Summary: Hooking up with Tom seemed like a great idea, he was a pretty boy, a carefree surfer, one of your best friends. You knew he’d never want anything more than sex and that was perfect for you. It was the perfect arrangement, until it wasn’t. Now you two are struggling to save your friendship while you navigate your new and confusing emotions.
summary: with your family restaurant close to vanishing, a surfing competition arrives along with a sketchy family. wrapped up in a series of trials and tribulations with your two best friends, you try your hardest to keep everyone on this island happy. - surfer!tom, fwb/best friends to lovers au
word count: 22K
warnings: the general angst of being in a fwb type relationship, swearing, mention of psychical/emotional abuse, a lot of surf talk, and it gets frisky. this fic is nsfw so minors please don’t read!!! — otherwise, it’s a very angst fic that deals with a lot of emotions. (if anyone is going thru or is going thru some of the acts that are mentioned in this story, ill leave some numbers so you can call and my dms/ask box is always open.)
us hotline | uk hotline | the globe hotline
a/n: i had so much fun writing this au!! i know i haven’t been the best at providing content but i really hope this fic can make up for it. i want to say a huge thank you to @neonparkers and @bvttercupbby for helping me out, cheering me on and helping me map out the fic. i’d also like to give credit to @blissfulparker for introducing me to surfer!tom. (please check out her wipeout fic)! + @hollandsmushroom for beta reading<3 i really hope you all enjoy this fic as much as i liked writing it, feedback is much appreciated <3
+++ extended warnings: smut. f + m receiving. cam cording, and exhibitionism. if i have missed anything please let me know.
Gliding your hand through the mist of the liquid that held magnificent treasures and the musing stories of mythical creatures that lived beneath the pelagic fishes, a turbulence of wind cuffed your hair to fall in front of your view of the everlasting cerulean ocean. A slight sigh of a curse word that was intended for the ocean made the driver grin with pleasure, amusingly watching you fight your way through the gale.
“If this was happening to you, you wouldn’t be laughing.” You glared, but also rolled out a chuckle at something you couldn’t control.
“No, I wouldn’t because I would've used my initiative and tied my hair back.” His witty response costs him a splash of salty water on his feet along with a short wheeze.
“Addle Pate.” You grunted and watched his shit-eating grin compose into a puzzled look that held no dominance.
“Quit with the pirate talk.”
“Or what? What could you possibly do?” You challenged, giving your knees a break from melting into the wood as you propped yourself up.
“Throw you overboard? Feed you to the sharks?” He trailed on for another minute before ending his list with a threat from another person on board, Harrison.
Harrison was the arbitrator of the trio, ensuring that his two best friends would make it back alive after every bizarre adventure either three of them picked. Growing up on an island that was mostly full of tourons, and well-functioning families that often inhaled the grasping taste of fraud, and expensive yachts, it was important to have a secure loyal friend group to aid the ridiculous tale of The Great Gatsby.
“Why don’t we battle the anger with some waves? Say we head back, surf a little, and go to Y/N’s family restaurant?” Harrison compromised, assuming that the leisure of surfing would mellow the tension of his two friends.
“Fine with me.” You expressed a smile then shot Tom a look of vengeance.
“Did you see that?” Tom whined, but Harrison already made his way over to the end of the boat. He couldn’t handle the heat and the ludicrous behaviuor of his two friends who either needed to fuck it out or be somewhat civil.
“Such a baby.” You muttered under your breath. As you discreetly laid your body down, pushing your breasts up you saw the frustration on Tom’s face when you placed yourself in his radar.
“Tease.” He grumbled as he manoeuvred the boat back to the shore, trying to not hark back to the view of your body plastered right in front of him.
The ocean breeze coats your skin in a light mist of brine leaving the sun to soak up the salty taste on the walk back to the restaurant. You sense the agonising stares on you like the catch of the day, eyes frozen with no power to refrain from solitude. As luck would have it, a rather peculiar gesture was received to you when a tender piece of fabric wrapped its warmth around your exposed skin. Looking over your shoulder to thank the person, you were staggered to see Tom snatching the same towel from Harrison with the words “I’m cold” repeatedly.
“What happened to the, ‘I’d rather be cold than have Y/N seen as bait’” Harrison coyed Tom’s sweet gesture, rewarding you with a wink of validation that Tom was now branded a gentleman in disguise.
“I’m doing them a favour.” Tom deadpanned, as he discreetly stared icily at the sleazy fishermen that crossed their path. Harrison nodded slowly, obscuring what he just witnessed as Tom scurried off, leaving the two of you to mock his act of kindness. It was rare for Tom to show his kindness towards you in public, especially a gesture like that. Those acts were a confirmation of intimacy and a statement of fondness, which Tom hated.
“Is it bad that I sometimes lay awake trying to piece together this endearing yet indescribable relationship the two of you have?” Harrison piped up, forcing your thoughts to decide and to be replaced with the sign of an uncanny, yet hilarious confession to surface right before you made eye contact with your parents who made it known that they weren’t fond of the curly locked boys.
“I would keep those thoughts for your pillow talk nights.” You whispered, tapping his cheek in a childish manner only to receive a slight pinch to your skin.
“Rude, but I’m flattered you think of me when you lay awake at night. It makes my ego burst with confidence that I got the two hottest boys simping over me.”
“You think I’m hot?” Tom tenderly whispered to your ear, smirking with glee as he sorely knew that he got the last word.
“Of course that’s the only thing you hear.” You said flicking his cheek as the corner of your mind alerted you that your parents could see almost everything in their restaurant. Giving them a wave, and rolling your eyes at Tom attempting to do the Vulcan, as you drunkenly remember telling Tom that your parents gushed over Star Trek which was a false fact.
“I thought they liked Star Trek?”
You rolled your eyes, “It’s a good thing you’re pretty.”
Tom’s eyes crinkled, as a line appeared between his brows. “So they don’t like Star Trek?”
“No, Thomas. They don’t.” You hissed, beckoning Harrison to free you from this conversation. Breaking a groan that left your lips, the two boys dissimulated themselves into the artwork when they saw your gaze on your parents. The taunt in their eyes gave you the go-ahead to seclude the two of them in the far corner, to avoid any mishaps from happening.
The restaurant fades into the background as if it was all just a latch of distraction from the suffocating displeasure of your parents refusing to even glance in your direction. Tom and Harrison often tried to be formal and helpful during the rush, but nothing seemed to change their minds.
“Is there anything you boys want to eat?” You broke the tension, as you couldn’t take the childish manner of the two of them finding any source of entertainment which was using wasted fries to mimic the ivory tusk of a walrus.
“Shrimp.”
“Anything else?”
“Fries, and your parents' approval.” Tom teased, hitting Harrison in an attempt to get him to agree with him. Sometimes you questioned the algorithm of Tom’s mind as you confirmed from the age of ten that his brain was monitored by a musical jolly chimp. You never confided in Harrison about Tom, as you knew him the longest dating back to year four when he charmed his way to being your partner in a science project that earned him the best grade he ever received.
“Why would you want my parents' approval?” You stood up, hands resting on the wooden table as your chest crowned his view making his breath hitch and muscle tense.
“Need a job.” He stammered, gripping hard to his Hawaiian shorts to fight the attraction he was getting.
“Surf shop is hiring.” Harrison was completely unaware of the tension that circulated him. You turned your gaze onto Harrison ruffling his blonde locks, laughing at the innocence he gave off.
“Surf’s up, boys.”
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀
Amidst the flour that covered the station sat the uncooked shrimp, several workers were clustered around. One at a time, the workers painted each fish, giving them the famous crispy salmon colour that people often gushed over through their Instagrams before their meal. Shrimp’s Creek was best known for their shrimp, but you secretly knew that the best shrimp is from Bubba Gump, a fictional brand that was classified to Tom and yourself, the ultimate dream destination. It was also one of the reasons why your parents disliked Tom as he would refrain people coming to your family restaurant as he quoted, ‘No shrimp is better than Forrest Gump’s.’
Taking the food upon request by your friends, your parents stopped you. They stared at the food, grunting that good food was going to waste and a 20 quid meal went down the drain.
“I don’t get why you are still slumming with those hooligans? Have they got something on you?” Your mother’s feelings of resentment to your friends have been suppressed for years but as you grew, and as did the urges you three were beginning to have, she was worried that you would come home pregnant or engaged.
“They are my friends. I know they aren’t something out of a catalog but they understand me.” You tried to convince your parents, mostly your mother, that they were harmless but alas, Tom made that very difficult as he would often stumble onto your porch with a bruise or a fresh cut.
“Can you find other friends? Preferably girls?”
“And what if those girls also have urges? Maybe I'm sticking to boys due to the desired attention that ladies give me when I frolic around on the beach? Theoretically, you should be thanking the boys for being bodyguards, and keeping your daughter safe.”
Your father stifled a laugh, coughing right after to cover his tracks. It was rather weird that your father was more accepting of the two than your mother was. Obviously, the stereotyping of the father being the most protective had gone out the window but, a mother’s guardian instinct is unmatched. She didn’t even acknowledge the sass, turning around to let out her frustration on the lobsters. However, your father still gave you that look of concern when he saw Tom stage another Vulcan.
“When is that knucklehead going to learn that I hate Star Trek?”
You shrugged, glancing over to them. “In time. He really wants your approval.”
“Why? He doesn’t like you does he?”
“No.” You quickly assured him. “He’s just —”
“— Do you like him?”
“Seriously?” You surveyed Tom coolly, nibbling on your bottom lip. “There’s nothing going on between the two of us.”
“I believe you.” Your dad promised, freely letting you fly to your friends. However, a part of him instinctively saw the admiration in Tom’s eyes when you delivered his food. He had watched too many Disney films to not spot a lovesick boy, and he vowed that he wouldn’t interfere but the slight irritating itch behind his ear said otherwise.
“Not a chance.” Your mother resurfaced, head poking out to see what was keeping him. Your father responded with a confused tilt of his head that he quickly picked up on; as Tom would do the same which made your father panic into believing he was a knucklehead at his age too.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀
The ruckus of the beach settled when the waves fell silent, and the mount of the rising gold grains were neatly groomed. It was your favourite time to visit your backyard and enjoy the abandonment of the ongoing beauty. Nervously, chipping off the musty blue nail polish you situated yourself just below the line where the seawater grazes your feet, enough to wake you but not scare you. The hood of your jumper arranged to fall when your phone vibrated in your back pocket. You already knew who it was, and judged that it was a message to tell you he was on his way.
If someone asked you how you ended up in a situation that usually ends with tears, you would shrug your shoulders and play the ‘I know what i’m doing’ card. But, when asked repeatedly if you had any form of connection with the boy you claim is just meaningless fun, something triggers the beating organ.
“Sorry. I would have gotten here sooner but someone had the rampant surfboard, and it’s beautiful. Like, the taste of those brownies you make.” His erratic animation of the scene he just fled from flew to the back of your mind, and your pupils sorely focused on his bronze, built-up chest that radiated the moonshine.
You drummed your fingertips against your thigh, watching his bear-like hands comb through his chestnut mop. A slight groan left your lips, quickly diverting your eyes to the seafront but the thump you felt when his body collapsed to the ground, made you lock eyes with him.
“You good, seahorse?”
You nodded quickly, looking back down at the grains of gold that escaped through your fingers. Your cheeks flared, feeling rather embarrassed but grateful that your rendezvous happened at night — It made it easier not to fall deeper than you already were.
“Can you believe that though?” He recounted, fiddling with the loose strand of his jumper.
You were far too mellow to even try and acknowledge his excitement. All you wanted (needed) was his lips on your body, or his hands — either way, you wanted him.
“Kiss me.” is all you said, and those hands you wanted fell right below your back. With no patience, you pulled him closer gently, licking his lower lip. His fingers pressed onto your strap that held your breasts in place. Without breaking the contact, he untied your bikini with no issues and left him smirking at his accomplishment. You leaned your head closer and giggled against his lips when he hauled you into his lap.
“Someone’s needy.” He thrillingly whispered, before kissing you breathlessly, titling his head slightly to allow you to knot your fingers through his locks. You didn’t say much but out of touch you loosely wrapped your hands around his neck, before breaking the kiss. You began to explore down his neck, chuckling at the response.
“Blame the moonlight.” You gently said before fervently sucking on a spot just below his jaw.
He swallowed thickly, feeling his cock rise in his pants. His breathing quickened as you grind your hips against him. He was certain that the sudden wind grazed his skin, but it drifted away when the warmth of your hands touched his chest. Before you even tried to remove his swim shorts, He pulled you away, getting a good glimpse of your breasts.
“God. I love these.” He murmured, tracing your sternum. You arched your back when he teasingly held your breasts, rubbing them continuously. His face shone joyously by the way you squirmed when he pinched your nipple.
“Stop teasing…” You moaned, feeling the dampness in your bikini bottoms. Your lashes fanned out, as he slowly positioned you on the sand. He wordlessly placed his hands on your inner thigh, giving a little pinch to evoke a sweet tune.
“Does my little seahorse need touching? If I just slowly move my finger higher, will I finally get the treat you promised earlier?” He sinsterly grinned, moving his finger further up. You bit onto your lower lip, moving your hips as you felt his thumb press on your bud.
“S’not fair.” You moaned into a pout, watching his smirk grow.
“Now you know how it feels, darling.”
You frowned, watching his digit move clockwise against the fabric. He occasionally dabbed your bud, sending your head back. With the moon shining right on the neatly tied bow that secluded him from feeling you, he effortlessly untied the string. You watched him closely, shaking with excitement as a slight giggle left your lips at his technique.
His hand crawls down towards your bud, two of his fingers parting your folds easily from the mess you created. “For someone who gets on your nerves a lot, I sure can make you fall apart easily.” He pressed a kiss to your belly as he teases your bud. He slowly drags his tongue up and down your body as he enters your folds with his two fingers. You moan with ease, fisting the sand.
“S’good.” You whimper, as his fingers explore your clit. The one good thing that came out of this situation was the way he knew all your spots. His fingers wasted no time in picking up the pace, laughing at how you didn’t have a clever response. You only were limited with words like his name, and wanting more. You could almost sense the bastard smirk on his face, as he had all the control. Your toes curled, and a moan left your lips when the coldness of the wave came to witness.
“Such a good little slut.” He praised. “You are taking my fingers so well, seahorse.”
You squirmed, whilst he swirled his fingers around you, hitting every little spot that made you moan over the peaceful noise of the beach. He picked up his pace, nibbling at your neck, the sound of you begging, and the moans that came after his most played tune. You begged for more, clutching harder on the sand but the moist made you want him more.
“I’m close.”
“I know, baby. You look so good right now. I wonder what your mother would think?”
You didn’t respond with words but you let out a long, loud moan of his name.
“God. I should film this as proof of who the dominant one really is in this strange friendship we have.” He smiled disparagingly as he was so close to hitting your spot. He felt your walls close in as he fiddled with your spot, grinning at how you squirmed below him.
With a kiss of permission, you hitched your breath as you loosely let the liquid leak down his fingers. He withdrew his fingers from your sensitive bud and traveled them to your lips.
“Taste, darling.”
You obeyed, opening your mouth as he shoves his fingers in. The sweetness flavoured your mouth giving you the fantasy of his tongue devouring your bud.
“If you are a good girl and give me no lip when we are with Harrison, I may give that pussy of yours a good suck.”
The fall of your toes and the sudden release of the sand gave him the inkling that his hands were nice and clean.
“You did so well, seahorse. I’m surprised that you wanted this.” Tom parted his fingers from you, allowing you to catch your breath. As you began to steady your heartbeat with the help of the waves counting your beat, the look on Tom’s face made you slowly sit up.
“I’m always up for this. Why the sudden question?”
He plastered a fake smile, coating his feet with the sand. “We haven’t done this in a while. I thought this was a sick joke.”
“We’ve been busy.”
“You've been busy.” He said under his breath, turning his body to face the luminous stars. The balance of guilt and arousal you felt made you contemplate if you should comfort him as his best friend or someone he just finger fucked.
“Are you mad? You look mad.”
“I’m not mad.”
“Your face is doing that weird crinkle thing like you’re mad…”
“I’m just perturbed, not mad.”
A few moments waved by, and Tom remained still.
“You still look mad…”
“I’m not mad, Y/N. I’ll be mad if you keep asking me if I am.”
The humid sea air mixed with the emotions you both were feeling. You both were centimeters apart, shoulders barely brushing as you both looked out far into the ocean. It was always a place to forget any form of pain, frustration, and regret. A strong gale resided over him and made his eyes maneuver to your cheeks. The beach made Tom softer and more vulnerable, which scared him. You often took that as an advantage whenever you both would ride the waves but when you both were alone, you admired it.
He took a nimble to your cheek, “Come on, seahorse. We don’t want Haz waiting..”
Within minutes, you both arrived at Harrison’s home. The vicinity of the Chateau was the only sane place you could go to without being judged. Each secret you spilled, and got the privilege of knowing circulated around the tree where Harrison was situated, rocking his feet on the cold compress of the mucky grass to create an oscillate motion for the hammock.
To Tom’s dismay, he always had an urgency to scare Harrison. You personally resigned and headed straight to the kitchen, hatching up a sandwich. You partially liked to give Harrison and Tom their fifteen minutes of brotherly time, which resulted in them smoking a spliff and waiting for their sandwiches.
“Where were you guys? We were supposed to meet an hour ago” Harrison’s grating voice built up the urgency for you to take a deep inhale of the ongoing lit spliff. You weren’t particularly the one to get high but with the company of two nuisances, it was the only tool to make you calm.
As Tom took a bite out of his peanut butter sandwich, he perused your reaction with no expectation of honesty. He slumped his shoulder, resting his back onto the knitted white fabric, and gave you the dominance.
“Held up at the restaurant…” You gave him an apathetic response, and glanced in Tom’s direction with an all too familiar frown.
“And you?” Harrison secluded your view of Tom’s face with his body.
Inwardly he gave a world-weary smile, “I saw a dude with a rampant surfboard.”
There was definitely something off about Tom, and the stunt pulled at the beach was a clear cover up. It wasn’t just the way he paused at certain points of his story, but every time Tom paused, his eyes stopped upon you. He always went nuts for stories like this, regardless of how many times he told it.
Whilst the two boys imagined the skills they could accomplish with their own surfboard, you paid extra close attention to Tom. He didn’t stop like usually did he did to give a reassuring smile or a wink which got you spiraling in fear that the friendship you held to your heart was deteriorating before it even began to be something more.
“I think I’m going to crash. I’ll see you boys in the morning.” The wobble in your voice drew the hazel brown eye boy to rise from his seat and grab your arm. He spun you around, forcing your eyes on him.
“Is everything okay?”
Your expression faded, and no words managed to leave your lips.
“If you need anything or just a mindless fuck.. I’m here.”
Your eyes swelled up, sadness clouding your features. You took your arm out of his grasp and headed away from the chateau. Tom turned to face Harrison whose head was tilted with confusion, “I thought she was staying here? I was looking forward to her breakfast..”
“She’ll be back.” Tom croaked, eyes narrowed to your body that quickly faded into the street lights. Somehow deep in his mind, he had a feeling you wouldn’t.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀
“Our restaurant is what?”
You were known to tribulation, you had a good understanding of distress and a track record of disappointment but the pain you felt when you were awakened with news like this made your heart twitch.
“It’s in trouble. We just heard that an investor is looking to buy our restaurant.” Your mother's pessimistic tone snapped the sorrow out of your mind.
“We aren’t even up for sale.” You exclaimed, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.
“They want to turn the restaurant into a beach club. Apparently, our numbers are falling.” Your father said, throwing his body down on the sofa. You glanced at your mother, who held a picture frame of you outside the restaurant with Harrison and Tom.
These claims you were hearing had skepticism written all over them. It was sorely due to the timing as days before, Shrimps Creek was branded one of the best restaurants on the coast and now, it’s magically sinking?
Something wasn’t right.
“I have to go…”
Your mother’s face flashed with annoyance, watching as her daughter yet again ran away from something important. A continuous cycle that only got worse when they allowed you more freedom to roam around the island with Tom and Harrison.
“Y/N! Get your ass back here, now.” The screeching tone your mother let out was overruled by the timing of the flock of seagulls. She turned to face your dad, nodding at the direction you ran in.
“I’m too old to chase her.” He said, rising from the comfort. “She just needs time to process, you know that.”
“It’s those boys she hangs around with. They are no good for her, especially Thomas.”
Your mother was most certain that everything you did came from the influence of Tom. It dated back to a night when you stumbled home drunk, and Tom wanted to make sure you made it back safely. You couldn’t really remember what happened but, the glares they gave Tom whenever he invited himself over to sleep after a kegger was more than enough.
Tom frequently stayed over with or without your parents permission. He would always climb through your window, and surprisingly whisper for you to spoon him. You never questioned why or forced him to explain the subtle bruises on his cheek. It wasn’t until a night that he spontaneously bought a hot tub, filled with champagne to realize that Tom’s home life wasn’t as picture-perfect as half the island made it out to be. That night still triggered you, and you hated being so oblivious.
You vowed that you would do anything to keep Tom safe and with every lingering night of watching the stars, the roles reversed. You remembered the evening like it was only yesterday. You could always see Tom standing closer to you than before, and his scent swept onto you. His arms wrapped around your back and in one gentle push, your skin touched. You felt his hand in your hair, admiring the little details of your face. Then his hand moved down to your cheeks, brushing the bridge of your nose before tracing your lips. The sudden pull made the kiss begin, and you both moved in sync like your lips were made for another. Your bodies moulded perfectly, and everything felt to a natural rhythm. Laughs were exchanged, as he gently placed you on the ground, undoing your shorts. You felt his finger trace down your front, listening to his praises before his fingers got to their destination. You threw your head back, and let the first moan escape your lips. It was a perfect opening to a story but, you could never tell a soul.
Tom didn’t even know that you remember so vividly the day you guys did it, and he won’t ever know. You couldn’t allow this memory to fade if things didn’t work. You wanted this moment to always be in your heart as you knew when things were exclusive, the unexpected moment would be replaced with bad memories. You tend to lean more on the negatives rather than the positives. However, you knew that this memory would always be so close to your heart as it was also your first time — Tom didn’t know that either.
So when you see the boats resting on nature's tide, and the free sailing sun-kissed sun beam down on your body, you feel calm. When you feel the golden sands sucking your feet, you know that you don't need to run anymore. You were now out of harm's way, praising the number of tourists that came to see the beach as no one could ever spot a girl full of skeletons.
“Pretty girl, could you pass me the ball?” The unknown voice was hoarse, inviting in a weird way. You scorned the question and continued your path. You kept on going, not reacting to the sailor’s whistle. Until a cold droplet fell on your right shoulder and turned to see a guy with a full eight-pack grinning up at you.
“What, a guy can’t get an answer around here?”
“You can get an answer when you learn some decent manners.” You snapped, twirling on your heel. You weren’t in the mood to be prey.
“Woo, steady on. What’s up with you?” He restrained his distance, not wanting to piss you off even more.
“None of your concern.” You huffed, slumping your body onto the sand. Soon after, Logan did the same thing, and cheekily drew a line between the two of you.
“Ok since you clearly don’t want me around, don’t pass by my side and I won't pass yours.”
You chuckled at the astonishment on his face and stole a furtive look. “You aren’t from around here, are you?”
“Just moved in.” He trailed off. “My dad has some business here and I guess I couldn't say no to a free holiday.”
Logan was different. He was handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expressions of his voice. He was something out of the fairytales, mysteriously luring that each time he talked you wanted to hear more. He was humorous but also full-on. His blonde hair sizzled in the light, and the blue in his eyes matched the tone of the tide.
“What got you so worked up?”
Trapped in a trance, you weren't aware of the drool hanging on your lip. Logan gently shoved your shoulder which evoked a gasp. “Hey, what happened to the line?” You asked, pretending to be listening the entire time.
“Forget the line. The important question is, why were you upset?”
“It’s just family stuff. A lot is changing and I don’t like change.” You shared. “I just want the world to stop for a second.”
“I get that, but maybe change can be good? Without change how can you learn?”
“Learning to love another human can’t be good…” You grumbled, not realising that you voiced your inner thoughts.
“So, you are worked up about a guy?”
You shook your head, “It’s a difficult situation, and I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Noted. I guess I better get back to the game… Will I see you around?”
“Probably. My family owns Shrimp’s Creek, you should stop by sometime.” You put out with confidence.
“Sweet. By the way… Do you know what a kegger is?”
You nodded, “It’s a party on the beach where teenagers just drink and dance. There’s one tonight, you should come check it out.”
“Will you be there?”
“I’m hosting.” You grinned.
“I’ll see you then —”
“—Y/N”
“Cute name.” He smirked in triumph and watched as you vanished into the mob of tourons. However, the name Shrimp’s Creek kept coming to the surface. Logan wasn’t sure why that name was familiar but that didn’t matter, what mattered was how he was going to get you to go on a date with him.
As Logan headed back, he saw the questionable look on his older brother’s face.
“You do realise who that is right?”
Logan obliviously nodded, “That’s Y/N, her parents own Shrimp’s Creek.”
“That's the place that dad is demolishing. You are basically flirting with the enemy.”
“As they say, Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” He winked and caused his older brother to facepalm.
“I hope you know what you are doing…”
“I’ve got this.”
His brother lifted an eyebrow, “How?”
“I know her weakness.” Logan tonelessly said with a slight smirk.
“Which is?”
As Logan maneuverer his body towards Shrimp Creek, he spotted you having an intimate conversation with Tom. “Wonderboy.”
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀
Tom let out a slow controlled breath and attempted to loosen his muscles by masticating some stale bread. He was eating like his life depended on it and that wasn’t a healthy thing since you spotted some mold. He gave his hands a shake and lolled himself towards the couch.
His eyes darted to his buttonholed t-shirt that had the logo of your restaurant. He was gifted it when he stumbled onto your parent’s porch with a bloody shirt. You faced his rearview, sitting crossed-legged on the carpet. The faucet drips into the sink, each one recharging Tom’s jumps but you don’t move. You see his struggle, the cascading stress of something dear to him being gone. He always had a personal attraction to your family’s restaurant, even though your parents didn’t like him he felt safe. He was safe from any harm like you were when you were at the beach.
“You have to talk to me, Tom…” You sign, "I get it, I’m upset too.”
You saw him shift slightly, pulling a crafty pillow to his chest. “You don’t seem it.”
“Trust me, I am but I’m more worried about you. I know that Shrimp’s Creek was a somewhat safe house but, I promise that you are always going to be safe…”
“You don’t know that.” He whispered, beginning to make eye contact again, “He couldn’t hurt me there. I was surrounded with hope, and once it goes away…”
“I promise that I won’t let him hurt you.” You frowned, getting up from your position to comfort the boy.
“What are we going to do?” Tom mumbled, leaning his head on your shoulder.
“A kegger?”
“I could use some alcohol.” Tom’s fingers entwined with yours, feeling warm and secure. You steadily look down at his gesture, smiling stupidly at how Tom perfected his emotions through touch. Using your free hand, you placed your finger on his chin and let your lips rest on his.
“Let me make you feel good…” Your alluring tone made Tom hitch a breath, and pull away from you. He gave you that look of acceptance and watched your eyes drift down to his swimming trunks that left an outline of his hardening cock. He could see the playfulness in your eyes as you straddle his lap. Your hands latched around his neck, holding yourself as you started to grind against him. His lips domineering your lips, tongue already in his mouth as you create a pattern in his lap. The hard-on forced Tom to push you away, but left you panting from the loss of air. He watched as you slowly moved off his lap, and found yourself on your knees right in front of him.
Pulling your hair up in a bun to have no distractions, you saw Tom unbutton his shirt until the material completely showed his chest. He watched you lick your bottom lip at his abs before you tugged on his shorts. Tom leaned back onto the sofa, hands cradling your cheek.
“I love seeing you like this,” he praised, “you better make it quick before Hazzie comes.”
Your breath halted when he mentioned the probability of Harrison walking in on the two of you. Taking a deep breath, you opened his legs wider and came into contact with his cock. You knew that Tom’s cock was huge, but thick was only supposed to be a joke. He grinned above you, smirking with his ego as you gave him a look of shock.
“I never lie, seahorse.” He tented, “Go on then, show me what that pretty mouth can do.”
He watched as you stroked his length with trembling hands. You wanted to adjust to his cock before you devoured it. A low hiss escaped his lips as he felt the coldness of your ring touch the rim. The heat in the room radiated as Tom decided to get creative. He took your hand, guiding you to the place your mouth should end up. You cringed at the cockiness Tom had when you saw that Tom wanted every inch inside you. You silently panted, as he wrapped your hand around his length.
You started slowly, giving him a good tease of the pleasure you give him. You mentally block out his moans but when his thumb stroked your cheek, you knew that time was ticking.
“I’m waiting, pretty girl.” He pulled your face closer, leaving you just centimeters away from his tip. From the staring battle between the two of you, your movement got quicker before you left a littering kiss to his tip.
Your lips parted and you glazed your hands on his thighs as you sunk your mouth down onto his cock, wrapping your plumped lip around his tip. Your tongue ran over the top before securing your lips on his cock. His hands grasped your hair, a grunt ran down his mouth sending you a cocky smile. The firm hold of your hair was a message to go further and luckily you already braced yourself for the slight roughness Tom would give.
You sucked on the head of his penis, stroking his length but the sudden thrust caught you off guard as you easily lowered onto him. You felt the muscle in your jaw twitch as his cock invaded your tongue. You felt your hands tighten around his thigh, as you simultaneously got into a rhythm. Tom moaned, looking down to see your lashes fluttering, and your lips sealed over his member.
You quicken the pace, feeling your head bobbing slowly whilst your knees burned from the movement. He loosely grips your hair, humming sweet words of praise.
“I know you can take more, seahorse.”
Your gag reflex burned suddenly when you felt the head of his cock settle in the back of your throat, asking for permission to go further. The loud moan that left your lips was all Tom needed to know, as he thrust again. A small tear formed in your eyes as you continued to suck, but the look on Tom's face as he grabbed his phone, made you whimper as the flash taunted your vision. You twirled your tongue over his member, and hearing the sound of a recording made you give Tom what he wanted. A beastly moan escaped his lips as you managed to take in pretty much all of him.
The tears started to fall and Tom was quick to brush them away, hitching a laugh as he had never seen you this flustered before. He leaned down, with his phone to show you how well you took him. He loved how obedient and kinky you were. Usually, you didn’t like him recording you, but this time was different.
He hissed as you felt drops of precum leak from his cock, and your instinct made you clean him up.
“Fuckin hell, you are taking me so well. I can’t wait to show how much of a cockslut you are.” His hips thrust again, and some cum shoots down your throat. You tried your best to maintain your hold on his member, but the soreness you felt at the back of your throat told you otherwise. With your eyes tearing, you bobbed your head faster, trying to get him undone. His cock repeatedly hit the back of your throat, as you sucked him. After one last thrust, Tom released the rest of himself inside you.
Your tired throat closed as you swallowed as much as you could of his seed before Tom slowly took his cock out of your mouth. The tiredness of your body, and the burns from your knees made the tears continue until Tom pulled you into his embrace.
“You did so well, baby.” He cooed, watching your heavy eyes send off.
“Mhm.” is all you said before drifting off to sleep.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀
As the coastline met your eyes, the ambiance music died. Your mind managed to revoke the events of the morning and concentrate on the everlasting beauty of the sky and sea blending together. You awaited the starlight and the silvery moon to really make your body unwind from the thrilling saga of the day you had.
The shadow of the trees was the only thing you tolerated. The cheap dimmed fairy lights that hung loosely over the branches gave you such perfidy that everything doesn’t need to be perfect. A light creature set nicely on the bridge of your nose, a playful blue to match the simple bikini and denim shorts look.
You always liked being surrounded by nature and loved how the evening breeze rushed to your hair. From the neighboring tourons, comes the music of pop that gave you the inkling to go join in but, the peacefulness of the dragonfly resting on your nose made you want to enjoy the calmness before the alcohol kicked in.
“I thought I would find you here…” Tom mumbled, slumping his body next to you. “You heard anything..?”
“Just that we don’t have enough money to try and save Shrimp’s Creek.” You began, only making eye contact with the soil. “I don’t get this, Tom.. How can someone just demolish our restaurant? It was doing so well.”
“I don’t get it either. Something is fishy down at the docks…”
“Was that just one of your stupid puns or an actual analogy?” You said, glancing at his lopsided grin. You weren’t sure if Tom was actually onto something, or if he was just high. Tom was pretty much a self-employed detective when he was higher than life. He claimed that there was once buried gold but, you didn’t think that your life was The Goonies.
“I’m being serious. A high fancy-ass boat came in the docks early this week and they were wearing those tuxedos that the penguins wear in Madagascar.” Tom’s nose crinkled at the description and pulled out his phone to show you an example.
“I know what a tuxedo looks like, babe.” You said as the corners of your mouth quirked up at how adorably cute Tom was looking. No matter the mood you were in or how much you both had to drink, you both managed to lift each up at the worst times and that’s another reason why your situationship with Tom was risky.
“If what you are saying is true, that doesn’t help with the financial facade. We need to try and find some money…” You chortle at how crazy you were, believing in this voodoo shit.
“We could always find the gold?” Tom quipped up, and the once-over look you gave him cut that theory out.
“How about—“
“—You never guess what I heard,” Harrison bamboozled his way into your spot, crashing down on the opposite side as he leaned his head on your shoulder.
“What?” The two of you said, looking directly at Harrison. However, Harrison was too busy fiddling with your necklace to even acknowledge the desperation of your faces to find out what he heard.
“Harrison, seriously?” Tom moaned, sending a small whack to the back of his head.
Harrison gaped, frowning at you.
“Are you going to tell us what you heard, or just play with Y/N’s shark necklace?” Tom whined, tugging on his shorts to get the irritation out of him.
“I will,” Harrison said slowly. “What was I saying again?”
“You heard something?” You muttered before Harrison recharged his batteries.
“I was going to say that there’s a surfing competition in two weeks.”
“Right? How does this help us with the restaurant?” You intriguingly asked, glancing at Tom with the expression of hope.
“The winner gets 1,000 pounds—“
When Tom met your eyes, you both broke into excitement. Harrison's bewildered face sank when he saw you give a sloppy kiss to Tom’s cheek.
“I don’t know why we are jumping but yay!” Harrison blinked, but he did feel a tiny lump at the back of his thirst at the untended exclusion.
“We are saving the restaurant dude.” Tom spilled and gave Harrison a tight hug.
“Wicked. How are we going to do that?” Harrison asked, and the two of you just ruffled his hair.
“Don’t you worry about that.” You assured him with a huge smile. You didn’t really question if Harrison was just dumb or even functioned properly. It didn’t matter because he was your guardian angel that you were waiting for this whole day.
Whilst the three of you discussed tactics and strategies, in the far corner of the bark of the tree stood Logan and his brother. Tyler reached out to take a gulp out of his brother's cup to try and soak up the slight worry he felt.
“This is really bad, Logan. What are we going to do?”
“I’ve got this.” Logan mellowly said, leaning his back against the tree.
“You always say you got this when really you haven’t.”
Logan’s forehead creased when he squinted his eyes to take a better look at the way you brushed off Tom’s gesture. “You can tell that Y/N isn’t as interested as Wonderboy is. So… A little date won’t harm the island, right?”
“Right.” Tyler responded with an encouraging smile but, if you put him on a lie detector he wouldn’t even pass his own name. Tyler knew this wasn’t a good idea but, for the sake of Logan’s ego, he quietly admired the little dragonfly that just landed on his nose.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀
The warmth, the smell, and the feeling of him was all around you. You were tackling a grilled toastie whilst Tom was resting on the couch. It was the perfect postcard feeling and you didn’t want this moment to end. It was the way Tom felt secure in the laps of your jumper, his arm hovering over your worn-out teddy bear that Tom won and the silent snores that left his lips.
For a moment, it seemed like you and Tom were content in life. Truthfully, it felt like you both were in the future, and Tom just got your little one to sleep. The dynamic of the quietness, with the overlapping of scattering objects, made things feel homely. You weren’t fused about big houses and fancy deco from the mainland, you liked what the house offers. Although the house belonged to Harrison’s father who is always away, the three of you made it a home. Tom lived here the most and even has his own room which Harrison kindly offered him when things were going south.
This home was a museum of your lives, each dent from the shenanigans you all played a significant role in. It was the place where Tom could sleep peacefully, Harrison could smoke all the weed he wanted, and you liked the escapism of your artificial life that your parents mapped out for you from the day you arrived.
“Tommy, it’s time to get up.” You hummed, making your way over to the sofa and moved the plate of grilled cheese in a clockwise manner to awaken the boy.
“Five more minutes.” He groggily said, turning to face the head of the couch.
“I just made you breakfast. It’s a grilled toastie, your favorite.”
Tom tutted, maneuvering his body to tangle your waist with his arms. “My favorite is you. Can’t I have you for breakfast?”
“Babe.” You whispered and found yourself putting all your welcoming weight onto his hips pressing a sweet kiss onto his lips. Tom was just in his underwear and you covered up with a shirt just in case Harrison came in. When your bodies pressed together to enhance the kiss, memories from the night before came into mind. The tongues, moans and the dirty talk evoked your body to break the kiss to get a glimpse at Tom’s whisky eyes that were sometimes covered with his fluffy curls. You always loved running your fingers through them, staring right into the earthy hues that made you want to forget everything except him.
There was just an urge for you to replay the events of last night but, instead you ducked down and nibbled on his neck, and kissed him lovingly. He let out a whine, and you giggled at the bulge in his pants.
“You good, baby?” You whispered with a small smile, kissing down on his neck creating a new hickey to admire later. Tom huffed in frustration and ran his hands down your arm tugging the loose end of the shirt.
“Take it off. It’s only fair that I get to see you in your undies.” He playfully smirked, helping you out. Once you both were in the same suit, you earned yourself a light thrust, emitting a little moan from his lips.
“You’re irresistible.” He groans, running his hand up your leg to grab a hold of your ass. You leaned down closer to his ear and began to suck on his earlobe. Tom, yet again left a sharp breath as you ground against him which takes him back to the night before.
“You up for round two? I think I forgot how you moaned my name.” Tom asked, barely waiting for your approval as he turned you over so he was now on top. You hummed in agreement, watching him biting down on your neck, leaving a new trail of hickeys on your chest. Although the hickeys on your neck were fading, it didn’t help that you were going to the beach later on during the day.
“I told you not to mark me, Tommy.” You said lightly, as you traced his back muscles.
“People need to know that you are mine, darling.” He growled into your ear, as his fingers went to find the wetness that was no doubtfully pooling between your legs. You moaned and began to delve your nails into his back when he began to tease your bud.
“Goodness.” You barely catch a break, as your fingers follow his build down to his abdomen, and onto his hard-on in his pants. You heard Tom suck in a sharp breath, and traced the waistline of his boxers and when you heard a slight groan, you knew you accidentally touched his tip. You looked up at him, watching his eyes flutter closed as you started a slow motion to his bulge, giving him a sense of relief.
“I want you, Tommy.” You whined, tugging on the elastic.
“I want me too, seahorse.” He grinned, tugging down onto your underwear. “God you are a needy little thing aren’t you.” He coyed, as his fingers grazed along your soaked bud. You moaned, and Tom used his free hand to muzzle you.
“Quiet, baby. Harrison is still asleep.” He coos in your ear as he enters one finger inside you. The slight squirm you awarded him with was the core to his ego. He loved when you were useless when under him, he dragged his thumb over your bud teasing the soaking core with another finger.
“God, you look beautiful.” He praised as he slipped more fingers inside you. The feeling of warmness inside you only got him off more, causing you to muffle a moan into his palm as he increased the motion inside you. The walls of your bud started to adjust to his third finger rotating in all directions as he started to pump in and out of you.
When Tom hit the stop, you arched your back as you felt the walls clenched around his fingers as he kept his motion. You were barely equipped to even let out a moan at how Tom was handling your sweet bud. With your fingers digging into his back to match the pleasure you were receiving you knew that at any moment you were about to cum. Tom wasted no time and wormed his fingers inside you, making sure that his breakfast was well done.
When Tom had an inkling that you were about to release, he replaced his fingers with his mouth. You were slightly unaware of Tom's change of position when you felt his tongue licked your core in a straight line.
“Fuck—“ You moaned, and arched your hips towards him and thrust your clit into his face so Tom had no access to breath. It was a simple payback for the cockiness he gave you.
Tom only moaned as he explored you, trying to graze every spot to please you. You latched your fingers right onto his hair and flooded his mouth with your cum. Tom devoured his breakfast with ease, making sure he didn’t waste any.
“God, Did I ever tell you that breakfast is my favourite meal?” He smirked, wiping his lips before he released his palm off your mouth.
“I hate you.” You breathed senselessly, trying to catch a hold of your breath. Tom laughed and made his way back to you, planting a small kiss to your lips.
“Lemme make you feel good, baby.” You mumble as you trace the bridge of his nose. “I want to feel you.”
“You sure baby?” Tom timidly asked as he wasn’t sure you could handle all this.
“Please.” You said and flipped yourself over so Tom could enjoy the ride.
“Do your thing, seahorse.” Tom praised as you pushed up against his chest, sitting up against his waist and lining yourself up on his cock, taking in only the tip as his hands gripped your thighs to make you stationary. You stayed there for a moment, getting used to the feeling of him inside you before slowly sinking down and completely getting rid of the sight of his member.
The words that left his mouth were enough for you to use this as leverage, but the way his fingers clenched around your thighs made the bitterness fade as leave him with just sweet moans.
You felt yourself ineluctably clench around his cock, as the growls that rolled off his tongue made you smirk with triumph.
“God, you minx.” He said huskily, grinding up into you as you moaned at his words because it was the truth. You braced your knees on either side of him, smirking down as you placed a kiss on his lips. You began a steady pace, bouncing on his dick as he firmly grabbed a hold of your breasts. It was his favorite thing about you, he loved the way they only perked for him. You kept a good pace, feeling yourself around him as he cheekily thrust into you.
Whilst Tom loved the feeling of his scent, hands and cock ravishing your body, you looked down at the way his curls spread out on the pillow, with his thin lips humming out your name. Once the two of you found a speed that you both could enjoy, with the perfect harmonies of your moans, made mornings your favorite. Suddenly, you felt yourself scream as he aimlessly flipped you over, taking control once again. “As much as I love seeing you riding me, I need to show you who really is in charge.”
You moaned loudly at the now fast pace that he immediately set, putting his swollen cock into you, continuously. Tom thrust came with no warning, and neither of you cared about the screams you were carrying off. With the increase of the thrust, the more you screamed his name he found it easier to find your spot. His grunts were less noisy than yours which made him smirked, as he really loved when you had no power.
“God, you are fucking tight, aren’t you seahorse?” He laughs, as his thrusts started to not become a pattern like before. Both of your breathing was unstable, and the way you felt your bud clench on him, knowing that you were close to another orgasm. Tom praised down on you, whispering sweet words in your ear as he thrust harder into you. He was fucking you like it was his last time he got to feel you.
“My little cockslut. You take me so well. I’m surprised Harrison hasn’t woken up to your screams.” He smirked, and all you gave him was a cry when he reached your sweet spot. Your toes began to curl and your legs started to shake as he rode you to your high. You clenched around his cock, and let your orgasm flow, whilst he rode you out.
“Holy fuck, Thomas.” You scream as you feel your core burn with overstimulation. You knew that today was going to be a difficult day, especially with the water. Tom grunted and felt his cock twitch inside you, feeling shots of cum inside you with his out of sync breathing.
“Best fucking morning ever.” He said, collapsing onto you, as you tried to catch your breath. Your eyes began to flutter but Tom made sure that you were awake, by sending kisses all over your face with a lot of praise.
“Do you think Harrison knows?” You groggily asked Tom, whose face was buried in your neck.
“I highly fucking doubt it.”
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
The comforting rhythm of the waves became the markers of the time. You stood watching the waves crash onto the sand, a smile propped on your face as a big one came roaring in. With your surfboard clamped under your right arm, you kept your cool and ran into the glazing liquid following after Harrison.
You savoured the salty air, as you jumped on your surfboard, swimming right into a timid wave to get a feel of the currents. To even win this competition, you need to perfect three skills with one of them being creative.
Having Tom, the best surfer on the island, as a best friend made the nerves of losing unknown as Tom vowed he would make you the second-best surfer on this island. You propped yourself on your board, steadying your balance as you started easy with a bottom turn.
Staying low, and bending your knees whilst distributing your weight easily, and putting pressure on your toes you aced the trick with no errors. Tom, easily impressed, knew that you had nothing to worry about. He was confident that you were going to win.
“That was hot.” He laughed, paddling over to you.
“I need to be more creative, Tom. I need something that could shock the judges.” You signed, as you climbed onto your surfboard.
“How about a roundhouse cutback? It’s pretty straightforward.”
“Are you going to teach me?” You wiggled your eyebrows, making Tom hum in approval.
“I am, but it’s going to cost you.”
“Fuck you. I spent my whole morning getting destroyed by your dick.”
“I didn’t hear you complaining one bit, angel.” He smirked. “Now a roundhouse cutback is one of the most beautiful maneuvers in surfing. It’s performed in small waves without much wall, and allows the surfer to return to the curl whilst gaining maximum speed and an amplitude off the top.”
“So it’s a fancy-ass way to do a cutback?” You quired, and Tom just rolled his eyes.
“Just get up on your surfboard.”
You did as you were told, scowling at Tom. Once you were steady on your board, you were greeted with the perfect wave.
“So first you want to do a wide bottom turn which will help you point the lip.” Tom said and watched you in action. You were slightly off which was normal for a first-timer but, you just needed to focus.
“Okay, not bad. But, try driving your surfboard fast down the line.” Tom added and threw you a thumbs up. “You’ve got this, babe.”
Everything was going smoothly, you succeeded at the bottom turn and slowly shifted on your heel side, aiming your dominant shoulder towards the beach so the surfboard would move with you.
“Now, you should feel your board carving the salted water,” Tom shouted. “If you want that tighter, you might have to touch the white water.”
“How do I even do that?” You screamed, feeling your body fall into the water.
“Bending your knees, baby girl.” He whispered to himself, with a little laugh hanging as you threaded back up onto your board. As you saw a new wave welcome you, Tom stopped you for a moment.
“You are doing great, but remember to bend your knees.” Tom chortles, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. “Now, if you really want to master this, you have to commit to staying low, and when you see the section of the wave you start high and hold that compressed position looking at the point you want to go.” Tom stated.
“So far, I’m understanding..”
“Good. So, after knowing where you want to go, you hold it when you come back down making sure that you are still holding it as you drive through that turn which would reveal the white water. You must keep the rail on, don’t stop and keep holding.”
“What will this do?” You asked, feeling a slight lump at the back of your throat.
“It’s like setting up the re-entry. You spot the section of the wave getting higher and this will slingshot you out to the next section where you again, stay low, hold the rail all the way through as you don’t want it to be staging. You want it to be smooth and fluent.” He finished with a moment to catch his breath from all the information he just told you.
“Wanna repeat it?” You teased yourself by earning yourself a massive turbulence of saltwater to your face.
“You’ve got this, baby. Now, go practice.” He said with a gruff voice commanding you with an encouraging kiss to your cheek.
After a whirlpool of maneuvers, make-out sessions, and mastering a good sequence you decided to take a breather. Tom wanted to stay in the water to see if he could find a lionfish. Leaving the curious boy to find his perfect fish, you stumbled onto your designated spot on the beach, sitting right down. Soaking in the burning sensation of the sun, a slightly muscular frame restricted you from drying off.
“Can I help you?” You were known to be a bit brusque and impatient when people you didn’t know came to hassle you.
“Do you greet everyone like this?” Logan laughed, kneeling down to your length.
“Depending on my mood.”
“Would your mood change if I asked you something?” He asked, right before his body touched yours.
You slightly shifted away, giving you a good view of Tom frolicking around in the water. You were so caught up in Tom hitting the water that Logan’s accidental cough reminded you that you had company.
“Sorry. I’m a little distracted.”
“I can tell.” He held down his anger as his eyes went straight to your chest. It was clear to anyone that you had hickeys draped along, which made Logan twitch.
“What did you want to ask me?”
“Go on a date with me?” Logan boldly asked, biting his inner cheek as he looked over at Wonderboy. He took his focus back to you, watching as your face creased with laughter at Wonderboy.
“Um. I’m not really sure…” You mumbled, fiddling with your tied bikini bottoms hoping Tom would come and rescue you.
“You kind of owe me…” He stated, which made the jitters in your stomach worsen. It was the kind of nerves that you felt when Tom never made it back to yours one evening, it was the worry and you didn’t like that feeling dominating you.
“Just one date? I promise.”
You succumbed to his temptation, feeling your face drop as you agreed to his invitation. You weren’t sure how you were going to tell Tom but, it was just a harmless date, right? Nothing would change?
“I’ll see you tonight” He smirked, giving you a kiss on your cheek.
You hummed and watched as Logan set off on the opposite side of the beach. Gathering your things before calling Tom out of the water, you already found Tom dripping behind you.
“Who was that?” Tom interrogated, watching his tall frame snake around.
“Logan.”
“Who’s Logan?”
“A person.”
“What person?”
“A boy person.”
“Y/N.” His inpatient trait was too humorous to continue but, from the harsh snatch of the towel, you knew that something was wrong.
“Fine.” You huffed. “He asked me on a date--”
“-- No. You aren’t going.”
“It’s just a meaningless date, Tom.” You assured him but from the scowling, and the crossed arm gesture you knew that he wasn’t keen to the idea.
“Do you like him?”
“No.”
“Then why are you going on a date with him?”
“Because I-I invited him to the kegger and I completely ignored him because of the whole restaurant thingy and I owe him a date.”
“So he guilt trip you into going out with him?”
“Can we drop it, please? I just want to have a shower and sleep.”
“Sucks for you there’s no hot water at Harrison’s.” His childish manner was starting to rise, which was one of the reasons why you could never be with Tom romantically.
“Then I’ll go home.”
“Fine.” He mumbled, shoving the towel back in your embrace. You watched as Tom took off the same way you did. He didn’t even turn back once, he always turned back but he didn’t this time. As you saw the waves settling down, and the sun was losing its aroma, you tread on the sand with your face hanging low.
“Fine.” is all you whispered as you detoured to Rixen Cove, a sanctuary that had all the answers and allowed you to pour all the feelings you had with Tom. It was your real-life diary or, as you liked to call it: I’ve got the Tom.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
In the half-life, Tom knew it was wrong and you did too. Every time a fight would occur, it would take at least an hour for either of you to apologize. But, there was something in the wind that felt uneasy, like something dangerous was going to happen. Tom’s breathing was real slow, and the momentum of his feet kicking the pale stones made his anger worsen.
It’s been an hour and the anger that was escaping him didn’t slow down. He was angry at everything that he came into contact with. The bystanders would give him a look, and Tom would send a dirty glare or mumble a curse word. He was heading to Harrison’s, hoping that the supplies Harrison had would mellow him for a while.
“Harrison?” He called, tinting the door open a little. It was odd that Tom got no response, especially since the TV was on. Tom didn’t think much of it and planted himself on the hammock. He rested his eyes upon the leaves, fluttering in the rundown backyard. It was already close to the evening where Tom figured that you were getting ready for your date, something he wished he was taking you on.
He had the perfect date too. It wasn’t too fancy, but fancy enough for the money he earned at the golf club. He also saved up for two boat tickets to take the two of you into the mainland where you both would see an opening cinema of Madagascar, a film that you called a masterpiece. He very well knew that you wouldn’t let him pay for everything but, he would only allow you to pay for the snacks.
His phone pinged at the same moment, fetching it out of his pocket to see if he had messaged you. He looked down with a glimpse of hope but it was just an alert of a storm coming. He knew that you always had your location on, just for his eyes and he weirdly zoomed in to see you at Rixon’s Cove.
“Why is she there?” He mumbled to himself, flicking the storm of files that interfered in his drama.
“She goes there when there’s a lot on her plate. It’s her own personal diary, it’s a pretty little cove that has this huge waterfall.” Harrison came running in, going straight towards Tom.
Tom didn’t turn his head to face Harrison as he was too wrapped up with this new information, how was it that he didn’t even know about this place. You told him everything, why keep this a secret?
“Does she go there often?”
Harrison’s eyes crinkled, laughing at the stupid question “Have you met her?”
Tom shrugged, watching Harrison sit beside him. He was somewhat offended that you never told him about a place where you go to find peace, especially with his situation, he thought you would share this place with him. He had it hard, real hard and Tom only had a few places to go when things got tough.
“Don’t take it personally. She doesn’t need to tell us everything, she deserves some privacy, Tommy.” Harrison bit his lip, wincing at a slight pain in his right hand.
Before Tom could defend himself and try to fight his corner of friends don’t hide stuff from another, Tom noticed Harrison’s eyes squeeze shut. “Are you okay?”
“Define okay..” Harrison said, making his right hand visible.
“How?”
“How what?” Harrison frowned, looking at his dilemma.
“Why?” Tom asked, trying to wrap his head around the possibility of someone being that stupid.
“I don’t know why and I need some butter.”
“You need more than butter Harrison.” Tom groaned, trying to see if he could help out his friend.
“Fine. Hospital it is.”
“Good luck explaning why you have your hand stuck in a fucking cup.” Tom signed, knowing that he had no choice but to aid Harrison in his trip to the hospital.
“Do you think it will leave a scar?”
“Probably.”
“Wicked.” Harrison fisted pumped the air, grinning at Tom who lightly pushed him into the VW van.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
For you, it was important to head into this date with a free mind, and not have a single thought of the brunette beauty that was probably at home waiting for you. You knew that the perfect postcard was now lost in the post, probably seen by a mailman, and humored himself with the credulous idea of an easy ride of young romance.
Unfortunately for you, Logan wasn’t that humorous or to put it plainly, boring. You were weary from the moment that you saw his choice in clothing that the date was going to be commercialised with wine glasses and expensive lobster.
You could tell from the irritation Logan got when you dressed for a stroll on the beach, you didn’t even bother to shower as you thought you would end up in the ocean again. Under his apparent calm lay real anxiety of his suit getting wet, or covered in sand.
“I’m sure you have other suits, Logan. I’ve seen the Rolex watch on your left wrist.” You deadpanned, trying to keep a straight face at the tight-lipped expression he gave you in return.
“I’m assuming that you have never been on a proper date before.” He whispered as if to lend his utterances an added confidentiality.
“I’ve been on a few.” Your belligerent tone caused you to scoff at the rudeness he single-handed you.
“Wonderboy doesn’t count.” He fired back, almost sounding appalled at the lack of dates you have been on.
You didn’t want to talk, think or even breathe Tom but Logan firing the crude sight of Tom’s dates was when you spoke up. Even though you were mad at him, you would always fight in his corner. You weren’t going to let some Madagascar-looking penguin judge Tom, especially when you knew that Tom would outshine Logan in a suit.
“He may not turn up in a suit but he knows how to make a girl laugh.” You mumbled, and Logan rolled his eyes at the simpleness you held to your chest.
As the long-overdue silence made the aroma around you thick, and the waves harshly pinched the back of your heel you only moved higher, accidentally grabbing Logan’s arm. The shallow laugh that rolled off his tongue, made the awkwardness higher than it was before. Conversations weren’t happening, and it was up to nature to fix it.
For a moment you thought that the sky was planning a sick game with you, but when you felt raindrops wash over your skin so strongly you felt like you were far at sea. It almost seemed like this was punishment for the sins you have made this past week. But, for a strange reason you loved how refreshing it was to be caught in a picture-perfect moment. However, the guilt in your tummy made you realize that you were with the wrong person at the right time.
You turned to look at the fright on Logan’s face when he tried to find shelter, and the humorous act he played by tripping over his own feet made this date a memorable one. The rain became a living fabric, something that made this experience more joyful as you let your finger play. It was the perfect conversation starter in a small little cafe.
“You won’t find any shelter there. I know a place where we can go.” You cry out to Logan whose arms are securely wrapped around the bark of the pine tree.
“I’m not leaving. I’m perfectly fine here.” He yelled back, burying his head into his arms to avoid his face getting more damaged.
“I know this place like the back of my hand, we aren’t safe here.” You tried to run over to Logan, but the sand kept delaying you.
“I’m pretty safe here.”
“Grow a fucking pair and just let go.” You gave a harsh, derisive laugh whilst reaching out to take his hand. After what seemed like an eternity, he took hold of your hand and followed you. When the ring of thunder presented itself, Logan let out a high-pitched scream and fell right into a puddle of mudd.
You tried to keep the laughter in, but the odds of nature being his worst enemy made everything hysterical. Logan glanced up at you, with sorrowful eyes. “This isn’t funny.”
“It kinda is.” You laugh, rescuing him again.
He scoffed and tried to wipe off as much mud as possible. The horror in his eyes when his Versace suit was a different shade of blue, that’s when he burned of rage. With the sounds of the thunder, and the childish laughs coming from your lips Logan saw a quick flash, and out of fear, he shoved you onto the pile of rocks that lead to a forest to protect himself.
“Oh shit.”
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
Tom’s tiny flutters of his eyelashes told a story of vulnerability, regret, and loneliness. In the earthy hues was his heart, not in the way of those romance novels, but the kind of beauty that expands a moment into his life, a place where he is afraid to go.
His eyes were frozen on the tinted window that splattered small droplets of rain. He had a gut feeling that you were out there, twirling around and laughing at how something so scary, but could also be romantic.
He wanted to run and find you, apologise and give you that moment to be in a romance novel but, he sunk too deep and there wasn’t going to be a day like that for a long time. Tom’s emotions were scattered all around him, everything seemed to not go his way and the rain proved the theory. He was being selfish and insecure that someone with a suit got your attention.
But, Tom knows you. He knew that you would leave your hair down as you liked having the wind tangle through your hair. You’d wear a plain bikini top and shorts just in case you wanted a swim. You weren’t the girl to glam up for a date, especially on this island. The only fancy place in this neighborhood was the pawn store two blocks away from Harrison’s that Tom often tried to bargain in.
“This kid keeps looking at me…” Harrison whispered over, still having full eye contact with the kid. With a deep sigh Tom snapped out of it, running his hands over his face.
“I don’t blame him.” Tom sat, sitting in the pit that had become his life. His only decoration was his skill set but that didn’t take him far. Though, he knew that Yucatan was his light at the top that feels a million miles away, and he was missing his other half. He tried to get Harrison to call you, but Harrison thought it was better if they didn’t disturb you. Tom agreed but the guilt ran deep inside him like there was no rope to help him out of this constant battle of love.
He gave in to the dark, letting his eyes become accustomed to the reality of his life. With the marks on his skin and the threaded orange bracelet that all three of you shared his only hope. He didn’t want to give up because there was nothing else for him, you were his only ticket out. He knew that you would get into the school of your dreams and study marine biology whilst Tom would study film. Harrison was also in the picture but he would be the opposite, he would get a job as a local mechanic fixing boats.
You all had figured it out. But, what became strange to Tom was the recurring voice of your name being called. It was like you were there, in his mind that very moment when he dreamed of the future. He ignored the nudges from Harrison and sank deeper into his trance as that was his only way to stay sane.
“Dude. Y/N, is here.” Harrison almost yelled, finally getting his full attention. Tom shrugged him off, telling Harrison that you were dancing in the rain. Harrison rolled his eyes at his denial but took a surprise to the face when the little kid hit Tom on the cheek and told him that a girl he kept whining about was here.
“Listen here you little shit-- Y/N?” He shouted, eyes going directly to Logan who had his arm rested on the counter scrolling through his phone. Harrison didn’t even try to pull back and let Tom sink further in. He watched Tom slug his way towards you, raging at the lack of help Logan was giving you.
When Tom was closer to you, the doctor helped you towards a ward which made Tom pick up his pace. He shoved past Logan, giving him a nasty glare, and screamed your name.
“T-Tom?” You croaked out, wobbling out of the nurse’s hold to face Tom. You didn’t even need to say anything for Tom to take the lead and assured the nurse that he was family.
“I’m guessing you are the boyfriend?” The nurse asked, and the exchange look on the two of you was all the nurse needed to know. Tom turned over to Harrison who was occupied with the same boy who hit Tom, giving him a thumbs up that he will be okay.
“Do I want to know?”
“Nope.” Tom chuckled, propping you up on his build which the nurse thanked with a rolled eyeball.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
The hours blur together, melted with the unpleasant smell of artificial fragrances, and bitter antiseptic in every corner he looked. But, what mattered most was what a person can bring to the room. Tom knew that all you wanted was to feel loved, and mattered. He knew that Logan didn’t care, and Tom hated liking it. It meant that you could see he was really made for you, something good that came out of his birth. He waited for you whilst you had your X-ray and occasionally went to go and check on Harrison. Although Harrison wasn’t called, something more thrilling happened when Tom was trying to admire the beauty of the place you will be staying for a while.
“I’m finally making dad proud, Tyler.” Logan rambled and sat down next to Harrison. Luckily for Harrison, he didn’t even bother to introduce himself as he was too caught up in a game of Simon Says. However, when it was his turn to say Simon Says, his head darted to Logan’s lips when he heard your name.
He motioned the little boy, who he found out his name was Harry, to be quiet and who also listened in the conversation.
“Y/N’s in surgery and I don’t think she will even surf in that competition.” Logan’s lasting smirk made Harrison's hand feel tighter, as he wasn’t liking where this conversation was going.
Harrison wasn’t stupid, he was relatively smart when he was in distress. He had an inkingly that something wasn’t right, and he was almost certain that Logan was up to no good. He never saw you at the hospital, and he went there a lot.
“She slipped, emphasis on the slipped,” Logan muttered out, turning his body in a way to be secretive. Harrison's eyes widened, biting his lip as he didn’t know how much he could take. He wished that he didn’t hear Logan’s confession, and he didn’t want to tell you the news.
He never gave you bad news, only weird news that required you to laugh. He didn’t want to make you upset. That was Tom’s job and he was doing great, best on the island. If he ever learnt anything from Tom was that nothing is worse than a girl hearing double bad news. Conflicted on how to approach this, the nurse finally called his name escorting him to the room opposite yours.
It was a long process for a broken arm. You went into surgery two hours ago, and you had no results back. The only thing you got back to was Tom fast asleep in the lumpy armchair, with his feet propped up on the table, but you were too in awe to wake him up. It takes strength to love someone like Tom, and having him there for everything made this world slightly better. You were holding onto that little piece of hope that if you both were someone else with no strict parents, curfews, and Rendez-Vous you would already be settled in his arms.
Is there a reason that love is invisible, undetectable with anything but our minds? Were you both too young to understand what love is? As the questions were circulating your mind, your head turned to Tom’s. The fast beating organ in your chest motions you to awaken him.
You missed him.
“Tommy… You gotta get up, buddy.” You cooed, throwing a knock-off seahorse teddy that sat right by your left side.
“Are you okay? Did something happen? I was so worried, seahorse.” Tom jumped to his feet, rubbing the sleep out of his face. A slight smile emerged on his face, and threw himself on your lower half.
“I would hug you but your arm is broken and I don’t wanna hurt you more than I already have.”
“Water under the bridge. I’m sorry that I went with Logan, it sucked anyway…” You laughed. “He hated the rain, and wore a fancy penguin suit to our date.”
“Seriously? What a Kook.” Tom grinned, leaning over with care to kiss your forehead. “How did it even happen?”
“I don’t know. I fell.”
“Where were you?”
“Near Rixon’s forest… It’s strange because I just remember Logan screaming and then — Fuck.” You frown, looking down at the new accessory. “I can’t compete, Tom. I can’t win back the restaurant.”
You felt the tears swell into your eyes, scared to close your lids as you didn’t want Tom to see you fall apart. You didn’t know how to mix emotions well, there was sadness behind your anger, yet the anger never came unless it was triggered. You saw this as a natural passivity with the trauma you just went through to cry, but not at the real reason, just the broken arm.
“We will figure something out.” Tom repeated, branching over to place a loving kiss to your lips. After you both shared a kiss, he rested his forehead against yours and kissed your nose. “We always figure something out.”
“How’s Harrison?” You sniffled, wiping the tears with your left hand.
Tom shrugged, “I haven’t checked. I spent most of the time here… I’ll go check and I’ll be right back.”
What felt like an hour was just fifteen minutes of staring at a blank wall full of cautions and step to step guides. You gave a half-smile to the deflated balloon that was tied to Tom’s chair and watched it sway back and forth. However, something disturbs the comfort of the moment and stayed still. Your eyebrows furrowed, turning to the door as you see two familiar faces frantically walking towards you.
“Oh god, you are okay.” Your mother began. “When we got the call, we didn’t know if you were even okay. They said something about your boyfrie--”
“-- Harrison’s doing great. He has a scar which is kinda cool because now he can finally tell his high story about him killing someone.” Tom barged in, spilling half of the secrets you wanted to be hidden by your parents. The flat air and the guilty smile you gave him made his head turn to your parents, which he immediately regretted.
“Scar. Harrison. Broken arm, and Thomas being completely fine.” Your mother fractured her voice, pushing Tom’s chest towards the door continuously throwing words at him that results in him falling on his ass. A sudden gust of wind travelled through his body, with the sudden flash of his father and he quickly screamed, shielding himself.
“Don’t hit me.” Tom’s scream of the mouth and lungs, and screams of the eyes made your mum frozen in sight. It brought back something, something that she placed on the bookshelf and promised she would never open again.
Your mother bit her lip, eyes only focused on Tom’s. She moved closer with those eyes that looked so deeply into him as if they were communicating.
“I’m not going to hit you.” Your mother’s breathing became softer, her pensive look melted into a frown, with the morning light shining on a scar. Tom’s body squirms as he feels all the attention on him but his gaze was still on your mothers like it was just the two of them in the room. Tom wanted to say something but the words never left his lips but from the quickened pace of his breathing, your mother knew and revealed her deepest secret with the person she swore she hated. Your mother used her maternal instincts to help Tom up, giving him a slight nod of assurance that she won’t harm him but, Tom refused the invitation and bolted out of the hospital ignoring the calls from your room.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
A week passed.
Tom still wasn’t found. No one heard from him and no one bothered to look for him either. Harrison tried, day and night with you on a walkie-talkie giving him the usual spots Tom would go to but, there was no sign of him. It was like he just erased himself from the island. Erased from you.
You watched as the sunlight dwindled the tension of wanting to find him. You were trapped in your own room, limited to any form of contact. Since the accident, things around here have been tense and conversations that were buried have resurfaced. You only told your parents the minimal damage of Tom’s confession, slightly altering the truth as you didn’t want social services involved.
It was painful to speak about Tom when he wasn’t around. He would always take off but it wouldn’t be this long. Tom should have been back by now, he always promised that he would be safe, but you didn’t feel as confident anymore.
You filled your glass with water, but had no intention of drinking it. Your eyes kept darting to your phone that refused to ring. You tried countless times to call him but he must have run out of battery or dropped it somewhere. Tom was pretty useless to technology and hated the way we communicated.
He liked the old fashion way; climbing into someone's window type way. He always climbed through your window, but he didn’t this time. But, you left it open just like Wendy did for Peter.
You read that book last night; one of Tom’s favorites. He liked Peter Pan, and related to him. He wanted to visit Neverland and always requested you to read the book whenever he felt down, upset or lonely. It was his safe haven, along with you.
“Harrison, you there? Over.” Your hoarse whisper into the walkie-talkie betrayed your parents' trust. They did ban you from having any contact with them, as your parents thought it would be safer.
“I’m everywhere, over.” Harrison left a grieving chuckle, making your eyes twitch with nerves.
“Any sign of him? I’m worried, over.”
“Nope. I even went to his house. No sign of him, ladybug. I think he really did go to Yucatan, over.”
You didn’t believe that Tom would just leave this island. He didn’t think he could as he had no qualifications, just extremely good at being a kleptomaniac. Also, he accepted his fate a long time ago that this island is his home.
“He doesn’t even know where that is, over.”
“Do you think he joined the circus? He talked about joining the circus like Alex the Lion did. He looks up to him, over.”
You groaned in annoyance, screaming into your pillow at the useless information Harrison was giving you. “He isn’t joining the circus, Harrison. Can you go check the little dock below the boardwalk? I think he might be there? over.”
“Can I check in half an hour? Over.”
“What’s more important than finding Tom?”
The line went silent.
“Harrison! Are you there?” You almost yelled at the device.
“You didn’t say anything. You are supposed to say over. Over”
As Harrison spoke, your head was buried into your pillow screaming into the void. You sometimes wish that Harrison had a brain, or just didn’t have an IQ of a five-year-old.
“Please. Just find him, over.” The desperation in your voice matched with the light trying to soar through your room. You just needed to see if Tom was okay, you just had to know.
“I’ll do my best, ladybug.”
The silvery tears that skinned your cheeks hit your blue plastered cast, a nightmare that now lives on you. You watched as the tears dissolved into the cast, glancing at the window to see the trickles of rain splatter on your window.
You took the walkie-talkie from your pillow and replayed the message he just sent. Although, you weren’t feeling too much of a laugh Harrison did make a mistake.
“Hey, Harrison… you forgot to say… over.” You giggled, shutting the signal off.
It didn’t take Harrison long to find Tom. He was exactly where you said he would be and Harrison’s eyes squinted as he saw Tom in the water tackling the waves. He was pretty good, best on the island so he says. Harrison just sat there, looking out at his friend winning each wave that came over him. It was soothing to watch his best friend let go without looking back over his shoulder.
Harrison liked the ocean. The ocean was kind to his friends, stable, and a home to them both. Harrison loved his friends more than he loved anything else. He said that the ocean should be his enemy, for taking his dad away by the storm but, the ocean wasn’t horrible to his friends. The ocean cared for them, and he liked that.
Harrison also liked sandcastles and often made them when he waited for either of you two to finish your wave. He built a castle once and earned a spot in the annual sandcastle competition for ages 4 and up. Harrison always won. Harrison made the castle and even made you be the princess of the castle when you were little. You never joined the competition, neither did Tom. You both decided to learn to surf professionally, and plus you needed someone to guard your belongings.
“Haz? Why are you here… building sandcastles?” Tom curiously asked as he ran out of the water.
“I felt like it.”
“How did you find me?” Tom never really revealed his location to Harrison, well not the ones where you and him fuck as you both never know when Harrison will show.
“Ladybug.”
A nickname given when Harrison spotted a ladybug on your shoulder the day he met you and vowed you were queen of the ladybugs.
“How’s she doing?”
Harrison shrugs, “I only communicate with her with the dumb walkie-talkie. Her parents got her on lockdown.”
Tom didn’t say anything. He couldn't find the words or questions. It was his fault that you were stuck. He shouldn’t have reacted like that. He should have known better.
“But, I think I should tell you something..”
Tom motioned him to carry on.
“Right, yes. So, It’s about Logan.”
“What about him?”
“He’s fishy.” Harrison giggled at his reference. “You get it?”
“Yeah no shit, Haz.”
“Tough crowd.” Harrison muttered to himself, fixing his bridge.
“I know he is fishy but why? Did you find anything?”
“Technically, I need to find out how you will react when I tell you this piece of information. I can’t promise you that you will like the news but, you can’t go all crazy Tom. He isn’t nice.” Harrison started, turning his attention to Tom “Promise me.”
“I promise.” Tom said. “Would you please tell me now?”
“He broke Y/N’s arm.”
“He did what?” Tom asked again.
“Broke Y/N’s arm.”
“He broke Y/N’s arm?” Tom questioned himself.
“Why are you repeating what I say? You know I don’t like that game.”
Tom didn’t even have time to respond to Harrison before he could convert his emotional pain into his run. As Tom started to run, he felt the air and the earth cheering him on. The shuttle rain that absorbed the hues of the sunset, made everything shape into a bonus feature of ‘The Notebook’.
He got there, eventually and frowned at the darkness that came from your room. Instead you were with your parents around a dining table with no surprise, Logan. Tom stared into the perfect postcard room, fixated on the way your parents treated Logan, someone they just met. Stupid Logan was laughing again, ungentlemanly like when he ate before saying grace. Tom’s muscles started to shake, trying to hold back his tears from his half closed eyes. He watched as you held your breath before gales of laughter came soaring out.
Tom gave up, turning on his heel to leave a place where he was forgotten already. He noticed and observed the island whilst he hid at Rixon’s Cove; a place he found when he couldn’t face the shame on your mum’s face. He felt like he would never win their approval, even if he sacrificed himself, your parents would still find a way to see a negative side to him.
He’d given up and walked south to a place where people like him deserved to be.
Tom took a harsh breath, as he had endured more than he could handle for a day. It was only when he reached the painful sight of his home, his head sunk below him as he forced his feet to walk over the stones that gave a clear entrance to his front door. Tom’s house was different, more broken than yours and Harrison’s. With only living a good 10 minutes away from you, he had easy access to safety but, tonight he chose to stay. He belonged there, it’s where he remembered his childhood of bottle-throwing, hard punches, and a word that was now tattooed on his heart.
Tom regretted every movement he made, pinching his skin as the door of his fate ran open. The room smelt like death, a mixture of liquor and harsh smoke coming from the ashtray. Tom got familiar with the smell, accepted that was his scent whilst Harrison got the pleasure of salted air, and you got the luxury of a lemon glaze feel. He crept through the room, darting his eyes every second watching out for his father.
He never called him dad, he didn’t feel like he was a dad. A dad was someone who guided you, not punched you when money was tight. He didn’t have a mother, but he remembered her face. It was his bright light before you came into his life.
“And where the fuck have you been?” The voice emerged from the shadows of the kitchen. Tom squinted his eyes as the only thing he could visualize was the burning paper that was tightly shut with his lip.
Tom didn’t say anything and froze on sight. He didn’t know how to approach this sort of conversation. Does he ignore it and go straight to his room? Does he tell him where he was? Or, does he run before things get bloody?
“Harrison’s. Y/N's hurt.” Tom didn’t know why he spoke the truth. He would usually lie and tell him that he went to sea, but it was the vulnerability and the lack of respect he had to protect himself.
“Whilst you were fucking with that whore, and the thickest person on earth. I had to pay this month's rent. I had to pay for your fucking half, you piece of shit.”
Tom ignored the words, heading straight to his bedroom trying to dodge the bullets that ran straight out his father’s mouth. He slammed the door, locking it straight after where he jumped in fright at the sound of his father’s fist colliding with the door. Tom taped his hands to his ears, blocking out the hateful words that he was so used to hearing but this time, the words affected him more deeply. He closed his eyes but pictured your parents in the scenario.
He rolled himself in bed, body crunched into a ball as he rocked himself to sleep with the pictures of you and Harrison that were scattered everywhere on his wall.
He reached his shaky hand to the picture of you, in a red bikini smiling with a surfboard in hand. He brushed the image, setting off the tears that had been threatening to come and harm him.
He had no choice but to be vulnerable with shame as he couldn’t do that beyond these walls. He was right where he belonged, in a broken home full of broken memories and a series of polaroids you took were his only window to the outside world.
He never knew how much he took for granted when he found himself being the six-year-old kid again, wondering why his mum left him with a man whose love was shown through violence. He fell into despair and lost all hope of trying to win your heart because who could ever learn to love a bastard.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
24 hours until the competition and the destruction of your restaurant.
It wasn’t supposed to end like this, nothing like this happened on the island. Everyone was well kept, friendly most of the time, and contributed in a generous manner. It was like a big community but often spiraled into chaos when unfamiliar faces come to shore. It was like someone yanked the plug that kept everything afloat, and chose chaos.
Damage like this never affected you, or your friends. You three would just mind your business, and use the advantage to break some rules. It was never the plan to be involved. You didn’t want to be involved. You were only supposed to be having sex with Tom from time to time, surfing with Harrison, and sometimes imagining a life with Tom. It was a routine, a simple routine that everyone was fine with.
If someone told you a month ago that you would have a broken arm, Tom running away and Harrison being smart you wouldn’t have believed them. You didn’t want this, any of this. You just wanted to enjoy your summer, that’s all you ever wanted. You were spiralling, again and again. Tom hasn’t called, texted or left a sign that he is somewhat alive. Harrison didn’t give you much information, but also subtly tried to avoid you.
It was like everyone was turning against you for being human and the broken arm was just a way for people to give you fake sympathy. People aren’t stupid here, everyone is familiar with everyone and has seen you with Logan. Often people glared, squinting at you when you walked by and things were said on social media which you deleted.
You were the enemy, the reason why everything was going south. You were the skeleton of the island, and you were slowly decaying. You couldn’t sleep, too much was on your mind for you to have a decent sleep. You needed Tom by your side, he was the main priority. It wasn’t fair that Tom got to suffer for your mistakes. Tom didn’t even mean any harm, he just loves too much, and that often gets him into trouble. You didn’t want to spiral, especially not two days before the competition. You needed to sleep and throughout the night, whilst your mind kept playing tricks on you, you finally gave up and closed your eyes for just a moment which turned into hours.
It was 04:32 am and an abrupt thud woke you. Your eyes opened like two flashlight beams, the shine that glazed through your window, made a shadow of a human. The human was wearing a hoodie, the sort that could protect you from the weather. The colours instantly brought a sense of safety to your yearning for guilt. You felt your beating organ settle down, and your breathing was consistent. Even though it was just a piece of clothing, the clothing belonged to Tom, and once you locked eyes with his broken amber hues you knew where Tom had been all along.
Within spitting distance of your bed, Tom steps from the luster glow and finds himself on the other side of your bed. You felt his firm torso and the heart that beats within mold into you. He drew you closer, making both of your legs tangle as his hand folds around your back, drawing you closer. A tear splits from his eye, landing on your shoulder causing your body to shake as you knew the trauma he went through. You never pushed Tom to speak about what happens to him, you only showed with your touch giving him that trust he always wanted.
Tom pulls his back, wiping your own tears with his fractured hand, even the roughness brings the sharp pain of what he went through. He lightly ran his hand through your hair, making his way to trace little shapes on your back to make sure that you were real. You felt like you were in his dream, you wanted to turn around and kiss his trembling lips but you didn’t want to push him.
You also wanted to speak but he pressed a kiss to your shoulder. A small croak left his lips, “I’m okay, I’m safe now.” His mouth paints a soft smile, and you nod running your hand against his bruised knuckles. You didn’t know how long it was but, the soft snores that left Tom lips indicated that he was finally having a good night's sleep. You knew from experience that if Tom snores, it means that he hasn’t slept for days.
You didn’t know why but something inside you wanted to keep the boy locked in here forever.
You wanted him safe.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
Into the illuminating light of eventide came a troop of loud music, laughs echoing around the marsh apprehend Tom and Harrison. Word of the Island was that you were attending the event with your parents, from the generous invite of Logan.
How did they know? Harrison.
As the two of them shamefully dragged the boat to shore, Tom already found himself squinting at the poor taste in music. Harrison didn’t seem to mind, only worrying if they were going to serve actual food other than dead snails.
“Ready?” Tom questioned Harrison who shook off the vivid image of you eating a snail, laughing in the process.
“Can you believe this whole Creeklights shit?” Harrison tutted, watching as Tom undressed himself.
“Course. It happens every fucking year, and I swore that we would crash it someday.” Tom’s outrage for the event went years back when he found out that people like him didn’t belong in places like that. He was only good for working them, not attending.
“So what’s the plan again?” Harrison dumbfounded, quickly covering his eyes at Tom’s current state.
“We disguise ourselves as waiters, find y/n, distract y/n and kidnap her.” Tom’s leering gaze landed on the two security guards. He had snuck into something before, but it wasn’t this extreme.
“I don’t like the sound of kidnapping? How about taking her away?” Harrison said, causing Tom to shift his gaze at him earning him a rightful slap over the head.
“Hurtful. With the amount of crimes you are committing, I don't think abusing your best friend is what you need right now.” Tom immediately took Harrison’s words and threw him at the back of his head. He had more important things to worry about; getting you.
“You’ll go in first, locate exactly where y/n is and then tell her that the turtles are getting harassed.” Tom lied, trying to understand the clockwork on the security guards.
“Wait, they are? We should help them.” Harrison was already walking in the other direction until Tom pulled him from his collar.
“Just get in there.” Tom hissed, lightly pushing Harrison into the bushes to make out that he was collecting empty glasses.
“I need a big fat zoot after this.” Harrison mumbled but cheered when he actually found an empty glass on the grass.
“I think we should stop throwing the glasses on the floor, they have feelings.” Harrison snapped at the two drunk people who were making out. “Hello. Did you hear me?” Harrison waved his hand in the air, trying to grasp their attention.
Before Harrison even knew that he was going to get punched, he was pulled again but in a gentle manner. You surprisingly twirled him around, making him hold your waist as you danced with him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to kidnap you,” Harrison said. “It was pretty easy.”
“Where’s Tom?” You mulled over Harrison’s shoulder.
“Oh hi Harrison, how are you? Haven’t seen you in two weeks? I’m good, thank you for asking.” Harrison’s sharp tongue stopped your actions.
“I’m sorry, Hazzie. I’ve missed you.” You try to sound sympathetic but your mind was sorely focused on Tom as he managed to take off in the morning before you even had a chance to talk to him.
“He’s okay. There's just a lot you need to catch up on.”
“Logan? This whole event?” You guessed, hating the way Harrison nodded almost immediately.
“I knew you weren’t dumb.” Harrison laughed and escorted you towards the back of the event where Tom was downing a glass of whiskey. You just about heard everything you needed to know, from Logan stealing the restaurant to breaking your arm. When Tom heard approaching footsteps, a smile grew on his face which landed him straight onto the ground with a loud thump to go with the fall.
“Scraps like you don’t belong here.” Logan teethed, kicking Tom in the stomach. Tom clenched his body, trying to maintain his only strength as he saw you and Harrison approach the scene.
“I was wondering when you two would show. Are you here to see what Wonderboy is really good at?” Logan’s side that you definitely do not think he would have made the hole in your vision fall into place. You took one look at Tom and used your legs to kick Logan in the crotch, whilst Harrison aided Tom up from the ground.
“Just go, Logan” You hissed, running towards the two boys.
“Not without Wonderboy’s confession.” If Logan was going to leave, at least he wanted was to leave with a stupid grin on his face.
“He doesn’t need to confess anything.” You shouted as you had no idea what he was talking about. However, you knew that if Harrison and Tom weren’t out of here, they would be thrown into jail.
“Seriously princess? I thought you were smart.”
“What are you even talking about? What confession does Tom need to make?” You were tired, and this event was going away until someone filled you in. You turned to face Tom, looking at him with desperation.
“Nothing. There’s nothing to tell.” Tom mumbled, clenching onto Harrison’s arm.
“So loving her is nothing to tell. I thought y/n meant something to you.”
“Just drop it.” Tom glared and tried his hardest to not look into your eyes.
“So you do love her but she doesn’t feel the same way right? That’s why she went on a date with me. She feels nothing for you, the whole time she was with me, you were never mentioned. It’s quite sad to see someone you love not feel the same way? Like the way your father loathes you…”
Taken back at the confession you looked over at Tom, “Is this true? You love me?”
Tom didn’t even say anything before security came to see what the commotion was about. You saw the security guard walk straight up to Tom, pulling him by his collar. You began to scream, gathering everyone's attention, even your parents who slowly emerged from the buffet.
“You can’t just boot him. I invited him here. Let him go.” You screamed, getting trapped by Harrison. You tried to leave his embrace but Harrison only brought you to your father who was already at the scene. You hit Harrison on the chest, cursing at him for keeping you away from Tom.
“Enough, peanut. He was only trying to help.” Your dad tried to sympathize but you couldn’t even think to see how this was beneficial.
“Harrison, son. Go check on Tom whilst I talk to peanut. Let us know if he is okay.”
“Who are you and what have you done to my dad?” You sniffled, watching Harrison sprint into the bushes.
“We have some talking to do, peanut.” Your dad started. “Want to fill me in?”
You really didn’t expect to rant to your father about the wild weeks you have had. It was already uncomfortable at how understanding he was, even when you mentioned yours and Tom’s situation. But, as you were filling your dad in with the drama you managed to squeeze in before letting out a breath, you wondered if Tom would be at your window tonight.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
Tom ran; like always. He didn’t even tumble to the ground, nor stop running no matter how much pain he was in. He just kept running, and this time he didn’t even know where he was running either.
Nowhere on this island was safe for him, everything was black and Tom found himself standing right outside the signup sheet for the competition. He looked over at Harrison who managed to catch up with him.
“Dude, you okay?”
“One last wave.” Tom whispered to himself, taking the pen and writing his name down.
“You are surfing tomorrow? But, your bruises?”
“I don’t care. I need to win this for her. It’s the only way.” Tom snapped, and Harrison took a step back. Tom knew deep down that if he wanted off of the island, he just needed to win this for y/n.
As long as you were happy, he didn’t care what happened to him. There is nothing for him here, and Tom sunk to the floor lying on the sand watching the sky change into a blasting orangey color.
“Surf’s up.”
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
Your tranquil gaze focused solely on the boats rocking on the seafront. The sea air arrives on queue with nostalgic memories of you and your father swimming far into the sea. The core memories scrutinized with the placidity of the light patter of rain that rested on the timber of the boat.
It was an old fixer-upper that was a project that never began, but the simplicity of the rusty boat gave it meaning. It was a boat that had witnessed many tantrums, sweet confessions, and a place to go when things got a little hectic.
The sea air especially in the area of the boat gave you the confidence to finally turn to face your dad. You nestled your head on his shoulder, fiddling with the hem of your purple silky dress waiting for your dad’s advice.
“I remember one evening when you invited Tom and Harrison round to band practice, the look you gave another when you sang the song "Take My Breath Away”, I knew that the two of you would be something.” Your dad said softly. “I never told your mum because, well you know how she gets.”
“I’m scared, dad. I’m scared that if I finally allow him to hold my heart, he will be in constant fear. He would be so gentle that everything will be fragile, I don’t want him to have that worry. I don’t want him to worry when he is with me, I just want him to be free of his mind.” You continued, tears trickling down your cheek in the process.
“I’m glad you are aware of his stability but, I think whenever he is with you… he is safe. He isn’t worried about his dad or constantly beating himself up. You showed him from a young age that you love him no matter what baggage he has. You allowed him to be open with you, you gave him that trust that he can come to you with a broken nose, a bruise and you wouldn’t shout at him. You are, and always will be his safe haven.” Your dad said, wiping the tears from your cheek.
“You really think that we are right for each other?” You asked him quietly.
“I think you both are still young but, I know that whatever the fight you always end back in each other’s arms. I know your mother isn’t fond of him but she has her reasons.”
“She was abused too, wasn’t she?” You sniffled, looking up at your father who nodded slowly. You didn’t know when you fully found out but the clues your mum was leaving you when she put you on house arrest filled in the dots.
“Your mother sees herself in Thomas and she knew that if anyone got close to her that they would also be in danger. She didn’t want you to go through that, amor. She just wanted what’s best for you.”
“Do you think in time she would accept him like you do?” You didn’t want to overstep but, your parent’s approval mattered to you.
“I know she will. I think she is starting to see that it’s physically impossible to separate the two of you. Well, and Harrison.”
“I got pretty lucky right?” You grinned.
“I don’t know how you managed to tame them but, I know that the friendship the three of you hold is unbreakable. Hold onto that.” Your dad finished, bringing you into a tight hug.
“That was beautiful.” Harrison sniffled, tucking the tears under his fingers as he silently sat there. “I love you too, dad.” Harrison dived into the hug, and your dad gave you a concerned look.
“He’s included.”
Your dad only responded with a laugh, hugging Harrison back. “I think you know what you need to do, amor.”
“You’ve got this, amor.” Harrison mimicked, immediately releasing himself from the embrace. “I’ll see you tomorrow, ladybug.” He shouted, before your dad could get to him.
“It gets better right?” Your dad prayed.
“In time.”
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
Competition Day.
Upon the blow par of Harrison’s home, you laid in a white knitted cocoon that overlooked the marsh, with a glimpse of the mainland. The gentle buzz in the air transformed the nerves of losing the restaurant into an alternate timeline where everyone was content, happy, and mindful.
A sweet community that danced in your mind was everything you wanted, but could never have on an island like this. You saw yourself, Tom, and Harrison in Yucatan owning a surf shop joined with a restaurant that brought travelers from far and near to eat.
It was a perfect trance, a tranquillity to dream of when things got too heavy. Every time you fall into the brightest timeline, progress is seen in your double jointed surf shop and restaurant.
“I thought I’d find you here.” Harrison's soft tone effortlessly brought you back to the realm.
“It’s peaceful.” You signed, not moving your body to face him.
“I’m guessing you aren’t going to the competition?” Harrison didn’t know how to tell, or initiate the untold feelings Tom and you have.
“I can’t. It’s just going to remind me of failure.”
“That’s not true. It’s not your fault, it was Logan’s.” Harrison frowned, trying to not draw attention to your cast.
“I was stupid to even go with Logan. I should've just stayed. Now, I’ve lost Tom.” You muffle, not wanting Harrison to see you cry.
“You haven’t lost him. He’s just busy winning the competition for you.”
“What?” You ask, slightly confused as to why Tom would enter with his condition.
“He’s at the competition.”
“He’s at the competition?” You repeated slowly.
“Why do you both like playing this game! I can’t tell you both enough that I hate the copying game. It’s not nice.”
“I don’t understand? Why is he there? He isn’t stable. If he shows his bruises, then people will ask questions. He doesn’t want that, Harrison.” You said in a worried tone. “We need to stop him, Hazzie.”
“I think I need to give you the talk.” Harrison began. “I want you to listen carefully and save all questions, facial expressions, and rude comments till the end of my speech,” Harrison said softly, looking over at your perplexed face.
“Noted.”
“Have you ever heard of the term fish love?” Harrison asked, knowing deep in his mind that you already made the judgment that this was going to be irrelevant.
“I haven’t.”
“Perfect. It’s the thing that you and Tom have.” Harrison began, “I’ll give you an example. When a guy let’s call him Sawyer, saw another guy eating a fish, Sawyer went up to the guy and asked why is he eating the fish, he said, ‘I love fish’ But Sawyer was confused because how could he love the fish if he took it out of the water, killed it, and boiled it? You know what I mean?”
“I guess so. How does this relate to Tom and I? He isn’t a fish.”
“The term can also relate to people. When you date someone and you say you love them, what does that mean? Why do you love them?” Harrison stated. “Basically, most people love someone because that person fulfills their physical and emotional needs. It fills the void in their heart, which is still selfish. Sawyer said true love is when you think ‘what can I GIVE this person, not what will I gain from being with them.”
You were still confused.
“All I’m trying to say is that the guy didn’t really love the fish, he just loved what it did for him, which was to feed him. Tom’s love for you is fish love.” Harrison finally finished but he didn’t expect to receive a tight embrace from you, with the repeated words of thank you. In fact, he was waiting for a smack to the head.
“Did you actually understand that?” Harrison curiously asked.
“Funny enough. I did.” You laughed, releasing him from your embrace.
“Go get him, ladybug.”
You nodded, offering him a hand in the process. “Not without you.”
“Does this mean I’ll be third-wheeling now?” Harrison asked, locking his hand with yours.
“Hazzie, You’ve been third-wheeling all your life.”
“Oh.” Harrison downcasted his tone, kicking the stones out of the way. You could tell that Harrison wasn’t okay, especially after the confession. It was the last thing you wanted Harrison to feel. Harrison is as much as important as Tom is, you just wish he understood that.
“Nothing is going to change, ya know? Regardless if Tom and I date, you’ll always be with us. I don’t think we could ever live life without you, Harrison. You may not know it but you are the skeleton of the group.”
“I love you, ladybug.” Harrison grinned, resting his head on your shoulder as the two of you walked to the beach.
“I love you more, doofus.”
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
Everything was about to change and it came like an electric storm, paralysing your brain, it was quite painful. You weren’t prepared to pour your feelings out to someone, or anyone really. It was piling on too much and you had the arm to prove it. You knew the outcome, a weightlifting outcome was just beyond the sea bed but something was off when your feet hit the sand. Your smile sits low, your head isn’t focused on the competition that is filling your mind with cheers and screams. The anxiety grew as they were announcing that Tom was in the lead, he actually braved himself to show off his broken canvas.
As Harrison fled off to see if Tom had actually won, you were left alone with the seashells witnessing your sorrowful looks. You wanted to just run into the water, dive into the upcoming wave and head to a secret coven under the water but, life wasn’t like a fairytale.
Lost in a dance with your mind, your body fell onto the sand giving you a slight panic as a heavy body weighed on you. You screeched in agony as your arm wasn’t exactly in great shape but, the familiar voice that made your skin hair rise made your smile more real.
“Hey..”
“Hi.” You acknowledge him, but your eyes immediately went to his bruises.
“They aren’t as bad as you think. The water eases them up.”
“Speaking of water, what are you doing in it?” You were grateful that Tom would reveal his secret to the world to make you happy but, you didn’t deserve that kind of love.
You weren't that important.
“It was the only way to prove to your parents that I’m serious about something.” Tom murmured, not realizing that your parents were right in his rearview. “I just needed you to know that I love you and I know you don’t feel the same but, I just want to know that I’m willing to wait and prove to you that I’m serious about this.”
“I love you.” You blurted out.
“You what?”
“Let’s um, go somewhere…” You mumbled, reaching out your hand so Tom could help you up. You excused the people who were standing in a circle, waiting for a love confession. Pulling Tom away from the crowd and taking him under the dock, you finally were about to say what you felt.
“I love you, Tom. I always have and I know I had a weird way of showing it but, I know that I want to spend right now with you. You are my past, present, and hopefully my future. I just want to make you happy, that’s all I ever wanted.”
“That is all I have ever wanted to hear, seahorse.” Tom softly said, leaning into a kiss.
“Halle-fucking-lujah.” Harrison screamed with a dreamy smile. You both abruptly left the longing gaze and turned to Harrison who got a hand each and held them to his heart. “It’s beating for you both.”
The awkwardness hit the two of you to let out an uncomfortable laugh, shaking their heads at the clowny of them actually having a private moment.
“Harrison, could it be possible for us to just have this moment? I promise that we will find you after.” You tried to reason with the boy but he was too much in awe to even listen.
“I just need a picture for the fanbase…” Harrison whispered, plotting out his little disposable camera.
“Fanbase?” Tom asked, looking over at you with an uneasy smile.
“Yeah. I made it a while back. I have 2 members.”
“Which are?” You interrogated.
“Your dad and me.”
You and Tom both let out a laugh, itching yourself to figure out more about this fanbase. You gave Harrison a decent photo, a regular passing-by couple of pictures with Tom’s arm around your waist. Harrison promised it was the last one as each shot he took became more awkward.
“I’ll get this emailed to you. Do you want me to add you to the fanbase? I heard that if I reach four members, I get a badge..”
“If you leave us alone for five minutes, I'll join and even give you behind-the-scenes action.” You laughed, shooing him away.
“Awesome. Not only do I get a badge but I also get 30 bucks from your dad.” Harrison grinned to himself. “More weed for me.”
Before the two of you watched Harrison skip away to his land of fairies, you were most certain you were about to kiss Tom. You both stood there, an inch apart as you both leaned in. At that moment, the kiss just went deeper and Tom pulling you to his chest made everything about this moment perfect. It was a real stamp of a new beginning with Tom, something that could look perfect on the perfect postcard picture.
Knowing Harrison, He would emerge from the light and interrupt the moment, you both decided to break the kiss apart. Hands entwined with another, you made your way back to the station grinning as most people's concentration diverted to you and Tom.
Whilst Tom was pulled apart to earn his reward, you saw Logan emerge from the tree he once held onto looking directly in your corner. You quickly ran towards him, looking back to see Tom searching for you. Approaching the brothers, Tyler was about to head off, Logan following but you managed to stop Logan in time.
“Not so fast. You and I need a little chat first.” You said in a flippant tone, escorting him away from the crowd. You both sat adjacent to the sea, observant of Tom who you caught staring.
“He’s smitten.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” You fretfully said and Logan stayed silent.
“For him.” He truthfully told which got the attention of your hand to grip the golden sand.
“Here’s the deal, Logan. I’m not stupid, and I know what you did.” You were frank with him, you guessed from the moment you met him that he had to be talked to like a child.
“Which is?”
“You are going to give me back my restaurant, and I won’t press charges.” Your earnest negotiation sent Logan speechless.
“You have no proof of that.” Logan fired back, you can see from the tension he had when he arched his back that he was getting flustered.
“I wouldn’t need proof. Everyone you see knows me. In fact, they have seen me doing crazy shit with Wonderboy and Harrison. We’ve done a lot of risky stuff and not once did I ever fall. The place I took you was a children’s playing area, and has had no accidents since, well basically me.” The fear in Logan’s eyes made you jubilant, you were finally earning back the self-esteem you lost.
“No one will believe you-”
“Cut the crap, Logan. Just take the deal and fuck off back to suit and tie land. You don’t belong here, and neither does your stupid idea for apartments.” Your sincere speech didn’t exactly make amends but it did get Logan to leave. You watched as he picked himself, looking directly over at his brother and motioned him to follow after.
The feeling of finally taking back your worth felt exhilarating. Although you were stuck with a broken arm for the rest of the summer and may have upset the island a tad too much, it was all worth it as everything you ever wanted was finally falling into place.
As you heard the calls from your parents, and the sweet laugh of Tom’s you knew that something was starting. It was the perfect postcard picture, the one that loses its way but manages to be filled with the people you loved.
Even though you swore that the perfect postcard picture was you and Tom… It was more than just the two of you. Nothing would be complete without your restaurant, parents, and Harrison. They were your family. It may be small and a little broken but it’s still good.
°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°❀°
A week passed, and you were currently washing the plates after dinner with your parents. Thankfully the money that Tom generously won for you, ended up being put into a secret bank account that Tom would touch whenever he figures out he has one. It was a bittersweet moment to see your mum finally accept Tom for who he is, and even offered him a place to stay if he worked different hours for you at the restaurant.
Tom, of course said yes and again, your family used half his wages to be put away. You were glad that Tom had a backup plan, stable enough to get himself into a decent college and forget about his old life. Your mother did have a recurring long chat with you about the consequences of Tom’s home life, and she made you promise that you wouldn’t interfere no matter how much you wanted.
As the minutes went by, a surprising knock echoed through the house. You turned to your mother who shrugged.
“Are you expecting someone?” Your mother asked.
“Nope. Tom’s busy and Harrison is being Harrison.”
“Then who's at the door?” Your mother was just as confused as you were. However, what the two of you weren’t expecting was your dad, tightly embracing Tom in his arms.
“I thought he was busy?”
“That’s what I thought?” You said, furrowing your eyebrows as you made your way over to them.
“What’s going on?” You asked, and you went up to Tom. “Tom.. I thought you were busy?”
“I am.” He said softly. “I’m about to watch Star Trek with your dad.”
“He hates Star Trek.”
“I know.”
“So, why are you here to watch star trek?”
“What’s with the questions, amor? Jealousy isn’t a good look.” Your dad chuckled, playing around with your ponytail.
“I’m not jealous.”
“Don’t worry. As soon as the movie is over, I’ll come and see you.” Tom grinned, handing you an empty bowl of popcorn.
“What’s this for?”
“We need snacks.” Your dad insisted.
“Pronto.” Tom added.
“This better not be a regular thing.” You hissed under your breath.
“You had your chance.” Your dad said. “In fact, you had 23 years to get Tom and now I have him.”
“Well, I’ve got Harrison.” You piped up, hands rested on your hip.
“Technically you don’t… I decided to give Star Trek a go too…” Harrison came straight through the window and took a seat right next to Tom.
“You too?” You huffed.
“Popcorn please.” The boys demanded, flicking the bowl in the air. You glared at them all, snatching the popcorn bowl from them. Making your way into the kitchen, giving your mum a slight pout. She only laughed.
She looked down at the popcorn bowl, “Top shelf to your right, darling.” Your mother said and you mumbled a thank you underneath your breath.
“So, when were you going to tell me you were in a friends with benefits situation with Thomas?”
Summary; You and Tom spend your whole relationship in the water. Surfing under the summer sun and competing in summers biggest surf competition. To a surpise, you and Tom take on the biggest challenge nature could throw at you. A baby.
Wc: 9k
Warnings: mentions of insecurities durning pregnancy, fluff
A/n: I know this isn’t a birthday themed fic for Toms b-day but I hope you all enjoy! My little spin on a summer fic with dad!tom 🥰
June.
The summer breeze rose goosebumps to your skin. Your hands coming up to rub your arms as the water was only a bit colder today.
it was summer, the best part of the year when you lived with a beach in your backyard. Spending your whole life surfing you now prepared for the summer tournament that happened only weeks away from now. Surfers, fans, media come in from nearly all over the world just to compete.
To feel a wave under their boards and the adrenaline that rushes through your blood when you finally get on top. The same competition that lead you to Tom, Tom who was now your boyfriend of two years. At first, you laughed at the boy.
Pale, shy—yet so cocky and from London of all places. The most water they got is from the sky. You wanted to laugh with your friends for how confident he was acting, little rain boy wanted to have a chance in the big ocean and he did. To your shock, he scored better than you and scored to be in the top 10. Your laughs stopped after competition and maybe it was the slight momentary enemy thing or it was that deep blue bikini that made him find you after the games and get you out for a drink.
That drink was truly a shared basket of fish and chips as you talked more and more about each other. Pale, rainy London boy ended up being the best thing that ever happened to you.
“You wiped out twice!” He sits atop his board and your hands rub over your face.
“Maybe because I’m distracted!” You splash water in his direction. His toned abs always tanner during g this year and it was hard for the both of you to control yourself. “I’m just tired, stressed.” You shrugged it off truthfully.
“You fell asleep at 8:00 last night, grandma.” He teased and you rolled your eyes.
“Competition stress.” You point to him and he shrugs. If he’s honest, within the two years he’s known you, two years he’s loved and wondered where you had been all his life, he knew your stress. When you were stressed you oftentimes took long showers or wrote in your journal for hours on end but this time your stress was sleeping early/in late and a few times he’s caught you throwing up. All under the name of stress.
He didn’t push anything though, reminding you that he is there and you could tell him anything. But nonetheless, he left you be and just kissed your cheek and told you everything was okay.
“Race you to shore and whoever gets back inside first gets the leftover chicken from last night!” He starts to swim and you quickly flatten yourself on your board.
“What are we like five?” You call out but still push yourself to go faster. Pushing yourself to race him to shore.
Even though Toms board was definitely double his size, he still beat you into the house, already washed off and reheating the leftovers for lunch. After a morning swim you always had lunch before you went off to work where you would teach little kids how to surf. No matter what, you were always around the water.
“So I was checking the competition list this week, checking to see if there’s anyone new…” he trails off on a story. The two of you share the chicken and fries before you suddenly get a disgusted taste in your mouth. The chicken suddenly becomes sour in your mouth but you force yourself to swallow, Tom notices the change and he stops everything to make sure you’re okay.
“Darling, what is it?” He has a worried look but you shake your head.
“Nothing—it’s nothing. I-I just think this part of my chicken was a bit undercooked and it grossed me out. It’s nothing.” You smiled at him and he waited a second before continuing his story.
But that wasn’t the end of it, the next bite even more sour and this time you drop your fork and open the trash can to spit it out. The spitting then followed by spitting up all of your breakfast and lunch. Tom quickly coming to move any stray hair and rubbing your back as he tried to not throw up himself.
When you were done, he quickly closed the trash can lid and got you into the bathroom where he assembled the toothbrush for you.
“Peaches, I know that you told me not to worry but this is the third time this week.” He folded his arms as he leans against the wall.
“I’m fine.” You say through a mouth filled with toothpaste. Spitting into the sink and rinsing your mouth while also splashing some water over your face. When you look back up, just a bit, your eyes flicker to the untouched box of tampons.
One week late wasn’t so bad, one week late was just some built up stress and every women had been a week or two late before. But before tom can take notice in your distraction, you turn around to him who hands you a towel.
“But you’re not fine.” He argues a bit gently, not wanting to offend you.
“Tom, in school I would throw up during exam seasons all the time. It’s just stress okay? Better than losing hair or breaking out I guess.” You try and joke with him but he doesn’t exactly laugh. Just stares at you worried and you push back a few of his curls.
“Hey, look at me,” you tell him and his eyes meet yours. “I’m fine, seriously! Just a bit of stress and nothing the ocean water and you can’t fix.” You kiss his cheek and he finally smiles.
“Can you go see a doctor? For yourself and if not for yourself then for me, I want you to do good at competition and you know they won’t let you compete if you are sick in anyway.” He rubs up and down your sides and you sigh. Hating the doctors but you agree.
“Okay, okay. I’ll make an appointment but they will just tell me I just have butterflies.” You tell him and that’s when he grows a smirk.
“Aw, babe, I didn’t know after all these years I still gave you butterflies!” He teased and you rolled your eyes playfully nudging your body against him. Both leaving the bathroom, your eyes flicker over to the untouched box to tampons that just taunt you one last time before tom shuts the bathroom door. It was possible, you just didn’t want it to be possible just yet.
-
“I should’ve canceled, I should be there!” Tom speaks through the phone. You sat in an empty, cold doctors office waiting for blood results to get back.
Despite Toms over worrying, everything was fine. They couldn’t find anything physically wrong with you and agreed when you mentioned how it was just anxiety and nerves. Yet they still had to run a blood test to make sure it wasn’t anything they missed and couldn’t see with the naked eye.
Meanwhile tom had to be the most dramatic person out there. You always told him if he was not a surfer he would be an actor. It was impressive how every single night before bed he had a new condition to diagnose you with. Some so severe and outrageous you had to remind him that this wasn’t 1600s England and that you didn’t have the plague. That things were just from stress and if it was a stomach bug then let it run through.
Yet he would rant to you nearly every single night about how he’s always loved you and hated that this was the way to go. Always with that you would smack him with a pillow and tell him to go to sleep and with that he would kiss your cheek and hold you tight as he fell asleep.
“Tom, it’s fine. Seriously! They said they couldn’t find anything wrong, you’d be wasting your time to come here. The most you’d get out of this visit is maybe a sticker. Does Tommy want his girlfriend to bring him back a sticker?” You used a baby voice and you could practically hear him going red.
With a scoff he replies, “Ugh, no. What am I like five?” He pauses for a moment. “But what kind do they have? Were you able to check?” He asked in more of a quiet voice and you laugh.
“No clue. But the nurse told me the best thing I could do is just drink some tea and rest. Maybe they have some spiderman stickers or Sofia the first stickers.” You fiddle with the loose thread on your pants. Ending with a joke to calm both yours and Tom's nerves.
With a smirk, Tom Says, “you’ve been drinking some British tea for awhile—“ he jokes and you quickly cut him off.
“Tom!” You say and as if it was a sign, the nurse comes back in with a clipboard and a gentle smile. “Hey, I’ll call you back, the nurse has my results.”
“Wait! Before you go, ask them to check for tapeworms—“ before he could finish you hung up.
“He’s just dramatic.” You laughed a bit and the nurse laughed along before taking a seat across from you. She clicks her pen which makes you nervous for some reason.
“So your blood came back fine, everything is okay. I just have a few little things such as are you on any birth control?” She asked and you shook your head.
“Oh no, um...haven’t been for a while. But my boyfriend and I use protection and we’re safe. We only used planB once and that was a year ago.” You tell her but she looks up at you. Nodding as she purses her lips.
“Condoms only go so far sweetheart. We just have to ask patients who we find to be with a child incase of any birth control so we can remove it immediately, the birth control, I mean, remove that immediately.” With child. You were with a child. Pregnant. Your heart nearly falls out of your chest and the nurse says a few more things but they don’t register.
“Y-You mean there’s a baby inside of me?” You don’t know what color you look right now but you would assume pale, or green with the feeling of vomiting and this time not from slightly uncooked raw leftover chicken.
“Yup, about one month along it looks! We still will want to run more tests and…” she talks more and more but you don’t listen. Your brain foggy, you don’t know if you’re going to pass out or throw up or shit everywhere from how nervous you were. Hell, even all three seemed like an option as she talked. “So I’ll leave you to tell the important news?” She asked. This was apart of her regular day to day, she probably had hundreds of girls like you come in. Clueless and thinking of a stomach bug and then finding out they are pregnant.
“Y-Yeah.” You try to form a smile.
“Perfect, just meet me up at the desk whenever you’re ready. There’s a bathroom down the hall if you are feeling queasy and of course, help yourself to as many waters in the mini fridge in our waiting room. Congratulations!” She says before she turns out and all you hear is the door click shut. The white noise of the light and the taps of your fingernails against the cool metal bed.
You know it was professional and sweet of her to allow you space to call your significant other but you only stare at Tom's contact. Staring at the word ‘Tommy’ with almost all the heart emojis and his contact pictures of him with the biggest smile.
You have no guts to tell him right in the moment, but rather get off of the paper coated bed and grab your things to leave. Setting up a new appointment with your doctor to see more into the baby. Pregnant, with child, before competition. You and Tom were going to have a faimily.
July.
Tom still hadn’t known the news. It had only been a week but the guilt still ate you alive.
You didn’t want to worry or stress him. You yourself still tried to wrap your brain around it. A baby, every breath you took, every bite of food you ate, every drink you swallowed and every step you took there was a baby you shared it with.
You think about how every time tom had wrapped his arms around your waist this week he gently touched over the baby. Kissing your lying lips, you hated yourself for it.
As for competition, your mind nearly forgot. Still getting in the waters everyday with Tom but this time a bit more cautious. Everytime Tom worried for you, you quickly would cover his worry up with either a joke or kisses.
As for the throwing up, morning sickness was something that came in and out. You started hating the smell of bacon tom cooked in the morning but just waved it off. He noticed your decline in caffeine and beers and wines but you just told him the best athletes only had what’s best for their body before performing.
Tom believed all of it. Every single white lie you told—even though you hated yourself for telling them— believed them.
“How ya feeling?” Toms lips met your forehead as you cuddled up on the couch today. Extra tired and almost positive the baby was screaming at you for rest. You cuddled a bowl of popcorn and a water bottle.
“Mmh, just fine.” You give him a smile as his lips come down to meet yours.
Stealing some popcorn from the bowl, he heads over to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
“I’m thinking we do shrimp tonight?” He looked over and you made a face.
“Ew, no.” You shake your head and he gives a furrowed brow look.
“What? You love shrimp!” He responds and you feel yourself growing hot. Hiding deeper in the Blanket and not wanting to show your face.
“Well, I’m just not in the mood for it tonight.” That was another thing, lots and lots of emotions. Luckily Tom had plenty of emotions to match.
“Okay...tuna?” He offers and you shook your head. “Steak?” Once again and no. “Chicken?” No. “Okay, love, you’ve gotta help me out. I know you’re not feeling well but I’m helpless in here.” He says and your eyes start to water. He notices and immediately comes over.
“Hey, hey, hey,” he comes in front of the couch and crouches down to you. “What’s wrong?” He stroked your cheek and you shook your head.
“Nothing, it’s nothing.” You sniffle. “Seriously, I’ll help you. I’m thinking pasta.” You smiled and he did too.
“Yeah that’s not too bad.”
And so you two made and ate dinner completely normally. No tears from you, no sickness from you. Tom only talked about the waves out today and how much you would’ve loved it. Now you two spent time washing up.
“You think that one girl with red hair will be there like last year? She was so annoying.” You laughed as you got excited again for competition. Tom grew tense as you mentioned it. You noticed that. How he didn’t talk much about competition anymore. It went from the only thing you two talked about to now nothing. You knew how excited he was, the both of you were but suddenly it was like that excitement was put in a box to rest.
“Yeah...she was.” He kinda laughed but then just washed harder at the dish.
“Everything okay? You’ve kinda stopped talking about competition.” You put down your plate and that's when he took a deep breath.
“It’s nothing, I promise.” He tells you, pressing his lips into a lying smile that you knew.
“Baby, you can tell me anything you know. I’m always here for—“ and with that, he cut you off and told you the words you hated to hear.
“I-I took you out of the competition,” Tom sighed, dropping the dish rag on the counter in defeat. He watches as your face goes from annoyed to shock. Anger builds behind the eyes he find peace in. “It was wrong me me to do so—“
“damn right it was wrong of you to do so!” You slam your hand on the counter. “W-why would you?”
“You were sick! You were so sick for so long and what was I going to let you do? just make yourself worse—“
“it was the stress! I told you it was the—“
The built up ignored tension between you both finally caused him to snap.
“Is your period being late stress too?” His words caused the room to be silent. You take a sharp breath as you stare at him with anger but not at him anymore, at the fear of your new life.
“I’m just late, it’s normal for a woman like me to be rhis stressed and late...” you trailed off and this time he had the red face.
“Bullshit. What happened at that doctors appointment.” He demanded. You didn’t say a word at first which only angered him more. “Damnit (y/n)—“
“I’m pregnant.” You finally cry out and he knew his thoughts could be true, he knew they had to be but the moment those words left your mouth his whole body froze. He went pale with fear and shock, his hand no longer gripping the counter out of anger but out of support in case he passes out. The tears that left your eyes were uncontrollable as you let out a sob, the first sob that snapped tom back into reality.
He didn’t think twice, his arms supportively wrap around you as he tells you sweet nothings to try and calm you and himself.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He mumbled into your hair. You swallowed hard as you pulled back, your face wet with tears and you sniffled. His thumbs come up to wipe away each tear and each trace of mascara.
“Because I wanted to be normal still! I wanted to compete, I wanted to surf! I can’t surf anymore tom, i'm going to be a mom and I won’t have time for surfing.” You sob more and he only pulls you back into his grasp.
“I’m so selfish and stupid to even think to compete but I just want to n-not—“ you can’t even spit it out anymore.
“Who said you can’t surf when you’re a mom?” He moved back to hold your face. You didn’t look at him, he wasn’t going to force you to either. This was your decisions right now, he just wanted to listen.
“When you’re a woman and a mother, everything is for your child. You will have time to surf because you’re a dad but no one wants a mom to do anything but take care of their kid and I’ll love this baby so much, I will, but don’t want to lose myself. I’m young, you’re young and you’re about to be the next big thing.” You punch his shoulder playfully trying to lighten things up. “I—i-W-we’ll—“ you start again and he shakes his head.
“Don’t even say it. Sweetheart, you’re having a baby, our baby. I will make sure you still surf, when it’s safe, Of course. I-I don’t even have the words right now, my heart is racing, feel it.” He placed your hand over his chest to feel his pounding heart. “You will be (y/n) Holland, the infamous surfer that beat Tom Holland twice last year and you will be the mother to our kid. Their badass mom.” He cracks a smile as his hand goes to your stomach.
A shared moment where he only touches the stomach as he learns about it. You look at him softly and he looks at you as if you were the entire world. As if he was a little kid at sea world for the first time, he looks at you with beauty and hope and a hint of thankfulness
“For a minute,” you speak again. “I thought you were completely calm about this.” You chuckle and he shakes his head.
“No, I actually think I’m going to throw up.” He held his breath for a moment before he moved to the trash can and emptied his worried stomach.
This time it was you rubbing his back and wiping his mouth. Maybe you wanted to roll your eyes at the Irony but you just knew he loved you.
Holland. He used the last name Holland on you for the first time you’d ever heard it. He said it so confidently as if you two were already married. Holland. You can get use to that.
-
Day of competition
there was this sort of shock in everyone’s face as they watched you walk in shorts and a tee. Joining the crowds of people instead of getting ready for the waves of water.
This year was no wetsuit with your board, slathering sunscreen on your face as you got ready but rather taking a seat in that sand just like everyone else. Carrying a baby no one knew about except you and Tom and a few friends and family.
Your body was warm with nerves, hundreds of cameras here usually captured the sea, interviewing the surfers afterwards. Although it was not like Hollywood, there was no TMZ or dailymail, but there was enough interest and news casters to tilt their heads for why they infamous (y/n) (y/l/n)—soon to be (y/n) Holland—took a seat with the friends and family. Cheering on from the sand.
“Hey.” Z snaps you out of your constant looking around, how your eyes never focused on one thing.
“Ease up a bit, babes, no one even knows.” She knew, you knew you had to explain to her when you were sitting out. Just as Tom explained to his brothers and the two of you both would explain to his mother after competition. For he knew the women would get so excited she would explode
“Right.” Was all you said as you started clapping with the rest of the crowd when the games begun. It would be a moment for them to get to tom, they always let the younger ones go first, you and Tom were in that fine middle where you had to wait just for the middle of the games.
“Do you want a boy or a girl?” Z asked with a hint of excitement to her voice. She kept it quite enough to where it was just you.
“I’m okay with either.” You didn’t ever care much for gender, although a girl would be nice to balance out the male testosterone you’re always around. “A girl would be nice though.” You smile at Z.
She gives a smile back, leans back on the towel as she soaks up the sun. “And Tom?” She asked and you shrugged.
He had talked about almost everything but a boy or girl, when you asked if he cared he told you,
“as long as they have two arms, two legs, a torso, a head, comes out of me with no trouble, then it’s a perfect surfing buddy.” You quote him exactly, smiling at his words from a few nights ago.
When he found out, his hands never left your stomach, even though you reminded him the baby was only the size of a grape. That well...it was just a bunch of cells forming up in the moment that couldn’t exactly kick for it had legs the size of your pinky nail. He still waited, he waited and waited, you didn’t even know what he was waiting for at one point for he would pause between his words at the baby or when he asked you a question he looked down at your stomach as if they would reply for you or before you.
“I know hes nervous as hell, but he’s so excited, I know it. The other day Harrison told me he cried when he told him. Tom, crying.” Z laughed a bit and you did too.
“If you think I’m the emotional one...turn on coco or inside out and see what happens to that man.” You chuckled as you turned your head back to the waters to watch tom with a smile on his face blow a kiss in your direction before getting on his board. Paddling out to the sea you watch him get ready to take the first wave, the crowd goes wild and your hand rests over your stomach.
This time, next year, you would sit on these sands with a smaller version of the two of you.
August.
Being early in your pregnancy but far enough to show was not as glamorous as people made it be.
Your shorts no longer fit, shirts started to get loose at the top and tight at the bottom and for the love of heaven you slept so much. Tom liked the idea of endless naps, somedays you wondered if he was the pregnant one instead of you. As he slouched around, ate just as many snacks as you and started to even complain about some of the same things you did.
Maybe it was the impact your moods had on him or the fact he stopped drinking caffeine since you no longer could have it and he didn’t know what his life was before morning coffee was with you. He was almost the same as you were durning the pregnancy.
“What are you doing?” Putting on a bikini for the first time since you told Tom. For the first time in about a month. You didn’t like the fit much anymore, the bloation you constantly had and the extra weight you now carried in your thighs, arms and breasts made you insecure. The top that used to fit perfect now had you grunting to tie. But you had to wear what you had to wear to get you in the water.
“I’m coming with you to the beach.” You say innocently and he shakes his head.
“You’re not picking up a board, you know that. Besides, the waters have been rough lately, there’s that storm coming in and one hard wave can hit you and I don’t want that to happen.” He exaggerates and you look at him with a dead stare.
“Tom, I haven’t touched the water in over a month, I’m pretty sure my skin cells are changing because of it.” You exaggerate as well and he comes up to you.
“Well, I’m not letting you in the water. It’s too dangerous.” He was serious, at first you thought he was just being dramatic, he was still going to let you swim but he was 100% serious.
“Tom, you’re kidding.” You scoff a bit and he shakes his head.
“I’m sorry darling, I know a lot is happening—“ he starts and you move back.
“The doctor said I am healthy enough to be physically active and I—“ before you could finish he cut you off.
“The doctor said you could do some squats, leg workouts, lift a 5lb weight, that was the type of exercise he said. The waters are too dangerous, please don’t argue with me.” He pleads but your emotions get the best of you. Anger starting to build and your body heating up.
Tom had learnt one thing so far; don’t upset the pregnant women and that’s exactly what he did.
“You’re telling me to not argue with you when you are the one holding me hostage in my own home? God, Tom, I have a life still too! A month ago you said you understood what it was going to take and now you’re treating me the way I specifically asked not to! I’m getting in the water, I haven’t been in the water for months it feels like and that’s all I know—“ your rant continues but Tom isn’t looking at you anymore. He’s looking at your side view in the mirror.
Your bump is showing, the bump he swore he could kinda feel but not see was now showing. Almost like it grew overnight.
“Fuck, Tom! Look at me while I’m—“ you start to yell again but he steps closer.
“Look.” He stares at the mirror and comes closer to your bump.
“Oh my…” you see exactly what he’s seeing. The small curve outwards that is your swollen stomach. Your bump.
“May I?” He asked and your mood went from angry to overfilled with happiness. Your eyes starting to tear ss you nodded.
“Tom, it’s your child too, you can touch.” You told him and he did. Your hand even went to your stomach as you rubbed over the bump that was barely forming.
“It’s like it happened overnight.” He laughed a bit and you did too.
“I swear it wasn’t there last night when I got out of the shower. I swear.” You let a few tears fall and he peppers soft kisses.
“I’m sorry.” He gently stroked at the stomach and you sniffled.
“I’m sorry too. I know you just want what’s best for us but I’m just…” you sniffle some more not being able to finish.
“I know baby, I know.” He gets up and wraps his arms around your back. Pulling you in for a hug for you to cry on his chest. So emotional over everything but he was right there. Right there with you.
“We can call the doctor about you surfing, we can call him right now if you want. But I just can’t lose you.” He gives a smile and you nod as your lips meet with his.
“C-can you order the chicken from the place I like?” You finally regain your composure and he nods.
“Of course, anything else?” He looks down at the stomach and you shake your head.
“No, not for now.” You smile down at the small bump forming. “Wait!” You stop him as he’s leaving to grab the phone. He turns to face a guilty looking you, “and mozzarella sticks.” You rub your stomach and he nods. With a faint smile he goes,
“always.” As that was your constant craving. Leaving you in the room for a moment and coming back to see you dressed back ins sweats and a tee shirt, Tom smiled and gladly cuddled up next to you, rubbing and talking to the bump about the future. Maybe you couldn’t surf, but you had Tom right by your side.
December.
Christmas cookies and sweetly salted popcorn occupied your side as you spent a snowy Christmas in London. No beach, no blazing sun even during the day, Tom took you home where you were now five months pregnant.
Heavily showing and to even think you wanted to go surfing months ago was laughable. You hated getting up to shower somedays for it was too much work.
“Darling, Angel, my pretty girl,” Tom sat next to you nervous with his next words. “I know you’re pregnant but there are only so many Christmas cookies.” He told you and you smacked his shoulder.
“Thomas, she’s pregnant! She’s allowed as many cookies as she wants besides there are more in the oven but pregnant women gets first pick as she is carrying my grandchild.” His mom immediately came to your defense. Taking so much good care of you while you were here, Tom doesn’t even think he got this much affection as a sick child.
“I wasn’t saying it’s a bad thing for her to eat cookies, I just want one!” Tom defended himself and you handed him a cookie and you felt your baby kick.
“See? They don't even want you stealing our cookies. I’m eating for two, I’m eating for your baby. You eat a lot by the way! Remember that summer you went through the whole fridge in a week? Yeah, now I’m eating for a tiny version of that! And myself! It’s hard out here for me and what did you do huh? Take two minutes!” You snatched the cookie back from him and rubbed your stomach. His brothers stifled a laugh and Tom grew red in embarrassment.
“I last longer than two minutes.” He says is a mumble.
Rolling your eyes, You rested your head on Toms shoulder and moved his hand over to the kicking stomach. “She says thank you.” You smile as you take a bite from the cookie.
“A she?” His mom perks up and the rest of the family does.
It was a mistake, you and Tom had a battle of the sexes. It seemed as if you didn’t want to know the gender right before your winter holiday. Or really the gender at all. The gender was available for you guys now but you both didn’t see it as a big deal. The baby’s room would be filled with ocean themed toys and a gentle blue wall Anyways. And besides, whatever they decide to be they would make the perfect surfing buddy. Although it was still fun to think of, You thought a girl and Tom swore a boy.
“No, mum, we still don’t know I promise. (Y/n) is just messing around.” He swore and the family relaxed again.
“He’s right, I am just joking. Tom is probably right with his assumption, thinking it may be a boy. With all this moving and eating, just like Tom.” You poke his cheek and Tom again flusters in embarrassment.
“Hey, I have a fast metabolism.” He told you and you kissed his temple.
“I know baby, I’m just teasing you. My man knows how to stay fit and sexy.” You playfully rub his stomach and suddenly the stifled laughs from the boys turn into disgusted noises.
There was everything to indicate a boy, well, mostly just a gut feeling. Tom's mother described her pregnancy with Tom to you and it was nearly the same. A baby boy, you could see that. You would need another fridge and a lot more paper towels assuming the babe will be like Tom and eat yet spill everything. You liked the idea of a boy. Plus, Tom had been playing a stupid game where he asked the baby questions making it kick for an answer. When Tom asked if it was a boy or girl, it kicked the moment he said boy.
The ding of the kitchen timer went off, more cookies fresh out of the oven and Tom was quick to jump up.
“Let me help m’lady up.” He grabs your hands and you grunt as you stand up. You walk with Tom at your side and once you are alone eating more cookies in the kitchen your hand rubs over your stomach as you feel the baby kick in excitement.
“Off the topic of gender, I think they miss the ocean. They kick so much just when I sit in the bath like they are having fun in the water.” You mention water and you feel a kick. They couldn’t understand, but they could hear and a smile rose to yours and Tom's face.
“Then they’re just like their mama.” He leans in and kisses your cheek.
“Who knows, maybe once we get back I’ll get in the—“ before you can finish your sentence about surfing, a sharp kick to your bladder causes you to hunch over with a pained face. Tom worried as he held you panicked but you got back up with a deep breath.
“Nevermind, little one didn’t like that idea.” You hold onto his arms tightly.
“Everything okay? Just a bladder kick?” He panicked and you just nodded.
“Yup.” Your face scrunches up again. “Just the bladder.” You suddenly have the urge to pee. “Now shoo, I’ve got to pee.” You tell him and he looks at you in confusion.
“You just peed like—“ you give him a look making him think about how he’s finishing his sentence. “Right, my darling.” He moved out of your way to let you go. Snatching one more cookie from the tray, he smiled as he thought how next year at this exact time, you would be holding a little baby.
April.
One week. You were one week late and as any normal pregnant woman would be resting in bed and rubbing over her swollen belly and anticipating the child’s arrival. Although that was not what you were doing.
Against Tom's wishes, you went back to work to see the kids start up their surfing lessons. Although there would be no swimming for you, no waves for you just yet, seeing the kids happy to be there was something that sparked joy to your heart always. Helped ease your nerves and turn them into excitement.
“Mrs. (Y/l/n)-Holland, look what I learnt how to do!” One of the kids calls out. You had a smile for not only did they call you by both yours and Tom's name, but that they had always been excited to show you new things.
“That was amazing Ryder!” You clapped at the boy who did a handstand. He had a big smile with teeth missing. Your hand went over your stomach again, an aching pain that was noting but a false labor.
The doctor said it was fine. Women always experienced this right before birth and just take a deep breath but don’t waste your time rushing to the hospital just for them to send you home.
It was normal to be late and that you had a stressful year so it was okay. The doctor mentioned that you still felt contractions which meant you were close. But when it was Tom, every slight indicator of pain you felt meant a freak out where he rushed around the house to get the baby bag and try and get you in the car when in reality, you just had to pee. 
“T-That’s really cool.” You wince and the boys face goes from excitement to worry. Within the luck, Tom comes jogging from the parking lot with lunch for the two of you. Hoping to get in the water with the kids and keep an eye on you.
“Hey Angel.” He kissed your cheek but noticed your pain. “Everything okay?” He panicked and you nodded.
“Yeah, yeah, Ryder here was just showing me how he can do a handstand now—“ you can’t even finish as the pain was strong.
“(Y/n)?” Tom needed to be calm, your face scrunched up as you held your swollen stomach. “Darling, Angel, pretty girl, look at me.” He used all the pet names you liked and you looked up at him with worry in your eyes. “I think it’s time for us to meet the little one.” He nods with a trying smile and you feel an even sharper pain.
“Mmh, I can’t do this.” You breath heavily as you hold onto the stomach. “Yes you can, if you can surf a wave that is 12 feet with no wipeout then you can birth our baby.” He promised and also got the little boy who was so excited to show you his new moves a moment ago to run and get another adult.
“Tom, I-I can’t.” You felt yourself tearing up and he shakes his head. Your heart pounding and mind swarming with worried.
“You can, you will. You are the strongest women I—“ before he can start his motivational speech you cry out in pain.
“Get me in the goddamn car!” You cry and he nods and gets you up before anything worse. He rushes to the hospital as quick as he can, holding your hand and trying to not crash as you hold your stomach and scream.
When he gets to the hospital, he’s still in a wetsuit. They take immediate action into getting you into a room where you are laying with your legs up waiting for a doctor. Holding Tom's hand as you cry.
“Uh sir?” The doctor walks in and looks at the man in the wetsuit. “We’re going to have to ask you to put on scrubs...helps prevent any ourside clothing germs getting on the baby...are you wearing anything under that?” She asked and he immediately started unzipping.
“Jesus tom, not here, she wants you to get changed in the bathroom.” You shake your head as you run your hands over your face. In pain but want to laugh at your worried boyfriend for how he was acting in the moment.
“Right! Right!” He quickly changes from the wetsuit into the scrubs. The doctors look at him funny but let it go as you’re clearly in pain and needing the baby to be out.
“You got this love, you’re doing so good—“ he starts again but you don’t even want to hear it.
“was this really worth two minutes! I’m getting my fucking tubes tied!” You scream at him and he flushes a deep shade of red as one of the nurses giggles.
After one more big push you heard the sound of a cry filled the room. For just a second, all the pain you felt went away as you see the body of your baby, baby boy. You both were right, a beautiful little boy.
“A boy.” Tom breathes out in awe.
“Dad you wanna come cut the cord?” He looked at you for approval and you nodded. He cut the cord with shaky hands, couldn’t focus for the life of him as he just stared at the boy. You only got to hold him for a second before he’s taken off to a bath. Tom following them before they bring him back in a bundle of blankets.
“Oh my…” you hold the beautiful boy. His little lips open just a bit to make a sound while his eyes flutter to adjust to the light. “Look at him tom.” You feel yourself cry and Tom does too.
“Wow, look at you.” He touched the boy's cheek who immediately tried to take the finger into his mouth. “You did that.” He tells you as the two of you admire it.
“We did that.” You tell him and he smiles a bit. “Although yeah, it was mostly me.” The boy stares hard at Tom, Tom who was still in just swim trunks and scrubs.
“Hey, I ate a lot with you during this pregnancy. Even had my own morning sickness.” He teased and you only laughed.
The room going silent for a moment. Hearing the little cooes of your boy as you held him. Toms finger tracing over his cheek when you finally spoke, “Caspian.”
Tom had mentioned how he liked the name for a boy, more than once. It had connections to the water and to Europe so the child would have a bit of both. You had to admit to yourself that you liked it but just wanted to stick with a more casual name. But looking at how he looked at you the moment you said that name, you knew it was the one.
“Caspian?” He repeated and you nodded.
“Caspian Holland.” You told.
He smiled as he kissed your forehead. “Holland? Just that?” He asked as well and you nodded.
“Yeah, yeah just like that.” You smiled. A perfect moment in the perfect situation was interrupted by a small nurse who held a tee shirt.
“Uh sir?” The nurse looked at the two of you and both of your attentions were caught. “So unfortunately we have to ask you to wear a shirt, we got one from the lost and found for you hoping that it would fit.” The shirt read “I’m not as fun as mom” and Tom's face dropped. A proud smirk rises to your face as you look at Tom who’s flared his nostrils just a bit to show his embarrassment.
“Yeah Tom, put on the shirt.” You encouraged and he looked at you. His eyes telling you that you’re going to regret that but you can’t wait 15 years into the future to tell your son.
Sighing as he took the shirt from the poor nurse and sat back down on the chair in a huff.
“You’re never letting me live this one down are you?” Shaking your head you look back down at the boy,
“no, I don’t think we will.” You brought your dry cracked lips down to the boys forehead, you had no water within the past hour and screaming with crying seemed to make you as dead as possible. “Caspian. Caspian Holland.” He whispers again. “Thank you.” He looked at you and you furrowed your brows.
“For everything.” After months of no surfing, months of pain and aches, instead of saying anything back you looked at him and said
“sushi.” Was all you said and he furrowed his brows.
“W-what?” He questioned.
“I need sushi, please.” You sigh and he smiled. Months of being unable to eat any fish that was all you wanted in the moment.
“One California roll coming up.” He kissed your cheek and then the boy's cheek. Calling in the nurse, sending for a California roll and tuna.
Caspian was sleeping soundly in Tom's arms while you ate and rested. Everything was worth it, from the moment he stepped on a plane one summer to Hawaii he knew it was worth it for he found a family in the end.
June.
Once again the sand was squishing under your toes. Feeling each and every grain as you held your baby boy tightly bundled in blankets against your chest as you walked out to the beach. He was freshly bathed, you and Tom took turns. You were so eager the moment you were cleared to get back in the water after birth that the day the doctor cleared you for physical activity, you did it.
But tonight wasn’t you getting in the water, it was you greeting Tom and telling him to come back inside.
“Dinner is done.” You call out to him as he jogs back to the two of you. The baby boy cooing as he sees the ocean and his fathers dripping wet figure coming towards them.
“Hey, look who’s out.” He immediately leans in and kisses all over the pretty baby boy's face. “My sweet boy is so fresh and clean.”
You and Tom had argued about who he had looked more like,You or Tom. he had Tom's nose for sure and his big brown eyes that you knew were going to be trouble. If you had a hard time saying no to Tom when he batted his lashes and gave a glossy look, it was going to be impossible to say no to your beautiful boy.
“He just took a bath. But it wasn’t the ocean.” You smiled and Tom pressed a kiss to your face too.
“Mmh, did you?” He looks at the boy who was yawning in his mother’s arms. “Want to swim a bit?” He asked and you shook your head.
After birth, Tom did a lot of the work. He loved it too. He claimed you needed rest, in which you did, but you would often find him just sitting in the nursery staring at the baby boy. Telling him stories to sleep and kissing his face. He would let you surf, bathe, sleep, all while he took care of your beloved boy.
“No, I’m so tired I think if I use my legs any longer they will snap.” You give a pout and Tom immediately kisses it away.
Tom started to gather his stuff, the beach towel and the bag he normally carried and the moment he started to pack up your baby boy let out a wail.
Within the two months of his birth, you were able to identify each cry. When he was hungry it was more of a gurgle, when he was sleepy it was more strained and forced, when he craved touch it was a whimper sounding cry and then there was this. He was simply upset something did not go his way. May you or Tom stepped away for a moment, the bottle gone too early, but now it was his father packing up his stuff that makes him scream a cry that makes heads turn.
“What’s the matter bubs?” Tom pouts as he sets the stuff down and comes over to him.
Once the stuff is set down the cries settle just a bit, settle enough until tom takes him out of your arms and presses him up against his body.
Still wet from the surf, you both think the baby liked it. While Tom occupied little Caspian, you picked up the towels and his bag for him and once again the boy let out a wail cry which made you and Tom furrow your brows.
“I-I don’t know what it is. I-I changed him and I bathed him and he was perfectly fine and—“ you start to panic and as you panic you drop the stuff which calms his cries. Tom immediately took notice and grew a smile that made his heart flutter in his chest.
“(Y/n),” he stops you and you look up at him with a worried look as if you’ve done something wrong. “He wants to stay. He wants to stay on the beach.” Tom says in a calm voice and the boy was now only cooing in Tom's arms. He bounced gently but mostly cooed as his daddy smiled at him.
“H-He knows we’re leaving the beach.” You sigh and come over to the boys. Petting your sons head as he relaxes in his fathers arms.
“Like I’ve always said, just like his mama.” Tom smiled up at you and you caught his lips for a kiss. “Well…” you rub your hands on your thigh, wiping off the sand you got stuck all over your hands. “Since Caspian always gets his way, I better bring dinner out here.” You smile as you poke at the sweet boys face and Tom moves and has a serious face.
“(Y/n), no, you can’t just whip out your boob in front of—OW! I’m kidding!” You smacked his arm for the stupid comment he made that at first had you worried.
“I hate you. I’m bringing out the dinner.” You start to walk off and he smiles.
“You love us!” He shouts back.
“Just Caspian! You? Not much you. remember...you’re not as fun as mom!” You call out to him, sending him a wink and he wants to say something back but he holds his tounge.
Looking down at the baby boy he says, “when I teach you how to surf I need you to beat mums ass a few times while you’re out there. Just for her little comments.” Tom spoke to the boy and he cooes. “Atta boy.” With that he plots down on the sand towel.
Setting caspian down on the towel for just a moment so he can strip from his wetsuit and be closer to him. You come back out balancing the plates of food for you and Tom as you seat next to them and eat. Leaning your head on Toms shoulder and kissing at it.
You never knew that one competition, one amateur British boy and one shared basket of fish and chips could lead you to the best moments of your life. Could lead you to the best family you’ve ever had.
Please leave feedback! It helps me grow as a writer and lets me know what more you want to see!
it’s the way you’ve come to the right place for life-jacket/wetsuit!tom.... let’s also just take a moment to remember he was out there jet-skiing whilst also wearing his rolex....
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i can’t believe it’s over omg i’m crying so much. thank you all for reading this and for the support, this story wouldn’t have been possible without you. anyway i’m emotional, thanks for keeping up, love you bye
Joanne used to love road trips. The music, the view, the wind coming through as she had her window open. The snacks she used to eat, and the path that let her imagination flow. It was the perfect time to think to herself, without anything bothering her. The road trips used to take her into an inexplicably calm place. The promise of a new adventure, keeping her imagination high.
Joanne had been on road trips ever since that summer where she met Harrison. He’d come over to London as well, from time to time. Joanne was often forgotten, she knew. She was the sister that everybody took for granted. The sister that was often shadowed by y/n. Not that it mattered, anyway.
Joanne was seen as someone rather substantial, while y/n was seen as someone with layers. People often passed by Joanne. They thought that she would be happy with red lipstick and pretty clothes when it came to much more.
Her sister’s happiness would finally bring her own happiness. A tea with her grandpa and a beer with her grandma. It was simple, sure. But it made her smile.
People took Joanne’s smile for granted, quite often. They didn’t realize that the day her smile was gone, everything would turn into darkness.
Because Joanne also was the Sun. It was rather incredible how alike she was to her sister’s lover. Not in a way that would make it creepy, or weird, but in a way that people would often forget. How warm they make their days, and how cold the days were while they were gone.
Who would want a road trip without the sun?
Joanne would often return to town. She’d often stay at her grandparents, the place felt cold and white, if a colour can ever be felt. She could feel it. It was quiet, numb. Not even she could make it happy.
Y/N only started coming back months ago, and it was a mysterious path. The moon made it less dark. That’s what Joanne thought, always. You could have a cloudy day, and it would still be bright, but have a night without the moon and you will really meet darkness.
Joanne used to love road trips. But this time, she decided not to go on one.
Joanne arranged the bottles of champagne as Harrison wrapped his arms from behind and placed a sweet kiss on her cheek.
“We need everything ready-” She whispered. She was wearing a golden dress, that only made her red lips swaddle her smile. Years had gone past.
“Jo,” he said. “Relax.”
Joanne sighed. “I want everything to be perfect, this is really for us, but… It’s mostly for y/n and Tom.”
Haz took a deep breath. “It’s perfect.”
Joanne played with the finger in her hand, turning it around her finger. She sighed. “Why am I so nervous?”
It wasn’t a feeling that Joanne had, not usually, really. But she wasn’t sure why she didn’t feel her best. The room had lightbulbs that warmed the atmosphere, tall tables covered with white tablecloths, and blue and golden and blue ornaments on top. All you could see were paintings hanging on the walls.
Haz smiled as he turned her around slowly, a sad look upon his face. “It’s perfect, it’s alright.”
Joanne took a deep breath and finally smiled at the pair of blue eyes that were staggering her. “Yes,” she said before connecting her lips with his.
“Miss y/l/n?” Someone asked, Joanne turned to see the waiter.
“Yes?”
“Everything is mostly ready, I just don’t know where I can leave the seashells,” he said. “Do I--”
“Yes, right,” she cleared her throat, smiling. “Eh, well they’re all part of it, so, maybe on the tables… Yes scattered around it.”
Harrison smiled, and kissed her cheek. “This is incredible. It’ll be okay.”
Joanne nodded. “Well, it’s time.”
And without any further ado, music played, as if orchestrated, the people who were invited walked through. They were chatting, and Joanne walked around the room, greeting the people she knew and also the people she didn’t. Haz followed her around, as she explained how to walk through it.
People had glasses of champagne as they walked through the bricked walls, and illuminated with the gentle light. The room that was once a scattered mess now was buzzing with people admiring the art, the story.
Some familiar people were there, Marcus Jones had a glass on his hand as he talked to Alexa. They weren’t paying attention to the walls but they were rather quiet, staring at the door.
Though there were lights in the room, and music, and golden strikes, it felt blue. And it wasn’t the blue that came from the paintings, that prevailed from the waves and the storms. No, it was a blue that Joanne had seen before, at the end of that summer that had started it all.
Harrison would hold her hand and squeeze it. The Hollands were there, too. Harry approached Joanne and gave a polite smile.
Sam had stayed admiring a photograph, not a painting, a photograph. Low quality but with so much story. It made anyone shiver.
Paddy was walking around the room, a small smile on his face.
People who had been close to them were quiet, but smiling. That was a constant, smiles. But quiet.
Joanne talked to her mother who seemed slightly better than she had seen her before. She talked with whispers but congratulated her daughter. They spent some time talking to Haz parents. Charlotte, Harrison’s sister took Joanne’s hands with a smile.
Joanne got to the centre of the room and finally clicked a spoon against her champagne glass. Haz behind her took her hand.
“Hello everyone,” she started. “I would like to first thank you all for coming, it means a lot to Haz and me. I...We couldn’t be happier to be sharing this with you,” Joanne smiled. “We…” She sighed. “Love exists, we’ve been proven countless times before. We’re here tonight to celebrate love, a love that will remain forever. Haz and I have learned from the best, from the people who are in this room and people who aren’t.”
The crowd smiled. She felt watched.
“Haz and I wouldn’t be here… celebrating an engagement if it weren’t for the people who inspired those paintings,” Joanne grinned. “My sister,” she felt her voice crack just slightly, “always wanted to open this gallery, to show her story… And we thought it would be selfish if we didn’t show the respect Tom deserves,” she smiled.
Harrison grinned as he gulped. “This wouldn’t be happening if it hadn’t been for my best friend, Tom,” he admitted, he had to clear his throat. “I—Tom owed Joanne a favour and that’s how we met, a beautiful summer love, a beautiful summer story, that once felt it would be momentary. We decided to pay them back, by opening this beautiful gallery.”
“The walls surrounding us come from a beautiful imagination… A summer full of color, that tells the story of a storm and riptide, the story of the sun and the moon.”
Harrison smiled as she nodded at his now fiancée.
Joanne sighed. “It’s a beautiful story, if you see each painting you will see it. How it starts blue, with a blurry and dark storm, a story about how no one will notice if the sun stops shining, through the cloudy days, you’ll still find a light but how important it is for the moon to appear each night to brighten up the darkness. It’s a story of how the moon cleared out the path for the sun, and how the sun helped the moon to shine by its own, a story about a girl and a boy and the story about the odds being against them. About the riptide and the waves… and how you can drown in them. But it’s a story about healing, and a story about—“she took a deep breath. “A Story of a lighthouse guiding a lost soul.”
Haz squeezed her hand.
“I’m afraid my sister couldn’t be today with us, but I’m sure she’s paying her own homage to the inspiration of every single memory that we’re walking through today. From the seashells that started all, to the last tear shed,” Joanne said. “This is for them, to Tom and Y/N, whom without we wouldn’t be here tonight and who inspired us, Harrison and I to fall in love and to reach for a love like theirs.”
Jared was the one to approach them now, he was sober, thing which had surprised Joanne.
“Beautiful words, what a perfect way to pay homage while celebrating an act of love,,” Jared said. “I’ve got nothing to say but, congratulations Harrison and Joanne on your engagement!”
The cheers continued. Haz and Joanne shared a kiss to celebrate their union. They kept talking and seeing the paintings, and people would often stop at the picture of Tom’s back, with the grey and blue storm.
Joanne knew that she had drawn the attention from her engagement to her sister, once again. Joanne was fine with that. She knew, that she was always shining and that y/n, even though she was outstanding, barely had her time to shine. Joanne decided to give it to her. And besides, she deserved it.
Tom did. Tom deserved it.
Haz approached Joanne after a while and handed over a letter. “It’s from y/n, she asked me to give it to you.”
Joanne dedicated him a sad smile, as she kept the letter to herself. She’d have time to read it, later. When everyone was gone.
Some people wanted to buy the paintings, others just admired it. Joanne was happy, this paid her sister back. And she knew this would mean a lot to y/n.
So she was left alone, with the waiters cleaning up the tables and Joanne sitting down on the only chair that would be left behind. She admired a painting, a particular one that she knew didn’t involve Tom, but her and y/n.
Joanne took a deep breath as she stared at the picture, a face that represented a star, her blue eyes and y/n’s. With the blue sky behind, bright and dark. She was holding the letter as Haz placed a hand on her shoulder.
Joanne finally opened the letter.
“Jo,
There’s no easy way for me to say this. I can’t believe you’re engaged. My little sister is engaged. Bloody hell, can you believe it? And to realize it all came to one summer.
A summer neither of us will ever forget. I sent you my congratulations already, and I hugged you enough. But I still wanted to write this. I guess because I know we are now both convinced that love does exist. And love, Jo, it’s forever.
I think I decided to write this because it’s always been easier for me not to speak, you’ve always known my favourite words consisted of saying ‘Yes’ and’ ‘No’. The fewer words the merrier.
I wanted to paint you something, but I guess I don’t really know what I could paint to help you understand how happy I am for you. Or how with my little experience I wanted you to understand many others.
It’s my duty as the older sister to tell you that love is not always about the beautiful sunset, but it’s about knowing that it’s alright to drown sometimes. I’ve had my share of storms and all I can tell you is, the sun does come out. Don’t give up.
From these years, I’ll tell you, I’ve learned you’ll never get tired of the prelude of a kiss, make them interesting, make them even more thrilling than the kiss, you’ll enjoy it more. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. Because the prelude can come in so many forms, sometimes it won’t be pretty, it’ll feel like riptide, and sometimes it’ll be a beautiful sunrise. Enjoy both.
Find the amazing blue that comes from tears, and try to make everything golden. You guys have an advantage, you love gold and Haz has blue eyes. That’s unfair, I guess. Use it.
If you ever find yourself looking for reasons as to why you have to love him, think about love per se, and how extraordinary it is that you’ve found each other. Never forget your first day at the carnival or your first kiss on that party.
Never be calm. You’ll have time for that later. But never, ever, forget that it all started in a summer where everything was supposed to be blue, and how you ended up falling in love with the colour.
I guess my advice is silly, it’s always been. But I mean it. And from the short time I had, I always tried to make the best time of it. I still do.
Again, I’m sorry I couldn’t be there tonight, but I still need time to heal. You know me, but I’ll be fine, because I know I have you. I think I didn't give you enough credit for getting me out of that blue place the first time. How you always stuck there. I’ll be fine. I know you always worry. I’ll be fine. I’ve learned a lot. I guess without you I wouldn’t be here.
I’m alright, really. And I know I need to write otherwise I would expect you to be here tomorrow. I don’t. Enjoy your time, it’s your time to shine as the bright sun you are.
Congratulations, my little sister, I love you,
y/n.”
“She’ll be okay,” Haz assured Joanne as soon as she finished the letter.
Joanne smiled. “I know.”
And she was.
Y/N loved road trips.
Tom and y/n had left quite a story. They had a couple of years together, not enough, never enough, not even a thousand years would’ve been enough for their love.
But y/n knew that she wasn’t alone even when that summer had turned into winter. Y/N wasn’t feeling blue even as she watched the kids eating ice cream, and the couples playing at pools. Singing the summer hits. And she kept her promise.
She had cried, who wouldn’t.
At first she cried because London and the rain reminded her of all the times she had met him in the rain, with both running away from their feelings. And how she wished she had a beach to surf on. But there was no ocean in London, so she’d have to come back.
She would cry because she hadn’t yet opened the gallery.
And she had cried because she didn’t want to go back to town, because everything was a reminder of an incredible, cruel summer. But eventually, she smiled. Because she knew she would teach herself how to fly and she remembered the exact moment she had promised Tom that she would smile. And it came down to a boy accidentally bumping into her slamming ice cream to her chest, a surfer that owned her heart.
A boombox, a song, a Ferris Wheel, and him serenading under the moon. How there was life after love.
Dying ain’t so bad, y/n had thought, because he hadn’t left her. And even in his last moments, she knew he had kept his promise, he had loved her until his last breath. And she continued to love him even after his hands turned cold. And she had to keep her promise.
Y/N loved road trips, and she had decided to have one. She went back to town.
She was on the blue valley, after taking a bath in the ocean and after surfing some waves. The surfboard she’d painted summers ago was standing on the sand.
She sat down with Tom’s guitar in her hands, remembering how she had fallen in love with a work of art. Someone who hadn’t faded away.
And just as the sun was setting and the breeze was covering her, she smiled, knowing he was right beside her, so she started to sing, in a gentle voice, dedicating him the song, knowing he had already woken up with the clouds far behind him, where the troubles melted like lemon drops.
And she was calm, and she had shed a tear, but finally, as she looked far beyond, the water was no longer murky, the sea didn’t show any riptide.
Oh okay so maybeee surfer!Tom and you’re a lifeguard. He’s always there during your shifts and sees you watching him and flirts with you at your station (nothing major). But then one day he gets wiped out by a bigger wave than usual and he doesn’t resurface so you go in after him. You drag him back to shore (and have to do a bit of cpr😏) and once he’s fully conscious and clearly okay, he’s all like “thanks for saving my life, let me take you out on a date to pay you back” and just UGH.
