thinking about shauna listening to jackie talk about jeff like he never even mattered when shauna is pregnant with his baby because she just wanted something jackie had and wanted to be wanted by someone who wanted jackie and now jackie doesnt even care anymore and shauna is stuck with this forever. and then jackie dies and then the baby dies but not before shauna has to give birth to him in the wilderness in winter surrounded by people who eat the dead and now fucking jeff sadecki is the last thing she has of either of them and what the hell is she supposed to do with that? she's stuck with him forever.
thinking about shauna beating lottie almost all the way to death to get all of that rage out of her and then when that rage is out of her they give her a knife and tell her to slit natalie's throat, and then when natalie runs and shauna is let off the hook for one thing for once they give her the knife again and tell her to cut up javi, the closest thing to a baby, so they can eat him, and now she's stuck with this, too. and all that rage she burned off didn't go anywhere, really. it's still right there.
and then im thinking about shauna watching lottie and everybody else crown natalie the queen for virtue of not dying, which is the same thing everybody has been doing, except for jackie and the baby and javi who all took chunks of shauna with them and left her with nothing but a knife.
im thinking about shauna who watches everybody gossip and laugh through the springtime knowing that when winter comes she will be the person who will have to cut them all up one by one so the rest of them can live and its very easy to see why she isnt friends with any of them anymore by then. she looks at them and she sees cuts of meat and how is she supposed to look at anybody normally ever again after that?
and its cruel, of course it is, everything she does to coach ben. it's not his fault, it's not about him at all, really, except that he is exactly the problem. he's innocent. he judges them. he sees what they have had to do to survive and pretends he never profited from any of it. pretends to be above it, uninvolved. he judges them. he judges her.
and shauna needs complicity from these people. she needs somebody else to know what it feels like to hold the knife. she needs people to be stuck with those guilty votes forever. tai with the gun and melissa with the knife and natalie at the butcher's table so that she's not the only one. and so ben is the sacrifice.
i saw somebody say that shauna doesnt want natalie to have to feel the pain of butchering a person, thats why she puts the cloth over his face. but that's not true. she *needs* natalie to know the pain of it, the guilt of it, the weight. The cloth is a lie she told herself would make it easier but she knows that Natalie is about to know what the inside of this man's joints look like either way and that she's going to be stuck knowing that forever.
they are going to be rescued someday and everybody will say "we did what we had to do to survive" and shauna needs to not be the only one who really has to mean that when she says it. and i guess she has that now. or she's about to.
okay next, i js wanna laugh. okay so, were at a charity event or something, and im volunteering, helping hand out juice boxes, signing people in, keeping children from using cones as swords, that typa stuff. until FRANCO COLAPINATA shows up, he's js being annoying really, until shes had enough and YEET the juice box at his head, and then he's all nonchalant and shit like "UH HUH I DESERVED THATTT AHAHA" .... and then you can tell the juice box turned him on bc you can like tell he wants her, and thennn WEEKS pass, and he DM's her. "saw apple juice today. thought of you. still flinch when i see boxes. wanna hang out?” MUWUAHAHSNA
warnings:: none, maybe cussing..?
writers notes:: pls send more franco/f1 reqs bc i loved writing this sm and hes so fun to write for!
tags:: @barcapix @n0vazsq @httpsdana @paucubarsisimp @cherryloveshs
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you don’t even want to be here.
the email had said volunteers needed, and your overly kind soul had said sure, why not, and now you’re seven hours deep into wrangling children hopped up on fruit snacks and sun. the charity event is cute in theory, music, booths, a little track set up for games, and a bounce house, but in practice? it’s a battlefield.
you’re stationed at the welcome tent, handing out wristbands and juice boxes and fake smiles.
your feet hurt. your shirt is sticking to your back. a toddler is crying because he dropped his balloon into a bush. and some guy just tried to cut the line because he ‘swears his cousin is already inside.’
you’re not proud of how close you came to smacking him with the clipboard.
but then, because life has a sense of humor, he appears.
franco colapinto.
and you know it’s him, because who else shows up to a local charity event in an alpine cap, looking like he walked out of a sports magazine and directly into your personal hell?
you glance up at the exact moment he’s brushing a curl out of his eyes, all casual and oops i’m hot and didn’t mean to beenergy.
he scans the crowd, sunglasses pushed up on his head, mouth curled like he already knows he’s being stared at. and of course he is. a group of teenage volunteers behind you are whispering, one of them literally smacks the other on the arm and goes that’s him. that’s that guy. the car one.
sigh.
maybe if you stay perfectly still, he won’t notice you.
but of course, you are not blessed with that kind of luck.
his eyes land on you. direct. intentional.
and he starts walking over.
great.
you busy yourself with the juice boxes, shuffling them around pointlessly as if they need organizing, as if you’re not seconds away from face to face contact with a walking headache.
‘so,’ he says, leaning against the table like this is his full time job. ‘what does a guy gotta do to get one of those?’
you glance up. ‘a wristband?’
‘nah. a juice box.’
you stare.
he smiles.
you hold one up. ‘take it and leave.’
‘whoa. feisty. is this how you treat all guests, or am i special?’
you blink. ‘i’ve been here since 6am. i have zero patience and less charm left.’
‘good thing i’ve got enough charm for both of us.’
you raise a brow. ‘that supposed to work on me?’
he shrugs, peeling the wrapper off a straw. ‘worth a shot.’
he doesn’t leave.
he just stands there, sipping slowly, watching you like he’s never seen anyone pass out juice before. his gaze trails across your face, not in a creepy way, just annoyingly observant. like he’s trying to figure out what kind of person signs up for this kind of chaos and doesn’t run away screaming.
you try to ignore him. you really do.
but then he starts helping. like… physically taking wristbands from your hand to hand them to kids, leaning way too close to read names off the sign in list, nodding solemnly at the parents like he belongs here.
and the worst part? people believe it.
‘you two are adorable,’ one lady says as she signs in her daughter.
you nearly choke. ‘we’re not—‘
‘thank you,’ franco cuts in, smiling like he just won an oscar. ‘we try.’
you give him a look. he winks. kill me, you think.
it gets worse when a small child asks for apple juice and franco picks one up, does a dramatic gasp, and goes, ‘apple! the superior juice. i like your taste, kid.’
you break.
you don’t mean to. you truly don’t. but something inside you snaps, and the next thing you know, you’re yeeting a juice box straight at him.
it arcs through the air with surprising grace, smacks him right in the shoulder, and bounces off harmlessly onto the grass.
a moment of silence.
he blinks.
then he laughs. hard.
‘okay,’ he says, holding his hands up in surrender. ‘i deserved that. i fully, absolutely, one hundred percent deserved that.’
you cross your arms. ‘you think?’
he’s still grinning as he bends to pick it up. ‘apple again. symbolic.’
‘you’re ridiculous.’
‘you like me though.’
you scoff. ‘i like peace and quiet.’
‘you’re blushing.’
‘i’m hot. it’s eighty degrees.’
‘you threw a juice box at me.’
‘you were annoying.’
he tilts his head. ‘admit it. it was kinda satisfying.’
you bite back a smile. ‘maybe a little.’
he grins, stepping back finally. ‘i’ll leave you to your cone wrangling duties. but don’t be surprised if you see me again.’
‘god help me,’ you mutter.
he strolls away, sipping the slightly dented juice like it’s champagne.
and yeah. maybe your heart is doing something dumb.
maybe you do glance up once or twice, wondering if he’s still watching you.
maybe he is.
you don’t expect to see him again.
honestly, you’d hoped the juice box incident would be enough to scare him off. but two saturdays later, at a completely different event, you’re there, collecting raffle tickets and babysitting the world’s most chaotic face paint station, and there he is.
franco colapinto.
wearing a hoodie this time. hood up. trying and failing to blend in, as if his stupidly nice smile and the way he walks like the world was made for him don’t give him away instantly.
you see him from across the lot.
he doesn’t even try to be subtle. just lifts his hand in a little wave and starts walking straight toward you like this is a planned reunion and not a complete surprise.
you look around. as if there’s someone else he could be greeting. spoiler: there isn’t.
‘you again,’ you say when he reaches you.
‘me again,’ he grins, pulling down his hood like he’s revealing a secret identity.
you sigh. ‘are you following me?’
‘you wish.’
‘so this is a coincidence?’
he shrugs. ‘or fate.’
you deadpan. ‘you’re insufferable.’
‘you say that every time.’
‘i mean it every time.’
he gestures around, like he’s settling in. ‘need help again? or do i have to earn my juice box rights this time?’
you narrow your eyes. ‘don’t you have a job?’
‘i do. it’s off-season. i’m thriving.’
‘this is how you spend your free time? crashing fundraisers?’
‘not crashing,’ he says, very seriously. ‘contributing. i donated five bucks to the bouncy castle. i’m basically a hero.’
you don’t laugh. you don’t.
okay, maybe a little.
he’s already rolling up his sleeves and jumping into whatever task you’re doing, like last time, and suddenly you’re stuck with him for three hours again.
he helps a little girl glue pom poms onto a paper crown.
he nearly gets paint on his nose and doesn’t notice.
he lets a five year old draw a blue lightning bolt across his cheek and calls it his new racing stripe.
and every now and then, he looks over at you like you’re the funniest thing in the world, even when you’re just frowning at a clipboard or trying to untangle a balloon string from a folding chair.
you pretend not to care.
you pretend really hard.
the third time is the worst.
mostly because… you kind of expect him now.
you’ve made the mistake of mentioning your volunteer schedule to a friend on your story. and it’s fine. really. except now, when you show up to the saturday pet adoption drive with a clipboard and a tight ponytail, you scan the crowd. like an idiot.
he’s not there.
you tell yourself you’re relieved. that you don’t need another afternoon of his smug little comments and stupidly good hair.
but you still keep checking.
twenty minutes pass.
an hour.
two.
he doesn’t come.
you keep busy. hand out flyers. try not to cry when a little dog named charlie gets adopted. organize leashes by size.
and you don’t look at the time more than seven times. promise.
at some point, you’re wiping your hands with a napkin behind the tent when your phone buzzes.
it’s a dm.
from franco.
you blink.
sorry i couldn’t be there today. doing actual job things. tragic.
you stare at it.
then another:
but saw apple juice earlier. still flinched.
and another:
still want to hang out sometime. even if you hit me with stuff. maybe especially because you hit me with stuff.
you can’t help it. your lips twitch.
you don’t reply right away.
you finish your shift. take the long way home. drink half a juice box you saved from the cooler, even though it’s lukewarm now.
and when you’re lying on your bed, staring at the message, you finally type:
you’re impossible.
three dots.
impossible but charming?
you:
debatable.
him:
you didn’t say no though.
you stare at your screen for a second too long.
then:
one coffee. you pay. no weird pickup lines.
his response is immediate.
deal. i’ll try to behave. no promises.
you tell yourself it’s just a coffee.
one coffee. thirty minutes, max. maybe forty five if he says something dumb and you need time to drag him for it.
it’s not a big deal.
except it is. because you spend too long picking an outfit. change your shirt twice. then change it again. then panic change it back to the first one and tell yourself to get a grip.
you meet at some small place he picked, half hipster café, half bookstore. it smells like cinnamon and old paperbacks. you hate how nice it is.
franco’s already there.
and of course he looks… stupidly good. hoodie, again. curls poking out. one hand lazily spinning his coffee cup. and that grin, that stupid boyish grin, when he spots you.
‘you came,’ he says, standing.
‘don’t sound so surprised.’
he does a little half bow. ‘welcome to the least boring hour of your life.’
you roll your eyes and sit across from him. ‘don’t flatter yourself.’
‘not flattering. manifesting.’
you try to look annoyed, but the truth is, you’re already smiling. just a little. traitorous.
you talk.
not about anything huge at first. just… dumb things. favorite drinks. worst airport experiences. why he thinks pineapple on pizza should be illegal (you argue passionately against this).
he tells you about crashing a go kart once when he was twelve because he was ‘trying to wave like a champion’ and forgot to steer.
you tell him about the time you accidentally walked into the wrong class and sat through fifteen minutes of astrophysics before realising.
he laughs with his whole chest.
and it’s easy. too easy. every time your fingers brush reaching for the sugar, it feels like something electric. every time he leans in a little, like he’s really listening, your heart stutters.
you should not be this into him. and yet.
you’re both halfway through your drinks when he goes quiet for a second, then says, ‘i almost didn’t message you.’
you blink. ‘why not?’
he shrugs, looks down, spins the empty cup between his hands. ‘i dunno. didn’t want to be annoying.’
‘you already are.’
he grins, but it’s softer now. ‘yeah, but like… in a cute way.’
you shake your head, but your cheeks are warm. ‘you’re such a menace.’
‘you threw juice at me.’
‘because you were asking for it.’
he leans forward, elbows on the table, eyes on yours. ‘maybe i was.’
your breath catches. just a little. just enough.
you clear your throat. ‘you’re not smooth, you know.’
‘i don’t need to be. i just need to make you smile.’
you hate him.
you really, really don’t.
you leave the café two hours later.
two.
neither of you wants to say goodbye yet, so you walk. just… around. your shoulder brushes his once. then again. then a third time, and this time, it stays there. just for a second longer than it should.
he doesn’t let go first.
eventually, you end up back where you started.
he looks at you like he wants to say something. then looks away. then back.
‘can i see you again?’ he asks, soft.
you nod. and for once, don’t try to be clever.
‘yeah. i’d like that.’
the second date happens faster than either of you expect.
you’d planned to wait. play it cool. but then franco sends you a picture of a strawberry smoothie and says ‘looked gross. thought of u,’ and you end up laughing so hard in the middle of your kitchen that you just… cave.
you text him: you free tonight?
he replies in literal seconds: always. pick the time. i’ll teleport.
you meet again at the same café. but this time, he’s not already sitting.
he’s waiting outside. leaning on the wall. hoodie again, he really only owns five of them, he tells you later, and his curls are just barely damp from the light rain that’s started falling.
he sees you and that grin hits his face like clockwork. like he’d been saving it just for you.
‘you came,’ he says.
‘you say that every time.’
‘yeah, but like… every time you do, it messes me up a little.’
you pretend you don’t hear that part.
it’s darker inside. quieter. the same table’s free, but this time, you sit next to each other.
close.
too close.
he smells good. not in an obvious, cologne drenched way. it’s something warmer. shampoo and sugar and the kind of scent that lingers even after he leaves.
your knees touch under the table.
neither of you moves.
you talk again.
about bigger things this time. pressure. travel. burnout. he admits he sometimes feels like everything’s moving too fast, and he’s scared he won’t be able to hold on.
you nod. you tell him about how you fake confidence half the time. how sometimes you feel invisible until someone needs something.
he listens. really listens.
then says, ‘you’re not invisible.’
you blink. ‘okay?’
‘just saying. i notice you. always have.’
you laugh a little. ‘that’s creepy.’
‘yeah,’ he says, smiling into his drink. ‘but like… romantic creepy.’
you don’t mean to stay late. but time’s slippery around him.
by the time you realize it’s almost midnight, you’re both sitting outside the café, sharing a leftover pastry and watching the rain slide down the windows.
you don’t want to go.
he doesn’t want to say goodbye.
so he walks you home.
he stops outside your door.
you both kind of hover there. like two idiots waiting for someone to do something. say something.
‘this was nice,’ you say quietly.
‘yeah,’ he says, and then, softer, ‘i wanna kiss you.’
your breath catches.
he doesn’t move closer. doesn’t touch you. he just stands there, all warm eyes and soft voice.
you whisper, ‘then why don’t you?’
he grins. all teeth and nerves and too much hope.
‘cause the minute i kiss you, i’m not gonna stop thinking about it. and i want you to wanna kiss me back. like really want to.’
you stare at him.
he shrugs. ‘just being honest.’
you nod. heart in your throat.
then say, ‘next time.’
he smirks, already backing away.
‘i’ll hold you to that.’
you tell yourself you’re not waiting.
not waiting for a text. not waiting for a call. not waiting for the memory of him saying i wanna kiss you to stop looping in your head like some kind of cursed romantic ringtone.
but when his name flashes on your screen two days later, your whole face warms.
what if we didn’t do coffee this time?
you stare.
what do you wanna do then?
he replies instantly.
drive. music. idfk. i’ll bring snacks. you bring the vibe.
you: so i’m the vibe?
him: always.
he picks you up at 7:03.
he’s in a black hoodie this time, and his car smells like mint gum and the ghost of bad fast food. there’s a half eaten bag of crisps on the passenger seat, which he tosses in the back when you open the door.
‘you’re late,’ you say.
‘you’re early. time’s fake. get in.’
he drives like he thinks he’s in a movie.
one hand on the wheel. other messing with the aux. windows down. hair wind-blown and wild. he sings under his breath to every second song. raps to the third one badly. you don’t stop laughing the entire first hour.
you don’t know where he’s going, but you don’t care.
being next to him feels like its own kind of destination.
eventually, he parks by the water.
some random lookout. the city’s lights glitter below, far enough to feel small. the kind of view that feels too beautiful to deserve.
you sit on the hood of his car. shoulder to shoulder. knee to knee. the air’s cold, but not too cold. and everything’s soft. quiet.
for a second, neither of you says anything.
and then, gently, he says, ‘i think about kissing you a lot.’
you blink.
he keeps staring ahead, like he didn’t just drop a bomb. ‘not in a creepy way.’
you laugh. ‘do you always think you’re being creepy?’
‘only when i like someone too much.’
the words settle in your chest like warmth. like lightning.
‘franco,’ you say.
he turns.
‘kiss me.’
his eyes go wide. like for a second, he’s not sure if he heard you right.
then, slowly, he leans in.
he kisses you like he’s afraid to mess it up. like he’s been waiting exactly this long, and not a second less. soft, steady, sure.
and when he pulls back, he just rests his forehead against yours.
neither of you speaks for a minute.
you break the silence. ‘not bad.’
he huffs a laugh. ‘that’s it? not bad?’
‘seven out of ten. you’ll need practice.’
‘cool. guess i better keep showing up.’
you’re not sure when it shifted.
when the maybe turned into definitely. when the texting turned into facetime turned into mornings with your feet tangled under his on the couch. when the almost turned into always.
but now, here you are, franco at your door with a half-melted milkshake and a stupid grin, like he’s been thinking about this all day.
‘you’re late,’ you tease, taking the drink.
‘you’re still hot,’ he says, walking in like he lives here.
(he kind of does.)
you’ve been soft ever since the drive.
he kisses you now like he needs to. like he missed you, even if it’s only been a few hours. like kissing you is just a normal part of his day, something between brushing his teeth and ruining your kitchen by cooking you breakfast at 2 a.m.
sometimes, you wake up to his hand resting on your waist, his face buried in your shoulder. like his body forgets how to be without you.
you don’t say it. not yet. but you feel it.
you think he does too.
it’s been weeks.
weeks since franco colapinto got beaned in the forehead with apple juice and decided that was the hottest thing that had ever happened to him.
weeks since he dm’d you with that dumb message: saw apple juice today. thought of you. still flinch when i see boxes. wanna hang out?
weeks since you said yes.
and now here you are, propped up on his couch, socks mismatched, face lit by the glow of a documentary you’re not watching, because franco’s lying with his head in your lap and he keeps dragging his fingers along your leg like he can’t believe you’re real.
‘what,’ you murmur.
‘nothing,’ he says. then, quietly: ‘just thinking about the juicebox.’
you snort. ‘again?’
he nods, sleepy and fond. ‘you threw that thing with intention. it was beautiful.’
‘you’re so weird.’
‘you’re the one who assaulted me with a children’s drink.’
‘you flirted with me for two hours while i was working.’
‘you looked hot with a clipboard. sue me.’
you roll your eyes. he reaches up, brushes your hair behind your ear.
‘you know i really did think about you every time i saw juice after that?’
‘you said that already.’
‘i mean it. i’d be in a store and be like… damn. i miss her aim.’
you swat him. he laughs. kisses your wrist.
later, when you’re brushing your teeth in his oversized hoodie, he pulls you into his arms and rests his chin on your head.
‘should we save the juicebox?’ he asks, voice muffled in your hair.
‘what, like… frame it?’
‘yeah. put it above the bed. shrine to our origin story.’
‘you’re so dumb.’
‘dumb for you.’
you groan. he grins.
he still gets teased by his friends about the Incident.
he still buys apple juice ‘for the bit’ and lines the fridge with it like a threat.
but when he kisses you goodbye before his next race, all soft and slow like he’s imprinting it in his memory, he says:
‘thanks for hitting me.’
and you say, ‘thanks for being annoying enough to deserve it.’
and maybe, maybe, that’s just your love language now.
We are a very very dumb, stupid people
i want to fuck pyramid head so bad
Makeup as an expression of the soul.
Sugar Hits. // Elijah Hewson X Reader! (Fluff)
request: maybe you could write something like reader supporting Eli at a concert or something. Like, he's nervous about playing the new songs (your house, eddie in the Darkness) because he doesn’t know if the fans will like them and reader just comforts him before and after the show.
words: 2K.
That wasn’t your first gig of theirs. By the end of their last tour, you were already close with Eli and had really started to enjoy that "rockstar girlfriend" side of things. You managed to enjoy them more, and it felt good to have them back. As you walked down the hallway, Bobby spotted you, greeting you in his usual down-to-earth manner. He pulled you into a quick hug that made you feel a little guilty—it had been a while since you’d seen him, even though you didn’t live that far from each other. You exchanged a few words, catching up on your lives briefly, but then he noticed your eyes wandering around the room and shared something that had been on your mind.
"Eli's with Josh, sorting out something about the soundcheck," he said with a smile. You returned it, but it was a shy, almost embarrassed grin, worried that Bobby might think you weren’t paying attention.
"It's all good; I bet he's missing you too," he teased, bumping his shoulder against yours before letting you know he had to go meet up with the others. Your cheeks flushed, and it was funny how, even though almost a year had passed since the last gig you’d attended, you still felt like an outsider. Not because they treated you that way—in fact, it was quite the opposite. They always made you feel welcome, part of it all. But you understood this was their moment, their time together.
You waved at a few familiar faces as you made your way to a quieter balcony, finding solace in the semi-isolation. Eli always knew how overwhelming those spaces could be for you, especially after a long time. He always made sure his hotel room was organized with thoughtful touches—handpicked playlists, your favorite snacks—so you could have a retreat when the chaos got too much. This time was no different. He’d texted you the room number and even let the front desk know you'd be stopping by. If you didn’t already know that Eli needed you more this time than you needed a quiet place to recharge, you would’ve gone straight there. Usually, you’d take a short nap, listen to some good music, and breathe in his scent that lingered on the pillows, comforting you before heading back to watch him perform.
“I thought you'd take longer.” His tone was sharper than usual, the words fading into the atmosphere, his voice growing weaker. His eyes, tired yet still shining with a soft light, were fixed on you as you sat with a cigarette in hand. The night before, you’d stayed on the phone with him until he finally fell asleep—though it took a while. Eli masked it well, the calm tone in his voice, the gentle look on his face, and eyebrows that showed no sign of concern. But you knew his chest was heavy with worry.
That phone call had mostly been filled with quiet, just the comfort of having each other there. But he had briefly confessed his anxiety about singing the new songs, how his mind kept spiraling into everything that could go wrong. You knew him well, knew you could remind him how amazing he was and offer rational solutions, but he’d already tortured himself enough over the past week. So, instead, you listened, letting him pour it all out, hoping it would make him feel lighter, even though it was painful to hear someone you loved, someone so capable, talk that way about themselves and their work.
"You're doing great, El," you had whispered, your own throat tight, fighting the urge to cry, praying he'd understood you, even though your voice had come out so softly. And here you were again, saying the same thing, in the same quiet tone, after a six-hour flight because of your work, as he rested his forehead against your shoulder and melted into your arms.
His body was cold, muscles tense, and you wished this would all pass soon so he could see how well everything was going to turn out.
"I need you."
"Well, here I am, huh?" His back was resting against the balcony railing, legs spread slightly with you standing in front of him so that you were at eye level, close. Your fingers combed through his hair, which still held defined curls, and you peppered soft kisses on his cheek. He wasn’t one to easily show his emotions, but just having you there, all your gentle touches, made him feel better. He nodded as your delicate hands cupped his face, helping you see him more clearly. His tired eyes met yours, and you gave him a light smile, trying to lift his spirits.
"You've done this before, haven't you?" you teased him gently. His hands rested on your waist, pulling you closer. He tilted his head, wearing a stern expression, clearly weighing the situation in his mind. "I know, I'm being an id—" you cut him off, pressing your lips to his. Surprised, he gripped you tighter, but gradually relaxed as you felt the tension ease from his muscles, bit by bit. He kissed you back, a soft, relieved sigh escaping into the kiss.
You squeezed his shoulder through his black leather jacket—a piece he’d only wear for show since he always took it off mid-gig. He made more room for you to deepen the kiss. You could taste your lip gloss, and he had the familiar hint of mint candy on his lips, but nothing compared to the warmth that filled you as his scent wrapped around you, making you feel at home. You pulled back slightly to look at him. His eyes were still closed, and he gave you a few more soft kisses. Before he could speak, you murmured, “Only I can talk like that about my boyfriend. Anyone else? Not a chance.” He laughed, more relaxed now, his cheeks and lips red.
"Everything’s gonna be okay, El. You’ve done this before, and it went fine. You’re not going to disappoint anyone. Your fans are here because they love your work. I’m not dismissing how you feel, just saying you’re worrying over nothing, love." He nodded, and while it didn’t completely lift the weight from his shoulders, it felt like having that so-called voice of reason gently soothe his mind.
"Can you stay visible today?" The tip of his nose was pink, and his curls nearly covered his caramel eyes in supplication, but you didn’t mind. You usually stayed to the side of the stage, not wanting to be in the way, but this time it was different. "Of course, I’ll be there." He smiled, grateful, pulling you into his chest and holding you even tighter. You nestled into him, knowing you’d stay like that for a good while, arms wrapped around his waist. It felt even better than being in his hotel room—it was perfect.
…
Your back ached slightly, the exhaustion of just standing was starting to catch up. It had been a long flight, and you hadn't slept, but it was worth it. The lights dimmed, the crowd roared, and the thrill of seeing them live again was unmistakable. It was busier than last time, and it felt so good to see them getting the recognition they deserved. As the first chords played, the atmosphere was electric. Eli glanced at you every now and then, a warm smile on his face. You found yourself jumping and cheering for him, just like you did when you were beside the stage, though you always felt a bit embarrassed doing it in front of him. But it was impossible not to.
The first new song started, the silence filling with Eli’s steady voice, and he kept looking at you more frequently. You reassured him with your gaze. It was your first time hearing the new tracks in their entirety—the lyrics, the instrumentation—and you were so proud of him. As the next few songs, also new, played, you could see him loosening up, interacting with the crowd even though they weren’t singing along. Everything went smoothly.
As the show ended, a few fans stopped you on your way out. You felt a bit bad for standing in front of people who had paid to be there, so you made an effort to talk to them. It was awkward because their excitement was meant for Eli, and you weren’t as natural in these moments as he was. But you didn’t want to seem rude. They were enthusiastic, and you ended up asking what they thought so you could pass it along to him. They shared their love for the performance, and you told them it was your first time hearing the new songs too. It was a brief exchange, though your nerves made it feel longer.
As the fans thinned, Eli eventually stepped in, taking their attention off you. He placed a hand on your back, sharing in their excitement as he spoke to them. He knew you’d disappear from the conversation if given the chance, and it always amused him—he understood. You loved how attentive he and the band were in moments like this, always so considerate. You hated the thought of interrupting his time with fans, so you stood back, watching him chat and take photos, all smiles and joy.
He had been so nervous he hadn’t slept, but seeing him like this, radiant and confident, you knew he was being ridiculous. He was perfect.
…
You found yourself distracted, chatting with Lewis while waiting for the boys to come back so you could head to the hotel. The room filled with laughter as Eli's arms suddenly wrapped around you, lifting you off the ground and giving you a playful scare. You turned to face him, and there he was, beaming as if he had never been worried at all, and you threw your arms around him as he picked you up again.
"I'm so proud of you. It was amazing," you whispered just for him. His eyes sparkled, hair now a mess. He was drenched in sweat, his white tank top almost transparent. "I love you so much, you know that?" he said, his voice softer than usual. You nodded, feeling the warmth rush to your cheeks. Then, he rubbed his damp hair against your face, making you laugh out loud, which made him laugh too. There was never any doubt he loved you—it wasn’t something he said all the time, but when he did, it filled you with buzzing bubbles.
"Do I know this one?" he teased, running his fingers over the buttons of your brown vest that matched your boots. He’d noticed your outfit during the gig, appreciating that you always made an effort for their shows. It was something casual and routine for him, and now for you too. You could’ve easily shown up in something more comfortable, and he wouldn’t mind—he’d understand, especially since you’d come straight from the airport. But the fact that you took the time to choose something, thinking about what to wear and anticipating the gig, meant a lot to him. Even after seeing them live so many times, you still made it special.
"I got it a few weeks ago," you replied, happy he noticed. "Saved it for tonight. Figured it deserved something special." He chuckled, resting his hand on your waist as he gave you a little twirl. "Your eyes too," he said, cupping your cheeks for a closer look. "You’re stunning." He stared at your black eyeliner.
You smiled, closing your eyes as his thumb traced gentle circles on your jaw. "I told you," you whispered, bringing the conversation back to earlier. He kissed your nose, then your lips, finally accepting your words of wisdom. You let out a yawn, and he followed suit, making you laugh again. "You did, but it’s a good reason to have you here with me," he said, pulling you closer as you both made your way to the car.
He couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel either, to shower with you, to crawl into bed, and fall asleep wrapped up in your arms. "I’ll always be here, El."
here is a masterpost of all the accounts that have contacted me. I want to share all of their gofundme's. please please donate if you can and reblog!!!
As of August 14th the donation counts are:
@heba-baker: GoFundMe link - 3,130/60,000 vetted by 90-ghost
@ahmeadhilles: GoFundMe link - 5,324/80,000 - vetted by 90-ghost
@asmaayyad: GoFundMe link - 7,200/45,000 - vetted by 90-ghost
@lenarafat15: GoFundMe link - 3,795/30,000 - vetted by 90-ghost
@wafaaresh: GoFundMe link - 26,032/100,000 - vetted by 90-ghost
@ahmedhamda12: GoFundMe link - 14,200/50,000 - vetted on nabulsi and el-shab-hussein's spreadsheet
@mohammadayyad: GoFundMe link - 14,775/35,000 - vetted by 90-ghost
@helpfamily: GoFundMe link - 5,105/50,000 - vetted by 90-ghost
@lina-gaza: GoFundMe link - 32,848/45,000 - vetted here
@rehamjawad33: GoFundMe link - 18,978/70,000 - vetted #125 on nabulsi and el-shab-hussein's spreadsheet
@mahmoud0hilles: GoFundMe link - 9,486/50,000 - vetted #198 on nabulsi and el-shab-hussein's spreadsheet
@karemandohan1999: GoFundMe link - 4,561/50,000 - vetted by 90-ghost
@farahmoo: GoFundMe link - 1,941/50,000 - vetted by 90-ghost
@safaayassersposts: GoFundMe link - 135/50,000 - vetted by el-shab-hussein
@eslamfamily: GoFundMe link - 1,185/50,000 - vetted as #175 on the B&W spreadsheet list
@abdelmutei: GoFundMe link - 9,648/25,000 - vetted by 90-ghost
oh my god please stop beating a dead horse
we have been over this topic so many times. People have repeatedly told you, "circumstances don't matter" and yet a ton of you STILL harp on about your circumstances.
STOP IT.
I don't know why some of you people expect bloggers to start saying something different when YOU are the one who keeps worrying about the 3D like it dictates your manifestations when you should have already hammered the fact that your assumptions manifest and that what you see DOESN'T MATTER into your head.
"but i-" I DONT CARE!!! Stop relying on what you perceive to tell you if you have something or not. Stop seeking validation from the outside when it all stems from YOU.
Your circumstances suck, we know. They are hard, unliveable, stress inducing, exhausting, depressing, etc. Nobody is denouncing that it's rough, but for gods sake you need to stop conflating having results ≠ it showing up in 3D.
The 'success' is you persisting in/accepting your assumption, that IS IT. Because guess what? Someone who dgaf about what they're being shown and knows that their assumptions are the only truth and form everything, WOULDN'T GIVE TWO SHITS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE SEEING BCS THEY KNOW THEY HAVE IT. THEY DONT EQUATE HAVING SOMETHING MATERIALISE AS THE SUCCESS, THEY UNDERSTAND THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL THE MOMENT THEY ASSUMED IT.
you can sit there and complain about how shit is too hard but guess what? It's gonna keep being hard because you keep assuming it is. you can either stop and fix your assumption or keep repeating this cycle, it is up to you.