june /ᐠ - ˕ -マ ✿

flipped phai appreciation ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿he make my heavenly pillar rise ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿

Zayne looked like a vision, reclined against the pillows with her legs parted, offering you an unobscured view of her perfect, pink pussy that was being stretched out by elegant, scarred fingers. There was nothing you loved more than to see your girlfriends in such a vulnerable state. Whenever you saw either one of them bare and spread out before you, you’d get this certain look in your eye. You’d look at them as if they hung all the stars in the sky themselves.

The raven-haired female must have curled her fingers into that specific spongy spot as a startle moan fell from her lips, back arching and pushing her perfect tits out for the whole world—you— to see. 

Your bottom lip quickly found itself caught between your teeth as you wanted to take her lovely dusty rose-colored nip into your mouth.

Brought back to the present as the tip of the strap fucking you open, bullied your cervix, the back of your head knocked against Caleb’s chin before falling along her shoulder. 

“Pretty, isn’t she?” 

Caleb questioned, but to whom the question was directed remained unclear. 

“Stunning.”

Was Zayne’s response while you let out a whiny ‘yes’, the pit in your stomach growing by the second. It didn’t help when Caleb moved her hand from your jaw down to your belly, pressing down on the bulge that formed when she bottomed out. 

“Can feel you trembling, honey. You gonna cum? Gonna soak jeijei’s cock, huh?”

Once you felt your body stop shaking, you fell face-first onto the bed as you were no longer held up by Caleb. Hearing a familiar squelching sound, you glanced up at Zayne through your lashes, unable to even lift your head at the moment. 

There she was, cheeks rosy from the orgasm she had given herself as she watched you reach your very own high. The pink color had traveled down her neck and onto her heaving chest. With a sigh, she slipped her fingers out of herself before trailing them up along her pelvis and in between her tits. She oh so unintentionally brushed a slick-covered finger along one hardened bud, the juices sticking to the skin.

Your mouth watered and your lips fell open at the sight of her breasts. They were begging to be sucked and kissed and played with, and you were more than happy to do so.

Zayne knew how much you enjoyed having their boobs in your mouth. Which is why she couldn’t help the slight smirk that graced her face. Curling an elegant finger, she gestured for you to crawl over to her.

Using what little energy you had just recovered, you tried to inch your way over to her. You were stopped by a pair of hands that settled on your hips and pulled you back onto a plastic cock that was immediately nestled between your puffy folds. 

Caleb’s name fell from your lips, your tone whiny and frustrated. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” She asked, bringing a hand down against the fat of your ass in a harsh slap, which earned her a cry. Gripping the base of her fake cock, she nudged the tip along your tender clit. “Don’t run from jeijei’s cock.”

Hazel eyes rolled, Zayne’s annoyance with the younger female’s greediness evident.

“Don’t be a brat, Caleb.” Zayne stretched out a hand towards you and wiggled her fingers, gesturing for you to grab onto them. “You may be her jeijei, but don’t forget who her mommy is, yeah? C’mere, little jasmine.”

Before Caleb could stop you again, you slipped from her grasp and settled yourself between Zayne’s spread legs.

She didn’t give you another moment’s notice before her hand slipped into your hair and tugged you towards her mouth. Tongue pushing past your lips, you could taste your lip gloss that clung to her lips since the kiss you gave her when she got home. 

She was rough, stealing your breath without hesitation and biting your bottom lip, hard enough to pull a cry from you.

“Oh, hush now. You can mouth off to Caleb all you want, but not to me.” She reprimanded, the stern expression replaced with something soft as she nudged your head towards her chest. She pushed herself up on the pillows. “Have your fill, but make sure to stick your ass out for this one. Otherwise, we won’t hear the end of it.”

Caleb scoffed.

“I can hear you, you know?”

“That’s why I said it.” Zayne retaliated, a hand brushing your hair back as you were too busy nuzzling the swell of her breasts to even pay attention to their bickering. “Have at it. Before I change my mind.”

Caleb mumbled under her breath, bed shifting with her added weight as she positioned herself behind you. She was just about to push the mushroom-shaped head past the opening of your hole, but was stopped by Zayne’s foot that pushed against her toned stomach. 

“Be gentle. Y’fuck her like a damn brute.”

Caleb smirked. Bringing Zayne’s manicured foot up to her lips, she pressed a kiss on the pad of one toe before taking one into her mouth. She pulled it out with an obnoxious pop, then spoke.

“If you’re jealous, just say so.”

Zayne tugged her foot away, an aghast look on her face. 

“Get on with it before I change my mind.”

By the time Caleb slipped her strap back inside of you, you were too caught up on suckling on Zayne’s tit. The slick that the black-haired female spread there mixing with your spit, the taste of her lingering on your tongue. You toyed with the hardened bud, alternating between caressing it with your tongue, harshly sucking on it, or nibbling on it softly. 

Zayne’s head fell back onto the pillows, raven hair spilling around her, the harsh contrast in color causing the blush of her cheeks to be extremely noticeable. 

“Not so rough, jasmine. I’m not going anywhere.” Zayne said at a particularly grueling suck.

Every moan, mewl, whine, and cry caused vibrations to travel from her sensitive nipple to her sopping cunt. Zayne’s gummy walls fluttered, the empty feeling leaving her frustrated. She’d have to take up Caleb on her offer after the two of them put you to bed, as the current moment was about you. 

She could tell you were close as your suckling would lose its rhythm and her teat kept falling from your mouth before you hastily shoved it back into your mouth. Desperate and needy, your oral fixation was being satisfied while your sloppy hole was stretched and filled. 

“D’you like how jiejie and mommy take care of you, pips? Need mommy’s tits and jiejie’s cock?” Caleb’s form curled over yours, her words brushing along your ear when she spoke. “Always so good and needy for us.” 

Squeezing Zayne’s tit with your hand as the other was too busy being lavished by your tongue, you begrudgingly let it fall from your mouth as both your lovers’ names fell from your lips in a breathy tone. 

Your breathing was picking up, toes curling, and hips pushing back against the purple strap as you tried to take jeijei deeper into your warm pussy.

“Look at you. Can’t get enough of us, can you?”

You whined and shook your head.

“Please…need it…need to c-cum…”

With your head on Zayne’s chest, you looked up at her, eyes pleading. 

“Been a good girl, m-mommy. Can cum, r-right?”

“Course. Whatever you want, jasmine.”

Angling your hips and causing Caleb to scratch the itch growing in your lower belly, it took only a few more precise thrusts before you found yourself drenching Caleb’s dick in your cream and lathering Zayne’s chest with open-mouth kisses. 

The two older females spoke in hush tones, cooing and shushing as you came down from your high, you lay there, enjoying the attention they lavished on you. Caleb was quick to clean up the mess between your legs while Zayne offered you sips from your water bottle, which they kept filled with ice-cold water on your nightstand.

You remained in Zayne’s embrace, covered in a warm blanket, and cheek smushed against her tit as you slowly drifted off. Once you were asleep, the two made sure to put you in a comfortable position, tucked away in the bed you shared. 

Caleb moved over to the dresser, going to pull out a spaghetti strap and pajama bottoms, but was stopped by Zayne, who pressed herself up against the younger female.

“Don’t get dressed just yet,” Zayne smirked as she felt Caleb’s figure shiver when she brushed her lips along the expanse of Caleb’s neck. “Don’t you want the chance to fuck me like a brute?”

Caleb smiled, looking at Zayne through the mirror before them. She couldn’t help the little voice in her head that spoke, pleased with how her day had turned out. 

'Must be my birthday or something.'

"'course i am, i always have fun when you're around." you tease, guiding her hips in time with yours. you both followed into what was comfortable, many nights grinding against each other in clubs or at parties making you move like clockwork. your eyes flickered around before a smirk curled on your lips, "i think someone else is enjoying the view."

caleb didn't even follow your gaze, simply laughing at your words, breath fanning across your face. "maaaybe they're lookin at you and your sexy thighs in your tiny little shorts." to make her point her hand moves down the curve of your ass to your thighs, copping a squeeze on the way there.

laughing, your gaze drops to her chest. she wore a dark patterned mesh long sleeve, showing off her entire upper body except for her boobs held by a simple dark purple bra— and even then her boobs were definitely making an appearance tonight. "maaaybe they're lookin at your fat tits."

a pinch to your ass made you yelp and glare at her, she didn't look apologetic at all. "you like these fat tits." caleb teased, voice dropping as her lips brushed against the cusp of your ear. you couldn't even refute her statement because it was true, you spent half your time buried in her chest with a smile on your face.

"yeah and you like that i like 'em."

caleb shrugs, standing back to her full height and spinning around. her ass presses against you, hips pushing back to grind against your front. pushing your hips against her ass your hand comes to rest on her stomach, palm warm against the scratchy material.

getting lost in the music the world outside your bubble disappears, the only thing you can feel and see is your best friend. time passes, minutes or an hour you don't know, all you do know is that your buzz is wearing off and your feet are getting tired.

"m'ready to head out baby." you speak into caleb's ear, meeting her soft gaze. she nods and leads you back toward your friends, hugs and squeals of goodbye filling the circle before you're feeling the cool breeze of the night.

the music still thumps behind you as you wipe at your chest, a light sheen of sweat covering the skin. "this way honey." caleb helps you into an uber, saying brief greetings before the car is on the way. music filters loud enough through the speakers that you have to stay close to caleb.

"i need a shower so baaad."

"take one with me? i wanna lay down and you take forever."

you pout up at her, nose scrunching when she pinches your warm cheek. "i don't take forever." you grumble, pushing your head into her damp neck. her hand feels up your thigh, big palm squeezing the fat and kneading it like a cat.

"sure you don't." she sighs out when your lips start planting wet kisses against her neck. crossing her legs she tilts her head to give you more space, hand wandering to the inside of your thigh and caressing the sensitive skin.

this was your normal, kissing your best friend —drunk or sober— and feeling each other up like you were a couple. not wanting to get freaky with someone else near, she keeps her hand there, simply letting you mouth at her neck as much as you wanted.

your head started to dip lower when the car came to a stop, a lazy smirk on your lips when you get out and head up to caleb's apartment. you cling to each other the whole way there, teasing touches and soft words that make tingles go down your spine.

after kicking your shoes off you beeline straight for her room, fingers already working to take off your accessories. caleb comes in a minute later, bare feet padding on the floor and hands full of snacks and water.

your stomach growls at the sight earning you a laugh from caleb. she's sat on the bed, skirt spread open and showing off her panties. climbing on the bed, your knees come on either side of her, straddling her lap and wrapping your arms around her neck. her hands come to your ass, grabbing handfuls as she smirks up at you.

"thought you wanted to shower?"

kissing up her neck, you catch her shiny lips in a deep kiss, feeling her moan vibrate into your mouth. her tongue slips into your mouth, the warm muscle massaging against yours. the kiss turns messy, spit dribbling from your lips and the sound of your tongue against hers fills the room.

her hands guide you to move, rocking your clothed cunt against her lap making you moan into her. using your weight you lean forward, forcing her to lay flat on the bed. she looked beautiful like this, eyes dazed and her hair fanned out around her.

"these are pissing me off." she said as she tugged at your clothes— quite literally your top and shorts. smacking a kiss on her lips you sit up, pulling your thin top over your head, boobs falling once they're free as her fingers worked at your shorts.

"i shouldn't be the only one."

caleb laughed softly at your pout, clumsily taking her shirt off as you adjusted to shimmy out of your shorts. her fingers played with the edge of your panties, snapping the band against you softly.

"fuck, i love when you wear my color against this cute pussy."

clenching around nothing, you grind softly against her abdomen, more of a mindless movement to ease the tension in your clit. her eyes darkened as she watched, hands tugging you up her body to hover over her face.

"c'mere honey, sit on my face."

not even hesitating you lowered, head titled down to watch as she kissed up your cunt. caleb's tongue licked fat stripes up the flimsy material, suckling softly to get a taste of your arousal. her fingers wrapped around the edge before you heard a loud riiiip, the cool air she blew against your cunt making you shiver.

"caleb! you have got to stop ripping my fucking panties!" you whined out, glaring at her when you felt her smile against you. she placed kisses against your clit before bringing it into her mouth and sucking it like one of her lemon candies.

"sorry honey," she mumbled against your wet folds, dipping her tongue through them. "i'll make it up to you." she pushed her face up, tongue slipping into your hole and nose pushing against your clit.

moaning softly, your hips rocked gently against her, clenching around her tongue as she thrusted it in and out. reaching a hand back, you pushed her bra down, mouth watering as her boobs spilled out and jiggled lightly with her movements.

you grabbed onto the fat, rolling her pretty nipple between your fingers. caleb moaned against you, a wet smack resounding between you as she pulled away, head dropping against the bed as you continued to play with her nipples.

"m'sensitive honey- shit."

smirking down at her you lifted yourself off of her face, moving down her body and licking at her wet face. "wanna play with you too~" you said, lips pressing kisses against her skin as you made your way down her body.

your lips brushed against her nipple, lips catching onto the perked bud before you sucked it into your mouth. caleb whimpered, fingers lacing into your hair as you mouthed at her tits. pulling off with a loud pop you continued your descent, sucking dark marks along her skin.

her skirt was flipped up, panties in your favorite color darkened by her arousal. "mmm~ i love when you make a mess for me cay." you said as you slipped her out of her bottoms, spreading her legs wide to stare at her twitching pussy.

you dove in, tongue slipping out and jaw hung open to greedily gulp at her wetness. her fingers tightened around your hair, back arching as you sloppily made out with her cunt, wads of spit dripping from your mouth and down her ass.

"fuckin love this fat pussy even more." spitting against her cunt, you sucked her big clit harshly, head shaking side to side. caleb moaned loudly, hips bucking up making you follow the movement before letting go.

you could feel your arousal dripping down your pussy as you watched her clit fall back into place, fat hood twitching. burying your face in her puffy folds one last time, for fun of it, tongue gathering up the fresh slick dribbling out.

her hand fell from your hair as you pulled away, moving to lean over her panting body. "ride this pussy, wanna feel you against me." she said as you got into position, one leg over hers in the classic scissoring pose. she hooked a leg around your ass, holding you up as you lowered down.

both of you moaned out at the contact, the heat of your pussies making your mind hazy. all you could think about was her, how wet she felt against you, how her fat clit rubbed against yours in that delicious way that had your toes curling.

holding the leg in front of you, your hips rocked a steady pace against hers, whimpering at the loud smacks resonating from your cunts. "fuck this pussy— yeah, juust like that, you love f-feeling my—shit—fat pussy on you honey?"

you moan through a laugh at her words, hand coming to rest against her toned stomach. "fuuuck, you know i do baby. love how loud she gets for me- fuels my ego." you bat your eyes at your best friend, leaking more at her smirk.

caleb grabs her tits, holding the bouncing fat as her fingers tweak her darkened nipples. "that's my job." you tease, circling your hips just right to get her to whine out for you.

"y'seem busy, just helping you out~"

caleb's hips start bucking up, helping grind her pussy against yours. sweat drips down your bodies, thighs tensing and ass jiggling from your thrusts. "well then, keep playing with 'em for me yeah?" you smile sweetly at her, watching as she does what you said.

the bed creaks softly with your thrusts, not that you notice. your thoughts are only about you and caleb, how close you both were to cumming. you loved when nights out ended up like this, both of you playing with each others cunt until you were so overstimulated it almost hurt to breathe.

that familiar coil twisted up in your gut, hips pushing harder against her cunt. fuck she felt so good, how her clit caught juust right against yours, wet smacks ringing in your ears from how wet you both were. "g'nna cum baby, want my cum all over you?" you panted out.

caleb's head nodded frantically, hips working harder to bring you both closer. "yeah, yeah, wanna feel you stick to me- w'nna feel you twitch against me." her words have you moaning out, a few more grinds of your hips and your head is thrown back, a moan of her name leaving your mouth.

caleb moans with you, fingers pinching hard at her nipples as she feels your clit twitch violenty against hers, sending her into her own orgasm. "honey, please- fuck." she can't even form a sentence as you keep moving against her, working you both through your highs.

panting, your hips slow their rocking as you take a look at your best friend. her face was flushed red, lips red from her teeth and her nipples so hard from her pulling.

bracing against her and the bed you slowly lift off of her, your moans mixing at the thick, creamy strands that stick your pussies together. her pussy was painted in your mixed release, white smeared allll around her fat clit and dripping down her puffy folds.

"my turn~" caleb says as she sits up, holding you close and flipping your positions. you tilt your head up to kiss her, hand resting against her neck as you spread your legs. caleb settles between them before she pushes them back, folding them to your chest and exposing your pretty cunt to her greedy stare.

she resists taking a lick and mounts you, slotting her fat pussy against yours like a missing puzzle piece. your clit twitches against hers at her heat and she begins grinding, your pussies spreading wide in this position.

caleb leans over you, big boobs swinging right in your face as she stimulates you. hands gripping her ass, your lips catch onto a nipple, cheeks hollowing as you suck it deep into your warm mouth.

she moans loudly, pressing your thighs further down with her weight. the angle makes your pussies smack against each other louder, holes leaking and trying to grab onto each other. the feeling of her puffy lips spread apart has you whining against her nipple, eyes looking up at her.

"fuck- can't look at me like that honey, makes me wanna fuck you until you can't walk, until all you know is my name and how my pussy makes you feel."

releasing her nipple, you pant against the other one. "do it. w'nna mould our pussies together forever~ never wanna leave here." your weird words makes her laugh hotly, teeth coming to bite at your calf.

"you have such a way with words." she teases, watching your tongue flick around her swinging nipple like a kitten with a toy. you have that glint in your eyes, the one that tells her she's going to spend all night right here and wake up later with stiff muscles.

"y'love it!"

your lips finally wrap around her nipple and your head bobs as you suck, heavy lidded eyes boring into hers. she feels you move, feels your hips tilt until your cunts are matched up perfectly, the obnoxious smacking of your folds against hers sending shivers down her spine.

your hands find purchase on her back, nails digging into the shifting muscles and dragging down the expanse of it. "shit! g'nna walk outta here bruised up and people are g'nna think something bad."

her words have you giggling around the bud before you let go, nails digging into her back again. "nooo~ they're gonna know how good you fuck me." your smile has her clenching around nothing, cursing under her breath.

"you like that— like when people know it was you who fucked me so good i can't walk, you who makes my throat sore from screaming your name alll night long."

your words were true. caleb loved when your legs trembled slightly as you walked around the mall, when peoples eyebrows furrowed at her possessive grip on your waist and her smug smirk when you rasped out your words.

"buuuut i'm the same. i like when people see the marks i left on you, the bites you show off so proudly for everyone to see, how you let me boss you around."

you loved when caleb walked around with your marks on display for the whole world to see. loved the way men's gazes averted once they saw the hickeys littering her chest, loved when that flash of recognition crossed their face as she did exactly what you told her to.

caleb was moaning loudly, hips canting hard and fast, so fast you could feel your mixed arousal smearing around your thighs and dripping down your ass.

white hot pleasure twisted tight inside of you, bubbling up and causing your stomach to tighten. "fuck baby, you're gonna make me cum. pleaseplease make me cum?" your begging has her cooing, hand coming to push away sweaty strands of hair stuck to your face.

"g'ahead honey, soak me, make me a fucking mess."

your nails dig into her neck as you pull her closer, leaning up so you can capture her lips in a messy kiss. the band in your stomach snaps, a guttural moan tearing through your throat as your pussy gushes against her.

the feeling of your wetness shooting against her has caleb moaning into your mouth, tongue licking away the strand of spit from your lips and she looks down. your squirt splashes against her, wet droplets reaching your mound from her thrusts.

"fucking- god honey-"

your fingers play with her sore nipple sends her over the edge, the sound of her own cunt gushing out has you meaning along with her. hips still rocking, your clit twitches in overstimulation, small spurts of squirt pushing out as her forehead drops onto yours.

you can hear the drip, drip of your squirts leak down your bodies and onto the bed. caleb whimpers into your mouth and you cup her face, pulling back to wipe at the sweat beading down her face. legs trembling, you go boneless once she moves off of you, her own thighs quivering.

caleb flops onto the bed next to you and you cling to her, propped onto your side and fingers pushing her hair away from her neck. "fuck." is all she says as her gaze sluggishly makes its way to you, pupils blown wide and eyes glazed over. you doubt you look any better.

"yeah, fuck. my pussy is so sticky."

caleb laughs, glancing down at your mound so you spread your legs for her. your cunt was painted in white and slicked wet, clit twitching uncontrollably and folds so puffy.

"thought you wanted that?" she questions and quirks an eyebrow at you. you giggle and roll onto her body, legs straddling her thigh and head coming to her chest.

"m'not complaining! though she's starting to miss you~"

"you insatiable freak."

caleb props her head against the pillows and looks down at you. you had your head squished —literally squished— between her tits, hands holding the fat around your head. little happy, content noises vibrated into her skin makes her shake her head as she reached for her phone.

"m'gonna order some food, you want anything in particular?"

your head started to pull away when she spoke again, "and don't say my pussy."

it was silent before you pushed your head back between her tits. caleb brought a hand to your hip as they began to rock against her thigh. she clicked through the delivery app and moved on autopilot to order, clicking the phone off once it went through.

"round three in the shower?"

for someone who couldn't feel their legs a minute ago you shot up, hand pulling caleb to follow you into the bathroom. "wanna ride your face!" you quipped and she felt wetness drip down her leg. it was going to be a long night.

did u make it to the end?? the way i wanted to keep this going but i literally had to stop at some point since there’s no plot…

"'course i am, i always have fun when you're around." you tease, guiding her hips in time with yours. you both followed into what was comfortable, many nights grinding against each other in clubs or at parties making you move like clockwork. your eyes flickered around before a smirk curled on your lips, "i think someone else is enjoying the view."

caleb didn't even follow your gaze, simply laughing at your words, breath fanning across your face. "maaaybe they're lookin at you and your sexy thighs in your tiny little shorts." to make her point her hand moves down the curve of your ass to your thighs, copping a squeeze on the way there.

laughing, your gaze drops to her chest. she wore a dark patterned mesh long sleeve, showing off her entire upper body except for her boobs held by a simple dark purple bra— and even then her boobs were definitely making an appearance tonight. "maaaybe they're lookin at your fat tits."

a pinch to your ass made you yelp and glare at her, she didn't look apologetic at all. "you like these fat tits." caleb teased, voice dropping as her lips brushed against the cusp of your ear. you couldn't even refute her statement because it was true, you spent half your time buried in her chest with a smile on your face.

"yeah and you like that i like 'em."

caleb shrugs, standing back to her full height and spinning around. her ass presses against you, hips pushing back to grind against your front. pushing your hips against her ass your hand comes to rest on her stomach, palm warm against the scratchy material.

getting lost in the music the world outside your bubble disappears, the only thing you can feel and see is your best friend. time passes, minutes or an hour you don't know, all you do know is that your buzz is wearing off and your feet are getting tired.

"m'ready to head out baby." you speak into caleb's ear, meeting her soft gaze. she nods and leads you back toward your friends, hugs and squeals of goodbye filling the circle before you're feeling the cool breeze of the night.

the music still thumps behind you as you wipe at your chest, a light sheen of sweat covering the skin. "this way honey." caleb helps you into an uber, saying brief greetings before the car is on the way. music filters loud enough through the speakers that you have to stay close to caleb.

"i need a shower so baaad."

"take one with me? i wanna lay down and you take forever."

you pout up at her, nose scrunching when she pinches your warm cheek. "i don't take forever." you grumble, pushing your head into her damp neck. her hand feels up your thigh, big palm squeezing the fat and kneading it like a cat.

"sure you don't." she sighs out when your lips start planting wet kisses against her neck. crossing her legs she tilts her head to give you more space, hand wandering to the inside of your thigh and caressing the sensitive skin.

this was your normal, kissing your best friend —drunk or sober— and feeling each other up like you were a couple. not wanting to get freaky with someone else near, she keeps her hand there, simply letting you mouth at her neck as much as you wanted.

your head started to dip lower when the car came to a stop, a lazy smirk on your lips when you get out and head up to caleb's apartment. you cling to each other the whole way there, teasing touches and soft words that make tingles go down your spine.

after kicking your shoes off you beeline straight for her room, fingers already working to take off your accessories. caleb comes in a minute later, bare feet padding on the floor and hands full of snacks and water.

your stomach growls at the sight earning you a laugh from caleb. she's sat on the bed, skirt spread open and showing off her panties. climbing on the bed, your knees come on either side of her, straddling her lap and wrapping your arms around her neck. her hands come to your ass, grabbing handfuls as she smirks up at you.

"thought you wanted to shower?"

kissing up her neck, you catch her shiny lips in a deep kiss, feeling her moan vibrate into your mouth. her tongue slips into your mouth, the warm muscle massaging against yours. the kiss turns messy, spit dribbling from your lips and the sound of your tongue against hers fills the room.

her hands guide you to move, rocking your clothed cunt against her lap making you moan into her. using your weight you lean forward, forcing her to lay flat on the bed. she looked beautiful like this, eyes dazed and her hair fanned out around her.

"these are pissing me off." she said as she tugged at your clothes— quite literally your top and shorts. smacking a kiss on her lips you sit up, pulling your thin top over your head, boobs falling once they're free as her fingers worked at your shorts.

"i shouldn't be the only one."

caleb laughed softly at your pout, clumsily taking her shirt off as you adjusted to shimmy out of your shorts. her fingers played with the edge of your panties, snapping the band against you softly.

"fuck, i love when you wear my color against this cute pussy."

clenching around nothing, you grind softly against her abdomen, more of a mindless movement to ease the tension in your clit. her eyes darkened as she watched, hands tugging you up her body to hover over her face.

"c'mere honey, sit on my face."

not even hesitating you lowered, head titled down to watch as she kissed up your cunt. caleb's tongue licked fat stripes up the flimsy material, suckling softly to get a taste of your arousal. her fingers wrapped around the edge before you heard a loud riiiip, the cool air she blew against your cunt making you shiver.

"caleb! you have got to stop ripping my fucking panties!" you whined out, glaring at her when you felt her smile against you. she placed kisses against your clit before bringing it into her mouth and sucking it like one of her lemon candies.

"sorry honey," she mumbled against your wet folds, dipping her tongue through them. "i'll make it up to you." she pushed her face up, tongue slipping into your hole and nose pushing against your clit.

moaning softly, your hips rocked gently against her, clenching around her tongue as she thrusted it in and out. reaching a hand back, you pushed her bra down, mouth watering as her boobs spilled out and jiggled lightly with her movements.

you grabbed onto the fat, rolling her pretty nipple between your fingers. caleb moaned against you, a wet smack resounding between you as she pulled away, head dropping against the bed as you continued to play with her nipples.

"m'sensitive honey- shit."

smirking down at her you lifted yourself off of her face, moving down her body and licking at her wet face. "wanna play with you too~" you said, lips pressing kisses against her skin as you made your way down her body.

your lips brushed against her nipple, lips catching onto the perked bud before you sucked it into your mouth. caleb whimpered, fingers lacing into your hair as you mouthed at her tits. pulling off with a loud pop you continued your descent, sucking dark marks along her skin.

her skirt was flipped up, panties in your favorite color darkened by her arousal. "mmm~ i love when you make a mess for me cay." you said as you slipped her out of her bottoms, spreading her legs wide to stare at her twitching pussy.

you dove in, tongue slipping out and jaw hung open to greedily gulp at her wetness. her fingers tightened around your hair, back arching as you sloppily made out with her cunt, wads of spit dripping from your mouth and down her ass.

"fuckin love this fat pussy even more." spitting against her cunt, you sucked her big clit harshly, head shaking side to side. caleb moaned loudly, hips bucking up making you follow the movement before letting go.

you could feel your arousal dripping down your pussy as you watched her clit fall back into place, fat hood twitching. burying your face in her puffy folds one last time, for fun of it, tongue gathering up the fresh slick dribbling out.

her hand fell from your hair as you pulled away, moving to lean over her panting body. "ride this pussy, wanna feel you against me." she said as you got into position, one leg over hers in the classic scissoring pose. she hooked a leg around your ass, holding you up as you lowered down.

both of you moaned out at the contact, the heat of your pussies making your mind hazy. all you could think about was her, how wet she felt against you, how her fat clit rubbed against yours in that delicious way that had your toes curling.

holding the leg in front of you, your hips rocked a steady pace against hers, whimpering at the loud smacks resonating from your cunts. "fuck this pussy— yeah, juust like that, you love f-feeling my—shit—fat pussy on you honey?"

you moan through a laugh at her words, hand coming to rest against her toned stomach. "fuuuck, you know i do baby. love how loud she gets for me- fuels my ego." you bat your eyes at your best friend, leaking more at her smirk.

caleb grabs her tits, holding the bouncing fat as her fingers tweak her darkened nipples. "that's my job." you tease, circling your hips just right to get her to whine out for you.

"y'seem busy, just helping you out~"

caleb's hips start bucking up, helping grind her pussy against yours. sweat drips down your bodies, thighs tensing and ass jiggling from your thrusts. "well then, keep playing with 'em for me yeah?" you smile sweetly at her, watching as she does what you said.

the bed creaks softly with your thrusts, not that you notice. your thoughts are only about you and caleb, how close you both were to cumming. you loved when nights out ended up like this, both of you playing with each others cunt until you were so overstimulated it almost hurt to breathe.

that familiar coil twisted up in your gut, hips pushing harder against her cunt. fuck she felt so good, how her clit caught juust right against yours, wet smacks ringing in your ears from how wet you both were. "g'nna cum baby, want my cum all over you?" you panted out.

caleb's head nodded frantically, hips working harder to bring you both closer. "yeah, yeah, wanna feel you stick to me- w'nna feel you twitch against me." her words have you moaning out, a few more grinds of your hips and your head is thrown back, a moan of her name leaving your mouth.

caleb moans with you, fingers pinching hard at her nipples as she feels your clit twitch violenty against hers, sending her into her own orgasm. "honey, please- fuck." she can't even form a sentence as you keep moving against her, working you both through your highs.

panting, your hips slow their rocking as you take a look at your best friend. her face was flushed red, lips red from her teeth and her nipples so hard from her pulling.

bracing against her and the bed you slowly lift off of her, your moans mixing at the thick, creamy strands that stick your pussies together. her pussy was painted in your mixed release, white smeared allll around her fat clit and dripping down her puffy folds.

"my turn~" caleb says as she sits up, holding you close and flipping your positions. you tilt your head up to kiss her, hand resting against her neck as you spread your legs. caleb settles between them before she pushes them back, folding them to your chest and exposing your pretty cunt to her greedy stare.

she resists taking a lick and mounts you, slotting her fat pussy against yours like a missing puzzle piece. your clit twitches against hers at her heat and she begins grinding, your pussies spreading wide in this position.

caleb leans over you, big boobs swinging right in your face as she stimulates you. hands gripping her ass, your lips catch onto a nipple, cheeks hollowing as you suck it deep into your warm mouth.

she moans loudly, pressing your thighs further down with her weight. the angle makes your pussies smack against each other louder, holes leaking and trying to grab onto each other. the feeling of her puffy lips spread apart has you whining against her nipple, eyes looking up at her.

"fuck- can't look at me like that honey, makes me wanna fuck you until you can't walk, until all you know is my name and how my pussy makes you feel."

releasing her nipple, you pant against the other one. "do it. w'nna mould our pussies together forever~ never wanna leave here." your weird words makes her laugh hotly, teeth coming to bite at your calf.

"you have such a way with words." she teases, watching your tongue flick around her swinging nipple like a kitten with a toy. you have that glint in your eyes, the one that tells her she's going to spend all night right here and wake up later with stiff muscles.

"y'love it!"

your lips finally wrap around her nipple and your head bobs as you suck, heavy lidded eyes boring into hers. she feels you move, feels your hips tilt until your cunts are matched up perfectly, the obnoxious smacking of your folds against hers sending shivers down her spine.

your hands find purchase on her back, nails digging into the shifting muscles and dragging down the expanse of it. "shit! g'nna walk outta here bruised up and people are g'nna think something bad."

her words have you giggling around the bud before you let go, nails digging into her back again. "nooo~ they're gonna know how good you fuck me." your smile has her clenching around nothing, cursing under her breath.

"you like that— like when people know it was you who fucked me so good i can't walk, you who makes my throat sore from screaming your name alll night long."

your words were true. caleb loved when your legs trembled slightly as you walked around the mall, when peoples eyebrows furrowed at her possessive grip on your waist and her smug smirk when you rasped out your words.

"buuuut i'm the same. i like when people see the marks i left on you, the bites you show off so proudly for everyone to see, how you let me boss you around."

you loved when caleb walked around with your marks on display for the whole world to see. loved the way men's gazes averted once they saw the hickeys littering her chest, loved when that flash of recognition crossed their face as she did exactly what you told her to.

caleb was moaning loudly, hips canting hard and fast, so fast you could feel your mixed arousal smearing around your thighs and dripping down your ass.

white hot pleasure twisted tight inside of you, bubbling up and causing your stomach to tighten. "fuck baby, you're gonna make me cum. pleaseplease make me cum?" your begging has her cooing, hand coming to push away sweaty strands of hair stuck to your face.

"g'ahead honey, soak me, make me a fucking mess."

your nails dig into her neck as you pull her closer, leaning up so you can capture her lips in a messy kiss. the band in your stomach snaps, a guttural moan tearing through your throat as your pussy gushes against her.

the feeling of your wetness shooting against her has caleb moaning into your mouth, tongue licking away the strand of spit from your lips and she looks down. your squirt splashes against her, wet droplets reaching your mound from her thrusts.

"fucking- god honey-"

your fingers play with her sore nipple sends her over the edge, the sound of her own cunt gushing out has you meaning along with her. hips still rocking, your clit twitches in overstimulation, small spurts of squirt pushing out as her forehead drops onto yours.

you can hear the drip, drip of your squirts leak down your bodies and onto the bed. caleb whimpers into your mouth and you cup her face, pulling back to wipe at the sweat beading down her face. legs trembling, you go boneless once she moves off of you, her own thighs quivering.

caleb flops onto the bed next to you and you cling to her, propped onto your side and fingers pushing her hair away from her neck. "fuck." is all she says as her gaze sluggishly makes its way to you, pupils blown wide and eyes glazed over. you doubt you look any better.

"yeah, fuck. my pussy is so sticky."

caleb laughs, glancing down at your mound so you spread your legs for her. your cunt was painted in white and slicked wet, clit twitching uncontrollably and folds so puffy.

"thought you wanted that?" she questions and quirks an eyebrow at you. you giggle and roll onto her body, legs straddling her thigh and head coming to her chest.

"m'not complaining! though she's starting to miss you~"

"you insatiable freak."

caleb props her head against the pillows and looks down at you. you had your head squished —literally squished— between her tits, hands holding the fat around your head. little happy, content noises vibrated into her skin makes her shake her head as she reached for her phone.

"m'gonna order some food, you want anything in particular?"

your head started to pull away when she spoke again, "and don't say my pussy."

it was silent before you pushed your head back between her tits. caleb brought a hand to your hip as they began to rock against her thigh. she clicked through the delivery app and moved on autopilot to order, clicking the phone off once it went through.

"round three in the shower?"

for someone who couldn't feel their legs a minute ago you shot up, hand pulling caleb to follow you into the bathroom. "wanna ride your face!" you quipped and she felt wetness drip down her leg. it was going to be a long night.

did u make it to the end?? the way i wanted to keep this going but i literally had to stop at some point since there’s no plot…

With slow movements, you carefully insert the mechanism until you hear a click, narrating as you go. “It’s in. I need to make sure it’s stable though, tell me to stop if it hurts or feels weird.” 

Fighting to keep still Caleb leans forwards, smile wavering. “Tighten the south bolt tighter than the others. There should be a red mark on it. It loosens too easily.” 

The system is glaringly more complex than his arm, multi-coloured wires threading around the main central core in the middle. You let your eyes trail down towards the bolt he mentioned, nodding. 

“Mkay. Tightening it now.” Taking a deep breath to stop your hand from shaking, you take the small wrench and lean in, a tight furrow between your brows. 

The second you touch the metal connecting his main system to the circuit, Caleb jerks forward, a breathy gasp escaping his lips. His hand curls around the lower half of his face, muffling his sounds as he flushes red of either embarrassment or arousal. 

“Hah… pips. Slow…haaah… down, fuck.” He curses when you tighten the bolt while he’s somewhat distracted, his head jerking back and ramming into the wall behind him. 

“It’s done…! Did it hurt? Sorry, I thought it might be better if I was slightly quicker.” 

“No, it was only a pinch.” Caleb’s cheeks burn a brighter red and his eyes have yet to clear, still glazed over. They dart away from yours when they make contact. “Mind helping me close up?” 

“Mhm,” you say absentmindedly, mind wandering elsewhere. “Masochist.” 

“I…aha, wha—?” 

Your fingers inch forward again to trail down the stabilizing rod, letting your fingertips trace each ridge and texture. The whirling of the fan gets louder as he overheats, his eyes widening at the betrayal. 

After a moment Caleb’s eyes drift shut, shuddering as his hand reaches out to grasp your wrist, though not stopping you. 

“You’re not going to stop me?” 

“You know I won’t. You can do whatever you want to me, I’d take it all.” 

He lets your curious fingers wander, body tightening beneath you when your touch reaches the newly installed component, vibration humming through the metal. 

“Ah—” 

The sound escapes him before he can stop it, eyelids fluttering shut. 

“Sensitive?” 

“No,” he says quickly. You raise an eyebrow. “Maybe a little,” he admits. 

“A little… hm?” 

Caleb’s throat bobs as he subconsciously spreads his thighs apart below you. Your fingers brush a bundle of colored wiring near his core, and he jolts. The reaction is immediate, and the lights beneath his synthetic organs flicker erratically. 

“Wow,” you whisper before you can help it. 

“Hah, don’t...” His voice comes out wrecked, breathless around the edges. “You’re making it worse.”

“Worse?” you echo, as your thumb strokes carefully along one of the wires. A shudder tears through him.

“Fuck.” The mechanical whir deepens in pitch, and his hold on your wrist tightens. 

“Caleb?” 

“That’s… that’s enough,” he pants, voice strained. 

“Painful?” You pull away, watching him carefully.

“Something like that.” He motions for you to close up his abdomen, sighing in relief when he’s finally protected from all your teasing. Caleb’s arms loop around your waist as if he doesn’t want you to move away yet, holding you tightly against his chest. “Thank you, pipsqueak.” 

You lean into him, humming in response. “You know I could have turned you off?” 

“If it’s you touching me, I want to experience all of it,” he murmurs, nose brushing your shoulder. “Help me next week?” 

You sigh affectionately. “Sure.”

“This thing is so ugly,” you whine, picking at your cast as he walks you back home. “Do you think I’m gross now, Caleb?”

“It’s not ugly. You need it to get better.”

“I thought you’d fall in love with me if I went high enough,” you sniffle fake tears, which he reads in an instant. “I did go pretty high up, though. So maybe you like me at least.”

He laughs, and you scowl, insisting that you aren’t joking. So instead, he smiles and holds your free hand in his again. Your heart skips a beat. A childish, but innocent love fluttering in your chest. “Come on, splints. Let’s go watch TV, and I can sign your cast.”

The broken wrist is so worth it.

With MC being two grades lower than the two of you and thus having a different schedule, it doesn’t take long before you’re doing practically everything with Caleb. He’s your seatmate in class, the two of you walk to and from school, and there doesn’t seem to be a moment where you aren’t glued at the hip. Throughout all of this, you make sure you shoot your shot whenever the chance arises—even when it doesn’t arise at all.

“You get any chocolates for Valentine’s?” you ask as you plop down in your seat with your lunch, not-so-conspicuously eyeing his desk as his friends begin to crowd around the two of you. It didn’t take long for Caleb to adjust to ordinary school life. After his initial bumpy introduction where he seemed hesitant to get close to anyone his grandma would introduce him to, he was quick to adjust to a level of charisma even you haven’t gotten to. 

By now, he’s charisma personified. You, yourself, have no idea how quickly he adapts to things. Though, you do recall that after an exam measuring his intelligence, he was told he couldn’t lower his grade by two years to be with MC. So you suppose he’s rather bright—almost as much as his face.

“Too many,” one of his friends groan, dragging his hand down the side of his face. “Life’s so not fair, dude.”

“Just a few,” Caleb laughs, turning to feel me stare at him expectantly. “Most of them are obligatory. I just helped a couple people out during gym.”

You glance at his friends. “How many is a few?”

“At least five,” another one grins. He wiggles his eyebrows at you, and his friend snickers at his shoulder. “You jealous?”

It’s not like your crush on Caleb is new news. In fact, it’s practically common knowledge at your school, given how open you are with your affection with him. Asking him out with a giant poster on orientation day, sending him notes with hearts littered everywhere during class, and refusing to be subtle when you’re discussing it with your friends…it tends to add up. Most people believe your relationship to be strange, but those who matter thought of it as the norm, so it doesn’t really matter. 

“Jealous? I don’t think so, why?”

“Most girls would be if their boyfriend got a bunch of chocolates,” he responds, to which Caleb immediately reminds him that you’re not dating. Then his friend sighs. “It’s cute when girls get jealous, isn’t it?”

At this, your ears perk.

“Should I be jealous?” you ask Caleb, making his friends erupt into snickers. “Do you think it’s cute too?”

He rolls his eyes and flicks your forehead softly. “Do you ever ask normal questions, splints?”

Throughout your childhood together, everything involves him. Family dinners, graduation, holidays, all of it. Of course, this means that MC is there for all of it too. You’re helplessly in love, but you’re not stupid. You know what love looks like from the movies their grandma would play on their TV. He cares for her with a different look in his eyes. He protects her with a lovingness in his voice that he doesn’t spare for you. 

The same fingers that flick your forehead touch her arm gingerly, like she could crack in half if he holds too hard. He doesn’t touch her very easily either, whereas he often falls asleep with his head fully leaning against your shoulder on the bus ride home. He wakes up at the crack of dawn to make her lunch, while the two of you munch on sandwiches from the school cafeteria during lunch breaks. He scolds you when your clothes are tossed on the ground while he folds hers without her having to ask. He never enters her room to protect her privacy while he lounges in yours like he owns the place.

Your Caleb, you have found, is different from MC’s Caleb. 

MC’s Caleb is easy to depend on. Trustworthy, perfect, and never makes a mistake for the life of him. He never loses his cool in front of her, never has a hair out of place, lets her win at all the board games, and always has this clear but dazed look in his pretty purple eyes. Your Caleb has none of that. Your Caleb teases you mercilessly when you lose the card game for the fifth time in a row. Your Caleb passes out on his desk while studying for an exam, essentially drooling on his notebook to lie to MC that he’s naturally talented at math. Your Caleb sends you stupid videos about plane models and forces you to sit through a thirty-minute explanation about it.

You know he likes her. He knows you know he likes her. She doesn’t know anything at all. All jumbled up, like a wordless pact ready to crumble at any moment. 

Of course, this means that he prioritizes her over you at times. All the time. It’s to be expected. She’s family, you’re not. You’ve grown used to it, and so has he.

MC doesn’t notice though, because she doesn’t have to. Because to her, Caleb is just a slightly nagging but cool adoptive brother. Nothing more, nothing less. And you’re one of her childhood friends, and Caleb’s best friend. Nothing more, nothing less.

The first year after you graduate high school is a dramatic shift from your cozy hometown. You somehow manage to get into the same college as Caleb–and you attribute his tutoring to be the main culprit—though in different majors. It’s a lot to convince him to go so far from home given that MC is still at home, but after a lot of reluctant discussion, he agrees.

“Take off your shoes at the door,” he reminds you as you barge into his dorm room after a particularly difficult exam for one of your classes. You do as he asks, grumbling about how he has no mercy for the fallen, tossing them haphazardly beside the door and prancing past him. He takes the time to tidy them up, as if he’s expecting it. “How was your exam?”

“Awful. I went through war.”

Caleb grins as he sits down at the coffee table beside you, watching as you bury your face into your arms. “And whose fault is it that they didn’t want to study?”

“Yours.”

“Funny,” he snorts, and you feel his large hand ruffling the top of your head. “It’s alright, splints. I can tutor you a bit earlier on the next one.”

“Even you can’t save me for this class.”

“Is that a challenge?”

He ends up cooking up something quick in his makeshift kitchen (essentially just a rice cooker), while you laze around on his bed, scrolling aimlessly on your phone. Once he’s finished, you scarf down his food like a man starved, lips stretching widely. At times like these, you’re oddly grateful for his hopeless love toward MC. How else would he have learned to cook such good food?  “You should honestly be a chef, Caleb. Actually, no, that would mean other people would eat your food. I guess you can just be my personal chef when we’re married.”

Caleb remains completely unaffected, wordlessly cleaning the plate in front of you. “I didn’t realize I was engaged.”

“Well, now you know. Not sure if you remember, but I had fireworks for you and everything when I proposed. Plus an orchestra.”

He hums, looking up as if he’s in thought, and then nods. “Now that you mention it, that does sound familiar, splints. How could I forget?”

You shrug. “You tell me.”

His face falls as you pace to the door and begin to put your shoes back on. “Where are you going? Aren’t you done with class?”

“Going out. I deserve it after that exam.”

“With your friends?”

“No, with four guys,” you joke, but he doesn’t seem to find it very funny. “I’m just going to a club. I won’t be back too late.”

He’s already grabbing his jacket. “I can come.”

You push him back with your finger by the nose, and he blinks in surprise, making you laugh. “No need. You have exams too, y’know.”

“I’m done studying.”

“Liar.”

Though it takes some convincing, you eventually have him sit at his desk once more. He manages to nag a whole lot as you leave, reminding you to call him once you’re done so he can pick you up, but you just wave him off as you leave out the door. You take your time getting ready–dolling yourself up to hide the dark circles beneath your eyes. As you get ready, you video call MC, where she asks how you and Caleb have been doing in her absence. She rants about her days with her grandma, complaining about how quiet the house is when Caleb isn’t home, though she indulged in the beginning. She asks you to show her your outfit once you’re done, and she beams brightly in your screen, squealing about how you’d likely get a boyfriend soon that you can tell her all about.

You just smile, because you don’t know how to tell her that the only boy you want is wrapped around her unknowing hand.

The club is loud. Where the music rumbles through your feet to the tips of your fingertips, and the lights are flashing in a dimly lit room. Your friends flock to a table and order drinks while you let yourself feel the music and crack a joke or two once in a while.

A group of guys approaches you with easy smiles and louder voices than necessary—confidence sharpened by cheap cologne. One of them leans against your table like he’s done it a hundred times before, asking your name, where you’re from, if you come here often. The usual.

You answer, choking out a laugh to humor his unfunny jokes alongside your friends, while the swigs you take from your drink become deeper and deeper. 

He’s not bad at flirting, you think. Subtle, and not too glaring about it. But you don’t particularly enjoy humoring it, and it becomes gradually more apparent as your eyes keep drifting elsewhere and you keep having to ask him to repeat himself. You’re growing bored. Irritated.

Because he’s not Caleb.

It hits you in strange, inconvenient flashes. The way this guy stands just a little too far away. The way his voice doesn’t quite reach you over the music, even when he’s close. The way you don’t feel that familiar, grounding presence like an anchor holding you to the ground.

You find yourself glancing past his shoulder. Half-wishing to see Caleb there. Watching. Hovering.

But there’s only strangers. Blurred faces and flashing lights.

“You okay?” the guy asks, tilting his head.

“Yeah,” you say too quickly. “Long week.”

He grins, like that’s an invitation. Says something else—something about getting you another drink, maybe dancing, maybe getting out of here.

You nod again. Smile again.

Across the room, your friends are already disappearing into the crowd, dragged toward the dance floor by laughter and hands you don’t recognize. One of them glances back at you, gives you a look that asks ‘you’re good, right?’ before she’s gone.

You sit back down at the table when the guy steps away. Maybe to grab drinks, maybe because he senses your attention drifting. You don’t really care which.

The music swells in your chest. The lights flicker. You wish you could enjoy yourself, but it’s particularly hard today.

You take another sip. Then another. Your phone rests face-down on the table, but you flip it over anyway.

No messages.

Of course not. He cares, but not like that. Not in the way that he would spam MC’s phone whenever he didn’t know where she was or how she was doing. No, not like that at all.

Another sip. The glass is nearly empty now.

And suddenly, you’re pressing send before you can even register what’s happening.

[you]: hi

The answer comes immediately, the grey bubbles popping up on his end of the screen.

[futre hubs <333]: do you need me to come pick you up?

[futre hubs <333]: i can

You’re not sure why you feel like shit, but you hate it. In moments like these—moments where the alcohol lets you lower your walls and truly think—it hits you like a truck, like a deeply sinking feeling in your chest. The years of rejection after rejection that the two of you frame like a bit—as if your feelings have become so miniscule that it no longer even phases him. 

It hurts, a bit. More than you let yourself feel.

You’re not sure how much time passes. Maybe minutes or maybe an hour. There’s buzzing throughout your body. The grip on your waist belonging to the man you’ve been half-heartedly entertaining suddenly becomes harsher, snapping you out of your trance. It feels unlike Caleb, but you let it sit anyway. However, the hand moves to your wrist, and you’re being pulled out of the crowd towards the wall.

Too touchy. He’s saying something into your ear, and you feel his breath against your skin. You don’t like it. Too close. The buzzing feeling feels more like an alarm now.

The words either go unheard due to the music or don’t deter him. You want to go back. Back to Caleb. In the moment, you begin to think—almost as if the world is in slow motion. Perhaps the drinks, you think. You wonder if Caleb will leave you. You wonder if he’ll leave to go be with MC. You wonder if the years you’ve spent expressing your love to him meant as much to him as it did to you, or if he just found it plain annoying. You wonder if now that you’re in college, he’d want to explore other people, and he’ll finally find an outlet to get rid of you for good. 

But you know he wouldn’t. Because he cares for you. Just not as much as he cares for her.

You wonder if he’s ever looked at you with the same softness he does with MC.

Someone pulls you away from the man and into their chest, and the worries dissipate in an instant. His scent. His warmth. You knew he’d come. He always does. It only takes a warning glare from Caleb before the man disappears into the crowd again, and you feel the grip on your wrist loosen. Caleb stares down at you, your back still to his chest as you blink wearily, almost in slow motion, and he sighs. He doesn’t give you the same smile he gives to MC when she’s in trouble. 

A part of you wishes he wasn’t always there for you—not when it’s so different from how he’s there for her. 

You sit idly in front of a convenience store parking lot while Caleb fetches you some water and ice cream. You have your knees to your chest, arms pulling them close as you shiver against the cold autumn breeze. You should’ve brought a jacket. The buzzing, hot feeling of the alcohol is subsiding too quickly.

“Drink.” You feel a water bottle press against your cheek from behind, and Caleb plops down beside you with a plastic bag. He notices how you’re holding yourself together and frowns. “Are you cold?”

“No.”

“I told you to grab a jacket.”

“You nag too much.”

He snickers and twists open the cap of the water bottle for you to drink, which you sip carefully. He strips his jacket off and drapes it over your shoulders, and you immediately bury yourself in it. It smells like him.

“What kind of woman do you like, Caleb?”

“You and your questions.”

“I want to know.”

He shifts to face you, motioning for you to lift your arms. He grabs either side of his jacket and pulls it shut, fumbling with the zipper until he manages to zip it to your chin. You can barely claw your hands out of his sleeves—the fabric almost engulfs you—but he just laughs. “My type? A woman who brings jackets when it’s cold.”

You scowl, making his laugh echo louder. “Other than that.”

“A woman who goes to class in the morning.”

“...Other than that.”

“A woman who doesn’t leave her clothes all over my floor when she feels like sleeping over.”

“Something else.”

“A woman who eats healthy, balanced meals. A woman who doesn’t steal all my pens and then still ends up asking me for more. Maybe someone who doesn’t pass out drooling on my pillow. Or someone who doesn’t let half the world know that they like someone—hell, maybe even the entire world.”

Caleb glances at you, chuckling to himself, but stops the moment he sees that you’re not laughing with him. Your head hangs low, your feet shuffling anxiously. His face twists, and suddenly the air thickens.  “Splints?”

You pick at your sleeves. “So just not me?”

“I was just kidding around.”

“Jokes have some truth to them.”

“Not all of them. I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay, Caleb,” you finally meet his eyes again, and shrug. “I know you like someone else. I’m not an idiot.”

Silence commences, like a bell dropping on your head.

Caleb shifts his weight, one hand coming up to rub the back of his neck. It’s a nervous habit you’ve seen a hundred times—usually followed by some half-joke, something to smooth things over.

But nothing comes.

The space between you suddenly feels too small and too big all at once. You try to act normal. You really do.

You fiddle with your sleeve again, smoothing it down, then pulling at it, then smoothing it again. Anything to give your hands something to do, so they don’t reach for him out of instinct. 

Caleb glances at you. Then away.

Then back again, like he’s trying to solve something written across your face but can’t quite make out the words.

“Hey,” he starts, softer this time.

You hum in response, not trusting your voice yet.

Another pause. God, it’s awkward.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he mutters again, quieter now. Not defensive. Unsure. “You know I think you’re amazing.”

Just not enough.

“I am pretty great,” but it comes out too soft.

Neither of you knows what to do with another stretch of silence. So you opt to drink some more water instead.

“Why do you like me so much?” He eventually mutters out as he bites his bottom lip, eyes falling to the ground like he can’t bear to watch your expression. “You could do a lot better.”

You smile, but it’s half-hearted. “How could I not?”

He pauses, as if choosing his words carefully before his voice comes out in a soft whisper. “You mean so much to me. You’re smart, beautiful, and everything good in between—whoever gets to call you theirs is the luckiest person I know. And you know I’d do anything for you.”

Despite their sweetness, his words feel like judgement wrapping around your heart in vines, squeezing just before it’s about to pop. You wish you could block your ears out for what comes next.

“But it can’t be me.” Caleb’s lips purse, brows furrowing as he looks away. “I can’t give you what you want.”

The rejection hurts more than you realized it would. You want to tell him that it’s not fair to treat you the way he does and expect you not to fall for him. That holding your hair when you vomit, falling asleep at your bedside when you’re sick, and his eyes closing in on you in any room that you’re in is not fair. 

Instead, you nod. And you swear to yourself that you’ll swallow this sickening lump in your throat that makes you want to hurl and sob at the same time. That you’ll bury it deep in a graveyard within you that even the closest person to you would never know of. Especially him.  

“I don’t want it, either,” you snort back, immediately perking up to slap his back in what results in a jolt. His shoulders tense as he blinks wide at you, unsure of the sudden shift in atmosphere. “I don’t want feelings that belong to someone else, dumbass.”

Once it sinks in that you mean it, a smile finds its way onto his face, though something flickers beneath it, like a flash of something you don’t want to look too far into.

Not because you still had hope, but because whatever existed between you had never been something as simple as a crush. It had roots—tangled deep into your souls and impossible to pull free without tearing something open. You wanted to keep what was left. Even if it lingered just a little longer, and even if you pretended not to see the splintering strands in the string tying you together.

So you let it settle. Let it rot somewhere you couldn’t feel it.

The two of you fall into the kind of closeness that you’ve always had, and time passes as if it was always meant to be this way. It’s easier this way. For a while, it does work, but nothing ever really stays under wraps. Despite your incessant protests in telling yourself it’s fading, the scars he’s inflicted on you are just that. Scars. Unmoving yet subtle.

The thinning thread finally snaps a few years later, when MC develops feelings for a coworker in the Hunter’s Association. The day the cracks in the glass bridge holding you together shatter beneath your feet into a million different pieces.

“When’s the last time you’ve slept?”

He’s sprawled shirtless on the couch of his apartment in Skyhaven, freshly out of the shower after you arrived to visit him for the first time in months—only to see that he’s nearly overworking himself to death. Despite him going off to the DAA after college, you’d kept close contact, the connection between the two of you never wavering regardless of your restricted time. It only changed after news of MC broke out. Worried, you’d rushed to Skyhaven to make sure he was doing okay, which you’re clearly glad you did now. You’d practically had to drag him to the shower to keep him from passing out next to the front door in his gear.

Caleb, clearly, is off. You suppose you don’t blame him. The woman he loves is yearning for another. Almost poetic, really, but you don’t like seeing him this way. Especially when you know what it feels like yourself, even if you’ve gotten used to it. Gotten over it. He looks like a kicked puppy. Hurt, like a dog who’s just been scratched by its owner. 

“I dunno.”

You peer into the empty abyss that is his fridge and frown. There’s a few measly apples sitting inside, and a half-eaten protein bar that’s been there for god knows how long. “What the hell have you been eating?”

He responds with a grunt, letting his head fall back against the sofa. You decide to make do with the instant noodles he has stashed in one of the cupboards and bring it over to him once it seems mostly done. With a fork, you stick out a few noodles to his face, urging him. “Eat.”

“Not hungry,” he mutters.

“Don’t care. Sit up.”

He opens one of his eyes to peek at you, which somehow urges him forward. There’s darkness beneath his eyes—even stubble littering his chin from a few days worth of not shaving. You want to reach out and poke fun at him, but the state he’s in deters you. Instead, you silently feed him, watching him chew his food while staring at your hands. It makes you wish you put on a fresh set of polish before you came.

You twirl another small forkful and hold it out. He leans forward this time without being told, taking it quietly. His shoulder brushes yours as he settles back against the couch, and you can feel his skin through your shirt.

“Thanks,” he mutters, voice rough from disuse more than anything. “For coming.”

“Yeah,” you say, quieter now. “Someone had to make sure you didn’t rot in here.”

He huffs a faint laugh, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Probably would’ve. Dramatic way to go out, huh?”

You nudge his knee with yours. “Starving to death in your own apartment? Real heroic.”

A ghost of a smile flickers across his face. It makes your heart flutter. Stupid feelings.

“…thanks for coming, splints,” he says.

Your chest tightens—sharp and sudden. It feels like it’s threatening to feel something that’s not yours to feel. So instead, you look down at the bowl, pretending to focus on separating another bite. You twirl your fork, more carefully this time. “I had to. You weren’t responding, so I thought you died, or something. Open.”

He rolls his eyes, but obeys anyway. “Bossy.”

“Learned from the best.”

His lids flutter shut, voice dropping to a lower hum. “I missed this.”

Your hand stills. “What?”

He shrugs, eyes still closed. “You being here.”

His hair is sticking to his forehead, still damp from the shower. Before you realize what you’re doing, you brush a stray strand of hair off his forehead. You speak quietly. “You look like shit.”

“Wow,” he mutters. “You have a way with words.”

You frown, and without thinking, your hand lingers at his temple for just a second longer than it should. His skin is warm, still hot from the shower.

“Idiot,” you whisper.

He catches your wrist. Not tight, not stopping you. Simply holding it there for a moment that feels too long and not long enough at once. Your eyes meet for a fleeting moment, and then you’re looking away, setting the mostly finished bowl of noodles onto the coffee table to pull away.

“Don’t make this a habit. I’m not flying out here every time you forget to eat.”

“Could,” he murmurs. “You would.”

You don’t respond to that, because he’s not wrong.

“…Is she okay?”

It slips out of him like instinct. Like breathing. And just like that, everything shifts. You don’t answer right away—instead, your fingers tighten slightly around the fork.

“She’s fine,” you say eventually. Leave it, you plead in your head.

“Did she say anything?” he asks, sitting up a little more now. There’s something in his eyes, like he’s searching. “When you talked to her.”

You shrug, trying to keep your tone even. “Just normal stuff.” Stop, you think. Please stop talking.

“Like what?”

“Like her job. Her grandma. Nothing serious.” Shit.

He frowns slightly. “She didn’t mention him?”

There it is. It’s always about her.

You know he’s in a vulnerable spot right now, but it does nothing to ease the sudden flame roaring in your chest. Whether it’s from years of repressed hurt or shame, all it amounts to is a relentless ball of rage inside of you that leaves your nails digging crescents into the palms of your hands. You stare at him, chewing on the inside of your cheek as you inch away from him. 

“Does it matter?”

Caleb’s face relaxes. “What?”

“Why does it matter what she thinks about him? She likes him, end of story, no?”

“I just want to know if he’s a decent guy.”

Your ass. “That’s not really your business, Caleb, but sure. He’s a great guy. Amazing, honestly. He’s really gentlemanly and checks every single box. He lives above her apartment, so they’re right next to each other. He treats her gently, too. I’d bet every girl would jump at a chance to date a guy like that.”

You’re not sure where the words are tumbling out of, but it’s too late to go back. Neither do you want to.

“I wonder if he has a brother. Maybe MC could set me up or something.”

“Oh. Is he…” Caleb’s back straightens, and you notice his fingers digging into his thighs. “...handsome?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I’m telling you, he’s perfect. His face could pay for the Linkon rent by itself.”

He suddenly stands, and you glare up at him through your eyebrows. “Why are you talking like that?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you scoff.

He narrows his eyes. It’s something you haven’t seen in a while, since Caleb rarely gets upset at you. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, splints.”

“Can you just spit it out? What am I saying differently?”

“You’re angry.”

You stand, following suit. He looms over you to have his shadow essentially engulf you, and you wish you could kick his ankle so he falls to the ground. “Maybe if you weren’t so irritating, I wouldn’t feel so annoyed right now.”

“What?”

“It’s hard to watch, Caleb,” you hiss out in exasperation, throwing your hands into the air. “It’s always pipsqueak this, pipsqueak that, pipsqueak what. Seriously, we’re not kids anymore, you need to get over it!”

You’re not sure if you’re talking to him or yourself anymore.

“Can we calm down and talk? If I’ve been talking too much about it, I can stop, so—”

“We haven’t seen each other in months, Caleb! And all you want to ask me about is how she’s been? Why don’t you ask her yourself, if you’re so curious? Oh, but you can’t, because you always have to be perfect in front of her. So instead, you dump all of this on me. Your goods and bads, all of it, just for me to get kicked to the curb like I’m some dispensable object.”

“What?” his balks. “Dispensible? Are you serious? As if I haven’t gotten you out of every little thing you’ve gotten yourself into the past decade of our lives? As if I haven’t picked you up every weekend from your friends’ places at three in the morning? Like I haven’t called you every single week—”

“Well, I want you to stop that!” your words spit at him like weak knives, growing louder by the second. 

“You didn’t seem very against it the last forty times.”

“I am now.”

“What has gotten into you, splints?”

“Don’t call me that right now,” you glower, and you try to ignore the hurt flashing across his expression. “I’m just sick of seeing you follow her around like some wet dog. She doesn’t see you like that, can’t you see that?”

Your breathing begins to stutter, and you suck in a deep breath through your nose. Your chest stings, and you pray that you don’t lose composure so the tears threatening to bubble at the corners of your eyes remain hidden.

“You told me that you couldn’t give me what I wanted. Well, she can’t either,” you bore holes into his chest, too afraid of what you might see if you look up. “If I can get over my stupid feelings, so can you.”

But you’re not over it. Not at all.

He opens his mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. For the first time in a while, you’ve rendered him speechless, and it feels even worse than what it felt to be rejected years ago. You’re not sure how your nails haven’t drawn blood at this point. You’d rather that they do, so you have some excuse to use the restroom.

“It’s not fair what you do, Caleb,” you try to will your tears to stay at bay, but you can’t help them. They sting, blurring your vision as you drop your head in some pathetic hope that he won’t face them head on. “How you treat me when you don’t like me like that is not fair. At least MC doesn’t know, but you—you know, and yet you—”

The rational part of you says that it’s not entirely his fault. Sure, you insisted on staying by his side. Sure, you insisted that you could push down your feelings. Sure, you’ve promised a lot of things, but it’s his fault too, for being the way he is—so kind, so thoughtful, just so him. 

You wipe desperately at your tears. It was a lost cause from the start.

“Please don’t cry.” His face drains of color, apparent even against the dim lighting in his apartment. He steps towards you, and you take a step back. “Please don’t cry, splints, just not that.”

But when your tears refuse to cease dripping down your cheeks, your face flushing in humiliation, you feel both his hands cupping either side of it. He tilts your gaze up, and you realize that he’s only inches away from you, so much so that you can feel his breath against your skin. It’s moments like these that you lose yourself in his beauty. The deepness of his eyes that seem to peer into your very soul is one of the first features that you fell in love with as a child, and it hasn’t changed since. Damn him. You blink, eyes wide while his own flicker to your lips. 

“Be as mad as you want. Hit me, hate me even,” he whispers, his nose almost touching yours now. His thumb pad smooths your tears away. “But don’t waste your tears on someone like me.”

You think you might be imagining things. Because with the tension that nearly suffocates you and his lashes almost fluttering against your skin, you think he might be about to kiss you.

A sharp pain jabs you in the chest. Is it pity? A consolation prize dressed up as something softer? Is it to smooth things over, to make this moment easier for him to leave behind? Or is it rebellion? Something reckless from the fact that he can’t have her? Your tears have dried up, but the rest of your body seems to weep, as no excitement, no butterflies course through your veins. 

Why is it always something else? Why is it never you? It only hurts—because even now, you’re just the place he empties everything he feels for her.

Instinctively, you press your palm into his lips to push him away, and it feels like the air itself has stilled.

His breath lingers against your skin. Yours stutters like it’s forgotten how to exist in the same space as him. The air is so thick you could slice it with a knife.

Eventually, he pulls away. Caleb stares at you with an expression you haven’t seen before, though you don’t look long enough to analyze it. Wordlessly, you gather your things, stuffing your jacket into your bag and stumble over to the door—all while he stays locked in a petrified state, like he’s processing what he just did. Your gaze remains fixated on the wooden panels of the floor while you pack, refusing to look any higher in case you might see anything other than his feet.

“Don’t follow me,” you tell him as you leave. 

You don’t wait to see if he hears you.

The journey home feels like there’s a gaping hole in your chest, and all you can do is stare out the window as you feel the vibrations of the train through your fingertips. Outside, the world blurs past in streaks of dim lights and shadowed shapes, and you wish that your feelings were as fleeting as the buildings blurring by. 

You try to count the number of trees you see. Not on the warmth of his breath against your palm. Not on how close he’d been. Not on the fact that, for a second, you almost let him.

If you hadn’t pushed him away, would it have meant anything? Or would you have just been a mistake he’d regret in the morning?

Your phone buzzes frantically in your pocket, and you pull it out to see his name in big bold letters. He’s texting you simultaneously, apologizing in so many different ways that they all start to blend into one message you don’t plan on reading. You refuse to give into what your heart wants. It’s hurt you too much in the past. So instead, your thumb hovers above the ‘mute’ button.

You press it and shut your eyes.

Even if it’s difficult to adjust the first few weeks without him, you can’t bear to face him either. He shows up at your door. Nearly every day for some time, knocking softly and asking if you’d be willing to talk. When you simply plug in your earbuds and bury yourself into your bed, he apologizes through the door and leaves you something to eat. You tend to throw it out at first, but after a while, you figure it’s just a waste. Just like that, a month goes by. And then another. Then another. Until you can’t count them on one hand anymore. He comes by once every two weeks or so now, likely busy with his work.

Despite how much your body seems to miss his presence, you wonder if you should distance Caleb permanently. It’s a daunting idea. One that you never would’ve thought just a few years ago, but the embarrassment runs deeper than you want to admit. The feelings you’ve tried so hard to hide clearly aren’t hidden. Is this sustainable? 

Regardless of what you think, he comes around like clockwork.

“Are you in there?” He knocks gently on your door, voice soft. He probably knows you are.

“No.”

He chuckles from the other end. “Right. Happy birthday, splints.”

You glance at your phone calendar. He’s right. 

As usual, he begins to talk about random events in his life that he hasn’t had the opportunity to tell you, and while you usually muffle it out, you decide to quietly shuffle over to the door today. To tell him, maybe, that you don’t want to keep doing this. Or maybe just to hear his voice, you don’t know. Either way, you slide your back down the door where he’s on the other side, pulling your knees into your chest.

“I don’t know if you’ve read my text, but–”

“I don’t read them.”

Caleb stops, and you can almost hear his breath hitch. You usually don’t give him more than a few words, much less a full sentence, so it seems to have taken him aback. After the brief remission, you hear him clear your throat. “Splints, can you open the door? I want to talk—apologize to you.”

Silence.

“Or I can do it out here. That’s fine,” he sighs. “I want you to know that it’s okay if you want to hate me forever after this. I won’t keep clinging to you if you at listen to what I have to say, but I really just—I need to say that this is my fault.”

You half-heartedly hear his words drone on, his confidence wavering every so often while you pull up his chats on your phone. You have no idea how you hadn’t folded and read his chats until now, though it might’ve been more so for your own peace than anything. There’s too many to scroll up to, so you read the most recent messages, squinting in the dark against the light of your phone. 

[1:41PM]

[caleb]: are you eating well?

[caleb]: i made this today

[caleb]: [image attached]

[caleb]: your favorite dishes :) i’ll drop them off at your place later

[caleb]: i hope you’re not just throwing them out…wouldn’t blame you tho

[caleb]: at least take care of yourself :)

[8:13AM]

[caleb]: hi splints :)

[caleb]: you probably watched it already but that movie you wanted to see came out a week ago. I went to go see it

[caleb]: i still think it’s kind of bad…but it was entertaining

[caleb]: unless you wanna argue about it ?? :3

[5:32PM]

[caleb]: ranked first today

[caleb]: i was excited to celebrate it with you and then remembered :/

[caleb]: it doesn’t feel as good when i can’t tell you lol

[caleb]: hope you’re okay

[11:23PM]

[caleb]: i wish i hadn’t been so stupid

[caleb]: i didn’t deserve you back then

[caleb]: i still don’t

[caleb]: i shouldn’t have lost my cool when you were over here. didn’t like hearing you talk about that guy like that

[caleb]: im sure he’s a good looking guy, and i know you’re particularly weak to good looking guys…

[caleb]: i was being childish and i wish i could’ve explained it to you then

[caleb]: i know you don’t owe me anything and you don’t have to listen to what i have to say

[caleb]: but i never wanted to make you feel used, and i never did. if that even sounds believable lol

[caleb]: it was never about her

[caleb]: there’s so much more i want to say but i’ll say it in person

[caleb]: miss you a lot

[caleb]: sleep tight

You wish the tightness in your chest would go away. You wish you didn’t feel his sorrow through him. And you wish you didn’t care about your own feelings for him.

“I love you, splints,” he murmurs, and your attention tears away from the chats, your phone nearly clattering onto the floor. Your eyes widen, suddenly regretting that you missed the first half of his speech. 

“Not in the way you say it to your friends, or the way you say it to family. You’re my life, and you’ve been my life since the day you gave me that ring. I care for MC, but what I feel for you is different. It’s always been different. I realized that years ago, but I was afraid that it wouldn’t be fair for you. I thought you deserved someone better than someone who doesn’t know how to understand their own feelings.” Your throat dries. “I thought it wasn’t fair because I’d already put you through so much.”

“At the same time, I’m a selfish guy, you know? I couldn’t let you go either, because I couldn’t bear to see you with someone else. I wanted it to be us, and the only way I could think of existing without feeling like I was ruining you was to stay how we were. Stagnant, I guess,” he chuckles, but it feels sad. Weak. “I’m an idiot when it comes to you, you know.”

You don’t respond.

Not because you don’t have anything to say—if anything, there’s too much. It crowds your throat, every word scraping against the next until none of them can make it out. Your fingers hover uselessly over your phone, screen still lit with a conversation you can’t even remember reading.

‘I love you.’

The words echo, but they don’t land the way you once dreamed they would. They don’t bloom or soften or fix anything. They just sit. Too heavy. Too late.

Your chest tightens, aching outward like it’s trying to break free. Because you’ve wanted this—God, you’ve wanted this—for so long that you stopped letting yourself imagine it could ever actually happen. It should feel like relief. Instead, it feels real, but fragile.

Because you remember too much. The almosts. The waiting. The way you learned how to swallow your emotions when he built a wall between the two of you—and that doesn’t disappear just because he finally found the words.

Your hand curls slightly against the door, fingers brushing the cool surface.

Even with all that, you still miss the warmth of his skin. How his hair felt through a towel as you dried it. How he’d flick your forehead when you’d get a question wrong during one of his tutoring sessions. How he’d tease you about your grades or interests, and learn more about them anyway. How he’d message you throughout the day about random endeavors. How he’d always be there. How with just a call of his name, he would’ve crossed the continents for you. His eyes. His lips. His face. His painfully handsome face.

You remember him in all parts of your life—and not a single moment you’ve spared has gone without him. You remember how he held your hand when you’d broken your arm, and the way he’d lifted you into the air and embraced you when you were accepted into the same college as him. You remember how he’d pet your hair as you complained about him going too far for the DAA, promising he’d visit often. And he did. He always kept his promises.

Your body moves on its own, as if this was how it was always meant to be. The door slowly creaks open.

“…We’re a mess.”

A faint, tired smile is all you can give him. Still, when he sees you, the world seems to stop for just the two of you, and it takes him a moment to fully register that you’re really there. That you’re not just a figment of his imagination, and he hasn’t truly lost you forever as he’d feared. “This doesn’t mean you’re completely out of the woods. I’m still mad.”

“You should be,” he whispers out, nearly breathless.

Hesitantly, you step towards him. He reaches his arm out, brows furrowed cautiously like he’s not sure if he’s allowed to even blink right now. The tips of his fingers twitch towards you. You raise a brow, and he swallows the lump in his throat, retracting back until you nod. 

Realizing you don’t have shoes, you step onto the fronts of his shoes one foot at a time, taking his hand until you’re flush against him and he’s already engulfing you into a crushing embrace. His arms wrap around you, strong and warm. He smells good. Though you can’t confidently say the same for yourself given the state you’re in, he drops his chin into the crook of your neck and inhales deeply, like a man starved.

“Note to self,” you mumble. “Don’t propose to any handsome guy you see.”

Caleb laughs, airy this time, and you feel it against your collarbone. “I thought you were going to leave your husband out here to die in the cold.”

“I should divorce you. We’re not even married yet.”

He grins, lopsided. “You should.”

“I won’t.”

“I know.

You bury your face into his chest, fingers digging into the fabric on his back. “I don’t want a version of my life without you, Caleb. As annoying as you are.”

He pulls away for a brief moment and places a kiss on your cheek, his own dusting red. Flowers feel like they’re blooming on the spot he pecked, but somehow, it feels natural. You’ve always been close to him physically throughout your upbringing, even if it never involved lips–that was new territory. You cross your arms, relying on his hands around your waist to keep you upright. “Tell me more.”

“You nag too much.”

He kisses your nose. “Hm?”

“You’re emotionally repressed.”

“Ouch.” He kisses your temple.

“You’re too good at things you don’t try at.”

Your jawline.

“You’re unstable. You’re too protective. You’re stupid.”

“I love you,” he says, pressing his forehead against yours. His lips hover above your own, just centimeters away.

Your lashes flutter against his. “Then prove it to me.”