Jynx // any pronouns (just not it) // Likes and follows from @genuine-possum // St*rker and S*lki shippers DNI // Huge Marvel fan, but Loki comes first
This is by the way an actual plotline in one of the comics (Spider Girl #11, 1999)- Jameson sees the titular spider girl and assumes that spider-man has transitioned specifically to torment him.
âI aim for a minimum of two stars - I really do.â
Summary: Driver!Jake tries to cheer you up...but hits a pothole
wc: 1.8k, gn!reader
Content: strangers to lovers, meet cute, you're having the worst day and your handsome driver's out here really trying to be the best
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A torrent of rain greets you as you exit work - a fitting metaphor for the turmoil inside you. After working yourself to exhaustion for a promotion you didnât get, you feel deflated and hopeless. Your department is restructuring, meaning everyone will have to take on more work for no extra money, except for the guy who got the promotion you deserved, of course.
Itâs a promotion you need, since you moved out of your ex-boyfriendâs place and into a place of your own.
The line for the train is endless, the weather is awful, so you decide to treat yourself to a macchiato and a rideshare, despite your growing concerns about finances.
A mysteriously pristine, white car pulls up to the curb, stopping brilliantly close enough for you to climb in without stepping into a puddle while not splashing your legs with the tireâs spray.
The climb in is a struggle as you barely juggle your bag, umbrella and hot drink. If you can just get home and into a hot shower, youâll whip up something yummy to eat, if only to avoid spending more money on ordering food.Â
The driver greets you neutrally, asking if the temperature of the car is comfortable. You let him know that it is, before leaning back in your seat to sip on your macchiato. The warmth of your favorite beverage soothes you from the inside out, and you donât feel even a little bit guilty about the amount of sugar youâre enjoying.
Right as you start to relax in the surprisingly comfortable, luxuriously leather back seat, the car rumbles and jerks. The jolt of it sends piping hot liquid gushing out the cheap, ill-fitting disposable lid and right into your lap, but not before it splashes your jacket on the way down.
Your face crumples as you realize almost every drop of your beverage is gone. You canât drink it, youâre wearing it, your clothes are stained and itâs hot. And despite your efforts, your umbrella and your rideshare, now youâre wet. Tears sting the corners of your eyes as your lip trembles.
âAre you okay?â your driver questions genuinely, pulling up to stop at a traffic light. With one arm around the passenger seat headrest, he turns all the way around to check on you. Sincerity pours out of his coffee colored eyes. Dark eyebrows arch with worry. âIâm so sorry. There was a pothole. Iâm sorry.â
A horn honks behind you, alerting him to the fact that the light is now green. He whips back around to resume driving, giving you a good look at the inky curls flipping out from under his flat cap. The square cut of his jaw tenses as his eyes flicker up to check on you in the rearview mirror, before he reaches into the glove box for some napkins and sanitizing wipes.Â
âHere,â he offers, handing them over the seat to you. âYou can use these.â
âThank you,â you sniffle, feeling a little overdramatic, but realizing that everything is catching up to you: your breakup, your job, your new apartment you can barely afford⌠You only wanted a simple, quiet ride home.
The driver checks on you again, realizing the napkins will do little to help this mess. So he asks you if it would be all right to pull over for a moment. You look at him like heâs crazy for a second, but the earnest way he says please gives you pause. Something about the way he utters it goes straight to your heart.
âThereâs no charge for the ride, okay? But I have a clean towel in the trunk. I donât want you to sit there like that for the rest of the ride. Is that all right?â
You nod, using the napkins to dab at the mess surrounding you. The man pulls safely off the road, but itâs public and safe, nothing suspicious or creepy.Â
âBe right back,â he tells you, braving the rain to get the towel out of his trunk. It takes him a minute or two to get back in the car, and you briefly wonder how long it could take to retrieve something from the trunk.
âHere. My name is Jake. But you saw that on the app, I guess.â He repeats your name to you, apologizing again, his gaze holding yours long enough to steal your breath for the briefest moment.
âThank you,â you whisper, grateful that the towel is cleaning up a lot more than the napkins were.
âYou okay? Want me to head out or do you need a second?â
Releasing a trembling breath, you shrug. âWe can go, I guess.â
Jake complies, easing out into traffic. âI know you probably just want to get home, butâŚyou seem like you had a rough day. Wanna scream at somebody?â
You stare at his reflection in the rearview mirror. Thereâs a glint of mischief in his dark eyes, and the corner of his mouth curls. âYou can kick the back of my seat if you want.â
You snort, caught off guard for a moment.
âGo ahead. Youâll feel better. You can give me a bad rating too. Itâs only fair. Itâs a shit drive.â He shrugs one shoulder. âGet nasty in the comments. I can take it.â He catches your eyes in the rearview mirror again and winks, seeming pleased that youâre chuckling in spite of yourself.Â
âI wouldnât do that,â you tell him. âNot the mean comment anyway. I mean, you were really prepared to clean up this spill. You hit a lot of potholes?â
âHell no. Iâm just a germaphobe.â He holds up one hand. âWhy do you think I have on gloves? Itâs not even cold out.â
âSo you hit a pothole, spilled my drink and now youâre saying Iâm gross and full of germs? Damn. One star for you.â
âSee, it feels good right?â He jokes with you. âNow, go ahead and kick the back of my seat. I promise you, youâll feel better.âÂ
So you kick it. And you laugh.
âThatâs it? I thought you were having a bad day. I was expecting whiplash. Come on, kick it.â
You kick the back of his seat a few more times, chuckling a little more until a true laugh bubbles up in your chest.Â
After a moment, you calm down, realizing how ridiculous youâre acting.Â
You smile at Jake in the mirror, noticing his eyes soften.Â
âWanna talk about it?â
Honestly, this guy got your mind off things for just a few, stupid, silly minutes. The last thing you want is to talk about your screwed up life.
âNo, itâs okay. But thanks. For the towels. And the kicking. Maybe Iâll give you two stars.â
âHow about some music?â
Soon enough, soothing old jazz filters through the speakers. You think you recognize the voice, but you donât know a thing about jazz.
âWho is this?â
âSarah Vaughan. You like it? Want something to scream to instead?â
You laugh. âNo. This is good.â Jazz-filled moments pass, with rain pattering on the tinted window and you feelâŚpeaceful. A semi-contented sigh passes your lips as you realize how good this driver is at his job. Well, maybe not driving, but making a pleasant journey of a simple ride home.
âI had a bad day at work,â you find yourself confessing.Â
âI know the feeling,â he casually fires back. âThis amazing looking person got in my car and I hit a damn pot hole. Spilled coffee right down their coat. Can you believe that? Gonna give me a shit rating.â He glances up at you in the mirror again. âThen I started talking about myself for some damn reason.â
Youâre both laughing before he can finish his melodramatic tale.Â
âBack to one star,â you tease.
âTold you - worst day at work,â he adds, shrugging his shoulder, giving you a wink. âWhat happened to you? Need me to drive someone into a pothole?â
âI wouldnât wish it on anyone,â you joke. âWell, except maybe the guy who got promoted instead of me.â
âDid you kick his office chair?â
You snort, a little embarrassingly, honestly. âMaybe Iâll do that tomorrow.â
Jake asks a few open-ended questions about what went wrong, without getting too personal about what you do at your job. He listens as you ramble on for a few minutes, unburdening yourself more than is probably necessary to do with a stranger, all the while nodding and saying uh-uh at the right time. He asks questions deep enough to express genuine interest, without sounding downright nosy.Â
âThe answer is obvious,â he tells you. âQuit.â
âMaybe I will at some point. Just moved into my own place. So I need the job for now.â
âMe too. But after one star, I better start considering a career change.â He flashes you a genuine smile. âMind if I pull over one more time?â
You shrug. âMight as well.â
After driving another block, he stops the car, puts it in park and rolls down the window to receive a delivery. He offers his thanks and a cash tip before turning around to hand you a disposable coffee cup.
âDairy free macchiato, right? I read your cupâs label.â
You catch your slack-jawed, wide-eyed stare in the rearview mirror. âYou got me a macchiato?â
âItâs the least I could do after the pothole ate the last one.â His eyebrows shoot up underneath his flat cap.Â
âAre you serious?â You laugh out, gratefully accepting the piping hot beverage.Â
He smiles at you brilliantly before pulling out into traffic once more. âCan I ask you a question?â
âShoot.â
âWant me to kill your boss?â
âCan I ask you a question?â
âShoot.â
âDo you want another macchiato all over your back seat?â
âTouchĂŠ.â
Enjoying a few sips of your drink, you reflect on what a crazy and interesting ride home this has been. âYou know, Jake, threats of violence aside, you definitely cheered me up tonight.â
âI aim for a minimum of two stars - I really do.â
You finally pull up to your apartment building and thank him again. Twisting around in his seat, he holds out a gloved hand. âYou have my info if you ever need another ride. Or a seat to kick.â
âOr threats of violence?â
âOr some good jazz,â he concludes, shaking your hand. âI hope your boss falls down an empty elevator shaft.â
âI hope your boss ignores your two-star rating.â
âItâs your call, but without this job, I wonât be able to afford to take this hot person I met to dinner.â
âHow is that my problem?â
âYou donât eat dinner?â
A handshake probably shouldnât last this long, but your hand rests comfortably in his.
âââ â â ââ ââ â â âââŽ
You decide to move into a smaller, more affordable place. Itâs a little further away from work, but you have three job interviews lined up. You save a lot of money, some of which you use to indulge in a certain white rideshare car and its handsome driver.
âââ â â ââ ââ â â âââŽ
edited by @reallyrallyauthor
featured in the @the-oscar-isaac-collective A Sip of Coffee ZINE
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Summary: After you break up with your cheating boyfriend you move to another part of town. Being single while carrying a child under your heart is hard, but you recieve help and support from the most unexpected person, your grumpy neighbour.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12 (Ending)
Fanart for the story made by đ @romanarose đ
Forever Young a songfic by đ @romanarose đ based on this fic đĽ°
â˘Peter being your best friend from community college and is the person who suggested that you move in since youâre looking for roommates already. At first you think itâll be just him and you. But then he explains that he has roommates and youâre more excited since you were kinda nervous to be living with one guy.
â˘Before moving in Peter suggest a test run to see how youâd do with the guys. So you spend the weekend at the boys apartment.
â˘You meet Bob first. Heâs watching TV and heâs shy around you because he forgot that you were coming over. But when you actually show interest in what heâs watching he warms up.
â˘You meet Joaquin next. He brings in pizza and beers. Heâs super chatty and friendly. He then remembers that Johnny is most likely there. Peter says he isnât. And then what would you know? Joaquin who basically broke into Johnnyâs room pulls him out.
â˘Johnny was pouting cause he didnât want another roommate but then he sees you and is all like. Wait? Youâre the potential new roommate??? But youâre a girl?!
â˘Peter is like yeah? What about it.
â˘Johnny figured youâd be a boy since the rest of his roommates are boys. But since youâre a girl? Heâs extra flirty.
â˘Which brings us to the birth of the douche jar. Johnny being somewhat douchie and has to have a douche jar. (similar to the one in New Girl) He claims yâall are robbing him blind and Peter suggests that if he stop being creepy around you then the jar wouldnât exist.
â˘Surprisingly you agree to move in even after Johnny being on his worst behavior.
â˘Joaquin waking up early and does his workout routine so loudly that it wakes either Johnny or you up. You nicely tell Joaquin to be quiet. While Johnny throws a hissy fit talking about how he needs his beauty sleep and that all of this (his face) doesnât look like this normally. Nobody knows what heâs talking about because heâs literally got no skin care routine. Heâs just being dramatic.
â˘Bob doing the dishes and cleaning out the refrigerator without being asked to do it basically being a little Angel (unlike Johnny who is the messiest) Everyone gives him some extra cash or a gift as a reward for his hard work! And tells him that they appreciate him.
â˘Peter being the âleaderâ of the friend group and everyone but Johnny taking him seriously as the leader. Johnny constantly points out that Peter is the youngest and that by that point he shouldnât be the leader. But you tell him that the friend group really doesnât need a leader in the first place. And that itâs just a joke.
â˘Joaquin being the one to remind everyone when rent is due, reminds yâall to eat, take your meds, etc, and is low-key the most put together out of everyone in the group (though it should be noted he is the oldest.)
â˘Bob falling asleep on the couch while watching baking shows typically he always wakes up with a blanket on him he never knows who puts it on him (everyone including Johnny puts a blanket on him)
â˘Johnny takes the longest showers, next would be Peter, you, Bob, and Joaquin would take the shortest ones (obviously yâall donât shower together unlessâŚ) đ
â˘Peter, Johnny, and you are the worst cooks. While Bob and Joaquin are the best. Bob probably cooks the most for everyone.
Peter and you are good at baking and you guys make the most baked goods.
â˘Johnny isnât allowed to cook or bake because heâll burn everything even though heâs determined he wonât. (He always does)
â˘Joaquin is the one to always suggest that everyone go out to the movies, to parties, or sporting events, and is super big into team-building exercises
â˘Bob being the best at video games and loving to read and watch nature shows heâs also the best at cuddling
⢠In the winter Johnny is everyoneâs heating pad. Johnny likes it at first cause you give him more attention and then Bob starts to cuddle with him too and heâs like waittttt and before he knows it everyone is around him and heâs like get off of me while having a huge blush on his face
â˘Peter and Johnny are best friends but theyâre constantly bickering and Joaquin and you have a bet to see if theyâll end up together. Bob has no idea about this heâs just concerned about the friend group. And doesnât like the fighting.
â˘Johnny one day early on thinks he can impress you (cause he has a major crush on you) by telling you heâs been to space. Peter overhears this and laughs loudly and says heâs also been to space. And Johnny is like Oh yeah??? Source?! Peter then pulls out his phone and shows the videos he took. And Johnnyâs like shit gotta make up something to sound even cooler. âWell, I fucked an alien.â Everyone stares at him and you gag and walk off.
â˘Meanwhile, Joaquin who knows Johnny has a crush on you tells him he has no game. (He did at one point but heâs not used to this dimension. And that itâs 60+ years into the future for him.)
â˘In the hallway you tell Bob that Johnny fucked an alien. And he runs into the kitchen asking for details. Not because heâs a perv. But he wants to know what the alien looked like. And Peter laughs and tells him that Johnny didnât fuck an alien. And you best believe Johnny is thinking but I could!
â˘As a joke you start to point out popular aliens from pop culture and ask if that was his lover. Heâs so embarrassed that he just pouts.
â˘Joaquin (ever the dad friend) has to go and check on him
â˘You jokingly say that youâre in a reverse harem one night and the boys take this and go to some really funny places with it.
â˘Johnny calls you a Mormon and that youâre greedy cause one guy isnât enough for you
â˘Peter starts singing the Ouran High School Host Club song cause he knew you loved the show in high school (you told him once when you were drunk)
â˘Joaquin asking whoâs youâre favorite boyfriend and playfully winking at you
â˘While Bob is confused about what a reverse harem is and yâall have to explain it to him. Once he gets it heâs all blushy.