Memory - Adam Stanheight / Reader

Memory - Adam Stanheight / Reader

A/N this was inspired by Taylor Swift's song 'Red'

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You picked up the newspaper. It was wrinkled and cold, and aged to fit the part. You still couldn’t believe it had been so long since the accident. You still felt empty sometimes, but now that it was over, it was a little bit more manageable. Jigsaw had been arrested this time, finally. At least, that’s what it said three years ago, perhaps it wasn’t still true.

As you looked at the picture on the front page, you felt cold chills surge up inside you. It was a picture of Adam Faulkner Stanheight, in one of his more casual looks. He was smiling awkwardly, looking at the camera reluctantly, almost like he didn’t want his picture taken. You had taken it, and you remembered that moment vividly.

You had accompanied him to one of his client’s places. You had attended just for fun, despite having no real purpose being there. Adam was glad you were there, though. You both had a bunch of fun, messing around with the camera, laughing and taking selfies. Of course, this was after Adam’s photoshoot of his client. You had felt so happy, so refreshed then.

Adam had dared you to take a good picture of him. He had given you the camera, but he didn’t believe you could do it. You waited for a long time, never once keeping your eyes off your boyfriend, just waiting for the right time. You made a couple of jokes, and off-handed comments, trying to distract Adam from you.

“You can’t get me by surprise,” Adam said. “I’m too wary…”

“I don’t know about that,” you replied.

Adam raised an eyebrow at you. But little did he know, you had already outsmarted him. “Are you gonna have a smoke?”

“What?” He wondered. “I didn’t bring any cigarettes with me-”

“Are you sure about that? You know I always keep a few on me… Just for YOU.” You reached into your back pocket and held out a cigarette.

Adam eyed it distrustfully and then said, “Why… Why do you WANT me to take it? This is unlike you…”

“Well… Can you say no to this?”

Adam took it from you. “Not if you push it into my face… It’s a good thing I always keep a lighter on me for scenarios like these.”

You smirked. “Of course I do. Go on. I’ve got all the time in the world.”

Adam tilted his head at you. “What the hell? Why are you so eager for me to start smoking? This isn’t something normal.”

“No,” you assured him. “You just… look really hot when you're smoking…”

Adam laughed, and you raised the camera.

Snap!

One single picture of your beautiful boyfriend. He looked embarrassed to realize your words. “Oh, you don’t mean that…”

“Yes, I do,” you whispered. “I got a picture of you. It looks really good, baby.”

Adam grimaced, and nearly dropped his lighter. “You can’t be serious! There’s no way you got a photo. I look disgusting!”

You shook your head. “No, you don’t.”

“I love you,” you whispered the next part in real life, as you came out of your flashback.

“ ‘I love you, too,’ he said.”

The newspaper in your hands was claiming the tragic death of your beloved boyfriend, giving the grim details of Jigsaw’s game.

That moment in the client’s backyard came flooding you again. You could hear Adam’s voice in your ears loudly. “I love you, too.”

Fuck…

His hands traveled down your jaw, his eyes shining. He had pinned you to the grass after you took the picture. “Who gives a damn about the cigarette at this point? You’re looking so fuckable right now.”

You squeaked, and laughed. “No. You’re just saying that.”

“Show me the picture.”

“Okay.” You fumbled with the camera before flipping through its contents and selecting the last one. You held it up for Adam to see.

He looked at it halfheartedly. “Well, I guess I don’t look like a mess in that one. But… I still look stupid.”

You cupped his cheek. “What? No, you don’t! Of course you don’t! Come on, when will you see yourself the way I see you? You’re beautiful. Everything about you is beautiful!”

“ ‘Hardly’.” Your voice echoed around the apartment, and you sighed sadly.

Where are you, Adam? I miss you. It’s getting lonely in here.

You put the newspaper on the counter again, Adam’s secondhand smoke filling your nose and his touch corrupting your nerves. You were pulled back into the memory.

“Adam,” you grumbled unhappily, feeling your boyfriend’s breath on your neck. “Stop being so negative about yourself. You’re better than that!”

“Fine, for now.” Adam shrugged, and then started kissing you roughly on your skin.

You groaned and leaned your head back. His lips traveled down to your collar bones, and you let him have his way with you. It felt so good. “Oh, baby…”

“Hm? Like that? Good thing we’re here all by ourselves…” He glanced over at his client, who gagged, and pointed to the driveway. He was trying to indicate that, if they were gonna fuck, they were gonna have to leave. “Alright. Maybe not,” Adam added and sat up.

Your cheeks were hot and flushed, you could barely breathe. “O-Okay… Yeah, let’s leave… I… Want you now…”

Adam gathered himself up. “Sure thing, princess/prince.”

You cringed. “Don’t call me that.”

Adam smirked. “My princess/prince.”

You dashed across the yard. “Catch me!”

The flashback ended suddenly as you felt strong arms wrap around you. That familiar tangy scent wreathed around you enticingly. You melted into the embrace. “ ‘Easy. I’m faster than you anyway’...”

That was the response he gave you that day.

“Adam!” You flung yourself around and hugged him tightly.

Your boyfriend, fiance now, was smiling down at you smugly. “What? Thinking about me?”

You blushed and looked down. “Uh… Y-Yeah… I was…”

Faulkner noticed the newspaper on the counter, and he took it in his fingers gently. “What’s this doing still around?” He threw it in the basin. “You know Jigsaw’s in jail for what he did.”

You couldn’t meet your lover’s eyes. Self consciously, you mumbled, “I… know… but you weren’t here, and this is such a good picture of you. That’s why I gave it to the press all those years ago.”

Adam went rummaging through the pile of magazines. “Well, why don’t you use THIS one?” He threw you another newspaper.

The front page was splashed with the same picture of him, and the headline read:

‘Missing Adam Stanheight Still Alive?’

You gravely admitted, “That one was closer.” You looked into the basin.

“ ‘Stanheight says ‘the police were outside already when my cellmate got out. He was able to alert them to my presence.’ It was a miracle he got out, but what has he been doing this whole time’?” Adam was reading a clip from the newspaper.

“I can’t believe the police tracked your phones through all that. I mean, that one brilliant officer who thought to look BEHIND Jigsaw’s hideout, must be rich.”

“I’m glad they did, though. I woulda been dead meat.”

"And afterwards you just stayed with me to recover."

"I didn't forget."

You pulled Adam down. “I’m so sorry. Please cuddle me.”

Adam straddled you. “Anything for my sweet princess/prince.”

You wriggled. “Why do you still call me that?”

“Because that’s what you are. My royal highness.”

“Oh, stop exaggerating!”

“Hey, I learned to love myself, now it's your turn!”

You beamed at him. “Okay. I am your highness...” The words felt strange to say, and you shuddered at them.

“Better.”

"But that means you're my Survivor," you said cheesily.

"Fine by me." Adam started kissing you on the lips, and you moaned into him.

“I love you,” you whispered.

Adam’s eyes flicked down your body. “Oooh, I love my baby more than they can imagine.”

Chills ran up your spine, and you put your head on his chest. Adam hugged you close, murmuring sweet nothings into your ear, and making you feel good. This was what you needed. Oh yes, this was what you DEFINITELY needed.

Finally… You’re home…

Car Ride - Adam Stanheight / Reader

A/N This is inspired by Chasing colors, by Marshmello!

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You felt refreshed. The sunlight warmed your skin, the wind blew in your hair, and the sound of the squeaky tires made you excited. You gripped the steering wheel tightly in your clasp, as the music blasted your ears. The roof was rolled all the way down so that you were in direct contact with the outside atmosphere. Adam Faulkner was beside you, but you were so focused on the road that he kept flickering in and out of your vision. You could smell the cigarette smoke coming from the passenger’s side, where Adam was located.

Bright, rainbow, lights flashed wildly in your eyes. You found it hard to keep your eyes on the road, but you could see well enough to have an idea of where everything was situated. You were going down fast. Fast, fast, fast. So very fast. You loved it.

“Y/N,” Adam mumbled around his cigarette. “Don’t you think you should slow down a little bit?”

You squinted your eyes, trying to see around the rainbow streaks of light. You grunted. “No way.”

Adam blew out on his cigarette, and then leaned over to you. He kissed your cheek gently, and started combing his fingers through your hair. You could feel his body heat creeping up your skin.

“A-Ahh,” you stammered.

Faulkner nuzzled your cheek, and whispered “I miss you over here. When will we be home?”

“Um… I don’t know…” You grumbled. “Sorry. I’m not going home yet.”

Adam kissed you again, and then sat back in his seat. He continued to smoke. You rounded a corner aggressively, your tires skidding all along the black pavement, screaming at you all the while. You never let up from the gas. Not once. You took delight in watching the trees and fields and other cars pass by so quickly you couldn’t even tell what they were. They all looked like colorful blurs at the side of your vision. You liked it for some reason; you were pretty sure it was because it took your mind off reality.

There was a break in the music, putting the car in total silence. Adam took this moment to speak. He said, “I just don’t want you getting hurt, Y/N. Will you please slow down? It’s really not your time to join…” he looked up at the sky.

You let out a condescending scoff. Adam could be so overprotective of you. “Baby, I’m not gonna get hurt. This is all just good fun. You worry too much, won’t you relax? Just for right now.”

“I mean… your life matters, don’t you know that? Please, stop the car.”

Your mind went blank suddenly. You couldn’t even believe the words you were hearing. “I’m not here to kms!” You shouted at him. “I’m here because I need to relax. Christ, Adam, take a chill pill.”

“I… didn’t think that…” Adam stammered slowly. “I was just worried that you might get in an accident.”

“Oh my god, baby, why are you doing that?”

“Doing what?” Adam inhaled once again on his cigarette.

“Referring to me in singular, like you’re not here with me.”

“Oh yeah…” Adam mumbled. “I guess I wasn’t really thinking straight.”

“What does that mean?” You asked him incredulously.

“I’m just not as worried about myself as I am about you. I love you. I don’t want you to leave this world.”

“Oh, so it’s okay for you to go?”

“Well… no, that’s… I didn’t mean it like that. Of course I value my life, but… you come first.”

You shivered, getting a weird sense of dejavu. You looked at him in suspicion, but Adam only pointed out the windshield. “Look at the road!” He exclaimed.

You brought your eyes back to where they should have been. Nothing was out of sorts, but Adam was being his usual, anxious self.

“Holy shit, Y/N. You can’t just do that!”

You sighed heavily, and grabbed the steering wheel harder. “Sorry. Sheesh.”

“Are you trying to get yourself… Are you trying to get us killed!?”

He had to correct himself? You asked yourself. What the fuck is going on with you today, baby?

“I always go this fast, what are you talking about?”

“You know the speed limit is thirty five, right? What is this?” He peered over your shoulder to get a glimpse. “Sixty!?”

You rolled your eyes. “What’s the matter, Adam? I don’t understand! You’re being strange.”

Adam was oddly silent. He raised the cigarette to his mouth again, and didn’t answer you. You licked your lips nervously, unsure of the situation. You just wanted everything to be normal. “I know it’s been rough after everything that’s happened. I’m just glad you’re able to go on rides with me. It makes me feel really happy.”

Adam took a deeper breath on his cigarette and let it out slowly. The conversation ended after that, and the music popped back on. You weren’t really in the mood to listen to it anymore, but it gave you something to concentrate on, so you didn’t turn it off.

Your vision blurred, the rainbow lights flashed once more. You kept your eyes open though, for Adam. Adam would be panicking if you closed your eyes. Adam didn’t say anything even though he could see you losing yourself. You were impressed by that.

The drums and guitar bounced around the car and echoed in your ears. Synthesizer calmed your nerves and the beat was steady. You enjoyed everything that you were hearing. You sighed. “Are you okay?” You asked Adam.

His voice was quiet when he spoke, and his words seemed to fade in and out throughout the sentence. “I don’t want you to go through what I went through.”

“Is that what you’re worried about?” You smiled in amusement.

“I don’t want you to end up like me.”

Confusion engulfed you. “What?”

“Oh, look at that,” Adam whispered gravely, looking into the rearview mirror.

You followed his gaze. There were red and blue flashing sirens coming up behind you. You started to slow down. “You think they’re after me?”

“Eh,” Adam shrugged. “More or less, I suppose.”

Adam’s indifference concerned you. “What?”

“Let’s just see what they have to say.”

“I don’t get it…” You told him. “Why doesn’t this concern you?”

“Who said it didn’t?” Adam shot back, and then rolled up his window.

You raised an eyebrow at him. “You want me to suffocate on your secondhand smoke!?”

Adam flickered in front of you. Your eyes stretched wide in alarm and you backed away. Adam moved again, and a shadow flickered across his face. You realized that it was only a shadow. You couldn’t really relax after that though.

Turning, you met the officer who had been tailing you. “Excuse me,” he said.

You bowed your head respectfully. “I’m sorry sir. I was unaware of what street I was on,” you lied. “It won’t happen again.”

“I’m not here for your speeding,” the policeman said casually.

You tilted your head at him. “What?”

“I think a friend is looking for you. Do you recognize this name?” The officer handed you a paper with a name and birthdate on it.

Your hands trembled as you looked at it. That was your best friend’s name! “W-What happened? Are they okay!?” Your heart beat increased drastically. Fear pulsed through your veins. You didn’t want to find out that they were dead!

This can’t be happening! I’ve seen way too much death recently!

Adam scoffed at you suddenly. “You act like you haven’t though,” he commented. “You pretend like everything’s okay, when you know it’s not. Come on baby, put two and two together.”

You looked over at him. He had his eyes closed and his head leaned back on the headrest. His cigarette was held perfectly in the corner of his mouth, and his hands were folded together on his stomach. He looked perfectly relaxed. Your mouth flapped open and closed uselessly.

Was he reading my mind?

“Your friend is fine,” the officer said calmly, interrupting your train of thought.

“Oh, well that’s good-”

“L/N,” the man said straightforwardly. “I just need you to step out of the car. You’re not allowed to be driving. And not to mention, you’re not supposed to be unsupervised.”

“ ‘Unsupervised’?” you looked to your right. Adam was still sleeping next to you. You poked him, and he looked at you darkly. “I’m not.”

“ ‘You're not’?” The officer asked you in contempt. His eyes flashed around the car quickly, and then he leaned down in front of you. “Well, where’s the other person?” His voice dripped with superiority.

Your mind was running at one hundred miles per hour. You were trying to wrap your mind around this concept. You gazed at Adam again. Adam had his arms over his chest now, a smug look on his face. “Tell him… Go on, now. Tell him who you’re with.”

Confused, you said softly, “Adam… I don’t understand… Please help me understand.”

“Adam?” The officer asked in disbelief. “L/N, I’m sorry but… your boyfriend died in Jigsaw’s game three months ago.”

Your flushed face turned to him in anguish. “What!? No, you’re insane, you must be! Adam’s been here the whole time, I’ve been riding with him the whole time, you can’t be serious!”

The policeman simply wrote something down in his notepad. Nonchalantly, he inquired, “Your friend wants to know if you’ve taken your medicine today.”

“My medicine? What medicine, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“This?” The man held up a red bottle. Something in your mind snapped. You recognized it from somewhere.

“That… is mine…” You clumsily admitted. “I don’t know why I need it.” You looked at Adam for help.

Adam blew smoke into your face, you coughed and glared at him. “I knew it was a bad idea to be speeding,” he informed you offhandedly.

“Adam, stop!” You wailed, and grabbed his shoulders. You shook him. “Please help me! Please, I don’t understand what’s happening! I miss you, that’s all! I just want to know what’s going on!”

Adam took his cigarette and put it in your hand. “Take the medicine. Go back to your friend, and remain there.”

“But I don’t want to leave you!” You cried. You buried your face into his shoulder. Adam held you close. “That’s why I stopped taking the medicine!” You gasped once the words left your mouth. “That’s why… I drove down here. I was going to your apartment.”

“Not a good idea,” the policeman cut in.

“ ‘Someone already moved in there’,” Adam said knowingly.

“Someone already moved in there,” the policeman said right after. His voice was serious.

You shuddered. “But I want to stay with you. You seem real. You give me everything I need.”

“Well, maybe that’s because it’s not quite all your imagination…” Adam breathed.

“So you are real?”

Adam frowned. “I shouldn’t be,” he said at last.

“So you are!?”

“Take your pills,” Adam advised.

“No, I don’t get what you mean.”

“You will,” Adam promised, then leaned back into the seat. He didn’t take his cigarette from you.

Cautiously, you turned back to the man, who was waiting awkwardly for your psychotic break to be over. “I’ll take them,” you said uneasily. “I’ll take them for Adam. He wants me to.”

The officer gave you a cup of water, and a pill from inside the bottle. You swallowed it easily. It was way more easy than you were expecting, almost like you’d done this many times before.

“L/N, can you please get out of the car? I need to take you home.”

You clambered out of the car reluctantly, Adam was still sleeping inside. “What about…?”

The condescending officer looked at you empathetically. His demeanor changed to something more light. “Don’t worry. Adam will be okay. You know he’s safe where he is, right?”

You stared at the car miserably. “No,” you said honestly.

The officer gently pulled you into the police car and started to take you home. “What’s in your hand, sweetie? I’m sorry, I call everyone ‘sweetie’ regardless of their gender.”

You felt safer now. Your mind was starting to relax. You opened your hand slowly, and looked into it. Adam’s cigarette was still resting there, burnt up and put out. You were in no mental state to understand how Adam’s cigarette was in your physical hand while he himself was not here at all. You rolled it back and forth between your palms during the whole ride.

Emptiness swam inside your stomach, and filled up your lungs. You couldn’t really breathe around the tightness. Finally the medicine started acting up. You felt yourself resurfacing, felt yourself regaining your thoughts.

You stumbled into your best friend’s arms, and let them hold you. You were getting an earful from them but you couldn’t hear the words. Behind your friend’s back, you unfolded your palms again. Not even registering your friend’s embrace, you only focused on your belongings.

You could almost feel Adam in your hand at this moment. Just having the cigarette in your fingers was mesmerizing. If you couldn’t be with Adam again, then you refused to let this thing go. Ever. That was just how your life was gonna be. There was nothing anyone could do about it. You closed your fingers around it protectively, secretly. No one would ever find THIS.

Cornelia Street

A/N This is a long story inspired by Cornelia Street which is a Taylor Swift song. Also, if y'all are getting my content let me know via message or comment! I haven't seen any activity for a month... :( anything helps ~ TwooneZ. <3.

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Breathe, you told yourself. Breathe. Just breathe. You’ll be fine. You closed your eyes, trying to lose yourself. That! Right there! Oh, yeah…

The sparks on your lips lit up like fireworks. You opened and closed your mouth. Feeling Adam Stanheight’s mouth working wonders on your lips was amazing. A little bit of biting was included.

The street lights flashed by the window, filling the car up with dim, golden, light.

Adam’s hands were on your skin, crawling up your body, under your clothes, rubbing on sensitive and non-sensitive places, filling you up with affection and attention. His gentle kisses fell from your mouth to your jaws. He sent a trail all the way down to the bottom of your ear. 

You leaned into him, moaning, gasping, breathing. Waves of dopamine rolled over you continuously, setting your mind at ease, pleasuring you, but only just. 

Adam let his lips fall to your neck, caressing you softly. He left marks on your skin, causing you to shiver and shudder, but that didn’t make him think to stop, he liked it. He messaged the same place on your neck with his lips until it was numb and bruising, and then he kept going. Taking care of you was his first priority. 

You were pinned between the car door, and your boyfriend. The cold glass of the window pressed into your back, and the door handle jammed into your side, but you didn’t care. Adam was all you could think of. 

You gasped audibly, making the driver flinch. Adam only grabbed your knees and stretched them away from each other. Faulkner was making bold advances, but you liked it. If you both weren’t so drunk, then maybe you’d have a little more compassion for the uber driver, but you were shitfaced.

Adam’s sloppy kissing was more than arousing. Somehow, you were for it. Your boyfriend’s hands started brushing up along your inner thigh, his thumb rubbing circles. His lips had gone from your neck to the center of your chest. He was making sure not to ruin his piece of artwork. 

You choked on air, as Adam used his free hand to stroke your cheek. You felt his calloused hand go up and down your cheek. Up and down, up and down, lulling you to sleep. You turned your head into his palm, taking in his smokey scent. You loved that smell, loved how it stung the back of your throat. 

Adam started to work his way back up your body, while his hand found an interesting place to linger. You rolled your head back so it was leaning on the window. Adam brushed his nose past all the places he had kissed, stopping by your own nose. He smiled against your lips slightly, and pecked the very edge of your mouth. You were driven mad by this, he knew it.

A silence drifted between you as you looked into the other’s eyes, mesmerized. Dazzling, gleaming, streams shone in Adam’s eyes, pulling you deeper into his trance. His brown eyes made you hungry for more. 

Your boyfriend kissed you again on the edge of your mouth, and then kissed your upper cheek, where he trailed his nose back down your face towards your lips. You trembled a little at the soft feeling of his nose grazing your chin, and then stopping at your nose again. 

His breath was warm and wet as it wafted past your face. You could smell the leftover metallic from his previous cigarette. You hummed out in contentment, happiness filling you up just like bubbles expanding in the bath. You grabbed Adam’s wrist and sighed. 

Adam was already undoing the button to your jeans. Clearly he had major plans for tonight. 

You tilted your head at him, and giggled. 

“Shh,” Adam whispered in your ear. “Let me take care of you.”

His words blended together like a long susurrus, and wreathed around you. You breathed in his scent deeply and collapsed onto the window, blacking out finally. Adam put his forehead on your chest, his eyelids getting heavy. He took a look at his partner one last time. You were so attractive laying like that. Damn, if only he’d been a little quicker, maybe he would have had time to actually fuck you. Oh well, that was for another time. Right now… he could really use a nap. Adam fell asleep on your chest.

When you awoke the next morning, you had a pounding  headache. You could hear something coming from the bedroom. It sounded like… Adam… but there was another voice there with him. They were talking about the next series of photoshoots. A client must have come over while you were sleeping. You got up, the whole world flipped upside down, and you sank onto the couch again. You ended up crawling on the floor just so you could get some refreshing water. 

You could barely remember what happened last night, you vaguely knew what had happened on the ride home but that was it. However, you still had a major arousal, and some kind of relief would be appreciated. You would wait to ask Adam.

After a few minutes you were able to stand up properly, without feeling nauseous and falling over. You headed into the bedroom, and pushed the door open. Your vision was kinda blurry, but that was okay, it would pass. 

You entered the bedroom slowly, gripping the glass of water in your hand tightly. In the back of the room you could see Adam with his camera up to his face. He was taking pictures of a young woman. She wasn’t dressed much, save for a couple of silks. Adam usually didn’t do THIS kind of thing. But, you assumed he had agreed to it last night when he was drunk, and now was going through with it. It was fine. You were used to him having other people over. It wasn’t like he was banging them or anything, he was a photographer… Freelance photographer to be exact. 

“Who’s that?” The young woman asked strictly. “You said no one was here! Is that why you had me walk through the living room with my eyes closed!? Are you cheating on me?”

“What?” Adam asked, baffled, and stared at the young woman. Obviously, he was still too hungover to process anything correctly as well. 

“I said, who is that woman!?”

Adam looked over his shoulder at you. You could see how bloodshot his eyes looked and how tired he seemed. There were black circles under his eyes. He had been up all night by the look of it. “Oh. That’s Y/N.” He gave you a lovesick smile. “Hiii.” He waved at you.

You stared straight passed him, at the other woman. Anger and jealousy were eating at you from within, churning your insides into nothing. You glared at her, unable to believe your eyes. Adam was with another lady!? You thought it was just a client getting her pictures taken. What was this?

Hot iron boiled in your stomach like unchewed red meat. The arousal was starting to fade away. “What’s going on?”

“I should be asking you that!” The woman yelled back. “I was just here with my fiance!”

Adam opened his mouth to interject but you stormed out of the room. Behind you, you could hear Adam crying. “Why did you say that? Why would you do something like that? I don’t even know you!”

“That’s not what you said last night!”

Fuming, you stuffed a bag with most of your clothes and you left the apartment. You were not thinking straight to bring anything else, all you were was drunk and dumped. Your heart felt like an injured bird, not able to fly, caged, and wingless. You’d never be in the air again.  

Fuck, he’s leading me on! He gets paid to stalk people, why would he cheat on me? That doesn’t make any sense. Maybe that’s why he has abandonment issues. Shit… 

Everything was starting to click into place, and it hurt. Way too much. 

You slunk swiftly towards the bus stop, hauling your belongings behind you. You scurried downward, painful shocks throbbing through your shoulders with every sob released from your lungs. The longer it took you to get to the bus stop, the more your chest hurt. 

Blindly, numbly, you stretched the crinkled dollar bill into the driver’s palm, and maneuvered into the back seat. Sniffling and choking, you endured a long and excruciating drive across the city. You were already gone by the time Adam called you. 

“Y/N? Y/N? Where are you?”

“I left,” you said bluntly. 

“ ‘left’?” Adam inquired in disbelief. “What do you MEAN?”

“I LEFT,” you repeated firmly. 

“I- uh- wh- but- ugh.” Adam trailed off for a couple of seconds. “Okay, listen. I know what it looked like, but it wasn’t THAT. She was a young woman I ran into last night. I don’t remember anything, but according to her I said I love you. I thought I was talking to you!”

“How do you mistake me for HER!?”

“I mean… you have the same color hair?”

You scoffed, unable to believe your ears. Somehow, hearing Adam’s voice made you relax. You felt better. 

“Same color eyes?” 

You rolled your eyes, and scoffed again. 

“It doesn’t matter,” Adam muttered. “Whatever I said to whomever, isn’t important. I thought I was talking to you. I want you to come back. We can talk this through. I don’t even know who she is!”

“How’d she get in?”

“Um. I dunno. Guess I gave her my address… I was so fucking drunk last night… Just tell me where you are. I’m so worried about you!”

You looked down at yourself. Your sweater was uncomfortable, your jeans were crooked, and you were cold. Your duffel bag was looking limp and lonely, very isolated and incredibly sad. You realized that you were a long ways away from home, and the closest place was Adam’s apartment. You didn’t want to leave Adam, if there was a chance you could make it right you would take it, of course you would! 

You peered out the window and searched for a street sign. It was too dark to see anything. “I don’t know,” you grumbled disappointedly. You asked an elderly woman sitting next to you which street you were on. She turned her back on you, and kept typing on her phone.

Awkwardly, you turned back. “I’m… on a bus.”

“Shit, you LEFT.”

“That’s what I said.”

“I didn’t know you meant it like that.”

“Just get me home, Adam!” You whimpered desperately. 

“Okay, okay. Let’s figure this out.”

“Adam! Let me in! Let me in! Goddamnit, are you on the phone with that wench/swain!?” The voice of the other woman came barreling into the speaker phone. 

“Get out!” Adam shouted. “Get out! No, no, I don’t care! No! Don’t do that! I said GO!”

“Adaaaaam,” the woman whined. 

“No! Don’t open that! What the fuck?”

“Adam?” You asked quietly, shifting your feet back and forth. The elderly woman was giving you dirty looks.

“How did you get into the bedroom? I locked the door,” Adam told the woman.

The woman replied snidely, “Your sweet little lover left their spare bedroom key. Oh, and what’s that? Their promise ring, too? Boohoo.”

You could practically feel the flinch that Adam made at that remark. “I’m sorry, Adam,” you interjected. “I didn’t mean to. I jumped to conclusions.”

“Tch,” Adam sighed dismissively. “Nevermind. I don’t blame you. Just come back. I love you.”

You didn’t know how to respond to that. Fortunately, the woman started yelling again. “You tricked me! You pervert! I bet you wanted to see me naked.”

“Y/N,” Adam said flatly. “I’m calling the police. Hold on, okay? I’ll get back to you. Just… figure out where you are, and I’ll come get you. Did I tell you how worried I am? I’m so worried about you.”

You nodded. “I’ll try.”

“Okay. See ya.” Adam hung up, and left you all alone. 

The old woman said finally, “Young kids these days don't know no manners.”

You shot her an angry glare, and then got up and strode to the front. You asked the bus driver where the next stop was. He said it was three miles. You hung your head, and accepted your fate. That was when you noticed the woman at the back rummaging around in your duffel bag. You went charging down the aisle. 

Though there was nothing of importance to you in that bag, you would have preferred to keep all your clothes. You ripped the bag out of her fingers. “What are you doing!?”

“Young kids don’t know how to share, these days.”

You stared at her in horror, and then sat down all the way at the end of the bench. You put your bag daintily on your lap. 

You got out at the bus stop. You were scared, and soaking wet, but you didn’t have anywhere to go. You sat there, feeling lonely. When Adam called you back, you said, “I don’t know where I am. All I know is that I’m on the third bus stop in Delaware.”

“Delaware!?” Adam exclaimed.  “What the hell are you doing in Delaware?”

“Um…” You found it hard to speak suddenly. 

“Oh, nevermind!” Adam seemed to realize the stupidity of that question. “I’m coming to get you.”

“Two hours? Adam, it’s better if I just take a bus.”

“Y/N, no. I’m coming to get you. We need to take care of each other.”

You sighed and sat down. The traffic was low but still busy. You watched the cars pass by you, and you were jealous of everyone who didn’t have to sit in the downpour. You rocked back and forth on the wet  bench and watched some sort of movie on your phone until it died. By then Adam was only thirty minutes away. He had told you just before the power shut off on your phone. It was a long wait, quiet and still and empty. Nothing happened on the street for a long time during those minutes. 

Your legs were freezing and your hair was plastered to your head. You were miserable. When Adam saw his S/O sitting like that all alone, he flipped the fuck out. He parked to the side in a hurry. The curb was yellow, but this went unnoticed.  Adam hurtled himself at you, collapsing on your lap. It was currently two thirty. “Y/N, Y/N, Y/N! Oh, shit, oh, shit!”

Faulkner pulled your hair back with both hands. Each hand was on either side of your head, and his thumbs pinned your bangs to your forehead so that he could get a clear view of your face. Adam was distraught. 

Swiftly, he plunged his face forward and kissed you right on the lips, taking your upper lip in his mouth. It was short lived, and he backed away looking frantic. “Look at you! I can’t believe you did this!”

You stared past him embarrassedly. “I know. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done this.”

“Let’s get you in the car. It should still be warm.”

“I just feel…”

Adam pushed you into the car, and then crouched down to look at you. He was in between your legs, keeling on the wet pavement, gazing into your face. “Yeah?” He asked, concerned.  

“Oh, it’s nothing,” you muttered shyly. 

You tried to pull your feet into the car, but Adam turned you straight towards him. “No. Tell me. Tell me. I want to know.”

You huffed and shook your head, getting too humiliated to continue. “No… Nevermind. I care a lot about you.” You tried to pull your feet inside again.

“Don’t leave me like that,” Adam murmured. “Tell me what’s wrong. I can’t help you, if you don’t talk to me. Come on, baby, we’re supposed to be open with our significant others.” 

You looked into Adam’s searching face, and blushed a bright red. “I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends. I’d never walk Cornelia Street again. That’s the kind of heartbreak time could never mend.” You wrung your hands together self consciously. “I get mystified by how this city screams your name… Or rather… New Jersey…” You laughed awkwardly. “Not Delaware…”

“Is that all?” Adam asked you gently.

You shook your head. “I’m so terrified of, if you ever walked away. I’d never walk Cornelia Street again. Ever again.”

Adam’s round puppy eyes were taking all of you in, like a fish gasping for air out of water. “Holy hell, Y/N. I didn’t know any of this. I’d never leave you. That lady wasn’t even supposed to be here. I’m sorry I scared you.”

“Take me home, Adam.”

“Yeah, yeah. Of course.” Adam got to his feet and allowed you to get in the car. 

Adam had been riding with the windows down, but you didn’t mind because the heat from the car heater was warming you up well enough, not to mention Adam had lended you his jacket - or rather flannel. It was hanging loosely on your shoulders, you didn’t have your arms in the sleeves. 

The ride home was silent, but pleasant, although the events of the day wouldn’t stop haunting you. You felt bad about them. You felt humiliated. You wondered what Adam thought. Did he think less of you?

To add on to the anxiety, you couldn’t believe how fast you’d jumped to conclusions. You were concerned about that, too. Was Adam judging you for that? If he was, what was he thinking? You fought with yourself for telling him about your fears. At the end of the day, perhaps Adam wasn’t the one with the abandonment issues? Perhaps… 

Well, perhaps it was actually you?   

Kiss Me - Adam Stanheight / Reader

A/N This one is extra long so buckle down! And I’m sorry, I’m posting it from my phone bc I’m too excited to wait to get back to my computer! ~ Enjoy

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Adam Stanheight was coming home from a grocery shopping trip. The store wasn’t about two blocks away, so walking was hardly a problem. He liked the sunshine anyway. His best friend was supposed to be coming over today. Perhaps in about forty-five minutes?

The sky was clear, but dark rain clouds were approaching on the distant horizon, and the wind was rough, whistling through the trees. Otherwise, it was a beautiful day for walking. Maybe he’d get to go out again with his friend? He couldn’t wait for YOU to come over! Just the thought got his heart all fluttery.

He rounded a corner swiftly, the wind blowing into his face and the sun blinding his eyes. Ahead of him, he saw the exact person he was thinking of, head down, arms crossed, walking fast. Adam wasn’t great at reading people but for some reason he got the feeling that you were NOT happy. His heart slowed way down, and his breath was taken away, as you shoved past him. You didn’t even know Adam was there.

Adam felt conflicted. He didn’t want to leave you, but he was too nervous to chase after. Maybe, if he made it seem like he just wanted to check in on their later plans, you wouldn’t think anything of it? He turned around and started back the way he came. “Y/N!”

You looked over your shoulder when you heard your name, giving Adam a clear view of your pouty expression.

Adam reached his hand out for your shoulder. You were cold, and shivering. You were miserable! So, now what did he do? He hadn’t planned this out very well. “Y/N…” He whispered.

“Hmmm?” You asked, looking into his eyes.

“Uh…” Any words had left Adam’s head all together. He was just so preoccupied with your appearance. He was so close to you, and it hurt. “Oh, right… Um… Are you good? I mean… Are you okay?”

You smiled in amusement. “Are you?”

“Y-Yeah,” Adam stammered. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

You laughed. “Right.”

“Um…” Adam looked around, trying to think of something else to say. “Why don’t you come back to my place?” It was supposed to be thirty degrees today, so why was he so warm?

You thought about it for a second. “Sure. I guess I can come by early. I thought you were doing something?”

“Oh… I did it.” Adam raised the bag of groceries up to you, and grinned sheepishly.

“Okay,” you agreed.

You both started to walk back. “What were you doing out here?” Adam asked you.

“Just dropping off a library book,” you replied. “It was totally lame, too. The line was out the door and everything. Like… when is there a line to the library!?”

Adam watched as you wrapped your arms around yourself, shivering and trying to warm yourself up. The flannel around Adam’s arms started to get heavy. He looked away, feeling self-conscious. “Did you get the book returned?”

“Mmhmm,” you responded quietly. And then you took in a cold, deep breath. “So… did you get everything you needed from the store?”

“Yes.” Adam noticed you rubbing your hands over your uncovered skin. He bit his lip, and proceeded to take off his flannel. He came up behind you and dropped it onto your shoulders.

You looked at him in surprise, and put your arms into his flannel sleeves. You hugged it closer to your body. “Thanks…”

Adam only nodded in response, gawking at you in disbelief. His flannel was too big for you, but it looked good on you anyway. The sleeves covered your entire hand, only showing your fingertips, and the rest of it came down to your thighs. You turned around, smiling. Adam could see that you had buttoned it up all the way. You looked really cute in his flannel.

He put an arm around your neck as you walked side-by-side. You being pressed against his side made him feel really good. He got all jittery feeling you on him. He tried not to think too much about it. You put your head on his shoulder, and Adam tensed, heat rising to his cheeks. “Comfortable?” He asked jokingly.

You nodded. “Quite.”

Adam was glad when he saw his apartment. He detangled himself from your embrace and jogged towards the door, fumbling with the key, which was still in his pocket. You trailed after him, looking lost in thought. Adam decided he’d had enough anxiety for now, and he only opened the door for you.

“Thank you, kind sir,” you teased, dipping your head to him politely.

Adam laughed. You were ridiculous! Perfect for him. “Of course, dearest.” He bowed to you.

You blushed, and pulled him up again. “Oh, sheesh…”

Adam gazed into your eyes, finding a fascination in your timid face, and rosey cheeks.

Cute…

You stared back at him, your lips parted slightly, nervously, unsure of what was going to happen next. You both were so near… Adam could hear the blood rushing in his ears, and his heartbeat thundering in his chest. Your breath was light, and warm as it crossed over his nose and mouth, and into the air.

Your eyes were so dazzling, and Adam could just get lost in them. Adam felt you clasp your hands in with his. He held on to your hands tightly, almost like he was afraid to lose you. The feeling of you in his arms was so overwhelming. He had to ignore the barrage of colors pressing around him and just focus on the grey area. You were the only thing he could keep track of.

“You’re so pretty,” Adam murmured dumbly.

You flinched back abruptly. “What? No, I just put on a sweatshirt and sweatpants!”

Adam was thrown back into reality harshly, his feelings crushed into oblivion. He was humiliated for saying that out loud! Had he just fucked up his chances? “Uh… I didn’t mean-” He stopped himself. That wouldn’t sound right at all! “Well, I think you look good in that.”

You turned away. “Okay. Thanks. I appreciate it.”

Adam hopped after you happily. “You’re welcome!”

As he opened the door to his apartment, he heard a loud thud come from inside, and he knew immediately what that was.

Shit. The pile of books fell off the table! I knew that was going to happen. Oh no! I hope Y/N doesn’t mind my disaster area for a living quarters!

You stepped inside delicately, traversing through his messy apartment. Adam wished he had cleaned up before inviting anyone over, especially YOU. This was horrible. “I’m so sorry about the mess-” He began desperately.

“Oh, don’t worry about it, Adam!” You interrupted. “I’m used to it at this point.”

“Oh…” That sentence felt like a blow to the head, but Adam knew you were simply trying to reassure him, not insult. He stumbled through his own house, and then started to pick up the fallen books.

Adam didn’t notice you helping until your hands brushed one another’s. He glanced at you in horror. “You don’t have to-”

“Don’t worry,” you repeated. “I want to.” You beamed at him.

Adam felt reluctant, but he couldn’t say ‘no’ to that face. Instead he turned back to the books and started piling them up on the table again. With each passing moment, the heat seemed to increase. Your hands and his hands mixing together to clean up the mess, and occasionally knocking into one another made it difficult for Adam to concentrate.

At last, he leaned over for the last book. At that same moment, however, you swung around and came face to face with him, the book being held in your very gentle grasp. Adam Stanheight stared at you insecurely, taking notice of how smooth your skin looked. He wondered what it felt like. And he also wondered if that was a creepy thing to wonder about. Both of your noses were practically touching.

“Oh…I’m… uh… sorry…” You mumbled awkwardly, keeping your eyes on the floor.

“Erm… It’s not…” Adam answered stupidly. “…I meant to say, YOU’RE not…” Adam trailed off, thinking hard. Neither of those had been what he had intended to say.

You looked at him, visible confusion on your face. “What?” You questioned bluntly.

Adam’s eyes became entranced on the floor, the wall, the ceiling, anything but your own gaze. He needed to open a window, sheesh! “N-No… Um… I just… was trying to say that it wasn’t stupid.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I know,” Adam replied hastily. “I… I thought you did… But I know that you didn’t, but… What I mean, uh…” He took the book from your fingers. “Why don’t I get you some coffee?” He asked instead, and stood up, breaking the close proximity. He tossed the book onto the table, causing all the books to slide over and spread across the surface. Your work had been all for naught. You stood up as well, and put your hands flat on the surface of the table, watching Adam.

Adam gathered himself up, feeling like a moron. He started to brew the coffee. He was glad to be putting some distance between you and himself. It was an unusual feeling. In all honesty, he didn’t know what was up with himself. In the past he’d been able to look at you in the eyes with a shit-eating grin as you both started up some crazy bullshit. But now… Adam couldn’t even be in the same room as you; even THAT made him too uncomfy. And for what? Why did he feel so nervous around you? It wasn’t like you were his boss… So then why?

Too deep in his thoughts to hear the real world, he was thrown for a loop when warm arms wrapped around his waist, and a firm head was placed on his back. Adam flinched, and looked down at himself. You had come up behind him and hugged him. Your frame pressed up against his own body felt good. It was soothing, almost. He poured the hot water into the coffee pot, trying not to get distracted by your arms holding tightly onto his waist. For once he was glad you couldn’t see his face, a collage of bright reds and pinks. He liked it, though.

“Hmm, Adam…” You hummed out contentedly right behind his head.

Dizziness crashed over Adam. Hearing you so close to him was overwhelming. He leaned onto the counter. “Uh-huh?” It was the closest thing to a response that he could muster.

“You think it’s okay for best friends to change their relationship, right?” You asked hesitantly.

Adam’s fried brain tried to think of a logical answer. Unfortunately, it didn’t do that in the right direction. “Yeah, sure. If both parties really don’t like each other.”

Silence.

“I mean, you know. If the people decide that the other isn’t good for them,” Adam added.

“I think you misunderstand,” you told him gently. “Let me try again.”

Adam felt frazzled. Had he said something wrong? He was just trying to give an honest opinion. He did believe that it was okay for best friends to stop hanging out, if the relationship wasn’t working out. Did you think he meant that about you guys!? “Y/N! I didn’t mean that about us!”

“I know,” you replied calmly.

“What did you mean?”

“I guess I was just wondering if it was okay to have a favorite bff…” you murmured quietly. “Like, one you want to spend the most time with. One you would rather be with than the others.”

“I think that’s fine.”

“Do you have someone like that?”

Adam had to think it over. He couldn’t really think of anyone that he would rather spend more time with… Well that wasn’t true actually. He could, but he was scared to admit that. What would YOU think? “Well, sometimes I want to be with someone else more than another. What about you?”

“Oh…” you whispered nervously. “Yeah… There’s someone I’d rather be with than the rest of our friend group…”

Adam turned around to look at you, confused. “Who?”

You stared at him in disbelief, like he had just suggested breathing underwater. “Uh…” You folded your lips and looked at the ground.

Adam smiled. “What?”

You laughed nervously.

“Am I missing something?”

You backed away, shaking your head. “Oh, never mind, Adam…”

Adam, not being the greatest at reading people, detected some kind of dissatisfaction coming from his ‘bff’. It made him even more uncomfortable, seeing someone that he liked a lot feeling unhappy. “Um… Wait! Y/N!”

You looked up at him. “What is it, Adam?”

“Is there something you want me to say?” He asked you worriedly.

You let out a sound that was in between a laugh and a scoff. “What am I supposed to say to that?”

“Is there?” Adam insisted.

At Adam’s persistence, you couldn’t help but give in. You ducked your head embarrassedly. “There MIGHT be something I was hoping you would say…”

Now that he was facing you, Adam had a clear view of your beautiful face. The rosy cheeks, the smooth skin, the luscious lips, that perfect hair. He was obsessed. His gaze flicked up and down your face for a few short moments, then he finally said, “I really like you…”

Your eyes widened, and Adam felt his heart drop a thousand feet into the ground. He wanted to suffocate in the dirt but also wanted to blossom. He was conflicted. Had he said the right thing this time? You obviously thought so. You smiled widely at Adam, relief washing over you. “I was thinking you’d never say it…” You murmured.

“A lot…” Adam added clumsily.

You smiled shyly. “I like you, too… A lot…”

“What do I do with that information?” Adam asked sarcastically.

You chuckled a little at that.

Being so close to you felt amazing. But something just wasn’t right yet. What was it? Why did it feel like the moment wasn’t quite complete? He grabbed your hands but it still wasn’t right. Your foreheads were even touching, how could this NOT be what Adam was yearning for? Though something was off, there was a satisfaction inside him. If this was all he got from you, he would be just fine with that. He took in the rest of you. Your lips were luscious… luscious…

That was it! He wanted you to put an end to his suffering. He wanted to feel you. He wanted you to put your mouth on his mouth and make him forget about everything. That’s right, he wanted you to kiss him.

You, kissing me?

The thought seemed impossible.

Kiss me… Please…

But not unreal.

Adam leaned forward slightly, breathing in your sweet scent and brushing his skin over yours. You pressed in as well, feeling satisfied. From one moment to the next, Adam could barely keep track of time. Slowly, you closed the gap between your lips, kissing Adam cautiously, intimately, fiercely.

Adam was swept away by large emotions of bliss. He let you pull at his shirt, and he closed his eyes. This felt so good, just being able to touch the one that he craved. He was enjoying this way too much.

After some light kissing, he backed away, getting a disbelieving look from you. Adam inhaled sharply, trying to calm his pounding heart. The both of you exchanged steamy breaths of air, until you decided you had waited long enough.

Still feeling your humid breath in his mouth, he reacted glady to having your lips in his once again. He slid his hands up your shirt, and started massaging your fragile skin. Your skin was soft and just as smooth as it appeared. His hands skimmed up your stomach, up your chest, making a few detours, and climbed up your neck, where he wrapped his arms around your neck and pulled you in close.

Your body pressing against him intrigued him so much. He longed for more, and you obliged. Keeping a solid stream of kissing in motion, you pushed him against the counter, making him moan. He propped himself up with his elbows, still kissing you.

The pressure on his lips made him woozy, and he grabbed harder onto the counter top, trying not to get dizzy. This was difficult because your impeccable kissing just kept drowning him in massive waves of delight. The hard counter top dug into his back painfully, but he didn’t care, you were all so sense-consuming. You devoured him hungrily, like a magnet being drawn to its opposite. You carved a pathway between your mouths, sketching and molding and forging a personalized course for just the two of you, one that couldn’t be retraced unless both of the originating participants were present.

It was eye-opening.

Dry and dull, that was the next scene. The feeling of you pulling away was agonizing; venomous bites all over his lips and jaws, giving Adam a headache. He didn’t want you to stop. He didn’t want you to leave. He didn’t want you to break the close proximity. He groaned unhappily.

“Y/N, what are you doing?”

You blinked at him tiredly. “Heh, sorry, Adam. It’s getting a little hot in here, don’t you think?”

Adam had gotten used to the blood rush. He’d forgotten all about opening the window. “Oh yeah… I could open a window, if you’d like?”

You sat back. “Oh, no. It’s okay. Just a little-” you cut off suddenly to chuckle nervously.

“Hey, um…” Adam found himself saying. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say or why, but he trusted his subconscious to get it right. “I’d really like it if you stayed the night. If you’re up for it. I just thought… you know, since we’re here and all, it might be nice.”

You laid a hand on top of Adam’s shoulder. “Yeah. I WOULD like that.”

Adam felt his heart skip a beat. After so long of waiting, he’d finally done the right thing. Was it worth it? Was it real?

He hoped so.

He’d have to wait and see.

All's Not Forsaken - Adam Stanheight / Reader

TW: Negative Self-Esteem/Depression.

A/N - Inspired by Disturbed's song, The Light. I hope you enjoy!

TW: Negative Self-Esteem/Depression.

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It was Wednesday, three pm. Work had just finished for you, and as always, you’d gone to grab something to drink with your friends; Adam Faulkner Stanheight was included, of course. You were just leaving, your right hand getting cold from holding the fourth drink, it was your fiancé’s. 

You had been quiet for most of the trip from work to here. You could sense Adam’s depression as soon as you’d seen him, but you hadn’t had the heart to bring it up with him in front of your friends. You tried to tell yourself that it was just your anxiety, but you knew better than that. 

Adam greeted you with a smile though. It wasn’t one of those fake smiles either, it was genuine; one of those ‘I’m so happy to see you’ and ‘I love you so much,’ smiles. He hugged you. 

Adam though had chosen to stay in the car while you went into the shop with your friends. He hadn’t even requested anything, but you had ordered something for him anyway. You didn’t want him to miss out. That would have made you feel really sad! 

The weather had been clear for most of the day, however when work ended for you it started pouring, hail and rain were mixed in. You were unsatisfied to see that it hadn’t changed while you were ordering your drinks. You bobbed your head up and down to the song playing on the radio, as you waited for your friends to finish adjusting their coffees. You had gone through the alphabet twice when they arrived. 

Slowly, while laughing and joking, you walked back to Adam, who had his forehead on the top of the steering wheel, so as to not interrupt the silence with loud honking. Your demeanor changed at the sight. Seeing your significant other look so desolate made you unhappy. Your friends had wandered off together to go look in one of the strip malls. 

You pried the door open with a pinky finger, and then set your drink into one of the cup holders. “Hey, Adam,” you whispered. 

Adam Faulkner sat back, wiping at his eyes incessantly, trying to look completely laid back. “You’re back. Where’d your friends go?”

You attempted to ignore the sadness drifting off of Adam. “Over there.” You pointed to a shop across the street, and squinted your eyes to keep the sunlight out of them. From the corner of your vision though, you caught Adam trying not to break down. 

At first you were going to let him solve it, and not bring attention to his feelings. But after five antagonizing minutes, you got reckless. Watching him try to cover up sobs - and failing at it, by the way - was too much to bear. 

“Adam,” you breathed empathetically, and came around to his side. You straddled his lap. “I got you something.” You lifted the drink to Adam’s lips. 

Adam turned his head away. “I’m not thirsty.”

But that didn’t stop you. You turned his head towards you again, and tipped the cup forward. Adam gagged in surprise, but then took the cup from you, downing a quarter of its contents one go. 

When he was able to talk again, he looked at you in bewilderment. “You got my favorite…”

You smiled in amusement. “Of course!”

“Heh… thanks.” Adam looked insecure, as he put the cup into the holder next to yours. 

“Better?” You asked. To your disappointment, Adam shook his head. “No? Is there anything I can do to help?”

Adam just gazed at you heartbrokenly. He looked on the verge of tears. You opened your arms to him. “Come here,” you encouraged. 

Adam laid his head on your shoulder and started crying. He was so distraught it hurt you. You put your chin on top of his head, and breathed in his scent. 

The shoulder of your shirt was getting soaked from Adam’s tears, but you didn’t mind really. All that mattered to you right now was Stanheight. Your fiancé was having a difficult time as of late, due to traumatic past events. You felt really bad for him. 

Wrapping your arms around Adam’s waist, you pulled him close. There was no sound except for Adam’s weak crying. You held him tightly, rocking back and forth like you would a baby. The hollowness in your stomach increased with every breath released from his lungs. If only there was something you could do for him. 

“It’s alright,” you murmured. “I’m here with you.” You lifted your hands up his back comfortingly. “I’ll always be here.” Adam pressed closer, but didn’t say anything. “Please don’t shut me out, Adam. What’s wrong?”

You waited patiently for Adam to gather himself, and then he gazed at you. His eyes were red and squinted, tears were running down his face, and his skin was pale white. “Hi…” You greeted reassuringly once his eyes came up to yours. 

Adam choked lamely, unable to speak. It broke your heart. “I love you,” he mustered, his voice wavering. 

You felt something crack inside of you. Having your groom-to-be look at you like he would never see you again and tell you that he loved you, was so touching, but also horrible. You didn’t like seeing him look at you like that, but his words were so sweet, you almost started crying as well. 

You knew you had to be strong for Adam though. Crying wasn’t going to make him feel better. You frowned sadly at him. “Awe… I love you, too, Adam.”

“Why?” Adam asked unhappily. 

“ ‘Why’?” You repeated, shocked. “Why is space infinite? I don’t know, I just do. You’re my best friend.”

“But how?” Faulkner tilted his head at you, searching your eyes for some kind of answer. “What did I do for you? I’m just the pathetic, mentally-unstable, person in the friend group.”

You blew out a saddened breath, your chest falling in on itself. Ouch. 

“You’re so much more than that, baby,” you insisted. “You work so hard at your job. You’re so passionate about it. And you love taking care of people… Especially me,” you winked at him. 

Adam shook his head and coughed on another sob. “I’m not as good as you think,” he grumbled. 

You leaned your head down to his ear. “How so? Explain to me, how so?” 

Adam grabbed your shoulders tighter. “I’m… I’m…” Your fiancé had to think for a moment. “I’m a mess, Y/N. I’m so stuck in the past. I can’t even walk into the bathroom at night without turning the lights on. I should be better for you.”

“No,” you whispered emphatically, and pulled your head back to look at him, insistence shining in your (e/c) eyes. “You don’t need to be better. I don’t need you to be like that at all! You’ve been through something terribly traumatic. There’s nothing you CAN do. It’s okay to feel weak, Adam. You’re okay. I love you so much.”

“You shouldn’t.”

You sighed. “And cars shouldn’t pollute the atmosphere, but that hasn’t changed. So, why will I?” You responded wittily, then added more seriously.  “I DO love you. HAVE, loved you. WILL love you. You can’t make me change my mind. I know who you are on the inside, and I know that it’s hard for you to accept that you’re worth my time, but that won’t make me love you any less. One day you will get it.”

“I’m sorry…”

“None of this is your fault.”

Adam glared at you. “I NEED to be better. YOU need me to be better. I’m useless with what I’m doing right now. I can’t believe I thought going back to photography was going to be enough.”

You grasped Adam’s cheeks in your hands. “YOU are all I need. That’s it. You. I don’t care about anything else. And don’t you realize what going back to photography has done for you? It’s something, baby; you can’t blame this on that. If it weren’t for the photography, you wouldn’t be HERE. Maybe you don’t know it yet, but it’s doing so much more than you even realize. I can see it. You can’t see it yet, but I can. And I’m so proud of you.”

Adam Stanheight was stunned by your speech. He stared at you in amazement, like you’d just grown wings and learned to fly. A shockwave of emotions came crashing over him. An avalanche of feelings just so supreme to anything else it unleashed another rain storm of tears. Faulkner hugged you, pushing his head into your other shoulder. Pretty soon both your sleeves would be wet. 

You bit your lower lip. “I love you, Adam,” you breathed out desperately. “You’re so good, already. I love you.”

Adam leaned back in the chair and nodded. “I love you, too.”

You smiled contentedly. “Alright. You ready to go home?”

“Yeah,” Adam told you sadly.

You combed your hand through his hair and trailed it down his face. “I’m sorry you’re not feeling good today.”

“Mmmh,” Adam grunted and leaned his cheek into your palm, a miserable expression on his face. 

“Lemme grab my friends, okay?”

Adam glanced at you worriedly. “Alright.”

“I’ll be back.”

Adam nodded, and you stepped out of the car. You turned around speedily, coming face to face with both of your friends. You stumbled back hesitantly, eyes wide. They were watching you awkwardly. “Um… We didn’t want to interrupt,” one of the friends said.

“Oh, you heard that?” You asked.

“Why don’t we just head home?” The other friend suggested. 

“Right…” you remained standing there for a little bit, until one of your friends opened the back car door. They both slid inside nervously, and you entered through the passenger’s side. 

“We’re all ready, I think, Adam,” you informed him. Your fiancé fumbled with the keys numbly, as he started the drive back towards your apartments. 

The radio started playing, making you jump. You let your head fall back against the headrest, you closed your eyes, and rolled the window down slightly. The cool air blew into your face and hair, and did somewhat soothe you. 

“-An unforgivable tragedy. 

The answer isn’t where you think you’d find it.

Prepare yourself for the reckoning, for when your world seems to crumble again.”

Subconsciously, you tapped your foot to the beat, which was heavy and strong. The car jerked wildly to the right, then straightened out.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t turn away.

You’re the one who can redefine it.”

There was some more wobbling of the car. 

“Don’t let hope become a memory.

Let the shadow permeate your mind, and reveal the thoughts that were tucked away, so that the door can be opened again.”

There was a whimper from somewhere next to you, and you were thrown to the left roughly. You didn’t need to open your eyes to know it was a windy road.

“Within your darkest memories, lies the answer if you dare to find it.

Don’t let hope become a memory.

When you think all is forsaken, 

Listen to me now.

All’s not forsaken.

You need never feel broken again.

Sometimes darkness can show you the light.”

You were shoved so far to the right, your head banged the glass window. You opened your eyes then, and looked at the driver. Adam was trying to keep his eyes on the road while miserably trying not to cry. His face was strained with the effort and his hands were planted so tightly on the wheel that they were white. 

“You need strengthening, toughening.

It takes an inner dark to rekindle the fire burning in you.

Ignite the fire within you.”

Adam struggled to get the car back into the lane. Cars were coming at you from the opposite direction. In a panic you slammed your hands on the wheel, wrenching Adam away from it entirely. “Stop!” You yelled. “Brake! Brake!” 

Adam was petrified to the chair. He watched in horror as your friends screamed in the backseat. You jerked the wheel back to the right, just narrowly missing a passing car. Your heart beat heavily in your chest as the car slowly started to comply with your demands. Adam still hadn’t found the mental state to press one the brakes, or at least hit the hazard lights. You were all on your own.

Three more cars streaked past you. You tried not to flinch. “ADAM!” You wailed. “ADAM! Help me!” You could feel the car drift over on to the correct side again. “Brake! Adam!” The car was steadily increasing in speed. You tried to keep your eyes on the road and not on the speedometer. Fifty, fifty one, fifty two - road. Fifty eight, fifty nine, sixty, sixt one - road. 

There was a loud slap from right next to you, and a large gust of wind. Your friend was shrieking profanities at your frightened fiancé. They had slapped him in an attempt to wake him from his stupor. 

Adam flinched, finally tearing his gaze away from the windshield. He hit the brakes with full force. The car skidded, sliding fifty feet in its wake, and screaming all the way down. Faulkner was crying at this point, as would anyone. The song had changed and was playing Can’t Buy Me Love - by the Beatles. You flicked your fingers onto the dashboard, silencing the car stereo once and for all. 

You looked up at Adam, who was bright red, and sobbing quietly to himself. He looked mortified. Gazing back at the two others in the car, you asked, “Everyone alright back there?”

“I think so.”

“Yeah.”

“What about you, Adam?” You turned back to him.

Adam had gone completely white in the face. He was shaking and shuddering. His hands were trembling, and his lips were bleeding from his biting. Your heart shattered, and you leaned over and kissed him. Your mouth was filled with the flavor of iron. “You okay?” You asked him. 

Adam couldn’t talk. He only gaped at you in terror. You hugged him. “It’s okay. It’s okay. Breathe with me.”

“What happened!?” Someone yelled from the back. 

Adam whimpered. He choked and gagged, before he could finally speak. When he did, he could only whisper very quietly. You were the only one that could hear his response. “I was… just…” Deep breath in. “I was just…” Deep breath out. “I was just trying… The song made me think about you…”

Your mouth fell open. “Oh… Come here.”

“I tried not to… but it made me feel like… I was valid again… You know, that feeling when you’re drowning, but instead of dying your breathing… It was like that… And I lost control of the car… I’m such a fucking idiot.”

You hugged Adam. “No. No, you’re not. It’s okay. Accidents happen.”

“I almost got you killed! I almost got us all killed! How did I even pass my driver’s test?”

“Shh. That was a long time ago. You passed because you know what you’re doing.”

“Are you sure about that last part!?” One of your friends chimed in. 

You cast them a glare from over your shoulder. “Let’s just take a break from driving for a little bit,” you said worriedly. 

Adam started to undo his seatbelt immediately. He was shaking incredibly. 

“Why don’t you let me drive?” You asked. 

Adam struggled to crawl over you but you both managed to switch places without getting out of the car. It was a miracle, for sure. You started up the car, your two friends exchanging disbelieving looks with each other, and headed back towards home, Adam a total mess of a breakdown right now.  This time, the radio remained off for the rest of the car ride, and everyone made it home unharmed. The same could not be said for Adam, though. Your poor fiancé ended up blaming himself for the mistake; he would not allow himself into the driver’s seat again for the next twelve months. 

Well, there was a work in progress. But you still loved him, and that would never change. Try telling HIM that, though.  

Coworker Trouble - Adam Stanheight / Reader

A/N this one is different. I made an OC, (original character) who is the main protagonist. This is another song inspired story - Tear Drops on My Guitar, a song by Taylor Swift.

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Ash combed his hair lamely. He was sitting at the cafeteria. His job was low-paying, but at least it got his groceries. He’d had eyes for someone for a long time, but he’d been way too nervous to start any conversations with them. He straightened out his dress, and shuffled his high heels. How did he go about this? Would ‘this someone’ enjoy the fact that he wore makeup?

Ash clasped and unclasped her hands, trying to understand her situation. Adam Stanheight was a coworker of hers, but… he didn’t feel the same way about her. She didn’t know how to take that. Adam was… the PERFECT guy. So… why did he only see her as a friend? She felt miserable.

“Ash!” Adam called suddenly.

Ash looked back at Adam, and his heart skipped a beat. “Oh…” He said. “Hi, Adam…”.

“How’s lunch?”

“Good. How’s you-’re lunch?” Ash asked dumbly.

“I’m going to see Y/N for lunch!” Adam announced gladly. His eyes were shining and his smile was bright. “Do you want to come?”

Ash shook her head, feeling sad. “I-I’m sorry. I should go back to work.”

“What? Come on.”

Ash had to look away. It hurt too much to remember that Adam spent more time with Y/N than he did with her. All she wanted was his affection. How could she go about it?

“Y/N…” Adam whispered, and then sighed dreamily. “Is the best person I’ve ever had in my life… Ash, do you think we’ll work out?”

Ash smiled. Adam was so cute, and… she wanted the best for him even if it meant giving up her chances with him. “Yes,” she said honestly. “I’ve seen the way Y/N looks at you…”

Adam spun around on his feet. “Oh, thank you!” Then Ash saw you pass down the hall. He held his breath, not wanting Adam to leave so soon. He liked being this close to Adam. But, unfortunately, Adam had seen you too, and went darting out of the room. He wrapped an arm around your waist, and whispered in your ear. You laughed, and pushed him away, cheeks bright red.

Adam looked back at Ash, questioning him if he really didn’t want to join them. Ash backed away slowly. That look in Adam’s eyes… He heaved a sigh. Adam was handsome. “Okay, fine. That’s on you,” Adam called to Ash, who sunk deeper in his chair.

Adam nuzzled your cheek. You giggled, and combed your fingers through Adam’s hair. “Lunch at the usual place?” He asked.

You grinned. “Of course!”

Adam cupped your cheek, and leaned in close to your face. “Just the two of us?”

You nodded. “Like always…”

“Just as it should be…”

You sighed desperately. “You’re so cool…” you told Adam vaguely.

“Ironic, since it’s like one hundred degrees in here,” Adam replied wittily.

You blushed, and mustered, “Oh… But I mean it, though. You’re just really pretty…”

Adam leaned back, his arms crossed over his chest. “Go on…”

You twiddled your thumbs nervously. “Well… You’re really attractive… you know…”

Faulkner hummed out contentedly, and he blinked at you. “What else?”

You laughed. “You silly goose! All you want are my compliments.”

Adam shrugged. “But did you lie?”

“N-No…” You admitted.

Adam chuckled. “Alright. Well, YOU’RE gorgeous…”

During this encounter, Ash had been watching from the sidelines. Jealousy spiked inside of him, and he went back to his office to continue his work.

Ash thought helplessly, I’ll bet she’s beautiful, that girl he talks about. And she’s got everything that I’ve got to live without.

It was a long workday. Ash was pretty sure lines and words were going to be engraved into her eyes for the rest of her entire lifetime. Her mind was reeling from all the work. Her feet were sore from being pressed into the ground for so long and her hands cramped from typing.

Throughout the day, she had been up to grab some water, and attend a few business meetings, but otherwise her butt hadn’t left the chair cushion for about six hours. She was starving. She hadn’t gotten enough to eat at lunch because the events between Adam and Y/N had been quite distracting.

Ash folded her papers and tossed them on the keyboard. This shit was tiring. Fortunately, now was closing time, and she could go home. She arranged her office and then packed her things. She was ready to go!

As Ash stepped out of his office though, he was greeted by another coworker, who informed him of a drinking party happening at their place. Ash declined, feeling tired. He kept walking down the hall.

Adam Stanheight came up behind him. “Hey, Ash! You worked overtime as well?”

Ash smiled. “Oh yeah. Today I had to finish some paperwork.”

Adam inhaled deeply. “I’m telling you Ash, I’ve found The One!”

Ash bit his lower lip. “I don’t want to talk about it this time, Adam. I’m so tired. I should probably take a cab home, honestly.” It was a half truth. Ash didn’t want to lie outright but he needed to get out of here asap. This atmosphere was making him sick.

“Oh, just wait a moment! I wanted to tell you that we almost kissed! It was so excruciating. You know? I just feel… uh… I don’t know. It was painful because we were so close but then… I’m kinda glad we didn’t.”

Ash laughed. She was horrified at herself for doing that but she couldn’t contain her emotions. This situation was a little bit silly, how she couldn’t see anyone else when Adam was with her.

Adam stared at her. “What?”

Ash wanted to hit herself on the head with a fifteen pound, hardcover book. This was MORTIFYING. “N-no,” she stammered. “I think it’s lovely?”

“It was.”

“Adam!” Y/N called from up ahead. The two of them hurried to catch up. “Are we pooling tomorrow as well?”

Adam nodded. “Yep! If that’s alright with you…” he leaned in so that your noses were touching. Ash tried not to pull you away from each other but it was harder than expected.

“You’re really pretty in the streetlight…” Adam whispered in your ear.

You blushed and pulled him closer. “Oooh. You like this?” You stroked a hand down your body.

Adam scoffed. “Who said that?”

You giggled and simply said back, “I like YOU.”

Adam’s mouth fell open. “I… wasn’t expecting you to say that…”

“Well then,” you replied. “You are promptly an idiot.” You were joking, of course.

Adam laughed. “Maybe if we try kissing this time, we won’t be interrupted?” He asked.

Ash cleared his throat uncomfortably. “You do realize that… there’s a third wheeler here?”

You and Adam glance at Ash. “Oh…” You made a pouty face. “Someone squeamish?”

“No,” Ash snapped.

I just don’t want to see you kissing HIM…

“Okay Adam, let me get the car,” you said, and finally you walked away. Ash scanned the parking lot once more. His car was somewhere near the back… was that it?! No, it was a jeep… fuck!

“I’m so in love…” Adam murmured. “I think I’ve finally got it right, this time.”

Ash scowled at the ground. I wonder if he knows he’s all I think about at night. Woah, that sounds really fucking creepy!

“I’m happy for you…” Ash choked out.

Can he tell that I can’t breathe? Now that he thought about it, his lungs felt tight and dry. He wanted to scream but there wasn’t enough air for it. It was a strange experience.

“So…” Adam asked. “What do you think about my chances with Y/N now?”

Ash sighed. “I think they’re better than mine,” he grunted, not even trying to cover up the mistake, or hide his disappointment.

You came around the corner, head out the window, and a stupid grin on your face. “Adam!” You yelled. “We going, or what?”

Adam shook himself from his stupor, and answered, “Definitely! I was just asking Ash about the brilliant weather.” He laughed.

Yeah… cover it up. You want Y/N more than me, Ash thought, deterred.

Adam climbed into the car, happily as ever, and pecked you on the cheek. You squealed and rubbed your cheek.

Ash stalked past you and headed for his car, which he had found at that exact moment. It was at the very back, towards the right. He slunk away, his heart heavy.

Poor Ash’s mind was a mess. She felt heartbroken and elated. She was glad to see Adam with someone that made him happy, but she was destroyed that SHE would never get the man she wanted. She was jealous.

She turned on the radio so it blasted her ears, and she drove straight past you. From the corner of her eye, she caught you kissing him. It angered Ash but she kept driving. Her lover was waiting for her somewhere, just not here.

As he drove, Ash couldn’t get the image of you and Adam kissing out his head. He saw it in every light, in every sign. It drove him mad.

At this point Ash didn’t even know why he still hung on. It was like a song he kept singing in the car. He kept wishing on a wishing star, but the reason wasn’t clear. Maybe he wanted Adam that badly? But no, Y/N was the lucky one for him. Why was life so cruel? How could he change it?

Ash glanced at the photograph sitting on the passenger seat. She flipped it over so that the back was facing upward. “Maybe I can get some sleep tonight?” She wondered out loud.

Ash’s stomach was churning with fire. Hot streaks flashed through him every once in a while. It made the car ride home very difficult. He struggled not to give into his anxiety. But he knew he wouldn’t be better till he got home. Was that going to be soon? He hoped so. All he wanted to do was crash on the bed and never wake up. He didn’t want to perish, but he just didn’t want to be conscious for a very long time. His heart felt weak.

He’s the reason for the teardrops on my guitar, he realized suddenly. That’s why I cry every time. Oh wow.

This realization made Ash feel utterly miserable. She got out of her car, and stumbled inside. Without even turning the light on, she drifted into the bedroom. Her shoes were still on, her hair was still up, and her face wasn’t even dry yet from crying. She was asleep faster than she’d ever been in her entire life, dreading the events that tomorrow brought. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad? Maybe it wouldn’t be what she expected? Maybe things would turn around in the end? Or perhaps she could still be friends with Adam? Whatever the outcome was, she couldn’t be too sure it was going to be all that bad. After all, there didn’t always need to be two people in a singular relationship…