Scream 2023 - Tumblr Posts

Help someone said Jenna looks like their child-

They be doin’ a lil switcheroo

“You gotta keep up, dude!”

ANIKA KAYOKO & ETHAN LANDRY being besties in Scream VI (2023).

One of Them

SCREAM VI SPOILERS !

A/n Just a little thing I wrote up that’s set up to have a part 2. This is inspired by the scene where Ethan talks about being excited to kill Chad,, but this is more of a set up and in part 2 we’ll see that lol

Summary: Ethan picks the worst time to develop a crush on one of the core four’s best friends. Especially when said best friend has been spending extra time around Chad. 

----

You swear you can feel the base of the music vibrating in your chest. Thump. Thump. Maybe it’s shifting the beat of your heart to match. Or maybe you should stop refilling the red solo cup in your hand before you can piece together how you downed it. 

Halloween weekend and a fraternity. Dangerous enough combination.

Blinking hard, you force your eyes to focus. You may not be sober, but at least you’re not so drunk you think you’re invincible. A bar some of your friends have surpassed...Tara brushed past you and barely mumbled a ‘sorry, getting more beer, you want anything?’ If you had felt any better, you might have told her to slow down.

When your vision refocuses, your eyes land on a familiar figure. Chad. It only takes you another second to find Ethan right next to him. Chad looks up and waves you over. 

Ah. The realization that you’re about to be around Ethan again makes you down the last of what’s in your cup. So much for pacing yourself for the rest of the night.

You walk over casually. Unfortunately for you, the rush of additional alcohol paired with the toxic waste zone that is the ground of the fraternity makes your shoes lose traction just as you lose balance. You slip. 

“Woah...” Chad’s hand is warm and steady on your waste as he saves you from a total wipeout. “You might want to mix in some water between the shots those sorority girls keep getting you to do.”

Normally, you’d feel awkward, but Chad’s so inherently nice it doesn’t come. Sure, the alcohol’s helping, but at least half of your sense of ease comes from him. You half grin. “Where’s the fun in that?” Chad doesn’t let go of you until you’re clearly stable. “Kidding. I promise I’m trying to ease up.” 

He briefly raises his eyebrows like he doesn’t quite believe you. “Sure.” 

“You’re one to talk, Ethan and you have been drinking since before we got here.”

“It’s called pregaming.” 

Ethan tilts his head slightly, “For the record, I don’t mind watching you take shots with the sisters of whatever those Greek letters were.” 

There’s something almost comical, almost suggestive about his words. You’re too out of it to fully follow. “Yeah? You looking for a member of Kappa Kappa whatever Elle Woods was in?” 

Ethan blinks, parts his lips, and then halfheartedly drops his head. Is he...flustered? The display is oddly cute and you nearly laugh. 

Chad warmly bumps Ethan’s shoulder with his hand. “Nah, my boy Ethan’s looking for...” A brief trail off that once again, you think you’d be able to get if it wasn’t for all you had to drink. “Something else.” 

The spirit of over drinking must possess you, because you grin and ask, “Yeah? You more the settling down type?” It’s not violently bold, but it’s more than you usually give. More than you would have gone for if you had been more sober. You laugh to cover your regret. “That was um...more vodka than me.” You shake your head once as if that will reset the conversation. “Oh. Speaking of settling down, Chad I um...” 

You freeze, wondering if you said too much. Chad has taken to having a roommate well. He drags Ethan along and pushes him out of his comfort zone in a way that you think is good for him. You also think Ethan is good for keeping Chad a little stable. You know they’re friendly, friendlier than Ethan is with anyone else, but you don’t know if they’re close enough to talk about crushes. More specifically, the crush Chad has on Tara. The one you’ve been trying to help him think of a good way to confess because he labeled you the ‘Tara expert’ since the two of you became such fast friends.

“The project.” Nice. It was nowhere near subtle and you can’t help shooting a glance in Ethan’s direction to see that if he picked up on it. Ah--too late to keep going. “I have something that--that has to do with it that we--that I need to show you.”

Chad’s eyebrows draw together but eventually realization draws in. “Oh...yeah, I should go see what that project thing’s about.” It’s a faulty exit, but it’s not like you’ve given him much to work with. 

The alcohol turns in your stomach at Ethan’s flat expression. That was kind of an asshole move, like you’re trying to purposefully leave him out when you just didn’t want to out your friend. Chad trusted you with a secret that’s a bigger deal than it seems. Liking Tara isn’t as casual as liking anyone else because of how bonded their friend group is. The four of them need each other. It’s a situation much too delicate for an unsober you to insert yourself in.

“Hey, Ethan.” You’re already walking forward, feeling nervous about the Tara situation. You should have gotten to this faster. You didn’t like the frat guy she was with. “We’re still on for tomorrow? Studying?” 

His head tilts and you briefly wonder if you’ve somehow more awkward. “Uh--I’m not sure you’re going to be up for econ homework tomorrow.” 

“That’s okay,” you hum easily, “I’ll call you and we can figure it out, even if it’s just getting hangover food together.” 

Ethan’s confusion slowly morphs into what’s almost a smile. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll call you.”

You don’t have a way to justify how excited that makes you. Maybe it’s the alcohol. You really hope it’s the alcohol that’s making you grin like a little kid. “Cool.” 

Someone steps froward, accidentally bumping into you and reminding you of the setting. Right. Party. Tara. Weird frat guy. Chad. You turn your head and grab on to Chad’s arm to stay stable. “C’mon, we need to find Tara. Serious SOS.” 

----

The world shared in your chaos for a brief second. Some frat guy grabbed Tara too harshly, Chad got him to back off, and Sam burst in and tased the guy. Everyone pulled out their phones and then all it took was one reddit loser to recognize Sam. They’re all trying to leave and you’re half stranded on a couch that’s weirdly damp because you’re not sure you can still move. 

“I know you don’t want to be here but we can’t just leave her!” You hear that from somewhere behind you. Tara. 

Sam begrudgingly sighs. “I--I didn’t say we should leave her!” 

You want to defend her, the words angling themselves on your tongue. They never come out. Your eyelids are too heavy and your bones have sunken too far into the couch. Sam isn’t the kind of person to leave a friend on a sticky couch when they’re too far gone to even fully lift their head, but the reality of it all doesn’t feel relevant. 

Maybe she would leave you. Maybe they’d both come around to that. It’s not like you’re their sister or a part of their little...survivor inner circle. 

God, that’s a fucked up thing to think, even in the state you’re in, but you can’t help it. The impulse is always there. That doubt. You know why they’re all so close and there’s no way you’re jealous about what they’ve experienced but sometimes being around and knowing that there’s a distinction is hard. Especially because they’re the only people you care about. Maybe that’s why you try so hard with Ethan. You know what it’s like to be a part of it and separate all at once. 

“I can take her.” Another voice, a newer, softer voice. Almost hesitant. Ethan. “To the apartment, make sure she gets there okay.”

"I think we should just do it,” Tara mumbles, “We have to go home anyway.” 

There’s a beat of silence and then Chad says, “It’ll be easier if we send them ahead...you two seem too tense to be be dealing with her right now.”

Ugh. Dealing with. You turn your head in an attempt to lift it off the couch. It briefly works before you slump down again. “Hey.” 

“Said with love, you’re a free spirit.” 

You try again, and this time it’s a little more successful. “’Free spirit’ is what you called that girl that offered to blow you in the bathroom.” 

He sighs. “Don’t be difficult.” 

“Difficult?” 

“Okay,” Sam interjects, because she knows how you and Chad get when you start bickering, “Ethan can take her, I think we need to take a second to talk about--” 

“Whatever,” Tara sighs, already walking away. She turns her head to look at Ethan, “If she’s not safe in bed by the time I get home I will fuck you up.” Sam and Chad throw her a look. “What? It’s not like we’ve known him forever.” 

----

You stumble into your room with an overwhelming awareness of how much you love the space. You were the last one to join the apartment, not starting school during the summer session and not finding the online roommate wanted ad before Quinn, but it feels like you could have lived a lifetime here already.

“We made it.” 

Ethan’s arm is still around your shoulders. He pulled you close to him after a stranger on the street looked at your Halloween costume a little too long and tried to talk to you. The whole thing had been awkward as the stranger kept calling after you and for a brief second you could have sworn Ethan’s eyes lose all hint of their usual warmth. You didn’t think about it, assuming it was just one of those guy, testosterone things. It should have bothered you more. But it didn’t. You felt safe, secure as you leaned into him and his warmth.

“Barely.” It’s said half teasing as Ethan lets you go to sit on your bed. He leans forward and sets down the cardboard helmet he took off on your walk on your desk.

You pretend to be more offended than you feel, crossing over to your bed and sitting down next to him. “Don’t be rude.” Nudging his arm with your shoulder, you half laugh, “I was awesome with directions.” 

He leans his weight back on his forearm. “You were...awesome.” It’s half whispered, almost begrudging and a little shy. 

You grin openly, leaning a little closer to him to compensate for his quiet town. “Thanks for...walking me.”

Ethan watches you for a second, following your lead in shifting a little closer. Your foreheads are practically touching and you can feel the barely-there brush of his curls against your skin. “Why are you whispering?” 

Like he isn’t whispering back. “I don’t know. You started it.” 

He briefly smiles, an expression that he fights against poorly. You’re left with the odd feeling that you’re winning even though you can’t figure out exactly what the game is. “I started it?” 

“Don’t try to confuse me just because I had more to drink than you.”

He holds his hands up in defense briefly before setting them down closer than they were before. His palm is flat against the back of yours. It’s so warm and certain, so much more soothing than the state you’re in. You’re still buzzed, because you turn over your hand slowly, half scared that a too sharp move will ruin all of this. Ethan lets you. He also lets you fit your fingers between his. 

For a second, you two just sit there in silence, hands loosely held together. The sound of your door being thrown open instantly turns the whole thing into something a lot larger. You don’t know why, but everything about the situation burns beyond a comfortable warmth and into something uncomfortably scorching. You push yourself to the edge of your bed and make a point of squeezing your hands on your lap as you turn to face the door. 

Tara’s standing there, leaning against the doorframe. Her expression morphs from nearly blank with shock to a much more straightforward concern. “You...” She drops her gaze to the new space between you and Ethan. “...Guys need to see the news.” 

Hi! I hope you're doing well!

I've recently watched scream 6, and while it definitely wasn't my favorite (the original cannot be beaten) I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

I've seen you mention him a little, but I really liked Ethan. His betrayal felt kinda predictable, but he was cute and I'm a sucker for "soft/sweet/nerdy character is actually a killer".

Ig I'm just wondering if you have any more thoughts about him? I really like how you portray characters so I wanna know your take on him ig

hi!! i totally get what you're saying about scream 6 i can't imagine anything beating/slaying as hard as the originals but i did thoroughly enjoy it as it's own thing lol

especially ethan!! like him being a ghostface was so obvious, but his character was so awkward bf and i really like the soft/nerdy character as a killer trope too!!

i also feel like there's so much in the movie that gives us a way to characterize him so i have a lot of thoughts, some stick closer to canon and others are just vibe-based, ig? if that makes sense

idk if these count as headcanons, i feel like they do bc i have a lot of thoughts on him

have to immediately mention the "a special bond between a father and his first son" line, i love any excuse to give a character daddy issues 😭so maybe i'm projecting, but i can definitely see that relationship being strained and maybe a competitive relationship with his siblings, especially Richie

i'm not saying that this means he didn't want to kill!! between the cut stuff about their mom and the way Anika died, the urge had BEEN there lmao, and i think it actually would have added to any competition with Richie

like maybe growing up Ethan felt jealous of Richie in a way bc he had this outlet for exploring gory things bc of his interest in horror movies, but that's just not how Ethan's family saw him and not something he was particularly drawn to

or maybe he liked the movies and tried to bond with Richie over them when he was younger just to have that thrown in his face (siblings are such gatekeepers sometimes😭 Richie gives me mean vibes so i feel like he'd be the worst about it)

i feel like growing up he didn't have many close friends, like the jokes about being a virgin were obviously more about his romantic life but i think it kind of hints at him not being super socialized, and he dropped everything pretty quickly to just join a random college in NYC

ik Quinn did the same thing, but she seemed to click/adapt a lot quicker socially, like she was closer to the girls than Ethan and she was dating

besides the way Ethan switched up and became a Chad hater,, i could see that stemming from hating that kind of person, like maybe in high school he struggled bc of guys like Chad and that's where that aggression came from

this one is a bit more of a stretch, but going with the assumption that he had some kind of rivalry with Richie, i could see Ethan seeing Chad as competition bc of how easy college and pulling girls was for him

anyway!! that's a general psychological break down! let's get into more presumptuous/friendship/romantic relationship thoughts!!

i can see him being relatively used to having crushes on people/generally thinking someone's attractive so he wouldn't go totally feral over just liking someone

i think this is his most noticeable romantic difference from other ghostfaces i've written (cough, billy and stu, cough) bc i read him as having more psychopathic tendencies than sociopathic ones

BUT the second that that's reciprocated in anyway some switch flips in his head

like he's probably used to being an outsider in friend groups and feeling relatively disposable, so if you were to make a point of calling him a best friend or picking him over anyone else even in a small way,, poor guy wouldn't know what to do with himself

like that would take his crush to the next level and suddenly Ethan's like 'well ig i have to do whatever to ensure their happiness for the rest of time now'

it's not his fault :( it's just bc he's not used to having anyone pick him first

would probably be less inclined to follow through/have murder-y thoughts while being caught up in some kind of crush/relationship,, at least at first bc i can see him being content/distracted

but i see one exception with that:

i could see Ethan being super prone to jealousy and not even being aware of it until he really started to have a crush on someone/dating them

like before when people he liked would either blow him off or date other people he'd be like that's life, but with the only person that's ever made him feel irreplaceable?

he's not having it!! suddenly, he's imagining what it'd be like to brutally murder anyone that flirts with you/hints at liking you

not saying he'd act on it every time he felt jealous, but he'd think about it!!

would definitely be pouty though, trying to act cold bc he's mad at the other person and is trying not hold it against you but then he starts to wonder if he imagined your connection and if you've been stringing him along

but the second you make it clear that it's still him, Ethan's snapping out of it and is immediately all heart eyes

actually a vicious cycle because every time you "pick" him he just starts to feel even fonder for you and then that makes him more upset when someone else tries to come between you two and then you "pick" him again, so it keeps adding to itself lol

kind of random but i feel like he's closest to Quinn in his family, like yes they still might have competed a little but it wasn't that son vs son thing, so it wasn't as tense

if he had a crush i feel like he'd eventually tell Quinn about it, at first casually like 'omg y/n just showed me this song, that new perfume you got is similar to hers, ik we're here to avenge our brother but y/n needs help with her econ homework so let's reschedule the plotting session'

and then one day he's like 'i think i like y/n' and Quinn's like 'no way!! really🙄?!😒' and then she's instantly giving him all the dating advice even if the timing is terrible bc she's a real one and her brother never likes anyone!! let him hook up with someone for once!

i feel like after the ghostface thing starts his ego would switch up, like the adrenaline and confidence of knowing what he's doing and getting away with this would make him act different

nothing that you could quite put your finger on, but he'd be a little touchier, maybe care less about hiding clingy tendencies

his dad's sudden influx of approval would probably also make him feel more like a man, y'know, so he'd be able to accept/get you liking him more bc of that

despite the aggressive undertones that i've focused on here i actually feel like he'd be such a cutie while pining/dating someone

like he'd go out of his way to remember things about you, would want to ghostface anyone that upset you, definitely would give 'my girl is mad at me, i hope i die' before you're even officially dating

he's a whole puppy once you have him, but will still be happy to stab ppl

----

this was a lot longer than i thought it'd be and it was really fun to write!! if anyone wants anything else ethan related pls send asks!! actually might just write a fic just bc lol

also a reminder that i'm generally open to writing about any scream character :)))

If we're in an ethan mood 👀

Could you write something like little snippets of ethan developing a crush on mc and then the moment he's like "oh wait a minute... i LIKE her"

Only if you're comfortable doing so of course!

a/n he'd be such a cutie during his pining era pls and in total denial about it

----

"Sam's gonna kill us."

Tara's eyes briefly flicker towards your reflection in the mirror. You give yourself a second to feel how quickly time can change things. If you had accidentally said something like that as recently as a month ago, Tara would have torn into you. Ranting and asking you if you really thought that was funny. But now, the hyperbole barely warrants a glance in your direction.

"She's not our mom," Tara scoffs, attention shifting back to her eyeliner immediately.

And while that's true...you're not sure you want to seem like you're taking a specific side in one of their weird, sisterly power stand offs. Despite being one of their roommate's, you've managed to expertly avoid getting caught in the middle most of the time.

Even though you're the one trying to be the voice of reason, your attention turns back to the blush you were blending into your cheek. "Yeah, true..." You rub your beauty blender against the apple of your cheek. "But still, I don't want it to like...be a thing."

"It won't be," Tara counters quickly, "We might be home before her." Yeah, heavy on the might. Tara already made it clear that she wasn't in the mood to take tonight lightly. "And if we're not, who cares?" Tara straightens before setting down her eyeliner. "She'll be angsty about it and then move on. I didn't ask her to come to school with me."

That's something you for sure won't be commenting on. "Whatever." You reach for a tube of lipgloss. "Let the record reflect I tried."

"Yeah, you tried really hard."

You let out a breath that's almost a laugh, "Shut u--"

The last part of your sentence is cut off by the sound of knocking. It feels faint, but you know it has to be loud if it's being heard over Tara's pre-night out playlist.

"Oh," you mumble, setting down your still closed tube of lipgloss, "It's the guys."

Tara's expression morphs into a knowing smile. "Excited?"

You know exactly what she's getting. "Shut up." You turn towards the bathroom door before pausing and cringing at your mistake, "And I don't know what you're talking about."

"Which one of us invited Ethan to what was supposed to be a girl's night out?"

You roll your eyes, "And Chad."

She gives you a look that says she sees right through you. "Think it'd be better if you liked Chad." Now it's your turn to give her a 'I know about what you're pretending isn't a crush' stare. "Not like--I mean--at least we know he's safe."

This again. The continuous slight distrust of Ethan. You can't blame her or any of the other four people you've come unbelievably close with in a few months time for being so untrusting. You kind of knew about what happened to them before meeting them, some guy in the lecture you had with Tara tapped you on the shoulder. That's the serial killer sister girl.

That piece of gossip led to you doing something not great, but fair--a google deep dive that almost made you flinch when Tara then got paired with you for an ice breaker, syllabus week activity. After your friendship formed, many nights spent walking around the city and late night calls about the nightmare roommate you were randomly paired to dorm with eventually led to you moving in after the summer session ended.

By then you were friendly with what Chad likes to call the core four and they opened up slowly about their trauma slowly. You get it. You try to get it, but every time they flash their inherent distrust they remind you of how easy it would be for them to close ranks, cut you off and leave you for the wolves. It's not a fair insecurity, which is why you've decided to keep it to yourself.

"Tara we've been over this," you scratch the back of your wrist, suddenly feeling small, "I'm just as much a rando to you as Ethan."

Tara shakes her head once, eyes softening a little, "Yeah, but you're a rando that's like my best friend." Her eyes leave yours briefly and you're hit with the impression that this is hard for her. Tara's never given you the impression of being particularly touchy-feely, and you know what happened with one of her last close friendships. "So..."

You try not to beam, not wanting her to regret saying something like that so openly. "So..." You repeat, kind of teasing. "I should go get the door." As if on cue, another round of sharp knocking cuts through the base of the music.

You turn away before you can overthink and approach the front door. "Hey, guys," you grin as you pull the door open.

Chad and Ethan are waiting in the apartment's hall. "Y/n," Chad greets warmly, one hand moving to squeeze your shoulder as he steps into the apartment's entryway.

Even though Tara might be a tiny bit right about why you invited Chad and Ethan, you definitely don't mind that Chad's your easiest way to get Ethan to hang out with you guys without having to worry about seeming weird. Chad's a good guy beneath the stereotypical former high school jock thing. He's fun and nice and you have a feeling he really cares about Tara.

"Tara's still in the bathroom fixing her eyeliner." You keep your voice breezy, casual even though you know exactly why you're telling him.

For a second, you think he might call you out on your not-so-subtle pushing, but he just smiles casually. It must be so easy to think like a guy. "I'm gonna say hi."

He walks around you, offering your shoulder one last friendly squeeze as he passes. Ethan steps further into the living room, lingering like he's unsure on whether or not he's supposed to be following Chad.

"Hey," you greet, "Guess what?"

Ethan blinks. He's gotten used to your typically friendly demeanor, but sometimes when it's directed at him he isn't sure how to take it. You're pretty and warm and caring about your existence is not part of the plan. If anything, it's the opposite. He knows how close you are to Tara, how much Sam's opinion matters to you.

"What?"

"Your econ notes totally saved my life." There's genuine relief in your voice, and Ethan is glad that he's a part of that. "Just saw my quiz grade and I got a 97 on it."

Ethan lets himself smile, "That's great."

"A lot better than my last one." You hate that you don't know where to go with this. "You're in intro to comp this semester, right?"

He nods, "Yeah." Ethan straightens his posture, angling his body more towards you. "...I have Charleston."

You immediately cringe, exhaling a low wince. "Ouch. I had him for summer term, he's crazy harsh."

"Yeah," Ethan agrees, "Learned that after my first essay."

Your eyebrows pull together. "He' snot all bad once you get him figured out."

Ethan fights down a smile, "Of course you'd say that." It had been a bit of a running joke between the friend group that you never seemed to have issues with any professor or TA. That you always found one way or another to connect to or figure them out.

You groan, "Shut up." Ethan suppresses a laugh. "I was going to offer you my notes and feedback I got from my summer class, but now I don't know."

"No..." Ethan doubts that you'd ever be vindictive enough to keep your notes from anyone. Even if that was a concern, he still wouldn't be too worried. His grades are fine and his priorities are a little different these days. But still, he likes the thought of getting access to something like one of your essays. A chance for more insight into you. "C'mon, please."

You tilt your head slightly, eyes narrowing in mock debate. "Okay." With no warning, you turn towards the direction of your room. Ethan follows you.

Ethan lingers in the doorway as you approach the desk tucked into the corner of your room. "You can come in," you mumble, a little confused about his hesitance.

He steps in, letting himself take in your bedroom. Ethan's been here before for brief periods of time. He's gotten glimpses while the group waited for you to grab something you forgot before going out or while you searched through your school supplies before an econ study session. But he still hasn't gotten tired at look at it, at noting the posters on your wall and the collage of you and your friends that you're always adding to.

His eyes linger on that, the photos taped up on your wall. There are a few new ones, one of you and Tara and Sam at a coffee shop. There's even a mirror picture of you and Quinn at some store...something he'd definitely have to ask his sister about. A new photo of you and Chad that makes his chest feel tight. It's a quick snapshot, you a few steps ahead of Chad who looks like he didn't realize you were taking a photo until the flash started going off. You're both holding cones of ice cream and Mindy's arm is in the corner.

He looks down, eyes focusing on another photo. You're grinning, arm extended upwards to take a picture of you and the person across from you. Him.

"New pictures?"

You turn in your desk chair. "Yeah, I printed some more out last week."

Ethan points at the picture that's just the two of you, "I like this one."

You look up from the bottom desk drawer you were rifling through, "That one's one of my favorites."

Ethan feels the offhanded comment in his chest. Heat tries to crawl its way up his neck. "You--you look nice in it."

"You look cute," you mumble, "I like your hair like that."

He's glad for the low lighting and the excuse to keep his back to you. If it wasn't for that, you'd definitely be able to say the blood rushing to his face. He looks back at the picture, noting the slightly tousled look of his hair. You turn your attention back to your desk and Ethan lightly brushes his hair with his fingers.

"Okay..." You pull out a folder and a notebook. "All of it's here--you can grab it when we get back or whenever." You sit up, relaxing against your seat. "I just needed to find it now because drunk me wouldn't be able to and hung over definitely won't remember."

The potential excuse to come back here at the end of night feels like a sort of promise. The trust that the comment is displaying isn't lost him either. You're planning on drinking and probably coming home extremely out of it and you don't have any issue with him being around for that.

Ethan knows you're probably not thinking that far ahead, but you must, at least, feel that way subconsciously. He knows you're the kind to be aware of that kind of thing, has heard snippets of your conversation with the other girls about staying vigilant every night out.

"Yeah, I'll grab it tonight. We've got an essay due on Friday that I haven't even started."

You scrunch up your face for a second in pained empathy. "If you need any help with it, just let me know." You tap your nails against the side of your knee. "...When I'm sober again."

"Yeah," Ethan nods, "For sure."

----

"Y'know approximately 42% of cabs are in New York."

The number feels generous--and random--but you always seem to know things.

"Actually?"

You giggle, the sound full. "No." The admission is soft as you turn away from the window, still laughing. "I don't--I don't know." You tilt your head curiously, and for a second, Ethan thinks the movement might indicate the return of your earlier dizziness. He straightens like he might need to stabilize you again. It's then that he realizes how close you are. "I made it up."

Even though that was obvious to the only person in the room that didn't set a new personal best in number of shots taken in an hour, you're smilingly so kindly he doesn't have the heart to point that out. "You made it up?"

You nod slowly, like one too sharp motion is all it'd take to topple you over. "And you believed me."

Ethan angles his chin downwards. "Not sure I did."

"You bought it for like a second though, right?"

You're watching him carefully, desperate to find any kind of crack in his expression that might prove you right. A part of him wants to push. The rest of him is too placated by your slight smile and steady gaze. "...Maybe for a second."

A beat passes. The two of you continue to openly watch each other. You snap out of it by bending your fingers into a fist. You gently bump your knuckles against his arm. "Knew it."

Your fist briefly lingers, brushing down his arm as you take your hand back rather than just pulling it away. Ethan doesn't get the warmth that crawls up his face.

With no warning, you pull away entirely. You walk past Ethan and slowly make your way to the bed. As soon as it's within reach, you lose all sense of care and flop onto the mattress like you're exhausted.

You go from sitting to flat on your back so quickly Ethan briefly wonders if you've fallen asleep. "Y/n?"

"Hm?" You turn your head sharply from one side to another. Still conscious. "Tired."

There's something soft about the way you say it, half mumbled and drowsy. "I know, but you--you can't--" He's not sure how to express what he's thinking without sounding like he's trying to cross a line. You're still in going out clothes, nothing extreme but the mainly form fitting outfit can't be comfortable enough to sleep with. And he knows you have a thing against sleeping without taking your makeup first. "Can't sleep like that."

You lift an arm in the air just to drop it across your chest. There's a flurry of words that follows the motion, but they're all mushed together and too quiet for Ethan to make out. "At least tell me where your pajamas are."

Another mesh of words. Somewhere in the collage of sentences you manage to get out, "Top-second-second-to-top drawer."

Ethan approaches your dresser, picking out a T-shirt and some pajama shorts he's seen you wear to movie nights before. He sets them down next to you. "You've gotta..."

You stretch an arm upwards, waving once in a way that feels dismissive. Your hand then drops down with no warning, wiping at your eyes before you slowly sit up, one hand reaching for the hem of your top.

Ethan's eyes widen. After a second of mental buffering, the sense to turn around. He forces his attention to remain on your walls. "Y/n." It's meant to sound partially stern, maybe even a little scolding, but his voice's pitch comes out a little too breathy near the end of your name. He'd probably be embarrassed by the sudden shift if you were more sober. You might not even remember Ethan being here tomorrow morning outside of a vague awareness.

Still, knowing that you're changing out of that tiny skirt and low cut top less than three full feet away from him...

Ugh. He tells himself that it's because you're nice to him and you're an objectively pretty girl. And all that planning stuff with his dad and his sister makes it hard to even think about girls. He's living a half life, letting himself enjoy the sense of friendship his false life is giving him from time to time while still staying focused. Anything romantic would be too complicated.

But still, he's a young guy and you always smell nice and you're pretty and you always go out of your way to include him things and--it's all biology. Attraction's understandable, it's not like he has a crush on you or anything.

"Okay." The reminder of his current makes his face feel warm. "You're safe. Y'can turn around."

Your words come out slurred enough that Ethan wonders if he should give you an extra second or two just to make sure. He turns around slowly, ready to snap his head back around if necessary.

True to your word, you're dressed, shorts barely peaking out from under your oversized tee. He should feel less now that you're more dressed and look a lot more casual. "G-good." He swallows in an attempt to make his throat feel less dry.

You sit down at the edge of your bed, "Mhm."

"You think you can wash your makeup off?" The question feels awkward. Ethan watches as you cross your legs beneath you. "You just--you never like when you wake up with makeup still on."

Your head tilts a little too sharply to one side, a lazy smile on your face. "That's nice, but 'm okay." Ethan considers protesting, but as if to make your point you wipe at your eyes. "Are you--going back?"

The question takes a second to click. Ethan had come over to the apartment you share with the Carpenters and his sister with Chad, like usual. Chad had completely crashed on the living room couch almost immediately after walking back from the party. It isn't the first time he's slept something off here, and Ethan definitely didn't mind the alone time. "Uh--yeah."

"It's kinda late," you mumble, "You can--you can stay here if you want." It's said so innocently Ethan almost thinks he might of misheard you.

"Here?"

"Mhm." You move up your bed, pushing back your sheets and semi-awkwardly crawling beneath them. "Sleepover."

Ethan's face has to be red. If you notice, you don't give any indication of even understanding why this might feel a little odd. He should let you down gently with some kind of excuse about having so much homework that he has to start first thing in the morning. "You sure?"

Your head is already on your pillow, "Yeah." It's more of a hum than an actual response. You're already half asleep. "We're friends."

It's not a big deal. Objectively, Ethan knows that that's true. Quinn can have whole relationships and flings and whatever else she does to make the time pass. Ethan can handle sharing a bed with you to keep things seeming normal and avoid a later walk than he wanted.

"Okay," his voice feels strained, tight, "Yeah if--if you're okay with it."

"Mhm." You push yourself to one side of your bed lazily. "We can--we can go to that brunch place tomorrow, if you're--" You trail off, voice growing lighter like you're falling asleep.

Ethan approaches your bed slowly even though he doubts he'd be able to wake you on purpose, let alone intentionally. You don't stir as he gets into bed, not even reacting as his fingertips brush against your arm.

He lets himself relax, eyes shutting. After a second, he feels the bed shift. A weight finds itself onto his shoulder. Ethan squints his eyes open, blood rushing to his face at the realization that your temple's now resting against his arm.

----

"Ugh," you sigh, glaring at your phone.

Ethan looks up from his coffee cup. "What?"

You shake your head. "It's nothing." You set down your phone and pick up your own drink. "Just that this girl that got put in my group with in Lucille's class has been ghosting our project group chat but she keeps posting herself hanging out with her friends on Instagram." You take a quick sip of your beverage. "She won't do her part, but she can take time out of her beach day to comment that my powerpoint slides are busy."

He frowns, "Your slides aren't busy."

"I know," you agree, "They totally kick ass."

You're mainly kidding, but there's still a hint of genuine defensiveness in your tone. The fact that you're taking this as a personal insult is more endearing than it should be. "They do."

You nod your head firmly, happy to be validated. "Thank you." You take another sip of your drink. "I love that you let me say crazy things like this and pretend that they are that deep." You tap your nails against the wood of the cafe table. "This is why we're friends."

Ethan crosses his arms on the table, hoping that the shift doesn't come off as transparent. He's still getting used to that, at how open you are, how genuine. You're always finding a way to affirm the friendship through either words or subtle actions.

"That's the only reason?"

You press your lips together, pretending to think about it. "Uh...you also buy me coffee and are the only reason I'm not failing econ, so..." The two of you laugh a little more than the joke warrants.

"I feel appreciated."

You roll your eyes at his joking tone. Ethan knows that you appreciate him. Because of how suspicious most of your friend group is, a lot of their mistrust has found its way to Ethan. It's easier to trust someone you live with, so you and Quinn aren't the first to be targeted. And Anika and Mindy are dating, that comes with additional trust. So Ethan's the most effected by their understandable PTSD. Except for Chad, who dorms with him.

It's not like he's fully excluded by everyone else, but every once in awhile the fact that they're ready to be the most wary of him at a moment's notice becomes overly obvious.

You lift an arm, nudging his arm with your fist, "Come on." You sit up a little straighter, "You know I love ya."

Ethan can feel the blood rushing to is face. He stares at the table, unsure if he'll be able to handle looking you in the eye right now. You just have to be so nice and pretty. Maybe if you were more one than the other he'd be able to handle it. He wouldn't have to constantly be trying to convince himself that he's neutral about you...that he'd actually be able to hurt you or let you get hurt like the others.

"An 'I love you' over an iced coffee?" Ethan tries to keep his voice steady, light.

You roll your eyes again, "Don't make me sound easy, it wasn't a love confession." You pick up your cup again, "And I got an extra pump of syrup and cold foam, so it wouldn't have even been unwarranted."

That alone makes Ethan want to get you your iced coffee every day. With any and all the additives you want. "Good to know."

It's your turn to stare at your hands. "Smooth." You fidget, twisting your fingers before forcing them to lay flat on the surface beneath them. "Don't you have to go to someone's office hours before 11:00?"

The honest answer is no, but that's not what Ethan told you. Office hours, extra classes, group projects, and study group meetings. School related excuses are the easiest ways to get to covertly meet with his family. Quinn's in a position to get to use guys as excuses, but Ethan isn't as...outgoing. And made up friends or jobs leave more room for questions.

And Ethan doesn't want to give you the impression that he's unavailable.

Ugh. He keeps telling himself that he can't factor you in. He shouldn't even want to. Anything he does to go out of his way for you will only draw more attention to you in the end. If he begins to slip because of you his dad will find a way to connect it back to you.

Ethan glances at his phone, noting the time. 10:43. If he leaves now, he'll still be a few minutes late. Nothing noticeable, nothing he can't blame on the city's foot traffic. "Uh..." he turns off his phone screen, "He cancelled them."

"Yeah?"

He blinks, trying to figure out how to spin this. He wonders if Richie ever struggled with the lying to everyone all the time or if that came as naturally to him as everything else. "Yeah...he sent an email about his kids having colds."

"Oh," you hum casually, "Feels like everyone gets sick after school starts. A girl in my lit class was sniffling so bad last class and Tara's throat's been sore lately." You believed him so easily, Ethan feels a pinprick of guilt about it. "Does that mean you have time to hangout?"

That eases any discomfort immediately. "...Aren't we hanging out right now?"

You give him a pointed look. "You know what I mean." You prop your head up on your elbow. "Do you have time to do something else?"

It'll be fine. He'll text his dad that he couldn't get away and that Chad was getting suspicious so he had to cancel his plans. Quinn would see right that, but he could get her to cover for him. He's covered for her enough times when she wanted a break from the vengeance thing to hook up with some guy or just be distracted. And this isn't different than that. Quinn blows off steam with guys and he blows it off with you. It's just a way to have something positive in his life.

It doesn't matter, but he can't seem too invested. "Do what?"

"Okay, you can say no, but I passed the cutest store on this street the other day..." You trail off softly, optimistic. "And I was going to go with Tara, but she's been super busy lately."

"Shopping trip?"

You sigh, the sound defeated, "I know. You don't have to--"

"No," Ethan breathes, "It sounds fun."

Your eyebrows draw together, "Fun?"

You sound so skeptical, but Ethan doesn't even have to think twice about it. It does sound fun. Anything that involves you sounds fun.

It hits him then that that's more than fondness or even friendship. That's really caring about someone...that's liking them. Like really liking them.

That alone should be reason enough for him to stop all of it. Bail and make some kind of excuse and stop hanging out with you so much. He tries to make himself, tries to imagine the way your expression would shift from an easy smile to a frown, "Do you want me to go or not?"

You beam. "You're right." Still smiling, you pull your bag off the side of your chair and pick up your coffee. "You ready?"

Warmth crawls up his neck and settles against his cheeks. "Yeah."

I love how you write the dynamic between mc with Billy + Stu, and after reading your ethan fic I like Ethan and mc's dynamic just as much

With billy and stu they prey on the naiveté mc has with male friendships and friendships in general, while with ethan it feels more like they both are sorta outsiders in the friendship circle (neither were there in 5) so I'm assuming that they gravitate towards one another? Mc would see herself in the uncertainty ethan would have in his place of the frienship, that feeling of being on the fringes and would probably get close with him through that. Going to what you said recently, he would probably see that as her 'choosing him', and would make his crush strengthen right?

(sorry this was so long I'm just really digging the puppy vibes he has going on)

this is sooo it!! can't believe i didn't see this until sooner but you understand the vibes so exactly it feels like you crawled into my brain and pulled it out lol

i'd even go as far as to say that with billy and stu the fact that reader is kind of new to the group also plays into how they play things, like especially at first, the reader just accepts any off behavior bc everyone else does and bc of the possibility of being 'cut off' from the friend group

also while i do love ethan's puppy energy after finally feeling like someone's first choice, he isn't above using the fact that mc isn't really a core 4 member to his advantage, i can see him trying subtly/not so subtly push at that insecurity in the reader in a panic if he sees the reader being a little too close/more friendly to the others in the friend group

i'm watching scream vi today, i'm super excited !!!!

i'm making my predictions here, so that once i've seen the movie i can laugh at my clown self:

gale is dying. it's mandatory, now that neve is not here and dewey died on the last one. also the things they did with courtney on social media with the scream instagram aacount.

i want stu to be ghostface SO BAD, and if they disappoint me again, i will become ghostface myself.

IM SO EXCITED FOR THE WOMEN !!! they're are all so pretty and talented and i love women <3

they're gonna kill one of the twins, and if it's the girl, that's gonna be homophobic as fuck (but there was too much hints to killing her in the trailer so my bets are on my lovely chad)

IF THEY KILL TARA I WILL KILL SOMEONE.

ghostface is not gonna be a pair again (and i'm manifesting this because goddamn am i tired of psychos in love. except for billy and stu, those can stay), that was seen to much. it's either gonna be only one, or a LOT of them like scream 3's original script.

i want this scream vi to have more chase scenes. hopefully, they've listened to the fans and took this into consideration, because the first two movies chase scenes were GOLD.

it would be cool if they killed sam. i don't think they're gonna do it, because she's the final girl, but it would be an awesome twist, and very angsty (my hearts likey likey).

BILLY AGAIN!! RIGHT? RIGHT??? skeet was on the premiere (but so were dylan and sonia, and their characters are dead). I WANT BILLY AGAIN !!

i'm so excited for jenna ortega (yes, this is a jenna ortega fan account.) AND ALSO KIRBY!!!! (they're killing her. i'm gonna cry)

i also think it's gonna have that lovely psychology fear that scream's first movies had. dramatic af, too. and i'd love a clumsy ghostface again.

that's it, byeee

SCREAM 6 SPOILERS, don't proceed if you don't wanna find out who ghostface is.

mindy making a reference to stu PERHAPS being alive was the little bandaid i needed after scream 6 didn't give me stu's comeback. seriously, who do i need to text for matthew lillard to wrap the old generation (killing gale, maybe sidney if neve comes back)??? (my ideas are more developed HERE!, in my review from scream 5)

like, i liked that ghostface were THREE people, but it was richie's family --- especifically richie's dad, which made me so angry, because it's similar to scream 2 and it feels too repetitive (in a bad way). please please please give me stu ghostface for scream 7. he deserves it after everyone forgets his participation on the killings, he must kill sid and gale (GALE HOW ARE YOU ALIVE???) and then be killed by sam or something so that the new generation finally has no strings connecting to the old one.

i swear to god, if they pull some shit like scream 3 (roman, you will always be my enemy) i'll go batshit crazy.

Return

╰┈➤ Ethan Landry x female reader

╰┈➤ Warnings; mentions of sexual harassment, cursing, angst turned to fluff, making out, ghostface! au, unedited

╰┈➤Summary: Ethan breaks up with you, and a couple of months later sees another guy trying to make moves on you - spoiler warning, it does not go well.

╰┈➤ Word count: 2,475k

╰┈➤ Part two

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Hand pulling hand, giggles bounced off the brick walls surrounding the pair. They've done this before, many times, but this time it was different. Something was wrong. The lack of a spark in his eyes told her so, now it was replaced with a darkness. His laugh wasn't as hearty and carefree as all the other times, and his eyes didn't gravitate to hers as she spoke.

His footsteps came to a slow stop, her hand being tugged backwards. She looked back, expecting that big, toothy smile, but was met with none. Her own slowly dropped. 

"Eth? What is it?" She asked, breath heavy and heart thumping.

"I don't know if this is a good idea..."

One brow arched as she looked at him confused, eyes quietly asking him to elaborate. This was new, unusual. She didn't know what to say, she didn't know what he meant as her hand rose to his shoulder in concern.

The soft material under the pads of her fingertips brought a form of comfort to her, but that sad look in his eyes didn't evaporate at her touch.

"You know what I mean," He spoke after a moment, heaving a heavy breath, "Us. This isn't working out." He shook his head, thick locks of hair bouncing softly, as he cast his gaze to the side, avoiding the pain he knew he was beginning to cause.

A sigh escaped her lips, her teeth clenched with vigour as she looked up to avoid spilling any tears. This wasn't happening. He can't do this to me. She rubbed her thumb and forefinger together, a chill going down her spine as she thought, "Why are you doing this?"

"We both know this isn't working. It'll only end in us bothgetting hurt," He paused, inhaling deeply, "I don't love you."

She looked back to him, this time met with a hard and cold stare rather than the loving, teeth-rotting sweet look in his chocolatey eyes, as he removed his hand from hers. "W-what do you mean? Just two days ago you were on about how you can't stand being away from me!" She shouted, her blood pumping from her heart, up her spine and to her head at a furious pace, "What happened?  What changed your mind?"

Ethan shook his head, looking away as he bit on his cheek to hold back a smirk, ignoring the way his hands trembled lightly; not from fear, but from the nerves. At least that's what he told himself. Looking back up, that smirk was quickly wiped away as he saw the look in her eyes, the pain. She was trying to hold it all back, the pain and the anger and confusion all battling together as they fought to swim up to the surface. 

"Why are you doing this Eth?"

"I have to. It's best if we stop whatever this is."

"How do you know? Are you really thinking about what's best for me?" She asked, tilting her head gently to the side, trying to catch his gaze. She didn't want them to end. 

"Stop making this so difficult! I am doing what is best for me!" He shouted, hands drifting up to point at his chest, the abruptness of his movements almost causing him to hit her, "I don't give a fuck about what you want! Okay? This is over, we are over." He ended his speech in a gentler tone, eyes boring deep into her own with a certain coldness she'd never seen before - not from him anyway.

Tears quickly teased at her eyes, glassing over and blurring her vision as she took a shaky breath. With no words, she nodded her head and pushed past him, walking back towards the busy streets, "Y/n! Wait!" She could hear his voice shouting, but she ignored it, "Come back!" Continuing to walk away, she blended in with the crowds before he had the chance to catch up to her. 

She reached the house party Tara had told her about within 20 minutes. Her legs led her up the short flight of stairs, tear stains smudging the carefully put on mascara and eyeliner. She received a bunch of looks - at first confused, but people were quick to remember what day it was. Halloween. She trudged through the sea of sweaty bodies, small sobs fighting to escape her throat. 

There stood an island in the kitchen, full of red cups and bottles of different kinds of alcohol scattered all over, some empty some full. Carefully, she poured herself a drink, taking a sip as Tara approached her, eyebrows scrunched in concern.

"Y/n? Are you okay?" Her voice, filled with worry, asked as the shorter girl stared at Y/n. 

"Yeah I'm all good." Y/n nodded her head, sending a small smile before continuing to drink, chugging the vodka as if her life depended on it. In some way it did, as the pain of a heartbreak cursed through her body, head to toe. 

This became a daily occurrence. She wasn't at parties 24/7, but she was drinking. She was drinking so much she felt invincible against all hangovers. Hours turned to days. Days turned to weeks, and weeks soon turned into two months. Ethan would always be there, watching silently as her personality diminished, became something else. She was transforming like a butterfly, yet her wings seemed to be clipped. It pained him to watch this, but there was nothing he could do, or would do.

Until the Christmas party. 

It wasn't the traditional friends gathering. No, it was yet another frat party, with a dress theme - Christmas movies. Chad had convinced Ethan to join the core four and Anika, all dressing as characters from Elf - Chad being the main character - to nobody's surprise. But Tara seemed to like that. The group knew they had something going on, but nobody dared to say a thing. Ethan himself was dressed as Walter, and the two roommates stuck close to each others sides, play fighting and downing shots over and over, until a light buzz struck Ethan's head, until Chad had disappeared into the crowds. 

Ethan walked around, stumbling past and bumping into people, muttering apologies under his breath. At some point along his journey, he forgot what he was even doing. His feet were moving on their own accord. 

And then he came to a halt, his gaze setting on her. She was swaying to the beat of the music, hair flowing, head moving from side to side as she enjoyed the music with a red cup in her hand. Pink and blue hues mixed across her skin and hair, making it seem as though she was the only one there. In other words, she was feeling herself. A small smile tugged at his lips, momentarily forgetting that Ethan couldn't have her any longer. 

He begun to move again, this time dancing his way through the crowd, eyes set on one person only. She was dressed in a mini red dress, white fluff coating the edges of it, a Santa hat loosely hanging on her head. She was dancing around with another girl, one from Ethan's class. That was until a tall man approached her, his hands gliding down her shoulders, to her waist, giving a gentle squeeze. His chest pressed against her back as he began to grind on her, either being blind to her attempts at pushing him away, or being ignorant, his lips planting harsh kisses to her neck. 

Then, his hands went further down, to her hips before she turned around, planting a harsh slap across his face, a frown gracing her beautiful features. Her shout echoed, but was quickly deafened by the music. 

That was Ethan's last straw.

Aggressively, he pushed past people. He could feel the blood rushing to his head, and in a fit of rage, upon closing the distance between himself and the scumbag, Ethan gripped him by the neck and shoved him away. A gasp left Y/n's lips as she turned around, feeling cold air attacking her skin as the stranger was ripped away. Her eyes widened as she saw Ethan going in for the hit, lunging at the guy with his fist, knocking him to the ground.

Her heart skipped a beat. A chill ran down her spine. Her lips parted in a silent cry as Ethan's foot made contact with the stranger's stomach, once, then twice and thrice. She gripped his arm and pulled, hauling him away from the scene and to the entrance of the house. 

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" She screeched at the top of her voice, stomping down the flight of stairs. The cold air hit her like a brick, and she was thankful for having a puffed up jacket. 

"What am I doing?! That bastard had his hands all over you!" Ethan shouted back, rolling his shoulders before rolling the sleeves of his blazer up, "I'm going back in there, and I'm gonna fuck him up." Ethan seethed out, the cold being nothing compared to the rage he felt as his mind flashed the images. 

Y/n smiled, her rage overcoming her as tears pooled in her eyes. 

"What do you think you're doing huh? You left me! So don't go around trying to fucking fight for me!" She shouted, coming closer to the male, her hands rising to push at his chest.

Goosebumps decorated the skin of his forearms at her touch, he gritted his teeth and stared right into her eyes. His heart fell at the tears that she spilled. He never wished to see her like this.

"I am trying to forget you, Ethan. So fuck off." She said, emphasising the words 'fuck' and 'off' through gritted teeth, jabbing him in the chest. They made eye contact, which turned into more of a staring contest as one waited for the other to back down. 

She wasn't having it, and decided she won when Ethan's posture slightly faltered. 

"Good." She said and whipped around, her hair slapping him in the face as she began to ascend the stairs, wishing to return to the warmth of the house. A warm hand gripped her bicep before she could take more than three steps, pulling her backwards, and making her heart skip a beat.

"Ethan what the fuck-" A kiss cut her off, his hands coming up to cup her face. She made a small attempt to move away, but one of his hands moved to grip the back of her neck, pulling her closer. His lips pleaded with hers, but received no reciprocation of the kiss. She was as still as a statue.

He pulled away with a sigh, leaning his forehead against hers as his eyes cast down. She waited patiently, lips pursed into a fine line as her heart beat rapidly and tears dripped down her cheeks.

Looking up, Ethan's heart broke at the sight. He wanted nothing more than to comfort her. Hold her. Kiss her, "I'm sorry." He whispered, maintaining eye contact as she hiccupped. She nodded her head, but said nothing in return, remaining silent. The only thing they could hear was the blasting of music from within the house, their hearts beating in sync as the two thought. 

"This isn't gonna work, Eth..." Muttering, she pulled away, gulping down her pain. Ethan's heart rate picked up at the sweet nickname - one he hadn't heard in what felt like decades. He shook his head, his hands moving from her face and neck down to her crossed arms. He gave them a gentle squeeze, eyes searching hers for any sort of hope. 

"Please... I made a mistake. Please take me back," He pleaded, eyes frantically moving as he tried to connect with her. She closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath, shaking her head in denial, "Please I will do anything love."

"Ethan. Step away. I'm not doing this tonight." She muttered, hand moving to wipe some stray tears away.

"No, I'm not letting you go. I can't stand the thought of a frat boy being with you, touching you - please." 

"You let me go before, you haven't done a single thing to get me back. Ever." She said calmly, gently gripping his hands and removing them from her shoulders, "Goodbye Ethan."

And with that, she began walking back inside, not daring to look at the one person she loved most, the one that betrayed her. But what she wasn't expecting was him running after her, spinning and pinning her against the doorframe, caging her between the doorframe and himself.

Eyes wide, she tried to push him away, but his hand had moved to pin her wrists too. His free hand stroked her chin, tilting it upwards so they could meet eyes, "I'm not letting you go." He murmured softly, voice velvety and smooth as his eyes searched hers, for some kind of softness. 

She said nothing, only gazing at him, lips parted in a silent 'oh' as her thoughts were running at top speed. What is this?

"Couldn't you have done this much, much earlier?" She asked softly, her eyes looking back and forth between his pleading puppy eyes and his parted lips, his tongue poked out for a second to glide over them in anticipation. He knew what she wanted and he would do anything to give it to her.

With that thought, he slowly neared her lips, "Can I?", he asked, looking to her eyes for permission. She gave the faintest nod of her head before their lips connected, Ethan's hands travelling downwards to caress her cheek. He let out a quiet groan, loving the way their lips fit so well together, the way her face fit right into his palms, how soft her lips were - he missed this feeling so bad.

Their lips moved in sync, so used to each others presence and movements, but neither wished to separate, until Y/n pulled away to catch some air, surprised as Ethan chased her lips with his own, his eyes hazed over and cheeks flushed with a pink tint. His thumb glided over her lower lip, pulling at it gently before letting go. He cleared his throat and moved slightly away, but Y/n followed, not ready to separate yet. 

"You don't know how long I've been waiting for this..." She whispered softly, eyes searching his own.

Chuckling, Ethan nodded his head and twirled a strand of her hair in his fingers, "Yeah? Me too."

"Kiss me more then." Y/n smiled, latching her arms around his neck as she tiptoed, earning another chuckle before their lips connected again, both students grinning from ear to ear.

"Get a room!" Chad drunkenly shouted from behind, and the two broke away and ran giggling, hand in hand. 

Part 2

Return pt.2

╰┈➤ Ethan Landry x Female Reader

╰┈➤ Warnings: mentions of murder, blood, cursing, breakup, angst turned to fluff, ghostface! au, not explicitly following the events of the movie (Scream 6), alcohol, mean and sad ethan :(

╰┈➤ Summary: Ethan has to break up with Y/n, but regrets it instantly. Why? Because to him, she's the love of his life.

╰┈➤ Word count: 3,609k

╰┈➤ Part one

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He'd done this before; same thing over and over. One victim after another. Something in him twisted and churned at the stranger's screams, their begging, their cries, but a more cruel, a more violent part of Ethan supressed that twinge of guilt. It's not like he could do anything anyway – his dad would skin him, and his sister would take it upon herself to make his life more miserable.

"Please no! Stop I beg you." A voice screeched in his ear, begging for mercy, bloodied hands grasping his own. They were in hysterics, using all their strength against him but to no avail. His mind was elsewhere, the screams becoming white noise as he continued to drive the knife up. Agonisingly slow, too. He could feel the skin cut beneath his fingers, the blade never stopping. "I don't want to die..."

Their voice became all but a whisper, their hands losing the strength they had just a moment ago. He chuckled quietly, before abruptly pulling the knife out, his chuckling turning into a full-blown laughter as they screamed, body twitching against the wall behind them.

"I'll make it quick buttercup, yeah? Would you like that?" He whispered into their ear, holding the knife too close to their neck for comfort. He could feel them tremble, even in their half-passed out state, their fear too overwhelming. A slight nod followed shortly after his words, and he tutted in disapproval, moving away to take in the sight, his work.

"Please- if you're going to kill me, do it quick!" They exclaimed.

"So much demand from someone in your position..." He wasn't impressed, nor was he content. He didn't like being told what to do unless it was coming from Y/n. Speaking of which, he looked around the room for something. A clock.

"Shit."

His eyes caught sight of the moving handle, it was coming close to 8pm, in 15 minutes he was supposed to meet Chad.

"Look buttercup, I would love to drag this out, but I'm running low on time-" He muttered, more to himself really, whilst flipping the blade in his gloved hand, the sound of his footsteps bouncing off the walls as he stomped towards his victim – a fellow student – plunging the knife into their chest repeatedly, choked stutters and gagging resonating within the room, followed by pure silence just a few short moments after.

"Fuck."

He wiped his knife clean on their clothes, turning to a window. His bag was there waiting for him, ready with his awfully stupid costume that Chad would force him to wear later on.

He heaved a heavy sigh and shook his head, muttering curse words under his nose as he awkwardly exited through the window and onto a rusty staircase.

Taking his mask off, Ethan inhaled a deep breath of air, shoving the damned thing back into his bag and instead placing on the wretched cardboard cut-out.

What even was it? He had no idea.

Down below, his bicycle was waiting for him, luckily it hadn't been stolen by some drunkard. Everyone seemed to be drunk and gone by this time, celebrating Halloween.

His feet moved quickly, the tyres spinning aggressively as he swerved to the left, narrowly avoiding a car. "Watch where you're driving dickhead!" He shouted, flipping the driver off in a fit of rage. After a couple of minutes, he could see heaps of students cluttering the streets, all dressed in silly, sexy or actually well-done costumes.

Some hollered at him as he hurried past, others swore as he swerved, his eyes finally settling on the half-naked figure of Chad, sported in some shorts and a cowboy hat, waiting outside their shared dorm building.

"Ethan what the fuck?!" Chad shouted, prolonging the 'fuck', flailing his arms in the air as he approached the teen, "You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago! Where were you?" He continued, his arm wrapping around Ethan's neck as the boy put his bike away.

"Sorry Chad, I was in the - uhm, library?" Ethan said slowly, though it sounded more like a question rather than a statement. It wasn't questioned by Chad though, who seemed like he already had a few too many drinks for the hour it was. He was already swaying as he walked alongside Ethan, tripping over his own feet - earning a few giggles from passing ladies - winking and blowing kisses, flashing his pearly-white teeth in a boxy grin.

In all honesty, Ethan didn't expect to get away with his lie so easily, but Chad was such a frat boy he couldn't keep his hands off alcohol until they got to the party. He let out a relieved sigh as he heard music blasting out of a specific home - the 'go to' for everyone.

There wasn't a single week without at least one party, and that added onto the ease Ethan felt any time he had to go and slash someone up.

Because nobody would even notice he was gone. Not even the people that called themselves his 'friends'.

Okay - that wasn't the whole truth. There was one person that truly did care for him. A small smile tugged at his lips as he thought of her - her beautiful, soft and shiny hair, that smile that made her look like an angel sent by God himself - no, not even that, she is a literal Goddess - he thought, those little crinkles under her eyes as she smiled, the few tiniest freckles scattered across her cheeks. The way she would always lead him to the dance floor, enticing him, bringing a smile of his own to his face. His heart pounded, no, it clawed at his chest whenever she was around. She was his whole world, and she held his heart in her grasp. He was at her mercy.

But their relationship wouldn't last.

As much as Ethan loved Y/n, he would eventually be forced to kill her. She was heavily associated with the 'Core Four', as Chad liked to call it, being present at the Woodsboro event. She was there when his brother was brutally slayed by none other than Sam Carpenter.

A string of curse words fought to escape his mouth, but he fought against it as Chad pulled at his bicep, leading him away to a group of dancing girls - who in his mind - were the most awkward dancers possible.

"Ladies, meet my bro Ethan." Chad introduced, slinging one arm around Ethan's shoulder and the other around a blonde girl's waist, "Ethan, these are my classmates. They're all gorgeous aren't they?"

Ethan grinned at the group, doing his utmost best to look sweet, innocent and convincing. Chad wasn't aware of his current relationship status, and that was okay. Neither Ethan nor Y/n were bothered enough to tell anyone; they'd figure it out on their own.

"Hey there, nice to meet you guys!" He shouted over the music, lightly nodding in greeting as his cardboard helmet slid down and blocked his vision. He was about to move it out of the way, but a smaller hand did the job for him. He looked to his side, and was met with a big cheeky grin. The one he adored.

"Y/n? It's good to see you!" Chad erupted, arms raising high as he embraced her in a suffocating hug. Ethan's heart twitched, his stomach twisted with a tinge of jealousy. He did not like the sight of Chad acting all touchy with his girl - did he need to do so?

The answer was a simple no.

Y/n's hands awkwardly patted Chad's back, her eyes nervously moving from the other girls to Ethan's, though his seemed to have a darker look in them - he wasn't happy, "Alright Chad I think that's enough." She said quickly, clearing her throat whilst backing away from the taller male, and joining Ethan at his side. 

She turned to Ethan, her gaze meeting his lovingly, "Hello stranger."

"Hey there, fancy seeing you here." Ethan said, clearly pleased as he bit his lip lightly, his hand itching to reach out for her own, and it would have if it wasn't for another body crashing into Y/n's back, arms slinging over her shoulders as lips entered Ethan's vision, a sloppy wet kiss was planted on Y/n's face.

"Mindy?! Ewww your breath stinks!" Y/n exclaimed exaggeratedly, fanning the space before her face as she moved her head away. Mindy chuckled at that, attempting to gift her with another kiss whilst fluttering her eyelashes and puckering her lips in, what she thought was, a seductive manner, "Oh come on! My kisses can't be that bad!"

Ethan looked to her, a questioning eyebrow raised, "Are you sure?" He scratched the back of his head, purposefully looked around the room to imply Mindy was, in fact, a bad kisser. Though he couldn't know really. The girl in question smacked the back of his head, a nasty snarl gracing her features, rolling her eyes in the process, "Thanks Ethan. At least I can pull the ladies, unlike someone..." A couple of 'oohs' and 'ahhh's' left the small group, and Ethan could almost feel the sting - only he didn't, because in his mind he did pull the best girl possible.

And she was standing at his side, stifling a couple of giggles.

"Come on Y/n, let's get some drinks." Mindy said, taking a hold of Y/n's hand as she lead her away.

Ethan shook his head and chuckled, sending a slight wave at Y/n, who had turned back to say something, but was far too gone to be heard. He reached into his pocket, fished out his phone, and was greeted with the sight of two missed calls from his sister - Quinn. He sighed heavily and excused himself from the group, making his way outside as he attempted to ring her back.

The phone rang for a long while, and Ethan was growing agitated the longer it took.

"Ethan? Why didn't you answer?" Quinn's annoyed voice rang through Ethan's ear.

Clicking his tongue, he retorted, "I told you I will be busy. I'm at a party, why are you calling me?"

"You need to break up with that bitch. Plans have changed." Her tone was cold, and Ethan let out a scoff at the insult. How dare she insult the one girl he cared about? 

"Me and dad decided to let her live," She took a pause, awaiting any sort of reaction from her brother, but was greeted with pue silence as he anticipated her words, "If you break up with her, we won't kill her. We will only go after Sam, Tara, Chad and Mindy. Though I can't promise you that she won't be injured during the process."

"And if I don't? Maybe she can still be an asset." He argued, directing his attention at a stray rock on the side of the pavement, kicking it, "Then I will personally ensure she is gone. We need you to stay focused, Ethan." Quinn's voice sounded harsh, and it sent a chill down his spine, his eyes widening in horror. He never believed her threats were real; up until now. But she was giving him a choice.

"Ethan? Did you hear me?"

He took a moment to say anything, his attention shifting to how rapidly his heart was beating, how he suddenly felt so warm and self-aware, he felt as though he could feel every sensation on his body - from that miniscule itch on his thigh to the way his hair began to stick to his forehead unbrearingly.

"You'll let her live? If I break up with her?" He asked, swallowing down the invisible lump that had formed in his throat. He's never felt this way. What was it? Anxiety? Fear? Over the phone he could hear a male voice call for Quinn, and he visibly cringed, "I am very serious Eth. You think I wouldn't be up for the task?" She questioned, taking a puff of air, "Dad's getting impatient, and I'm being kind by giving you a choice. So act fast."

And with that, she hung up the phone.

His arm fell limp, and the blood pumping through his veins deafened him. His thoughts raced one hundred miles per hour, and yet did not come up with a single answer or solution to his predicament.

His sister, his own flesh and blood, was threatening what he deemed the 'love of his life', but was giving him the chance to save her life? He definitely needed a moment to think that one over.

A few minutes went by, the music coming from within the house never stopped. It worked as background noise as he pondered, talking under his breath about all the possibilities and pacing around, clearly anxious. Could he get out of this one? Was breaking up with Y/n really the ultimate choice?

He felt like falling in through the earth, down into its very core so that he did not have to make such a choice. He wasn't stupid though - he knew if he suddenly disappeared, that Quinn wouldn't hesitate for even a second - and Y/n's life would be in grave danger.

He couldn't let her do that. If anything, he would break up with Y/n, break her heart and have it crumble to pieces just to ensure her safety. 

"What's got your pants in a twist cupcake?" A soft voice asked behind him, at first he was slightly startled, but then realised who it was. His damnation, "Y/n? I thought you were busy partying?" He exclaimed, hand gripping his chest as a nervous, toothy grin creeped up his cheeks. 

The girl in front of him swayed a little, hands interlocked behind her back as she looked up, "Well I was, but you were gone for so long I started to think you snuck off."

He chuckled, shaking his head in denial.

"No, I wouldn't of left you here, alone." He said quietly, looking straight into her eyes cutely, "Chad would do anything for a chance with a girl as pretty as you." Ethan continued, now shuffling closer and closer, until their torso's were just a mere inch away from touching - so close he could see that dusty pink colour decorate her cheeks. That really did do a number on him. 

"Well, luckily for you, Chad isn't my type," A small smile tugged at her soft lips, and she fought hard to contain it as she spoke, moving her hand to trail her fingers down his chest, keeping her gaze locked on it, "My type are sweet, cute, nerdy boys, with adorable brown puppy eyes and soft curly hair. Specifically, brunettes." She shifted her gaze, now looking into his wide eyes, the street lights reflecting in her pupils.

That light dusty pink colour from earlier? It now turned into a full-blown crimson blush paired with a wide smile.

"Are you embarrassed?" 

"Why do you ask?" She looked at him once more, chewing lightly on her bottom lip, her blush intensifying further as she had indeed been called out. 

"You're blushing. So much. It's quite cute actually." Ethan teased, his hand slowly moving to grip hers, sliding down to interlock their fingers together, "I think we should get out of here." At that, his heart picked up the pace, and nervosity took over him. Should he do it now? Maybe that'll be for the best.

His mind rushed as Y/n pulled him along, into the crowded streets and through dark alleys. Their breaths matching in pace and heartbeats matching in rhythms, their hands interlocked and feet moving synchronically.

Cars honked at them, street lights flickered and light rain pattered down, drowning out anything but each other's presence. Ethan kept trying to think of the right things to say, but her presence overwhelmed him, tugging painfully at his heartstrings. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving her. But he had to, for her safety. And so, his mind made the unconscious choice to let her go.

Even if it hurt.

It would be like acting, he told himself. His ears could barely process the words she was saying, the blood pumping through his head deafening him. He was getting anxious and fidgety.

His footsteps came to a slow stop in an alley, his hand pulling her backwards. Her breath hitched, and she gazed lovingly into his eyes, but he could see the growing worry. How am I going to do this? He restrained a smile, and blinked away the tears that threatened to gather in his eyes, not looking at her, but rather off to the side.

"Eth? What is it?" She asked worriedly. He could hear her laboured breathing, and gulped down the lump that formed in his throat.

"I don't know if this is a good idea..." Ethan's eyes met hers, his heart beating loud against his ribcage. He fought hard against his urges to grab her hand from his shoulder, place a gentle kiss on it before embracing her and muttering sweet nothings and reassurances into her ear, that she shouldn't worry and it didn't matter. 

"You know what I mean," He continued, taking a deep breath, maintaining eye contact, "Us. This isn't working out."

He shook his head, seamlessly trying to rid his head of those thoughts, but to no avail. His heart panged with guilt at the sigh she let out, "Why are you doing this?"

"We both know this isn't working. It'll only end in us both getting hurt," He paused, taking a deep breath, an attempt to calm his racing heart before he blurted out, "I don't love you."

He put on a stoic face, letting go of her hand. Putting much needed distance between them. If he didn't, this simple task would become much harder.

"W-what do you mean? Just two days ago you were on about how you can't stand being away from me! What happened? What changed your mind?" A light smirk tugged at his lips, his nerves taking over every cell in his body - he was scared, terrified. That smirk was quickly wiped off as he saw the pain in her eyes - the one thing he never thought he'd be the cause of.

"Why are you doing this Eth?"

"I have to. It's best if we stop whatever this is."

"How do you know? Are you really thinking about what's best for me?" At that, his anger took over.

He was doing all this just to protect her. He was being selfless, and all that she was doing was making his life more difficult. He hated (loved) how she questioned his choices, never went down without a fight. His vein was visible on the side of his temple, and his teeth grinded on each other.

"Stop making this so difficult! I am doing what is best for me!" He shouted, breathing heavily, feeling his face became hot to the touch, he pointed to himself, but stuttered his words out as his hand almost slapped hers, "I-I don't give a fuck about what you want! Okay? This is over, we are over." Upon saying so, another lump formed in his throat. He wanted to take his words back so so bad. But how could he? 

She nodded her head at him, and pushed past him, bumping shoulders. His eyes caught sight of the first few tears, and his heart shred into bits. 

"Y/n! Wait!" He shouted after her, following in her footsteps, but she ignored him as though he didn't exist, "Come back!" With that, she entered the crowded streets and disappeared, from both his sight and his life. 

"No no no. What the fuck do I do? What the fuck did I do?!" He questioned himself, one hand gripping and tugging harshly at his hair, the other dragging over his face, and he wished this was all some sort of a sick dream.

He couldn't believe he just did that - abandoned the love of his life and watched her walk away. It's for the best. He shook his head, slapping himself lightly before rushing into the crowds, in hopes of catching up to her.

'She must have gone back to the party, right?' He thought, looking ahead into the crowd. Hoping to catch up. His legs carried him, they ran, and his mind pleaded whatever God was above them, whatever fate chose this. The house party wasn't too far, as the pair hadn't gotten far before he made his declaration. Within 15 minutes he was there, his height bringing an advantage to his speed. He pushed through and into the house, looking around in a panic.

"Where is she?"

Sweaty bodies and spilling drinks blocked the path, hands raised in the air and swaying to the sound of music. Ethan received a couple of (accidental) slaps to the face, which helped sober him up a little from his panicked state. He had reached the kitchen, an island decorated with red solo cups and empty bottles of all kinds of alcohol, stood in the middle. And on the other side of it was Y/n, busy talking to Tara and Chad, her lips trembling and hands shakily bringing an alcohol-filled cup up.

His heart broke into a million pieces, just at the sight of what he had caused. Was begging her for her forgiveness now a bad idea? Probably. He listened to his better judgement, swallowing the lump in his throat harshly, his Adam's apple bobbing as he did so. His hand wiped the forming tears away and he walked away, breaths heavy and trembling as his heart shook. He couldn't sabotage her safety - one which should have been guaranteed the moment those words left Quinn's lips. Though, his sister was renowned for being an immensely good liar - only that part seemed to escape his mind.

I just wanted to say a quick thank you, I am so grateful for anyone who has read Return, I'm thankful that you all enjoyed it and I really hope Before You is up to your guys expectations <3 For those who have read the pre-edited version, this new one has a few minor but important changes. Thank you for whoever reads this <3 - kometqh

Tags: @netey6m

Comfort Touch

╰┈➤ Ethan Landry x Fem!Reader

╰┈➤ Warnings: fluff turned to light spice

╰┈➤ Summary: What happens when amidst a fight you forget your date with Ethan?

╰┈➤ Word Count: 1.7k

Jazz music and various voices filled the crowded restaurant, the aroma of different Italian dishes mixed together and wafted through the space, and the clang of utensils on plates seemed to be too loud for his thoughts.

Ethan sat at a small, wooden rounded table in a faraway corner of the restaurant, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram and furiously tapping his foot on the floor, listening to the mild chatter. The long, taper candle in front of him gently swayed its flame and crackled from time to time.

He agreed to meet at 7PM sharp, and yet he arrived about ten minutes early, nervously nodding his head as the waitress assigned to his table attempted small talk.

'Yeah, I've got a date! I'm very nervous haha', is all he said, her words falling on deaf ears as he continued wiping his sweaty palms on his jeans before being led to the table he had reserved.

And now, it was just a minute before seven, and his heart was beating rapidly, thoughts running wild and eyes looking around the room, his phone long forgotten as his hands fidgeted with the table cloth.

The sound of heels clacking against the hardwood floor caught his attention.

Time seemed to slow down, voices turned into white noise as the sound of his own heartbeat turned him into a deaf man.

Her long, burgundy red dress hung on by two thin straps, revealing her shoulders and collarbone, and the soft fabric embraced her curves before coming to a loose end at her ankles.

Her hands clutched tightly onto the strap of a small handbag, and her eyes looked around the place nervously, skipping from head to head, in search for one particular man, as she came to a stop at the admissions desk.

He stood up from his seat, suddenly feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over him as he realised how underdressed he was for the occasion, cladded in a simple white t-shirt, black denim jeans and a black denim jacket.

For his very first, and certainly not last, date with his crush. The most beautiful, smart and funny woman he has ever laid his eyes upon.

Her bright, wide open eyes met his, and the corners of her mouth tugged upwards as the waitress led her to their table. Her cheeks had a red tint to them, one that seemed to match the colour of her dress in intensity.

Ethan's body stiffened, his mouth went dry, his palms suddenly felt clammy and sweaty, as if he hadn't been wiping them every 15 seconds on his trousers since his arrival. He moved away from his seat, and closer to her only to stop by her chair, moving it out before she could do so herself.

The waitress placed two sets of menus in front of them, saying she'll be back in a couple of minutes to take their orders.

You slowly took in a deep breath, fidgeting with the edge of the white tablecloth, waiting for him to speak, or to at least stop staring.

A long minute passed before he cleared his throat, and scratched the back of his neck, snapping back to reality.

"You look beautiful, Y/n." He said quietly, looking down at his lap, making a poor attempt at hiding his blushing face.

You chuckled, tucking a stray lock of hair behind your ear.

"You don't look too bad yourself," you retorted, reaching for the drinks menu, "though I must say, you really made an effort." You continued, restraining a chuckle as the blush on his face intensified in colour.

"What can I say? My wardrobe mostly consists of sweatpants and flannels," he responded, smiling lightly, "Chad had to drag me out to at least buy something."

You smiled, making eye contact as Ethan looked over the menu too, his hand finding it's way up onto the table and to your own hand, the other flipped the page as he read.

The two of you ordered your foods and continued chatting throughout the entire night, and as he walked you back home, he had asked to go on another date soon. That led to multiple dates over the span of a few weeks, which led up to now.

Ethan nervously stood at your door, pacing back and forth as he waited for you to come out. He could hear your voice shouting, which caused anxiety to creep into him.

He knocked on the door again, and this time your voice went silent. He could hear you approaching the door as you stomped towards it.

The door swung open, and he was met with your tear-struck face and frown. He had never seen you like this, and it felt as though his heart was being squeezed in an imaginary palm. The bouquet of your favourite flowers that he held were lowered down to his thigh, and his eyebrows scrunched up closer as he stepped inside.

"Ethan? Why are you here?" You asked, stepping back, your breath shallow and voice strained. Had you forgotten?

"I came to pick you up? For our date?" He asked uncertainly, closing the door behind him. He placed the flowers on the floor, and moved his hands to your face, thumbs gently wiping away the tears, he continued, "Is everything okay? I heard shouting."

You shook your head, grasping his hand with your own, looking away.

"Yeah. Everything's okay. But I don't think I'm in the state to go out." You said, attempting to lighten the mood as you sniffled.

Your eyes moved to look into his, and your gut twisted as you saw the worry in those chocolatey-brown eyes.

His lips were parted as though he wanted to say something, but the words were stuck in his throat.

He shook his head and pulled you into a hug. You sniffled and stifled a sob, stuffing your face into his shoulder, letting silent cries out.

"We can watch a movie? You can choose. We don't have to talk about it if you don't feel like it love." He said quietly, his large hand gently stroking your hair, twirling random strands around his finger as he comforted you.

After a minute or two. you lifted your head, nodding at his earlier suggestion. The fabric of his sweater was now stained wet with your tears, but that didn't seem to bother him.

"I'll grab you a shirt, come." You said, tugging at his hand as you led him to your room. Your roommate, Anika, was on a night out with her girlfriend, so the two of you had the entire apartment to yourselves.

Ethan shook his head, and pulled you to face him.

"Go sit on the couch baby, I'll grab your duvet and I'll make some food okay?" He asked, cradling your face in his hands, his eyes searching yours for an answer. When he received none, he continued to walk with you to the living room, gently pushing you to sit on the couch.

In just a couple of minutes, he had brought over your duvet and two pillows, and now you were looking for a movie on Netflix as he stood in the kitchen, shoving some popcorn into the microwave.

His footsteps resonated within the room, and before you knew it, the two of you were in each others arms, sat up and watching Twilight.

Upon Ethan's suggestion of course.

It was one of those movies that could awaken your inner Mindy, the over-analyser and critic, all in one.

Your eyes were solely focused on the TV, Bella's dialogue filling the otherwise quiet room.

Ethan stared at you instead, brushing his fingers along the side of your arm, occasionally placing soft kisses on your neck and cheek, brushing the tip of his nose against your skin, muttering sweet nothings and whispers of comfort, as well as a couple of 'I love you's'.

Your breathing had steadied, and your tears eventually came to an end. The beeping of the microwave cut through the silence, but it was ignored by you both.

Only 10 minutes in, and you were already laying down, facing Ethan as you two mindlessly stared into each others eyes.

"Do you...wanna talk about it?" Ethan asked, a soft tone accompanying his voice, his eyes searching yours.

Exhaling loudly, you closed your eyes and nodded.

"It was my older sister. She was mad over something and projected it onto me." You said quietly, lips quivering at the thought of her harsh voice, spewing insults at you over something her fiancée had done.

"I'm sorry, I completely forgot about the date. I'll make it up to you okay?" You asked before placing a light kiss on his lips. Ethan nodded, smiling, and laced his fingers into your hair, pulling your face back to his as he deepened the kiss.

A gasp left your lips, and you shifted a bit, with Ethan moving to lean over you slightly, the movie long forgotten.

Your hands glided over his chest, feeling his abs through the soft fabric of his sweater. They were the remedy to your sadness. Satisfying to the touch and to the eyes.

Ethan supported himself above you, propping himself up on his elbow above your head, whilst his other hand stroked your cheek, then slowly slid down to gently grip at your neck, just how you liked it, rubbing at the soft skin with his thumb.

After a long moment, it continued its way down, down your chest and to the hem of your shirt, where his fingers lifted the material and traced circles into the skin of your stomach.

Your own hands flew up to his curls, scrunching them in your grasp, grazing your nails lightly against his scalp before tugging at the roots lightly, earning a gasp from the male.

Ethan smirked into the kiss, his hand caressing your waist. Your skin felt hot under his touch, and the argument from earlier evaporated from your head under the heat of the kiss.

The two of you continued for what seemed like forever, but were soon interrupted by the beeping of the microwave.

You pulled away, and Ethan half groaned, half moaned, licking his lips. You giggled and stared into his eyes as his hand tucked away strands of your hair. Smiling, you whispered,

"I think you should get the popcorn."

Currently at 1k words with part 3 of Return💕 should be up within this week 🫶

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Return

╰┈➤ Ethan Landry x female reader ╰┈➤ Warnings; mentions of sexual harassment, cursing, angst turned to fluff, making out, ghostface! au, un

A ghost-face edit I did a while ago