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nakedmossy · 4 years

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Depth Over Distance - Part Three [Rudy x Reader]

[A/N: I haven’t found a hometown Rudy fic yet soooo I wrote one. I have no idea where this story is going to go and I’m honestly finding it hard to get out of writing JJ and get into writing Rudy, but here we go anyways. I wanted to write something where the reader and Rudy were hometown friends before he moved to LA, and to explore the idea of how that would change/what it would look like when he comes back. Get ready for a S L O W. B U R N. my dudes. Peace and love, Mossy x]

There were very few people in the world that could make you smile at 7 in the morning when it was raining outside, but Rudy was one of them.

You forced yourself awake as your car wound around the dirt roads, swerving pot holes and washboards, the rain starting to patter lightly on your windshield again. You followed Rudy’s tail lights away from the beach parking lot, your hula girl bobbling on the dash board, and you smiled as you were instantly transported into a flashback of the first time you had followed him down this road.

————

It was the day you bought your car, the week of your sixteenth birthday, and Rudy had asked you to meet him out at the beach alone in the afternoon before your party later that night. You had driven your car to the parking lot where his old beaten down and barely drivable Chevy was parked and pulled in beside him. He applauded graciously as you got out of the drivers seat and you took a deep bow, laughing.

“Look at this absolute TANK!” He said, taking his sunglasses off and walking around the car, inspecting it. It must have passed his inspection because he got up off the ground after looking under the wheel wells and wiping the dirt off his knees, beaming. “Its perfect”

“Isn’t it?” You gushed, unable to contain the smile plastered on your face. “I can’t believe its mine. It feels so weird.”

“Come on” Rudy bumped your arm with his and grabbed his pack out of the box of his truck. You followed him down the trail, jogging lightly to keep up with his long, comfortable stride. When you got to the beach, he laid a blanket out and patted for you to sit down beside him, you had been telling him about how the car drove and all its quirks you had noticed and how sticky the gear shift was, and didn’t notice when he pulled two beers out of his pack.

“Oh” You said quietly, stopping talking and staring at him. “Rudy, I can’t. I have to drive to my party after this.”

Rudy smiled at you and chucked the beer underhand at you so you had to catch it. Your eyes wide, you looked around, checking to make sure nobody was watching.

“Relax, Y/N. I will drive in front of you...if anything happens ill get stopped first.” He winked at you, knowing that one beer wouldn’t get either of you in trouble but knowing how conscious you were, and cracked his can. You apprehensively cracked your own, some of the spray from it being shaken up landing on your bare legs. You clinked cans and smiled at each other. Rudy looked at you intently and dipped his head towards you.

“To you. My wonderful best friend. I hope you have the best night ever. Happy Birthday. Congrats on the car. Can’t wait to christen it-”

“RUDY!” You smacked his arm and laughed until your face was beat red. “Cheers”

He echoed you and you both lifted your cans, drinking a few gulps. It was hoppy and made your throat burn, you squinted and shook your head.

“-AND, and,” He tipped his can towards you. “I have a present for you.”

“No.” You looked at him, feigning anger. “You know the rules. We don’t do presents...”

He ignored you and smiled cheekily, lifting a box out of his pack. Unwrapped and the cardboard torn, you snorted as he passed it to you. You hoped he mistook your blushing for the beer making you flush. As you opened the box, you could feel your legs tingling and your chest pumping quicker. Rudy had never given you a gift before - you had agreed as kids that you weren’t going to be those friends. This felt weird and intimate. First you saw the black hair and the green skirt, then the lai and the bikini top. You looked up at him and raised your eyebrows before you started laughing.

“Oh really, Rudy. Really, you shouldn’t have. Thank you.” You mocked sincerity, putting a hand on your chest. “So thoughtful...I just...”

“Alright shut up” He laughed, tearing the box up and stuffing it back in his pack.

You smiled genuinely at him, and held the dashboard hula girl gently in your hands.

“Thank you” You said without laughing now, making Rudy wiggle his nose and shift his position on the blanket, scratching his hand through his hair nervously.

“Well. You know...no beater is complete without one.” He said with mock seriousness.

“Hey! She’s not a beater. She’s...just...very well loved.” You emphasized the last words, hoping to convey how loved you felt at that moment.

You smiled at each other now, then the smiles faded and you held each others gazes silently. You couldn’t tell if it was the beer or the sunset or Rudy’s cologne or the proximity of how close you sat on the blanket, but the air shifted between you and you felt your head loosen on your shoulders. It was as if Rudy was leaning towards you, but you felt wobbly so you couldn’t be sure. All you knew was that he was staring at you, your eyes, your lips, and your chest was pounding and you felt light headed.

You swallowed and broke eye contact, looking at the water.

“We should probably get going. Can’t be late to our own party.” You smiled at him, his eyes still lingered on your mouth then hazily looked back up at your eyes and returned the smile.

“Yeah” He agreed, then stood quickly, offering you his hand to help you up.

You white knuckled the steering wheel the entire drive from the beach to your house, the hula girl on the dash wiggling in between Rudy’s tail lights.

————

You blinked and looked at the road again, Rudy’s rental car tail lights disappearing around the corner onto his street. You looked at the hula girl and stretched your hands out on the steering wheel, your palms sweaty.

You pulled into his driveway behind his car as he emerged from the drivers seat, taking his sunglasses off and hanging them off the neck of his shirt. You shoved the gear stick into park and reefed on the e-brake (you couldn’t trust the brakes on flat land let alone a slight hill) as Rudy walked towards your car, waiting near the hood. He placed his hand on it and smiled, you watched as you took off your seatbelt and opened your door.

“What, did you miss her?” You asked sarcastically as he feigned shock and lifted his hand to his chest.

“Of course I did” He bumped your elbows together when you stepped in beside him and you both started towards his front door.

His house hadn’t changed a lick since you were there last - you stopped visiting a few months after Rudy left, even though his mom invited you over every single time she saw you. The gutters were still rusting and the front door looked like you could kick it in if you tried hard enough. You spent more time at this house than you did at your own in high school, and walking up to it was like muscle memory, you knew to sidestep the root in front of the first step, to skip to the third step because the second was rotten and your foot would go through it.

Rudy’s mom was already coming down the hall towards the front door, making all sorts of noises and probably crying, and you could hear the family dogs scuttling on the hardwood around her feet.

“Good lord, my boy.” His mom stopped in the frame between the main door and the screen door, then she broke into hysterics, throwing the screen open and pulling him into a huge, very Rudy bear hug. He came by them honestly. He looked at you like he needed help before she turned her attention to you and did the same thing.

“Hi Mrs Pan-Hi, yep hello-“ She squeezed you so hard you felt your back crack.

“Mom - you literally see her once a week, chill.”

Rudy was laughing but also courteously trying to pry his mother back inside the house. It was true - she did see you every week when she came into the bookstore to pick up her newspapers and magazine subscriptions, but it didn’t matter. She was like a second mother to you and always made you feel like it was the most exciting day in the world when you came to visit.

When you finally made it into the kitchen, you and Rudy sat down at the barstools as his mom flew back into whatever she was making, both of you knowing better than to get in her way when she was cooking. She started talking to Rudy about how the trip had been and how much of a ‘weiner that Alan was, messing up your schedule like that’. Rudy placed his phone on the counter and the screen lit up briefly - showing over 20 missed calls from someone who’s name started with an A. The screen went dark before you could read it. Wow - he really was famous. Or had a stalker.

You watched Rudy and his mom convalescing over their separation (his parents flew to LA to see him at Christmas every year since he had left, but still) and felt yourself relax into your seat, smiling. Watching her rolling dough and washing fresh berries, smelling the spices and being in the same seats you had spent numerous summer mornings in in high school, you actually felt somewhat hungry.

Rudy’s mom passed you a cup of fresh coffee and you nodded a thank you at her as you began to sip it, listening to their conversation shift from how the trip was to how his acting classes were going to how Anna was doing. Anna? The name jogged your brain and you realized that was who the missed calls had been from. Rudy’s face dropped and his eyes flitted to your briefly, you lowered your cup from your mouth and held his gaze, then he regained composure and smiled at you before looking back to his mom.

“Uh, yeah. Yeah no she’s good. Actually I was gonna talk to you about that later.” His eyebrows rose and he smiled shortly at her, to which she made a confused expression and continued.

“But I thought-”

“Mom. Later.” He said finally, cutting her off. She nodded once and returned to her dough, continuing to talk to him about some of the things they had lined up while he was home. You barely heard a word she said, your gut was screaming at you that something was off about the way Rudy had reacted to her bringing up this Anna person and how odd it was he had so many missed calls from her. His body had gone completely rigid, and he had completely dodged the conversation, like he was keeping her a secret. You and Rudy had never kept secrets. Besides, if he had told his mom about a girl, it was serious. He hadn’t even told her about his high school girlfriend and they had dated for over 4 months. Why was he being shady now?

Then it hit you, and you felt like an ignorant little girl. It had been 4 years since he was home, he lived in LA and was a professional actor. He led an entirely different life that you knew nothing about now. It had been so easy, so comforting, to slip back into your old routine with him, being in his family home, visiting with his mom. But it wasn’t the same as it had been before, you were both different people now. Of course he had been with girls, was probably with girls right now, apparently her name was Anna, and who were you to him? His high school best friend? He didn’t owe you an explanation. But it did feel like a mistake coming here, expecting everything to just... be as it was. You felt silly.

As his mom brought plates of food to the table and motioned for you to sit with her, you grabbed your phone out of your pocket and checked the time. It was just after 8am.

“Actually, Mrs Pankow, I would love to stay but I’m actually not super hungry and I have to help my dad get ready for this trip he has coming up this weekend...it was really nice to see you though.” You rushed your words and scurried towards her, forcing her into a hug and then separating and moving towards the door, walking backwards as you talked.

“Wait, but honey I made you a plate.” She stood, confused, looking at you while holding the tongs.

“I know I’m so sorry, I just didn’t realize the time. I’ll see you soon, though. Promise. Bye Rudy”

As you spoke you spoke only to her, avoiding Rudy’s eyes which were watching you intently as he rose from his seat. You put your back against the screen and apologized again before pushing through it and jogging back down the stairs, tripping on the root at the bottom and walking quickly towards your car. You heard the screen door slam as Rudy called your name from behind you.

“Hey, Y/N, woah woah woah.” He was behind you before you reached your car, his hand wrapped around your arm. “Where are you going?” He spun you to face him, his face full of concern.

You smiled, tight-lipped, and nodded to your car.

“I lost track of time. I have to go.” You said curtly, waiting for him to let your arm go.

“Look if its about the food...I mean, you don’t have to...” He looked down at your arm, that was so devoid of fat and muscle anymore that his hand could wrap fully around it, and frowned.

You let out a breath and looked around, pinching the bridge of your nose before speaking.

“Its not that, Rudy. I just...I need to go. I’m sorry.” You backed away, tugging your arm free as you walked towards your car again, your face hot and feeling embarrassed. Of course he would think it was about you not wanting to eat.

“Y/N wait” He said hurriedly, jogging to catch up to you and pressing your door closed as you began to open it. You looked up at him now, his eyes were intensely focused on you.

“What’s going on?” He was scanning your face, desperate. You felt yourself crumbling being this close to him and feeling him watching you so intensely. His expression faltered and his features relaxed. “Please talk to me” he said quietly.

You took a step back, away from your door, and let out a breath, swatting a mosquito away.

“I don’t know Rudy, I just....a lot has changed since you left. A lot. And I can’t just waltz around and pretend like we’re still in high school and nothing is different. We’re different...and...I mean if there are some parts of your life that you don’t want to share with me then that’s fine, but-“

“Hold on, what are you talking about?” His brow furrowed and he narrowed his eyes, taking a step towards you.

You raised your eyebrows at him and looked around, putting your hands in your pockets.

“You don’t have to...hide...stuff. From me. Of all people.” You said slowly, urging him to pick up on it so you wouldn’t have to say it. He looked stunned. “Anna?” You finally relented, taking half a step back.

His shoulders relaxed and a small smile crept onto his face, then a small laugh.

“My agent?” He said in a half mocking tone. “Anna is my agent.”

“Oh. Oh...that’s...weird” You felt the gears in your head turning slowly, trying to think if you had ever heard her name before or maybe it was normal to fool around and date your agents in LA? “You’re seeing your agent?” You said sceptically, trying not to look too judgemental.

He let out a full belly laugh then.

“No I’m not dating my agent, you loser. I just didn’t want to...talk about work yet. Its all my mom ever wants to talk about and I’m kinda trying to...have a few hours to relax first.” He said quietly, his eyebrows raised as he watched you, ready to laugh again at any moment.

You rolled your eyes and looked at your feet, nodding and pursing your lips.

“Yeah alright laugh it up. I don't know...you just seemed really on the spot when your mom brought her up. It was weird.”

He looked around and put his arms up, resting his hands on his head before his eyes settled back on you. He licked his lips and took a step towards you, dropping his hands to his sides.

“Look. There are some things about work I haven’t shared with my mom yet, and probably never will. And what I said on the beach this morning...about needing to come home for awhile. I meant that. Its...complicated. And trust me, please trust me when I say that I want to share that with you but....” His eyes were heavy on you then, he set his jaw and stepped towards you. “Y/N, please don’t go yet. I just got here.” He said firmly, his eyes locked on you.

You nodded once, scratching your forehead, and throwing your hands up dramatically.

“Fine. Alright.”

Rudy chewed his cheek and smiled, taking a deep breath and releasing it as his dad appeared on the porch behind him, the screen door squeaking.

“Hey! Kids! My breakfast is getting cold over here!” He shouted, smiling as Rudy turned around to wave at him. Rudy looked back at you once to make sure you were still coming, to which you nodded reassuringly, before he took off and hiked up the steps to greet his dad with a hug.

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Tag List: @bluebirdsbluebells, @sunshinemadds, @lovelymaybankk, @poguestyleskye, @alexa-playafricabytoto, @ilikealotofpeople-younotsomuch, @k-k0129, @kimyeon-tae,

#rudy pankow #reader x rudy #depth over distance #nakedmossywrites #jj maybank #outer banks #obx fanfiction #outer banks fanfiction #obx imagine

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lordxgrinnyxboy · 4 years

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&& watching tgm for the umpteenth time - most of act one

not related to anything specific but DAEMON AU Mojo is Ursus’ Daemon, Dea’s is a bird of some sort, Gwyn’s never Settled

Ms. Brisson’s “lords on palace hill” character appreciation checkpoint. first time i watched i thought that was a whole child but nope it is SHE

Ms. Brisson’s Stokes-Croft Faire character appreciation checkpoint

Ms. Obianyo’s Stokes-Croft Faire character appreciation checkpoint

Every Ms. Obianyo character appreciation checkpoint

one of my favorite parts of Laughter is the Best Medicine is when Bark’s doing his “BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEST” with the drawn-out note and Ms. Obianyo’s just. Staring at him the entire time but then he finishes the note and Mr. Maskell’s character just gives him this quick little glance before the beat drops

The archbishop is the wolf’s head and i think that’s pretty neat

reckon whether Gwyn ever feels some kinda way about the Curtain. With the Grinning Man logo on it. Can they see that in-universe?

i love how bored Ursus seems as he starts to tell the story

also still finding it weirdly endearing how that panel just refuses to go down and Ursus has to do it

Unrelated but Cat Norrell is having his morning nap at the end of my bed and he makes these little whiffles every now and then and curls his lil paws and he is very Soft and Cute

thinking about how since we’re first introduced to them within a performance we don’t actually meet the ‘real’ Gwyn and Dea until like 50 minutes into the show

Also thinking about how we kinda skip the ‘ordinary day’ trope like...we don’t get to see what Gwyn’s like (or many of the other characters) pre-breaking point and therefore have to kind of guess

idk why i just really love the posing when Ursus pulls back the curtains

Dirry-Moir’s face on “and these few lucky strangers” tho

ah. it’s Ursus who says “twenty years ago” while Barkilphedro says “almost exactly twenty years ago”. gotcha.

Quake’s really just out here patrolling i guess. “LONG LIVE THE KING”

“in the far south west” so...oklahoma....

“My son, give him to me-!” “There’s something wrong with his face” you th- you think she doesn’t know, dude?

the lil “no. no.” when they demand to see his face DX

it really looks like the captain almost let him aboard, then changed his mind. kinda like how ursus almost helped him but then changed his mind

Gwyn: “I’ll remember you my whole life long” Ursus: “I shall soon change that”

i love the pause after “through snow and sorrow” where Ursus makes sure to get More Money from Dirry-Moir. i wonder if he pulls this every time they perform or if it’s New

can we stop and even just Appreciate that Gwyn’s even functional enough at this point to walk around in the snow and pick up a baby and keep going, within at most a couple days and as little as a few hours after having his face cut like that, no pain meds to speak of....kid’s a Determinator

BABY NOISES

i know he says “heart” but i always hear “your little hat can find out what it means” and then i’m sad that Gwyn doesn’t actually have a hat

okay but if he wound up in the place where the rebels against King Clarence were hanged that means that unless Barkilphedro took him to a secondary location to cut him, he actually wandered right back to where it all initially happened which ofc has to be taken with a grain of salt since this is Ursus’ version of the story rather than an actual memory but still. if his dad’s corpse is there that means this is also where he was cut.

“They cannot stay here. It’s too dangerous” aye mainly dangerous in that kidlet over there could recognize you and be like “AHHHH!” and then you’d have some explaining to do

“ice tears fell from her eyes” what does that mean Ursus

no but fr “it’s too dangerous” is an interesting choice of phrase

i mean clearly they’ve heard Beauty and the Beast before at some point since Dea picks out the exact puppets and also starts off with “I see you are, said the wicked witch” before reminding Ursus that he’s supposed to be the Wicked Witch and oh my god foreshadowing?? “YOU’RE the wicked witch” hhhhhhhhh

i genuinely love how both kids actually giggle when Ursus agrees to tell the story

The facial expressions from Mr. Angell when Mojo pounces on Ursus :3

oh sh on the note of “we don’t meet the real Gwyn and Dea until about 50 minutes in” it just now hit me how Ursus omits the fact that Gwyn has to keep taking the Crimson Lethe, completely leaves out Gwyn’s recurring pain from the story he tells the audience.

the way they bow before the dance gets me every time

how at the start of their little duet both Gwyn and Dea are making these faces like they’re so confused and a little frightened even

genuinely love Dea’s expressions through the entire thing like Wow

the way when Gwyn touches her face Dea does that tiny laugh and grabs his wrist with both hands

and then he directs her to look toward his face and i mean she can’t look at his eyes but her face at this part i’m weak

after the first kiss Gwyn does that little head motion he tends to do during a nerve attack, just that quick little jerk he sometimes does. ive noticed it before but it’s still like “oH?” every time

the way he looks out at the audience during the hug tho

THE LITTLE SWAY DURING THE SPOON HUG

legit love how Dea does the “given me life” she’s so cute she’s so cute

love how Osric seems just as invested in this show as Dirry-Moir does

Also I Want Osric’s Coat

straight-up just mistook archbishop kupsak for a banana. i’m sorry, archbishop kupsak. i know you are not a banana, but your outfit does kinda look like

they literally put a scythe in the commemorative window

Angelica is babey and i love her send tweet

i would love to know how the writers set about the world building. what is up with “HEE! HOO! HA!” what is the system here

anyway “La Fleur de Jambon” translates to either “the flower of ham” or “the ham flower”

i love Angelica so much

i think it’s interesting how Josiana says she detests the notion of marriage with all her head. usually it would be “with all my heart”

Jojo’s costume is one of my handful of complaints i just. i don’t Like it.

lbr minus the incest and fetishization “I Have Never Seen A Face Like This” is basically all of us trying to get everyone we know to watch this musical

would love to know the writing process regarding the Scorching Thoughts like Dea What Do You Mean also Gwyn just. asking if she thinks they’re ever going to make it to the new world. Stuff Is Already Happening Like Wow

she forgives him real quick but ngl Dea does look genuinely hurt in the feelings when Gwyn first snaps at her

the lil headshake when Ursus says “take your medicine”. Gwyn’s fully allergic to taking medicine on command

kay but Dirry-Moir saying “somebody” drowned instead of. i mean it would be an awkward fit for him to shuffle in an explanation of the whole story but still

Gwyn’s trying so hard to keep it together but he is all out of glue

heck i was gonna try to go all the way through act one but my wifi just noped out. >:{

#tgm #the grinning man

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evdothansen · 7 years

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Fix It (Jelly Legs, Pt. II) – Michael Mell x Heere!Reader

Author’s Note: Part One Here! I would like to say that I’m surprised at the angsty-ish turn this took like,,, that was not my plan. But I think y’all will like it.

Pairing: Michael Mell x Heere!Reader;

Request: not specifically reqquested but that anon did ask for more michael stuff so here i am;

Word Count: 2211;

TW: swearing as usual;

“Look, it’s not what you’re thinking, Jer.” Was the first thing any of you said after a tense moment. Michael looked at his best friend with caution, both hands in front of his body. That had been a specially unlucky statement, for it was probably exactly what Jeremy was thinking. Jeremy crossed his arms and shook his head.

“It’s exactly what I’m thinking, Michael!”

“We were just – ”

“Just what?” Jeremy interrupted him. “Come on, finish that sentence. I wanna hear it.”

Michael staggered for a moment then looked at his feet. You fidgeted with your hands before looking up at your brother. “We were just hanging out, Jeremy.”

He looked at you and you realized he felt betrayed. You hadn’t been scared of your brother like this for years now, although you didn’t think he was right. “Yeah, right. I saw you just, you know, hanging out, Y/N.”

“Bro, look – ”

“Michael, no.” Jeremy cut him off again, getting more pissed by the minute. “I mean, seriously? Y/N, you told me you were going to Christine’s house, and now you call me so I can rush to the hospital and find out you were with Michael? And he broke his leg? And you weren’t just with Michael, you were – you were all over each other!”

“Let’s not exaggerate, please.” You told him with the last bit of sarcasm you had.

“Oh, give me a break!” He threw his hands in the air. “I just found out that my best friend and my little sister have been making out, and I don’t know for how long!”

“We’re in a hospital, Jeremy!” You told him. “Quit the tantrum, for God’s sake!”

“Tantrum? Oh, don’t you –”

“Okay, dude, that’s enough.” Michael told him restrainedly. “You saw something you dislike for some reason, okay. We can talk about it, if you think it’s that big of a deal. Just… Just stop taking it out on Y/N.”

“Oh, so now you’re gonna defend my sister?” Jeremy posed.

“Of course I’m gonna defend your sister, Jeremy.” Michael replied, still calm but visibly not just brave enough to take back your hand. If Jeremy could actually look at his face, he would have seen he was sweating a lot.

“I don’t wanna imagine –”

“Oh, stop.” You cut him off. “I’ve had enough! Look, Jeremiah, your best friend just broke his leg. From what the nurse said, he should be in a good enough amount of pain. He certainly doesn’t need nor deserve your little show about this. Not now, not later. It’s not like you own either of us.”

Jeremy seemed stunned. Silence fell between the three of you for what seemed like an eternity. Then, the door creaked open and the nurse came back in, looking at the three of you awkwardly. He cleaned his throat, looking at Michael’s cast and knocking on it. “Well, Mr. Mell, looks like you’re good to go. They will rent crutches for you at the reception, if so you wish. Now, if your girlfriend could be so kind to take the X-Ray papers, maybe –”

“Jeremy, come on, bro!” Michael called, interrupting the nurse as you brother stormed off the small room. Through the window, he gave you both the middle finger, and Michael sighed audibly.

You rapidly fetched the envelope from the nurse’s hand and helped Michael down the hospital bed where he had been sitting. He put his arm around your shoulder for support, and you two stumbled up to the reception, where he got crutches. While you waited for the woman to finish the paperwork on it, you realized you boyfriend looked pretty beaten. Of course he does, Y/N, you mentally slapped yourself. He broke his leg and now his best friend isn’t talking to him. You subtly took his hand, running your thumb over his knuckles soothingly. “Hey.” You called him, but he didn’t look at you at first. “I’m sorry for this, okay? I’ll make it up to you, I swear. It was a dumb idea, and I’m sorry Jeremy got head over heels about –”

“Y/N.” He chuckled slightly, finally looking up at you. “Don’t lose your mind over this. It wasn’t your fault. Okay, the leg probably was –”

“I’ll let you have that.” You mumbled, smiling a little.

“But it’s not your fault that Jeremy still hasn’t grown up, okay? Or mine.” He told you rather bitter-sweetly, then sighed, intertwining your fingers. “I just wish –”

“It hadn’t happened, I know.” You completed him.

“You Heeres have this annoying habit of cutting people off and being wrong about what they were saying, you know that?” He told you, narrowing his eyes. “Of course not, Y/N. I had one of the best nights in my life. I would redo it all over again, if it meant I’d still be here, with you.” He said, squeezing your hand in reassurance. You blushed a little, looking down at your feet for a moment. “I just – I just wish Jeremy could be ok with this, you know.”

“He will be, even if I have to make him.” You replied, but Michael offered you a sad smile and turned away. “I mean, what arguments does he have? That we’re spending more time together? Fine, then what?”

“Then maybe,” he spoke slowly, still not looking at you. “maybe he doesn’t want or trust a guy like me to be with you.”

It took you a good whole minute to understand what Michael was saying. What did he mean, not trust? Michael was Jeremy's best friend for all his life! You knew Jeremy trusted him more than he trusted you even, that Michael was his favourite person in the world. Then it hit you, heavy like an anchor. All of your little feuds aside, Jeremy loved you and wanted the best only for you. Michael, despite having spent his entire life by your side, didn't think he was enough. You looked at him, surprised. He was still staring at the walls, as if they were telling him something. You could see the pain in his eyes, and something told you it didn't come from his leg.

When you looked at him, you couldn't help but ne flustered. Michael was handsome in his nerdy way, with his naturally tanned skin (although he almost never saw the sun) and pitch black hair. His features were smooth, and you always felt an urge to straighten his glasses. He also happened to be one of the best people you'd ever known – Michael was always there if any of his friends needed them, didn't stress over the status quo and his presence had a calming effect on you. But, for a second, you tried to see Michael as he saw and described himself. A loser in High School, who didn't have any friends except for Jeremy and you. A loner to most of the people, a stoner and a geek who had a special appreciation for old garbage and things said to be lame. Your felt your eyes watering. How could Michael ever – no. You quickly wiped your eyes, squeezing his hand. "Michael, you are –"

And, just then, the woman arrived with his crutches. You helped him up and onto them, and the two of you started wondering how you'd get home when you both saw Jeremy sitting inside the PT Cruiser. Oh, boy, that would be a ride.

Jeremy silently drove until Michael’s house, where all of you hopped out. You helped Michael out and into the house, where he kissed your temple and said it’d be fine, and you should go. You hugged him and gave him the Cruiser’s keys before walking out again.

You and your brother walked back to your house, which thankfully wasn’t that far away. He didn’t say a word until you two reached your porch and you waited for him to open the door. “I don’t have my keys.” Your brother mumbled, and you sighed before ringing the doorbell. “Wait, I thought you had yours with you!”

“Jeremy, I don’t have keys to our house.” You told him bitterly. “Remember? You convinced dad I’m not old enough to be trustworthy.”

“Oh, so now you’re gonna take it out on me?” He protested, and you turned to look at him.

“Yes! Yes, I am, Jeremy!” You yelled, not caring anymore. “You don’t have any rights to act like a jerk about this, and, even if you did, do you know how bad you’re making Michael feel?”

His glare hesitated for a second before he started looking angry again. “The two of you were snuggling behind my back and you’re talking about Michael feeling bad?”

“What is so scandalous about me and Michael dating, anyways, Jeremy?”

“Wait, what do you mean you and Michael are dating?,” a third voice said, and only then you realized your dad had opened the door and was observing both of you.

“D-dad!” You said, taken aback. “Hi!”

“Wait, Y/N, are you and Michael dating?” Your dad ignored it, a smile growing on his face. You not answering probably said enough. “That’s so great, sweetie! He’s a good boy, I’ve always known it.”

You smiled at your dad awkwardly and gave your brother a look. “Yeah, I know, dad. I like him a lot.”

“And, I mean, it’s so good that it’s Michael, because he’s Jeremy’s best friend since pre-school and we know and trust him, right?” Your dad added enthusiastically, trying to maintain a conversation despite the facts that you and Jeremy were still standing outside, it was dark and he was not wearing any pants. You gave your brother another look, but he was now staring at the floor.

“Yeah, why don’t you tell Jeremy that, dad?” You said as sweetly as you could, and he finally seemed to realize something was up. “Because he seems to have forgotten it.”

“Oh.” Your father said. “You two were fighting. Why – why don’t we all come in? As – as your dad, I probably –”

“Don’t bother, dad.” You told him with a genuine smile, entering your homeroom and leaving your coat by the hanger. Jeremy followed you and your father closed the door. “Jeremy just mistook his ass for a hat, it’s not your fault.”

“T-that was a little inappropriate, Y/N.” Your dad tried to reprehend you.

“Let her be, dad.” Jeremy said, looking beaten. “She… She’s right.”

“What is that?” You asked, furrowing your brow.

“You’re right, ok?!” He yelled at you, and you took a step back. “I’ve been an asshole to you the whole night. Neither you nor Michael deserve it.”

“Is that supposed to be an apology?”

“Ok, I know, I don’t deserve it.” He told you hurriedly, and you kept your hands on your hips. “It’s just… You just… You caught me by surprise! Michael never told me nothing, and Michael tells me everything. I never realized you liked him, and we live in the same house! I wasn’t – I wasn’t waiting for it.”

“That’s still not a good enough reason to yell at me inside a hospital and make your best friend feel like crap, Jeremy!” You told him, still a little mad. “Did you know he thinks he isn’t enough? Michael doesn’t exactly have a great self-esteem and you know it, do you think you made his situation any better by yelling at him when you saw us kissing?”

“Wait, you and Michael were kissing inside a hospital?” Your dad interrupted, and Jeremy turned to him.

“Yes, they were! Anyone would have freaked out!” Jeremy defended himself, and you exploded.

“No, not anyone! Anyone would’ve acted normally, except for the one person Michael needed to act normally and supportively at that moment – you! His best friend, my brother!”

None of you said anything for a while. You stared at Jeremy angrily, but you were becoming more upset and less mad at the situation. Your eyes started watering as he continuously stared at the ground, a million things going through his mind. You could see regret growing bigger inside his eyes. Your father just looked from one to the other, as discreetly as you could.

“Okay.” Jeremy finally said. “I fucked up, you’re right. I’ll make it up to both of you, Y/N, I swear.”

You wiped a single tear from your cheek, reaching for your phone as it vibrated inside your pocket. “Yeah, you better.” You told him, and then looked at the screen. When you read the incoming text, you felt a knot coming up your throat. It was a text from Michael. You let out a sob and shoved the phone into Jeremy’s hands, biting your lips as you choked back the tears. He read it aloud.

“Hey, Y/N. Look, Jeremy’s probably right. You deserve better than your brother’s best friend, a complete loser, ok? Keep that in mind, make things less hard and please don’t try to call.” Your brother looked up at you and opened his mouth, but you took your phone back and ran as fast as you could to the bathroom in the corridor. “Y/N! Y/N, come back! I’ll fix it, I – I promise!” His voice broke and faded as you locked the door, falling into the ground.

#be more chill #be more chill imagine #bmc #bmc imagine #michael mell #jeremy heere #michael mell x reader #michael mell imagine #george salazar #will connolly #my writing

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