kissing him quickly once more. “– I do.”

"So,” he finally pulls back properly, resting his forehead unto hers and intertwining their fingers together at the sides of their bodies. “You look stunning, by the way. And, like, it’d be a waste to just not make full use of you looking so goddamn beautiful, you know?”

Y/N smiles, raising an eyebrow, “Katsuki, are you asking me out on a date?”

He shakes his head, “I'm telling, love,” he grins cheekily. “But, like. Let’s just, you know. Kiss a little first. I’ve got months to make up for.”

[ye4gerismarchives]

the bachelorette chp 4, part 3: visiting jean’s mom

an: so, i decided i'd write the elimination in a separate chapter, one, just to mess with y'all and two, to give you time. i honestly think picking one of these three guys is really hard. obviously, i know who i want to win, but i look at the two other guys and i'm like 'oh, they would be good too!'. i like pulling at your heartstrings ;). i'll probably put together another q&a (depending on the numbers of questions i get) and once i do that, i'll wait for a day and then close the poll to start writing! anyways, let me stop sharing my thought process with yall and start your date with jean. link at the bottom!

tags: black, fem reader

tag list: @taybird

Bertholdt drove you back to the mansion and you texted Connie asking him to prepare something for you, Bertholdt. Jean and Connie to eat. And maybe a lil something for that brat Levi. Connie responded with an 'ok' and a smiley face.

The car ride home was silent. You felt awful for Bertholdt. You wondered how many silent post-hospital drives he's been through.

Once you got home, Bertholdt told you he wasn't very hungry and just wanted to lay down. You wanted to argue with him but Bertholdt needed space. You wish him good night before making your way to the kitchen.

Connie and Jean were chatting it up in the kitchen once you walked in. Connie was the one to announce your entrance. "Hey, y/n," he greets. Jean then turns around. "Hey, y/n. How is Bert holding up? I understand that visit was really hard."

"Thank you for asking, Jean. Bertie...well...he's just being human. His dad...it's really bad," you reply. You take a seat by Jean at the kitchen island. "The fact that he's been holding in for a while...it's crazy. I would have never thought he was in that situation. No wonder he was so stressed after that Porco got angry with him," Jean says. You raise an eyebrow at Jean. "Oh...after Porco got angry with him about you, Bert seemed sadder and more introverted than usual. He only really confided in Reiner, though," Jean explained.

"Ah, that makes sense. Poor Bertie."

Connie had made some garlic bread with ava ado toast and egg. You didn't expect that out of him but you all enjoyed it. You felt tired, so you told the guys you were ready to lay down. They wished you good night before diving into a conversation about...y'all i don't even know what men talk about 😐

The next morning, you woke up at the same time as you did for Connie's visit. Your final visit would be Jean's mom. She also lived far away from the mansion but Jean insisted that you could take your time. She would still be at her home. No nurses to rush you out or kids bugging their parents. You hoped this visit would be as peaceful as it sounded.

You were very hungry though. You didn't realize it last night about the whole Bertholdt thing and you only had those little stupid avocado things that Connie made. It was good but didn't feel you up. You decided you would take a bath and get ready for your visit later.

You crept downstairs, hoping not to wake anyone up. You didn't want Levi questioning you and you didn't want to stop and talk to the boys because you would probably have a day-long conversation and if that conversation was with Jean, you probably wouldn't see his mom.

You made a few turns and found yourself in the kitchen. And you weren't alone. Jean was leaning on the kitchen counter, sipping on some coffee that he had made. His eyebrows widened at your presence.

"Good morning," he greeted, "I didn't expect you to be up right now."

"Oh, I'm just hungry right now. Didn't eat much yesterday," you say. Jean places his coffee down on the table. "Would you like me to make you something?"

You were about to say yes but a greater idea came into mind. "Why don't we make something together? It would be fun and give you bonus points..." You wiggle your eyebrows when you say that last part. Jean let out a laugh. "Well, you're hungry and I can't let you starve. Us working together will make things faster...and those 'bonus points' would help a lot."

You walk towards Jean and his eyes remain on you. You find yourself wrapping his arms around his waist. It was just on-demand. Jean pulls you close and kisses your forehead. "What do you wanna make?"You think for a minute. "You know how to make (meal of your choice)?"

Whether Jean says yes or no is up to you. However, Jean is really good at following directions. If you need something, he'll get it. If you needed him to watch something, he watches it with intensity.

After a few minutes, the meal was ready and you both sat by the kitchen island and dug in. "I hope Connie doesn't wake up and butt into our breakfast," you joke. Jean let out a small laugh. "Connie's really nice. He hasn't shown me or anyone else any hostility during our time here."

"If you could say...who did you think was the worst person here?" you ask. Jean doesn't even have to wait to answer. "I'd have to Floch. Confidence is key but Floch just got disrespectful about it. Talking about how we should all go home and let him have you. And he was only here one night and everyone already had a bad vibe about him."

Your heart panged at that answer. "Thank you for telling me. I know everyone likes drama but Floch sounds...dangerous. I don't know what would have happened if he stayed." "Yeah, of course. Sorry if that made you uncomfortable," Jean said sheepishly. The discomfort must have been visible on your face. "No, don't apologize. I asked."

You continued to eat your breakfast and chat and hear about Jean's experience in the mansion so far.

After breakfast, you and Jean got ready for the day and finally decided to head out. Jean was starting his car when you decided to ask another question.

"I've never heard you talk about your dad. I've heard bits about your mom and you've mentioned her to the other guys but I never hear about your father. He isn't dead right? Is he sick? Like Bertholdt's?"

Jean is silent for a minute. "Oh...I don't really like talking about my dad, but you would have to know at some point."

"Oh, Jean...you don't have to. Don't worry about it."

He shakes his head. "It's fine. We were going to have this conversation pretty soon, so it doesn't matter."

Jean starts moving the car and when he's out on the road, he begins to talk.

"My dad has never been in my life. At this point, I don't know if he's dead or not. Sometimes I feel like he isn't my father. We did talk like once or twice when I was a kid and I was actually desperate to see him. But once I reached high school and started preparing for my adult life, I realized he wasn't worth it anymore. If my dad really wanted to be there for me, he would have reached out more often and let me know that things were hard on his end. I know everything I'm saying is being recorded and broadcasted, so if he ever sees me on TV, he can always hit me up. I just won't be naïve and stupid like I was the last time."

You immediately jump in after that last line. "Hey. You weren't naïve or stupid. He was stupid. You were a kid waiting on his dad. You had every right to wait for him, so don't insult yourself over him."

Deep down inside, you weren't sure if you wanted to meet Jean's dad...if he was alive. Jean didn't seem comfortable talking about him at all, so you shouldn't expect any visits or calls from that man. If you were to have kids and he popped up, that'd be hard to deal with. It would probably break Jean's heart to learn that his father would want to see his grandkids before even meeting the guy who helped make them.

Jean doesn't respond to what you said. Again, this was hard for him and he didn't even want to bring his father up in the first place, so you weren't upset.

You end up falling asleep in the car. Hours later, you wake up and Jean is parked in front of a bakery. He's on the phone. "Yeah, ma, we're here. Right in front of it, she's sleeping but we'll head inside....I miss you too...alright then, bye."

Jean hangs up and places the phone down. He jumps slightly when he realizes you're awake. "H-hey. I thought you were sleeping."

"Well, I was. Your mom is ready to see us?" You ask. "Yeah. She owns this bakery and decided to close completely today to meet you. I asked her if we could meet at home but she insisted that her bakery would be best. She's really proud of it," Jean explains. "Are we going to bake something?"

Jean laughs and shakes his head no. "Oh, no. My mom won't let you do any work in there, since you're a special guest. She put some things together if you want to eat something."

You imagined Jean's mother as someone who prioritized her future-in-law over her own son sometimes. It sounds overbearing but you thought this was a good thing. You wouldn't want an evil mother or father-in-law. If Jean were to cheat on you or hurt you, you knew she'd probably be on your side or hear both sides instead of immediately siding with her son.

You also wanted to assume that she was tough on Jean. Considering that she raised him herself, she had to do other things like work. To give herself some peace, she probably had a no-nonsense household- maybe why Jean was more like a puppy and wasn't as scandalous as the eliminated.

Jean got out of the car and helped you out. He didn't take your hand when directing you to the bakery but opened the door for you. Inside was a short, older woman, standing there with her hands clasped. The minute you stepped in, her excitement exploded. "Hi! Welcome! It's finally nice to meet you," she says. The older woman squeezes and you can't help but let out a chuckle...or a wheeze. "H-hey, mom. Maybe you should let her go," Jean steps in nervously. Jean's mom slowly lets go. "I'm sorry! I just got excited. Are you hungry?"

You shake your head. "No, Mrs. Kirstein. Jean actually helped me put together breakfast."

"Good, good. I'm glad he's being useful! And call me June. Come, sit, sit."

Jean's mom takes your hand and leads you to a small table and pulls open a chair for you. Jean quietly pulls a chair up by you. You start to worry about him because all the attention is on you, rather than the both of you.

"Can I get you something to drink?" June asks. "Some water would be nice," you answer. Your eye catches Jean's hand. You place your own on his and you feel him jump slightly. "Jean, would you like something too?"

"I-I'll take water too," Jean croaks. "Well, Jean, I'm sure you can serve yourself. I'm getting old, you know. Make sure you get a glass for y/n too."

Jean looks ready to argue back but he keeps his lips zipped. He carefully removes your hand from

his, gets up, and heads over to the back of the bakery.

You watch Jean do all of this and then finally turn away so that you can give June all your attention. "Please tell me he's been good to you," she starts. You weren't expecting this question but considers why she's asking. "Yes, Jean is...amazing. He's always coming to my defense. Which I shouldn't be surprised by, he is a lawyer."

June sighs in relief. "I hope he stays that way. He told you...about our situation right?" You nod. "It's unfortunate that his father did that to the both of you. If Jean does get married to me, I hope he doesn't pop out of anywhere. Jean's a good guy but I'm not too sure how he'll react to something like that." June let's our a small hum.

"Have you been watching the show?" you ask. "A little. I work, so it's hard to catch up on what's going on. Sometimes I'll read articles and Jean will text me to let me know if he didn't get eliminated. I was a little concerned about him doing the show because nothing is guaranteed."

"Hm...is he cocky about this whole thing? Does he really think he can get me?"

June thinks for a moment. "I can't say cocky but there's nothing wrong with a little confidence. Jean is handsome, he has a good job, he's smart- and he knows that. He believed those would be good reasons for you to like him. But...he does get bashful sometimes. He doesn't want all the attention on him and for people to view him in the wrong way. The fact that he had a mirror in his pocket on the first night was interesting to me. He's never done anything like that before."

You open your mouth but Jean enters once more. He places three water bottles on the table. "Sorry for taking too long. Ma, I'll replace the waters. Don't worry about it," he says. June shakes her head. "Don't worry about it, Jean. We have plenty of water."

"So, have you two discussed wedding plans? Anything for the future?" June suddenly asks. You look at Jean, who looks like his stomach was doing the chacha slide or sum. "M-mom-!"

"Well, we haven't reached that point because we don't know if he's staying or not but I'd like a really elegant wedding. I know we'll have a live-streamed wedding but I'd like to have a private wedding too. That would be nice right?" you cut in. Jean nods in agreement.

"What about kids? I read somewhere that you wanted a family," you tease. Jean's face reddened. "W-well...um...yeah...two would be nice. A girl and b-boy maybe?"

"See? We have a plan," you say with a wide smile. You could imagine Jean as a cautious dad but he still knew how to have fun with his kids. After long days at work, he'd cuddle with them and put them to sleep for you. When the kids are asleep, he'll check on you and make sure you had something to eat. He'd probably make sure to schedule regular date nights and family vacations. He'll have photos of you and the kids and maybe a few bandages in a wallet. Obviously, you would both be in the public eye once in a while but he would make things feel normal.

"I think you two would have beautiful kids. I do hope Jean gets picked. But your two other guys are good too. Bertholdt is absolutely adorable and Connie seems like he knows what he's doing. I don't know how you're ever going to choose. I can't imagine being your situation," June says.

"Wow, thanks for having my back mom," Jean says jokingly. "But if not me, pick Connie. He's a good person."

"Oh, Jean, don't do that to yourself. You're lovely." You cup his cheek and his reddened face returns.

Jean's mom starts talking about Jean when he was a kid- how he was such a big softie and a great helper,  how he was popular in high school but still to himself, and all the girlfriends and boyfriends that she didn't like.

It was getting late. Jean's mom offered you her home but Jean stopped her before she could ask. You didn't question why he didn't want to stay at her home but still wondered why. You said your goodbyes, watched her lock the bakery, and drive off. Jean helps you into his car and gets into the drivers' seat.

"You know why she wanted to you go home with her?" he asks.

You shake your head no. "There's only one bed. A twin size bed," Jean says as he starts the car. You let out a chuckle. "Connie's parents tried that with us except Connie had a bigger bed."

Jean looks over at you. "Oh...I should have probably taken her offer."

"Connie and I didn't do anything that night...maybe you could give me a sample of what you can do. It'll help me decide."

Jean didn't hesitate to lean over and cup your cheek. He went in first. Jean was gentle and careful with your lips. You soon gave in and wrapped a hand on his wrist. When things started to get hot, you pulled away. "Didn't expect you to be that gentle...You really want me, huh?"

"Yeah," Jean says scratching his neck. "You're pretty rough... you have experience?"

Whether you say yes or no is up to you.

Jean smiles at your answer and starts driving. You try to fall asleep but it's so hard. All you can see is Bertholdt, Connie, and Jean at the next elimination. You wished Eren or Onyankopon did stupid stuff later on and were a part of the final three so that this could be easier.

Hours later, Jean reaches the mansion. He thinks you're still asleep. He doesn't want to wake you up. So what does he do? Jean opens the passenger door and scoops you up in his arms. Your heart jumps. You hope it's dark enough outside so that he can't see the small smile you're trying not to crack.

It doesn't Jean long to get to the door and ring the doorbell. He must be really strong. The door opens and he's greeted by Connie.

"You need help with that man?"

"Um...no...I think I'll get her up there. But you could get her purse from my car though. She'll probably wonder where that is."

Connie probably gave him a non-verbal response since there was just silence after that. Jean got you up the stairs and struggled with your bedroom door but he got in within ten minutes. Jean turns on your lights, places you on the bed, and removes your shoes. He steps away but you hear ripping sounds proceeding by scribbling. You can hear Jean turning off your lights and closing the door behind him as he leaves. Your eyes flick open and you wait a few moments. You turn on the light on your bed stand to see the note Jean wrote you.

'Wasn't sure what to do with your clothes. It's not my place to decide that- at least not yet. But I hope you slept comfortably.'

You smile softly at the note. It was definitely something he would say.

i use YOUR opinions to not only put together dates but to put together personalities. if y’all say you hate bertholdt, i’ll work my magic to mess with y’all :) anyways here’s the link! ask good questions. this is the last time you’ll see bertholdt, jean, OR connie. vote and ask wisely

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

The Perfect Bad Boy (Pt. 05 of 18)

Pairing: Billy Hargrove X Reader

Word count: 2.8K

Summary: Working as a lifeguard in the Hawkins Community Pool, you try to fit in after moving from New York. Things were going pretty well when you notice you've been under someone's stare. Billy Hargrove, Hawkins' bad boy, has been staring at you since day one. You never intended to have anything to do with him, judging by the reputation he has. But Billy won't leave you alone, determined to show you his feelings are different this time...

As if your heart flooding you with confusing feelings wasn't enough, there are weird, strange animals lurking in the woods... But those have to be just part of the wild live of the woods surrounding Hawkins... Right?

<- Previous part (04)

Next part (06)->

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

×

Would You Believe Me?

“When are you planning to tell me about this Billy?” Diane stands by the kitchen door frame, an eyebrow raised at you.

Taking another bite of your apple, you roll your eyes. “He's just a friend. I have nothing to say.”

“I know you, (Y/N). And I know you've been hanging out with him.” She comes to sit across from you at the table, and you feel like a child under her stare. Diane has always been your best adviser, the one you tell everything since you can remember. But you couldn't bring yourself to tell her about Billy yet. With Monica, you don't have a choice since you work with her, and she has been around when some stuff happened. But with Diane... You feel like it'll make things real.

You're just about to deny everything again when you remember how confused you are, how there's always a fight inside of you, between two different lines of thought, and suddenly you need Diane's opinion on it. “Billy is a friend.” It's different now, you're admitting it. “He... He offered me a ride home when my car wouldn't start and we stopped to eat tacos. A couple of days after he stopped by this snack bar I was with Monica's friends and... Well, he punched David in the face because he called me dumb.” The memory brings a smile to your lips.

“What?” My aunt smiles too. “I heard some kids talking about David being beat up but I'd never guess that. What else?”

“Uhm... He said he likes me that day.”

“Oh...” She mumbles, furrowing her eyebrows. “So Billy is interested in you.”

Shaking your head slightly, you look down. “He's as interested as he would be in any other girl, right?” Your voice is lower now. “Aunt, Billy is the perfect bad boy. He has the looks, the attitudes, the pretty face, the breathtaking body, and the long list of heartbroken girls.”

“Honey, haven't you heard?” Diane keeps her voice light, taking your hand over the table. “They say the perfect bad boy is bad with everyone except to his girl.”

“Well, I'm not his girl,” you mutter, not sure why saying this makes you feel sad. You shouldn't be so sad about something that's true, something that you made up your mind about. “We're bound to break apart.”

“(Y/N), you're a smart woman. You can read the signs and I trust you to choose what's best for you, as you always have. Even when it meant to leave New York behind and come to such a strange place.” Her eyes are like beacons, reassuring you. You wish she was your mother instead of Kate. “You'll know if you're meant to be with Billy or not. I trust you enough for that, as should you.”

“I love you, aunt.” You breathe out, standing up and hugging her. “Thank you... And not only for this, but for everything. For taking me in and for moving here with me.”

“It was a pleasure, honey. Both to come back to my hometown and to be with you.” Diane never had kids, and her husband died eight years ago. She's still young though, and you hope she finds someone. But until then, you're ok with being somehow her kid. “Now I gotta go. Have a nice day at work.”

“You too.”

Half an hour later you're at the pool, on your chair, eyes scanning the sea of people. The sun is shining bright, and the kids seem especially electrified today. Despite having a lot of people to watch over, you're getting bored by the second, finally understanding why Monica sometimes complains so much about this job.

Billy, as usual, keeps shooting you glances every now and then, winking and smiling when you look his way. After rolling your eyes at him for the hundredth time this morning, you turn your gaze at Monica, who has a meaningful smile on her lips. You get the feeling she'll never stop teasing you about it. Well, she will have to one day. 'We're bound to break', the sentence comes to your mind again, and you decide to let the hot wind blow it away. Mon has a weird expression on her face, which makes you furrow my eyebrows at her.

She then gestures at her eyes. 'Look', you read the word on her lips, just before she gestures at Billy.

That again. You don't want to stare at him. You know he's hot, you don't need to be constantly reminded of that. Running a hand through your hair, you force yourself to focus on the activity that gives you some money at the end of the month. You're not bored anymore, you're thankful you have something to keep your mind off things you certainly shouldn't be thinking about.

When your lunch break finally comes, you jump from your chair to the ground, making the way over Monica, touching her leg. “Hey, you. Lunch, c'mon. I'm starving.”

“I'm a good friend.” She simply says, not even bothering to look at you. Monica can be a freaking interrogation sign sometimes, and you're about to ask her what she means when you notice Billy, standing a few feet away. “I switched my lunch breaks with him.” She looks down, taking her sunglasses off. “You're welcome.”

“I hate you, Mon,” you mumble, sighing at the laugh that leaves her lips.

You have no choice but to walk towards Billy, trying to keep your eyes on his face. But you use the distance to take a quick look, just so you can tell Mon you did it and she'll stop bugging you about it. He's tall, obviously, way taller than you. So you have to look up not to have your eyes glued on his chest. The guy works out. A damn lot, you're sure, and his tan is perfect. It makes you wonder if he even tries because it doesn't seem like he does. Billy doesn't have to act, he just is who he is. No doubt why he had no trouble carrying that heavy backpack during the trail, his muscles look like stone, iron. Even though the small distance you can see how his chest moves when he breathes, and the well-defined muscles of his bare arms. But you're getting close now, so you avert your eyes.

“Was it your idea or hers?” You inquire as soon as you're walking side by side to the cafeteria.

“Mine. I asked her this morning and she accepted.” As you walk, you notice all the heads turning.

The boys look with either anger or envy, and the girls keep checking him out shamelessly. Even the married ladies don't seem to hide the lust in their eyes. You feel a little weird, suddenly so small and out of place. But you can't blame them. Billy is a hell of a view. “You ok?” He suddenly asks. “You tuned out for a moment.”

“Just thinking.” You reach the cafeteria and you get your lunch from the fridge, moving to the microwave.

“About what?”

“The stares you were getting while we walked over here.” It comes out abruptly, and you realize you're angry. Why are you angry? You can't be mad because people are staring, he's not yours.

“People always stare.” He says, coming to seat with you on the table next to the microwave. “But today is for a different reason.”

“Oh, of course.” You avoid his eyes, letting your hair down from the ponytail and detangling it with your fingers, just so you have something to do.

“You only notice half of what's going on around you.” You mumble as a response, not sure if there's anything else you can say. “I never spent this much time without going on dates, and I never spent this much time hanging out with the same girl.” Billy's lower voice slowly makes you raise your eyes, meeting his. “People are impressed. I am impressed.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It's been a while and I still want to be around you, to get to know you.” As he speaks, you look at the door, because you don't want anyone listening. It's bad enough that you'll end up telling Monica, which only makes you even more confused. You don't need someone else adding up to the mix.

'We're bound to break'. It comes to your head again. “How long do you think it'll last? You know you'll get tired of this little game you're playing, Billy.”

“From the bottom of my heart... I don't think I could ever get tired of you.”

The sudden beeps of the microwave make you jump up, thankful for it breaking through the atmosphere. You get your food and hand Billy his since he shoved it into the microwave with yours.

“Every time I see you it's like the first damn time. It took me by surprise too, believe me.”

“Just eat, Billy. Or it'll get cold.” A stupid thing to say since there's smoke coming from both your meals.

“If I find a way to prove you I'm not joking, that I mean every word I say when I say you're nothing like the other girls, that I'm being serious this time... Would you believe me?”

Holy shit, you need to get the hell out of this cafeteria. You don't want to listen, you want to be left alone until whatever is driving you towards Billy disappears. But can you do that? Stand up and walk away when you're right here with him, nobody else around... You don't think so. “I'd like to see what you would come up with.”

He takes a deep breath, resting his back against the chair. You can only watch as he takes one of his earrings off, doing the same with his necklace. “The hell are you doing, Hargrove?” You mumble, crossing your arms.

He gives a quick glance before focusing on whatever he's doing. He removes the pendant of the necklace, throwing it on the trash next to the fridge. You raise an eyebrow, your hunger momentarily put aside. Billy passes the silver chain through the tiny hoop of his earring, making a whole new necklace. The earring is kinda nice, and it looks badass on him. It has four black little stones and a metal piece at the end, which reminds you a claw.

Your eyes follow him as he stands up, walking around the table to stand behind you. You were just about to ask what he's doing when he puts the necklace around your neck. “Move your hair up, please.”

With wide eyes fixed on the light green wall across the cafeteria, you do as he says, feeling the cold metal against your skin. You're even more confused now. “Wear this every day, and I'll wear mine every day too.”

“Is it... Is it supposed to make people think I belong to you or something?” You burst out, still a little shocked, a little perplexed, trying to control the butterflies on your stomach.

“Then they'll think I belong to you too.”

“Just-just eat, Billy. Please.” You stutter, looking down at your food as your heart drums on your ears.

“And I making you nervous?”

Biting back a smile, you don't answer. You quickly search through your mind for anything else, just so you can change the subject. “I heard you study at Indianapolis University. The same I happen to have transferred to. Which course do you take?” That's good. You got your mind to function.

“Mechanical engineering.” He shrugs his shoulders when you raise your eyebrows. “I always liked cars, so it wasn't a difficult choice. What about you?”

“Biomedicine. I'm planning on specializing in Hematology and get a job on Hawkins National Hematology Lab.”

“So you plan on staying here?”

“Yes. I came to stay.”

There's a change in his expression, as it softens like he just realized something new about himself. A small, genuine smile breaks into his lips, beautiful lips. You were just about to ask what's on his mind when James, another lifeguard comes into the cafeteria and you decide to keep your mouth shut.

•••

When you walk out of the bathroom, still drying your hair with a towel, your eyes fall on the necklace lying on the nightstand, near your telephone. Sitting on the bed, you touch the earring, wondering if Billy is wearing his now. “What's happening to me?” You breathe out, throwing yourself down on the bed.

Your phone starts ringing, but you don't pick up. You know Diane will answer it downstairs. You hear her low voice coming from the living room, your eyes on the ceiling, and your thoughts revolving around him again.

Him.

You don't even need a name, he's the only guy you think about.

“Honey! It's Monica!” Your aunt yells.

“I'll pick up!” You shout back, moving up just to pick up the phone before lying down again. “Hi, Mom.” You hear the sound of the downstairs phone being put down as you speak.

“So. How was it?”

“Uhm... It was a lunch break. We had our breaks together and we had lunch.”

“Seriously? That was it? Don't you think I noticed something very unusual around your neck when you came out?”

Sighing, you let out a humorless laugh. Monica is very perceptive, the reason why she's coursing psychology. She's always paying attention to everything. “Mon...” It's almost like a cry.

“Talk to me, (Y/N).”

“I can't keep doing this.” You cover your eyes with one hand, and the image that immediately comes to my mind is him. “I'm... Scared.”

“What happened in the lunch break?”

“Billy said stuff, you know... That he won't get tired of me, that still wants to be around me...” Tossing around, you hug a pillow. “He took one of his earrings and made it into a necklace... He gave me and told me to wear it every day because he will wear it too.”

“(Y/N), I think Billy is falling in love with you.”

“No, Mon, I–”

“I've seen how he treats girls, (Y/N). He never acted like that. All day long I see them walking around the pool in the tiniest bikinis they have, but he never looks. He used to devour them with his eyes, but since that Monday, when you started working... His eyes are on you, on such a... Kind way. It's like he's someone else entirely.”

“I want to believe you,” you whisper, eyes focusing on the necklace. “What if we're bound to break?”

“Give yourself time, then. And give you both a chance. (Y/N), you need to stop overthinking and enjoy your summer. If you're bound to break, you'll know. But for now, enjoy the attention he's giving you. And if it doesn't work, at least you would have enjoyed it... I mean, you like being around him, don't you?”

“Way more than I should.”

“Then try living in the moment for a while. When it's time to think and make big decisions, you will make them.”

Nodding to yourself, you know she's right. If you keep overthinking, maybe you'll be the one to ruin everything. “You're right...”

“Now, you can either stay there or come with me, Chris and Jason to the mall. What will it be?”

Smiling, you stand up, already moving to chose what to wear.

An hour later you're at Starcourt Mall, completely reformed about a year ago, Monica tells you, after it was destroyed by an explosion. The place is very modern, but it's still very different from those in New York. But you like it, how lit up it is, and crowded. Families, teenagers, and kids, who pass by, running. You take in the lights, the laughers. Monica laughs at something Christopher says, his arms around her shoulders. Jason had to bring his two toddler siblings, so he's walking a few feets away, carrying the two years old Michael on his arms and holding Melanie's hand, who's the five years old.

“Hey. Have you crossed paths with David? After he had his ass kicked?” Chris asks.

“No. And I hope it remains that way.”

“It's a small town, you'll bump into him eventually. But I think he won't bother you anymore.” He says and Monica nods.

“Yeah...”

“You and Billy dating yet?” Jason asks, making it clear he was paying attention.

“Not yet,” Monica answers before you can say anything. Rolling your eyes, you decide not to say argue.

Blushing a little, you touch Billy's earring around your neck. A smile comes to your lips, and you hope he'll be wearing his tomorrow... It's stupid, but it kinda makes you feel closer to him, even though he's not here.

You decide to follow Monica's advice, but you'll still be careful. You can do both.

×

@chloe-skywalker @dpaccione @tilesandtokens

[artbyrivaille]

Lesson ☕

=============================

words: 2,7k

warning's: none

paring: levi x reader

=============================

She was always close to Erwin. She was in the corps longer than he was. From the beginning, he saw the strong bond that existed between her and the tall blonde. As he, too, became friends with Erwin after Farlan and Izabel died, he would necessarily spend time with her as well.

She was strong, really fucking strong. She never showed weakness, Erwin's perfect right hand. And it was obvious that they knew each other perfectly. They constantly accosted, joked and bitten. He could bet they were secretly dating.

And it irritated him terribly. Because he was starting to fucking care. Although he was the one who wanted to kill Smith, it was she who gave him comfort after the deaths of Church and Magnolia. It was she who helped him deal with the loss. It was because of her that he was who he was now.

And she never expected anything in return.

When he wanted to repay her one day for spending the whole night with him on the paper work that Eyebrows had commissioned him, despite the fact that she had the same amount in her office, she only smiled and said that the ideal payment for helping him would be if he would finally sleep.

It was eating him up inside.

That feeling for a woman who couldn't be his. l Why was he always so unlucky? Why did everyone whom he fell in love with, to whom he gave at least a bit of his already wounded heart, only took this piece and ran away with it irretrievably?

***

The woman was just finishing changing the bandage on his ankle. There was a slight nervousness on her face. But inside it was really a tumult. She wanted to really lock up young Ackermann in the dungeon for her lack of discipline. Because of her, the strongest soldier of mankind was unable to fight at such an important moment for them.

- Finished. - She announced and gave the man a slight smile and got to her feet. - Try not to step on that leg, do not exert yourself.  She added after a moment, wagging her finger at him like a mother who had just scolded her child for disobedience.

- Okay, where are you going now? - He asked, trying to hide the hope in his voice that she would stay with him to keep him company. Maybe they would have a tea together, which she loved almost as much as he did?

- I have to teach one of these brats a decent lesson. I'll come to you when I'm finished.  She replied and braided her hand through his black hair, combing it delicately. Then she left the man's office without a word.

What the hell lesson?

***

Woman was walking quickly towards the quarters where members of the one hundred and fourth training corps were imprisoned. She had to find Yeager. It was the only way to control Mikasa.

While walking down the corridor, I noticed blonde hair, bingo.

- Arlert!  - She called the boy quite loudly, which made him jump slightly in place, he was a bit fearful, but very intelligent. He turned to face her and saluted, after all she was one of the more important figures in the body. - Relax, you don't need to salute, do you know where Yeager is? - She asked the boy, and he relaxed a bit.

- Yes, I'm on my way to him. - He replied quickly.

- Okay, then drive, I need to talk to him.

- This is! - The boy began to head back down the corridor where he was going earlier, all the way neither of them said a word.  Despite the fact that the blond man had a lot of questions why the colonel l/n wants to talk to his friend.

When they finally reached their quarters, they saw a group of young cadets sitting at the table. They were quite loud, actually Kirstein and Yeager were arguing about a little bit as usual. The woman just sighed and shook her head disapprovingly.

- Silence!  - She screamed, and all conversations suddenly ceased, and the gazes of the cadets turned to her.  Almost all looks. - Stop arguing like kids, Yeager come to me, we need to talk. - She said and then turned on her heel, heading for the exit from the room without looking at the brunet, she knew that he would follow her.

When they got out into the fresh air, they walked a bit further away, she didn't want anyone listening to them, finally she looked at the boy and sighed.

- I have a request for you. - She said, and the brunet's eyes widened slightly.

- What is going on? - He asked a little stressed.

- As you well know, because of your friend Ackermann's incompetence, Captain Levi is unable to fight. You know very well that she has problems with discipline, if she goes on like this, someone will eventually get on his nerves and send her to resign. So I have a request, could I slash you a bit to make her obey? I know it's quite bizarre, but you are the only thing that affects her in any way. - The woman explained and waited for the boy's answer. She was pretty sure he would agree, after all, his friends were very important to him, but he also took great care of the corps command, fortunately for him.

- I agreed, I know what Mikasa is like and that she can be problematic. It's the same as in court, with the rest, you have nothing to worry about commander, I'll recover quickly. - The green eyed responded and smiled at her extremely broadly, he was really positive.

- Okay, go get her, and be in the courtyard in ten minutes. - She announced and headed towards the courtyard where she was going to conduct a lesson that young Ackermann would not forget for the rest of her life.

***

Two cadets came to the courtyard where the woman was waiting for them, she didn't even realize that Levi and Erwin were watching the whole situation closely from the window. May the two men not know you are up to the woman, and they were really curious about it, so they waited impatiently for the development of events.

Mikasa had a bored face as usual, she had no idea why the hell l/n had brought them there, but she didn't like it very much.

But Eren looked determined, he knew what awaited him, he knew it would not be pleasant, because he had heard more than once that the inconspicuous woman was considered the second, after captain kurduplu, the strongest soldier of humanity. But he was doing it for the sake of Mikasa.

- You are probably wondering why I brought you here, so. I want to finally make you realize how weak, not disciplined and too self-confident you are. Eren come over here. - She asked Yeager with a move of her hand to come closer to her, he took a deep breath and not worried about his friend's surprised look, he approached the woman. It swung and knocked him down with a right hook without much problem. The boy landed on the ground and got a kick in the face and another kick in the stomach. Mikasa jumped up to help the brunette, but / n stopped her with a move of her hand. - We'll go to a deal.  If you win a hand-to-hand fight with me, I'll let it go, if you don't, you will eventually obey orders, otherwise your friend will end up worse than you think and I will hand you over to my resignation. - The woman announced h/c and waited for the teenager's reaction.

She had a murder in her eyes, it was evident, the same gaze was directed at Levi when he abused Yeager in the courtroom. However, y/n didn't care, just threw her scout jacket off her shoulders. She rolled up the sleeves of her white shirt and smiled slyly at the black-haired girl.

She moved on her without thinking, made the first blow, but the woman avoided it without any problems and then cut her legs, and she fell to the ground. However, she got up quickly and delivered more blows, some of them were blocked by / n, and the other part was avoided. This fight was fun for her, she did everything to irritate the girl as much as possible.

She made another dodge and then delivered an accurate blow to the younger's liver. She hit it. She crumpled slightly under the impact, which the older one obviously used and knocked her to the ground once again. She kicked her one last time, another time in the liver, and the girl didn't have the strength to get up. She lost.

L/n knelt beside her, ignoring Yeager's surprised and fascinated gaze, and snorted slightly disappointed.

- From now on, you must obey. Go to the infirmary, I still have a business with your friend. - She announced and helped the girl to get up. Surprisingly, she accepted her help and, with her head bowed, moved towards the hospital, as ordered by the commander. - Thanks for your help, Eren, I hope I'm not hitting you too much. - Y/n laughed slightly, and the boy echoed her.

- I'm all right Commander, I'll regenerate. I think Mikasa will take this failure hard. But I didn't think you were so amazing! - He said a bit excited which amused the woman a bit.

- Thank you, years of practice, you too, go to the infirmary, I have a few things to do, thank you again for your cooperation. - She replied, gave him a grateful smile and lightly tousled his dark hair as it left. The boy, under the influence of her delicate touch, blushed slightly, but fortunately for him she was not able to see it. He turned in the direction she was headed, and for a moment he stared at the graceful movement of her hips.

***

Erwin was amused by the whole situation, and Levia was very surprised. However, he could not disagree with l/n that young Ackermann was a mere brat who had no discipline.

And at the same time he was delighted with the way y/n moved. Damn what that woman was doing with him. I think she needs to make Erwin realize that if he ever hurts her, nothing can save him from him.

- She was really angry when she found out you were hurt by some girl. She was worried.  - The blonde who was sitting on the couch in the black-haired's office finally said smiling mysteriously.

He knew.

Of course he knew about the feelings the shorter man felt for a woman. What's more, he knew perfectly well that she reciprocated them, but she didn't want to impose herself on him. She knew his story, and as a person who came from Pozdziemy just like Levi, she knew that he had a hard time. Nobody has it easy there.

Back-haired man gave him a surprised look, could it be another of his games? Was he trying to provoke him to say how he felt about HIS woman, so that he could punish him for it? It was very blonde. A fucking Eyebrows.

- What do you mean, Erwin? - He asked irritated and gave his friend an unfavorable look.

- That you both are idiots. You have feelings for each other, but you won't show it, goddamn it, me and Hanji have been trying to get you together for over three years, and you guys like those stubborn donkeys you go for a long time. - Confessed the general, and the lower one gasped. But how? He and fucked up four-eyes are trying to bind them together? And they also think that y/n has something for him too? It sounded so unreal in his head.

Erwin snorted at the sight of his puzzled face, suddenly realizing why the black-haired man did not make any movement towards the h/c-haired woman.

- Did you think me and y/n had something in common?  - He asked him, and he only nodded his head slightly, but not looking up at him. - We are just friends, together we belonged to the training corps, hence our strong bond, we treat each other like siblings. There was only one time we went further, but that was before we put you in the Corps, plus we were both drunk. - He explained, and the black-haired one just nodded his head as a sign that he understood. Goddamn it, all he had to do was talk to her and everything would be so much simpler.

Suddenly, the door from the brunet's office opened, and y/n just entered. Both men fell silent, and the shorter of them shifted uneasily in his chair. The h/c-haired woman looked at them a bit surprised, but was the first to break the silence in the room.

- From the fact that you are here both of you guess that you watched the whole show? - She laughed and then sat on the couch next to Erwin and tousled his perfectly styled hair.  The latter huffed at her something incomprehensible and lightly brushed her hand away.

- Yes, it was quite enjoyable to watch, and from your smug expression I conclude that you achieved your goal? - The blonde answered seeing that his friend is a bit anxious.

- That's right, there should be no more problems with Ackermann. - She said and smiled victoriously at which the man next to her only smiled slightly and got up from the couch heading to the exit, then left without a word, leaving the two of them alone. - How are you? - The woman's voice woke the black-haired man from his trance, blinked his eyes quickly and finally looked at l/n staring at him.

- Fine. - He replied casually wondering what he should do. His heart was beating as fast as it was about to burst from his chest, and that didn't help at all. - I would like to talk. - He added after a moment.

- Okay, so what would you like to talk about Levi? - She asked and then got up from the couch and walked towards the man. After a while she sat down with one thigh on his desk staring at him as if she knew perfectly well how it affects him. She was so damn perfect, and the straps of the gear for the ODM maneuver didn't help him contain his body's excitement.

He sighed heavily and looked away from her, feeling that he would be able to come just from looking at her, and yet they must have had a fairly serious conversation. He knew that if he didn't tell her now, he would never.

- I want to tell you something. I would have told you this a long time ago if it weren't for the fact that I'm an asshole. I..I ..- It was the first time in his life that he had stuttered, he felt so bloody insecure and the erection in his pants was not helping him focus.

- I love you too, Levi. - Y/n finished for him and with a smile she joined their lips in a long kiss.

- Ugh.. - That kiss wasn't even very erotic, but knowing that it could only be his in the end increased the tension in his body.

L/n broke the kiss and looked into her lover's eyes, into those cobbled eyes she adored so much. Then out of the corner of her eye she noticed what problem her partner is struggling with, she smiled slyly and then got up from his desk and extended her hand to him. Levi looked at her slightly confused but grabbed her small, delicate hand in his, large and rough.

Once again their lips joined in a kiss, this one because it is much more erotic, hot. After a moment, the man realized that the woman was leading him carefully to his bedroom. So she wanted it too, wanted him too.

- I think it's time for you to take a lesson too. She whispered straight into his ear, and a strong thrill of excitement ran down his path. He intended to use this lesson in depth and enroll in another one.

[jeagerism]

wish you were here

✒ word count : 4.2k

✒ characters : park jimin x reader

✒ warnings : sadness, like hella sadness im sorry, break up!au, reader just misses him lots, small amounts of fluff, cursing, seeing the person you love with someone new, first dates, moving on, crying

✒ summary : You're sitting in your bathtub eating marshmallows at 3 in the morning three weeks after the break up, and you're doing fine, you really are. But then, all of a sudden, you're crying and realising how much you miss him.

✒ author's note : as i wrote more and more i was like...hmmm. jimin. here is the completed fic im scared to post this didusissj but if i don't i might die so. hope u guys like dis one xoxo it's my first jimin imagine pls do not hurt me im trying :o

It's 6 p.m. on a Saturday when it happens.

The curtains are open slightly in the living room, rays of golden sunlight reaching just past where your feet rest on the couch. You're typing up an essay when Jimin slips through the door, toeing his shoes off. Five-fifty, just like clockwork. The coat he wears everyday goes on the same hook - third from the left. He shuffles over to the couch and presses his lips to the crown of your head, just like always.

It's easy to fall into routine.

Another episode of Sex Education plays in the background, long forgotten after an hour of staring at the same screen. You're pretty sure your brain is fried. But you'd made a promise to yourself that you'd finish this essay today, so you make due. 

"Hey." The way your lips stretch into a smile is hard to control, even more so when he copies your actions. He falls onto the couch beside you, leaning into the cushions with a hum. He smells like the strawberries and honey body wash in the bathroom.

You let your eyes study him for a few seconds, then go back to typing, and it's quiet, just like always. It feels normal. Nothing's different. 

Until it is.

"I think we should break up."

Of the five years you've known Jimin, you've been through a lot. And while most of it had been dealing with things much bigger than yourselves, bigger than romance and first kisses, you'd had your fair share of relationship issues.

But things were good. He would come home every day, smiling, press that same kiss to your forehead. Sit right beside you, leaning into your side, his warmth seeping into you. Sometimes he'd play with your fingers, a thing that kept him occupied and calm. You knew Jimin, you knew all his habits, what made him tick, how he acted when he was sad, or happy, or angry.

"Y/N?"

"I can't", you breathe out, so softly it's barely audible. And you wonder if he can even hear you. If he can hear the way you're trying to gather up everything you're feeling right now and trying to shove it down, down, down. "I don't understand? I need, can you-" 

And as much as you know Jimin, he knows you all the same. He knows you're panicking, and normally, he'd grab your hands and help you breathe. In for three, out for three. In for three out for three. He doesn't do that this time. He doesn't even look at you.

"I'm just not...happy. I'm not happy and I don't think I make you happy anymore, either."

But you do. He does, Jimin makes you so happy that sometimes you forget how to breathe. He makes you so happy that you love everything about him, even the things that drive you insane sometimes. So happy that you pick up the clothes he leaves on the floor after his shower, or place his shoes back neatly, or cook his favorite food for him whenever he asks.

These are the things you want to tell him. You want to tell him it all and more, but the only thing that comes out is :

"Okay."

Because what else can you say? He's just said that he's not happy with you anymore, and he's so close but farther away than ever, and he's not even looking at you.

In for three, out for three. But you still can't breathe. And this time, as his words fall on near deaf ears - something about "my stuff" and "sometime later" and "you stay, I'll go" - and he slips his shoes and coat back on, and it's quiet, it's not because you're happy.

You can't breathe because it hurts. You're not sure of how long you stay on the couch, computer running hot on your lap, a "Are you still watching" message on the tv. But when you finally look up, it's dark. 

And you take a breath. Dragging yourself to Jimin and your bedroom - your bedroom - takes more of an effort than you'll admit, but you get there. The pillow is cool against your burning cheek. You allow your eyes to close tight, because his side of the bed is never this cold.

All you can do is breathe. In for three, out for three. Something you'd learned from him, with him. 

It's all you can do to keep yourself from breaking.

He takes you on your first date in September.

It's bowling, which is a stereotypical first date, but it's him, so you don't really mind. 

Park Jimin is nervous. It's evident in the way he wipes his hands on his pants before he holds your hand. The way he gets quiet after laughing at one of your jokes, as if he's afraid of being too loud or happy.

"No fair!", you call, speaking through a pout. "You've got like, superhuman abilities or something. You're obviously gonna win." Crossing your arms, you shake your head. "I think we should label this as cheating."

Jimin chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not trying, though." 

You make a noise of protest. "That's even worse!" Leaning closer to him, a furrow in your eyebrows, you huff. "Are you saying I'm just plain ole bad at bowling, Park?"

"You said it, not me." It's the first joke he's made all night. You laugh, eyes closing just from the force. "I could, uh, I could help you? If you want. Since I'm so good and everything." The last part is said teasingly, and you can hear the smirk in his voice.

You stand, ruffling his hair with a smile. "Teach me then." By the time you've grabbed the ball you've been using the entire time, he's right behind you. Sticking your fingers in the holes, you twist it around lightly. 

"I see why you're so bad now." You turn, opening your mouth to defend yourself. "You're not even holding the ball right, you know."

"Well, I'm sorry I was never taught bowling ball holding basics. I didn't even know you could hold one of these-"

He interrupts you with a hand on your waist, delicate and soft. His fingers rest just above the top of your jeans, brushing against soft skin. "Like this", he murmurs. Jimin's other hand adjusts your own. "And then this." He keeps his hand atop yours, and brings your arm back, helping you swing it forward. You're so focused on how close he is that you don't notice you still need to let go of the ball.

Lips brushing against the side of your cheek, Jimin hums. You shiver. "You know, this doesn't actually work unless you let go of the ball when you swing, pretty girl." 

You feel like you're going to combust. Park Jimin just called you pretty. Park Jimin, the boy you've had a crush on for months. Called you pretty. Blinking, you swing your arm back with him again, and let it go when it comes forward. Not caring if the ball hits the pins or not, you rotate, until you're face to face with him. All soft, silky hair and lips that look as soft as pillows. 

"What?" He raises an eyebrow, another pretty flush spreading over his cheeks. 

"Can I kiss you?"

The noise that comes from him mirrors the shock on his face that quickly morphs into timidness. "Like you even have to ask, Y/N." 

His lips feel even softer than they look. You've had a first kiss before, but this is the only one that's felt right. Something in you tells you that means something. When you pull away, you're smiling, breathless.

"Hey", Jimin whispers, nodding his head behind you. "You knocked down all the pins."

As he walks you home, he holds your hand.

"I'm glad we got to do this", Jimin says, and his eyes don't meet your own until you squeeze his hand tight. You think about how he'd wrapped you up in the extra sweater he'd been wearing when he'd noticed you were cold. How he'd pulled you closer when walking down the sidewalk because people were bumping into you, and had held you that way the entire way back.

"Me too." You grin, watching the pink on his cheeks spread to his ears and down his neck. His smile mirrors yours regardless. 

Jimin sighs. "I'm, um, sorry if it was lame. I know bowling is kinda...well, kinda bland for a first date-"

"It was perfect." You let your fingers detangle as you back up. "Best first date I've ever had." 

His cheeks swell with a big, boyish grin. "Next time I'll take you to the arcade downtown." A smirk. "Maybe that time you can beat me in something."

You always thought that if Jimin ever left you, you'd cry.

Not that you thought of it often, but it still came up once or twice. Every time it did, he was always right there, with soothing words and soft lips pressed against the tip of your nose. 

So, the fact that you don't cry surprises you.

You don't cry, and a part of you thinks that, if you did, it would never stop. 

Your sadness turns into anger at every reminder of him around your apartment. There's traces of him everywhere, a forced memory no matter where you step. So you keep breathing. You take a breath. 

You take a breath when you see his lunchbox he took to work with him every day. When you visit your friends and they ask how plans for the yearly Halloween party you'd always throw with him are going. When you see a news article about him and the boy's album release. You breathe.

Because you are angry with him. Angry for making you waste your time, making you think that it was you and him. That he still loved you, and that you knew him.

Going back in your head, everything had seemed fine. The two of you hardly fought, you told each other I love you every morning and every night. You still had your weekly movie nights every Friday. You laughed together. 

Nothing had changed, right? You knew him, right?

A week after he's been gone, it hits you that you never knew him that well at all.

You didn't even know him well enough to tell that he was falling out of love with you.

Two weeks after the breakup, and you no longer feel angry. You feel the dragging feeling of sadness creep up on you again. The anger probably would've stayed, but he'd come to get his stuff earlier in the week. 

He forgets a few things, but you don't say anything. Why don't you say anything?

Getting used to life without him is a process. You forget that you don't have to buy those off brand crackers he likes. You never wake up in the morning to his humming in the shower. Things...change.

The bed was never this big, was it? It always seemed small, small enough that the two of you always crowded together, legs tangled together, arms around waists.

Now, it's massive. You pull the blanket up to your chin, and even though you probably shouldn't, you press your cheek into his pillow. 

When you fall asleep, you dream of him.

His skin is bathed in moonlight, pale and soft. The two of you sit in the big clawfoot bathtub, the one you both loved, empty and fully clothed. He's quiet, and anyone else would think that's because it's nearing three in the morning, but you know him. You recognize the subtle shaking of his hands, the sweat beading at his hairline even though it was freezing inside the apartment, the way he taps his fingers together in rhythm.

You know him.

"Hey." It's the first word spoken since you'd sat down. He's facing you, curls going every which way from attempting to sleep earlier. Holding up the bag you'd snagged before you'd followed him in here, you grin. "Want some marshmallows?"

Jimin's lips twitch into a smile, and even though it disappears as quickly as it came, it's something. Massive hand plunging into the bag, he grabs a handful and proceeds to shove a few in his mouth. You settle for popping them in one by one; the small, colorful bits melt on your tongue. 

The bag empties faster than expected, so soon you have nothing to occupy yourselves. As you start to suggest opening the other bag in the pantry, he speaks.

"It's happening again", his shoulders rise up to his ears. His hands rest in between his knees, tangled together, fidgeting.

With a heavy sigh, you lay a hand across his own. "I know." Jimin's eyes meet yours, honey colored and exhausted. The bags under his eyes are more prominent than they have been, and although it's not as bad as the last few times, it's still bad.

"I don't want it to happen again."

And well, you don't quite know what to say to that. Because you don't either. This feeling was always with him, always simmering underneath the surface. It never completely disappeared, but it did get easier to deal with. It was bearable, almost nonexistent at times.

You know it hurts him, and him hurting makes you hurt. He deserves so much good, he is too good, to have so much weight on his shoulders. To be plagued with so much anxiety and pain, and for what? You don't even know the answer.

No one is perfect, as living with him for this many years often reminds you. He's definitely not. He leaves his shoes in the middle of the floor. He forgets to replace the tissue when the roll runs out. He's never had a plant that's lasted more than a week, because he's either not here or just forgets. 

So no, he's not perfect. But you know damn well he's the closest thing to it you have.

"I'll be here." You swallow, fingers slotting in between his. "I am here. No matter what, rain or shine, you know that." Jimin lifts the side of his lips into a smile. "I love you."

Switching in his spot, he turns, leaning back against your chest, rejoining your hands soon after. "I know." He brushes his lips across your knuckles. "I love you, too."

Your other hand combs through his hair, twirling curls around your fingers like thread.

The two of you don't retire to your bed until the sun begins to peak over the horizon.

You wake up with sweat beading at your hairline.

In for three, out for three.

You ignore the phantom taste of marshmallows on your tongue. A shaky hand pushes the blankets off of your body, and you're taking the familiar path to the kitchen before you can really think. There's a bag of mini marshmallows where they always are. You grab them, tearing a whole in the top as you walk towards the bathroom. 

When your back meets the familiar chill of the tub, you can feel the way your throat begins closing up. But you push it away with a hand full of marshmallows, which distracts you from the aching burn settled deep in your chest.

You've never done this alone. Every time you've sat in this exact same position, marshmallows in hand, he's been here. But there's always time for change. At least that's what you tell yourself.

You'd spent all your time in this tub with Jimin. There weren't any more of those times. No more late night baths where you just talked about your days. No more pic nics on the living room floor when you didn't feel like going out. No more hugs or I love you's or simply just seeing him across the room. 

And another. In for three, out for three. Focus on something else. Anything else but him. Your eyes switch from the wall to the bottle of soap on the ledge of the tub. Strawberries and honey. His favorite. Something else. The two towels hanging on the rack, one yellow and one red. You remember picking them out the night you moved in. It's getting harder to see with the tears in your eyes, but it's fine. It's fine.

Because you don't miss him. You can't, because the smell of strawberries and honey are fading from the pillow that's beside yours. The red towel hasn't been used in a month. There's never a box of off-brand crackers with his name on them in the cabinet anymore. And he's not here.

And you can't wish that he is. 

September is different this time.

The streets are full of people, and you're filled with a happy sort of warmth as you wait outside of a coffee shop. Rubbing your hands together, you blow warm air on them to rid yourself of the numbness starting to creep in. It's the type of cold that sets in slowly. You nudge your nose against the scarf you're wearing with a shiver.

People around you pass by with smiles, arms full of bags or holding others hands. It's peaceful.

"You're going to drop them!"

Glancing up, your eyes dart around until they find the source of the noise. There's a part of you that wishes you hadn't. A part of you that wants to shove your nose back into the fabric around your neck. 

Seeing Park Jimin is...weird.

There's a certain type of irony in the way that you see him during your first September without him. It twists and tears at you with bleeding fists.

"Jimin, let me carry some!"

The girl next to him is pretty. She's more than pretty. Jealousy ebbs in your chest for a mere moment at the smile he gives her, the way his eyes sparkle. Remembering how he used to look at you like that pours salt onto the wound. 

His hair is blond now. He looks good. Jimin had always looked good, though. There's no doubt in your mind that he's one of the prettiest people you've ever met. But he looks good. He looks like he's glowing. He looks...happy.

I'm just not...happy anymore.

"I've got it", he laughs, leaning his head back with a smile. Turning, he regains his grip on the bags, switching his gaze over, over, over. "See, like…" His eyes are sparkling. He looks happy. Is this what he meant?

I'm not happy and I don't think I make you happy anymore, either.

"Y/N?"

You quickly avert your eyes, turning and stuffing your hands into your pockets with a huff of breath you can see in the cold air. For a second, you can hear his footsteps getting closer. Of all the ways you thought you'd bump into him, it was safe to say this wasn't on the list. Seeing him wasn't on the list at all. Avoiding the problem until it went away seemed like a good enough plan.

Just as you're ready to turn around and face him, even if you really do not want to, a hand lands on your shoulder. Gentle.

The endless run on thoughts of what you're going to say become muddled as you open your eyes. 

"Sorry it took so long. Since someone wanted peppermint hot chocolate, even though they were obviously going to be running out, I had to wait a little longer." The corner of his lips lift into a grin. "Didn't mind though. Anything for you, I suppose." 

You shake your head with a smile as he hands you the cup. "Thank you." The drink warms your hands, the numbness melting away. 

"Ready to go?"

Jimin's behind you. Jimin is behind you with a girl who may not even be his girlfriend, but a girl who makes him happy. Makes him smile. 

And you think you're a little okay with it. 

You don't really have a choice, but. It's easier to swallow than you'd expected. 

You've learned to live without him. And even though there's a piece of you screaming and throwing a fit like a child that just wants and wants, you don't break. 

"Yeah. I am."

Pivoting, you walk forward. He's still relatively far away, but close enough that you can see him in your peripheral vision. Close enough that you make eye contact once more as he readjusts the bags in his arms. Close enough that you see the sparkle in his eyes.

You take a breath as your shoulders pass, mere inches of space between you. He still feels far away.

In for three, out for three. Breathe in.

It smells like strawberries and honey.

You smack your lips together as you continue on.

You're craving marshmallows.

Two Months Before

Park Jimin is scared.

Which isn't something he'd normally admit so easily. But, given the circumstances, he doesn't think too much of it.

Filling his cheeks with air, he gnaws on his bottom lip in thought. He's been chewing on it for so long he'll probably tear a whole in it, but he can't help it. Thinking back on the conversation he'd had hours before scares him. Leaves him with an unsettling feeling in his stomach. Anxious, deadly butterflies.

"How're things with Y/N?" Taehyung sits back, sipping from a stark white coffee mug. "Not that we don't see you guys every two weeks, but, you know."

Jimin laughs, shaking his head. "They're good. She's good, amazing." He's smiling so wide his cheeks hurt. 

"God, stop looking like a lovesick fool", his friend teases. He tilts his head, scoffing. "Propose already." Jimin must look as lost as he feels, because Taehyung raises an eyebrow. "You okay?"

He blinks, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, I'm good. I guess I just...never thought about it. Marriage and stuff. I mean, I have, I just…" He shrugs, eyebrows furrowed. "Never really thought about it too in detail." Why does his stomach feel like this?

"Do you want to marry her?"

"Yes." The answer is instant. Something hidden underneath, but something all known. 

Taehyung smiles. "That was pretty fast. Are you sure you've never thought about it?"

Jimin wets his lips, clearing his throat. "Guess it just...doesn't make sense with anyone else. It makes sense with her though. It feels right."

The blue haired male across from him smirks, huffing out a laugh. "Guess you'll need a ring then, huh?"

Marriage had always been a far away concept. Something to be worried about later down the line. It seemed like, without even realising it, down the line had come sooner than he expected. He's known Y/N for five years, and while every moment has been one he wouldn't give up, it's sped by so fast. 

But when he thinks about it, it doesn't make sense if it isn't her. Nothing makes sense if it's not her. If he closes his eyes and pictures his wedding day, no matter what, in every scenario, every way you look at it, she's the one walking down the aisle. Every time. It's her.

Jimin reaches into the dresser drawer beside the bed, feeling around until he finds what he's searching for. His fingers brush against the velvet box he'd shoved in there an hour earlier. When he brings it out, the butterflies in his stomach have friends. 

He wants to marry her. He wants to do it right. He wants to put this ring on her finger and watch her eyes light up. And plan the wedding with her and discuss color schemes and where to seat guests at the reception. Wants to kiss her in front of a room of people as his wife for the first time. He wants to adopt a dog and buy a house with a backyard.

Park Jimin wants to do all of this, and he wants it to feel right, and it only feels right with her.

But if she said no. If she didn't want him the way he wanted her. Park Jimin is terrifyingly in love with her. The type of love that makes him crazy. That makes him wake up early just to pull her back into his arms, because he knows how she likes being held. Because he knows her.

So if she didn't need him like he needed her, he doesn't think he'd be able to handle it. Because she may be able to walk away and find someone new, but he won't.

She's it for him. This is it for him. He doesn't think there's ever gonna be anyone else. 

He's loved her every day since the moment he met her.

The not wanting is what might tear him to pieces. Can nervous butterflies die?

The sound of keys turning in lock nab his attention, and he jumps to his feet, heart in his throat. Something in him aches. "Jimin? I'm home!"

Rubbing his thumb over the velvet box once more, he slips it back into the drawer, way in the back. He closes it, and breathes. In for three, out for three. Jimin looks up, and puts on a smile, even with this ache.

He loves her.

"Coming!"

✒ tags : @lysjeon @goldenlilyz @savageprince7

[shra-vasti]

LEE SEOKMIN

Series : To all the boys

Type : non idol au, ex-lovers au

Genre : angst, drama, fluff, romance

Warnings : mention of self harm but not of reader and not detailed just a vague mention.

Word count : 1.5k approx

Synopsis : You decided to write some letters to every boy who was a part of your past as your last message after getting diagnosed with chronical disease.

MAIN MASTERLIST

[Received, 06.10.2020] | previous | next

Past

"Can you girls like, please sit down?"

You approached the group of girls standing at the corner of the stadium, as you were student's council president.

You were currently holding a sports event and while various sports were being played for the finnale there were also many other students who just came to enjoy watching the games.

A teacher approached you and Jane and asked you to help the other student quite down instead of making a fuss so here you were asking everyone to sit in their respective seats instead of roaming around the stadium.

"If this ain't the Y/N and Jane themselves."

You smiled slightly at Yuna while finally settling into one corner of their supposed group.

"The teachers are yelling at us for not being responsible enough to handle the event well, you guys want my head off do you?"

Yuna laughed at you shaking her head no, others laughing along telling that they have been just hanging around cause they got bored.

"No not really but there was a time when I wanted your head off though."

You raised your eyebrows at her turning your whole body towards her. You couldn't figure out if she was just joking or was serious about it.

"That's......fascinating."

You rolled your eyes as you motioned them to go back to their seats but Yuna stopped everyone along with you.

"I'm telling the truth though."

"Oh you are? I wondered what I did for you to feel that way for me."

You weren't even feeling slightest bit of anger or resent or any sort of ill emotion towards her, you were just amused.

"What were you guys talking about being all serious before we came?"

Jane started to avoid the conversation.

"Talking about my breakup with Seokmin."

Yuna shrugged smiling slightly at the memories, it had been just months since she broke up with Seokmin and you figured she didn't want to go back anytime soon.

"You two were so good together, why breakup?"

"He started becoming a distraction to me y/n I needed to do that-" she smiled in your direction but before you could say something she continued, "-but I don't have to worry about him though, I know he'll crawl back to you once he comes to his senses."

"Crawl back to me?"

You and Jane laughed loudly but dropped once you noticed she was serious.

"Yeah cause he likes you."

"The way he cut his hand due to heartbreak you cause him, you're saying that he likes me? Do boys move on that soon? I didn't think Seokmin is like that."

You could clearly feel your heartbeat at the thought that Seokmin actually had feelings for you but it felt wrong cause he had just broken up with his girlfriend.

"Who said he started liking you after our break up?"

You crossed your arms across your chest, shifting your weight on your other leg and give her a confused look.

"Then since when he has had feelings for me?"

"Well ever since 6th grade, I remembered he had told me at the start of our relationship that you were the first ever person to own his heart and I was really jealous that it wasn't me."

"Oh is that so? What made you think he'll crawl back to me though cause I am just his casual crush while you were his first girlfriend."

Yuna smiled at you.

"The night after yours and Chan's incident, after you went home, I could clearly see him being all worked up and I never said anything about it but watching him still get so worked up over you made me curse at you in front of him and he really got angry at me for the first time ever in our one year of relationship and I felt really bad."

"Did you breakup because of that?"

Your eyes widened in shock feeling a sense of burden that you may have been the possible reason for his breakup.

"No I didn't do it because of you but some circumstances arose that I needed to do that, I know he still has feelings for you, he told me your were a part of him and no one could ever replace you not even me so I'm begging you please take care of him from my side when he will come to you."

With that she patted your shoulder and went towards her seat with her other friends following close behind.

You looked towards Jane accusingly and she gave you a confused look.

"What?"

"You hang out with Seokmin a lot and you never knew about this?"

"How would I know if he didn't tell me?"

"I don't think this is true to be honest."

"Lets confirm it from Eunwoo, he is Seokmin's best friend after all."

Before you could reject her not so awesome idea she grabbed your hands and dragged you towards the boy who was busy managing other students.

Jane tapped his shoulder and he turned around to face you.

"What's up?"

Eunwoo smiled ruffling your hair a bit and you swat his hand away patting your hair to keep them in place.

"Eunwoo, Seokmin likes y/n?"

"Yah why so straight to the point?"

Your eyes continuously travelled between a determined Jane and shocked Eunwoo.

After few seconds Eunwoo faced you before gently grabbing your hand and take you towards where Seokmin was with Wonwoo, Mingyu and Jun.

"Seokmin! Can you come here for a second?"

Seokmin excused himself, making his way towards you and Eunwoo.

"Yes?"

He looked at you before his eyes landed on your and Eunwoo's intertwined hands making his eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"Why are you two holding hands?"

"How's your hand now?"

You dodged his question as you pulled your hand away from Eunwoo's, looking at him.

"It's fine."

"Seok, y/n wants to ask you something."

"What is it?"

Eunwoo smirked before he made his way towards the boys leaving you and Seokmin alone. You gulped trying to find correct words, it felt so awkward to ask him about his crush on you when he had just broken up from his relationship.

"I had a talk with Yuna earlier and she told me that you had a crush on me before and I didn't believe her so she told me to ask you directly so here I am."

You scratched the back of your neck awkwardly as he stood there looking at you.

"She's right, I did like you ever since we were in sixth grade when we used to sit beside each other."

"You used to sit beside me? I don't even remember and why didn't you tell me about it before."

He laughed at that making you confuse.

"That's the thing y/n, you didn't even know my existence untill you wish me on my birthday this year and that too you did because all of your friends did, I was madly in love with you and I knew I would never have a chance with someone like you, you're out of my league so I always admired you from afar and then eventually made up my mind that nothing can happen in-between us and court Yuna but that ended terribly too."

He laughed at the last sentence ironically.

"You should've just told me, you never know what we could have been."

You shrugged nonchalantly not paying much attention to your words.

"Is it too late to see what we could've been?"

He raised his eyebrows expecting your answer as you thought for a moment.

"It's never too late."

You smiled widely at him when you noticed his eyes widening due to shock and a hue of pink crawling on his cheeks and ears from being flustered.

"I didn't know you would agree so easily."

"Well I'm a bit spontaneous and I wouldn't like to just wonder what we could've been, instead I would try to experience what we could've been honestly."

He laughed finally getting a bit relaxed in your presence before nodding his head.

"I'll text you tonight."

"Sure, now go back to your seat and tell the boys to do the same otherwise the teacher will have my head."

"Wouldn't like that to happen I still have a lot to know about you."

You waved him off grinning at him as he winked at you and made a run towards the other boys successfully shooing them off to their seats. You started walking back towards Jane shaking your head.

"What did you talk with him?"

You stopped in your track when you heard Wonwoo's voice behind you making you turn around towards him.

"None of your business."

"Come on now, is he your next target after Chan?"

You glared at Wonwoo and he just smirked at you tucking your hair in its place which had come out since Eunwoo ruffled your hair.

"Seokmin isn't someone you would play with Wonwoo, he's too naive and innocent and someone you would want your forever with."

Your words made Wonwoo narrow his eyes at you, he took few steps closer to you standing few feet away.

"You are catching feelings for him?"

"Nope, but I do want to know more about him."

"Know about him? Sure, go ahead but that's supposed to be it okay? Don't fall for him."

You rolled your eyes, hands across your chest and you eyed his posture up and down.

"And who are you to tell me that? Keep your distance Wonwoo your girlfriend won't like me getting so much of your attention."

He huffed, hands going inside his pocket as he looked at the ground before once again making an eye contact with you.

"Don't worry about Yena so much, you want to spend time with Seokmin do it, he's a good guy, if you want you can date him but don't fall for him."

With that he left you alone with your mind full of thoughts and heart beating loudly in your chest. You breathed deeply feeling frustrated that he still had such impact on you but you knew better than to fall for his charms.

[what-is-your-plan-today]

Riding High Ch 9: I Must Be Doing Something Right

Chapter Summary: Frank surrenders Mary to Foster care, but soon realises he’s made a big mistake. Can Fliss help him set it right?

Chapter Warnings: Bad Language words. A very rude and offensive game of Cards Against Humanity...so...be warned.

Chapter Pairings:  Frank Adler x OFC Fliss Gallagher

A/N: Contains SPOILERS for the film!!!!! If you haven’t seen it please be aware of that before you read on. This is a REALLY long update so apologies, but I couldn’t see a way to cut it without losing the key narrative.

As always I’m a ho for a REBLOG and COMMENT! 

Series Masterlist  Main Masterlist

Chapter Song: Stop Crying Your Heart Out by Oasis

'Cause all of the stars, are fading away, just try not to worry, you'll see them some day. Take what you need,and be on your way, and stop crying your heart out

7 days. 7 days is all it had taken.

He’d met the Foster Family on Sunday after Cullen had tabled the suggestion and agreed to the proposal that evening, ignoring Fliss and Roberta’s pleas to think about it for a few days at least. He didn’t want time to think, he was NOT going to surrender Mary to Evelyn, and if that meant she had to live with this nice family, in a posh house in Tampa, with a pool and a piano, then so be it.

The details were thrashed out between all attorneys and the state departments on the Monday and Tuesday, being finalised on the Thursday. Both he and his mother were given weekly visiting rights and once a month Mary was to come stay with him for a weekend, with longer visits during the holidays. Frank was offered his choice of date to surrender Mary into care. He chose the following Monday. When Greg asked him if he wanted more time, convinced he could get Frank at least a fortnight, he shook his head. The longer this dragged out the worst it was gonna be…like pulling of a band aid. Better to rip it fast and suffer a short, period of pain than drag it out.

His mother had been unable to resist one last shot as she left him on the steps of the court yard and her words were rattling around in his head as he stood watching Mary with Fliss as she hugged the woman tightly.

“I've been thinking a lot about the word called ‘compromise’. On one hand, good challenging school…on the other foster people. They can watch sitcoms with her. Take her to Olive Garden. Teach her to say ‘irregardless’ The only saving grace is, I suppose, is that she is better off than she was. Goodbye, Frank.”

He was clinging onto that. That she WAS better off with a family than his mother. And probably him if he was honest. Mary would understand that soon. He hoped. At the moment she was still in denial, insisting that Frank was going to change his mind. He had explained to her time and time again this was a court decision, not his. Greg had explained it to her, the foster parents had explained it to when she had met them during the week, hell Fliss had even explained it to her but nope, she wasn’t having it. Even before when he told her to go and say ‘see you later’ to Roberta, not goodbye- because it wasn’t goodbye- Mary had laughed and told the woman this entire thing was stupid and that she would be back with Frank later that evening.

And she was doing the same to Fliss now.

“You’ll be back for a visit before you know it…” Fliss said, brushing Mary’s hair off her face, blinking back her tears as she knelt in front of the girl “And Monty will be waiting for you.” Mary shook her head “Look, we all know this is ridiculous, Frank isn’t gonna leave me there. He promised I wasn’t going anywhere and he’s never broken a promise to me yet.” “And he still hasn’t.” Fliss said “This is a court order, not Frank’s. Now you promise me that when you get there you show all these new people you’re gonna meet what a wonderfully funny, smart and incredible person you are. And then, when you come back I want you to tell me all about it.”

Mary shrugged “I’ll see you at the weekend I expect.”

She moved back and looked at Frank like he was an utter idiot before she headed for the car. Fliss stood up and wiped her eyes, looking at Frank. “You gonna be ok?” she asked him.

“No.” he said honesty “Nothing about this is ok. At all. When she finally realises this isn’t some huge big joke or that I’m not gonna change my mind, she’s gonna flip.”

She stepped forwards to give him a hug, but he kept it brief, knowing that if he stayed he’d break. And he couldn’t. Not yet.

Fliss watched them drive away, before she turned back to her office, shut the door and curled up on the chair, arms hugging her knees as the tears coursed down her face.

***** “Hey… come on.” Frank said, kneeling in from of Mary, his large hands gently on her waist “I'm only 25 minutes away.”

He watched as the tears filled her eyes, the realisation that this was happening had sunk in finally, and he watched her heart break as she stood there, begging him.

“Please don't leave me here. Please.”

“No.” Frank sighed, bowing his head. “You're going to a brand new school. A better school.”

“I don't want to. I want my crummy school.” she sobbed.

“And you got Fred…” Frank carried on, fighting back his own tears.

“Please.”

“And once a month you can come back and stay with me and Fliss and Roberta…”

“I want you and Fliss and Roberta now!” she said loudly.

“And in a few years, if you want...you can come back. You can live with me.” he looked at her, smiling encouragingly.

“I wanna stay with you. Frank, you promised me.” Mary stomped her foot, angry tears pouring down her face.

“Come on. Don't do this.” Frank said softly, rubbing the tops of her arms and shoulders.

“You promised me.”

“I know.” he said, bowing his head blinking back tears. He had, and he’d broken that promise. And he felt like shit. “I know.” he repeated lamely, his left hand gently resting on the side of her face, brushing away her tears.

“Please, Frank. Why are you leaving me?” she sobbed as he took her face in both his hands and looked at her.

“Because the court said I have to. You know this. We've discussed this ad naus...” he stopped himself and looked down, swallowing thickly. “We've discussed this.” he looked at her, taking a deep breath.

“Come on. Come on. Please.” he said, gently moving to sweep her into a hug but she shoved him hard.

“No!”

Frank could do nothing but kneel there as she hit him again in his chest, then once on the side of his face, screaming at him. At that point her foster mother, Emma, stepped forward and Mary continued to lash out, screaming at Frank.

“Sweetheart, you know what?” she continued to talk to Mary as her foster Father, Kevin, looked down at Frank sympathetically.

“There's no easy way to do this.” he said. At that Frank jumped up and walked to the door.

“Not gonna be as long as you think, honey.” Emma was soothing her, but Mary was having none of it.

“Frank….”

“You're gonna see.”

“Frank!” Frank opened the door and paused, looking back as Mary was fighting against her foster mother who was gently holding her arms, screaming at him “Don't leave me!”

And that was the moment his heart broke into a million pieces. He had to go. Had to get out of there. He quickly stepped through the door and pulled it closed behind him, heading quickly for his truck, trying to block her screams and yells out as they still hit his ear from inside the house.

“Don't go! I need you! Fred needs you! You promised me!”

Sniffing back his tears he climbed into the truck, started it up, and then sat, both hands on the steering wheel, head bowed for a moment whilst he composed himself, before he put the truck in gear and drove off, leaving Mary behind.

**** Fliss had half expected Frank to show up at the yard again later that day, but he didn’t. Instead he messaged her telling her he needed some head space so was heading down to the Marina to do some work. Which was where she found him later that evening, working on the same boat he had been on all week.

“Hey, down there.” she said gently as she climbed the ladders up the side of the boat “The Serenity” Frank looked up at her, gave her a faint smile, before he turned back to what he was doing as Fliss stepped onto the deck of the boat, watching him carefully.

“I don't know which mistake is worst. Designing a water pump that leaks or putting it somewhere no human being can reach” he ranted as he leaned further into the uncovered pump. As Fliss took a seat on one of the raised benches at the back of the boat he stood up, part in his hand and sighed “How you design something you know is gonna fail? Gotta be devious or clueless, right?”

He dropped what he had been reaching for onto the table in front of him and glanced at Fiss who was sat watching him, her hands pressed between the knees of her denim-short clad legs as she shot him another small smile. He picked up an small wrench and returned to his previous position, crouching over the machinery of the boat.

“After the first few weeks, I knew I had to find a real family for her. I was in way over my head.” he reached for a bolt that was in the box he had resting on the side and continued his work “And every day I'd say today's the day I'm taking her to child services and every day she'd do something just…” he paused, his hands still working as a soft, yet heartbreakingly sad smile flickered across his face. “…so unbelievably cool.” he swallowed, still not looking at Fliss “Her little personality was exploding. She was funny and she was angry, and she was happy, and she was sad and was cute.” he reached for something else, his voice groaning slightly with the strain of stretching “Just so damn entertaining. And so I kept her.” his voice started to rise in tone, revealing the anger he felt at himself “Not that that's in her best interest. Not that I'm capable of raising a child.”

“Frank that’s not true…”  Fliss spoke softly, butting in but he continued his rant.

“A child that might still have a mother if I'd taken the time to notice she needed me.”

“Ok, now stop it…” Fliss’ voice was a little sterner now “Frank, we’ve been through this…”

“And now…” he stood up, reaching for a towel to wipe the oil off his hands “six and a half years later I finally got her to a foster family and you know what? It was great.” he said sarcastically “She loved it.” he tossed the towel onto the side. “I thought it would be a nightmare of abandonment and betrayal.” he hopped up onto the level of the boat Fliss was sat on and threw his hands out to the side “And it turns out it was a huge success….” he bent back down to pick up the broken part he had retrieved from the pump “I'm a fuckin’ hero.” on that he angrily launched the part out of the side of the boat where it hit something with a crash.

“Hey…” Fliss stood up and moved to gently run her hand down his arm. He was dirty, sweaty, covered in grease and he was conscious of this so went to pull away but she stopped him, her grip firm before she moved her hands to his face, her palms gently pressing against the scratch of his beard, sweat beading on his brow as he looked at her.

“Listen to me.” Fliss said, her eyes locking onto his “Mary will be ok. It’s gonna take time but…”

“You didn’t see her..” he said, stepping back out of her touch, his hand flying to his hair “She fucking hates me. She was screaming and…I just left her.” he finished, somewhat lamely “After I promised her…I promised her she could stay with me.”

With that he went to the stairs at the side of the boat, climbing them and heading down the ladder at the side.

“Frank...” Fliss moved to the side of the boat to try and talk to him again but he shook his head.

“No, Lissy…” he trailed off, holding his hand up. He sighed and took a deep breath “I appreciate everything you've done. Just...” he shook his head again and continued own the steps.

Fliss watched him go where he headed back into the little garage area, swallowing slightly. She looked up at the starry sky and took a deep breath, blinking back her tears. She knew she shouldn’t take it personally. He was hurting. He needed time. She licked her lips before she climbed off the boat and turned in the opposite direction he’d gone, deciding to take the long route around to her car so as not to pass the garage.

Frank walked into his workshop area and launched an angry kick at a box of engine propellers scattering it all over the floor. He stood up, both hands on his hips as he took a deep breath and turned half expecting Fliss to be behind him. But she wasn’t. With a sigh he made to go back outside and apologise but when he looked up she wasn’t on the boat anymore.

“Fuck…” he cursed, turning to look to his right where he saw her walking a hundred yards or so away down the side of the marina.

“Liss!” he called, and she stopped, turning towards him as he set off towards her in a jog. “Lissy, I’m sorry.” he sighed as he stopped in front of her.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for.” she replied “I understand.”

“No there is. You came her to check on me and…” he took a deep breathe “Believe me, if there’s one person in all of this that I have no right to be mad around it’s you. I didn’t mean to snap. I just…well, I guess I need some space.”

“I get it, honestly I do.” she said gently, stepping towards him and rubbing his arm “Today must have been so hard, I can’t imagine how you felt.” He fell silent. “But I meant what I said Frank, none of this is your fault.”

“I should never have let her go to that school…” his azure blue eyes misted over again, and he looked down at his feet, shaking his head. “Shoulda, woulda coulda…” Fliss said gently as he pulled his head back up to look at her “You can’t keep beating yourself up about things you can’t change, trust me, I know.”

Frank sniffed slightly before she sighed and carried on

“It’s done, Mary is with a good family, she’s going to get a good education and, yeah, it might take a while but she’ll come round and soon realise that you did what you did, not because you didn’t want her, but because you wanted what was best for her.” “I hope you’re right.” he said, his voice cracking as she stepped forward and pulled him back into her arms “Because I don’t know what I’m gonna do if she won’t forgive me…”

*****

Fliss was worried Frank was going to go off the rails, but he didn’t. He simply threw himself into his work. Night and day he was at the boat yard. They talked daily and she invited him to dinner on the Friday, in an attempt to keep him away from Ferg’s for fear of him getting himself absolutely trashed and doing something stupid like picking a fight. She hadn’t expected him to accept, however, so was pleasantly surprised when he took her up on her offer.

He was a little more subdued than normal, but they talked over the Bolognese she had made and then, Bill had popped his head in and invited them through to the house for a few drinks and a game of Cards Against Humanity

Frank’s face twisted into a grin. “You know I’ve never played it?”

“You’re kidding?” Bill looked at him. Frank shook his head.

“Oh Frankie, it’s great fun.” Fliss grinned “You get to learn a lot about people, and how twisted and sick their minds actually are.”

“Verity is the worst.” Bill said, seriously “I been with her now for almost 31 years, married to her for…” “28.” Fliss supplied.

“28…and I had no idea how warped she was until we played this a few years ago.”

Frank chuckled and Fliss looked at him and he shrugged, “ok I’m in.”

Fliss nodded and together they made their way out of the annex and over to the main house. Frank had been in it once before, and despite the fact that it was ridiculous large and fancy, he felt at home. Verity greeted her with the usual warmth, wrapping him up in a motherly hug as she looked at him and scalded him for losing weight. He sighed, he knew he hadn’t been eating properly but he didn’t look that different.

“Leave the lad alone.” Bill looked at his wife, thrusting a chilled San Miguel into Frank’s hand “He’s come here to relax not have you nagging on at him.”

Verity rolled her eyes and began to quibble with her husband whilst Fliss shook her head, grinning at Frank before she led him through to the dining room where the cards were placed in the middle of the table.

It didn’t take long for Frank to get the hang of the game, and it also didn’t take him long to realise Bill was right. Verity had an extremely warped sense of humour, that said, so did Fliss, and the more alcohol she consumed, the worse it got. He declined another beer from Bill, stating that he had to head home, but Fliss frowned at him.

“Take the spare room.” she shrugged but he shook his head.

“I’m working tomorrow, got a few things to finish so…”

She didn’t push it, and that was another thing Frank loved about her. The fact that she would take no for an answer without questioning him.

“Ok…so…” Frank leaned over, taking the cards that were face down, shuffling them so he didn’t know whose were whose “Do not fuck with me I am literally blank right now…” he turned the top card over and gave a snort “Seeing things from Hitler’s perspective…” then he turned the next card and arched an eyebrow “dying…oh god that’s bad…” and the final one “pretending to care…it’s gotta be the Hitler one!”

“Yess…” Fliss said, grinning as she took the card from him “Catching you up mum.” After a few more rounds which contained winning combinations such as “This is your Captain speaking. Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for September 11th, 2001 “ and “In the beginning there was the mixing of the races and then the Lord said 'Let there be Nazis’” the cards were finished and they all counted. Bill was bottom, Fliss and Frank had tied, and Verity was the runaway winner. After a little more chat they called it a night and Frank walked back to the annex and his truck with Fliss.

“Thank you.” he said, looking at her “Not just for tonight, which was real fun but…”

Fliss smiled and gave him a hug “Any time.”

He dropped a kiss to her cheek “Ya know, I’ll hold you to that.”

He gave her a cheeky grin as he got in his truck and Fliss watched him go, pleased to see that for the first time since Mary had left on the Monday, he seemed to be getting some of that Frank spark back.

*****

Frank parked the truck and grabbed the wrapped box of lego, the ping pong balls for Fred and the next Harry Potter book in the series (the third one) from Fliss off the passenger seat and headed up the steps. He knocked politely on the door and smiled as Kevin looked through the glass window to the left

“Hey” he smiled as Kevin opened the door

“Hi, Frank. We're errr…” Kevin stepped outside and closed the door “… having a little bit of a problem in there.”

“What?”

“Mary's fine but she's having a little bit of a meltdown.”

“Right.” Frank sighed, nodding “Let me talk to her” he made to enter the house but Kevin stopped him

“No, hang on. That's not a good idea.” he said gently as Frank looked at him, a slight frown on his face “Your visit here is the reason for the meltdown.”

“What?” Frank’s brows furrowed together

“She don't wanna see you.” Kevin said, apologetically.

Frank felt like his chest was being crushed. He took a deep breath and visibly slumped. Kevin continued sympathetically. “I'm sorry, man. This is predictable. You know, she needs time.”

Frank fought to keep himself composed. This was his first visit, it had been agreed that the first one would be the Monday, a week after she had left, then moving to Saturday afternoons, and they’d done that for a reason, to give her a full week to settle in. He hadn’t expected it to be plain sailing but he had been hoping she would calm down. He needed to see her, whenever they argued, they always talked, always sorted things out. And this wasn’t any different.

“Just give me 5 minutes with her.” he said, looking at Kevin

“I let you inside and then we're gonna betray her trust and have even bigger problem.” the man shook his head.

Frank got that, he did, but it didn’t make it any easier. He nodded, still keeping himself composed, before wordlessly he thrust the items he was holding into Kevin’s hand and turned and headed back to his truck. He got drunk that night. And as he lay on the sofa, with his tumbler of cheap scotch, he realised that the ache he was feeling was the same ache as when he lost Diane. He was grieving. Grieving for the loss of his wonderful, beautiful, annoying, smart-ass niece. Only she wasn’t dead, just gone. Gone from her home. Gone from him.

This mood continued through the week. On Tuesday morning he woke on the sofa, still clothed, with a mouth like sand paper and a banging headache. After a shower and litre of orange juice he went down to get his mail and found himself sitting on the bench near the mail boxes, simply staring into space. He was vaguely aware of someone sitting next to him, and when Roberta reached out and worked his right hand free from where it was joined tightly with his left, he let out a sigh as she simply squeezed his fingers.

Wednesday morning, after Fliss had stopped by with breakfast from the bakery not far down the road, he was sweeping up the kitchen, which didn’t seem to be half as messy anymore now there were no cat biscuits lying around after Fred wasn’t there to deposit the ones he didn’t want under the table. He opened the broom closet and his eyes fell onto the basket full of shells that Mary had collected over the last god knows how long. He stared at it for a moment before he threw the broom in the closet, slammed the door and went to get changed into his work clothes.

Thursday morning he woke to a message from Fliss asking if he fancied meeting her for lunch. He accepted her invite and headed down to the Marina. He’d there for a few hours, putting the water pump that he’d finally managed to strip out of that damned boat back together when his phone rang. He glanced at the number, it was Bonnie. Sighing he dropped it back to the desk next to him. She’d called a few times since Mary had left, Fliss had reasoned with him that he should answer as she probably just wanted to know how she was. But seeing as he didn’t actually fucking know, what on Earth was he going to tell her? He let it ring out as usual and then a little while later it beeped, signalling he had a message. He ignored that too, he’d deal with it later.

But Bonnie wasn’t giving up that easily.

*****

“Fliss?” Joanne called “There’s a call for you."

“Ok, hang on…” Fliss put down the bridle she had been piecing together in the tack room and headed through, taking the phone off Joanne “Fliss Gallagher…” “Hi Flss, it’s Bonnie, Bonnie Stevenson.” “Hi.” she said, surprised to hear the woman on the other end of the phone.

“I’m sorry to call you it’s just Frank is ignoring my calls and my messages and I was kind of worried about him…” “Oh…” Fliss took a deep breath, scratching at her head.  “He’s been a bit up and down so…don’t take it personally.”

“Look, don’t want to step on your toes because I know you two are kinda, well, anyway, I was just in the library at school today and well I saw a photo of Fred on the adoption board for the Pinellas County Animal Shelter and was a little-.”

“Hang on…” Fliss said, cutting her off, not quite believing what she was hearing  “Fred is in the Animal Shelter?” “Yeah…” Bonnie sighed “I know Mary loved that cat and I’m concerned Frank is making a mistake giving him away, Mary would-”

“Bonnie, the cat went with Mary…” Fliss said, her mind whirring

“What?” Bonnie whispered

“She took the cat with her to the foster home. Frank hasn’t turned him in, he’ll be devastated when he finds out.” she sighed, “Leave it with me…I’ll call him.” “Ok, erm…good luck.” Bonnie offered. “Thanks. And thank you for calling and telling us…I mean me…him…whatever” Bonnie gave a chuckle “I hope you get there in time…”

“In time?” Fliss frowned.

“Yeah, Fliss, it’s a kill shelter. They only keep the animals between 5 and 7 days depending on their hopes and chances of being adopted…”

Fliss felt her heart sink. Suddenly her thoughts went back to Frank and how he had told her Mary refused to see him on Monday as she was having a meltdown about him going…what if the melt down had been about Frank being taken away from her.

“Fuck…” she mumbled, “Bonnie, I’m sorry I gotta…” And at that she put the phone down. She grabbed her keys, purse and mobile and sprinted for her jeep, yelling to Joanne that she had an emergency. She dived in her car, sped off down the drive and called Frank as she went.

“Hey…” he said

“Oh you’ll answer to me, ass hat” She said, turning left onto the freeway, keying in the location on her GPS.

“Of course…” he said, his tone a little puzzled “What’s…”

“Bonnies’ been trying to call you…”

“I know, I just…” “Shut up a minute.” Fliss cut him off “She was calling because she saw a poster, an adoption photo for the Pinellas County Animal Shelter. It was Fred.”

There was a pause before Frank breathed out “What?”

“They gave her cat away Frank…”

There was a loud clatter at the other end and then she could tell Frank was running from the sounds and the way his voice sounded.

“I can’t…oh god Fliss, Mary’s gonna be devastated.” “I know, just…look I’m on my way now. I’ll meet you there…”

“Ok…” he said, and with that he hung up. *******

Frank didn’t think he’d ever driven that fast before in his life. He literally dumped the truck on the car park, haphazardly parked in a disabled bay, and ran into the shelter, straight to the reception desk.

“Hi!” he said, resting his hands on the desk.

“Hi! Can I help you?”

“Yeah. Do you have a one-eyed orange cat named Fred?”

At that he heard someone else crashing through the door and a second later there was a gentle touch his arm and he turned to see Fliss, dressed in her riding gear besides him, having taken slightly longer to get there due to being a few miles further away.

“We have a one-eyed cat.” the receptionist said after a pause “But I don't know what his name is.”

“Where?” Fliss demanded impatiently.

The receptionist turned to the woman behind her who was digging in the drawers. She turned and pulled a sympathetic face “I don't know. Today was his last day.”

Fliss groaned as Frank hung his head. Then, as a dog gave a loud bark from somewhere in the rear of the shelter, there was a violent tug on his hand and he was being dragged down the side of the desk, the receptionist shouting objections as Fliss pulled him through the door at the end. They past the rows of dogs in kennels and then Frank spotted another door to their right.

“This way…” he said, this time he was pulling her along as they headed into the cattery, but there was no sign of Fred. They continued through, and then headed into the veterinary area, trying each door one by one and the final one they entered was occupied.

“What are you doing back here?” the vet looked at him as Frank saw 3 needles on the table and let out a soft groan.

“I told him he couldn't.” he heard the receptionist say but his attention was taken by Fliss

“Thank God…” she breathed out, moving to her left and Frank heard a familiar meow. He turned to see Fred in a cat cage on the side.

The relief that flooded his system was insurmountable. He joined Fliss who was now stroking Fred through the bars as the cat tilted his head and looked up at Frank.

“Hey Fred…” he sighed, his hands falling to the top of the cage as he kissed Fliss’s head in relief and thanks…and then the anger came back.

“Who brought this cat?” he turned round to look at the helpers who were stood in the room.

“Some guy.” the one from the reception shrugged. “He said it was an allergy issue.”

He let out an angry snort and looked at Fliss “Evelyn. She’s allergic to cats.”

Fliss face slid into an expression of understanding as she turned to look at him. “Seems like Mr Perfect Foster Father fed you a load of bullshit on Monday, Frank.”

It took them half an hour to iron out the paper work which allowed Frank to bring Fred home…and because the two other cats in there, Chili and Toby, were on death row they came too, well, with Fliss that is back to the stables.

They carried the cats out between them and Frank turned to Fliss as he passed her the cage containing the black and white one, Chili.

“I’m going to get Mary back…this…this is wrong. She needs to be with me. I mean, she’s a good kid, right?”

"Of course Frank, I’ve told you before, she’s an amazing little girl.” Fliss looked at him as she shut the rear door to the car.

“Well then, I can’t be that bad a substitute parent can I?” he urged.

Fliss beamed at him before she asked “So how we gonna play it?”

He noted her use of the word we, and smiled “I’m gonna give my mother exactly what she wants”

Huh?” Fliss frowned “I’m not…”

“I’m going to give her another way to achieve her dream without using Mary…” he said, biting his lip as he turned to face her “Once you’ve dropped those two off meet me at mine as fast as you can. I need to pick up some stuff…and Roberta.”

*****

Frank jumped out of Fliss’ jeep before it had even stopped, running up the steps to the large house. He pounded his fist on the doorway and it swung open.

“Frank?” Kevin greeted him

“Where's Evelyn?” Frank demanded.

“Evelyn? You mean your mother?”

“Yes.”

“Kevin…” they were joined by Emma who grabbed his arm. ”Evelyn is in the guest house.”

Frank turned and headed back down the steps, jumping the last 3.

“Yeah, listen. I'm sorry, man.” Kevin followed “Frank, let me tell you. She was so helpful with the tutors. Mary was so distant and she-“

“Hey!” Fliss stepped out to block Kevin’s way “Look, we know what you’re up against."

She looked at Kevin who sighed, nodding “She’s tenacious…”

“Do you want your life back? “ Roberta looked at him, her gaze steady as Kevin watched Frank heading up the steps to the guest house “Go back inside.”

Frank reached the top of the stairs and wrenched open the door to see his mother sat at a desk with Mary, whilst another man was stood pointing at a book, another sat in the corner on a computer. All 4 looked up and Frank took a deep breath, shaking his head at his mother.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

Frank ignored her as Fliss and Roberta stepped into the room, Roberta carrying the box he had brought with him.

“Come on, Mary. We're going home.” he said as Roberta placed the box on the desk and folded her arms.

“No.” Mary said gently, shaking her head, eyes locked on Frank.

“You're trespassing!” Evelyn started but Frank ignored her, flipping the lid off the box, pulling out a ring bound file “You need to look at this.” he tossed it on the desk and walked towards Mary. “Let's go, Mary. Let's move. Come on.” he beckoned with his hand.

“No!” she said, sliding off her chair. She pushed the man next to her out of the way and dodged round the desk. There was a cacophony of people moving and shouting her name but Frank gently stopped Fliss as she stepped towards her.

“It's okay. I got her.”  he said, flying after Mary.

Evelyn made to follow but Fliss stepped right in her path, blocking the way, her nose inches from Evelyn’s as she stared the woman down.

“Think again, lady…”  Roberta said from behind her, her hand laying on Fliss’ shoulder, giving a squeeze of support.

Evelyn looked at the two of them for a second before she jerked her head to flick the piece of hair that had fallen forwards into her eyes before she tuned and picked up her phone. She looked at Fliss again, who arched an eyebrow, and then turned back to her phone before she stopped dead and her eyes fell on the ring bound file Frank had thrown onto the desk.

Fliss exchanged a look with Roberta, neither of them understanding what was in the file, but clearly Evelyn did. Fliss had a feeling it was something to do with the Navier-Stokes equation Frank had told her that Diane had been working on, maybe some research. Evelyn glanced over Fliss’ shoulder to the door, her breathing deep as she looked back to the file.

“This…” she said, looking at it “It can’t…”

Then she snapped out of whatever moment she has been in, going for the door but Fliss once more stepped into her path.

“You’re not going out there, not until Frank has a chance to speak to Mary…”

“You have no right…”

“And neither do you.” Fliss said loudly

“I have visitation rights…I’m her grandmother!” “Oh please!” Fliss snorted “Up until a few months ago you had never seen her. And what kind of grandmother rips a little girl away from the person who has shown her nothing but love all her life, and cared for and provided for her for over 6 and a half years? Huh?”

Evelyn raised her chin defiantly.

“And all for what? Some fucking dream about a stupid maths problem that no one bar a gang of stuck up Oxbridge middle aged tossers gives a shit about!" "How dare you?" Evelyn glared at Fliss "I'm not having some jumped up, dressage riding tart speak to me like this! I did this for Mary... to give her the life she deserves… " "No you did this for yourself." Fliss shot back. "And you know what? Maybe Frank doesn’t have poshest house, or the most prestigious career in the world but kids don't need money, or laptops or huge fucking homes with a pool and a summer house! They need love and care, to know they're safe and wanted...and she gets all of that with Frank, with us..." She gestured to Roberta as she continued. "And if you stopped to listen and look at her as a person and not your ticket to fame for just one second you'd see what an amazing, wonderful little girl she is and that's down to your son." Fliss took a deep breath and wiped at her eyes as Evelyn looked away from her to Roberta almost as if she was expecting a verbal tirade from her too. Roberta simply shrugged "I got notin' to add...she said it all for me" "Frank is one of the kindest, most gentle men I know." Fliss said, her voice softer. "He has a heart of gold and everything he does is for that little girl. Maybe he doesn't always get it right but who does? He tries his best, and I'd love to congratulate you on bringing up such an amazing person but I literally have no idea how he turned out the way he did with a cold hearted bitch like you as a mother."

****

“Mary!” Frank called, sprinting after her as she ran down the drive “Mary!”

He gently grabbed her arm and dropped to the floor as she spun round “No, let me go!” she yelled at him, lashing out again with her arms the same way she had done when he had left her. Frank turned his head holding his hands up to deflect the blows.

“Stop, Mary.” he said gently as she continued “Stop, stop!”

“No!”

“Come here.” he said, his voice still soft as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him as he stood up, holding her tight.

“You lied to me.” she said accusingly

“I know.” he scrunched his eyes up, ducking his head as she continued to rain blows on him.

“No, no!”

“Stop, stop, stop!” he said softly as her blows grew weaker until she collapsed against him, crying, her head buried into his shoulder. He closed his eyes and pressed his face against her cheek. “ I'm sorry. I made a mistake. I'm so sorry.”

“You promised me.”

“I know.” he agreed, taking a deep breath, looking upwards.

“You promised.” Mary’s voice was quiet as her small arms moved around his shoulders.

“I know. I'm sorry. I’m so sorry…” his voice cracked as he gently walked them towards the house a little.

“You said you wouldn't leave me.” she cried, as his hand moved up to hold between her shoulder blades and he pressed his cheek to the side of her head.

“I made a mistake. I'm sorry.”  he stressed, rubbing her back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly and he closed his eyes, swaying her softly on the spot.

“I was so sad!” she sobbed as Frank simply stood, breathing heavily, eyes still closed as he desperately fought for composure “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”  he whispered into her hair as he pressed a kiss to the side of her head, blinking back the tears that were filling his eyes. God he should never have agreed to this, ever.

“They took Fred.” Mary wailed.

“No. It's okay.” Frank sniffed, bending down to place her on the floor so she could look at him “We got him. He's home.”

“What? “she asked softly, her cries stopping as she looked at him, her eyes so like her mother’s bored into his.

“He's at the apartment right now. Me and Fliss went and we got him”

“For real?”

“Yeah” Frank assured her, his right hand reaching up to wipe away her tears as he cupped her cheek softly  “he's home kicking around his ping pong ball.”

“Why did you leave me there?” she said, her sobs starting again. And that was the moment he broke. He couldn’t hold it in anymore and he too began to cry.

“Because I thought I was bad for you.” his voice was croaky as he struggled to speak as a tear fell down his cheek  “And then it dawned on me. If Mary is this amazing... smart, sweet human being... then I must be doing something right.”

She looked at him, her face contorting as her cries grew shallower and she reached out with her small hands rubbing at his beard before her thumbs crept into the side of his mouth, and she curled his lips upwards and he swallowed again, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners.

Her hands fell to his shoulders and she looked at him “You're smiling”

He nodded and bowed his heads, his chest heaving with unshed sobs before Mary wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He closed his eyes again, holding her close, his hand rubbing her back.

“I’m never gonna let anyone take you away from me again Short Stack.” he said, as she pulled back, her hands fiddling with the collar of his grey T-shirt.

She paused for a moment before she looked at him. “Can we go home now?”

“You’re damned right.” he nodded, as he stood, picking her up in his arms. “They made their way back up the steps pausing slightly to look at one another as Fliss’ angry yells hit their ears.

“Fliss is mad” Mary’s eyes grew wide and she looked at Frank.

“Yeah well she’s missed you too, so has Roberta.” Frank smiled as they carried on up the steps. They reached the door just in time to catch Fliss basically calling Evelyn a “cold hearted bitch” and as Frank opened the door,  Roberta and Fliss turned to face them and beamed as Mary yelled their names

“Roberta! Lissy!”

“Hey baby!” Roberta said, as she hugged the girl tightly before Mary released her and threw herself at Fliss.

“Oh kiddo…” Fliss sighed, dropping a kiss to her head. She looked up at Frank and he gave her a wink, before nodding gently to the door.

“Of all the stunts you could pull” Evelyn looked at him and he glared straight back as besides him he heard Fliss say something to Mary as her and Roberta ushered her out of the door.

“Where are they going?” Evelyn demanded

“Nowhere. Not yet.” Frank said, looking at her before he turned his attention to the two tutors in the room “You two, out!”

Once they left, Frank and his mother began to argue about the file he had given her, Evelyn refusing to believe it was real, that Diane had solved the Millennium Problem. Eventually, Frank had enough and shook his head.

“Evelyn, stop!” he said firmly. “I'm taking Mary and I'm raising her how I believe Diane would have wanted”

“We'll see about this…”

“I realize she's not normal.” he continued, his voice steady and definitive “but if Einstein can ride a bike so can she.”

“Let’s just say Diane didn't tell me, which is nonsense. It's a Millennium Problem!” his mother blazed “She would have shared it with the world. That's where your charade falls apart.”

Frank sighed and looked down, one hand resting on the surface of the table between him and his mother, the other shoved into his pocket.

“If she had completed the proof, she would have published it!” Evelyn finished.

With a deep breath he looked back up at his mother before he looked down at the file and spoke a little softer this time “Diane instructed me very clearly….” he swallowed and looked down at his left hand, his fingers tapping lightly on the table “…that I was only to publish it post mortem.”

“She died six years ago.” Evelyn demanded and he looked back at her.

“It wasn't her death she was talking about.”

He watched as his mother’s mouth fell open slightly in understanding and shock before she looked down, swallowing. Despite everything, Frank felt a pang of sympathy for her, he was taking no pleasure in any of this. His mother sank into a chair, her eyes closing as her head bowed slightly

“I tried to talk her out of it.” Frank said gently “But you know how Diane could be when she made her mind up about something.”

Evelyn didn’t say a word, she simply stared at a spot on the desk, her eyes darting from side to side and Frank could see she was suddenly coming to terms with the fact that, really, she hadn’t known his sister at all

“I called MIT.” he continued “Shankland's out of his mind about the possibility of publishing it with you.” At that Evelyn glanced up at him “He's waiting for your call. Frank nodded “You're gonna spend the next few years of your life defending it. You won't have time for her.”

Evelyn swallowed again, before she floundered to speak, struggling slightly to form the first word. “What If I say no?”  she said, taking a breath and looking back up at Frank.

He looked to the side slightly “well..” his eyes flicked back to hers, the nerve in his jaw twitching slightly “Back to Plan A”

“Wait for me to die?” Evelyn said, her voice almost amused as she fixed Frank with a look.

“I know Diane was hard.” he said after a moment’s pause, his voice remaining calm. “I know she was angry. But something really good came out of this, Evelyn. She needs you now. You're the best woman for the job. Take it”

Evelyn looked down at the file again, her brows raising slightly “It doesn't seem like Diane wanted me to have it.”

“Well, Diane didn't always think things through.” He smiled softly as Evelyn looked up at him, the fact she had spoken those exact words to Frank weeks before had clearly not passed her by. “I'll be outside. Let me know what you wanna do.”

With that he left the room but seconds later Evelyn shot out after him. He turned from his vantage point of the stairs and glanced back up at her, questioningly

“I’m not going to fight you, not anymore. Diane... she deserves for her work to be published.”

He nodded and turned to go again but she stopped him a second time.

“Frank, will you let me give you one piece of advice before you go?” 

He looked at her expectantly.

“Fliss…” “What about her?” Frank asked.

“The way she was fighting your corner before, the things she was saying, well, it almost made me proud to be your mother.” Evelyn said with a soft smile “Don’t let that girl go.”

“I don’t intend to.” Frank shook his head, one corner of his mouth twitching upwards slightly “Goodbye Evelyn.”

***** Cullen wasn’t overly impressed with Frank’s display of recklessness, calling him a “dumbass” loud enough for Fliss, Mary and Roberta to hear. Frank headed out of the house and explained what had happened and he listened, before promising set the ball rolling right away. Two hours later he called back having spoken the woman from the Welfare Department who had been managing the fostering arrangements.

“The Welfare Department are happy, given Evelyn’s lack of contention, for Mary to stay in your care and not be dragged back.”

“So…” Frank held his breath, not daring to believe what his friend was saying “She’s gonna be able to stay?”

“We’ll need to go back to court to obtain formal Guardian status so the process isn’t over just yet but with Evelyn’s seeming U-Turn, and the Foster Parents being surprisingly supportive of you, there’s no way this is going anywhere but in your favour.” Cullen’s voice was full of warmth “I’ll organise the paper work and we’ll file for a hearing as soon as possible but it could be after thanksgiving. I got another big custody case going on now so…” “But there’s no way she’s gonna be taken?” Frank pressed.

“I’d bet my house on it.” Cullen said, making Frank smile “The only potential bump in the road here now is if your mother requests formal access or visitation rights.” “Well if she does…I’m not opposed to her having a relationship with Mary, but it’s done on Mary’s terms, not hers.” Frank said softly. “And being reasonable like that will go even more in your favour.” Cullen chuckled “I’ll get the paper work sorted on Monday. So in the mean-time enjoy your weekend and take Fliss on a date will ya?”

With a laugh and assurances that he was going to try at least, he headed back inside to be hit with a barrage of noise as the 3 women were dancing in the living room to Journey “Don’t Stop Believing”. which was blaring out of the stereo. Mary was on the sofa, bouncing up and down as she sang whilst Fliss had hold of her hands, moving them back and forth as they danced. Frank leaned against the doorframe and simply watched them until Roberta moved over and dragged him into the middle of their group. Mary threw herself at him and he caught her with a loud huff which was followed by a laugh as she reached up and ruffled his hair.

A few hours and Chinese takeout later, Mary was fast asleep and both Fliss and Roberta decided it was time to go. Gently lifting Mary from where she was led with her head in Fliss’ lap, Frank tucked her in bed fully clothed (like it mattered for one night) and then headed outside. He said goodnight to Roberta, the woman hugging the pair of them before he walked Fliss back down to the jeep.

“Thank you for today” he said “I never knew you had such a fierce side…”

“Well, I spent so long being trampled and stepped on…sometimes I like it when my inner lioness makes an appearance.” she smirked at him.

“You certainly made an impression on my Mother.”

“Oh, yeah…” Fliss winced “I kinda..well not kinda, I…err…I shouted at her. Called her a cold hearted bitch…” “Yeah I heard that bit” Frank raised an eyebrow and Fliss snorted.

“In my defence, she started it, she called me a jumped up dressage tart, I mean…” “Well that’s just fuckin' rude.” Frank agreed “You show-jump.” Fliss looked at him before she burst out laughing and Frank grinned. There was a pause before Frank looked down at the floor and then back at Fliss “You know, she give me one final piece of advice as I left…” “Oh yeah? What was that? Buy a mosquito net? A Bug zapper? No, wait, she told you to get a string vest and a banjo didn’t she?”

Frank shook his head laughing before he looked at Fliss. “She told me not to let you go.” he said, holding Fliss gaze before she looked down, tucking her hair behind her ears. “Although the banjo does sound fun.” “Piss off.” she said gently with a grin, shoving him in his chest. He caught her wrist softly and then moved his hand to tangle their fingers together, looking down at her small palm against his before he looked back at her.

“You know, if this was a movie I’d use some really shit cliché here like oh, you came into my world and turned my life inside out…” he shrugged, “ but my life was already upside down and inside out, and you…” he let out a breath “you just help put it back to where it should be. You make everything better Lissy and these last few months without you in my corner..." he trailed off as her brown eyes locked onto his, shining in the dim light, his thumb gently skating the back of her hand. "Look, I know you said I wasn’t in a position to know what I want but..." He trailed off as he spotted the twinkle in her eye as she smiled at him, her hand squeezing his.

“I think it's about time you took me sailing don’t you?" she grinned.

He gave smile and nodded “Yeah, yeah I do. Does tomorrow work?”

“Works just fine sailor.” she said, standing on her toes. She placed a soft kiss to the side of his mouth and it took every inch of self-control Frank had not to grab her and kiss the life out of her but he knew now wasn’t the moment. Instead he smiled as she stepped back, and headed towards her car.

TAGS: @the-omni-princess  @momobaby227 @geekofmanythings16 @angelofhell-666 @thewackywriter @marvelfansworld  @cobalt-gear  @asgardlover75 @jennmurawski13  @jtargaryen18 @saiyanprincessswanie  @navispalace @patzammit  @joannaliceevans-fanficblog  @icanfeelastormbrewing @djeniiscorner  @ayamenimthiriel  @coldmuffinbanditshoe  @disneylovingal @madzmilllz  @sgtjaamesbaarnes @sweater-daddiesdumbdork @southerngracela  @goldenfightergir @kellymat @official-and-unstable-satan @pagesoflauren 

[yeols-baekhoes]

Picnic With Kim Namjoon

Rated: F for fluff, DJ for daddy Joon

Picture this: A/U where Namjoon— who has been noticeably distant the last few days— has a surprise for you. A big one.

Graphics:

(baby)

****************•********************•*****************

"Hey, baby?" Came the soft, deep voice from the other side of the wooden door, a knock almost as soft as the man's voice following.

You remain quiet, not only because speaking up had proven to only make your already sore throat even worse, but because at that moment you were avoiding your significant other so that an argument wouldn't occur.

You had been sick for what felt like a century, but really was about a week and a half. Your throat felt like sandpaper, your head had been scalding the past week and your nose stuffed and runny. You knew you were getting better, though, when you woke up this morning sans the fever and runny nose. It felt heavenly after so long of not being able to breathe through your nose properly.

Even though you lived twenty minutes away, you had found yourself taking shelter in Joon's apartment as your parents had left for another work trip.

You usually enjoyed being in Namjoon's company. Ever since you met him almost a decade ago, his friendship had always been your source of comfort when your broken family proved to be otherwise.

It was only until four years back that you had both decided to act on the hidden feelings that had been bottled for years.

But recently, the past few weeks had been strange. Namjoon, always the busy bee, had been extremely distant. It was out of character for him. Yes, he was busy with his projects, but you always understood him. Understood the late nights, the days where he couldn't text you as frequently as he always did. He was chasing his dreams, working damn hard for them, at that. But, he always made sure to at least check in with you so you were aware he was okay. He would still sit with you, gently massaging your aching feet from work, even if it was for a couple of minutes before he ran off. There was always a few minutes of conversation where you would watch as his beautiful eyes lit up and his dimples deepened when he talked about his day or when he watched you speak about yours.

You weren't mad. You could never be mad at your Joon, not when he was finally getting to do everything he had talked about when you were both younger. The things he would smile about as you both sat on the low branch of the tree you both expertly climbed as children. What kind of girlfriend, what kind of best friend, would you be if you did get angry at that?

But your sickness had left you feeling like a child in need of comfort, and you couldn't help but feel upset about how visibly distant Namjoon had been. It was as if he was hiding something from you. It hurt that he wasn't fully trusting you.

When he noticed that you weren't going to respond, the door opened and Namjoon walked in. You looked up from your bag of clothes, looking up at your boyfriend.

"What Namjoon?" You ask, looking away. He knew what he was doing. Coming in here looking like he did, his lips slightly pursed so that his dimples would deepen. He was wearing a simple outfit, a black and white striped t-shirt, blue jeans, and his favorite pair of black high tops.

"I know you're mad at me, but there's no need for that or for you to be packing your clothes." He states. He hated when you called him by his full name when angry. He loved all the nicknames and pet names you had come up with.

You shrug, "I'm not mad at you and I'm taking these home to do laundry."

You hear him sigh and walk closer to you. You feel his arms snake around you, bringing you closer to his front. He knew you loved when he hugged you from behind. It made you smile faintly as his arms tightened around your belly.

"Don't be mad, honey." He whispers softly, his breath fanning across your neck as he brings his body down to reach your neck, where he places a soft kiss.

"You're going to get sick, Nam-" You start, trying to move out of his warm hold. You were annoyed with him, but that didn't mean you wanted him to catch whatever bug it was that you had. Of course he cuts you off, pulling you right back to him.

"I don't care." He turns you around in his arms, looking down at you.

"I do." You say, secretly enjoying how he held you.

He shrugs and chuckles, "Too bad. I want to hold my girlfriend."

You scrunch you're nose as you feel your argument crumble in your mind as he leaves a trail of soft kisses down your neck.

"Listen, I'm sorry. I know I have been distant the past few weeks. I've been dealing with some things and questioning others. I didn't realize until last night that I was distancing myself from you. That's something I never want to do. I'm sorry I made you feel like this." He says, as he looks up again, his big hands cradling your face.

You sigh looking at him. You knew he was sincere. That was something he never lacked. It was so clear in his dark eyes as he looked at you.

"It's okay, Joon. I just want you to remember that I'm here for you, okay? Just tell me whenever you're stressed out instead of pushing me away. That way I can at least try to help you and you won't be going through it alone." You respond, giving in. You touched his cheek softly, caressing the soft skin.

"I know. There's just something I've been thinking about. But I figured it out. So..." He trails off, kissing your cheek.

You giggle, "So?"

"Am I forgiven? Can we cuddle now without you wanting to slap me away?" He jokes, picking you up, his hands under your bottom.

You laugh, your arms wrapping around his neck as he carries you to the bed, nuzzling into your neck the way he did after a long day. He gently places you down, coming down with you but stopping when he was a few inches away from your face. His strong arms were at each side of your face, caging you in.

"Hey there, gorgeous." He says sweetly, making you smile. His minty breath fanned across your upper lip as he looked down at them when the corners lifted.

"Hi, handsome." You whisper, looking at his full lips. Joon's smile was the first thing you had fallen in love with.

"I really want to kiss you right now." He whispers to you, his mouth centimeters away from yours. You close your eyes as you feel him nearing, his intoxicating cologne clouding your senses, one of his hands sweetly placed on your cheek.

You hum as his mouth goes to your collarbone, lightly biting at the skin before lightly running his tongue across it. "Namjoon, you're going to get sick." You mumble as a light moan escapes.

"I don't care." He states again. As his face nears, you close your eyes, reveling in the feeling of his full, soft lips on yours. Warmth spreads through your entire body as he deepens the kiss. His hand holds your chin as his lips continue to dance with yours. Every time Namjoon kissed you, it felt like the world was stopping around the both of you, but at the same time it felt as if everything was ablaze. The passion you both shared almost inconceivable.

You open your eyes as he pulls back, both your breathing shallow. He smiles and looks down at you, the love you both felt for each other clear in his eyes.

He pecks you once and then twice as his hands come up to tickle your sides. You let out a screaming laugh as his nimble fingers continue their attack on your sides.

"I hate you." You laugh as he chuckles at your discomfort.

"No you don't. You love me." He says, falling onto the space next to you.

You turn to rest your head on his hard chest, "Sometimes." You joke. He chuckles and brings you closer to place a kiss on your hair.

"I have a surprise for you tomorrow. I've been planning it on and off for the last few weeks." He says simply, kicking off his shoes. You get up partly, resting your head on your hands that were on top of his chest. You look down at him, his eyes closed, his face peaceful.

"What surprise?" You ask, tracing the lines of his face. Your lips still stung with the electrifying sweetness of your kiss.

He chuckles, the dimples you love appearing. "It's called a surprise for a reason. It comes from the Medieval Latin word 'superprehendere' or seize; Where it was then translated to the Old French word 'surprendre'."

You rolled your eyes and smiled down at him, he enjoyed sharing his encyclopedic knowledge with you. You loved when he did so. Your boyfriend was truly a man of endless knowledge. Learning came easy to him, he craved it.

"You're not going to tell me, are you?" You ask, already knowing the answer.

He shakes his head and pulls you back down to rest on his chest. His hand went to your hair, carefully running his hand through.

His steady heartbeat lulls you, and before you know it, both of you are fast asleep.

••

"Joon, can you at least tell me where we're going so I know how to dress." You tell Namjoon who was currently finishing his shower. You had woken up feeling so much better, the pain the sore throat had caused had lessened exponentially. You dared to say it had disappeared overnight.

You were sitting on the toilet with a towel wrapped around yourself, you had just finished showering and washing your hair.

"I'm not telling you what it is until we get there and you see for yourself." He answers. You could practically feel him smiling through the shower curtain. He was really enjoying this whole keeping it a surprise thing.

"Dress warmly, too. Its just us. Think of it as a casual day out." He adds.

You sigh but get up to get ready, nonetheless. You couldn't help but be excited, though. It had been a few weeks since both of you had a night out. Both of your work got in the way a lot of the times, but of course most days you both slept in the same bed. You didn't mind missing a few date nights, as long as you got to fall asleep in Namjoon's arms at night, got to hear his heartbeat as you slowly fall asleep.

You take a few minutes to get ready in where you pick out a big, fluffy, burgundy sweater and some dark ripped jeans. You finish it off with a pair of black boots. You lightly spray your wrists and neck with the perfume Joon got you as one of your Valentine's Day presents last year. He said it was his favorite scent and it reminded him of you when you were away from each other.

Namjoon comes in minutes after wearing a white woolen turtleneck, black jeans, and his favorite boots. It was a chilly day out, but it would only get chillier as it got later.

You blatantly stare at him as the same feeling you get when he kisses you starts at the pit of your stomach.

"You look so beautiful, baby." He beats you to it, coming to your side. He grabs your hand and makes you do a spin.

It didn't matter if all you had on was a pair of sweats and an old t-shirt with holes in it, or if your hair was all over the place after a night in bed with Joon. He always called you beautiful.

You laugh as he spins, "I was going to say the same thing about you. You clean up nicely, handsome." His hands rest low on your waist as he looks down at you, a bright smile on his lips.

"Stop it." He says bashfully. Even after so many years of knowing him, and four years of being in a relationship, Joon always blushed beet red when you complimented him.

"You're so cute." You giggle, lifting slightly on your toes to kiss his warm, blushing cheek. You had missed doing so.

"So, where are we going?" You say nonchalantly, kissing the exposed skin of his neck. Namjoon softly groans in your ears as you leave a trail of kisses up to his sharp jaw.

"You almost got me there. But good try. Like I said, I'm not telling you until we get there and you see for yourself." He answers, pulling slightly away.

You pout as your impromptu plan to get him to tell you where you were going, fails. He laughs and pecks your bottom lip.

"Don't pout, baby. Come on, I already put everything in the trunk of the car so you won't be able to see anything." He says, grabbing your purse from the ottoman at the foot of the bed and handing it to you.

"Okay, lets go." You say as you notice how excited he was. You decide to stop pestering him and just 'go with the flow' because you just loved that excitement in his eyes, the twinkle of it in his gaze.

You wait next to Namjoon as he locks up the apartment, holding your hand and leading you down the hall when he did so.

"I can't wait until we get there. I hope you like it." He says excitedly. You laugh admiringly at his excitement, "I'm sure whatever it is, I'll genuinely love." You tell him, slightly swinging your hands back and forth as you wait for the elevator to reach your floor.

"I hope so." He answers as he brings your hand up to kiss it.

When you are both seated in Namjoon's car a few minutes later, seatbelts buckled- he never started the car unless everyone had theirs on— is when Joon speaks.

"Road trip." He says, wiggling his eyebrows, looking at you as he turns on the radio and connects his phone to the Bluetooth. You look at him, feeling the excitement bubble in you. You finally were going to spend some needed time with him. No work to worry about, just the two of you.

You smile at him as he grabs your hand, placing it on his lap as he drove with the other.

Even though it was chilly out, the day was beautiful. All blue skies with a few scattered clouds. There was a comfortable silence in the car as a song played on the radio. It was something about your relationship you appreciated. That there could be absolute silence and neither of you felt the need to disrupt it because it was so peaceful and both of you were comfortable to just sit in each other's presence.

The thing about being Namjoon's girlfriend was that even in completely silence, he would unknowingly do little things to show he was attentive to you. The way he caressed your hand, the way he'd harmonize whatever you were disastrously singing along to, the way he'd look at you or lean over to kiss your cheek at a stop sign or light.

You sighed happily, softly rubbing your thumb on Namjoon's, feeling the chilly but soothing wind come in through the opened windows and playing with your hair, 'Frequency' by Jhené Aiko filling the car.

You went through her entire new album 'Chilombo', before you spoke up. "It's beautiful out here." You say. You had never traveled this way before, there was no need to. A while ago, wooden areas had covered both sides of the highway, deep rooted trees that had been there longer than you could imagine. All greens, oranges, and reds. But now, the woods had broken and you were driving in between green hills, a big orange and grey flat top rock in the distance.

"I knew you would like it. Me and the guys found this area a month ago. Remember when we went camping?" He asked, quickly looking at you.

You hum, remembering the very eventful camping trip the boys- Joon's best friends- and Joon had talked about for weeks after they had gotten home.

"Well, I told you we got kind of lost. But it was more like incredibly lost. You know how Yoongi and Hoseok get when they're together. Everyone was super distracted so we ended up around here and just decided to camp in the area." He explained, tapping his long fingers on the steering wheel as the car went around a bend.

Every time the boys were together, it was as if the world was ending and it was their last time together. Especially when they started their 'crackhead' behavior, as everyone whoever met them described. You had been with them for years so you had come to get used to their energy, even look forward to it.

You shake your head and laugh, imagining just how distracted they were with Yoongi, Hoseok, and Teahyung probably screaming the whole way, Jimin and Jungkook teasing each other, and Jin and Joon unintentionally acting like they were in a marriage and fathers to the rest of the group.

"We're almost there by the way." He says smiling. "It's just a little ways down."

You smile excitedly, looking around to see if you saw anything that would help you decipher where you were going. But you couldn't see anything but luscious hills and rocks and sky.

You wait until he starts slowing down the car, parking it on the side of the road in front of a hill with a pathway leading up into a wooded area.

"Oh, I see what's going on. You're going to kill me and dump my body." You say jokingly, unbuckling your seatbelt.

He looks at you, his face completely serious, "How did you know?" Your smile falters a bit before he laughs at the same time you do.

"Haha, good one." You say blandly, shoving his shoulder.

"Come on. I can't wait until you see this." He says, getting out and walking to the back of the car and opening the trunk. You follow behind.

"What are you getting out?" You ask, trying to look over his broad shoulders. You noticed him taking things out of a white cooler and into a brown picnic basket.

You realize what he was doing and stop, a warmness filling your chest. You remember a few months ago, you had been sitting in Joon's backyard watching a movie on the home made theatre Joon, the boys, and you had built days before with a white sheet and a projector, when you had expressed to him that you had never been to a picnic after he had asked you.

You couldn't imagine he had remembered something you thought had been an insignificant comment on your part.

"Oh, Joon. You remembered." You whisper.

He turns around and smiles, nodding down at you. You quickly close the space between the both of you, hugging him to your body. His warmth envelops you as he chuckles into your hair.

"Come on, I want you to see something." He says, grabbing hold of a thick blanket and putting it on top of the basket, the handles keeping it in place.

He grabs your hand and leads you to the path. It's a bit steep but you manage to both get up easily with each other's help. The area is slightly wooded and looks undisturbed except for the fresh feet prints on the path.

You walk for a few minutes, admiring the life around you. The blue sky peaks through the trees and birds call to each other, chase each other like lovers. You walk across a small bridge, a bustling stream under, splashing the wood of the bridge. You step over rocks and discarded tree limbs bigger than any you have ever seen. Then you came to a break in the trees. You couldn't see what was the through it, but you could see light and hear something that sounded very familiar. Like a big body of water crashing against rocks.

"Okay we're near, close your eyes and don't peek." He requested, taking back the blanket you had taken from him to help with the load.

You grin and close my eyes, opening one to see what he was doing. "No peeking." He quipped.

"Okay, okay. What if I fall?" You question, putting your left hand over your eyes as he take your right with his.

"I won't let you get hurt." He promises. Of course you knew that. Namjoon has kept you safe long before you even developed any romantic feelings for him. But it was fun to tease him a bit.

"Okay, there's a rock in front of you, just sidestep it. To your left." He informs you, slightly tugging you so you wouldn't trip.

"Good, baby." He says, a kiss landing on your cheek.

"Namjoon, I smell the sea." You say as soon as the salty smell of the ocean hits your nose. It was a smell you had loved since you were little. You loved the ocean, the sand. The feeling of being in another world altogether when you spent a day in the beach.

Your boyfriend hums beside you, "Do you now?"

You can almost taste the sea when Namjoon stops walking. "Okay. Wait, let me set everything up. Don't peek." He says before running off. You hear him stop a few yards away.

"Don't peek." He yells from his place. You laugh, "I promise I'm not peeking."

"I can't wait for you to see this. The guys and I discovered it and it reminded me of you." He says as you hear him shake the blanket.

"How did it remind you of me?" You ask genuinely, itching to remove your hand and open your eyes.

"You'll see." He answers a few seconds later, the rustling of plastic and containers being popped open reaching your ears.

"Okay, open them." You jump slightly as his voice comes from right next to you, closer than you thought he had been.

Namjoon grabs your hand as your eyes open and you blink away the blurriness. You gasp as you take on the view. You'd never seen something so beautiful in your entire life. It was almost as if your brain couldn't fully comprehend that what laid in front of you, was in fact real.

"It reminded me of how equally beautiful you are, if not more." He whispers your ear, placing a soft kiss there.

"Namjoon-I can't-" You stop speaking as your breath gets stuck in your throat. In front of you was the ocean at the bottom of a cliff. That was what you had heard crashing against rocks, what you had smelled. The blue sky met the water in the horizon, until you couldn't decipher which one was which. The sea was empty, no boat in sight. It looked peaceful. How was it that something that could be so destructive, also be so beautiful?

You were standing in a field just as alluring. It was full of tall flowers, little dandelions, lilies. It was a field of whites and golds and greens. You loved the way the weeds and wildflowers grew freely in the area. It truly seemed as if you were the only ones who had discovered it.

A few yards away, Joon had prepared and set the picnic. The white blanket with little black floral detailing was spread in the only flattened section of the field. It was surrounded by even more wildflowers. On top of the blanket was an assortment of food, two glass bottles of your favorite  drink and two wine cups. There was a small radio playing a soft song that matched the ambience.

It felt like you were in another world. A world far away from civilization, where Namjoon and you were the only ones.

"You like it?" Namjoon's deep voice meets your ears.

You look at him, your eyes wide, your mouth agape. "Like it, Namjoon? I love it. Thank you." You look at him and smile, watching his dimples rise as he smiles back.

"Come on." He says, leading you to the blanket.

It felt like for the next few hours you could do nothing besides eat, smile, laugh, or jokingly shove Namjoon. You were happy. So happy that you had almost completely forgotten that a few days ago he had been distant. You reminded yourself to ask him about it.

Namjoon had taken a break from reading to you his new adventure, a book called The Amazons: Lives & Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World by Adrienne Mayor, your head resting on his lap fully immersed in what he had been reading, when you decided to ask.

"Joon?" You say, playing with a loose thread in his jeans. "Yes, babygirl?" He answers, his eyes closed as his head faced the sky.

You smile at his pet name. You would never let anyone but the man above you call you such names. You loved when it came from him.

"Yesterday you said had been questioning some things and that's why you were distant. What have you been questioning?" You ask. You feel him tense under you. It makes you sit up. A plethora of scenarios going through your head. What if something was wrong with him? What if he was questioning your relationship?

"I've been meaning to talk about this with you for a long time. Don't look like that baby, it's nothing bad." He says pulling you to his side.

"Come on, let's go for a bit of a walk." He adds, getting up and holding his hand out to pull you up.

You take his warm hand and walk where he was leading you. Closer to the sea.

(A/N: Play the next song now and listen to it as you imagine yourself sitting in the cliff from the fifth picture with Namjoon, the sea under you, the sky full of the colors that come with the sunset)

You walked across the field and closer to the edge where you both sat down looking over at the view. It was truly stunning. The ocean lapped peacefully at the rocks under you. The sun had begun to set a few minutes ago so the sky was bleached a harmony of pinks, blues, and oranges. Behind you both, the radio had started to play Instagram by Dean. You felt truly at peace. You had the person you loved most in the world next to you, sharing this magical moment with you.

You look next to you, hoping to see Namjoon as transfixed with the scene as you were. But he seemed tense, frightened even.

"What's wrong, Joon?" You ask him, caressing his cheek.

"We've been together for so long. You know my heart belonged to you from the moment I came back from Korea five years ago. But it belonged to you way before that, even when we were friends. Do you remember how my mom would say we were meant to meet, that it was our destiny?" He asked, turning his whole body to look at you.

You nod, there was something in the air, something that was telling you not to speak, to listen.

The time when Joon went to Korea for three years was the moment you realized that you didn't see him just as a best friend, the feelings that had been locked inside you wanted to do nothing but kiss Namjoon, make him happy, spend your days with him. You realized that your heart had left with him. Had been ripped out of your chest the moment you saw that plane take off. The moment you realized that it wasn't a vacation, that he was really staying oversees, your feelings became clear then. You loved Namjoon. You were in love with him, with everything about him.

When they were in the airport, Namjoon's mother had seen how distraught you both were. She was a spiritual woman who believed in spirits, auras, etc. She had told you both that your destinies were intertwined, starting when you both met, tied together, for all eternity. For some time Namjoon and you thought it was just a mother trying to console her child and a girl she had seen grow up.

"She was right. I can feel it. I know you can, too. I can see it in the way you look at me, the way you care for me. I can see it in your selfless actions, the way you support my dreams even though sometimes you can't see me for days. I feel it in the way I can't imagine myself with someone that isn't you. I can't imagine ever ending what we have, waking up to someone who isn't you or even sharing my bed with someone besides you. I can't see myself laughing with anyone else while they cook breakfast, I can't see myself reading my books to someone else. I can't imagine myself making love to anyone else. I can't see myself growing old with someone who isn't you, love.

But that's the thing. It's not just that I can't. I won't. I won't love anyone else as much as I love you. I won't spend the rest of my life with someone who isn't you. This decision was easy for me to make, I knew as soon as it came to my head that I was going to ask you. But I was scared. Then I noticed my fears were making me do the opposite of what I wanted to do and grow distant from you. But I'm sure now. This is what I want. What I need." He finishes. Your eyes water at the sincerity and raw emotion in his voice.

You understood everything he said because you felt the same way. When you thought of the future, Namjoon was always by your side. It didn't matter how far into the future it was- five years, ten, or twenty years- he was always there at your side, smiling with those dimples that you would never give up seeing.

"What-?" You mutter, wanting to ask him what he meant by all of this, already having a clue, already feeling the excitement and pure love surround your heart, but he cuts you off.

"Marry me, love." He continues, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a little, black velvet box. "Spend the rest of your life with me."

[fenheart87]

Unexpected Ch 1

"Alright class, I know today is a special day and you all have been so eager to drop the school work and get to celebrating but we have one more thing before we can end our work for today." Mme. Bustier smiled brightly at the collective groans across the classroom. "This is a project, you can be by yourself, with a partner or a group or even all work together."

"Mme. Bustier, what type of project is it?" Mylene asked, more excited than confused.

"Marinette as class president I believe I'll let you share with the class." She waved up the ravenette, flipping the white board that showed a loosely detailed plan and a list of everyone in the class.

"Sure thing! And before you say it, no Alya I was not hiding anything from you, we actually set up this a few weeks ago." Marinette teased, falling into her confident planner self as her front row distraction was currently modeling for a perfume ad. "We are taking over the park for a few hours for a class party at the end of the day! Snacks will be provided by the best bakery of course, papa has some new flavors so please be honest on what you think. The best ones get to become part of the menu."

"Oh yeah dude! Bring it on!" Nino cheered, Kim fist pumping the air in excitement.

"First things first! We need to split into jobs, here is a rough idea of what we need done and how many people to do it. If you want to take a few jobs that require only one person go for it! If you only want one or just a group job that's fine too. Please make sure you sign up for at least one as that is considered your participation for today and cross your name off the list."

Everyone jumped from their seats, breaking off into groups and talking about what they wanted to do and how they want to decorate. Marinette waited to the side for any follow up questions or to give directions to find supplies they had set aside for the party.

"Um, mme. Bustier, I don't see my name..." Lila spoke up, pouting slightly.

"Oh! With how busy you, Chloe and Adrien are, I left you off incase you weren't able to make it. Same with Max, sometime his gaming club has plans already. Just made it easier so we dont accidentally sign you up for something." Marinette said brightly, watching as Lila tried to hold her composure at being thwarted.

"Oh thanks Marinette but we do not have plans for today, we are getting together over the weekend. Speaking of, would you like to join us?" Max invited, ignoring the italian completely who seemed to be struggling for a composed face.

"Sure! Although I'm not sure how good I'll be at anything other than mechastrike." She laughed, waving off Markov who was running numbers to argue her claim.

"Looks like you'll have to try harder Rossi." Chloe commented in a smarmy manner. "Sabrina sign us up for something like getting supplies, make it quick and easy. I do not want to be crowded with a bunch of losers."

"Sure thing Chloe, looks like we'll be helping Marinette with the food! We just have to get it from her parents bakery when everyone else is set up." Sabrina wrote their names under Marinette's, handing off the marker to Alix.

"Girl you thought of everything! How did you keep this a secret from me?" Alya accused playfully, throwing an arm around the shorter girl.

"I told you we had a party coming up, you just thought I meant a different kind. Besides you gave me a lot of the ideas and you didn’t know it!" Marinette preened under the positive attitudes and creative ideas that were flowing around the room.

"Marinette you forgot one thing!" Rose spoke up, jumping in place excitedly.

"Oh no, did I forget some decorations? Or did i not ask for enough food? Drinks?"

"No silly! Music!" Rose twirled Marinette causing her to stumble right into Ivan who just got back from the art room. Seeing the boxes she almost knocked out of his hands, Marinette squeaked and flailed a little bit more causing her to tumble down fully.

"Whoa, careful! Looks like I got back just in time." Ivan smiled helping a red faced Marinette from the floor with a free hand.

"Oh Ivan! Good thing you are back! We were just talking about the Valentine's Day party for the class and setting everything up at the park. Marinette, do you think we could ask Kitty Section to play?!" Rose gushed, hands under her chin and hearts in her eyes.

"Kitty Section is busy but I could talk to the leader guitarist, I helped with their outfits when they performed for Bob Ross after all." Lila spoke up drawing everyone attention, confused and angry alike.

"Alya, for once, please just let this happen." Nino whispered, cupping his hand over his girlfriend's mouth.

"Oh! That would be amazing Lila! Just the thing were missing. I cannot believe I spaced on the music selection. It is kind of last minute though, they are super busy... If they can't make it, Nino would you be able to spin some beats?" Marinette chimed cheerfully, snagging one of Lila's hands as she would anyone else before spinning to the frozen couple.

"Sure thing dude!" Nino smiled, removing his hand from Alya's mouth.

"Awesome! Rose, Juleka, Ivan and Mylene can you help Nino with his equipment?" Marinette asked with a grin, blue eyes sparkling.

"Sister-dude." Juleka mumbled as she walked by, earning a bright smile from the shorter girl and giving a small upward squirm of the lips in return.

"Chloe and Sabrina, if there is nothing else you want to help with, maman said we can start boxing up stuff. We have to wait for the tables before we can place them." Marinette smiled and left the classroom, sending one last text to her maman. "Today is a great day!"

__________________________________________

"So the party is at lunch and we get to enjoy the rest of the day to celebrate and enjoy!"

"Looks good so far Nathaniel, Maman said the food is almost done so we will go get it once the tables are setup." Marinette complimented, giving a thumbs up.

"I hope I'm invited this all looks great!" Adrien joked, finally back from his perfume ad. " What can I help with?" Streamers decorated the trees and a huge picnic blanket was. hosting some board games with coolers next to them.

"Hey dude, we could use some help getting the tables propped up so when the girls get back they have somewhere to put the food." Nino waved the blond over to where he was trying to puzzle out the safety latch.

"Adrikins! After this, we should totally go eat at my fathers hotel, I can have them reserve a table for just the two of us-" Chloe began, cut off by Lila who joined in swarming the model.

"Adrien! I don’t know if you've heard but I'm getting Kitty Section to play, I talked to the lead guitarist and since I helped design their costumes, they said they owe me a favor and will play for us!"

Adrien looked uncomfortably between the two girls, looking to Nino for help be he certainly knew Lila was lying. The DJ looked ready to laugh at any moment and subtlety shook his head. His savior came in the form of a blue hair guitarist, who was helping Marinette and dropping off Juleka's hair clips.

"Hey Adrien, Nino. And new girl." Marinette snorted softly, earning a playful nudge. "I heard something about Kitty Section?" Luka listened to Lila's spiel, noting her methods and listening to her true self. "Cool, I wanted to give back the guitar pick to the bass player. She's pretty awesome and I hear close to the guitarist."

"Oh well when they get here you could!" Lila deflected, sliding closer and seeming to just notice his aesthetic.

"Too bad you don't go to our school, things would certainly be more musical if you did." Marinette giggled, drawing a smile from Luka. "I can stop by later for the finishing touches, there's no rush."

"Marinette! You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend!" Lila exclaimed, drawing the attention of the entire class, most amused as they knew the blue eyed darling was torn between the two boys.

"You know it is so not cool to blurt out other people's business when it doesn’t concern you. I'd appreciate it if people who don’t even know my name didn't spread lies about me. What Marinette and I have between us, or do not have, is our business and we certainly don't need outside help to figure it out. Unless we ask for it." Luka coolly snapped, leading Marinette over to Rose and Juleka.

"Adrikins!" Chloe would not be letting the little liar work another lie to cover up her being called out. "Dinner tonight, my father hotel of course. Wear something nice."

"Actually I already have plans with Kagami... We're going to see a movie and then have dinner, her mother and my father have fencing ideas to discuss. Hey Marinette, if you and Luka want to join us you can."

"Actually-" Luka stared but was cut off by the shorter girl.

"Double date?" Marinette asked, looking at Luka to confirm, smiling shyly.

"Oh, cool." Luka smiled like the sap he is, drawing giggles from Rose and snort from his sister. "Yeah, double date."

"Text me later?" Marinette blushed, leaning up to kiss his cheek. The sappy sigh had Rose burst into giggles which snapped the taller boy out of his trance.

"Yeah, later." He looked lost for a moment. "Later." Luka repeated and then left, not even caring the cheesy grin on his face was completely ruining his bad boy image.

"Marinette." Alya's voice snapped Marinette back to herself and she became an incoherent blubbing mess of blushing stutters.

[elusive---ivory]

The Woman In Velvet pt. 5

Aaaaa, this is a lot one. This one is just all fluffy and fun.

WARNINGS: None, just fluff

PAIRING: Arthur x Oc.

Masterlist

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Three little girls were in the dining room, setting the table for their dinner.

"Ha, Seriously Sandy? You still don't have a date for Friday?" The girl with dimples giggled.

The girl with black hair shook her head and shrugged. "Looks like I won't be joining you for your triple date."

The girl without dimples gave her a shocked look and gasped. "Sandy! Don't be such a debbie downer. I'll set you up with someone."

The girl with dimples scoffed. "Really? Because, the last time you played matchmaker, you set up Dollar Dave with his sister."

The two sisters bickered until a large man appeared in the entrance of the dining room.

"Girls." The man spoke. His voice was raspy. He had a thick, black, cigar hanging out of his mouth. He looked over at the girl with black hair. The man took a seat at the newly set table.

"Deliah, Destiny, if your cousin doesn't wish to attend your ridiculous triple date, then don't force her."

The girl with black hair turned away from the man and muttered a small "Thank you" under her breath. She sat next to him, but scooted away a few inches. The two other girls rolled their eyes and sat down with them.

"Besides, I think Sandy and I would have lots of fun without the two of you, ain't that right, doll?" His eyes were glued on the girl next to him. She gulped hard. She stared hard at her cousins.

They both stared back with menacing looks. Neither of them bothered to help.

Sandy woke up to a dreaded alarm clock going off.

'Funny,' she thought. Her alarm didn't work at all. She had planned on getting a new one, but it was her same alarm clock. As she opened her eyes a little bit, she took in her surroundings. She was in her bed, and in her usual nightie. What was different about today?

"Oh fuck." She said, aloud. Sandy looked around. She threw the bed sheets off her body and quickly ran into her living room.

Arthur was standing there in the kitchen, shirtless. Sandy approached him carefully, still not fully understanding what was going on. The early morning sun was slowly creeping outside the window. The small apartment was dark, beside the light of in the kitchen.

"Hey." Sandy said, quietly.

Arthur looked around him, slightly startled. He didn't expect her to be up yet.

Arthur smiled at her gently. "Good morning."

Sandy looked down, bashfully. "Yeah, what are you doing up?" She stepped into the florescent lighting of the kitchen.

Arthur shrugged. "I couldn't sleep."

"Really? Did you fix my clock?" Sandy smiled, giggling slightly.

"Yeah, you talk in your sleep. You kept mumbling about the alarm, so I fixed it." Arthur answered, sheepishly.

"Also, we were on the couch when," Sandy cleared her throat, "we, ya know."

Arthur smiled. "You also sleepwalk."

Sandy giggled and gently punched his shoulder. "You got all of that from just spending the night with me. Color me impressed, Detective."

Arthur flinched at her sudden roughhousing, but chuckled at her joke. "Yeah, you know. I do stand up comedy."

Sandy raised her eyebrow. "Really?" She said, brewing her coffee.

Arthur nodded, shyly. "Yeah. Tomorrow night will be my very first gig."

"Huh." Sandy stirred her coffee. "Save me a seat in the front." She winked, booping his nose.

Sandy walked out of the kitchen. Arthur's eyes followed her dreamily.

Sandy finally got into her routine according, putting on a seemingly different work uniform. Instead of matted and ripped purple violet blouse, it was a red and black velvet with a black satin skirt. It wasn't at all comfortable, but she had to make do. She put on black heels matching the overall theme of the outfit. When she was done, she found her cheap frame glasses, and gently placed them on her face.

Sandy walked back into the kitchen to give Arthur a small peck on his cheek.

"I'm heading out. Here's the spare key, just incase you want to lounge around here for today." Sandy placed a small key in his hand. "Try not to burn down the apartment." She giggled stepping out of the door.

Arthur's eyes never left her figure once. She looked so elegant when she walked. His hand gently touched the cheek where she kissed him. It left him breathless.

The gloomy office building seemed to be even more dull and dreary than usual. Sandy sighed sitting there in her small cubicle.

"Hey, did you hear about those subway killings?"

Sandy overheard two coworkers talking. Often times when she eavesdropped she would mostly hear some stupid gossip like she fucked or he fucked her etc, but this seemed serious.

"Yeah, I did. I hear they were employees of ours."

This caught Sandy's attention. 'Employees?' She thought. She continued listening intently.

"Wayne Enterprises?"

"Yeah, I hear one of them was Dennis Cullen."

Sandy's eyes widened. 'Dennis is dead?' Half of her celebrated the death of that bastard, but it just seemed wrong. She snapped out of her thoughts when a coworker knocked on Sandy's cubicle.

"Sandy, the boss wants you."

She took a long sigh. She got out of her chair and walked down to the boss's office.

"Needed me, Mr. Don?" Sandy asked, being as polite as she could be.

A large man looked up at Sandy from his paperwork.

"Yes, please take a seat." Mr. Don gestured to the two chairs in front of him.

"Why were you not here yesterday?" His voice sounded frustrated.

"Well, sir, I was really sick, yesterday and-"

Mr. Don cut her off with a glare.

"Look, I'm too bent on excuses. Now, as you may know, Dennis, your associate, has recently passed away. It's a shame, I know, but he had lots of clients. Since he's gone, you have to take after his clients." Mr. Don looked back down at his paperwork.

Sandy stood there dumbfounded.

"Wait. Shouldn't the person getting his position get his clients?" Sandy crossed her arms.

Mr. Don looked at her begrudgingly. "Well, yes, but there's still so many clients he had. Most are pretty upset by the current circumstances. Could you please do these few clients?" Mr. Don held a sudden desperation in his gruff voice.

Sandy gave a defeated sigh. "Alright. I'll see what I can do about the clients."

Dennis would always brag about his clients and how high maintenance they were. How he was so lucky to always have meetings with the one and only, Thomas Wayne. His position was completely up for grabs.

Sandy didn't want Dennis's stupid position. Not like she could ever get get it. She was a woman working 45 hours a week, yet being paid so little.

'Why the fuck did people get so angry over some dudes getting killed on a subway?' Sandy growled in her thoughts, as she walked out of the office building.

All day clients were yelling and screaming about how they furious they were for not getting their fucking products. It gave her such a headache.

Her heels tapped the wet pavement. The lights of bars and restaurants colored the numerous puddles on the ground.

As she was walking down the street, she felt a pair of eyes on her.

Crack.

She turned around. Her eyes monitored the alleyway next to her. She strutted ahead, continuing her path, while being on high alert.

Crack.

She heard it again. She started walking fast. As she did so, Sandy glanced behind her. It was a silhouette of a man walking fast. Her heart stopped. She kept walking faster, until she was gently jogging in her heels. She was almost to the subway.

The man had finally caught up to her, and gently tapped her shoulder.

Sandy froze. She turned around to face her stalker.

Arthur smiled gently, taking off the yellow hood of his hoodie.

She sighed in relief. "Oh, thank god. Arthur, it's just you." Sandy smiled at her supposed stalker. "I thought you were the subway killer."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah, so I've heard."

"How could you not? It's everywhere. Who cares about some assholes dying?" Sandy tapped around her coat. "Damn it." She hissed under her breath.

"Hey, Art." Sandy said, getting his attention.

Arthur tilted his head. "Hmm?"

"Do you think I can bum a cig?" Sandy asked, desperately.

"Uh, yeah sure." Arthur handed her a fresh cigarette.

Sandy lit the cancer stick, inhaling the dangerous smoke, then exhaling it out of her lungs.

"Thanks, Artie." Sandy smiled. "Say, you never told me why you were out here following me anyway?" She said, with the cigarette hanging out of her mouth.

Arthur looked down, almost like a guilty puppy.

"I, uh, was worried." Arthur said, twiddling his thumbs.

Sandy smirked. "Worried? Aww, Artie. You don't need to worry about me, sweets." Sandy pressed a small kiss on his cheek.

Arthur started fidgeting with the bottom of his hoodie. "Uhh, well, of course, I do, Sandy. It's dangerous."

Sandy giggled. "Ok, I guess you can walk me back to my apartment." She put out the cigarette, and linked arms with Arthur.

The subway was deserted. The florescent lights flickered on and off as the loud railings of the subway train moved by.

Sandy was seated by Arthur's side, leaning on him a bit. For Sandy, Arthur was like a breath of fresh air. He was so comforting and sweet. He listened to Sandy's problems, no matter how stupid they were to her.

"So, you're a party clown?" Sandy said, holding Arthur's hand in hers.

"Yeah, at least I was. I'm focusing more on my comedy career. I've got lots of jokes." Arthur put emphasis on the word lots.

"You said that this morning. Let me hear some of your jokes." Sandy said, interested.

Arthur eyes lit up.

"Oh? Let me get my joke book." Arthur reached into his back pocket and pulled out a worn down journal. Arthur gently handed the journal to Sandy.

Sandy flipped through a few pages of the journal.

"Well, what do you think?" Arthur asked, impatient. He looked pretty anxious.

Sandy laughed a little.

"How come poor people are so confused? They don't make sense." Sandy read, still laughing. "That's a stupid joke."

Arthur frowned. "Oh."

Sandy immediately corrected herself. "No, no, no. It's great, Arthur. You're gonna be great. I know it."

Arthur's frowned disappeared, and turned into a smirk. "You think so?"

"I know so, babe." Sandy kissed his nose.

"Could I look through your book more?"

Arthur nodded.

Sandy looked through each page, but there's one page that caught her eye. It had a polaroid picture of her with twisted writings all over the page.

Mrz. Sandy Fleck

Mrz. Sandera Fleck

MY dEaR, Sandy

Sandy's eyes read the page over and over again. Arthur began to look anxious.

The subway came to a stop.

"This is our stop." Sandy handed his journal back to him. "And, by the way, it's spelled S-A-N-D-R-A." She said, stepping out of the subway doors. Arthur followed behind her.

[opheliasbrokenmind]

jealous boy - thomas shelby

word count: 2,9K

a/n: hii! i just updated a headcanon yesterday i know but i’m working on this one for a while and wanted to share it with you quickly. i wrote this in my mother language months ago so i thought i can try to translate it. i ended up changing the end but i think this is a good one. i’ll work on the requests for a while from now. let me know what you think, i love y’all.

'Ada, no. There's no way I'm wearing this piece of shit, it's fucking too short.' You looked at the dress on you with a disgusted face. It revealed your body and you weren't going to wear it for a first date. 'Don't talk like you're a priestess or something, will ya? Just wear it and fuck off.' Ada frowned and when her door opened, she became angrier, if that was even possible. 'Have you heard what is knocking in your life??' John didn't answer to her sister, he just smirked and entered into the room while throwing his cigarette. He scowled when he saw you, 'Jesus! Fuck Alfie Solomons, take off that fucking dress.'

You grinned, finally, someone agreed with you. Ada screamed and threw you a black dress, 'What's next, ay? You're gonna join the church choir or something?' You rolled your eyes and went to the bathroom to try the dress.  'She'll look like going to a funeral John.' You heard Ada and opened the door, the dress was simple yet elegant. It looked classy. 'Fuck, the only funeral she's going to will be Alfie fucking Solomons'.' John winked and you reddened a little. 'Eh, not so bad. Come'ere, you need some makeup.' You followed her commands and after ten minutes, you were ready with your cherry red lips.

The reflection on the mirror pleased you, you wore your black high heels and turned to John, 'How do I look?' His smile widened, 'Hot as fuck. He won't be able to keep his dick in his pants.' You blushed, 'Ew, I won't fuck him.' With your words John's face became serious, and that wasn't a normal thing when he was around you, 'y/n, I'm gonna ask you a question and I want you to be honest. What do you really think about Alfie?' He looked at you with expectation. You couldn't help but wonder why was he asking that, you answered anyway.

'Well, he seems like a nice man. But you know what? I don't see him as a date, he is just a friend to me. The only reason I'm keeping my word is that Tommy told me to do him a favour. Why did you ask by the way?' He saw the curiosity in your bright eyes, 'Nothing special, just wondered. Now, go and fuck him.' You laughed, he always knew how to make you smile. Ada hummed about you could be a lot sexier but you didn't mind her and went downstairs. Polly scoped you out but didn't say anything. You felt odd because she was the one who always makes good comments about your outfit.

Arthur's reaction was more different... 'For fuck's sake, does that fucking Solomons have something we don't?' You smiled, 'Definitely not, Arthur.' When you blew him a kiss he smiled and continued to drink his whiskey.  Thomas was also there and you were sure that he knew you came. He didn't say anything and he didn't even bother to look at you, what was wrong with him? Usual Tommy, you thought. Pretending like I'm not here, stone-hearted arrogant.

That was impossible that he was acting like that because you were going on a date, he was the one who accepted when Alfie asked him to take you on a date. When the doorbell rang, Arthur answered it. You looked at John immediately, 'Should I remove the lipstick?' He shook his head, 'Nope, I'm pretty sure that there will be no lipstick at the end of the night.' You sighed and turned around.

Alife was talking with Arthur, then he saw you and gaped. 'God, you're so beautiful.' You blushed uncontrollably and hummed a quiet thanks.  Ada pushed you a little and you found yourself walking to him. 'Hello to you, too, Alfie.' You froze with Tommy's cold voice, but Alfie didn't give a damn about him. 'Hello, Tommy, my friend!' They shared a quick conversation and Alfie nodded to John.

'Now leave and take your hot chick with you, Solomons.' Arthur joked and you slightly blushed again. Alfie offered you an arm, 'Shall we, love?' You nodded and took his arm. You felt a pair of eyes on your back until leaving the house, they felt like knives and you knew that they could belong to just one person, Thomas Shelby. He didn't even say goodbye to you and now what was that? Alfie's voice interrupted your thoughts. 'We have a quiet one'ere, don't we?'

'No, I was just thinking. Sorry.' He smiled, ''s okay, love.' You continued to walk and arrived at an expensive and lux restaurant, he said that he made a reservation. You sipped red wine while waiting for your orders. 'So, you are here, in Birmingham for just a few months and already earned Shelby family's trust?' You answered simply, 'Yes, it's no big deal.' He continued to talk, 'What about Tommy? How did he accept you easily?' You sighed, was he questioning you? 'I don't know, maybe you should ask himself.'

You felt uncomfortable and he noticed, 'Okay, relax.' He kept trying, 'I'm sure that everybody noticed you with your beautiful face, don't you have someone with you?' You sighed, 'Maybe I'm not that sympathetic, you know?' You sent him a threatening look, hoping that he won't piss you off more. 'I don't agree, you are cute.' You forced a smile and you two continued to talk. He could be a good friend, you thought.

When your meals finished he suggested to go to Garrison, you accepted willingly. He was trying to flirt with you for minutes and you knew that Shelbys will be there to save you. The cheque came and you said that you can pay for your food but he refused and laughed. You stormed off and waited for him outside, liting a cigarette. You were a businesswoman and you hated getting into bad situations like this.

You couldn't help but compare him with Thomas. You remembered the time you went to dinner with Tommy. One of your friends went on a date with Michael and she asked you to look after her. You accepted and you knew that it would be suspicious if you go alone so you asked Thomas to go with you. He accepted and you brought work that evening. However, you two opened as time passed by and you never wanted it to end. That evening you spent time with a whole different Thomas, the one he chooses to hide and you loved that man. You knew that you could do anything to talk again with that chatty, kind Tommy again.

He let you pay for your meal and you saw the respect in his mesmerizing eyes that night. He was impressed by a powerful woman who was able to handle herself, he admired you. Alfie came to you and you pushed your thoughts, started to walk with him. He made some jokes and you laughed, talked a little. When you finally arrived at Garrison, you walked to the table where the family members were. You sat next to John, started to chat with him. Alfie was watching you.

'Let me look at ya,' John whispered and you turned your face to him. He looked at your lips and frowned, 'Lipstick is still'ere, what a pity.' You rolled your eyes playfully, 'Of course, it is. I don't look him that way, John. By the way, where's Tommy?' His smile disappeared and you felt nervous. 'Oh, don't ask me, please. He is there, snogging with that sticky barmaid.' You couldn't believe what you heard and looked at the direction he showed to you.

Thomas was there, the barmaid was trying to kiss him hard but he was still the dominant one. You noticed that he was definitely drunk, that wasn't a thing that happened often. Polly once said that he rarely gets drunk and when he did, it was because he couldn't control his thoughts. What he couldn't control? you thought. Then you saw that the barmaid was playing with his hair and this sent a shiver down your spine. You knew how much he hated when someone touched his hair, but he was there and saying nothing.

You couldn't help but feel awful, you knew that you were never more than a friend to him but you felt awful anyway. 'Disgusting.' You murmured and John nodded, 'Go get us some whiskey.' You stood up and went to Harry to ask for a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. He handed you the things and you came back to the table. John immediately poured two glasses and you drank it quickly. You had no idea about Thomas was watching you.

John hugged you with one arm, it meant nothing more than a friendly hug but Alfie frowned. 'Jesus, what a whore.' You looked at the other table with John's voice and saw that the barmaid was now sitting on Tommy's lap. He leaned back his head and her lips were going down on his neck. You felt sick and averted your gaze, didn't want to see the scene. 'I can't watch it anymore.' Arthur nodded and continued to smoke.

You noticed that Polly was looking at you, so you turned to her. She shook her head and didn't say anything. 'Stop watching, John. People said that he wasn't with any girls for years and now look at him, letting a sneaky barmaid touch him. Why do you think he is acting like that?' You asked and his eyes looked directly at you. 'Are you really asking that? Oh, y/n... I don't think that you'll be happy when I tell you the truth.' You didn't understand him, what was he talking about?

You smiled, 'Spill the tea, Johnny boy. Nothing can surprise me more now.' Oh, you were wrong. 'We all thought you knew this but it seems like you have no idea. Just wondering, are you blind?' You gestured him to continue and he sighed, 'Tommy loves you.' You couldn't breathe and gasped for air, 'Excuse me, what? Stop kidding.' You coughed again and a small smile played on his lips. 'That's the truth. He was mad when he came home and told us Alfie will take you on a date. Then he forced himself to hate you and didn't even look at your face today.'

'But when you left with Alfie... We struggled at stopping him, he was too angry for his own good. He is with that evil since we came here. There's no doubt that he is dead drunk now. He tries to forget you or make you jealous, maybe both.  We... didn't know what to do, y/n. He's too stubborn to tell you the truth.' You closed your eyes, you had no idea about what you were going to do. The man you liked for months had feelings for you but... Could you trust him after what he had done? Was it his fault? Definitely not, you knew this at least. You should have refused Alfie's offer at first, and tell him that you'd prefer a date with him. You sighed, opened your eyes and took a long sip from your drink.

'Bored, are we?' Alfie smiled across the table and you didn't smile back. 'We can leave, y'know? I know a good place nearby and would like to take you there, ay.' You glared at him, 'Did I get that right, Alfie? You think I'm gonna sleep with you?' He laughed, ''course it is. What did ya think, doll?' His careless words made you angrier, 'You think I'm a whore?' He threw a look to you, 'You tell me. Tommy said that I'm free to do everything with you. Isn't it make you one?'

'Fuck off.' You raised your voice, 'I'm not a whore. You're looking at the wrong place, I'm sure that you can find one in Thomas Shelby's lap!' Everyone was watching you, including Tommy and Grace. Questioning eyes turned to them and Thomas told her to leave, gaining a slap from Grace. She left the pub and Alfie followed behind her. John grinned, 'Can't believe you did this.' You responded sarcastically, 'Did I do something wrong?' Ada smiled warmly, 'I'm glad that blonde bitch left 'ere.'

Thomas came to your table and you ignored his eyes. The family got up and you left with them. You all walked quietly, the cold wind blew to your small frame. John took off his thick coat and placed it to your bare shoulders. You murmured a simple thanks to him. 'I'll go to my place, good night.' Ada stopped you, 'There's no way I'm leaving you alone this night, sweetheart. If you don't come with us, I'll make you come anyway.' You didn't try to refuse again, you knew she was as stubborn as his brother.

Arthur took a sip from the whiskey bottle he carried, 'What were you doing with that girl, Tommy? Are you insane?' He laughed. 'I wanted to have fun.' You turned your eyes to the ground and avoided his gaze, knowing that he was mad at you. Polly took another drag from her cigarette, she made an unhappy sound. 'You don't look like you're having fun, do ya?' John asked, knowing exactly his brother was everything but happy. 'Actually, I could enjoy my night if someone didn't make her angry.' You felt a shiver down your spine and your stomach ached but you didn't even look at him.

Then you finally arrived at the home and you immediately climbed upstairs to go to the room Polly gave to you since you started visiting the house. You took off your high heels and tried to open your zipper. However, you couldn't do it and sighed. Your door opened and you thought it was Ada, 'Can you help me, please?' You said and the person closed the distance, a hand pushed your hair to your neck and revealed your back. Then the fingers touched your warm skin and they found their way to the zipper. You noticed that it wasn't Ada, the hands opened the zipper slowly and the long fingers traced your skin. 'Don't you fucking dare to touch me again.' You hissed, turning back to face with him.

He was in front of you now, Tommy. His drunk eyes and sad face hurt you in a way you couldn't explain. He took a step closer to you and you stepped back, 'Please, don't touch me. I don't want to see you.' The dress loosening around your curves and showing your skin, his eyes lingered on your body for a second. 'y/n, what's the problem?' He asked slowly, his face softened. His pure voice making you swallow, you answered. 'You tell me, Tommy. Do you think I won't notice? You're not talking to me since Alfie asked me out, you didn't even look at my face. What's it?' He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, then closed. You gestured him to speak.

'You think I don't look at you? Jesus, are you joking? Your face is the only one I want to see all day, every day. But, I'm not going to confess my feelings now. I'm not spilling my secrets to you, I won't give you the chance to learn my pathetic intentions. The big Tommy Shelby, ay! Falling for a girl he knows for months and desperate for her love. It hurts, y/n. It really hurts. You don't even like me.' You listened to him open-mouthed, trying to choose what to say for a response.

'You're stupid, Tommy. You believe that I don't even like you? Do you have an idea about why did I go out with that fucker? Because you fucking wanted me to do, because I care about what you want! I care about you. I tried to tolerate him for hours just for you and what happened? I found you with a girl on your lap!' Now, it was his turn to be shocked, was he imagining things or were you really standing there? He shut his eyes and opened, just to see you again. 'I... I'm sorry.'

'I wish you had talked to me first, y'know. I'd prefer learning what you feel from you, not from your brother. If I need to be optimistic, at least we spoke. Now go to your room and rest, you'll have a hell hangover. We're gonna discuss these later, alright?' You looked at his beautiful face, he seemed like a Greek god to you with his sharp cheekbones. 'Promise?' He asked like he wanted to be sure. 'Promise, Tommy.' You gave him a sincere smile. 'Okay, I'm leaving but first..' He paused, not sure about what he was going to say. You felt nervous.

'Where's my goodnight kiss, ay?' You couldn't help but chuckle, you weren't waiting for this. 'C'mere.' You said and he closed the distance again, smiling lightly. He closed his piercing eyes, you enjoyed the view of his long eyelashes. You had to stand up to reach his height, you left a small kiss to his right cheek. His smooth skin warm under your lips, you cherished every second. Then you took a step back and looked at him for the last time that night, 'Goodnight, Tommy.'

He walked to the door and talked quietly before leaving your room, 'Goodnight, love.'

[msjr0119]

Love, Fate, Destiny

Part 9- Walk away

Riley Brooks is a waitress in a ‘Dive bar” in New York. One Saturday night, her past comes back to haunt her as some unfamiliar punters enter her bar on a bachelor party- one of them being someone who she was once close to.

*CHARACTERS BELONG TO PIXELBERRY*

Tags- @annekebbphotography @burnsoslow @drakesensworld @ladyangel70 @kingliam2019 @bbrandy2002 @butindeed @bascmve01 @drakewalker04 @pedudley @captain-kingliamsqueen @duchessemersynwalker @insideamirage @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @kozabaji @texaskitten30 @ibldw-main @kimmiedoo5 @nikkis1983 @dangerouseggseagleartisan @gnatbrain @walker7519 @lodberg @cmestrella @hopefulmoonobject @addictedtodrakefanfic @angi15h @liamxs-world @rafasgirl23415 @notoriouscs @yukinagato2012

******

It had been nine months since the social season was in Lythikos. There had been drama, tears, heartbreak and love.

Six months ago Liam married Olivia in an elaborate royal wedding against his father’s wishes. Everyone was pleased and happy for the new king as he could marry for love. Olivia took on her new roles and responsibilities with perfection- she was a natural which shocked most people. Madeleine had attempted to jeopardise the remaining of the social season in order to win the crown again. However she failed yet again, she was humiliated again, she was hated even more due to her meddling.

It was nine months since Riley abruptly left without informing anyone. Leaving not only made her heartbroken but also Drake. She was a hypocrite. She always blamed Drake for disappearing all those years ago- but then she did exactly the same.

It was the day of the Royal Regetta, Riley and Drake had tried to keep their distance from each other. Not wanting to cause a scandal due to Maxwell nearly giving their secret away in the Lythikos wine cellar. King Constantine had informed the press that he was abdicating the throne and that Liam would become King sooner rather than later.

Maxwell had used the excuse that they didn’t have any funds to hire a crew for House Beaumont’s boat- hiring Drake was a cunning plan to get the two love birds some alone time away from prying eyes. The trio had won the race surprisingly- Olivia wasn’t too thrilled but accepted that she wasn’t the Queen of everything.

After the race the suitors joined Olivia on her over-elaborate, luxurious yacht- there was champagne and wine from different regions of France- as well as canopies that were influenced by the Mediterranean. Madeleine made a beeline for Riley and Hana along with Kiara.

“Lady Riley, I must congratulate you. I notice that yourself and the commoner are quite close.”

“We are just friends Countess.”

“Well make sure it stays that way! Lady Kiara was his first love, I’m sure Duchess Olivia has informed you about that at the derby.”

“Yes, she did. Why would you be reiterating this fact? Why does it matter to me?” Riley discreetly grit her teeth, annoyed at Madeleine enjoying making everyone’s life hell.

“Oh it doesn’t matter to you. I’m just informing you. Did you know that Lady Kiara and Drake caused quite a scandal when they were 15?”

“Maddy please!” Kiara pleaded, whilst Riley and Hana looked bewildered- wondering if they needed to find some popcorn to eat whilst Madeleine stirred irrelevant information- doing her forte, creating drama.

“Why Kiara? You and Drake were once a family. It’s such a shame that you were forced to abort your baby.”

Riley stood frozen, feeling like she was about to hyperventilate. Why wouldn’t Drake inform her about this? He said he wanted to marry her but couldn’t tell her that he would have been a father. Hana gulped hard, before dragging Riley away. That was the last time they all saw Riley Brooks.

*****

Riley packed her bags immediately once arriving back at the palace, deciding to leave her close friends a note each- including Drake. Leaving the only man she had truly ever loved. She had text him asking if the rumours were true regarding his and Kiara’s past - he denied it. Asking everyone else for reassurance - they all confirmed that Madeleine was speaking the truth. Now believing she couldn’t trust Drake- she regretting abandoning her live in New York.

Sneaking out of the palace, she wasn’t sure where she was going. What she was going to do with her life. All she knew was that this short time in Cordonia would need to be erased from her mind.

I tell myself, this time it's different.

No goodbyes, cause eyes can't bear to see it.

I'll never survive on one that's coming.

If I stay, ooh no!

Just walk away! Oh, and don't look back

Cause if my heart breaks, it's gonna hurt so bad

You know I'm strong, but I can't take that

Before It's too late, oh, just walk away!

Riley didn’t want anymore unexpected surprises to occur in the future- causing more heartache, deciding to leave would be devastating for both her and Drake but it was her only option. The fact that he had impregnated Kiara was a shock- but the fact he lied about it made her original undecided decision now clear.

******

Liam all those months ago felt as if he was the tip of the iceberg for Riley’s departure. The last night in Lythikos, she had met him in his grand suite. Unknowingly to him, she agreed to do this with Drake and Maxwell to use Liam as an alibi in case Maddy and Kiara did in fact witness Drake and Riley in the wine cellar. She seemed shaken when she arrived at the suite, he had just assumed it was due to being with him alone. He tested the water and kissed her unexpectedly- resulting in a stinging slap on his cheek. It wasn’t until a few days later that Olivia explained why Riley had quite possibly left Cordonia- Kiara’s abortion.

On many occasions Liam had travelled to New York with his friends to attempt to find Riley and bring her back to Drake. They all tried to ring her, text her, contact her on social media- but there was no response. It was as if Riley Brooks was non-existent. After many failed attempts they could never find her. Finding Daniel and Lola the two refused to tell the friends any information regarding her- much to everyone’s annoyance. Feeling frustrated every time they returned to Cordonia without her, they saw Drake’s face sink- he was heartbroken all over again. During arguments he blamed Liam constantly for bringing her here in the first place- why he couldn’t drag her out of the masquerade ball to save her and save their relationship will always haunt him- and will be one of the biggest regrets of his life.

Working late at night, catching up on paperwork- Liam felt his eyes feel heavier with every second that went by. The scotch was previously preventing him face planting his desk. A sudden sharp knock at the door, surely woke him up slightly.

“Come in.”

“Sorry to disturb you, your Majesty.” Liam fixed his facial expression for his guard.

“It’s alright Bast. What can I help you with?”

“It’s what I can help you with, Sir. After lots of research, we believe....”

“You believe what? Just tell me Bast!” Liam snapped before shortly apologising for his short temper.

“We may have some links on Lady Riley. She has a new Instagram page - Rileyj1. We remained searching everything to do with Riley, Brooks, New York. Things that would make sense- anything to find her. After more research, we discovered that her mother’s maiden name was Johnson. Assuming that’s why there’s a ‘J’ in her username, she has most likely changed her name to this also.”

“Do you have any links as to where she may be? Does Drake know?” Liam pinched the bridge of his nose, not knowing what to do. Drake had been an alcoholic mess the last nine months- shutting everybody and everything out.

“According to the page, she spends most of her time in New York and Jersey. No we haven’t informed him.. although we are struggling to interpret her latest post. We may have to inform Drake?”

Liam looked bewildered at Bastien, picking up the bottle of scotch he shook it- to see how much remained. He had a feeling he may need some more scotch to recover from the words that Bastien was possibly about to speak. He couldn’t understand why an Instagram post would make all the difference if they inform Drake with information regarding the love of his life. Bastien asked if Liam would like to view the post and comments- Liam nodded, his heart was beating ten to the dozen, not knowing what exactly to expect. Gasping, his baby blues widened, his jaw was agape and could quite possibly stay in that position.

Yankee2018- Aw Riley, she’s absolutely gorgeous! Congrats guys!

Lolahughes- @yankee2018 She’s like a doll...🥰 love ya chick! Need to meet up soon haven’t seen ya in forever! #schoolreunionasap

DanielMitchell- Don’t drop her! I know how you loved to drop glasses and plates in your waitressing days 🤣..Only joking... 😜

Bethanyhughes- We must all meet up soon? 🍾 #proudauntiebeth

Bigapple123- Ri holding a baby? I never thought I’d see the day 😆, you wouldn’t even hold my children. Only joking cuz! Love ya 😘

Liam didn’t want to read anymore comments, Riley looked beautiful and she was smiling. It was a genuine smile. Reading the comments, he because frustrated and angry with Lola and Daniel- it was written in black and white, it was photographic evidence that they had been in touch with Riley this whole time. Liam’s mind was working out the dates- a pregnancy lasts nine months, nine months ago we were in Lythikos... did Drake and Riley? Shit!

“Bastien! Get the royal jet ready. Tomorrow- everyone is taking a trip to the states and we are not leaving until we find her!”

[castielearmy]

Mission nightmare initiate ☆ 50 dollar baby part 2 ☆

 Links: Part 1, Part 3

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Reader

Genre: fluff (I guess)

Warnings: little bit of swearing

Word count: 1.1k +

A/n ~ Sooo I made the whole post and saved it into drafts but tumblr decided not to save it 🤔 but yeah here it is. Alsooo there are actually gonna be 3 parts because part 2 was too long so I had to separate it into two, I'll be posting part 3 tomorrow so stay tuned. Hope you enjoy this part! 😊

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

(Gif not mine)

It's been a week since the party. Which gave her plenty of time to think about the incident. She was hurt. They dated for only a month but it felt like longer to her. He seemed like a perfect guy as cliché as it sounds. Love just happens I guess.

"How much?!", her friend asked in complete shock, jaw dropping wide open.

"50", she said calmly while picking the whip cream on her dessert with a spoon.

"Hundred? Thousand?", her friend was trying to guess the number, wanting to make sure she heard right.

"Just 50", she said emotioneless.

"50 bucks?! He sold you for 50 bucks?! Who does he think you are?! A street striper?!", her friend was beyond angry, talking with a higher tone and moving her hands in the air while other people on the terrace of the cafe looked at her like she was a maniac.

And she was. They were both maniacs in their own ways. Perhaps that's why they worked so well ever since their childhood. They had each others backs, like real friends should.

"Calm down bitch. It's not the end of the world", Y/n calmed her friend down.

"So what are you gonna do now?", her friend sat back down from her slightly raised position and put her hands on her lap politely.

"I'm gonna get back together with him", Y/n picked up a strawberry from her small plate and ate it.

"Ooh, so mission nightmare initiate", her friend picked up her iced coffee and took a sip, "I like how you think", she pointed her straw towards Y/n and smirked evilishly.

"Of course you do", Y/n smiled at her friend before they clinked their plastic cups with coffee.

. * • . ° * ☆ • .

He was waiting for her at the promised spot. A hill that looked over the whole city they lived in. It was peaceful up there. A place they would both go to when they wanted to have deep conversations or get some things off of their chests. He had his arms crossed over his chest because it was a little chilly, his foot constantly tapping on the hard ground beneath him and his teeth biting his lower lip agressively. To say that he was nervous was an understatement. He was freaking out. He was about to pour his heart out to the girl he fell for on accident. And even though she probably hated him for what he did, he still wanted her to know how much she meant to him. He loved her.

Car lights and a quiet sound of engine woke him up from his thoughts. She parked her black '67 Chevy Impala (if you get this inside joke then I love you) next to his blue Hyundai kona. Yes, they were quite different when it came to style but opposites attract right?

"I thought you weren't gonna come", he stated as she got out of the car. After all it was him who texted her to meet up, which was exactly what she wanted.

"Then why did you come?", she asked coldly. She had ripped short shorts that complimented her thighs and perfectly shaped her ass, a white v collar t-shirt that revealed little bit of her boobs and a red flannel that was originally tied around her hips but was now on her to keep her warm from the chilly summer breeze.

"I still had hope you would show up", he said as she slammed her car door and started walking towards him slowly.

"What do you want?", she ignored his heartfelt comment and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I want you to listen to me. You don't have to say or do anything, just listen to what I have to say", he had a lot of regret in his eyes.

"You have 60 seconds"

"Okay, I know I hurt you", he started and she scoffed while rolling her eyes, "and I hate myself for doing that. Yeah, I dated you for a stupid bet and it was supposed to be a bet until the end but... something happened along the way. The month that we spent together made me feel something I wasn't expecting", he made a small pause. Like he was trying not to... cry?

"It made me happy", his heart skipped a beat, "I never felt happier in my life and... you were the reason of my happiness. I'm so sorry... ", he looked at the ground and let his arms fall down from his chest.

Silence. It took over the atmosfere around small hill they were on. He stared at the ground and she stared at him. Being very good with reading people, she was studying his expression, body movements, anything and everything. What she found surprised her. It was remorse written all over him.

》Wow. He was really that dumb and fell for me. It almost makes me wanna forgive him《, she thought to herself.

"Okay well", she inhaled loudly and he looked up at her with anticipation in his eyes, "your 60 seconds passed so I'ma get going", she turned around and started walking to her car.

》3... 2... 1《, she counted in her mind.

"I love you!", he blurted out to what her heart skipped a beat. This was not part of the plan. In a month of them dating they never said the 3 words to each other. Regardless of that she can't give in.

She put on her shocked face which wasn't that hard because she party already felt like that, "What?"

"You heard me. Y/n L/n I love you!", he started walking towards her, "I'm so sorry that I hurt you, I was stupid and careless and an asshole and I'm so sorry but please. I need you. I love you", he was now holding her hands, completely close to her.

She was confused to this point. She knew that she fell for him but she didn't expect him to be head over heels for her. She almost wanted to forgive him and forget everything but now it was too late. He used her and just the fact that he did, beats every chance of them ever being together again in her head.

They stared into each other. She could see fear in his eyes. After all he just confessed his feelings to her. He searched her eyes for something but he couldn't find what he was looking for. To be honest, he didn't even know what he was looking for. So he started to lean closer to her face. After she showed no protest, he connected their lips in a sweet, loving and long kiss.

》It's on《, she said in her head.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

[lxchara-dreemurrxl]

~BASIC INFO~

Name: Chara Willows [adopted last name Dreemurr]

The name Chara is born with is changed when they fall Underground, as they wanted to start a new identity at the time. Their original first name is for the most part unknown except for themselves. The last name was changed to Dreemurr when they were adopted by the Dreemurr family.

Nickname(s): Char, though most don't really use nicknames for her. After all, their name isn't too difficult to say. There are some more threatening names, but those vary depending on the person.

Gender: Non-binary

Depending on the RP, I can use a masculine or a feminine version, but my default will be they/them unless asked for otherwise.

Age: Default age will be eight years old, but we can go older or younger depending on the roleplay. I have a few main aged Chara's I'm willing to play if requested, which I will elaborate on here.

Three: Toddler Chara. This will probably be more likely to be used if someone would like to look after the little demon. This is DEFINITELY a no romance.

Six: Little kid. Slightly more mature than three year old Chara, but still just as mischievous. They can be out on their own, but not too far from another person since they're still young. That can change depending on the plot, though. This is a no romance. Maybe some cute kindergarten crush stuff, but no kissing or anything.

Eight: My default! Canon Chara. They definitely give off quite a creepy vibe and are extremely determined and clever, though that can be used for negativity. They're more a chaotic neutral, doing what benefits them most at the time. Chara is also not the best person. They say some very mean things, simply because they don't really mind hurting someone's feeling. The truth hurts sometimes. They are also really manipulative for a kid that age. I will do some romance with this, but at most a little kiss on the cheek and handholding. Nothing nasty, this is a kid.

Twelve: More mature and slightly smarter. They know what they want and how to get it when they want it, which has earned them quite a few enemies. Chara isn't a terrible person entirely, they do have attachments to certain people, they just don't like to show it.

Twenty: Adult. Chara is definitely a lot more mature now, and is a fair bit less cruel. They still have their manipulative talents and their brutal honesty, but they don't go out of their way to hurt someone and show affection a bit better. Plus, they've found other hobbies, one of which being baking (which they aren't good at but enjoy) and photography (something they show clear talent with).

I can do other ages as well, if requested!

Weapons: Knives.

Fighting Style: Basically, slash and hit hard. There is no mercy if you strike a fight with Chara.

~RELATIONSHIP INFO~

Friends With: Depends on RP, but usually canon friendships stand. EX: Asriel Dreemurr.

Neutral With: Depends on the RP

Enemies With: Depends, but they certainly don't have a good relationship with Sans.

Family: Toriel Dreemurr (adoptive mother), Asgore Dreemurr (adoptive father), Asriel Dreemurr (adoptive brother)

Crush(es): Depends

Relationship (dating) Status: Single

~PERSONALITY~

Personality Towards Humans: Distasteful, unless they've formed a positive relationship with one or two in particular. Humans are soulless, cruel people in their eyes, even though they technically are ok themselves. It's complicated.

Personality Towards Strangers: Cold and generally rude.

Personality Towards Friends: They're definitely more friendly, though they aren't good at all when it comes to expressing their care. Their mainly more joking and protective.

Personality Towards Enemies: Sickly sweet. They generally prefer to make threats and keep it looking cutesy and kind in a sinister way, but once you cross the line, they won't hesitate to cut you down.

Personality Towards Allies: It's all work and for their own benefit. Don't expect them to try and get personal with you on their own.

Personality Towards Family: Kinder. Their adoptive family was the only real family that they had ever had, so why wouldn't they care greatly for them?

Strengths: Physical attacks, mental manipulatiom

Weaknesses: ACTing or convincing others not to fight. They also struggle when it comes to resisting a fight.

Flaws: They can't back down from a fight. Ever. That tends to get them hurt.

Likes: Chocolate, flowers, knives, Toriel's awesome pie.

Dislikes: Bright lights, sickness, tight spaces, needles.

Fears: Death.

~APPEARANCE~

Eye Color: Crimson

Clothes: Canon outfit. Brown shorts reaching their knees, sneakers, and a green and yellow sweater with a brown undershirt.

Hair: Short and slightly wavy light brown.

Skin: Pale, almost like a ghost.

Other: Their cheeks are constantly rosy and pink. No, they aren't blushing, it's just how they look. When they get mad, though, it tends to get darker and their eyes get slightly brighter.

~OTHER INFO~

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Items: A golden locket with a photo of them and Asriel inside, along with a knife with a leather handle and a glistening silver blade.

~BACKSTORY~

Chara was born in a small town near Mount Ebott. They were abandoned as a child and taken to an orphanage, where they spent most of their early childhood living among other children. They were always regarded as weird and creepy due to their sort of heartless smile and their crimson colored eyes.

They were a 'demon' to the other children.

Chara took it for a long time. The constant torment and yelling and hitting, and they rarely fought back. One day, though, the realization dawned on them. They were getting hurt because they were weak. They didn't fight back, they didn't return the hurt.

So, they started to adapt the mentality they hold now. Chara began picking fights with their tormentors within the orphanage. If they came near them, they would make threats and clever insults to scare the others off.

One day, a boy approached them and took it way too far. The things he called them made them angry beyond belief. They had taken this for so long and had even started returning some of it; hadn't anyone gotten the message? Hadn't anyone realized that Chara wasn't someone to be messed with?

They snapped.

They jumped on him, and started hitting with anything they could find.

Long story short, the guy didn't walk away from that encounter.

Chara realized shortly after their rage had vanished for the most part what they had done and the crowd that had gathered around them. They weren't going to be walking away from this if any adults caught them, were they? The kid panicked, grabbed their knife, and ran towards the only place they knew nobody would follow them.

Mount Ebbot.

The rest you know, I'd guess.

Art Credit:

http://pepper-mint.tumblr.com/post/164353525491/while-you-wait-for-more-updates-have-a-malechara