#slow burn pack mom

[toxicanonymity]

it's hard (stepdad one shot)

3k words, stepdad!joel x f!reader

“Can I tell ya somethin'?” He whispers. “What?” You ask. He takes a deep breath. He scoots back, making room for you to roll onto your back and look up at him. His face is serious. He takes off his glasses and reaches to put them on the side table. His eyes are always browner than you remember. 

SUMMARY: You're at their house xmas wk. WARNINGS: I8+ stepcest, angst, pining, fluff, possessive!joel, sneaking around, outercourse, unsafe p in v, mess of cum. reader can sit on him. Mood board is for mood. A/N: Title is an album by The Who.

It’s Christmas week, only a few days after your first time with Joel, and you’re staying at their house. You show up later than you said you would, and Joel has already asked where you are. The truth is, you're nervous. You’re not sure you want to have sex in their house, and you’re also not sure you can resist.  It’s too mortifying to think about getting caught. There are plenty of other places you can do it–your apartment, a motel, a car. You’re trying to be smart and slow down. 

When you show up, your mom’s car isn’t there. Joel is in the kitchen wearing his standard gray joggers, a tight white tee, and socks with coconuts on them. No shoes. He lights up when you walk in. "Hey," you mutter and he replies in kind as you close the door behind you. You survey the living room where there’s a pillow and blankets on the sofa, and you pity him for a moment.  

“Oh,” he goes over to the christmas tree and plugs in the multicolor lights. “Merry Christmas week.” You stand there with your bags, not really sure what you’re doing, or feeling. He approaches you cautiously. 

You look at each other for a few seconds until you're both comfortable that the other still feels the same way. 

“I'll take those,” Joel finally offers. As he takes the bag off your shoulder, he gives you a peck on the cheek. “Good to see you,” he mumbles. His shirt rides up as he slings the bag over his shoulder and you follow him upstairs. He glances back and teases, “Caught ya lookin’.”

Once you make it to your bedroom you ask, “where's mom?” 

“Grabbin’ dinner. Guess we’ll eat when she's back.”  He puts the bags down on your bed and steps toward you. You don’t step away. He gently pulls you into a hug. You inhale his scent as his arms wrap around you. 

The embrace lingers, and you can't ignore the warmth of his mostly-soft package pressing against you. 

You begin to whisper, “I don't think we should. . .”  trailing off when you realize you're not sure where to draw the line. Every second in his arms, you're less and less sure. 

“Okay,” Joel murmurs. He kisses you on the cheek–slower, more tender than his initial greeting. “Whatever you want,” he adds. He presses his lips into your cheek again, and they linger for a moment before he drags them away. 

“Fuck,” you whisper to yourself, then pull away, cheeks burning as his arms reluctantly loosen and his hands slide down, skimming your sides as you step back. 

“I'm gonna unpack,” you mutter, glancing at your luggage, cheeks warm. 

“Yeah,” Joel scratches one side of his beard. “Okay.” 

One day at a time. Have some self-control. You pull yourself away. 

He nods, looks down, and turns around to leave. His back is sooo broad.  You want to reach out and run your hand over his muscles, but you know you wouldn't stop there.

You lock the door behind him and hope it isn't too offensive. As soon as he’s out, you exhale. You lay down on your bed.  You open your nightstand drawer and your heart flutters at a box with a bow on it, and your name in his handwriting. Under it, there's a new pack of batteries. 

You wonder if he's about to jerk off, but you don't wait to find out. You close your eyes and imagine him coming back through the door, unable to resist.

—------------- 

Your Mom comes home with Thai food and the three of you sit down to dinner together. Your mom makes small talk while Joel makes a mess of the pad thai trying to serve himself. Noodles are dragging behind, tethering the pile on his plate to the main container.  Your mom bristles at this in her peripheral vision. 

“So,” your Mom puts on her best interested face and asks you,“Swipe right on anyone lately?” 

Joel scoffs silently. 

“Not many,” you answer. Every time she talks to you, your heart races like you’re about to walk into a trap. This is your own doing, and you know it. 

“How many guys are on there, anyway?”

“A lot.” 

“Can I see?”

It doesn’t even occur to you to say no. 

You open tinder and slide your phone over. “Just swipe left.” 

Joel’s chewing slows down as he stares at the dating app open on your phone. Your stomach drops.

You hadn’t used it at all this week. You would’ve deleted it if you thought about it, but you’re so used to ignoring the notifications. You look at Joel apologetically as your Mom keeps swiping left.

Joel’s nostrils flare, and his breaths become faster. He swallows and doesn’t take another bite. He taps his chopsticks on his plate. 

“Oh,” your Mom addresses you. “You know who’s single?” She looks up from your phone. Joel takes a deep breath and looks at her with his brow furrowed. 

“Harold, down the street.”

“What the hell would she want with Harold?” Joel snaps. 

Your mom chuckles. “What’s wrong with Harold?” 

Her phone rings. Joel puts his chopsticks down and clasps his hands behind his chair to stretch his back. As soon as your Mom stands up from the table, he leans forward and takes your phone. 

“What’s this about?” he asks flatly.  It’s still open to tinder. His jaw clenches. He looks into your messages. At least he can see you haven’t sent any. 

“I forgot I even had it,” you explain. 

He goes to the home screen. “Good, you won’t mind.” He holds down the app and presses uninstall.

“What else ya got?” he starts scrolling your apps.

He goes on instagram and opens a picture of you in a mildly low cut dress. He deletes it and opens another picture. His breathing is still agitated. 

“Hey,” you reach for your phone. “What the hell?” You take it from his hand. “Are you gonna act even crazier now?” 

His brow furrows and he stares at the table, then meets your eyes and swallows. “I dunno.” His face softens as he looks at you.

Then he gets pensive and asks, “What do you think of Harold?” 

You roll your eyes. “I don’t think about Harold at all.” You pocket your phone and get up from the table. 

“Wait, where ya goin’?”

“Meeting a friend for coffee.”

He’s rubbing his beard like he’s trying not to say anything, but he blurts out, “What friend?”

“Emma. . . Jesus.” 

On your way out of the neighborhood, you pass Harold’s house. It feels like every time you drive by in the daylight, he's struggling to bring some kind of delivery inside - Amazon boxes, or even donuts and iced coffee. Tonight he's sitting at his kitchen table alone, wrapping a present.

—--

When you’re at the cafe with Emma, Joel texts you, Sorry.

It’s ok, you reply. 

It's a struggle not to tell Emma what's going on, but you don't. You tell her you’re seeing someone but don't want to jinx it by saying too much.

When you get home, he’s in the kitchen casually leaning with his butt and hands against the counter.  “How ‘bout some egg nog?” 

“No thanks,” you tell him, but you linger. 

“We good?” he asks, quieter. You nod as you take off your jacket, then put it in the coat closet. 

When you turn around, he’s right in your space. His eyes are red and his hair is messier than earlier, giving you a rush of desire.

“Sorry,” he repeats and reaches for your head.

You don’t pull away.

He cradles the back of your head as he hugs you loosely. You let your hands lightly skim his hips, then wrap around him. It would be a harmless hug in a different family. Until he pulls his head back, then rubs his nose against yours. You close your eyes and take a deep breath, nostrils filling with his aftershave. Then a toilet flushes in the background, and you break apart. 

“I’m going to read,” you mumble. His fingertips skim your ass as you walk away. 

—------------- 

You’re lying in bed later, still reading, when Joel sends you a snapchat. The notification makes you tingle, but when you open it, it’s not him. It’s the TV downstairs with the title card of Krampus. You get out of bed and pad over to your mom's room. You crack the door open, and she's passed out. 

You go downstairs.

Joel is lying on his side on the sofa. You and he are wearing the same pajamas you got for Christmas last year. The Christmas tree casts the room in a dim, cozy light. 

He welcomes you under his arm. Just a little cuddling, you lie to yourself.

Without much hesitation, you settle in as a small spoon so you're both facing the tv. He runs his hand up and down your side before dangling his arm over your waist.  The bulge in his pants is barely grazing you, until you push your ass back and he inhales sharply, then cups your breast, using his forearm across your torso to bring you closer. His nose nudges your neck and you can feel him inhaling your scent. His warm package nudges your ass. It's the first time you've felt him soft, like really felt him. It's still quite a bulge.

He's not soft for long. Soon he’s lightly grinding against you, hard and getting harder as the movie quietly plays. His hand leaves your breast, skimming down your soft pajama top to its bottom hem. His fingers creep under the shirt and when they hit your bare skin, the shock of arousal has you thinking very stupid thoughts. Like, maybe you should ride him on this couch, come what may. You stop his hand from going any further up your shirt. 

His arm relaxes in defeat. 

You gently take his hand out from under your shirt and bring it near your breast, where it was. Instead, he covers your hand with his and interlaces his fingers. His thumb brushes yours at a slow rhythm, and the butterflies in your chest nearly make you forget what you're trying to resist until his cock twitches against you.

He takes his hand back only for a moment to adjust himself, then his hand returns to yours. His arm wraps tighter over you. Against your back, his chest expands with each breath. The rhythmic stroke of his thumb lulls you half-asleep. 

“Can I tell ya somethin?” He whispers. 

“What?” You ask. 

He takes a deep breath. He scoots back, making room for you to roll onto your back and look up at him. His face is serious. He takes off his glasses and reaches back to put them on the side table. His eyes are always browner than you remember. 

“I wanna do this every night,” he says. 

Your heart flutters. You turn on your side to face him. 

“I mean it,” his eyes are somber. He lays his hand on your side. He takes in a shaky breath. “I'm miserable without you.” 

“I'm right here.” 

He shakes his head. “I need all of you.” 

You look at each other for a few seconds in the light of the Christmas tree. There's not much to say. 

“Me too,” you whisper. His nose twitches and he shakes his head like you don't get it.

“What I’m tryin’ to say is. . .I’d ruin my life for you, if it wouldn't ruin yours, too.”

You read each other's eyes for a long moment.

“What life,” you whisper.

His eyes brighten. “That's how I feel.”  His gaze falls to your lips. “We’ll get a new one.” 

You want to kiss him, but don't want to end up naked. First you warn,  “I don't wanna take off any-”  

He cuts you off with his lips. They’re soft and needy. Then his hand runs down your side, over your ass, and his fingers dig into your flannel-clad thigh. You hike your knee up and wrap your leg around him. The hard shape in his pants presses right against your most sensitive place. “Mm,”  you moan softly into his mouth.

You’re throbbing for him. So turned on. His tongue slides against yours and he feeds on your mouth as he grinds against you. His dick is fat and hard and warm.

As you move against each other, pangs of pleasure dart to your nipples, your ass, your chest. He's so hard. Your body flutters on the edge of bliss but stays there. He grabs the plush of your ass, pulling you harder against him. You break the kiss with a gasp, and he latches onto your neck. 

With a push of his hips, he moans into your neck then whispers, “can't wait to be inside you again.” you throb and gush at the thought. He grinds against you a little harder, needier, but just as slow. “Fuck, you feel good.” He rolls over on his back, bringing you on top of him. Then he sits up and lifts your knees so your legs wrap around him and you hang onto his neck.

“God I wanna fuck you like this,” he whispers, holding you against him. His cock swells harder. You're throbbing madly. You card your fingers into his hair and he groans at your fingertips on his scalp. His strong arm holds you against him with his hips lifting under you. 

“Me too,” you whisper, your legs pulling yourself closer, harder. You groan softly. “Want you inside me—fuck, just like this.”

“Can ya feel it,” he asks, “ohhh–cause I still feel it–god–every time I close my eyes.” He moans as his stiff manhood twitches against you. Your clit pulses and you gasp. He covers your mouth with a kiss as you come. Everything else fades away. His lips break away with a shudder as he explodes against you through the soft flannel, pulsing hard. Your chest flutters at the feeling.

When you're both done, he lets you back onto the sofa, and resumes his position on his side. He pulls you back against him with a sigh. You're pleasantly surprised that you don't feel a bigger mess against your back.

“Shit,” he mutters after a minute.

“What?”

“‘s’not your problem.” 

“Say it.” You roll on your back to look at him.

His cheeks flush. “M’not empty.” 

Your heart skips a beat.

“Not your problem,” he repeats, but you’re already pulling down your waistband. Yeah, it’s. . .not a problem at all.

You turn on your side again, facing the tv. You reach back into his pants, and your breath hitches at the mess of cum enrobing his slowly softening dick.

“Do it,” you whisper, and tilt your hips for him.

He quickly notches his cum smeared dick at your entrance, no longer fully hard, but hard enough. He presses on your mound as he plunges into you, dividing your insides with a sigh. “Fuck,” he breathes. Your chest feels light as your body makes space for him. 

You close your eyes as he further stiffens, growing inside you, pressing against your walls. His hand slides up your top. He gropes your breast as he retreats, then bottoms out again. Within a few strokes, he’s as stiff as ever, and you’re as full as ever. 

He pauses, fully seated inside you, throbbing. He covers you both with a blanket. You're relieved there's another one beneath you. He breathes against your ear as his hand meanders under your top again. “Inside?” 

“Yeah,” You nod.  

“Where it should be,” he pants. He moans as he slowly fucks you.

“Want it all,” you beg, getting closer and closer with the tight drag of him within you.

He adjusts his position, sliding his arm under your neck so he can grope you with both hands, hugging you tight against him.

"'s'all I think about," he whispers. "Ungghhh---when I wake up---ohh--when I go to sleep."

He moans softly and his hands feel you greedily, "whenever you're ready."

“Fuck,” you whisper. He buries himself in you slow and deep. His breath is hot on your neck. You push back on him, swallowing every inch he’ll feed your drooling cunt. He buries his mouth and nose against your head. The Christmas lights are blurry in the corner of your eye.

“Feel so perfect,” he pants. He rubs your clit and you still his hand. He withdraws part way and pauses with his tip nudging just the right spot. He just barely rocks his hips, staying right there, rubbing over it, not letting up.

You gasp and tighten with tension, then sigh as you gush on him.

“Yeah,” he pants, presses your mound for leverage, and bottoms out as you choke his cock.

He sighs and begins to pulse with even more power than you remember. A huge burst of warmth, followed by a smaller twitch, another massive burst, a slow thrust. It keeps coming, and so do you. His breaths are heavy against you, his stomach flexing into your back as he empties his load. You're overflowing with cum. Your climax wanes, and he's still pulsing even once he's dry.

It finally stops, and he rests inside.

-

You catch your breath, and the smell of sex hangs so heavy in the air that dread bubbles in your chest. You pull yourself forward, letting his cock fall out.

“Shit,” you mutter at the mess between your legs. You pull your pants up. He squeezes your hip affectionately as you sit up.

He sits up on his elbow and tucks away his worn out cock. He takes a deep breath and searches your eyes.

You don't know what to say. You reach back to feel the blanket – soaked. “This is. . .we can’t do this again.”

He whispers your name, sits up and rests one hand on your back, one on your thigh. His chest is heaving like he's waking up from a nightmare. “What happened,” he whispers. “Talk to me.”

“Here. We can't do this here.”

He sighs and swallows. “Okay,” he whispers. “Sorry.”

“You know how to use the washer, right?”

“Yeah. I've got it. Of course.”

You take off your pajama bottoms.

“You okay ?” He asks.

You nod. You yearn to lay with him, but you’re also compelled to leave that room.

You read his face and the worry on it makes your heart hurt.

“It's okay,” you whisper, then kiss him good night. It's a long, soft kiss, and he doesn't want to let you go. “It’s okay, I promise,” you assure him.

You creep up the stairs pantsless. The air is cool on the cum between your thighs until more warmth trickles out.

You clean up in your bathroom and hear the washer turn on downstairs. You can't get his pitiful look out of your head. You send him a chat when you get back in bed: Good night ❤️.

Sweet dreams ❤️🤟, he replies.

—---

----

----

Thank you for reading!

PSA - The main story to stepdad is over, and I don't commit to another arc of them, but the AU is still open for one shots, asks, HCs, whatever I get inspired on. Basically I want it to be more casual without expectations.

There will be another post this month, because I already wrote the smut.

@silkiers @eiviea @evyiione @queerly-anxious @chernayawidow @ambassadortotrilliusprime @fandomsfallnomore @djarinxore @blackvelveteen1339 @manazo @taeslarityy @str84pedro @lokanda  @kyloispunk @filthfairy @fieryglutenfreechickennoodles @harriedandharassed @moonlightdivine @worhols @fan-fiction-floozy @cutesyscreenname   @weddingfairy @pedropascal-whore @spideysimpossiblegirl @feministfanboi @prettypartyfavor @am-3-thyst @babeincolor @switchbladedreamz @within-the-depths @may-machin @sloanexx @paleidiot @yourmistysecret @bean-is-reading @rainstorms-library @nervousmumbling

#stepdad!joel #stepdad!joel miller #joel miller x reader #joel miller smut #joel miller x female reader #toxicanonymity ☠️ #tw stepcest

[greenandsorrow]

"Boytoy"

WARNINGS; 18+, shameless smut, ken x fem!reader, reader uses she/her pronouns, praise k!nk, size k!nk, virgin!ken, switch!reader, sub!ken, dom!ken, the plot doesn't connect with the movie, kinda slow burn, grammar mistakes

Part 1

"you're a doll, you are flawless"

~flawless, the neighborhood~

Y/n has finally graduated from high school. Not only that, but thanks to her hard work, she's been admitted to a prestigious university only two hours away from her parents' house.

Still, even though the distance between her childhood home and her new school is not that important, y/n is currently packing and will soon be moving into her new, small studio apartment.

It's late in the morning and she's going through her old toys, preserved in cardboard boxes at the back of her closet. Her y/h/c hair's on a bun and she's wearing sweatpants.

Earlier the same morning, with her mom's priceless help, she had managed to go through her desk, bookshelf and drawers, organising, packing or simply putting away all the stuff that has been collected in her bedroom the last eighteen years.

"A dozen Barbie dolls and only one Ken.", she thinks aloud as she's tackling the last box, filled with childhood memories.

Ken is staring at her from the bottom of the box and y/n almost feels guilty at how much she used to ignore him during her childhood play time.

In one impulsive motion she picks him up, while observing his perfect abs, blonde hair contradicting the tan colour of his skin and his cute set of beach wear (stripped shorts and open flannel in pink and blue pastels).

"Poor guy, I've been unfair to you, haven't I?", she chuckles mostly to herself.

~~

At around six in the afternoon y/n's done with packing. She's actually driving to her new place as we speak. What's more, she unconsciously threw Ken in her backpack and is now carrying him along with her. Not that he would complain if he knew.

Y/n's Ken doll has been a part of her toy collection since she was six (she stopped playing with dolls at nine). Unlike her beloved Barbie dolls, Ken's never been y/n's favourite. He's always been just.... there. He was simply included in a Barbie set that her parents gifted her with, at her sixth birthday.

Back at Barbieland, Ken has been facing the consequences of his owner's ignorance for as long as he can remember. While all of y/n's Barbies are confident and spending their days living happily ever after (the aftermath of y/n's love and attention), Ken has always been the black sheep. He isn't exactly bursting with confidence. Neither does he own a Dream house. He's also never invited to the parties the Barbies are often having and to say the least, Ken is lonely. He wishes he could say that he enjoys being by himself most of the time, but without even another Ken, his existence seems pointless.

Ken used to cherish the sporadic attention he would get during y/n's early years in life. An outfit change, a walk at the beach or a small talk with one of the Barbies, guided by his owner was all he needed to feel somehow included (or that's what he always tried to convince himself).

Ken, with his limited knowledge regarding the real world, had concluded that the lack of what little attention he was receiving, was due to the fact that the little girl whose possession he was in, had now turned into a young lady. And having the Barbies as an example of how a lady is, he wasn't surprised that the girl had no use for him whatsoever.

~~

Y/n wakes up in the morning, feeling groggy and disoriented. She wishes she could blame that on the environment change, but the truth is, last night she had a rather strange dream.

Y/n's pov:

She had reached her destination at about eight in the evening. After discussing some final details with her unexpectedly sweet landlady, she called her mom to inform her that she's alright and has settled in. Y/n had also managed to unpack most of her things, including her Ken doll that was laying on her desk when she changed into her matching pyjama set and got comfy in the warmth of her brand new, king sized bed.

After such a long day, y/n was equally drained both physically and mentally. The prospect of living alone, without the comfort of her parents' presence, was already enough to trouble her poor brain. On top of that, classes started tomorrow, leaving y/n no time to adjust to her new living conditions. And don't get me started on the actual unpacking and settling in process! All these heavy boxes, suitcases and IKEA furniture had gotten the best of y/n. Obviously, as soon as she found a comfortable position to sleep in, she immediately drifted off.

Y/n's sleep was disturbed by a shuffling sound, coming from the other side of the room. Normally, under any other circumstances, she would be terrified to spot the dark figure of a tall, strong looking man, staring at her in the middle of the night, after probably having broken into her apartment. However that was not the case. In her state of sleepiness and dizziness, her focus fading in and out of consciousness, her brain fuzzy and not entirely awake, y/n didn't feel any amount of fear but translated the image in front of her as part of a dream.

And what was this image in front of her, you may ask. Well, her previously unwanted Ken doll, was now at the feet of her bed, standing six foot tall, looking down at her with an adorably confused expression carved on his otherwise perfect features.

~~

Ken's pov:

Ken was incredibly lucky that y/n thought she was dreaming, because not only didn't she scream at him to get the hell out, but she actually smiled at him. A small, uncertain and sleepy smile, no less a genuine smile. Even in his own state of confusion, Ken felt his insides melt at the sight of this small woman in front of him, smiling at him, actually noticing him.

He advanced closer to the head of the bed, so that he could take a better look at the girl who was sitting there. Ken sat at the edge of the bed and immediately recognised the person in question. She was clearly y/n. The girl who used to play with him and the Barbies was looking at him with intense interest and a glint in her y/e/c eyes that he had never seen before.

He took in her features. Ken had somehow expected to come face to face with a child, but obviously y/n was no longer a little girl but a beautiful woman. Sure, living in Barbieland Ken had learnt that all women were beautiful, however his old "owner" wasn't pretty in the sense a Barbie was pretty. Studying her features, Ken noticed y/n's hair wasn't neatly done like the Barbies', her skin dimpled and crised when she smiled, her teeth weren't the perfect shade of white or identical to one another, the apples of her cheeks were pinkish with sleep and her eyes held a warmth and complexity that made his stomach flutter. Ken was entranced by the simple image of this young lady, without any makeup or pretty clothes. He even felt like he had some kind of power over her, since she was so much smaller than him. He caught himself thinking that he could fit her whole face in the palm of his hand. The sudden urge to be the one to protect her and have the exclusivity of seeing her so unkempt and "naked" washed over him.

"Oh my!! You're actually Ken!", it was y/n that broke the silence, with her thrilled remark about the person who seemed lost in thought in front of her.

Ken was abruptly brought back to reality. How could something like this even happen? It should be practically impossible. One moment he was taking a nap at the beach and the next thing he knew, he was sitting in a chair in a dark room he concluded belonged to y/n. He might not be the brightest guy (the Kens weren't supposed to be smarter than the Barbies anyway) but he realised something very wrong was happening. The dolls living in Barbieland weren't supposed to be able to come to the real world.

~~

"Y/n! Hey! I never thought I'd meet you in person."

She simply giggled at that. Her giggle was spontaneous and made Ken blush, since he was so unfamiliar with women reacting to him in such a way. Her expression was so girly, almost shy, making Ken bolder than he felt. He climbed all the way onto the bed so that they were basically sitting next to each other.

Y/n felt her face growing warmer and not because of the sleepiness. "That's a very realistic dream", she thought to herself. But exactly because she had convinced herself that Ken was part of her imagination she was also about to act bolder than her usual self.

She turned her body so that she was facing him and not just sitting next to him. Y/n then extended an arm in order to brush away some stray hairs that had fallen in his face. That simple motion was enough to make Ken's heart beat as loud as a hammer and he believed y/n could actually hear it from where she was sitting, so close to him. To his utter surprise, she didn't retrieve her hand after making sure his (ridiculously soft) hair was back in place.

Maybe y/n would be intimidated by Ken's perfect posture and dreamy eyes, by his chiseled jawline and veiny hands or by the fact that his pupils were dilated more than was necessary for the dark around them (there were fairy lights all around the room) if she were to meet him face to face in real life. But y/n was in a dream (or so she thought). Her dream, her rules and she showed no sign of intimidation.

With the hand that had just brushed Ken's hair, she proceeded to cup his face, while caressing his perfectly carved cheek bone with the pad of her thumb. Ken closed his eyes at the sensation, since no one had ever showed him tenderness like that. His reaction to her touch only encouraged y/n to continue exploring this life sized Ken doll.

With nimble fingers that made Ken's breath hitch multiple times, she started caressing him, beginning with his collarbones and slowly making a trail over his toned chest to his lower abs. His skin was soft and warm to the touch and y/n's mind was quick to put together multiple ungodly thoughts.

Ken's hands had reached and grabbed the bedsheets as soon as y/n's teasing ones had started going over his abs, torturously slow. Of course he didn't know why he felt the way he did, she was just touching him (as a doll he never had been subjected to anything remotely sexual before this very moment), but he could feel a weird anticipation gathering at the pit of his stomach (and lower). Oddly enough, he didn't move, he didn't even speak, scared that he would destroy this peculiar situation he'd found himself in. He told himself that "You're a doll and this human girl is simply... playing with you?". It didn't sound right but it certainly felt good.

When she reached at his lower abdomen, just below his belly button, y/n drew her hands back. He had felt so real to the touch she started to question her previous belief that she was merely dreaming.

Ken saw her expression change from lustful (he didn't know that's what it was called), to a placated one. She searched his face for an answer, without realising how her doe eyes had captured every bit of Ken's attention.

"Y/n", he whispered under a shaky inhale, leaning towards her like a moth hypnotized by the flame.

"I'm sorry Ken, I really am."

"About what?!", he asked, generally confused.

"When I was little I-"

"Can I kiss you, please?" he knew that much. He had never given a real kiss back in Barbieland but at least he was familiar with the concept.

Y/n was lost for words. A sudden realization that this felt too real to be any short of wet dream had dawned on her (if that was the case she would have woken up by now). When she didn't answer right away, Ken turned his hot gaze on her parted lips. They were swollen from sleep and rozy but not in the manufactured way the Barbies' lips look in the morning. He had to fight back the urge to attack her mouth with his own, since he was still waiting for her consent.

Y/n finally gave the smallest nod, indicating shyness and reluctance, though her gaze was once again intense, making Ken's breath get caught in his throat.

He leaned in, gently but no less eagerly and was pleasantly surprised (not for the last time) when y/n, leaning towards him as well, connected their lips in a soft, slow and lingering kiss.

Y/n's hot breath on his mouth made Ken gasp and draw himself even closer to *his* girl, while his right hand, moving on its own, reached for her already messy hair, tagging at it softly.

Y/n was equally surprised by the kiss. Ken's lips were unbelievably soft and his body emitted a warmth that sent shivers down her spine. She rubbed her thighs together (a motion in which Ken was oblivious to for the time being) as she reached for his neck, taking the lead. She drew him even closer to her, their chests colliding. Ken gasped -again- at the sensation of her round breasts pressing against his mascular body and he reacted by snaking both arms around her narrow waist.

When y/n took Ken's bottom lip between her teeth, tagging at it softly, he let out the smallest moan. In return he drew back, only to smash his lips on her own once more, with a passion and an urgency that made y/n weak in his strong arms. Her tongue asked for access he happily gave and he found himself backing his hips against her as their tongues swirled around one another for the first time.

When they parted, they were both breathless and panting heavily. Ken looked at y/n with an adoration that made her short circuit. He had never felt that important to anyone, but the tight grip she had on his biceps was proof that she wanted him. Really wanted him, needed him, even. Ken was important to her, at least at that moment.

This blissful state of his was short lived, due to y/n standing up and turning on the big light on the ceiling.

After taking a moment so that his vision could readjust to the light, Ken's eyes found y/n again. She was standing now and he took a mental note to never forget how tiny and young, how vulnerable she looked in her gray pyjama set with her tousled hair all over, like a miniature lioness. To be honest, Ken didn't have the right words to describe what he was seeing, but the warmth in his chest (and an unexplainable discomfort in his breeches) was enough for him.

"Oh shit-

Oh my gosh....I wasn't dreaming, was I?"

Y/n looked shocked and Ken grew hot with embarrassment because of it.

"I'm just as confused as you are, y/n", at least he was able to say something. Because now the light was on, he could see her feminine figure and wanted nothing more than to squish her round thighs and then-

"I mean... you're actually Ken...like... HOW?!"

"Please don't be angry at me, I can't explain how or why, but instead of waking up in Barbieland I woke up here", he said with an apologetic look on his face, while standing up like a child that just got scolded.

Y/n took a deep breath in, deciding he was too damn hot to actually be angry at him. It also wasn't his fault and at the end of the day she liked the idea of having a "boytoy" so eager and sweet. She really hadn't done Ken justice as a child but thought she could pay him back now.

You see, y/n's father is working for Mattel and she knows some things the average person doesn't. For one thing, she's aware that Barbieland exists and that on some very rare occasions the dolls come to the real world.

"It's alright Ken. I know it's not your fault"

Hearing her voice was not only soothing to him, but his name on her mouth made him lightheaded.

"but you have to get back. I don't know what it could mean to my world that you're here."

At the sound of that final statement, Ken visibly frowned and felt a weight settling in his chest. He had just come to this world and on top of that he and y/n had shared enough kisses to be considered boyfriend and girlfriend according to Barbieland standards.

He reminded himself, as always, he's just Ken. He's always second, even if for a moment he felt like a ten, lost in y/n's tender but also hot touch.

"I understand, y/n. I'll leave then and get back to Barbieland", not that he knew how.

She too felt she didn't want him to leave just yet, the tension was so thick she could almost see it all around them. Nevertheless, it was past midnight and she had three morning classes tomorrow, so she let Ken go without uttering another word.

To say the least, Ken was heartbroken. In one night he had experienced so many new sensations and emotions and he knew he wouldn't be able to get y/n out of his head no matter how hard he'd try. He ended up dozing off while sitting on her doorstep, looking at the stars and imagining y/n's small hands caressing him lower and lower until...

~~

notes~~

Hello beautiful people! I hope you enjoyed part 1 of my Ken smut fic :)

It's meant to be just spice but I wanted to add some context too. This is also my first time posting anything on Tumblr! I have many ideas regarding many different fandoms, but I also feel like most of these ideas have been done and that my fanfics are gonna be unoriginal.🥹

Byeeee<3

banners from; @cafekitsune

my masterlist

UPDATE!! THIS STORY HAS BEEN FINISHED, LOOK AT MY MASTERLIST FOR THE FOLLOWING PARTS!

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#pink #barbie #barbie movie #margot robbie #ryan gosling ken #ken x reader #ken doll #female reader #ken x you #oc #size k!nk #praise k!nk #fanfic #smut #fanfiction #one shot #smutty #angst #jealousy #switch!reader #18+ content #ken x reader smut #ken x y/n #billie eilish #y/n #x y/n #ryan gosling #ryan gosling x reader #ken barbie #boytoy

[ghost-recs]

can we get some bakugou recs 😊😊 (written and smaus pleaseee)

hello hellooo! oh man do i ever have some! you have no idea the can of worms you are opening my friend.

but first i am so sorry for how late this rec is! i wanted to get this done days ago, but the semester has been crazy packed. i'm going to get through all my asks one by one. thank you for your patience! anyways let's get into this !!

Bakugou Recs

Garden of Lungs (Hanahaki) by oweCrew [ao3]

synopsis: you have your whole life ahead of you, a promising future and jobs lined up after UA...but these stupid flowers are going to be the death of you, literally.

i flew through this fic so fast. it was the first time i had every heard of hanahaki disease and oof to my heart. i loved it!

Late Night Calls by fictionpls [ao3]

synopsis: much to bakugou's disdain, you skipped your meals again. tch, he's basically taking care of you at this point.

cute lil fluff oneshot with bakugou as your best friend...maybe more.

Nothing More, Nothing Less by @dekustowel

synopsis: bakugou made a big whoopsies. the only way to get out of it? fake date you, the internet's sweatheart, duh!

this smau idea has a hold on me. i'm a sucker for the fake dating trope. and i mean seriously, it's bakugou! [ongoing...]

Nerd (Affectionately) by @oniku-niku

synopsis: you're in love with bakugou, have been since you were kids. there was no use in hiding the truth. but did he have to be so rude about it??

most of this smau is a big ouch to the heart. but the drama gets heavier as the story goes on and i'm here for it! happy soft ending! :)

Speak by Kikyo851 [ao3]

synopsis: you could not believe that your soulmate was such a crude and violent person...just to spite the universe and him you decide not to say a word to your "soulmate."

soulmate au in which the first words that your soulmate says to you is written on your wrist. this fulfilled my needs of a bakugou soulmate au! so cute and it is complete!

Of Snowscapes & Explosions by sugarbun [ao3]

synopsis: you've been categorized as second to shoto todoroki ever since grade school. after a frustrated vent to bakugou and a few of his cracks revealing some of his own frustrations you realize that maybe you and him aren't so different after all.

guys....when i tell you this fic is the slowest slow burn. i feel like it's so accurate to how bakugou would actually fall for someone. sadly, this fic is unfished tho and hasn't been updated in a couple years😭 but you should read it anyways.

cover shot (through the heart) by @andypantsx3

cross posted on ao3 here! cover shot (through the heart) by andypantsx3

synopsis: you're the only one who can deal with bakugou's attitude in the industry. he hasn't found something that bothers you...until he starts flirting with you, hello??

model/celebrity au. super cute fic. i'm warning you this is much spicier than some of my other recs. mdni. (also check out this author's other works. they have a lot of top tier content!!)

Motherly Love by @kweenkatsuki-fics

synopsis: bakugou gives his mom a late night call to thank her. the reason why softens her heart greatly.

super soft lil drabble that just about brings me to tears everytime i read it. in love with bakugou fr.

déjà vu by @cashmoneyyysstuff

synopsis: bakugou thinks back to some oddly familiar memories with you. and one thing always stays the same, you both are together.

oneshot the made my jaw drop. hit me hard in the feels.

untitled oneshot by @honeypirate

synopsis: being paired with your number 1 enemy for a group project proved that the universe hated you. well might as well have some fun with this and make bakugou's life just as miserable.

college au oneshot. i am always down for a good enemies to lovers trope!

risky by @kusaka6e

synopsis: moving from another country to work as a pro hero in japan was not the easiest. and a certain hot headed hero only adds to your frustrations.

oneshot about the obvious grown tension between you and pro hero dynamite.

i hope you find something you like! sorry for the late rec, have a lovely day/night!

#bakugou #i come back to you every time #mha x reader #mha #mha bakugou #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #katsuki bakugou #bakugou x reader #bakugou x you #bakugou x y/n #bakugou katsuki #bnha x reader #bnha #bnha x you #bnha x y/n #katsuki bakugo x reader #bnha bakugo katsuki #bnha bakugou #katsuki x reader #katsuki x you #katsuki x y/n #ghost rec

[lvscoups]

just friends ; choi seungcheol x reader

summary choi seungcheol's been your best friend since elementary school, and now you're both eighteen, about to leave for university. the last thing that you want is to go to university as a virgin, so he offers to take your virginity. surely this won't make either of you question your feelings for each other, right? wc 5k tags slow burn, childhood best friends to lovers (somewhat), barb seungcheol, underage drinking/smoking, pwp, virgin!reader, loss of virginity, afab!reader, 18+ MINORS DNI

eighteen. what an age- when you were thirteen, you thought that by now you’d have a hot, popular boyfriend, have gone to hundreds of parties, have a huge friend group who would all go to the mall and travel together, and maybe even have a scholarship to harvard. but you started university in three months and you had nothing to show for it. it would keep you up at night, all the dreams you had when you were younger, and how few came true. you only had a couple of friends, a shitty job at a convenience store, and the last party you’d gone to was for your niece’s 8th birthday. what weighed on your mind the most, though, was that you still didn’t have a boyfriend- and you were still a virgin. university was your last shot to really live out those dreams, to go to parties, hook up with strangers, go clubbing.. but, god, the last thing you wanted was to lose your virginity to some random person you’d meet at a house party. but high school was over, and, really, what relationship could you establish with a man in a couple of months that would make him someone you’d want to lose your virginity to?

“seungcheol’s here for you!” your mom yelled from the kitchen. you came running to the front door with a smile on your face- he’s back from his vacation, fucking finally. “so we’re going to the beach?” you asked as soon as you saw him. “yeah, i think miles and his girl are coming, rosie is bringing some people too.” he smiled. “are you ready or are you gonna make me wait an hour again?” “the latter, i didn’t think you’d be coming so early.” he follows you to your room, sitting on the side of your bed as you pack. oh, choi seungcheol. your best friend since… sixth grade? you’ve watched him come and go through different relationships- he was someone you envied, living the guy version of the life you wanted for yourself. out of the handful of house parties you’d been to, he’d dragged you to almost all of them. you didn’t know what you’d do without him, he was always there for you, the one who introduced you to almost all of your friends, who would help you cheat on tests. without him, you’d be regretting your high school experience even more. “let’s go?” you pull your duffel bag over your shoulder, looking at him. “finally,”

he was one of the only people you knew who had his own car- his father got it for him for his seventeenth birthday. it wasn’t the best, but it was really nice. you were pretty sure it was a ford or something similar because it had one of those big open trunks people use to put wood and furniture in. no idea why he needed one of those, because he was always showing off how he was strong enough to carry anything by himself, but it was still cool. the two of you would put pillows and blankets in it and lay down, talking and drinking together, listening to music on your cheap bluetooth speaker. you got into his car, leaving your duffle bag at your feet, setting up your playlist and the aux while he started up the car. “i can’t believe you didn’t take me with you to the bahamas, you bitch.” you joked. “luggage costs are crazy, i already spend so much money on you,” he teased back. “it’s an hour drive to the beach, by the way.” “no problem,” after your playlist started up, the two of you drove in silence, partially. there was some small talk about the bahamas and a lot of you singing along to nicki minaj, who seungcheol always managed to sneak into the queue. “me and kim broke up,” seungcheol said during a particularly quiet song, his eyes still on the road. “and you didn’t tell me?” you replied, looking over at him with a shocked expression on your face. “yeah, i dunno. it just didn’t…” he trailed off. “it wasn’t a big deal to me.” “i liked her! remember when she gave you all those leftover cookies from… was it her church’s bake sale?” “yeah, i guess.” he stared off. “she was nice, i dunno why it didn’t affect me.” “god, remember when you broke up with sierra? that was fucking crazy.” you turned back, looking at the road, too. “sorry. why’d you…?” “it was her.” “shit, sorry.” “no, no, it’s fine, really. i lost interest and stopped talking to her as much and we called about it and decided to break it off.” “just like that?” “well not just like that. it wasn’t like i stopped talking to her all of a sudden.” he turned to you, smiling. “use your brain, dumbass.” “school is over, i don’t need to do that anymore.” you laughed. “but really, that’s crazy. i’m glad it’s not… bad, but, like, you two dated for a while.” “i wouldn’t say three months is that long,” he replied. “at least i’ll have a hot boy summer, or something. ewww, sorry. that was so bad.” “it was. but you’re right, have fun! emma’s single now, too. maybe you two can get together.” “i think i’m fine. i don’t know if i even want a girlfriend right now. maybe i’ll meet some hot twenty year old at uni. who knows.” he paused. “is emma really single?”

he turned onto a more bumpy, dirt road, and soon the sounds of the waves and music came closer and closer until the beach came into view. “parking’s gonna be a fucking nightmare.” he sighed, looking at the hundreds of cars parked throughout the parking lot. you picked up your phone, unplugging the aux cord to call rosie. “where is everybody?” you asked, putting the phone on speaker. “we’re near the playground and this barbeque thing. leia, where are we?” you could hear some people talking in the background. “leia’s sending a photo to you right now. bye!” “bye,” you hung up. “here, there’s a photo of the map… we’re at the entrance, right? we need to take a left until we see a washroom. can we stop at the washroom? i really need to pee.” “okay, be quick, though.”

after another half hour, you finally parked. “what did we bring?” you asked seungcheol as you both stepped out of the car. “just drinks and our swim stuff. don’t worry, just go ahead- i’ll carry everything.” you took your duffle bag and trudged through the sand- your cheap dollar store flip flops felt like they would break at any moment during the long journey, your heels burning every time they would touch even a bit of sand. “hey!” you called out, waving to everybody once you finally found them. “y/n!!” rosie replied, getting up and running to hug you, making you both fall on the ground. “ow, shit!” you exclaimed, getting up and laughing off the burning pain of the sand hitting your back. “sorry we took so long- cheol is on his way with everything. parking was crazy.” “can’t relate, we’ve all been here since six,” leia laughed. “miles and the other guys are in the water, we were gonna get lunch soon if you wanna come, though.” “i dunno, i think i might just settle in first. get comfy.” “totally fair, we can wait for you.” leia looked over to the water, where you could make out a bunch of guys swimming and splashing each other with water. “i don’t think the guys are getting out anytime soon, so don’t worry at all.” “thanks,” and then you heard seungcheol’s voice- well, his whine. “the sand…” he groaned, trudging towards you. when he finally reached you, he dropped the blue cooler and other bags down on the ground. “shit! that was torture…” “your fault for not asking for help.” you said, opening one of the bags and taking out a beach towel, laying it on the ground. “come on, sit down. tell the girls the news!” “what news?” rosie asked excitedly. “yeah what- oh,” seungcheol said. “it’s really not a big deal, y/n. me and kim broke up, that’s all.” “WHAT?” leia shouted. “tell me everything!” you got comfortable, sitting cross-legged under an umbrella while you listened to seungcheol recount everything.

“can someone help me with my sunscreen?” you asked. “rosie?” you turned onto your back and wiggled your shoulders. “no, you perv!” she laughed. you pouted jokingly before seungcheol approached you. “you can’t do anything by yourself, huh?” he teased, taking the bottle of sunscreen and opening it, putting some on your back and rubbing it in. “nevermind, seungcheol’s definitely the perv,” rosie replied. he laughed, and you closed your eyes, your head resting in your hands as you let the sun warm your body, waiting for seungcheol to finish. after a while, he hit your back gently a couple of times. “you’re welcome.” “thanks?” you replied, getting up. “let’s swim?” you asked the rest of the group. rosie and leia got up, taking off their sandals and flip-flops, agreeing immediately. “i’ll watch everybody’s stuff, since nobody else will.” seungcheol replied, sighing and crossing his arms dramatically. “thank you!!” you all called out to him as you ran off to the water.

the sun had set, and the air had gotten cooler. it was dark outside as you all laid together on the beach towels, the big, blue cooler seungcheol had brought now half empty. of course, seungcheol hadn’t drank a thing, despite his seemingly endless whining about just how bad he wanted to drink, how jealous he was of everyone who was drinking, how he wished you could drive.. it just went on and on. you hadn’t drunk, either, in forced solidarity with him. neither had miles’ girlfriend, bea, who was everyone else’s designated driver. you and seungcheol were lying down together, both wide awake from the chocolate starbucks doubleshot you’d shared an hour before. you both stared up at the sky. “it’s, like, two months until you leave.” seungcheol remarked. “a little less, right?” “yeah, but same thing. i can’t process it.” “i wish you’d been accepted. we could have gone together, rent a studio apartment. it’d look so cool. you’d have one side and it’d be, like, red or something, and mine would be… i dunno. it’d be cool.” “we should. maybe i’ll go online and move with you.” “that’d be so cool.” “i can’t imagine what it’ll be like without you.” “you can still call me. it’s not like i’m dying, stupid.” “yeah, but… you know.” “yeah,” silence. you shifted your attention somewhat to the conversation the rest of the people were having- something about how prom went, but you couldn’t really focus on it. “i’m leaving high school as a virgin.” you said, breaking the silence. “oh my god, you are. holy shit, that’s hilarious.” he started laughing. “i have no idea what i’m gonna do.” “what do you mean? you’re not gonna be the forty-year-old virgin or something. you’ll just lose your virginity to some college guy.” “i don’t really want that.” “don’t you wanna have fun in college? you mentioned that a lot.” “yeah, duh. but i don’t wanna lose my virginity to some random man.” “too late for you to not do that. you shoulda tried to get a boyfriend before high school ended.” “ugh, you don’t get it.” “what don’t i get?” “i dunno. this is weird.” more silence, but from the corner of your eye you saw him nod.

“what did you mean, about all of that stuff you were talking about earlier?” he asked on your way to the car. “what stuff?” “me not getting you wanting to lose your virginity or something. or not wanting to lose your virginity.” “oh.” you paused. “like, i dunno. i kinda wish i had a boyfriend or something. like i had had more of a life in high school. and now i have to just settle for losing my virginity to some guy i’ll probably never talk to again.” “isn’t that what you want?” “no, that’s what you don’t get. like i wanna have fun and, like, hook up with people or whatever. but i don’t wanna lose my virginity to a random person. that’s different.” “yeah, i get that.” “but, like, in a month and a half, you can’t really get a boyfriend. even if i did, i don’t wanna lose my virginity to someone i’ve known for less than two months.” “yeah.” you got in the car and waited as he started the engine. in the meantime, you set up the aux again. after a while, he broke the silence. “i can do it.” he said. “what?” “i’ll do it. if you want me to,” he added. “there’s so many weirdos out there. if they find out you’re a virgin they might, like, take advantage of you or something. we can do it, get it over with, you know?” you paused. it wasn’t a comfortable silence. “sorry. i don’t wanna overstep a boundary or anything.” he added, again. “no, no you didn’t. well you did but not in a weird way or anything. it’s just…” “yeah, i get it. i’m sorry.” “no, no, no. seriously, you’re fine. i’m not opposed to that idea or anything.” “yeah?” “yeah.. i mean, it’s better than what you said- losing my virginity to a weirdo or something.” “so then…?” “it’ll be weird, but let’s do it. i might change my mind but for now, let’s do it. yeah.”

you’d never thought of seungcheol in that way. maybe in your darkest, most desperate hours, but that was it. it wasn’t like you didn’t take notice to how huge his biceps were, or his fucking crazy jawline, or how perfectly everything on his face complimented each other, but.. you did that platonically. it would just be weird to do that. but now that the two of you had agreed to have sex together, you assumed nothing could be weirder than that. so you tried to will yourself to like him, or that’s what you told yourself. it wasn’t gonna be an enjoyable first time if you didn’t at least have some attraction to him, you thought. so you’d find yourself thinking about him a lot. at night, your mind would wander to his hands, his arms, and sometimes your fingers would brush against your clothed pussy, playing with it, imagining it was him. of course, it was all a part of your effort to have your ideal first time, at least, as ideal as it could be, considering it was with your best friend and not your imaginary boyfriend, and after high school had ended. you assumed sex was better when you were attracted to the person it was with, so it only made sense to create some attraction to him.

“have you ever.. thought about what you wanted?” the two of you were relaxing in the back of his car, where he’d put up pillows and blankets again. you’d brought some chips, and the two of you were drinking and eating, talking about whatever. “like, sexually?” you replied. “i guess. i mean for your first time.” “i don’t know. something romantic, in a bed, at night. i don’t wanna eat food first- i think that’s kinda gross. kissing someone after eating? ew..” “is that really it?” “yeah, i guess. i don’t really mind the rest.” “okay, okay.” he nodded. “i don’t wanna ask too many questions, it’s just… i wanna make sure that it’s special.” you blushed. “thank you,”

you’d arranged a date- the twelfth of august. you were leaving by the twentieth, so it seemed like a good time. it was the last day of july when you made the decision, and you found time flying by. seungcheol came over a lot more than he usually did, which was already a lot- he was your best friend, after all. as the twelfth grew closer and closer, you began to notice smaller things, like the way his eyes would linger on your chest and the flush that would appear on his face when you two were especially close. you pretended like you didn’t see it, the same way you assumed he pretended he didn’t see you looking at his arms a little too long when he crossed them. it was all a part of your shared, unspoken effort to make your first time more enjoyable, of course. the two of you were friends. just friends.

he’d invited you to the birthday party his family was having, but you didn’t feel like intruding on something like that, so instead you went to the party miles was throwing for him that night. bea picked you up in her car- you were nervous about the ride if you were being honest. it was the first time you’d ever driven in her car and you’d heard that she’d had to pay for the entire repair fee for her mom’s car after she got into a car accident. she swore that she’d learned her lesson but you would be lying if you said you weren’t scared out of your mind every time she took a turn. the party was small, with just your friend group and then some other friends, and then friends of friends. you stuck with leia, sitting beside her and listening to her talk about the date she’d gone on the day before. eventually, leia ran off with another guy, and you went to the front porch. two girls were sitting on the front chairs, and you took a cigarette they offered you. you weren’t a smoker, but you didn’t have anything else to do. you recognized the one who offered you the cig as bea’s sister- it was crazy how similar they looked. same hair, same nose, same lips, except she was at least five inches shorter than bea. after a while, seungcheol came out to the porch, too. you began to sing happy birthday to him, and the other girls joined in, too. after clapping, he asked you, “what’s up?” “huh?” “i was looking for you, i haven’t seen you this whole time. where were you?” “oh,” you paused, stubbing out your cigarette on the ashtray in between the two girls. “i was hanging out with leia, then i came here. i didn’t wanna be in your way, it’s your party.” “we’ve been friends six years, come on. you can’t be serious.” he moved away to another corner, out of earshot from the other girls. “come on,” he whispered. you followed him. “you’re friends with everyone else here, too. it’s kinda weird to just stick to your side the whole time. i don’t wanna seem like that kinda person.” “okay, fair, but i don’t think the people here think you’re like that. they all know you.” “okay, okay.” you said, holding his hand. “let’s go back, then.”

it was on the ninth, while you were at his house, eating leftover pizza and watching youtube, when he put his hand on your thigh. he was talking to you about a game he’d started playing, putting his pizza down so he could really tell you about it, and when the conversation drifted off into something else, his hand was still there. you knew if you did anything even slightly implying you were uncomfortable, he’d move it- seungcheol was always looking out for you. you let his hand rest there for a while until he had to get up to grab something. while he was gone, you thought to yourself about it. by the time he was back, you’d made up an excuse for everything- including an excuse for why you gently moved his hand back to the same spot it was before.

august eleventh, he came over. he was sitting on your floor, head resting against your bed, which you were lying down on. “you’re sure about tomorrow?” he asked. looking up at you. “yeah. why wouldn’t i be?” “i just wanna make sure.” he smiled. “no pressure at all.”

and then it was nine p.m., august twelfth. your parents were conveniently gone for the night, to a family friend’s house to celebrate something or other. you didn’t know and, honestly, you were so nervous that you didn’t really care. he knocked at your door and you nearly fell on your way there. “hi,” “hi.” he leaned against the doorframe slightly, smiling. “you’re sure?” “yeah.” you both made your way to your room, your face hot. “i’m sorry, i have no idea what to do… i thought we could watch a movie or something?” “yeah, of course.” he sat down on your bed. “don’t worry about it, really.” you sat down beside him, grabbing your laptop and opening up netflix. after you settled on a movie to watch, you both got comfortable and you hesitantly rest your head on his shoulder. to say it was awkward would be an understatement. it was petrifying. your palms were sweaty and your heart was racing and this was all before he even touched you. it was an hour into the movie when he put his hand on your thigh again. it was summer, so you were in shorts, which made the sensation all the more incredible, you felt his hand move up slowly until he was toying with the hem of your shorts. “can i take them off?” he whispered in your ear. “yeah,” you put the laptop down on the far edge of your bed, and he slid your shorts off, holding up your legs just slightly. you turned to look at him, and there was his face. maybe it was the adrenaline rush or maybe it was something more, but you closed your eyes and soon found your lips on his. you’d had your first kiss already, but this time it was different. you found yourself melting into the kiss, your hands in his hair his hands cupping your face, before you felt his hands moving and you shifted on top of him. he pulled away. “is this okay?” he asked. “yes,” you whispered, pulling him back into the kiss and letting him put his hands under your shirt. the sensation of his hands on your breasts left you feeling even more horny, grinding down onto his crotch. eventually, you pulled away, standing up on your knees and slowly sliding his jeans off of him. he took the opportunity to gently push you onto your back, getting on top of you. he kissed you one more time before slowly leaving kisses all over your body, moving from your face to behind your ear to your neck, sucking on your breast. “you’re gorgeous,” he whispered, his voice deeper than usual. he moved back to kissing you, and you felt his hands go under your underwear hem. you found yourself moaning into his kisses as he rubbed your clit, then slowly put one finger into you, his palm still on your clit as he inserted another. “you’re… really good,” you moaned, after a little while, he took his fingers out, and you still found your walls closing around nothing, “is it okay if i put it in?” he asked, his voice still low and husky. “mhm,” you looked up at him. maybe you were caught up in the moment, maybe it was the moonlight peeking from the sheer curtains on your bedroom window, or maybe it was something else entirely, something that wouldn’t go away when the sun came back up, but just the sight of him in the darkness, his long black hair just slightly obscuring his face as he looked up at you through his long lashes, made your eyes almost water. at that moment, all that you could think about was how lucky you were, how grateful you were to be in this situation, and how happy you were. “are you okay?” he breathed, snapping you back to reality. his brows furrowed, the lust in his eyes being replaced with concern. “y-yeah, i’m great.” you smiled, looking up at him. “just making sure.” he reached into the pockets of his now discarded pants, closing your laptop before grabbing a condom out of the pocket, opening the packaging, and putting it on. he held your hand as he positioned himself in between your legs, slowly sliding into you. “let me know if you’re uncomfortable.” he whispered. you closed your eyes, and the stretch of your walls hurt at first- but soon the pain turned into pleasure, the most pleasure you'd ever experienced.

you moaned as you leaned up to kiss him, using your free hand to bring him closer to you. he shifted a bit, suddenly thrusting into you at the perfect angle and leaving you a mess, moaning his name and when you weren’t, you could hear him moaning yours. it was such an intimate moment and the way he was fucking you was so perfect that you found yourself forgetting that he was your best friend. you were whispering praises to him, telling him how good he was and how big his cock was and all these things you would never have expected you’d be saying to choi seungcheol, but here you were. his thrusts got more sloppy and his kisses became more messy and passionate and you knew he was about to come. soon, you did too, and the sensation left your head blank. you felt him pull out of you and lay down beside you. “you want me to run you a bath?” he asked. “yeah,” you looked over at him. “thank you, cheol. that was…” “amazing? life-changing?” he joked. “mhm,” you kissed him. “i’m really glad we did that.” “yeah. come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

he left after making sure you were all good, kissing you one more time before going. you didn’t think much of anything that night, but when you woke up your mind was racing- that was after you were able to confirm that the night you just had wasn’t a dream. you assumed seungcheol’s mind was racing, too, because aside from sending you some tiktoks and occasionally talking to you about something or other, it was radio silence from him. you were torn about it- on one hand, you were massively grateful. you knew it’d be awkward to talk to him after everything. but on the other hand, you were almost hurt. it was definitely irrational, and you knew that, but you almost felt like he didn’t talk to you because he didn’t like you after the two of you had sex or, worse, he had just been using you. then he called you, three days after everything. “hello?” “hey,” he said. “sorry for not talking to you for a while.” “yeah,” “i needed some time to think about things. it’s not like you did anything wrong though. i still need time, i’m calling to tell you that this has nothing to do with you,” he paused. “really, you were incredible, and that was one of the best moments of my life. and i don’t want to stop talking to you. i just need some time to myself for a bit.” “thank you,” you blushed. “but… yeah, that’s fine. don’t worry about it. but don’t take all the time you need. i leave in, like, five days.” you laughed, though there wasn’t anything funny. “yeah,” he replied, his voice somewhat… sad? you couldn’t really pinpoint what it was. “you gotta promise me that we’ll hang out at least once before then, ‘kay?” “okay,” he paused. “i gotta go, though.” “bye,” “see you,” he said before hanging up.

the phone call left you frustrated for the next few days, which only worsened how sad you felt to be leaving your home and your town. rosie and leia were constantly coming over, but, as much as you loved them, it wasn't the same as hanging out with seungcheol.

you'd been invited to leia's house on the nineteenth, to watch a movie or something. she drove you there, suspiciously giddy with excitement, and once you arrived at her house, you realized there was something more going on. she opened the door for you, and instead of being greeted by her parents and nobody else, you were greeted by a whole crowd of people. somehow, leia and rosie had managed to gather everybody for a surprise going-away party- even your cousin was there. you made your way through the crowd, talking to everybody, so happy from seeing all these people you loved and had spent your teenage years with that you forgot about everything with seungcheol entirely. in fact, you forgot about everything with him throughout most of the night. but then you found him, sitting alone and playing some game on his phone, and he looked up and saw you, and you immediately knew something was up. "can i talk to you?"

he took you to a bedroom and closed the door behind you. "i wanted to tell you something." he said. the two of you sat side by side on the edge of the bed. "i know it's really late to tell you this, but i figured because you're leaving tomorrow this is… my last chance to tell you." he paused. "i don't think it was just because of that night and i don't want you to think that, either. it's also not because of kim, even though the timing would make you think that… i was really thinking about this, and i think… i don't know how to say this, but…" you looked at him and he looked at you and suddenly it all clicked in your head. every little thing you made some stupid excuse for, like how you could only think about him when you touched yourself, or how you couldn't pull your eyes away from his crazy huge arms, or how your heart fluttered when you both made eye contact. it all made sense to you know. "i love you too, cheol."

#seventeen smut #seventeen x reader #seungcheol smut #scoups smut #seungcheol x reader #svt smut #mdni #scoups x reader

[carolperkinsexgirlfriend]

Steddie Upside-Down AU Part 54

Part 1 Part 53

Months pass, slow and stretched out, like the bubblegum El’s taken to chewing. Sometimes, she’ll wrap it around her pointer finger and pull it, teeth clamped around the other side until it’s elongated – all air, stretched past recognition until it snaps.

That’s how the summer passes, foisted from adult to adult to adult. If Mom’s busy, then it’s Jonathan. If Jonathan’s busy, then it’s Uncle Wayne. If Uncle Wayne is busy, then it’s hopper. Never any of the parents who don’t know. It’s a lot of time being cooped up inside, going crazy.

For the first time, school being back in session is a relief. He’ll take the monotony of schoolwork and the stress of being zombie boy over staring at his ceiling for a second more. The party grumbles about their precious free time being sucked away, and Will echoes along, complaining about the homework and tests and boring hours, but his heart’s not in it.

When he’s home, it’s like the walls are closing in. With that in mind, he slips out his window, unnoticed. The party had talked about going to the arcade. Will hadn’t been invited. They all knew he wouldn’t be able to go; Tuesday’s were the day when no one was free. Jonathan had photography club after school, and everyone else worked. He’d be stuck at Melvald’s sitting quietly in the corner as his Mom worked.

But not today. Today, he gets on his bike and starts riding. He makes it to Mirkwood before things go wrong. He hears it: that static, horrific clicking. He falls off his bike, and it’s like he’s back in last November, scraped knees and all. He gets up and runs, bike abandoned at the side of the road.

His breathing is ragged by the time he’s back in front of his house. He whirls around, pulse in his throat, and sees nothing at all. There’s no sound, no Demogorgon stalking toward him, petal mouth opening. And it’s the middle of the day. There’s nothing at all. Will swallows, throat clicking with how dry it suddenly is.

He climbs back in through the window, disheveled and sweaty, hands shaking. He changes his dirty pants, dunks his face and hands in the abandoned water glass at his bedside. Good as new. Will closes the blinds, and sits down on his bed.

They’re probably there already, crowded around Pac Man or Dig Dug, the shape of Will’s absence a hole they always seem to leave open for him. He clenches his fingers around his knees, staring at his closed window.

What would Steve do?

Steve wouldn’t hesitate; he would’ve already been at the arcade, laughing at the center of everything like always. He wouldn’t be falling off his bike and seeing things that weren’t there.

With that thought, Will stands, walks purposefully out his bedroom door. Mom’s packing bologna sandwiches into her reusable lunch box, one for her and one from Will. He freezes at the entryway to the kitchen and watches her work.

“Are you ready to go, sweetie?” she asks, pouring coffee into her dinky little thermos, not turning around.

Will takes a deep breath. “I want to go to the arcade with my friends.” He tries to say it confidently, but it comes out wobbling all over the place.

Mom pauses, still holding the coffee pot in one hand, tilted at an angle that would have it pouring all over the countertop if it wasn’t almost empty. She stays like that for an endless moment before putting the coffee pot on the counter with a quiet click. Will wonders if it’ll burn.

She turns around, biting her lip. “Sweetie, Hop and Wayne are both at work, and you know Jonathan is–”

“Why can’t I go by myself?” he interrupts, trying not to think of how much of a disaster that’d been a few minutes ago.

Mom’s shoulders slump. She crosses her arms, hunching into herself, mouth scrunched up just like that time she’d tried a lemonhead for the first time at Jonathan’s wheedling. She’d spit it into her hand within seconds, staring down at the thing with horror.

That’s how she’s looking at Will now. Like she’s spit him out and couldn’t imagine having ever had him at all. But then it passes, and it’s just his Mom, looking worried.

“Do you think Steve and Eddie could take you?” she asks.

It’s a compromise he’s happy to grab with both hands. “I’ll call them.”

He picks up the phone, dialing the number by rote. He’s dialed it enough that he could do it blindfolded.

“Munson residence.” Steve’s voice sounds gruff, like he’s been sleeping. Or crying. Or like whatever had happened in the Upside-Down to make his voice gravely and rough in the hospital all those months ago. “Hello?”

“Will you take me to the arcade?” Will asks.

There’s a long enough pause that Will starts blushing, especially when he hears his Mom huff about phone etiquette behind him. But then Steve says, “sure, want me to come get you?”

Will glances at the clock hanging in the living room, squinting to make out the numbers. “Can you be here in ten minutes? Mom has to go to work.”

“Sure kid,” Steve says, pausing long enough that Will almost hangs up, before saying quietly. “She still not letting you stay home alone?”

“No,” Will says, just as quietly, pointedly not looking over to where his Mom is hovering by his shoulder.

Steve sighs, tinny over the distance between their houses. “Okay, see you soon kid.”

“Bye,” Will says, but Steve’s already hung up.

He puts the phone into the cradle, feeling excitement and dread burble up within him in equal measures.

“Are they coming?” Mom asks.

Will nods, walking into the entryway to slip on his shoes. “Steve is. I’m not sure about Eddie.”

His Mom hums. “What a lovely boy.” She digs around in her purse, depositing a handful of quarters into his waiting palm. “Do you need anything else, sweetie?”

Will shakes his head, tucking the loose quarters deep into his pocket. He waits by the door, like a dog waiting for his owner to come home, metaphorical tail wagging while his Mom putters around trying to find her work smock.

Will doesn’t recognize the sound of the car that pulls up; its engine quiet enough that he mostly hears it by the sound of the tires rolling over the loose debris that always covers their driveway. He does recognize the knock a few seconds later. Three light knocks, barely loud enough to reach Will where he’s standing by the door. Like Steve knows exactly where he’s waiting. Because he does.

Will wrenches the door open, already smiling. Steve’s standing there in his customary blue jeans, and a blue polo, hair perfectly coiffed, jean jacket thrown over the whole thing. “Hi,” Will says.

“Baby Byers,” Steve replies, nodding down at him, before looking behind Will to where his Mom’s now hovering. “Ms. Byers.”

“Oh, honey. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Joyce?”

Steve smiles, that crooked one he does where just one side of his mouth turns up. “At least one more time, huh?”

Mom laughs, stepping around Will to pull Steve into a hug. She hands over a few bills that Steve stuffs into his wallet with instructions to get them both something to eat.

Steve’s Bimmer is sitting in the driveway behind their own junker. It’s nice enough that it should contrast, but it’s been rotting in front of the Munson’s trailer without being washed for long enough that he can’t tell the difference. It smells musty when he climbs in. Steve stares at him pointedly until he buckles his seatbelt, and then they’re off.

They leave in a line, Steve backing up with his Mom only seconds behind. Will’s almost surprised when his Mom doesn’t follow Steve’s car the whole way. She turns off, and their cars part ways.

Will grabs the opportunity with both hands. “Can we go get my bike?”

Steve glances over at him with a raised brow, but keeps both hands at ten and two. “Where is it?”

“Mirkwood.”

Steve sighs, but turns around, and notably doesn’t ask. He finds it without prompting, the white of its body stands out in the dirt. He’s just glad no one has picked it up and ridden away. Steve grumbles as he struggles to stuff it into his trunk, before stuffing it into his backseat, muddy tires and all.

They’re back on their way, and Steve still hasn’t asked. That’s what makes Will open his mouth. “I tried to ride it to the arcade,” he says, picking at the small hole in the knee of his pants. “But I heard it.”

He can see Steve’ fingers tighten around the steering wheel from the corner of his eye. “What?”

“It was like before,” Will mumbles. “Like when the Demogorgon got me.”

Steve’s knuckles are white, but his voice comes out even when he asks, “do you think it was there?”

Will thinks back, past the panic and the running and the breathlessness. “No,” he whispers, watching color bleed back into Steve’s hands. “It was probably a squirrel, or my tires on the leaves. I just panicked.”

Steve sighs, lets the R.E.M song live fill up the silences all one its own – Did we miss anything? Did we miss anything? Did we miss anything? Did we miss anything? – He pulls in smoothly into an empty spot at The Palace.

Steve doesn’t turn off the car, so Will makes no move to get out.

Steve sighs again, reaching over to switch off his tape deck. The silence is deafening, but Steve doesn’t let it linger. “You know,” he says, not looking at Will at all. “Uncle Wayne told me it’s called shellshock.” He takes a shuddering breath before letting it out smoothly. “It’s like when something bad happens and sometimes your brain can get like, stuck there? I guess?”

He’s staring out the windshield, like he’s somewhere else. “Are you okay?” Will asks.

It takes a second for him to blink back into life, but when he does, Steve turns his head to smile down at Will. It still looks sad. “It’s hard sometimes, bud,” he says, reaching over to squeeze Will’s shoulder. “But we’re getting through it, aren’t we?”

Will’s not sure why he thought Steve and Eddie would bounce back so much better, had already bounced back, even. But Steve’s shoulders were always so squared, and even in the hospital when he’d been wan and tired, he’d seemed so strong. Unbreakable.

“Yeah,” Will exhales. “We will be.”

They get out of the car in sync, Steve slowing his pace so Will can keep up with his shorter legs. Steve reaches over his head to pull the door open, waiting for Will to walk under his arm and into the sanctuary that is the arcade.

Just like he imagined, all three are crowded around the pac man machine, Lucas maneuvering the joystick with his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth. Will sneaks up beside them, Steve just behind, and the machine is in sight just in time to watch pac man blip out of sight, eaten by a ghost for the last time.

“It thought you nerds were supposed to be good at this kind of thing,” Steve says, plopping his arm onto Mike’s shoulder to peer over at the screen. “Doesn’t that mean you buttheads are dead?”

They all turn in unison, Lucus’s brow already furrowing before it smoothes out when he sets his eyes on Will.

“Will!” Lucas shouts, as all three tackle him noisily, the steadying hand Steve puts on his hand the only thing keeping him up. He’s surrounded on all sides, safe and warm.

“Wow, thanks for making me an afterthought,” Steve says, rolling his eyes bitchily until Dustin runs at him, tackling him in a hug of his own that has Steve’s eyes widening before his smile softens and he ruffles Dustin’s hair.

“Hey, Steve,” Dustin says, lisping over the T as he smiles goofily up at Steve.

Will watches the interaction, fondness filling him up entirely.

“I thought you couldn’t come!” Mike says, dropping his arms from around Will and taking a step back. The broad grin on his face takes the sting out of it.

“Mom said Steve could take me,” WIll mumbles.

Lucas looks up at Steve, that same starstruck look on his face that they’d all started to have as Will shared more and more about Steve’s heroics on the other side. “Cool,” he whispers.

Steve’s ears turn red and he coughs before immediately diverting attention away from himself. “What’ve you twerps been up to?”

WIll listens happily to his friends complain about the new player on the scoreboard, MADMAX, and how even Dustin couldn’t seem to catch up to him.

It’s been a while since they’ve had a mystery that wasn’t life or death. Will wonders who this Mad Max is and if he’d let them watch him play.

Part 55

Taglist: @deany-baby @estrellami-1 @altocumulustranslucidus @evillittleguy @carlprocastinator1000 @1-8oo-wtfbro @hallucinatedjosten @goodolefashionedloverboi @newtstabber @lunabyrd @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @manda-panda-monium @disrespectedgoatman @finntheehumaneater @ive-been-bamboozled @harringrieve @grimmfitzz @is-emily-real @dontstealmycake @angeldreamsoffanfic @a-couchpotato @5ammi90 @mac-attack19 @genderless-spoon @kas-eddie-munson @louismeds @imhereforthelolzdontyellatme @pansexuality-activated @ellietheasexylibrarian @nebulainajar @mightbeasleep @neonfruitbowl @beth--b @silenzioperso @best-selling-show @v3lv3tf0x @bookworm0690 @paintsplatteredandimperfect

#steddie upsidedown au #my fic #steddie #steve harrington #will byers

[vivian-pascal]

Rainy days║chapter 1║

𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴.

dbf!joel x f!reader

summary: When it's Joel instead of your dad picking you up after you land, you can't resist your urges when you see him for the first time in 2 years.

warnings: sexual tension, slow burn, unspecified age gap, feelings, f!masturbation, reader has description for what they are wearing and their hair.

As you step off the plane you immediately get hit with the summer smell of Austin. The hot breeze landing on your face making your hair flow in the wind. The dusty scent of the air going up your nose as you breathe in softly. The feeling of the warm sun on your skin as you walk to the pick up area.

You had jut gotten back from your second year of college studying to hopefully become a psychologist in law. You asked your parents if you could stay with them for summer break since it was going to be packed in LA. Of course they had said yes. They missed you dearly and you were very excited to revisit your childhood home.

As you carry your suitcase close to your side, walking along the outside of the airport, you text your mom you've landed and park yourself on a bench. Your wearing a white sun dress with yellow daises on it and some white converse to match. Your hair is tied back in a high ponytail with two strands sticking out at the front of your face. You go to check your phone to see that your mom has replied back. As you open the message, your face pauses in horror.

'Hey hun! dads at work and im out with the girls, something came up and i can't drive so joel's gonna pick you up ok? love you so much and i can't wait to see you! safe travels!'

Joel. Fucking Joel Miller. The man you had been crushing on since you were a teenager. Your dads best friend. The man has been through everything with you growing up. He even witnessed your first period. You were so embarrassed because it had happened at his house with Sarah. You've always had a childhood crush on him. You'd just hoped those feelings would've gone away. Guess you were wrong.

You were nervous as fuck. Its been only two minutes since your mom sent the message and you are sure you could just run home at this point. In fact, you would much rather do that, than sit in a car with Joel.

You finally respond to your mom with a thumbs up emoji and settle back in your bench. You slowly lean back against the head rest and close your eyes.

You open your eyes to the feeling of calloused hands on your shoulders. Joel. "Why hello there darlin'." He gives you a lopsided grin as he stands with his hands on his hips. You look up at him and itch the back of your neck. "Uhm, hello." You look up at him and give him a soft smile. He swiftly crosses his arms over his chest and leans forward a bit.

"Wow, I came all this way to pick you up and all I get is a 'uhm hi'??" he opens up his arms as to what you assume is a hug. " C'mon now sugar, give your old man a hug." he says with a southern drawl as he leans down to give you a hug.

He's always been the best at giving bear hugs, and with you, the height comparison made it feel a little more special. He always had to bend down and wrap his strong arms around your small little figure. He would nuzzle his head into the crook of your neck and all you could smell was him.

He softly lets go of you and carries your suitcase to his truck. You walk around to the passenger side and hop in. He walks around to his side and jumps in next to you." How was the flight?" he asks as he starts reversing.

God, you forgot how beautiful this man was, his fluffy salt and peppered hair, his graying scruff around his face, large hands in the steering wheel. "It was okay." you answer after a minute of silence. You lift your leg up so you can rest your head on your knee and look out the window, Out the corner of your eye, you can see him looking at where your dress runs up a little to high on your thigh, showing a bit of your white lace underwear. You grin to yourself as you look out the window once more.

"What're ya doin' again in school?" he asks keeping his eyes on the road. You feel a little more comfortable with him now and begin to get a little cocky. "Joel, every time I see you, I always have to tell you! You getting old, old man?" you smirk as you see his jaw tighten and his hands on the steering wheel squeezing hard.

"Better watch that tone darlin'. Didn't come all this way to teach a brat a lesson." You scoff at his remark and begin to take your leg down, crossing it over the other. You can see his stupid grin on his face. You swallow roughly and run your hands threw your hair. You begin to close your eyes, as it has been a long flight for you.

When you slowly lift your head and come back to reality. You think you've been sleeping for ages. A voice knocks you out of your dreaming state and you realize its Joel.

"Why hello there darlin', Almost thought i'd lost ya. Didn't realize traffic was that bad so we took a little longer than we needed too. You're gonna stay at my place till mornin' alright sugar?" he smiles softly and you nod your head. He grabs your arm and helps you out of the truck to get your bags.

Once you get inside, he leads you to the guest bedroom and sets your things inside. "Where's Sarah?" you ask before he leaves. " She's out tonight with a couple of work buddies, just you and me tonight darlin'." He grins then walks out the room. You smile softly and check the time. 10:00pm. You begin to unpack your pajamas and close the door.

Once you get changed, you walk downstairs to see the tv on and Joel sat on the couch. You walk to the kitchen and quickly grab a class. Joel slowly looks over at you and begins to speak. "Do ya want any whiskey?" You look at your empty glass then back at him. "Oh, uhm, no thanks, i think i'm just gonna go to bed, its been a long day." You smile at him and begin your descent up the stairs.

You stop short when you hear him speak again." Hey, f'ya need anythin, i'm just two doors down." He gives you a reassuring smile as you nod. You begin to walk when he speaks once more. "Hey sugar?" he asks. You turn around. "Yes Joel?" He stands still for a moment before smiling a little. " Sleep tight." You give him a quick grin and head for your room.

Once your inside, you close the door and put the glass on the bedside table. You crawl under the sheets and turn the lamp off. You breathe in swiftly and all you can smell is him. You close your eyes as you begin to drift off into a soft slumber.

You wake up abruptly and realize you need to pee. You get out of bed and slowly make your way over to the door. You quietly crawl out of your room and down the hall into the bathroom. You close the door and go inside. Once your done, you wash your hands and make your way back to the room.

You get back in and shut the door, You make your way over to the bed and crawl in once more. You lay awake for several minutes. Dreaming, thinking, wondering about Joel. You can feel your sleep shorts getting wetter and wetter each minute you think about him. The way his hands squeezed tightly on the steering wheel, how his soft curls would fall in front of his face just right.

You couldn't help but trickle your fingers down the length of your body and into your short. You began to slowly massage your clit and imagined his hands. Big, strong, calloused hands everywhere on your body. You quietly moaned at the pleasure you felt. You began to move your fingers to your weeping cunt and inserted a finger.

You covered your mouth in attempts to hide your moans as you added a second finger. All you could think about was how he would move his fingers in all the right places, praising you as you did so good for him. Taking his big cock down your throat as he fell apart under you. You couldn't help the whimper that fell from your lips as you felt the tight coil in your stomach begin to build.

You moved your fingers faster and faster as you dreamed of him. You try your best to cover your moans as you orgasm washes over you. You finger movements go to a slow as you take deep breaths in. "Fuck." You close your eyes and try to calm your breathing. At least you'll be able to sleep now.

The morning comes by quickly. The early sun rising in from the blinds you forgot to close the night before, You sleep short still a little sticky from your previous actions. You slowly yawn and reach over to check the time on your phone. 9:00am. You quietly get out of bed and make your way over to your suitcase pulling out your toothbrush and heading down the hall to the bathroom

You close the door and begin to brush your teeth. When you're done, you open the door only to be greeted with a big, bare chest. He rubs his eyes slowly as you take in his figure. His bed head is gorgeous, all strands of hair going every way, his tanned chest is filled with little freckles, his boxers, which are packing a lot of weight, are fit tighlty around his ass. You close your mouth and swallow deeply as you drag your eyes up to his face.

He looks down at you with an awkward smile. "Well, uhm, morning darlin'. You look directly into his eyes. "Morning Joel." And with that you make your way past him and rush into your bedroom. You quickly close the door and lean against it as thought begin to fill your head.

Holy shit, what if he heard me last night? What if he knows? He can't know, can he?

"Fuck." you whisper as you make your way to the edge of the bed and sit down. You hear a faint knock on your door. " Hello?" you ask. "Hey, i'm uh, i'm dropping you off in about 10 minutes, just wanted to give you a heads up." You nod to yourself. "Okay." You say quietly.

Once your dressed, you grab your bags and begin your descent down the stairs. Joel is sitting at the bar with a cup of coffee and some toast, scrolling through what you assume is facebook. You put your suitcase next to the door and stand there awkwardly.

"So, how'd you sleep?" He looks up from his phone and puts his toast down. "Fine, how 'bout you?" you debate on actually telling him what had happened in the depth of the night but you thought that was absolutely absurd and its not like he would care,right? "I slept okay." You say quietly. He gives a quick nod and stands up from his stool. He walks over to the sink and puts his plate inside while chugging the rest of his coffee down.

"Alright, let's get goin.'" He grabs his keys and picks up your suitcase as you both head to his truck. He puts your suitcase in the back and hops in the drivers side. You quickly buckle up and sit with your legs crossed. He reverses and puts his hand behind your head rest to look out the back. You can see all the veins on his arms that are popping out. Perfect for you to lick.

You quickly look away as he removes his hand and puts it on the steering wheel. You sit in an awkward silence, as you look out the window and watch the world go by. You get a text from your dad asking when you'll be there. "Do you know what time we'll be there?" you ask looking at him. "20 minutes." He doesn't look at you.

"Okay." You say blandly. You quickly text your dad back and wait for his response. You watch as the nostalgic scenery fills your view with all the places you used to go to as a kid. Playing with Sarah while your dads talked away about their new contracting business. You then remember that Joel has a brother. Jesus, it hasn't been that long since ive been home, has it?

"How's Tommy doing?" you ask. He takes a deep breath in. "He's fine." you look down at your lap and play with your fingers. "That's good." you say quietly. He makes a right turn into a neighborhood that you instantly remember. All the times you've played with Sarah in the surrounding fields, it makes you a little emotional but also excited to be home.

You text your dad you've arrived as Joel pulls into the driveway. You quickly unbuckle as you see your dad in the doorway. You run out of the truck and into his arms. "Hey honey! I missed you so much!" He gives you a big hug and squeezes you tightly. "I missed you so much dad!" You give him one last hug before going out to Joel. Your dad takes your bags in and walks into the kitchen.

You find Joel in the same spot. "Well uhm." You scratch the back of your head. "Thanks for picking me up and letting me stay at your place." You smile shyly as he begins to move closer.

He opens his arms for a hug and you lean into him. A few seconds go by with your eyes closed and his head is right next to your ear. You were breathing him in. Physically. "You make some pretty goddamn noises sugar." He whispers. You don't know what he's talking about until you realize. You quickly stiff in your stance. He nuzzles into your neck and gives you a quick kiss under your earlobe.

He let's go of you and stands up straight. Your still in awe as he begins to speak. "See ya 'round sugar." He gives you a quick smile as he makes his way back to the truck with his hands in his pockets. You slowly watch as his truck backs out of your driveway and you see him give you a nod and a sly wink.

"What the fuck."

#joel miller x you #joel miller #joel miller x reader #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller smut #dbf!joel

[personasintro]

Mutual Help | #52

↳ 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬; in order for you to pretend to be his girlfriend, he helps you with your sexual desires ⏤ he calls it mutual help

⇢ 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: jungkook x reader

⇢ 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: fake dating au, fluff, angst, smut, slow burn

⇢ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: explicit language, mature content

⇢ 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 15.1k+

⇠ 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯. | 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱 | 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 ⇢ 

"Ah, I don't know!"

Frustratedly sighing and rubbing your forehead, you give your friend a pleading look as if you weren't whining and sighing for the past ten minutes which eventually brought him to this door. Leaning against the door frame with arms crossed over his big chest, he shoots you an amused grin your way.

"Just pack whatever. I don't see how this is a big deal."

"It's not a big deal," you correct him. "Stop making it look as if I'm overdramatic." you scold him and it's this time that you hear a sigh coming from Jungkook, though his one is more subtle.

Still, you hear it and you narrow your eyes at him.

"Do you even know where we are going? I can't just pack comfortable clothes and then your mom is like 'Boom, we're going to the restaurant' or something. I can't come to Busan, to your parents house in a bag full of sweats and leggings."

"Why not?" Jungkook shoots amusingly, cackling when he sees your annoyed expression.

You hate when you're serious and he's just there making fun of you.

It's Thursday and you're supposed to go to Busan, visit Jungkook's parents as planned. To not sleep there for one night only, Jungkook wants to go on Friday (not that he has much choice considering his mother told him to come Friday before she hung up, not giving him any chance to protest). You don't think he would protest though. After the scolding he got for hanging up on her, she got back right at him and you're not going to lie – you had the time of your life when Jungkook told you about it after you came back from work.

Jungkook himself confessed that if he is going to his hometown, he wants to stay there the whole weekend, including the Friday – or as much as it's left of it since he's working on that day too. Either way, it wouldn't pay off to stay there for one night only.

"Stop it," you whine, "I don't want to overpack."

"Just bring something comfortable and then something nice, in case we go out. I don't know what my mom's got planned, it's hard to tell with her. Maybe we will be staying home or going to one restaurant but I don't think it's gonna be anything fancy." Jungkook finally offers you a good response, walking closer to you as he rubs your tensed shoulders.

It's not like you're frustrated by the simple packing. You're tired, luckily fresh out of shower and today hasn't been a good day. On top of it all you have to pack it now since right after you clock out of work, Jungkook is going to pick you up so you both can go to Busan. It sounds complicated, and though it isn't, you proposed not going to Busan with him.

You'd love to. You love Jungkook's family and well, his mom sort of invited you and it would be rude not to turn up after the call you had with her. Though you know she'd be understanding, you still don't want to risk it. You're sort of people's pleaser – just when it comes to some people and it's mostly people close to you or someone you care about at some point. Plus, it's not like you have anything important to do over the weekend and it sounds fun to get out of Seoul.

In the end, Jungkook refused your proposition and wouldn't want to hear about it.

"You're tense," Jungkook comments behind you, rubbing the place between your neck and shoulders as you sigh in delight. "What's wrong?"

"Just a long day," you explain easily. "Don't worry."

"Good," he chuckles softly, "Then finally pack something for god's sake."

You elbow him into his stomach, his laugh resounding behind you as you quickly fold the clothes that have been spread on your bed, putting it into the travel bag which Jungkook will take with him once he's about to come get you from work. He's going to be home earlier, so he'll get your stuff and make sure the apartment is all good.

"You're so fucking annoying," you mutter, trying to sound as annoyed as possible. "I don't know why I am voluntarily about to spend a whole weekend with you. I could've just stayed here and enjoyed the peace."

"Oh, come on," Jungkook snorts, "You'd miss me the moment I'd step out of this place."

This time it's your turn to snort as you toss the travel back into the corner. Turning around to face him, you cross your arms over your chest and lift your brow at him. "Get over yourself."

"Come on now, don't be like this." he says with a grin, slowly getting closer to you while you try to keep your posture and not let him see you falling apart.

But the moment the tip of his toes almost brush against your own and you're met with the clearest sight of his brown dark eyes, your posture breaks a little and your arms slide along your sides. Jungkook's lip twitches as he tucks a strand of your hair behind your ear, the intimate touch causing your breath to hitch as he watches your entire face.

He is the epitome of how dangerous some men can be. You've been around men for a few years now. With having good-looking friends, let's say it's been a challenge. With knowing them and not crossing any boundaries, you can look back and see things differently now. However, that cannot be exactly said about Jungkook. He is special, between three of your friends, you've grown the closest to him. And sometimes you wonder how the hell you got into this mess. A mess you so shamelessly want to be in, if it makes you enjoy your time together. Whether as best friends only or as fuck-buddies who love to fuck each other's brains out.

Will you be able to go back to how things were? 

He is still your best friend and whenever you don't have sex, it's like nothing has changed. He is still the same Jungkook and you're still the same Y/N. Maybe that's the only thing that calms down your nerves whenever you spend your time overthinking or looking back at your friendship.

And now that he is standing right in front of you, all of it is brushed off easily.

"Horny again?" You press your lips together when you see his eyes snapping to yours.

"What do you mean again? We haven't had sex for a long time." he frowns, causing your lips to twitch and you do an awful job to hide the amused grin.

"Over a week isn't a long time." you point out, trying to sound unphased as if you haven't been thinking about his dick during the day.

"According to who? You?" he chuckles, cupping your face as he brushes his nose against yours.

You hate how weak you're already feeling, your heart in your throat, beating loudly.

"According to studies of Harvard–"

Jungkook snorts, lips curling into a satisfied smirk. "You're full of shits,"

He's so close and you wish you could hate yourself for how fast you hypnotize his lips with your lingering gaze. Once he notices his smirk deepens even more, innocently cocking his head to the side in a false act.

"But very well then. I will let you pack." he shrugs, stepping away from you as you stare at him with an indescribable look.

Jungkook presses his lips together to stop himself from laughing at your face, bringing two fingers to his temple as he salutes you. He walks away freely while you stand there with an open mouth and disappointment burning in your chest.

Fucker. 

The only chances you had to visit Busan have been with Jungkook. Not that there's anything to mind about that because the road is familiar and your brain automatically connects the scenery with him. Even the familiar buildings you've seen from the window of his car, or the stores you never visited in person – all of it reminds you of the times he brought you here.

Now, there haven't been many times you've visited this beautiful city with its own spark and uniqueness. This is your second time to spend the night here – all those times before were where you visited and came back home the same day.

Straight out of the work, you're embarrassed that you preferred to rest your eyes and listen to the muffled music of Jungkook's playlist, rather than admiring the scenery the entire ride. The Jeon family house looks just the same, bringing you back the memories you created here the last time you visited. It hasn't been that long ago but a wave of nostalgia hits you.

And the warmth of Mrs. Jeon's big smile as she opens the front door and spots her son makes you oddly emotional. The petite woman rushes towards her youngest son and crushes him in a big hug. The sight is both touching and funny, considering their size difference as Jungkook looks totally scrunched up in the hug, despite his mother being nowhere as tall.

When she pulls away and gives the loving and warm look to her son, she suddenly pokes him in the chest as she starts her set of scolding which makes you snicker while you take out your bag from the truck.

"Y/N, dear!" Mrs. Jeon turns her attention to you, giving you a warm and definitely less crushing hug, but it feels nothing but nice and welcoming. "Look at you! Beautiful as always."

"Mrs. Jeon," you greet her, feeling your cheeks getting hot at her straight-forward (and very kind) compliment. "You're the one who's beautiful here."

"Oh come on, I might be getting old but I'm not stupid." she comments with an attitude, waving you off as she sends you a grin you've seen somewhere before.

The 'somewhere' is the person who wraps his arm around Mrs. Jeon's shoulders, pulling her closer to his side as he gives a soft kiss into her black hair. "You're beautiful, mom."

"My son," she almost cries out as she hugs him again and you feel your heart clench, fighting back the tears. You don't even know why you're suddenly so emotional. "Don't think I'm gonna get easy on you though. Do you hang up on your mother? The woman who carried you for nine months? Yah!"

She's back to scolding him, Jungkook scrunching his nose in shame as he gives her an exhausted sigh. "Mom, we went over this. I love you and I'm here. Can you please let us come inside so the whole neighborhood doesn't witness you scolding an adult man?"

Snickering, you and Jungkook share an amused look as he takes your travel back from you, holding yours and his as well while you close the truck.

"Who cares about the neighbors," she mutters but still looks around to see if there are any prying eyes and ears which are common in a neighborhood full of houses. "You might be an adult but you're still my son."

"Yeah, yeah," he mutters, "Can we go? We're tired from the drive."

She shoots Jungkook a look before she looks at you and suddenly her face completely relaxes. She gives you the same warm smile, leading you inside the house where Mr. Jeon waits in the living room. The hug between a dad and a son is a great thing to witness once again and as soon as Jungkook's dad makes sure he greets you just as warmly, a sense of happiness and security washes over you. You would say it's the house you're in that makes you feel this way, but it's the people in it who do.

After the nice welcome and catching up while eating the delicious dinner Mrs. Jeon has prepared, the exhaustion from the whole day and the drive here catches up to you. You do your best not to start yawning and you slip a few times, sheepishly trying to hide the natural reaction of your body with your palm. But there's not a single thing Jungkook misses and he easily tells openly you're tired, ignoring the stare you give him. You feel bad.

Jungkook's parents have been so excited to see him, and they've been so kind that they always tried to include you in their conversation. Not even for a second you felt like an outcast while they caught up with their son. They asked Jungkook something and then averted their attention toward you, which is very kind of them.

"Oh, of course! You both were working today," Mrs. Jeon says as she cleans up the plates, Mr. Jeon helps her right away and you mentally coo at how compatible they seem to look. "The room is all ready for you dear."

You stand up to help her, thanking her as she sweetly shoos you away and tells you her husband will help her.

"Jungkook, you should take some fresh sheets for yourself. I prepared them for you in our bedroom."

You look at Jungkook, noticing how sour his face turns and you clasp your hand over your mouth to hide the snort, immediately reminded of the last time you were here and you were discussing the bed situation.

"You said my room is all ready." Jungkook comments, even though he knows what's going to follow right after but he's shameless, not hiding his displeasure of having to sleep on the couch for the whole weekend.

"Yah!" Mrs. Jeon tosses the kitchen towel, glaring at her son from across the room.

Jungkook's little teasing grin is not hard to miss at all, not even for his own mother who's ready to scold him all over again. A major deja vú.

"I was talking to Y/N. The room is ready for her, not for you. I hope you don't expect her to sleep on the couch."

"Mom, we had this conversation the last time," Jungkook whines like a little kid while Mr. Jeon presses a soft kiss to his wife's temple before he scurries away as soon as possible.

You watch the sight amusingly, silently admiring Jungkook's courage and non-existent shame – not even when it comes to his mother.

"Me and Y/N can share the bed."

"Yah, Jeon Jungkook!" She grabs the kitchen towel and is ready to smack the hell out of Jungkook while he starts laughing. "That is completely inappropriate and you know it!"

"Mom, it's just a bed. Have you never shared a bed with your friend?" Jungkook tries again, hiding the amused smirk as she huffs and tries to adjust her black hair a little.

"What do you think of your mother, huh?!" she exclaims, this time ready to pinch his cheeks but thanks to their height difference, Jungkook dodges her hands easily and hugs her instead. "You guys are a different generation, but under my roof–"

"Alright, alright," Jungkook laughs, pecking the top of her head. "I can respect that."

"How can you even suggest that? What about poor Y/N? Do you think she wants to share a bed with a mountain man taking up most of the space?" she asks, still with a scolding tone into his chest as her voice comes out muffled.

Jungkook looks at you, cocking his brow at you just as his mother pulls away slightly and waits for your reaction.

"You're right, Mrs. Jeon. I'm gonna enjoy his bed all to myself." you tell proudly, teasingly grinning at Jungkook who narrows his eyes.

"Our couch is comfortable, Jungkook. I don't know why you are so difficult about this."

"I just want my old bed," Jungkook pouts as she scolds him with one look but he doesn't budge. "Sue me for wanting to sleep in there and relive my old life."

"Then you should come more often." Mrs. Jeon's response is quicker than any of you can blink, leaving Jungkook with an open mouth as he frowns unpleasantly.

"That's not fair..." he murmurs with an attitude.

"You're not five, Jungkook-ah." His mother reminds him as you snort, Jungkook sulking as he rolls his eyes.

"I don't know how you women can be cold sometimes."

"You men wouldn't be able to live without us in your lives."

Her response is sassy, showing you a new side of her as you gape with open mouth before you start laughing. Jungkook's lips twitch as his gaze stays on his mother as he shakes his head in amusement.

Well, she wasn't exactly wrong.

As soon as Jungkook glances at you, you cock your brow at him in a silent "She's right". He eyes you up and down with a cocky glint in his eyes, tonguing his cheek as he remains silent. It's better to excuse yourself to go take a shower, quickly avoiding his gaze. But you still hear the silent but deep chuckle rumbling out of his chest.

He leans against the counter, arms crossed over his chest as he stares at you as you retrieve yourself upstairs – his mother no longer engaging herself in the conversation as she starts casual conversation instead.

Jungkook waits a good moment or a few after the house quiets down, killing his time by browsing through his social media and watching random youtube videos. He checks the time, it's almost midnight. Though everyone went to bed a little later than usual, he knows it's caused by his and yours late arrival. His parents obviously wanted to catch up in person, enjoy him while he stays in his hometown.

His mother misses the fuck out of him but still makes him sleep on the couch.

Unbelievable. He scoffs silently.

He understands why. He wouldn't let you sleep on the couch anyway. He just loves to tease his mom and she knows it. She still gives him a reaction every time which makes the whole thing even funnier.

Jungkook is completely fine with you staying in his room. He might joke around a lot on the outside, but he believes he is a gentleman in these kinds of things. There's no need to blame her for not approving for you and him to sleep in the same bed. He knows she says one thing but he's not sure if she would totally mind. She's aware of your close friendship and that you're comfortable with each other. Nobody sees inside her head but he guesses she thinks of your friendship as a sibling kind of relationship. What she isn't aware of is that Jungkook gets to fuck the shit out of you and you're way past the sibling relationship.

Well, it's not something for her to know anyway.

You've been in Jungkook's life long enough for them to know you. Whether it's personally or from Jungkook's mentioning you whenever he talked to them about the most casual stuff. Obviously, they were aware of you becoming his best friend from the beginning.

Jungkook isn't too subtle by opening the door from his old bedroom, walking into the darkness and space so casually that it could be comical if there were any lights turned on. You could be asleep for all he knows but that proves to be not true when your deadpanned voice resounds in the silence.

"You can't be serious."

Jungkook grins, a breathy and evil chuckle leaving his lips as he practically forces his way inside his bed as you start protesting. "You thought you'd have my bed to yourself?"

"I can't believe we have to deal with this again."

"We don't," he says simply, annoyingly cuddling to one of the pillows. "Just shut up."

"I'm gonna tell your mom and she's gonna whip your ass."

"Do it and I'm gonna whip yours." he says casually and your mouth hangs open, a loud gasp leaving it shortly after.

Disappointed how excited those words made you, you shift on your spot as you try to find the right position. It's not like Jungkook's old bed is too small but you feel like with two people, not mentioning Jungkook's actual body size, it's not big enough.

You're not going to lie. You were kind of expecting him to come. His look back in the kitchen told you everything you had to know. His presence is comforting as always, even in this small ass – not big enough – bed. And you hate how much you enjoy just sleeping next to him. You're the person to move a lot, or more like stretch around in your sleep, so naturally you like your space. But with Jungkook, you don't mind even though he often used to scold you for elbowing him in your sleep or almost pushing him off the bed.

Though, your stubborn self won't let him have the satisfaction of you being speechless. Even though you've been for a moment now.

"You sound confident. You think I'd let you do that?"

"You've let me do it every time." he says right away, sounding pleasant by his answer as you roll your eyes, ready to pinch him in the stomach as he chuckles and cages your wrist with his fingers wrapped around it.

"Stop being so cocky. There is a first time for everything."

"Indeed."

He lowers his tone and you're about to question him, until he suddenly reaches and pinches gently your nipple. But the shock leaves you yelping though, slapping your hand against your mouth.

"What the fuck." you gasp.

"That's what you were about to do, huh?" he asks cockily, "Pinch me, right?"

"So?" you gulp, cupping your breasts with a frown which you're not sure Jungkook can see clearly, but the chuckle makes you think he probably knows about it.

And then he's hovering over you before you can blink, your mind going blank for a good moment when you realize the son of a bitch (no offense to Mrs. Jeon of course, it's just a phrase) is shirtless. You shamelessly want to rank your hands down his chest to his freaking abs because you know they are there. His weird interest in working out at any given chance is paying off for sure.

He doesn't look like a bodybuilder and his muscles aren't massive, he's perfect in all the right places as cliché as it might sound. He's fit and buff, just the thought of what he's usually hiding beneath the layers of his clothing makes you salivate. If you weren't nearly as attracted toward him, you're not sure if you would be able to go all this trouble for a couple of amazing rounds of sex. Amazing is not enough of a strong word.

Jungkook decides not to respond verbally and you have to clasp your mouth shut because he doesn't give you any choice. He latches his moisturized and soft lips on your neck and starts kissing you there, bringing new waves of pleasure and want. Only he can do that with a single touch. Just minutes ago, you were ready to fall asleep. Not anymore.

At the beginning of his never ending kissing and sucking, you think he's just teasing you because he has done a lot. You know he enjoys seeing you struggle and squirm. But you're also stubborn enough and you won't let him show how desperate you can get for him. Not always at least. You can be pretty needy and desperate – shameless. The man is satisfied to see you show your neediness toward him. Even though you're not a stan of women not showing her wants or making the first move, you secretly love when Jungkook takes the first move. You love to see him want you. You love to see him taking control.

But Jungkook doesn't stop.

His hand gets under your shirt, palming your skin there as you gasp into the darkness and silence. He plays with the hem of your panties, smiling in satisfaction at the realization that you're not wearing anything else besides them and the shirt.

"Look at you," Jungkook hums, nose brushing against your jaw as he gently bites you there.

You can't help it, you're already gripping his sides as you dig your nails into them.

"Wearing this at my parents house." he chuckles and hooks a finger behind your panties, just teasingly moving it right to left.

You don't bother to explain that you simply forgot, because you did bring pajama shorts and pants, in case it would be chilly at the house during the night. Who would believe you? Who forgets to put on proper pajama pants instead of panties? Either way, it would just cause more teasing from Jungkook and to be quite honest, you're already on the edge because Jungkook's parents are right down the hall.

Surely, he doesn't want his mom to find out he sneaked out into the room you're staying in. Or maybe not even that but the fact you're actually sleeping with her son and you're not just a casual and usual best friend. God, just thinking about his parents knowing makes you embarrassed. It's different when parents are involved. The Jeons think of you as this polite girl Jungkook is friends with. You are polite, but that's not even enough information about you.

"I might be wearing my panties but you're the one hovering over me." you remind him calmly, keeping your tone confident.

He brings his face closer to yours after your words. It would just take you slightly leaning in his direction to kiss him. And that thought is tempting.

"Don't act like you don't like it." he says confidently, not even thinking that there might be a small percentage of you not liking this. And he is right.

"That's not important," you gulp, "Just what you are about to do, Jungkook?" you ask straight away.

"Whatever you want me to do." he answers cheekily, putting some distance between you as he leans on his hands some more, not touching you this way but that changes.

He lowers down, the sudden chilly air hitting your exposed skin while he hikes up your shirt. He kisses your stomach. It's so soft that it suddenly makes you flinch and giggle, the tickling feeling causing you to scold him by muttering his name. He only chuckles silently, diving back in as he makes sure he puts more pressure with his lips.

You hate how your entire body accommodates to Jungkook's body, making sure both of you are comfortable in this position while he's between your stretched legs. You're so fucking weak when it comes to him, that much has been established a long time ago but still. You should be able to push him away and remind him there should be no funny business when you're at his parents house. But is it really that much of a big deal? The little devil on your shoulder asks.

"You really want to do this here? Out of all places?" you clarify silently, too close to whimpering when he pecks your skin just above your panties hem.

"Let me just make you feel good." he mumbles from between your thighs, your whole body heating up. It's becoming hard to keep your shirt on.

He clasps his hands around your knees and pushes them upward. Understanding what he wants, you bend your knees and in a second, he presses another kiss to your clothed core. This makes you audibly gasp, not expecting him to be so fast. You're aware of having to stay silent and there's still a part of you who wonders if this is the right time to have this kind of fun.

"Hm, what are you saying?" Jungkook mumbles, poking his tongue at your center as you whimper again, leaning yourself on your elbows as you glare at Jungkook. Not that he can see much but the sudden movement from you causes him to look up.

"You're gonna get us caught."

"Me?" he asks cluelessly, "You're the one making sounds." he adds cheekily and you almost fume, ready to argue.

"You're the one making me make them!" you exclaim in a hushed whisper-scream, causing him to laugh a little.

Chuckling, you feel him lifting his head while the warmth of his body makes your skin rise with goosebumps. You can't see his face clearly but you two would burst into laughter if you could see each other's faces. The want to laugh disappears in seconds when Jungkook sneakily finds his way between your thighs. The moment the pads of his fingers make contact with your clothed heat, you clear your throat shakily to mask the moans that want to rip out of your throat.

The single touch is enough to make you a mess. He traces your underwear with his fingers, the touch soft and teasing, before he starts rubbing you.

"Tell me to stop." he offers simply.

A silent scoff makes it out of your mouth as soon as he says it.

"Isn't it too late?" you ask, hinting at the wet mess between your thighs.

Jungkook chuckles though, pressing his fingers harder which makes you gasp. "It's never too late to stop."

This teasing shit... 

You swear, if he wasn't doing such a great job at delivering pleasure, you would smack the life out of him. You hate when people tease you in the most annoying way but Jungkook is on another level. The man knows you like no one else and he uses it to his advantage. Still, you find yourself salivating at your current position and his hand on your clothed heat.

"Did you bring condoms?"

You ignore the satisfied and deep chuckle that vibrates in his chest, pursing your lips in the darkness.

"Fuck, I didn't." Jungkook whines a little.

As disappointed as you are, you try to mask it by giving his naked back a few slow taps. "No sex then tonight, mister."

Jungkook rolls his eyes and cockily like always, pushes your panties to the side as he teases your entrance with his digit. You gasp, clasping your hands around his biceps.

"There are other ways, y'know."

"I know." you whisper, hating how weak you always get when something like this happens.

The pleasure shoots straight through you and you can no longer think, wanting to chase the pleasure instead. This always happens with him and it's a huge problem. Only because of how dangerous it is.

"Mhm, you do?" he hums, "Besides, we've got some new things to try as far as I can remember."

His tone is suggestive, a layer of implication which makes you almost choke on your unexpected spit because... is he talking about what you think he is?

As if Jungkook could tell the look of shock on your face, he chuckles deeply.

"Soon." Is all he says, enough to make you shiver.

"You–wait, you mean like–"

"Shhh, you're gonna get us caught." he hums teasingly, hinting at your previous words and you want to groan in frustration.

He's playing with you. He's lucky you have to be quiet or else you wouldn't get him off the hook so easily.

And then he goes back between your thighs, giving you a few teasing rubs with just two of his fingers. He manages to get out of you a silenced whimper that you couldn't swallow down.

"Behave." he says playfully, a little groan escaping your mouth before he retrieves his fingers.

You prop on your elbows as soon as he plops next to you, lying on his back while you stare confusingly. You're about to question his intentions, very much hoping this is not some sort of teasing or punishment, but you're stopped by the rustling sounds of him getting out of his boxers. He's lucky.

"Take off your shirt, wanna feel you."

Oh, no problem for you.

You pull the shirt over your head, your panties following right after as you sit back on your knees, staring at Jungkook with big curious eyes. You see the faintest glimpse of his naked form, kind of bummed out that you don't see him clearly. But your imagination does wonders, finding the scene in front of you hot. Both of you. Naked. In the darkness. It has its own spark, doesn't it?

"Come on, get on my lap." he spurs you, making himself comfortably between the sheets.

You stay frozen and confused, not really understanding what he is trying to do. But you trust him. He has to have some kind of plan.

You get on his lap, still balancing yourself on your knees as you allow yourself to feel up his abs and chest. He is warm and soft, something you've known but always feels nice to have his skin under your curious hands.

Jungkook pulls you in, catching you by your hips while his mouth clashes with yours. You hold yourself back from moaning, his tongue already touching your bottom lip before he shoves his tongue into your mouth in a heated kiss. It's consuming and hungry, yet sweet and you return every bit of it.

Jungkook's hard length pokes you in your belly button, wanting some attention and you would happily give it to it. You feel Jungkook taking his cock into his fist, giving himself a few pumps while his knuckles brush against your stomach. He's driving you crazy.

Bodies heating up, Jungkook orders you to sit on his thighs and you do. Is he making you ride his thighs?

And then he pulls you down onto him, your body moving forward while your bare cunt makes contact with his balls. You whimper into his mouth, your entire body shuddering at the contact.

"Sit down on it. Don't put it inside though." he encourages you, your eyes widening while you're trying to process his request.

You let out a shuddered breath, sitting upward as you carefully sit down onto his length. It keeps lying on his stomach, reaching his belly button while you carefully place your bare cunt at the base.

"Fuck."

You both curse at the same time, your hands crashing Jungkook's shoulders while you literally tremble.

Your wetness starts spreading over Jungkook's length, the bareness causing both of you to breathe heavily as if you were in the midst of this act. However you're only at the beginning.

Jungkook's hands made contact with your ass cheeks, hands gripping your ass a little before he's pushing you up his length. You rub against him, whimpering as Jungkook quickly chases your mouth to swallow down any sounds coming from you. Following his hands while they guide for the right movement, you're trying too hard not to come already. Fuck. Who would've said this could feel so good?

You actually feel him bare, the difference is that you don't feel him inside of you but that thought doesn't even cross your mind. You can't grasp the fact that you feel him, really feel him. The hard and warm skin. Even the prominent vein. His thick length separates your folds, clit brushing over every part of his cock.

As the pace grows and gets more stable, you're sliding along his cock, your wetness making slick sounds that are hard to ignore. Although, you can't miss the sounds the bed starts to make under your moving bodies. It creaks a little, your hips halting.

"It's okay." Jungkook breathes out.

"Won't they wake up?"

"No, just keep this pace. We should be fine."

Who are you to disobey?

You continue, putting a little bit more pressure and fuck... this reminds you of that time when you and Jungkook were having sex and you accidentally brushing against his bare cock. But this time, you actually get to feel it and there is no apology behind it.

Biting your lips harshly, it seems like you're going to break the skin's thin barrier soon if you keep this up. But you can't help it. Chasing the pleasure and Jungkook's hard cock that spreads your folds seems like the only priority right now. You're a mess, whimpering and breathing heavily while you keep digging your nails into poor Jungkook's shoulders. He doesn't hiss, nor makes other sounds that could indicate he's in pain. He must be enjoying this just as much as you do.

"You like that?" Jungkook asks silently and raspily. "Hm? You like feeling my cock?"

You both know there's not much freedom and time when it comes to words, but he just couldn't help himself.

He feels you getting tired, skin burning up while the mess between your thighs leaks down his length and balls. He knows you're close and fuck, you really are because a few seconds later and your whole body shudders, finally letting go off the knot in your lower stomach as it snaps and allows you to feel the real and much intense pleasure. You both cum at the same time, the familiar knot doing the same to Jungkook as the ribbons of white paints his stomach and chest. He bites his lips to hold back a groan, throwing his head back while his hands loosen on your hips.

You both breathe heavily, your thighs and legs aching while you take a moment to calm down.

"Have you ever done this before?" you ask, voice breathy as you slowly lift yourself up. God, you both made such a mess.

Jungkook sits down, scrunching his nose at his cum all over his stomach and chest. "No."

"You haven't?" you ask surprisingly, whispering as you stand up and reach for the napkins on the nightstand.

"Why do you sound so surprised?" he chuckles, "I never had to find a way around raw sex before."

That makes sense...

"Did you like it?" you ask, handing him the napkins before he thanks you and starts cleaning himself while you do the same.

Jungkook snorts in response and you frown in confusion. "Would I cum if I didn't like it?"

"Touché." you mutter and he laughs silently.

He stands up, grabbing the wet and messy napkins from your hands. He leans down and presses a soft kiss to your temple which you find oddly comforting and surprising at the same time.

You look at him in the darkness, but you can't really see his features. "I will take care of this." he says and holds the napkin in the air for a second.

You realize he must've put his boxers on while you were cleaning yourself as you watch him retrieve his way out of the room. You take the time to dress up, nervously making your way to the bathroom right after to properly clean the mess between your thighs and empty your suddenly full bladder. You could really use a shower but there's no way you could do that without waking everyone up. You can't risk it.

So you go back to the bed once you're done, smelling Jungkook on the sheets while the scent is more intense than it was yesterday.

Last night feels like a dream, at least for a moment after you open your eyes to be met with sunshine peeking through the curtains. Bed all for you, you find yourself touching the space between you to be met with cold sheets. Jungkook must've stayed in the living room which is for the better anyway.

The memories of last night make your lips stretch automatically. You can't believe you did that! It feels like a major thing that has happened. In reality, it might not be a big deal and there's no reason to go crazy over it, but you can't help but feel excited because you tried something new and you freaking loved it. Everything about it.

The whole thing was so hot. From having to stay silent to having one of the best orgasms and feeling Jungkook like that. You've also never done that before with anyone else, so it's ten times more exciting and new. But now that it's morning and you should go downstairs to join the rest of the family, you suddenly feel... nervous you would say. There's a lot of what if's but you don't beat yourself over it. You just hope they slept well during the night.

As usual, you're the last one to come downstairs and join the others, finding them all perfectly synchronized with each other. The sight of them as a family preparing breakfast looks pretty casual, just like you usually see in the movies, but it's endearing nonetheless. They're all working together to prepare the breakfast. Mrs. Jeon cutting some more fruit while Mr. Jeon sets the table and Jungkook... still wearing his – what should be considered as – pajamas (even though you know that's not really what he wears to bed), is helping his father as he brings more bowls and plates to the table.

"Ah, good morning! Hope you slept well!" Mrs. Jeon notices you when she hands Jungkook the bowl of – oh my god, are those fresh strawberries? 

You greet all of them, smiling sheepishly as you offer to help but Mrs. Jeon tells you to sit down.

"I did, thank you," you smile, rubbing the back of your neck. "I'm sorry for sleeping till now. Hope I didn't wake up too late."

Mr. Jeon smiles at you which puts you a little more at ease while his wife just laughs humorously. "Oh, please, dear. Nonsense! We're happy that you slept so well. Sleep however long you want." she tells you politely and sweetly which makes you mentally coo at her sweetness.

You do not tell her that her son is the cause of your late awakening – he did a number on you.

You don't sit though and while Mr. Jeon disappears somewhere in the living room, Mrs. Jeon calls out to him to ask him something and soon, she joins him as well. You start helping Jungkook with dirty knives and cut boards, placing them into the sink. Aware of his eyes on you, you can't hide the little grin which finally makes him crack as a deep chuckle resounds beside you.

"Slept well?" he asks, standing behind you as he puts clean and dry forks back into the drawer cabinet.

"Cocky since morning?" you offer teasingly, suddenly feeling soft lips touching your neck while his hands squeeze your hips.

"Jungkook!" you scold him silently, trying to glance behind him in panic.

He cackles, pulling away. Once you truly look at him, you notice his eyes and face being still a little swollen as he looks sleepy. Besides looking cute, you find him hot with his shit eating grin he offers you and the slight cockiness hidden behind it doesn't go unnoticed too.

He leans against the kitchen counter, facing you with his arms crossed over his chest. You see the glint in his eyes that tells you to prepare yourself for whatever he's about to say. And your intuition proves to be right.

"Should I buy condoms today?" he asks, leaning even closer to you as his voice remains subtle and low.

You almost choke, "I can't believe you!" you laugh, punching him in his bicep teasingly as he laughs before straightening himself.

And then he wiggles his eyebrows at you, still grinning from ear to ear. "That wasn't no." he points out and you start laughing even more.

The approaching voices of his parents break the moment, both of you silently grinning to yourselves as Mrs. Jeon informs you of today's plan, beaming with happiness of finally having her younger son home again.

You can't remember when was the last time you attended a similar family gathering with your own family. Sure, living far away from them has complicated it and made it practically impossible for you to experience these things. You can't say you miss it too much. Family gatherings often equals family drama, which you're happy you're away from.

Of course, you do miss your family but you wouldn't change anything about deciding to leave your home country.

Your friends have definitely helped in the aspect of missing home, or like the familiarity of one. Everything would feel lonelier if you didn't have them and you often think about it.

You can tell how happy Jungkook's parents are to be hosting a little barbeque party. With Jungwon and his family coming soon, you're assigned to help Mrs. Jeon in the kitchen. She has a radio playing in the background, humming a soft tune to herself as she engages you in a casual conversation. She's marinating meat, a few packs of pork belly to Jungkook's loud wishes already sitting on the kitchen counter while Jungkook is with his father, trying to set the grill.

In the background, through the terrace door, you can see how serious they're being about their job and it makes you smile in amusement.

Mrs. Jeon takes this time to interrogate you about her son, which you find highly amusing as well. Is he sleeping well? Does he eat well?

"I know he's working out like crazy. He tends to get very serious about it, so I'm worried."

You giggle a little, not meaning to come out as rude but Mrs. Jeon simply glances at you with worried eyes.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Jeon. He does have a diet from time to time, but he can't live without this." you assure her, picking one of the packs of sliced pork belly as she looks at the item in your hand before her shoulders relax and she lets out a laugh.

"I know he's an adult, has been for quite some time," she says with a slight laugh, "But I can't help but be worried. He's not living in Busan and I know he's doing great–"

"Mrs. Jeon," you tell her softly with the same soft smile, "You're his mom. Of course you're worried. And it doesn't matter how old he is. Jungkook is happy to have you as his mom."

Mrs. Jeon smiles at you with so much fondness that it makes your heart warm. "You have to miss your parents too. I can't imagine if Jungkook lived in another country, it must've been tough for you and them."

She turns back to cutting the vegetable while you prepare a lemonade, squeezing lemons. "The beginning was," you admit.

You're a definition of a homesick person. You don't like changes and you don't deal well with being away from people close to you.

But you knew moving to Seoul is something you dreamed about for a long time. It was the biggest step you had to take in your life so far and you don't regret it. It's cheesy to say this, but everything comes with price. And your price is not seeing them as often as you would if you still lived back at home.

"But I'm happy here. And I've got amazing friends and people around me, that makes it a ton easier." you tell her while you share another smile.

"That's funny," she says after a moment, realizing something. "Jungkook told me something very similar when he first moved out."

"Really?" you laugh.

"Yes," she giggles, finishing preparing the meat. "He's very independent. Has been since he was little. Jungwon not so much, of course he's successful and independent now too. But we're always butting in whenever he needs help, whether it's babysitting our sweet Haru or something else. We just always remind him we are here, you know? Me and my husband enjoy our kids needing us. But with Jungkook.... He seems to do a lot of stuff on his own which isn't a bad thing. I'm proud of him. But sometimes that makes me worried, right?"

Your features soften as you throw the squeezed lemons into the bin. You wash your hands and almost pout when you see Mrs. Jeon warm gaze. She's full of love for her sons, it makes you emotional all over again.

Jungkook really is lucky to have her as his mother.

"That he must be going through some stuff alone. He would never burden us with his own burdens and that is the worst for a parent. When you don't know what he's going through,"

You gulp, trying to look casual. Especially when you know far more than his own mother, it does make you feel a little guilty.

"Anyways," she shakes her head as if not wanting to think about such thoughts. "He seems to be content... happy. I'm just overly worried about him."

You feel so bad for her. She has her doubts, it's like she knows he must've been through something. But you know Jungkook hasn't told her. Jungkook often told you his mother tends to get worried a lot, that's how she shows her love and god, she's a mother. Of course she is worried about her kids – no matter the age. It might seem like she's overreacting but that's not it. She loves them deeply.

"I can't talk for Jungkook," you start slowly, "But he's doing great. Don't worry. Me, Jimin and Taehyung look after him. We all do that with each other." you assure her, trying to make your voice come out light and happy.

That seems to make her relax and she lets out a humorous giggle as she shakes her head at herself. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I get so emotional sometimes."

"We women do that a lot." you joke and she joins with a laugh.

"Seems like they figured it out," she says, looking across your shoulder as you follow her gaze.

Jungkook and his dad look proud as they high-five, both laughing right after.

"We have a little time before Jungwon arrives with Haru and Sona. It's too soon to grill. Do you want to see some baby photos of Jungkook?"

One thing you love to do is look at old pictures. And baby Jungkook pictures? That sounds great.

"Sure." you smile, knowing Jungkook doesn't like to look at his old pictures.

"Oh my god!" you exclaim with a hand covering your mouth as soon as Mrs. Jeon pulls out a brown box, a worn-out album with the name 'Jungkookie' written on it, and opens it to show you the first pictures of newborn Jungkook.

She smiles widely at the pictures, probably has seen them million times before as she hands you the album for you to browse through it. In the meantime, she picks up another, smaller album while she flips through the pages.

"He was so cute," you comment, smiling at baby Jungkook who seems to be older in this picture, sitting in his toddler chair with a banana in his hand. "I can't believe he never wants us to see these pictures."

One time, you don't even remember who started it, but someone posted a baby picture in your friends group and that's how the train of sharing baby pictures happened. Jungkook was the only one who wouldn't want to post any pictures, whining how stupid that is. Really, you don't understand why because he was the cutest baby.

"He can be annoying at times." His mother waves you off and a snort leaves your mouth.

Your browsing is soon interrupted by the sound of the door opening, almost every picture causing you to let out a soft 'Aw', but you don't really give it much attention.

"What are you guys doing?"

Jungkook asks as soon as he finds you in the living room, taking a look at the both of you until realization hits him and he immediately starts whining with a pout.

"Mom!"

And there is the frown.

"What?" His mother shrugs, pushing another and a single picture of what seems like eight year old Jungkook your way.

Gasping, you completely ignore Jungkook while he plops on the spot next to you and groans loudly when he sees the photo.

"Oh my god, look at you!"

You know your reaction, a fit of giggles, isn't up to his liking because he clicks his tongue and looks uninterested at the photo in your hands. Jungkook looks like an emo kid, surely the haircut's fault and you coo at the most evident feature on his face.

"Look at your nose!" you coo, Jungkook throwing his arm behind you onto the backrest as he rolls his eyes. You start giggling all over again, hand pressing against his cheek as you bring him closer to your face.

Jungkook tongues his cheek while you give him a teasing smile. "This is embarrassing, put it away."

You and his mother share a look, while Mr. Jeon comes in and out as he starts preparing the food outside.

"You were cute, don't be like this." you nudge him in the shoulder as he rolls his eyes again at you.

"Yeah, my big nose and acne were really cute."

"Hey now." you scold him.

"You were the cutest baby and the most beautiful boy." His mother scolds him too, actually sounding offended by Jungkook's perception of his younger self.

"You're my mom, of course you would say that."

"And I agree," you butt in, "And I'm not your mom."

"You certainly aren't." he mutters while you narrow your eyes at him.

"Come on. You've seen my childhood photos. I was a chubby baby."

"And so was I." he scoffs before pursing his lips. Most babies are chubby to be honest.

"I had the most awful haircut, not even this," You hold the picture in the air to show it off again, "is that bad."

"Get that photo out of my face." Jungkook says with a frown and you snort again.

"We all have embarrassing pictures, Kook. Come on, you saw the photo where my head was extra large."

"Toddlers have bigger heads, Y/N." Jungkook reminds you.

Rolling your eyes, you purse your lips. "Well, mine was even bigger."

"You were cute. What are you saying?" Jungkook shakes his head. "Mom, do you always have to show my baby photos to everyone?" he whines now like a little baby as Mrs. Jeon waves him off.

You bite back a laugh as Jungkook huffs, annoyed.

The doorbell rings, interrupting Jungkook's annoyance and Mrs. Jeon ignores it, as she informs excitedly it has to be Jungwon with the rest of his family. She stands up, placing the other albums back into the box as she leaves to get to the front door.

You glance at Jungkook, finding him sulking which makes you giggle. Poking him in the cheek, you place the photo back into the box.

"You really were the cutest baby." you tell him and he hums, staring at his nails instead as you roll your eyes and kick him in the shin.

"Don't lie."

"I'm not lying," you laugh as you already hear Haru's excited little voice while she greets her grandmother. "Why would I lie? You were so cute, even with your big nose. I love it."

"You're annoying." Jungkook comments, narrowing his eyes at you once again as you try not to burst into laughter.

"And you were the cutest."

"Yeah?" he asks, his lips curling as he starts playing with the ends of your hair.

"Yeah," you shrug, almost shivering when the pads of his fingers touch the back of your neck. "I should probably look at this later."

"Like the hell you will," Jungkook clicks his tongue, "I will burn them before you can take another glance."

"Don't be so rude." you tease him, inching closer to him as he searches your face before his eyes drop to your lips.

"And if I want to be?" He arches his brow.

"You little–"

"Kookie!" Haru's cheerful and rushed tiny footsteps resound around the house, the sound approaching the two of you.

Jungkook gives you a little smirk one last time before he hoists up to his feet, already crouching down to welcome Haru's big hug and fit of excited giggles.

The sun is warming up your skin as a nice breeze winds through your hair. Mr. Jeon is grilling the meat, the delicious smell of barbeque filling the air along with Mrs. Jeon's blooming flowers. It reminds you of all those times where you used to have barbeque parties when you were a little kid. It brings you a nostalgic feeling but it doesn't make you sad at all. You're enjoying your time here to the fullest.

After Mrs. Jeon has proudly shown you her garden, her and Sona have started helping to Mr. Jeon and chat with him for a while. Jungkook is too busy fooling around with Haru, laying on the grass as he plays on an airplane with her laying on shins with outstretched arms and legs. Her giggles fill up the garden and it's easy to smile at the cute sound.

"Having fun?"

Jungwon joins you on the garden swing that you've been sitting on for a few minutes, enjoying the sun and lemonade in your hand. You tried to help but Mrs. Jeon shooed you away, telling you that you're their guest and you already helped enough. Knowing there's no point in arguing with her, you decided to just let everything sink in as you enjoy Busan's air.

"Doesn't it look like it?" you smile, his lips stretching to a smile as he laughs.

"Just asking," he shrugs, a can of beer in his hand as he takes a sip. "My family can be too much sometimes."

You look at him with raised brow, showing you your disbelief. "You haven't met mine."

He gives you both an amused and questionable look which makes you shrug.

"There's always drama." you explain with a laugh.

He snorts, "Isn't there always a drama in every family?"

"I guess," you nod, "But mine's on another level." you joke, making him laugh again.

You're trying not to stare too much, obviously knowing about his good looks. He looks good just like you remember. Although you're not some crazy woman who has a crush on him, you have to admit, Jungkook was right when he called you out on your previous crush. Well, it was never that serious as he made it look like. Jungwon holds a certain energy and is charismatic. And he smells nice which is always a big plus in your book.

You could say he got dressed up nicely, even though he's wearing a casual white shirt and shorts. Good looks definitely run in the family.

You two know each other, you could say you're friendly but you never really had any serious conversations with him. Actually, you're surprised he came up to talk to you, even though it shouldn't be such a surprise. He's probably acting nice because he saw you sitting here alone. Which you both appreciate and find a little uncomfortable. You hate when people pity you for any reason.

"How's Jungkook doing?" he asks after a beat of silence, meeting your surprised look as you can't help but blink a few times at him.

"Um, good?" you ask unsurely, "Why don't you ask him? He's right there."

Jungwon snorts, glancing away while his eyes scrunch because of the wide smile. "I do ask him but Jungkook tends to get private. I know you two are close, so you have to know more than we do."

You try to remain calm, not trying to overthink his words because there's no way he knows anything about you and Jungkook. Other than you're his best friend. Jungkook wouldn't tell him that, right? But as you force yourself to look into Jungwon's calm and warm eyes, you don't find anything shady or worth being cautious about.

"He's doing good," you answer, "I talked to your mom about it today. She's worried about him." you chuckle at the memory of their mom and her distressed face. She is cute.

"Ah, yeah. She is worried about everyone," he laughs and then leans closer to you as he whispers; "She's going a little overboard sometimes."

You giggle, glancing at your hand sitting on your lap as you play with the button of your long purple dress.

"I," he starts slowly, glancing at Jungkook as he plays with his daughter, a soft smile spreading on his lips while they still fool around. "I know he must've been through something. I mean, he broke up with his girlfriend. That shit hurts no matter what. He's not gonna fool me with 'I'm fine hyung', you know." he says while trying to imitate Jungkook's voice which makes you crack a grin.

"Jungwon, I'm not sure if I'm the right person to talk to you about this." you tell him unsurely, his eyes searching yours for a while before he gives you another smile.

"I don't mean to pry. If Jungkook wants to tell us, he knows he can. Whenever he wants to. I just know there must be something more to it since they were back together. They seemed happy, he seemed to be happy."

"Does he not look happy now?" you question, tilting your head in Jungkook's direction while his laugh reaches your ears. He's chasing after Haru who keeps giggling so hard that she almost stumbles. Jungkook scolds her and so does her mom, but Haru is having too much fun to even listen to them.

"No, I know he is. But you know... when it happened, he kind of distanced from us. I know it happened a while ago but he never said anything about it. I understand it must be a touchy topic to him. We all thought she's the one, I mean... he was so whipped for her. We could've genuinely seen them, you know..." he trails off, motioning with his hands.

"Yeah, yeah..." you murmur, trying not to roll your eyes at the topic of her.

It's not Jungwon's fault. He doesn't know the rest of it. He genuinely shares his perception as Jungkook's brother and what he knows.

"So it's weird they suddenly broke up the second time. Sometimes people are not meant to be together, I get it... but Jungkook acted weird, so we all were a little worried about him. Like I said, I don't want you to tell him or share something he wouldn't want to... I don't know, I guess I just needed someone to assure me my little brother is doing fine. Other than Jungkook himself."

Your features soften and you offer him an understanding nod. You squeeze his shoulder, wondering if you're not crossing any boundaries but he looks like he has needed it because he offers you another smile.

"He is much better now. Like you said, every heartbreak hurts. He distanced from us too for a while but we wouldn't let him get too far," you laugh heartily at the memories of you and your friends trying to get him to get his shit together. "I would say he's pretty much happy now."

"Good," he nods, "I'm glad he has friends like you. He doesn't share his struggles, never really has so that's why I was wondering. But I'm glad to know he's doing fine."

"He is, don't worry." you assure him and he smiles in gratitude.

"Yah, don't you have a wife to entertain?" Jungkook asks in a distance, the front of his hair almost falling into his eyes as he breathes heavily thanks to the chasing session he had with his niece. He's walking towards you and Jungwon, tossing him Haru's soft ball.

Jungwon snorts and catches it at the last minute, "Just catching up, Kook. I'm a married man, I wouldn't be flirting."

"Yah, who said anything about flirting?" Jungkook says, using his Busan accent as you hide your grin behind the rim of your glass. Slowly sipping on your lemonade, Jungwon gives him a look of disbelief.

The older brother stands up and pats Jungkook on the shoulder. "She is all yours, brother."

He walks away, Jungkook frowning at Jungwon's back before he sighs and joins you on the swing.

"What did he want?"

You snicker, "Just asked about you."

"About me?" he points at himself in confusion.

"Yeah, they're worried about you. Apparently you distanced yourself from them." you tell him carefully while his brows pinch together.

"I mean... I tried to fix that."

"I know, Kook," you assure him, "I think they know there's something you're not telling them. But they didn't want me to tell them or anything. They just wanted to know if you're okay and happy."

"That's annoying." he mutters as you laugh.

"Stop it!" you scold him with a laugh, nudging him in his shoulder as he offers you a grin. "They love you and care about you."

"I know, I know," he assures you, "I'm glad they gave me space and didn't question me about it. Maybe I should talk to mom."

"Only if you want to." you remind him and he glances at you. He smiles and nods in appreciation.

You sit there in silence for a moment, Haru wanting her dad's attention now as he tugs on his shorts while he's in the middle of conversation with her grandfather. Soon your own attention is directed to Jungkook, admiring the tattooed skin he's showing off today. You wonder if he's planning to get more.

His mother almost jumped out of her skin in surprise when she first spotted Jungkook wearing a short-sleeved shirt.

"Jungkook! How many of those have you got?!" She exclaimed once he shrugged off his sweatshirt.

"Don't look at me like that." Jungkook warns you, eyes already locked on you as you bring the glass closer to your lips.

"Why not?" you ask before you take a proud sip of the lemonade.

"Or I will drag you upstairs and fuck you properly this time."

The moment he says that, you're sure the lemonade goes through your nose as well as you start coughing. The rest of the family members turn in your direction and send you both worried and confused looks, as Jungkook shows them a thumbs-up with a bunny grin.

You pat your lips a little as you glare at Jungkook. He's lucky you're too far for them to hear. But most importantly, why the hell would he tell you something like that in the middle of a family barbecue party? It's not like you can act up on your actions right now. He's purely and purposely torturing you, living for catching you off guard once again. And judging by his proud and cocky face, he's happy about your reaction.

You straighten yourself, drinking the rest of the lemonade as you place the glass down onto the soft grass.

"You don't have condoms." you inform him, silently of course.

Jungkook snorts, "Who says we need them?"

Once again, he catches you off guard for the second time in a span of two minutes, and you clear your throat.

"You want it raw anyway."

You gasp, slapping his arm repeatedly as he cackles.

"Oh my god, look at your face!" he laughs, trying to catch your furious hands. "You really want it that bad, huh?"

"Shut up, you idiot." you sneer at him, pouting a little as he coos at you. Idiot. "I don't want it anymore. Not with you."

You sulk, crossing your arms over your chest as Jungkook reaches for your chin with his stupidly trying-to-act-cute act. You slap his hand away with a frown.

"You look beautiful today. Did I tell you?"

Fuck off.

"No, you didn't." you snap.

"I'm sorry," he whines, rubbing his head against your shoulder like a little cat. "I want it too, okay?"

"What?"

He leans closer, too close for him to be acting like this in front of his family but luckily, they seem to be too busy chatting with each other. Plus, they're turned to you with their backs.

"I'm gonna fuck you raw soon, baby. But it's not gonna be at my parents house. I wanna hear you when I do it."

He wants what–

You gulp, trying to act nonchalant as you scoff and shrug. He is serious, you know it judging by the look in his eyes but you can't stare for too long because you're going to crack.

"This is very inappropriate, Jungkook." you remind him.

"So were you rubbing your pussy against my cock not that long ago." he says with a low and silent tone.

You gasp, "That was your idea!"

"And you loved it," he points out, "Don't worry, I did too. Made me want to really feel you even more."

"Alright, I'm leaving." you tell him, standing up abruptly to hide your burning cheeks.

Jungkook cockily rests his arm over the edge of the swing, man spreads himself there like the finest piece of meal. Well, he is. But you would never give him the satisfaction to admit it at this moment. You take the empty glass off the grass, shooting a look at Jungkook.

"Don't look at me like that baby."

You roll your eyes, "Fuck off." you tell him silently so again, only he can hear.

He smiles tightly, suddenly leaning with his elbows against his knees. "You're lucky they're watching." he tells you, causing your breath to hitch as you quickly turn around.

He's right. You turn around and see everyone watching your interaction. Though, they remain unbothered as Mrs. Jeon gives you the honor to take the first portion of the meal.

The sun is settling down when Jungkook approaches you. You're inside, in the kitchen precisely, after Jungkook's mother said something about needing more ice. You offered before she could complain.

You've been chatting with Sona for an hour which ultimately got you to know her better a little bit. She's older than you, not by much and it's not like it's a problem, but you have a little respect and you're not usually the first one who approaches someone first. She's been nothing but friendly to you, even when you first met her and you know she's a nice woman and a wonderful mother judging from how she interacts with her daughter. Jungkook's and Jungwon's parents seem to adore her, and they all have a very close relationship.

What you mean to say – is that it felt nice to be able to properly talk to her and get to know her more, and not from Jungkook's words.

Which reminds you...

"Are you mad at me?"

You flinch as soon as Jungkook places his big hands on your hips, nose nudging you in your hair as he's practically glued on your back with his chest. Your body wants to give in right away, lean back onto his masculine body and make yourself sink into it comfortably.

Jungkook's got it wrong though.

You're not mad at him. Annoyed? You were but you're not really.

"Jungkook, somebody's gonna see." you murmur, scolding him with a hushed tone as you keep removing the ice cubes from the silicone mold into a glass bowl.

"Let them see." he says carelessly, causing you to leave the ice for now as you turn around with a scowl.

"Are you being serious right now?"

You're met with his eyes already on you, no sign of teasing or the usual cockiness. "I'm trying to talk to you. I don't care who's going to see at the moment."

"You're being careless." you inform him of his stupidity, though he remains unbothered while he offers you a single shrug.

"Are you mad at me?"

You roll your eyes, biting the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from smiling at the seriousness he's holding. He does seem worried and it's not like that's laughable, but you tend to laugh or smile at the most inconvenient times. Even if sometimes you are mad and yet, you still crack for some reason – even if you don't feel like laughing or smiling.

"I was just teasing you. Fuck," he sighs, "I didn't want to make you embarrassed or make fun of you–"

"Kook," you interrupt him, suddenly feeling awkward and embarrassed. "I'm not mad. You annoy the shit out of me sometimes but–you know I kinda feel awkward about that specific topic."

He frowns, "But there's nothing to feel awkward about. I told you–"

"Yes, I know," You lift your palm up to stop him. "It's a me problem. But I'm fine, really." you chuckle at the end, his posture relaxing slightly.

He lets his eyes wander on your face for a moment, searching for any hint of a lie but all he finds are your genuine eyes shining under the kitchen's lights. "But you haven't talked to me ever since we talked about it. So I thought..." he trails off, suddenly looking embarrassed as you laugh.

"Sona was talking to me and I didn't have the time to spend some time with you. Besides, you were having fun with your brother and parents."

"You're right," He scratches the back of his neck, "I'm an idiot, I don't know why I thought you're mad, I just wanted to make sure."

You giggle, "You're attentive, Kook. Thanks for that. But stop teasing me you little shit." you tell him sternly, poking him in his abs as he chuckles amusingly at your effort.

"Now that's over... wanna join me?"

You give him a look how quickly he brushes it off, both of you snorting at it before you ask;

"Join you where?"

"Mom doesn't have enough beer, so she asked if I could go grab some for dad and Jungwon. She thought a six pack is going to be enough, apparently not."

"Oh, do I have to come?" you ask, trying to keep your face stoic as Jungkook glares at you and tickles your side.

You laugh, flinching at the ticklish feeling.

"Of course, you have to. You are attached to my hip."

"Hm, I don't remember that being a thing."

"Well, it is now," Jungkook says jokingly, features turning more serious now. "But you don't have to. I'm gonna just stop at the nearest shop, it's like a ten minute drive."

Jungkook gives you a smile and pulls something out of his pocket. It's his car keys, you realize he was most likely on his way but decided to ask you if you want to join. He salutes you and makes his way to the front door, but he barely makes a step as you call out his name.

"Okay, I'm going." you grumble, informing him you're just going to bring the ice outside.

Jungkook's father asks you if you could also buy the mini kids sausages for Haru. The poor little girl looked way more calm and a little bit sleepy. Though, it's not her bedtime or that late, her family members seem to take most of her energy. But not enough clearly, considering she's been asking for the sausages ever since you stepped outside to bring the ice and inform Jungkook's mom you're going with him.

"Got it." you assure Mr. Jeon, the older man crouching down to his granddaughter's level as he assures her he's going to grill her the best sausages. Her exciting voice fills the garden that starts to slip into darkness while Mrs. Jeon and Jungwon work on the lights.

When you see Jungkook waiting for you in the entrance room fully dressed, you don't fail to notice the satisfied smirk he has on his lips as you simply grumble;

"Don't say anything."

He doesn't.

But still delivers a loud slap to your ass as he opens the front door for you. His bubbly laugh resounds behind you causing your lips to twitch before they fully stretch into an amused grin.

By the time you reach the grocery store, you're too lazy to get out and in the end, Jungkook is forced to grab the items alone. He doesn't look like he minds at all, leaving you his phone as you go through his music library, listening to various songs.

You're barely on the third song when you see him leaving the store, items in his hands and you guess he didn't bother to take any bag. He looks very amused when you blast Candy Shop once he reaches the car, opening the door on the driver's seat.

You turn down the volume just as he tosses something on your lap, the rest of the items end up on the backseats. Looking down, you almost choke when you see a brand new box of condoms. Glancing at him, he barely gives you any attention as he drives out of the parking lot like he didn't just toss condoms into your lap.

"Seriously?" you deadpan, taking the box into your hands as you scan the new package.

One word catches your attention and you tilt the box in Jungkook's direction.

"Intense? What does it do?"

"Suppose to make sex better or something, I don't know." he shrugs effortlessly as you press your lips together.

"Are you planning to have sex in your parents house? I thought we went over this, last night–"

"Who said it has to be at their house?" he questions you, lifting one brow challenge at you as you open your mouth and close it shortly after. What is he initiating?

"What?" you deadpan.

"One word and I'm gonna pull over." he simply offers, the serious and casual tone he sets could make you confuse and actually make you consider if he's talking about sex at all.

But you're paying enough attention – too closely actually – that the rush of excitement this idea brings you is hard to ignore. How can you ignore it? You've never experienced as far as you can remember. No, you would surely remember if you experienced it. You can't lie – you've always wanted to try it and the thought of doing it with Jungkook is disturbingly tempting and exciting.

And as you watch him closely, driving with one hand while the other sits on his lap, his legs spreaded making his lap look even more inviting. The last night was perfect, something you've never tried before and never thought it could feel so good. It could easily even out with a proper sex. However, nothing's better than feeling him inside you and the small box in your hand is like the biggest treasure, reminding you of what could happen.

Jungkook glances at you, brow raised as he catches you biting on your lower lip in thought, his lips slightly twitching. You ignore it, sharing a look with him.

"The ride is ten minutes. You better think fast."

The proposition is already enough tempting and the way he says it, you know you're once again utterly fucked. The tingling between your thighs and how embarrassingly fast you got wet is no joke. It makes your decision faster and simpler.

"Fuck, okay, pull over."

Jungkook chuckles, satisfied with your answer as he takes a random turn. You've no idea where he's taking you, though he seems to be familiar with Busan streets even after all those years of not living here. The spot he finds is between two buildings, leading you to the dead end while you see a tall brick wall. Jungkook turns off the lights and engine, hiding the car in a dark and abandoned spot. You don't know why but everything increases the lust you're already feeling.

"Get in the back."

You don't hesitate to listen to him, though you slide your underwear down your legs before you do that, your slides abandoned on the car's floor. You toss underwear on the seat as soon as you lift your butt, shooting a cheeky smirk to Jungkook who grins. You're not surprised when he delivers a subtle slap to your ass while you're trying to get to the backseat through the console.

Jungkook joins you but he actually gets out of the car and walks to the back. He places the six pack of beer on the floor while tossing the stupid sausages onto the front door. You snicker, both of you laughing as he shuts the door with a soft thud. He doesn't waste any time cupping your face, connecting your lips together in a needy heated kiss.

Though it feels heated, it's not totally rushed and the pace is smooth and comfortable. With your hands on the hem of his sweatpants, he places one last kiss to your lips before he fully sits down and leans his back. Pulling them down to his ankles along with his boxers, you're already on your knees, ready for his sign so you can sit down on his lap.

You lift your long dress to your waist, gripping them in one hand in a messy knot before you toss a leg over his body. You grip his shoulders as he grabs you gently by your waist. His eyes admire your bare pussy for a moment, flickering to your face shortly after.

"You sure you're good to go?" he asks.

If you weren't so wet and eager, your heart would actually quiver at his thoughtfulness. It's a bare minimum and men shouldn't be praised for it, but with Jungkook you can't help but melt.

"I hope so." you joke, looking down to see him stroking his cock.

"No, no, no. No hoping, sit back down. I'm gonna eat you out."

"There's no time," you whine, gripping his shoulder tighter when he tries to gently pull you away.

He sighs, leaning his head back as he looks handsome as ever.

"Come on. Just fuck me so we can go back."

To enforce your want, you grind against his bare cock and fuck, you almost lose it all. The contact is very minimal but it leaves you moaning shamelessly, causing you to deliver a rough kiss to Jungkook's opened mouth. He closes it just in time, welcoming your kiss in a surprised manner.

"Fuck, baby," Jungkook groans, leaning his head back again. "You're making it hard for me not to fuck you senseless."

"Do it," you offer lightly, giggling at the look on his face. "Come on. You fucked me senseless many times before."

"You woman, you amaze me." Jungkook says, smirking at you when you raise your brows at him.

"Me? How?"

He reaches for your cheek and you think he's about to stroke it, at least the gentle look in his eyes indicates that much. However, he tucks a strand of your hair behind your ear, lifting the right corner of his lips.

"You can get so dirty sometimes."

"And that's what amazes you?" you laugh gently.

"Yes, because one second you're this innocent and shy Y/N and the next you're so blunt, ready to drool all over my cock."

You snort, "Don't get cocky, Jeon. I'm not drooling over your cock." You both know that's not true.

And Jungkook's smile tells you he knows it too.

"Yeah? You sure about that?"

"Mhm."

He reaches for his cock, grabbing it by its base before he slaps his bare tip against your clit. You almost fall like a house of cards, legs completely quivering. Oh god, he loves torturing you. 

He chuckles, deeply and raspily, and you swear if he won't stop, all your rational thoughts will be gone and you'll sit down on his bare cock.

"Wait–what is this?" He suddenly asks, sounding concerned as you open your eyes, not realizing you even closed them as soon as he touched you. And then he swipes his thumb at the corner of your lips. "I think you just drooled."

Your surprise drops as you glare at him, punching him in the shoulder as he laughs devilishly. "Fuck you, I didn't."

"You know, sometimes I want to ruin you. Like really ruin you." he confesses, though he says it with a smile and it's hard to differ whether he's being absolutely serious or he's just joking around.

"What's stopping you?"

"You're not ready." he answers simply and you snort.

"Please," you scoff, "Stop with this dominant shit."

"Huh?" he chuckles, "You're lucky we don't have time for this. Hand me the condom."

"Please." you clarify, crossing your arms over your chest with your bare core still hovering over his hard length.

He rolls his eyes, "Please." he mutters.

With a satisfied grin, you reach for the box of condoms and pull out one. After the silver package is in Jungkook's long fingers, he tears the foil and you watch him putting the latex down his thick and hard cock. You've watched him do that many times before, in fact you almost never miss it but it never gets boring. It adds just the right amount of lust and pleasure to the moment every time. Plus, Jungkook is incredibly hot putting it on so skilfully, with brows pinched in concentration with his jaw set tight.

He motions for you to get closer, sneaking his hand between your thighs as he rubs your bare sex. The slick wetness there is no surprise to him, neither you feel embarrassed at how quickly he can get you wet. He doesn't comment on it, rather pulls you by your waist closer to him. He gets a hold of his cock, slowly easing you down on it while you lower yourself.

As soon as the head stretches your hole, you gasp in delight while Jungkook keeps a concentrated look between your bodies, watching how he slowly disappears inside of you. The turquoise lights in his car just add to the moment, your head soon thrown in the back in full ecstasy as he stretches your wet and tight walls.

Jungkook grunts, leaving you two just sitting there getting accustomed to the feeling.

"Fuck, that feels so good." you moan, your clit pressed against his pubes.

"You alright? Doesn't it hurt?" He still finds himself asking.

You're not entirely stretched, at least you weren't before Jungkook entered you. But the slight burn and tightness just brought more waves of pleasure to your body.

"No, it feels perfect." you answer, chuckling as Jungkook joins you.

It feels awfully good to just sit on his cock, no need to move yet as you would love for the feeling to last longer. But you're reminded of your citation and you don't have exactly the time to prolong this any more than it's necessary. Though Jungkook doesn't seem bothered and gives you all the time in the world to get used to his thickness, you both know what the two of you are doing is irresponsible in more ways than one. But it's about time now and nothing else.

At first, you begin with rolling your hips to get accustomed to the feeling more. With hands still gripping Jungkook's shoulders, the dress seemingly pressed between your bodies, you love how his palms feel on your ass cheeks. He grips the soft flesh, urging you to roll your hips with more pressure as you both take a sharp breath.

When you gradually need to feel more, and you know Jungkook does too based on the way he's trying to control himself, you lean more against Jungkook's form and use his body as a leverage. You start setting a pace as you start bouncing on his cock, Jungkook's head still tilted back against the seat as he watches your expression twist into a pure pleasure. Mouth agape, brows pinched and the sweetest littlest moans escaping your lips – it's his favorite view when it comes to this.

In a way, it could be considered as luck to see you like this. To experience what you look like when he's deep balls inside you and your whole face is twisted in pleasure. He would never have guessed he would see you like this one day. Both of you would never have guessed you would be in this position at any stage of your lives.

Your ass and the back of your thighs meet top of Jungkook's thighs, the sinful sounds of skin slapping skin surround the car's walls.

"Oh, fuck!" you moan, pressing your forehead against Jungkook's.

He's let you have your fun but he needs more. Moving his hands off your ass cheeks, he moves them to your hips as he holds them tightly before he starts pounding into you. The whole moment is so freaking erotic. Even with you being on top, Jungkook is in full control and you can't help yourself, but stop your movements as you fully welcome his thrusts and control. You wish to help him badly but it feels so fucking good. You can't move.

"Jungkook, fuck!"

Jungkook enjoys your whimpers, focusing on his thrusts as his bottom lip is tucked between his teeth.

He feels you tightening around him and almost like with a snap of fingers, your body tenses as the orgasm comes crashing down on you before it fully relaxes. You keep clenching around him, knees digging into the leather seats as Jungkook's thrusts never halt until he snaps his cock forward into you. He cums with a low grunt, filling condom with his seed as he rides himself off the orgasm until he fully relaxes.

You get off his lap with a little help from him, collecting the dress at your stomach so you don't get it messy. Maybe it already is, fuck.

Jungkook breathes heavily, the tip of his hair clinging to his forehead as he rubs it with the back of his hand. He glances at you, chuckling as his throat bobs at the sound and movement.

"Fuck, that was awesome," he breathes out, glowing from the orgasm. "Let me grab you some tissues, they should be in the glove box. At least I hope so."

He's about to sit upward but you press against his chest, gripping his cheek as you confidently kiss him on his soft lips. He's speechless, looking confused and amazed like hell when you pull away.

"What was that for?"

You let go off his cheeks, smiling at the look he's giving you. He looks hot, amazed and cute at the same time. It makes you let out a soft giggle that you almost don't recognize. And then you swipe the corner of his lips.

"You're drooling, Jeon."

He frowns before his face relaxes, realizing what you've done as amused and deep chuckle rumbles out of his mouth.

"Who wouldn't." he responds cheekily, your face completely heating up as your stomach clenches excitedly at his words.

He laughs, satisfied at your reaction. Whatever you do, somehow Jungkook always wins. Even if he's the one complimenting and ruining you at the same time.

#networkbangtan #ksmutclub #btswritingcafe #ficswithluv #bts smut #bts angst #bts fluff #bts au #jungkook x reader #jungkook smut #personasintro

[alltheirdamn]

Killing Me Softly | (Joel x teacher!f!reader)

Chap. 3: Violent Delights

Chp. 3 Summary: Every ounce of your resolve fades away as Joel finds his way past your walls. Rating: 18+ MDNI Word Count: 8.5k Warnings: pre-outbreak AU, language, mutual pining, slow burn, angst, banter, sexual tension, heavy kissing, cliff hanger (sorrrrryyyyy) A/N: This one may or may not kill you guys... sorry in advance & please don't hate me. I'll make it up to you <3

Masterlist | Ko-Fi

As Boston came into view from the window of the plane, your anxiety began to skyrocket. Exam week flew by, and now it was finally fall break. You had spent half a day scrambling around the house trying to pack while planning when to call a taxi so that you wouldn’t miss your flight. Putting the stress aside, you had made it in time and found yourself trying to ease your mind with a stupid romance book on the flight. You weren’t huge on reading romance, but it was mindless and passed the time as you soared over the states. 

Joel never reached out after he sent himself your number. You didn’t reach out either, which took a lot of self-restraint. You commended him for having just as much restraint because you were sure he’d cave and call you at some point. But the silence was blaring loud, and maybe he only wanted your number ‘just in case.’ You wouldn’t get your hopes up anymore.

You were coming down the escalator when your mom and two sisters came into view. Stella, your youngest sister, was the first to run and wrap you up in a big hug. Her black hair was chopped shorter than before, and she had a bright smile plastered on her face.

“Sis!” She squealed, squeezing your shoulders.

“Hi, Stell,” you laughed, hugging her tight.

“Look who’s home at last,” Beth said, her arms crossed over her chest as she watched Stella swing you back and forth.

Beth was younger than you by two years, while Stella was newly eighteen and still full of life. You and Beth hadn’t been very close since you left Boston, the bitterness of your absence still lingering between you both. 

“Hey, Beth,” you sighed, opening your arms to invite her into a hug.

She was hesitant at first but finally caved and hugged you back. It was brief, but you’d settle for it. Your mom was the next in line to hug you, her voice shaky as she welcomed you home.

“Don’t cry, Mom,” you laughed, pulling away.

“I’m just happy you’re finally home. We missed you a lot.”

She took your luggage and guided you through the airport down to the parking garage. Stella lingered close, wanting to hear about your life in Austin and how teaching was going. Beth, on the other hand, hung back and kept quiet. You knew things would implode at some point during the week, but until then, you’d just have to acknowledge the ticking time bomb in the background.

“Where’s dad?” You asked your mom, climbing into the front seat.

“He’s home grilling up some steaks for dinner. He hasn’t stopped talking about you coming home since you booked the flight. He’s missed you the most,” she sighed.

“I missed him too,” you muttered.

It wasn’t lost on you that leaving had caused a gaping hole in your relationship with your entire family. Even if they weren’t the biggest fans of Bennett, they continued to support you through your decisions to move with him and uproot your life. After he left, they begged you to come home, but you knew staying in Austin was what felt right. You had a job and a home; leaving was admitting defeat. You wouldn’t let him strip away the life you had made; you wouldn’t let yourself be a failure. 

The city blurred by as you neared your childhood home. You kept your eyes closed when you passed down the roads Bennett had once driven you, hoping you could force the memories away. But they still lingered. The past always seemed to linger. Stella and Beth chatted quietly in the backseat, leaving you in silence as the house appeared. Nothing had changed: the white brick chipping around the edges, the hedges in the front yard overgrown and unruly. You expected to feel at home, seeing the house again, but it didn’t feel like it once had. 

As you unpacked the trunk and hauled your luggage inside, you heard your dad’s voice floating from the back deck.

“Is that my girl?” He called out, walking through the sliding doors with his grilling tools in hand. 

“It is,” you smiled, dropping your things at the door.

“Hey there, peanut,” he greeted, awkwardly hugging you as his hands were full.

“Hey, Dad,” you whispered.

“Missed you, kid. How was the flight?” 

You trailed him out onto the deck, the smell of smoke mixing with the autumn breeze as it passed through the trees lining the backyard. You had missed seeing the seasons change, the yellowing of the leaves, and the crisp air that seemed to linger throughout the day. Nothing would beat the East Coast in the fall, even if you liked living in Texas now.

“The flight wasn’t bad,” you shrugged, sinking into a lawn chair as you watched him flip the steaks. “I don’t know why four hours in the air felt so long.”

“You know, you could avoid it if you moved back home,” he suggested.

“I like living in Austin,” you argued. “I have a good job, and I’m happy there.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t happy. All I’m saying is that you can always come home.”

You remember him saying the exact same thing after the wedding ceremony went to shit. Two days after the incident, your dad was consoling you on the couch, holding you as you cried and urging you to come home. You can always come home, peanut. 

“I know I can, Dad. Can we please just drop it?”

Your dad chuckled and made a pact with you not to repeat it. You only hoped your mom and sisters would do the same.

Dinner passed under a heavy silence. No one knew how to speak to you without possibly mentioning Bennett… or ‘the incident’ as they liked to refer to it. You awkwardly made small talk between your parents and Stella while Beth sat and pushed her food around. You stole glances at her ever so often, trying to form a plan when you could talk to her. Out of everyone in the family, your absence hurt her the most. She had been the most vocal about your issues with Bennett, which was to your detriment since you had confided in her the most. She gave the harsh truths and tough love, going so far as to try and talk you out of the engagement. In your love-struck haze, you hadn’t listened to her and found yourself defending Bennett—defending your emotions. You wished you had listened to her. 

“So,” your mom started. “Any new love interests?”

You gave her a pointed stare, stabbing the steak on your plate. This was the last thing you wanted: explaining yourself to them. 

“No, Mom. There’s no one to speak of,” you huffed.

“C’mon mom,” Beth laughed, chiming in. “You know she’s still wallowing away in that big house all alone.”

“Beth,” your dad warned. At the same time, Stella whispered, “Beth, don’t.”

“No, it’s okay.” You smiled through your teeth, glaring at Beth, who sat back in her seat with a smug expression.

“You did this to yourself, you know?” Beth said, cocking an eyebrow.

“Did what?” You questioned.

“We all warned you about Bennett. You knew he was no good, yet you stayed. And look! He left you.”

Her words cut deep, deeper than you wanted to admit. You kept your expression stony, not feeding into her words.

“Beth, you need to stop right now,” your mom nearly growled. “You’re out of line.”

“Let her talk, Mom,” you said. “She needs to get it out.”

“Oh, I need to get it out?” Beth snapped. “You’re the one fucking sulking about Austin, pulling this whole ‘woe is me’ bullshit. The signs were all there! Get over yourself. It’s been two years, sis. Move on.”

“Just because we don’t talk doesn’t mean I haven’t moved on,” you exhaled. “I’m still healing from it all, and I’m sorry I’m not including you in that. I didn’t know you needed access to every part of my life.”

Beth slapped her hands on the table, rising to her feet to stare down at you over the plates of food. You shrunk back, trying to keep the tears at bay. She was going in for the final blow. 

“You came to me for advice, and I gave it. You went ahead with the engagement and still ended up alone. He was never going to marry you. You’re a fucking mouse too afraid to defend yourself, and he knew you wouldn’t fight for him back. He’s probably glad he didn’t marry someone as stupid as you. You can’t see the warning signs even when they’re flashing in your face!”

That was it. That was the breaking point. 

You tossed your napkin onto your plate and removed yourself from the table. You drowned out your parents' voices and Stella’s yelling for you to come back as you ran towards the door. 

“Run!” Beth called from behind you. “Run like Bennett did!”

You barely made it out the front door before crumpling to the ground with tears streaming down your face. Staying with Bennett didn’t just hurt you; it hurt everyone. They wanted the best for you, and you didn’t see that until it was too late. Your relationship with Beth had been shattered because you had thrown all the blame on her. You blamed her for every traitorous thought you had about Bennett; you wanted to blame her for your doubts and unhappiness. But it wasn’t her. It was you. Everything was your fault—it always was.

Stella’s small voice saying your name roused you from your crying as she joined you on the porch. Wrapping her arms around your shoulders, she leaned into you and let you cry out every bottled-up emotion. 

“I’m sorry, Stell,” you sobbed. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you guys. I’m sorry I left. I’m sorry I never came home.”

“Shhh,” she hushed. “No one is mad at you for staying in Austin. We understand why you stayed. Beth is just hurt. You shut everyone out, but you shut her out the most. She just misses you.”

“All I do is fuck everything up,” you muttered. 

“No, stop that,” she argued, rubbing a hand over your back. “None of what happened is your fault. You deserved love, and he wasn’t the right one. You’ll find it again.”

“I stayed for too long. I should have left him long before the wedding. I was just hoping it would fix everything.”

“How were you to know?” She sighed. “Just because he was shitty doesn’t mean you can’t be sad. What he did was totally fucked up, and you didn’t deserve that.”

“Tell Beth that,” you laughed through a hiccup. “She thinks I deserved it.”

“She’s hurt. She doesn’t mean those things.”

“But she’s not wrong.”

Stella sighed, pulling away from you to level you with a sympathetic look. 

“I think you guys need to talk it out. Maybe not right now, but when you’re ready,” she offered.

“You’re the young one,” you groaned. “You shouldn’t be consoling your older sister like this.”

“Hey, someone’s gotta be nice to you,” she smiled, quietly laughing.

“Thank you,” you whimpered.

You fell back into her arms and stared aimlessly at the trees blowing in the wind. After a few quiet moments, you finally pulled yourself together and shuffled out of her arms. Stella watched you wearily as you stood, brushing the dirt from your pants.

“I think I’m gonna go for a walk to clear my head,” you announced. “Tell Mom and Dad I'll come back in a few.”

“Are you sure?” She asked.

“I’ll be okay, Stell. I promise. Thank you again,” you sighed, kissing her head.

Dusk fell over the neighborhood as you wandered between the trees and houses. A few neighbors walked their dogs while their kids ran through the streets playing ball or riding their bikes. You never wanted to be out and interacting at home, but you didn’t mind it here. There was no risk. No one would stop you and inquire about your life like they would at home.

As you rounded down the next street, your phone started ringing in your back pocket. You whipped it out and saw the one name you had been waiting for the last week: Joel. Part of you didn’t want to answer; you weren’t in the right headspace. But you had waited to hear from him, and honestly, he was probably the only person to sway your mood for the better. Sucking in a breath, you answered.

“Hello?” You said, hoping your voice didn’t betray you.

“I got a bone to pick with you,” Joel huffed, clearly joking.

But after the events of dinner, his words felt like another punch to the gut.

“Why?” You asked nervously, pulling the phone away to sniffle back more tears.

“I finished Romeo and Juliet, and I—. Wait, are you alright? Why does it sound like you’ve been cryin’?”

You let out a sad laugh; of course, he’d see right through you. He always managed to do that.

“Because I have been,” you sighed. There was no point in lying to him when you knew he’d continue bugging you. 

“What happened? Are you alright? Do y’need me to come get you from somewhere?” God, he sounded so sweet when he was worried.

“I’m fine, Mr. Miller. I’m not even in Austin right now, so you’re off the hook on that offer.”

“Where are you?” He pressed.

“Boston. I’m visiting family over the break,” you explained.

“You from there?” 

“I am.”

“I didn’t take you as an East Coast type of girl, but it makes sense with how stubborn y’are,” he chuckled.

“Yep. That’s me.”

“Alright, I ain’t gonna let you get off the hook this easily. What’s goin’ on?”

You rounded back down another street, holding your phone tighter against your ear, hoping you’d catch every breath in the receiver. Hearing Joel’s voice was enough to soothe your heart after a terrible night.

“Really,” you insisted. “We don’t need to talk about it.”

“I reckon we do. I bet you’ll feel better after.”

“I reckon I won’t,” you mimicked his accent.

Joel let out a low chuckle, clearly amused by your response. It garnered a smile from you as you pictured his lips turned up on the corners, the bottom lip pushed out and pouty like they always were.

“My family isn’t happy with me for staying in Austin. They think I should have moved home a couple of years ago,” you explained. “I’ll spare you the bad parts, but I should have come home. It would’ve made it easier on everyone.”

“But would it’ve made it easier on you?” He asked.

You stopped walking and pinched the bridge of your nose to hold back the coming tears. Of course, he saw it from the latter. He wasn’t siding with your parents, but he didn’t know what you had done and endured to deserve their bitterness.

“Probably, but it doesn’t matter. Listen, you don’t have to worry about me. We can talk poetry instead,” you offered.

“If that’s what y’want, and for the record, I’m gonna worry about you.” You could hear his smile through the phone.

“You don’t need to, Mr. Miller.”

“Joel,” he sighed. “Y’know, you can say my name.”

“I know, it’s just—.”

“All formalities,” he finished. “I just wish you’d quit that because I think we’re far past it by now.”

“I’m trying to maintain some semblance of professionalism,” you laughed. 

Your house was slowly coming into view again, and you felt the nerves creep back in. Eventually, you’d have to face them again, but right now, all you wanted to hear was Joel’s thick accent and husky voice. 

“What’s so wrong about bein’ unprofessional?” He joked.

“A lot, Mr. Miller,” you sighed. 

There was a brief pause on his end, and you bit your lip, wondering if he understood the meaning behind your words. You'd be completely vulnerable to him when you crossed the threshold between professional and unprofessional. Your restraint would melt away, and he’d win. 

“Should I be callin’ you Miss Smith again?” He sounded serious. “I don’t wanna make you uncomfortable and all that.”

“No,” you said all too quickly. “Call me by my name. I—I like it.”

You fucking idiot. 

Joel spoke your name in a lower voice, sending a shiver down your spine. Your steps back to the house slowed as you tried to control a strange urge rushing through your body. Was he teasing you? Was he actually doing that? You had to reel back in all the unprofessional thoughts swarming your head… especially the ones wondering how your name would sound when he was inside—. Stop that. 

“What’re you doing?” You exhaled. 

“Sayin’ your name,” he countered. “Y’said you liked it.”

“Yeah, I do.” You were beyond flustered and hot. “You’re—never mind. I should probably get inside and make peace with my family. Don’t think I forgot about Romeo and Juliet; I still want to hear your thoughts.”

“Call me tonight before you sleep,” Joel said. Oh, Christ. “I ain’t gonna remember the story if I wait any longer.”

“We could’ve talked about it earlier,” you chuckled. “You got sidetracked asking about me.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

You were at the edge of the front yard now, staring blankly at the porch light flickering against the nightfall blanketing the house. You couldn’t stay outside forever or on the phone with him forever—no matter how much you wanted to. 

“I need to get back to my family,” you sidestepped. “I’ll call tonight, okay?”

“Promise?”

You smiled to yourself, gripping the phone tighter in your hand. Damn this man, and damn his charm.

“I promise, Mr. Miller. Goodbye.”

“Bye,” he whispered, your name falling off his tongue one last time.

You were so screwed. Completely and utterly screwed. 

The house was quiet when you walked through the front door. Your mom and dad were lounging in the living room, flipping through channels, and Stella sat at the dining room table, working on her homework. Beth was nowhere to be found, which you figured would happen. Your mom glanced up from the couch with the same sympathetic expression Stella had given you earlier, and quite honestly, you were sick of it. You were sick of being pitied. You were sick of people being sad for you all the time. Yes, you were sad—all the time—but you wanted to be alone in your healing. You didn’t want to feel worse about it all from the people meant to support you. And you knew deep down they did support you, but it didn’t always feel that way. 

You needed to talk to Beth, or this entire week would be hell. 

“Is she up in her room?” You asked your mom.

She gave you a slow nod and then returned to watching the TV. She didn’t have to say anything; she knew why you asked.

Upstairs, your house was divided by two hallways. The left hallway had your parents and Stella’s room, and down the right was yours and Beth’s. You had spent so many nights with her tucked in the bed with you, staying up late talking about anything under the sun and always being each other's best friend. But that all disappeared when she realized how terrible Bennett was. Leaving Boston broke her heart, and in turn, Bennett broke yours and destroyed everything left between you and your family. 

After a sharp inhale and one final wipe of your eyes, you knocked on her door, hoping she’d let you in. The silence behind the door cemented the fact she knew it was you, yet the door opened and revealed Beth just as disheveled as you were. Her long brown hair was tossed up into a bun, and the makeup she had worn earlier was gone, a redness rimming her eyes in its place. You wanted to wrap your arms around her to apologize for everything, but Beth wasn’t that person. She didn’t want affection. She wanted words. 

“Can I come in?” You asked.

She nodded slowly, cracking the door open wider to let you step into her room. It was just as you remembered it: the fluffy white bed in the corner, the scattered polaroids on the wall, and the full-length mirror propped in the corner that you had gotten ready in front of before. Beth sat on the corner of her bed, her head hung as you joined her.

“I’m sorry,” she started. “I was a real bitch at dinner.”

You leaned into her, resting your head on her shoulder.

“You kinda were,” you chuckled. “But I understand. I shut you out. I shut everyone out, honestly. It’s easier to be alone.”

“No, it’s not,” she argued.

“Maybe, but it’s what I thought was best for me. You were right about Bennett, and I didn’t listen to you when I should have.”

“You may be older, but you are so stupid.”

You laughed harder at that, feeling her hand reach around and grip yours. You squeezed her fingers, your chest rising and falling normally. You missed this Beth, the one that could make light of the worst. 

“You know I couldn’t have come home, right? I made a life out in Austin, even without Bennett. I even went to his law firm and asked where he had gone, and all they said was that he took a job out of state. I was so scared he came back here, and if I came back to Boston, I’d see him again.”

“Why are you so afraid of him?” She asked.

“Because he broke my heart worse than I could have ever imagined. I don’t know what I’d do if I saw him again, Beth. I’d be terrified.”

Beth glanced down at you, shrugging you off her shoulder so you could meet her eyes. Tears swam in her blue eyes, rolling over onto her cheeks.

“You’re stronger than that. You always have been.”

“I don’t feel like it sometimes.”

She sighed, brushing away tears you hadn’t realized escaped your eyes. 

“Don’t let some shit guy ruin your life. You deserve to be happy, sis. There’s going to be someone so much greater out there.”

Flashes of Joel’s dark eyes and curly hair swam into your mind when she said those words. You didn’t want to believe Joel would be that person, but even your mind betrayed you. You willed it away, hoping you’d keep any thought of him lingering in the back of your head.

“I know,” you said. “Eventually, there will be.”

“There’s already someone, isn’t there?” She quirked an eyebrow.

You wanted to deny it and lie, but you wanted your friendship back. So, you told her everything, starting at the father-daughter dance and leading up to the phone call that had just ended. Beth had a massive grin while you spoke, nodding with every detail you shared.

“So… you’re gonna give him a chance, right?” She questioned.

“I can’t. He’s my students’ dad, and I can’t do that. It wouldn’t be right.”

“Then sneak around,” she pressed. “Here’s this amazing guy who’s obviously into you, and you’re gonna let that slip away because of what’s right and wrong?”

“What would you do?” You exhaled, falling back against her bed. You stared at the ceiling fan, watching it twirl in circles, hoping an answer would be hidden in its blades.

“I’d have amazing sex with him,” Beth chuckled, laying back beside you. “And then maybe fall in love, I don’t know. But sex for sure.”

“You’re terrible,” you giggled. 

Beth laughed along with you, shuffling her body closer so both of you were shoulder to shoulder. Coming home would feel like this again, but coming home would mean losing everything all over again. You’d lose your job and the house you loved so much… and you’d lose Joel. For some reason, the idea of not seeing him around made your heart ache in ways you hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe Beth was right; maybe you’d give Joel a chance.

It was well into the night when you finally found yourself unwinding in bed and curling under the covers. You held your phone close to your chest, wondering if it was too late to call. In Boston, it was nearly midnight. Austin was only an hour behind, but you knew Joel worked early with his company. You didn’t want to assume he’d be asleep already, but the chances were slim he was awake and waiting for you. 

You dialed his number anyway.

It barely reached the second ring before he answered, your name as sweet as ever rolling through the receiver.

“I didn’t think you’d call,” he said. “Figured you forgot all about me.”

“Never,” you whispered, trying to keep your voice down. Everyone was asleep in the house, and the last thing you wanted was for them to hear you talking on the phone late at night like you were a teenager all over again.

“Y’figure everythin’ out with your family?” He asked.

“Yeah, it’s all good now.”

“Why’re you whisperin’?” He chuckled.

“Because everyone is asleep,” you tossed back.

“Sneakin’ around late then, huh?”

“Don’t tease me, Mr. Miller.”

“I’ll tease all I want,” he countered.

You blew out a breath, rolling over in the bed. With your knees curled up to your chest, you listened to Joel’s soft breathing and wondered if he was in bed, too. You wondered what he looked like, stretched out against the mattress, and if his body was as warm as his smile.

“Are you going to tell me about Romeo and Juliet? Or are you just going to sidetrack us again?” You asked softly.

Joel let out a heavy sigh, and you could hear rustling behind him. He was in bed, and for some reason, that enticed you. 

“You coulda warned me that they both die,” he started. “If it weren’t for Paris, they coulda had a happy ending!”

“The whole point of the story is to have a tragic ending. Shakespeare warned everyone in the foreshadowing, with Montague saying, ‘These violent delights have violent ends.’ It’s supposed to be a story about the chaos of passion.”

“Still ain’t makin’ up for the fact they never got to be together,” Joel grumbled.

“Not every story is a happy ending,” you exhaled, wincing at the words you spoke. You didn’t die because of Bennett, but the story hit too close to home. Between the chaos of family and the violent ends of your relationship, you had nearly become Juliet, killing herself over a man. Not literally, but the pain after the wedding was a death within itself. 

“Why d’you like it so much?” Joel asked.

“Wasn’t that your job to find out?”

“I’m not gonna lay here and make assumptions ‘bout you, but I get the feelin’ you’re a lot like Juliet.”

“Maybe,” you muttered quietly. 

“Who’s Romeo then?”

He didn’t sound angry, but you knew he only asked because he wanted to understand you better. And fuck, if that wasn’t a turn-on in itself.

“He’s the one that left me at the altar.”

There was a heavy silence from his end of the phone. You wanted to take the words back and shove them deep within you where the world couldn’t hear them. No matter how many times you said it aloud, it never felt easier. But it was the unfortunate truth; your love story had a tragic ending.

“Jesus fuck, I’m so sorry,” Joel exhaled.

“Don’t be. I’m okay.”

“Whoever did that didn’t deserve you. Perfect girl like you ain’t deserve someone that shitty.”

Perfect girl.

You had to clench your thighs together at the way his voice roughened when he said those two words. You wanted to play them on a loop over and over until you were mindless. Bennett never called you perfect—beautiful, maybe, but never perfect. He knew you for five years and never said it; Joel knew you for a month and not only said it…but believed it.

“I stayed with him a lot longer than I should have.”

“Wanna talk about it?” Joel offered, his voice gentler than a moment ago.

“Not right now,” you whispered. “I’ll make you a deal.”

“I’m listenin’.”

You were playing with fire now, and maybe it was the vulnerability of the day catching up to you, but Beth’s words were stuck in your head. There’s going to be someone so much greater out there. 

“Ask me anything you want over dinner.”

Silence. Dead silence. 

You held your breath, waiting for a response, waiting for anything. You could handle rejection, or at least you hoped you could. You hadn’t put yourself out there since Bennett left, and the idea of being unlovable was hard to wrap your head around. Did he ruin you to the point of no return? Was there any hope left?

“I’m not gonna take y’out to dinner and talk about your ex-fiancé,” Joel grumbled. 

“Oh, okay, yeah. I understand.”

The tears were welling in your eyes now, threatening your composure. He didn’t want to take you out anymore; that was fine. Who would want to deal with the broken pieces left in the wake of your past?

“If I’m gonna take you out, it’s gonna be a proper date where I get to know you,” Joel lowered his voice, the sound echoing through your head.

“A date?” You laughed nervously.

“Yes.” He said your name in a stern tone that stalled your breathing. “Quit bein’ all professional, and let me take you somewhere nice so I can really get to know you. That’s all I been wantin’ to do.”

“I’ll make you another deal,” you offered.

“God, you and your damn deals. Alright, let’s hear it,” he chuckled.

“When I’m back, ask me on a proper date.”

“Haven’t I already done that? The offer still stands, y’know.”

“I wasn’t ready to say yes when you asked. I think I’m ready now.”

“Bout damn time,” he laughed. “I swear I’m a patient man, but I’ve been goin’ out my damn mind waitin’ for you.”

“I’m sorry,” you mumbled. That was always the default response these days.

“You’re worth waitin’ for, I promise.”

You were at a complete and total loss for words. How did Joel always say everything you had always wanted to hear? You tried not to compare him to Bennett, but this was far beyond anything you had received in the past. It was foreign but so sweet. You allowed yourself to take the plunge; now, every risk was heightened. If the heartbreak Bennett had caused was this bad, you hoped never to find out what losing Joel would feel like. 

“Y’still there?” He asked.

“Yeah, I’m still here,” you whispered. You didn’t realize how long your thoughts had silenced you. “I’m looking forward to you asking me.”

“And I’m lookin’ forward to askin’…again.”

You smiled to yourself and shoved your head further under the covers. You could hear Joel yawning on the other end of the phone, and you realized just how late it was. You could listen to him talk until you fell asleep, but you wouldn’t keep him any longer.

“Go and get some sleep, Mr. Miller.”

“Y’sayin’ I’m old?” He grumbled.

“I’m saying I can hear you yawning over there,” you quipped.

“Alright, alright. Maybe we should both be gettin’ sleep. Can I call you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

“Goodnight,” he whispered.

“Goodnight, Mr. Miller.”

The rest of the week went smoother than you had imagined. After the conversation with Beth, you both fell back into the familiar routine of being close. You’d catch her sliding you small smiles while you were out around the city, a deep concern crossing over her eyes, knowing how hard it was to relive the memories. Boston hadn’t changed, making it easier knowing you had made the right decision to leave. Stella introduced you to her new boyfriend, and your parents cooked a huge dinner to include him in a family evening together. And every night, you’d stay up late talking to Joel on the phone. 

He told you tiny snippets of his day and what had happened at work while you shared pieces of your day traveling around town with family. You noticed how he sidestepped or avoided asking deeper questions about you, and it was sweet knowing that he really wanted to wait for that date to ask those questions. Those late-night talks became something you looked forward to, even if they were filled with mundane things to chat about. 

Friday came quicker than you expected, and you were fidgeting to get on the plane home. Joel had asked the night before when you were landing and insisted on being the one to pick you up from the airport. You were struggling to continue saying ‘no’ to him, and frankly, you wanted him to be the first person you saw when you arrived. 

Austin’s skyline was dotted with lights as the plane touched down in the evening. Those few hours on the plane felt like an eternity, but as you scrambled down the tunnel into the airport, you felt a surge of excitement flowing through your body. Something had shifted over the week between you and Joel; that line between professional and unprofessional slowly disappeared. You were losing the battle inside you to keep your distance from him, and God made it so easy to do that. His charm kept you coming back for more, and the idea of what could happen between the two of you was terrifying, but the risk was beginning to look less dangerous. You felt comfortable, which was far from what you felt with Bennett. You always had to be the best version of yourself, the perfect image of a perfect girlfriend and fiancé. But you realized with Joel, you could let your control slip. He had seen and heard your vulnerability more times than you wanted to allow, yet he didn’t run away. 

He didn’t run away.

That thought slammed into you as you walked through the airport, knowing you weren’t walking towards an empty altar. You were walking towards a man willing to wait for you—for the first time. 

As you made it through the crowd of other travelers, you finally emerged into the lower level of the airport, your eyes darting around to find Joel. In the chaos of bodies walking around, his tall figure stood above the rest, a small bouquet of flowers in hand. Your steps slowed as you approached, your eyes shifting from the flowers to his welcoming smile. 

“What’s this?” you asked, your cheeks pink from running or seeing him; you weren’t sure.

“Figured it would be a nice way to welcome you home,” Joel smiled, handing them to you. 

The flowers were an array of colorful carnations, their orange and pink petals standing out against the green leaves surrounding them. You took them from him and watched as he replaced the flowers in his hand with your luggage, insisting on carrying them for you. He wore a multi-colored flannel, the material stretching over his back and shoulders as he lifted your bags. You stood back, mesmerized, as he led you toward the parking garage. 

“Thank you again,” you said. “I know you had a long work day, so thank you for driving out here.”

Joel looked over his shoulder and smiled at you. You noticed the scruff on his face was a bit grown out from the last time you saw him, but those bare patches still stood strong. There was a strange urge inside you to kiss them and feel the warmth of the skin underneath. 

“It’s no trouble at all,” he said. 

His truck was parked far back in the parking lot, which made the walk together longer than you expected. The smell of the flowers enveloped you as you held them close to your chest. You could only count a handful of times Bennett had gotten you flowers and could count even fewer times he actually picked you up from the airport. Any time you went home to visit family, which was far and few, he used the excuse of work to avoid being there for you. 

Joel lifted your luggage into the backseat of his truck, turning to you once he shut the door. He spoke your name softly, staring down at you as you gave him a curious look. 

“Well, since you’re home now, I’m just gonna ask it,” he started. “Would you go out to dinner with me?”

“I’d love that,” you smiled, a blush crawling up your neck. 

“Good,” he nodded. “I hope you’re hungry.”

“Wait, you mean right now?”

Joel leaned closer to you, tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear. 

“I told you I’m a patient man, but I ain’t waitin’ any longer. So get your stubborn ass in my truck, and let me take you out.”

“You’re relentless, Mr. Miller,” you rolled your eyes. 

Joel opened the passenger door for you, waiting patiently as you climbed in and buckled yourself. 

“I’m gonna make sure you stop callin’ me that by the end of the night,” he said, his eyes trained on you. 

Your breath stalled, and you wondered about the meaning behind his words. Joel probably didn’t mean it sexually, but that’s exactly where your brain went. This was only a date, nothing more, nothing less. You were already giving into him with this; you wouldn’t give in any more than that—no matter how badly you might want to. 

“We’ll see, Mr. Miller,” you smirked.

Joel’s brown eyes darkened at your challenge, and you hoped he didn’t notice how your thighs clenched to quell the warmth pooling inside your stomach. You were staying strong on this one; saying his name meant giving up control entirely. If you gave up the control, you’d give up everything, and you weren’t sure if you could do that to yourself—not yet, at least.

You made small talk with Joel on the drive to his chosen restaurant. It was a casual steakhouse, but you were obviously underdressed from being on a plane for nearly four hours. Joel wasn’t much better either; his attire always seemed too casual and messy. Oddly enough, it was growing on you. You couldn’t imagine him wearing suits or dress-casual attire; it didn’t suit his persona. He was rugged through and through, and you liked that. You had judged him so early on, but the carefree way he carried himself amplified your attraction to him. Bennett always wore some bullshit suit and tie for work, looking overdressed and uncomfortable. Whenever he wasn’t working—which was rare—he still looked like a pretentious East Coast snob with his dress slacks and polo. God, the more you thought about it, the more it pissed you off. 

Once Joel and you were seated at a table and ordered, you found yourself squirming in your seat. Joel’s eyes were warm and unwavering in the restaurant's lighting as he focused on you. With his hands folded on the table, he kept his body pressed forward just to get closer to you. 

“So, I know y’told me you had sisters,” he started. “Beth and Stella, right?”

“Mhmm,” you nodded, sipping the red wine before you. You hadn’t planned on drinking, but your body demanded some sort of aid in numbing the nerves coursing through your veins. “Stell is the youngest. She’s eighteen. She graduated high school this year and started attending Boston College in September. Beth is two years younger than me and works in graphic design for a company in downtown Boston.”

“If Beth is two years younger, that makes you…”

“I’m twenty-seven, Mr. Miller,” you chuckled. 

Joel’s eyes widened a bit, most likely as he realized the age gap between you both. Clearly, he had to have noticed by now, but his reaction was still comical. You nervously bit your lip, wondering if the distance between your age would make him less interested. It’s only a date, you reminded yourself. He wasn’t interested in you that much. 

“Shesh,” he whistled, leaning back into his chair. “I ain’t take you to be that young.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” you muttered. 

He shook his head, reaching for his beer, and you watched him take a long sip before responding. 

“No, it’s not like that,” he reassured. “Y’just surprise me, that’s all.”

“How so?” You asked, leaning forward. 

“Y’act so mature sometimes,” he explained. “You’re big on actin’ professional and adult-like.”

“It’s my job,” you said.

“Bein’ a teacher shouldn’t stop you from enjoyin’ your twenties,” he countered. 

You sighed, nodding along to his words. A lot of things had stopped you from enjoying your twenties, like a particular asshole you thought you’d spend your life with. Being young and careless was never something in the cards for you, and honestly, the closest thing you had gotten to that was the night Joel saw you at the bar. 

“Do you feel like being a young dad did the same for you?” You asked. 

Joel inhaled sharply, scratching the back of his neck. You began to realize he did that a lot; in nervous moments, in moments he was deep in thought, in moments he felt awkward. Right now, you assumed it was because he was trying to formulate some sort of response. 

“I ain’t really had a choice in it. When Sarah’s mom left, I was pretty lost tryna do the ‘dad’ thing. I had to juggle between work and bein’ present, and Tommy was young then, too, so he couldn’t help much. I just tried my best and learned as I went.”

“How old is Tommy?”

“Younger than you,” Joel laughed. “He’s twenty-five.”

“Oh gosh, you guys have a big age gap, too.”

“That we do.”

The waiter brought your meals, forcing the chit-chat to stall while you indulged in the steak and side dishes in silence. Occasionally, Joel would hum as he ate, glancing up at you to see your reaction to the flavors as well. You returned his curious eyes with soft smiles, indulging in how he looked at you like you were something he hungered for far more than the food in front of him. When the plates cleared and your napkins were disposed of, Joel asked the waiter for another round of drinks so that you both had no option but to remain seated in each other's company. 

“What made you want to be a teacher?” He asked, smoothing down the flannel over his stomach.

Your eyes caught onto the movement of his hand as it brushed down his navel, the veins flexing as he readjusted himself in his chair. Joel dipped his head slightly to draw your attention back to his soft eyes, and you instantly felt caught in your actions. 

“I’m not sure, honestly. I’ve always loved literature, and the idea of teaching young kids about it just seemed appealing. There’s a lot of power in words, you know? I want to show them that.”

“That’s pretty poetic of you to say,” he smirked. 

“Well, I hope so. I literally teach poetry for a living.”

Joel chuckled quietly, the lines around his eyes crinkling as his smile stretched across his face. Was it terrible that you were picturing him kissing you? Despite every thought in your head that shouted at you not to think about it, it was all you could focus on. 

“Do you enjoy your job?” You countered. 

“I do, most days. Tommy and I are tryna start up our own business one day, but it ain’t in the cards yet. I need to save up a bit more and hopefully work on gettin’ permits and all that before I can actually do it,” he explained. 

“I believe in you,” you said softly. “You’re a hard worker, Mr. Miller.”

“Well, thank you.” His cheeks reddened at your words. 

Both of you sat in comfortable silence for a moment, stealing shy glances and laughing at the emptiness of words. Joel had said he wanted to get to know you more, but the questions seemed far and few. In your mind, you considered that a second date could be in the cards, seeing as though neither of you had yet tired of the other. Even in the quiet moments, Joel had remained completely enraptured by you, never letting his eyes stray too far from yours. 

“Y’ready to get home?” He asked once the bill was paid for.

“I suppose so,” you shrugged. 

Joel’s hand was firm on your lower back as he guided you out of the restaurant and back to his truck. The featherlike touch against your clothed skin was enough to awaken that warmth back into your body, the feeling of it blooming inside you with each step. Inside the truck, you watched as the streets blurred past as Joel drove toward your home. The night was ending, yet you still ached at the thought of him leaving. You didn’t dare to take anything further, and you still didn’t know if that was something he wanted—or if it was something you wanted. 

Seeing your tiny home was a breath of fresh air as Joel put his truck in park. You gathered the flowers from the seat and quietly helped him unload your luggage. The tension between you thickened with each step as you approached the front door. Turning to him, you smiled and squeezed his arm.

“Thank you,” you said, hesitating by the door. “For tonight and everything.”

Joel’s eyes sparkled under your porch light, the darkness of his irises illuminated and dancing in the shadows. He had shrugged off his flannel after hauling your luggage from the truck, and now it hung over his arms, exposing the corded veins running from his hands to his biceps.

“Of course,” he said your name softly. “Y’look beautiful tonight, by the way. I can’t remember if I told you that or not, but really, you’re beautiful.”

Your cheeks warmed at the compliment, and there was no way of hiding the redness creeping over your face and neck. He watched you with a hungry gaze, his eyes roaming your body. Even if you only stood in a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans, Joel looked at you like you were bare before him. 

“Thank you,” you smiled. “I—I know I look like shit, but thank you.

“Y’definitly don’t look like shit,” Joel insisted. “I’ll plan another date so y’can get all dolled up and look even more beautiful. 

“That’s not really necessary. I mean the dressing up part, not the date part. I’d like to go on another date.” You were rambling at this point.

“Sure it is. The world deserves to see y’look beautiful, even if I want to keep you to myself selfishly.”

“Stop it,” you blushed. “Go get home before it gets too late.”

“You tryna get rid of me that quick?”

“I know how much you enjoy talking,” you laughed.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever,” he grinned, turning to leave. “Y’have a good night, okay?”

“I will. Goodnight, Joel.”

Then you realized what you had said. 

He realized it, too. 

“Y—,” Joel cut himself off. Shaking his head, he let his flannel fall to the ground. “Fuck it,” he whispered.

Joel swarmed you, pressing you against the door as his hands came up to cup your face. Without a second to breathe, his lips crashed against yours until stars sparked behind your eyes. His mouth was warm as he devoured you slowly, drinking in every noise you made. Every one of your senses was evaded by him: the scent of his cologne drifting over your body, the heat of his skin against yours, the sound of his mouth breathing into yours. You found yourself hesitant at first, adjusting to the hardness of his body pressed against yours. He must have also realized it, his mouth slowing as he pulled away. 

“I—shit,” he muttered. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

Your fingers crawled up his chest and gripped at the collar of his shirt, hauling him back to you until your mouth was a breath away from his. 

“Just shut up and kiss me again,” you whispered. 

Then his lips pressed against yours again, this time frantic and all-consuming. You opened your mouth to him, letting him taste the vulnerability spilling out of you, replacing it with desperation you hadn’t yet dared to feel. Your tongue darted out to brush over his bottom lip, and he captured it in another greedy kiss, intertwining himself with you. Joel’s hands moved to tangle in your hair, his fingers lightly pulling as he drew you in closer. Your hands wound their way around his neck; your chest flush against his until all you could feel was the rapid beating of his heart matching yours. There was no way of telling where he began and you ended; you both had melted into one. Lips, teeth, tongue… over and over again, the motion repeated, and you felt the warmth creeping up your spine the more he moved against you. You sunk your teeth into his lip, tugging it slightly, as you pulled away to gasp for air. 

“Joel,” you exhaled, panting softly. 

“Yeah, baby?” His voice was rough as he pressed his forehead to yours.

“What are we doing?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t wanna stop.”

He lowered his lips to kiss down your neck, the chill of his mouth on you prickling your skin. You couldn’t form any words to tell him to stop. You didn’t want him to stop. You were mindless and boneless in his strong grasp, completely untethered from your control. All you could focus on was the way his mouth roamed over the column of your neck, the veins that your blood rushed through throbbing under his lips. Joel’s hand traveled back around, his thumb tipping your jaw upwards so that he could kiss more of your skin. Your eyes blinked at the flickering bulb of your porch light, the sound of crickets chirping somewhere in the distance. His tongue traced a line up your neck, his teeth nipping against your jaw. You let out a soft whine as his mouth connected to yours again, the passion between you snapping into place. 

The night wasn’t ending here. You needed more. The craving was too intense to keep at bay, and you needed him in ways you had been too afraid to admit. Your fingers wound themselves into the curls at the base of his neck, holding him firm against you as you grinned into his open mouth. 

“Come inside,” you mumbled against his moving lips. 

You fumbled blindly for your keys, twisting around to unlock your door; all the while, Joel kept his lips on any part of your skin he could find. He reached around you to shove the door open, and with one arm wound around your waist, you both tumbled over the threshold.

#joel miller x reader #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x teacher!f!reader #joel x reader #joel x f!reader #joel miller #joel miller fanfic #joel tlou #tlou #joel miller pre outbreak #pre outbreak!joel #pls dont hate me for this one guys

[svnoofy]

SYNOPSIS - your entire life has been measured by christmases, specifically– those spent with the lee household. every christmas, it was the same, and your feelings for the boy you grew up with during those christmases stayed the same too. however, as time passed, a few things changed and matters of the heart become a little more complex. could it be possible that there was more to look forward to this christmas than just your favorite hot cocoa?

PAIRING - lee heeseung x fem reader

GENRE - romance, slow burn, fluff, an attempt at crack, light angst, brother’s best friend trope-ish, “she fell first, he fell harder” trope

WARNINGS - profanity, minor references to sex and inappropriate topics, heeseung being very much conrad-coded

THIS STORY IS LOOSELY BASED OFF THE SERIES: THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY

christmas at the lee household was something you looked forward to each and every year. so much so that your entire life was measured by christmases.

you spent christmases with your mom, older brother, yeonjun and the lees, conveniently because your moms were best friends. mrs lee had a son– heeseung, who you basically spent your entire childhood with besides your brother.

while heeseung and yeonjun had a close relationship from the start, you and heeseung, didn’t always hit it off. at one point, he was hiding your christmas edition barbie dolls because he was embarassed to be seen with them! (you didn’t blame him though– he was two years older than you so he didn’t get the hype)

but eventually, both of you grew out of the silly trivial things that pulled you apart as young kids and you found yourself enjoying his company just as much as he did yours.

he’s seen you through all your phases and vice versa. he was there when you were wearing pink everyday, your emo era and even through your braces and dungarees phase (which was literally last year) and to be completely frank, somewhere along the lines: you fell for him.

oh, and as if news didn’t travel fast enough: the whole house knew! and it has become a tradition for everyone to tease the hell out of you when he’s around. no worries though, he made it painfully clear that he saw you just as his little sister (yikes)

every year it was the same: it always started off with a family dinner, followed by cocoa by the fire place with some fun games to accompany— which repeated until christmas day itself, which, you thought, when the fun really began.

“are you seriously not going to bring any sexy outfits? seriously?”, giselle raised an eyebrow from your bed– supposedly helping you pack.

you shot a confused look at her, “babes i’m going to celebrate christmas with my family not a honeymoon at bora-bora”

giselle rolled her eyes, “if you WANT heeseung to finally look at you, then—”, she dangles a red, slinky, dress towards you, notioning you to add it to your luggage.

“tis’ the season you get laid babes”, giselle winks.

your cheeks flush pink, “giselle!”, you smack her leg.

“HEY, I’M JUST TRYING TO HELP”, giselle yelped in defense.

giselle gets up from bed and drags you to your standing mirror— “you’ve changed a lot since last year, and you HAVE to embrace it babes! i promise, he’s going to regret ever sister-zoning you!”, she hugs your shoulders.

part of you knows she has a point, but realistically, how much could you have changed? giselle was probably just being nice.

“y/n are you ready? we have to go soon!”, your mom called from the bottom of the stairs.

you gave giselle one final hug and you intertwined your hands with her in a secret handshake.

“promise you’ll tell me whatever happens between you and heeseung?”, she prompts.

“duh, you have my word”, you wink before lugging your bags down the stairs.

the drive to the lee family house was long and with your brother driving, of course you two were arguing over the bluetooth connection. yeonjun had presented the lame excuse of “needing it for gps”, when really: you knew he wanted to blast anime music that you had no understanding of.

“come on jun, just let your sister play her music–”, your mother notioned to yeonjun, who pouted at the mirror and sighed.

“fine”, he pouted yet again, earning a scoff from your mother.

you rejoiced, finally!, you thought.

you put your christmas playlist on shuffle and stared out of the window, the familiar neighborhood coming into vision amidst the blanketing snow.

your heart swelled at the sight of the people putting up lights, garlands and decorations alike: christmas is here again, you fondly thought.

as you drove through the icy roads, with last christmas by wham! playing in the background, you felt as though you were in a scene from a christmas movie.

when you arrived at the drive way of the lee family house, you were hit with the nostalgic scent of rosemary. mrs lee must be baking her famous potato casserole again, you thought– eliciting a grumble from your stomach.

“y/n, come help me unload our bags”, she taps your shoulder from the backseat, to which you quickly unfastened your seat belt to assist your mom.

at this point, yeonjun had long disappeared into the warm embrace of the cabin while you helped your mother unload the bags.

“soojin?”, you heard a familiar voice call out.

it was mrs lee– she stood on her door step, arms wide open to give your mother a welcome hug.

your mother smiles back before coming into her embrace– the sight was warming your heart more than any fire could.

mrs lee’s eyes stray to you for a moment and she almost screeches.

“y/n! my dear you have grown so much! she’s gorgeous soojin!”, mrs lee praised.

she went towards you and placed her warm hand on your cheek, “you’re in bloom, my snowflake”

mrs lee had a way of saying things that almost made you believe her.

she then notices the bags on the driveway, left unattended, to which she gasped, “let me get the boys for this”

she goes up to the door to beckon the boys out, and as you stood, frozen on the driveway in anticipation, you saw him, struggling to get his gloves on.

he had his usual polo sweater on, but this time he was taller, his hair was longer and it fell a little over his eyes– which had always been your favorite feature of his.

as you stood frozen on the driveway, your eyes met with his as he walked towards you. you felt your heart beat a million times a minute.

there he was, the boy you’ve longed for your entire life.

you stood there, across from him, as he took the sight of you in.

“what happened to your glasses?”, he asked.

“i don’t wear them anymore”, you explained.

he went around you to get your bags, lifting them easily compared to you and your mom’s efforts combined.

“i liked your glasses”, he leaned over slightly causing you to stiffen up, “but welcome back, y/n”, he pinches your nose– another familiar tradition.

he lugs your bag into the house and right as he reached the doorstep, he looked back at you, hands motioning you to come in.

“come in, you’ll freeze out there”, he says. you run towards the door at his invitation, closing the door right behind you when the both of you enter.

“so, how was everyone’s year?”, mrs lee asks, wine glass in hand.

“it was great mrs lee— i got into our university’s dance team!”, yeonjun bragged earning exaggerated and sarcastic applauses from heeseung, to which yeonjun responded by tossing a potato in his direction.

your mother shot yeonjun an icy glare as a reminder to behave, and he cleared his throat in realization.

“oh yeah and mrs lee, your son is a HIT at campus, he’s being hit on by girls left and right, it’s sickening!”, yeonjun remarked.

you were somewhat in a state of disappointment yet you weren’t surprised.

you had to admit, you always found lee heeseung handsome— but somehow, this christmas, your heart catapulted more than it usually did.

heeseung fiddled with the potatoes on his plate using his fork, clearly uncomfortable of the topic that arose.

“i guess— it’s because he looks so much like me”, mrs lee commented with a wink, earning a chuckle from heeseung– who was clearly unsure how to react.

you pursed your lips, avoiding eye contact with the boy across you.

“how about you, my snowflake?”, mrs lee asks– all eyes darting towards you.

“uhm..”, you thought about what had happened this year that was remotely interesting to share.

off the top of your head, you shared: “i got my braces off”, you smiled flashing your pearly whites, eliciting laughs from mrs lee and heeseung.

“no shit, dumbass”, yeonjun remarked, earning a kick under the table from your mom.

“yeonjun, be nice”, to which he pouted to, “come on moomm, you always defend y/n”, he flashes his morbid puppy eyes at her, only to earn a distasteful roll of the eyes from your mom.

“my snowflake has grown so beautifully”, mrs lee remarked, causing you to blush.

“thanks mrs lee”, you smiled at the nickname she has always given you.

you didn’t even notice the eyes that lingered on you a little longer than they should– from the boy across from you.

as usual, cocoa by the fireplace followed suit after dinner— and you were so excited to finally taste the best hot cocoa you have ever had in your life again.

as you topped your cocoa with a pile of marshmallows in the kitchen, you couldn’t help but overhear the boys chatting with each other.

“is that girl from school still texting you?”, yeonjun asked.

“uh i guess, there are a few of them”, heeseung replies, doubtfully.

“bro– don’t tell me you’re still hung up over wonyoung– come on man, that was monthsss agooo”, yeonjun drawled, earning a half-hearted sigh from heeseung.

oh, he’s had a girl friend before this, you thought– the familiar dreadful feeling arising in your tummy.

“i guess, but i don’t know– i feel like i still like her”, heeseung says, very much in the same doubtful tone he started with.

you don’t know why you were all sad about what you heard, it’s not like he was your boyfriend after all– but you couldn’t deny that it stung a little to witness the boy you like missing someone that wasn’t you.

you stayed up all night thinking about the conversation between heeseung and your brother – the name in the conversation repeating itself in your head like a mantra.

wonyoung, she sounds beautiful – you thought as you brushed your teeth.

after washing up, you sleepily make your way down to the kitchen, where everybody was. heeseung was with your mom, solving a crossword puzzle while yeonjun helped mrs lee with the pancakes for breakfast.

when mrs lee noticed your presence, she set her spatula down and rushed in to give you a hug.

“good morning sweetie, did you sleep good?”, she asks only for you to lie: “slept great, mrs lee”

you took a seat at the bar table, eyes wandering for the oat milk carton. before you could even stand up to look for it, heeseung comes up from right behind you and places a tall glass of oat milk right beside you.

“i know you hate cold milk”, he says with a smile– before walking over to yeonjun, who was trying his best to salvage his pancakes.

your heart fluttered at heeseung’s gesture, this was one of the many reasons you had fallen for him.

FLASHBACK

“which flavor should we get heeseung?”, a young yeonjun asks with a mischievous grin on his face.

the whole family was spending the day at the market– and although the boys were warned far earlier to stay away from the candy cart, yeonjun and heeseung had been saving up to splurge on candy the whole year! and with a little bit of will power, they managed to slip away from their moms– who at the time, were distracted by the attractive holiday candles for sale.

“i want peppermint and licorice!”, yeonjun exclaims, grabbing a fistful of each candy he wanted.

unlike yeonjun, heeseung was carefully contemplating his choices— but, before all, he reached in for the pink berry blast candy, which shocked yeonjun to say the least.

“ewwwwwww, you’re choosing pink candy?”, yeonjun gags earning an annoyed eye roll from heeseung.

“it’s for y/n, not me”, heeseung explains before continuing to carefully select his own choice of candy.

when they returned to their mothers, who were, to no shock, still at the candle stand– you stood idly by, noticing how the boys managed to slip away and come back unnoticed.

you weren’t one to snitch though, fortunately.

as you sucked on your thumb, waiting for your mom to finish indulging in the various holiday scented candles, heeseung taps your shoulder.

“i know you like this candy”, he hands the bright-pink candy over to you, a smile plastered in his face.

you were too young to understand what was happening right then and there but even little you, didn’t fail to blush at the kind gesture that was presented to you.

END OF FLASHBACK

the day moved rather slowly— the weather in the neighborhood switched between being gloomy and snowy, which made it hard to plan activities around.

you were laying in your room, folding your laundry, when you heard a knock on your door.

“hey loser”, it was yeonjun.

you rolled your eyes– “no, i am NOT going to fold your stupid underwear again”, you say almost predictably.

“what– no, i just wanted to say– heeseung and i are heading to a party tonight, and you have to keep it shut to mrs lee and mom, got it?”, yeonjun commands.

“what the hell, you guys are sneaking out?”, you ask.

“duhhh, do you think we stay in EVERYTIME for cocoa and game night? obviously heeseung and i are cooler than that”, he explains earning a gasp from your end.

“you’ve BEEN sneaking out this WHOLE time?”, you were exasperated to say the least.

“jealous, loser?”, he teases with a wink, causing your face to contort to a distasteful look.

“whatever it is, we’ll be back midnight, see ya loser!”, he storms out confidently.

what he doesn’t know is, you found out which party he was going to (the only party in town, which giselle took the very kind initiative of finding out) and there is no way in hell, you would miss the opportunity to rebel for once.

when yeonjun and heeseung arrived, the sight they saw was nothing extraordinary.

there were drinks, people making out, and music blaring from every corner.

“heyyy boys!”, the host, jake sim, greeted– giving each of them a dap in the process.

“great to have you back here this year”, jake roughly places his hand on yeonjun’s shoulder– simultaneously handing him a shot of tequila.

“i feeel aliveeee”, yeonjun exclaims after downing the tequila that was handed to him.

jake notions heeseung to take a sip, but he refuses.

“i don’t drink tequila”, he confesses– to which jake nods in understanding with an “ah ok”.

before heeseung could even decide what to do, yeonjun was off on the dance floor, girls surrounding him as if he were a magnet.

heeseung laughs at the sight before moving himself to one of the lounges, grabbibg a can of beer to pop open and enjoy.

unexpectedly, he sees a familiar face wrapped around someone.

wonyoung?

“girl, why are you dressing like a saint– how is heeseung gonna notice you when you’re wearing a literal nun-fit”, giselle remarked when she saw your quote-unquote “overly covering” outfit.

you were rummaging your bag at this point, before you found a rather intriguing piece of clothing– which you definitely never owned.

“is this yours?”, you dangle the red, slinky, dress towards the camera.

“YES! THANK GOD YOU FOUND IT”, giselle cheers in victory.

“yes bitch wear that– hello, there’s a reason i packed it in”, giselle commands, to which you hesitantly oblige.

after you slipped into the dress, giselle’s eyes almost pop out of her skull.

“OH MY GOD Y/N? YOU LOOK STUNNING?? I AM DEAD”, she jokingly motions– earning a shy giggle from your end.

the dress was indeed beautiful, you were just unsure if it looked good on you– it seemed way different than what you would usually reach for.

“if you’re even SECOND-THINKING right now i will smack you from my phone”, giselle suddenly says, as if reading your mind.

“please y/n you look stunning, like santa’s mistress but innocent and hot at the same time– damn, i suck at explaining but you look HOT”, she comments, giggling at parts, almost fangirling.

“now put on that red lipstick you bought and bam, femme fatale who?”, she winks at you with her suggestion.

you apply the red lipstick as instructed and when giselle saw your final look, she almost fainted.

she gave you her final best wishes and told you to put on your best heels– which in true y/n fashion – you forgot.

so, you just slip on your converses and carefully sneak out of the house, careful not to wake your moms.

now you just have to hope, yeonjun is too drunk to notice you were ever there.

when you arrived at the driveway, everyone had their eyes on you.

you felt a little insecure, walking in your dress and parka, into this completely new environment. before you could even make a step further, a guy stops you in your tracks.

“hi beautiful, welcome to my party”, he had a smug look on his face and you just smiled back and thanked him in response.

“have i seen you before? you look new”, he asked– technically you’ve gone to this neighborhood your whole life, it was just your first party.

“yeah, it’s my first party—”, before you could even say anything else— the guy yells: “WE HAVE A NEW PARTY COMER EVERYONE!”

heeseung had his eyes on wonyoung, who was enjoying herself with her new boy accessory.

he wanted to approach her, liquid confidence in hand.

but before he could even take a step towards her, he hears jake’s voice echo to the living room he was in.

“WE HAVE A NEW PARTY COMER EVERYONE!”

from there on, a good majority of the crowd’s eyes diverted to the door– where jake was escorting the new guest, arms linked.

heeseung couldn’t believe his eyes. you were absolutely gorgeous.

crowds cheered and whistled at your entrance, and heeseung stepped closer to where you were walking.

it can’t be her, can it? , he doubted himself.

he confirmed it was you when he saw your stained converses, what is she doing here?

you stood at the kitchen, unsure of what to do. there were so many people, yet you couldn’t find the courage to get along with any of them.

“i love your dress”, you heard a voice from beside you.

you turned to the direction of the voice, to see an angel-like girl next to you.

“oh my god, that means a lot coming from you”, you say with a smile.

“what’s your name, pretty?”, she asks with a smile, before taking a sip from her cup.

“y/n— choi y/n, nice to meet you..”, you prompt for her name in return.

“wonyoung, jang wonyoung”, she smiles.

wonyoung?, you thought– could it be that wonyoung?

before you could ponder a moment longer, the guy who greeted you returned.

“i’m so honored to have the most beautiful girls in town at my party—”, he slurs, earning a scoff from wonyoung.

“grow up jake, i have a boyfriend”, wonyoung rolls her eyes– did they get back together?, you thought

“i didn’t want you anyway.. it’s her i want”, he slurs, smirking at you.

you gulp, unsure what to say or do.

“don’t let him get to your head y/n, he’s just pussy deprived”, wonyoung said.

jake slips his arm around your waist, finishing the last drop of his drink. at this point, you were more than uncomfortable.

“what the hell?”, you hear an agitated voice say.

you look back to see heeseung, infuriated.

heeseung marches up to the both of you and right as you expect him to drag wonyoung away, he drags you away instead.

“heeseung, let go!”, you command. heeseung was fuming.

“what the hell are you even doing with jake? are you trying to fuck yourself over?”, he was angry.

this was the angriest you’ve ever seem him, which brewed similar feelings in you.

“why do you care, heeseung? i want to have fun too!”, you retaliate– attempting to walk away from heeseung to enjoy the party.

he pulls you by your wrist, “no you aren’t, i’m calling a cab– we’re going home”

he drags you with him into the sea on the dance floor, fishing yeonjun out of it, his grip still firm on your wrist.

when he successfully got yeonjun off the dance floor, he was wasted.

after successfully calling a cab, he drags yeonjun in and asks you to sit in the back while he sat at the passenger seat. the whole car-ride was silent. heeseung must’ve been really mad.

you admit you felt bad for ruining their night but: why was he so mad?

seeing you and his ex at the party wasn’t exactly what he expected.

however, what blew him up was seeing jake wrap his arms around you, sickeningly intertwined like lovers. when he saw what ensued, he lost all his cool.

he could barely register that his ex, whom he tried to approach the whole night, was right there.

the next morning comes quickly, and as he laid in his bed, he kept asking himself: why he was as mad as he was seeing you with jake?

it was confusing, he still liked wonyoung– he was certain of it– but even after seeing wonyoung and her new boyfriend smooch around for minutes on end, he barely lifted a finger.

however, when he saw you standing there, a little too close to jake, he lost every ounce of cool in his body and gained a new confidence that he never thought he could have.

you’re not crazy heeseung, it’s different because she’s like your little sister— it’s natural you reacted the way you did: his subconscious self tried to justify his thoughts, with the very same excuse its been using for years.

just like that one time you came to support him during his first talent show at university, and how you proudly cheered for him. his heart fluttered at that but his psyche silenced his heart with that very excuse: “it’s normal for her to support you– she’s like your little sister”

or that one time he felt butterflies in his stomach when you helped patch up an injury on his leg with your barbie first aid kit, before proceeding to make him a cup of hot cocoa– when his heart fluttered yet again, but his subconscious self convinced him: “siblings care for each other, this is nothing”

or even that time he saw you for the first time in a year, and when he saw you standing there, so beautifully in your dress at the party. again, “she’s just like your little sister”

he didn’t understand what was happening to him– could it be denial? maybe, but whatever it was, he wasn’t ready to face it.

at that point, it was a few days until christmas. the house was busy, with cleaners and workers running left and right–hanging decorations and dusting off ornaments.

you decided to help as well, helping the workers hang stockings and garlands around the house.

heeseung stood by the door frame, watching you help the workers decorate the house– a smile unintentionally creeping up on his face.

he observed how your hair was neatly tied back with a ribbon, and how your reindeer knit sweater, which he knew you got from his mom, ran a little too big for you.

you were laughing along with the workers, at a slanted ornament you hung.

a tap on his shoulder snaps him out of his haze, “yo, mom and mrs lee needs us to go to the grocery store to pick up a turkey for the christmas eve dinner so let’s go”, yeonjun announces– dragging heeseung away from the scene.

you barely even noticed his presence, too busy trying to fix the decorations you accidentally ruined.

on the car ride to grocery store, heeseung clears his throat to speak.

“wonyoung’s got a new boyfriend”, he speaks up, eyes on the road.

yeonjun’s eyes widen, “what? SERIOUSLY? i thought she only brought that guy at the party to make you jealous–”, yeonjun says.

“what? no–”, heeseung tries to explain only to be cut off by yeonjun again.

“i think so though! heard you had a new girl during the party– red dress and all! i heard everyone thought she was a hot take– too bad i was too drunk to notice her because we all know, she would’ve come home with me”, yeonjun smirks causing heeseung to cringe.

this guy would regret saying that if he knew it was his sister, he thought.

but hey, since yeonjun already ingrained that scenario in his head– heeseung might as well play along with it. plus, he could use some advice.

“yeah, i had a new girl but i don’t think i can like her”, he confesses.

“awww man, why not? you’re hot, kind of–”, yeonjun giggles, heeseung snorting in response.

“well, being with her is complicated– she’s beautiful, but i’m afraid i would hurt her”, heeseung admits, earning a scoff from yeonjun.

“you say that as if you didn’t date the dean of our university’s daughter but okay– come on heeseung, stop over thinking for once, if you like her, then make your move! don’t let your mind cock block”, yeonjun advises, hitting heeseung with a playful punch.

“alright then”, heeseung says, really hoping yeonjun won’t regret what he said.

“now let’s get this dang turkey”

the night of the christmas eve dinner came quicker than you expected.

the house was filling up with friends and family members, and it was finally beginning to look a lot like christmas.

you went down the stairs, dressed and ready to greet all the faces you hadn’t seen in a year.

you were surprised to see some of the faces from the party too– one of them being, wonyoung, which you assumed was invited by heeseung.

you waved at her, and the other people that were around.

“nice to see you again bub”, she greets, with a hug.

you’re not surprised why heeseung would date someone like her– she was so warm and kind.

when the dinner began, the adults were sat at the dining room, while the kids were sprawled out in the living room.

“i’m sooo bored”, jake complains after the dinner, earning an eye roll from yeonjun.

“you’re always bored when you’re not drunk, jake”, he retaliates.

wonyoung sat across from heeseung, which seemed strange for a couple.

“do you guys want to play spin the bottle?”, jake smirks.

everyone cheered in unison, approving his idea.

yeonjun grabs a bottle from the kitchen, and everyone forms a circle on the floor.

the first few spins were uneventful, the kisses being short pecks rather than long, deep, kisses– which earned boos from everyone.

however, when the bottle landed on heeseung and wonyoung, the air tensed up.

heeseung sat still, wonyoung the same.

“are we getting a kiss or no– OUCH”, jake groaned, when yeonjun kicked his foot– intentionally.

the air was so thick with tension– you began shifting in your seat uncomfortably.

“fine, let’s change the course— heeseung do you like anyone?”, wonyoung suddenly asks and his eyes widen.

his eyes land on yours before he could say anything.

however, right as he was about to answer, your mom called out to you.

“y/n can you please get something from aunt mijoo’s car”

when everyone left, it was late in the night.

you had trouble falling asleep, so you headed to the kitchen to make some hot cocoa.

you were shocked to see heeseung, still in his sweater, staring out the window.

“heeseung– oh my god you scared me”, you gasped.

he looked at you, his body slightly slumped.

“are you hungry?”, he asks, observing your actions.

“nope– i just need some cocoa to help me sleep”, you reply, earning a chuckle from the boy.

“you’re the first person i know who uses sugar to fall asleep”, he walks up to you and pats your head.

at that point, it was nearing midnight.

you opened the cupboard, searching for the cocoa powder.

great, you thought, it’s waayy on the top shelf

you sighed in defeat, your head hung low.

heeseung notices this, and he easily reaches for the cocoa.

“need some help?”, he offers the cocoa powder in his hand, a smirk plastered on his face.

you roll your eyes, “thanks, i guess”

he giggles, leaning back on the kitchen island– watching your every move.

you whip up your concoction, preparing an extra mug for heeseung– as he stood by, watching you.

“wonyoung is so pretty”, you suddenly say– causing him to choke on some air.

“suddenly?”, he remarked.

“she is though, i understand why you froze around her”, you giggled, eyes focused on the hot cocoa you were making.

heeseung was speechless, he wasn’t sure where exactly you were going with this.

“i mean i wouldn’t expect less from the lee heeseung’s girlfriend”, you bitterly applauded, which causes the boy to choke on his spit.

“girlfriend? where’d you hear that?”, he asks confusedly.

“she’s your girlfriend.. right?”, you tilt your head, twice as confused as he was.

“uh– first off, sure i guess she’s pretty but when i froze– that wasn’t the reason, second– she’s not my girlfriend, well, not anymore at least”, he explains.

when you heard this, you somehow felt a sense of relief – relief at the fact that wonyoung and heeseung weren’t together.

“what!”, you let out, sounding a little too happy. you cleared your throat and ask him again: “heeseung, why did you get mad at me during.. the party?”, you hesitated a little towards the end, flashbacks of heeseung’s anger replaying in your head like a broken tape.

“well..”

oh shit, he thought. he hasn’t quite figured out the reason himself– so, he’ll stick to his brain’s text book answer.

“because, you’re like my little sister, y/n”, he lies– he knows that, of all reasons, was not the one.

there it was, the very thing you dreaded to hear.

“oh..”, was the only thing you could respond with.

good thing your hot cocoa was ready! you poured two servings, one for him and one for yourself.

you took out all the toppings, and proceeded to add marshmallows to your hearts content.

“did you want some?”, you asked heeseung– but he shook his head no.

“but i’d like some whipped cream please”, he asks, extending his mug of cocoa to you.

you nod, prepping the can of whipped cream for him, skillfully giving him a swirl before you got a mischievous idea.

you took some whip cream on your finger, stood on your tippy toes, and smeared it on his face, “your wish is my command”, you smirk.

he gasps, taking some cream to do the same with you.

“hey! i just removed my make up!”, you shielded yourself from his attack.

“you started it!”, he exclaimed– chasing you around the kitchen, determined to get some cream in your hair too.

before you knew it, the clock bells rang as it hit 12 am, it was finally christmas.

the both of you stood face-to-face, looking at each other’s cream smeared faces for a moment.

“merry christmas, heeseung”, you greet, earning a giggle from him.

“merry christmas, y/n”

when you left the kitchen, hot cocoa in hand, heeseung’s heart beat raced more than he ever thought it could.

he had been trying so hard to deny it, but now he thinks he can finally accept it: you were more than just a little sister to him.

the wholesome scene in the kitchen replayed itself in your head until the next morning.

you even texted giselle at the crack of dawn to tell her what happened– to which she could only fangirl in response.

everyone was gathered at the living room, sat around in their pajamas.

“merry christmas everyone”, you say– kind of sleepy.

you joined your mom and mrs lee on the couch, giving them a big hug.

“don’t forget, later we have secret santa with everyone coming so, perk up kids!”, mrs lee reminded before she left to go to the kitchen with your mom, to which all of you responded with an enthusiastic smile.

“did you guys manage to get anything for secret santa?”, yeonjun asks you and heeseung.

you and heeseung nod in approval, “yeah, why? did you get anything?”, heeseung asks yeonjun.

“uh yeah– totally, i – yeah fuck it, i forgot”, he finally admits.

“it’s okay i can get a bag of cheetos, i don’t know– what do girls even like”, he sighed in frustration.

you laughed at his defeat, causing him to shoot a glare your direction.

“shut up, loser”

heeseung giggles beside you, causing you to shoot a glare at him. “ok, i’m sorry”

guests poured into the house, one by one, soon enough— all the kids and adults were sprawled out in the living room, getting ready to play secret santa.

unlike the night before, the circle of people who attended that afternoon was a more intimate group of people.

“ok, heeseung, it’s your turn– who are you secret santa for this year?”, mrs lee prompted.

heeseung smiles a little, shyly picking up the small red bag beside him, standing up to head to his designated person.

without you realizing, he made his way towards you.

“merry christmas, y/n”, he greets again, in his gentle voice, to which you shyly accept the red bag whispering a shy “thank you”– all eyes were on you at the time, observing the chemistry.

to be frank, everyone in that room knew how you felt about heeseung, and how much you wanted him to be your secret santa, time and time again.

this time you got what you wanted, and as you caressed the small red bag in your hands, your cheeks warmed up– heeseung’s gentle voice repeating itself in your head.

the day passed quickly and you didn’t get a chance to open the gift yet.

it was only when you had gone back up to your room that you had the chance. you undid the ribbon delicately, as if the bag itself was more precious than what it contained.

you took out the tissue paper that protected the small velvet box which sat in the centre of the bag. you caressed the velvet box with your fingers, your stomach brimming with butterflies and anticipation.

when you open the box, you gasp in surprise and adoration.

it was a necklace, but not just a random charm necklace.

it was a snowflake, each crevice covered in crystals, which sparkled brightly under the moon light which shone through your bedroom window.

you took a moment to read the card it came with, which left you smiling wider than you thought you could:

i saw this necklace at the store a few days ago and it made think of you– because you’re our little snowflake:) i hope you like it.

merry christmas, y/n

you admired the necklace in your hands, a smile creeping up on your face once again. it was beautiful, just like him.

you picked up your phone, typing up a quick text message.

you: thanks for the gift, heeseung. i love it c:

heeseung: no problem, i’m just glad you like it :)

heeseung: hey, it’s snowing out, wanna go build a snowman? ;)

you giggle at his sudden invitation. you put on the necklace, wrap yourself in your warm scarves and puffer jacket before heading downstairs.

you quietly snuck out through the back door of the kitchen, eyes looking left and right for heeseung.

your search didn’t last long when you felt a snowball hit your back.when you turn to the back, you see heeseung hiding behind a bush, gloves messy from the snow ball.

you scoff, rolling up a snow ball and hitting him in return– just like you used to do when you were younger.

“hey! ouch! stop!”, he squirmed, the cold impacting him more than he thought. you laughed at his defenselessness.

again, you stood across him, face to face– admiring his face, just like you did when you first arrived.

the snow was falling from the sky, gently trickling your jackets and hair.

his eyes locked with yours, and you swore time stopped.

“i think there’s something you should know..”, he took a step closer to you, anticipation brewing in your stomach as you looked up at him.

“hmm?”

“i’m sorry i got mad at you during jake’s party and brushed it off as me being protective because “you’re like my sister”–”, he apologized.

“truth is.. that wasn’t even close to the real reason–”, he begun, your eyes glued intently on him.

“thing is.. i never understood why or how i felt about you— and, my subconscious mind would consistently tell me it was because you were just my little sister”, he looked down briefly before meeting your eyes again.

“but, when i found myself missing you, thinking about you and your silly laugh when i crack my terrible jokes– and when i found myself infuriated at the idea that another guy could make you laugh like that, i knew that you were more than what i tried so hard to convince myself you were..”, he took your hands in his, eyes still locked on yours.

“how could i have been so blind to the one person who’s always been there for me.. from the time you patched up my little injury with your precious barbie band aids or even the time you stood front row during my first talent show— it has always been you”, he grips your hand tighter.

“so i was hoping i could be the one for you too..”, he nervously says.

“what do you mean heeseung?”, you ask suddenly, pulling your hands away from his.

at this point he was expecting his heart to be shattered– until you cut off his train of thought.

“you have always been the one for me”, you say suddenly– flashing him with the smile he loved so much.

before he could say anything further, you leapt up onto him, the warmth of your lips embracing his.

he smiled into the kiss, “i love you, my little snowflake”

you giggled, “i love you too”, you say briefly before he engulfs your lips in his again, twirling you in his embrace.

you have always loved christmas, but now, he’s given you a million reasons to love it more.

[ hera’s note ] – hello loves! merry (ADVANCED) christmas! 🎄 here’s an advanced heeseung christmas piece that i wrote while listening to taylor swift and sabrina carpenter’s new christmas EP HAHAHA i hope you all enjoyed this piece 🤍 please let me know what you thought about this one-shot and reblog it if you enjoyed it! i wanted to upload this early because i may be offline for a few days to celebrate this festive season :) anyways, i hope everyone will have a wonderful christmas, hera loves you! <3

[ taglist ] – @ja4hyvn | send an ask/dm to be added!

SVNOOFY 2023 © PLEASE DO NOT REPOST, COPY OR PLAGIARIZE THE CONTENT ON THIS PAGE.

#enhypen fluff #enhypen x reader #enhypen imagines #enhypen fanfiction #enhypen heeseung #enhypen drabbles #enhypen oneshots #enhypen scenarios #enhypen #heeseung soft hours #enhypen heeseung imagine #heeseung fluff #lee heeseung #park jongseong #sim jaeyun #jake sim #park sunghoon #kim sunoo #yang jungwon #nishimura riki #enhypen heeseung x reader #heeseung x reader #heeseung imagines #enhypen angst #enhypen crack #enhypen x female reader

[dearly-somber]

stand still (i’m sniffing you) | j.jk

-> pairing. wolf shifter!jungkook x human!reader (f)

-> genre. slow burn, f2l (friends-to-lovers), (not actually) unrequited love, pining, mutual pining, high school!au, werewolf/shifter!au, fluff, domestic fluff

-> w/c. 802

-> rating. 13+

-> a/n. Inspired by that one clip where Jungkook back-hugs Hoseok while they’re practicing 🥹🥹

-> collection. mini-series

-> warnings. None!!

-> started. Mon., Feb. 19th, 2024 @ 21:42

-> fin. Mon., Feb. 19th, 2024 @ 22:19

-> edited. Tues., Feb. 20th, 2024 @ 07:06

-> divider credit. @mmadeinheavenn

Jungkook has a stronger sense of smell than the rest of his pack. Partially because his wolf is simply better at it (much to the pack’s chagrin, because Jungkook never fails to bring it up during their biweekly pissing contests), but also because he’d been blessed with a good sense of smell even in his human form.

Something is burning a street down? Jungkook can smell it.

Someone took a shit in the backyard because they were too lazy to shift and do it inside where they could flush it? Jungkook can smell it (and he’s going to make it everyone else’s problem).

Y/N comes over without letting him know and—wait, what?

He sticks his head out of his room like an excited cartoon character. “Bunny?”

Jennie glowers at him as she’s walking down the stairs, shaking her head with a sigh. “She’s not even halfway up the pavement.”

Jungkook frowns, feeling a prickle of embarrassment race up the back of his neck. “A-and! You know she’s here!”

“Yeah, ‘cause I can hear her,” Jennie sasses, scoffing with a grin so shit-eating Jungkook thinks his eye twitches, “not because I’m so honed in on her scent that I know she’s coming from a mile away.”

“Okay it was not a mi—Y/N!”

She huffs as Jungkook barrels into her, stumbling back ever so slightly. Jungkook feels his wolf wagging his tail like the love-struck mutt he is, pulling back at Y/N’s signature okay, that’s enough pat-on-the-back she does whenever she deems a hug “over”.

“I didn’t know you were coming!” He can’t help but speak loudly, wondering if his eyes are sparkling—cliche, sure, but he remembers Yoongi mentioning it once, and it hasn’t left his mind ever since.

Y/N laughs (Jungkook’s heart soars in his chest), shaking hee head as she drops a duffel bag next to the coffee table, walking toward the kitchen with Jungkook hot on her heels.

“I wasn’t planning coming over but my mom dropped me off to go to the library and she isn’t picking me up until five, so I decided to come over and hang out.”

That explains it! Jungkook wondered why Y/N smelt more bookish than usual today. It’s always present under her daffodil-raisin combo, but it makes sense why it’s so much stronger today. He imagines her sitting in the library for hours on end, fully immersed in a book, and the thought makes him smile like a fool.

Jungkook is hit with the sudden, overwhelming urge to smell you. Fueled by his excitement at a surprise-visit and the whims of his wolf, he wraps his arms around your shoulders, pulling you into his chest and pressing his nose to the back of your neck. His nose scrunches happily as he inhales your scent, first in short, wolfish little huffs, and then in longer, more appreciative inhales which infiltrate all his senses.

He waddles into the kitchen clinging to Y/N’s back, vaguely aware of the conversation she’s started with Rosé, Seokjin and Jisoo (who are busy making dinner), too focused on keeping his nose scrunched to the back of her neck to hear (or truly care about) the specifics.

“Jungkook-ah,” Y/N says softly, reaching up to touch his hands.

“Stay still,” he huffs, feeling a tingle run up his arms when she shivers at his breath on her neck. “I’m sniffing you,” he mumbles, swaying her from side to side as they come to a standstill in the middle of the kitchen.

Y/N snorts, and he imagines she has a smile on her face.

“Yah!” Seokjin yells, maneuvering around them with a pot of rice held close to his chest. “I’m trying to cook!”

“Yeah!” Rosé frowns, roughly mixing what Jungkook now realizes is kimchi. “Get a room!”

“Kook,” Y/N starts.

The whine he lets out dies in the back of his throat when she reaches up over her shoulder to palm his hair, gently scrunching her fingers in the messy strands. “Lemme help cook dinner and then we can play some Mortal Combat before I leave, hm?”

Waiting until the heat in the tips of his ears cools a little, Jungkook gives a curt little nod of his head (blatantly ignoring his wolf’s request to nip your shoulder). He inhales long and hard before finally letting you go.

Y/N then very casually turns to help the trio in the kitchen as Jungkook plops onto the couch in between Lisa and Hoseok with a satisfied sigh, practically sitting on top of them.

He yelps, rubbing the back of his head when he feels Hoseok smack him over the head with a pointed look.

“What?” he says, high-pitched and pouting.

Lisa just laughs, shaking her head as she scrolls through her phone. “You’re hopeless, Kook.”

#jungkook fluff #jungkook x reader #jeon jungkook x reader #bts x reader #bts fluff #bts a/b/o #a/b/o dynamics #werewolf au #werewolf bts #werewolf jungkook #shifter au #wolf shifter #wolf shifter jungkook #ao3 #archive of our own #kpop fanfiction #kpop fanfic #kpop fic #bts smut #bts one shot #bts series #bts drabble #bts fanfic #jungkook fic #jungkook smut #jungkook fanfic

[the-record]

SKINNY DIPPING

SUMMARY: ellie, your perfect high school girlfriend, is back in town after college. what’s one date?

PAIRING: modern!ellie williams x reader

WARNINGS: n/a

A/N: i had an idea!!! pls enjoy while i finish the other 3 ellie fics lol

‘ WE’VE BEEN SWIMMIN’ ON THE EDGE OF A CLIFF ’

“oat milk latte for ellie.” your head shoots up hearing the order called off. it couldn’t possibly be her.

your staring at her when she turns around and makes eye contact. a smile forms on her face and she makes her way over to the table you’re at. “hey.”

“hi.” she points at the seat, you nod and she sits down. her eyes flicker away to not fall, but she brings them back to yours instantly. “how are you?”

“good.” she clears her throat, a comfortable smile on her face. “how are you? how’s your family?”

you roll your eyes and let yourself get comfortable. “theyre fine. my mom asked about you the other day.”

she leans back into her chair, one hand on her cup and the other on her thigh. “she did always love me more.” ellie teases. you kick her shin lightly and she hisses in pain.

your jaw drops. “oh stop, that did not hurt!” you watch the pout form on her face and kick her again, a little harder. you hear her whisper something as she grabs her leg. “that, maybe.” she gently kicks you back in retaliation. “so, what are you doing back here?”

she sips her latte before answering. “well i finished school, figured id see who wanted to hire me here before i went looking elsewhere.” you nod as she talks, taking all of her in. your ellie. “what about you? what’s like been like without me?” you know shes teasing but something inside you missed her.

“sunshine, smiles, and rainbows!” you close your laptop and give her your whole attention. “it’s been okay here, weird not seeing you and dina everyday.” she nods in agreement. “i’ve got an internship now, and a job, but not a career yet.”

talking with ellie is easy, it always has been. if she hadn’t gone away for college you might still be together. you take the time to learn everything new. you study the new freckles and a scar on her cheek. her voice is something you could listen to for years and never bore of.

“this was really nice.” ellie says as you pack your bag and she finishes her drink. “is there a chance we could do it again? maybe over dinner?” she leans forward on the table as she asks. “at miller’s?” the name of the restaurant makes you sigh.

you shake your head with a smile. “i dont know, sounds a bit… nostalgic, doesn’t it?” she shrugs and plays with the fingers on one of your hands.

“maybe. but lets do it anyways. it’ll be fun.” those green eyes would be the death of you.

the conversation at dinner came easy, ellie guiding you. it was nice to be back with her, in your own world in the quiet restaurant.

“have you dated anyone?” ellie asks, not exactly wanting to know.

you scoff as you take a sip from your glass. “not really. a couple flings but, nothing serious.” you say as you set down the glass. “you? im sure there were plenty of girls for you in santa barbara.”

“i dated a girl for awhile.” she smiles as you tense up and avoid her face. “broke up with her though.”

you hum. “and why’s that.”

“because she wasn’t you.”

you let out a breath you didnt know you were holding as a smile fights its way on your face. “ellie…” she takes your hand.

“let’s get out of here.” her eyes stare into your soul, convincing you silently.

the smile breaks free and you nod. “okay.”

you pay more attention to ellie than the roads as she drives. studying her profile, the lips you’d missed these past for years.

“take a picture, it’ll last longer.” your cheeks burn as ellie glances at you but you dont dare look away. its a few more moments before she slows and parks.

you glance around as you unbuckle and notice a familiar house. “dina’s place? weird place for a date.” she rolls her eyes and jumps out, running to get your door. “still quite a gentleman i see.”

“only for you babe.” she takes for you and leads you towards the house, but turns to the backyard rather than the door. you go to protest but she beats you to it. “don’t. just trust me.” she pulls you through the tall gate and into the backyard.

“i was gonna propose the beach, but then i remembered we are in jackson.” she smiled and pulled her top off.

you laugh. “ellie, what the hell are we doing here?”

ellie looks at you like it’s obvious. “we’re here to swim babe, duh?” shes stripping out of her pants now and you grab her arms to stop her.

“you have to be joking!” but she just shakes her head and jumps in, only her bra and underwear on. “i’m not getting in.”

she swims to the edge and reaches for your hands, which you mistakenly give her. “guess i’ll have to pull you in.”

you yell for her to wait but she’s already going, pushing back from the wall and pulling you with her. you pull her close as you come up to the surface.

“ellie!” she laughs and holds you in her arms. “i hate you.”

she shakes her head. “no you don’t.”

“no, i don’t.” its quiet, only the sounds of the water as you stand with her. “kiss me.”

who’s she to say no to that?

“ellie? is that you? angel? what the fuck!”

‘ I’M RESISTANT BUT GOING DOWN WITH THE SHIP ’

#ellie williams x reader #ellie williams #ellie williams fluff #ellie williams x female reader #ellie williams x you #ellie williams fic #ellie williams x y/n

[muns-quinn]

Life After Dark

Part one - part two here

Eddie Munson x stevessister!reader

WARNINGS: 18+ ONLY MINORS DNI, smut, p in v (wrap it before you tap it), oral (f receiving), weed, alcohol, language

A/N: I’m completely out of my element since I haven’t written in agesssss so I apologize in advance lmao it isn’t my best work. It’s more of a slow burn at first but it’ll get there eventually. I probably won’t publish my work as fast as I did previously because of my schedule and I also just want to enjoy writing because I want to do it. I apologize in advance for any mistakes, typos, anything that doesn’t make sense, etc. Also, this will be a series so this is part one!

Playlist that I listened to/made up while writing this.

Being a Harrington wasn’t the easiest thing in the world. Everyone knew your family, it started from your parents and then your older brother Steve added onto that during his high school years. The family name was truly something that nobody could forget and you had to live up to it to the best of your abilities.

Though you had your differences and fought with each other like any other sibling group, you were close. You shared some of the same friends, been through things together that others normally wouldn’t, but most importantly you protected each other in any way you could.

The sound of the cold spring rain hit against your ceiling and the scent of your freshly washed hair flows through your nostrils as you hear your parents bickering back and forth, getting louder with each sentence. You run your brush through your hair and place it onto your nightstand before turning your doorknob and walking downstairs. There was half a pot of coffee left over in the kitchen and there was a pile of dirty dishes left in the sink, what a fantastic way to start your day.

“I think you’ve got more than enough packed for the week.” You hear your dad grumble from the top of the stairs, dragging down their suitcases.

“I don’t think you’ve packed near enough.” Your mom replied as she follows him down the steps.

Another thing about you and Steve was the fact that you practically had to raise yourselves. Your parents were extremely respected in town, however they were barely home because of their out of town business meetings. They’re usually gone from days to weeks on end because of the company, yet they always give the two of you specific rules to follow.

“Make sure the both of you are in the house by 11.” Your mom orders you, both of her hands full with bags filled with her things.

“Mhm.” You agreed absentmindedly, pouring yourself a cup of coffee.

“Nobody’s staying over either. He goes to work, you do your volunteer work, and you both get home. Got it?” Your dad adds.

“Got it.” You mutter, taking a sip.

They quickly rush out of the door, your dad closing it with a slam and the house goes to complete silence again. The peaceful sound you’ve grown to love and appreciate over the years, the sound of positivity and pure bliss from your chaotic life.

Steve walks down the stairs still half asleep, his hair an absolute mess and his eyes barely open. He makes his way to the coffee pot, pouring what’s left of it in his individual mug. You finish yours off before placing it with the rest of the dirty dishes in the sink, dreading the clean up once you get home.

“What time’s your shift?” You question him.

“10-7.” He grumbles tiredly. “Ah shit, you’ve got that volunteer work this week don’t you?”

“Yeah. I’m sure I can walk home, just need you to take me there since it’s raining if that’s alright.” You explain.

“Yeah that’s fine, when do you have to leave?”

“In abouttttt… 8 minutes.” You mention as you glance over to the clock.

9:28 am

Shit. Steve was going to be late for work if he didn’t hurry. He leaves his mug on the counter and zooms past you and up the stairs, immediately running into his room to get ready for his shift. You place his mug in the same sink and walk over to your front door and grab your shoes before sliding them on and tying the shoe laces. You hear Steve complaining and expressing profanities, occasionally hearing the sound of something falling over and hitting the ground as he runs around.

“In the car!” He urges as he runs down the stairs.

You follow his directions and rush outside and to the car, hopping in the front seat and buckling in. He locked the front door and ran to the drivers side, jumping in and scurrying onto the road.

“Library, right?” He verified.

“You would be correct.” You nod.

In order to graduate Hawkins High, you had to have 20 hours of volunteer work before the end of the spring semester. As always, you waited until the last second to choose where you wanted to volunteer so the only open available slots were at the library. You didn’t mind, you’ve been there plenty of times and enjoyed the silence it offered, so it could have gotten worse. With that being said, you also waited until the last second to begin with your volunteer work so you had to volunteer for the entirety of your spring break.

Steve sped through town in order to get to work on time since he was on his last strike and didn’t want to lose his job. He shows up at the library, barely stopping the car to allow you out before he drives back off down the road. The rain was beating down onto your hair as you run inside, the cool air fanning your face as you walk inside of the library. You stroll over to the front desk, finding the sign in sheet for the volunteer work and you sign your name.

“Good to see you again, sweetie.” The older woman smiles at you as she turns around, you smile back in reply.

“What can I help you with today?” You ask, she looks around at the empty library, jotting down a to do list on a small sheet of paper.

• Reorganize the non-fiction section by author name

• Retape magazines that are falling apart

• Wipe down any surface with dust

• Reorganize the fiction section by author name

The list was nearly endless, but you took it with a smile anyway.

“If you need any help, you know where to find me.” She winks, her glasses showing your reflection back to you.

“Thank you, Alorie.” You nod, turning on your heels and walking over to the non-fiction section.

You kneel in front of the first bookcase that catches your eye, looking at the unorganized mess of books. If you come into a library, at least have the decency to put the books back in the correct order you think to yourself. You begin to move the books around but figured that it would be easier to take each book off the shelf and put them in correctly one at a time. You knew it was going to be an incredibly long 5 hours.

Shortly after you begin working on your to do list, people of all ages started to flood into the library. The younger children were squealing as they tossed around books that you knew you were going to have to fix, teachers from school came to drop off books they read in their free time, and others arrived just so they could get out of the rain.

Once the first task was done, you moved on to the second, retaping the ripped magazines. Alorie hands you the tape to use, you take it and walk over to the magazine stand. You sigh to yourself as you look at all of the torn pages but it had to get done. You sit in front of the stand and grab one of the magazines, finding the pages that needed to be fixed. Once you had finished that, you flipped back through it to ensure that you hadn’t missed anything. This pattern continued for quite some time with others. You grab the last magazine that laid on the floor, taping the cover. There wasn’t much of wear and tear on the magazine that you could see, but you triple checked each page to be sure.

A few hours had passed, you’ve finished nearly half of the tasks on your to do list and you see a group of little kids running into the library with their parents. You glance up at the clock that hung on the wall and it read 11:42, meaning that it was nearly time for afternoon reading. Every day the library held story hour at noon and at 3:00, you always read for the afternoon group when you were there and Alorie took over the 3:00 group.

You fold the list and slide it in your pocket, greeting the kids and their parents. You grab the book on the display shelf before walking over to the reading corner. While the children and the parents find their spots on the floor, you sit in the chair in front of the group.

“Alright guys, today’s book is If You Gave a Mouse a Cookie. Who’s read this book? Raise your hand as hiiiigh as you can for me!” You announce, over half of the group raise their tiny hands and you smile.

You begin to read the book, other people join the group a little late but they hadn’t missed much since you were only a few pages in. You enjoyed storytelling, especially to smaller kids because it reminded you of when your childhood was good.

After you read the book, Alorie calls the kids over to the group of tables in the middle of the library to color the pages she made copies of that went along with the book. You tidy up the area that you read at, putting back the chair and the book and picking up any trash that was left over.

“I didn’t know that Harrington’s read.” You hear someone say, startling you as your back was turned towards them.

You turn around and see the person who snuck up on you, it was non other than Eddie Munson. He was your brother’s best friend, only a year and a half older than you. He had been at your house numerous times while your parents were out of town, been through insane situations with Steve, he was someone that you shared friends with although you two weren’t incredibly close yourselves.

“Don’t sneak up on people like that.” You breathe out.

“You Harrington’s are so easy to startle.” Eddie snickers.

“Why are you here? I thought you hated the library.” You question as you continue picking up.

“Well you aren’t wrong but I have to get in my volunteer hours if I plan getting out of that hellhole anytime soon.” He sighs, putting his hands in his pockets.

“I told him that you had the list!” Alorie mentions across the library.

You nod as you understood, he would basically be shadowing you for the day. You knew he wasn’t much for working, especially when it comes to volunteering for something he had absolutely zero interest in. You take the list from your pocket, looking at the things you had left.

“So you waited until the last second to start your volunteering?” You ask.

“Seems like you did too.” He shrugs, looking around the library.

“Not my fault.” You mumble as you continue looking at your list. “You can go ahead and start with dusting.”

You point him to the cleaning tools, he gives you a look before marching his way behind the Alorie’s desk and grabbing the duster. He takes his sweet time to begin the task you assigned him with but you moved on to organizing and rearranging the fiction section of the library.

As you begin to take the books off of the shelf, Alorie leaves the group of kids and walks over to you.

“So I have a few options for you.” She whispers, confusion written across your face. “About your volunteer time.”

“Oh! Okay?”

“So, you can do 10 hours today, I’ll give you the key to lockup early and all you have to do is come in tomorrow for story hour and I’ll say you did your entire 20 hours.” She proposes. “Or you can just continue to come in each day for a few hours.”

It was a good deal. Normally you’d opt in to come each day for your hours and then some but your parents weren’t home so you could easily do the first option. However, you parents knew to check in with Alorie to see if you were actually where you were supposed to be.

“Alorie-”

“It’s spring break and it’s your senior year. You need a break. I won’t tell if you don’t.” She winks, you grin.

“Clean around and lock up like normal?”

“Exactly. Tell him that goes for him too, I’m feeling generous.” She suggests, nodding her head over to Eddie who finally decided to clean.

You thank her and agree on the first option. It wasn’t abnormal for you to lockup after hours once she had went home, you had a trusted bond with one another. You were basically an employee without pay, which you didn’t mind at all, you enjoyed helping her around the library when you could.

You went back to organizing the bookcases, piling each book on the floor so it would be easier to put them in by authors name and the order in which they go in for one’s that were parts of a series. Eddie continued to clean areas with visible dust around the library for quite some time, eventually leading over to the bookcase that you were currently working on.

“Alorie suggested that we stay for 10 hours today and come in for story hour tomorrow and she’ll sign off that we did our 20 hours.” You mention up at him. “Or you can come in each day and actually do your hours.”

“I’ve got a show tonight.” He declines, glancing down at you while he continues to clean. “Besides, I don’t wanna be in here longer than I have to.”

“Suit yourself.” You shrug. “I’m staying until 8.”

That was the end of the conversation, short and simple. It was unusual for him to not talk as much as normal, he constantly talked at your house or during school. Maybe it was because he was in a library and had some manners? You were unsure.

The second reading group came piling through the doors, most being second and third graders who were obnoxiously noisy and never cleaned up after themselves.

“Quiet, we’re in a library!” Alorie whispers to them, placing her index finger on her lips, the kids copying her body movement.

You place the books in their respective places before getting off of your knees. You walk over to the printer and grab the coloring pages for Alorie, putting them in the middle of the tables with crayons for the kids to color after the book had been read like previous.

“So, do kids just come here to listen to a book?” Eddie asks as you walk back over to the bookcase.

“Most days, yes. Then the older kids have a discussion about the book and color. Some days the library does different educational things, especially when it comes to science.” You explain with your back turned away from him. “For the smaller ones, they just come in for a quick story time and color. The older ones are a lot messier though.”

“I can see that. I’d hate to be you tonight.” He snickers. “What’s the next thing on your list?”

“Let me see.” You hum, pulling out the to do list. “I’ve done most of these already.”

Eddie peers over your shoulder, trying to find the one that has the least amount of work.

“She just got a new shipment of paperback books if you want to put those out.” You suggest and he hums. “I’ll show you where they’re at.”

You motion him to follow you, you go in the back room where there were tons of boxes lined up against the wall and stacked on one another. You open the first box and carry it into the main room, Eddie continues to follow you over to the fiction section. You tell him what order they need to be placed in and where to toss the boxes when he’s done.

Some time had passed, the kids from story hour had finished having their discussion on the book Alorie had read to them and colored.

“I need to know what he’s doing.” Alorie mentions as she pulls the library key out of her purse. “Is he staying longer or coming in each day?”

“He’s leaving.” You explain to her, taking the key in your hand.

“Alright, just be sure that he logs his time correctly and be sure that everything’s locked.” She orders. “Bye sweetie.”

“See you tomorrow.” You smile at her while she walks out of the library.

The two of you continue working on putting the books in the correct spot in silence, the only sounds were the books hitting the shelves and the clinking of his chains.

“It’s 4:00, you know.” You mention after silence, glancing up at the clock. “You can leave.”

“Oh, thanks.” Was all he said before immediately heading out of the doors.

Not even a bye, see you later, do you need any help, nothing. You weren’t surprised, it was Eddie you were talking about here, the guy who only thought of himself. That’s why you often butted heads, he only thought of himself and you thought of everyone else other than yourself. You sigh quietly, unsure if you made the right choice since there was a lot more to do.

Better for it to take a while and have it all be done correctly than incorrect you think to yourself.

You walk over to the radio that was beside the computer and turn it on, flipping through the channels until you’re content with a channel to listen to in order to pass the time.

You take a look at your surroundings, trash was still all over the floor and the tables from the kids. It was going to be a long 4 hours with nobody’s help. You begin to pick up all of the trash and throwing it in the trash can, as well as your to do list since you no longer needed it.

You continue picking up and putting books on shelves, the time ticking excruciatingly slow as you began to grow bored with your tasks. You needed some sort of break so you pick out a VHS tape from the movie cart, popping it into the VHS player. You dimmed the lights, not bothering to draw the curtains since the rain made the sky cloudy and dark as you sit comfortably in a beanbag and begin to watch The Breakfast Club to pass some of the time.

“Seems like you really got a lot done.” You hear a voice boom through the library, jolting you awake.

You weren’t aware of what time it was, what day it was, who was in the library, you hadn’t even known that you fell asleep. You quickly jump up and turn around, your eyes meeting Eddie’s, giving you some sort of relief but also terror since you had fallen asleep without locking the door. If Alorie found out, you’d probably be dead.

“Jesus Christ, Eddie!” You shout as you march over to the light switch, turning the lights on. “Stop scaring me!”

“Relax, I just forgot to sign out.” He snickers, walking to the desk and putting the time he had originally left.

8:47 read the analog clock. You were asleep for at least 2 hours and still hadn’t got much done at all.

“Ah shit.” You mumble to yourself, quickly popping the VHS tape in the box and putting it back on the cart. “I can’t believe I fell asleep and forgot to lock the door. I still have a ton left to do.”

“Well you should probably get home before anything, it’s supposed to get worse out.” He sighs.

“Yeah, I’ll get to it.” You ramble as you quickly clean up.

“Alright, well I’ve got a gig to get to. Tell your brother I’m coming over later.” He announces, walking backwards out of the door.

Again, it wasn’t uncommon for him to come over for a few hours after Steve was home from work, but you still had to clean when you got home. You hear the sound of his van peel out of the parking lot, you decided to call it a night. Once everything was put away and clean, you head out of the library and lock the door behind you and began your journey home.

You had originally thought that the rain would stop or die down at least but you were horribly wrong. If anything, the rain and wind picked up harder. You didn’t have a hoodie or an umbrella and Steve couldn’t pick you up. It was miserable.

Many cars passed you, some drenching you in the puddles on the street and nobody stopped. You still had 4 more miles to walk in the rain with no end in sight. What started as a walk end up being a full sprint to get home faster. Your legs were beginning to give up on you, you were soaked through your clothes, your shoes were beginning to give you a blister, you were miserable.

You finally see a building with lights on and a few cars surrounding it, the perfect spot for a break for now. You cautiously get to the front door, pulling it open and allowing yourself to walk inside. It was warm and dry but the smell of cigarettes and alcohol flooded in your nose. You take a look around, not many people were inside but it was loud and chaotic and you don’t recognize a single person.

“Y/N?” You hear from across the room and once again there stood Eddie.

Well, you recognized one person.

“You just couldn’t get enough of me, could you?” He snickers, trotting over towards you.

“Just walking home, needed a break.” You explain. “But by the looks of it, I’m not necessarily the type to be welcomed here so I’m gonna head out-”

“Do you need a ride?” He offers, you reluctantly agree and he nods to you. “I’ll be back, you guys just warm up.”

He holds the door open for you, allowing you to step outside and he follows behind. He unlocks the van and gets in the drivers seat, he opens the passenger door from inside and pushes it for you to grab onto. You climb in the seat, the water from your clothes soaking into the velvet texture of the seats.

“Thank you.” You sigh, closing the door behind you.

“Yeah yeah, don’t think this is going to continue happening.” He brushes off as he turns on the ignition and putting the van into gear. “Thought you had a ride?”

You shrug and recline in the passenger seat. It was one thing for the two of you to be alone in the library, but in the car? Incredibly different.

He drives silently, the rain making it near impossible for him to see out of the windshield. You watch outside of the window as he drives down the road, nearing your home. You finally spot your porch light and he pulls into the driveway, you thank him before running out into the rain. You pull out your house keys and stick it in the lock, turning it and opening your front door.

Once you walk inside, you lock the door behind you and kick off your shoes. You run upstairs and peel off your dripping clothes and dry off with a towel before putting on clean pajamas. You’ve never been happier to be so dry in your life.

When you walk down the stairs and into the kitchen, you clean up the stuff your parents had left behind before leaving for the week and all of the dishes. You were growing irritated with how much trash is yours and how much trash is everyone else’s, they never picked up after themselves.

An hour and a half had passed, it was nearly 12 and there was no sign of Steve coming home anytime soon. You knew how crazy the video store would get on spring break but he had been gone all day, your mind was telling you something was wrong but you didn’t want to think about that. You couldn’t stress yourself out over something that hadn’t even happened yet.

A knock on the door catches you off guard and wipes you away from your deep thought. You walk over to the front door and peek outside from the glass and you see Eddie again for what felt like the hundredth time today.

“He’s not home yet.” You mention, holding back the worry that threatened to come out of your throat.

“No worries.” He shrugs, pushing past you and allowing himself in.

If there was one thing that Steve was strict about, it was about you hanging out with his guy friends one on one. The reason behind that was because of the situation that blossomed between you and Tommy before he and Carol were a thing. You and him were introduced by Steve when he would come over to your house nearly every day, you started off as friends yourselves and then you hooked up. After that, it turned to a shit show. You began dating but he cheated on you every single second he could, he told the entire school that you were a slut, he and Steve got into a huge fight. It was a disaster. So now, you couldn’t really hang out with his friends one on one.

Eddie kicks off his shoes and shimmies his jacket off, hanging it on the coatrack before making himself comfortable in your own home. Just like clockwork, the phone rang.

“Hello?” You answer.

“It’s me, a tree blocked off the road so I won’t be home for a while.” Steve says into the receiver.

“Where are you now?”

“Came back to Family Video. The power got backed up by a generator so I’ll be fine. Make sure you get some candles or a flashlight or something in case the power goes out there.”

“Okay. Do you know when you’ll be home?”

“Not a single clue.” Steve hums into the phone. “Alright, I’ll be home later.”

You put the phone up and Eddie raises an eyebrow.

“It was Steve. A tree fell and blocked off the road because of the storm so he won’t be home until later.” You relay and he gives a quiet ah.

You go upstairs and into your parents’ bedroom closet, raiding it for flashlights and candles. You found a single candle in there so you looked in the top of your own closet and found another, two was better than one in case anything were to happen.

You and Eddie sit on opposite sides of the couch, watching the television in silence. It was incredibly awkward as you both sit and wait for Steve, so you excuse yourself to your bedroom.

1:09 am

You lay on your bed watching your own tv for an hour, the booms of the thunder being impossible to ignore as you try to sleep with the background noise. The tv flickers and it turns off, followed by everything else in the house. You groan to yourself with your eyes closed.

You hear footsteps coming closer to your door and you hear Eddie knock quietly. You toss off your blanket and walk over to the door.

“You brought both of the candles up here.” He chuckles when you open the door.

“Shit, sorry.” You apologize, turning around to grab one of the candles.

“You’re fine. Trying to sleep?”

“Yeah but it’s impossible.” You sigh, handing him a candle. “No sign of Steve?”

“None.”

You move past him and walk down the stairs, he follows behind you the best he could in the dark. The only sense of light either of you truly had was the lightening that flashed through the glass windows.

“Well it seems like we’ll be up for the rest of the night.” You mention.

“We get to hangout outside of the library, how cool.” Eddie mockingly gasps, pulling a quick snicker from you. “And I made you laugh? Geez Harrington, I really think you’re beginning to like me.”

“Oh calm down Munson, you made a joke.” You replied, he was taken aback from the use of his last name. He was used to Steve using it but you? That’s different.

“What should we do to pass time?” He queried.

“I don’t know about you, but I plan on reading.” You advise, lighting the candles.

“Reading? Really? You just spent the entire day at the library.”

“Nothing else to really do.” You shrug.

He pauses for a moment before speaking again.

“You live in your parents’ home, Steve throws tons of parties. You have alcohol, a pool, everything!”

“Not sure if the pool is good for right now considering the circumstances outside.” You chuckle.

“Well you know what I mean.” He laughed. “C’mon, live a little.”

You look at him with a brow raised, his eyes begging for some sort of amusement. You knew you weren’t going to win the non-vocal competition so you gave in regardless. You roll your eyes and went to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of vodka that was stashed away.

You’ve drank together before. Obviously with a larger group, not by yourselves, but you were comfortable enough. Besides, you were bored yourself.

“Here goes nothing.” You smile as you pour yourselves a shot a piece, clinking the glasses together and throwing the alcohol down your throats. “Jesus it never gets easier.”

You were a few shots in a piece, the awkwardness between the two of you quickly diminished. While trying to figure out what to do to help keep you entertained while drinking, you both agreed on a game to know each other a bit better. You ripped up a piece of paper into tiny bits and each of you wrote down different questions for each other to answer.

You both made up the rules, it was almost like truth or dare. One draws a question and if they refuse to answer, they drink. However, if someone draws a question and answers, the other person has to drink. You weren’t great at making up games on the spot, neither was he, but it was something that you would work on.

“Okay, who draws first?” You ask and he thinks.

“Rock paper scissors?” He suggests and you agree immediately.

He lost and had to draw first, excitement was building up in you at the unknown. He closes his eyes and runs his fingers through the tiny folded pieces of paper in the bowl until he lands on one. He pulls it out and opens his eyes, struggling to make out the words on the page.

“What’s is… your favorite song.” He reads aloud. “Run to the Hills, easily.”

He moves the bowl in front of you after you take a drink. You copy him, closing your eyes and roaming your fingers around the pages until you pull one out.

“What’s your biggest regret? That’s a good one.” You think for a moment. “Don’t really have any. Everything happens for a reason.”

“No, that doesn’t count!” He cackles, calling you out. “You have to answer.”

“That is an answer!” You protest with a grin, he shakes his head. “Ughhhh.”

You take another drink of the alcohol in your cup. It was an answer, just not one that he wanted.

“Who was your first kiss? Really? You have lame questions. But if I have to answer, it was Elaine Dotinson.” He snickers, you roll your eyes and take yet another drink of the beverage.

“What was your longest relationship?” You read, your eyes fixating on his face. “What kind of question?”

“Just two people getting to know each other a little better.” He cheeses. “Unless you want to drink again.”

You roll your eyes.

“4 months.” You mumble, you see him open his mouth to say something. “That is an answer, you didn’t ask who it was. Drink up.”

“Why are you so quiet all the time?” He questions after taking a drink.

“That’s not a question from the pile.”

“Forget the pile for a moment, it’s a genuine question.” He presses. “Do you not like being around me or something?”

You pause for a moment and think. The alcohol was beginning to hit you at the moment and so were the questions.

“It’s not that. We just have different interests and we can’t really spend time together to get to know each other. Like, really get to know each other.” You explained.

“Why can’t we?”

“Because you’re Steve’s best friend. I’m the little sister, we’re off limits to each other.”

“Off limits? Aren’t you an adult?”

“Well yeah b-”

“Who makes those limits? You, him, mommy, daddy?” He interrupts, his voice getting quieter with each word.

You can’t reply. You just sit there observing his face with the flickering candle light, his eyes grown soft yet stern.

“If you actually get to know me, you’ll learn that we have more of the same interests than you might think.”

Before you could attempt to respond, the power comes back on and the phone immediately rings. You both look at each other until you answer the phone.

“Hello?”

“It’s me again. Listen, I’m just going to stay over at Nancy’s for the night since I cant get home. I’ll be home tomorrow, just be sure to lock the doors before you go to sleep.”

“Okay, be safe. I’ll see you.” You say, telling him goodbye and answering the phone.

You turn back around and face Eddie.

“Well, seems like you get Steve’s room tonight. He can’t get home so he’s staying with Nancy for the night.” You voice, sitting back in your spot on the floor. “Shall we continue?”

“We shall.”

3:18 am. The two of you continued your little game, asking questions that weren’t even on the pieces of paper, nearly emptying the vodka bottle and everything was beginning to spin.

You had gotten to know each other pretty well within the past few hours to say the least. He told you about his goals of being a rockstar after graduation, about his parents, his interests. He learned about your relationship between you and your parents, what you enjoyed to do in your free time, why you and Alorie had a close relationship. You developed a friendship.

“Jesus, don’t fall backwards.” You hear Eddie laugh as he follows you up the stairs.

“‘m tryin’!” You whine playfully, slowing crawling up the stairs as the room spins around you.

You were exhausted and the alcohol didn’t help either so you opted in to going to bed. Eddie helped you up the stairs to ensure that you wouldn’t fall and hurt yourself, he held you up as you tripped over your own feet and walked you into your room.

With your bedside lamp being the only light in the room, you managed to stumble your way to your bed and practically face plant into it. You laugh as you continue to be dizzy from the room spinning, Eddie lifts your legs and pushes you even further onto the bed to prevent you from falling out.

“Thank you.” You mumble with a smile on your face as you roll onto your back, looking up at Eddie.

You see his smile, his curly hair partly covering his face as he looks down at you.

Fuck, he’s cute. Even though you were drunk, you could still appreciate beauty when you saw it.

“Anytime.” He smiles, planting a playful kiss to your forehead. “Now I’m going into Steve’s room, night!”

“Night.” You whisper back, watching as he exits out of your bedroom and closes your door.

You couldn’t think he was cute in that sort of way, it was frowned upon. That was your brothers best friend and you two had not really gotten to know each other within the past few hours.

Don’t develop a crush or feelings for him. Don’t develop a crush or feelings for him. Don’t develop a crush or feelings for him you thought to yourself. It was only the alcohol, that’s all it was.

You wake up to the sound of birds chirping outside of your window, the sun beats through your window blinds and into your eyes. You barely open your eyelids, your head pounding from the activities from the night before. Was Eddie still asleep? Was he even there at all?

You glance over at the clock on your nightstand, 10:45 am. You pry yourself out of bed and use the bathroom before quietly sneaking down the hall and into Steve’s room. You peak through the crack in the door and see Eddie asleep on his back, his arm covered his eyes to prevent the sunlight coming in. He was shirtless and your eyes wandered a little too long for comfort so you rip your own attention away.

You walk the opposite way down the hall and down the stairs, each creak from your footsteps sounding like the loudest sound on earth. You stroll into the kitchen Rand grab the ibuprofen from the medicine cabinet, popping a few in your mouth before washing it down with a glass of water. You clean up the mess that you and Eddie had made last night and you toss out the bottle of vodka that you two had finished.

“I can help you out.” You hear Eddie’s raspy voice boom from the top of the staircase.

“Oh it’s fine, I’ve got most of it thrown away.” You mumble quietly, trying not to make your headache any worse.

You steal a look at Eddie and the butterflies in your stomach from the night before were still there. You cursed yourself mentally, telling yourself that it was wrong, but you still found him attractive.

“You okay?” He questions once he finally stood in front of you. Fuck, you forgot to look away from him.

“Y-Yeah! Just this hangover.” You shake off, turning your attention back onto the trash in the living room.

“So I was thinking,” He announces, stretching with a slight yawn. “We can go back for your story hour today and then I can show you Skull Rock like we talked about yesterday.”

You were incredibly confused, not remembering the conversation that transpired between the two of you that he was talking about. You give him a confused look and he snickers.

“Last night you were telling me that you wanted to venture out more, get out of the shell that your parents shoved you in. You didn’t think Skull Rock was a real place and told me you wanted me to take you today.” He reminded you, some of the conversation trickling back into your consciousness.

“Oh, yeah! I totally forgot about that.” You laugh, shaking your head at yourself. “I mean, are you sure?”

“Stop asking me that!” He playfully shouts. “If I wasn’t sure, I wouldn’t have asked you.”

You look up at the clock, it was 11:15. You had 45 minutes to get ready and be at the library. Eddie cleans up around the house while you run into your room. You roam around in your closet for an outfit, deciding on a plain white blouse and torn black jeans. You didn’t bother styling your hair so you tossed it up in a ponytail and quickly ran back downstairs.

“Where’s your shirt?” You ask Eddie as he ties his shoes.

“I’ve got more in the van.” He shrugs, you didn’t say a word but nodded instead.

You make sure you lock the door behind you both and you get into the van. Eddie grabs a shirt from the back and throws it on before starting the van and pulling out into the street.

There were tree limbs scattered everywhere on the road, lawns were flooded from the storm, it was still cold out. You both pull into the library parking lot and he finds an open spot, you walk inside and dry your shoes on the rug before walking in even further. Alorie looks over at you both with a smile.

“Surprised you could make it here!” She beams. “You’re right on time too.”

“I woke up a tad late.” You snicker, pulling up a chair to the reading center.

“Eddie, right?” Alorie questions.

“Yes ma’am, that’s me.” He says, walking up to her.

“Well, Eddie. I know that Ms. Y/N here told you about the deal we made yesterday but you couldn’t stay the whole time, correct?”

“Yes ma’am.” He talks lowly, aware of the readers in the library.

You continue to get everything situated for reading hour, grabbing Chicka Chicka Boom Boom off of the shelf as they continue their conversation.

“Of course if that’s okay with her.” You hear Alorie mention, talking to you.

“Sorry I didn’t hear what you said.” You say.

“I told him that if he helps you with story hour, I’ll stick up for him too saying that he did his full 20 hours.” She suggests, Eddie gives you a small smile.

“I don’t mind!” You agree. “You wanna help with cutting out the letters?”

You hand him a pair of scissors and tracings of different letters of the alphabet that you created the day before, he takes them in his hands and gets busy while the kids come flooding in through the library doors. You and Eddie share a glance, you could tell that the kids were already beginning to get on his nerves.

“Ms. Y/N!” One of the toddlers call out as he runs your direction.

“Hi sweetheart, go find your spot on the floor with your mommy.” You wink to him after he gives you a hug.

Once everyone had settled in, you take your seat in front of the group and begin to read to them. You glance up to make sure Eddie was cutting out all of the letters once you were showing the kids the pictures, he has a slight grin on his face as he listens to you read off of the pages. The butterflies were coming back stronger and harder. You shake it off and begin reading once more when one of the kids asked you to flip the page. You finally finished the book and the kids wanted to go color, they had extremely short attention spans.

“Mr. Munson, you ready for them?” You ask across the library, he raises a brow first.

“Ready Ms. Harrington!” He answers, the kids immediately rush over to him.

Alorie takes over the coloring activity, thanking the both of you and releasing you to enjoy the rest of your spring break. You both walk outside, the smell of fresh rain making you feel refreshed before you jump back into the van.

“Skull rock?” Eddie asks, turning the ignition.

“Sounds like a plan.” You responded.

He drives onto the town road and has his radio blaring, the loud music mixed in with the headache you still had wasn’t your version of fun. He sings along to the lyrics as he continues to drive down winding roads in the middle of nowhere, eventually coming to a complete stop right at the edge of the woods.

“Yeah, this isn’t sketchy at all.” You breathe out, looking deep into the trees but you couldn’t see a thing.

“You wanted an adventure.” He shrugs, hopping out of the van. “Let’s go.”

After a moment of hesitation you follow him into the trees. The perfect ending of a horror movie you think to yourself. You duck underneath branches and move tree limbs out of your way.

“I think I may be regretting this decision, you know.” You announce as you follow behind him. “Do you even know where we’re going?”

He pauses for a moment and looks around at the trees.

“….Yes.” Eddie vocalizes, a slight unsure tone in his voice.

You immediately knew that he was going to get you both lost, however, it was all a journey. You spent for what felt like an hour walking around in circles.

“We’re lost.” You sigh to him and he shakes his head.

“It should be rightttt… here!” He shouts, bringing you to a rock. “See, maybe you should have more trust me in me.”

You look up at the rock, not entirely sure of what you were expecting but it was just a rock. Eddie jumps on top and looks down at you with his feet swinging in the air. He pats an empty spot beside him as an invitation.

You remember the words he told you last night: live a little. With that tiny push, you crawl your way up the rock and place yourself right beside him. You look out into the trees, the windchill sending a shiver down your spine.

The reason he came to the rock often was for the peace like you with the library, it was his escape away from all of the other chaos that Hawkins had to offer. As you both sit there in each other’s company while being completely silent, the rain began again.

“Ah shit.” Eddie hisses as he feels the rain beating down on him.

“Just great.” You huff, looking up at the trees.

Eddie climbs off of the rock and helps you down as well. His original plan was to walk all the way back to the van but the rain got harder, so the both of you sit comfortably with the rock as your source of shelter temporarily.

“Well, cross this off of your bucket list.” He laughs, his back pressed against one side of the rock as he faces you. “You wanna smoke?”

He pulls out a baggie from his jacket with rolled blunts and bits of weed, hanging it in front of you. He saw the sparkle in your eyes when he held the bag in front of you, almost full of curiosity and excitement with a hint of fear.

“I don’t bite and it won’t either.” He promises, his voice quieter.

“You’re a bad influence, you know that?” You joke around to keep the situation lighthearted.

“Just trying to keep us entertained while it quite literally rains on our parade.” He cheeses. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

You thought for a moment. What’s the worst thing that could happen? Well, probably a lot, but you wanted to slowly creep away from the goody two shoe student that your parents and peers sought you out to be. What better way to explore additional perks and interests than to explore it all?

“I’ve just never smoked before.” You speak up, he laughs at first until he realizes you’re being serious.

“Wait, seriously? Your brother buys shit from me all the time and you’ve never dabbled in it a smidge?” He interrogates, you laugh a light ‘no’.

Without hesitation, Eddie pulls out one of the blunts from the baggie and observes it, making sure it’s rolled tight and perfect for your first ever smoke session. He gives you a look to make sure that you wanted to and once he had your approval, he sticks it between his lips and lights the end. He drags in a deep breath, holding it in for a few moments before exhaling. The smell alone was horrid but you hoped that it would be worth it.

“So you’re going to hold it like this,” He teachers, wrapping your fingers around it snugly. “Bring it up to your lips and inhale. You’ve smoked a normal cigarette, right?”

“Mhm.”

“Inhale just like that, just be sure you hold it in for as long as you can stand it. Then you just exhale and enjoy it.” His voice was rich as he instructed you.

You did exactly what he told you. You pull the blunt to your lips, sucking in a deep breath as your lungs ache once the smoke hit them. You hold for a few seconds and exhale, coughing obnoxiously as the smoke is released.

“You alright?” Eddie checks once your coughing had died down, you give him a thumbs up while your eyes water. “Yeah first time’s rough but it gets easier.”

“How will I know I’m high?” You ask him, handing the blunt back.

“Oh you’ll know, trust me.” He winks, inhaling the smoke.

This pattern of back and forth goes on for a while, the rain not giving a hint of ending in sight. You felt good, everything felt light and relaxing, you’ve never felt this calm. He wasn’t wrong, you knew the moment it hit you that you were high.

Less than 24 hours ago you were doing volunteer work with him with hardly any words being shared between the both of you. Less than 12 hours ago you were getting to know each other better and becoming friends. Now you’re in the middle of the woods with him getting high for the first time.

“This is nice.” You sigh to yourself, relaxing against the ground as you bask in your high.

“Feeling it, aren’t ya?”

“Oh yeah.” You snicker. “To think that we barely knew a thing about each other yesterday and now we’re here.”

“I know, crazy how shit like that works.” Eddie chuckles. “You’re nothing like your brother.”

“Is that a good or bad thing?”

“Good I believe.” He mentions casually, playing with a rock in his hand. “It was easier getting to know you. Not much of a total asshole, humble for the most part, cute.”

He just leaves it at the last word, cute. You couldn’t tell if it was the high that made you blush or his words but you couldn’t shake the butterflies that had lingered all day. You laugh at his compliments in an endearing way, burying your face in your hands.

“So what are your plans for the rest of spring break?”

“Not too sure.” You sigh with a shrug. “Yourself?”

“Well I’m glad you ask!” He chirps, sitting up straight. “I’ll be doing different adventures with you.”

“Eddie-”

“Ah ah, live a little, remember?” He reminds you. “I won’t do anything that will hurt you. I promise.”

You’ve heard that same promise before from Tommy but that wasn’t exactly true. There were multiple reasons not to trust anyone, your parents being the first people to break your trust long ago and everyone else seemed followed along. When you begin to live, you learn to trust.

“Fine.” You agree after a few moments of silence between the two of you. “What do you have in mind?”

“We’ll figure it out once we figure it out.” He beams, gently slapping your knee. “But for now, what do you think about getting back to the van? I don’t think the rain plans on stopping and it’s only 3:26, we’ve got more to do.”

You both crawl out from under the rock and run through the trees, branches slapping against you, leaving wet marks on your shirt and jeans while the rain falls on your head. You laugh when Eddie trips over his own feet and lands on his stomach so he grabs your ankle in revenge, making you fall right beside him. You make an audible oof as your stomach hits hits the muddy ground, mud splashing all over your torso and your face.

“Who’s laughing now?” Eddie teased and pokes his tongue out.

“Oh shut up.” You laugh loudly, grabbing Eddie’s hand as he assists you to your feet.

You brush yourself off the best you can before you both continue your walk through the trees. You find the clearing and spot his van, making a run for it and hopping in the passenger’s seat.

Eddie begins to drive down the road, coming up with new things that you haven’t done. He pulls into a gravel road and the familiarity comes around, you were in the trailer park that Max lives in. You were silently praying that she wouldn’t be home so no red flags were potentially raised about you being with Eddie.

He pulls into a driveway and parks beside a black truck, he turns off the ignition and opens the driver door. You glance over at Max’s trailer and see no trace of her which gave you the go ahead of following him inside.

The both of you quietly walk through the door, you see an older man sleeping on the recliner that sat in front of the flickering television. Eddie holds his index finger in front of his mouth as a sign to not speak, you oblige and follow him down the hall into the bedroom.

“This is mi casa.” He announces quietly once the door was shut. “That was also my Uncle Wayne asleep in there.”

You connected some of the dots about what he told you about himself last night. Wayne had been granted custody of Eddie before he was 5, his mom had passed away and his dad was constantly running from the cops or was in jail. Since it wasn’t expected that Wayne get custody, he had to give up the only room in the trailer and gave it to Eddie and he would resort to the recliner.

“You have a lot of stuff.” You point out as you take a look around his room.

“Yeah, I tried cleaning up but it got cluttered because of my collections.” He smiles almost nervously.

His room was filled with things he was passionate about, majority of it being music and D&D things. He had posters covering nearly every part of the walls, clothes piled up on a desk and in the closets. It wasn’t organized but you enjoyed the chaos. He throws you a shirt and you catch it in your hands.

“Figured you wouldn’t want to be in muddy clothes all day, you can wear that for now.”

“You’re very considerate.” You smile at him.

He grins at your statement and rips his dirty shirt over his head, tossing it to the side and throws on a clean one. He walks into the bathroom to allow you to change in privacy. You pull your shirt over your head and immediately cover yourself back up with his shirt, it smelled like laundry detergent mixed with cigarettes and weed. You’ve grown used to the smell of him over the past day and it was almost comforting.

“You still have dirt on your face.” Eddie calls attention to your face, his finger brushes against your nose.

You try to wipe it off without looking, missing the spots of dried mud entirely. He tries to guide you but you continued to miss it, he held in his laugh at your failed attempts.

“Here, let me get it.” He mutters, taking matters into his own hands.

You look up at him and agree to his help, his rough fingertips scrape the side of your face. His eyes flicker from the dirt on your cheek and nose to your eyes, your breath catches in your throat once you lock eyes.

Suddenly he was even prettier than before. His big brown eyes glimmered in the sunlight that peaked through his window, his lips glistened from the chapstick he put on in the bathroom, it suddenly felt like you were floating. His finger remained on your face, not moving but just staying there as the two of you take in each other’s features. No words were being spoken, no movements, just the two of you taking in one another.

“Eddie, I’m heading out.” You hear from the living room, knocking you both back into reality.

“Oh, uh alright!” Eddie shouts back, glancing back at the door and removing his hand. “I may be out when you get home!”

“That’s alright, just be safe and don’t get arrested again.” Wayne bellows.

You hear his footsteps and the door slam shut behind him. The roar of the engine rattled the windows and you hear it get quieter and quieter the further he got down the gravel road. You were taking in Eddie’s space, it was different being the guest in his home but you couldn’t say that you didn’t enjoy being somewhere new.

“Don’t get attested again?” You draw attention to Wayne’s statement. “You seemed to have missed that chapter.”

“Oh it was nothing.” He waves off. “Just got caught doing some graffiti when I was 17, no charges were actually filed.”

He lays back on his bed and sighs.

“You can sit, I don’t bite unless you ask me to.” He winks to you, moving over so you had some room.

Oh god. Is he flirting? It definitely feels like he’s flirting with you. Maybe you were overthinking it and he was being friendly? It was hard to tell with him.

“Is your high wearing off?” He blurts out a few minutes after you got comfortable in your new spot.

“A little.” You replied, sitting criss cross.

With that answer, he pulls out a baggie of weed from his bedside table and a box of wraps. You weren’t ignorant to weed, you just hadn’t tried it until earlier but you knew what things were. You watch as he grabs the rolling tray and sits it on the bed beside him. He grabs bits of the drug in his fingers and places it in the paper. You watch as he rolled the fresh blunt, licking the paper gently to ensure that none would fall out.

He plants a kiss on it like it was the most delicate thing in existence before placing it between his lips. He lights the end of it and inhales deeply, lifting his head to the ceiling as his blows it out, his neck was on full display for you. His hand reaches out, extending the blunt to you. You didn’t hesitate for a moment, you immediately grab it and pull it up to your face, dragging in a deep breath.

It was true when he said that it’ll get easier the more you do it, it didn’t sting your lungs nearly enough like it did a few hours before. You feel his eyes on you whilst you breathe out and hand him the blunt back. You continue passing it back and forth to one another, that relaxed feeling creeping back to you. You eventually lie down on your stomach facing Eddie, making it even easier to pass it between you two.

“My mouth is so dry.” You complain with a laugh. “But this is nice. I like hanging out with you.”

“I enjoy hanging out with you too.” He chuckles, tilting his head to the side after the blunt was finished. “You look good in my shirt.”

You bite your lip to hide your smile at the now obvious flirting. While you try to hide your appreciation for the compliment, you look around his room and spot an eyeliner pencil.

“Can I do your eyeliner?” You question, suddenly changing the subject.

“Go for it.” He approved.

You get off of the bed and waltz over to his desk, you grab the eyeliner in your hands and walk back towards him. You wiggle your eyebrows in a joking manner while he continues to lay on his back.

“I didn’t really think about this.” You mutter, trying to figure out a good spot for you to sit as you do his makeup.

“Let me sit up a little.” Eddie announced, scooting himself to a halfway seated position.

You sit in front of him and bring his face towards you in your hands, it still wasn’t easy to do his eyeliner without poking him in the eye. He noticed your difficulty and grabbed your legs, scooting you into his lap a little bit.

“This okay?” He verifies.

“Much better.” You smile sweetly, grasping his face in your palm again to guide him to you.

You order him to look up and he does just that as you cautiously place the eyeliner on his waterline. His hands sit comfortably on your back to hold himself up and prevent you from moving suddenly. You focus on the makeup not getting in his eye and he seemed to be focused on something else.

“Your lips are chapped.”

His statement immediately makes you lick your lips to give them some sort of moisture but it was no use.

“Yeah well I have cottonmouth and it isn’t helping.” You mumble, continuing to focus on his face.

“You need chapstick?”

“You gonna stop talking so I can finish this?” You remark lightly, looking at his face and seeing amusement written all over it.

“No, I think you need chapstick.”

His eyes flicker up to yours and to your lips, he quickly closes the gap between the two of you. You feel a sense of shock at first when you feel his lips pressed against yours, unsure if it was actually happening or if you had gotten too high and you were making it up.

He pulled away, his pupil blown once you make eye contact with him again. The feelings that you had felt all day, all of the butterflies, anxiety, excitement had hit you all at once again.

“I-I’m sorry.” He breathes after a moment, studying the expression on your face. “I didn’t know-”

You interrupt him by stealing another kiss once the reality of him kissing you first had set in. The eyeliner rolled out of your touch as you place your hands firmly on his face with your lips pressed against his. It felt right, almost like you’ve done this hundreds if not thousands of times before.

Truthfully, you had the biggest crush on him when he began to come around a year ago, though you pushed it away the best you could. You never stayed around him long enough or talked to him because you didn’t want him to find out about your attraction, but now it made you wonder how long he felt the way whatever this was.

“Whoa.” Eddie exhaled once you pulled away slowly.

“Um, yeah. Whoa.” You mimic, sliding out of his lap.

Your faces were a bright shade of red and you couldn’t contain your grins. You were able to clearly see your eyeliner job on him and he looked even that much cuter.

“So uh,” He clears his throat. “What adventure you wanna go on now?”

“What time is it?” You ask, he looks down at the watch on his wrist.

“8:30” He answered.

“The next adventure would probably be getting home before anyone suspects anything if Steve’s home.”

You saw the slight disappointment in his face but he wouldn’t make you stay longer. You both got off of his bed and walk into the living room, putting on your shoes and lacing them so you could get out of the door.

You wait for him in the passenger’s seat of the van, not sure of what was taking him so long to get outside. You glance in the rearview mirror and see Max and Lucas talking by the picnic tables, you curse yourself under your breath and you finally spot Eddie coming. He climbs in the driver’s seat, you sink farther in the passenger’s seat as he drives in hopes that they wouldn’t catch you.

“Small change of plans in our adventure.” Eddie says. “Forgot my dice at the school, I have to get them before someone throws them away.”

“Nobody’s there.”

“Well, we’ll sneak in.” He suggests nonchalantly. “Unless you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared!” You argue with a fake offended tone which made him laugh. “You know where they’re at?”

“Yep and I know exactly how we’ll get in.”

You didn’t ask any questions nor did you expect any answers for the time being, you were in for whatever he had planned. He drives through town, telling you different stories about the rise and falls of Hellfire and how easy it was to manipulate the other characters just by dice. Eventually he pulls into the school’s parking lot and drives to the back, parking as close as he could possibly get to a window.

“You got it?” He whispers below you as you crawl inside of a window.

“I think my jeans are stuck!” You whisper shout from above him, unable to move any further than where you were.

Your belt loop got snagged on a hook and you didn’t want to rip your new jeans but you had to get in and out of there.

“Push me!” You order, your feet kicking a tad in the air.

You feel his hands on your legs as he pushes you inside, you topple on the floor, letting out a silent ‘ow’ when you hit your head on the hard tile. You brush yourself off and move out of the way as Eddie jumps up, clinging onto the windowsill and pulling himself inside. He wastes no time to find where he had left the dice.

“It’s so dark.” Your voice echos down the hall, hardly being able to see Eddie’s own shadow.

“Just follow me.” He orders.

You keep quiet and follow him to the best of your abilities, finally reaching a classroom door. He opens the door quietly and walks inside, inching the corner of the room to a closet. You hear him pick the lock of the closet and the creak of the door opening was practically deafening. He walks inside and flips on a light, revealing where he held Hellfire. He looks around everywhere for the dice and they were nowhere to be found. You weren’t aware that he held Hellfire in the drama class’s prop closet until that moment, but it would explain a lot.

“Aha!” You hear him shout in a celebratory tone.

“Who’s there?” You hear another voice shout from down the hall.

You and Eddie immediately look at each other with a moment of panic until he mouths run. You both break out into a sprint, he grabs your hand so you don’t fall behind. The footsteps of the other person could be heard following you. You find the way you came in and jump out of the window, your ankles burning as you land on the hard ground and Eddie follows shortly after.

“Go, go, go!” He shouts to you, making you run for the van.

Once you were in the van and the coast was clear after he’d driven off, you burst out into a fit of laughter. The adrenaline from escaping and your high runs through your veins and he smiles when he sees that you had a blast. You were finally to your last adventure of the night, home.

He drives into the quiet section of your neighborhood and finally pulls into your driveway. Surprisingly Steve hadn’t made it home yet, but he usually came home super late when your parents were out of town. You both sit in the driveway for a few minutes in silence.

“Thank you for everything today.” You smile. “Do you wanna come in for a bit?”

He didn’t answer verbally, instead he turned off the ignition and pulled the keys out. You took it as a yes so you jump out and he followed you inside. There was no sign of Steve even stopping by the house, everything was exactly how you and Eddie left it that morning.

You go upstairs with Eddie behind you and you allow him inside of your room, closing the door to give him access to your entire space. You turn on your lamp and turn off the ceiling light, giving your eyes a moment to relax from the soft light. You lay on your bed with your face towards the ceiling, he copies you and lays the exact same way.

“I’ve gotta say, you didn’t disappoint me today, Harrington.” He says quietly.

“You didn’t disappoint me either, Munson.” You acknowledged, turning your head to face him.

He smiles and inches his face closer to yours, almost testing the waters like he hadn’t kissed you an hour prior.

“Do I need more chapstick?” You tease, he smirked.

“I believe so.”

The gap was finally closed again. He tasted like a mixture of weed and cigarettes, it was quickly becoming your favorite taste. His lips were soft against yours, your eyes flutter closed as the kiss lingers. What started off as a few small pecks transitioned to something more.

His lips move swiftly against yours, almost cautious as if he was worried that you might back away. You put more pressure against his lips, which signaled him that you weren’t backing away. He experiments a little bit by sliding his tongue against your bottom lip, you open your mouth to allow access to him.

His tongue slides into your mouth, clashing against yours without a fight. You couldn’t get enough of him, he sits up and hovers over you, not moving his lips from yours. You spread your legs to allow him to sit comfortably as he continues to kiss you. Your fingers tangle in his hair, tugging on it slightly which made a slight groan come out of his throat. You began to get wet just from the sound he made, the kiss growing needier from both parties.

You feel his hard cock press against you from his jeans while your tongues intertwine. His hand creeps up your shirt and lands on the soft fabric of your bra, squeezing your breast. His like trail from your lips to your cheek and down your neck, peppering small kisses to your exposed skin. You sigh in pleasure when he sucks the tender sweet spot right below your ear, leaving behind a purple bruise that would be hard to hide.

He pulls away from your body for a moment, tossing his shirt to the side of your room before helping you do the same. You reveal your black bra but you quickly reach behind you, unclasping it and throwing it to the rest of the clothes.

“Jesus.” Eddie groans deeply as he sees your tits for the first time, it was so much better than he had imagined.

He pushed you back down, making you bounce a little on your back as you grin. He looked at you with so much need and desire it was unbearable. He slides out of this jeans and quickly begins to work on the button and zipper of your jeans, leaving you in your red laced underwear. Your eyes fixate on his hard cock through his underwear, your mouth practically watering, but you knew you didn’t have much time.

“Steve should be on his way, yeah?” Eddie breathes from above you, you nod. “Better make this quick.”

He lifts your hips a little and he slides your underwear down your legs, sucking in a deep breath when he sees your wet cunt glistening in the light.

“Fuuuuck.” He draws out, “So pretty for me.”

His face hovers over your cunt, observing the slick you had collected within the past few minutes. He kisses your thighs, going up further and diving straight into your cunt. His tongue licks a broad stripe from your opening to your clit, you let out a soft mewl at the sensitive sensation.

Part of your brain was fighting with you, saying it was wrong because you hadn’t really known him for long and he was your brothers best friend, but the other side knew that it felt too good to bother fighting.

“Oh shit.” You gasp quietly while his tongue moves circles around your clit.

You swore he was some sort of professional, maybe even a pornstar, just by the way his tongue danced on your cunt. You hadn’t expected him to know exactly what he was doing because of the track record he has for relationships. Maybe he hooked up with girls after his shows at this hideout? Maybe girls from school? You didn’t care enough in the moment to figure it out, you’d ask him at a later time.

His lips latch around your sensitive bud and he sucks gently, releasing a moan from your throat and your fingers cling to his hair. You give an experimental tug on his hair, a guttural groan comes out of his mouth and it buzzes against your clit. You let out a moan at the extra sensation, his eyes meet you as his mouth keeps its place on your clot.

“You taste so good, baby.” He compliments after he pulls away. “Would love to taste you more but it’s only a matter of time until Steve gets home.”

He crawls back up to you and pecks your lips again, your fingernails rake against his torso. You reach to the side and open the bedside drawer, pulling out a book and Eddie immediately looks at you confused. You open it a little halfway through and pull out a condom, throwing the book to the side as you hand it to him.

“I honest to god had no clue where this was going.” He snickers, grabbing the condom.

“Well that was always my hiding spot for shit that I didn’t want my parents to find.” You explained with a grin.

He smirks before sliding out of his boxers, his cock on complete display for you to see and you were aching for him even more. He opens the foil with his teeth, spitting it into the floor and rolling the rubber onto his cock.

He slots himself between your legs, grabbing the base of his cock and swiping it between your folds, teasing you with a smug look on his face.

“Don’t be mean.” You whine with a pout, he mocks your pout.

“Aw am I being mean sweetheart?” He mocks. “If you ask me, I think I’m being pretty nice.”

“This isn’t called being nice.” You shake your head, he smirks.

“Oh I’m not being nice?” Eddie tuts, pushing his mushroom tip into you.

You whimper as he begins to stretch you out already.

“From the sounds you’re making, it seems like I’m being pretty damn nice if you ask me.” He chuckles, pulling his tip out of you.

“Please.” You plead, a spark in his eye was very noticeable when he hears you beg for him.

“Please what?” He pushes, a smirk spread widely across his face. “Oh, you want me to fuck you, hm?”

You couldn’t speak, you just nodded.

“I don’t know sweet girl, the thought of me fucking you senseless while your brother’s home is enticing.” He hums. “Maybe make you wait a little longer, have him wondering where we’re at while I’m deep inside you.”

His tip is pushed into you again, another whence being pulled from you body. It was absolute torture to wait like this but you were eating it up. You just needed him right then and there.

“I’m feeling quite generous, though.” His voice is deep and low as he pushes himself into you even further.

He sinks into you lower and lower until he finally reaches the hilt. It was a mixture of pain and pleasure as he stretched you out, he felt way bigger than he looked which was saying something because he was massive. He draws his hips back before slamming into you, causing you to cry out. He looks down at you to see if you were fine, you flash him a grin to let him know that you were perfectly okay.

His thrusts were slow and deep at first but once you had adjusted to his size, he picked up the pace. His hands grip onto your hips, his fingertips leaving behind bruises while his cock repeatedly hits your cervix.

“Fucking Christ baby, you’re doing so well for me.” He grits, watching himself slide in and out of you.

His hair and body is drenched in sweat as he fucks into you deeply, your moans blend with the sounds of Eddie’s grunts and your body crashing against his. Your fingernails sinks into his back, he pulls you even closer and lifts your legs slightly for even deep penetration. He locks eyes with you, your mouth parts slightly and your eyebrows furrow as his dick continues its hard pattern in and out of your cunt.

“Oh g-god Eddie, right there!” You cry out, your legs already beginning to shake while his thrusts continue.

His grunts grow louder and louder with each thrust, his eyes never leave yours unless it’s to look at himself gliding in and out of you. You ramble his name over and over like it was your personal prayer to god, you weren’t able to get enough of him. You were beyond addicted to him at this point like he was your lifeline. His thrusts begin to falter as he gets closer to his climax, you would be lying if you said you weren’t nearly there yourself.

“You look so beautiful being split open from my cock like this.” He growls, his harsh grip tightening on your hips. “You like when I fuck you like this? Hm?”

“Y-yes!” You squeal, your climax quickly approaching.

“Wonder what your brother would do if he found out.” He snickers, his balls repeatedly slapping your skin while his cock is buried deep within you. “What would Steve think about his little sister being fucked senseless by me?”

You couldn’t answer, no words were able to escape your lips, only the sound of your moans could be heard. He pushed for an answer, his hips snapping into you harshly only made it harder to answer.

“Oh my god Eddie!” You scream as you clench around him.

Your eyes roll to the back of your skull when your climax finally hits you. Your toes curl as your back arches off of the bed, a wave of pleasure floods through your body and you see sparks. Your legs shake uncontrollably while he continues to fuck into you, his climax quickly building up at the sight and feeling of your orgasm crashing through you. He tried to hold it back but he couldn’t, his hips slowly rut into you while he works his way through his own orgasm, hot white ropes of cum filling the rubber he still had inside of you.

He cautiously pulled out of you whilst you were both still excruciatingly sensitive because of your orgasms. He rolls the condom off and tosses it in the trash can that say in the corner of your room and cleans himself off before slowly putting his items of clothing on. Once you caught your breath and your body relaxed you put on a fresh pair of underwear and pajamas. He flashes you a grin and presses a kiss to your lips, you kiss him back immediately with a smile.

Just like clockwork you hear the front door opening and the sound of shoes walking into the living room. You and Eddie share a quick glance before trying to come up with something on the spot as an excuse for why he was in your room since you knew whoever it was had seen his van in the driveway.

“Quick, had me that screwdriver.” He points at the edge of your closet while he kneels in front of your bedroom door.

You do exactly what he tells you, handing him the screwdriver but unsure as to what he was doing. You fix you hair to make it lay over your shoulders to conceal the hickey he had left on your neck. You hear footsteps and walking up the stairs and come to a complete stop in front of your door.

“That should work better for you, don’t have to worry about it falling off of the hinges.” Eddie grunts, tightening a screw on your door.

“Thanks, I have no clue what happened.” You play along.

Eddie gets off of the floor and opens the door, revealing Steve standing in the hallway looking confused and almost concerned. You smile to Steve and thank Eddie for “fixing” your door.

“Everything okay?” Your brother questions, standing there with a hand on his hip.

“Yeah, my door just got too loose and fell I suppose.” You shrug.

“Uh, yeah. Alright then.” Steve states, his eyebrows still furrowed and he shakes his head. “Still plan on helping out during the party?”

“Do I ever say no?” Eddie chuckles. “See you around, Harrington.”

You nod graciously and they walk down the stairs, Eddie glances behind him for a moment and gives you a wink, the butterflies coming back again. You close your door and the day finally sinks in.

What have you gotten yourself into?

#eddie munson #eddie munson smut #eddie st4 #eddie x reader #joseph quinn #stranger things #eddie munson x y/n #eddie x y/n #eddie stranger things #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader

[heartthrobin]

amuse and romance me like you do

steve harrington x female!reader

wc: 12k

warnings: some swearing, idiots in love, jealous!Steve, slow burn(ish), they’re so in love it’s gross, neighbor!reader, Dustin Henderson being a little shit

an: i wrote this a while ago but i’m v proud of it :)

summary: you wanted to bring your videos back on time, you really did, but somehow the threat of a fine was worth it to see Steve Harrington's amused frown when you waltzed in late. besides, he was more than welcome to start fining you - but that meant he'd miss the feeling of how his body turned to goo when you gave him that little smirk, knowing you'd gotten away with it once again.

Summer in Hawkins was near unbeatable. The mornings were scorching, enough that the local pool was packed to capacity with screaming kids and nonchalant parents lounging close by - but by evening: Hawkins would cool to a warm breeze up over the roofs of suburbia.

It was almost six on one such balmy Thursday night, the wind slipping in through the open window as your mom's Toyota sped down the longest strip of road leading almost to the edge of town.

You loved Thursdays. Mondays and Thursday, actually.

They were the two nights you didn't work the evening shift and consequently the two nights Claudia Henderson attended bingo nights down at the diner on Maple.

She'd called you up, as she did every Monday and Thursday, just before five.

“Oh dear, won't you come watch Dusty Bun for the night? Just for a couple hours, I won't be late.”

She always was, but that didn't matter.

The Henderson's had lived next door for almost eight years, since Dustin was no taller than your knee.

"Of course Ms Henderson, I'll be there by six."

You'd agreed, like you did the week before and the week before that. You and Dustin were slowly making your way through the slasher horror section of the video store, promising to never mention it to his mother who would undoubtedly collapse in shock at the notion.

It's how you found yourself pulling with a loud screech and a lurch into the open parking spot right in front of Family Video.

The center parking lot was empty, spare for a red truck near the back of the lot that you were sure had been parked there for weeks.

There was a video store closer to your neighborhood, Mr Video, but going to find your flicks there would rob you of the opportunity to see Steve Harrington's exasperated expression when you slammed the video against the counter late, again.

You sold the bit by complaining that there wasn't as big a selection at Mr Video when anybody ever asked.

The copy you'd rented on Monday afternoon stared up at you from the passenger seat. A Nightmare on Elm Street: Freddy's Revenge.You grinned at it.

"Store policy, you need to bring the video back 48 hours after renting."

You were pushing it on hour 76.

Unfazed, and stomach sloshing with warm, soft excitement for your biweekly encounter with your favourite head of hair in Hawkins, you grabbed the movie off the seat and slid out the car.

The front door jingled behind you, alerting not only the woman standing in the sci-fi section near the window, but also the man behind the counter.

Steve looked up from where he was flipping through a three-month old TV guide, looking painfully bored.

When his eyes met yours, they flickered between expressions quickly before settling on unimpressed.

He leaned to push himself off the counter, glancing dramatically down at the watch over his wrist.

"Punctual, as always."

A grin slid over your lips, using the case of the movie in your hand to fan at the threads of sweat tickling down the side of your neck.

"Listen, I've got a real reason for bringing it late this time—"

He didn't offer you the chance to finish what you both knew was a lie. "And I'd love to hear it if I knew it wasn't bullshit."

You placed the video down onto the counter sliding it over to him, trying to look as nonchalant as possible while quietly soaking in the light freckles speckled over the bridge of his nose.

"What can I say, you know me too well, Harrington."

As was the curse of Hawkins High, you never knew Steve in your time there despite being the same age. He ruled blindly in his kingdom as King Steve while you gravitated in the outer-lying fields of friendship. It wasn't until his maroon BMW started to frequent the driveway between your place and the Henderson's that you were reminded - or in Steve's case, made aware of - each other's existence.

"A good thing too. I didn't have much of an idea where I was gonna go with that story anyways."

He rolled his eyes, but the curl of amusement at the edges of his lips was impossible to miss. A lick of pride bit at your beating heart.

"Right." He grabbed the video from the counter, dropping it into an unseen bin by his feet. "What're you and the little twerp watching tonight?"

Your chin fell into your hands, glancing over his shoulder at the Horror Section near the back of the store, not entirely ready to leave the desk for a proper look and risk losing the light waft of the Dior cologne drifting from over the countertop.

"We've finished the Elm Street stuff ..." you huffed, squinting to read the label off another bloody cover. "Sledgehammer?"

His nose crinkled at you, "Don't. It's shit."

Lifting your face from your hands, your head tilted up to meet his eyes. "Any suggestions then, Scorsese?"

A funny expression ghosted over his face and you watched as his bottom lip was sucked in between his teeth. You almost frowned.

"Well, uh," He fidgeted with a drawer behind the desk, "A new one came in this week, I thought you guys might—might like it so I held onto it for you."

His hand emerged with a blue and red cover on a video, setting it into the space between you - shrugging as far from nonchalantly as you'd ever seen from Steve Harrington.

Was he nervous?

Your hand closed over the copy and you tried to hide how your heart lurched when your fingers brushed over his.

"Slaughter High?" You eyed it, glancing periodically up between the cover and Steve's slowly but surely reddening face.

"I thought y—Dustin might like it."

He was right. It looked like the exact ratio of gore to cheesy plot-line that Dustin adored, that you mostly watched from behind your hands.

"Saving movies for us? This feels like a desperate attempt at gaining an invite to the exclusive Henderson Movie Night." You pressed lightly, watching as Steve's mood dissolved again into Mr Charisma.

"Please," he rolled his eyes, "if I wanted to be there I would. Besides, it takes only one little phone call to good old Claudia to end this whole little horror-fest of yours."

You gasped theatrically, pulling the film up to your chest, "you wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

Setting your hands back on the counter you giggled softly, "You blackmail all the girls that come in here or is it just the pretty ones?"

Steve's cheeks rung red again, you loved the shade on him.

"Just the pretty ones." It was accompanied by that smile you were sure could win Nobel prizes.

A tight pang echoed in your chest.

It was easy to tease him, to pretend for even a minute that maybe he could look at you with the same fondness that forced your eyes over the smile at the corners of his mouth, or the rogue strands of hair that stuck to his forehead in the Indiana heat.

What wasn't quite as easy was forcing aside the nauseous gurgle in your stomach when you noticed how the prettiest girls from every corner of the state would come to lean over the Family Video countertop just as you were doing now, pop their bubblegum in his face and send their cherry lipgloss smiles just to melt him all over.

They were his type, of course.

King Steve had always loved the princesses.

The AC unit wheezed loudly somewhere behind you, forcing you back to where you stood.

Steve was watching you carefully.

You couldn't help noticed how close your hands rested by his on the desk. If you just stretched out your index finger, his would be in yours. You pulled them back slowly, grabbing the movie as you did.

"It looks good," you smiled, motioning to the movie. "I'm sure Dustin's gonna love it."

Steve nodded slowly, "Great. Don't forget to bring—"

But you had already turned on him, half a foot out the door and laughing loudly over your shoulder, "To bring it back on time, yeah yeah I will!"

The door shut loudly, the jingle of the bell against the hinge echoing in the space you'd left. He sighed loudly, forehead coming down against the counter.

"You're pathetic, you know that right?" Robin's voice washed over him from where she had no doubt been lurking in the staff room, following the interaction with her ear against the door.

Not lifting his head, but rather shifting it to offer her a side eye, he groaned: "thanks for the vote of confidence, Robs."

The smell of burnt popcorn hit your senses like a truck when you pulled the door open to the Henderson household. You coughed against your elbow.

"Dustin!"

The teen peeked his head into the hallway from the kitchen, smiling sheepishly. "Hey, I'm just ... sorting out the snacks."

You gave him a sharp look before tossing the video onto the couch, "If you burn down the house your mom is never gonna let me come by here again, you know that right?"

"Yeah, yeah stop being dramatic." He called from the kitchen as you flopped back against the couch. Your eyes found purchase on the blank yellow wall above the television.

The image of Steve in that cute little Family Video vest swirled around in your brain and you were suddenly plagued by the question of how he tasted. Those puffy pink lips, when they twisted into an amused frown. You were sure his kiss would be minty, or maybe sweet from the Twizzlers that were constantly in his hands—

"What you get?" You jumped when Dustin fell into the spot beside you, a tub of nearly black popcorn in his lap.

You eyed it wearily, slowly picking up the video and flashing it in his line of vision.

The teen grabbed it greedily, almost tipping the tub over his knees, raking over the cover. "Hey! This is brand new, I heard Lucas saying that people threw up in the cinema because it's so scary."

He turned to you, "How did you get it? Everyone's gonna want their hands on this."

"It was Steve actually." You leaned over him to reach the packet of Skittles he'd discarded by the arm of the couch, ripping it open. "When I got there he said he'd held it for us, that you'd like it."

Dustin's eyebrows tightened, "That's weird."

"I think it was sweet of him." You sunk further back in the couch, trying not to look too dreamy eyed when Dustin's curious gaze worked over you.

"Ew."

You punched him lightly in the shoulder, laughing. "It's not like that dipstick."

The growing darkness allowed for the disguise of your reddening cheeks.

"Now go put in the movie before I make us watch Golden Girls."

Dustin stood to slot the video into the machine, the television lighting up.

It carried on like that for weeks, well into July and past the end of the Summer break for the high schoolers.

Family Video wasn't as busy as it was with the kids back at school, the hours dragged between shifts with seemingly endless rounds of Crazy Eights and rewatches of whatever romantic 60's flick Robin had chosen that week.

But come Monday or Thursday, Steve would linger excitedly near the counter. Robin would tease him, "you need to pluck up the balls and just ask her out".

He'd roll his eyes at her.

"I've told you, it's not that easy."

It wasn't.

Girls came in every day, leaning indulgently over the counter with smiles to pursue him - and he loved it, don't get him wrong - but somehow twice a week you'd skip into the shop with that grin that made his words fold over each other and his heart feel like it was beating from his throat and he couldn't remember the names of a single one of the others who'd slid their numbers flirtatiously across the desk.

He wasn't sure he was ready for the destruction your rejection would subject him to.

So around five o' clock every Monday and Thursday, when your beat up Toyota screeched into the parking spot in front of the shop, he'd beg Robin to keep her mouth shut for just five minutes and she'd shrug, grinning like the cat who caught the canary before mumbling, "Whatever you say, Casanova."

The door would jingle and you'd come bouncing in with your tank tops and denim shorts or sometimes with a skirt flirting at the tops of your thighs - the image of which would keep Steve up at night - and you'd lean over the counter with the overdue video in your hand.

Except one day you're pushing the door open with your hip, cradling a suspicious pink box, with the video balancing on top.

Steve perked up, tossing aside the Rubik's cube he'd been pretending to be busy with in the moments between you parking the car and stepping into the shop.

You slid the video across the desk at him. The Hills Have Eyes.

"Hi." You grinned before peering over his shoulder, "Hey Robin."

Robin glanced back from where she was restocking the snack shelf. "Hey."

"You know I'm gonna have to start charging you late fees for these eventually, right?" He picked up the video, no substance to his threat at all.

"I know, I know. That's why—" you set the pink box carefully up on the counter, "I've brought a peace offering."

Steve's eyes met yours, eyebrow pinching in confusion. "What is it?"

You rolled your eyes and Steve couldn't help notice the length of your eyelashes, how they fanned at your cheeks: "Well there's only one way to find out, smarty pants."

He lifted the lid of the box, allowing the sugary sweet scent to fill his lungs. Five pink and white donuts stared brightly up at him.

His eyes widened in delight and a warmth flooded his stomach at the thought of you going out to buy pastries just for him.

Steve's silence seemed to make you nervous, because you began speaking quickly into the space: "They're from the Yellow Piglet, you know the diner on Maple? They're really good, I didn't know if you guys were allergic or—"

"No, no." He cut you off, feeling his cheeks warming. "They look delicious."

Robin had apparently heard the commotion, or perhaps sensed the arrival of food - Steve always had a suspicion that her nose was too good to be human - and appeared at his side.

"Donuts!" She beamed, "For us?"

You laughed. "Yep, both of you look like you're not being fed at home. Thought I might thicken you up."

Maybe it was his imagination, but Steve swore he felt your eyes warm over his biceps after you spoke. His eyes flickered unintentionally to your hips, unable to stop himself from wondering if it was the donuts that helped you fill out the sides of those shorts so nicely.

Robin grabbed a pink one out the box, diving into it before moaning around the mouthful - crumbs dripping over her vest.

"This is the best thing that's ever happened to us at work."

She held it up to Steve, offering him a bite. He shook his head, but didn't miss how your gaze flickered between him and his colleague during the small interaction. Your shoulders deflated slightly and his stomach sank.

You coughed awkwardly, avoiding meeting his eyes again, "I'm glad you like them. I think they're worth at least another month's worth of late returns."

"A month? That's a bit generous isn't it?"

"Taste one and you'll change your mind, Harrington. I tried one in the car on the way here, couldn't resist."

His eyes found the two white sprinkles at the edge of your lips, evidence of your indulgence, and fleetingly wished he could suck them off.

Instead, he pulled out a heavily iced donut from the box and bit tentatively into it. Fuck. It really was good.

He tried to catch his sigh before it escaped him, he wasn't quick enough, but the amused smirk you sent him over the table was enough compensation for him to forget it.

"Fine," he mumbled around a mouthful. "A month."

"Great." You skipped past the desk over to the horror section, reaching up to the top shelf to grab The Hills Have Eyes II, while Steve's mouth watered around the donut over the stretch of thigh that peeked out from under your shorts as you reached. Allowing him to commit the image of the deep fold between your ass and thigh to memory.

That was before Robin dug her elbow into his side, meeting him with a stern look that said "you're being a fucking creep".

Before he could retort, you were back at the desk, flashing the cover at him. "I'll take this one."

He quickly typed in the name and you were on your way again, only the jingle of the door left behind and the light whiff of your perfume to plague Steve for the rest of the day.

Robin bumped his shoulder, starting on her second donut, "That one's a keeper, Harrington."

He couldn't help agree.

Besides Mondays and Thursdays, Steve also loved Saturdays. It was his one off day a week, also the day he'd take Dustin down to the Frozen Frenzy and buy him a tub of frozen yoghurt, allowing him to practically overfill the cup with toppings.

They'd drive from there to the park close to the Harrington household where they'd sit in Steve's car and he'd listen to Dustin ramble about how he hated his maths teacher or how Suzie was teaching him how to code on the computer while he sipped on a strawberry milkshake.

He was listening mostly attentively, eyes trained on the squirrel running up the side of a tree a few feet from the car, but perked up at the mention of your name.

"—she said there's a horror festival in Indianapolis in October and that we could go if I wanted. The guy who played Jason in Friday the 13th is apparently gonna be there."

Steve nodded as solemnly as he could manage, looking at the side of Dustin's face now.

"And... and you guys have fun together?"

Dustin scooped another mouthful of caramel yoghurt and sour worms into his mouth, nodding. "Yeah. She's the best: let's me stay up as late as I want, drives me wherever I wanna go. And she's funny."

Pulling out the straw to mix the remnants of milkshake at the bottom of his cup, Steve nodded again - trying to look casual when he opened his mouth again.

"Does she ever ... y'know, ask about me?"

Dustin's head whipped towards him. "Why?"

"What do you mean why, Henderson. She's ... she's cute I like her."

The curly hair atop Dustin's head trembled as he shook it, muttering vehemently "Oh no, no, no, you're not going for her."

"Why not!" Steve twisted in his seat to face the fifteen year old, "I treat girls well."

"Yeah," he scoffed, "for two and a half dates before you stop taking their calls. All you're gonna do is lead her on and then upset her when you get bored."

Steve's jaw slackened, taken aback by Dustin's scathing, yet mostly honest, review. "Jesus, tell me what you really think Henderson."

"Am I wrong?"

The straw of his milkshake became suddenly interesting again and Steve began to fiddle with it. "No, I mean not entirely, but I ... I wouldn't do that to her."

He could feel Dustin's heated gaze against the side of his neck, "I don't believe that."

"Listen, I ... I really like her, okay? I think she's cool." God, he never sounded this damn pathetic in high school. When did all of this get so difficult? "Just tell me, does she ever mention me?"

Dustin hesitated, "I don't know ... I guess she talks about you when she comes back from getting the movie every week. She said you're sweet."

Steve grinned, a familiar wave of confidence washing over him. "She thinks I'm sweet?"

"That's what I said."

He leaned back against the headrest, bringing his milkshake to slurp at it noisily. "Sweet. I can work with sweet."

That very same night, all the way across Hawkins: you were on the way back from work when your hand-me-down ride pulled to a spluttering stop just a couple miles from home.

Smoke billowed from underneath the hood and you knew better than to go prying beneath it.

After ten minutes of kicking furiously at the wheel and wiping away angry tears, you elected to walk half a mile to the nearest public phone, dropping in a quarter to ring up the mechanic two streets down from your neighborhood.

You didn't wait long. By the time you'd reached your car again and slid back into the driver's seat, turning up the evening radio, a tall white pick up truck pulled to a stop beside you.

Not that you'd been entirely sure what to expect of the man to step out the car, but you almost choked on thin air when the beast of a man climbed from the truck.

"Hi, I'm Ralph," he stuck a large, black-stained paw at you and you took it clumsily. "You must be ..."

You nodded, too embarrassed to attempt words just yet.

Ralph was tall, ginormous actually. He towered over you with big meaty shoulders covered in colorful ink and a thickset beard that wrapped over the borders of his face before dipping into the edges of the long mane of hair atop his head.

He smiled, with a brilliant white set of teeth too, before moving to work. He attached your pathetic car to the truck before offering you a lift home.

The car ride was short but Ralph was endearing, he asked what you did and sounded interested when you mentioned your job at the record store, you asked about his work as a mechanic and he laughed heartily at your dizzy attempts at jokes.

When the truck pulled to a park outside your house, he promised it would be sorted before Monday.

You thanked him, batting your eyelashes maybe a little heavily and offering a soft brush at his arm before beginning to move out the car.

He stopped you before the door shut, "Listen, I'd love to take you out sometime if you'd like. Maybe after you pick up the car, Monday night?"

Your eyes glossed dreamily, was this giant piece of smoking man meat really asking you out?

Wait.

Monday night?

Steve's freckled cheeks came sharply into the view of your mind's eye.

You couldn't do Monday, not when it's the only time you get to visit him—

The image of Steve was replaced by the gum popping, cherry lipgloss wearing blonde you'd seen him leave the local cinema with only a couple months ago.

Your stomach twisted nastily, but you fixed your face before Ralph could pick up on the inner turmoil.

"I'd love to."

Monday came quickly. Steve had spent the better part of the weekend working over what he was going to say when you came into the store. He picked out his favourite blue polo and spent an extra twenty minutes on his hair. He even slid a pack of gum into his pocket.

Robin teased and picked at him, but seemed glad at the prospect of a final end to all his pining.

"Thank god, maybe I can get a break from those pathetic googly eyes you have whenever she comes in here."

Nervousness ate at Steve all day, he tried to busy himself with packing away returns or alphabetizing the customers names on the computer but as the minutes ticked closer to five, he could feel the buzz on the surface of his skin.

"I don't know why I'm so worried about this." He muttered irritably over his shoulder at Robin who was sitting rewinding tapes on the floor, "I've asked out a thousand girls. Those all mostly went well."

"Yeah but you've never been scared that one of them was gonna say no."

Steve's knuckles tapped agitatedly at the counter. "Right. Whatever, but she's not gonna say no. I'm gonna woo her."

"Woo her?"

"Woo her."

As slowly as dripping honey, five o' clock arrived. Steve's eyes flickered between the door and the clock.

And just as slowly, it disappeared again.

Five. Half past. Ten to. Six thirty.

You'd never been this late. Twice a week for going on three or so months, at around five pm you'd step into Family Video. Into the view of Steve's googly eyes and churning stomach.

The sun was beginning to set over Hawkins, basking the little video store in an orange light that only served to make the yellow painted walls seem brighter.

Steve could feel Robin's little sympathetic glances at him from the back of the store and they were making his hair stand on end.

He chewed his bottom lip carefully, but there wasn't a rumble of even a single engine on the one road into the center.

After another ten minutes of tapping the counter loudly, he huffed and pulled the phone closer to him from down the desk. He slipped his wallet out from his back pocket where he kept a small list of important numbers, a list he'd been hoping to add yours to by the end of the day, and dialed up the number for the Henderson Household.

The phone rang six times before a resounding click echoed over the line and Dustin's unmistakable voice streamed through.

"Hello?"

"Dustin, it's Steve."

He could feel Robin's gaze on the back of his neck: "Oh. Hey Steve, what's up?"

"Listen, is— are you guys not having movie night tonight, because—"

"Oh, no we're not ... uhm, she's not here."

Something twisted nastily in Steve's stomach.

"What do you mean she's not there? Where is she?"

Robin approached him from behind, leaning up against the other side of the phone to try catch the snippets of conversation.

"She went out on a date, said I could stay home alone as long as I didn't tell my mom—"

"A-A date?" Steve choked and Robin gasped beside him, "a date!" she mouthed.

Steve could feel blood rushing to his brain and suddenly his fingertips were ice cold, the phone trembled for a second in his hand.

"Yeah."

He ran a tight hand through his hair, ruining in seconds the hairdo he'd spent almost an hour on that morning. He struggled for a words, "A date with who? How could you let her go on a date—!"

"She said it was a mechanic from I don't know, and what do you mean how could I? You didn't ask her out so what was I supposed to do!"

Steve barely registered the commiserative pat against his shoulder.

"Did she says what time she'll be back?"

"She's my babysitter, not the other way around. I don't know."

Steve sighed, dropping his forehead into his palm and pressing tightly against the sides of his forehead. "Thanks dipshit. Do you know what time they left?"

"Uh ... a big white pickup was parked outside at like three. I saw her get inside."

The tick of the clock pulled Steve's gaze towards it. Quarter past seven. Their shift ended at seven thirty.

"I'm coming over, I'll be there in twenty minutes."

The phone slammed back against the dial before Dustin could respond. He turned to Robin, who's eyes were wide in unease: like Steve was a wild animal that could attack at any moment.

"Come let's pack the last of this shit away, we're going to Dustin's."

The last of the videos were packed haphazardly onto the shelves, Robin wasn't even sure they were in alphabetical order and didn't dare mention when Steve put Sixteen Candles on the Sci-Fi shelf.

Within ten minutes she was thrown into the passenger seat of his BMW and Steve was screeching down Kilney Road towards Dustin's neighborhood.

It was dark by the time they pulled up. Steve marched up the driveway, barely attempting a knock before throwing the door open. Dustin leapt up from the couch where he'd been lazily channel surfing, the half finished pizza he'd bought with the money you'd left him sitting on the table.

Steve situated himself at the kitchen window, the one over the stove that looked directly onto your front yard.

"Steve, she could be still another couple hours." Dustin pressed, really just wanting to go lay back down on the couch.

"If she comes home at all." Robin quipped. It earned her a hard, hot glare.

"Jeez." She mumbled.

Dustin turned to look up at her, "I didn't know he liked her that much." He whispered.

"God, you have no idea," she sighed, "it's like watching a kicked puppy every time she leaves the store."

After a short-lived and futile attempt at consoling Steve to at least come sit on the couch, Dustin and Robin fell in front of the television.

The teen put on one of his old copy of The Fox and The Hound and Robin picked at the pepperoni on his forgotten pizza.

Steve sulked by the window. He periodically called back self-pitying remarks at them like "you could've at least told me you know, before I called!" every twenty or so minutes.

They generally ignored him.

"You think she'd make me a bridesmaid?" Robin asked Dustin offhandedly.

He shrugged, "She's cool. I'm sure if you asked nicely."

"Sweet."

The movie was drawing to a close near nine thirty - they could tell Steve had been watching from the doorframe of the kitchen when he gasped at the Fox being caught, but they didn't mention it - when the rumble of a truck echoed down the street outside the house.

"Henderson!"

Dustin and Robin perked up, leaping off the couch and skidding towards the kitchen where Steve was practically crawling over the stovetop.

A dirty white truck pulled up into the driveway outside your house before stilling.

"That's the one." Dustin whispered, leaning to turn off the kitchen light and avoid being spotted.

Steve was biting furiously at the insides of his cheeks, his eyes trained on the car.

The windows were tinted and despite the engine being off, there was no movement from the car. The lack of a visual was setting Steve on edge.

"You think they're making out?" Robin mumbled.

Steve didn't even look when he pinched her hard in the arm.

"Ow!"

"Hey, hey, look!" Dustin's forehead pressed against the window, forming round circles of mist against the glass.

The truck was big, but absolutely nothing compared to the man that stepped out of it.

"Holy shit."

Steve swore he felt the ground tremble when the man stepped out the car onto the pavement, tall as a house with enough muscles to rip down a billboard.

"What the fuck—" He squeaked.

The man was rounding the car, obviously to open your door. Oh, and he has manners too. Asshole, Steve though bitterly.

"He's fucking huge!" He turned to Robin, "How am I supposed to compete with Goliath!"

She spluttered, "I—"

"Look, there she is." Dustin was pressing a greasy finger to the glass.

Steve looked and almost wished he hadn't.

You walked beside the mountain man, smiling up at him in the prettiest little sundress Steve had ever seen. His knees buckled beneath him. It was short, hiding just the tops of your thighs, and covered in a green flower print that reached down to your wrists.

"Woah, she looks really pretty."

A heavy wave of self-pity sloshed around in the pit of his stomach, almost forcing up his lunch.

You looked pretty every day, beautiful, but the thought of you dressing up in a tiny little dress and the black eyeliner that he could make out all the across the yard for another man in a way he wished you would do for him was about to make him sick.

He'd probably dream about that dress for the next hundred nights. Maybe you had others, in different colours.

God knows what he'd do to you in one of them.

After the date he'd dreamed of taking you on, in the driver's seat of his car. He'd kiss you the way a girl as mettlesome as you is meant to be kissed, maybe pull you into his lap and run his hands all the way up those massive thighs, up past the edge of that dress—

"I don't know what to tell you Harrington. This isn't looking good for you, pal." Robin pulled him sharply out of his fantasies.

You and the mechanic neared your doorstep. Steve's heart clenched tightly in his chest. This would be around the time he himself would try for at least a soft peck.

"It's make or break now." Dustin whispered.

The pair stopped, your hand on the door as you looked up to meet the massive man's face.

Steve sucked in a sharp breath when he leaned his hairy face down closer to your level and thought he might faint when you pressed up onto your tippy toes to leave a kiss on his—

"Cheek!" Dustin yelped happily, "She kissed him on the cheek, that's good!"

Steve let out a long breath, a fraction of warm relief dripping into his bloodstream.

"Yeah, a cheek kiss is good." Robin nodded, arms supporting her against the stone countertop. "If she really liked him she would've kissed him properly."

Steve knew that Robin maybe wasn't the best person to offer any accurate commentary on a heterosexual encounter such as this, but he was too busy clinging to any sense of hope to bother mentioning it.

When he looked up again, the man was heading back towards his car and you'd already disappeared into the house. The three of them watched as the living room light flickered on in the distance.

Steve slid off the counter, dragging his feet towards the couch before falling back onto it - as if he'd just completed a half marathon.

Robin and Dustin squished in beside him.

"There's hope." Dustin said.

"Definitely hope." Robin concurred.

"Hope? Did you just see the same man I did? How am I supposed to compete with ..." he motioned vaguely over his shoulder, "he looks like a gladiator!"

"You just have to ask her out before their next date, if she even wants one!" Robin consoled, leaning over to begin picking at the abandoned pizza again.

"Yeah, he just took her on a date, he didn't propose to her. There's plenty of time."

Steve nodded slowly, allowing their wisdom to sink in - trying to ignore the fact that he was taking advice from a teen boy who's girlfriend lived across the country. "You're right ... there is hope."

An idea began to sink into his pretty little head.

The two on either side of him sighed gratefully. Dustin picked up the remote again, pressing play on the movie.

"Great. Now let's finish—"

"Invite me to your movie night." Steve turned to face Dustin, hands meeting the boy's shoulders.

"W-What?"

"Yeah, it's perfect! You invite me, I come over, then you make some excuse and then buzz off to Lucas' or something."

Robin looked affronted, cheeks full of dough, "We have work?"

"I'll call in sick." He waved vaguely at her. "Dealing with Keith is the least of my problems. Dustin?"

The teen's face twisted in consideration, "I... don't know how I feel about pawning my neighbor off on you."

"Come on, please?" Steve's tone dripped in sincerity, "I'll treat her well, I swear."

Dustin sucked in a breath, "Fine—"

All three of them jumped when the ring of the phone against the wall split into the room between them.

"That's probably her." Dustin remarked, climbing up off the couch again and quickly peeling the phone off the dial. "Hello?"

You sighed against the line, grateful that the poor boy was still alive.

"Dusty Bun," you teased, tugging unconsciously at the chain around your neck. "did you survive the night without me?"

He laughed a little against the line, "Yep. Everything is fine."

You smiled, a little bit sad that you'd missed out on your night with your favourite boy. "Hopefully not too fine, or I'll be out of a job."

"Right, sorry. What I meant to say was that it was barely survivable. You'll be here on Thursday, though, right?"

Leaning against the wall you nodded before remembering that he couldn't see you, "Of course. We need to finish Psycho."

Glancing out the window from your living room, you noticed the kitchen light off at the Henderson's. You plucked at the edge of your dress, the question scalding your tongue:

"Dustin, is Steve there?"

You'd recognize that maroon BMW anywhere, seen it already as Ralph pulled into your driveway.

You suspect that it was the reason you ducked to kiss his cheek when he was obviously intent on your lips.

"No!" Dustin choked against the other side of the line, "He's not—"

There was a scuffle on his side and you couldn't help grin, hushed voices echoed in the background and the phone rustled against what you could only assume was Dustin's shirt.

"Well, his car is parked in front of your house—"

"I mean yes." The boy's voice cut through the line again, "Steve and Robin are here, they came to check on me."

An uneasy feeling settled in your chest. Had Steve seen you and Ralph?

You shook the thought off firmly. Good, you hoped he saw you.

A part of you wanted to march over to Dustin's, to step in there looking as good as you did tonight. After you put effort into your hair and makeup, dressing a little bit up for the evening, and maybe parade a little bit in front of Steve but you knew it was only going to hurt the progress you'd made by accepting Ralph's date in the first place.

Steve Harrington was the King of Women in Hawkins and if he could have his pick of the princesses, you knew he wouldn't pick you.

You'd feel nothing less than sick to your stomach and end up crying into your pillow if you went in there and Steve didn't bat an eyelash in your direction.

"Okay good. Well then I don't need to come check on you, right? You should be heading to bed soon, there's school in the morning."

"Uhm, yeah I'll be fine—" He cut himself off with a groan, like he'd been hit. There was hushed murmurings before he returned to the line. "So, how was the date?"

Your mind flickered back over the evening, how Ralph came to pick you up, took you to a nice restaurant in town and made good conversation. Made you laugh.

He wasn't Steve, but then again, nobody was.

"It was good. Really good." You sighed against the line, from exhaustion or content you weren't sure. "I think I'm gonna see him again. He said he rides motorbikes, I told him how you said you'd like to try and he mentioned that he could take you for a spin whenever you want?"

"Ah, awesome!"

You giggled, "Yeah, I thought so too. You should get to bed, bud. I'll drop you at school in the morning if you like? To make up for my absence?"

"Sure."

Even biting your lip couldn't help the words that slipped, "Tell Steve I said goodnight. A-and Robin, tell them both."

"Will do. Night."

The phone clicked loudly against the dial and you pushed off the wall, beelining towards the stairs.

You took an extra long shower, hoping that Steve and Robin would leave in the time you were busy so you wouldn't be tempted to watch by the window from your room.

They did.

The shutters blocked the last of the light from the street when you dropped them against the pane, steeping the room in darkness.

You sighed loudly before sliding into bed, pulling a pillow closer to your chest.

The night had been nice, it really had. Ralph was sweet, he was doting and made noises at all the right parts in your stories. Yes, maybe he was a little boring, not many of his interests aligning with yours.

He spoke about cars and motorbikes and you tried to be interested, the fact that he was willing to entertain Dustin was attractive in its own right.

At the end of the night, before you climbed out the car, he'd asked if you wanted to go to a movie on Friday night. You'd agreed.

He wasn't Steve, but he was nice. And for God's sake you wanted to be treated nicely for a little bit. Was it so wrong to just want to be looked after? To hold someone's hand and have a warm body beside you when Winter inevitably crawls over Hawkins?

The thought was enough to let you close your eyes and slip off into sleep, allow you to pretend that Steve Harrington doesn't matter.

The days that followed were good. Ralph rang the next night, just to check up on you, your car was finally cooperating again and your shifts at the store had been as entertaining as they came.

You'd put Steve's existence firmly out of your mind until you pulled into Family Video at nearly five-fifteen on Thursday afternoon.

Hesitance rumbled through you. Your hand wavered on the door handle, but a tugging in your stomach gave away how excited you were to see him again. To be able to tease him over the counter.

Deciding that making it fast was the best course of action, you climbed from your car and slipped quickly through the entrance, the familiar light jingle pooling your chest in warmth.

Robin's big eyes glanced up at you from where she was examining the contents of a packet of gummy bears.

"Hey, you." She grinned.

You couldn't help how your eyes swept over the store, in desperate search of a moussed and quaffed head of brown hair.

"H-Hey Robs." You pulled your attention back to her.

"Well don't look so disappointed, it's just little old me today."

Passing the counter you offered up as genuine a chuckle as you could muster.

"I'm never disappointed when I see you, Robin," you called over your shoulder, glazing over the horror section to find Psycho II on the top right corner. You swore every time you came in looking for a movie it ended up being on the topmost shelf, always needing to ask Steve for help or just embarrassingly reach at it from your tippy toes.

"Where's your partner in crime?" You hoped you came off nonchalant as you turned back towards Robin, sliding the movie over to her.

The amusement dripping from her smirk was slightly unsettling. "Oh, he had other plans tonight. Ditched me."

A sharp sting plunged through your chest. There's only really one reason why he would abandon Robin in the shop alone.

"Let me guess, that little brunette I saw in here last week wooed him into taking her to see Pretty in Pink tonight?" There really wasn't another feasible reason for you to ask, Robin would likely probe and you shouldn't care, but you just had to know.

"Wooed him?" She laughed, taking you by surprise. "God, you guys are made for each other."

Your head nudged to the side, squinting. "W-What?"

She shrugged you off, "Never-mind, but to answer your question: yes, something like that."

Both ideas tugged at each other for the space at the front of your brain. What is Robin talking about? versus So Steve really is out with someone tonight?

Jealousy twisted hotly through your veins, as if you had any right with Ralph coming to fetch you for your second date in less than twenty-four hours.

In the couple seconds you'd been preoccupied by your thoughts, Robin had already rung up the movie - offering it back to you. "Here you go."

You smiled lightly, "Thanks Robin, I'll ... I'll see you around."

She nodded, smirk dripping in mischief. "Have fun with little Dusty Bun."

The drive back to your street was distracted. The thought of Steve making out with a girl in the back-most row of the cinema during the end credits was enough to almost make you miss the red light on the corner of Walnut and Oak.

Your head was so wrapped around your five minute interaction with Robin in the store that when you stopped at Dustin's house, you marched straight past Steve's car without even noting it's presence.

The cool air from the blasting air-conditioner blew straight past you when you opened the door.

"Dustin!" You called into the house, bouncing down the corridor, desperate to put Steve Harrington out of your mind: "Are you ready for Psycho?"

You began making obnoxious gestures, pretending to be stabbed by imaginary knives from different angles in the abdomen and faking loud grunts of pain.

You rounded the corner to where you could make out the curly topped head of your kid neighbor over the back of the couch.

"Oh, Norman, stop—!"

Staring up at you from the very same couch was just the man you'd intended on pretending didn't exist: Steve Harrington.

"Hey," he grinned at you, making to stand. You blinked down at him, lips frozen around your words.

For god sakes, did he have to make everything so hard by looking so fucking good?

His hair looked fluffy, like it had just been washed - not too much hairspray that it stood very tall, but rather so a couple strands were allowed to swoop down to hang over those warm brown eyes that were looking expectantly up at you and a dizzying yellow sweater that made his skin glow.

"Steve," you sighed. "Hi."

Dustin cleared his throat awkwardly, "I... I invited Steve to join our movie night, if that's fine?"

Steve grinned.

It took a couple seconds to process Dustin's response before you considered them playfully, "Sounds like Harrington is slowly working me out of a job here. Should I send in my application to Family Video now or later?"

Sooner or later you'd have to make peace with Steve's company. Ralph or no Ralph, Steve Harrington was high on the roster of Dustin Henderson's favourite people and if you intended on keeping your substitute little brother around, you were going to have to keep your feelings in your back pocket until they slipped quietly out of existence.

"Maybe wait 'till I resign." Steve chided, "I figure by the end of the week I'll be the full-time nanny here. Claudia already adores me."

You tossed the movie at Dustin, scoffing.

"Go put it in before I leave both of you to have your play-date alone. The nerve of you two ..."

He nodded, shifting off the couch towards the player.

A neat pile of snacks was waiting against the coffee table in front of the couch, you couldn't help notice all the favourites you'd usually pick when you stopped past Family Video.

You slid off your shoes before crashing against the edge of the couch, intentionally as far from Steve who had situated himself in the dead centre.

Dustin returned, taking the opposite end of the couch. You observed him curiously, noting the large gaps between each member on the couch - but said nothing on it.

"So this is what you're ditching work for, Harrington?" You mentioned absently, slowly turning Robin's words over in your mind as you reached for a bag of Twizzlers.

Yes, something like that.

"Yep. I couldn't turn down such a prestigious invitation." His hand dug deeper into the Doritos packet, "Wanted to see if you're actually watching the movies I give you, or you just come past to flirt with me."

A hot red blush raced up the sides of your neck over your cheeks, you didn't look at him - instead trying very hard to focus on the loading television screen. You pulled hard at the piece of your candy with your teeth, chewing slowly.

"In your dreams, Steven."

A shrill ring pierced through the room against the hum of the opening credits. Dustin jumped up quickly, "I should get that—"

Behind you, you heard the phone lift off the wall.

"Hello?"

There was quiet, you'd paused the movie while you waited for the call to end - only the loud munching of Steve's Doritos to distract you.

"Really?" Dustin sounded dramatically excited, your eyebrows pinched curiously at him. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be right over. Bye."

The phone was slammed haphazardly back against the wall, you looked at Dustin confused.

"What's happening?"

"It was Lucas, he said his mom just bought him the new Legend of Zelda. That I could come over and try it out."

You glanced slightly sad between him and the television, "What about the movie—?"

"You guys can keep watching. I'll watch it when I get home, I won't be late." Dustin's eyes clouded with an emotion you couldn't quite make out.

But your duty was to babysit him, not imprison him, so you nodded slowly, "O-Okay sure, have fun I guess."

Dustin was out the door quicker than you anticipated. He grabbed his backpack from his room and the door slammed behind him.

"Guess it's just us." The sound of Steve's voice startled you.

You turned to face him, nodding carefully. "Sure ... do you want to keep watching or, if you don't want to I can head—"

"No!" You jumped at the volume, he chuckled nervously and he reached a tentative hand to your arm. "Sorry, I mean, no ... I'd like to keep watching. With you. If you want to."

Starting to laugh, you shrugged at him, "Sure, but I have to warn you that I'm a really bad movie talker. It drives Dustin nuts."

He visibly eased, "I'm sure I can handle it. Robin's the same."

The movie was clicked back on and you chewed on a freshly opened pack of sour worms loudly.

You commented on the most obvious of moments, pleased when Steve giggled at you - also somewhat puzzled because you definitely knew you couldn't be that funny - and recoiled back into the couch when bloody guts would splatter across the screen.

"I mean, how dumb do you have to be!" You yelled obnoxiously at the television, as if the woman on the screen would turn from entering the obviously dangerous house.

"You know she can't hear you, right?"

Settling back against the couch, you huffed. "Whatever. She's going to die anyways."

The sun had long since disappeared out in the street, the neighborhood lit by the street lamps. Dustin must have been gone an hour already because cool evening was creeping in through the floorboards and the hair on your naked calves stood on end. Although, you couldn't entirely contribute that to the temperature when Steve was sitting less than a foot from you.

You side-eyed the tin of Pringles in his lap. "Can I have some?"

"Come get it."

The sentence pierced a hole in your chest and you felt momentarily breathless. Steve's smugness was radiating off of him in waves.

Trying to avoid meeting his face with your blushing one, you shifted over towards him. "Asshole." You mumbled, dipping your hand into the can before focusing back on the television.

"You're welcome." He nudged you with his elbow, making you suddenly aware of how close he was next to you - his thigh pressing hotly against yours.

A slash of metal splashed ruby red blood across the screen and you flinched back against him, giggling. "Dustin's gonna love this."

"Especially when he realizes they've shown boobs twice now."

You dug your index finger into his ribs under where his arms were folded over his chest. "You're so gross."

"Hey!" He winced from your prodding, "Breasts are one of the few great pleasures in life."

You looked back at the screen, pretending to be unbothered. "If you wanted to see boobs, Steve, you could've just asked."

The breath Steve sucked in was loud. A short silence followed it.

"W-What?"

You glanced up at him, working hard to hold down your smirk, "Why so shy, Stevie?"

It was Steve's turn to blush hot red over the bridge of his nose and up to the apples of his cheeks. The laughs slipped broken from your lips, you wheezed in breaths between them.

"I'm—I'm sorry, I'm just joking Harrington." Your head was tilted back again to match his gaze. He was smiling sheepishly.

"Was starting to get my hopes up there, it's not fair to tease people." His attempt at a counter-strike was weak and you brushed it off.

Your giggles softened, holding his gaze. "I'm sorry, but the look on your face was priceless."

Steve didn't reply, but his eyes were holding yours. Suddenly everything except him felt very far away. You'd never seen the spots on his cheeks from this up close before.

"You've got a nice laugh, has anyone ever told you that?" He whispered, as if divulging some secret.

Despite feeling very exposed with Steve's eyes raking over the edges of your face and down the length of your nose, you couldn't look away.

"You're the first."

A warm hand closed over the skin under your right ear and he sighed when your lips just barely brushed over his.

He tilted his head down to pull you against him when a shriek echoed from the television and you jumped back in fright.

Steve's heart sunk. You've got to be fucking kidding me.

You sat back: eyes wide and alternating between him and the screen.

"Uhm, sorry..." Steve coughed awkwardly and you shook your head, avoiding his gaze.

He glared up at the woman on screen as if she could actually feel his irritation towards her, but still felt a swelling pride in his chest that he'd gotten you so close against him, practically in his arms as he'd dreamt for weeks.

Somehow though, he swore he could feel you buzzing against him, that you wanted it as bad as he did.

Now, you were sliding back down to your original spot at the end of the couch - face bright red in the dim light of only the lamp across the room. "No, it's ... it's fine, I'm sorry." You were speaking more to your chest than to him.

The image of Ralph standing on your doorstep appeared in his mind like a blinding vision. How you'd dodged his lips, instead planting a kiss on his cheek.

You'd just done the same to him.

God, when is this movie gonna end ... Thoughts swirled around Steve's head. He folded his arms carefully.

Did this have something to do with the mechanic? Or did he really just stand no chance with the girl that's been plaguing his dreams since the day he met you?

The air between you was thick. Steve let it permeate while the movie played in the background. It brought him small joy to know the woman who'd screamed earlier and crushed his dream, had just been murdered.

You were quiet, but he could still feel your flickering gazes against the side of his face. He wondered if maybe you were reading his thoughts through the side of his head.

Curiosity nagged at him.

"I didn't see you in the store on Monday." He tried carefully, unable to ignore the itch anymore.

A smile curled at your lip and Steve was suddenly glad he decided to speak. You turned to meet his eye, "Did you miss me?"

"Desperately."

Your smirk stuttered, unsure about the honesty of the response. "Well, I skipped babysitting on Monday. I was out ... I-I went on a date."

"Oh, okay. That's ... nice?" Steve tried to sound as if it was the first time he was hearing this information. "I mean, was it? Was it nice?"

You nodded quickly, very quickly.

"It was nice. Very nice, actually. He's taking me to the movies tomorrow night."

Steve's stomach sank. He had less time than he thought. Maybe that's why his mouth began to run faster than his brain.

"You like him then?" He pressed, "Doesn't look much like your type though."

The words settled into the room. Your eyebrows pinched, turning in your seat to look at him. He could already read the questions forming in your head, biting down on the corner his lip and was slowly realizing that he'd said the wrong thing.

"M-my type?" You asked, "I don't— wait, when did you see him? When did you see Ralph?"

Ralph.

Steve stuttered, scrambling for a way to explain his story in a way that made sense without admitting that he'd been spying on them that night. "Robin and I saw him on Monday night, when we ... when we came around."

"So then you knew where I was on Monday? Why did you ask?"

"Oh, I didn't think you would be on a date ... I thought maybe he was a friend or something." The second he saw your face, he knew he'd only made it worse.

"Right, because I don't go on dates. I can't possibly." You seemed to be growing more offended the more you unwrapped his answers. "And my type? Since when do I have a type? What in your opinion is my type, Steve—"

"I don't know!" He was stumbling now, grasping at straws. "You went out with Jackson Gillespie in high school..."

"And what does that mean?"

Your face was red again, but this time you weren't blushing. The twist in your expression was dripping in hurt.

"Well compared to your Ralph they ... they look nothing alike!" Words were slipping from his lips like water through his hands, too fast for him to consider before they're gone. "He looks like you found him in the forest, like ... like a grizzly bear or something!" 

"And who, in your high and mighty opinion, Steve, am I supposed to date?" You guffawed, not a single trace of humor dripping from your tone. "You get to run around with any Ms America lookalike in Hawkins because they're all in love with you, and I'm not allowed to go on one date with a very good looking man who actually shows interest in me!"

"Oh please," he was scoffing now and a little voice at the back of his mind was warning him that he definitely shouldn't be. "As if you don't see how men fall over themselves for you. You skip around town in your cute little skirts and your smart mouth—"

"Like who?" It felt like your eyes were burning a hole through his skull, he'd only just noticed the way your eyes were beginning to well up - fat pools of tears hanging onto your waterline. He felt sick. His tongue stuck immediately to the floor of his mouth. Like me!

"And even if that's true, which it's not, what do you expect me to do? Sit around and wait for them to find the balls to ask me out?"

The room was sweltering.

"Okay, wait—"

But it didn't stop you.

"The only person I was willing to wait for has his pick of any Barbie in the state of Indiana, and it will never be me. But I'm not waiting anymore. I can't be stupid forever."

A heavy tear had broken loose and was running down your cheek.

He squinted, wait. Were you talking about him?

The silence was broken by a wet sniff and the shuffle as you went to stand.

"I-I'm gonna wait for Dustin at home." You were whispering now, he barely caught it.

Steve called your name softly, but you didn't turn. Only the sound of the front door shutting remained after you fled.

Steve sat back against the couch, sighing loudly and running both hands through his hair.

How had the conversation gotten away from him so quickly? A pang of guilt resounded in his chest. He shouldn't have insulted the mechanic. Or implied that you don't go on dates. Honestly, he wished he'd just pulled you in to kiss you even after the interruption.

Maybe if he had, he'd be lying with you between his arms right then instead of occupying the couch alone after sending you home in tears.

The old bed frame creaked when you fell against it.

You tore open the sheets in darkness, the pursuit of light abandoned as you crawled beneath them. Pressing your face against the pillow did little in muting your gasping hiccups, you could still hear when Steve's car pulled out the driveway next door and raced off down the street.

Screwing your eyes shut, you worked to dissolve the image of Steve's confused face from your head.

After less than a half hour, the throbbing against the side of your head had grown to unbearable. You reached blindly in your bedside drawer, lifting out a rattling bottle of pain medicine and swallowing two tablets before crashing back against your mascara stained pillow.

Morning arrived hot after a long night of restless tossing.

You would've stayed in bed until the evening, but the sweltering heat forced you from the sheets and declared you face your reflection in the bathroom mirror.

The house creaked around you, empty and alone as it stood most days. Thoughts tormented you, embarrassment tore through you every time your mind wandered to the night before.

You couldn't believe that you'd lost your cool on Steve like that.

Nausea was a constant companion as you tried to move through your day. Sickened by how you allowed yourself to think there was a sliver of hope for reciprocation when he almost kissed you. Clearly you meant nothing more to Steve than any of the other girls who batted their eyelashes at him.

At some point in the afternoon, you phoned the Henderson house. Claudia answered and you stuttered your way through an excuse for calling.

"Dustin said he wasn't feeling well last night ... I just wanted to check if he's okay?"

"Oh, well he seemed fine this afternoon. He just left for Mike's house, I'll tell him you called."

It took a whole twenty minutes after you'd hung up with Dustin's mother, standing at the phone, that you decided to call up Ralph. 

"Listen, I'm really not feeling well today ... yeah, could we do a rain check on the movie tonight?"

"Yes, of course. Maybe next week sometime?"

You couldn't see Ralph that day, not after what happened in the Henderson living room. Your forehead pressed against the wall beside the phone and you sighed loudly.

Dustin was going to be upset. You'd abandoned him to ride his bike to school and ruined what was a perfectly good friendship with someone he cared for deeply.

By almost seven o' clock, the time which Ralph was intending to pick you up, the couch had practically swallowed you whole.

The jingle from the television hummed against the rumble of the cars heading home, you watched only half-attentive - pajama clad legs splayed over the edge of the chair.

The first knock made you shift slightly, only partially sure you'd heard anything at all. But when a second rang through the corridors, louder, you were forced up from the couch.

You were sure it was Ralph. That he hadn't taken the hint, decided to come past anyways, and when your hand closed over the doorknob you were completely ready to feign a cough and kindly nudge him away.

What you weren't ready for, however, was to face Steve Harrington staring down at your across the doorframe.

Your breath caught in your chest, freezing over.

"Hey." He said softly.

Maybe it was your hopeful imagination, but his eyes looked tired: like he also hadn't slept at all. He was in his green Family Video vest and your gaze fell to the small bouquet of pink roses swinging at his side.

"Hey."

He noticed your gaze, lifting the flowers to look at them as if he'd only just noticed them. He dropped his arm back to his side.

"At work," his empty hand fidgeted against the side of his jeans, "they take off fifty cents from my salary for every movie that's returned late and isn't fined."

Your shoulders sank guiltily. "Oh."

Steve tried to ignore the way the look on your face made his head spin. He came on a mission. With a plan. And a pre-planned dialogue so he wouldn't fuck it up again this time.

"But I-I don't fine you, I've never charged you for a late movie ... you're the only person in the whole of Hawkins that I don't fine because of the —that fucking face you make when you know you've gotten away with it again. The way you smile, that full-of-shit smile, it makes me forget my own name."

"Steve—"

But even your eyelashes batting up at him couldn't pull him from his pre-rehearsed lines.

"And I lied. Last night. I knew you were on a date with Rick—"

"—Ralph—"

"Whatever. When you didn't show up at the shop, I phoned Dustin's house to ask where you were then he said you were on a date and I freaked out," The smile creeping up onto your face was only spurring him to keep talking.

"So Robin and I drove over and we were spying on you from his kitchen window."

A gap opened into the space that had gotten smaller since he'd started talking. He sucked in a deep breath.

"So," your voice was soft and lined in that smugness Steve loved so much. "What you're saying is that ... you were jealous? And spying on me?"

"Yes, because you make me crazy." He took another tentative step forward, hoping to inch the crevice between you and him to nothing. "And that guy is really scary looking so I'm really hoping he's not gonna be arriving soon to beat me up, because if I thought I was gonna lose you to some twig from the video store, I'd also kick my ass."

You fidgeted nervously, Steve couldn't help find it endearing, chewing on your bottom lip like you didn't know what to say - a rare phenomenon for your generally smart mouth.

You gestured towards the roses in his hand, "Those for me?"

He lifted them up, nodding slowly.

"Yes." Steve took your hand gently, passing them into your hold. "I came to ask if you wanted to go out on a date with me ... because I think I'm falling in love with you."

The smile curling at the edges of your lips and the way your eyes were twinkling made Steve wonder if he was even awake or if he'd dreamt you up.

"You're very chatty tonight, Steve. Can tell you've got lots on your mind."

He shifted his weight from his one foot to the other, his previous admission still hanging in the air. "Is that a bad thing?"

You shook your head.

"Not normally, but right now I wish you'd just shut up and kiss me."

Steve didn't need telling twice. He cupped your face between his palms, pulling you all the way against him so the roses crushed between your bodies - but he couldn't find the tiniest bit within him to care.

Your lips were warm. So warm. He concluded that the nights he'd lain awake imagining what they'd feel like came nothing close to the hint of spearmint and buttery popcorn against your tongue.

You whined softly against him, hand running up to curl into the hair at the base of his neck and Steve knew immediately that he wouldn't need another kiss from another faceless town girl for the rest of his life.

Still lapping softly at his bottom lip, you began to mumble against his mouth - eyes still screwed shut, Steve was pleased to note - "I'm sorry for losing my shit at you last night ... I was also jealous of all your little girlfriends from the video store. And I promise to make up for the money from the videos ... I'll pay for the first date."

His grip around your waist tightened.

"First off, any girl that's not you doesn't matter. Secondly, shut up about the money - if that's what it cost to get a date with you, then it was worth every cent."

You pulled off of his lips, blinking earnestly up at him. "And when you get bored of me, Harrington?"

He scoffed, a preposterous implication.

"That's not going to happen." His fingers curled between yours, tone twisting sarcastically: "I don't know if you heard me earlier - you might not have because you kind of haven't addressed it and it’s stressing me out - but I did say that I think I'm falling in love with you—"

"I think I'm falling in love with you too, Steven."

A grin overtook him, closing in to kiss you again. "You sure? Not just saying that so I'll shut up and kiss you again?"

Giggling, you nodded. "Pretty sure. Only love can make you look this attractive in a Family Video vest."

#steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington #steve harrington oneshot #steve harrington fanfiction #Steve harrington fic rec #Stranger things #Dustin Henderson #fic rec #fic recommendation

[jo-harrington]

Standard Operating Procedures 1.04 (Eddie Munson x Store Manager!Reader)

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Summary: The summer is ending, school is about to start, the seasons are changing...and so are things between you and Eddie.

Previous Part: Corrective Action

Warnings/Themes: AU where the Upside Down doesn't terrorize Hawkins. Reader works at the Claire's at StarCourt. Eddie works at TapeWorld. Mutual Pining and Slow Burn, Fluff, Food/Eating, Talks about the Future, Romantic Tension/Sexual Tension

You can find my masterlist here for more featuring our resident Store Manager and all of my other writing.

Please do not interact if you are not 18+.

Enjoy!

---

Eddie had always had a sweet tooth.

His mom swore, up and down, that her only craving had been for Zebra Cakes when she was pregnant with him.

His favorite food as a baby had been mashed peaches.

And now he was sure his body was chemically composed of more Dr. Pepper than water.

So it should have been no big surprise that he was so attracted to you.

Ahem.

So it should have been no big surprise that he would have planned a snack cake taste test extravaganza for your usual Sunday Not-a-Date Date.

You'd revealed early on that your grandparents were both "in the sugar business."

"My grandpa," you told him once as you walked through the mall window shopping on your lunch. "Worked the chocolate chip line at the Maurice Lenell bakery."

"Are those the fancy cookie tins--"

"That they sell at Christmas? Yes."

"Wayne always gets one with his holiday bonus," Eddie reminisced. "The pinwheel ones with the red sugar on the outside are my favorite."

"And my grandma worked at the Hostess factory," you continued. "She always always brought home boxes of rejects. I probably would have been too shy to make friends at school if they hadn't flocked to me for baked goods."

Because of this though, you had never fraternized with the enemy, as Eddie so dramatically put it: Little Debbie.

"And now," his gaze turned dark and mischievous as he threw open the doors to the van. "You shall feel the full power of the dark side."

He outdid himself, truly.

Piles of snack cakes from the gas station, sorted into two neat little stacks, a little notebook for scorekeeping, and a 6-pack of Mountain Dew as a palette cleanser.

“You keep saying,” he said as you settled in amongst the pillows and blankets he’d set up in the back so you’d both have a cozy spot to snack. The radio was softly playing in the background. It was nice. “That you wanted to drink the water in the mall fountains. Did you know that Mountain Dew is the closest you’re gonna get?”

You’d both run garbage late one Wednesday night and thrown coins into the fountain on your way back to your stores. And that’s when you’d revealed your deepest darkest secret.

“Because they’ll both probably kill me in the end?” You joked.

“No, because Bromine is in both.”

“Ok nerd.” You snorted.

“Not…a nerd,” he shoved you as he plopped down beside you. “But I did this project for chemistry class last year. On Mountain Dew. And how it gets that color. And it’s also how they keep the fountain water clean. Or pool water? I can’t remember exactly right now.”

“Ok nerd.”

“I’m sorry,” he clutched his hand over his heart. “My lady wanted to taste only the finest of fountain water. And I deliver her the closest thing and am openly mocked? Twice?”

You stuck your tongue out at him and slapped his shoulder, then asked what the rubric was for the taste test.

And then you snacked til you made yourselves sick and did what you always did, balanced conversation and companionable silence.

That was a new thing. The silence.

Not for the two of you, but for Eddie.

He wasn't used to silence, he was used to loud music, noises and raucous laughter and adventure--real or fantasy--with his friends, but since the two of you started hanging out, he was getting used to the silence a little more. Enjoying it. Savoring it. Looking forward to it.

The anticipation of waiting for something wonderful--thoughts or observations or confessions--coming of your mouth made him feel warm inside.

Eddie had pondered your friendship earlier in the day as you'd run in to let him know you couldn't take lunch together.

"There's this crazy long piercing line and I'm just running to get a slice of pizza and then going back up. I'm so sorry, I'll see you after work ok?"

Your energy was frantic and your words faster than lightspeed, but your eyes were filled with concern and care for him. The little hitch of your eyebrows and the extra pause you took so you made sure that he understood that you weren't ditching him you just...couldn't do lunch and didn't want to leave him hanging.

Even when everything was falling apart around you, you cared to make sure he understood.

It was nice.

And it wasn't just you. But it was nicer when it was you.

He didn't get a lot of understanding like that. Especially not in Hawkins where his last name and his appearance caused everyone's hackles to raise a little. And even the people who did want him around...well it was hit or miss if they decided to stick around.

But since working at StarCourt, things had been different. He had a boss and coworkers who liked him, inside jokes with people who worked at other stores. He had you. He wasn't Eddie The Freak Munson. He was Eddie from TapeWorld. And Eddie from TapeWorld seemed to help people warm up to Eddie Munson.

What a weird concept. People wanting him around. Coming to StarCourt and being around people who accepted him and valued him...understood him. He'd only felt that way with Hellfire...and with Corroded Coffin.

People were good and people liked him. A sweeter treat than all the Hostess in the world.

It had been a few months now; a few months of an actual job, a consistent crush friend, and everything seeming to look up for him. Give or take a few minor hiccups but...he was feeling good.

And school was starting soon, maybe this would be the year the tide turned? No more waiting for the future to finally happen for him; he was making things happen for himself.

It might finally be his year...

"So," he leaned over, into your personal space, and fished a folded piece of paper from his back pocket. "Kyle gave me this thing yesterday."

"Oh yeah?" Your eyebrows raised in curiosity as you happily munched on a sugary treat.

He'd spiraled a little bit when he'd been handed the sheet. Three little words at the top.

Schedule Change Request.

Way back at the beginning of summer, after the initial shock that he'd gotten the job at TapeWorld, he figured he was just counting his days until he was fired and that the start of the school year would have been the final nail in the coffin if he made it that far.

Instead Kyle was...asking him to stay.

"I’m probably not gonna be able to give you as many hours with school,” he sighed. “Which is a real bummer. But I’ll put you on as much as I can."

"You're not kicking me out?" Eddie asked, shocked.

"What? Are you nuts? Ed, you're like...my best guy! I need you here. Selling those guitars, getting those sales bonuses. And because you're my buddy. So make sure you put your for-sure days off on there...you know I'm gonna forget.”

He explained it all to you, which led to you cackling loudly.

"Oh my God," you laughed. "Eddie!"

"What? I know it's silly."

"No, I'm not laughing because of that," you began. "My first position at Claire's had been a summer job too and I seriously thought that I was gonna get fired once school was back in session."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. And it's a real thing because no one tells you that you're done when summer's over. You're gonna see come Christmas, Kyle will have to hire seasonal associates--and hey, ok...seriously if Gareth or Dave come asking for a job...it might seem fun...but don't--and he'll have to make sure they have end dates on their paperwork otherwise it's a whole thing."

You went on and on about helping your old manager with paperwork and you'd forgotten to put an end date as you were filling everything out. And then someone's mom came to complain at the end of the season when their kid was let go.

"And she kept screaming and screaming. And that's why I have a strict parent policy at work. Even though I'm the reason that got so fucked up; trial by fire. Jen was pissed."

Eddie reached out and unwrapped your hand from the Sno-Ball that you had crushed as you told the story. He adored it when you got so animated, but the poor little pastry was now just a mess of crumbs and frosting and marshmallow goo on your fingers and now his as he plucked the half-destroyed treat from your grasp.

And the thing was...

The thing was, Eddie wasn't...he was decidedly not smooth. He was gross. He was a gross boy. He hacked loogies and did spit handshakes with the guys all the time. He had no five second rule when it came to food dropped on the floor; it was an optical inspection and then usually straight down the gullet.

He could be romantic and seductive if he wanted to be; he could charm the...ahem...pants off some people if the need arose. And he had.

But that wasn't this.

This was a caught up in the moment of having a good time with his friend and doing what he would have done if one of his buddies crushed a snack cake. He'd be his usual gross self and expect them to groan and screech and laugh at him. Boys will be boys and all.

This was a too little too late moment of realization as he, Eddie Munson, lacking the foresight of having napkins in the van for this little snack cake taste test since he usually wiped his honey-bun-icing slick hands on his jeans after he unhinged his jaw and shoved it in on mornings when he was running late, saw no other way to clean sweet frosting off your hand except to lick it off your thumb.

The van suddenly got smaller and hotter as his tongue traveled up the pad of your finger, over the ridge of each joint and to the center of your palm. His eyes traveled up to meet yours as he flicked the sweetness off of you, and his breath hitched when he saw the way your eyes widened.

How was he supposed to deal with this? How was he supposed to handle this epic potential fuck up right here? How was he supposed to stop his brain--and maybe some other parts of him--from wanting to take the hand that gently held your wrist and pull you closer so he could kiss the sugar from your lips and not just...

Lick it off your hand.

Jesus, he was an idiot.

Caught between a rock and a hard dick.

Hard place. Fuck.

But that was the conundrum right? Because Eddie did want to kiss you; he enjoyed kissing...a lot actually, and it would be...nice if all of these dates were actual dates so that he could just kiss you and squeeze you and all of the nice things that came with...having someone who liked you back. So he didn't have to shoot Kyle a dirty look every time he teased "have a nice lunch with your girlfriend" knowing fully well that it was exactly what Eddie wanted.

He'd heard the spiel many times when Kyle had come back from his own lunch and then stood over Eddie as the younger man unpacked shipments, and told him, flat out, hands on his hips "you just need to ask her out man I'm getting sick of this."

And the guys had teased him a bunch.

And Wayne kept asking when you were coming around again.

Well this could be it.

A horrible start to asking a girl out on a date but wouldn't that be a funny story, and Eddie really did like a funny story.

This is. This is the moment.

Eddie opened his mouth to say something and so did you. You both backed down from actually saying anything. Eddie's hand tightened on your wrist and he was sure he could feel your heart beating faster. And was that you leaning a little closer to him? And did your eyes look at his mouth as he licked over the seam of his lips really quickly for courage.

He opened his mouth again...

Courage. He could do it. This was gonna be his year, and you were gonna be his girl.

...and then slammed the broken remains of the SnoBall in.

Quite literally slammed, shoved, fingers flailing as he tried to smoosh the chocolate cake and pink-coated marshmallow and remnants of frosting inside.

He let go of your wrist and then backed away from you as far as he could.

Idiot.

You let out a nervous laugh and looked down at your messy hand. You tried to use a discarded wrapper to clean yourself up when Eddie just...pulled off the flannel that he'd layered on to help wipe you off instead.

Like he probably should have done in the first place.

You didn't say anything, just smiled gently at him, like you always did. Always patient. Always forgiving of his mistakes.

What had you even been talking about before?

Oh...right.

"Note to self," he muttered around the SnoBall. "Never becoming a manager."

Your eyes crinkled a little as your smile got bigger and you grabbed onto the front of his shirt and shook him a little.

"Save yourself!"

The rest of your evening went by unremarkably.

You both got too hyped up on sweets and Mountain Dew, ran a few circles around the van in the StarCourt parking lot, headbanging and screaming, after Eddie threw on a tape he said the two of you could dance to. Then to Dairy Queen where you soaked up all the sugar with chili cheese dogs.

An otherwise normal Sunday for the two of you.

Mishap forgotten.

Nerves forgotten.

Misplaced feelings...forgotten.

For now.

---

Next Part: Standard Operating Procedures 1.05

#store manager verse #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fluff #Eddie munson fic #stranger things fic #stranger things Eddie munson #Eddie munson headcanons #eddie munson imagines

[j-onedrabbles]

First snow

❄︎ PAIRING: HAN X READER ❄︎ CW: DAD!JISUNG, FEM!READER, FOOD MENTIONS, ❄︎ WC: 1.2K ❄︎ NOTE: I got carried away…

     Winter was a wonderful time. Snow falling, hot chocolate all the time. 

     Jisung had a couple of days off from work and it was cold out. Naturally, he insisted on doing something with his family. 

     “You want whipped cream on yours too baby?” Jisung asked his two-year-old.

     “Yeah! And marshmallows!” She said as she did a little dance in his arms. 

     “What are you two doing?” Y/n asked walking into the kitchen, having just woke up 

     “Daddy made hot chocolate!” Soo Yun exclaimed 

      “He did?” Y/n asked, walking over and kissing her daughter on the cheek before kissing her husband's lips

     “Morning pretty,” Jisung smiled

     “Ew,” Soo Yun said

     “No more hanging with Uncle Hyunjin,” Y/n told her daughter

     “Go sit at the table baby. Daddy will bring you your hot chocolate.” Jisung set his daughter down on the ground

     “With marshmallows!” She yelled as she ran to the table. 

     “With marshmallows,” Jisung repeated as he put whipped cream and marshmallows on all three cups of hot chocolate 

     “What do you want for breakfast baby?” Y/n asked her daughter 

     “Hot chocolate!” She answered 

     “Need something else. Mommy and Daddy have a surprise for you,” Jisung told her as he set down the mug, telling her to be careful

     “Surprise?” she asked

     “Mhmm. We have to drive to it though,” Y/n joined her at the table and handed Jisung his mug.

     “Why drive?” she asked, not daring to pick up her mug and drinking up the hot liquid 

     “Because it’s far away,” Jisung told her

     “Should mommy make pancakes for breakfast?” Y/n suggested

     “Yeah!” Soo Yun smiled with a whipped cream mustache on her top lip.

     “Pancakes it is.” Y/n smiled as Jisung pulled his phone out to take a photo of his daughter. 

     Y/n got up with her mug and started on the pancakes. Jisung made sure his daughter didn't burn her mouth or spill the cup. And tell her not to pick the marshmallows out. 

     Y/n made enough for the three of them as they sat at the table eating breakfast. Soo Yun scarfed down her pancakes no matter how many times her parents told her to slow down and chew. Blaming her excitement to go to her surprise. 

     “I’ll get her ready,” Jisung offered and cleaned up their plates. 

     “Dirty! Dirty!” Soo Yun showed her dad her syrup hands. 

     “Lick it off,” Jisung suggested

     “Han Jisung,” Y/n warned him. 

     She did lick her fingers, not hearing her mom. Jisung took her to wash her hands and get her dressed. Y/n took care of the kitchen and checked on the two. Soo Yun argued with her dad about how she didn't want to wear her boots and wanted her sandals instead.

     “Babe,” Jisung sighed looking at his wife 

     “It's cold out baby. You want your feet to get cold?” Y/n asked

     “No…”

     “Put on your socks, baby.” Y/n went to get dressed and pack their bags. 

     “She’s playing till we leave,” Jisung said as he walked into their room.

     “She gets her attitude from you,” Y/n told him as he wrapped his arms around her

     “You and my mom tell me all the time,” Jisung said

     “Go get ready,” Y/n kissed his lips to send him off.

     Jisung got ready while Y/n grabbed all their snow gear. Having bought new ones for her daughter and put them by the door. 

     “Where we go?” Soo Yun asked

     “Would it be a surprise if I told you?” Y/n asked her daughter 

     “No,” her daughter replied, “I bring goka?” No matter how much Jisung tried to get her to say quokka, she still couldn't.

     “Yes, but he has to stay in the car when we get there.”

     “Okay!” Soo Yun agreed as Jisung came down dressed

     “I’ll go put everything in the car,” he offered as he slipped his shoes on and took everything out, packing up. Y/n helped their daughter put her toys away and let her grab her quokka before they put their shoes on and went out to meet Jisung. Car on and warming up. Y/n got her in her seat and Jisung locked up their house.

     Y/n put a movie on a tablet for her daughter since the place they were going was about two hours out. Didn't stop her from talking about it the whole drive. 

     Jisung kept his child entertained while driving them to their destination, his wife's hand in one of his the whole time. Music playing low in their car and Jisung singing along.

     “Look out your window baby,” Jisung called to his daughter in the back

     “Snow! Mommy snow!”

     “Yeah? There snow outside?” Y/n asked

     “Like like the video with daddy and uncles!” 

     “Less aggressive,” Jisung mumbled.

     The family pulled up to a small resort and parked the car. Jisung grabbed the snow gear out of the back while Y/n unbuckled their daughter.

      Jisung handed her Soo Yun’s snowsuit and accessories to get her dressed. Zipping her up and pulling her hood up. “You look so cute!” Y/n said as she kissed her daughter’s face, just making her giggle.

     “Come on, let’s go get your snowshoes,” Y/n picked up her daughter and brought her to the trunk. 

     “Look at my baby!” Jisung squealed 

     Y/n smiled as she set her down on the edge and got her snow gear on while Jisung put her shoes on. Once all three were ready, Jisung locked up the car and the couple walked their daughter through the snow— which seemed like a difficult task with her little legs.

     Eventually, they got to a little corner and Soo Yun took to the snow easily. Jisung rented a small sled and took her down the slopes on it—holding onto her tightly— as Y/n recorded it. Taking photos here and there.

     The couple teaching their daughter how to build a snowman. Y/n did take a moment of that to make a snowball and give it to her daughter to throw at her dad. Capturing a cute video of her running as best she could in the snowsuit, holding the ball of ice in both hands before reaching her dad and throwing it at him as best she could.

     Jisung just grabbed his daughter, held her close and kissed her red cheeks while Y/n sent the video to her uncles. Helping finish the snowman and then letting her play with it while they stood by. Jisung grabbed some photos then turned and pulled his wife in for some selfies. 

     “This was a good idea,” Y/n said as she kissed his cheek, leaning into him more for warmth.

     “I vote to make it a family tradition,” Jisung said as he slipped his phone into his pocket.

     “I like that idea,” Y/n smiled

     “Also think we should have another baby,” Jisung added

     “You miss when she was small, huh?”

     “She’s talking and walking! Soon she’s going to be in school and what am I going to do?!”

     “We’ll talk about it later babe. Enjoy your daughter's first snow for now.”

     “Mommy I’m hungry!” Soo Yun yelled

SERIES M. LIST ❄︎ MAIN M. LIST ❄︎ TIP JAR

TAGLISTS ❄︎ @starlostastronaut @want2besomeoneelse @aylinbsx @143lix @princesspanda16 @manuosorioh @delulu18 @shaylaxo @chillichillicrabcrab23

© 2023 jonedrabbles. Please do not copy, translate, or republish my works anywhere.

#: ̗̀➛karmic writes #𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪 twelve days of fluff {skz holiday event} #stray kids x reader #stray kids #skz x reader #stray kids fluff #skz fluff #stray kids x reader fluff #skz x reader fluff #han jisung x reader #han jisung x reader fluff #han jisung fluff #han x reader fluff #han x reader #han fluff

[thefallennightmare]

Miracle-seventeen

Pairings: Noah Sebastian x Reader

Warnings/Tropes: forced proximity, slight enemies to lovers, slow burn, smut, angst, fluff, mentions of death, and swearing.

Summary: Reader is the merch girl for Bad Omens. It wasn't what she wanted to do with her life but when her mother got sick with Alzheimer's, reader took a job where she could to help with the costs. She thought it would be a one-time gig but the longer she was on the road with them, the harder she fell for Noah Sebastian; even if he wanted nothing to do with her. She needed a miracle to save her mom and her future.

Author Note: To be honest, I wanted a bit better birthday shout-out to Noah. But the day got away from me so that'll have to do.

Tags: @ada-clarence @nonamessblog @thescarlettvvitch @malice-ov-mercy @crimson-calligraphyx @theoneandonlykymberlee @yumikitten @blackveilomens @cherrymedicine13 @thebadchic @notmaddihealy @jay02bo @beaker1636 @jakekiszkasguitarpick @punk-pr1ncessxoxo @er3nslovergirl @iamdesolate @lma1986 @jessitpwk @themodern-daywednesday @writethrough @bngurngheart @dreams-that-are-anwsered @loeytuan98 @omens-in-reverse @loverofagoodbeard @jay02bo @niicoleleigh

Alone.

Lonley.

Comfortless.

That's what I was. No one to turn to in my time of desperation. No one to comfort me when I was seconds away from a breakdown. No one to pull me out of the darkness that I was so close to succumbing too. The pain was eating away at my heart, gnawing and scraping at the part of my soul that I fought so hard to protect.

Both parents dead.

A brother that didn't care for a relationship with me, only wanted whatever our mother left him.

An ex that hurt me with the things he said. Yet my heart yearned to feel his warm embrace around me, to feel his adoration-filled gaze drink me in. To feel his lips on mine again even if it's one final time.

"Now I believe Y/N has some words to say."

My heavy eyes lifted from my hands that were placed in my lap as I stared blankly at the man on top of the stage next to my mother's casket. He was rambling on about how wonderful my mother was and the life she had created with my and her husband. I nearly vomited in my mouth at that, being one of the few that knew the truth. Everything my mother created was a lie; me included.

I noticed Lana turn her head towards me as she sat in the pew to the right of me but refused to meet her gaze. The small room in the funeral home was packed with everyone who knew my mother but yet, I sat alone in the pew in the front row in front of the stage. It was common in a funeral that the first pew was reserved for the immediate family of the one that died and I was the only one left, hence why I was alone.

No one left but me. What's the point of this anymore? It is even worth it?

A large hand squeezed my shoulder from behind and when I gazed at it, a small tattoo of black angel wings came into view, along with the large array of other tattoos. Peering up farther, I noticed Noah nodding towards me with a face full of concern.

"Angel," he gave my shoulder a squeeze.

I had to blink a few times because I almost forgot that he was here along with Folio, Nick, and Jolly who sat with him in the pew behind me. Turning around even farther, I saw Bryan, Matt, Davis, and other members of the crew that I worked with sitting in the surrounding pews. My cold heart suddenly felt warm and full at the sight of all of them here for me.

"Miss,'' the man on the stage spoke again. "Do you have any words you would like to say about your mother?"

Fucking loads.

Noah gave another squeeze to my shoulder. "You know you don't have to, right?"

"I know," my voice came out broken. "But if I don't, what would these people think?"

"Since when did you start caring about what other people thought of you?," he asked with the corner of his mouth turning up slightly.

I never did until Noah snaked his way into my heart and soul. Now the only person I cared about what he thought about me said some of the most hurtful things ever to me yet here I was offering his comforting touch and gaze. Was I pathetic for allowing him to do this? I told him to stay out of my life and meant it. But the second I saw his bright brown eyes, I nearly melted into him again; like I always did.

Noah was a vice that I couldn't quit no matter how bad it might be for me.

"Uh," I cleared my throat while turning back to the man on the stage. "I don't think I will. We can move on."

He nodded before he told the guests that now they can come up row by row to offer their condolences once more before we headed to the cemetery for the burial process. Once that was finished, we would head back to my house for the wake where I would have to be a proper homeowner and welcome these strangers into my home so they can ramble on about how much my mom meant to them and how they'll be sending me their thoughts and prayers.

A bunch of bullshit. No one knew the truth.

"Dear, you should stand so you can thank people for coming," Lana said as she came to stand in front of my pew.

Numbly, I nodded while slowly standing to my feet. This was the last thing I wanted to do but knew I had to. It wasn't so bad with the first few people who came to shake my hand but after the sixth 'I'll keep you in my prayers. She was a wonderful woman' I couldn't take it anymore and felt my knees about to give way. Until strong arms wrapped around my shoulders to keep me upright and a soft voice cooed in my ear.

"I'm right here as long as you'll let me."

Noah looked at me with pleading eyes and for a moment, I let the anger I felt for him subside and allowed him to stand with me as person after person came by to do the same shit the one before them did. It fell on deaf ears the longer it went on.

Noah still had an arm around my shoulder, fingers grazing over my arm, when Lana came up to me once the last person offered their condolences.

"You must be Mr. Sebastian?" She looked at Noah with stern eyes.

He nodded. "You can call me Noah."

Lana gave him a long once over before turning her gaze to me. "I'm going to head back to the house to make sure everything is set up for the wake. Do you need me to get you anything?"

"No, I'm okay," I gave a small smile to assure her.

"You make sure she makes it to the cemetery then back to the house?" Lana asked Noah.

He pulled me closer into his chest and I wrapped myself around him, letting his warmth quiet the voices in my mind.

"Of course."

The cold October air chilled around my ankles as I stared down at the now filled grave. The crowd of people were slowly dispersing to head back to my house; all but four. They stood behind me as they let me take all the time I needed before leaving.

One the way to the cemetery, I rode with the guys in Noah's car sitting in the passenger seat while he drove. Silence filled the entire car as his hand rested on my knee, his gaze bouncing to me every once in a while. I never once looked in his direction or removed his hand from my knee. The voices in my mind screamed at me to push him away, to tell him to go fuck himself, but I couldn't listen to them; I refused to listen to them. Noah was exactly what I needed right now and if I pushed him away, I was afraid of what I would do.

He hurt you. How can you forgive him for that?

Because he came. He's here right now even knowing I'm pissed at him. Even when I told him to stay away.

But how long would he stay? The Europe tour starts in a few weeks, without you.

I forced the negative thoughts of out my mind with one long, deep breath, to focus on the good. They were here now, and that's all that mattered. But that didn't mean I was ready to completely forgive Noah yet.

"Hey," a hand grasped mine. "You ready?"

Looking over to Folio, I gave him a weak smile. "Is it bad that I don't feel the need to say something?"

He shook his head. "Not at all. You're still full of all that anger. Once it clears, you might find the need to say something. But take your time with it, don't rush the grieving process."

"You guys didn't have to stay," I said while looking behind me to see Jolly, Nick, and Noah still standing there.

Noah gave me a warm smile. "We're not going anywhere, angel."

My heart fluttered but before I could respond, movement over his shoulder caught my gaze and I stilled.

James stepped forward with his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "Alright, which one of these guys is your boyfriend? Or is it all of them?"

"I told you to stay away," I scowled while standing my ground against him.

"You can't keep me from our mother's grave, Y/N. I'm not going anywhere until I get what I'm owed," his eyes sliced into me.

Folio shared a look with Noah, who immediately stepped right up next to me to place a hand on my lower back.

"You alright?" He asked me.

"This is James, my mom's other kid," I introduced, not daring to call him my brother.

James looked between Noah and I, a questioning light beneath the darkness of his eyes.

"So, you're the boyfriend," he muttered.

My lips parted but Noah was first to answer. "I don't see how that's any of your business."

Hearing him not deny James' observation made something twinge in my gut and heart flutter.

"Well," James motioned towards me. "I have some private matters to discuss so if you'll excuse us."

When he reached for me, I reared back behind Noah, who immediately stepped up into James' face.

"Unless Y/N wants us too, we're not leaving," Noah said.

"We have nothing to talk about, James. I already told you that my mom didn't leave you anything in her will. The only thing she left besides her mounds of debt was the house," I spoke over Noah's shoulder.

"I find that hard to believe."

I scoffed. "Why do you care so much? You're clearly doing fine money wise. What could you possibly want?"

"The house will sell pretty fast, great turn around and profit." James shrugged. "But of course, I need you to sign it over to me."

Before I was willing to give him the house for free but now knowing he was only wanting it for the money, I refused. Yes the house held all the bad memories of my mom but it also held the memories of where I grew up with my father; the one who raised me even after knowing the truth.

"I'd rather chew glass," I spoke through gritted teeth. "If my mom wanted to give you the house, she would have."

A muscle in James' jaw ticked. "You probably coerced her."

"How?! She had Alzheimers!" I snapped, voice raising to echoing levels. "I couldn't even get her to remember who she was, let alone have her sign the house over to me! Maybe if you were in her life more, she would have given you something but you only show up when she dies. Like mother like son, huh?"

James made a move towards me but Noah pushed a hand into his chest to stop him in the same moment Folio and Nick stepped beside. Jolly remained behind me and the four of them boxed me in to protect me. Never in my life have I felt more cared for and looked after than this moment right here.

"Stay away from Y/N," Noah threatened.

"Or what?" James scoffed. "Is she worth all this trouble?"

"She's worth more than you'll ever know," he didn't miss a beat.

"There's nothing left for you here James. The house isn't worth anything and for the sake of our mom who's buried beneath your feet, leave me alone. You've been in my life for less than a week and it's been fucking miserable. Do me a favor and go back to Texas. I'd give anything never to see you again.," I said defeated.

Everything from the past week suddenly caught up to me and I wanted nothing more than to go back home and crawl into bed. Except my house was filled with people I didn't want there. The only ones I wanted were standing around me.

James gave us all a glare before spitting at Noah's feet and walking away while calling over his shoulder. "Careful what you wish for!"

I couldn't help but snicker at his words. "How ironic."

Noah's back tensed with anger as he watched James intently walk to his car before driving off. I placed a gentle hand on his back which caused him to look down at me. The fight we had was suddenly fleeting away from my mind and the only thing I wanted was to move past it; of course, after we talked about a few things. I wasn't ready to jump right back into a relationship but maybe take things slow.

"You didn't have to do that," I said.

He shrugged while stuffing his hands in his pants pockets. "Let us know if he bothers you again, alright?"

"Okay," I nodded.

Deep down, I had this gut wrenching feeling that this wasn't the last time I'd be seeing James.

Jolly motioned towards the car. "Ready to head back home?"

Home.

It sounded so weird. Going back home to a metaphorically empty house. After the wake, everyone would go back to their lives while I stayed stuck in the empty void of my life.

"Do you think anyone would noticed if I snuck upstairs into my room?" I asked as we all walked towards the car.

Nick laughed lightly. "It's whatever you want to do Y/N."

"I'd rather lounge on my couch and watch movies while eating my feelings away with pizza and ice cream."

"We can make that happen," Folio said once we reached the car.

I shook my head. "You guys don't have to stay. I bet you're all exhausted."

Noah, who remained quiet the entire walk to the car finally spoke. "We're not leaving you, angel. As long as you'll allow us, we're staying."

I knew he had more of a meaning behind those words than the others.

"Can you guys give us a minute?" Noah spoke to the others.

When they nodded, I let him lead me a few feet away so we could talk in private. My heart was thudding so loud in my chest I thought it would burst through like those face huggers in that one Alien movie. A part of me had an inkling idea of what he wanted to talk about and I wasn't sure if I was ready to have this conversation yet.

"I know this might not be the best time but I wanted to apologize; for everything."

"Noah-," I sighed.

"No," he interrupted. "I've already waited to long to apologize. I should have came after you that night you left but I was dealing with my own problems and issues and took it out on you; our relationship. It was wrong of me to say those hurtful things to you and bring up private parts of your life in front of anyone else. I'm an asshole and deserved that slap."

"Can I be honest?" I bit my lip.

When Noah nodded, I continued. "I was mad at you, furious, at first. I wanted nothing to do with you and I thought I'd be fine without you but seeing you here today made all of those feelings for you rush back in. The ones I felt when I first started to work for you. Through the darkness of my life the last week, you were a light I never thought I'd need. It sounds stupid, I know, but it's true. All of you guys showed up to be here for me when you didn't need too."

"Stop saying that, angel. You know we would do anything for you," Noah said.

"I know," I nodded. "Some might think I'm a pushover for what I'm about to say but I don't care; it's what I feel is right. I forgive you, Noah. Can you promise me one thing, though?"

Noah reached for my hand and linked our fingers together. "Anything."

"Promise me that if you have an issue about something dealing with me or my friendships with the guys, we'll talk about it like normal humans?"

"Deal. Now, can you promise to talk to me about things that are bothering you," he playfully shot back.

"Deal," I gave a soft smile.

I could practically see the weight lift off of Noah's shoulders but I still had more to say that could ultimately ruin everything.

"I also don't want to rush into this again. Would it be alright if maybe we take things slow? I've got some things I need to sort out with my mom's death and some things with my past. I'm not saying completely ignore each other but I think, for now, I just need some more space. I still want to see you but not officially. But I'm not saying to see other people cause that's not what I want. Unless you want to, then I guess that's fine. I don't want to make you wait for me. If that makes sense."

I was rambling, nervous that he wouldn't understand where I was coming from. Thankfully, Noah understood because he laid a soft kiss across each of my knuckles.

"Take all the time you need, angel. I can wait for years if I gotta," Noah smirked.

I playfully smacked his chest. "Cheeky, aren't we? Using your own lyrics as a pickup line?"

Noah began leading me back to his car with our still intertwined hands and winked at me. "Is it working?"

I bit down on my bottom lip to keep the grin away but ultimately failed; the grin breaking wide across my face.

We all loaded into the car and Noah began the short drive to my house, cutting through the usually quiet neighborhoods. Only this afternoon, it was lively and loud with families running from house to house as their children wore different arrays of costumes and clutched their buckets of candy.

"Oh, shit," I muttered. "I almost forgot it's Halloween."

October 31st. Halloween.

There was also something else about this day that rang loud bells in my mind but couldn't quite remember. I racked my brain trying to think as I saw Noah shift in his seat while he pulled the car to a stop in front of my house. Suddenly, what I was searching for slammed into me with such force that I had to lean my head against the headrest.

Fuck.

"Thank you for everything, Lana. I don't know how I would have done any of this without you. Truly, I owe you so much," I said while pulling away from our hug.

She cupped my cheek. "Dear, please call me if you need anything. Even if it's just to talk. I don't want you to go through this alone."

I glanced over my shoulder to where both Nick's were discussing what movie to watch while Jolly went about ordering the pizza. Noah was in the kitchen cleaning up the mess from the wake. Everyone had left awhile ago, Lana staying behind to keep me extra company. But as the afternoon wore on into the evening, I told her she should head home. She already spent so much time away from it, no need to stay away longer.

"I'm not alone, don't worry," I smiled while looking back at her.

She nodded behind me towards the guys. "They're good friends of yours, yeah?"

I nodded. "Yeah, they're starting too."

"And Mr. Sebastian?" She asked with a raised brow.

My cheeks warmed as I averted my gaze to my feet. "Just a friend."

Lana hummed. "For now."

With one final goodbye, I slowly shut the door behind her and instead of going into the living room, I followed the noises coming from the kitchen and saw Noah loading the last bit of dishes into the dishwasher before starting it. He wiped his hands on a rag before folding it nicely on the counter then looked out the window above the sink; the moonlight casting a bright shadow over his face. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him, my core twitching with a hunger that needed to be fulfilled; soon.

"You didn't have to do that," I said.

Noah gave me a warm smile. "I'm kind of neat freak so it wasn't a big deal."

I pushed myself off of the wall I was leaning on and walked over to him, closing the distance.

"But it's your birthday," I whispered while looking up at him through my lashes.

"You remembered?" He asked, almost shocked.

"I almost forgot, with every going on today. So I'm sorry you had to spend your birthday at a funeral," I cringed.

It wasn't the ideal birthday, that's for sure.

"I spent it with you, to me it was the best birthday in a long time," Noah admitted with a smile.

"Well," I placed a hand on his chest. "I have to give you your present."

He heart beat wildly underneath my palm but his face never gave way to his nervous state as he simply raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

I nodded. "This is a one-time thing, alright? I meant what I said earlier about taking things slow."

"If I remember correctly, you also said this was a one-time thing about the time I got you off by riding my thigh; now look at us," Noah murmured as he dipped his head towards mine.

My eyes doubled in size as I felt my cheeks warm when I remember that night at the Airbnb. It seemed so long ago, and I yearned to feel that release again with him.

"Maybe I should forget about giving you your present," I teased while taking a step back from him.

Noah's large hands grasped at my hips to yank me back into him, my hands sprawling over his chest.

"Don't tease me angel," he groaned, voice dropping dangerously low.

Licking my dry lips, I stood on the tips of my toes so I could reach him and ignoring the voices screaming at me to stop; I laid a soft kiss on his plump, waiting lips. Noah wasted no time in kissing me back, his one hand leaving my hip to tangle in my hair, tilting my head back so he could get better access to my mouth. Just like the first kiss we shared, electricity shot through my entire body, rendering me numb to his taste and touch. My tongue brushed over his bottom lip before I explored every inch of his mouth. His teeth scraped along my lips as he bit down on it while I pulled away, breathlessly.

"Happy birthday, Noah," I moaned before slipping out of his embrace.

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