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embrassemoi · 3 years

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Surrounded by the Moon and Stars ✷ 31

Pairings: Sirius B, F!Reader, Remus L Warnings: Language, smoking weed, shitty parenting, mentions of death A/N: more of a filler but it helps establish stuff. *unbeta'd

【 Masterlist | Previous Chapter | ao3 】

Chapter 31: Drowning on Dry Land

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The week before her flight back, Matthew’s parents invited her over for dinner.

Waiting to greet them at the door was Mrs. and Mr. Gaplin. Matthew’s father, a Half-Maj, was a Potioneer while his mother, an Old-Maj, was a Court Scribe. They wore large, kind smiles as Mrs. Gaplin pulled her into a tight, crushing hug.

After pleasantries, she and Matthew kicked off their shoes while his parents ushered them to the dining room.

“How are you darling? '' Mrs. Gaplin asked, floating plates in their direction as everyone began helping themselves to food. “Matt wouldn’t stop talking about you since we knew y’were coming.”

She side-eyed Matthew who groaned loudly. “Did not!”

“Sure thing,” she added, which caused Matthew to slump in his chair as his parents laughed at him.

It was a nice, charming evening; filled with laughter and heartfelt conversations. His parents continued to gloat about Mathew’s achievements that he hadn’t told her. It caused him to almost get up and run out of the room from embarrassment before moving to boast about Y/N. Even Mr. Gaplin asked her regarding her OWLs which pleasantly surprised her.

A few times, Mr. Gaplin pressed a few cheeky kisses to his wife’s face as Matthew made loud retching noises.

“Disgusting!”

Mr. Gaplin laughed. “Ya sixteen. Suck it up.”

“But you’re still my baby!” Mrs. Gaplin cooed, getting up to collect the plates.

Matthew tried to look insulted but she could see the small smile that threatened his lips as jealousy nipped at her toes.

The next few days were spent staying at the Gaplin household. Matthew’s parents insisted constantly that she should stay over so they could utilize the little time they had left before leaving. At first, the idea made her feel intrusive. Although, her mother hadn’t returned to the brownstone house, preferring to sleep in the on-call rooms at the Brooklyn Memorial Hospital. It quickly got lonely and boring before Y/N finally agreed. Besides, Mrs. and Mr. Gaplin were only around for breakfast and dinner - working for the day but never failed to return; always wearing larger smiles than the previous night.

They made her feel welcomed and warm - even taking her and Matthew to the local pictures. They included her in everything, even their trivia and board games after dinner.

It was quite the change compared to her family life.

Then an identical routine ensued. She would wake up, get ready for the day; spend hours with Matthew; then twilight fell as they stayed awake into the early hours of the morning.

The day before she was due to leave, she and Matthew ran up to his room after dinner. He went to lean on top of the small coffee table, rolling up a joint as she collected her possessions scattered around his room; not wanting to leave it for the last minute.

“Fancy some grass?” He asked in a poor British accent.

“Nah,” she shook her head, “But thanks love.”

Mathew’s smile turned bashful as he stood, turning on the radio in the background. She moved to open his window which was just above the roof of his shed as she stepped out with steady feet. Perching herself down on the blankets and pillows they hauled outside the night prior, she stared at the glowing city splayed in front. From the window, The Velvet Underground flowed softly.

Matthew proceeded to hop out, sauntering over as he threw a flirtatious wink.

“Brough this,” he said, tossing the camera he’d taken from her bag. She caught it as he nestled beside her and lit the joint; placed in his mouth. Billows of smoke clouded around them while she snapped a few photos of the view.

“Ya sure you gotta leave?” Matthew whined, embers of the end of the joint sparking with another huff. “Maybe you can smuggle me. Shove me into that trunk.”

She pulled the camera away from her face, inhaling the earthy, pungent scent. Her head felt a bit lightheaded from it. “A hardcore criminal at sixteen?”

Matthew was mildly amused until a troublesome look passed through his features. “Um — name something ya miss most about home.”

Home. What a funny word — place — feeling. Home was supposed to be something that made your heart glow, feel warm and happy — by that definition, a year ago home would’ve been her little house back in Toronto with the beautiful maple trees swaying in the backyard. Or home would’ve been Ilvermorny and its tall ivory walls. But now, London, or maybe just Hogwarts, had become her home. The scrolls around the Herbology greenhouse, the library, sneaking around past curfew; the Black Lake, Hogsmeade — Lily, James, Marlene, Dorcas, Remus, Regulus…

Unsure of what to say, she opted for, “You?”

Matthew rolled his eyes, bringing the joint to his lips. “Real charmer.” Then, smoke surrounded them. “But really.”

“Why?”

“C’mon! I need an answer! — I don’t know… say somethin’ like… lobstah.”

She chuckled. “Lobster? Really?”

“Or coffee from ya regular cafe.”

Deliberating it for a second, lips tugged up. “Coffee Crisp.”

He snorted. “A candy bar? Really?”

“Or Ketchup chips. Haven’t seen them in London yet.”

“That’s fucking disgusting.”

And then the silence returns but it makes Matthew shuffle in his spot. He blurted out, “Go — more brit insight.”

Y/N felt a bit hazy from the secondhand smoke. “More? You’ll get bored.”

“I won’t,” Matthew replied quickly, sounding oddly sincere. “Please, just… go on. Tell me everything.”

“Um… a friend of mine says crikey a lot. I think it just means to be mildly surprised? — They don’t say bloody or blimey as much as you’d think… Oh! Tea — they really drink that much tea. Also —”

Continuing, Matthew shut off again, going completely silent — not once speaking up or adding funny commentary; only staring at her, simply watching.

“Okay,” she turned to take the joint from his hand, “You're freaking me out. Spill, what's up?”

“S’nuthing.”

Whack!

“Jeez! Would ya stop wiv that! Gonna kill me…”

“Spill.”

“Fine! It’s just that…'' Matthew shifted, obscuring his face. Maybe if she didn’t feel so fuzzy, or if there wasn’t the smoke coming from the blunt or her small headache forming, she would’ve picked up on all the little signs. “It’s just —” he sighed, “I wanna hear ya talk — commit it to memory.”

“Obsessed with me? Not new.”

But that seemed to trouble him more. “It’s just… I don’t know if or when I’ll hear it again…” He looks up to the city in front. “Ya my… best friend. Could never forget ‘bout ya, but s’hard — keepin’ in touch.”

She pats him, encouraging and smiling. Her voice was hopeful, so much so that it made Matthew’s lip quirk up. “We’ll find each other. Always.” She said simply. “You and me, we’re like… salt and pepper. Soap and water — Hansel and Gretel!”

“Fuckin’ Dr. Seuss,” he smiled, that worried look fading away.

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The warm summer breeze flowed around them, just as the sun peeked above the airport. Expanse, clear skies with blue mingled with deep purples and pinks shimmered against the metal from the building.

“Gonna miss ya,” Matthew muttered into the crown of her head. Her mother didn’t want him to come, but Y/N simply ignored that request as he came to send her off.

“Don’t get mushy on me now,” she joked but felt her throat become tight.

“Betta get goin’ — Doc’s lookin’ like she’s ‘bout to butcher me if ya don’t.”

She snickered, pushing Matthew’s shoulder as she picked up her bags, walking backwards while waving. “Write me!”

“Course I will! Until next time!”

“Till next time!”

Once the plane took off, awkwardness swelled among the two women. Not once had her mother said anything to her — not to apologize or see how she was doing — although they never really did talk much. Honestly, she half-expected her to leave her in New York with the Gaplins. Easy to dispose of her.

The next few days Y/N, poorly, attempted to fix her sleeping schedule. It was a miracle that she managed to get up before dinner as her head poked into the master bedroom.

She cleared her throat, feeling herself swaying in place. “Um — hi. I’m making dinner tonight.”

Her mother was dressed in a simple, yet sleek dress. She was bent over, putting on high heels as she looked up.

“The hospital is throwing a party for me — the surgery was a success.”

“That’s amazing! Er — will you be back for dinner though? It’s just that I leave soon and... two parties are better than one.”

She considered her for a long time, eyes mostly distracted by her hair slowly changing to a different colour.

“Sure. But I have to go now.”

“Right, sorry, have fun.”

Thudding down the stairs and the door clicking shut, she followed not too long after. Making her way to the kitchen, she picked up a dusty cooking book, blowing off the dust and cracked it open; flicking through the pages.

Deciding on the seemingly easy noodle dish, she rushed out of the house to the local grocery shop for ingredients. It would be the first time they would be spending any time together. It had to be perfect. But she overestimated that no matter how closely she stuck with the dishes’ instructions, the outcome was a disaster.

The noodles somehow were rock hard. The sauce she made looked grey and was chunky, similar to badly mixed concrete and it tasted horrid. At one point, even the stove exploded into flames as she had to grab her wand and use magic to extinguish the fire.

Potions... She could use a cauldron, use multiple ingredients, make some of the most complicated spells and even had tricks of her own to make the process easier but she couldn’t make a simple dish…

Her face screwed together as she glanced up to the clock; she was going to come home soon as the dinner she made was disastrous. She panicked, cleaning up everything in a rush and decided to order food.

Waiting patiently at the dinner table, her eyes fluttered up to the clock in anticipation. She felt giddy, a surge of excitement rattling throughout her bones at the prospect. Her mother wanted to spend time with her! And she should be home any minute.

But then a minute turned to two, then five, ten, twenty, thirty — then an hour ticked by.

And then another.

Y/N got up, her chair squeaking loudly. Losing all her appetite, she went to her room, sleeping in early.

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August 20th, 1976

Going through the potential NEWT courses she could take was the highlight of her day. The possibilities were endless.

Wanting to take Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfigurations and most of all, Potions, left her excited for the school year.

But the more she thought about the upcoming school year or potential courses, she was left to contemplate what ther5 future entailed.

Was she ready to give up magic? Something that fundamentally altered her life and moulded her into what she was? Magic was her essence, something she developed and nurtured — but to put her life in danger…

Rethinking that word again: home… Was London her home? Was she willing to leave, move again to be safer? But practicing magic around the world these days for New-Majs was dangerous. Or the potential danger she would put her mother in if she continued with it?

But magic… Maybe home wasn’t necessarily a place — but rather something she carried. In all sense, magic made her heart glow, feel warm, safe and happy — it felt like what home was supposed to feel like. And the idea of being ripped away from it, forcing herself to live a normal, Muggle life…

Magic was home.

So die, but have what she cared and loved most was by her side or live a dull life without magic — ensuring her life would be miserable.

There was a clicking of shoes in the hallway that snapped her out of her thoughts. Her mother came walking by.

Lips smushed shut into a tight line, still annoyed from the other night but was determined to spend some time with one another.

“I was planning to go to Diagon Alley for the first time — to get my textbooks... '' She stood awkwardly. “Do you want to come with me?”

“I can’t,” she replied, so quickly that it had Y/N almost scoff in disbelief. “Work. But have fun.”

She sighed but still waved her off and said a small, ‘I love you, stay safe.’ Her mother only gave her a look, something unreadable and left without a word. With a heavy heart, she grabbed her purse filled with gold and left for Diagon Alley.

Passing through the Leaky Cauldron was an adventure in itself. The shabby, tiny pub was jammed with wizards and witches zipping by.

Diagon Alley was bustling with so much magic she could feel it pumping through her blood. Students were hypnotized by the shiny new Firebolt on display; others were giggling, running around with shopping bags while older witches and wizards took a scroll. Her head turned in every direction; walking into the Apothecary, a potions ingredients and book shop.

Emmeline was there. She gave a tight-lipped smile which she returned.

Emmeline by every definition was nice, extremely kind and neither girl ever had a problem with the other. James was the problem and Y/N would gladly stay out of their feud.

Passing clamouring students, she managed to get all her supplies but stopped in front of the potion ingredients. She took a few minutes, flicking through the Advance Potions textbook and grabbed everything listed needed for most of the potions.

She made her way around Diagon Alley, going through many shops. The shelves were stacked high to the ceiling with books and materials. She spent more time than necessary there but it was beautiful.

As she was paying for her Herbology textbook, a large boom! rumbled the ground. Y/N took her bags, ready to sprint to the Leaky Cauldron but the shouts caught everyone’s attention.

“WE WILL NOT BURN WITH THEM!” A crowd of witches and wizards shouted. Their wands were transformed into microphones as a few shot fireballs up in the air.

“What’s happening?” A woman asked an old wizard. He only shook his head, grabbing a copy of the Daily Prophet, handing it to the witch.

On the front page, there were moving photos of people protesting, similar to the wizards and witches currently shouting.

‘Protests Break out in Light of Muggleborns and Halfbloods Burned Alive

Voldemort and his followers have been attacking Muggleborn and ‘blood traitor' families with the usage of fire. By burning them alive, or their houses. They bonded the witch or wizard with magic, making it impossible to apparate or leave their houses. Their broken wands were found at the scene.

Since then, protests all around Britain and Scotland have broken out. The Ministry of Magic —’

“WE WILL NOT BURN WITH THEM!” The crowd chanted.

Rage filled every inch of her body as she stomped out of Diagon Alley.

If she wanted to stay in the magical world, she had to be the greatest at whatever she did, because if she wasn’t, someone of her status was never going to get anywhere.

Magic was home, and she wasn’t going to let them take it from her. She didn’t want to surrender. They weren’t going to take that away from her.

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Immediately after Diagonal Alley, she began working; taking in her thoughts from earlier to heart.

Making sure to cover any windows from prying eyes, Y/N fiddle with first with new charms. Still unassured by her abilities in Charms, she considered taking another class before realizing all the different routes it led to. To become a Healer, Auror or Potioneer, she needed Charms.

Multiple charms backfired, causing them to ricochet off the walls, leaving a dent or chipping the wallpaper.

After trying out more than half the Charms in the book, there was one spell in particular that she attempted to cast many times, but without fail, was never able to properly cast it. Frustrated, her hand made a sharp flick and the spell spurted out instantly.

She tried again with the same hand gesture. To her astonishment, the charm produced easily. Quickly, she jotted down the note in her book.

Next, she glossed over her Transfigurations and Defense Against the Dark Arts book until her eyes caught onto the word: werewolf.

She learned briefly about werewolves, but that was in third year. And now that she knew a werewolf, it would be good to rehash it.

A werewolf, also known as a Lycanthrope, is a non-magical or magical being who transforms under the rising of the full moon. However, non-magical beings have a greater risk of dying rather than turning.

As the name suggests, werewolves are closely related to the non-magical animal, wolves. However, they have distinct characteristics that make them easily identifiable from wolves.

She flipped the page.

Wolfsbane flowers are poisonous to the non-magical world but it has been proven to have no effects on werewolves like they do on wolves. Werewolves are immune from the poison they emit and there are reports that Wolfsbane flowers help alleviate symptoms.

She underlined that section.

It’s a uniquely magical illness known to spread by saliva and blood. Werewolves are dangerous, blood-thirsty beasts — she flipped the page.

They cannot choose to transform and will no longer retain their human mind. Given the opportunity, they would slaughter their loved ones — flipped the page.

A mixture of powdered silver and dittany applied to bites help seal bite wounds. It’s also commonly put in liquid and digested in anticipation of full moons to help with the symptoms of transforming.

Y/N’s face scrunched as she continued to read.

There is no known cure Potion used to help treat lycanthropy.

She felt oddly intrusive knowing parts about Remus’ condition. But then questions arose. How were there no Potions of any kind there to help werewolves during their transformation?

Pushing the thought away, she turned to the cauldron, picking a potion to brew. They all were fairly easy, some she’d even done before just by playing around. But one potion that grabbed her attention was Draught of Living Death. Even at Ilvermorny, that potion was notoriously difficult.

Starting up the cauldron, she grabbed hold of the sopophorous bean. However, it kept jumping when she tried to cut it. She quickly resorted to another method, running down to her kitchen and grabbing the handheld garlic press, placing the bean inside, squishing it down as so much juice spurted out, even going all over her clothing.

The potion turned into the light lilac like suggested. But then as she stirred, her potion quickly became ruined as she restarted immediately.

Hours ticked by; several items in her room were Transfigured into cauldrons, as she poured the existing solution into the nine other cauldrons as she conducted her experiment.

Stirring counterclockwise was a sham, so she stirred clockwise. Nothing, the potion went bad. The next cauldron, she stirred counterclockwise and then clockwise, alternating between every stir. It showed promising progress before it turned a bright red after the seventh stir, bubbling over.

The next cauldron, she stirred counterclockwise, then clockwise after the seventh stir as the potion turned a pink pale. That’s what the book said would happen. She quickly cleared the rest of the cauldrons, pouring in the pink liquid just in case.

She continued to stir until it became a clear liquid. Surely, that was good enough but she could never be sure. After all, she didn’t know if this was what it was supposed to look like.

Deeply immersed, she hadn’t realized how late it got.

She laid on her bed, her light on as she read the scribbles on the margins of the books she'd penned. The textbook was outdated and everything she’s written down, there were easier ways to perform spells, create Potions and more. The other books must’ve been outdated too.

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August 22nd, 1976

Today, her attention was drawn to her Herbology textbook as she flipped right to the medicine section. Y/N had sneakily stolen a few of her mother’s medical journals as she scribbled down notes.

She flicked through the diagrams. Wizards and No-Majs were different when it came to their bodies and sickness, she knew that, but their anatomy was still the same.

An opera played in the background as she sat in front of the television. It filled the silence as her mother came from behind her, creeping her way closer to the door.

Y/N called out from where she sat. “Care to join me?”

“Can't, work.” She grunted out.

She placed the pen down, full attention drawn to her. “I only have a few days until school starts… you can’t spend some time?”

Her mom wasn’t looking at her, ostensibly staring at the floor, anywhere other than her face.

“It’s not that interesting, but um - I need help with medical terms and illnesses. You’re the best at that!”

“I can’t,” she said roughly. “Can't you see? You have to stop bothering me when I’m busy.” And then she left again, leaving her alone. Y/N would’ve been more bothered had she not been so focused on her studies.

There was a pattern.

In the Herbology textbook, in the werewolf section, there were a few ingredients used to help alleviate symptoms of Lycanthropy.

Dittany, Powered silver, Powdered Moonstone, Aconite…

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August 26th, 1976

“Do you want to —” “Work.”

“But you always have work… can’t you take some time off?”

“You know it’s important to me. Why do you keep trying to limit that?”

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August 29th, 1976

She was partially through her Potions and Charms textbook. It was all she could fixate on.

Deciding to take a break, Y/N went to stretch, getting up to talk to her mom who again, was getting ready to leave. She opened the honey-coloured wood draw close to the door. She pulled out a set of keys, fixing her appearance in a nearby mirror.

She had already opened the door.

“Hey mom, I was thinking of getting lunch… Will you be back soon?”

But, there was faint muffling outside the door.

“Ready for our date?”

Y/N, desperate, seized hold of her wrist, pleading. “Please, I leave in a day.”

“I'll make it up to you,” mom replied, “I promise.” And then, the door clicked shut.

Again.

She stared at the door, trying to regulate what she was thinking.

What made them worthy of her time when their’s were limited.

Robotically, Y/N turned to walk to her room, her hip bumped into the drawer which hadn’t been fully closed. Her eyes flew to it, about to push it in as she caught a flash of white.

Yanking it open, she swore her heart could’ve shattered. White envelopes filled the draw; her familiar handwriting scribbled on top of each letter. She picked one up, twisting it over to the flap.

It was unopened.

She picked up another. Unopened.

Then another. Unopened.

Unopened.

All of them were unopened, sealed. Hardly tampered with and there was hardly a wrinkle.

Was there something wrong with her? Something so disgraceful that made her so disgusting that people kept forgetting - pushing her away? Like an insidious disease.

Was she truly that unloveable? That much of a nuisance? What made someone else so much more important than her?

It was too much to process but if she had to describe the feeling, it was like drowning on dry land.

Whatever home was, it shouldn’t feel like this: cold, lonely, sad.

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【 Next Chapter 】

Slang dictionary (+ a bit of history bc i didn’t realize how many ppl didn’t actually understand what I was talking about in other chaps):

Coffee Crisp = a very popular chocolate bar sold in Canada. It was a variation of a treat made by a company from the UK. It was briefly introduced to the UK in the 60s but was pulled back because people thought it was too similar to Kit Kat. From what I know, Coffee Crisp is not commonly found in England (I've never seen it in stores) but it’s sold in Scotland.

Candy bar = US term for chocolate bar / chocolate

Grass = during the 60s - 70s, the term 'grass' was very popular slang for weed in New York bc it featured in vogue.

And yes, the British do drink that much tea.

83 notes · View notes

jjmaybanksbaby · 3 years

Text

Where It Leads (Rafe Cameron)

Summer II

Part 03: Been A While

series masterlist | previous part

summary: Your second summer in the Outer Banks becomes a whole lot more complicated when you realize a year away from Rafe hasn't changed your feelings for him at all.

a/n: And we're back with summer two - the summer before sophomore year whoop whoop! Writing this gave me butterflies so I hope you have the same feeling reading it! I always love hearing y’all’s commentary so don't be shy to scream about your favorite parts back at me.

word count: 2.5k words

Your mom reached over and tapped you gently on the arm.

"Put your phone away please, y/n. You can text Evan when we land."

"We're not even moving yet." You replied.

As if on cue, the pilot's voice echoed over the intercom. "Good morning passengers. This is your captain speaking. Welcome onboard Flight 4B7 with service from Portland to the Outer Banks. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage..."

You stashed your phone in the pocket of the seat in front of you and closed your eyes, hoping that by the time you woke up you would be landing.

After the way last summer had gone, you were surprised when your mom announced that you were spending the summer in the Outer Banks again.

Frankly, you weren't that happy to be headed to North Carolina. Alice and Kensie, your two best friends back home, had opted not to go to camp this summer so the three of you had planned to spend every day at Alice's pool, biking to the Dairy Queen a few blocks away or begging of your moms to drive you to the mall.

Plus, there was Evan. Your boyfriend of six months. You'd both been cast as the understudies for the leads in the fall musical. Because of some freak food-poisoning accident, both you and Evan had to go on as Cinderella and Prince Charming in the final show. When he kissed you under the bright stage lights, it had felt like more than just a stage kiss. He'd asked you out at the cast party later than night and you'd been dating ever since.

Evan was great. He really was. He was thoughtful and cared about you. But ever since your mom had bought the plane tickets to the Outer Banks back in March, every time you kissed Evan you could only think of Rafe Cameron.

☼☼☼

You trailed behind your mother on the way to baggage claim, bent over your phone responding to the texts Alice and Kensie had sent in the group chat while you'd been in the air. Apparently, they'd bumped into Kensie's crush and need to analyze every detail. A feeling of jealously you hadn't anticipated crept into your chest, weighing you down. Even indoors, the muggy heat of the Outer Banks made it clear how far from Oregan - and from your people - you were.

You looked around the airport, searching for the baggage claim with your flight number and noticed an incredibly familiar head of blonde head of hair standing nearby.

"Sarah Cameron?" You asked.

Sarah spun around a joyful smile on her face. "Oh my god! Y/n!" She ran over, wrapping you in a hug. "Are you back for the summer?"

You nodded your head which elicited another excited scream from her.

"What are you doing at the airport?" You asked her.

"You'll never guess! We're getting a house in the Bahamas!" She gushed.

"Sarah!" A deep voice called. You looked up to see another older-looking version of Rafe headed in your direction.

Your mom froze beside you. "Oh dear," she whispered.

The man's gaze didn't leave your mom. "Heather," he said.

"Ward," she responded.

Oh, you thought. So that's Rafe's dad.

"It's good to see you," your mom continued. "You look," she paused for moment, "good."

"You as well," Ward responded.

The carousel behind you started to move and luggage streamed out.

"That's us," your mom said, pointing over to the moving carousel. "We should go."

"I'll tell Rafe you're back," Sarah whispered to you. "He's gonna be so excited."

You smiled down at her knowing that you'd already made a vow to yourself to avoid him all summer. You refused to let Rafe ruin what you and Evan had and the only way you could guarantee that was making sure you didn't see him at all.

☼☼☼

Sarah bounded in the front door of the Cameron's house. "We're home" she called out, her sing-songy voice echoing through the big house. Ward entered after her, carrying their luggage.

"Welcome home," Rose said, greeting Ward at the door with a kiss.

Sarah rolled her eyes at the exchange. It wasn't that she actively hated her step-mom, she would just have rather her dad not married her. Though he was buying her a house in the Bahamas as an anniversary present so maybe she wasn't all bad.

"Is Rafe upstairs?" Sarah asked.

"I think so," Rose replied.

Sarah ran up the stairs, skipping every other one, the way Ward always told her not to do. She came to a sudden stop in front of Rafe's closed door.

"Rafeeeeee," she yelled, knocking rapidly until his voice bellowed back at her through the wall.

"What do you want Sarah? Go away!" He yelled.

"Fine," Sarah said. "I guess you don't care that y/n is back in town then?"

The door swung open just a few seconds later. “What did you say?” Rafe asked.

“Y/n was at the airport. She’s back in the Outer Banks for the summer.” Sarah turned on her heel and sashayed her way to her own bedroom leaving Rafe in his doorway to process the information.

Maybe this summer will be a whole less boring, Rafe thought.

☼☼☼

The summer was going exactly how you'd expected. It was surprisingly nice to have your younger brother to keep you company and more importantly, keep you busy. You spend your days either on the beach, tanning, watching your brother splash in the waves, and making your way through the reading list of the Honors English class you had opted to take next year or at the Club's pool, eating chicken tenders for lunch and washing them down with the thick chocolate milkshakes.

Rafe's friends frequently made an appearance at the Club. You watched them sneak vodka from flaskes into cups of spirit from being your shaded sunglasses. So far, Rafe had yet to join them.

Currently, Phoebe was flirting hardcore with Sawyer, begging him to put sunscreen on her back so she wouldn't burn. It was all too predictable.

You turned your attention back to Nick Carraway and his descriptions of Gatsby's grand parties momentarily.

You heard Sarah's voice before she appeared next to you and plopped down on the chair your brother had been occupying before he decided he needed more ketchup for his fries and had ran off.

"Y/n," she started with the same youthful energy she always talked with, "has Rafe invited you to our Fourth of July party yet?"

"Umm," you hesitated. "No, he hasn't said anything about it."

"Ugh," Sarah threw her head back in a dramatic motion. "I told him to text you about it. He's useless. Anyway, we throw a huge party for the Fourth every year and you have to come. There are fireworks and everything..."

Sarah's monologue faded to the background as you looked up and noticed Rafe standing at the top of the steps that lead down the pool. Your stomach flopped in the same way it always did when you saw him.

Rafe started walking down the steps and a small panic set in. His own eyes wandered across the pool deck and it was only time before he recognized you. You shifted your body slightly, trying to use Sarah to block yourself from his view.

You turned your attention back to his younger sister, afraid that you'd accidentally make eye contact with Rafe.

Crap, crap crap, you repeated in your head. Rafe was for sure heading in your direction. Even as you forced yourself to focus on Sarah, you couldn't stop yourself from watching Rafe out of the corner of your eye and he was walking straight toward you. Your 'avoid-Rafe-all-summer' plan was going to be impossible now. With every step he took, you could feel your heart beating faster. It felt just like last summer.

Rafe stopped in front of the chair Sarah was sitting in and you couldn't stop yourself from looking up at him, a smile threaten to slide onto your face. The same warm but dangerous feeling you only got when Rafe was around took ahold of you.

"Sarah," he said, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Ward's looking for you."

She jumped up with a sudden spurt of energy, "Okay, I'll go find him!" She leaned down engulfing you in another hug. "See you around y/n." She said before running off.

"Bye Sarah." You replied.

"You know, you're like my sister's favorite person," Rafe said, still standing above you. "She mentioned you were in-town for the summer..." He let his sentence trail off.

But I hadn't seen you around. You finished for him in your head.

"Yeah, we got in about a week ago." You said. The tension that hung in the air between the two of you was exactly the reason you were trying to avoid him. The last time you had seen him he'd kissed you in a way you hadn't been able to get out your head for months afterward. It was a dangerous game. Nonetheless, here he was standing in front of you and you were barely holding it together.

Your phone began to ring and the photo of Evan kissing your check from homecoming popped up with the caller id. Rafe's eyes glanced over it and an unreadable expression crossed his face.

Right, it was 4 o'clock on Wednesday. The time and day you and Evan had decided you would call each other every week.

"Uhh, I gotta get this." You said to Rafe, reaching over and picking up the phone.

"Yeah, okay. See you later y/n." He replied before walking away from you and to his friends.

Your eyes followed him all the way even as you clicked answered and Evan's voice filled your ear.

☼☼☼

A feeling of nervousness set in as you approached the Cameron's, the absurd number of cars parked outside confirming you were at the right place. You glanced over each of your shoulders worried that your mom would pull up any second to drag you back home after you lied about where you were spending your evening. You felt decently bad about saying you were going to the Club to watch fireworks and coming to the Cameron's instead but you knew your family's stance on Rafe and his dad.

It seemed like the entire population of the Outer Banks was spread across the Cameron's backyard. Adults sipped festive cocktails as little kids, hyped-up onto much sugar, weaved in between their legs, chasing one another around. You looked around hesitantly, thankful when Sarah emerged from the crowd, frosting smeared across her face.

"You made it! I'm so happy you're here!" She screamed.

"Sarah," you laughed. "You have blue frosting all over you." You used your finger to wipe it from her cheek.

"Rose ordered the most delicious cake you've ever had. You have to try it. I can get you some. Do you want some?" She asked eagerly.

"I'm okay right now. Thank you though. Have you seen Rafe?" You asked. You were at his party, after all, it wasn't like there was any point in avoiding him now.

Sarah turned and pointed to the dock where Rafe and his group of friends were standing. "He's over there."

"Great. Okay! I'm going to go say hi."

"Have fun!" Sarah replied with a smile before running off in the same direction she's appeared in.

You made your way through the crowd to the dock, the groups' attention turning to you as you approached.

"Hey," you said, shyly.

Cleo and Riley jumped up from where they had been sitting with their legs dangling in the water.

"Y/n, right?" Cleo asked before leaning in for a hug.

"Yeah. Hi! It's good to see you guys again." You replied.

"You too! Rafe said you were back in town and I was wondering when you'd finally make an appearance." Cleo said.

You look over at Rafe to find him already watching you. He pushed through Cole and Milo and was suddenly in front of you

"Um, y/n and I need to get the fireworks." He said to the group. You watched Riley shoot Cleo a confused look but Cleo just shrugged it off.

Rafe grabbed your hand and pulled you along, leaving you no choice but to follow him. You walked in silence, other than the sound of your heart beating rapidly.

Rafe stopped at a small brick shed on the side of the house. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, pulling you in after. There were kayaks and paddleboards hanging on the walls and some old lifejackets littered the floor.

"Rafe-" you tried to start but he cut you off.

"Y/n, I seriously can't go one more minute without kissing you again."

Rafe looped his arm around your waist, cupped the back of your neck with his hand, and landed his lips on yours.

For a moment, you tilted your face upwards and leaned your body into his before your senses came rushing back to you and you shoved him backwards off of you. Surprise registered on his face.

"Rafe. No. I can't do this." Your voice broke, panic coursed through your whole body. "God, I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't have come here today or followed you here."

"Y/n." Rafe said but held your hand up warning him to say quiet.

"I have to go. I have to go," you repeated. "Tell Sarah I'm sorry I missed the fireworks. I know she'll be disappointed. I have to go."

You turned to leave but Rafe grabbed your wrist and his eyes locked with yours, his expression begging you to stay.

"I have a boyfriend." You blurted out. The weight of those four words settled on Rafe's face and you jerked your arm out of his grasp. You spun on your heel and walked out the shed and putting distance between you and the boy making your life so complicated.

You crossed the Cameron's yard, trying to gather yourself and slow your chaotic, unsteady breathing. You hurried down the long driveway, making it to the road without any tears slipping out of your eyes.

Rafe had tried to kiss you. He hadn't tried, he had kissed you. And you sorta kissed him back. No, not sorta. You kissed him back. But then you stopped. You pushed him away. You realized it was wrong. You didn't want to hurt Evan. You weren't gonna hurt Evan.

The fireworks began to explode behind you, large booms thundered across the sky, their big colors illuminating the night. You didn't dare turn around watch them. They reminded you too much of Rafe: the boy pulling your head and your heart in two different directions.

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spookypalace · 3 years

Text

worship the flame - chapter six

Jo peaks a look at him once or twice as he’s ordering a list of drinks, she’s certain he catches her as pink lips curve into a smirk. Brown eyes meet for a final time before he steps away, and she wonders—maybe her dry spell would end.

---

Or the one where Jo meets Alex in a bar, during her final year of med school.

(if you would rather read on ao3, you can do here)

The next few days had been surprisingly relaxing and peaceful for Jo, despite the fact that it was a house where three twenty-something year old's were living in (Jackson was becoming a permanent fixture of the small, two-bedroom death trap (as Alex had decided to lovingly name her apartment)). The three of them mostly stuck to doing their own thing; Jackson worked crazy hours as an intern, Lexie preffered to study at the library and Jo preferred the comfort of her own couch. A luxury she never used to have.

Their spring break had begun just two days ago, and now jobless—Jo's days were pretty low key, except for when she went to their new bar with Alex, or he came over and vice versa. Of course, she only visited when his house was free from prying roommates to save them both answering questions. Because that was why they were doing this thing in the first place—to avoid labels and all the other crap that came with relationships. But if she wasn’t with Alex, then she was studying or job searching—she could swear she could hear her credit card weeping every time she visited the store.

Her low key day continued as she once again relaxed on the couch, finishing off the rest of her medical book as Alex lay on the couch to her left—a rare day off. Lexie and Jackson were both out of the apartment, as far as Jo knew, though she really didn’t keep track of them at this point. They could be having a mid-day nap for all she knew.

The peace was suddenly interrupted, however, when Jo’s phone began vibrating and one look at the caller I.D. had her groaning in distaste, head tilting back and eyes shutting tightly as Alex threw a questioning look towards her. Oddly, it was Thatcher, Lexie’s father, was calling and Jo would much rather throw her phone out the second story window rather than answer the call. She only had his number because Lexie was terrible at answering his calls, even during the holidays or anniversaries, so when Lexie had dragged Jo along to visit him, he had insisted that he have Jo’s number just in case. Whilst Jo knew that Lexie adored her father and Jo herself thought he had moments of being kind-of interesting due to his medical background … Thatcher’s traditionalist and republican nature in general just didn’t agree with Jo, especially when he was passive-aggressively trying to throw her views at the people around her.

“Hi, Mr. Grey,” she greeted, hoping her cheerful tone didn’t sound as forced as Alex’s smirk telling her it was. She waved him off as he snorted.

“Jo, hello sweetheart,” came the man’s honeyed response. “How are you?”

Jo put in her bookmark and shut the book, leaning back against the cheap couch as she gazed up at the inside of the red umbrella. “I’m good, how about you?”

“Wonderful,” Thatcher chirped. “Lexie told me that you two have got a week off school. Lexie’s not answering her calls, so I wanted to ask if you two and your boyfriends would like to come over for dinner?”

Two feelings instantly stirred up in Jo at her Thatcher’s words; one was annoyance towards Lexie for telling Thatcher they both had some free time, and the second was utter confusion that was loud and clear on Jo’s face through the furrow of her eyebrows and bewildered contortion of her expression. “Boyfriend?” was all she could manage out, eyes widening slightly.

“Well, yes,” Thatcher responded with an obvious chuckle. “When Lexie came by, she told me that you couldn’t make it because you were staying over at your new boy's house—you’re not telling me that you’re sleeping over at some man's house without being in a relationship with him? That’d be a shame.”

Jo knew Thatcher, unfortunately, and she knew his shame didn’t mean that it’d be upsetting that Jo wasn’t in a relationship yet—she meant that being a single girl and spending the night with a boy, even if it was temporary, was something akin to sinful. Jo couldn’t help but roll her eyes as his words sank in her mind—Thatcher was the most extreme form of a republican, who still thought a woman’s place is in the house. Despite the fact his ex-wife was an exceptional surgeon, and his daughter was soon to be herself. And while Jo thought there was nothing wrong with a woman who chose the house-wife kind of lifestyle, him trying to impose it on others was tiresome.

She really did regret the very moment, years ago, that she agreed to meet Lexie’s father … she loved spending holidays and important milestones with Lexie, but with Lexie came her father. And over the years, she had been forced to spend enough time with the man.

And for Jo, life went by so much easier by just playing along with Thatcher for the time being rather than reminding her friends dad that her views were totally different. Jo desperately wanted to get out of this dinner, but she knew Thatcher would reschedule it and Jo would end up getting a call from Lexie forcing her to go to Thatcher’s house. But a boyfriend? Where was Jo going to pull that out of?

If she told Thatcher she didn’t have a boyfriend and was, in fact, just sleeping over at a guys—despite the fact that was completely normal—there was no doubt Lexie’s father would start gossiping about Jo’s scandalous behavior to all of his old work friends and the rest of Lexie’s family. Jo didn’t need anyone in the only family that had accepted her thinking badly of her, whether it be true or not—Jo actually liked a lot of Lexie’s extended family, mostly her mother's side, though.

“Uh, no, no,” she hesitantly lied, taking a breath as she made up her mind to try to go along with this. “Of course I’m here with my boyfriend.” Suddenly Jo could feel Alex’s gaze on her, and she glanced over, taking in his brown eyes glinting with curiosity, eyebrows drawn upwards in startled confusion as he wondered what the hell Jo was talking about. She shook her head with a brief dismissive roll of her eyes, silently telling him she’ll explain later. “I’ll, um, let him and, uh, Lexie and Jackson know and we’ll come by for dinner.”

Oh, my God—what was I doing?

“Perfect!” Thatcher cheered, clearly overjoyed at his daughter's best friends' acceptance. “Be here by seven—I’ll get my wife to make chocolate mousse cups; I know how much you like them.”

At the mention of the dessert, Jo perked up a little bit; Mrs. Grey did make ridiculously delicious chocolate mousse. “Alright, great, I’ll see you then.” After he bid her goodbye and ended the call, Jo dropped her phone on the couch and let out a heavy sigh, closing her eyes briefly because what had she just done? She could barely handle Thatcher, how was she going to subject someone else to him?

“Didn’t know you were in a relationship,” Alex’s playful tone sounded, making Jo look at the amused expression lighting up his face. Quirking an eyebrow, he turned his attention away from the television and prodded, “Care to explain?”

Jo rubbed her hands down her face, pressing her lips together before her expression became one of helplessness. “Lexie’s dad invited us for dinner, and he thinks I have a boyfriend because I couldn’t possibly be staying at some guy's house without being with the guy.”

“Is this the Christian republican parent?” Jo nodded, lips pouting slightly. “So, he’d rather you, someone who isn’t even his daughter, be staying with a guy you’re in a relationship with before, like, marriage than with a guy that’s just your friend?”

Jo sighed. “Yes.”

Alex looked utterly bewildered at her words, though she didn’t blame him because despite knowing the man for years now, Jo sometimes didn’t even understand Thatcher’s thought process. Didn’t some hardcore religious people believe it was a sin to live with a significant other before marriage like Alex pointed out?

“So, uh,” Alex frowned briefly, and Jo could just see his mind trying to work its way around Thatcher’s thinking. Good luck with that, buddy. “You need a fake boyfriend for dinner tonight?” he asked with a short, disbelieving laugh.

“Yup,�� Jo huffed sharply through her nose, glancing behind them at the glass door leading into the house as she pinched her lips to the side. “I could probably ask Isaac from school, he’d totally do it … but then again, do I want to even pretend to be in a relationship with Isaac Cross.”

Alex blinked; brown eyes almost translucent against the sunlight that streamed through the window as he glanced at the door as well before looking back at the brunette. “Uh, excuse me,” he tonelessly said, holding his hands out. “Should I be offended you didn’t even think of asking me?”

This time Jo stared at Alex in surprise, not expecting that response. “Oh, uh,” she awkwardly cleared her throat, suddenly feeling embarrassed when he raised his eyebrows expectantly. She didn’t mean for him to feel left out. “I, um, didn’t think you’d, like, wanna do it.”

His eyebrows lowered into a frown. “Why not?”

Because we both specifically agreed this was a friends-with-benefits deal? Pretending to be my boyfriend again when I vowed, I did not want a boyfriend? Because this could make things messy? Or was I just overthinking this like the anxious freak that I am?

When Jo stayed silent by nervously chewing on her lower lip, apparently it was enough for Alex to understand exactly what was going through her mind as his features relaxed into realization. “Because of what I said, about not wanting a girlfriend?” he knowingly asked, voicing Jo’s very thoughts as she rolled her lips into her mouth guiltily, causing Alex to scoff slightly as he sat up. “Come on, Jo, don’t be ridiculous. That doesn’t mean I can’t help you out, I’d like to think we’re friends as well.” He shrugged, offering her a small smile. “I’m just doing you a favor.”

The look in his light eyes were sincere, smile encouraging with a small persuasive lift of his eyebrows. And if Jo was being honest, the sight of his close-mouthed smile that showed off the cute dimples in his cheeks made quick work of making Jo agree with him without much of a fight. Alex was right; he was just doing her a favor and there was no harm in that. Lexie wouldn’t mind Alex being her faux boyfriend for the evening—after all, it was Lexie’s fault that she found herself in this mess. No big deal. If only her roommate answered her damn phone.

Thatcher lived in one of the upper scale neighborhoods in Seattle, near the end of a cul-de-sac, which was easily noticeable when Alex drove down the street and they passed two to three story houses that all looked like they got a new coat of paint. The trees lining up the sidewalks rustled in the wind, the breeze blowing through Lexie and Jo’s hair as the window parted and Lexie pointed to the left. “It’s the blue house.”

Alex nodded, pulling the car into the driveway behind a Buick before killing the engine. Jo let out a sigh while unbuckling her seatbelt, the dread already stirring in her stomach as she got out and looked up at the two story house, unprepared for whatever lay inside it. Glancing at Alex as he got out, Jo couldn’t help but smile slightly; she was grateful that he was here, ready to play the role of her boyfriend just so Lexie’s family wouldn’t think she was some kind of sinning brat. Which was, in Jo’s opinion, a dramatic overreaction but that’s just how Thatcher was.

She wishes she didn’t care, wishes that it was no big deal whether or not Lexie’s family liked her. But it was. After everything, years of being alone—Lexie was the first person who really made Jo feel like she was a part of something, like she finally had people. Lexie was the person that was always in her corner, and with Lexie came her family, a family which had welcomed her in no exceptions. Even if Thatcher was incredibly hard to deal with, he was important to Lexie. Therefore, important to Jo.

“You ready for this?” Jackson asked as they stepped onto the porch, right in front of the white door. Nerves also radiated off him as he awkwardly smiled, Jo hadn’t even realised … this would also be the first time Jackson was meeting Lexie’s parents.

Exhaling sharply, Jo ran her fingers through her hair and nodded, shooting Jackson a small encouraging smile. He probably needed it more than she did. No doubt Thatcher would ask her and Alex questions about their relationship, and because she’s been friends with Alex for a mere couple of weeks and they could stand to know one another a little better, establishing was how long they’ve been together was the least of her worries. But Jo decided three months—even so far as coming up with their first date being a picnic—it was simple, very Jo. While everything else could just be derived from their preexisting friendship, I mean, they still spent time with another. Maybe not as much time as an average couple, but they spoke a lot … although the only thing they could class as ‘going on a date’ was heading to the bar. Shouldn’t be too bad, right?

As Lexie rings the doorbell with a wide and eager smile, Jo bit the inside of her cheek as they waited, glancing at Alex as he smiled reassuringly just as the door opened, revealing Lexie’s father. She looked a lot like Jo’s mother, though her hair was a darker shade of red and nose slightly crooked from being set poorly after she had broken it when she was fourteen.

“Hi, honey!” He greeted Lexie happily, pulling Lexie in for a hug and engulfing her before he turned to Jo. “Aw, it’s so good to see you.” Jo smiled up at him, returning the hug he then engulfed her in before they pulled away and his dark eyes flickered over to the two tall men next to her.

Oh, here we go. “This is Jackson,” Lexie introduced, “oh! And erm, Jo’s Alex …" Lexie quickly added, gesturing between the two. “Jackson and Alex, this is my father, Thatcher.”

Lexie had returned home about two hours after Jo’s phone call with her father, Jackson wasn’t due back to their place for another hour, but Jo managed to clue Lexie in on the entire situation. After several rounds of giggling, and a few jokes here and there about Jo finally had a boyfriend, albeit fake—Lexie had agreed to help Jo pretend that Alex was now her boyfriend. Not that there was ever a doubt in Jo’s mind that her friend would say no.

Jackson offered that charming, dimpled smile that he could most definitely use to get away with things, and Alex a crooked grin but it was a smile that Jo found widening her own as he held out his hand. “It’s great to meet you,” he said, shaking his hand before Jackson followed his lead.

Thatcher shook Jackson’s hand, the smile on his face easily telling Jo and Lexie that Alex and Jackson had effortlessly charmed him already. “You, too. Jackson, Lexie’s told me much about you. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard much of you,” he mused, stepping aside to let them into the house and sending a pointed look to Alex.

“Yeah, all good things I hope,” Jackson responded for them as the door shut behind them and Jo looked around the house, she’s only been to less than a handful of times. So, Jo took in the various pictures hung up in the foyer of her Lexie’s family, catching sight of even some of a younger Lexie with all of her cousins. She felt the overwhelming urge to laugh at how dorky Lexie looked when she was younger, but suppressed it when she turned to see Lexie’s glare—the younger girl knowing exactly what Jo was thinking.

After getting the pleasantries out of the way, Thatcher guided the four twenty-odd year old's into the living room, walls and tables decorated with picture frames and paintings as she sat them down on the suede couch while calling for his wife, Lexie’s mother Susan, to come downstairs. Jo felt almost stiff as she sat down, the smile on her face a bit strained and causing her cheeks to hurt a bit as she forced myself to relax. No way would she get through this if already she felt so rigid by her reluctance on being here.

“So, how’s school Jo?” Thatcher inquired after asking all four of them if they wanted anything to drink, Lexie had accepted but the rest had kindly declined. “Lexie mentioned you’re both very eager to finish in a few months.”

“Great, I mean, it’s fine but, erm, yeah … we can’t wait for it be over,” Jo answered, crossing her right leg over her left knee. “I can’t remember the last time I didn’t spend an entire weekend studying.”

Lexie snickers, “I think Jo will actually miss the studying,” mouth full as she crams in one of the biscuits sitting on the coffee table for them.

Thatcher nodded just as heavy footsteps thudded on the stairs, right before Jo caught sight of Lexie’s mother walking into the living room. She grinned, wrapping Lexie in a hug just as the three of them stood up to greet her. “Long time no see, kiddo,” she smiled as Jo hugged the small woman.

They pulled away and Lexie introduced her to Jackson and then Alex, all shaking hands once again. Jo was slightly surprised that Alex was taller than Uncle Ian by an inch or so, though Alex was taller than most men she knew so it wasn’t too shocking.

As they settled back down, her aunt and uncle sitting on the smaller couch diagonal of her and Alex as Jo cleared her throat and asked, “how are you both?”

“Old,” Susan answered with a chuckle, before hiccupping which caused Lexie to frown. “We’re hoping to get away soon … Jackson! Lexie tells me you’re an intern at Mercy West, must be tiring.”

Jackson hummed before offering a small chuckle, “just have to keep reminding myself it’ll be worth it.”

Nodding in approval at his words, Thatcher gestured between Jo and Alex. “So how long have you two been together? Lexie never said anything about you seeing anyone until last week, Jo.”

Oh, boy, here we go.

Glancing at Alex, Jo noticed the easy smile on his face as he met her gaze and his obvious confidence had her looking back at Thatcher and answering, “Three months. You know how I am with relationships—keep ‘em to myself,” she added with a slightly nervous laugh. Lexie never said anything to her family about Jo’s relationship because there obviously wasn’t any relationship to disclose. Not one that was serious anyway.

“We’ve kind-of known each other for a while though,” Alex piped up, leaning back on the couch with his left ankle resting on his right knee, calm and casual. “We met whilst Jo was working, actually. I’ve been going to the bar for a while, can’t say I hadn’t been working up the courage to ask her out.”

“Oh, that’s sweet,” Thatcher smiled, tilting his head to the side. “It’s always nice to get to know someone before looking for something more, isn’t it?”

Jo forced a close-lipped smile at her words, nodding as she hummed in agreement. She couldn’t help but feel awkward, especially with that friends comment because now all she could think about was the fact that it was all a lie. All they knew was one another's names when she dragged him back to her place. They may know one another now, but she highly doubted Alex had noticed her at the bar. Suddenly Jo felt a hand on her knee, glancing down with raised brows to see Alex’s fingers on her knee. The couch caught her off guard a bit, especially when Alex smiled lazily as he said turned to say to Lexie’s parents, “That’s what I kept tellin’ Jo before getting her to finally go out with me. You know the kind of person they are to a certain extent so when you’re dating, nothing can take you by surprise but there’s still some mystery to the stuff that hasn’t been explored, y’know?”

Jo gaped at Alex, hoping her expression didn’t show off any confusion as she wondered what he was doing. The plan was to answer any questions they might have, not give off any information on their own accord. It just made things slightly more complicated, and Jo and Alex could avoid that from happening, then that’s the way they need to keep things.

“Agreed,” Susan nodded approvingly at Alex’s words before smiling at her wife. “Thatcher and I had been friends for five years before I worked up the courage to ask her on a date. Been together ever since.” The sweet, loving smile they shared brought a smile to Jo’s lips. Thatcher may drive her and Lexie crazy sometimes, but he and his wife were so cute together. Looking back at Alex and Jo, Susan mused, “I gotta tell you—falling in love with a friend and knowing they feel the same way just brings a much deeper meaning to your friendship, doesn’t it?”

He was asking Jo and Alex, both of whom were glancing at each other for a brief moment as Jo’s lips parted slightly in hesitant wonder. Alex had a small smile curling at his lips, barely hinting at the dimple in his cheek as Jo felt his hand squeeze her knee, the touch warm through the material of her pants as his smooth voice answered, “Couldn’t agree more, Mr. Grey.”

Looking at Alex, Jo noticed the way the muscle in his jaw was jumping, realizing he must be clenching his teeth despite the smile on his face. She wondered if he was thinking about someone else; after all, the two of them had become friends but there was a lot left for them to know. She wondered if he ever craved that again. To be with someone for more than just one night—to have something deeper. Jo’s brought out of her thoughts at the sound of Lexie almost choking on her cookie, attempting to reign in her laughter as Jackson smirked over at the pair.

Soon enough Susan said she was going to get dinner ready, and Lexie and Jo instantly stood up to help her out in the kitchen, forcing Alex’s hand to fall off her knee as he remained in the living room to converse with Thatcher and Jackson. Maybe being alone with the two women wasn’t the wisest of ideas, but Alex’s hand on her knee had left a searing mark on Jo’s skin through the material of her pants and it was sending shockwaves up her body that she desperately needed to calm down. It made her feel uneasy; she had now become so accustomed to his hands on her body but all of a sudden it was almost too much.

“They’s a handsome pair,” Susan praised as they entered the kitchen, large and open with a center counter where the sink was located. “Nice catch,” she added with a smile, winking over at Lexie.

Jo let out an airy laugh, hoping she didn’t catch any awkwardness in her smile as Jo ducked her head slightly to pick up the hot dish of rigatoni with two dish towels. So far Lexie’s family seemed to like Alex, which was a good start. “Yeah Jackson’s, uh, he’s pretty great for Lex,” Jo answered. That much was the truth—although she was only saying this to defer the conversation away from her and Alex. But she thought Alex was a good guy too, his willingness to help Jo out in this awkward situation proved that much.

Walking into the adjoining dining room, Jo put the dish down on the table that already was set sans the food, hearing Alex and Thatcher talking nearby before returning to the kitchen. “I’m surprised you’re dating again, Lexie mentioned that you were still upset with ... oh what’s his name,” Susan remarked casually, prompting Jo to pause briefly as she re-entered the kitchen. Holy hell—was there anything that Lexie didn’t tell her mom? Lexie shoots her an apologetic look as Susan brings up a finger to her cheek, trying to recall the name. “James? Oh no, Jason! It was Jason.” Susan exclaims at Jo, like she was also lost for the name, “Lexie thought you were still upset with what happened with that Jason.”

Biting the inside of her cheek, Jo slowly made her way to the fridge to pull out the bottles of soda Lexie had told her to take out. “That was a while ago now,” Jo spoke, treading carefully. She did not want to get into this conversation again, not with Lexie’s family. “I thought it was about time to move on.”

“Still,” Susan hummed, pouring some macaroni salad into a glass bowl as she glanced over at Jo with a wry smile. “You two were preparing to move in together, it was all a bit abrupt wasn’t it, Lex?” She raises her eyebrows up at her daughter but doesn’t wait for her to respond, “you two breaking up seemed so out of the blue, he was lovely … so muscular and very handsome.” She mused out loud.

“I promise you, Susan” Jo spoke up with a slight chuckle as she picked up the two bottles of Coke and two Sprite. “It was not as abrupt as it seemed, we weren’t meant to be.” Jo finishes before shooting Lexie a glare, her apologetic eyes only widened.

Once the table was set, Thatcher sat to Jo’s right and Alex to her left with Jackson and Lexie across from her on the six-person table. But before they could dig in, Thatcher announced they had to say grace and Jo’s one hand grasped his while the other held onto Alex’s. And while everyone closed their eyes and bowed their heads as Thatcher prayed, Jo couldn’t help but glance over at Alex, gaze going from his hand that was holding hers, warm and comforting, before wandering up to his face.

His dark hair was pushed back, full lips pressed together, and eyes closed. Jo bit the inside of her cheek, unable to tear her gaze away from his profile as the muscle in his jaw instinctively jumped every now and then. Something stirred in the pit of Jo’s stomach as she looked at Alex, something exciting that made ever her heart feel like it was jumping within her chest. It didn’t help that his hand holding hers felt so nice and surprisingly soft, grip comforting.

“Amen,” Thatcher finally finished, causing Jo to blink back into reality—had she really just sat there admiring Alex’s looks?—as everyone repeated the sentiment and released each other’s hands, hadn’t she got used to the man who sat next to her yet. Jo ignored the pang of longing she instinctively felt as her hand let go of Alex’s, swallowing inaudibly as they began digging in. What the hell was up with her and all these reactions towards Alex?

The first few moments of dinner were a comfortable silence, utensils clinking and bottles of sodas hissing open, as they ate. Though the silence didn’t last long because after taking a sip of Coke, Thatcher asked, “How is your mother, Jackson?”

He absently nodded, swallowing a forkful of macaroni salad before answering noncommittally before frowning—he hadn’t realised that Lexie’s father knew of his mother, “She’s good.”

“I met her a while back, at the hospital,” Thatcher filled the younger man in, seeing him confused, before his eyes returned back to his plate as she gathered up some pasta and cleared her throat. “Alex mentioned the bar earlier, I guess that means you’re still working there.”

Biting her tongue, Jo’s gaze remained on Thatcher as she felt her stomach drop slightly. When she wasn’t looking for a new job, she was trying to avoid thinking about the fact that she had no job. She lived paycheck to paycheck, now losing her only source of income she was really worried what will happen once rent was due next month, sure Lexie would offer to help—even Jackson mentioned paying towards the bill now he was there more often than not, but it wasn’t just rent. It was gas and groceries and schoolbooks and everything else, she couldn’t rely on anyone for that. She never had.

Swallowing a sip of her Sprite, Jo answered, “Yeah; actually, I quit. I’m looking for a new job, there isn’t much going right now, though.”

Her truthful words made Thatcher’s face contort slightly in concern as Susan hid his own expression by taking another sip of his drink. He never approved of Jo working such a provocative job, as he had put it, with a bunch of leery men surrounding her. Whilst they seemed concerned, they were probably glad that this meant that Lexie would no longer be spending so much time at the dive. The thought makes Jo want to scoff, Lexie was always the first at the bar and almost always the last to leave. She jumped at the chance to join Alex and Jo at Joe’s bar just a few days after Jo had stormed out of their old regular.

Chancing a glance at Alex, Jo noticed the slight furrow in his eyebrows, brown eyes flickering between Lexie’s parents. Then he swallowed and looked over at Jo, raised eyebrows silently asking if she was feeling okay and Jo reluctantly nodded with pursed lips, watching as a look of concern also washed over Alex’s features as he returned his attention back to his food.

“You need to be careful,” Thatcher was saying, making Jo look at him in mild confusion as she shot him a pointed look. “Heaven knows what kind of stuff goes down in dives like the last place.”

Like what Alex and Jo themselves had done? Although Thatcher didn’t realise, he was talking about all four young people who sat at this table. Jackson and Lexie weren’t so innocent either. Jo’s grip on her fork tightened, shoulders tensing because since she knew Thatcher, she knew he was insinuating her job wasn’t acceptable—or wouldn’t be acceptable for his Lexie. “It was just temporary, soon you’ll be seeing me in scrubs rather than a pinafore,” she shot back, unable to keep the edge from her tone as Lexie’s mother raised an eyebrow at her from the across the table.

Jo’s jaw tightened as she returned her gaze to her plate with a small shake of her head, tensing up ever so slightly when she felt something on her left thigh. Discreetly glancing down, she caught sight of Alex’s hand laying a comforting touch, gaze flickering to his eyes as her breath hitched in her throat to see him already looking at her. Alex’s expression was cool, calming as he willed her to relax with a squeeze on her thigh, while she tried to ignore the heat that was once again sparking in her skin under his touch through the cotton fabric of her pants. Since when did Alex’s touch set fire through her skin? Always.

Fortunate thinking on his part, Jackson changed the topic of conversation when he asked, “So, Alex, you’re an intern at Seattle Grace, right?” Alex blinked slightly, not expecting to be addressed before nodding and Jackson asked with an almost teasing smile, “If everything goes to plan, you guys will be working together in the fall. Their superior, actually.” He gestures to the three of them with a head nod.

“Uh,” she dumbly sounded, mentally cursing herself for looking so lost. Of course, if they weren’t talking about her job, they were suddenly on the topic of her nonexistent relationship with Alex. Although she knows Jackson was now teasing, but she makes a mental note to bring this up once they’re back home. Couldn’t they discuss something that didn’t make her blood boil with irritation or face heat up embarrassingly at a lie? “Well, I mean,” Jo stumbled, throwing Alex a startled glance as he squeezed her thigh. He needed to stop doing that—it was more distracting than anything else. “Alex will only be a resident, erm, we’ll probably just …"

“I think we’re both mature enough to separate work from our relationship, right babe?” Alex smoothly added with a deep chuckle and Jo wished her chest didn’t tighten at the term of endearment that easily slipped past his mouth. It definitely wasn’t the first time he’s called her that—he addressed her as babe quite often actually—but it was the first time Jo felt something far more than just fondness for her friend following the use of it. The kind where she wanted him to call her that again. “We’ll just have to make sure we keep our hands off one another.”

Jo’s eyes widened at his joke, heat rising to her cheeks once again. Glancing over to Lexie, Jo could tell that her friend was having a great time—laughing at Jo’s predicament. “Well,” Thatcher clears his throat, also taken back by the comment, “patients should always come first.” Thatcher conversationally asked, putting some more rigatoni on his plate.

Before Jo could answer, Alex piped up, “that’s true, yeah.” Jo looked at him, eyebrows raising ever so slightly at him taking over, but he kept his gaze on the adults at the table. “But this is still new, and Jo and I can’t stay away from one another.” He says confidently, before shooting Jo a crooked smirk, joining in on the teasing. She decided then and there, she hated them all.

“Though…” Alex trailed off, his brown eyes meeting her dark eyes as she watched silently, taking in the curve of his lips and the hint of a dimple flashing in his cheek. Suddenly Jo felt all the air being rushed out of her lungs, very aware of the subtle way his hand was rubbing her thigh under the table—the others couldn’t see that, so was this him playing his role of her boyfriend really well or just him trying to make her cheeks a brighter shade of red? Coolly, Alex finished, “Nothing really beats bein’ able to see her in person. Best part of my day when I do, so I’m looking forward to the possibility of working together.”

Jo’s throat was dry as she swallowed inaudibly, unable to tear her gaze away from his intense stare as he smiled that boyish half smile that picked up the pace of Jo’s heart. What the hell was going on? She was painstakingly aware of how her mind and body was reacting to what Alex was doing, what he was saying, and it bewildered the hell out of her because that’s just never happened—especially not with Alex. That only happens when Jo’s around boys she knows she likes and she couldn’t possibly like Alex like that. Could she?

She explicitly told herself and all those around her—she did not like him. They were friends with benefits, that was it. She had told him she wanted nothing more. She didn’t want feelings and all the crap that came along with them.

Jo inhaled sharply as Alex leaned back in his chair, hand leaving her thigh as he smiled at Lexie and Susan, who Jo could tell thought his response was utterly sweet—Lexie's face finally void of giggles. She, on the other hand, was left staring at Alex in startled awe because he was playing the role of her fake boyfriend a little too tell, and it caused for an unexpectedly thrilling twist in her stomach. Taking a long sip of her soda, Jo mentally willed for her heart to calm the fuck down, while also wishing Alex would stop smiling at her like she hung the damn moon.

#jolex #jo wilson #alex karev

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act-addict-actors-matchups · 4 years

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@anonymous said,

hello !! can i get a matchup? im a pisces, infp & a ravenclaw. i am 5'0.5 and have medium length black wavy hair and brown eyes. i like to try new things though i can be shy & hesitant sometimes. i like things to remain light-hearted but i can be serious too when required. i have a different type of persona for every person,, if im comfortable with someone i get really really talkative and bubbly. (1)

also im like super addicted to my phone,, it's hard for me to even function w/o it. im pretty much a night owl and my sleeping schedule is messed up. i really like fashion, listening to music, travelling, photography, video games & SWEETS. I don't think im very good at comforting others but im a great listener. I'm super lazy & a big procrastinator. (2)

I cannot call or text anyone at all without dying like every second unless we're close. Usually, if i don't get my space i get really annoyed. I'm really stubborn too. I don't really have a hobby except listening to music, reading manga, webnovels or drawing? im so sorry this was so long thank you tho!! (3)

✧ Thank you so much for requesting a matchup anonnie. I don’t know when you send this but I hope you’ll see this and like it. 💓

I’d match you with: . . .

➜ HOW YOU TWO FIRST MET ; You were an intern at his company. One day, while everyone else was at lunch break, you were struggling to finish the assignment you were assigned which was due tomorrow and it didn’t help you at all that the person who was supposed to help you weren’t doing their jobs at all. With a groan, you pushed yourself off your office seat and made your way to the kitchen to get yourself a cup of coffee. It looked like you were staying overtime anyway. While walking towards your destination, you heard the background music of your favorite game and stopped in your tracks. At first you thought you were imagining the sound since it’s been a while since you last played it and there was literally no one else in the building aside from you but after listening more carefully for a while you were sure that someone in the office was indeed playing your favorite game. Careful not to make any noise, you basically tiptoed to the source of the sound only to be greeted with dark blonde locks. The celebrity of the company himself, the person who earned the trust of his coworkers and superiors alike like it was nothing, the one and only Chikasagi Itaru was playing YOUR favorite game. His pink eyes, which reminded you the stone Star Ruby, was glued on the phone in his hand deep in concentration under his bangs. You didn’t even realize you were in a daze until a curse left his lips and he threw his head back in frustration. That is when Itaru noticed that you were here and saw the whole thing. Now, don’t get him wrong, normally he wouldn’t even think of gaming while he was at work but there was this rare event he absolutely had to participate and rank. His game addict instincts basically took control over his mind. With a small smile on your lips you approached him and offered to help while he was desperately trying to think of any excuse to get him out of this situation. You knew you weren’t going to participate in this event no matter how much you wanted to anyway so you might as well use your skills to help someone in need, right? After convincing him to lend you his phone, which took a lot of effort ngl, you cleared the level he was stuck on with ease and handed him his phone back with a smug grin on your face. That was the moment when you became a gaming goddess in his eyes and as a thank you, he helped you with that assignment and miraculously, you managed to finish it before the deadline and started a new friendship with the hardcore gamer.

➜ PERSONALITY COMPATIBILITY ; First of all, you two compliment each other in a “we’re so similar I get why you’re like that”-way. You two can relate to each other with pretty much everything. He also has two different personas although it’s a bit different from yours but whenever Itaru is in professional mode, he is gentle and charming like a prince who genuinely cares about others but he somewhat maintains his distance and likes to keep his private life to himself but when he’s in home mode, he is not afraid to curse and be rude who also starts to get a bit lazy and outright competitive. I feel like he’s the type of person who would procrastinate as well so i’m just imagining you two lying down and telling each other that you should get up soon but none of you actually makes an attempt to do so.Cue you two rushing to finish whatever you were supposed to do afterwards. Don’t worry about not getting any space because Itaru is not the clingy type unless he’s like, really tired from work but who wouldn’t want to cuddle with their lover time to time? Also, I feel like he can manage your stubbornness because he’s a pretty chill guy.

➜ SHARED ACTIVITIES ; Like I said before, you two are basically two peas in a pot so if you really want to you can manage to do everything together. The fact that you like video games is a big plus in the relationship. Sometimes you two just game until the sun rise on your day offs since both of you are night owls and your sleeping schedule is basically nonexistent. If you’re in need for an extra player, Itaru personally drags Banri in your gaming sessions as well so you’re also good friends with the high-spec delinquent. Of course, he will take you out from time to time on normal dates like a mall, arcade, fun fair or a expensive restaurant, but this generally happens when you’re celebrating an important day like anniversaries or birthdays. I can picture you two sitting at a bakery, enjoying whatever you’ve ordered and passionately discussing if the newly released gamer keyboard is actually worth buying or not or going to an arcade and compete to see who can get the most tickets at the end of the day. I can also picture him dropping by your house with your favorite desserts after you’ve accomplished something amazing at work. In short, you’re literally the only person he’s willing to go all out for and he wouldn’t want to have it any other way.

➜ ZODIAC COMPATIBILITY ; Itaru’s birthday is on April 24 which makes him a Taurus. The connection between a Taurus and a Pisces will be built on sheer love and adoration for each other. The earth sign and water sign are complementary to each other. They are both caretakers of those around them and will thus nurture each other, and their relationship, with immense devotion and absolute dedication. Taurus helps Pisces to stay grounded and to focus on the reality. Pisces, on the other hand, soothes the rigidity of the Taurus to unwind themselves from the constant stress of expectations. This aids the bull breathe a little lighter and infuses their with self-assurance and optimism. This relationship will survive the test of time if both parties involved have unbreakable trust in each other and nurture that connection they have painstakingly built over the years. They must remember to be honest and committed to their partner through all times. If natural communication flows between them like clockwork, this will be a beautiful love story with a prominent tag of 'happily-ever-after' pinned right to it.

#a3! matchup #act! addict! actors!#itaru chigasaki

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yourfaceislikeabluemoon · 5 years

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Stolen Kisses, Suspicious Glances ~ Part 1

Words: 2355

Warning: Suggestive material, strong language, not too bad, but not innocent by any means.

A/N: This is something I wrote of my own accord because this is one of my favorite if not my favorite pairing in Monsta X. I wanted to split this up because it was quite long and this first part is more on the ‘mild’ side whereas the second part is fairly, um, hardcore. I’ll post the rest later, as I’m dealing with slight writer’s block right now so I wanted to get something up in case anyone actually likes reading my writing. I hope you enjoy and as always, I love feedback so feel free to share your thoughts! Ok, enough blabbing!

~~~~~

The roar of the fans' screams echoed throughout the room as it was plunged into darkness. The two boys leaped to their feet and rushed off stage, Changkyun slipping his jacket off his toned arms.

"What was that?" Hyungwon shouted at the younger man.

"What was what?" Changkyun asked innocently, pushing his sweaty hair out of his face. The two reached the backstage area, the din of the crowd becoming white noise behind them.

"Why did you grab my hand like that?" Hyungwon asked, looking slightly flustered. "You didn't do that in any of the rehearsals."

Changkyun just shrugged as he grabbed a bottle of water, taking a few gulps. "I knew it would set the fans off even more. Don't worry. I didn't mean anything by it."

Hyungwon noticed a twinkle in Changkyun's eyes that wasn't there earlier. He wanted to press the topic further but the stagehands were ushering them back on stage so he decided to bring it up later after the show. He put a smile back on his face as he jogged back on stage, trying to push the whole situation out of his mind and focus on the rest of his performance.

Hyungwon wouldn't admit it to anyone else -- he barely wanted to admit it to himself -- but the choreography he just finished performing with Changkyun stirred up feelings in him that he hadn't fully been aware he had. They had practiced it over and over again and each time the deep-seated feelings became stronger. He would forcefully shake his head to try to rid his mind of these strange thoughts about his groupmate, Changkyun asking if he was ok or if he needed a break. Hyungwon would just give him a half-hearted smile and tell him "I messed up a few steps in the middle. I just got frustrated with myself. I'm fine. Let's run through it again." Then they'd continue as nothing happened.

The image of Changkyun guiding his hand across his chest a few minutes before resurfaced in Hyungwon's mind, catching him off guard and causing him to silently slouch a little in an effort to hide his heated face. The group was in the middle of answering questions and explaining part of one of their music videos. Most everyone was busy talking but Minhyuk noticed his sudden change and walked over to wrap him in a tight, encouraging hug. The crowd erupted into ‘aww's' but both boys ignored it.

"You ok?" he asked lowly in Hyungwon's ear.

Hyungwon flinched slightly at the contact but turned so he wasn't facing the crowd. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thought of something. I'm fine, really."

Minhyuk nodded and gave him an encouraging smile, squeezing his shoulder before walking back to his original position. Hyungwon composed himself and turned back to the fans, a smile back on his face once again.

---

Changkyun grabbed Hyungwon's arm roughly as he tried to quietly make his way into the hotel without anyone noticing.

"You've been ignoring me and acting really weird since our unit performance earlier. What's wrong, hyung?" Changkyun loosened his grip and slid his hand up Hyungwon's arm to his shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. He looked genuinely concerned that he had done something to bother the older member and it broke Hyungwon's heart to look at his upset face.

Sighing deeply, Hyungwon forced a smile. "I feel like I need to talk to you about something. Something kind of important. Can you come over to my room once you get changed and settled and everything, please?"

Changkyun still looked worried, but he nodded and promised he would be over as soon as he could. Both boys headed upstairs with everyone else and they all split up into their separate rooms.

Twenty minutes later, there was a knock on Hyungwon's door. He had been pacing with worry, the TV quietly on in the background, offering no semblance of distraction from his intrusive thoughts. He took a few long strides to reach the door and threw it open with more force than he expected of himself. There stood a still worried Changkyun, wringing his hands and shifting his weight from foot to foot anxiously. Hyungwon gestured for him to come in, stepping to the side to let him pass.

"What did I do?" Changkyun blurted out, standing awkwardly as Hyungwon collapsed on his bed.

"I don't know if I can honestly say you did anything," Hyungwon mused out loud as he stared at the ceiling.

"What's that supposed to mean? Can you just tell me what's going on?" Changkyun half shouted before realizing that it was well past midnight and most of the other people in the hotel were bound to be sleeping by now. Lowering his voice slightly, he apologized. "Whatever it is, I'm sorry. But can you tell me because I've been going out of my mind since you told me to meet you up here."

Hyungwon sat up and studied the younger man's face. He opened his mouth to speak but Changkyun cut him off.

"Wait! Is this because of the hand thing earlier?" He let out a small, forced-sounding laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "I told you I didn't mean anything by it."

Hyungwon couldn't help but notice Changkyun's expression change from worried to visibly hurt. "That has something to do with it I guess, yeah." He moved to prop himself up against the headboard and motioned for Changkyun to sit down on the bed. He hesitated but soon took a seat, staring at his hyung expectantly. Hyungwon took a deep breath before trying to explain himself. "I've been having these...strange thoughts lately. They came up when we first started practicing the unit performance. God, I really don't want you to hate me for this!"

Changkyun shook his head, "I could never! Please tell me. I want to know so I can help if I can." He offered a slight smile in an effort to encourage Hyungwon to continue.

"We've been in this group for years now, you'd think I would've figured this out earlier. But this unit performance seems to have...rewired my brain or something." He shook his head. "I don't know if I'll be able to explain this without it sounding like I'm out of my mind or something but I'll do my best. Being that close in practice so often and performing such, well, intimate moves has stirred up these different feelings in me. I can't seem to get you off my mind and apparently I'm not handling it as well as I should be because members, including you, have noticed I've been acting odd. Defining these feelings seems almost impossible right now so that's not really something I can explain. But I really needed to talk to you about it since it's all I can think about lately." Hyungwon quieted, staring at his hands in his lap, picking at his nails and desperately trying to avoid Changkyun's gaze. Changkyun, on the other hand, was trying to process the information his hyung had just offered him while also trying to make eye contact. The latter being very hard to do considering he was staring at the top of Hyungwon's bowed head.

"Hey, look at me." Changkyun broke the silence, scooting closer and placing his hand on Hyungwon's crossed leg. "I'm not upset. Don't think I'm upset. I'm just surprised is all. I thought you were gonna admit to doing something really stupid that you were afraid of getting in trouble for."

Hyungwon slowly raised his gaze to Changkyun's warm, smiling face. "I may be the quiet one but getting in trouble for stupid shit is the maknae's job!"

Changkyun laughed and punched his hyung's arm, "Hey! That's not fair. There's others that are far worse than I am."

"I guess you're right." Hyungwon stretched out and patted the spot next to him. Changkyun crawled over and sprawled out comfortably.

"Why me though? Like what is it about me? I don't look like Nu or Wonho…" Changkyun seemed uncharacteristically self-conscious.

Hyungwon rolled his eyes and turned to face the other man, propping up his head on his hand. "I already told you I don't know how to define it or explain it. It makes as much sense to me as it does to you. Besides," he shrugged, "You're plenty attractive in your own way. Just because you don't look exactly the same as one of them certainly doesn't make you any less attractive."

Changkyun lied there, staring at the ceiling, eyes wide with shock, and let out a small chuckle. "Why did you calling me attractive sound so natural coming out of your mouth?"

"I don't know but I think you're right. Honestly, I like saying it." He smirked. "You're really attractive."

Changkyun let out a fake irritated sigh and glanced at the other man out of the corner of his eye. Returning his gaze to the ceiling, he thought for a while before closing his eyes. "I've decided I like hearing you say it." He opened his eyes and turned his head to find Hyungwon staring at him with an indiscernible look in his eyes. Changkyun moved to sit up and Hyungwon matched his position, holding his gaze the entire time.

Changkyun felt strange and kind of ridiculous admitting it to himself, but he was getting lost in Hyungwon's eyes. "What are you thinking about?" He breathed.

"You guiding my hand across your chest earlier and how you responded to my touch. Even if it was for just for show, I enjoyed it, to say the least." Hyungwon smiled, tilting his head in thought.

Changkyun instinctively leaned slightly closer. "I might have lied a little. It might not have been just for show." He sighed lightly, gaze flitting between Hyungwon's dark eyes and his temptingly plump lips.

Hyungwon's gaze darkened and his smile transformed into a devilish grin, "Is that so?" He chuckled, "And just when were you thinking of sharing that important sliver of information?"

Random thoughts were whirling through Changkyun's head, but he couldn't think of a single smartass remark to make. His mind was too focused on his hyung's lips to form anything coherent. There was a strange feeling in his stomach. He couldn't tell if it was nervousness or just pure want. He gave up trying to figure it out, "Just shut the fuck up and kiss me."

Hyungwon successfully hid his surprise at the sudden bluntness and smirked as he lightly traced Changkyun's sharp jawline with his fingertips. The younger man melted into his touch, sighing deeply, his eyes fluttering shut blissfully. Hyungwon relished the response to his touch, his heart suddenly clenching warmly, a harsh contrast to the lustful attraction coursing through his veins.

"Please," Changkyun whined desperately. His hyung gladly complied. His own lips melted onto the younger's. They were awfully warm and soft. So soft.

Changkyun let out a quiet moan as their lips moved in sync, achingly slow. His mind was a mess with the idea that he was finally kissing the lips that he so often caught himself staring at for so long. A sudden wave of confidence washed over him, causing him to lightly bite Hyungwon's lower plush lip, eliciting an unexpected moan from the older man. He chuckled softly in response, reaching up to tangle his fingers in the other man's soft hair, still damp from the shower he had taken when they reached the hotel. Hyungwon leaned into his touch, pushing his body closer to the others. Changkyun sighed into the kiss and pushed the older man back on the bed. He straddled him, never breaking the kiss in the process. Hyungwon's hands snaked up and down his sides, fingertips leaving a newfound heat in their wake.

His hands suddenly stopped their repetitive movements, one resting on Changkyun's hip, the other softly pushing his face away and breaking the heated kiss. "Wait! I don't want to rush this. I don't want you to feel like you have to move things forward just because I admitted things to you."

"Who said anything about rushing?" Changkyun smiled down at the older man. "I can confidently say I want this as much as you do."

Hyungwon chuckled, "I can see that. But still, maybe let's just wait a little while before taking things any further." He gently brushed a few strands of hair out of Changkyun's face. "I kinda just want to experience...you. Before I'm pounding into you throughout the wee hours of the morning and experiencing you in a whole other way, you know."

Changkyun stared down at his face, an amused look painted over his face. "I don't know if that was really fucking romantic or just heavily tainted with horny undertones."

Hyungwon chuckled and shrugged, "Both." He pulled him down into another kiss, much softer and more relaxed than before. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours, slowly and gently kissing in the dimly lit room. Just reveling in the feeling of each other, eventually moving positions to where they were lying side by side, legs entwined and hands innocently roaming over each other with no pointed motive.

Neither one of them knowing how much time had passed, sleep eventually began to tug at them. His attention suddenly turned back to the TV that had been playing softly in the background the whole time, Hyungwon fished around for the remote. Switching it off, he tossed the remote somewhere off to the side and turned the bedside light off, plunging the room into darkness. Changkyun sighed quietly next to him, cuddling in closer and reaching up to graze his fingertips across his cheek. Lazily kissing for the next few minutes, both cherished the closeness and intimacy.

"This is really nice," Changkyun breathed. "I could stay like this forever."

Hyungwon hummed, "I wouldn't mind that at all." And with that he let sleep overtake him, arms wrapped loosely around the younger man next to him, breath gently fanning Changkyun's face. Changkyun smiled to himself, thankful he had come over, and he, too, escaped into a quite sound sleep.

#monsta x #monsta x hyungwon #monsta x changkyun #hyungwon #changkyun #hyungwon x changkyun #member x member #monsta x smut #monsta x changkyun smut #monsta x hyungwon smut #changkyun smut #hyungwon smut #hyungwon changkyun smut #bias/bias wrecker writing

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hannahlovestheatre · 5 years

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Riverdale + Heathers = how very...(a good rant and review)

Ok so to start off if you're someone who doesn't watch Riverdale and only watched it solely to watch this episode because you thought it would be "trash" or you were politely curious or whateva whateva, here's a small, spoiler free synopsis of what's been going on this season...

This season of Riverdale has had a hard focus on cults and a massive drug possession. The people running this cult are complete wackadoos and Betty Cooper is determined to stop them as they have taken her mom and sister and also they are bringing out the worst in the citizens of Riverdale and ya know KILLING SOME OF THEM. The cult branches out from a creepy board game come to life called Gryphons and Gargoyles but we don't have to touch on that as much. The drug thing is all on Veronica Lodge's father but her mom has been helping on the side and so has Jughead's mom. Everyone in the town is turning against each other and it's been hard to find trust in people that don't see things through the eyes of "The Farm" or are trying to distribute some strong ass drugs.

Tbh that's not even a good description but it gives some good background on the main points of drugs and cults. Now...

Heathers is a world renowned CULT classic movie. The creators clearly used the term to their advantage (literally the only people to applaud at the end of the school's production were the MEMBERS OF THE CULT) and once again connected their characters to the characters of another piece of work and saw this as another opportunity to do a musical episode considering their Carrie one was a success for them even though it wasn't everyone's favorite, but of course I liked it, and Heathers is now a staple to the world of musical theatre.

I think that the Heathers episode was executed a lot better than the Carrie one. I appreciated the Carrie one more because that musical is so slept on and they were able to get the word out about it. But the Carrie episode was more focused on being an episode about the school musical and showed more of the rehearsal process and what the numbers looked like in their production rather than incorporating the songs into real life to make them seem more relatable. The Heathers episode actually incorporated itself into the current storyline of the show and helped tie up some loose ends with the relationships of this season. All the songs they used supported the conflicts and state of mind for each character. They didn't even have the cast sing songs that their Heathers characters sing like for example Betty and Jughead sang Seventeen even though Betty was cast as Duke and Jughead isn't even in the show (we will touch on this later because I think my puddle of tears is still in the living room). They also heard our prayers to have Casey Cott sing more and then threw Cole Sprouse in there to make it even better. (Thanks Riverdale creators!)

Long story short, it seemed more like if Glee were doing a Heathers episode which I stan hard as I am the biggest gleek to ever gleek.

I think they picked all the right songs, Fight For Me was the biggest surprise choice to me but I liked what they did with it again for context sake. If they had found a way to add Freeze Your Brain, The Me Inside of Me, and/or Shine a Light I would have been interested in seeing that. It also would have been cool to see I Say No (Betty would have nailed it as she is saying a big fat no to this cult).

I also wasn't as mad about them using the lyric changes that are in the school edition because it hit me. This is a HIGH SCHOOL putting on a production of HEATHERS THE MUSICAL. Since most schools would either get a big checkmark in the NO box to even put on the show, if a school did get the clear to put on Heathers, they would 100% have to do the school edition. So ya know what haters, they're actually being realistic with the production they actually got the rights to put on. It makes so much sense coming from a hardcore theatre nerd like myself.

Yes I would say some of the cast was autotuned but my mom thought everyone was a great singer and she was very genuine in that comment. Casey Cott, Lilli Reinhart, and Camila Medes are definitely the most polished but Vanessa Morgan, KJ Apa, Madelaine Petsch, Ashleigh Murray, and COLE SPROUSE are also very strong singers. They have more guts to sing this hard score than most people do in community theatre productions of Heathers.

I do think the casting of their musical was mostly spot on only I didn't really see Josie playing Veronica. But going back to my point on the episode not really touching on the actual musical production of Heathers that's happening, it didn't really matter. They pretty much never showed her singing Veronica's stuff so it went right over my head. I think Toni could have been a great Veronica as her Dead Girl Walking had spot on interpretation but actually Betty could have knocked it out of the park as Veronica and Toni could have been Duke to heighten the conflict between her and Cheryl at the time. They didn't HAVE to do it this way because they know the show better than we do but if I were casting Hearthers with Riverdale characters, that's where my head was going.

I know everyone said Betty should be McNamara and Veronica should be Duke but as I watched the episode, I realized everyone based that off looks because McNamara's dad is "LOADED" and the poor girl tries to kill herself because of what goes on outside of the social circle aka literally what Veronica is going through on the show right now. It all clicked. I believed her when she sang Lifeboat. And Betty is a low key savage. She isn't thirsty for Cheryl's power in real life but she does want to make a statement and be heard and to win this battle over the town cult. It made sense once I saw it in front of me.

Cheryl is Heather Chandler. Period.

And again they didn't really focus on their actual production of Heathers and that particular cast but let me say this rn. If Cole Sprouse does not play JD at any point on the future, the world is cancelled. I really didn't think he would ever sing in these kind of episodes or at all, because the show does have the actors perform on occasion. However, when they announced this was happening, I had a glimmer of hope that Jughead would play JD because it makes so much sense...and then he didn't...and then he sang Seventeen anyways and broke my fucking heart. I'm not sure if he really was singing the entire time because the man went up an entire octave between the verse and the chorus but man I was picturing a future production of Heathers starring Cole Sprouse and Lilli Reinhart. It needs to happen. This was literally 2 minutes of the episode and idek if y'all feel the same way but man it wrecked my emotions and my OG Disney Channel stan was losing her mind over Cole Sprouse singing her favorite song from Heathers.

It's 11:47 PM so I need to wrap this up before I fall asleep and forget everything lol.

As a wrap up, I really liked this musical episode and I really liked the other one but it really grinds my effin gears when people jump to conclusions because theatre people aren't doing theatre things. Theatre is inclusive. The arts are inclusive. We can't close our walls to the select few people that "got our criteria to be in the community" (oh wait, isn't that like a cult...? I guess their plan worked).

If you've seen my other posts you know I could rant about this topic for days but long story short, if you aren't willing to not just be a part of the community and welcome everyone in and accept everything as its separate entities but still have your opinions on it without jumping to conclusions...did you eat a brain tumor for breakfast because what's your damage? ❤💛💚💙

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dyde21 · 7 years

Text

Mechanic 16: The “Actually-A-Date”

Sorry for the delay! Important news after this story, till then enjoy! :D

XxXxXxXxX

Pyrrha fidgeted in her seat, hardly able to sit still. She was too eager to get moving, sitting still on a bed was practically torture to her.

“If you don't stop moving, I'm undoing the braid and you can brave the streets on your own.” Blake's voice scolded slightly from behind her.

“I'm sorry.” Pyrrha mumbled an apology, finally settling down. She normally didn't wear a braid herself, so she wasn't the best at doing them. Especially not one she hoped to have stay in all day and still look nice. Nora and Ren weren't much help unfortunately, getting no real practice before. Jane's hair was always kept short and she had no sisters so she had no practice either.

Today was the day of her and Jaune's first “official” date. Which meant, they would be out and around the town most of the day, and since the Vytal festival was only a few days away, many visitors were there, and plenty of people who would be eager to stop and get a photo with The Pyrrha Nikos. While it did make her a bit sad to have to hide from her fans today, her focus was solely on enjoying this time with Jaune. Which meant she had to go incognito and be in disguise. She had even messaged Jaune, explaining her fears and told him to bundle up just a little more as well, since some of the photos of their dinner “not-a-date” had been circling around, and after their rather public kiss at the end of yesterday's practice it had come out that she was officially taken. Some of her more hardcore fans could now probably recognize Jaune so it'd be safer for them both to lay low while going out. At least for today.

Seeing as her usual ponytail would be a dead give away, and keeping her hair down would still be easy enough to recognize from old photos of official events, she had opted to go for a braid. Which meant getting help from outside her team given the situation. Ruby wasn't too good at braids either, her hair being too short and Yang's being off limits to practice on. Yang would have been an absolute nightmare with her teasing so she was out, which just left Blake and Weiss. When she had explained the situation, Blake stepped up, mentioning that her past made her a little more than experienced when it came to blending in.

So here she was, wearing a fake pair of glasses with a coat and scarf as Blake put the finishing touches on a long, yet simple braid.

“There.” She said after a moment, getting off the bed and stretching her legs. “No one will be able to recognize you.” She said, before pausing for a moment. Reaching over, she grabbed one of the hats they had set out and put it on Pyrrha. “Perfect.”

Standing up, Pyrrha looked herself over in the mirror. With the fake glasses and hat, it really did seem a bit difficult to recognize her.

Just offering her a simple smile, Blake put her hand on her hip. “Have fun on your date. It's about time.” She said with a wink before she left to go back to her own room, thinking about spending the day with a certain blonde.

Pyrrha thanked her as she left, turning to Jane who was just leaning over the back of a chair, a Cheshire grin on her face from ear to ear. “My little Pyrrha is so grown up. Finally going out with Jaune.”

Staring at the ground blushing, Pyrrha couldn't come up with anything to say. She only looked up at a flash as she saw Jane holding her scroll up, grinning. “Commemorative photo.”

Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her scroll, still no messages. “Is he going to be late?” She remarked idly, confused. Jaune was never late, he always messaged her early, usually making sure everything was okay. He was never hesitant about trying to make sure everything was okay and that he wasn't screwing up in some way.

At a knock on the door, she jumped slightly, surprised. Opening it, she saw a familiar pair of blue eyes staring back at her. “Jaune?”

“Uh, hey Pyrrha.” He grinned, scratching the back of his head. Pausing, his face turned to a look of confusion. “You wear glasses?”

Pyrrha shook her head as Jane face palmed in the background. “They're fake. Blake said they'd help.”

“Oh.” Jaune replied smartly.

Fidgeting with the hem of her Jacket, she looked at Jaune with a small smile. “So... ready? I'm surprised you came all the way up here. You could have just texted me, I would have met you at the entrance.” She offered.

Unable to meet her eyes, Jaune blushed slightly. “I was uh... a little excited so I thought I'd meet you at the door.”

Pyrrha just giggled slightly, amused by his antics. “How did you know what room I was in? You haven't been inside before.” She remarked after a moment.

Jaune's eyes shifted to over her other shoulder, still unable to meet her eyes. “I uh... didn't. I snuck in when someone was leaving the dorm, and I was on the elevator before I realized I didn't know your floor.”

Across the room Jane dropped her head on the desk, mumbling about someone being both dumb and adorable.

“Luckily Ruby got in the elevator with me. She told me where you guys all were.”

Pyrrha nodded. “That's goo- wait. Ruby!?” Her mind raced as she began to connect the dots. “That's bad. If she knows then Ya-” Before she could finish her sentence, she barely had time to react and catch Jaune as she was suddenly shoved into her room.

“Hold up, lover boy.” Yang's voice said as she walked in the room, dragging a Ruby behind her who had her heels dug into the floor, clearly trying to stop her sister who just dragged them both in the room.

“Yang! Just leave them alone! You promised to wait till after.”

Closing the door, Yang crossed her arms as she stared Jaune down.

“First things first.” In a blur, she had pulled out her scroll and snapped a few photos. A few keystrokes, and Pyrrha heard both her and Jane's scroll chime, and heard the buzz of Jaune's.

“Now Jaune, I'm glad you finally got a hint and you and Pyrrha are a thing now. Seriously. It's about time. But she's my friend, and I wanna make sure you treat her right.”

Jaune just stared at her, mortified. “I already had to deal with this from my sister.”

“What are your plans for Pyrrha?” Yang asked, ignoring her sister who suddenly left the room.

Pyrrha raised an eyebrow at both the phrasing of the words, and the question. Jaune had told her that he had a plan for the date so she didn't need to worry about it, so she also had no idea what to expect. He had just explained not to expect something fancy like last time so going undercover in casual clothes would be fine.

“What do you mean?” He asked after a moment. “We're just going out on the town.”

Yang sighed. “How boring. Are you telling me you haven't planned a special date to woo Pyrrha?”

Stammering, Jaune stood up straight. “Of course I planned it out! I am not going to screw this up!” He said defiantly, a hint of fear in his voice telling Pyrrha just how much he had been stressing about this date. She could practical see him staying up late, going over notes and talking to his sisters. She knew how determined he could be, and the last thing she wanted was him to worry about what was supposed to be a wonderful day between them. Glaring at Yang slightly, she threw her arm protectively around Jaune's waist.

“That's enough teasing, Yang. I'm sure what Jaune has planned will be lovely.”

Yang rolled her eyes. “That's cause you guys are in the honeymoon phase. You could fall in a lake and get in a fight and you guys would still call it the 'best date ever'. What I mean is wh-”

Yang was cut off as the door behind her exploded open and two bodies dove through the air, slamming into Yang and pinning her down.

“Run!”

“We can only hold her for so long!”

Ruby and Blake called out desperately as they pinned the blonde brawler down.

Noticing Yang starting to slip free, Jane threw herself on the dog-pile as well. “Run Pyrrha!”

Reacting first, Pyrrha grabbed Jaune's hand and started sprinting down the hallway, dragging him along towards freedom.

“Why is beacon so crazy?!” Jaune asked as they ran.

“I think it's something in the water.” Pyrrha offered.

“I love it!” He said after a moment before laughing.

Pyrrha wasn't sure how long they had run for, but they were both a little out of breath as they finally came to a stop, laughing hard as they leaned into each other for support.

Standing up, Jaune finally managed to catch his breath. “I'm not sure sprinting through the campus is the best way to stay inconspicuous.”

Pyrrha just shrugged, catching her breath as she made sure her braid was still in place. “Well, at least we made it to the entrance in good time. Ready?” She asked, wrapping her arm around Jaune's as she leaned against him.

Blushing slightly Jaune nodded, before grabbing her hand and holding it tightly as they began to walk towards the airships to get into town. The walk to the airship was quiet. After the chaos of leaving the dorms, and all the busyness in the air due to the festival, they were content just being in each other's presence at the moment.

As they sat in the back of the bus once again, leaning against each other as they watched the world pass by outside, Pyrrha turned her head, resting her chin on his shoulder. “So where are we heading?” She asked curiously. “Where” still wasn't too important to her, she was just happy to be with him, but she had faith that if Jaune put his mind to it, she certainly would enjoy the destination.

Jaune turned to look at her, kissing her nose causing her to giggle. He just smiled, before looking away, the corners of his mouth drooping slightly. “I uh... thought since we're starting so early we have some time before dinner so maybe we could go shopping a bit.”

Pyrrha raised an eyebrow curiously. Jaune certainly didn't seem like a big shopper, then again being dragged along by his sisters meant he might have acquired a taste for it. It would be the first she heard of it though. Still, noticing he seemed to be worried about her reaction she hummed happily. “Well that sounds lovely. I haven't really been out around the town casually in quite a while. Just what I needed.” She offered honestly. She couldn't remember the last time she just spent the day in town without some sort of objective.

She noticed Jaune seemed to relax ever so slightly and just grinned, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze. He really seemed stressed about making this date perfect. A frown slowly crept on her face, she didn't want him dealing with this the entire date. Sitting up straight she turned to face him with her body. “Jaune.” She spoke firmly.

Turning to her confused, Jaune looked at her nervously. Had he already screwed up? “I'm sorry Pyrrha. I know today can't possibly live up to the fancy dinner my sisters set up, but I really did put a lot of thoug-” He was cut off as Pyrrha just reached up and gently cupped both sides of his face.

“Jaune, listen to me carefully.” She said, staring directly into his eyes, making sure he was looking at her. She wasn't the best with expressing herself, but for the sake of his enjoyment of the day she would do what was needed. “I am overjoyed to be out with you today. It isn't a contest comparing now to the dinner we went to. You didn't need a plan for me to enjoy today. We could have just wandered around and I would be happy. Being with you is all I care about today, not what we do or where we go.”

Jaune just stared at her, trying to believe her words. He had always heard stories about his sister's boyfriends wooing them with elaborate plots, and any of the girls he had flirted with in the past never seemed interested in just a common blacksmith like he was. He'd dream his whole life about wooing his future girlfriend, and she was telling him not to worry about that?

“If you really want today to be special for me, then try to enjoy it like I am. Nothing makes me happier than see you... my boyfriend smile.” She corrected herself, blushing slightly. It was true, they were boyfriend and girlfriend now. “I don't want you needlessly worrying. Let's just live today, okay?” She asked, leaning up and kissing him on his forehead.

Staring back at her for a moment, Jaune felt his earlier worries and fears slowly start to slip away. “O-okay.” He said, a smile creeping on his face. “I felt too greedy just being happy around you. I was afraid of being selfish.”

Pyrrha chuckled, leaning her forehead against his. “Then I'm as selfish as you are. Let's just be selfish together today.”

Jaune just chuckled, finally getting the message. He leaned forward, still slightly hesitating as he asked for permission with his eyes.

Permission Pyrrha was all too eager to grant. Leaning forward she quickly kissed him on the lips.

They kissed for a brief moment, before someone on the ship coughed, causing them both to jump slightly. They finally realized they had had a few audience members to their little touching moment. This caused them both of flush red as Jaune buried his head into her shoulder in embarrassment.

Reaching up, she just pet his head reassuringly as she stared out the window, fighting off her own embarrassment. She heard the knowing chuckle from an elderly couple who just smiled at her before winking.

When the airship had finally landed, they were quick to speed away, eager to leave that situation behind. Pyrrha slowed down after a moment, still unsure of where they were going in the town, but Jaune just grinned and held her hand, leading her along. Smirking, Pyrrha sped up for a moment to match his pace as she wrapped her arm around his, slowing him down just a bit. Judging by the lack of looks she was receiving, her disguise was working.

Jaune got the hint, and slowed his pace and began to offer some small talk. They continued at the leisurely pace, talking about the lunch Alice and Ali had taken them out to the previous day, her plans for the Vytal festival, and his plan to see it with his sister.

When Jaune began to slow his pace, Pyrrha looked around a little confused. This part of the city was a little lesser known to her, she couldn't piece together what their first stop would be. “Jaune?”

Stepping away from her for a moment, he scratched the back of his head. “Well... I was thinking about where you might like to stop and this came into my mind yesterday. It's a bit of a guess though, if you think it's lame we can move on.” He offered, gesturing to the building near them.

Finally locating the smaller sign hanging above them she pieced it together. “Heroes and Halfwits?” She read out loud, wracking her brain to think of if she had heard the name before.

“It's uh... a comic shop. I heard about it from a customer once, and I've been going here since I moved here. I love it here, and you mentioned liking X-Ray and Vav so I thought maybe...”

Pyrrha just grinned. “I'm excited.” She explained, taking his hand. It was the truth. She had never had much exposure to comics growing up before, but Jane was a bit of a fan of them, Ruby as well so she had learned just a little by being around them. She had even read a comic or two while relaxing at Jaune's shop that he had brought for his breaks. Going into a place like this on her own would have been a little too nerve-wracking for Pyrrha perhaps, but with Jaune she was a little eager to explore this new world.

Letting out a breath of relief, he grabbed her hand and lead her up the small staircase immediately in the doorway, leading them to the little upstairs shop. It was a rather small shop, just a single room with a few bookshelves in the center, a few merchandise racks, but it was lined wall to wall with comics. Waving hello to the girl at the registered, he smiled. “Hey Liz.”

“Hey Ja...” Her eyes laser focused on the fact he was holding hands with this strange redhead, gears spinning in her head. “Is that her? DID YOU TWO FINALLY GET TOGETHER?” She asked, slamming her hands down on the counter, leaning over it. “God, finally. You've been talking about her for months.” She muttered, collapsing on the counter dramatically. “I was beginning to lose hope.”

Pyrrha raised an eyebrow as she saw Jaune blush red. “I forgot she works today. Her dad is much calmer.” He mumbled.

Pyrrha just giggled, kissing his cheek. Turning to the cashier she smiled. “Nice to meet you, I'm... Py... his girlfriend.” She explained with a sheepish smile.

Liz raised an eyebrow. “I know who you are. Though judging by your get up... got it. Nice to meet you!” She paused for a moment. “Since you two are gracing us today on your special day, you get the friends and family discount on any purchases today.” She offered, waggling her eyebrows at Jaune who just groaned, but muttered a thanks all the same. He quickly grabbed Pyrrha's hand, pulling her towards the back of the shop, placing a bookshelf between Liz and themselves.

Pyrrha just snickered. “She seems friendly.”

Jaune shook his head. “She's great. One of the first people I made friends with here. She likes to get a little... involved in people's lives though. Great cashier but a little nosy.” He remarked.

“I can hear you, you know!” She called out.

“That's my point!” Jaune called in reply, earning a giggle from Pyrrha.

Shaking his head to clear his mind, he turned to Pyrrha. “Here are the X-Ray and Vav comics, but I recommend just looking around. You may find one you enjoy even more.” He said, gesturing to them all.

Pyrrha's eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store, looking around at all the options. “There's so many.” She muttered, before hesitantly taking a step towards one of the bookshelves and letting her eyes scan over it.

Jaune just grinned, amused by his girlfriend's reaction. He began to find the latest issues of X-Ray and Vav, figuring he'd pick them up while he was here. He had saved his paychecks for a while for this. Every once in a while he looked over, seeing Pyrrha scanning a new comic. He moved over to the figurines, looking for any new ones as he wanted to give Pyrrha time to explore unhindered for a while. He knew she would be the type to feel rushed if he loitered around her, and he wanted her to enjoy exploring the same way he did the first time he came here with Alice.

However, a few minutes later he felt someone tug on his scarf slightly. He turned around, curious. Pyrrha was standing there holding a few comics, looking a bit sheepish. “Have you heard of these?”

Raising an eyebrow he looked at her choice. “Iliad?” He smirked after a moment. “Excellent choice. Alice actually loves that series as well.”

“Here, follow me.” He said, grabbing her hand and leading her towards one of the corners of the shop. The corner of the shop was just windows, letting them have a view at the busy intersection down below. In front of it were two beanbag chairs, a little lamp between them.

Jaune quickly took a seat in one of the beanbags. “It's the best way to read a comic.” He offered.

Grinning, Pyrrha grabbed the other one and slid it over next to his, sitting on it so she could lean against Jaune.

Smiling, they both began to settle in and start reading their own series.

They were content. Pyrrha wished that moment could last forever as they were both lost in their own series, enjoying each other's company as they occasionally showed each other an interest panel or joke, laughing.

Their routine had only been broken up for a moment when Liz had showed up with two cold bottled iced teas, only offering them a wink and telling them to take their time.

Neither Jaune or Pyrrha was sure just how long they had spent like that, leaning into each other and reading comics.

Eventually though, Jaune's scroll buzzed and he checked it, noting the time. “Oh, crap. It's dinner time.” He remarked, showing Pyrrha.

She raised an eyebrow. Time had flown by in there, she had trouble believing they had spent so much of the day in the corner.

Standing up, they both groaned slightly as blood rushed back to their limbs. They giggled at each other before fixing up the corner to the way they had found it in the first place. Approaching the front, they had both decided to buy the comics they had read, and Jaune had even grabbed a figurine of the protagonist from the Iliad for Pyrrha as they moved to the front.

Liz was just leaning on the counter, her head in her hand as she stared at them with a warm smile. “You two are honestly adorable.” She replied, laughing at their blush as she began to ring them up.

After they both paid, they grabbed their bags, waving goodbye to Liz and promising to return again as they went back out.

They hurried down the street, still hand in hand as Jaune lead them to the restaurant.

“I didn't realize how hungry I had gotten.” Jaune offered as his stomach rumbled.

Nodding in agreement, Pyrrha shifted her grip on her bag. “Time sure does seem to pass when you're having fun. So where are we eating?”

“Well... it's not like the last restaurant...” He started off, his voice trailing slightly in concern.

“Jaune...” She warned, raising an eyebrow. He wasn't allowed to go down this path again.

“Right. Well, it's one of my favorite places. I've gone there with my family quite a few times.” He offered as they reached the destination. Pyrrha raised an eyebrow curiously.

“A diner?”

Smirking, Jaune just squeezed her hand slightly. “Trust me. The food is absolutely the best here. You can't go wrong with Mel's diner.”

“Well, let's go then.” She said as they made their way in. It certainly seemed to be a popular place. It was packed, but most of the patrons seemed to be on dates themselves. A bunch of young couples sat at the bar around the chefs, families littering the booths on the edge. “It seems a little busy.”

“Jaune!” A voice rang out.

Glancing up, Jaune smiled. “Hey Uncle.”

Pyrrha raised an eyebrow curiously. “Uncle?”

“Good friend of my dad. He helped us find the place for our shop here in Remnant. He's the line manager here.” Jaune explained, sharing a brief hug with the large man.

The man stood in front of them, arms wide with a large gut hanging from him. He let out a hearty laugh. “The arcs are always welcome here. That includes any friends.” He said, clasping a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder. “He let me know what was going on. We got two seats saved just for you.” He said, placing a massive hand on the back of each of them and ushering them inside to the bar. Sure enough there were two crudely made placards that read “Arc Date Night.”

Pyrrha raised an eyebrow curiously. “You seem to have a lot of friends in town.”

Jaune just shifted nervously as they set their bags down and each took a seat on the stools.

“My dad and mom just love talking to people. Plus, we're in the business of repairing usually important machines for people. We do a good a job and fixing problems tend to give people good impressions of us.”

Pyrrha just nodded, understanding the logic as she looked over her menu. She noticed Jaune was just looking at her smiling.

“Heads up!” Uncle's voice called out as Jaune raised his hands and caught a pen. “You know the drill.”

Jaune just smiled sheepishly before grabbing the placard for their “date night”. Flipping it over, he began to sign the back of it.

Looking over, Pyrrha saw the signatures of Alice, Bia, and another sister on it.

Noticing she had noticed, he blushed slightly. “It's apparently been a bit of a tradition since we moved here. Uncle insists that on first dates, the Arc kids need to bring their partners here. Says something about judging their quality himself, and wanting credit if things work out as being the place where it all started.” Jaune explained.

Pyrrha blushed, finding it her time to fidget. She glanced over at Uncle, who just seemed to be grinning at her with a warm smile.

Jaune just squeezed her hand. “Don't worry, it's just us remember?”

Looking over at him, she felt her heart flutter. The diner was certainly busy. Kids were laughing and loudly talking, people were moving to and from the soda fountain, and an older radio played music loudly. It a clear form of organized chaos, but at the moment none of that seemed to matter to Pyrrha. Everything else except for Jaune seemed to fade from focus as she just stared at the blonde boy smiling warmly at her. She felt love boiling up in her as she leaned forward, giving him a brief kiss, surprising him.

Jaune was caught off guard, but certainly welcome to the idea. It had only lasted a brief moment, before Pyrrha had pulled back and buried herself in her menu, looking over the options to hide her blush. She tried to ignore the booming laugh coming from Uncle.

“Anything is good.” Jaune offered after a moment. “I've had everything on the menu, and I've never been disappointed.”

Nodding, feeling her blush under control again, Pyrrha closed her menu. “I think I know then.”

As if on cue, a bubbly girl seemingly slid into existence next to them. “Ready to order?”

“Hey Kat.” Jaune said, flinching slightly as the girl pushed down on his head and ruffled up his hair.

“Jaune! It's taken you so long. I've been waiting forever for this. Alice told me to make sure I was working today, but wouldn't tell me why.” She rambled out in a bubbly tone, her smiling never leaving her face.

Glancing over, Pyrrha raised an eyebrow.

“Uncle's daughter. Alice's best friend.”

“Yup! That's me! Kat! Nice to meet cha, now what do you want cutie?” She asked Pyrrha, leaning down to get a better look. “Hmm... you're pretty. Perhaps a little too pretty for ol' Jaune. How'd he snag you? Did he lie?” She asked, tilting her head.

Pyrrha's mind raced to keep up with the girl's chirps, before she registered what she said. Her expression went from shock to mild annoyance. “Excuse me, but I happen to find Jaune very handsome. He certainly hasn't had to lie about anything to me.”

The girl just stared at her for a moment, before cracking up and slapping Pyrrha on the back a few times. “Yup!” She leaned over the counter. “She's a keeper Dad!” She called to uncle, before resting a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder.

“Sorry! We just had to test ya, ya know? Jaune needs a good girl who will stick up for him so he doesn't get pushed around. Glad to see he found one. Now what can I get for you?” She rushed out, pulling a pen from her ponytail as she held up a notepad eagerly.

Pyrrha just stared at her, once again trying to process the girl's quick speech and switching of subjects. “I'll have the double with cheese, and fries please. And a lemonade.” She said, conceding and just going with her order.

“Good choice! Jaune?” She chirped out.

“I'll have the d-”

“-Double dog. Chili, cheese, and ketchup. Garlic fries, no wait, normal fries cause you're on a date. Strawberry lemonade. Got it.” Kat interrupted.

“...Yeah.” He conceded with a sigh, handing her his and Pyrrha's menus. Looking to Pyrrha he smiled sheepishly. “Like I said, we eat here quite a bit.”

Pyrrha just giggled, as Kat zoomed away, already taking another order.

Jaune just shook his head. “I swear Kat is the only one who isn't intimidated by Alice and draws out her normal side. I'm still not sure if that's a good thing or not. Just make sure to never be in the same room as both of them.” Jaune relented, dropping his head on the counter.

Pyrrha just comforting pat his back.

Before long, they were both chatting idle again, completely lost in each other's presence. They were content with how things were. They weren't sure how long had passed before their food suddenly slid in front of them, a grinning Kat standing there. “This seems to be going well.” Was all she said before she dashed away, already addressing another table.

Pyrrha picked up the burger, looking at it expectantly. She had never really had a burger in a common diner like this. They weren't exactly the healthiest meals one could find, so her parents and team usually tried to sway her from having a lunch at place like this. Looking over, she was about to ask Jaune for advice on how to eat it. She was already feeling a bit nervous about digging in, when she saw him with a hot dog shoved in his mouth, staring at her like a deer in the headlights.

Slowly he took a bite, chewing before he coughed nervously and dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “Excuse me.” He muttered nervously, wincing as Kat slapped the back of his head as she walked by, muttering about manners.

Pyrrha just shrugged, figuring when in Atlas, do as the Atlasians do. So she went face first into a large bite. Her eyes widened as she turned to Jaune. “Thifh Ifh Guhd.” She praised, in awe of the flavors.

After a moment her eyes widened as she became mortified. She quickly wiped her face, as she finished chewing. “I said it's good...” She muttered meekly.

Uncle's booming laugh just sounded from the other side of the counter. “Now that's how you enjoy food! You two are doing it right!” He said with a joyous chortle. He rubbed his belly. “Though I'd be a little careful about how much you enjoy.” He said in a jolly tone.

Pyrrha and Jaune just shared a glance, before they both resumed eagerly eating, albeit just a little more dignified.

They found it hard to talk as they both rushed through their food. “We need to bring the rest of the gang here at some point.” Pyrrha muttered in joy.

Jaune raised an eyebrow. “Could we even bribe Weiss to show up here?”

Taking another bite, Pyrrha thought for a moment. “Ruby could convince her.” Another few chews. “If not, I hear Blake is pretty good with rope.”

This caused Jaune to laugh as he went back to finishing his second hot dog. It wasn't too much longer before they had both quickly devoured their meals.

They resumed chatting about the upcoming tournament, when they looked up at the sound of something sliding on the table next to them. Kat was there grinning as she slid a large milkshake with two straws in between them, before adding a little tray of fries. She merely winked before going back and highfiving her dad.

Jaune just face palmed. “I forgot they did this. Don't worr-” He was cut off as he looked over and saw Pyrrha already sucking on one of the straws, a faint blush coating her cheeks.

Well, he wouldn't want to be leave her alone right?

Jaune took a sip from the other straw, looking at Pyrrha and giggling after a moment. They both jumped at the flash of a camera. Kat was there, posing in front of them with a peace sign and taking a selfie.

“Kat!”

Kat just snickered. “Alice would literally come in here and kill me if I didn't get a picture of you two doing that. Don't worry, I got a normal picture without my selfie too, I just wanted to brag to all your sisters that I get to see you two.”

Jaune and Pyrrha just sighed. “Having a large family is rough isn't it?” She offered sympathetically.

“You have no idea.” He said after a moment, looking at her somberly before they both broke out into a fit of giggles.

Eventually the giggle-fit settled down and Pyrrha looked at the fries curiously. “Why the fries.”

For the first time, Jaune stared at her disappointed. “You're kidding.”

“What?” She asked, a bit defensively.

“You've never had fries and a shake before?”

“Um, no?” She squeaked out.

Jaune held out a fry to her. “If this relationship is going to work out, you need to try it.” He said in a dead serious tone.

Pyrrha raised an eyebrow, but grabbed the fry. She watched him grab one himself, and dip it in the shake before popping it in his mouth and smiling. Pyrrha was a bit hesitant, but he was studying her carefully. So she took the plunge. She dipped it in the milkshake before eating it. Her eyes widened yet again. “Oh my God.”

“Right?” Jaune offered, grinning.

Pyrrha quickly followed it up with a second fry. And a third. The salt from the fries blended perfectly with the sweetness of the chocolate shake, ascending her mouth into heaven.

Jaune grinned as they made quick work of the fries and shake.

Eventually though, they were done and it was starting to get late. They stood up, grabbing their bags as they made their way to the front. They were already bickering about who would pay, when Uncle clasped a large hand on Kat's shoulder.

“Don't insult us! You think we'd make an Arc kid pay on their date?”

Jaune just smiled, wrapping an arm around Pyrrha's shoulders. “Thank you Uncle.”

Kat just grinned. “By the way, what's her name? I don't think I was ever told.”

Pyrrha and Jaune shared a glance, before Jaune's hand shifted to hers.

“Pyrrha Nikos.” He said proudly.

They both stared at him, smiling as if all was good. A moment later it clicked. “Wait! You me-” They were cut off as they saw both Jaune and Pyrrha sprinting away from the store, before they could ask any more questions.

Slowing to a casual walk, they both laughed and swung their arms together. “Why are we always running from someone?” Jaune asked.

“Cause our friends are crazy and nosy.” Pyrrha explained, not complaining in the slightest.

Night was starting to creep in as they walked through the streets that still hummed with life. “I suppose we should get you back. You have a busy next few days.” Jaune said with a sigh.

Pyrrha nodded. “I suppose so. Plus if you're walking home I don't want you being out too late alone.” She added, pausing for a moment. “Not that that means we can't take the slow route.”

Jaune smirked. “Then follow me.” He said as they turned into the park, to take the pathway that would lead them to an airship station eventually.

They walked through the park night, holding their bags of comics as they leaned into each other, sharing their warmth.

“I really enjoyed tonight.” Jaune said after a brief lull in the conversation.

Resting her head on his shoulder, she lead him over to a bench off the side of the path. They sat down as she leaned against him. “Words can't express how lovely this day was for me. I will always remember it and cherish these memories.” She spoke honestly, looking up at him.

Jaune smiled. “I agree. You...” He paused, trying to find the right words.

“Before I met you, I felt like I would be stuck in the shop forever. Never amounting to more than a handyman. But since we started training, and every time we talk, I feel like I can do anything. Thank you, Pyrrha. You've really changed my life for the better.”

Pyrrha felt her heart swell at his words as she leaned in and kissed him briefly. “I was never able to form any real meaningful connections. But you've done so much for me. You shown me what it's like to fall for someone. What it's like to live as a normal person, if I didn't have these talents and I wasn't forced away from everyone else. You've helped me grow so much as a person Jaune, and I will never be able to express how much that means to me.” She replied.

They just stared at each other for a moment before they met their lips together and kissed. Neither of them had any more words they wanted to say as they were content kissing, letting their actions speak louder than their words.

Eventually though, a dog bark from a nearby jogger caused them to separate and rest their foreheads against each other. They were both blushing heavily. “We should get back...”

“Yeah...” Jaune confirmed as they stood up.

Pyrrha clutched Jaune's arm to her as they walked in a content silence.

The airship trip back to the dorms had been quiet as well, only a few small comments made. After their confessions, there wasn't much left they felt needed to be said that night.

Perhaps too soon, they found themselves inside the dorms again. As soon as they reached the floor where Pyrrha lived, they saw Yang appear, grinning from ear to ear.

Pyrrha tensed slightly, preparing for the teasing but Yang just approached them. Her grin turned from playful to warm as she pulled them both into a tight bear-hug.

“I'm so happy for you two.” She spoke in a warm motherly tone, not a hint of teasing in it. They just grinned, blushing slightly in return.

She hung back as Jaune walked Pyrrha to her door. Pausing at the door, Pyrrha shifted nervously, her hands fiddling with the bag of goodies she had gotten. “Thank you Jaune, for this lovely night.” She spoke after a moment.

Jaune just grinned, scratching the back of his head. “No, thank you Pyrrha.” They stared at each other for moment as they leaned in and kissed each other.

After a moment they separated as Jaune took a few steps back. “Get some rest. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the tournament! We'll go out to celebrate when you win.”

Pyrrha grinned. “That sounds lovely. Be safe getting home now, okay?”

Jaune saluted. “Promise!” He said before walking away, glancing over his shoulder to get one last glance at his girlfriend that night.

Pyrrha entered her room, and wasn't even surprised by the eager eyes waiting for her. “Not tonight, okay?” She said softly.

They all glanced at each other before sighing. “Okay. Tomorrow then.” Jane spoke up, before wrapping Pyrrha in a warm hug. “I'm happy for you.”

Pyrrha returned the hug before getting changed into her pajamas. Today had been wonderful. Nothing could compare to it, none of her victories nor awards. She knew she had found both her place in life and her partner. She knew whatever challenges came next, they would tackle them together.

XxXxXxXxX

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this! This is the second to last chapter of the story. It’s a bit sad to be ending this, but I’m excited to be moving on to other longer stories. I’ve always planned for the Vytal Festival to only be one chapter.

A few reasons for this. One, since Jaune isn’t on the team, all the matches that took place will go how they did in the show. I don’t want to write out Jaune watching all the matches, telling Pyrrha she did a good job, and waiting for the next match. It’d just be filler at this point. Second, we all know what the climax of this story will be, so I’m eager to wrap this up, and explain to you guys just exactly how I plan on playing out the events that you all have been dreading.

I hope you don’t find this ending rushed, and I’m going to try to get it done at a reasonable pace but this chapter certainly will be the most difficult one for me to write, pacing wise. Covering the events of the volume in one chapter is going to be a bit tough, but a lot of it was RWBY focused which won’t be getting much attention. So I want to do it properly, then move on to my other stories. Which I’ll be deciding between the General!Pyrrha AU, the Busking!Jaune AU and a third one which I should be posting a test chapter in a day or two. ;)

Till then, thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! You’re freaking fantastic and I hope you have a wonderful day! o/

P.S. Fries and milkshakes are amazing together if and you disagree you are a HEATHEN!

#arkos #MechanicAU #Jaune Arc #pyrrha nikos #rwby #fanfic #ALMOST DONE

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