when life gives you lemons (j. sinclair)
pairing : johnny sinclair x reader (no gender mentions)
tropes/genres : fluff, slight tw (parent death), best friend's cousin, very tom & jerry, teasing and banter
word count : 4.4k
author's note : ello everybody... first of all thank you so much for the love on my previous johnny fic! this one took me a little longer to write just cus i wasn't feeling my writing that much but hopefully it turned out okay (lowkey all over the place BUT)! secondly, i've seen the johnny sinclair x fem!reader discourse going around and wanted to clarify that this fic does not have any gender mentions for the reader, and i will continue to write my johnny fics so there are no gender mentions for reader. it is simply for whoever is reading it to interpret the character as they want, thank you!
*not edited as of 7/16/25
“congratulations, to the class of 2023!” our principal, dr. hayes, concluded his graduation speech before directing us all to stand up with the crowd erupting in applause. my peers turned rowdy, throwing their caps up into the air, colliding into each other’s bodies in tight hugs, and running around the grassy field. i, too, would have done something crazy, like stand up on the white, plastic chairs given to us for the ceremony, or hug the stranger next to me, but knowing that i had just barely completed my senior year with enough credits to get me by, i was just relieved i was graduating at all. there wasn’t much for me to celebrate other than the fact that i didn’t have to repeat this dreaded year.
senior year was a rough one. everyone says your junior year is the hardest, but no one tells you how senioritis comes creeping up your back the second you let your guard down. or how you may or may not lose both your parents in a car accident. no one really tells you anything about how your life is supposed to or not supposed to go. that’s because no one really knows.
i was actually doing really well the first half of my junior year. straight A’s with one B in ap us history. history was never my strong suite, but i still pushed through. i’d spend endless nights memorizing the dates and events that made up our country’s very important history, only to mix up names of wars and massacres and all the things that come with the rest of it. all of those seemingly important dates soon deemed themselves insignificant to me, though.
february 14, 2023 was a day i’d never forget.
it started off a regular valentine's day, one that honestly hadn't changed at all every time it came around the past eighteen years. it would've been just any other day for me if i hadn't been living with two lovebirds, also known as my parents. the two were high school sweethearts, thus why they had this bright, burning spark going on for ages. a spark i envied. sometimes i wondered where they went wrong with me, how they ended up with a kid that nobody could ever possibly love.
although it wasn't completely like that, either. my best friend, mirren, was never short of confessing her love towards me. not in a "you're the love of my life and i want to make babies and grow old with you" type of way, but more so "you're the bestest friend i've ever had, how could i ever live without you" type of way.
mirren was sugar, curiousity, and rain. i liked having her around. i liked having someone to confide in, when it felt like i was all alone in the world.
mirren was there for me after my parent's accident. they had gone on a date my dad had planned for the two of them for valentine's day. the restaurant they had gone to was one where they had their first date, back in high school. except they never made it to the restaurant. i got a call at 8:02 PM from an unknown number. i never picked up unknown numbers. but they called again, i ignored it again. the third time felt too odd for me to let it ring through, so i picked up.
"is this y/n?" a cold, stern voice said through the other end of the phone.
"yes..." i hesitated, "who's asking?"
the rest of the conversation was hazy, like my brain purposefully cut out parts of it so i couldn't hurt myself trying to remember how it went.
"we're very sorry...."
"nothing more we could do...."
"at the scene...."
"gone."
they were gone.
mirren and i were in her room, where she was painting her nails on the floor below me, while i sat on her bed flipping through the millions of magazines she had collected.
"the offer still stands, you know," she chimed up.
"mm," i acknowledged, still looking through the seventeen magazine.
the offer mirren was talking about was joining her, and the rest of her family, at their private island for the summer. no matter how many times mirren mentioned stories of beechwood, the idea of a private island always baffled me. bess, her mom, was also aboard the idea and said it'd be good for me to get out of here for a bit. even if it's just for the summer.
i was grateful for the opportunity, truly, but i didn't know if summer vacations at private islands were my thing. my summers, before this one, consisted of helping out my mom in the backyard garden or playing volleyball with my dad at a nearby park.
"come ooonnnnn, it'd be like," mirren blew at her fingernails, "a hundred times more fun with you there."
"i just wouldn't want to intrude," i said, putting down the magazine spine-up on the bed.
"and you wouldn't," mirren said, standing up from her spot on the ground to look down at me, "trust me."
i did trust mirren, a hell of a lot even. she and i had been friends since the fifth grade, somehow ending up in all of our classes together up until high school, when she had to transfer out of the district. we still kept in contact, though, and we were still closer than ever.
"besides, my cousin johnny also brings a non-sinclair with him to the island every summer. though gat's basically part of the family at this point," mirren added on, trying to convince me further. i thought about it for a good twenty seconds and sighed.
"fine," i said, giving in as i sat up straight on the bed, legs and arms crossed.
"yes!!!! thank you, thank you, thank youuuu," mirren squealed, grabbing me with her arms and pulling me into a tight hug. i let myself melt in her embrace. god, this girl was a miracle.
with only three days of official notice, i had gotten packed and ready to spend my summer in beechwood with the sinclairs. i headed downstairs, bag in hand, and set it down to the floor in front of the door. then i looked back, taking in the gloom that had filled up the emptiness of my parents' presence in our home. my aunt up in canada insisted on me living with their family after the funeral, but i couldn't leave this house, these memories—them.
i snapped out of the thoughts of despair at the sound of a car honking. grabbing my bag off the floor, i opened the front door to see mirren, her mom, and siblings waiting for me in their car. taft was waving his little hand at me while mirren started getting out of the car to help me with my stuff.
and then it was off to beechwood island.
—
one by one, bess, liberty, bonnie, and taft stepped out of the boat and onto the dock. mirren followed, reaching for my hand to help me off after her. nerves rushed through my body, but excitement bubbled up within me in no time. i had thought the view from the boat was beautiful, but looking out to the water from land was on a whole other level. i couldn't believe this view was the norm for them.
"you okay?" mirren asked as we walked far behind the rest of her family. i looked up to her and nodded. "we're going to have so much fun," she continued, reassuring me, my hand still in hers as she squeezed tight.
with everyone already ahead of us, mirren and i walked up the grassy hill, coming face to face with a beautiful, mansion-like home. the area was bustling with people and playful dogs, barking around and chasing tennis balls.
"mirren, who is that?" i whispered, loud enough for only her to hear, though my eyes were still caught on a tall, blondie talking to what seemed like a mini version of him.
"him? that's my cousin, johnny. remember the one i mentioned?" mirren replied, giving me a confused look.
yeah, only like a bajillion times. mirren always talked about her summers at beechwood with her cousins, only failing to mention how absolutely gorgeous one of them were. well, that was a lie, her whole family was gorgeous. pale, blonde, and perfect hair must've been the requirement to be a sinclair.
"let's go, i'll introduce you to everyone," mirren grabbed my hand and began walking me over to the rest of her family. suddenly i felt quite overwhelmed. i didn't have much family back home, it was always just me, mom, and dad—mom, dad, and i.
although it was just me now.
sometimes i cursed my parents for not giving me a sibling. mirren used to tell me how jealous she was that i got to be an only child, and how she would love all the attention that came with it. i thought the opposite. i loved mirren, but i absolutely adored her little siblings, too. whenever i came over, mirren would drag us straight to her room, but i always made sure to acknowledge liberty, bonnie, and taft before heading up with her. taft was my favorite out of her siblings. the little was crafty, like mirren, and always made sure to give me one of his paper origami creations whenever i visited.
plenty of "nice to meet you's" and nods of acknowledgement went around as mirren introduced me to her aunts and grandparents. all beautiful, blonde and perfect.
"and theeese are my favorite people ever," mirren gestured towards the group. one by one, they introduced themselves. cadence, gat, and johnny. i looked at johnny a second longer than the other two, without meaning it, but i also couldn't help myself.
who knew summer vacation on a private island could be this fun? well, me, i knew that. i just never could have imagined actually being here. my days on beechwood routinely included endless hours tanning on the beach, ice cream for days, and messing with cady and gat, who by the way, totally liked each other. i asked mirren what their deal was and she simply shrugged and gave me a "hell, if i know" look.
i ended up spending a lot of time with johnny, surprisingly. mirren started disappearing on us, which i badgered her about constantly and only got giggles and "it's nothing's" out of her. and well, there was no way i'd be third-wheeling gat and cadence. those two always seemed like they were in their own little world away from the rest of us.
johnny was fun. we spent a lot of time out on the tennis courts where he taught me how to play and spoil alert, i was terrible.
"johnny, i don't think i'm ever going to get this game," i heaved, hands resting on my knees as i tried to catch my breath. "you're training me like i'm heading to finals next week."
"no, no, i really think you've got something special," he called back out from the other side of the net, waving around his racket in the air. i knew he was being sarcastic, but that's what i liked about him. we could joke around with each other knowing the other was almost never being serious. i couldn't always do that with mirren, knowing i'd probably hurt her feelings on accident.
"ugh, let's just take a break," i responded, heading over to the bench at the edge of the court. johnny set down his racket and walked over to sit down next to me, water in hand.
"hydrate," johnny said, holding the bottle out to me.
"thanks," i replied and gulped down what seemed like the entire bottle of water.
"okay, break time over," johnny said as soon i stopped drinking, getting up from the bench. i groaned and threw my head back in response.
"i am not getting up. no, actually, i can't get up. and that's because my legs quite literally have given up on me," i protested, looking up at johnny, who by the way, was barely even breaking a sweat.
"come on, we've barely been out here for, like, an hour," johnny threw back.
"yeah, more like three. we've been here since ten in the morning, johnny, and i bet you mirren is still in bed and asleep."
"you really can't get up?" johnny asked then.
"huh?" i looked at him, confused.
"your legs, they're not working?"
"i mean i'm tired, but i'm sure i can get back to the house just fine," i replied, wiggling my legs around to actually make sure they were still moving.
i looked back up from my legs to see johnny kneeling on the ground, back facing me.
"what are you doing?" i asked, mouth agape.
"just get on, will you?" he turned to face me now with a brow raised.
"no, johnny, i'm fine, seriously," i objected, but my actions proved otherwise as i tried getting up to walk away from the bench only to sit my ass back down, legs wobbling.
"see," johnny blew a breath out, "stop being stubborn and get on."
i knew there was no fighting him and that he'd get me on his back one way or another. i just decided to take the easy route as i let out an annoyed groan and hopped on his back, arms crossed over and around his shoulders.
"don't you dare drop me," i warned as johnny got up on his feet with ease. i knew he was athletic, but it seriously didn't even seem like he was struggling.
"then you better hold on tight."
"calendar, not calender," i pointed at the scrabble word johnny just put down.
"are you serious?" johnny looked up, "don't mess with me just because you want to win again."
"i'm not even kidding, it's spelled c-a-l-e-n-d-a-r."
"there's no way, i swear i've been spelling it c-a-l-e-n-d-e-r, like, my whole life," johnny ran a hand through his hair like he had just made a huge discovery that changed the trajectory of his world.
"sorry to break it to you," i laughed, rolling my eyes before getting up from the pillow i was sitting on.
"whatever, i never win when playing with you anyway," he complained as he got up after me.
"well, you're good at tennis and i'm good at scrabble," i reasoned, "that makes us even."
"does it, though?" johnny said, mockingly.
"i take that back, actually, i am better than you," i glared back at him, regretting being nice for even a second.
"i demand a rematch," johnny declared.
"in your dreams, blondie," i called out as i made my way out the door to go look for mirren, leaving johnny alone at cuddledown.
mirren had us split up for the lemon hunt, something about covering more ground. i wouldn't have minded if not for the fact that i literally did not know my way around this island even after being here for a solid three weeks. i circled the same little patch of grass before realizing i had passed by this little garden gnome three times already.
i looked down into my basket, counting six lemons. i wondered where mirren's grandfather could have hidden the one lime, and if it was even possible to find it at all. i didn't consider myself a competitive person, but finding the lime in my very first lemon hunt would have been quite impressive.
"y/n!"
i turned around at the mention of my name to see johnny walking towards me, basket full to the brim with lemons.
"here to snatch my findings, too?" i called back out, jokingly.
johnny let out a chuckle and shook his head. "no, but i do have a proposition," he insisted.
"and that is?" i tilted my head to the side questioningly.
"you see, i know you're probably helping out mirren," he started.
"mhmm."
"buuuut, i think i could be of more use," he continued, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"how, exactly?"
"i'll get you whatever you want," johnny looked down to my basket and pointed, "in exchange for the lemons."
"whatever i want?"
"anything."
i thought about johnny's offer, long and hard.
"i'm very sorry, johnny, but i don't think i'll be of much help," i said with a sickeningly sweet smile, before turning around to walk away, loosely swinging my basket around like bait.
johnny came running to my side like a puppy, quickly hooking on the bait i put out.
"come on, y/n, there has to be something you want," johnny pleaded.
sinclairs really did not play about their lemons.
"okay, there might be something," i confessed, still avoiding eye contact while swinging my basket back and forth.
"just say the word."
i paused in my tracks and faced johnny, having to slightly look up because he was so much taller than i was.
"johnny," i began, "do you think you could turn back time?"
johnny looked kind of dumbfounded, like he wasn't expecting me to ask of something so out of the ordinary. i was pleased that i caught him off guard, but i knew deep down that i wasn't kidding about what i wanted. i did want to turn back time. i wanted to go back, to that day, and stop my parents from ever leaving the house, from ever leaving me.
"come with me," johnny said after a few silent seconds, reaching to grab my free arm. i followed as he led me away, not saying another word.
—
"this, right here, is my spot," johnny declared, opening his arms wide as he showed off the view.
"your spot?" i asked, setting my basket down on the sand.
"yeah, i call it 'johnny's super secret and super awesome spot that nobody knows.'"
"'nobody knows,' seriously? not even gat? mirren, cadence?"
"not even them," he replied, shaking his head.
"why bring me here, then?"
"to turn back time, duh."
"okay, now i know you're messing with me, johnny sinclair, because time travel is so not real," i said, crossing my arms.
"i told you i'd get you whatever you want, didn't i?" johnny replied, brows slightly raised and a satisfied smile on his face.
i looked at johnny all skeptical, then turned away to scope out the place he had brought me to. there was a slight breeze in the air, the sun starting to set and the moon coming out to play. there was no sight of buildings or houses from this view, or any other human for that matter. just us and the sound of the ocean.
rocks of all sizes scattered the shore, waves crashing back and forth. from the water, about a half a mile of sand led up to a patch of grass and nature. johnny began to take his shoes and socks off, gesturing at me to do the same. i complied, really wondering where he was going with this.
"to the water," johnny announced, making his way towards the blue with a finger turned up in the air.
"water? johnny, it's quite literally freezing right now," i said, pulling my arms closer to my body in attempt to ease the shivers.
"just truuust me. we're going back in time, remember?" he called out, closer to the water now than he was me.
i rolled my eyes, not that he saw as he continued to walk away. finally catching up to him, i let my feet sink into the wet sand, watching as little crabs and seashells emerged with each encounter of water.
"now what?" i asked, looking up at johnny—who had his eyes closed?
"now we breathe," johnny replied, taking a deep breath in, then letting out. i did not take johnny sinclair as a "zen" guy.
i wasn't closing my eyes, but i started doing the breathing thing anyway. i had adjusted to the water temperature by now, and i continued to let in a deep, jagged breath and then slowly let it out.
"you're tensing up," johnny said from behind me now as he gently shook my shoulders, "just relax."
i closed my eyes, feeling comforted by his touch and the water beneath my feet. my shoulders sagged a little and i felt the tension exit my body as i continued to breathe in and out.
the sound of water splashing and wind whistling was almost hypnotizing. the two were harmonizing, giving rise to a rhythm that conjured from everything to nothing. my eyes still closed, i embraced the darkness, picturing myself roaming through an endless void. i walked for what felt like ages until a glimmer of light grazed my field of vision.
i started running towards it, like it was calling my name, only to realize it was. i could hear my mom, then my dad, calling my name.
"y/n... y/n!"
the voices got louder as i got closer to the light—and then i saw them. my parents, like they had never left. we were in the living room of our house, except everything was brighter and more radiant than i last saw it a month ago.
"oh, honey," my mom was sitting on the couch, mug in hand. she looked so... alive. her brunette curls were let down, not a single grey hair to be seen.
sitting next to her was my dad with a book in his hands. he was always such a reader, buying me books and lending me his own whenever he could.
i immediately threw my arms around them, hugging like them never before. holding onto them like my life depended on it.
"i love you guys so, so much," i cried out, tears uncontrollably falling from my eyes.
"we love you, and miss you, so much," my dad said, hugging me back.
and in the blink of an eye, they were gone again. there was so much more i could have said to them. how i wish they were here, how guilty i had felt having such a fun summer after losing them, how far i would go just to see them once last time.
yet, this was better than i had hoped for. i got to hug my parents, see them in all their glory, and told them how much i loved them. thanks to johnny, i was given at least that.
"soooo did it work?" johnny asked as we got out of the water. the sun was long gone, leaving us wandering in the moonlight.
"in a way," i said, making sure my face was void of any tears before facing him.
"does that mean-"
"yes, johnny, you can have the lemons," i rolled my eyes.
"yes!" johnny exclaimed, fist pumping the air.
"do you do that often?" i asked.
"do what? express joy?"
"no, idiot," i laughed at his remark, "do you come out here and do that often?" i explained, nodding towards the beach.
"oh," johnny understood then, "sort of. i did a lot more when i was younger. it helped me escape, you know? not from beechwood, but from life. the bad parts," johnny continued, walking with his hands in the pockets of his shorts, "my dad... he... he's not really a good person. made our lives a living hell. sometimes i just needed something to help me forget."
"i'm sorry he was so shitty," i said. and i really was sorry. he didn't deserve that. not him or his family.
"yeah... me too," johnny sighed as he sat down on the sand where we had left our baskets.
"i lost my parents," i said out loud after a couple of minutes of silence. johnny turned to look at me, but i kept my gaze on the water in front of me.
"when?" johnny asked, quietly, almost like he was nervous to talk about it.
"february, this year."
"god, i'm so sorry, y/n," johnny shook his head, hand running through his hair.
"me too," i whispered, returning his words from earlier as i let my gaze fall upon him again.
johnny was sort of, really, beautiful. the sun did him good this summer, leaving his freckled skin with a soft tan. the ends of his dirty, blonde hair curled up from the ocean mist. the water ahead of us was a color match for his blue eyes—eyes i wanted to get absolutely lost in.
and even in the dark of the night, he shined brightly.
"you're staring," he whispered, yet making sure not to break eye contact either.
"so are you," i countered.
"only because you are," johnny leaned in the slightest bit closer. something shifted in the air then. it felt like everything around us was moving while we were frozen in our own little bubble.
just us.
johnny made the first move. his hand hovered over my cheek before gently grazing over my lips, hesitant. words weren't needed to express how we both felt. in this moment, all we needed was each other.
i brought both my hands up to hold onto johnny's face, fitted perfectly against his curved jaw. then, i pulled him in closer. we were only centimeters apart for a split second before johnny placed his lips over mine. it started off sweet; small, shy pecks exchanged between the two of us. i let my hands wander down to the back of johnny's neck, feeling the curled ends of his hair tangling through my fingers.
"you're good at scrabble, but i think you're even better at kissing," johnny said, breaking the kiss.
"well, i think you're still better in the tennis department," i lied, giggling before i placed another soft peck to his lips.
"so you suck at tennis and you're a terrible liar, got it," johnny retaliated, hands still cupping my face.
"mirren's gonna be so mad at me," i sighed as i reached for my lemon basket.
"oh, she'll forget about this by the end of the week," johnny replied with a chuckle.
"johnny?"
"yeah?" johnny's face perked up at the mention of his name.
"thanks for today," i said, a smile forming on my lips, truly meaning my gratitude. johnny gave me a smile and squeezed my hand in return.
"anytime, y/n, with or without the lemons."
