𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙈𝙚 𝙁. 23. 𝙏𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙧 𝙑𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣
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𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙈𝙚 𝙁. 23. 𝙏𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙧 𝙑𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣
fics:
𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙯 Off the Record: prologue, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Off the Record….Chapter 6
info: After a lifetime of inseparable friendship, Y/N and Nicholas’s bond is tested when a night out in college awakens feelings that threaten everything they’ve built together. warnings: language previous chapter
The classroom hums with quiet conversation: the faint scratch of pens, the tapping of laptop keys, and the squeak of a dry-erase marker as the professor writes on the whiteboard. The board reads: Group Presentation: The Ethics of Criminal Defense-Defending the Guilty.
Students groan, a few already whispering to each other. Y/N sits, half-skimming her notes, sipping on her coffee. The moment “Group Presentation” hits her ears, her head lifts.
“Alright, everyone. You’ll be working in groups of four. You’ll analyze real-world cases, form an argument, and present your stance. Groups are listed on the board. Find your names, then find your people.” He steps aside, and students start standing, scraping chairs, and walking around the room to find their groups.
Y/N squints at the board: Group 3: Y/N Y/L, Tyler Ross, Kayla Nguyen, Aaron Cole.
She gathers her laptop and notebook, weaving through chairs until she spots a small group forming in the corner. She noticed Kayla since she’s had classes with her since freshman year, so they’re kind of acquaintances. Aaron is notorious on campus for somehow breaking the only bathroom in their building, leaving it broken for the remainder of that semester.
Tyler stands out immediately. He's leaning back in his chair, tapping a pen against the table, and chatting effortlessly with Aaron and Kayla. He looks up at her as she approaches.
"Hey, Y/N, right?" Tyler asks, pulling a chair for her next to him.
“Yeah, that’s me. You must be Tyler?”
“That’s me,” He grins. "Looks like we're tackling the most interesting question of the semester!”
“Fun? You mean ridiculous?” Kayla kicks in.
They all laugh softly, settling around a table. The noisy classroom soon fades into a comfortable hum: students chatting, chairs squeaking, the scribbling of notes.
“So… defending guilty clients. I guess we pick a side?” Aaron asks, completely lost.
“Yeah, probably one we can actually argue without losing our minds,” Tyler says, tapping his pen on the table. He then turns his attention to Y/N, “What side do you think we should take?”
"I mean…even guilty people deserve legal representation. Otherwise, the system stops being about justice and starts being about deciding who deserves rights." Y/N says as if she's been destined for this moment.
The group seemed to pause for a second, and Tyler, in particular, looked immediately hooked. Y/N offered a small, knowing smile, feeling the familiar, faint blush creeping up her cheeks as she glanced down at her notes, successfully having pulled off another spontaneous moment of brilliance.
"Wait, that's actually a great argument," Tyler says, sitting up straighter. "Why didn't I think of that? You sound like you’ve thought about this before.” He nods and grins at her, setting his pen down.
"Maybe once or twice." she replied with a small laugh.
He holds her gaze longer than necessary. She glances down at her notes, pretending to focus, but there’s a faint blush she tries to hide.
“Okay, so Y/N clearly is our voice of reason. Tyler, you can be our smooth talker for the presentation. Aaron and I will handle slides.” Kayla suggests.
“Smooth talker? Yeah, I can handle that.” Tyler says smugly, leaning back in his chair.
“As long as you actually do the work too, smooth talker.” Y/N playfully says, smirking at him.
“Promise. I’ll even share my best coffee shop study spots as payment.” Tyler suggests, Y/N smiles and looks down at her notes, catching a hint of flirtatiousness in his voice.
The classroom buzzes as other groups chatter about case studies and defense ethics. The group starts dividing up tasks, scribbling notes, sharing ideas, and exchanging numbers.
“Presentations will start two weeks from today. I’ll expect outlines by Monday!” The professor yells as everyone squeezes themselves out of the classroom door. Y/N gathers her laptop and notes and shoves them in her bookbag. She stands up from her seat and notices everyone in her group is gone, but Tyler still stands beside her.
“Hey, what class do you have next?” He asks, fixing the bookbag hanging off his shoulder.
“No class, just lunch break right now. I’ve got Constitutional Law at 2:45.”
“Nice, I’ve got Criminal Procedure next. Guess we’ll both be drowning in case briefs this week.” He says, tilting his head, giving a small chuckle.
“Yeah, the glamorous life of legal studies.” She laughs nervously, hoping to leave the conversation soon, as her empty stomach is screaming at her.
“Exactly,” He chuckles, “Well, maybe I’ll see you around… or, you know, talk to you later about our case notes.” He says with a slightly flirty tone.
“Sure. I’ll be around.” She smiles.
He grins and waves as he leaves the classroom, backpack slung over one shoulder. Y/N watches him go for a second longer than necessary before shaking her head at herself. She could admit that Tyler was cute, but maybe a little too confident? Too smug? She shakes her head as she gathers her thoughts and heads for the door and straight to the cafeteria.
—----
The lunchtime rush hums softly around them, trays clattering, espresso machine hissing, bursts of laughter echoing off the walls. The light spills through the big cafeteria windows, casting a glow across half-empty tables.
Y/N slides into her usual spot across from Hailey and Mia, who already have their lunches out: a salad for Hailey, a wrap and chips for Mia. Y/N drops her bag onto the ground and exhales, chomping away at a turkey sandwich.
“You look like someone who just found out finals are next week.” Hailey says as she sees the tiredness on Y/N's face.
“I might as well have. Group projects were announced today.” She laughs.
“Ugh, the curse of college existence. What’s the topic?” Mia groans.
“Something about defending the guilty. I’m pretending I understood half of what he said.” Y/N says, taking another bite of her sandwich.
Hailey laughs before crunching on a crouton.
“You’ll nail it. Who’d you get stuck with?” Hailey continues.
Y/N shrugs as she swallows her bite, trying to look casual but clearly hiding a tiny grin.
“Kayla, I’ve had almost every one of my legal studies classes with her since freshman year, Aaron, the guy who clogged the toilet in Merrick Building and ruined the bathroom for the rest of the freshman year. But one of the guys-Tyler-he’s... uh, actually kind of nice. A little too confident, maybe, but nice.” She says.
“Kind of nice? Translation: cute. Spill.” Mia says, eyes widening and scooting closer to Y/N.
Y/N laughs, taking a sip of her drink to avoid answering.
“He’s in legal studies, too. We talked after class, just about schedules and... the project.” She finally answers.
“Oh my God,” Hailey mockingly gasps,” Y/N talked to a boy. Somebody alert the press.”
Y/N rolls her eyes, but can’t hide the smile on her face.
“So you’re saying you’re gonna finally let someone take you on a date that isn’t in your imagination?” Mia teases.
“Well, I didn’t say that, I’m picky.” Y/N points a finger back at Mia.
“You’re probably just traumatized from dealing with Nicholas since the moment you popped out of your mom.” Hailey jokes. Y/N pauses, caught off guard.
“No, it’s not like that. I just-yeah, I just need to stop thinking about him so much lately.” Y/N nervously laughs.
“Hold up. Off him? What does that even mean?” Mia says, shaking her head, giving Y/N a questionable stare.
“I don’t know. It’s not like I like him. It’s just—he’s been...constant, you know? Since we were kids.” She says, trying to cover her ass. She does not need her friends to know how she feels about Nicholas. That’ll be a whole conversation she does not want to have right now.
“It seems he’s got a new girlfriend, like he does every semester. I bet it gets tiring of all the girls he brings over.” Hailey snickers.
Y/N pokes at her food, not able to formulate a response. While the girls had never truly bothered her before, something about the recent shift felt different. She tried to dismiss the sharp stab of envy, forcing herself to wonder if the real ache was just a reflection of her own loneliness.
“It does. I’ve gotta stop making him the center of my world. I’ve got friends, school, and my own life. He’s got his. It’s just...not the same anymore.” She sighs, still poking at her food.
“Whoa. This is, like, emotional growth. Who are you?” Hailey sits back, giggling, liking the new Y/N.
“She’s in her self-actualization era.” Mia laughs.
They all laugh, the tension breaking. Y/N leans back, smiling genuinely for the first time that day.
“Alright,” Hailey sits back up, her attention on Y/N,” What’s the plan for today, then?”
“Since I’m actually going to the Halloween party. I figured I’ll find a costume, look hot, and maybe have some fun, I’m guessing?” Y/N says, even questioning herself as to what she’d even do. She’s never been to a party in high school or college, so she had no idea what to expect.
“Okay, okay. Who is she? I love this energy.”
“And Tyler might be there.” Mia teases. Both Mia and Hailey “oooh” dramatically, laughing. Y/N throws a napkin at them.
“Shut up. I don’t like him like that.” Y/N groans.
“Not yet, but it could be.” Hailey suggests with a teasing tone.
Y/N shakes her head, but the smile stays on her face.
“Soo…are you guys going costume shopping with me, right?” Y/N asks
“Yep. You’re driving.” Mia points a finger at Y/N.
“And we’re not leaving until you pick something that makes people stare.” Hailey adds.
“Deal. I could use a distraction anyway.” Y/N laughs, finishing her latte.
—----
Y/N, Hailey, and Mia push through the glass doors, immediately caught in the chaos. Zombie by the Cranberries blasts from overhead speakers of the crowded Halloween store as wigs, masks, and glittering costumes line the aisles.
“Okay, rule number one: no boring costumes.” Mia grins, grabbing a basket.
“Yeah, no cats, no angels, and definitely no last-minute devil horns,” Hailey adds.
“So basically, you’re banning every idea I had,” Y/N sighs.
They laugh as they begin to move down the aisles, scanning over the overwhelming number of costumes hanging from the walls. Mia points out a beautiful fairy costume with an off-white skirt and a corset lined with colorful flowers and leaves. Y/N’s eyes lit up at the costume, loving the small details on the top, but frowned when she saw they were out of her size.
They move down a bit, then Mia holds up a vampire cape in front of Y/N, she stares back, unimpressed.
“Someone's going to step on that and choke me. Absolutely not.” Y/N laughs.
Hailey holds out a cowgirl outfit: a tan romper with a V-shaped zipper down the middle, exposing just a little cleavage, and a cowboy belt.
“Okay, but this is kinda cute, right?” Hailey grins at Y/N with a questionable smile.
“Admit it, you were made for this costume,” Mia exaggerates.
“You’re lucky I like you.” Y/N playfully glares at her, hating the outfit.
Eventually, Y/N's eyes land on a red and black pirate-themed costume. A red dress with puffed sleeves and a short, flared skirt with a black lace hem and a black lace-up corset with ribbons.
“Girl, that paired with some fishnets and some heeled boots? O-M-G, hottest girl at the party,” Hailey giggles.
She digs through the costumes hanging and lets out a sigh of relief when she sees her size in stock. She walks with her friends over to the fitting rooms, wanting to make sure the costume fits just right before spending the money on it.
Y/N steps into the dress, pulling it up to her chest. She zips the back and begins to fix the dress to emphasize her figure, fixing the ribbons on her front. She pats down the skirt, trying to get it to poof perfectly. The pirate costume fits faultlessly. She twirls around, silently loving the costume.
Y/N emerges slowly from the fitting rooms to show Hailey and Mia the costume, and they freeze mid-laugh.
“Oh... okay. That’s the one.” Hailey says, slightly impressed.
Y/N looks in the mirror. For a moment, the playful expression fades into confidence.
“It’s... actually kind of fun.” Y/N smiles as she twirls in front of the mirror. Trying to see how the dress looked on her from every angle.
“Fun? Girl, you look hot.” Mia laughs.
They all burst into laughter again. Y/N does a small spin, letting the skirt flare out.
“You are so right,” Y/N grins.
The three dissolve into another round of laughter as they discuss Y/N’s costume. Determining it’s the right fit for her.
—----
The soft amber glow lights up the apartment, the setting sun filtering through the blinds. Y/N opens the door, juggling her bag, keys, and the shopping bag with her Halloween costume tucked neatly inside.
The distant chatter from a TV fills the space as Nicholas is sprawled on the couch, phone in hand, TV remote nearby. The moment he sees her, his face lights up in a way that feels unusually refreshed.
“Hey, you’re home!” Nicholas yells from the couch, giving her a cheesy smile
He actually gets up, something he rarely does, and pulls her into a hug. The gesture catches her off guard enough that she forgets to hug him back for a second. She just stands there before a soft laugh escapes her, and she slowly returns the hug.
“Okay... hi to you too?” Y/N laughs, confused as to what hair is up his ass.
“Just glad you’re back. How was your day? You disappear on me or something?”
“Hailey and Mia kidnapped me for a girls’ day. We just did a little shopping and got dinner.”
He notices the Halloween store bag hanging from her wrist and squints with curiosity.
“Oh-ho... What's this? You got a costume?” He teases, eyeing the bag with interest.
“Nope. Just... a t-shirt.” Y/N puts the bag behind her back, trying to hide it from Nicholas.
“Sure. Let me see.” He says, trying to snatch it from behind her back, but she starts backing down the hall toward her room.
“You’re ridiculous. It’s a surprise.” She laughs as she moves further down the hallway towards her room.
“A surprise, huh? Sounds like a costume in disguise.”
“Maybe it is. Guess you’ll just have to wait and see.” She says, finally making it to the entrance of her room. He chuckles, and she shuts the door in his face.
Y/N sits at her desk, grabbing her laptop and notes from her bookbag. She opens her laptop, typing in the link to open her textbook, and lays out her pens, when her phone buzzes. A text from Tyler.
Tyler: So what are you doing for the project again?
She grins slightly. They talked about who was doing what in class, so he knows exactly what she’s supposed to be doing for the project.
Y/N: Why are you asking just me?
Tyler: Because you're the only one who actually had good ideas.
She lets out a loud laugh at the cheesy comment, covering her mouth.
“Oh my god, stop.” She says to herself, catching a breath from laughing. She shakes her head, cheeks turning pink.
She hears a light knock at her door before it creaks open slightly. Nicholas pokes his head in her room with a puzzled look. Seeing her amused grin, opens the door more and stands against the doorframe.
“What’s got you giggling like a schoolgirl in here?” He asks, grinning and crossing his arms.
“Uh—just something funny I saw on Instagram.” She says, avoiding the conversation of talking to a guy after so long.
Her phone buzzes again. Nicholas’s eyes flick toward her desk, catching a glimpse of the bold letters “TYLER” on her screen. He shifts uncomfortably in the spot he is standing in, curious about who Tyler was, though there was an uncomfortable feeling that he couldn’t quite place.
“Oh? Who’s Tyler?” He asks, a weird mix of curiosity and jealousy is plastered all over his face.
“Just someone I met in class. For a group project.” Y/N says softly, noticing his change in mood and tone.
“Hmm. Okay.” He hums.
He pauses longer than usual, like he wants to ask more. Instead, he pushes a quick half-smile.
“Anyway, uh—I should probably get to my homework,” he lies, desperate to escape the conversation.
“You? Doing homework willingly? That’s a new personality trait.” She giggles.
He gives a short laugh but doesn’t meet her eyes.
“Yeah, well. Gotta start sometime.” He turns and steps out, closing the door softly behind him.
Y/N stares at the spot where Nicholas once stood. She shakes her head. What was that reaction? He has always asked when she was going to start dating again, so why did he react like that when he saw Tyler’s text?
Her phone buzzes again. She glances down, another text from Tyler lights up the screen, she looks at the screen and back at the door where Nicholas stood. Was he jealous?
—----
Nicholas closes his bedroom door behind him and leans against it for a moment. The silence feels heavier than usual. He stares at the floor, jaw tight, then drags a hand through his hair.
Y/N's laugh echoes in his head. Not the laugh itself, but the fact that it had been because of someone else. Tyler. The name leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.
Nicholas scoffs quietly and pushes himself toward the bed. This is ridiculous. He'd spent years telling Y/N she should date more. Years of encouraging her to put herself out there. He'd never cared before, so why now?
He sits on the edge of the mattress and grabs his phone. The screen lights up immediately.
Charlotte: Call me when you can ❤️
His thumb hovers over the notification. After a few seconds, he locks the screen and tosses the phone onto the bed beside him.
His gaze drifts toward the wall separating his room from Y/N's. Just a wall separating them, and yet suddenly it feels like she's farther away than she's ever been.
Nicholas leans forward, elbows on his knees. His mind betrays him immediately. Before he can stop himself, the memories come rushing in.
Y/N laughing so hard she nearly choked on a milkshake.
Y/N stealing food off his plate and pretending she wasn't.
Y/N showing up at his bedroom door with medicine when he was sick.
Y/N falling asleep during movie nights, curled into the corner of the couch with a blanket half-slipping off her shoulder.
Y/N standing in the kitchen that morning, sleepy-eyed and smiling at the coffee he'd brought her.
The memories come one after another, effortless and familiar. And that's what finally makes his stomach drop.
No matter who he'd dated, no matter how many girls had come and gone, those weren't the moments he carried with him.
It was always her, always Y/N, and somehow, he'd never stopped to question why.
Nicholas squeezes his eyes shut, and suddenly Charlotte's text doesn't matter.
The dates don't matter, the distractions don't matter, because for the first time, he allows himself to think about the thing he's spent years avoiding.
The idea of Y/N with somebody else doesn't bother him because he's protective. It doesn't bother him because Tyler is a stranger. It bothers him because he doesn't want her to choose someone that isn't him.
His eyes open slowly. The realization settles over him all at once, heavy and impossible to ignore.
"Shit," he whispers.
He leans back against the wall behind his bed and stares at the ceiling.
For years, Y/N had simply been part of his life. Constant. Always there. Now, for the first time, he finds himself wondering what would happen if she weren't, and the answer terrifies him.
He hears her faint laugh through the wall, and a small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. Now he finally understands why hearing her laugh with someone else felt so wrong.
It wasn't jealousy. At least, not entirely. It was something much worse.
He was falling in love with his best friend.
being a fan of something with like 30 total fans on tumblr is funny bc you get like 12 notes on a post and you're like wow the gang's all here
Off the Record….Chapter 5
info: After a lifetime of inseparable friendship, Y/N and Nicholas’s bond is tested when a night out in college awakens feelings that threaten everything they’ve built together. warnings: language, suggestive content, sexual references previous chapter
Soft morning light spills across the small apartment, the quiet interrupted only by the hum of the coffee maker and the occasional slam of cabinet doors. Y/N moves around efficiently, spooning coffee grounds into the filter while mentally running through her schedule for the day. She’s dressed casually in a T-shirt and flared leggings, her hair twisted into a messy bun, looking exhausted but still put together.
Nicholas stumbles down the hallway from his bedroom, hair tousled, dressed in sweatpants and a plain white T-shirt. He rubs at his eyes and yawns loudly as he stretches against the kitchen counter, his shirt riding up just enough to reveal the sharp V-line at his hips. Her eyes flick downward before she quickly turns back toward the coffee maker, blaming the early-morning exhaustion for the warmth suddenly creeping into her face.
“Morning. Smells…dangerous,” he says, reaching over to steal a piece of bacon from the plate beside her. She whips around immediately.
“Hey! That’s mine!”
“Relax. It’s breakfast. Survival of the fittest.” He grins as he takes a bite.
“Survival of the greediest, maybe.”
Rolling her eyes, she snatches the bacon back and walks toward the fridge to finish making her iced coffee, only to stop as she sees that there is no milk in the fridge.
“And you drank the last of the milk, didn’t you?”
“I…might’ve,” he admits, pouting slightly.
“You know I need that for coffee.” Her shoulders slump dramatically.
“And I need cereal. Life’s hard, princess.”
She shakes her head, muttering under her breath just as Nicholas’s phone buzzes.
The moment he checks the screen, his expression drops. He drags a hand down his face before answering reluctantly.
“Hey…yeah, I got it. Wait, no-I’m not ignoring you…Yeah…alright…fine.”
The call ends quickly. He tosses the phone onto the counter harder than necessary before slumping back onto the couch, burying his face in his hands.
“Everything okay?” she asks carefully.
“Yeah. I’m not going to classes today. I’m just…not doing it today.” His voice sounds drained in a way she isn’t used to hearing from him.
“I’m sorry. Just relax today, okay? Take a breather. I’m here if you need anything.”
She reaches over and lightly pats the top of his head before pulling her hand back. A quiet sigh escapes him as her hand leaves, almost like he hadn’t realized how much the small gesture relaxed him.
After a second, he lifts his head and looks at her. His expression softens noticeably as he studies her, exhausted eyes lingering just a little too long. The attention makes her slightly nervous, so she quickly checks the time on her phone instead.
“I’ve gotta get ready for class, but…seriously, I’m here if you need me.”
“Thanks,” he says quietly.
There’s something strange about the moment that sticks with her longer than it should.
Still slouched in the chair, Nicholas watches her finish breakfast and rinse off the plate before disappearing down the hallway. His eyes follow her until her bedroom door clicks shut, and only then does some of the tension leave his shoulders.
—----
The day drags on painfully slowly. During her morning lecture, Y/N spends more time doodling flowers in her notebook than listening to the professor. By her second class, she’s scrolling through Halloween costumes on Pinterest and random costume websites, quietly laughing at inflatable dinosaurs and glitter-covered bananas before forcing herself back to reality.
By the final lecture of the day, the nonstop slides and endless notes leave her rubbing at her temples in frustration. Somehow, her own thoughts are more exhausting than the actual coursework.
The campus café is warm and quiet when she walks in, filled with students eating lunch or typing away on laptops. She spots an empty table near the window and immediately claims it, dropping her backpack beside the chair before opening her laptop and spreading out her notebooks and pens.
After finally getting herself an iced latte, she sinks into the chair with a relieved sigh. The first sip alone feels life-changing.
She’s halfway through a reading assignment when her phone buzzes against the table.
Nicholas: I picked up some more milk!
A small smile pulls at her lips before she can stop it.
Her thoughts drift back to the apartment that morning: Nicholas stealing her bacon, teasing her about the milk, his half-sleep eyes appearing exhausted in the kitchen light, the slight tease of his V line.
Her eyes shoot open as her intruding thoughts catch her off guard. She quickly glanced around to make sure nobody was looking, and lightly smacked her forehead.
“What is wrong with you?” she mutters under her breath, still smiling despite feeling embarrassed with herself.
She forces her attention back onto the reading assignment on her laptop before her brain can spiral any further.
—----
By the time Y/N finally gets home, exhaustion hangs heavily off her shoulders. She unlocks the apartment door, already thinking about collapsing into bed, but immediately freezes in place.
Nicholas and Charlotte are tangled together on the couch. Charlotte sits on his lap with her hands draped possessively around his neck while they make out like they’re the only people in the world. The irritation hits instantly, sharp enough to surprise her, and somehow, that only irritates her more.
“Could you take that shit somewhere else?” she snaps.
Nicholas immediately pulls away from Charlotte, looking guilty and caught off guard, while Charlotte just rolls her eyes with a smug little smirk as she's thrown from his lap.
Y/N doesn’t wait around long enough to hear either of them respond. She storms down the hallway and slams her bedroom door.
The room falls silent except for the sound of her frustrated breathing. She tosses her backpack onto the floor before grabbing the bag of veggie straws from her desk drawer and dropping into her chair. Pulling up her research paper, she tries focusing on work instead of the image still burned into her brain. It doesn’t really help.
After nearly an hour of pretending to work, her attention drifts toward the framed picture of her and Nicholas hanging on the wall. He’d brought girls around before that part never bothered her, but Charlotte did.
There’s something about the way she constantly clings to him, especially whenever Y/N is nearby, that gets under her skin. Like she’s trying to prove something. Mark her territory after barely knowing him for a month.
The realization leaves a bad taste in her mouth. Maybe everyone else is right. Maybe she actually does need to go to the Halloween party. Maybe she needs something outside of school, outside of routines, outside of Nicholas constantly occupying space in her head. Maybe she needs someone else to focus on for once. The idea alone makes warmth creep into her cheeks. She grabs her phone and pulls up ‘Messages’.
Group Chat: Hailey & Mia
Y/N: Okay, I’m going to the Halloween party. You guys wanna hit the costume store tomorrow?
Hailey: Finally 😭 Took you long enough.
Mia: Yessss! I already have ideas 😈
By the time she shuts off her laptop and crawls under the blankets, quietly laughing at the incoming texts from her friends.
—----
Nicholas has been staring blankly at the television for over an hour.
The apartment feels weirdly empty without Y/N moving around down the hallway or laughing loudly from behind her bedroom door. The silence feels heavier tonight.
He checks his phone again. 9:57 PM.
With an annoyed sigh, he tosses it onto the couch cushion beside him and flips on some random action movie he isn’t even paying attention to.
Time passes. Eventually, a creak echoes from the hallway, and his head immediately turns toward the sound before he can stop himself. Nothing. No Y/N. His disappointment is evident as he groans with frustration. Rubbing a hand across his jaw, he sinks farther into the couch cushions.
By 11:15, he’s rummaging through the kitchen for a granola bar just to give himself something to do. He eats it absentmindedly while the television murmurs in the background, the noise doing little to fill the apartment.
A dull ache settles heavily in his chest. He doesn’t like how quiet it feels without her around. The realization unsettles him more than he wants to admit.
Eventually, exhaustion wins out. Within minutes, his head tips back against the couch cushions, and he falls asleep with the television still flickering across the room.
—----
The next morning, soft sunlight spills across Y/N’s rumpled blankets while distant city noise hums outside her window. The smell of bacon tugs her awake. She thinks to herself: Is Nicholas really cooking?
Still groggy, she shuffles out into the kitchen, blanket wrapped loosely around her shoulders, only to stop short at the sight in front of her.
Nicholas is cooking. Actual cooking. Not microwaving something questionable for once.
“...What are you doing?” she asks sleepily. He’s startled slightly before turning toward her.
“Cooking breakfast… duh,” he says, dragging out the last word with a hesitant smile.
She walks farther into the kitchen, the blanket slipping down her shoulders as she takes in the scene: pancakes steaming on the stove, slightly burnt bacon sitting on a plate, and a Dutch Bros coffee cup covered in condensation. Her favorite order.
“You really made all this?”
“Well… the pancakes, yeah. The bacon I mostly supervised. But the coffee’s from that place you like.” He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
“Figured it might buy me some forgiveness.” A laugh slips out of her before she can stop it.
“You’re lucky you didn’t burn the apartment down.”
He laughs under his breath while she takes a sip of the coffee. For a moment, neither of them says anything. Then his expression shifts more serious.
“Look, Y/N…about last night. I should’ve told you Charlotte was coming over. I didn’t mean for you to walk in on that.” Leaning against the counter, he folds his arms across his chest, looking unusually sincere.
“Yeah, that was hard to miss.”
“I know. I thought I told you already, but I guess I only mentioned it Sunday night. That’s on me.”
She takes another sip of coffee, giving him a flat look.
“It’s fine, but if you’re about to get in each other’s pants, maybe take it somewhere besides the couch. I really don’t wanna think about Charlotte’s ass cheeks touching my blanket.”
Nicholas immediately laughs.
“We haven’t even fucked on the couch-”
“Uhh uhh uhh. Nope. Don’t wanna hear it.”
“Well, actually, we haven’t fucked at all-”
“Nicholas Alexander!” Her face drops straight into her hands while he laughs harder.
She tries scrubbing the mental image of them fucking from her brain, but a tiny flicker of relief catches her completely off guard. That reaction bothered her far more than the conversation itself.
“But seriously,” he says more quietly after a moment, stepping a little closer, “don’t let some girl get between us, okay? You’re more important to me than that. I don’t want things getting weird because I’m an idiot sometimes.”
The sincerity in his voice catches her off guard. Her chest tightens unexpectedly. For a second, neither of them moves. The kitchen suddenly feels too quiet, too small, morning light catching in his tired eyes long enough to make her look away first.
“Fine,” she says eventually. “I’ll accept your apology. But only because this smells amazing.”
Relief immediately flashes across his face.
“That’s all I ask.”
“Next time, though, maybe warn me before you turn the living room into a porn set.” She tries sounding annoyed, but the smile tugging at her lips ruins it.
“Deal. But next time, you’re making the bacon.” He pouts at the burnt strips on the plate.
“Absolutely not.”
Their laughter blends softly into the quiet morning air. Nicholas watches her happily place pieces of bacon on her plate and douse her pancakes in syrup, completely unaware of the way he’s looking at her.
Something unfamiliar twists in his chest again. No relationship he’d ever had felt this easy before, and the realization lingers longer than he wants it to. He tries brushing the thought aside, but even as Y/N reaches for another piece of bacon with sleepy satisfaction, the thoughts refuse to leave.
Off the Record...Chapter 4
info: After a lifetime of inseparable friendship, Y/N and Nicholas’s bond is tested when a night out in college awakens feelings that threaten everything they’ve built together. previous chapter
Nicholas unlocks the door, tossing his keys onto the counter before immediately flopping onto the couch. He grabs the remote, scrolling through shows until something random catches his eye, an old rerun of The Andy Griffith Show.
Y/N sets her bag down by the door and places her car keys on the counter before stretching her arms above her head.
“You got more school stuff to do tonight?” he asks as he clicks onto the show.
“Yeah. Just some reading and notes,” she says, taking a seat beside him.
“Nerd.”
“You say that like it’s an insult,” she laughs.
He grins but doesn’t reply, already half-watching the TV.
She sighs and stands from the couch, disappearing down the hall toward her room.
Her room is dim, lit only by a small desk lamp that casts a warm glow over the colorful, messy notes sprawled across her desk while her laptop hums quietly in the silence. Sitting at her desk, Y/N attempts to focus on the screen, but the bold, tedious headings feel endless. She finds herself staring blankly at the same sentence, having read it at least five times now, yet her brain simply isn’t absorbing any of the information.
She rests her chin in her hand, eyes unfocused as the words begin to blur together, and her mind drifts.
The notes on her laptop remain untouched as she replays the hour at Shake Shack in her head. The easy way Nicholas laughed, his head tipped back without restraint. The way his hand brushed against hers as he stole a fry. Even the quiet honesty in his voice when he muttered that “relationships suck” lingers in her thoughts longer than it should.
But it’s the softer moments that stay with her most: the way he’d looked at her when he asked if she was tired, the way his attention always seemed to find her in a crowded room-
Y/N lets out a loud exhale, pressing her lips together like she’s trying to force the thoughts away. She rubs her temples, shakes her head once, then finally gives up and drops her head onto her folded arms at the desk.
Her eyes drift toward the cracked bedroom door. Light spills in from the living room, along with the soft sound of Nicholas laughing. It’s familiar, comforting even, until his voice shifts lower, quieter, more serious.
“No, I said I’d call you back tomorrow. I’m just tired...No, it’s not that. Yeah, okay. Goodnight.”
Silence settles over the apartment again, save for the TV murmuring in the background. Y/N exhales softly, shuts the lid of her laptop, and pushes her chair back.
She pads into the kitchen, pulling a box of crackers from the cabinet before opening the fridge. Nicholas is still sprawled across the couch with his eyes glued to the TV. One arm is thrown behind his head while the other taps impatiently against his stomach, his jaw tight as the flickering television light cuts across the frustrated expression lingering on his face. He barely seems focused on the show anymore.
At the sound of the fridge opening, his gaze snaps toward the kitchen. The tension in his expression relaxes almost immediately when he sees Y/N standing there, and he lets out a quiet breath, some of the irritation draining from his shoulders as he watches her move around the kitchen.
“You done with school already?”
“Yeah, pretty much. Brain’s fried,” she says with a tired chuckle, arranging crackers and slices of cheese onto a plate.
“Then come watch this with me.” He gestures toward the couch with his chin.
Y/N walks over with her plate and settles onto the opposite end of the couch. Nicholas notices the neatly arranged plate of cheese and crackers balanced in her lap.
“Cheese and crackers? That’s your late-night meal of choice?”
“Don’t judge me. It’s quick, it works, and I’m trying to watch my figure,” she jokes, running her hands down the sides of her body dramatically.
He lets out a laugh. “You’re eighty years old.”
“Says the one who has us watching Andy Griffith.”
Nicholas suddenly grabs a cracker from her plate and tosses it at her.
“You’re just jealous I’ve got taste.”
Y/N tries dodging the cracker, but it hits her shoulder anyway. She picks it up and eats it with an unimpressed look.
They fall into an easy silence after that, the kind where neither of them feels the need to fill the air. The sitcom plays softly in the background, complete with its canned laugh track and grainy black-and-white scenes.
“Why are you even watching this?” Y/N asks eventually.
“It’s an old show I used to watch with my dad,” Nicholas says, his voice quieter now. “Figured I’d put it on since it was the first thing that popped up. Reminds me of home, I guess.”
Y/N glances over at him, surprised by the softness in his tone.
“Didn’t think you were into this kind of stuff.”
“Eh, it’s okay. Just reminds me of being a kid.”
“You’re unbelievable,” she says with a small smile, shaking her head as she takes another bite of a cracker.
“Nah. I’m just bored.” He sinks deeper into the couch cushions.
After a moment, Y/N sets her plate down and pulls her knees up onto the couch. The energy between them shifts, quieter now, warmer somehow.
“You gonna eat the rest of those or what?” Nicholas asks, eyeing the plate on the coffee table.
“No. If you want them, take them.”
He immediately snatches the plate and starts eating the crackers.
Y/N watches him with an amused, slightly judgmental look as he finishes the snack like he hasn’t eaten all day. Her gaze lingers longer than she means for it to.
Nicholas catches it this time.
Neither of them says anything.
“So...” he starts, brushing crumbs off his shirt, “what made you pick legal studies again?”
Y/N blinks, caught off guard by the sudden question.
“Uh... I don’t know. I’ve always liked figuring out how things work, rules, people, systems. I like it when things make sense.”
“Makes sense,” he says. “You like having things organized. Your color-coded notes, your planners, the way the cups are lined up perfectly in the cabinets-”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” she interrupts, laughing.
“Nah.” He shakes his head lightly. “Just... different from me. I make things up as I go.”
“Yeah,” she says dryly, “I’ve noticed.”
He laughs before flicking a crumb off his shirt and tossing it at her.
“Hey!”
“Hey, it works for me,” he says smugly.
“For now.”
“Always.”
There’s enough confidence in his voice to make her roll her eyes despite the smile tugging at her lips.
Silence settles over them again, soft and comfortable.
Y/N leans farther back into the couch, her head resting near the armrest. Nicholas’s eyes flick toward her for just a second too long before he forces his attention back to the television.
“You tired?” he asks quietly.
“A little.” Y/N lets out a slow yawn as the TV light flickers across her face, highlighting the exhaustion beneath her eyes.
“You look it,” he says, his gaze lingering on her.
“Yeah, I think I’m gonna call it a night.”
She stands, gathering her empty plate and glass. Nicholas leans back against the couch, watching her with an easy grin.
“Don’t stay up too late,” she jokes, stretching her arms overhead.
“No promises.”
She shakes her head, amused, before disappearing down the hallway toward her room. The door closes softly behind her.
Nicholas exhales slowly, his eyes lingering on the hallway for a moment longer than necessary before he finally looks back toward the television.
But his attention isn’t really on the show anymore.
(For those who are reading, if there are any, lol, I apologize for the long breaks in between posts. I work full-time and I don't get much time to myself. It also takes a lot of proofreading and I make a lot of changes. So, thank you to those who are enjoying it so far, I appreciate you all!)
Off the Record...Chapter 3
info: After a lifetime of inseparable friendship, Y/N and Nicholas’s bond is tested when a night out in college awakens feelings that threaten everything they’ve built together. previous chapter
The late-afternoon sun casts a warm glow across the pavement. The once bustling parking lot has emptied, leaving only a few scattered cars and the faded echo of students laughing. A light breeze drifts through the air, carrying the faint rustle of leaves skittering across the pavement.
Y/N wanders across the lot, backpack slung over one shoulder, eyes tired from the weight of a long day. She continued walking toward the car until the sudden sound of footsteps quickening behind broke her concentration.
“Hey, Y/N!”
She turns, eyebrows furrowed. Nicholas jogs toward her, his backpack slung loosely over one shoulder, that familiar grin tugging at his lips, like seeing her was exactly what he’d been hoping for.
“What, did Charlotte forget about you or something?” she jokes.
“Funny you say that, because…I kinda need a ride,” he says, slightly out of breath.
She pauses, leaning forward, folding her hands together against the top of her car, and resting her chin on them as she stares at him.
“Why can’t your girlfriend take you? She wants to come over so bad, she can take you home, right?” Her tone’s sharp, with an undertone of sarcasm. Nicholas’s smile falls, just barely, before he exhales, scratching the back of his neck.
“She’s still in class. And we literally live together,” he says, throwing his hands up in a “wtf” motion.
Y/N hums, a faint smirk forming as she looks away. “I know. Just wanted to give you a hard time. Sucks to be her, though.”
Something flickers across his face that’s too quick to fully read, but he just shakes his head, chuckling as he opens the passenger door and slides in.
“You do that really well, you know.”
“Yeah,” she sighs, glancing at him for a second longer than necessary before starting the car, “it’s one of my many talents.”
Silence settles between them, followed by the low hum of the engine, and a song begins playing from the radio. Nicholas leans back, stretching, his arm brushing against hers for a second before he lets out a dramatic groan. A groan so dramatic it nearly drowns out the music.
“Oh my god, I’m starvingggg!” Y/N gives him a look, deadpan but amused.
“You act like you haven’t eaten in three days.”
“Pretty sure I haven’t. You know how my schedule’s been,” he sighs, tilting his head toward her slightly.
“You mean gaming until 2 a.m. is a part of your curriculum?”
“Hey, it’s called 'stress relief.’ Maybe you should try it sometime?” he giggles, his gaze lingering on her just a beat too long.
"Yeah, right. I don't think screaming at children through a headset is relaxing, Nick. You're officially delusional," she laughed.
Nicholas laughs too, softer this time, like he’s more focused on her than the joke.
“Come on, let’s grab food. Shake Shack? My treat,” he offered, throwing her his best attempt at puppy dog eyes.
“Since when do you pay for things voluntarily?” she asked, fighting the urge to give in immediately to his request.
“Since I’m trying to make up for the emotional damage you just caused,” he chuckled.
Y/N shook her head, a grin finally breaking through as she drove the car toward the exit.
“Fine. But I’m ordering the most expensive item on the menu since I’m officially starving, too. Don’t you dare regret it later,” she says, pointing a finger his way with a smirk.
“Deal. But if they’re out of fries, I’m blaming you personally,” he teased, his lips pulling into a familiar grin as he caught her eye.
The car rolls out of the school's parking lot, and the glowing sun flickers through the windshield as the campus begins to fade into the background. The tension is gone now, replaced by hunger and excitement as they drive toward the bright neon sign of Shake Shack, glowing down the street.
—----
The late-afternoon sun casts a warm, amber glow through the glass and spills across the tables. As the dinner rush begins to fade, the bustling line thins out, leaving only the low hum of scattered conversations as friends and couples settle into their booths with trays of burgers, salty fries, and thick milkshakes.
Y/N and Nicholas eat in a booth by the window. Y/N's tray holds a SmokeShack burger, fries, and a vanilla milkshake. Nicholas has a ChickenShack sandwich, onion rings, and a Cookies and Cream shake. The space is just tight enough that their legs occasionally bump under the table, neither of them pulling away right away.
Nicholas leans back, groaning and letting out an exaggerated sigh as he bites into his sandwich.
“So, what are you even dressing up as for Halloween?” She asks, taking a sip of her milkshake.
“A cowboy,” he says, glancing at her while he talks, like he’s waiting for her reaction more than anything else.
“Really? A cowboy?” She raises an eyebrow, unimpressed.
“Oh, it’s not just any cowboy. Full denim. Boots. Maybe even a hat if I feel like it.” He grins, catching her judgmental stare.
Y/N laughs, shaking her head.
“Wow. So original. Did you even try?” she teases.
He huffs at her, shoving a fry into his mouth and rolling his eyes.
“Why put in effort when I can make anything look good?” he says, his voice laced with confidence, but his eyes flick to hers, almost like he’s checking if she agrees. She fought the urge to agree, she wasn’t about to let a remark like that inflate his ego any further.
“Yeah, you and every other frat guy in a Spirit Halloween cowboy hat.”
She takes a bite of her burger, but when she does, the sauce from her burger spills on her chin, dripping down onto her shirt. She tries wiping it away before Nicholas notices, and he bursts into laughter.
“Oh my god, look at you! You’ve got sauce all over you! And you call me messy,” He lets out a loud laugh as he reaches across the table, handing her napkins, his fingers brushing hers briefly as he does.
“Shut up!” She groans, shooting him a glare that is more playful than annoyed, and she quickly swipes the lingering sauce from her face.
They both laugh, the conversation drifting as she steals another onion ring from his plate and he snatches a fry back, a casual rhythm that feels effortless. Between bites, they begin sipping each other's milkshakes, passing the cups across the booth with a comfortable familiarity that makes the gesture feel completely natural.
“So… what about you? You’re going to the party, right?” He asks, taking a fry from her side of the table.
"I don't know... I haven't really given it much thought. Besides, I haven't even officially said I was going yet," she says, her voice casual, though she’s doing her best to hide her interest in wanting to go to the party.
“What about… a zombie? Or a cat—” He says as she takes a sip of his milkshake, she suddenly stops, almost spitting it out, saying.
“A cat?!” she practically shrieks, the sound cutting him off as she bursts into a fit of breathless laughter. Nicholas watches her, his eyes widening with concern, then he bursts into laughter, nearly choking on thin air.
“Okay, okay… maybe a pirate. Mario. Art the Clown. I don’t know,” he says as he catches his breath from laughing. Her expression softened as she looked at him, a quiet warmth settling in her chest at the realization that he was actually trying to pull her out of her own head, offering her a rare chance to finally let go and just breathe for once.
“I’ll think about it,” she says, giving him a small smile.
They both laugh, and the conversation drifts. She steals another onion ring, and he snatches a fry back.
“So… you're still in your 'no time for dating' phase?” he quietly says as Y/N rolls her eyes, not expecting the question.
"It’s not a phase," she mutters, avoiding his eyes.
"I just... I don’t feel like dealing with any of that right now." She snatches a generous handful of fries from the tray, stuffing them into her mouth without thinking
“Fair enough. Relationships suck,” he says, but there’s something off in his tone this time.
Y/N lifts her gaze to meet his once more, raising an eyebrow as she lets out a scoff.
“If they suck so bad, why are you in one?”
“Touché. Guess I’m a slow learner.” He smirks, leaning back against the booth. For a moment, neither of them says anything.
“You said it, not me.” She says as she throws her hands up.
He reaches over, stealing one of her fries, his fingers brushing hers again, this time lingering just slightly before pulling back, and she chuckles back at him.
They fall back into an easy rhythm: stealing fries, trading bites, laughing over nothing. Outside, the sun dips lower, casting long shadows across the pavement, but neither of them seem in a hurry to leave. For a little while, it’s just them, sharing food, quiet laughter, and something unspoken lingering in the space between them.
Off the Record…Chapter 2
info: After a lifetime of inseparable friendship, Y/N and Nicholas’s bond is tested when a night out in college awakens feelings that threaten everything they’ve built together.
warnings: profanity previous chapter
Y/N woke up to the faint buzz of her alarm. The bright, bold letters on her phone read 8:30 AM. A soft, golden glow spilled across the room as sunlight filtered through the curtains.
She stirred beneath the covers, groggy but determined, silencing the alarm with a sluggish tap. The morning unfolded in a quiet, familiar rhythm. The rush of cold water hitting her face, the clatter of her toothbrush, a quick brush through her tangled hair before twisting it up into a casual claw clip.
Moments later, the smell of toast and fresh coffee filled the kitchen. Y/N, still groggy, slowly buttered a slice of toast, setting it down next to a glass of iced coffee. She settled onto a stool at the island, her eyes skimming the day’s schedule on her phone as the morning light danced across the screen.
The sound of a door creaking open echoes from down the hallway. Nicholas stepped out, shirtless, stretching as he wandered toward the kitchen, his hair a mess and his eyes still heavy with sleep. Y/N’s gaze flickered up, just long enough to catch the lines of his abs, long enough for something in her chest to tighten, before she quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in her phone.
The faint sound of his footsteps and the clink of her coffee glass filled the silence. Morning settled between them, quiet, familiar, and charged with something unspoken.
“Did you even sleep?” Nicholas asked, his voice still rough with sleep, softer than usual.
She opened her mouth to answer, but the faint scent of his cologne and shampoo hit her first, clean, fresh, with a hint of pine. It was distracting. Way more distracting than it should be. She blinked, realizing she was staring again, this time at the slow movement of his chest, the way water clung to his skin. He leaned in slightly, close enough that she could feel the warmth of him beside her, his attention dropping to her phone screen.
“A little,” she muttered, suddenly hyper-aware of how close he was, how easy it would be to lean just a fraction closer.
Nicholas didn’t seem to notice her reaction…or maybe he did. His lips twitched slightly as he reached past her, his arm brushing hers for half a second longer than necessary. He took a sip of her coffee and a bite of the other half of the toast she hadn’t touched yet, completely unbothered.
“Hey!” she yelled as he ran to his room to get ready. She let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding, her fingers tightening slightly around her glass before she forced herself to relax.
—----
The parking lot hummed with the sound of car doors slamming and students rushing to class. Y/N pulled into a spot near the edge of campus, the engine humming to a stop. She sat for a brief second, staring out the windshield, the kind of pause that comes from lack of sleep and too much on her mind.
She exhaled, grabbed her backpack, and stepped out into the crisp morning air. The campus buzzed with movement. Friends greeting each other, coffee cups clutched tight, backpacks slung over tired shoulders.
As she crossed the courtyard, her eyes caught on Nicholas standing with a small group of friends near the fountain. Charlotte, his so-called “girlfriend,” stood close beside him, laughing too loudly, brushing his arm like she owned the moment.
Something in Y/N’s chest tightened again, sharper this time, quieter, harder to ignore.
Nicholas noticed her almost immediately, like he always did. His expression shifted, just slightly, as he nodded her way, offering a small, familiar wave that felt more personal than it should’ve in a crowd like this.
She returned it quickly, just a flick of her wrist, nothing too obvious, but her gaze lingered a second too long before she forced herself to look away and keep walking.
Still, she could feel it.
His eyes on her.
—----
The cafeteria buzzed with midday energy, trays clattered, laughter echoed, and the smell of pizza and espresso hung thick in the air. A long line snaked past the salad bar while clusters of students crowded around tables, their conversations overlapping in a constant hum.
Y/N stood in line, tray in hand, half-listening to the noise around her. She looked a little tired, her hair loosely hanging over her shoulders, but there was the faintest spark returning to her expression.
She spotted her best friends, Hailey and Mia, waving her over from a table near the window, sunlight spilling across their half-eaten lunches and scattered notebooks.
Y/N slid into the seat across from them, setting her tray down with a soft sigh of relief.
“Have you finished the paper for Cucklund’s class?” Hailey asked as she chomped on a sub sandwich.
“Fuck no,” Y/N said as she pulled a fork out of its wrapper. “I don’t even understand how he expects us to finish that crap when we have four other classes and, you know, a life.”
“Preach. I gave up halfway through last night and watched Breaking Bad instead. Honestly, no regrets,” Mia said, laughing.
Y/N let out her first real laugh of the day, the kind that eased her shoulders a little. She raised her hands in a preach motion.
“I wish I could be that relaxed. I swear I’ve been running on anxiety and coffee since high school,” Y/N said.
“Then maybe you should try this wild new thing called ‘relaxing.’ Ever heard of it?” Hailey poked at her.
“Yeah, like go out this weekend. Breathe actual air that isn’t laced with coffee and academic despair,” Mia added, a hint of desperation in her voice. Y/N raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of her soda.
“That’s funny, because that’s exactly what Nicholas told me. He said I need to take a break from school,” Y/N said, her tone casual, but the way she said his name lingered just a second longer than everything else.
“That’s because you are a big ball of stress!” Hailey said, banging her hands on the table. She received some odd stares from people around her and shot them a stank look back.
“Like, top-tier stress. You could power a small city with it,” Mia laughed.
Y/N laughed, covering her face with her hand. “You guys are so dramatic.”
“We’re just saying… it wouldn’t kill you to have some fun,” Hailey said.
“Yeah, who knows? Maybe you’ll meet someone,” Mia added.
“Ooooohhh,” Hailey teased, making kissing noises. Y/N laughed, shaking her head as they all laughed.
“Yeah, sure. Because that’s exactly what I need, another distraction,” Y/N said.
“No, seriously. Halloween is this weekend! It’s the one time you can wear glitter, eat free candy, drink as much alcohol as you want, and not feel guilty about either,” Hailey said.
“And if we’re lucky, we’ll get to laugh at people in dumb costumes. That’s basically like a humiliation ritual,” Mia added with a laugh.
Y/N smirked, a bit of the tension from earlier finally melting off her face. “Alright, fine. Maybe I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all we needed to hear. Thinking about it is step one. Step two is me forcing you into something cute,” Hailey said, smiling and clasping her hands together.
They all burst out laughing, the kind that echoed above the cafeteria chatter. Y/N leaned back in her chair, smiling for real now. The noise around her felt lighter, the day a little easier.
Off the Record...Chapter 1
prologue info: After a lifetime of inseparable friendship, Y/N and Nicholas’s bond is tested when a night out in college awakens feelings that threaten everything they’ve built together.
warnings: profanity
The apartment is dimly lit, a warm amber glow spilling from a floor lamp beside the couch. The faint hum of the refrigerator and the rhythmic tapping of keys blend with the rapid gunfire from the TV.
Nicholas is slouched deep into the cushions, a controller clutched in his hands, his gaze fixed on the flashing, chaotic screen of Call of Duty. His jaw clenches, his shoulders hunched with tension, and he mutters a string of frustrated curses as his on-screen character takes another fatal hit. With a groan of annoyance, he shifts forward, tapping the plastic controller against his knee before plunging back into the game.
Across the apartment, Y/N sits at the island in the kitchen, a fortress of open notebooks and neatly stacked research papers surrounding her. The cold light of her laptop screen highlights the faint furrow in her brow as she types, a steady, measured rhythm of keystrokes. The consistent, almost rhythmic clack of the keys contrasts with the loud, unpredictable gunshots from the game.
Then Nicholas’s character gets shot, ending the match.
“Noooo! Are you fucking kidding me?” Nicholas roars, his scream of frustration echoing as he throws the controller onto the cushion beside him.
“Oh, shut up. It’s not new to you,” Y/N scoffs, not looking up, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
Nicholas lifts his head, turning a full, annoyed stare toward her. “You are so mean!”
“You're just sensitive,” she laughs, turning her attention back to her laptop as she continues typing.
Nicholas stands up and walks the few steps over to her at the island, reaching and closing the screen.
“Bruhh… are you kidding me?” she yells, swatting at him, but he easily evades the blow.
“Rude ass!” she screams, the sound hissing at the end, and opening the laptop. He simply laughs at her irritation.
“God, you need to take a break from that shit. You don’t ever do anything anymore but bury your face in that laptop and take notes.” He settles onto the seat next to her at the island, peering at her laptop screen, which displays Chapter 13: The Legal Profession.
“When you’re constantly writing papers, you’ll get it.” She glances at him briefly before turning back to the bright screen and the loud clatter of the keys.
“Oh, I do. I just don’t stress about it,” he chuckles, rising from his seat and heading to the fridge to grab a drink.
Y/N rolls her eyes and continues typing, but he reaches over and shuts the screen on her hands as she types.
“Seriously, you need to take a break for once.” He gives her a look that is both serious and sympathetic. Since the start of the semester, school has consumed Y/N entirely. There have even been nights when she almost went without eating, but with Nicholas around, he always makes sure she has food in her stomach.
“No!” she groans, lifting her gaze to meet his. His hand remains on the lid of her laptop.
“Alright, damn,” she relents, leaning back in her seat and stretching her aching back with a sigh.
A ding breaks the silence, drawing Nicholas’s attention to his phone. He groans as he reads the text from his girlfriend, Charlotte. Y/N watches him with a puzzled look.
“Do you mind if Charlotte comes over tomorrow? She won’t leave me alone about how she’s never been over here in the two months we’ve been together.” The annoyance in his voice is thinly veiled.
Though Nicholas and Charlotte’s relationship is still new, to Nicholas it already feels like an eternity. For the first two weeks, they were inseparable, but once Nicholas noticed the clingy and controlling nature of her behavior, he struggled to find a kind way to end things. Her demands range from insisting he call her while grocery shopping to expecting him to pay half of her rent.
Y/N, in particular, is Charlotte’s nemesis. She cannot fathom why a man would pursue relationships with other women while living with one. Even after Nicholas explains his long history with Y/N, Charlotte refuses to listen and maintains a deep hatred for her. Y/N, on the other hand, remains an observer, simply trying to get through her assignments and life itself.
“And that means opening this laptop back up. I don’t care,” she declares, eager to sidestep any conversation about Charlotte. She glares at him and promptly reopens her laptop.
“I’m surprised you’re still with her, Mr. ‘I have a new girl over every three months,’” she scoffs, attempting to type.
He slams the lid shut again, staring at her with a blank, slightly hurt expression. She returns his gaze with undisguised annoyance.
“You’re paying for a new laptop if you break the damn screen,” she snaps.
“I’m sorry! I have a bad type, okay?” He attempts to inject humor to lighten the mood.
“You need a reality check,” she laughs, genuinely amused.
“What’s your type anyway? Crazy bitches? That’s all I’ve ever seen you bring around. Not one of them has been right in the head,” she presses.
Nicholas pauses, looking at her. The comment stings because she is right, but also because Y/N herself is his type, a truth he cannot possibly admit.
“It’s complicated,” he sighs, running a hand through his hair.
“I can tell,” Y/N replies, meeting his eyes.
“What about you? What’s your type? We’re juniors, and I haven’t seen you bring a guy around since that jackass from eleventh grade,” he shoots back, matching her energy.
She pauses, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples before looking back up at him with a sigh.
“It’s complicated,” she replies, echoing the same answer he gave her.
Nicholas laughs at her response. “I see how it is. I’ll get it out of you one way or another,” he says as he walks over to turn off the gaming system and the TV.
“Goodnight,” he calls before disappearing down the hallway.
Y/N watches him walk away, rolling her eyes at his persistence. She flips her laptop open again, the document glowing on the screen. For a brief moment, her concentration drifts to thoughts of Nicholas.
With a quiet sigh, she shakes her head, pushes the thought aside, and forces herself back into work mode.
Off the Record...Prologue
Long before Nicholas and Y/N were best friends, their mothers were.
They met in middle school. Just two girls who instantly clicked in a way that you would've thought they were sisters in another lifetime. From that moment on, they were rarely apart. They spent summers at each other’s houses, went on family vacations together, and wandered through malls side by side with matching nails and the same crazy stories to tell. By senior year, their lives were so intertwined that they even attended prom together. Even as far as going on a double date with the boys who would eventually become Nicholas and Y/N’s fathers.
College only strengthened their bond. They navigated dorm life together, shared late-night study sessions, and celebrated every milestone side by side. Then, just as life seemed to settle into place, something remarkable happened. They both became pregnant within months of each other.
Nicholas arrived first, followed three months later by Y/N.
From the beginning, their lives mirrored their mothers’. They grew up with constant playdates, shared vacations, and always seemed to be in the same classrooms and with the same teachers. Their friend groups blended, their interests overlapped, and their families often joked that they would end up with each other someday.
As the years passed, something quietly shifted between them.
What began as an effortless childhood friendship slowly deepened into something harder to define. There were moments, long glances, lingering smiles, the comfortable way they always gravitated toward one another that hinted at feelings neither of them dared to admit. The risk of losing the friendship they’d built their entire lives around felt too great.
So they never pushed it. At least, not until one night changes it all.
Because sometimes the person who has been beside you your entire life turns out to be the one you were meant to fall in love with all along.
Thank you, Catherine O'Hara
ᴏꜰꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅ
After a lifetime of inseparable friendship, Y/N and Nicholas’s bond is tested when a single night in college awakens feelings that threaten everything they’ve built together.
COMING SOON
skipping the ad isn't enough...... i need to banish it. i need to murder it. i need to stab it to death. i need to blow it the fuck up.
Rizal Badar's beautiful fanart for Wicked: For Good.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story S2E4 · Kill or Be Killed