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joe9cool · 1 year

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Collide-Justin Herbert-24

A/N: as usual I do not know anyone or anyone affiliated with the Los Angeles Chargers. This is just fanfiction purposes only.

This was one of the best Holiday seasons in a long time.

She felt at ease, she was comfortable with her boyfriend's family. There was no big crowd of people, No kids screaming, no one asking for connections, or people asking about a boyfriend, jokes about her appearance. Making comments about how much money she had. Being forced to talk to mom and dads work friends and social circle.

She noticed again that she was the first one up. Well Justin was gone to the facilities for an early practice and lifting. She laid for a bit and checked her phone to answer some business emails and texts from her manager and agent. It was last minute to confirm all her stuff was set for when she arrived on the Dune 2 set.

Sara was scratching behind Nova’s ear when there was a knock on the door. She heard Isabell's voice "can I come in?"

She looked down to make sure everything was in place. "Yeah, it's open!" Isabell came in and sat on the bed. "How was everything last night?"

Sara smiled. "Good, I love the Herbert's, they are just so nice." Isabebell smiled. "Yes, I remembered being terrified meeting them for the first time. But Holly and Mark are so welcoming, and Patrick was there for comedic relief." The girls laughed at that. "I came here to apologize as well." Sara was confused. "Why?"

"Well I didn't mean to act all fangirl over you. I'm sure it's annoying to have people fawn over you all the time." Sara smiled. "Trust me it's not always like that. I've had people insult me to my face and try to tear me down." Isabelle shook her head. "The nerve of some people."

They spoke for a little bit. She had a lot in common with the Brazilian girl, they came from decent sized families, being successful was important, hence why Isabelle was in dental school. They spoke on the pressures they faced and Sara really felt like she had a good friend. Her and Carly were amazing women, along with the rest of the family. Eventually Holly interrupted and announced she was making breakfast. The girls joined the gang in the living room. Once breakfast was consumed and cleaned up, it was another lazy day. The stores were insane, and she just wanted to relax. They were all getting ready for a big early Holiday dinner. Throughout the day she was texting Justin as well as her siblings, who were upset that she was missing Christmas with them as well as the kids were upset their favorite Aunt Sara wasn't there.

—--------------------------------------------------------------

So far Christmas was a success. Justin had presented his o-line with extravagant gift packages courtesy of Sara's suggestion. Despite the tension and stress of the team trying to clinch a playoff spot. All eyes were going to be on the games on Christmas Eve.

It was weird, the past Christmases were all wrapped up in football. That was all he cared about. Now here he was wanting nothing more than to get home to his family and Sara. It was a drastic change from last year.

"So, did you and Sara exchange gifts yet?" Mike asked as he and Justin finished up their workout. He smiled, a goofy smile that only his teammate and one of his closest friends knew. "You son of a bitch."

Justin blushed. "Shut up." Mike laughed and clapped him on the back. "Ayo man I'm happy for you. I still don't know how you bagged her. Way too good for you." Justin smiled, and went back to his locker to get a small wrapped gift. He handed it to Mike. "Thank you. For forcing me to go to Joe’s wedding. Even though I wanted to kill you at the time."

Mike smiled and took the package, tearing the wrapping paper. He laughed when he revealed the video game he wanted for months "how did you get a hold of this?"

"Sara knows a guy at the company." Justin smiled when Sara told him that she could get her hands on a copy of the most sought out video game. "Bro, thank you so much. I'm glad you found happiness, even though I will continue to say she is too cool for you."

Justin laughed. "I'm a lucky man. Mike, I'm a very lucky man." He saw Joey look at him from the corner of his eye.

Things had been awkward for the once close teammates. While Justin understood that the beginning of his relationship was incredibly rocky due to him being an ass, he was more upset that Bosa was entertaining Sara. Now granted there were teammates who shared hookups and casual dates he wasn't that type of person. Neither was Joey or so he thought. Justin thought about the first time Mike alerted him that his teammate was trying to steal his girl.

Things seemed to calm down once Joey had taken more of an interest in Sara's friend, despite him dating some other girl. It was stupid for him to get mad, and did he have a right? He thought about Taylor, and how he hadn't told Sara the truth about her, but then again it was likely that she didn't even know about the blonde reporter. Nothing did happen between them while he and Sara were together

Well, they did kiss, but technically she forced herself on him and he wasn't in a relationship yet, so it didn't really matter. However Justin knew that if that had happened between her and Joey he'd be pissed. But who was to say she was one hundred percent innocent?

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't notice Bosa make his way over to his locker and was now calling his name. "Herb!" Justin snapped out of his daze. "Huh?"

"You okay? You look like you want to kill me." Justin shook his head. "Nah dude I just spaced out" Bosa didn't buy it. "Uh huh sure." As he was about to walk away Justin called out. "Hey Joey can you come into the video room with me for a second?"

Joey nodded confused, he followed the younger man into the room where Justin closed the door behind him. "Hey man what's this all about-"

"Do you like Sara?" Justin blurted it out. He didn't know what came over him. He needed reassurance maybe. He was never to feel insecure in a relationship, maybe because he had never allowed himself to fall deeply in love like he is now. Joey looked at him. "Look man I know I crossed the line with the flirting, but I didn't know you were serious about her like that. I mean she is gorgeous inside and out, and many guys want her-"

Justin cut him off. "Get to the point bro" Joey laughed. "You are serious about her so I backed off. She's a cool friend to have and that's how I see her. I'm more interested in her friend."

"I thought you were seeing Kailey." He shook his head. "Ended it. Was going too fast. Listen, you and Sara are good for each other. Just don't fuck it up." Justin nodded. He was a little hurt that many of his friends and family seemed to think he would ruin a good thing, but then again he didn't have the best track record with relationships. "I have to ask something though." Joey was confused, wondering what else they had to talk about. "What's the deal with you and Sara’s friend?"

The big man groaned. "We hooked up a hit between relationships in high-school. In college, she went off to New York to do her modeling shit and that was it." Joey looked away and Justin couldn't help but pry. "Dude was she the one that got away?" Joey turned back towards his teammate. "Look man it's in the past, she would never go for a guy like me her parents even said that."

Justin nodded, not wanting to press the issue further. It seemed like it was a sore subject, plus it was obvious his teammate was still hung up on her. He felt bad for his teammate, but it gave him some reassurance that he didn't have to worry.

—--------------------------------------------------------

The Chargers were close. So close to a postseason spot. Justin and his team watched the Bengals beat the Patriots, then on Thursday the Jets lost. They just needed the Raiders to lose, and then to pull off a win in Indianapolis to get in. Justin was getting excited, a reporter mentioned this time last year and how desperate they were. But this wasn't last year, and despite all the adversity, they were sure to beat the Colts.

Once they wrapped up he raced home to get to Sara and his family. He felt bad that they would all be leaving Christmas day, and she would be by himself. She reassured him that she would have Nova to keep her company.

He opened the door to home and smiled at the sight. Sara and Mitch were talking and laughing as she was helping Holly in the kitchen. His dad and Patrick were talking with Isabel in the living room, the house spelled like a home cooked meal. His stomach growled at the smell of ham. He made his presence known and was greeted by his family, Sara coming up to him with a kiss. "Hmm, you smell really good." He mumbled, breathing in her smell he noticed her hair was wet fresh out of the shower. "You could have waited for me, we could have showered together and saved water."

She laughed. "Yeah when have we e just ever showered together?" He laughed "good point"

They looked over to see Holly take the ham out of the oven. Justin's stomach growled and Sara laughed. "Come on, set your stuff down and let's eat." They headed over to the kitchen where everyone began digging in. They had plenty of food. There was ham, then vegetables, and a couple salads. Sara made the mac n cheese, which was a hit. She did take a couple quick videos of the food just for tiktok. They dug in and overate. Everyone complimented Holly, Sara, and Isabel on how good the food was. Sometime during the dinner, Sara's phone buzzed on the table. Looking at it, she turned it off. Justin looked at her, she frowned when her phone began buzzing again. "Babe who is it?"

She looked up. "It's my mom, probably facetiming me to wish me a merry Christmas."

"Oh my god, answer it! Don't feel disconnected from your family just because you're with us!" Mitch obviously didn't know Sara's family dynamic. Taking a deep breath she answered the call and saw her mother's face. "Hi mom."

"Hello sweetie. Please don't slouch like that. It's rude and I can see your double chin." Eyebrows shot up at the table and she grimaced. Sitting up straight, she said "thanks for the reminder mom"

"Merry Christmas dear! I wish you were with us! Where are you? It doesn't look like your house."

She had to think of another lie. "Oh well I'm at a mutual friends house." Eyes shot up again. "Oh well that's nice sweetie. What was so important for work that you couldn't come home?"

Sara rolled her eyes. "Well I have the backup vocals I'm recording for the bands album you know that."

"Well you are just like your father." She cringed hearing about her dad. "Speaking of he is really sorry about Aunt Willa's comments on Thanksgiving, but you know Aunt Willa-"

"Mom I have to go. Did the kids get all of their gifts?"

Cathy sighed. "Yes they did. Your sisters will call you tomorrow when they open them"

They exchanged 'love yous' and hung up. When she set her phone down on the table she looked up. It was silent for a bit. Until Mark spoke up. "Your mom reminds me a bit of mine. Always ranting about stuff. She's a bit high strung?"

Sara laughed. "Oh yeah she's very appearance based. They had their annual Christmas eve party at the local banquet hall. Three hundred people." Mark's eyes widened. "Wow," Sara laughed. "Yeah they are well known around the neighborhood and all of their friends and dads business associates."

Holly stabbed her food. "I can't even imagine." The group continued eating.

Once they finished and they all cleaned up and recovered from stuffing their faces they all decided to exchange gifts. Sara got a bunch of Starbucks gift cards (which Sara enjoyed) she got Isabel and Holly skincare and spa items. She got Mitch medical books, and Patrick got some football merchandise. She spoiled Justin with a new outfit and books to read on the plane and the bus. Mark laughed when Sara made Justin unwrap Nova’s gift. He laughed at the giant cat tower that she was scratching at. When he unboxed it, she immediately jumped on it. "I can't believe you got my cat Christmas gifts" He teased as he opened a Herbert cat jersey. "Oh my god!"

Mitch rolled his eyes. "Don't act like you haven't bought some gifts for Dylan." Sara laughed as Justin was called out by his brother. The gift giving was successful, Patrick was touched when Sara gave him an envelope to hand to Carly when he saw her

The rest of the night was filled with laughter and for the first time. Sara felt truly at peace.

—-------------------------------------------------------------

"Thank you so much for everything, your family is wonderful. Sara flopped on the bed after her routine was done. In the connecting bathroom Justin was rinsing with mouthwash before coming back into the room. "Why are you thanking me? We are together. My family is your family." She turned her head towards him and smiled. She was wearing an Oregon hoodie, courtesy of her boyfriend's Christmas gift to her, along with UGG slippers and a Burberry handbag that his family was surprised that he spent that much money on. She was surprised that he paid attention to her style.

He got into bed and kissed her quickly. "I have one more gift for you."

"Hmm. Is it your ass in your football pants?" He snorted as he got off the bed and went to his drawer. "Your mind is always in the gutter." She laughed and swatted at his ass. He playfully glared at her. "Keep it up and I'm tying you to this bed, and you can't leave."

"That isn't a punishment babe." He rolled his eyes. He retrieved the small, perfectly wrapped box and sat on the bed next to her. "I wanted to give this to you privately."

She hummed and then delicately removed the bow. Once removed and unwrapped. She took off the lid off the velvet box to reveal an emerald diamond ring, in the shape of the Oregon University logo. The ring was set in platinum. It was gorgeous, and it was her, and part of him. "It's beautiful." She whispered. Taking it out, she slipped it on her right hand ring finger. It was a perfect fit. "How did you know-"

"While you were away, you left a ring on my nightstand, and I gave it to my manager to get it sized." He ran his hand through his hair. "I had it engraved on the inside." She took it off to inspect the inside and sure enough, it had the number '10' with a date 'November 2022' she looked up at him questioningly. "It's the month I took you to Oregon." He smiled and her heart swelled. Slipping the ring back on, she launched herself into his arms. Peppering his face with tons of kisses he laughed. "Babe-"

"I love it so much. I love you so much!" They fell backwards on the bed. As much as they wanted to make love, she held off. "You need to focus on getting a playoff spot. I got the fancy champagne glasses and the best champagne. All ready for us to celebrate."

He smiled. "First of all, nothing is certain yet, also my family is heading home right after the game. So if we did make it, it would be just us."

"So I can blow you in the living room?" His cheeks turned pink. "Dirty girl." She laughed and pulled him in for a kiss. They had to get to bed if she wanted to wake up early enough to say goodbye to his family.

—----------------------------------------------------------------

"The Chargers have punched a ticket to the Playoffs!" The television announcer loudly as she had the television loud in the living room. Sara, in her navy Herbert jersey screamed as she picked up Nova, clad in her matching jersey and danced around the house. The cat was used to it by now, as it also meant she got a treat.

She got messages from Joe, Patrick and Mark and she was so overwhelmed with joy. She thought about last season and the disappointment and all of the doubts. Though she didn't know Justin last year, she could only imagine the pain he went through.

She looked down at her ring on her right hand. She smiled as the emeralds of the 'O' sparkled in the light. It was the most meaningful gift she had ever received. If you had asked her about the hot, freakishly tall guy at her friend's wedding in July, she would probably say he was fine for a night, maybe two, but she was in no way looking for anything long term. But her stupid ass heart had to chicken out and fall for the boy that was the total opposite of her. While he was a total idiot at the beginning, he was the best thing that had ever happened to her.

There was one thing nagging on her mind though, and that was the big issue regarding the public. It was no secret that people were nosy, and a big celeb like her, anyone would kill to tell a big secret like this. Truth be told she wanted people to know she was in a relationship. It didn't have to be constantly broadcasted or constant photos everywhere. Private not secret, like tons of celebrity relationships. Based on experience, Justin didn't want anyone to know about them. Then again, it seemed he was bothered by the fact that her family didn't know. It was all confusing, but they needed to have a serious talk before she left.

They said they would have a take it by day policy, but this is so much more than that. It meant goodbye to life as they knew it, every move would be watched and scrutinized by both of their fans. Rumors would be flying, the press would be eager to know about Justin's entire life, and they would be willing to pay any former friends, teammates and lovers to come forward and tell any embarrassing, juicy moments. People would vilify him, come after her. It'd be shiny and new gossip that would have everyone talking until something new came up, whenever and whatever that'd be.

It wasn't going to be tonight, but it would have to be soon since it was t minus eleven days. Her team had messaged her with all of the arrangements and the script was ready to go. She'd gone over it a bit before the game although she already knew her lines.

Deciding to push her worries out of her head for tonight. She went to get the cold champagne bottle out of the fridge to put on ice, as well as grabbing the chocolate covered strawberries and turtle cookies. She also made Buffalo chicken mac n cheese. It was a hit with Justin and his family, the way she made it was an old fashioned family recipe. As she got everything ready and set up the time had passed. It was late, and she kept checking the time, eager for him to return home and celebrate with her.

Eventually she heard the garage door open and Nova finally descended from her huge cat tree to greet her owner at the door. She was still clad in her dad's jersey, finally getting used to it. She heard Justin's voice behind the corner. " I can't believe you didn't scratch the crazy lady's eyes out." Sara rolled her eyes. Her boyfriend continued. "Isn't she the craziest girl you've ever known? I mean she bought you clothes! I think I'm gonna have to admit he-"

"Justin Patrick Herbert, if don't shut the fuck up I'm fighting you." He laughed as he rounded the corner. "Is that a threat or a promise?" She rolled her eyes. "And My minds in the gutter." He kissed her and wrapped his arms around her. "You rubbed off on me."

"Uh huh" She pulled away to grab the champagne. She handed it to him. "I'm going to let you do the honors, Mr. Playoffs." He blushed. "Well we actually have to win a game." She arched her eyebrow. "Little victories Herb, little victories." He smiled and uncorked the bottle, a pop sound throughout the house. Pouring into the glasses they clinked them together and drowned the bubbly drink. Taking a strawberry, he told Sara. "Wednesday I'm going to San Diego to watch Patrick in the Holidays bowl." She nodded, remembering his brother talking about the game and the nerves. "I wish you could go with me," He muttered.

Again she raised a dark eyebrow. "That is not the place to debut a relationship. It's your brothers night, I couldn't do that to him."

It was his turn to raise an eyebrow. "Not the place to debut a relationship?" His conversation with David flashed in his mind. She began to load their plates with snacks. "Not that our relationship is some press release. But it's going to be big news, and once it's out there there's no going back. We need to discuss this actually." It was not really the time, but they were quickly running out of it, and since he brought it up. "I have no intention of saying I'm in a relationship, but the more time we spend together. Its going to be brought up eventually."

"How so? If we don't say anything or just continue our routine we should be fine." She shook her head. "It doesn't work that way. With the press coming up for my movies next year. Some of the studio execs would want me to be in a PR relationship." He paused mid bite. "Like they could force you into it?"

She sighed. "Not force, but they would expect us to go on pap walks and do couple things. My guess is probably with Timothee, since Dune is being filmed. I would have to tell them no, and they would know things. Unfortunately that means they would want to discover who I'm with just to drum up any interest in the movie. It's all a business."

She poured another glass of champagne before speaking. "I try my damn hardest to stay out of that side. There is no avoiding it sometimes though."

He sat back in his chair. "So what do we do?"

"We could continue with our routines, maybe slowly start to go out to lowkey public spots and see what happens. Sorta controls the narrative."

"I'm going to be honest. I'm not too comfortable with it at all." Sara nodded. She thought about his past relationship with Hannah, and how quickly he ended it when she wanted to launch their relationship. She wanted to ask him about it so bad.

"Let's just try our hardest to stay out of the public eye. I mean if it happens we don't speak on it. Maybe get advice on what to do from your team and ours." Justin shrugged. "We can go more in depth when you get back. But for now let's just enjoy us and take it day by day." She rounded the counter and embraced him. "I like the sound of that." He kissed the top of her head. "I'm so proud of you baby." She didn't need to look at him as she knew his face was pink. "Seriously, you took this team to their first playoff berth since 2018, you made people excited to root for the Chargers again. People love you, and believe in you."

"It's not just me, we have a great team, a great coaching staff." She rolled her eyes. "I mean yeah but I'm not fucking the entire Chargers organization. I mean If you want me too-" He squeezed her ass hard and she laughed. "But seriously baby, you are the heart and soul of this team. You've come so far." She felt him plant a kiss on her neck. Pulling away, she got down on her knees. "Oh fuck" he whispered as she began to press soft kisses on his forming bulge. She teased him for a bit before he finally spoke. "Please stop." She giggled. "You're right, you've been a good boy." He lifted himself so she could slide down his sweats, along with his underwear. His dick stood up at attention and she grabbed it, twisting her wrist and getting him wet with his precum. She took his head in his mouth and sucked it, coming off with a wet pop. She licked him like a lollipop, which she could tell he enjoyed, but also was irritated at the same time. Finally she decided she had enough teasing and took him fully. Slowly, she felt him slide to the back of her throat.

"Oh god." He threw his head back and his hands became tangled in her hair. He began thrusting and he was now fucking her face. Sara was choking down his cocktail, and she loved it. She put her hands on his thighs, and after a while he moaned and released in her mouth and she swallowed. Coming off his dick she wiped her mouth and smiled, tears in her eyes and in a state of bliss. He pulled her up to steal a kiss. She moaned as his hands grabbed her by the ass and carried her to the bedroom. He laid her on his head and lifted up her nightie to reveal she went pantyless.

"God you're gorgeous" He breathed, before diving in to taste her. The second his tongue hit her she arched her back. "Oh my god." He hit all the right spots and her hands went through his long hair. "Oh Justin" she moaned. She hit her release quickly and they both collapsed on the bed to catch their breath. After a minute she remembered something "I need to clean the kitchen." She got up but he snaked his arm around her midsection and pulled her down. "Leave it." He mumbled.

"You? Want me to leave a mess? Who are you and what have you done to Justin Herbert?" This was unlike him. She remembered making fun of him when he threw his dirty clothes in the hamper after she tore them off after sex. She respected it, but did it really have to be right after? He never lived that down.

"I just wanna lay with you." He snuggled closer. She slid out from under his arm. "Well normally I would, but there is food I have to put away. You stay here and rest, you've earned it baby." She kissed his cheek and headed to the kitchen. He laid there for a couple minutes as he tried to fall asleep to the sounds of Sara putting everything away. He couldn't do it, he needed his girl with him. Justin got up and he approached her behind while she was at the sink. He once again snaked his arms around her. "You just couldn't wait could you?" "No" He mumbled. She went to scrub one of the plates but he stopped her. "Leave it and come back to bed." Sara let herself be dragged by him (not that she had a choice)

They settled back into bed and Sara realized how tired she was, and she fell asleep in Justin's arms.

—-------------------------------------------------------------

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOURE HOLIDAY BOWL CHAMPIONS, THE OREGON DUCKS!"

Justin was on the sidelines in the game. Beaming like a proud brother. Patrick played a phenomenal game, in front of the Chargers GM no less. He knew his brother wanted to go to the NFL and this was a way to do it. It had been a nail biter up until the last minutes.

He hugged every player, posed for pictures, and gave Patrick the biggest hug of them all. "I'm so proud of you bro." He yelled in the young ones ear." Patrick laughed. "Thanks bro, couldn't have done it without you."

They spoke to several other Oregon players before they got off the field. Patrick and Justin wanted to go to dinner, but with the win no doubt it would be a long celebration in the locker room. Knowing that Patrick would come down for the first playoff game, he left the celebration a little early, he had a flight to catch to Los Angeles.

He felt his phone buzz in his pocket and he opened it to Sara's name.

Congrats to Patrick. All those big guys jumping on you makes me nervous. Miss you 😘

He smiled, before going up to Patrick to show him the message. "I have to text her." Patrick smiled. "I also got her Christmas gift. She's too cool for you."

Justin smiled. "I know."

"Don't fuck it up."

—--------------------------------------------------------

New Year's eve.

Justin and Sara were once again at Bosa's house. Along with some of the Players and their wives. They had been given a heads up by their husband's about the famous guests. So far all of them gave a warm welcome to Sara, teaching her the ropes about being a WAG since she was officially in the club. They also knew how important it was to keep a secret.

Sara had been talking to Breanna Norton and Ekeler's girlfriend Lauren. She really liked them, while they asked the usual questions about fame and famous people she worked with. They treated her like a human.

Justin had been clingy the whole night. Whenever he felt her slip away from him he found himself right back at her side. They both knew the reason why,

T-minus 5 days.

She had been on the phone with her team the previous day talking about what to expect. She also had a meeting with the filming crew and costume design. Justin was out of the screen view, but he was listening in. There was a lot of technical stuff he didn't know anything about. It was fascinating in some way. Once she was done he kept asking questions which she was happy to answer.

Bosa's house was in full party mode as it was professionally decorated and fully catered. While they couldn't get too crazy because of the game the next day, it was still nice to somewhat let loose.

While Justin and Sara were lost in each other sometimes. The other few wives that were looking at them gossiped.

"She is a natural at this thing. Seriously, she is fantastic!" Breanna beemed.

Lauren took a sip of her champagne "I'm calling it now. She's going to be a wife."

"Do you think so?" Sebastian's wife looked on. "I don't know, Justin is so private, how is going to handle fame on her level?"

"He brought her around us. I think he is very serious."

The rest of the evening was everyone playing party games, and laughing. Once the clock struck midnight everyone who had a significant other kissed.

Including Justin and Sara, even though their hearts were breaking.

—--------------------------------------------------------

Happy New Year to Jack Lange.

He and his boyfriend stumbled in their apartment after a few too many cocktails at their friends party. They were thankful uber existed.

As they were doing their night routines he decided to answer messages from his friends wishing him a happy new year. Out of curiosity, he scrolled Instagram and saw Kristen's page pop up under "suggested". Going on it he saw her profile was open.

Once he settled in bed he began deep diving. He saw several posts about Eugene Oregon, where she said she was from.

As he was scrolling something caught his eye. An ugly mix of green and yellow that wanted to make him gag. However he saw the Oregon University logo

"O"

He gasped, it was the exact logo that was on Sara's hoodie when he caught her rollerblading. "No fucking way" he whispered. He got up and after trying to control his dizziness he grabbed his camera on the chair. Flicking through it he saw the exact same photo he was thinking about it.

Going on his laptop he typed in Oregon University in Google

"Oregon University is a public university located in Eugene Oregon."

He kept scrolling, he hit the notable alumni tab. Some famous people did attend but no one worthy.

As he was about to exit he noticed someone.

"Justin Herbert."

Based on the helmet he was a football player, and a fine one despite the ugly colors. Clicking on his profile, he could have passed out.

He went to his camera again. Jack came across the picture he was looking for. The unidentified man in the Porsche that was in Sara's driveway.

"HOLY SHIT"

He typed in 'Justin Herbert'

'Justin Patrick Herbert is an American Football Quarterback who currently plays for the Los Angeles Chargers."

He went to another tab and searched for something else.

There on Google images was Sara spotted at Charger games with Joe Grant.

This was it, the answer that he was looking for. "Thank you Kristen!" He yelled as he danced around.

Sara Wozniak was dating Justin Herbert!

His boyfriend came into the room. "What are you doing?"

Jack kissed him and told him everything. His partner smirked. "You are the best for a reason! You are getting that promotion!"

Jack laughed menacingly. Now he just needed to get the personal details. Which was the easy part. He already had an inside source close to Sara. He got all the juicy details on her and Harry and he was going to do it to her and this Justin Herbert.

2023 was off to a great start for Jack Lange.

A/N: I got to fix the format, I'm posting this from my phone. So I apologize, happy holidays everyone! Looks like someone else knows the secret.... and not with the best intentions

#alexa writes collide #sara and justin canon #justin herbert #nfl imagine #nfl #los angeles chargers

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turtleations · 1 year

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Pink Couldy Sky, Chapter 04 – Howl (Summarized) - Part 1

Chapter 00 - 01

Chapter 02

Chapter 03

Note: This chapter is broken into two parts due to length. I hope to have the second part up before next week.

Note 2: Just a reminder that when the text talkes about "currently", "now", or "today", it's doing so from the perspective of REM in 1999.

At the time REM joined SAVER TIGER, hide was not only a musician but also a hairdresser. He worked – or rather, helped out – at his grandmother’s “Beauty Parlor Midori”, located at the back of Yokosuka Central Station, where he washed hair or gave haircuts. This had a strong influence on his sense of visuals and esthetics.

When it came to the appearance of the band, hide especially focused on hair and make-up and he used his experience and knowledge to advice his bandmembers on hairstyles and cosmetics to get them on the same visual level as him. The band mustn’t look uncool, after all.

Before he joined SAVER TIGER, REM did not wear a lot of make-up on stage, but thanks to hide’s guidance in these matters, which was both patient and thorough, he came to recognize the importance of hair and make-up.

A stylish sound should be wrapped in a stylish look. The performance isn’t cutting it if it doesn’t satisfy the eyes of the audience as well as the ears. This mindset was a SAVER TIGER tradition that the current members inherited. All the concepts used by the bands representing the VK-boom of the late 90s were naturally put into practice by hide more than ten years ahead of them.

One more thing that changed for REM was that he got a stage name, as until that point, he was not actually going by “REM”. The person who named him was, of course, hide. The name is based, somewhat semantically incorrectly, on REM-sleep, because REM had a tendency to fall asleep. It’s the name he is still known by in the music scene.

REM follows up with a memory he has of hide the beautician: After REM officially joined SAVER TIGER, he and hide wend out to Dobuita-Street almost every day. One day they had plans to go again, but before they were to meet, hide called REM to inform him that work at the beauty parlor was taking longer than expected that day and asked him to come over and wait for him to finish. So REM went to the Midori, sat on the waiting seat and looked through the weekly women’s magazines he would usually ignore while he waited for hide to be done. He also watched hide being a hairdresser and found that he quite enjoyed doing so. When hide was done with his current task and saw the result of his efforts, his expression would turn soft, and REM thought that this was hide turning back into pure, unstyled Matsumoto Hideto. It was nice to observe that.

After the last customer had left and the store was tidied up, it was time to leave for their nightly drinks. Before they left, however, hide suddenly asked, “REM, should I wash your hair for you?”

REM thought it was a bit weird to have his friend wash his hair, but he had no real reason to refuse and also found the offer kind of charming. So he lay down on the hairdresser-chair and looked at the ceiling while above him, hide’s face changed into his hairdresser-face, which was different from what REM was used to.

While hide himself always protected his skin from the sun, he now said things like how REM, who had quite the tan, should get an even darker tan, while he was expertly washing his hair. The sensation was so nice that REM relaxed more and more until he finally fell asleep right there in the middle of getting his hair washed. Even today, he still remembers how good it felt.

That night they went out with REM’s hair all smooth from hide’s magical hands.

Jumping forward to February 1997, REM tells how hide, accompanied by his younger brother, came to the dental clinic REM was director of to get his dental calculus removed before going to Los Angeles. The staff had already gone home and REM took care of the treatment himself. As hide was lying down in the dentist’s chair and closed his eyes, in REM’s mind the image overlapped with the memory of himself in the hairdresser’s chair 12 years earlier, and he wondered if hide remembered that, too. Now he cannot ask him anymore.

To give an easily understandable example of hide’s focus on visuals, REM explains how hide poured more passion into the graphic design of their band’s posters and flyers than anyone else. He made them all on his own, and since computers weren’t common back then, he made them from scratch. It was hide who noticed that the abandoned car near drummer Ken’s house was pretty cool! So he made photos of the band with the rusty, junky car as a feature in it. He put the photos together on drawing paper, added cut-outs from magazines as a collage, and then the time and place of their upcoming shows. Since there was no color-copying either, he took the enlarged posters and colored them all by hand. The small copies became black-and-white flyers.

Hide was lively and cheerful while working on the designs and seemed to really enjoy it.

Those posters and flyers are still hanging on the wall of REM’s recording room (i.e. the 8-Tatami room in his family’s house that is just for his own use). Interestingly, those flyers started with the words “VISUAL LOUD & CULT”. Even in the mid-eighties, hide already naturally used those words. REM speculates that the design of the pamphlet for hide’s first solo tour was probably also his idea: An elaborate design based on the kind of power book that hide used at the time.

When REM joined SAVER TIGER, the band had about one live per month at the live house ROCK CITY in Yokosuka. REM’s first live with them was also at that location. Since drummer Ken and bassist Jimmy both worked at that place, the band got to practice there every Sunday afternoon. Afterwards, they all gathered at the house of hide’s family. What they were after, there, was his mom’s plentiful and delicious homemade food.

It was really good, and there was enough of it for their (financially) poor, hungry inner beasts starved by the harsh training to be fully satisfied. Vocalist Rolly always said, “Let’s stuff ourselves!” and have a second helping.

Their favorite dish was Mama Matsumoto’s homemade gyoza. Even now, REM can’t forget the taste. If he thinks about it, his stomach growls automatically. Anyone who ever went to “Parkside X”, a pub hide’s parents would later run, and ate their famous homemade gyoza-dish, would certainly understand.

But Parkside X also doesn’t exist anymore.

[Note: It is difficult to find anything about it, but from what I could gather, Parkside X was in business until the 1st of May 1998.]

Hide’s parents have taken care of successive generations of SAVER TIGER in other ways as well, but it was thanks to his mom’s cooking that the band got its power even in the present.

Unfortunately, those loving parents and hide also fought about the fact that he wanted to devote his life to music. Sometimes, REM would want to drop by for a visit only to run away again when hearing the sounds coming from hide’s 2nd floor room, sounding like a rebellious rampage. Even when coming across them now, REM thinks that hide’s parents just had a very normal way of thinking, and were worried that their beloved son would waste his life on such an insecure and intangible profession as the music industry.

When they met for dinner at hide’s home, his mom’s favorite advice to all of them was, “Please get a normal job!”

REM thinks that such feelings are very normal for all parents, especially now that he is a father himself. Even so, he also knew that with hide’s personality being what it was, he would never have given up the path of music that he had chosen for himself.

After hide later started to climb the ladder towards being a professional musician with the very successful Budokan-performance, his parents started to support him with a positive attitude – though REM isn’t sure if this is because they were finally at peace and stopped worrying now that things were going well, or if they had simply resigned themselves to the fact that this was really happening and there was nothing they could do to change that.

When REM visited hide and saw the love his father and mother had for their son as they chatted casually about his current circumstances with him, he couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.

SAVER TIGER practiced a lot in those days. And since their leader was perfectionist hide, the practice was also hard, of course. They practiced two to three times per week, starting at night and going on until six in the morning. In that time, they only had te10 to 15 minute breaks, but even during those, they – and especially hide – would continue to talk about music: What to do here, if it wouldn’t be better than change that, etc. So, it was like going until morning with no break at all.

Consequently, by the end of it, they were all exhausted, and no one more so than REM. But on the other hand, they improved a lot, and it was ultimately a fun time.

There are bad band leaders who cannot get the members of their bands to follow them, but hide was a natural in that regard. He saw the strong points of each member and managed to pull out their best.

He was also considerate.

When REM had only just joined the band and struggled with the unfamiliar songs, hide gave him a cassette tape one day. On this tape were all of SAVER TIGER’s original songs, with hide singing along to his guitar and giving a narration on various parts regarding what to do there. A full commentary on all songs. It was very well done. Hide must have put a lot of time and effort into it.

REM can only admire hide’s willingness to devote time to making good music and his care and attentiveness towards his bandmembers.

REM is SAVER TIGER’s leader now, and it often makes him think of hide’s skill in getting the best out of the band, as well as the hardships of the position that are hidden from view.

When there was no practice, hide would often visit REM at his apartment. In winter, he would slip under the kotatsu [Note: heated table] and spend all evening playing guitar. Then, suddenly, he would put a radio cassette recorder on top of the kotatsu and record the phrase or melody he just thought of. He would then ask REM for his opinion, and they would discuss what to do here or there until morning. On the days they didn’t see each other, hide would still call REM to discuss their songs or what to do with their guitars at their next live, so in regard to music they basically met every day.

REM’s weekly schedule at the time was as follows:

2-3 times practice.

At the same pace, band meetings that doubled as drinking sessions. Those lasted until morning as well and always ended on Dobuita-Street.

On the other days, he and hide created songs in his apartment.

REM and hide also often went to see the lives of indie bands that got famous, to form connections, do promotion, and get references for songs and stages etc.

While REM, as expected of a guitarist, always looked at what the guitars were doing, hide always looked at everything: Ensemble, harmony, rhythm, etc., but also things like guitar technique and sound. Even then you could catch a glimpse of the qualities of an excellent music producer that hide possessed.

As a little side story, REM tells of the t-shirts that SAVER TIGER also produced at the time and sold at their lives. That wasn’t exactly a common thing for indie bands to do. Hide had an admirably professional mindset when it come to things like promotion even then. This showed even when they went to the lives of other bands as well.

The guitar REM mostly used then was a white Stratocaster with “Flying V” in black on it. He also had a Les Paul for lives, but mostly he used the Strat.

Hide’s favorite was the Mockingbird. He also brought a substitute to lives, in case the strings broke, but if he had the choice, he would choose the Mockingbird, claiming that other guitars were hard to play.

What set them apart from other indie bands were the double leads of REM’s and hide’s twin guitars. REM doesn’t know for sure when it comes to the entire country, but in the vicinity of Yokosuka, there was no other band with guitars like that. It had already been that way before REM joined: Back then, the twin leads had been hide and another guitarist, whom REM replaced.

It was generally more popular to have one lead guitar and a side guitar, because twin leads required the guitarists to work together and harmonize perfectly. In that regard, REM, who identified fully as a guitar-artist, was probably perfectly compatible with hide, who used to say, “Even though I play the guitar, I am not a guitarist.”

He said that while he was a guitarist in the band, he would leave the solos outside the twin parts to REM, since he was doing other stuff as well. It showed that even then he jumped out of the frame of being a guitarist and was just generally an artist as well.

At the time, beyond the quality of their music, hide also had an awareness for entertainment and always considered the looks and staging of their performances as well.

There were many things that REM realized suddenly about hide through the years, and one of them was that even during their amateur days, hide thought like a professional musician.

Another thing hide used to say was that their appearance and everything they did on stage was one whole. He strongly believed that all aspects played together to create one big picture, and he wouldn’t allow himself to have even one damaged part in it.

This principle is the origin for the focus on his way to becoming a vocalist and the stylish staging of his promotional videos, REM thinks.

What made him so charismatic in Yokosuka were the sharpness of his expressions, the abundance of his ideas, and the speed in which they pulled them out. His mind was like a surprise box, and he had the strength of will to immediately materialize his ideas. This, combined with the lightness of his performances, made up the artist hide.

Those things brought a sense of urgency, tension, and anticipation to SAVER TIGER’s performances, which was found in no other band in Yokosuka.

When REM had watched SAVER TIGER perform that first time, he thought, “It’s like watching a theater play.”

And that was it for the serious side story. Back to the fun part!

Speaking of which: When REM praised hide’s diligence too much, hide would get embarrassed and tell him to stop. When it came to things other than music, he also loved fun, interesting stuff and often made plans that were extremely, if innocently, naughty.

When it came to song titles and the like, hide had a unique sense for words.

He organized everything on his own: Live house booking, member schedules, communication with the bands they performed with, or against. When it came to music, he was an extremely energetic person.

As soon as the live was decided, hide would gleefully begin to create the flyers. He included the pictures of the members, then their names, and the other info. At one time, SAVER TIGER had a new drummer names Kosuke, who is also SAVER TIGER’s current drummer in 1999. And for whatever reason, instead of putting his name as “Kosuke” under his picture, hide spelled it as “KILL WITH POWER”. Nobody ever called him that. Maybe hide thought it had more punch. REM didn’t know about it and didn’t pay attention.

At that time, REM’s apartment was the SAVER TIGER OFFICE, because he was the only one living on his own. His phone number was their official contact number as well. So one night the phone rings and the voice of a young girl says, “Uh, is KILL-san there? I am a big fan of KILL-san. KILL-san!” Completely oblivious to the fact that REM’s heart raced and he thought he was about to get murdered.

Continued in part 2

#hide #pink cloudy sky #REM #summary #saver tiger #today on “Crafting with hide”: flyers and coloring-books!#and an important lesson about why you shouldn't let the bean work unsupervised

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