in which you have your first sleepover at nancy’s house. as her girlfriend, of course.
warnings: previous friends to lovers, kissing, fluff!!
۶ৎ ۶ৎ
The bathroom is foggy once you step out of the shower, slipping into your comfy pajamas as quick as you can. Both because you’re growing sleepy and you’d never want to make someone think you’re that guest who hogs the bathroom.
You fold your clothes carefully, feeling a little awkward. Not because it’s a new environment, you’ve been to the Wheeler’s house countless times. But this is your first time sleeping over as Nancy’s girlfriend.
And as much as you don’t think anyone has a clue on what is happening between you two, you feel yourself threading more lightly.
You also feel like you have to make this whole new impression on her. Being a best friend is different from being a girlfriend — there’s no denying in that.
You’re sitting by the edge of the bathtub pulling on your fuzzy socks when there’s a gentle knock on the door, your girlfriend’s head peaking inside once she’s sure you’re okay with her coming in.
“Hi.” She throws you shy smile, sweet honey voice. Her own hair is damp from the shower you insisted she took first, curls adorably falling over her forehead.
“Hey.” You smile back warmly.
“Thought we could get ready for bed together.” Nancy suggests, your toiletries bag on her hand.
“Course.” You pull yourself up, taking it from her with a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”
You could get used to this, doing your skincare beside her as you sneak looks at her through the mirror. The headband on her head has you holding back a smile, floral scent of the shampoo she used filling the stuffy air of the bathroom.
The silence is comfortable, both of you tired from the day you spent together at the mall. Your eyes feel droopy as you brush your teeth, elbow knocking against hers when you stumble.
You both giggle as your eyes lock on the mirror, toothpaste foam on the corner of your mouth making you feel silly.
Nancy grabs your hand once you’re both done, cold sweeping through once she opens the door and you quickly make your way back to her bedroom.
“It’s freezing.” You rub your arms, goosebumps on your legs that are uncovered by your shorts.
Her feet pad all the way to her wardrobe, pulling out a pink sweater that you’re already accustomed to see on her before handing it to you.
“Your favorite?” You ask with raised eyebrows. “I feel special.”
She answers with a light push to your shoulder, grabbing your shoulder to pull you right back. “Don’t push it.”
You’re guided towards the bed by her soft hands, siting on the corner as she settles behind you. Her fingers work through your hair carefully, never pulling too hard as she fixes up a braid.
Her lips press on your shoulder once she’s finished, doe eyes peering at you over your shoulder. “C’mon.”
You feel giddy once your back hits the pink cushions of her bed, realization of this being the first time you’re sharing a bed with her as a girlfriend.
“What are you so smiley about?” She teases, crawling towards you until she practically on top of you.
“Just happy.” You hum, pressing a kiss to her knuckles as you hold her hand that comes to rest on your chest. “Is that allowed?”
Nancy traps her lips between her teeth, holding back the smile that she’s gotten used to having around you. She looks comfortable, eyes crinkling under the dim light and skin glowing reminding you too much of an angel.
“You’re so pretty.” She whispers, nose nuzzling against yours in affection.
It’s new to have her expressing her thoughts about you so freely, still takes the breath away from your lungs. So you settle with pressing your mouth to hers, arms wrapping around her to press her close.
The fabric of her tank top is smooth against your fingers, leaving you feeling like you’re in the clouds with her sweet taste invading your mouth. It doesn’t help that she’s just as eager as you, rubbing the skin that peaks from the colar of your shirt with her thumb and leaning impossibly closer until your legs tangle with her.
She’s a little breathless once you pull away, slightly frustrated but not ready nor with the energy for anything else.
“You just stole all the lip balm on my lips, thief.” She pretends to be annoyed, snuggling against your neck.
“Sorry, sweet girl.” You chuckle, because you really don’t sound sorry at all. If anything, the strawberry taste that lingers on your lips makes adds up to the warm feeling on your chest.
You spent too much time borrowing it from her and pretending that somehow it might feel a bit closer to what kissing her would be like.
“Liar.” You feel her smile against your collarbone, cheeks warm at the pet name.
You don’t answer, reaching to turn off the bedside lamp before swiftly pulling her back on top of you. She shrieks in surprise, setting against you nevertheless.
Your hands settle against her back as you run them through it, occasionally squeezing her shoulder gently and pressing kisses against her hair. To which she hums contently, face hidden in your neck as she relishes in your smell with legs still intertwined with yours.
“Nance.” Your whispers comes after a moment of silence, fingers tracing the space between her shoulder plates.
“Hm?” Nancy hums, sleepy state overtaking her.
“I really am happy.” The statement is soft, almost inaudible.
But the smile you feel pressed against your neck tells you she heard it just fine, breath fanning your skin in a slightly ticklish way.
“‘M happy, too.” Her words slur a bit as she speaks, breath starting to even out as she falls into slumber.
Your head feels fuzzy as you lay there, girl that you’ve dreamed about countless times laying on top of you like you’re the most comfortable pillow she’s laid on. Sleep comes after you soon enough, more at ease than ever.
summary: Natalie has always been confused by your infatuation with her. You're this sweet, sweater-wearing, giggling princess who's genuinely nice to everyone and gets good grades- what could she possibly have going for her that would make you act the way you do?
warnings/tags: fluff, lowkey a little angsty at times, making out, reader wants that cookie BAAAAAAD, Nat calls reader "princess" (i'm sorry y'all- i can't escape it), beta edited/not proofread
wc: 7.2k
The first time you ever spoke to Natalie was back in middle school- you had just moved to Wiskayok and were a chatty 11-year-old, who paid attention and participated frequently in class, and always had an extra pencil for anyone who needed one.
Including Natalie, who randomly decided one day in sixth grade that she wanted to give being a good student a try. She already didn't have many friends at this point, and the few boys she did hang around had been bothering her lately, so she figured she'd try her luck with you.
You, of course, lent her a pencil when she asked, delivering it with a beautiful, bright-eyed smile. You even chirped a soft "here you go, Nat!" as you passed it to her, which she mulled over for the next week, ultimately deciding you seemed too nice and that the two of you probably wouldn't get along very well.
You continued to smile at her and say hi when you saw her out and about, even as years passed and you both moved up to high school. You changed for the better, and her, of course, for the worse.
Senior year rolls around, and you've surprisingly started seeking Nat out. It started as usual- smiles and waves in passing- but then it escalated to approaching her at lunch or seeking her out on the rare occasion she actually came to class just to chat.
Natalie is convinced you're trying to trick her into getting close to you, just so you can pull the rug out from underneath her and humiliate her. She knows you're friends with Beth, whose boyfriend cheated on her with Natalie over the summer, so maybe you were trying to help her get revenge of some sort. But that wasn't you... and as much as Nat likes to pretend there's something sinister hiding underneath your patchwork crewneck and ruffle socks, she knows deep down there isn't.
Natalie realizes she has a problem the first time she notices your hands- not in a weird way, of course- just… against your water bottle during lunch, sleeves pulled over your knuckles while you laugh at something one of your friends says. Your nails are painted some chipped pastel color, and there’s a tiny silver ring on your finger that catches the cafeteria lights every time you move. Natalie notices only because she’s sitting across the courtyard pretending not to stare.
“You listening?” Kevyn asks. “Hm?”
“You’re burning your fries.” Natalie looks down, and sure enough, the cigarette between her fingers has dropped ash directly onto the paper tray.
“Shit.” Kevyn snorts while she brushes it off. When she looks back up, you’re already glancing over at her with your typical, warm smile- always with the smiling... Not fake polite smiling either- actual smiling, like seeing Natalie genuinely improves your day somehow.
It makes her instantly suspicious.
You wave a little, Natalie rolls her eyes automatically, but after a second, she lifts two fingers off the table in acknowledgment.
Rookie mistake. Because your posture somehow immediately becomes even more perfect and your smile widens, becoming even brighter, bright enough that Natalie has to look away.
“Dude,” Kevyn says slowly. “Are you flirting with her?”
Natalie almost chokes on smoke, “What?”
“With princess over there.” Natalie scoffs hard enough to sound offended. “Absolutely not.”
Kevyn raises an eyebrow. “Then why do you look constipated every time she talks to you?”
She rolls her eyes, as she always does, “Because she’s weird.”
Kevyn chuckled, taking a bite of his food, “She’s literally just nice.”
“Exactly. Weird.” But even after the conversation changes, Natalie keeps catching herself noticing stupid little things about you- the way you tuck your chin when you laugh, the soft sweaters, the fact that you always carry snacks in your backpack and hand them out without making people ask. It’s irritating.
Worse, she starts noticing other people noticing you too.
Some guy from track leans down by your locker one morning, smiling too hard while you talk. You laugh at something he says, all warm and sweet, and Natalie feels something ugly tighten unexpectedly in her stomach. Not jealousy- obviously not jealousy... More like- Annoyance.
Yeah... annoyance. Because the guy’s clearly a douchebag! That has to be it...
By lunch, Natalie’s in such a bad mood that even Taissa tells her to quit glaring at people- a rare moment of solidarity between the two as they smoke against the side of the building.
“I’m not glaring.”
“You look like you want to kill someone.” Natalie flicks ash into the dirt below her. “Maybe I do.”
Taissa follows her line of sight toward your table.
“Oh my God,” she groans, causing Natalie to stiffen immediately. “What?”
“You seriously have a problem with y/n?” Natalie scoffs immediately, “Please.”
Taissa raises an eyebrow. “You’ve been staring at her for like ten minutes.”
“I’m staring because she’s impossible not to look at.” The words slip out before Natalie can stop them. Tai goes quiet for half a second, a smirk growing on her lips, “Wow.”
Natalie squeezes her eyes shut, wincing slightly as she backtracks. “Not like that, Jesus Christ...”
Taissa’s grin starts forming instantly. “Oh my God.”
“She just-” Natalie gestures vaguely toward your table, where you’re animatedly talking with your hands, sweater sleeves hanging over your knuckles. “She stands out.”
“Because she’s cute?” Natalie rolls her eyes hard. “Because she looks like she belongs in a trix yogurt commercial.”
Taissa laughs and Natalie chuckles with her, taking another drag from her cigarette, somewhat irritated with herself for even entertaining this conversation.
“She’s too nice,” she mutters, “Nobody’s actually like that.”
Tai hums knowingly, “Right.”
“And she keeps talking to me for some reason.”
“Maybe she likes you.” Natalie snorts so hard she almost coughs. “Yeah, okay.”
Across the cafeteria, you glance over at that exact moment and smile automatically when you notice her. Natalie looks away first.
“Shut up,” she says flatly before Taissa can even open her mouth.
Natalie hates being touched unexpectedly (most people do!), so when someone grabs lightly at the sleeve of her flannel in the hallway, her first instinct is irritation. Then she turns around and sees you.
“Oh,” you say softly, immediately letting go. “Sorry.”
Natalie stares at you for a second- your hair’s messy from the wind outside, and you’re holding a folded worksheet against your chest.
“You left this in class,” you explain, gesturing it forward for her to take. Of course, you followed her down the hallway for homework, because apparently that’s just who you are...
Natalie takes the paper carefully. “You could’ve just let me fail.”
“You say that every time.” you roll your eyes playfully and Nat would say that's the most attitude she's ever seen you give anyone
“Because it’s true every time.” You smile a little, shifting your weight on your feet. There’s this thing you do when you’re nervous around her-your fingers twist together unconsciously like you’re winding invisible string around them- Natalie’s noticed that recently, along with too many other things.
“You skipped lunch again,” you blurt out suddenly, causing Natalie to blink. “What?”
“You didn’t eat.” you state as if it's just a casual statement.
“That’s creepy.”
You frown ever so slightly before defending, “It’s observant.”
“You observe me?”
You realize what you said a second too late, face warming instantly. “I mean- not like... you in particular, I just- notice things?”
Natalie should make fun of you for that. Instead, she finds herself weirdly stuck on the idea that you pay attention to her at all. Not because you want gossip or because you’re scared of her- you just… notice.
Natalie sighs deeply, “You don’t have to do this, you know”
“Do what?”
“Keep trying.” Your expression softens in that awful, sincere way again.
“I’m not trying that hard.” There’s no way you understand what that does to her- how dangerous it feels when someone acts like caring about Natalie Scatorccio is effortless.
The hallway buzzes around you with lockers slamming and people yelling, but Natalie suddenly feels hyperaware of everything about you standing there. The strawberry lip gloss. The typical, oversized cardigan sleeves covering half your hands. The tiny star stickers on your notebook.
Cute.
The thought appears suddenly and cleanly in her mind. Cute, cute, cute. Natalie immediately gets defensive with herself.
You’re still talking, completely unaware of the crisis currently unfolding in her brain. “-and I saved you a cookie from study hall because you left and Jeff took, like, four before you came back-”
“You saved me a cookie?” Natalie's brows furrow, one raising slightly in genuine astonishment at your actions
“Yeah?” she stares at you like you’ve spoken another language. Nobody ever saves her things... You blink at her reaction. “Do you want it?”
“Obviously.” You laugh softly and dig through your bag before placing the cookie carefully into her hand like it’s something important. Your fingers brush hers for maybe half a second, and it shouldn’t matter... it shouldn't matter... but it matters enough that Natalie forgets how to speak for an embarrassing amount of time.
“Sorry, is it... okay?” you look between Natalie's emotionally constipated expression and the cookie. Natalie clears her throat roughly. “Fine.”
You smile again. God. That smile... Natalie watches you walk away afterward, cookie still in her hand. She lets her head fall back with a slight a groan,
“What the fuck...”
Natalie decides that she has officially had enough of you after running into you at a party. In all her time of knowing you and going out in Wiskayok, she has never seen you at any sort of function like this
You look deeply out of place- too soft for this house, and Natalie tells herself she should ignore you. Instead, twenty minutes later, she somehow ends up standing beside you in the kitchen while someone argues loudly in the next room.
“oh- hi!” you say brightly when you notice her.
Natalie snorts. “hey.”
You grin into your drink. There’s glitter on your cheekbone, Natalie notices, because apparently her brain has decided to become the world’s most irritating microscope whenever you’re nearby.
“You look pretty,” you say absentmindedly, briefly peeking over the rim of your cup. Natalie freezes, and you follow immediately after, eyes widening slightly like you didn’t mean to say it out loud. The silence that follows is catastrophic, as Natalie feels heat crawl up her neck almost instantly.
“Are you drunk?” she asks.
“A little.”
“Clearly.”
You duck your head, embarrassed. “Sorry.”
But Natalie can’t stop thinking about it as she takes a long sip from her drink to buy herself time. Pretty. Nobody calls her pretty casually- not like that. Usually it’s "hot" or "sexy" or some gross comment shouted from a car window. "Pretty" feels different... more dangerous.
“You don’t have to apologize,” she mutters finally. You glance back up at her carefully, humming and nodding before going back to staring nervously into your cup.
“You are, though.” There it is again- that awful honesty. Natalie suddenly becomes intensely aware of herself- her smudged eyeliner, the chain around her neck, the cigarette tucked behind her ear.
And worse, she becomes aware of you looking at her- not judging, not mocking, not waiting for her to fuck up so you can point it out and laugh about it- just looking, like you actually like what you see.
It makes something nervous twist low in her stomach.
Someone shouts your name from the living room, and you look away for a second. Natalie exhales slowly through her nose as the moment breaks
When you turn back, you smile at her again- smaller this time. Shy, almost. Cute. The thought hits Natalie so hard she physically looks away.
"I'll see you around, Nat- have a good night! Oh- and be safe!"
It's a torrential downpour when Natalie begins to accept the shift.
“Nat!” Natalie pauses halfway down the school parking lot, cigarette tucked between her lips as she turns toward the voice. Your car is idling a few spaces away, window rolled all the way down despite the rain blowing in through it. You lean across the passenger seat to look at her properly, eyebrows pinched together in concern. Water drips steadily from the ends of Natalie’s hair already. The walk home is gonna suck.
“Do you need a ride home?” you ask sweetly, eyes wide with concern.
Natalie blinks once. “Uhm… no, I’m good.”
You glance pointedly toward the sidewalk beyond the parking lot. “Are you walking?”
“Yeah, I always do-”
"It’s raining.” Natalie almost makes a sarcastic comment over you pointing out the obvious, but she just shrugs one shoulder like that settles it, “And?”
“And just get in.” Natalie huffs out a laugh, more defensive than amused. “Y/n, really, I’m-”
“Get. In.” You point firmly at the passenger door, and the sheer seriousness on your face catches her off guard enough that she actually stops arguing for a second. This is ridiculous. YOU are ridiculous. is what she decides.
Your windshield wipers squeak frantically back and forth while you stare at her like this is somehow an emergency. Natalie looks away first, taking a drag from her cigarette to buy herself time.
“You know I’m wet, right?” she says finally. “Like, soaked.”
“That’s kind of what rain does to people- hence why I'm telling you to get in.”
Natalie narrows her eyes slightly. “You always this bossy?”
A tiny smile pulls at your mouth. “Only with stubborn people who refuse help.”
Something uncomfortable flips over in her chest, and she immediately decides she hates that feeling. With a muttered curse under her breath, Natalie yanks open the passenger door and slides inside. The car smells faintly like vanilla and laundry detergent. Cute. Of course it does.
You reach over without thinking and tug a crumpled sweatshirt from the backseat. “Here.”
Natalie stares down at it in confusion. It’s soft-looking, pale blue, probably expensive, “What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Dry off?”
“You just carry extra clothes around?” You shrug, suddenly looking a little embarrassed. “I get cold easily.”
Natalie snorts quietly despite herself. Outside, rain pounds against the windshield hard enough to blur the entire parking lot silver-gray. For a second, neither of you says anything.
"What're you doing here still anyways?"
"I have tutoring after school Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday," you look over your shoulder as you back out, maneuvering your black Corvette out of the school parking lot. Natalie can't help but admire your side profile as you focus- your glossy lips slightly parted as the tip of your tongue pokes out between your teeth.
"Nice car you got..." she shifts her gaze to the dashboard as she fidgets with one of the rings she's wearing. You give an amused hum and glance at her briefly
"Thanks, it's my dad's- I would never drive something like this if I had the option" Natalie's eyes widen, honestly shocked at your opinion
"What? I would kill to have this car!" You glance at her with equally wide eyes, taken aback, but amused nonetheless, by her enthusiasm.
"Really? You know a lot about cars?"
"I know enough to tell you that you're driving one of the nicest cars on the market right now"
"Yeah... that's true." but that apparently doesn't satisfy her, seeing as she scoffs and shifts her body to face you more.
"Then what would be your dream car, Princess?" you can't help but blush at the nickname. You chew on the inside of your cheek thoughtfully for a second, fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel.
“I think I’d rather have something older,” you admit. “Like… one of those vintage Volkswagen vans.”
Natalie stares at you, “You’re kidding.”
You laugh immediately. “What? They’re cute!”
“They go, like, thirty miles an hour.”
“They have personality.”
“This car has personality.”
“This car has a cocaine problem.” Natalie barks out an actual laugh at that- loud and surprised enough that both of you seem caught off guard by it. You grin instantly, looking entirely too pleased with yourself for causing it.
The rain continues hammering against the windshield while the heater hums softly between you. Natalie can feel warmth slowly returning to her hands, helped slightly by the stupidly soft sweatshirt currently bunched in her lap. She shouldn’t be this comfortable here.
Usually, being around people feels like work- trying to predict what version of her they want, how long until they get tired of her, how long until they leave. But with you, things just… happen. It makes her suspicious enough to keep poking at you.
“You said you were coming from tutoring?”
“Yup!”
“Huh.” Natalie glances over at you again. “I always assumed you were naturally the smartest person in the room.” She smirks slightly. “Guess even little miss perfect needs help sometimes too.”
You blink before laughing softly, something shy and kind of embarrassed, almost.
“I was actually the one tutoring someone else,” you admit. “But I’m definitely not perfect, and I do spend way more time than I probably should studying, so I promise—”
“I’m just teasing you…”
“Oh.” You glance at her quickly, cheeks pinkening a little, while Natalie immediately looks back out the window before she can think too hard about how cute that reaction was.
A few beats of silence pass, aside from the low volume of the radio and the rain against your car
"Uhm, where am I dropping you off at?"
"Oh, yeah," she gives you her address and you continue driving, vaguely familiar with the area.
“Oh.”
You glance at her quickly, cheeks pinkening a little, while Natalie immediately looks back out the window before she can think too hard about how cute that reaction was.
A few beats of silence pass, aside from the low volume of the radio and the rain against your car.
“Uhm, where am I dropping you off at?”
“Oh, yeah.” Natalie gives you her address, and you continue driving, vaguely familiar with the area. The farther you get from school, the quieter things become- streetlights grow sparse, houses spread farther apart. Neither of you says much as Natalie watches your hands on the steering wheel, while your eyes stay on the road. By the time the entrance to the trailer park comes into view, the rain has eased into a steady drizzle.
“There,” Natalie says, pointing ahead. You nod and slow down, then Natalie notices you're actually preparing to drive all the way inside.
“Wait.” You glance over immediately. “What?”
“Just pull over here.” Your eyebrows knit together. “Here? outside the park?”
“Yeah.” You hesitate, then guide the Corvette onto the gravel shoulder near the edge of the park. The engine stays running and for a moment neither of you moves.
“You don't want me to drive you the rest of the way? I'm sure it's like- super muddy by now...”
Natalie shrugs. “Not really.” You study her face for a second before nodding. “Okay.”
The answer comes too easily- no questions, no pushing- just okay. And Nat honestly can't tell if that makes her feel better or worse at this point
The rain taps softly against the roof, the heater hums, and neither of you makes any sort of move to end this interaction. Instead, Natalie sits there picking at one of the rings on her fingers, staring out through the rain-streaked windshield.
“You're weird, you know that?” You laugh quietly. “I've heard that before.”
“No, I mean it.” The smile on your face falters slightly. “Why do you keep doing this?”
“Doing what?” your shoulder sag slightly, and you're already taking on a kicked puppy look that has Nat wishing she had just walked home
“This.” She gestures vaguely between the two of you. “Talking to me. Looking for me at school. Giving me rides home and shit.”
Your brows furrow as you blink. Natalie notices your grip on the steering wheel to tighten ever so slightly as you tense with an anxious confusion, “Because... we're friends?”
Natalie lets out a short, humorless laugh. “You think so?”
The question hangs in the air, and Nat immediately notices something shift in your expression. Not dramatic, but just enough for her to realize it wasn't okay to tease anymore.
“Oh.”
Natalie looks away first, rolling her eyes, trying to push down her newfound guilt, “Come on, y/n.”
“No, yeah, I don't- I don't know why I said that... I guess,” You sound so... far away, like you're processing each individual word as you say it. You suddenly seem very interested in the steering wheel as you take a slow breath and quickly spare a glance in Nat's direction, forcing the tiniest smile on your face as a formality, “Forget I said that.”
“That's not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?” There's no anger in your voice whatsoever. If anything, you sound embarrassed, which somehow makes Natalie feel worse. Nat rubs at the back of her neck, still avoiding looking at you altogether
“I don't know.” You give a small nod, the kind people do when they're pretending something doesn't bother them.
“Okay.” The silence that follows is awful. Outside, rain continues drumming against the car. Inside, the warmth suddenly feels stifling.
Natalie hates this- the way you're shrinking into yourself and the fact that she caused it- But mostly she hates that she doesn't know how to explain what she actually means.
“It's just...” She exhales sharply. “I don't get it.”
You glance over. “Get what?”
“Why you're like this.”
Your eyebrows pull together, frown deepening- Natalie's chest tightens as she think she might even see a sheen of tears start to gloss over your eyes- oh god, please no.
“What do you mean?” you mumble, pitifully
She tries not to take her frustration out on you, but Natalie can't help her semi-harsh tone as she tries to get to the point, “Why are you being nice to me?”
The confusion on your face only frustrates her more, “Because I want to be?”
“No, but why?”
You stare, seeming to begin to become somewhat overwhelmed by her lack of understanding, but Natalie presses on, “Seriously, y/n, you have friends- good ones! People actually like you.”
“People like you too-” Natalie laughs bitterly at that. “Right.”
“I'm serious.”
“You shouldn't be.” Your gaze drops, just for a second, and suddenly Natalie hears how harsh she sounds, but once she starts talking, she can't seem to stop.
“Most people don't just decide they wanna hang around me for no reason.”
“Nat-”
“No, seriously.” She shakes her head. “What's the angle here?”
Your expression falls completely. “What?”
“What do you want?” It's so sharp and honestly, mean how she's talking to you- Nat knows this- but it's only irking her more that she even has to spell it out for you in the first place.
“There isn't one.” You sound so sad and sincere, and she wants to believe you so badly, but her own allegiance to isolation and self sabotage refuses to let her do so
Natalie scoffs again, elbow resting on the door frame near the handle, “Sure.”
“There isn't.” you stand a bit firmer in your words, but there's still a hint of submission in them, like you're scared to raise your voice at her.
“You expect me to believe that?” The hurt flashes across your face so quickly that Natalie almost misses it
“Okay,” You look down at your lap. “That's what you think?”
The question comes out so quiet- so disappointed- and Natalie immediately wishes she could take the whole conversation back. She honestly wishes she just walked away from you in the first place and never even accepted the ride home- that would've spared her from this entire guilt-filled interaction.
You let out a small, embarrassed laugh, “God.”
Natalie peeks over as you shake your head once, a small, forced watery smile on your face. “I'm sorry- I didn't realize I was making you uncomfortable-”
she cuts you off “You weren't-”
You battle back softly in return, “It's okay.”
You turn to unlock the door, “You should probably go before the rain gets worse.”
Something unpleasant rapidly twists in Natalie's stomach... Because suddenly you're pulling away. You're not throwing sarcastic jabs at her, or spouting insults about how much she sucks, and you're definitely not backtracking and making her feel like shit for not giving you what you wanted...
You're just... retreating.
“Y/n,” Natalie stares at the dashboard- anywhere but your face.
“I didn't mean it like that.” You don't say anything, which means she has to keep talking. Great.
“I just...” She exhales. “People usually want something.” The words come out quieter this time, more honest.
“That's all.” For the first time since the conversation started, you really look at her. The defensiveness. The suspicion. The way she's practically bracing for impact.
Understanding slowly replaces the hurt on your face, as you nod once “Oh.”
Natalie swallows, “I wasn't trying to be an asshole.”
A tiny smile appears, “Could've fooled me.”
Natalie groans immediately, “Yeah, alright.”
That earns a small laugh from you as you glance back down at your hands, kneading together in your lap. The tension eases slightly into something softer, but still present and awkward. After a moment, you tuck a piece of hair behind your ear.
“For the record,” you say quietly, “I don't want anything from you.”
Natalie looks over- your cheeks are flushed again, from embarrassment or the heat in the car, she can't tell.
“I just like talking to you.” There it is... that sincerity... that awful, impossible sincerity. Natalie looks away before you can see the way it affects her.
“That's still weird,” she mutters, but this time, your smile grows as you shrug shyly, “Maybe.”
And this time, when the silence settles between you, it doesn't feel quite so heavy.
Nothing is really different. Well- everything is different after you drove Natalie home that day- but it doesn't really seem like it... in a way? The subtle shifts are so small that nobody else would notice it- not even you!
You're standing by your locker before first period, digging through a folder while talking to one of your classmates, when Natalie spots you from halfway down the hall. Usually, she'd keep walking, but instead, she lifts her chin once, a silent acknowledgement.
Your reaction is automatic, face brightening immediately, posture straightening, disposition becoming warmer overall. Natalie has to fight the urge to roll her eyes, but she also finds herself having to bite back a small as well.
You wave, of course, and Natalie gives you two fingers in response before continuing down the hallway.
By lunch, she's already regretting it, because apparently now you've decided this means you're allowed to sit beside her.
"You mind?" you ask, tray balanced in your hands.
Natalie glances at the empty seat next to her, then raises a brow at you. "Seriously?"
Your wide, doe-eyed expressions fall immediately as you pout dramatically, and Natalie can't help the snort she lets out before taking a bite of her food.
"I'm not coming to bother you for no reason, I just wanted to ask you about the psych homework-" this pulls a snicker from Van, "You wanted to ask Nat about homework?"
You finally acknowledge the others sitting at the table- a handful of the varsity soccer girls, who you're all pretty familiar with.
Before you could respond, Natalie is clearing her throat and drawing your attention back to her, "What'd you need?"
You take that as permission to sit, and even after you're done "bothering" her, for some reason, Natalie doesn't tell you to leave. Neither does anyone else. Tai notices, Shauna notices, even Jackie Notices- The looks they give Natalie from across the table as you pop up and dash away a few minutes before the end of the period are insufferable.
"She's so cute- like a little bunny!" Natalie groans into her hands, "Jax you can't be serious, right now"
Little things... it's always something little with you that alters her brain chemistry.
"You're bleeding." Natalie looks up from her cigarette to see you're pointing toward her knuckles, where, sure enough, there's a fresh scrape, she doesn't even remember getting.
"It's fine."
"It doesn't look fine."
"It's a scratch." You stare at her with an unimpressed brow raised, then, without saying a word, you reach into your backpack and pull out a handful of bandaids. Of course, you carry bandaids on you. Natalie can't help the chuckle that escapes her.
"What?"
"You carry those around?" You look genuinely confused. "Doesn't everybody?"
"No."
"Oh."
The two of you stand there awkwardly for a second, then you hold one out. Natalie could refuse- you're expecting her to- she should refuse, at least by her own standards. Instead, she sighs dramatically and sticks out her hand.
Your face lights up, but you try to hide it, settling for a more satisfied glimmer rather than an excited beam- It's ridiculous how pleased you look.
"You're acting like I just solved world peace."
"You accepted help. That's practically the same thing to me"
Natalie huffed out a laugh, rolling her eyes affectionately (though she'd be caught dead before admitting such) "Don't get used to it."
"Oh, I already am." You teased back, slightly surprising Nat with a small development in confidence. She leaves the Band-Aid on for the rest of the day.
You talk while she smokes outside before school. You walk together between classes if you're heading in the same direction. Sometimes you show up at her lunch table, sometimes Natalie finds herself looking for you first.
It's subtle. Microscopic. But it's there.
Friday afternoon, she's leaning against a wall outside the gym when you appear beside her. "Hi."
"Hi." You smile, and Natalie waits for the rest of your approach.
"...That's it?" she asks. "What?"
"You came all the way over here just to say hi?"
Your smile grows. "Maybe."
Natalie shakes her head. "Weirdo."
"Asshole." She tilts her chin down at this to hide her amused grin, finding you even cuter when you bite back,
"You like it."
"I do." The answer comes too fast, too honest- your face immediately begins to burn, and Nat feels something warm settle low in her chest. Before either of you can say anything else, the bell rings, and students immediately start flooding into the hallway around you.
"See you later, Nat." You take a step backward.
"Yeah." You start walking away, then turn to look angelically over your shoulder and toss her a wave, before Natalie watches you disappear into the crowd. And for once, she allows the smile to stay on her face as she continues her day.
The following week, Natalie is sitting on the hood of Kevyn's car after school when she spots you crossing the parking lot. You're busy trying to balance three textbooks, your backpack, and a paper coffee cup- It's a disaster waiting to happen.
Natalie watches it unfold for approximately five seconds before one of the books slips- you catch it. Then the coffee starts tipping- you save that too. Then another book starts sliding...
"Jesus Christ," Natalie mutters.
"What?" Kevyn asks.
"Nothing." Across the lot, you're still fighting for your life against gravity. Natalie can't help it.
"Hey, Princess!" Your head immediately snaps up. The smile that appears when you spot her is embarrassingly immediate, face shifting from wide-eyed panic to comfort, familiarity.
"Hi, Nat!"
One of the books slips again. Natalie groans. "How are you this bad at carrying things?"
You look down at the pile in your arms, then back at her with a tired smile and tilt of your head. "I'm managing."
The coffee wobbles dangerously. Natalie raises an eyebrow. You glance at it. "...Mostly."
She snorts, the sound surprising both of you, causing your smile to grow. Which is obviously annoying, because now Natalie can practically see you realizing in real time that she's teasing you instead of brushing you off. You hurry over anyway.
"Hi," you say again, stopping in front of her.
she raises her brows, amused, yet trying not to seem as such "Hi."
"How was your day?" Natalie eyes the stack in your arms. "Better than yours, it looks like..."
You laugh. "God, you're mean."
"You're carrying six hundred pounds of paper!"
You roll your eyes dramatically, "It's three textbooks."
"Same thing." You shift your weight and nearly lose one again, but Natalie reaches out automatically to steady it. The movement surprises her as much as it surprises you, and for a second, both of you freeze. Then Natalie immediately pulls her hand back,
"There." You blink and hover, "Thanks."
"Don't mention it." A grin tugs at your mouth. Too knowing. Natalie points at it immediately.
"Whatever you're thinking, stop."
"I'm not thinking anything."
"Liar." You laugh again. Fuck. She likes that laugh way too much.
"Okay," you admit. "Maybe I'm thinking something."
"Terrifying."
"I just think it's nice when you're sweet to me, that's all." you shrug with a bit of a playful grin, to which Natalie barks out a laugh
"Watch it." You beam- like actually beam the most glittering smile she's ever seen. Like she'd handed you a winning lottery ticket instead of a half-assed joke. The reaction is so ridiculous that Natalie finds herself smiling despite every effort not to.
Natalie doesn't mean to end up alone with you- at least that's what she tells herself. Practice let out about 20 minutes early, and she'd only stayed behind because she couldn't find her lighter. That's it, really nothing to do with the fact that she knew your tutoring sessions ended around the same time. Nothing to do with the fact that she'd started unconsciously memorizing your schedule- definitely not.
She's sitting on the bleachers behind the school when she hears footsteps approaching.
"You know smoking's bad for you, right?" Natalie doesn't even bother looking up.
"Wow. Really?" You laugh, the sound so familiar enough now that it immediately gives away who you are.
"I figured somebody should tell you."
"You're about six years late." You climb the bleachers and sit down beside her- not too close, but not far away at all either. For a while, neither of you says anything. The sun is setting behind the football field, casting everything in gold and orange.
You pull your cardigan sleeves over your hands, and of course, Natalie notices. "Cold?"
You shrug, "A little."
She snorts, "Then why are you sitting outside?"
"Wanted to."
"That's stupid."
"You're outside too."
"Yeah, but I'm stupid." That earns a laugh, leaving Natalie smiling despite herself.
"You know," you say after a moment, a teasing lilt already taking over your tone, "you've been nicer lately."
Natalie groans immediately, "Oh my God."
"What??"
"Don't say things like that." You grin and stare back into the distance of the field, "It's true."
"I literally insult you every day."
"Affectionately." Natalie turns her full body to stare at you.
"Affectionately?"
You nod, "Affectionately."
"You're delusional."
"Maybe." Your smile softens slightly, "Or maybe I'm right."
For some reason, that makes Natalie nervous, all because you really hit the nail right on the head. A few weeks ago, she would've brushed you off and walked away, probably given you some sarcastic answer and left it at that.
Now she catches herself looking for you in hallways, saving you a seat in classes she used to skip, making jokes just to hear you laugh. It's really become a problem. And judging by the look on your face, you know it too. The realization settles between you quietly, and either of you looks away.
"You're staring," Natalie mutters.
Your smile quirks up a bit, "You started it."
"No, I didn't." Natalie is hyper aware of how the sunset catches in your eyes and bathes you in a warm glow. You're fully grinning now, "You absolutely did."
Natalie suddenly becomes very aware of how close you're sitting. Close enough that she can smell your lavender shampoo. Close enough to count your freckles and moles if she really wanted to. Close enough that looking away feels harder than it should. Your gaze flickers briefly downward, then immediately back up. The movement is tiny, but it's noted, and something in Natalie's chest immediately goes haywire.
"Hey, princess?." Your body tenses ever so slightly to be noticeable, cheeks flushing.
"Yeah, Nat?"
"You're looking at me like that again."
Your gaze flickers down again shyly as you laugh softly, then glance back up with a glimmer, "How am I looking at you?"
Natalie opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. Because honestly?She doesn't have an answer. You're just looking at her- like you always do. Like she's somebody worth looking at...
The thought hits harder than it should, and for a few seconds, neither of you says anything. The world feels strangely quiet, aside from the distant traffic and the sound of your breathing.
"Hey," you say softly, gathering Nat's attention. Your expression has shifted from blithe, confident teasing back to that semi-anxious, unsure energy you used to carry around her, like you're waiting for some sort of permission.
"Hey." Your eyes flick to her mouth again. This time, neither of you pretends not to notice. The distance between you suddenly feels very small, very easy to cross. Natalie doesn't overthink it- if she does, she'll talk herself out of it- so instead she leans forward, just enough to brush her lips against yours
Your gaze flickers down again shyly as you laugh softly, then glance back up with a glimmer. "How am I looking at you?"
Natalie opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.
Because honestly?
She doesn't have an answer.
You're just looking at her—like you always do. Like she's somebody worth looking at.
The thought hits harder than it should, and for a few seconds, neither of you says anything. The world feels strangely quiet, aside from the distant traffic and the sound of your breathing.
"Hey," you say softly, gathering Nat's attention.
Your expression has shifted from blithe, confident teasing back to that semi-anxious, unsure energy you used to carry around her, like you're waiting for some sort of permission.
"Hey." Your eyes flick to her mouth again. This time, neither of you pretends not to notice. The distance between you suddenly feels very small, very easy to cross. Natalie doesn't overthink it- if she does, she'll talk herself out of it- so instead she leans forward, just enough to brush her lips against yours
You're frozen, totally stiff, and Natalie almost backs down, then you begin to kiss her back, so softly and carefully, like you're scared the moment will break and fade away if you push for too much.
Natalie's hand finds the hem of your top as they land on your waist. She uses her other hand to push you back slightly, has you lie down on the chilled metal bleachers. She hovers over you, caressing the skin underneath the hem of your shirt, as your hands come up to rest on her cheeks.
She bites your bottom lip, pulling a shocked but pleased hum from you, allowing her tongue further access into your mouth. The second kiss lasts longer. Not rushed in any way. Just warm and sensual- the kind of warmth that makes her chest feel strangely light.
When you finally pull back, it's only far enough to look at her with an impossible smile and your typical doe eyes, that now have a new sparkle to them. And then, to Natalie's horror, your eyes start watering.
"Oh my God."
You immediately cover your face, "No!"
She lets out an amused giggle against her will, "Are you crying?"
"No!!"
"You are absolutely crying." You sit up in an instant, one leg slightly draped over hers.
"I am not crying!" You're laughing now, which only makes your argument significantly less convincing.
Natalie stares at you in disbelief, "Princess."
"Oh, shut up." A laugh escapes her before she can stop it, as she continues to caress your waist. The sound seems to make you grin even harder, which then causes Natalie to only want to kiss you again, and even harder
"You kissed me," you say, like you've just discovered a miracle.
Natalie groans, an affectionate, exhausted grin on her face. "There it is."
"What??" you swing yourself to be full, mirroring her seated position, facing the mostly set sun.
"You're being weird-"
You cut her off with an incredulous scoff, balking at her momentarily, "I'm allowed to be weird over this!"
She hums and gives you a look that says, "are you sure about that?" enjoying your dropped jaw and overall offended expression. You bump your shoulder against hers, and she bumps back, leaving you both giggling against each other.
The sunset has nearly disappeared now, leaving the football field washed in soft evening light. For a while, you both just sit there, close enough that your shoulders touch, neither one in any hurry to leave.
After a minute, Natalie feels your head carefully settle against her shoulder. Tentatively, like you're giving her the chance to complain. She rolls her eyes, and even though you can't see it, she's almost sure you feel it somehow. She reaches her hand to pull your head down fully against her shoulder, while shifting slightly so you're more comfortable.
You immediately go still. Natalie pretends not to notice.
The last of the sunlight has faded behind the trees, leaving everything washed in soft blues and golds. Somewhere in the distance, a car door slams, crickets have started up already, and for once, neither of you feels any urgency to fill the silence.
Your shoulder presses lightly against hers, embracing the warmth and newfound comfort. Natalie lets herself enjoy it for a minute before glancing down, seeing absurdly content you look, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. You catch it immediately- of course you do. Your own smile grows in response, and suddenly Natalie understands exactly why people spoil you.
She shakes her head and nudges yours lightly with her own, the motion earning a quiet laugh from you, then another, and soon you're both smiling for no real reason at all.
As the evening grows darker, your hand eventually finds its way between the two of you, resting against the bleacher without much thought. Natalie's gaze drops to it, and she hesitates for all of three seconds, then hooks her pinky around yours. Your breath catches, smile turning impossibly soft as you somehow manage to melt further into her side.
You drive her home that night and make out a little more in your backseat before you remind her that you do in fact, have a curfew. You call each other over the phone multiple times a week now, after not-so-casually hinting at wanting Natalie's number. And now Nat hopes and prays she never runs into you when she's out at a party, just so she can call you after and make sure you're tucked in bed safely (and so she can come visit you after).
Natalie is still trying to get used to someone having a crush on her, and it is actually working out well, but you make it pretty easy to give into.
On your first day, you’d tried your best to look as put together as you could even if that would all go to shit later on in your shift.
you’d put your hair up in a ponytail and wrapped a small pink ribbon around it, put on some makeup to not look completely dead and sprayed on some perfume that smelled like soft vanilla.
it definitely wasn’t a lot compared to the usual attire and cute outfits you wore each day but it was enough to make you feel good.
what you didn’t know was that you practically looked like you were about to enroll in a pageant compared to every other person there.
but you didn’t even notice until santos slid up next to you.
“Hey Barbie.” She’d said, your brows furrowing.
“Barbie?” You asked. She shrugged before gesturing to you.
“It’s endearing. Hey maybe you and er Ken would make a good match.” She joked.
“Okay, who the hell even is that?” You shifted, crossing your arms.
Santos rolled her eyes like it was obvious. “Langdon. I heard from Garcia that thats what she calls him.”
“H-he’s my superior of course we wouldn’t make a go- wait you’ve been talking to Garcia? She’s barely down here.” Your brows furrowed as trinity straightened up.
“Right. Yeah I just, chatted with her briefly earlier- you know, I gotta go.” She’d said before turning around and leaving you alone.
but of course word gets around quick in there and suddenly when you were in the break room taking a breather, you heard someone come in.
“oh, hey Barbie.” Langdon said as you turned around.
“Oh great, it’s got around to you too.” He slid up next to you, arms crossed.
“Heard it from Whitaker, cute nickname. He give it to you?” He asked.
“Nope.” You popped the ‘p’. “Came from santos.”
He nodded slow, pausing for a sec. “So, first day. How’s it going so far?”
“It’s… going.” You sighed. “But either way there’s only a couple hours left and I haven’t totally embarrassed myself yet. Plus i fortunately like almost everyone here.” You said with a small smile.
“you’re enthusiastic.” He pointed out.
“Kinda have to be, don’t you think?” He shrugged.
“Who’s the unlucky person who you don’t like then?” He shifted closer.
“Robby’s a bit of an ass.” Well, everyone in this place would definitely agree.
“Yeah he can be like that sometimes.” Langdon said.
“Does it get better?” You asked, a raised brow.
“No, not really.” He admitted.
“Well yippee. That’s great to hear.” You rolled your eyes.
He couldn’t help the smile on his face. “Well you’re sarcastic, which to be honest in a place like this is great to not go completely insane.”
“That I am.”
“Does that ever get better?”
“No, not really.” You pushed yourself off, taking a few steps before turning around.
“See you later Ken.” You joked.
“Oh so now I have a nickname?” He asked.
“It’s endearing.” Was the last thing you said before turning and leaving the room.
- loves and I mean LOVES to be the little spoon. Anytime after work that she’s just too exhausted u make sure to cuddle up with her, pressing soft kisses to the side of her neck.
- will follow u around like a puppy, whether it’s following u while you shop or you pulling her by the belt loop, she’s always by ur side or behind u.
- while I do think Mel would be more on the receiver side of the relationship because of how giving she is in her job and with her sister, she would definitely be the acts of service type of girlfriend, doing small things everyday without even mentioning it, which obviously doesn’t go unnoticed and u feel like the luckiest girl alive.
- rarely lets her hair out of a braid unless it’s u playing with her hair.
- and also because she likes ur fingers running through her hair while her head is in between ur thighs.
- munch.
- btw ur the one who got her into meg the stallion. Silly but you two share a playlist of Meg songs.
- probably loves watching reality tv with u as a at home date night.
- and yes, elf does go triple platinum in ur household because u all take the holidays pretty seriously lol.
I just realized I forgot to add yj and Fargo fics back onto my masterlist so I’ll fix that rn lol but I’ll be writing for yj again when s4 comes out this year!!
I just haven’t really gotten good ideas recently for any yj fics so I’m gonna wait until next season starts coming out to start writing for it again!
Now I could possibly write some headcanons or blurbs or something for nat soon because I do miss writing for her but that just depends on how inspo is going for me☺️
theartofmadeline
yousharknotpass
pixelskylines
ellievsbear
romaincrisis
izzy806
dededos
