HIGHSCHOOLFRIENDS!BOYLIIFE X MYSTERIOUS!READER
cw: runaway reader, past relationship, roman x reader, romans pov, a bit inspired by bones and all sooo big TW!!
swag summer masterlist taglist
The studio smelled of smoke and equipment, the beat Ryan had been looping for an hour playing low and hypnotic through the monitors. I stared down at the screen in my palm. My thumb hovered over the black-and-white grid of photos, the light washing out my knuckles. Time seemed to stretch thin, the noise around me muting until Hollis cut through it.
"Yo, Roman. What got you lookin like a ghost on your phone?"
Ryan chuckled, a dry sound, leaning back against the leather couch with his eyes narrowed. Nate stopped humming over his notepad.
The room went dead silent. The beat kept looping, but nobody was listening to it anymore.
"What about her?" Nate asked, his voice cautious.
"I think I just found her instagram."
Before the last word left my mouth, they were over me. Ryan reached out and snatched the phone straight from my fingers. The movement was fast, almost aggressive. Hollis leaned over Ryan’s shoulder, a disbelieving scoff breaking from his chest.
"I havent seen her face in years," Nate murmured. He looked at the screen with a quiet sort of awe, like looking at something brought back from the dead.
Ryan didn't speak. He just stared at the picture, his jaw working, something heavy and ancient settling behind his eyes. I stood up, reaching for the phone, my patience wearing thin.
"Give me my phone, dude."
"Dont text her, Roman," Ryan said. His voice wasn't loud, but it had an edge that made the air in the room freeze.
I wrinkled my forehead, my blood running hot. "What? Why not?"
Nate and Hollis traded a quick glance. Hollis rubbed the back of his neck, leaning against the soundboard. "Honestly, Ro, Ryan’s right. Lets not forget what happened in highschool."
"We dont know why she left," I snapped, the anger bubbling up fast, hot and defensive. "Maybe something bad happened."
"You guys were in love, Roman," Hollis said, letting out a long, heavy breath. "She was one of our best friends and she just disappeared one day."
"It was so weird," Nate added, looking between us. "You guys remember Lance Webber? He disappeared a week before she did."
I felt the color drop from my face. "Yeah. I remember."
Nate frowned, looking around the room, missing the sudden shift in the air. "What? Am I missing something?"
"Everyone at school assumed that y/n was dating him behind Roman's back and they ran away together," Hollis said softly.
Nate’s eyes widened, a quiet oh slipping from his lips. Ryan let out a harsh scoff, the sound cutting through the tension like a blade. We all looked at him.
Ryan shook his head, looking straight at me. The expression on his face was old, dark, something I had seen a long time ago and buried deep down.
"Nothing," Ryan said. "I just dont think thats the case."
"Just dont DM her, Roman. Can we settle on that?"
I looked at the three of them. The unsaid history between us sat in the room like concrete, heavy and suffocating. I let my shoulders drop, taking a slow breath, and sat back down on the worn leather.
Slowly, the tension dissolved back into the work. Hollis pulled his headphones over his ears. Ryan turned back to the mixer, his fingers moving over the faders. Nate stepped into the booth to lay down vocals. But I just sat there, the phone heavy in my hand.
I pulled up her profile again. Those same big, haunting eyes stared out at me from the screen, full of secrets that had consumed me for years. Quietly, without looking up to see if anyone was watching, my thumb pressed the follow button.
The moonlight hit my bedroom wall in harsh, cold slants. I lay awake, listening to the monotonous hum of the box fan in the corner. It did nothing to cool the sudden heat in my skin. The silence of the house was too loud, bringing back memories I had spent half a decade trying to scrub clean — the taste of her lips behind the bleachers, the sound of her laughter in the passenger seat of my car, and the brutal, hollow realization when I found out she was gone without a trace.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. The screen lit up the dark ceiling.
I picked it up, my thumb sliding the notification open and when I did, my heart hit the bottom of my chest.
A week passed in a blur of quiet dread. I sat on my couch, staring at the packed duffel bag sitting by the front door like an ultimatum. I had thought about calling it off a dozen times. I had thought about throwing my phone out the window. But the memory of her was a rot I couldn't cut out, she was the only girl I had ever truly loved.
A heavy knock sounded at the door. Hollis, Nate, and Ryan walked in without waiting.
Hollis and Nate looked nervous, a tense curiosity hovering over them. Ryan looked different. That same unnamed, shadowy look from the studio was back, sharper now, making my stomach knot up tightly.
We loaded into Hollis’s car without speaking, and I took the passenger seat. The engine turned over, and we started the two-hour drive, the music blaring loud enough to drown out the silence.
Nobody mentioned her name.
The time passed in a blur of yellow highway lines and meaningless small talk, avoiding the elephant sitting in the backseat.
It was only when the tires hit the gravel driveway, kicking up dust against the pine trees, that Hollis reached over and killed the radio.
"If we wanna leave at any point, we can," Hollis said, looking straight ahead before catching my eye and looking towards the guys in the back. "But lets make an effort. Even if its hard."
I didn't turn back, but I saw Hollis relax slightly out of the corner of my eye.
The cottage was massive, three stories of dark wood and glass standing silent against the treeline, a vast, black lake stretching out behind it. We parked near the front deck and got out, the warm summer air hitting our faces. As we reached for our bags in the trunk, the front door clicked open.
She was standing on the porch.
Her short hair caught the lake breeze, her hand covering her mouth as she looked down at us all. Tears shimmered in her eyes. She looked devastating. I took a half-step back, my throat closing up.
Hollis leaned a heavy hand on my shoulder, his voice low. "You’re good."
She stepped off the deck, her shoes crunching on the gravel. "Hi guys," she said.
She laughed, a small, breathless sound, before walking straight up to me. I had to look down to meet her gaze. My jaw locked, fighting the sudden swell of emotion threatening to break through my chest.
"Hi, Rome," she whispered.
Her eyes stayed locked on mine for a second too long before she turned to the rest. "Wow. You guys really changed."
"Hey, y/n," Hollis said, stepping forward first. "So have you."
He pulled her into a brief side hug, and she let out a small sob, wiping her cheek. Nate was next, pulling her in with a quiet laugh that cracked the ice of five long years.
Then Ryan stepped up. He embraced her slowly, his hands resting flat against her back. I watched as Ryan leaned in and whispered something directly into her ear. Y/n’s eyes went wide, her body going stiff for a fraction of a second before Ryan pulled back, his face completely unreadable.
She looked away, clearing her throat, before her eyes dragged back to me.
She stepped into me, wrapping her arms tight around my middle. I stood frozen for a second, feeling the heat of her body, before my arms came around her, my face burying into the soft crook of her neck. She smelled like pine and something deep and sweet that made my head spin.
The guys carried the bags inside, their footsteps echoing up the wooden stairs, leaving the two of us alone beside the car.
I pulled back first, but she kept her hands resting on my wrists.
"I really missed you, Rome," she said, her voice soft, pleading. "We’re gonna have a great week. I promise."
She let go of my wrists, grabbed my hand, and pulled me toward the open front door.
Inside, the cottage smelled of old wood and old carpet. By the time we finished carrying our bags upstairs, y/n was already in the kitchen, swaying softly to a song playing from her portable speaker.
"That smells so good," Hollis groaned, leaning against the kitchen counter.
Y/n turned, smiling as she set four plates down on the bar. "Dinners ready. Theres drinks in the fridge."
She leaned her elbows on the counter, her dark eyes darting over our faces. "So. Tell me everything. What have I missed?"
"A lot," Ryan said, his voice flat.
Hollis nudged Ryan sharply in the ribs. Y/n looked down, biting her lip, the warmth slipping from her expression for a split second.
"I know this is weird," she said quietly, her thumb tracing a groove in the granite. "And I know you guys probably hate me. Which is fair. I get it. I wish I could make everything better, but I cant change the past."
She paused, looking up, her chest rising and falling. "I just wanted to try. Try and get my best friends back."
I looked away, staring at the steam rising from my plate, the guilt and anger twisting together in my chest.
"We’re here, arent we?" Nate offered, giving her a tentative smile.
"At the end of the day... we missed you, y/n," Hollis added.
Y/n searched our faces, her gaze finally stopping on me. "Is that true?"
I cleared my throat, my eyes meeting hers. "Yeah. Yeah, its true."
She let out a quiet breath, a small smile returning to her lips. "Well, eat up. I didnt spend an hour cooking for it to go cold."
"Arent you hungry?" Ryan asked. He hadn't touched his fork. His eyes were fixed on her empty space at the counter.
"Oh, no," she said smoothly. "I ate earlier. I’ll probably have a snack before bed."
Ryan didn't answer. He just looked down at his food, silent.
Later that night, we gathered around the stone fireplace in the living room, steam rising from our mugs of tea. The low roar of the fire washed over us, creating a false sense of safety. For a few minutes, it felt like high school again, but the silence between our sentences was heavier now, filled with five years of dark, unasked questions.
"So are you like... homeless?" Nate asked, breaking a lull in the conversation.
"What? Its a valid question to ask."
Y/n laughed, shaking her head. "Its okay. I mean, technically... yes. But its by choice."
"Doesnt it get exhausting moving around all the time?" I asked, my voice low.
Y/n looked over at me, her cheeks flushing slightly in the firelight. "A little. But its fun to explore."
"What are you gonna do when you’ve run out of places to go?" Ryan asked from the shadows of the armchair. His tone wasn't curious, it was interrogating.
I shot Ryan a warning look, but Ryan just stared back, unbothered.
"Im not sure yet," y/n said, her fingers tightening around her mug. "New country, maybe. Or find a place back in LA."
I felt a sudden knot in my throat at the mention of her coming back, and I knew without looking that the guys caught the slight shift in my posture.
"Its getting late, yeah?" Nate said, setting his mug down and stretching his arms over his head.
"Lake tomorrow?" Hollis whistled. "Fuck yeah. They got any boats around here, y/n?"
She nodded, her smile returning. "Yeah. Theres a place just a few minutes down the road where you can rent them."
We all scattered toward our rooms, the fire dying down to embers. I stayed behind for a moment to douse the ashes, the sharp scent of smoke filling my nose.
As I reached the top of the stairs, y/n stood by her door, her hand resting on the frame.
"Thanks again, guys. For coming," she said softly. "It really means a lot to me."
Her eyes drifted to me, lingering there in the dim hall light. My breath hitched in my throat.
"I’ll see you in the morning. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," we all called back, the heavy wooden doors clicking shut one by one.
I climbed into my bed. The springs squeaked loudly in the quiet room. I lay on my side, staring out the window at the dark outline of the trees swaying over the black water of the lake. The anxiety in my veins burned cold, refusing to let me sleep, keeping me awake in the dark long after the house went silent.
I woke up much earlier than usual, the early morning sunlight pressing flat against my face as I squinted against the glare. I threw myself out of bed with a low groan, pulled on a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, and stepped out into the hall. Hollis’s door was already wide open. As I made my way down the wooden stairs, the soft sound of laughter and the bitter scent of dark coffee filled my senses.
Hollis and y/n were sitting at the kitchen counter, porcelain mugs held tight in their hands as they talked mindlessly.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," y/n giggled.
I chuckled, running a tired hand through my messy hair. "Morning."
I moved to sit on the stool next to Hollis, and he reached over, patting my shoulder twice.
"You want coffee?" y/n asked, already leaning over to pour a black stream into a fresh mug.
I nodded with a small smile, taking the warm mug from her hands. "Thanks."
"So, what do you guys want to do?" She looked between the two of us, taking a quiet sip before pointing a slender finger at Hollis. "I know you wanna go rent a boat."
Hollis nodded eagerly. "Lets do that! Sound good to you, Rome?"
I swallowed hard at the sound of the old nickname slipping so easily from her lips, but I gave a firm nod. "Sounds fun."
Nate came shuffling downstairs to join us soon after. Before long, he and Hollis left in the car to go pull the rental boat around, leaving me and y/n to change and make our way down to the shoreline.
It was hard not to stare at her as we walked down the dirt path. She was wearing a simple black bikini, but it was just her in it that made it almost impossible for me to focus.
When we reached the lake, we sat side by side on a smooth, flat rock hovering just above the black water. She let out a long, relaxed sigh before turning her dark eyes up to me.
"Is it weird? Seeing me in person?" she asked, her voice full of quiet curiosity.
"A little," I admitted, looking down at the water. "Still trying to figure out how Im supposed to deal with it."
She sat up a little higher on the rock, her spine straightening. "What do you mean?"
I kept my gaze fixed on the quiet ripples of the lake. "I mean, isnt it weird for you? Seeing me? Us?"
She thought for a moment, her thumb tracing the hem of her bottoms. "Yes and no. I havent done as much as you guys have... I think I never really moved on from you."
I hummed low in my throat. "We didnt want to move on."
She shook her head softly. "You dont have to explain yourself to me, Roman. Im glad you did move on. I want you to be happy." She offered a quiet smile, her dark eyes squinting against the bright sun.
I let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah. You too, y/n."
Just then, the loud roar of a boat engine shattered the silence. Hollis and Nate came soaring across the water, throwing sharp droplets of cold lake water over both me and y/n.
"You guys getting in?" Hollis called out from behind the wheel, killing the throttle.
Y/n and I traded a quick glance and nodded.
"Ryan still not out?" Nate asked as he leaned over the side.
"I don't think he's very happy to be here," y/n said jokingly, though a noticeable touch of pain underlined her words.
"Dont worry about him," I told her, stepping closer, even though I didn't know myself why Ryan was acting so damn odd.
We both hopped into the back of the boat, and Hollis drove us out into the open water. We spent the afternoon sitting back and relaxing, talking and laughing while Nate connected his phone to a small speaker. Y/n pleaded for everyone to play our own music, and after a little back-and-forth, she got her way — just like she always used to.
We spent most of the day out on the lake, taking turns driving the boat in wide circles, occasionally cutting the engine to jump into the cold water before repeating the process. At one point, we stumbled upon a little harbor town and docked to roam around.
Y/n pulled us into every small store she saw, making everyone try on ugly sunglasses and hats, making sure we had everything we needed.
"Oh, Rome, those look so good on you," she exclaimed, reaching up to rest a pair of thick plastic sunglasses over my nose.
I rolled my eyes, looking at my reflection in the small wall mirror. "You like them on me?"
She nodded fast, and I let a smirk pull at my mouth before taking them off and walking over to the cashier, motioning for her to follow. She let out a quiet squeal of excitement.
As we slowly drove back toward the cottage, hunger started creeping up fast. We had completely skipped lunch, and though we had picked up a few snacks from the harbor shops, swimming for hours made it feel as if we had eaten nothing at all.
The boat bumped softly against the wooden dock, and we all climbed out to make the trek back up the grassy hill. Y/n held herself tightly as we walked, shivering in the shade of the pine trees. I jogged slightly to catch up to her stride.
She gave a small nod. I turned back to Hollis, who was carrying a heavy stack of fresh towels under his arm.
"Yo, Hollis. Throw me one of those."
Hollis grabbed one off the top and tossed it across the grass. I caught it, quickly unfolded the heavy cotton, and draped it carefully over her narrow shoulders. She looked up at me, her face softening into a fragile smile.
Ryan was sitting alone on the living room couch when we all walked in. His dark eyes fell straight onto y/n before looking at anyone else.
"Dude, you missed out!" Nate scoffed, dropping his bag by the door. "You really sit around and do nothing in here all day?"
Hollis laughed, crossing his arms. "You were literally the first one to agree to this, fool."
Ryan shrugged, his posture stiff. "Yeah, so Roman wouldnt come by himself and fuck everything up. Never said I actually wanted to be here."
The air in the room went dead cold and quiet. Y/n cleared her throat, her head dropping.
"Im gonna go get changed." Her voice cracked slightly on the last word before she quickly turned and made her way up the stairs, hugging the wet towel tight against her chest.
"Dude, not cool," Nate snapped the second she was out of earshot.
"Shes trying really hard, man. You’d see that if you tried for one fucking day," Hollis said, stepping up to Ryan.
"You dont get it," Ryan said, his tone flat, empty.
I let out a harsh scoff. "We dont get it? No, Ryan, you dont get it. Not sure why you’re acting like you got the worst of it in this situation. If anyone should be bitching, its me." I rolled my eyes and turned on my heel toward the stairs, leaving him no time to answer.
I hopped in the shower, letting the hot splash wash the lake water off my skin. When I finished, I wrapped a white towel tight around my hips and pulled the bathroom door open. Y/n was standing right outside in the dim hall. I watched as her eyes traced the dripping line of my torso up to my face.
I suppressed a smirk. "Hey."
She started slightly. "Hi—sorry. I was just about to shower."
I nodded once, stepping aside. "All good."
She gave me a small smile as she moved past me toward the tile.
"Hey..." I called out before she could pull the heavy wooden door shut. "Im sorry about Ryan. Hes being a dick."
She let out a sigh, looking at her bare feet. "Oh, no, its okay. I understand where he's coming from... Just hurts a bit."
I nodded, leaning against the doorframe. "He still cares about you, y/n/n... Just think he deals with stuff like this differently. Its not an excuse, but still." I reached up, scratching the back of my neck.
"I get it. Its okay... Thank you." She smiled again, a genuine one this time, before closing the bathroom door.
After her shower, y/n drove into town to pick up food, returning an hour later with heavy bags of takeout. She passed containers to everyone sitting on the sectional. Noises of excitement mixed with pure hunger filled the room as we all dug in. Y/n squeezed herself onto the cushions right between me and Hollis while a random old horror movie played quietly on the screen.
"Did you not get something?" I asked, looking around the coffee table for her paper bag.
She laughed softly. "Oh, no, I did. I was starving, I couldnt help but eat it all on the way back."
"Been there," Nate called out from the far end of the couch, his mouth stuffed full of noodles.
We ate the rest of our food like starved animals, letting the sound of the TV wash over the room. By the end of the film, Hollis and Nate were fast asleep on opposite ends of the sectional. Y/n’s head had fallen gently onto my shoulder as the two of us talked in low whispers. Ryan sat in a wingback chair across the room, completely silent, his eyes fixed on the black window beside him.
Eventually, I stood up and tapped the sleeping boys on the shoulders. We all murmured goodnights and headed up the dark staircase.
The morning started the exact same way, but this time I was the last one to wake up. Hollis and Ryan were outside taking a walk through the dense woods behind the property, while Nate and y/n sat at the dining table playing an intense game of cards that seemed far more serious than necessary.
When they noticed me coming down the steps, Nate gave me a brief nod, and y/n grinned and stood from her seat.
"Dude! Im about to kick your ass," y/n giggled, looking back at Nate. "One sec!"
She turned around on to face me, her expression bright. "Hey."
I yawned quietly into my palm. "Hi."
She giggled at my sleepy face. "Still tired? Its almost eleven."
My eyes widened slightly. "Oh, shit. Really?"
She nodded before turning back to her hand. I walked into the kitchen to pour myself a cup of coffee.
"Yo, Roman. Did you hear anything outside last night?" Nate called over his shoulder.
I shook my head, taking a sip. "Nah. I was passed out."
He hummed, staring down at his hand. "Man, I must be hearing things."
"Did you ask Hollis and Ryan?" I asked, leaning against the counter.
"Hollis said he was passed out too, and Ryan just, like, brushed me off," Nate chuckled.
I smirked into my mug. "Probably just an animal."
"You didn't hear it, y/n?" I asked, watching her carefully.
She slammed a card down over Nate’s with a triumphant grin, making him groan loudly. Her fingers danced across the rest of her deck, moving with a strange, nervous energy.
"Nope," she said without looking up. "I wear earplugs to sleep."
I hummed, dropping the subject, and walked over to stand behind her to watch the end of the match.
A little later, just after lunch, Hollis and Ryan came back inside. After a bit of convincing, we all piled together on the living room rug to play a game.
"Lets play never have I ever," Nate suggested.
I let out an immediate groan, and Hollis laughed at my annoyance.
"Lets spice it up. If you’ve done it... you drink," Hollis said, reaching into the cupboard to pull out a bottle of tequila and a stack of small shot glasses. He filled them to the brim and lined them up in the center of the rug.
"Okay, I’ll start," Hollis said, rubbing his hands together. "Never have I ever thrown up on a girl at a party."
Nate and I both snorted out loud as Ryan glared coldly across the circle.
"That was targeted," Ryan said flatly. He picked up his shot glass, threw his head back, and swallowed the liquor in one motion.
"It absolutely was. Alright, your turn, Roman," Hollis laughed.
I thought for a moment, resting my elbows on my knees. "Uhh, okay. Never have I ever got suspended for a week for cursing at a teacher."
Y/n gasped loudly beside me. "Oh my god! I cant believe you remember that!"
"Are you kidding? It was an ongoing joke for like months," I said.
She nodded, smiling, before grabbing a glass and tossing it down, shaking her head in disgust at the burn. "Ew. Okay, Nate, you go."
Nate smirked, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Never have I ever kissed someone in this room."
I looked over at y/n. She bit her lip, poured herself a new shot, and tapped her glass lightly against mine. My eyes locked with hers as we both shot it back, letting out a shared laugh as we set the heavy glass bottoms back on the floor.
We looked up just in time to see both Hollis and Ryan tipping their glasses back too.
"Wait... what?" Y/n’s eyes blew wide as she looked between them.
"Long story," Ryan said, shaking his head. Hollis just laughed into his elbow.
"Okay, your turn, man," Hollis said, pointing at Ryan.
Ryan stared blankly across the circle, his dark eyes landing straight on y/n. "Never have I ever... cheated on someone."
The second the words left his mouth, my face burned with a sudden wave of hot anger and embarrassment. I glared at Ryan, my hands tightening into fists. But as the seconds ticked by, y/n didn't reach for a glass. There was not a single hint of guilt or knowingness on her face.
"Seems like we’re all decent people," she chuckled softly, breaking the silence.
"Yeah. Decent people," Ryan huffed, looking away.
The game died out quickly after that. By nighttime, we all decided to build a bonfire in the pit near the lake edge.
"Im gonna go get some hot dogs to cook on the fire!" y/n announced, standing up to reach for her car keys on the counter.
"We got some earlier," Ryan cut in from the doorway, his eyes searching her face closely.
Her eyebrows shot up, her body freezing for a fraction of a second. "Oh! Great..." She offered a small, stiff smile, but the expression in her eyes was entirely wrong.
As the sun sank below the treeline, we all headed down to the pit. I built up the logs, getting a steady flame going while Hollis found long, sturdy branches to use as skewers.
"That was cool," y/n whispered, leaning toward me once I sat back down on the wooden bench.
She nodded softly, the firelight reflecting off her dark pupils. "You’re cool."
"You’re pretty cool too," I said, bumping my shoulder against hers. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushed red from the heat.
The crackle of the burning wood filled the night air as we roasted our sausages side by side, our hands occasionally brushing against each other. Once we had assembled them into buns, the sun had almost entirely vanished behind the mountains.
"Will one of you sing something?" y/n asked, looking across the flames. "Nateee. Mr. voice of an angel."
Nate laughed, shaking his head. "No way."
"Please?" she asked, tilting her head.
He groaned. "Okay, fine. Fine."
Nate pulled up an acoustic track on his phone and began singing low and sweet along with it. We all sat back, enjoying the thick warmth of the fire, the taste of the smoky food, and the clear, effortless voice of our best friend.
Beside me, a low rumble sounded from y/n’s stomach.
I looked down at her. "You still hungry?"
She didn't look at me right away, keeping her eyes fixed on the dirt beneath her shoes. "A little. Im okay, though."
"Do you wanna go in and get a snack?"
She shook her head fast. "No, no. I’ll get something before bed."
"If you're sure," I murmured.
She finally looked up, offering a small, reassuring smile. "Yup. Thanks, Rome."
I reached around her shoulders, laying my arm over her back. I felt her breath catch sharply in her chest before she relaxed into my side. "Of course."
The evening melted into dark night fast. What felt like an hour was actually three, and the group couldn't fight back the exhaustion pulling at their eyes anymore. We packed up the pit slowly and made the short walk back to the cabin. Y/n stayed glued to my side, looking far more awake and alert than anyone else.
Once inside, I let out a long yawn. "Arent you tired?"
"Im getting there. Im sure once Im in bed, I’ll pass out," she said.
We both laughed softly under the warm hallway light.
Her smile widened, her eyes shining. "Im so glad you’re having a good time."
I reached forward, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her eyes tracked my hand with a deep, silent intensity.
"Its always fun with you, y/n."
Her gaze dragged down my chest, tracing my frame before rising back to my eyes. "Goodnight, Roman."
She leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against my cheek, before turning and heading quickly up the stairs.
"Ooo," Nate teased from the dark living room behind me.
I shot him a sharp look over my shoulder. "Shut up."
It was the middle of the night when I was suddenly jerked awake.
The sound was distant, coming from deep within the treeline outside my window. I couldn't make out any words, but my body jolted upright as the sound of snapping branches echoed through the dark — someone running fast through the woods.
A harsh voice yelled out something indistinguishable, followed instantly by a heavy, sickening thud against the dirt. A brief, muffled scream tore through the night, and then total, suffocating silence returned.
My heart thudded violently against my ribs. I stared out the window glass, searching the shadows for any sign of movement, but there was only pitch blackness. I tried to rationalize it, to convince myself I had just heard an animal or imagined the whole thing, but my brain refused to shut off.
An hour later, I was still lying there in the dark, staring blankly at the wooden ceiling slats. The soft creaking of floorboards in the hallway cut through the quiet. I sat up, swung my legs over the frame, and slowly pulled my door open.
She gasped loudly, jumping back against the wall, her hand flying to her chest. "Jesus! You scared me," she laughed, her voice tight and nervous.
"What are you doing up?" I asked, my toe tapping restlessly against the cold floor.
"Nate got in your head, huh?" She smiled softly, gesturing toward the kitchen stairs. "I was just getting something to drink. What are you doing up?"
I paused, staring at her face. "I dont know... I thought I heard a scream outside."
She pursed her lips, her expression melting into pure comfort. "It was probably just some kids playing too rough down the road. Its safe out here, Roman. Dont worry, and get some sleep."
Her words were spoken so gently, so softly, that I couldn't help but let my shoulders drop.
She smiled at me one last time before stepping into her room and pulling the door shut until the latch clicked. I walked back to my bed, letting her words settle over me, calming the raw edge of my nerves in the quiet of the cottage until I finally drifted back to sleep.
Walking down the wooden stairs the next morning, I noticed the guys scattered around the kitchen.
"Hey guys, wheres y/n?" I asked, scanning the dark room for her.
"Shes been down by the water all morning," Hollis told me, leaning over a mug. "She seems kinda down."
I didn't say anything in response. I just walked to the counter to pour a cup of black coffee, but it turned out burnt and flat — nowhere near as good as when y/n made it.
I stepped outside onto the back porch, leaning my arms against the wooden railing. Down by the shore, I spotted her. Her back was turned to me, her hair flowing softly in the cold lake wind.
Slowly, her back straightened. She turned her head, her dark eyes finding my face across the yard. I offered a small smile and a soft wave, but she didn't return it. Instead, she stood up, gave me a heavy, unreadable look, and walked further down the edge of the water.
My brow furrowed, my brain working overtime, but I didn't push it. I turned around and headed back inside.
"Did anyone say anything to her this morning?" I asked the room, my eyes landing straight on Ryan.
Ryan scoffed, leaning back against the wall. "Why? Your little girlfriend acting weird now?"
I frowned, the irritation rising in my throat. "Why are you fighting this so hard? Shes been nothing but nice since we got here."
"I dont trust her," he said blankly.
"Why?!" My anger broke through, hot and sharp.
Ryan stared back at me, his face dead cold. "You really wanna know, Roman? It might ruin your little fairytale."
I shook my head, taking a step toward him. "Fuck you, man. You know y/ns been there for me more than you have this whole time."
Ryan stood up straight, his posture imposing. "Keep bullshitting yourself, man. You need a reality check before she eats you alive."
The brutal weight of his words hit me like a truck. I stared at him as he turned on his heel and walked toward his room. The heavy sound of his door slamming echoed down the hall, sending a chilling feeling straight through my bones.
Why would he say it like that? I thought to myself. After everything that happened.
I sank down onto the leather couch, letting the silence crush me. Hours passed, and y/n still hadn't returned to the house. I kept watch through the glass. She moved from the water to the stone firepit, and eventually to the edge of the back porch, but she never once came inside.
It was killing me. Ryan knew something — something I wasn't ready to hear. Because even though it was crazy, over these last few days, I had started falling for her all over again.
There was something about her that had always been enchanting, like my brain simply shut off any reasonable thinking whenever she was near. I tried to play it cool, but deep down I knew that even after all these years, I’d do anything for her.
By the time dinner crept around, Nate and Hollis had headed down to the pit to start a fire. I couldn't focus on food; I couldn't think of anything but her. Slowly, I walked up the stairs, stood outside Ryan’s door, knocked once, and pushed it open.
He was sitting on his mattress, staring down at his phone.
"I need you to tell me whats going on," I said in one breath.
He looked up, his face lined with dark exhaustion. "You really want to know?"
Ryan let out a long sigh, tossing his phone onto the blankets. "I can smell her, Roman. From the second we got here, I knew."
I sat down in the wooden chair beside the desk, shaking my head fast. "No. You’re lying."
Ryan closed his eyes for a quiet moment. "It’s true."
"Fuck," I cursed under my breath, my hands gripping my knees. "Maybe she doesnt feed anymore. Like you."
Ryan sucked in a sharp breath, and I winced at my own words. It had been years since we brought it up — since the night I caught Ryan inside our old recording studio, feeding on one of our producers. I had never seen anything like it: so gruesome, so unhuman. I had promised never to tell a soul as long as he stopped. He fought it hard for years, and despite a few slip-ups, he had worked through it. As much as he struggled, he no longer fed on people.
"I know you heard that scream last night, Roman," Ryan said softly. "She cant go a day without feeding. Shes been doing it behind our backs this whole trip. Travelling town to town isnt just a lifestyle choice—shes escaping her crime scenes."
My stomach dropped into a cold abyss. "No. Theres no way."
Ryan covered his face with one hand.
"Why didnt you say anything!" I barked, my voice breaking.
"I told her when we first got here not to hurt you," Ryan said, looking up. "I always had a feeling this was the case. She didnt cheat on anyone in high school, Roman. We found that out during the game. She didnt fuck Lance Webber... She ate him."
It felt like my entire world came crashing down around me. I stared at the floorboard seams as realizations hit me like physical blows.
"Thats why she left," I whispered to myself.
"I dont know that she wont hurt you, Roman. But I know she loves you enough to fight off her hunger around you all day."
I scrunched my face up, my throat tight. "Thats why shes been avoiding us today?"
The words hurt to speak. Ryan gave a grim nod.
"She binged last night, and shes chasing the high it gave her," he said, speaking as if it were simple, dark fact. "There was no way to stop you from coming out here without revealing everything to Nate and Hollis. Thats why I’ve been so... against this."
I let out a long, shuddering breath. "I cant believe this... Do you think theres a chance she could recover?" I looked up, searching his face.
Ryan just shrugged. "I think its best if we finish up this trip and never see y/n again, Roman."
A heavy silence stretched between us before he stood up.
"Im going down to the fire. You coming?"
I shook my head. "I think I need some time to process this."
Ryan offered a small, sympathetic smile and patted my shoulder once. "Sorry it had to be this way."
He walked out, leaving the door cracked. I sat alone with my thoughts, trying to understand when everything had gotten so fucked up.
After a while, I stood up and stepped into the hallway. Just as I crossed toward my bedroom, y/n appeared at the top of the stairs. Her dark eyes locked onto mine for a split second before she panicked, turning and bolting into her room.
I swallowed hard, staring at her closed wooden door. Before my brain could stop me, I was standing in front of it, knocking softly.
"Come in," her small voice mumbled from inside.
I pushed the door open slowly. My eyes found her face, and everything I had just learned made it impossible to think clearly.
"Hey," I said, my entire frame rigid.
She took a slow step forward, forcing a small, fragile smile. "Hi. Sorry I’ve been weird all day," she said, laughing nervously, almost like she could sense I knew the truth.
Her expression darkened instantly. She took another step toward me, her hands reaching out to rest flat against my shoulders. My heart hammered wildly against my ribs.
"We dont need to talk at all," she whispered.
Before I could draw another breath, her lips crashed into mine.
My eyes fluttered shut, a low groan scraping out of my throat. My mind screamed at me to put an end to it before it went too far, but the instinct didn't win.
Seconds later, I was pressing her back against the frame of her bed, lifting her up, her legs wrapping tight around my hips as I grounded myself against her. She let out a loud, desperate whine, sounding starved for me. It made me feel sick—but fuck, it turned me on.
We tore through our clothes until we were completely bare. She rolled herself over, taking control, hovering on top of me before sinking down onto my length. I cursed out loud, and she gasped as she began riding me, her movements fast and frantic. I shuddered, my skin sizzling at the feeling of her wrapped completely around me.
My hands dug hard into her thighs as she moaned into the quiet room. She collapsed against my chest, and I began thrusting upward to meet her. She cried out into the crook of my neck, her tongue licking and sucking at my skin.
My breathing turned ragged. I reached up, grabbing her jaw to force her to look at me.
"I know what you are," I bit out.
She whimpered, her dark eyes instantly brimming with tears. "He told you... I knew he would." Her skin was burning hot, her gaze filled with an terrifying blend of hunger and sorrow. "I didnt want you to find out, Roman."
She began to sob, her chest heaving. "I love you."
I squeezed my eyes shut, my hips still pistoning helplessly up into her. "I loved you. Back before you left me. All I wanted was you," I spat out. "I thought I'd have that chance again, but no... You ran away because you were a monster."
Tears spilled over her lashes, dropping onto my bare chest. "Dont say that! Im not a monster! I cant help it!"
"I know you cant," I choked out, tears pricking my own eyes now. "I dont wanna live like this, y/n."
"What do you mean?" Her hands tangled tight in my hair.
"This... this thing kept us apart back then. It tore you away from me, and its about to tear us apart again."
She closed her eyes, weeping softly. I tightened my grip on her face. "Look at me."
Her eyes shot open at the intensity in my voice.
"Dont let it," I commanded softly.
"Im just gonna end up hurting you," she whimpered, her body clenching tightly around mine. "I cant fight this hunger, Roman. I just wanted a week to make it up to you."
"No," I said, shaking my head. "I won't do it anymore. I won't go through that pain again. If you love me... don't put me through the pain of losing you again."
Her hands framed my face, pressing her wet forehead flat against mine. "I dont know what to do," she sobbed.
I gasped as she tightened around me, the friction almost unbearable.
"I want you to feed," I told her.
She tried to pull her face back, but I didn't let her go far. I sat up, pulling her close, driving into her harder now.
"I—fuck! I won't feed on you, Roman! I don't want to lose you!"
"You're going to lose me one way or another," I choked out, my voice raw. "I'd rather feel you rip my body to shreds than live the rest of my life missing you."
More tears fell down her cheeks. I leaned in, kissing the salt off her skin before finding her lips again. We were both shaking, the build-up toward release hitting hard and fast.
"Tell me you'll do it. Show me you love me and do this for me."
I sounded insane—I knew it. But with her, insanity felt like the only truth left.
"Tell me, y/n!" I yelled, my hands digging deep into her waist.
She let out a wrecked cry. "Okay! I'll do it, Roman!"
She sniffled, and a ragged moan broke from my lips as we both tumbled over the edge together.
Slowly, I fell back against the mattress, pulling her small, trembling body flush against mine. She rested her chin on my chest, her face inches from mine.
"I love you, y/n," I whispered into the quiet room. "I want to be a part of you forever."
She gave a small nod, her eyes reflecting a terrifying mix of primal hunger and unbearable grief.
"Once you're done... I need you to run," I murmured. "And don't stop until you're three towns over."
She sniffled, giving a single nod. "I love you, Roman. This will only hurt a bit."
She pressed one final, tender kiss to my lips. Then, her head slid down to the crook of my neck. I felt her breath hot against my collarbone, smelling my skin, before my hand moved to cradle the back of her head.
A second later, her teeth clamped down violently into my flesh, tearing it open.
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a/n: this is my first time writing something like this so chill on me, i'm not in love with it but i hope you enjoyed!! :)
