Bunch of paper sketches of my boy Rory, mostly after the apocalypse is "over" and him and his pals found a farm in the middle of nowhere to live out the rest of their days
Doodle time! My oc Rory Bennett and @ohpineapples Sophie Strangways, who I love with all my heart. I think that meeting would end up with Rory having time of her life and Sophie rethinking her life choices x) Bonus doodle of Torao’s head coz I love him too :D
Rory is only seventeen and she already knows what she wants when it comes to love. Growing up, she watched her parents continuously love and adore each other. Their relationship never plateaued unlike some of her friends parents, it instead grew. It was obvious that they enjoyed spending time together and Rory wanted that. She wanted to dance in the kitchen together without a care in the world. She wanted to have date nights and go on spontaneous adventures together and there was one person who she wanted to do that with, John B Routledge.
As every best friend to lovers story goes, Rory didn’t intend to fall for the Routledge boy it just happened without her realising what them feelings were until it was too late. Everything felt right when she was with him. She felt whole. She could kiss any touron she wants but it always ends up back to John B. Even when he brings another girl around. Its not his fault though, he doesn’t know about the crush Rory has been keeping close to her chest for the past two years.
“You need to stop pouting.” Kie said. She loved her friend to bits but there is only so much John B pouting she can take. Rory mumbled that she wasn’t which earned a pointed look from Kie. “You don’t even know if anything is going on between him and Sarah.”
“Why wouldn’t there be? It’s Sarah freaking Cameron. She’s perfect and beautiful and cares about the environment. Not to mention she has a shit ton of money. So why wouldn’t John B like her.” Rory sighed, her insecurities coming out. If it was a touron she wouldn’t care because the likelihood of them seeing each other again was slim. Sarah on the other hand lived here so they would probably see each other again. Plus, their interaction was different.
“Because I know John B.” She told her before contemplating whether to tell Rory the next thing. Maybe it was the push she needed. “And I know that he’s crazy about you.” She looked up at Kie. She knew she wouldn’t lie, not about this. “You should tell him.” Rory bobbed her head, taking in what Kie was saying. Maybe that’s what she’s going to do.
-x-
Rory stared down at her cup, the contents suddenly very interesting. It was supposed to be a nice evening, chilling on John B’s porch drinking and listening to music, having a good time and it was until Sarah got here. Rory didn’t hate Sarah but something about her presence tonight irked her. Maybe it was the fact she looked beautiful without trying or the fact she was sat close to John B, laughing at whatever he said. The alcohol she consumed didn’t help the bitter taste in her mouth nor was the looks of pity from her friends. She wanted to stay. She tried to but there was only so much she could hold in before she explodes.
She placed her cup down and slid into the house, trying to leave unnoticed. Kie however noticed and followed Rory inside. “Where are you going?” She asked as Rory put her flannel, the one she stole from John B, on.
“Home.” Rory simply said, tucking her phone in her pocket and headed towards the front door.
“You don’t have to leave.” Kie told her but she whipped around, her eyes glossing over.
“I do though.” Rory wiped away a stray tear before continuing. “You told me nothing is going on with them yet she’s fucking here. I was going to tell him tonight, you know. Guess I’m too late.” She sadly said, turning to walk home. Kie called after her, but she ignored here, wanting to be alone for a bit.
-x-
There was a light tapping on the window, something Rory wasn’t expecting. She climbed out of bed and pushed the curtain to the side slightly, curious to see who it was. Relief washed over her when she saw John B’s face looking back at her and not some murderers. Rory opened her window and stepped aside, letting John B in. He climbed through the window effortlessly from all the times he’s done it before and stood before her.
“You left without saying goodbye.” John B simply said, his expression unreadable.
“You seemed busy.” Rory shrugged, crossing her arms feeling exposed under John B’s watchful gaze.
“I’m never too busy for you.” He said softly. Rory could’ve melted right then and there if the name Sarah wasn’t flashing brightly at the back of her head.
“What about Sarah? You two seem to be getting close.” She took a step back as a way to protect herself from what he was going to say.
“There’s nothing going on between me and Sarah.” John B assured her. “She was just helping me.”
“With what?” This was it, John B thought. He was going to have to tell Rory the truth or risk losing her forever.
“I- fuck- I didn’t want to tell you this way.” He started, running his hand through his hair. “I love you and I have been for so fucking long but I was too chicken to say anything. Sarah wanted to go out with me but I told her that I wasn’t interested, that someone else has got my heart and that someone is you.” John B finally stopped rambling leaving silence to settle in the room. Rory was shocked by his admission, not knowing what to say. “Please say something.” His voice was soft.
Rory took a step forward and looked up at him, rubbing her clammy hands on her shorts. “I love you too.” She told him, barely above a whisper. The smile that tugged on his lips told her he heard her confession. “I was too chicken to say anything too.”
John B reached for Rory’s hand and cupped her cheek with his other hand. She melted into his touch while he leaned in for a kiss. A knock at the door made the two teenagers jump apart before her dad popped his head through the gap of the open door. Don sighed seeing John B stand in the middle of his daughter’s bedroom. “Aurora, you know you’re not allowed boys in your room after twelve.” John B and Rory apologised. “I’ll drop you off John B.”
He nodded before turning to Rory. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He told her, squeezing her hand to assure her everything was alright.
“Goodnight.” Rory called after him as he followed her dad out of the bedroom, sending her a smile before closing the door behind him. She flopped on her bed, not being able to contain her smile. She almost kissed him. Rory Bennett almost kissed John B Routledge.
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Everyone was sitting at the edge of their seats as the minute hand ticked closer to three pm signalling the start of summer. The shrill bell rang as students got up out of their seats, ignoring the teacher who was struggling to speak up above the group of rowdy teenagers who were more interested in the freedom summer vacation gave them. This was Rory’s last summer before senior year and potentially last one together with all her friends before they go their separate ways for college. In a way she was sad that this could be the last time having the excitement of getting up to no good with the Pogues, Marli, and Parker over the upcoming weeks.
Rory laughed as she made her way down the hallway, watching as JJ ran pass everyone, hooting and hollering with Pope trying to keep up with him and John B. She didn’t miss the wink John B sent her making her stomach do flips. Neither did Marli as she snorted throwing her arm around Rory’s neck. “Don’t say anything.”
She put her hands up in defence, trying to hide to smirk that was creeping onto her face. “I was just wondering what time you want me and Parker to pick you up?”
“I’m not coming tonight.” Rory shrugged, her friend grabbed her arm stopping her as if she had just said the most absurd thing.
“What do you mean you’re not coming? Its tradition!” Rory wasn’t exactly sure where this tradition came from but every summer, the students becoming seniors in the fall, start it off by jumping off a cliff so wonderfully named ‘Dead Man’s cliff’.
“Firstly, I’ve got to clean up the crap you caused at my house before my parents come home. Secondly, its family dinner tonight and I can’t bail.” The brunette told her.
“Okay, fine.” Marli gave in, although Rory wasn’t convinced she was going to let this go so easily. “P and I will help you tidy.” She said, hooking her arm through Rory’s as they headed towards her house, meeting Parker there.
They didn’t end up helping, instead sitting on Rory’s garden chairs passing a joint between them. The chairs were haphazardly positioned facing the house where Rory was cleaning the mess up. It wasn’t too far from Parker’s house and just a little further away from Marli’s and Pope’s. The Bennett’s house was close enough to the water to suffer when a storm hit but not enough to have a boat tied up which was why Rory loved going on HMS Pogue with her friends. She loved the feeling of wind through her hair and water spraying her, cooling her down from the North Carolinian heat.
“You know this is your mess I’m cleaning here.” Rory pointed out.
“And you’re doing such an amazing job that I would simply be no use.” Marli said and Rory had to hide the laugh that was threatening to escape while Parker didn’t care and laughed. “Moving on though as to why you’re not coming out tonight.”
“You’re not coming?” Parker asked. “but it’s tradition!”
Rory sighed. To her it wasn’t a big deal but apparently to her friends it was as if she turned Kook or something. “It’s family dinner night and I can’t miss it, okay.”
“I’m sure your dad’s will let you go if you ask them. Want me to talk to them?” Marli asked making the both of them burst out laughing. “What? They love me.” She frowned slightly.
“No, they don’t. They tolerate us because we’re Rory’s friends.” Marli squinted at Parker trying to come up with an argument against his point but gave up. She knows they don’t hate her it was just that the three of them would sometimes get in trouble and they are just doing what parents do, worry and protect.
“Fine, you’re right. I’ll drop it.” She gave in, reaching out for the joint off Parker. “So, what’s everyone’s resolutions for the summer.”
“This isn’t fucking New Year.” Parker mumbled as Marli rolled her eye’s at him and chose to ignore her friend.
“Are you finally going to tell a certain Pogue how you feel?” Her grin was mischievous, matching the sparkle in her eye.
“There’s no Pogue on Pogue macking, remember?”
“Aha! So you do have a crush on John B!” Marli exclaimed, excited that she just got you to reveal your deepest secret even though apparently everyone knows about Rory’s blatant crush except John.
She took a breath, not wanting to blow up on her friend as she knew she meant well. Plus, her minimal filter disappears further when she gets high. “What about you and boardshorts? You gonna tell us who it is?” Rory pointed out snatching the joint from Marli’s hands and taking a hit.
The playful banter between friends when a car pulled up and the deep voice of Rory’s dad called out of the window. “Aurora Skye Bennett! That best be not what I think it is!” The teenagers panicked. Rory stubbed the joint out while Marli wafted away the smoke and Parker shoved everything back in his bag.
“Hi, Mr Bennett.” Marli greeted, standing up and failing to act normal. “We were just- we were just heading home so we’ll see you around.” She grabbed Parker’s arm and dragged him away with her, waving goodbye at the Bennett family.
“Hey, dad.” Rory said into Jack’s chest as she hugged him. She could feel a hearty laugh coming from him making her playfully elbow him. “You know they think you hate them.”
“Then I’m doing my job as your dad.” He pressed a kiss on top of her hair before letting her go to head inside with Don and Rory following.
-x-
John B rubbed his hands on his trousers as he got ready to knock on Rory’s door. He could hear her laughter trickling out of the open window bringing a smile onto his face. It didn’t take long before the door opened. John gulped, forgetting how intimidating her dad could look. “Hi, sir.” He greeted clearing his throat.
“John B, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Don asked, a smile on his face relaxing the boy in front of him.
“I was- err I was wondering if Rory is free tonight? We were going to hang out at Dead Man’s Cliff.” John B asked.
“Rory!” Don called for his daughter. “Why didn’t you tell us that you were supposed to be hanging out with your friends tonight?”
Her mouth opened then shut, surprised at John B standing on her doorstep. “Well we were having family dinner tonight.”
“And that can wait ‘til tomorrow.” Jack assured her from his spot by the oven so he could keep an eye on dinner.
“Go and get ready.” Don urged her and she did, leaving him and John alone. “You take care of her tonight, okay?”
“Yes, sir.” He stuttered out, surprised that him coming out here to ask if Rory could come out actually worked.
“And please call me Don.” He said. John nodded, his averting from the man to Rory who stood beside him. She was wearing a thin sweatshirt, to take the chill off, and a pair of shorts covering the swimsuit she was wearing underneath.
“Ready?” Rory asked after saying her goodbyes to her dad’s and assuring them that she won’t be back and late and that she’ll be safe. The two teenagers made it to John’s truck and climbed in. He put his hand on the gear stick as he started driving away from the house and up to the cliff. Rory had the urge to put her hand on top of his but instead stopped herself by sitting on it and looking out of the window. “I’m surprised that worked.” She hummed. “I’m guessing Marli put you up to this.”
John B laughed. “Yeah, it was her plan. I honestly thought your dad would have shut the door in my face.”
“They love you, what can I say?” She giggled before silence fell between them. It was suffocating. There was so much tension that Rory felt like she was about to explode. John felt it too. Luckily the sound of JJ shouting broke it letting them know that they had arrived.
“Look who finally joined us!” John B shouted wrapping his arm around Rory as if nothing happened in the truck.
“Thank you.” Marli grinned at JJ, holding her hand out for the ten dollars he owed for losing the wager. Pope was quick to take it from his cousin before she could pocket it. “Hey!” She exclaimed while everyone else laughed.
“You owe me remember.” He said while she just grumbled.
“Let’s get this party started!” JJ exclaimed before running to jump off the cliff followed by Parker and the rest of them with John jumping last leaving Rory alone up there.
Standing at the top of Dead Man’s Cliff with her feet at the edge, Rory realised that she wasn’t just hiding behind the fact that she had family dinner tonight but rather she was scared to jump. It didn’t make sense because she jumps off HMS Pogue.
John B seemed to notice her hesitance when Rory didn’t follow him down. He brushed his wet hair out of his face as he climbed out of the water making his way back up to the cliff. No one else seemed to notice, so engrossed in splashing each other which Rory was glad for, knowing she won’t be able to live it down. “Hey, you okay?” John nudged her.
“I’m fine.” She scoffed, trying to play off that she wasn’t in fact freaking out internally which only caused John to giver her a pointed look. He didn’t say anything though, not wanting to embarrass her. Instead, he just held his hand out.
“You got this.” Was all he said, his voice soft and calming. Rory took his hand and smiled at him before jumping off the cliff with John. The start of summer officially beginning.
