#turns out: my mum was suppose to message me to tell me to call my dad when i got off the coach to walk home! she must've forgot tho

[litt1e-prince]

living in my own home away from my dad but he still waits up for me to get home

[lqvesoph]

She’s WHOSE daughter?? || LN4

lando norris x webber!reader

summary: After finding out who your father is, Lando needs some time for himself to think about everything. Oscar is more than willing to help make things right between you.

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 5

masterlist | taglist

Part 4

dad: What’s going on with you and Lando?

You: What do you mean?

dad: Your Instagram

dad: And I saw you in the paddock together

dad: That hug looked a little too intimate for friends

You swallowed hard before turning your phone off, chosing to ignore the messages and focus on Lando who just walked back into the garage, the debrief was done.

"We gotta talk", he stated, pushing his hands in the pocket of his hoodie.

You nodded, wanting to follow him back up to his driver’s room when suddenly an all too familiar voice called your name.

"Y/n, don’t you think you should introduce us?", your father asked, sitting at one of the tables with Oscar’s parents. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes at your father’s teasing. Lando and him knew each other, obviously they’ve seen each other quite a few times in the paddock, especially because he was Oscar’s manager.

"Y/n, sweetheart, how are you doing?", Oscar’s mum asked with a genuine smile, making a small smile appear on your face as well as you replied.

"I’m good, thank you."

Lando eyed you from the side as you stepped closer to your father.

"Dad, Lando. Lando, my dad", you dryly spoke. Lando’s eyes went from you to your dad, giving him a small smile and a nod before looking back at you. "If you excuse us but we have to go", you said, waving at Oscar’s parents and turning your back to the table.

You waited on the couch while Lando closed the door to his driver room.

"Why didn’t you tell me?", he immediately questioned, leaning against the locked door. "I never tell people about my father because it happened too often that they weren’t there for me but for him", you started, fiddling with your hands.

"Not me and I thought you would have figured that. I knew your father, I’ve met him a few times", Lando argued. "What was I supposed to say, Lando?", you raised your voice a little. "We met in Bahrain but didn’t have much contact after that until this week, I couldn’t just go like 'Oh and by the way Mark Webber is my dad'!"

"You could’ve told me", he muttered quietly. "You could’ve told me in Bahrain when I asked about how you know Daniel or at the beach when I asked about your dad’s work."

"It just never felt right", you tried to defend yourself. "Bahrain was just too early and at the beach I sort of panicked, I don’t know", you muttered, realizing you really didn’t know why you haven’t told him until now.

"I need some time", Lando said after a few moments. You nodded and watched as he unlocked the door, leaving the room and probably the track for the day.

*~**~*

"So, what made Lando storm out of here like that?", your dad asked when you gathered yourself and finally made your way downstairs.

"I don’t wanna walk about it", you grumbled, crossing your arms in front of your chest. Just then Oscar walked down the stairs, his eyes widened when he spotted you. "Princess, I’m sorry! I really am!", he immediately said, walking closer to you.

"I didn’t know that he didn’t know but I should have known and I’m sorry", your best friend apologized and wrapped you in a hug. "Don’t be, Oscar. It’s my fault anyway. I should’ve told him. I don’t know why I didn’t", you muttered, your voice sounding muffled from being pressed into Oscar’s shoulder.

"Still. I feel bad", he huffed, pulling back from the hug to look at you. "Where is he?"

You shrugged and looked away from Oscar. "I don’t know, probably went back to the hotel", you replied. "Mark how long do you plan on staying because I could take Y/n back to her hotel", he then turned to your father.

"Oh, I was actually just waiting for her", your dad replied, standing up from the table. "You ready?"

You nodded and turned around to Oscar’s parents, saying goodbye and telling them to meet again tomorrow at the race.

Oscar gave you another tight hug before waving at your dad and letting the two of you go.

"You ready to go as well?", Lily asked, grabbing his hand. Oscar nodded. "Yeah but I need to make a quick stop somewhere before we go home."

*~**~*

Just thirty minutes later, Oscar knocked on the door of one of Hilton’s hotel rooms.

"What on earth are you doing here? I thought you sleep at home", Lando muttered when he opened the door and saw his teammate standing there.

"Let me in?", Oscar just asked, lifting one eyebrow. Lando nodded silently and took a step to the side to let Oscar enter the room.

"She’s really sorry", he spoke as soon as the door had closed. Lando shut his eyes and crossed his arms. "Please, Oscar-"

"She knows she screwed up and said herself she doesn’t actually know or have reasons why she didn’t tell you", Oscar ignored his teammates protest. "She’s never been good with trusting people, so many having screwed her over just to get a chance to meet her dad-" "But I know her dad-" "And that left scars", Oscar continued. "She went into panic mode when you asked about her dad. She never likes being associated with him. She loves him to death but hates it when someone brings him up when talking about her achievements, or in general, when talking about her. She doesn’t just want to be Mark Webber’s daughter but her own person and she really really likes you!"

Lando stayed silent for a moment.

"Talk to her, please?", Oscar then quietly asked, searching for anything in Lando’s eyes that would give him some sort of confirmation.

The British driver blinked a few times, uncrossed his arms and took a deep sigh. "I will, tomorrow", he muttered, bringing a smile to Oscar’s face.

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[pyro-les]

It's a blessing and it's a curse part 2

Regina George x reader

Slowly walking towards Cady's locker Janis and Damian pester Cady about Regina and the plastics. "So,what have you found out? Any secrets we can use to destroy Regina?" Janis asks excitedly honestly concerning Cady.

"I don't understand why you hate her so much, she honestly seems kind of sweet" Cady responds.

"Ha yeah sure Regina George the sweetest girl in Northshore. She's well known for her outstanding generosity and kindness." Janis says sarcastically.

"Yeah like Regina would ever be sweet, I don't even think she knows what that means" Damian adds on.

"You guys are way too harsh, I think she might just be misunderstood. Have you ever actually talked to her?" Cady asks as she stops next to her locker.

Damian shakes his head before saying "Yeah Janis and her used to-".

"That's not important! What's important is that Regina is a life ruiner," Janis cuts him off harshly.

"Okayyyy" Cady draws out before looking around seeing Regina walk past with the other plastics and then a bit behind them is Y/N with her headphones in. "Hey, Y/N!" Cady calls her over.

Looking around slowly Y/N sees Cady realising it was her that called her she walked towards them after sparing a brief glance back at Regina who briefly locked eyes with her in a silent conversation before turning back to Karen as if nothing happened. "Hi." Y/N said as she approached Cady.

"Hey girl" Damian greets shortly followed by Janis saying "I didn't know you two were friends."

A brief moment of silence as a small look of fear flashed across Cady's face rembering she wasn't supposed to mention that Y/N was with Regina. Luckily Y/N improvised and said "Oh yeah we actually live pretty close to each other. I met Cady when she first moved in.".

"Yeah!" Cady said a bit too enthusiastically before adding on " my mum made us introduce ourselves to some of pur neighbours when we first moved in." Janis slowly narrowed her eyes before shrugging seemingly believing the lie.

"Anyway what are you guys talking about?" Y/N asked as Cady started to shift through her locker.

"Just how annoying Regina is." Janis states casually causing Y/N to frown a bit.

"Oh stop looking like that we all know you're like in love with her but you really need to realise how much of a bitch she is." Janis says seeing Y/N's reaction.

"Hey I never said that!" Y/N tries to complain.

"Honey, you're always looking at her with a stupid lovestruck look on you're face." Damian says patting her on the shoulder.

Sighing Y/N just says "I literally have one class with you guys how do you even know that?".

"Because its painfully obvious." Janis responds. "I'm sorry but you do know that it'll never happen right?".

"Exactly, Janis is right. It will never happen but its okay because you wouldn't want to date someone as awful as Regina. You deserve way better." Damian agrees.

Cady continues to quietly sort out the books in the locker not really knowing whether Y/N would want her in the conversation or not.

Hearing her phone buzz Y/N looks down to it quickly before saying "I'm really sorry guys I gotta go rehearse. See you later." She then hurried off responding to Regina's message asking if Cady had said anything to Janis and Damian. While walking away she heard Damian telling Cady that she should wear the heels in her locker to impress Aaron.

~~~~

Walking into the cafeteria Cady sees the plastics at their usual table, Gretchen and Karen were happily discussing aomething with Regina chipping in every now and then but mainly looking down at her phone. "How are you guys?" Cady asks cheerily once she gets to the table.

"I'm bored. Let's do something fun! Oh we could go get icecream!" Karen says excitedly causing the other girls to chuckle a bit.

"Karen, we're at school." Gretchen says making Karen frown a bit. "It's ok though, you and me can go get icecream afterwards.".

"What about you Regina?" Cady asks.

"Hmm? Oh yeah I'm pretty good." Regina says after a moment

"That's just because you had a free period to do whatever you want in. Unlike us who had maths." Gretchen says with a sigh.

"Ooo lucky. What did you do?" Cady asks excitedly.

"I went to the theatre." Regina replies simply.

Cady smiles and says "Oh I didn't know you liked theatre."

"She doesn't that much. She does like a certain actor though." Gretchen says with a light smirk.

"Oooo who is it? Can I guess?" Karen asks excitedly who along with Cady looks over to Regina waiting for an answer.

Sighing Regina says "really guys?" Cady looks confused for a moment before looking around then leaning In whispering "wait do you mean Y/N?".

"Bingo." Regina says as Karen gasps seemingly shocked by the information she already knew.

"Cool. I saw her earlier." Cady responds with a small smile.

"I know" Regina replies.

After a small moment of thought Cady says "How? We're in school."

"I went to the theatre." Regina responds like it's obvious.

"Oh. Was no one else there?" Cady asks.

"Nope. No one goes to the theatre unless they're scheduled to be there." Regina says before adding on "exept Y/N of course. She likes to go there to rehearse."

"And you like to watch her rehearse." Gretchen adds on cheekily making Karen and Cady laugh Regina however just glares at Gretchen who shrugs and says "I'm not wrong." Cady finds it ironic how anyone else in the school would be running away scared from her but Gretchen and Karen just joke around with Regina.

"Hey" everyone turns to look at Aaron who had just walked up to the table everyone looks annoyed except cady who smiles brightly at him making Regina look at her in confusion.

"What are you doing here?" Regina asks harshly.

"I came here to ask if Cady took any notes in class earlier." At the mention of her name Cady smiles brightly before nodding and starting to rummage through her bag to grab her notebook. "So Regina, are you free tonight?" Aaron asks after taking a photo of Cady's notes.

"No, I'm not and even if I were I wouldn't spend my night with you." Regina responds with a sigh earning some ooos from Aaron's friends who had been listening in.

Not knowing what to say to Regina Aaron just turns to Cady and says "thanks for the notes." Before walking off leaving a dejected Cady with the plastics.

"You like him." Regina says plainly as Gretchen and Karen nod.

"What no I don't!" She says defensively earning a look of disappointment from Regina. "Okay yeah fine, I do." Cady says quietly.

"There you go. There's no need to lie about it." Regina says with a smile.

"But he clearly likes you! I mean he just asked you out." Cady says solemnly.

"Who doesn't? He's just a dumb boy, he doesn't really like me he just thinks I'm hot." Regina says clearly fed up. "If you actually talk to him he'll love you for you're personality I stead of just liking me for ny looks."

Cady shrugs so Regina continues "come on Cady,just talk to him. It would be good for both of us,you would get to date him and I'd have him off my back."

"I'll think about it."

****

A/N: here it finally is, sorry for the super long wait I've been really busy lately. I know there's not really any Regina and R interaction this chapter but I promise it's coming I'm just trying to build the story for now because I have some really cool ideas for later.

Also I'm gunna be honest don't know how to link the previous chapter with words instead of the full link but if you go onto the it's a blessing and it's a curse tag it should come up:)

Anyway hope you enjoy it, let me know what you think and if you would like to be tagged in the next part:)

Taglist: @l1lass

[butdaddyilovehim-hs]

Tolerate It II

"What would you do if I break free and leave us in ruins?"

Read Part I here

Quite frankly, Harry isn’t sure how much longer he can take this. He listens to Y/N’s request for space for all of 4 days.

On Sunday, Harry finds the whiskey he put away when Elle was born. He finishes the bottle. 

On Monday, he works himself into a frenzy looking at pictures of Y/N at their wedding. The smile on her face sends him spiralling as he realises he hasn’t seen her smile like that in a while. 

On Tuesday, Anne calls him and boy does she let him have it. She doesn’t yell but she knocks some sense into him and Harry’s heart breaks. She tells him Y/N has barely said two words since she arrived and if he doesn’t act soon, he’s going to lose the two things that are supposed to be most important to him.

So he breaks out his rock records, blasting the music as loud as he can to drown out the screaming voices in his head telling him that he’s lost his wife forever. Oh and he also drinks himself into oblivion. Again.

On Wednesday afternoon he’s hungover and slightly delirious. And so naturally, he texts her. 

Harry: Y/N I’m so sorry my love. I hope you and Elle are ok at mum’s. She told me you were there. I know you might not be ready but I’m here when you want to talk. I’ll be home for the rest of the week love. Come over when you’re ready. 

He waits by the phone like a lovesick teenager for 20 minutes, almost falling off the bed when the status of the text changes from delivered to read. He waits for another 20 minutes willing for the three dots to appear and when they don’t, he turns the music back on, quieter this time, ignores the pounding in his head and closes his eyes. 

He sleeps the rest of the day away, waking around noon on Thursday, his heart jumping out of his chest when he sees a new message notification. He sighs dejectedly when he realises it’s not Y/N, his eyes widening as he realises the text is from Kendall.

Kendall: We need to talk H. I’m so sorry about the articles. I’m on my way over, hope you’re home.

Harry rubs his faces tiredly before forcing himself out of bed. Kendall is the last person he wants to see right now but he knows there isn’t any point in telling her not to come if she’s on her way. 

So he cleans (barely), shaves and showers, in an effort to make it seem like he hasn’t been living on his couch and off takeout for the past few days.

There’s a knock at the door and Harry drags his feet over to the front door. 

“Hi…” The woman at the door speaks in an almost whisper, timidly shifting from foot to foot. 

Harry thinks his mind is playing a sick joke on him. 4 days of drinking his life away and he’s suddenly seeing visions. But the woman in front of him doesn’t seem to disappear no matter how many times he blinks and so he comes to the conclusion that she must be real.

“Y/N? I... What are you doing here?” Is all he can think to say. As soon as the words are out of his mouth he regrets them. He winces as his wife’s face contorts into a look of hurt and slight annoyance. 

“What am I doing here? In my house? Good god Harry I left for space, I didn’t move out. Can I come in or are we going to keep having this conversation in the doorway?”

“I didn’t mean- Of course come in love. I just didn’t expect to see you so soon.” He steps aside to let her through and follows her as she walks to the couch and takes a seat. He sits beside her and the silence is loud.

“So…” Y/N begins, shooting a tentative look at Harry who’s looking at her intently. 

“How’s Elle? I miss my little bug. I’ve missed you both.” 

“She’s good. Loved the extra grandma time the last few days. I’ve missed you too H. But we need to figure this out before we keep going. I don’t know how many more chances I can give, I don’t know how many nights I can stay up waiting, hoping for you to call. I shouldn’t have to hope you’ll call, you’re my husband you should want to call.” Y/N sighs, wiping her hand over her face quickly to stop the tears from falling. Harry intertwines their fingers squeezing her hand in his. He does it twice more and Y/N gives him a watery smile. It was something they used to do when they were first married; whenever they were in public they would squeeze each others hands three times.

 I. Love. You. 

He lifts her hand to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss to it. 

“Y/N, I fucked up. Multiple times. I haven’t been there for you and I wish I could tell you that it’s simply because work was mental but I was overwhelmed and so I looked for distractions. It’s no excuse I know that. But I love you. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone and sometimes I wish I didn’t love you so much because I need you like oxygen. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I’ve been an idiot to take you for granted. I’m going to be home by 5 every day from now on I promise. We’re going to have dinner together every night. We’re going to get a nanny so that you and I can go on dates like we used to. I’m going to-“

“Slow down cowboy.” Y/N grins. A bright smile that reaches all the way to her eyes. 

“We’re going to be ok?” It’s supposed to be a statement but it sounds more like a question when it comes out of Y/N’s mouth. 

“We’re going to be ok.” Harry affirms. He leans in to kiss her, pulling back at the sound of the door opening.

“Harry? You home? The door was unlocked so I just came in. Oh! Y/N, hi.” Kendall’s stilettos click against the wooden floor as she walks into the living room, taking in the couple sitting on the couch. 

“I just wanted to come by to-”

Y/N cuts her off. 

“Did you invite her over here Harry? Is that why you were so surprised when I got here? For fucks sakes.” She looks heartbroken. 

Harry is silent. It isn’t what it looks like. He knows that, Kendall knows that. Y/N… doesn’t know that. It seems he’s silent for too long because Y/N is suddenly standing and grabbing her bag off the coffee table. 

“Kendall, get out. Y/N let me explain. Please love, after all we talked about you have to know I wouldn’t do that to you.”

Kendall leaves, muttering a plethora of apologies as Y/N stares at him with red rimmed eyes, her bag gripped tightly in her hand as though she’s planning her escape.

“Two minutes Harry. You’ve got two minutes to explain yourself before I walk out this door and this time I won’t be coming back.”

Read Part III here

A/N: Thoughts?! All your comments and reblogs are appreciated I love youuuuu ✨🫶

Tags: @lukesaprince @harryspirate @walkingintheheartbreaksatellite @lilyrmason12 @styleslover-1994 @stylesfever @kathb59 @indierockgirrl @bxbyysstuff @gills-lounge @lomlhstyles @opheliaofficial07 @behindmygreyeyes @gem1712 @stylesmoonlight12 @babyiamperfectforyou @harrysrockstarsgf

[emsgwenstan]

Personal or professional?

Larissa Weems x fem(carpenter/joiner) named reader

Chap 5| chap 6| chap 7

Words: 3k

Warnings: insecurity’s, swearing.

Note: another fill in chapter… this gif☝️is the look she gives Violet about the door lol.

Well it’s official, It’s the 12th of December and my dreaded birthday, another year of being alive, I guess I should be grateful but only 2 hours until I can go home and sleep! Jesus I really am getting old. I do wish I could see Larissa today but I don’t want to disturb her, we have been texting since that day which was three days ago now, I drove her home that night and the next morning she sent me a message saying good morning and I thought that was really sweet, but this morning she hadn’t said anything, I don’t need to read into it though, I just hope I haven’t done anything wrong. My phone started to ring in my pocket and just when I thought it was her I was wrong.

*Louise*

“Happy birthday vi!” She yelled.

“Thanks Lou.” I said chuckling.

“Happy birthday vi.” I heard jades sultry voice say on the other line.

“Oh yeah jays here too.” Louise said.

“Wanna wish auntie vi happy birthday?” She added.

“Happy birthday auntie violet!” Lou’s daughter lily shouted.

“Aww thanks guys, how is everyone?” I asked.

“Yeah we’re all pretty good, how are you though? You’ve been pretty quiet… perhaps finally found someone?” Louise said teasingly.

My face burned, how am I supposed to say yes I’ve met and fallen in love with someone, we’ve had sex and yet we’re still in a what do they call it now? situationship? Friends with benefits? Let alone it being with a woman- not that they’d be very surprised.

“I have been getting out more and no I’m not with anyone.” I said.

“Let’s hope you find someone vi we don’t want you to be alone forever.” Jade said in a sing song voice.

“Shut the fuck up, says you your a hoe, a serial seducer.” I laughed.

“Ok lily go to your room for a minute.” Lou said.

“Oh my god sorry!” I said.

“Aunt of the year award goes to Violet.” Jade said mockingly.

“Agh, anyway guess what?” I asked.

“What?.” “Mhm?” From the both of them.

“I’ll see you guys at dads this year.” I said.

“What! You’re actually gonna show up!?” Louise said.

“Yeah but I’m not gonna be alone, I’m bringing my… friend Larissa.” I said awkwardly.

“Ooooo Larissa.” They said in unison. I could just imagine them looking at each other knowingly.

“Please… anyway I’ll be there for a week then I’m going to see my mum.” I stated.

“We haven’t seen you for ages, oh and by the way dad has been such a dick lately, all he talks about is fucking golf.” Jade said.

“When isn’t he a dick, and that doesn’t surprise me, I’m not going for him though I’m coming to see you guys.” I spoke.

“Yeah well we will be there for like 9 days I think, we really need to go out all together again, I know I need to get hammered.” Louise said laughing.

“Agreed I know just the place.” I said.

“We know.” They both said giggling.

“Ok well I’m at work so I need to go but I’ll see you guys then ok?” I said.

“Alright we love you sis.” Lou said.

“Love you guys, tell lily and Lottie i love them to.” I said.

“Will do, bye.” She said.

“Bye.”

I went back to stacking lengths of timber in their designated racks and began to wrap up the rest of my stuff getting ready to come home.

Finally in the threshold of my house, I kicked off my boots and tore off my work clothes, it was so fucking hot I felt like I was suffocating. The heat was up so high last night because it was freezing and I forgot to turn it off this morning as well as having the fire going. Turning it off and keeping the fire going I went and jumped in the shower quickly to rinse off the sawdust and settle in for the night.

Hopping into bed I let my hair out of the tight ponytail it’s been in all day letting it fall over my pillow and just like that I passed out. It was only 6pm but I didn’t care it was much needed, although it wasn’t until a while later when I could feel my body slightly shaking that I awoke again. “Wake up darling.” A hushed voice spoke, I know that accent anywhere, why is she here? how is she here? I rolled over slightly with my eyes cracked open, Larissa was standing beside me with a hand delicately wrapped around my bicep.

“Good morning.” She teased. “What are you doing here? How did you get in here?” I asked sleepily. Larissa brought her hand to my face stroking my cheek lightly. “I did knock, but no answer. The door was unlocked, I should have rung you I’m sorry.” She said in haste. “No, no it’s fine you’re welcome you don’t even need to knock.” I said rubbing my eyes. Larissa smiled warmly. “Sit up for a moment I’ll be right back.” She said leaving the room. I’m still a little bit delirious wondering if this is even real or not, but the fact that I could feel her gave me every indication that it was. Slowly I sat up and realised I’m only wearing underwear, I clutched my duvet to my chest and sat cross legged against my head board.

Larissa waltzed back in with a large box in her hands, the sound of her heels clacking on the floor boards getting closer gave me more anticipation wondering what was going on. She perched herself on the edge of my bed and placed the huge box in my lap, it was a deep red with a crimson, satin bow on top. I looked at her with curiosity and a small smile. “Open it.” She said gesturing me to do so. Slowly I undid the ribbon and opened the box, I could smell it first, the large bouquet of red and dark red- almost black roses that lay on top. “Oh Larissa, these are beautiful.” I said plucking them out and smelling how heavenly they are. “How did you know these were my favourite… not just the flowers but the colours.” I asked jokingly. “I have my ways.” She said. I giggled at her and lay the roses next to me and continued to open the layers of tissue paper.

The next thing was clothing of some sort, pulling it up I gasped. “It’s beautiful.” I said astonished, the black dress was gorgeous, intricate black beads lined the off the shoulder cut out and strapped top, the thigh slit down the side and the cuffs of the sleeves. “Why did you get me this?” I asked incredulously. “Because you deserve it.” She said blatantly. “I’m afraid I don’t think it will fit.” I said solemnly. “It will, I promise.” She ensured moving the tissue further out of the way to indicate there’s more. Carefully I laid aside the dress as well and took out the next thing. A large black coat with fur around the hood, sleeves and bottom. My eyes lit up and I became speechless. Trying to catch a sneaky look at the tag, I didn’t find a price or size instead the words ‘Vivienne Westwood’ in scribed on it. “What the fuck.” I breathed, I looked at the dresses tag and the same thing was embedded.

“There’s more.” She said suggestively. I looked at her with wide eyes and put aside the coat. Underneath was a shoe box and another thing wrapped with tissue paper, I opened that first unraveling the fragile paper. My cheeks burned, when I came to relise it was lingerie, a set of scarlet red lace, a bra with matching panties. I admired them, running my fingertips along the intricacies of the material, I gave a shy and quiet thank you to Larissa and set them aside too. The last thing was the shoe box that made my breathing stop. ‘Cristian louboutin’ no fucking way.

Larissa could see my face at the sight of it, how much I was in shock and awe even without seeing what’s in it. I took off the lid and just about had a heart attack, slick black heels lay next to another adorning the familiar red bottoms. I turned to Larissa with a gaping mouth and wide eyes. “How- why…I. Larissa I’ve wanted these shoes since I was 17!” I screeched. She grinned and put her hand on my wrist. “Happy birthday darling.” She whispered sweetly. Again I melted. “Oh rissa, I don’t know if I can accept these.” I said softly. “Yes you can, I wanted to give you something to make you feel beautiful, and I know that black makes people feel slimmer- not that you need to of course! I just…-god, I thought I could help you feel better about yourself and show you how beautiful you are my sweet.” She said feeling horrible at how that sounded. “No I understand, it’s very thoughtful of you. Most of my clothes are black.” I said smiling.

“And I think red looks gorgeous on you too.” She said. I immediately remembered that I wore a red bra that day and that’s what she was pertaining to. Larissa was very close it was harder to not be under her piercing gaze, I put the box next to me and wrapped my arms around her neck, slowly I leaned in and hoped she wouldn’t pull away, I placed a chaste kiss to her lips grinning into it. “Thank you lovely.” I said into her ear still hugging her. “You’re very welcome.” She said pulling back. “Now I hope it’s ok with you but I made reservations for 8:00, so go get changed into these and we can go get dinner?” She said questionably. “You didn’t!” I said. She stood from the bed and reached for my hands to help me up, I stood and covered my stomach feeling a little self conscious again.

Larissa grasped my wrists, moved them away and looked in my eyes. “Don’t hide from me darling.” She said placing another kiss on my forehead. She turned on the spot and left me to get changed. In the bathroom I painted on some make up opting for dark eyeshadow and lipstick a few shades darker than Larissa’s, I curled my collarbone length blonde hair and put on my gold necklace with a ‘v’ initial and a few rings from the dish on the sink. I slipped on the red lingerie with a smirk and then the dress, for a moment my heart sank when the sip at the back wouldn’t go up, but turns out it was just caught on the material, it slid up my back with ease. I slipped on the shoes and couldn’t stop the excitement that spread through my body as I did so.

Looking in the mirror, I stared at myself, I hadn’t even realised I had a waist, the shoes are what I kept looking at and my calf muscles that sculpted due to the height. Larissa carefully opened my bedroom door and walked up behind me, I looked at her in the reflection giving a timid glance, she pressed herself to my back and gently put her head on my shoulder and moved her hands to meet around my front, her palms smoothed out the fabric and stopped at the swell of my stomach. “You look stunning.” She said kissing my temple. “Thank you.” I said. “Shall we go?” She asked. “Yeah.” I grabbed the coat and put it on.

Going past the kitchen and hallway I grab my keys from the dish. “What are you doing?” She asked. I dangled the keys giving her the hint I’m driving. “No, I’m driving.” She said plucking them out of my hand and putting them back down. Larissa walked out the door and I followed behind her, she stepped to the passenger side and opened the door for me, I giggled at her chivalry. She walked to the other side and sat in the drivers seat. “Ooo the woman knows how to drive stick.” I said as a joke. “Yes I do, something else we have in common.” She said turning on the car and reversing out of the drive way.

Once she went thought the gears, Larissa placed her hand on top of mine and curled her fingers into my palm, the butterflies in my stomach were alive and well at this point, not that they ever go away when I’m with her. When she down geard and sadly removed her hand from mine it must have meant we’re close, but when I saw the place my eyes just about bulged out of my head. Larissa killed the engine and stepped out, just as I open the door she glared at me through the windscreen, I laughed throwing my head back and closed the door again. She made it to the other side and reopened the door extending a hand to me.

I stepped out onto a gravel driveway and kept a hold of her hand. She closed the door and started to lead me in the direction of the restaurant. “Wait.” I said stopping. Holding her hand I took off my shoes and started walking again until we made it to cement and put them back on. I looked at her confused face. “I want to savour and look after these shoes.” I said. “Oh.” She chuckled, we made our way up the grand steps to the front door. This place was about ten minutes out of town and secluded by trees, the building was a tan colour and had pillars surrounding it, pot plans and ivy covered the exterior, a red carpet rolled down the stairs and the large double doors open wide with a ‘please wait to be seated’ sign on the wall outside of them.

Larissa glanced at me as a young woman greeted us. “Hello ladies, booking name?” She asked. “Weems.” Larissa said. “Yes, right this way.” She lead us into a massive dining hall, intimate tables with candles and silver alike, chandeliers vaulted from the ceiling, paintings, even live music with people playing violins and other sweet sounding instruments, a dance floor- for those who actually dance, it was beautiful and it felt right to be here experiencing this with Larissa, if I came here without her, she would be the one I’d tell this place about. “Here you go.” She sat us in a green velvet booth and placed two menus on the table then left.

“I didn’t even know this place existed.” I said. “Do you like it?” She asked shrugging off her cream coat, Larissa was wearing a plum coloured silk blouse and a matching cream pencil skirt, my breath hitched at the sight of her, somehow she seemed nervous, the woman who exudes power, authority and confidence is nervous, but then again I know its not the first time around me, but as if I do that to her, its probably just because she wants me to have a good night. “Absolutely, I really don’t deserve this-.” “Yes you do.” She said cutting me off. I took a deep breath and changed the subject. “Any idea what you feel like?” I asked. We both went through the menu together, decided on our choices and ordered.

Larissa and I were having a conversation about what we both did today when we were interrupted by a man who seemed to know her. “Larissa, I thought that was you.” He said. She looked up and let out a sharp exhale through her nose forcing a tight lipped smile. “Mr jones, lovely to see you.” She said speaking though here teeth. “Likewise, I don’t see you out of that school often.” He said. Larissa bit the insides of her cheeks quite literally refraining herself from spitting a very unkind insult his way. “Yes well Marcus, I do have a life.” She said bitterly, if looks could kill. His line of sight went to me. “And who is this?” He asked. If it were anyone else, She would have felt compelled to say ‘oh forgive me how rude I didn’t introduce you sooner’ instead she kept her back handed behaviour. “This is violet Hastings, my very good friend… now if you don’t mind we would like to enjoy our dinner.” Her voice sounding like venom. “Nice to meet you, I suppose I should get back to my wife.” He said awkwardly leaving.

The silence was killing me. “Ok what was that?” I asked chucking. Larissa let out a huff and turned to face me. “That was Marcus jones, a sleazy twit… also a board member.” She explained whilst simultaneously taking a sip of the wine the waitress brought over. “He did seem a bit smug.” I said sidding with her. “He’s an imbecile, all he does is make my job harder and tries to deny my advances for the schools funding and changes.” She said twisting the stem of the glass on the table. “Not to mention, every Thursday night he goes and screws his assistant, how cliche.” She rasped, throwing back the remaining wine in her glass. I raise my eyebrows in response. “I was a bit harsh wasn’t I?” She asked grasping my thigh under the table. “No, because if it were me id have been worse, you did a great job.” I said. Larissa laughed. A real laugh. It was loud and turned a few heads, but I didn’t care id love to hear it again and again and again. She covered her mouth with her fingers trying not to do it again. She never fails to make me weak.

The dim lighting made her look even more delectable then she already is and I found myself staring at her. “What?” She asked noticing. “Your just…ethereal? I don’t even know how you real.” I said lowly. “Stop it.” She giggled looking down. “I don’t think you know how pretty you are Larissa.” I spoke. “I could say the same about you vi.” She said tightening her grip on my thigh. The waitress brought over our food and left us to eat alone again. Once we were finished a flurry of people went to the dance floor with each of their partners. “Would you like to dance violet?” She leaned in to whisper. “Oh I don’t dance.” I said. “Please?” She pushed. Looking in her eyes I tilted my head, I can’t say no to her. “Sure.” I said reluctantly. Larissa took my hand and guided me to the floor.

On perfect queue the music started, the tune was familiar, experience I think it was. Everyone began to slowly sway to the music as if their bodies were one, Larissa held onto my waist and brought my hand to her shoulder, I placed my free hand in hers and began to dance. She was wonderful, so free and loose, Larissa let herself succumb to the music and I did the same, the stronger the tune the more contrived the movements, Larissa spun me about like they do in those ridiculous romcoms but Christ it felt like I was in one, her gaze never faulted, eyes piercing into my own as if the whole world disappeared. When the music went softer Larissa braced her arms around my torso and I joined my other hand to her vacant shoulder and let my head rest in the crook of her neck.

"May I cut in?" A voice said behind my shoulder, as I turned there standing was that same halfwit Marcus, asking me to dance. I looked to Larissa for help, she said nothing only looking down at her feet. "Um...I-." I began about to reject his offer. "Great!" He took my hand and I was dragged of with him, as a new song started I couldn't stop staring at Larissa, she stepped away sitting back at the table hardly watching what was going on, like the big ball of anger I am sometimes, I felt obliged to peruse my next move, as he was twisting me around like a monkey on steroids, I leaned back and stopped on his foot with my heel and elbowed him in the face. "Oh! my apologies I'm a horrible dancer.” I said with faux forgiveness. Immediately I ran back to Larissa.

"Why didn't you save me." I said sternly and out of breath. "You looked happy with him." She said fiddling with her fingers. "I beg your pardon? I’m sorry but if that's what I look like when I'm happy with someone then I must look insane when I'm with you." I expressed sitting down again. "Did you not just see what happened." I asked. "Yes, I must say it was a little entertaining." She said giving me a meek smile. "good. But why didn’t you do anything?” I asked. “I don’t know… I’m sorry I just thought-.” “It’s fine, I mean he had that coming.” I said. We sat together for a while and before I excused myself and went off to find the lavatory leaving Larissa at the table alone again.

*Larissa’s pov*

I’m so glad violet likes the gifts I gave her, she looks breathtaking, I feel deeply saddened that she doesn’t see herself through my eyes, but I do suppose no one sees their own beauty like others. I hope I didn’t take it to far when i gave her the lingerie, i just couldn’t help myself. Violet is an incredible woman, shes smart and witty, she’s kind and full of skills i could only dream to obtain, she makes me feel like I’m the only person in the room as if i were so interesting, a 48 year old who lives and breathes to work and is unbelievably stubborn, something else we have in common i think. I adore all the things about her she views as flaws but somethings telling me that there’s still more to her, but in time i hope to learn them all.

I feel so guilty I did nothing to stop that asshole from taking Violet away from me, I thought we had a special moment, I guess my own insecurities came to play, the last time I danced with somebody I was with mortica and that didn’t end well, why would it with her?

I observed her as she came back to the table, her legs are stunning and she can definitely walk in heels, i do find that people our height can do a good job in them if i do say so myself, I’m pleased that she insists on taking care of them, even if she didn’t id just buy her a new pair. Before she sat i offered to take her home, we had been here well over two hours and thought she would appreciate actually going home. “Sure.” She said. I stood and draped my own coat over my shoulders and placed my hand in the small of violets back to go and pay. As already anticipated she tried to debate on who was paying but in the midst of it i handed the poor waitress my card, the glare i received when violet heard the beep on the machine was endearing, she did look as though she could physically hurt me but i kept my laughter at bay.

Exiting the restaurant, violet stopped and moved her head to gaze at the stars above, it was very beautiful, no light pollution, no noise, just the stars, moon, violet and I, although i found my view much better than hers. The reflection in her eyes and the soft glow of the out side lights from the restaurant made her impossibly more beautiful, that doesn’t even sound like the right word, but it will do.

*violets pov*

The sky was extraordinary I haven’t seen it like this for a while, but my gaze was cut short when Larissa ushered me to the car and opened my door again. On the ride home I placed my hand in her lap playing with the material of her skirt, I was so relaxed that I eventually fell asleep, the soft hum of the radio and the smell of her perfume lulled me to dose off. Larissa opened my door and gently coaxed me awake and let me rest against her side as she walked us inside.

By the time we made it to my room I had woken up a bit more and turned to Larissa. “Are you ok?” I asked. “I’m fine.” She said. I took off my heels and placed them inside my robe out of the way, I saw her looking down at the floor as she sat on the edge of my bed. Trying to find a way to lighten the mood I reached for my small speaker and turned it on, flicking through my phone I found a song to play, set down my phone and pulled her to stand. Larissa looked at me confused wondering what’s going on, I placed her hands around my neck and I locked mine around her waist and pressed my body to hers.

I hummed along to the tune and swayed to the slow rhythm, Larissa rested her temple on my forehead and sighed. “I don’t dance for just anyone you know.” I whispered in her ear, I could see the small smile across her face. “Violet?… why are you doing this?” She asked still wrapped around me. “Because you deserve to know that you’re cared for to, because you’re special and you would do the same for me.” I said. Larissa was quiet after that, but she did grip me a little tighter and breathe a little deeper.

After the song stopped I paused it and started to get changed. Larissa offered to drag down my zip, I stepped out of my dress and picked it up hanging it neatly inside the wardrobe. Just as I was about to enter the ensuite to change Larissa’s voice rang through the air. “Wait!” She said. I turned on the spot and looked at her flickering eyes and ridged stance, I was silent waiting for her to continue. “I-I… was wondering if you could just… stay- in what you have on.” She mumbled. My eyes widened at her ask, my stomach riddled with butterflies.

Larissa’s gaze met mine and slowly she stepped out of her heels, removed her coat and pulled off her blouse and skirt, only left standing in her underwear. My gaze never left her, not once, I don’t recall I actually blinked to be frank. “Is it ok if I stay?” She asked. I paced back towards her and discarded the clothes I’m not going to be changing into on the floor, I took ahold of Larissa’s hand and threw back the covers of my bed and crawled in before her. I found a comfortable position on my side and laid out my right arm for her to rest her head on, to which she did.

There were no sounds, no interruptions, no one else but us- half naked and left in only undergarments, Larissa’s long limbs were intertwined with my own and the way she studied my face made blood rush to my cheeks, I did the same though- studied her that is, stroking her hair and tracing unknown shapes along her jaw and lips, especially over her scar. “What are you thinking?” I whispered, Larissa’s eyes fluttered to mine. “It’s silly.” She hummed softly. “Tell me? I’m sure it’s not.” I said back. “I’ve not been this… close to a normie before.” She expressed. I adjusted my head a little. “And what does that mean to you, is that a good thing or a bad thing?… are you saying that your view on me would change if I were?” I said sitting up a little. “No of course not i just mean, I haven’t been exposed to any normie that has been… well, like you.” She said sheepishly.

I sat mulling over the conversation, on one hand it’s disheartening to hear that she hasn’t been accepted due to the fact of being an outcast, and on the other I suppose she still hasn’t… “I know that was rather odd of me to bring up but it was just something that I had been thinking about, it’s nice to see that normies and outcasts can be civil.” She murmured. I felt a tinge of guilt gnaw in my stomach, just wait for the right time Violet. “No I get it, really, especially since you dedicate your life to ensuring your students feel accepted for who they are.” I said laying back down.

For a while it was quiet and peaceful, Larissa was the one who fell asleep first, but as I rolled over she slightly roused earning an almost incomprehensible statement. “Happy birthday Violet, my sweet sweet girl.” She left her head against the back of my shoulder and pulled me by the waist to rest against her front. “I love you Larissa.” I breathed but with no response I knew she had fallen asleep.

@lex13cm @im-a-carnivorous-plant @barbarasstar

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[benedictscanvas]

be still, my foolish heart [5] - jamie tartt x reader

pairing: jamie tartt x fem!reader

word count: 3.1k

series warnings: lots of language throughout, some allusions to smut but nothing explicit, a LOT of fucking fluff mostly ngl

a/n: finally! sorry it's a couple days late, but the busy week is over and we are back at it. i really enjoyed writing this one. did a poll to find out how people feel about reader pov, so there may be a few reader pov bits coming your way soon, just so we can see whether she's smitten too... <3

series summary: when jamie gets called up to the england team for the first time, he’s terrified. enter you, all smiles and swearing, and suddenly his only fear is falling head over boots for you.

previous chapter | series masterlist

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chapter five - if you got love to get done

The crowd is roaring as he walks out of the tunnel, squinting a little in the sudden wash of sunlight that hits him. The music is loud and he feels himself rising taller, pushing his shoulders back, chest forward as he realises the moment he’s having. It doesn’t matter one bit that he’s got a bib on, that he’s taking a sharp right turn and heading straight for the bench.

He’ll be subbed on at 60, he’s sure. Confident, even. The last few days in training, he’d played some of the best football he could remember playing. His phone was filled with encouraging messages that morning, from the team, from the coaches, from practically everyone that knew him. The only one he’d replied to so far was his mum, but he was looking forward to going through them properly later.

Earlier, he’d found himself disappointed not to see you at breakfast, but now here you were as he headed towards his seat on the bench, just one row behind him with a camera in your hand. You grin when you see him, and hold up your camera questioningly. He plays along as he stares off into the distance pensively, pouting and sharpening his jawline. You giggle as you take a few snaps and he's eager to sit down in front of you.

“I didn’t know you’d be here,” Jamie said, swivelling in his seat to chat to you despite the funny look from Gondo beside him, “I mean, not at the match but, y’ know…”

“Sat on the bench?” you asked and he nodded, “Yeah, I had to fight to be here, honestly. But there’s nowhere else I can get the right angles for the socials. At least, that’s what I told them.”

He grinned right back, turning even further in his seat so the two of you were face to face, but then the first notes of the national anthem started playing and you whacked his shoulder frantically as the two of you tried to stand up quickly. Even during the anthem, he risked a glance back at you and you glared at him until he turned back around, but he couldn’t keep the smile from his face as he sang.

“You’ll get me fucking fired!” you hiss from behind your hand when the two of you are able to sit back down again, “They’ve already asked me why you’ve been in so much of the content recently.”

“What did y’ say?”

“That you’re the only idiot who says yes to all my stupid ideas.”

His shoulders slump at that description, but he’s quick to bounce back when you start laughing at him. You rest a hand on your shoulder as you lean in, still keeping a hand over your mouth to stop any pesky press doing any lip reading.

“I couldn’t tell them you’re just my favourite, could I?” and he could swear his heart stops, because that almost sounds like flirting. He stares up at you, wide-eyed and helpless until you continue, “Not supposed to tell anyone I’m Richmond, remember?”

Right. Richmond. That was why he was your favourite, because he’s the only Richmond player who’s fucking here. What if Roy was here? Or Isaac, or Colin, or Bumbercatch? It suddenly occurred to him that even if he was your favourite here, you might have a very long list of Richmond players you liked more than him. The thought settles and he can feel his uneasiness in his stomach.

He doesn’t respond before he turns back around to watch kick off, just smiles at you instead and hopes that his lack of reply isn’t too rude. Your hand lets go of his shoulder after a moment or two, and he’s absolutely kicking himself but then the match starts and he can’t think about it anymore.

It’s an easy opener, even if Gareth insisted that they couldn’t become complacent. England were 2-0 up within around 10 minutes with a tap-in and a penalty from King, and from there seemed content to coast to half time with the majority of the possession. Jamie cheered for both goals wildly on the sidelines with the rest of his teammates and then jogged down into the tunnel quickly when the halftime whistle blew.

The team talk was nothing he hadn’t heard before. Gareth was hardly going to change tactics now, so once he’d got past the main parts, he turned his mind to you, just for a few minutes. He probably wasn’t your favourite player at Richmond. And it shouldn’t matter to him, he knows that, but it does. The pit in his stomach that the thought has caused just won’t go away.

He could ask you, but that would be ridiculous. Would make him seem ridiculous. This was definitely getting out of hand, because he had been so sure he could just be friends with you and be happy about it but- you were just so great. The two of you had spent the last four days in Italy practically joined at the hip. Filming and laughing and crying-while-laughing.

All the while he’d been promising himself not to think about you in any way that wasn’t friendly. All the while he’d been lying to himself. You smile at him, and he feels like he’s spinning around on a fucking hill like in that movie Roy had made him watch about a month ago.

The team is all clapping, so he snaps himself out of it and claps too as everyone files out of the room. He’s so frustrated with himself for thinking about this now - it isn’t the time. So he decides - after the match, he can think about it as much as he likes. Come up with a proper plan to rid himself of this once and for all, so you can get on as well as you do without him worrying about silly things like being your favourite Richmond player.

When he arrives back to his seat on the bench and flops down into it, he feels a delicate tap on his shoulder and turns to see you, still smiling that infuriating smile.

“Hey, you’re very tense,” you say teasingly with a light poke to his shoulder, “Whole first half without talking isn’t very Jamie Tartt of you. Something I said?”

He likes to think he can read you pretty well sometimes, and he’s positive he can see your smile falter as you ask. So he did come off rude when he turned around and stopped talking to you. Again, he’s kicking himself.

“No! No, love, ‘course not,” he tries to reassure you, “I’m just nervous, honestly. Y’ mentioned Richmond and I know that I’m…y’ know. I’m good there. Jus’ wonderin’ if I’ll be any good here.”

He wasn’t wondering. He’s been great in training and he’s fishing for compliments, he knows it. The thought makes him feel like a prick again.

“Come on. You’re joking, right?”

He doesn’t expect that particular response, especially not the thinly veiled amusement on your face.

“Uh- no? Don’t think so.”

“I’ve watched you in training. You’re feeling it, I know it. I know you a bit by now. So why are you lying?”

It was the most straightforward you’d ever been and he had no idea what to do with it. But Gareth was calling his name, and Gondo elbowed him in the ribs hard.

“You’re up, bro. Go and warm up!”

Jamie was quick to react, glancing back at you a few times but soon getting his head in the game. He pushes your conversation, your words, right to the back of his mind as he sidesteps along the side of the pitch, then moves through the exercises he usually did on autopilot.

He hadn’t even noticed it was 60 minutes through the game. At least he’d been right about one thing - he was getting subbed on.

He ran to grab his shirt as one of the assistant coaches told the fourth official that England would be making a change. You were nearby again and you grinned at him when he was close enough.

“Don’t worry about it,” you said loudly, and he knew what you were talking about, “Just go and fucking smash it, Jamie!”

He nods. Yeah, he’s gonna fucking smash it.

He tears off his bib and stands ready on the touch line, proud to be wearing Sam’s number on his back. He knows that Sam should be here in Italy playing for his country as he deserved, and it was only a small tribute, but he hoped it would make some kind of statement. King runs over to him, slaps his hands against Jamie’s and that’s it - he’s running onto the pitch with a new spring in his step.

He’s an England player. He’s done it. Lifelong dream achieved.

Around ten minutes into his debut, he sees Rife making a delicious run down the right side and he hooks his foot around the ball to send a pass forward, soaring over the heads of the defenders and landing right on Rife’s foot. He holds his breath as Rife shoots, but the net bulges soon after and now he’s got an assist too.

It’s overwhelming.

Still, Rife is running over to jump on him and he lets him, then Wire, then practically the whole team. At the bottom of the pile, Jamie spares a thought for the Jamie of a few years ago, the Jamie for whom goals were everything and assists meant nothing. How sad it would have been to miss out on this feeling of helping his team, his country, towards an emphatic win.

And it was a fucking excellent assist, too.

The last ten minutes are uneventful. Jamie knows he’s playing well and remembers your words - you’re feeling it. You’ve summed it up perfectly. His feel of the ball, his feel for his teammates and their positions, its all coming together. At the final whistle, he lets out a roar, full of all the anxious anticipation that went into this moment then takes the nearest player to him in a huge bear hug.

The coaches and rest of the team walk out onto the pitch, shaking hands and clapping each other on the back. Jamie makes a point to shake as many opposition players’ hands as he can before he moves on to celebrating with his teammates. Almost as soon as he’s ready to jog over to Rife to pick him up, however, he spots you, filming Rife on your phone.

Maybe he isn’t your favourite Richmond player. But you said he was your favourite around here and he’s going to take that and run with it.

“Y/N! Hey!”

You look round as soon as he calls and put your phone away instantly. He’s not sure you’ve even finished with Rife. Either way, you’re sprinting up to him and you’ve got him locked in the tightest of hugs before he knows it. Despite how unexpected it is, it doesn’t take him long to wind his arms around you in return because it’s the easiest thing in the world.

You pull back, positively beaming.

“That assist, Jamie! I fucking knew you were feeling it, that was insane!”

“It were pretty good, weren’t it?” he says proudly, pulling you back into his arms for one hug while he still can, grateful when you let him. He leans back this time, watching you with a quirked eyebrow, “You know me quite well, huh?”

If he didn’t know any better, he’d think you looked flustered.

“Didn’t know you were going to do that, though, did I? Magic, that was,” you’re still heaping praise on him, and there’s a part of him that wants to tell you to go on, but he doesn’t want to push it. He also doesn’t want any awkwardness between the two of you, but right now he thinks he could do anything, so he takes a chance.

“Earlier, you said I was your favourite because I’m Richmond and it jus’ felt shit,” he admits, all in a rush, “That’s not your fault, I know. I never thought about you likin’ Richmond in general before. Instead of-“

Instead of just me. Instead of just liking me, for who I am and not what team I play for. Tell me I’m your favourite Richmond player and I’ll stop being a fucking prick.

He keeps most of what he’s thinking to himself, because he feels like he’s probably already said too much. In his sessions with Doctor Sharon so far, she’s been so encouraging of his newfound honesty, both with others and with himself. She’d want him to ‘communicate his feelings’ with you, and he wasn’t sure if this was the best way of doing that, but it had happened now. He’d already said it.

You still had your hands on his arms, having pulled them back from their tight squeeze around his neck and shoulders. You were looking at him thoughtfully, and he was struck by how stupid he was when he thought he could read you earlier - you were impossible to read sometimes.

After what feels like years, you press your lips together like you’re suppressing a grin and squeeze his biceps.

“Jamie…” you begin, voice as soft as it’s ever been, despite the still deafening roar of the crowd. He’d practically forgotten he’s still stood on a football pitch, “Come on. You’re joking, right?”

Same words as earlier. His heart sinks.

“I swear, Y/N, I’m not lying this time, that’s actually why I got all mardy-”

“You have to be joking,” you repeat, interrupting him slowly, “Because you must know you’re my favourite player everywhere.”

He isn’t sure whether to sigh in pure relief or start panting for breath. You’re looking at him so softly, there’s almost shyness there. He’s never seen you shy, ever. Certainly not around anyone else.

“You’ve admitted something, so I will too. Just to be fair,” you smile easily, still holding him by the arms. He wonders if he could put his hands back on your waist, but he can’t move a muscle in case you move away from him, “I’ve never been nervous around football players. I work with them everyday, you know? And then you walk up to training that first day, and you don’t hear me when I ask my question, and I felt nervous. Stupid nervous.”

“…because you’re a Richmond fan?”

“No, Jamie,” you say, but you don’t say why you were nervous, you just fucking stare at him. His heart is begging him to lean in and kiss you silly, “Maybe it was the hair.”

You reach up to gently tug on one of the strands that falls in front of his face from his headband. He’s struggling to find his voice.

“I-” he has to cough to get his words back, “I do have good hair.”

“Great hair, even,” you smirk, and he can see you biting your lip, “The rest of you isn’t too bad either, I guess. If you’re into that kinda thing.”

Oh. Oh.

You’re flirting with him.

This is new. He’s oblivious and his processing time might be longer than others, but you’ve never blatantly flirted with him before. He’d know, because he’s been desperate for you to flirt with him for a few weeks now. Basically since he met you. Whether it’s playful or not, it’s a new development that has him floating.

This, he can do. Flirting. He’s good at this.

“And what kinda thing would that be?” he says, tilting his head and smirking right back at you. All his terror at your previous sincerity falls away and is replaced by a need to match you quip for quip. He can think about the fact that he’s your favourite player everywhere when he sits in his hotel room grinning in the mirror later.

“You know,” you rock back and forth on your heels, “The whole fit footballer thing. Abs and shit. It’s a very particular type.”

So you had looked at him at the pool party. It shouldn’t have made him so giddy. You just called him fit. He could melt into a puddle at your feet if he wasn’t so determined to make you giddy in return.

“And is it your type?”

You make a show of thinking about it in a way that shoots sparks all the way down Jamie’s spine. He’s so glad you can’t hear his heartbeat like he can, roaring in his ears.

“Dunno. I like my guys with enough hair gel to set their head alight, you know?”

A dig at his look from a few years ago. Of course you’d find a way to mention that without stopping that tone you’d taken on out of nowhere. The tone that was disarming and charming and downright hot.

“You know, I think I know a guy like that,” he said, pretending to search for someone over your head, “You don’t happen to know any mad pretty PR women I could point him to?”

The grin that took over you, bloomed across your whole face, was exactly what he’d been hoping for, finally finding the opening in the conversation to compliment you right back. You move closer to him and he feels himself let out a tiny gasp, but all you do is tuck yourself into his side, winding an arm around his waist. He lets his own wrap around your shoulders as the two of you start walking over to clap the England fans in the corner.

“I’ll keep you posted,” you say, looking up at him, all sweetness. He knows you aren’t, though, because your free hand comes to rest on his stomach as you look up at him. He feels every ab tighten under your touch despite his best efforts, “Guess we’ll just have to keep looking, hm?”

“Yeah,” he agrees, grinning down at you as he tugs you further into him, “If your mate Tiff ever joins us out here, she could be a good option for him, right?”

You push yourself away from him, and its the last thing he wanted. You walk backwards away from him for a few seconds, then shake your head at him with a smile and run to catch up with the rest of the team.

He’s left a little bit awestruck in your wake. He jumps when someone claps him on the back, then turns to see a very smug Rife.

“That bad?”

Jamie huffs out a half-laugh as his eyes go back to following you, watching you congratulate some of the coaches. There’s a little bit of jealousy in his chest even watching you talk with them, and he hates it.

“That bad,” he confirms, still staring at you from afar, “That fucking bad.”

[cherish--these--times]

Important information. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE. UPDATING AS I WATCH THE MOVIE ALONG BEAR WITH ME. The film they watched at the hotel is You've Got Mail, this is Sam and Rebecca's story. When they messaged each other not knowing who the other person was. Ted said Sleepless in Seattle was far superior. This is the one where airports play a significant part and it's about a man who lost his wife and has a son finding love again with the woman he never knew until the last second would be the one. He first sees her in an airport and is knocked sideways. By all accounts the last of Ted we will see will be in an airport based on previous seasons with first and last shot being a character’s face in the same location.

Also Rebecca mentioning she has a private jet and the thing with airports; SUSP AS HELL.

Keeley assumed the moment Rebecca spent with Dutch Guy was "Magic" This is also a quote from Sleepless in Seattle. Turns out it was Gezellig instead. But this is definitely where we're going. And that'll either be Dutch Guy or Ted. Both fit the man who lost their partner and have a kid formula. Definitely not Sam. But Ted tripped over the Red String of Fate, has the matchbook, loves Kenny Rogers, bakes the biscuits who are home to her, she carries his army man everywhere she goes. She hasn't been struck by lightning yet which to me means it's not Dutch Guy; Ted is leaving which means her world is about to be turned upside down. I keep the faith. i don't care.

AND there's a tear in Meg Ryan's wedding dress and she says oh no it's a sign to which her mum says "You don't believe in signs!" And Rebecca doesn't really believe in signs either! All the signs have been pointing to different people except the obvious one! They're there so she can see something about herself she completely missed.

FUCK MY LIFE. It's about making wishes!! Tom Hanks' son in the film wishes for his father to find a new wife!! His son is worried about his dad!!!

The psychiatrist on the radio is called Dr. Fieldstone FUUUUUUCK MEEEEE. IT WAS RIGHT THERE ALL ALONG.

Sam and Annie speak the same words at the same time in two different places, soulmatism right there!

Annie thought Sam sounded "Nice" on the radio and Ted is one of the "nicest" humans Rebecca has ever met!!

Quote from a guy : "This is fate, she's divorced and you need a new wife." (not talking about Annie here, it's another woman) "What is that thing when everything intersects?" To which Sam replies: "The Bermuda TRIANGLE."

One woman who writes to Sam after he was on the radio lives in OKLAHOMA!

Dr. Fieldstone tells Sam she can tell he is a good dad just like Beard told Ted!!

One woman says on the radio: "Why do you want to be with someone who doesn't love you?" (Michelle, anyone?)

"Sam, tell me what was so special about your wife?" "It was a million tiny little things then when you added them all up it just meant we were supposed to be together. I knew it the very first time I touched her it was like coming home, only to no home I had ever known!"

Annie asking a friend: "But when you met her (his wife), did you believe she was the only person for you? That in some mystical, cosmic way, it was fated?"

Sam's friend about relationships:

"Things are different, now. First, you have to be friends. You have to like each other."

Annie talks to her best friend about the concept of DESTINY.

Annie hires a private detective to run a background check on Sam!! Ted wanted Rebecca to do it with Dr. Jacob!

Wonderful addition by @doctorbeverlycrusher : Rebecca’s mom said a couple times that when she loves something, she loves it forever. The main song from Sleepless in Seattle, When I Fall in Love, starts with the lyric “When I fall in love, it will be forever”.

ANNIE MUNCHES ON SUNFLOWER SEEDS ON THE PLANE.

Sam's son to his dad: "Jessica says you and Annie never got together in that life, and your hearts are like puzzles with parts out of them and when you get together the puzzle's complete. The reason I know this and you don't is that I'm younger and purer so I'm more in touch with cosmic forces."

There's even a mention of Horticulture!

We spotted the word Rainbow in the pub game, the romcommunism episode was called Rainbow. Let me leave you with the quote from Ted again.

"Now, it may not work out how you think it will or how you hope it does, but believe me, it will all work out. Exactly as it's supposed to."

I might be setting myself up for disappointment but the writers are building every step up to the cliff egde, baby!

Thank you for coming to my Ted Lasso Talk

[meliora-box]

Ghoap Family AU :)

Cw: slight MW3 spoilers, ABO(or Trans!Soap whichever you want)

After that close call with setting off the bomb, Ghost absolutely refuses for that to happen again, so he begged and pleaded with Soap to please stay behind, because he can’t live with himself if death actually does take his Johnny away from him, and to his surprise Johnny actually agreed.

They go on leave, back to their nice house in rural Scotland, and a month into their leave they found out they were expecting a baby, which was why Johnny spent most of the mornings super sick and being super sensitive to certain smells (example: Simon’s cologne, to both their dismays)

Of course Simon stays home with him, after telling the rest of the team what was going on (Gaz immediately begged to take role of uncle), and they found out they were having a baby girl, to which Simon happy sobbed at, because he’s always wanted a daughter. They get her nursery prepared, clothes, toys, crib and baby swing ready, and they both loved getting the stuff ready for her.

It wasn’t until when Johnny was 6 months in did Simon get the news he has to get back into the field, as they have a new lead on Makarov. And Simon at first refused, as the baby was supposed to arrive in 3 months, but Johnny told him to go, that he’ll be ok and he’ll go stay with his family so he won’t be alone. Finally after a long talk, Simon goes back to the field, for 2 whole months.

The team is flying back to base after finally defeating Makarov, which gave Simon the chance to finally turn his phone back on, as he hasn’t talked to his partner in a few weeks.

Right as he turned his phone back on, hundreds of missed calls and messages flooded his phone to his surprise. The first messages he looked at was from Johnny,

“I went into labor early, something wrong with my blood pressure. Please respond as fast as you can, I don’t know what to do, Si.”

Of course Simon panicked, this was from last week! Surely he can’t have gone into labor early, he was only 8 months pregnant at this point, is he and the baby ok? So Simon calls his mother in law, who he last received a text from yesterday, telling him to call as fast as he can. They talked, his mother in law said both his husband and daughter were perfectly fine, despite the baby being 4 weeks early, to which he sighs in relief at.

He spots both his mother in law and Johnny, who was holding a small bundle in his arms. And he didn’t care that Price, Gaz, or whoever the hell was right there, he snatched his skull mask off his face and ran to his partner and *very gently* pulled him in for a hug, and kissed every inch of his face, while muttering apologies for not being there for him, while Johnny just laughs in relief.

Johnny pulled away first, pulling the blanket down to reveal a tiny newborn baby girl, full head of dark hair and peacefully sleeping in her parents hold. To which Simon just stared in awe at her, and how tiny she looked even in Johnny’s arms.

“Isla Elizabeth, you know, your mum’s name.” He said with a smile, already settling baby Isla into Simon’s, now without the gloves, arms.

And Simon just cries, holding his baby girl so gently, marveling at how small she was in his arms, tinnier as she’s a premie. She gently shifts in his hold, getting used to the new person who’s holding her, and she opens her eyes, dark brown eyes exactly like his, exactly like his mothers, and he just sobs more.

Years later, when Isla is already 5 years old, Simon and Johnny find out they’re having another baby, well more like babies.

“You asshole, how the hell did you get me knocked up with twins?!” Johnny would yell at Simon, chasing him around the house with a slipper while Simon runs away trying not to laugh, while Isla runs after them, laughing loudly, not understanding what’s going on but just wanting to be involved in what seemed like fun to her.

Aaaaand that’s it! Yall can tell I rushed at the end with this, but in my excuse Its 12am and I’m sleepy😭😭

[captain-mj]

Any chance we can get something building on your graves shepherd TikTok?! I'll offer you some ribs for it?

Just the 141 coming to work with the shadows and Graves and the shadows keep trying to ask the 141 to tell their boss to stop creeping on their commander. It's creepy and in their opinion Graves deserves better.

I am so willing to do that!!

Price had noticed something was... off. All of the Shadows glared at Shepherd every time he walked in and they grouped around Graves whenever he was around too. Once he started paying attention, he noticed a few things.

Shepherd made a comment about their uniforms, specifically saying it really suited someone of Graves's body type. He openly stared at Graves's ass and put his hand right on the small of his back. It was extremely uncomfortable to watch. Shepherd also stood a lot closer to Graves when give the opportunity, to a noticeable degree.

3-1, who Price was fairly certain was named Jason, ended up finding him and cornering him later. "Can you please tell your creepy ass boss to back off my commander?" He crossed his arms, glaring.

Price paused. "Talking about Shepherd?"

"Yes. We've all noticed his behavior around Graves. We don't fucking like it." 3-1 looked embarrassed but determined. He had a lot of nerve to talk to Price and he respected that.

"What exactly is he doing?" Price had of course noticed it, but he wanted to see what Jason would say.

"He's been sending him weird messages and making comments about him. He asked me yesterday if he was a Barracks Bunny." He hissed it out.

Price blinked. Oh that was a lot worse than he had thought. "I see."

"So tell your gross ass boss to leave my boss alone. He deserves better than that old, bald fuck." Jason turned around and walked off quickly.

Price blinked, not entirely sure what he could do about it. He supposed he could call Laswell.

Laswell grimaced and told him she'd keep an eye on it. She was working on base at the moment so it was perfect timing.

Price started putting himself next to Graves when he could, usually positioning himself between Graves and Shepherd. Graves mirrored him, always getting a bit a closer. He noticed his eyes seemed to linger on Price more and he took it for gratitude.

Another one, 2-2 he was pretty sure, asked Price if they had an HR.

"Uh... Kinda. Why?"

"I'm pretty sure your boss's actions fall under sexual harassment. I think you guys need sensitivity training or something." She huffed at him, narrowing her eyes.

"Ah... Um... Yeah, about that. I've been watching and I've reported into Laswell."

She nodded. "Good. You'd think as old as he is he'd learn. I mean... you've learned by your age."

"My mum raised a gentleman and I'm not that old."

"Really?" She started to laugh.

"I'm 37!"

"Oh, I don't doubt that. I meant british people really say mum like that? You say it like the flower. Chrysanthemums." She laughed harder.

"This is why no likes you guys."

"Eh. We don't like you guys either. Well... most of us don't." She looked him up and down but left before he could respond. Talk about sexual harassment. This was becoming a very unsafe work environment. At least, that's what he told Simon who laughed and said she was probably flirting.

Then it happened. The biggest incident.

It was a very small meeting. Alejandro, Price, Graves, Shepherd and Laswell. Just the top leaders of each group with the addition of Laswell since she worked adjacent to Price. Shepherd was still at the base and Price was pretty sure he was pushing it off for this reason.

They talked with Price barely paying attention. He kept making eye contact with Graves who sat right next to him, Shepherd on the other side. Their hands ended up brushing under the table and Graves went a bit rigid, quickly putting his hands in his lap and glaring at him like Price had been trying to hold his hand.

The other two left and Price got up. He grabbed a cup of the coffee they had nearby. It wasn't his favorite but with the missiles and everything, he hadn't really been sleeping.

Graves backhanded Shepherd. Price missed the inciting action but that sounded painful.

Shepherd stared at him and Graves stomped out with Price on his heels.

"You okay?"

"He grabbed my ass. He'll learn not to do that again." Graves snapped, glaring at Price like he was also a culprit.

"Okay. Got it. But are you okay?"

Graves sighed. "I'm... fine. Just... I thought when I quit the army to be a mercenary, I wouldn't have to deal with people like that." He sounded angrier than anything.

Price pat his shoulder like he would for his team. "I'm sorry. I was working with Laswell."

"I'm aware. Laswell asked me a ton of questions and I got a call from who I'm assuming was a very tired HR person. Or whatever the fuck you guys have as an equivalent." Graves smiled at him. He looked pretty when he smiled.

Price immediately scolded himself. "I'll make sure he isn't alone with you anymore."

"Good." Graves hit his shoulder rather hard. "I'll hit him again if I need to. I'm sure he'll learn eventually."

"Old dogs, new tricks."

"don't believe that. Any dog can learn. With this one, I just have to beat it enough."

[insidemymind19]

About you

Part 1

Warnings my first ever story so please bear that in mind and advice and feedback is more than welcome this story will contain swearing, mentions of abuse , substance use and mental illness

Thank you so much for reading

“You’ll find out, everything’s gone wrong” pulling her in by the jaw kissing her harshly the crowd going wild. “Matty wake the fuck up” George punching his arm as he lets out a loud groan, “fuck George what do you want” Matty says irradiated at his best mate for waking him up, pulling him back to reality, “Mate you were supposed to be downstairs 20 minutes ago, now we’re running late, you know we don’t have time for this just get ready” George says abruptly leaving Matty once more alone, something he’d become accustomed too the past few days.

“Hey Ellie, you ok” Ross asks her as he sees her approach him in the hotel lobby in whichever country they’re in, honestly she’s lost track at this rate. “Yeah just didn’t get much sleep last night was probably that espresso martini before bed I knew it was a bad idea.” She laughs softly to hide the crack in her voice. Obviously Ross knows her better than that to know she’s lying but decides to drop the subject. “Ready for tonight’s show think Matty talked about changing the set” Adam says making them both turn around, “where the fuck did you appear from” Ross asks not noticing him before. “I went to check we have everything on the bus because unlike you lot I actually like to be prepared and not loose all my possessions in hotels” Adam replies looking over at Ellie to see her rising from her seat not uttering a word making her way to the hotel door presumably for a smoke. “She ok?” Adam asks Ross “mate I really don’t know, I don’t know if either of them are ok” Ross says letting his thoughts free, “yeah mate me too but I think we just have to let them figure it out between them, let them tell us when they’re ready, us getting involved could only cause more problems” Adam speaks calmly. “I know but I just can’t stand seeing them like this all the years we’ve know them, all the years they’ve been together just” Their conversation being cut short as they see George appear Matty sluggishly coming behind him, walking past the guys and outside, George informing them that he needed a smoke.

Ellie leans against the hotel wall the early morning breeze against her face the nicotine filling her lungs more than welcome, closing her eyes just for one moments peace. “Hey…um y… you ok” the last voice she wants to hear at the moment stutters nervously beside her. Ellie opens her eyes and takes in his appearance, dark bags similar to her own circle his eyes, hair messy and disheveled almost like her hands have been pulling through it, how she missed those curls, his lips soft and beautiful as he holds his cigarette between them longing for her own lips against them, he looked exhausted, but still as beautiful ever. No stop it Ellie you can’t be thinking like this, “El”, she’s snapped out of her daydream to see him standing there… She can’t do this right now. “Yeah um sorry. I’m… I’m going to head inside now” she says quickly to avoid anymore awkward conversations.

Fuck I wish she’d just talk to me maybe we could figure this out, we’ve been through so much this can’t be the end, it can’t end like this Matty replays the same thoughts in his head over and over again trying to figure out what to do he can’t loose her, taking one last puff of his cigarette as he sees the crew making there way to the bus an indicator that it’s time to go to the venue, but no matter what he can’t stop these thoughts.

They arrive at the venue just in time for sound check, as Adam warned Matty has changed the set but it still works. Sitting in one the green room alone Ellie takes a look at her phone for the first time in days, since everything happened

Mum 12 missed calls

Mum 7 unopened messages

Charli 4 missed calls

Charli 6 unopened messages

Denise 3 missed calls

Denise: hi darling spoke to Matty last night he seemed upset so just want to check everything’s ok xxx

Grace 29 missed calls

Grace: I know Elouise but please just think about everything you two have been through you’ve faced bigger challenges than this please please call me back!!! I love you xxx

Ellie let’s out a straggled sob, Grace Is her best friend she knows Ellie better than anyone her and Matty have faced bigger challenges yes but she can’t shake it. Her chest heaves up and down struggling to get a breath. Her thoughts clouding her mind suddenly she’s transported back there, back to what she fought so hard to forget She can’t do this right now. She looks up as the green room door opens as Adam strolls in casually looking at his phone, “ah there you are was looking for you” he speaks not noticing the state she’s in. “Hey whats wrong” he finally noticing her sitting on the couch sobbing pulling her into him as she screams into chest. “Ellie big Breath” he speaks calmly but it does nothing for her “Elouise breathe in and out ok you hear my heart yeah I need you to focus on that.” But she can’t, she can’t focus on anything other than these evil thoughts in her head the smoke in her mind the burning in her chest. “Elouise listen I know I know this is tough but please.” Adams not sure how long her sobs continue but once they’ve subsided he glances down to speak and see how she is only to find her fast asleep on his chest, he moves gently from underneath her as not to awaken her, he can’t help but admire how soft and at peace she looks not troubled by her thoughts, he only wishes she could always be like this.

Ellie wakes up feeling extremely confused, her head pounding and her eyes stinging she quickly thrashes round the couch to find her phone realising that she has 20 minutes until they’re on stage she quickly fixes her appearance and throws on her outfit that Patricia had So kindly helped her pick earlier in the week. She hurriedly makes her way to the side of the stage where the guys are getting ready. Adam pulls her aside and tells her “I told them you fell asleep I didn’t think it was my place to tell them. But Matty knows somethings up.” Ellie nods silently not wanting to discuss what happened, forever grateful for Adam but still feeling that ache in her chest. just need to make it through this show.

As the opening chords to robbers starts Ellie feels her heart sink. This is their song the song he wrote whilst lying head in her lap true romance playing in the background her hands running through his curls. She still recalls him performing it to her for the first time using her acoustic guitar that sat proudly in the corner of her room, she remembers the exact words she whispered to him “that’s going to be the one love” and now years later here they are.

Will they be able to find there way back.

[specialagentlokitty]

Saul silva/Farah x Student!reader - not so lonely with you

Saul silva/Farah x Student!reader - not so lonely with you part three where R calls them mom and dad? In another language or comes up with a personal nickname for them, similar meaning to mom and Dad to them. Please. If you want. I love this series so much. - Anon 💜

Part three:

A/N: italics will be a different language

True to their word, Farah and Silva helped you bring some more stuff to your dorm, they brought you back on weekends and one of them stayed with you.

Sometimes after class you would go sit with Farah, or you would go watch the Specialists train with Silva.

Today was one of the days where you decided to sit with Farah in her office, slowly going through your homework.

“Are you doing alright (Y/N)?” Farah asked.

Glancing up at her, you nodded your head and went back to doing your work.

“Alright, I’ll make us some tea. Why don’t you take a small break.”

“Okay, thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me (Y/N), you know that right?”

She looked over at you before carrying the tray over and you just shrugged a little.

You stuffed your homework aside and watched as she pour two cups of tea.

“So I can’t come with you this weekend, but headmaster Silva will, is that alright?” She asked.

“Yeah, that’s okay.”

She smiled and handed you your cup and she sat next to you.

She asked you about your week so far, and you told her what you had been doing in classes, what you had been up to in your spare time and such.

Farah just smiled and listened, occasionally replying to something you had said but for the most part she was quiet.

You finally finished talking and Farah smiled softly at you.

“Sounds like you’ve had a good week so far.”

“Thanks mum.”

She laughed softly, shaking her head at you.

“Are you ever going to tell us what language that is?”

You shook you head and sipped your tea and she just smiled again.

You had adopted to calling Farah and Silva your mum and dad, they would never compare to your parents, but they were the closet thing you had to parents now.

But you were embarrassed, so you were embarrassed and you were scared they would tell you to stop saying it, so you learned how to say it in a different language.

The door to the office opened, and both you and Farah turned to look at whoever was coming in.

“I thought Wednesday’s were our days?” Silva chuckled.

He walked over and pulled up a chair to sit with the two of you.

“Sorry, I had homework I was struggling with.”

He smiled, placing a hand on your head to ruffle your hair a little bit.

“Don’t worry about it, but I want compensation for being left out there.”

You cracked a small smile.

“I can make you dinner?” You offered.

“You do make some really good food. Okay.”

Silva beamed at you and you beamed right back at him.

“So, let’s see that homework.”

Farah got up to finish her work while Silva sat with you, looking at your homework and going through what you had already done.

“Did you give up halfway through this question?” He asked.

He set the paper down and showed you the question he was talking about and you looked at it.

“Oh, I was supposed to go back to it I forget.”

You picked up your pen and took the paper to finished answering the question and Silva smiled as he patiently waited.

Once your homework was done, you sat with the two teachers for a little while until you left to go make something to eat.

Silva went back to the training ground to watch a few of the students practice before he told them all to relax for the rest of the day.

He went about his usually duties, only to stop when he heard his phone chime and he pulled it out of his pocket.

It was a group chat with you, Farah and him, and he read the message you had sent.

You: can you come to my dorm? Both of you?

He quickly typed his reply and made his way to your dorm, bumping into Farah along the way, both teachers stood waiting for one of the students to open the door.

“Headmaster? Headmistress?” They asked.

“Is (Y/N) in?” Silva asked.

“Yes sir, in their room.”

They nodded and were allowed in and they made their way to your room.

They knocked on the door and you opened it, letting them in and closed it and you pointed to the small table in the middle of the room, cushions on the floor and three plates on the table.

“I said I’d make you dinner but I didn’t want to leave you out Miss Dowling.”

“This is amazing.” Farah smiled.

You all sat down and began to eat and you smiled at them both.

With a smile on your face you carried on eating and the two teachers looked at each other before looking at you.

“Wanna share why you’re smiling?” Silva smiled.

You looked at him.

“You two are the best nonbiological parents I could ask for.”

He rose a brow.

“You still won’t tell us?”

You shook your head and went back to eating and both the teachers laughed as they watched you.

Truth be told at first they only saw you as a student, someone who needed help. But now they both saw you as their own child, someone to fight for, support and cherish

[grimsauce]

I am not having a good brain day.

We were supposed to be going to spend the day with Mark’s mum and brother, but she messaged this morning to say she had a bad cold but that she’d done an LFT and it came back negative.

Turns out she just didn’t bother to wait for the test to process, and she does in fact have COVID. She called to tell us as we were going to get the car from the office. I told Mark I flat out wasn’t going, it isn’t worth the risk to myself, my elderly customers at work, and my parents who I am seeing later this week for the first time since Christmas. We see his mum every other weekend, minimum.

He still went despite having been almost militant about me not being near anyone with even the slightest sniffles over the last 3 years, meaning I’ve missed out on a lot of social contact with friends, leaving me isolated. Now he’s willingly going to spend time in an enclosed space with someone who knowingly has COVID, and in turn puts me and my family at risk. I am so pissed off.

[deeisace]

So mum got a message from my uncle - she says he only seems to message like late in the evening, she said probably when he's like drunk enough that messaging his supposed-to-be-excommunicated sister seems like a good idea, and that it's almost always like "I really love you" type messages

Anyway, mum messaged him careful like, hope you don't mind, I'm gonna come to granny's funeral, I'll sit at the back so I don't like upset anyone

And he replied, no you won't, you'll sit with the family, I'll sit right next to you

And their sister - I don't know if mum told her about the convo or my uncle - cs she's left the truth too but somehow in a magical no-consequences way where she still gets to live with her family and doesn't seem to be being shunned by everyone, which like. Is the rules, tho? But I'm very happy for her

Anyway, she said, don't worry about it, I'll sit on your other side, we'll protect you

All of which made me cry when mum told me, cs it's so so not how it's supposed to work with the witnesses disfellowship thing

There's been two other grandma's funerals - the first one in the 90s, mum wasn't told Norah had died by family, but later by a friend, and had to sit at the back and be ignored by her entire family - and then the second was a zoom call a couple years ago, that we were told about and did go to (cs it was my grandad's mum's funeral, and he's been disfellowshipped too), but with our cameras turned off and with the call ended before they did the just-family bit

But then. If they let grandma Audrey's son go to the funeral, he left the same way my auntie has, but also by moving to Cornwall in the 80s so there really really was no consequences when he stopped going to meetings (except that he lives in Cornwall, which is lovely but also 300 miles away from his entire rest-of-family, who all live very closely - tho idk, he might've wanted it that way) - which they are, then they can't refuse my auntie, and if they can't refuse her, then they can't refuse my mum - especially not for something she did at 16 years old, 30 years ago, it's so fucking stupid

Tho I spose, it's not one mistake and then she's come back and been a good witness and such - like my uncle, who says he's "put away all of his doubts in a box in his brain" so that he doesn't lose his family, three kids - she continued being worldly, living immorally by having me out-of-wedlock, and tattoos and bright hair, and all the stuff you're not supposed to do as a JW

But it's still the most stupid situation in existence - it's just that my entire family are stuck in a cult, basically - the 1920s-50s grandparents are the ones who converted, so like literally no-one alive now knows anything different - except in a "look what happens if you step away from Jehovah's love" way, with my grandad and mum as examples

Anyway it's incredibly lovely and I'm very emotional about my aunt and uncle very purposefully including my mum, cs it's not always been able to be that way - and I'm not sure they won't get a telling off about it, tho surely it won't go so far as a council

It's such a horrible stupid fucking situation to be in, the whole disfellowship thing

But, at least we have the details of the funeral now, and I have almost two weeks to find a black top or jumper or something that doesn't look too queer, to wear for it

[soil-just-needs-water-to-be]

Chapter 26

Word count 2208

I think the only mentions for this one is maybe mentions of depression or inclination of it

THIS ONE IS WRITTEN FROM ROSS’ POV, AND I DONT KNOW HOW ITS GOING TO BE SO IF ITS BAD IM SORRY , I DONT RELALY KNOW ROSS BUT I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT

Feedback is always welcome 🥰

Also thank you so much to all of you who are taking time out of your day to read this (I know there’s so many better fanfics out there , better written and all but ) I’m so thankful for those who are reading it

I also do blurbs as well if anyone has any ideas they might want to get to me

I feel like this might be a little trickier for me to write as I've never written anything from Ross'POV before so if this is terrible I'm so sorry .

Ross' POV

"What are we gunna do with you huh ?"

I felt Matty slightly shrug at my question as I slowly wrack my hands through his hair being careful but he still shock his head a little "please don't....it hurts" , he was shivering

"Are you cold?" , I felt him shake his head again at my question. "Do you need water?", again another shake if his head. This is going to be a long night. "What do you need mate?"

"George ...George doesn't...He was gunna call me tonight.can you...can you tell him that I might not be"

"Tell him on what" , I pull my phone out of my pocket being careful enough to try and not disturb Matty who was still resting on my lap

"Add his insta , bedforddanes75, just send him a message", so that I do , I add George but instead of waiting for the add back I send him a message straight away

Ross : Hey if this is the correct George , I'm Ross , Mattys best mate, I know you and Matty were supposed to call tonight but Matty isn't having the best of nights so he's with me , if you need anything please just gimme a shout and I'll see what I can do 😌

I then place my phone on the table beside me and turn my attention straight back to Matty "When was the last time you had a proper meal Matty ?", I'm scared to actually find out the answer at this point , I never realised how thin hed gotten until I was picking him up. He's so light

"Proper meal um .....I don't really know...I snack on stuff occasionally but ..I uh... I don't remember the last full meal I had"

"Right , I'm going to get you some food and water okay, can you stay ere for me?", I felt him shrug again against my leg. "What you trying to say mate?"

"Nothing, just not hungry but alright", I slowly removed him from my legs and tried to tuck him into the bed properly and made sure he was comfy enough. I snag my phone from the table beside him and give him a small peck on his temple "I love you mate"

"You too Rosso" ,

"Just shout if you need me okay"

"Mhm"

I make my way from the my room and quickly through to my mums just checking that there alright "you alright mum".

"I'm alright love, how's Matty doing?" , I slip into the room and close the door leaning against it. "I honestly have no idea at this point Mum"

"What's up with him like love?"

I scratch the back of my head really debating telling my mum about everything because I know she'll tell Denise but I've gotten to the point where I can't keep it together anymore and someone needs to tell Denise and Matty will never do it, so I slide down the door sat down next to it, something I've done since I was young always just sat at the door while I need to tell her something "He's on stuff Mum , like really deep in them and, I don't know if he knows how to stop, he was just messing around to begin with but it's gotten really bad, and it's not my place to tell Denise or Tim but someone needs to and I know he never will and I don't know how to help him anymore Mum but he really needs help."

"What stuff do you mean love, what's he taken"

"I don't know to the full extent because, I don't know how honest he is sometimes when it comes to it but, uh I think he's on coke and drinks a lot too, and weed , I mean I know I smoke weed but like all of it all the time it's just getting to much for him", I know I should trust him in what he tells me but he's just been so off lately and it's so difficult and everyone including himself is suffering and I just need to help him.

"And what do you mean by it just started off as messing around?, you haven't taken anything have you?"

"No I haven't myself , but I do know that uh Janey and Matty used to do stuff when they were just at parties and stuff but I never realised how bad it got for him, he never did it around anyone other than Janey or Corey I think"

"Do I know Corey?", my mum was sat up now on her phone probably about to contact Denise, because that's what mums do isn't it.

"No, I don't really know Corey myself he's a bit older than us but Matty met him at a party"

"Right , thank you my love, is there anything else that Denise would need to know?, anything else really?"

"I think she probably knows but he's really struggling at school , just having panic attacks all the time over the smallest things , but I think she knows that" , I rise up from my spot on the floor and quickly say goodbye to her as I feel like that might be the end of the conversation. Then make my way to the kitchen to make some food for him. Just some eggs on toast , protein might help. As well as a glass of water I make some tea for us both as well it'll calm him down. It takes about ten minutes to get everything ready. I load everything onto a tray and make my way back up to him, when I reach my room the first thing I notice is that Matty is somewhat quiet even in this state.

"Matty" , I push the door open and what I'm faced with is Matty fast asleep in my bed curled up into the blanket still fully clothed. I play the tray on the table next to my bed and just take myself over to the bed and sit next to him. I take out my phone again and see that I have a pending request and message from George.

George : oh hey Ross, thanks for telling me, what happened?

Ross: I don't really know what happened I didn't get the whole story, everything just kind of took a turn for the worst tonight.

George : what do you mean?? Is he okay? , is he awake can I see him?????

Ross: he's alright for now, he's asleep right now and I don't really want to wake him, I don't think he's stable right now

George: when he wakes up can you tell him I'm asking for him yeh ??

Ross: sure thing bro honestly , can I let you in on a little secret ??

George : sure

Ross: I think your gunna be really good for him , he ain't shut up about ya really and uh I think he really likes ya, but please don't hurt him

George : I'd never plan on hurting him, he’s really managed to crawl his way into my brain, I just hope he’s okay

Ross : I’ll keep an eye on him and keep you updated G

I place my phone back into my bedside table and carefully lay down properly and turn my tv on, putting on Simpson a just for background noise while I hold Matty through his tough time and just cradle his body on my arms occasionally telling him everything will be okay

After about another half an hour I can feel him storing in my arms so I release my grip a tiny bit “hey there you muppet”, He doesn’t move much but wraps his arms around me squeezing a little “are you okay?”

“My ead hurts Ross, like real bad”, he buries his head in the crook of my neck trying to hide from the light a little bit.

“Matty?”

“Mhm”

“What happened?, like really ?, can you be honest?” , as he’s leaning against me I can feel a tiny tremor coursing through his body

“I don’t think I can”

“Can’t what ?, tell me?”

“I don’t know what happened Ross I swear, I was fine then I wasn’t, that’s all there is too it”

“Can you at least tell me why you needed to do any of that stuff Matty?, like why did you feel the need to go out and get high again?”

“Everything is just so loud in my head, it’s like grey and cloudy , I see everything in greyscale basically, and I wanted to stop it like even for just a second, like you know when you wake up and like you can hear the birds chirping away and someone is cutting the grass down the road and there’s like sounds from people being busy round the house and it can be quite irritating when your trying to sleep well it’s like that in my head all the time, I can just hear everything, every annoying noise , everything buzzes or ticks , the static in the tv, the electricity running through everything and it’s annoys me so much makes it hard to concentrate and I just wanted to shut it up” , I can feel my shoulder start to get a little wet, indicating that Matty is crying again so I bring my arms around him properly again and hold him. “I just feel lost man….like everything is pushing me closer and closer to the edge everyday….some days I can cope with it ….but other days It just won’t go away”.

“But is nearly killing yourself the answer Matty!?”, I can’t imagine a world where Matty wasn’t in it, We’ve already lost one members of our little clique I don’t know if I’d cope with Matty gone too.

“I’m not gunna die Ross, I’ll be fine, I just don’t know how to deal with it sometimes, this is the only way I know” , Matty let’s go off me now, sits up and wipes his eyes harshly with the sleeve of his jacket. “I just want to feel like I’m not losing my mind”.

“Why can’t you tell people when things get to hard for you” , I adjust myself so I’m sat cross legged on the bed next to him looking at him, searching for any sign , literally anything that might tell me how he’s feeling.

“I try Rosso , but I just…I don’t know, I just feel like if I tell people they’ll try to stop me from doing what I need to do to feel better….and it’ll just make it worse” , Matty mirrors me my actions sat cross legged also but flings his jacket off and placed it in the space between us. “I’m so angry or upset all the time and I hate it , I just wanna be me again”

“You are you, you’ll always be Matty no matter how your feeling , your allowed to be angry , upset , stressed, but you don’t have to destroy yourself Mate, I know your finding stuff hard and I hate having to watch you go through it but I need you to know that your my best mate like ever and I can’t lose you” , we’re both crying now, I rarley cry but when it comes to serious stuff it makes me emotional and I know I’m going to lose it if this keeps happening. “You got some tea and food there can you try have some for me”

“Mhm”, I know he’s not going to have much of it and it’s gone cold but I need to see him eat even if it’s just for my own selfish reasons for my own peice of mind you know, he picks up the tray and starts picking away at the bread. “Ross ?”

“Yeh man”

“Did you tell George?, like what happened”

“No , I didn’t tell him what happened , you should do that , I just told him your having a bad night, and he was asking for you though , he seems like a good egg”

“He so is, would you mind if we called, he might cheer me up a little” , as he’s sipping on his tea I can tell that he’s still a little bit bouncy and I don’t know how to describe it maybe like scared , anxious is the word. “I mean not that your not doing a good job but like, I’d like for you to meet him too”

“Sure you can, but I need you to do one thing for me” , I want him to tell his mum what’s going on like fully , so we can all work on it together , help him through this bump in the road, get him the help he might need and we can get out Matty back.

“Yeh”

“Can you please tell your mum that your um ….I don’t know the word like … struggling with drugs”, he notice him out of the corner of my eye put his toast down as I say it. “Like I know it’ll be hard but she’s been where you are ….she might be a little better help than me and she’ll have better advice than me”

“Okay, but later okay”

[phantasticworks]

a delicate cycle

hi! i was supposed to post this months ago but completely forgot to finish it until last night (oops) but this fic was inspired by the what dan and phil text each other part 2 video (specifically the part where Dan doesn't know how to use a household appliance lol)

i hope you enjoy!

(more iydlmp coming soon btw)

read on ao3

Words: 2.9k

Summary: twelve years should be enough time to learn how to do laundry... right?

Warnings: swearing

2009

Dan is crying.

Again.

He doesn’t mean to be, and he’s probably got a hundred things he could be doing instead of crying, but there he is, sorting pants and a million fucking socks and sniffling like an idiot. “Fucking laundry,” he mumbles sourly. Laundry really shouldn’t be this hard, or this annoying. It certainly shouldn’t be enough to make him cry.

His phone beeps with what is probably either a message from his mum asking how his studies are going, or hopefully (and more likely) a message from his best friend/boyfriend.

It would be kind of perfect if it was Phil, because then he’d have a convenient excuse to not do his freaking laundry. Or maybe he could do what he did last time, pack everything up into a suitcase and show up at Phil’s front door like some sort of homeless person. Phil said he didn’t mind if Dan did his laundry there, and a visit to Phil’s does sound nice…

Unfortunately, Dan is too miserable to even care. He ignores his phone entirely, telling himself that he isn’t allowed to check it until he finishes sorting his clothes and taking them down to the shitty little university housing laundry room.

Luckily for him, this plan is shot entirely when his phone starts to ring. There’s only one person who actually calls him these days, and Dan can’t help the way he scrambles for the device like the eager beaver he is.

“Hi,” he greets, slightly out of breath from practically leaping over the mountain of clothes to grab his phone.

“Hi, Dan,” Phil replies, his voice warm. Dan has no idea how he always manages to make his name sound so beautiful, but he does.

“Hi,” Dan says again without thinking. He can’t help it, really. He’s in love with Phil, and he reckons that he’s a little stupid with it.

“Hi,” Phil giggles. “Have you been turned into a parrot since I saw you last?”

Dan makes a squawking noise just to hear Phil laugh again. “Danny wants a cracker,” he jokes.

Phil laughs like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard, and Dan probably looks deranged with how wide his smile is. “Does Danny have something to do today?” Phil asks, sounding a little hesitant.

Dan sighs, his gaze falling to the pile of dirty clothes still strewn across his bed. “Well. To be honest, yeah. I’m meant to be doing laundry right now.”

“Yeah?” Phil asks. Dan doesn’t know why he sounds so excited.

“Yeah,” Dan replies miserably. “But I hate going to that laundry room, and I don’t know if I should wash my jeans separately and-“

“Come wash at my house,” Phil interrupts. The words are quick, like he’s desperate to get the invitation out there, and Dan tries not to think about why that might be.

“Phil, I don’t want to keep being an inconvenience to you, it’s not fair.”

“You’re never an inconvenience to me,” Phil says, sounding absolutely affronted. “Don’t ever say that, Dan.”

Dan huffs. “Well it’s not like you get anything out of me washing my laundry there.”

Phil makes some sort of offended squeaking noise, and if Dan wasn’t in argue mode, he’d probably laugh. “Uh, I get to see you?” Phil says, like it’s obvious. “That’s all I care about anyway. I just want to spend time with you.”

And that… that nearly makes Dan cry. At some point since he’d picked up the phone, the tears had stopped, but that sincerity, naked and honest, makes him want to weep all over again. “Really?” He sniffles.

“Yes,” Phil answers immediately. “I was actually calling to see if you wanted to come over, since it’s the weekend and all.”

Dan tries not to let that go to his head, but it does. He still can’t believe that Phil wants him, even with all the ways that Phil has showed him that he does.

He remembers the laundry thing again, and pouts. “I should probably do my laundry first. I don’t have any clean pants, like at all.”

“Just bring them with you,” Phil says patiently. “You can wash them while you’re here.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel like I’m just using you for laundry services,” Dan says, joking weakly.

Phil snorts a laugh at that, and Dan can’t help but think about how he got that little quirk from him. “I’m sure, Dan. Actually…” There’s some shuffling on that end of the call, and then Phil hums. “Yeah, I’ve got a couple things I need to wash as well, but not enough for a full load, so actually you’d be helping me out if you brought your things over to wash.”

There’s something about Phil’s voice that makes Dan think he might not be telling the whole truth, but he doesn’t call him out on it. Instead, he starts shuffling his clothes together so he can stuff them in a suitcase. “Okay, if you say so,” he says.

“So you’ll come over?” Phil asks, sounding excited.

“Yeah, I’ll be there in like half an hour.” Dan crouches beside his shitty little dorm bed, digging underneath to yank his suitcase out.

“Okay,” Phil replies. “Do you have money for a cab?”

“Er… I think so?” Dan says hesitantly. He’s honestly not sure.

“I’ll call you a cab and pay for it when you get here,” Phil says.

“You don’t have to do that,” Dan says. “You’re already letting me do laundry there. I’ll just take the bus.”

“I don’t want you taking the bus when you’re carrying a suitcase across town, Dan. It’s late, and there’s lots of weirdoes out there.” Phil’s voice sounds briefly far away, and then he’s back, so Dan assumes he’s set the phone down to do something. “Besides, I don’t mind. This is just good boyfriend stuff, you know.”

Dan blushes then, even all these months after they’d properly defined what was going on between them. “I don’t know, actually. You’re the first one I’ve ever had, silly.”

Phil laughs. “Then I get to show you how it’s done, alright?”

Dan grins. “Alright. I’m gonna finish packing up all my shit, and I’ll be there soon, okay?”

“Okay. I’m going to call the cab company in just a sec and I’ll let you know when they’ll be there.”

“M’kay,” Dan says, tossing clothes into his suitcase with absolutely no finesse to it.

“Alright. See you soon. Love you,” Phil says.

They’ve only been saying that to each other for a couple months now, but it still makes Dan’s heart race like it’s the first time he’s ever heard it.

“I love you too,” he replies, smiling down at his suitcase. “See you in a bit.”

~~~

It’s close to an hour later when the cab pulls up outside Phil’s apartment building, and Dan is itching to get out and smother him in kisses. He knows that he won’t, not until they’re well behind closed doors, but “I love you” is a broken record in his mind, and Dan wants to show it.

Phil is waiting on the pavement like he said he would be, and he grins when the cab stops in front of him. The cabbie turns to Dan expectantly, but Phil steps forward and taps gently on the window, a few pound notes held in his hand. The driver rolls down his window immediately, completely ignoring Dan now that he’s figured out where the money is coming from.

Dan climbs out of the car, dragging his bulky suitcase out behind him while Phil exchanges pleasantries with the driver. It’s a short interaction, and Phil says a polite thank you and goodbye when he sees Dan waiting for him on the pavement.

“Hi,” he says with a grin, clearly mocking their earlier conversation.

Dan smiles. “Hi,” he parrots. He spares a glance at where the cab driver is pulling away from the curb, and seeing that they’re effectively alone, he steps closer, poking Phil’s hand with his pinky. “Can I have a kiss when we get inside?” He asks, almost shy.

Phil gives him a soft, sweet smile. “Of course you can,” he says. “Come on, I’ve ordered some pizza and I don’t want to have an awkward run-in with the pizza man out here.”

~~~

“You should probably separate those,” Phil says from somewhere behind Dan. He’s supposed to be cleaning up the pizza boxes while Dan situates his laundry, but of course he isn’t.

Dan huffs, continuing to shove his jeans in the washer with the rest of his clothes. “No, it’s fine, I wash them together all the time.”

“That’s probably why your pants always shrink right after you buy them,” Phil says, sounding somewhere between amused and exasperated.

Something about his tone, or maybe the words themselves, make Dan tense. He tosses a glare over his shoulder, and almost can’t maintain it with the way Phil is smiling at him. “Alright, Mum. I’m not a child, I can do my fucking laundry just fine.”

The smile slips from Phil’s face and Dan knows the bitterness in his tone didn’t quite go unnoticed like he’d thought. “Babe…” Phil says softly.

“Don’t,” Dan snaps. And like the child he is, Dan feels himself tearing up, his eyes hot and prickly for no reason.

Before Dan can hide his face in shame, Phil steps closer. Dan expects him to hold him in some way, so he’s surprised when instead, Phil grips his hip and gently guides him away from the washing machine.

“Let me help,” he says gently. He leans down and begins tugging everything out, and Dan just watches, using the freedom from his gaze to wipe under his eyes and get his face back under control.

“I’m sorry,” Dan mumbles into the awkward silence of the room.

Phil glances back at him with a smile. “Nothing to be sorry for.”

Dan fidgets with his hands for a minute, watching as Phil separates his laundry for him. “Can you…” Dan begins, before going quiet again.

“Can I what?” Phil asks, pausing his movements.

Dan huffs. “Can you show me how to do that? Or like, make me a chart of what goes in which wash?”

Phil smiles at him. “Of course. Do you want me to explain why I’m sorting it this way now?” It’s an oddly genuine and considerate question, and Dan finds himself a little in awe with how much he appreciates it.

“Yeah, please,” Dan says, lowering himself to sit in the kitchen floor, sitting criss-cross as he watches Phil work.

“So usually you want to separate your pants and socks from your jeans-“ he starts, shaking a pair of Dan’s boxer-briefs as he speaks.

Dan interrupts him almost immediately. “But it’s all black. Aren’t you supposed to separate them into lights and darks?”

Phil smiles, but shakes his head, ever so patient with him as always. “Not always. Since the material is different, it washes on different types of cycles. And if you wash and dry your pants with this stuff, they’ll shrink.”

Dan nods slowly. “That’s why you hang them up on that- what’s it called?”

“Mum calls it an airer but it’s just a drying rack,” Phil says. He gestures off to somewhere behind Dan, his hand a weird, limp thing as he does. “Mine’s in the closet, we’ll get it out in a bit. So for the pants we want to put them on a delicate wash cycle, but make sure you put it on warm, about 40 Celsius, to make sure it’s actually clean. Then-“

Dan groans. “Can I just wear your pants? This is a lot of work.”

Phil shakes his head, but is clearly hiding a smirk. “No. You need to know how to do these things, Daniel.”

“Do I really?” Dan whines, scooting over and resting his head against Phil’s shoulder. “Couldn’t I just… stay with you forever and let you take care of it instead?” He says sweetly.

Phil kisses his forehead gently. “You can definitely stay with me forever. But you’ve gotta learn how to do laundry if this is gonna work.”

Dan blinks at the casual way Phil agrees to a forever with him. Even if it’s a joke, it makes Dan’s head spin. Still, he wants to grumble some more about how much work laundry is, but he knows that Phil is right. “Fine,” he mumbles, resigned. “And for the jeans?”

~~~

2021

i can do basic pants and socks on ‘delicates’ cupboard dry right?

Dan chews his lip as he waits for a response, staring at the drying machine with a look of reproach. Stupid laundry day. Stupid pants. Phil sits around playing fortnight with all his bits out sometimes, Dan doesn’t understand why they can’t just make that a household rule.

His phone vibrates in his hand, and he’s quick to unlock it and read the response Phil has sent.

Umm I’d just do socks and towels

Pants shrink

Dan swears when he reads that. Stupid fucking laundry rules. Who makes this shit up?

fuck

where’s the bloody drying rack thing

Phil doesn’t answer immediately, so Dan sighs and begins digging the clothes back out of the dryer, separating the pants from the socks, towels, and the T-shirt that had somehow made its way into this load. He’s ranting in his head about how much he hates laundry when he hears footsteps behind him.

“I can do it myself,” he snarks without even turning to look at his boyfriend.

“I know,” Phil replies, and Dan hears the sound of the drying rack being unfolded and set next to the dryer. Dan is petulant still, ignoring Phil as he untangles a pair of Phil’s pants from a towel. He feels a presence close to his side, and then Phil is scooping up the pile of pants he’s got set aside already, going about hanging them up on the rack silently.

Something about the silence makes Dan’s skin itch suddenly. He’s not mad at Phil, but a niggling voice in the back of his mind suggests that maybe Phil is mad at him. After all, twelve years should be enough time for someone to learn how to do the fucking laundry.

“Are you angry with me?” Dan asks, just to fill the silence.

Phil is quiet for a moment, so Dan turns, watching him as he finishes hanging up the last two pairs of pants. As soon as he’s done, he turns and steps closer to Dan, wrapping his arm around Dan’s waist and leaning in to kiss his neck. “No, babe, I’m not angry with you. I told you I could do laundry today though, so why…” he pulls back to give Dan a look, quirking an eyebrow.

Dan squirms under his gaze. “I dunno. I just figured I’d do it, get it out of the way. You’re busy doing other stuff and I felt like I needed to be productive.”

Phil frowns. “You have been productive. You emailed people today and you wrote our grocery list.”

Dan scoffs. “Yeah, real stressful fuckin work there, writing a grocery list and sending another fucking email that won’t be answered.”

Phil’s quiet for a moment, reaching up and stroking Dan’s curls gently. “Baby,” he says softly. He kisses Dan’s cheek.

He doesn’t say anything else, and Dan- Dan can’t take it anymore. He slumps, all the fight draining out of him as he rests his head against Phil’s shoulder. “Sorry,” Dan whispers.

It’s quiet for a moment, Phil just holding him gently, rubbing his back and rocking him slowly. “You made me coffee and toast this morning.” He kisses Dan’s neck as he says it. “You made up the bed, even though after last night we should probably wash those sheets…” he muses, trailing off with another absent-minded kiss to Dan’s throat.

Dan snorts. “I’ll take them off the bed if you’ll sort them out in the washing machine?” He suggests softly, kissing Phil’s shoulder. The kisses Phil’s been littering his neck with are starting to put him in a mood, one that he can’t do anything about until the fucking laundry is sorted.

“Deal,” Phil laughs. There’s another pause, then he speaks again. “You called the doctor back for me,” Phil says quietly. “Because you knew I didn’t think I could handle it today.”

Dan shrugs at that. “You’re my favorite person. And if those fucking doctors don’t figure out what’s making my favorite noggin all wonky, I’ll-“

Phil silences him with a firm kiss on the mouth. “You’ve been productive today,” he says simply, ignoring Dan entirely. He kisses him again.

“Okay,” Dan says. He doesn’t really agree with Phil, but productive doesn’t mean the same thing anymore, since the world is basically on fire, along with all his projects. Maybe he should have kept his old branding after all. He kisses Phil’s jaw, littering the two-day old stubble with kisses and soft kitten licks as he goes, trying to get Phil as worked up as he is.

If his labored breathing is any indication, Dan is successful.

“Let me finish the laundry, baby, and then I need to finish some work.”

Dan whines like a wounded animal, and watches the way it affects Phil, his eyes dilating. “And then?” Dan prompts.

Phil kisses him again, this time wetter and longer than the last. “And then we can ruin those sheets some more.”

Dan grins into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Phil’s shoulders tightly. “Okay, but you’re washing them.”

[chronicallyonlinecath]

Sunday, 29th January 2023 - End of week recap

Right, let's go day by day (I am currently on a bunch call with Matty, Bella, Peter and Carter) I've been gone for a while, and I apologize. I suppose a lot has happened, and I just haven't had time to write these at night. I've actually been sleeping!!

Thursday - I brought a monster in the morning and practically chugged it in maths to avoid the comments about coping mechanisms coming from Wyvern&Co. Most of my day was relatively boring, but big band was entertaining, as usual. Wyvern spent most of it trying to persuade me as to why he was dating material + my type (I swear he's taken anyway) and then when Andrew came in from his geography revision sessions, he stole my sax's neck, stared at it as if he didn't know what he'd just done, and burst into a fit of endless laughter. Like an idiot, I joined him. Wyvern stared at us like we were insane. I suppose we are. However, Sheldon sent several odd messages tat made me question how he sees me. And I was mildly uncomfortable.

Friday - Chamber choir in the morning, followed by saxy brass, where Andrew wreaked havoc as usual. I spent chemistry arguing back and forth with Matty and Harry as to why I should not ask out Andrew, while Harry told me it would be better to be rejected than mope for forever. And that sent the cogs turning in my head. How hard could it be to ask out Andrew? Would it really be so bad if he rejected me? And the thought persisted into my head for the rest of the day. Until Sheldon asked me to hang out this weekend, and I denied, revealing I felt uncomfortable, to which he replied; "I know I make you uncomfortable just please get better at seeing me" I'm sorry, what? You've acknowledged you make me uncomfortable, and you're telling me to just get better? So I told him to leave me alone, and he has so far. So far.

Saturday - The question of asking out Andrew plagued me for most of the day. I walked into town with Wini and Harvey, and brought my mum, Alison and Wini stuff for their birthdays coming up soon. It was nice, since I didn't feel like I was third-wheeling, even though I basically was. They're good fun to walk about with though, and I was grateful for their company. The afternoon though, was spent overthinking and worrying about the one question pounding constantly into my brain; "What would happen if I asked out Andrew?" I went as far as consulting a friend from out of school who is basically my wife, and she told me to ask him out on call. Which I didn't, as I do not have the guts. In the end, I found myself consulting Wyvern, the last person I'd go to for advice in any other situation. Except, he's the closest person (other than Mattson) who I talk to who is friends with Andrew. I first had to confess I liked Andrew, and then asked two questions. 1) Would he make it awkward? 2) What would his answer be? Wyvern confirmed that Andrew would not make it awkward, but he would definitely say no. Not a 'very likely', a 100%, definite no. Which makes sense, and I saw it coming. Am I upset? No, not really. I didn't get rejected upfront. However, the risk of consulting Wyvern is the risk the entire school is going to find out. A risk I was willing to take, before my brain lost all sense of reasoning and actually asked Andrew out. Which would have been upfront rejection, and humiliation, no doubt. I am hoping Wyvern keeps his mouth shut. We'll see tomorrow, I suppose.

Sunday - And today was as usual, a boring, average Sunday. However, I did lots of homework, including a small box of origami roses for Alison for her birthday. And now Harley has joined the call. I'm not entirely sure what they're doing, but they're building planes and it's not going 100% to plan, I think. Tomorrow may be interesting. Perhaps.

~CM