#really thought i could finish it tonight and then taylor and Joe broke up and I had to mourn for 6 hours straight ⚰️

[mercurywaters]

Not to rush perfection but when do you expect to update fuel the pyre of your enemies? :)

hi!!! so sorry for the wait 😭 I’m actually working on the next chapter right now and would say it’s about 60% finished. I’m gonna do my best to have the fic updated by wednesday night!!! pls feel free to interrogate me if it’s not up by then lol.

thank you so much for reading the fic and expressing interest!!! it really means the world to me 🥹💗

[old-childhood-drama]

Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas Masterpost (Toe/Jaylor)

Before dating (May 2008)

We start with the Taylor lookalike

In May 2008 the Jonas Brothers are filming their music video for Burnin’ Up [x]. Joe’s love interest in it is played by a blonde girl who looks quite a bit (and she’s also styled) like Taylor Swift, for reference, this is the music video that has Selena Gomez as Nick Jonas’ love interest.

As far as we know they hadn’t even met so we don’t know exactly what this was supposed to mean, maybe Joe had a crush on Taylor or maybe it’s a coincidence.

We do know that Nick and Selena were dating when this was filmed and that by the time the MV was released (July 4th, 2008) Joe and Taylor were officially dating.

Toe is alive! (July 2008 – September 2008)

On Tour

Fans claim to have seen Taylor around the tour in early July, which matches with Taylor’s lyrics in "Last Kiss".

Last Kiss. Taylor Swift.

I do recall now the smell of the rain

Fresh on the pavement, I ran off the plane

That July 9th, the beat of your heart

It jumps through your shirt

On July 14th, Taylor and The Jonas Brothers perform “Should’ve Said No”[x] from her debut album, and this performance now forever exists in their 3D movie (a classic), a cute fact is that some fans have said that Taylor tripped when she first came out, so they had to repeat it for the movie.

On July 20th Joe flies to Wyoming to watch Taylor opening up for Rascal Flatts, and they flew back and she was spotted at the Omaha show.

She’s seen in a couple shows more and she joins the stage again for their Madison Square Garden shows in August [x]. They sing “Even now just looking at you feels wrong”.

They’re together but they’re not together.

For more context, we must remember that Taylor was a very new artist from a small label and The Jonas were pretty much at their peak and Disney’s biggest act, and they were managed like crazy and could never even think about being seen with someone in a romantic way. Any rumors were denied so fast, and Disney did the absolute most to keep it secret. So according to everyone they were just good friends, at the time both Taylor and Selena were annoyed by all the secrecy.

Now back to the timeline:

Taylor is backstage of the tour A LOT for the next couple of weeks right next to the other not-girlfriends Selena and Danielle.

She films a cameo for the “Love Is on Its Way” [x] video for the concert in New York. She was said to be only interested in hanging out with Joe and they were seen hugging *gasp* I know it doesn’t seem like much now but back then this was the hottest gossip and again the Jonas were not supposed to breathe near any human of the opposite gender.

Taylor and the Jonas were staying at the same hotel a bunch of rumors ensued, but I will not talk about the whole Olympics and Toe locking themselves in a room at midnight thing. If it’s real, we really needed to touch some grass and stop staying outside of people's rooms all night.

On August 17th Joe goes to Ryan Seacrest's show and denied that Taylor is his girlfriend in the best way a corporation like Disney can train you to deny something that’s true. Saying Taylor is “a great girl and I think anybody would be lucky to date her. I think anybody would love to go on a date with her.”

And Taylor tells People Magazine “He’s an amazing guy and anybody would be lucky to be dating him” Cinematic parallels.

Taylor is spotted in the back (in a mirror) of one of the Jonas youtube videos [x]. Basically, we all knew they were together.

The Central Park date (August 28th)

Now if you were a fan of either the Jonas Brothers, Selena, or Taylor you know this next part and it the iconic triple date of Central Park.

Again, this is kind of famous at this point and Selena has been quoted saying how awful it was because the boys were not allowed to be seen with them so they all went to Central Park (Selena’s first time in Central Park) and Taylor and Selena walked about 20 feet of distance from the guys so nobody would think they were together but we all already knew because it wasn’t like they were that good at hiding it and there are pictures of them together that night (the clownery of it all).

These backstage tour adventures are the reason Taylor and Selena are friends today and in Selena’s own words the best thing to come out of those relationships.

VMAs (September 2008)

With how many pictures of them together that night [x] [x] [x] exist you would think they had gone together as a couple but no just two besties! The 2008 VMAs are so the show where Russell Brand mocks the Jonas Brothers and their purity rings and Taylor publicly defends them.

Toe seems happy for the rest of September but as we know now the end is near.

The Break-Up (October 2008)

Social Media was different back then and Taylor did what every teen girl with a broken heart did in 2008 and she went to myspace with an edited post to make a statement about the Toe current situation.

Post-Breakup

The 27 seconds Joe Jonas will regret for the rest of his life.

Taylor went on Ellen and I don’t even think I need to say much this interview is THAT iconic she sat on that couch and told the world exactly how Joe had broken her heart in the following two quotes:

“There’s one that’s about that guy, but…that guy’s not in my life anymore unfortunately. That guy…that’s an ouch.”

“I’m not even gonna be able to remember the boy who broke up with me over the phone in 25 seconds when I was 18…it was like 27 seconds, that’s got to be a record.” [x]

She also went on Ryan Seacrest’s and when asked about the perfect guy she saw an opportunity and took it, saying “I used to always say sense of humor, but I think that it’s important to have the same kind of sense of humor. I have a really dry, sarcastic sense of humor and if somebody doesn’t think that my sense of humor is funny, then that’s not something that is good. Um, so sometimes you know, that can be a wrong match. If they’re not allowed to go in public with me, that’s sort of an issue too.” [x]

Bonus the amazing youtube video Taylor posted with Joe’s Camp Rock doll and how he comes with his own phone to break up with other dolls [x]. Taylor eventually went full out and cited Camilla Belle (then girlfriend of Joe) as the reason for the breakup. And you know someone at Disney’s PR office wanted to die when this was going down.

So finally, Joe was forced to acknowledge the whole situation with a Myspace post:

"I never cheated on a girlfriend. It might make someone feel better to assume or imply I have been unfaithful, but it is simply not true. Maybe there were reasons for a breakup. Maybe the heart moved on. Perhaps feelings changed. I am truly saddened that anything would potentially cause you to think less of me. For those who have expressed concern over the "27 second” phone call. I called to discuss feelings with the other person. Those feelings were obviously not well received. I did not end the conversation. Someone else did. Phone calls can only last as long as the person on the other end of the line is willing to talk. “

Forever & Always

Now this song is known as THE Toe song and it was born out of the end of the relationship when she felt Joe was getting distant, but she couldn’t do anything to help it, it was made really late into the production of Fearless so she had to rush to finish it in time (so no other breakup songs are about Joe in the original album).

Forever & Always Was I out of line? Did I say something way too honest, made you run and hide Like a scared little boy I looked into your eyes Thought I knew you for a minute, now I’m not so sure

In the 2009 Grammy's Taylor and Miley (insert The Ex-Girlfriends Club Theory here) performed Fifteen (obviously not about Joe) and the Jonas were in the audience. I believe this is probably around the time Taylor writes Mr. Perfectly Fine and You All Over Me, which we know get to have thanks to Fearless (Taylor’s Version) 13 years later.

You All Over Me

The best and worst day of June

Was the one that I met you

With your hands in your pockets

And your 'don't you wish you had me' grin

But I did, so I smiled, and I melted like a child

Now every breath of air I breathe reminds me of then

Mr. Perfectly Fine

'Cause I hear he's got his arm 'round a brand-new girl

I've been pickin' up my heart, he's been pickin' up her

And I never got past what you put me through

But it's wonderful to see that it never phased you

In November of 2009, she also goes to SNL and mocks Joe in her monologue. "You might think I'd bring up Joe That guy who broke up with me on the phone But I'm not gonna mention him *rolls eyes* In my monologue [Spoken:]Hey Joe, I'm doing real well, tonight I'm hosting SNL [Sings:]But I'm not gonna brag about that In my monologue [x]"

To make things even more dramatic and very awkward The Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, and Taylor Swift spent NYE together watching the ball drop on TV and this was probably not how they wanted to start their years. [x] [x] [x] and a video [x]

Now let’s discussed some of the songs that came out at the time. The Jonas response to Forever & Always was Much Better. Nick described it as a song that was very personal to Joe and Joe went on to say that it was based on his very interesting year. They also at some point wanted to pretend the song was about their love for their fans but come on. Joe also changed the lyrics from ‘superstar’ to ‘country star’ and later changed it to ‘movie stars’ when he broke up with Camilla who is the ‘Much Better’ girl from the song.

Much Better - Jonas Brothers

I get a rep for breakin’ hearts

Now I’m done with superstars

And all the tears on her guitar

I’m not bitter

But now I see

Everything I’d ever need

Is the girl in front of me

She’s much better

Taylor’s iconic response in Better Than Revenge seems to be more of an attack on Camilla. She’s spoken about her regret for this song since then and hasn’t played it in years and Camilla seems to be ok we never forgiving her for it [x] [x]. Regardless this song remains a staple of the genre ‘Feminism OFF, Bops ON’.

“I was 18 when I wrote [“Better Than Revenge.”] That’s the age you are when you think someone can actually take your boyfriend. Then you grow up and realize no one can take someone from you if they don’t want to leave”. - Taylor 2014.

Better Than Revenge - Taylor Swift

Let's hear the applause (Come on, come on)

Come on, show me how much better you are

(So much better, yeah?)

See you deserve some applause

'Cause you're so much better

She also released "Last Kiss" about the nicer part of their relationship, and some believe other songs such as If This Was a Movie, Haunted (Speak Now) and Jump Then Fall (Fearless) are about Joe. From the Jonas, the other song believed to be about Taylor is Paranoid (Lines, Vines and Trying Times).

Jump Then Fall

Well, I like the way your hair falls in your face

You got the keys to me

I love each freckle on your face, oh

I've never been so wrapped up, honey

Probably a song was written about and in the early days of their romance and the long hair freckles [x] thing definitely fits 2008 Joe.

If This Was a Movie

Baby, what about the ending?

Oh, I thought you'd be here by now

Thought you'd be here by now

According to some this song is a sister song to "Last Kiss" in the same album and that is confirmed to be about Joe.

Haunted

Come on, come on, don't leave me like this

I thought I had you figured out

Something's gone terribly wrong

Won't finish what you started

This song would be a sister to Forever & Always since Taylor described both to be about a relationship that was fading in the end and that she was confused as to how they got there in the first place.

"‘Haunted’ is about the moment that you realize the person you’re in love with is drifting and fading fast. And you don’t know what to do, but in that period of time, in that phase of love, where it’s fading out, time moves so slowly. Everything hinges on what that last text message said, and you’re realizing that he’s kind of falling out of love. That’s a really heartbreaking and tragic thing to go through because the whole time you’re trying to tell yourself it’s not happening. I went through this, and I ended up waking up in the middle of the night writing this song about it.” Taylor

Friendlier days are coming (2010- )

I guess time can heal a lot of wounds and Toe is seen hugging and on friendly terms at the Clive Davis party on January 31st of 2010 [x].

The world was so shocked when we realized that Joe went to see her perform in a couple of her shows in September 2011 [x] [x], and in here Holy Ground is born about her new evaluation of their former relationship rather than the bitterness of the breakup. The lyrics' secret message is “when you came to the show in SD” and the potential parallel to "Last Kiss".

Holy Ground - Taylor Swift

We blocked the noise with the sound of ‘I need you’

And for the first time I had something to lose

And I guess we fell apart in the usual way

And the story’s got dust on every page

But sometimes I wonder how you think about it now

And I see your face in every crowd…

… Tonight, I'm gonna dance

For all that we've been through

But I don't wanna dance

If I'm not dancing with you

Last Kiss - Taylor Swift

I do remember the swing of your step

The life of the party, you’re showing off again

And I roll my eyes and then

You pull me in

I’m not much for dancing

But for you I did

They're seen talking in the MTV's EMA's 2012 [x].

From here they seem to be friendly and in May of 2015 after the Billboards. They even go on a double date later that year with Gigi Hadid, Calvin Harris, and Karlie Kloss (this picture feels so cursed). Nick and Joe get invited to Taylor’s 4th of July party and they seem somewhat distant after his split from Gigi.

Present (2020- )

In 2020, we got the amazing surprise of folklore with the song ‘Invisible String’ that makes a reference to Taylor’s past songs about exes being harsh and how she sent Joe and his wife Sophie Turner a present for their baby girl’s birth. In 2021, she has now released the re-recordings of Fearless and we are all reliving the drama and enjoying the chaos of Taylor’s and Sophie’s friendship not letting Joe know peace for those 27 seconds over a decade ago.

Invisible String

Cold was the steel of my axe to grind

For the boys who broke my heart

Now I send their babies presents

[radiosteve]

Need Your Loving Tonight Ch. 8

Summary: The night of the band’s first show with John as the bassist takes a few dips and turns beforehand. Everything is changing so quickly and the tension you feel with Roger certainly doesn’t help. But maybe John can make you feel better at the end of the day.

 Note: I tried to amp up Freddie’s friendship with the reader because it feels so natural. Things are getting angsty with Rog and fluffy with Deaky, I love it. As always, the italicized part is the reader’s thoughts. The photo is one that I found on google. I do not own any rights to it. If you want to be added to the taglist send me a message or an ask and I’ll add you!  

 Warnings: Language, mentions of smut, angst, fluff

 Pairing: Roger Taylor x Reader, John Deacon x Reader

Words: 3.5k+

  July 2, 1971

 “Y/n, darling,” Freddie called out from the ‘dressing room’, trying to get your attention. The area that the boys had deemed to be their ‘dressing room’ was really just a small classroom near the back of the auditorium that they were playing in at Surrey College. You had been kicked out earlier because Roger had forgotten to put on underwear and needed to change his pants, but here Freddie was calling you to come back in. When you had walked out of the room earlier, you ran into a cute guy and had been talking to him ever since. “Please come back in darling, Roger is fully clothed I swear. I need you to do my makeup,” you rolled your eyes at Freddie’s shouts from behind the mostly closed door and turned to the man in front of you.

 “I guess that’s my cue to leave. It was nice talking to you…” you fumbled for his name, mentally cursing yourself for forgetting.

 “Joe,” he quickly answered and gently grabbed your hand, bringing it to his lips. A giggle trailed from your mouth as he pulled away with a smile. He turned around to walk away and you brought your hand up to your chest, holding it as you watched him step further down the hallway. 

 “What a sap,” Roger spoke loudly, leaning against the doorframe. You quickly snapped your gaze in his direction and narrowed your eyes. 

 “I think he was sweet, love,” Brian poked his head up from behind Roger and shot you a soft smile. 

 “God, were you all spying on me?” 

“Not all of us. Johnny is sitting over on the sofa tuning his bass,” Freddie said, appearing next to Roger. A sigh escaped your lips as you walked towards the door while Brian and Roger went back into the dressing room. “That boy kind of looked like Deaky don’t you think?” Freddie whispered as you entered the room. You felt a blush creep across your cheeks as Freddie gave you a wide smirk. There may have been one night when Freddie came over to hang out with you and Sally and instead you all got super drunk. And you might have, maybe, mentioned that you thought John was a little cute. Ever since then, Freddie took the idea and ran with it. He used every opportunity possible to tease you about your mini crush on John. 

 “Just sit down before I change my mind about helping you,” you pushed Freddie’s shoulder over to a chair across the room. 

 “I don’t really need your help darling; I just want to spend time with you. It seems like you hardly ever leave your flat these days. And when you do, it’s usually just so you can go to work. How dull,” Freddie sat back, looking up at you as your dug around his makeup bag, trying to find his eyeliner.

 “He’s got a point,” Brian piped up from the couch where he sat next to Deaky. You shot him a mean glare and John giggled from beside him.

 “You guys do know that I graduated and got a real job, don’t you? I can’t spend every night out partying like a Rockstar,” you finally found the eyeliner and bent over in front of Freddie to begin applying it to his face. As soon as you did you heard a chorus of ‘whoas’ and whistles, causing you to quickly stand back up. Your eyebrows furrowed as you scanned the boys sitting around the room. Brian looked like he had just seen a ghost, John’s face was as red as a tomato, and Roger stood against the wall with a smirk plastered across his face.

 “That dress is a little too short for you to lean over like that, love,” Roger spoke, his eyes trailing up and down your body as his tongue swiped out across his bottom lip. You could have melted on the spot, before you remembered that it wasn’t just Roger that got a glimpse underneath your dress. Your eyes landed on Brian as his mouth hung open and his eyes stared blankly at the floor. 

 “I just saw my best friend’s bum,” he mumbled under his breath, before slowly looking up at you. “That’s basically like seeing my sister’s bum, oh god,” Brian stood up and rushed over to a table in the corner of the room that had a few glasses of water on it. He gulped down one cup before slowly making his way back to the couch. He slumped down on the cushion and John gave him a comforting pat on the arm. The blush on John’s cheeks had faded after Brian’s freak out, but he still wouldn’t look you in the eye. 

 “I-uh, I guess I’ll just crouch down to do Fred’s makeup then,” you muttered and moved to comfortably apply Freddie’s eyeliner, without exposing yourself. He gave you a cheeky grin and you knew that you’d never hear the end of this. After you put the finishing touches on Freddie’s makeup, you stood up and put the eyeliner back into the makeup bag. “I should probably go out front so I can meet up with Sally,” you turned towards the door. 

 “Sally’s here? Oh god please don’t bring her back here. She hates my guts,” Roger spoke with wide eyes as he stepped closer to you. 

 “All the more reason to give her a backstage tour,” you quipped while Freddie giggled at your words. A silence flooded the room as you and Roger stared at each other intently, your eyes playfully narrowed. 

 “Who’s Sally and why does she hate Roger?” John’s voice broke through the wall of tension, shifting everyone’s attention to the timid bassist. He shrunk into the couch cushions at the sight of everyone’s eye fixed onto him. 

 “Sally is Y/n’s roommate. She doesn’t come to many shows because of our darling boy Roger over here,” Freddie pointed his thumb in Roger’s direction as Roger settled down onto a chair near the door. “Sally hasn’t been much of a fan of Roger ever since he slept with…” Freddie went on to finish his sentence, but you quickly cut him off.

 “Her!” you screeched trying to drown out Freddie’s words. “Yeah, Roger slept with her one night and then told her that he just wanted to be friends. She’s still pissed about it, ya know?” Everything you said rushed out into a jumble of words, but John still nodded along. 

 “I slept with Sally?” Roger’s voice was higher than normal as he shot you a confused look. You snapped your head in his direction, a mixture of anger and desperation plastered on your face. “I mean, yeah I slept with Sally. She-uh really hates me, uh huh,” Roger struggled out as John watched the two of you intently. It was a damn good thing that Roger was a musician instead of an actor because man, this guy can’t act for shit. 

 “Well, I’d love to stay and chat but I’ve got to go out front and you guys have a show to play in 15 minutes,” you shuffled towards the exit, eyes sweeping across the boys faces as you stood in the doorway. “Good luck! Have a good first show Johnny!” with a thumbs up and a quick wave you went out to the front of the stage to look for Sally. 

 “There you are,” Sally grabbed your shoulder and pulled you back to face her after you passed right by her. “How is Queen’s favorite groupie?” Sally asked with a huge grin. 

 “You know, I’d really appreciate it if you stopped calling me that, especially when we’re in public,” you rolled your eyes as she laughed and threw her arm around your shoulders. 

 “I wouldn’t say it if it weren’t true. I mean I’m not the one that slept with the drummer,” Sally teased as you began to shush her. 

 “Actually, you did,” Sally gave you a confused stare as her eyebrows furrowed. “Freddie was running his mouth and almost told John about me and Roger, so I saved it by saying that you slept with Roger. So if John asks, please, please, please, go along with it,” you clasped your hands together and held them to your chest as if you were begging. 

 “You want me, a giant lesbian, to act as if I slept with Roger Taylor?” you frantically nodded your head as she spoke. “Fine, I’ll do it. But only because you’re my best friend and I love you,” Sally pulled you closer and you rested your head against hers. 

 “Oh, and I said that you’re really pissed at Roger because he just wanted to be friends afterwards,” you rushed out, glancing down at your watch that read 8 o’clock. The lights in the auditorium went out and a hush fell over the crowd.

 “Well that should be easy. Roger already knows how to piss me off in all the right ways,” Sally whispered just before the stage lights came on, illuminating the four figures in front of you.

 -----------------------------

 Throughout the concert, you and Sally danced, cheered, and sang along. You felt every note pounding throughout your chest. It’s so different to be out in the crowd rather than backstage. The last time you’d out by the stage was back when Mike was still the band’s bassist and the only reason you’d opted out of going backstage was because you wanted to get a drink from the bar. The energy that pulsed from the stage felt so surreal, especially when you remembered that those were some of your best friends up there. They felt like a real band. Not just some ragtag group of misfit college students. The group of men standing up in front of you seemed as though they were professional musicians with number one albums, mansions, fame, and fortune. The only things reminding you of the truth were Freddie, Brian, and John’s frequent winks and smiles in your direction.

 When the lights on stage faded out and the overhead lights flickered on instead, you felt everything. Without knowing it, tears flooded your eyes and streamed down your cheeks. But they weren’t tears of sadness, no. The streaks in your makeup came from joy. The feeling that coincided with watching the boys that you love so much play their hearts out and do something that they genuinely enjoyed. Things had changed so much since the first day that you met the same curly haired boy that just performed in front of you. It wasn’t until Sally grabbed your hand that you realized that you were just standing below an empty stage with tears in your eyes as people shuffled out around you. 

 “You alright, love?” Sally’s gaze met yours as you wiped the tears from your eyes with the back of your hand. You nodded and followed her as she made her way towards the stairs leading backstage. The door to the boys dressing room was closed so Sally knocked while you still worked on fixing the smudges in your makeup. Brian opened the door, greeting the two of you with a big smile. He backed away, allowing you to walk in, but not before he noticed the redness in your eyes. He grabbed your wrist, pulling you out into the hallway just as you stepped through the door. 

 “What’s wrong? Have you been crying?” Brian asked with concern laced throughout his voice. You nodded and tried to explain, but Brian cut you off. “Was it someone backstage or in the crowd? Was someone mean to you? I’ll kick somebody’s ass if I have to,” he rambled on despite the fact that you kept shaking your head no to all of his questions. “Did one of the guys do something when I wasn’t looking? I’m pretty sure I could take any of them in a fight. Except maybe John, I feel like he could easily kill someone and get away with it, for some reason.”

 “No, Bri,” you finally got a chance to talk and Brian looked at you expectantly. “I’m honestly not sure why I was crying. I guess I just got a little emotional being out in the crowd like that. You guys have progressed so much over the years. I hardly feel like I’m watching the same band that was up on stage a few months ago.”

 “Well technically you weren’t. I mean with us having John now,” you shot Brian a look and he chuckled.

 “I just mean that everything about the band is so different. In a good way,” you gazed up at Brian, eyes locked as a smile poked at the corners of his lips. “I really think you guys could make it big. And god, do I want to be around for it.”

 “You’ll always be there for us and we’ll be there for you. That’s just how this whole thing works, Y/n,” Brian pulled you in for a hug. His head rested on top of yours, before you both pulled away and walked inside the dressing room.

 “So, what are you still doing here? Thought you’d have some poor innocent girl in the back of your van by now,” Sally’s voice rang throughout the small room and you had to hide your giggle in Brian’s shoulder. Freddie didn’t take the same measures to hide his laugh like you did, and his chuckle echoed off the walls, earning a groan from Roger. 

 “Just need a break from all the girls tonight. It’s quite exhausting having so many of them fawn all over me like that. I’ve had enough of girls screaming my name on stage, don’t think I need to hear any more for the night,” Roger licked his lips, his eyes landing on you and the way you were clinging to Brian’s arm. The cocky smile slipped off his face and he moved to get closer to you. “Can I talk to you in the hall for a minute?” Roger said in a hushed tone, trying not to interrupt the conversation that John, Brian, and Freddie had just begun. You looked over at Sally who violently shook her head no. But you decided to ignore her and followed Roger out the door. Once Roger had made sure that the door was properly closed behind him, he turned towards you.

 “What’s this whole thing about me supposedly sleeping with Sally?” Roger crossed his arms in front of his chest. 

 “I-uh, I just,” you stuttered out, trying your best to not give away the true reasoning behind why you want to keep this secret. “I just don’t think the whole band needs to hear about every fling I’ve ever had, especially if it was with you,” your voice wavered as the words fell from your lips. You noticed how Roger’s body seemed to deflate at what you said, but you didn’t think much of it.  

 “Everyone already knows though,” a panic spread throughout your body. John knows about Roger and I? Oh god. “Well, besides John,” a wave of relief crashed over you as Roger continued talking. “But it’s not really a big deal anyway. So what if we slept together,” you felt a sudden overpowering feeling of anger and your face grew hot.

 “It’s a big deal to me, you ass. I don’t want to be known as the girl that fucked Roger Taylor or to be written off as some crazed groupie that hangs all over the band. So, if you could swallow your pride enough for one second, maybe I can go on and pretend like I didn’t sleep with you,” your tone laced with vexation as every word spewed from your mouth. It almost looked like Roger was hurt by your words, but he fired back nonetheless.

 “If I knew you were going to act all pissy and demented about it, then I never would have fucked you in the first place,” Roger’s voice raised, but he controlled it enough so that no one in the dressing room could hear him. A part of you wanted to be sad, to ache at the emotion behind Roger’s words. But for some reason, you just couldn’t get yourself to believe the word that fell from his lips.

 “Maybe you shouldn’t have,” your words were icy and cut through Roger like a blade. “I know that it’s the one mistake that I certainly would do over if I could,” the truth expelled from you before you could stop it. You didn’t necessarily mean to say it maliciously, but that was how Roger took it. And what you said wasn’t a lie. If you could go back to that night, you never would have gone home with Roger. But that wasn’t because you didn’t want to sleep with him. It was more so due to everything that happened afterwards between the two of you. A piece of your heart would forever and always be attached to Roger, whether you liked it or not. But you would erase the tension, uneasiness, and arguments that followed in a heartbeat. And you would give anything for that. Roger’s eyes watched yours as the tears that pooled within them began to roll down your face. He brushed them away with his thumb and you stared at him incredulously.

 “I’m sorry,” his words were quiet as his hand cupped your cheek and rubbed circles with his thumb. Your eyes trailed up his face before meeting his. 

 “I’m sorry too,” sincerity evident through your expression as you spoke.

 “I know,” his words were barely above a whisper. The two of you stood like that, his hand resting against your face, for a moment longer before you went back inside the dressing room. It took everything inside Roger to hold himself back from leaning down to kiss you. You were welcomed back into the dressing room by the sound of Freddie’s laughter and the tightness that you felt around your chest loosened. You sat between Sally and Brian, resting your head against Brian’s shoulder as Sally grabbed for your hand. You smiled at her ability to read your emotions and how she always knew when to cheer you up. Everyone stayed in the dressing room to chat for a little longer. It wasn’t until you saw the clock on the wall that you realized how late it was.

 “We should get going,” Sally said, letting go of your hand so she could stand up. “I’ll go pull the car around, yeah?” she looked down at you and you nodded sleepily. Sally left the room and you got up, saying goodbye and giving everyone a quick hug. 

 “I’ll walk you out,” John’s voice trailed behind you as you walked to the door. “I need to leave too,” he gave you a small smile before picking up the case that contained his bass and gestured for you to go first through the door. The two of you walked along the hallway in a comfortable silence, although you could tell that he seemed a little nervous. “I think that it’s really great how much support you show for the band. It’s really nice to have you around,” John’s words broke through the warm air as the two of you stepped outside.

 “Well, I like being around,” you spoke with soft smile taking over your face. When you glanced up at John you noticed how his upturned lips reflected yours. It took you a few seconds to tear your gaze from his mouth, pushing out all of the impulses within you that told you to kiss him. You both stopped walking as you neared the edge of the building that led out into the parking lot. “Can I tell you something?” the words left your lips before you could process that you were speaking.

 “Of course. What is it?” his eyes stayed locked on yours as your heart beat out of your chest.

 “I think that you really bring the band together. You’re kind of like the glue. I mean, I’ve seen these guys perform with three or so other bassists, but none of those shows even come close to this one. There’s just something about the four of you all together that seems so right. The music, the energy, everything,” John cheeks turned bright red as you went on, but he hid it behind his long hair.

 “Thank you. That’s very kind of you to say,” John’s voice recoiled back into being shy and bashful.

 “I mean it, John. I really do,” he looked up from the ground, his eyes locked on yours as the smile fell from his face. Oh, how he wanted to kiss you. To feel the sensation of your lips pressed against his. The desperate touch of his tongue in your mouth as his hands traveled down your sides. The connection of your fingers tugging through his hair. He wanted it. He wanted it all. The honk of a horn and the flash of headlights tore John from his ever-swirling thoughts. All of his desperate desires had to wait. Instead, he would have to survive on a hug and a wave as you slid into the passenger side of Sally’s car. And that was enough. For now. 

 Taglist: @Retromusicsalad @bohemiansweede @deaconsroger @queen-crue @ohtheseboysilove @Queeniesteiins @kemeryyyy @onceuponadetectivedemigod @ixchel-9275 @luvborhap @ziggymay @deakysmisfire @rogertaylorsfalsettogivesmehives @briarrose26

[benhardyorbust]

On My Way

Ben Hardy x Reader

A/N: So I was listening to the song On My Way by PRETTYMUCH (which slaps btw, if you haven’t listened to them you should. great if you love a good boy band like me) and I got the idea for this! Listen for the *full effect* Also I did not mean for this to be this long but uh here it is lol. 

1.8kish words

You were sitting on the set of Bohemian Rhapsody watching your boyfriend, Ben Hardy, play Roger Taylor. You’re not going to lie, watching him play THE fuck boy of the 20th century was pretty hot because it’s so opposite of who he really is.  

“CUT!” yelled the director. “That’s a wrap!” 

Ben walked over to you, in his cute little red shorts and dark blonde, long wig, and planted a kiss on you. 

“Shall we get out of here, love?” he asks as he wraps his arm around your waist. 

“I’d love to,” you say looking up at him while you walk towards his trailer.

“You are getting done so early today, what should we do with the rest of the day?” you ask. 

“I was thinking maybe we could go back home and take a nap first,” he says laughing. “Maybe we can go out tonight?”

“I love both of those ideas,” you respond. 

After Ben gets out of hair and makeup, you head back to your apartment. When you get home Ben falls asleep immediately. He is so precious when he is sleeping, you don’t wand to disturb him. You make yourself some lunch and some for him too for when he wakes up, and then get into bed with him to take a nap. 

When you get under the covers, Ben immediately pulls you close to him. You fall asleep in his arms. 

A few hours later you wake up and reach over for Ben. You notice that he isn’t there. You get up and walk out to the living room and see him watching tv. You walk over to the couch and snuggle up to him. He kisses your forehead and pulls you in closer. 

“What should we do tonight?” you ask Ben. 

“I was thinking maybe we could go out,” he says. “Joe and Gwil are planning on going to our favorite bar, we could go too?”

“That sounds like fun! I’ll go start to get ready.”  You get up and walk into the bedroom and sit at your vanity to start doing your makeup. 

“I won’t be able to make it to set on Monday,” you say to Ben. 

“Oh? I thought you were. Why not?” he replies and walks into the room and sits on the bed to talk to you. 

“I have another interview at a law firm, I’m really hoping this one works out.” 

“Love, I told you, you don’t have to work.,” he say, sitting up and looking at you. 

“Ben, I am not just going to not work. We already talked about this,” you say back, sounded a little shocked.

“I don’t understand why you are so dead set on getting a job when I make more than enough money for the both of us?”  

“Well, first of all I went to law school, not working would be a waste of money and time. Second of all, I love what I do. As much as I have loved moving to London, I have gotten kinda bored not having a job to go to.” 

“But.. if you get a job you won’t be able to come to set as much. Or hang out with me as much.” 

“Ben, we live together. We see each other every day. And it’s not like you only shoot from nine to five,” you say as you put on your foundation. “I can come to set after work, on weekends, or I can even get a day off if there is a day you really want me there. I need to have my own money and I want to get out there and work.” 

“Y/n, come on. Why would you need your own money? My money is our money.”

“Well... I have to be smart. What if we...” you say trailing off while you are finishing your eyeshadow. 

“What if we what?” Ben asks, his voice getting louder. 

“I don’t know... what if we break up? I can’t see the future, you never know what is going to happen. We aren’t married, we aren’t engaged, I have no right to “our” money at all. If we break up and I never get a job, I’ll have nothing! I won’t even be able to get home!” you say, getting louder right back. 

“You think we are going to break up!? Why would you ever think that!? We have been together for a year, is that not enough for you!?”

“I don’t know Ben! These are just things I need to think about! I am a very independent person and I need to know that if anything ever did happen I would be able to recover.” you say, trying to calm down while you do your hair. “I don’t understand why this is such a big deal for you. I always told you I  wanted to get a job in London.” 

“I can’t believe you think that if we broke up I would just leave you stranded with nothing!” 

You walk across the room to your closet and pick out your favorite going out outfit. 

“I don’t think that! I just want to have a job! I like working, I like making my own money, and, believe it or not, I am really good at what i do! You’re not the only talented person here, Ben.” you say as you slip on your clothes.  “I am actually a pretty damn good lawyer.” 

“I’m not saying you aren’t! I’m just saying I’d rather you...” 

“You’d rather me what Ben? What? Stay home? Play housewife while you go out and work? I don’t think so. And if that’s the kind of girl you think I am... I don’t know if this is going to work out.” 

You grab your purse and start walking towards the door of the apartment. Ben gets up and walks after you. 

“Where are you going?” he says, grabbing your hand. 

You rip your hand away from his, “Away from you.” 

You walk out the door and slam it behind you. You waited a few seconds before walking away, hoping he would come after you, but he didn’t. You walk towards the elevator and text your best friend. “Meet me at the pub down the street ASAP” 

You walk into the pub and see your friend, Paige, sitting there. You order a drink at the bar and then sit with her in the booth. 

“What’s going on?” she asks. 

“So I told Ben that I wouldn’t be able to go to set Monday because I have an interview at a law firm, and he BLEW UP!”

“Haven’t you guys gotten in this fight before?” 

“Yeah, but never this bad,” you say taking a sip of your drink. “He was getting so mad and just did not understand why I could possibly ever want to get a job.” 

“To have your own money? To do what you love? To have something to do?”

“EXACTLY! That is literally exactly what I said. He was getting so worked up about the whole thing. It was ridiculous.” 

“What are you going to do about it?”

“I don’t really know. I kind of just want to go out and have fun tonight, blow off some steam.” 

“Finish your drink and let’s go!” your friend says. You both finish off your drinks and walk to the club that is a few blocks over. 

*****Ben’s POV*******

The door slams in your face. You put your hand on the door knob, but then take it off. She needs some time to cool down. You pull out your phone and text in your groupchat with Joe and Gwil. 

“Still on for tonight?”

“Yeah I’ll be at the bar in 5 min” Joe says

“Me too” Gwil says. 

“Same” you reply. 

You walk into the pub, alone, and find the booth Joe and Gwil are at.

“Where’s y/n?” Joe asks. 

“We got in a fight,” you say. “A bad one.”

“About what?” Gwil asks. 

“She wants to get a job.” 

“... and? The girl just graduated from law school, of course she’s going to want to get a job.” Gwil replies. 

“I just, I like having her around all the time. I don’t want her to go off and get a job and not be around as much.” 

“Ben, do you hear yourself? You sound like a crazy, controlling boyfriend you always say you hate,” Joe says. 

“The girl needs to have her own life too,” Gwil says. 

“But... I love when she’s on set and when we can hang out all day together. There’s no reason for her to go get a job when I make enough for the both of us.”

“Maybe it’s not about the money, man. Maybe she wants to do it. Just like you want to be an actor, she wants to be a lawyer. And if you love her, you will let her,” Gwil says.

“Oh my god.... I didn’t even realize how stupid I sounded. I have to go apologize. Oh my god why am I so bloody stupid?” 

“You need to go find her,” Gwil says. “Do you know where she is?” 

“We have each other’s locations, I can look. I am sure she is probably at her favorite club with Paige. They always go there and she tells me about all the guys that hit on them..” you say trailing off while looking at your phone, thinking of all the other guys that are probably all over her right now. 

“Right well, she’s exactly where I though she would be. I gotta go fellas,” you say after you chug back the rest of your drink. 

**** Your POV*****

You and Paige walk into your favorite club, ready to dance the night away. As soon as you get there, you order a tequila shot and a drink to hold while you are dancing. 

When you are on the dance floor, guys keep trying to dance with you. You dodge their moves and just focus on having a good time with your best friend. 

After being there for about an hour, and a few more drinks, Paige looks at you and starts to point behind you. 

“What are you pointing at?” 

“Ben! He’s walking in!” 

“What?” you say as you turn around. Just as you turn around Ben walks up to you and kisses you passionately. You can taste the cigarette smoke on his lips. 

“Love, I am so sorry. I didn’t realize what a jerk I was being earlier. I am so excited that you have an interview on Monday, and I can’t wait to tell people that my girlfriend is a kick ass lawyer. Please forgive me.” 

You run your fingers through Ben’s hair, look into his eyes, and bite your bottom lip. 

“Hmmm... I guess I can forgive you, now stop blubbering like an idiot and kiss me,” you say. 

He pulls you in for another kiss. He pulls away from you and looks around the club. 

“Shall we stay for awhile? We always have the best time when we are here!” 

“Yes! Tell Gwil and Joe to come too!” 

“Judging by the taste of your lips, I have some catching up to do!” 

“Hell yeah you do, drummer boy! Shots for everyone!” 

You and Ben take a shot together, and he pulls you in for another kiss. 

“I love you so much y/n” 

“I love you too Ben.” 

Gwil and Joe show up at the club and see you hugging Ben. 

“I see you two made up?” Gwil says. 

“Damn, I was hoping you’d break up with him so I can finally have him all to myself,” Joe says, teasing you. 

“Maybe next time mate,” Ben says laughing at Joe. 

“Sorry Joe, but this one is mine,” you say as you kiss Ben’s cheek. 

[crazy-little-cool-cat]

Hand in Glove - Chapter 8 | Ben Hardy x OFC

A/N: Since I couldn’t post a sneak peek this time without ruining everything, I figured I might as well just post the entire thing and be done with it. Kate, my muse; Julia, my soulmate; Alex, my love - this one’s for you.

Word Count: ~2.2K 

Warnings: Angst. 

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7

It wasn’t cold, but Annie was shivering. Storming out on Ben wasn’t the smartest choice she made, but she felt trapped. She didn’t know if she wanted that baby. Their baby. Ben, on the other hand, made it clear that he’s all in. All it took was one bright smile, and Annie knew. She knocked on the door again, constantly looking over her shoulder. When the door opened, she heaved out a sigh of relief. After driving around for just over two hours, she was glad she could finally stop running.

“Hey!”

“Hi. You’re not busy, right?”

“No, no.” Rami stepped back and motioned Annie inside, closing the door behind her and leading her to his living room with a hand on the small of her back, “this is a surprise.”

“Things turned to shit.” Annie collapsed on the plush cushions, “can I just… hang around here a little?”

“Wanna talk about it?”

“Is there any point to do that?” Annie’s voice was barely over a whisper. Rami shrugged silently. “I’m pregnant. I think he wants to have this baby. I fucking know he does.”

“Makes sense. He’s ridiculously crazy about kids.” Rami scratched the side of his neck. “And, you know, he’s batshit crazy about you since that damn wedding.”

“This is not the reaction I was expecting…” Annie’s whole face scrunched up in confusion.

“I was briefed about it all,” Rami chuckled, “if you really thought those three gossips would just keep it to themselves you need to get your head checked.”

“Solid point.” Annie nodded solemnly. “Still, I can’t have a baby with someone I’ve just met a few months ago.”

“Says who?”

“Me.” Annie groaned and threw her head back. “I’m not some cookie-cutter girly girl.”

“Oh, believe me,” Rami chuckled, “no one ever presumed you are.”

“I don’t want marriage and a hoard of kids,” Annie closed her eyes, “I don’t want to be the lonely, bitter wife that stays home and waits for her husband all day.”

“Ben wouldn’t want to turn you into one of those, you know.”

Annie’s phone kept buzzing in her bag. She knew who was calling. She knew he was probably going out of his mind at her silence. She hated putting him through it all. She also hated the situation that caused her to run away.

“So, what’s your plan?”

“I was hoping to just crash here tonight? Hide in plain sight, you know?” Annie realised how pathetic she sounded, “figure out the rest of it later.”

“You’re more than welcome to,” Rami smiled softly, “are you hungry?”

“I could eat.”

###

“She’s at Rami’s?!”

Ben couldn’t help but scream at this point. He was up all night, replaying what had transpired with Annie, trying to understand what happened. He tried calling Annabelle, but she wouldn’t pick up. He sent around a million texts. No reply. He even drove around the places he knew she likes to go. No sign of her or her car. Then, his phone rang and he couldn’t answer the call fast enough; only to hear Gwilym say that Annabelle had ended up at Rami fucking Malek’s place.

“Ben, calm your tits, mate.”

“Don’t tell me to calm my fucking tits, Gwil,” Ben snapped, “I was up all fucking night!”

“I know, we all were.”

“Only to find out that she’s literally in the last place I’d ever…” Ben barked out a laugh, “she’s so fucking brilliant.”

“She was always a master of Hide’n’Seek.”

“That tiny little -”

“Watch it,” Gwil warned, “that’s the mother of your unborn child you’re talking about.”

“I’m calling Rami.”

“I strongly advise you don’t do that,” Gwil quipped, “she needs some quiet time.”

“She dropped a bomb on me, man!”

“On all of us.”

“I need to talk to her.”

“You will, in time.”

“How are you so calm about this?!”

“I’ve known her for her entire life. I know she’ll come around.”

“When?”

“Ben, I really have to hang up now.”

“Of course you do.”

“Don’t call Rami.”

“I won’t.”

“Do I need to send Joe over there to babysit?”

“Fuck off.”  

###

“You can’t avoid him forever,” Rami finished the last of his coffee and hurriedly stuffed things into his bag, “or the rest of the world, for that matter.”

“I’m not planning on avoiding him forever.”

“It’s been two days, babe.”

“Did you -” Annabelle looked absolutely bamboozled, “did you just call me babe?”

“Sorry, force of habit,” Rami grimaced and chuckled, “usually the only girl I have around here is Lucy.”

“I still don’t know what the fuck am I supposed to say to him.”

“The truth would be a great start!”

“Really, Rami?” Annabelle tossed a throw pillow at his head as he passed by her, “you did not just say that.”

“I did and you know I’m right. You can’t stay here forever. Lucy will get suspicious.”

“Just say that you’re kicking me out then!” Annie laughed for the first time in two whole days.

“Never, you are such an emotional delight.”

“Motherfu -”

“Leaving now!” Rami interrupted her and shut the door.

Annie leaned back down with a huff. She reached for her phone, turning it on. She couldn’t handle the constant buzzing and notifications lighting up her screen. She just needed everything - everyone - to stop. Now that she felt calmer, she was ready to gauge the damage she had done.

###

There was a very tense, awkward silence during lunch. The four boys sat around their usual table in the catering tent. Gwil and Joe tried to keep up appearances and break the tension with some banter and jokes. Rami and Ben, however, have not spoken to each other since Ben found out his girlfriend - his pregnant girlfriend - is hiding at Rami’s for the second day, now.

“Can we please discuss the elephant in the room?” Gwil said, looking from Ben to Rami.

“There’s nothing to discuss,” Rami started, pushing his food around, “she’s at my house. That’s that.”

“You really think that what you said makes perfect sense?” Ben scoffed, “or are you really just a bloody idiot?”

“Ugh,” Joe groaned, “here we go, again...”

“She doesn’t want to see you yet!” Rami rolled his eyes and dropped his fork, “get over it.”

“Rami…” Joe glowered.

“No, seriously! Ben’s out here throwing a tantrum because he knocked up his girlfriend,” Joe was about to interrupt but Rami held up his hand to stop him and carried on ranting, “and she needs some time to think about the fact that he’s thrilled about having a child with a girl he’s known for just a few months!” Rami held up four fingers, “Four. Months. Can you blame her for wanting to just -”

“You think I’m thrilled?” Ben snickered, “you fucking owl with your goddamn huge fucking eyes -”

“Ben!” Gwil smacked him.

“Oh, so now you don’t want that baby?” Rami raised an eyebrow and sipped his soda.

“No, I do!” Ben hissed, “I’m fucking scared but I still want this to happen!”

“Okay,” Rami nodded, “but what she wants is to be able to think without you pressuring her! As long as that’s the case, she’s staying with me.”

“No. No!” Ben looked at his three best friends, “she’s my girlfriend. She’s hiding over at your house.”

“She needs time!”

“But I need her!”

“Ben -”

“No!” he felt he’s at his wits end, “I haven’t slept in two days. At all. Her phone is off, I can’t reach her,” Ben’s voice broke, “I know where she is and I can’t fucking do anything about it. Because you,” Ben pointed at Rami, “won’t let me see the mother of my own bloody child.”

“Ben,” Rami smirked wickedly, “what if she doesn’t want to have your bloody child? Huh?”

“Did -” Ben’s green eyes widened in sheer horror, “is that what she said? She said she doesn’t want it?”

“No, you asshole,” Rami picked up his fork and stuffed his face full of Ravioli, “she didn’t say anything about what she wants. That’s why she needs time to think.”

Gwil frowned at his phone, completely detached from the entire fight. He opened his mouth to speak a few times and snapped it shut.

“Annie just texted me,” Gwil blurted out. His mouth agape, his green eyes shining with hope, Ben looked at his girlfriend’s cousin in utter shock. “She said you should check your phone.”

###

Annabelle didn’t know how her life got so out of hand. She felt like it was slipping out of her control and it terrified her. After trying to think about the entire ordeal and getting nowhere, she figured she might as well just talk to him. 

Ben wasted no time when his workday ended and he went straight to Rami’s doorstep. They stood outside on the stoop, so Ben could have a smoke. They have been going on and on for about an hour now, with no conclusion. Annie looked at her red Chuck Taylors, stuffed her hands in her oversized hoody’s pockets and shook her head, disappointed with herself.

“I honestly can’t believe you want this… this…”

“Baby? Yeah,” Ben inhaled a deep cloud of smoke and blew it out, turning his head away from Annie, “Me too. But I do.”

“This can’t be happening.”

“Why not?”

“Because we’ve been in this relationship for, what, four months now?” Annabelle felt like screaming at his stupid, beautiful face. “Because we don’t even live together, Ben! Because -”

“So, move in with me.”

“Are you even listening to yourself right now?!”

“Annie, your entire heap of shit is already at my house. You’re there every night.” Ben was losing his patience, “come to think of it, we do live together.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m serious. Stop paying rent for a flat you no longer live in.” He pointed at her with his cigarette, “it’s fucking wasteful.”

“And what,” Annie mocked, “we’ll get married, have our baby, I’ll be your happy little housewife while you’re never around because of your fucking job?”

“Other than that middle and last parts, yeah,” Ben dropped his half smoked cigarette to the floor and stomped on it to put it out, “sounds good to me.”

“Fuck off.”

“Annie, what do I need to do for you to finally be okay with the fact that I fucking love you?”

“You love the thought of me, you don’t love me.”

“Oh, great, you’re spewing shit out of your mouth again.”

“Ben, I will never, ever, be that girl,” Annie could feel rage bubble up in her veins, “I don’t want marriage. I don’t want to be the wife that sits alone all day and waits for her husband to come home after he fucked his mistress.”

“Mistress? Have you gone utterly mad? What are you even on about?”

“I don’t know, Ben!” Annie’s voice rose about two octaves, “listen to me. I am not what you want me to be.”

“What do you think it is that I want you to be, exactly?” Ben threw his arms out to his sides, “I won’t even dream of proposing to you, if you don’t want me to. I don’t care about any of it,” he glared at the tiny little ball of anger in front of him, “I don’t want to fuck anyone else but you. I’m not sure I ever will.”

“Of cou -”

“Shut up and let me fucking finish,” he growled, “you are so infuriating, you know that? Annabelle, I don’t love the thought of you. I love you, alright?”

“I can’t give you what you want and -”

“You can give me you. That’s literally all I want.”

“And that?” Annie pointed at her belly, “do you want that?”

“I do.”

“What if I don’t?”

“Then that’s totally up to you. It will make me so, so sad,” Ben pulled her to him, “but it’s your decision, bottom line.” He cupped her face in his hands and tilted her head up so they could finally look at each other’s eyes, “Annie, I would never force anything on you.”

“I just don’t know…”

“Is that what you’re afraid of?” Ben could see Annie build her walls up, “Annie, stay with me, here. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Ben.”

“What?”

“Don’t say you’re not going to hurt me because you don’t know that.” Annabelle put her hands on his wrists, “you might hurt me. I might hurt you.”

“You’re right.”

“You say you love me now,” Annie’s thumbs rubbed circles on Ben’s skin, “but what if you just stop one day?”

“That would be impossible, be realistic.” They both giggled softly at that. “Annie, I love you.”

“People will talk about this.”

“Let them. I really don’t care about these people.” Ben pressed his forehead to Annie’s, “this is ours. Not theirs.”

“I know.”

“I couldn’t function these past two days, Annie,” he chuckled, “it’s like everything depends on your existence around me, now.”

Annie nodded slightly and sighed. She knew exactly what he meant, because she felt it too.

“I fucking love you, do you not understand that?”

“No,” Annie smiled, “I mean, I do. I fucking love you, too.”

TAGLIST: @ramibaby @xgoingdownx @clara-who @violetpond @sweeterthancheese @drummerqueenrmt @westansstuff @rogerinamainbitch @justgivemethekeys  @blondecarfucker @cheeseedreams47 @rogerspoison 

[elenatria]

Did you ever get the chance to write the hiddlesworth hotel mishap fic?

Here’s the prologue for now. Although I still don’t know  

1) if it would still be juicier/happier if the action took place during the first Avengers premiere or the Dark World premiere (when their relationship was fresh etc and they were younger and more enthusiastic). 

2) if it really works (in this one-shot) for Hiddlesworth to not have been an item in the past, and why it took them so many years to actually act on their feelings. What was holding them back? I still don’t know and I can’t always use the same excuses (Taika, Elsa, Taylor etc.)

Thoughts?

“Who wants to take a selfie withChris’ new dirty trucker look? C’mon, a pic with the porn tache, everyone!” RDJyelled and puckered his lips as he stretched out his hand holding the phone,standing on his toes to wrap his arm around Chris’ massive shoulders. The godof thunder and the genius,billionaire, playboy philanthropist smiled at the screen as Chris crouched over RDJ lowering his cheek closerto his face, waiting for their co-stars to gather round them.

“C’mon, Scarlett, hop in,” Bob urgedhis favourite party girl and took a few shots as the cameras flashed capturingthe moment of their long-awaited reunion when someone in the background of thosehilarious selfies made him stop and look behind his back. “Oh look, guys, we gotourselves a photobomber straight from the ancient native forests of NewZealand. C’mon, ‘Moana’, let’s see if you’ll be sticking that tongue out whenyou’re center stage, come over here.”

“Whatever you say, Heels,” Taika retorted not really needing an invitationto push his way through the Infinity War cast members so as to grab the talland the short Avenger with both arms, bringing them closer to his grinning face, and open his eyes wide for the camera. When RDJ took another group pic Taika didstick his tongue out because, as he said, it would look even better up close.

Mark was the last one to arrive onthe red carpet but he didn’t miss the chance to take pics with the rest ofthem, wrapping his arm around Benedict’s slender waist.

“Hey Ben, how are the kids?”

“Growing,” Benedict dead-pannedshrugging. “It’s crazy, one moment you’re changing diapers and the next you’regiving them ointment for pimples.”

“Oh don’t I know it,” Mark agreed.“You get a little worried when they start telling you about their crushes – anda little more when they’re not.”

“I know, right?” Ben laughed. “Ohthere he is. Chris! Chris!” he waved.

“Heyyyyy Ben, my man, good to seeyou,” Chris cheered as he left Taika and Anthony to approach his Ragnarokco-stars.

“Good to see you too!” Ben smiledpatting his back. “You look dapper in that suit but… I do have one question.”He took a deep breath as if preparing for a very serious speech.  “Are you… are you really gonna keep that?” hequipped showing Chris’ moustache and suppressed a chuckle. “I mean the sideburnsare fabulous but-”

“Aw c’mon, mate, I really like thatlook, thought I would keep it for a while, I just finished filming.”

“I know, I know,” Benedict nodded.“And guess who else changed his look just for the occasion. I mean finally…”

“Who?”

“Hiddlebum. Yeah he shaved!” Bennodded enthusiastically.

“Really?…” Chris said shifting hisweight from one foot to the other. “Just for the occasion? You mean he’s here?”

“Yes, didn’t he tell you? He justarrived, said it was a last-minute decision.”

“No,” Chris said fidgeting nervouslywith his pocket. “No, he didn’t tell me.”

“You boys don’t talk?”

“We talked for a while after theRagnarok premiere, then we talked during  Christmas holidays.”

Benedict whistled in astonishment. “Youhaven’t talked since Christmas? Something happened between you two?”

“No no, we just… Well time flies.We’ve both been busy.”

“I can tell…” Ben said and lookedtowards Evans, Anthony and Seb; they were cracking up at Taika’s jokes who wasenjoying being the center of attention as always.

Chris gaped, astonished. “C’mon,man, don’t tell me you believe those crazy rumours.”

“Yes. Crazy rumours indeed…” Benmurmured as he looked away at Joe Russo having a chat with Kevin and Victoriawhile posing for the cameras. “I assure you Tom couldn’t care less about DailyFail’s lies. I’m just saying that perhaps your absence didn’t go unnoticed.”

“My absence,”Chris said raising his brows. “He’s the one who said he wanted to take the yearoff and turned down after parties and my many invitations to come over toAustralia. I respected his decision, I mean, he was tired.”

“Well…” Benedict put his hands inhis pockets and turned to face his War Horse co-star who was being interviewedby a busty blonde in a red dress. “I guess he’s not that tired anymore.”

Chris glanced at the clean-shavenBrit with the spectacles and the well-coiffed curls, the last person heexpected to see there that evening. He tried to read his lips as there was toomuch noise from the photographers calling out their names like a hungry mobwaiting to worship them or lynch them - one couldn’t tell the difference anymore.The heat from the spotlights was getting unbearable and Chris felt he could dowithout his light blue jacket as he was sure his armpits were forming nastysweat rings. It was hard to tell if his excessive perspiration was caused by theL.A. April heat or by Tom’s unexpected arrival. He loosened his tie, a gesture thatdidn’t do much for his dry throat. He took a deep breath and with large stepshe motioned towards the group of journalists who were hanging from Tom’s lips.

“Hey Tom,” he said feeling up hisback like he always did when they were standing close to each other for thecameras, or when they were just waiting patiently in front of the ice-creamcart at the Wategos beach for green and pink and yellow scoops to be presseddown on crusty cones and covered with hot fudge sauce.

He felt Tom’s body tense and shiver underhis familiar touch if only for a second. ‘Hey Chris, good to see you, dude!” Tomsaid flashing a smile.

God, Chris had missed that smile.

“Good to see you too,” he said. “You’redressed in blue like me, people will think we’re twins!”

The busty blonde broke into laughteras Tom lowered his eyes and smiled with a faint blush spreading across hischeeks.

“Did you guys agree to come inmatching outfits tonight?” the journalist asked in a high-pitched voice liftingher microphone to them.

“Uuuuuh no,” Chris replied.“Actually Tom surprised us all tonight, we thought he couldn’t make it. Right,Tom?” He could see out of the corner of his eye Tom’s smile freeze like aplaster mask, white from the harsh spotlights and  the bewilderment, while he skillfully keptthe joyful façade for the cameras.

“Well the truth is that I had alast-minute cancellation of one of my obligations back in England,” Tomexplained. “Thought I’d drop by to see you people.”

“We are all very honoured that youcould make it,” Chris grinned.

“Honoured?” Tom said politely, hissmile beaming as ever. “Is that all you have to say, god of thunder?”

“Well what more can I say?” Chrisshrugged and smiled back. “Come say hi, ok? Everybody’s waiting,” he addedpatting Tom on the back and walked away to rejoin Anthony and the others.

(to be continued)

[jackieswift]

That album part 7

Hello! I said this is my favorite part, but I didn’t have time to finish it, so the next one will hopefully be the best one, because that’s the one I like the most (so far). But I hope y’all will like this one too.

Part 1: https://jackieswift.tumblr.com/post/162440799402/that-album

Part 2: https://jackieswift.tumblr.com/post/162487913687/that-album-part-2

Part 3: https://jackieswift.tumblr.com/post/162839150932/that-album-part-3

Part 4: https://jackieswift.tumblr.com/post/162876753722/that-album-part-4?is_related_post=1

Part 5: https://jackieswift.tumblr.com/post/163046959457/that-album-part-5

Part 6: https://jackieswift.tumblr.com/post/163180508312/that-album-part-6?is_related_post=1

-----------------------------------------------------

July 13th

*Taylor’s pov*

Ellie was coming over today and I couldn’t stop thinking about her relationship to Adam. Maybe our relation would be destroyed or changed, just because loser Taylor still have feelings left for her ex, that ex who probably don’t care about me at all.

The day she introduced us, wow. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. We fell in love right away. From the moment my eyes met his I knew he was the one. And he felt the same. Almost like it was a fairytale. My fairytale only needed a happy ending now. I had worked with my new album for some time and I was really happy and proud over it. The only problem was that it didn’t have that happy ending. Something was missing, and I knew it probably was that romantic fantastic song I would write if I ever got back together with Adam. But I don’t know if I can wait that long. My fans are writing about TS6 everywhere, so I have to finish it pretty soon. They’re expecting an album this year, maybe in the end of next year, but getting him back could take me years. And who knew if it even was possible?

I got a text saying “I’m here” from Ellie so I went down stairs to the door and opened it just before she had time to ring the bell. I hugged her for almost a minute. I had missed her so much. “Hey, how are you?” I asked when we pulled back. “I’m really good, almost everything is going well right now” she told me. We walked in and then up the stairs. I showed her the room she could sleep in over the night. She left her things there and then we walked down to my living room.

I couldn’t help wondering what was wrong in her life. Her tour went great, now she had lots of festivals, her new music sounds amazing, she’s having a shoe collection, she’s more fit than I’ll ever be, she’s looking really pretty and she have Caspar. So what did she miss in her life?

“So I know you’re all healthy and stuff...so I baked us some bars, all natural and healthy. And then I bought a lot of fruit so we can make a fruit salad tonight. So do you wanna try my bars?” I asked. I had never baked this once before so I was really excited over it. “Yeah sure” she answered.

I walked to the kitchen, put some of them on a plate, made some tea and then walked back to her. “Netflix?” I asked her. “If we forget about the and chill part” she joked. I giggled. “Yeah, sorry girl, but my heart belongs to somebody else.”

A second after the words came out from my mouth I immediately regretted it. I sat down next to her on my couch, just waiting for the question. “Well, I’m happy if Joe makes you happy.” was all she said.

We put on a movie and I started feeling really bad. I didn’t tell her, it was almost like lying. And she was one of my best friends. And honesty is one of the most important things in life. I paused the movie, just in the ending. “Hey what are you doing?” Ellie asked. Obviously more focused on the movie then me. “I’m not together with Joe. He’s just a friend” I said and then paused to see her reaction.

“Okay…(?)” she almost asked. “I just wanted you to know.” I said. She seemed totally fine with it. I started the movie again, turned my eyes back to the screen and then on her. She had a smooth smile. “What is it?” I asked. Wondering why she was this happy. “Nothing” was all she answered, but kept smiling like that until the movie ended.

“It was a beautiful movie” I said, glad that I had seen it before, because of the fact that I couldn’t focus when we watched it. “Yeah, but a bit boring too. I mean I used to see love like that in real life. But I guess it’s more romantic on the movies, because they always take the other back and yeah you know” she said.

I saw that as a hint. She was talking about Adam and I, or wasn’t she? Maybe it was just one of a million of the other thoughts I was having about him every day. He’s always there in my mind. Adam would love this shirt, if Adam and I ever get back to together, at our wedding, our future kids, ahhh it was like I was obsessed with him. How could it possible stop? Could I even make it stop? Or would I think about him every day for the rest of my life?

“Did you know Adam wrote a song about me?” I asked, just to bring it up when we were talking about love. She looked at me a bit worried and answered “Yeah, what did you think?”

I looked down for a moment, I had to answer something smart, because I didn’t want to say I LOVE ADAM WILES, because I didn’t knew how she would take that, and I wasn’t even sure I was ready for her or other people to know. I mean Abi knew, and Joe too. Well, Austin and my parents had probably figured it out too, but otherwise no one knew.

I then looked up at her and said “Isn’t it weird that he was like hey I love you and adore you the first second and was flirting with his ex the other? I mean, maybe I really dodged a bullet.” She didn’t look too happy when I said it. “Well, he didn’t even answer my text, so I probably did” I added.

“Wait, what? You texted him? Why?” Elli almost screamed out. “I….I…” I knew I went too far. “I just wanted to know why he never told me, because maybe that would have saved our relationship.”

“You care about him…..So you still like him, huh?” Ellie asked. “No” I said and could feel my cheeks blush. Omg I was like a teenager all over again. “Taylor, you still have feelings for Adam. Why don’t you just go back to him? I loved you two together” she answered.

“Well, it doesn’t matter if I have feelings for him or not” I looked down at the ground, because I wanted to hide that my eyes started tearing up. “He’s in love with Aarika. I threw it away and now it’s gone forever. It probably just wasn’t meant to be” I said.

Ellie hugged me. “I’m sorry honey” she said. And a few tear fell down my cheeks. I felt too emotional, but on the other hand, who could blame me? He should have been a better man, but I should have been a better woman too. He didn’t cheat or anything like that, so it’s not just his fault our relationship ended. But if he only had told me, instead of pushing my love away. If he only had told me he loved me and wanted me to stay, I would have.

We made some dinner, sat down outside on my balcony and just talked for awhile, I played her some of my new songs, she played me a few of her newest songs and then we went to bed. Elena knew my secret about Adam, but she hadn’t told me he was single or anything like that, so I guess she knew that it was something serious between Adam and that girl. It broke my heart, but I was happy she was the one who told me, because she was the one who started it, now she had been the one who ended it.

July 14th, evening

“Thank you so much for letting me stay here and for two amazing days.”  Ellie said. “Well you’re always welcome in my homes, you know that. And it was really nice to catch up. We have to see each other soon” I said when I hugged her goodbye.

We pulled back from each other and just when I’m about to say goodbye she answers “You know actually, I have some festivals now. And I would love if you came to at least one of them. And yeah you could hang backstage, so no one will see you and take pictures of you.”

I thought about it for a second. I had been so busy lately. I hadn’t been to one of Ellie’s shows in forever, so why not? “Sure! Just tell me a date.”

“I have one in Russia, one in Romania, one in Poland, well what do you say about coming to my show in the UK? It’s the easiest, I guess.”

UK would be so much easier than the others, I loved it there, they have cute boys, and a lot of my friends are living there so I could do lots of things if Ellie can’t hang out with me the whole time.

“Perfect, text me all the info and I’ll be there” I answered and we hugged each other goodbye one last time.

*Ellie’s pov*

When I walked to my car from Taylor’s house I had millions of thoughts in my head. Adam had feelings for Taylor and Taylor had feelings for Adam. Now I just have to get Adam to my show in the UK too. And there, well they just have to get back together, somehow.

I took up my phone from my purse when I got to my car and clicked on message and then Adam :D. “When will you be in the United Kingdom the next time?”

I got an answer pretty quick “I don’t know, why do you ask?”

Because Adam freaking Wiles I’m trying to be a matchmaker, I wish I could have answered, but of course I couldn’t. So instead I answered “Can you come and watch me play August 19th? I miss the two of us hanging out backstage and just having lots of fun!”

“I have a festival, sorry. But we have to do that sometime.”

Seriously? He had a gig and that one gig would make him unhappy for the rest of his life. What could I do now? I basically told Taylor that Adam was with Aarika, just to make it a surprise and so they could hit it off much easier, but now….what if she decided to finally move on or something? What if he has too many gigs? I thought I had everything planed out, but apparently I hadn’t.

---------------------------------------

Is it over? Are Tayvin over forever and always? Or will Ellie find away for them to get back together? You just have to wait until the next part to find out more! Have a lovely day or evening <3

[oldfashionedswiftcurse]

Alwyn vs. Swift Pt. 7

When they finally returned home, Taylor took her punishment with a brave face. Because it was growing colder, she didn’t need to be going out all the time, except when she had Joe’s band shows. She rarely if ever missed a show; although he was hesitant at first to break her punishment every Friday night, her father agreed. The first snowfall occurred after one of Joe’s shows, and as Taylor was listening to the band perform, she turned to the window and was amazed. Joe had just finished with his set and met her at the bar. As she was taking a sip of her margarita, she felt Joe’s hand around her waist.

           “When are we making this official, love?” He teased, and she giggled.

           “We’re not official.”

           “It didn’t seem like that when you were cuddling up next to me on the train to Munich,” he whispered seductively, and Taylor smiled.

           She loved teasing him and enjoyed the responses she would get from him. At that moment, a tall brunette walked in, and her eyes froze on Joe. Taylor noticed at first and remembered the face from the night of the party. Joe was grinning widely at Taylor until he turned his head and saw his ex-girlfriend, Teresa, standing there. She approached like a model, swinging her brown locks to the side, and sauntered up to Joe.

           “Joe, I’ve missed you,” she said, and Taylor felt Joe’s hand clamp up on her waist.

           “Teresa,” he said curtly, and Taylor noticed his jaw was clenching.

           “I want to apologize for everything. I ruined us.”

           “You broke my heart,” he acknowledged, a vulnerable side that Taylor had never publicly witnessed.

           “Babe, who is this?” Taylor responded, creating a façade of a happy, blossoming relationship. “I’m Taylor, Joe’s girlfriend.”

           Teresa was shocked, but despite the look of surprise in her eyes, her mouth remained shut. She turned to Taylor, shaking her hand.

           “Teresa. Nice to meet you. If you don’t mind, I’d like to speak with Joe.”

           Despite her fake depiction of kindness, Taylor could smell the superiority all over Teresa. Taylor turned to Joe who remained silent. Although he didn’t have the usual look of panic on his face at any mention of Teresa, he looked nervous. However, he nodded to Taylor to leave them alone. She was shocked, but she walked away over to Rebecca. She watched them, the way Teresa often leaned in to talk to Joe, and she hated her for it. Joe remained cordial, sipping his beer while Teresa laughed over their fond memories. How fond could her infidelity have really been, Taylor thought. She glanced over another time, and this time, Joe was smiling…or it seemed like it. She was furious. After everything Teresa had done to hurt him, he was just willing to forgive her??

           After a few minutes of discussion, Joe came over to tell them that he was going to stay a bit longer at the pub. That was the last straw for her. Taylor said a quick goodbye to Rebecca and then walked out. Unsurprisingly, Joe did not follow her out. Seeing a flyer for the upcoming masquerade ball in the middle of November, Taylor grabbed it. Reaching for her cell phone, she called Martin and asked him to be her date. He was pleasantly surprised, but accepted nonetheless. Taylor beamed and went to look for dresses that would match her mask. Although she had bought it earlier that day with Rebecca, she wasn’t expecting to go with anyone as her date. Now, however, she couldn’t wait to hang out with Martin in front of Joe.

           The night of the masquerade arrived faster than expected, and while Joe and Taylor still joked around with each other, something had changed between them. He would often leave their group conversation to take a phone call secretly and when he returned, he refused to mention who was on the other line. Taylor assumed it was Teresa and hated how close they were growing again. Martin arrived at her door promptly at 8:00 PM, and her dad had slipped up. In a ploy to grill Martin, he let it slip that Taylor had left the country with a boy…a boy that was clearly not Martin. His initial look of confusion faded away as he admired her; they arrived on campus about fifteen minutes later. Everyone looked amazing, all dolled up in their best evening wear, and Taylor enjoyed walking in on Martin’s arm. She found Rebecca who stopped dancing with her date to greet Taylor.

           “This place looks amazing,” Taylor acknowledged, and Martin squeezed her waist.

           “What do you say we dance?”

           She smiled, nodding her head. They went out on the dance floor, but instead of a slow song, an upbeat song came on, and Taylor recognized it instantly. It was Flor’s “Hold On,” and she immediately broke out into a dance. She sang out the lyrics, and Martin smiled next to her. She liked Martin; he was a great guy, and while he didn’t cause the turbulent rush that Joe often did, he was consistent. Her cheeks were growing rosier, and when she spun her head in a violent, energetic fashion, her eyes tripped on Joe. He was watching her, leaning against the wall, and smiling. When the song ended, she went to their table and grabbed food with Martin.

           He talked about the band and his major, Economics, and it was never a boring conversation. He was honest and never teased her; although she may not have immediately felt the sparks, she was beginning to build a solid friendship with him. When Martin left to catch up with some of his friends, Rebecca came over to Taylor.

           “He’s cute. What’s happening there? If you ask Joe, he’ll probably say nothing just to heal his bruised ego,” she teased.

           “I like Martin…as a friend. I’m not sure if anything other than that will happen. And Joe has a lot of nerve then, seeing as he’s back with Teresa.”

           Rebecca’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but at that moment, Joe interrupted them.

           “You look absolutely ravishing, love,” he whispered, kissing her cheek.

           “Save it, Joe.”

           Joe wore a confused expression, and Rebecca, sensing some tension, left them alone.

           “Did I strike a nerve with you?” He asked, watching her closely.

           Joe was wearing a plain white dress shirt with a blue bowtie and fitted dress pants. He looked amazing, but Taylor was still frustrated with him. His mask was a midnight blue, but even through it, she could spot his bright eyes.

           “Teresa, really? After everything that she did to you, you’re just going to take her back like nothing happened?”

           Joe’s lips curled into a smirk, but he played along.

           “Does that bother you?”

           “Yes,” she admitted. “Because you deserve better. You deserve…”

           “Someone like you?” He asked hopefully, but she remained silent. “I could say the same for you.”

           “Martin and I…it’s not like that.”

           “No? You seemed pretty mesmerized by his stupid hair and his crooked grin.”

           “Are you jealous, Alwyn?” She teased, but he shook his head.

           “Hardly. I play a good game, but even I know when I’m not wanted.”

           “Who said that I didn’t want you?” She said, playing along.

           “Well, it’s safe to assume when you’re all over another guy,” he responded sadly. “That night of my show, when Teresa interrupted us, you told me you weren’t interested. ‘We aren’t official’ were the words you chose, I believe.”

           Taylor paused, realizing that Joe had flirted with Teresa to make her jealous.

           “So you chose to lash out by flirting with Teresa, taking her secret phone calls and never telling anyone about it?”

           Joe looked shocked, but his face quickly turned into a look of amazement.

           “You assumed that was Teresa? You were jealous too,” he stated, not as a question but as an observation.

           She shook her head in irritation, standing up.

           “Have fun, Joe. I’m sure Teresa’s got a good reason for not coming with you tonight, so…just enjoy yourself.”

           She walked to the bathroom, washing her hands quickly. She looked at herself in the mirror, studying her dark red lipstick and curled hair. Her mask was white with feathers, matching the strapless black chiffon dress she was wearing. There was a slightly long line to use the actual bathroom, so she opted not to. The hallway outside of the women’s bathroom was just as crowded, but Taylor managed to finagle a path through. As she passed by the different masked figures, she felt a hand against her arm. She spun around, and fierce lips pressed against hers. Shocked, she was about to push away until she recognized the hands that were now roaming her body. It was Joe. Although she paused at first, Taylor gave in to the kiss and slipped her tongue in Joe’s mouth. The hallway was dark, but they found a space where they fit together. Joe’s hand slipped down her waist, resting against her thigh. All he had to do was raise his fingers slightly and they would be under the side of her underwear. She clutched him tightly, not wanting to let go, until they both had to come up for air.

           “Thanks for being jealous, love,” he whispered huskily, nearly out of breath.

           He walked away then, and Taylor tried her best to compose herself. She knew it was Joe while she was kissing him, and she didn’t stop. What does that mean? The way his hands moved around her body, it was as if they were naturally meant to be there. When she finally managed to return to her table, she found Joe long gone, but Martin was there. He was texting someone and looked…very happy. At her return, he glanced up, and it seemed as if his mind was elsewhere.

           “Hey,” she said, returning. “I hope you weren’t too long for me.”

           “I was fine, no worries,” he responded. “Look Taylor, I’ve been meaning to talk about…what this means to both of us.”

           She paused, wondering how he was going to continue.

           “I like you…a lot. It’s just…there’s someone else, an ex-girlfriend. And I promise you, I really did think I was over it, but I’m not.”

           “Oh.”

           “I didn’t mean to lead you on at all, and if the timing was different…”

           “Martin, I understand. I really do. Timing means everything.”

           “It does. You’re a great girl, Taylor. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who noticed that.”

           She smiled, gesturing to his phone.

           “Well, you can’t leave her waiting then,” she said giggling. “Go get your girl!”

           Martin smiled and paused.

           “Thank you. I hope we can still be friends.”

           “Of course.”

           Martin got up, and she followed. Before leaving, he hugged her, and it felt…friendly. She had trusted her gut with Martin, and it seems like he was feeling the same way. When Rebecca noticed her friend was sitting alone at the table, she returned.

           “There’s a great after-party going on right now,” she whispered. “Lots of booze and cute boys. I’m assuming you and Martin are no longer a go?”

           “No. And I’m not sure if we ever were,” Taylor acknowledged. “I think for me, there was always someone else.”

           Rebecca grinned, knowing exactly who Taylor was talking about.

           “I think he’s going to be there…at the after-party, I mean.”

           Taylor nodded, deciding to at least make an appearance. She left campus and quickly changed into a t-shirt and jeans; she arrived at the apartment as the party was coming to a head. There were people everywhere, circling on the dance floor and nestled in the darkest corners of the room. She was looking for Joe, of course, and she found him talking to a girl she recognized, Janet, and a few other boys. He was very much into his conversation, so Taylor waited for him and took a cup of vodka coke. She drank it quickly, watching the way he worked the crowd. Everyone in this school had fallen for his charm easily, and so every time someone laughed at his joke or touched his arm (cough Janet cough), Taylor would take another sip of her drink. Eventually, they became one cup, then two, and even a part of the third.

           Joe saw her then, leaning against a counter, and left his group to speak with her. The room was slightly spinning, and she didn’t know if it was because she was drunk or because of the colorfully lit disco ball hanging up.

           “Hey, love. I think you’ve had enough of that,” he whispered, sliding the drink out of her hand.

           “Joe, give it back. If I want to get smashed tonight, then I want to get smashed tonight.”

           He chuckled, but dumped the cup into the sink anyway. Clasping her arm around his neck, Joe said his quick goodbyes and led Taylor away from the screaming crowds and down the stairs. She nearly stumbled twice and laughed it off, but it just made Joe grab onto her even tighter. When they were nearing her house, she shook off his grasp.

           “I can’t go home like this,” she whispered, and he nodded.

           Joe led her to his favorite place, his treehouse, once more. Although she had a lot of trouble getting up the stairs, she was finally safe in his bed. Joe ran back to his house to change into pajama pants, but promised to stay with her overnight. His parents were home. When he returned, Taylor’s head was facing the pillow, and she was clutching it.

           “I hope the hangover will be worth it,” he said, placing many sheets, a blanket, and a pillow on the space beside the bed. “You were amazing tonight.”

           “Why did you kiss me?” She asked, some semblance of sobriety returning to her. “I don’t want you to kiss me unless you mean it.”

           “Who says that I didn’t mean it?”

           Joe pushed the blanket over his shirtless upper body, warming him. Although he had drank a lot tonight as well, it was nothing in comparison to Taylor’s mixed drinks. Her vodka coke was no simple vodka coke, and she hadn’t even known it. Joe made a mental note to kill whoever was mixing the drinks that night.

           “Stop playing these games with me,” she whispered in a frustrated manner. “I’m so sick of it.”

           “Taylor…”

           “No. I wish I’d never met you. You may have given me some of the best moments of my life, but it’s not worth it. You just keep playing games, and…I’m done with it, Joe.”

           “What are you saying?”

           “I…”

           At that moment, however, she fell asleep. When she awoke the next morning with only a fuzzy recollection of what she had said, she was surprised to find that Joe was no longer beside her.