Latest Posts by lettersfromharley - Page 2

Big Bad John [Part 1] - The Devil Went Down to Georgia

1,040 words Summary: Cowboy!Schlatt x original character. Dollie gets an unexpected guest in her saloon. A/N: Brain worms got me. 😔✊

[Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4]

Divider: elleisdesigning

“Nobody seemed to know where John called home

He just drifted into town and stayed all alone

He didn't say much, he kinda quiet and shy

And if you spoke at all, he just said, "Hi" to Big John"

“Big Bad John” by Jimmy Dean

In the old town of Ghostridge, Georgia, nothing ever really happened for someone like Dollie Sheppard. She ran the town's saloon after her grandfather died. Most of her days were spent pouring drinks and dealing with the occasional rowdy drunkard. Folks passed through her saloon all the time telling stories about outlaws, shootouts, and menacing figures that haunted the West like ghosts. But in the quiet town of Ghostridge, Dollie didn’t witness any of that herself.

There was one outlaw in particular that Dollie heard the name of a lot: Jonathan Schlatt. Most folks called him “Big Bad John.” He was the kind of legend that made men shiver and women clutch their children a little tighter.

They say he comes into town dressed in all black, his gun visible at his side. Some even claim he’s killed several people, but no one ever says the same number - it’s always either two, five, or even thirty.

Dollie doesn’t believe in fairytales, and sure as hell doesn’t believe in ghost stories. Hell, she’s not sure “Big Bad John” even exists. Folks come into her saloon spouting phony make-believe over a glass of whiskey all the time. 

That was, until he walked right into her saloon.

One moment, she’s standing behind the bar, polishing glasses while making small talk with Ol’ Charlie. The next, the doors to her saloon fly open and a man scrambles in, his eyes wide and full of terror.

“It’s him! It’s Big Bad John!” the man shouts.

Panic spread through the saloon like wildfire. Chairs scrape against the floor as men try to hide under tables. A few darted for the exit, practically tripping over themselves in their haste. The only ones who didn’t move were Dollie and Charlie.

Dollie scoffed, arms crossed over her chest. “Y’all really believe that nonsense?” she asks. 

No one said a word. 

Then, she heard it. Heavy boots against the wooden planks of the saloon floor. Slow. Deliberate. The kind of footsteps that belonged to a man who wasn’t in a rush, because he didn’t need to be.

Dollie lifted her gaze as the man entered her saloon.

He was tall, at least a foot taller than her, and built like a man who’d spent his years taming the land rather than letting it tame him. Dressed in dark jeans, a belt with a large silver buckle, and a maroon button-up beneath a black vest, he carried himself with the kind of ease that only came with experience. A long black leather coat hung from his shoulders, dust clinging to the edges like he’d ridden through hell and back to get here. A black cowboy hat cast a shadow over his face, but when he stepped fully into the light, Dollie caught sight of sharp brown eyes and neatly trimmed mutton chops.

Something about his demeanor makes Dollie freeze for a moment.  Was this actually Big Bad John? He looked dangerous. But not in the way people had described. He wasn’t the monster they had painted in their stories - he was something else entirely.

She stood behind the bar, watching him closely as he made his way to the bar and sat down. He reaches for his hat, taking it off and setting it on the counter. 

“What can I get for ya?” Dollie asks.

The man looks up at Dollie. She feels captivated by his good looks.

“Whiskey, neat,” he says.

“Coming right up,” she says, reaching for a glass and pouring the man a whiskey. She slides the glass across the counter to him. “There you are. Enjoy.” She smiles at him.

Dollie goes back to polishing glasses and speaking to Charlie. Slowly, the other saloon patrons go back to whatever they were doing before this mysterious cowboy entered the saloon.

“Can I get another?” The cowboy asks. 

Dollie pours him another. “So, cowboy, where ya from?” she asks. 

“All over,” he says. 

Dollie nods, not pressing. “And your name?” she asks. 

“That a habit of yours? Getting to know every man who walks through that door?” 

Dollie looks him in the eye. “Just want to get to know who’s sitting in my saloon,” she says. 

“Your saloon?” he asks. “You run this place?”

“Indeed, I do,” she says. “Now, are you going to tell me your name or what?”

He takes a long sip of his whiskey. “Jonathan Schlatt,” he says. “But most call me John.”

“Like Big Bad John?” Charlie pipes up.

John chuckles. “Yes, like Big Bad John - if that's what they're calling me,” he says. 

“Well, welcome to my saloon,” Dollie says. “If you don’t mind me saying, you don’t seem so big and bad to me.”

John chuckles. “Is that so?”

“If I believed all the stories, I’d be shaking in my boots right now,” Dollie says. “But you’re just another man looking for a drink, huh?”

John lets out a low chuckle. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just waiting for the right time to prove ‘em right.”

Dollie doesn’t flinch. “If you were going to prove ‘em right, I figured you would’ve done it by now.”

John smiles. “Smart lady.”

Charlie let out a laugh. “I like this one, Dollie. Seems like he’s got some sense.”

John tipped his glass toward the man. “I try.”

Dollie leaned forward, placing her elbows on the bar. “So, tell me, John. How does a man get a reputation like yours?”

John exhales. “People like to talk. Sometimes a story is better than the truth.”

She considers this. “I get that,” she says.

The three of them - Dollie, John, and Charlie - talk until Dollie closes the saloon. Charlie eventually heads out, but John stays.

“So, where can a man get a place to sleep around here?” he asks.

“Well, there is an inn down the road, but they may not let you in. Not too many folks like ‘Big Bad John’ around here,” she chuckles.

John chuckles as well. “I guess that’s true.”

The two are quiet for a moment before Dollie gets an idea.

“You know,” she says. “You could stay here. I live above the saloon. There’s a spare room.”

“That would be nice,” John says. 

“Alright, follow me, then,” Dollie says before leading John upstairs.

Next Part

Started writing it today. 🫡 I have about 3-4 parts planned and there's just so much angst omg.

Thinking about cowboy!schlatt. May need to let the brain worms take over and write it.

Cowboy schlatt PLEEASE!!!

Writings by zuzu had schlatt in their Don't get the blues series and I miss him, we weren't going for him at all, but him as a cocky gunslinger who's good with the kids in his small side of town...

YESS I can so imagine him being this big tough cowboy but he's really just a big softie.

Thinking about cowboy!schlatt. May need to let the brain worms take over and write it.

That picture of him and Kalynn Koury lives rent free in my mind. He looks so good. 🤭🫦

i need crazy wild relations with jschlatt

I just finished a particularly long Schlatt fic on ao3. 18 chapters. 35k words.

midnight. you come and pick me up no headlights.

Summary: Nora Parker is a content creator who makes cooking videos. She meets Schlatt at a party, and he pisses her off. He agrees to do a cooking stream with her to make up for it.

bring back tumblr ask culture let me. bother you with questions and statements

Started watching daredevil…now THAT is a man who knows how to moan

😭😭 it’s not a rock it’s a boulder

Almost, Maybe [Part 3]

902 words Summary: Fem!reader x teen!Schlatt. You’ve had a crush on Jay since you were twelve, unsure if he feels the same. Inspired by The Summer I Turned Pretty.  A/N: Last part. Part 1 - Part 2

Divider: dialilimoon

At breakfast the next morning, all you can think of is Jay. 

You feel like you’re stuck. The tension between you and Jay has been building up all summer and it’s getting unbearable. Every longing glance, every lingering touch leaves you wanting more.

And last night, Jay had said it. He admitted it. And then Drew had to come along and ruin it.

“So, what happened between you and Jay last night?” Robin asks as you sit down on your bed after breakfast. 

“Nothing,” you mutter.

She snorts. “Bullshit.”

“Wait, did something actually happen?” Maggie asks, sitting on her bed.

“Well, he - we - confessed our feelings for each other,” you say.

“And?” Robin asks.

“That’s it.”

“You didn’t kiss?” Maggie asks.

“No,” you sigh, laying back on your bed. “Drew interrupted us before anything could happen and then I kind of… ran away.”

“You ran away?” Robin asks. “No wonder he was acting so weird at breakfast.”

“You have to go talk to him,” Maggie says.

“Yeah I will,” you say. “Eventually.”

Later that day Gabe and Drew suggest a boat ride.

So, you put on a swimsuit, grab a towel, and make your way to the dock. 

Jay is already there, wearing a t-shirt and swim trunks, his hair messy from he wind. Your stomach flips. 

The boat ride starts normal - Maggie and Robin fighting over music, Gabe driving the boat too fast, and Drew leaning back in his seat with his sunglasses on looking unbothered.

Then, the boat stalls. 

“Shit,” Gabe mutters, fiddling with the motor. “We might be here for a bit.”

“Well,” Robin says, stretching, “guess we’ll have to swim to pass the time.”

One by one, everyone jumps into the lake - except you, Drew, and Jay.

You and Jay are sitting on opposite ends of the boat, avoiding each other.

It’s ridiculous. You know it. And apparently, so does Drew.

Because suddenly, he stands, stretches, and says, “Hey, Y/N, why don’t you and Jay go check the storage compartment for extra towels?”

You narrow your eyes. “Why?”

He smirks. You immediately don’t trust him.

“I don’t know. Just in case we’re stranded out here for a while.”

Jay exhales sharply but stands. “Fine,” he mutters.

You follow him below deck, where the small enclosed storage area is dimly lit.

Jay kneels, checking the compartment. You stand awkwardly beside him, arms crossed.

The silence is excruciating.

Finally, he sighs. “So, are we gonna talk about it?”

Your throat tightens. “About what?”

Jay gives you a look. “Really?”

You shift on your feet. “I mean… what’s there to say?”

Jay lets out a dry laugh, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know, maybe the fact that I told you I liked you and then you just—ran off.”

You flinch. “I didn’t run off.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“Okay, maybe I did,” you admit. “But Drew totally ruined the moment.”

Jay sighs, leaning against the wall. “Yeah. He did.”

There’s a pause. Then, he looks at you - really looks at you. “But that doesn’t change how I feel.”

Your heart pounds. You open your mouth, but before you can say anything, the boat suddenly lurches.

You stumble forward. Jay catches you. His hands land on your waist. Your palms press against his chest.

Neither of you move. Your breath is shaky. His fingers tighten slightly. Everything feels too much. Too close.

And then - he leans in.

Your eyes flutter closed. His nose brushes yours. Your heart is beating so loud you’re sure he can hear it -

“We fixed the boat!” Robin’s voice cuts through the moment like a knife.

You jump apart. Jay curses under his breath, running a hand over his face.

“Right,” you say quickly, stepping back. “Let’s - uh, let’s go.”

You don’t miss the way Jay clenches his jaw, looking frustrated as hell. You don’t blame him.

Later that night, you go out to the dock to clear your had. It had been a crazy day and you needed a moment alone. 

You stand at the edge with your hands in your pocket.

After a quiet moment or two, you hear the dock creak behind you. You turn around to see Jay. 

He takes a deep breath and steps beside you. “Hey.”

You look over at him and smile. “Hey.”

You’re both quiet for a moment.

So you say it.

“I didn’t run because I don’t like you,” you admit, voice soft. “I ran because I do.”

Jay turns to face you.

Your pulse races, but you force yourself to hold his gaze. “I was scared,” you continue. “Because I like you so much, and I didn’t want to ruin—”

Jay cuts you off.

By kissing you.

It’s not hesitant this time. It’s urgent, desperate—like he’s making up for all the moments you almost had.

You grip his sweater, his hands find your waist. 

You melt into him, the taste of summer and longing being all you ever wanted.

When he pulls away, he rests his forehead against yours.

“I don’t care if summer’s ending in a few weeks,” he murmurs. “I just don’t want this to.”

You swallow hard. “Me neither.”

He smiles. “Good.”

You kiss him again, because you can.

Because this is yours now.

Maybe this summer was always meant to change everything.

Previous Part

Almost, Maybe [Part 2]

1,759 words Summary: Fem!reader x teen!Schlatt. You’ve had a crush on Jay since you were twelve, unsure if he feels the same. Inspired by The Summer I Turned Pretty.  This part isn't necessarily NSFW but contains some dirty thoughts. Read at your own discretion.  A/N: I love this series so much so far. Thank you all for your support! Part 1 - Part 3

Divider: dialilimoon

The sun is out and high in the sky, its heat pouring down on you. Gabe drives the speedboat fast enough that little droplets are coming off the sides and hitting your skin, but it's not enough to cool you down. 

Gabe slows down the boat and comes to a stop at a bay at the edge of the lake. “Alright, everyone get in the water willingly or I'm pushing you in,” he says. 

You look over at Robin. “Wanna jump in with me?” you ask. 

She nods. “Of course.”

The two of you make your way to the end of the boat and jump in the water. 

The water is cold, but refreshing. You swim away from the boat a bit. Robin follows you. 

You float of your back, letting the water cradle you as the sun beams down on you.

Robin splashes water in your direction, you sputter, laughing as you retaliate. 

You hear Maggie yelp, looking over to see Gabe has pushed her into the lake, jumping in himself. 

“You’re an ass!” Maggie shouts as she surfaces. 

“Jay, you better get in too or you’ll end up like Maggie here,” Gabe says.

Jay stands at the end of the boat, hesitating. 

“Come on, Jay!” Robin says. “Don’t be a wimp.”

He grins. “I’m just thinking about my approach.”

Jay backs up to get a running start and cannonballs right beside you. The impact sends a huge wave of water over you, momentarily submerging you. 

When you resurface, he's already laughing. “Worth it.”

“You suck,” you say, chuckling a bit as you splash him in the face. 

He coughs, sputters, and splashes you back. The two of you dissolve into laughter, water flying everywhere. 

Suddenly, he grabs your wrist. His touch sends shockwaves through your body. “Truce?” he asks, dropping your wrist just as fast as he grabbed it. 

You smile. “Truce.”

Gabe climbs back into the boat and claps his hands together. “Alright,” he says. “Who's up for a game of chicken?”

Robin whoops. “Let's do it!”

“Okay, teams of two,” Gabe says. “Robin, why don't you go with Maggie. Then, Jay and Y/N can be partners. I'll be the ref.”

You look over at Jay. “Guess I'm stuck with you, huh?” he says. 

Your cheeks burn as you swim toward him, hoping he doesn't notice. “Guess so.”

Jay kneels down slightly and gestures for you to climb onto his shoulders. You hesitate for a second before placing your hands on his wet skin and hoisting yourself up onto his shoulders. 

His hands grip your thighs to steady you and your entire body goes rigid. This was a bad idea. 

Robin and Maggie prepare for battle while you try not to think about how close Jay’s hands are. How natural it feels. How you wish they were exploring your entire body, not just your thighs. 

“Alright,” Gabe shouts. “Ready, set - go!”

Robin lunges toward you, trying to push you off Jay’s shoulders. You try to fight back, gripping onto Robin’s arms. 

Jay’s grip tightens around your legs, keeping you steady. He’s stronger than you expected. 

At some point, you almost fall, but he adjusts quickly, holding you tighter. 

“Hold on to me,” he murmurs. 

Your breath catches, but you do as he says, your hands tangling in his hair for balance. 

After a few minutes of back and forth, Robin wins the round and sends you toppling backward into the water with a laugh. You break the surface, gasping for air.

“I think you let her win,” Jay teases, running a hand through his wet hair. 

You roll your eyes. “Excuse me, I fought for my life.”

He laughs, but his eyes linger on you for just a second too long. 

“We should probably head back to the house,” Gabe says. 

You and the others scramble back onto the boat. You grab a towel and dry off before sitting down. Jay does the same and sits down next to you, his thigh gently brushing yours. 

Gabe starts the boat and speeds away from the bay. 

Later that night, Drew finally arrives, pulling up in his car just before dinner. He doesn’t look like he wants to be here, but your mother, Susan, and Julie run out to greet and hug him anyway. 

“Drew!” Maggie says excitedly, running up to hug him, while you approach more cautiously.

“You actually showed up,” you say, crossing your arms.

He smirks. “Don’t sound too surprised. Mom guilt-tripped me into it.”

You roll your eyes, but you’re glad he’s here. 

After dinner, the parents decide to go to a bar and you and the other kids start a bonfire. You grab blankets and marshmallows, settling into a circle around the crackling fire. The night air is cool, but the flames keep you warm.

Gabe stokes the fire, sending sparks up into the night sky. “Anyone want to play truth or dare?” he asks.

“Hell yes!” Robin says. 

“Alright, I’ll start. Robin - truth or dare?” Gabe asks.

“Dare.”

“I dare you to shotgun this beer,” Gabe says, tossing Robin a beer from the cooler. 

Robin catches it and pulls out a pocket knife. “Challenge accepted,” she says as she cuts a hole in the side of the can and puts it to her mouth. You and the others cheer her on as she chugs the beer. 

When she finishes, she does a small bow and throws the can into the trash before sitting down. 

“Alright,” Robin starts. “Maggie. Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” Maggie says. 

“I dare you to… run across the dock barefoot.”

Maggie takes off her shoes and socks. “That’s easy,” she says as she runs toward the dock. 

The game moves on, each person getting their turn. Drew is dared to jump in the lake fully clothed, Jay has to tell an embarrassing childhood story, and Gabe is dared to prank call his ex-girlfriend. 

Finally, it lands on you. 

“Y/N, truth or dare?” Gabe asks. 

“Truth,” you say. You don’t want to do some crazy shit and potentially get hurt. Telling an embarrassing story is better in your opinion. 

Robin whispers something in Gabe’s ear and smirks. Gabe gives her a confused look. “Okay, who was your first crush?”

Your stomach drops.

You glance at Jay instinctively while Robin watches you like a hawk. Your heart pounds. Do you lie? Do you brush it off?

Before you can answer, Drew speaks up. “Oh, that’s easy,” he says. “It was Jay.”

The entire group falls silent. 

All eyes turn to you. Your face burns. Jay looks stunned, his mouth falls open as if he’s about to say something but stops himself. 

“Drew, shut up,” you say through gritted teeth. 

“What?” he says. “It’s true. You used to follow him around like a lost puppy when we were kids.”

Maggie chokes on her drink and Robin looks like she’s going to explode from excitement. 

Jay clears his throat. “I - uh - I didn’t know that.”

You want to crawl into the ground and disappear. Or, better yet, throw yourself into the fire. Anything to get out of this awkward situation. 

Robin leans forward. “But what about now?” she asks. “Still got a thing for him?”

“Okay!” You stand up abruptly. “I think I’m done with this game.”

Robin is dying of laughter, and even Maggie looks amused. Drew looks pleased with himself, while Jay is unreadable. 

You turn on your heel and start walking back toward the house.

As the night goes on, the others slowly trickle back into the house. A storm quickly rolls in, causing the last few to come running back.

You spend most of the night playing board games and watching movies, but you can’t shake the awkwardness with Jay.

You go out to the back porch, wanting to get some fresh air. You hear the door slide open behind you. You turn your head to see Jay. 

“Hey,” he says, leaning on the railing beside you.

“Hey,” you mumble, avoiding his gaze.

You fall silent, the only sounds coming from the rain falling on the ground. Jay sighs, rubbing the back of his neck like he does when he’s nervous.

“I - uh… didn’t mean to act weird earlier,” he says. “Drew caught me off guard.”

You scoff. “Yeah, he seems to have a talent for that.”

Jay exhales. “I just didn’t know that you felt that way.”

You tighten your grip on the railing. “Yeah well,” you say. “It was a long time ago.”

Jay doesn’t he respond right away. Instead, he turns to look at you. You can feel his gaze on you, watching, waiting.

“But what about now?” he asks.

Your breath catches. 

You knew this conversation was coming. From the moment Drew revealed your crush, it was inevitable. But now that you're standing here, with Jay looking at you like he actually wants an answer, like maybe he’s been thinking about this too, you don’t know what to say.

“I don’t know,” you mumble, though it’s a blatent lie.

Jay exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look… I get it. This is weird now. But I just - I need to know if you still feel that way.”

Everything inside you goes still.

The air shifts between you, heavy with something unspoken. The only sound is the rain, steady against the roof, against the wooden deck.

You could lie. You could brush it off, laugh, make a joke.

Or you could be honest.

Your throat feels dry, but somehow, you find your voice. “Yeah,” you admit, barely above a whisper. “I do.”

Jay doesn’t react at first. He just stands there, watching you, as if processing what you just said.

Then, he steps closer.

“Okay,” he says, exhaling as if he’s been waiting for you to say that. “I think I feel the same way.”

Your stomach flips.

He lets out a nervous laugh. “Actually, no. That’s a lie. I do feel the same way.”

The world narrows to just him. Just this. 

“Jay,” you whisper. Your heart beats faster as you stare at him. 

He takes another step forward, but before either of you can say or do anything, the door slides open. Drew steps out, startling you and causing you to step away from Jay.

“Oh, shoot,” Drew says with a slight smirk. “Am I interrupting something?”

“No,” you say before moving past him and into the house, making your way to your room. You reach your room and shut the door behind you, staring into a nearby mirror. 

What the hell just happened?

Previous Part - Next Part

Might fuck around and write some hobama fanfic idk guys

Almost, Maybe [Part 1]

1,373 words Summary: Fem!reader x teen!Schlatt. You’ve had a crush on Jay since you were twelve, unsure if he feels the same. Inspired by The Summer I Turned Pretty.

A/N: I’m severely missing summer right now. Part 2 - Part 3

Divider: dialilimoon

June was always your favorite month. June meant bright blue skies and a shining sun. It meant no school. It meant spending time at the lake cabin your parents bought with their friends. It meant seeing Jay. 

Jay.

You have had a crush on the nerdy teen boy since you were both twelve and he brought you soup when you felt ill. That’s all it took. Looking back, he probably only did it because his mother forced him to, but you didn't care. That one action had you whipped for life.

You’re not sure if he feels the same. No one even knows you have feelings for him - other than your mom, your younger sister, and your best friend Robin. You tell them everything. 

This summer is the summer before you go off to college and you’re determined to make a move of some sort. 

You stuff a few cute swimsuits into your duffle bag and finish packing. You sling it over your shoulder and rush downstairs and outside to where your father’s pickup truck is parked on the driveway.

“Y/N, are you ready?” your dad asks, holding out his hand to take your bag.

“Yup!” you say, handing it to him. 

“Alright, get in the car,” he says, throwing your bag in the bed of his pickup.

You open the back door of the pickup and jump into the seat behind the driver. Your sister, Maggie, is sitting in the one behind the passenger seat. 

Eventually, your parents finish packing the car and get into the front seats, and you’re finally on the road.

You pop in your earbuds and play some music on your phone. You look out the window as you ponder the trip ahead. You haven’t seen or spoken to Jay since last summer. What will you say? What will he say? Maybe you’re thinking too hard about this. He’ll be the same as he always is. Why wouldn’t he?

You feel nervous yet excited as your father pulls into the driveway of the lake cabin. You get out as soon as he parks and grab your bag from the back. 

“Y/N! Maggie!” Jay’s mother, Susan, squeals, running out of the house to greet you two. 

You drop your bag on the pavement as Susan pulls you in for a hug. 

Your parents share the lake cabin with two other couples. Susan and Todd and Frank and Julie. Frank and Julie live in Maine near you and your family. They have two kids - their daughter, your best friend, Robin, and an older son named Gabe. Susan and Todd live in New York and Jay is their only child.

Susan was always your favorite of the parents - other than your own, of course. Her warm hugs and excellent cooking is unmatched. 

“Where’s Drew?” Susan asks. 

“I think he’s coming later this week,” you say, though you're unsure if he’s even coming. Your older brother Drew is about two years older than you and goes to a college in Massachusetts. He doesn’t visit home often. He said he would come to the cabin this summer, but he’s said that before and not shown up.

“Well, I’m making dinner later,” she says. “You girls go put your bags in your room and I’ll help your parents unload.”

You nod and promptly walk to your room with Maggie. 

“You think Drew will actually show up?” Maggie asks as you set your bag down at the end of your bed and throw yourself onto the sage green comforter. 

“I don’t know,” you say. “I hope so.”

“Hey, guys,” says a familiar voice from the door. You look up to see Jay leaning on the door frame. He looks different than he did last summer - slightly taller, a bit more muscular. Did he start working out? You realize you’ve been staring and quickly look away.

“Hello, Jay,” you say, sitting up. 

Maggie mumbles a greeting, but doesn’t pay much attention to him as she unpacks her bag.

“Gabe, Robin, and I are going to the beach after dinner, care to join?” Jay asks.

You smile. “Of course,” you say.

“Great,” Jay says, smiling. He turns away and you watch as he walks down the hall.

“You are so down bad,” Maggie says, chuckling.

Your face flushes as you throw a pillow at her. “Shut up.”

After dinner, you return to your shared room with Maggie and Robin. You grab a pale pink bikini out of your dresser and take turns with the other two girls changing in the bathroom connected to your room. 

“Oh, lord,” Robin says as you exit the bathroom. “Jay is going to love that.”

You scoff. “Shut it, Robin,” you say, rolling your eyes a bit.”

“I’m serious, Y/N,” she says. “If he hasn’t noticed you before, there’s no way he won’t notice you in that. Plus, you have changed a lot since last summer.”

“Really?” you ask.

“Yeah,” Robin says. “You got skinnier, your hair is longer, you’re glowing.”

“Well, thank you,” you say.

“You guys ready to go?” Maggie asks, grabbing a few towels for the three of you.

“Yup,” you say, cracking a smile.

The three of you make your way downstairs, meeting Gabe and Jay by the back door. You swear Jay’s gaze lingers on you a bit longer than normal as you approach.

You step out into the cool night air, the dirt below your feet a familiar and welcome feeling. You missed nights like these - longing for the simple moments with your friends.

You all fill Jay in on your lives since last summer. Him living so far away from you during the school year meant you don’t talk to him too much when you’re not at the lake. Though, you wish you could.

You fill him in on your classes, friends, and the general chaos of your senior year. Robin chimes in with her own stories, and Gabe throws in the occasional sarcastic remark, making you all laugh. Jay listens intently, nodding along, and every now and then, you catch him looking at you.

The five of you reach the beach. The moon casts a bright light over the waves lapping on the shore, and the air is cool but not cold. It’s perfect.

You lay down your towels. Jay takes off his shirt, revealing that he has definitely started working out. You try not to stare. Robin nudges you and wiggles her eyebrows. You roll your eyes and playfully hit her arm with the back of your hand.

Gabe is the first to sprint into the water, yelling like a lunatic as he dives in. Maggie and Robin follow, laughing as they wade in a shallow area before fully submerging themselves.

“Are you coming in?” Jay asks, standing beside you, his expression unreadable. 

“Yeah,” you say, stepping toward the water. The water envelops your ankles. It's cold, but you force yourself to keep going. 

Jay follows you as your toes sink into the wet sand. Soon, the two of you are waist deep. Maggie, Robin, and Gabe are further out, already splashing each other like little kids. 

You look over at Jay. The light of the moon reflects on his face perfectly, lighting up his best features. Before you can stare for too long, he speaks up. “So,” he says, clearing his throat, “college next year, huh?”

You nod. “Kind of crazy, right? Feels like just yesterday we were kids building sandcastles and arguing over who could hold their breath underwater the longest,” you laugh. 

Jay chuckles. “You always beat me. Not fair, by the way.”

“You just have weak lungs.”

“Maybe,” he smirks. “Or maybe you just liked beating me.”

You tilt your head, considering. “Maybe you're right.”

There's a pause. Then, Jay sighs. “I've missed this,” he says. 

Your heart skips. “Me too.”

You stare at each other for a moment. There's something in his gaze that makes you feel like the whole world just narrowed down to this moment. Before either of you can say anything else, Gabe splashes water in your direction. 

“Come on, guys,” he shouts. “Get out into the water.”

Jay looks back at you and smiles before following Gabe farther into the water. 

You smile. Maybe this summer will be different.

Next Part

Need him so bad 🫦

About me!

Hello! I'm Harley (she/her). I'm 18. I love writing silly little stories. I will likely post them here. And literally anything else I feel like posting, really.

Interests: Jschlatt, Sam and Colby, Taylor Swift, Marvel, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, SNL, shifting, New Girl, Sinjin Drowning, Smosh, The Sims 4

Shifting Side Blog: @harleyshifts

My asks/requests are open! Guidelines are at the bottom of this post.

୨⎯ masterlist! ⎯୧

Guidelines for asks:

➳ I will not write anything offensive (fetishization, SA, self harm, etc.).

➳ Anything else is fair game.

Dividers: thecutestgrotto

ao3 is crazy because you'll read the most gut-wrenching 200k word slowburn that leaves you sobbing into your sweater at four in the morning and the author will be applejacksmonstercock