SUMMARY — At Briar University, everything runs on tradition, reputation, and the people willing to carry both. Beau Maxwell has spent years becoming the person everyone expects him to be. Elana Reyes has spent her time questioning the stories people choose to believe.
When their worlds unexpectedly collide, they discover that the truth is rarely as simple as it seems—and that some legacies are held toegther by more than pride alone. In a campus built on ambition, loyalty, and appearances, the line between symbol and person begins to blue, forcing them to decide what they're willing to protect when everything starts to fall apart.
TAGS — opposites attract, push-and-pull romance, enemies (kind of) turned friends to lovers, golden boy!beau, fratboy!beau, lots of banter (and it's just beau flirting with oc if you squint)
WARNINGS — mdni 18+, lots of smut, alcohol consumption, sexual themes (to be specified before each scene), explicit content, frat culture, college parties, smoking, hazing themes (beau's not the one doing it ofc), overlapping timelines with canon events.
WORD COUNT — TBD.
CHAPTERS
all chapters will be uploaded in wattpad (for now).
FOREWORD — 6.27.26
AESTHETHICS — 6.27.26
PROLOGUE (1,410) — 6.27.26
CHAPTER O1 (4,993) — 7.03.26
CHAPTER 02 (4,155) — 7.08.26
CHAPTER 03 (2,554) — 7.14.26
CHAPTER 04 (TBD) — wip
minors, please do not interact with this blog or any other 18+ content. lastly, do not copy, repost, translate or publish my work anywhere.
hello!! i saw u were taking requests for beau and thought of this :)
could you do a beau maxwell x reader where reader is friends with allie and hannah. she’s a bit more shy than both of them and doesn’t like to drink a whole lot or really go to parties so she kinda just chills at home most of the time. allie finally convinces her to go out with them and her and beau gut it off but reader thinks he just likes her as a friend but he’s actually so down bad and it lowkey turns into pining/yearning from beau. (reader likes him just assumed he didn’t like her like that)
thanks <3
Beau Maxwell x Fem!Reader
❗️: No warnings besides kissing..
🖌️: hope you guys like this.
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You stood in front of the mirror in Allie’s dorm room, tugging at the hem of the simple black dress she’d convinced you to wear. Your usual weekend uniform was sweatpants and a hoodie in the safety of your own room, curled up with a book or watching something low-key with Hannah.
“I don’t know about this,” you said, voice soft as you adjusted the neckline again. “Parties aren’t really my thing. Too loud. Too many people. I’ll just stand in the corner and feel awkward the whole time.”
Allie, already in a cute red top and jeans, spun around from her vanity with a bright smile. “Come on, YN! You’ve been cooped up in your room studying for weeks. One night out won’t kill you. Hannah’s coming too it’ll be fun. We’ll stick together.”
Hannah, sitting on the bed in a soft blue sweater and skirt, gave you an encouraging nod. “She’s right. We won’t let you get lost in the crowd. And if it sucks, we can leave early. Promise.”
You sighed, fiddling with the strap of your small bag. The three of you had become close friends quickly Allie the bubbly, outgoing one who dragged everyone into adventures, Hannah the sweet and grounded middle ground, and you the quieter, more reserved one who preferred staying in. Parties made your stomach twist with anxiety, but Allie had been begging for weeks.
“Fine,” you relented, smoothing your hands down the dress one last time. “But if I hate it, we’re out after an hour.”
Allie squealed and pulled you into a quick hug. “That’s my girl! You look hot, by the way. Someone’s definitely going to notice.”
You rolled your eyes, cheeks warming. “I’m not there to get noticed. I’m there to survive.”
Hannah smiled softly as she stood up. “You’ll do great. And if anyone’s too much, we’ve got your back.”
The three of you headed out, Allie chattering excitedly the whole walk to the football house party. The music was already thumping when you arrived, the front yard littered with people laughing and drinking. Your nerves spiked immediately the noise, the crowd, the unfamiliar energy. You stuck close to Allie and Hannah as they led you inside.
The living room was packed, bodies moving to the beat, red cups everywhere. You found a relatively quiet spot near the edge of the room, nursing a water (you’d politely declined the stronger stuff) while Allie and Hannah chatted with a few people they knew.
That’s when he spotted you.
Beau Maxwell the charming, golden-boy quarterback everyone on campus seemed to know was standing with Dean and a couple of his teammates across the room. His eyes landed on you and stayed there, something shifting in his expression. He’d seen you around campus before, always with Allie or Hannah, always looking like you’d rather be anywhere else. Something about your quiet presence had stuck with him.
He excused himself from the group and made his way over, that easy, warm smile on his face.
“Hey,” he said, stopping a respectful distance away. “You’re Allie and Hannah’s friend, right? I’m Beau.”
You looked up at him, surprised he’d approached. Most people didn’t bother with the quiet girl in the corner. “Yeah. I’m YN.”
“Nice to meet you, YN.” His smile widened, genuine and bright. “First time at one of these?”
You nodded, fiddling with your cup. “Allie dragged me. I don’t usually do parties.”
“Smart choice,” he said, leaning against the wall beside you. “They can get pretty wild. But you look like you’re handling it better than most first-timers.”
You gave a small, shy smile. “Barely. I’m mostly people-watching and hoping no one spills a drink on me.”
Beau chuckled, the sound warm and easy. “I can help with that. I’ll be your personal bodyguard tonight. No spills on my watch.”
The conversation flowed surprisingly easily after that. Beau was charming without being overwhelming asking about your classes, what you liked to do when you weren’t being dragged to parties, sharing funny stories about his teammates that made you laugh softly. He stayed right there with you, never pushing, never leaving your side even when his friends waved him over.
From across the room, Dean nudged Allie. “Look at that. Beau’s down bad already. He’s been staring at her like she hung the moon since he walked over.”
Allie grinned. “She thinks he’s just being friendly. She has no idea how gone he is.”
Beau was, in fact, completely gone. Every quiet laugh you gave, every shy glance you sent his way, every time you tucked a strand of hair behind your ear it all hit him harder than any tackle on the field. He wanted to know everything about you. Wanted to be the reason you smiled more. Wanted to pull you closer and keep you there.
But he played it cool, keeping the conversation light, even as his heart raced every time you looked at him.
The night stretched on, the party swirling around you, but Beau stayed right there pining quietly, yearning in every glance, already completely hooked on the shy girl who didn’t realize she had his full attention.
The party noise swirled around you, but Beau’s attention stayed fixed on you like you were the only calm point in the chaos. He leaned a little closer to be heard over the music, his shoulder brushing yours in a way that felt intentional but not overwhelming.
“So, what do you do when you’re not being dragged to parties by Allie?” he asked, voice warm and genuinely curious. “You seem like the type who has a favorite quiet spot on campus.”
You glanced up at him, surprised by how easy the conversation felt. Most guys at parties tried too hard loud jokes, over-the-top compliments. Beau was just… steady. Listening.
“I like the library’s top floor,” you admitted softly. “Or the bench by the old oak tree when it’s not too crowded. Reading. Sketching sometimes. Nothing exciting.”
Beau’s smile softened, eyes crinkling at the corners. “That sounds perfect. I’m usually stuck on the field or in the weight room, but I get it. Sometimes the quiet is the best part of the day.”
From the corner of your eye, you saw Allie and Hannah watching with matching grins. Allie gave you a not-so-subtle thumbs up. You felt your cheeks warm and looked back at Beau, assuming he was just being nice the friendly, popular guy chatting with the shy friend of his friend’s girlfriend.
He wasn’t. Inside, Beau’s chest felt tight in the best way. The way you spoke quietly, the small smile that tugged at your lips when you mentioned your favorite spots, the way you didn’t try to impress him it all hit him harder than he expected. He wanted to know more. Wanted to be the one who got to sit on that bench with you, sharing the quiet. He was already down bad, pining in a way that surprised even him.
“You should show me that bench sometime,” he said, voice light but sincere. “If you want. No pressure. I promise I won’t talk too much.”
You gave a small, shy laugh. “You seem like the type who talks a lot.”
Beau grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Guilty. But I can be quiet when it counts. Especially if it means spending time with someone interesting.”
The compliment made your stomach flutter, but you pushed the feeling down. He’s just being friendly, you told yourself. Popular guys like him don’t go for the quiet girl who prefers staying in.
Allie appeared then, looping her arm through yours. “There you are! Dean’s looking for you, Beau. Something about a bet with the guys.”
Beau glanced at Dean across the room, then back at you, reluctance clear in his eyes. “Duty calls. But I’ll find you later? If that’s okay.”
You nodded, a small smile breaking through. “Yeah. Okay.”
He gave you one last warm look before heading off, heart racing as he walked away. She smiled at me, he thought, already replaying the conversation in his head. God, I’m in trouble.
Allie squeezed your arm as soon as he was gone. “He’s so into you. Did you see the way he looked at you?”
You shook your head, cheeks warm. “He’s just being nice. We were just talking.”
Hannah, who had joined you, smiled softly. “He doesn’t look at just anyone like that. Trust me.”
You brushed it off, the shy part of you convinced it was nothing more than friendly conversation. But across the room, Beau kept stealing glances your way, pining quietly, already counting down the minutes until he could talk to you again.
The night continued, the party loud around you, but every time your eyes met Beau’s across the crowd, something warm and unspoken passed between you even if you didn’t quite believe it yet.
The campus quad was quiet in the late afternoon, sunlight filtering through the leaves of the old oak tree. You sat on your favorite bench with a book open in your lap, legs tucked beneath you, completely absorbed in the story. The world around you felt distant the occasional student walking by, the soft rustle of leaves overhead. This was your place. Peaceful. Safe.
Beau spotted you from across the quad and felt that familiar pull in his chest. He’d been thinking about you nonstop since the party the way you’d smiled shyly when he approached, the quiet way you listened when he talked, the way you seemed to prefer the edges of the crowd rather than the center. He crossed the grass toward you, heart beating a little faster with every step.
He stopped a respectful distance away, not wanting to startle you. “Mind if I join you?”
You looked up, surprised but not displeased. “Sure.”
Beau sat on the other end of the bench, giving you space, but his eyes stayed on you. God, he was down bad. The way the sunlight caught in your hair, the focused expression on your face as you read it all made something warm and aching settle in his chest. He wanted to know what you were reading. Wanted to know what made you smile like that. Wanted to be the reason for more of those small, private smiles.
“What are you reading?” he asked softly, not wanting to break the peaceful moment too much.
You glanced at him, then back at the page. “An old favorite. Fantasy. Escapist stuff.”
Beau nodded, leaning back against the bench. “Sounds perfect. I could use some escape after practice today. Coach ran us hard.”
You gave a small nod, turning a page. The silence between you wasn’t uncomfortable. Beau was content to just sit there, stealing glances at you when he thought you weren’t looking. Every little detail the way you tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, the slight furrow in your brow when something in the book surprised you made his yearning deeper. He wanted to pull you closer. Wanted to know everything about you. Wanted to be the person you felt comfortable enough to share those quiet moments with.
After a while, you closed the book and looked at him. “You don’t have to sit here in silence if you don’t want to.”
“I like the silence,” he said honestly, voice warm. “Especially with you. Most people fill it up. You don’t. It’s nice.”
You gave a small, shy smile, looking down at the book in your lap. Beau’s heart did that stupid flip again. He was completely gone for you the shy girl who preferred books to parties, who listened more than she spoke, who made him feel like he could just be without performing.
The afternoon stretched on like that quiet conversation mixed with comfortable silences. Beau asked about your classes, about what you liked to read, about anything you were willing to share. He hung on every word, storing it away like treasure. Every time you smiled, even a little, he felt it in his chest.
When the sun started to dip lower, he stood reluctantly. “I should let you get back to your book. But… can I walk you to your next class sometime? Or sit with you here again?”
You looked up at him, the shyness still there but something warmer underneath. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
Beau’s smile was bright and genuine as he walked away, heart full and yearning stronger than ever. He was already counting down the minutes until he could see you again.
The lecture hall was emptying out after the guest speaker on modern literature, students filing out in a steady stream. You lingered near the back row, gathering your notes with careful precision, the shy habit of double-checking everything before leaving. The talk had been interesting insightful enough to keep your full attention and you were still mentally replaying a few key points as you slipped your bag over your shoulder.
Beau had been sitting three rows behind you the entire time. He’d chosen the seat deliberately, telling himself it was just because the view was good, but the truth was simpler: he couldn’t stop watching you. The way you leaned forward slightly when something caught your interest, the small nod you gave when a point resonated, the quiet focus that made you seem like you were in your own world. He was starstruck in the most ordinary way completely captivated by how present you were in moments like this, how you absorbed everything without needing to be the center of attention.
He waited until most of the crowd had left before approaching, heart beating a little faster than usual. “Hey. That was a good talk, right? The part about unreliable narrators really stuck with me.”
You looked up, surprised but offering a small, genuine smile. “Yeah, it was. I liked how she connected it to everyday storytelling. Made me think about my own writing.”
Beau’s chest tightened at the way you shared that small piece of yourself so naturally. God, she’s so effortlessly interesting, he thought, fighting the urge to step closer. He wanted to know everything about your writing, about the stories you kept in your head, about the way your mind worked when no one was watching. Instead, he kept his tone light, friendly on the surface while his feelings ran much deeper.
“I’d love to read something of yours sometime,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “If you ever feel like sharing. No pressure.”
You gave a shy laugh, looking down at your notes for a second. “It’s nothing special. Just personal stuff. But… maybe. Thanks for asking.”
Beau felt that familiar pull again the starstruck kind of awe that hit him every time you let him see even a small part of your world. You thought he was just being friendly, the nice guy who chatted with his friends’ friend. He was anything but. He was completely gone, replaying every small smile, every quiet laugh, every time you looked at him like he was just another person in the room while he felt like the luckiest guy alive just to be near you.
They walked out of the lecture hall together, the afternoon sun warm on the quad. Beau matched your pace, stealing glances when he thought you weren’t looking. She has no idea, he thought, heart aching in the best way. How much I think about her. How I replay every conversation. How I want to be the person she feels safe sharing those personal stories with.
You chatted lightly about the lecture as you walked, your voice soft and thoughtful. Beau hung on every word, nodding, asking questions that showed he was truly listening. Inside, he was a mess of yearning wanting to reach for your hand, wanting to tell you how much he looked forward to these moments, wanting to be more than just the friendly guy who happened to be in the same class.
When you reached the path that split toward your next destination, you gave him that small, shy smile again. “Thanks for walking with me. See you around?”
“Definitely,” Beau said, smiling back even as his chest felt tight with everything he wasn’t saying yet. “Looking forward to it.”
He watched you walk away, hands in his pockets, heart full and aching with how much he wanted this wanted you to be more than friendly conversations and shared lectures. He was starstruck, completely and quietly, by the girl who had no idea she’d already taken up so much space in his thoughts.
The bell above the door jingled as you stepped into Della’s, the familiar scent of coffee and fried food wrapping around you like a warm hug. It was a quiet afternoon, the lunch rush long gone, leaving the diner peaceful with only a few scattered customers. You slid into a booth near the window, pulling out your notebook to review notes for your next paper. The soft hum of the jukebox in the corner and the clink of dishes from the kitchen made the perfect background noise for focusing.
Beau spotted you the moment he walked in with Dean. His heart did that familiar flip the one that had become routine whenever he saw you on campus. He’d been thinking about you constantly since that afternoon in the lecture hall: the way you’d smiled shyly when he asked about your writing, the quiet way you listened, the small details that made you so uniquely you. He was completely gone for you, starstruck in the quietest way possible. Every time he saw you, he wanted to know more. Wanted to be the person you felt comfortable sharing those small pieces of yourself with.
Dean noticed immediately. “There she is. Go say hi, lover boy.”
Beau shot him a look but didn’t deny it. He crossed the diner and stopped by your booth, hands in his pockets to keep from fidgeting. “Hey. Mind if I join you? Dean’s meeting someone, so I’m on my own for a bit.”
You looked up, surprised but offering a small, genuine smile. “Sure. Have a seat.”
Beau slid into the booth across from you, his eyes soft as he took you in the way you tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, the focused expression that made his chest ache with how much he wanted this to be more than friendly. “What are you working on?”
“Just notes for a paper,” you said softly, closing the notebook slightly. “Nothing exciting.”
“Everything you do seems exciting to me,” Beau replied, the words slipping out before he could stop them. He rubbed the back of his neck, a little embarrassed but honest. “I mean… you always look so focused. Like you’re really in it. I admire that.”
You gave a shy laugh, looking down at the table. “It’s just school stuff. You’re the one out there winning games. That seems a lot more exciting.”
Beau shook his head, leaning forward a little. “Nah. I see the same guys every day. You… you’re different. In a good way. I like hearing about what you’re working on. Makes me feel like I’m getting to know the real you.”
The waitress came by then, and Beau ordered for both of you your usual black coffee and a muffin, remembering from the times he’d seen you at the library. You smiled softly when he did, the shyness making your cheeks warm.
As you talked, Beau felt that familiar yearning settle deeper in his chest. Every small detail the way you played with the edge of your notebook when you got thoughtful, the quiet laugh you gave when he made a dumb joke, the way you listened like his words actually mattered made him want more. He wanted to be the person you called when you needed someone. Wanted to be the reason you smiled more. Wanted to pull you closer and tell you how much he thought about you when he was on the field, in class, lying awake at night.
“You know,” he said after a while, voice softer, “I keep thinking about that lecture. The way you talked about unreliable narrators. Made me want to read more. Made me want to know what else you think about.”
You looked at him, the shyness still there but something warmer underneath. “I like talking about books with you. You actually listen.”
“I always will,” Beau said, the words carrying more weight than he let on. Inside, his heart was racing. She has no idea how much I want this. How much I want her.
The conversation flowed easily after that books, classes, small stories from your lives. Beau hung on every word, starstruck and yearning, while you felt that quiet pull toward him growing stronger, even if you still thought he was just being friendly.
The afternoon stretched on like that, the diner quiet around you, the connection between you deepening one small, careful moment at a time.
One Thursday evening, Allie and Hannah convinced you to join them for a low-key movie night in their dorm instead of anything loud or crowded. You arrived feeling comfortable and relaxed, ready for the cozy familiarity of just the three of you unwinding.
You had barely settled onto the floor with blankets and pillows when a knock sounded at the door.
Allie bounced up to answer it. “Perfect timing!”
Beau stepped in behind Dean, holding a couple of takeout bags from the pizza place everyone liked. His eyes found you immediately, softening in that warm way that always made your pulse quicken just a little.
“Hey,” he said, voice low and easy as he set the bags down. “Hope we’re not crashing. Dean mentioned you guys were doing movies, and I figured extra pizza never hurts.”
Hannah smiled and scooted over to make room. “You’re always welcome. Especially with food.”
Garrett followed a moment later, dropping down beside Hannah and pulling her close with that effortless affection the two of them shared. “Couldn’t let Logan and the guys drag me into some loud hangout when this was an option,” he said, grinning as Hannah leaned into him.
You shifted comfortably on the blanket, a small smile tugging at your lips. Beau dropped down right beside you, close enough that his presence felt steady and reassuring without overwhelming the space.
The movie starteda laid-back mystery everyone had pickedand the room filled with soft commentary, laughter, and the rustle of pizza boxes. Beau stayed right there with you the whole time. When the lights were low, you noticed him glancing your way more than at the screen, his expression warm and focused. Every quiet laugh you let out drew a matching smile from him, like he was collecting those moments.
Inside, Beau was a mess of yearning. The way you relaxed into the evening, the soft focus in your eyes during the tense scenes, the easy way you existed in the middle of the groupit all hit him deeply. He wanted to pull you closer, to wrap an arm around you the way Garrett did with Hannah, to make sure you felt as safe and wanted as you made him feel just by being near. But he kept it light on the surface, content for now to share the same blanket and the same quiet space with you.
Halfway through, Allie paused the movie for snacks. Hannah and Garrett slipped into the little kitchen area together, leaving you and Beau in a gentle pocket of quiet on the floor.
“You okay?” he asked softly. “Not too much noise or anything?”
You shook your head, meeting his eyes. “It’s nice. Really nice, actually.”
Beau’s chest tightened with hope. “Yeah? Good. I like this too. Being here with you.”
The words carried more weight than either of you said out loud. You looked down for a second, still convinced he was just being his usual kind, friendly self. Beau, meanwhile, fought the urge to say everything he was feelingthat these quiet nights with you had become his favorite part of the week, that he thought about you constantly, that he was already completely gone for the girl who preferred calm evenings and still saw him as just a good friend.
When the others returned, the movie resumed, but the air between you and Beau felt warmer, a little more charged. He stayed until the credits rolled, helping clean up even when you told him it was fine. At the door later, he lingered while the others headed out first.
“Walk you back?” he offered, hands in his pockets.
You nodded, and the short walk across campus was peaceful under the evening lights. Beau matched your pace, his shoulder brushing yours now and then in a way that felt natural. At your door, you turned to him.
“Thanks for tonight. It was really good.”
Beau smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners. “Anytime. Text me if you want to hit the bench or the library tomorrow… or just hang out. Whatever works for you.”
“I will,” you said softly, that small genuine smile appearing again.
He waited until you were inside before walking away, heart full and aching with how much he wanted more. The pining had only grown stronger, quiet and steady, as he replayed every moment from the night and counted down the hours until he could see you again.
Beau couldn’t stop thinking about the movie night. Days later, the memory still lingeredthe way you had relaxed beside him on the blanket, the soft sound of your laugh during a quiet moment in the film, how perfectly you fit into the group without ever trying to take up space. It left him restless in the best and worst ways. Practice felt longer than usual, every drill interrupted by thoughts of you. He wanted more of those evenings. He wanted to be the person you looked forward to seeing, the one you turned to when the world felt a little too loud.
That afternoon, after a tough session on the field, Beau found himself back at the off-campus house Dean shared with Garrett, Logan, and Tucker. The place was familiar, filled with the usual chaos of hockey gear, half-eaten snacks, and loud banter. Dean was sprawled on the couch, flipping through channels, when Beau dropped into the armchair across from him with a long sigh.
Dean raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Alright, spill. You’ve been walking around like you got sacked in practice but there’s no bruise. What’s going on in that quarterback head of yours?”
Beau rubbed the back of his neck, staring at the floor for a second before meeting Dean’s knowing look. “It’s… her. Y/N. I can’t stop thinking about her, man. The movie night the other night? I sat there the whole time trying to play it cool, but every time she laughed or leaned in a little closer to hear something, it felt like I got hit harder than any tackle. She’s just so… real. Quiet in this way that makes everything else fade. I keep replaying how she smiled when I offered to walk her back. Small, shy, but genuine. God, I’m down bad.”
Dean let out a low whistle, sitting up straighter with a grin. “Finally admitting it out loud, huh? I’ve seen the way you look at her. You’ve been gone since that first party Allie dragged her to. The way you parked yourself next to her the whole night, ignoring everyone else? Classic. And don’t think I missed how you brought her favorite coffee to the library last week without her even asking.”
Beau groaned, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “She has no idea. She thinks I’m just being friendly because of you guys and Allie and Hannah. I sit there on that bench with her under the oak tree, listening to her talk about her books or whatever paper she’s working on, and all I can think about is how much I want to reach over and tuck that strand of hair behind her ear. How I want to be the reason she feels comfortable enough to stay out longer instead of heading straight home. I replay every conversation. The way her voice gets softer when she’s sharing something personal… it kills me. I’m out here counting down the minutes until I can see her again, and she probably just sees me as the nice guy who hangs around the group.”
Dean chuckled, but there was real understanding in his eyes. He’d been there himself with Alliechasing, wanting, figuring it all out. “Look, Maxwell, you’re doing it right. She’s shy. She doesn’t do the big parties or the loud scenes. You’re giving her space, showing up in the quiet moments. That’s not nothing. Hannah’s the same way in a lot of respectsGarrett had to learn to slow down and meet her where she was. You keep showing up like that and she’ll start to see it. The way you remember the little things? The coffee, the bench, asking about her writing? That stuff sticks. She might not realize it yet, but you’re already different from the rest of these idiots on campus.”
Beau nodded slowly, the yearning tightening in his chest like a familiar ache. “I just… I want to do this right. I don’t want to push. Last night after the movie, when I walked her back, it took everything not to tell her how much I look forward to every single time we run into each other. How the field feels easier knowing I might see her after. How I turned down a team thing the other night just because there was a chance she’d be at that low-key hangout. I’m starstruck, Dean. Like, actually starstruck by how steady and thoughtful she is. Most people fill the silence. She doesn’t. And I could sit in it with her forever.”
Dean clapped him on the shoulder, expression turning more serious. “Then keep doing exactly what you’re doing. Be there. The rest will come. And heyif you need backup, Allie and Hannah have been rooting for this since day one. Garrett too, probably. He gets the whole ‘quiet girl who changes everything’ thing.”
Beau managed a laugh, some of the tension easing. Talking it out helped, even if the feelings only burned brighter afterward. He spent the rest of the afternoon hanging around the house, but his mind kept drifting back to youwondering what you were doing, if you were reading on that bench, if you’d text him about meeting up again.
Later that week, the group gathered again at Della’s Diner for a casual lunch. Garrett and Hannah sat close on one side of the booth, his arm draped casually behind her. Allie and Dean were across from them, trading playful jabs. You slid into the booth comfortably, and Beau took the spot right beside you without hesitation.
Conversation flowed easilystories from recent classes, Garrett recounting a funny practice moment, Hannah sharing a song she was working on. Beau hung on every word you said, asking gentle follow-up questions about your notes or the book you’d mentioned last time. Under the table, his knee brushed yours once and stayed there, a small point of contact that sent warmth through him.
Inside, the yearning surged stronger than ever. She’s right here, he thought, stealing another glance while you laughed softly at something Allie said. And I want this every day. The easy talks, the shared spaces, the way she makes everything feel calmer. He was completely hooked, pining in every quiet moment, already imagining walking you back after this, hoping for just a few more minutes alone with you.
The afternoon stretched on, filled with good food and better company, but for Beau it all circled back to youthe shy girl who had no idea she’d already taken up every spare corner of his heart. He was patient, steady on the outside, but inside he was falling deeper with every passing day, waiting for the moment you might finally see it too.
The group lunch at Della’s stretched pleasantly into the afternoon. Garrett and Hannah eventually had to head out for one of her music rehearsals, while Allie and Dean lingered a little longer before Dean dragged Allie off with a wink about “studying.” That left just you and Beau in the booth, the diner quiet around you now that the lunch rush had passed.
Beau’s heart hammered against his ribs as the comfortable silence settled. He had been thinking about this for daysrehearsing it in his head during practice, on the walk back from Dean’s the other night, even while sitting on the bench with you. Every moment with you made the yearning sharper: the way you listened so attentively, the small smiles that felt like rewards, the steady calm you brought to his chaotic world. He wanted more than friendly hangouts. He wanted dates. Real ones. But the thought of messing it up, of making you uncomfortable, had kept the words stuck in his throat until now.
He fiddled with the edge of a napkin, clearing his throat awkwardly. “So… um. This was nice. Like, really nice. I always like when it’s just… us. Talking. Or even not talking.” He rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks warming as he realized how clumsy that sounded. “What I mean is… I was wondering if maybe… you’d want to do something? Just us? Like… not with the whole group this time.”
You looked up at him, surprised, a flicker of warmth in your expression that only made his nerves worse.
Beau pushed on, the words tumbling out in a rush that was far from the smooth delivery he’d imagined. “There’s this little bookstore-café thing a couple blocks off campus. They have good coffee and it’s quiet, and they do this thing on weekends where people can just sit and read or whatever. No pressure or anything loud. Or if that sounds terrible, we could… I don’t know, walk around the quad or get food somewhere else. Or not. You don’t have to. I just… I really like spending time with you. A lot. More than just the group stuff. So… yeah. Would you want to? Go out? With me?”
He winced internally at how awkward it came outstilted, rambling, nothing like the confident quarterback everyone else saw on the field. His hands had gone clammy, and he forced them still under the table. Smooth, Maxwell. Real smooth. But he couldn’t take it back now. The yearning had built up too much; he needed you to know, even if it was messy.
You blinked at him, processing, a shy smile slowly forming. The surprise was clear, but there was something softer underneath it toolike the idea wasn’t entirely unwelcome.
Beau’s chest tightened with hope even as embarrassment lingered. “You don’t have to answer right now,” he added quickly, voice gentler. “I know you like things low-key, and I don’t want to make it weird or anything. I just… keep thinking about how much better everything is when you’re around. The bench, the library, movie nights… all of it. So if you’re free this weekend, or whenever, I’d really like to take you out. Properly.”
He met your eyes, the earnestness winning out over the awkwardness. Inside, the pining roared louder than ever. He wanted this so badlythe chance to show you how much he meant it, to be the person who made your quiet world feel even better. Every second waiting for your answer felt endless, his heart laid out more openly than he’d planned, but he didn’t regret it. Not when it was for you.
The diner hummed softly around you both as Beau waited, hopeful and vulnerable, the golden-boy quarterback reduced to an awkwardly smitten guy who was completely, undeniably down bad for the shy girl across from him.
Beau shifted in the booth, his fingers crumpling the edge of the napkin a little more as the words hung between you. The silence stretched for what felt like forever to him, though it was only a few seconds. His pulse thrummed in his ears, the yearning that had been building for weeks pressing hard against his chest. He wanted thiswanted you so much it made his usual confidence waver.
“I mean… on a date,” he clarified, voice dropping lower and a little rough around the edges from nerves. “I’d really like to take you on a date. Just us. The bookstore-café sounds good because it’s quiet and you can pick whatever you want to read or drink, and I promise I won’t talk the whole time if you don’t want me to. Or we can do something else. Anything you’d like. I just… I like you, Y/N. Like, like you. Not just as friends. So yeah… would you go on a date with me?”
He looked at you then, eyes warm and hopeful despite the awkward stumble of his delivery. His cheeks were flushed, and he rubbed the back of his neck again, clearly out of his element but too sincere to hide it.
You felt a flutter in your stomach, the surprise giving way to a genuine, shy smile. The way he had been showing up for you all the quiet conversations, the way he listened, the steady presence that never pushed had slowly chipped away at your assumption that it was purely friendly. “Yes,” you said softly, warmth coloring your voice. “I’d like that. A date sounds nice.”
Beau’s face lit up, relief and joy breaking across his expression so openly it made your own smile widen. “Really?” he breathed, like he couldn’t quite believe it. “Okay. Great. Awesome. This weekend? Saturday afternoon? I can pick you up, or meet you there, whatever works best for you.”
“Saturday sounds perfect,” you replied, the shyness still there but mixed with a quiet excitement you hadn’t expected.
The rest of the time in the diner passed in a softer haze. Beau couldn’t stop smiling, even as he tried to play it cool. Inside, the yearning had transformed into something brighter, more hopeful, but no less intense. She said yes. The thought looped in his head as he walked you back toward your dorm afterward, stealing glances at you the whole way. He wanted to reach for your hand but held back, not wanting to rush. Instead, he kept the conversation light asking what kind of books you might want to browse, promising not to embarrass himself by trying to impress you with football stories.
When you reached your door, he lingered, hands in his pockets. “I’m really glad you said yes. I’ve been wanting to ask for a while. You make everything better, you know that?”
You gave him that small smile again, the one that always hit him right in the chest. “I’m looking forward to it too, Beau.”
He waited until you were safely inside before walking away, heart racing with a mix of triumph and deeper longing. The pining hadn’t disappeared it had only grown warmer, more focused. He already couldn’t wait for Saturday, imagining the quiet moments ahead, the chance to show you how much he truly saw you.
Word spread quickly through the group. Allie squealed when you told her and Hannah the next day, pulling you into a hug. “I knew it! He’s been so obvious.”
Hannah smiled softly, Garrett’s arm around her as they all hung out later that evening. “He’s a good one,” she said. “Garrett says he’s been talking about you nonstop.”
Garrett chuckled. “Understatement. The guy’s whipped.”
Beau, sitting across the room, caught your eye and offered a sheepish but happy grin. The awkwardness of the ask was already fading into anticipation. He was still quietly starstruck, still yearning for every future moment, but now there was the sweet knowledge that you had said yes. Saturday couldn’t come soon enough.
The Saturday afternoon sun was warm as Beau pulled up outside your dorm to pick you up for the date. He looked a little nervous but genuinely happy when you climbed in, offering you that warm, crinkly-eyed smile that always made your stomach flutter.
“Ready?” he asked, gripping the wheel a bit tighter than usual.
You nodded, smiling shyly. “Ready.”
The plan had been the quiet little bookstore-café just off campus, but when you arrived, it was unexpectedly packedstudents spilling out the doors, loud chatter filling the space that was supposed to be peaceful. Beau’s face fell for a second before he recovered with an apologetic laugh.
“Wow, okay… not as low-key as I thought. We can find somewhere else, or”
“It’s fine,” you said quickly, not wanting him to feel bad. “We can adapt.”
Beau brightened at that. He drove to a nearby coffee spot instead, where you both grabbed drinks yours exactly how you liked it. Once back in the car, the ride felt surprisingly comfortable. Soft music played from the speakers as he navigated away from campus, one hand on the wheel, the other occasionally gesturing as he talked.
“I’m sorry about the café,” he said after a few minutes, glancing over at you. “I wanted it to be perfect. Quiet. Your kind of place.”
You took a sip of your coffee, feeling more at ease. “This is already nice. I don’t mind the change.”
Beau’s heart did that familiar flip. God, she’s so understanding. Every small reassurance from you only deepened the yearning that had taken root weeks ago. He wanted to pull over and tell you how much this meant to him, how he’d been thinking about this date nonstop, but he kept it light for now.
While you were looking out the window at the passing scenery, Beau quickly pulled out his phone at a stoplight and typed a fast message to the group chat with Dean, Garrett, Logan, and Tucker.
Beau: Café was packed. Heading to the spot now. Everything set up?
Dean: All good, lover boy. Picnic blanket down, food arranged, fairy lights ready if it gets dark. You owe us.
Garrett: Don’t screw this up, Maxwell.
Logan: Tucker picked the flowers. Don’t say we never did anything for you.
Beau slipped the phone away before you noticed, a grateful smile tugging at his lips. His teammates had come throughsetting up a quiet spot at a secluded clearing by the lake just outside town. No girls involved; he wanted this to feel like it was just from him, even if he’d needed a little backup to make it special on short notice.
After about twenty minutes of easy driving and conversation, Beau turned onto a quieter road and parked. “Come on. I’ve got a backup plan.”
He led you down a short, grassy path with the coffee cups still in hand. When the trees opened up to the clearing, your eyes widened. A large blanket was spread out under the shade of a big oak tree overlooking the calm lake. There were fresh sandwiches, fruit, snacks, even a small bouquet of wildflowers in the center. Soft pillows were arranged for sitting comfortably, and a couple of lanterns waited in case the sun went down.
“Beau…” you breathed, genuinely touched. “Did you do all this?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks flushed with a mix of pride and lingering awkwardness. “I wanted it to be nice for you. The guys helped set it up while we were getting coffeeDean mostly coordinated. I just… I really wanted it to be just us. No crowds. No noise. Just this.”
The two of you settled onto the blanket. Beau sat close but respectful, the yearning evident in every glance he stole when you weren’t looking. Watching you relax into the peaceful setting, the way the breeze moved through your hair, the soft smile on your face as you took in the lake view it all hit him hard. This is what I want. Her, comfortable and happy, with me. He was completely starstruck, heart full and aching with how much he already cared.
Conversation flowed naturally as you ate. He asked about your favorite quiet spots, listened intently when you shared more about your writing, and opened up about the pressure of the football season in a way he rarely did with anyone else. Every laugh you gave, every time you met his eyes a little longer, made the pining sweeter and deeper.
As the sun began to dip lower, painting the lake in golden hues, Beau leaned back on his hands, content in the comfortable silence that fell between you.
“I meant what I said the other day,” he said quietly after a while. “I like you a lot, Y/N. This… being here with you… it’s better than any win on the field. I’ve been wanting this for weeks.”
He didn’t push for more, happy to let the moment sit. The date had turned out even better than he’d hoped, and as he looked at you across the picnic blanket, the yearning settled into something warm and certain. He was falling hard, and he couldn’t wait to see where this whatever it was becoming would go next. Just the two of you, in the beautiful quiet he knew you loved.
The picnic by the lake turned out even better than either of you expected. You spent a comfortable couple of hours talking, sharing food, and watching the sunlight dance across the water. Beau kept the conversation balanced never letting it drag, always checking in with gentle questions about your classes or the stories you liked to write. When the sun dipped lower, he packed everything up with care, refusing to let you help carry the heavier basket back to the car.
The drive back to campus was peaceful, windows down, the warm evening air flowing through. Beau kept stealing glances at you, his chest tight with that familiar deep yearning. She said yes. She’s here with me. Every quiet smile you gave him on the way home made him want a thousand more afternoons just like this.
He walked you all the way to your door, lingering for a moment under the soft glow of the porch light. “Thank you for today,” he said, voice warm and sincere. “I had a really good time. Best date I’ve ever been on.”
“Me too,” you admitted softly, cheeks warm. “The picnic was perfect, Beau.”
He smiled, bright and a little shy himself. “Good. I’d love to do it again. Soon. Whenever you want.”
You nodded, and with one last lingering look, he headed off, heart racing the entire walk back.
The next couple of weeks passed in a sweet blur of new moments. Beau didn’t overwhelm you he kept things at your pace. A quiet study session in the library where he brought snacks and sat across from you, stealing glances while pretending to focus on his playbook. Another evening walk around campus after his practice, ending with ice cream from a small stand near the quad. Each time, his pining only grew. He found himself thinking about you during team meetings, replaying the way your hand had brushed his when you reached for the same book, or how peacefully you looked sitting beside him by the lake.
One evening, the whole group gathered at Garrett and Hannah’s place for a casual dinner. Dean immediately clapped Beau on the back the second he walked in. “How’s it going, Casanova? Heard the picnic was a hit.”
Beau shot him a look but couldn’t hide his grin. “It was perfect. Thanks again for the setup, man.”
Garrett chuckled from the kitchen where he was helping Hannah. “Tucker picked some solid flowers. Logan almost knocked over the lanterns twice.”
You sat comfortably beside Beau on the couch, listening to the easy banter. The group’s teasing was light and supportive, making everything feel natural. Beau’s knee rested gently against yours the whole night, a small point of contact that sent warmth through him every time.
As the weeks went on, the two of you grew closer in small, meaningful ways. Beau’s yearning never faded it simply evolved. He wanted to hold your hand on walks. He wanted to pull you close during quiet movie nights with the group. He wanted to be the person you called first when you needed someone steady.
One Friday night after another successful low-key date this time a sunset walk followed by takeout in his car he finally worked up the courage again as he parked outside your dorm.
“Hey,” he said softly, turning toward you. “I know we’ve been taking things slow, and I love that. But… I really like where this is going. A lot. Would you want to make this official? Be my girlfriend?”
The question came out a touch awkward, just like the first ask, but filled with honest hope. His eyes stayed on yours, heart laid bare once more.
You smiled, warm and genuine, the shyness mixing with clear affection. “Yes, Beau. I’d like that.”
His face lit up with pure joy. He let out a relieved laugh and, after a moment of hesitation, reached over to gently squeeze your hand. The contact felt right warm, steady, and full of promise.
The next few days after making things official felt like a gentle step forward. Beau still kept things at a comfortable pace, but his affection showed in the little ways walking you to classes when their schedules overlapped, sending good-morning texts that made you smile, and always making sure you had a quiet escape plan whenever the group got too rowdy.
One warm evening, after a relaxed dinner with Garrett, Hannah, Dean, and Allie, Beau offered to walk you back alone. The campus paths were quiet under the soft glow of the streetlights, the air carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers. Conversation came easily as always, but there was a new, charged undercurrent between you now.
When you reached your dorm building, neither of you moved to go inside right away. Beau turned to face you fully, his usual easy confidence softened by nerves and something deeper. He stepped a little closer, eyes searching yours with that warm, steady gaze that always made your heart skip.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for a while,” he murmured, voice low. One hand lifted slowly, giving you plenty of time to pull away, and gently cupped the side of your face. His thumb brushed lightly over your cheek, tender and careful.
He leaned in, hesitating for just a heartbeat, before his lips met yours in a soft, sweet first kiss. It was gentle at first almost tentative, like he was savoring the moment he’d imagined so many times. When you kissed him back, the touch deepened slightly, warm and full of quiet emotion. Beau’s free hand found yours, fingers intertwining as the world narrowed to just the two of you under the lamplight.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against yours for a moment, a soft smile playing on his lips. His heart was racing, every part of him completely wrapped up in you the way you tasted, the shy way you looked at him now, the perfect fit of your hand in his. He was utterly captivated, already craving the next kiss, the next touch, the next quiet moment that was just yours.
“That was… wow,” he whispered, a little breathless and grinning. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since that first party. Probably shouldn’t admit that, but it’s true.”
You laughed softly, cheeks warm, and he kissed you once more quicker this time, but no less heartfelt before stepping back with clear reluctance.
“Night, beautiful,” he said, waiting until you were safely inside before heading off, already replaying the kiss in his mind with a smile he couldn’t wipe away.
The relationship had grown beautifully over the following weeks. You and Beau were solidly together now comfortable, affectionate, and deeply happy in that quiet way that suited you both perfectly. He still stole your breath with how attentive he was, always balancing his busy football schedule with time for you. The group loved seeing it; Dean and Garrett gave him constant playful grief, while Hannah and Allie beamed with approval.
One rainy Thursday evening, Beau came over to your dorm room for the first time. You’d mentioned it casually before, but things had finally aligned for a cozy night in. He knocked softly, and when you opened the door, his face lit up at the sight of you in your comfortable clothes, hair a little messy from the day.
“Hey,” he said, stepping inside with a warm smile and a bag of takeout in one hand. His eyes scanned the small space curiously your neatly organized desk stacked with books and notes, string lights casting a soft glow, and the little window overlooking the quad now streaked with rain. “This is nice. Feels very you.”
Before he could say more, a small meow came from the bed. Your cat, a fluffy gray tabby named Whiskers, lifted his head from the pillow and blinked sleepily at the newcomer.
Beau’s expression softened instantly. “You have a cat? You never told me that.” He set the food down and crouched slowly, holding out his hand for Whiskers to inspect. “Hey, buddy. Nice to meet you.”
Whiskers sniffed his fingers, then bumped his head against Beau’s hand with a contented purr. Beau laughed quietly, the sound warm and delighted, as he gently scratched behind the cat’s ears. Watching him be so gentle and immediately charmed by your pet made something warm bloom in your chest.
“He likes you,” you said, smiling as you sat on the edge of the bed.
Beau looked up at you, eyes full of open affection. “Good. Because I’m planning on being around a lot.” He stood, pulled you into a soft kiss, then settled beside you on the bed with the takeout. Whiskers curled up between you two like he belonged there, purring steadily.
The evening unfolded lazily. You ate straight from the containers while a low-volume movie played on your laptop. Beau kept one arm around you, fingers tracing lazy patterns on your shoulder as you leaned into him. Every so often he’d press a kiss to the top of your head or your temple, completely content in the quiet intimacy of your space.
“I love this,” he murmured during a lull in the movie, voice sincere and low. “Just us. Your room feels like a little safe bubble. The rain outside, your cat purring, you right here… I could do this every night.”
He was so in love it showed in everything the way his gaze lingered on you when you talked about your day, the gentle way he played with Whiskers to make you smile, the soft kisses he stole between bites of food. Being in your personal space for the first time made him feel even closer to you, like he was being let into the heart of your world.
Later, as the rain tapped steadily against the window and Whiskers dozed on the pillow, Beau pulled you closer, wrapping both arms around you in a warm embrace. “Thank you for letting me come over,” he whispered against your hair. “I’m really happy, you know that?”
You nodded, cuddling into him, and he kissed you again slow and sweet, full of all the love he felt. The night stretched on like that, cozy and perfect, just the two of you (and Whiskers) in the quiet glow of your dorm room. Beau couldn’t imagine a better way to spend an evening. He was utterly, completely in love, and every moment like this only made him fall harder.
The weeks after that first evening in your dorm blurred into a comfortable rhythm. Beau started spending more and more time at your place. What began as occasional study sessions or movie nights quickly turned into him showing up with dinner or coffee multiple times a week, lingering longer each visit until it felt natural for him to stay over.
One particular Friday night, after a long week for both of you, he ended up spending the night for the first time. The rain was falling steadily outside again, making the cozy dorm room feel even warmer. Whiskers had claimed his usual spot on the pillow, purring loudly as Beau stretched out on your bed beside you, one arm wrapped securely around your waist.
“This is becoming my favorite place,” Beau murmured, pressing a soft kiss to your shoulder. He had borrowed a pair of your oversized sweatpants (which were a little short on him) and looked ridiculously content lying there with you. “I love my house with the guys, but here… it’s quieter. Just you, me, and this little guy.” He reached over to scratch Whiskers under the chin, earning a happy trill from the cat.
You smiled, curling closer into his chest. Beau’s hand rubbed slow circles on your back, his touch warm and soothing. He was so in love it showed in every small action how he remembered exactly how you liked your tea when he made you a cup earlier, how he’d dimmed the string lights just right, how he held you like he never wanted to let go.
“I’m really glad you’re here,” you whispered.
“Me too,” he replied softly, tilting your chin up for a gentle kiss. It started sweet and slow, the kind of kiss that had become familiar between you, but lingered with quiet depth. When he pulled back, his forehead rested against yours. “I could get used to falling asleep with you like this every night.”
He spent the night wrapped around you, one leg tangled with yours, Whiskers curled at your feet. Beau slept better than he had in weeks, waking up to the soft sound of rain and the sight of you still nestled against him. Mornings like that quickly became routine.
From then on, Beau was at your dorm almost as much as his own place. He’d come over after practice, still a little sweaty and tired, collapsing onto your bed with a dramatic groan before pulling you down with him for cuddles. Some nights you studied together he’d quiz you on your notes while Whiskers tried to sit on his lap. Other nights you’d order food and watch shows, his head in your lap as you played with his hair
Whiskers had fully adopted him too, often demanding attention the moment Beau walked through the door. Beau never minded. He’d talk to the cat seriously while you laughed, scratching his ears and letting him knead on his chest during evening cuddles.
One lazy Sunday afternoon, as golden light filtered through the window and Whiskers dozed between you, Beau rolled onto his side to face you. “I know I say it a lot, but I’m really happy with you,” he said, voice full of warmth. He leaned in, kissing you softly at first, then deeper, pouring all the love he felt into it. His hand rested on your waist, holding you close as the kiss lingered.
These moments in your dorm tangled up together, cat purring nearby, world shut out by the rain or sunshine outside had become his safe haven. Beau was head over heels, completely content to spend as many nights as you’d let him right there with you, building something real and beautiful in the quiet space you called home.
Beau pulled you closer on the bed that lazy Sunday, his brown eyes soft as golden light filtered across the room. Whiskers dozed between you, but Beau barely noticed, too focused on tracing slow kisses along your jaw and down to your neck. “Love these quiet days with you,” he murmured against your skin, voice warm and low. His hand rested on your waist, thumb brushing gentle circles as he captured your lips in a deep, unhurried kiss. You melted into it, fingers threading through his dark hair, and he sighed contentedly when you kissed him back with the same easy affection.
The weeks that followed felt like a natural extension of what you two had built. After tough practices, Beau would show up at your door with takeout, kicking off his shoes and immediately drawing you into his arms for a lingering hug that turned into soft kisses. “You’re my reset button,” he’d say between pecks, brown eyes crinkling as he smiled. One evening, after a big win, he surprised you with a blanket fort in your dorm using extra sheets and string lights. You laughed as he tugged you inside, pulling you onto his lap for slower kisses that built warmth between you. His hands stayed respectful but intimate, holding your face as he whispered how you made every victory sweeter.
Comfort wrapped around you both like a favorite hoodie. During late-night study sessions, Beau would quiz you from across the bed, then reward right answers with quick kisses that grew longer when focus slipped. “Best study partner ever,” he teased, nuzzling your temple. On a crisp fall afternoon, he took you for a drive outside campus to a quiet overlook, parking so you could watch the leaves change. He kept one hand on your thigh, stealing glances and soft kisses at stoplights, talking about future plans like post-grad life and how he saw you in all of them.
Even group hangouts felt more connected now. At a casual bonfire with Dean, Allie, Garrett, and Hannah, Beau sat with you tucked against his side, pressing occasional kisses to your hair or shoulder while chatting with the guys. Back in your room afterward, he was all tenderness helping you unwind with shoulder rubs that led to lazy makeout sessions under the covers, Whiskers ignoring you both from the pillow.
“You’re everything I need,” Beau said one night, forehead against yours after a particularly sweet kiss, his arms secure around you. The relationship had settled into that perfect balance of playful charm and deep steadiness, with him showing through every touch and word just how completely you were his person.
You sat on the couch, sprawled out, trying to rest. Of course your eyes seemed to be totally fixed on Beau. Beau and your two week old daughter. You smile, watching him sway gently with your daughter tucked against his chest.
“College Beau was hot,” you admit. “Boyfriend Beau was even better.” You say thinking fondly on your dating days as you get off the couch, crossing over to him.
He arches a brow. “And husband Beau?” You step closer, sliding your hands over his waist carefully not to disturb your sleeping baby.
“Pretty great.” You grin.
“Pretty great?” he repeats, offended. You grin up at him before glancing at the baby.
“But Daddy Beau?” You bite your lip, letting your eyes drag slowly over him. “Daddy Beau is definitely my favorite.”
His mouth curves into a smug smile and he laughs a little.
“Yeah?” He asks.
“Yeah.” You lean up to kiss the corner of his mouth. “It’s honestly a little rude how sexy you look holding our baby.”
Beau glances down at your daughter, then back at you.
“You hear that, Bug? Mommy thinks Daddy’s hot.” He whispers.
“She does not need to hear that.” You tease.
“She deserves to know her dad’s still got it. Besides it’s kinda how she got here.” He says winking at you.
“You’re unbearable.” You laugh.
“And still you married me,” he reminds you, stealing a proper kiss. You grin at him.
“Of course, I had to make sure my babies came out cute.” You tease. Beau laughs.
“I knew you just married me for my good looks and athletic genes.” He retorts. You giggle.
“Oh shut it.” You say, kissing his lips softly. He smiles against your lips, his hair messy, eyes sleepy. Yet he’s never looked more handsome to you.
summary: known among the hockey team for never giving anyone a third chance, you unexpectedly find yourself drawn to the football player
strangers to lovers
warnings: alchohol consumption, mentions of casual hookups, and banter!!!!!
word count: 5.2k
a/n: based on this request! i hope you like it :) i decided to make the ‘jealous’ player none of the main guys since i feel like they’d mostly be supportive of them! carter’s a completely made up character lmfao
beau maxwell masterlist off campus masterlist
── ᵎᵎ ✦
the music playing throughout the house wasn’t particularly good, but it was loud. every other house on the street seemed relatively calm, but hawks house glowed beneath the porch lights, people spilling out onto the lawn with red solo cups in hand while someone attempted to shotgun a beer to the sound of cheering.
you parked a few houses down and climbed out of your car, smoothing the wrinkles from your jeans out of habit. it was late enough that the october air carried a bite, and you immediately wished you’d brought a jacket.
you shoved your phone into your back pocket and made your way up the crowded sidewalk. someone held the front door open for you before disappearing inside.
the second you stepped inside, conversations continued around you like nothing had changed.
you weren’t the kind of girl people stopped to stare at; they’d gotten used to seeing you around. you floated through enough parties, enough bars, enough campus events that your face had become familiar, even if most people couldn’t tell you what you studied or where you lived.
they just… knew you. especially the hockey team. that tended to happen when you’d slept with a handful of them over the years.
not many, just enough, and never enough to cause drama. you’d learned it your freshman year after a guy had mistaken one good night together for the beginning of a relationship.
since then, you’d lived by one incredibly simple rule.
never sleep with the same guy more than twice. once could be a mistake. twice meant you knew what you were getting. three times opened doors you had absolutely no interest in walking through.
your rule kept everything uncomplicated because everyone knew where they stood. most of the hockey guys had tried arguing with it at least once, but none of them had ever won.
“well, look who decided to show.” the familiar voice pulled you from your thoughts. you turned just in time to see one of the hockey guys leaning against the wall beside the staircase, a half-empty beer dangling lazily from his fingers. he grinned the second your eyes met, “there she is.”
you couldn’t help smiling back, “hi, carter.”
he pushed himself away from the wall, weaving through the crowd until he stopped in front of you, “thought maybe you’d abandoned us.”
“abandoned hockey parties?” you scoffed, “what would i do on a friday night instead?”
he laughed and without thinking, he leaned in for a quick hug. there wasn’t a trace of awkwardness between the two of you, despite the fact that you’d spent exactly two nights tangled up in his sheets last semester.
that was another benefit of your rule. nobody got weird afterward, no lingering tension, and no drunken texts at two in the morning asking what you were doing. he pulled away, still smiling, “you look good.”
“thank you.”
the smile was still playing on his lips. god, he was charming. not charming enough to tempt you into breaking your own rule, but charming nonetheless.
he took a sip of his beer before looking at you again, “so…”
you recognized that tone immediately causing your eyes to narrow, “don’t.”
“don’t what?” he blinked innocently.
“whatever sentence you’re about to finish.”
his grin widened, “i was just gonna ask—”
“carter.”
“—if maybe enough time has passed.”
you sighed dramatically, “seriously?”
“you didn’t even let me finish.”
“because i know exactly what you’re asking and the answer’s still no.”
he clutched a hand dramatically over his heart, “you wound me.”
you laughed, shaking your head, “you knew the rules.”
he stared at you for a second before letting out a defeated sigh, “worth a shot.”his expression softened into something more genuine, “still good to see you.”
“you too,” and you meant it. that’s what people never understood. just because you didn’t sleep with someone again didn’t mean you disliked them. if anything, you liked most of them quite a bit. they just weren’t your boyfriends. and if everyone understood that from the beginning, nobody got hurt.
“carter!” someone across the living room waved him over. he glanced toward the voice before looking back at you, “duty calls, you sticking around?”
“probably.”
he pointed at you, “i’ll try again later.”
you laughed, “you’ll fail again later.”
he barked out another laugh before raising his cup in a mock salute, “see you around.” you watched him disappear into the crowd before continuing deeper into the house.
the music grew louder with every step. someone nearly backed into you while dancing in the middle of the hallway and another guy sprinted past carrying three pizza boxes balanced precariously in his arms.
the living room was packed shoulder to shoulder, beer pong occupying one corner while dean dilaurentis stood on the coffee table shouting commentary that nobody had asked for but everyone seemed to enjoy anyway.
the kitchen was calling your name. preferably with something colder than the lukewarm beer currently sloshing around in nearly every cup you’d seen.
you slipped through the doorway, grateful to find it marginally quieter than the rest of the house. people crowded around the kitchen island, laughing over a card game, while someone argued passionately that pineapple belonged on pizza.
you ignored them as you opened the refrigerator, scanning the shelves until your eyes landed on a can of coke tucked behind a carton of orange juice.
perfect.
you quickly grabbed it, opening it with a single hand as you closed the door with the other, and just as you turned around someone rounded the corner a little too quickly.
they collided gently with your shoulder. the can tilted in your hand and cold soda splashed over your fingers.
“oh, shit.” the voice was warm; immediately apologetic, “i’m so sorry.”
you looked up and met a pair of brown eyes. for a second, neither of you moved. the soda fizzed quietly as another drop slid over your knuckles and onto the kitchen floor.
“i’m sorry,” he repeated, his brows pulling together as his eyes darted from your hand to the can, then back to your face. “i wasn’t looking where i was going.”he sounded genuinely guilty.
before you could even respond, he’d already reached behind him, grabbed a roll of paper towels from beside the sink, and torn off several sheets, “here.”
you accepted them with a small laugh, “thank you.”
he rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke, “i owe you another drink.”
you looked down at the can still in your hand, “it’s mostly still full.”
“yeah, but—”
“i promise,” you held it up with a grin, “i’ll survive.” for the first time since you’d looked up, you actually took him in.
he was tall and broad enough to fill most of the doorway he’d come barreling through, though there wasn’t anything intimidating about him.
his brown hair was slightly messy, like he’d been running his fingers through it all evening. there was a tiny crease between his eyebrows that hadn’t disappeared since he’d apologized. his eyes were the kind that smiled before the rest of his face did, “i’m beau,” he said after a beat.
you smiled, “i know, i’ve seen you around.”
which wasn’t exactly a lie, you’d seen him plenty of times: at football games, hockey games, around campus, and at parties like this one.
“i know who you are, too,” he admitted.
“you do?” you tilted your head, “should i be worried?”
his laugh escaped before he could stop it, “no.” he smiled sheepishly, “i’ve just seen you around as well.”
“that’s all?”
“mostly.”
you folded one of the paper towels, drying the last bit of soda from your hand, “mostly?”
his ears actually turned a little pink, “you’re kind of hard to miss.”
that wasn’t the answer you’d expected. most guys would’ve said you were hot, or gorgeous, or something equally rehearsed. hard to miss somehow felt more honest, “i’ll take that as a compliment.”
“it was meant as one,” there wasn’t a trace of arrogance in his voice.
you leaned back against the counter, “so, what was so important that you almost tackled me over a can of coke?”
he glanced toward the hallway he’d come from before looking back at you, “pizza.”
“pizza?”
“they wanted three boxes.”
a small smirk grew on your lips, “that’s serious business.”
for a moment, the conversation settled into something comfortable. around you, people continued moving through the kitchen. someone laughed loud enough to make everyone nearby glance over. a cabinet slammed. music drifted faintly through the hallway, but somehow standing there talking to beau felt oddly separate from the rest of the party.
he rested one hand on the counter beside him, “what’s your major?”
you blinked, “that’s your question?”
“yeah.”
“not ‘what are you drinking?’”
he glanced at the can, “coke, i can see that one.”
you bit back a smile, “or ‘having fun?’”
he shrugged, “i figured if you weren’t, you’d probably leave, plus i actually wanted to know.”
you found your smile growing before you realized it.
most conversations at parties never made it past names. sometimes majors, if someone was feeling particularly ambitious. but, the way he asked made it feel like he genuinely cared about the answer.
so you told him and he listened; actually listened.
when you mentioned a professor you hated, he laughed because he’d taken the same class.
when he talked about one of his friends accidentally setting off the fire alarm in his frat house freshman year, you laughed so hard you nearly spilled your drink again.
“beau!” a voice called from somewhere behind him.
he glanced toward the hallway, but ignored the voice as he looked back at you, “anyway.”
you laughed, “you’re just ignoring them?”
he shrugged lightly just as another voice called out for him. louder this time, “maxwell!”
he closed his eyes briefly, but didn’t move. instead, he asked another question. where you grew up. what music you listened to. whether you actually enjoyed parties or just tolerated them.
it felt surprisingly easy. you couldn’t remember the last time you’d stood in a kitchen talking to someone for nearly fifteen minutes without either of you checking your phone or looking around for someone more interesting.
“beau!” this time whoever was calling sounded significantly less patient.
“okay,” you laughed as he still had his gaze focused on you, “go, they’re going to come drag you out of the kitchen if you don’t.”
he considered that, “yeah, they probably will.”
“so, go.”
he hesitated. just enough that you noticed before pushing himself away from the counter, “alright.” he took two backwards steps toward the doorway before stopping. there was the tiniest pause, almost like he was debating whether to ask, “hey?”
“yeah?”
his smile returned. it was smaller this time, looking a little uncertain, “see you later?”
you couldn’t help but smile, “yeah.”
his answering grin came easily, “cool.”
then he disappeared into the hallway, finally answering whoever had been calling his name for the last five minutes. you watched him go for a second longer than necessary, not entirely sure why that conversation had felt so different.
maybe because he’d never once looked you up and down. never once let his eyes linger anywhere they shouldn’t. never tried to touch your arm. never slipped in a cheesy pickup line. he’d just talked to you.
you looked down at the can still in your hand which was nearly empty now. shaking your head with a quiet laugh, you tossed the empty can into the recycling bin.
for the next hour, you hardly saw him. not because you were looking. you absolutely weren’t. except… you kind of were.
it wasn’t intentional. every now and then your eyes wandered across the living room while someone was telling you a story, and somehow they always seemed to land on him.
once, he was laughing at something dean dilaurentis had said, his head tipped back just enough for that crooked smile to appear.
another time, he was balancing three pizza boxes against his hip while one of the freshmen tried to explain why ordering anchovies had been “a strategic decision.”
later, you caught him helping someone gather up a tower of empty cups that had toppled off the coffee table.
none of it was particularly remarkable. if anything, it was remarkably ordinary. he wasn’t the loudest guy in the room, didn’t command attention without trying, and didn’t seem interested in becoming the center of it.
he simply floated through the party, talking to whoever happened to be nearby, smiling more than he spoke.
there was something oddly refreshing about that; hockey players usually occupied a room like they owned it.
“you listening?”
you blinked, “huh?”
your friend laughed, “i asked if you wanted another drink.”
“oh.”you looked down at your empty cup, “sure.”
“you looked lost.”
“it’s nothing, i’m just tired.”
she rolled her eyes before disappearing toward the kitchen. you stayed where you were, leaning against the wall near the dining room.
you slipped your phone from your pocket. 10:17. early enough that leaving would be considered rude, but late enough that nobody would notice if you disappeared for ten minutes.
fresh air suddenly sounded perfect, so, you quietly made your way toward the back door.
the cool night air wrapped around you the second you stepped onto the deck. you let out a slow breath and immediately felt better.
the music became muffled behind the closed door, replaced by the distant chirping of crickets and the occasional burst of laughter drifting through an open upstairs window.
the backyard sat mostly empty. a few people lingered near the fire pit and a couple occupied the hammock strung between two trees.
you rested your elbows against the wooden railing, closed your eyes, and breathed.
“escaping?”
your eyes opened to find beau standing a few feet away near the porch steps, one shoulder resting against the railing. he held a half-finished joint between two fingers, the ember glowed softly in the darkness before fading again. you smiled softly, “something like that.”
he lifted the joint slightly, “sorry.”
“for what?”
“i wasn’t trying to interrupt,” he studied you for a second. “you okay?”
“yeah,” you gave him a small nod in confirmation, “just needed some air.”
his mouth curved into a smile. he pushed himself off the railing and gestured with the joint, “want some?”
you hesitated for about half a second, “sure.”
he stepped closer. it wasn’t too close; just enough to hand it over. your fingers brushed his for the briefest moment. they were bigger than you’d expected. you took a slow drag before passing it back, “thanks.”
“anytime.”
the porch swing sat empty a few feet away. he nodded toward it, “wanna sit down for a second?”
you glanced at the swing for a moment before looking back at him, giving him a small smile as you shrugged, “lead the way.”
the chains creaked softly beneath your combined weight and for a while, neither of you spoke. you simply watched people wander across the backyard beneath strings of warm lights, the gentle sway of the swing making the evening feel strangely calm compared to the chaos inside.
“…so,” beau said eventually, “i’ve been wondering something.”
you looked over, but didn’t say anything. you just quietly raised your brows while waiting for him to continue.
“in the kitchen, when you said you knew who i was.”
“yeah?”
“how?”
you laughed softly, “is that really what’s been bothering you?”
“a little,” he smiled as he slowly brought the joint back to his lips.
“i’ve seen you at games.”
he looked surprised, “you’ve been to games?”
“a few.”
“i didn’t know that.”
you shrugged, “i guess you’re just not paying enough attention.” at the surprised look on his face you nudged his shoulder lightly, “don’t worry.”
“i’m making up for it now,” he smiled.
your heart did something unexpectedly annoying. he hadn’t flirted once. not really. everything he said came across so naturally that you couldn’t tell whether he was intentionally charming or if it was just part of his personality. you decided it was probably the second one.
“can i ask you something?” he said quietly.
“go ahead.”
“is it true?”
you raised an eyebrow, “is what true?”
he scratched the back of his neck as he laughed softly at himself, “this feels ridiculous.”
“spill it, now i’m curious.”
“that you never hook up with the same guy more than twice.”
you couldn’t help but laugh, “that’s what people are saying?”
“it’s become kind of legendary.”
“legendary?” your brows raised at the word.
“among hockey players,” he shrugged, “dean told me”
you buried your face in one hand, “oh my god.”
he laughed, “sorry.”
“no, that’s…” you shook your head, “that’s honestly kind of funny.”
“why do you do it?” he asked. there wasn’t any judgment in his voice, just curiosity: he offered you the joint again. you took it at as you leaned back against the swing, “because it’s simple.”
“simple?”
“nobody gets confused, nobody expects more, nobody ends up wondering why i stopped texting.”
he nodded thoughtfully, “that makes sense.”
“most people argue with it,” you spoke after slowly blowing out a small cloud of smoke.
he took back the joint you held out for him, “seems like a waste of time, it’s your rule.”
you blinked, “huh.”
“what?”
“that’s probably the first time anyone’s said that.”
“really?”
you nodded with a small smile playing on your lips, “usually i get some speech about how they’ll be the exception.”
his smile turned amused, “does it ever work?”
“no.”
“then they’re waisting their time.”
you laughed once more. god. he was so easy to talk to. dangerously easy. the comfortable silence returned as you watched him take another slow drag before exhaling toward the night sky.
eventually he looked over at you, holding your gaze for a beat longer than before. you found yourself unable to look away. there wasn’t anything intense about it. he wasn’t staring or trying to intimidate you.
he simply looked. like he was taking you in, or memorizing something. the corner of his mouth lifted, and a small smile formed, “come upstairs?”
the question hung gently between you.
your eyes searched his face. he looked almost nervous now that he’d actually asked, which surprised you more than anything. you smiled, “okay.”
for the first time all night, his grin spread fully across his face, “okay.”
he stood, offering you a hand without thinking. you looked at it, then back at him, “such a gentleman.”
his smirk was evident as he spoke, “my mom raised me that way.”
“guess i should thank her someday,” looked up at him as you slipped your hand into his. he laughed quietly while helping you to your feet.
the moment beau slid the patio door open, the noise crashed into you.
outside, everything had felt slower. the music had still been there, but softened by the walls of the house. laughter had drifted through the cool night air instead of bouncing around your head. conversations had stayed where they belonged instead of competing with ten others happening at the exact same time.
inside it was chaos again. a burst of laughter erupted somewhere near the kitchen, immediately followed by the unmistakable sound of something shattering, “that sounded expensive,” you muttered.
beau looked over his shoulder, “probably a plate.”
he held the sliding door open until you stepped through, letting the door slide shut behind him before falling into step beside you.
the hallway bottlenecked almost immediately. a group of freshmen had decided now was the perfect time to argue over whether tequila or vodka was objectively worse, occupying nearly the entire space.
beau slowed automatically, “after you.”
you slipped through the crowd first and glanced behind you once you’d made it through. he was quickly following you after apologizing to someone he’d bumped into. once you made it to the living room, it somehow looked even more crowded than it had twenty minutes earlier.
someone had moved the beer pong table, but badly. half the room now had to awkwardly shuffle around it.
a sophomore stumbled backward carrying an alarming number of beers. beau reached out instinctively, steadying one of the cups before it tipped, “got it.”
“thanks, man.”
“no problem,” he placed a quick clap on the guy‘s shoulder before he disappeared into the crowd.
you looked at beau, “do you just help everyone?”
he blinked, “what?”
“you keep catching things, holding doors, apologizing, making sure people don’t spill drinks,” you kept your eyes on him, “you don’t even realize you do it, do you?.”
he looked genuinely thoughtful, “i guess not.”
your smile lingered longer than you meant it to. you’d spent enough time around hockey players to know confidence usually came attached to a healthy dose of ego. beau somehow had one without the other.
he knew who he was, he just didn’t seem interested in proving it to anyone.
someone shouted from across the room, “maxwell!”
beau instinctively turned his head. one of his teammates stood near the couch holding up an empty case of beer, “you know where the extras are?”
“garage!”
“thanks!”
beau waved once before looking back at you, seeing you looking back at him with a smile, “you’re unbelievable.”
he laughed again and you caught yourself simply watching him. it wasn’t loud. it wasn’t the kind of laugh that made everyone nearby look over. it stayed mostly to himself. head dipping slightly, shoulders shaking once, and eyes crinkling at the corners.
cute.
the word slipped into your mind so naturally that it caught you off guard. cute? when had you started thinking beau maxwell was cute?
you’d met him… what? an hour ago? less? you shouldn’t be noticing things like the way his smile reached his eyes. or the tiny dimple that appeared in one cheek when he laughed hard enough. or how every conversation somehow felt like the two of you were the only people in the room, despite the fact that over a hundred people were packed into the house.
“ready?” he asked. you blinked, and he nodded toward the staircase, “unless you’ve changed your mind.”
there it was again. no assumption, and no expectation. he’d left the decision entirely with you. if you wanted to say no he’d accept it.
it made you want to say yes even more. so, you smiled, “yeah.”
he returned the smile, then turned toward the staircase. neither of you noticed that, from the couch across the room, six pairs of hockey-player eyes had just landed on the two of you at exactly the same moment
carter only looked up because someone threw a beer at his head. he caught it without thinking. years of hockey had turned reflexes like that into muscle memory long before he’d ever stepped onto briar’s campus. the cold aluminum smacked neatly into his palm, foam fizzing from beneath the tab and dampening his fingers.
“nice catch,” tucker called from somewhere behind him.
carter barely heard him. he’d already taken a sip when something across the room caught the corner of his eye, “…no.” the word slipped out quietly; more to himself than anyone else.
logan, slouched beside him on the couch with one foot resting on the coffee table, looked up from the hockey highlights he’d been half-watching on someone’s phone, “what?”
carter didn’t answer. he couldn’t because he was still staring. for a second, he honestly wondered if he’d imagined it. because there was absolutely no way.
“carter?”
he lifted his chin toward the staircase, “look.”
logan followed his gaze. at first, all he saw was the usual chaos. someone was trying to carry four pizzas through the living room. two freshmen were arguing over beer pong rules like the outcome determined world peace. dean stood in the middle of the room wearing— “is that a cowboy hat?”
carter blinked, “not dean.”
“oh,” logan looked again. then he saw you with beau. the two of you were standing near the bottom of the staircase, close enough that neither of you seemed particularly interested in whatever was happening around you.
beau said something. logan couldn’t hear it over the music, but whatever it was made you smile. you bumped his shoulder lightly with yours as your smile turned into a laugh.
“holy shit.”
carter finally nodded, “right?”
logan stared another few seconds, “are they flirting?”
“looks like it,” carter let out a slow breath.
another teammate noticed both of them staring, “what?”
“look,” logan pointed toward the stairs.
the defenseman followed his finger, “wait.” another guy leaned over the back of the couch, “what’re we looking at?”
“maxwell.”
“who’s he with?” someone answered with your name before anyone else had a chance. the freshman sitting on the armrest frowned, “who?”
every upperclassman turned to look at him, “you’re kidding.”
the freshman blinked, “what?”
tucker laughed as he shook his head, “he’s serious.”
“am i missing something?” the kid looked between all of them.
“a little,” carter took another sip of his beer before answering and looked back toward the staircase, “see the girl? she’s been around the hockey crowd for a couple years … everybody knows her.”
“…why?”
carter thought about it. how did you explain someone like you? you weren’t loud, you didn’t chase attention, half the time you slipped into parties without anyone noticing, you talked to everybody, and you somehow made everyone feel like they were part of the conversation. then at the end of the night you went home alone, or with someone.
but regardless of what happened, there was never drama, never tears, never someone waking up the next morning convinced you’d led them on. people liked you. even the guys you’d turned down afterward still smiled when they saw you at parties. hell, carter was one of them.
“she’s…” he started before stopping, “easy.”
logan looked at him with raised brows, “easy?”
“not like that, asshole,” he rolled his eyes, “easy to be around. she doesn’t make things weird.”
tucker nodded, “she hooked up with garrett sophomore year … twice.”
“then?”
“she was the one who told him there wouldn’t be a third, and he took it fine.” tucker spoke, and even after having told the story countless of times, he still sounded amazed, “because she wasn’t mean about it.”
another player laughed, “same thing happened with carter.”
“i’m right here,” carter raised his beer.
logan smirked, “didn’t stop it from happening.”
“…why wouldn’t she go back?”
carter shrugged, “she’s got a rule.”
“what rule?”
logan answered this time, “never the same guy more than twice.”
“seriously?”
“dead serious,” he took a sip of his beer.
tucker snorted, “there are dudes who’ve spent months trying to convince her they’re the exception.”
“did it work?”
everybody laughed and multiple people shook their heads amongst a chorus of no’s
carter took another drink before looking back toward the staircase, “which is why i don’t understand this.”
everyone’s eyes followed his. you and beau hadn’t moved much; you weren’t kissing, nor were you hanging all over each other.
there was still a comfortable amount of space between you. beau wasn’t touching your waist. wasn’t trying to impress you by throwing an arm over your shoulders. he simply stood there talking and listening. then smiling every time you smiled.
“look at him,” tucker said quietly.
“that’s…” logan searched for the word, “kind of adorable.”
“don’t say adorable,” carter groaned.
nobody noticed dean at first. which, considering he had somehow acquired a cowboy hat and a bag of barbecue chips in the last twenty minutes, was almost impressive. “dude,” he pointed a chip at one of the freshmen, “you still owe me five bucks.”
the freshman looked utterly bewildered. dean grinned, popped the chip into his mouth, and kept walking.
halfway across the room, he frowned; the couch was suspiciously quiet. six hockey players sat shoulder to shoulder, all staring in exactly the same direction. nobody was talking, nobody was chirping each other, tucker wasn’t making terrible jokes, carter wasn’t flirting with the brunette sitting across the room, and even logan looked invested in whatever had everyone’s attention.
dean slowed to a stop behind the couch, “why do you all look like someone just cancelled christmas?”
no answer. logan lifted one finger without taking his eyes off the staircase, “look.”
dean sighed dramatically, “if this is another spider, i swear to—”
dean turned and at first he only saw beau near the staircase, then he saw who was standing beside him.
he watched beau duck his head with that familiar, slightly smile he’d had since freshman year whenever someone laughed at one of his jokes. beau gestured toward the stairs and you nodded.
he stepped aside, letting you go first. his hand rested lightly on the banister while you walked past him, like he was more concerned about making sure you had room than getting upstairs himself.
neither of you seemed remotely aware that half the hockey team had stopped watching beer pong to watch you instead.
dean stared for another second, the corner of his mouth twitching, “son of a bitch.” everyone looked at him as the grin spread slowly across his face, “he actually did it.”
carter frowned, “you knew?”
“knew?” dean barked out a laugh. he looked back toward the staircase just in time to watch the two of you disappear onto the second floor, “i’ve been waiting for this to happen for months.”
the room went completely silent and dean looked around at the group, genuinely surprised, “none of you noticed?”
six blank faces stared back at him causing him to laugh, “you idiots, beau has had the biggest crush on her since, like…” he paused, thinking, “last spring? maybe even before that.”
carter stared at him, “you’re kidding.”
“i wish,” dean dropped into the empty armchair beside the couch, tossing the bag of chips onto his lap, “every party beau suddenly becomes really interested in who’s here.”
“‘hey, dean…’” the blonde lowered his voice into an almost perfect impression. “‘is she coming tonight?’ ‘have you talked to her before?’ ‘what’s she studying again?’ ‘does she always park across the street?’”
carter actually laughed out loud, “he asked you all that?”
“about a hundred times” dean shook his head fondly, “i honestly figured they’d both graduate before he worked up the nerve.”
carter looked back toward the staircase, “so, tonight was the first time they actually talked? why?”
dean looked genuinely confused by the question, “because she’s…” he gestured vaguely toward the second floor, “her.”
everyone knew what he meant. you were beautiful, confident, easy to talk to, and the kind of person who could walk into a room full of strangers and somehow leave with everyone smiling. you’d become almost legendary among athletes.
carter let out a low whistle, “well,” he looked toward the staircase one last time, “he did it.”
dean’s grin softened, “yeah,” he reached into the bag for another handful of chips, “about damn time.”
tucker nudged him with his foot, “that’s it?”
“what?”
“you’re not worried?”
dean frowned, “about what?”
“about her.”
he looked around the room as though the answer should’ve been obvious, “she’s cool.” then he nodded toward the second floor, “and beau’s one of the best guys i know.”
would u write smth with flirty banter with beau please! maybe something abt his contact name just being beau no petnames no emojis or something compared to the girls and its cute fluff love u!
stud - beau maxwell x reader
authors note: okay so!! this is a little (🤏🏻) baby. but i LOVE this little baby. this is my baby. let’s all love baby!!!! thank you anon for this request, i love you🩷 (oh and i just had to write a little suggestive scene hehehehe my bad)
“What is that?”
“Your name?”
“But why is it so dry?”
“Sweetie, nothing is dry about you.”
Giggling, you look back down at your phone where his contact is open. To be honest, you never thought his own first name would make him outright scandalized. But looking at him now, he’s never looked more offended.
“Oh, come on,” you scoff, shoving his shoulder playfully. “Get over it.”
“You? Never,” Beau says, shaking his head. “But this? This, I cannot accept.” He points an accusatory finger at the screen.
In your phone, Beau appears simply as… Beau.
“Now, for real, what is your problem?” You turn to face him where he’s sitting next to you on the couch. Both of you had crashed at your place near campus after a grueling day of lectures and practice.
You’ve been seeing him for a couple of months now, ever since you ran into him at Malone’s. You were out with the girls, and Beau was with Dean and a few other hockey and football players. They were playing billiards, and he was losing. Big time. Seeing his struggle, you couldn’t help but tease him about his lack of ball coordination—which was hilarious, considering Beau is the most talented quarterback for Briar’s football team.
Beau had looked up from the table, locked eyes with you, and smirked. “This one's for you, then.” He proceeded to miss the ball completely.
The guys had thrown their heads back, erupting into laughter alongside you and your friends.
“Maybe if you buy me a drink, you can make up for whatever that was,” you’d said, pointing a finger at the table and winking.
“Come closer then,” he’d replied, his voice dropping. “I don’t bite. Unless you want me to.”
Back on the couch, Beau nudges you with his elbow. “I call you pet names all the time.”
“And?” You raise an eyebrow.
“Don’t you think I deserve one in return?”
You laugh straight in his face. “You’re seriously pressed because I didn’t save you under a pet name?”
“I am! I'm privileged,” he insists, jutting his chin out before reaching over to flick your nose.
“Privileged, my ass,” you laugh, rolling your eyes. “The only privilege you have is me.”
“Yeah. Like I said, I’m privileged,” he winks. You hate how easily a blush creeps up your neck at his words.
“Okay, so what do you have in mind?” You clear your throat, trying to ground yourself because his unrelenting gaze is making your heart skip a beat and your brain malfunction.
“Gimme.” He snatches the phone out of your hand and starts typing furiously. When he’s done, he flashes a victorious smile. “There.”
You peer down at the screen and instantly snort. “Magic Stick? How is that a cute nickname?”
“Maybe I went a little overboard, but tell me it isn’t fitting.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call it a stick, but…” you murmur, letting the joke hang in the air. “Anyway. How about…” You tap your chin with your index finger, pretending to think hard. “Oh! How about Sexy Back?”
“Now you’re just flattering me.” Beau presses a dramatic hand against his heart.
“Yeah, you’re cocky enough,” you grimace. Then, as a better idea strikes you, you bite your lip and quickly type it into the name bar.
“Stud?” he reads aloud.
“Yeah. It fits you perfectly.” You flash a wide, bright smile at him, your eyes twinkling like you’ve just solved a world crisis. But, to be fair, it was a crisis for Beau.
Beau’s gaze instantly darkens, the playful banter evaporating. “God, you’re so fucking pretty like this,” he whispers. His thumb slides over your bottom lip, brushing against the skin with agonizing tenderness, goosebumps spreading all over your body.
“You’re such a flirt,” you breathe, your eyes locking onto his plush lips as the space between you suddenly feels entirely too small.
“C’mere,” he murmurs against your lips.
Before you can even answer, his hand slides up your thigh, guiding you effortlessly onto his lap. You instinctively lock your hands behind his neck, burying your fingers in his hair as his right hand travels up the expanse of your back, finally settling firmly at your nape to draw you down into a kiss. All the while, his other hand grips your thigh, anchoring you right where you belong.
Your moan gets lost in his groan as you taste each other, driven by a mutual, ravenous craving. Keeping you anchored by the nape of your neck, his tongue licks along your bottom lip, wordlessly begging you to let him in. You part your lips happily—he’s addictive, sweeter than any candy.
His tongue swipes over yours, sending a delicious shiver straight down your spine. The sensation makes you arch deeper into him, pressing your chest flush against his.
The kiss deepens, the slow friction of your swollen lips echoing softly in the quiet room. Almost unconsciously, driven by pure instinct, your hips begin to rock against his.
He grunts against your mouth, his palm sliding down to grip your ass, giving it a sharp, light smack to break your rhythm.
“Stop it, you tease,” he rasps, though he doesn't actually pull away, instead continuing to pepper your lips with breathless, bruising pecks.
“I’m sorry,” you murmur. You honestly hadn't even realized what you were doing - your body had simply taken over, leaving your mind completely numb.
“I don’t want to come in my pants the first time I’m with you,” he admits through hazy eyes.
“Aw, but I’d be honored,” you pout.
“My misery would be honourable?”
“I could brag about it.”
“Absolutely not,” he shakes his head aggressively, while Beau pinches your thigh. “You can only brag about the earth shattering orgasm I’ll give you and the aftercare.”
You gape at him. “I’ll get aftercare?”
“Baby, you’ll get everything,” he kisses your cheek, “You own me,” and kisses your jaw.
Synopsis: At your first wedding anniversary with Dean, you gift him a piece of something he had but thought he'd never get again. AKA, the missing best man speech he never got.
REQUESTS ARE OPEN
Word count: 3k words
Content: SPOILERSS! Grief, mentions of death, hurt and maybe comfort if you squint? Light swearing.
Notes: BEAU MAXWELL IS MY SHAYLA AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME IM GONNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE'S DEAD😭. Writing this has been a challenge for me, but it's also been cathartic. Some of this came from imagination, and some of it came from my own experience. Thank you for reading. All constructive criticism is appreciated, encouraged, and thank you everyone for the engagement!! It means so much <3
Dean had been insufferable all week.
“I got you the best gift ever.” he says at the breakfast table one morning.
You didn’t even look up from your coffee. “You don’t know what my gift for you is.” you say.
“I don’t need to.” he said smugly. “I’ve won this.”
You raise an eyebrow. “You sound very confident.”
“I am.” he doesn’t even bother hiding it.
“You’re going to absolutely love me.” he says in a sing-song voice.
“You’ve become unbelievably unbearable in just one year.” you say with fake exasperation lacing your voice.
“I’ve earned the right to be unbearable!” he defends.
You smile despite yourself.
“We’ll see.”
Your first wedding anniversary wasn’t anything extravagant. Neither of you had wanted that. Just the people that mattered to you guys were there. Your closest friends and family.
The venue itself was fancy, scattered with round tables everywhere with a fancy ivory tablecloth and fancy cutlery.
People drifted between conversations, old stories resurfacing.
Someone inevitably bought up all the honeymoon disasters.
Someone else bought up the time you and Dean didn’t talk to each other for two whole days because you were supporting opposing football teams.
You laughed so hard you almost spilled your drink. You caught Dean’s eyes on you from across the room, happy to see you enjoying.
Eventually came the gifts.
Dean went first, obviously.
He placed a velvet box in front of you with the air of a man that had bought the sun and moon for his wife’s gift.
“Open it.” he said excitedly.
You did. Inside was a necklace.
The necklace featured a simple gold chain, but with a rectangular resin piece, encasing a small, pressed flower plated in gold. The pendant also had a gold border shaped like intertwining vines, your and dean’s initials curled together in elegant gold script, in a beautiful gold colour, making this the most valuable piece of jewellery you’d ever owned.
You gasped. “Dean, this is- this is beautiful!” you exclaimed.
He was kneeling in front of you. “The flower is from your wedding bouquet.” he says softly.
You feel your eyes well up with tears. “Dean…” you start. “This is the best gift anyone has ever given me.” you pull him up and into a hug, smiling so wide your cheeks hurt.
“I hate how good you are at this.” you admit.
“I had help from Hannah.” he mutters.
“I don’t care.” you look up and kiss him. The room applauds.
You turn around so he can help you wear it before he kisses your neck and guides you to sit back down.
Dean sits back in his chair and leans back, a smug smile taking up permanent residence on his face.
“Nothing beats that.” he boasts.
“Oh?” you question, excitement making your stomach churn.
Once everyone had settled, you stood up. You picked up a remote for the huge projector and connected your phone to it.
“This is my gift for you,” you say, nervous as well as eager for this.
“A slideshow?” Dean raises an eyebrow.
“Nope.”
“A speech?” he asks.
“Nope!”
His expression morphs into one of horror.
“You wrote me a song?”
You hit him with the remote. “No, idiot!”
“Thank God…” he sighed. You glare at him before picking up a mic.
“Lades and gentlemen.” you begin, and all conversations come to a soft halt.
“Today, we’re celebrating one year of us.” you look around at the room- at all the people that have been there for you during different stages of your life.
Your eyes pause at the table with Hannah, Garrett, Logan, Grace, Tucker, Sabrina, and little Jamie. They continue moving until they reach the family table. Your parents, Dean’s parents… and Beau’s. Dean absolutely insisted that they have a place at that table, and you weren’t going to refuse.
“One year is a long time. And when people talk about our marriage, they always talk about the big moments.” you smile.
“The moments that made us, us. But there are also the people that got us here…”
A pause. Dean’s smile fades slightly, but not because he’s worried. It fades because he knows that tone, and he’s listening.
“One year ago today… there was someone else that was supposed to be standing next to Dean at that altar.”
There’s a sharp change in the atmosphere. A few people sit up straighter. Nobody needs you to say his name.
“Someone that would have spent the entire morning teasing Dean for crying over which colour tie to wear…” a tiny laugh escaped someone in the audience.
“but also someone that would have given the most heartfelt speech in the room.”
You pause.
“Beau, his best man.”
The room is so quiet you could hear the birds chirp outside. You smile despite the ache in your chest.
“I know Dean has spent the last year thinking about what he would have said, even though he doesn’t admit it.”
You meet his eyes with a soft expression. Not pity in your eyes, but love. Understanding.
“Maybe…” your voice catches. “Maybe he doesn’t have to wonder anymore.”
Dean’s expression shifts.
“No.” he says, voice quiet in a way you’ve hardly heard before.
“Yes.” you say to him gently.
His eyes dart between you and the huge white projector screen lowering itself on the huge wall. “What…?”
The video loads on the screen. It flickers, but then-
Beau.
Young.
Alive.
Wearing his lucky football jersey he was seen in more than anything, curls messier than anyone remembers.
Dean forgets to breathe.
Across the room, Beau’s mom presses both hands on her mouth before a sound can escape.
His dad’s eyes are stuck on the screen. He looks like he can’t bear to watch it but can’t bear to look away either.
Dean’s mom reaches across the table and takes Beau’s mother’s hand. Neither of them say anything.
The video begins in the off campus house. A younger you is adjusting the camera on the mantel so it doesn’t fall while Beau laughs at you.
Hearing that laugh, Dean freezes.
It’s been over a year since he’s heard that voice, heard that laugh. For over a year he’d been terrified that one day he’d wake up and forget that sound. Now it crashes into him with an onslaught of emotions. It was warm, familiar, but made his chest ache all the same.
His fingers white knuckle the edge of his chair. Your fingers immediately find his under the table, and he squeezes your hand so hard it hurts. But you don’t say anything.
“You’re recording this?” Beau on screen teases.
“Hey, some day 20 years in the future we’re gonna be looking back at this and laughing.” you say, walking back from the phone and seating yourself.
The venue stills. Twenty years.
You said twenty years in such a sure way, like it was a guarantee. The thought that he might not have even another two years not crossing any of your minds.
“So, Beau Maxwell.” you begin in the video. “Future best man. Give us a preview of the speech.”
Beau laughs in that easy going way of his. “Not on camera! You’re going to use this to blackmail me.”
You chuckle. “This is something I learnt in a drama workshop I did.” Beau groans immediately.
“Record yourself giving a speech, so you can watch yourself later and see how you come across. Y’know, your posture, pacing, body language, yada yada.” you convince him.
Beau rolls his eyes so dramatically that everyone watching the video laughs.
“Okay, wait.”
He stands up and pretends to brush imaginary dust off of his pants. He looks around the room for a second before settling on a random jacket in the hockey house living room- Dean’s, and wears it.
“This,” he announces proudly. “Is my suit.”
“If you actually wear that to our wedding,” you begin, threat evident in your voice. “I will actually kick you out, best man speech be damned.”
He ignores you and picks up a glass and spoon from the kitchen, tapping it together, making a pitiful noise.
“Oh my god, you’re going to break the glass!” you scold him playfully.
“All worth it for your wedding,” he says solemnly.
The tension in the hall is so thick it could be cut with a knife. Dean lets out a breath that sounds like the beginning of a sob.
On the screen, blissfully unawaure, Beau clears his throat.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” he announces confidently in the empty room.
“So, apparently I’m supposed to be giving a speech.” he continues.
You snort on camera. “You literally begged to be the best man!”
He looks offended. “Please, I was coerced!”
You give him a no-nonsense look. “You made a grand show of going on both your knees acting like you were the one proposing to him.”
Beau smirks. “Like I said, I was manipulated.”
You give the camera a deadpan look.
The room erupts in laughter again. Even Dean laughs through his tears, shaking his head.
“Well, I’ve known Dean since ages.” he starts seriously. “I’ve seen all his phases, from the time he was convinced that wearing Nike basketball shorts and grinding in the gym daily, even in the winter, just to impress girls, was-”
He’s cut off by your laugh.
“I can’t do this if you’re laughing!”
“I’m not saying anything!” you protest.
He shakes his head.
“Okay. Again.”
“I’ve known Dean for…” his brows furrow and he looks intensely concentrated.
You ask him in the most strained tone ever. “Are you trying to calculate how long it’s been since you guys have been friends?”
Next to you, Dean mutters "Not long enough."
Beau gives a guilty smile, which is met by a cushion you throw at his face.
“Ow! You broke my nose!” he clutches at his face dramatically. “That’s the moneymaker!”
“Are you going to give the speech, Maxwell, or should I tell Nick to start writing his own speech?”
He glares at you. “Here I was going to talk about how kind you are.” He glances at the camera. “But she’s also incredibly annoying.”
His face lights up like he just came to a realization.
“That’s why you and Dean are perfect for each other!”
Dean's eyes break away from the screen and he gives you a soft kiss, conveying all the gratitude he felt to you for giving him this.
On screen, Beau’s just standing there, mouth open, like he’s discovered the secret of the universe when another pillow is thrown at his face. He retaliates and throws it back, his quarterback skills making sure the pillow hits your arm. You try to throw it back, but somehow end up knocking down the phone.
When the phone is back upright, you back away and sigh.
“Okay. Again.”
Beau groans. “If I do it properly, can we go back to watching TV?”
“Deal.” you agree.
He cleared his throat dramatically.
“Ladies and gentlemen.” he announces confidently to the nearly empty room.
“Dean has been an important person in my life ever since high school.”
“I was with him when he put diesel in his petrol car.” he smiles fondly at the memory.
“When he fell for his first pyramid scheme. Or when he bought a whole shipment of redbull before deciding he didn’t like it.”
The room laughs, remembering all of this.
“And somehow, he’s made it to adulthood.” he looks at you.
“He’s also managed to find someone else that puts up with his antics.” Beau’s smile softens.
“I always knew I’d be standing next to him when he got married.”
Dean lets out a loud sob at that, but no one says anything. Even Garrett looks teary eyed.
Dean had kept Beau’s empty spot at the wedding. An empty chair next to you both at the reception. No one had questioned it.
“So did almost everyone who knew us since high school. Granted, they thought we’d be standing right next to each other and I’d be reciting vows instead of giving a speech, but that honour has been reserved for our lovely piranha here.”
A knot develops in your throat at that familiar nickname, while the room laughs.
“After meeting you, Dean became soft in a way I never thought I’d see.” He pauses.
“He started saying lovey dovey shit like-” he pauses and looks at you with a panicked expression. “Fuck, can I say shit?- Fuck, I can’t say fuck either can I?”
He takes one look at your murderous expression and continues his speech.
“While I do miss pre-domesticated Dean, the Dean that was up for any bad idea without saying ‘I’ll have to check with my girlfriend’ first, I don’t miss wondering if he was ever going to be happy.”
You smile.
Beau directs his next words to you.
“Meeting you has changed him in a lot of ways, yeah, but I’m glad they did.” Beau’s voice becomes a little quiet.
“He still drives me insane, but…”
“Gone are the days I was worried that he wouldn’t find true happiness.”
Dean bows his head. Beau never got to find his.
Dean would spend the rest of his life wishing he could somehow trade places with him, just once.
Just long enough for Beau to know this kind of happiness too.
“I’ve seen so many versions of him. I’ve seen the loud Dean.” Beau starts listing off.
“Angry Dean.”
“Dean when he refused to believe that he was in love.”
He smirks. “That one was painful to watch.”
His voice becomes sincere. “But I’ve never seen Dean as happy as he is with you. As carefree, or as peaceful as you make him.”
Beau looks at you in the video.
“So I’m honoured to be the one that Dean chose to help him with a new version of himself- him on his wedding day.”
Dean wipes away his tears, and leans into you. You wrap your arms around him in a way that’s become familiar over the past few years.
He’s looking at the screen with an intensity that borders on desperation, like if he memorizes everything Beau does, he won’t lose another piece of him when this video ends.
You in the video start crying as well.
Beau groans. “You’re getting emotional!”
“Am not!” you say, wiping away a tear.
He points at you accusingly. “Stop crying.”
“Mind your own business.” you retort.
“Delete this video.” he protests.
“Nope!” you say with a wet laugh.
“Okay, I don’t know how to end this…” Beau grumbles.
“D… I think you’ve found the right person for you. Don’t mess this up.” he says seriously.
“I hope, years from now…”
He pauses.
“She’s still the first person you call when something happens.”
“The first person you want to see after a bad game.”
“You still reach for her hand without thinking.”
He smiles at you again.
“As someone who used to be Dean’s favourite for a long time… I hope you enjoy growing up with him as much as I did.”
There isn’t a dry eye left in the room anymore. His father watches the screen with a heaviness that’s specific to a father hearing his son’s voice after believing he’s heard it for the last time as a scream.
Dean covers his face with his hands.
He would give anything to argue with Beau about anything again. Anything to lose another bet. Anything to hear him tease him about how whipped he was.
Nobody tells you that, after someone dies, you don’t just miss the big moments.
You miss the ordinary ones as well.
The ones you never thought to treasure because they weren’t anything special.
In the hockey house living room, Beau holds your eyes for a second.
“Beau… that was amazing.” you say breathlessly.
“And if y'all ever have kids, you know I’m going to tell them all the embarrassing shit you did together.” he grins.
“I’ll be their godfather Beau.” He looks at the ceiling of the hockey house and smirks. “The rest of these idiots can have uncle status.”
You laugh. “Done?”
Beau bows dramatically.
“For now.” he says.
He points at the camera. “I’ll save the good stuff for the wedding. I have time.” he says with a self assured grin.
The words hang in the air.
You’re about to speak again when the sound of a door opening disrupts you.
A blur of sweat and a hockey jersey shoots through the room before sweeping you up in a hug so hard your feet leave the floor.
You laugh and shriek. “Dean! Put me down!”
Beau laughs as the rest of the hockey team files into the room post practice, Tucker faceplanting on the couch you were just sitting on.
Garrett opened the fridge and raided it.
Logan shouted something about Dean’s stinky shoes.
Sabrina rolled her eyes at all of the chaos.
Nobody appreciated the moment. They took it for granted, thinking they’d have thousands more just like it.
He walks over to the phone and picks it up before pointing it towards both of you in an embrace, saying something before ending it.
“They’re going to be just fine together.”
The screen fades to black.
Nobody moves. The silence in the hall stretches.
Dean stands before hugging you so tight your blood circulation cuts off.
There’s no trace of his smug personality from just 10 minutes ago as he holds onto you.
“Thank you.” he says, words holding a lot of weight.
He only lets go of you when he walks over to Beau’s parents. He doesn’t say anything.
He drops to his knees besides their table and hugs his mother first.
She’s sobbing, holding him in the same way she did at the funeral.
Beau’s father places his hand on Dean’s trembling shoulder.
“I miss him.” Dean says. Such simple yet heartbreaking words.
“In a way, it’s a good thing.” Beau’s mom whispers in his ear.
At Dean’s confused silence, she explains.
“Missing him means you had someone worth grieving, and I think that’s beautiful.”
Dean just sobs harder. For a moment, no one can tell where one family’s grief ends and the other’s begins.
Disclaimer: I know that in the book, Dean didn't attend Beau's funeral, but I really liked the line and didn't want to remove it.
beau maxwell x femreader, friends to lovers, idiots in love core, reader is lowkey nonchalant asf for half of it, very much chill
─ · ·✦•๑࿔༻𖤓༺࿔๑•✦· · ─
(a/n: i actually loved writing this. it was lovely, hopefully y'all enjoy.)
wc: 4.1k
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
Beau Maxwell the definition of a good person. He is sweet, kind, funny, strong minded, loveable, and loving. Beau came from an amazing family with an even better sister, building him into the wonderful person you called your best friend since your freshman year of high school. The eventful day is seared into your minds, both of you lost in the halls attempting to find the very same class on the first day of high school with not a clue in the world where the damned geometry class was located. The tall lanky boy ran into you completely oblivious and frustrated as well as dropping you onto the floor in his rush.
"Oh shit, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" He spit out quickly as he scrambled to help you off the floor.
"Yeah, I'm okay." You replied with a small laugh at his immediate apology and accepting his help. "You should get into football with that tackle." You said making light of the moment and dusting yourself off.
He smiled and grabbed your book bag off the floor as he looked you over to make sure you were okay once more.
"What's with the rush anyways?" You asked out of simple curiosity as you reached for you bag back from him which he cautiously returned.
"I'm lost." He admitted pulling out a slightly crumpled half sheet of paper, his schedule. "I have no clue were classroom H205 is. I found H204, 203, and 206, but not 205."
You looked at him in amusement because of his expressed frustration. "Well lucky for you, I am also lost." You said pulling out your neatly folded schedule and handing it to him. "Want to scavenge for this likely hellish class together?"
"Y-yeah, that sounds good." He said with a charming smile looking over your nearly identical schedule before handing it back.
That charming smile still remains but on a taller and built man. Beau grew into his looks and into himself by the time the two of you entered Briar U. So had you, sprouting a bit taller and much more confident than that 15 year old girl lost in the halls. Something that hadn't changed one bit was your friendship. No matter how long your lectures left you studying and no matter how long football practice ran, both of you made the effort to see each other. Beau brought coffee for the shared late night study sessions were you studied together in silence with your opposing class assignments and you always sat in the same spot of the stands for each and every one of his games.
This particular night you were in his apartment, working on some tedious class assignment in preparation for your midterms at his dining table while Beau was showering. You had a key to his apartment and were there before he got back from practice to welcome him from his brutal practice which in his words was more like conditioning and hazing. So there you sat typing away with your headphones full blast as you tried to get rid of this to-do list item as soon as possible. Nights like these had become much more usual as semesters had passed. Now in your junior year this was in occurrence at least three nights a week, either in his apartment or yours.
Beau walked out of the shower feeling far more refreshed but still exhausted. He was in his lounge sweats and slides as he toweled his hair damp and walked out to see you exactly where he had left you before getting in the shower. Hair up, in sweats, and a hoodie completely focusing at the dining table with a reusable water bottle beside your laptop on the table along with a notebook and pen. An imagine that relaxed his mind far more than he wanted to look into.
"Hey," He called out although it did nothing. He smiled as your lack of reaction due to your focus and he walked up behind you carefully nudging your shoulder to get your attention. "You almost done?" He asked as you pulled off your headphones and looked over at him.
"Nearly. I just need Allie to text me back so I can finalize. I think she is out because she hasn't answered and I texted her almost an hour ago."
"Probably with Dean." Beau said as he sat down in the free chair beside you.
"Are they still feigning a casual relationship?" You asked before taking a sip of your water bottle.
"Yup. Still completely casual, apparently."
"That's hilarious." You noted as you put the bottle back in its spot. You and Beau had driven up with Dean and Allie to New York for Thanksgiving and after the four hour car ride the only thing you two had assured was a debrief until two in the morning about whatever Dean and Allie had going on.
Beau nodded and then asked, "You staying the night?"
"Probably, why?"
"Just asking."
"Did you have something planned?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Okay." Beau started, "Well, I will admit Karina wanted to come over at some point this week."
"Oh." You said with a little nod in understanding. "That's my cue to leave then." shutting your laptop stacking it up with your notebook.
"She could come over tomorrow." Beau added in worry that you would feel like he was throwing you out, which you did in fact feel exactly like that.
"It's okay, Beau. You have fun." You said simply keeping yourself composed, trying not to reveal an inch of the hurt you were feeling, and packed your things. "Text her, she'll probably be ecstatic." you added trying very hard not to sound sarcastic but failing miserably, which Beau caught onto immediately.
"Wait, no, come on. You can stay, I'm not kicking you out." He scrambled as he saw you stand up.
"I know but uh… I should probably still go." You simply replied slinging your bag onto your shoulder and grabbing your water bottle to head out.
"Let me take you to your place then." He said reaching for his hoodie draped on his couch.
"I drove here." You told him shutting down his idea knowing fully well that if he drove you home he would stay the night.
"Oh. Okay." Beau dropped his hoodie back onto the couch.
"Good night, also text her." You said as you walked over to the door of his apartment.
"Yeah, I will. But just text me when you get home."
You unlocked the door and head out after nodding in agreement.
"Good night." Beau murmured as you headed out and he shut the door behind you.
He never sent Karina that text. Instead, he sat on his couch playing a musical in the background as his mind was occupied waiting for your text letting him know you were home safe.
After ten minutes a notification rang through his screen.
'i'm home safe’
'Good' 'Sleep well' Beau sent out mere seconds after receiving your message.
You liked the message and then got ready for bed, it was only nine but you might as well. Sleep was better than over thinking the entirety of your friendship or whatever the hell it was with Beau.
That was the first time where your friendship felt slightly unstable. It wasn't completely crumbling but it felt like it needed an inspection but of course both of you decided to avoid it.
The next time was a week later after your grueling 6pm midterm which was in fact not true to whatever the syllabus had stated. You walked out needing only to relax so you naturally pulled out your phone and clicked on Beau's silly contact picture.
'calling quarterback'
Your phone rang a couple times and then it got sent to voicemail. Weird, he didn't have class or practice today. Whatever, you were far to tired to deal with finding Beau Maxwell on a random Thursday.
Then all of a sudden after you slipped your phone into your pocket and put your earbud in you felt a tap on your shoulder. You turned to end up face to face with a guy from your class.
Hunter Davenport.
"Hey." He said.
"Hi."
"How was that for you?" He asked about the midterm.
"I don't even want to talk about it."
"Right. That professor needs a warning label."
"I agree." You replied with a small tired smile as you looked up at Hunter.
"I was planning on doing something to chill out after that. Want to join me?"
You replayed the robotic voicemail directions in your head before asking, "What did you have in mind?"
"How about food and then we can figure it out from there?" He suggested and you nodded. You knew him a bit hearing a couple people talk here and there but he was great in class and had been your project for the first research project of the semester so what could be the worst thing that could happen.
You now know exactly what the worst that could happen.
Although, you couldn't say it was horrible. Especially not as you slipped on one of your oversized t-shirts after getting out of the shower. Yes, you two had gone for a bite. Yes, you two had a good laugh. Yes, it ended up with him in your apartment, and yes, eventually your bed. No, you didn't regret it. Hunter was hot, and sweet, also the food was absolutely wonderful.
Hunter was currently in your shower as you turned on the kettle. You had not even reached for your phone since you stepped into your apartment, more like you were too busy to do so.
"Oh fuck." You muttered after picking up your phone to around five missed calls, and ten new messages from Beau. Also one from Allie, courtesy of Beau worrying about you to Dean and Allie. A sudden knock at your door pulled you from looking over the text.
You went to open it with your phone in hand and there stood Beau.
"Oh hey, I was just textin-" You started.
"Why didn't you answer? You always answer." He exclaimed, his voice laced with worry.
"I was busy, Beau. I had called you and you didn't answer either."
"Well I was busy too."
"Okay?"
"What does that mean?" Beau asked and before you could answer he walked into your living room as normal only to be greeted by an oblivious Hunter walking out of your bathroom only wearing a towel, hanging low on his waist which he currently was adjusting.
"Hey, pretty! Do you have any clothes that could possibly fit me-" Hunter called out before looking up and stopping in his tracks as he saw Beau.
"What the actual fuck?" Beau asked, his temper boiling as he looked over at you with confusion.
You stood frozen as you felt like shit hit fan at an alarming rate. "Okay um, so basically. Actually… wait." You rambled before walking up to Hunter and pulling him into your room and telling him where he could find some sort of clothes and then walking back out to a ticking Beau.
"I told you I was busy." You weakly started with.
"Oh I can tell. Busy with Hunter Davenport. Fucking Hunter Davenport, unbelievable, quite literally at that." Beau stated obviously far more affected by this than either of your expected.
"Wait, why is that an issue?" You asked completely confused.
"Because well… whatever I don't fucking know!" Beau said sounding like a mess. Then because Hunter had wonderful timing he walked out of your room in just sweatpants that of course had to be Beau's old sweatpants he had left behind some random night.
"Don't tell me you have a boyfriend?" Hunter asked still shirtless and combing a hand through his hair.
"No." Both Beau and you said at the same time.
"Okay cool, then what's going on?" Hunter asked now confused.
"Good question. Beau?" You pressed as you turned to look away from Hunter to look at Beau.
"She didn't answer her phone!" Beau argued weakly. "And keep in mind she always answers her phone."
Hunter scoffed which did not help with Beau's ever growing dislike towards the guy.
"Beau, I'm completely fine besides you were busy earlier and I respected that so respect this for me." You told him as you attempted to cope him out of his obviously intense feelings because Hunter was still in your apartment and you really didn't want to scare him off, especially not on the first night.
"Fine. Whatever. Have fucking fun, but you don't get to act out when I don't answer either." Beau said shooting a glare at Hunter and then heading towards the door.
"What are you talking about!" You exclaimed more confused than even because Beau was just spilling out words without regard to the situation.
"Just don't text me." He said before shutting the door behind him. Leaving you stood there perplexed and Hunter just sat on your witnessing the drama clip right in front of him.
"What was his issue?" Hunter asked being incredibly nosey.
"I would love to know." You muttered before locking the door and letting out a sigh as you headed back to the kettle which was definitely boiling now. "Do you want coffee or tea?" you asked to avoid talking about the said issue.
"Coffee." Hunter said easily as he stood up and walked over to help prepare his coffee while you grabbed a tea bag.
That night ended easy. Hunter didn't ask for much, he was more just happy to be there.
The next morning he left before breakfast but still said goodbye with his charming smile. Although, that smile only reminded you of another charming smile. One that was yours and had been for years. The one that came from the same mouth that told you not to text him last night.
After you made yourself a decent breakfast your phone vibrated on the dining table.
It was Allie, on facetime. You groaned slightly at the thought of her chewing your head off for last night, not because of Hunter, no, because Beau surely complained to Dean about last night and Allie definitely heard it. Yet, you still answered the call.
"Good morning." You tested.
"Not a good morning. Beau would not stop calling Dean last night. What happened?"
"He stormed into my apartment and I had a guy over."
"HELLO? WHO?" Allie asked suddenly staring at the camera intensely.
"Hunter Davenport, from class."
"You're joking." Dean muttered from his spot beside Allie.
"Hello, Dean. And no, not joking." You replied as you watched the no label couple on your screen.
"Wait, what's wrong with Hunter?" Allie asked confused and I shrugged just as clueless as her.
"He's a jerk." Dean muttered still asleep even though it was nearly 11 am.
"Wasn't a jerk to me." You said casually, Allie giggled and then got serious again giving you the sign to tell your side of the story, which you did. Allie and Dean debated, Dean on my side surprisingly and Allie having follow up questions for Beau, who was god knows where. Eventually, Dean invited you over to the hockey house for dinner because Tucker was testing new recipes and you agreed because free food and delicious food at that, and finally, you hung up.
Until it was time for the dinner you occupied your mind by cleaning your entire apartment and blasting music. You then got ready in something cute but comfortable to eat in aka sweats and tank with a zip up hoodie over it.
You walked over to the hockey house instead of driving. You felt like a walk was needed after last night. Once you got to the hockey house you considered knocking but then simply decided to enter instead, it was far more customary at that place to simply walk in. Allie and Hannah caught you first and Hannah immediately walked over to greet you like the absolute sweet heart she was.
"I feel like I haven't seen you in ages!" Hannah said pulling you into a hug which you reciprocated instantly with a smile.
"Well, midterms nearly killed me so that would check out." You replied jokingly and Hannah laughed letting go of you as Allie approached.
"Didn't feel like bringing your fling to dinner?" Allie teased and Hannah jumped at the statement.
"Excuse me? WHO?" Hannah asked and I laughed at the excitement.
"I will explain later. Is the food ready?" You asked walking further in the home to find Tucker completely immersed on plating the food while Logan sat on the stool at the kitchen island casually sipping on a beer. "It smells heavenly, Tuck."
"Oh hey, you made it, also thank you." Tucker replied with a little bow and pan in hand.
"Not fearing of Big Scary Beau." Logan teased.
"Oh okay, so everyone knows." You muttered as you sat down in a stool beside him.
"You upset a teddy bear, and his best friend lives here of course we all know." Logan said with a laugh.
"Okay so can any of you explain why on earth he is so upset." You asked, the irritation from last night prickling into your head again.
"No clue, sweetheart. In my opinion, you did nothing wrong." Tucker obliviously said placing the tray of left over roasted veggies in front of you and you gladly accepted picking one up.
"Thank you, Tucker. This is why you are my favorite."
"Hey! You haven't even heard what I have to say." Logan said, Hannah and Allie snickered at his comment as the approached the kitchen, joining the conversation. You simply looked at him so he could continue. "Fine, okay I think he is upset because he was caught off guard. And seeing Hunter in your space was probably very unusual and uncomfortable for him."
"It's the first time he has been in that position." Hannah added as reached for a carrot from the tray.
"First time for me too. I had never in my life been caught in a situation like that. And I had never seen Beau like that either. I mean seven years of friendship and never has he reacted like that." You said to your audience of friends who were far too invested.
"I think you should just talk to him. See what is bothering him if something still is." Allie suggested quite maturely.
Logan nodded in agreement and then added slyly, "You definitely have a lot to talk about."
"What is that supposed to mean?" You asked giving him a halfway joking glare. That question was never answered because Dean, Garrett, and Beau walked in that very moment carrying drinks. Your eyes immediately caught onto Beau whose smile was wiped clean when he saw you sat in the kitchen completely comfortable and seeming like yesterday had done absolutely nothing to, even though the exact opposite was the truth.
"Drinks in the fridge please and thank, hustle." Tucker called out with a clap and that got the three moving into the kitchen with a playful salute from Dean as they moved to organize the drinks into the fridge.
You didn't want to ruin Tucker's dinner but you also had no clue how to approach this situation with bringing even more attention to the issue. So you naturally did what you did best, very boldly got of the stool walked over to Beau, tapped him shoulder, and very bluntly but kindly asked, "Can we talk?"
Beau turned around looking down at you and luckily his eyes weren't as cold as last night, "Yeah, let's talk." He responded quietly before grabbing your wrist gently and pulling you towards the door. "We will be back, start eating!" Beau called out as he nearly dragged you outside but you were more than willingly being dragged.
"Start eating, hilarious." Allie muttered as she got up to peak out the front window to try and catch a look as what was happening outside the warm house. Dean quickly joined her.
"Nosey much?" Logan asked as even he leaned back on his stool to try and catch a glance.
"Shush. Ughh, he is taking her to his car." Allie complained as she slumped down on the couch. "I can't what is going on from here." Dean just laughed softly at her antics.
Meanwhile, you got into the passenger easily. Your passenger seat, is a more accurate description. You had a pair of sunglasses in the glove compartment along with a pack of gum and your long lost bangles that you took off and placed there after a long night at the bar. Beau got into the drivers seat and shut the door holding the wheel for a second as to ground himself.
You adjusted yourself to look at him properly waiting to say something once he was able to look you in the eye.
"Did… did he stay the night?" Beau asked, catching you off guard and still not looking at you.
"Yeah, he did but he left early and didn't stay for breakfast." You replied honestly, looking down at your fidgeting hands on the center console. Beau finally looked over at you finally and you looked right back up to catch his glance.
"I'm sorry for acting out yesterday, it was uncalled for. I probably looked crazy. I just… I couldn't bear to see him there. It wasn't even because it was him, it could have been Jonathan Groff for all I care. It was because he was in my spot." Beau spoke and you listened, you listened well.
Now you were processing. "Your spot?" You repeated with curiosity.
"Yes, my spot. He was quite literally in my sweatpants at some point." Beau reminded you and you cringed remembering that little piece of information. "Listen, I freaked out yesterday because I was jealous. Genuinely. I mean he was in your bathroom, in your home, somewhere very little people step into. I was surprised you let him." explaining and trying to get a point across
"You let people into your apartment all the time, that's basically why we don't live together." You said blankly clueless, and avoiding the jealous.
"I cannot remember the last time I let someone other than friends and you into my space."
"What about Karina?" You asked and Beau fell silent, looking away for a second. "Beau?"
"I didn't text Karina." He admitted, hoping you would realize.
Your head cocked to the side as you stared at him with even more confusion now. "What? Why? I thought she was going to come over this week?"
Beau stared at you, needing you to take the hint, far to fearful to admit the truth himself. He was looking at you now like he was trying to telepathically communicate some government secret with you. "Take the hint, baby, please." He murmured, basically begging.
"Beau, what are you on about?" You asked genuinely completely scrambled as you looked at him all confused.
"You are so incredibly dense right now, but I love you so much regardless." He admitting quickly spitting it out before reaching over and gently cupping your cheek pulling your lips to his. You initially froze at the sudden touch still stuck on the L word he had spat out seconds prior, which scared him shitless, but before he could pull away you deepened the contact and kissed him moving your hand up around the back of his neck to pull him impossibly closer, suddenly wish you were in the backseat instead.
"I love you too, Beau." You muttered slightly breathless as you pulled away from the kiss and looked at him, pupils blown out matching his.
"Okay good, or else this would have been really awkward." He joked gently as he looked at you like you had hung the moon.
You let out a small laugh, "I feel stupid and very much dense." You told him in amusement.
"Don't worry, so was I. Up until last night, then I just got really jealous." He admitted with a wide smile, your charming smile.
"So… what does this mean?" You asked knowing damn well but needing reassurance.
"Well, I would like to be the only romantic relationship in your life, I know that much now."
"I'd like that."
"Good."
"Boyfriend Beau. Sounds nice." You said looking up at him with a smile and your eyes flickering only once back down at his lips but Beau noticed.
"Sounds really nice coming from you." He said softly as he leaned in to capture your lips once again, in a much more careful and sealing kiss.
Safe to say, dinner was cold once you two got back inside but thanks to Tucker it was still delicious.
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
(more notes: i am taking requests y'all. and i do love me some angst. also im posting this at like 11:59pm exactly, giving me flashbacks to the last minute essays i would submit last semester.)
garrett doesn't want to be possessive. really, he doesn't. your soft edges bring out the worst in him.
tw: dumbification, dirty talk, fingering, oral, bondage, daddy kink, probably not a very healthy relationship, toxic!garrett....
wc: 733
an: mdni pls!!! unedited and posting from drafts!! really like this concept. lmk if you guys are into it and i will explore it more! tysm to everyone who has sent in requests. so grateful and excited to work on them. i will do my best to do your marvelous ideas justice! pinky promise. — berry
garrett hated the word possessive. it made him feel like some insecure loser harboring a complex bigger than his daddy issues.
it’s something he didn’t want to be. something he was working on. fuck, it was something he had gone to therapy for.
he’d spent countless hours processing why he felt insecure in his relationships. unpacking the destructive behaviors he was so prone to.
and then you showed up. little, unassuming you.
you — who styled your hair with lacy bows, smelled like a freshly baked lemon meringue pie, and smiled at him so sweetly your cheeks would turn bubblegum pink.
he was fucked.
had been since the first time he saw you on the quad. you’d been handing out flyers to join your volunteer group at the hastings animal shelter.
he knew there was no going back. he was irrevocably fucked.
that was months ago. now that he has you, old habits are bubbling up to the surface.
he really doesn’t mean to be like this. he knows he shouldn’t be caging you in. keeping you all to himself. shutting others out.
he shouldn’t always ‘forget’ to charge your phone when you’re over, or shove it between the couch cushions when you’re not looking.
shouldn’t delete the dinners you’d planned with friends from your calendar when you’re in the bathroom.
and he really shouldn’t have your wrists tied up to his bedframe when you’re supposed to be halfway across campus taking lecture notes on kafka’s the metamorphosis.
but he can’t help how pretty you look pouting down at him while he stuffs his tongue up your tight cunt. watching you bite down on your glossy bottom lip. he can’t find it in himself to care one fucking bit.
you’re rubbing your wrists together against the leather of his belt. wriggling against his grip to get more friction than he’s giving you.
“such a brat sometimes,” he mutters, only half-meaning it. really just meaning to rile you up.
he pulls his mouth away from your heat and you can see the pearly sheen of your last orgasm on his stubble. “sit pretty and take what i’m giving you, baby. know you can be a good girl f’me.”
“i am a good girl,” you huff. you jostle the makeshift cuffs, and garrett’s bedroom echoes with the sound of the buckle clattering against his bedframe.
garrett raises a brow, and your face goes pale. “not gonna tell you again, baby.”
he decides maybe you need a little more guidance today. he sprawls his palm against your warm belly and pushes lightly on the soft skin of it. “stay.”
you sigh contently at that, and garrett knows he’s won. he knows sometimes you just like to test his limits. make him prove that he should be in charge. that he knows best.
but when you melt under him so easily, what you’re really after is so obvious.
“like being told what to do, don’t you baby? just turn your brain off and be a good little fucktoy.”
he leaves a trail of kisses up your thigh, and inserts two fingers into your weeping cunt. your soft pink walls flutter as they open up for him.
“you like being used, huh? is that it? like it when i use this pretty cunt?”
he gets his mouth back on your clit, and sucks hard.
“yes! love it so much…wanna come so bad, daddy!”
you’re a squealing mess. heart beating out of your chest like a jackrabbit. pretty manicured hands balled up into little fists above you. he can see your brain whirring, trying to get a hold of yourself.
you know better than that, garrett thinks.
“tell me you love it when daddy uses you,” he hums, and the vibration of it shocks your eyes wide open. he looks up at you and marvels at how fucked out you look. pupils dilated, and drops of sweat dripping down the valley of your breasts.
your throat bobs as you gulp, wracking your brain. trying to find your voice
“c’mon, baby.”
“love it when you use my pussy, daddy.”
you look absolutely pathetic, hiccuping and whining as he inserts a third finger.
you’re usually all soft pleads and sweet moans in the bedroom. garrett never makes you talk dirty. but you want to make him happy. always such a good girl for him.
“such a perfect little fucktoy for me, aren’t you?”
Summary — After overhearing the seven words that shattered everything, you’ve spent a week avoiding Dean. But one hockey game, one injury, and one conversation neither of you can avoid might finally reveal the part of the story you never stayed long enough to hear.
Warnings — minor injury, miscommunication, but a happy ending overall.
Word count — 9,951.
author note — and that’s the end of Boyfriend Material. 🤍 thank you to everyone who came along for this journey. whether you read quietly or supported this series in any way, I appreciate you more than I can say. writing this story—and this version of Dean—has been such a joy, and I hope you loved reading it as much as I loved writing it. thank you for reading, and until the next one. ♡
(TAGLIST) | (MASTERLIST) | (ULTIMATE MASTERLIST)
sneak peek | part one | part two | part three | part four
You got really good at not looking for Dean.
Apparently, that was a skill. Something you could practice between classes, in the dining hall, and on the walk across campus, when the cold bit at your cheeks and every tall blond guy in a Briar jacket made your stomach drop before your brain caught up.
Don't look. Don't check. Don't think about it.
By the third day, you'd almost convinced yourself it was working.
Almost.
The problem was that Dean Di Laurentis had never been easy to ignore, even before you knew what he looked like half-asleep in expensive sheets, even before you knew the sound of his voice when he was trying not to say something too honest, even before you knew how his hands felt when the pretending stopped feeling like pretending.
Before all of that, he was just Dean: annoying, cocky, charming in the most irritating way — the kind of guy who walked into rooms like he already knew everyone would forgive him.
Now he was still Dean, only you knew too much. You knew what he looked like in a suit with his family watching. You knew how he said sweetheart when he wanted to get under your skin, and how he said your name when he wasn't joking anymore; how warm his palm felt at the small of your back, how quiet he got when something mattered, and how easy it had been to forget the whole thing had started with rules.
That was the worst part — not the fact that it had ended. That part made sense. Fake things were supposed to end; deals ran out, weekends ended, and people went back to their lives. Eventually, the story became something you could think about without feeling stupid for having believed any of it.
No, what you hated most was how real it had felt before you found out it wasn't.
It's not real. We had a deal.
The sentence had settled inside you in the days after, stubborn and ugly, replaying every time you started to soften; every time your phone lit up and some traitorous part of you hoped it was him; every time you remembered the look on his face at the diner, how he'd tried to make you stay, how he'd looked almost hurt when you wouldn't let him close.
Almost.
That word was starting to feel dangerous. Almost real. Almost enough.
You were tired of almost.
So when Allie dropped into the chair across from you at lunch, wearing a face that was trying very hard to look casual and failing immediately, you knew you should've gotten up and left.
You didn't — that was your first mistake.
Hannah sat beside her two seconds later, coffee in hand, wearing the exact expression she got when she'd already decided what was best for someone and was waiting for them to agree.
That was your second warning.
"No," you said immediately.
Allie blinked, thrown. "I haven't even said anything yet."
"You've the face."
"I've more than one face."
"You've the one that means you're about to make your problem my problem."
Hannah took a sip of her coffee. "She's not making anything your problem."
"Thank you," Allie said.
"We're," Hannah finished for her.
You just stared at them. Allie smiled like that helped. It didn't.
"No," you repeated, picking up your fork.
"You don't even know what we're asking yet."
"It's about Dean."
They both went quiet.
There it was.
You put the fork down. "I knew it."
Something in Hannah's expression softened. "This doesn't have to be about him."
You laughed once, without any humor. "Everything is about him when you two look at me like that."
Allie leaned in, elbows on the table. "There's a game tonight."
"No."
"You love hockey."
"I tolerate hockey."
"You've yelled at refs."
"I'm a complicated person."
"And," Allie went on, ignoring you, "We already have tickets."
"Great. Have fun."
"We already got you a ticket."
"Tell my empty seat to enjoy itself."
Hannah said your name, quiet enough that it landed differently.
You looked away first.
That was the problem with Hannah: she didn't push the way Allie did, not exactly. She just saw too much, and sometimes being seen felt worse than being argued with.
"You haven't gone out all week," she said.
"I've been out."
"To class."
"That still counts."
"And the library."
"That counts too."
"Yesterday, you went out for coffee and came straight back to the dorm."
"I was supporting a local business."
Allie shot you a look. "The local business is on campus."
"Exactly. Even more local."
"You can't stay hidden forever," she reminded you gently.
"I'm not hiding."
Allie's face made it clear she didn't believe you; Hannah's made it clear she wished she could.
You looked down at your food, your appetite gone. Around you, the dining hall carried on as if nothing had happened. A group of girls laughed at the next table; a tray clattered to the floor near the drink station. Outside, students passed the windows in winter coats and Briar scarves, heading somewhere, doing things, existing with the kind of ease that felt personally offensive.
You were fine before Dean — not perfect, not untouchable, but fine. Then one weekend had rearranged everything, and now your friends were looking at you like you needed to be coaxed back into the world.
"I don't want to see him," you admitted.
The honesty quieted the table.
Allie's straw stilled between her fingers.
Hannah's face softened into something careful. "Okay."
"I mean it."
"I know."
"No, you don't." Your voice stayed low, but something in it cracked anyway. "Because if I go and he sees me, he'll do that thing where he looks at me like I'm the unreasonable one. Like he has no idea why I won't just talk to him. And I can't..."
You stopped and swallowed hard.
"I can't handle that tonight."
Allie's face softened in a way you hated, because it made you feel mean for being hurt.
"We won't make you talk to him," she promised.
It
"You can't promise me that."
"No," Hannah said softly. "But we can promise you won't have to be alone."
Somehow, that was worse. That was what got under your ribs, because you'd been alone with it — not literally, maybe. You had Hannah and Allie, and they knew enough to know you were hurt, but not enough to know everything: not the way your stomach still dropped when you remembered Dean's voice through the door, not the way you'd walked away before hearing whatever came after, not the ugly, stubborn part of you that wondered if maybe there had been something after all.
You hated that part, too, because it sounded too much like hope.
"I don't have anything to wear," you admitted at last.
Allie's eyes lit up so fast you regretted saying anything.
Hannah hid her smile behind her coffee.
You pointed between them. "That wasn't a yes."
"It sounded like a yes," Allie decided.
"It sounded like a wardrobe issue," Hannah corrected.
"That's close enough to a yes."
"I hate you both."
Allie only grinned. "We know."
You looked between them, then down at your untouched lunch, then out the window, where the sky had already started to darken over campus.
A hockey game. Dean, out there on the ice, in his element — easy and bright and impossible not to watch. Your throat tightened at the thought, but you exhaled slowly.
"Fine," you relented. "But I'm not wearing his jersey."
Allie opened her mouth, but you pointed at her before she could argue. "Don't."
She closed it.
Hannah gave a solemn nod. "No jersey."
"And I'm not sitting anywhere near the glass."
"No glass," Allie agreed quickly.
"And if he so much as looks at me—"
"He's on skates," Allie pointed out. "You've the advantage."
You just stared at her.
She smiled, entirely unashamed. "Emotionally."
Despite yourself, a laugh slipped out — small, rusty, almost gone before it started, but real enough for Hannah to notice.
For Allie to notice, too.
Neither of them said anything about it, which was probably why you let them drag you to the game three hours later.
***
By the time you got there, the rink was already buzzing — not full yet, but close enough for the building to feel charged with pre-game energy: sneakers on concrete, music thumping through the speakers, people calling to each other over the noise, the sharp cold of the ice drifting up into the stands and slipping under your jacket.
You hated the part of you that had missed the rink and all its easy chaos: the students in Briar colors, the familiar smell of popcorn, cold air, and old rubber mats, the stupid energy of a home game where everyone seemed to believe that yelling at college boys on skates could change the course of the universe.
Allie looped her arm through yours the second you slowed near the entrance.
"Just keep walking."
"I'm walking."
"You stopped."
"I hesitated."
"Very dramatically."
"I'm absorbing the atmosphere."
"You're looking for him."
You turned slowly to look at her. Allie met your stare without an ounce of shame.
"I'm not," you lied.
Hannah, on your other side, made a soft noise that sounded suspiciously like disagreement.
You looked over at her. "You too?"
"I didn't say anything."
"You had a tone."
"What tone?" Hannah asked, all innocence.
"You're both terrible."
"And yet," Allie said, steering you toward the stairs, "here you are, being enriched by friendship."
"This feels like kidnapping."
"Emotionally enriching kidnapping."
"You need help."
"Probably."
The corner of your mouth twitched before you could stop it. You hated how good they were at this — not fixing it, because nothing felt fixed, but keeping you moving just enough that you didn't turn around and walk back out before the game even started; keeping your hands busy with a soda you didn't remember agreeing to, your body tucked between theirs like they knew that if they gave you too much space, you might disappear into it.
To their credit, the seats were nowhere near the glass; you checked immediately.
Allie caught you checking and rolled her eyes. "Relax. We're far enough away that he won't hear you if you call him an asshole."
"I'm not calling him an asshole."
"Look at you."
"I might think it."
"Fair."
Hannah sat down first, then patted the seat beside her. "You sit in the middle."
"Of course I'm."
"It's strategic," Allie explained, dropping into the seat on your other side. "Makes it harder for you to flee."
"Criminals surround me."
"You're surrounded by people who love you."
"That sounds like something criminals would say."
Allie only grinned and stole a sip of your soda.
You settled into your seat and tried very hard to look like someone who wasn't already searching the ice.
The team wasn't out yet. The Zamboni made its final slow pass, the steady rhythm almost hypnotic as it left the ice gleaming beneath the lights. Students filtered into the stands, the band warmed up somewhere behind you, and a couple of rows down, a group of guys was already arguing about whether tonight's game would be close.
You looked everywhere except the tunnel.
For a full three minutes, you managed it—then the lights shifted, the music swelled, and the first Briar players burst onto the ice.
Around you, the crowd rose to its feet. You did too, mostly because Allie grabbed your elbow and hauled you up with her.
The team burst onto the ice in a blur of white and navy, skates carving across the fresh surface as sticks tapped and helmets flashed beneath the arena lights.
You spotted Garrett first because, somehow, he always looked like the game had been built around him. He circled once with easy confidence before drifting toward the boards to bump gloves with Logan.
Tucker came next, already laughing at something one of the guys had said, and then Dean skated out.
Your stomach dropped anyway, so hard it was almost embarrassing.
It wasn't some dramatic, heart-stopping moment. There was no instant when he looked up and found you, no movie scene when he skated onto the ice and the world seemed to stop around him.
He was just there, pushing off from the tunnel, tall and fast and unfairly at home in his own body, his helmet sitting low, his shoulders loose, his stick hanging from one hand as though it weighed nothing.
Dean on campus had always been the loudest, who made people look. Dean on the ice was somehow even worse.
Because on the ice, there was no performance. No lazy grin, no easy flirting, no pretending he didn't care. He moved like he knew exactly where he belonged, every line, turn, and quick stop coming before thought. He came alive out there, locked in and effortless in the way only years of unseen work could make someone look.
You hated him a little for looking so beautiful in the one place you were trying not to love him.
Allie leaned in. "You okay?"
"Yeah."
"That was the least believable 'yeah' I've ever heard."
"I'm trying to watch the game."
"The game's not even on yet."
"I'm watching warmups."
"Right. You're here strictly for the sport."
You ignored her because Dean turned near center ice, and for one terrifying second, you thought he was going to look up.
He didn't.
Instead, he fired a puck to Garrett, took the return cleanly, and snapped it toward the net. The sharp crack echoed through the arena, drawing cheers from the crowd even though it was only warm-ups.
Your grip tightened around your soda. Hannah noticed but didn't say anything. That was one of the reasons you loved her.
Warm-ups passed in a blur. You watched despite yourself, your gaze finding Dean whenever he drifted into view before you forced yourself to look away again. He looked completely normal, maybe a little quieter than usual whenever the guys gathered near the bench, though that could just as easily have been your imagination—or the pathetic part of you that needed proof he was hurting too.
Then Garrett leaned over and said something you couldn't hear, and Dean glanced up—not at you, but at Garrett instead.
Garrett tipped his head toward the stands.
Your heart lurched.
Dean turned his head without any urgency, like it was the most ordinary thing in the world.
His gaze swept across the section, quick and casual, like he expected to move on just as quickly. It caught on Allie, moved to Hannah, and finally settled on you.
Everything inside you went still.
Dean went still. Only for a second—probably less. His skates kept him drifting, his stick still loose in one hand, but something in his expression changed; not much, because Dean was too good at hiding what he felt in public for that. But the smile he'd been wearing—the easy one he used with the guys, with the crowd, with everyone who didn't know where to look for the cracks—faded.
His eyes stayed on yours. You hated that the question in them was still so easy to read, even from across the arena.
You actually came.
You looked away first.
Coward.
Maybe. Lately, survival had started to feel a lot like cowardice.
Allie's knee bumped yours, gentle but deliberate. "Breathe."
"I'm breathing."
"Barely."
You drew in a slow breath and stared at the ice as though the lines had suddenly become fascinating.
When you looked back, Dean had already turned away. Garrett wasn't watching you. He was watching Dean.
Dean said something you couldn't hear, and although Garrett's expression didn't change, something in his posture did, if only a little—the way it always did when he caught something everyone else had missed and silently weighed whether to step in.
Perfect. As if this day wasn't already hard enough.
A whistle cut through the arena, signaling the end of warm-ups.
Dean skated toward the bench with the rest of the team, but just before disappearing down the tunnel, he looked back. Not for long—just once, just enough to make your throat tighten.
Hannah leaned in, her voice quiet beneath the noise of the crowd. "We can go if you want."
You shook your head before you could think better of it. "No."
Allie raised an eyebrow. "You sure?
You swallowed before answering, your pulse still refusing to settle even though Dean had disappeared down the tunnel.
"No," you repeated, more quietly this time. "We're already here."
Hannah nodded without a smile, letting it go. Beside her, Allie looked like she wanted to say something, but thought better of it.
You appreciated it anyway.
A few minutes later, the teams returned for the opening faceoff. This time, you told yourself, you were ready.
Dean took his place for the opening faceoff, rolling his shoulders once as though he were trying to shake something off. Garrett said something to him before skating to his own position. Dean nodded, but before turning his attention back to the ice, his gaze found yours one last time.
The puck dropped.
For the first few minutes, Dean looked like himself again—fast, sharp, and clean. He absorbed hits, gave them back, moved the puck with effortless precision, and shouted something to Logan before cutting across the ice like nothing existed beyond the game.
For a while, the game was enough. Then Dean missed a pass. Not badly, not enough for anyone around you to react.
But Garrett did.
His attention snapped back to Dean.
Dean recovered quickly, skating hard to force the other player wide, but you caught the hesitation—that split second when he seemed to be somewhere else. The tiny gap between seeing the play and reacting to it—a gap Dean rarely had, and one that made your stomach twist.
Besides you, Allie went still.
"You saw that too?" she asked. You nodded without looking away from the ice.
Hannah kept her voice low. "Maybe it was nothing."
"Maybe," you echoed
On the ice, Dean circled back toward the bench, his jaw tight. Garrett skated past him, and Dean said something quick and sharp.
The game went on. So did Dean.
But now you couldn't stop looking for the cracks.
Garrett didn't take his eyes off him. You could tell. Most people in the arena would've missed it. Dean was still skating hard, making clean defensive plays and throwing his weight into battles along the boards like he always had. But Garrett wasn't watching the game anymore. He was watching Dean.
Every time Dean came back to the bench, Garrett leaned over to say something. Dean replied, Garrett answered, and a second later, they were moving again before anyone else could wonder what had passed between them.
After that, the first period settled into its usual rhythm. The crowd cheered every big play, the band never stopped playing, and somewhere behind you, someone kept yelling at the referee with the confidence of someone who had clearly never worn a pair of skates.
On any other day, it would've made you smile. Tonight, every whistle drew your eyes back to Briar's bench.
Dean sat at the end of the bench, his helmet tipped back as the assistant coach spoke to the defensemen. Whatever he was saying barely seemed to register. Instead, Dean's gaze drifted past the ice and into the stands.
You looked away before his eyes could find yours again.
"You're doing it again," Allie murmured.
You glanced at her, frowning. "Doing what?"
"Looking away before he even has the chance to see you."
"I wasn't."
"Oh, you absolutely were."
"I was watching the game."
"You've watched about twelve seconds of hockey."
"I've watched more than that."
Hannah hid a smile behind her coffee cup.
"You actually counted?"
"I got bored."
"You've been sitting right next to me this whole time."
"So have you."
"Unfortunately."
Allie nudged your shoulder with hers.
"You know," she said softly, "he doesn't look okay."
The words caught you off guard.
"What do you mean?"
She tipped her chin toward the bench. "I've known Dean for years."
"So have I."
"No." Allie shook her head. "You've known the version of Dean he lets everyone see."
"And you haven't?"
"I've known him after losses."
She let the words settle between you.
You didn't have one.
"I've seen him after breakups."
You still didn't.
"I've seen him frustrated, angry, exhausted—even hungover..."
You looked back before you could stop yourself.
Allie's expression softened. "I'm not trying to make you feel guilty."
"It kind of feels like you're."
"I'm saying it because I've never seen him like this."
Your eyes found the bench again before you could stop them.
Dean leaned forward, his forearms resting on his thighs while the coaches talked over a tablet. Garrett murmured something to him, and Dean nodded without ever looking his way.
If you hadn't been watching him so closely, you might've missed it too.
He wasn't distracted by hockey. He was holding on to it.
Your stomach clenched. Hannah's eyes followed yours to the bench.
"He hasn't really been himself this week," she admitted quietly.
Your eyes found hers. "You've seen him this week?"
She nodded. "A little."
"And?"
She hesitated. You had your answer before she spoke.
"And?" you prompted gently.
"He keeps asking if you've talked to any of us."
Your eyes dropped to your lap.
"He even asked Garrett once," Allie added. "He asked me twice."
"And Hannah?"
"Three."
Warmth crept up your neck. "That's... ridiculous."
"It's."
"He could've just..." You trailed off.
"What?"
A quiet, bitter laugh escaped you. "He knows where I live."
Neither of them said anything because all three of you knew why. Dean had never hesitated to show up before, and the fact that he hadn't this time told its own story. You hated that you understood it.
The buzzer sounded to end the first period, sending the players back to their locker rooms. Around you, people were already on their feet, conversations replacing cheers as they drifted toward the concession stands.
Allie stretched her arms over her head.
"Popcorn?"
Hannah nodded. Both of them looked at you.
"I'm staying."
"We figured."
"We'll be right back."
You nodded, grateful for the chance to breathe without anyone watching you for a little while.
The seats around you emptied surprisingly quickly as students chatted and laughed on their way up the stairs. A few rows down, someone knocked over a drink, drawing a chorus of groans before the laughter picked up again. Out on the ice, the mascot skated lazy circles while arena staff got everything ready for the second period.
You leaned back in your seat and let out a slow breath.
Maybe coming here had been a mistake. Not because Dean had said anything to you, or because he'd come anywhere near you—he'd done neither. It was because seeing him hurt was somehow worse than wondering how he was doing.
"You came."
The voice came from below, near the tunnel behind the benches. You looked down toward the sound without thinking.
Garrett.
He'd stepped out of the tunnel, his helmet gone now, dragging a towel through his damp hair while talking to one of the assistant coaches.
His gaze lifted to the stands and landed on you. There was no accusation in his expression, no amusement either—only quiet recognition.
He lifted a hand in a small wave, but before you could wave back, Allie reappeared, balancing enough snacks for four people.
"Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
"I don't."
Her eyes followed yours. "Oh."
Garrett had already disappeared back into the tunnel.
"What happened?" Hannah asked.
"Garrett." Allie nodded toward the tunnel.
"What about Garrett?"
"He..." You stopped yourself, shaking your head. "Nothing."
Except it wasn't. Garrett had noticed—not everything, but enough. Enough to realize you'd come anyway, enough to notice that Dean had seen you, and enough to understand why Dean had spent most of the first period playing like part of his attention had been fixed on Section 112 instead of the ice.
If even Garrett had figured it out, Dean had probably realized it too somehow, which made the whole night feel even more surreal.
The lights dimmed again as the teams filed back onto the ice.
Allie passed you your drink. "You still okay?"
You wrapped both hands around the cup, grateful for the warmth against your suddenly cold fingers.
"No," you admitted.
After a moment, you looked at her and managed a small smile. "But I'm still here."
The pace picked up as soon as the second period began.
Briar opened the second period with far more jump than they'd had at the end of the first, and for a few shifts, it looked like whatever Garrett had said in the locker room had worked. They kept the pressure on in the offensive zone, Logan nearly buried a rebound, and Tucker brought the crowd to its feet after leveling one of the opposing forwards along the boards.
The arena settled back into its rhythm, and so did the crowd, except Dean. It wasn't obvious, though. That was the worst part.
If you'd asked anyone sitting around you, they would've said Dean was having a good game. One missed pass in forty minutes wasn't enough to raise any eyebrows.
You knew him too well for that.
You knew the way he read the game, how he always seemed one step ahead, already moving toward where the puck was about to be. Tonight, he wasn't reading the play the way he usually did—he was reacting to it. Only by a fraction of a second, but enough to make him look a little less certain. Not enough to change the game. Enough that Garrett caught it every time.
"There," you murmured before you could stop yourself.
Allie glanced at you. "What?"
"Nothing."
"No, you said something."
You looked back at the ice. "I didn't mean to."
Dean had just peeled away from the crease after breaking up a scoring chance. Garrett skated up beside him, saying something you couldn't hear through the cage of his helmet. Dean answered without looking at him. Garrett frowned. A second later, the play carried them in opposite directions.
Hannah kept her eyes on the ice. "You weren't imagining it."
"You noticed it too?"
Without looking away from the ice, she nodded. "Garrett hasn't stopped checking on him."
Allie blew out a slow breath. "If anyone's going to notice something's off, it's Garrett."
"He does," you admitted before you could stop yourself.
They both turned to look at you, and you felt your cheeks warm.
"It's just..."
"We know," Hannah said gently. There was no teasing, no knowing smile—only understanding.
The game went on. You tried to watch everyone else. You really did. Logan danced around two defenders before ringing a shot off the post. Tucker was already laughing by the time he peeled himself off the boards, chirping something that earned an eye roll from the opposing forward. Garrett won another faceoff as cleanly as ever.
Normal.
Everything looked so painfully normal. Then Dean took a hard hit. One of the opposing forwards drove him into the end boards hard enough to rattle the glass. It was clean. Just hard.
The crowd reacted with the usual collective noise, somewhere between excitement and sympathy.
A second later, Dean was back on his skates.
It took your heart a little longer to catch up.
Allie glanced at you. "You okay?"
You looked down to find your fingers digging into the cardboard cup, creasing it.
"I'm fine."
"You almost crushed your cup."
"I didn't." A bead of soda slipped over your knuckles. "...Okay. Maybe a little."
Before you could argue, she took the cup from your hands.
"You know," she said gently, "it's okay to worry about him."
"He got right back up."
She looked at you patiently, waiting.
"I just..."
The rest of the sentence never came. How were you supposed to explain it? That you were worried he'd get hurt? He was a defenseman. Taking hits was part of the job.
No. You were worried because your brain had decided every hit was a punishment. Every time he went down, your chest tightened. Every time he went into the boards, it seemed to last half a second too long. As if, somewhere along the way, your mind had convinced itself that loving him meant always waiting for the next bad thing to happen.
The realization made your stomach twist.
On the ice, the whistle blew for offside. Dean skated to the bench for a line change, pulling off his helmet just long enough to rake a hand through his sweat-damp hair before the assistant coach leaned over to say something to him. He nodded on instinct. Then he looked up, and somehow, despite the thousands of people around him, he found you.
For the first time all night, you didn't look away. Neither of you smiled. Neither of you waved. You looked at each other across the arena, separated by hundreds of people who had no idea they were sitting between two people who had never actually said goodbye.
There was no pleading in his expression, no anger either. He just looked tired, like he'd spent the last week replaying the same conversations in his head, searching for an answer that never came.
Another whistle cut through the arena. Dean was the first to look away, sliding his helmet back on before hopping over the boards.
Only then did you realize you'd been holding your breath.
"You love him," Allie said so quietly you almost missed it.
You closed your eyes. "I know."
The words were out before you even realized you'd spoken. There was no defensiveness, no embarrassment—just honesty.
Neither of you spoke for a long moment. Without saying a word, Hannah reached over and squeezed your hand, not because she thought it would change anything, but because sometimes being there was all anyone could offer.
"You don't have to figure everything out tonight," she said.
"I already did."
"Did you?"
Your gaze dropped to your joined hands.
"I know what I heard."
"Yes."
"I can't pretend I didn't."
"No."
"And if I go back..." You paused, swallowing past the tightness in your throat. "If I let him explain and I was right..."
You couldn't finish the thought. There was no need. Hannah already understood.
"You'd rather live with the pain you know than risk discovering there's worse."
You let out a soft, humorless laugh. "When did you get so smart?"
"I've always been smart."
"No," Allie said, shaking her head. "She's just been dating Garrett for too long."
Hannah rolled her eyes. "He's rubbing off on me."
"That's concerning."
"I know."
The three of you shared a small smile.
The buzzer sounded as another shift began. Dean hopped back over the boards, but this time he didn't glance toward Section 112. He kept his attention on the puck instead.
For nearly three full minutes, his focus never wavered. Garrett seemed to relax a little. So did you.
The moment of calm didn't last.
The opposing winger chipped the puck through the neutral zone, and Dean turned back to chase it down.
Normally, he would've gotten there first without even trying. Tonight, he hesitated—only for a second, but it was enough.
The other player didn't. He gained one stride, then another, closing the distance before Dean could properly brace himself. The hit landed hard enough to echo through the entire arena.
The hit made a sound that had no place in a hockey game—too heavy, too final, like something solid striking something that was never meant to give. The glass rattled, and a collective gasp swept through the crowd.
Dean slammed shoulder-first into the boards and crumpled to the ice. You were on your feet before your mind had even caught up.
"Oh, God." The words escaped on a broken breath.
Players rushed toward him from every direction.
The referee's whistle cut through the arena, and an unnatural silence settled over the building. Garrett reached him first, dropping to one knee at Dean's side while the opposing player was still apologizing to the referee.
Dean stayed down.
Something in your chest seized.
"He'll get up," Allie said, too quickly. "He always does."
You couldn't look away.
Dean had one forearm planted against the ice, but he didn't attempt to push himself up. Garrett leaned close, saying something you couldn't hear as he kept one gloved hand steady on Dean's shoulder. Tucker skated over next and bent low enough to catch Dean's eye.
A trainer hurried onto the ice. Another followed close behind.
The arena had fallen almost completely silent. Only a few scattered voices drifted through the stands, hushed and uncertain, as every eye remained fixed on the small group gathered around Dean.
"Why isn't he getting up?" you whispered.
Nobody answered because no one knew.
Garrett leaned in closer.
After a long moment, Dean gave a single nod.
Relief hit you so hard it almost hurt.
He was awake. He was answering them. He was—
Then Dean tried to stand. The moment he put weight on his skates, pain flashed across his face. He didn't cry out or stumble dramatically—he only swayed enough for Garrett to catch him by the elbow before he lost his balance.
Something in your stomach sank.
"He probably just landed wrong," Hannah said gently.
"It could just be his shoulder."
One of the trainers said something you couldn't make out. Dean rolled his eyes—or at least it looked like he did.
Even from halfway across the arena, you'd recognize it anywhere.
For one ridiculous second, you almost laughed.
Garrett wasn't smiling. He folded his arms across his chest and fixed Dean with a look that said he wasn't buying it for a second.
Then Tucker said something you couldn't make out, but Dean shook his head without hesitation. When the trainer gestured toward the tunnel, Dean looked ready to protest, only for Garrett to reach over and quietly take the stick from his hand. Dean met his eyes; Garrett held his gaze, and whatever passed between them was enough. Dean let out a long breath before giving a single nod and slowly skating toward the bench.
The entire arena rose to its feet in applause. You hated every second of it; it felt like everyone had already decided Dean was okay before anyone actually knew.
Something still felt wrong. His stride was just a little off, his left arm barely moving, every push looking a touch too deliberate.
Garrett never left his side. He wasn't touching him, but he stayed close enough to reach him if he needed to.
"He'll probably just miss a shift," the guy behind you said to his friend.
"Happens all the time," his friend replied.
You wanted to turn around and tell him he didn't know what he was talking about. Instead, all you could do was watch Dean disappear into the tunnel.
He never looked back.
The game restarted. The puck dropped.
You didn't notice.
At some point, someone scored. The arena erupted. It took Allie jumping to her feet, cheering, for you to realize who had scored.
You finally looked away from the tunnel. "What happened?"
"We scored."
"Oh." Your eyes were already drifting back toward the tunnel.
She watched you for a long moment.
"You weren't even watching."
"No."
Hannah kept her eyes on the tunnel, too.
"He should've been back by now."
You followed her gaze without thinking.
Something about the bench had changed. Garrett was back. Logan and Tucker were, too. There were only three defensemen on the bench.
Dean wasn't one of them.
Something was wrong.
Five minutes passed, then seven, but Dean still hadn't come back.
Every time Garrett returned to the bench, his eyes flicked toward the tunnel. Logan wasn't much different, and even Coach Jensen glanced that way more than once.
The longer Dean stayed gone, the harder it became to believe they were only being cautious.
"I can't just sit here."
At your words, Allie turned toward you.
"Where are you going?"
"I can't just wait."
"We don't know what's happening yet."
"I know he should've been back by now."
"That doesn't mean—"
"I know." The words came out quieter than you meant them to. "I know it probably doesn't mean anything, but I can't just..." Your hand lifted toward the ice before falling again. "...keep sitting here."
The final seconds wound down before the buzzer sent the players skating toward the locker room. Garrett was among the last to skate off. Just before disappearing into the tunnel, he looked up toward the stands, his eyes finding yours.
This time, there was no mistaking it. He held your gaze for a beat before giving the smallest tilt of his head toward the tunnel.
The meaning hit you almost instantly.
"Was that..." Allie started.
"You saw that too?"
Hannah gave a slow nod.
"I think he wants you to..."
None of you finished the thought. Around you, the crowd rose for the second intermission and conversation returned to the arena, but the three of you stayed exactly where you were.
"I probably shouldn't," you said.
"I don't think you should," Hannah admitted.
"But?"
"But if I were you..." She met your eyes with a small, understanding smile. "I don't think I could stay here either."
Allie let out an exaggerated sigh. "I hate that you're both being so reasonable."
"I haven't made a decision yet."
"I think you already have."
Your eyes were already back on the tunnel.
By the time you realized what you were doing, your feet were already moving.
"I just want to make sure he's okay."
Allie huffed a quiet laugh.
"Sure."
"I'm."
"I don't believe you for a second."
For the first time all night, you didn't bother pretending otherwise. Whether Garrett had meant it or not, whether you'd read too much into it or not, none of that mattered anymore. All that mattered was seeing Dean for yourself.
You slipped into the aisle before either of them could stop you.
"Text us," Allie called after you. You nodded without looking back.
The concourse buzzed with conversation, somehow louder than the arena had been. Students lined up at concession stands, laughing over oversized sodas and paper trays of fries, as though nothing had happened, while you wove through the crowd without slowing.
The closer you got to the tunnel leading toward the locker rooms, the thinner the crowd became.
Eventually, the crowd gave way to arena staff, security guards, and the occasional member of the athletic department, all moving with the quiet confidence of people who belonged there. You walked past them as though you belonged there too.
The question didn't really occur to you until a security guard stepped in front of you.
"Sorry, miss. Team access only."
"I know. It's just... one of the players got hurt, and I..."
He gave a small nod. "I know, miss."
"I just wanted to see if he was okay."
"I'm sorry, but I can't let anyone through."
You couldn't blame him. You weren't family, you weren't media, and you weren't even Dean's fake girlfriend anymore.
You hadn't expected that thought to sting quite so much.
"I won't be long."
"I wish I could help."
You nodded once. "I understand."
You couldn't make yourself walk away.
The guard's expression softened. "You're welcome to wait here."
"Thanks anyway."
It wasn't much, but it was enough. So you waited.
Beyond the security desk, the hallway remained mostly quiet. Trainers moved in and out with equipment bags in hand, while a couple of reserve players walked past, discussing the goal that had tied the game, barely sparing you a glance.
Every time the locker room door opened, your eyes went straight to it. Every time, it was someone else.
Your phone buzzed in your pocket.
Allie: Any updates?
You: Nothing yet.
Three dots appeared, disappeared, then appeared again before another message came through.
Allie: We're not going anywhere.
The corner of your mouth lifted. They already knew you weren't going anywhere.
"You came."
Your gaze lifted. Garrett was already walking toward you, his helmet tucked beneath one arm, his hair still damp with sweat. The unzipped jacket he'd thrown on for the intermission did little to hide the collar of the shoulder pads beneath it.
He stopped in front of you, and for a moment, you looked at each other.
"I wasn't sure you'd come."
"Neither was I."
The corner of his mouth lifted in a tired smile. "Figures."
Your eyes flicked past him toward the locker room.
"Is he okay?"
Garrett glanced over his shoulder toward the closed training room door.
"He'll live."
Only then did you realize you'd been holding your breath.
"What happened?"
"Separated his shoulder." Your brow furrowed. "He tried to act like it wasn't."
"Of course he did."
"He almost had us believing him."
"You don't sound so sure."
"I'm not."
Garrett rubbed a hand over the back of his neck.
"He spent five minutes trying to convince the trainer he could still play before someone reminded him he only had one working arm."
A quiet laugh slipped out before you could stop it. It was the first time you'd laughed all night.
"He wanted to keep playing?"
"He wanted to go back out there."
"He's an idiot."
Garrett smiled faintly. "I've been saying that for years."
Your eyes drifted back to the closed training room door.
"He saw you in the stands."
Your gaze drifted to the concrete floor.
"I know."
"He settled in after that."
Your eyes found his again.
"What?"
"He looked different after that."
You didn't know what to do with that.
"Then he took the hit."
He nodded. "Then he took the hit."
For a moment, neither of you said anything. Behind the closed training room door, quiet voices rose and fell, too muffled to make out.
Your eyes stayed on the door.
"I heard him." Garrett lowered his voice. You looked at him. "After you left."
You hadn't expected him to say that. There was no accusation in Garrett's voice, only a quiet kind of exhaustion.
"I wasn't trying to listen."
"I know."
"I just..."
You opened your mouth, then closed it again.
"I heard what he said."
"No. You only heard part of it."
You went still.
He glanced down the hallway before looking back at you.
"You only heard half the conversation."
You didn't trust yourself to speak. Garrett watched you for a moment before he continued.
"Dean nearly took my head off when he realized you'd left before he could explain."
When you spoke, your voice came out quieter than you expected.
"...What do you mean?"
Garrett scrubbed a hand over his face. "...That's not my story to tell. But I can tell you this: you've spent the last week believing something that isn't true."
Nothing about that made sense.
"I heard him say none of it was real."
"I know."
"I heard him."
"And that's exactly why we're standing here."
"He said that's all it was—a deal."
He didn't argue. "You're right. He did."
"Then why does everyone keep telling me I got it wrong?"
"Because," Garrett said quietly, "you didn't hear the rest."
For a moment, you couldn't think. The hallway seemed to fall away, and the noise from the arena faded until there was nothing left but Garrett's voice.
You searched Garrett's face for any sign he was joking. There wasn't one.
"You should hear the rest from Dean."
Before either of you could say anything else, the training room door opened. You both turned toward it. The athletic trainer stepped out first, a clipboard in hand.
He spotted Garrett and headed straight for him.
"Coach wants to see you."
"I'll be there in a second."
The trainer nodded and continued down the hallway. Dean stepped through the doorway a moment later.
His left arm rested in a sling. A strip of white athletic tape disappeared beneath the collar of the Briar T-shirt someone had helped him into. His hair was still damp with sweat, the ends curling slightly against his forehead. Aside from the color drained from his face, he looked more irritated than anything else.
He stepped into the hallway.
The moment he saw you, he stopped so abruptly that Garrett glanced between the two of you before quietly clearing his throat.
"I'm gonna go find Coach."
Neither of you seemed to hear him. Garrett disappeared around the corner, leaving you alone with Dean.
For a long moment, Dean just looked at you.
Then, very softly—
"...Hi."
You couldn't look away.
For a second, you couldn't seem to move. Dean held your gaze, his good hand tightening around the edge of the doorframe before slipping back to his side.
"Hi," he repeated, like he wasn't sure what else to say.
You breathed out slowly.
"Hi."
Neither of you said anything for a long moment. The silence between you wasn't uncomfortable—it was uncertain, delicate enough that neither of you seemed willing to risk breaking it.
"I didn't think you were coming."
"I didn't plan on coming."
"Can't say I blame you."
For a moment, he looked down at the sling instead of you.
"I'm sorry."
You stared at him, caught off guard by the apology. "What?"
He lifted the injured shoulder a fraction, then winced and let it drop again.
"...Yeah. That was stupid."
The corner of your mouth twitched despite yourself.
"You got hurt, Dean. You don't have to apologize for that."
He gave a small shake of his head. "Not for that."
You realized, with a slow kind of certainty, that he wasn't talking about his shoulder.
You folded your arms across your chest.
"Shouldn't you be sitting down?"
"Yeah. They already told me that."
"And?"
"Turns out I'm a terrible patient."
"That sounds about right."
"They're getting me a chair," he said, glancing back toward the training room.
"You could've just stayed in the training room," you pointed out.
"Needed some air," he replied with a small shrug, immediately wincing at the movement.
The hallway suddenly felt much smaller.
Quieter.
Dean took a cautious step toward you, careful not to crowd your space. It was just enough to close the distance, enough that you could see the exhaustion etched plainly across his face. The bruise along his jaw had already begun to darken, and a faint crease lingered between his eyebrows, one you didn't remember seeing a week ago.
"I've missed you," he said softly.
You closed your eyes for a moment.
"Dean..."
He held your gaze. "I know."
"No," you whispered, shaking your head. "You don't."
A flicker of something crossed his face.
"I think I do."
"You don't."
When you looked at him again, your vision had begun to blur.
"I heard you," you said quietly.
His expression faltered.
"I know."
"I heard you say we weren't real."
"I know," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I heard you say we had a deal."
His jaw tightened.
"I know."
"You don't get to tell me I misunderstood when I heard every word."
"I won't," he answered.
You frowned.
"What?"
He took a slow breath before answering.
"I won't tell you that you misunderstood."
Your brows drew together.
"Because you didn't."
The words settled heavily between you.
"You heard exactly what I said."
The floor seemed to disappear beneath your feet.
Dean never looked away.
"But you didn't hear everything."
Garrett's words echoed through your mind.
That wasn't the end of the sentence.
Dean's fingers curled against the denim of his jeans.
"I've replayed that conversation in my head a thousand times this week," he admitted quietly.
"So have I."
His gaze dropped for a brief second.
"I know."
"I kept thinking..." He paused, swallowing around the words. "If I'd just followed you..."
His voice grew quieter.
"If I'd walked out one second sooner..."
"You didn't," you said.
A muscle shifted in his jaw.
"No."
"You stayed."
"I did."
The admission seemed to cost him.
"I thought I'd have time."
Neither of you spoke.
Dean let out a slow breath.
"The sentence didn't end where you walked away."
He searched your face, giving you every chance to stop him before he continued.
"I need you to let me finish it now."
The words caught somewhere behind your ribs.
You couldn't trust yourself to speak.
So you nodded.
Dean waited.
He didn't rush to fill the silence or mistake your nod for permission to unload everything he'd been carrying for the past week.
He just looked at you.
"I said it wasn't real," he began quietly. "I said we had a deal."
The words still made something inside you tighten.
"I wasn't lying."
Something must've flickered across your face, because he immediately shook his head.
"Please," he said softly. "Just let me finish."
You drew in a slow breath and forced yourself to stay still.
Dean did the same.
"Garrett asked me why I looked like I'd just won the lottery."
You frowned.
"What?"
"He asked why I couldn't stop smiling," Dean replied, the faintest, humorless smile tugging at his mouth.
For a moment, the words didn't make sense.
Dean's gaze dropped to the floor.
"We'd just gotten back from my parents' house."
The memory came rushing back.
His mom pulling you into a hug the second you walked through the door.
His dad laughing from across the dinner table.
The easy way you'd settled beside Dean, like you'd been part of their family all along.
His hand finding yours beneath the table when no one was looking.
Dean looked up again.
"You remember Garrett asking if I was finally going to tell him what happened?"
You nodded.
Barely.
"I told him..." His jaw tightened. "'It's not real. We had a deal.'"
Your arms folded instinctively across your chest.
"I heard that part," you said quietly.
"I know."
His eyes never left yours.
"But then Garrett laughed."
Your brows knit together.
"What?"
"He thought I was screwing with him."
Dean let out a quiet breath.
"He said there was no way I was looking at someone like that if it was still fake."
Something shifted inside you.
"I told him he didn't know what he was talking about."
He rubbed his thumb absently along the seam of his jeans.
"I told him it had started as a deal."
His voice softened.
"And then I told him..."
The words caught in his throat.
Not because he'd forgotten.
Because saying them still wasn't easy.
"When did you stop?" you whispered.
Dean held your gaze for a long moment.
"I don't know."
The answer caught you off guard.
A tired smile crossed his face.
"I've asked myself that every day this week." He let out a quiet breath. "I still don't know."
His thumb continued tracing the seam of his jeans.
"Maybe it was when my dad started talking to me like you were already part of the family."
Your eyes stung.
"Maybe it was when you fell asleep against me on the couch."
A small smile touched his lips.
"Maybe it was when you looked at me in that stupid diner after your exam because I'd shown up with fries."
He let out a quiet laugh through his nose.
"I honestly couldn't tell you."
The smile faded.
"I just know there was a point where pretending stopped feeling like pretending."
His eyes met yours again.
"So I looked at Garrett..."
His voice dropped almost to a whisper.
"...and I said, 'It started as a deal.'"
He paused.
"'But somewhere along the way...'"
He swallowed.
"'...I fell in love with her.'"
The words lingered between you.
...I fell in love with her.
For a moment, everything else disappeared. The hallway, the arena, the faint noise bleeding through the walls—it all faded beneath the weight of a single sentence.
Dean searched your face carefully, almost as though he were bracing himself for you to turn around and leave again.
Instead, a tear slipped down your cheek.
His expression crumpled.
"I turned around," he said quietly, "because Garrett was laughing at me."
You frowned through blurred vision.
"He was laughing?"
A quiet breath escaped him, somewhere between a sigh and a humorless laugh.
"He told me I was the last person on campus to realize I'd fallen in love."
Another tear slipped free before you could stop it.
"I told him he was an idiot."
The corner of your mouth twitched.
"He said maybe."
A faint smile tugged at Dean's lips before fading again.
"But he also said nobody smiles like that over someone fake."
He held your gaze.
"And he was right."
The silence that followed no longer felt heavy. It was tentative, fragile, held together by everything the two of you were finally saying out loud.
"I didn't know how to tell you."
"You could've just..." Your voice trailed off.
"I know," Dean said quietly.
"You could've said something."
"I know."
"You let me believe—"
"I know."
Each interruption was softer than the last.
He wasn't arguing.
He wasn't trying to defend himself.
If anything, he seemed determined to accept every accusation before you had the chance to finish making it.
"I thought..." He paused, drawing a slow breath. "I thought if I told you too soon, you'd think I was trying to change the deal."
You stared at him.
"What?"
"You were so clear," he said. "You kept reminding me this wasn't real."
Something inside you twisted.
"So I figured..." He let out a quiet laugh at his own expense. "I figured I was the idiot who'd broken the rules."
"You thought..."
"I thought you were counting down until we could go back to being friends."
Your mouth parted, but no words came.
"I wasn't."
"I know that now."
"No." You shook your head quickly. "I wasn't."
Dean searched your face.
"I stopped pretending too."
His brow furrowed.
"What?"
"The first night."
He looked at you, completely still.
"The first night?" he repeated quietly.
A watery laugh escaped you.
"I kept trying to convince myself it was because we'd spent the whole day together."
You brushed your sleeve across your cheek.
"Then I kept making excuses. It's because we're fake dating. It's because we're spending so much time together. It's because you're nice to me."
Dean didn't move.
He barely seemed to breathe.
"But none of that was true."
Your voice cracked.
"It was because I loved you."
For a moment, neither of you spoke.
Dean closed his eyes briefly. When he looked at you again, your eyes were shining.
"You've no idea," he whispered, "how many times I imagined you saying that."
A sad smile tugged at your lips.
"I rarely got the chance."
His expression fell immediately.
"I know."
"I heard seven words."
Dean's jaw tightened.
"'It's not real. We had a deal.'"
"I know."
"I never heard..."
He gave a small nod, his voice barely above a whisper.
"'...but somewhere along the way, I fell in love with her.'"
Silence settled between you again, softer now.
Dean took one careful step closer.
"So..." He hesitated, a nervous smile flickering across his face. "Is there any chance you'll let me make up for being the biggest idiot alive?"
A watery laugh escaped you.
"You'd have a lot of work to do."
"I know."
"I was miserable."
"I know."
"I cried."
Pain flashed across his face.
"I know."
"I hated you."
"I know."
"I hated myself for still loving you."
The words knocked the breath out of him.
Dean lowered his head, blinking hard before he looked back up.
"I'm so sorry."
The apology came quietly, without excuses or urgency.
"I'm sorry I let you walk away."
His voice caught.
"I'm sorry I didn't come after you sooner."
He drew another careful breath.
"I'm sorry you spent an entire week believing I didn't love you."
He held your gaze.
"Because I did."
His voice softened even more.
"I still do."
Your chest ached.
"I don't want to pretend anymore."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"I don't either."
He let out a quiet breath, almost a laugh.
"I don't ever want to call you my fake girlfriend again."
Despite the tears still clinging to your lashes, you smiled.
"I was kind of hoping you'd say that."
This time, Dean's smile reached his eyes.
It was small, disbelieving, and filled with the kind of hope that looked almost unfamiliar on him.
"So..." He reached for the back of his neck before stopping himself with a sheepish wince, reminded of the sling. "This is probably the least romantic timing in history."
Your gaze dropped to his injured shoulder.
"It really is."
"I've only got one working arm."
"You do."
"I smell like sweat."
A soft laugh escaped you.
"You definitely do."
"And I'm pretty sure the trainer's about thirty seconds away from dragging me back inside."
"Probably."
He took a steadying breath.
"But..."
His eyes found yours again.
"...would you let me do this properly anyway?"
Your heartbeat stumbled.
Dean swallowed.
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
You laughed, shaking your head.
"Dean..."
"No fake dating," he said gently.
"No deals."
"No rules."
He smiled, nervous enough that it almost made your heart break all over again.
"Just... us."
You didn't answer with words.
Instead, you stepped closer until barely any space remained between you.
Careful of the sling, careful of the bruises hidden beneath his jersey, you rested one hand against his uninjured shoulder and lifted yourself just enough to kiss him.
Softly.
Dean froze for the briefest moment before melting into the kiss with a quiet, relieved breath, like he'd been holding it for an entire week.
When you finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against yours, neither of you quite ready to let the other go.
"So..." he murmured.
You smiled.
"So."
A grin spread slowly across his face.
"I've a girlfriend?"
You rolled your eyes.
"You had one before."
His laugh came easily this time.
"I was really hoping you'd say that."
"You just wanted to hear it."
"I really did."
"You're unbelievably needy."
"I've had a rough week."
Your smile softened.
"So have I."
His expression turned serious again.
"I know."
He brushed his thumb gently beneath your eye, catching the last tear before it could fall.
"I love you."
There wasn't a trace of hesitation left.
No pretending.
No audience.
Just the truth.
Your own smile came without effort.
"I love you too."
A loud throat cleared somewhere behind you.
Neither of you jumped.
You already knew who it was.
Garrett stood at the end of the hallway with Tucker beside him, both of them watching with expressions that landed somewhere between relief and amusement.
"So..." Garrett said dryly. "Can we have our defenseman back now?"
Dean didn't even look away from you.
"No."
Tucker laughed.
"I'll let Coach know you've become emotionally unavailable."
Garrett snorted.
"He was emotionally unavailable long before this."
Dean laughed—a real one this time, warm and unguarded.
You hadn't realized how much you'd missed that sound until you heard it again.
Garrett shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Took you two long enough."
Dean slipped his fingers between yours, giving your hand a gentle squeeze.
forewarning: i’m in a very busy period of my life right now so my posting is incredibly inconsistent, sorry!!
currently, i’m only writing off campus fics (99% logan, lol) but i am in loads of fandoms (mcu, hunger games, woso—to name a few) and am willing to diversify my writing if that’s something you guys would want!
my ask page is open; you can ask/say whatever you want or request a fic of any kind—absolutely no judgement.
f - fluff | a - angst | 18+ - nsfw | s - suggestive | hc - hurt/comfort | cr - crack | tw - trigger warning
— last updated : 07/17/26
✎ Allie Hayes
i’m so obsessed with your ex — s
No, you’re not obsessed with Allie Hayes—and you’re definitely not feeling inferior. It’s just… you can’t help but compare yourself to her, especially because Dean was so enamored with her. Who wouldn’t, really? | 1.09k words
nobody but us, bodies together — 18+
“Rough practice?” You ask, reaching out to Dean as he practically slams the bedroom door open, slamming it back closed behind him. You reach a hand out, tugging the hem of his shirt slightly to let him fall onto the bed between you and Allie. “You wouldn’t want to know,” he growls, his eyes darkening with that familiar fiery gaze. | 1.7k words
‘cause when the stars align, you might bring the beast out — 18+
Dean’s eyes finally drift over to you, and he smirks. That wordless expression conveys all he wants you to hear—that could have been you on his lap if only you weren’t such a brat, pissing him off, stressing Allie out. | 1.3k words
✎ Dean di Laurentis
it’s time to lose your mind and let the crazy out — s
It’s one thing to rile you up—after all, you get riled up rather easily—but to piss Dean off is another. Dean—your voice of reason with the patience of a saint when it comes to you—is different when he is triggered, especially when it involves you. | 1.4k words
tell me where you’re hiding your voodoo doll ‘cause i can’t control myself — f, cr
He barely knows you, so why does he feel so strongly for you? It’s not love (yet), but maybe it’s something dangerously close—no, he barely knows you. It should not be possible to like you like that. | 3k words
nobody but us, bodies together — 18+
“Rough practice?” You ask, reaching out to Dean as he practically slams the bedroom door open, slamming it back closed behind him. You reach a hand out, tugging the hem of his shirt slightly to let him fall onto the bed between you and Allie. “You wouldn’t want to know,” he growls, his eyes darkening with that familiar fiery gaze. | 1.7k words
‘cause when the stars align, you might bring the beast out — 18+
Dean’s eyes finally drift over to you, and he smirks. That wordless expression conveys all he wants you to hear—that could have been you on his lap if only you weren’t such a brat, pissing him off, stressing Allie out. | 1.3k words
you picked a dance with the devil and you lucked out — 18+ (to be uploaded)
“Relax,” he hums, stroking your skin gently. “Such a gorgeous girl—even more beautiful tonight. It’s a shame you had to be a bad girl, hm?” He wonders out loud. “Did you think you could get away with flirting with the waiter right in front of me? Think you can pull that stunt and end the night unscathed? Think you can be a brat and I will let you sleep it off?” | 1.05k
✎ Garrett Graham
suddenly i see — f, cr, slight hc
“I don’t think you do, baby.” He crawls closer, holding your face delicately in his large hands. “I’m not trying to humiliate you by revisiting your most embarrassing moments. I want you to understand where I’m coming from and why I say that you need to wear your glasses. Every time you tell me you’re fine, you end up squinting, rubbing your eyes, missing details unless you are standing close. I don’t want you to keep hurting when there’s something that can help.” | 2.6k words
know wherever you will be, so too shall i be — f, hc
Home really is where the heart is, he realizes as he finally looks at you—not from the tiny screen on his phone, not from the photos you send him throughout the days, not from the video calls you sneak in during your free time—as you stand right in front of him. | 4.3k words
spent a lifetime looking for somebody to give me love like you — f, hc (to be uploaded)
A lot of people know Garrett Graham as the burly, relentless captain of Briar U’s hockey team. They see the drive and the passion to chase after the puck, the goals he scores, the games he wins. But very few people know the man who softly, lovingly, patiently wakes at the ass crack of dawn to run you a bath, quietly change the sheets while humming his favorite song, and wash your clothes by hand for you without so much as a complaint. You think you’re by far the luckiest woman in the world to know this version of Garrett. | 1.1k words
like a fantasy in front of me, i know that something special’s going down — 18+ (to be uploaded)
“May I?” He asks quietly, his voice deep and rough from lust, and you nod wordlessly. He groans into your mouth as his lips finally meet yours, his hands wandering around your skin over the fabric of your dress. “I’ve been wanting to do this since I saw you in this damn dress—been wanting to kiss you senseless, to fuck you in this very dress until your mind goes blank. That what you want, baby? To be fucked stupid?” | 2.2k words
✎ Hannah Wells
to be written — requests are closed!
✎ John Logan
say my name and everything just stops — a, hc
“Okay, baby.” His eyes never stray from your face—he can deal with everything else later. “Where do you want me?” He asks, and you know that it is his way of asking whether you are okay with him sitting with you. | 2.2k words
‘cause it’s real once everyone knows — a, hc
It was weird—your heart was shattered into a million pieces, and you couldn’t even turn to anyone because nobody knew. A part of you thought that since nobody else knew, then that might have meant that whatever it was between you was not real. | 4.5k words
you know i’ll be there when you call me, whether you like it or not — f
You love John Logan—the man who goes out of his way to make sure you are comfortable and safe, who will drive through terrible weather to pick you up from a night out, who drops everything to come fix something as simple as your door hinges creaking when you open them. You love John Logan, and he loves you. You know that because he always goes the extra mile to make sure you do. | 0.9k words
in a swirling day, you’ve given me a piece of happiness — tw, a, hc (to be uploaded)
Before everything escalates, you quickly grab your things and go straight for the front door with a quiet, rushed, “I’ll see you later,” to no one in particular. You do not stay long enough to witness the inevitable—or what you think is the inevitable. The heat of Logan’s anger, the raised voices, the tense emotions of the rest of the guys, and the growing certainty that you’ve somehow ruined everything have become too much for you to comprehend. | 1.3k words
✎ John Tucker
i’m floating around in ecstasy, so don’t stop me now — f, cr
“Of course she’s alive, dingus.” Allie rolls her eyes from beside him, snatching the phone from his hand, eliciting an offended, ‘Hey!’ from Dean, which she effectively ignores. “She had a wisdom tooth extraction, not an open heart surgery.” | 1.09k words
without saying anything, you are the only one who knows me — f
“Here, why don’t you eat some breakfast, darling?” He presents you the plate of the sandwich Logan had tried so hard to fight for. “Here is a sandwich for you, milady, no pickles, no onions, no mayo, no mustard, the crusts are cut off, and most importantly, the egg yolk is perfectly cooked.” | 0.4k words
Hello. This is @sincerelygxbby / @fictionallygabby / @really-gabby / @gabininomenon / @tbrbyfgabby
I am writing this post to inform you that my account has been hacked (allegedly).
At 11:11 AM (GMT+8) today, a person reached out to me claiming that I had sent them a private message with a link attached. I was unable to screenshot the initial conversation with the blog that reached out to me, since I did not think it would be helpful, but here is the screenshot they sent me of their conversation with ‘me’.
They had filled out the form within the link, and their account had been compromised, so they sent a report ticket to Tumblr, and this was what Tumblr apparently replied.
Considering that I have 12 hours to appeal, I had not received anything from Tumblr 8 hours after this email was sent, but I did not mind. I said I would wait for Tumblr to reach out, so I can proceed with the verification/appeal process.
The original user had allegedly revoked the complaint, but insisted I reached out to the discord user, and so I did.
At first glance, it was sketchy for me already, but considering that I had been reported for fraudulent activities, I reached out to the contact, and they had also claimed that the complainant had revoked their report, but I needed to go through the validation process, or else the case will be a federal case.
I followed through the initial process, which involved changing my email, which was not the smartest choice on my end, but I had been under time pressure. I also sent screenshots of my most recent transactions on my online banking and e-wallets, but there had been nothing that show that I received a large sum of money from somewhere.
That is when the Discord user informed me that the complainant had lost a sum of $832.84, which had raised red flags in my head, because that amount of money amounts to ~₱10,000, and I had not received that amount of money ever.
To proceed with the validation process, the Discord user asked for a monetary deposit of $166.56. Below is the image they had sent me—saved directly from Discord.
I did not send the money, nor do I plan to until Tumblr Support reaches out to me themselves.
However, I have lost access to my original account, but it had not been suspended, so if ‘I’ reach out to you with links, asking for anything—literally anything—kindly ignore and/or block the account.
I am trying to regain access, but if I fail to do so, I will start my blog all over again.
Please do understand, and thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy post. Kindly reblog to spread. Thank you.
Tagging for awareness (moots + people I have recently interacted with):
nobody but us, bodies together | allie hayes + dean di laurentis
“Rough practice?” You ask, reaching out to Dean as he practically slams the bedroom door open, slamming it back closed behind him. You reach a hand out, tugging the hem of his shirt slightly to let him fall onto the bed between you and Allie. “You wouldn’t want to know,” he growls, his eyes darkening with that familiar fiery gaze.
contents — 18+ content, smut, graphic descriptions of sex, porn without plot, profanities, established polyamorous relationship, slightly mean dom!dean, switch!allie, sub!reader, one (1) slap, teasing, oral sex (f receiving), fingering, dirty talk, slight orgasm delay, finger sucking, untouched ejaculation, dean is an eater™️who eats for his pleasure, allie is a tits girl, mention of period, mention of blood, all acts are completely consensual! kindly let me know if i missed anything!
word count — 1.7k | title — pillowtalk by zayn
gabby says — this is a repost from my old blog, @fictionallygabby. i have decided to start my blog all over, so please feel free to read here for the explanation.
You and Allie perk up from your places in her bed, tangled beneath the sheets as you watch TikToks of animals on your phone.
“Rough practice?” You ask, reaching out to Dean as he practically slams the bedroom door open, slamming it back closed behind him. You reach a hand out, tugging the hem of his shirt slightly to let him fall onto the bed between you and Allie.
“You wouldn’t want to know,” he growls, his eyes darkening with that familiar fiery gaze.
He looks between his girls, and Allie immediately raises her arms in surrender.
“I can’t, babe, I’m on my period,” she murmurs, sitting up to place tender kisses along his jawline, down to his neck. “I’m sorry.”
“You know I do not mind a little blood,” he whispers, turning his head to meet her lips in a rough, almost bruising kiss that leaves her in a daze when he pulls away. “But I’m not forcing you, babydoll.”
Due to Allie running her fingers through them, Dean’s hair is already a mess when his darkened eyes flit over to you, and a shiver runs down your spine at the intensity of his gaze.
“Come here,” you whisper, holding your arms out, but he does not take them. Instead, he grabs a hold of your legs and tugs you towards him with a wolfish grin. You squeal, your hands flying to his shoulder.
Your hands stay on his shoulders when he leans in, crashing his lips to yours in another rough kiss, his tongue slipping into your mouth. You moan into his mouth, your back arching towards him.
“My girls taste so fucking good,” he groans, his lips trailing down to your jawline, then lowering to your neck. He nips at the sensitive point right below your jaw, and you let out a shaky breath. He chuckles darkly at your response to his kisses. “Sensitive already? Our sensitive girl.”
“Isn’t she so sweet?” Allie coos, crawling across the bed over to you. She holds your chin delicately, gently tilting your head and pressing a sweet kiss to your lips.
The stark contrast between Dean’s rough treatment and Allie’s sweet indulgence is making your head spin, and it is evident in the way your words turn incoherent as you babble, “please”.
“Please what, sweet girl?” Allie whispers against your lips, “Tell our Dean what you want, baby.”
Your brain does not immediately process her words, and Dean tuts, crawling back up to hold your face in his larger hand. His palm connects with your cheek in a light slap—not enough to hurt but enough to catch your attention. “You were asked a question, baby. Do you want to be punished?”
You moan at the sudden, slight sting, and they both laugh at that. Answering his question, shake your head with a feeble, “No.”
“Then tell me what you want, baby,” Dean whispers, looking intently into your eyes that are now glazed over with lust and want. “What does our baby want?”
Meanwhile, Allie is peppering kisses all over your skin—everywhere she can reach: your face, your neck, the exposed skin of your shoulder.
You so badly want to respond, but your mind keeps coming up blank. “Fuck,” you gasp anyway, “Please touch me.”
“But he is touching you, pretty,” Allie croons teasingly, trailing featherlight down your torso until she reaches the waistband of your shorts. “Do you want to be touched right here…” She trails her hand lower. “…or lower?”
“Right there—” You gasp as her palm cups your wet heat over the fabrics. “I need more, please.”
“Good girl,” Dean groans, finally crawling back down. “Good fucking girl, babydoll.”
Meanwhile, Allie nudges you to sit up with a soft, “Sit up for me a bit, baby.” She then takes her place behind you and pulls you close, your back now pressed to her chest. While Dean is hooking his fingers into your shorts and sliding them down your legs, Allie is pulling your shirt over your head, leaving you completely bare in your partners’ hold.
“So beautiful,” Dean murmurs, spreading your thighs and placing your legs on each of his broad shoulders. He kisses down from your knees into your inner thighs, close enough to feel his hot breath on your pussy. “And all ours. Isn’t that right, Allie-cat?”
Allie giggles in reply, brushing your hair to the side to kiss your neck and your nape sweetly, purring—
“All ours,”
—in between kisses, her free hand toying with your pebbled nipple.
The sensation Allie is giving, along with the cool air breezing over your pussy, makes you shiver and arch into your girlfriend’s touch. Your lips part in a silent moan.
“We’ve got you, sweetheart,” Dean murmurs, stroking your thighs as he watches Allie touch and kiss you. “We’ve got you. Just relax for us.”
“Dean, please,” you whine, your hips lifting off the bed in an attempt to shift closer to your boyfriend’s face. “Please do something. I need it—I need you.”
“I got you,” Dean groans out before diving in between your parted thighs. You cry out as soon as his mouth comes in contact with your throbbing cunt, his tongue swiping up and down, side to side, everywhere.
Your hips buck, grinding yourself against his face. He does not stop you—instead, he moans and groans into your cunt, the vibrations sending jolts of electricity straight into your core.
Meanwhile, Allie’s hands continue twiddling with your nipples, her lips kissing and whispering filth into your skin as you whimper and moan into the heated air of the bedroom, “you are doing so, so well for us, good girl. That’s it, fuck Dean’s face, baby, hump his face. Does that feel good? Yeah, I bet it does. Uh-huh?”
The multiple continuous sensations all over your body are enough to make your body tremble, your thighs close in around Dean’s head, and one of your hands grip Allie’s forearms, your nails leaving crescent marks in their wake, while your other hand is buried in Dean’s hair, pulling and tugging at the right moments. The slight sting of his scalp is pleasurable enough to make him whimper into your pussy.
As if swiping his tongue all over your clit is not enough, Dean wraps his lips around the sensitive bundle of nerves and sucks. You cry out in response, jerking in their hold and arching as far as humanely possible.
“Oh, yeah,” Allie moans at the sight of your pleasure skyrocketing. “Fuck, baby, if only you can see how so fucking good you look right now—both of you.”
Dean grins into your cunt, his eyes trailing up to meet both of yours from between your thighs. He sucks again to see your reaction, and god, he gets even more turned on at the sight: your body jerking and trembling, your lips parting in a silent scream, your eyes rolling back in pleasure. He moans louder into you as you tug harder at his hair.
He pulls away for air and reprieve, causing you to whine at the loss, but your disappointment does not last long as he dives back in, doubling down on his efforts this time.
“Oh God,” you cry out, the knot in your core tightening with every passing second Dean spends between your legs. “I’m so close, Dean!”
“He knows, baby, he knows,” Allie coos, also intensifying her efforts on pleasuring your tits. “You are so, so close, aren’t you, baby? Should we let you cum?”
Dean grins against you, pulling away just as you reach your peak. His hands stroke your thighs soothingly, while you groan in frustration, your eyes snapping down to where he lies on his stomach beneath you.
“Relax, sweetheart,” he murmurs, slipping two fingers into your mouth. “Suck my fingers like you’re sucking my dick, pretty. Get them nice and wet for me. That’s it, good girl.” He groans at the sight of you sucking his fingers, swirling your tongue all over the digits.
He slowly pulls his fingers out and lies back down between your legs, placing them on his shoulders once again. He prods at your entrance teasingly before pushing his thick fingers slowly into your pussy. His dark eyes do not leave your face as he watches every single expression that flashes across. He curls his fingers just right and watches as you struggle and thrash in Allie’s hold. “You can take it, sweetheart. You wanted this, remember? That’s it. You’re doing so well.”
Meanwhile, Allie has her arms tight around you to prevent you from moving too much and potentially hurting yourself or them. She strokes your skin soothingly, whispering sweet nothings into your ear, “Just a bit more, baby. You’re almost there, we know. Good girl—so sweet and beautiful for us.”
To add to your pleasure, Dean takes your clit back into his mouth and sucks as he pumps his fingers into you, the tips nudging that sweet spot inside you. His hips rut against the sheets as he moans into your clit.
The knot in your core coils tighter and tighter until they finally snap. You stiffen in Allie’s arms for a few moments before your body spasms as the waves of your orgasm crashes and flows through you.
Allie holds you through it, still whispering into your ear as she soothes you with her touch.
Dean continues pumping his fingers slowly into you, but he parts from your clit, letting you ride your high until the overstimulation turns into sharp jabs of pain with every move and your hands are tapping his shoulder urgently.
He slowly withdraws his fingers then, licking his fingers clean with a satisfied groan. He slowly lowers your legs on the bed, gently massaging the sore spots.
When he sits up, you and Allie gasp at the wet patch on his low slung gray sweatpants, right over his clothed erection.
“See how good you make me feel, sweetheart?” He murmurs, kissing your lips softly. “You okay?”
“I’m okay.” You nod, still slightly breathless. You then turn to Allie, kissing her cheek. “Are you okay, gorgeous?”
“Oh, I’m more than okay, pretty.” She grins, leaning in to kiss Dean this time. She groans as she tastes you on his lips. “Fuck, you taste so fucking good together. It’s insane.”
“We’re all insane here, gorgeous.” He grins boyishly, but his eyes soften as they look over you. “Think you can walk? You need to pee, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, I think so.”
Soon enough, the three of you are tangled beneath the freshly changed sheets with you lying in between—their perfect girl.
tell me where you’re hiding your voodoo doll ‘cause i can’t control myself | dean di laurentis
He barely knows you, so why does he feel so strongly for you? It’s not love (yet), but maybe it’s something dangerously close—no, he barely knows you. It should not be possible to like you like that.
contents — told in dean’s pov, just dean being absolutely down bad | word count — 3k | title — voodoo doll by 5 seconds of summer
gabby says — this is a repost from my old blog, @fictionallygabby. i have decided to start my blog all over, so please feel free to read here for the explanation.
Dean di Laurentis—who thinks he knows every woman in Briar, considering he had… made an acquaintance with about half of them—is first made aware of your existence at a block party. After three years in Briar University, he only knows about you—at a stupid block party, no less.
He approaches you with his usual charming smile that disarms women—and men—and tears even the highest walls down. You see, the key word this time is usually. Really, he should have known that there is a reason why he is only finding out about you now instead of three years ago during freshman orientation where about a third of the freshman class had thrown themselves at his feet, eager to get to know him.
“Hey.” He grins easily, holding a hand out for you to shake. “Dean di Laurentis, but I’m sure you know about me.”
Real smooth, di Laurentis, real fucking smooth. Holy shit, did he suddenly forget how to talk to women that he fumbles that badly? Oh, this is bad, he thinks, he can’t have himself failing when he has just found who he (very irrationally) thinks is the love of his life.
And while Dean is too busy having an internal conflict, you give him a once over before walking away with a snicker, leaving him standing there alone, with his hand still outstretched.
Only when his friends clap his back does he realize that you are no longer in front of him and are nowhere to be found. Great. He meets the love of his life and loses her in under ten minutes.
He leaves the party grounds later that night with you still in his head. His heart skips a beat every time he remembers the color of your eyes, the slope of your nose, and the curve of your lips—which is silly because he had literally *just met you, and he does not even feel this way about sorority girls he has known for years, or ex-hookups he sees around the campus. Hell, he does not even know your name. All he knows is that you are gorgeous and breathtaking and stunning and beautiful and captivating and mesmerizing and—
Oh.
He had just described you in more than two words that did not include hot and sexy.
Dean di Laurentis is completely, utterly, totally, absolutely fucked.
—
Dean, to his utmost delight *and horror, sees you again after a week—at another fucking party. Why is this a recurring theme in his life right now?
You step into the off-campus hockey house wearing an outfit that is so simple yet so elegant, especially on you. As soon as you step in, everyone else looks underdressed in his eyes, including himself.
He forces himself out of his thoughts with a vigorous shake of his head. He starts building his confidence and charm—which is ridiculous because he is Dean fucking di Laurentis, one of Briar U’s most sought-after bachelors. Why the fuck does he need to build his confidence any more? He is confident, he is charming, he is attractive, he is calm, he is cool, he is not fucking this up for the second time.
At one point during his self-affirmation, you walk past him. He catches a whiff of your perfume—faint, fleeting, but *there—and freezes up like an idiot. Of fucking course.
It is only when you are far enough for you not to hear him does he snap out of his trance, feeling like an absolute wreck. Instead of walking over to you and striking a conversation like a normal human being, he watches you from across the room, his heart beating like crazy even though you had done nothing but exist.
He watches as you chat with your friends and laugh freely, fetch yourself some drinks, and rock slightly to the beat of the music. He wants so badly to talk to you, make you laugh, refill your drinks for you, dance with you like there is no one else in the room, but every time he even *thinks of standing within three feet away from you, he chickens out—something he never thought was possible. Dean di Laurentis, the very epitome of a ladies’ man, chickening out? That will sound impossible, no matter who you ask, so why is it happening now?
He barely knows you, so why does he feel so strongly for you? It’s not love (yet), but maybe it’s something dangerously close—no, he barely knows you. It should not be possible to like you like that.
—
The next time Dean sees you is in an academic setting—a symposium on international relations and global politics. Thank fuck because he can surely strike up an intelligent conversation with you, unlike in parties, where he comes across as nothing but a dumb jock or a dumb blond—or even worse, a dumb blond jock.
He grins to himself, and walks over to where you and your friend (presumably) are sitting—the seat beside you is conveniently empty. He does not immediately take a seat; instead, he stands in front of the empty spot, perched adjacent to you with a hand outstretched.
“Hi,” he says in a slightly pitched voice, and immediately cringes inwardly, because Dean fucking di Laurentis does not say hi like that. “Sorry, *hey.” Even worse—why did he have to deepen his voice like that? It sounded more like a kid imitating his father’s voice more than anything.
He wants the ground to open up and swallow him whole—with not a single strand of hair left anywhere—when you pause your conversation with your friend—who he now recognizes as a campus journalist named Charlotte—to turn and look at him. Although there is amusement dancing in your eyes when your eyes trail down to his outstretched hand, you don’t keep him waiting for long.
You shake his hand briefly, and he thinks he can die happily now that he’s held your hand—even if it was just a short moment. Your hand is smoother than his hand that’s calloused from gripping hockey sticks for practically his whole life. He does not really know what you do with your hands, but he wants to find out, just like how he wants to know everything about you.
Then you state your name, your tone casual—nothing special, but he feels like dying then coming back to life from just a literal second of you saying your name.
“Hi, Dean,” he says with a dopey, not-very-him smile on his face. He quickly realizes that he had just said that in a completely wrong way. “I mean, hi. Dean—like hi, I'm Dean. Not like hi, you're Dean. I'm Dean di Laurentis, and I should probably stop talking now,” he says, all in one breath, his brain spiraling with every word that comes out of his mouth. He feels like a 12-year-old boy who runs away at the sight of women, which he's not, obviously. He's a 21-year-old man—a six-foot-something hockey defenseman, a very loud and proud supporter of women’s rights and wrongs who's got himself acquainted with quite a number of women, but here he is: blushing and stuttering like a complete idiot.
“I know who you are, Dean di Laurentis.” You look absolutely, drop dead gorgeous, even with an amused smirk—especially with an amused smirk.
“You do?” He can’t help the hopeful look and tone, but he quickly catches himself. He clears his throat and straightens his face as nonchalantly as possible. “I mean, yeah, a lot of people do—know me, I mean.”
“We know that too, Dean di Laurentis.” You chuckle softly, and he feels like he is in heaven.
“You don’t have to call me by my whole name, you know? You can just call me Dean,” he says, “Or anything you’d like, really.”
“That is duly noted, Dean.”
“Say, Dean, what are you doing here?” Charlotte interrupts as gently as she can possibly do, “I mean, no offense, but considering you’re a PolSci student, and this is a symposium on child psychology…”
“Oh shit, for real?” He looks around, and sees the LED wall on the platform displaying an entirely different topic than what he originally signed up for. “Fuck, sorry, I, uh, I got lost. I mean, I got the rooms mixed up, obviously. I’ll… see you around?”
“I’ll see you around, Dean.” You smile, and he feels like he has just died, gone to heaven, and then gone back to life.
He is absolutely, completely, entirely disarmed by just your smile, but he at least knows your name now.
—
The fourth time Dean sees you is during lunch at Malone’s. Puck bunnies surround them and their table, flirting and giggling and twirling strands of their hair around their fingers. Normally, Dean would have flirted back—maybe he would have invited them over to the hockey house after lunch, or invited them into the restroom for a quick one.
But Dean is not himself—he hasn’t been for a week now—not since the *accidental encounter with you in the lecture hall. He does not believe in fate, but he thinks he might after that run-in with you.
After those few, special minutes in the hall, Dean found himself walking towards the *actual venue of the symposium he had signed up for extra credit. He hadn’t listened—he immediately pulled up Charlotte’s profile on Instagram, and went through all of her 1,978 followers to look for you. He hadn’t been successful in the first hour of the symposium, and so he goes through your other friends’ (again, presumably) profiles: Emmett and Ivy from the block party, Megan and Bridget from the house party.
He had somehow found you after about two hours, and debated whether or not to send you a follow request after another hour.
You had accepted his request just a few hours prior.
So here he is, going through your Instagram profile. He probably has all 9 of your posts memorized by heart, and he is scrolling through them for what feels like the first time for him, but it has been at least three hours for the rest of the world.
“Dean,” a puck bunny—Ashley, if he remembers correctly—purrs beside him, running her perfectly manicured nail down his arm slowly. “What’s got you so distracted, gorgeous? Are you not enjoying this?”
He reluctantly looks up from the screen of his phone—he does not even bother to turn it off as he forces his gaze towards Ashley. He is about to respond when the bell above the door jingles. He does not know what compelled him to look over, but he’s glad he did, because walking into the diner is you.
You are wearing a simple shirt with a pair of washed jeans, as well as a pair of obviously well-loved sneakers. Your outfit is nothing out of the ordinary—something you’d see on more than half the population of Briar U—but it looks different on you. You look absolutely stunning in simple clothes.
His tense body sags with relief, and without thinking, he finds himself weaving through the small crowd consisting of his friends and women he barely knows. He passes through with a brief, quiet, ‘excuse me’, and walks towards you with an easy smile on his face.
“Huh,” Ashley hums in thought as she watches Dean part from the group. His friends all watch him, incredibly weirded out by his undeniably weird behavior.
“Hi, Hannah,” he hears you greeting as you lean against the bar. “I sent in an order about forty-five minutes ago, and I was hoping that it’s ready.”
“Oh, absolutely!” Hannah smiles at you, wide and bright as she hands you a paper bag. “Here you go—extra everything for Malone’s favorite regular.”
“Thanks a lot, gorgeous!” You beam, taking the bag, and looking through it briefly to make sure everything is in order.
Before you push away from the bar, Dean calls out your name. “Hey.” He smiles at you—a wide smile that deepens his dimples. “It’s great seeing you again.”
“Hi, Dean.” Your grin widens as you turn to him. “It’s great to see you too. How have you been?”
“Good, really good.” He nods, and he suddenly does not seem to know what to do with his hands. “You look great.”
“Thanks,” she says, her grin softens into a little smile now. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
“Thanks.” His smile, in turn, widens.
There are a few moments of slightly awkward silence—just a few beats of you two looking at each other—before you break it.
“I have to get going.” You point to the door behind you. “I’m kind of on the way to class. I just picked up lunch real quick.”
“Yeah, no, for sure.” He watches you take a few steps back, just as stiffly. “I’ll see you around?”
“Of course.” You nod, taking another step back.
Before you can turn away from him, he says, “I’ll, uh, keep in touch.”
He sees surprise flashing across your face, but you quickly recover, and you grin. “It’s up to you,” is all you say before walking out the door.
His eyes follow your moving form until you disappear from his sight, and only then does he release a breath he doesn’t realize he was holding. He runs a hand over his face and lets out another sigh. “Holy fuck,” he whispers, mostly to himself.
“You’re down bad,” he hears Hannah say from behind the bar as she wipes the countertop.
“Yeah, whatever, Wellsy.” He ignores Hannah’s words, finally turns to her, and sits on the stool directly in front of her. “May I ask how long you’ve known her for?”
“Since we were freshmen. She was one of the first people I knew, along with Allie,” she says, looking up at him.
“And may I ask how I’ve never met her before?”
“Dean, why are you asking me?” Hannah raises her eyebrows, both in surprise and in exasperation. “But if I’m going to answer your question, I’d say it’s because you were too busy being, well, you.”
“Okay, fair.” He raises his arms in surrender. “But I want to know her. Tell me what she likes, what she doesn’t, what she loves—please tell me everything.”
“Dude, you can literally ask her yourself.”
“I am so intimidated by her!” He almost begs. “Wellsy, help me out here. I am literally dying.”
“No, you’re not. Don’t be dramatic,” she says easily. “You just find her hot.”
“No, she’s not just hot. She’s absolutely drop dead gorgeous, and she’s objectively the most beautiful person in every single room she walks into, and—”
“Okay, point taken!” Hannah interrupts. “If it helps, she does literally nothing else during her free time but study and doomscroll through Instagram.”
Dean’s eyes literally light up at Hannah’s response. “Wellsy, you are an absolute lifesaver.”
“Holy shit, di Laurentis, you are more than down bad. You are abysmally, horrendously down.”
“Now, Wellsy, that’s an exaggeration.”
It’s really not that bad, really. He just wants to get to know you because he’s interested in you. Sure, they can all say he’s down bad, but you’re you. You’re beautiful and intelligent and overall an extremely interesting person. His infatuation is really not that bad.
Right?
—
*Wrong.
“Okay, who else thinks this is weird?” Logan says from the tall stool by the kitchen counter.
“What is?” Garrett asks from the couch, his eyes still glued to his phone screen.
“Dean.”
“He’s always weird. What’s new?” Tucker does not even pause from throwing a ball in the air.
“No, dude, he hasn’t brought anyone home in weeks, and he’s always on his damn phone.”
Tucker catches the ball, and turns to Logan. “So maybe he’s sexting? Or in a long distance situationship? Who even knows at this point, man? That’s Dean, and Dean’s not Dean if he’s not weird in his own, Dean way.”
“Yeah, but not this weird,” Logan argues. “Look, do you remember the girl from two weeks ago? Hannah’s friend?”
Realization dawns upon Garrett, and he finally peels his eyes off his phone. “You’re right.” He nods. “Hannah talked about how Dean had been asking about that friend for a week straight before he suddenly stopped.”
“Fucking finally!” Logan cheers. “You guys are slow as fuck.”
Just then, the front door opens, and in comes the man himself, carrying a large paper bag in his hand and his phone in the other.
“No way, an impromptu house meeting?” He speaks as soon as he steps into view. “What’s this one about?”
“You,” Tucker deadpans.
“Me?”
“Specifically,” Logan says loudly, “You and Hannah’s friend.”
“She has a name, thank you very much.” He says your name, his voice unconsciously turning softer. “What about her?”
“See, that’s fucking weird!”
“Man, what is?” Dean rolls his eyes. “Stop talking in codes, dude, just say it.”
“It’s weird that you’re in love because Dean ‘Six Flags’ di Laurentis does not fall in love,” Tucker finally says, and the rest of his friends nod along with him.
“You froze the first time you saw her at that block party. It’s like the world disappeared around you, man. You did not hear us calling you for at least five minutes. You made a complete fool of yourself the first two times you met her,” Garrett says with an amused smirk on his lips. “And you were pretty inconsolable for the first half of the day before Malone’s, and it’s like your entire being lit on fire the moment she walked through the door. You chased after her like a lovesick puppy, man, it’s honestly sickening to see.”
“And now, you barely hang with us because you’re either too busy on your phone with her or with her, like in person,” Logan adds.
Meanwhile, Dean rolls over all the information.
“And where’d you get those goods?” Tucker adds, eyeing the paper bag in his hand.
“From the café near campus,” he mumbles. Your favorite café.
Oh.
Oh.
Dean di Laurentis is definitely, undeniably, wholly, irrevocably in love with you.
from an irritated "oh, fuck!" to a confident "fuck it", your entire relationship with John Logan can be mapped out in seven specific exclamations of his favorite four-letter word.
word count : 6.1k (sorry) — enemies to lovers, kind of — logan is moody — SMUT, minors DNI — Enjoy and please tell me what you think !
One — "Oh, fuck!"
The music wasn’t just loud; it was vibrating through the old floorboards and thumping directly against your ribs. You’d only been there for twenty minutes, entirely dragged along by Hannah, who was currently tucked under Garrett’s arm near the doorway. Watching them was sweet—almost nauseatingly so—but it left you feeling like a ghost drifting through a sea of oversized jerseys, loud hockey players, and the thick scent of cheap beer. For the most part, the rest of the boys were incredibly welcoming; even though you'd just met them tonight, they were already loud, inherently kind and easy to be around.
Except for John Logan.
You hadn’t actually been introduced to him yet, but you’d felt his suffocating vibe the moment he walked through the door. He looked like absolute thunder. Briar had dropped a frustrating, tight game that evening, and while Garrett was channeling his nervous energy into playing the charismatic host, Logan was wearing his irritation like armor. Leaning against the kitchen counter with a dark scowl that practically screamed at people to stay away, his knuckles were white around his glass, his eyes scanning the room as if looking for a reason to snap.
Navigating that crowded, chaotic kitchen with a brim-filled, sticky mixed drink was your first mistake. Your second was catching the rubber toe of your sneaker on the lifting edge of a rogue anti-fatigue mat near the sink.
You stumbled forward, your arms flailing wildly in a desperate, ungraceful bid for balance. You didn’t fall, but your cup did a violent, mid-air flip, slipping from your fingers. A torrential wave of sticky, dark rum and cola splashed directly across the pristine gray fabric of Logan’s Henley shirt, soaking through the chest, darkening the material instantly and dripping down the front of his dark jeans.
Logan froze. His head snapped down slowly, looking at the huge, dark stain spreading across his clothes, and then his gaze lifted to yours. His eyes were blazing, a dangerous brown, entirely unamused and dripping with venom. "Oh, fuck!" he snapped, his voice cutting right through the ambient noise like a knife. He pulled the wet, heavy fabric away from his skin with two fingers, a look of pure annoyance twisting his features. "Are you serious right now? Watch where the hell you're going."
The sheer aggression in his tone caught you completely off guard, instantly sparking your own deeply ingrained, stubborn nature. You had been about to apologize profusely, the words of remorse already forming on your tongue, but the bite in his words choked them right out of your throat. You squared your shoulders, refusing to back down under his glare. "It was an accident," you retorted, pulling a few crumpled, napkins from the counter and shoving them toward his chest. "You don't have to be a complete dick about it. It’s just a shirt, I'm pretty sure you'll survive."
"It's a wet, sticky shirt at the end of a terrible, exhausting fucking day," he growled, his voice dropping an octave as he batted your hand away with a harsh flick of his wrist. He didn't take the napkins; they fluttered uselessly to the floor. Instead, he leaned down slightly, giving you a long, icy glare that made you feel about two inches tall, his jaw clenching so hard you could see the muscle tick. "Next time, look up from your feet." Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and storming down the hallway toward the stairs, muttering curses under his breath.
You stood there rooted to the spot, your cheeks burning with a toxic mixture of intense embarrassment and sudden, deep-seated dislike. Garrett materialized at your side a split second later, a sympathetic, slightly apologetic grimace on his face as he patted your shoulder gently. "Hey, don't sweat it," Garrett reassured you quietly, glancing warily toward the stairs where Logan had disappeared. "Logan’s just in a brutal mood because of the game, and he hates losing more than anyone. He's usually a great guy, I swear. He’ll have forgotten all about it by tomorrow morning."
You forced a tight, fake smile and nodded, but as you looked down at your empty, sticky hands, a bitter taste lingered in your mouth. Spoiler alert: he wouldn't forget. and neither would you.
Two — "Fuck you"
A few weeks later, the initial friction hadn’t dissolved; it had hardened into a permanent, icy chill. You tried your best to play nice for the sake of Hannah and Allie, but Logan made it incredibly difficult. You saw how he was with the rest of their circle—fiercely loyal, easygoing, and warm. He was the kind of guy who quietly made sure Allie and Hannah got home safe from their late shifts and spent his free afternoons helping Jules with media stuff. He was patient with the entire world. But the exact millisecond you walked into a room, his posture stiffened and his jaw set. You hated being the sole exception to his good nature, so you simply stayed out of his way.
The breaking point came on a gray, rainy Tuesday afternoon. You and Hannah had walked over to the hockey house to help Tucker untangle a massive, soul-crushing history assignment he was drowning in. The three of you were spread across the dining table, surrounded by a chaotic mess of highlighters, laptop cords, and heavy library textbooks.
The back door clicked open, and Logan walked in. He was wearing his Briar athletic gear, a damp towel slung over his shoulders from a post-practice shower, his hair messy and wet. He looked exhausted, his shoulders tense, carrying the unmistakable hangover of a brutal morning practice. Instead of walking past to the kitchen, he paused by the table, leaning over Tucker’s shoulder to scan the open pages. He let out a heavy, deliberate sigh. "You’re using the wrong primary sources for that era, Tuck," Logan said, his voice dropping into that effortless, uninvited authority. "You need the economic logs from the eastern front, not these political manifestos. You’re going to tank your thesis statement with those."
Tucker blinked up, looking miserable. "Wait, really? I thought—"
"We checked those, Logan," you interrupted, keeping your voice level and calm as you kept your eyes on your notebook. "We've got it handled," you smiled, trying to remain polite.
Logan didn't move. His eyes slid slowly down to the side of your face, unamused. "Right. Because you're an expert on 20th-century economic trade?"
"No," you said, your pen pausing on the page. "But I can read a syllabus. If you're so worried about Tucker's academic results, you could have sat down and helped him yourself already."
Logan’s jaw tightened, a sharp spike of tension instantly replacing his usual easygoing demeanor. He took his hands out of his pockets and leaned forward, bracing his palms on the edge of the table, firmly invading your space. Tucker shot Hannah a wide-eyed, panicked look across the textbooks, both of them suddenly bracing for impact.
"I gave him my old notes weeks ago," Logan shot back, his voice dropping into something smaller, tighter. "But sure, ignore the guy who actually passed the class because you're too stubborn to take a note from me."
"I'm not being stubborn, you're just being a patronizing prick," you retorted, leaning back in your chair. "You’ve been hovering over this table for five minutes just looking for a problem because you had a bad day and want to take it out on someone."
Logan let out a harsh, dry laugh, though there was a flicker of genuine frustration in his eyes—the look of a good guy who couldn't understand why he kept letting you bait him. "Take it out on someone? Trust me, if I wanted to take anything out on someone, I wouldn't waste my time on you. I'm trying to keep my friend from bombing a midterm because he made the mistake of letting you organize his thoughts."
"My thoughts are perfectly fine, Logan," Tucker muttered quietly under his breath, his eyes glued to his laptop screen, desperately trying to dissolve into the background.
"They're fine when you're left alone, Tuck," Logan said, keeping his eyes locked onto yours, completely ignoring his teammate's plea. "Not when you're letting someone drag their own contrarian agenda into your coursework."
"A contrarian agenda?" You stood up, your chair scraping loudly against the hardwood floor. Hannah flinched at the sharp noise, withdrawing her hands from the table and motioning for Tucker to leave the potential future crime scene. They both complied quickly, knowing you both well enough to understand that trying to reason with you in that moment would be pointless. "Are you actually insane? I'm sorry that anyone else having a brain in this house threatens your need to micromanage every single thing that happens under this roof."
"It doesn't threaten me at all," Logan said, standing up straight and towering over you, using his height to crowd your space until his shadow completely blocked out the light from the window. The sheer, uncharacteristic anger rolling off him was suffocating; Tucker actually slid his chair back a few inches, completely done with trying to intervene at this point. "It annoys me. You annoy me, actually. I'm not going to walk on eggshells in my own dining room because you can't handle a basic correction."
"I can handle a correction if it's respectful," you shot back, your heart hammering against your ribs, but you refused to take a step away from him. "You don't want to help Tucker. You just want to feel like the smartest guy in the room and that is annoying."
"I dont—," Logan started, a nervous scoff escaping his lips. "You don't know anything about me. Please let's keep it this way, since you clearly can't stand me anyway."
"You're the one who treats me like an absolute inconvenience the second I breathe in your direction!" you yelled, the weeks of being ignored, brushed off, and glared at finally boiling over into raw, unadulterated anger. "If you hate me being here so much, just say it. But stop acting like I'm the one bringing the venom into this house when you're the one dripping it."
The air between you turned completely volatile, thick enough to choke on. A strange, angry electricity snapped between you, the argument completely detached from history or homework now, exposed and raw. Logan stared down at you, his breathing heavy and uneven as he tried to swallow down the sheer frustration rolling off him in waves. He leaned down slightly, bringing his face inches from yours, his jaw clenching so hard a muscle violently ticked in his cheek.
"Fuck you," he whispered.
The words hit with a cold, deliberate weight that vibrated in the dead-silent room. Before you could fire back, Tucker's voice boomed from the kitchen archway, stern and completely done with both of you. "Enough! Both of you, cut it the hell out."
But the damage was done. The look in Logan's eyes made something tight and painful twist in your chest. You refused to sit there and breathe the same air as him for another second. Blindly turning around, you grabbed your laptop and notebook, shoving them into your backpack with rigid, uncooperative hands.
"I'm leaving," you muttered, keeping your eyes glued firmly to the floor as you pushed past Hannah’s reaching hand on the way out. You grabbed your jacket from the hook and left through the front door, slamming it hard enough to rattle the frame, stepping out into the pouring, cold rain with the echo of his voice looping in your head like a curse.
Three — "Fuck off"
For the next month, you became an absolute expert at avoiding John Logan. You turned it into an art form. If he was at a crowded house party, you stayed firmly in the kitchen or on the opposite porch. If the entire group gathered at Malone's, you ensured you sat on the exact opposite end of the long table, hidden behind Dean's loud gestures.
Because of this, you never saw the way his eyes silently followed you when you entered a room, or the almost guilty look that crossed his face whenever your name came up in conversation. He knew he'd crossed a line by cursing at you like that—but your unbreakable silence gave him absolutely no room to apologize, and his own stubborn pride kept him from forcing the issue.
There were small signs of his guilt, though. One random Thursday afternoon, he showed up at the place you shared with Hannah and Allie, claiming he was just dropping off a spare hockey hoodie Garrett had left in his truck. You had stayed in your room with the door cracked just an inch, watching through the tiny gap as he lingered by the entrance, his eyes constantly drifting toward your door, silently checking to see if you'd come out. You hadn't moved an inch, holding your breath until he finally left.
Eventually, Hannah and Allie staged a full-blown intervention. A brand-new club had opened downtown, and they absolutely refused to let you stay home and rot in your room, even though they openly admitted the boys were all coming along. You finally relented, numbing your spiking anxiety by pouring yourself two heavy pre-game vodka crans before leaving the house.
The club was a massive sensory overload—flashing neon lights, artificial fog, and heavy, chest-thumping bass that made communication impossible. By midnight, everyone was comfortably, heavily drunk. You were leaning your back against the sticky mahogany bar, sipping a gin and tonic, when you finally caught sight of him through the pulsing crowd.
Logan was laughing at something Beau said, a dark red bandana tied tightly around his messy hair, looking effortlessly, devastatingly handsome in a black fitted t-shirt. As if sensing the weight of your gaze, his head turned. His dark eyes locked directly onto yours across the smoky crowded room. He didn’t look away. He held your stare for a second, then two, then three — a strange, intense, unreadable heat settling over his features before a group of dancers blocked your view.
A few minutes later, a guy from one of the campus fraternities slithered up next to you on the edge of the dance floor. He was loud, sweaty, and smelled entirely too much like cheap cologne and whiskey — but a little bit of dancing could help taking your mind off of a certain hockey player, you thought. You enjoyed it at first, moving along, focusing on the music, the stranger getting closer and closer as the playlist progressed. But then, just as you started to feel good - just the right amount of alcohol in your veins to feel lighter and relaxed - he tried to grind his hips against yours. You tried to step back, laughing it off politely at first, pushing his hands away, but he didn't take the hint. His hands came down on your waist, his fingers digging into your hips, pulling you flush against him with a grip that was far too tight and aggressive.
Before you could even raise your hands to shove his chest, a massive shadow loomed over both of you.
A now familiar hand gripped the frat guy’s shoulder, spinning him around with enough force to make his sneakers squeak on the floor.
"Fuck off," Logan snarled, his voice a low, lethal vibration that cut right through the heavy bass of the music. He leaned in until he was nose-to-nose with the guy. "Get your fucking hands off her and fuck off right now."
The guy looked at Logan and wisely raised his hands in surrender, backing away rapidly into the foggy crowd without throwing a single punch.
Logan’s breathing was heavy, his chest heaving, his fists still clenched tightly at his sides as his eyes scanned the immediate area like a wild animal looking for another threat. He looked ready to tear the entire club apart with his bare hands. Anxious that he might actually chase the guy down for a fight, you stepped directly into his line of sight, capturing his attention.
"Logan," you breathed, your voice soft and entirely stripped of its usual sarcasm. Without thinking about the consequences, you reached out, your bare fingers wrapping around his forearm.
The exact millisecond your skin met the warm, rock-hard muscle of his arm, Logan froze entirely. It was the first time the two of you had ever willingly, gently touched, and the effect was instantaneous. The blinding anger seemed to drain out of him in a single breath, replaced by a sudden, sharp intake of air. He looked down at your small hand resting on his arm, his skin tingling where you touched him, and then he slowly, deliberately lifted his gaze to your eyes.
The noisy club, the flashing strobe lights, the roaring bass, the alcohol—it all faded into irrelevant background noise. You stood face-to-face on the crowded dance floor, completely motionless, just looking into each other's eyes. Your heart was hammering a frantic rhythm against your ribs, not from fear of the frat guy, but from a sudden, dizzying, terrifying realization. Looking into his wide, intensely focused eyes, you realized you didn't hate him. Not even close. And from the soft, almost vulnerable parting of his lips, he didn't hate you either. You weren't close to being friends yet, but the ice had officially shattered into a million pieces.
Four — "What the fuck"
The shift between you was subtle, but it was absolutely undeniable. The sharp hostility was gone, completely replaced by a quiet, lingering, heavy awareness that neither of you knew quite what to do with.
A week later, you were sitting in a sunlit corner booth at Malone’s. You were completely, entirely absorbed in a brutal, multi-chapter study session for your finals, a pair of heavy over-ear headphones clamped securely over your ears. The sweet, nostalgic melody of American Pie was playing through the speakers, and without even realizing it, you were softly humming along to the chorus, tapping the cap of your yellow highlighter rhythmically against the open pages of your textbook.
You were so deeply focused on your notes that you didn't hear the diner's front door chime, nor did you see Logan walk in. He was there to finalize the last-minute details for the upcoming Hockey Fundraiser with Hannah and Della. But the exact moment his eyes scanned the room and spotted you sitting alone in the corner booth, he stopped dead in his tracks.
He didn’t approach right away. He just stood near the counter, watching you. A soft, genuine smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he listened to your faint, slightly off-key humming.
Prickled by the sudden, distinct sensation of eyes on you, you blinked and lifted your head from your textbook. Logan instantly wiped the smile from his face, clearing his throat roughly and pretending to read a missing cat flyer on the bulletin board.
You pulled your headphones down, a small smirk playing on your lips. "You know, if you stare any harder, you're going to burn a hole right through my skull, Logan."
Instead of snapping back with a sarcastic, biting retort like he used to, Logan let out a soft chuckle. He walked over to your booth and, to your surprise, slid into the bench by your side, his knee almost touching yours.
"Just making sure you weren't torturing the rest of the innocent customers with your singing," he teased gently, his shoulder brushing against yours in the tight space.
You rolled your eyes, but there was no spite left in your expression. "I happen to have the voice of a literal angel, thank you very much. You're just jealous."
The playful banter slowly subsided into a comfortable silence. Logan looked at you, his expression turning a little more serious, his eyes softening as his voice dropped to a much quieter register. "Hey… are you doing okay?" Since what happened the other night, obviously implied by the way he looked at you right now, concern written all over his face.
You felt a warm flush creep up your neck and settle into your cheeks. "I'm okay, thank you" you smiled and he nodded, both silently agreeing not to discuss this unpleasant event anymore. You paused, looking down at his large hands resting on the table before forcing yourself to look back up. "How are you doing ? With the fundraiser and everything, I mean. You look like you haven't slept in a week."
He seemed genuinely surprised that you were asking about him. Really, truly asking. He leaned back against the vinyl booth, a soft sigh escaping his lips as he completely opened up to you. He talked about the immense stress of managing the team's high expectations, his constant worries about Jules’ upcoming exams, and the suffocating pressure of the NHL scouts attending the next three games. You listened intently, never interrupting, offering gentle encouragement and a few dry, sarcastic jokes that had him laughing quietly into his palms. For a full hour, the two most stubborn, argumentative people at Briar University just… talked.
"Well," you finally said, checking the diner clock and reluctantly packing your laptop into your bag. "I have to get to my shift at the library. Don't let Della bully you into paying extra for the tableware."
"I won't," Logan said, his eyes tracking your every movement, lingering on your face. "See you around?"
"See you around." You gave him a small, genuine smile—the first real one he'd ever received from you—and walked out into the crisp afternoon air, your heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks.
Inside the booth, Logan sat completely still for a long, agonizing moment. He watched your retreating figure through the glass window until you turned the corner and disappeared from view. Slowly, he let out a shaky exhale, burying his face entirely in his hands. He rubbed his palms over his eyes, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs.
"What the fuck," he whispered into the empty diner booth, his voice laced with a mixture of absolute awe and sheer, unadulterated panic. He was screwed. He was completely, utterly, hopelessly screwed, and he knew there was no turning back.
Five — "Well, fuck"
The night of the Briar Hockey Fundraiser at Malone’s was a chaotic, high-energy, glittering success. The entire diner had been completely transformed for the evening—the regular tables had been pushed to the far perimeter to create a makeshift dance floor, strings of warm fairy lights hung across the ceiling, and a massive turnout of wealthy alumni, boosters, and students kept the bar utterly slammed.
You had dressed up significantly for the occasion, wearing a form-fitting, emerald green silk dress that Allie let you borrow from her closet - of course. You spent the first half of the night talking to Hannah near the punch bowl, but your eyes kept unconsciously tracking a certain someone across the room.
Logan was entirely in his element—charming the older donors, laughing easily with his teammates, and looking entirely too edible for your own good.
Around midnight, the formal event finally dissolved into a proper, rowdy college party. The DJ cranked up a heavy, slow, rhythmic pop song, the bass echoing through the floor, and the dance floor filled up with couples. You were navigating the edge of the sweaty crowd, trying to find Allie when a sudden, firm, yet gentle pull on your wrist guided you backward.
You spun around on your heels, your chest bumping right into Logan’s broad torso. "You've been actively dodging me all night," he murmured, his deep voice vibrating right against your skin as his large hand settled naturally around yours. The casual, unhesitating intimacy of the gesture sent a fierce, blinding jolt of electricity straight down your spine.
"I wasn't dodging you, I was letting you do your official host duties," you shot back, a wicked, playful smile spreading across your lips. The alcohol gave you a surge of confidence, and you looped your arms slowly around his neck, stepping closer into his personal space until there was absolutely no air left between you. "Besides, I didn't think you could actually handle me dancing with you."
Logan’s dark eyes lit up instantly, a dangerous, competitive challenge flaring in his pupils. He pulled you a fraction of an inch closer. "Oh, really? Try me, sweetheart."
You didn't hesitate. As the heavy beat of the music dropped, you shifted your weight, rolling your hips slowly, deliberately, and sinfully against his. You leaned in close, your lips brushing the warm shell of his ear as you whispered, "You're all talk, John Logan. Let's see if you can actually keep up with me."
You pulled back just enough to look at him, your hands sliding down his chest to grip the crisp fabric of his shirt, tugging him rhythmically, tightly against your body. The friction was immediate, heavy, and intoxicating. Logan’s breath hitched audibly in his throat. A dark, intense flush crept up his neck, coloring his sharp cheekbones as his hands settled on your waist, his fingers digging firmly into your skin through the thin fabric of your dress. He swallowed hard, his eyes dropping helplessly to your parted lips, entirely overwhelmed and undone by the sudden confidence of your movements. He could feel exactly how much you were affecting him, his body reacting instantly to the touch of your hips.
A breathless, desperate laugh escaped him. He jerked his head back for a split second, fighting a losing battle for self-control. "Well, fuck," he muttered, his voice raw, completely devoid of its usual composure.
"Did I break the big, tough hockey player already?" you cooed, tilting your chin up tauntingly, your noses almost touching as you continued to sway against him.
"You wish," he groaned, his thumbs stroking the bare skin of your lower back where your dress dipped low. He didn't pull away. Instead, he pulled you even tighter against his lower body, matching your sinful rhythm perfectly, his dark eyes locked onto yours with a burning intensity that made it very clear the playful teasing was rapidly turning into something much more dangerous and inevitable. When the night finally forced you apart, it didn't feel like a goodbye — it was a promise.
Six — "Fuck"
Some things are bound to reach a breaking point, and the agonizing tension building between you for months was no exception. Three nights later, Briar won a massive game and the ensuing after-party at the boys' house was pure chaotic madness. The house was packed to maximum capacity, a sweaty, pulsing mass of drunken celebration, loud music, and screaming students.
But you and Logan weren't paying any attention to the party. For the past two hours, you had been moving around the house like two high-powered magnets — constantly drawing closer, stealing long, heated glances across the crowded rooms, the unspoken, heavy weight of the fundraiser hanging between you.
Seeking a brief moment of quiet to cool down your flushed skin, you headed down the dark back hallway toward the upstairs bathroom. Just as you reached out for the brass doorknob, the door swung open from the inside.
Logan stepped out.
You nearly crashed straight into his chest, cutting your breath short as you ground to a halt mere inches from him. The hallway was swallowed by shadows, save for the frantic strobe lights bleeding in from the living room. Logan stared down at you, wide-eyed, his chest rising and falling in sync with the thick, suffocating heat pulsing through the house.
Neither of you said a single word. The months of toxic banter, the vicious, screaming arguments, the desperate avoidance, and the agonizing teasing all converged into a single, breathless, breaking second.
Logan reached out with lightning speed, his large hand wrapping around your waist, and shoved you backward into the bathroom, slamming the heavy wooden door shut behind you and twisting the lock with a sharp, echoing click.
Before the sound of the lock could even fade, his mouth crashed onto yours.
It was an absolute explosion. The kiss was passionate, borderline feral, a violent release of pure, pent-up, crazy frustration. You let out a muffled gasp against his lips, your hands flying up to rip into his dark hair, pulling him down toward you out of sheer desperation. He groaned deep in his throat, a sound of pure hunger, pinning your body flat against the heavy wooden door, his thick thighs crowding tightly between yours. His hands were absolutely everywhere—clutching your face, tracing the line of your throat, gripping your hips with a bruising, desperate force that felt incredibly, entirely right.
"Logan," you whimpered against his mouth as he tore his lips away to kiss your jawline, your neck - his hands sliding down to frantically bunch up the silk fabric of your dress.
With a sudden burst of strengh, he hooked his large hands under your thighs and lifted you effortlessly into the air. You wrapped your legs tightly around his waist as he deposited you onto the cold marble edge of the bathroom sink counter. He didn't waste a single second. His hands slid all the way up the bare, warm skin of your thighs, finding the edge of your underwear. His fingers quickly found your slick, burning, over-sensitized core, rubbing against you through the damp fabric with a rhythm that made your head tilt back and earned a large grin from him.
You arched your back off the counter, a loud sob escaping your lips, your fingers digging deep into his shoulders.
"You like that?" Logan growled against your neck, his voice dripping with lust. His fingers moved faster, driving you up a steep, agonizing cliff. "Tell me you want it."
"Logan," you breathed out, "please," you cried out, your head tossing back against the large bathroom mirror. Your hands flew down to his waist, frantically, blindly fumbling with the button of his jeans. You shoved the denim down his hips until his length snapped free—thick, heavy, and pulsing with heat. The moment your fingers wrapped tightly around him, moving in a fast, desperate stroke, Logan’s eyes rolled back.
His jaw clenched so hard a muscle ticked violently in his neck. He couldn't endure the exquisite torture for long, his quiet moans matching your own, before his large hand clamped over yours, freezing your movement. "Stop, stop," he panted, his chest wild, his forehead pressing against yours. "I'm going to come right now if you keep doing that. I need to feel you, right now."
With trembling, frantic hands, he reached into the small drawer next to the sink—Dean’s emergency stash—and ripped open a foil condom wrapper, spitting the plastic away and rolling it onto himself in one fluid, desperate motion.
Then he stepped back between your open thighs. His hands gripped your hips with an iron hold, dragging you to the very edge of the marble counter. He aligned himself against you, waiting just long enough for your frantic nod of approval. With one heavy, unyielding, possessive thrust, he buried himself completely inside you.
The sheer, overwhelming pleasure of that sudden fullness hit you both at once, fracturing the quiet of the bathroom with a sharp, mutual gasp. Instead of slowing down, the friction only stoked the fire, drawing a long, ragged, shattered exhale from deep in Logan's chest. His pupils were completely dilated, dark and wild with pure lust as his forehead dropped heavily against your shoulder.
"Fuck," he groaned into the crook of your neck, his voice a raw, visceral prayer vibrating against your collarbone.
His hands tightened on your hips, his fingers digging into your skin like an anchor as he immediately established a rhythm. The restraint dissolved into pure instinct. He pulled you flush against him, his thrusts becoming powerful, deep, and utterly relentless from the very start. Every heavy drive forced a breathless cry from your lips, the sound echoing off the tiled walls. You rocked together on the cold edge of the marble sink, your bodies generating a feverish heat that defied the chilly stone beneath you.
The bass from the after-party still thudded through the floorboards, a distant, muffled reminder of the chaotic world outside, but within the locked walls of the bathroom, that world was entirely forgotten. There was only the slick, friction-heavy slide of skin against skin, the frantic tangle of your fingers in his hair, and the hot, primal rhythm consuming you both.
The friction was dizzying, driving you both toward a precipice that neither of you could fight anymore. Logan’s pace turned frantic, his breath coming in harsh, ragged stabs against your ear as his hips slammed against yours with an undoing, desperate urgency. Every stroke sent a white-hot wave of pleasure straight to your core, tightening the coil inside you until it was agonizing.
You choked out a breathless, broken sound, your hands clamping onto his biceps as your head thrashed back against the mirror once more.
He didn't need words to know you were right there. He buried his face in your hair, his teeth grazing your shoulder as he delivered three more devastatingly deep, relentless thrusts.
That was the final breaking point. Your walls clamped down around him tight and pulsing, fracturing your breath into a loud, ruined cry as your entire body shattered into a blinding, head-to-toe release.
Hearing you break completely ruined him. Logan let out a guttural, unhinged groan that vibrated deep in his chest. His jaw locked, his body rigid and trembling as he gave one last, deeply possessive shove, throwing his weight into you as he came violently inside the condom. He held himself deep within you, his hips shuddering against yours as he rode out the waves of his own release, the two of you panting heavily in the quiet aftermath, entirely spent.
Seven — "Fuck it"
Roughly thirty minutes later, the two of you finally emerged from the bathroom. You had tried your absolute best to fix your chaotic appearance in the mirror—re-applying a bit of smudge-proof lip gloss, smoothing down the wrinkled fabric of your dress, and trying to tame your wildly tangled hair with your fingers—but the physical evidence of what had just occurred was written all over your faces. Your skin was flushed a deep unmistakable pink, your lips were incredibly swollen and red, and Logan was walking with a loose, stupidly contented, proud stride, his hair completely disheveled and sticking up in directions where your fingers had repeatedly torn through it.
The exact moment you stepped back onto the floor of the crowded living room, a loud, piercing whistle cut through the air.
Dean was leaning against the back of the sofa, a beer dangling from his fingers and a knowing smirk plastered across his face. His eyes darted from you to Logan, zeroing in instantly on the faint trace of your lip gloss smeared along Logan’s jawline.
"Well, well, well," he said, loud enough to be heard over the music. "Must have been a pretty intense plumbing emergency in there. Either that, or you two just went ten rounds with a blender. You might want to wipe your face, Logan."
Your cheeks instantly burned. You took a step back. "Dean, shut up, we were just—"
But Logan didn't let you finish the lie. He looked down at you, catching the slight panic in your eyes, and then looked over at Dean, who was practically vibrating with smug satisfaction.
Instead of getting defensive, Logan just let out a short, quiet laugh. The stubbornness, the secrecy, the remnants of your old feud—it all suddenly felt completely irrelevant. He was tired of hiding it.
"You know what? Fuck it," Logan muttered.
Before you could process the words, his hand slid around the back of your neck, his thumb resting against your jaw as he pulled you flush against his chest. Right there by the sofa, he leaned down and kissed you.
Dean threw his arms up in a dramatic, sweeping gesture. "About damn fucking time! Graham, you owe me twenty bucks!"
When Logan finally pulled back, his eyes were bright, a relaxed, genuinely happy smile playing on his lips as his thumb brushed your cheek. You looked up at him, the noise of the party fading into the background, finally realizing that the long, argumentative journey of seven dirty words had brought you exactly where you were supposed to be.
AN: this is short because I’m not very good at writing angst lol! Keep the requests coming though, I also write smut it’s just been a minute. I used to write for Top Gun but I deleted my account a few years ago 🤣
Warnings: Cheating, Sex
You’d been dating Dean for a couple of months now and so far things were going great. That was up until recently.
The Hawks had an early morning practice today and you figured you’d surprise Dean with breakfast. Knowing that Tucker reserved Saturday mornings for protein smoothies and opted not to fix breakfast. You’d sent him a text asking if he was home but no reply.
Y/N: Are you home from practice? Just got out of Pilates was gonna stop by 😊❤️
You waited for a reply as you stood in line at one of your favorite cafes on campus, ordering your usual iced coffee and Dean’s breakfast burrito.
Your drive to the house was quick and as you pulled into the short drive you noticed Dean’s car parked in its usual spot. You frown to yourself, maybe he was in the shower or something. You let yourself in only to be greeted by Garrett, Logan, and Tucker who stare at you like they’ve seen a ghost.
“Well hello to you all to?” You say though it comes out more like a question. You frown. “What?” You ask, feeling slightly insecure with your boyfriend’s friends staring at you.
Logan looks at Garrett, before Tucker shakes his head and walks into the kitchen.
“You guys are being weird, too many hits at practice this morning?” You say, kicking your shoes off and heading up the stairs to Dean’s room.
“I assume he’s back in bed considering it’s 9:45 on a Saturday morning.” You say. No one responds.
“Garrett if she’s out here, who the fuck is in his bedroom.” Logan whispers once you’re out of earshot.
“Unfortunately I have an idea and I’m not happy about it.” Garrett says, grabbing his phone and calling his own girlfriend.
At the top of the stairs Dean’s door is shut. Though it doesn’t sound like he’s sleeping. Maybe he put a movie on to sleep, he does that sometimes. Thinking nothing of it you open his bedroom door, only to reveal your worst nightmare.
Allie Hayes is naked on top of your boyfriend. Your very naked, very much awake boyfriend.
“What the fuck.” You say, backing up from the door. Dean lifts his head, pushing Allie off of him and grabbing his boxers.
“Baby, it’s not…” Dean trails off.
“Not what it looks like are you fucking serious right now Dean? You were literally balls deep in her a second ago.” You say.
“Wait Dean said you guys broke up.” Allie says, looking back and forth between the two of you. You scoff.
“Well we are now.” You say, turning to walk down the stairs. You hand the bag from the cafe to Logan who also has the same order.
“It’s a breakfast burrito, I’m not going to eat it but I’m not leaving it for your cheating asshole of a friend.” You say as you go to put your shoes back on. You open the door only to be greeted with Hannah Wells.
“Wellsy, baby did you know?” Garrett asks with concern on his face. Hannah shakes her head.
“No oh my gosh no, I’d never have agreed to this.” She says giving you a sympathetic smile.
“Baby wait!” Dean calls as he runs down the stairs in only his boxers.
“Dean,” you say closing your eyes for a moment to control your rage. “There is nothing you can say to me right now that’s going to fix that, so save your breath.” You say. You turn walking quickly back to your car and heading back towards your dorm. Tears spill down your cheeks and your phone dings incessantly in the seat next to you. How did you not see this coming, he’d been so dodgy lately, not wanting to hangout as much always having a workout or extra practice. It was all just bullshit.
synopsis – feeling like you’re stuck with the title of ‘Allie’s little sister’, there was no way John Logan would ever reciprocate feelings for you… right?
based on this request!
warnings – mutual pining, slow burn, friends to lovers, good mix of fluff and humor, language, a cheeky kiss, reader gets called ‘Lil Hayes’, Allie is cracked out in the best way, some moments are taken from the show but are out of order (just go along with it pls!!!)
note – this one was so fun to write, thanks for sending it in! if you want to request something, you can submit it by clicking the ‘♡’ button on my page or commenting under this post! enjoy ♡
masterlist
✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧
Ever since you started attending Briar, you and your older sister Allie have gotten closer than ever. She took you under her wing the second you arrived at Briar. You integrated into her friend group with ease, however, feelings of insecurity and intimidation couldn’t help but seep in when you found yourself comparing yourself to your sister all the time.
Allie Hayes – the confident, beautiful, outgoing girl who managed to lock down Dean fucking DiLaurentis just by wearing a J-Lo costume at a party.
And sure, you shared the same confidence and beauty as her, but following her around like a lost puppy, literally and figuratively, only seemed to reinforce the idea that you were really just known as ‘Allie’s little sister’. The thoughts race through your head as you bike over to the hockey house, Allie insisting you come by and hang out. Music plays loudly in your headphones as you pedal down the street before arriving at the house, pulling up to the steps.
Climbing off your bike, you unbuckle your helmet, running your hands through your hair. Your back faces the front door as you take your bag out of the front basket of your bike. Taking your phone out, you pause the music, removing the headphones and putting them in your bag. Before you can lock your bike up, the front door swings open.
You turn around, seeing Logan rushing down the stairs.
“Lemme grab that for you,” he insists as you step back, hiking your bag up on your shoulder.
“Oh hey, thanks,” you smile. You toss the lock in the basket as he effortlessly lifts the bike, walking up the stairs as you follow him. He perches your bike up against the house.
“I… haven’t seen you around lately,” Logan says, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets.
“Oh, you know with finals around the corner, studying is taking up most of my time,” you say, nervously laughing, half telling the truth.
The full truth being you’re harboring the world’s biggest crush on John Logan, and you know he’d never feel the same way about you so you’re avoiding him as much as possible in the hopes that your crush will eventually go away. A mission that’s currently failing as his brown doe eyes look into yours, captivating you.
“Huh, I can’t imagine you struggling with finals, or anything really,” he says, the compliment going straight to your heart, a confidence boost radiating through you at the idea that maybe, just maybe, he was flirting with you. A light smile crawls onto your face, the blush on your cheeks definitely noticeable.
“Well, I gotta keep that scholarship somehow, right?” you joke, trying not to blatantly flirt with him, just in case you’re misjudging this entire conversation.
“Right…” he trails off. He looks as if he’s about to say something, when the front door swings open, a mop of blonde hair peeking out behind Logan’s shoulder.
“What up Lil Hayes,” Dean says, peeking out the front door, immediately killing the moment, that same feeling of feeling small rushing over your body once again, depleting any confidence you had. Logan notices the subtle shift in your body language as you press your lips in a fine line before meeting Dean’s gaze.
“Hi Dean,” you reply.
“Allie’s looking for you,” he says, looking from you to Logan before heading back inside. Your eyebrows raise for half a second before your eyes meet Logan’s again. He turns to the side, holding his arm out, motioning to let you walk in first. You smile at him as a ‘thanks’ before he follows you in, shamelessly letting his eyes trail down your body as you walk inside.
Logan knew he liked you after your first interaction. The way your smile lit up the room, your confidence and personality had him whipped from the start. As bubbly as you were, you were a bit hard to read. He struggled to gauge how you felt about him, and the thought of ruining the friendship you had already developed scared the shit out of him, so he just felt it was better to keep these feelings to himself. In the meantime, he resorted to little flirty comments here and there, going above and beyond for you, not just to impress you.
But because he wanted to.
Clearly, he didn’t keep his feelings hidden well enough, Dean winking at him as he makes his way into the kitchen. Logan slightly shakes his head at him in confusion, walking past you and Allie on the couch, chatting about something you clearly had interest in. Your smile big and your eyes widening, him truly thinking your eyes could sparkle if they wanted to. Dean’s eyes follow Logan’s to the couch before looking back at Logan when the realization dawns on him.
Logan approaches Dean in the kitchen, questioning the very smug grin on his face. “You like Lil Hayes, don’t you,” he says, the first time those words ever leaving someone’s mouth making his heart drop into his stomach.
Logan didn’t know why, but he didn’t like the nickname. Sure, it was cute and quirky, but something about it rubbed him the wrong way. It was almost as if it made you seem like you weren’t your own person, you were just Allie’s sister. But you were so much more than that. He could tell you didn’t like it either.
The subtle way your body would tense up when you hear it, trying to hide any discomfort as you swallow down the emotions, it happening just moments ago on the porch. After he saw your negative reaction to it the first time, he made a promise to himself.
He would never call you that.
“She’s really cool and we get along, how does that mean I have a crush?” he asks Dean, trying to deflect.
“I know what it looks like to be captivated by a Hayes,” he says, a hint of humor in his voice as he continues, “And she definitely likes you too, so you should go for it,” he says, making Logan’s head whip towards Dean.
“What?” he says, unsure he heard Dean correctly. Dean just shrugs, taking a sip of Gatorade and patting Logan’s chest before heading out to the backyard where Garrett and Tucker already are, working out. Logan’s eyes find you again, laughing at something Allie said. Your eyes glance over to him, the smile staying on your face that he gladly returns, before he heads up to his room to change to join the guys for a workout.
“You so like him!!” Allie says, grabbing your hands and bouncing lightly on the couch.
“Will you keep your voice down?! And no, I don’t” you deny, the lie falling a little too easily off your lips.
“I love you, but you are so naive if you think he doesn’t like you back,” Allie sternly says. One of the many things you admired about your sister was her bluntness to call things like she sees it. And Allie was never one to lie to anyone. About anything.
You and Allie go back and forth as Logan eventually catches your eye once more, rushing back down the stairs, before he heads to the backyard. Your eyes follow him as he walks through the living room, the cut sleeveless hoodie allowing your eyes to be blessed with the sight of his arms flexing, while he ties the red bandana behind his head as he continues walking outside.
“Yeah, that wasn’t subtle at all,” Allie sarcastically states, watching you basically eye fuck him. You look back at her, rolling your eyes, laying your body onto the back of the couch, hugging a pillow close to your chest.
“I don’t like him.”
“Whatever you say…”
✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧
“Thank you all for coming,” Allie says, having a presentation style hangout a few days later as Hannah, Garrett, Dean and Tucker sit around the couch watching her.
“Aren’t we missing two…? Tucker asks, looking around noticing you and Logan missing.
“No no my sweet Tuck, they are the reason we are all here right now.” Allie says very adamantly before continuing, “It’s so obvious they like each other but they’re both too scared to do anything about it. We have to intervene,” she finishes. The rest of the group looks around at each other, waiting for someone else to speak up.
“I’m in,” Dean says, “I talked to Logan about it the other day in the kitchen and he clammed up. He totally likes her,” he says. The rest of the group nods, more than willing to help their friends out. Allie’s eyes widen in excitement.
“Exactly. I love my sister, but I also know her, she’s gonna clam up the second he makes some cute comment, which is his passive way of trying to let her know he’s into her and then that stupid voice in her head is gonna sike her out and she’s gonna shut down,” she rambles, exhaling at the end.
“Okay, so how do we do this?” Hannah asks.
“It’s gotta be something good, no inviting her to a game or any of that crap,” Garrett chimes in.
Allie smirks, “I have the perfect idea.”
✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧
“You stole her fucking bike chain??!”
Allie stands there, having not been gone 30 minutes, her hands now all greased up, a bike chain dangling in one hand, a pair of pliers in the other. “Just trust me, okay? She’s gonna get out of class, realize it’s stolen and go to the one person we all know who can fix it. We all just need to be out of the house when it happens so they’re alone when they get back here,” Allie says, a smile on her face.
The group looks at her with a mix of emotions – impressed, shocked, concerned – as Garrett checks his watch.
“Logan’s probably still at the rink,” he says, mentioning how lately he’s been staying after practices to get extra skating time.
“Perfect, she gets out of class any minute now, that’s enough time for Logan to still be there while she realizes she’s screwed and reaches out to him all ‘damsel in distress’ like. This is gonna be great you guys, trust me!” she exclaims, the group just nodding in agreement, not wanting to hurt her feelings at the extremity of her way of trying to get the two of you together. It really was sweet how she just wanted you to be happy.
✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧
Your heart sinks as you approach your bike, the chain clearly missing from your bike. Who the hell even robs someone of a bike chain? The bike route from the campus building to your place was long enough as is, having to lug a broken bike all that way definitely not an ideal situation. You sigh, eyes darting around as you try to come up with a solution.
Logan’s phone buzzes repeatedly in his hockey bag, him catching the tail end of it after his shower before rushing over to his bag. Pulling his phone out, a light smile on his face seeing your name. Then, a wave of concern. You never call him.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asks. The panic in your voice sets alarm bells off in his head.
“Hey, sorry, are you free right now? I just got out of class and some asshat stole my bike chain. It’s a long way to my place to have to drag the bike with me. I didn’t know if you had a spare chain or anything to help me…” you trail off, sighing, embarrassed at your rambling.
“I’m actually still at the rink, I don’t have any tools or anything with me, but I can come by and take a look at it,” he offers. He grins, hearing the sigh of relief that came from the other end of the call.
“You’re a lifesaver,” you say, telling him which building you’re at before the calls ends. Logan arrives about ten minutes later, the sad look on your face making his heart ache before that look turns into your face brightening up when you see him. You greet each other before he takes a look at the bike.
“Yep… It’s definitely missing,” he says, a hint of sarcasm in his voice as you look down at him blankly, trying not to laugh. “Wow, thanks” you reply sarcastically, crossing your arms.
“It’s weird, it looks like it was yanked it out with pliers or something,” he says, confused.
“Yeah, who steals a fucking bike chain?” you rhetorically ask, rubbing your hands over your face, this being the last thing you need right now. The tense sigh that leaves your lips catches Logan’s attention, him standing up, wiping his hands before coming up to you. Your hands go back down to your sides as he speaks.
“Hey, we’ll figure it out. We can just take the bike to the hockey house, I’ll stop by the shop on our way to get a chain and it’ll be as good as new,” he reassures you, a light smile arriving on your face, incredibly thankful for his willingness to help you.
“There’s that pretty smile. Alright, let’s go,” he says, turning his back to you to grab the bike and put it in the bed of his truck.
Your brain nearly malfunctions, replaying that in your head, making sure you heard him correctly. He pulls the passenger door open for you. You hop in and before he can shut the door, you turn your body towards him. “Thank you so much, seriously, I owe you,” you say sincerely.
“I’d help you any time,” he replies, closing the door gently, the butterflies swarming inside your stomach.
✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧
One new bike chain later and you and Logan are sitting on the hockey house couch facing each other, the conversation flowing effortlessly. Your elbow is perched on the top of the couch, your head resting in the palm of your hand as Logan’s arm is sprawled across the top of the couch, his fingers dangerously close to your arm.
“I don’t know that we’ve ever hung out just the two of us… It’s nice,” you admit, his eyes softer than ever as he looks at you.
“It is nice,” he reaffirms, adjusting his arm as his hand gets even closer to you. Your eyes flicker down to his hand before quickly making eye contact with him again. The tension in the air feels incredibly thick, you both soaking in the moment.
“You are so beautiful,” he says, the intention in his voice clearer than ever, all the negative thoughts swarming in your head dissipating as you look down shyly, a blush creeping up on your cheeks, smiling as you look back at him.
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
Before you can come back with any self-deprecating comments hidden inside a joke, Logan continues,
“I know sometimes it can feel like you’re living in your sister’s shadow. But I want you to know that I see you for you. And I think you’re incredible,” he finishes, the warm feeling in your body radiating all throughout as your eyes slightly well up, lightly smiling at him.
“Thank you,” you say, your eyes telling a much larger story. And Logan was an expert in reading.
Logan’s position on the couch changes, him still facing you as he sits up, scooting even closer to you. You sit up too, the air getting heavier as he leans in slightly, gauging your reaction. Your eyes flicker from his eyes to his lips as Logan leans in, connecting your lips.
Describing the kiss as fireworks would be an understatement, his hand coming up to hold your face as you lean into him, deepening the kiss. His other hand finds your waist, pulling you in even closer, your hand placing itself on his shoulder, slowly trailing down to his arm, squeezing his bicep, taking full advantage of the opportunity.
Smiling into the kiss, you slowly pull away, giggling lightly. Fighting the smiles growing on your faces was a lost cause, the both of you feeling giddy like kids again.
A smack on the window snaps the two of you out your bliss, your heads whipping over to the window, catching several heads quickly ducking, including a very delayed duck by a bright blonde mop of hair. You stare in bewilderment,
“Are they fucking watching us?!”
✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧・゚*✧
note – NEED ME A JOHN LOGAN NOW!!! also, thank you to everyone who's sent in requests, I promise I'm working on them as quickly as I can, I'm trying to juggle work and writing right now so bear with me, they're coming!!!🩷