star's words

Abigail:

Outside, snow was falling, effectively turning Pelican Town into a winter wonderland. Quiet music played in the background, barely hiding the squeeking metal of David's hamster wheel. Abigail was sat in the floor, controller in hand as she focused on the tv, still trying to beat Journey of the Prairie King. You were sat beside her with your own controller, trying to help her out. So far, it wasn't going to plan and as you played your sixth round, you were beginning to think that the game would never be beat. Abigail groaned in frustration as her character died once more, leaving you to fend for yourself.

"This is impossible! I hate this game.. how on earth is anyone supposed to beat this?!" You couldn't help but smile, biting back the laugh that threatened to escape you, glancing over to the purple haired girl. Her face was scrunched up in annoyance, eyes set on the pixelated screen. The sound of your character dying brought your attention back to the screen, making you sigh.

"One more round? I have a good feeling about this one." Abigail's eyes were bright, spirit somehow lifted once more as she gripped her controller, already starting up a new round.

"You've said that before every round... you know that, right?"

"Well, this time I mean it." She motioned to the tv, where the level was starting. "Come on!"

With two lives down and tensions heightening, you and Abigail played better than you had all morning, nearing the end of the game.

“Almost.... we're nearly there..."

A beat of silence seemed to consume the room as the level ended, congratulating the two of you for beating it. You and Abigail turned to each other, slow smiles growing on your faces before Abigail was jumping up, throwing her controller aside as she cheered, practically running around her room in excitement. "Finally!!!!"

You laughed, watching her from the floor as she jumped up and down, suddenly stopping and turning to you as if just now remembering you were here.

"Y/n!!! Thank you!!" She rushed to you, throwing herself on you in a hug, nearly knocking you back. "I cannot tell you how happy I am to finally beat that stupid game!" She reared back, excitement taking over as she grabbed your face, slamming her lips down onto your own. You felt yourself freeze, unable to react. Abigail pulled back, shock and panic on her own face as she realized what she had done.

"Oh Yoba.." She moved away from you, still kneeling in front of you as she hid her face into her hands. "Y/n, I am so, so, so, so sorry!! I don't know what came over me!" You blinked, laughing slightly as you reached for her wrists, revealing the deep blush on her cheeks. She kept her eyes closed tightly, apologies still spewing from her lips as you pulled her closer. It wasn't until your lips met hers that she stopped apologizing, immediately kissing you back.

When she pulled away, a triumphant smile on her face as she said, "I think this is turning out to be the best day of my life." You couldn't help but laugh and say, "Why? Because you beat the game or because we kissed?" She gave you a look, leaning in again to kiss you, hovering over your lips for a moment. "Both, duh." Before you could laugh, her lips met yours once more in a kiss that was far from the last you'd share.

Emily:

The scent of Sweet Pea's and an underlying hint of rain greeted you as you walked out of the Mines. Your backpack was heavy, weighing you down slightly as you walked through the mountains. Your muscles were aching and a cut on your thigh was bleeding a bit too heavily, running down your leg and ruining your sock. Still, you walked with a smile on your face, finding it hard for anything to dampen your mood

You had been down in the Mines all day, on the hunt for a Ruby. Emily had mentioned wanting one the other night and that was enough to send you down in search of one. It was growing late into the evening, the hot summer temperatures dropping, an almost cold breeze blowing through the trees in anticipation of the distant storm. The sky was growing dark, deep purple clouds blowing in, slowly overtaking the pink and orange hues of the sunset. You could hear the frogs croaking in the lake as you passed, could smell the faint smoke of Sebastian's cigarette as he crouched down near the water.

You waved to him as you passed, not bothering to stop for a chat as you made your way down to the town, excited to see the blue haired girl that had caught your attention from the very first day you moved to the valley 2 years ago. You were just passing Pierre's General Store when a flash of blue caught your eye. Emily was leaving the Saloon, laughing loudly as she walked alongside Marnie. It was still early, you hadn't expected her to be leaving the bar so soon, but you felt your smile grow as you called out to her.

Emily paused, turning around to find you. She smiled at first, but as her eyes trailed down to your bloody leg, you could see her already pale face whiten. She said something to Marnie, quickly excusing herself as she ran to you. "Y/n!! Are you alight?" You glanced at your leg barely noticing the sting now. "Hmm? Oh fine, don't worry about that. Are you done with work already?" She looked a bit exasperated at your nonchalance, but it wasn't hard to miss that it was easing her anxiety. "Um..yeah. Gus let me go early cause of the upcoming storm. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Just a scratch, Em." She hummed, shaking her head and grabbing your arm as if deciding something. "Come with me, I'll get you cleaned up. " You let her pull you to her house, watching the side of her face as you went. When you reached the house, you were met with silence.

Emily pulled you along to the kitchen, finally letting go as she pointed to the dining room chair. "Sit." You did as she said, eyes following her as she searched under the sink for a first aid kit.

As she cleaned up the blood, she glanced up at you, a slight scowl on her face. "How did you manage to get this 'scratch', hmm?" "I was in the Mines, tripped over a rock as I was trying to dodge a Slime." Her eyes widened slightly, making you chuckle. "It's okay, could've been worse."

"Why were you down there in the first place? I thought you said you were gonna wait until Winter to go back." "I did, but something came up." "What's that?" "I'll show you in a sec." She hummed, going back to her work as she cleaned up the wound. The cut had went a bit deeper than you originally thought, hence the blood, but as Emily decided that it wouldn't need stitches, she put some ointment over it and finished off with a bandage.

As she walked to the sink, turning her back to you as she washed her hands, you grabbed your backpack. Emily was turning back to you as you pulled out a cloth, catching her attention. "Is that what you went back down for?" You nodded, slowly unfolding the cloth to reveal the shining Ruby. Emily gasped, dropping down into the chair next to yours, her eyes never leaving the gem. "Is that...oh Y/n, you didn't. You went down there for me?" You smiled, extending your hand for her to take the Ruby as you said, "Of course."

Emily leaned forward slightly, resting her hand overtop of the gem, but not taking it from your hand as she rested her forehead against your own. "I can't believe you...you risked getting hurt just because I wanted a Ruby?" You chuckled, your fingers dancing up against her wrist. "Well, you said you wanted one.." She scoffed, shaking her head, keeping her head pressed against yours. "You're insane, you know that?" You pushed your hand up, forcing the gem further into her hand. "Take it." She did so, pulling back slightly as she looked down at it. "It's beautiful. I hate that you got hurt because of me."

You shook your head, leaning down and forcing her to catch your gaze once more. "You didn't ask me to go down there. I made that decision myself, it's my responsibility." A shy smile appeared on her face as she set the Ruby down on the table. "Still...I don't like seeing you hurt. You mean a lot to me, Farmer." Your smile widened, feeling emboldened enough to lean forward, but stopping far enough away to allow her to take that next step.

Emily leaned forwards, not hesitating to press her lips onto yours, hands finding their way to your neck. You leaned closer, hand resting on her knee as the other reached up, cupping her cheek. You found yourselves getting lost in the kiss, only pulling away out of surprise when an annoyed voice exploded in the silence of the kitchen. "Uh ew... your room is right there, Emily." Your eyes flicked over to Haley, who was reaching into the fridge for a drink. "Sorry Haley...I thought you were out." The golden haired sister turned, eyes falling to you as she said, "Clearly." As she walked away, her voice called out one more time, "it's about time, by the way!!"

Haley:

The rippling sound of the developing solution was all that could be heard in the dark room as Haley developed her latest photos. Your shoulders brushed against the girl next to you, the cramped closet leaving little room to move around. You watched with undivided attention, a sense of pride warming your chest over the knowledge that Haley had never brought another person into her dark room, not even her sister. You knew this process was special to her, that her photography was something she was very proud of.

You looked to the photos hanging above you, various subjects littered throughout. The newest additions she was adding featured your farm, with you as the main focus in more than a few of them. Haley was moving with practiced precision, in her own world as the pictures came into view. You wouldn't be surprised if she had forgotten you were here at all. You watched in silence, eyes trailing to her face more than once. You had never seen her so at peace, almost as if a mask was removed and her guard was entirely let down.

She clipped another photo onto the drying line, taking a moment to admire it with a small smile on her face. You watched her face harden slightly, expression unreadable as she turned to you, eyebrow raising in the process. "You're staring, you know that?" You smiled, shrugging slightly. "I'm just admiring, you seem to be in your element here." Haley's shoulders eased slightly, biting her lip as she failed to stop the smile that tugged at them. "I am, nothing makes me happier than photography."

She turned back to the task, dipping another photo as you leaned forward slightly. "How did you get into it anyway?" For a moment, Haley didn't speak, focusing on what she was doing.

You thought maybe she wouldn't answer at all, when she suddenly glanced back to you, only meeting your eyes for a brief moment. "My parents have always traveled around, mostly just leaving me and Emily to our own devices. It got lonely sometimes... and you know me and Emily aren't the closest, I guess that's mostly my fault. We're just so different, you know? I guess it was easier for me to just push her away. I mean, mom and dad were never around and I guess I was just worried that one day she'd leave too so..it was just easier to keep my distance."

She sighed, moving her head forward a bit so her hair would fall, covering more of her face. "I found this camera in my parents closet.... thought I'd try it out. I realized how much it comforted me...being able to capture something in the moment. It allows me to keep things close... freeze moments in time so they'd never end." You turned once more, looking at the pictures around the small room, spotting ones of various townspeople, Marnie's cows, a bunny hiding in a bush, multiple snapshots of Emily, and finally, the newest ones of you that had been added to the collection. At your silence, Haley shook her head and muttered out, "I don't know, maybe it's stupid." You turned to her, reaching for her arm. She flinched away, looking to you as you said,

"It's not stupid...I think it's really nice. It's beautifil, actually."

She turned fully to you as you smiled, admiring the photos around you. Haley watched you for a moment, slowly reaching out to place her hand on your jaw. Your eyes found hers immediately, not expecting her to reach for you. You lifted your hand, placing it over her own as you stared at each other, the silence of the space somehow becoming even louder. You felt her pull you closer as she took a small step, an unnecessary movement in the small closet, but a welcomed one nonetheless. She leaned closer to you, foreheads bumping lightly as her nose nudged into yours. In a hushed voice, that would've been missed anywhere else, she said, "Thank you."

You almost pulled away, confusion seeping into your tone as you said, "for what?" A teasing smile pulled at her lips, her other hand finding its way to your cheek. "For being persistent." She pressed a small kiss to your lips, pulling away before you could deepen it. "For continuing to talk to me even when I was being mean to you." Another kiss. "For being one of the only people in this town who have actually tried to get to know me." Another. "For making me want to be a better person." And another. "For not leaving." Her lips fully slotted against yours, hands moving into your hair as your own hands reached for her, deepening the kiss.

She pushed you back slightly, your back bumping against the door. The kiss grew hurried, almost desperate, as if unspoken words were being passed between the two of you. When Haley pulled away, and harsh breaths replaced the once silent room, you couldn't help but laugh. Haley raised her eyebrow, her lips twitching upwards as she said, "what's so funny?"

"Nothing, I just, I didn't think you liked me back." She smiled, leaning in to kiss you once more, a few pecks following as she pulled away. "I liked you from the moment you moved to this old town....you somehow made everything feel alright again, for the first time in a long time." You smiled, wrapping your arms around her instead, pulling her into a hug. After a moment. Haley pulled back, a mischievious look on her face as she said, "I think I know what I want my next photography session to be." Her lips finding yours once more as her hand pressed against the light switch, turning off the red light and bathing the two of you in darkness.

Leah:

Rain was tapping against the roof of the small cottage, the fireplace lit and casting a warm orange glow onto the living room floor. You and Leah were sat on the floor at her coffee table, an array of art supplies strewn about the room. She had suggested a paint night for your 3rd date, which you had gladly accepted. Music was flowing softly throughout the room as the two of you laughed, talking about anything and everything you could think of.

Since coming to the valley a year ago, you and Leah had only grown closer and closer. When you finally built up the courage to gift her a bouquet, she had accepted it with a loud laugh, pulling out a bouquet of her own that was meant for you. Ever since then, you two seemed to be inseparable, spending every chance you could together. Now, as thunder rumbled in the distance, and a blanket wrapped around your shoulders, you studied Leah's face, glancing down at the canvas where you were failing miserably to capture her features. You watched as she painted with ease, clearly in her element as her eyes flicked to you every once in a while.

"Are you going to break up with me once you realize that I can't paint to save my life?" You cringed at the painting, all the colors melting together in a shapeless blob. Leah laughed, shaking her head as she dipped her paintbrush once more. "Course not! Besides, I'm sure it looks great, honey." Your chest warmed at the pet name, smiling as you looked back to the canvas. "I think a raccoon could've done a better job than me. This looks nothing like you." Leah's smile deepened, eyes finding your dejected figure as you slumped slightly. "Art is subjective anyway." You looked to her, disbelief on your face as she laughed. "I'm done with mine, you?"

The two of you moved to the side of the coffee table, sitting closer as you held your canvases away from each other. Leah's toothy grin made your stomach swim in butterflies as you looked back down to the monstrosity you had created. "Who's first?" You sighed looking at her, “I’ll go...it's better to get the disappointment out of the way." Leah gave you a pointed look, shaking her head as you turned the canvas towards her. You watched her eyes fall down to it, smile brightening as her eyes widened. "Oh wow... honey that sure is something." You groaned, setting the canvas aside as you fell back, ignoring Leah's laugh as she placed her hand on your knee.

"I told you it was awful!!" She laughed harder, making you smile, laughing along with her as you sat up. 'It is not! I just... well I wasn't expecting that." You nudged her with your foot, pushing the canvas even farther away from the two of you. "Oh whatever! Well come on, let's see your masterpiece." She huffed, ears turning red as she said, "it's hardly a masterpiece... but I suppose next to yours, anything would be." She laughed as your jaw fell open, a smile on your face nonetheless. "You're mean!" She reached forward, grabbing your hand in apology before turning her own canvas. You weren't surprised to see the beautiful painting before you, but you smiled as you took it from her, admiring how she painted you.

"Leah... this is beautiful." "Well, I had a beautiful model" You poked at her again, face scrunching as you said, 'cheesy." She laughed, scooting closer until your shoulders pressed together, admiring the painting. "This was a fun date though, right? Even if your painting didn't come out exactly as you wanted?" You nodded, placing her canvas down on the table with care.

"It was... thank you for putting it together." You placed your head onto her shoulder as she smiled, leaning her head against yours. "Maybe I could teach a few things, if you want?" 'I'd like that."

The two of you sat in silence, listening to the mix of music and rain, the fire crackling in the fireplace. It was cozy and warm, a moment you wanted to live in forever. At the sound of a loud clap of thunder, you sat up, pulling away from Leah. Your mind wandered back to the farm for a moment, wondering how your chickens were doing in their coop, knowing they weren't the biggest fans of storms like these. Before your mind could drift too far, a warm hand gently pulling at your cheek caught your attention, your eyes falling back to Leah. She smiled at you, features soft in the warm light. "Where did you go just now?" "Just thinking... my chickens don't like thunder." A soft chuckle left Leah's lips as she rested her forehead on yours. "Ahh, I see. Do you want to go check on them?" You thought for a moment, finding it hard to move away.

"No, they'll be okay, it's not too bad." She hummed, face tilting closer to yours as she muttered, "good." Her lips slotted against yours, fingers tangling in your hair as she deepened the kiss. The storm melted away into the background, your sole focus remaining on the girl before you.

Maru:

A cool breeze blew through the trees, carrying fallen leaves up into the sky and away from where they had previously landed. It was a cold Fall night, the sky clear of any clouds, allowing the stars to be on full display. They twinkled brightly, accompanied by a crescent moon. You were sure that time was ticking past midnight, but it was hard to care as you sat on a quilted blanket, wrapped in another as you watched Maru. She was tinkering with her telescope, adjusting and zooming the lens as she looked for something. Your breath was visible as you let out a yawn, the long day creeping up on you the longer you sat here.

Maru leaned away from her telescope, bright smile on her face as she turned to you. "I found it! Come here, have a look!" You stood from the blanket, keeping the one around your shoulders tightly wound against you as you walked over to her. "What am I looking at?" You leaned against the telescope, a glowing cluster catching your attention immediately. "It's the Orion Nebula! This isn't the strongest telescope, so you can't see it in its full beauty, but it's still magnificent isn't it?!" You smiled at her enthusiasm, nodding in agreement. "It is... wow" You pulled away, looking to Maru. She was looking up at the stars, a smile so wide on her face you were sure her cheeks must be aching

"Anything else you'd like to see?" You thought for a moment before saying, "Saturn?" She smiled, moving to the telescope once more. The two of you stayed there for a bit longer, Maru finding different things within space to show you while you listened to each fact she had to say.

After a bit, you layed on the quilt together, looking up at the different constellations above you.

As you listened to Maru point them out, telling you of the stories and legends that went along with them, you felt your eyes growing heavier and heavier. Fall was always one of your busiest seasons and today had been especially busy. It was the start of Blackberry season, your fingers still stained and sore from all the picking you had done earlier in the day.

Your eyes slowly closed, completely at ease as Maru droned on, unaware of your tired state.

Only a few minutes had passed before Maru realized you were no longer responding. She gently shook you awake, a sheepish look crossing her face as you blinked awake, looking to her.

"Did I doze?" She smiled, nodding as she began to sit up. "I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to keep you out so late. I know you're busy, you've probably had a long day." You shook your head, sitting up as well before standing with her. "It's okay, this was nice...I had a great time." She smiled, bundling up the quilts in her arms. "Good. I'm glad. I, I had a nice time too." You grinned, eyes still heavy with sleep as you turned towards the trail. "Can I...can I walk you back to your farm?" You raised an eyebrow, looking to Maru as her face flushed. You held your tongue, deciding not to tease her as you nodded, reaching backwards for her hand.

She smiled, interlacing her fingers with your own as the two of you made your way down the dirt path to your farm. The two of you walked in silence, listening to the crickets singing within the grass, the distant sound of an owl hooting within the trees. As you reached the porch of the farmhouse, you turned to Maru, thanking her for walking you back to the house. She smiled, other arm full of blankets while she still held onto your hand. "What are your plans for tomorrow?" You thought a moment, glancing down to the planted seeds that had just started to sprout. "Tomorrow should be less chaotic, think it's supposed to rain so. I won't be doing much." Maru nodded, looking down at the porch for a moment. "Mind if I come see you?" You shook your head, hand gripping hers tightly. "Course not."

She smiled, stepping closer to you as she pulled you into a one armed hug. "See you tomorrow then?" You nodded, stopping her from walking away.

You lifted your hand, brushing her hair back behind her ear before cupping her cheek. She stepped closer, head tilting as you kissed her. A dull thump hit your ears, but before you could pull away to question it. Maru's hands reached for you, letting you know she had dropped the quilts. When she pulled away, hesitating to move, you reached down, gathering the blankets. "Would you...want to just spend the night?" Maru smiled, nodding her head before kissing you again, following you inside the farmhouse.

Penny:

Thunder shook the old farmhouse, rain beating against the old wood. It was a crisp Spring day, the rain blowing in early this morning, cutting your duties short. The crops were easily forgotten in the rain, the animals had been fed, and any other work that needed to be done could be left for now. A fire was lit in the fireplace, your cat snoozing on the rug nearby.

The tv in the corner played quietly as you sat on the old beat up sofa, book in hand. With your new occupation of running the farm, you found little time to read nowadays, so rainy days like this were always welcomed.

You could hear the wind whistling outside, trees bowing over with the force. Rain smacked the windows in a loud pitter patter, no doubt coming down harder than before. You were just turning the page when a hurried knock sounded at the front door, catching your attention immediately. Your eyebrows scrunched together as you stood, wondering who would be insane enough to walk all the way out here in this storm. When you pulled open the door, the last person you expected to see was Penny. She was standing beneath the porch roof, arms wrapped around herself as she shivered, soaked to the bone.

"Penny?! What on Earth are you doing out here?" You pulled her inside, shutting the door behind her before quickly running to get her a towel. When you came back, wrapping it around her, she sniffled, grabbing it with shaky hands. "Thank you." Her voice came out small, eyes cast down to the floor. You stared at her a moment, completely perplexed. "Do... do you want to go take a shower? You can borrow some clothes?" She nodded, following you along to the bathroom. You grabbed her some warm clothes to change into, taking her own drenched clothing to throw in the wash. As she took a shower to warm herself up, you sat back on the sofa, book long forgotten as you wondered what could've possibly possessed her to walk through the rain to get here.

After a while, Penny returned to the living room, looking as sad as she did when she got here.

You stood on instinct, meeting her halfway. "Thank you. I feel better." You nodded, looking over her face. Her eyes were red and puffy, no doubt from crying. "Penny... what's going on?" She sighed, eyebrows furrowing together as she sat on the couch. You followed her, taking the seat next to her. "It's my mom. She came home drunk, reeking of beer. I hadn't seen her all morning and I was getting worried, so when she came home I just...I got mad. We got into this huge fight and...she said that if I didn't like it there, that I might as well leave. I know she didn't really mean it...we' ve blown up on each other over way less, but I couldn't stay there. I ran out and... my feet led me here. I'm sorry to just show up unannounced."

"It's okay, you're always welcome here. I'm sorry about your mom." She smiled slightly, meeting your eyes for the first time since she got here. "Thanks. I just don't understand why she can't see where I'm coming from. She's practically killing herself in front of me and then doesn't understand why I'm upset over it. I love her, and even if we don't always get along, she's all I have. I don't want to lose her...she's my mom." You sighed, unsure of what you could say

"Maybe...maybe we could hold an intervention for her? Show her how much this truly means to you. I could help you out...and I know Gus would be up for it."

Penny's eyes watered up once more as she looked to you. "Would you really do that?" You nodded, reaching for her hand. "Of course. I know how much Pam's drinking affects you, how much damage it's causing. Id hate to see anything bad happen when we have the means of at least trying to help her. Obviously I can't promise it'll work... but it's a step in the right direction." Penny nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks as she hugged you, grateful for the suggestion. "Thank you... you have no idea how much that means to me." She pulled back slightly, placing a gentle kiss to your cheek. You turned your head slightly, noses brushing as Penny's breath hitched.

Golden light streamed through your windows, white lace curtains flowing in the breeze. It was early in the morning, birds still happily singing their song just outside the window. You were sat in the floor of your bedroom, back pressed against the side of the bed as you sat with your knees pulled up to your chest, arms wrapped around them.

Mornings like this were normally reserved for peace and quiet, a chance for you to enjoy the stillness of the world before everyone else woke up. That, however, had not been an option since your brother’s best friend moved in. Now, they were sat downstairs, gathered around the kitchen table with all their other friends who had come for a summer visit.

You could hear them through the floors, practically feel the vibrations of their laughter and happiness seeping up through the wood, surrounding you like a cloud. A suffocating one at that. The smell of breakfast was wafting upstairs, making your stomach growl loudly, as if annoyed with your refusal to get up and go downstairs. You knew exactly what would happen when you did, all conversation would cease, being replaced by a tense silence, as if you had come and sucked all the fun and life out of the room.

So, instead, here you sat, waiting for one of the house-elves to bring you your meal. When the knock sounded at the door, you stood, dragging your feet as you walked over, pulling open the door. You were expecting to see Penny on the other side of the door, so when you were met with the sight of Remus instead, you nearly slammed the door shut. He was dressed in clothes that felt incredibly inappropriate in the summer heat, long brown pants and long sleeve shirt.

He offered you a smile, a kind one as he lifted his arm slightly, drawing your eyes to the plate and glass he was holding. “I caught Penny bringing you your breakfast. I hope you don’t mind me bringing it instead.” You blinked up at him, reaching out for the plate. “No…I don’t mind. I just...don’t see why you’d want to.” He stayed outside the door, watching as you turned, placing the plate on your bedside table.

He had been here for 3 days now and had only caught a few glimpses of you since. When you turned back for the glass, he pulled it back slightly, just out of reach. “Can I ask why you eat in here? Why don’t you join the rest of us downstairs?” “Nobody wants me down there.” You grabbed the glass successfully this time, your answer seemingly surprising Remus enough to let his guard down. You thanked him for bringing you your meal, shutting the door before he had the chance to speak again.

It wasn’t until later that night that you saw Remus again. It was late, just past 11:30 when you snuck down, assuming you’d be in the clear. You were walking into the kitchen when you spotted him, standing by the sink as he got himself a glass of water. He turned as you entered the room, eyebrows shooting up for a moment. “Hey…you’re up late.” You nodded, walking straight to the freezer, pulling out the carton of chocolate ice cream. Remus moved around the counter, watching as you grabbed a bowl for yourself. At his staring, you gestured to the cabinet and said, “want a bowl?” “No. Thank you, though.” When you resumed your place on the other side of the counter, Remus spoke once more. “What did you mean earlier?” “What?” “When you said no one wanted you down here. Why did you say that?” “Because it’s true.” “Surely not, afterall, I wanted you down here.” “Why? We’re not friends.” “Well…maybe not but you’re one of my best friends sister so..” “Yeah well, your best friend doesn’t want me down here either.”

The pure confusion on Remus’ face caused you to look away, suddenly feeling very embarrassed. “Why do you think that?” “Are you joking?” “No?” “He doesn’t talk to me, Remus. When he does it always ends in a fight so…what’s the point?” “Your brother loves you.” “Loved. That changed when I was sorted into Slytherin and he became best mates with Sirius Black. Now if you don’t mind.” You moved around him, bowl of ice cream in hand as you retreated back upstairs to the safety of your bedroom.

When the next day came, you stayed in bed, staring up at the ceiling as if it had all the answers to your problems. When a knock sounded at your door, you hesitated, worried that it might be Remus again. You contemplated on just ignoring it, but when they knocked again you sighed, rolling out of bed. When you opened the door, you were ready to tell Remus off, wanting him to leave you alone, but instead, you came face to face with James.

“What?” “Come down to breakfast.” “No” He groaned, rolling his eyes before shaking his head. “Why do you have to be so difficult, Y/n? Just come down.” “Why?” “What?” “Why do you want me to come down? It’s not like you care whether I’m there or not.” “I do care.” “Bullshit. Remus told you to come get me, didn’t he?” “No, but he told me about the conversation you two had last night. Do you really think I don’t love you?” “I know you don’t James, don’t come up here pretending like you do.” “What makes you think I don’t?” “You never talk to me! At school you act like I don’t even exist. Ever since I got sorted into Slytherin, you’ve pulled away from me. You act like I’m some evil monster now.” James opened his mouth to speak, but words failed to come out. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he squeezed his eyes shut. “You’re so dramatic, you know that?” “Go to hell, James.”

You slammed the door shut, locking it before falling back onto your bed, eyes stinging as you fought to keep the tears from falling. The day seemed to last forever as the hours dragged by. You stayed in your room, ignoring every knock and call of your name that came from the other side of the door. You sat underneath your opened window, listening to the rain that had blown in out of nowhere earlier this evening.

As you sat there, you held an old photograph in your hands. It was of you and James, taken right before your first day of Hogwarts. The two of you were so happy, joined at the hip without a care in the world. You thought back to that version of yourself, wondering how she’d feel if you were able to somehow show her how her brother treats her now. Tears fell from your eyes, soaking your shirt as you stared at the picture. You wished more than anything you could go back in time, make the sorting hat place you in Gryffindor, or any other house besides Slytherin. You knew it wouldn’t be true to who you were, but at least that way you’d still have your brother.

You set the picture aside, wiping your eyes and cheeks the best you could before standing. You opened your bedroom door, taking notice of just how quiet the house was. It was late, but not late enough for everyone to be asleep. You knew your parents would be in their bedroom, but normally James and the others would still be downstairs, laughing and making as much noise as possible.

You walked down, keeping your footsteps slow and quiet. When you reached the bottom, quiet voices floated out from the living room, catching your attention. “I just- I don’t know what to do. I mean, I didn’t exactly help my case earlier. Merlin’s beard…I called her dramatic, but everything she said was true.” “You’re an idiot.” “Yes, thank you Moony. I’m well aware.” “Well, Prongs, not everything she said was true” “Yes, it was Sirius. I’ve been horrible to her and I didn’t even realize it.” “You still love her, she got that wrong.” “Can you blame her for not believing that Sirius? It’s not like James has made her feel very loved over the past few years.” “Honestly Moony! Can you be a bit nicer about this, I feel awful enough.” “Fuck off, James. I’m not gonna be nicer just because you feel guilty about being called out for your shitty ass behavior towards your own sister- no, own twin.”

“Since when do you care so much about Y/n’s feelings, Moony? It’s not like you two are friends.” “No, we’re not, but why should that matter? I regret not befriending her…I mean it seems like she could use a friend. Hell it’s summer vacation for Godric’s sake, why is she cooped up in her room when she could be spending time with friends.” “I don’t even know if she has any friends…god what a shitty brother I am.” “Yeah you got me beat there Prongs, I mean I admit I’m not winning any awards for best brother anytime soon, but at least I know who Reggie’s friends are.” “Not helping Pads” “Sorry.”

Remus groaned, tired of listening to the two prattle on. “Just talk to her, James.” “She won’t talk to me, not that I blame her. I mean she won’t even open her door.” “You’ll just have to get her to listen, otherwise you can kiss any chance of fixing your relationship with her goodbye.” “Yeah...yeah okay.”

At the sound of footsteps, your heart began to race, but you stayed put, waiting until James rounded the corner, almost bumping straight into you. “Woah! Oh! Y/n…um...how long have you been there?” “Not long...enough I guess.” “So...you heard us talking?” “Yes.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I really am sorry, Y/n. I..I didn’t mean to be such an ass to you. I guess…I guess I got caught up in everything else and made a new life for myself, but I forgot to bring you into it…and I’m sorry for that.”

You stayed quiet, staring at him as your mind raced, trying to process the words he was saying. “I don’t know if you can forgive me…or if we’ll ever go back to the way we were before but…I’d like to try.” “I need time…I can’t just forgive you...you really hurt me James.” “I know….I understand.” “I want to try though…I really miss you.” He smiled, choking out a laugh as his eyes shined with unshed tears. “I’ve missed you too…more than you know. Can I..?” He reached his arms out, offering a hug.

Without thinking, you stepped closer to him, letting him pull you into a tight hug. More tears left your eyes, the dam breaking as you hugged him back. All those years of pain and loneliness bubbling to the surface as it hit you just how badly you missed him. “I love you, Jamie” You felt him laugh against you, hugging you tighter as he said, “I love you too.” When you pulled away, you wiped your face, James copying your movements. “So does this mean you’ll finally join us for breakfast?” You laughed, making his smile brighten. “I think I can manage that.”

Outside, the sky was dark, a shimmering sea of stars. It was late, just ticking over to 2am when a knock sounded at the farmhouse door. You had been awake, cuddled up in your bed with a book and a restless mind. As the knock echoed throughout the cabin, you sat up slightly, clutching the book to your chest. At the foot of your bed, your cat was standing on all fours, back arched as its fur began to stick up. It was your second year in the valley, you had always felt safe here, even going as far as falling asleep with your door unlocked most nights. You knew, somewhere in the deep recesses of your mind, that it was most likely one of the villagers, but that knowledge did nothing to quell the fear bubbling in your chest.

When another knock sounded throughout the house, you jumped slightly as your cat took off running, hiding beneath the bed, leaving you to deal with the visitor on your own. Slowly, you stood from the bed, leaving your book behind as you tip-toed through the room, grabbing your sword on the way out. You gripped the hilt of it tightly in your hands, ready to defend yourself if needed. With shaky hands you reached out, turning the knob of your front door. Before you had fully opened the door, a mess of blonde hair poked its way through, wide blue eyes meeting your own.

“Finally! Do you have any idea how scary it is out there?” Sam pushed his way through, immediately closing the door behind himself. As he turned to you, the wide smile on his face fell, taking in the sight of you standing there gripping your sword. “What’s that for? Were you planning on stabbing me?”

“What the hell, Sam? What are you doing here so late? You scared the shit out of me!” He chuckled, grabbing your arms briefly as he leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “Sorry, honey. Couldn’t sleep in my bed, missed you.” You sighed, leaning your sword against the wall and followed Sam as he made his way to your bedroom. “You could’ve called first, give me a heads up.” He smiled, turning to you as he made himself comfortable, crawling into his self-proclaimed side of the bed. “I thought about it, but I thought it would be more fun to be spontaneous and just show up.” “Any other time, yes. In the middle of the night? No.” “I’ll keep that in mind.”

At the sound of a familiar voice, your cat reappeared from its hiding place, immediately making itself comfy in Sam’s lap. You admired the sight for a moment, sighing slightly before joining them, climbing back underneath the covers. “What were you still doing up?” “I couldn’t sleep either.” Sam hummed, wrapping his arms around you as he pulled you closer. “Well, we can’t have that can we?” You hummed, closing your eyes as you got comfy, leaning your head against his chest. “Sammy?” “Yeah?” “I like when you spend the night.” “Oh yeah?” “Yeah..” He smiled, pressing a kiss to your temple as sleepiness finally seemed to take over you. “I like it too…maybe I should do it more often, hm?” You nodded, not really listening to him anymore as you fell asleep in his arms. Sam chuckled, pulling the covers up around you. “Goodnight, honey.”

Alex:

The summer sun had been blistering lately, making it nearly impossible to get much work done. You were having a hard time finding the perfect balance in continuing your work that needed to be done in one of your busiest seasons, while also doing it safely. You had learnt that lesson in your first year on the farm, pushing yourself too much in the summer sun that it had led to a pretty mild case of sun stroke.

Which is how you found yourself here, on the beach, sitting close enough to the shore that the waves rushed up to cool down your legs each time they crashed back against the sand. With an ice cream cone in your hand and Alex by your side, it was hard finding any fault in the day. You had finished most of your work early this morning, before the sun had the chance to really heat up the valley. Any small jobs that remained could wait for this evening, when it started to cool down once again. You smiled as you looked out over the sea, the ice cream slowly beginning to melt down your fingers. When you brought the cone up to your mouth once more, licking away the melted ice cream, you heard Alex chuckle beside you, making you turn your head. “What?” He smiled, shifting his own cone to his other hand as he brought his hand up to your face, wiping away the ice cream smudged on your chin. “Got a little something there” You smiled, immediately bringing your hand up to wipe your mouth, making sure it was all gone. “Thanks..”

When you first met Alex, you didn’t think much of him, saying a polite hello anytime you saw him, but otherwise minding your business. Things had changed this past winter, when you actually started to get to know him a bit better. Now, as you sat together with your toes in the sand, you wondered how you ever ignored him in the first place. The two of you had been getting closer, eventually leading Alex to asking you out, which you happily said yes to. You had been on a few dates now, but he had yet to kiss you. You were beginning to wonder if you would have to make the first move, since Alex seemed content enough with the hugs he always left you with.

You finished your ice cream, using the salty water to get rid of the stickiness you felt on your hands before turning to Alex. “Thank you for coming to spend the day with me.” He smiled, looking to you, “Of course, thank you for asking me.” You scooted closer to him, hugging his arm as you placed your head on his shoulder. When Alex rested his own head atop of yours, you thought for a moment, trying to pluck up enough courage to ask him the question that’s been wracking your brain since that first night he told you he liked you.

In a quiet voice, you finally managed to ask, “Alex?” “Hmm?” “How come...how come you haven’t kissed me yet?” You felt him tense beside you before he lifted his head, making you do the same. When you looked to him, he smiled, reaching his hand out to cup your jaw. Your head rested against his palm as his thumb caressed your cheek. “Is that what you’ve been thinking about all this time?” “Maybe..” He chuckled, eyes twinkling as he looked at you. “I was trying to be a gentleman...I didn’t want to rush you or anything.” “You’re not rushing me” “No?” You smiled, shaking your head slightly.

His eyes trailed over your face for a moment, drinking in how you looked in this moment before leaning in, pressing his forehead against your own. You closed your eyes, leaning in slightly before Alex pressed his lips to yours. He kissed you gently, fingers making their way down to hold the back of your neck as he deepened the kiss. When you pulled away, a smile immediately made its way onto your face, you fell forward, leaning against his shoulder once more. “Was that okay?” You couldn’t help but laugh, nodding your head as you looked at him. “I’d say it was more than okay” “Good, cause I want to do it again.”

Elliot:

As Fall arrived, the Valley transformed overnight. Trees were changing colors, a chill had entered the air, and a new season of crops had been planted for the Autumn Harvest. It had been a pretty chill day, with not much to do once the animals were taken care of. The crops were watered and growing, nothing on the farm needed repaired, and any fishing that needed to be done had been finished earlier in the season. Today was a rare occasion, a -mostly- free day, giving you the opportunity to venture down to the library.

When you walked in, Gunther looked up expectantly, seeing as the only time you really got to come in here was for donations. “Nothing today, Gunther.” “Oh no? Are you here for the books then?” “Sure am. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to come here for a book.” He smiled, gesturing over to the many shelves, “well, help yourself Farmer” “Thank you” You walked further in, perusing the aisles until you reached the Romance section, where you found a familiar figure sitting on the floor.

Elliot was sat leaning against the wall, his legs stretched out and crossed in front of him as he held a book in his hands, completely immersed in whatever he was reading. You walked over, stopping next to him with a small smile on your face. When he failed to notice you, you nudged his thigh with your foot. His head snapped up, a smile immediately gracing his face at the sight of you. “Darling! I’m sorry I didn’t notice you.” He stood, closing his book as he leaned down, pressing a kiss to your cheek. “What brings you to the library on this fine day?”

“I don’t have any work to do, so I thought I’d come pick out some books to keep me busy until it’s time to harvest.” “Any idea of what kind of books you’re looking for?” “Not really, would you like to give me some recommendations?” “Oh I’d love to, darling. Here, follow me.”

You walked with Elliot as he moved along the aisles, picking out books he thought you’d like. Once he had a stack in his arms, nearly towering over his head, you stopped him. “I think that’s good, Elliot” “You sure?” You chuckled, nodding your head. “Okay, I’ll carry them for you, just lead the way.” You smiled, walking up to the counter so you could check out the books. Once Gunther finished, Elliot scooped the books back into his arms, ready to follow you back to the farm. “I can carry them back Elliot, it’s no big deal.” “I know you can, darling, but that doesn’t mean you should. I’m perfectly happy to carry them for you.”

You smiled, shaking your head, but otherwise letting him be as the two of you walked back to the farm. “Do you have any plans for today, Elliot?” “I don’t think so, I was just planning on reading my book.” “Would you like to read with me?” He smiled, looking over at you, “Oh I’d love to” “Great! I can put on some tea when we get to the farmhouse.” “That sounds lovely, dear.”

When you reached the farm, you went to work in the kitchen, putting the kettle on as Elliot placed the stack of books on the dining table. Once the two of you were settled on the couch, bundled up underneath a shared blanket with your own books, you suddenly found your focus somewhere else. As Elliot settled back in with his own book, you looked at him, admiring him as his eyes scanned across the pages. You watched as he smiled, eyes lifting slightly to meet your own. “You’re staring, darling.” “I was just thinking…” “Oh? About what?” “Kissing you.”

It wasn’t hard to miss the surprise on his face, making you laugh. “Sorry...I just..” “Don’t apologize, lovely. I’d like to kiss you as well.” “Oh yeah?” Instead of answering, he moved his book aside and moved closer to you. He grabbed your chin, bringing you closer before his lips pressed against yours. They moved slowly against your own, but as you moved closer, desperately trying to deepen the kiss, Elliot grabbed your hips, pulling you onto his lap. His kisses were growing hungrier, his tongue darting out to swipe against your bottom lip when the shrill whistle of the kettle filled the small farmhouse.

You jumped away, bumping your head against Elliot’s out of surprise. You scrambled up, rushing to the kitchen to move the kettle off the heat. You couldn’t help but laugh as Elliot joined you, rubbing his forehead. “Well, that certainly killed the mood.” Once you set the kettle back down, Elliot appeared at your side, hands coming up to cup your cheeks. He kissed your forehead, right where you had bumped it into his. “Are you okay?” You smiled, reaching up to hold onto his wrists. “I'm okay…just a bump” He nodded, leaning down to kiss you once more, leaving the kettle forgotten on the counter.

Harvey:

Your head felt dizzy as you sat in the clinic. The overhead lights were burning your eyes as a strong smell of antiseptic filled your nose. The overwhelming sense of cleanliness was making you nauseous as the paper-covered medical bed crinkled beneath you. It was all a bit overwhelming, but nothing was making your heart race as fast as the man who sat before you.

You had been up in the mines, desperately needing to replenish your stack of coal when you had run into some particularly feisty slimes. It hadn’t been that bad, seeing as you only left with a scraped up knee, but when you passed Harvey in the town square while on his way to the Saloon for the night and he noticed your blood soaked pants, he had ushered you into the clinic right away. Now, he was sitting in front of you, your pants leg cut open to reveal your knee as he tried to stop the bleeding.

You were watching him, taking in the unease on his face. By the looks of him, one would think you had come in with your leg about to fall off completely, instead of a few cuts. His hands were shaking slightly as he cleaned the wound, not bothering to speak since he knew his voice would only shake. Finally, you licked your lips, suddenly feeling as though your mouth had dried up completely. “Harvey” He looked to you immediately, eyes searching your own for any discomfort. “It’s just a few scratches…I’m fine. You don’t have to look so worried.”

He shook his head, going back to cleaning. For a moment you thought he wouldn’t speak at all, until he took a shaky breath, placing the bandage on your knee. “I don’t like when you go down there.” “Harvey-” “I know. I know you have to….but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. It may have just been a few scrapes this time, but what if next time it’s worse? What if you can’t make it back out?” You smiled, reaching out to cup his face. His eyes closed as he sighed, lifting his own hand to place over yours. “I’m okay…you don’t have to worry.”

Harvey gripped your hand slightly, pressing a kiss to your palm before looking back to your bandaged knee. “You make it very hard not to. Just...promise me to take it easy for a few days. No more mines for a bit.” “Okay, I promise.” He stood, moving closer to stand between your legs. “I’m sorry about your pants.” You laughed, looking down at the blood soaked material. “It’s okay…I’ll try to get the blood out, see if Emily will sew them back up for me.” “Well, if that doesn’t work, let me know. I’ll buy you some new ones”

You shook your head, wrapping your arms around his neck. “You don’t have to do that….but if you want to make it up to me…I’d really like a kiss” You smiled, watching as Harvey’s face turned beet red. Your fingers made their way into the ends of his hair, lightly pulling at them in an attempt to calm him down. “Are you sure?” “Mhm” Harvey’s hands made their way to your waist, trembling slightly as he leaned forwards, resting his forehead on yours for a moment. You leaned up, pressing your lips to his, knowing he wouldn’t do it himself. You felt his grip tighten as you kissed him, the pain in your knee and the tremble in his hands fading away.

Sam:

A summer storm had blown in, ridding you of all your afternoon plans. Outside, the rain was coming down harshly, thunder and lightning accompanying it as you found yourself stuck inside of Sam’s house with him, Jodi, and Vincent.

You had stopped by to bring Jodi a fresh melon when the storm blew in. You couldn’t find it in yourself to be too upset, after all, you were stuck with one of your favorite people in the valley. After spending a bit of time out in the living room with his family, Sam and you gradually made your way to his bedroom, where you were now sat on his bed, video game controller in hand.

You were failing miserably, not really paying attention to the game as Sam sat beside you, leg pressed against your own as he focused on the game. You looked at him out of the corner of your eye, watching the pure concentration on his face. He laughed, shaking his head as he said, “Are you even trying?” You looked back at the screen, noticing your character was no longer moving.

“Sammy?” He glanced at you, keeping his attention on the screen until he realized you wanted him to look at you. He paused the game, fully turning to you. You and Sam weren’t dating, you weren’t sure if he even liked you in that way, but you had been dying to kiss him for months now. “What is it?” His eyes were trailing all over your face, pausing multiple times on your lips. You leaned forwards, lifting your hand to the back of his neck. “Sam...I really want to kiss you.” A smile split across his face, so wide you were sure his cheeks must be aching. “You don’t have to tell me twice, baby.”

He moved forward, hands finding your hips as he kissed you, pressing you further into his bed. His hands moved up, resting on your upper back as he bit at your lips, kissing you like it was the only thing keeping him alive. Your hands moved up, fingers finding their way into his hair, pulling at the blonde streaks. Sam pulled back slightly, kissing his way down your jaw when thunder shook the house, causing the both of you to flinch as Vincent screamed from the living room. “Yoba…that was hot”

You laughed, pushing him off you as you sat back up. Sam smiled, a lovesick look on his face as he pulled you close once more, kissing you again as he mumbled, “you have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to do that” against your lips. “Guess we’ll have to make up for lost time.”

Sebastian:

The clock was ticking over to midnight as you tossed and turned in your bed, a sheen of sweat covering your body. On the hottest night of the season, your air conditioning had died, leaving you in a farmhouse that seemed to be getting hotter by the second.

Finally, you groaned, getting out of bed as your feet led you out to the front porch. The night air seemed considerably less stuffy than your farmhouse, making you sigh in relief as you closed your eyes, lifting your head up towards the sky. The sky was clear as the full moon illuminated the farm, the stars twinkling brightly. You walked back into the old cabin briefly, slipping on a pair of sandals before heading out, going for a walk to clear your mind.

Your feet led you down to the beach and as you reached the pier, you spotted a familiar figure sitting at the very edge. You couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across your face as you walked down to him. At the sound of your footsteps against the wooden dock, Sebastian turned, smiling as he saw you. “Hey..” He scooted over, making room for you to sit beside him. “What are you doing down here this late?”

You sat beside him, legs dangling over the side. “My a/c broke….it’s too hot to sleep” He frowned slightly, nudging his arm against yours. “Sorry..” You smiled, shaking your head. “Nah..it’s alright. Besides…it gives me the opportunity to enjoy the stars for once.” He hummed, looking up at the night sky. Astronomy had always been more of Maru’s forte, but Sebastian couldn’t deny the beauty of it before him.

“What are you doing down here?” He looked back to you, taking in how your eyes twinkled. “I couldn’t sleep…my brain wouldn’t quiet down.” “How come?” He shrugged, looking back out at the dark waves. “Too many things to worry about I guess. I have a deadline coming up that I’m worried I’m not going to meet. Demetrius is still bugging me about finding a ‘real’ job. Mom thinks I need to get out more, and...I don’t know, it’s just a lot right now.” “I’m sorry, Seb.” He smiled slightly, reaching out for your hand. You and Sebastian had been dating for a little under a month now, but he still found it hard to initiate anything with you. It was moments like these, when he could reach for you so casually that you felt your heart begin to race.

You squeezed his hand slightly, moving closer to him as you hugged his arm with your other hand, leaning your head on his shoulder. “You know, you can always come hang out at my place…to work or...just get away from everyone. You’re always welcome there. I mean, ideally I’ll have working a/c but…” He chuckled, rubbing the back of your hand with his thumb. “I’ll tell my mom about it in the morning, maybe she can stop by and take a look.” “Thank you” He hummed, saying nothing more as the two of you sat there in silence.

You stayed that way for another hour, yawning more and more as you grew sleepier. “Do you want to come sleep in my room?” You blinked, lifting your head to look at Sebastian, trying to figure out if you had heard him correctly. “I don’t want you to go back to the farmhouse if it’s too hot. You’ll never get any sleep.” You nodded, smiling slightly. “Let’s go, before you fall asleep” “I wont” He smiled down at you as the both of you stood, grabbing your hand once more. “I don’t believe you…you look dead on your feet right now.” “How charming” He laughed, making your smile deepen as the two of you trudged back up towards his house.

When you finally reached Sebastian’s room, you took a seat on his couch, watching him for a moment. He turned back to you, raising an eyebrow. “What are you doing over there?” You shrugged, rubbing your eyes as you spoke, “I didn’t know if you felt comfortable sharing a bed with me or not” He smiled, walking over to grab your hand. “I'm not making you sleep on the couch, c’mon” He led you to the bed, letting you crawl in close to the wall before joining you. As Sebastian laid on his back, you rolled over, hiding your surprise as he pulled you into his chest.

As you lifted your head to look at him, one of his hands came up to brush the hair out of your face. “Thank you for being so patient with me…I know it’s probably not easy” You shook your head, smiling down at him. “You don’t have to thank me. I really like you, Sebastian.” He smiled, letting his hand fall down to your cheek, holding you there. “Y/n…I really want to kiss you.” “Yeah?” “Yeah.” You smiled, shuffling up closer to him before resting your hand on his chest. You leaned down, hovering slightly, waiting to see if Sebastian would change his mind. Instead, his hand moved to the back of your head, pulling you down to him. He rolled you over, pinning you below him as he kissed you. You couldn’t help but moan, surprised at just how fast Sebastian could switch up his confidence level. He pulled away slightly, keeping his nose pressed against yours as he pecked your lips a few more times before pulling away. “Was that okay?” You smiled, chuckling as you looked at him. “I think you’re going to be the death of me, Seb” He smiled, kissing you once more before lying down, pulling you into him. “Go to sleep you weirdo.”

Shane:

Snow was coming down quickly as you made your way down to Marnie’s Ranch, praying silently that she was home. The forest was quiet, save for the crunch of snow beneath your boots and the swish-swish of your winter clothing. When you finally reached the Ranch, you kicked the snow off your boots, wiping them as best you could before making your way inside.

As the heat enveloped you, you felt your heart drop to your stomach as you took note of the empty counter. “Hello?! Anyone home?”

Silence met your ears as you stood there, but when you heard heavy footsteps and a door closing from the kitchen, your heart gave a lurch. You rushed towards the room, a smile on your face as Shane emerged from the side door. “Hey...thought I heard you in here.” You smiled, watching him for a moment before saying, “I'm in desperate need of some hay. My silo is getting low, but Marnie’s not here.” He huffed, walking past you and to the counter. “Not surprised…how much do you need?” “Um...I think a stack of 50 will work for now.” You watched as Shane wrote down your order, taking your money before putting it away for Marnie to find later. “Do you need help getting it back?” “If you’re not busy..” He shook his head, leading the way out to the shed to help you get your hay.

As the two of you made your way back up to your farm, you chatted, asking him about his day, conspiring about Marnie’s whereabouts, and how you wished Winter would come to an end. It was never your most productive season, leaving you restless and eager for Spring.

“I know what you mean, the chickens really hate Winter, especially Charlie.” “How’s she doing?” “Good, I’ve been bringing her in the ranch.” “Marnie’s okay with that?” He smirked, shrugging slightly, “What she doesn't know won’t hurt her.” You couldn’t help but laugh, shaking your head as you reached your silo. “How are your chickens doing?” “They’re good, I think I’m gonna get another coop built soon.” “Well, now’s not a bad time to do it.” “Yeah, just gotta gather up a few more materials for Robin and I’ll be good to go.”

Once the hay was put away, you turned to Shane, “you want to come in for a bit?” “Sure” You led the way up to the cabin, wiping your feet before heading inside. “Do you want anything to drink? Coffee? Hot Chocolate?” “Nah, I’m good. Wow…you’ve really fixed the place up since I’ve last been here.” “Yeah, I’m hoping to add some more rooms onto the house once summer gets here.” “Oh yeah?” “Yeah, I mean the small cabin is nice, it’s cozy, but I’d like to make room for the future.”

You hesitated, looking at Shane. Over the past year, the two of you had grown closer, to the point where you had asked him out this past Fall, but you hadn’t talked about the future possibilities of your relationship. You hadn’t even kissed yet and you were worried about scaring him away, but as you looked at him, he didn’t seem all that spooked. “What kind of future have you been envisioning?” You shrugged, starting to pull off your winter clothes now that you were inside. “I don’t know...I mean…I have a lot of ideas and dreams about the future, but I may be too ambitious. I want to make the farmhouse and the farm bigger. I want to produce more products...get more livestock.” “Well…that’s nice for your business Y/n, but I meant…y’know..”

The summer heat of Hawkins had reached an all time high. With little to no wind, there seemed to be no escape from the sweltering heat.

As most of Hawkins enjoyed their summer, cooling down at the community pool, Eddie Munson was elbow deep in the hood of his van, oil and sweat intermingling down his arms as he worked. His curly hair was tied up, out of the way, but was quickly wilting, pieces falling limply into his face. He huffed as he readjusted himself, needing to reach deeper into the van in order to reach the part he was working on.

Around him, the trailer park had seemed to fall silent as everyone remained inside, hidden away from the harsh sun. The air was sticky and thick, making it hard to breathe. Eddie pulled himself out from under the hood, cursing under his breath at the cruel timing of his car's engine deciding to give out. His shoulders and upper back were turning brignt red, blistering in the heat since he had forgone sunscreen.

A screen door slammed somewhere in the trailer park as Eddie grabbed a spare rag, wiping the dripping sweat from his face. He was starting to consider leaving his van for another day, the heat becoming unbearable when a sweet voice reached his ears. "Hi Eddie" He lifted his face from the rag, his eyes searching for the source of the voice, though he already knew who it belonged to.

There you stood, his sweet, beautiful neighbor, all smiles and dewy skin. Eddie's eyes trailed over your body, taking in the small amount of clothing you had decided to wear to combat the heat. It was nothing too scandalous, a simple white tank top and a pair of shorts, but they were hugging your body just right, accentuating each curve. The sight alone was enough to make Eddie’s dick twitch, coming alive in the confines of his jeans.

A lopsided grin made its way onto Eddie's face, any discomfort suddenly evaporating from his mind. “Hey there sweetheart. Did you come out in this heat just to say hi to little ole me?" Your smile seemed to brighten, a blush creeping up your neck as you looked at him. "Thought you could use a drink. You've been out here working so hard y'know?" Eddie looked down, spotting the glass of sweet iced tea in your hands for the first time. "Oh, you're a saint" You chuckled, handing over the glass to him. The coolness of the drink was a great relief, the condensation dripping down onto his fingers as he raised the glass, taking a few sips.

"Ahh..that hits the spot. Thank you sweetheart" "You're welcome, Eddie" He watched as you swayed slightly in your spot, arms crossed over your chest as you smiled up at him. He licked his lips, watching as beads of sweat began to make their way down your neck, disappearing into your cleavage. "You want to come in for a bit? I could use a break…get out this sun" “Sure" He motioned for you to lead the way, heading up into the empty trailer. His uncle was away for the day, something Eddie couldn't be more grateful for in this moment. He watched as you looked around the small living room as if you hadn't been in here a million times. "Wow... it's actually pretty clean in here for once" Eddie chuckled, setting down the glass of sweet tea on the counter before walking to the sink to wash his hands. "Yeah well, our maid really stepped up her game" Eddie watched as you laughed, rolling your eyes. "Yeah alright...sure thing Eds" He smiled, walking further into the room to join you on the couch. "It feels like it's been forever since I've been over here" "Well, I think the last time was before graduation so...yeah it's been a while." "No, it can't have been that long!" "It has been, we've really missed you over here sweetheart." "Man...I hadn't realized. I guess things got so busy afterwards that I never had the time to come around. Sorry Eddie, I didn't mean to disappear" He smiled, reaching out to nudge your knee. "You didn't really. You still call every Sunday, say hi every morning on your way to work...still honk your horn every evening when you get home” You chuckled at this and said, "yeah well...Im sure the rest of the neighborhood wished l'd stop that" "Nah, don't worry about them. I look forward to it every night" You smiled, looking away from him, suddenly finding the beat up coffee table very interesting. "Say sweetheart, what have you been up to lately? How come you're not at the pool with everyone else in town?" The smile on your face shifted, a sharp chuckle leaving you before you could stop it. "I don't like going when it's so busy....too many people around. Too many.…” You trailed off, but Eddie knew where your mind had wandered off to.

He knew how insecure you could be about your body, though he had no idea why. He thought you were the most beautiful woman in Hawkins-no, the world. He watched as your arms suddenly wrapped around yourself, as if you had just realized what you were wearing. "Oh you break my heart sweetheart" You looked up at this, eyebrows furrowing slightly in confusion. "What do you mean Eddie?” He smiled at you, gentle as he could manage before reaching for your hand. "I mean, you're gorgeous and anyone at that pool should consider themself lucky to even catch a glimpse of you." "Oh you're just saying that-" "No. I'm not. I swear on my life sweetheart, if I could give you my eyes, the ability to see yourself how I do, you'd realize just how worthy of worship you are." "Eddie…"

He moved from the couch, sinking onto his knees in front of you. A shaky breath left your lips as his hands smoothed over the soft skin of your thighs, reaching down until they landed on your hips. "Darling you drive me crazy...my head spins whenever you're around and I can't think straight. You're beautiful" He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to your knee. "Can I show you...make you see how beautiful you are?" You hesitated, watching as Eddie looked up at you with nothing but pure adoration in his big brown eyes. You nodded, suddenly aware of just how fast your heart was beating in your chest. Eddie smiled, leaning up as he grabbed your face, his entire hand covering your cheek. "It's okay sweetheart...it's just me. Just you and me. Anytime you want to stop, you just tell me okay?" You nodded, eyes flicking to and from his eyes to his lips.

"Lemme hear you, you understand?" "Y-yes Eddie...l trust you" His smile widened at this before he leaned forwards, pressing his lips to yours in a soft kiss. His mouth moved gently against yours, slowly easing you in until you felt his tongue swiping against your bottom lip. You gasped, opening your mouth for him as his kisses grew hungrier. You could feel yourself growing wetter, an ache settling between your legs. You pulled back slightly, gasping as Eddie chased after you. "Eddie- please..l need you" He bit at your lips, kissing them a few more times before he trailed down to your jaw, nipping at the skin there. "Yeah? What do you need, baby? Talk to me” "Touch me, please" "So polite baby" His lips trailed down your neck, sucking and biting, no doubt leaving marks behind in his wake as his hands reached for your shorts. You lifted your hips, helping him as he tugged them down, leaving them in a crumpled heap around your ankles. Eddie finally pulled away from your neck as his hands went between your legs. "Oh sweetheart…you this wet for me?" You nodded, eyes squeezing shut as he rubbed you through your underwear. "Jesus Eddie... more, please" He chuckled, capturing you in another kiss as his fingers pulled your underwear to the side, slipping through your folds as he gathered your slick. You whined against him as he rubbed your swollen clit, pleasure blooming through your abdomen. "Have you done this before sweetheart?" You nodded your head, gasping as you leaned further into the couch. "O-once but...it didnt- fuck Eddie...it didn't feel like this" He smirked, leaning down to press kisses into your thighs as his fingers made their way inside you, curling up into just the right spot. "Yeah? Who's the lucky bastard that got to have you first?" You grimaced, groaning slightly as you looked down at him. "It was stupid..just a drunk mistake at a party once" His fingers slowed as he looked up at you, biting down on the skin of your inner thigh. "I asked who, baby" "J-Jason Carver…but..it wasn't good" He laughed at this, fingers picking up their speed once more. "Oh no? He couldn't pleasure you baby? Why not?" "Eddie..do- do we really have to talk about this n-now?" You were having a hard enough time getting your words out in the first place, but in this moment the last thing you wanted to be thinking of was Jason Carver. "I want to know sweetheart. What did he do that was so bad?" "He...he didn't last very long for one thing..and he couldn't." "Couldn't what?" You felt like your brain had turned to static, only feeling the pleasure coursing through your veins as Eddie's fingers pumped inside you. "He couldn't find my clit" Eddie's smile had turned into a wicked grin as he surged forward, wrapping his lips around you. You gasped, arching off the couch and pushing your hips further into him as Eddie ate you out. "Eddie! Christ!" "Shit baby...you taste like heaven" His fingers were still pumping into you, keeping the same pace as he licked and sucked at your clit. Eddie’s free hand gripped at your thigh, fingers digging into the fat. “How are you so sweet angel? God you’re unreal.” Your hands flew down to his hair, gripping and pulling at the strands. He groaned at the feeling, the vibrations of his mouth sending you over the edge. "Eddie! Eddie…fuck!" He hummed, working you through your orgasm until you were shuddering in overstimulation. He pulled his fingers away, placing them against your thigh as he licked you clean, smiling as you jumped away from him.

"Sorry, sorry baby." Your breathing had turned harsh as Eddie moved up, gripping your thighs as he turned you, bringing your whole body up onto the couch.

He moved between your legs, climbing up your body to kiss you again. You could feel his bulge through his pants, pressing into your thigh as you reached up to hold his face. "Fuck...Eddie please...please fuck me" He smiled, pressing another kiss to your lips before placing one on each cheek and finally your nose. "Still want more sweetheart?" You nodded, already reaching for the button of his pants. "Need it Eds, need to feel you." "Shit sweetheart" He sat up on his knees, pulling his tank top over his head. You did the same, throwing it and your bra god knows where as your eyes trailed over Eddie. He discarded his pants, only leaving him in his boxers before you felt your patience wearing thin. "Eddie" You reached out, palming him through his underwear. "Jesus sweetheart, you keep that up and I'm gonna cum before I even feel you” He grabbed your hand, leaning back over you as he kissed you again, rougher than he had the first time. You could already tell your lips would be bruised and swollen by the time he was done with you.

He moved down your body, lips wrapping around your nipple as he grabbed and kneaded at the other. "Fuck sweetheart...you have no idea how hard it is for me to keep my goddamn cool anytime you're around. You're so beautiful... so sweet..fuck you're an angel" "Eddie, please"

He smiled, finally reaching down to take his boxers off. Your breath caught at the sight of him, he was way bigger than you thought he'd be. He wasn't the thickest but his dick was long, curving slightly to the left. The tip was flushed pink, precum starting the drip from it. He gripped the base, rubbing the tip through your folds before pushing in. You moaned, gripping his shoulder at the stretch. "E-Eddie are you, are you sure you'll fit" "Oh don't you worry sweetheart…it'll fit, I'll make sure of that" You whined, feeling him slowly push in further and further until he bottomed out. "Oh christ...so full Eddie" "Yeah? Feel good sweetheart" "so fucking good Eddie, fuck please move" He grinned, canines on display as he slowly pulled out, slamming back in before he pulled all the way out. "Shit" You bit your lip as Eddie thrusted into you, the pleasure in your abdomen growing all over again. "Faster Eddie, please" He picked up his pace, moving his face into the crook of your neck. You could hear his ragged breathing as you wrapped your arms around him, listening to the quiet moans and groans that left him. "God..You were made for me sweetheart. You feel so fucking good- so tight and wet” Eddie bit down on your shoulder as your nails began to scratch down his back, moaning in his ear as he hit that sweet spot deep inside you. "Eddie, I'm gonna cum!" "I know sweetheart, | know. I feel you fluttering against me-shit, feel you sucking me in." He reached down again, fingers finding your clit, making you cry out as you clenched around him. "F-fuck! You gonna cum for me sweetheart?" You nodded, your moans growing louder and needier as Eddie continued thrusting into you, fingers rubbing at your clit. "Let go for me baby, cum on my dick" You moaned out, feeling that string snap before hot white pleasure washed over you.

"Ohh fuck Eddie, fuck fuck fuck!” He kept thrusting, going slightly faster as his hips stuttered. "Fuck sweetheart, where? Where can I come?" "Inside! Please Eddie, inside!" "Fuuuckk" You groaned, feeling Eddie stuff you full of his cum, so much of it coming out that you could feel it dripping down your thighs, no doubt getting on the couch. Eddie nearly collapsed on top of you, barely holding his weight above you as he placed gentle kisses along your shoulder.

"Jesus Eddie...that was..wow" He laughed, lifting his head to kiss you once more. "I know... kinda can't believe we just did that" You giggled, lifting your hand to caress his cheek. “I really like you Eddie...if you couldn't tell" He smiled down at you, kissing you so softly and intimately you felt your heart clench. When he pulled away, you whined, feeling Eddie's dick twitch inside you. "Are you seriously getting hard again?" He laughed, shrugging the best he could in the position. "I told you sweetheart, you drive me fucking crazy."