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Just gonna lowkey block the people giving more attention to bro's name 😀

UGH I READ IT OMG

THE TENSION THE BUILDUP EVERYTHING JUST UGH IT WAS SO GOOD 🩵

just say the word | schlatt pt 3

part one, part two

A few weeks had passed since that night of reckless mudding, and things between you and Schlatt had… shifted. It wasn’t anything you could easily put into words, but something had changed. You’d been spending more time together—whether it was late-night drives, dumb little errands, or just sitting on some beat-up couch, talking about nothing and everything. There was an ease between you now, a rhythm that felt natural, like the two of you had known each other longer than a few weeks.

But with that closeness came something else. Something that simmered just beneath the surface. It wasn’t romance, not exactly—neither of you were the type for that kind of thing—but there was a tension. A constant awareness of the space between you, of the way your conversations sometimes teetered on the edge of something deeper, something you weren’t quite ready to acknowledge.

Today, you found yourselves on one of those drives again. Schlatt’s car rattled down the road, the radio crackling with static as he fiddled with the dial. The sky was overcast, a blanket of grey that felt like it was pressing down on the world, making everything seem quieter, more intimate.

“You’re not actually trying to find music on that thing, are you?” you asked, watching him with mild amusement.

He snorted, giving up and turning the radio off completely. “Nah, radio’s been busted for years. Just pretendin’ to be useful.”

“Figures,” you muttered, leaning back in your seat. “Where are we even going, anyway?”

Schlatt shrugged, one hand on the wheel, the other resting lazily on the armrest. “Nowhere, really. Thought you liked that kind of shit.”

You did, but you weren’t going to admit it. “I’m starting to think you don’t have any real plans when we hang out. You just drive.”

“Yeah, well, keeps you guessin’, doesn’t it?”

He smirked, glancing over at you before turning his attention back to the road. For a moment, there was a comfortable silence, the sound of the tires on gravel filling the space between you. But then, out of nowhere, you felt it—the shift in the air, the weight of something unsaid settling between you.

“Alright, what’s up?” you asked, crossing your arms. “You’ve been weird all day.”

Schlatt’s grip tightened slightly on the wheel, his jaw flexing as he stared out at the trees that lined the road. He let out a heavy breath, and for a moment, you weren’t sure if he was going to brush it off with one of his usual jokes. But then he spoke, his voice lower than usual, quieter.

“You ever think about… what the hell we’re doin’? Like, with all this?”

You blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. “What do you mean?”

Schlatt rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. “I mean, we’ve been hangin’ out a lot. And I’m not complainin’. It’s been cool. Just… I don’t know. Feels like things are changin’ or some shit.”

You stared at him, unsure how to respond. There was something different about the way he was talking, the way he wouldn’t quite look at you. This wasn’t the same cocky, always-smirking Schlatt you were used to. This was something more serious, or at least, as serious as he got.

“Things are changing?” you echoed, trying to get a better read on him.

He shrugged again, his gaze still fixed firmly ahead, avoiding yours. “Yeah. Like… maybe I actually give a shit about this. Us. Whatever this is.”

Your heart did a weird flip in your chest, and for a second, you didn’t know how to react. You weren’t used to this side of him—the one that didn’t just deflect with a joke or brush everything off like it didn’t matter. You weren’t sure if you liked it, or if it scared you a little.

You tried to play it cool. “Are you saying you care about me, Schlatt? That’s dangerously close to sounding like feelings.”

He finally looked over at you, his smirk returning, but it wasn’t as sharp as usual. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, trouble. I’m just sayin’… I don’t hate this.”

You snorted, leaning your head against the window. “What a declaration of affection.”

Schlatt rolled his eyes, his fingers drumming restlessly on the steering wheel. He didn’t respond, but you could tell something was still on his mind. The car hummed beneath you, vibrating along the rough backroad as the sky above seemed to grow darker, the clouds heavy and thick, promising rain.

Then, without warning, there was a loud bang—a sharp crack followed by the unmistakable crunch of metal against something solid. The car jolted violently to the side as Schlatt yanked the wheel, cursing under his breath.

“Shit!” His voice was tight, panic just beneath the surface as the car careened off the road.

For a split second, everything went quiet. Time seemed to slow as the car skidded over the gravel, the tires fighting for traction as Schlatt struggled to keep control. Your heart leaped into your throat, and you instinctively braced yourself, gripping the seat as hard as you could.

And then, just as quickly as it had started, it was over. The car came to a shuddering halt in the ditch, the front end buried in the tall grass and mud. You sat there for a moment, stunned, your breath coming in sharp, shallow bursts as you tried to process what had just happened.

Schlatt slammed a hand against the dashboard, letting out a frustrated growl. “Goddammit.”

You blinked, still gripping the seat, your pulse racing in your ears. “What the hell just happened?”

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Hit a damn pothole. Didn't see it ‘cause of the rain comin'.”

You glanced out the window, noticing for the first time the light drizzle that had started to fall, the raindrops streaking across the glass in thin lines. It hadn’t been there a moment ago, but now the sky seemed ready to open up completely.

“Well, this is great,” you muttered, finally letting go of the seat and leaning back, your heart still pounding.

Schlatt slumped in his seat, glaring at the steering wheel like it had personally offended him. “Yeah. Real fuckin’ great.”

There was a heavy pause, the air in the car thick with tension—not just from the near-accident, but from the conversation before. The rain started to come down harder, tapping against the roof and windows like an impatient knock.

“You alright?” he finally asked, his voice softer now, less angry.

“Yeah,” you breathed, glancing over at him. “You?”

He shrugged, but you could tell he was more rattled than he let on. “I’m fine. Just pissed.”

You snorted, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, good news is… at least the radio still doesn’t work.”

He shot you a sideways look, a reluctant smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Funny.”

You grinned, the tension easing slightly, though the rain still beat down on the car in steady waves. For a moment, it felt like everything was suspended in this strange limbo—the aftermath of the near-accident, the lingering words he’d said, the way your heart hadn’t quite settled back into its normal rhythm.

After a long beat of silence, Schlatt leaned back in his seat, staring out the windshield, his fingers tapping a rhythm against his knee. “You know,” he began, his voice quiet, “I didn’t mean to freak you out back there. With all that ‘things are changing’ bullshit.”

You glanced at him, eyebrows raised. “You think that’s what freaked me out? Not the part where we almost died?”

He huffed a laugh, shaking his head. “Fair point. But I meant before. I wasn’t tryin’ to get all heavy on you.”

You sighed, looking out at the rain-soaked trees. “It’s fine. I get it. Things are… different now.”

“Yeah,” he muttered, almost to himself. “Different.”

For a moment, it felt like he was going to say something more, something important. But then, as if on cue, a car pulled up alongside you, headlights cutting through the misty rain. A trucker leaned out the window, offering help with a tow.

The moment shattered.

Schlatt grumbled, “Great timing,” and you couldn’t help but smile at the irony. Whatever serious conversation was brewing, it would have to wait.

The truck that pulled up beside you had one of those old-fashioned, grumbling engines that sounded like it was held together with duct tape and determination. Schlatt rolled down his window, leaning his arm out and squinting at the driver who waved over.

"Y’all good there?" the man asked, his voice loud over the rain.

Schlatt scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah, just hit a damn pothole and the car decided to go mudding without me this time.”

The guy chuckled, his gaze flicking to you for a moment before he nodded toward the front of Schlatt’s car. “Need a tow? Looks like you’re pretty stuck.”

Schlatt sighed, glancing over at you for a moment, then back at the trucker. “Yeah. If you don’t mind.”

“Not a problem,” the man replied. “Give me a sec.”

You stayed in the passenger seat as Schlatt got out, shaking off the rain as he made his way to the front of the car to inspect the damage. The drizzle had turned into a steady downpour, and you could barely see through the windshield now, the world beyond blurred into indistinct shapes.

You watched as Schlatt and the trucker hooked up a chain, their voices muffled by the rain. Your fingers drummed absently against your knee, nerves still rattled from the near-accident. You couldn’t stop replaying that moment—the way the car had swerved, the sudden rush of panic, and then that conversation hanging between you, unfinished.

When Schlatt finally got back in the car, slamming the door behind him, he was soaked to the bone. His hair stuck to his forehead, droplets of water running down his nose, and he looked more annoyed than ever.

“Looks like I banged up the front,” he muttered, wiping at his face with his sleeve. “Nothin’ too bad, but it’s gonna cost me.”

You winced. “Sorry.”

He waved it off. “Not your fault. Damn road’s a death trap.”

The truck started pulling you out of the ditch, the car jerking forward as the tires finally found traction. Schlatt held onto the wheel, gritting his teeth as the car groaned and rattled its way back onto the road.

Once you were free, the trucker waved a final goodbye before heading off, leaving you and Schlatt alone once more. The rain was still falling, but the world seemed quieter now, like you’d been dropped into a pocket of calm after the storm.

Schlatt leaned back in his seat, letting out a heavy breath. “Well, that was fun.”

“Fun?” you repeated, raising an eyebrow. “You call nearly crashing fun?”

He smirked, but there was a hint of something else behind it—something more serious, more unsettled. “Could’ve been worse. At least we’re not dead.”

You stared at him, wondering how he could be so blasé about it all. But that was just Schlatt, wasn’t it? Always brushing things off, never letting anything rattle him too much. It was a quality you envied sometimes, even if it frustrated you.

“So,” you said after a beat, glancing at him sideways. “What now? Do we just pretend like none of that happened?”

He gave you a look. “You mean the part where I almost totaled my car, or the part where I got all deep and philosophical?”

“Both, honestly.”

Schlatt chuckled, though it sounded a little strained. “Yeah, let’s just forget it for now. We can circle back when we’re not sitting in a half-broken car in the middle of nowhere.”

You nodded, but something in his voice made you feel like you wouldn’t be circling back anytime soon. He had a way of avoiding things—big things, especially. And as much as you wanted to push, to ask him what he really meant earlier, you knew now wasn’t the time.

Instead, you sat back, watching the rain as it streaked down the window. You half-expected the day to wind down quietly from there, but that wasn’t the kind of day you were having.

A few minutes passed in a comfortable silence before the engine sputtered, coughed once, and then died. Just like that, the car went completely still.

Schlatt groaned, banging his head back against the headrest. “You’ve gotta be fuckin’ kidding me.”

“What now?” you asked, your voice dripping with disbelief.

He turned the key in the ignition again, but all it gave him was a sad little whine. “Looks like the engine’s flooded.”

You stared at him, wide-eyed. “Are you serious? Schlatt, we’re in the middle of nowhere. In the rain.”

“Yeah, I noticed,” he grumbled, turning the key once more for good measure, though the car remained stubbornly dead.

For a second, neither of you said anything. Then, out of nowhere, you both started laughing. It was one of those weird, disbelieving laughs—the kind you couldn’t stop even if you tried. Because really, what else could you do?

Schlatt looked over at you, shaking his head. “You must be bad luck, y’know that?”

“Me?!” you shot back, still half-laughing. “This is your car, your decision to take us on some random back road.”

“Yeah, but you’re here, aren’t you?” He grinned at you, that familiar spark of mischief in his eyes. “Maybe the universe is tryin’ to tell us somethin’.”

“Oh yeah?” you asked, arching an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”

He shrugged, wiping some of the rainwater off his face. “Maybe we’re meant to suffer together. A test of endurance or some shit.”

You snorted, leaning your head back against the seat. “Great. Just what I needed—a cosmic test.”

Schlatt fiddled with his phone, staring at the "No Service" notification on the screen with increasing frustration. “You've gotta be fuckin’ kidding me,” he muttered under his breath.

You shot him a questioning glance.

He held up his phone. “No service. In the middle of nowhere. Rain pouring down. Lucky we even had that first tow come by. The universe’s playing a real funny joke on us.”

You glanced outside, where the rain had turned into a downpour, the drops pelting against the windshield like tiny bullets. The storm showed no signs of letting up, and the day was quickly fading into a dark, dreary evening. “So... what’s the plan? We walk?”

Schlatt shook his head, eyes narrowing like you’d just suggested something ridiculous. “There is no way in hell I’m lettin’ you walk for miles in this rain. You’d be soaked before you even hit the first sign of civilization.”

You raised an eyebrow. “And you think I’m gonna just sit here, alone, in your half-broken car in the middle of nowhere?”

Schlatt turned to you, one hand still resting on the dead steering wheel, and gave a sarcastic chuckle. “Yeah, I’m sure you’d have a great time babysittin’ this piece of shit car while I march off like a noble idiot.”

You crossed your arms, setting your jaw. “There’s no way in hell I’m letting you leave me here. This car could get hit by lightning or something, and I’d be stuck with no one to complain to.”

Schlatt snorted, shaking his head. “I’d hate to rob you of your favorite hobby.” There was a pause before he sighed, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling of his beat-up car. “Guess we’re not walkin’ anywhere, huh?”

You glanced around the cramped interior of the car, considering your options. “Looks like we’re staying here for the night. Not like we have many choices.”

The silence that followed weighed down on the two of you. The rain drummed on the roof, steady and relentless, as the realization settled in.

Schlatt glanced at you, something unreadable in his expression before he shoved his phone into the glove compartment. “Alright then. We make this hellhole as comfortable as we can. Not exactly the Four Seasons, but what else is new?”

You couldn’t help but smile at the absurdity of it all as you helped him push down the seats. There was a sort of forced intimacy in trying to create a makeshift sleeping area in his trashed car, wrestling with seat belts that didn’t quite fold the way they were supposed to. You threw a jacket over one of the seats, padding it as best you could.

As you sat back, adjusting in your now-horizontal position, you sighed. “I have class tomorrow morning. My professor’s gonna kill me if I miss it.”

Schlatt turned his head, his face lit up in the dim glow from the dashboard. “What, gonna cry about missing class? Sounds tragic.”

You shot him a look. “I actually care about my GPA, Schlatt.”

He snorted, leaning back. “That’s where we differ, trouble. I cared just enough to skate by, but not enough to sit through a lecture about... what was it, again? Basket-weaving?”

“It’s art history,” you corrected, rolling your eyes. “And I’d rather not fail.”

“Yeah, that’ll haunt you for the rest of your life,” he drawled, a smirk curling his lips. “Missing one class. Devastating.”

You shook your head, biting back a smile. “You’re impossible.”

He stretched his legs out, getting as comfortable as one could in his old beater of a car. “Impossibly charming, you mean.”

There was a beat of silence as you both settled into the odd situation. The rain continued its relentless patter, muffling the world outside, cocooning you both in the little bubble of Schlatt’s car.

“Can’t believe we’re stuck here,” you muttered.

“Could be worse,” Schlatt replied, his tone surprisingly calm. He glanced over at you, a smirk tugging at his lips. “At least you’ve got me to keep you entertained.”

“Oh joy,” you deadpanned. “The guy who nearly wrecked us and has no idea how to fix his own car.”

He chuckled lowly, his voice rich with amusement. “Hey, I got us out of the ditch, didn’t I?”

You smiled, shaking your head. “You’re lucky.”

“Damn right,” he shot back, but his tone softened after a moment. “Hey… you’ll make it to class. Might be late, but you’ll be fine. You’re good at this life stuff.”

You glanced at him, caught off guard by the sincerity. For a second, you thought about pushing the conversation back to what he’d started earlier—about things changing between you—but something about the quiet rain and the closeness of the car made you hesitate. Maybe now wasn’t the time.

Schlatt yawned, breaking the tension that had started to settle between you. “Try to get some sleep, trouble. Long night ahead.”

You turned your head toward the window, watching the raindrops race down the glass. The idea of sleep seemed laughable given the circumstances, but there was something strangely comforting about being here, with him. As much as you wouldn’t admit it, it felt like you were both exactly where you needed to be.

After what felt like an eternity of trying to get comfortable, a growl erupted from your stomach, loud enough to break the relative silence of the rainstorm outside. You groaned, turning your head to glare at Schlatt, as if somehow he was to blame.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly fighting a smirk. “You good there? Or is your stomach about to declare war on us?”

“I’m starving,” you admitted, feeling the hunger clawing at you now that you’d said it out loud. “What’re the chances you’ve got actual food in this disaster of a car?”

Schlatt’s grin widened, full of that familiar mischief. “I’m insulted. You think I don’t keep my car stocked with premium snacks for moments like this?”

“Considering your car is one pothole away from a complete breakdown, yeah, I’m not holding my breath.”

“Harsh,” he muttered, but there was a glint in his eye as he began rummaging through the glove compartment. “Alright, let’s see what we got here…”

You watched as he rifled through the mess of papers, receipts, and random junk. After a few moments, he pulled out an ancient-looking granola bar. The wrapper was half-torn, and the logo was so faded you couldn’t even tell what brand it was.

“Oh, no way I’m eating that,” you said, scrunching up your nose. “That thing’s been in here longer than I’ve known you.”

Schlatt held it up like it was a prized relic. “Hey, don’t knock it till you try it. These things have a shelf life longer than your art history lectures.”

You swatted his arm playfully. “I’m not that desperate.”

He smirked, tossing the granola bar into the backseat before diving into the center console. “Hold on, I know I’ve got something better...”

After a few minutes of digging, he unearthed a crumpled bag of chips. The label had long since faded, but you could tell they were the off-brand kind that probably came from a gas station no one should buy food from.

He shook the bag with a triumphant grin. “Dinner is served.”

You let out a snort. “Oh, great. I’ll just have a feast, then. What’s for dessert? Mints from the glovebox?”

Schlatt raised his eyebrows, clearly not above the challenge. “You joke, but…” He leaned over, reaching into the side compartment of his door and pulled out a handful of old, dusty mints. “Voi-fucking-là.”

You stared at the pile of questionable snacks he’d assembled and then burst into laughter. “This is the saddest meal I’ve ever seen.”

Schlatt tore open the bag of chips and shoved a few into his mouth, chewing noisily. “Hey, at least it’s not a full-on starvation situation. Could be worse.”

You grabbed a chip from the bag and popped it into your mouth. It was stale. “Could it, though?”

Schlatt leaned back against his seat, still chewing, looking far too proud of their little “meal.” “Survival’s about perspective, y’know? Some people get caviar, we get vintage chips and mints from 1995. Same difference.”

“Vintage chips,” you repeated with a laugh. “You really know how to sell a crappy situation.”

He shrugged, reaching for another chip. “You want a five-star meal, go find a food truck. You want a Schlatt special, you stay right here.”

You grinned, grabbing a mint to follow up the stale chip. “You’d probably charge me extra for this garbage if it was on a menu.”

“Absolutely,” he said with a smirk. “You gotta pay for the experience, trouble.”

As the two of you shared your sad, impromptu snack, the tension from earlier seemed to fade, replaced by the kind of easy banter that had defined most of your time together. Despite the rain pounding against the roof and the cold, damp air creeping into the car, there was something almost fun about the whole thing. Ridiculous, but fun.

Schlatt grabbed the old granola bar again, holding it up like it was some precious artifact. “I bet this is the secret weapon. You’re gonna thank me when this saves your life.”

“Or I’ll end up in the hospital with food poisoning,” you quipped, giving him a look. “Seriously, don’t eat that.”

Schlatt tore open the wrapper with exaggerated care and took a small bite. He chewed for a few seconds, then froze. His face twisted into a grimace, and he immediately spat it out into a napkin.

“Yeah, okay. That’s... that’s bad.”

You laughed, leaning back in your seat and shaking your head. “You didn’t really just do that.”

“Never doubt my commitment to the bit,” he grumbled, chucking the rest of the granola bar out the window. “That was a mistake.”

“Big mistake.”

“Shut up.”

As the two of you continued to joke and rummage through his car’s tragic stash of snacks, there was a moment where you glanced over at him, and something in your chest fluttered. It wasn’t anything serious—just that strange little feeling that had been lingering between you both for weeks now, simmering quietly in the background.

He caught you looking, raising an eyebrow. “What’s that face for?”

You shook your head, smiling. “Nothing. Just thinking this might be the worst meal I’ve ever had. Thanks for the ‘experience.’”

Schlatt leaned back in his seat, giving you a mock-serious look. “Glad to know I’ve left such a lasting impression.”

You snorted, tossing another chip into your mouth. “Oh, you have. Trust me.”

The rain continued to fall outside, and though the night had taken a turn for the absurd, you felt oddly content sitting there with him in the mess of his car, laughing over stale chips and broken mints.

As the two of you finished picking through the sad remnants of Schlatt’s stash, your fingers idly tugged at the flap of the center console, fishing around for anything else that might resemble food—or at least, something vaguely useful. You half-expected to pull out another expired snack or maybe a dead flashlight, but instead, your hand closed around something soft and familiar. You frowned and pulled it out, holding the object up for inspection.

It was a stuffed animal. Small, worn, and clearly well-loved, with one ear hanging by a thread and faded colors from years of handling. A bear, or maybe a dog, you couldn’t quite tell anymore. It was the last thing you expected to find in Schlatt’s disaster of a car, and the sight of it made you burst into laughter.

“What the hell is this?” you asked, holding the stuffed animal up and shaking it a little.

Schlatt’s head snapped toward you, his eyes widening. “Hey, hey, hey, give that back!” He reached for it, but you pulled it out of his reach, laughing even harder.

“Oh no way,” you said, still giggling. “Is this yours? Schlatt, is this your little car buddy?”

“Shut up,” he grumbled, his ears going pink as he grabbed for it again. “It’s not mine—it’s, uh, for my niece. I just forgot to give it to her, alright?”

You raised an eyebrow, smirking as you held the stuffed animal up in the dim light. “Sure. That’s why it looks like it’s been through the apocalypse. How long have you been ‘forgetting’ to give it to her? Ten years?”

“Okay, okay, fine,” he admitted, finally managing to snatch it out of your hands. He stuffed the bear back into the console, glaring at you, though his expression was more embarrassed than angry. “I’ve had it since I was a kid. Happy now?”

You leaned back in your seat, still chuckling. “That’s actually kinda cute, Schlatt. Didn’t think you’d have a sentimental side.”

“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it,” he muttered, crossing his arms. But there was a twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth, despite his attempt at looking annoyed.

You gave him a teasing grin. “I’m not gonna let you live this down, you know. ‘Tough guy Schlatt’ with his childhood stuffed animal in the car.”

“Keep talkin’,” he shot back, though his tone was lighter now. “And you’ll be walkin’ back to town.”

You both shared a laugh, the earlier tension easing away again. It was nice, this rhythm between you two—effortless, filled with playful banter that made even a situation like this feel fun. Who knew being stranded in the rain could turn into this weird, almost cozy kind of adventure?

The storm outside, though relentless, had become a sort of background noise, like a soundtrack to your strange little evening. It was comforting in a way, the steady patter of rain against the roof and the occasional rumble of thunder far off in the distance.

But after a while, the cold started creeping in. The windshield had fogged up, and you could feel the damp air pressing against your skin, making it hard to stay warm.

“We should probably try to get some sleep,” you said, glancing over at him. “Who knows how long we’re stuck here.”

Schlatt stretched his arms over his head, his back audibly cracking in the process. “Yeah, well, this is gonna be a hell of a setup. Welcome to Schlatt’s first-class sleeping arrangements.”

You looked around at the mess of the car, unimpressed. “First-class, huh? Feels more like economy on the world’s worst airline.”

“Hey, I’m not exactly workin’ with luxury here, alright?” He reached for the lever on the side of his seat and pushed it back as far as it would go, which wasn’t very far. The seat creaked, but it wasn’t going to flatten out anytime soon. “There. That’s about as good as it gets.”

You followed suit, pushing your own seat back until you were in a semi-reclined position. It wasn’t the most comfortable arrangement, but it would have to do. You glanced over at Schlatt, who had pulled off his jacket and balled it up into a makeshift pillow behind his head. You tried the same, adjusting your coat into a lumpy cushion, but no matter how you shifted, it still wasn’t quite right.

“This is gonna suck,” you muttered, fidgeting with your jacket.

“Yeah, well, it beats sleeping out in the rain,” Schlatt replied, tugging the brim of his hat down a bit. “You’ll be fine. Tough it out.”

You rolled your eyes, but there was no real bite to it. “Easy for you to say. You could sleep through an earthquake.”

He shot you a lopsided grin. “Damn right.”

The car had grown darker, the rain still hammering down outside, and it wasn’t long before the exhaustion from the day started catching up with you. But even as your eyelids grew heavy, the thought of sleeping in this cramped space, so close to Schlatt, had your mind spinning.

It wasn’t romantic or anything. Not really. But there was something about the quiet intimacy of the moment that made you hyper-aware of his presence beside you. The steady sound of his breathing, the occasional shift in his seat. The way the air between you felt thick with something unspoken, a tension that neither of you had acknowledged directly but was always there, simmering beneath the surface.

“So,” you said, trying to break the silence as you stared up at the foggy windshield. “What’s the plan? We just wait for some good Samaritan to drive by again?”

Schlatt shifted in his seat, letting out a long sigh. “Pretty much. Not like we got a lot of options. Could be worse, though.”

“Worse?” You snorted. “Like what, stuck in a car without stale chips and a mystery stuffed animal?”

“Hey,” he grumbled, turning his head to give you a mock-offended look. “That stuffed animal’s got more personality than half the people I know.”

You grinned, the banter feeling like a comfortable blanket over the awkwardness of the situation. “I’m sure it’s been great company over the years.”

Schlatt smirked. “More reliable than most. Doesn’t complain as much, either.”

“Touché,” you said, adjusting your jacket-pillow once more. “You sure we can’t do any better with the seats? Maybe flatten ‘em out or something?”

He laughed softly. “Sweetheart, if I could turn this car into a luxury bed, I would. You’re just gonna have to make do with the premium accommodations.”

“Premium, huh?” you muttered, giving your makeshift pillow a disgruntled look.

There was a pause, then Schlatt shifted again, looking over at you with a serious expression. “Look, if it’s too uncomfortable, you can—” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “I dunno, lean against me or somethin’. Not like we’re gonna get much sleep anyway.”

You blinked, surprised by the offer. “You sure you can handle that?”

He rolled his eyes, leaning back in his seat. “I’m a tough guy, remember? I’ll survive.”

You hesitated for a moment, but the cold and the discomfort eventually won out. Slowly, you shifted closer, resting your head against his shoulder. It wasn’t as weird as you thought it would be—his warmth was actually kind of nice, and for the first time since the car broke down, you felt the faintest hint of relaxation.

Schlatt didn’t say anything at first, just exhaled softly. Then, after a beat, he murmured, “Guess I’m not as bad of a pillow as I thought, huh?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” you replied, though there was a small smile playing on your lips. “You’re still not winning any comfort awards.”

“Figures,” he muttered, his voice sleepy. “Tough crowd.”

Despite the rain still falling outside, the world felt quieter, more settled now. It wasn’t exactly a perfect setup, but for the first time all day, it felt like maybe things were gonna be okay.

At least for now.

The warmth of Schlatt’s shoulder and the rhythmic patter of rain had lulled you into a surprisingly deep sleep. It wasn’t the most comfortable position—your neck was stiff, and your back ached—but it was better than nothing. When you woke up, the car was quiet, the rain had stopped, and Schlatt’s seat was empty.

Blinking, you stretched and sat up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. The windshield was fogged over, and the world outside looked washed clean by the storm. Sunlight filtered through the mist, casting everything in a soft, golden hue. For a moment, it was peaceful, almost serene.

Then you spotted Schlatt outside the car, leaning against the hood, his arms crossed as he talked to a woman standing next to her minivan. She had that frazzled, mom-on-a-mission look about her—messy ponytail, yoga pants, and the slightly haunted expression of someone who’d been wrangling kids since 5 AM. Behind her, the minivan looked like it had seen better days, with muddy soccer balls rolling around the back and half a dozen stickers peeling off the bumper.

You pushed open the car door, stepping out onto the wet ground. The air was crisp and fresh, carrying that unmistakable post-rain smell of wet earth and clean leaves. It was chilly, but in a refreshing way that made you breathe deeply. The world felt brand new, almost sparkling in the early morning light.

As you approached, Schlatt turned and gave you a nod of acknowledgment, though he immediately grimaced and clutched his lower back. “Mornin’, sunshine,” he grumbled. “You sleep like a rock, or did I just block out the pain?”

“Probably the pain,” you teased, glancing him over. Schlatt looked worse for wear—his hair was a mess, his clothes wrinkled and damp, and his usual snarky demeanor was clouded by exhaustion. But there was something almost endearing about how rough he looked. Like a grumpy, oversized cat that got caught in the rain.

“I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck,” he muttered, rotating his shoulders with a wince. “Everything’s sore. Neck, back, ass… never lettin’ you talk me into sleepin’ in a car again.”

“You’re the one who said ‘tough it out,’” you shot back, grinning.

He snorted but didn’t argue.

The woman, who had been patiently watching your exchange, smiled kindly at you. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “But I’m happy to give y’all a lift into town. I’m already heading that way—just gotta drop the kids off at their soccer game. There’s plenty of room in the back if you don’t mind squeezing in.”

You looked over at her minivan and quickly realized “plenty of room” was a bit of an exaggeration. Inside, you could see four kids—two older boys in the middle row, and two younger ones in the back. They were bouncing around, yelling about something or other, while a stray goldfish cracker rained down from a bag one of the kids had opened upside down. The van was… well, it was lived-in. Random toys, wrappers, and empty juice boxes littered the floor. It had the distinct, chaotic energy of a family on the go.

Schlatt raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “You sure about this?” he muttered under his breath, glancing at you like this was some kind of punishment.

You shot him a look. “We’re not exactly in a position to be picky.”

He sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, yeah. Fine. But if one of those kids sneezes on me, I’m out.”

The woman laughed. “They’re not contagious, I promise.”

“Coulda fooled me,” Schlatt grumbled, heading toward the van.

The two of you climbed into the back row, squeezing into the tight space next to the youngest child, a wide-eyed seven-year-old with messy brown hair and a dinosaur shirt. He looked up at Schlatt like he’d just seen a celebrity. “Whoa, you’re tall,” the kid blurted out.

“Yeah, well, don’t spread it around,” Schlatt replied, half amused, half annoyed as he awkwardly settled into the cramped seat. His knees were practically up to his chest, and the back of the seat in front of him jabbed into his shin. He looked at you like this was some kind of cosmic joke. “You better appreciate this.”

You stifled a laugh, elbowing him gently. “Oh, I do. Trust me.”

As the van rumbled to life and started down the road, the seven-year-old—who introduced himself as Liam—immediately launched into a barrage of questions. “What happened to your car? Did it break? Are you a mechanic? How tall are you? Are you married? My dad’s tall but not as tall as you. What’s your favorite dinosaur? Do you like soccer? I don’t like soccer but my mom makes me play. Do you—”

“Kid, slow down,” Schlatt muttered, looking like he was seriously regretting getting into the van. “One question at a time.”

You shot him a sideways glance. “Be nice,” you said in a teasing whisper, nudging his arm.

Schlatt sighed, leaning his head back against the seat with a groan. “Yeah, yeah.” He looked at Liam and managed a half-smile. “Alright, uh… favorite dinosaur? Gotta be a T-rex. Classic.”

Liam’s eyes lit up. “Whoa, cool! Mine’s a Velociraptor ‘cause they’re super fast. Do you know how fast they are?”

Schlatt leaned forward, clearly bracing himself for more, but there was something softer in his expression now. “Yeah, kid, I know. They’d probably outrun me if I wasn’t so tired.”

Liam giggled, clearly delighted. “You’re funny!”

“Yeah, I’m a real comedian,” Schlatt muttered under his breath, but you could tell he was warming up to the kid. His gruffness had softened into something more bearable.

Meanwhile, the van bumped along the wet roads, the smell of rain-soaked earth still hanging in the air. You gazed out the window, watching the fog slowly lift off the fields as the morning sun peeked through. Despite the cramped van, the mess, and the noise, it felt strangely peaceful—like the storm had cleared away more than just the clouds.

The mom glanced at you in the rearview mirror, smiling warmly. “So, what brings you two out here anyway? Doesn’t seem like the kind of place you’d be visiting on purpose.”

You exchanged a quick look with Schlatt, and he shrugged before answering. “Car trouble. We got stuck out in the middle of nowhere, figured we’d wait it out.”

The woman raised an eyebrow, her eyes flicking between the two of you. “Car trouble, huh? Just the two of you out here together?”

You could hear the curiosity in her voice, and you weren’t entirely sure how to respond. Schlatt didn’t seem to care much, though, because he shot back with his usual dry wit. “Yep. Just the two of us, stranded and miserable. Real bonding experience.”

You rolled your eyes, but the woman chuckled. “Sounds like it. You two must be close to handle something like that.”

Schlatt glanced at you out of the corner of his eye, he clears his throat awkwardly, “Uh, yeah.”

You could feel your face heat up slightly, but you played along. “Yeah, it’s definitely been a memorable adventure.”

The woman smiled, clearly entertained by the dynamic between you two. “Well, I’m glad I could help you out. Not many people come through these parts, so you’re lucky I spotted you.”

“Yeah, lucky,” Schlatt grumbled, though his tone was lighter now. He adjusted himself again in the cramped seat, looking down at Liam, who was still fidgeting excitedly next to him. “Alright, kid, lemme guess—you wanna know what happened to my car next?”

Liam nodded eagerly. “Yeah! Was it a big crash? Did it flip over? Did you have to call the cops?”

“No cops,” Schlatt said with a sigh. “Just a dumb pothole and some bad luck. The car’s fine, more or less. I’m just… y’know, a little pissed off about it.”

“Yeah, but now you’re in a cool van with me!” Liam exclaimed, clearly seeing this as the highlight of his morning.

Schlatt looked over at you, shaking his head with a half-smile. “The universe is playin’ one hell of a joke on me.”

“Hey,” you said, grinning. “At least it comes with goldfish crackers and gummy worms.”

He snorted, looking down at the scattered remnants of snacks at his feet. “Some luxury.”

Liam was practically glued to Schlatt’s side now, eyes wide as if Schlatt was some kind of superhero. Every word Schlatt said, no matter how sarcastic or grumpy, had the kid nodding in awe, like he was soaking up wisdom from a sage.

“So, you’re like… super tough, right?” Liam asked, staring up at Schlatt with a mixture of reverence and curiosity. “Like, if a bear attacked, you’d probably just punch it, huh?”

Schlatt blinked at him, clearly caught off guard by the mental image. “Uh… sure, kid. I’d punch a bear. Why not.”

Liam’s jaw dropped in wonder, and Schlatt shot you a look that said, What the hell have I gotten myself into?

You stifled a laugh, watching Schlatt slowly become the coolest person ever in Liam’s eyes. It was funny, seeing him try to handle the kid’s endless enthusiasm while also keeping his usual dry demeanor. He grumbled and rolled his eyes, but there was a slight twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth. Whether he liked it or not, he was starting to enjoy the attention.

The van trundled along for another few miles, bumping over potholes and kicking up mud. The soccer fields and backroads gave way to civilization once again—small-town gas stations, worn-down diners, and old signs covered in rust. The world had woken up fully now, with early morning sunlight casting long shadows across the roads.

Finally, the woman pulled into the parking lot of a small, rundown gas station. The kind of place that hadn’t seen a renovation in decades, with peeling paint and an ancient neon sign that flickered weakly.

“Alright, this is where I drop you two off,” she said, looking back at you and Schlatt in the rearview mirror. “Hope you can get your car sorted out.”

Liam looked crestfallen, his eyes darting between Schlatt and the gas station. “You’re leaving already?”

Schlatt, clearly feeling the weight of the kid’s disappointment, patted him awkwardly on the shoulder. “Yeah, gotta figure out how to get the hell outta here. But, uh, keep practicing those soccer moves. Maybe next time, you’ll outrun a velociraptor.”

Liam’s face lit up like Schlatt had just given him the world’s greatest advice. “Okay! I will! Bye, Schlatt! You’re the coolest!”

You both stepped out of the van, giving Liam a wave as his mom pulled away. The quiet settled over you again, the din of the minivan replaced by the hum of traffic and distant birds. You glanced over at the gas station in front of you, grimacing at the state of it. There was nothing “charming” about this place—it was the kind of gas station you stopped at out of desperation, not choice.

“Well,” you said, adjusting your jacket. “This is… nice.”

Schlatt grunted, running a hand through his messy hair. “Yeah, real five-star accommodations. Just what I needed.”

The two of you made your way inside, the bell above the door jingling weakly as you stepped into the dingy convenience store. It smelled like old coffee and stale air freshener, and the shelves were cluttered with snacks that probably hadn’t moved in years.

“I’m gonna use the bathroom,” you said, eyeing the grimy floor with some hesitation. “Wish me luck.”

Schlatt chuckled, his voice still raspy from the lack of sleep. “Yeah, good luck. Don’t catch anything.”

You shot him a look and headed toward the back of the store, finding the bathroom door marked with a crooked “Out of Order” sign that someone had crossed out. The light inside flickered when you turned it on, and the mirror was covered in smudges, barely reflecting anything properly. But when you finally caught a glimpse of yourself, you winced.

You looked rough. Your hair was tangled, damp from the rain, and sticking out in odd places. There were dark circles under your eyes, and your clothes were wrinkled and stained from the mud and car ride. Honestly, it was a miracle you’d managed to look even remotely put-together at any point in the last 24 hours.

“Great,” you muttered to yourself, trying to smooth down your hair with your hands, but it didn’t make much difference.

By the time you left the bathroom, Schlatt had wandered over to the coffee station. He was hunched over, inspecting the machine like it had personally offended him. He shot you a glance as you approached, raising an eyebrow.

“Yikes,” he said. “You look like you’ve been through hell.”

You rolled your eyes. “Thanks, Schlatt. So do you.”

He chuckled, grabbing a paper cup and filling it with the gas station’s sorry excuse for coffee. “Want one? It’s probably terrible, but at this point, who cares?”

You sighed, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was just after 6 AM. “Sure. I’m already late for class anyway. Might as well add bad coffee to the list of disasters.”

Schlatt handed you a cup, his smirk widening as he took a sip from his own. “Attagirl. If you’re gonna suffer, at least do it with caffeine.”

You smiled, feeling a little better despite the circumstances. The coffee was terrible, as expected, but it was hot, and you were grateful for that. Schlatt leaned against the counter, his eyes scanning the parking lot through the smudged window.

“So, what’s the plan?” you asked.

He pulled his phone out, glancing at the screen. “Already texted Ted. He’ll come pick us up in a bit. Said he’s about an hour out, so we’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the sights.”

You snorted. “The sights? Like this gross bathroom and stale snacks?”

“Exactly,” he said, grinning. “Nothing but the best.”

You both sipped your coffee in silence for a moment, the exhaustion from the night settling in fully now. The gas station may have been grimy, and the situation less than ideal, but there was something oddly comfortable about it. Maybe it was the shared misery, or maybe it was just being around Schlatt, who always seemed to make the worst situations a little more bearable.

As you leaned back against the counter, you glanced out the window, watching the morning sun rise higher into the sky. The storm had passed, and the world felt fresh again. It wasn’t the morning you’d planned, but in a weird way, you didn’t mind. Especially not with Schlatt there, complaining about everything but still sticking by your side.

You raised your coffee cup to him with a smirk. “To bad luck, terrible coffee, and weird road trips.”

He clinked his cup against yours. “And to me not punching a bear.”

Schlatt could tell you were trying to play it cool, but he wasn’t an idiot. Despite all the joking and banter, you were upset. Missing class, the sheer chaos of the last 24 hours—it was weighing on you. He could see it in the way you were fidgeting, your eyes downcast as if you were trying to hide the disappointment behind a casual smile.

“Hey, wait here,” he muttered suddenly, disappearing into the gas station before you could ask why.

You leaned against the front window, arms crossed, trying to convince yourself you were fine. Schlatt being his usual self—loud, sarcastic, a little ridiculous—was keeping your mind off things, but underneath it, you were still frustrated. The practical side of you hated being off-track, missing things you shouldn’t, and this entire mess had thrown you completely out of sync.

A few minutes later, Schlatt emerged with a lopsided grin and two crinkly bags in hand. He waved them triumphantly as if he’d just solved all your problems. “Breakfast of champions,” he declared, holding up a pack of stale mini doughnuts and a granola bar that looked like it had been in the store since the 90s.

You couldn’t help but laugh, even if it was a little half-hearted. “You’re joking, right?”

He gave you a mock-offended look. “What? You’re tellin’ me this gourmet shit isn’t good enough for you?”

“Gourmet?” you snorted, rolling your eyes but reaching for the doughnuts. “You sure know how to treat a girl.”

“Damn right I do,” he shot back, giving you a smirk before tossing the granola bar into your hand. “Come on. Let’s walk it off ‘til Ted gets here. Place like this is depressing.”

You both set off along the edge of the parking lot, your steps falling into a natural rhythm as the early morning air settled around you. It felt crisp and clean, with that earthy smell that only comes after a storm. The sun was beginning to peek through the clouds, casting soft light over everything. The world seemed quieter, more peaceful now that the rain had passed, but there was an energy between the two of you that felt anything but.

The silence stretched, comfortable but thick, like there were a thousand things unsaid hanging in the air. Every so often, your hands would brush as you walked, sending little jolts of awareness through you. You kept your eyes on the ground, trying to focus on the crunch of gravel under your shoes rather than the growing tension swirling between you.

Schlatt cleared his throat after a few minutes, breaking the silence with his usual rough-edged humor. “You know, you should’ve seen the look on that kid’s face when I told him about the truck. I swear, I think I just made his year.”

You smirked, shaking your head. “He probably thinks you’re some kind of hero now. A dude who wrecks his car and somehow makes it cool.”

Schlatt laughed, that deep, unrestrained sound that always made your chest feel lighter. “Damn straight. Gotta give the kid something to aspire to.”

“Yeah, ‘cause crashing cars and eating gas station doughnuts is the pinnacle of achievement.”

“Hey, don’t knock it,” he teased, nudging your arm lightly with his elbow. “Could’ve been worse. At least we didn’t end up stranded with some weirdo offering us an even grosser ride.”

You glanced at him, the corners of your mouth tugging into a soft smile. Despite the chaos of it all, the morning had a strange calm about it. As much as you hated that you’d have to miss class and deal with the repercussions later, being here with Schlatt, in this weird, unexpected moment, felt... right. Like something about it had fallen into place without either of you realizing it.

Still, you couldn’t resist teasing him a bit. “You know, I’m gonna be so behind because of this.”

Schlatt stopped mid-step, turning to face you with an exaggerated look of guilt. “Damn, trouble, if I knew you were so heartbroken over it, I would’ve risked getting hit by lightning to push the car myself.”

You rolled your eyes, but his dramatic act was enough to crack through your tension. “Yeah, well, somehow I think it’s gonna take more than you playing the hero to fix that.”

He gave you a long, sideways look, something softer glinting in his eyes, though his tone was still laced with sarcasm. “Don’t worry, I’ll bribe your professor or somethin’. Flash my winning smile. Works every time.”

You snorted, shaking your head. “Your smile? Please.”

“Hey, it’s better than yours,” he shot back, his lips quirking into that familiar smirk. “But in all seriousness…” His voice softened a bit, and the humor in his eyes dimmed. “You good? I know you’re pissed about missin’ class.”

You hesitated, chewing the inside of your cheek. “I’m fine. It’s just… I don’t like being off track, y’know?”

He nodded, surprisingly understanding for a guy who normally brushed things off. “Yeah, I get that. But, look, we’ll be back soon enough, and you’ll catch up. Ain’t the end of the world.”

The way he said it, calm but reassuring, made you feel just a little better. There was something about Schlatt—underneath the snark and sarcasm—that had a way of grounding you. And right now, you needed that.

After a few more minutes of walking, the silence between you felt less heavy, the awkwardness fading into something more comfortable. You both fell back into your usual banter, talking about the mess of the past day—the mud, the tow truck, the rain, the soccer mom’s chaotic van. It was like you were weaving all the ridiculous moments together, making light of them to push away the frustration of the situation.

But even as you joked and laughed, there was an unspoken awareness lingering between you. Each shared glance, each small smile felt a little different, loaded with something neither of you had acknowledged yet. That same something that had been simmering between you for weeks now.

You both eventually found yourselves on a small outcropping, a natural ledge that overlooked the forest, the trees stretching out in an endless sea of green beneath you. Beyond the thick canopy, you could just make out the faint outline of your college town on the horizon. The buildings were tiny dots in the distance, looking insignificant against the vastness of the landscape.

Schlatt let out a low whistle, glancing over at you with a slight smirk as he gestured to the view. “Not bad, huh?”

“Not bad at all,” you agreed, your voice soft as you took it all in.

You both sat down, not too close—just far enough apart that the space between you felt noticeable, like a distance neither of you had yet crossed. And yet, as you sat there, legs dangling over the edge, you found yourself wishing the gap was smaller. Wishing you could inch just a little closer.

For a few minutes, neither of you spoke. The world around you was quiet, save for the soft rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze and the distant hum of life down below. The air still held that post-rain crispness, cool but refreshing, and the view was breathtaking. It was like being on top of the world, separated from everything else.

Schlatt shifted beside you, and you could feel the weight of his eyes on you, though you kept your gaze fixed on the horizon. He stole a few looks, his usual confidence dimming slightly as if he wasn’t sure what to say next.

After a while, he broke the silence, his voice unusually low, almost contemplative. “Y’know, from up here... everything down there looks so small.”

You glanced over at him, catching the way his eyes were focused on the distant town. “Yeah. It kinda puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?”

He nodded, his fingers idly tracing the edge of the ledge as he spoke. “Makes all the shit we worry about seem... I dunno. Stupid, I guess. Like, what’s one class or some bullshit drama compared to all this?”

You smiled softly. “Yeah. I mean, when you look at it like that, it does seem pretty insignificant.”

Schlatt leaned back on his hands, exhaling a long breath. “Shit’s weird, isn’t it? How we ended up here, just sittin’ together like this.”

You chuckled, remembering that night—the one where you met. “Yeah, it is. And to think it all started with you lying on a bed, smoking weed at some random party.”

He smirked at the memory, shaking his head. “Hey, I wasn’t just lying there. I was chillin’. There’s a difference.”

“Oh, of course,” you teased, nudging him with your elbow. “Because that’s so much better.”

Schlatt’s grin widened. “You didn’t seem to mind. You sat down next to me, didn’t you?”

You shrugged, a playful smile tugging at your lips. “I guess I was just tired of all the noise. Everyone was too busy being drunk and stupid. I just wanted to talk to someone who wasn’t... well, them.”

“Lucky me,” he quipped, though there was a softness to his tone now, a hint of something more beneath the surface. “I guess we both needed that.”

You nodded, your gaze drifting back to the horizon. “Yeah. I think we did.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke, the weight of those early days hanging between you. You’d both just needed someone back then—a friend, a real conversation in a world of superficial bullshit. And somehow, against all odds, you’d found each other.

The silence stretched again, but this time it felt different. Heavier. Laden with something unspoken, something neither of you had dared to voice.

Your heart pounded in your chest, each beat louder than the last as you sat there, the cool breeze brushing against your skin. You could feel the tension, that subtle but undeniable pull between you, growing stronger with each passing second. And Schlatt—despite his usual gruff exterior—wasn’t immune to it either. You could tell by the way his leg bounced slightly, as if he was trying to burn off some of the nervous energy crackling in the air.

Your thoughts raced, swirling with everything that had led you here—every joke, every shared glance, every moment of unspoken understanding. You could feel the weight of the words sitting on your tongue, the ones you’d held back for too long.

And then, before you could stop yourself, you said it.

“The word.”

It slipped out softly, almost like a whisper, but it hung in the air between you like a live wire.

Schlatt’s brows furrowed slightly as he turned to face you, the confusion etched into his usually sharp features. “What did you say?”

You swallowed hard, your heart racing in your chest as you met his eyes. The weight of the moment pressed down on you, the tension that had been building between you for weeks now threatening to spill over. There was no going back now, and you didn’t want to.

You took a deep breath, steadying your nerves before repeating yourself, this time louder, more sure.

“The word.”

Schlatt blinked, still staring at you like you were speaking in riddles. “What the hell are you on about?”

You let out a nervous laugh, more out of the overwhelming tension than anything. Of course, he didn’t remember right away. He wouldn’t. You shifted, feeling the cool stone of the ledge beneath you, your fingers tracing the rough edges as you tried to gather the courage to explain.

“Do you... do you remember the night we met?” you started, your voice softer now, a little tentative.

He raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. “Yeah, sure. You were the one sane person at that mess of a party. What about it?”

You smiled faintly, the memory of that night flickering in your mind. “You were lying on that gross bed, and you asked me to sit with you.”

Schlatt let out a small chuckle, nodding. “And you did. We talked for hours.”

You swallowed again, feeling that nervous energy pulse through you. This was the part that mattered. “Yeah... we did. And we talked about a lot of things—personal stuff, about dating, and I... I told you something.”

He tilted his head, a spark of curiosity in his eyes as if he could sense something significant about this moment but hadn’t pieced it together yet. “Okay... and what was that?”

You took another breath, feeling the weight of your confession settle over you. “I told you I’ve never dated anyone before. Never kissed anyone.”

Schlatt froze, the lighthearted energy between you shifting in an instant. His smirk faltered as he stared at you, the words sinking in. You could see the exact moment he remembered, the way his face softened, his usual sarcastic demeanor giving way to something much more serious.

“Yeah,” he said quietly, his voice lower now, more thoughtful. “I remember that.”

You felt the knot in your stomach tighten, knowing you were walking into the part that would change everything between you. “And you said—” You broke off for a moment, nerves threatening to get the best of you. “You said if I ever wanted my first kiss, to just...” You can't get yourself to finish the sentance

Realization hit Schlatt like a freight train. His eyes widened slightly, his mouth parting as the full weight of your words settled over him. He wasn’t the type to get flustered easily, but you could see that this moment—the significance of it—was hitting him hard.

“Oh, shit...” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He ran a hand through his hair, as if trying to process the gravity of what you were saying. “You’re serious?”

You nodded, your heart hammering in your chest. “Yeah. I’m serious.”

Schlatt’s usual bravado was nowhere to be found now. He was quiet, his gaze searching yours, trying to figure out if this was really happening. You could see the conflict in his eyes, the way he was trying to balance the weight of what this meant to you with his own feelings. This wasn’t a joke, wasn’t something casual. He knew that.

“You... you’re sure?” he asked softly, his voice lacking its usual edge. He sounded almost vulnerable, something you’d rarely seen from him.

You nodded again, more firmly this time. “I wouldn’t be saying it if I wasn’t sure, Schlatt. I... I’ve been thinking about this for a while.”

He was silent for a moment, his gaze flicking between your eyes, as if trying to make sure this was real, that you weren’t messing with him. You could tell he understood the gravity of the situation—that this wasn’t just some random kiss for you. You’d waited, saved it for the right moment, the right person.

And now you were telling him that person was him.

He exhaled a long breath, running a hand over his face. “Damn. You... you really want me to be the one?”

You couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at your lips, despite the nerves twisting in your stomach. “I mean... yeah. I wouldn’t have said anything otherwise.”

Schlatt stared at you, the usual teasing spark in his eyes replaced by something softer, something that felt far more raw and genuine. He reached up, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, like he didn’t quite know what to do with his hands.

“Alright,” he said quietly, his voice gentler than you’d ever heard it before. “If you’re sure...”

“I am.”

He let out another breath, a soft, disbelieving chuckle escaping him. “Goddamn, you’re somethin’ else.”

Without another word, Schlatt leaned in, his hand hesitantly brushing against your cheek as he closed the distance between you. You could feel your heart hammering in your chest, your breath catching in your throat as the world around you seemed to slow to a stop. The tension that had been simmering between you for months finally came to a head, the weight of everything unspoken suddenly hanging in the air between you.

His lips met yours, and the moment was... soft. Sweet. It wasn’t the rough, teasing kiss you might have expected from him, but something far more delicate. He was careful with you, his touch tender, like he knew how much this meant to you, how important it was that this moment was right.

And though it was your first kiss, it felt perfect.

His lips were warm, slightly chapped from the cool morning air, but they moved against yours with surprising softness, like he was holding back, trying not to overwhelm you. It was innocent, yet full of meaning. You could feel the months of tension, of unspoken feelings, pouring into that one kiss.

You pressed a little closer, letting yourself fall into the moment, into him. His hand slid down to cup your jaw, his thumb gently brushing against your skin as the kiss deepened, just a fraction. It wasn’t rushed, wasn’t hungry or frantic—it was slow, deliberate. He was taking his time with you, savoring the moment, making sure you felt every bit of it.

Your heart raced, your hands trembling slightly as you placed one on his chest, feeling the warmth of him through the fabric of his shirt. His heartbeat was steady beneath your palm, grounding you in the moment, as if telling you that this was real, that this was happening.

Schlatt pulled back just a fraction, his forehead resting against yours as he caught his breath. His eyes fluttered open, and he looked at you like he was seeing you for the first time. There was no sarcasm, no teasing smirk—just something soft and genuine, something real.

“You good?” he asked quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

You nodded, your breath still shaky from the kiss. “Yeah. More than good.”

He let out a soft chuckle, his thumb brushing gently over your cheek. “Goddamn, you’re somethin’ else,” he muttered again, shaking his head as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

You smiled, your heart still racing as the weight of the moment settled over you. This was it—the moment you’d been waiting for, the one you’d saved for so long. And somehow, despite all the nerves and tension, it was perfect. It was him.

For a long moment, neither of you moved, the world around you still as if it were holding its breath, waiting. The air was crisp and clean, the smell of rain still lingering, but all you could focus on was the warmth of Schlatt beside you, the way his hand still cradled your face, the way his breath mingled with yours in the quiet space between you.

And for the first time in a long while, everything felt... right.

--------- A/n: AH HOLY SHIT!!! ITS DONE OH MY GYAT. THEY SAID IT COULD COULDN'T BE DONE. THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD NEVER SEE THE DAY THAT WASABIDOTTIE WOULD ACTuALLY FINISH SOMETHING SHE STARTED. well look who is laughing now. look who did it. BOOM! ME

if you cant tell im very excited to have finished something. this one was a wooooozy but it was a blast to write. I just want to thank everyone who made it this far (: thanks for reading my rambelings you guys are so great. Okay i dont really have anything more to say. cool

-dottie <3

UGH THERES A PART 3 ??? I NEED TO READ THIS LATER

just say the word | schlatt pt 3

part one, part two

A few weeks had passed since that night of reckless mudding, and things between you and Schlatt had… shifted. It wasn’t anything you could easily put into words, but something had changed. You’d been spending more time together—whether it was late-night drives, dumb little errands, or just sitting on some beat-up couch, talking about nothing and everything. There was an ease between you now, a rhythm that felt natural, like the two of you had known each other longer than a few weeks.

But with that closeness came something else. Something that simmered just beneath the surface. It wasn’t romance, not exactly—neither of you were the type for that kind of thing—but there was a tension. A constant awareness of the space between you, of the way your conversations sometimes teetered on the edge of something deeper, something you weren’t quite ready to acknowledge.

Today, you found yourselves on one of those drives again. Schlatt’s car rattled down the road, the radio crackling with static as he fiddled with the dial. The sky was overcast, a blanket of grey that felt like it was pressing down on the world, making everything seem quieter, more intimate.

“You’re not actually trying to find music on that thing, are you?” you asked, watching him with mild amusement.

He snorted, giving up and turning the radio off completely. “Nah, radio’s been busted for years. Just pretendin’ to be useful.”

“Figures,” you muttered, leaning back in your seat. “Where are we even going, anyway?”

Schlatt shrugged, one hand on the wheel, the other resting lazily on the armrest. “Nowhere, really. Thought you liked that kind of shit.”

You did, but you weren’t going to admit it. “I’m starting to think you don’t have any real plans when we hang out. You just drive.”

“Yeah, well, keeps you guessin’, doesn’t it?”

He smirked, glancing over at you before turning his attention back to the road. For a moment, there was a comfortable silence, the sound of the tires on gravel filling the space between you. But then, out of nowhere, you felt it—the shift in the air, the weight of something unsaid settling between you.

“Alright, what’s up?” you asked, crossing your arms. “You’ve been weird all day.”

Schlatt’s grip tightened slightly on the wheel, his jaw flexing as he stared out at the trees that lined the road. He let out a heavy breath, and for a moment, you weren’t sure if he was going to brush it off with one of his usual jokes. But then he spoke, his voice lower than usual, quieter.

“You ever think about… what the hell we’re doin’? Like, with all this?”

You blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. “What do you mean?”

Schlatt rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. “I mean, we’ve been hangin’ out a lot. And I’m not complainin’. It’s been cool. Just… I don’t know. Feels like things are changin’ or some shit.”

You stared at him, unsure how to respond. There was something different about the way he was talking, the way he wouldn’t quite look at you. This wasn’t the same cocky, always-smirking Schlatt you were used to. This was something more serious, or at least, as serious as he got.

“Things are changing?” you echoed, trying to get a better read on him.

He shrugged again, his gaze still fixed firmly ahead, avoiding yours. “Yeah. Like… maybe I actually give a shit about this. Us. Whatever this is.”

Your heart did a weird flip in your chest, and for a second, you didn’t know how to react. You weren’t used to this side of him—the one that didn’t just deflect with a joke or brush everything off like it didn’t matter. You weren’t sure if you liked it, or if it scared you a little.

You tried to play it cool. “Are you saying you care about me, Schlatt? That’s dangerously close to sounding like feelings.”

He finally looked over at you, his smirk returning, but it wasn’t as sharp as usual. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, trouble. I’m just sayin’… I don’t hate this.”

You snorted, leaning your head against the window. “What a declaration of affection.”

Schlatt rolled his eyes, his fingers drumming restlessly on the steering wheel. He didn’t respond, but you could tell something was still on his mind. The car hummed beneath you, vibrating along the rough backroad as the sky above seemed to grow darker, the clouds heavy and thick, promising rain.

Then, without warning, there was a loud bang—a sharp crack followed by the unmistakable crunch of metal against something solid. The car jolted violently to the side as Schlatt yanked the wheel, cursing under his breath.

“Shit!” His voice was tight, panic just beneath the surface as the car careened off the road.

For a split second, everything went quiet. Time seemed to slow as the car skidded over the gravel, the tires fighting for traction as Schlatt struggled to keep control. Your heart leaped into your throat, and you instinctively braced yourself, gripping the seat as hard as you could.

And then, just as quickly as it had started, it was over. The car came to a shuddering halt in the ditch, the front end buried in the tall grass and mud. You sat there for a moment, stunned, your breath coming in sharp, shallow bursts as you tried to process what had just happened.

Schlatt slammed a hand against the dashboard, letting out a frustrated growl. “Goddammit.”

You blinked, still gripping the seat, your pulse racing in your ears. “What the hell just happened?”

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Hit a damn pothole. Didn't see it ‘cause of the rain comin'.”

You glanced out the window, noticing for the first time the light drizzle that had started to fall, the raindrops streaking across the glass in thin lines. It hadn’t been there a moment ago, but now the sky seemed ready to open up completely.

“Well, this is great,” you muttered, finally letting go of the seat and leaning back, your heart still pounding.

Schlatt slumped in his seat, glaring at the steering wheel like it had personally offended him. “Yeah. Real fuckin’ great.”

There was a heavy pause, the air in the car thick with tension—not just from the near-accident, but from the conversation before. The rain started to come down harder, tapping against the roof and windows like an impatient knock.

“You alright?” he finally asked, his voice softer now, less angry.

“Yeah,” you breathed, glancing over at him. “You?”

He shrugged, but you could tell he was more rattled than he let on. “I’m fine. Just pissed.”

You snorted, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, good news is… at least the radio still doesn’t work.”

He shot you a sideways look, a reluctant smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Funny.”

You grinned, the tension easing slightly, though the rain still beat down on the car in steady waves. For a moment, it felt like everything was suspended in this strange limbo—the aftermath of the near-accident, the lingering words he’d said, the way your heart hadn’t quite settled back into its normal rhythm.

After a long beat of silence, Schlatt leaned back in his seat, staring out the windshield, his fingers tapping a rhythm against his knee. “You know,” he began, his voice quiet, “I didn’t mean to freak you out back there. With all that ‘things are changing’ bullshit.”

You glanced at him, eyebrows raised. “You think that’s what freaked me out? Not the part where we almost died?”

He huffed a laugh, shaking his head. “Fair point. But I meant before. I wasn’t tryin’ to get all heavy on you.”

You sighed, looking out at the rain-soaked trees. “It’s fine. I get it. Things are… different now.”

“Yeah,” he muttered, almost to himself. “Different.”

For a moment, it felt like he was going to say something more, something important. But then, as if on cue, a car pulled up alongside you, headlights cutting through the misty rain. A trucker leaned out the window, offering help with a tow.

The moment shattered.

Schlatt grumbled, “Great timing,” and you couldn’t help but smile at the irony. Whatever serious conversation was brewing, it would have to wait.

The truck that pulled up beside you had one of those old-fashioned, grumbling engines that sounded like it was held together with duct tape and determination. Schlatt rolled down his window, leaning his arm out and squinting at the driver who waved over.

"Y’all good there?" the man asked, his voice loud over the rain.

Schlatt scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah, just hit a damn pothole and the car decided to go mudding without me this time.”

The guy chuckled, his gaze flicking to you for a moment before he nodded toward the front of Schlatt’s car. “Need a tow? Looks like you’re pretty stuck.”

Schlatt sighed, glancing over at you for a moment, then back at the trucker. “Yeah. If you don’t mind.”

“Not a problem,” the man replied. “Give me a sec.”

You stayed in the passenger seat as Schlatt got out, shaking off the rain as he made his way to the front of the car to inspect the damage. The drizzle had turned into a steady downpour, and you could barely see through the windshield now, the world beyond blurred into indistinct shapes.

You watched as Schlatt and the trucker hooked up a chain, their voices muffled by the rain. Your fingers drummed absently against your knee, nerves still rattled from the near-accident. You couldn’t stop replaying that moment—the way the car had swerved, the sudden rush of panic, and then that conversation hanging between you, unfinished.

When Schlatt finally got back in the car, slamming the door behind him, he was soaked to the bone. His hair stuck to his forehead, droplets of water running down his nose, and he looked more annoyed than ever.

“Looks like I banged up the front,” he muttered, wiping at his face with his sleeve. “Nothin’ too bad, but it’s gonna cost me.”

You winced. “Sorry.”

He waved it off. “Not your fault. Damn road’s a death trap.”

The truck started pulling you out of the ditch, the car jerking forward as the tires finally found traction. Schlatt held onto the wheel, gritting his teeth as the car groaned and rattled its way back onto the road.

Once you were free, the trucker waved a final goodbye before heading off, leaving you and Schlatt alone once more. The rain was still falling, but the world seemed quieter now, like you’d been dropped into a pocket of calm after the storm.

Schlatt leaned back in his seat, letting out a heavy breath. “Well, that was fun.”

“Fun?” you repeated, raising an eyebrow. “You call nearly crashing fun?”

He smirked, but there was a hint of something else behind it—something more serious, more unsettled. “Could’ve been worse. At least we’re not dead.”

You stared at him, wondering how he could be so blasé about it all. But that was just Schlatt, wasn’t it? Always brushing things off, never letting anything rattle him too much. It was a quality you envied sometimes, even if it frustrated you.

“So,” you said after a beat, glancing at him sideways. “What now? Do we just pretend like none of that happened?”

He gave you a look. “You mean the part where I almost totaled my car, or the part where I got all deep and philosophical?”

“Both, honestly.”

Schlatt chuckled, though it sounded a little strained. “Yeah, let’s just forget it for now. We can circle back when we’re not sitting in a half-broken car in the middle of nowhere.”

You nodded, but something in his voice made you feel like you wouldn’t be circling back anytime soon. He had a way of avoiding things—big things, especially. And as much as you wanted to push, to ask him what he really meant earlier, you knew now wasn’t the time.

Instead, you sat back, watching the rain as it streaked down the window. You half-expected the day to wind down quietly from there, but that wasn’t the kind of day you were having.

A few minutes passed in a comfortable silence before the engine sputtered, coughed once, and then died. Just like that, the car went completely still.

Schlatt groaned, banging his head back against the headrest. “You’ve gotta be fuckin’ kidding me.”

“What now?” you asked, your voice dripping with disbelief.

He turned the key in the ignition again, but all it gave him was a sad little whine. “Looks like the engine’s flooded.”

You stared at him, wide-eyed. “Are you serious? Schlatt, we’re in the middle of nowhere. In the rain.”

“Yeah, I noticed,” he grumbled, turning the key once more for good measure, though the car remained stubbornly dead.

For a second, neither of you said anything. Then, out of nowhere, you both started laughing. It was one of those weird, disbelieving laughs—the kind you couldn’t stop even if you tried. Because really, what else could you do?

Schlatt looked over at you, shaking his head. “You must be bad luck, y’know that?”

“Me?!” you shot back, still half-laughing. “This is your car, your decision to take us on some random back road.”

“Yeah, but you’re here, aren’t you?” He grinned at you, that familiar spark of mischief in his eyes. “Maybe the universe is tryin’ to tell us somethin’.”

“Oh yeah?” you asked, arching an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”

He shrugged, wiping some of the rainwater off his face. “Maybe we’re meant to suffer together. A test of endurance or some shit.”

You snorted, leaning your head back against the seat. “Great. Just what I needed—a cosmic test.”

Schlatt fiddled with his phone, staring at the "No Service" notification on the screen with increasing frustration. “You've gotta be fuckin’ kidding me,” he muttered under his breath.

You shot him a questioning glance.

He held up his phone. “No service. In the middle of nowhere. Rain pouring down. Lucky we even had that first tow come by. The universe’s playing a real funny joke on us.”

You glanced outside, where the rain had turned into a downpour, the drops pelting against the windshield like tiny bullets. The storm showed no signs of letting up, and the day was quickly fading into a dark, dreary evening. “So... what’s the plan? We walk?”

Schlatt shook his head, eyes narrowing like you’d just suggested something ridiculous. “There is no way in hell I’m lettin’ you walk for miles in this rain. You’d be soaked before you even hit the first sign of civilization.”

You raised an eyebrow. “And you think I’m gonna just sit here, alone, in your half-broken car in the middle of nowhere?”

Schlatt turned to you, one hand still resting on the dead steering wheel, and gave a sarcastic chuckle. “Yeah, I’m sure you’d have a great time babysittin’ this piece of shit car while I march off like a noble idiot.”

You crossed your arms, setting your jaw. “There’s no way in hell I’m letting you leave me here. This car could get hit by lightning or something, and I’d be stuck with no one to complain to.”

Schlatt snorted, shaking his head. “I’d hate to rob you of your favorite hobby.” There was a pause before he sighed, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling of his beat-up car. “Guess we’re not walkin’ anywhere, huh?”

You glanced around the cramped interior of the car, considering your options. “Looks like we’re staying here for the night. Not like we have many choices.”

The silence that followed weighed down on the two of you. The rain drummed on the roof, steady and relentless, as the realization settled in.

Schlatt glanced at you, something unreadable in his expression before he shoved his phone into the glove compartment. “Alright then. We make this hellhole as comfortable as we can. Not exactly the Four Seasons, but what else is new?”

You couldn’t help but smile at the absurdity of it all as you helped him push down the seats. There was a sort of forced intimacy in trying to create a makeshift sleeping area in his trashed car, wrestling with seat belts that didn’t quite fold the way they were supposed to. You threw a jacket over one of the seats, padding it as best you could.

As you sat back, adjusting in your now-horizontal position, you sighed. “I have class tomorrow morning. My professor’s gonna kill me if I miss it.”

Schlatt turned his head, his face lit up in the dim glow from the dashboard. “What, gonna cry about missing class? Sounds tragic.”

You shot him a look. “I actually care about my GPA, Schlatt.”

He snorted, leaning back. “That’s where we differ, trouble. I cared just enough to skate by, but not enough to sit through a lecture about... what was it, again? Basket-weaving?”

“It’s art history,” you corrected, rolling your eyes. “And I’d rather not fail.”

“Yeah, that’ll haunt you for the rest of your life,” he drawled, a smirk curling his lips. “Missing one class. Devastating.”

You shook your head, biting back a smile. “You’re impossible.”

He stretched his legs out, getting as comfortable as one could in his old beater of a car. “Impossibly charming, you mean.”

There was a beat of silence as you both settled into the odd situation. The rain continued its relentless patter, muffling the world outside, cocooning you both in the little bubble of Schlatt’s car.

“Can’t believe we’re stuck here,” you muttered.

“Could be worse,” Schlatt replied, his tone surprisingly calm. He glanced over at you, a smirk tugging at his lips. “At least you’ve got me to keep you entertained.”

“Oh joy,” you deadpanned. “The guy who nearly wrecked us and has no idea how to fix his own car.”

He chuckled lowly, his voice rich with amusement. “Hey, I got us out of the ditch, didn’t I?”

You smiled, shaking your head. “You’re lucky.”

“Damn right,” he shot back, but his tone softened after a moment. “Hey… you’ll make it to class. Might be late, but you’ll be fine. You’re good at this life stuff.”

You glanced at him, caught off guard by the sincerity. For a second, you thought about pushing the conversation back to what he’d started earlier—about things changing between you—but something about the quiet rain and the closeness of the car made you hesitate. Maybe now wasn’t the time.

Schlatt yawned, breaking the tension that had started to settle between you. “Try to get some sleep, trouble. Long night ahead.”

You turned your head toward the window, watching the raindrops race down the glass. The idea of sleep seemed laughable given the circumstances, but there was something strangely comforting about being here, with him. As much as you wouldn’t admit it, it felt like you were both exactly where you needed to be.

After what felt like an eternity of trying to get comfortable, a growl erupted from your stomach, loud enough to break the relative silence of the rainstorm outside. You groaned, turning your head to glare at Schlatt, as if somehow he was to blame.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly fighting a smirk. “You good there? Or is your stomach about to declare war on us?”

“I’m starving,” you admitted, feeling the hunger clawing at you now that you’d said it out loud. “What’re the chances you’ve got actual food in this disaster of a car?”

Schlatt’s grin widened, full of that familiar mischief. “I’m insulted. You think I don’t keep my car stocked with premium snacks for moments like this?”

“Considering your car is one pothole away from a complete breakdown, yeah, I’m not holding my breath.”

“Harsh,” he muttered, but there was a glint in his eye as he began rummaging through the glove compartment. “Alright, let’s see what we got here…”

You watched as he rifled through the mess of papers, receipts, and random junk. After a few moments, he pulled out an ancient-looking granola bar. The wrapper was half-torn, and the logo was so faded you couldn’t even tell what brand it was.

“Oh, no way I’m eating that,” you said, scrunching up your nose. “That thing’s been in here longer than I’ve known you.”

Schlatt held it up like it was a prized relic. “Hey, don’t knock it till you try it. These things have a shelf life longer than your art history lectures.”

You swatted his arm playfully. “I’m not that desperate.”

He smirked, tossing the granola bar into the backseat before diving into the center console. “Hold on, I know I’ve got something better...”

After a few minutes of digging, he unearthed a crumpled bag of chips. The label had long since faded, but you could tell they were the off-brand kind that probably came from a gas station no one should buy food from.

He shook the bag with a triumphant grin. “Dinner is served.”

You let out a snort. “Oh, great. I’ll just have a feast, then. What’s for dessert? Mints from the glovebox?”

Schlatt raised his eyebrows, clearly not above the challenge. “You joke, but…” He leaned over, reaching into the side compartment of his door and pulled out a handful of old, dusty mints. “Voi-fucking-là.”

You stared at the pile of questionable snacks he’d assembled and then burst into laughter. “This is the saddest meal I’ve ever seen.”

Schlatt tore open the bag of chips and shoved a few into his mouth, chewing noisily. “Hey, at least it’s not a full-on starvation situation. Could be worse.”

You grabbed a chip from the bag and popped it into your mouth. It was stale. “Could it, though?”

Schlatt leaned back against his seat, still chewing, looking far too proud of their little “meal.” “Survival’s about perspective, y’know? Some people get caviar, we get vintage chips and mints from 1995. Same difference.”

“Vintage chips,” you repeated with a laugh. “You really know how to sell a crappy situation.”

He shrugged, reaching for another chip. “You want a five-star meal, go find a food truck. You want a Schlatt special, you stay right here.”

You grinned, grabbing a mint to follow up the stale chip. “You’d probably charge me extra for this garbage if it was on a menu.”

“Absolutely,” he said with a smirk. “You gotta pay for the experience, trouble.”

As the two of you shared your sad, impromptu snack, the tension from earlier seemed to fade, replaced by the kind of easy banter that had defined most of your time together. Despite the rain pounding against the roof and the cold, damp air creeping into the car, there was something almost fun about the whole thing. Ridiculous, but fun.

Schlatt grabbed the old granola bar again, holding it up like it was some precious artifact. “I bet this is the secret weapon. You’re gonna thank me when this saves your life.”

“Or I’ll end up in the hospital with food poisoning,” you quipped, giving him a look. “Seriously, don’t eat that.”

Schlatt tore open the wrapper with exaggerated care and took a small bite. He chewed for a few seconds, then froze. His face twisted into a grimace, and he immediately spat it out into a napkin.

“Yeah, okay. That’s... that’s bad.”

You laughed, leaning back in your seat and shaking your head. “You didn’t really just do that.”

“Never doubt my commitment to the bit,” he grumbled, chucking the rest of the granola bar out the window. “That was a mistake.”

“Big mistake.”

“Shut up.”

As the two of you continued to joke and rummage through his car’s tragic stash of snacks, there was a moment where you glanced over at him, and something in your chest fluttered. It wasn’t anything serious—just that strange little feeling that had been lingering between you both for weeks now, simmering quietly in the background.

He caught you looking, raising an eyebrow. “What’s that face for?”

You shook your head, smiling. “Nothing. Just thinking this might be the worst meal I’ve ever had. Thanks for the ‘experience.’”

Schlatt leaned back in his seat, giving you a mock-serious look. “Glad to know I’ve left such a lasting impression.”

You snorted, tossing another chip into your mouth. “Oh, you have. Trust me.”

The rain continued to fall outside, and though the night had taken a turn for the absurd, you felt oddly content sitting there with him in the mess of his car, laughing over stale chips and broken mints.

As the two of you finished picking through the sad remnants of Schlatt’s stash, your fingers idly tugged at the flap of the center console, fishing around for anything else that might resemble food—or at least, something vaguely useful. You half-expected to pull out another expired snack or maybe a dead flashlight, but instead, your hand closed around something soft and familiar. You frowned and pulled it out, holding the object up for inspection.

It was a stuffed animal. Small, worn, and clearly well-loved, with one ear hanging by a thread and faded colors from years of handling. A bear, or maybe a dog, you couldn’t quite tell anymore. It was the last thing you expected to find in Schlatt’s disaster of a car, and the sight of it made you burst into laughter.

“What the hell is this?” you asked, holding the stuffed animal up and shaking it a little.

Schlatt’s head snapped toward you, his eyes widening. “Hey, hey, hey, give that back!” He reached for it, but you pulled it out of his reach, laughing even harder.

“Oh no way,” you said, still giggling. “Is this yours? Schlatt, is this your little car buddy?”

“Shut up,” he grumbled, his ears going pink as he grabbed for it again. “It’s not mine—it’s, uh, for my niece. I just forgot to give it to her, alright?”

You raised an eyebrow, smirking as you held the stuffed animal up in the dim light. “Sure. That’s why it looks like it’s been through the apocalypse. How long have you been ‘forgetting’ to give it to her? Ten years?”

“Okay, okay, fine,” he admitted, finally managing to snatch it out of your hands. He stuffed the bear back into the console, glaring at you, though his expression was more embarrassed than angry. “I’ve had it since I was a kid. Happy now?”

You leaned back in your seat, still chuckling. “That’s actually kinda cute, Schlatt. Didn’t think you’d have a sentimental side.”

“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it,” he muttered, crossing his arms. But there was a twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth, despite his attempt at looking annoyed.

You gave him a teasing grin. “I’m not gonna let you live this down, you know. ‘Tough guy Schlatt’ with his childhood stuffed animal in the car.”

“Keep talkin’,” he shot back, though his tone was lighter now. “And you’ll be walkin’ back to town.”

You both shared a laugh, the earlier tension easing away again. It was nice, this rhythm between you two—effortless, filled with playful banter that made even a situation like this feel fun. Who knew being stranded in the rain could turn into this weird, almost cozy kind of adventure?

The storm outside, though relentless, had become a sort of background noise, like a soundtrack to your strange little evening. It was comforting in a way, the steady patter of rain against the roof and the occasional rumble of thunder far off in the distance.

But after a while, the cold started creeping in. The windshield had fogged up, and you could feel the damp air pressing against your skin, making it hard to stay warm.

“We should probably try to get some sleep,” you said, glancing over at him. “Who knows how long we’re stuck here.”

Schlatt stretched his arms over his head, his back audibly cracking in the process. “Yeah, well, this is gonna be a hell of a setup. Welcome to Schlatt’s first-class sleeping arrangements.”

You looked around at the mess of the car, unimpressed. “First-class, huh? Feels more like economy on the world’s worst airline.”

“Hey, I’m not exactly workin’ with luxury here, alright?” He reached for the lever on the side of his seat and pushed it back as far as it would go, which wasn’t very far. The seat creaked, but it wasn’t going to flatten out anytime soon. “There. That’s about as good as it gets.”

You followed suit, pushing your own seat back until you were in a semi-reclined position. It wasn’t the most comfortable arrangement, but it would have to do. You glanced over at Schlatt, who had pulled off his jacket and balled it up into a makeshift pillow behind his head. You tried the same, adjusting your coat into a lumpy cushion, but no matter how you shifted, it still wasn’t quite right.

“This is gonna suck,” you muttered, fidgeting with your jacket.

“Yeah, well, it beats sleeping out in the rain,” Schlatt replied, tugging the brim of his hat down a bit. “You’ll be fine. Tough it out.”

You rolled your eyes, but there was no real bite to it. “Easy for you to say. You could sleep through an earthquake.”

He shot you a lopsided grin. “Damn right.”

The car had grown darker, the rain still hammering down outside, and it wasn’t long before the exhaustion from the day started catching up with you. But even as your eyelids grew heavy, the thought of sleeping in this cramped space, so close to Schlatt, had your mind spinning.

It wasn’t romantic or anything. Not really. But there was something about the quiet intimacy of the moment that made you hyper-aware of his presence beside you. The steady sound of his breathing, the occasional shift in his seat. The way the air between you felt thick with something unspoken, a tension that neither of you had acknowledged directly but was always there, simmering beneath the surface.

“So,” you said, trying to break the silence as you stared up at the foggy windshield. “What’s the plan? We just wait for some good Samaritan to drive by again?”

Schlatt shifted in his seat, letting out a long sigh. “Pretty much. Not like we got a lot of options. Could be worse, though.”

“Worse?” You snorted. “Like what, stuck in a car without stale chips and a mystery stuffed animal?”

“Hey,” he grumbled, turning his head to give you a mock-offended look. “That stuffed animal’s got more personality than half the people I know.”

You grinned, the banter feeling like a comfortable blanket over the awkwardness of the situation. “I’m sure it’s been great company over the years.”

Schlatt smirked. “More reliable than most. Doesn’t complain as much, either.”

“Touché,” you said, adjusting your jacket-pillow once more. “You sure we can’t do any better with the seats? Maybe flatten ‘em out or something?”

He laughed softly. “Sweetheart, if I could turn this car into a luxury bed, I would. You’re just gonna have to make do with the premium accommodations.”

“Premium, huh?” you muttered, giving your makeshift pillow a disgruntled look.

There was a pause, then Schlatt shifted again, looking over at you with a serious expression. “Look, if it’s too uncomfortable, you can—” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “I dunno, lean against me or somethin’. Not like we’re gonna get much sleep anyway.”

You blinked, surprised by the offer. “You sure you can handle that?”

He rolled his eyes, leaning back in his seat. “I’m a tough guy, remember? I’ll survive.”

You hesitated for a moment, but the cold and the discomfort eventually won out. Slowly, you shifted closer, resting your head against his shoulder. It wasn’t as weird as you thought it would be—his warmth was actually kind of nice, and for the first time since the car broke down, you felt the faintest hint of relaxation.

Schlatt didn’t say anything at first, just exhaled softly. Then, after a beat, he murmured, “Guess I’m not as bad of a pillow as I thought, huh?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” you replied, though there was a small smile playing on your lips. “You’re still not winning any comfort awards.”

“Figures,” he muttered, his voice sleepy. “Tough crowd.”

Despite the rain still falling outside, the world felt quieter, more settled now. It wasn’t exactly a perfect setup, but for the first time all day, it felt like maybe things were gonna be okay.

At least for now.

The warmth of Schlatt’s shoulder and the rhythmic patter of rain had lulled you into a surprisingly deep sleep. It wasn’t the most comfortable position—your neck was stiff, and your back ached—but it was better than nothing. When you woke up, the car was quiet, the rain had stopped, and Schlatt’s seat was empty.

Blinking, you stretched and sat up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. The windshield was fogged over, and the world outside looked washed clean by the storm. Sunlight filtered through the mist, casting everything in a soft, golden hue. For a moment, it was peaceful, almost serene.

Then you spotted Schlatt outside the car, leaning against the hood, his arms crossed as he talked to a woman standing next to her minivan. She had that frazzled, mom-on-a-mission look about her—messy ponytail, yoga pants, and the slightly haunted expression of someone who’d been wrangling kids since 5 AM. Behind her, the minivan looked like it had seen better days, with muddy soccer balls rolling around the back and half a dozen stickers peeling off the bumper.

You pushed open the car door, stepping out onto the wet ground. The air was crisp and fresh, carrying that unmistakable post-rain smell of wet earth and clean leaves. It was chilly, but in a refreshing way that made you breathe deeply. The world felt brand new, almost sparkling in the early morning light.

As you approached, Schlatt turned and gave you a nod of acknowledgment, though he immediately grimaced and clutched his lower back. “Mornin’, sunshine,” he grumbled. “You sleep like a rock, or did I just block out the pain?”

“Probably the pain,” you teased, glancing him over. Schlatt looked worse for wear—his hair was a mess, his clothes wrinkled and damp, and his usual snarky demeanor was clouded by exhaustion. But there was something almost endearing about how rough he looked. Like a grumpy, oversized cat that got caught in the rain.

“I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck,” he muttered, rotating his shoulders with a wince. “Everything’s sore. Neck, back, ass… never lettin’ you talk me into sleepin’ in a car again.”

“You’re the one who said ‘tough it out,’” you shot back, grinning.

He snorted but didn’t argue.

The woman, who had been patiently watching your exchange, smiled kindly at you. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “But I’m happy to give y’all a lift into town. I’m already heading that way—just gotta drop the kids off at their soccer game. There’s plenty of room in the back if you don’t mind squeezing in.”

You looked over at her minivan and quickly realized “plenty of room” was a bit of an exaggeration. Inside, you could see four kids—two older boys in the middle row, and two younger ones in the back. They were bouncing around, yelling about something or other, while a stray goldfish cracker rained down from a bag one of the kids had opened upside down. The van was… well, it was lived-in. Random toys, wrappers, and empty juice boxes littered the floor. It had the distinct, chaotic energy of a family on the go.

Schlatt raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “You sure about this?” he muttered under his breath, glancing at you like this was some kind of punishment.

You shot him a look. “We’re not exactly in a position to be picky.”

He sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, yeah. Fine. But if one of those kids sneezes on me, I’m out.”

The woman laughed. “They’re not contagious, I promise.”

“Coulda fooled me,” Schlatt grumbled, heading toward the van.

The two of you climbed into the back row, squeezing into the tight space next to the youngest child, a wide-eyed seven-year-old with messy brown hair and a dinosaur shirt. He looked up at Schlatt like he’d just seen a celebrity. “Whoa, you’re tall,” the kid blurted out.

“Yeah, well, don’t spread it around,” Schlatt replied, half amused, half annoyed as he awkwardly settled into the cramped seat. His knees were practically up to his chest, and the back of the seat in front of him jabbed into his shin. He looked at you like this was some kind of cosmic joke. “You better appreciate this.”

You stifled a laugh, elbowing him gently. “Oh, I do. Trust me.”

As the van rumbled to life and started down the road, the seven-year-old—who introduced himself as Liam—immediately launched into a barrage of questions. “What happened to your car? Did it break? Are you a mechanic? How tall are you? Are you married? My dad’s tall but not as tall as you. What’s your favorite dinosaur? Do you like soccer? I don’t like soccer but my mom makes me play. Do you—”

“Kid, slow down,” Schlatt muttered, looking like he was seriously regretting getting into the van. “One question at a time.”

You shot him a sideways glance. “Be nice,” you said in a teasing whisper, nudging his arm.

Schlatt sighed, leaning his head back against the seat with a groan. “Yeah, yeah.” He looked at Liam and managed a half-smile. “Alright, uh… favorite dinosaur? Gotta be a T-rex. Classic.”

Liam’s eyes lit up. “Whoa, cool! Mine’s a Velociraptor ‘cause they’re super fast. Do you know how fast they are?”

Schlatt leaned forward, clearly bracing himself for more, but there was something softer in his expression now. “Yeah, kid, I know. They’d probably outrun me if I wasn’t so tired.”

Liam giggled, clearly delighted. “You’re funny!”

“Yeah, I’m a real comedian,” Schlatt muttered under his breath, but you could tell he was warming up to the kid. His gruffness had softened into something more bearable.

Meanwhile, the van bumped along the wet roads, the smell of rain-soaked earth still hanging in the air. You gazed out the window, watching the fog slowly lift off the fields as the morning sun peeked through. Despite the cramped van, the mess, and the noise, it felt strangely peaceful—like the storm had cleared away more than just the clouds.

The mom glanced at you in the rearview mirror, smiling warmly. “So, what brings you two out here anyway? Doesn’t seem like the kind of place you’d be visiting on purpose.”

You exchanged a quick look with Schlatt, and he shrugged before answering. “Car trouble. We got stuck out in the middle of nowhere, figured we’d wait it out.”

The woman raised an eyebrow, her eyes flicking between the two of you. “Car trouble, huh? Just the two of you out here together?”

You could hear the curiosity in her voice, and you weren’t entirely sure how to respond. Schlatt didn’t seem to care much, though, because he shot back with his usual dry wit. “Yep. Just the two of us, stranded and miserable. Real bonding experience.”

You rolled your eyes, but the woman chuckled. “Sounds like it. You two must be close to handle something like that.”

Schlatt glanced at you out of the corner of his eye, he clears his throat awkwardly, “Uh, yeah.”

You could feel your face heat up slightly, but you played along. “Yeah, it’s definitely been a memorable adventure.”

The woman smiled, clearly entertained by the dynamic between you two. “Well, I’m glad I could help you out. Not many people come through these parts, so you’re lucky I spotted you.”

“Yeah, lucky,” Schlatt grumbled, though his tone was lighter now. He adjusted himself again in the cramped seat, looking down at Liam, who was still fidgeting excitedly next to him. “Alright, kid, lemme guess—you wanna know what happened to my car next?”

Liam nodded eagerly. “Yeah! Was it a big crash? Did it flip over? Did you have to call the cops?”

“No cops,” Schlatt said with a sigh. “Just a dumb pothole and some bad luck. The car’s fine, more or less. I’m just… y’know, a little pissed off about it.”

“Yeah, but now you’re in a cool van with me!” Liam exclaimed, clearly seeing this as the highlight of his morning.

Schlatt looked over at you, shaking his head with a half-smile. “The universe is playin’ one hell of a joke on me.”

“Hey,” you said, grinning. “At least it comes with goldfish crackers and gummy worms.”

He snorted, looking down at the scattered remnants of snacks at his feet. “Some luxury.”

Liam was practically glued to Schlatt’s side now, eyes wide as if Schlatt was some kind of superhero. Every word Schlatt said, no matter how sarcastic or grumpy, had the kid nodding in awe, like he was soaking up wisdom from a sage.

“So, you’re like… super tough, right?” Liam asked, staring up at Schlatt with a mixture of reverence and curiosity. “Like, if a bear attacked, you’d probably just punch it, huh?”

Schlatt blinked at him, clearly caught off guard by the mental image. “Uh… sure, kid. I’d punch a bear. Why not.”

Liam’s jaw dropped in wonder, and Schlatt shot you a look that said, What the hell have I gotten myself into?

You stifled a laugh, watching Schlatt slowly become the coolest person ever in Liam’s eyes. It was funny, seeing him try to handle the kid’s endless enthusiasm while also keeping his usual dry demeanor. He grumbled and rolled his eyes, but there was a slight twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth. Whether he liked it or not, he was starting to enjoy the attention.

The van trundled along for another few miles, bumping over potholes and kicking up mud. The soccer fields and backroads gave way to civilization once again—small-town gas stations, worn-down diners, and old signs covered in rust. The world had woken up fully now, with early morning sunlight casting long shadows across the roads.

Finally, the woman pulled into the parking lot of a small, rundown gas station. The kind of place that hadn’t seen a renovation in decades, with peeling paint and an ancient neon sign that flickered weakly.

“Alright, this is where I drop you two off,” she said, looking back at you and Schlatt in the rearview mirror. “Hope you can get your car sorted out.”

Liam looked crestfallen, his eyes darting between Schlatt and the gas station. “You’re leaving already?”

Schlatt, clearly feeling the weight of the kid’s disappointment, patted him awkwardly on the shoulder. “Yeah, gotta figure out how to get the hell outta here. But, uh, keep practicing those soccer moves. Maybe next time, you’ll outrun a velociraptor.”

Liam’s face lit up like Schlatt had just given him the world’s greatest advice. “Okay! I will! Bye, Schlatt! You’re the coolest!”

You both stepped out of the van, giving Liam a wave as his mom pulled away. The quiet settled over you again, the din of the minivan replaced by the hum of traffic and distant birds. You glanced over at the gas station in front of you, grimacing at the state of it. There was nothing “charming” about this place—it was the kind of gas station you stopped at out of desperation, not choice.

“Well,” you said, adjusting your jacket. “This is… nice.”

Schlatt grunted, running a hand through his messy hair. “Yeah, real five-star accommodations. Just what I needed.”

The two of you made your way inside, the bell above the door jingling weakly as you stepped into the dingy convenience store. It smelled like old coffee and stale air freshener, and the shelves were cluttered with snacks that probably hadn’t moved in years.

“I’m gonna use the bathroom,” you said, eyeing the grimy floor with some hesitation. “Wish me luck.”

Schlatt chuckled, his voice still raspy from the lack of sleep. “Yeah, good luck. Don’t catch anything.”

You shot him a look and headed toward the back of the store, finding the bathroom door marked with a crooked “Out of Order” sign that someone had crossed out. The light inside flickered when you turned it on, and the mirror was covered in smudges, barely reflecting anything properly. But when you finally caught a glimpse of yourself, you winced.

You looked rough. Your hair was tangled, damp from the rain, and sticking out in odd places. There were dark circles under your eyes, and your clothes were wrinkled and stained from the mud and car ride. Honestly, it was a miracle you’d managed to look even remotely put-together at any point in the last 24 hours.

“Great,” you muttered to yourself, trying to smooth down your hair with your hands, but it didn’t make much difference.

By the time you left the bathroom, Schlatt had wandered over to the coffee station. He was hunched over, inspecting the machine like it had personally offended him. He shot you a glance as you approached, raising an eyebrow.

“Yikes,” he said. “You look like you’ve been through hell.”

You rolled your eyes. “Thanks, Schlatt. So do you.”

He chuckled, grabbing a paper cup and filling it with the gas station’s sorry excuse for coffee. “Want one? It’s probably terrible, but at this point, who cares?”

You sighed, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was just after 6 AM. “Sure. I’m already late for class anyway. Might as well add bad coffee to the list of disasters.”

Schlatt handed you a cup, his smirk widening as he took a sip from his own. “Attagirl. If you’re gonna suffer, at least do it with caffeine.”

You smiled, feeling a little better despite the circumstances. The coffee was terrible, as expected, but it was hot, and you were grateful for that. Schlatt leaned against the counter, his eyes scanning the parking lot through the smudged window.

“So, what’s the plan?” you asked.

He pulled his phone out, glancing at the screen. “Already texted Ted. He’ll come pick us up in a bit. Said he’s about an hour out, so we’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the sights.”

You snorted. “The sights? Like this gross bathroom and stale snacks?”

“Exactly,” he said, grinning. “Nothing but the best.”

You both sipped your coffee in silence for a moment, the exhaustion from the night settling in fully now. The gas station may have been grimy, and the situation less than ideal, but there was something oddly comfortable about it. Maybe it was the shared misery, or maybe it was just being around Schlatt, who always seemed to make the worst situations a little more bearable.

As you leaned back against the counter, you glanced out the window, watching the morning sun rise higher into the sky. The storm had passed, and the world felt fresh again. It wasn’t the morning you’d planned, but in a weird way, you didn’t mind. Especially not with Schlatt there, complaining about everything but still sticking by your side.

You raised your coffee cup to him with a smirk. “To bad luck, terrible coffee, and weird road trips.”

He clinked his cup against yours. “And to me not punching a bear.”

Schlatt could tell you were trying to play it cool, but he wasn’t an idiot. Despite all the joking and banter, you were upset. Missing class, the sheer chaos of the last 24 hours—it was weighing on you. He could see it in the way you were fidgeting, your eyes downcast as if you were trying to hide the disappointment behind a casual smile.

“Hey, wait here,” he muttered suddenly, disappearing into the gas station before you could ask why.

You leaned against the front window, arms crossed, trying to convince yourself you were fine. Schlatt being his usual self—loud, sarcastic, a little ridiculous—was keeping your mind off things, but underneath it, you were still frustrated. The practical side of you hated being off-track, missing things you shouldn’t, and this entire mess had thrown you completely out of sync.

A few minutes later, Schlatt emerged with a lopsided grin and two crinkly bags in hand. He waved them triumphantly as if he’d just solved all your problems. “Breakfast of champions,” he declared, holding up a pack of stale mini doughnuts and a granola bar that looked like it had been in the store since the 90s.

You couldn’t help but laugh, even if it was a little half-hearted. “You’re joking, right?”

He gave you a mock-offended look. “What? You’re tellin’ me this gourmet shit isn’t good enough for you?”

“Gourmet?” you snorted, rolling your eyes but reaching for the doughnuts. “You sure know how to treat a girl.”

“Damn right I do,” he shot back, giving you a smirk before tossing the granola bar into your hand. “Come on. Let’s walk it off ‘til Ted gets here. Place like this is depressing.”

You both set off along the edge of the parking lot, your steps falling into a natural rhythm as the early morning air settled around you. It felt crisp and clean, with that earthy smell that only comes after a storm. The sun was beginning to peek through the clouds, casting soft light over everything. The world seemed quieter, more peaceful now that the rain had passed, but there was an energy between the two of you that felt anything but.

The silence stretched, comfortable but thick, like there were a thousand things unsaid hanging in the air. Every so often, your hands would brush as you walked, sending little jolts of awareness through you. You kept your eyes on the ground, trying to focus on the crunch of gravel under your shoes rather than the growing tension swirling between you.

Schlatt cleared his throat after a few minutes, breaking the silence with his usual rough-edged humor. “You know, you should’ve seen the look on that kid’s face when I told him about the truck. I swear, I think I just made his year.”

You smirked, shaking your head. “He probably thinks you’re some kind of hero now. A dude who wrecks his car and somehow makes it cool.”

Schlatt laughed, that deep, unrestrained sound that always made your chest feel lighter. “Damn straight. Gotta give the kid something to aspire to.”

“Yeah, ‘cause crashing cars and eating gas station doughnuts is the pinnacle of achievement.”

“Hey, don’t knock it,” he teased, nudging your arm lightly with his elbow. “Could’ve been worse. At least we didn’t end up stranded with some weirdo offering us an even grosser ride.”

You glanced at him, the corners of your mouth tugging into a soft smile. Despite the chaos of it all, the morning had a strange calm about it. As much as you hated that you’d have to miss class and deal with the repercussions later, being here with Schlatt, in this weird, unexpected moment, felt... right. Like something about it had fallen into place without either of you realizing it.

Still, you couldn’t resist teasing him a bit. “You know, I’m gonna be so behind because of this.”

Schlatt stopped mid-step, turning to face you with an exaggerated look of guilt. “Damn, trouble, if I knew you were so heartbroken over it, I would’ve risked getting hit by lightning to push the car myself.”

You rolled your eyes, but his dramatic act was enough to crack through your tension. “Yeah, well, somehow I think it’s gonna take more than you playing the hero to fix that.”

He gave you a long, sideways look, something softer glinting in his eyes, though his tone was still laced with sarcasm. “Don’t worry, I’ll bribe your professor or somethin’. Flash my winning smile. Works every time.”

You snorted, shaking your head. “Your smile? Please.”

“Hey, it’s better than yours,” he shot back, his lips quirking into that familiar smirk. “But in all seriousness…” His voice softened a bit, and the humor in his eyes dimmed. “You good? I know you’re pissed about missin’ class.”

You hesitated, chewing the inside of your cheek. “I’m fine. It’s just… I don’t like being off track, y’know?”

He nodded, surprisingly understanding for a guy who normally brushed things off. “Yeah, I get that. But, look, we’ll be back soon enough, and you’ll catch up. Ain’t the end of the world.”

The way he said it, calm but reassuring, made you feel just a little better. There was something about Schlatt—underneath the snark and sarcasm—that had a way of grounding you. And right now, you needed that.

After a few more minutes of walking, the silence between you felt less heavy, the awkwardness fading into something more comfortable. You both fell back into your usual banter, talking about the mess of the past day—the mud, the tow truck, the rain, the soccer mom’s chaotic van. It was like you were weaving all the ridiculous moments together, making light of them to push away the frustration of the situation.

But even as you joked and laughed, there was an unspoken awareness lingering between you. Each shared glance, each small smile felt a little different, loaded with something neither of you had acknowledged yet. That same something that had been simmering between you for weeks now.

You both eventually found yourselves on a small outcropping, a natural ledge that overlooked the forest, the trees stretching out in an endless sea of green beneath you. Beyond the thick canopy, you could just make out the faint outline of your college town on the horizon. The buildings were tiny dots in the distance, looking insignificant against the vastness of the landscape.

Schlatt let out a low whistle, glancing over at you with a slight smirk as he gestured to the view. “Not bad, huh?”

“Not bad at all,” you agreed, your voice soft as you took it all in.

You both sat down, not too close—just far enough apart that the space between you felt noticeable, like a distance neither of you had yet crossed. And yet, as you sat there, legs dangling over the edge, you found yourself wishing the gap was smaller. Wishing you could inch just a little closer.

For a few minutes, neither of you spoke. The world around you was quiet, save for the soft rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze and the distant hum of life down below. The air still held that post-rain crispness, cool but refreshing, and the view was breathtaking. It was like being on top of the world, separated from everything else.

Schlatt shifted beside you, and you could feel the weight of his eyes on you, though you kept your gaze fixed on the horizon. He stole a few looks, his usual confidence dimming slightly as if he wasn’t sure what to say next.

After a while, he broke the silence, his voice unusually low, almost contemplative. “Y’know, from up here... everything down there looks so small.”

You glanced over at him, catching the way his eyes were focused on the distant town. “Yeah. It kinda puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?”

He nodded, his fingers idly tracing the edge of the ledge as he spoke. “Makes all the shit we worry about seem... I dunno. Stupid, I guess. Like, what’s one class or some bullshit drama compared to all this?”

You smiled softly. “Yeah. I mean, when you look at it like that, it does seem pretty insignificant.”

Schlatt leaned back on his hands, exhaling a long breath. “Shit’s weird, isn’t it? How we ended up here, just sittin’ together like this.”

You chuckled, remembering that night—the one where you met. “Yeah, it is. And to think it all started with you lying on a bed, smoking weed at some random party.”

He smirked at the memory, shaking his head. “Hey, I wasn’t just lying there. I was chillin’. There’s a difference.”

“Oh, of course,” you teased, nudging him with your elbow. “Because that’s so much better.”

Schlatt’s grin widened. “You didn’t seem to mind. You sat down next to me, didn’t you?”

You shrugged, a playful smile tugging at your lips. “I guess I was just tired of all the noise. Everyone was too busy being drunk and stupid. I just wanted to talk to someone who wasn’t... well, them.”

“Lucky me,” he quipped, though there was a softness to his tone now, a hint of something more beneath the surface. “I guess we both needed that.”

You nodded, your gaze drifting back to the horizon. “Yeah. I think we did.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke, the weight of those early days hanging between you. You’d both just needed someone back then—a friend, a real conversation in a world of superficial bullshit. And somehow, against all odds, you’d found each other.

The silence stretched again, but this time it felt different. Heavier. Laden with something unspoken, something neither of you had dared to voice.

Your heart pounded in your chest, each beat louder than the last as you sat there, the cool breeze brushing against your skin. You could feel the tension, that subtle but undeniable pull between you, growing stronger with each passing second. And Schlatt—despite his usual gruff exterior—wasn’t immune to it either. You could tell by the way his leg bounced slightly, as if he was trying to burn off some of the nervous energy crackling in the air.

Your thoughts raced, swirling with everything that had led you here—every joke, every shared glance, every moment of unspoken understanding. You could feel the weight of the words sitting on your tongue, the ones you’d held back for too long.

And then, before you could stop yourself, you said it.

“The word.”

It slipped out softly, almost like a whisper, but it hung in the air between you like a live wire.

Schlatt’s brows furrowed slightly as he turned to face you, the confusion etched into his usually sharp features. “What did you say?”

You swallowed hard, your heart racing in your chest as you met his eyes. The weight of the moment pressed down on you, the tension that had been building between you for weeks now threatening to spill over. There was no going back now, and you didn’t want to.

You took a deep breath, steadying your nerves before repeating yourself, this time louder, more sure.

“The word.”

Schlatt blinked, still staring at you like you were speaking in riddles. “What the hell are you on about?”

You let out a nervous laugh, more out of the overwhelming tension than anything. Of course, he didn’t remember right away. He wouldn’t. You shifted, feeling the cool stone of the ledge beneath you, your fingers tracing the rough edges as you tried to gather the courage to explain.

“Do you... do you remember the night we met?” you started, your voice softer now, a little tentative.

He raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. “Yeah, sure. You were the one sane person at that mess of a party. What about it?”

You smiled faintly, the memory of that night flickering in your mind. “You were lying on that gross bed, and you asked me to sit with you.”

Schlatt let out a small chuckle, nodding. “And you did. We talked for hours.”

You swallowed again, feeling that nervous energy pulse through you. This was the part that mattered. “Yeah... we did. And we talked about a lot of things—personal stuff, about dating, and I... I told you something.”

He tilted his head, a spark of curiosity in his eyes as if he could sense something significant about this moment but hadn’t pieced it together yet. “Okay... and what was that?”

You took another breath, feeling the weight of your confession settle over you. “I told you I’ve never dated anyone before. Never kissed anyone.”

Schlatt froze, the lighthearted energy between you shifting in an instant. His smirk faltered as he stared at you, the words sinking in. You could see the exact moment he remembered, the way his face softened, his usual sarcastic demeanor giving way to something much more serious.

“Yeah,” he said quietly, his voice lower now, more thoughtful. “I remember that.”

You felt the knot in your stomach tighten, knowing you were walking into the part that would change everything between you. “And you said—” You broke off for a moment, nerves threatening to get the best of you. “You said if I ever wanted my first kiss, to just...” You can't get yourself to finish the sentance

Realization hit Schlatt like a freight train. His eyes widened slightly, his mouth parting as the full weight of your words settled over him. He wasn’t the type to get flustered easily, but you could see that this moment—the significance of it—was hitting him hard.

“Oh, shit...” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He ran a hand through his hair, as if trying to process the gravity of what you were saying. “You’re serious?”

You nodded, your heart hammering in your chest. “Yeah. I’m serious.”

Schlatt’s usual bravado was nowhere to be found now. He was quiet, his gaze searching yours, trying to figure out if this was really happening. You could see the conflict in his eyes, the way he was trying to balance the weight of what this meant to you with his own feelings. This wasn’t a joke, wasn’t something casual. He knew that.

“You... you’re sure?” he asked softly, his voice lacking its usual edge. He sounded almost vulnerable, something you’d rarely seen from him.

You nodded again, more firmly this time. “I wouldn’t be saying it if I wasn’t sure, Schlatt. I... I’ve been thinking about this for a while.”

He was silent for a moment, his gaze flicking between your eyes, as if trying to make sure this was real, that you weren’t messing with him. You could tell he understood the gravity of the situation—that this wasn’t just some random kiss for you. You’d waited, saved it for the right moment, the right person.

And now you were telling him that person was him.

He exhaled a long breath, running a hand over his face. “Damn. You... you really want me to be the one?”

You couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at your lips, despite the nerves twisting in your stomach. “I mean... yeah. I wouldn’t have said anything otherwise.”

Schlatt stared at you, the usual teasing spark in his eyes replaced by something softer, something that felt far more raw and genuine. He reached up, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, like he didn’t quite know what to do with his hands.

“Alright,” he said quietly, his voice gentler than you’d ever heard it before. “If you’re sure...”

“I am.”

He let out another breath, a soft, disbelieving chuckle escaping him. “Goddamn, you’re somethin’ else.”

Without another word, Schlatt leaned in, his hand hesitantly brushing against your cheek as he closed the distance between you. You could feel your heart hammering in your chest, your breath catching in your throat as the world around you seemed to slow to a stop. The tension that had been simmering between you for months finally came to a head, the weight of everything unspoken suddenly hanging in the air between you.

His lips met yours, and the moment was... soft. Sweet. It wasn’t the rough, teasing kiss you might have expected from him, but something far more delicate. He was careful with you, his touch tender, like he knew how much this meant to you, how important it was that this moment was right.

And though it was your first kiss, it felt perfect.

His lips were warm, slightly chapped from the cool morning air, but they moved against yours with surprising softness, like he was holding back, trying not to overwhelm you. It was innocent, yet full of meaning. You could feel the months of tension, of unspoken feelings, pouring into that one kiss.

You pressed a little closer, letting yourself fall into the moment, into him. His hand slid down to cup your jaw, his thumb gently brushing against your skin as the kiss deepened, just a fraction. It wasn’t rushed, wasn’t hungry or frantic—it was slow, deliberate. He was taking his time with you, savoring the moment, making sure you felt every bit of it.

Your heart raced, your hands trembling slightly as you placed one on his chest, feeling the warmth of him through the fabric of his shirt. His heartbeat was steady beneath your palm, grounding you in the moment, as if telling you that this was real, that this was happening.

Schlatt pulled back just a fraction, his forehead resting against yours as he caught his breath. His eyes fluttered open, and he looked at you like he was seeing you for the first time. There was no sarcasm, no teasing smirk—just something soft and genuine, something real.

“You good?” he asked quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

You nodded, your breath still shaky from the kiss. “Yeah. More than good.”

He let out a soft chuckle, his thumb brushing gently over your cheek. “Goddamn, you’re somethin’ else,” he muttered again, shaking his head as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

You smiled, your heart still racing as the weight of the moment settled over you. This was it—the moment you’d been waiting for, the one you’d saved for so long. And somehow, despite all the nerves and tension, it was perfect. It was him.

For a long moment, neither of you moved, the world around you still as if it were holding its breath, waiting. The air was crisp and clean, the smell of rain still lingering, but all you could focus on was the warmth of Schlatt beside you, the way his hand still cradled your face, the way his breath mingled with yours in the quiet space between you.

And for the first time in a long while, everything felt... right.

--------- A/n: AH HOLY SHIT!!! ITS DONE OH MY GYAT. THEY SAID IT COULD COULDN'T BE DONE. THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD NEVER SEE THE DAY THAT WASABIDOTTIE WOULD ACTuALLY FINISH SOMETHING SHE STARTED. well look who is laughing now. look who did it. BOOM! ME

if you cant tell im very excited to have finished something. this one was a wooooozy but it was a blast to write. I just want to thank everyone who made it this far (: thanks for reading my rambelings you guys are so great. Okay i dont really have anything more to say. cool

-dottie <3

SQUINCHY BBY OMG IM GONNA CUM IN MY PANTS!!! 🩵🩵🩵🩵

oh my god i would go FERAL for an extension off of the virgin!schlatt fic. imagine him eating you out for the first time, you’re expecting him to not be that talented at it, i mean hey, he’s never eaten pussy before. but that boy is a QUICK leaner and already remembers where the clit is from when u showed him, he basically eats you like his life depends on it and jesus christ where u not expecting it. and he doesn’t stop after u cum once, no, he had u riding his face and doing round after round.

and of course our like virgin baby cums his pants while he’s eating 😇

THANKYOU BEAUTIFUL

teehee i hope you enjoy (not proofread or beta read by anyone!!)

schlatt just kind of shows up at your apartment one day, not long after you take his virginity

knocks on the door and just stands there awkwardly, waiting for you to answer

and when you do, you're in just a bra and sweatpants, getting ready for a class in an hour

brushing your teeth so you can't do anything but grunt as he pushes past you into your place

"what the fuck?" you manage to ask through a mouthful of toothpaste

he closes the door behind you both and kinda hesitates for a second

"...the plan was to kiss you but i can't really do that, i guess."

you squint at him and walk down the hallway and into your bathroom after gesturing for him to follow you

he does, and when you finish brushing your teeth, you turn to him and flash him a sparkling grin

not two seconds later, he has you pushed up against the door with his tongue down your throat

after a few heated minutes of exploring each other's mouths, you pull away and place your hand on his chest

"what the fuck was that?"

schlatt's face flushes and he looks away

he does not have the right to be embarrassed after just showing up here like that?? wtf

you sigh frustratedly and try to coax it out of him

eventually he just lets it all out

"i can't stop thinking about you. i don't feel like i did good enough, made you feel good enough, last time. i just- i wanna make you feel good."

he will not meet your eyes

which tells you he's serious

stunned, you blink a few times and try to think of what to say

"i mean. it was nice?"

he winces and you start to panic

"nonono, it was great!! i'm sorry, i just don't know what to say. no guy's ever come back unless it was for them," you state bitterly

schlatt lets out a shaky breath

"this is for me. somewhat," he admits. "i can't handle knowing i didn't make you feel the way i felt."

his fingertip brushes over your cheekbone as he studies your face

you blush and use the hand you have on his chest to grab a fistful of his hoodie and pull him down to kiss you

it's soft this time, sweeter than the frenzied one the two of you had just shared

he does slide his tongue into your mouth again though, gently and with so much love

you jump and wrap your legs around him so that he's holding you and gasp when he clumsily moves his lips to kiss around on your exposed neck

"take me to my bedroom," you tell him, voice dripping with desperation

he moans quietly and does as he's told, carrying you to your bed and placing you down carefully

"have you ever- hey. schlatt. look at me." you have to snap your fingers to get him to focus back on your face and the words you're speaking instead of your body under him

once he does, you smile

"good boy. have you ever eaten pussy before?"

he nearly faints from the praise as he shakes his head

"that's alright. i'm gonna teach you, 'kay?"

he nods this time, mesmerized by the sight of you stripping off the clothes you had on

the second he's able, his eyes are trained on your wet cunt

he starts forward like he's about to touch you but then falters, eyes flicking upwards to gauge how you would respond

and of course, you gesture for him to explore however he wants

letting out whorish noises the second he dips one slender finger into your hole

he's constantly switching his eyes between watching your expressions and admiring how his digit slides in and out

you squeal when he inserts another and bring one leg around him to pull him closer

"use your mouth, schlatt. look, remember where the-"

you cut yourself off with a shriek as he immediately presses an open mouthed kiss to your clit

holy shit

he remembers

"fuck!! ohh, god, that's so good. you're such a quick learner, huh?"

the praise makes him groan into your pussy, the vibrations causing your legs to tremble

at this point both of them are locked around him, trapping him against you

he's eating you like you're his last meal

taking note of what motions make you scream his name the loudest and which ones don't do as well

your hands are tangled in his hair, and every time he does something particularly pleasurable, you tug on it tightly

which makes him whimper, of course

which in turn makes you twitch; it's a whole cycle

he makes you cum quicker than you thought he would

much quicker, actually

and then he just keeps going!!

pumping his fingers in and out, with little grace at first, since he has to get used to using his mouth at the same time

but once he figures it out, you're praying your roommate doesn't get home until later because the sounds coming from your room are filthy

he pulls away a few minutes after making you cum for the first time

and you whine but he just shakes his head, panting

"sit on my face?"

of course, you oblige- sure, he just wanted to feel like he was suffocating, but if you get something out of it, why shouldn't you give him what he desires?

and then you're on top of him, grinding down onto his tongue as he laps at your clit and sopping hole

he's wrapping his arms around your thighs and trying to pull you down farther

your back arches as you wail how good he feels

but something's building in your stomach?

and as soon as you realize what it is, you try to climb off of him, so you don't fucking waterboard him???

but he won't let you, and you're trying to warn him what's about to happen, but it's too late

you squirt all over his face, soaking his hoodie and some of the sheets underneath you

he groans loudly and just. keeps. going.

he's determined to pay you back, orgasm for orgasm

three from last time for him minus the one you had then, and also the two you just had... you're even now, right?

except you aren't, because schlatt just came so fucking hard in his pants

so now he has to give you just one more

and he will not let you off of his face until you cum on it one more time

it doesn't take long, you're so overstimulated

"please!! please, i can't- it's too good!" you scream

you can feel him grin against your cunt as he continues licking and sucking, teasing you with his tongue

"schlatt!!!"

you're clawing at his arms, trying to get him to release you, because at this point you're sobbing from how incredible he's making you feel

finally, you cum, your entire body shaking before you go limp and collapse backwards onto him

giving him like, the perfect view of your abused pussy

"jesus, i thought you said you had never done this," you joke

"i hadn't. i just needed to make you cum, so i learned."

he says it so matter-of-factly

"also, you might wanna get up, i... i came in my pants," he mumbles

"eugh!!"

Bro's like... so cutesie 🎀

been capturing the times he laughs for real

I WANT IT!!!

i need to chew on charlie. hes so babygirl, i need to ruin him. im bouncing on it til he cant cry anymore. yknow what im sayin?

for you? anything.

fuckleweekverse. jealous!reader and little brother! charlie.

canonish. who cares it's my own fic lol

Salty skin heaved under your tongue as Charlie tried to hold back his noises, the thick cords of muscle in his neck quivering beneath the scrape of your teeth. You weren't allowed to bite him, not there -- he had practice nearly every day this summer, and any errant mark would surely get him heavily questioned.

The practice was the reason he was in this particular mess, anyway.

"C'mon, Charlie, I still need to cum again and you're trying to tap out?"

Charlie sniffled as he looked up at you, his baby blue eyes surrounded by damp eyelashes. After the first orgasm, the tears had beaded up as the overstimulation took over. By the second one, they'd been flowing back down his face towards his ears as you bounced away on his cock, switching paces, grinding your hips against him. Your own legs burned with the ache as you kept riding, but you refused to show weakness. This was his punishment, not yours.

Some new girl, some other kid's sister, had tagged along to practice. You'd seen her when you'd picked Charlie up. You'd seen how she'd been eyeing your brother - her eyes trailing over each droplet of water as they slid down his sculpted back and tight, muscular thighs.

That would have been fine, other than the fact that you'd only seen her expression and his back at the same time because they'd been talking. He was a little red, and you knew it wasn't from sunburn.

You saw even more red when that bitch touched his arm.

So you'd dragged him home, and pulled him into your room as soon as you'd gotten in the door. Him and his endless energy had gotten you both off once, but you were going to ruin any idea of touching another girl. Why would he, when your pussy could get him off like this?

"Please, sis, please-- I can't, I can't do another one," His hips and those perfect jutting hipbones were sloppy with the last two loads he'd pumped into you. "I-- I'm sorry, I--"

You slowed to a halt, offering relief but not completely as you sat there with him hilted as deep as he could go into your cunt. He was flagging inside of you, no longer able to bump up against your cervix with every bounce.

"You love me, right, Charlie?" You breathed, looking down at his flushed face and messy hair, still damp from the shower after the pool.

"Y--" He was trying to catch his breath still, meeting your eyes regardless. "Yeah, I do."

"Only me, right?" You purred, slowly pulling off of him. You could see not just your combined messes below you but the bruises on his inner thighs you'd left, the only place nobody would ever find them. "Nobody comes between us."

"Only you." Charlie answered correctly, and you pulled off the rest of the way. You immediately kissed his tears away, licking the salt from your lips again.

"That's a good boy. I love you, Charlie. Feel like cleaning me up a bit?" Your own pussy felt empty after so long of being filled, the second orgasm teasing at the edges of your mind.

"Gimme a minute and I will," Charlie nodded breathlessly, catching your head with a shaking hand as you went to pull away, pulling you into a kiss.

No matter what dumb sluts threw themselves at him, they'd never give him what you could. After all, he was a degenerate just like you. No other girls would even want him.

Maybe it was evil. But...

Was there any other way to ensure he stayed your little brother forever?

-

yan!reader more like. idk btw it's like late as fuck rn i was working on a lab report that's due in not enough hours. some charlie to ease the pain shall heal me 🙏

He wouldn't but I'd like to imagine it

The way I need baby Schlatt is outraaageous...

i am begging on my knees for more lunchclub/younger schlatt like how u did in ur xreader chuckle series 😖😖😖😖 it was saurrrrr good

pretend i didn't get this ask literally months ago. sorry but only kinda

fuckleweek canon between puppy love and belly of the beast, probs

It's not like you were expecting it to be anything more than a one time thing, because that would have been insane. What you'd done was already past deranged, so thinking that it would happen again and you'd continue to evade the consequences hanging over your head like a sword of Damocles was...

Well.

It should have been enough to dissuade you from doing it again.

Judging by the fact that you were currently feeling your knees get rugburned like hell as teenaged hips slammed into your own over and over.

"Ghhck--" You heard a groan get bit back and you pull forward, turning back from your position on your elbows to look back at Schlatt, his face and neck burning hot and the hem of his shirt in his mouth.

"Better not be cumming so soon." You grinned, sticking the tip of your tongue out between your teeth. "It's only been a minute."

"I--" He couldn't meet your eyes, turning his head away. "I haven't--"

"You haven't gotten off since you were over last, huh?" You pulled off of him more and moved your hand back to prevent Schlatt from fucking into you, leaving only his tip inside of your cunt as you swayed your hips back and forth. "You're pent up. Your hand isn't nearly as good as my pussy, is it?"

He shook his head, gripping at your hips with those dainty fingers he had. "God, no, not even close. Please, god please can I keep fucking you, holy shit--" "Only if you promise to keep going until I come, no matter how many times you do."

"Deal." He barely let your last word leave your mouth before overpowering your faint resistance and plunging back into your hole, his first orgasm of many overtaking him moments later.

--

hope you enjoyeddddd <33333

The shirt is oddly accurate to my own interpretation

i got that bloody lip tint that's on tiktok and ive been wearing it pretty religiously since

i think my lips are a little stained. but in a sexy way where they look bruised and bitten. ive been wearing it pretty consistently since Saturday (got it Friday) so.

anyway when you're jerking off to me remember my lips are blood red. i don't know what you guys think i look like but just add that in there.

Thank you 😋

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Charlie Slimecicle. One shot. PLEASE.

What video...

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Charlie Slimecicle. One shot. PLEASE.

Mama Moisty we bark for you any day of the week 😔✊

oh my god you all think im intimidating? first of all: hot. second of all: LMAO i love u. i literally look like this btw

ur allowed to be not scared of me if youre one of my beautiful mutuals who barks for me. mwah.

"They all need to be in my mouth" is so true 😵‍💫😔

pancakes waffles or french toast

depends

like I have waffles every week bc of where I work so they're not as appealing in terms of novelty. pancakes are also basic but they're way easier to add stuff into. french toast is good but also the easiest to make so again, lack of novelty.

but at the same time, waffles are perfect for meals OR desserts. pancakes and french toast make great sandwich bread. also when they're perfect, they're truly perfect.

it's like the chuckle boys. i can't choose just one. they all need to be in my mouth.