seventeen | let's have some fun

JORDAN HAD TO ADMIT, TWO OF THE TEAMMATES HE WAS CLOSEST TO DATING HIS NOT-GIRLFRIENDS BEST FRIENDS WAS MAKING LIFE QUITE INTERESTING. Group activities were becoming the norm for them on non-training/non-game days. He wouldn't admit aloud, though, that he felt a slight pang in his chest every-time Reece kissed Silvia and actually meant it. Or when he noticed Mira and Patty playing with each others feet under the table at dinners. Yes, him and Ali were in a good place but he still wished for more.

He hated dropping her off after group hangouts with no more than a slightly awkward side hug. (He hates dropping her off period. They should be having sleepovers like real couples.) It wasn't even the sex he missed—it was the intimacy and little things he teared for. He'd walk past corner stores with flowers out front and wonder how big her smile would be if he bought them for her. He'd started spooning his pillow at night, convinced if he was tired enough it would turn into her again.

"Oh, I don't think I can go on that," Ali said, looking horrified as the Superman Escape zoomed past them, alloys screams following it.

It'd been a hot day for mid-March and Silvi had been gifted an annual pass for Movieworld so the crew decided to come. Reece and Silvi had been leading the pack while everyone else followed. Not being as serious as Reece and Silvia, Mira had decided to become glued to Ali's hip. Though, she did look behind her a lot just to smile at the long-haired man.

"Sure you can," Jordan replied, his arm wrapping around and squeezing her shoulders.

The blonde pulled away, eyes widening as she saw the roller coaster go upside down. "Absolutely not. I'll hold the bags and take photos," she insisted, nodding profusely as her friends shot her disappointed looks.

Silvi, releasing Reece's hand, marched over to the blonde and grasped her hand. "If I'm being forced on this thing, so are you," she decreed. "Besides, you need to start facing your fears," she added, looking between her and Jordan so quickly Ali almost didn't pick up on it.

Giggling, Mira took her friends other hand, "I've been on it before, it's a walk in the park, seriously," she told them, her airy voice filled with excitement.

The two girls looked at her skeptically. "No need to oversell it, Johnny Knoxville," Silvi retorted, paling slightly as the ride went past again.

"Are we gonna discuss it all day or are we gonna actually line up?" Reece cut in, tapping his thong-clad foot impatiently. He adjusted his speed-dealer sunglasses as he spoke.

Patty agreed. "The lines already long as fuck."

"I told you we should've got the fast passes," Mira groaned as they joined the line.

"The anticipation is the best part, though," Jordan had retorted as he watched a father and son stand next to the height chart. The kid stood with a posture so straight, he barely made it to the requirement.

In the meantime, Patty had managed to snake his arm around Mira's shoulders—which she giggled at and cuddled into his side. Jordan watched them with a bit of envy.

Patty and Mira sat at the front of the ride, Reece and Silvi (who were holding hands) sat behind and an unwilling Ali sat behind them with Jordan. "I might piss my pants, you know," she said in a deadpan voice.

Jordan grinned at her as the bars came down, locking them in place. He watched as she clamped her eyes shut, her knuckles going white as she death gripped the harness. "Here," he chuckled, grabbing onto her hand. She didn't waste any time squeezing it as hard as she could.

Everyone's laughs drowned out Ali's two minute long "fuck," as they ride flew down the tracks. Jordan was convinced he might lose a finger at the rate she was gripping onto him.

💌

(@aliannagreer via snapchat stories!)

THE DRIVE HOME WAS QUIET—EVERYONE WAS ABSOLUTELY WRECKED. Jordan regretted volunteering to be the driver, he could barely keep his eyes open. Ninety percent of the car being asleep didn't help as he couldn't really talk to keep himself alert (and the music was being kept low).

The familiar Brisbane City skyline was a welcome site—the infamous CBUS building (that he'd gladly slide down) loomed in the distance. He looked over at Ali in the passenger seat, fast asleep as he pulled over for Reece and Mira to get out (turns out they lived on the same street). Soon Patty and Silvia were dropped off at home and it was just the two of them.

"Ali," he said gently, nudging her a bit.

She groaned without opening her eyes and he nudged her again. "What," she whined, her face scrunching up.

"Where do you want me to drop you?"

She groaned again before falling back into her steady, asleep breathing pattern. He looked out at the horizon, sunsetting and sighed. The suburb Ali lived in was still another twenty minutes north—through peak hour traffic it could be longer—whereas he lived five minutes away from Patty, their last stop. He looked over at her sleeping figure once again—she was a very deep sleeper.

He started his car once again and didn't take the turn leading back towards the highway. He kept looking over at her, waiting for her to wake up but she didn't. Finally, he pulled into his parking garage and turned the car off—still no reaction. He went round to the boot and grabbed his backpack (and the teddies he'd won her out)—slamming the boot shut still did not wake her. Rounding to the passenger-side door, he gently lifted her bridal-style through the basement and into the elevator.

He averted his eyes from the woman inside eying him suspiciously all the way up to his floor. Finally free, he wasted no time going inside. Gently, he laid her down on his bed and pulled the covers over her. With one last longing look, he shut the door behind him and went to sleep on the couch (again).

It took him much longer then he would've liked to fall asleep, all he could think about was the girl in the other room and how much he wished his arms were around her. He thought about his teammates and her friends, how quick and easily they'd fallen into these routines of intimacy. If anything, it made him hate Myles more than anything in this world. He hated that a man like him could ruin someone so much she was afraid of love.

Just as that familiar sensation of sleep began to wash over him, the sound of his name immediately dried up the feeling. He sat up, confused.

"Why're you sleeping on the couch in your own apartment?" She asked, looking like nothing but a dark silhouette in the moonlight.

"I—trying to be respectful," he responded, running a hand through his hair.

She shrugged. "You can sleep in your own bed, Jordan," she told him, sounding slightly bemused.

He shook his head. "I'm not going to make you sleep on the couch."

"It's a big bed," she said plainly, twisting her fingers together.

He stared at her shadowy figure for a moment, trying to decipher if she meant what he thought she meant. As if reading his mind, she clarified, "there's enough room for us both to sleep."

Gathering, the sheet he'd been using as a blanket and his pillow, he walked towards where she'd been standing. "You're sure?" He asked, staring down at her.

Ali nodded before walking back towards his bed and getting comfortable once again. Hesitantly, he climbed in on the other side and they faced each other from opposite ends. There was probably enough space between them to fit another person when Jordan finally dozed off. But, when he woke up, he found that their limbs had become tangled within one another. He'd not felt so well rested in months.

💌

☀️ KK SPEAKS!
     sorry i didn't have time to finish this yesterday!

     i feel like this was a really boring chapter lol. idk if the side couples are going to workout because that's just too boring and cliche.

     also fun fact in 2017 i cried to get out of going on the superman escape lmaooo