#pots reader

Jack Hughes x Elaine Bennett

pots! gf au

Elaine passes out during class after overworking herself to prepare for finals

fluff

warnings: pots, passing out

wc: 2.2k

au masterlist

"Baby, when was the last time you ate or drank something... or slept for more than five hours?" A concerned Jack asked.

It was mid December and finals season for Elaine. The last few weeks had been beyond stressful and every moment she wasn't sleeping or showering, she was studying. She read even when she ate.

"Uh... yes." Elaine offered a detached answer, hunched over her laptop on the couch, typing furiously and reading with her full attention.

"That wasn't a yes or no question..." Jack muttered, and she didn't even look at him.

He exhaled. "I cut part of my finger off when I was chopping vegetables an hour ago."

"Thats nice," she hummed and nodded.

Jack thought for a moment and tried to come up with the most attention catching lie. "I slept with my mom's friend, Melissa. That lady we met in September with the botox and bad fake tan."

"...Sorry, what?" She replied after a few seconds, still not looking up from her laptop.

"Okay, Elaine please just, close the laptop for a minute." He reached over and took the computer from her hands and closed it, and she finally fully realizing he was talking to her.

"Jack!" Elaine exclaimed and reached for the laptop, which he held above his head. "Please give it back, I was just getting completely focused."

"You haven't looked away from your laptop or spoken a full sentence to me for three hours. Doesn't your back hurt from being hunched over for so long?"

"I can fix my back pain when I become a doctor. And I won't become a doctor if I don't pass my finals, and I won't pass my finals if I don't study, and I can't study until you give the laptop back!" Elaine lunged for her computer, but Jack stood from the couch and stepped away.

A side effect from her chronic illness was chronic pain. Elaine had what people called "coat hanger" pain⎯neck, shoulders, and back⎯ along side joint pain in her knees and hips.

"It's called chronic pain for a reason, Laney."

Elaine gasped and retracted her hand. "WOW! I mean, just wow!”

Jack rolled his eyes, amused. "Okay, Laney, just⎯"

"Wait what time is it?" She checked her watch, realizing she had to leave for class. "Oh damnit, I'm gonna be late!"

Elaine grabbed her laptop from his hands while he was distracted and jumped from the couch, rushing around the living room to collect all the things she needed for class.

Jack perched on the edge of the couch with his arms crossed, watching his chronically ill girlfriend rush around.

Elaine was already halfway down the hall when she realized she’d forgotten her student ID that she needed to scan to get into the Columbia building.

“Jack—” she doubled back, skidding slightly on the hardwood. “Did you see my ID?”

Jack looked up from where he was still sitting on the couch. “Laney, you just put it in your backpack.”

“Oh. Right.” She rifled through it anyway, heart racing, brain lagging behind her body. When she found it, she let out a sharp breath and immediately zipped the bag closed again. “Okay. Okay. I’m good.”

“You’re not good,” he said plainly. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m just late,” she replied, already tugging on her jacket. “That’s different.”

Jack stood and followed her to the door. “You didn’t answer me. When was the last time you ate?”

Elaine paused just long enough to think. Then she didn’t like the answer, so she opened the door instead.

“Laney.”

“I grabbed something earlier,” she said vaguely, slipping her shoes on. “I’ll eat after this class, I promise.”

He didn’t buy it. He never did. But he also knew the look in her eyes — that frantic, locked-in focus that meant there was no stopping her now.

“Text me when you get there,” he said, grabbing her wrist gently before she could leave. “So I know you didn’t pass out on the stairs or something.”

She softened just a little, letting out a playful chuckle. “I won’t.”

“Laney.”

“…I’ll text you,” she sighed.

Jack leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead.

Elaine gave him a tired half-smile and slipped out into the cold December air.

By the time she reached the building, her heart was pounding and her head was already starting to ache — but she pushed through it, taking her seat, opening her laptop, and disappearing back into finals mode.

And that was how she ended up staring at a screen, under fluorescent lights, with a body that had been begging her to stop for days.

it was becoming increasingly harder for Elaine to stay focused while her professor lectured. Her head was hurting from the lights and her laptop screen. Her shoulders and back were aching and she kept having to roll her neck to try and relive some pain, but it stopped working after the second time. Not to mention, every time she stood or moved her legs, bursts of pain shot through her right knee.

"Okay, everyone get into groups of two or three." The professor said and chattering broke out while students searched for partners.

Elaine looked around the room and made eye contact with an acquaintance she had made from this class, Lara, and nodded her head, silently agreeing to be partners.

Elaine packed up her things into her book bag and stood up, her right knee immediately giving her trouble and her vision blurred while her head spun.

God-fucking-damnit.

Elaine stopped dead in her tracks, rubbing her eyes and stumbling over her own feet. She looked around the classroom that was spinning and couldn't make out the blurred faces of her classmates.

Lara noticed Elaine's state and realized what was happening and immediately started moving around the crowed class room and tried to get to Elaine from the opposite side of the room before it happened.

"Hey are you like... okay?" A random guy called David asked.

"Uhm... I⎯uh... no." Elaine put a hand on one of the rolling chairs to stabilize herself and started lowering herself to the ground slowly but then went straight down to the ground with a thud.

"Hey, what the hell?!"

"Oh shit, is she okay?"

"Is she passed out or just unconscious?"

"Are you serious? How did you get into med school?"

"Is anyone gonna help her or just look?" Lara pushed through the crowd of people the had formed around her.

Lara kneeled down to Elaine on the floor and cradled her head in her hands.

"What happened, is this normal for her?" The professor came over.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm pretty sure. She had POTS."

"Okay. Is there something we need to do?"

"I uh... I don't really know." Lara shrugged. Elaine and Lara really didn't know each other that well, just in class acquaintances.

"Alright, well class, what should you do in this situation?" The professor turned to the class, wanting to make this a teaching moment.

"Uh... you would probably want to make sure she didn't hit her head and check her heart rate." A boy raised her hand.

"Correct, would someone want to demonstrate?"

Multiple students immediately raised their hands and jumped at the opportunity to get experience.

"Lets see... James you wanna go ahead?"

James took his backpack off and approached Lara and Elaine and kneeled down and was about to touch Elaine, but Lara was quick to stop him.

"Wait okay, alright back up." Lara held a hand up, stopping James. "She isn't some lab or learning experience, she is a student in this class that quite literally passed out."

At this point Elaine's eyes started twitched and stirred.

"Elaine, Elaine can you hear me?" Lara asked, brushing hair out of her face.

She moved her head around, mumbling. "Mm⎯" She reached up to rub her eyes.

"Elaine, is there someone we can call for you?"

"Mm⎯Jack."

"Jack, you want me to call Jack?" Lara confirmed, reaching her phone.

"Mhm," she mumbled.

"What's your password, Elaine?"

Elaine just grabbed Lara wrist and looked at the screen to unlock it, then immediately closed her eyes again and lolled her head to the side.

Lara opened up her phone app and dialed the number under Jack.

"Hey Laney, aren't you in class right now?" Jack answered after a few rings.

"Hey is this Jack?"

"Yes? Who's this?"

"My name's Lara, I'm a classmate of Elaine's. She's just waking up after passing out and she should probably be picked up."

“I—wait, what? Is she okay?”

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure. I don't think she hit her head or anything."

"I'm on my way."

Jack was there in fifteen minutes, and he walked into the room quickly and anxiously with the student that had come out to get him, eyes frantically scanning the room.

Elaine was sitting in a big swivel chair in the corner, looking exhausted and ill while the rest of the students were conversing in groups. She was just sitting and staring while bouncing her leg lazily. No phone, no book, no talking, just sitting and trying not to pass out again.

Jack was at her side the second he spotted her.

"Laney, hey," he knelt beside her chair and put his hand on her arm, stroking the exposed skin with his thumb. "Are you alright baby?"

"Jack?" Elaine croaked, finally look to him and away form the spot her eyes haven't left in ten minutes.

"Yeah it's me Laney. I'm gonna get you home, okay?"

"Okay." She nodded.

"Can you stand, do you need some help?" He stood from where he was kneeling and stood in front of her chair.

Elaine just nodded and took his hands, letting him help her stand up.

Jack wrapped an arm around her shoulders and supported her while they walked.

"Where's your bag, Elaine?" He asked and she just nodded in the general direction of where it was, but someone handed it to him along with her coat.

Jack led her out of the classroom with multiple 'thank you's and to the car.

“Can we go home?” Elaine asked in her drowsy state, still very much out of it.

“Yeah baby, we’re going home.” Jack nodded, opening the passenger door and guiding her into the seat and buckling the seatbelt.

She just nodded and looked out the window. Jack’s face held an expression of concern but he covered it by giving her a tight lipped smile before shutting the door and round the car to the passenger seat.

They entered her apartment fifteen minutes later, Elaine leaning heavily on Jack. Her muscles felt heavy and a wave of nausea had washed over her after waking up that just stayed, along with feeling exhausted and just horribly cold.

“Let’s go to bed, yeah?” Jack said softly, taking her book bag off his shoulder and setting it on the floor.

When trying to walk, Elaine stumbled despite Jack’s arm around her. He of course caught her and pulled her back up.

"It's okay, it's okay." He muttered before swiftly picking her up and carrying her to her bedroom.

Jack gently laid Elaine down in her bed and covered her with the comforter.

She whimpered and turned on her side, facing Jack and curling into herself. She was shaking. Her head was pounding. She was nauseous. Most of all, her joints, neck, and shoulders hurt. Badly.

Jack sat on the edge of the bed and watched her with a troubled look and reached to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear before cupping her face and caressing her face with his thumb.

"Jack?" she opened her eyes slightly.

"Yeah, sweetheart?" he perked up immediately.

"I'm thirsty."

"Thirsty? I'll be right back." Jack stood up instantly and returned a minute later with a water bottle full of ice water.

"Here," he held the straw to her lips.

She craned her neck just slightly and placed a hand over Jack's that was holding the bottle for support and took a sip. When she tried to swallow, she promptly started coughing since she tried to swallow without sitting up.

"Sit up baby, you'll choke." He immediately panicked slightly and set the bottle down, helping her sit up.

"Are you okay?" He asked after she had calmed down, rubbing her back.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Thank you for coming to get me."

"You don't have to thank me." He placed a kiss to her head. "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit." she answered honestly.

"Yeah, I kinda figured." He chuckled, rubbing her arm affectionately.

"Will you lay with me?"

"Yeah, of course." He answered, kicking his shoes off and climbing into bed and under the covers, leaning against the head board.

Elaine wrapped her arms around his hips and laid her head in his lap, his hands going to her back and slipping under the hem of her sweater, scratching her back.

"Do you wanna watch Quinn play?" Jack was already reaching for the remote and she nodded.

Elaine managed to stay awake for the first ten minutes of the first period, but eventually was over taken by the heavy exhaustion.

Jack of course noticed this, and kept completely quiet and still. Well almost completely because at the end of the third period...

"LET'S FUCKING GO, QUINN!" He exclaimed and jolted in excitement when Quinn scored in the last few seconds to win the game, immediately regretting it when his girlfriend was woken.

She rubbed her eyes and looked up at him confused, whimpering slightly from the joint pain with the movement. Jack's hands flew to his mouth.

"Oh my god, baby I'm so sorry." His hands hovered over her form like she was fragile.

Jack genuinely looked like he was in despair.

"Baby are you okay? I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." He repeated, caressing her head, leaning down to pepper kisses on her forehead, repeating 'I'm sorry' over and over again.

Elaine chuckled slightly. "I'm fine Jack, I promise."

"Are you sure? God, I'm so stupid. I didn't do it on purpose, I promise."

She just rolled her eyes playfully at his panicking and instead just laid back down, going back to sleep as he continued to repeat apologies.

request by: anon

(POTS! Reader)

⋆.⭒.˚⋆.⭒.˚⋆.⭒.˚⋆.⭒.˚⋆.⭒.˚⋆.⭒.˚⋆.⭒.˚⋆.⭒.˚⋆.⭒.˚

Your head was already swimming before you even tried standing, a faint pressure at the back of your skull warning you how fragile today would be and feel. You sat back down on the edge of the bed, legs trembling, trying to blink away the dizziness.

Bad day. Yesterday, was a good day. You had plenty of salts. But today felt treacherous. There was no fighting it either way. Sometimes your body just refused to cooperate.

You pulled out your phone with clumsy fingers and sent one short text before you could overthink it:

You: Can I come over?

The reply came faster than you expected.

Bakugou: Dumbass. You don't need to ask. Get over here.

⋆.⭒.˚

By the time you made it to Bakugou's apartment, you were already drained. The heat outside, the stairs, just existing— it all stacked against you. Your body didn't give warnings politely; it demanded, and it was threatening to demand collapse if you weren't careful.

He opened the door the second you knocked. Blond hair messy, scowl deep as ever.

"Took you long enough." His voice was sharp, but the way his eyes swept over you was not. He stepped aside and pulled you in gently, not letting you hover in the hall.

He can... kind of understand what's going on right now.

"I'm okay," you murmured automatically, though you weren't.

"Yeah, sure." He shut the door with his foot, free hand coming up to steady your elbow. "You look like you're about to drop dead. Don't feed me that I'm fine crap."

You huffed, but didn't argue. That was the thing about him— you didn't have to waste the energy pretending. He saw through it, every time.

He guided you to the couch like you were made of glass. "Sit your ass down before you fall down."

You lowered yourself carefully, leaning back against the cushions, trying to will the world to stop spinning. Bakugou crouched in front of you, scowl softening just enough for you to catch it.

"Bad day?" he asked, voice quieter.

You nodded. "Yeah. Dizzy, weak. Just... not a great day."

He clicked his tongue, muttering something under his breath, then stood and disappeared into the kitchen. Cabinets opened and closed, the tap ran. When he came back, he shoved a glass of water into your hands and dropped a bag of salty pretzels onto your lap.

"Eat. Drink. You know the drill."

You couldn't help a small laugh, even as you obeyed. "You're bossier than my doctor."

"Good. Your doctor doesn't scare you enough." He sat down next to you, folding his arms like he wasn't the one who just barked orders while simultaneously handing you everything you needed.

Chips and pretzels were, in fact, your best friend.

You sipped the water, the coolness grounding you a little. The salt from the pretzels helped too. Still, your body felt heavy, your pulse skittering. You leaned your head against his shoulder, letting out a breath.

"Sorry," you mumbled.

"For what?"

"For... being like this. For needing—"

"Shut up." The words were sharp, but his tone wasn't. His shoulder pressed against your head, steady, anchoring. "Don't you dare apologize for something you can't control. You hear me?"

Your throat tightened. You nodded against him.

"Bad days happen," he continued, softer now. "And when they do, you come here. That's it. End of story. I don't care if you're tired, dizzy, or passing out every five damn minutes. You're not a burden, got it?"

You swallowed hard. "Got it."

"Good."

For a while, the apartment was quiet except for the fridge's noises and your uneven breathing. Bakugou didn't push for anything, not on days like these. He just sat with you, his presence solid and sure. When your hand trembled around the glass, he took it from you without comment, setting it on the table.

When you slumped sideways, fighting against the heaviness in your body, he tugged you down until your head rested fully in his lap.

"Better?" he asked gruffly, fingers brushing hair away from your face.

You hummed. "Yeah."

"Good. Stay there. Don't move unless you have to."

You closed your eyes, lulled by the steady rhythm of his breathing, the faint warmth of his hand resting near your temple. Being with him didn't magically fix the symptoms, but it dulled them. Made the fear less consuming. Because when he was here, you didn't feel like you were fighting alone.

At one point, your body jerked, the familiar warning flash of everything going dark. Bakugou was quick— his hand braced your shoulder, voice low but urgent.

"Hey. Breathe. Slow it down. You're not gonna pass out, not on my watch."

You clung to his voice, grounding yourself on the rough edge of it. After a few long moments, the wave eased, leaving you shaky but still conscious.

He let out a breath, tension easing from his frame. "See? You got through it."

"Only because you're here," you admitted, words slurred with exhaustion.

He was quiet for a beat, then muttered, "Damn right."

You smiled faintly, eyes fluttering shut again.

⋆.˚⭒.˚

The rest of the day passed in pieces— water breaks, Bakugou shoving more snacks at you, muttered curses every time you tried to apologize again. At one point he grabbed a blanket and tucked it around you, grumbling the whole time even though his touch was careful.

By evening, the dizziness had dulled enough that you could sit up without swaying too badly. You leaned against him, shoulder to shoulder.

"Thanks for today," you said quietly.

"Don't thank me for doing the bare minimum," he shot back, but there was no bite to it. "You're important to me. So I'm gonna take care of you, no matter how many times you say sorry or try to push me away. Get that through your thick skull already." He pokes your head gently.

Your chest tightened, warmth blooming where the fear had been sitting all day. You turned your face against his shoulder, hiding your smile.

"I'll try," you whispered.

"Not try. Do it." His hand found yours, grip warm and steady. "You're not alone in this crap. You've got me."

+++

masterlist ⟢

more bakugou ⟢

The Space Between Heartbeats

Langdon x f!reader fic

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6 (New Chapter)

1 CHAPTER / ?

High school AU, based on a dream I had reader x alhaitham

Um. So, reader is chronically ill (POTS), BUT still attends in person school part time, Alhaitham is in the other group of students (the grade is split in two, college classes and then normal AP classes)

He's a little bit stuck up. Kaveh is there too. He's nice

i feel like this is will be multiple chapters ngl, this is semi based on what I experienced when I was in highschool before COVID hit.

(Cᴀɴ I ᴀʟsᴏ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ I'ᴍ sᴏʀʀʏ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇʟғ ɪɴᴅᴜʟɢᴇɴᴛ ғɪᴄs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄʜʀᴏɴɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ɪʟʟ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ sᴘᴇᴄɪғɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ POTS,, I ғᴇᴇʟ ʙᴀᴅ ʙᴜᴛ I ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ sᴇᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ɪʟʟɴᴇssᴇs)

You tap your pencil impatiently, glancing at the clock in your free period, you had a project you had to do with your group next period. Required your group to go outside, which... isn't bad, but you dreaded going outside and being watched like a hawk from teachers and... stared at from the boys... you aren't around much in school, you only come when you know you can make it / it's important.

Ambulance {Jack Hughes}

Ahhh, I had been wanting to write this and just never did. Thank you for requesting!

Jack Hughes x Elaine Bennett

pots! gf au

Elaine forgot to tell Jack about her POTS and the first time she passed out around him, he panics and calls an ambulance.

fluff

warnings: pots, passing out

wc: 3k

au masterlist

a/n: guys, I gave blood and passed out and omg THAT'S what I've been putting my girl Elaine through?? 😭

It's only been three months and Elaine has never spent so much on train tickets, and Jack on gas. The two are both constantly going back and forth from Newark and New York. If one of them has nothing going on, they're on their way across state borders.

It doesn't matter if Elaine has class, Jack is at her apartment, sitting on her couch and eating her food while he waits for her to get back. If Jack has practice, Elaine will study at the kitchen counter or rest in his bed until he's back.

The relationship was still in that honeymoon stage where everything was new and exciting, and it was impossible to keep their hands off each other.

It would be plausible to assume Jack knows all about her condition considering every free moment is spent together, but that's where you'd be wrong.

These past few months have been nearly perfect for Elaine. The passing out had dipped down significantly after a nasty flare up four months ago. On the occasion she does pass out, she's gotten lucky enough to be away from Jack.

She did have one close where she narrowly missed Jack finding out...

It was a Monday night and the pair was at Elaine's place. They had gone to dinner at a pizza place she swore was blessed by God himself and were just getting back.

They were lingering in the kitchen, Jack talking about his first ride on the New York subway while getting a glass of water.

"I swear I've never seen anything like it! I saw a rat the size of a puppy. And like not one of those tiny puppies that's just been born that's already a small dog breed. I mean like a golden retriever puppy. And there was this guy⎯you couldn't see him 'cause you were sitting and I was standing⎯but⎯"

Elaine suddenly felt dizzy and her vision clouded over.

Oh no.

Luckily his back was to her.

"⎯Jack? I'm gonna go shower real quick."

"What? Well just wait a minute, I need to shower too. I thought we could⎯Elaine?"

Elaine was already opening the door to the bathroom, waving him off.

"No, it's fine. I'll be like ten minutes." With that she closed the door and turned the lock, leaving Jack standing in her apartment, beyond confused.

Elaine quickly turned the shower on and clicked a random playlist on her phone to make it seem more believable before lowering herself to the ground, losing consciousness thirty seconds later.

Now, Elaine knew she could trust Jack and tell him about her POTS, but she was scared.

She was nervous it would scare him away, and since it had already been three months, she thought it would be awkward to bring it up now.

Minutes later she woke up, showered as fast as possible and went back to the living room to join Jack like nothing happened.

Two weeks later, Elaine had made the forty minute train ride from Manhattan to Newark and was picked up by Jack at the station. It was a good system they had. Most of the time Elaine was traveling to Jack since he always had practice and games, not that she minded.

"Hey, you." Jack greeted, immediately taking her duffle bag and putting it over his shoulder and wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

"Hi." She smiled, getting on her tip toes to peck his lips before they started walking.

"You hungry?"

"A little, yeah."

"What do you want?"

"Mmm, I dunno. I don't care." She shrugged and Jack groaned. She always 'didn't know' and 'didn't care' but rejected what ever he suggested.

"Pizza?"

"Nah."

"Steak?"

"Mm," she thought before shaking her head no. "Uh-uh."

"Mexican?"

"No."

"Chinese?"

"Eh."

"Breakfast food?"

She visibly recoiled.

"I guess that's a no." He mumbled. "Thai?"

"No," she shook her head. "What do you want?"

"Burgers?"

"Mm," she thought, "no."

"Laney." Jack again groaned in good nature. "Why even ask me if you're just gonna say no?"

"Well I thought that maybe you would have a good suggestion." She responded as they exited the train station and they walked to his car.

"Why don't we just go home and I can cook?" He first opened the backseat door to put her bag in before opening the passenger seat door so she should get in, offering his hand as she did so.

Elaine pondered for a moment. "Okay," she shrugged, looking up at him from where he stood, the car door still open as she sat in the passenger seat.

Jack visibly relaxed, letting out a breath. "Yeah?"

"Mhm," she confirmed with a nod.

"Why does it always take you so long to figure out what to eat?" He chuckled, leaning down to give her a quick kiss before closing the door and rounding the car to the driver side.

After getting home, Jack started on dinner. Elaine was a good cook and wanted to help, but Jack insisted he wanted to cook for her.

Elaine sat on the counter and watched as he cooked, swinging her feet as they took turns talking.

After it was done, Jack presented her with a bowl of Carbonara and watched intently as she took a bit.

"It's good." She nodded with a smile after swallowing. "It's really good."

"Really?" He lit up. "You sure? I can make something else if you don't like it."

"No Jack, it's really good, I promise." Elaine reassured him, grabbing his chin to give him a kiss.

Jack smiled against her lips, attempting to deepen the kiss before she pulled away.

"Hey."

"How am I supposed to eat my dinner with your mouth attached to mine?" She questioned and he just rolled his eyes playfully.

After dinner they were sitting in the living room, Sex and the City playing on the TV. It was Elaine's favorite show and had recently made Jack watch it with her. He claims to hate it, but it somehow always ends up on the TV without her turning it on.

"Oh my god! No she didn't!" Jack exclaims, hiding his face in his hoodie from second hand embarrassment after watching Carrie drop her bible in church, exposing herself to spying on Mr. Big. "Does she like, get off on embarrassing herself?"

Elaine laughs in agreement before getting up to get some water.

She stands up to fast. Of course she had to stand up too fast.

She makes it to the counter and tries to stabilize herself, thinking it'll pass.

After a minute, it of course doesn't. Her ears are ringing and her head is spinning as she stumbles back to the living room.

"Jack?" She croaks.

"Yeah?" He questions, not looking away from the TV.

"Don't freak out⎯" she doesn't get the chance to finish her sentence.

"What⎯Oh shit! Laney!" Jack jumps off the couch when he sees her go down and hit the floor.

Jack is officially panicking.

"Elaine, Elaine can you hear me!?" He crouches down and slaps at her cheeks, not hard enough to hurt but enough to wake her up.

She doesn't move a muscle.

Jack is convinced his girlfriend is about to die.

"Oh no, oh no, no, no, no. Laney!" He continues shaking her, and nothing.

Jack pulls his phone out of his pocket and dials 911.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"I need an ambulance! My girlfriend just like, passed out and she isn't waking up." Jack spoke frantically, sounding genuinely terrified. "I-I don't know what to do! This has never happened before, is she gonna be okay?"

"Okay sir, just stay calm. Did she hit her head?"

"Uhm, no I don't think so. I mean she fell pretty hard but I don't think she hit her head⎯but she isn't waking up!"

"Give me your address and I'll send paramedics right away." The receiver said calmly. "You just need to stay calm, for both your sake and hers. Everything will be fine."

Jack gave her the address then took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and hung up the phone, waiting impatiently.

Luckily, Jack's apartment was only a block from the hospital, so the paramedics were there in five minutes. Those five minutes felt like hours.

Jack had grabbed a pillow off the couch and placed it under her head, stroking her blonde locks as he tried not to panic-cry, only moving to open the door for the paramedics,

"I dunno what happened! One second she's getting water and the next she's passed out!"

Jack is immediately spewing words the second he lets the strangers into his home.

"Everything is going to be okay, sir." One of the two paramedics put a hand to his shoulder while the other brushed past them to get to Elaine, pulling out a stethoscope and placing it to her chest.

In that moment, Elaine wakes up and feels nothing but paralyzing fear.

She gasps slightly when she opens her eyes and comes face to face with two men she doesn't know in her boyfriend's apartment, and her boyfriend no where to be seen.

After waking up from episodes, she always felt confused and distorted so she hadn't registered the strange men she thought were here to harm her were actually paramedics.

The paramedic with the stethoscope notices her gaining consciousness again.

"Ma'am, everything will be okay. Just don't panic."

Elaine was panicking.

"Who are you? What happened? Where's Jack? How did you get in here?" Questions immediately flew from her mouth.

Elaine tried to sit up, but instantly there were voices being raised and telling her no, just staring her further.

"Stay down, Laney." Suddenly Jack was there, gently pushing on her shoulder to get her to lie down. Relief flooded her body. "You passed out. It's going to be okay. Just let them work on you."

Oh, God!

Elaine mentally groaned.

Why didn't she just tell him!?

"Wait okay stop, stop, stop!" She waved the paramedics hands away, tangling the cord of a heart monitor one was trying to put on her in the process and tried to sit up. "I'm fine."

"Laney, it's okay!" Jack urged.

"Ma'am please, we're just trying to help you."

"No, seriously I'm fine!" She tried to argue.

Jack just sighed. "Elaine, please." he borderline begged. "Let them help you. You passed out."

"Just lie back."

"We need to hook up this heart monitor."

"The more you fight it, the worse it'll be."

"Does your head hurt?"

"Has this ever happened before?"

"Do you feel nauseous?"

"Have you been under any stress lately?"

"Have you traveled recently?"

"I⎯" Elaine tried to speak but was just interrupted with more questions. She couldn't get a word out.

"⎯When was the last time you ate?"

"⎯I have⎯"

"⎯Are you currently menstruating?"

"⎯I'm not⎯"

"⎯Are you currently pregnant?"

"⎯It's okay⎯"

"⎯Have you recently donated blood?"

"⎯I HAVE POTS!" Elaine finally yelled out, cutting off the questions.

"Oh." The paramedic's relaxed.

"Why didn't you just say that?"

Elaine almost punched the man. She was about to say a very smart ass remark when she heard Jack's voice. Jack's very worried, confused, and seemingly terrified voice.

"Wait, wait, wait... whats POTS?" Jack questioned.

Elaine's expression instantly softened, now feeling like an absolute piece of shit.

The paramedics sighed and started packing up.

"Okay ma'am, clearly you have dealt with this before and know how to handle it all, correct?"

"Yes, yes I do. I'm all good, thank you." Elaine nodded and the paramedics started walking out.

"Hey, wait!" Jack exclaimed. "You aren't gonna help her?! She passed out, she needs medical attention!" He pushed off the counter he was leaning on and stepped forward, trying to reach the paramedics.

From the ground, Elaine tugged on his pants, making him still instantly and look down at her.

"Jack, its okay, I promise." She pulled herself up, struggling.

"Laney, Laney, stay down." Jack insisted, helping her anyways.

Elaine shook her head and stood up fully, going over to the couch and sitting down.

"Thank you," she told the paramedics as they left, and Jack almost freaked out again.

"HEY! Wait, what are you doing⎯"

"⎯Jack, we need to talk." Elaine said softly but firmly, patting the open space next to her on the couch.

Jack took one last look at the closed door and sighed, sitting down next to her. Elaine sat cross legged and turned her body to face him, Jack turning also and laying a leg on the couch. He grabbed one of her hands and caressed it with his thumb.

Jack opened his mouth the speak, undoubtedly a hundred questions on his tongue but Elaine held up a hand.

"Just... let me talk please."

Jack opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it with a sigh and nodded, signaling her to talk.

"I have POTS. It stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome."

Jack furrowed his eyebrows, his confusion only growing but he didn't interupt.

"Basically what it is, it's a chronic illness. It makes my heart rate speed up and it's different for everyone, but for me it often leads to fainting. It happens either right when I stand up, have been standing for too long, or increased physical movement."

Again, Jack just stares, not stopping the motion of his thumb.

"I know it's a lot to take in. Sometimes I have days where I wake up and automatically already feel bad and I know I'll pass out, or sometimes it'll just sneak up on me. Like today.

"And, its very common that I'll have periods of time where I'm fainting very rarley or very often. The past few months have been great for me with no flare ups."

Jack just stays silent and Elaine's stomach drops. She knew it. She should have just told him.

Now, being with her and her illness is too much.

He's going to break up with her.

He has better things to worry about than her fainting.

Why would he want a girlfriend that's always dropping like a fly?

She lied to him for months.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Elaine's rushing thoughts are interrupted by Jack's quiet voice. "I could have helped you, Laney."

Her breath is caught in her throat and she avoids eye contact. "I just... I thought you wouldn't want me, then. That I'd be too much."

Jack's heart breaks.

"Oh, Laney." He coos, reaching out and cupping her cheek, lifting her face to make her look at him. "I would never, ever feel like that about you...I just want to know, okay? I like to know things."

Elaine nods. "okay."

Jack nods along, brushing a piece of blonde hair behind her ear and Elaine leaned into his palm.

"Is there anything else I should know? Like side effects? What do I do when it happens? Are there specific triggers?" Jack started spewing questions.

"Jack, Jack, Jack." Elaine shook her head and took his hand in hers, silencing his questions. "You really wanna know?"

"Yes." Jack instantly nodded his head.

"So side effects?" she thought for a second. "I have pain, like in my joints, neck, back and shoulders. Sometimes it's not there at all, or it's just constant. I also get leg cramps sometimes during bad flare ups."

Elaine explained, but held back a little on all of it, knowing it was a lot.

"Laney." Jack said firmly. He always knew when she wasn't telling the whole truth.

She sighed. "Okay, okay. I get shortness of breath, heart palpitations and that can cause tightness or pain in my chest. Dizziness and head pressure, crushing exhaustion and recovery after small activities. Nausea and like... feeling full really quickly, if that makes sense?"

Jack again nodded, listening intently.

"I can get overheated easily, cold feet or hands, and I'll feel feverish without an actual fever. I get real shaky, have muscle aches, and bad headaches, especially after passing out.

"It can also cause sleep problems, similar to insomnia but not as intense. And then I can get anxiety-like symptoms like racing heart or adrenaline surges, even of I'm not feeling anxious. That's really all the side effects I can think of, I know it's a lot, I'm sorry."

"Elaine, don't be sorry. I asked." Jack reassured her. "So what do I do when it happens?"

"Well when it happens there really isn't a lot anyone can do. Usually what happens is I'm on the floor, so I normally need help getting back up after waking back up. Or if I over heat, my mom normally puts a cold rag or ice or anything on my neck, chest, and forehead to get my core tempature down."

"Okay, okay." Jack nodded, taking the information in. "What about triggers? Any thing I should look out for?"

Elaine thought for a moment. "Standing up to fast, standing for too long, increase in physcial movment, and showers, weirdly enough. It's the hot water, like it happens pretty often that I have to like get out of the shower and lay on the floor." She chuckled.

"And how are you feeling like, right now after waking up?"

"I'm okay now, this one wasn't really that bad. I'm just tired."

Jack again just nodded, running his fingers through her hair and brushing out a knot at the ends. "Has it ever happened before when we were together and I just didn't notice?"

Elaine stifled a giggle and face palmed. She was embarrassed to admit the story, but she also thought it was sweet that he was asking all these questions.

A smile broke out on Jack's face, "what?" he chuckled.

"Do you remember, like two weeks ago, when we were at my place and just got back from getting pizza?'

"Yeah..." he confirmed slowly.

"I didn't really go and take a shower. I locked myself in the bathroom and turned on the shower and passed out on the floor." She admits shyly and Jack jolts up, a gasp escaping him.

"I thought you hated me and were gonna break up with me!" Jack exclaimed, and giggle erupted from Elaine.

Jack stood from the couch. "That's not funny." He muttered, picking her up and starting walked to his bedroom with a yelp from Elaine.

"Well I could have either done that or pass out in the kitchen and you freak out and call the ambulance."

"I would have preferred the ambulance."

"Well you got it now."

Jack tossed her on the bed, but then immediately panicked.

"Are you okay?! Is that gonna make you..." he gasped and Elaine laughed again.

"I'm fine." She pushed his shoulder with a slight eye roll. "I'm not gonna get shaken baby syndrome."

"Well I dunno! I'm new at this."

"I'll make sure you know when you mess up."

"'When'?!"

"it was a joke. Don't be so sensitive." she teased, sitting up from the bed.

"I'm offended you think so lowly of me." He stood in front of her, grabbing at his heart.

"it keeps you humble."

"Mm." he hummed, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"I'm gonna go take a shower, you wanna come?"

"Depends, are you actually gonna shower or just pretend to and pass out on the floor?"

Elaine narrowed her eyes at him. "You're uninvited." She stood from the bed and walked past him swiftly to the bathroom.

"Wait no! Elaine please, I'm sorry!" Jack ran after her and into the bathroom, her laughs erupting as she tried to escape him playfully.

Jack Hughes x Elaine Bennett

POTS! gf

Jack is always there for his girlfriend that suffers from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

fluff

warnings: fainting, POTS

wc: 4.4k

au masterlist

I had been feeling sick from the second I woke up, with a pounding headache and a feeling of dizziness, not to mention it was blistering hot. I didn't say anything, it was summer at the Hughes’s lake house, the best time to be alive and I didn’t want to bring the spirit down. It was around 2:00 when my boyfriend of two years came up to me while I was laying on a towel at the end of the dock, sunbathing while I read.

“Hey, Baby,” Jack greeted me with a smile, standing behind me.

“Hi,” I half turned to look at him, returning the smile.

“We’re heading out on the boat, you wanna come?”

No, I didn’t. Well that was a lie, I always wanted to go out on the boat. Just the thought of sitting on the boat while it rocked back and forth made my stomach do somersaults and make the sandwich I ate for lunch want to come right back up again. 

“Sure, just let me go to the bathroom first.” I stood up too fast, making my vision go gray and had me stumbling slightly.

“Woah, you okay?” Jack put a hand on my back, steading me. Jack was used to my POTS symptoms and fainting spells and was always ready in case something happened. He always carried little salt packets in his wallet.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I just stood up too fast.” I placed a hand on his wrist, closing my eyes for a moment and shaking my head.

“You sure?” Jack asked, the concern clear on his face.

“Yes I’m sure,” I gave his wrist a reassuring squeeze, “I’ll be right back.”

Jack gave me a light tap on the ass while the boys started down the dock to the boat lift, towels and coolers in hand.

I climbed the stairs up to the house and walked in. I went to the bathroom and filled up my water bottle because there sure as hell wasn't any in those coolers the boys had. I grabbed a pack of saltine crackers Ellen bought specially for me, hoping the extra salt would help make me feel better.

I went back down to the dock, all pairs of eyes looking at me as I was the last person they were waiting for.

“When we said we wanted to go on the boat, we meant today, Elaine!” Trevor called, making me roll my eyes.

“Shut up.” I clipped, decking down under the top of the lift to get on the boat. Once again when I stood up, the blood rushed to my head and I instantly sat in the nearest seat I could before I went down.

Jack noticed this and silently asked me if I was all good from the other end of the boat, to which I nodded. He knew I didn’t like advertising that I had chronic illness, everyone knew obviously but it wasn't a common conversation topic, which I was grateful for.

I opened my saltine pack and started eating it while Jack sat down next to me, resting a hand on my tanned thigh and giving it a squeeze. I listened to the country song Quinn was playing while he drove the boat, closing my eyes and trying to distract myself from the dizziness I was feeling.

“You want one, Elaine?” Trevor asked me, cracking a beer open.

“Sure,” I nodded and took the one he offered me. I attempted to open it, but in fear of breaking one of my acrylics, I handed it over to Jack, who opened it and gave it back to me without a second thought. I muttered a small ‘thank you’ before taking a sip.

“Anytime, baby,” Jack squeezed my thigh once again.

“Anyone wanna bust out the wake board?” Luke asked after an hour or so of sitting in the middle of the lake and swimming and drinking, everyone on the boat voicing their agreement. Everyone, including myself, Jack, Quinn, Trevor and Cole.

Luke of course was first to volunteer. I moved to the back of the boat to watch with the rest of the boys more closely. Luke had to show off, obviously. He did a few tricks and purposely sprayed water onto the rest of us before eventually losing his balance when Quinn made a sharp turn and fell into the water, a victorious smirk playing on Quinn's lips which he tried to hide.

“My turn!” Jack called, already getting strapped into his life vest.

“That's not fair! Quinn, you did that on purpose!” Luke protested, climbing the ladder to get back on the boat.

“Rules are rules,” Quinn shrugged, to which Luke just pouted.

I could never get bored watching Jack. My eyes stayed trained on him as he got in the water, he grabbed the rope and situated the board on his feet before giving Quinn the go ahead to start. His muscles flexed as the boat sped up and he was pulled up by the rope he was holding. He caught me staring and sent me a wink before throwing the rope back to the boat and started surfing the wake, making my cheeks heat up.

Jack managed to stay up for a while, but when he went for a 360 turn, he wiped out, and I couldn't help but let out a little laugh. Jack resurfaced and climbed back on the boat, letting Trevor have his turn. He spotted the smile lingering on my lips and a small giggle that escaped my mouth when he sat down next to me.

“Oh you think that was funny?” He asked, amused.

“Maybe a little,” I shrugged, trying to stifle the grin and giggles that were threatening to escape.

“Oh really?” Jack tested.

“Mhm,”

“Well we can’t have that.” Jack smirked. In half a second he pounced on me, attacking my sides with tickles, where he discovered I was most ticklish and he used that to his advantage. 

“Okay, okay! It wasn’t funny th-at you fell!” I screamed through my giggles and fell on my back, but he still didn’t let up.

“Say uncle!”

“Uncle, uncle!” I frantically yelled, and he finally stopped and I let out a huge sigh. “Jeez, can’t do anything around you.” I sat up, again way too quickly, and that mixed with how hard I was laughing, made my head spin. My hand instantly went up to my head to soothe the ache, breathy heavily. 

Jack of course noticed and put an arm around my shoulder, “all good?” Jack asked for what felt like the hundredth time today.

“Mhm,” I nodded, leaning into him and he placed a gentle kiss to the top of my head. “Jesus, it's so hot.” I used my hand to fan myself, my cheeks were probably beat red.

“Have some water,” Jack reached to the floor and came back with my water bottle, handing it to me. It wasn't the best idea for me to be out in such hot weather for extended periods of time. If I got overheated, I would most likely pass out.

After Cole and Quinn both had their turns on the wakeboard, it was my turn in the line up. I could tell Jack was a bit worried about me having a go because of the dizziness and near fainting spells I’ve been having today, but he didn’t say anything. We both know if I needed to stop I would.

I actually wasn't bad at wakesurfing, growing up I had my own lake house back home in Pennsylvania which we spent every summer day at, we tubed and wake surfed all day. I took my linen coverup off and got strapped into my life vest and got into the water. I grabbed onto the rope and situated the board on my feet before giving Quinn a thumbs up.

“Remember, just give the signal and I stop right away.” Quinn said.

“I know!” I called and the boat started.

I let myself be pulled up by the rope and quickly found my balance, throwing the rope back onto the boat. I did a 360 and gave Jack a smug look, as he had fallen trying to do one, which he just rolled his eyes at. I kept going for a while, no dizziness or headache coming, but despite the wind that I was whipping in my face, I still felt uncomfortably warm.

We drove through some waves and the boat hadn’t broken all of them. I rode over the waves, catching quite a bit of air before smacking back down on the surface of the water. The boys cheered as I managed to stay up, but the fast and abrupt up and down caused my heart rate to speed up and my head to spin. 

I grew lightheaded and quickly gave the signal to stop, my head bobbing up and down. In an instant the boat stopped and I sank back into the water. I swam back to the boat slowly, my head dipping into the water once or twice. As I reached the boat I felt Jack grab the shoulders of my life jacket and hoist me up onto the boat. I collapsed into his arms the second I was upright, my eyes becoming harder and harder to keep open. 

Jack quickly took the life vest off, leaving me in just my bikini and laid me on the floor of the boat. It was all very blurry and I couldn't hear anything very well, but I felt Jack holding my head as my eyes started fluttering shut. Jack stroked my hair, moving a few pieces out of my face as I finally lost consciousness.

Jacks point of view

I watched as her eyes closed and her breathing slowed, losing consciousness completely. After being together for the better part of two years, I knew exactly what to do. I gently placed her head on the wet life vest and felt around her face and came to the conclusion that she had over heated, which factored into her passing out. I reached into the cooler full of beer and took some ice out and placed it behind her neck. 

The first time she had a fainting spell around me when we had just started dating, it was nothing less than a dumpster fire. It seemed to slip her mind to even tell me she had POTS, so I panicked and called an ambulance.

I moved to get more ice when I heard Trevor's voice. 

“Oh man, no! The beer’s gonna be warm!” He whined. 

We all looked at him and gave him looks, mine the meanest. I made eye contact with him before gesturing to my unconscious girlfriend with my head

“Are you serious right now, Z?” Cole asked, his hands resting on his hips.

“Oh, right. Sorry.” Trevor blushed. “Carry on.” 

I rolled my eyes because I was going too regardless of what he said, placing more ice on her far too warm body to get her core temperature down.

“Anything you need us to do?” Quinn asked, keeping his composer. 

“No, she’ll be all good and up again in a few minutes.” I mumbled, holding a cold beer to her forehead. 

I drew patterns on her bicep with my free hand, saying a few words to her as the boys sat on the other end of the boat, paying us no mind because they knew she hated people seeing her have fainting spells.

“You're okay, baby, it’s all good.” I softly said, seeing her eyes starting to twitch. No one really knew why her eyes started to do that when she had an episode, but the doctor said it probably had something to do with her body trying to wake up.  “C’mon, open your eyes for me.”

After a few seconds her eyes started fluttering open, but she quickly closed them when the bright afternoon sun shined into them. I removed the red New Jersey Devils hat from my head and placed it on hers, shielding her eyes from the harsh sun. It took a few moments for her to fully open her eyes and a few more for her to adjust to her surroundings and move her head around a bit.

"Atta girl."

“Jack?” She looked up at me, eyes tired.

“Welcome back, beautiful.” I chuckled softly.

“I take it that wakeboarding wasn’t the best idea when I haven't been feeling the best, huh?” She joked.

Elaine’s passing out wasn’t really an everyday occurrence, but it could be. It was kind of hard to predict when it was gonna happen, sometimes there were signs, but sometimes it just snuck up on her. Feeling fine one moment, and then being on the floor unconscious fifteen seconds later. 

“Yeah, maybe not.” I softly chuckled, running my hand up and down her arm. “Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling well? And why would you decide to go wakeboarding if you weren’t feeling good?”

She ran her tongue over her teeth, avoiding eye contact.

“Mm?” I rubbed her cheek with my thumb softly, trying to get her to talk.

“I..” She sighed, looking embarrassed. “I didn’t want to be a buzzkill with the whole… chronically ill thing. And I knew the second I told you I wasn't feeling well you would drop all your plans for the day and stay with me. I didn’t want you to miss out with your friends.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” My heart ached at what she had just said and I continued to rub my thumb over her rosey cheeks. “No one would ever think that, none of this is in your control. And who cares if I miss one boat ride? I’ve already been on a thousand and will be on a thousand more. Besides, they aren’t my girlfriend who I love more than anything.” I jerked my head in the directions of my brothers and friends. “I am more than happy to stay with you rather than hang out with them from time to time, especially if you're having a tough day, okay?”

“Okay,” She nodded and I leaned down to place a kiss on her lips.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“Alright,” she shrugged, “tired.”

“Do you wanna go back to the house?” 

“No,” she shook her head. “I’ll be fine. It would take forever to go all the way back to the house just to drop me off.” 

I gave her a skeptical look.

“Truly Jack, I’ll be okay. I promise.”

“Okay, fine. But if you feel one ounce of uncomfort we are going straight home.”

“Deal,” She nodded, chuckling.

“Can you stand up?”

“With some help.” 

I lifted her top half up enough to slip an arm around her and help stand her up, slowly. Very slowly. She stumbled for a second before she caught my arm, stabling herself.

“All good,” she smiled at the boys who were looking at her warily.

“Are you sure?” Quinn asked. “We can go back, it’s no problem at all.”

“No really guys, I’m all good. Trust me, I’ve been doing this for eight years.”

“Okay, but just say the word and we’re on the way home.”

“You got it, Quinn.” She nodded.

I sat down on one of the lounge chairs and laid back, pulling Y/N down to lay on my chest.

“You sure you’re all good, baby?” I asked one more time.

“Goodness gracious Jack, yes. I’m gonna start a running count of how many times you ask me that in a week and make you pay me a dollar for each time.”

“Just gotta make sure my girl is well taken care of, because she sometimes doesn't like to tell me when she isn't feeling well.” I gave her a pointed look to which she rolled her eyes.

“Oh my god, drama queen,” she laughed. “From now on I will tell you immediately the second I feel the slightest bit unwell.” She said sarcastically, but I took her 100% seriously.

“Good!” I said, and we both chuckled.

She let out a yawn and rested against my chest, her eyes closing. She was always tired after an episode and needed a nap, and I was always there to make her as comfortable as possible.

“I got you, baby.” I whispered, gently grazing my hand up and down her bare back and she dozed off.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

We pulled into the boat lift back at the house an hour later after coming to the conclusion that the only person that was sober enough to drive the boat was Elaine and there was no way in hell I was letting them wake her up. Elaine is still absolutely slumped on top of me, not that I minded.

Once we were docked I let everyone else pick up all the coolers and towels. Trying my best to move her as little as possible, I pressed Elaine against my chest before hooking my arms under her knees and standing up. She stirred in her sleep slightly before tightening her arms around my neck and nuzzling her head further into my neck.

It was just past five and I knew I should probably wake her because she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, but I couldn't bring myself to disturb her. I grabbed both of our phones before I stepped out of the boat and started up the stairs up to the patio and into the house. When I stepped onto the patio my mom and dad were sitting at the table, their conversation coming to an abrupt halt when they saw me with Elaine in my arms, immediately assuming she was passed out.

“Oh god, what happened? Is she okay?” My mom immediately asked, standing from her seat and coming closer.

“Yeah, yeah she's fine, she’s just sleeping.” I whispered. “She hasn't been feeling well all day and she passed out after a go on the wakeboard.”

“Oh, poor girl.” Mom frowned slightly.

“Could you open the door for me, please?” I asked.

“Oh yeah, of course.” Mom nodded and opened the door widely for me, cautious of the sleeping girl in my arms.

I climbed the stairs up to my room I always slept in during summers here growing up, which we now shared. I laid her down on the bed, covering her legs with the comforter. I put a hand to her forehead which still felt slightly too warm and turned the bedside fan on, pointing it at her. I closed the blinds before quietly leaving the room to go hang out with the boys, letting her sleep.

“Is she all good?” Quinn asked when he saw me come down the stairs. 

“Yeah, I just wanted to let her sleep.” I nodded, taking a beer from the fridge, Quinn just hummed.

“We’re gonna go play some corn hole, if you wanna come.” Luke said, leaning on the kitchen island.

“Okay,” I nodded, following them outside.

Eventually it had been an hour of a few games lost and a few games won of corn hole when I decided to go check on Elaine.

I made it up the stairs and was about to creek the door open when I heard talking coming from inside the room, making me pause.

First person point of view

I groaned, rubbing my eyes when I woke up, terribly confused before realizing where I was. I sat up in the bed, not missing that I was still in my bikini and reached for my phone that was placed on the nightstand. My eyes widened when I saw it was six pm, knowing there was no way I was sleeping tonight. Not wanting to get up just yet and realizing it's been a few days, I clicked on my moms contact and put the phone up to my ear.

“Hey honey, whatcha doin’?” My mom answered after three rings.

“Nothing really, I just woke up.” I said, my voice still groggy.

“Woke up? What on earth are you doing napping at six in the afternoon?” 

“Well Miss. Judgey, it was unbelievably hot today, and I just wasn't feeling good and passed out after a turn on the wakeboard, so I was a bit tired.”

I heard my mom let out a quiet ‘oh,’ knowing she was nodding her head, despite not being able to see her. My entire family and I were all too familiar with my episodes and flare ups, always having bad ones in the summer, remembering the times I went down after the wakeboard or tubing. My mom immediately jumped into the same lecture about how I need to take better care of myself, be more mindful about exerting myself, listening to my body, blah blah blah… I’ve heard it hundreds of times since I was fourteen and I started passing out and was diagnosed. 

I just held the phone to my ear, not listening in the slightest and chiming in with an “Mhm” or “I know” when appropriate. I was picking at a stray piece of lint on the comforter when the door opened softly, making my eyes shoot up and land on Jack. I put myself on mute and smiled up at him.

“Hey, handsome.” 

“Hey, baby, are you feeling better?” Jack sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing my leg over the blanket.

“Much,” I nodded.

“Good,” Jack mumbled, placing a hand on my cheek and kissing me sweetly. 

“I swear if you don’t start taking a break when you aren't feeling well your heart is going to beat out of your chest… Elaine Viola are you listening to me?!” My mothers voice was faintly heard from my phone, making us break apart.

“Yeah mom, hangin’ on your every word.” I took myself off mute and Mom jumped right back into talking, clearly missing my sarcasm. I put myself back on mute and looked up at Jack, both of us laughing softly at my mom and her antics.

“She’s right, y’know,” Jack said.

“I know…I just wanna live my life.” I brought my legs up to my chest in an attempt to hide myself and feel some comfort. 

It was true, this stupid illness has been controlling my life since I was fourteen. Growing up my family was very into sports, and so was I, I had always been a three sport athlete. In the fall I played soccer, in the winter I played basketball and in the spring and all throughout the summer I would play tennis. I was supposed to play tennis at Columbia, but my senior year my doctor said after highschool, I would have to stop playing sports. My heart wouldn’t be able to take that level of intensity everyday and would ultimately give out. 

I was crushed, to say the least. I felt like there wasn’t any point. Sure I was smart, I mean I still went to Columbia, but my entire life was planned out, and it was ripped away from me. I was in a pretty dark place for a while, replaying every moment of my life up until my diagnosis, kicking myself and wondering if there was something I could have done different.

Then I met Jack two years later. He showed me my life wasn’t all just about tennis, or soccer, or basketball and there were other things to live and be happy for. Things like my family, all my cousins and little nieces and nephews I would give my life for, the love I found for baking and cooking, all the books I loved to read, my schooling. Him. When I finally told him everything, he took up tennis so I could still play. When he showed up at my apartment in athletic wear and his very own tennis racket in hand, my heart almost beat out of my chest from something other than POTS.

Jack’s eyes softened, reaching up to tuck some hair behind my ear then cupping my cheek.

“Oh, my sweet girl… I know it's hard but it doesn't it's not all you are. You are so much more than you let yourself believe and it’s all just an obstacle you overcome everyday that makes you the strongest person I know.” 

I leaned into his touch, placing a kiss on his palm.

“I love you, Jack. So much, I love you so much.” I said softly, looking into his eyes with a lovesick gaze. 

“I love you so much, sweetheart. You have no idea.” Jack leaned forward and placed a kiss on my head.

“I mean c’mon!” Moms voice interrupted our moment, making both of us burst out laughing.

“Yeah totally, mom. I mean who does that?” I took myself off mute again, both of us holding in our laughs.

“Your Aunt Kelly, that's who!” 

I had to bite my first to keep the giggle at bay. It was always Aunt Kelly.

I pretended to listen to my mom for a few more minutes before hanging up. I usually listened, really. But with Jack right in front of me, it was hard to pay attention.

“Mom it was really nice to hear from you but Ellen’s calling for dinner, I’ll call you soon okay?”

“Oh of course! Don’t let me keep you, honey. I know how you can get when you have a story to tell. Okay, bye, I love you!” 

“I-” My eyes widened. “Lo-” and with that, the line went dead.

My jaw dropped open and I looked at Jack who was full on, grabbing stomach laughing. 

“How I can get!?” I exclaimed, laughing a bit myself.

“Oh baby,” Jack wiped the stray tears from how hard he was laughing. “I-I… I-” He couldn't even get a word out before doubling over laughing again.

“Okay, I think we’re going to get some food.” Once both of us calmed down from our laughing, Jack stood from the bed.

“Oh my god, yes. I’m starving.” I stood from the bed as well. “I need to change, two minutes.” I looked through the drawers and pulled out the first things I saw.

I unclasped my bikini top, it falling to the ground. I heard a low whistle and turned to see Jack shamelessly gawking at me.

“We don’t gotta go to dinner at all, baby.” Jack said with a cheeky grin, reaching to grab my hips.

“Keep it in your pants, you freak.” I pulled on underwear and my bra, turning so Jack could clasp it for me, followed by a random T-shirt and athletic shorts.

Yes, I am a full grown woman and know how to clasp my own bra, but I always let Jack do it because he just loves it for some reason.

“Well here comes the sleeping beauty.” Cole said when he saw the two of us come down the stairs.

“Yes I know, you all missed me so much.”

"Lane, make sure to get plenty of salt on your food, I don't want to deal with the embarrassment of being with someone who face plants into their plate." Luke said while we walked to the car.

I ran up behind him and jumped to hook an arm around his neck. "What about the embarrassment of being choked out by someone half your size?"

Luke then roughly shoved me off his back and fell into Jack's chest, who pushed Luke’s head with a laugh.

"Bitch." I quipped.

"Biggie." Luke shot back.

I gasped. "Don't even⎯!"

“Children, please,” Cole sighed dramatically, opening the car door. “Some of us are starving and don’t need a WWE match in the driveway.”

“He started it!” I pointed at Luke, who just grinned like the menace he was.

“Doesn’t matter who started it,” Jack said, slipping his arm around my shoulders as he guided me toward the car. “I’m finishing it—by making sure my girl eats before she actually does face plant into her plate.”

I whipped my head over to give Jack a glare. "Do you want a purple nirpple?"

Jack shoved me lightly and ran to the car, and I ran after him.

This shit is such cornball.

Also can you tell idk how to write endings?

Jack Hughes x Elaine Bennett

pots! gf au

Jack tries to teach Elaine to skate.

fluff

warnings: pots, fainting

wc: 3.3k

au masterlist

It was one of those bitter Michigan winter days where the cold seemed alive—sharp, relentless, and everywhere at once. The wind sliced through the air with a low whistle, biting at any skin brave enough to be exposed. Frost clung stubbornly to the edges of street signs and car windows, while the air itself felt heavy, almost metallic in your lungs. Each breath came out in a pale cloud, and cheeks stung red as if the cold had taken it personally.

Jack knew all of this. He knew it was freezing, unbearably freezing. He also knew that Elaine did not enjoy the cold one bit. He seemed to not care about any of that one bit today because he insisted today was the day Elaine would learn to skate.

He'd taken her skating once or twice, and each time she clung to him like a life line and wouldn't let go of him once.

"Jacklyn..." Elaine said, gripping Jack's hand as they walked to the frozen pond in his childhood neighborhood with the snow shoveled off in a perfect circle.

Jack scoffed slightly at the name⎯Jacklyn. She would call him that occasionally and thought it was hilarious since it was a traditionally feminine name.

"Baby, it'll be fun, I promise." He gave her gloved hand a squeeze, his boots crunching on the layer of snow the plow has failed to clear away. There was a pair of hockey skated tied together by the laces thrown over each shoulder⎯his own over his left and a smaller pair his mom had dug out on the other.

"Yeah, for you. You know how to skate, and you're in the cold for extended periods of time regularly. I'm like Bambi and currently have four layers plus the biggest puffer jacket known to man kind on and I'm still shivering."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him, trying to warm her up a little.

"I'm gonna fall, Jack."

"No, you won't"

"I've skated no more than three times in my life. I wasn't exactly a natural at it, you should know⎯you were there."

Jack snorted, remembering what it was like the handful of times he's taken her skating. Elaine gasped at his laugh and swatted his chest.

"Not funny." She nearly pouted. "Not all of us chase rubber around on skates for a living."

"You're acting like you don't laugh at me when we play tennis."

"At least tennis is on real ground with real shoes. But, you still manage to fall every now and then..."

"Well when you deliberately pass it over to the complete opposite side I'm on and I have to lunge for it, yeah I might take a tumble once or twice."

"My favorite part is when you scrapped your knee and made me kiss it better."

"Yeah? Well, just for that I'm gonna push you right over and not help you up."

"I'll break up with you, I promise." Elaine threatened.

"Not sure if I believe that."

"You will if you let me fall."

"I won't let you fall, baby. You'll be fine, I promise." Jack chuckled, pressing a kiss to her hair and brought her to a bench in front of the pond.

He sat next to her and laced up his skates with practiced ease and speed, Elaine next to him and slipping off her shoes and replacing them with skates.

Jack stood up and grabbed her ankle, securing her skate between his thighs and started lacing them up.

"Jeez!" She exclaimed when he tightened them and her ankles were squeezed an unbelievable amount.

"Too tight?" He asked, a hint of laughter in his voice.

"Am I supposed to have blood flow to my foot?"

Jack scoffed slightly and loosened the laces a bit. "Better?"

Elaine nodded and he quickly tied a bow to finish it off before moving onto the next one.

After lacing up both of her skates tightly, Jack grabbed her hands and pulled her up from the bench.

"Ready?" He asked, stepping backwards onto the ice and trying to get her to join him.

"No," she shook her head, tightening her hold on his hands.

"Laney, sweetheart, come on. How are you gonna learn to ice skate if you don't actually step on the ice?

"Who said I wanted to learn to ice skate?"

"You did! I distinctively remember you saying you wanted to spend more time with me."

"Yeah, I said I wanted to spend more time with you, not learn to ice skate."

"Well, thats basically the same thing." Jack shrugged and tugged on her arms again.

"Wait no, give me a count down!" Elaine shrieked and dug her skates further into the snow

Jack rolled his tongue in my mouth but counted anyway. "One..."

Elaine screwed her eyes shut, squeezing his hands.

"Two..."

She adjusted her footing.

"Three."

She stood in place sternly. Jack tugged on her arms gently, but she didn't budge.

"Laney..." Jack continued tugging. "La-Laney... Elaine!"

"Stop rushing me!" Her eyes shot open.

"I gave you a count down!"

"Yeah, of three."

"Three is like, the count down number." Jack rolled his eyes.

"Nuh uh! People go from five, or ten all the time!" Elaine countered.

"Well, I go from three. One, two, three." Jack wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her up

"Wha-No! Jacklyn!" Elaine swat at his shoulder repeatedly.

"Hit me again and I'll leave you in the middle of the ice to skate back all by yourself." Jack threatened and she immediately retracted her hand.

"I'm gonna set you down and you're not gonna freak out... okay?"

Elaine nodded. "Don't let me fall." She said in a meek voice.

"I will not let you fall."

"You promise?"

"Yes, baby, yes. I promise I won't let you fall." Jack nodded dramatically.

"Fine, just do it." Elaine scoffed.

Jack set her on the ice but kept a firm grip on her hands.

"See! No falling!" Jack exclaimed, a grin etched on his face.

"Yet." Elaine added.

"Okay, keep your feet below you⎯"

"⎯Jack, are you fucking joking? You want me to stand up with my feet below me like-like a person? A real life human⎯?"

"Alright, smart ass. Do you wanna learn or not?"

"Yes, yes, go on." Elaine rolled her eyes, waving her hand.

"Okay, keep your feet below you, shoulder width apart." Jack repeated, placing his hands on her hips to emphasize to square them. "Don't try to walk, push off one foot and glide with the other. Keep your knees bent for balance."

Jack started skating backwards slowly, holding her hands and pulling her with him, and she pushed off one foot and glided with the other like he told her.

"Damn Bennett, I outta say you're a natural."

"It's not rocket science." Elaine sassed.

"Well you haven't fallen yet."

"We've been skating for thirty seconds and I've been holding on to you the whole time. Wait now that I think of it, why do I trust you to keep me from falling?" Elaine narrowed her eyes at him.

Jack furrowed his brows. "Uhh I dunno, maybe because I'm a professional hockey player?"

"Well I've been watching you play professional hockey for a while now, and I've noticed that you can't seem to go a whole game without falling at least three times."

"Have you also noticed that I can't seem to go a whole game without scoring at least once?" Jack said with a cocky smirk.

"Wow, can't skate and humble? What I man I got!"

"I'll let you fall, I promise."

"I'll break up with you, I promise." Elaine echoed.

"Hey, knees bent!" Jack scolded and Elaine groaned but bent her knees regardless.

It had been thirty minutes and they had taken countless laps around the ice and Elaine was starting to get the hang of it, but she still refused to let go of him. Though she wasn't sure if it was because she was scared of falling anymore or not.

"Can I let go yet⎯" Jack started to ask but his question was quick answered.

"No!" Elaine snapped.

"Baby, come on. It's time to let go."

"No, Jack no." She shook her head firmly.

"Baby, let go." Jack urged.

"No."

"Baby, let go." He repeated, firmer this time.

"I'll fall."

"No, you won't."

"Yes, I will."

"If you talk like that, you will."

"I don't wanna fall. I'll land on my hip, or my arm, or my knee and it'll hurt. I don't wanna have a bruised hip or arm or knee for the next week."

"You won't fall. And if you do I'll catch you."

"Do you promise?"

"I promise."

"Pinky promise?" Elaine held out her left pinky.

Again, Jack rolled his eyes and scoffed in good nature before linking their gloved pinkies. "I pinky promise."

Elaine took a deep breath and let go of his hands, standing completely still on the ice.

"Huh, see? Half way there, now you just have to move!" He exclaimed.

Elaine shuffled her feet twice before staying still again. "Am I doing it?"

"Uhhh," he glanced down at her feet, "...no."

Elaine put one foot in front of the other, "how bout now?"

"Not quite."

Again, she placed one foot in front of the other again and when she went to do it again, Jack suddenly yelled.

"AHH! No, what did I tell you?!" He cried.

Elaine stumbled and grabbed his shoulder, fisting her jacket with wide, scared eyes. "Uhhh, I dunno? I'm annoying? I'm beautiful? You'll be home by six tomorrow?"

"Keep your feet below you! Don't try and walk, you will fall if you do that!"

"Jesus, when did you get so theatric?" Elaine let out a breath. "Why are there so many rules?"

"There's like, two: don't walk; glide, and keep your knees bent. There, two!"

"Okay, I'll follow the rules. Don't walk; glide. Knees bent." Elaine recited with an eye roll.

Jack skated backwards a few feet. "Okay, skate to me."

Elaine took a breath and right when she dared to move a muscle, she stopped. "You'll be able to catch me if I fall and I'm over here and you're over there?"

Jack let out a dramatic groan and rubbed his eyes before clicking his tongue and getting rid of any annoyance on his face. "Elaine, I promise I will not let you fall."

"You'll be able to catch me even if I'm over here and you're over here?"

"Yes sweetheart, I'll be able to reach you." Jack reassured her. It was actually very likely that if she fell, he would not be able to get there in enough time to catch her, but there was no way he'd tell her that.

"Okay..." Elaine muttered and started skating, pushing off one foot and gliding on the other cautiously.

"Hey, look at you!" Jack's grin widened, holding his arms out to her

A smile broke out on Elaines face and she started skating faster to Jack, gaining confidence.

"That's it!" He encouraged.

The gap between them started getting smaller and smaller and right when she was three feet within Jack, she ran over a dip in the ice, tripping and falling right into Jacks arms.

"Oh, shit!" Jack said under his breath. "That's okay, you're okay. Hey, we've been out here thirty minutes and this is the first time you've tripped."

"First time I trip is the only time I try to do it on my own." Elaine scoffed slightly, standing up fully, a mild wave of dizziness washing over her.

"You okay?" Jack questioned, squeezing her shoulders and scanning over her body to make sure she's alright.

"Yeah," Elaine nodded, shivering from the cold a bit.

"Are you cold?"

"No," Elaine shook her head with a smile, lying through her teeth. Sure, she's been saying she doesn't want to skate, but really she's just giving him a hard time. She wants to do this for him and doesn't want to ruin his fun at all because he's really enjoying this.

"Liar," he narrowed his eyes at her.

"Nuh uh."

"Yes huh."

"Nuh uh!"

"Yes huh!"

"Nuh⎯ I am not getting in a nuh uh/yes huh fight with you."

"Then just admit that you're cold, baby." Jack chuckled, twirling a strand of her hair in his finger tips.

"Mm... no." Elaine pretended to think. "Okay, can we try again?"

"Yeah, yeah sure." Jack nodded excitedly, happy she was getting excited about this.

Jack skated back a few more feet again and Elaine started skating to him. She was still a little wobbly, but very determined to reach him. She pushed off one foot, glided on the other. Pushed off one, glide on the other. Push and glide⎯

Elaine's vision fogged over and she tripped over her own skates, falling to the ice and landing on her hands and knees.

Jack lunged to try and catch her, but he was just short and didn't make it in time.

"Oh, god, baby I'm sorry." He kneeled down in front of her, concern all over his face. "I know I promised I would catch you and not let you fall, I'm sorry. Are you okay, are you hurt?"

"Jack, I'm okay I promise. I'm just embarrassed." Elaine picked her head up, trying to get him to stop ranting and panicking. Her breath was heavy and head was spinning.

"Don't be embarrassed, I fall all the time." Jack reassured her.

"Yeah, but you're already a professional so commoners like me can't make fun of you."

"Commoners⎯?" Jack's face scrunched confusion. "I'm just a normal guy that happens to be good at hockey."

"Yeah, yeah whatever." Elaine waved her hand at him, trying to dismiss her clouded vision and the wave of lightheadedness.

"C'mon, stand up sweetheart." Jack stood up and held his hands out to her.

Elaine took his hands and let him pull her up, her head spinning. "Not so fast." She muttered.

"Sorry, you okay?"

"Mhm," she nodded her head, clutching his forearms.

"You sure you're okay?" He repeated and examined her, noticing her dizzy and out of it state.

"Um..." Elaine wobbled, eyes fluttering. "...Yeah, yeah I'm good." She shook her head, snapping her eyes open.

"No, no I don't think so." Jack tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, shaking his head.

"Baby, I promise I'm okay." Elaine ran a gloved hand over her face, squeezing his bicep with her other. "Let's try again."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. I wanna learn. Skating is a part of hockey, hockey is your life, I should learn to skate."

Jack bit his lip in thought for a moment before responding. "Okay, I'll keep closer this time."

Jack skated back a little and held his hands out for her, Elaine skating cautiously to him. Once she reached him, Jack wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head, grateful she didn't fall this time because he would have never heard the end of it.

After doing the same thing over again, Jack managed to help Elaine build up the courage to skate off on her own again.

Jack was standing on the other side of the pond, watching Elaine skate back over to him. The pond wasn't very big, but to Elaine it felt huge as she clumsily tried to skate over to Jack.

Her eyes didn't leave Jack, skating over to him while he yelled encouraging things to her.

Elaine's vision cleared over for a split second, then her head spun and she couldn't tell left from right or up from down. The image of Jack got blurrier and blurrier. She stopped skating completely and stood still, wobbling from side to side.

She tried to catch her breath and once she thought she was in the clear, she tried to move, only to lose consciousness and go straight down.

Elaine fell on her back and hit the ice hard, bumping her head.

"Oh, shit!" Jack cursed.

Jack took off and made it to her side in three seconds flat, getting down on his knees and cradling her head in his hands.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no, no, no." He repeated over and over again. "You're okay, everything's okay." He soothed, caressing her hair.

Jack was reassuring Elaine in case she could hear him, but he was also trying to reassure himself.

Jack was freaking out. Yes, he's handled her passing out before, but not like this. They were outside in the cold, she was laying on ice, the only way home was walking, and she had hit her head.

"Baby can you hear me? Please tell me you can hear me. Just do something, anything."

Elaine lied stiff as a board, her body temp slowly going lower.

Jack tapped at her face gently, but nothing happened, but when he felt how cold she was he was quick to lay her body against him so her core wasn't on the ice.

Accepting he couldn't do anything, Jack just drew patterns on her cheek with his thumb, patiently waiting for her to wake up.

After a solid couple of minutes, Elaine started to stir in his lap.

"Oh, oh, hey," Jack perked up. "Hey sweetheart. You're okay, everything's okay."

"Mm.." she hummed, rubbing her eyes before opening them, then quickly squeezing them shut when the sun shown right into them.

"Oh, jeez." Jack realized the sun was directly in her eyes and moved to block it with his head.

"'s... cold." She slurred, Jack pulling her closer to him.

"Can you hear me, baby?"

Elaine just nodded with a shiver.

"I'm gonna pick you up, okay?"

Again, she just nodded and he slid his arms under her body, picking her up and skating off the ice with her.

Jack carefully stepped off the frozen pond and sat down on the bench right in front of it, keeping her pressed to his chest and having her sit on his lap. Elaine nuzzled her head into his neck, trying to block out any sun light and stop the pounding head ache she had.

They sat in silence for a bit, Jack rocking her gently and playing with her hair.

After a few minutes, Elaine picked her head up and looked at him tiredly, playing with the hair at the nap of his neck.

"Hey Laney, you feel okay? You hit your head."

Elaine ran a hand over her face and exhaled. "Mhm. Head hurts."

"Yeah, I bet." Jack hummed.

Elaines eyes widened. "Do you think I have a concussion?"

"It's a possibility, but I don't think so."

Elaine looked at her lap, embarrassed. "I'm sorry I ruined our skating."

"You didn't ruin anything, baby." Jack pressed a kiss to her head.

"Can we go home? I'll come out with you again tomorrow."

"Yeah, of course." Jack nodded and started swapping her skates out for her boots, then doing the same for himself.

Jack held her hand to support her while she stood up, then followed and rose to his full height.

Jack crouched in front of her and usually she would scoff and roll her eyes, but this time Elaine hopped on his back no questions asked. It wasn't even a half mile back.

"Am I too heavy, are you getting tired?" Elaine asked not even five minutes after they left the pond.

"No baby, not at all. You eat like, 300 calories a day⎯"

Elaine rolled her eyes at his exaggeration.

"⎯Y'know, thats probably part of the reason you're always dropping like a fly⎯"

"⎯Alright, alright, I never asked for a lecture." She roll her eyes at his dramatics.

"Okay fine, I won't ever be concerned for you again. Next time I'll just leave you unconscious on the ice and go get a coffee. Actually no, I'm a decent enough person that I'll at least drag your body to the snow so skaters don't run you over or you don't fall in the water when the ice melts.

"You know why I'd do that? Because I'm nice. Ohhh yes, I am very nice. The nicest in fact. You know, I am soooo nice that⎯"

"⎯I don't think the head aches just from hitting my head anymore." Elaine quipped, tone flat.

"Wha-what do you mean? What's wrong?" Jack quickly asked concerned, but then it clicked in his head and it was followed by a gasp. "Oh my god!"

Elaine just placed a kiss to the closet spot, which was his neck. "Love you."

She then placed her head in the crook of his neck, listening to the crunch of his boots walking on the snow while her eyes fluttered shut and fell asleep.

Jack Hughes x Elaine Bennett

pots! gf au

The first time Jack and Elaine met

fluff

warnings: none!

wc: 3.4K

au masterlist

Elaine walked into one of her regular book stores around two o'clock that afternoon with a jingle of the bell on the door. Since moving to New York, she's found three book stores she considers up to standard. There was Little Lantern Books, Tales & Tea, and one simply called BOOKS.

Her favorite and the one she frequents the most out of all three was Tales & Tea. They got new shipments every two weeks and Elaine has become friendly with the owners and they always take her suggestions on what books to add to their store. Not to mention there was a cafè attached to it with the best cold brew and coffee cake she's ever had.

The owners of Tales & Tea are a middle aged couple by the names Maureen and Jacob. Maureen usually handles the check out and helping customers, and Jacob handles the cafè.

"Elaine, long time no see." Maureen greeted when Elaine came through the door.

"Hi Maureen, what new stuff have ya got?" Elaine put her forearms on the counter and leaned on it.

"Well lots of new things, but we got The Book Thief and Wuthering Heights like you suggested."

"Well, sounds like I've got a lot of work to do." Elaine drummed the counter with her hands before disappearing into the shelves.

After browsing for forty minutes Elaine had The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, The Group by Mary McCarthy, and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.

She rounded the corner to go back to the counter and check out then sit in the cafè for an hour or two when she ran into something⎯or someone⎯ and feel straight to the floor, the four books in her hands dropping.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry."

Elaine heard a masculine voice from above her.

"No, no, it fine, I promise. Accidents happen." Elaine chuckled, picking up her tote bag and the things that feel out.

"Are you okay?" The man stressed.

"Yes, I'm all good." Elaine said, even if her head spun just slightly from the sudden movment. Stupid POTS.

"Oh jeez, let me help you." The man crouched to help pick up the two out of four books she dropped from the floor. "Hey, The Book Thief?"

"Yeah, I've been wanting to read it for ages and finally got it." Elaine smiled while she tried to collect herself.

"You're in for a treat, a favorite of mine." The man extended his hand.

Elaine took his hand and he pulled her up from the floor.

"Sorry again about, uhh... knocking you down. I'm Jack."

"Don't be, really. I'm Elaine, nice to meet you." She shook the hand she was already holding before letting go.

"Nice to meet you too."

Elaine glanced at the books in his hand and gasped slightly. "Wuthering Heights? Oh I love that book!"

"Really? Maybe you could give me your number and I could tell you how I like it?" Jack said, raising his eyes brows and pursing his lips slightly.

Elaine laughed, "smooth Jack, real smooth." Her finger tips grazed his chest.

"Is that a yes?"

Elaine thought for a moment before pursing her lips. “I’d have to think about it.” She shrugged and stepped around him, walking towards to check out.

“Wait, what?” Jack turned around and watched her walk in bewilderment before going after her, being at her side in two long strides. “Think about it?”

“Yeah, I mean I met you two minutes ago because you knocked me to the ground. You could be an axe murderer for all I know.”

“Hey, you said it was all okay and accidents happen!” Jack pointed an accusing finger at her.

"That was before you asked me for my number." Elaine quirked a brow, placing the stack of books on the counter and Maureen gave her a sly smirk while she started scanning.

"So, what's it gonna take for me to get your number?" Jack put an elbow on the counter, leaning on it.

"Have coffee with me, so I have a chance to get to know you instead of giving my number to a complete stranger."

Jack's brows raised slightly in surprise but he quickly composed himself and shrugged nonchalantly. Before he could respond Maureen spoke up.

"That'll be 68.21, Elaine."

Elaine reached for her bag but Jack stepped closer to the counter.

"Actually could you add these three and I'll just cover it all?" He placed his three books on the counter and pushed them closer.

"Oh, of course." Maureen smiled, grabbing the first from the stack.

"Wait⎯no, thats-thats okay." Elaine shook her head, looking from Jack to Maureen.

"Ignore her, please." Jack said.

"Maureen, no." Elaine pulled Jack's stack of books away and put her card on the counter.

"Maureen, yes." Jack pushed the books back towards her.

"Maureen, who are you gonna trust? Me, Elaine, the loyal customer of over a year or...Jack, who has never stepped foot in this place before today?"

"Maureen, please, throw me a bone here." Jack butted on.

Maureen looked between the two before scanning Wuthering Heights and adding it to Elaine's bill.

"Maureen!" Elaine gasped accusingly, jaw falling open.

"He's in desperate need of a wing woman right now, Elaine." Maureen gave her a look.

Jack chuckled, "no need to call me out in front of the woman I'm trying to a phone number from."

"She has eyes kid, I think she can tell that you're in need of help." Maureen shook her head. "Alright, 104.32."

Jack handed Maureen his card. "Thank you, ma'am." Jack took the bag of books and his card back from Maureen.

"Thanks Maureen," Elaine said.

"So, coffee?" Jack asked as the stepped away from the counter.

"This place has a really great cafè, actually." Elaine said, already walking over to it.

After ordering they sat down at Elaine's regular table.

"So... you come here often?" Jack looked over at her and Elaine snorted.

"You've already used a pick up line when you asked for my number."

"Right, right," Jack nodded. "So this is the time when I would ask where you're from?"

"Yes, that's usually the next course of action." Elaine nodded and sipped her iced latte.

"Okay, so where are you from?"

"Pennsylvania," Elaine chuckled. "I grew up in a small town about an hour North of Philly."

"Does that make you a Flyers fan?" Jack groaned and Elaine laughed.

"Yeah, I suppose you could classify me as a Flyers fan. I'm not really a huge hockey fan but my brothers and dad are, and I support all Philly sports, especially the Eagles and Sixers. But I've never followed hockey all that much but I have teams I like and hate, like the Rangers and the Devils, hate them."

Jack blew air into his cheeks dramatically. "Man, hate the Devils?"

"I take it you're a big hockey and Devils fan?"

"Yeah, hockey's always been a big thing in my family."

"Are you from Jersey?"

"I live there now but I'm from all over."

"Like where?" Elaine asked further.

"Well I was born in Orlando, but I grew up mostly in Toronto because my dad worked with the Leafs AHL team, the Marlies, then we moved to Canton when I was like twelve and thats where my parents still live."

"Wow, you weren't kidding. What brought you to Jersey?"

"Work, and my brother moved to Jersey a few years ago as well and thats really cool." Jack picked apart his poppy seed bread slice and took a bite.

"What is you do for work?"

"Hockey," Jack responded nonchalantly.

"Like, management or coaching?" Elaine asked.

"No, playing." He shook his head.

Elaine furrowed her brows and didn't respond for a beat. "Like... professional, NHL?"

"Mhm," he nodded, chewing.

Elaine paused, looking at him. "So you live in New Jersey and play in the NHL... so you play on the Devils?"

"Yes, yes I do." Jack tried to hide his laugh.

"Oh my god!" Elaine exclaimed, a hint of laughter in her voice. "I cannot believe I just told you I hate the Devils and you've been a Devil this whole time!"

Jack was nervous about telling her he was a professional hockey player because usually when he tells a girl that, thats all she seems to care about.

"I mean, at least you hate the Rangers too." Jack shrugged.

"God, cannot stand them, but I have to be quiet about because saying I hate the rangers and like the Isalnders can get you serioulsy injured around here." Elaine said, Jack laughing along.

"So what's your last name?" Elaine questioned, trying to figure out if she knew him or not.

"Hughes," Jack answered.

"Hughes, Hughes..." Elaine said, testing to word on her tongue. "Jack Hughes...Oh yeah, sure! You're one of the brothers."

"Yes, yes I am one of the brothers." Jack chuckled "So, I'm guessing you live in New York?"

"Yeah, I moved here about two years ago for school, I go to Columbia. I managed to graduate with my bachelor's in Biochemistry in two years, and now I'm back at Columbia for my first year of medical school."

Elaine left out everything about her POTS and being chronically ill on purpose, and well, she wasn't really thinking about it.

Jack let put a breath. "Damn, graduate an Ivy in two years and medical school? I hardly graduated high school."

It had been an hour and Jack and Elaine were still sitting in the cafè, pastries and coffees long forgotten. Elaine was leaning over the table slightly, her head rested on her fist, looking at Jack as they talked.

Maureen would occasionally look over at Jack and Elaine and each time, they were either laughing or talking, and they were constantly gazing at each other with this look of admiration.

"Do you come into New York often?" Elaine asked.

"No not really, I come for games and I'll come every once in a while for the day, like today."

Elaine checked her watch and realized she spent all the time she was supposed to be running errands in this cafè talking with Jack. "Shit," she said when seeing the time.

Jack's stomach lurched and he frowned slightly because usually when someone checked their watch and said 'shit', they had to leave.

"Would you wanna come with me to the Union Square farmers market⎯"

"⎯Yes!" Jack was quick to agree, not wanting to part with her just yet. He cleared his throat, "um, I mean yeah, sure."

Elaine laughed and started collecting her things, Jack following. Elaine picked up the bag with bot of their books, but Jack was quick to take it from her hand and carry it himself.

They walked out of the book store and Elaine was starting to walk in the direction of Union Station when Jack unlocked his car.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

Elaine stopped walking and turned around, seeing him opening the door of his car to put the books in the back seat.

"Union Station," Elaine replied, gesturing in the direction she was walking.

"Yeah, just get in my car and tell me where to go."

"It's six blocks."

"But my car's here."

"And it'll be here when we get back."

"Why would we walk there and then walk back here just to get my car if we could just take my car in the first place."

"Because it'll take ten minutes to walk but forty minutes to drive, not to mention trying to find parking."

"But⎯"

"Jack, I've lived her for two years so I can promise you that it'll be better to just walk."

Jack placed the books in his car and shut the door. "Okay, lead the way." He joined her side and they started walking.

"Do you enjoy living here?"

"Oh yes, I love it. I love the city, and Columbia, and don't get me wrong the Sixers, the Phillies, the birds and the Flyers will always be my favorite⎯"

Jack winced slightly when she said 'Flyers are my faviorite'.

"⎯but I love the Knicks, the Yankees, the Bills and the Islanders since moving here, and⎯" Elaine cut herself off. "Sorry, I'm talking too much."

Jack quickly shook his head. "No, no you're not. I asked."

Elaine smiled to herself, then quickly grabbed onto his sleeve and pulled him away from some creep that was mumbling and stumbling all over the sidewalk. "Oh jeez." She said quietly while they walked past him.

"You go past people like that often?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, but it's just part of the city." She shrugged while they entered the Union Station farmers market.

Elaine first stopped at a produce stand to get berries, then a different one to get a few apples, then another stand for a baguette, Jack following her around the whole time.

"Is this where you do all your grocery shopping?"

"Yes, most of it. I usually like to eat clean, unprocessed foods but I can't resist Nutella biscuits, so thats the one thing I allow myself."

"Nutella biscuits? Wow, never heard of those."

Elaine gasped slightly and turned to look at him while she picked out which baguette to buy. "Oh Jack, you're missing out."

"I'll put them on my grocery list, they sound like something my brother would like having in the apartment."

"You live with your brother?"

"Yeah, we both play on the Devils." Jack nodded.

"Oh my gosh, thats right." Elaine nodded, remembering. "And what was his name?"

"Luke,"

"Is he younger or older?"

"He's the youngest out of all three of us."

"Are you in the middle?"

"Yes," Jack confirmed.

"I'm almost done, I just need to go to that hand soap stand really quick." Elaine said after paying for her baguette.

"Take your time, don't worry about it." Jack reassured her. "I actually saw a stand over there I'm gonna go check out real quick."

"Okay, I'll just be right there." Elaine pointed to the stand she would be at and Jack walked off.

Jack approached a flower stand that wasn't very busy and looked around hopelessly before asking for help.

"Hi..." he greeted awkwardly.

"Hi, do you need some help?" The woman running the stand chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah I do." Jack chuckled also. "I'm on a first date right now⎯ well actually no I'm not, but yeah I kinda am? I knocked her down at a book store and then I asked for her number, but she said 'maybe'? Then I paid for her books and she said she had to think about giving me her number and asked me to have coffee with her.

I think she was joking about the having to think about it, but now I'm not so sure? Who says 'I have to think about it' when asked for their number? We had coffee and talked for like an hour, then she asked me to come with her to the farmers market, and you know obviously I said yes⎯ sorry, I'm nervous and I'm giving you too much information." Jack chuckled akwardly. "Would you consider this a first date?"

"Uhhh⎯" The woman's eyes widened nervously.

"Never mind that. Anyway, I wanna get her flowers but I've never had to pick out each flower before and I don't know what to do. What says, 'hi, I think you're pretty and cool and I had a good time with you and really want your number'?

"Not roses, right? Roses send a diffrent message... no, definitely not roses..." He shook his head, looking at the selection with a hand to his chin.

"How about some lilies?" The florist picked up a pink lily.

"Lilies? Yeah, lilies are good." He nodded.

"With some carnations?"

"Carnations? Whats a carnation?" He furrowed his brows.

The florist picked up a white carnation and held it with the lillies she was already holding.

"Oh yes, yeah carnations are nice." Jack nodded.

"Okay so, pink lilies, white and pink carnations, and some baby breaths and... what do you think, sir?" The florist held up the bouquet she had made to show him.

"Yeah, yeah thats perfect." Jack nodded.

The floriest grabbed paper to wrap the flowers in and rang him up. "Comes out to $20."

"Here," Jack handed her a $20 bill and she haded him the boquet. "Thank you so much, ma'am."

"You're very welceome, and sir?"

"Yes?"

"You guys are deffintly on a date and you're getting that phone number."

Jacks eye brows shot up. "R-really?"

"Really," the florsit nodded.

Jack looked around and stepped closer. "What makes you say that?"

"Well, she let you pay for her books, talked to you for an hour, and invited to come here with her even after you knocked her down."

"Oh," he said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You should probably go find her."

"Oh yes. Yes I should. Thank you, ma'am." Jack thanked her and walked off to the hand soap stand Elaine had pointed out, and arrived right when she was done paying.

"Oh perfect timing." Elaine smiled then saw the flowers in his hands. "Ooh, pretty. For your mom?"

"Uh, no," Jack said and they started walking out of the farmers market. "I got them for you."

Elaine gasped and looked over at him, having to look up slightly. Elaine was only 5'2" and she hadn't asked, but he seemed to be around 6'0".

"For me, really?" She asked, looking closer. "I love lilies, thank you!"

"Of course, you're welcome." Jack smiled.

They made it back to Jack's car and he unlocked it to get the books, taking his out and giving her the bag with her books and the flowers.

"Thank you," She took the bag. "I had a lot of fun with you today."

"Yeah, me too." He agreed.

There was a few beats of silence before Jack spoke again.

"So... did I earn that number?" He put his hands in his jeans pockets and rocked on his heels once.

Elaine stiffled a giggle. "I think that sounds reasonable."

Jack let put a breath of releif before pulling his phone out and handing it to her, a new contact profile pulled up. She typed in her number carefully, as to not drop it because of how much she was carrying and not type it in wrong. She saved it under Elaine and gave it back.

"I'll text you soon, yeah?" Jack said and Elaine nodded.

"Looking forward to it."

Would it be weird if I hugged him?

"Thank you, for the flowers and the books." Elaine stepped closer and got on her tip toes and put an arm around his neck, careful not to smush the flowers.

Jack froze for a second from shock but his brain screamed at him and he resipocated quickly. "Yeah, of course."

They pulled away and smiled at eachother.

"Bye Jack, drive safe."

"Yeah I will, Bye Elaine." Jack got in his car and Elaine started her short walk back to her apartment.

He'd met this girl not even three hours ago and didn't want to part with her, not to mention he wanted to stay in her embrace forever and he already missed her.

God, he was so fucked.

The next afternoon Elaine got a text from an unknown number while she sat on the couch in her apartment living room, reading the Book Theif.

Unknown I started Wuthering Heights last night and I've already read 200 pages

Elaine Please tell me this is Jack.

Maybe: Jack Oh my god, yes this is Jack. I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you

Elaine Haha, no don't worry about it. But thats the exact same thing I did the first time I read it, its so good!!

Jack So, what are the chances a second date is in the near future?

Elaine Second? Not sure I remember a first

Jack Coffee, farmers market and flowers? Sounds like a date to me.

Elaine Oh my god, you're so right. Did you know the whole time?

Jack Not until the florist told me

Elaine Damn, I can't believe I missed it And a florist knew before me, now I'm kinda sad I missed it

Jack If it makes you feel better I only knew for the last twenty minutes of it

Elaine Yeah it does, thank you.

Jack So, what about that date?

Elaine Only if I know its happening

Jack Will you know its happening if I pick you up for dinner on Saturday at 7?

Elaine Yes I will! You wanna take me out in New York? That would feel a bit more like I'm taking you out.

Jack Oh, right. Well me picking you up is kinda part of me taking you out, so I can't have you come to Jersey.

Elaine Well I don't have a car here, so what if you pick me up from the train station?

Jack I don't wanna make you take a train back late at night, would there even be a train that late?

Elaine Oh, I didn't think of that.

Jack You could stay at my place, then I could show you around Newark on Sunday, since you showed me New York

Elaine Oh, you dirty dog Jack That was smooth though

Jack NO NO, GOD, NO Elaine, that's not what I meant, I promise.

Elaine HAHA Yes, I know jack. I'm just making fun of you. Ik you mention you live with your brother, sure he won't mind?

Jack Luke? No he won't, I'll just tell him to stay at his girlfriend's

Elaine Okay, yeah that sounds good.

Jack Perfect, I'll see you Saturday

Elaine Can't wait!!

Alr wtf, why is the it is like that during the text conversation. I literally fixed it.