#The Daytona Wind

[lipsyncforyourlife]

Bosco's Favorite Villains + "The Daytona Wind" Recap (Issue #7)

The RuPaul's Drag Race Official Newsletter

In this week’s newsletter, we air out “The Daytona Wind,” reflect on a life-changing Untucked, and share an exclusive interview with Bosco. Don’t forget to subscribe so you can stay tuned for all of the latest Drag Race updates!

Well, that was a gas! In “The Daytona Wind,” Drag Race’s latest acting challenge pulled one over on this talented cast of queens, making them unknowing participants in what is surely the longest fart joke in the show’s herstory. It all leads to a surprising Lip Sync For The Win between two underdogs and an Untucked that leaves not a single dry eye in the house. My name’s Cameron Scheetz, and it’s an honor to guide you through the latest from this ridiculous, touching, and extremely gay show. Let’er rip!

The Set-Up

The previous week’s critiques (and lack thereof) bubbled over to the top of the episode, with the still-safe Daya Betty not holding back her feelings about Jorgeous’ win for “a piece of fabric.” This sent Jorgeous on the defense (“If you’re so mad, do better!), as her sister’s complaints clearly undercut her winning moment. The next day, Daya came to the Werk Room with an apology, but the all-too-familiar sound of the “shade rattle” hinted that not everyone was buying it.

All of the theatrics dovetailed wonderfully with the week’s Maxi: A group acting challenge called “The Daytona Wind,“ a southern-fried tip of the hat to the soapy melodramas of the ‘80s, particularly RuPaul’s favorite, Dynasty. Kerri—again, the MVP of confessionals—laid it all out, explaining the logistics of the challenge: The “mother” roles are the strongest with the most lines, while smaller roles leave a lot of room for creativity and can therefore steal the show. The design challenge winner was given the opportunity to assign the parts, and Saint Jorgeous did so courteously, allowing each girl to speak up for the role they wanted to play (except for DeJa, that is, who eyed the same one as Jorgeous). That left the slow-reading Lady Camden with the final, unwanted character, but the queen shared she had professional acting training, so we’re not really sweating for her.

After some Werk Room rehearsals, the gals got to set where Director Ru imparted the wisdom of Joan Collins: “Acting isn’t about feelings, acting is all about your camera angle!” In front of the camera, some of the girls got tripped up by the thicc script (Angeria, DeJa), some found fun avenues into their characters (Willow and Daya as blonde bimbos, Bosco as Alexis Carrington Colby by-way-of Reba McEntire), and some… well, I don’t know what the hell Jasmine Kennedie was doing, but girl, I am living! Ru’s note to the cast to include pauses and drag their words out read as strange on set, but never doubt Mama Ru—she’s got something cookin’!

The Looks

On the day of the runway, the queens checked in with one another after filming their soap, and the category—Chaps? On The Runway???—inspired a tangent about San Francisco’s kinky Folsom Street Fair (“Bitch, I want to go to the fair!,” said Angeria). After the gals laced up, it was time to hit the catwalk.

First out was Willow, whose atomic wedgie/Atomic Blonde leather look has got to be one of the more ingenious concepts to hit the runway this season. Bosco continued to show her versatility with a sexy, dusty pink Rock of Love reject, while Kerri served fringe of a different breed, stunning in a garment made of hand-dyed human hair. Jorgeous missed the chaps memo, but gave more shape than usual in a lacy showgirl look, and DeJa was similarly body-forward, her curves looking right in a blue cheetah-print piece. Angeria sparkled in a Solid Gold disco bodysuit, Jasmine surprised in a quirky nod to high school graduation, and Daya brought it as a CE-hOe look that was decidedly not Crystal Methyd. And then Lady Camden gave us a complete heart attack with a Willy Wonka-esque fakeout tumble that revealed a glam-rock ode to Freddie Mercury, complete with the iconic mustache.

The Challenge

With all the girls on the main stage, it was time for them to watch “The Dayona Wind” to find out if they passed with flying colors—they sure passed something, alright! As Ru revealed, the original edit had a whiff of something off, so she took matters into her owns hand and gave us “The Daytona Wind: RuPaul’s Director Cut”—now with more farts! Suddenly the dramatic pauses in acting, the many lines referencing smells and sounds, and the titular wind made sense: It was all about farts! The whole thing reeked of (in a good way) the classic “Rake Effect” bit from The Simpsons, where a funny gag is beat again and again and again, pushing it past tired to the point of delirious comic absurdity. As DeJa would later note in Untucked, that was one of the better acting challenges the show’s ever pulled off, and I have to agree! Some of the girls showcased better acting chops or stronger character work than others, but no one was completely overwhelmed by the challenge. I also love that we got to watch them experience the surprise flatulence firsthand with the show often cutting to the queens in laughing fits on the stage. I can’t stop thinking about Kerri’s reaction: “Now y’all know damn well I didn’t fart!”

The Critiques

Activist/actress/entrepreneur/movie star/all-around ICON Ts Madison returned to the show this week and, my goodness, was it wonderful to see her again. Drag Race is elevated by her mere presence, and it’s such a gift to have her not only on the Judge’s Panel, but also acting alongside the queens in “The Daytona Wind,” and again later in Untucked. We can never get enough of her.

In a bit of a shocker, Ru announced that DeJa Skye, Kerri Colby, and Angeria Paris VanMicheals were safe. After the queens had a chance to catch their breath, it was revealed that the remaining six were all in the top this week and that no one would be sent packing—hallelujah! Jorgeous and Jasmine both felt vindicated, having struggled in past challenges that required them to act, and Daya was ecstatic to finally be on that stage again, the judges deeming this “the week that Daya showed up!” It’s enough to put her in the top two opposite Lady Camden who wowed the judges with a performance that was somehow both heightened and believably real (“Maxiiiiiiiiine!”). As Michelle later noted in deliberations, Lady’s acting abilities are far beyond what they usually see on Drag Race.

In their Lip Sync For The Win, both queens brought an infectious energy to Blondie’s “One Way Or Another.” Daya went punk with a rocker chick routine, but Lady Camden ultimately edged her out with a performance that can best be described as “Freddie Mercury meets a ballerina meets a velociraptor.” It was pure theatricality, and it scored Lady her first win of the season, making her something of a dark horse to watch out for in the competition. Brava, Lady!

Burning Questions

Save Room For Dessert

With no elimination this past week, that means we’ve still got 9 girls, 8 chocolate bars, and 1 gold bar in the running. For a second there—thanks in part to Kornbread’s surprise departure—it felt like we were flying through this cast far too quickly, but this episode set things back on track, especially since we still have half of the season to go (and, again, performances were pretty strong across the board this week, so it would’ve be tough to see another queen cut loose). Though we can’t help but wonder: Where is that gold bar? Do we see it sooner than later, or will it come into play right down to the wire? We may have another non-elimination week in our near future.

Camgeria Lives!

The Lady Camden and Angeria Paris Van Micheals ‘shippers were fed this week after a few episodes of radio silence. Lady may have been stuck with the role seemingly no one wanted, but, as it turned out, that meant she and Angeria would get to kiss on camera (this revelation in rehearsal was ultimately a spoiler for “The Daytona Wind’s” final lesbian twist). There actually isn’t any lip-locking in Ru’s director’s cut, but the two do get mighty close, which warmed my heart. Is the Camgeria spark still alive?

Hidden Messages

Speaking of Lady Camden, I noticed that Season 14 promo video appears to have hinted at her fake-out tumble on the runway this week (her look even comes complete with a cane—with a mustache on it!) Look, if Taylor Swift taught us anything, it’s that anything and everything can be riddled with clues. So, are there more hidden messages to be found in the video? Take a look for yourself, and let me know. Happy hunting!

Next Week: Tuned In

In the teaser, Ru tells the dolls they’ll be performing “a brand new retro hit” for the next Maxi Challenge. From the looks of it, Angeria is hitting all the right notes, while Bosco struggles. A glimpse at critiques finds Michelle tossing out the much-dreaded “you’re not standing out” note to a queen, and it’s possible some Werk Room drama is stirring between Jasmine and Kerri. Could it be true, or is this just another well-edited “super tease”? Plus, the charming Alec Mapa stops by for the first time since… season two??? It’s been too long, Alec!

The Other Half Of The Story

Normally I reserve this section to run down a list of Untucked’s most notable moments, but this week’s edition was so emotional and so moving, that I don’t think a couple of bullet-points could do it justice.

When the girls expressed their relief that Kerri, DeJa, and Angeria (a.k.a. the aunties of the group) were safe, the conversation turned to this cast’s especially strong bond and how difficult it’s been for them to be away from their usual support systems. Ts Madison walked in at just the perfect moment to share her journey of acceptance with her own mother, and how she regrets shutting her out through her transition. The two have since mended their relationship, and their bond has grown stronger because of it, underlining just how crucial family support can be for those in the LGBTQ+ community. Jasmine then shared the impact COVID has had on her career, confessing how difficult it’s been to even keep food on the table, to which Ts replies, “God gave you the gift of drag—you take your gifts and you flip that around. You know, we go through hard times, we fall down, but we don’t stay down.” She is everything.

After Ts left, DeJa asked the group if any of them had considered transitioning. Bosco said she’s considered it, especially living through the pandemic where she had to go through a full year “without” Bosco, who allows her to feel “gender euphoria.” Recently the queen took to social media to announce that she is trans (her pronouns out of drag are she/they) and the happiest she’s ever been, and it’s really powerful to hear that the love of her boyfriend and the support of her sisters has enabled her to live freely and comfortably in her truth.

It’s then that Jasmine works up the courage to admit, “I don’t know where I’m at right now.” She was planning to start hormones prior to Drag Race, but felt too scared to make the leap. It took seeing Kerri Colby and how confidently she carries herself to affirm what Jasmine’s been feeling her whole life. In that moment, she acknowledges that she is Trans and can’t lie about it anymore. She commits herself to starting therapy, starting hormones, and working to get herself to a place where she wants to be after filming wraps. In response, Kerri says the following:

“The energy that you need, you hold in yourself. You don’t have to look outside yourself to find that. Because the woman that you are is housed within you. And the fact that you had the strength to bring that forward is the affirmation that you were needing to push yourself into who you’re going to be. When you know what you need, go and get that. You owe it to yourself to be happy, and to live your life as the human being that you want to be. That puts the “T” in the LGBTQ—it is a family.”

This is the power of representation. This is what can happen when queer people are given the space to live in their truth. Thank you to Kerri Colby for being such a source of inspiration, and major respect to Jasmine Kennedie, Bosco, and Kornbread “The Snack” Jeté for finding the courage to share their own journeys with us throughout this season. We’re in awe of the spirit of all of these queens.

The Serve-ey w/ Bosco

Each week, we’ll get to learn more about one of the queens of season 14 when they take our brief questionnaire, a.k.a. The Serve-ey. They’ll all get the same six questions, and then we’ll throw in one final “wildcard” question just for fun. This week: The demon queen with a heart of gold, it’s our exclusive interview with Bosco!

1. In keeping with the season promo’s board game theme: What was your favorite game growing up and why?

Oh, I kind of hated board games growing up—that was not my moment. I did love a good card game though. And then, as far as video games go, I was a huge Legend Of Zelda fan for a very long time, and I think I played like every release since I was like six or seven? So I love Zelda. My favorite is for sure Breath Of The Wild, which is one of the most recent ones. But the one that I started with was Ocarina Of Time [for Nintendo 64]. Because I’m old! [Laughs.] 

I think it kind of makes sense that you love Breath Of The Wild—which is this big, open adventure game—but don’t like board games, which usually come with a very specific set of rules. Am I reading too much into this?

Maybe that, or maybe I’m just too dumb. [Laughs.] Too dumb to lose myself in something that requires imagination, and I just need, like, nonstop stimulus to enjoy myself.

2. How would you say the city you’re from helped define your drag?

Well, Seattle’s definitely home for me. Like, I’ve never felt like I belonged in a city quite as much as I do when I’m Seattle. I came up in the scene here. I learned how to do drag from celebrity impersonators here—because I used to be a backup dancer for them—and then I started going to club kid parties with the skills that I learned from the celebrity illusionists, and that’s kind of how I ended up finding Bosco. She’s kind of like the middle ground between those two worlds for me. 

But I’ve always lived in landlocked places before, so being close to the ocean really was something for me. I mean, I’m from Montana, and I don’t think there even is a gay bar—still—in the entire state. But then I moved here and there’s an entire community of queer people, and I just fell in love like immediately. 

I love hearing that there were these really well-defined scenes in Seattle: The celebrity illusionists, the club kids—who were some of the earliest performers in those space that you remember being drawn to?

There’s kind of two that represent the two different sides for me. The celebrity illusionist—who is still my favorite drag queen in the world and does the majority of my hair, and the majority of my hair for Drag Race—is Kaleena Markos. She’s the best drag queen in the entire world. At the time she was the Nicki Minaj impersonator, but, like, she does everything. She is the best drag queen to ever exist, and I adore her. And then, on the club kids side, Arson Nicki was the first person who ever booked me, and I started doing drag at her parties. She’s just a cool, incredible person who is incredible at drag.

3. With this season’s candy bar twist—

[Makes a sad trombone noise.] I want to give all of my prize money to the person who picked that sound effect. [Laughs.] I swear to god, I’ll be watching [the episode] in the club, watching my friends’ hearts break, and then that sound comes on and I start laughing! Who did that?

[Laughs.] Right! That’s what’s Emmy-worthy right there. But, with that twist, I’m curious: If you were a piece of candy, what kind would you be and why?

Hm. My, like, stupid drag queen answer is, “A 100 Grand Bar because I’m gonna win, diva!” [Laughs.] I want to do that! Yaaaaas. No, but I don’t want to do that. Let’s go with Reese’s because they’re my favorite, I love them—you just can’t go wrong. But the 100 Grand Bar answer is funny, it’s just too “slay,” too “yaaas” for me at this moment.

4. What can you tell us about your “confessional” interview look? How did you decide what to wear? What do you think it says about your style out of drag?

I feel like my confessional look is really funny because people keep on tagging me in pictures of people they think I look like. There’s the landlord lady from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt [Carol Kane]—people tell me I look like her because of it. There’s Lindsay Lohan’s mom in Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen [Glenne Headly]. And I think I kind of looked like Miss Frizzle—like Mx Frizzle—from The Magic School Bus. 

I don’t know, I wear chokers very, very often. I like having my hair up. And I was wearing a crop top, but I think they wanted a little bit of color, so I put on the button-up. I didn’t really go too much into thinking about what I was going to wear for this. And I think they wanted me to be the laidback Seattle grunge queen anyway, so I think I delivered. 

I also had to laugh in the “Pair Of Balls” episode, when your premiere gets assigned animal prints, you’re like, “And I love animal prints!” It was like, “yeah, no kidding.”

Yeah! It was like, “I’m dropping hints that I want animal print.” [Laughs.]

5. What’s a fun fact you can share about one of your season 14 sisters that might surprise the fans?

I’m going to give you a twofer because it’s a fact about somebody, but it’s a fact about a lot of us. And that is that Lady Camden was our professional “smut peddler” in the hotel. She brought a DVD player and several porn DVDs, and she would have them, like, renting out to the girls. So, by the end of filming, I think everybody had seen what was on the DVDs—including Maddy! And there was a very spectacular Cirque du Soleil kitchen sink moment that we would like to reference a lot on stage. Impressive! The flexibility? Wow.

6. Here’s a chance to shout out another drag performer, designer, hair & makeup artist, etc… who really helped inspire you or prepare you for your journey on Drag Race. We perhaps already touched on a few of them when we were talking about Seattle.

Definitely. So, to bring her back up: Kaleena Markos, for sure. My Achilles’ Heel is I don’t know how to style hair particularly well. Like, I can straighten a wig, and that’s about it. She is the hair wizard that allowed me to look like I knew what I was doing with hair. Definitely want to give a shout out to Lucy Lips who was kind of like my pragmatic little organizer friend that helped me organize all the designs that I was working on, helped me with hand sewing, helped me with bedazzling things. She was definitely the brains of the operation while I was running around, crying, nervous and poor. And then, probably my friend Irene DuBois. She is just a lovely, lovely human being who is wildly talented, and who I’ve come up in the scene with. And I think we both learned a lot from each other and informed each other’s drag. So Irene, too, for sure.

And who can we credit for the lovely rattail on the blue wig from your Glamazon Primetime runway?

Oh, fun fact: That was not Kaleena—that was my friend Jackson Brown, who is another great hairstylist, who did that particular wig. Jackson Brown used to be the Cher impersonator that I used to dance for. So, it’s all in the family! 

And for that [look] I’d been looking at what I’d worn up until that point, and I was like, “Okay, they get it—you do villainous stuff. If you wear black and red one more time, they’re gonna open the trapdoor on your ass!” [Laughs.] And those [pants] the most heinous sound on the runway you could ever imagine. It’s like, “SWISH, SWISH, SWISH.” So it’s dead silence and the judges are just telling puns at me and then the stupid swishing of those pants. [Laughs.]

7. Wildcard: Your drag pulls a lot of inspiration from villains and horror in general. Who are some of your favorite villains in pop culture?

Yeah, for sure. I’m a huge anime fan, so I’m, like, a huge nerd that’s never going to have any friends. But there’s so many villains from anime—I really, really got into Castlevania when that first came out, and that informs a lot of my eyebrow choices. So that’s Dracula. I love all the monsters—vampires, the werewolves, the witches—all that’s really, really good to me. Oh! And Kate Beckinsale in Underworld—full cultural reset for me: Anti-hero, black Spanx, just everything about her everything about her.

Oh, deeply iconic, absolutely. But these monsters and villains—it’s been much discussed that these are characters so many queer people are drawn to, even from a young age. What’s your take on their queer appeal? 

Well, I feel like this is a discussion that much smarter people than me have had. But there’s always been a lot of queer coding in villains—like, your Disney villains, comic book villains. There’s a sense of otherness and a sense of monstrosity that’s like tied to queerness historically. And I obviously feel a connection to that when I see these types of characters, and a lot of queer people do, too. Like, there’s a really huge horror following in the queer community. And I think it’s because a lot of us are able to connect with that otherness that’s being displayed. Just like, “Oh no, I’m rooting for that person!” But also villains had the best costumes and best theme songs, so, yeah, you gotta love them.

And, before we go, I want to take a second to congratulate you on coming out last week. It’s huge, and I’m sure you felt the love and support from your fans and sisters. I also noticed how that announcement seemed to coincide with your last-ever shift as a barista—

Yes, it was a very silly, fun weekend of things. I mean, I got to like travel outside of Seattle and perform outside of Seattle in drag for the first time this weekend. It was a really, really fun, wild weekend of firsts—and lasts, I suppose. Hopefully! If you see me in a coffee shop in a year from now, you mind your fucking business! I don’t want to hear it, okay? [Laughs.]

The Looks You Didn't See

It’s practically tradition that eliminated queens will take to social media to show off the stunning looks they didn’t use on the runway. Every week, we’ll reserve this space to shout out our favorite “unseen looks.“

✨Maddy Morphosis✨

@MaddyMorphosis

YEE, (and i cannot stress this enough) HAW https://t.co/K3ZzLqQghe

10:11 PM - 18 Feb 2022

Well, howdy pard'ner! Maddy Morphosis moseyed on into town with this wonderful rootin’ tootin’ cow(boy/girl/person) look, and—there will be no mistaking—she’s definitely wearing chaps. There’s a lot of fun Western details here, but those pink, plus-size chaps 100% steal the show. Also don’t miss: Orion Story‘s prickly cactus chaps and June Jambalaya’s sexy snakeskin look from designer Domingo Cholula.

Gagatrondra! It's The Tweets Of The Week

We wrap up every newsletter with a rundown of some of our favorite reaction tweets of the week, so use #DragRace and you may find yourself here!

shookdrag on IG

@vivalasdrag

Our Trans Icons of Season 14 🏳️‍⚧️ #DragRace https://t.co/8Q5eQrxMO9

10:14 PM - 18 Feb 2022

lucas

@lucasisbasic

the doors she opened #DragRace https://t.co/z1SxOQYtQB

9:08 PM - 18 Feb 2022

live laugh lily

@omgheylily

lady camden’s runway was an emotional rollercoaster holy shit #dragrace https://t.co/T755JKhZLe

8:58 PM - 18 Feb 2022

m

@heresbosco

laughing bosco w/ coffee for serotonin boost #dragrace https://t.co/0Sv7p1MF45

8:37 PM - 18 Feb 2022

Want More?

It’s the “Alt Girl Realness” edition of The Pit Stop with the lovely Adore Delano joining Monét X Change to talk the art of the fart and the wild days of Tumblr porn. Watch the episode below:

The Pit Stop S14 E07 | Monét X Change & Adore Delano Get Soapy | RuPaul’s Drag Race

Follow RuPaul's Drag Race On Social

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#RuPaul's Drag Race #Newsletter #Bosco #The Daytona Wind #Nintendo #Nintendo Switch #The Legend of Zelda #Breath of the Wild

[eyeslikewatercoolers]

I’m gonna consider this a WIP Wednesday post. Here’s a out of context slide for The Daytona Wind Masterpost/PowerPoint I’m working on (for the lore of it all)

#there’s gonna be a real wip post today don’t worry #but this Daytona wind post is turning into such a meme

[sexynetra]

How about #10 for rawnsyf? :)

10. Why did I choose this specific pairing?

I think when I started writing the fic, Marcia and Anetra were the dominant ship from the fandom, and I had been SHOVELING every single s15 fanfiction into my skull and had ran out of things to read 😂 also I was so mad that I’d read everything and there was NO bratty marcia and I thought that needed to be immediately remedied 😂

#also I mean. look at them. have you seen how cute they are #and every time marcia talks about Anetra there is so much love and adoration in her tone it melts me #the way Anetra looks into Marcia’s eyes with so much love during the Daytona winds judging #when they talk about each other on the quick drag podcast #they’re girlfriends I don’t make the rules #asks #rawnsyf #running away will never set you free

[dayabot]

why would u post bimbo daya at this hour u r absolutely evil wicked malicious

well now you're just asking for more bimbo daya

#been thinking about daytona wind daya a lot thanx to that one post you made so really u only have yourself to blame #so i guess posting bimbo daya was a targeted attack on you specifically probably #but also she's hot. and stupid. and stupid hot. it's a problem #jemikatses

[trendfag]

i still need to watch the challenge

#daytona winds 2

[ahndor]

tlou/rpdr double feature this friday and i honestly don’t know which one to watch first 😭😭

#on one hand. tlou releases 2 hrs earlier #on the other hand. i will be DESTROYED after this tlou episode idk if i’ll be able to handle daytona winds pt 2 LMAO #mars speaks

[phrynewrites]

What is your favorite comfort show?? Mine is the exact episode of how it’s made that showed you how crayons were made

Ok so my favorite favorite comfort show is Parks and Recreation, specifically the episode where they have the city council debate or the episode where Leslie's supposed to have the campaign announcement speech but then the ice rink is still ice and the stage is tiny and the red carpet only gets about half way to the stage.

#these are just some of the highlights #but these two episode are tv gold for sure #like the way in which i cackle is unstoppable #also the season 14 daytona wind episode has also become a comfort episode #specifically for jasmine doing *that voice* and bosco narrating it #for inthehytes #asks answered #about phryne

[fadingdaggerr]

Hi!! I was wondering if you could write a fluff Melissa x reader, where R is a new teacher and shes got this sick motorcycle and everybody thinks she's super cool and badass, and Mel's absolutely head over heels and gets all nervous when R is around, and when R eventually realizes it she starts doing things on purpose to get Mel all flustered.

With like A LOT of fluff.

You can maybe make it little spicy too, or not.

Idk you do whatever you prefer.

know i’m alive (18+, minors dni)

pairing: melissa schemmenti x gn!reader

summary: request above! | 5.8k

includes: the dating but not really sort of trope, but of ooc!melissa i’m sorry, partially unedited again im sorry

warnings: sexual innuendo, alcohol consumption (brief), making out/kissing, smut (fingering, oral, mel receiving), body worship?, aftercare

note: the bike referenced is a harley-davidson 1992 daytona, one of my personal fav models. i grew up in a biker family so this was cathartic. also the temperatures referenced in fahrenheit are roughly the 10-20°c range, hope that’s helpful :)

It’s become a sort of routine: get to work, drop your things off, get coffee, make Melissa blush, teach, do prep, watch Melissa try to hide a smile, go home, repeat. You can’t help yourself, getting the woman, who will always be the toughest in any room she’s in, riled up with fluttering lashes. Shocked faces from across the room didn’t help with the ego you were steadily growing with each interaction.

The first day you were at Abbott, she pointedly ignored you, despite constantly having an eye on you. What you once thought was suspicion over a new person near the kids, though sort of true, was more of a curiosity. A new third grade teacher walked into her school, wearing an oversized denim jacket and old Chucks, how was she supposed to feel? Her harsh glares and eagle eyes softened, and you started to see a more bashful side of the woman. It was only until Ava had the balls to say that Melissa’s behavior was very not Melissa, that you noticed that only you could evoke this side of her.

Since day one, the redhead has had an interest in you, not that she would ever verbalize it. Breathlessness has become a common feeling every time you come in with the sleeves of your sweater rolled up and rings adorning your fingers, making her focus shift and half the time she doesn’t hear a word you say, just following the gold bands that catch the light as you speak animatedly. Melissa longs for the day you got close enough and she could pull you in by the necklace you wear, the same that dangles in a taunt when you lean into her space. In the brief moments you’re alone, there’s a sense of calm that comes over both of you. The need to keep up a bravado drops, and you can indulge yourself in her presence. She’s lost count of how many times you casually dropped a gorgeous or beautiful instead of using her name, and how she has to fight turning when you say either in casual conversation, not just to her. All you know is that her wide, surprised eyes are all the motivation you need to keep it up.

—☽—

It’s bitter cold as you walk into Abbott, finding yourself nearly running to the main entrance before your eyes begin to water from the nipping winds. Reprieve comes in the form of the front lobby, leaning against it to catch your breath and shrug off your jacket to let the warmer air rid you of goosebumps. With your belongings dropped off in your classroom, it’s easy to start moving towards the lounge, knowing you saw a silver car that belonged to a certain redhead.

The voice of Jim Gardener is all there is when you enter, Barbara having, no doubt, told them to shut their mouths while her ‘second favorite man’ was speaking, Gerald also ranking number one in his wife’s heart. Grabbing your personal mug from the shelf, you pour a cup of unfortunate coffee as you watch Melissa through your periphery. She used to sit in one of the chairs, no room for someone to place themselves next to her. However, once you started, you noticed she moved to the couch, where no one but you was brave enough to sit.

Walking slowly to your spot, you gently sip the coffee that threatens to spill over the sides before setting it on the table. Lowering yourself, you sit purposefully closer to Melissa than a typical coworker would. Not one shuffle away or look of discomfort comes of it, it almost makes you grin. As the weather comes on, and Jim is no longer on screen, voices start to fill the room. You throw your arm back to the back of the couch as leverage to push yourself forward, leaning into Melissa’s space as the two-week broadcast appears on screen.

Her attention on you is not missed, neither is Barbara’s, who you already know is giving Melissa a look of bewilderment. The dusty pink that paints her cheeks with every interaction between you has quickly become your favorite color. It’s a struggle and a half to keep your eyes on the screen, but the temperatures being in the fifties and sixties starting tomorrow made you so excited that it didn’t even matter. Instantly, your mind is whirling with plans for the second the final bell rings and you can run out the door.

When the news goes to commercial, you sit back, keeping your arm behind Melissa’s shoulders. The warmth radiating off of her has your mind begging for you to shift your arm just a touch closer, to wrap your arm around her, but so far playing it safe has been working in gaining her trust. She can’t help it, green eyes falling onto you as she tries to decipher your move, hoping to catch something in your eyes that tells her what this was between you. All she gets is a little smirk that is half-hidden by a sip of coffee from an orange mug.

Melissa catches on quickly to your happier mood, finding the joy you exuded, that seemingly came from nowhere, to be adorable. She can’t even believe that word dared to enter her vocabulary. Your typical flirty remarks don’t make an appearance, just a serene smile on your face and a wink to Melissa when you catch her eyes scanning over your face. 

As the last kids get into their dad’s truck, you find yourself practically skipping back to your room to quickly gather your things. With the speed in which you move and the utter state of focus you are in, you don’t notice Melissa’s little smile as she sees you move with obvious excitement as you leave the building. She decidedly ignores the little thought that you may be all giddy to see someone else, and maybe she will continue to ignore it with a glass of Merlot.

Marty at the front desk of M&J’s Storage Company gives you a tightlipped smile and a curt nod as you drive past, having gotten used to you stopping by periodically over the winter. Pulling up in front of unit seventy makes your heart race, the second most beautiful thing in the world sat behind that navy metal door. The old lock takes a few tugs to loosen its hold, finally allowing you to release the latch and lift the door.

“Well, hello again,” you mumble as you pull back the cover, eyes scanning over metal. It hadn’t been long since your last little maintenance visit, meaning all you had to do was drive home and get her shined up.

After stopping at the gas station on the way home to fill the tank, you finally park and nearly eat pavement as you jump out of the car. It takes extra effort without the help you usually get from your brother to lower the bike off the trailer, but you manage, though it leaves your arms shaking while you remove the cover again.

Polish turns the piping from grey to silver, the dust off the body goes back to its original tan, and the blue on the design is restored to its proper glory. Despite checking once a month or so, you cross your fingers as you start the engine, hoping that all your hardwork will pay off and nothing will go wrong. The engine does a chg-chg-chg before it turns over and the motorcycle comes to life.

“Yes!” you exclaim, jumping in the air slightly with sheer amount of excitement running through your veins. You let the bike run for a little bit as you take photos to send to your brothers as proof you could, in fact, get it off the trailer without them. 

All you can think about for the next couple hours before bed is the feeling of your riding jacket and the wind blowing against it.

—☽—

The sky is still dark when you open your eyes the next morning, impatience waking before you before your alarm. Once you’ve gained your bearings, you get up and are getting ready as fast as you possibly can. It’s impossible to sit still, you’re almost dancing in place as you brush your teeth and can’t stop yourself from skipping to the closet by the front door. Shoved in the back, next to your sandals, was a pair of black, leather, steel toe boots. After saving every penny your senior year of college, you bought them as a graduation gift for yourself, and you’ll wear them until you can feel the ground through the soles.

Once you had to turn around due to forgetting it from sheer enthusiasm, you borderline ran down the stairs to your garage space. With the garage door open, the warm air creeping in from the outside is invigorating, and the lack of wind for the first time in two weeks gives you hope that your face won’t freeze off on the ride to Abbott. The biggest pain is getting your backpack to sit comfortably over your slightly bulky riding jacket, covered in patches from states and towns you’d visited over the years.

The second the bike begins to move, it feels like all of your problems have disappeared behind you. The low rumbling and revving drives others crazy, but it feels like the calming presence around you. If only the cops around weren’t such sticklers, or you’d have left your helmet off for the fifteen minutes drive. The wind on your face is better than caffeine, but your eyes water so badly, you can’t have anyone thinking you were sobbing on your way to work. That’s a Monday activity, not Thursday.

From the speed in which you got ready to get on your bike, you’re the second person in, Janine always being first. You refrain from sitting by the TV once you’re in the lounge, just leaning against the counter and sipping your coffee until the object of your affection arrives. Gregory and Jacob come in together, talking about the next round of plants for the garden. When Barbara comes in, you can see that she’s holding in laughter, a fast-talking Melissa behind her.

“How are you not freaking out, Barb? That bike is beautiful, and it’s at Abbott, Abbott, of all places,” she almost yells, her hands waving around with disbelief in her friend’s relative disinterest.

“It’s a bicycle, Melissa.”

“Motorcycle, it’s a motorcycle. It doesn’t have a basket and ribbons, unlike yours,” Melissa mumbles that last part, but Barbara stills catches it and gives a gentle smack to her friend’s arm, despite laughing herself. You can’t lie, knowing that Melissa is fascinated by the bike, you want to speak up about it now, but instead, you stay quiet.

The spot next to her by the TV stays vacant, practically having an RSVP with your name on it. When you plop next to her, she peeks at you from the corner of her eye, and she does it a few times again during the commute report. You catch her the fifth time, raising your brows in question to not gain the others’ attention, but she just gives you a shake of the head. She turns back to the TV, but you’re persistent, propping your arm behind you like you’d done yesterday, and poking her shoulder.

Her head whips away from you, and seeing that it was your hand over her shoulder, she turns back to you with a playful scowl.

“What?” she asks with a softer tone than you had expected.

You lean in just a touch to keep your words between the two of you, “you were staring. Was just making sure you’re okay.”

God, you could survive solely off the way her eyes shine, how wide they open at your earnest. Neither of you realize the time between your words and the answer that has yet to come, just looking at each other as a tiny smile plays on your lips. It takes the internal will of ten thousand men to not jump at her emerald eyes dropping briefly to your lips.

“Right… Sure you’re not just flirting? Like a little kid annoying their crush?” she jokes, partially to save her from embarrassment, partially to hide the racing of her heart from your attention.

“Could be. But at least I’m not the one avoiding the question,” you joke back, and when she doesn’t answer again, you push, “nothing to say about that, beautiful?” Her eyes go to her lap as she shakes her head, another poor attempt to hide the clear effect you have on her. For now, you’ll just ignore the feeling of her leaning slightly closer to you and try to still your rapid heartbeat.

—☽—

In a desperate attempt to see who owns this magnificent bike, Melissa stays in the parking lot, loitering by fiddling with her purse to not raise suspicion. She immediately ignores Gregory and Mr. Morton, knowing they’re too stiff to ever consider getting on a motorcycle, let alone this one. As she sits there on her phone, after fifteen minutes of waiting, a familiar hum starts up and the bike is moving out of the lot.

That jacket. Patches cover nearly all visible space, even a little Eagles one next to a custom Abbott patch. Even with the helmet obscuring your face, without the jacket, she’d know you anywhere. Immediately, she starts to move, putting her car in drive as she pulls out of the lot the same way you did, conveniently the same direction she needed to go.

With a stroke of luck, she pulls into a lane next to you at a busy red light, rolling down her passenger side window, “aye! Why did you say shit about you having the bike?”

You push up your visor, yelling over the motor and traffic, “air of mystery!”

“Bullshit!”

“Guessing you want a ride, huh, gorgeous?” You can’t even contain your grin as you watch her eyes widen, flicking to the red light that has still yet to turn. Little do you know her mind is screaming and your cocky little smile isn’t helping one bit.

She swallows the lump in her throat, “follow me to my place.”

“Yes, ma’am,” you say as you flip your visor back down, glad to be able to cover your face as you smile so hard you narrowly avoid missing the light turning green. It doesn’t take long to fall into line behind Melissa, cutting into a tiny space that earns you a deserved honk from the old man behind you.

It’s less than twenty minutes before Melissa’s blinker directs you into her driveway. You walk it slowly next to her car, keeping the engine running as you take off your helmet. Melissa gets out of her car, abandoning her purse in the seat next to her, and stands nervously by the hood as she plays with her sleeves. Suddenly the thought of being one the motorcycle, pressed against your back, sounds so good she’s afraid she’ll ruin it somehow.

Your voice cuts off her brain’s nervous rambling, “I’ve only got the one helmet with me. So, you’ll wear that, and we’ll stick to the side streets.”

“No highway,” she grumbles as she steps closer.

Your nose scrunches as you laugh at her pout, “no highway and nothing over forty, cross my heart.” Holding out your pinky, she begrudgingly takes it while ignoring the butterflies in her stomach. “You’re gonna wanna tie your hair back, low bun, braid, something like that.”

“Ponytail?” she asks, pretending she doesn’t care that your pinkies are still wrapped around one another.

“Nope, it’ll just tangle. And we can’t have anything happening to that beautiful hair,” you subconsciously pull her hand closer and draw her in. Her finger tightens around yours in return. When her neighbor pulls into their driveway, their car door shutting loudly disrupts the quiet between you two, making you both pull away.

Instead of speaking of it, you both fiddle to get ready for a ride around the block or down to the corner store. Melissa faces away from you to tie her hair into a tight low bun, she takes deep breaths to calm herself from the sheer proximity to you. Behind her, you fiddle with the clasps of the helmet to fit her better.

When she turns to face you again, you motion for her to get closer and her eyes almost bulge out her head. Melissa slowly approaches you as her fingers tangle around themselves. You lift the helmet in silent question, and she nods. Carefully, trying to touch her as little as possible, you help get the helmet on without pulling her hair.

You open the visor before you adjust the chin strap, “feel good? Secure?”

“It’s comfier than I thought,” her voice comes out slightly muffled by the guard in front of her lips. Melissa prays you can’t hear her fast breaths, completely overwhelmed by your scent surrounding her.

“Good,” you smile, “I’ll back her up onto the street, then you can hop on.”

Once you’ve got the kickstand down so it’s as stable as possible for her to get on, you offer a hand as support. Melissa slowly places her hand in yours, the squeeze she receives tells her trust me, I won’t let you get hurt. Using the footrest, she gets herself over the seat to straddle it behind you. Manicured hands flex open and close behind your back as she becomes unsure of where to put them.

“There’s handles, slightly behind you, that you can hold onto,” speaking loudly over the motor. You turn over your shoulder to meet your eyes with hers, “or, if you wanna, you can hold onto me. Whatever’s your preference.”

To save face, she rolls her eyes, “just want my hands on you, don’t you now?”

“Can’t call you a liar for that one,” you say with a smug grin, turning back to lean the bike upright and put up the kickstand. The second you start to move, Melissa’s arms go tightly around your waist, white knuckling your jacket.

Feeling her holding you was only so pleasant until you realized it was mostly from fear. Before taking off slowly, you pat her hand where it rests on your abdomen. It only grips tighter in return. Taking your foot off the ground and beginning to move, feeling more careful in every move you make as to not make Melissa more nervous than she was. It was surprising really, that Melissa Schemmenti of all people was nervous on a motorcycle.

Her grip starts to loosen after the third or fourth turn, but her arms don’t move. Melissa almost rests her head against your back, but decides against it in a sudden judgment. When the moment comes where she feels comfortable, she releases one arm from her hold on you to push the visor back up to have an unobstructed view of the Philly streets and your reflection in the mirrors.

When you finally slow down, it’s six blocks over at her favorite corner store, they’ve got the best hoagie options. She uses your shoulders and the hand you placed out for her to get down from the bike, legs numb from the vibrations of the bike and motor against her thighs. You’re quick to get off, helping her get the helmet off and fixing the little strands of hair that stick up from static. Neither of you mention Melissa’s rosy cheeks or your lingering caress along her bangs.

The small shop leaves little room to roam about, and you stay closely pressed to Melissa’s back as you maneuver to the counter to order food to bring back to her house. With the warmth radiating off of you, she now understands how you felt the whole ride. She knows how you feel about her, it’s a mirror of the ache in her chest for you, and feeling you against her has her heart pounding in time with yours.

From around her waist, comes your arm, offering the cashier a twenty dollar bill. Your other hand rests against Melissa’s hip, holding your wallet open for the change. This has to be some sort of revenge for holding you, she thinks to herself.

As you slowly pull into her driveway, there’s an air of unsureness around the two of you. Stepping off the bike again, you fiddle with your fingers, not wanting to invite yourself into her home. Melissa tugs at the ends of her sleeves as she plans her next words.

“Do you wanna come in, have a beer with those hoagies?” Melissa offers with a hopeful tone.

You smile as you grab the helmet from you, clipping over the little strap on the seat. She takes the hint and walks towards the door with you closely behind her. Inside, without the jacket and boots on, Melissa thinks you look soft. Everything about you is so careful with her, even when you wear worn leather with chains, this dressed down version matches the treatment she always receives.

Sitting across from her at the island, you answer all her questions about how you got the bike, how you maintain it, how you learned all the tricks to keep it running.

“Seriously, that thing’s how old and still going that strong?” she asks through a mouthful of capicola.

“It’s thirty now, it’s a 1992. Harleys are just built to last longer than the actual biker at this point, especially the older models,” you take a swig of beer, “the Daytona was too good to pass up. I got it so cheap and the guy barely had miles on it.”

Melissa perks up, “how much?”

“Thirty-five hundred. Stupid cheap, he could’ve easily gotten ten.”

She smirks, “and you just let him trick himself out of the money?”

“Duh,” you say. There’s a beat of silence before you both start to laugh, leaning into one another over the table.

—☽—

The sun set some time between finishing the hoagies and the third episode of The Real Housewives she roped you into watching. She claimed it was only fair considering she willingly got on the motorcycle. What had started with you two on different cushions quickly became you being pressed against each other, your arm taking residence behind her, but never touching her as you always kept it.

In a strange moment of bravado, Melissa leans against the back cushion and your arm dips into the slope, falling gently around your shoulders. You purse your lips in an attempt to keep a straight face, adjusting your arm to have your hand rest on her shoulder. It doesn’t take long before your fingers begin to draw nonsensical patterns over her shirt. Time passes, episodes go on, and Melissa’s weight starts to fall more into you. Every passing second you become more aware that you don’t want to leave this position as long as you live.

The screen turns black, Are you still watching? appears across it, behind the words, a reflection of the two of you. Your gaze dips down, immediately meeting Melissa’s looking up at you. Green eyes flick to your lips, and for the first time, you know for a fact that you are not imagining it. Her tongue pokes out to wet her lips, capturing your attention. Eyes meet and it’s so quick, neither of you can tell who starts it.

Melissa’s lips taste like light beer and strawberry chapstick, and her tongue is dominating and soft. Her hands grip tightly at the base of your neck, keeping you close to her like you would disappear if your lips left hers. Your hands take residence on her waist, like they had hours ago, and the warmth of her skin under her shirt is screaming your name, begging to be touched.

Tongues clash against one another, sticky lips clumsy as air becomes a necessity. Barely taking your lips off her skin, you trail downwards to her jaw, placing wet kisses along it. The hands on her waist push up and make their way beneath her shirt, gently squeezing her warm, supple body. The feeling of your soft hands holding her makes Melissa groan, tugging you back to her wanting lips.

All she’s wanted since the moment she met you, to hold you, kiss you, touch you, it’s all happening and she can barely find it in her to stop. She never wants it to. With your teeth tugging at her bottom lip, a borderline moan escapes her, and she feels you smile against her mouth and it’s all she can think about. Melissa is completely putty in your hands.

Without breaking the distance between you, you pull away from her lips slowly. Heaving breaths escape both of you, lips swollen and pupils dilated from lust. Melissa’s hand traces from the back of your neck to the chain of your necklace dangling in front of her, looping it around her finger to pull you in closer. Your lips graze over hers, but her words fill the space before they can touch.

“What if I asked you to take me upstairs?”

Your thumb brushes over her ribs, “then I would.”

The door handle almost puts a hole in the wall with the way Melissa shoves it open behind her as you walk her backwards towards her room. Her hands drop from your face to the hem of her shirt, beginning to pull it up before your hands take over. As you step away to throw her shirt off to the side, your eyes drop and a soft look comes over your features.

Stepping into her space again, your fingers trace over her skin, “you’re so beautiful.” It’s barely above a whisper, she barely hears it, barely even sure you’re aware you’ve said it.

Melissa’s only response is to kiss you again, pulling you towards her bed until she topples onto it, taking you with her. Your thighs straddle her as you tug off your own shirt, bending down to continue ravishing her. You kiss down from her lips, to her jaw, to the dip at the base of her neck, then trace your tongue back up. Cold hands grab yours, pulling them down to the button of her jeans.

“Are you sure?” you ask from above her, free hand pushing baby hairs from her blushing face. She only nods, not trusting her words. You shake your head lightly, a little smile on your lips, “I’m gonna need a real answer, lovely.”

Lovely, that’s a new one. She feels her face warm under your gaze, arousal pooling. With the strength she can muster, she utters, “please.”

Without a moment to spare, your lips are on hers again, hand at her waist moving to unbutton her pants. As you help push them down, your hand passes her panties, the dark patch of wetness calling to you. It only invigorates you as you let go of her lips, kissing down to her chest. Arching forward, she makes space for your wandering hands to slip behind and unclasp her bra.

A breathless mumble of God leaves your lips, before soft kisses are pressed to her sternum, skim over to her breast. You kiss her skin with a reverence she’s never felt, teeth graze over her hardened nipple before your lips wrap around it, tongue swirling. The unattended breast begs for attention that is quickly given by your hand, rolling the bud between your fingers.

The warm hand at her waist grips down to her thigh, pushing her legs open to make space for you to lie. Your mouth and hand switch, equal, worship-like attention given to each breast. Melissa’s quiet, hidden moans become louder, hips shifting for pressure against yours. Taking the hint, your lips travel lower, licking over her abdomen and gently biting when she tugs at your hair.

One hand wraps around her thigh, the other keeps her in place as a weight against her stomach. Pressing wet kisses to her thigh, you look at her for permission to continue. The image of you between her legs, lips on her wet thighs, eyes shining with want, all she can manage is bucking her hips towards you, a whine escaping her lips.

One last kiss is placed against plush skin, Melissa’s hand tangles with yours, interlocking fingers feeling like they belong there. Your warm, wet tongue glides over her slit, up and down in slow figure-eights, her little gasps only egging you on. Flattening your tongue, you press harder against her, tasting her more fully, groaning against her in satifaction. It makes sense why Eve would so easily give everything for a mere taste of the forbidden fruit. Sweet and warm, divine heaven on your lips.

Melissa hips buck into your face, begging for more and you are more than willing to give. You lick up to her clit, the pearl demanding attention from you. Small, circular motions with your tongue make Melissa groan, slapping a hand over her mouth as she gets closer and closer to her peak.

You lift away from clit, much to her dismay, “don’t do that.” The hand on her stomach moves to pull her hand away from her mouth, “I want to hear you… please.”

Her hand drops to the sheets beside her, and your mouth is back on her. Sucking harder against her, your hand slides down her abdomen and positions in front of her blooming lips. Your middle finger presses into her slick walls, forcing a moan from both of you. With a few gentle pushes and pulls, you slowly ease in your ring finger, making her clench tightly.

Red nails dig into your hair, tugging as Melissa writhes above you. Husky moans and whines fill the room, pleas of faster and yes, yes are burned into your mind, a melody you won’t dare forget.

You pull off of her clit to take a breath and speak, “can you take more, baby?”

“Please,” she says through pants. The hand in your hair tug you up to her lips, “please.” Her desperate grasp is not willing to let you go, claw-like nails digging into your back.

Lips dancing as you shift your hand to put your thumb to her clit, lining your forefinger to her pussy. Melissa’s jaw drops as the third finger stretches her more, the moan that rips through her is felt by your lips on her neck. You keep a steady rhythm of circling her clit and pumping your fingers into her. Her moans turn to pitched whines, walls hugging your fingers, she was so close. You kiss down her neck, sucking little marks that will fade by morning, taking your time on her breasts and lower stomach. Reaching her clit again, suck it into your mouth as you speed your fingers’ pace.

Frantic hips begin to still, a whine leaving her plump lips as she cums around your fingers. Your attention leaves her clit to travel down her lips as you slowly pump your fingers, removing one by one as she comes down. Shaking thighs relax against the bed as you clean her with your tongue, nectar of the goddess being all the reward you need. She pulls lightly at your hand on her thigh, begging for your lips on hers.

Pressing a final kiss to her pearl, then thigh, you capture her lips in a slow kiss, soft and full of the love that had been hiding under every interaction since you’d first met. When you pull away, you bring your fingers to her lips to give her a proper taste of herself. Accepting the offer, her tongue swirls around the digits. You internally scold yourself for being jealous of your own hand, even the string of saliva that connects her heavenly mouth to your fingers.

You shift to cup her cheek, admiring her droopy eyes and blushing cheeks, the sheen of sweat over her forehead. Her own hand mirrors your movement, pulling you down to press a kiss to the corner of your lips.

“You are so- too good at that,” she mumbles against your cheek, feeling the vibration of your laugh.

You press a kiss to her cheek before flopping next to her, “you, you taste too good.”

Her hand comes to cover her face, but you’re quick to catch it, bringing it closer to kiss the back. Melissa chuckles as you nibble on the knuckle of her pinkie, but she frowns as you roll off the bed. Emerald eyes follow you to the ensuite bathroom, and back as you go back between her legs with a warm washcloth. The featherlike touch and soft kisses to her skin only further the blush on her cheeks.

After discarding the rag and tugging off your jeans, you lay down next to her on your side, eyes scanning over her face. Her head turns to you, enjoying the quiet between you, even more so when your pointer finger traces her features and takes special attention to her lips. Lipstick smudged around her chin, surely on your face as well, and messy eyeliner, she’s never been quite so beautiful.

The gentle ministrations and loving attention make Melissa’s eyes grow heavy, sleep grasping at her despite the fight to stay in your presence. Feeling her relaxing into you, you shift to lay on your back, arm out inviting her into your embrace. Lazily rolling into you, her face tucks into your neck, hand searching for yours.

You tangle your fingers together and whisper into the air, “I think it goes without saying, but I’m stupid in love with you. Everything about you. Just thought you should know.”

“Good thing,” she says through a yawn as she shifts more into you, “because I’m stupid in love with you, too.” 

You press a kiss into her hair, “go to sleep, pretty girl. I’ll be here in the morning, if you want.”

“Of course I want,” it’s barely audible, but you can tell she means it.

The scent of sex, sweat, and eucalyptus body wash radiates from her, underneath it all is a smell that’s so uniquely Melissa that you can feel yourself sinking into the mattress. It feels easy, being with her, it makes sense. You find yourself staring at the ceiling, you recount every time you should have spoken up about your feelings. Surely there could have been a time, but none seem to come to mind. It only makes sense that this is how it was supposed to happen. In her bed, on this day, with the taste of lager on her tongue, you were meant to find your way together.

title from beauty school by deftones

one day i’ll write a shorter fic like i planned in my head

feedback appreciated as always <3

#melissa schemmenti x reader #melissa schemmenti #lisa ann walter #abbott elementary #lgbtq fanfiction #lgbtq #lesbian

[t4yce]

DANNY TREJO •  drag race 15.07 the daytona winds 2 ↳ for @quinnfabrayed​

bonus:

#danny trejo #rpdr 15 #rpdredit #rupaul's drag race #drag race #rpdr #gif* #rq

[vinylattes]

HARVEY GUILLÉN in RuPaul's Drag Race (2009-) 15.07 (The Daytona Wind 2)

bonus:

#harvey guillén #ru paul's drag race #harveyguillenedit #harveyguillensource #rpdredit #dakotasvibe #userligaya #I MISS HIM

[peakyscillian]

Family Ties | Modern!Tommy Series

Summary: The Shelby’s will do anything for family. Warnings: ✨SPOILERS✨ Smut, 18+ Minors DNI, Mature themes, use of the word ‘Whore/Slut’ , mentions of unconsenual sex. Mentions of miscarriage proceed with caution Part: 15 Pairing: Modern!Tommy x Fem!Reader Requested: No Notes: If you read a series/story and you like it or even love it, please comment, like & reblog so writers know they’re getting the interaction they deserve! It means so much to see someone reblog your work! I also want to thank everyone who has shown me so much love on my work!!

Family Ties | Part Fifteen

Please Read warning in RED before proceeding!

Masterlist | FT Masterlist

Part Fifteen.

Tommy made his way into the abandoned warehouse, your voice telling him to be ‘bloody careful this time’ ringing in his ears as he strides through the corridors, he stops outside the door at the furthest end of the warehouse, he can hear Arthur inside. 

Checking his gun is sat in his holster before he pushes his way in, Arthur is sat in front of the man who’s tied to the chair, the busted lip and black eye a sign his older brother has had a good go at him before Tommy arrived.

“Brother, we fucking got him” He states, Tommy nods because well, yes he could see that, Arthur stood from the chair, landing another blow to Sam's stomach making him cry out in agony.

Sam looked up at Tommy, he went to speak, but Tommy was in his face, “Think you can go around controlling all those vulnerable women eh?, make their lives hell and get away with it?” he sneered.

Sam smirked “They all fucking deserve it, especially Y/N, she fucking loved every minute being a whore needed putting in her place” he laughed, Tommy’s fist connected with his face “keep her name out of your fucking mouth” he shouted.

Sam was laughing, could see how he was winding Tommy up “Nice fucking cunt eh?” he taunted, Tommy immediately had the gun pressed against Sam’s forehead, eyes locked on the man who had caused his wife so much pain.

“Enough!” he bellowed, watching with a smirk as Sam went to open his mouth, without giving him a chance to say anything degrading about you again, he pulled the trigger.

“Fucking hell, Tom” Arthur chuckled, as Sam’s body slumped forward on the chair, “he didn’t deserve to fucking say her name again” Tommy pushed the gun back in his holster. 

“Call Johnny Dogs he’s waiting to clear up, I need to call John and Finn, let them know to get things underway at Daytona’s” Tommy looked at Arthur, “Get home to Y/N, I can deal with them, Johnny Dogs knows his orders” Arthur patted Tommy on the back, “Get back and tell her the good news eh?” he smiled.

Tommy nodded “Thanks Brother” he took one last look at Sam, finally gone, he couldn’t wait to tell you, to see your face when you found out he wouldn’t be hurting another young women again.

You greeted Tommy a few hours later, throwing yourself into him not caring about the blood on his clothes and face, “He’s gone darling” he hummed, pulling back to get a good look at you “Fucking free of him finally, eh?” he smiled cupping at your face, you bit at your lip trying to hold back the tears. 

“Really?” you were shocked, finally, you felt the weight lift from your shoulders “Really Darling, got what he deserved” he pulled your face towards his, lips pressing against yours. 

-

Tommy woke up to the sound of you muffled behind the closed door of the en-suite, the soft heart wrenching sobs, he was out of bed in a flash, heart pounding as he twisted the doorknob.

“Y/N, love unlock the door” he gave it a gentle tap, voice soft, “please” he added as an afterthought. Letting out a breath as the click of the lock indicated he could go in, his gaze skimmed over you, the red of your eyes, the red on the tiles “I think I'm losing the baby” you choked out a sob.

Tommy gathered you into his arms, hand stroked over the back of your head as he soothed you “let's get you cleaned up, eh?” He hummed, moving you to sit on the edge of the bath, he could see the red streams on your legs as you doubled over with another pain.

“He’s fucking dead and he’s still won” you hiccuped, would this ever end? You wouldn’t ever be free of him. Tommy knelt on the floor in front of you, hands stroking against the skin of your thighs “He hasn’t won, I won’t fucking let him” he sighed. 

He called for Polly, someone just to come over because fuck, he didn’t have a clue what to do in this situation.

Polly had got you cleaned up and into bed, a calm presence in the madness, she found Tommy in the bathroom making an attempt to clean up, hands shaking as he wrung out the cloth “Thomas, leave it” Polly spoke softly.

“She can’t come back in here to this, Pol, why her eh?” he was trying to stay calm, didn’t want to make you upset, “She doesn’t fucking deserve this, we don’t deserve this” Polly took his hands “He’s gone, you sorted it, you’ve kept her safe” she spoke trying to get him to see sense. 

“But he’s won hasn’t he?” Tommy gestured to the mess of the bathroom, Polly shook her head “No he hasn’t because you’ve still got each other, you found each other and you saved her” Polly reassured him.

“Tom” your soft voice came from the doorway, stepping into the bathroom you kept your eyes on your husband, “I’m so sorry” you whispered, Tommy pulled you into him “You have nothing to apologise for” he guided you out of the bathroom.

He helped you into bed, letting you curl into his body holding onto him. “I’m going back on the pill, I don’t want to go through this again” you confirmed, you really couldn’t go through this pain. 

Tommy pushed his fingers through your hair, “Baby, you don’t have to worry about that right now, eh? Get some sleep, please?” he urged, looking up as Polly came back into the room. 

“Call me if you need anything, I’ll be back tomorrow” she smiled, you looked up at her “Thank you Pol, I’ll come see you out” you went to move from the bed. Polly frowned, “You will not, I’m capable of getting out of the door myself, get some rest” she ordered, you nodded knowing not to ignore her orders. 

Polly turned before she left the room, “I don't want to see you working for the rest of this week, that's both of you” she didn’t give either of you a chance to answer, before she left the room.

-

Thank you all so much for being so patient with me and my awful updating!! I appreciate you all 😘

Taglist @cillmequick @runnning-outof-time @look-at-the-soul @gypsy-girl-08 @heidimoreton @thomasshelbee @forgottenpeakywriter @shelbydelrey @allie131313 @cillixn @midnightmagpiemama @zablife @queenshelby @missymurphy1985 @janelongxox @cloudofdisney @being-worthy @vhscillian @radioheadgirl @elenavampire21 @datewithgianni @magicalpieex @camilleholland89 @cilliansangel @uchihacumdump @inkandpen22 @ysmmsy @lyarr24 @anotherhitandrun @alreadybroken-ts @flyingjosephine-blog @moral-turpitudes @duckybird101 @lostgirl219 @blyanyan @flippittygibbitts @stevie75 @winchestergirl22 @stars-of-scorpio @moral-terpitude @lespendy @lovemissyhoneybee @pocket-of-possibilities @otterly-fey @gotohellandbackforyou @tinyminxie

#Tommy Shelby #Tommy Shelby x Reader #Modern!Tommy Shelby #Modern!Tommy Shelby x Reader #Tommy Shelby Content #My Writing #Tommy Shelby Series #Family Ties #Family Ties Series #Tommy Shelby x Fem!Reader #Modern!Tommy x Fem!Reader #Modern!Tommy #Peaky Blinders #Series #Fic #Tommy Shelby Fic #PeakyCillian Updates #PeakyCillian

[lipsyncforyourlife]

#Kandy Muse #The Pit Stop S15 #The Daytona Wind 2 #RuPaul's Drag Race #RuPaul's Drag Race season 15

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

#ACLA24 #ACLA24Leaders #youtube #youtube video #climate leaders #climate solutions #climate action #climate and environment #climate #climate change #climate and health #climate blog #climate justice #climate news #weather and climate #environmental news #environment #environmental awareness #environment and health #environmental #environmental issues #environmental justice #environment protection #environmental health #Youtube

[eyeslikewatercoolers]

I’m probably the only person that wants to see this, but for some reason I want to see a complete deep dive into the Daytona Wind challenges.

Like lore, family trees, everything.

Do I like the Daytona Wind challenge? Not really, but I still want to see a lore breakdown.

#like it’s the only acting challenge to get an actual sequel #might have to do this myself

[diabolus1exmachina]

Maserati Tipo 151/4 

Maserati’s Tipo 151 model is a tale of what could have been. The company enjoyed tremendous success during the 1950s in endurance racing, culminating in the fantastic Tipo 60 and 61 “Birdcages”. It then turned its attention to the newly introduced closed-top prototype class at Le Mans. A new model called the Tipo 151 was developed to race in this class. Instead of employing the same exquisitely intricate space-frame chassis design as with the Tipo 60/61, chief engineer Giulio Alfieri opted for a more traditional space frame using larger tubing. Power came from a 3943cc quad-cam V8 making 360 bhp, mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Its long low bonnet, laid-back windscreen, and rounded Kamm tail were refined in the wind tunnel at Milan University with the goal of aerodynamic efficiency. Just three examples were built, two going to Briggs Cunningham’s American team (004 & 006), whilst the final car (002) was for Colonel Johnny Simone’s Maserati France team.The new model proved as fast as it looked at the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the Cunningham cars qualifying 3rd (006) and 5th (004). Meanwhile Simone’s car qualified 7th (002) driven by Maurice Trintignant and Lucien Bianchi. The race proved much more frustrating though, with all three cars retiring. Cunningham’s cars returned to the US, with one later being destroyed in a fiery accident at Daytona, but Colonel Simone sent 002 back to Maserati for some upgrades ahead of another attempt at Le Mans in 1963. These included enlarging the engine to 4941cc, swapping the Weber carburettors for Lucas fuel-injection (gaining 70 bhp), reducing weight and revising the suspension.

#Maserati Tipo 151/4 #Giulio Alfieri #Le Mans

[vonxodd]

SPICE // 'the daytona wind 2', rpdr 15X07

for @teenagekizz

#spice #rpdr #rpdredit #rupaul's drag race #drag race #*mine #im so sorry this took long :') i hope this is ok #*drag

[lokisninerealms]

In The Rendezvous

Summary: After successfully completing another mission, Loki finds himself feeling a bit celebratory. So in a desperate need of a rewarding fuck, he takes you in the back of a getaway car.

Pairing: Loki x F!Reader

Warnings: (18+ Content) Heavy Smut, Descriptions of handjob / penetration / intercourse, mentions of gunshots

A/N: i missed writing so i present this complete and utter filth that i just conjured in my mind. tbh this is really just smut with not much of a plot.

MASTERLIST

taglist: @lokisgoodgirl @lokisgoodgirlbackup @vbecker10 @lokiprompts21 @lovingchoices14 @michelleleewise @mochie85 @brokenthelovely @lady-rose-moon

“What a success this mission was, darling,” the familiar velvet-voice beamed in front of you.

Sipping the red wine that sat nursed in your hand, nodding at his joyous attitude. A small smile curved your lips as your eyes made contact with his sparkling blue-green ones. Ignoring the fluttering that erupted in your stomach with another sip of the cool liquid.

“Truly. Though, I do recall you almost cost us an extra five minutes with that little act of yours,” you jested. Raising an inquisitive brow at the dark-haired trickster.

His raven colored curls shook back and forth, a little shake from the soft laughter that came from him. A signature grin of his already plastered on his face, only to widen at your slight jab.

“Almost doesn’t count, love,” He quipped, a small tsk leaving. His grin shifting to a smirk while he took in your appearance, mischief replacing with pure lust.

The nickname itself causing you to nearly spit out your drink. His lips taking a sip of his own mixed beverage, placing the glass down gently to stir the straw around. A steady rotation with his wrist, eyes never leaving yours.

Your attention moved to his hands, the left one stirring with his thumb and pointer finger. The other simply rested on the table where you stood, propped while he leaned in closet subconsciously. Both hands cladded in rather expensive and gold rings. Shifting your attention from the veins that appeared on his forearm to line his large hand. A tailored black button-up clung around his biceps that flexed with every precise movement.

Finishing the last of his drink in one swing, slowly darting out his tongue to collect the leftover drops. Running over his cupids bow, every slow swirl revealing dirty images to flood your mind. Crossing your legs in a cheap attempt to cease your growing arousal. Quickly running a hand to smooth over your dress, pressing down on your thigh.

His eyes trailed from yours to roll the sleeves of his button up, his left wrist decked in a Rolex watch. The gold and emerald green Daytona giving him a rich look. One that screamed of wealth and high status. Colors that contrasted well along his fair skin. His colors.

Visuals of his large hands gripping the base of your neck while he fucked you from behind. Leaving winded slaps against your ass, the metal of his rings leaving prominent marks on both cheeks. His lips sufficing your loud moans with the hush of his tongue only to bring them to send a trail of soft kisses down your neck.

Loki flickered his eyes between you and his watch, his own mind slowly undressing you. Yearning to feel your tight pussy wrapped around his thick shaft again. The mere thought sending a rush of blood to the tip of his cock. Feeling the leather of his trousers grow tighter by the second at the images that consumed both of you.

Pushing his glass aside, your eyes now captured by some old Italian artwork that aligned the red walls of the fancy ballroom. Completely unaware that he moved positions to stand right next to you, nearly scaring you as his hand loosely touched the side of your waist. Leaning in to press his lips against the shell of your ear.

“The back of the gala. A car will be there to pick you up. Five minutes. Don’t be late,” he demanded. Releasing his hand from your waist to pick another glass off a passing champagne tray.

Furrowing your brows in confusion, tearing your head away from the oil painting. Only to be met with the view of his tall figure disappearing into the various crowd. The sudden suspense that overwhelmed you causing your heart rate to pick up. Hammering against your chest.

The click of your heels on the marble floor crossing the iced pavement with every step. Wrapping the black suit jacket that Loki had supplied you tightly around your shoulders. A constant shudder leaving you due to the below freezing temperature that surrounded you, a cold gust of wind blowing past. Mentally cursing at yourself for opting for a short cocktail dress, your legs paying the price of being bare.

Feeling relieved when you heard the sound of tires crushing under the snow. The black SUV turning around the corner to pull beside the corner where you stood, tinted windows on all sides. An older gentleman stepping out, dressed in all black and pair of shades to conceal his identity.

“My lady,” he curtly nodded. Opening the door politely, holding out a hand, gesturing you to step inside.

Quietly thanking him while he shut the door once you sat down. Your eyes adjusting to the darkness, falling on a pair of blue-green eyes that were already on you. His dark raven curls framing his face, highlighting the high cheekbones which carved his face.

A smirk pulling on the corners of his lips, sipping on the rim. The trail of alcohol sliding down his throat with ease as he hummed in satisfaction. Your attention moving from his perfectly sculpted face to the lack of clothing he wore. His large hand grasped around the thick base of his cock while the other held his glass.

“You’re early. Too eager to see me I suppose, you just couldn’t get enough of me,” Loki spoke in a mirth tone.

Running a slow hand to create a steady rhythm up and down his shaft, your mouth running completely dry at his blatant movements. His eyes never shying away from yours, moaning as the cool metal of his rings squeezed his length. Jaw falling slack as another moan slipped, growing eager to replace his with the soft touch of yours.

A deep chuckle rattled his chest at your gaping expression, “Have I rendered you speechless? Come darling, give it a try.” Picking up the speed, running a fast ring covered hand up and down his thick shaft.

The tip already weeping red, a few drops of pre-cum dripping slowly to run down his hand. You gulped, resisting every urge to climb on his lap while riding his massive size of a cock right then and there.

“Don’t be shy. It’s tempting, I know. I can assure you that I won’t bite,” he teased. His smirk tugging even further, “Unless you prefer biting, of course.” Growing flustered under his challenging gaze, mischief written all over.

Glancing around the windows that enclosed you, the thousands of city lights and tall buildings shone through. Reflecting against the gold of his rings that now rested against his bare thick, muscled thighs. Your arousal growing by the second as you contemplated letting him fuck you in the back of a moving car.

Snatching your heels off before ripping his jacket off your shoulders, tossing it to the side. Your legs immediately moving above the leather seats to straddle his lap. His lips quickly attaching itself to your neck, sucking the skin harshly. A salty yet bitter taste on his tongue from the mixture of sweat and perfume you had sprayed.

Pushing your hips down to grind against his wide ones, your hand already grasping his length to hastily pump him. A pool of arousal forming in between your thighs. His fingers caressing up your tights stopping just above the hem of your dress. Teasing you, testing you.

“Please,” you murmured. The familiar aching of your cunt waiting to be filled of every inch of his dick, or his long digits that memorized every curve and ridge of your velvet walls.

Your clothes magicking away in an instant at your plead. Nipples growing hard at the loss of fabric and running air condition of the car. The soft yet toned skin of his thighs under your arse while you squirmed above. His hands ceasing the rutting of your movements, gripping your hips. Rings already bruising the area with how tight he held on. 

Harshly sucking on your neck, lowering his lips to your ear. “Be a good girl, lay on your back,” he instructed.

Moving off his lap to lay down on the leather seats, you looked up at him nervously. “Won’t he hear us though?”

“Must I remind you, I’m special, darling. I already casted the drivers side to be completely soundproof,” he mused at you, “Assuming that you would be much more vocal tonight.”

Instantly relaxing at his reassurance, nudging his knee to spread your legs open to nestle between them. His tip grazing your entrance, running along your soaked folds. Stretching your walls inch by inch as you grew accustomed to his true size. A cluster of your own screams and moans filling the atmosphere of the car while Loki filled you to the hilt. Your pussy still not used to the girth he held even a couple fucks later.

Loki slowly retracted his cock, leaving just the tip inside before sliding back in with ease. Repeating the action a few times before growing impatient, settling on fucking you senselessly. Thrusting in and out of you, each time being rougher than the last.

“Norns…you’re more than Valhalla,” Loki moaned. His heavy balls slapping against your arse while he pushed your legs up. Loud moans fell from your mouth, chanting his name over and over again like a prayer to God while he fucked you with his cock.

His lips finding their way to your mouth, captivating you in a heated kiss. Biting his lower lip to tangle his tongue with yours, earning a moan from the needy God above you. Allowing his cool hands to roam over your body, lacing your own in his dark locks. Pushing your legs further above your head, he trapped his body flushed against you. Gently biting down on the inside of your thigh. Moaning and gasping in pleasure while he hit your cervix at a deeper angle. Tugging and pulling on the strands of hair with every thrust of his cock, his head buried in the crook of your neck.

Your eyes shutting in content, the coil in your stomach tightening. Snapping them wide open at the sound of gunfire opening around you. Nearly missing the first round. “What the…..” You trailed off.

Searching aimlessly for your pistol. Hearing the sound of him loading his own assault rifle with a fresh magazine. Lokis cock still buried deep inside of your cunt. Ceasing his thrusts for a second while he loaded the magazine, biceps flexing as he loaded the gun.

“My apologies, darling,” he looked down at your briefly before reaching over to lower the window. Aiming his glock with one hand, eyeing with precision before pressing the trigger. Firing a couple rounds at the tailgating sedan that was targeting you.

The sound of explosions being heard, a spark of fire flying up in the view of your window. Your back still laid on the backseat, ankles to your head. Silently praying that your hips would not lock up with how far your legs were spread.

Loki sighing before tossing his gun down, “I believe that I took care of them.” Pulling him closer to capture his lips in yours again, missing the taste of his tongue on yours.

Only to be interrupted by another round of bullets that fired your way, groaning in his mouth. He pulled away, smiling at you apologetically. Picking up his glock again to fire at the new haste car that followed behind. Your arousal growing again while you watched him above you.

His eyes trained on his targets while he fired round after round. Able to hear that he never missed his shot. The last of his bullets firing before he reached down to pick up your pistol, squinting slightly only to pull the trigger.

His tense body relaxing once he looked out to see that they were now the only ones on the road. Tossing the pistol next to him before settling his cock back into you.

“How uncouth of you mortals, I swear. Simply meddling whenever a man’s trying to bury his cock deep inside his woman,” Loki rolled his eyes.

#loki fanfic #loki #loki laufeyson #loki god of mischief #loki (marvel) #tom hiddelston loki #mcu loki #loki x reader #loki x reader smut #loki x reader angst #loki smut #loki x y/n #loki x you #loki x female reader smut #loki x ofc #loki masterlist #loki x female reader #loki x f!reader #mcu imagine #mcu fanfiction #loki imagine #loki fic recs #loki fandom #loki odinson #loki friggason #loki x original female character #loki fic #marvel fanfic #marvel fanfic writer

[ecoamerica]

Watch the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students now: https://youtu.be/5C-bb9PoRLc

The recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by student climate leaders! Join Aishah-Nyeta Brown & Jerome Foster II and be inspired by student climate leaders as we recognize the High School Student finalists. Watch now to find out which student received the $25,000 grand prize and top recognition!

#ACLA24 #ACLA24HighSchoolStudents #youtube #youtube video #climate leaders #climate solutions #climate action #climate and environment #climate #climate change #climate and health #climate blog #climate justice #climate news #weather and climate #environmental news #environment #environmental awareness #environment and health #environmental #environmental issues #environmental education #environmental justice #environmental protection #environmental health #high school students #high school #youth #youth of america #school