i have not changed my url since i started posting stories 😱 but i had this name saved because cur spoke to me from the title alone. soooo this is the new me in this era 🥺 i love it. hope you do too
summary - you are absolutely shattered, but it’s the first off campus bonfire of the summer and you don’t want to let your boyfriend down
pairing - garrett graham x girlfriend!reader
word count - +1.8k
It was the first bonfire of the summer.
Every year the Off Campus house would throw a bonfire to celebrate the start of summer. Exams finished and parties beginning.
You had spent the afternoon with Garrett and the guys prepping for the party, whilst also attending an extra credit class for an hour. Safe to say, you were exhausted.
The kitchen was hectic as Tucker ordered people around.
“Dean, no! I swear to God, if I see you eat another marshmallow man…” Tucker threatened Dean with a wooden spoon. Terrifying.
You smiled to yourself, whilst continuing your delegated job of setting out the drinks on a portable table just outside.
The sound of a camera going off made you look to your right, where your boyfriend, Garrett, stood shamelessly.
“Really?”
“What? You look so pretty.” Garrett shrugged like it was nothing.
You had to stop yourself from blushing, because it was getting annoying how much he could make you blush with even just the tiniest of things.
Dick.
Garrett continued messing around on his phone as you finished lining up the cans of beer in the ice-cooler.
You sighed, tired but feeling accomplished.
“You okay?”
Garrett slid his phone in his pocket and wrapped an arm around your shoulders, so he could pull you in for a quick kiss on your head.
You melted into his hold, feeling like you could just close your eyes and drift off in the comfort of him.
“Mhm.”
You inhaled his presence. He slightly smelled of Tucker’s cooking from inside, but mainly the laundry detergent he used that was on your list of five favourite things about him.
“Sure?” He pulled you back away from him, meaning you had to pull on your fakest smile.
“Yeah.” You nodded, smiling up at him.
“Okay.” He leaned down to kiss you softly. He would have kissed you longer than a few seconds, but the guys started whistling and cheering on from the kitchen window. “Fuck off, creeps.”
“Y/N - can you help me with this?” Tucker shouted from inside.
Garrett rolled his eyes and you couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“Duty calls.” You patted his chest.
“Cannot catch a break.” Garrett muttered - something he always said when you were forced from his side for more than 5 minutes. It did make you feel very loved.
——
The bonfire had officially started an hour ago, but people had only really started joining in the last five minutes or so.
You, Hannah, Allie, Grace and Sabrina had been playing cards in the living area with a couple drinks between you, but now there were more people arriving you’d decided to give it up for the day.
The girls had gone to get more drinks and join the guys out back, but you’d stayed back to clear up.
“Y/N!”
You turned to see Beau enter the house with a couple of his friends behind him.
“Hey, Beau.” You smiled, packing away the last of the cards.
The guys had a cupboard just beneath the TV where they kept all their board games - including the game of Twister that you and Garrett played on your second date, and it made you fall for him really hard (Literally).
“You doing okay?” He asked, hands in his jean pockets.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” You smiled.
“Cool.”
He left you to find the guys outside. No doubt he had some dramatic entrance or speech planned with Dean.
You sat back against the sofa, and took your phone out to give yourself literally anything to do rather than go back outside.
You opened up your texts, responding to a couple of people that were asking whether they could come to the bonfire. Garrett had said it was an open house, so you replied yes.
You opened Instagram next, smiling when you saw Garrett had a new story posted. You clicked it and smiled even wider when you realised he had posted the picture of you setting up the drinks before.
“Can’t get rid of her ❤️”
That’s what he’d written as the caption.
You chuckled to yourself as you replied saying, “No refunds or returns.”
You opened up your work calendar next, your smile instantly disappearing when you realised how many shifts you had upcoming. It was made even worse when you realised you’d be missing out on being with Garrett for the start of summer.
It sucked, having to work for money.
Of course Garrett always offered to help you out, but you enjoyed the independence of earning your own money. Lord knows that didn’t stop him for always paying for dates and days out together.
“Absolutely not.” Your phone was plucked out from your hand by your boyfriend, as he sat up on the couch behind you.
“Hey!”
“This is a party, baby.”
“I know.”
“So what are you doing sitting here on the floor, looking at the most depressing calendar?” He challenged.
You sighed, tipping your head back to lean against his thigh.
You closed your eyes, enjoying this quiet moment with him.
“Sure you’re okay?” He took your chin between his forefinger and thumb, causing you to open your eyes sleepily.
“Mhm.”
“You’re not about to crash out on me, hm?”
You shook your head.
“Okay, then. Come keep me company outside.” He said, not giving you the opportunity to choose because he knew you’d stay inside given the option. He knew you too well.
“I’m keeping you company right now.”
Garrett huffed out a laugh, dropping his hand from your face. Your head automatically went back to leaning heavily against his thigh.
“You’ve been hiding in here for like ten minutes, baby.”
“I haven’t.” You squinted at the accusation.
“Beau arrived a while ago and immediately came out to find me, completely bypassing Dean, because he wanted to check in with me to see if I knew you were in here alone.”
“You both worry too much.” You cupped his cheek at an awkward angle, which he leant into.
“Of course I worry.” His eyes furrowed as he tried to comprehend why you’d think otherwise.
“I’m okay. Promise.”
“Okay. C’mon then, please?”
And because he asked nicely, of course you went with him.
——
The music is loud and the conversations are louder.
The main group of your friends are sitting around the bonfire. Garrett had saved you a camping chair beside him, but it didn’t matter because you were more comfortable sitting on his lap.
Dean had been talking about summer plans when you’d last properly listening to the conversation.
Since then your friends had talked about hockey, then movies, which somehow turned into hotdogs. You hadn’t contributed one word to any of their conversations though.
You were too busy fighting your heavy eyes by playing with the tassels on your boyfriend’s hoodie. It didn’t help that he had been constantly rubbing slowly circles on your lower back with his thumb.
Your head was resting against his shoulder as you sat sideways on his lap.
“Should I be offended that Y/N hasn’t laughed at a single one of my jokes?” You heard Dean ask, cracking a small smile from you but you didn’t have the energy for anything more.
Garrett looked down at you, which you knew because you could feel his eyes on you.
His face leant down so he could be close to you, without anyone else interrupting or overhearing.
“Shall we call it a night?” He asked.
Your eyes flicked to his and you immediately softened.
Maybe it was unfair that Garrett could look at you like that. Like there wasn't anywhere else he'd rather be. Even with half the hockey team sitting around the fire.
You made no big protesting movement, which told Garrett everything he needed to know. You were shattered.
You shook your head. “It’s your party.”
“You know that’s not an answer, baby.” He gave you a half-smile.
“You should be down here, with your friends.”
“I just want to be with you.”
“Okay Troy Bolton.” You huffed, which turned into a proud smile when Garrett laughed because he understood your reference.
“Tell me honestly. If you’re tired, we can go.”
“I don’t want you to be disappointed or feel like you’re missing out.” You looked down from his eyes to focus on picking at his hoodie tassels again.
“I promise I won’t. I’d be more sad missing out on something with you than this lot.”
And you know he means it.
You gave him a small nod and that was all the confirmation that Garrett needed.
You stood up from his lap with all the strength you could muster, your muscles aching to sit back down and rest for at least twelve hours. Garrett stood up quickly after you, taking your hand in his.
“We’re heading out.” Garrett announced to the group.
“Already?” Dean complained and Allie hit him on the arm.
“Yeah. Deal with it.”
“Get home safe.” Hannah smiled at you both as Garrett led you away from the fire.
“Bye guys.” Logan smiled.
“Bye.” You mustered a smile and a wave, and followed Garrett away from the party.
——
Garrett’s room was surprisingly quiet, considering the party going on downstairs - or maybe you were just too tired to notice.
As soon as you’d gotten upstairs, Garrett handed you his sweatshirt that he knew you loved wearing.
He helped you get changed, after noticing how slow and groggy your movements were. He was always happy to help, especially when it earnt him a thank you kiss.
Now you were laying on your side of his bed, curled up under the duvet and feeling like this is where you were meant to be.
Garrett had continued to potter around his bedroom, tidying aimlessly.
“What are you doing?” You asked, eyes half open.
“Tidying.”
You watched him throw socks and pants into his landry basket without any care for whether they were clean or dirty.
“Why?”
“Because my girlfriend is staying over and it looked like a dumpsite.”
“Graham, just get your ass in bed.”
Garrett chuckled, throwing the last of his messy clothes in his laundry basket before joining you in bed. He wasted no time getting underneath the covers and sliding in tight behind you.
“Babe?” You prompted.
“Hmm?”
“The light.”
“Oh for—.” Garrett mumbled some profanity as he got back out of bed to turn off the big light - which honestly why he had it on in the first place was a mystery and disgrace.
He quickly got back into bed with you.
This time he all but merged himself with you, entangling your legs with his and wrapping his arms around your body tightly.
The smile on your face was completely valid.
Being held in Garrett’s arms like this was second to none.
“Garrett?”
“Yeah?”
“I think my social battery died five hours ago.”
“Baby, I know.” He chuckled, which caused his hot breath to tickle the back of your neck.