Archive of Our Own

Work Text

The thumping bass of the club rattled your bones, you barely noticed it anymore but occasionally it would jolt you back into rhythm - the smile you forced rarely reached your eyes and your feet dragged along the scuffed wood floor. It was the third night in a row of serving drinks and dodging flying cups and flailing hands, a payrise was nowhere in sight and the job only became harder as summer approached. At 20, you never imagined yourself as a bottle girl for one of the biggest clubs in London, it was so far from your dream of being an artist. You traded your warm nights at home, sat at your cluttered desk, scribbling pictures of dreams and sketches of landscapes for hours spent either overheating or freezing in a dress and heels while chasing customers and waving sparklers at private events. It had never been a fair deal to you, but they were the cards you were dealt.You wove through the crowd, balancing a tray of glittering champagne flutes, returning to the bar to check up on Grace, your only friend at work. Her curly hair had frizzed slightly in the humidity and her forehead was glazed in a sheen of sweat, she placed two filled glasses of jack and coke on the bar and shuffled at her sleeves, pulling them back over her elbows as she ran the back of her hand across her forehead.
“You good?” she shouted over the music
“Define ‘good’” you responded with a smirk, using the bar as a crutch to finally give your feet some relief from the heels. Before Grace could respond, your manager approached with a clipboard and a radio in her hand, she flagged you down as she pushed through a crowd of customers waiting for drinks.
“Y/n, last table of the night, hurry up, get another glass on your tray and take it to the VIP lounge downstairs.” You nodded as Grace filled another flute and placed it on your tray, you picked it up and began towards the spiraling staircase down to the VIP lounge. Usually the orders would stop for the regular booths and the VIP would ramp up towards the end of the night, so you were preparing yourself for the worst when you got down there.“Hey! Over here!” a man who was no younger than 40 waved you over as soon as you emerged through the doors to the lounge, they were clearly inebriated and clearly desperate for more drinks. As you started towards the booth you looked for a clear space to place the tray but their table was covered in bottles and empty glasses, there was confetti sprinkled over the floor and jackets strewn across the back of the booth. The group of men looked diverse in age, you wondered if it must have been a company night out or a stag party but it was hard to place. Almost all of the men were covered in tattoos, some more than others, their clothes were all of the same style, black jeans or cargos, graphic tees and chains, the man who looked the eldest was the one to invite you over and made a space for you on the table as you set down their drinks. He had greying hair and a husky voice, just from his body language you could tell he was the one paying for all of it, you guessed he was a manager of some sort or held authority over the rest of them. You smiled and turned away, not having much time for small talk or introductions as you were on a schedule, before you reached the door back to the stairs you heard a voice, much more gentle than before. Spinning on your heels, you turn to face a much younger, heavily tattooed man who had come from the VIP booth, he smiled so subtly you also missed it.
“Hi, could I get, like, water?... or a coke or something?” His voice was so quiet you could barely hear him, but watching his lips was enough to understand most of what he said.
“Of course, I’ll be right back” you smiled and nodded as you continued towards the bar, scooping ice into a large jug and grabbing the hose to fill it with coke. In the corner of your eye you could still see him standing where you left him, not returning to the group he was with, you thought it was odd but didn’t second guess it for long. Reaching for a bottle of water, you come round from the bar and beam a tired smile at the man who was now watching you approach.
“Here you are, a coke mixer and some water, is there anything else I can get you?” You ask
“Uh… no, thank you” He smiled ever so gently and took a beat before turning back towards his friends. As you turned to leave, you took another look at the group, a few of them had passed out on the seats and the rest were somewhere on the dancefloor or talking to girls. You lingered for a moment, pretending to adjust the empty tray under your arm and fix your heels that were biting at your ankles. You watched as the man returned to the chaos of the booth, he seemed out of place somehow, his body language gave all the signs that he didn’t want to be there and it caught your attention for a moment. You had seen people who had clearly been dragged out to a club before, rolling their eyes and complaining, but he was different, he wasn’t affected by the flashing lights and loud music, he wasn’t bored, he was just present. His tattoos stretched down his arms and along his knuckles, even creeping up to the sides of his neck, all black patchwork carefully dotted across his skin, you couldn’t make out any of the designs but they all seemed to be words or small scratchy sketches. His hair was a light brown and tousled, it fell across his face which he pushed back every so often, no hint of sweat or exertion from dancing, it was as if he had only just arrived, but in reality the club was closing in 30 minutes and it was pushing 4am.“Y//N!” Grace’s voice crackled through your earpiece, yanking you back into reality. “Supervisor says you can clock out after you clear the last tray. You good?”
“Yeah all good, nearly done” You replied, glancing down at your tray, the idea of kicking off your heels and getting into bed had never sounded so appealing right now. You made one last round through the lounge, clearing empty glasses and sticky bottles. When you approach the last VIP booth again, the older man gives you a drunken thumbs up and places his hand on your upper arm.
“You’re a star, babe” he said with a wink. You forced a polite smile, ignoring the stale scent of alcohol that clung to the group. The younger man - the one who asked for the coke - was sitting at the edge of the booth now, sipping from the bottle of water you brought him. He looked up as you neared, catching your eye for a split second before averting his gaze to the crowd on the dancefloor.
“You alright?” You asked, the words leaving your mouth before you could even think about stopping them. He nodded quickly, offering another small smile.
“Yeah, tired, thanks again for the drinks” Something about the way he spoke made you pause. He wasn't drunk like the rest of them, there was no dutch courage in his voice or falter in his gaze, no attempt at charm. Just … normal.
“No problem.” You replied, your voice softening instinctively.
As you gathered the last of the glasses, you overheard one of the other men teasing him.
“Jake, mate, loosen up. You’re killing the vibe”
“Just tired,” he replied simply, looking up at his friend and giving a friendly yet apologetic shrug.Jake. The name circles your mind as you loaded your tray and headed back upstairs. You told yourself not to think too much about it. People came and went in this place like clockwork, and you rarely saw the same faces twice. Still, as you clocked out and slipped on your trainers, you couldn’t shake the image of him standing there, quiet and detached, like he didn’t belong. As you stepped out into the cool London air, the muffled bass of the nightclub fading behind you, you found yourself wondering if he’d ever show up at the club again.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The sun was already climbing the sky by the time you made it home, the grey dawn light was filtering through the thin curtains of your bedroom. You collapsed onto your bed without bothering to change, your legs were aching and your head was buzzing with exhaustion. Sleep never came easily for you. The chaos of the night played in a loop in your mind - the noise, the laughter, the thundering bass that you swore was still pulsing in the deepest part of your ears. You hated yourself for even remembering his name. Jake. You served thousands of people a week working at the club, most of them blurred into a faceless mass. But there was something about the way he acted, about the way he looked at you - like he was searching for something in the madness, trying to hold onto a sliver of normalcy in a place where everyone else was pretending to be something they’re not. By the time you finally drifted off, the morning was well underway and your dreams were filled with half formed images of tattooed arms and quiet smiles.Waking up around midday was generally quite normal for you, although most people had already completed half a work day at that point, your schedule was just shifted forward but no different. You lifted yourself out and away from your warm duvet and headed into the shower, stripping off the dress you were clearly too exhausted to take off the night before. The memories of last night gurgled down the plughole as you let yourself relax under the warm water of the shower, it was a form of therapy at this point. Finishing up and drying off, you slip on a hoodie and some leggings - summer was approaching but there was a lingering chill in the air with the spring clinging on a little longer. That morning you had decided that breakfast would be provided by your favorite cafe on the corner of the highstreet, a rare decision but one you were firm on today. The only thing you needed to bring was a notebook and a pen - cliche I know, but it was the perfect setting for sketching and doodling little artworks. Heading out, it only took you five minutes to walk to the cafe. Its warm lighting and comforting scent filled your senses and dragged you towards the counter where you order a hot chocolate and a breakfast croissant before taking a seat by the window and setting down your stuff. The blank page sat in front of you for about an hour and the hot chocolate was slowly forgotten about at your side. The afternoon was warm and lazy, the kind of day where London felt more like a sleepy village than the bustling city it usually was. You had been staring at the blank page for what felt like years, your pen hovering uselessly above the paper. The inspiration that used to flow so easily had been elusive lately, slipping through your fingers every time you tried to catch it.And then you heard a voice. A familiar one.“Excuse me, is this seat taken?”You looked up, ripped away from your inner monologue, and there he was. Jake. He was standing by the chair opposite you, his hands tucked into the pockets of his black hoodie, a black baseball cap pulled low over his face. For a moment, you thought you’d imagined him, that maybe your overtired and overworked brain had conjured him up from the haze of last night.
“No it’s… it’s free, take it” you said, you voice catching slightly.
“Thanks” he muttered, sitting down with a paper cup of coffee. He didn’t look up at you at first, his eyes fixated on his drink in his hands. You had no idea what to say and if he even wanted you to say anything. Do you acknowledge that you know him? Do you just pretend you never met? Before you could decide, he glanced up, his gaze meeting yours for a split second just like last night before darting away again.
“I, uh, I think you were my server last night,” he said finally, his voice was quiet but steady, he sounded a lot happier today, there was more energy in his voice,
“Yeah I remember,” you replied, your lips curving into a small, friendly smile.
“I thought so. It was… crazy last night.” he let out a soft laugh, and you noticed the way his shoulders relaxed slightly as he spoke.
You nodded, the tension and nerves in your own chest easing as the conversation unfolded. There was something disarming about him, something that made you forget, even for a moment, the walls you usually kept firmly in place. You set your pen down and leaned back slightly, giving him your full attention.
“Yeah it was wild, I’m pretty sure I saw it all last night, The VIP section especially, I think your table wins the award for the most empty bottles.” He chuckled lightly, running a hand over the back of his neck and lifting his cap up a little to reveal more of his face. You could see him clearer than ever now, his light brown stubble was apparent and speckled over his jaw, trailing down his neck and dusting over his tattoos. You realised he had a ring on the left side of his bottom lip, it hugged his lip and you found yourself looking at it for a little too long, shifting your gaze back to him as he spoke.
“Guilty as charged. That’s not really my scene anymore, just tagging along. My manager likes to… network” He said the last word in air quotes, his tone dry. You tilted your head, curious but not prying.
“Do you work in events or something?”
“Something like that,” He said, his lips quirking into a half smile. “I’m in music.”
“Oh.” you blinked, and for a moment, you wondered if you should know who he was. But his modest demeanor and the way he fidgeted with his cup made you think otherwise.
“What about you?” he asked, steering the conversation away from himself.
You glanced at your sketchbook and shrugged.
“This, mostly. Art. Or, at least, I try to. The club thing is just to pay the bills,”
“Looks serious,” he said, nodding towards the blank page.
You laughed, though it lacked warmth.
“It’s more like a staring contest right now. Inspiration and I aren't on speaking terms at the moment.”
He studied you for a moment, then gestured toward your sketchbook. “Mind if i see what you’ve got so far?”
You hesitated for a moment, instinctively shielding the book with your hand. It wasn’t that you were embarrassed - it was just… personal. But something about the curiosity in his expression felt genuine, unassuming. With a small sigh, you flipped to a page with a half-finished portrait. It wasn't you best work, but it was enough to give him and idea of your style.
“Whoa,” he murmured, leaning closer and trailing his fingers along the lines of your sketch.
“That’s incredible.”
You raised an eyebrow,, your lips twitching into a skeptical smile.
“It’s not done obviously.” You added
“Still,” he said glancing up at you
“You’re really talented. Like properly talented.”
Heat crept up into your cheeks, and you quickly flipped the sketchbook shut.
“Thanks, but it’s just a hobby, nothing serious.”
“Seems serious to me. Maybe you just haven’t found the right spark yet.”
You opened your mouth to respond but were cut off by the sound of his phone buzzing on the table. He glanced at the screen and sighed.
“That’s my cue, my manager’s waiting.”
“Back to the glamorous world of… networking?” you teased slightly, he grinned, standing up and pushing his cap back down and flipping his hood up.
“Something like that.” As he turned to leave, he hesitated, looking back at you. “Hey, uh, thanks for letting me crash at your table. And… good luck with the art thing. Seriously.”
“Thanks,” you said, your smile genuine this time. “Good luck with… whatever it is you do.” He chuckled, giving you a small wave before disappearing into the now crowded street.You stared at the door long after he was gone, the faintest trace of his voice still lingering in your ears. For the first time in weeks, you picked up your pen, and the lines began to flow.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The sun was setting as you made your way back to the club for another shift. Your bag was tugging at your shoulder, weighed down by your shoes and dress, accompanied by various hair products and some extra makeup. The air was thick with anticipation, the kind that always hit on Friday nights. Grace had called in sick, leaving you to navigate the chaos alone. It wasn't unusual, but it made the night feel heavier somehow.The club’s bassline was a constant thrum in your chest as you slid past patrons and dodged waving arms, a tray of empty glasses balanced precariously in your hand. It had been a steady night - busy, but not the kind of chaos that left you dreaming of getting fired just as an excuse to leave. You were stacking glasses behind the bar when one of the bartenders nudged you with his elbow.
“Hey uh… I think one of your regulars is here.” nodding over to a space in the corner of the room. You frowned, glancing over your shoulder. It didn’t take long to spot Jake sitting at a small table tucked into a corner of the bar area. He wasn’t with a group this time - just him, his hoodie was pulled up over his head, tapping his fingers on the table in time with the music.
“That’s not a regular,” you said, rolling your eyes but feeling a flicker of nervous energy.
“Well, he’s been watching you like you’re about to serve him the meaning of life on a tray.”
He chuckled as he moved away, heading over to serve a customer. You groaned but couldn’t ignore the way your feet started moving towards him.When you reached the table, he looked up, his eyes meeting yours with that quiet intensity you remembered from the cafe.
“Hey,” you said, feeling a little awkward. “Didn’t think I’d see you in here again.”
“Yeah,” he said, smiling faintly “I, uh… don’t really go out much. Just came to grab a drink with a friend, but he bailed at the last minute.”
Your eyes darted to the empty seat across from him.
“That sucks. Are you… okay? I mean, being here on your own?”
He shrugged. “Figured I’d wait it out for a bit. Less weird than leaving straight away.”
You nodded, leaning lightly against the edge of the table. “Well, if anyone gives you trouble, just flag me down.”
He smirked “what kind of trouble happens at a club, huh?”
“Let’s just say you’d be surprised,” you replied, grinning.
For a moment, neither of you spoke. The noise of the club swirled around you, but Jake seemed oddly unaffected by it.
“Do you… like working here?” he asked suddenly, his voice low enough that you had to lean in slightly to hear him.
“It’s a job,” you said with a shrug. “Not exactly what I dreamed of, but it pays the bills. What about you? What is it that you do? You never specified.”
He hesitated, his gaze flicking to the table. “A bit of music stuff, nothing serious.”
“Nothing serious?” you repeated, raising an eyebrow. “You mean like garage bands, or…?”
“Something like that, yeah.” he said, his tone increasingly evasive but not unkind.
You didn’t push, there was something about his demeanor that made it clear he wasn’t ready to talk about it. Instead, you shifted the conversation.
“Must be nice though… doing something creative.” you said.
He nodded, the corner of his mouth twitching into what might have been the start of a smile.
“Yeah, it’s… different.”
A customer called your name from the bar, breaking the moment. You turned to see your manager waving you over with a tray of drinks.
“I should probably get back,” you said, glancing at Jake. “But, if you need anything, just let me know.”
He nodded again, his expression thoughtful. “Thanks.”
“But just… do me a favour,” you started. “Don’t sit here all night by yourself, okay?”
Jake shrugged lightly. “No promises.”
You gave him a smile before turning away, weaving through the crowd to reach the upper floor.When the night finally slowed and the club was winding down, you found yourself back behind the bar, wiping down counters and restocking glasses. Most of the patrons had left by then, save for the few stragglers reluctant to head home. You weren’t surprised to spot Jake still at his table, nursing a glass of water. He looked up as you approached, his posture relaxing slightly as if he had been waiting for you.
“You didn't leave?” you asked, sliding into the seat across from him without really thinking about it. He shook his head and spoke. “Didn’t want to rush out. I like the quiet at the end of the night.”
You glanced around the near empty club and laughed softly. “Quiet? That’s generous.”
He chuckled, and for the first time, it felt like the walls he carried around were starting to lower, just a fraction.
“You know,” you said, leaning on the table, “most people come here to drink, party, meet people. What brings you here?”
His eyes flicked away, and he took a moment before answering. “Honestly? I just… needed to get out of my own head for a bit. Sitting at home gets old so quick.”
You nodded. “I get that. This place isn’t my exact first choice, either, but… it keeps me busy.”
He tilted his head, studying you for a moment, “what would you be doing if it wasn’t this?... Oh wait, no, I remember. You’re an artist, I saw your sketchbook. They were incredible”
You felt a warmth rise in your chest at the compliment but brushed it off with a small laugh.
“Thanks. I’m not sure if the dress and heels scream ‘artist’ though.”
He didn’t laugh but looked over at you with that same quiet intensity. “It’s how you carry yourself, not what you’re wearing.”
The conversation hung in the air for a moment, heavier than before.
“Well, “ you said, standing up and breaking the tension, “I should probably finish up before my manager kicks me out for slacking.”
Jake nodded, his expression neutral again. “Thanks for… talking. It's nice to have someone to talk to.”
You paused, your hand on the edge of the table. “Yeah, it was nice.”
As you walked away, you glanced back over your shoulder, Jake was still sitting there, his gaze distant but thoughtful. If you spent any longer interpreting his body language you’d drive yourself crazy, so you stacked the last of the glasses and eventually clocked out. He must’ve slipped out without you realising, the seat was left empty when you went to clear the table, you chose not to dwell on it. You made it home and into bed in record time, the night had drained you, especially without Grace to talk to. But Jake was a welcome surprise. One you were starting to hope would surprise you again.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It had been weeks since you last saw Jake, the slight familiarity caused him to float to the back of your mind as if you knew you would see him again, it would only be a matter of time. Shift after shift, glass after glass, the days seemed to blend together - but at least you were slowly building up your savings, for what exactly, you didn’t know. Moving anywhere in London was virtually impossible but moving out of London felt like a betrayal of the soul - you ended up sitting on most of your savings and occasionally spending them on canvases or paints. Still the days were busy and the nights were busier, lack of sleep was catching up to you and you had booked the next couple nights off since it was close to the end of exam season for most Uni’s, meaning less customers and quieter nights. It was the best time to get your head down and create anything you could, especially with your new found inspiration.The last night had been long, and the soles of your feet ached in protest as you trudged out of the club for the last time for a couple days. The cool air stung your cheeks in contrast to the sticky warmth of the dance floor you’d just escaped. You flung your bag over your shoulder, continuing down the highstreet towards your home, which was only a 10 minute walk away. The air faintly smelt of asphalt and stale beer, but it was still better than the stifling heat inside.You hadn’t even taken two steps when you spotted him.Jake was leaning against the wall just beyond the doorway, one hand in the pocket of his cargos, the other holding a water bottle he must’ve snagged from somewhere. His hair was messier now, strands sticking to his forehead like he’d been running - or dancing.“Jake? What are you doing here?” you said, unable to keep the surprise out of your voice. He straightened up, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.“Waiting for you, I was in the area and realised the club was closing soon so I just stopped by in case I caught you.” he said, slightly panting. Your eyebrows shot up.“Why? And… why are you so sweaty?”Jake shrugged, his usual calm demeanour faltering for a split second.“Long night, doesn't matter”You frowned, stepping closer.“Doesn’t matter? You look like you’ve just fought someone… or been in a mosh pit.”He chuckled, avoiding your gaze.“Something like that. Anyway, you’re done for the night, right?”You nodded, still suspicious but too tired to push.“Yeah finally, I’m off for the next couple days too.”Jake smiled, falling into step beside you as you started walking.“Well, I’ll walk you, as long as you’re not sick of seeing my face already.”You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at your lips.“Not yet.” you sighed. The streets were quieter tonight, the usual hum of the city muted by the late hour. You couldn’t help but steal glances at him as you walked. His usual relaxed vibe seemed slightly off - like he was distracted, maybe even nervous. Granted it was quite odd for someone to wait outside the club for you without even setting foot inside, but you had known him well enough to realise it was innocent and quite sweet of him.“So,” Jake said after a moment, breaking the silence. “I just realised something.”“What’s that?”He stopped walking, turning to face you. “I don’t know your name.”You blinked, caught off guard.“You don’t?”“Nope.” he said, his tone light but his gaze serious. “You know mine, though, which feels a bit unfair. Unless you’re trying to keep it a mystery or something.”You hesitated for a second, then sighed.“It’s Y/N”“Y/N… “ He repeated, like he was testing how it felt on his tongue. Then he smiled.“Pretty name, sorry for not asking sooner.”You shrugged, trying to ignore the way your cheeks heated under his gaze.“It’s fine. I guess I never thought to tell you either.”He nodded, falling back into step beside you. But the air between you felt heavier now, charged with something unspoken. You could feel his eyes in you every so often, you weren’t sure if it was the leftover adrenaline from work or something else, but it made your skin prickle. It was so strange to see him so… energetic, especially outside the club, usually it was the other way around for most people.“So, Y/N,” He said after a while, his voice softer now. “Since I've been showing up randomly and somehow can’t stop having conversations with you at inconvenient times, I think I should just give you this.”He pulled out his phone, tapped the screen a few times, and then handed it to you.“What’s this?” you asked, before looking at the screen.“My instagram,” he said casually, “the private one. I don’t really post on it, mostly just photo dumps, but I use it to text”You raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to the gesture than he was letting on.“Why not your main account?”Jake hesitated, his eyes flickering away for a moment before meeting yours again.“This one’s more… personal. The other is just for work stuff.”You didn’t press, but something about the way he said it stuck with you. You accepted his phone and quickly typed in your username into his search bar, pulling up your profile so he could follow you back.“There,” you said, handing it back. “Now we’re even.”Jake smiled, slipping the phone back into his pocket.“Thanks. And uh… feel free to message me anytime. If you want.”The tension between you felt almost tangible, the kind of pull that neither of you seemed ready to fully acknowledge. You weren’t sure if it was the heat of the night or the way he was suddenly looking at you - like he was trying to figure something out - but it made your pulse quicken.“Thank you for the walk.” you cleared your throat as you approached your building, breaking the spell you were both under.“Anytime.” he replied, his voice low.You turned toward the door and paused, glancing back at Jake one last time. He stood there under the streetlight, his damp brown hair catching the glow, looking both effortless and completely out of place in your world. He had a sheen of sweat still clinging to his skin, illuminating his tattoos under the lamp, his lips parted as he exhaled.“Goodnight Y/N.” he said softly.“Goodnight Jake.” you replied as his lips curved into a faint smile.You stepped inside and closed the door behind you, you couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to him than he was letting on. And for the first time in a long time, you found yourself wanting to know what it was.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Sundays were meant to be for peace, painting and pampering. But today, your thoughts were anything but calm. It had been a restless morning, replaying last night’s walk home with Jake over and over. His sweaty, out of breath arrival. The way he said your name, like it held hidden weight. The tension when he handed you his phone, his fingers brushing against yoursSomething didn’t add up.You flopped onto your bed, phone in hand, tapping it against your fingers and staring out of your window in search of advice from the universe. You let out a heavy sigh and opened your phone, scrolling down your contacts. If you needed anything investigated, you would need your best detective on the job.InstagramY/N : i need information gathered sirGrxcejxnkins : OMG WHAT SIR WHAT DO YOU REQUIRE?Y/N : ft me rnGrxcejxnkins : omgomgomg tea time?Incoming FaceTime Call from Grace 🩷…Her name lit up your screen. You answered.
“What’s going on?” she asked, skipping greetings entirely. Her hair was tied in a messy bun and she was sitting with her knees to her chest on the chair to her dressing table, she set her phone up against her mirror and stared at you through the screen, waiting for further instruction. You admired her willingness to dive headfirst into any gossip or update you had.
“Okay it’s about Jake.” you sighed
“I KNEW it.” she cheered “you like him don’t you?” her eyes narrowed as she leaned towards her phone.
“No! I just… want to find out more about him. Something’s weird. He showed up last night all sweaty, like he’d been running. When I asked why, he dodged the question, then gave me his private insta. Barely any followers. That would’ve been fine if he didn’t REFUSE to give me his main. It doesn’t make sense.” you blabbed
“Okay okay, what's his username, I’ll search for him.” Grace grabbed her phone and dragged you over to her bed where she set her phone up again and pulled out her laptop, tapping away furiously.
“I just want to find out if he’s hiding something, he could be a hardened criminal OR have a girlfriend… which would be bad… for the girlfriend. Obviously.“ you continued.
“Okay I’m digging, Chief.” Grace faked a salute and leaned into her laptop, squinting occasionally. “Hmmm… no signs of criminality, I found his private account, it’s private… obviously. What’s on there?” she asked, turning back to you.
“Well… I haven’t gone through all of it, but it's mostly just photo dumps of his sister and his dogs and the holidays he’s been on, he’s been on a lot of them apparently.” you answer.
“Are we seeing anything revealing, like an ankle tag or any prison tattoos?” Grace chewed at her lip, her finger raising to push up her glasses. You scroll through his page again, scouring through the first couple of photos of each post.
“Uhhh, no, nothing incriminating. Actually… “ You start, Grace’s ears pricking up.
“What is it?”
“He’s on some sort of coach in this one?” you mutter, flicking through the reel of photos
“Show me.” Grace demanded
You click ‘share screen’ as you hear Grace scramble to grab her phone from its place.
“He did say he worked in networking and music, so maybe it's an events thing.” you say
“Okay this needs further investigation, who’s tagged?” Grace asked, readying herself at her keyboard in anticipation.
“Someone called Rhys Jenson, aaannnddd… Khloe Parson. Wait, I think this is the guy I served when I first met him.” you clicked on his profile and his face came up, it was definitely him. His ashy brown hair and bright white teeth plastered over his profile, and 1 million followers.
“Whoa… “ you muttered under your breath. “I guess being a dick really does get you up the ladder. Fair play Rhys Jenson.” you chuckled.
“Okay so… Jake just hangs out with guys who are internet famous?” Grace chimed in as you lost yourself in thought for a moment. “Right, I’m bringing out the big guns. Google.“ Grace tapped away at her laptop for a while, frantically clicking as her eyes darted from corner to corner of the screen.
“Y/N…” She mumbled. “Jake Lyell?”
“Yes…?” you responded, the concern in Grace’s voice putting you on edge.
“Do you have any idea who he is?”
“No… “
“He’s Ashen. You’ve been casually hanging out with Ashen. Like, THE Ashen.”
“Ashen?” the name sounded almost familiar but you couldn’t place it.
“Yes! He’s a massive solo artist. Alternative, dark, brooding vibes. Plays sold-out shows, everyone thinks he’s a genius, blah blah blah. Oh my god, how do you not know this?”
Your mind went blank. Surely not. If he was famous you would’ve recognised him, you were normally on your game when it came to celebrities, maybe not quite heavy metal alternative singers but surely you would’ve heard of him or seen him on tiktok.
“I found his main account Y/N. This is fucking incredible.” Grace was laughing now, the excitement turned to pure disbelief and joy. Your stomach flipped as Grace continued rattling off facts she was uncovering online.
“His music is all over Spotify - kind of like alt-rock mixed with metal. His stage name is just Ashen. He’s still listed as Jake Lyell in interviews and celebrity birthdays. How did you not connect the dots girl?”
You sat up straight, typing his name into Google. The results hit you like a tidal wave: interviews, concert footage, festivals, articles, magazine pages. Images of him performing, crowd surfing, singing under blinding lights, playing guitar, sweat dripping down his face as he gripped a mic. Holy shit.
“Holy shit” you whispered
Holy shit.
“Holy shit” Grace mumbled
HOLY SHIT.
You clicked on an interview on youtube, he was sitting, leant back on a chair with a mic, the same smile you’d seen up close. “Hi I’m Ashen.” he spoke into the camera before turning to the interviewer, his voice was smooth and confident. But when the questions turned personal, he deflected them with practiced ease.
“He’s walked me home, we’ve met so many times and he’s never mentioned any of this.” you said, your voice cracking. Grace practically squealed.
“Because he likes you. He’s trying to keep things normal. Famous people do that, you know? It’s, like… a thing.”
“But why not just tell me? Why hide it?”
“Maybe he’s testing the waters. He probably wants to know if you like him, not the whole Ashen persona. And girl, let’s not forget - he gave you his private account. Not the public with 700k followers. That’s a big deal.”
You stared at the screen, torn. Jake - or Ashen - wasn’t just the mysterious, soft spoken guy who waited for you after work. He was someone with an entirely different life, one he’d deliberately kept from you.
“Don’t overthink this, I can see you doing it already.” Grace added, her tone gentler now. “He clearly likes you, Y/N. Just… don’t freak out. He’s still Jake Lyell to you, right?”
You wanted to believe her. But as the image of him on stage and in interviews blurred together in your mind, one thought kept nagging at you.Why didn’t he trust you enough to tell you the truth?

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The week dragged by in a haze of slow mornings and restless nights. Jake hadn’t texted, but neither did you. His absence lingered like a faint echo you couldn’t shake. At first, you told yourself it didn’t matter. Maybe he was busy, maybe you read too much into the private instagram, the way he said your name, the fact he’s probably got thousands of girls texting him and wondering the same thing. Still, the silence gnawed at you.To keep yourself sane, you threw everything you had into your art. Tuesday started with a chaotic splash of acrylic followed by an afternoon of tame sketches carefully confined within your notebook - but by the end of the night, you felt it was time to draw something just for yourself. Your own little piece of you, layered onto the page. The idea came without a warning: a dark faceless figure standing in the middle of a city, lit up in warm, hazy tones. As your brush moved, you couldn’t help but think of Jake, how he stood outside, under the streetlamp that night, sweaty and disheveled yet somehow magnetic. The figure on the page was him, or at least a shadow of him. You weren’t sure whether to laugh or overthink it.By Wednesday, the itch to draw had returned. This time, it was your sketchbook and pencils, the comfort of clean lines and greyscale. You perched by your bedroom window, trying to capture the late afternoon sun filtering through the leaves outside. But every few minutes, your gaze would drift to your phone, lying face down on your bed.Why hadn’t he texted?Grace had noticed it too, the way your mood had shifted and you became a little more quiet and nervy. During one of your weekly coffee meetings, she finally brought it up.“You’ve been weirdly quiet,” she said, stirring her oat latte.“Everything okay?”“Yeah.” you lied, though the expression on her face said she didn’t believe you one bit.“You've been thinking about Jake.”You sighed, resting your chin on your palm. “He hasn’t texted me. I don’t know why I care so much. We barely know each other. I mean I think at this point I don't even know him anymore based on what we found.”Grace smirked. “Barely knowing each other is half the fun. Maybe he’s busy? You know, living his secret rock star life?”“Yeah maybe.” you muttered, feeling the frustration bubble up. You didn’t want to admit it, but part of you was angry. He’d made an effort to talk to you at the club, walked you home, gave you his instagram - and now… nothing.By Thursday, you’d had enough of moping. You took your sketchbook to the park, finding a quiet bench beneath a massive oak tree. The summer air was thick with the scent of flowers and freshly cut grass, and the rhythmic chirp of birds provided the perfect soundtrack to sketch. You filled the pages with intricate designs - tattoo ideas you’d been toying with, abstract shapes that merged into something resembling wings. Hours passed, and for once, you weren’t thinking about him. But then, as you packed up, you overheard a group of girls laughing and scrolling on their phones nearby.“His concert last night was insane.” one of them said.“I wish he did meet and greets, I fully would’ve kissed him.” another joked.You breath caught. He’d been performing? You bit the inside of your cheek and kept walking, using all your willpower not to listen any further.That evening, Grace had convinced you to try a pottery class.“You need distraction and I have one free guest allowance on my coupon so you’re coming with me and we’re going to make some cool as fuck mugs.” she said, dragging you to the tiny studio she found on instagram. You spent two hours moulding clay into something that vaguely resembled a mug. It was messy, oddly satisfying, and exactly what you needed.The next day, the heat of the summer drew you outside again. You headed to the market on the high street, it was always full of life around this time. Weaving through stalls selling handmade jewellery, vintage clothes and art prints, you stopped at a record tall. Flicking through a box of second hand vinyl records when you spotted a familiar name.‘Ashen: Live from Brixton’Your hand froze mid-air. It was a limited-edition pressing, the kind hardcore fans would hunt for. The image on the cover was unmistakable - Jake - or Ashen, standing under dramatic lighting, his face covered by a black distressed fabric, only his lips visible. Before you could stop yourself, you bought it. When you got home, you hesitated. The record sat on your desk for a good couple of hours before you decided to go anywhere near it, it almost felt like it was taunting you. It felt like crossing a line, owning something so personal. But curiosity won. You dug your old record player out of the cupboard and set it up in your room. As the needle hit the vinyl, the first strum of Jake’s voice filled the space. It was raw and haunting, every note steeped in emotion. You closed your eyes and let it wash over you, feeling an odd mix of awe and confusion, how could someone so talented, and so known, walk into your life and act like none of this existed?The music ended, you made it through the entire set, sat on your bed with your knees up to your chest, swaying occasionally. The room fell silent. For a moment, you considered texting him - saying something, anything. But you didn’t. Instead you went back to your canvas. The faceless figure was still there, waiting to be finished.By the weekend, you felt lighter. The days had been filled with art, laughter and enough distractions to dull the ache of his absence. But late at night, as you lay in bed scrolling through instagram, you couldn't help but hover over his profile.Still no message.You put your phone down and stared at the ceiling. Maybe he wasn’t thinking about you at all, maybe you got it all wrong. Maybe the connection you’d felt was one sided.Or maybe, you thought, as you drifted into sleep, he had his own reasons.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The buzzing of your phone shattered the late morning quiet, starling you out of your peaceful rhythm. You had been sketching at the kitchen table, surrounded by the soft glow of sunlight streaming through the window. You had almost started to wish he never gave you a way to contact him, that way you wouldn’t jump every time your phone went off. You glanced at the screen regardless.Your breath caught at the back of your throat.‘1 New Message from Jake Lyell’ItsLyelly : hey, are you free today? we could go to that cafe for a bit later?Your heart raced. It wasn’t a big deal. You had no idea why you bigged it up in your head but the thumping of your heart was a telltale sign that you were very easily affected by Jake.Y/N : yeah sure, what time ?Within minutes, he responded.ItsLyelly : like 1?Y/N : course, see you in a bit :)It’s 12:17. Shit.You spent the next half hour debating outfits, not too revealing, not too cute, not too slutty.“Oh my god it’s just a cafe, what are you doing?” you scold yourself, settling on a cropped tee and some shorts, grabbing your headphones and wrapping them around your neck, you left, not wanting to overthink it anymore. Actively avoiding the mirror as you exited your house and started down the highstreet towards the cafe.By the time you arrived at the cafe, Jake was already waiting outside, leaning against the railing. His usual effortless charm was on full display - ripped jeans and a vintage band tee, sunglasses perched on his nose. When he saw you he smiled in a way that made your chest tighten. His wavy hair fell across his forehead and tickled the nape of his neck, the short sleeve shirt now showing more of his arm tattoos, you spotted one that now looked familiar. His album cover had the same symbol. A swallow with an arrow shot through it. He was laced with clues, you just never looked hard enough.“Hey,” he greeted, pulling you into a brief hug, the faint smell of vanilla and something earthy clung to him.“Hey yourself,” you replied, heading towards the same table you sat at the first time you met outside the club, sitting yourself next to the window. As you turned to look at him, his eyes pierced through yours as he went up to the counter, ordering drinks and coming to sit back down, setting an iced coffee in front of you and leaning back in his chair.“So…” he started, his hand coming up to rub the back of his neck - something you realised he did when he was hiding something. “I think that we should just cut to the chase here Y/N…” he said, concerningly serious. Your breath stopped and the tension hung in the air for a moment.“What?” you question. Your attempt at lowering the level of suspense, only making it worse.“I think you could’ve guessed I do a little more than just networking.”“I know.” the words left your lips faster than you could even think to stop them. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, a smirk creeping across his lips.“I thought I was being subtle.” he said, a hint of nervous energy in his voice.“Not subtle enough for Grace.” you chuckled, the weight fully lifted off your shoulders.“So you figured it out?”“Yeah, I knew something was up and I honestly didn’t mean to pry but I wanted to make sure you weren't a hardened criminal because I knew you were hiding something.” you explained, taking a sip of your coffee and sitting back, awaiting his response.“So you knew and you didn’t say anything?” he cleared his throat, occasionally flicking his gaze to your hands and your cup and back to your face.“No of course not, I figured you’d tell me when you were ready.” you shrugged, the honesty in your voice seeming to disarm him immediately.“Thanks for that. Most people would even think to give me the chance.” he smiled, his body visibly relaxing as he leant back slightly. You both sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, the hum of the cafe filling the gaps between your words. Then you notice Jake’s eye drifting to your sketchbook that you had set down on the table earlier.“Have you got anything new? I haven’t seen you in a while, I'm sure you’ve done more.”“Yeah a couple more, just… doodles.” your cheeks warmed ever so slightly“Can I see?” he smiled. You hesitated for a moment before sliding it across the table. He flipped through the pages like he did before, running through the intricate illustrations - faces, animals, abstract patterns - until he stopped on a drawing that made his brows lift.It was him, mid-song, eyes closed and expression raw with emotion. You had drawn it mindlessly from one of the photos you found online the day before.“You drew this?” he asked softly, his voice came out almost as a whisper as his thumb traced the edge of the page.“Yeah…” you admitted, your voice barely audible. “It’s from a photo of you performing at reading last year I think.”“That’s fucking insane.” he said, looking up at you. His expression was unreadable, somewhere between awe and something deeper. “You’re seriously talented Y/N. I know i’ve told you before but this… this is amazing.” he looked up, staring straight into your eyes.Hearing your name on his lips for the first time in a while felt like an electric current through your veins.“Thanks Jake.” you said, trying to play it cool.He spent a few more moments flicking through pages of sketches before handing the book back to you.“You should show these to more people. The world needs to see this.”“Maybe.” you replied, unsure of what else to say. You shot him a smile, a genuine one.Eventually you both decided to leave the cafe, and walked side by side down the sunlit street, Jake turned to you, another smirk tugging at his lips.“So… Now you know my huge secret… Does this change anything?” he asked, almost sounding nervous. You met his gaze as your heartbeat quickened.“Not really, you’re still Jake to me.” you said as something in his expression softened.“Good, I like that.” he smiled, pausing and then turning back to you. “Also, I forgot to mention before…”Your eyes rolled and you laughed. “Enough with the cliffhangers, out with it!” you tapped his arm playfully as you walked beside him. He grinned and sighed.“All I was going to say is that the reason I was so sweaty the night I walked you home is because I had just played a show. Which also ties in with my apology because I'm sorry I didn't text sooner, I was on a mini UK Tour.” he blurted out, not getting the words out quick enough. It took you a minute to process it all but it all added up.“That makes more sense now.” you nodded, letting out a slight chuckle. For the first time you felt a sense of calm, like maybe this wasn’t as complicated as you thought. Everything seemed so reasonable when you were around him, it was only when you were alone that you would drive yourself crazy with overthinking.You turned the corner together, catching a glimpse of the park and turning to Jake.“You up for a little walk?” you smile“Yeah of course.” he said, putting his sunglasses back on and crossing with you to the other side of the road. As you entered the park, laughter and distant chatter filled the air, Jake seemed relaxed, his usual guarded demeanour softened in the dappled sunlight. But that peace was short-lived.“Oh my god.” a voice squealed from behind you both. “It’s you. Ashen!”You turned to see a girl, probably in her late teens, clutching a phone in one hand and the strap of her tote bag in the other. Her expression was a mix of excitement and disbelief, her cheeks flushed as if she couldn’t quite believe her luck. Jake stopped in his tracks, his shoulders stiffening slightly before he turned on a disarming smile.“Hey,” he said, his voice calm and friendly.“Wow I can't believe I just ran into you here,” the girl gushed “I’m such a huge fan. I've been to like three of your shows. I just have to say you’re so hot.”“Thanks, that means a lot,” Jake replied, his tone genuineThe girl hesitated, glancing at you and back to Jake.“I don’t want to interrupt or anything, but can I get a photo with you?”Jake shot a subtle apologetic look at you before turning to the girl and nodding, stepping towards her.“Sure,” he said, moving closer to her. She fumbled with her phone for a second before snapping a photo, her grin nearly splitting her face in two.“Thank you so much!” the girl said, practically bouncing on the spot “I can't wait for your next album!”“Appreciate it, thanks for saying hi.”The girl gave one last awestruck wave before scurrying off, her phone already in her hand, likely posting the photo on social media or texting her friends.You watched the entire exchange in silence, your expression unreadable.“Do you get that a lot?” you ask as you resume your walk.“More than i used to,” Jake admitted, his hand brushing against yours as he walked, causing him to veer away from you for a second, his lip ring disappearing beneath his lip and he chewed on it subtly.“Well you handled it well.” you said, glancing at his sideways. “Seemed natural.”He shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face. “You learn to get used to it. I just try not to let it affect how I go about my day.”You didn't say anything for a moment, your thoughts swirling. Seeing him in that brief moment of fame made it all too real - how he easily slipped into being someone people idolised - it made you realise how different his world was compared to yours.“You okay?” he asked, his voice breaking through your thoughts.“Yeah,” you replied quickly, forcing a smile. “Just… trying to imagine what it must be like to be recognised everywhere you go.”Jake looked at you, his gaze soft. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Honestly, days like today, being here, with you - it’s kind of nice to feel… normal.”Your cheeks warmed with his words as you glanced away, pretending to focus on the path ahead of you.“I'm glad I can help with that.” you smile, your voice quiet.“More than you know.” he murmured, continuing to walk in step with you down the gravel path, the tension between you shifting into something unspoken but undeniable.The sun was high, casting golden light over the carefully manicured lawns and flowerbeds, Jake kicked at a stray pebble as you walked, his hand tucked casually into his pockets.“So you live close by, I remember.” he said, glancing back over at you, the tension simmering down from his subject deflection.“Yep, a few streets away, I usually come through here on my days off. It’s kind of my thinking spot.”Jake nodded, his expression thoughtful. “You’ve got good taste. I could see myself writing here.”“You write in parks?”“Sometimes,” he admitted. “It’s nice to get out of the studio. Too many padded walls mess with your head after a while.”You let his words sit for a moment, and took in the fresh air and sunlight before turning the corner and appearing on your road. A bolt of confidence shot through your system as you opened your mouth.“This is me, you want to come in for a bit?” you offer, your voice betraying a hint of nerves.Jake raised an eyebrow but smiled. “Yeah sure, if you don’t mind.”You led him to your front door, unlocking it and stepping inside. The familiar scent of home - fresh laundry and baking from one of your housemates - immediately greeted you. Jake followed you in, his eyes scanning the cosy living room filled with eclectic decor, books, canvases and framed artwork.“This place is cute, it’s a proper home.” he said, pausing to inspect a shelf full of trinkets and old books.“Thanks, it’s mostly my housemates that decorate the place so they should get most of the credit.” you said, setting your bag down and heading to the kitchen. “Do you want anything? A drink?” you call out.“Waters fine” he called back, still wandering the room. His eyes landed on the record player in the cupboard. Beside it a crate of vinyls, and on top, the unmistakable album art of his most recent record of one of his live shows.“No way…” he muttered, picking it up. As soon as you return, you froze, the two glasses of water almost slipping from your hands.“Uhh… I can explain.” you stammer, your cheeks visibly burning.“You own this?” he asked, his tone teasing but curious.“I told you, I knew who you were before you told me.”“Yeah, but owning this vinyl is, like… next level.” he said, with a smirk, flipping it over to read the tracklist. “You're a fan.”“Not exactly,” you reply, trying to downplay it and defend yourself. “I mean Grace was the one who pushed me to buy it… “Jake chuckled, setting the record back down. “Guess I owe Grace a thank you.”There was a moment of silence between you, charged but comfortable. He turned to you, his gaze softening.“You’re full of surprises, you know that?” he said, his voice low and soothing.You set the glasses down and crossed your arms, trying to steady yourself under his intense stare. “You’re not so predictable yourself.”Jake stepped closer, the room feeling smaller with each inch he closed. You could see the faint sheen of sweat still clinging to his hairline from earlier, a reminder of the energy he poured into his performances.“I dont think ive ever met anyone like you Y/N.” he murmured, his eyes dropping briefly to your lips. Your breath hitched, your heart pounding in your chest as your arms tightened, attempting to hide the sound of your racing pulse. He was so close now, you could feel the warmth radiating off of him.“I don't know if that’s a compliment or not.” you managed, your voice barely above a whisper.“It is.” he said, his voice husky.For a moment, it felt like the entire world had stood still. Jake leaned in slightly, exhaling through his nose as you felt the air hit your chest. Your eyes locked, and the space between you seemed to disappear.And then just as quickly as the moment had built, he pulled back, running a hand through his hair and laughing nervously.“I should probably go before I overstay my welcome.” he said, stepping away.You blinked, your pulse still racing. “Right. Yeah. Sure.” you replied, managing a small smile. As he headed toward the door, he paused, glancing back at you.“Thanks for letting me in.” he said, his voice friendly and genuine.“Anytime.” you reply.When the door clicked shut behind him, you exhaled, you mind swirling with a million thoughts. Whatever this was between you two, it wasn’t simple. And somehow, that only made it more exciting.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The bassline thumped through the packed club, a relentless pulse that carried through your body as you carried yet another tray of drinks to a table. Your muscles ached from the constant motion, and the chaotic energy of the Friday night crowd was starting to wear you down. You wiped your hands on your dress, silently counting the hours until your shift was over. Getting back to work was a blessing and a curse, it was an amazing distraction but the actual work that went into it was exhausting.As you leaned against the bar to catch your breath, your phone buzzed in your hand. You hesitated, glancing around to make sure your manager wasn’t nearby, then slipped it out from under the tray. The notification on the screen made your stomach flip.ItsLyelly : heyFor a moment, you just stared at the screen, a mix of relief and apprehension washing over you. You hadn’t heard from Jake since he left your house a couple days before, leaving you breathless and flustered, the days of silence had left you overthinking everything. You quickly typed in a response.Y/N : hey, what’s up?While waiting for a response, a commotion broke out near the bar, you craned your neck to see what was happening. Two men were standing chest to chest, yelling at each other, drinks sloshing in their hands. One of them stumbled, knocking over a chair, and the bouncers began to move in, your radio going crazy in your ear as you tried to listen in.Your phone buzzed againItsLyelly : still at work?Y/N : yeah its chaos hereThe two men were now shoving each other, and the bouncers were closing the distance. The crowd had turned their attention to the spectacle, phones out, recording. You groaned. You hated when things like this happened, though it was not uncommon - it just made the night drag on even longer.Another buzz.ItsLyelly : bet its loud asfYou smirked to yourself, imagining his scrunching his nose at the thought of the pounding musicY/N : very, you’d hate itItsLyelly : not my scene anymoreYour attention was pulled away from your phone and back to the fight as one man threw a punch, narrowly missing the other. The bouncers grabbed them both, hauling them apart, but not before a stray elbow sent a drink flying off the edge of a table - right onto your tray.“Seriously?!” you complain, stepping back to avoid the splash.As you set the tray down, a man stepped out of the chaos and towards you. He was tall, well dressed in a fitted black shirt which was rolled up to the elbows, his sharp jawline illuminated under the neon lights. His hair was perfectly tousled, his smile warm and inviting.“You alright?” he asked, his voice was insanely low and smooth, cutting through the din around you, his blue eyes were striking, almost unnervingly so.“Yeah I'm fine thanks.” you reply, brushing off your dress as you straighten up.“Looked like you got caught in the crossfire.” he gestured over to the spilled drinks and gave you a once-over, his gaze lingering just a little too long.“I feel like I should make it up to you. Can I buy you a drink after your shift?”You blinked, caught off guard by his directness. Under any other circumstances, you might have entertained the idea - or at least blushed at the attention. But tonight, all you could think about was the last message on your phone.“Thanks, but I’m good.” you said, your voice firm but polite.He tilted his head, clearly surprised, “not even one drink?”“Not even one.” you repeated, offering a tight lipped smile before turning away.You felt his gaze linger for a moment before he shrugged and walked off, disappearing back into the crowd.Your phone vibrated again.ItsLyelly : what are you up to tomorrow?You chewed your lip, hesitating.Y/N : not sure yet, why?ItsLyelly : come overYour breath hitched. The chaos of the night seemed to fade into the background for a moment as you reread the message. You type out a response.Y/N : whats the catch?You weren’t expecting the response to take so long, but when it came it felt… different.ItsLyelly : no catchItsLyelly : nothing fancy, it’ll be chillYou were about to reply when one of the bartenders nudged you.“Hey you alright? You’ve been staring at your phone for a while.”You blinked, stuffing the phone into your bra. “Yeah, just someone being… distracting.”“Someone?” the bartender smirked. “Sounds interesting.”You rolled your eyes but didn’t respond, your thoughts already returning to the conversation you’d been having with Jake.The night dragged on, the chaos eventually subsiding into the usual hum of drunken laughter and clinking glasses. By the time your shift was over, your phone buzzed one last time.ItsLyelly : ill make some dinner tooY/N : okay as long as it’s edible, what time tmrw?ItsLyelly : whatever time, just let me know, im free all dayY/N : okay sure, ill text you tmrwYou clocked out pretty quick and left through the back door, your legs screaming in protest as you made your way toward the exit. The cool night air hit you like a blessing while you walked home under the glow of the streetlights, Jake’s message replaying in your mind. He hadn’t been overly charming or playful - if anything, his tone had been… serious. The realisation unsettled you. Jake Lyell, the man who had walked you home with an air of casual confidence, suddenly felt like someone you didn’t quite know. When you got home you dropped your bag by the door and flopped into bed. Your sketchbook lay open on the nightstand, the unfinished drawing of him staring back at you. Picking it up, you ran your fingers over the lines, wondering what you’d see in him tomorrow that you haven't already seen before.Tomorrow wasn’t just a plan - it felt like a question. And you weren’t sure if you were ready for the answer.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

You stepped off the bus, the hem of your dress pressed tightly around your thighs as you walked. You adjusted the strap of your bag and smoothed the fabric nervously - your work dress wasn’t your first choice at all for meeting Jake, it wasn’t a choice at all. Your washing machine had decided to pack up mid-cycle and leave everything else a sopping mess in the drum, so you had to wear your work clothes an hour before you even started- but it was okay, you’d be indoors for most of it, even if it did have to be with Jake. You had tried to make the outfit work, pairing it with black heels, since the only flats you owned were trainers that didn’t match with the red of the dress. The result was… a bit much for a casual evening but you knew he would understand, he’s seen you in it before - and there was no time to second guess yourself now.As you reached Jakes building, you felt your nerves tangle into a knot, forming at your throat. You checked the address on your phone, hesitating before buzzing the intercom.“Hey, it’s Y/N.” you said, your voice a little shaky.There was a brief pause before the door buzzed open.When you reached his place, the front door was already ajar, Jake appeared in the frame, he was wearing a black hoodie and grey sweatpants, his hair was messy like he had just rolled out of bed. His eyes swept over you, pausing noticeably on your dress.“You look… done up.” he said, leaning against the doorframe. His tone was careful, but the slight raise of his brow betrayed him.“I’ll take that as a compliment.” you said, stepping inside.“It is,” he murmured, his gaze flicking briefly down to your waist and hips as he moved aside to let you in. Once you entered, he pulled you into a loose hug, his hands settling on your back and moving no further before letting you go.“I’ll plate up in a sec.” he smiled.You nodded and walked through, the flat was modern and cosy, the shelves lined with books, vinyl records and posters. There was an assortment of mugs scattered across the countertops and a pile of books nestled on a chair in the corner, at the top of the pile, an open script. You thought it was peculiar but didn’t think to ask what Jake got up to in his spare time. The air smelled faintly of coffee and lavender, it was fresh and inviting.“You didn’t have time to change?” he asked, closing the door behind you.“No.” you sighed. “The washing machine broke, and I have to go straight to work after this anyway. I thought about bringing a change of clothes but…”He smirked. “I dont think a club bathroom is the nicest place to be stripping down in.”“Exactly.” you smiled, rolling your eyes slightly.As you walked towards the living room, you nearly collided with someone. A woman with sleek, ginger hair and strikingly sharp features was coming out of the room, a coffee mug in hand.“Oh whoops, sorry.” you said automatically, stepping aside.The woman glanced at you, then Jake. She gave him a knowing look but didn’t say anything.“This is Ellie,” Jake said, gesturing toward her. “Ellie Byrne, she’s my flatmate.”Your heart stopped. Ellie Byrne - the Ellie Byrne, award winning actress, star of multiple award winning films. All you could muster was a nod and a smile, trying to play it cool, but inside, you were screaming. Ellie raised a perfectly sculpted brow and smiled.“Hi.” she said.“Hey.” you muttered, your words almost getting caught in your throat.Ellie’s gaze lingered for a moment before she shrugged, heading over to grab her script from the pile of books before disappearing down the hall.“She’s nice,” you said, your voice an octave higher than usual.Jake chuckled. “She’s a bit intense, but she doesn’t bite. I’m sure I'll get an earful later about bringing someone home though.”You settled in the living room, Jake offered you some tea while returning to the kitchen to plate up the dinner that he had cooked for the both of you. It was spaghetti but with real italian baby tomatoes and little balls of mozzarella, it looked quite professionally made although it pained you to admit it - was there anything he couldn’t do?You sat with your plate in front of you, sipping on your tea, still trying to process the fact Ellie Byrne lived here.“You didn't expect this did you?” he asked, watching you closely.“The edible dinner or Ellie?” you laughed, Jake tapping you playfully on the arm.“Ellie. Idiot.” he smiled.“Not exactly.” you admitted, your cheeks flushing.He leaned back on the sofa, his expression softening. “You handled it better than most.”You gave him a half-smile but didn’t respond, unsure how to fill the silence and you continued eating. About halfway through your meal Jake turned to you again.“I think I owe you an explanation.”“For what?”“For why I was at the club that night.”You tilted your head, curious.“It’s not really my scene anymore,” he said, his voice low “I used to drink… a lot, and other stuff.” he said, running a hand through his hair. “It got out of hand for a while, I had to pull back from it all. I got myself a sponsor and started going to these meetings and… I’m almost a year clean from everything. But it honestly ruined my life for so long.”You took a moment, acknowledging the weight of his words.“So… why were you at the club when we met?” you asked, bearing in mind the sensitivity of the subject and not wanting to pry.“It was a celebration,” he said, his lips twitching into a wry smile. “The album reached a hundred million streams. My manager insisted.”“That’s… huge.” you stuttered, your voice soft but enthusiastic.“Yeah… “ his eyes darkened slightly, his smile fading. “But being there… It reminded me why I left it all behind. Too many bad memories.”The vulnerability in his tone made your chest tighten, you wanted to say something, to ease the tension, but the moment felt too fragile to break. Jake’s gaze drifted back to you, lingering. As you adjusted your seat, the hem of your dress rode up slightly, exposing more of your thigh. Jake’s eyes flickered over as you moved, hovering for a fraction too long before he looked away, his jaw tightening. You noticed but didn’t comment, your heart pounding in your chest. The air felt warmed, the space between you shrinking even though neither of you moved.“That dress Y/N… “ he said, his voice even quieter now.“What about it?” you ask, your heart rate spiking.He didn’t answer, his eyes meeting yours instead. There was a heat in his gaze that made your breath catch, an intensity that sent a shiver down your spine. The room felt too small, the silence was too loud. You could feel the pull between you, unspoken but undeniable.“It’s distracting…” he whispered.Your breath hitched, and your cheeks flushed under his intense gaze. “Distracting how?” you ask, choosing to press for more and test his limit, although your voice may have given away a hint of nerves. His eyes locked onto yours, for a moment, you thought he might close the space between you. But then, your phone buzzed loudly in your bag, shattering the moment completely. You fumbled to pull it out and check it.“Shit. I'm late.” you blurted, jumping to your feet and brushing yourself down, your legs were weaker than before but you chose to ignore it.“Oh… work?”“Yes!” you grabbed your bag, cursing under your breath. “I have to go. Shit. I have to run.”Jake stood halfway and sat back down nervously, he took a beat before pulling his hoodie down subtly over his waist and standing, his calm demeanor faltering slightly yet still contrasting with your flustered state. “Text me later,” he said, his voice steady.“Okay.” you said , rushing toward the door.As you left, you couldn’t shake the weight of his gaze, or the way your heart raced every time he looked at you. The tension between you both was undeniable, and you knew you were walking a very fine line. And you wondered if one day you would slip.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

You leaned against the wall of the staffroom, the faint buzz from the nightclub still thrumming in your ears. Your feet ached from the hours in heels, and your body hummed with a strange mix of exhaustion and restless energy. Grace sat cross-legged on the worn couch opposite you, her uniform top half-untucked, hair falling messily out of its bun.“So are you finally going to tell me what’s been up with you?” Grace said, fixing her hair and giving you a pointed look. “You’ve been acting like you’ve got some massive secret - y’know aside from the fact you know Ashen.”You hesitated, chewing on your lip. You hadn’t planned to spill everything about Jake, but the events of the day- and the unresolved tension between you and him- were too much to hold in.“Fine.” you said, exhaling sharply. “Okay so… “Before you could finish, grace butted in enthusiastically. “He finally confessed his undying love for you?”You rolled your eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of your mouth. “No, but I went to his place today.”“You WHAT?” Grace practically jumped off the couch, placing her hands on the table in front of her.“Shhh!” you hissed, glancing at the closed door behind her, knowing a manager was most likely lurking somewhere close. “Keep your voice down, but… I’ll tell you… “Grace lowered her volume slightly but not her excitement.“You went to his house? And you’re only just telling me this now? Start from the beginning/”You sighed and began recounting the story, from the broken washing machine that left you in the red dress, to meeting Ellie Byrne - Grace’s eyes widened comically at that part - and finally, to the almost-kiss that had left you reeling.“I don’t even know what happened,” you admitted, hugging your knees to your chest as you scrunched up on the chair beside Grace. “One second we’re talking about his life and his drinking and rehab, and then… I don't know. It felt like we were going to kiss, but then my phone went off, I had to leave to come here.”Grace stared at you, her mouth slightly open. “You’re telling me you were this close to kissing Jake Lyell, who apparently has an award winning actress as a roommate, and then you just… left?”“What was I supposed to do?” you threw your hands up in exasperation. “Be late for work? Not show up at all? Throw myself at him? It felt like… I don't know, Grace. The tension was so high, but nothing actually happened.”Grace smirked knowingly. “Oh, something happened, alright. You’re just too in denial to admit it.”You groaned, burying your face in your hands. “You’re not helping.”Grace stood up and crossed the room, sitting beside you and bumping your shoulder with hers. “I’m just saying, there’s clearly something between you two. And if he was opening up to you about personal stuff, like his past… that’s a big deal, Y/N”You nodded slowly, the weight of the conversation settling over you. “It is, isn’t it? I just… don’t know what to do with it.”“You don’t have to do anything right now,” Grace said gently. “Just take it one step at a time. Let him show you who he is, and if it’s something real, you’ll know.”You smiled faintly. “When did you get so wise?”“Always have been,” Grace replied with a grin. “You’re just now noticing.”You both laughed, the tension in your chest loosening slightly with every joke and giggle.“Come on,” Grace said, standing and grabbing her bag. “Let’s go home, I'm staying at yours tonight by the way. We both have tomorrow off, and I’m not letting you wallow in your overthinking alone.”You didn’t argue with that. The thought of Grace’s company felt comforting, like a shield against the whirlwind of emotions you weren’t quite ready to face.Back at your house, you both curled up on the couch with snacks and a movie playing in the background. Grace occasionally paused to throw in a cheeky comment about Jake, teasing gentle but persistent. She had insisted on something ridiculous - a rom-com with an overly dramatic love triangle. You agreed, mostly to avoid any movie with heavy undertones.“See?” Grace said, pointing at the screen. “This is why communication is key. None of this drama would happen if they just told each other how they felt.”You snorted. “Says the girl who spent the last hour trying to convince me to analyse every little thing Jake does.”Grace grinned, unbothered. “Hey, I’m not the one almost kissing a rock star. If you need professional overthinking… I’m your girl.”You rolled your eyes, but the teasing felt comforting- normal even. You reached for another handful of popcorn when your phone buzzed on the table. Both of you froze. Your eyes darted from the television to your phone screen.“Oh my god. Is that him?” Grace gasped.Your heart quickened as you grabbed the phone. The message was from Jake.ItsLyelly: hope you made it through your shift alive. that dress today… hard to forgetYour face burned, you locked the screen quickly and put your phone face down on the table.Grace was basically jumping up and down from her seated position. “Oh no no no no… what did it say? You don’t get to hide that.”“Nothing.” your cheeks flushed.Grace snatched the phone from the table before you could react. She unlocked it with a triumphant grin, eyes scanning the message. ‘Oh girl…”“Grace, give it back!” you reached for the phone, but she held it out of reach, her grin widening.“Hard to forget.” Grace read dramatically, her voice dripping with mock romance. “You know what that means, right? He’s thinking about you. Like, a lot.”“Stop.” you groaned, your face in a pillow. Grace tossed the phone back to you with a knowing smirk. “You’re so lucky I’m here to interpret this for you. He’s clearly smitten.”You shook your head, unable to suppress a smile. “He’s probably just being polite.”“Polite?” Grace scoffed. “No one texts about a dress like that to be polite. Trust me, babe - he’s into you.”You both settled back into the movie, but the message lingered in your mind, replaying itself like a broken record. You didn’t text back - not yet. Instead, you let the tension simmer, feeling a strange thrill in leaving him hanging for once.“Just think,” she said, popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “The next time you see him, you might actually kiss him. Or, who knows, maybe Ellie Byrne will adopt you as her cool artist friend.”You laughed, the sound lighter than you’d expected. “One thing at a time, Grace.”As the movie credits rolled, Grace stretched lazily and yawned. “If you don’t marry this guy, I will.” she joked, nudging you with her elbow.You laughed, shaking your head. “You’re ridiculous.”“And you’re smitten.” she countered with a wink.But as the night wore on and the house grew quieter, your mind drifted back to Jake - his intense gaze, the warmth in his voice when he spoke about his struggles, the vulnerability, the unspoken yet obvious pull between you. Whatever was happening between you both, it felt like something you couldn't quite put into words. But for now you were grateful to have Grace by your side, keeping you grounded here and now.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The house smelled like turpentine and lavender candles, the odd comforting mixture that always settled when you were in the zone. Your sketchbook lay open on the coffee table, surrounded by scattered pencils and half-squeezed tubes of paint. The latest piece was a moody, abstract portrait of Jake - half-shadowed and vibrant, the way you saw him in your mind. Sighing, you stepped back to take it all in. it was one of your best yet, though you didn’t dare admit it aloud. That’s what had spurred you into action earlier that week: Grace’s relentless encouragement and Jake’s unspoken influence. If he could put himself out there - be vulnerable through his music- then maybe you could too.Your laptop screen glowed nearby, open to a clean, minimalistic website template. It had taken hours of nerves, pacing, and one pep talk from Grace, but your online art showroom was finally live. A showcase of your sketches, paintings, and digital illustrations now existed on the internet for anyone to stumble upon. You hadn’t shared it with anyone yet, though, terrified of what people might say. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, you stared at your phone, torn between pride and terror. “Just post it.” you whispered to yourself, fingers hovering above the “Share” button on Instagram. You were about to back out when a notification lit up your screen.ItsLyelly : hey are you free tonight?Your stomach did its usual flip, nerves and excitement colliding within you. You’d barely seen him since you were at his place a couple nights before, though he’d been floating in your thoughts like a song on repeat.Y/N : depends. whats the plan?ItsLyelly : my place. just us. come overYour pulse quickened. You threw your phone down, staring at it as if it might combust. Grace wasn’t home to talk you out of - or into - this. So you had no choice but to decide yourself. After a long, unsteady breath, you grabbed your bag and jacket, heading out the door before you could change your mind. The sun was setting when you arrived at Jake’s flat, casting golden hues over the city. This time, the door wasn’t opened by the time you got up the stairs, leaving you to panic for a second before Jake fiddled with the lock and opened the door, his usual casual confidence slightly frayed at the edges.“You look… nice,” he said after a moment, his voice low, his eyes lingering for just a second too long on your neckline. You only had some sweatpants and a tight black tee on, it had slightly shrunk in the wash and revealed a little of your waist but not enough to be considered a crop. You laughed nervously, brushing past him.“They’re my relaxing clothes, and I didn’t bother to change, you told me to come so I came.” you chuckled, and you weren’t lying, you had rushed to get ready and didn’t even think about changing anything. You noted the breeze against your waist and realised how the shirt hugged your curves in a way you weren't used to noticing. But Jake seemed to notice, and that realisation made your skin buzz. Inside, the flat was dimly lit, music playing softly in the background. He offered you a drink, but you declined, knowing his stance on alcohol. You both settled on opposite sides of the couch, the air between you thick and charged. You had never felt this much tension so quickly and barely without saying a word.“Your work must make you tired for you to be relaxing on a monday.” Jake said, watching you intently.“Not as tiring as yours, I bet.” you replied, trying to keep your voice steady, “how’s the album stuff going?”His expression flickered, like he was debating how much to say. “It’s been… intense. A lot of pressure, but good. Better than I expected.”You nodded, unsure of how to respond. The silence stretched, but it wasn’t uncomfortable- it was heavy, laden with things unsaid. At some point, he leaned forward, his arm brushing yours. The brief contact sent a jolt through you, and you knew he felt it too by the way his gaze dropped to your lips for a fraction of a second.“Your art,” he said suddenly, breaking the tension but only slightly. “Have you been working on anything new?”“I actually just started an online showroom,” you admitted, your words spilling out before you could stop them. “It’s nothing big, but… it’s a start.”His lips curved into the fainest smile. “I’d love to see it sometime”Your heart thudded, but you didn’t respond, unsure if you trusted your voice at this precise moment. The way he was looking at you - like you were the only person in the room, in the world - it made it impossible to think straight. Without meaning to, your hand brushed his on the couch. The touch was fleeting, but the way his breath hitched didn’t go unnoticed. Slowly, tentatively, his fingers curled around yours. It was such a small gesture, but it felt monumental.The space between you shrank, your faces only inches apart. You could feel his breath on your skin, warm and intoxicating, your heart pounding out of your chest as your eyes flickered up to his. The tension was unbearable, pulling you both closer like a gravitational force. But just as your lips were about to meet, he pulled back, his expression changing and shifting into one you couldn’t make out.“I need to tell you something,” he said, his voice sounded weak and barely above a whisper.Your stomach twisted, “What?”“I’m leaving.”The words hit you like a punch to the chest. “What do you mean?”“I’m… going on tour.” he said, hand still holding yours. “Across the US. It’s… a month long thing.”Your mind scrambled to process his words, but it felt like they didn’t quite fit into the reality you’d both been constructing in this dimly lit living room.“A month?” you swallowed hard, trying to process and keep your voice even at the same time. “When do you leave?”“Tomorrow morning.”Your heart sank, but you masked it with a shaky laugh. “Well… that’s sudden.”“Yeah…” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t know how to bring it up,” he admitted, his voice laced with regret. “I didn’t want to ruin this. I mean…whatever this… friendship is. I’ve known for a while, I just couldn’t bring myself to say it, I didn’t want to screw this up.”The room felt like it was closing in on you, the tension replaced by a bittersweet ache. You pulled your hand back, standing abruptly. “I should go. You probably need to pack.”“Wait.” he said, standing too. “Can I see you when I’m back?”You didn’t answer, instead grabbing your bag and heading for the door. Your mind was a whirlwind, but one thought stood out above the rest. You were falling for him, and you weren’t sure if you could stop.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The call came just as you were stepping out of the shower, your hair damp and clinging to your shoulders. You grabbed your phone from the counter, surprised to see Jake’s name on the screen. You had only just left his flat an hour ago, rushing out because the wave of emotion was too much for you, you had started to regret it about halfway through the walk back to your house but it was too late to turn back, you’d only look pathetic. Your heart flipped at the sight of his name on the screen, but you answered quickly, trying to steady your voice.“Hello?”“Hey,” Jake said, his tone sharper than usual, though it wasn’t angry - just urgent. “I think you left something here.”Your stomach dropped. “What? What did I leave?”“I’m not sure what it is exactly - it looks personal. I found it on the couch. You’ll probably want it back.”Panic gripped you as you tried to think of what it could be that he was talking about. Something personal? Your sketchbook? Your purse? No, you’d checked your bag before leaving, hadn’t you?
“Can you tell me what it is?” you asked, your voice rising in nervousness.
“It’s better if you just come get it.” he said. There was a strange edge to his voice, something you couldn’t quite place. “I’ll wait up for you.”You hesitated, clutching the towel around you. It wasn’t even that late, but the thought of going back there after the emotional whirlwind of the earlier conversation made your heart pound. Still, if it was important enough for him to call you about…
“I’ll be there in twenty.” you said, already scrambling to throw on a hoodie and some trainers. The journey back to his place felt longer than it should have, your nerves buzzed with questions. When you arrived, you found him waiting by the door, leaning against the frame with his hands in his pockets. He straightened as soon as he saw you, his expression unreadable.
“Where is it?” you asked, stepping inside and looking around for whatever it was that you had left behind. He shut the door behind you, locking it with a quiet click. “I’ll show you in a second,” he said, his voice unbelievably low.
“Jake,” you say, exasperated. “What is it? You made it sound urgent.”
He moved closer, the space between you seemed to shrink to nothing within seconds. His eyes flicked over you, lingering on your lips, your neck, your shoulders then meeting your eyes.
“It was an excuse.” he admitted quietly
Your heart stuttered. “What?”
“I just… I just couldn’t let you leave like that,” his voice turned soft and soothing. “Not tonight.”
Your breath caught in your throat. There was something in his tone in the way that he looked at you, that made your pulse race.
“What are you talking about?” you managed to ask, though your voice wavered.
Jake stepped closer, his hand brushing yours. The tension that had been simmering between you boiled over, the room thick with the weight of unspoken words.
“I won’t be able to leave tomorrow….” he exhaled, his eyes trained on yours as he shook his head. “I can’t leave until I…” You felt a heat rise in your chest, your heart in your mouth as your breath became heavy.“Until you what?” you whispered.Something inside Jake switched, his hands came up to brush against your waist, fingers curling around you to pull you closer. His torso was pressed against you and your faces were centimeters apart, he had a glint in his eyes you had never seen before, it was pure hunger. His eyes flickered down to your lips and stayed there as his right hand moved from your waist, gliding up your back, all the way to the back of your neck. He pulled you towards him gently until your head was tilted up, forcing you to look at him as his eyes raised to meet yours.“Can I kiss you?” he whispered, sounding frustrated as if he was still holding something back. As the words left his lips, the tension became too much, the pressure and the subtle touches, the almost-kiss, the silent moments, it all added up, and it drove you crazy. You nodded, desperate for his touch. As he leaned in, his grip tightened on your waist, pulling your hips towards him as he stepped back, turning to push you lightly against the wall. As his lips met yours, the overwhelming smell of his aftershave and his natural scent filled your nose, spurring the urge in you to return the kiss. It started soft, gentle and loving, the way he ran his fingers through the baby hairs across the back of your neck and his thumb caressing the edge of your jaw as he leaned into you, his mouth moving in sync with yours. You let out a small gasp, Jake’s lips curling into a smile against yours as he let his tongue run across your bottom lip, taking it into his mouth and closing his teeth around it, forcing a rush of adrenaline through your veins.Your hands moved up his arms, over his shoulders and down to his chest - there wasn’t much room to move as you were pinned against him and the wall but you made use of what you had. Jake’s leg came forward to push between yours, forcing them apart slightly as he pressed himself into you, you could feel his weight shift into you, concentrated at your hips. Another small gasp exited your lips as he pushed his tongue into your mouth, grazing your teeth and slipping back out again, the kiss grew heavier, charged with hunger and lust - you could feel Jake’s frustration growing as his hands grew more confident.Your neck was completely covered by his hand now, a slight squeeze at the sides sending a rush down to your core as your back arched against the wall.
“You have no idea what you do to me…” Jake muttered, his lips moving against yours as he spoke, he didn’t bother to move away. You smiled against him and met his tongue with yours, his lips enveloped your mouth as he exhaled heavily, his desperation evident. The primal urges that ran through his veins were taking over as he squeezed at your neck again, thumb deep under your jaw while kissing deeper each time, you couldn’t get enough of him. His hips started moving rhythmically against you, his thigh now pulsing between your legs, the perfect amount of friction at your core to make you realise how wet he had gotten you just by a kiss. You mustered up the courage to speak, even though it sounded quiet and weak.“Show me.”Jake pulled back. His lips were slick and pink from the kiss, and his hair fell over his face messily. Through his heavy breathing he spoke. “Are you sure?” you nodded immediately, already craving his lips again, to secure the deal, you ran your hand from his chest to his waist, causing a momentary gasp from Jake. You could tell you were winding him up, taking him further toward his boiling point, you just wanted to know so badly what was at the end of it. Without warning, he grabbed your waist, hoisting you up into his arms, his hands locked beneath your thighs as you wrapped your legs around him. He carried you effortlessly down the hall, letting his lips meet yours again, fully trusting his intuition and knowledge of the layout of his flat to direct you both to the nearest room with a bed. After a few bumps and knocks to the wall, he made it into his room. The light was on and his double bed was dressed with crisp white sheets and silk pillows, as he lowered you onto it, the duvet enveloped you almost immediately, the comfort being no distraction from the excitement of what he was about to do to you.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Fuck, I wanted this for so long.” Jake mumbled, casting a shadow over you as he stood at the foot of the bed, admiring you for a moment. You were still fully dressed, but you were itching to feel his skin on yours, anything to relieve the frustration he built up inside you. You wriggled out of your hoodie, exposing your small tank top and a sliver of your waist peeking out from above your joggers. Jake exhaled, licking his lips as he approached, mounting the bed and kneeling over you. He ran his fingers from your neck to your collarbones, taking in each detail of your skin as he leaned in to kiss you again. The kiss was harder this time, his tongue lashing over yours as his hunger for you increased - his hand traced down the middle of your chest, past your belly and dipping at your navel before reaching your waist, the tingle of his finger against bare skin sent a wave of tingles through you, causing you to arch your back.He chuckled, “Ticklish?”You blushed and grabbed a handful of his hair as he moved down to kiss down your neck.“No, just… sensitive.” you whispered through parted lips, the touch of his mouth on one of the most delicate parts of your body felt borderline euphoric.“Good. I like that.” Jake spoke against your skin, running his tongue along the side of your neck to meet your earlobe, letting it fall between his teeth as he nipped it.“Hopefully you can take what I want to give you…” he smirked, pulling back and hooking a finger under your joggers. All you needed was a sign and you shuffled them off at light speed, the adrenaline surging through your body to the point it made you feel drunk. Jake watched you remove your joggers and expose your underwear, his breath hitched and a smile crawled across his lips - for a moment you could spot the desperation in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a lustful gaze as his hand moved lower, his palm coming down to meet the heat between your legs, gently running his middle finger down the center. The touch alone was enough to make you shake, you tugged at his other arm, pulling him down on top of you to kiss him again. Occasional gasps and moans left your lips as he increased the pressure, effortlessly finding your clit even with the infuriating barrier of the fabric. He toyed with you, grazing his finger over the sensitive spot every time he heard you moan.He was teasing you.“Please Jake…” you whimpered, eyes closed and back arched, it was an intoxicating feeling.“Shhhh.” he hushed, pushing his tongue into your mouth again, using his free hand to grab your neck, tilting your head up and sending a rush of blood up to your head. His fingers got faster, now circling your clit over your underwear, occasionally flicking and tapping to get an extra moan out of you. His lips curled into a smile as he kissed you deeper, groans and grunts coming from deep in his chest, he couldn’t get enough of you. The feeling of his fingers drove you into a frenzy, no one had ever got you this desperate for touch, desperate for pleasure. Your hands moved from around him and travelled south, stopping at his waistband, the kiss slowed as he noticed your wandering hands. He bucked his hips slightly, forcing them towards you as your hands began their descent. It didn’t take long at all, it was almost impossible to miss, he was rock solid, and… thick. You didn’t want to give yourself away but the size was concerning - you hadn’t experienced something of that size before, even before seeing it, you could tell it would burn a little. As you gripped it, you moved your hand slowly along the clothed shaft, Jake’s breath growing heavier with every movement - he retaliated by slipping his hand under the fabric of your underwear, the warmth of his hands hitting your skin and causing you to tighten your grip on him. As he slid his fingers down your folds, he curled his middle finger and let it fall inside you - you were already soaked and the slick of your wetness made it easy for him to thrust his finger over and over, eventually adding another before pushing them in up to his knuckles.“Fuck…” he moaned, his hips moving rhythmically against your hand. “You’re gonna feel so good when I fuck you.” he groaned, curling his fingers inside you, forcing a moan out of you. Jake couldn’t help himself, the way you reacted to his every move sent him crazy. He pushed his sweatpants down and kicked them off the bed, then pulled his shirt off with one hand before helping you with your tank top. You were both almost naked. You had only just realised how intimate you had got, his fingers were glossed by your juices and his dick was barely held down by the fabric of his boxers. The sight alone was enough to get you close. You both took a beat, taking in the view of one another, your chest was completely exposed and your nipples were standing at attention, you could see his gaze falling to them as he leaned over you again. He lowered himself down, placing his lips on your collarbone and kissing his way to your breasts, taking his time to explore your skin with his mouth. His tongue rolled over your nipple and you let out a whimper, this cold air mixed with his saliva made the hairs on your arms stand on end. His mouth enveloped your nipple while his left hand worked on the other, twisting and rolling it between his fingers before he switched places - you couldn't help but let your head fall back as he gave you what you were craving. Jake hummed and moaned against your skin, clearly feeling your pleasure, he pulled away reluctantly and continued down your stomach, kissing every inch of skin in a line down to your waist before pulling your underwear down on one side of your hip without warning. His lips grazed along your left side, peppering you in kisses as his right arm slipped between your legs, his hand flat against your inner thigh as he worked his way towards your pussy. As he approached, your breath became shallow, the anticipation killing you.But before you realised what he was doing, using his right arm as an anchor, and flipped you over onto your front, and pulled your underwear down slowly. Jake spotted the wet patch as the fabric peeled off you and chuckled.“So… fucking…wet.” he shook his head almost in disbelief. His dick was raging out of his boxers, poking at the waistband, but he ignored it, the view of you face down with your pussy exposed was driving him crazy with lust. He hooked his hands under your hips, pulling you up to your knees and then leaning forward to push your head down. You were arched perfectly in front of him, fully naked, and dripping.“I’ve wanted to taste you since the first night I met you.” he growled, his voice was coarse and low, it only made you more desperate. You looked back over your shoulder, Jake raised his hand, looking at his fingers that he had dipped inside you earlier, smirking as he put them in his mouth, closing his eyes as he let your juices run over his tongue and down his throat. Without warning he took them out and pushed them inside you, finger fucking you slowly as he watched you gasp and groan at his touch - his hand came from nowhere and gave you a swift smack on the ass, the sting rippling across your skin. You didn’t expect it but… you liked it. His fingers left you and he kneeled down, spreading you open and running his tongue from your clit to your ass, sending a wave of pleasure through your body.“Fuck, Jake!” you moaned, gripping at the sheets, you felt so exposed but so pleasured, the confusion only made it feel better as you leaned into his tongue. Jake’s mouth surrounded your pussy, lapping up the dribbles that were running down your leg as he occasionally returned to circle your clit with the tip of his tongue - he was eating it like it was his last meal. Subtle groans left his lips as he ran his tongue back up to your ass, his fingers gripping harder at your bare skin, his tongue dipped and flicked at both of your holes, forcing strained whines out of you as you tried to hold back your voice.“Let it out Y/N, no one can hear you but me.” he mumbled, face still buried between your legs as he sped up. The rush of pleasure fueled your moans, they became louder and more frequent. You felt the pressure rise in your core, aching to escape as his tongue urged it closer and closer with each stroke - his arms came from underneath you as he wrapped them around your thighs and pulled you into his face, holding you there as your orgasm hit. His tongue homed in on your clit as he flicked and sucked at just the right speed, your legs trembled as you rode out your wave and pushed back against his face. It was the hardest you came in years and your body felt electric.“Oh fuck!...” you whined, your legs starting to feel weak and twitchy as Jake’s tongue refused to give up. He licked up your cum, paying no mind to how wet his face got in the process, he moaned under his breath as he made sure he mopped up every last drop.“You taste too good, I can’t waste it.” he mumbled, releasing his grip on your thighs and leaning back, licking at his lips.“You’re so fucking hot Y/N.” he said as he exhaled, palming at his boxers to find some relief in the pent up frustration. His face was glistened with the remnants of your cum, it was a view you wished was burnt into your memory, but you were now only focused on bringing him as much pleasure as he had brought you. You flipped yourself around and crawled towards Jake as he knelt on the bed, you smirked and looked up at him, a cheeky twinkle in your eye while you pulled at his waistband.“Your turn…” you smiled, leaning in and placing a kiss on his shaft through his boxers, you could hear Jake’s breath stutter on his inhale, he was clearly just as frustrated as you were.You ran your tongue up his clothed shaft, letting the tip flick off the end before taking both hands and tucking them under his waistband. With one final look up at Jake you spot the almost pleading look in his eye as you pulled his boxers off. His dick sprung up confidently, it was definitely more than you expected, the tip was swollen and red and had veins branching from the base, wrapping around the left side of his shaft - it leant to the left and had a slight upward curve, you could almost see it pulsating. Jake took his hand and ran it through your hair, lifting your chin and leaning down to bring his face closer to yours.“Are you gonna take it all for me?” he whispered, placing a gentle kiss on your parted lips. Your nod was all he needed to see before he pushed back, standing at the end of the bed as you crawled towards him. Jake reached down to wrap his hand around the base of his cock, pointing it at your mouth as his other hand came down to caress the side of your face - his eyes were trained on yours as you opened your mouth, sticking out your tongue and letting him tap the tip against it a couple times. Without warning his fingers curled, wrapping your hair into a tight grip before pulling your head forward; the tip passed your lips and you wrapped your mouth around him - even when receiving pleasure, you could tell Jake still wanted to be in control. His eyes closed and he pulled you in further, the thickness alone making it hard to fit comfortably. You mumbled a moan as he released his grip on your hair and leaned back slightly, letting you take the reins as you moved your head away slowly, making sure to leave his cock wet as you drew away. You played with the tip, letting your tongue run along the sensitive ridges before taking him into your mouth again, bobbing slowly halfway down until his hand returned to the back of your head with a gentle pressure. You took it as a sign and pushed further down, hearing Jake gasp at the sensation of the head against the back of your throat - you started bobbing again, this time faster as you felt his hips bucking at your movements.“Holy FUCK Y/N…” Jake moaned, his head tilted back with pleasure as a small growl left his lips. He grabbed a fistful of your hair and pushed you down on it, the tip sliding down the bend at the back of your throat and pushing deeper, blocking your airway completely. You stayed down as long as you could, you could feel the tip twitching with pleasure as he fucked your throat, Jake’s movements began to stutter as his breath became ragged and desperate.“Fuck, you’re so good at that.” He moaned, both of his hands now behind your head, he was using your throat. Your eyes began to roll as you yearned for oxygen, so you pulled back, a huge gasp of air entering your lungs as Jake pulled you back onto his cock.“Just a little more… please, oh fuck, please.” he almost whined as he pushed into your mouth again, this time, you used your tongue to swirl around the tip and make him shiver with pleasure as you took him in your mouth again. With regained energy, you used your entire throat on him, forcing Jake in deeper than before and making him gasp as he tightened his grip on your hair. You stayed like that, bobbing and spitting and choking on it until his hips began doing all the work - Jake’s hands held you in place as he completely took over. Jake thrusted into your mouth over and over, his breath was heavy and your scalp started to burn from how tightly he was holding your hair - an animalistic urge in him completely overpowered everything as he throatfucked you. You could feel the desperation in him as your eyes began to water and your throat began to close around him, you coughed a couple times, it was a struggle to breathe but the thought of bringing him this much please made it easy to ignore the discomfort as he reached his climax.“Oh… holy f- …” were the only words Jake could muster as he hunched over slightly, you felt his cum shoot into your throat and pulled back a little so as not to choke on it. He seemed ot cum for what felt like a whole minute, his body twitching and convulsing as he released - you made sure to swallow it all and suck on the tip as he pulled out of your mouth, making him quiver and pull away. Jake let out a heavy exhale and chuckled to himself, sitting himself on the bed and turning his head towards you.“I haven’t cum like that before…no one has done, whatever that was, to me…” he admitted, falling back and laying with his arm behind his head. He gestured you over and you laid next to him, your eyes falling on his profile as he stared up at the ceiling. You saw the small beads of sweat slowly drying on his forehead and his lips which still looked freshly kissed, you tried to memorise it all because you knew you wouldn’t see it for a month after this. You sighed, still processing how the night had just unfolded, but knowing it had to end eventually. You sat up reluctantly, shielding yourself subtly with your arms. “I should probably put my clothes back on.” you muttered as Jake’s hand came from behind his head and grabbed your wrist, pulling you in. The unexpected contact sent a dose of adrenaline through you as you came face to face with Jake again, his lips curled into a grin as he shook his head.“I’m not done yet.”