PASTOR'S DAUGHTER!ELLIE ✘ FEM!READER

cw: this chapter contains — first person perspective, cursing obvii, usage of y/n.

wc: 2.5k

a/n: not proofread💌 chat did i just lowk got out of writer's block😳 april was absolutely THE WORST month this year. the april theory is real guys... anywhooo, this fic is based on real events btw..... well, there are some parts that i added to the plot (and character) just to spice things up a bit. i mostly see some ellie x pastor's daughter!reader, but not pastor's daughter!ellie, sooooo why notttt! this chapter is more like an inteoduction so there's not much to read here, but I'm just testing the water for now, yk🥰🥰i almost think that my writing style has changed.... probably from reading physical books more often than fics from the internet. but anywaysss, intentional lowercase, as usual, and i also wrote this in first person on accident... but idk, is it kinda icky for u guys🤷🏻‍♀️? please lmk ur preference <3 and ALSO (when is this gonna stop, honestly) i'm probably dividing this into 2-3 parts hehe. lastly, likes and reblogs are MUCH APPRECIATED💞 alright, enough of me yapping, enjoy!

i look around and took in the familiar setting one last time. the seats are covered with a thick layer of black cloth, it's fabric smooth and silky. the stage is filled to the brim with blossoming flowers, their stems wrapped snugly with silver ribbons. the gold and white curtains are draped gracefully over the background in which the students had prepared together with great thought and pampering, not sparing a single detail.

there is a palpable sense of finality in the room, and the last words of the speaker fades into silence. the students slowly rise from their seats, their faces filled with a mix of relief and pride. there are occasional bursts of laughter and tears, while some are snapping some pictures along with their families, friends, and lovers.

"heyyy, what's wrong?" i asked, walking towards my friends as i took in their tear-stained faces and smudged mascara. addie let out a laugh, tears still streaming down her cheeks. "i just can't believe we're graduating, i feel so fucking happy and so fucking sad at the same time," she croaked. "i know, me too," i replied, smiling wryly. "i'm gonna miss you guys, even if you're a bunch of assholes." we shared a laugh, and i pulled them into a tight hug.

cat sniffled, then suddenly brightened. "okay, enough crying, we totally forgot to take pictures!" she pulled out her phone, and we quickly fixed our hair and wiped away each other's tears. it was a bittersweet moment for sure. all the countless memories we created, all the dumbest decisions we ever made, all the weirdest shit we dared each other… is something that i will never forget.

cat snapped one last photo, and we gazed at the screen, our arms around each other. like nothing in this world could possibly break us apart. "perfect," addie whispered, "promise we'll still keep in touch?" her voice still trembling. "we promise," i replied, smiling softly. we exchanged looks, our eyes still glistening with unshed tears. even as we went our separate ways, the bond we'd formed would always remain. always.

as the crowd dispersed, we exchanged our final goodbyes. addie and cat headed off to meet their families, while i lingered behind, taking in my surroundings. i guess this is it. i'm finally leaving this fucking hellhole. i took a deep breath, savoring the moment, before turning to make my way back out. as i was walking, i heard my name being called by a familiar voice from a distance.

"hey," i turned to see ellie's figure standing a few feet behind me. "ellie, congrats!" i beamed. "yeah, you too! so… which college are you heading to?" she asked, curiosity etched on her forehead. now that, i hadn't really thought about. and that left me wondering, where am i going to study? i couldn't really form an appropriate response. "still thinking about it. you?" i blurted out, tilting my head to one side. "i don't know, actually. but i hope we end up going to the same school," she chuckled. i swear my heart skipped exactly 3 beats. "me too."

we just stood there, staring at each other's eyes filled with amusement. and… something else?…. longing. "anyway, i should go," she said, her voice smooth and gentle, "congrats again!" i smiled, feeling my heart flutter slightly. as ellie turned to leave, i watched her go, my gaze lingering on her retreating figure. i felt a flush rise to my cheeks, and my mind suddenly began to whirl. i hadn't realized how much i'd miss her until now.

we weren't really close. well, i just hadn't really mustered up the courage to talk to her. or maybe it's because i was slightly ignoring her… i've had a small crush on ellie for a while now. i'd catch myself stealing glances, my heart racing when our eyes met. sometimes, i swore i saw something behind her eyes, a flicker of connection that left me wondering. was it just my imagination, or did she feel it too? but i don't know, i will admit, i am a little delusional, so it's probably just my delusions feeding me.

—

the sheets were crumpled, and the pillows were scattered across the bed. the sunlight beamed its way directly into my eyes. the continuous buzzing from under my pillow shattered my peaceful slumber. "are you fucking–" i cursed under my breath in annoyance as i reached for my phone from underneath the crevices of my pillow. i clicked my phone open and— holy shit i have 13 unread texts from addie.

[7:04] helloooo

[7:04] girl are you still sleeping rn.

[7:10] what??? it's 7 in the morning

[7:10] are you srs rn🙂

[7:10] anyway, you coming later?

[7:11] where?

[7:11] girl do you even read messages on our gc

[7:11] what gc

[7:13] oh

[7:13] i DONT KNOW HOW TO SWiM😭

[7:13] you'll live

[7:13] sooo you coming or what?

[7:14] idk, are u?

[7:14] yeah, me and cat

[7:14] CMON iT'LL BE FUNN i PROMISE

i was never really the type to like going out. especially swimming. but perhaps i could go out just this once, and besides, me and my friends did plan on going out for a post-grad celebration. and i'd have ads and cat there with me, i probably wouldn't drown… probably.

[7:16] fine, but i'm only going bc you and cat are

[7:16] YAY

[7:16] pick me up?

[7:17] yep, be ready by 10

[7:17] wait what

"who the hell goes for a swim at 10? they are fucking insane," i sighed heavily and sat down in my bed, eyeing my wardrobe from across the room before shuffling towards it in lazy, and uneven steps. the door creaked open as i twisted the knob, revealing the various clothing hung neatly on the steel bar. some shirts and pants folded in their designated cubbies. my eyes scanned the view in front of me, "what do i wear…" a rash guard? wouldn't want my skin to burn from the sun's radiation. a bra or something? eh. some basic pants? sweatpants, maybe? alright, why the fuck was i thinking of wearing pants to a freaking pool? "you know what, fuck this," i grabbed whatever was infront of my face, not even bothering to check if it was swim-appropriate. but, who cares? we're just going for a swim, anyway.

my surroundings were bright and the space felt confining. the sound of the water falling down the tiles bounced off the walls. as the cold water streamed down my body, my mind wandered to ellie, will i see her there? well, it wasn't entirely impossible, given that half the students in my class will be coming along. even so, it's not like we'd talk anyway, we rarely did. our interactions were limited to discussing school projects and assignments. but i do vividly remember when our class was shooting a film for a project. they paired me and ellie together, and boy, when i found out i was dumbfounded. me? paired with ellie? in a gay film? it felt like the most cliché shit ever. we had the most random conversation ever whilst they were filming us just so it could look like we were actually talking about something. but, we did end up talking about some LGBTQ+ shows and books, and i even gave her one of my favorite novel. now that was definitely cliché. from that point forward, my crush for ellie really sparked. i found myself inheriting her gestures and speech patterns. god, am i just a hopeless romantic.

as the sound of running water pulled to a stop, i stepped out of the shower and wrapped my body with a soft towel. i grabbed the clothes i picked out blindly and inspected it, "whatever". the towel covering my body dropped down to my feet and i carefully slid my head inside the shirt. i lifted my feet and stepped into the short's fabric. i scanned my figure from the mirror, a cropped, collared shirt paired with high-waisted shorts the same color as the top, "this'll do."

after a few hours of waiting for addie's presence, my phone chimed in notification,

[10:02] i'm here

i snapped my phone shut and grasped the tote bag i had prepared, overflowing with essentials i could possibly need while i was away. i rushed down the stairs as i met addie in the driver's seat and cat on the passenger seat, singing along with the music playing in the car's stereo. "s'been about time we hang out before college drains our brains out" cat quipped, grinning over her shoulder as i took my seat in the back. addie, then caught my eye in the rearview mirror and smiled. "ready for our last hurrah before college mode kicks in?" she hooted, her voice bubbling with excitement. cat leaned back in her seat, eyes sparkling with mischief. "i've got a playlist curated to distract us from impending doom—aka student loans and ramen noodles." the music swelled, and we launched into a lively discussion about the future events for later, the soundtrack of our favorite songs providing the perfect accompaniment.

before i knew it, we were pulling into the driveway, the resort's lush greenery and vibrant flowers greeted us. addie expertly maneuvered the car into a parking spot, and we piled out, stretching our limbs after the drive. "finally, we're here!" cat exclaimed, grinning at us.

we made our way to the entrance, where we were met by jade, mike, darcus and some other acquaintances, chatting and laughing together. they waved at us as we approached, and we exchanged greetings. "hey, guys! are you ready for this!?" mike hooted, high-fiving addie.

we followed the others into the resort, winding our way through the pathways to the cottage. the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the sound of people chatting. inside the cottage, we dropped off our bags and began to settle in.

we decided to walk around the resort, taking in the scenery, cat suddenly suggested, "hey, let's take a dip!" me and addie agreed, and before long, we were splashing around in the water, laughing and having a great time. meanwhile, some of our friends were busy cooking food in the kitchen, but we didn't think twice about it—we were too caught up in the moment.

after a while, we climbed out of the pool, feeling a sense of guilt for not helping with the food preparations. "maybe we should've helped with lunch first," addie said, wringing out her hair. we nodded in agreement and headed towards the kitchen to lend a hand.

as we joined the others, the smell of sizzling barbecue and smoke filled the air. we pitched in, helping with the cooking and setting up the tables. just as i was helping putting the hotdogs into their sticks, jade approached me with a mischievous grin. "hey, have you seen the video yet?". i raised an eyebrow, curious. "what video?" i asked. "you might want to check out ellie's part. it's pretty interesting," she grinned, and headed back to where she came from. my curiosity was piqued, and i wondered what was so interesting in ellie's part?

i wandered a few steps away from the crowd, the distant chatter of my friends fading into the background. i reached for my phone until i came across the video. when i hit the play button, i was met by a lively music playing in the background, accompanied by a slideshow of pictures and videos from our class, it was adorable, really. the 10 minute video consisted of our memories from school and ended with an interview segment . after darcus' long ass speech stating all the fun and unforgettable memories we shared, ellie's face popped up on the screen. her hair was gathered in a messy bun, her freckles ever so vibrant in the warm lighting.

"so, are you gonna confess or what?" jade called out from behind the camera. "what?" ellie rolled her eyes, shaking her head. the camera suddenly jerked to the left, lucy's eyes and forehead coming to view. "y/n, ellie likes you!" she giggled. ellie charged to the camera, attempting to stop the recording. that's when i put my phone down, suddenly fascinated by the rocks and the pavement beneath my feet.

was lucy telling the truth? judging by the way ellie reacted—the way her face flushed—the answer was pretty clear. that's when it finally hit me, "she likes me back!" i blurted out, feeling my heart jump out from my chest. i felt an uncomfortable number of eyes gazing over my direction and i quickly spun around, my palm slapping over my mouth in embarrassment.

“y/n!” i heard cat call out from behind me, “come join us!” i took a deep breath, trying to compose myself as i turned around to face my friends. "just a sec!" i called back, attempting to sound as normal as possible despite me acting like a total weirdo over a freaking video about a minute ago.

i rejoined my friends and continued helping with the hotdogs, trying to act as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. we chatted and laughed while cooking, the savory smell of grilled food filling my nostrils. "hey, pass me another hotdog, would ya’?" addie asked, and i handed it to her. "thanks," she smiled, rolling the hotdog on the grill alongside skewers of marinated chicken and pork satay.

the atmosphere was lively, with upbeat music playing in the background and the sound of laughter filling the air. jade effortlessly flipped the grilled pork chops, while mike was busy grilling slices of bell peppers and onions. we were all having a great time, but my thoughts were elsewhere—on ellie.

as the time grew older, me, addie, and cat sat at the edge of the pool. the conversation flowed easily, each of us sharing stories and jokes. the heat from the sun beat down on us. after a while, addie suggested we take a dip in the pool, and we all eagerly agreed. we spent the next hour swimming and playing in the water, the cool liquid splashing on our faces.

i floated on my back, feeling the sun's warmth on my skin, and my thoughts began to drift back to ellie. i couldn't stop thinking about the video. should i text ellie and ask her about it? or would that be too forward? my mind was whirling like a tsunami, and i couldn't seem to shake off the feeling that i needed to talk to her, to at least confirm if what i saw in the video was real, that she actually felt something for me too.

as i swam back to the side of the pool, i made up my mind. i'm gonna text her. i climbed out of the pool, grabbed my towel, and dried my hands. i took a deep breath, sucking all the oxygen i can possibly get and pulled out my phone. my fingers swerved along the keyboard, typing out a message. i hesitated for a moment, my thumb hovering over the send button, before finally hitting it.

[2:28] heyyy

[2:28] soo, i saw the video…