Tmf Fanfic - Tumblr Posts

🖤Honk Shoo💛

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Synopsis: Drew invites the Jomies over for a sleepover, but when Drew suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night and rushes out of the room, Jake grows concerned, and decides to follow him.

A/N: This is the fic that goes along with my previous art. I have a ton of stories about these two so I might post more but I don’t know. Also yes this fic’s name is Honk Shoo. It is saved as Honk Shoo and I will not be changing it.

(Contains Swearing)

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Jake’s eyes opened slowly when he felt the bed shift, and he lifted his head to see to see Drew walking towards the door, his hand covering his mouth as he did his best to muffle what sounded almost like a sob. Confused as to what he heard, Jake slid out of bed, navigating through the dark room while being cautious of Henry and Liam, who laid sprawled out across an air mattress on the floor. As quietly as he could, Jake twisted the door knob and opened the door.

“Drew?” He called softly, taking a step out into the hall. The only light came from a small window against the left wall, revealing Drew standing still in the middle of the hallway.

“What are you doing up?” He asked, his voice flat. Had Jake not heard him moments earlier, he would’ve assumed Drew was fine.

“Are you okay?” Jake chose to ignore Drew’s previous question, concern growing when he noticed Drew stiffen. “I thought I heard you-”

“I’m fine, Jake.” He interrupted. “I just-” His voice had begun to waver, and he took in a quick breath. “Need to use the bathroom.” He finished. Jake took a step towards him.

“You don’t sound fine,” He stated. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Just drop it.” Drew’s voice had gained a slight edge to it, but despite that, Jake continued.

“...You can talk to me if you need to. I-”

“Dammit Jake!” Drew suddenly snapped. He whipped around, and from the faint light of the window, Jake could see the redness of his eyes, and the reflection of tears along his cheeks. “Can you just-!”

Jake took a step back, and Drew paused, his hardened expression melting almost immediately.

“Wait- shit, I… I didn’t-” Drew’s voice cracked on his words. “Fuck,” He mumbled, tilting his head down and blinking tears from his eyes. “Just… get out of here…”

But despite Drew’s words, Jake couldn’t bring himself to move.

“I don’t want to leave you alone like this…” He said.

Drew didn’t respond, and instead buried his face in his hands, doing his best to hide his expression from view.

Hesitantly, Jake took a step closer, and when Drew failed to react, he continued, until he was close enough to rest his hands on Drew’s shoulders. Drew remained still as Jake did so, staring down at himself as his hands forced away his tears.

Jake couldn’t recall a time he’d seen Drew in this light before…

And without thinking, Jake pulled him into an embrace, holding him lightly in case he wanted to break away. Drew’s breath hitched, and his body stiffened for a moment before he pressed his head against the crook of Jake’s neck, wrapping his arms around Jake’s shoulders. Jake was surprised by how tight his grip was, as if he’d somehow disappear the moment Drew let go.

He could feel Drew’s nails digging deep into his shoulders, to the point where it stung a bit. However, Jake couldn’t bring himself to say anything, simply holding Drew closer as the magenta-haired man sobbed against his shoulder. The sound of his muffled cries made Jake’s chest ache, and he wished there was more he could do to help him.

Gently, Jake ran his hand through Drew’s hair, slowing his breathing in hopes of helping him calm down. Eventually, Drew’s slowed as well, and he soon fell silent.

The blonde lifted his head to glance down at Drew again, but the shorter man wouldn’t look him in the eye.

“…Do you wanna go get some water?” Jake asked, unsure of what else to say. Drew thought for a moment, then gave a small nod, pulling himself off of Jake and guiding the two downstairs. Jake had to be careful to avoid bumping into anything in the darkness, but the two eventually managed to reach the kitchen. Jake sat himself down on the counter, keeping a careful eye on Drew.

The magenta-haired man had kept his head down for most of the journey, but eventually had to lift his head to see the cabinets. He opened the doors, revealing shelves of empty glasses and mugs, and as Drew struggled to reach the top shelf to grab one, an idea popped in Jake’s head.

“Hey, Drew? Do you still have that hot chocolate mix you made us that one time?” Drew glanced at him over his shoulder.

“You seriously want me to make you hot chocolate at this time of night?” His voice sounded a bit raspy.

“I’m saying I want you to make us hot chocolate,” Jake said, leaning a bit closer to him. He figured it’d serve as a nice distraction from… whatever Drew was dealing with. And besides, who could be miserable when they had hot chocolate?

Drew glanced down at the floor, biting the inside of his lip.

“Come on… sounds nice, doesn’t it?” Jake asked, and for a moment, he could’ve sworn he saw Drew blush. But before he could confirm, the magenta-haired man whipped his head away.

“Liam and Henry better not find out about this,” He said, turning back to the cabinet and pulling out two mugs from the bottom shelf. Jake grinned as Drew turned to grab the milk from the fridge, filling the two mugs and placing them in the microwave. The two waited in a comfortable silence, Jake watching the mugs spin and Drew watching the timer, pulling the mugs out just before the microwave beeped. Drew then grabbed two hot chocolate packets from some expensive brand and poured them into the milk. He mixed it around with a spoon before finally handing Jake his mug. Jake gave him a smile and nod as thanks, but Drew only glanced away from him, sitting himself on the counter beside him. Not paying much mind to it, Jake took a sip, only to immediately regret it as a burning sensation flooded his tongue. He spat it back out, sticking his tongue out and letting out a whine of pain. Drew gave a small laugh, the first one of the evening.

“Idiot," He whispered, blowing on his mug.

“It didn’t look that hot!” Jake defended.

“It’s called hot chocolate for a reason, dumbass,” Jake stuck his tongue out at him. “God, you’re such a child.”

“I am literally older than you!” Jake retaliated.

“Yeah, by a whole three months, what a difference,” Jake rolled his eyes, a smile crossing his face when he realized Drew had cheered up slightly. Their eyes met, and once again, it seemed as if Drew was blushing, but he quickly turned his head, taking a sip of his drink, only to make a face as he forced it down.

“You burned your tongue too, didn’t you?” Jake asked.

“N-no! I didn’t!” Drew’s blush deepened.

“Oh, you totally did!” Jake exclaimed, pointing and laughing at him. “Who’s the dumbass now!”

“Shut up!” Drew said, playfully shoving Jake away from him.

“Make me.” Jake challenged. Drew stared at him, and for a moment, Jake caught Drew glance down at his lips.

And without warning, he flicked Jake’s nose.

“Ow-!” Drew snickered.

“Serves you right.” He said, and Jake set his glass down, clutching his nose in a rather dramatic fashion.

“Why are you so mean to me?” He whined.

“You have no right to call me that after I made hot chocolate for you-”Jake leaned against his shoulder, causing Drew’s breath to hitch.

“But you hurt me!” He cried, oblivious to Drew’s sudden tension. Drew sighed.

“Liam and Henry have body slammed each other on multiple occasions, but I somehow cross a line by flicking you?”

“Yes.” Jake sighed, and Drew stared down at him.

“Well, maybe don’t give me a reason to flick you.”

“Wow, all my fault I see…” Drew laughed again, and Jake let out a small hum, leaning against him further.

The room fell silent after that, and Jake suddenly realized how fast Drew’s heart was beating.

“You feeling any better?” Jake ventured, his voice softening as he glanced up at Drew, who had his face angled from view.

“Yeah, I am.” He answered, taking a quick sip from his mug before continuing. “Can we just… not talk about what happened?” He asked, and Jake gave a small nod of acknowledgement.

“That’s fine.” He said. “But I’m… glad I could… be there with you, you know?” Drew didn’t respond, but Jake could still feel his heart was still racing. Jake lifted his head. “Are… you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah…” He paused for a moment, before finally turning to face him.

“Jake?” Jake tilted his head, and Drew’s eyes searched his expression, opening his mouth to speak before deciding against it.

“You’re really cheesy,” He eventually said.

“Wha- how am I cheesy?”

“You just are,” Drew answered. Jake scoffed.

“You think everything’s cheesy.”

“Not everything.” Drew replied. “Just you.” Jake frowned.

“Well, if caring about you somehow makes me cheesy, then call me, like, a block of cheddar.” Drew snorted.

“That’s the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Made you laugh though, didn’t it?” Drew covered his mouth, hiding a bit of his smile.

“You’re such a dumbass” Jake grinned at him as he reached for his own mug.

Seeing Drew smile like this… it was such a treasure.

*+*+*

After about an hour of talking and drinking their hot chocolates, the two made their way back upstairs to Drew’s bedroom, climbing back into Drew’s bed. Drew turned to face him.

“Jake..?” He asked, keeping his voice hushed. Jake glanced back at him.

“Yeah?”

“…Thanks for… uhm… staying with me tonight,” He mumbled, stumbling over his words a bit. Jake smiled.

“Of course! That’s what friends do!” He said, and Drew’s face seemed to get a bit red again as he pulled the covers closer to him.

“You…” He paused for a moment. “You’re a good friend…” He whispered, and Jake was barely able to hear what he’d said.

“I try my best,” Jake admitted, giving a much more sheepish smile than before. Receiving compliments from Drew was… rare, to say the least.

Drew gave a small nod, and the blankets began to shift a bit as he moved his arm. Jake blinked when he felt Drew’s hand graze his, but instead of moving, Drew interlocked their pinkies together. Jake tilted his head. This felt… oddly intimate, coming from Drew.

Drew wouldn’t meet his gaze, his face a deep shade of red before he shook his head, pulling his hand away from him and rolling over so his back faced him.

“Goodnight.” He said. But the word was rushed, and his voice sounded rather defensive.

“Oh… goodnight?” Jake responded, confused by the interaction. He stared at Drew for a few moments, unsure if the magenta-haired man would say anything else. However, after a bit of silence, Jake laid his head down on the pillow, choosing to accept Drew’s explanation and falling back asleep not much later.

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…Yeah so if it’s not obvious the Drakeup broke me-

🖤Drew Sickfic💛

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Synopsis: Despite waking up feeling feverish, Drew forces himself to attend school.

A/N: I don’t really have a better name for this fic, but it’s one of my favorites so-

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"Wow, you look like hell."

Drew sighed as opened his locker, ignoring Henry's comment regarding his appearance. He barely took any time to get ready that morning, only throwing on his hoodie and jeans before leaving for school. His hair was no doubt a mess, and the bags under his eyes were likely obvious. Not to mention the mask on his face being a complete giveaway to his current condition.

"You good, dude?" Liam asked, and Drew threw his bag into his locker before turning to face them.

"'Fine," He answered, leaning against his locker for support. "Just tired."

"You look ill," Henry commented. He reached over and placed his hand against Drew's forehead, only for Drew to swat him away. "Jeez, dude! You're burning up!" He exclaimed, earning an eye roll from Drew.

"I know."

"Why didn't you just stay home?" Liam questioned, and Drew simply shrugged.

“I mean, it’s not-” Drew paused, quickly turning to cough into his sleeve. “It’s not that bad.” Liam frowned.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to attend class like this?” His voice was softer than usual, and it gave Drew an odd feeling in his stomach. He opened his mouth to answer, only to have a familiar voice speak over him.

"Hey guys!" Drew turned around to see Jake walking over, but the moment his eyes met Drew, he paused.

"Woah, Drew, you alright?" He asked. Henry answered for him.

"He's sick." Drew tilted his head.

"I'm fine." He stated firmly, and he could tell Liam wanted to say something, but before he could, the bell rang.

“Come on, we have to go to class,” Drew didn’t wait for them to answer him, quickly turning and heading off to his first class.

* + * + *

Drew’s first two periods were relatively easy. He had Liam in his second hour, who helped him stay focused on the lecture. However, as the day continued, Drew found himself growing increasingly exhausted, nearly falling asleep during the lessons until a violent cough managed to wake him. His body felt so unbearably hot, and he began to severely regret wearing a hoodie that day. When it was finally lunch, Drew couldn’t bring himself to order anything. Instead, he laid his head down on the table, cherishing the coolness of the polished wood. He couldn’t even register what his friends were talking about. They… sounded more hushed than usual, though.

By the time lunch ended, Drew found himself struggling to walk straight, and he dimly noted how Jake had a hand on his arm, guiding him to their next hour. In fact… Drew didn’t think Jake left his side once after that, even going out of his way to walk him to his 7th hour despite not sharing that class with him.

By the time school was out, Drew was about ready to collapse. He stood slumped against his locker, the cold of the metal feeling like pure bliss in that moment.

"Are… you even gonna be able to make it home like this?" Drew looked up. That… was Jake’s voice, right? He blinked, but… he couldn’t seem to focus. Everything was blurry.

Drew stared down at his hands, suddenly feeling very dizzy. He stumbled forward. Everything was spinning. Voices became muffled. He was leaning against someone, but he couldn’t figure out who.

Wait… when did he even fall?

Dark spots soon began to appear in Drew's vision, and before knew it, he was out cold.

* + * + *

Drew woke up some time later, finding himself in a small, stiff bed. Slowly, he lifted his head, blinking as he focused on his surroundings. Was this the nurse’s office? How did he get here?

"Okay, I will…" Drew turned to see Jake standing in the corner of the room, his phone against his ear. "Love you too, Mom… Bye.”

"J…Jake..?" Drew whispered, his voice a bit raspy. Jake turned around, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Drew!" Before he knew it, Jake was running over to his side, kneeling down and wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug. Normally, Drew would've protested such an action, but there was something so comforting about Jake's presence that he ended up returning the embrace, tucking his head into the crook of the blonde’s neck.

"You're finally awake," Jake said. "Do you feel alright?"

"Wha… what happened?"

"You passed out by the lockers!” Jake exclaimed. Drew lifted his head to face him, but kept his arms loosely wrapped around Jake’s shoulders. “We didn’t know what to do, so we rushed you here.” Drew gave a small nod. “Henry and Liam couldn’t stay though. They had to catch the bus.” Another nod, and Jake’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, right! I need to text them…” Jake’s voice trailed off as let go of Drew, reaching into his pocket and sending a quick text to their group chat. Although slightly awkward, Drew managed to keep his arms wrapped around Jake’s shoulders, glancing over to read the text he sent.

“Are you just gonna… stay like that?” Jake asked after he sent it, returning his phone to his pocket.

“Like what?” Drew asked, a small frown forming on his face.

“Like…” Jake motioned to where Drew’s arms were. “This?”

“There a problem with it?” He asked, tilting his head slightly. Jake let out a small laugh.

“God, I am not gonna let you forget this,” He said to himself. Drew narrowed his eyebrows, confused by Jake’s comment. However, he opted to say nothing, returning his head to the crook of Jake’s neck and taking in a slow breath. Jake let out a small hum as he wrapped his arms around Drew, pulling himself closer and running a hand through Drew’s hair, silently playing with the magenta locks.

…This felt like a dream…

🖤DROEY???🩷

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Synopsis: Zoey asks Drew to go see a movie with her and the gay little magenta-man is unable to decipher if it’s supposed to be a date or not.

A/N: Someone said they liked my Drake fics and that single compliment gave me the motivation to finish this hooray!! Anyways this fic takes place in the Jomies’ Sophomore year, and Drew is still contemplating (denying) his feelings for Jake. Also. He’s- he’s an idiot he is the big dumb I am silently screaming as I write this DREW YOU’RE A DUMBASS but anyways Droey backstory hooray healthy Droey!! (Or is it??)

(Contains swearing and a painfully stupid Drew.)

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Drew: Guys I think I got a date?

Liam: WHAT????

Henry: DHISVSJS HOWWW???

Liam: FYM YOU THINK???

Drew: Idk a girl asked if I wanted to go see a movie with her Friday

Drew: She said she had a spare ticket or smth

Liam: Yeah that’s a date

Drew: Shit

Henry: How’d you get a date before me?;-;

Liam: Which girl is this?

Drew: Zoey, the girl from our Biology class.

Liam: THAT ZOEY???

Henry: THE POPULAR ONE???

Drew: Yeah?

Henry: HOWW???

Drew: Wym how?

Henry: No offense dude but its literally ZOEY

Henry: And it’s you

Drew: Are you saying she’s out of my league?

Liam: Yeah basically

Jake: DREW YOU GOT A DATE???

Liam: About time you responded Jake

Henry: Lol looks like your boys cheating on you Jakeyyyy

Drew: STFU

Jake: Sobbing rn how could you do this to me Drew?? Thought we were homies!!

Drew: I hope you all fucking explode

Liam: TF DID I DO???

Jake: LMAO

Jake: Fr tho congrats on getting a date Drew I hope it goes well

Jake: And if you need any advice just lmk I’m quite the charmer after all lol

Liam: You’ve certainly charmed someone

Drew: LIAM KYS RN

Jake: Wym?

***

With a heavy sigh, Drew set his phone to the side, falling onto his bed and staring up at the ceiling.

So… this was a date.

With Zoey. With pretty, popular Zoey…

…Did he even like Zoey like that? He’d never considered her as anything more than a friend before, but… he did enjoy her company during class, and he did like working on assignments with her. He didn’t mind it when she wrapped her arm around his shoulders, and… she was obviously very pretty.

Maybe he did have a crush. And had just never realized it before….

But Drew could recall a time Jake had been describing his crush. He referred to it as a warm, fluttery feeling. One that made him forget almost all common sense. And Drew couldn’t say that applied to him…

But… he must’ve had a crush on her. Why else would he find her attractive?

Drew buried his face in his hands, muffling a soft groan. It suddenly occurred to him he’d never even been on a date before. Sure, he had past relationships, but those were in Middle School. Those didn’t count.

God, Zoey had probably been on lots of dates before, too. She must’ve had high expectations for him.

Drew sighed, running a hand through his hair before rolling onto his side, thinking back to all those dumb romance movies Jake convinced him to watch. He was hoping they’d finally come in handy and answer at least one of his questions, but he was quick to realize he hadn’t retained any of the plot.

What he could recall, however, was Jake, misty-eyed with a soft blush dusting his face, staring at the TV with the dumbest grin on his face as he watched the main characters kiss for the first time.

…Why was that the only thing he could remember?

***

Friday came a lot sooner than expected, and Drew still wasn’t sure if it was a date or not. He’d gone back and forth about it for days, and eventually, he managed to convince himself that this was just a hangout. Not a date. After all, he could see some truth behind the texts his friends had sent. It was Zoey. And it was him. Why would Zoey want to go on a date with him?

He stood outside of the theater, scrolling aimlessly through his phone and glancing up on occasion to see if Zoey had arrived yet. His mind wouldn’t stop racing.

What if it was all some prank? What if it was a dare her friends set her up to? What if she-

“Drew!”

Drew turned to see Zoey running over to him, and was a little surprised to see she’d changed out of what she’d been wearing to school that day. Instead of her usual green top and jeans, she wore a pale pink dress, with a small golden necklace and simple white flats. It made Drew feel a little awkward, considering he hadn’t bothered to change out of the jacket and jeans he’d been wearing earlier that day.

“I hope I didn’t make you wait too long.” Zoey said, and Drew shrugged.

“Not really.” He answered, despite the fact he waiting about 30 minutes for her to show up. Zoey gave a slight nod in response, and a small smile appeared on her face.

“You ready?” She asked, and Drew nodded, before following her into the theater.

***

The movie Zoey had gotten tickets for was a mystery-thriller; a genre both him and Zoey had talked about in the past. And in all honesty, Drew would’ve found it interesting had it not been for the romantic subplot that did almost nothing to drive the main plot along.

But… he imagined Jake would probably like it a lot. He was a sucker for forbidden romance after all.

About halfway through the movie or so, Drew felt something brush against his hand, and glanced over to see Zoey had placed her hand right beside his.

…He’d seen enough of Jake’s romance movies to know where this was going.

Slowly, Zoey pressed her hand closer to his, resting her pinky over his. Drew blinked, unable to move his gaze. He really didn’t have a clue how to feel about this.

So once again, he thought back to those romance movies, and slowly moved his hand closer to hers.

And eventually, Zoey interlocked their fingers together.

…Zoey’s hand was noticeably smaller than his. And it was a little cold, but it was soft, and… it felt nice to hold.

He still couldn’t say he felt that fluttery feeling, though. Maybe that only affected some people…

Eventually, the movie finished, and with his hand still in her’s, Zoey led the two out of the theater. She rambled on a bit about her thoughts regarding the movie, but… Drew couldn’t focus on her voice, his attention still fixated on the fact he was holding her hand.

He was holding a popular girl’s hand…

Under the shade of the night sky, Drew finally decided to say something. He lifted his gaze to meet her’s, and-

“Was this a date?” He blurted out.

Zoey stopped almost instantly, and blinked as she processed his question.

And not a moment later, she burst out laughing.

“Seriously?! You didn’t realize?!” Drew could feel his face heat up.

“You never specified!” He countered. “I didn’t want to assume anything!”

“Come on, Drew! You’re a guy, I’m a girl, we went to the movies together, alone. That’s a date!”

“You could’ve just said that!” He grumbled, and Zoey turned away from him, covering her smile with the back of her hand.

“You’re so cute.” She whispered, and Drew could only imagine how red his face must’ve been.

“What?!” He could hear Zoey giggle again.

“Nothing, nothing. I… had a really nice time tonight.” She admitted, twirling around to stand in front of him.

And the way she looked beneath the moonlight. The way the light seemed to dance along her skin. The way she looked at him so longingly…

He’d never felt so… wanted before.

“So… would you want to do this again sometime?”

Time seemed to slow for a moment, and there was only one answer Drew could think to give such a perfect girl.

But for a fleeting moment, another blonde crossed his mind.

…

“I’d like that.”

💙Navy Blue💙

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Synopsis: To celebrate the last week of Summer vacation, Jake and Drew decide to go on a late night drive together.

A/N: Tried something new with this one, hope it’s alright. I love Nightly and I feel like Jake would also adore their music so I just had to kinda shove it in there. Also this one takes place just before the start of Junior year, aka just before the start of TMF. (Might go back and add more between this time period of dating Zoey and summer vacation, idk.) (Also fun fact to anyone invested I think this is the last time on this timeline Drew feels joy so-)

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Drew put the car into park, and glanced up towards the driveway to see Jake running across the pavement of meet him. He had to tilt his head slightly as Jake waved to him through the window. He didn’t need Jake seeing the stupid grin that must’ve been there.

The two had been planning this for weeks now: A late night drive, just the two of them, to celebrate the last week of summer vacation.

“Hey!” Jake greeted as he opened the car door. Drew gave a short wave, and the blonde threw himself into the passenger's seat, buckling himself in before pulling out his phone. “So- I may or may not have made a playlist for this.”

And the idea of Jake putting so much thought into this evening was enough to give Drew butterflies.

“Mind if I-”

“As long as you don’t play J-Pop or whatever the hell Henry listens to.” Drew told him, and Jake chuckled.

“No, don’t worry, I won’t.”

After a few seconds of messing around with the Bluetooth feature, Jake was able to connect his phone to Drew’s car.

“Did you ever think of where you wanted to go, by the way?” Drew asked as Jake began scrolling through his playlists. The blonde paused.

“Heh, nope.” Drew sighed. He should’ve known.

“Guess it’s up to the road, then,” He said. “You ready to go?” Jake nodded, and as Drew shifted the car into drive, Jake started the playlist.

Everywhere I look there’s only shades of you…

No matter what I do, you’re my navy blue…

“You really put a love song in this playlist?” Drew questioned, only to pause when he realized what he just said.

…Jake put a love song in our drive list?!

…Oh, he was not about to overthink this while he was driving. He shoved the thought to the back of his mind.

The sound of Jake’s sheepish laugh pulled him back to reality, and Drew tilted his head to steal a quick glance.

“I know, I know. Not really your thing. But I found these guys a little while ago, and I thought their music would be perfect for a late-night drive!” He explained. “But, you can skip it if you want, I don’t mind.” Drew nodded as he turned out of Jake’s neighborhood, yet made no efforts to switch the song.

I think about you alone in my room…

When the sun goes down…

Drew glanced over at Jake in the passenger's seat, staring out the window and admiring the sunset as he mumbled along to the lyrics of the song.

It doesn't fade when I'm on the road…

And when you're not around…

Drew took in a breath, turning his attention back to the street. He had to stay focused, despite how badly his mind wanted to wander.

Yeah, everywhere I look there's only shades of you…

No matter what I do, you're my navy blue…

And in that moment, Drew felt so, so happy. Happy to be driving with Jake by his side. Happy to be sharing his music. Happy to be alone with him, and happy to journey without a specific goal or destination.

But… there was a part of Drew that still felt unsatisfied. A part that wanted to be closer. A part that wanted more.

Drew thought he’d gotten rid of that feeling long ago. That desperation, that longing… why did it always come back to him?

He wasn’t supposed to feel this way anymore. Hell, he was in a relationship now, with a girl he thought was cute, and fun to be with. And she was popular, and she liked him…

But she never made him feel like this…

Drew swallowed, keeping his mind fixated on the road as he drove them all around Rosemeadow aimlessly, talking to Jake on occasion. Drew practically had to force himself to keep his eyes on the road when Jake rolled down his window, allowing the wind to ruffle his hair. He had to remind himself to stay focused as the sun went down, and Jake’s eyes practically sparkled in the moonlight.

When I look at you, I see navy blue…

*+*+*

Hours later, Drew found himself driving down an empty highway, with only his headlights to guide him. Jake had his head out the window, his caramel eyes wide as he gazed up at the sky above them.

“Hey, can we pull off for a bit?” He asked, and Drew raised an eyebrow.

“What for?” Jake didn’t answer, and instead pointed at the sky. After a moment of consideration, Drew pulled off to the side of the road, putting the car into park and following Jake outside. Drew’s eyes didn’t stray for a moment as he watched a small smile appear on Jake’s face.

“The stars are so pretty out here,” He commented, sitting down on the hood of the car. Drew settled himself beside him, and followed his gaze to the night sky. “I almost forgot what they looked like in person.”

Drew stole another glance at the blonde as he continued.

“It’s so beautiful…”

“Yeah, it is…” Drew said, allowing himself to admire Jake as he’d done so many times before. And once more, he wondered what he had done to deserve someone so wonderful.

But after a moment, he caught himself, and he redirected his attention to the sky.

He shouldn’t be having these thoughts anymore. At least, not about Jake. These kinds of thoughts should be directed towards his girlfriend, right? Not his best friend…

So why did the stars look so much prettier reflected in Jake’s eyes?

Drew didn’t understand… he couldn’t understand. And he didn’t want to understand. Because no matter the answer, it would only complicate his current relationships. And Drew couldn’t afford to lose those.

So, Drew took in a slow breath, and forced himself to focus on the stars.

“You ready to be a Junior next week?” Jake asked suddenly, and Drew thought for a moment.

“Eh.” He answered. In truth, he hadn’t thought about it much.

“I’m not. Everyone always says Junior year’s the hardest. It sounds like it’ll be a lot…”

“It can’t be that bad.”

“I don’t know.”

…

“You know what you want to do after high school?” Jake asked, and Drew shook his head. “Yeah, me neither.” The blonde paused for a moment, before gesturing towards the sky. “You think they know?”

“…The stars?”

“Yeah. I mean, a lot of people believe in fates being written in stars and stuff.” Drew turned on his side to face him.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re becoming one of those astrology girls. You gonna tell me about the healing properties of crystals next?”

“Hey! I’m just saying. It’s just…” He paused, and turned his head to look at Drew.

“It’s a nice thought, I guess. Knowing that at least something has everything figured out.” Drew turned back to the stars.

“I guess so.”

…

“I wish the sky could always look like this.”

And Drew wished the two could always be like this…

…

Drew opened his eyes, only to be met with the sight of his bedroom ceiling. It was hard to see anything else in the dark.

But… Drew couldn’t recall ever closing his eyes.

Swimming through the deepest oceans of my mind…

Oh… that song was still playing… He must’ve gotten lost in thought when it came on. He rolled over onto his eyes, squinting when the light of his phone hit his eyes.

When I look at you, I see navy blue…

…

Drew skipped the remainder of the song.

🖤Spiraling🖤

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Synopsis: The events of TMF, from Drew’s perspective.

A/N: This is both a fanfic and a character study. Also while I write this I wonder why so many people turn Drew into a soft boy when it’s literally so MUCH FUN writing him as a bitch. He’s not a good person, make the most of it. By the way I feel like several of Drew’s problems could’ve easily been solved if Jake just laid with him and held him and told him everything was going to be okay and he was loved.

Contains Swearing (as per usual)

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“You did what?!”

Drew could hardly believe what Jake was saying. He didn’t seriously go out of his way to join the Music Club of all things, did he? This- this had to be a joke.

Drew returned to his seat, his eyes fixated on Jake’s as he gave his excuse. The blonde’s voice was hesitant, his face tinted with a faint red hue.

He really wasn’t kidding… He really joined that little Freak Show… for Daisy, of all people.

Drew could feel a million questions flood his mind, but before he could ask any of them, he noticed Jake standing up, letting out an awkward laugh as he explained how he’d be late to music practice if he stayed any longer, and not a moment later, Jake had left the cafeteria.

Unbelievable…

*+*+*

Drew didn’t let himself think about it for very long. He kept himself distracted- no, focused. Focused on whatever task was at hand, whether it be school-work, home-work, or… whatever else, really.

But when Drew went to take a shower that evening, he couldn’t prevent the thoughts from returning.

After all, there was so much about Jake’s explanation that just didn’t add up.

Out of everything he could've done to confess his love to Daisy, why was this the conclusion he came to?

Why join the Music Club of all things? If all he wanted was to sing for Daisy, couldn’t he just do that privately? It’d be a hell of a lot more romantic, and it’d save him the embarrassment of performing with a bunch of freaks.

Not to mention that it’d be a public confession, too. If he got rejected, the whole school would find out in less than a week.

Why is he even going through all this trouble for a girl in the first place? Is it really all worth it?

He watched as the water ran down the drain, mind drifting further. He was only partially aware of his hand moving to turn the water a little warmer.

…And if he does go through with this, then… this wouldn’t be some dream anymore. He’d actually be doing something. He’d actually be going for Daisy.

Drew bit his lip. What if this somehow does work? What if he does end up confessing to her? What if she says yes? What if they start dating, where would that leave-

…Drew turned off the water. Any longer and he’d probably end up slamming his head against the wall.

He stepped out of the shower, grabbing his towel and wrapping it around his torso as he forced himself to take a breath. God, why did he have to be so dramatic about everything?

Calm down. It’s not like this plan’ll actually work. Jake’ll find some excuse to avoid telling her like he always does, and…

This wasn’t helping. He could still feel his heart racing.

God, why do I even care about this? Not like I don’t have a girlfriend. What’s so bad about him getting one?

The first answer was immediately shoved to the back of my mind. The second was simply: I just don’t want anything to happen to him…

Drew took another deep breath. He really needed to get better at recognizing when he needed one.

He thought about Jake and Daisy together, smiling with their hands intertwined.

And the idea was so repulsive he wanted to slam his head into a wall again.

Another breath.

Stop. Jake’s not going to confess to Daisy. You’re getting all worked up over nothing.

Drew glanced towards the mirror slowly, and despite the fog obscuring the reflection, he could faintly make out his silhouette staring back at him. And Drew paused for a moment.

Jake isn’t confessing. He isn’t leaving. He’s still m-

Another pause.

…God, I sound so fucking gay. Quickly, Drew turned away from the mirror, leaving the bathroom and heading to his closet to change.

Once he’d thrown on a plain shirt and sweatpants, Drew crawled into bed, getting himself comfortable under the blankets before checking his phone one last time. One final distraction before setting it down beside him, drifting off into a light, yet peaceful sleep.

*+*+*

Drew’s thoughts were clearer the next morning. They were quieter. Easier to sort through.

And as he stood in front of his mirror, buttoning up his heather shirt, he quickly realized how… insane his thoughts had been the previous night. It was embarrassing just to think about.

In what world would Jake ever work up the courage to ask Daisy out? He asked himself. Knowing him, he’d probably just back out last minute.

And after his failed confession, Jake would leave the club, and everything would be back to normal.

Drew reached over to his dresser, grabbing his tie and adjusting it around his neck.

Hell, maybe this little… confession plan, or whatever has some advantages. Maybe Jake can dig up some dirt on those freaks. That’d make for some pretty good blackmail…

Drew lowered his arms, and glanced himself over, making sure he looked presentable. Once satisfied, Drew grabbed his school-bag, and made his way downstairs to leave for school.

But reality soon hit him when Jake ended up leaving about half-way during lunch to get to band practice. At the time, Drew shrugged it off, pulling out his phone and tuning out the rest of Henry and Liam’s conversation. He’d still be able to see Jake after school, anyway.

*+*+*

The days continued as usual, yet Drew still found himself missing Jake’s company. He tried to make up for it by finding more ways to talk to Jake during class, but… even that started to change.

The first time Drew noticed it was during Chemistry. They had a project to work on that day, and when Drew had turned to get Jake’s attention, he noticed him leaned across their shared desk, talking to-

Hailey? Seriously? Since when were they on speaking terms? Drew rolled his eyes.

“Are you gonna keep talking to your music girlfriend, or are you actually gonna help me out here?” He asked.

“Don’t call her that!” Jake snapped, but Drew didn’t miss the way Jake flushed at the nickname. Drew frowned.

“I wouldn’t have partnered up with you if I knew you’d just talk to her for the whole lesson. Help out, would you?”

The two resumed the project, but Drew couldn’t help but feel slightly… uneasy? He wasn’t sure how to describe it, but that whole interaction gave him a weird feeling in his chest.

Drew shrugged it off. Or at least… he tried to, but it still lurked in the back of his mind.

But there was something else he had to focus on for now. He had a date with Zoey that evening. He noticed she’d been a little more… quiet than usual, so he figured taking her out shopping would help a little. After all, that usually fixed a lot of her problems.

But when the two arrived at the mall, Zoey was still quiet, and would only look up from her phone occasionally to browse around. But in the end, she didn’t end up buying… anything.

Zoey, who had every inch of her closet stuffed with clothes. Zoey, who was always up to date on the latest fashion trends. Zoey, who needed every accessory in every color.

Zoey. Wanted nothing.

He was at least able to buy her dinner before taking her home, but as Drew drove back to his house, he just couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Zoey always wanted something from him. That was one of the things she liked about him, wasn’t it? So why hadn’t she wanted anything?

If he wasn’t buying her things, what was he even bringing into this relationship? What was keeping her around?

Calm down. It’s one time. She’s probably just… having a tough week or something.

He took a deep breath as he turned into his driveway. Yet it did little to ease his mind.

God, first Jake starts getting closer with those freaks, and now Zoey’s acting all weird, too. The hell’s going on?

His thoughts kept him up longer than he’d like to admit.

*+*+*

Drew could barely open his eyes the following morning. Sleeping had been… exhausting, ironically. He kept drifting in and out, his mind constantly racing with thoughts that managed to escape from the dark crevices of his mind.

After several minutes of quiet yawns and eye rubs, Drew finally gathered the strength needed to sit himself upright.

His movements were slower that morning. It took him longer to get ready than usual, and when it came time to decide an outfit, Drew found himself hesitant.

Usually, he’d choose something formal. Something that made him look… better than his other classmates.

But Drew was exhausted. He didn’t care about looking better. He just wanted to be comfortable.

His eyes scanned his closet, and eventually, Drew pulled out a black hoodie he hadn’t worn in awhile.

…The weather was getting colder anyways, so this would be perfect.

He didn’t bother to double check his appearance. He was already running a little behind.

Before leaving, however, Drew decided to grab an energy drink from the fridge, cracking it open and taking a sip before leaving for school.

…Drew found himself to be more irritable than usual that day. His mind just wouldn’t slow down.

He had complained about Zoey’s behavior during lunch that day, and of course, Jake wasn’t listening. Probably daydreaming about those freaks again.

Without thinking, Drew snapped at him, voicing his suspicion to Jake. Yet the blonde didn’t seem to be phased, and only denied Drew’s claim.

But Drew wasn’t convinced. If Jake truly preferred his company, why did he keep talking to Hailey instead of him?

It was even worse during PE. Multiple times during class, Drew found himself glancing in the blonde’s direction, and every time, Jake’s eyes were busy admiring a certain teal-haired girl on the other side of the field.

Well, he sure moves on fast…

*+*+*

Jake ended up running off with Hailey after school that day too, and the next, and-

Suddenly, Jake didn’t even seem to have time for them anymore. He was always so busy with ‘rehearsals’ or whatever. He wouldn’t show up to lunch anymore, nor would he have time after school to hang out. Even during class, he still seemed more intent on talking to Hailey.

And… Drew didn’t miss the way Jake’s eyes sparkled when he looked at her. He didn’t miss the smile that appeared on his face whenever she was around.

He’d never seen him shine so brightly before. Not even around him.

Drew found himself thinking about it one night, as he stared up at his bedroom ceiling.

I thought I actually meant something to him… Apparently, I’m about as good as some stuck-up music freak he’s only known for a month. That same uncomfortable feeling began seeping into his chest.

Everything I did for him, did any of it even matter? Or am I just useless to him now? Now that he has those little freaks he’s so fond of.

God, they don’t deserve him. They don’t deserve to be by his side. They don’t deserve to see him smile, he’s supposed to be-

A breath. He was spiraling again.

…This wasn’t normal, was it?

*+*+*

Sleep was growing elusive. Drew wasn’t sure how many hours of rest he must’ve lost from this week alone.

Everything had changed, and Drew wasn’t the least bit prepared for it all. His whole world had been torn from beneath him the moment Jake walked through those club doors. Jake just had to go and ruin everything…

He brought his knees closer to his chest, sinking deeper into his desk chair as he pulled out his phone. No new notifications…

He opened his messages, and pulled up the last few messages he sent to Jake.

Six messages and eight hours later, Jake still hadn’t responded yet. He refreshed the app, yet nothing changed.

Drew sighed, and he set his phone down on his desk, tilting his head back to stare out the sun-roof. The moon hung high overhead, obscured only partially by the dark clouds in the sky.

Drew bit his lip, wondering why everything turned out like it did.

Jake was supposed to be his friend. But now he’s found someone else.

Suddenly, Drew's phone buzzed, and he scrambled to grab it, fumbling to see what the notification was.

A text message… from him.

Apologizing for being… ‘busy’ again.

Drew didn’t know how many times he reread his message. And his trembling hands held his phone tighter.

That same uncomfortable feeling he’d grown so familiar with pierced his chest again. It’d grown sharper. It felt as if a knife had been dragged through him.

Why did he always have to be busy? Busy with his new friends, who took up all his time, all his life.

He replaced me-

And in a moment of frustration, Drew threw his phone across the room. It slammed against the wall, and Drew couldn’t tell if he broke it or not. But he didn’t care.

His breath was heavy, struggling to escape his throat. His heart pounded loudly in his ears, his vision blurred, and-

…He could feel tears growing dangerously close to spilling over.

Quickly, Drew tilted his head back, swallowing as he blinked them away. Dammit…

This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to cry. Not over something as pathetic as this. You’re better than this…

He’d been doing so well, too. Hell, the last time he cried must’ve been-

…All the way back in Sophomore year. In the middle of the night, during a sleepover of all times.

God, the dream was still so clear in his mind. Every word. Every action. The feeling of waking up with tears streaming down his face.

And… the way Jake had held him that night, his touch gentle, yet the only thing keeping Drew together.

He could recall the warmth that flooded his chest, washing away his worries as he’d melted into the blonde’s arms.

…It was ironic. The last time he’d cried, Jake had been there with him. But now… he was about to cry because Jake wasn’t there…

…Suppose dreams really do come true after all.

The thought brought a bitter smile to his face. An uneven laugh escaping his throat. God, that sounds so pathetic…

It was even more pathetic how desperately he wanted to return to that moment. To those simpler times. And to that warm embrace he’d never truly felt before.

He missed his warmth. He missed his smile, his company, just… him.

Drew could feel a single tear slip from his eye, followed by another, and-

Drew was quick to brush them away. He wasn’t supposed to cry- he didn’t cry. Not over something like this… not over anything.

So he forced himself to stop. Forced himself to hold it together. Just as he’d always done.

Ignoring the pain he felt tearing him apart.

🖤Droey Dump🩷

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Synopsis: Following Jake’s comment about Zoey’s ‘busy weekends’, Drew decides to call Zoey to talk about about.

A/N: This one’s a bit shorter than usual, I mostly just wanted to explore Drew’s feelings regarding the breakup, not the actual build-up to it. This also takes place after Episode 10, but before Episode 11. ALSO the fics from this point onwards are some of my favorites so HYPE. (Spoilers: I got a lot of Drew angst this month.)

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The sky had faded from a soft pink to a deep shade of black, and for the past several hours, Drew had been on the phone with Zoey. Her voice had been unsteady for most of the night, her words rushed and her stories almost never ending.

He’d called her a while ago to confront her about the comment Jake had made earlier that day, and after listening to her conflicting stories and blatant lies, the truth slowly began to unravel itself.

Zoey had gone out with someone else behind Drew’s back… multiple times. And his love had been nothing but more than a toy for her to discard the moment it became anything but useful. After everything he’d done, he barely meant a thing to her.

Zoey’s voice wavered on the other end of the phone, broken by sobs as she desperately tried to apologize. But Drew swallowed; he wouldn’t let himself fall for her again.

“We’re done, Zoey.”

“W-what?!” Zoey cried, and Drew hated the way her voice still tugged at his heart. “Drew, please! You can’t-”

Drew hung up the phone, and blocked Zoey’s number without so much a second thought.

Zoey’s words echoed in his mind, but Drew felt almost nothing towards them anymore. Everything just felt… numb. He would’ve expected himself to feel angry, to raise his voice, to do something… but he just felt… nothing.

With a shaking breath, Drew turned off his phone; the shattered black screen reflecting hollow eyes and messy magenta hair. It took him a few moments to finally set it down.

He buried his face in his palm, and he wondered why he allowed Zoey to talk for so long.

Maybe… he was just hoping she’d somehow convince him she truly cared about him. And that this was all one big misunderstanding. But of course it wasn’t.

God dammit, Jake was right…

How had be been so oblivious? The signs had been there from the start…

The way she only ever seemed happy when she was spending his money. The way she only seemed to care when she was showing him off. The silence between the two in private. The constant texts to other people, the-

God, he was such an idiot.

He shouldn’t have brushed off the signs. He shouldn’t have lied to himself, and told himself everything was fine between them. He should’ve known better…

He thought he’d done everything right. He gave her everything she asked for. And all he wanted was her love in return. But she couldn’t even give him that…

That’s the whole reason he even went out with her. He just wanted someone to care about him. He didn’t care who, just… someone who could make him feel useful-

Drew pressed his palm against his forehead, forcing himself to take slow, steady breaths. And he had to remind himself that he doesn’t cry; that he wasn’t supposed to cry.

And it was strange, because he didn’t even realize he wanted to cry until tears had already pricked the corners of his eyes.

His mind began to wander; back to the past, back to all those shopping dates and… back to when it seemed like he was all that mattered to her…

But of course it was never him. It was the money she admired. And she couldn’t give a damn about who it came from.

Drew brought his knees up to his chest. If all she wanted was his money, why did she have to bring his heart into this? Why did she have to go and make him feel like he was special? Like he was loved?

Like he deserved to be?

He wished he’d never let her close, never opened his heart to her, never made a place for her…

And in the end, Drew didn’t get even an hour of sleep that night.

“…Drew was screaming again, but Jake’s expression didn’t change. He took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them before resting a hand against Drew’s cheek.”

This piece is actually a redraw of a piece I made almost a year ago, just before I started this Tumblr. It’s also a scene from the next fanfic I have in store, which is probably one of my favorites so I’m really excited to share it!

Anyways heres the before and after:

(Sorry for all the fanfic-related content I’ve been producing recently. I’m not really sure if that’s what a majority of people are interested in, but I’m just really proud of where my writing is, and it’s something I want to share. Also I want to see how much I can get right about TMF S2 before it releases lol. I have a few more fic-related posts, but I promise I get back to posting more art and headcanons too. And I also gotta few things in store for pride month, I just need more time on them.)

🖤Glass Hurts❤️

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Synopsis: Drew first day of school after losing Jake.

A/N: This is probably the longest fic I’ve written, so I’m dividing it into 2 parts. Have fun watching Drew self-destruct.

Contains Swearing, Panic Attacks, Very Slight S-H

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Drew woke up to the sound of his alarm with possibly the worst headache of his life. His eyes felt heavy, and it took almost all his energy to roll over and check the time.

7:00am. 49 unanswered messages. 6 missed calls.

Drew hit snooze on his alarm. School didn’t start until 8:30 anyways. A few more minutes of sleep couldn’t hurt.

…

He didn’t wake up for almost another hour, sleeping straight through the second alarm.

So much for a few minutes…

He rolled himself out of bed, and knowing he only had about ten minutes, he decided to just do the bare minimum.

He threw on his black hoodie and a pair of sweatpants, before making his way to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

He kept his gaze fixated on the sink as he did so. He didn’t want to see himself in the mirror. He knew what he looked like.

He hadn’t once bothered to brush his hair over the weekend. He was barely able to sleep or eat. And he’d spent that whole weekend in front of his PC, keeping himself distracted so he wouldn’t dwell on… what had happened that Friday.

He hadn’t once checked his reflection. He saw no need to.

Once he’d finished, he made his way downstairs, grabbing an energy drink before heading off to school.

*+*+*

Drew was barely able to make it to school on time, only having a minute or so to stop by his locker.

He kept his gaze fixated on the ground as he made his way over, the sounds of conversations nothing more than a dull buzz in his mind. His headache had only gotten worse.

“Drew! You’re alive!” Drew glanced up when he heard Henry’s voice, and noticed him standing with Liam beside their lockers. The shorter man ran over to him.

“You scared us, Drew! We thought something happened!”

“The fuck are you talking about, Henry?” He asked, shrugging past him to reach his locker.

“You- you didn’t answer either of us at all this weekend.”

“I was busy.” Drew said, but it was clear Henry didn’t buy it. He was about to say something, but the sound of the schoolbell cut him off. And without another word, Drew left for class.

*+*+*

And the minute Drew entered his first period, a grave realization washed over him.

…Jake assigned seat was still right next to his.

Drew glanced away before Jake had a chance to notice him, and made his way over to their shared desk, sitting down as far away as he could while still having some room on the desk.

He couldn’t tell if Jake was staring at him or not. He couldn’t bring himself to look. He didn’t want to look.

He didn’t let himself think about it. He tuned out the lesson. Tuned out the voices. Tuned out everything he could.

Because he wasn’t sure how long he could hold himself together if he allowed himself back into reality…

…

Drew remained unfocused for the first three periods of school. Because all those periods were ones he shared with Jake.

And despite trying to keep his gaze on the desk, every so often, he’d glance up at the blonde, and he couldn’t help but wonder what was going on through his mind.

Compared to how Drew must’ve looked, Jake looked… nice. His hair still looked soft, his eyes awake and his outfit well-planned. There wasn’t a single sign of stress Drew could identify.

…But why would there be? Jake never cared about him. He’d only ever used him to keep himself safe.

…It wasn’t fair.

…

Finally, lunch came around, and Drew sank into his usual seat. He couldn’t bring himself to order anything. But as he scanned the lunchroom, waiting for Henry and Liam to arrive, he noticed Jake, walking with Hailey by his side.

The two were laughing together. Talking about something Drew couldn’t quite distinguish.

They were gone a moment later, but the damage had already been done.

Drew felt something twist inside his chest. Seeing Jake smile so easily without him…

Why did he still care? Jake sure as hell didn’t, so-

Drew left the table before Liam and Henry even had a chance to arrive. Who gives a fuck about what those two think anyways?

Besides, it wasn’t as if he was going to eat anything.

Drew locked himself in a bathroom stall for the remainder of that period.

*+*+*

Drew had never felt more relieved to hear a school bell in his life. His 7th period was finally over. He could finally go home.

He didn’t have to keep trying anymore…

Drew was the first to storm out of the classroom, stopping by his locker for only a brief moment to throw his folders inside. He slammed it closed, not even bothering to wait for Liam and Henry before leaving. He just wanted to get the hell out of there. He was sick of seeing-

“Drew?” Drew stopped almost immediately. He recognized that voice all too well.

And Drew made possibly the worst mistake of his life.

He looked up.

Caramel eyes met his own. And they were just as warm as ever.

Drew hated how desperately he wanted to lose himself in them.

He could already feel tears burning behind his eyes as Jake looked at him.

“The hell are you looking at, freak?” The words left his mouth without thinking, almost on instinct, and before Jake could respond, Drew shoved past him, leaving him behind in that hallway.

Drew swallowed, and he kept his gaze low. The words he’d said ringing loudly in his head. Years of memories, reduced to ash.

*+*+*

Drew swung the door to his house open, and was immediately greeted by the sound of silence. After a heavy sigh, Drew entered, kicking off his shoes before making his way upstairs to his bedroom. He sunk to the floor beside his bed, pressing his back against his mattress as he buried his face in his hands.

It was all over…

…

Drew thought for a moment, lifting his head slightly when a realization clicked in his head.

This was his life now… This was how everyday onward was going to go.

Everyday, he’d have to see Jake, and everyday, he’d have to hear his voice. Everyday, he’d have to witness him smile, laugh, and live his life as if nothing had happened.

Because he’d gotten everything he wanted, and took everything Drew had left.

The tears burned behind Drew’s eyes again, and he wrapped his arms around himself, bringing his knees up to his chest.

Everyday, Jake’s words and lies would echo in his mind. Everyday, he’d relive those memories formed on that fateful day.

And everyday, he’d witness that filthy liar thrive.

…

Drew allowed the first tear to slip from his eye, followed by another, then a few more.

Why did Jake lie to him for so long? Was there some sort of sadistic pleasure Jake got out of this? Did he find amusement in Drew’s suffering? Did he enjoy watching the life fade from his eyes as he tore Drew’s heart from his chest?

He really led Drew to believe he was doing everything right…

The tears began to fall faster, rolling down his cheeks and dripping onto his jeans. Despite his best attempts to wipe them away, they just wouldn’t stop.

Drew knew he shouldn’t be crying. There was no point in wasting tears on someone who never cared. So why couldn’t he calm himself down?

He wrapped his hands around his head, curling into himself further, trying to hide himself from…

…He didn’t know anymore.

He felt so pathetic. So weak. And so unbelievably stupid. He got used twice now…

He lifted his head, trying to keep the tears from escaping as he choked back a sob.

But his efforts were useless, much like he was…

And he began to wonder what he could’ve done to deserve this. To deserve any of this… He knew wasn’t perfect, but did he really deserve a life of constant loneliness? Did he deserve to lose everything the moment he finally got comfortable?

But if his own parents couldn’t even be bothered to stick around, what made him think anyone else would be willing to?

…

His breath caught in his throat, and his hand grazed his neck, a heavy lump lodged in his throat.

He couldn’t breathe.

He couldn’t breathe.

He pulled himself from the floor, hands grabbing at his hair, his hoodie, anything he could reach. His heart was pounding in his ears, vision blurred with hot tears.

His thoughts were racing, messy and conflicted. They crowded his mind. He couldn’t make sense of any of them.

His body was moving before his mind could process, pacing his room and covering his mouth with his hand, desperately trying to get himself to stop.

He needed something. Something that wasn’t darkness, or silence, or his racing heart and shaking breaths. He needed a sound, a feeling, a distraction. Anything.

Nails dug into his arms, scratching at exposed skin. Yet Drew could barely realize what was happening.

Another sob tore from his throat, leaving him coughing and gasping for air.

And he looked up, only to find his mirror facing towards him. And he was met with the reflection of… someone he could barely recognize.

Someone with messy hair, and hot tears streaming down reddened cheeks.

Someone who was lonely, and desperate for someone to stay.

Someone who was broken, and tired of everything…

Someone Drew despised with every fiber of his being.

Without thinking, Drew slammed his fist into the mirror, shattering it with a deafening crack. Shards of glass scattered to the floor, and the figure once standing there became fragmented.

Drew didn’t even realize his hand had begun to bleed. He couldn’t tear his gaze from the broken mirror.

Drew fell to his knees, burying his face in his palms, and giving up entirely on pulling himself together.

Who would it be for, anyways?

🖤Glass Hurts (Pt. 2)❤️

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Synopsis: Drew gets a call from Liam, who confronts him about what happened between him and Jake.

A/N: Part Two! Drew finally gets a break. Also this is like my first time writing Liam-

Contains Swearing, and Mentions of Suicidal Thoughts.

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Drew opened his eyes when he heard his phone buzz, and slowly, he lifted his head. When did he fall asleep?

He looked around, and found himself curled up on the floor, with broken glass scattered nearby.

…He’d have to clean that up at some point.

He pulled out his phone from his pocket, only to see it was Liam who was calling him. He declined it a moment later, and returned to his lock screen.

It’s almost 11:00pm… Why’s Liam even awake right now?

Drew rubbed at his swollen eyes, and as he picked himself off the ground, he felt his phone buzz again. It was Liam, again. Drew declined it.

As he sat down in his bed, he noticed Liam had messaged him.

Liam: Drew answer ur phone ik ur not busy rn

Liam: And ik ur ass wasnt asleep either

Drew: I don’t want to talk rn

Liam: Please

Liam: Im gonna spam u if you dont answr me

Drew: Kys

Liam called him a third time, and with a heavy groan, Drew answered.

“What the hell do you want, Liam?” Drew asked, his voice a bit raspy.

“Finally. Christ, Drew-”

“Can you answer my fucking question? Or are you just here to waste my time?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. What’s oh so important to you right now that I’m distracting you from?” Drew took a moment to respond.

“Sleeping.”

“You were not sleeping.”

“Yeah, I was. Until you woke me up.”

“Fine. But I’ll bet, like, 10 bucks your ass was not in bed.”

…

“That doesn’t matter-”

“God-”

“If this is all you’re gonna talk about, I’m going back to bed.”

“Wait-” Drew could hear Liam sigh on the other end of the phone. “I just… wanted to talk to you.”

“About?”

“You know what.” Drew thought for a moment, but before he could make a guess, Liam answered for him. “What happened last Friday.”

Drew felt the lump in his throat return when he heard those words.

“What about it?” He asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Liam didn’t need to know how it was affecting him.

“Look, Henry and I both know you’re not doing okay-”

“I’m fine, Liam.”

“Why didn’t you tell us that over this weekend? When we kept asking you if you were okay?”

“I was busy-”

“You weren’t busy, Drew. I know you weren’t.”

“You don’t know shit, Liam.”

“I know you.” Liam countered. “And I know that you’d never be too busy to text back.” Drew didn’t have a response, and he could hear Liam sigh again.

“Look, I know you’re not doing okay. And… that’s okay. I just… if you want to talk about it, I’m here-”

“I told you I’m fine!” Drew snapped, his voice cracking on his words. “There’s nothing for me to talk about.” Liam didn’t say anything, and Drew continued. “I don’t care that he lied to us. I didn’t need him. We didn’t need him.”

“…Are you crying?” Drew felt his cheek.

…Dammit.

“Fuck you, Liam! I’m not crying!”

“It’s okay to-”

“No, it’s not!” Drew shouted, using his hand to wipe his tears. How did he even still have tears to cry at this point?

“I’m not supposed to be crying! He sure as hell isn’t right now, so why should-” A sob cut him off before he could finish, and the tears were falling fast once more. Liam didn’t comment on it.

“God, I’m such an idiot, Liam! He lied to us for three years, and I was too blind to realize! I really thought he cared about me…” Drew sniffed, resting his palm against his forehead. “But the only thing he ever cared about was himself. He lied to all of us!”

…

“And now, he’s off living his best life with those fucking freaks while I’m just…” He trailed off, wiping at his eyes. “Am I just supposed to accept this?!”

The words began spilling out before he could think them through. In the back of his mind, he knew he’d regret this, but at that moment, he couldn’t bring himself to care.

“I don’t know why this keeps happening to me, Liam! First I find out my girlfriend been cheating, then I find out my…” He paused, his breath hitching. “Then I find out he never gave a damn about me…” He finished. “What am I doing wrong, Liam?”

“You’re not doing anything wrong-”

“Then why does this keep happening?! I thought I did everything right! I-I did do everything right! Why wasn’t it enough? Why am I just never enough for anyone?! Why can’t anyone just stay for once?!”

Liam said something. Something Drew failed to register.

“Probably be better if I was just dead, huh? Wouldn’t have to deal with all this bullshit if I was…” He could feel his stomach turn as the words left his mouth. That sounded a lot worse than it did in his head. “God, I sound so-”

“I’m coming over.”

Drew paused, and from the other end of the call, he could hear Liam’s door creak.

“…What?”

“I’m coming over. I don’t care what you say.”

“Liam, you can’t just-!”

“Drew, I’m already outside. I’m coming over.”

“Liam, I swear to-” He could hear a car door open, followed by the sound of an old engine turning on. “Are you stealing your mom’s car again?”

“Yep.”

“What the fuck?”

“I’m not leaving you alone like this, Drew. I’d be a shit friend if I did.”

“God, Liam. I’m fine-”

“I’m already driving.”

“You’re fucking insane.”

“I know. I’ll be there in like… 15-ish minutes.”

“Liam-”

Liam hung up, and Drew sighed, an odd feeling forming in his stomach as he rolled onto his back, staring at his ceiling.

What the hell was wrong with that man?

*+*+*

Sure enough, after 15 minutes, Drew heard his doorbell ring, and he managed to drag himself out of bed to answer the door. As expected, Liam stood on the other side. He was dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and sweatpants, and despite his eyes looking a little heavy, he still had a dumb grin plastered on his face.

“Hey bitch-” Liam paused when he noticed Drew’s hand, his smile fading almost immediately. “Holy shit! What the hell did you do to your hand?!” Drew glanced down at it, finally remembering the shards of glass still stuck in his knuckle.

“Oh… that. I broke a mirror.”

“How did you-“ Liam paused, realizing the answer to his own question. “Uhm… okay. Do you have, like, a first-aid kit or something?”

Drew’s heart nearly stopped for a moment, an old memory drifting to mind:

“I’m helping you. Now where’s your first-aid kit?”

“…Downstairs bathroom. The left one.” Drew responded, taking a breath to ground himself. Liam nodded, and took hold his sleeve before practically dragging him off to that very room, sitting him down on the rim of the tub.

“Why are you so obsessed with helping me?” Drew had asked, and a pair of caramel eyes had turned to face him. Soft lips curved into a gentle smile, before uttering a simple phase:

“Because you’re my best friend, and that’s what best friends do.”

Liam flicked on the lights, which caught Drew off guard. He squinted, then blinked a few times until his eyes adjusted.

He noticed Liam open the cabinets under the sink, pulling out the first-aid kit a moment later. He set it on the counter, opening it up and staring at the contents.

“Okay. So I’ve never actually done anything like this before. But, I’ve played Operation, like, twice? So I’m basically an expert.” Drew could feel a small hint of a smile appear on his face, but it was gone less than a moment later.

“Worst case scenario, you kill me.” Drew mumbled, and Liam frowned before directing his attention to the first-aid kit, pulling out a pair of tweezers.

“I’ll try not to. Just… hold your hand still, okay?” Drew nodded, and Liam knelt down beside him, taking Drew’s injured hand in his. He let out a small breath, and after a moment of hesitation, he began picking out the glass from his palm.

Drew wasn’t sure if he should be concerned by how little it stung. His hand only twitched occasionally when Liam had to pry the larger shards out. But before he knew it, Liam was done.

“There. Now… uh… I think I need to get the blood off…” Liam trailed off as he turned back to the kit, setting the tweezers down and pulling out a small cloth. He turned on the water faucet, and ran it underneath for a few seconds before ringing it out and returning to Drew’s side. And without a word, he began cleaning the dried blood from Drew’s hand.

Drew watched him as he did so, and seeing Liam in such a focused state felt… almost out of character for him. Drew was so used to seeing him and Henry goofing off together during class.

…And his mind began to wander, reflecting on the bond Liam and Henry shared. They’d been through so much together, yet always had one another to fall back to.

…Drew couldn’t say the same for himself anymore.

Liam glanced up at him once he’d finished, and their eyes met for a moment before Drew turned his gaze away. Liam didn’t comment on it, and instead grabbed a few bandages from the kit, wrapping each one carefully around his fingers.

“Alright. Your medical bill’s gonna be… about 20-K.” Liam joked once he’d finished, and Drew rolled his eyes.

“You realize that’s basically nothing to me, right?”

“Okay, then 2,000-K.” Liam countered.

“2,000-thousand?”

“Yes.”

“You’re a fucking idiot-”

“That's really how you’re gonna talk to your doctor?” Liam asked, extending a hand towards him. Drew took it, and Liam helped him to his feet. “Come on. Let’s go back upstairs.”

Drew gave a small nod in response, and followed Liam back to his bedroom, his gaze lowering to the ground as they entered. He knew Liam would notice the mirror, and Drew was not in the mood to acknowledge it.

“Yikes.” Liam whispered, and Drew broke away from him, sitting down on his bed.

“How long were you gonna stay for?” He asked, switching the subject before Liam could ask further about the mirror.

“Uhh… to be honest, I didn’t really think about that.” Drew rolled his eyes.

“Of course you didn’t.” He mumbled, too quiet for Liam to hear.

“I guess I can stay for however long you want me to.”

“I don’t really care.” He said, laying down on his back. After a moment, Liam joined him.

“Then… Can I stay the night?” He asked.

“Won’t you get grounded?”

“Not if I get back before they notice.”

“Fine, whatever. Your grave, not mine.” Liam smiled, and Drew rolled over to face him.

And although he’d never admit it, he couldn’t help but feel grateful for Liam’s presence.

It was nice… not being alone for once.

…He wasn’t quite sure what he was doing when he shifted himself closer. He didn’t know why he decided to rest his head on Liam’s shoulder, but at this point, he was far too drained to question it.

He could feel Liam’s arms slide around his torso, pulling him against his chest. Drew let out a hum of surprise, his body tensing for a moment before he practically melted into Liam’s embrace.

And for the first time that day, Jake was no longer on his mind.

Right now, it was just him and Liam.

And Liam wasn’t going to leave him…

Slowly, Drew’s eyes began to close, and eventually, he fell asleep to the sound of Liam’s heart.

🖤Ashes🩶

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Synopsis: Frustrated by Jake’s constant attempts to repair their friendship, Drew decides to burn the broken bridge for good.

A/N: Welcome back to another episode of “Drew does something stupid or mean, and ends up feeling sorry for himself.” Today, Drew REALLY fucks things up. (He’s my favorite boy-failure.) Also, Drew might’ve won the battle, but Jake wins the war. (No one’s gonna get this lmao.)

Contains Swearing, Violence, Mild Death-Threats(?)

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The sound of a blaring alarm awoke Drew from his fitful sleep, and slowly, he opened his eyes. He sat up groggily, rubbing at his eye with his palm as he struggled to keep them open.

“Then… Can I stay the night?” The voice echoed in his mind almost immediately, bringing him back to the events that had transpired a few nights ago. Liam had practically barged into his house, uninvited, and just… held him.

Drew’s hand lingered above his waist, just above where Liam’s had once been. His touch had been so warm, yet… Drew couldn’t find any comfort the memory. There was something that didn’t add up.

Why had Liam gone out of his way to help him that night? Why had he held him so carefully? Drew hadn’t offered him anything for it. Hell, he could barely remember thanking him for it.

Was Liam trying to make up for the fact he protected Zoey’s secrets? Or was there more that he was hiding, and this was all just a way to cover it up?

What if Liam had known Jake was going to leave? What if he knew of someone else who planned to hurt him? What if Liam was only trying to get closer to him so that he could hurt him as well? What if he was only using him as well? And how much of this was Henry in on?

Drew groaned, dragging his hand down his face. He was being dramatic again. Liam… probably wouldn’t do that to him…

He shoved the thoughts to the back of his mind, and forced himself to stand, dragging himself to his closet to finally start getting ready for the day.

***

The moment Drew stepped foot on campus, his earbuds went in, and the world faded out. And while his body was stuck going through the motions, his mind was able to wander freely.

And for a while, Drew allowed himself to forget. To pretend nothing existed. To pretend… he didn’t exist.

It was a comforting thought…

But it didn’t last as long as he would’ve liked, because reality always found a way to pull him back down…

And it happened when he noticed Jake in the cafeteria… with Hailey.

The two were only visible for a few moments, and disappeared in the crowds the next, but Drew’s eyes couldn’t leave them for a second.

He could feel a white-hot flame ignite in his chest as he stared. And even after lunch had ended, he could still feel it burning. He tried his best to cover it, but the sparks refused to fade.

By the end of the day, Drew could still feel it, burning away at his insides. It guided his movements, and his hand slammed his locker closed with a loud bang.

The sound alone was enough to surprise him, and he forced himself to take a breath. He really needed to calm down. Maybe he could take a shower when he got home. Go to bed early and-

Drew flinched when he felt someone tap his shoulder, and quickly, he turned around, taking out an earbud to realize-

Jake was standing right there.

“Don’t fucking touch me.” Drew snapped. He turned to leave, but-

“Drew, wait-” The sound of Jake’s voice was enough to stop him in his tracks. “Please, will you just listen to me for a minute?” Drew refused to turn around.

“Go away.” He whispered, only to hear Jake take a step closer.

“Drew, please. I-I just… I want to apologize.”

He’s lying.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Drew.”

Don’t trust him.

“I just want-”

Drew’s body was moving on its own as he turned on his heel, and without a second thought, he backhanded Jake in the face.

The blonde stumbled back, eyes growing wide as he took in a sharp breath. He blinked a few times, his shaking fingertips grazing the reddened mark forming on his face.

“What part of ‘I’m done with you’ do you not understand?!” Drew shouted. “You’re not getting a second chance from me, and nothing is going to change that! You chose your side, and you made it abundantly clear who your real friends are! I couldn’t give a single fuck about you, or your excuses now! Hell, you could turn up dead tomorrow and I wouldn’t give a shit! It’s what you and all those other freaks deserve!” Jake’s eyebrows narrowed. Drew must’ve struck a nerve there…

“Leave them out of this!” Jake’s voice raised slightly, and Drew could feel a smirk tug at his lips.

“Or what?” He taunted, taking a step towards the blonde and savoring the way he tensed up at the movement. “You gonna write a whiny little song about it? Is Hailey gonna run away crying again?” Drew’s cruel smile faded as he leaned back a bit. “You seriously think I’m gonna leave those freaks out of this when they’re the problem?!”

“If anyone’s the problem here, it’s you!” Jake suddenly snapped, and before Drew could even process it, Jake had shoved him back. “You made me feel like shit about myself, for years, all because of something that had absolutely nothing to do with you! And not only that, you go out of your fucking way to bully other people for the same fucking reason. All you know how to do is hurt people!! Yet I’m somehow the one apologizing!”

“Oh, don’t you dare try to make me look like the bad guy here!”

“You think bullying people for their interests makes you a good guy?!”

“You think lying to your best friend is any better?!” Drew was struggling to keep his voice steady as he took a step towards him.

“I lied because you made me feel like I couldn’t trust you! And if you weren’t so wrapped up in your own head, you’d realize that! You never think about anyone else but yourself you selfish, spoiled asshole!!”

Drew’s fist was moving before he could think, punching Jake in the face. The blonde wasted no time returning the gesture.

Pain flooded Drew’s senses, yet only seemed to fuel the burning flame in his chest.

The fire blinded him, painting his world a deep, blood red. His punches were aimless, and each hit he took was nothing more than a dull pulse to march along with his ever-growing heartbeat. He didn’t care what was going on anymore. He just wanted Jake Sterling to suffer.

He was only partially aware of the crowd surrounding them, their murmurs and chants nothing but a muffled whisper.

Yet the sound of Jake’s heavy breaths and winces rang loudly in his ears.

He was quick to note every subtle change in his posture. Every move he made. And the very moment he’d tossed his jacket to the ground, revealing arms reddened from bruises.

Jake suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Drew by his collar and pinning him to the lockers. Drew’s head jerked, the air forced from his lungs in a choked exhale.

And for a moment, Drew couldn’t breathe. His mind was spinning. He had to do something, but-

His eyes met Jake’s for a moment, yet there was no longer any life in eyes.

Suddenly, a blunt force hit Drew’s stomach, causing him to gag. He had to escape, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to get enough power for another punch from his position. So he did the next thing he thought of: he dug his nails into Jake’s skin, scratching him just above his brow. The blonde winced, his grip loosening for a second as he stumbled back, and Drew seized the opportunity to break away from him, placing a hand on his chest as he struggled to catch his breath.

And the second he finally did so, he was running at Jake once again, swinging at him again and hitting his eye. But Jake only faltered for a moment before grabbing Drew’s shoulders, slamming him to the floor.

Stars flooded his vision when his head smacked against the ground, his surroundings blurring together into a mess of dull colors.

Drew could feel Jake’s legs straddle his waist, preventing him from moving. He wasn’t strong enough to force Jake off of him either, no matter how much he fought against him.

There wasn’t anything Drew could do as he watched Jake draw his fist back, and-

…Drew could’ve sworn he heard something snap.

Pain erupted in the center of his face, and even something as simple as a breath burned.

He could feel blood dripping from his nose. He noticed some of it coating Jake’s knuckle.

Jake was about to punch him again when Drew noticed a pair of hands grab Jake by the arms, dragging him off as loud whistles began to blow. Another person, a security guard most likely, grabbed Drew as well.

Drew let out a wordless yell, struggling against the guards hold, desperate to get back to the fight.

But Drew noticed a flicker of light in Jake’s eyes for a moment, and Drew’s shaking breaths began to slow. His movements halted, and he allowed himself to just… stare. And take in the damage he’d done.

Jake’s eye was swollen, his arms and cheeks littered with bruises. Small scratches ran along his brow, bleeding ever so slightly.

Yet his eyes were no longer cold. They’d gone… almost glossy. And Drew couldn’t understand why.

“Jake!”

The familiar voice dragged Drew back to reality, and he tore his gaze from the blonde to see a familiar figure forcing her way through the crowds.

Her black eyes were wide, worry etched in her features as she tried to get to Jake.

And Drew could recall when he had once been in her place.

When he was the one who mattered.

When it was him, not her…

Not Hailey.

…Before he knew it, he was screaming again. An incoherent string of profanities and insults. Tearing into Jake’s insecurities, anything that would give him the last word in the fight.

The words burned on his tongue, but he couldn’t stop them for escaping.

And in the end, Drew cherished the broken look in Jake’s eyes as the words left his bleeding lips.

*+*+*

Drew winced as his fingertips grazed his nose again. Despite the nurse’s exasperated comments, Drew knew it must’ve been broken. Yet all he was given was some tissues and a measly ice pack before she left to tend to Jake.

The two had been dragged to the nurses office, and while Drew was left in the waiting room, Jake was taken to the infirmary room. Hailey had insisted on following, but she was eventually sent away.

Drew glanced down at his feet, despite the nurse telling him numerous times to keep his head elevated to stop the bleeding.

The fight replayed in his head over and over again. And even still, Drew couldn’t get over the lifeless look in his old friend’s eyes.

It was strange to think that a month ago, those same eyes would’ve looked at him with such warmth and care…

Drew glanced up when he heard Jake’s door open, and when the blonde walked past him, he noticed how red his eyes had gotten. They looked almost… watery. Drew averted his gaze, keeping it fixed the tiled flooring as he listened to Jake’s footsteps slowly fade. But before Drew could hear the door open, Jake paused.

“I think I’m done with you, too.” He whispered, his voice oddly unsteady. Drew glanced up at him, but the blonde was already gone. Leaving Drew alone in silence.

The words repeated in his mind. Then again, and again, and-

Drew realized he finally did it.

He finally burned the bridge between him and Jake. There’d be no going back now.

He’d gotten what he wanted…

So… why could feel his heart stop for a moment. Why was his throat growing tighter. Why couldn’t he breathe?

Drew finally tilted his head up, blinking a few times as he struggled to take in an even breath of air.

Why was this happening? This is what he wanted, wasn’t it?

Jake was finally gone…

❤️Two Friends💚

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Synopsis: Liam and Henry’s reaction to Drew and Jake’s fight.

A/N: HOLY SHIT HENRY APPEARANCE FINALLY!! HE’S HERE!!! Anyways if you were wondering why Liam and Henry didn’t butt into the fight like Hailey did, this is why lol. (Also if Drew comes across super irrational in this… good.) (And no, he doesn’t have a concussion. Just to clarify.) (Also, did I have Liam call out every single fanfic and Gacha video I saw of the Dromies post-Drakeup where Drew cries in the bathrooms? Maybe. Did I eat those videos up regardless? Absolutely.)

Contains Swearing, Mentions of Violence

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Liam bit the inside of his cheek as he opened his locker, dumping his folders in his backpack. His eyes glanced in the direction where Drew usually stood, but the magenta-haired man was gone once again.

He must’ve gone home early again… How long’s he planning on keeping this up?

His eyes turned their focus to Henry, only to find him staring blankly at the metal doors, fingers twisting his lock absent-mindedly.

He tilted his head slightly when he noticed Liam staring, and the taller man was quick to avert his gaze.

“Liam? You okay?” Henry asked, and Liam shook his head.

“Yeah- yeah, I’m fine.” He replied, earning a small pout from the shorter man. His eyebrows furrowed, and he opened his mouth to say something, only for a pair of students to rush past them. Liam’s eyes followed the two down the hallway, before exchanging a glance with the green-haired boy beside him.

What do you think that’s about? Liam wondered, and Henry, somehow reading his mind, shrugged.

“You wanna go check it out?” Henry suggested, and Liam nodded, following the shorter man down the hallway.

And it didn’t take long for Liam to faintly catch the sounds of shouting and chanting. Rounding the corner, he noticed a large crowd of students had gathered around, with several phones held high in the air, all focused on whatever was in the center of the misshapen circle. Liam’s eyes widened.

“I think it’s a fight, dude!” He exclaimed, and Henry’s face practically lit up with excitement.

“No way!” He shouted, and without hesitation, he bolted towards the crowd. Liam was quick to follow, pulling his phone from his pocket to hopefully get a video of it for himself.

But just as he was about to press record, his eyes caught a glimpse of the two students in the center of the chaos.

And his phone nearly slipped from his grasp as he watched a familiar head of magenta hair get slammed to the ground.

His eyes darted to Henry, and watched as his once-excited expression crumbled. His breath hitched, eyes blown wide he took a step back.

Then, something in his expression changed. His eyebrows twitched, and he shifted his weight from one leg to the other.

And Liam had known Henry long enough to realize what he was about to do.

Just as Henry’s foot left the floor, Liam slid his arms beneath his, holding him back from breaking through the crowd. Henry let out a grunt, struggling against Liam’s grasp.

“Let go of me!” He shouted, but Liam refused, tightening his hold as if his life depended on it.

“I’m not letting you run in there!!”

“I have to do something!!” Henry cried, his voice cracking on his words.

“You’re only gonna get yourself hurt, Henry!” Liam shouted, only for the sound of a whistle to pierce his ears.

Henry flinched at the noise, his hands instinctively covering his ears as Liam turned his head to see a couple security guards had finally showed up. He took a step back as they forced their way past, breaking through the crowd and pulling Jake and Drew off of each other.

Liam’s hold loosened on Henry, only to hear a sob escape from the shorter boy’s lips.

Immediately, Liam released his hold on him, and Henry was quick to hide his face in his hands.

And despite Drew’s screams flooding the hallway, Liam knew he had to get Henry out of there. Carefully, he took Henry’s arm into his hand, leading him away from the crowd. He had to find somewhere quiet. Somewhere secluded, where no one hanging behind after school could bother them.

“Uhm… not the bathroom, that’s too cliche…” He mumbled to himself, before eventually settling on the space underneath the staircase. Slowly, Liam let go of Henry’s arm, and Henry lowered his hands to reveal his now tear-stained face.

“I’m sorry.” He mumbled, using his sleeves to wipe them away. “I didn’t mean to-”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay.” Liam whispered, bringing his hands up to cup Henry’s face. Henry didn’t hesitate to lean into his touch, his eyes closing as Liam wiped away his remaining tears.

“I… I just don’t know how it all came to this… everything happened so fast.” Henry admitted, his voice trembling.

“I know.”

“How did-? Why were they..?”

“I don’t know.”

“This all has to be a misunderstanding, right? He- Jake hasn’t… secretly hated us this whole time, right? You don’t think he started it, do you?” Henry opened his eyes to look at him, and Liam could feel tears forming in the corners of his own. He placed a hand on the back of Henry’s head, pulling him closer as he hid his face in the shorter boy’s hair.

“I don’t know…” He could feel Henry shake his head.

“I’m not gonna accept this! There has to be a way to fix this! To fix us!

“…We’ll figure out something.” Liam whispered, his voice muffled by Henry’s hair. His grip tightened, trying to convince himself he was telling the truth. “I’ll try talking to Drew tonight.”

“Liam..?” Henry’s voice was barely above a whisper, and Liam waited a moment for him to say something, only for him to shake his head. “Thanks.”

*+*+*

After missing the bus, walking Henry home, being scolded by his mom and being given about double the chores because of it, Liam was finally able to return to his room. He threw himself into his old desk chair, spinning around as he opened Drew’s contact.

“I swear to God you better not play this ghosting shit with me again.” He mumbled to himself, pressing the call button and holding the phone to his ear.

He used his foot to spin himself around again as he listened to the phone ring, holding his breath as he waited for Drew to pick up.

But the call went to voicemail just a few moments later.

Liam sighed, hitting the call button again.

And the second voicemail message came much quicker. Drew must’ve declined this time.

Okay, third time’s the charm.

Another voicemail.

…Fourth time.

…

The ringing stopped rather abruptly, and a familiar voice rang through the phone.

“What do-”

“Okay, what the actual fuck happened just now?” Liam shouted, earning a tired groan from Drew. “Why the hell did you get into a fight?”

“Maybe you’d know if you were actually there.” Drew replied bitterly.

“Don’t give me that, Drew.” Liam’s voice cracked as he spoke. “I’m not in the mood to be joking right now.”

“It’s not a joke!” Drew suddenly snapped, and Liam’s eyes widened. “That freak had been there by his side! Where the hell were you?!”

“I was comforting Henry, dammit! He was crying because of all this shit!” Liam suddenly shouted, and Drew paused for a moment.

“…Henry was crying?” He asked.

“Yes! You think we like seeing you and Jake like-”Drew huffed out a laugh.

“Oh, of course, it’s always about Henry.” He muttered. “Henry always has to take priority, doesn’t he?” Liam paused for a moment, then blinked.

“…Are you fucking serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious! Because I’m getting real sick of this little game you’ve been playing! How you’ll pretend to care about me, and pretend like you don’t have any other motives, only to leave me the moment I actually need you!”

“Drew, are you hearing yourself?” Liam exclaimed. “What the hell are you talking about?!”

“Cut the act, Liam! You know exactly what I’m talking about! I know that Henry will always mean more to you than I ever will, so stop pretending you care about me when you’ll always choose him first!”

Liam could barely make sense of Drew’s words. How hard did he hit his head?!

“What do you want me to do?! You want me to just leave him like that?!” Liam shouted. “And why are you acting like I can’t have two friends, anyway?!”

“Because you don’t! Friends aren’t supposed to lie about fact their girlfriend’s cheating on them!”

Why’s he bringing this up now all of a sudden?! I thought he understood…

“Drew, I told you what she said she’d-”

“I don’t care what she said! I don’t want to hear it!” Drew was practically screaming now, his audio cutting in and out. “Just stop pretending like you care about me like you do him! Don’t-” Drew’s breath hitched, his words trailing off.

“Is that really what you think of me.?” Drew didn’t respond, and Liam swallowed. “Drew, I do-”

The phone beeped.

…

“Drew?” Liam asked, and he pulled the phone away from his ear to see Drew had hung up the call.

His eyes fixated on Drew’s contact, his grip tightening.

“Ugh, fuck!” He shouted to himself. “The hell is his problem?!”

Liam pressed his face into his palm, letting out a loud groan before calling up Henry. At least Henry would respond pretty quickly.

“So… how did it go?” Henry asked once he’d answered, and the sound of his voice alone was enough to help Liam calm down a little.

“…Not great.” Liam admitted. “He thinks we hate him now for some reason.”

“Why would he think we-”

“I don’t know?” Liam admitted, letting out a groan as he rested his head on his desk. “God, this whole thing’s really fucked him up…”

“Yeah…” The two were silent for a moment, and Liam lifted his head. “So… you never figured out why..?” Henry trailed off, but Liam knew exactly what he was going to say.

“No, I didn’t. He just yelled at me the whole time.” He explained. “God! He such-”

“An ass?” Henry guessed, taking the words right from Liam’s mouth.

“Yeah.”

“But you’re still worried about him?” Liam found himself nodding.

“Yeah. It’s like… trying to stick a nail in a steel wall or something.” Henry chuckled.

“Where’d you get that metaphor from?” Liam shrugged.

“I don’t know, I just came up with it.” He sighed.

“It’s like… I want to help him, but he’s such a dick sometimes!” Liam sighed. “And sometimes it’s even harder to want to help him. I don’t understand why he keeps getting mad at us over everything!”

“Yeah.”

“Like, why won’t he just let us help him?! It’s not that hard, is it?”

Liam sighed again, leaning back in his chair.

“Want to join me in Minecraft while we talk about this?” Henry offered, and Liam felt a small smile tug at his lips.

“Only if I can put my bed next to yours.”

❤️Bridges (Pt. 1)🖤

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Synopsis: Drew spends most of his time suspended ignoring phone calls and withering away on the floor, until a certain someone decides to show up at his doorstep in hopes of changing that.

A/N: It has been a hot minute since I’ve posted a Drew fic, so for anyone who’s kinda forgotten the timeline: Drew and Jake got into a fight resulting in the both of them being suspended. Drew keeps ignoring Liam anytime he tries to help and is only spiraling further. And fun fact! This is arguably the softer of the two fics! (I hope I portrayed Drew’s worries properly.)

Contains Swearing, Arguments.

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Unsurprisingly, Drew received a two-week suspension from school for his fight with Jake. Which honestly seemed more like a blessing than anything. He wouldn’t have to deal with anyone for a full week. He could finally just… do nothing.

Countless messages remained unanswered. Nights passed without an ounce of sleep. And it felt…

Well, he wanted to say nice, but it was hard to feel anything anymore. Anything positive, at least. All he felt was exhaustion.

He found himself on the floor one quiet evening, once again ignoring Liam’s messages as he watched a video someone had taken of his fight with Jake. He didn’t know who had posted it, nor did he bother to check how long it’d been up for. But, he found himself drawn to it, watching it over and over again, focusing on the same part every time: the moment he’d snapped.

His own voice rang through the phone, sounding almost scratchy due to the poor audio quality. But that wasn’t something he found himself paying much attention to.

Instead, his eyes were drawn to Jake, soaking in every detail of the blonde’s expression. The subtle twitch of his brow, the slight tremble of his bottom lip, the faint red hue tainting his eyes as they began to grow watery.

It didn’t make sense… Why did he look so hurt?

He deserved this… he deserved to hurt. He deserved to feel this betrayal… to feel even a fraction of Drew’s pain.

Yet Drew could feel knives digging deep into his chest, piercing his heart, his lungs. It was hard to breathe. It was hard to want to stay alive…

And every time he rewound the video, the knives twisted further. Yet some sick part of him wanted to keep watching… to keep enduring the pain…

He deserves this… He deserves this… Stop feeling guilty…

It’s not your fault.

Suddenly, Drew’s phone began to ring, and the sound startled him so badly he nearly dropped it on his face.

He took a breath to compose himself, before glancing up at his phone screen to find Liam’s contact photo staring back at him.

With another breath, Drew hit declined. He wasn’t sure how many times Liam had tried to reach out to him, yet Drew made sure he never got through.

You think he would’ve figured out I don’t want to talk to him right now. Drew thought, almost instinctively declining Liam’s second call.

But in typical Liam fashion, he called a third time, and a fourth time. And in typical Drew fashion, he declined every one, before eventually deciding to power off his phone all together, tossing it to the side and likely adding to the collection of cracks taking up his phone screen.

He let out a sigh, glancing up towards the sunroof to see a silver half-moon hanging high in the sky, partially obscured by dark grey clouds.

And as he watched them drift through the sky, he began to think back to the start of Junior Year. How different he was back then.

How he was once a person who couldn’t stand the idea of being alone, terrified of the silence that came with it. How he used to do everything in his power to escape it, chasing distraction after distraction like the pathetic coward he was.

And how a distraction was what ended up hurting him the most in the end…

…Maybe that’s why he stopped running from the silence. Because it was the only thing that could never hurt him.

It was constant. It would never leave him, no matter how much he ran. At first, he thought it was a curse. But maybe it was more of a blessing. In one form or another, it always came back…

And it’s not like I could ever hurt it either…

Drew shoved the thought to the back of his mind. Damn Jake. Why’d I let him put that stupid idea in my head?

Drew rolled onto his side, wondering if he should get off the floor now. He wasn’t exactly sure how long he’d been down there. Probably too long.

But something didn’t exactly feel right about sitting in bed right now either. It felt more… fitting, to stay here. On the cold, hard ground.

Drew nearly jumped when he heard the doorbell ring. What the hell?! Who’d be at the door this time of night?!

The doorbell rang again, and again, over and over, so many times, and Drew didn’t even need to get up to figure out who was at his door.

“Christ, I’m gonna kill myself.” He mumbled to himself, dragging himself off the floor. He made his way downstairs, pulling the door open to reveal none other than Liam himself. Figures.

“Hey-” Liam’s usual greeting was interrupted the moment Drew came into view, and his eyes briefly glanced him over. “Damn. How come you always look like shit when I come over?” Drew rolled his eyes, biting back a groan. Thanks for the reminder, idiot.

“I wasn’t exactly expecting you.” He remarked. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Have you even been outside? Like, at all?” Liam asked, completely ignoring Drew’s prior question.

“Why the fuck would I go outside?” He grumbled, dragging a hand down his face.

“Because it’s healthy? Or something like that?”

“Yeah, I think I’m good.”

“Well, what have you been doing?” Liam questioned, and Drew couldn’t think of an honest answer that didn’t sound insane.

“Liam, I’m really not in the mood for this today. Leave me alone.”

“You’re really just gonna send me away? After I drove all this way for you?”

“You drove 10 minutes-”

“15, actually.” Liam corrected, and Drew rolled his eyes again. He was about to reach for the doorknob and close the door, but before he could, Liam grabbed his wrist.

“Drew, please.” The shorter man blinked, surprised by the sudden desperation in Liam’s voice. Liam seemed a little taken aback himself, and he was quick to mask it with a soft chuckle. “Seriously, I…” He paused for a moment, as if unsure what to do. “It’s not healthy to stay in your room all day and not talk to anyone. It’s- it’s gonna drive you insane.”

Why do you care? Drew wanted to ask. The words were on the tip of his tongue, yet his lips remained sealed.

He could feel Liam’s thumb rub his wrist gently, and his deep crimson eyes looked up to meet Drew’s.

“How ‘bout we go on a walk?” He suggested, his voice regaining its usual cheerful tone.

“Really?” Liam nodded. “Do I get a choice?”

“Not at all! You go back inside, I’ll just throw rocks at your window, all Romeo and Juliet style.”

“Oh, God, please don’t.” Drew groaned, and Liam slid a little closer.

“I’ll even recite some love poems too. I’ll be on my knees crying ‘Oh Romeo! Where thou art Romeo?!’ And make it look super gay.” Drew pulled his hand away.

“Fucking gross.”

“Then put your shoes on! And- maybe grab a jacket, too. It’s pretty cold.”

“Fine. Give me like, 5 minutes.” Liam smiled, and settled himself down on the front step.

“Alright, Romeo!”

“Fucking kill yourself.” Drew mumbled, closing the door behind him before letting out a low sigh. Why does he always pull shit like this? He wondered, throwing on the pair of shoe he’d left by the door.

And why do I always go along with it?

Making his way over to the couch, Drew grabbed a jacket he’d left lying on the back, throwing it on and checking the pockets to find his keys still inside.

…Liam doesn’t care. He’s lying, remember? It’s all a lie…

…

Before Drew knew it, he was out the door again.

Liam was in the same position Drew had left him in, and he glanced up when he’d heard the door creak.

“That was fast.” The taller man commented. “Sure you got everything?”

“Yeah.” Drew replied, and Liam stood up.

“Awesome. Let’s go, then.” He said, motioning with his head for Drew to follow him.

“Where are we going?” He asked once they’d reached the sidewalk. Liam shrugged.

“Dunno. Wherever, I guess?” What did I expect?

Drew didn’t respond, instead following Liam down the street in relative silence.

And despite the time, the surroundings weren’t all that dark. Street lamps lined the sidewalks, providing a gentle glow for the two to follow. The half-moon shined brightly overhead, with only a few clouds dotting the sky.

The breeze was cool and gentle, and it felt nice against Drew’s cheek. Everything was quiet. Peaceful, almost.

But Drew couldn’t stop his mind from wandering.

Why is Liam doing this? After everything, he still won’t tell me what he wants. Does he… genuinely just want to help me?

…That’s what Jake had said, too. But Jake lied…

And Liam has Henry, so… why does he want me? If not to use me, too?

Drew shoved his hands in his pockets, his gaze drifting down to the sidewalk. And he suddenly realize Liam had yet to ask him about-

“So… how's it been, being suspended and all?” There it is. Drew shrugged.

“Fine, I guess? It’s been a nice break from everything.” Liam nodded.

“Have your parents found out yet?”

“If they have, they haven’t said anything.” He mumbled. “And even if they're mad, what are they gonna do? They’re out of town for another week.”

“Lucky.” Drew glanced up at him.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

“I mean, having your parents out of town all the time and being able to get away with whatever you want.” Drew bit the inside of his cheek.

“Yeah.”

“If I had that kind of power, I’d-” Liam paused. “Probably get arrested, honestly.”

“That’s because you’re an idiot.” Drew commented, and Liam elbowed him in his side.

“Ass.” Drew’s lips twitched slightly, a soft hint of a smile appearing on his face.

He’s lying. He doesn’t care about you.

A familiar frown tugged at Drew’s lips, and the two fell silent once more.

“…You picked a pretty good week to get suspended.” Liam said after a while. “Pretty much nothing’s been happening at school. Just a bunch of review and shit.” Drew nodded.

“It’s like, the opposite of the whole ‘only cool stuff happens when you’re absent’ thing. You know?” Liam added, and Drew shrugged.

“Maybe because I’m suspended, not absent.”

“Heh, true.”

He doesn’t care about you.

Liam’s pace slowed they passed beneath another street lamp, and he took a deep breath before coming to a halt.

“Okay, I can’t keep ignoring this.” He mumbled, and glanced over his shoulder to look back at Drew. “Can we please talk about it now?”

“…Talk about what?”

“You know what! The reason you were even suspended in the first place?” Drew blinked, before letting out a groan.

“That’s none of your business, Liam.” He stated, brushing past him and leaving him alone in the light.

“It absolutely is my business.” Liam claimed as he followed him. “You’re my friend, and Jake- well…” He thought for a moment. “Whatever. Point is, I saw the video, and I want to know what happened. What- what led up to that?” Drew thought a moment before he spoke.

“That freak thought he could try to use me again.” He answered. “He got what he deserved.”

“…Are you serious?” Drew turned to face him. “You can’t actually think that. I mean, you got way too personal towards the end there. Hell, half the shit you said even Henry and I didn’t know about. And now the whole school’s-

“Oh, so he’s allowed to break my trust, but I can’t break his?!” Drew snapped, taking note of the way Liam flinched. “He hurt all of us with his lies! And now, he’s paying the price for that.”

“I… guess. But still, it’s just- I don’t know.”

Liam slowed when the two came across a bridge, and he glanced down at the still waters below. He paused for a moment, before resting his arms along the railing.

“Don’t tell me you still care about him?” Drew ventured, leaning against the railing beside him.

“I don’t know, honestly. Henry keeps telling me how he thinks there’s more Jake isn’t telling us. Maybe there’s a chance he still-”

“Of course Henry’s still trying to be optimistic about this whole thing.” Drew mumbled. “Jake chose his side, he’s-”

“What is it with you and sides, Drew?” Drew stiffened at the question. “Seriously. You’re always talking about them, and you’re always acting like someone can’t have-”

“Would you want to be someone’s second pick?” He asked, and Liam thought for a moment.

“Better than third, right?”

“I’m being serious, Liam. If you're not first, you’re not important. You’re… replaceable.”

He’s gonna use this against you…

“You’ll never mean as much to them as someone else does. And then all you can do is watch as they chase after that person, that somehow did everything better than you ever could.”

Shut up. Shut up.

Drew’s nails dug into the fabric of his sleeves, only to feel Liam’s hand rest against his shoulder.

“Did… you ever try talking about this with Jake?” He asked, and Drew could feel his shoulders tense.

“I- what?! Liam, this has nothing to do with Jake-!”

“Oh, come on. This has everything to do with Jake! It’s obvious you miss him, too!”

Drew fell silent, and that ever-familiar flame began to flicker in his chest. Quickly, he smacked Liam’s hand away.

“Don’t assume shit about me!” He suddenly shouted, turning to face him. “I hate how you do that!”

“Then what am I supposed to do?!” Liam yelled back, which caught Drew off guard. “You don’t tell me anything, and you don’t ask me for anything so I’m left playing this stupid guessing game trying to figure out what you need! If you don’t want me to assume, Drew, just talk to me! Tell me what’s going on, or just- tell me what I can do to help! I want to help you!”

Liar. Liar. Liar. The smoke in his mind was growing heavy.

“I don’t want your help! I don’t want to talk to you about this! I’m fine!”

“For Luni’s sake, Drew! What are you so afraid of?!” He yelled. And Drew could feel his breath catch in his throat.

…What am I so afraid of..?

Drew took in a slow, shaky breath, his eyes finally meeting Liam’s.

“You know what I need, Liam? I need you, to take a fucking hint for once in your life and leave me the hell alone!”

Liam took a step back, but Drew moved closer,

“You think I like having my phone blown up 24/7?! You think I like it when you break into my house in the middle of the night and force me to go along with all your stupid ideas?! You keeping saying you want to help me, but all you do is drive me up a fucking wall!”

Crimson eyes glistened. Coffee eyes burned.

“All you fucking do is lie to me! You think I’m stupid or something?! You think I don’t see through your bullshit?! You already lied to me about Zoey, you lied about having my back and I wouldn’t be surprised if you lied about Jake this whole time, too! Because everyone fucking lies to me, and I know you’re no different. I know you’re nothing but a conniving little bitch who’s gonna leave me the second you get what you want, just like everyone else!!”

…Drew could feel his throat tighten, his eyes stinging from… something.

“So, if you want to something ‘helpful’ for once in your pathetic little life, you’ll stop pretending like you care about me, and you’ll finally leave me the fuck alone!!”

…Drew could barely breathe. His chest was heaving from how loudly he was yelling. Half the neighborhood must’ve been woken up from it. But Liam didn’t say anything, and his gaze dropped to his feet.

“Oh…” He whispered after a while, only to choke out a laugh. “I see, so… everything I ever did to try and help you… that meant nothing to you?”

Drew could feel the corners of his lips curve into a twisted smile. His eyes darkening as he took another step closer.

“It’s about time you got the hint!”

“Wow! Okay. Nice to know that-” He paused, and Drew finally caught glimpse of the tears forming in his eyes. “Nice to know that I’m nothing more than a ‘conniving bitch’ to you.”

And it felt as if a knife had pierced through his stomach, cutting through the flames and causing his heart to miss a beat.

“Liam-?”

“Sorry for trying to help you too much!” The taller shouted, before storming off in the opposite direction.

“Where do you think you’re going?!” Drew called, but Liam didn’t look back.

“I’m leaving!”

“And you’re just gonna leave your mom’s car in my driveway?!”

Liam stopped, before letting out a low sigh.

“Fuck.” He whispered, before turning back around.

“Don’t try to follow me.” He murmured as he passed Drew by, and the shorter scoffed.

“You’ve got to be insane if you think I’d want to see you at all after this! Just get the hell out of here, and stay the hell out of my life!”

And Liam didn’t respond.

💔Bridges (Pt. 2)🖤

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Synopsis: Drew ends up spiraling.

A/N: Okay, this draws a lot from my headcanons for Drew’s backstory. This one’s like really emo lol.

Contains Swearing, Suicidal Ideation

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Drew watched Liam storm off before turning back to the bridge, taking in a sharp breath of air. That ever-familiar flame flickered in his chest; the smoke filling his lungs.

Each breath he took was heavy; it didn’t feel like he was getting any air. His head was spinning. The flame needed an escape.

Without thinking, Drew slammed his fist into the concrete railing, only for pain to shoot up his arm. Quickly, his hand recoiled, drawing closer to his chest. Fuck! Fuck, why the hell did I do that?

He could feel more sparks ignite at his own stupidity. The sensation was almost painful. Why couldn’t he just calm down?

Drew placed his elbows on the railing, his hands tugging at his tangled hair. Breathe, dammit.

But his throat felt tight, and his mind was spinning with voices and-

Drew felt a drop of water land against his cheek, and he glanced up towards the sky, only to find it covered with clouds.

…You’ve got to be kidding me…

He felt another drop hit his forehead, followed by a few more, and-

“Oh, is this some sort of joke to you?!” Drew suddenly screamed. “Do you think this is funny-?!” Drew’s throat tightened, his breath caught in his throat. He could feel tears forming in the corners of his eyes again, and almost instinctively he buried his face in his hands.

You worthless fucking failure. Get it together.

His nails dug into his skin as he thought back to the teary look Liam had given him.

You’re not supposed to be upset. You did the right thing. Liam was a bitch, anyways. You’re better off.

Slowly, Drew lowered his hands, resting them against the railing as he managed a few slow breaths. The flame was finally dying.

…

You didn’t need Liam. You don’t need anyone…

“All you do is hurt people!” The blonde’s words suddenly echoed in Drew’s ear, and he let out a huff as he sat himself on the railing. His gaze fell to the black water below, his reflection faintly visible, yet distorted by the ripples along the surface.

It’s not my fault. He told himself. It’s not my fault Liam has to be a little bitch about everything.

You’re lying…

He lied! Him and Jake and Zoey and everyone else who pretended to care about me! It’s not my fault they’re all shit!

You should’ve seen it coming. You really think anyone could love you?

…I’m better off alone. I’ve always been better off alone.

“All you do is hurt people!”

Drew let out a sigh, his gaze drifting to his hands. Bruises littered his knuckles, and there was still a small scar along one of his fingers from when he’d broken that mirror all that time ago.

His finger traced the mark, as his mind began to drift back to that night Liam had held him so softly…

What if he wasn’t lying..?

No, he was. He had to be.

…

“…Why am I like this..?” He whispered to himself, before placing his hands behind him, his attention returning to the waters.

“All you do is hurt people!”

I don’t hurt everyone. It’s not my fault-

It’s all my fault.

Everyone lies. Everyone leaves.

I’m the reason everyone leaves.

“All you do is hurt people!”

Drew pushed himself closer to the railing’s edge, his eyes locked with his reflection beneath him.

I was just defending myself! It’s not my fault everyone takes things so personally! It’s not my fault if-

“All you do is hurt people!”

I don’t hurt everyone.

“All you do is hurt people!”

I’m not… trying to hurt everyone.

“All you do is hurt people!”

It’s not my-

“All you do is hurt people!”

…

…Everyone would be better off without me.

Drew allowed himself to lean closer, his grip on the railing being the only thing keeping him steady.

“Probably be better if I was just dead, huh? Wouldn’t have to deal with all this bullshit if I was.”

Drew opened his eyes.

“Probably be better if I was just dead…”

His grip loosened slightly. He could hear his heart pounding, drowning out the sound of the rain.

…What use am I alive, anyways?

No one will miss me, not anymore, anyways.

…And it’s all my fault.

And Drew allowed himself to imagine it: falling over the edge, into the dark river. He imagined being swept away by the current, water filling his lungs and numbing his senses. How wonderful it’d feel to slowly lose consciousness, and simply drift away like the clouds in the sky…

“…All I do is hurt people, anyways...”

…

He released his grip from the railing, and his body fell forward.

But the sudden movement sent adrenaline coursing through his body. Instinctively, his hands grabbed the railing again, holding him steady.

His breath caught in his throat. His chest was tight. His heart was racing, but his head had finally gone quiet.

…For a split moment, everything was still.

…What did I just..?

…

Quickly, Drew hopped down from the railing, landing in a puddle beneath him. The splash alone was enough to make him flinch.

God, I didn’t actually just try to-

He swallowed, and pressed his back against the railing as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

And it’s not like I would’ve died if I fell, anyways. I mean, I probably wouldn’t have…

He pressed his palm against his forehead, taking a breath.

God, I shouldn’t even be thinking about this! I’m not supposed to be thinking like this! I’m not fucking depressed!

Drew shook his head, forcing the thoughts to the back of his mind as he glanced towards the rain-slicked path.

…He would’ve gone home by now, right?

After a moment of consideration, Drew decided to take the path back to his house, keeping his gaze firmly on the ground as he desperately tried to block out the screaming voices in his mind.

*+*+*

When Drew finally reached his house, he noticed the driveway was empty again. Thank God he’s gone…

And the first thing he did was return to his bedroom, throwing off his rain-soaked shoes and tugging off his jacket.

He made his way to his closet, pulling off his dirty clothes and throwing on a clean pair before collapsing onto his bed.

He didn’t care that his hair was still dripping wet. He could always wash it tomorrow.

He buried himself under blankets, and brought a pillow close to his chest, using it to hide his face.

But the moment he closed his eyes, he was met with the faces of those who lied to him.

The faces of those he hurt..

He opened his eyes again, but there was nowhere safe he could look. Every corner of his room had been tainted with their memory. Every surface tarnished with their presence. It was suffocating; realizing how much they’d impacted his life. How much he allowed them to…

How deeply he fell for their smiles, their voices, their lies.

Now he was left with the ghost of them, reminding him of what he’d once had. Of what he’d once believed…

And suddenly, Drew was back. Back to being the boy he was in Elementary School. The boy who’d lash out at anyone who came close. The boy who’d lock himself away in his room when he came home, knowing there’d be no embrace to greet him. The boy who couldn’t make a friend to save his life. The boy who’s own parents couldn’t be bothered to stay around…

The boy no one else wanted…

His grip on his pillow tightened, his nails scratching the light grey cover.

Eventually, his gaze drifted to his hands. His cold, bruised-up hands, that only seemed to push others away…

And Drew’s mind drifted back to the bridge, and he began to wonder what would’ve happened had he allowed himself to succumb to those cold, black waters…

🍃Elm Tree (Part One)🍃

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Synopsis: 5 times Dominic felt something more for Elliot, and 1 time he realized someone else felt the same.

A/N: I don’t know why I did this. I just really like Dom’s character, and wanted to write something with him, which, of course, resulted in romance. A lot of this will likely become outdated considering Dominic and Faye only have about 5 minutes of actual screen-time, but I don’t care. I want to get more people talking about him. (Also, this is my first time writing a 5+1 fic, so I hope it turned out okay.)

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“Surprised you’ve never done this before, Ellie.” Dominic commented, fingers weaving thin flower stems together in the beginnings of a flower crown.

The Gardening Club had wrapped up their usual activities almost an hour early, and since no one else had anything better to do, Dom and Faye suggested the four make flower crowns together. However, Bradley and Elliot had almost no experience in the matter, so the twins decided to take it upon themselves to teach them. And while Faye took Bradley to the opposite end of the garden to look for ‘nicer’ flowers, Dom and Elliot stayed close to the marigolds, sitting down near the flower beds to start working on their own crowns.

“I’m… not really good with more detailed tasks like this…” Elliot answered, as if the shakiness of his hands didn’t already make that clear.

“That’s okay. You just need practice, that’s all.” Dom replied. “I mean, my first flower crown was far from perfect. It practically fell apart the moment I put it on. Faye wouldn’t stop teasing me about it for weeks.”

“How long have you been making them for?” Elliot asked, and Dom shrugged.

“Long time now. Faye taught me when we were younger. She was obsessed with fairies back then. Always had to run around the house wearing one.” He trailed off for a moment, picking another flower to add to the ring he’d created. “I don’t make them as much anymore. But it’s still pretty fun.”

“I see.”

The two fell silent for a while; Dom only glancing up on occasion to provide assistance when needed. But eventually, Dom completed his crown. Record time, too.

“Viola!” Dom exclaimed, holding it out to show off. Elliot’s eyes widened.

“W-wow! That was fast!” He said, and Dom shrugged, a small smirk appearing on his face.

“What can I say? I’m just a natural! He bragged, before leaning a little closer to Elliot. “How’s yours going?” He asked.

“Good, I think. Just need to-” Just as Elliot lifted his fingers from the stems, the knot he’d made came completely undone. The flowers fell into his lap, and for a split moment, it looked as if he was about to cry. “…Nevermind.”

“Heh, hey, it’s alright. It happens sometimes.” Dom said. He gave him a reassuring smile, but Elliot refused to lift his head.

“…Sorry I’m so bad at this.” He mumbled.

“Ellie. It’s your first time. Go a little easy on yourself.” Dom stated, setting his flower crown to the side as he scooted a little closer. “I’ll walk you through it a little slower this time.” Elliot nodded, opening his mouth to say something, but ultimately deciding against it. Instead, he gathered up the flowers that had fallen into his lap, recreating the first step Dom had showed him.

Perhaps Dom should’ve done this from the beginning, instead of just telling Elliot what to do and expecting him to follow an example three steps ahead. Although this method was a lot slower, Elliot seemed to understand a lot better. And Dom was having just as much fun as he was before. Although, that was probably just because he was spending time with Elliot. Elliot was always good company.

After a while, Elliot finally managed to complete his flower crown. It was a little thin, and a little misshapen, but it certainly was a crown.

“Did I do it?” Elliot asked, holding it out to him. Dom grinned.

“Yeah you did! Look at you!” Elliot hummed in response, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Mind if I try it on?”

“Uhm, s-sure.” He agreed, and Dom carefully took the crown from him, placing it on top of his head to see if it’d hold. And sure enough, it did.

“Hey! It held! Good job!” Dom cheered, holding up his hand for a high five. Hesitantly, Elliot tapped his hand to his, giving him what was possibly the most gentle high-five in all of history.

“Oh, here! Try mine on!” Dom said, taking the flower crown he made earlier and motioning for Elliot to lower his head, placing the crown on his head once he’d done so.

Dom leaned back to view his work, and Elliot lifted his head, fixing his hair while his eyes remained on his lap. And perhaps that was for the best, because in that moment, Dom had a realization:

Elliot’s… really pretty…

The flower crown fit him perfectly, complimenting his gentle features beautifully. And suddenly, Dom was starting to feel a little warm.

“…H-how’s it look?” Elliot asked, which snapped Dom out of… whatever that was.

“Uh- oh, yeah! You- It look great, Ellie!” Dom said, giving him a thumbs-up and a smile.

“Thanks.”

“Yeah, ‘course!”

…The two fell silent for a moment, and Dom quickly became aware of how fast his heart had started beating.

“Uhm! Hey! Wanna go see how Faye and Brad are doing?” He asked.

“Oh, sure!” Elliot agreed, fixing his glasses slightly. “L-Let’s go!”

…Well, that was a little strange.

*+*+*

“Come on, come on! You’ve just gotta meet Bitsy!” Faye exclaimed, reaching out for Elliot’s hand and practically dragging the poor gardening boy inside their house.

This was the first time Elliot was coming over to their place. And immediately, Faye was trying to introduce him to her beloved obsession. No proper introduction. No tours, no common courtesy, only Bitsy.

What a great first impression.

“O-oh, uhm, okay!” Elliot agreed, giving a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes as he allowed her to guide them through the house. Dom followed closely behind, taking it upon himself to ensure this hangout wouldn’t end in complete disaster. Club meetings would be a lot more awkward, otherwise…

Faye pushed open the door to their shared room, revealing a basic, albeit messy bedroom setup. There was a bunk bed against the left wall, with pale orange bedsheets and pillows. The bottom bed was left somewhat made, and was covered in various spider plushies of different sizes and colors. Meanwhile, the top bunk was a complete disaster. Pillows and blankets scattered around haphazardly with clothes hanging over the edge and a massive squirrel Squishmallow sitting in the corner.

There was a closet and desk against the back wall, and to the right was a rather large spider enclosure, which was very tidy and well-taken care of. Probably the only thing about the room that could be described as tidy. The rest was a mess, with clothes and shoes scattered across the floor and clutter taking up almost every surface.

The only somewhat saving grace was the golden fairy lights strung up around the place. Made it look a little more whimsical, and not so much like a disaster.

“Lemme go get her!” Faye said, making her way over to Bitsy’s enclosure. Dom, meanwhile, stood beside Elliot, crossing his arms as he bit the inside of his cheek.

“…You sure you wanna do this?” He asked. “You don’t have to-”

“No, no, I do- I mean-” Elliot took a quick breath. “I want to. A-And besides! It’s just a spider. How scary can it- oh fudge…”

Elliot’s voice trailed off as Faye turned around, revealing a small tarantula cradled in her hands.

“Tada! Here she is! Isn’t she just adorable?”

Dom turned to see Elliot’s reaction, only to watch as the color drained from his face. His body went rigid, chest completely still. If it weren’t for the fact he was still standing, Dom would’ve assumed he died right then and there.

“Y-yeah. C-cute…” Elliot managed, his bottom lip trembling. Faye lowered her hands, tilting her head as a frown overtook her expression.

“Are… you alright, Elliot? You look-” Before she could finish, Bitsy leaped from her palms, landing just beside Elliot’s feet.

And Elliot shrieked, reaching a pitch Dom didn’t even know was possible.

And before Dom could even process what was happening, he felt a pair of arms wrap around his shoulders, pulling him closer and squeezing him tight.

And he glanced over to see Elliot, with his eyes blown wide as he stared Bitsy down.

His arms tightened further, and Dom could barely breathe. It was easy to forget how strong Elliot was, considering his quiet and gentle demeanor.

Dom opened his mouth to say something, but before he could even get the words out, the scent of lavender and sage hit the back of his throat. Elliot’s shampoo, maybe? He wasn’t quite sure, but his head was starting to get a little fuzzy. They were so close right now, closer than they’d ever been before…

He could feel Elliot’s heart pounding in his chest, and the slight shakiness of his arms. Why was Dom still standing there? Why wasn’t he doing anything? Why did everything feel so warm?

“Ah, Bitsy!” Faye cried, and suddenly, time was moving again. Bitsy was scurrying out of the room and Faye was in pursuit, chasing her down the hallway.

And Elliot was still clinging to him. Still shaking and barely breathing.

“Uhm…” Dom managed. “Ellie?”

It took a moment for Elliot to respond. He blinked once, twice, then gasped, quickly throwing himself off of him.

And Dom tried not to think about the sudden absence of warmth he felt.

“Dominic! I-I- oh my gosh, I am so so sorry! I-I don’t know- I didn’t-” Elliot’s face was getting redder with every word. He buried his face in his hands, mumbling incoherent apologies.

“Hey, hey! It’s fine!” Dom said, waving his hands in front of him. “I get it. I- uhm…” Dom cleared his throat. “You- you wanna talk in the kitchen? So you don’t… you know? Have to see Bitsy when Faye gets back?” Elliot opened his mouth, then closed it, giving a simple nod in response. With a quick motion of his head, Dom led the way.

“Sorry she lunged at you like that. Bitsy doesn’t… usually do that.” Elliot shook his head.

“I-I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I-It’s just a spider. And… and it’s not like they’re poisonous, r-right?” Dom scratched the back of his head.

“Well, they are venomous-” Elliot shuttered. “-But their venom isn’t deadly!” He quickly finished. “And Bitsy’s never bitten anyone before, so it’s not like she would have hurt you at all. She’s honestly pretty friendly. Well- as friendly as a spider can be.”

The two arrived in the kitchen, and Dom pulled out a chair from the dinner table for Elliot. It took a moment for him to register the seat was in fact intended for him, and he gave a quiet ‘thank you’ before sitting down. Dom nodded in response, taking a seat beside him and resting his elbows against the table.

“I… didn’t make you uncomfortable, did I?” Elliot asked slowly, averting his gaze as he tugged at the hem of his shirt.

“No! Not at all!” Dom assured him. He gave him a warm smile, but Elliot refused to look up.

“Hey, don’t worry about it.” He said, his gaze softening as he rested a hand against Elliot’s arm. And he tried not to think too hard about the closeness the two had shared. Tried even harder not to question why he liked it so much.

“We all have things we’re scared of.” He continued, then paused, debating his next words carefully. Slowly, he took a breath. “I’m… still kinda afraid of the dark, if that makes you feel any better.”

“Really?” Elliot asked, finally glancing up to look at him. And Dom swallowed. He hadn’t really told anyone other than Faye before.

“Y-yeah. I still have a night-light in my room and everything.” He admitted, scratching the back of his head with a chuckle.

“Oh, me too!” Elliot said, and Dom’s eyes widened slightly. “But, it’s mostly just so I don’t trip over my nightstand in the middle of the night. Heh…” Dom laughed. Was he even supposed to be laughing right now? The fuzziness still hadn’t fully left his head just yet.

“I still manage to trip over all kinds of stuff with mine.” He joked. And now Elliot was laughing, drawing a hand over his mouth to obscure his smile. And a part of Dom so desperately wished that hand wasn’t there…

He found himself staring. Caught in that same trance he’d been in earlier, watching as Elliot’s laughter slowly faded and he took a moment to fix his glasses before finally meeting Dom’s gaze.

And their eyes met for a moment.

“Uhm… Dominic?”

Dom blinked, sitting up slightly. Crap! Uh- words! Words! Something!

“…Wanna go meet my gerbils?”

*+*+*

“Come on, Ellie! We’re almost there!” Dom exclaimed, pushing tree branches aside to allow him and Elliot through. It was a warm, Sunday afternoon. The perfect day for Dom and Faye to bring Elliot to the duck pond with them. This would be the first time anyone else had tagged along with them, and Dom found himself almost giddy with excitement. He never had the opportunity to introduce someone else to the ducks before. He couldn’t wait to ramble about them.

“That’s the third time you’ve said that, Dom.” Faye suddenly piped up. She was a little further ahead of them, having memorized the path after countless journeys. She had a bag of frozen peas tucked under her arm; the usual snack they brought for the ducks. Due to Dom’s tendency to ‘over-feed’ them, she insisted on carrying it.

“Well, sorry for being excited. Why do you have be such a kill-joy?” Faye only shook her head in response, before continuing down the path.

And after a few more minutes of walking, Dom could finally hear the sound of the splashing water. The ducks must’ve already been there.

Dom could barely contain his excitement. He loved ducks. And now, he was finally able to share that love with Elliot.

The three took a right, and the lake finally came into view. Just as Dom suspected, several ducks had gathered nearby. Dom couldn’t help but smile.

“There they are! Come on!” Without even thinking, Dom slid his hand into Elliot’s, whisking past Faye and heading straight for the ducks. And surprisingly, none of them swam off.

“Looks like the gang’s all here!” Dom said as they reached the ledge. “There’s Bernard, that’s Walter the II, over there’s Loaf-” Dom continued down the list, pointing out each duck as Faye opened the bag of peas, causing all the ducks to swim a little closer. However, as his list came to an end, he soon realized something.

Someone’s missing…

“…How do you tell them all apart?” Elliot asked, and Faye laughed.

“It’s easy, silly! They all have different feather markings! See, take Bernard and Walter for example. Bernard’s head’s a little darker than Walter’s. Oh! And his tail has a little bit more black in it, too!”

“…Hmm.”

“Hey, Faye?” Dom asked, turning to see her toss a handful of peas into the water.

“Yeah?”

“You see Matilda anywhere?” He asked, and Faye glanced over the ducks that had gathered.

“Hm… no I don’t. That’s weird.” Dom nodded, before leaning a little closer to Elliot.

“Don’t tell the other ducks, but I think Matilda’s my favorite.” He whispered. “She is the roundest bird I’ve ever seen. Rotund, even. She’s always fighting the other ducks for peas. I’m surprised she’s not out here…” Dom placed a finger against his chin, reaching into the pea bag and tossing another handful in, watching as the ducks scrambled to scarf them down. “She had babies about a month ago, though. Maybe that’s why she’s not out here?”

Elliot nodded, slowly reaching into the bag and tossing a few peas in the water as well.

“I’m guessing you guys come here pretty often, huh?” He asked, and Dom nodded.

“Oh, we’ve been coming here for years now. I don’t even remember when it started. I think we just stumbled across this place when we were younger, and just kinda… turned feeding them into a routine.” Dom tossed a couple more peas into the water, and Elliot did the same, smiling softly as he watched them splash around in the water.

Eventually, the three decided to settle on the ledge, taking turns tossing peas into the water.

And a gentle breeze had picked up after a while, bringing with it the faint scent of pine. Dom watched as it whisked past him, dancing through Elliot’s hair before carrying on with its journey.

And Elliot smiled to himself, running a hand through his soft pink locks to smooth them back down.

…And Dom found himself staring. Admiring the way Elliot looked beneath the dappled sunlight. The subtle blush to his cheeks, the warmth in his eyes. And that familiar, fuzzy feeling returned to him, filling his chest with a warmth not even the sun could replicate.

…In that exact moment, everything was perfect.

Because he was doing something he loved, and he was sharing it with the people he was closest to: his sister, and his best friend.

…Could he even call Elliot his best friend? Or was it too soon to do so? Him and Elliot had only known each other for about a months or so, but somehow, it felt almost longer than that. He couldn’t really explain it, but it felt like Elliot was someone he’d always known. Someone he could always turn to.

Maybe Dom just wasn’t too familiar with friendships. He couldn’t say he had many friends outside of Faye, much less close ones. Likely due to his habit of going on completely unrelated tangents regarding his interests.

But Elliot was different than anyone he’d met before. Because unlike most people, who tuned out his words and only nodded along out of common courtesy, Elliot actually listened to him. He’d ask questions. He’d express interest. And it was refreshing, to finally be seen and understood by someone other than his sister. Perhaps that was why he felt so close to him…

Regardless, Dom was happy to be with him. And that was all that mattered.

“Hey, there’s another duck over there…” Elliot commented, finally pulling Dom out of his trance. He turned to where Elliot was pointing, only to see a large brown duck swimming towards them, with three little ducklings in tow.

“Matilda!” Dom shouted, and without warning, he shot up, running over to greet her.

But one misstep was all it took for the rocks to slide out from under him, knocking him off his balance and sending him tumbling into the water.

“Dominic!”

Dom landed on his hands and knees with a splash, cold water soaking through his clothes and leaving him shocked. The ducks made a bit of commotion, but none flew off.

Faye suddenly burst out laughing, and Dom groaned, sitting himself upright.

“Are you alright?” Dom glanced over his shoulder to see Elliot running over to him, bending down and extending him a hand.

And the way the light practically framed his silhouette looked-

“Oh, yeah- yeah, I’m fine.” Dom responded, taking his hand and allowing himself to be pulled from the water. “Just a bit soggy now.”

“I’m… honestly surprised it wasn’t that deep. Thank- thank goodness for that, right?” Dom nodded, and Elliot let go of his hand.

“You’re never going to learn, are you?” Faye asked as she made her way over. Dom crossed his arms.

“Oh, shut up.” He mumbled with a huff. Faye chuckled, before leaning a little closer to Elliot, covering her mouth with her hand.

“He has about a 50% chance of falling into this pond every time we come here.” She told him, and Dom could feel himself flush slightly. “He’s a bit stupid.”

“Um! I am right here!” He yelled. “And it’s not my fault the rocks like to be so unstable around the ledge!”

“Maybe just don’t walk about the ledge then, genius!”

“But then I don’t get to see the ducks as well!”

“Then get your dang eyes checked!”

“Pay to have them puff air into my eyes? Hah, not a chance!” Faye rolled her eyes.

“Then get used to falling into ponds, stupid.” She retorted, and Dom stuck his tongue out in response, tugging off his orange sweater to reveal a plain white t-shirt underneath. Obviously, it wasn’t any dryer, but at least it wasn’t as heavy. After squeezing a bit of the water out, Dom tied it around his waist, glancing up when he heard Faye sigh.

“I’ll take that as our sign to start heading back.” She said, rolling up the bag of peas.

“What?!” Dom cried. “But Matilda just got-!”

“Wet. Socks.”

…Great, now that was all he could focus on.

“Mmm… ugh, Faye! Why’d you have to point it out?!”

“Because you can’t stay in wet clothes all day. Besides, if we feed the ducks anymore, they’ll get as fat as Matilda!” Dom groaned, before letting out a sigh of defeat.

“Fiiiine. Let me just… say goodbye real quick.” And before she had a chance to even respond, Dom snatched the peas from her, running back to the water.

“Dominic!”

He tossed a heaping handful of peas in Matilda’s direction. And if other ducks happened to steal a few… well, he couldn’t help that.

“Goodbye, everyone!” He called, giving them a wave. “I’ll see you all soon!” The ducks quacked in response, and Dom liked to imagine they were saying goodbye as well.

He turned back to see Faye glaring at him, taking back the bag of peas from him before leading the way back home.

…

And the first thing Dominic did when the three got home was shower, changing into an old pair of sweats before joining Elliot and Faye in the living room. He threw himself on the couch just beside Elliot, bundling himself under the blankets they’d gathered and making himself just as comfortable. The three talked for a while, before eventually deciding to watch a bunch of old Disney movies that Dom and Faye had on DVD. The first of which being Cinderella. The disk was a little scratched due to it’s age, so some scenes were a little glitchy, but Elliot didn’t seem to mind much, saying nothing as he sank a little further into the couch.

And Dom found himself leaning against Elliot’s arm after a while, finding comfort in his warmth. There was that soft, fuzzy feeling blooming in his chest again; it’d grown to be quite familiar now.

Everything felt so serene. The dim lighting, the soft audio coming from the TV, the faint buzz of the AC, the warmth of heavy blankets being shared...

And the last scene he could remember was the Prince’s waltz with Cinderella. The gentle serenade regarding the idea of love lulling him into a peaceful sleep.

🍃Elm Tree (Part Two)🍃

*+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+

Synopsis: 5 times Dominic felt something more for Elliot, and 1 time he realized someone else felt the same.

A/N: I just realized I haven’t had to use any content warning for this fic. I didn’t even realize how often I write characters swearing until this one. But despite how fluffy and wholesome this fic has been, I still don’t believe in happy endings. So good luck, Dom. I have two sequels for you in the works.

*+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+ *+

“…How did you trip into the rose bushes, Dom?” Elliot asked, holding Dom’s sleeve as he lead them back to the greenhouse.

And in all honesty, Dom didn’t really know either. One moment, he was yelling to Faye from across the garden, and the next, he was tripping over a watering can and stumbling straight into the roses. Luckily, none of the flowers had gotten damaged, but Dom’s face was left covered in scratches.

Bradley had been the first to notice him stranded, and was quick to free him from the thorn’s clutches. Faye, meanwhile, left to get Elliot, thus leading to the situation Dom currently found himself in.

“I think our watering cans are haunted.” Dom eventually answered. And Elliot blinked, looking back at him with wide eyes.

“Huh?”

“It came outta nowhere Ellie! Think it has it out for me.”

“…Why would the watering can have it out for you?” Elliot questioned, and Dom shrugged, crossing his arms as he followed Elliot inside the greenhouse.

“Ask the watering can.” He said, earning a small chuckle from the pink-haired boy as he made his way over to the wooden table pressed against the wall. After clearing some space, he turned his head back to face him.

“Come here.” He said softly. And Dom tried not to think about the butterflies suddenly swarming his stomach.

He sat down on the table just as Elliot instructed, and watched as the taller boy reached into a small box underneath, pulling out a familiar med-kit. Dom lost count of how many times Elliot must’ve used it on him.

He placed the kit on the table, opening it and pulling out a small pack of disinfecting wipes. Dom could already imagine the sting they’d bring, and instinctively, his grip on the table tightened.

“Hey uhm… is that really necessary this time? I mean, it’s only a few scratches-”

“It’s always necessary.” Elliot interrupted him. “They could get infected otherwise.”

“Mmm…” Dom hummed, glancing down at his feet.

“It’ll be okay. I’ll try to be quick.” Elliot assured him. He rested a hand against Dom’s arm, and Dom couldn’t help but smile at the feeling.

But the moment he felt the cold burn of the alcohol wipes, he recoiled, letting out a hiss of pain.

“Sorry!” Elliot squeaked, his voice cracking slightly on his words.

“You're good! You're good.” Dom managed, nails scraping the wood. “Just… get it over with.” Elliot nodded, and Dom closed his eyes, biting down on his lip to suppress small winces as Elliot cleaned off the rest. Dom wasn’t sure how many times he’d been through this process. It never got any easier, but at least it got a little quicker.

Eventually, Elliot pulled away, and Dom finally opened his eyes.

“Okay… I’ll just cover the bigger scratches.” Elliot whispered to himself, opening up a small box of band-aids as Dom found himself staring again. He wasn’t sure when it became so common of him to admire Elliot’s features like this, but he decided not to question it.

So instead, he focused on Elliot. On the way certain strands of his hair would curl more than others. On the way his brows furrowed slightly as he concentrated. On the way his brown eyes squinted and his lips pursed ever so slightly. On the way the sunlight danced along rosy cheeks, painting him in a gentle golden glow. It was… almost ethereal…

Ethereal… was that a word people used to describe their friends?

“There you go.” Elliot’s voice snapped Dom out of his trance, suddenly realizing that Elliot had already finished bandaging him. “You’re good to go now.” He said, giving Dom that same beautiful smile he’d grown so fond of. And Dom returned the expression, leaning forward and sliding off the table.

“Thanks, Ellie! I appreciate it!”

“My pleasure! Just… be more careful around the rose bushes, alright?” Dom chuckled, giving a small salute.

“I’ll try my best, Prez!”

*+*+*

“Alright, I think that’s everything. Thanks for staying so late, guys.” Dom let out a sigh at Elliot’s dismissal, leaning his head back to see the sky. It was a soft shade of yellow, indicating the sun would be setting soon.

To say it’d been a long day would be an understatement. Club was supposed to end almost an hour ago, but due to the changing seasons, there was a lot more work to be done. Hence, the additional hour spent in the gardens.

Not that Dom was complaining at all. He loved working in the garden. But what he didn’t love was having sore limbs and a shirt soaked with sweat afterwards.

“You okay, Dom?” Elliot asked. Dom whipped his head forward, brushing the hair from his eyes as he turned to face him.

The club president didn’t look any better than he must’ve His pale pink hair was messy, bangs damp with sweat and clinging to his forehead. There was a little dirt on his cheeks, and his glasses were a bit smudged, too. His usual brown sweater was tied around his waist, leaving him in a dirty white button-up, with the collar loosened and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

…How did he still manage to look so beautiful?

“Yeah, I’m good!” Dom responded, giving a thumbs up for good measure. “Oh, you got a little dirt on your face, by the way.” Elliot tilted his head, and Dom pointed at the spot on his own cheek. With a small nod, Elliot wiped at the spot with the back of his glove, but that only seemed to smear a little more dirt on his face in the process.

“Did I get it?” He asked, and Dom chuckled, shaking his head.

“Not even close.” He answered, before pulling off his own gardening gloves and stuffing them into his pocket. “Here, lemme get it.”

Dom closed the space between them, resting a hand against Elliot’s cheek as he carefully thumbed away the dirt that had gathered there.

And for some reason, Dom decided to glance into Elliot’s eyes. And once again, he found himself getting lost in them.

His hands lingered even after he’d gotten the dirt off, and he found himself in what felt like another trance.

That soft, warm feeling of fuzz came drifting back to him, making his whole head feel a little cloudy. It was so weird how a feeling he’d never once experienced before had become so common around Elliot…

And the feeling only seemed to grow stronger when the two were close like this. Close enough for Dom to admire every feature. To note every subtle mark and crease along his skin. To feel his breath, and to wonder what his soft, thin lips would feel like against his-

…

“Dominic?”

Dom could feel his heart skip a beat, his breath catching in his throat.

And suddenly, his whole world tilted. The warmth, the fuzziness, the butterflies, the nervousness, the excitement…

Everything had shifted into place. It all made sense now.

…He liked Elliot.

…He wanted to choke.

Quickly, Dom pushed Elliot away, his hands resting on the taller boy’s shoulders as he took in a quick breath. How long have I just been standing here?!

“Are… you okay, Dom?” Elliot asked, and Dom forced his gaze to the ground.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” He mumbled. “You’re really cute-” He shut his mouth.

“…What?”

“What?”

The blood was rushing to Dom’s face, and he wasn’t sure if he was about to have a heart attack, or pass out from heatstroke. Either way, he had to get out of there.

He finally took his hands off Elliot’s shoulders, placing them awkwardly on his hips.

“Uhm! D-did you hear that? I think Faye’s calling me.”

“No I’m not.” Dom flinched. He didn’t realize Faye was right behind him. He turned his head around slowly, his brain frantically trying to figure out something for him to say.

“…Yes you were!” He managed. “In your mind!” He pointed to his temple. “Remember? Twin telepathy?” Faye’s eyes narrowed.

“I wasn’t even-”

“You were just thinking about how it’s time for us to head home. And I agree! We don’t want to miss the next bus, do we?” Before Faye could respond, Dom grabbed her by the shoulders, practically shoving her towards the garden entrance.

“-Hey!” She shouted. Dom ignored her, and glanced back over his shoulder to Elliot, giving him a smile he prayed looked natural enough.

“Cya, Ellie! Say bye to Brad for us!” Elliot frowned, but didn’t say anything, giving the two a hesitant wave.

Dom turned back around, his smile falling almost immediately. The moment the two were out of the gardens, he let out a defeated sigh.

“What the heck was that about?!” Faye snapped, and Dom didn’t answer, simply resting his head on her shoulder in a pathetic attempt to hide from the world. “Dom?”

Dom took a slow breath.

“Can I ask you something?” He whispered.

“Yeah?”

“…Can you feed me to Bitsy when we get home?”

“…What?”

“I need you to feed me to Bitsy. Immediately.”

“Why would I even do that?” She asked.

“Because, Faye. Think of all the money you’d save on buying crickets! I’d be good for a couple months, I bet!”

“You’d only make Bitsy sick! Now what is going on with you?” She asked, and Dom sighed again, finally lifting his head from her shoulder.

And he considered telling her what had happened. He always told her everything, afterall. But he was quick to realize how little that would actually help with anything. Faye was possibly the worst person to go to for romantic advice, considering how little the topic actually interested her. In all honesty, he’d have better luck talking to Bradley about this. And Bradley couldn’t even look at a girl without freezing up.

Not only that, but Dom didn’t even know if this was a crush or not. It felt like one, but… what if it wasn’t? What if this was just… some sort of phase?”

“Dom?” She asked. And Dom suddenly realized he’d zoned out again. Crap. What do I say?

He thought for a moment longer, before finally answering.

“…I made a total idiot outta myself in front of Elliot. Felt like I was gonna die.” Faye stifled a laugh.

“Of course you did. When do you not make an idiot out of yourself?” She mumbled, and Dom gasped.

“Excuse me?!”

“You heard me.” She teased.

“Uhm! Says you!”

The two started bickering after that, comparing their test scores and bringing up all the times they’d outsmarted one another. And it was a nice distraction for a while. It kept Dom focused on something that wasn’t… him.

But the conversation ended when the two reached the bus stop, just barely having caught the bus in time. The two hopped on, and Dom reached into his school bag to fish out his wallet, handing a few dollars to the driver before taking a seat with Faye somewhere in the middle. Considering this was around the time most people were getting off work, the bus was pretty full. It was lucky they were even able to grab a seat in the first place.

The twins sat close together, and Dom placed his back-pack on his lap, using it to rest his head. Faye, meanwhile, leaned against his shoulder, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a pair of wired earbuds, taking a moment to untangle them before plugging them into her phone and handing a bud to Dom. He placed it in his ear, listening to the songs she had queued up, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Elliot would like them, too.

And that’s what brought Elliot back to his mind. Despite all the people around him, Elliot was the only one he could think about.

Dom stared down at his feet, his arms tightening around his back-pack. Memories of Elliot were stuck on replay. He couldn’t shake them from his mind no matter what he did.

And even after the moon had chased away the sun, Dom had yet to chase away Elliot. He still couldn’t get over that moment in the garden, and he wasn’t sure if he ever would.

He turned to lay on his back, letting out a sigh as he stared at his bedroom ceiling. He should’ve been asleep by now…

…This has to be a crush, right? He wondered, pulling his blankets up just enough to cover his mouth.

…Of all people… why did it have to be him? Why did it have to be…

Dom blinked, the answer hitting him almost immediately.

Elliot was everything…

He was kind and gentle. He treated everyone he met with an unconditional warmth no one else could replicate. He was caring and patient, and had a way of seeing the beauty in everything, no matter how small.

He was practically an angel. A wisp of heaven in human form…

Dom turned to lay back on his side, staring down at the little night-light plugged into the wall. Even its soft, white glow managed to remind him of Elliot’s smile.

So, the question was never: Why do I like Elliot?

It was: Why did Elliot have to like…

*+*+*

“M-Milly?!”

Dom glanced up towards the sound of Elliot’s voice, only to catch a glimpse of the pink-haired girl herself making her way over to him. Dom’s eyes widened slightly, a little surprised by her presence as well.

“H-Hey, Ellie!” She greeted. Two words in, and her face already matched the color of her hair. It was so painfully obvious she liked him, and the way Elliot’s eyes seemed to sparkle as he made his way over to her made was just as telling.

Dom never missed the way Elliot would brighten whenever he got a chance to talk about the girl. And he’d he lying if he said it didn’t bother him a little.

He bit the inside of his cheek, turning back to the flowers he’d been watering. And he couldn’t help but listen in to their conversation.

“What- what are you doing here?” Elliot asked.

“Oh, Hailey and Zander had to leave early today.” Milly responded. “I still got a little bit before my dad picks me up so, figured I stop by?”

“Oh! Yes! I’m glad you came! I-it’s always really nice to see you.” Dom stole another glance at the two, and Milly’s face had somehow gotten even brighter than her hair.

“R-really?” She stammered, her voice so soft it was barely recognizable.

“Yeah, I-”

“Hey, lovebirds!” Dom found himself talking suddenly. Words were escaping before he could even think about them. “Get a room, why don’t you?”

Both of them turned to face him, blushing madly.

“I- s-shut up, greenbean!” Milly shouted. “W-we’re not even-!” Dom laughed. Trying not to think about the sinking feeling in his stomach.

“Why so defensive? Might give us the wrong idea.”

“I’ll give you a wrong idea-” She mumbled, cracking her knuckles as Dom chuckled, praying it sounded genuine.

Before Milly could actually act on her threat, however, Elliot placed a hand on her shoulder, which alone seemed to ease a bit of her tension. She turned to face him, and was met with soft, caring smile.

“W-why don’t I show you the flowers we’ve been growing? We just planted a bunch of new ones recently!”

“Y-yeah! Okay!” She agreed, and Dom turned back around to the flowers he’d been watering, watching the way the leaves drooped a little under the water’s weight. He hadn’t even registered the puddle forming on top of the soil.

“Great! Well, uhm, come with me!” Elliot said. He sounds so happy with her…

“Dom?” Faye’s voice suddenly snapped him out of his trance, and quickly, he looked up.

“Hey, hi- uh, what’s up?” He said, and Faye pointed down at the flower bed he was watering.

“I think they’re good-” Dom glanced down at the soil, suddenly realizing how much water he’d given them.

“Ah, shoot! Heh, my bad.” He laughed, scratching the back of his head.

“Are you doing okay?” She asked. And Dom smiled, giving her a nod.

“Yeah, yeah I’m cool. Uh, I’m gonna go refill this. Looks like I used up most of it.” Before Faye could respond, Dom turned to leave, heading over to the hose to refill the watering can.

He kept his gaze fixated on his feet, telling himself over and over again to be supportive. Because Elliot was happy. And that’s all that mattered.

…Wasn’t it?

…

Maybe… in another life, Elliot would’ve been able to look at him that way.

Maybe in another life, they could been something.

Or maybe, in another life, none of this ever happened. And Elliot was nothing more than a friend with the prettiest face and the kindest soul Dom had ever seen. And Dom never once found himself wondering what Elliot’s lips would feel like against his…

Maybe, in another life… he could’ve saved himself. Saved himself from falling hopelessly for his best friend.

…But not in this life.