hi !! i'm judas (18) and i write for fun. aside from that, my hobbies include baking, theatre, going on walks/runs, and fiber arts. i'm always down for a chat, so even if you aren't requesting something, feel free to stop by my inbox !!
#judas yaps â me yapping
"i want to live in a world where the word 'normal' is an insult." â m.collins
!! ⌠all of my written works are my own original content (unless otherwise stated) and made 100% without AI
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You would never have guessed when meeting Sammy that he was environmentally conscious. Though sometimes you wondered if he was eco-conscious for the right reasons.
Like when he muttered something about droughts and how he had to take all his showers with you because did you really want to make global warming worse? Somehow these eco-responsible showers always end up with you braced up against one of the shower's walls cursing whenever his tip slams into your cervix.
And again when a particularly harsh winter took over California. Why waste money and emit more CO2 when you have a perfectly warm and eager to help human heater right in bed? When Sammy's warm thick body around you didn't warm you up quick enough, he'd part your lips, hot fingers curling and padding around as you tried to concentrate on whichever task you were doing. And if that still wasn't enough, like last week when you were complaining of being cold while working from home, he'd make you sit on his length, letting it warm you right up from the inside.Â
On the contrary, when summer was too hot, which happens more often than not, Sammy found an article about how cooling systems, and thus ACs, represent roughly 10% of global electricity consumption. You had grumbled under your breath about how warm you were and Sammy simply bought you five new sets of bikinis for you to wear. Everyday he got to see you waltz around in the skimpiest bikinis ever, loving the way your curves were on display, boobs almost spilling out with each movement. It also meant that he now had quick access to what he wanted most, pushing the flimsy textile away from your cunt for his fingers to toy with his favorite little button.Â
There was also the time when you had seen a new anti-acne product that would be able to help reduce some of the imperfections in your skin, but the product had to be shipped from half-way across the world which would produce way too much CO2. So Sammy simply had you suck his cock, hooded eyes looking down at you as he softly grabbed your hair to guide you deeper until you almost choke. And when he was seconds away from coming, he pulled out, letting his thick ropes of white paint your pretty face, using his fingers to smear the substance all over your cheeks, forehead, chin.Â
'S-semen has spermine sweet girl... h-has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties -fuck- you look so pretty like this."
MDNI/18+ ⌠pathetic sammy bryant with a thighjobâŚ
making out with sammy in bed. after a long day, youâve retreated to the bedroom. you rolled around in the sheets, laughter escaping you both. he has you pressed against the pillows, hips absently rutting against yours. his lips trailed to the column of your neck, along your pulse point.
âdonât seem so upset about no dirty dishes now,â you can feel the way he smirks against your skin, nipping softly at your ear.
it should be sexy. only, a reminder of your earlier squabble ignites a spark of annoyance.
you huffed, your hands bracing against his chest.
âuse yourââ
âget off.â
sammyâs grin faltered.
âwhat?â
âi said get off. bringing that shit up again.â
your boyfriend relented, a puppy pout now tugging at his mouth.
âwaitâcâmonâi was only joking baby :((â
you turned over, facing away from him. he plastered himself to your back, hand stroking up and down your side.
âplease, baby,â he whined.
but you werenât that easy. sammy had pissed you off with his stupid little comment. if he wanted to get off, well that was his problem now.
the bed creamed as sammy fisted his chubby cock behind you. he was letting out pathetic mewls, whining into the back of your neck. everytime he tried to lay a hand on you, or grind against your ass, you would swat him away. you heard the way he choked on a sob at every denial, simply rolling your eyes.
âplease, please, i need you so badââ
âshouldâve thought of that before you ran your mouth.â
âi know, honey, i know. âm sorry. just wanna feel you, pleaseââ
his begging was incessant, and as much as you loved hearing sammy begging and pleading, you had an important briefing at work tomorrow. meaning you could not be losing sleep because your boyfriend was tugging at his weeping cock all night.
you looked over your shoulder, shooting him a heated glare. you ignored the shuddering reaction it gets you.
âyou want to touch me? you want to cum?â
he nodded frantically, âyes.â
âyou get to use my thighs and thatâs it.â
heâs already spooning you, sliding the head of his cock along the crease of your thighs. he pressed forward, whimpering as his length disappeared between your plush skin.
sammyâs so worked up, that it doesnât take long for him to start pistoning his hips, gasping and groaning at the slick glide of it all, all from his own pre.
âthank you, thank youââ he repeated it like a mantra, squeezing his eyes shut as the pleasure made him dizzy. he couldnât even see your face, but it was still you squeezing around his length. he was so so so close.
âsuch a sick boy, iâm starting to think you like this more than stuffing me full,â you clicked your tongue, earning a keen from him.
âfeel sâgood, sweetheart. âm gonna cum, please lemme cumââ he panted, needy and desperate as he pumped his hips.
you pretended to mull it over with a long drawn out hum, âhm, i dunno. iâm still upset about earlier.â
âmâsorry, baby. shouldâve keptâmmphâquiet. i donât know a damn thing. wonât happen again. ah, ah.â
âyeah?â
âp-promise.â
sammy was so far gone, heâd agree to anything you said.
âthen cum. make a mess and show me how sorry you are.â and that, was a very easy order to obey.
âso good tâme, fuck, thank you, babyââ
he bucked his hips once, twice, before they stilled. hot spurts of his cum spill over your thighs, dripping into a small puddle on the bed. you sneaked a glance down, watching how his cock twitchd with every gush.
sammy slumped against you, mouthing at your shoulder. he was breathing heavily, still riding the waves of his climax.
after regaining his composure, he reached for the tissues off the nightstand. he cleaned up the sheets the best he could, making sure to wipe you down as well.
he wrapped an arm around you, pulling you close. âthank you, baby.â he kissed your temple, relaxing against the pillows.
âwhat do you think youâre doing?â
sammyâs eyes went wide.
âyou think you get to piss me off, blow a load and then just go to sleep? thought you were sorry.â
his face flushed, âiâi am.â
âwhat part of âshow meâ donât you understand?â
he didnât need to hear another word, already scooting down the bed to settle between your legs. for the second time that night, you rolled your eyes.
only nowâas he kissed the bend of your knee, lifting it over his shoulderâyou broke into a smile.
season 3 of the pitt has to have the addition of jack abbot and bitchy little sunglasses. itâs part of shawnâs contract iâm pretty sure. sammy bryant? bitchy sunglasses. andrew cody? incredibly bitchy sunglasses. titus danforth? youâre not gonna believe this
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HI EMMY !!! this my first ask everrrr im kinda nervy but i love ur work so here i amđ would love to hear any thoughts u have on pope cody and belly bulge bc i feel like thats something he would be into. heâs very territorial and i just think heâd love being able to physically see/feel himself inside of you IDKKKK
the feelings are mutual, baby! lemme be your friend, don't be scared around me.
MDNI - 18+
CONTENTS: andrew âpopeâ cody x reader, smut w/ little plot, ANIMAL KINGDOM S4 SPOILERS, unprotected p in v, belly bulge, fingering
he would be all pent up from j and deranâs constant commands since his mother passed.
always doing the most for them, i mean, he was arrested after all. always expendable, yet he was still family.
until you, as his girl, would greet him in his reserved bedroom. all pretty in your lace garments that would hold you all too close. the fabric drawing around your curves and enticing the rigidity beneath your big popey. he was large, constantly working against the punching bag that rested in the backyard.
behind you, craig would be his second biggest supporter. always being there for his matches, cheering him on along with your constant praises. yet, you'd be there in an old sleep shirt, maybe from activities from the night before. the hem dripping down your hips where your shorts hugged your butt as he beat his opponent down.
sure, it should've ended the moment his mother passed. the constant flow of money as he'd beat the shit out of someone. i mean, smurf was the one who put him up to it. he was always willing to take out his stress on his opponent, unless it was you.
he'd be worn ragged, almost collapsing in front of you. you would have a grasp on his jaw, making him focus on your figure standing before him. you would grant kisses along his temples and the crown of his head. you adorned his wounds with hydrochloride. his wounds hissing and bubbling as the fluid poured from the bottle. you wrapping his knuckles with bandages.
you'd press warm kisses to his fingers, him letting the feeling warmth and radiate beneath the skin. his spare hand would ball and fist into itself as he admired your work. always patching him up, always caring and loving.
his lips would grow to hover and hold over yours, slow kisses meeting your lips. his breath radiating across your slick mouth. he wanted to sleep, to relax. he would draw his palm across your hip, pushing you away.
he'd press a kiss to your cupidâs bow as he made his way to the bathroom, you knew he still wanted you. he just couldn't do it tonight, his figure drained from the fight.
and it was okay, you knew it was like this. his body growing weak as people betted on him to win, feeling like some sort of fight dog. he never lost, you knew that, but he was exhausted.
you could feel it, his muscles relaxed while his cock grew solid below. yearning and aching, but he knew he couldn't fuck you how he wanted.
he would hold onto your wrist, guiding you to the bedroom. he curled into you, his head resting on your chest as you toyed with his curls. the gentle rise and fall of your chest and your steady heartbeat lulling him to sleep.
he awoke to your sleeping figure, your lace nightie riding up your hip. your lips pouted as you huffed out little puffs.
he slid his rough hand over the curve, slowly inching and palming at your flesh. he felt himself start to harden, him readjusting in the bed. the movements and touches stirred you awake.
"mm, andy?" you hummed, wiping at your sleepy eyes.
"hey, sweetheart," he smirked, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. "sorry i woke you, you just looked...pretty."
this was common, constant restless nights for pope always led to you waking up with him watching you. always studying, always protective.
he yanked you by your hips, earning a sweet little giggle from your lips. he kissed you, slow yet passionate. his tongue drawing into your mouth and brushing yours. he groaned against your lips, his nails digging into your hip.
he snuck his thigh between your legs, your thighs meeting his side. the movement earned a moan from you, the meat of his thigh raking across your clothed clit.
his hand was strong and warm as his palm rested below your jaw, sometimes his thumb guiding you further into his mouth. your hands gripped his shoulder, the muscles solid and hot beneath your touch.
"popey, you're so big," you smiled against his lips. he hummed in response.
he trailed his fingers down your body, inching down towards your aching pussy. you gasped as his fingers drew over the wet spot that continued to grow. you bucked at his touch, wanting more.
this led to you yanking the lace of your panties down, pope assisting once they settled against your thighs, he pulled them the rest of the way.
he pressed his fingers into you, you mewling and him groaning at the feeling of your tight little pussy hugging his calloused digits.
"fuck-, andrew," you panted, short breaths brushing across his lips as his mouth hovered over yours.
"say it," he commanded.
"say, ah-, s-say what?" you whimpered out.
"say how it good it feels."
this was pope, always quiet in bed, yet always demanding. always short, but effective.
"yeah, fuck-," you moaned. "so good, your fingers feel so good in my pussy."
pope grunted at your words, gripping your hips and turning you to where your back met the mattress. he shrugged himself free of his boxers once his cock sprung free. the slight slick dribbling from the flush head.
"say you want me," he said as he fisted his fat length, you in total bliss at the big man above you, zoning out at his demand. "fuckin' say it."
"want you," you heaved. "i want you so badly, andy."
he threaded his cock into your warm folds, a harsh shove at first and then relishing as you welcomed him. your walls clenching as you accommodated around his familiar girth.
"popey, you're so big."
it would be slow thrusts at first, the head of his fat cock reaching deep into you, kissing your cervix. every stab into your hips intentional and intense.
he'd go like that for a while, driving while little squelches filled the room. your breasts grazing his chest as your bodies clung to each other in a constant rhythm.
then it would hit again, the exhaustion. the fight from the night before, his injuries. they would make him falter, his movements suddenly hitched by the pain that radiated in his side.
"m'gonna flip you over, yeah?" he slurred.
before you could respond, he grasped the plush of your hips. spinning you to where your knees kissed the sheets, you settling on top of him.
this is where you did the work now, conducting every motion. you bounced along his length, him assisting you with your movements as he grunted.
it wasn't until you removed your hands from his strong chest and placed them beside his legs, leaning back. that's when he noticed his length bulging from your belly. he whimpered at the sight. he settled his coarse palm along your tummy, feeling the flesh expand against it as you continued to ride him.
"f-feel me, here?" he asked, looking up at you with his big hazel eyes.
"yeah," you whimpered. "i feel you, you're so d-deep."
"yeah," he whispered.
your hips continued to drive onto him, the angle exposing your needy bud. he swirled the tips of his fingers around it, earning your walls to constrict around him further.
this led to his orgasm, the white goo leaking from your hole. your thighs shook as you looked at the sight, you reaching your own peak.
you fell into him, all while he was still inside you. your foreheads pressed together as you both tried to catch your breath, your chests heaving and bushing against each other.
Do you think we could get pope with (once again weirdo girlfriend) but sheâs so quiet that sheâll scare the skin off of pope. Like say sheâs a very quiet walker (totally not projecting here). And she stalks up behind him , wrapping her arms around his middle and he almost fucks up the sandwich heâs making đ
Or itâs the middle of the night ( miscellaneous night side quests ) . He quietly goes outside to hear the ocean, just to be jumpscared by you smoking a cigarette
hi anon!!! i absolutely love this little series we have going with popey and weird gf!!! also hello i finally figured out how to use these gif dividers T-T
minors do not interact, 18+
pope really wasn't one to startle easily, but somehow you managed to do it every once in a while. especially in the middle of the night when he was watching one of those documentaries while you were asleep next to him in the bed. you never really minded when he watched tv while you tried to sleep. what was funny was that you'd be wide awake, just lying still and then you'll randomly say something and it makes him jump. you giggle at him every time, and it makes him embarrassed.
it has also happened a couple times in the kitchen. on nights where you didn't stay awake long enough for making sandwiches in the pitch black, andrew would do it himself. however, it took him a couple tries to expect that you might walk in at any moment. you'd pad silently into the kitchen, either whisper in his ear or tap him on the shoulder knowing it would spook him. he wasn't sure why you found it so funny, but it was incredibly hard to be mad at you when you laughed (or cackled/snorted, if that's your thing) so adorably.
it was strange, this dynamic with him. you wondered if he was just jumpy, but quickly found out that he was the opposite. most of the time when you tried to scare him intentionally, save for the midnight kitchen adventures, it hardly worked. you just moved so quietly that it was impossible for anyone to hear you. he learned not to worry about it though, because you were the only person he really felt safe around. <3
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ISNâT SHE LOVELY | fem strange!reader
your sister drags you to a party, abandoning you to do god knows what with her latest boy-toy. left alone, youâre reminded of the self-imposed loneliness that your aloof demeanor creates. that is, until an equally odd man runs into you. | 3.3k+
explicit sh/ed/etc ⌠i will write reader in recovery, i know that can be comforting for some. but i will not be graphic with details
i will add on to this list as needed. if you donât see something on here, shoot me an ask to clarify !!
like all writers on here, i have a life outside of tumblr. the pace at which i fulfil requests depends entirely on my inspiration/motivation. please do not rush me.
andrew cody, even at his most dominant with you, hates hearing you beg. with every past girlfriend he'd loved it. wanted to make them squirm and cry and wait. but as soon as you say "please" for anything, it makes his gut twist around itself like a knife. the idea of his pretty girl being denied anything, ever, makes him fucking sick. he never allows you to doubt if you're going to get what you want, whether it's his cock or something from a high shelf or a new tennis bracelet. he borderline growls when you have to ask one of his brothers for something twice in a row because they didn't hear or ignored you the first time.
thinking about how andrew âpopeâ cody is so clingy and a needy little baby!
MDNI - 18+
CONTENTS: clingy! andrew âpopeâ cody x reader, fluff
youâre an early riser and heâs a night owl. him either never sleeping or staying up too late watching nature documentaries. you wake up around 5:00 am, sitting outside by the pool with a cup of coffee or a glass of orange juice while the summer sun peaks over the horizon.
he slides the glass door open, all pouty while he stands before you in his boxers.
âgood morning, andy,â you greet.
âwhy arenât you in bed?â he asks, slightly frowning.
âandrew, yâknow i have a lot to do today,â you mentioned as you took a pull from your mug.
âbut i need you in bed,â he huffs. âsleep better with you there.â
âfine, but only for a few more minutes.â
or
how he grows awkward in public. constant anxiety flooding his mind amongst the bustling spaces.
so whenâs he at one of the cody parties or even just in the grocery store, he always has to have a hand on you. either on the small of your back, or your fingers interlaced with his. he just has to know youâre there.
I honestly would lOVE too see Andrew interact with somebody really similar to him. Just a reader who is very socially awkward, closed off and kinda intimidating since she doesn't speak much and if she does it's very short. It would be cool to have reader also have sisters(in opposite of Pope having brothers) who are not weird at all, the opposite, so reader gets immediately overlooked by everyone.
And (this is completely self indulge please forgive me) reader is extremely insecure about herself since she is a weirdo and doesn't know how to stop being one. Just havÄ a low self esteem in general.
It would be cool if there was a little of unrequited love?
Like reader likes Pope but at first he doesn't like her but then later on realize the opposite. So angst with an happy ending
i LOVE this dynamic with andrew. lemme match his freak pls. i couldnât quite fit in the unrequited love part, but iâd happily write another piece focused on that if youâd like !! regardless, i hope you enjoy :3
and keep being yourself, thereâs no need to change to fit otherâs expectations
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ISNâT SHE LOVELY â pope cody x strange!reader (fem)
your sister drags you to a party, abandoning you to do god knows what with her latest boy-toy. left alone, youâre reminded of the self-imposed loneliness that your aloof demeanor creates. that is, until an equally odd man runs into you. (req) | 3.3k+
MDNI/18+
!! cw ⌠implied age gap (reader 20s, pope 30/40s), light stalker pope (oops), reader has low self esteem, not beta read
a/n ... may or may not be planning a pt 2 to this...if there's anything else within this dynamic you guys would want to see lmk...
You would rather be anywhere but here right now. The scene around you was wild and untamed. You were surrounded by strangers who were showing too much skin, reeking of bitter alcohol as they stumbled past you. Music blared through speakers, the dials turned so high it distorted the rhythm. When people got too rowdy in the pool, water splashed onto your feet, sometimes up to your knees. You merely grumbled, taking a step back. Couples lingered in the corner, groping and heavily petting one another. You tore your eyes away from them, from everyone, focusing on the plastic cup in your hands.
Your sister had given it to you, patting your shoulder as she walked off, âLoosen up.â You hadnât taken a single sip, the beer now lukewarm between your sweaty palms. You also hadnât seen her since then, which was minorly irritating considering she was the reason you were here in the first place. She had claimed she didnât want to look lame, showing up solo to a party. You had argued that bringing you as her plus one wasnât any better.
Being the youngest of four, it was easy to be overshadowed. Your sisters were devastatingly charming. What with their sunkissed skin and easy laughs. Their intelligence, demonstrated through various awards and degrees. Halter tops and cute little pumps that click-clacked down the hallways. All throughout high school your peers had slid up to you, voices sweet and coy as they tried to swindle one of your sistersâ numbers. You had simply stared, a frown etched onto your features as cold disappointment washed over you. Each time, you wondered when it would be your turn. When someone would ask for your number. Or maybe if you wanted to walk along the pier together. Even just stopping for some ice cream after school. Years later, and not much had changed. Only now, people ignored you all together, approaching your sisters themselves while you waited to the side.
You couldnât even bring yourself to be upset with them. You loved your sisters to bits and pieces, and you knew they would back you up in a heartbeat. But it was tiresome being second-best to them all your life. But that wasnât their fault. It wasnât their fault that you stiffened when anyone talked to you. That your words were clipped and blunt. Your expression just as blank, and your rigid posture off putting. That you found trashy reality tv shows to be just thatâtrashy. That music past a certain volume made your skin crawl, meaning you hated most parties or any social event. Or how you would stand by the window, motionless as you watched the waves crash against the shoreline in complete silence. It wasnât their fault that you were like this.
You were startled from your spiraling thoughts when a large body knocked into yours, spilling your beer over the both of you. You stumbled back a little, clutching the cup to stop yourself from looking like an even bigger fool by dropping it.
You grumbled to yourself, looking down at the dark splotch quickly spreading through the fabric of your tank top. Shit.
Glancing up, you were met by a man with a twin stain on his shirt, looking straight at you. His brows were furrowed, pinching the freckled skin of his forehead together. The two of you stared at each other, stuck in a stale mate with blank faces.
You fumbled for something to say. You should probably apologize. Maybe just walk away. But the weight of his gaze had you pinned in place, the rest of the world fading away as you zeroed in on the intensity of his hazel eyes. Your words were caught in your throatâa common phenomenonâas your hands clenched into fists at your sides. His own, you realized, were gripping your shoulders and keeping you steady.
You were both pulled from the moment when another man approached, your sister slung around his arms. You recognized his faceâimages flashed of a screen being shoved in front of you as your sister showed off the new guy she was hooking up with. The guy who invited her to this party. Craig, your brain so helpfully supplied.
âThink this one belongs to you.â
You reached out as he maneuvered her loose body into your hold, wrapping her arms around yours. She giggled, head tipping forward before swinging back up. Jesus Christ, she was out of it. You were just thankful that Craig had returned her to you. From the looks of his red-rimmed eyes, he wasnât too far off from blacking out himself.
You mustered a short thanks to him, sparing the other man with the freckled face one last glance before seeing yourself out.
âWhat wâyou doinâ wâPope?â
You were trying to buckle your sister into the passenger seat as her words slurred together. Keyword being trying. She was attempting to be âhelpfulâ, clumsy hands blocking your path.
âPope?â
âMhmm, that guy yâwere with. Pope. Heâs Craigâs brother.â
The seatbelt finally clicked into place, and you rounded the other side of the car as your sister prattled on.
âââs quiet. Kinda weird.â
Her head lolled to the side, looking at your profile. âKinda reminds mâof you.â
âThanks.â
She shook her head, hands waving animatedly, âNo, no, no, not a bad thing! Swear.â
âYou called him a creep and compared him to me.â
She paused, âMeant you two would get along.â
You shook your head and she slumped in her seat. The rest of the drive was silent, your sister passing out about a third of the way home. You were left with your thoughts for the remaining stretch of the road, strong hands ghosting the nape of your neck.
The party had been over for a while now, only a few lingering bodies remained, draped over lounge chairs or curled up in a bath tub. Pope could deal with them later.
He was scrubbing dishes, suds running down the yellow latex of his gloves. Craig was braced against the counter beside him, just barely lucid.
âHey, what was up with you and, uh, whatâs her faceââ he snapped his fingers together, recalling your name.
Pope remained focused on his task, âWho?â
He repeated your name, âThat girl you were lookinâ atâwhich is a kind way of phrasing it, by the wayâthe one who got beer all over you.â
âWhat about her?â His jaw ticked, recognition creeping in.
He remembered you standing by the pool, clutching a red solo cup. There was something intriguing about the way you were so still, almost like a statue compared to the parade of zoo animals around you. His feet had carried him over as he traced your features. The rigid stance of someone entirely too sober at a Cody party. Despite your stony face, there was almost something contemplative in your eyes that drew him in. Your skin looked soft. One of your tank top straps had started to fall off and he wanted nothing more than to fix it for you.
Before he realized in, he was crowding your space, tipping you over. His hands shot out, grabbing you by the shoulders. His suspicions were confirmedâsoftâhis thumbs digging into the flesh there.Â
And then Craig had waltzed over, his latest fling hanging off his arm. Your sister, apparently.
âShe matches your freak.â
Pope scowled at him,Â
âJust sayinâ.â He shrugged his shoulders, pushing off the counter, âI could probably get her number for you. Or you could take her sister for a spin once Iâm done.â Craig snickered, slapping Pope on the back as he walked way.
Only once his brotherâs footsteps faded down the hall, did Pope dare utter your name, testing the way it sounded on his tongue.Â
About a week later, your sisters were holding a social gathering of sorts. They invited all their sorority sisters and a few other friends. They were huddled around a grill and cooler, laid out on towels with an umbrella hanging over them.
You had lurked around the edges of the crowd, exchanging basic pleasantries. One of them had extended her hand and you glared at her open palm. She had laughedânervouslyâglancing at one of your sisters before turning away to talk to someone else. You stood in place, swallowing roughly as embarrassment burned your cheeks. You stalked away after that, leaving them behind to sit down at the very edge of the shoreline. You dug your heels into the wet sand, ocean lapping at your ankles.Â
You mulled over the interaction, chewing on the inside of your cheek. You risked a glance over your shoulder, watching how seamlessly their conversations flowed. How someone could jump right in with a joke that would send the whole group into laughter.Â
You slouched, returning to your personal bubble of gloom. Often at night you would lay awake, staring at the rough edges of your ceiling, unblinking. You wondered what had made you so obsolete compared to your peers. It wasnât like you grew up in an unloving household. Sure, you parents worked long hours and often had to take business trips up to Long Beach. But they always took time off when it mattered. They were always patient with yourâŚquirks. Meanwhile, the rest of their daughters had turned out just fine.Â
There was just something fundamentally wrong with you, and that was your burden to bear. Alone.
There were loud cheers from behind you, and you instinctively whipped around to see what the commotion was about. Your second oldest sister was bounding up to you before kneeling on your level.
âYou remember that Craig guy?â
âThe one thatââ
âYeah. She invited him and his brothers.â
You frowned, âWhy?â
âHell if I know. I thought they were just messing around. No harm no foul, I guess. Besides, they brought the good stuff,â she waggled her eyebrows.
You nodded.
âYou hungry? Hot dogs are ready. Theyâre firing up some hamburgers. I can bring you a plate after if you want.â
âNo.â
Your sister sighed a little, tilting her head in the way you hated. âOkay. Well, weâll be right over there if you need anything.â
You didnât bother responding, facing the ocean once more.
Moments later, you heard footsteps from behind.
âIâm not hungry,â you reminded her.
âNot what I was told.â
The unexpected timber startled you, originally anticipating the sweet cadence of your sisterâs voice.
A hand reached downâthe same one that had been plaguing your thoughts since the partyâsetting a paper plate beside you. It was double stacked, ensuring the wet sand wouldnât soil its contents.
You remained fixed on the waves, oh so aware of the you were being watched. He made no movement to back away, and you didnât gesture for him either.
Most wouldâve found it unsettlingâthe way he practically loomed over you. But you werenât most people. Instead it was almost comforting. His presence was a steady one, grounding. You bet he had that same sharp look in his eyes. You wondered what they looked like now, in the golden rays of the afternoon.
You finally turned back to meet his gaze, pupils blowing wide at the sight. In the lowlight of the moon, it highlighted the angular features of his face. His sharp jaw and creased brow was just as you remembered. Only now, illuminated by the sun could you make out the finer details. His entire face was smattered with freckles, running down even the hollows of his cheeks and slope of his nose. His lips were pressed together in a straight line, quirked down ever so slightly. He had a head full of auburn curls, a little unkempt in the salty breeze, making him look almost boyish. It was cute. Handsome, if you were being honest.
âAnything interesting?â He jutted his chin towards the ocean.
âNo.âÂ
âThought so.â
âCome here often?â The corner of his mouth twitched, seemingly pleased with his quip. The only evidence of your amusement was a short exhale of air.
âMeant you two would get along.â Your sisterâs voice rang in your head.
âYour nameâs Pope?â
âAndrew,â he corrected.
âOh.â
He must have sensed your confusion, waving you off, âStory for another time,â he muttered, finally sitting down.
You turned back towards the waters, calmed by its gentle motions and the soft breath tickling your neck.
Since the beach, your encounters with Andrew became more and more frequent. You would drop your sister off and he would be in the driveway. Long after your sister disappeared into the house, you would observe one another through the car window before you eventually drove off. You went to the bank and saw him lurking around, making himself busy and never quite making it to a window. Youâd be running errands around town, the same truck parked outside the store. The driver had a cap on, but you recognized the curls peaking out.
Any conversation you had were fleeting, much like these moments. You quietly learned he was anticipating the annual airing of Shark Week on Discovery channel. He was the eldest of four boys. He liked to take strolls on the beach. Or maybe that was just him following you.
It was another evening, an hour far from reasonable, when your phone buzzed. Opening the notification, you saw it was a text from an unknown number.
Party tomorrow. You should come.Â
You squinted at the screen in confusion. You almost told them they had the wrong person, before another message appeared.
This is Andrew.
You sat up, looking around the dark corners of your room as if someone was watching, peering over your shoulder. You brought your phone close to your face, reading the short sentences over and over again. Why would he possibly want you there? You werenât exactly the life of a party. Well, neither was he.
You noticed the way he lingered. Walking the perimeter, but never quite breaching that distance. You supposed thatâs why he followed you around.Â
For the next few minutes, you cycled between typing out a response and deleting it. You were sure you were driving him mad with your frantic text bubbles. In the end, you hearted his message, slamming your phone face down onto the bed.
You had spent agonizing hours getting yourself ready. You raided your sistersâ bathrooms for perfumes, gagging at their sharp candy scents. You grabbed the most mild fragrance you could find; something fresh and almost salty that reminded you of the beach. All of your closet was laid out on your bed, tossing dresses and jeans around your room as you tried them on. You settled on the first outfit you had pulled out: a lace-trimmed tank top in your favorite color, paired with denim shorts and tights. You hunched over the sink, applying makeup. It was nothing special, just enough to make you feel less dull and more put together. Something that would bring life to your otherwise blank face.
Despite being a grown woman, you snuck out through your window. You didnât think you could bear the embarrassment of your sistersâ teasing if they saw you like thisâall for some guy you saw on occasion.
The door had been wide open, letting yourself in. You quietly padded through the house, the inside was silent compared to the raging party happening in the backyard. You peered through the sliding door, trying to spot the broad figure youâd become familiar with.
Your searching was cut short, heavy footsteps thudding behind you.Â
You spun around, face growing warm. Andrew was dressed in a simple black shirt. It was unfair the way the fabric stretched across his chest. The sleeves were struggling to wrap around his bicep, accentuating the muscle there. You didnât even want to think about how his jeans were holding up.
âHi.â
âThat for us?â His eyes flicked down the six-pack you held, the one you almost forgot you had. It wasnât anything fancy, just some Coronas. You didnât want to show up empty handed, but if you had to guess, they probably already had a taste of everything the corner store you stopped at had to offer.
In an instant you were awkwardly shoving the beers towards him. He grabbed them from you, calloused hand brushing against yours. The contact was electric and you repressed a shiver. You would have thought that you were successful, if not for the way his jaw clenched. It seemed Andrew couldnât contain himself either.
He started toward the kitchen and you followed after him. While he put away the beers, you caught a glimpse of the fridge. You noticed how everything inside was perfectly lined up and stocked. But that wasn't all. As you spotted the dish rag along the sink, and the cereal boxes on top of the shelves, you put together another piece of the puzzle that was Andrew Cody.
He closed the fridge, stalking towards you. Your heart began to race in a way that wasnât familiar.
Save for your family, others would simply gloss over you. Theyâd see your stern expression and hear your deadpanned answers, deciding you werenât worth their time. Itâs not like they could bear to be around you for more than five minutes. People grew antsy under your piercing eyes and detached demeanor.
Boys didnât pay you any attention, aside from cruel jokes and bets. Throughout adolescence, you observed how your peers danced around one another. It started in kindergarten, chasing each other at recess. Notes passed in class. Homecoming proposals. There was always someone in the driveway, asking your sisters out with a large cardboard sign. You would watch from your bedroom window, an ache blooming in your chest.Â
You didnât inherit the magnetic genome that your sisters possessed. No, yours had mutated into something completely else.
Not that Andrew seemed to mind. If he was bothered by it, he wouldnât be caging you against the counter.
For weeks, he had been restraining himself. Heâd been circling you, a predator inching towards its prey. He learned the cadence of your days, attuning his circadian rhythm to match yours. He shadowed you across town, keeping tabs of all your favorite stops. He made a mental receipt of your groceries, the wrappers you absently tossed into the trash, what tune he heard floating from your car, all of it.
At some point your pace began to slow, purposeful, as if waiting for something. Or maybe someone. Him.
Andrew caught your chin between his thumb, tilting your head up to look at him. He whispered your name, his voice low and gruff but full of reverence.Â
A lifetime full of deceit and isolation, heâd spent so long molding himself into someone elseâs desires. Frankensteining himself into something he didnât recognize, something he despised. Grief and passion and rage woven so tightly together that he couldnât tell them apart. His tough exterior was the last of his defense, keeping him from wanting more, and frightening others offhis dark path.
The first time he saw you, standing all by yourself by the pool, he recognized that look on your face. To others you might have seemed passive, but he recognized the uncertainty behind your eyes. The question of what you were doing there. Heâd seen it at the beach, too. You had glanced past his shoulder, envy flashing briefly across your face as you watched your sisters and their friends. But when you held his gaze, familiarity had settled deep inside the both of you.Â
âAndrew,â you murmured back.
His hand slid up, so slowly that you could feel every wrinkle of his palm. He cupped your cheek, his other hand brushing away any stray hairs from your face. Your breath came out in shallow puffs, heart hammering against your chest.Â
âWhat do you want?â He was blunt, straight to the point.