#neelam

in which party life just isn’t for you, and jack is just fine with that.

kinda unfinished lowkey, smutty but not tew much it never escalates yk, friends to lovers

It was the night of Jack’s release party for his new album, and you were not thrilled. It wasn’t that you weren’t all for supporting him, no, no. Far from that. It was the party part of it all.

Parties made you overstimulated and overwhelmed more often than not, and given that Jack was known throughout the industry for his ragers; you were certain this would be no different than the rest.

Nevertheless, you let Neelam drag you along with her as you rode to his penthouse in a cramped limousine as Neelam had invited some of her friends whom you knew nothing of or about. And god were they loud. You were already beginning to get irritated and you hadn’t even arrived yet.

And when you did, her friends only got even louder. And it didn’t help that they were handed shots the moment they walked in, which you declined and to which Neelam said, “Don’t be a prude, Y/n.” You rolled your eyes, declining the shot anyways.

As you all wandered deeper into the party, the harder it was to keep up. And soon, Neelam and the others had dissolved into the crowd of sweaty, dancing couples and friends. It took a while for you to find a familiar face, and you were glad that it wasn’t just any face. It was Jack’s.

“I didn’t think you’d come.” He said with a smirk, looking you up and down with intent. He sure wasn’t complaining about your presence that was for sure. “Why not?” You asked, returning the smirk though yours was far less lust driven than his, yours was sweet and genuine as was his… sort of.

“You don’t seem like the type.” He responded, though you could barely hear him over the music. You shrugged, like it was all fine. You didn’t want him to think any less of you because you weren’t like the other girls he liked; extroverted and party animals. Your head was pounding and reeling but you still managed to get out— “Congratulations on the album though.”

You attempted to walk off but Jack stopped you in your tracks, “Have you had anything to drink? You look drunk, Y/n.” He said worriedly, holding up your unstable body with his hand on your lower back, which made you all squirmy inside. “I’m fine, I just need a minute J.” You practically whispered, your voice light and airy. He wasn’t buying it.

He grabbed your hand, interlocking the both of your fingers so you wouldn’t get separated from him in crowd. He pulled you into a nearby restroom, absentmindedly forgetting to lock the door behind him. “Jack, I’m flattered but I don’t think I can—” He laughed, realizing what you thought was about to happen. “I brought you in here to see what’s up with you. I really get around that much, huh?” He chuckled as you pulled down the toilet cover, sitting down for the first time in hours.

“So what’s up?” He finally asked, you opened your mouth to respond but he could already tell what was bound to come out. “And before you say ‘nothing’ I saw the way you were looking out there, you looked drunk out of your mind and I know you’re not the drinking type.”

You sighed before beginning hesitantly, “Just— overwhelmed. I hate to be the person that’s never down to this type of stuff. And I knew how important it was to you, but with all the noise on top of the pressure to drink— I just couldn’t.”

“God, not to mention the fucking must. This whole party needs on some deodorant.” This made Jack burst out laughing, so much so that he almost became to cry, his face beet red. If his smile was contagious his laugh was even more contagious, you soon began dying laughing as well, flattered that he found you funny.

Finally, the two of you calmed down and all that was heard was small giggles from your side of the bathroom. Jack stared at you in admiration with a grin spread across his lips and you felt the urge to cover up, feeling vulnerable under his gaze. “Whattt?” You slurred.

“You’re beautiful.” He said plainly, the drained, shocked expression on your face only making him smile at you even more. For a moment, there was silence. A nice silence.

Jack leaned down towards you, his hand resting behind your head searching your desperate, wide eyes for any signs of hesitation. “Kiss me, please.” You whimpered, leaning in towards his body.

With that his lips slammed into yours, as you moaned into the hips, your lips seemingly made for one another’s. You kept a slow rhythm until something ignited in the both of you, the rhythm and the passion of the kiss intensifying suddenly.

He disconnected from the kiss causing you to whine at the loss. “Be patient, Y/n.” He ordered, but that only made you even more impatient. He soon pulled your slip dress over your head revealing your bare breasts. His hands began roaming your body, as his kissed your chest. His tongue ran over your nipples ever so slightly making you shiver a bit at the sensation.

Suddenly, making the both of you jump— someone began banging on the bathroom door aggressively. “What the fuck.” You groaned, as Jack let out a dismissive sigh, “Ignore it.”

“Who’s in there?!” Yelled a familiar voice, you both turned to one another, realizing who it was. “Did you lock the door?!” You whispered yelled. “Get in the tub.” He whispered back, giving you your answer. “What?” You asked in disbelief, “Get in the tub!” He said again as the doorknob began jiggling and in she came.

Like how Heather (a ghost) and Neelam (who is still alive) got back together after years of Neelam grieving-or moreso failing to grieve- Heather. I mean- there’s so so many problems with that. Bc on surface level sure, these 2 people have been longing to be together since they were forced apart via Heather being murdered so surrrrellly this is the ‘fix-all’…but I mean… their relationship is not going to be as they remember it for many reasons:

1: Both of them are guilty of wearing rose-tinted glasses, their relationship was undoubtedly not as picturesque and wholesome as it’s made out to have been.

They were BOTH overworked doctors; [so overworked that when Heather thinks of herself she sees herself in her doctor’s uniform (as evidenced by the fact her ghost is wearing it), and also of course by the fact she misdiagnosed Charlie’s meningitis.] Due to this, I’d say it’d be reasonable to suggest that Heather might have spent more time haunting Neelam in her afterlife than she spent with her during their life.

☕️🫖The only detail Heather mentions about her life with Neelam (correct me if I’m wrong) that suggests an activity they did together was when Heather mentions brewing tea for Neelam in an ugly teapot the woman loved. As far as activities go, drinking hot drinks together-although enjoyable- doesn’t imply a lot of time or effort.

Additionally, the fact that Heather drinks coffee, not tea, suggests that they may not have even been drinking together, it could have just been a nice gesture for Heather to make her girlfriend tea as they pull yet another all-nighter at the hospital. ☕️ 🫖

Also, Heather’s appearance implies that she didn’t even have time to properly look after herself during life, let alone to spend quality time with her lover, “messy plait … wrinkled shirt” [page 9 of ‘sixteen souls’]

Further evidence of Heather+Neelam’s relationship being idealised is that both Heather and Neelam are known to avoid harsh reality in favour of digestible delusions. For Neelam, she’d prefer to turn to the unfounded “insight” fake psychic (Claire Cole) to deal with her girlfriend’s untimely demise than to seek the help of a therapist who might help her to move on. For Heather, she hides harsh truths until the last moment. It’s as if Heather thinks that if she doesn’t audibly acknowledge the truth then she can continue pretending as if it weren’t true/wasn’t the case (e.g, her hiding the fact that she is tethered to Neelam rather than the hospital. Also, in book 1, Heather hiding the fact that it was her who misdiagnosed Charlie).

What if it’s not love but guilt which keeps Heather tethered to Neelam? I think Heather did love Neelam but it’s the aspect of guilt (over not spending enough quality time with her,perhaps?) which keeps her tethered to her. It’s been a while since I read book 1 ‘sixteen souls’ but from what I recall, it’s some form of negative emotion (such as regret +/or guilt) which tethers ghosts to people or places.

Post-canon, once dead!Heather and alive!Neelam are back together it’s going to be CREEPY for Neelam to view+hear her gf all distorted through the crypto-lenses. +having the knowledge that that thing which looks like+sounds like her gf but is off has been sharing a bed with her for the past 7 years..? Absolute nightmare material. …..also just imagine what Neelam’s friends or family would think of Neelam ever let slip that she was dating her long-dead girlfriend again…??

Neelam - We got em like ft. Da-Neek, Goalden Chyld

THIS won't be played on any mainstream radio, so you betta get this listen while you can. cause these type of positive tunes will not find themselves in rotation anywhere, but where you play them