forever winter if you go . . .

" i won't leash you like a dog. even though you deserve it. " a small jab as she finished her drink, grabbing her bag before she can chicken out of this like every other almost date they've been on before this. they never truly get to the actual date part, instead they dance around the subject like that will change anything thats going on. " come on. i want hit 711 before they close and yes you are buying my road trip snacks. call it a, i'm sorry im a dumbass tax. "

"well you are anyway, aren't you? by holding me hostage at your place to make sure i don't go anywhere." amused smile quirking at his lips, following evie's lead, letting cigarette hang from his mouth while he stands and shoves the chair in. "dumbass tax," blues playfully roll, "say please first and then i'll think about it." teasing like he wouldn't already do it. "come back here with me, have to grab something first." his car key to the black camaro waiting outside is in his front pocket he pats for, ensuring it's still there, but he needs to grab a bag that has clothes stuffed in it that's backstage in this venue that's the same one his band has been paying to practice at. taking her hand with his free one, "so you don't get lost, miniature person." he claims gesturing to their hands before leading the way through the crowd, even though it's also because he doesn't want anyone else to think she's available. not even his and he can feel the jealousy stinging him deep just entertaining the thought of it. pushing through the side stage door, has his pass ready, displays it then leads through the white hallways before finding the dressing room labeled number three. pushing the door open, flipping bright lights on that makes him flinch momentarily, he immediately collects the black bag sitting on the leather couch. crashing backstage this past week has worked out in his favor since it's set him up for a convenient overnight bag to take and go with, the endless empty containers of alcohol scattered across the vanity proof he’d already been here drowning in internal misery awhile. "now i'm ready."

evie knew about his reputation. everyone did. it wasn't exactly a hidden secret around the industry, yet something about him drew her to his bad boy image. brown eyes watched his every move, listened to his words as she nodded. well, if she didn't say this now, she never would. ever the wimp. " fine i'll go to the stupid lake but we're going tonight. either that or you're staying at my place. i'm not having you vanish on me like last time. i waited by the damn phone for three days. " not that she ever admitted that to anyone, nevermind him. his grasp on her had to be studied at some college. like his grip on her resolve was iron clad and she was never going to say no to him. not when he looked at her with hose blue eyes. god they made her melt.

"i told you," a shrug of one arm, taking another drag before dropping his hand. "something came up. going to hold that against me forever?" did she really wait for three days, though? maybe insecurities did have him getting the wrong message-- because it's secretly why he bailed in the first place. but fine... was he really hearing fine? "tonight? but that doesn't give us time to get arm floaties." he teases, laughing but elated she's agreed. a smirk slowly easing it's way across his face, cheekbones resisting pulling into a smile too much. "i'll just stay the night, you can leash me like a dog if that will help you sleep at night."

𝔰𝔢𝔢𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔯𝔰

she has no idea. his minds wanders back to nights when he'd had to shut the door to his room, nearly forcing himself to lock it, just so he wouldn't storm over to her room and put his fist through some asshole's face. nights spent staring at the ceiling, jaw clenched so hard that he would feel remnants of the ache the following day. stalker or not, the urge crawled up his spine where elena was involved. he couldn't remember being this jealous when they were together and now, sometimes the only thing stopping him from acting on his impulses is knowing he no longer has the right to feel this way. “ let's get one thing straight, anyone who walks out of this apartment unharmed only does so because i allow it. because i respect boundaries. otherwise ? they would be on the floor begging for air before they've even made it inside. ” he almost chuckles at her attempt to wiggle his bicep but the grin on his face fades as soon as she steps back like he burned her. he clears his throat, tearing his eyes away until they rest on her red nails tapping on the wall. always distracting. “ you'd scare them off before i even had a chance, i'm sure. ” he shakes his head, taking a step closer because how unbelievable. “ i don't know, elena, why are we bringing up my bed habits ? ” it's his turn to taunt her, an eyebrow raised in question as his eyes find her's again. “ yeah, my bad for taking you wrapping yourself around me like a seatbelt for something other than smothery. ” he shoves the memory away, like he hasn't thought about it every night since. “ now, are you still winning ? ”

that response definitely comes unexpected, leaving her hypnotized almost, bringing life to doe eyes and having to force down every bit of happiness that was trying to tear out because she knew it would be fleeting. he sounded so serious about it, though. and elena really both loved to see he did still care and hated the way it felt that it caused her heart to swell and spark like fireworks. the first time she had felt anything so summery like this since the day they split apart, even caught herself gleaming like sunshine before letting it evaporate. "next time, you should do that." blurting it out loud, nevermind how crazy it sounded. "for. . . for science! just want to figure out if you mean it." singer claims enthusiastically, not because it would send her head over heels that he was jealous or possessive like that. yes, it would. "as a reminder you're a big snuggly bed hog." just going to ignore the fact she accidentally added SNUGGLY. "and because your bed habits stay strongly on my mind." which is a joke shot back at him left to hang in the air ambiguously even if her cheeks were betraying the confidence in her voice. didn't help her case with him stepping closer. "what's wrong with being a human seatbelt?" doe eyes refind his big blues, dark brows defensively creasing at him. very protective over her human seatbelt habits. "should've counted yourself lucky, you had a free heated blanket." elena quips, playfully scoffing. "course not." winning, because she doesn't have the person who made her feel alive the most. the person that was her home and her best friend all in one. that was losing, so much losing. "i mean. . . it means how you look at it." putting it vaguely as a save, not daring to elaborate in an attempt to try and confuse him now to take back the stupid course not. "i win at being the best human seat belt and passenger princess since we're on the subject of things that remind me of cars. . . but you win first place at being the best bed hog and stalker. not that stalkers with big arms are necessarily a bad thing. . ." mumbling the last part, kittenishly smiling to herself, eyes moving from his chest to gauge his reaction before turning to walk down the hall and leaving a trail of warm sugary vanilla from her favorite lotion with her. passing up her room and turning into his. a new idea to keep him up longer so she didn't have to part with him yet brewing in mind.

his lanky arms are stiffly crossed, mostly to keep himself warm, somewhat to calm his nerves. john almost wants to take it back as a pause happens between them, that he was just being his usual foolish self. "you've got me, i completely despise you," he manages a throaty laugh as he plays along, his head shaking side to side just a bit. "hey!" slips out as he dodges her kick as pretends to do the same, only distracted for a moment. "so. . . if we're even. . . what does that mean for us?" he swallows hard, eyes flickering from the ground before settling on her features.

longer august stared, longer it gave her heart time to thud harder and cause all of her senses to go haywire. she didn't know what the feeling was pounding in her chest so hard, but whatever it was it was the big warm eyes he had causing it to overreact. ugh. curse him for making her stutter for words, never did she get this tripped up over anyone and SWORE she never would. a laugh sounds from the long haired girl at his exclamation before there went her face flushing, forced to face the question this time. "it means. . you owe me a strawberry milkshake at this joint?" august redirects again, tapping his chin playfully before shyly turning away to walk up to the diner. pausing mid way on the steps to face him, "and then i'll let you know what it means, nerd. deal?"

a small scoff left her lips at his suggestion, sure she was stupid and thought with her vagina, but she wasn't stupid enough to actually go somewhere with him when she barely knew him. eyebrow raised at his words, her arms still folded across her chest as she sighed. " do i have stupid written on my forehead .ᐣ i barely know you and you want mw to travel to some lake to do what with you .ᐣ you know i can't swim .ᐟ " a sigh. " besides, we're both working tomorrow, genius. "

"no. but you have scaredy cat written across it." hand fell from her chin, itching for a cigarette before he caves and big hands digs into his pockets. "and? i'll bring arm floaties. little duck themed ones if you want," he dryly chuckles, placing a marlboro between plump lips. "i wouldn't let you drown." blues rolled, lighting the cigarette with a flick of his thumb, "i remembered. but i just don't care to blow it off unlike you, goody two shoes." jesse corrects after taking a slow draw. ". . believe me, bambi. if i wanted to kidnap you, i'd bring you back quick." not explaining to her about how there'd be other people around. amusing to let her think he was just trying to lure her there, see her all worked up. "you really don't trust me THAT much?" nevermind he had a reputation with girls and a bad habit of getting arrested, but he would swear he was innocent! his temper just couldn't allow himself to tolerate bullshit off people. and so what if he ended up in a bar brawl every other weekend? he thought. still wasn't a lake murderer and neither was there any intention to view her as another groupie little did she know. just didn't bother to explain himself or his intentions, cause he's sure a girl like her wouldn't go for him anyway and neither was he admitting to himself he's found himself intrigued by a girl like her but he'd still find himself trying his hardest to find a reason to be able to keep her in his sights.

eyes rolled at his words, features snapping up, watching him with a look she couldn't place. " i am not telling you what goes on inside my head. you want to know .ᐣ either figure out a way to look yourself or mind your own damn business. " arms folded across her torso as she stopped playing with her skirt, instead wishing this conversation would just go away. " why do you care anyway .ᐣ i'm not exactly your usual type, am i .ᐣ "

"i don't need to look, princess. i already know. just like hearing you say it." the taller antagonizes, chuckling in disbelief as blues rolled at her. though once his gaze falls back on evie, he had to admit, the way her arms were crossed amuses him. hearing her question, broad shoulders shrugged and head cocked with mischief glittering in his eyes. she didn't get to have that answer. "mind your damn business." index finger tipped her chin up at him, "isn't that what you said, sweetheart?" jesse reminds, purposely using her words against her and having too much fun doing it. hoping it provokes more of this entertaining feistiness. "come hang out with me at the lake tomorrow? forty minutes from the city... but it could be worth it if i let you know or not. hm?"

her blush was getting worse, spreading across her cheeks, down to her chest as she gave him a look like a dear in the headlights. oh she was so out of her depth. crushes she can handle. actually admitting said crushes .ᐣ no, she would never do that, especially not to him. she swallowed the thump in her throat, finally replying to his questions, fingers playing with her skirt as she did so. " you know, the usual dreams women have when they're alone and haven't been touched in a while . . . "

"oh, you do know." feigning seriousness to mess with her, despite on the inside he was annoyingly giddy about getting her to essentially admit it and the way her angelic features kept growing so blatantly rosy. "so that means you know because you must be familiar with it because you do have a crush on me." he can't fight the smirk this time, blues falling over her fidgety hands going to her skirt. opposite of him and clad in his ripped jeans, white button up and leather jacket . . . which just intrigued him more. "wonder what the wet dream entailed?" he emphasizes, tauntingly.

a deep blush now moved across her features, down to her chest. oh she was down bad. clearly. a small cough as she cleared her throat, trying to make it less obvious how much of a crush she has on the blonde before her. " yes i know what dreams you're talking about. i'm not that innocent you know. " eyes roll, yet she hasn't denied his question. quite the opposite actually.

a snort sounds from the taller, blues falling over the brunette, unable to keep amusement smeared off his dumb face longer he stares, "really? cause that would surprise me. . . bambi, not innocent." jesse quips, unable to fight the feeling of it being what he admires so much about her too. hand lifts and brushes an annoying itchy golden curl that falls against his forehead before pushing her further, "what dreams then? enlighten me."

eyes  roll  slightly  at  the  other's  words.  a  laugh  leaving  her  lips  at  the  mere  mention  of  her  feelings  for  them.    "  yeah  right.    keep  dreaming  .ᐟ      "    yet  evie's  cheeks  were  turning  a  bright  shade  of  pink.        

the eye roll. . . pure satisfactory fuel for the guitarist as he was full of prodding and taunting for fun and evie certainly is an easy victim. smirk wearing on jesse's face stated he loved it a little too much. "hm." contemplative hum over the music, "then why's your face like that?" blond comes to ask after a second, loud enough to hear. "i'm sure i occupy your dreams more than you're letting on right now. you know. . . dreams," hand lifts to poke her side, another tease. "if you can even figure out what kind."

OLIVIA RODRIGO — THE CURE

" oh , i love this song . " hand , arm , and torso reach across the bed to grab his phone , fingers press on the volume button to turn it up . singing along quietly , his eyes close as his head bops and fingers tap on whatever surface is closest . " you know this one right ? mazzy star ? " eyes and brows lock on the other's expression expectantly .

doe eyes observe at him reaching over her head to achieve his volume goal & then a smile curls across her face admiring his little singing moment, finding it annoyingly endearing he even knew this song and would sing it. lost in a little daydream of hers, lacy snaps out of it when the question comes & arms immediately cross on his bed where she sits in the floor. "of course i know mazzy star, fade into you is such a beautiful song." the blonde gently laughs, "i just didn't know you had such superior taste in music, gray." she teases, "do you know the song i want you by bon jovi? it's shamefully underrated."

x

gaze stays focused on his as mind tries to make sense of it all or catch any slither of reaction from the male. can't ignore the way words still play on loop in her mind , but bethan wanted to know if they were simply just accidental or if there was truth behind them , and god was she hoping it was the second of those two possibilities. feels beat of heart slam against ribcage for a second, shaky of an exhale passing her lips as he speaks. " well it sure feels like you're ignoring me. " continues before letting gaze wander to where his hand was gesturing, taking in the scene of the ranch in all its glory. but gaze flutters its way back to damon as he begins to speak again , and continues to deny and put it down to just acting. and though she had been trying to convince herself of otherwise, she can't stop the flicker of sadness that dances across ocean blue hues at his words. pauses to consider that the entire time it's just been her wishing for a reality that was never there to begin with. maybe just because she felt something, doesn't mean its reciprocated. " right yeah . . . acting. " shake of her head as a means to try re-compose herself. prior belief that he had felt something slowly beginning to wither away , but she still stays put. refuses to do anything but that right now. " hey that's not fair ! " calls out at his next words but there is a light laugh laced in between. " i can do dirty work , i'm not against that. " steps round to be in front of him again once he's turned back to the horse. " i can prove it - gimme a job to do and i'll do it. "

"promise. it's not what it seems." ignoring, he means. even if there's not any sincerity in his voice nor behind the sea green in his eyes. looking at her caused him physical pain, swallowing the lump of emotions caught in his throat. "just had a lot of stuff to do here, that so hard to believe?" he snorts, trying to hide the other emotion stirring inside... confusion on what got her to come all the way out here. was it just worry she might lose a dancer? that had to be all. and even so... it was hard to be harsh to her like every fiber in his being was screaming to do to protect himself like he'd always done with his emotions. "why do you say it like that, hm?" that's what it was for you, he wants to blurt but the blond bites his tongue. "because you really can, shorty? or just because you're determined to make a point now?" damon teased, amusement almost pulling at his lips until he finally just caves and allows it when the other blonde even makes a point to MOVE in front of him. a sigh escapes, eyes rolling before dropping his hand from the horse's mane. "alright, if you say so." glancing around, devious ideas start to gather and then he's stepping beside her to grab the shovel almost taller than her. "what about poop duty? horse's poop logs... and there's still plenty of 'em to scrape off the floor over in shadow's stall," damon snorts, handing the shovel to her and turning to point at which stall it is.