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berrynarrybanana · 3 years

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Holiday Wishes, Mistletoe Kisses

A/N: This was meant to be a blurb, but I got carried away. I honestly don’t know how I feel about it, but I wanted to post some Christmassy stuff in between now and Deck the Halls, so here’s a little something. It’s basically over a thousand words of Harry pining for some girl he just met. That seems to be my favorite trope, yeah? Anyways, I hope you enjoy and I hope that you all remember that Christmas isn’t about what you have or what you’re able to give, it’s about spending time with the people you love the most. I’m always here for you all if you need me and I love you loads. Thank you!

Word Count: 5.1K+

Warnings: A little smut, pining, flash forward, ofc

Prompt: “You’re wearing the Santa hat, whether you like it or not” | Taken from this post here!

It wasn’t that Harry hated Christmas.

He loved spending time with his family, drinking mulled wine and talking shit with his Mum and Sister on the couch until the morning light. He loved the Christmas cookies that everyone seemed to bake just for him. Every single one of his friends would wrap them up in cute, candy cane striped cellophane bags with a little bow as if they were worried he’d been deprived of sweets. He loved the warmth that enveloped him when he stepped into any building, dodging the cold winter winds and brutal snowflakes that hit his skin. He loved most things about the season, but he truthfully hated the actual holiday itself.

He hated the music, each song covered by about twenty different artists, (yet, they always sounded the same, somehow), playing on a loop on every single Christmas station. He hated how rude people were in the shops and on the road, as if their time was more important than anyone else's. He hated the stigma around giving expensive gifts, stressing over the perfect thing to get each of his friends. If he could, he’d give them all something homemade, but he was shit at doing anything crafty.

His boots crunched against the snow as he walked towards his mother’s front door.

He let himself in, kicking his shoes off before he removed his scarf and his winter coat. He could hear laughter from the kitchen, Gemma and his Mum giggling far too loud. They must have cracked into the mulled cider a little early, and truthfully, he was jealous. He’d spent the last four hours stuck in traffic listening to white Christmas over and over and over again. He shut the front door as Evie wrapped herself around his legs, her soft purring catching his attention as he glanced down at the black and white kitten.

“Hiya, darling girl.” He crouched down, scooping her into his arms before he delivered a series of kisses over her head. “Daddy’s missed you, eh. Have you been good for your nan?”

She meowed in response, causing Harry to coo at her before he scratched under her chin.

“That’s my girl.” He pressed another kiss to the top of her head before setting her back to the ground.

He knew they would indulge in several cuddle sessions over the next few days, so he wasn’t worried about missing his one and only pet this holiday season. He walked through the house, finding his way into the kitchen where Gemma was tipping back a glass of dark red liquid, and his Mum was rolling out cookie dough with a bright smile on her face. What Harry wasn’t expecting, was the curly haired girl with a cookie cutter in her hand next to his Mum.

“Hello!” He called out, offering a smile as he walked over to the kitchen island. “I see we’ve started having fun already.”

“It took you forever to get here!” Gemma said defensively, picking up a chocolate kiss before tossing it at Harry. “Do you want a drink?”

“Something hot, it’s like the bloody tundra outside.” He shivered at the thought of the harsh wind, his eyes trailing back towards the new girl.

“Stella makes the best peppermint hot chocolate you’ve ever had in your life.” Gemma groaned out, her eyes rolling back in her head. “She puts peppermint vodka in there.”

“I can make you one if you’d like?” Stella’s voice was soft and painfully american. “We’ve got a slow cooker full of hot chocolate.”

“If you don’t mind.” Harry gave her a smile as he pulled out a stool, sitting next to Gemma. “Nice to meet you, Stella. I’m Harry, by the way.”

“She knows who you are.” Gemma reached over, pinching Harry’s side. “Stella is a new transfer at work. She’s new to England, and we thought we’d show her a proper English Christmas.”

“Stella, love, you should probably find another family to spend Christmas with if you want a proper English Christmas.” Harry snorted. “Ours is half arsed at best.”

“We have a lovely Christmas, thank you.” Anne piped up, flicking flour in Harry’s direction as Stella laughed softly. “Don’t scare the poor thing off, we’ve just made her feel at home.”

Stella turned her back, walking towards the stove.

“I suppose we do have a good time.” Harry hummed out. “I can’t wait to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the millionth time.”

“They’ve got an animated one now!” Gemma exclaimed. “We’re going to do a double feature.”

“Lovely.” Harry rolled his eyes.

Moments later, a steaming mug of hot chocolate laced was placed in front of Harry.

He looked down at the grinch mug before looking back up at Stella.

“Thanks.” He offered her a smile, but she merely nodded back at him before taking her place next to Anne again.

He watched her, sipping at his drink as Gemma and Anne chatted about some Hallmark movie that was meant to premiere at some point during the week. She wasn’t normally the type of girl that he dated, but he had to admit that she was beautiful. Her cheeks were round, a soft blush smeared over them that he assumed came from a makeup product. Her lashes were thick, and long, shadowing her hazel colored eyes. She had thick brows that seemed a little unruly, and plump lips stained with a plum colored lipstick that matched her smoky, purple eyeshadow. He wasn’t a huge fan of the plum color, but he had to admit that it brought out a lot of the warmer tones in her eyes and in her beautiful, brown skin. He also thought that it complimented the lighter strands in her curly brown hair that bounced about everytime she turned her head.

He tried not to be too obvious with his curious gaze, but he couldn’t help it. He was almost mesmerized by her beauty, but he was more so confused by his attraction to her. She was far too quiet for his taste, her eyes cast down on the cookies she’d been cutting out for the last few minutes while everyone else chatted.

He watched her place them on the tray carefully, obsessing over how they landed before she reached for the colored icing. He watched her pipe onto the little shapes, her tongue nestling in the corner of her mouth as her unsteady hands worked diligently on the cookies.

This was a Styles family Christmas, and the Styles were a rowdy and messy bunch. He’d never seen his Mum or Gemma put that much work into sugar cookies before, and it was almost painful to watch her perfect each and every one before she slipped the tray in the oven. He watched her reach for the cheeky little chicken shaped oven timer that Gemma bought when his Mum fist moved into this house. In all of those years, he’d never seen anyone actually use it.

“Did you hear me, my little turtle dove?” Anne brushed her hand over Harry’s back as he sipped at his cocoa. “They’re calling for a huge storm this weekend, are you packed for that?”

“I left some stuff here the last time I was around.” He turned his head, smiling back at her. “I think I should be fine if I get stuck with you lot.”

“Good.” She nodded, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “I’ve missed you.”

“Missed you too, Mumma.” He wrapped an arm around her back, pulling her into a hug.

The warm scent of vanilla and musk greeted his senses, flooding him with comfort and nostalgic memories of cuddling with Mum on the couch. He missed having her around him. He missed having his best friend around to comfort him when he needed it the most. When he let go of her, his heart sank a little in his chest. She pressed a kiss to the top of his head before moving back to work on more cookie dough.

“Why are you making so many cookies?” He asked, brows furrowing as he brushed his fingers over the sickly green mug with the cartoon characters face on it. “Do you plan on feeding an army?”

“No, but Stella suggested that we take some down to the local homeless shelter on Christmas Eve.” Anne smiled over at the girl. “That’s her family's Christmas tradition, and since she’s not with them this year, we thought we’d make it happen for her here.”

“Thank you again, for agreeing to this.” Stella smiled at Anne. “It really means the world to me, and I can’t thank you enough.”

“You’re a part of the family now, dear.” Anne teased. “Even if you’re not spending Christmas with us, this little tradition of yours has been officially integrated into our own Christmas tradition. We’ll always have a little bit of Stella with us during the Holiday’s now, eh.”

Stella laughed at that, reaching her arms out to wrap Anne in a hug.

Harry almost felt a little jealous at how seamlessly she fit in here.

“If you keep staring at her, she’s gonna want to run back to America.” Gemma nudged her elbow into his side. “We get it, she’s hotter than you.”

“Oh, shut up.” Harry rolled his eyes at Gemma as she smirked. “I wasn’t staring.”

“Okay, Casanova.” She snorted. “Whatever you say.

Harry wasn’t sure why he was hard.

He just wanted to close his eyes and go the fuck to sleep.

After a long day of travel, and an even longer evening filled with Harry pulling down Christmas decorations from the attic, he just wanted to sleep. He wasn’t looking forward to taking the annual trip to the Christmas Tree Farm tomorrow. Since Robin passed, Harry was the only man in the family, which meant that he often had to do the heavy lifting. He found that most of his strength lay in his core, despite the amount of lifting he’d done to buff up his arms, and he wasn’t looking forward to tossing a tree on top of his car while everyone watched.

Truthfully, that was the worry that should have been plaguing his mind as he lay in bed. Instead, his mind was lost in hazel colored waves that crashed on dark plum shores. He couldn’t stop thinking about Stella’s eyes or her perfectly shaped lips. He spent most of his night watching her drink from a wine glass, her cheeks turning a shade darker with each joke that she shared with his family. If there was one thing that he was shocked about, it was the dry humor that tumbled from her perfect plum colored lips. She was a funny girl, despite being quiet, and he laughed at every single joke she told without shame.

As he shifted his about, trying to avoid any further thoughts about her lips, the tip of his cock brushed against the warm flannel of his pajama pants. He let out a throaty groan, reaching down to push his palm into the crotch of his pants to soothe the pressure building in his lower belly. He couldn’t jack off to the thought of Gemma’s new friend, it would be awful, and it would surely land him on the naughty list. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying his best not to picture her lipstick staining his lower belly, his upper thighs, and eventually...the shaft of his cock. But after a few minutes of trying not to think about it, that was the only thing he could see behind closed eyes.

With an annoyed grumble, he dipped his hand into his pajama pants, tugging his cock out while his free hand pushed the band of the pants down his hips. He licked over his dry lips, making a mental note to buy some chapstick tomorrow as he gave himself one, swift stroke. He bit the inside of his cheek, trying not to moan as he brushed the pad of his thumb over the weeping slit of his cock. He was pathetic, dripping down his cock over a girl that he barely knew. He couldn’t believe that he was being that guy right now, tugging at his cock desperately to the thought of a beautiful girl on her knees for him. He wanted so badly to have her there, whispering filthy words in that gentle tone she had, encouraging him to cum on her tongue.

When he did cum, her name spilled from his lips.

His chest was heaving as he came down, the tinkling of Stella’s laughter filling his ears.

Seconds later, he heard her bid goodnight to Gemma before the door next to his own shut.

He was totally fucked for this girl.

The next morning, he didn’t expect to see Stella sitting at the breakfast bar when he came downstairs.

He stopped in the doorway, his cheeks growing warm as he looked over her sweater covered back. Thoughts of her name tumbling from his lips last night flooded back as he looked at her. She was wearing a lavender colored, cable knit sweater, and her curls were tied up in a messy ponytail on top of her head. Most of the curls had fallen out, covering up some of her neck alongside her fingers. Her cheek was propped on her palm, her gaze focused on her laptop as she lifted a mug of steaming liquid up to her mouth with her other hand.

Harry cleared his throat, walking toward the stove so he could put the kettle on. No one else in the house would be up for hours, but Harry couldn’t turn off his internal alarm clock no matter how he tried. He also hoped that he might find a moment of peace from the very girl sitting in his Mother’s kitchen. She haunted his dreams, her face playing on the silver screen in his mind all night long. He hated how infatuated he was with this woman that he barely even knew.

“Morning.” She spoke up first, her voice scratchy and tired. “Did you sleep well?”

“Splendid, yeah.” He nodded, filling the kettle with water. “You?”

“I’ve slept better, but that’s to be expected.” She said softly. “I spent a little bit of time on a skype call with my brother’s, so I was up longer than expected.”

“But you’re up fairly early this morning, aren’t you?” He put the kettle on the stovetop before turning around, his eyes landing on hers. “Why’s that?”

“I wake up this early anyways.” She smiled at him. “I usually like to go for a walk in the morning to wake myself up.”

“That’s nice.” He lifted his hand, scratching at the stubble on his jaw. “I usually like to go for a swim or a run in the morning, too.”

“Where do you swim?” She asked.

“There’s a men’s swimming club not too far from my home in London.” He said. “It’s freezing cold, but you get used to it after a while.”

“Jeeze, you swim outside in this weather?” She lifted her head from her palm, her eyes growing wide. “I could never.”

“It’s an acquired taste.” He chuckled softly. “What are you working on?”

“A new piece for my blog.” She said. “I started out using it as a diary of sorts, but people apparently love reading about the disaster that is my life.”

“I’m sure it’s not all horrible.” He hoped that he sounded encouraging and not rude. “You seem like a lovely, and positive person.”

“I try to be.” She shrugged, reaching for her mug. “I could say the same about you.”

“I try to be.” He smiled at her. “Would you like some breakfast?”

“Oh, I was actually thinking of popping down to this little bakery Gemma told me about-”

“Mandeville’s.” His heart picked up, a smile stretching across his lips. “Had my first job there.”

“Yeah, that’s the one.” She laughed, wrapping both hands around her mug as she leaned back in the barstool. “I figured I’d go grab some pastries for everyone. I know it’s kind of a busy day with the Christmas Tree Farm, so I thought it would be best if your Mum didn’t feel the need to cook.”

“She would love that.” Harry said. “Maybe I could go with you? We could both get our walks in, and I can see Mary before she hunts me down and drags me to the bakery.”

“I would love the company.” She smiled. “But enjoy your tea first, I’ll just be working on this until we’re ready to go.”

“Cheers.” He nodded, watching her eyes drop to her computer screen.

She wasn’t wearing a stitch of makeup this morning, and Harry almost wished that she was.

He wished that she had covered up her beautiful, freckle covered skin so that he didn’t fall harder for her beautiful face. He wished that she was hiding away those little blemishes that made him swoon, because she was actually a human after all, not some angel sent down from heaven to torture him. He wished that she covered those beautiful lips in that plum lipstick again so that he could imagine kissing it off of her. He hated the feeling stirring inside of his belly, the butterflies a tell tale sign of his feelings.

He had a crush on Stella.

And there was nothing he could do to stop himself from falling for her.

Stella’s gloves were precious.

They were a bright red, little snowflakes and reindeer stitched into them.

She offered to let Harry borrow a pair of her gloves, claiming that she’d brought plenty of pairs for the winter, but he politely declined before shoving his hands in his pockets. She looked so cozy, wrapped up in her winter coat with a beanie on top of her head and a matching scarf tied around her neck. Harry wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and cuddle her so that they could both stay nice and toasty on their walk. He wanted to kiss her bare cheeks, paying special attention to each freckle on her skin as the winter sun cast over them.

He was so infatuated with her that it was almost embarrassing.

“I can’t even imagine what it was like, growing up in a place like this.” Stella turned her head towards Harry, the tip of her nose a little red. “It’s so picturesque.”

“It’s alright.” He gave her a small smile. “I always wanted to get out when I was a kid.”

“Of course you did, we all do.” She chuckled. “I think everyone should run away for a little while, it really gives you all of the tools you need to really appreciate your hometown when you go back. I don’t know that I’ll ever move back to my hometown, but when I visit it, I feel a little bit more appreciative of the pivotal role it had in raising me.”

“I feel the same way about Cheshire.” Harry nodded. “It’s a big part of who I was, and that helped make me who I am. I wouldn’t be the same without this place.”

“Exactly.” She said.

“So where exactly are you from?” He asked. “I mean, obviously America-”

“Is it that obvious?” She asked, narrowing her eyes playfully, her lips pursed. “I don’t think it is.”

“It’s a neon, flashing sign above your head kind of obvious, love.” He snorted. “But I can’t place what your accent is.”

“It’s not really an accent.” Stella shrugged, turning her attention back to the sidewalk. “I grew up on the road for most of my life, but my family settled in Georgia when I was about twelve.”

“Interesting.” He said. “How did you like Georgia?”

“I didn’t, at first.” She laughed. “I hated it so much. I loved being on the road with my family, traveling places like Hawaii and Los Angeles. When we moved to the south, I despised everything about it. It was so plain and boring compared to places we’d lived before. But like I said, moving away has made me learn to love it more when I go back.”

“How long have you been gone?” He asked.

“About three years.” She said. “I lived in Amsterdam for a year, and then Paris, and now I’m here.”

“Which place is your favorite?” He asked. “Be honest with me, now. You don’t have to say London just because you’re trying to get on my good side.”

Stella tossed her head back, laughing loudly.

“I think it’s truthfully London, Harry.”

His name sounded like honey falling from her lips.

“Why is that?” He asked.

“Because I’ve found my chosen family.” She turned back, giving him a smile that thawed out the chill creeping up from his toes. “Starting with Gemma, of course. She was the first person to take me under her wings, and I’m so happy that I have her in my life. Then I started to find other people, and we all became this really close knit group of friends that felt more like family than my actual family does. I don’t know how I’ll ever leave this place.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t.” He said softly. “Maybe this is home.”

Please don’t go, Stella.

Stay here with me forever.

Love me.

“My contract is up at the end of the year, but we’ll just have to see how things go.” She said. “I might be convinced to stay.”

“Well, I guess I have a lot of work to do.” He chuckled.

“Why are you so keen on me staying?” She asked him, her brows raising as she gave him a knowing smirk. “Do you have a crush on me, Styles?”

His cheeks grew hot against the cold wind.

“Alright now, don’t let that go to your head.” He grumbled, tucking his neck into his scarf as Stella’s smile grew wider. “It’s all your bloody fault, you know?”

“What have I done?” She laughed louder. “I’m just me.”

“That’s exactly it.” He let out a breathy chuckle. “You’re you, Stella.”

The Christmas Tree Farm was going well.

That was up until Gemma decided that they absolutely needed to take a family picture in front of the big Christmas tree, Stella included. They had picked up a few little trinkets and such while walking around the market included in the farm. Anne picked up a reindeer headband with bells stitched in, plopping it on her head the second she found it. Gemma found an elf’s hat with little ears attached to the side, putting it on her hair before fussing with her hair. Stella found a crown made of poinsettias that she plopped on top of her curls, the red and gold working perfectly with her red lipstick and gold eyeshadow. Harry, however, wasn’t exactly in the spirit.

“You’re wearing the bloody santa hat, whether you like it or not!” Gemma shoved it towards him with a frown. “If you stand next to Stella, you’ll like Mr. and Mrs. Claus!”

“Shut up, Gemma.” Harry sneered, snatching the hat from her hands. “I didn’t tell you about that so you could throw it in my face!”

“Well, I’m doing it for the greater good of our family photo!” She glared at him. “Put that hat on before I shove it on your head myself.”

“Fine.”

“Are you two alright?” Stella smirked, adjusting her crown on her head as she walked up to Harry and Gemma. “Santa is still putting people on the naughty list you know?”

“If anyone’s going to be on the naughty list, it’s Harry.” Gemma tossed her arm around Stella’s shoulder with a proud smirk. “He’s being a pain in the arse.”

“Is the hat really necessary to the photo?” He groaned, dropping his head back.

“Yes.” Stella and Gemma said at the same time.

“Alright, alright.” He groaned, tugging the hat over his curls. “Are you both happy now?”

“Ecstatic.” Stella smiled brightly at Harry. “I think you look handsome.”

“I’m going to just point out…” Gemma pulled her arm from around Stella, tucking her hands behind her back. “That there’s mistletoe hanging from that piece of wood above your heads.”

“Gemma-” Harry’s eyes grew wide.

“And I’m promptly going to walk away.” She smiled at Stella. “Meet us at the tree in ten minutes.”

“Gemma-” Stella held her hand out as Gemma walked away, her eyes growing just as wide as Harry’s were. “What a sneaky little elf.”

“Tell me about it.” Harry shifted, adjusting the hat on his head. “Devious little-”

“Well, I guess we can’t break tradition.” Stella looked up at Harry, shuffling forward slowly with a little smirk on her lips. “I mean, what would Santa say if we didn’t kiss under the mistletoe?”

Harry licked over his bottom lip, his fingers twitching.

“You really want to kiss me?”

“I might.” Stella’s toes were almost touching Harry’s now. “But the question is, do you want to kiss me?”

“I do, yeah.” He nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since I laid eyes on you, Stella.”

“Well, what are you waiting for?” She raised her brows. “Now is your chance, Mr. Grinch, lay one on me.”

Harry lifted his hands, pressing them to Stella’s face hesitantly before he lowered his lips to hers in a soft kiss. It was a gentle peck, one that anyone would share underneath the mistletoe, but Harry wanted more from Stella. It seemed that she wanted more as well, her arms sliding around his neck as she pressed up on her toes. He let his hands fall to her waist as the kiss grew more intense, his hands holding onto her tightly as she brushed her tongue over his lower lip. He tried his best not to smile into the kiss, letting her have what she wanted by parting his lips. When her tongue slipped over his, he let out a tiny moan, gripping her hips tighter.

“Get a room, you two!” Harry groaned, pressing his forehead to Stella’s.

“Gemma, I swear to god-” Harry turned his head, whipping his santa hat off before he threw it in her direction. “Go bother someone else!”

Stella laughed, ducking her forehead down to Harry’s chest as he rubbed his thumbs over her side gently. He felt her body shaking underneath his hands, his heart hammering in his chest when he realized just how close they actually were. He turned his head back, lifting a hand up to guide Stella’s chin up. He pressed his lips to hers once, twice, three more times before she pressed her palms to Harry’s chest.

“We’ll never stop if we don’t move away from the mistletoe.” Stella whispered. “And I think Gemma might physically pull us apart if we miss that Christmas picture.”

“Let it be known that I’m only partaking in this picture because I want to stand next to you for as long as I can.” Harry smiled. “I think I have a little more than a crush on you, Stella.”

“I think I have more than a crush on you, too.”

“Madeline, stop right there.” Stella let out a frustrated sigh as she looped her arm under the baby carrier, her eyes falling down to the sleeping infant. “Milo, promise Mumma that you’ll listen when you get to that age?”

“Give him here.” Harry brushed a kiss over Stella’s temple, his hand massaging her lower back gently. “You go catch up with speed racer, okay? I’ll be right behind you with the baby and the diaper bag.”

“Thank you.” Stella turned her head, puckering her lips out. “I love you.”

“I love you.” He hummed out. “And our beautiful babies, even if one of them has a death wish and two left feet.”

Stella snorted out a laugh, pulling her arm from the carrier before she stuffed her hands in her pockets. “I better go help her up the stairs.”

“Please, we don’t need a repeat of last year.” Harry smiled.

“Yeah, I would like to avoid a trip to A&E this year.” Stella snorted.

He watched Stella walk over to an antsy Madeline, her pigtails bouncing about as she jumped from foot to foot in excitement. Harry chuckled softly at his daughter, amused by her excitement. He was happy that she found so much joy in Christmas, just like her Mother did. He watched Stella hold a hand out, waiting for Madeline to take it before they both conquered the brick steps outside of his Mum’s house. When they got to the top, Stella lifted Madeline up, kissing over her cheeks as their daughter giggled. Harry lifted Milo’s car seat from the base, his eyes falling down to the six month old with hazel eyes and soft cheeks just like his Mother’s.

“We’ve got our hands full with those two, mate.” Harry pulled the soft, wintery blue blanket up to Milo’s chin, tucking it around his shoulders so that he would stay warm. “Gonna keep us both on our toes, I know it.”

Milo cooed up at him, causing Harry to smile wider before he ducked his head down to kiss his son's soft cheeks.

“Let’s get you into Nan’s before you turn into a popsicle, my love.” Harry said. “Mumma won’t be happy if we have to spend Christmas thawing you out.”

As Harry made his way up the stairs, he couldn’t help but remember five Christmases ago.

He was walking up the exact same steps on his own, unaware of the magic that was waiting inside for him. He was unaware that the girl Gemma brought home for Christmas would one day be his wife, and the mother of his two beautiful children. He had no idea that they would spend long nights together, planning their future and holding each other tight. He opened the front door to his Mum’s house, smiling at the sound of Madeline telling his Mother a story with animated gestures, her curly pigtails bouncing around as Stella tried to wrangle her jacket off.

“And then Daddy told me we could get a puppy next year if I was good enough!” Madeline squealed out as Harry shut the door.

He dodged the steely gaze he got from Stella after she heard the word puppy.

“Sorry.” He mouthed over at her, causing her to shake her head as she tried to fight off a smile.

“You’re a menace.” She mouthed back. “But I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He said it outloud, his heart soaring in his chest.

Stella gave him a heart warming smile, Madeline’s coat still in her hands.

Seconds later, Milo let out a tiny cry causing Harry to snap back into dad mode.

He rested the carseat on the ground, carefully pulling his son out before pressing a kiss to his chubby little cheeks. As if Gemma could sense his presence, she barreled into the living room with her eyes set on Milo.

“There’s my little man.” She held her hands out, wiggling them as Harry rolled his eyes. “You get to see him every day, Harry. Pass him over to his auntie.”

“Fine.” He rolled his eyes. “Please be careful with him, I kind of like this one.”

“Piss off.” Gemma snorted out, sliding Milo onto her hip before pressing a bright red kiss mark into his forehead. “Has Daddy told you that without auntie Gem, you wouldn’t exist?”

“Gemma-”

“Can you believe that?” She looked up at Harry, a hint of something nostalgic and genuine sparkling in her green eyes. “If I’d never brought Stella to family Christmas, we wouldn’t have two beautiful babies to dote over every year.”

“I can’t even begin to imagine what life would be like without them.” He whispered. “Thank you, Gemma.”

“Harry, I really didn’t-”

“Gemma.” He said her name sternly, pressing his palm to her bicep. “Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” She said softly, her eyes watering. “Now, if you could do me a favor and bring a hot friend around, I’d really appreciate it.”

“I’ll see what I can manage.” He let out a wet chuckle, his own eyes watering.

“What are we managing?” Stella wrapped her arms around Harry.

“We owe Gem a favor.” He sniffled, turning head to press a kiss to Stella’s forehead.

“Why are you crying, baby?” Stella frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing at all.” He pressed his lips to hers, softly brushing his nose against the tip of hers as his. “Just so incredibly grateful to have you in my life, that’s all.”

“You’re so sappy around the holiday’s.” Stella brushed her palm over his belly. “I love you, Mr. Styles.”

“I love you, too, Mrs. Styles.” He said. “Merry Christmas, Darling.”

“Merry Christmas.”

#not edited #as per usual #harry styles writing #harry styles fic #harry styles one shot #harry styles imagine #harry styles fluff #harry styles smut #harry writing #harry fic #harry one shot #harry imagine #harry styles X ofc #harry styles christmas fic #harry styles blurb #harry blurb #harry styles christmas blurb

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teenwolffanclub-me · 4 years

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Season 1, Episode 1: Wolf Moon (Part One)

Hey there beautiful reader! If you’re new here, this is a series I’m writing where each chapter is an episode from the first season of Teen Wolf. If you’ve been here before, hey! I missed you! Previous and future chapters are linked at the end of each part if you want to catch up.

Pairing: Stiles x Psychic! Reader (eventually)

Notes: Welcome to Episode One! Buckle in, this series really takes on a mind of it’s own...

I enjoy writing it so I hope you have just as much fun reading it! Let me know what you think! I love hearing from you lovely people.

I rested my head against the cool glass to my right and let out a tired sigh. We’d been in the car for what felt like days. I wrapped my arms around myself and tried to get comfortable against the door. It was a couple hours past sunset by the time the first sign of our new home came into view. It was made of wood and looked no less than a hundred years old. Four words were sprawled across it in big, white letters.

WELCOME TO BEACON HILLS

As soon as we passed it, moms fingers tightened against the steering wheel.

“Hey, no more incidents, okay honey? This town is our last option.”

I closed my eyes tightly and tried to ignore her condescending tone. I was well aware of my mistakes and the fact that this was our fourth move in the last year. I knew it was my fault. I didn’t need her to remind me.

The rest of the drive was silent. It wasn’t exactly tense, but it wasn’t pleasant either. This unspoken rift had formed between us not long ago, and it grew with each of my slip ups. With every new move. She was trying her best, that much was obvious, but there are only so many new places to go. I guess that’s why she said this is our last chance.

My last chance.

It was nearly midnight now, and I was no closer to sleep than I had been when I plopped myself down onto my new bed. Mom bought everything and had it delivered before we got here, like she always does. It was kind of our routine at this point.

Just then, I heard screaming from outside my bedroom window. It was like two people were taking turns scaring each other. One yelled out, then the other, until they eventually fell into silence. I sat up in bed and wandered over to my window. I peered toward my neighbors house, where the noise had come from, and saw two boys out on the porch.

One had a baseball bat that he was waving around animatedly, while the other was somehow hanging upside down from the roof. I opened my window as quietly as I could and let my elbows rest on the edge. A shiver ran down the back of my neck as the chilly night air brushed against it. I stuck my head outside to listen in on their conversation.

“Look, I know it’s late, but you gotta hear this.” The upside boy said excitedly. “I saw my dad leave twenty minutes ago. Dispatch called, they’re bringing in every officer from the Beacon department and even state police.”

The other boy lowered his bat. “For what?”

Despite being outside in the middle of the night, the two weren’t talking quietly. I could hear everything they were saying clearly as their voices echoed my way.

“Two joggers found a body in the woods.” Upside down boy gracefully fell into the bushes below.

My breath caught and my stomach tightened uncomfortably at his words. A body was found nearby? I thought Beacon Hills was a secluded, safe town.

“A dead body?” As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I noticed that one of the boys had slightly shaggy hair and was wearing a red zip-up hoodie. He leaned over the wooden railing to look at his friend.

Upside down boy popped back up and slammed his hands on the railing. “No, a body of water. Yes, dumbass! A dead body.”

I couldn’t help but snicker at that. The guy was funny, although this didn’t seem like a joking matter.

“You mean like...a murder?”

Upside down boy, who for some reason was wearing way too many layers to count, swung himself over the porch railing. Seriously, he had on a t-shirt, a flannel, and a thick jacket. It wasn’t that cold. “No one knows yet. Just that it was a girl, probably in her twenties.”

“Hold on. If they found a body, then what are they looking for?” They were facing each other now, the bat forgotten on the floor.

“That’s the best part! They only found half!” My brows pinched at the guy’s excitement. Why would either of them care about a dead body? Especially if it were as gruesome as that?

I stepped back into my room and shut the window tightly, my stomach churning. I chewed on my bottom lip anxiously. That was weird. They were weird, and I wanted no part of it. I padded back toward my bed and crawled under the covers. I sighed as warmth enveloped me and tried to forget everything I’d overheard. I needed to get some sleep. The first day of school was tomorrow and I had to make a good first impression. It was only my first night in this town. I couldn’t be tangled up in anything weird.

I couldn’t make the same mistakes already.

————————

I woke with a harsh gasp, my throat constricting in pain. I blinked rapidly, trying to force my eyes to adjust to the darkness around me. My palms were damp, and the tips of my fingers numb, as I pushed myself up into a sitting position. I stilled at the squishy feeling under my ass and brought my hand up toward my eyes slowly.

My breath caught again at the sight of dirt on my skin. My head whipped both left and right as I realized I was outside. Not only was I outside, but I was nowhere near my house. I was in the middle of a forest.

“No, no, no...” I muttered, staggering to my feet.

This cannot be happening again. Not already. I haven’t even been here for one freaking night. My teeth started chattering as the freezing air brushed against my bare skin. I was only wearing a pair of leggings and a short sleeved shirt. It was enough to keep me warm inside my bed, but not here.

I took a few steps forward, but stopped as the sound of crunching earth echoed my way. Lights flashed, and a dog barked aggressively. I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sudden noise and moved to hide behind a tree. I peered around and saw one of the boys from before—the one with buzzed hair and too many layers—fall to the ground with a shriek. His friend ran off somewhere to hide.

“Hang on! Hang on!” An angry voice shouted. “This little delinquent belongs to me.”

A man who I quickly registered, due to his uniform, as the Sheriff stepped between the boy and a still barking dog. The few officers around him backed off at the wave of his hand. He turned on a flashlight and shined it in the boys face, who bounced back to his feet and wiped his hands on his loose-fitting jeans.

“Hey dad, how ya doin?”

So the Sheriff is his dad. Makes sense given the two boys earlier conversation. Maybe that will prevent all of us from getting into serious trouble if we’re caught. I chewed on my bottom lip nervously. How the hell would I explain why I was here?

“Oh hi, I’m the new girl by the way, and I just sleep-walked myself deep into this unfamiliar forest. No big deal though. It’s not like this has happened before.”

Yeah. I don’t think so.

“So...you, uh, listening to all of my phone calls?”

“No! Well, not the boring ones.”

“Where’s your usual partner in crime?”

“Who, Scott?” The boy tried to catch his breath while he thought of a believable lie. “Scott’s at home. Said he wanted to get a good nights sleep for the first day back at school tomorrow. It’s just me. In the woods. Alone.”

Not bad, actually. Except for that last part. I got the sense that he talked a lot when nervous, but figured he had more than enough practice lying to his father.

“Scott, you out there?” The Sheriff’s voice echoed through the dense trees. He moved his flashlight in my direction and I quickly pressed my back against the other side of the scratchy bark. I winced as it bit into my skin through my thin shirt. “Scott!”

My heart was threatening to burst out of my chest, it was beating so hard. I sealed my eyes shut as a moment of quiet passed.

“Well, young man, I’m going to walk you back to your car, and we’re going to have a discussion about something called invasion of privacy...”

Their voices slowly faded away. I stood painfully still for several seconds afterward to make sure they were gone. Just as I was about to move, I heard a twig snap to my left. My gaze fell on the other boy—Scott, apparently—who’s back was to me. He took off running before I could even fully register that he was there.

I blinked once, twice, three times. My body sagged against the tree in exhaustion. Whatever I had just witnessed was not good and I needed to get home before mom noticed I was gone. Or now, preferably. I groaned in pain as my head suddenly began to throb harshly.

“No, no. Not right now...”

My knees hit the wet ground and I clamped both hands over my temples. Images flashed behind my eyes as I squeezed them shut tightly.

Scott running, glowing red eyes, a guttural scream of agony.

I let my eyes pop open with a gasp. Before I knew what was happening, I was sprinting in the direction he’d gone. I could hardly control my body as it took me to where my vision was about to happen. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Scott rolling down a hill. I grimaced as his body practically bounced with each hit to the ground and ran to the top so I could see better.

Once he stopped moving, I took a step to check on him, but stopped almost instantly. A pair of glowing red eyes illuminated in the depths of the forest, just a few feet away. My jaw went slack in shock and fear. Whatever the hell it was, it wasn’t good. It was almost like the air had shifted into something darker with its presence. I watched in stunned horror as a huge black mass ran by Scott. It was only visible long enough for me to see the thing dig it’s teeth into his side. He screamed in pain, just like I’d heard before, and I covered my ears.

It was all too real.

The monster ran off and Scott looked around, startled. He groaned and clutched his side tightly as he slowly managed to get to his feet. A moment later, he was gone. I wasted no time in following him, hoping he’d lead me to the edge of the forest. I stayed far back, not wanting him to know I was there.

Within minutes I was standing in the middle of an empty road, Scott nowhere to be found. I was surprised I hadn’t gone into cardiac arrest already with how fast my heart was racing. I was exhausted and on edge after what I’d just seen. Whatever it was.

I ran a shaky hand through my hair and started what I knew would be a long journey home.

Episode 1, Part Two

#stiles stilinski #scott mccall #teen wolf #teen wolf imagine #stiles x reader #stiles x y/n #teen wolf fic #teen wolf series #teen wolf fanfiction #stiles #teen wolf season one #dylan obrien #stiles x oc #stiles x original character #stiles imagine #stiles stilinksi imagine #dylan obrien x reader #dylan obrien imagine #teen wolf rewrite

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rickonwrites · 4 years

Text

Homecoming

MC returns to the Alienage to set things right, but finds there are loose ends that have been waiting on her since the day she left to become a Grey Warden. Unexpected of all is the suddenly strained relation between her and her cousin Soris. She had thought that she had born all the blame of the events that had transpired on their joint wedding day, however it seems she was sorely mistaken.

Takes place when MC returns to the Alienage, and before she sets out to battle the slavers and reclaim her father.

Home had been a constant presence, tugging at the edges of her consciousness in a steady susurrus of duty and obligation. Of blood and kin. Hearth and home.

As often as she dreamt about the Archdemon and the angry, undulating hordes of darkspawn waiting to devour her whole, the faint images of her father, creasing and grey; her cousins; Shianni, fiery, red-hot and Soris, solid, dependable, nut-brown; lingered just as often behind the darkness of closed lids.

No matter how far her feet took her, no matter how deep into the earth she descended, the grasping, insistent call of home never eased. It was there, flavouring her mouth with the acrid, dirt-soil bitterness of the alienage and the mysterious foulness of one of Alarith’s highly suspicious home brews. She breathed muddy, dusty air even in the bracing heights of the Frostbacks, and twitched at the smallest of movements half-expecting a rabies-mad dog, growling for the rags on her back even while sleeping under the solid roofs and walls of an inn, garbed in tough dragonskin.

And how could she forget when home was stamped in her indelibly. The slender, pointed cartilage of her ears. Her small, quick limbs, and even quicker fingers skimming into pockets, tearing open purses and jugulars alike. The tattoos inked, carved, and bled onto her flesh. Dark, fantastic lines and edges that set her apart even from her kinsmen in the woods. Marks of vallaslin and yet not quite.

It was hard to forget one’s beginnings when a glance in the mirror served all the reminder you would need.

Yet in spite of this constant awareness; the familiar weight of family, and clan and home resting on her shoulders for every step of her perilous journey, Tabris still found herself filled with a stupid and irrational anxiety as the now unbarred gates to the alienage loomed closer and closer.

“This would be like a homecoming for you then?” the bard had asked, red brow drawn up in innocent query.

Tabris had merely shrugged, mumbled some kind of affirmation. It had been a while. A very long while. And not just in terms of actual time passing or seasons changing. The last she had seen of her home she had been dragged forcibly and urgently from a promised date with the gallows, drenched in the rank stink of human blood. She had been engaged, and set to begin her life as a pretty little bride. She felt herself a completely different person now. Changed. And somehow perversely still the same.

In spite of it all, the alienage still remained as home.

It was an oddly unsettling realization.

“Would we be meeting your father then? I confess, I am more than just slightly curious to see what kind of man raised his daughter to become a Grey Warden of your ilk.” Leliana continued, strolling along Tabris’ right with her soft-footed gait. “He must have been quite skilled with the dagger, I imagine.”

The comment drew a faint grin. “I did have a mother too, you know.”

Leliana flushed. “I - I didn’t mean to assume that just because she’s a woman…”

“I know.” Tabris shot her a conciliatory grin. I’m just teasing, it says.

“You mentioned she had died when you were young. ’twas only natural to presume that since your father raised you for most of your life that it would be from him that you gained your most valuable of skills.”

“I can see why you would think so, but it’s probably best to dispel any false illusions now so as to keep my father from seeing your disappointment when you finally do meet. No. It was my mother who raised me to the blade. Little enough time together we had as it was, it seems she was an effective teacher.”

“Or, you were just a natural fighter. Like a duck to water.” Overcoming the short-lived stumble, Leliana shot her a grin that was underlaid with an unmistakeable air of respect.

“I think I remember Duncan mentioning an elven woman from the alienage who would have made for a perfect Grey Warden, once.” Alistair’s baritone joined in. “He couldn’t have meant - ”

Tabris shrugged. “My mother? Perhaps. My father mentioned it once, in passing. It seemed as if he’d met Duncan before too, though there wasn’t enough time for me to really confirm that.”

“You mean before you were dragged off and thrown arse first into this whole saving the world business?”

“Exactly that.”

“With an ignominious exit like that, can I assume that they shall be throwing parades and holding a great revelry to celebrate your glorious return?” Zevran’s throaty, accented voice. He hovered in her peripherals, his step longer and more leisurely than hers. There was a predatory ease about him that made her painfully envious. Granted, he’d practically lived his whole life as an assassin whereas she’d had only a handful of lessons at her mother’s knee and almost a year of the self-directed Grey Warden debacle she was in now. But still. There were times when she knew she moved too heavily or slow in the foot to ever succeed, sleek and powerful, as on the same plain as Zevran.

The muted pad of his Antivan leather boots was almost nonexistent. Hers crunched audibly against the loose gravel underfoot. She frowned inwardly and pointedly tried to lighten her tread.

“Oh yes. And I’ll just bet they’ll bust out a gourmet banquet too. Rabbit stew for all of us!”

Zevran quirked a brow, ever sensitive to the irony in her tone. “Rabbits? In the city?”

As if on cue a large, black thing scuttled lightning quick across their path, disappearing in a tumble down an ominous looking sewerage drain with a series of chirrups and distinctly rodent-esque squeaks filling the air.

Tabris shot him a look before chuckling at his moue of distaste.

“Perhaps another week of rations won’t be so bad.”

She laughed, catching the triumphant glint in his eye at having caused her to do so. So the affectation had been deliberate. Had he noticed that she was more tense and brooding than a long-awaited homecoming would normally warrant? But then again she’d thought her mood safe considering she held herself as their tense and brooding hero for a majority of their travels. Was she so obvious to read, then? Or was he just watching her too closely? The thought sent the hairs on her neck prickling. An assassin watching her every move? Wonderful.

He was always there, she thought quietly and with some amusement, standing close-by but not too close. From where he was now, he could reach out and tangle his knuckles with the leather of her kilt though he did no such thing. Was it an old habit from when he stalked targets, perhaps? She’d also noted how he seemed to always be burying his daggers in the same enemies that had singled her out in battle. There was many a time she had found herself looking up from a dispatched carcass to meet the assassin’s bright, golden gaze. Who would have guessed he would have become such a loyal shadow?

Or an especially sly one, she thought with a reflexive twitch in her wrist, fingers dangling near the sheath at her hip. Pushing her suspicions aside, Tabris’ thoughts were rapidly drawn back to the present and the familiar scents; dank, rotten and destitute, that assaulted her senses with a force.

The Alienage had never been a place one was wont to call quiet. There were always bodies, both living and not-so-living, populating the streets. Many elves took to sleeping by the roadside, squeezing themselves into nooks and dark spaces behind debris.

Tabris had always known that privacy was as foreign a concept as a shem walking through the Alienage, but now with her honed, warrior’s senses, she found herself subconsciously taking note of figures, still and moving, in the edges of the township. How she had ever found the time to train herself with the dagger without drawing anyone’s attention or causing undue alarm was beyond her.

She caught the eye of an elven woman, pale-faced and curled up underneath a rotting wooden beam propped up in an alleyway and looked away, unsettled by the emotion in the woman’s gaze. Hope. And fear. And somewhat else entirely.

Squaring her shoulders, Tabris marched on, sensitive ears twitching at the sounds of a crowd shortly up ahead.

** TBC **

#wip #dragon age #soris #tabris #ficlet #fanfiction #fanfic

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ficsandstrangerthings · 6 years

Text

Kiss it better

Summary: As a member of the yearbook it’s your job to take pictures of the boys basketball game. Distracted by a certain Steve Harrington you didn’t see the ball heading straight for your face.

Pairing: Steve x Reader

Word Count: 1.6 K

The boys of the Hawkins high basketball team moved swiftly across the court, crowd cheering loudly as they gained possession of the ball. You brought your camera up to snap a picture as Steve Harrington lined up to take a 2 point shot. Cheerleaders exploded into the fight song as the shot was good, nothing but net. Steve moved to high five a teammate, sweat beading on his brow, eyes alive. ‘Click’ “You do know that there are other people on the basketball team, besides Steve.” Nearly jumping out of your skin, you found yourself extremely thankful for the strap that kept your camera from crashing to the ground. Whirling around you gave Johnathon a sour look, jutting your lip out in indignation. “I know that,” you cut back, cheeks flaring in embarrassment. As a member of the yearbook club you had found yourself at the Friday night game, tasked with snapping photos of the team in action for the yearbook. Not that you were complaining. “Riiiiight, so when we go develop our photos on Monday there will be pictures other than Steve?” He teased with a raised brow, turning to snap a photo of the cheerleaders who were building a pyramid. You knew disclosing your huge tiny crush on the ex King of Hawkins to Johnathon was a bad idea, not that you had much of a choice in the matter. Your friend and fellow photographer had picked up on it pretty quickly, damn his eye for detail.

“As a matter of fact yes,” no, actually. You hadn’t taken any thus far, distracted by Steve’s flushed cheeks and slightly mussed up hair, which you almost found more attractive then the normally coiffed look. You made a show of lining up a shot of Billy Hargrove. “See, right there, candid shot of ass face.” Johnathon snorted at your nickname for the aggressive boy, shaking his head. “You do know the only person who doesn’t know you like Steve, is Steve. “ He said, watching as your face burned an even deeper shade of crimson. “Wha-no I...they...shut up!” You seethed, turning and socking the boy’s shoulder. “Ow!” He hissed, rubbing the injured area, a grin on his lips. “What was that for?” Judging by the mirth in his voice he knew exactly what it was for. “You’re supposed to be my friend you know, and right now i’m just feeling so attacked.” You pouted and he shook his head, laughing at your childish attitude over your crush. “Now, if it’s all right with you, I’m supposed to be working and you’re distracting me,” you sniffed, turning your nose up and Johnathon rolled his eyes as you stepped towards the court, lifting the camera to your face. ‘CRUNCH’ A loud ‘oooo!’ erupted from the crowd before a sudden hush fell as entire gym froze, gob smacked as the basketball crashed into your camera, which in turn smashed into your face. The impact sent you flying back, head cracking painfully on the hard gym floor, before everything went black.

When you came to everything was fuzzy. A dull pounding had taken up residence in the back of your skull, and the harsh gym lights above you were nearly blinding. Blinking several times to try and clear the stars from your vision you tried to sit up only to have two sets of hands gently push you back down. It was then you became aware of the people hovering over you. Johnathon was to your left, brows creased in worry and lips pressed in a tight line. Next to him an older man you didn't recognize was talking, but the words sounded distorted...almost as if you were under water. What had happened? One minute Johnathon was making fun of you and the next...you were waking up on the gym floor. A sharp stab of pain lanced through your brain as you tried to remember. Groaning your head lolled to the side and your heart stuttered. The same brown eyes that you had admired from a distance for so long now stared down at you with obvious concern. Steve’s face was pulled into a look of horror, lips moving rapidly. It took a moment for you to tune into what he was saying. “(Y/N)...Shi...Sor....I didn’t...(Y/N) can you...(Y/N) I’m sorry!” “Wha-what?” You asked in confusion, wincing at an uncomfortable tugging sensation on your lip that accompanied the action. “(Y/N) can you hear me?” you turned your attention back to the older man who was demanding your attention, nodding slightly. “Great my name is Mr.Swenson, tell me do you remember where you are?” “I’m at...at the basketball game.” You answered slowly, wetting your lips you tasted metallic. Your tongue gently prodded at your lip, and you found the source of the tugging was infact due to the split and swollen flesh. “Very good, do you remember what happened.” You thought the question over carefully, taking your time to answer. “I was...talking with Johnathon...he was being an ass,” said boy scoffed, but couldn't help the relieved smile that came to his face. You obviously weren’t too banged up if you were already back to name calling. “Then I wen’t to take a picture....and everything went....orange?” “You got hit by a basketball, then you took a pretty nasty tumble and hit your head. I’m thinking you received at least a minor concussion, so I want you to take it easy until the ambulance gets here. We already called your parents, they are meeting us at the hospital. “ “Shit, shit, shit, I’m sorry (Y/N) , It was an accident!” Steve interjected, moving as if to touch you before pausing and instead running a hand through his hair. His eyes kept flickering over your face, wincing as if in pain and you wondered how bad you looked. “Is the camera...it’s the schools and i’m responsible for it...” Johnathon held up the smashed piece of hardware with a frown. “Sorry (Y/N)” You closed your eyes and let out a small breath, trying to remember the obscene number that you agreed to pay should any harm befall the school’s camera. “I’ll pay!” Steve blurted and you winced at his volume. “Sorry, it’s my fault...the camera, i’ll pay for it.” He said in a quieter tone. He reached out again, and this time he did touch you, his large hand enveloping your smaller one. You blinked several times, making sure that you weren’t imagining it. Steve was actually holding your hand. Sure he knocked you unconscious with a basketball first, and it may be the concussion talking, but a part of you was oddly O.K. with the turn of events. Moments later Steve was being pushed out of the way as the paramedics arrived. You immediately found yourself missing the comforting warm weight of his hand over yours, especially as the strangers poked and prodded at you. Soon you found yourself in a neck brace and being loaded onto a stretcher. “(Y/N)” “(Y/N/N)” Johnathon and Steve were on either side of the stretcher as they rolled you out the gym and into the crisp night air. “(Y/N/N) I’ll be right behind you, O.K. I’ll meet you there and-” You held up a hand cutting Johnathon off. “No, it’s the last game of the season, Bitchy Becky will never shut her stupid mouth if I don’t get pictures. Stay, please. Take pictures for me?” You begged, doing your best to look at him, but the neck brace made it quite awkward. “I can’t really tell if your nodding, so, are you nodding?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “O.K. I’ll stay. But I’m going to check on you later O.K?” you smiled up at what you hoped was his direction. “Thanks” Red and blue lights cut into your vision as you pulled up to the ambulance. “Alright boys, neither of you are family so this is your stop.” The paramedic ordered. A warm weight returned to your hand, and Steve's face floated into view. “(Y/N), I really am sorry, I feel so so bad....like really bad and I’m serious, you know about the camera, I’ll pay for it!” He babbled, squeezing your hand gently. You really hoped the red and blue from the ambulance hid the blush coloring your cheeks. “It’s O.K. Steve, really please. Stop apologizing.” Your eyes flickered across his face, from his eyes, to his lips and everywhere in between unable to hold eye contact, embarrassed at your current state. “Alright kid, wrap it up.” The paramedic urged and Steve nodded before looking back down at you, he hesitated slightly before giving you a small smile and ducking his head down. Your eyes bulged out of your skull as his lips ghosted over the corner of your mouth, so soft and fast if you hadn’t seen it you wouldn't believe it. When he pulled away he gave you a small smile and another firm squeeze. You felt your mouth fall open slightly and couldn’t help the gobsmacked look that took over your features, ears burning as the blush crept hot and fast up your neck. “Sorry but I don’t think a kiss is enough to make it better. Can I...Can I visit you tomorrow?” He asked, looking slightly sheepish as he ran his free hand through his hair. You did your best to nod, giving him a shy smile. “Yeah, sure.” With that the stretcher was loaded up, Steve’s hand falling away from your’s. Before the doors could close Steve called out to you one last time. “Maybe you can show me some of those pictures too! Your bound to have at least one good one!” Your jaw fell open as Johnathon barked out a laugh at Steve’s jibe. “Sorry (Y/N), I guess he does know.” Johnathon yelled. With that the doors slammed shut leaving you with the chuckling paramedics and a erratic heart beat that played for all to hear over the monitor.

#steve harrington #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington reader #stranger things imagine #stranger things #stranger things 2 #stranger things fanfiction

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chickenfetus · 6 years

Note

all moongan

thank you for asking falen tbh i love u sm and i love doing these

omg is this ask for this ask meme i literally almost posted this along with the wrong ask fml

1: when you have cereal, do you have more milk than cereal or more cereal than milk?

more cereal than mik because.. i dont eat cereal with milk……… i love the crunch

2: do you like the feeling of cold air on your cheeks on a wintery day?

as someone who lives in a tropical country is that what its called idk we dont have seasons and it never gets lower than 25 degrees so yes that would be ideal

3: what random objects do you use to bookmark your books?

hrmmmmm… i just remember the page number?? or try to lmao if i dont remember i just skim through the pages and try to recognise where i left off

4: how do you take your coffee/tea?

with at least 2 packets of sugar tbh…. i dont drink coffee

5: are you self-conscious of your smile?

omg story time i went 2 get my braces removed and the dentist wanted to take pics so he was like “smile with your teeth!” and i was like ok! but then he kept saying i wasnt doing it right lmao… guess whos never smiled b4… (me) so he told me 2 practice my smile lol i didnt answer the qn but ya,,, i am probably

6: do you keep plants?

i used 2 be very against plants… now theyre okay i guess i dont rly keep any

7: do you name your plants?

refer 2 6

8: what artistic medium do you use to express your feelings?

art??? i havent drawn in awhile

9: do you like singing/humming to yourself?

no LOL

10: do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach?

on my side!!!! i cant sleep on my back bc i gotta hug smth.. and my stomach is out of the qn

11: what’s an inner joke you have with your friends?

🅱️… and .. same brainwaves…. poor mans ____…. this is all from the shady hq im so sorry my other pals

12: what’s your favorite planet?

the moon for no real reason

13: what’s something that made you smile today?

hMMm, watching astro and mx perform??? and just being shady with bell lmao

14: if you were to live with your best friend in an old flat in a big city, what would it look like?

this… question,,,..so im thinking of a bright place with white walls and translucent curtains so the light call fill the (living) room perfectly and everythings really ??? sunny and shit idk its warm… the floor’s made of (fake?) wood and theres a small kitchen bc i cant cook and idk if my friend would be able to lol.. theres 2 bed rooms both are painfully small but it works.. theres one other room with a closet for clothes… the bathroom is just a shower, sink and toilet… theres no washing machine rip and ?? thats about it poor mens life

i watchd the like we used mv again and i realized ...... that is literally where i got this imagery from thanks the rose i love a relatable band

15: go google a weird space fact and tell us what it is!

heres a fact (?) from me first: it rains diamonds on one planet ?? mecury maybe?? mars??? whomst.. this isnt even a fact its ,me trying to recall shit

ok real fact: There are thousands of other planets out there. sorry lads this website doesnt wanna have fun

16: what’s your favorite pasta dish?

is spaghetti bolognese a pasta dish

17: what color do you really want to dye your hair?

im chill with my current hair colour??? bc its brown sometimes idk shitty hair

18: tell us about something dumb/funny you did that has since gone down in history between you and your friends and is always brought up.

i asked my irl friends (group name: panic support group) and this is what they said

K: everything

E: when u were one hour late (i dont remember this happening but i do know im always late but never for an hour past me wyd)

19: do you keep a journal? what do you write/draw/ in it?

goDD i dont but i sure want to

20: what’s your favorite eye color?

this is strange but every eye colour is my favourite although ppl with two or more colours in their eyes are so cool

21: talk about your favorite bag, the one that’s been to hell and back with you and that you love to pieces.

its just my school bag lmao i got it 4 years ago and i take it everywhere even if the event is “small” and they ask us to bring “smaller bags” ill bring my big ass school bag anyway it looks like this (i dont have to but linking stuff is so fun)

22: are you a morning person?

technically.???its the holidays but i still manage to get up before 10 (most of the time) and … even if i have like 5 hours of sleep i manage to feel awake really easily????

23: what’s your favorite thing to do on lazy days where you have 0 obligations?

tf i just use my phone lmao this is what ive been doing for like a month now… i could watch every vlive i havent watched yet, i could make video compilations i could practice my art but… even though im out of school im still procrastinating.. legends only

24: is there someone out there you would trust with every single one of your secrets?

mmmm falens the closest to that

25: what’s the weirdest place you’ve ever broken into?

my classroom

26: what are the shoes you’ve had for forever and wear with every single outfit?

white converse?? i have 2 get new ones every like 2 years since theyre also my school shoes and break easily….. other than those i have my blueblack converse too (i dont wear them as much so theyre still in one piece)

27: what’s your favorite bubblegum flavor?

i dont eat bubblegum bc im always afraid ill swallow it and die and im p sure its illegal here

28: sunrise or sunset?

sunset but i dont look outside enough for either

29: what’s something really cute that one of your friends does and is totally endearing?

hm……… with jen its when she sends me asks on anon despite it being super obvious like im not a Fan when my friends send me asks on anon bc sometimes i cant tell and i get a sense of false hope but w/ jen its okay but i know its her

with bell its when they reply to my keyboard smashes with their own keyboard smashes lmao and when they just??//?? say smth cute abt their faves (lately its been sanha thank u sh)

30: think of it: have you ever been truly scared?

ya lmao when i have 2 sleep alone and its completely dark i have half a mind 2 believe some random supernatural being is out for me

31: what is your opinion of socks? do you like wearing weird socks? do you sleep with socks? do you confine yourself to white sock hell? really, just talk about socks.

hmM. socks are great i always wear them bc i wear shoes almost every time i go outside… i dont have any weird socks bc im Boring but i have 3 pkmn songs and 1 gudetama socks/.. bUT I DID buy my friend those socks with individual toe pockets… it was so funny when my other friend saw it she choked on her drink and almost spat it out. we laughed so hard we hit our heads against each other i love friendship.. i have 2 wear white socks for sch bc… aesthetic? god if i know lmao….. i only ever wear ankle socks bc….. socks any higher than that? cancelled.

32: tell us a story of something that happened to you after 3AM when you were with friends.

listen ive never stayed up later than like 1am ok maybe 2am??? but i was working on like a project that was due the next day for school with my groupmates (friends) so does that count lmao

33: what’s your fave pastry?

bread………. sugar donuts…….. i am Aware that thats not how u spell it but wtv

34: tell us about the stuffed animal you kept as a kid. what is it called? what does it look like? do you still keep it?

why does this ask so many qns in 1 qn……. i had a cat?? it had pink stripes and it didnt have a name bc i dont name my stuff… even my pokemon.. and yeah i still have it except its in a big dusty bag where all my other toys are kept

35: do you like stationary and pretty pens and so on? do you use them often?

i kinda have to use stationary for school so ya.. p often is correct… pretty pens??? i dont rly see the point whoopS!!! in exams u can only use black or blue so

36: which band’s sound would fit your mood right now?

im listening 2 day6 so like day6

37: do you like keeping your room messy or clean?

my room isnt even my room i just go there to sleep .. the place im always at is like a study area except its open?? so everyone can see me lol and . its not messy?? if u look at it from far but the shit on the desk and shelves are so fucking messy god i need to pack those

38: tell us about your pet peeves!

aLRIGHT LADS welcome 2 megans ted talk

(skip this if ur not fond of drama)

so something (refer to the song he said suits myday) happened with jae recently and ive seen fans trying to defend him by @ing him and saying that they love him which is fine - great even! but what i dont approve is how everyone’s basically forgotten about the whole matter because they had concerts so instead of @-ing him and asking him to explain himself, they tell him what a great concert it was which is also great bc their concerts are honestly amazing. basically my pet peeve is when ppl dismiss the problematic action of some people just bc they like them.

another thing is that there were some fans who started guilting others for wanting to drop day6 completely because of what jae did and in my opinion i think it is totally cool to want to drop a group if they did smth bad like??? its ur life???? u can choose who you want to like. what is not cool is pulling out all the good things the person has ever done in their entire life and try to remind others about the positive sides of the person. yes. they’re an encouraging person, etc. but that does not cancel out the bad things they’ve done until they explain/apologise. what is infuriating is just the manner some people took it?? they literally went ahead and tweeted shit like “would your parents drop you if you did smth wrong?” and “you’re seriously gonna drop someone whos been nothing been nice because of one incident?” yes. people will and you dont have any fucking right to stop them? so dont go pulling out receipts.

another thing. its also okay to want to stan the whole group even if someone has done smth problematic. like? to me youre cool if youre able to see and acknowledge the bad shit someone has done and still stand by their side while educating them at the same time its nice to have faith in your idols. however, i wont say much when your idols dont respond and/or respond in a way that shows absolutely no remorse. its cool if you want to support them too, despite that.

tldr; dont fucking excuse someone’s behaviour/action just because youre so far up their fucking ass. dont pull out shit from before either, be it good or bad. and lastly, its okay to want to drop/continue supporting them, its your life.

i just wanted to talk about this tbh,, it was nice to see a few mydays trying to urge jae to explain the whole situation but seeing as he still hasnt and couldve it really irks me :-/

okay update its been a day and i havent really thought about this but im kinda conflicted now bc jae still hasnt talked about the song and im probably just making a big deal out of smth that will never happen again but it really doesnt sit right with me knowing that jae recommended that song to his fans and said it suited mydays?? bc looking at the lyrics... i SURE hope not... idk i have neither forgiven or forgotten but he’s okay now.? i cant stay mad at someone for that long anyway ill never forgive him 4 it though lmao petty ppl only

another thing... jae’s still an amazing person to me with all the encouraging words he says to mydays but this one incident is just soOOOOO hrm and i did go off tangent with the question as usual lol

39: what color do you wear the most?

i wear a lot of colours tbh??? but bc its rly hot out ive just been wearing the same shirt every time i leave the house and its black so

40: think of a piece of jewelry you own: what’s it’s story? does it have any meaning to you?

i dont wear jewelry rip

41: what’s the last book you remember really, really loving?

challenger deep

42: do you have a favorite coffee shop? describe it!

hm,, ive only ever visited this coffee shop like more than once bc the girl i used 2 like showed it to me b4 like 2 years ago and it was nice i liked their mocha frappe and its cozy i guess??? sometimes i go there with friends to study/just eat but i havent gone in awhile.., its two stories and it has an open air sitting area too i prefer sitting inside bc the sun is a big no thanks.. the ceiling is kind of like?? going downward?? like the kind iin attics???? idk man it was nice

43: who was the last person you gazed at the stars with?

u cant see shit here sorry

44: when was the last time you remember feeling completely serene and at peace with everything?

cant relate

45: do you trust your instincts a lot?

yea?? sometimes i just gotta bc my brain wont shut the fuck up

46: tell us the worst pun you can think of.

suddenly all of the puns i know have left my mind thanks @ me

47: what food do you think should be banned from the universe?

vegetables

48: what was your biggest fear as a kid? is it the same today?

the dark and whats basically in it???? like ghosts zombies and shit u kno the scary shit

49: do you like buying CDs and records? what was the last one you bought?

i like buying albums?? theres a CD in those so it counts lmao i bought sunrise by day6

50: what’s an odd thing you collect?

boxes??? like containers????

51: think of a person. what song do you associate with them?

boxy and letting go by day6

52: what are your favorite memes of the year so far?

YOU KNOW I HAD TO DO IT TO THEM and oh worm

53: have you ever watched the rocky horror picture show? heathers? beetlejuice? pulp fiction? what do you think of them?

me: rocky.. ?????? from astro.. /?? no ive never heard of any of those and i saw the word horror so u wont hear abt those from me any time soon

54: who’s the last person you saw with a true look of sadness on their face?

i literally havent been outside for 2 days

55: what’s the most dramatic thing you’ve ever done to prove a point?

be petty aka yesterday i changed my twitter icon from jae 2 brian bc jae’s being a child rn so hes out

56: what are some things you find endearing in people?

when they ramble abt smth they like thanksk buds

57: go listen to bohemian rhapsody. how did it make you feel? did you dramatically reenact the lyrics?

is this the song from p!atd i have it in my playlist lmao oh i fucing hate this song i always skip it im not listening

58: who’s the wine mom and who’s the vodka aunt in your group of friends? why?

idk what either of those are but bell and boxy

59: what’s your favorite myth?

idk any

60: do you like poetry? what are some of your faves?

anything that eunwoo has ever written

61: what’s the stupidest gift you’ve ever given? the stupidest one you’ve ever received?

ive given eggs for karissa’s birthday b4 and i got a kermit its not stupid tho its just the closest thign i could think of

62: do you drink juice in the morning? which kind?

i drink water juice everyday every minute every hour

63: are you fussy about your books and music? do you keep them meticulously organized or kinda leave them be?

my books are all in shelves lads i just heard the fucking keys rattle im not doing this shit im logging off night

ok day 3 and im back like i said previously my books are on shelves i tried rearranging them by series b4 but my housekeeper rearrnaged them randomly the next day so i gave up

i make playlists for songs that i like, really like (i still skip them sometimes rip) and songs that my friend recommends me i have a seperate playlist for the songs i like in japanese 2

64: what color is the sky where you are right now?

light blue?? like its actually p white bc its cloudy

65: is there anyone you haven’t seen in a long time who you’d love to hang out with?

m not rly

66: what would your ideal flower crown look like?

just. leaves maybe??

67: how do gloomy days where the sky is dark and the world is misty make you feel?

Horror Movie

68: what’s winter like where you live?

oh winter is fucking fantastic it never gets colder than 25 degrees celsius here and if it does rain it lasts for like 10 minutes

69: what are your favorite board games?

i used to rly like snake and ladders and monopoly :-o

70: have you ever used a ouija board?

im not ready for that kinda death

71: what’s your favorite kind of tea?

english breakfast or earl gray??? those r like the standard right

72: are you a person who needs to note everything down or else you’ll forget it?

ya but i never do bc i either forget to or am just 2 lazy

73: what are some of your worst habits?

being lazy + procrastinating :-D

74: describe a good friend of yours without using their name or gendered pronouns.

okie :-o ..

they’re great ok ive talked abt them like 10 times in the span of 2 months but whatever folks

they’re super nice, kind and just all of the positive adjectives out there in the dictionary ...... they’ve helped me multiple times and they’re always there 2 lend me a listening ear (or in our case, eye lmao) idk??? im just super comfortable around them always and im honestly so thankful we became mutuals (and subsequently friends) last year!!!! i cant say a lot bc ill just get v repetitive but overall they’re an awesome friend and im glad we still communicate daily via twitter and sometimes our skype sessions even if they’re kinda awkward bc i never know when 2 talk bc im scared ill speak and theyll say smth and itll turn into a MESS which actually happened lmao

im looking forward to the day our skype sessions become super smooth and easy going!!!

75: tell us about your pets!

i have none but id die for boxys cats

76: is there anything you should be doing right now but aren’t?

well yeah always tbh but its not smth i have to do but more like want to do im just 2 lazy to get around doing it

77: pink or yellow lemonade?

?? i almost said lemons arent pink but i Remembered...... yellow lemonade

78: are you in the minion hateclub or fanclub?

i feel like this is an Attack? okay LISTEN so story time again.

on the flight back from japan i watched the alien covenant and i couldnt even get past the scene where the baby alien was gonna kill the poor guy who ended up being locked up with the infected dude as soon as i saw the blood and the alien emerge from the guy’s back i bolted lmao

so to calm myself down nd block that memory from my mind i went ahead and watched despicable me 3.. which HONESTLY im the worst critic ever but in my humble opinion.... the movie was good????????? idk i didnt watch minions the movie though i got lazy again whooopS!

anwyay i sidetracked but im neutral im not a fan but i wouldnt go out of my way to call minions annoying?? bc they really arent? i feel like its only seen that way bc of how people make posts abt how annoying minions are even tho.. they arent??

79: what’s one of the cutest things someone has ever done for you?

my memory hates me so every specific thing my friends have ever done for me has left my mind but .

the cutest thing? everything my friends do for me

80: what color are your bedroom walls? did you choose that color? if so, why?

theyre yellow and no i didnt theyve been there ever since i could remember

81: describe one of your friend’s eyes using the most abstract imagery you can think of.

lava cake

82: are/were you good in school?

yeah i was good in school for like the first three years and this year i just flopped so badly lmao and its my important year too oh well my exams r over and i still dont have a backup plan in mind

83: what’s some of your favorite album art?

all of dance gavin dance’s albums have awesome art

84: are you planning on getting tattoos? which ones?

back when i was really into 5sos i thought of getting a tally since that was their logo at that time but now no not really unless i decide to get lance’s face tattooed onto my forehead on impulse

85: do you read comics? what are your faves?

im keeping up with hq, bnha and tg manga!!!!

86: do you like concept albums? which ones?

idk what those r but sure

87: what are some movies you think everyone should watch at least once in their lives?

big hero 6

88: are there any artistic movements you particularly enjoy?

who wrote this whats up with these questions

i googled and.. not really?? they all look nice

89: are you close to your parents?

close enough to stand being in the same room as them but not close enough to want to initiate conversations

90: talk about your one of you favorite cities.

tokyo was really cool (literally) and if i ever go again id love to go with friends so we can explore more??

91: where do you plan on traveling this year?

japan was supposed to be the only plan for this year but my grandad passed away so i had to go to malaysia multiple times earlier this year ik this wasnt the qn but ive already went to the planned destination tm so

92: are you a person who drowns their pasta in cheese or a person who barely sprinkles a pinch?

BARELY SPRINKLES A PINCH im anti cheese

93: what’s the hairstyle you wear the most?

um. like?? i tie the sides of my hair that cover my face back??? bc i dont like hair in my face

94: who was the last person you know to have a birthday?

bell

95: what are your plans for this weekend?

hopefully something useful

96: do you install your computer updates really quickly or do you procrastinate on them a lot?

i also click remind me tomorrow lmao

97: myer briggs type, zodiac sign, and hogwarts house?

infp-t, capricorn, hufflepuff (same as falen nd jen yay)

98: when’s the last time you went hiking? did you enjoy it?

uh ive never been hiking and i dont plan on it sorry body

99: list some five (or id never shut up) songs that resonate to your soul whenever you hear them.

currently......

when you love someone - day6

like we used to - the rose

crazy sexy cool - astro

death of a strawberry - dance gavin dance

if it means a lot to you - a day to remember

idk if these actually “resonate to my soul” they just sound nice

100: if you were presented with two buttons, one that allows you to go 5 years into the past, the other 5 years into the future, which one would you press? why?

oh worm.. i wouldnt miind either???

i know i have 2 choose but like

if i go back into the past i could be less annoying?? but the past has actually helped me be the way i am today and i think im learning to be a better person?? im definitely way better than how i was previously 5 years ago and im just grateful i was able to learn from my mistakes???

so i wouldnt go back to the past.

if its in the future i can see how ill end up and if its not good i might end up being able to change myself so i dont get my “bad end”..???? maybe or i can just see what happens in the future and i can look forward to it

itll also give me a chnace to have the most fun while i can if its not too nice

so my decision is to go to the future

thank you so much for asking falen god this got so long lmao

#if anybody read through all 100.. thank u and have a good day!!!#softshouyous #asks

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buddyrabrahams · 7 years

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10 second-year NFL players poised for a breakout season

Many rookies enter the NFL with unparalleled or even unfair expectations, and then fail to live up to that billing. But one season does not generally make or break a player.

New York Giants safety Landon Collins is perhaps the best recent example of this, as he struggled throughout his rookie campaign only to catch fire and set historical marks during his sophomore season, very nearly winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

So, who will be the Landon Collins of 2017? Here’s a look at 10 second-year players who are poised for a breakout 2017 season.

10. Darian Thompson, safety, New York Giants

It seems somewhat ironic that in referencing Landon Collins to open this article, we immediately pinpoint another second-year Giants safety as a potential breakout star.

A third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Thompson was supposed to join a talented Giants secondary and provide a ball-hawking, center fielder alongside the bone-crunching, run-stopping Collins. Unfortunately, a foot injury limited Thompson to only two games, and the Giants were never able to see the full potential of that tandem.

But for those who cover the team on a daily basis, the talent Thompson possesses is evident. Thompson is a true coverage safety capable of shutting down tight end seam routes — one of the team’s biggest area of concerns — and he is a turnover-creating machine. Above all else, he picked up the defense rapidly and become a leader in the secondary before ever stepping foot onto the field in a meaningful game.

If Collins can continue his progression at strong safety, there’s no telling how productive Thompson can be by fitting into a role that could not be more perfectly suited for him.

9. C.J. Prosise, RB, Seattle Seahawks

With the addition of Eddie Lacy — a true workhorse at running back — there may not be as many opportunities for C.J. Prosise as he would like. But that doesn’t mean the Seahawks won’t carve out a key role for him, because there’s no mistaking how dominant he looked at times last season.

Although he comes with some injury concerns, having been limited to only six games in 2016, Prosise has been soundly praised by his coaches for multiple reasons.

When he was healthy and on the field, Prosise showed the ability to make quick decisions, quick cuts and tally a good number of yards per carry (5.73). Even beyond that, he proved to be a legitimate threat out of the backfield, using his soft hands to haul in 17 passes for 208 yards.

That sort of dynamic play was never more evident than in a Week 10 game against the New England Patriots when Prosise gained 153 total yards from scrimmage. And it’s also why his coaches will ensure he’s a significant part of their offensive gameplan.

8. Corey Coleman, WR, Cleveland Browns

A first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Corey Coleman looked like the answer at wide receiver for the Browns early on. He hauled in seven receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns over his first two professional games, but then he suffered a broken hand in practice and his production fell off dramatically.

Add in lingering issues at quarterback for the Browns, and consistency became nearly impossible. The chemistry simply wasn’t there and playing wide receiver with a broken hand is far from easy (talk about stating the obvious).

Still, there’s no denying the sort of flashes Coleman showed at times — particularly early on — and the impressive athleticism he displayed. And while he never again topped 45 yards in a game after returning in Week 9, a little health and consistency at the quarterback position could go a long way in 2017.

7. Hunter Henry, TE, Los Angeles Chargers

After hauling in 36 receptions for 478 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie in 2016, it’s hard to say Henry will “break out” given that he already has done so, to some degree. But those numbers, even with the continued presence of Antonio Gates, pale in comparison to what he could produce in 2017.

Coming out of college, Henry was already a well-polished route runner, and he only improved upon that after a year in the NFL. He also drastically cut into Gates’ offensive snaps, almost earning a 50-50 split.

With Gates soon turning 37 years old, it might be time for the Chargers to move in a younger direction. And while Henry won’t steal all of Gates’ snaps, it’s become clear he’s the tight end of the future in Los Angeles.

So long as Henry can remain healthy, he’ll not only supplant the future Hall of Famer, but he may also develop into one of the most dynamic tight ends in all of football.

6. Shaq Lawson, DE, Buffalo Bills

There were several teams interested in snagging Shaq Lawson in the 2016 NFL Draft, but he ultimately went to the Bills at No. 19 overall and was expected to become a disruptive pass rusher out of the gate.

Injuries limited Lawson to only 10 games as a rookie, where he finished with just 13 tackles and two sacks. But despite the limited production, there were moments where it was obvious why he was so highly regarded.

Time may be what separates Lawson from his struggling rookie campaign and the player he can be. Playing under new head coach Sean McDermott, who comes with a defensive mindset, could be exactly what the doctor ordered for the 22-year-old.

With McDermott switching the defense back to a 4-3 from a 3-4, Lawson should have a better opportunity to rush the passer with his hand in the dirt.

“Oh man, a lot easier,” Lawson told NYup.com of the 4-3 defense. “The 3-4 was very difficult for me last year. I’m back with something I’m comfortable, back to a 4-3. It’s a lot easier.”

Comfort plus health could mean a big, big year for Lawson.

5. Paul Perkins, RB, New York Giants

When the Giants originally drafted Paul Perkins in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, many experts predicted he would take over as the team’s starter before the year was out.

As it turns out, they were all correct.

It took Perkins a few weeks to get his feet under him, but as the season wore on, it was clear just how talented he truly was. He was not only the Giants’ most healthy running back, but he was also their most explosive, averaging 4.1 yards per carry on a team that averaged only 3.5.

Out of the backfield, Perkins also carved out a niche with his hands, averaging 10.8 yards per reception — higher than even pass catcher Shane Vereen — and a catch rate of 62.5%.

Even prior to organized team activities, Giants head coach Ben McAdoo named Perkins the team’s starter, so we can expect to see big numbers out of the sophomore in 2017.

4. Josh Doctson, WR, Washington Redskins

In his final season at TCU, Josh Doctson hauled in 78 receptions for 1,738 yards and 14 touchdowns. And it was that sort of production that led the Redskins to invest a first-round pick in him.

Unfortunately, an Achilles’ injury limited Doctson to only two receptions for 66 yards as a rookie.

As unfortunate as that circumstance was for the potential NFC East star, there’s no doubt he’ll have an opportunity to play a big role in 2017. Both DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon have departed Washington via free agency, which has created an opening for Doctson to burst through.

Doctson has declared himself 100 percent recovered from his injury, and early on in OTAs, he has looked very “impressive.”

“He’s been impressive,” head coach Jay Gruden told the team’s official website. “I think the big thing for him is the confidence in his Achilles and I think he’s got that right now. . . It looks like he can run down the field. He made a good catch down the sideline today and [he has] strong hands, we know that about him. Now we’ve just got to continue to put one day after another after another.”

So far this offseason, Doctson has taken both first-team and second-team reps, but it’s entirely possible that come Week 1, he’s starting alongside Terrelle Pryor.

3. Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams invested quite a bit in order to trade up and selected quarterback Jared Goff No. 1 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, but things weren’t exactly sparkling out of the gate.

Goff served as Case Keenum’s backup until Week 10, but even after taking over the reigns, his rookie struggles were painfully obvious.

In seven games, Goff completed only 54.6% of his passes for 1,098 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions. At times, he looked completely lost and over-matched. Even at this point in OTAs, the Rams still won’t commit to him starting at quarterback in Week 1. Of course, that could just be a line used to help motivate the youngster.

The reality is, Goff still has some growing pains to endure, but there’s a reason he was the No. 1 overall pick. And based on his rookie season, he can only get better from here.

Goff expects to be the face of the Rams franchise and that alone show some maturity. He has the right mindset, but now he just needs to overcome some of his jitters. Once he does that, there’s no reason to believe he won’t develop into a solid NFL quarterback.

2. Carl Nassib, DE, Cleveland Browns

Carl Nassib saw his stock rise quite a bit prior to being selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, but a calf injury prior to training camp and a broken hand in Week 2 significantly limited the rookie’s production.

Although he managed to fight through 14 games, Nassib wasn’t nearly as impactful as some had anticipated. He recorded just 20 tackles and 2.5 sacks, failing to provide the sort of pass rush the Browns needed.

The good news for Nassib is that he’ll not only return healthy in 2017, but he will also benefit from a switch to a 4-3 defensive scheme — a system he’s far more familiar with and one that fits his style of play. Add in the fact that Myles Garrett will now play at the opposite end of the line, and it should provide Nassib with countless opportunities to rush the passer.

Will Nassib erupt for 15.5 sacks as he had during his senior season at Penn State? Probably not, but there’s little doubt he’ll be far more disruptive this season.

1. Jaylon Smith, LB, Dallas Cowboys

Jaylon Smith was the obvious answer to cap off this list for multiple reasons. Not only is he an exceptional talent who would have made waves in the NFL right away if healthy, but he’ll now enter his second season with intimate knowledge of the NFL game and the Cowboys’ defensive system.

After suffering a devastating knee injury in his final game at Notre Dame — a torn ACL and MCL coupled with nerve damage — Smith was forced to sit out his entire rookie season as he rehabbed. But in doing so, he spent countless hours watching game film and studying.

Although he’s still not practicing on back-to-back days and likely won’t until the regular season, his coaches and teammates have acknowledged he’s well ahead of the curve. Beyond that, he’s carried an optimistic and uplifting attitude that will serve him well when he does finally step onto the field in a meaningful game.

from Larry Brown Sports http://ift.tt/2sonu59

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