i just really love the trope where this very “joyful and bright and flashy” place is considered a place of great conflict. like wonderland in greater boston. it’s this big, beautiful theme park which is mainly associated in gb as, like, a place to escape to in the event of a tragedy.

what with nica taking leon there to help him “cope with his breakup,” or charlotte going there to take her mind of off her lack of direction, or the evicted residents of red line heading there for refuge after they’re torn out of their homes, and less notably, phil needing to use wonderland as a bargaining chip to get himself out of jail...

the place is typically associated with disaster and grief as well, since it’s leon’s death place, after all, and the history of tragedies it’s had (the burning robots...) just failure after failure after failure. it was renovated after leon’s death, and even AFTER that, the whole place becomes completely abandoned, once oliver, the current owner, “dies” after his wife divorces him.

wonderland’s place in the story is defined by escapism, grief, and disaster, and most of the time, when you go to wonderland, you don’t get what you’re looking for (nica took leon there to cheer him up, but he actually got so distressed that he died, charlotte went there and rode all of the rides and it didn’t do anything for her, and who knows what it might become for the new residents...)

with all of this in mind, it begs the question: what exactly does it mean, that ethan wants wonderland back so badly...?

Sweet Escape Pt. 6 // LH 44

Lewis Hamilton x Y/N

Warnings: Swearing, 18+ (mentions of sexual activities), Anxiety, Jealousy, Angst, Mentions of Alcohol, Regret, Emotional Turmoil, Not Edited

Word Count: 4.3k

Summary: Paradise is supposed to be fun and relaxing... a Sweet Escape, but when unspoken feelings and jealousy rise to the surface, everything can be turned upside down in the blink of an eye.

Note: I felt bad leaving you all in pain, not that this will be much better but hey, we're getting there! This part is a tad shorter but I felt that this whole thing should be stand alone. The next part will be the final part of the story, but don't worry there will be an epilogue. I'm glad you have all been enjoying so far and I greatly appreciate everyone's support!

I am not a professional writer and all of this is a work of fiction and is strictly for fun. Enjoy! xxx

Previous Sections: Prologue - Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four - Part Five

It was nearing three in the morning when you heard your door open. The second you had arrived home you had grabbed your stuff out of Charlotte's room and moved back into your old one. You weren’t particularly in the mood to face anyone. You had spent the last few hours quietly sobbing into your knees, balled up on the bed like a child. You had seemingly run out of tears but the sorrow didn’t change. You hadn’t even heard everyone come home, somehow beating them even on foot, you assumed it was because they had to go find everyone else.

“What?” You snapped at whomever had entered your room, not even looking toward the door.

“Hey, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” You heard Miles’ voice from the doorway, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Do I seem fucking okay?” You snapped again, your filter long gone.

He let out a sigh, closing the door behind him softly as he dared to make his way over to your bed, sitting down beside you gently.

“I’m sorry Y/N, it wasn’t fair to you to cause a scene like that.” He says softly, glancing over at you to see you staring into space, your attention fixated on the blank wall to the side of the room.

You scoff, not trying to be rude but unable to control anything that comes out of you, “Well at least one of you knows how to fucking apologize. I’m still mad at you though.”

You hear him sigh again, moving closer to you so he can place a hand on your back, rubbing softly. You don’t even have the energy to flinch away from him, just letting him rest his hand there and enjoying the slightest bit of comfort.

“I know you’re pissed at Lewis, you have every right to be. Don’t kill her but Charlotte kind of filled me in when we got home. He massively fucked up.” His hand continues it’s light circling pattern, “And truth be told so did I. I don’t know why but I constantly feel like I need to protect you and hearing that asshole call you anything other than perfect made me want to kill him, he’s honestly lucky Lewis had half a brain to pull me away from him. I know you can take care of yourself but I’m always gonna look out for you, no matter what. Hence the reason I tried to deck my best friend earlier tonight.”

“I’m sorry, you what?” You whip your head towards him, that last bit of information really catching your interest.

“Yeah, when Charlotte filled me in I was still livid with the whole situation from the bar and finding out what sparked it really pissed me off. It only felt right he get at least a swift kick to the groin. Not to disappoint you but Char stopped me. I’m shocked you didn’t hear us.” He almost sounds like he wants to laugh as he tells you, like he can’t believe the whole situation himself.

“He needs a kick to the groin, taking that thing out of commission for a little while might do everyone some good.” You joke dryly, making Miles laugh next to you.

“If you need me to do it, I’m more than willing.” He offers, only kind of a joke, you feel like if you genuinely asked him to do it, he would, given the circumstances.

“I hate that I can hate him and love him all at the same time. I don’t want to lose him, but this can’t carry on this way.” You confess to Miles.

“I know Charlotte already said this to the both of you, but you guys really need to fucking talk.” He tells you seriously, before adding, “And sober.”

“I know, I know.” You groan, “I’m sorry we’ve managed to fuck up so much of vacation.”

“It’s been much more him than you sweetheart, he brought every ounce of drama himself. I could tell something was up with you over the last few days but I couldn’t really figure out what. I’m sorry it’s him.” Miles brings you in for a side hug, his arm wrapping protectively around you.

“I’m just so fucking sick of it all. I’m so tired.” You tell him, leaning against his shoulder.

“I know, understandably so.” Miles lets out a sigh, holding you in silence for a few moments. “You get some sleep and I’ll check on you in the morning, okay?” He says as he presses a kiss to your temple.

All you do is nod, knowing he’s right.

“I know you’re not all good or anything, but I’m glad you're still here. I was worried you were gonna be at the airport by the time we got home, we freaked for a second when we saw your stuff wasn’t in Charlottes anymore.” He tells you quietly, still not having let you go.

“I just didn’t want to have to face anyone, figured moving back to my old room would be the easiest way.” You just about whisper, feeling your exhaustion catch up to you.

“Well, I’m sorry to have intruded, but I needed to check on you,” Miles says, kissing your forehead one more time before easing you back toward your pillows, “get some sleep hun.”

. . .

You had no idea what time it was when you finally woke up and you have no idea how long you’ve been laying in your bed staring at the ceiling. It has to have been a good hour at this point. You can hear people moving around somewhere in the house, the last thing you want to do is go and interact. You were embarrassed, angry, hurt, and so much more you couldn’t even wrap your head around. You’ve had enough. As you’ve been laying there, more than once you’ve contemplated if you could manage to pack your stuff and sneak out of the house, fly back home without another word. You knew you couldn't and more than likely someone would come track you down the second they knew you were gone, well normally they would. You don’t know what your friends know of the situation. How much did everyone else see, how much had they been told? You knew you should get up and eat something but you had no appetite, anxiety and dread having taken over your body. You lay there going through your thoughts for more than an hour. You want to sit down and talk with Lewis, you need to, but the anxiety of the possible outcome is paralyzing you. What if he confirms your fears, admits that all he’s ever been trying to do is get it your pants? What if now that you’ve shut him down he doesn’t see a reason to keep you around anymore? The rational part of your brain knows that you're overthinking, that your friendship with Lewis still stands on semi solid ground. Maybe there will be some change to how he is around you or how often he’s with you but at the base of it all your still close friends. Lewis knows things about you that your own family doesn’t, he’s been able to read you better than you can read yourself on more than a few occasions, all of that can’t go up in smoke this quickly. Can it?

There’s a soft knock on your door, making you groan. You don’t respond hoping they’ll go away. They don’t, only knocking again and gently pushing the door open. You roll your head to the side, seeing Miles peeking his head into your room, a comforting smile on his face. True to his word, here he was to check on you.

“Good morning,” He says softly, making his way into your room once he sees you’re awake, “I brought you something to eat, you need to get something in you.”

You give him a small smile as he places a tray of fruit and a large glass of ice water on the table next to your bed.

“Thanks.” You croak out, your voice hoarse from crying all night.

“Everybodies in their rooms for the most part if you need to venture out of hiding at any point.” He tells you, knowing you’ve been avoiding everyone, but one person in particular.

You just nod, taking a small sip of the cold water. It feels amazing on your burning throat, as if it’s your first drink of water after a month in the desert.

“What time is it?” You ask, trying to get some bearing on where you are in your life, even if it's just the time of day.

He glances down at the watch on his wrist, “Just before noon.”

It’s still earlier than you thought it was at this point and it fills you with a small sense of dread, there’s so much more of the day to go about trying to avoid everyone.

“You know no ones mad at you, right?” Miles makes sure you know that there’s no hostility facing you in the house.

You just shrug, unsure of how true that actually is and also not quite wanting to admit that it’s more so that you’re embarrassed to even see your friends. There’s another soft knock on the door and you're praying it’s Charlotte, the only other person you could bare being around right now. Much to your dismay, a very tired looking Lewis pokes his head around the door that Miles had left ajar. Your breath hitches, anxiety filling your body.

“Oh, shit, sorry, I’ll um-” Lewis stutters, not wanting to interrupt your chat with Miles.

“All good man, I was just gonna head out anyway.” Miles says, standing from where he had sat on your bed.

You know Miles can sense your anxiety but he gives you a look that says “just get it over with” and heads towards the door. Before he exits he turns back toward you and says “Holler for me if you need anything, alright?”

He whispers something to Lewis as he walks out and you can see a pained expression on Lewis’ face at whatever he said. Once he’s gone, Lewis stands awkwardly in the doorway, not quite being able to look at you as he plays with his hands down in front of him.

“You can come in.” You squeak, not actually fully wanting to say it but knowing it needs to be done. 

He finally looks at you, putting his hand on the door as if to close it but you can see the question in his eyes. You nod, not wanting your whole conversation to be heard by everyone in the house. He very gently pushes the door closed, making his way further into your room. He looks around, evidently unsure of what to do with himself. He opts for perching on the edge of your dresser just across from where you sit on the bed, you’re facing each other and you can feel your stomach filling with butterflies, but not the good kind you usually get when you’re around him.

“I owe you an apology, well, multiple apologies.” He finally says, looking down at the ground, ashamed. His voice is hoarse as if he’s just woken up.

You don’t say anything, unsure of what you would even say.

“I’m sorry for the way that I’ve treated you. I’m sorry for not talking to you sooner. I’m sorry that my company embarrassed you in front of everyone. I’m sorry for my behavior last night, all of it. I’ve treated you in a way that if anyone else did the same to you, I would hate them.” He finally apologizes for the last few days, finally looking at you as he does so.

He looks exhausted, much older than usual with bags under his eyes and more scruff than you're used to him allowing.

“Thank you,” you whisper, “and I’m sorry I avoided talking to you too.”

He shakes his head, “It shouldn’t have been on you to fix, I’m the one that fucked up.”

You offer a small smile in his direction. All is not immediately forgiven and this conversation needs to continue, but hearing him acknowledge the reasons he needed to apologize in the first place does your heart some good at the very least.

“Why did you do it?” You ask quietly, your voice timid, not sure you truly want the answer.

He looks surprised by the question, also not quite sure how to respond. He lets out a sigh as he collects his thoughts.

“I know it doesn’t make it right,” He starts, pausing for a moment to make sure his words come across as clearly as possible, “but, it’s been on my mind for a long time. I’m well aware that I went about it all wrong, especially last night, I was incredibly out of line last night, but I’ve thought about it alot.” He cringes at his admission.

You furrow your brow, worried this is going exactly the direction you feared, hoping he will continue.

“I don’t mean for that to sound creepy, but I’ve been really attracted to you for quite a while. I should have made that clear in a much different way. I never want you to feel like I’m trying to take advantage of you in any way, it makes me sick to think that I have ever made you feel like that.” He says, a look of regret on his tired face.

“What I said last night was harsh, my drunk brain just felt like it was the best way to get my point across.” You admit to him.

“But it wasn’t really that harsh, despite it not being intentional, it’s kind of true. What I said on the other hand, that was harsh, I never should have called you a tease or said you indulged in it, it wasn’t fair.” His words are firm, for the first time he’s holding steady eye contact with you, demanding your attention so you feel the remorse in his words.

“I need to be honest, it really hurts that you’re able to treat me like all the other girls you fuck around with, I thought I was more important to you than them.” You quietly admit to him.

“Fuck, you are. So much more important to me.” He says, finally moving from where he’s been leaning on your dresser and cautiously making his way toward where you sit on your bed. He carefully sits next to you, leaving a good distance but making sure he’s near you.

“Then how can you be so okay with chatting up the bar tender, grinding on some random woman, and then still come over and try to fuck me, yet again. All because your ego couldn’t handle me dancing with someone else, when you were doing exactly the same.” You push, needing him to truly understand just how shitty his actions made you feel.

“You’re right, I was jealous. In my ideal world you would have been dancing with me all night, but I knew you wouldn’t have allowed that where we were in our relationship. And then you found that prick and the way you were with him, it just set something off in me. I wasn’t thinking. I know that sounds like a horrible excuse but there was part of me that was hoping I could make you just as jealous as I was, not that you would be when you’ve made it clear you’re not interested, and I should have respected that. Between the alcohol and my ego, I let myself treat you like shit and there’s no excuse for that, I would take it back in a heartbeat if I could.” His face is sincere, you can tell just how much he regrets last night but it doesn’t automatically let him off the hook. He continues “And as for the bartender, I wasn’t chatting her up, she’s an old friend. I’ve never slept with her and never will, she’s like family. I got distracted talking with her and by the time I found you again you had that Jason dude on your hip.”

You want to laugh, not only at him forgetting Jadens name, but also at him saying you’re not interested. He has every right to assume you’re not, you’ve done nothing but turn him down. You almost want to tell him just how wrong he is, how the only reason you said no is because you don’t want to lose him, but right now is not the time for that, you don’t want to open any windows and derail the conversation that so far is going shockingly well, even if it hurts.

“Is she the woman you went to after your fight with Talia?” You push him slightly, hoping to get more out of him while he’s being so honest with you.

His face screws up for a second, confused how you would know that. You see the questioning look on his face and rush to clarify, to confess.

“I know you lied to me that night, or at least I kind of hope you did. I overheard you and Charlotte talking the next morning, something about a woman named Marina.” You explain.

He lets out a deep sigh, “Yeah, I’m sorry I lied to you. I wasn’t particularly in the mood to explain the whole situation. But to answer your question, yes, that is the woman that I went and saw.” He doesn’t offer any further explanation, you want to push him but you allow him to leave it at that, at least for now.

You both sit in silence for a moment, trying to figure out where to go from here.

“Lewis,” You say quietly, getting his attention, “I don’t want to lose you.”

His face morphs into absolute sorrow and pain, for a moment you worry that he’s mourning your friendship, not knowing how to break the news to you.

“Y/N, you’ll never lose me. I would go crazy without you.” His voice is soft but sincere as he carefully scoots closer to you on the bed, testing the waters slightly. You let him get close enough that your knees are touching, his hand coming to rest over yours, squeezing tightly.

“How do you think I could ever let you go?” He asks with a deep frown.

“Because you seemed to be okay with ruining our friendship just to get me in your bed.” You accuse him, your voice wavering.

“Sweetheart, I was never trying to ruin our friendship, I-” He takes a long pause, gathering himself with a deep breath, “I don’t know how to explain it exactly, but truth be told, me trying to get you into bed was never just me trying to sleep with you. It’s been a long time since I felt for someone how I feel for you and I’m not good at making that clear. I don’t even truly understand everything that I feel for you but, I know it’s a whole lot more and a whole lot different than how I feel about all of my other friends. I guess somewhere in my head I felt like I could get that across physically, that maybe it would make everything make sense once I had you. I know it sounds ridiculous but I don’t know how to do this.”

His confession both shocks and confuses you, your mind flitting back to the night he disappeared after his fight with Talia. That night he had told you that he had feelings for her, now he was trying to convince you of his feelings for you.

“What about Talia?” You ask, voice still unsure.

“What about Talia?” He throws back at you, confused as to why she matters right now.

“The night that we talked, after your fight, you told me you were worried that you had messed everything up with someone that you cared about or liked a lot, I don’t remember exactly what you said but…” You trail off, a slow moment of realization coming over you.

He chuckles softly, shaking his head as he looks down at the ground before returning his eyes to yours, “Y/N, I was talking about you. In no universe was I ever even considering Talia.” His words confirm what you’ve just realized and you want to slap yourself, you feel like an idiot.

“I- oh my god.” You breathe out, shutting your eyes. His eye contact suddenly feeling like too much.

You stand from the bed, disconnecting your hand from his. He stays seated, looking up at you as you begin to pace, letting you process what he’s said.

“How long?” You ask suddenly, stopping and looking at him.

“In all honesty, I don’t really know. I only really realized it sometime last year. I was thinking it would go away, that it was just some silly crush, but it just kept getting worse.” He explains, shrugging his shoulders as if it’s totally normal.

“So all the time that you were sleeping with all these other women and still flirting with me was, what?” You feel yourself getting agitated, not quite sure how to feel about his actions.

“I kind of figured that if I kept sleeping around that I would be satisfied and I wouldn’t feel the same way, but I couldn't help but keep flirting with you, it’s just naturally how I am with you, it feels right.” Once again he shrugs as if it’s no big deal.

“Do you not want to feel this way about me?” You ask quietly, a slight sting of rejection settling over you.

“No, no, that’s not it at all.” He rushes out, standing to approach you, carefully he puts his hands on your arms, making you look at him, “It’s not at all that I don’t want to feel this way about you, I’m glad I do to be completely honest. It’s just that I’ve been single for a very long time and I truly do not want to fuck this up, I’m scared that I’m going to and I’m going to lose you. It felt like everything would be so much easier if I could just keep being your friend and keep you in my life. But that didn’t happen, I still managed to fuck it up.”

You can feel tears forming in your eyes, he notices them too, a look of regret on his face.

“So what do you want?” You ask him, needing more clarity.

“All in all, I want you, I want to do this with you and god I want to not fuck it up. I want you to be mine, all mine, all in.” He says confidently, much more sure of himself than you feel.

You stare at him as the tears start to roll down your cheeks, your emotions are at an all time high. Part of you is filled with pure ecstasy, the man that you have crushed on for years is standing here in front of you confessing his feelings, asking you to be his. The other part of you is filled with absolute fear, the thought of trying and failing with him, losing one of the most amazing men you have ever met, your best friend. You know that a life with Lewis could either end in the most beautiful love you have ever experienced or the worst, most gut wrenching heartache known to man.

“Can I hug you? You look like you could use it.” His voice is soft, his heart aching as he watches you cry.

All you can do is nod as you let yourself fall into his hard chest. He holds you against him tightly, rubbing soft circles on your back as he once again lets you cry into his chest. You’ve done this too many times in the last twenty four hours. He stays silent, just letting you work through your emotions. When you finally calm down you pull your head from his chest but he keeps you tight against him, one of his hands coming up to wipe some remaining tears from your cheek. You revel in the feeling of his touch, how comforting a simple action can be. As you stare into his eyes you can see how much emotion and affection is hidden behind them. A soft, sad smile across his lips.

“What’s going through that beautiful mind?” He asks, his voice just above a whisper.

“I don’t know.” You tell him honestly.

He just nods, understanding how overwhelmed you must be.

“I need time, I need to think.” You say, averting your eyes from his, knowing you’ll say yes if you look into them for a moment too long.

“Take all the time you need, I’ll always be right here if you decide you’ll have me.” He says softly, pressing a kiss to the top of your head as he gives you another proper hug.

He finally steps away from you, leaving you feeling displaced in your own room, before he turns to leave he grabs your hand, squeezing it tightly, “And Y/N, no matter what you decide, you will never lose me. I will always be right here.” With that he leaves the room, leaving you behind with a whirlwind of thoughts.

As much as every part of you wants to believe him in saying he’ll never leave you, you can’t help but wonder if it’s fully true. If you try this and all of it comes crashing down, you can’t imagine being able to be around him.

Is the possibility of loving and being loved by the most incredible human being worth the possibility of losing him entirely? 

Twilight confessions

Charlotte flair x fem!reader

You stare at all the flickering lights below, the distant sounds of cars and clutter in the city destroying the almost peaceful silence. Too lost in your daydream you fail to notice Charlotte as she moves to sit next to you.

You feel a Hand run softly through your hair and look up to see it’s owner already looking at you,examining you, your messy hair,the darkness under your eyes from your lack of sleep recently,the slight redness in your eyes like you had been crying.

“Hey” she says pulling you into her and wrapping her toned arms around you,you wanted to push her away but you couldn’t,your mind was screaming but your heart always yells louder.

“Hi” you whisper,leaning further into her embrace,basking in the warmth that always seems to radiate off her.

“What are you doing up here,what are you doing up at all,you were so tired when I last spoke to you” she continues to run her hand through your hair,twirling it round her finger and gently tugging out any knots she comes across.

“I don’t know, I just couldn’t sleep I guess what,are you doing up here ash” you rest your head on her chest and close your eyes,the sounds of the city now quiet as you focus on the sound of her breathing, and the steady beat of her heart.

“You know you could have come and got me baby,your always welcome to come knock on my door or call me,no matter how late it is or how busy I am.” The pet name worsening your already flustered state,but that’s all you wanted to do, to go to her and have her lay with you,wrapping her arms around you tightly and holding you in her arms until you drifted off to sleep, you craved Charlottes attention,you craved her touch,you craved her in so many ways.

You feel her move as she delicately cupped your face in her hands.

“Hey y/n,you okay I thought I lost you there”she spoke softly, slowly rubbing her thumb back and forth across your cheek,you nod.

“Seriously, sweetie you’ve been so quiet recently,and distant.. is it something I’ve done”

You quickly shake your head.

“No you haven’t done anything,its just me, sorry for making you think that” you murmur into her chest.

“Well if that’s the case y/n, you know you can tell me anything,anything and I’ll listen” her hands still holding your head in place,forcing you to look at her.

Again you shake your head.

“I know,but I can’t tell you this”

Charlotte goes to speak and you stop her.

“I really can’t” your voice cracks as you fight the tear trying to escape your eye, you love Charlotte more then she will every love you,more than a friend,more than a best friend, you want her to be with you forever,your soulmate in every universe,on every planet, forever.

“Hey y/n, darling look at me, if your not going to tell me anything then I wanna tell you something how about that hm” she wipes the tears from you face and you nod,she smiles and pulls you closer to her.

“Y/n in all the time I’ve known you we have grown unbelievably close,we do everything thing together,and everyday I realise that I want to be closer with you..” she pauses and you hold your breath

“I love you as my best friend,y/n and I want to love you as more” she finishes and looks at you,her eyes twinkling with worry,but also flooding with love.

You let out a breath and laugh, letting your tears spill down your face as you wrap your arms around her and sit up straight as you can so you can be almost eye level with her.

“I love you too,so,so much you don’t even know” every weight that was weighing you down seems to have vanished. Your heart beating fast as Charlotte leans in,pressing her soft lips to yours and placing a hand behind your head,pulling you close and one on your chin,holding you in place.

When you both finally pull away for air,her smile brightens as she moves to Stand up,holding her hand out for you to grab.

“You seem better now,is that what you couldn’t tell me” Charlotte asks as you both walk down stairs to get to her hotel room.

You hum in agreement with her,your eyelids fluttering, fighting the sleep you desperately need,that you can now have.

With Charlottes arms wrapped tightly around you as she lulls you to sleep.

This is my first time writing anything sooo idk also there’s probs loads of spelling mistakes so ignore that

Fic Graveyard Tag

So @scoops404 asked me to list the fics in my "fic Graveyard" aka the fics in my google docs that I started but will probably not continue, and I decided to make it a tag for all my writer friends to do. List all the fics you started writing but probably won't continue and then tag some friends to do the same: For my version of this I've only included fics where I have over a couple thousand words because I have lots of docs with like 200/300 words in and that would be a really long list. Honourable mentions at the end! Working title/doc title: From whence you came Premise: Fae!George and Knight!Dream dsmp fic Pairing: dnf with side karlnap Word count: 7,602 Reason you stopped writing it: I'm not really a fantasy writer I just got the idea in my head and wrote a bunch of it. The karlnap dynamic in this of like himbo sapnap and mage!karl lives in my head rent free though

Working title/doc title: Shiny Things/You Earned It Premise: Sugar Baby AU Pairing: dnf Word count: 2,627 Reason you stopped writing it: I struggled with the initial way in to this as I didn't want to do it entirely AU but they both have a lot of their own money irl and although George likes when ppl pay for things the initial way into the arrangement didn't work for me. It kept coming out a bit more findom. I have extensive notes on it though and I may return to something similar at some point

Working title/doc title: the porn star au that Dream asked for Premise: They're porn stars, Dream is faceless and does amateur solo stuff on OnlyFans but is really successful, George does studio movies and is popular in his own right. Dream wants to transition to movie work for the money and requests to work with George, but no one is actually sure if he's gay or just gay for pay. This was based on Dream's tweet about "in an alternate universe I'm a gay porn star are still get cancelled for queerbaiting" or whatever it was he said. Anyway, every time I read my notes for this I love it a bit more Pairing: dnf Word count: 2,749 Reason you stopped writing it: Honestly, I liked the premise so much I worried about not doing it justice and now I get scared every time I try

Working title/doc title: Tricksy Dreamon times Premise: dsmp fic where DreamXD keep taunting George in the wake of Dream being locked in prison but then Dream escapes and shows up on George's doorstep all traumatised and in need of care. Essentially just some angsty hurt/comfort Pairing: dnf Word count: 4,327 Reason you stopped writing it: Again, I'm not really a fantasy writer or dsmp writer, my friend Charlotte just loved some fics like this and so I wanted to write her one but it's not really in my wheelhouse and so I'll leave her to read the actual good ones

Working title/doc title: the royalty au dream wants but that I didn't think I'd ever write Premise: George is a rebellious prince sleeping with a knight called Dream he doesn't really get along with but then he becomes King unexpectedly due to the death of his father and is faced with the perils of trying to govern a country. He's expected to marry the prince of a nearby kingdom in order to solidify their alliance, but he just can't seem to shake Dream, who has some very strong opinions about how George could be running things instead Pairing: dnf Word count: 1,804 Reason you stopped writing it: Again, not really my usual kind of thing. I'm a contemporary romance write - I don't know why I keep starting these things

Honourable mentions (fics that are a couple hundred words): Werewolf!Dream au - again, not my thing Spanking fic - There are already so many good ones and anything I could have put in this will probably be in a future longer fic of mine Living like you said - a fic with the summary "As YouTube falls apart, Dream and George fall together" about them contemplating quitting while getting together - idk why I gave this up except I didn't have a clear outline for it How to deal with alpha roommates - I so badly want to write more Beta!George like in my fic That's How We Play It (please read, it's my baby) and I started with a premise but again didn't have a clear outline, just a desire for Beta!George fake snf for the bet - what it says on the tin, really. abandoned because I lost enthusiasm for it (Sapnap probably pissed me off that day) Fertitlity stuff - occasionally I start fic to exorcise some personal demons and this was an mpreg one where they faced fertility issues and then split up only to get back together later on but then - well, my own life happened and it made this a bit impossible to continue. This is just the DNF, if you wanna see the Phan list, let me know!! I'm tagging: @scoops404 @czargasm @alittledizzy to do this too fi they want but also if they don't that's cool too :)

✖ Quiet Down EPILOGUE (M)✖

☆ well it’s finally done! thank you so much for everyone who has read this story and who has sent me messages, comments in regards to it. i hope you enjoyed the ride and I’m sorry this epilogue took so long to finish. once again thank you to everyone who has read this you guys mean the world to me! bye and i hope to see you in my other stories 💜☆

PART 1 || PART 2 || PART 3 || PART 4 || PART 5 || PART 6 || PART 7 || PART 8 || PART 9

Word Count: approx. 9.3k Warnings (based on each part): explicit language, sexual situations (skip over if you don't like it)

✖-----------------------✖

But today is the day you’re going to talk her. If she wanted to spit at you, then so be it. If she wanted to snarl, so be it. All you want is just an minute of her time.

But today is the day you’re going to talk her. If she wanted to spit at you, then so be it. If she wanted to snarl, so be it. All you want is just an minute of her time.

Looking at Sasha since your blow up with Charlotte you’ve felt this unbearable weight on your back. Sasha’s exhausted. On a few occasions she’s become short with you. Last Saturday when the two of you got together to go shopping you noticed how tense she was. Little did you know that Charlotte was in the mall with Richard — eyes dead set on the two of you, nose scrunched up with a look that would curdle milk on the spot. The fatigue Sasha showcased as she yanked you away gave you the nudge of courage you’re now trying to reassure yourself that you have. Because Sasha’s suffering has got to end, today!

So, as Charlotte starts to fill up her bottle you make a beeline straight for her. As you move forward like a woman on a mission you notice Sasha’s head springing up. Dread evident on her face. Just as you pass her, she slides away from her desk most likely getting prepared to intervene.

Blocking Charlotte’s escape you take a deep breath, “Charlotte,” you whisper just loud enough for her to hear.

Turning around she comes face to face with you. Her eyes go from startled to angry in a matter of seconds. Brows knitting together and the roll of her eyes so big they completely disappear for a second. Even after five months of not talking to each other, not sitting with each other, she is still clearly angry with you. And for what?! Trying to create some kind of relationship with someone…well two people. Your own blood starts to boil as one single thought comes to mind,

didn’t she miss me…at all?!

“Move.” She hisses.

“Not until you listen to me.”

“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Now move!”

“Charlotte!” You shout her name louder than what you wanted. A few heads close by turning — bodies leaning in to hear your conversation.

Turning your back to the eavesdroppers you bring your voice down, “we need to talk. I’m tired of using Sasha as a homing pigeon. This isn’t fair to her. We need to work things out between us before we lose her as a friend. So please, can’t we just talk?”

“There is nothing to say.”

“What do you mean? There is so much to say! We haven’t talked in months!”

“You said everything you needed to say at the hotel.”

“No. That’s not true.” Shocked she crosses her arms waiting for the next blow you can give her but what you have up your sleeve was something you should have said while you were at the hotel.

“I’m sorry.”

Shoulders slumping forward you pray for the tears you felt coming along to stay away. “I never told you I’m sorry for all of those nasty things I said about you. I know your feelings for Haechan are just a silly crush. You have Richard and he’s amazing and treats you like the queen you are. I was just angry about what you said about me so I sunk to a place I never wanted to sink to. For that, I’m truly sorry, Charlotte. From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry.”

Staring at you with the same dark emotionless eyes she’s been giving you for the last five months you wait for her response. One minute passes. Two minutes. Three minutes. Your heart pounds in your ears as you wait for her to say something. To do something! But she just stares you down. Little by little your hope for reconciliation grows dimmer. This couldn’t be the end of your friendship. There had to be something you can do to mend what was broken.

Pushing past you Charlotte walks away. Your heart that was crumbling shatters into a million pieces. This was it. You just lost your best friend. The tears you managed to keep from falling threaten to paint your face in glistening streaks. Turning away from her you rush to the bathrooms.

How could she do that? You’ve known her for years and yet after one fight she turns her back on you! To your friendship! Rushing into the hallway to where the bathrooms are you bump into someone. Through glassy eyes you see Renjun’s face go from shock to worry. Quickly before he utters a single word you run into the bathroom; find a stall and lock yourself in.

Finally letting the tears you’ve been holding back for months cascade down onto your cheeks.

Things were officially over. Your friendship with Charlotte was over. What you had with Renjun and Haechan was over. Gripping your chest you recall the following day when you were packing up your belongings…

"Are you just going to walk away," Haechan follows you around the hotel room.

"Haechan, please," you let out a tired sigh.

For the past thirty minutes since you woke up he’s been trying to get you to change your mind. Telling you for the umpteenth time that Renjun is an idiot and he’ll soon come around to your side.

"No! I won’t lose you! I can’t lose you!" He wraps his arms around you tightly. "If he won’t be with you then I will! I will love you enough for the both of us."

"So you’re a hundred percent okay with me having feelings for someone else and thinking about someone else, longing for another person when I’m with you?"

His arms tighten around you. "No, I’m not okay with that. Not even in the slightest. I never wanted to share you with anyone. Frankly, I hate that I was to much of a coward to approach you sooner. But even if you still like Renjun right now I know overtime you’ll forget about him and you’ll be able to love us. Please, I promise I won’t give up on us at all. I won’t just walk away. Give me a chance, please…"

"Time isn’t the problem,’ grabbing his wrists you try to pry him off of you. He wasn’t backing down. ‘Haechan!"

"You don’t want to be with just me do you? You won’t even try to love just me, will you?"

"Just stop."

“No! I want to know why you can’t try to be in a relationship with me! Here I am,” he turns you around to face him. “I’m right in front of you, saying how much I love you.” His hands cup your cheeks. Eyes trembling with fear. Tears at the ready to fall onto his cheeks. Looking away from him you can feel your heart starting to break.

“Look at me!” He draws your attention back to him. “I love you so fucking much! You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to be with you! How all I want to do is to make you the happiest woman in the world. So, why can’t it just be me? Why does it have to be Renjun as well? If he doesn’t want to love you then I will!”

“He does love me that’s the problem.”

“And you love him...”

“And I love you too,” feeling a massive weight being lifted off your chest you revel in the feeling of finally telling Haechan how you felt.

It’s true. You love him. You know you do. Every time your eyes meet you don’t want to look away. Every time he touches you, your skin burns with desire. And when he was inside you, that was the glue that sealed your souls together. You love Haechan, honestly and truly, but you also love Renjun…

Placing his forehead down to yours you wrap him in a warm embrace. His hands rest on your hips, gripping tightly. His body trembling in your hold. “I don’t want to be without you! I’ve wanted to be with you for so long. You can’t leave me…” he whispers softly the sound of a sniff drawing your attention.

“You know I don’t want this. I want all of us to be together like how it was here these past four days. But,” you pull back from him far enough to look at his face. “All of us need to think long and hard about this. Renjun was right, Haechan. This isn’t something you jump into. We each need to make sure that we’re doing this for the right reasons and are ready, willing, and able to deal with any blow up because of this.”

“If we don’t walk out of here hand in hand then I don’t want a relationship! I know what I want. I want you!”

Pulling away from him you see the dark determination in his eyes. His furrowed brows, tight lips that disappear. Heavy breathing from what you can only assume is anger, anxiety, but most of all resolve.

He’s dead serious.

“Haechan, I…” shaking your head he turns from you.

“Goodbye.”

“Haechan!”

Ripping open the door, it slams against the wall. Not bothering to look back despite your cries for him to stay, Haechan dashes to the stairwell and disappears before your eyes.

He wasn’t joking when he said goodbye. Time and time again after you went back to work you tried to talk to him. Sending message after message. Slipping notes onto his desk as you passed by him but to no avail.

And Renjun, more tears spring to your eyes. After some time he was willing to talk to you, to smile, to greet you, but you were the one giving him the cold shoulder. Feeling a secret resentment towards him for ruining everything that you had going with both he and Haechan. It was a childish resentment which you’ve managed to all but distinguish — still a spark flickers whenever you think about what could have been, but will never be.

Renjun was right. The type of relationship you craved would be something you’d need to keep secret. No one could know. All the giggling you would normally do with Sasha and Charlotte about the sweet gestures, romantic evenings — talking about how amazing the sex is, would never happen. Because what you wanted is not something everyone can handle.

If word got out in the office, hell, when word got out in the office, it might just jeopardize everything you’ve worked hard to achieve. Co-workers looking at you differently, whispering under their breaths. It was bad enough with your past relationships — especially when you were being cheated on.

The amount of times you heard co-workers saying how stupid and blind you were, had you crying night after night. If they knew you were in a relationship with not one but two men — those two being best friends, your co-workers, and Haechan and Renjun, the whispering would not only happen it would quadruple in size.

Wiping your eyes you sit and wait till you’ve calmed down. It was your own fault. Entertaining Haechan on the bus was a dumb idea. Letting him seduce you in the bathroom even worse, but what you did with Renjun — sweet Renjun who loves you so much, that was truly wicked. You fucked with your own heart and the hearts of two men because you wanted to have fun.

“Some fun,” you laugh pathetically as another tear slides down your cheek.

Coming out of the bathroom, after dabbing your face gently with a wet paper towel — reducing as much redness as possible, you see Haechan walking towards the office. His hair getting longer these days. Dark locks swaying gently as he carries a box of files in his arms.

“H-Hae…Chan…” you whisper softly but he doesn’t hear you.

Shaking your head you gather up the little dignity you have and walk into the office a few steps behind him. Not wanting anyone to get any ideas, but especially Renjun who you can already feel is watching your movements. Heading straight for your desk you see a sticky note stuck to your laptop screen.

‘After work, Neo Lounge.’ -C

Doing a double, triple, quadruple take you look up to see her hard at work. Glancing down to where Sasha is, she gives you a thumbs up. Another wave of tears threatens you but the soaring feeling of your heart pushes that feeling aside.

“Hey!” Mia claps her hand onto your shoulder starling you.

“Oh, hi,” you lean into her touch.

Since the company trip Mia has now entered your small little friendship circle, along with Jeno and Jaemin. Aside from Sasha they were the ones who would greet you everyday and ask how you were doing. Well, Renjun attempted but…

“Can you do me a solid? I need you to go to the copy room for me,” she sighs holding up a few sheets of paper. “I have to head down and talk to the people below us about a missing file.”

“Yeah, sure. How many copies?”

“Twenty for each. Thank you! You’re a lifesaver!”

“No problem, remember to give them hell.”

Showing you her bicep she giggles and takes her leave. Sifting through the papers you see the flyer for the next company trip. Your heart starts beating faster. This time the trip was to go up to a ski resort in the snowy mountains just after the Christmas holidays. The company trip right after Christmas holiday are nothing like the summer trips. There are no games, no competition, it was all about relaxing and having a good time. A few years back everyone went to an ice hotel which was pretty nice if you didn’t mind freezing your ass off — this ski trip however, seems a million times better.

Snuggling up by a fire. Drinking hot chocolate. Snowball fights, building snow men, snuggling in nice cozy beds with thick blankets. Yeah, this was going to be an amazing trip.

Heading for the copy room you spot Jeno, Jaemin, and Haechan talking amongst each other. Keeping your head down you try to make yourself invisible but Jaemin calls out your name making you spring up like a Jack-in-the-box. The moment your name comes from his lips is the moment Haechan turns back.

Meeting his gaze your heart sinks when you see the sneer and eye roll. Taking his leave just as you approach them you watch him head back to his desk.

“Damn, at least he could do is try to be nice to you. It’s been five months.” Jeno shakes his head.

“Are you okay, with everything?” Jaemin eyes you closely.

“It is what it is. I tried talking to him but he doesn’t want to talk to me.”

“I get that he’s pissed that you didn’t want to date him but after that morning with the three of you —”

“Jeno!” Jaemin stops him. “Don’t talk about it.”

“Oh, s-sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you or make you feel bad or —”

Putting a hand over Jeno’s mouth Jaemin smiles his charming handsome smile at you. “Where are you headed off to?”

“Copy room,” you hold up the papers. “Also, you didn’t hear it from me and I will deny everything but…” you show them the flyer for the company trip.

“Eh?! Really?!” Jaemin snatches the paper eyes scanning over the details.

“Thank God!” Jeno reads along with his friend. “That ice hotel was cool but only for a couple of hours. I was almost going to bail after the first night.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“He ended up fucking the boss’ old secretary.” Jaemin hands you back the paper.

“Chris-Christine?!” You ask quietly. “No way!!!”

Jaemin rolls his eyes his happy mood dissipating. “Yeah I had to bunk with Haechan. Fuck! Wait! We’re going to have to figure out who will be with Haechan and Renjun, won’t we?”

“Let them stay with each other. They’ve been fighting long enough. They need to grow the fuck up.”

Shocked you look out to where both Haechan and Renjun are seated in the office. “Fighting?!”

“Yeah. Renjun and Haechan have been in a stale mate for the past two months. They aren’t talking to each other, hanging out with each other and if one of them is around us the other won’t come near.”

“What are they fighting about?”

“You.” Jeno sits down at his desk. “Do us all a favor and kick their asses so they’ll at least stop tugging us back and forth, okay?”

Staring between Jeno and Jaemin your heart starts to sink even lower. Why exactly were Haechan and Renjun fighting and why was this the first time you’ve heard about it. Granted you were still getting used to hanging around Jeno and Jaemin and they didn’t owe you an explanation or information regarding their friends but still, if Haechan and Renjun are fighting and it’s because of you, you have a right to know.

✖-----------------------✖

Standing in the elevator you get out your phone ready to send your roommate a quick text. Tonight is movie night and though you were ready to watch a horror flick, the meeting with Charlotte is top priority. Just as you were starting to type out the message, the doors started to close shut when they spring open. Glancing up you see Renjun huffing as he enters.

Both of you shocked to see each other, you duck your head low and shimmy to the far corner opposite of him. The doors start to close again when someone shouted to hold the elevator. As luck would have it, or more like bad luck, Haechan rushes inside.

He pauses for a second as if his mind is reeling over whether or not he wants to bail now or suffer.

He’s chosen to suffer…

The elevator is dead silent. The only sound you can hear is the beating of your own heart. Lungs trying desperately to fill your body with air. Suffocating by the heavy atmosphere. Wanting to apologize to Renjun. Wanting to ask Haechan why he’s been ignoring you, you open your mouth but it closes soon after. There’s no point. They’ve made their peace.

The elevator reaches the ground floor and dings as the door opens. Simultaneously Renjun and Haechan glance over their shoulders, eyes casted down and say, ‘good work.’

Leaving in opposite directions you gasp for air that you weren’t getting the ride down. Making up your mind you were going to figure out how to abolish this awkwardness and resentment between the three of you, as soon as you fix things with Charlotte.

Driving over to Neo Lounge, a small bar and grill where Sasha, Charlotte and yourself frequented plenty after work on Friday’s — memories of the past start flooding back. The first time Charlotte brought you here a waitress spilled all of your drinks on you, chilling you to the bone.

Another occasion when Richard proposed to Charlotte on a Saturday night where he rented the place out for just close family and friends, disguising the proposal as a congratulations to your team — which Charlotte was a huge asset to, for landing a big client.

Sasha getting drunk on Karaoke Friday’s and doing a damn good rendition of Kelis’ Milkshake, that had everyone cheering for more to which she followed up with Lipgloss by Lil Mama — she was on fire that night!

Pulling up to the bar, you shoot your roommate the text that you never sent and shortly after you get a sad reply.

What about the movie? Don’t worry it’s still on! Pizza and some beers, okay? Yes please!!!! Love ya! Have fun and I hope you fix things with Charlotte. Love you too

Peeking inside through the front windows you see Charlotte waiting at the bar, a drink already in front of her. Telling the hostess your meeting someone who is already at the bar she escorts you.

“Took you long enough,” she mumbles. “Didn’t think you’d show.”

“And miss the opportunity to grovel at your feet, never!”

“Hi, Miss.” The bartender leans on the counter in front of you. “What can I get you?”

“A Sprite please.”

“Coming right up,” he winks before leaving.

“I think he likes you.”

“No, thank you. I’m swearing off the relationship thing for a while.”

“Yeah, I heard what happened from Sasha. For what it’s worth I’m truly sorry. I know you liked both of them a lot.”

“It is what it is. Stupid idea anyway.”

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. I know I blew up about you wanting to date both Haechan and Renjun but there’s a reason. I don’t want you to get hurt at all. I know how much you loved Nicholas so I just didn’t want you to get hurt again. Renjun just seemed like the better choice. I thought for sure you would choose him and only him, not Haechan the office flirt.

“I thought you were out of your mind. Bat shit crazy! But Sasha has talked my ear off about how you felt about them and why. I’ve also noticed how Renjun looks at you. He looks devastated all the time and Haechan, he’s not his normal self. I can’t possibly fathom what happened between you guys but I’m sorry. I never wanted you to be miserable. I never wanted anyone to be left heart broken. I just didn’t want you to get yourself into another relationship that would make you depressed like Nicholas did.”

“Why didn’t you say that from the beginning? I would have listened to you and heard you out. You’re my best friend Charlotte!”

“I’m sorry. I was just…I don’t know maybe I was jealous that you were getting attention from Haechan. I mean here I’ve been for years thirsting over him like a hoe and you waltz in with your fine ass self and snatch him. Then again, here I am a married woman so all those thirty thoughts were just that thoughts. You aren’t tied down and you can live and be with whomever you want to be with. In a way I was and wanted to live vicariously through you,” she lets out a pathetic laugh.

“Do you really want to know what it was like?” You lean into her nudging her with your shoulder.

Smirking she sips her drink, “more than anything!”

“He’s a beast! Completely insatiable! Doesn’t mind going down on a woman either. I mean seriously I’ve never come so many times in my life. It’s like he couldn’t get enough, or more that he didn’t want to get enough.”

“And the dick,” she leans into you intrigued.

Licking your lips you lean to her ear smirking. “Best I’ve ever had.” You give her just enough but keep all the details for yourself.

“What about Renjun. How was he?”

The bartender places your drink in front of you with a napkin that clearly has his name and number on it. Winking he goes to his next customer.

“Damn, looks like Mr. Bartender isn’t giving up on you yet.”

“He should quit while he’s ahead.” Putting the napkin in your pocket you get back to your conversation. “Renjun…” you sigh like a lovesick school girl. “He was so attentive. Asking if I was okay, if he was hurting me, even asking if I was sure that this is what I wanted. There was so much love with Renjun. I mean don’t get me wrong, when he was close to coming he got crazier which I loved, but he was more love making — Haechan, fucking.”

“No wonder you wanted both. If only there was a perfect guy for all of us. One who knows how to fuck the shit out of us when we want it and can instantly make us feel like a delicate princess the next.”

“If only…”

“So what happened between the three of you. Sasha didn’t elaborate for obvious reasons. But, since we’re talking now I think it’s best to ask you.”

“On the last night we talked about the situation. Haechan was already good to go. He told me that he’s wanted to be with me for years. Even said if he has to share me with Renjun he doesn’t care as long as he can still be with me. Charlotte, he seemed so desperate and I felt terrible. I didn’t want Haechan to do anything that he didn’t really want to do.

“Plus, Renjun was bringing up excellent points. Our jobs, family, friends, society, and even jealousy. I couldn’t help but side with him and want to take things slow. They started to fight with each other and it was like I was seeing two beasts chomping at the bit to get to me. Renjun suddenly shouts ‘who’s it gonna be, me or him?’ and I lost it. I just told them we needed to give this a break for now and come back later after some time had passed and our minds were clearer.”

“Wait, I knew Haechan was developing feelings I didn’t know he already had them!!” She shakes her head. “Why the hell did he wait this long?”

“Well, I did kind of go from boyfriend to boyfriend.”

“So, the three of you are?”

“Keeping our distance as I’m sure you can tell.”

“I think the whole office can feel the iciness between the three of you.”

“It’s for the best I guess. Some things aren’t meant to work out.”

“And the guys are okay with this?”

“Renjun tries to talk to me every blue moon. I admit I’ve been a real bitch to him. I was angry for a while because I thought if only he just went along with it things would be different. If only he took that chance and didn’t overthink things we’d be getting our brains fucked out,” you snort before taking a long swig of your soda to cool you off. “I need to apologize to him for my behavior. It’s not his fault and I’m glad he stood up for himself and his principles.”

“And Haechan?”

“Ignoring me like I’ve never even existed in the first place. He took it extremely hard and personal. I’ve tried to speak to him in the hall. Tried to call him, text him. Hell, I was thinking of finding a pigeon to deliver a message to him.” Charlotte starts laughing before slapping her hand on your back.

“Should get a boom box and serenade him outside of his window.”

“This isn’t a cheesy 80’s movie Charlotte…” you grimace at the idea.

“So he’s completely given up on you?”

“I don’t know. If only I could talk to him and hear what he has to say I’d be better equipped to answer but at this point I don’t know if he’s pissed and blowing off steam or if he’s completely done with me.” Tears start to spring to your eyes as memories of Haechan’s face resurface.

The coldness of his eyes when you tried to talk to him a week after you came back from the trip. How he brushed past you almost knocking you down and not even caring to see if you were okay. How he leaves whenever you come within a small distance of him. Every gesture makes your heart crumble little by little.

“Babe,” Charlotte wraps you in a tight hug. “Don’t cry. He’s an ass, okay? We’ve always thought so.”

“He’s an ass who got his heart broken by me.”

“Yeah and he’ll get over you. As soon as he finds another woman to get under. Trust me...”

Completely done with the conversation you just nod in agreement. The truth is that you didn’t want to think about Haechan or Renjun with someone else. Not yet, at least.

“Well let’s get off this dreary topic. I haven’t seen you in forever! What are you up to? What’s going on with your roommate, your family, life!”

“Well, let’s just say my roommate found someone new,” you giggle.

“Eh?! A new girlfriend?!”

“Yep!”

✖-----------------------✖

Driving back home the smile on your face doesn’t leave no matter how hard you try. Finally! After five months of not talking to Charlotte, of letting her cool down, and both of you realizing how much your friendship truly means to one another your back to being friends. Even making plans to go to Sasha’s house for a sleepover next weekend.

Squealing with glee you slide into the pizza shop parking lot you’ve been frequenting lately and place your order. Also sending a quick message to your roommate.

Will be home in about twenty minutes! Pick out a good movie, okay? Will do! Anything in particular? Scary!!!! You hate scary movies lol I’m feeling like a little slumber party tonight! We have lots to talk about. Also, Charlotte wishes you well! Shit. Forgot about Charlotte. Hope everything went well. We’ll talk all about it when I get home. Looks like I’ll be back sooner than I thought. Paul’s waving me inside. Got to go! See you soon! Drive safely.

“Two large pizzas with all the fixings,” Paul hands you the pizza as you walk into the door. “Another movie night?”

“You know us well, Paul.”

“Well it’s my job to know our customers, especially when a customer comes in with their hunger depraved roomie and orders half the menu.”

“Yeah thanks for that ‘discount.’ I think I would have gone broke if it weren’t for you.”

“Well,” he scratches the back of his neck. “I was hoping if you don’t mind, maybe we can hang out? Not like a date or anything but like a friendship. Not that I don’t want to date you. I mean I don’t but I mean you’re beautiful it’s just I’m into guys so…wait…shit… I mean is that, okay? I hope you don’t mind. I’d understand if you do mind but I hope you don’t. Fuck, what am I even saying? What I mean is —”

“I’ll text you one day after work this coming week and we can schedule a time. I’d love to hang out with you!”

“R-Really?!”

“Of course!”

Exchanging numbers with Paul you wave goodbye and head home. Feeling a sense that good things were starting to rain down on you, the smile that was plastered on your face from when you hung out with Charlotte is now back after talking to Paul.

He seems like a nice guy. New to town, he just moved from the countryside to the city a month ago. His grandfather running the pizzeria you now declare you’re a devoted patron of.

Pulling up into the driveway the porch light is on waiting your arrival. Taking a second to look over your new home. For the past month you have called this little house your home. Saving up over the years really paid off. Of course with the help of your roommate to pick up the slack on the bills you’re now able to callyourselves homeowners.

Turning off your car, you grab your purse, work bag, and the pizzas. Your stomach grumbling like crazy. Springing for the door you knock with your elbow hoping your roomie doesn’t have their music playing to loud, but when the door opens and you’re yanked forward you let out both a squeal of surprise and happiness. Taking the pizzas from you and setting them on a small table where you’ve designated for your shoes, bags, and other small belongings — you’re freed of your possessions and pressed against the wall.

“Took you long enough,” your roommate whispers against your neck.

“Miss me?”

“All day,” they start smothering your neck in kisses.

Wrapping your arms around their waist you give into the familiar feeling. Smooth soft lips kissing a line from your neck to your jaw and finally to your lips. Tender and sweet you give into the sensuous rhythm of their kiss. Hands gripping onto your waist tightly. Lips smacking against each other’s you feel their nails digging into your skin.

Wanting the kiss to continue you’re left disappointed when they pull away from you. Their short black hair getting a bit longer these days, you giggle at their glasses that have become lopsided.

“I guess you did miss me,” you fix them.

“Of course I did! I always do!”

“Are the two of you finished making out? I’m starving over here!”

“Coming Haechan!”

Taking your hand into his, Renjun laces your fingers together — not forgetting to grab the pizzas.

“So, what are we watching tonight?” You plop down on the couch.

“We thought we’d watch Thirteen Ghosts.”

“That’s not scary!”

“It’s scary enough!” Haechan sticks his tongue out. “Coke or Sprite?”

“Coke.”

“Salad this time or not?” Renjun asks.

“I want to eat my weight in pizza so ace the salad.”

“I wonder exactly how much pizza someone has to eat in order to eat their weight in it,” Haechan sits next to you after placing your drinks down on the coffee table.

Moving next to him, you lay your head on his shoulder. His arm falling naturally at your waist. “A shit ton. Definitely not worth the money you’d have to pay out for it.”

“Would you do it if someone paid for the pizza?”

“Would you?!”

“Yep,” he laughs.

“Don’t make me sick.”

“What?! You wouldn’t like me anymore if I got fat?”

“I’ll love you the same even if you got as big as an elephant! What I’m saying is that you’d be puking your guts out after the sixth slice. No way you could eat your weight in it. Plus, you know I hate the smell of puke, the sound of puking, and the mere thought of it.”

“My fragile princess,” he kisses the top of your head. “What are you going to do when you get morning sickness.”

“Hell with morning sickness I’ll adopt!”

“And deny me a child of my own flesh and blood?! You cruel woman!”

“Eh?!” You spring up eyes bulging out of your head. “What kind of lunacy are you spewing out?”

“He saw a family taking a walk today when we got home. So he’s in his, ‘I want a son or daughter’ mood right now. Don’t worry it’ll blow over. Always does,” Renjun brings over a plate with a couple slices of pizza on it. “But it is a nice thought.”

“What’s a nice thought? Being a parent? Of course it is. To hear someone calling you mommy or daddy. Their laughs, the tiny little shoes. Their tiny little hands, and how their butt can fit in the palm of your hand!” The room goes silent as both eye you strangely. “What?! That’s what my mom said about me when I was a baby.”

Haechan snorts taking a slice of pizza. “That your butt was so small it fit in the palm of her hand?”

“Yep! She said I had a cute butt!”

“Still do,” Renjun kisses your cheek.

“Dude, ew, I’m eating.”

“Like you weren’t thinking the same thing.”

“Might have been thinking it but I still respect the sanctity of food!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Renjun rolls his eyes. “Would be nice though, to be a parent. Especially if a certain someone was the mother.”

“I thought Haechan was the only one with baby fever.”

“He was staring down the family more than me. I could see the cogs in his head turning. I can imagine what was going on in his head. Him fucking the shit out of you every day all day. Even at work,” Haechan snickers. “Back to the bathroom you go!” He starts cracking up. “Just praying one of those times he’d knock you up.”

Renjun shoves another slice of pizza into Haechan’s mouth. “And we’re done talking! I wasn’t thinking that intently. It was more like, it would be nice to be a parent with the person I love.”

“Lucky girl.” You smirk.

Leaning into you Renjun kisses you gently. “No,” he pulls back gazing into your eyes. “Lucky man…”

“For fucks sake…should I leave and give you two the room?”

“Why? I’m sure you’d just join in anyway.” Renjun settles back down next to you.

Smirking Haechan wraps his arm around your shoulders pulling you to him. Almost knocking the pizza out of your hands and onto your skirt. “Holy shit! Dude! We’d probably have to go through paternity tests! Okay new deal! When we’re trying to have kids only one person can fuck her without a condom. The other must use protection!”

“ENOUGH!!!” You snatch the remote and start the movie. “No more baby talk. Neither of you are going to be a dad any time soon. And I’m certainly not going to be a mother any time soon. So chill!”

“You have to admit that his idea is a good one.”

“Yes, I get it, Renjun.”

“Are you that against having kids with us?”

“No I’m not against it. It’s far too early to even think about that stuff. We did just get back together and we’re still trying to figure everything out. Not to mention no one knows we’re together! I had to lie to Charlotte, Jeno, and Jaemin about us!”

It’s true. For the past month you’ve pretended to still be heartbroken about the fling breaking up between yourself, Haechan and Renjun.

While working the three of you ignore each other, barely make eye contact, and certainly avoid conversation — fearing people would start rumors about you and one of the guys or both of them. Today, when Haechan walked away from you the hurt in his eyes and the sting of pain in your heart was real.

Wanting to only hold each other, kiss each other — to act like a normal couple in front of everyone is not a luxury you can afford. When Renjun passed you in the hall the shock in his eyes was real. Many times you’ve had to give him ‘the look’ so he wouldn’t forget the deal.

After your little cry fest over thinking your friendship with Charlotte was dead and gone you found several messages from both Renjun and Haechan. Apparently Renjun informing him that he had seen you upset.

The elevator behavior is one that was new today. Trying mostly to leave at separate times. About five to ten minutes apart each you’ve avoided being caught in the elevator with each other. Doing your best to keep up your charade for the cameras in the elevator was the hardest thing to do. Memories of Renjun and Haechan kissing you and promising to fuck you resurfaced so fast you could barely breathe.

Thankfully both of the guys sought you out after four months of not speaking to you, but in the beginning things were very bad…

When you left the hotel on Monday morning. Renjun was nowhere to be found until you got on the bus and saw him sitting with Jaemin. As you made your way back to where everyone was sitting he ducked his head low turning away from you.

Your heart sank. Just the day before you were kissing and about to fool around in the woods and by the next morning he was avoiding you like you were some kind of plague.

Haechan was no different. Headphones plugged into his ears, tipping the visor part of his baseball hat down when for a split second your eyes met. Jeno who was sitting next to him gave you a look of sympathy. Obviously both Jeno and Jaemin understanding that something big went down. To this very day you don’t know how much they know but they still haven’t lost the look of pity in their eyes when they look at you.

Regretting immediately that you didn’t take Sasha up on her offer to hitch a ride back with her, you made your way to the back seat sitting alone curled up in a ball. Charlotte sitting with Mia and chatting away as if they’ve been besties this entire time.

The months after were no different. Haechan ignored you no matter how many times you tried to reach out to him. Even when you cornered him one day in the elevator going as far as pressing the button to stop the elevator — you tried to get him to talk, but he refused to give you the time of day.

Note after note, phone call after phone call, text after text — trying to reach him to let him know you still cared and didn’t want whatever relationship that sparked between the two of you to fade away, you were ignored. By the second month you gave up and accepted your fate. Haechan no longer cared and certainly didn’t want to have anything more to do with you.

But, there was a silver lining. During the third month Renjun started to look at you. He would smile and greet you politely like he would anyone at the office. Passing each other in the hall he would try to stop you to talk, but you were furious with him. Because as much as you were trying to talk to Haechan you were trying to talk to him too, but even Renjun ignored you.

And now suddenly he wanted to talk to you? Suddenly he would give you the time of day? If he was planning to speak to you again he should have just said to give him some time, but no! He ignored you just the same as Haechan did. So, you gave him a taste of his own medicine — though every time a little piece of your heart broke.

What you didn’t know was at the end of the third month Haechan and Renjun got together for a ‘talk.’ Shortly after, you received a note from both of them telling you to stay after work and meet them by your car in the parking garage.

Thirty minutes after the work day ended and everyone left to go home you entered the parking garage to find both Haechan and Renjun waiting for you. And that’s when they hit you with something you weren’t expecting…

“We miss you…”

Scoffing you stared dumbfounded. They missed you? Like hell they did! Why would someone who misses you treat you like shit?! Why would they act like children around you after everything you did with them?! There was no way in hell you were going to let them back in.

Haechan was the one who started off the confessional.

“I know I was a dick! A mega ultra dick, but I was pissed! I told you I wanted to be with you. I confessed that I’ve loved you for a long time and yet you didn’t even want to try dating just me! I’ve wanted to be with you for so long, but you just pushed me away!”

“That’s because Renjun was right, Haechan. We shouldn’t rush into anything. That’s what I was trying to say that night outside. I wasn’t saying no! I wasn’t saying never! I was just agreeing that maybe we should get to know each other as friends!”

“We’ve worked together for years! Not to mention what happened on that trip exceeded anything I would ever do with a friend. Why couldn’t you just be with me?”

“I want to know the same,” Renjun chimes in. “You said no to the idea of being with us individually, why?”

Already feeling a migraine coming on you walk up to your car to discard your belongings. “Look, I know it might be hard to understand but I don’t want to be with just one of you. I want to be with both of you or no one. I loved being with both of you. I love spending time with both of you — individually and together, I love it both. That’s why. I have strong feels for both of you. I would only long for the other if I chose just one person and that isn’t fair to either of you.

“What Renjun was saying wasn’t no to the idea either Haechan. He was just saying ‘not now.’ It was rude of myself and you to give him a deadline to catch feelings and make a decision like that. And for that,” you face Renjun and now your head. “I’m sorry, Renjun.”

Shocked Renjun stares between you and Haechan. Eyes trembling. Lip snagged by his top teeth. As if he wanted to say something but the moment he looked down you knew that’s wasn’t going to happen.

“So you were willing to overlook what happened between us?”

“How can I overlook that?! Haechan we fooled around on the bus with our co-workers just a few feet away. In the bathroom! You brought Renjun into that one too, and then up in our room! I can’t just forget all of that!”

“What Haechan is trying to say is that he’s sorry,” Renjun says coming forward. “We’re sorry. I should have made myself clearer from the very beginning. I knew what I was getting myself into when I joined the two of you in the bathroom. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to say no to you when it was just the two of us,” Renjun moves in front of you.

“When we were taking our hike and overlooking the clearing I knew exactly what I wanted then. I wanted to be with you more than anything in the world.”

“Please, give us a second chance,” Haechan takes your hands into his. “We talked it over between us. Time and time again and we both reached the same conclusion…”

“We can’t lose you…”

Snuggling up to Haechan you reach your arm out gesturing for Renjun to lean into you. Taking the hint he wraps his arm around your waist laying his head on your shoulder.

“While I’m not prepared to be a mom at all,” you bring up the topic you expelled. “I do think if I were to be a mom I’d be happy with both of you as the children’s fathers.”

“Really?” Renjun looks up at you eyes sparkling.

“Of course,” you place a gentle kiss on his forehead.

“I mean, we could always get some practice in for this baby making thing, what do you think, Renjun?” Haechan shifts making both you and Renjun sit up.

Getting the hint Renjun wraps his arms around your waist laying his head on your shoulder from behind. “Practice does make perfect.”

Trembling you try to move away from Renjun but he keeps a firm hold on you. “Practice?! Wh-What?! Look we’re talking years from now! Years! There’s no reason to start now!”

Pausing the movie Haechan taps the remote under his chin. “It’s been far too long since we’ve gotten to taste her, hasn’t it?”

“Five months to be exact,” Renjun’s hands start traveling down to your thighs, your body already coming alive. “It’s long overdue.”

“Long overdue?! You’re both nuts!” Haechan tries to shut you up by placing gentle kisses onto your cheeks and nose. “We agreed that we would take things slow.” You whimper when Renjun’s hands graze over your breasts. “Plus, I’m still hungry and we barely made a dent into the movie.”

“We’re hungry too,” Haechan kisses you gently. Every fiber in your body coming alive.

They are both right, it’s been over five months since you last had the pleasure of being plowed by them. But this is what you all agreed to. To start things out slow and build a strong foundation first and then start a more physical relationship.

Kissing down along your neck, Haechan glances up at you. “You have a choice, couch or bedroom.”

“I choose watching the movie and eating pizza.”

“Couch it is,” Renjun chuckles behind you.

“No, pizza and a movie it is. We promised we’d take things slow you guys.”

Renjun’s delicate soft fingers guide your head to look back towards him. “We’ll take things very slow if you want,” he places a gentle kiss on your lips.”

“Ren…jun…” your mind starts to drift far away from you.

“We’ve been struggling this entire time,” he whispers against your lips. “We don’t know how much longer we can last. It was stupid to make that kind of deal. All we’ve wanted to do since the moment we’ve moved in together is taste you...”

“And fuck you…” Haechan slides his hands down your thighs.

“Wh-Why didn’t you tell me? We said we’d be honest.”

Moving you back with him, Renjun rests his back against the arm rest. Your body laying on top of his between his legs. Taking off his shirt, Haechan unzips the side of your skirt and with your help, no longer able to deny the pulsing of your core you allow him to take off your skirt.

“Someone seems more willing to participate,” Renjun starts unbuttoning your shirt.

“How can she say no to us?” Haechan stares down at you as your breasts though still covered by your bra are revealed to him. “Man I’ve missed seeing your body.”

“What’s the game plan here? Who gets to be inside her first?” Renjun asks.

“What the hell?! You’ve corrupted my sweet Renjun!” You glare at Haechan a small pout on your face.

“I haven’t done a thing,” Haechan holds up his hands a twinkle in his eyes. “Mans been horny as fuck lately. I can’t blame him,” he leans into you taking hold of one of your breasts. A moan escapes you causing Haechan’s eyes to grow dark with lust. “Living under this roof with you is both a blessing and a curse.”

“Why a curse?” You whisper eyes closing as you let both men take you to the heaven only they can create.

“All we want is to touch you,” Renjun kisses your neck his hands gripping your waist. “And taste you,” his tongue grazes your neck before nipping a rather sensitive spot that has you jerking up to Haechan’s palm that is still massaging your breast.

“But most of all,” Renjun’s hands leave your waist and move to your inner thighs. “We want to be buried deep inside you,” he slides a hand between your legs making you moan loudly.

“Fuck, dude we can’t do this here,” Haechan growls. “Let’s take her back to the bedroom.”

“Good idea.”

Laying next to Renjun, his eyes closed shut, his breathing slow and steady you reach over smoothing down a bit of hair that is sticking up. The moment your hand touches him, he moves closer to you. Arm wrapping around your body, holding you tightly.

“So cute,” you whisper.

Walking back into the room Haechan sees Renjun sound asleep next to you. “Wow, he’s out quicker than I thought,” Haechan hands you a plate with two slices of pizza he went and warmed up for you.

Taking his spot next to you with a plate of his own you both chow down savoring the delicious saltiness of your favorite pizza.

“He did get off like three times,” you giggle.

“We need to help build up his stamina.”

“That could be a lot of fun.”

“Who’s the corrupted one now?”

“Still you Haechan. But you are rubbing off on us.” A comfortable quiet surrounds the two of you as you eat your food.

Last month you were alone in your shared apartment with your roommate Jen. Her new girlfriend taking up most of her time. The movie nights you used to have where you would pig out on your favorite foods was no longer a thing for the two of you since she found Emma. While happy for her, you wished every night for someone to call your own. For someone you can hold and snuggle with. Little did you know you’d be blessed with two people.

“Haechan,” you call to him as you finish your last slice of pizza.

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry for our last moments in the hotel. I should have been clearer. I just want you to know that everything you said I understood and heard you. Nothing went unnoticed.”

Wrapping his hand around your neck he pulls your face to him. Lips moving across yours so lightly it starts to make you giggle. Smiling himself he kissing you gently. Taking your very breath away Haechan shows you the sweeter, gentler side of himself.

“Thank you for telling me, but I shouldn’t have left you there. The whole way down the stairs a voice in the back of my mind was yelling to go back, but I didn’t listen to it. And the four months without you killed me. Every text you sent, all the notes, the messages, I listened and read everything. I kept kicking myself in the ass for not running back to you but I couldn’t push away my pride. All those years wanting you finally came true during those four days and it was the best four days of my life. But then it was gone. And I was part to blame for it.

“I’m sorry I was so stubborn. I promise, I’ll listen to what you have to say from now on and try my best to understand you.”

Again, Haechan kisses you gently. Lips moving seamlessly over your own, the two of you move lower onto the bed. Lips not separating for a second.

“I love you, Haechan.” You whisper against his lips.

“I love you too,” crashing his lips onto yours you’re almost pulled out of Renjun’s embrace, but when you feel a tug pulling you back you start moving away from Haechan.

“What about me?” Renjun asks sleepily. “Do you love me?”

Growling lowly, Haechan tries to keep you in his arms. “No she hates you. Should have heard all the shit she said about you while you were asleep.”

Smacking Haechan’s bare chest he winces giving you a deep pout. “Stop being an instigator. And of course I love you, Renjun.”

Smiling he yanks you back to him snuggling you tightly. “Good, because I’m in love with you.”

“Really?! In love with her?!” Haechan growls moving closer to the two of you. “And stop hogging her!”

“What? To scared to admit you’re in love with her?”

“No! I’ve been in love with her longer than you have! So I win!”

“You can’t call a win if you never said it to her!”

“I have! Tell him!”

Once again Haechan and Renjun start to argue. Making yourself as comfortable as can, you settle down between the two men you’re absolutely irrevocably insanely in love with. A small smirk coming to your face as your eyes grow heavy.

Though you would have liked a few aspects of your relationship to go differently you’re glad you listened to your heart, mind, Charlotte and your libido because they led you to these two amazing men.

“Come on! Tell him!” Haechan whines burying his face into the crook of your neck.

“QUIET DOWN! I’m trying to get some sleep.”

“But! But!”

“Haechan!!!!”

“Fine, but I said it first,” he places small kisses against your skin.

“Still won,” Renjun mutters behind you.

“GOOD NIGHT!” You shout so they’d get the hint.

“Good night,” the whisper snuggling up to you.

“I love you both.”

“We love you too.”

Yeah these are the two men who’ve stolen your heart, but you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Charlie and Felix: Bad Decisions

The long awaited follow-up to Bad Times

Writing Masterpost is Here

Extra long chapter (about 4.5k) I thought about splitting it into two but decided to go ahead and post the whole thing because I felt bad about how long it took me to write this

Warnings: Blood Mention, Alcohol, Some Language

~*~*~*~

For the first time since the beginning of the semester, they don’t sit next to each other in class. The room isn’t a huge lecture hall, but there are still plenty of open seats. Charlie sits off to the side, a little closer to the front than her normal spot next to Felix. She doesn’t turn around to check if he’s there, as far as she knows, he might have skipped the class today. The minutes drag along, the lecture seems extra boring without her friend sitting next to her. She knows that they probably just need to talk it out, and everything could be fine again. But honestly, she doesn’t really feel like doing that right now. He took all of her trust and threw it right back in her face. She’s allowed to be upset about that. Not that he even cares. If he didn’t want to be friends with her anymore, he could have just said that. But whatever, no time to think about dumb boys, she tries to focus on the boring lecture instead.

It goes on like this all week, they just mutually pretend that the other one doesn’t exist. Today, once class is over Charlie takes her sweet time packing up her stuff at the end of class. Usually, she would go get lunch with Felix after this class, but that’s obviously not going to happen right now.

“Hey Charlotte!” She turns and finds a girl standing next to her. They have… never really spoken, it takes her a moment to place a name with the face before her. She thinks it’s Madison. She was in her group at the first day orientation for transfer students, but aside from that they haven’t really spoken much. “Not to be, like, nosey or anything, but did you and Felix break up?”

“Um. We weren’t dating.” Charlie says, uncomfortably shifting her backpack onto her shoulders.

“What? Totally thought you were. Huh. But, so like, you’re fighting then, right? You haven’t sat next to each other all week”

“Why do you care?” Charlie raises an eyebrow.

“You totally are. ‘OMG’ Did he go total werewolf on you?” Charlie is briefly taken aback by her saying ‘oh em gee’ out loud in real life, it takes everything in her to not make a face at that. “It was a full moon recently you know and I-”

“No. no, no,” Charlie cuts her off, definitely making faces now, “I’m not going to listen to your stupid conspiracy theories. He’s not a werewolf, okay? He’s just a dumb boy. That’s it. I don’t really want to talk about it.”

“Oh. Well, I’m sorry. I mean, you two have been inseparable like… the whole year and now...” She shrugs. “Nikki totally thought you were being mind controlled to hang out with him.”

“Yeah. Okay, I’m walking away now.” Charlie turns to leave.

“I told her that was stupid!” Madison calls after her.

“Okay, bye.” Charlie waves as she walks off, thankful to escape that conversation before she was asked if Felix has scales or something. Great. Apparently, some people still have time to be curious about her stupid personal life drama. She doesn’t get why everyone is so curious about Felix. He tries to keep to himself, but everyone seems to want to insert themselves in his business. There is that picture of him floating around, but it’s super blurry and you can’t really tell that it's him, or that he’s gigantic. But ever since then everyone just seems to have their own version of who -or what- Felix really is. She guesses it makes sense that people would try to get information out of her, because Madison was right, her and Felix had been inseparable until recently.

“Charlotte, wait wait wait!” Madison runs after her. “I’m really sorry about your breakup and stuff. If you want, next weekend there’s going to be a huge party at Troy’s place. You should totally come. Meet some new people and stuff.” She hands Charlie a scrap of paper with an address on it. Then Madison stands there just long enough to make Charlie feel awkward, “Okay bye.” And with that, she flits off. Charlie looks at the note in her hands.

She’s never been invited to a party before. But thinking logically, there’s no way that would be any fun. Just a bunch of people shouting at her over music, asking her about Felix the whole time, drinking cheap beer, not studying for the finals that are right around the corner. She balls up the note and shoves it into her pocket.

Nothing changes the next week. Felix still hasn’t reached out to her, and she has stubbornly refused to reach out to him first. People mostly leave her alone, everything is relatively normal, if this is what normal has become. No friends, no fun, super normal. By the time the next weekend approaches, she finds herself seriously considering the party thing. She finds the crumpled note and smooths it out on her desk.

The night of the party rolls around, and she actually finds herself driving to the address, and parking a block down from the house. There are a LOT of cars on this street. Once she steps out of her truck she can already hear the dull thump of music and sound emanating from the house. She takes a deep breath before heading inside, determined to make some friends. She’s wearing her hair down, and she took care to pick an outfit that was both cute and comfortable. It’s a pair of overall shorts with a light long sleeve shirt underneath. That, paired with her black combat boots and some tall socks pushed down around the top of the boots. She wore her cutest bralette underneath for herself to help boost her confidence. She felt so cute she even took a selfie before she left. Here’s to new beginnings. It’s a little too cold outside for her outfit, so she grabbed a jacket before she left, but once she entered the house, she quickly ditched her jacket and pushed her sleeves up to her elbows.

It's loud and crowded. The people are packed into every room. Music is playing everywhere, and people are holding drinks, shouting over the music. She looks around. Some people glance her way, but she’s mostly ignored. She finds her way to the drinks.

“What is this?” She asks someone near a big container of a red liquid.

“Jungle Juice.” They shout back.

“What’s in it?”

“I don’t know. Everything?” They laugh and wander off. She’s sure there was something warning her about stuff like this in orientation. She pulls a mug out of an open cabinet and pours herself a glassful. It’s weird that they don’t have plastic cups? She always saw the stereotype of the red solo cups, but I guess they really like to play by their own rules here. Who is going to do all the dishes? What if something breaks? She shakes her head, this is why she doesn't get invited to parties. She just tries the drink already. Bleh. It’s strong to say the least, but... it’s relatively drinkable.

Several cups of jungle juice later she has flitted through several groups. Introductions, small talk, wander, repeat. There hasn’t been anyone she’s immediately clicked with like she had hoped. She joined a group playing a drinking game for a bit, which was fun, and got more fun the more drunk she became. Eventually, she finds herself sitting on the couch in the living room, the room twisting around her. Everything is just sounds and shapes. It's awesome, it's horrifying. Part of her thinks she’s had too much, and part of her is trying to reason why she should have just one more.

She pulls out her phone, it’s late. No notifications. No that's not true, she got a spam email for hot singles in the area, great. No real notifications at least, that is to say, nothing from Felix. She’s not surprised but she’s bummed. She can’t help but wonder what he's is doing right now. He would hate this party, she’s not sure if she hates this party or not. She should call him. She should absolutely not call him. Her phone is already ringing.

“Hello?” His voice answers. Oh my gosh he actually answered. She didn’t think he would answer. Why did she call him right now?

“...Hey.” She is immediately conscious of how she sounds so drunk. He must think she is so drunk. She is so drunk.

As she’s thinking that things couldn’t get any worse, fates twisted smile shines on her. Todd, resident bully, guy she’s pretty sure was in the fight with Felix the first day he actually talked to her Todd takes her phone, holding it away from her.

“Don’t drunk call boys that aren’t here sweetheart, pay attention to the ones that showed up.” He looks at the phone, laughing “Felix.” He reads quietly, looking at her once more, recognition sparking in his eyes. She stands, protesting and goes to grab for the phone. This would be easier if the room didn’t warble as she stood. To make matters more complicated Todd’s buddy, Drew comes from out of nowhere and slings an arm around her, holding her back. “Oh. Well, this is interesting.” He exchanges a glance with Drew. “You wouldn’t mind If I invited your boyfriend to the party, would you?”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” is all she can think to say. He just laughs and holds the phone up to his ear. “He probably already hung up he-”

“Hey Lizard boy." What a stupid nickname, he isn't even a lizard or a werewolf or anything like that. "You still there? Yeah. No, no this is your buddy, Todd. Remember me?” Her stomach drops, he didn't hang up. Maybe he did but Todd is just bluffing. There’s a pause. She tries to interject, but Todd just holds out a finger her direction, and turns away. “What? Aw that’s cute she’s got a nickname. No, Charlie can’t come to the phone right now.” He speaks mockingly and shares a sly look with Drew. Him saying her nickname makes her feel wrong. “She’s a little preoccupied with my pal Drew. Hey, you two, keep it PG over there.” He winks at her; her cheeks burn and Drew just laughs.

“Hang up! That’s not funny!” She tries to get away from Drew to snag her phone back, but she has no luck.  

“Anyway, we’re at Troy’s place. I believe you and I have some unfinished business, if you want to come pick up your girl. Two birds, one stone, you know?”

“I’m not anybody’s ‘girl’ can you grow up?” She thinks that this would have been a cooler thing to say if she hadn’t slurred through half of her words.

“Yeah, yeah, that was her. I don’t know how she’s getting home, man. If you don’t pick her up, she could always stay with me. Plenty of room for two in my bed.” Him and Drew share another crude laugh at her embarrassment.

“No. No. Felix don’t come here. I’ll just uber or sober up soon I-” She’s certain that most of this is coherent. “He wouldn’t come pick me up guys, we’re not… He doesn’t even-” She’s being solidly ignored.

“What’s that? 20 minutes. Yeah. See you soon.” He tosses her phone back to her. She fumbles with it and ends up having to pick it up off the floor. Thankfully the screen is still intact, unlike her social life, and her sense of pride.

Todd and Drew finally get out of her space, but they stay in the living room, it has the best view of the door. The groups around the immediate area sneak glances they think she can’t see, and they’re all huddling talking and giggling. She sits back down on the couch and waits.

The door opens several times as people come and go, she holds her breath each time. Eventually, Felix steps in. She looks at him, wide eyed. He actually came. Why did he actually come here? He scans the party before his eyes lock on her. He looks pissed, and it makes her heart freeze. He stalks across the room with such intensity, shouldering through everyone in his way with ease. He stops in front of her, saying nothing but holding a hand out to her. He's inviting her to take his hand, but his irritated expression makes her faulter, and freeze in place.

“Hey lizard boy, looks like you made it after all.” Todd pipes up. The room is absolutely buzzing with electric energy.

“Come on. Let’s go.” Felix says down to her, breaking her from her frozen state. She realizes she doesn't want to piss him off any more than he already is. So she takes his hand. He helps her up, completely ignoring Todd.

“What? Leaving so soon? Stay awhile. Have some fun. I believe you and I need to finish up an old conversation we were having anyway.” Someone slings an arm around her shoulders, pulling her away from Felix. It’s probably Drew, Todd’s sidekick.

What happens next all moves so fast. One moment Felix and Todd are having a tense conversation, the kind you just know will end in a fight. The next moment, she’s tossed backwards. She stumbles back, catching herself on an end table and toppling the whole thing over. She manages to crash down with the table, a decorative lamp and several cups with varying amounts of liquids all smashing down on top of her. Shit. Her cute outfit is soaked in alcohol and whatever else it was mixed with. That’ll probably stain. She pushes herself up onto her hands and knees. This would all be so much easier if the room wasn’t spinning. She looks down at her stained outfit and briefly registers the cuts on her arms. Why did they think that using actual glass would be better than red solo cups?? Now they have to do a bunch of dishes AND they have to clean up a bunch of glass. Clearly this was not well thought out on their end.

By now, the music has stopped, and a circle has formed around the boys. There is a lot of shouting, everyone has their phone out. She pushes her way through the crowd to find Felix on top of Todd, just absolutely wailing on him. He’s landing blow after blow, before Drew comes up from behind him, his nose already bleeding, and he rips him back. The two of them struggle on the ground while Todd writhes in agony, trying to get back up.

“Felix! Stop! Stop!” She shouts, rushing forward. The two boys make their way to their feet, and Felix, having sustained several hits himself, shoves Drew back before she can get there. The crowd scrambles to part to avoid him. He slams against the wall, leaving a nice big dent in the drywall. Felix looks around the circle, and everything is still for a moment. He nods once before his gaze lands on her once more. He's not even gigantic, but just by looking at her it makes her feel no bigger that a gnat. He’s bleeding from his knuckles and a lot from his face, but he’s the only one standing so she supposes that’s a win? He steps forward, not offering a hand to her this time. Instead he pulls her tightly into him and promptly leads her out of the house. Everyone is staring. She quickly grabs her things as they leave.

She glances up at him once they get outside. It’s much quieter out here. Wait. He’s not normally taller than her, They’re roughly the same height, but now he’s at least a head taller than her.

“You’re taller.” He scowls at that, not responding otherwise. “Like… like holding a rubber band stretched open all day?” She recalls one conversation they had, where he compared it to that. He said if he were to try to maintain a height taller than his ‘normal’ height, it would be like trying to keep a rubber band stretched at the same distance all day long. She could imagine him trying to appear more intimidating in there by making himself larger. It also probably would make him stronger she guesses? Charlie doesn’t know how that works. Felix shakes his head slightly.

“Like trying to shove myself in a little box.” He whispers to her. Oh. He’s fighting it off. He’s trying to stay a normal height, but he can’t hold it back completely. That also makes sense. It seems to be triggered by intense emotions sometimes? Charlie also doesn’t know how that works. She knows very little about how his abilities work, she just knows that they exist.

“Oh,” is all she can think to say. “Um. Felix, I wanted to say. Um-”

“Keys.” Felix cuts off her thanks or apology or both, she honestly hadn’t decided yet. She realizes they’ve made it to her truck.

“But, wait. How did you get here if… How will you get your car-”

“Just give me your keys, Charlie.” He holds out his hand to her.

“Right. Sorry. Okay.” She digs through her bag, and after drunkenly fumbling through her belongings, she fishes out her keys and hands them over. He helps her into the passenger side of the truck. “Don’t um, don’t grow and break my truck, please.” It’s not really funny, but she laughs anyway. He just gives her some irritated side eye. They start down the road in silence. It's uncomfortably quiet, so she tries to fill the silence with some chatter. “So, uh I just wanted to tell you I-” He cuts her off again, this time reaching forward and turning up the radio. Message received, shut up Charlie. She sighs, and quietly leans against the window. She doesn’t try talking to him again, instead she focuses on a more important task, not throwing up.

They get back to his house, a decent looking barndominium- that is to say, basically a remodeled barn. It's in a secluded area, and it's got high ceilings, what more could a size shifter need. Felix steps out of the truck, immediately significantly taller than he should be. He fumbles with opening the door for her, his hands are an awkward size for the handle. He finally gets it open, and catches her as she half stumbles, half straight up falls, out of the truck.

“I’m gonna throw up.” She mumbles.

“For real?” He asks.

“For serious.” She nods. He sighs and forces himself to be a few inches shorter. He’s shaking with the exertion of keeping himself human sized, but he helps her inside, and leads her to the bathroom. “Oh jeez. I don’t want to puke in front of you. This is so embarrassing.” She’s sprawled on the floor, hovering over the toilet. He silently ties her hair back before just leaving the room as she revisits all the drinks and bad decisions that she made that night.

He leaves her be, going outside to finally stretch out. He grows to full height, sighing in relief. It gets easier to get this big every time he does it. It feels like he's unlocked something, and there's no going back now. He figures he has a few minutes alone while she’s in there throwing up. He can just sit like this for a moment and get it out of his system. He focuses on steadying his breathing. He should really clean up after Charlie is done in the bathroom. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror when he was in there and he is a bloody mess. All too soon, Charlie’s small voice reaches his ears.

“Felix.”

“Go back inside.” He huffs, not wanting her to see him gigantic and bloody and stressed.

“Yeah. I get it, you hate me, and you don’t want to talk to me, but-”

“Charlie. Just go back inside.” Not feeling up to unpacking that right now, he brings his hand down, gently ushering her back inside and blocking the door with his fingers.

“Can you just listen to me?!” She shouts, kicking at his fingertips, “I just need like, a first aid kit. Or maybe, I dunno, some bandages?” This gets his attention. He pulls his hand back, grimacing as she stumbles forwards.

“You’re hurt?”

“No, I just wanted to play Doctor!” She throws her arms up exasperated. He just looks down at her, brow furrowed. He looks annoyed or maybe concerned. He’s probably both, she’s both too drunk to discern the difference and too drunk care. “Not that you really care either way," she huffs. "It isn’t a huge deal I just, I fell back at the party, you were there but you might have been a little… distracted, and … yeah.” She gestures to her arms, having carefully rolled up the sleeves once more.

“Let me-” He whispers, already seeing the red staining her arms. He pauses for a moment like he’s trying to focus, but then he huffs, looking frustrated. She supposes he can’t shift back to normal just yet, another thing she doesn’t quite understand how it works. He moves over from his seated position to laying on his stomach. It’s kind of dizzying watching him move when he's that big. Just simple movements send vibrations through the earth around her. She swallows thickly, and can’t stop from taking a step back away from him as he settles before her. “Just let me see," he says gently. He props himself up on one arm, and reaches his other hand towards her slowly. She hesitates, but eventually she reaches out one of her arms and his gigantic fingertip comes to meet her.

Delicately, he pinches her wrist between his finger and thumb and pulls her arm out so he can get a better look. He leans forward, taking the scene in with wide eyes. He’s close enough for his breathing to ruffle her hair. Her heart pounds in her chest as he silently scans over her. His eyes rake over the cuts on her forearm, flicking over to see the same situation decorating her other arm. He only holds her there for a moment, but he is completely focused on her. She’s never felt more seen than right now. His eyes find their way to her face, she looks from his massive fingers holding her hand to finally bringing herself to meet his all-encompassing gaze. She thinks this is the first time he’s actually looked at her since he picked her up from the party. Or since their fight. It almost feels like it’s the first time anyone has ever really looked at her. Maybe it’s just because she’s drunk, hurt and relatively tiny. Like a bird with a broken wing, a mouse stuck in a glue trap. But, the way he looks at her, she doesn’t feel like a wounded animal he’s taking pity on. She feels like his whole world, at least for that one fleeting moment. He seems so captivated with her. She’s so insignificantly small, she could fit into the palm of his hand. And yet, he looks her over with such care and intense attention to detail it makes her feel like he can see each of her individual eyelashes.

“I'm sorry. you wouldn't have gotten hurt if I would have just-" he clenches his jaw, his expression turning dark and unreadable. Her pulse picks up, this is what he looked like before he decided to make it his mission to make her fear for her life. She pulls her arm back, it's still clamped solidly between his thumb and forefinger. That seems to get his attention. "Okay. Yeah.” He lets her go, withdrawing his hand. Part of her misses his warmth immediately, but another part of her is just relieved. He pushes his palms into the ground and returns to sitting, towering above her. “Just give me ten minutes and I’ll come in and help. Okay?”

“Alright,” she answers breathlessly before turning and going back inside. She sits on the floor in the bathroom, just trying not to bleed on anything important. She feels both better and worse since throwing up, mostly better though she thinks. The room still spins lazily around her as she waits. She is very aware of how cold and wet her clothes are. With sore arms she peels her shirt off, leaving her still wet overalls on, now with just a lace bralette underneath. At least her shirt isn’t sticking to her anymore. She’s still drunk and cold though. One step at a time she supposes.

Eventually, Felix comes back in, his normal height once more. He lays eyes on her for a beat before quickly averting his eyes with a quiet, "Oh Jeez." He digs through the bathroom drawers, setting out first aid supplies on the counter. “You, um. Why did you feel the need to take your shirt off?” He doesn’t look at her, but she can see in the mirror, he's blushing.

“Everything is wet and sticky, and cold. I spilled a lot of drinks on myself when I fell.” She says very matter-of-factly.

“Alright. Um. Okay.”

“I think I broke their lamp too. What kind of person has a house party but doesn’t invest in red solo cups. All the cups were glass. I broke so much glass. Why didn’t they think about that as a possibility. And besides, who is going to be stuck doing all those dishes? Cups aren't even expensive.” She shakes her head, looking up at Felix, his hands are braced on the counter, he’s focusing on the medical supplies, taking stock of what he has and definitely avoiding looking at her. “You can look at me, dude. I would probably wear this in public in like… the summertime. Maybe I’d put like a flannel on top of it. Different shoes. You don’t need to be so… scandalized.” She shrugs.

“Okay.” He nervously taps the counter a few times, she’s pretty sure he only spoke up so she would stop rambling. He takes a deep breath before continuing, “I just, you are very drunk and now you're removing... layers. I just don't want to make you... uncomfortable" he clears his throat. "Okay. Okay. Come here, let’s make sure you don’t still have glass in your arms.”

He bandages her up, taking care to rinse and disinfect the wounds. Her arms took the brunt of the damage, but she has some scrapes on her knees as well. She rambles as he works, and when he doesn’t respond she rambles some more, her words slurring into one another. As he bandages her first arm, she mostly just does a lot of apologizing. ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘This is embarrassing, I’m sorry.’ Just looping. Felix responds once or twice with something resembling ‘it’s fine’ or ‘you’re okay.’ But once it’s clear that she’s still going, he just lets her talk. It’s when he switches to work on the second arm that she takes a big breath and starts really getting into it.

“I guess I kind of ruined your night, huh? You probably had better things to do with your Friday. I’m sorry. I know you wanted me to just leave you alone. I'm... I'm still mad at you by the way. So, I promise, I will leave as soon as I'm sober, and we can go back to pretending that we’ve never met. I know that you don’t want to be my friend anymore and stuff. So, that’s why I went to the party in the first place. I thought that I could meet someone cool and make new friends and stuff. That obviously didn’t happen.  Lesson learned though, and I probably won’t be making that mistake again. I know it sounds super lame, but you were my only friend. I don’t mean to say that to be like ‘oh feel bad for me and be my friend again.’ I don’t mean it like that, it’s just… how it is. I just, I don’t know. I guess I just wish I knew what I did to make you not like me anymore. I just- Gah, I’m such a loser.” She is just noticing the tears streaming down her face. She uses her free hand to attempt to wipe them away. “This is so embarrassing. I’m sorry. Forget I said any of that. I'm mad at you." He lets go of her other arm. She finds her way to the floor, leaning against the cabinets and she buries her face in her hands.

“Charlie. I don’t hate you.” He sits on the floor beside her. “I never hated you. I have just been a really, really bad friend to you. I'm sorry."

“Yeah.” She sniffles. Dropping her hands into her lap. “Why did you want to do that?”

“It’s dumb.” He sighs, “I just. I'm not used to getting that big. My classmates always said I had a useless power and... Anyway I have to go back to the academy for the summer and I just. It's kind of really complicated, but I took some shit out on you and... You don't deserve that. I'm sorry. I understand if you want to pretend like you never met me."

Charlie looks at him for a long while before she leans into him, wrapping her freshly bandaged arms around him and burying her face in his shoulder.

“I missed you.” She mumbles into him.

He sets her up to sleep on the couch, but first he gives her some clean, dry clothes to wear. He sets a glass of water and some aspirin on the coffee table in front of her for the inevitable hangover she will have in the morning.

“I missed you too.” He says resting his cheek against her head.

While you say that the betrayer was always meant to be the betrayer, I still wonder how much free will there was behind the act. I don't get the idea that the person involved is truly a bad person. I'm still not convinced that there isn't some coercion involved.

It’s so funny because I’m trying to be vague today in my responses on tumblr because a lot of my normal reviewers haven’t reviewed yet so I’m assuming they haven’t read either and I don’t want to spoil anything.

But, I mean, this person joined Voldemort so there is a coercion aspect to it. I don’t think they’re entirely bad, but this is the path they went down.

Spoilers below

But the betrayal initially hit different in my mind. In the original outline of the story, Sirius and Rosamond were going to be fuck buddies. The betrayal, obviously, was what broke them apart. I decided against this because Sirius has already been betrayed in the past. I thought giving him another big betrayal, someone who he slept with and showed him affection and had him debating his exact feelings for her would have been too much for him. I had already planned on the alcohol poisoning, the depression and anxiety, and I thought fucking the enemy unknowingly was too much on the poor guy.

So, Tegan took on that role to help him let off some steam and feel normal again, to help him get used to receiving and giving affection. Tegan isn’t going to betray him like Rosamond did. So, it seemed like a better pairing than my initial plan.

But Rosamond’s brothers are DE. Her husband is a DE. She is surrounded in that DE and pureblood culture. She never escaped it. Now, her son is in the thick of it. So, yes, she could very well just be trying to survive. But her affection for Sirius is limited. She hasn’t been close to Sirius since he was eleven and she was twelve. While they were close as children, they’re not close now. Rosamond used that childhood connection with Sirius to manipulate him. She is, ultimately, one of the few DE who could have Sirius even consider believing them.

Because while Sirius isn’t a dummy, Sirius is in a very bad spot mentally. He’s always felt some guilt and responsibility for what happened to Regulus, thinking he could have done more to save him than he did. While Sirius is in no way, shape, or form at fault for Regulus taking the Mark and dying (he was just a kid himself after all), Sirius can’t help but feel some small bout of guilt and affection for his kid brother. So, when he’s presented with his long lost nephew, he couldn’t help but take the bait. He wanted to know his nephew.

Because if there’s one thing that DE understand about Sirius it’s that he’s loyal. If he deems you as worthy, he will fight tooth and nail for you. He would burn down a fucking village for the people he loves. Voldemort and his DE were counting on Sirius’ buried affection for Regulus to help manipulate him into finding Cepheus and then leading them right to Charlotte and Cepheus.

Now, it’s not for a few chapters that you find out how exactly they gained this information. But you will. Sirius will not know how to process it or even fix the issue at large.

Also, and I know I try to not talk about this fanfic on this account very much, but..

I just finished writing Charlotte.

Yes, you read that right. The fanfiction I've been working on since February 17th, 2021 has finally come to its conclusion. There's still a few more chapters, mainly to tie up loose ends before they move to Arizona. But I'm just kinda sitting here like.. what now? I have an idea for a smutty oneshot that takes place shortly after Charlotte, and of course the Christmas party event. Then after that I guess it's just going to be Ella and then Matthew later on if I actually manage to get there.

But I'm really just sitting here like.. what do I do now? It's done. It's all completed. There's not really anything extra I could add into this fanfiction. I don't really have that fanfiction I can come back to and work on when I'm bored at night or in the day. I don't have that always assured escapism route with it anymore. I don't have a thing I can work on to feel productive.

What do I do now?

It's wild to think that I've actually reached this point. When I started this fanfiction, I was a depressed sophomore in not-highschool still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. I was severely affected by my tokophobia and I could barely even look at the concept of motherhood. The whole fanfiction started as a therapeutic writing experiment recommended by my therapist, to see if we could reduce my tokophobia. But then my love for the characters I had written and my creativity turned this simple story into a massive AU with a long, thought-out timeline and lots of world building.

And now? I've graduated high school. I'm an adult. I've been able to handle almost everything I used to fear, and mainly because of Charlotte. The amount of work and research I put into this story is stupidly big. But I'm here, succeeding and being a productive member of society.. I think.

This is just a bizarre experience for me. It's weird to not have that fanfiction I could always go back to and work on. I don't have that escapism route anymore. I don't have that writing that made me feel productive. It's all done. Completed. Finished. There's not much else to add now.

It's strange.

Anyways, thank you for reading my rambles. Chapters will be posted every few days, or every week if I feel uncomfortable with what's on the tags again. If you actually wanted to read this thing, it's on AO3. Go look up Charlotte on the TF2 tag.

Mr and Mrs Liars Chapter 28

Chapter 27 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   *MC POV*  I feel like I can breathe better, although my chest still hurts from breathing in so much smoke. Phil, Jessy, Dan and Cleo join me in the room. From what I know, Jake's old team called Phil and he told the group so I wouldn't feel alone. He left me with them while he went to talk to the doctor about my situation. Luckily I had no serious injuries, I just needed to recover and clear the air from my lungs.     “You're going to beat my hospital record.” Dan laughs, trying to cheer me up.     "Don't make me laugh, my chest still hurts." I avoid laughing, but little laughs escape me. “Ugh… I have a headache from all the stress…”     "Do you want me to call the doctor to see if he can give you something?" Cleo asks me, worried.     "No, I'm fine." I keep my head from bobbing around the tubes too much when I look at Jessy. "Do you know how Jake and Charlotte are doing?"     "From what I know, the police were watching Charlotte's room, as was Mr. Schneider," she replies a little sadly “she's still in a coma and Jake…"     "Jake what, Jessy? Please tell me he's okay!" I start to get nervous at the thought that he died, I don't know how serious the shot he received was.     "Luckily the gunshot wound wasn't serious, so he only has stitches" Jessy gives me a small, friendly smile ", he's also on oxygen, but he'll recover. Right now he was with his family and with Thomas. "     "Thank God…" I put a hand to my head, trying to relax.      I'm relieved he’s not alone. So his family… That means his father is in the hospital. I'm sure he has a lot of questions about what happened.     "I never should have brought him into this... "     “He decided to jump in, boo” Dan carefully pats my shoulder “and let's face it, that guy's got some shit on for a cop.     "A cop who's a criminal." Cleo corrects him.     "And with years of experience, he could have killed him."     "Luckily it didn't," Jessy sighs. "I still can't believe that all of this happened to Aleena… It's so sad…"     "But don't forget that she was going to kill MC." Dan crosses his arms, annoyed. "One thing is her to take down on those two cops, but MC didn't do anything to deserve it."     "Yes, that's right." Jessy looks at me sympathetically. "I'm sorry MC, I guess, I can't help but think that those two men did terrible things to her, I still don't know why to take revenge on your father through you."     "Because it's not okay," I answered, being a bit harsh, "I can understand that, but I was never a threat to her."     "Well, the police will take care of her anyway." Cleo sits down on the couch, and the rest of her follow suit. Looks like they're going to stay a while longer to keep me company. That relieves me, I don't feel like being alone. "She will surely accept all the blame, the problem is Manfred, he will want to deny everything saying that it is manipulation."     "But Jake isn't going to let him," I squeeze the covers tightly "he has all the evidence and I can finally talk about everything we investigated. We won't let anyone get away with it."       At least I’m thankful that this is over. I can forget about this case forever.     <<We did it dad, I hope you feel proud of me. >> My phone rings and Jessy hands it to me. I'm surprised to see the name.I take a breath, a little nervous. He must have found out on the news. I must have worried him, perhaps.     "Long time no talk to you." I answer the call with a small smile, a little awkward. *Jake POV*  I woken up in the hospital room, with Hannah, Thomas, Nathan, and his wife. Never before have I seen so many people occupying the same space for me, to know if I'm okay.     "And MC?" It's the first thing I ask when I wake up, worried about her. "Where is she? Is she okay?" I get up so fast I get dizzy.      "Calm down, Jake," Nathan stops me, careful not to hurt me "your friend is fine, you've done a great job helping her, I'm proud of you."      A strange feeling runs through my body hearing those words. I want to hide my happiness that this man, who is my father, is proud of me. But I smile hearing that MC is fine. I can't help but do it. I dropped my head back on the pillow, relieved.     “So…” Thomas begins to speak, “you've confronted a policeman.”     “Old ways never go away.” I commented, forgetting that Hannah and Lilly's parents are in the room.     " 'The old ways'?" Mrs. Donfort asks curiously. I don't blame her.     “Mom, Dad, we'll tell you about it another time,” Hannah says, brushing my hair back lovingly, like a mother “we better let him rest for now.”      The door opens and Lilly walks in, her eyes worried.     “There's a woman here asking about Jake,” she says nervously. ”Oh, he's already awake.”     "A woman?" I ask curiously.     "Are you ever going to be still, Jake?" Mathilde walks into the room, arms folded.      She has invited herself in, furious footsteps. I don't think a scolding from my boss now is the best time.     "And you are?" Mr. Donfort looks at her somewhat confused.     “I'm this man's boss,” she waves at me furiously, “and you could say a mother figure.”     "Don't make me laugh," I replied, with a laugh. What I had to hear as soon as I woke up from almost suffocating to death.      Mathilde surprises me by hugging me. I don't think she's ever hugged someone so hard before. She quickly pulls away, pulling herself together.     "Good," she coughs as she straightens her jacket and hair. "First of all, what you have been doing has been without permission, you cannot carry out investigations illegally."     "But I'd do it again for her." I replied, giving her a hard look.     "I know, and that's what bothers me the most."      They all look at Mathilde, quite concerned.Well, my job at the CIA is over, they will surely hand me over to the police or worse: to the FBI. I'm sure they're rubbing their hands that I finally let them stop me.     “And second of all,” she sighs heavily, though pride is evident in her voice “I've assigned you to a research investigations. It's better than security. "     "What?" confused blink, I am sure the oxygen tank isn't working right?     "What you have done has been illegal, yes" she joins her hands placing them in front of her, she looks like a teacher scolding a student now ", but, you have managed to catch an abusive policeman and a murderous politician thanks to your investigations, I would be stupid if I didn't give you a position in which you collaborate with our best agents."      Everyone starts congratulating me. I don't feel honored in this position, it's all been thanks to MC, she's the one who deserves all the credit, I've only helped her.     "I don't think that-"     "Jake Miller," Mathilde cuts me off "if you're going to name that girl, please leave it." I'm surprised that she guessed what I was thinking. "I know you well. But she doesn't work with us, I can't give her that position. "     "Yes, I can't deny that..."     "So…" she looks at everyone present and offers her hand "Have a nice day everyone."     “Yeah, sure,” Nathan is the first to accept her hand “and thank you so much for taking care of my son all these years."      Mathilde looks at me and smiles.     “He may be a little rebellious about doing things his way,” she says with a sigh “but he's always done it for the good of the people."      Mathilde's words make me feel important. I can't wait to tell MC about it. I can’t wait to see her. When I am finally alone, I ask someone from nursing if I can get up to go see MC. After checking my vital signs, they decide that I can get up without any problem, but that I should come back as soon as possible if I feel dizzy, since I could still be affected by the smoke. I arrive at MC's door just at the same time as Phil. His look says it all, it's like the first meeting.     "Hey..." he nods in greeting "how are you?"     "Better," I answer and looked at the door "I was going to talk to MC-"     "No," I look at him when I hear that not so fast "I'm not going to let you see her."     "I think you shouldn't decide for her, don't you?"      He chuckles, pinching the bridge of his nose.     "Look, I don't want to fight with you right now," he answers, while he crosses his arms. "MC wouldn't be like this if you hadn't brought her into this."     "I just helped her."     "Yes, and look where she is now," he points to the room, furious, "whenever it's about you, she ends up in a dangerous situation: accusation of kidnapping, threats, that your own persecutors try to hack her, that a kidnapper wanted to lure her to possible death. Ever since you brought her into your life, she's had nothing but problems."     "Well, it's thanks to me that you've met her." I assert myself, clenching my fists tightly.     "And I appreciate it, but look at the one your crazy girlfriend has messed up." He places a finger on my chest, beginning to pinching me. "I want you to get away from her, to stop putting her in danger, because then, I don't think I'll be able to control myself and it might be more than a punch that I throws at you. "     "Are you threatening me?"     "It's not a threat, it's a warning." He places his hand on the doorknob, his eyes glare at me. "I don't want the next time she's with you to be killed for real."      He enters the room and I stay in the corridor thinking about his words.  Maybe... Maybe he's right and I'm the cause of him always being in danger. Maybe it's because I'm used to living that way. She does not. MC is not someone who should be put into these risks, I should have been more careful with her so that nothing bad happened to her. I was hoping to get back together with her, but if something dangerous is always going to happen every time we're together, then I'll take this bad luck away from her. She deserves to have a normal life. *MC POV*  Every time I look in the mirror, I remember all the things that have happened. This past month has been such a roller coaster of emotions that I absolutely can't shake myself off. I no longer feel that my home is my home. It's like I feel empty.Phil takes good care of me, I can't deny that, he cares about me after I get out of the hospital much more than when I got shot. The situation this time worried him more than before and I cannot deny that.  I've been trying to contact Jake, but he's not responding to my messages. I send him the last message and what I see on the screen surprises me. He has blocked me, why has he done it? What has happened? I thought that we were fine after what happened in that building, that we had to talk. I can't hear my friends conversation, I'm just lost in my thoughts. I miss Jake and haven't told Phil the truth yet, because I wanted to make sure Jake and I could talk about it together first.     "MC?" Hearing Hannah's voice, I wake up from my thoughts "are you okay? "     "Yes, I'm fine" I smile, trying to calm the atmosphere ", sorry, with everything that's happened I'm a little distracted. "     "Are you sure that's it?" Thomas asks me now "I don't know, we've all noticed that you're not well."     "If you need to talk about it, you know you can." Cleo tells me now, putting a hand on my shoulder.     "We're with you if you need it." Lilly smiles at me, taking my hands.      It's still amazing how she's changed everything between us, she's truly like a little sister to me. The one who is quiet is Jessy, who seems to be in the same state as me. She seems to want to say something, though she shuts up. I wish she did, I'm sure she knows something. I've seen this attitude before.     "Thank you all, but I'm fine," I answered, taking a sip of my coffee "I just have to go back to my normal life after being interrogated day and night." I give them a tired sigh. I haven't even been able to work because of that, but more than one already wants to interview me to get information. On the way home, I get a call from Dan.     "Yes, Jack Daniels?" I greeted him with a smile. A pity he couldn't come with us because of work.     "Hey little detective," he greets me affectionately "I hope you're not busy, but talking to Jessy on the phone now, she wants the three of us to meet up."     "The three of us? Something has happened?"     "You want the bad news over the phone?"     "To be honest, no, that never works out."      I hear Dan's laugh. Surely he has remembered the past.     "Then we'll meet at Jessy's house and… Don't be mad at her, it's my fault too."     "Are you going to tell me that you two are dating?"     "I wish," he makes an exaggerated snort. "See you there. Bye."     "See you later, Dan."      I don't know why, but it gives me a very strange feeling... Jessy's house was always a cozy house. I had slept a few nights there before I started dating Phil, it was so much better than staying in a motel with so many memories. Jessy and Dan are sitting across from me. I'm just trying to figure out what they're hiding by looking at them. I quit right away because I'm too tired to do it, I deserve a break.     "Well, what's going on?" I ask with a laugh "Are you sure it's not that you've started dating?"      Jessy and Dan look at each other, but from their looks it seems something more serious.     “It's about a conversation we overheard at the hospital, when we went to get coffee,” Dan begins, as if not to make it more difficult for Jessy "It's about Jake and Phil."      When I hear Jake's name, my alarm goes off. I worry that they have quarreled again.     "When we got back, we eavesdropped on the conversation," Jessy answers, with a sad voice, "I know it's wrong, but..."     “It's okay, Jessy,” I reply, my voice calm “you can tell me."      Jessy takes a breath, and tries to calm down.     “We heard Phil tell him to stay away from you."     "What?"     “Apparently our bar owner thinks everything that happened is Jake's fault,” Dan continues. "He has forbidden him to see you, which implies that they are not friends at all. Zero contact. Negative."     "Yes, Dan, she's got it perfectly." Jessy looks at him somewhat annoyed with her words, but he doesn't offend me. "I didn't think Phil would be one of those, I mean, he's not jealous, we've all seen that, but he even threatened to beat him up. "     “Not in those exact words, but almost.” Dan corrects.     "MC, these days you've been very strange and... Now I understand" my friend looks at me almost about to cry. The one who should cry is me, not her "I'm sorry I pushed you so much with Phil and your wedding, when in reality I've seen that you're not the same if you're not with Jake. I miss my happy friend, the one who always smiled because she knew she was complete with him."     "Oh Jessy…" I start to cry and hug her. Her words encourage me a lot. She was always saying that when I married Phil, we'd be like sisters, but actually I don't have to marry her brother to be sister. "I love you so much sister," I say with a smile "thank you so much for telling me."     "Oh, what the hell?" Dan says before giving us a big hug.      We laugh at the situation and we both give Dan a kiss on the cheeks. Our great protector. When we part ways, I manage to calm down a bit.     "Time to talk to Phil," I replied, looking at my ring. "I can't keep fooling myself like this."     "You can stay here to sleep later," Jessy proposes "at least while you move, I doubt you'll stay living in that house."     “And if you need help with the boxes, let me know.” Dan makes a forceful gesture and I laugh.     "Sure, thanks guys."      I say goodbye to both of them and leave the house, straight to Bar Aurora. It's time to end this. When I walk in, I find Phil clearing the tables. Seeing me, he smiles.     "Hello Princess." he puts down the cloth and approaches me to kiss me.      I turn my face away and see how he is surprised. I look at him quite annoyed.     "What happen? Is everything alright?      I swallow, trying to control myself. I don't want to have to yell at him.     "Did you tell Jake to stay away from me?"     "Come on MC, what are you asking-"     "Did you tell him or not?"      Phil lets out a big sigh, putting his arms on his hips.He doesn't dare look at me because he knows I would guess.     "You had no right to tell him that."     "Because of him you are always suffering" he counterattacks me "Look what has happened to you! Whenever he's around, bad things happen to you."     "My God, is that your excuse?" I reproach him, trying to make him look at me "Is Jake a guy who can put me in danger?"     "It's been like that since he came into your life."     "And what if that's it?!" I can't control myself, I need to scream "You can't decide for us if we see each other or not! You know perfectly well that you have no right to do so!"     "I have the right to do it because I'm your fiance!"      I stare at him, surprised. It was like feeling in a little box at that moment. And I wasn't going to let that happen.     "MC, I'm sorry." He grabs my hands realizing his mistake, but I push them away. "I did not mean that."     "But you said it." I bite the inside of my cheek, controlling myself. "You have never been jealous with anyone. Never." I shake my head, confused. "Jake arrives and everything seems to be wrong."     "Because everything would go wrong with him." He places his hands on my cheeks, caressing them. "MC, you have already seen that with me you can have a normal life, friends, family… You would be safe, you wouldn’t have to be in danger all the time."      I keep looking at him. Yes, it is true that several things happen around Jake, it is always like that...     "I know..." I answer with a little sadness "You're right... With Jake things are always difficult..." I look down, somewhat disappointed.     "Then let's not fight, okay?" He smiles sweetly at me, making me look at his face. "What do you say we have dinner at the Black Swan to fix it?" We deserve a good time alone."      I look at his eyes and then at the ring. I start thinking about his words. This is the moment of decision. And I already have it very clear. *Jake POV*  It had been a stressful month. I had to declare everything that had happened, along with the support of Mathilde and Malcolm, doing everything possible to avoid being arrested for getting into a computer belonging to a police chief who, no matter how much he committed a crime, I too had committed another: I did not have judicial permission to do so.  Luckily, my new position had saved me and Mathilde had lied to say that it was something ordered by the CIA. I already owe too much to that woman.  I haven't been to Duskwood for a month either, letting my family come into town to see me. They found out about everything and well… At first it was a bit tense, but when they found out that I was the one who put all those criminals in jail, the tension lessened a bit. Although I have promised not to do it illegally again this time.  I have also decided to lose all contact with MC. And this time forever.  I watch the sunset on the roof. I can't be on that apartment so quiet. It's too much for just one. At first I thought it would be perfect for MC and me. Now I just want to move from here to a smaller one. That way I wouldn't lose Gizmo everywhere.I take MC's mother's wedding ring out of my pants pocket. I was never able to gove it back. I'll have to give it to my sisters so they can give her back too. I hear Gizmo meow desperately. I have brought him up with me so that he can get some fresh air.     "What's up boy?" I ask, turning to him.      When I turn around, I see MC in front of me. She raises a hand in greeting, shyly.     "I think I'm the cause," she answers, with a small voice. "Hello."      I pocket the ring, nervous.     "Hello," I replied, scratching the back of my neck. "A lot of time has passed…"     "Yeah..."      She doesn't come closer, she keeps her distance. This is getting a bit awkward.     "I had gone to your apartment, but you didn't answer," she says, pointing to the door to the roof. "So I figured you'd be here."     "I could have gone."     "Yes, I know."      She gets a little closer.I look at her from top to bottom. It seems different.That's when I see that she doesn't have the engagement ring.     "Everything okay with Phil?" I ask curious.     "You mean the ring?" She asks me now, looking at her hand "He… We've broke up… Well, I've broke up with him."     "And what are you doing here?"     "I was going to go to Lian's and her husband's house so they would let me live with them for a while until I found an apartment."     "Aren't you staying in Duskwood?"     "No, I think I'll avoid it for a while." She comes up next to me, leaning against the ledge. "Too much tension."     "I see."      We stayed in silence looking at the city. The lights begin to set and the sky to darken. I dedicate myself to observe her side face. Her smile doesn't fade. I reached into my pocket, pulling out her mother's ring. I look at it for a few seconds before handing it to her.     "Here," MC looks at me and then at the ring, picking it up carefully. "I picked it up when we went to the warehouse.”     "Thank you," she looks at it, turning it over, and puts it on, looking at her hand to see how it fits her "you know? Canceling a wedding costs the same as making one.” She lets out a long breath, ending up resting her head on my shoulder. "My advice is never get married."     "Or maybe not getting to marry the wrong person. Oh!" She pinches my arm and I laugh at her. "You know I'm right.”     "Maybe yes…"      Finally the silence stops being uncomfortable. The heat that MC emanates begins to cover my entire body. It's nice to have her here with me. I didn't expect to see her again.     "Why don't you spend the night here?" I suggest and she looks at me "You still have your room and… I haven't moved the clothes from the closet, tomorrow you can go to your friend's house."     "Yeah, okay, I can stay tonight."     "Great..."     <<Come on Jake… Tell her. >>     "MC-"     "Jake-"   We remain silent, looking at each other.I took the hand where the ring was and traced the route with my finger. It fits her perfectly, almost like it was made for her too.   "I don't just want you to stay tonight," I finally dare to say it, looking into her eyes. The city lights are reflected in them "I want you to stay forever."    "Jake-"     "MC, I love you" I caress her cheek and she leans on my hand, tilting her head, smiling "and the thought that I could lose you that night made my life stop. I don't want to know what life is like without you, it's not in my plans."     "And what are your plans?"     "Continue where we left off."     "Mmm... No." I look at her surprised at my refusal and she laughs. "We don't have to continue something that was never left."     "I think that it was left and a lot."     "No-"     "You were going to get married"     "Well, it's a little pause-"     "A big one-"     "Just kiss me."      I accept her request and kiss her. MC puts her arms around my neck, trying to catch up with me. Her lips fit perfectly with mine, as if they had always been mine. I move my hand up her back until I place it behind her neck, deeper into her kiss. I missed kissing her. I had been wanting to do it since we met again. It's slow, causing me to start to get hot. As we pull apart, I hear her let out a moan. In her eyes I could see that she still wanted more. I missed that look of hers. She is perfect.     “I love you Jake,” she says, between each breath. ”I have always loved you.”     "I know." she lets out a laugh and buries her face in my body "Shall we go inside?"     “Sure.”      I take her hand and signal to Gizmo to leave. He follows us starting to meow.     "Know what Jake?" I notice her playful voice, happy.     ”What's the matter?”     "I don't think I'm going to need my room tonight...”     "I don't think so either." That night was the longest night of our lives. It was the night that we made up for all the lost time and in which I recovered the reason why I believed in being happy again. We became one again. Epilogue

The Crying Child witnessed Charlotte Emily's Death (a theory) part 1.

Before I start I wanna mentioned this was an old theory I made up since we know why the nightmare animatronics were made because the fazbear frights are supposed to answer questions that have been unanswered. However I really love this theory I made myself and it could be only answered for the games itself.

In FNAF 4 during the mini games, there's an implication that the crying child saw something he shouldn't and has a fear of going to Fredbear's Family Diner. It appears that Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria was opened around the time,Fredbear's family Diner was still opened based off the merchandise, the tv series and the timeline itself. In Fazbear Frights book, It's revealed that the missing children incident took place in 1985 and In FNAF 2 where it’s revealed this was taken place in 1987. The phone guy says they are trying to contact one of the owners whom has disappeared. This is definitely Henry Emily.

Henry Emily doesn't make an appearance until Pizzeria Simulator which is in the games. However his first appearance is in the silver eyes Trilogy where it is shown that he is 100% of the child who would possessed The Puppet and that child being a daughter. After the death of Charlotte Emily and the missing Children incident, Henry Emily distances himself from the company that he pretty much goes MIA.

The first time, we witnessed Charlie's death is in the FNAF 2 mini game called Take Cake To Children where you see Freddy giving cake to children while a child is locked outside crying to get in. The car pulls up and the purple guy comes out and is seen going towards the child, the child cries more until you get jumpscared by the puppet. We don't get a confirmation that the puppet did possessed the child who died outside is one of the owner's daughter and the owner being Henry Emily and the daughter being Henry Emily. While FNAF 2 and Pizzeria Simulator are 3 years apart and the mini games look different to each other. They still have 3 important things, both have a kid locked outside, both have kids inside and both have association with the puppet.

While yes in the FNAF 2 mini game has Freddy Fazbear. I do believe that this is Fredbear more specifically Henry dressing up as Fredbear since they mentioned in the books. Henry made the puppet for Charlie's safety since it's possible that William Afton were killing children. Henry mentioned that Charlie wouldn't have wandered off meaning that he was at the pizzeria at the time of her death and was working.

In Pizzeria Simulator, there's mini game called Midnight Motorist. You play a character whom appears to be yellow driving a car while it's raining. You first stop at a place called JRs than later on go home where he finds out that one of his kids have escape to go to the pizzeria. Where he says that he's going to that damn place and see a broken window.

While the identity of the yellow guy is a mystery, I think they are saying that this is William Afton. The yellow guy is driving a purple car which is associated with Afton and in the intro of Pizzeria Simulator, you see a bear dressed up with a purple suit but a yellow tie. It's basically saying that the yellow and purple guy is both William Afton, another thing also is that Afton used the spring Bonnie locksuit which has a yellow texture.

Both the security puppet game and the midnight motorist game are connected because in the game files of midnight motorist is titled Later that night and how in the both mini games, it is raining. When afton returns home, his eldest son whom we known is Michael Afton is watching TV and tells his father to leave his little brother alone since he has had a rough day. The rough day could be anything but I believe that it has something to do with his sister, Elizabeth Afton. It is likely that a kid mentioned his sister in a cruel way while was still mourning. There have been cases where the funtime animatronics were made earlier in the timeline. The first clue we have is that in the FNAF 4 mini game, we see an empty girl's room but the little girl isn't present meaning that Elizabeth has been murdered by Circus Baby.

William Afton seems to be protective of his young children or rather he was just trying to make sure that they kept their distance at certain things where does his murders. In Sister location, you hear a little girl asking her father why can't be near Circus Baby even though she was created for her. Than later on, we see in Midnight Motorist that Afton is upset that his youngest has ran away to go to the pizzeria. Because the pizzeria is one of his hunting grounds. At the start of the fnaf 4 when crying child head over to the plushies, he says that they are his friends. This is shown that the crying child isn't scared of Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria.

While we don't have a confirmation on when Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria was opened, there is definite proof that the place was opened in 1983. FNAF help wanted 2 seems to show that this is the case. The first one being that is that they are already selling plushies, there's a tv show and that you can get a fazbear token which has the year 1983. There's also a fallfest poster which has the four animatronics and the puppet in the background. This could also symbolise of Charlie protecting and watching over the missing Children but we know that a fall fest happened in 1983 based off the banner we see in the dreadbear dlc.

In the fazbear frights books, in the first short story, it is confirmed that the missing Children incident took place in 1985 and articles on the FNAF 1 that the place closes down. We know that FNAF 1 take place in 1993 based off the check but also make sense for freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria to opened in 1983 than later on in 1987 they reopened the pizzeria and see the old animatronic whom are withered.

for the book ask game: #3

thank you so much for the ask <3

3. what were your top 5 books of the year?

i won't attempt to put these into a specific order of preference, but the first book that came to mind was certainly william godwin's 1794 novel, caleb williams!! it was essentially a fictionalisation of godwin's earlier works on political philosophy, very saliently exposing institutional oppression, injustice, and abuses of power in britain at the time. what really drew me to this book, however, was godwin's gothic, suspenseful mode of writing, and its memorable characterisation. the central characters' dynamic and mutual obsession with each other really clinched it for me (and produced quite a number of queer readings, which i later followed up on!!). it's also just pure, unbridled fun most of the way. shenanigans were plentiful: from eighteen-year-old caleb's attempts at probing his employer's psychology through small talk about alexander the great, to his rants calling for prison abolition, his (several) prison-escape attempts, his joining a group of anarchist thieves, and donning very silly disguises. definitely a highlight this year!!

i also read jane eyre for the first time this year (which is very strange to think about, because i feel as if i've known her forever). i went into it knowing the plot twist at about halfway through, but without other expectations, and i was very pleasantly surprised. from the first few pages i was fully drawn in & immensely invested in jane's fortunes, and later, her relationship with rochester. i also find jane eyre to be narratologically fascinating, i think charlotte brontë does some very interesting things with narrative voice & also constructs her characters' psychologies really well -- i could talk about foils and parallels for hours and hours, so i better stop here!! i've also managed to read wide sargasso sea, jean rhys' post-colonial response or "writing back" to this novel, which provided even more perspectives & ideas!! <3

this year i've gotten into philip k. dick's works for the first time, having read both the man in the high castle and do androids dream of electric sheep? while i was much more invested in android's character, high castle was probably the more worthwhile & rewarding reading experience. it was anything but easy trying to get into it, and i found it wasn't really doing anything for me in the first hundred pages or so. slowly, a little inexplicably, perhaps, i came around to it, and allowed it to take me on a journey through alternate history, different realities, and planes of existence. the world-building is less interesting to me than the uncertainites, the interruptions of meaning, and the unspoken in particular this novel. it also had some very interesting things to say about the production of art & its role in history-making & culture more generally, but i'm still getting my thoughts about that in order -- essay forthcoming. /j

i've also read rosencrantz and guildenstern are dead this summer!! it feels as if were very late to the party, but i'm glad i managed to get here in the end. this one really speaks for itself -- Two Of Them, the absurd, existentialism, meta-theatre, whacky temporality (!!) & the whole shebang. i actually didn't quite expect it to be as funny as it was, now that i think about it, but i did thoroughly enjoy its humour at least as much as its weightier implications.

aaaaand finally i will go with george eliot's the lifted veil -- a gothic novella (and subtle frankenstein pastiche, i like to think) narrated by the world's most pathetic, sad, sopping-wet sliver of a man, known only as "latimer", who finds himself developing clairvoyant & psychic powers. it is extremely well-structured, without a single awkward, unnecessary, or out-of-place sentence (or maybe i'm saying that becuase i'm just really, reaaally partial to eliot's writing style!!). the narrative structure is chilling, and is constructed in such a way that the reader feels as if they were partaking in latimer's strange powers. as is usual for her, eliot offers percepitve & profound insights into the human psyche and character, without ever losing a beat as to the progression of her gloomy, gothic narrative -- and everything is neatly, devastatingly tied up in the story's inevitable conclusion.

well, there's 5 books!! i could mention many, many more (jean toomer's harlem renaissance masterpiece cane comes to mind, so do several short stories & the novella mathilda by mary shelley, rhys' voyage in the dark, acd's valley of fear, agatha christie's and then there were none, austen's persuasion, and even dracula, which i also can't believe i read this year), but i shall restrain myself and stop here, to everyone's relief, i'm sure :)

SHADOWS OF SORCERY | Part 19 | “Shadow of Paradox” | 1,495 words

Content Warning: Violence

     The lockdown was called off a couple hours later, but students across the school were left on edge. This was the third major incident that week involving illegal sorcery on school grounds. They had managed to keep the most unnerving details of Imogene’s kidnapping and attack under wraps—but Kaden’s unfortunate exam was still fresh in everyone’s minds.

     They knew there was a volatile sorcerer among them.

     They had been urged to report anything seemingly out of place.

     Imogene sat in the dean’s office the next day, scrunching the loose fabric of her black sunflower shorts in her fists as she awaited the regional extractor’s arrival. Today was her appointment with him. He was going to extract the other magic core she had claimed to escape that magic core horror closet.

     Elora went with her, just like she said she would, but Charlotte tagged along to show her support too. They sat around waiting for him. Imogene had been anticipating the knock for so long that the actual knock gave her heart a jump. She just stared as Mr. Gallison walked in besides two other men: the magic reader and the magic nullifier.

     Mr. Gallison greeted everyone in the room and then asked Imogene if she was ready.

     She stood up, nodded, and his hand phased through her body as he reached in and grabbed a purple magic core. As soon as he pulled it out, he handed it over to the magic reader who accepted it with both hands. Holding it like it was a fragile baby bird.

     “This one’s correct. It’s a CARD type magic core.” the magic reader said. “Her original one is a CORD type.”

     “You know,” Mr. Gallison said, turning back toward Imogene, “if you really want—you can keep the CARD one. It doesn’t really matter which one you keep anyway. I know you don’t have much casting magic.”

     Charlotte must have told him about her weak casting magic.

“But it’s up to you.”

     Imogene’s chest tightened at the proposal. She hadn’t imagined being given a choice to keep the new magic core instead. Her mind fled back to memories of practicing with Kaden earlier that morning. She had just conjured the biggest energy magic she had ever created—the purple light flying like a giant kite over the room. She had smiled sadly at it, knowing that it was going to be taken soon.

     She had tried so hard not to get attached to it.

     But that aura of light reflecting over everything was so beautiful.

“Well, what do you think?”

     Imogene glanced over at Elora and Charlotte. They both knew how desperately she wanted to be a caster like them, and the twinkle in her eye suggested that she couldn’t resist the idea. It was too good to pass up.

     Yet, despite how alluring it sounded, her voice squeaked as she told him, “No thank you.” Deep down, there was nothing more comforting than the familiarity of her own magic. Despite its drawbacks and tradeoffs. Imogene was an exceptional mind reader and she never wanted anyone to take that away from her.

     Besides, she really needed her mind reading right now.

     Mr. Gallison chuckled at her decisiveness.

“Looks like we’re all done here then, boys.” He nodded at the magic reader and the magic nullifier, so the nullifier took the CARD core and crushed it ever so easily. The purple light crumbled like a sparkling chalk and vanishing in his hand. 

     It was gone.

     Mr. Gallison waved his colleagues on, insisting he would stay behind and catch up with the dean and his daughter and their friends.

“Are you sure you and your friends are alright here, Charlotte?” he set a hand on her shoulder. “I’m worried about all these incidents lately. Maybe the Power Authority should have an increased presence…”

     “Maybe…” Charlotte said, trying to hide the worry in her voice.

     “And you—,” he looked suddenly toward Elora, “are you sure about that poison core still? With all of these terrible things happening?”

     Elora opened her mouth, caught off guard for a second.

     “Yes… I appreciate your concern, but I just— I have to know where it came from.” 

     He nodded and then suggested lunch. No one disagreed. They ordered lunch to the dean’s office and Elora sat three listening in quietly to Mr. Gallison’s conversation with Dean Mora. They were talking through their ideas for security protocols and increased support from the Power Authority. Something had to be done about student safety. 

     A secretary eventually delivered their lunches and the girls listened attentively to the professionals’ conversation, munching away. Taking their time eating to be nosey. Even Charlotte wanted to know more.

     Yet, as talks of student safety went on, Devin Sage teleported back onto campus grounds. He craned his neck toward the height of the academic building’s towers rising past the tops of the tallest trees. The Regents Academy of Magic was a beauty amidst the trees and scenic views—vines covering the sides of almost every building and bushes lining the pathways around campus.

     He teleported again into one of the dining halls.

     Spotting Kaden Brush sitting all by himself. Kaden was just turning his head when he caught him out of the corner of his eye.

     “Well, hello there, traitor.” Devin said, teleporting in front of him.

     Kaden shot out of his seat and jumped back.

     “What the hell are you talking about?” Kaden scowled at him. “You left me.”

     “Oh, you don’t remember?” Devin said playfully. “That Elora girl must be messing with your head again.”

     Devin teleported behind him the next instant.

     “What?” Devin spun around to face him. “What are you talking about?”

     “I’d watch out if you were you.”

     With that, Devin flashed a dagger his way and Kaden just narrowly missed it, holding up a chair to block it and blazing it with pure energy. He stared for an instant to process the dagger poking through the back of the chair—pointing centimeters from his face–before he threw the whole chair at Devin when he got a hold of himself.

     He missed, but he threw a few blasts at Devin to hold him back. Except they were too small to do much, and more importantly–small enough for Devin to effortlessly dodge. Kaden moved backwards as Devin jumped on one of the tables and stomped down on it so that it fell while he was standing on it; letting him slide down to kick off into a run.

     He chased after Kaden, who was still firing at him in a sporadic panic while he ran away and looked back over his shoulder. But it was too easy for Devin to maneuver around all those weak shots. He was closing in on him fast.

     Kaden dropped the energy blasts and just ran. Bolting hard into his next step—

     Right as Kaden grabbed his wrist and pulled him back to get the other one.

“You thought that little flurry was going to do something?”

     Kaden narrowed his eyes as struggled to get his wrists back. That was it. He was done for. The extractor had sent Devin after him to finish him off for good. And all of his potential heroic bystanders had just fled the cafeteria, some of them screaming in fear that Devin might be the extractor that they were all supposed to be on high alert for.  

     That's when a blast of energy shot out from the hallway—Mr. Gallison firing his casting energy at Devin so fast and sharp that it knocked Devin straight to the ground. He had curved the shot so it only took out Devin. Devin went crashing, sliding fast against the floor tiles with the force of impact.

     He opened his eyes just after coming to a stop. The pain was written all over his face. But he wasn’t sticking around just to get blasted around again. He teleported out of there right then. Just like that, he was gone.

     Dean Mora and the others had come running along as well. They all saw exactly how it had ended.

     Kaden stood by, a torn look on his face as he glanced around to see if Devin was going to reappear anywhere. He was gritting his teeth, still vexed at Devin’s comments. Annoyed, too, that his magic hadn’t been enough to defend himself.

     There wasn't too much time to process what had happened when Dean Mora saw the light of her notepad in her front jacket pocket. She drew it out and opened to the first page, seeing the vibrant light of a serif typeface read: ANOTHER STUDENT JUST HAD THEIR MAGIC CORE STOLEN IN THE STARLING FALLS DINING HALL.

     She shared the details with Mr. Gallison and they both traded alarmed looks before rushing off to get to the scene.

     But Imogene and Elora were even more alarmed than them. If Mr. Gallison had been with them this whole time… who the fuck was the other extractor?

Next >>

Band- Robin Buckley (1)

Pairing: Robin Buckley x Reader

Characters: Robin Buckley

Warnings: N/A

Request: Anon- Hi, Can I please request an imagine for Robin (Stranger Things) x female reader where the reader is the lead singer of an all female punk band, and Robin goes to one of the band’s gigs with Steve, and Robin and the reader start a flirty friendship that turns into something more romantic and they share a kiss, please? Thank you so much!

Word Count: 590

Author: Charlotte

Y/B/N- Your band name

It felt like a dumb idea to start a band, but it was something to pass the time for you and your friends to do and lead to minor fame in the alternative scene throughout central Indiana. For the most part people were against your band along with anything remotely punk, but there was a niche circle of people that really enjoyed the concept of an all-female punk band. Your group made your way around the local towns, playing in any bars that would take you and the few dedicated fans that you had made it all worth it.

For that night you were in Hawkins, Indiana at The Hideout to play a short set and hope to grow your fanbase. The bar was almost busy, more people in it than the normal bars you played in and even if half of them were middle-aged drunk men, you were still going to play as though they gave a shit about your music. Your band took the stage, and you sang your heart out. By the end of the set, you felt the normal buzz of excitement that you got from performing in front of a crowd. Your friends agreed to grab a drink before heading home and you weren’t one to turn it down, even if you weren’t legally old enough to drink.

You tidied up your stage as the music returned to the records that the bar picked to play before heading down to the bar. As you tried to manoeuvre over to where your friends had set up base, you bumped into a woman.

When she turned around, you instantly felt flustered. Other than your band, she was probably the only woman there, roughly your own age and beautiful. Words escaped you as you looked over the woman you had accidentally bumped into. Her light brown hair just hit her shoulders where she wore a tattered old jacket, the lapels lined with pins that for the most part matched your own on your rucksack, all covering the current feminism movement and general nerdy or movie related topics.

“I’m so sorry,” you apologised. “I didn’t mean to.”

She let out an awkward laugh. “It-t’s okay.”

The man beside her rested a hand on her shoulder, looking at her concerned, rarely ever seeing her just start talking to others.

“You alright, Robin?” He asked.

She nodded her head, trying to subtly hit the man with her but it was far more obvious than she wanted.

“Fine… I’m fine,” she said firmly to him before turning back to you. “You’re the singer from Y/B/N?”

You nodded your head. “Yeah, what’d you think? We don’t get many couples at our shows.”

Robin forcefully laughed, looking between you and the man beside her, a snort escaping her.

“Steve and me,” she laughed, her words exploding from her. “We aren’t together, we’re just friends.”

A small smile curled onto your lips. “Sorry for assuming.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s okay. But anyway… your show was amazing, you’re really talented.”

You had received compliments before but coming from Robin it seemed to warm your heart more than any you had received before.

“W-would you like to join us?” Robin said, an over-strained smile upon her face.

Your eyes darted over to your bandmates who were chatting and drinking, not even noticing that you weren’t there. You felt a little bad for abandoning them but when a pretty girl talks to you, you don’t just turn them down.

“I would love to.”

Trap of Lies

Masterlist

previous chapter 

Warnings: A little violence , mentions of physical abuse and rape

Chapter 13

Just as I am about to storm out, a beggar blocks my path. No. The way he stares directly into my eyes, despite wearing rags and being covered in dirt, how his dark eyes are still carrying a fighting spirit…I can tell at a glance. This is no ordinary beggar.

"Tony?" Phil comes forth, his voice evident of surprise and confusion. "Who?" I ask. Even though I want to kick the lad and leave, my gut feeling tells me to stay. "He belongs to the whispers." Passing by me, Phil stands before the boy. " What brings you here at this time?"

Tony gulps. I sneer at my heart. The boy who dared to block my path moments ago is showing off his nervousness. "...T-the lady! We found the lady!" 

"What?!" I grab him by the neck, baring my teeth. I tried so hard to keep up my sanity, not to take my anger out on the wrong person. But why is this guy not talking properly? “What do you mean? Lady? Where?!-” 

“Whoa! Whoa! Now, now. Don’t break his neck and let him speak.” Phil stealthily managed to loosen my grasp on the boy’s neck. I take a hard, deep breath. “…Speak.”

Phil is right. I need to be calm and calculating more than at any other time right now. 

“A-at the tavern. We managed to get her inside Charlotte’s room for now.” The boy stutters, trembling in fear and panic. Without bothering to hear, I leave. At this point, I don’t care if it’s a trap or not. If there is a chance…a one-in-a-million chance for me to find her, I will risk everything.

***

Where am I?

Hear a lot of voices from a distance. My sight is a blur, my head is spinning. I was kidnapped and tortured. But who was it, I can’t remember. I feel as if I’ve met them before, but where I cannot recall. I blink hard. Maybe they have taken me somewhere so they can torture me more. 

What’s the point of living at this point?

Why did I even bother to hold on for so long?

How long have I been held captive?

I cannot recall…

He had blue eyes…

Black hair…

Ah…I give up.

I feel a warm sensation around me. Is it a hand? Are they going to touch me again? I wriggle, trying to get away. It seems my body is yet to give up the futile resistance.

But this time, I hear a woman’s tender voice from above my head. “Sh…It’s alright, my lady. Everything is okay now.” This is the first time I find a woman around in how long I recall. I open my heavy eyelids. A blond hair covers my eyes, and as I try to straighten up, a pair of grey eyes appear before me. “Are you up now, lady?”

My dry lips move, a voice faint enough to escape even to my ears. “…Who?”

With the word leaving my mouth, the door slams open. Oh! This is the first time I’m noticing that we are in a small bedroom. I am lying on a tiny bed with a hard mattress. The stranger woman is sitting next to me, another blond-haired woman is standing by the bed. 

Through the open door, a man walks in. Even the sight of the man caused me to flinch.

Deep blue eyes…

Dark black hair…

A deep voice…

“MC! MC!” Sturdy hands wrapping around my body. I have no strength to neither shove him away nor accept his embrace. I can sense my heart calming down, relief washing over me. I hear the deep voice over my head, “I’m sorry I was late, my love.”

The voice rang once more, much lower and quieter, “Take her and treat her well. She’s our guest and a prisoner, for now.”

Is he talking about me?

Where am I going to be dragged this time?

Instead, the woman who was holding me a moment ago is taken away. As soon as she leaves the room, the hands around me strengthen their grasp. I feel sleep rushing through me…

“...Jake,” I mumble something. What is it that I am saying? I was not planning to say anything though…

Because it’s no use. Whatever I ask, they would only hear what they want to hear.

“Yes, it’s me. I’m sorry, MC. I’m sorry I’m late…” 

Why is this man apologizing? He looks so familiar too…

Who is he…?

Blue eyes, black hair…

Wait.

Blue eyes, black hair?

Unknown energy rushes to my body, giving me strength. I shove away the man as hard as I can. 

How could I forget?

He is the man behind all!

“Go away! Go away, you demon!” I scream, clutching my hair.

***

The doctor sighed as soon as he left the room. MC suddenly started screaming and fainting. For now, I have brought her into my mansion, in my bedroom. I dare say, she is now in the safest place in the capital. Nobody can touch her here.

“Why was she like that?” I ask, nervously. “It seems to be a defence mechanism.” The doctor sighed again, beckoning me to walk a little further away from the room. “I have seen a similar case before. A woman was raped by her neighbour continuously for half a day. The evidence was pointing towards that man, but the woman kept insisting that the man who raped her was her fiance.”

I feel my brows frowning, I cannot seem to manage my expression well at the moment. “What?”

“The woman’s fiance had a strong alibi. He was at the academy, taking an exam at that time. A clear alibi, with so many witnesses.”

“Then why?”

“The woman was traumatized. She unconsciously pushed away the memory of her rapist and replaced it with her fiance.”

“...Because the memory was too terrifying?” I feel my heart sink. 

The doctor nods quietly, “Sir William, it seems the lady’s traumatized and her memory is confused. She had been drugged several times as well. There is evidence of physical torture and rape…” Sighing for the hundredth time, the doctor mumbles. “You should be grateful that she’s still alive after all this. Any human is bound to break after going through that. Especially for a lady who has mostly walked in a flowery path.” The doctor, Wilhelm, who has been working under him, was one of the few who knew my real identity. He looks around, cautiously. 

“Remember this Jake. You should resent yourself for this. An innocent girl was taught what hell is, all because you couldn’t hold your greed.” Wilhelm hissed, turning away, not before murmuring in a voice full of contempt. “Her consciousness goes back and forth. She may cling to you and kick you out in a moment. Deal with her patiently.”

He is right. I feel my heart heavier than ever. Wilhelm warned me of this, even before I made an advance on MC.

“Jake. Don’t tell me that I didn’t warn you later. Leave that lady alone. You will only make her suffer by dragging her into our world.”

I exhale hard as I look at the tiny figure laying lifelessly on the large bed. Maybe the size of the bed is making her appear even smaller.

How beautiful her smile was, how lively her eyes sparkled, how enthusiastic her personality was…

I’m the one who ruined it all…

I recall the words of the woman who had apparently saved her. Amy Bell Lewis is her name.

“How did you take her away without anyone noticing?”

The woman shrugged, “I’m in charge of cooking. I simply drugged the food.”

“Why go to such lengths?”

She sighed, wiping away the corner of her right eye. “Even for me, as a prostitute, that was too much. I can only imagine how miserable the lady must have been. That bastard, Richy is a beast, no human!”

Jake clenched his jaw, “What do you know about the commander?”

“Nothing. He comes and goes. He has blue eyes and black hair,” A corner of her overly painted red lips crept up, “Much similar to yours, kind sir.”

I sigh, massaging my temples. That woman gives me a chill in the spine. An eerie vibe is what she gives off. She’s either a good actress or a seductive slut.

***

The room is nice.

The woman hums, sitting on the bed at the centre of the room. Her blond hair, flowing down her shoulders, lays on the bed. Just recalling the moments she spent with the commander, is enough to die for him.

If it’s for him, I’ll do everything.

Even if it’s helping him to get together with another bitch.

Amidst such thoughts, she remembered.

“What do you mean to let her go?”

Amy gently massaged his sturdy shoulders. The grazing of the ebony hair, just having his masculine fragrance tickling her nose is enough to climax. “Commander, you don’t understand your own heart, do you?” Gently kneeling before him, she took his large hand in hers. “You want that woman. Commander, you yearn for that woman, you want to hold her, don’t you?” Taking his hand, she rubbed her cheek into his palm.”If you keep letting that bastard Richy shove his filthy dick in her like this, she’ll come to hate you.”

At her words, he flinched. Of course, no one would’ve noticed.

‘No one but me.’

She, who has loved him for so long, would notice. Even if he would never let her sleep with him, it doesn’t matter. As long as she can see him and touch him like now, that’s all that matters.

“I’ll save the woman and take her to that man. I’ll slowly earn his trust and make conflict between the two. That way, the lady will become yours and that man will face ruins. Two birds from one stone.”

He sneered, “How confident you look.” At the clear insult, she beamed. Of course, he would never admit it. But he thinks that woman is the noblest, prettiest woman in the world. Compared to her, Amy was just a worm crawling on the dirt.

Well, not that it matters.

“I am confident. But commander, I have a favour to ask you.” She said, coyly playing with his thick, long fingers. His brow rose, “Favor? It’s not like you to ask me for anything?” 

“If everything goes well, no. After you destroy Jake and make that lady yours…will you embrace me once? Just once? I’ll ask for no more.” As she asked with pleading eyes, the man took his time answering. 

“...I’ll think about it.”

-To be Continued. 

✖ Quiet Down Pt. 2 (M) ✖

☆ okay, hi everyone! this story is a renjun x fem reader x haechan story. please look at the pairings to figure out who the part/chapter will be based around. also, the warnings will be based off each part/chapter as well, so please take notice to that too. i hope you enjoy the story! ☆

PART 1 Word Count: approx. 8.9k Pairings (based on each part): renjun x fem reader Warnings (based on each part): mature audiences only, explicit language, heavy make out, co-worker relations Preview: Another whimper escapes your lips. Gearing up to do the same a familiar voice breaks through the spell that was cast upon the two of you. “Get a fucking room, will you?” Gasping you break the kiss first. Lips red and swollen. Chest rising and falling heavily. Renjun mirroring you. How can he still look like an angel when he just scorched you as if he were the devil? Looking past Renjun to where the voice came from you find Haechan staring at you. Eyes dark as the night sky and jaw clamped shut.

✖-----------------------✖

Haechan rests his head on your shoulder. His breathing becoming softer, his eyes growing heavier by the second. Sticking out your pointer finger you jab him gently on his cheek – trying to wake him up. Whining Haechan swats your hand away only to snuggle up to you more. “Stop it. I’m tired…” he sighs.

“Then fall asleep on the window,” you manage to keep the small smile that was creeping across your face at bay.

“And have my head smacking into it? No thank you,” he turns his body so that he’s facing you. His legs crossed and arms wrapping around you completely as if you were his personal body pillow. “Plus, you’re much better.” He buries his face into your neck.

“Look just because of what happened doesn’t mean you can —" Haechan leans up stopping you mid-sentence with a kiss.

Chuckling he tilts his head, “you were saying?” He asks with his cheekiest grin.

Eyeing him cautiously you start again, “I was saying just because of what happened doesn’t mean you can just wrap your ar —" again he stops you before you can finish your sentence with a kiss, this one longer. His lips moving across yours lazily.

“Keep it up, I don’t mind.” He looks at you with hooded eyes.

“Jerk.” You mumble wrapping an arm around him trying to get comfortable.

“You don’t mean that so I won’t get offended,” he leaves a wet sloppy open-mouthed kiss on your neck. “Oh, and fyi, I would be careful with your hair. I might have gone a little crazy when I was kissing you,” he snickers.

“What are you going on about?” Pulling from him you dig into your purse pulling out your compact mirror. Flipping it open and moving your hair away from your neck, you see three, no four hickies. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“I told you I went a little crazy,” he shrugs. “You were really hot. I couldn’t help myself. Plus, it’s not like it’s anything to worry about.”

“It is something to worry about!” Quickly you pull out your concealer. “How the hell am I going to cover this up?” You ask yourself.

“Why do you need to cover it up in the first place? It’s no one’s business.”

“How am I going to explain this to Charlotte or Sasha or Renjun? You know I’m going to have to share a room with him! He’s bound to notice at some point!” Quickly you apply some concealer to your abused neck doing your best to cover up as much and as many of the hickies Haechan left behind.

“So?!” He grabs your hand stopping you. “What’s wrong with them asking?”

“What am I supposed to say? Yeah, while I was sitting behind the two of you, Haechan was jerking off while sucking on my neck like a fucking vampire!”

“No…” he sighs. “You say you were making out with someone. Why are you so worried anyway?”

Exhaling deeply, you allow your shoulders to fall forward. Your head resting on the cushioned seat in front of you. “I don’t know.”

“Is it Charlotte and Sasha you’re worried about or Renjun?”

“Renjun,” you whisper. “He just seems so…pure,” you close your eyes defeated. “I don’t want him thinking negatively about me. He seems to really look up to me.”

Scoffing Haechan turns away, his head resting on the window. “That’s not going to happen.” He draws out a long and heavy sigh.

“What do you mean?”

Shrugging he closes his eyes. “Nothing.”

“Haechan!” You grab him by the collar of his shirt pulling him back to you. “Talk!”

Smiling happily, he kisses your nose. “I like a forceful woman.”

“Enough with your submissive kink! What were you saying about Renjun?”

“One,” he holds your hands in his bringing them down from his shirt. “I don’t have a submissive kink. I can dom you anytime anywhere, and two,” he looks to the seat in front of you where Renjun and Charlotte have both gone quiet. “Renjun doesn’t admire you at all. Well, he does. But not in the way you’re thinking.” With the roll of his eyes, he falls back against the window. “He’s like in love with you or something, I don’t know…”

“What?!” You scream.

This time it’s Haechan’s turn to cover your mouth with his hand. His body tenses making you look in the direction that has his blood chilling to the bone. The two women who were across from you were now looking at the two of you with questioning gazes. Haechan smiles at them before pulling you close to him. His mouth dangerously close to your ear.

“Quiet down, will ya?! The whole bus doesn’t need to hear!” He hisses. “Like I said he has a crush on you, okay? Dudes too shy to make a move.”

“A-And you? What about what just happened? Were you trying to make him jealous so he’d make a move?!”

“No, fuck him,” Haechan rolls his eyes. “What happened between us was just…a fun moment?” He asks himself brows knitted together. “I mean, it was supposed to just…” he sighs. “I didn’t intend to get horny as hell, okay? That was all your fault!” He leans against the window cooling his burning skin. “I’m not going to lie. When I came up to you asking if you had a date to the Christmas party, that was me teasing you but I was also about 20% serious. When you didn’t budge, I thought you hated me so I didn’t push at all. Don’t want someone saying I’m harassing them and then lose my job.” He scratches the back of his neck. “But now,” his ears start turning red. “I don’t know how I feel about you. Clearly, it’s more than 20%. What just happened between us was so fucking hot! I want to do more. Much much more! Like I said I wish you were my partner. We’d be in a room together and I’d have you screaming the whole night, every night, but…”

“I picked Renjun…”

Nodding he sighs deeply. “Yeah, you just had to pick him.”

���And you just had to whip your dick out.” This time it was your turn to roll your eyes.

“You know you wanted to suck me off.” He licks his lips. “You were looking at my cock like a starved animal.”

“Shut up! I was not!” Your face starts to warm at the thought of taking Haechan into your mouth. The noises he would make as you gag around him. The memory of his hand fisting your hair when he wanted you to put your mouth on him resurfacing.

“You so did! I saw how you were clenching your legs. How wet did you get?” He leans into you. Hand resting dangerously high on your thigh while his lips head straight for your neck where you just tried to cover up his last round of love bites.

“Seriously, are you part vampire or something?” You push his face away. “Stop going for my neck.”

“I would put my mouth somewhere else but there would be no way of hiding it,” he winks.

“You’re insufferable!”

“Only for you,” he pecks your lips.

When Haechan pulls back you take notice to his face. There are no signs of teasing. Not even a smidge that the words he just uttered were untrue. His eyes are soft and his lips curl into a gentle smile. He really meant it. Every single word and syllable. This isn’t how you were planning on spending your weekend. Not by a long shot.

“S-So, can you tell me something about Renjun?” You ask Haechan avoiding his loving gaze.

Sneering Haechan crosses his arms. “Really? After what just happened, after what I just said, you’re asking me about him?” Brows furrowed he glares at you his adoring smile turning into a deep pout.

“Well…you are his best friend, right? I mean I’m going to have to share a room with him. Might as well know if he’s finicky about things.”

Haechan sighs. “Try not to be a slob around him. He doesn’t like that kind of stuff and he’ll probably have some type of candle or spray or something like that. So, I hope you like them.”

“That isn’t surprising,” you giggle. “He actually smells really good when you get close to him.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he waves off your comment. “He’ll probably comment on how good you smell because trust me babe, you smell amazing.” Haechan sits up and reaches out to you, his long fingers wrapping around your neck pulling you to him. “It’s a sweet airy smell, not to strong, I like it,” he kisses you gently moving his lips across yours like he’s been kissing you for your entire life instead of just over an hour. “Fuck,” he curses. “Why do you have to taste so good?” He runs his tongue over your lips.

Keeping your chuckle to yourself you smile towards him, “is it me that tastes good or you?”

Catching onto your joke Haechan crashes his lips down onto yours. His hand gripping the back of your neck so you can’t move away from him. His tongue darts into your mouth washing over every inch. Running over every tooth, every crevice till there is nothing he hasn’t explored. Pulling back his chest heaving, eyes staring you down as if he’s the hunter and you’re his prey.

“Absolutely you,” he places a gentle kiss on your lips. “Really want to taste more of you,” his hand that was resting on your lap slides between your legs.

“H-Haechan! No! Absolutely not!!!” You smack his hand away hard.

“Just a little taste,” he tip-toes his fingers up over your mound making you inhale sharply, your shoulders tensing in the process. “A quick swipe and go,” he pulls the waistband of your jeans away from your body.

“I said no,” you grab his hand. “Not here and certainly not now!” You scold him quietly.

“That a promise for later?” He wiggles his brows, tongue sliding across his lips.

Sighing you shake your head, “it just means…not now.”      

✖-----------------------✖

“Okay everyone!” Your boss comes over the loud speaker. “We’re going to make a rest stop; please be aware we won’t be stopping until we get to the lake so use this time wisely.”

Looking to your right you find Haechan has since fallen asleep on your shoulder. Nudging him gently he doesn’t open his eyes but his grip around your waist tightens. Sighing you try again, but he doesn’t budge at all.

“You’re going to have to do more than that,” Jeno’s voice startles you. When the bus stops at the gas station he stands up from his seat hovering over you. Sleeveless arms teasing you as they flex with him holding his weight up. “Wake up!!!” He shouts right into Haechan’s ear.

“What the fuck!!!” Haechan jumps up hitting his head against Jeno’s chin both of them now groaning in pain. “What the hell is your problem?”

Rubbing his aching jaw Jeno glares down at Haechan. “She was trying to wake you up. We’re all getting off the bus for a quick rest you dumbass.”

“I didn’t want to wake up,” he wraps his arms around you getting comfortable again.

“Dude really?” Jaemin comes over. “Get off of her,” he grabs Haechan’s arm. “Let her go to the bathroom or get something to eat.”

“Do you need to go to the bathroom?” Haechan asks you his lips turning down into a pout.

“Yes.” You say honestly.

“Why?!” He whines stomping his feet like a child.

“Come on,” Charlotte reaches out for you taking your hand into hers. “She’s coming with me, sorry Haechan.”

With one last squeeze around your waist Haechan finally lets you go only to fall onto the spot you used to occupy his eyes closing shut. As you’re pulled away you see Renjun sitting in the same spot, head low, eyes fixated on the hole in his distressed jeans. Not paying anyone attention despite the commotion of Jaemin and Jeno trying to get Haechan off the bus with them. Charlotte doesn’t let go of you until you’re off the bus and far away from everyone. Deciding to have the most awkward conversation of your lifetime near the back fence of the gas station.

“Spill!” She crosses her arms. “What the fuck was going on with you and Haechan? Or should I say what the fuck is going on with you and Haechan?! I didn’t think you two were close!”

“We’re not…” you kick a can off to the side avoiding her eyes.

“Then why was he wrapped around you like he was your boyfriend? Did he ask you out? Are you two together?! Tell me!!!” She grips your shoulders tightly.

“We’re not together,” you laugh at her antics. “Trust me, we aren’t a couple. He just saw me sitting in the back when he got on and took it upon himself to annoy me. You know how he is.”

“Uh, huh,” she raises a brow. “Sure. I know how someone I’ve barely had any interactions with is.” She rolls her eyes, “not buying it at all missy. What happened? I saw he was uh, dealing with a little problem…down below,” she leans in a salacious look on her face. “Did you help him at all?”

“Uh…” you look away as she backs you up against the fence. “I, well, what happened was…”

“YOU LITTLE SLUT YOU DID DIDN’T YOU?!”

“I might have,” your cheeks warm up. “It just happened, okay? One second, he’s flirting and you know me, I just couldn’t resist to shove it back in his face. Especially after the way he was stuttering when he asked about the Christmas party and then he’s suddenly turning into this whiny submissive mess wanting me to jerk him off and then BOOM, he takes his dick out and I’m —"

She places her hand over your mouth eyes wide and jaw slacked. “He did what?” She gulps. “I need details. Size, girth, lots of hair, no hair? Veiny or not? I’m a married woman!” She shakes you harshly pretending to cry. “I need to live vicariously through you right now! Did you taste him? What does he taste like?”

Gripping her forearms tightly trying to get her to stop shaking you, you let out a huge sigh. “He’s average,” you shrug. Not exactly having a dick sized encyclopedia in your brain unlike Charlotte who’s been with a few other men aside from Richard. “It’s nice…not to veiny. Perfectly fine for satisfying…all your aching needs,” you wink at her. “However, I didn’t taste him necessarily,” you move away from her your index finger touching your bottom lip coyly. “He came on my hand and then, well, he sort of…”

“What?! What did he do?! I’m dying here!” She’s panting like a dog. Her pale peach skin tone now bright pink around her ears, cheeks and neck.

“He cleaned my hand off with his mouth and kissed me,” your hands go up to your cheeks. “Girl, it was the hottest thing in the world.”

“He tasted himself?!” She all but falls to the ground. “I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! Why couldn’t that have been me?! He’s my damn partner! That should have been me! Why didn’t you get married?! I could have been the one making out with him! I could have been the one jerking him off and tasting him and AHHHHHH!!!!! Why did you let me get married?!”

“If memory serves me right, Richard was my blind date. Then you showed up looking fine as hell and stole him from me!” You cross your arms as your friend has a pretend meltdown. No way in hell she’s truly mad about being married to Richard. He’s her dream man…well aside from Haechan.

“Look, I can’t help it if I’m hot!” She stands back up flipping her long auburn hair back behind her shoulder giving you one of her flirty winks she’s known for. “I do hate you but ahhh!!! That must have been what that noise was.”

“Noise?” You ask her.

“Renjun swore he heard Haechan moan and was just about to turn around when I stopped him. You should be thankful! Renjun was already a pouty little baby.” She rolls her eyes. “I think he was really looking forward to sitting with you. I legit felt like a mom consoling her child after the girl he liked broke his heart. Thanks for that by the way!”

The moment she says Renjun you perk up. Her revealing news popping into your mind. “So, wait, how did you find out he’s not gay?”

“I asked him if he was seeing anyone that he’s super cute and adorable,” she giggles. “Girl, you should have seen his face. He got all shy and blushy and I just wanted to reach out and pinch his cute little cheeks! MMM! He’s adorable! Anyway, he said no that he was single. But he does have someone he likes. I asked him who they were and he said ‘she’ and that’s how I got my answer. By the way, I’m pretty sure he has the hots for you,” she starts heading for the bathroom. “I asked him to describe her. I have never been much into prying into people’s personal lives, you know me…”

You gawk at her stupefied. “Yeah right! You’re one of the nosiest women I’ve ever met!”

“Well, be happy this time because I swear when he was describing her, she reminded me of you. He said she is very pretty. That he hasn’t talked to her much, but finally got the chance to speak with her. That he’s looked up to her and she’s a very hard worker. I mean yeah it could be anyone at the office, or even in his friend group BUT with the way he was on the bus, it’s you girl. He likes you! My spidey senses are tingling. Which explains the pouty behavior when you were sitting with Haechan. Poor baby just wanted to sit next to you,” she gives you kissy faces.

“H-Haechan might have mentioned that,” you follow alongside her. “What am I going to do? After what I did with Haechan, I mean, I already thought this weekend was going to be a bust but Haechan threw that out the window. Now I find out that Renjun likes me! What should I do?!” You wrap your arms around her arm clinging to her like a baby.

“Why not have fun? This is what these company getaways are for. To relax before we have to go into full work mode for three months straight.”

“Have fun?” You ask.

“Mmm, I mean you’re not dating Renjun so you have nothing to feel guilty about and you’re not dating Haechan so if Renjun decides to confess to you, well, that’s when you can decide. Do you want Haechan or Renjun?” She knocks on the bathroom door, no one responding.

“I don’t know,” you follow her inside leaning your back against the tiled wall while Charlotte goes first. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“If you don’t like it you can stop at any time. It’s not a contract where you have to sign over anything. You’re just having fun.”

“I guess you’re right. A little fun never hurt anyone…”

✖-----------------------✖

Haechan with one last tug, is finally pulled off the bus, his eyes squinting from the bright sun above them. Stretching his arms up into the air he lets out a huge sigh. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” He asks his friends who stare at him with amazement. “Wh-What?” He asks.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Jaemin crosses his arms. “Why were you sitting next to her? You know that she’s Renjun’s partner, so why?!”

“I didn’t know I had to only sit next to my partner,” Haechan rolls his eyes. “Plus, I didn’t hear her complaining at all so get off my back.”

“No! I won’t! You know Renjun likes her! He wanted to talk to her about the trip. Get to know her and you fucked it up!”

“I’m sorry?” Haechan asks. “Dude if you want to talk to her go ahead. She’s a nice person just letting you know,” he starts walking over to the pavilion where a couple of tables and chairs are set up. “She asked about you too.”

“Sh-She did?!” Renjun rushes up to him. “What did she ask?”

“She wanted to know if you were finicky about anything since you two will be sharing a room for the next four days.”

“And?!” He asks eagerly.

Shrugging, Haechan sits down his hands tucked away into his black ripped denim jeans. “Told her you probably have some candles or whatever stored away in your bag and to not be a slob that you hate that kind of stuff.”

Renjun’s face falls flat. “Candles, really?!”

“What? You like that essential oil shit. Was just answering honestly.”

“Anything else?” He sighs taking a seat.

“No, not really,” he sits up quickly scaring Renjun in the process. “Might have told her you have a crush on her,” he smirks. “You’re welcome by the way.”

“What?!” Renjun stands up hovering over Haechan hands ready to grip Haechan’s throat until he turns purple. “Why the hell did you tell her that?! That wasn’t for you to tell! Shit! What am I going to do now?!” He looks back at Jaemin and Jeno.

“Since the cats out of the bag,” Jeno starts a cute smile on his face. “Go with it,” he gives him a thumbs up.

“He has a point. Who knows maybe this will get the idea of you two dating in her head?” Jaemin tries to give Renjun a reassuring smile but his eyes are glued to Haechan who was looking away, lips set in a hard line.

“You think?” Renjun looks in the direction where you and Charlotte were standing right outside of the bathrooms. “I-I’m going to go talk to her,” he puffs out his chest. “Thanks man!” He ruffles Haechan’s hair before running off in your direction.

“‘Thanks man,’” Haechan mocks Renjun as he fixes his hair.

“So, care to explain why you were ready to spring out of your jeans on the bus?” Jaemin asks. “What happened between the two of you?”

“Is nothing a secret anymore?! Look I had a moment of weakness, okay? So, I took care of it.”

“Next to her?!” Jeno stares stunned.

“Well, she did help,” Haechan winks. “Fucking hot as hell too,” he turns to see Renjun now talking with you. “My own damn fault…” he whispers.

“It is,” Jaemin stands up. “Be careful Haechan. You’re messing with people’s emotions this time and everything turns out messy when it comes to how people feel.”

“Yeah yeah…” Haechan stands as well. “I know. I’ve heard you say that a million times.”

Jaemin grabs hold of Haechan’s arm. “Maybe this time you’ll listen?”

“Sure thing.” Haechan salutes. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta take a piss.”

Walking away Haechan’s head hangs low as he makes his way to the bathroom.

“Think he’ll stay out of this?” Jeno asks.

“Not a chance,” Jaemin sighs.

✖-----------------------✖

“So, what do you think the activities will be this year?” You sigh throwing away the paper towel you used to dry your hands.

“Not sure but I hope it’s not too strenuous. It’s already so hot outside,” Charlotte wipes her neck with her paper towel. “So gross…”

“Uh, h-hello…” Renjun’s voice has both you and Charlotte pausing. “Uh, I was just wondering can I steal you for a minute?” He looks directly at you.

“She’s all yours,” Charlotte pushes you towards him making you trip over your feet and into Renjun’s arms.

“Really?!” You snap at her.

She shrugs the smile not leaving her face. “Oops,” she giggles walking away. “Have fun you two!”

“Are you okay?” Renjun asks.

“Yeah, thanks.”

You look up at Renjun your faces just inches apart. Again, his beauty astonishes you. Smooth flawless skin shining like a pearl in the sunlight. A contrast to Haechan’s golden skin that warms your soul like a field of sunflowers. How can two people who are complete opposites be best friends? Even their personalities are different. Haechan being a huge tease and Renjun, soft and warm. Renjun’s grip on your waist tightens. His eyes scanning over yours while you stare at him. His lips so cute…so…kissable.

“Uh, a-are you sure you’re o-okay?” He asks his minty fresh breath washing over you.

“Mmm…you…you’re…glowing…” you whisper.

“Glowing?” Renjun starts to laugh as he sets you upright. “Are you sure you’re, okay? Because I know that I’m not glowing. No radiation flowing through these veins.”

Shaking your head, you free yourself from your small infatuation. “I meant your skin. You have beautiful skin, Renjun. It was like you were glowing.”

“Ahh,” this time you can tell with the redness of his ears and cheeks that he’s blushing. “I guess healthy eating and good genes?”

“Mmm…so, what did you want to talk about?”

“I, uh, I wanted to ask if you wouldn’t mind sitting next to me for the rest of the trip? I’d like to talk to you about the lakefront and stuff,” he looks down playing with his fingers. “That is if you don’t mind.”

“Of course not,” you walk up to him linking your arm with his. “We’re partners after all. We’ll be with each other the whole time. Might as well break the ice early, right?”

He looks at your linked arms nodding slowly. Almost as if he’s shocked that you were this close to him. What Haechan and Charlotte said was being factual the longer you’re near him. Renjun just may have a huge crush on you and it’s the cutest thing in the world!

“Do you want to head back to the bus?” He asks.

Nodding you follow Renjun’s lead. He doesn’t talk at all. Eyes focusing on the path in front of you but with a slight tremble coursing throughout his body. Just making you want to hold him closer to you. An urge to lay your head on his shoulder. To see how long he could last before he combusted in both shyness and happiness. When you reach the bus, the doors open and like a true gentleman Renjun allows you to go on first and even assists you in getting on. Though you didn’t need help. Thinking if Haechan were in his place some lewd comment would be uttered followed by a smack to your ass most likely. Not that you would complain if Haechan were in Renjun’s place.

Walking back to where you were sitting with Haechan you scooch in first, Renjun following behind you. Before he sits down, he reaches over the seat in front of you where he was last seated and grabs his small carry-on bag. “Um, I was looking at the brochure,” he digs into his bag a tiny smile on his face. “And there are activities like canoeing, hiking, and even fishing. I don’t know if you like any of that but I was just wondering if you would want to hang out outside of the group activities?”

“Absolutely! The last trip we were on I mostly stayed in the hotel room and slept, was not the best experience, but this looks like fun!” You move closer to Renjun his floral scent filling your head.

“Really? Great!” He shows you the different activities going over each one with enthusiasm that it actually has you excited to experience them as well.

Honestly, most of the trips you’ve been on you only hung out with your partner during the activities and right before bed to say a quick goodnight, if they were even in the room when you decided to call it a night. Everyone has their click and groups they belong to and it wasn’t a big deal if you didn’t hang out. With Renjun, he’s actually making an effort to get to know you. To hang out and try things with you. He can easily do what every guy does and hang with his friends but he wants to spend time with you.

His eyes light up when he talks about the hiking trail how there are different levels and different sceneries. He gushed about wanting to take pictures of the mountain and asks if you would like to go onto the harder trail. When he turns to look at you for your answer you lean forward, lips landing on his cheek.

“I’d love to,” you say sweetly and you mean every word. It would be lovely to be out in nature with Renjun. To take pictures and create memories with him. It feels wonderful already to have him next to you. His sweet nature affecting you. Making you want to give him the world if you could.

“R-Really?” He asks eyes opened wide as they go from yours down to your lips and back.

“Mmhmmm…” testing the waters you lean forward again your lips hovering over his. “Feels like a date, don’t you think?” You giggle.

“I-I-It does?” Renjun gulps his eyes staring at your lips.

“Yes, it does. Very romantic…” you watch him shift in his seat.

“I-I mean…maybe it can be…” he whispers.

“Do you want it to be?” You brush your lips over his.

Renjun turns his head away the moment the bus starts to fill up with chatter. “M-Maybe we should talk about this later, i-in private?” He asks you.

Pouting you nod your head. Well, that wasn’t the reaction you were expecting. Either he’s incredibly innocent or his feelings are not romantic unlike what you heard from Charlotte and Haechan. Then again…mortification floods your body. You acted like a complete slut just now! Throwing yourself at him! Probably making him so uncomfortable. Turning you see Renjun taking out his phone and finding a game to keep him occupied. Guilt washes over you as you pull out your phone. What were you thinking?! You scold yourself.

Putting in your AirPods you put on music by your current favorite singer, Aurora. Her beautiful voice and lyrics taking you off into a dreamworld. Helping you to forget what you were about to do. The bus fills up in no time. Renjun’s friends heading back to their spots, all but Charlotte and Haechan. Charlotte gives you a quick look over and you just turn from her, knowing full well she’s going to message you until you can talk to her again. Haechan, however, looks shocked to see you sitting next to Renjun. In the seat where the two of you fooled around in. His jaw tightens as he slides across from you and Renjun, resting his head against the window — completely checking out until you arrive at the hotel.

On cue your phone goes off, a message from Charlotte.

What’s up? Why aren’t you talking to Renjun? What happened? He looked so happy to talk to you?!

Firing a quick message back you try to stay calm next to the man you’ve just thrown yourself at.

I tried to flirt with him. Even leaned in and kissed his cheek. I got nothing but a nervous seat mate! I even tried again stating clearly that I wanted him to kiss me. Nothing. Just, maybe we should wait until we have privacy. You’re right. I am a slut!

Leaning your head against the window the bus takes off for another two-hour drive to the hotel. Renjun deeply involved in his game hasn’t looked up at all. He was so excited but you ruined it with one stupid move.

Don’t freak. Maybe he just wants to kiss you when no one’s around to see. He’s shy remember?

Yeah, but I threw myself at him. Might as well have told him I’m a slut and called it a day…

You’re not a slut! Stop saying that! I was just playing! Look, why don’t you apologize and see what he does. Maybe he doesn’t know what to think?

Looking across you see her urging you. Past her, Haechan’s body is turned away from you. His face hidden from your view.

“R-Renjun,” you whisper.

“Yes?” He pauses his game immediately.

Feeling smaller than you’ve ever felt in your life you start fiddling with your fingers. “I, uh, I wanted to say I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. It’s just, when Haechan said you liked me, I…I don’t know,” you shrug refusing to look at him. “I thought I would find out if it was true. I shouldn’t have done that and I probably made you uncomfortable and I’m just…ashamed…” you finally look up. “I hope you can forgive me…”

“No…” he whispers.

Shocked you sit up straight almost dropping your phone. “No? I didn’t mean to do that I swear! I’m not like that normally I just —"

You’re cut off with Renjun’s lips pressing against yours. Ripping his glasses from his face he without warning grips your waist pulling you closer to him. Fingers digging into your side as he takes you by surprise. Your chest flush against his. Feeling his rapidly beating heart. Your thoughts start to cloud over when he moves his lips along yours. As if his kiss was the cure to unfreeze you – your lips start to move along with his. Soft feather-like kisses start to make your heart flutter like a butterfly taking off from a flower. His other hand reaches up cupping your cheek ever so gently. His skin feeling like silk against yours. Though his kisses are light there is a scorching heat behind them. Something making your gut churn with desire. Desire for him to kiss you harder. To push you up against the window, pressing his body against yours — trapping you in place for him to do whatever he pleases with you.

His thumb rubs over your cheek gingerly before pulling at your bottom lip. Opening your mouth, he slides his tongue inside. The fire that was burning now raging through you. Coursing through every nerve, every bit of tissue and bone in your body until you’re fully engulfed in flames. Gripping his arm tightly an unexpected whimper comes from you. He deepens the kiss his tongue exploring every nook and cranny of your mouth.

“What the hell…” you hear Jeno’s voice. “No fucking way!” He starts chuckling. “Dude! Look!”

Too far gone to even care what he’s talking about, you pull Renjun closer to you. Your arms wrapping around him. Trying to fuse your bodies together. His lips feel so damn good on yours. His tongue expertly fighting with yours for dominance. How can someone who can’t look someone in the eye – who is so shy that they fiddle with their fingers, kiss so well? He pulls back just enough to catch his breath before diving back down capturing your lips with his.

“Oh…well…that’s not what I expected,” Jaemin’s voice sounds like it’s right above you. Taking a leap of faith, you open your eyes to see both Jeno and Jaemin leaning over the backseat staring at you and Renjun. Jeno with the biggest smirk known to man-kind displayed across his lips and Jaemin with a gentle smile. “Hi there,” he waves.

Shooing them off, they turn back around and you go back to kissing Renjun. His lips pressing against yours hungrily. Already feeling them start to get sore, he continues on. Like the kiss you’re sharing is the very air he’s breathing. His lips staying glued to yours. Tongues gliding over each other’s lips turning the sweet sensual kiss into a sloppy wet mess. Feeling him suck your tongue into his mouth he sucks around the muscle hard.

Another whimper escapes your lips. Gearing up to do the same a familiar voice breaks through the spell that was cast upon the two of you.

“Get a fucking room, will you?”

Gasping you break the kiss first. Lips red and swollen. Chest rising and falling heavily. Renjun mirroring you. How can he still look like an angel when he just scorched you as if he were the devil? Looking past Renjun to where the voice came from you find Haechan staring at you. Eyes dark as the night sky and jaw clamped shut.

Renjun turns back for just a second shooting him a glare before looking back at you. “No.” He finishes the conversation you had before he sprung one of the hottest kisses you’ve ever gotten onto you. “Don’t apologize,” he says against your lips. “Please don’t apologize,” he moves to your cheek leaving behind a small kiss.

“O-Okay…I won’t?” You gulp.

Chuckling Renjun scratches the back of his head, “I don’t know maybe I should be apologizing now.”

“No! Don’t! It was, nice. Very nice.” You give him a quick peck.

“It was hot as fuck that’s what it was,” Jeno pops back up staring at the two of you. “My man,” he reaches a hand down but Renjun slaps his hand away. “Come on, didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Yeah, okay,” Renjun waves him off. “Parties over…” He leaves out a long heavy sigh before ducking his head down. Covering the growing blush to his face and the clear indication of his embarrassment and excitement, his ears.

Without fail your phone goes off…

Told ya!

Looking up Charlotte throws you a few kisses and you just roll your eyes. But your smile falters seeing Haechan looking at you. He doesn’t smile, he doesn’t sneer — he just stares at you with empty eyes.

Your phone goes off again this time from an unknown number.

Just couldn’t fucking help yourself, huh? Well I have one thing to say… WE’RE NOT FINISHED YET! I hope you’re ready for later.

Your head darts up but Haechan has since turned away from you. His head resting against the window. Body curled up into a little ball with his knees resting on the seat in front of him.

Haechan? What do you mean?

He lifts up his phone and starts to text back but slides his phone into his pocket before settling down again. Clearly stating that was the last message you were going to get from him.

I’m not finished with you yet. I never got to taste you, remember? And with the little show you and Renjun put on… I hope you’re ready for the thrill of a lifetime. Don’t get too comfortable with Renjun. Got it?

The rest of the ride over was uneventful. When Renjun finally calmed himself down enough to look at you his ears just started to get red again. Sitting up finally he reaches for your hand and wraps his around yours. Laying your head on his shoulder you enjoy the moment of peace. Haechan’s words on repeat in your head. There’s no way that he would try something once you were at the hotel. Every time you’ve been on a company trip your boss starts the activities off one by one seeing who will get the luxury suite and who will get the shitty one that this time you fear will be a tent outside of the hotel.

After that since you were most likely going to have a late lunch, you were sure Renjun and yourself will want to unpack and head out for some sightseeing before supper. Following supper is a movie night and even then, you’ll be with Charlotte and Sasha and possibly Renjun. No way he can intercept at any of these moments.

Finally, after what felt like forever the bus makes it to the hotel. Everyone cheers as the beautiful lake comes into view, but more importantly the hotel. Much bigger and nicer than you expected. Maybe the shitty room will just be above the laundry this time and not some tent in the middle of the woods. Glancing at Renjun he displays the same expression as you, disbelief. Everyone in the front starts bouncing off the bus already excited for the first round of activities. As you get your belongings together a message comes to your phone.

I hope you’re ready for some fun. Because I am. Have fun with your little prince. He’s terrible at this stuff. Don’t worry. My bed will be open for you. Friend next to us or not.

Glancing at Haechan you find him smirking at you as he gets up from his seat following behind Charlotte.

“Are you ready?” Renjun asks offering you his hand.

“Y-Yeah, I’m ready.”

You take hold of his hand as if you two were already an item. Lacing your fingers together felt nice. His small hand wrapped around yours made it seem like you were always supposed to hold hands. The perfect size for you. Not too big and not too small, just right.

Following everyone into the large field that your boss was directing people into as if he were helping a plane onto the airstrip, you remain glued to Renjun’s side. “Okay everyone quickly gather around!” Your boss shouts. “Let’s get this show on the road. I need everyone whose name I call and their partners to come forward. We’re starting our first game.”

Listening carefully seven names are called followed by their partners all stepping forward towards your boss. Charlotte and Haechan’s name being one of the ones called. She instantly groans as she steps forward already sweltering in the spring heat wave. Just as you were cheering for her your name is called as well. Stiffening up you realize that your main competition will be Haechan and Charlotte.

“Let’s go,” Renjun squeezes your hand.

“O-Okay…” you walk forward alongside him.

“Great!” Your boss claps his hands. “Now that we have our first round of teams, it’s time for me to tell you what the games are — remember you’re playing so that you can end up in the luxury suite of the hotel. Which may I add has a jacuzzi,” he winks. “Perfect for relaxing those aching muscles you’re bound to have after today!” He jumps in the air cheering.

“Is he always like this?” Renjun whispers in your ear.

“Yep. Every damn trip,” you find your head slowly goes to Renjun’s shoulder. “This is your first trip, right?”

“Yeah,” he takes his hand away from yours only to wrap it around your waist. “I’m really excited! I hope we win the luxury suite! Sounds amazing!”

“Mmm…it’ll be hard though. So, just be careful. People here are ruthless!”

“I’ve heard stories from the guys. Oh, I do have one question though. Not that I’m complaining because I’m not, especially not after what happened on the bus,” you turn to see the sweetest smile spread across his face. “But why are there male and female pairings and why do they share a room?”

“Well, the pairings are so that there is an equal advantage while doing these activities. The sleeping arrangements I guess it’s just easier to keep track of who is in what room.”

“I see. Have you had any problems in the past with former roommates?”

“Nope. Most of them just chilled with their friends in other rooms. It was a little lonely but I did get A LOT of extra sleep.”

Renjun leans his head down slightly kissing the top of your head. “Well, you won’t have to worry about feeling lonely. I’m not leaving your side.”

Turning to him you wrap your arms around him in a huge hug. Laying your head right under his chin. “Thanks, Renjun,” you sigh deeply.

Knowing that you won’t be alone in your room is a comforting thought. Rooming with Jaehyun last time you were terrified. He’s known around the office for being a prince and when he drew your name you became enemy number one. Which explains why all of the women tried to sabotage you during the games last quarter. However, in doing so, they doomed Jaehyun as well and you both ended up in the world’s tiniest hotel room. This time, even if you were to lose every game — even if you had to sleep out in a tent in the freezing cold, as long as you were with Renjun, it wouldn’t feel that terrible. His warmth and kindness making things better and his eagerness to explore and try new things another reason.

There was also the fact that if he didn’t leave your side, Haechan wouldn’t be able to come near you. They’re best friends and what Haechan did, even knowing the fact that Renjun liked you, is already making things messy. The messages he sent making things worse. So, as long as you were next to Renjun, you know you’ll be safe. Then again, Charlotte’s words resurface, ‘have a little fun.’

You could have your cake and eat it too…

“Today’s first activity is a…” he pauses for effect. “Three-legged race!!!”

Both Renjun and yourself turn to each other shocked. This was going to be interesting. Three-legged races are notorious for causing people to fall flat on their butts and faces, getting people twisted in each other’s legs and arms and not to mention the fact that people — mainly men, have longer strides then women, thus dragging them along. Though, you look at Charlotte and Haechan then at yourself and Renjun. This might be fun after all. Charlotte will have a tougher time since she’s only about 156cm. Being taller than her you’re closer to Renjun’s height making the strides even out more. That won’t be a problem at all.

“Oh, and one important rule,” your boss’s voice gets louder as he talks over clear protests and objections to the game. “All of the guys, you cannot lift your partners off the ground and carry them. I’m looking at you three, Jaehyun, Jeno, and Bobby!” He points to each of them.

“This will be fun,” Renjun whispers. “We just need to take our time and we’ll surely win!”

“Let’s just get through the first activity without breaking any bones.” You giggle. “Won’t be fun when we go exploring the grounds if one of us is hurt,” you peck his cheek.

Renjun pulls you closer, bending down only slightly to reach your ear, “I’m thinking of a special surprise when we go hiking. I hope you like surprises.”

“I hate them,” you pout. “Tell me! Tell me!”

Shaking his head, he turns away from you. “It’s a secret. Sorry.”

“Renjun~~~” you whine loudly only earning a laugh from him.

“One person please come up and grab a bandana so you can tie it around your legs. If by any chance your bandana falls off you or you and your partner fall down you will be considered out. So, make sure you tie them tightly.” Your boss instructs.

“I’ll go get our bandana,” Renjun pulls away from you.

“Mmm! Grab a cute color if you can!”

“No way!” He laughs jogging up to stand in line with the others.

Inching his way in the most non discreet way humanly possible, Haechan grabs hold of your hand tugging you off to the side, and into the shadows of a nearby tree.

“I hope you know you’ll be sleeping with me in the luxury suite tonight,” he wraps an arm around your waist.

“Really? How will that happen? I’m sure Renjun and I will already be quite comfortable in the bed together!” You tease.

“Do you even like him or are you doing this to piss me off?”

“Why would I do anything to piss you off? We aren’t a couple, Haechan. Like you said, you like me a little more than 20% now. That doesn’t equal ‘we’re going out now babe.’ And yes, I do like Renjun if you must know. He’s really sweet.”

“Sweet? He’s a little devil once you get to know him. Sassy as hell.”

“That just makes him more appealing. If you haven’t noticed, I’m not afraid to sass back.”

Haechan leans down his lips dangerously close to yours. “I have noticed. Which is what makes you more appealing as well.”

“Come on Haechan. We need to get back.”

“During the movie tonight, make sure to sit in the back,” he places a kiss upon your lips before his lips drag across your cheek to your ear. “And don’t wear underwear. It’ll make things much easier.”

Pulling from him you slap his arm. “Seriously Haechan? During a fucking movie? That’s not going to happen. Now if you’ll excuse me!” You take your leave marching ferociously back to Renjun who was looking around for you, a pink bandana in hand. “Renjun!!” You call to him.

“There you are! Where did you —" he stops midsentence as his eyes land on Haechan who was coming out from the shadows where you just came from. “Wh-What was that about?”

“Haechan being an ass. Says he’s going to win this race.” You take the bandana from Renjun’s hand bending down to tie it around your ankles. “We’ll show him!”

“I-Is that all?” Renjun asks his voice small and barely audible.

Looking up the bandana wrapped around both your ankles you see the sad look in his eyes. “Why? Do you think there is something else?” You ask trying to get as much information you can before you begin to dig yourself into a hole.

“I think Haechan likes you. He saw you looking at him earlier this week and ever since then…” he whispers. “I just get this feeling that he wants you to be his or something...”

Tying the bandana tightly around your ankles. Not only knotting it once but twice. No way that the piece of cloth will untie. Standing up with Renjun’s help you dust off your pants at your knees. “And you’re worried that he’ll confess to me?”

He shakes his head no. “I’m worried that you like him too.”

“Me?” You point to yourself bewildered. “Why are you worried about my feelings for Haechan?”

Just then your boss calls every couple to the starting line. Wrapping a secure hand around your waist, you and Renjun take your first steps towards the starting line. Deciding it better to stay away from Charlotte and Haechan, you go to the far right of the line while they stay on the left.

“I like you,” Renjun whispers in your ear. “I’ve liked you for months now but I’ve never had the courage to talk to you. But now…”

Your boss holds a red bandana in the air as if it were a starters pistol. Waiting until everyone is situated before starting the countdown. Renjun and yourself bending over slightly, ready to charge forward.

“On your mark…” he shouts. The other couples were off to the side cheering for their friends, Jaemin’s voice calling out for both you and Renjun and Haechan and Charlotte and Jeno with his partner Mia. “Get set…” You peer down to see Charlotte’s gaze facing forward her arm wrapped around Haechan’s waist, a slight blush to her cheeks. Knowing for sure she’s freaking out right now by being so close to him. You can’t wait to get an earful later of how sexy he is, how wonderful he smells, and how strong he is. However, Haechan’s eyes are not looking straight ahead or at Charlotte. They are staring into yours. The faintest ghost of a smirk showing up in the corner. Eyes dark and foreboding.

“Go!!!!!!!!!” Your boss screams as he waves the bandana in the air.

“I’m not going to lose to him!” Renjun shouts to you as you start to walk forward taking equal strides. “I’ve waited too damn long to be this close to you!” He keeps you balanced as you charge forward.

“Ren-Renjun…” you whisper keeping up with him. Doing your best to look at him but also to look straight ahead so you don’t fall or run into anyone.

“I don’t know what happened in that backseat.” He keeps his gaze towards the finish line. “Charlotte tried to keep my attention on her, but I know Haechan was moaning. I know something happened. I won’t ask what, because I don’t want to know.” He maneuvers you both easily as a couple falls in front of you, both of them bursting out in laughter. “I’m not Haechan. I’m not bold with my words and actions. I’m not going to shout it to the world that I love –” he freezes up for just a second. “Like you…” he corrects himself. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel things just as deeply.”

“Renjun, you don’t have to worry so much,” you both leap over another fallen couples’ legs. You almost losing your balance in the process. “Haechan’s just…” you try to find the right words to describe what is going on between you and Haechan, but there are no words because you have no idea what exactly is going on.

“I know him better than anyone else. I know he has feelings for you. He may try to play it off as him just having a good time, but once he sets his sights on someone, he doesn’t lose interest easily. Especially, if they’re playing hard to get.” He gazes down at you. “So, I just want to say this,” he pulls you closer as your feet rush over the finish line. “I like you. I really do.” He brings his hands up to your cheeks bending down kissing you in front of everyone.

“Oh my gosh!” You hear Charlotte squeal beside you. “Get him girl!”

Smiling against your lips Renjun pulls back just enough to utter the next phrase, “I won’t lose to him. No matter what.”

✖-----------------------✖

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PART 3

All the headcanons involving Mr. Fairfax got me thinking

It's not acceptable for men in the Regency era to ask a lady to meet him alone in the garden. Of course, this rule is not followed by everyone, but the ones who do escape here and there are already knee-deep in courtship (looking at you Chanthony)

But that didn't stop Mr. Fairfax to ask Lottie to meet him alone in the garden and, going from what Lottie said, she barely knows him

Do people think that after two years of "courtship" with Benedict, Lottie is a little bit more well-versed in matters innocent ladies shouldn't be until they wed? Because now that Benedict is getting married, do other lords see Lottie as kind of like a free mistress to get?

I don't think widespread rumors about it will start, but I can totally see the men talking about her in their little men's clubs. Making bets. Trying to see who is the first one who will "win" her

It's utterly disgusting behavior, but entitled men do what entitled men do. Anthony and Benedict would for sure know about it and dial the protectiveness up to 1000. I can see Clover pulling her knife on someone if she ever hears about it

I feel like Lottie is about to get a lot of bad attention thrown her way because of Benedict's and Clover's engagement and I especially think that Mr. Fairfax isn't going anywhere anytime soon

Oooh this is very interesting my love! ❤️❤️

Of course, this rule is not followed by everyone, but the ones who do escape here and there are already knee-deep in courtship (looking at you Chanthony) I love how we're still not over the fact that Anthony sneaked around with her without officially courting her lollll😂 This is hilarious 😂

Do people think that after two years of "courtship" with Benedict, Lottie is a little bit more well-versed in matters innocent ladies shouldn't be until they wed? This is a really good question!

So I actually think there's that...suspicion with some of them! Just like you said, it wouldn't be a widespread rumor, but some people will think that because

1) two years is a long time for a courtship, they were supposed to get married after that, everyone was expecting them to

2)Benedict already has a reputation of...having fun 😏

So while the ton themselves won't be accusing Charlotte of anything, some men might suspect some stuff happened between her and Benedict 💔 Not that they could ever speak it around Benedict or Anthony for that matter, they would mess that person up 😈 They are incredibly protective of her ❤️

Clover would not hesitate to pull out her knife if she ever heard that 😈

Benedict and Clover's engagement will be a very popular topic among the ton and Charlotte's name will come up for sure 😏❤️

Thank you so much for this loveeee! ❤️❤️❤️