Can You Do Another Popular!readerxmikewheeler Blurb Please?😊

this is so cute omg

short n' sweet writing challenge

since short n' sweet has taken over my life (i mean i even themed my tumblr after sabrina) I thought why not write some little oneshots about some characters i'm known for and some new ones i've gotten into themed around the songs on the album!

basically request through my inbox on the character and song you would want me to write and i'll do it!

FULL CREDIT goes to @idyllcy for this idea. its so creative and wanted to do it for one of my favorite albums right now!

request away! :)

taste - steve harrington

please please please - deadpool

good graces - eddie munson

sharpest tool - nathan prescott

coincidence - billy loomis

bed chem - peter parker

espresso - sean diaz

dumb & poetic - jason todd

slim pickens - saiki kusuo

juno - bruce wayne

lie to girls - billy hargrove

don't smile - finn mcnamara

posting will start november 1st!

when mfs bring up the outsiders and now shawty know u a nerd 😞

@LEIGHBAYE — mina leigh ୨ৎ

sixteen. latina. bisexual. writer. she/her. ₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .

. . . ⟢ links to aid. lastpst , masterlist , & rules.

— TRANCE

written by mina leigh 𝜗᭪ , nate jacobs 𝔁 f! reader | wc 2500

summary. nate realizes he is the luckiest guy ever. fuck maddy, fuck cassie, he was plotting for you. you’re the most perfect girl that he could’ve ever asked for.

labels. y/n is used , she her pronouns used. nate fantasizes about you innocently and quite naughty, hyper feminine reader, pet names used, mentions of obsession, praise, & stalking, VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED.

‧₊˚ ୨୧ mina speaks. i really recommend reading @annwrites multi - part fic ❝ exactly what he needs ,❞ paired with, yours truly, nate jacobs. as it was inspired by the masterpiece.

nate is in bed, staring blankly at the glow of his phone. it was some mindless scroll through his socials, yet it all felt dull. nothing grabbed his attention the way it used to. not the countless selfies of maddy’s perfectly angled poses, or cassie’s desperate attempts to catch his eye with the glossy smiles she plastered all over the screen.

he let out a breath, locking his phone and placing it face down on the bedside table. his hand trailed absentmindedly toward the blanket, pulling it up a bit to tuck you in, careful not to disturb you.

you were fast asleep beside him, your soft breaths falling into a steady rhythm. nate’s gaze lingered on you longer than it probably should’ve, his eyes tracing the delicate lines of your face. fuck, you were perfect. it was almost criminal how effortlessly beautiful you looked, even now. no makeup, no posing, no pretending. just you.

he leaned his head back into the pillow, the warmth of your presence next to him soothing yet electrifying at the same time. it wasn’t like when he was with maddy or cassie. there wasn’t that constant tension, that need to control, to manipulate. well, maybe a little. but with you, it felt… different. not better, but more intoxicating.

❝ fuck ,❞ nate muttered under his breath, staring up at the ceiling, the faint glow from the moon seeping through the curtains.

he didn’t know how he’d gotten this lucky. not that it was entirely luck. it took planning, scheming. nate wasn’t a man who left things to chance. no, if he wanted something, he took it. he figured out how to make it his, even if it meant crushing a few people along the way.

and you? you were the one thing he hadn’t let slip through his fingers.

the day nate first really noticed you, like really noticed you, something shifted in him. it wasn’t like with cassie, where she was a fleeting obsession, someone he could toy with to get under maddy’s skin. no, you were something else. something more.

it had been a regular day, or at least it was supposed to be. cassie had brushed past him in the hall, giving him a sad, hopeful glance after their situationship had gone up in flames. she didn’t matter anymore, not really. nate had already set his sights elsewhere.

and then, there you were.

you didn’t even notice him at first, just standing there with a few friends, laughing at something dumb, probably something insignificant, but to nate, it was like the world had tilted. your hair caught the light just right, that glossy sheen making him want to reach out, run his fingers through it. and your face —fuck, your face was everything. perfect lips, perfect eyes, the kind of face nate could stare at for hours and never get bored. you had that thing about you, that girl - next - door vibe mixed with something else, something unattainable.

you weren’t loud, weren’t trying to get attention like maddy or cassie always did. you didn’t need to. you had a natural confidence, something soft but undeniable. your style was all femme, skirts and cute tops, nails always done, everything just ... neat. clean. controlled. nate liked that. he loved that.

it was like the universe had handed him exactly what he’d been looking for.

but getting you? that was going to take work. although not that he ever had any difficulty getting what he desired.

nate spent weeks figuring you out. watching. waiting. it wasn’t stalking, not really, he told himself. he was just making sure he knew everything he needed to. where you liked to hang out, who your friends were, what kind of guys caught your eye. every detail mattered.

he’d show up where you’d be, casually at first, nothing too obvious. he made sure to talk to the right people, make himself seem approachable, even charming, though that part came naturally. girls liked nate. it wasn’t hard to use that to his advantage.

he noticed how your eyes would flick toward him sometimes, just a quick glance before you looked away, trying not to let it linger. it was subtle, but nate knew what it meant. you were interested. maybe you didn’t realize it yet, but you were. and he was going to make sure you realized it soon enough.

a few weeks in, he made his move. a simple conversation, nothing too forward. just enough to get you thinking. he complimented your shoes, your nails, shit like that. small things, things other guys wouldn’t notice but nate did. he saw everything about you.

he could tell you liked the attention. your smile was shy, a little flustered even, and that’s how he knew he had you. it was only a matter of time now.

the days passed, and nate played his cards perfectly. you’d started to trust him, let your guard down around him. you laughed at his jokes, blushed when he teased you, and nate reveled in it. every little thing you did only made him want you more.

he liked how soft you were. how feminine. it wasn’t just your looks, though those were enough to drive him crazy on their own. it was the way you carried yourself, the way you made him feel needed, wanted, like he was the only guy who could make you happy.

he’d make sure you never wanted anyone else.

nate was careful, though. he didn’t rush things. he let the tension build, let you get used to the idea of him being around. he didn’t want to scare you off, not like he’d done with cassie. this time, it had to be perfect.

and it worked.

the night he finally confessed, nate couldn’t hold back anymore. it had been driving him insane, keeping it all bottled up, the way he felt about you. it wasn’t just lust, though that was a big part of it. it was deeper than that, more intense. he wanted you in every way, needed you.

he cornered you after a party, pulling you aside when no one was looking. your eyes widened in surprise, but there was a hint of excitement there too. nate could see it.

❝ i can’t keep pretending, y/n, ❞ he started, his voice low, controlled. ❝ i’ve been thinking about you, about us. for weeks. ❞

you blinked, a soft flush spreading across your cheeks. ❝ nate ... ❞

❝ no, let me finish, ❞ he interrupted, stepping closer, his body just inches from yours. ❝ you’re perfect. everything about you. i can’t stop thinking about you, wanting you. ❞ his hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from your face, and he smirked when you shivered at his touch. ❝ you deserve someone who sees that. who sees you. ❞

you stared up at him, your breathing shallow, and nate knew he had you right where he wanted.

❝ i hope you understand what i am getting at, i’m that guy, y/n, ❞ he murmured, leaning in, his lips just barely brushing your ear. ❝ i’m the guy who’s going to make sure you’re happy. no one else. ❞

your eyes sparkled, a mix of excitement and disbelief.

❝ nate... i didn’t know you felt that way, ❞ you whispered, biting your lip. ❝ i always thought... ❞

❝ what? ❞ he asked, his voice dripping with possessiveness. ❝ you thought you weren’t good enough? ❞ he let out a dark chuckle, his hand sliding around your waist, pulling you closer. ❝ you’re more than good enough. you’re mine. ❞

you stared at him, wide-eyed, but then you smiled —this soft, sweet smile that made his chest tighten.

❝ i didn’t think i’d be good enough for you, ❞ you admitted softly, looking down for a moment.

nate’s grip tightened around your waist, his hand firm as he pulled you closer, his lips brushing your temple. ❝ fuck that, y/n, ❞ he whispered, his voice thick with a mixture of desire and triumph. ❝ you’re everything i’ve ever wanted. ❞

your arms wrapped around his neck as you hugged him, pressing your face into his chest, and nate let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

he buried his face into the curve of your neck, breathing you in, his hands gripping your waist as he smirked against your skin. you were his now. completely his.

and nate wasn’t letting you go. not ever.

© MINA LEIGH 2023 - 2024

— TASTE

written by mina leigh ୨ৎ , nate jacobs𝔁 f! reader | wc 1800

summary. nate jacobs can't seem to let you go, even as he parades his relationship with cassie howard in front of everyone. behind closed doors, you're the one he runs to, the one he can't resist. every moment with cassie is tainted by your influence-your touch, your taste, your control over him. and you wouldn't have it any other way.

labels. ex reader, feminine reader, insecure cassie, manipulative nate, soft nate, etc

warnings. mature themes, infidelity, manipulation, explicit sexual content, toxic dynamics, emotional tension

‧₊˚ ୨୧ mina speaks. based on sabrina’s first track off of her sixth studio album, short n’ sweet ♡

nate's presence was suffocating, the weight of his body pressing you into the plush carpet of your living room. his hands were everywhere at once-gripping your hips, sliding under your shirt, tugging you closer like he couldn't get enough.

you tilted your head back, a soft sigh escaping your lips as his mouth trailed down your neck. his lips were warm, insistent, leaving a path of heat in their wake.

❝you shouldn't be here,❞ you murmured, though your hands betrayed you, clutching at his shoulders.

nate didn't bother to respond. instead, he pushed you down flat against the carpet, pinning you beneath him with a smirk that sent a shiver through you.

❝stop pretending you don't want this,❞ he said, his voice low and gravelly, sending vibrations through the air between you.

his mouth moved lower, his tongue tracing patterns on your skin like he was creating art.

you tangled your fingers in his hair, pulling him closer as a quiet laugh slipped from your lips.

❝where'd you learn to do that?❞ you teased, your voice dripping with mock curiosity.

nate looked up at you, his eyes dark with something you couldn't quite name.

❝you know exactly where,❞ he said, his smirk growing wider.

your stomach flipped at the implication, your mind flashing to cassie.

poor, oblivious cassie.

you hated how easily nate unraveled you.

or maybe you didn't.

because when he was like this - hungry, desperate, completely at your mercy - it was hard to care about the mess he made of everything else.

later, when the two of you lay tangled together on the floor, his head resting on your stomach, you ran your fingers through his hair, enjoying the quiet.

❝what do you even tell her?❞ you asked, your voice soft but cutting.

nate didn't answer right away, his fingers tracing idle patterns on your thigh.

❝nothing she doesn't want to hear,❞ he said finally.

you laughed, a short, sharp sound.

❝and she believes you?❞

he shifted, propping himself up on one elbow to look at you.

❝she believes what she needs to,❞ he said, his tone matter-of-fact.

you shook your head, a small smile playing at your lips.

❝you're such a liar, nate.❞

meanwhile, cassie lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling.

her phone sat untouched on the nightstand, the unanswered texts glaring back at her in the dark.

she told herself not to overthink it, to trust nate.

but the nagging feeling in her chest wouldn't go away.

you weren't sure when it had started — when nate became more yours than hers.

maybe it was the way he touched you, like he couldn't bear to let you go.

or maybe it was the way he talked about her, his voice filled with an odd mix of detachment and pity.

but most of all, it was the way he couldn't seem to stop coming back to you.

❝does she know?❞ you asked one night, your voice cutting through the quiet.

nate looked up from where he was tracing your collarbone with his lips.

❝know what?❞ he asked, his tone almost bored.

you smirked, tilting your head to meet his gaze.

❝that every time she kisses you, she's tasting me?❞

his lips twitched into a small smile, his hand sliding up to cradle your jaw.

❝no,❞ he said. ❝but i think she suspects.❞

it wasn't just physical between you and nate.

it was the way he looked at you, like you were the only thing keeping him grounded.

it was the way he talked to you, his voice softer, his words laced with a vulnerability he never showed anyone else.

and it was the way he let you see him — not the version of himself he showed the world, but the raw, unfiltered truth.

you didn't pity cassie.

she was a grown woman, making her own choices.

but there was a part of you — a small, quiet part - that wondered what it must be like to be her.

to be the one nate came home to.

to be the one he kissed in public, the one he called his.

but then you remembered the way he looked at you, the way he touched you, the way he came to you in the dead of night when no one else could see.

and you knew you had something she never would.

cassie stood in the kitchen, staring at the clock on the wall.

it was almost 3 a.m, and nate still hadn't come home.

she wanted to call him, to demand answers, but something stopped her.

she didn't want to hear the excuses, didn't want to confront the truth she was already beginning to suspect.

because deep down, she knew.

she'd always known.

when nate finally pulled himself away from you, the sun was just beginning to rise.

he sat on the edge of your bed, his back to you as he pulled on his shirt.

❝you don't have to go,❞ you said, your voice softer than you intended.

he turned to look at you, his expression unreadable.

❝yes, i do,❞ he said.

you nodded, biting the inside of your cheek to keep from saying anything else.

he leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss to your forehead before straightening up.

❝i'll see you soon,❞ he said.

and just like that, he was gone.

as you watched him drive away, a strange mix of emotions settled in your chest.

you told yourself it was the last time, that you wouldn't let him back in.

but deep down, you knew the truth.

he'd always come back to you.

because no matter where he went, no matter who he was with, he couldn't escape you.

you were the taste on his lips, the whisper in his ear, the ghost that haunted his every move.

and that was something no one - not even cassie - could take away.

© MINA LEIGH 2023 - 2024

💜₊˚⊹ — igual que un ángel

parring : the gang ( separately ) x f!reader

summary : the gang’s opinions on angelic spirited reader, who has received undeserved treatment.

warnings : intoxication, toxic relationships, blood, harsh language, etc.

age of parring : 17 - 19

extra : credits to @cafekitsune for borders!

d. curtis ↳ ❝ you should’ve seen the way she looked, just like an angel. ❞

darrel has noticed you, but only from a distance.

but then again that doesn’t deny that you stood out from any crowd.

the way the slight breeze in tulsa entangled your hair, the way your eyes would shine when you would look up at the setting sun.

god, when he catch you reading a silly romance novel and giggle, your bright smile blinding him. just causing him getting distracting from roofing.

he didn’t know you were so capable of being happy that you made his day, by purely just existing.

he felt that you should’ve never, ever, deserved what has happened to you.

k. matthews (two-bit) ↳ ❝ they just can't reach her, an unreachable princess. ❞

just like darry, he has seen you around.

more often than not, two is always everywhere, anytime, totally not to look for you!

regardless if his intentions were to see you or not, he could tell you were extremely social.

too bad you were unaware of how much bad people you happened to befriend.

two - bit may be dumb but he and for sure connect the dots and put 2 to 2 together.

you had no idea how much two wanted to talk to you and be only one of not so many of the good people.

your mesmerizing presence makes it much more desirable for not only him but anyone to approach you.

but at the same time, he felt that he couldn’t breathe the same air or else you would suffocate.

d. winston ↳ ❝ her heart was broken, but they never lost themselves, oh! ❞

dally has met and talked to many girls before, but to him, they never stood out to him at all.

i mean the more he practically surrounds himself with them while at tim’s, all there for their odd desires and intentions.

there was this one time he had about enough of the growing headache that was present in the house and he decided he needed fresh air.

dallas kicked the door open, making it creak but not loud enough for you to hear.

he took a couple steps forward and took out his pack of cigarettes and grabbed the last one, lighting it as he throws the box on the ground.

❝ listen y/n, i don’t think i can deal with you anymore.❞ your partner said calmly, as if it was gonna stop you from tearing up.

❝ look you seemed perfect, trust me you really did but if anythin’ being with you just got borin’ , yknow? ❞

you only listened in disbelief, sniffing and covering your mouth with your palm.

you leaned against a wall, as your now ex partner, walked away. dallas had to admit your tears made your face look so beautiful under the moonlight.

s. randel ↳ ❝ but she wants calm, not to harm her soul. ❞

steve has met and interacted with y/n’s many ex partners at DX, and to say the least, they didn’t deserve her.

honestly he only knew you as the pretty angel lady, nickname more like code name given to you by soda.

steve was working at the cash register, looking at the window as he watched new or frequent visitors passing by to fill up their tank.

he recognized one of the cars, a nice one at that, drive in and with the tinted windows rolled down he saw a girl, immediately standing up and fixing his uniform.

you stepped out and your partner grabbed your wrist, only making your turn back and kissed them and stepped out craving a pepsi.

little did steve know that not even five minutes ago, a argument between you and your partner had ensued.

you walked in turning to steve, greeting him with a small gloomy smile as he blushed and looked at you walking to the drink isle.

i have no idea why, but right then and there you began to cry silently as you grabbed what you were looking for.

small hiccups escaped from your tinted lips in a pout as you placed your items on the counter, steve hesitant pushed your things toward you.

❝ uhh, it’s on the house. ❞ you looked up in surprise as the both of you never spoke.

he made eye contact with your glossy teared eyes, his heart only sinking as you left and bidding a thank you and a goodbye.

sp. curtis ↳ ❝ they promised her love and failed her. ❞

when closing up shop for the day, soda was wiping down the counter where magazines, packs of gum, and the cash register sat. as steve went to retrieve keys to lock the gas station store.

steve wanted to tell his best friend what had occurred a couple days prior, but never had gotten the chance to bring it up, or either he had forgotten.

once they locked up and started walking on the breezy streets of the east side of tulsa, steve said something that would piqued soda’s attention.

❝ hey soda, yknow that pretty angel lady? ❞ steve asked almost in a whisper as if you would show up.

soda turned to face him as they stopped at a alleyway, confused on why he brought you up only nodded in response.

❝ well while i assume you were fillin’ up that tuff red car, she had walked in the store cryin, can’t you believe that?❞

❝ really? she seemed fine when i saw er’ come out❞ steve only hummed and waited to see if he would say something, anything, else.

soda sighed sadly as he explained that your, he presumed ex partner, began to mock you and brag how they would constantly successfully gaslight you.

❝ it pissed me off so much steve, it’s crazy how he played the victim after i called em out! how could they do that to her?❞

they finished the conversation, vowing that either of them will one day make you feel like you were wanted.

j. cade ↳ ❝ but she doesn’t give up, smiles even when it hurts. ❞

when johnny would be banished from his own home, he would walk around cautiously not looking for any trouble with douchebag socs.

as he walked getting closer to the curtis household, he heard your voice.

your voice was very distinctive and soft, like small animals would fall asleep to it.

johnny heard multiple footsteps getting louder and louder significantly meaning they were getting closer. quickly hiding pressing his body against the wall.

❝ may you please stop followin’ me? ❞ you said almost pleading for your wellbeing.

they were greaser girls, they pressed up all against you leaving you to gulp wondering what was wrong.

❝ has the wittle angel run out of little fans to fall in love with? ❞ said one presumably the leader.

you looked away, feeling upset and knowing that people only dated you for the publicity.

another girl grabbed you by the hair and was inches away from your face and whispered in your ear, ❝ here’s what girls like you get for thinkin’ they’re all that! ❞

the girl had socked you in the face, pushing you down to the ground and scoffing as you grabbed your face feeling blood dripping down your nose.

you gasped feeling the drops of blood dropping to your exposed knees.

johnny only watched, not even thinking to come up to you, fearing the girls would come back for whatever reason.

you fixed yourself up, whipping your nose and standing and wiping your scraped knees and you walked putting a smile on your face and said hi to johnny as if nothing happened.

pb. curtis ↳ ❝ because people like her are rare. ❞

pony only knew of your existence because of all the older boys.

they would constantly bring you up, usually sympathizing with you and wishing you would notice them.

thats when he realized that you had an effect on the gang, including his own brothers.

❝ yea man, i just left right then and there. she could’ve thought i was gonna attack her.❞

dally re - telling the story once again for one millionth time on how he encountered the sense of your ex breaking up.

thats when ponyboy realized that he had to meet you somehow.

୨⎯ 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡 ⎯୧

— CINNAMON GIRL ³

written by mina leigh ୨ৎ , ponyboy curtis 𝔁 f! reader | wc 1000

summary. ponyboy reflects on y/n toizer’s unique ability to bring comfort and understanding into his life. he explores how her presence fills the void left by his parents and how she helps him navigate the complexities of growing up.

labels. ponyboy’s point of view.

warnings. mentions of grief, reflections on loneliness, and moments of vulnerability.

sometimes, it feels like i’m stuck in the middle of two worlds. darry’s world of responsibility and soda’s world of ease. then there’s me — floating somewhere in between, not sure where i’m supposed to land. i try to find peace in my books, in writing, in the quiet moments when everything isn’t so loud. but even then, it gets lonely.

that’s where y/n comes in. she has this way of making you feel seen, like you’re not just another face in the crowd. she listens when no one else does, really listens, and it’s something i’ve come to count on. she’s more than a friend; she’s family.

it was a saturday afternoon, and the house was unusually quiet. soda was at work, darry was fixing something in the garage, and i was stretched out on the couch with a copy of great expectations. the pages were worn, the spine cracked from years of reading and rereading, but it was still my favorite escape.

i was so lost in the story that i didn’t hear the door open until y/n’s soft voice broke through my thoughts.

❝you and your books, pony. always in another world.❞

❝that’s my favorite thing about you though.❞

i looked up, startled, but her smile put me at ease. she was standing in the doorway, her hands full of grocery bags.

❝what are you doing here?❞ i asked, setting the book down.

❝someone has to make sure you boys eat something other than bologna sandwiches,❞ she teased, walking into the kitchen.

❝you’re a lifesaver, i was just getting sick of bologna!❞

i followed her, taking the bags from her hands and setting them on the counter. ❝anyway, we’re fine, you know. darry’s been cooking more.❞

❝oh, i’m sure,❞ she said, her tone playful but unconvinced.

as she started unpacking the groceries, i leaned against the counter, watching her. there was something calming about the way she moved, like she belonged here, like she’d always been a part of our lives.

❝you don’t have to keep taking care of us, y/n,❞ i said after a moment. ❝we’re not little kids anymore.❞

she paused, looking over at me with a soft smile. ❝maybe not, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need someone looking out for you. and i don’t mind, pony. you guys are my family.❞

her words settled something in me, a reassurance i didn’t know i needed.

i love her so much, i hope darry marries her in the future.

later that day, after darry had joined us for dinner, y/n and i ended up sitting on the porch steps. the sun was setting, casting the sky in shades of orange and pink. it was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt full instead of empty.

❝do you ever feel like you don’t belong?❞ i asked, the words slipping out before i could stop them.

she looked at me, her expression thoughtful. ❝what makes you say that?❞

i shrugged, picking at a loose thread on my jeans. ❝i don’t know. it’s like … darry has his responsibilities, soda has his charm, and i just … i don’t fit. i’m not like them.❞

she was quiet for a moment, and i wondered if i’d said too much. but then she spoke, her voice soft but firm.

❝ponyboy curtis, you belong just as much as anyone else. you don’t have to be like darry or soda. you’re your own person, and that’s more than enough.❞

her words hit me in a way nothing else had. i looked at her, my throat tight, and nodded.

❝thanks, y/n,❞ i said quietly.

she reached over, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. ❝anytime, pony.❞

my face quickly warmed up as she kissed my forehead.

one of my favorite things about y/n is how she never makes me feel silly for the things i care about. when i talk about books or poetry, she listens like it’s the most important thing in the world. it’s a rare thing, to be understood like that.

there was a time last summer when i was working on a poem for school. i was stuck, the words refusing to come no matter how hard i tried. y/n had stopped by, her arms full of lemonade and cookies.

mm, my favorite.

❝what’s got you so frustrated?❞ she asked, sitting down next to me at the kitchen table.

❝this stupid poem,❞ i muttered, shoving the paper away. ❝it’s supposed to be about something important, but i can’t think of anything.❞

she picked up the paper, reading the half-formed lines with a small smile. ❝why don’t you write about your parents? or your brothers?❞

i frowned, shaking my head. ❝it’s too hard.❞

❝then write about something that makes you happy,❞ she said simply. ❝write about the sunsets you love so much, or how it feels when you’re reading a good book. it doesn’t have to be perfect, pony. it just has to be you.❞

her advice stuck with me, not just for that poem but for everything else i wrote after. she made me believe that my voice mattered, even when i wasn’t sure it did.

as the night wore on and the stars came out, y/n stayed on the porch with me, talking about anything and everything. she told me stories about her brothers, about the antics charlie and matteo got into, and i told her about a new book i’d started reading.

it was easy, being with her. like all the worries and doubts faded away for a little while.

❝you’re gonna do great things, pony,❞ she said at one point, her voice full of certainty.

❝you think so?❞ i asked, my voice hesitant.

❝i know so,❞ she said, smiling at me.

and for the first time in a long time, i believed her.

© MINA LEIGH 2024 - 2025

. . . prologue darry curtis sodapop curtis you’re here!

dallas winston johnny cade steve randle two - bit matthews

— CINNAMON GIRL ²

written by mina leigh ୨ৎ , sodapop curtis 𝔁 f! reader | wc 1000

summary. soda reflects on y/n toizer’s impact on his life and how she’s been a source of joy and comfort for him, especially during tough times.

labels. sodapop’s point of view.

warnings. mentions of grief, brief reflections on parental loss, and family struggles.

when life gets tough, i try to keep smiling. i guess i learned that from mom. she always said, ❝don’t let the bad stuff take your shine, soda. the world’s got enough dark in it already.❞ i’ve held onto that, even when she wasn’t there anymore to remind me.

but sometimes, even the brightest smile can falter. and that’s when y/n steps in, like she always does, with her soft voice and kind eyes that seem to know exactly what i need to hear. she’s like a big sister to all of us, but to me, she’s more like sunshine on a cloudy day.

i remember the first time i met her. i couldn’t have been more than five, maybe six. darry had brought her over to play with us, and she had this laugh that made me want to laugh too, even if i didn’t know what was funny. she was already looking out for everyone back then — tying pony’s shoelaces so he wouldn’t trip, wiping dirt off my face, and making sure darry didn’t forget to take a break from whatever “important” thing he was doing.

❝you’re gonna be trouble,❞ she’d said to me, her hands on her hips and a grin tugging at her lips.

❝no, i’m not!❞ i’d shot back.

but she just laughed, ruffling my hair. ❝sure you’re not.❞

she’s been around ever since, like part of the family we didn’t know we needed.

that evening, i was leaning against the hood of steve’s car, trying to make sense of an engine that refused to cooperate. the heat of the day was finally starting to cool, but the frustration in my chest wasn’t.

❝you look like you’re about to punch something, soda,❞ y/n’s voice drifted over, light and teasing.

i looked up to see her walking toward me, a basket in her hands and a knowing smile on her face. she always seemed to know when i needed her.

❝just this stupid engine,❞ i muttered, stepping back as she came closer.

she set the basket down on the sidewalk and peered under the hood, not that she knew anything about cars. still, her curiosity made me smile despite myself.

❝what’s wrong with it?❞ she asked, leaning her elbows on the car as if she could will it to work through sheer kindness.

❝won’t start,❞ i said, shrugging. ❝been messing with it all day, and it’s driving me nuts.❞

❝that’s too bad, it’s a pretty color too. what a shame.❞ she huffed.

she then hummed thoughtfully, then reached into the basket, pulling out a bottle of coke and handing it to me. ❝maybe you just need a break.❞

i took the bottle, the cool glass a welcome relief in my hand. ❝thanks, y/n. you always know what to do.❞

❝that’s because i’ve had years of practice with you boys,❞ she said, her smile softening.

we sat on the curb after that, passing the bottle back and forth and talking about nothing in particular. it was easy with y/n. she never made me feel like i had to be anything other than myself.

❝you know,❞ i said after a while, ❝sometimes i feel like you’re the only one who really gets me.❞

she tilted her head, looking at me with those warm eyes of hers. ❝why’s that?❞

i shrugged, picking at the label on the coke bottle. ❝i don’t know. it’s just … darry’s always so serious, and pony’s got his books and his head in the clouds. but you … you’re always here, y/n. you make things better.❞

her cheeks turned pink, and she laughed softly. ❝soda, you’re going to make me cry if you keep talking like that.❞

❝i mean it,❞ i said, looking at her. ❝i don’t know what i- i mean .. we’d do without you.❞

she didn’t say anything for a moment, just reached out and gave my hand a squeeze. it wasn’t much, but it was enough.

later that night, after the car was finally fixed and the sun had long since set, we all ended up at my house like we always did. the living room was a mess of bodies and noise — steve arguing with two - bit over a game of cards, pony curled up in the corner with a book, and johnny quietly watching it all with a small smile.

y/n was in the kitchen, helping darry clean up after dinner. i watched her from where i was sitting on the floor, the way she moved so easily around the space, like she belonged there.

❝you’re staring again, soda,❞ steve said, nudging me with his foot.

❝shut up, steve,❞ i muttered, throwing a pillow at him.

he just laughed, shaking his head. but he didn’t push it, and for that, i was grateful.

when the night finally wound down and everyone started heading home, y/n lingered by the door, her brothers already waiting outside.

❝you sure you don’t want to stay?❞ i asked, leaning against the doorframe.

she shook her head, her smile apologetic. ❝charlie’s still sick on top of already half-asleep on his feet, and matteo’s got school in the morning. but thanks, soda. maybe next time.❞

❝i promise love.❞

❝yeah,❞ i said, stuffing my hands in my pockets. ❝next time.❞

she reached up, brushing a strand of hair out of my eyes like she used to when i was a kid. ❝goodnight, soda.❞

❝goodnight, y/n,❞ i said softly, watching as she walked down the steps and into the night.

❝you guys too, charlie and matt.❞

matteo waved behind him.

as i lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, i couldn’t help but think about what i’d said earlier. about her being the only one who really gets me. it was true. y/n had a way of making everything feel lighter, like the weight of the world wasn’t so heavy when she was around.

she was our sunshine, plain and simple.

and if there was one thing i knew for sure, it was that we’d be lost without her.

© MINA LEIGH 2024 - 2025

. . . prologue darry curtis you’re here! ponyboy curtis

dallas winston johnny cade steve randle two - bit matthew

maybe i was born to read fanfic and obsess over fictional men idk

— SIGN YOUR NAME ACROSS MY HEART

written by mina leigh 𝜗᭪ , mike wheeler 𝔁 f! reader | wc 1325

summary. mike wheeler , member of the notorious hellfire club, has a hopelessly hopeful crush on you. it takes the simplest thing, a yearbook signature, for him to realize the feeling is indeed mutual.

labels. no definite description of reader, cheerleader reader, friendly & extroverted reader, introvert ­ mike, basically loser boy + popular girl trope.

‧₊˚ ୨୧ mina speaks. hope you guys enjoy some mike wheeler! i just really miss stranger things right now.

should i just leave right here, right now? mike asked himself, clearly internally monologuing.

his frail legs shaking slightly under his black skinny jeans, wiping his sweaty palms on them, switching one hand to wipe while the other holds his yearbook.

i should just turn the balls of my feet the other direction and walk off, i mean y/n wouldn’t notice, right?

his thoughts of escaping running through his poor head were abruptly interrupted as another body jostled against him, laughing unapologetically as they, too, headed towards the object of mike’s affection.

It was whoever they were, along with at least three of y/n’s cheerleading teammates, and no less than eight screaming boys and girls (consisting of at least two teammates from lucas’s basketball team, if mike’s memory served him correctly) all holding their yearbooks out as if y/n were some hollywood star in california.

she could be one, mike mused. she certainly has the looks for it. and maybe mike might even feel better if it were just that. if it was just that y/n was practically aphrodite’s incarnate and people couldn’t take their eyes off her.

but, she’s just so good. she’s beautiful and athletic, yes, but she’s also caring and whip-smart and bright in every sense of the word. she constantly does volunteer work and has a ridiculously high gpa and smiles at everyone she sees, including himself, just because.

everyone loves her, and of course they do. how could mike blame them for seeing exactly what he sees?

a pang of something courses through him. it’s probably a bit of jealousy, a bit of uncharacteristic obstinacy, and a bit of (characteristic, dreadful) hope. if mike were less of a romantic, he might be able to see this for what it is: a fantasy.

he’s standing here, waiting his turn, as if the living, breathing portrait of goodness would choose him out of everyone. and, even worse, he can’t even muster fear within himself, because it’s y/n.

it takes mike a moment to register that everyone else has cleared out, and it’s just him and the person who plays the role of the sun in his universe standing face to face. mike just hopes that the blush he can feel starting at his pale neck reaching to the tips of his ears don’t show up where y/n can see it.

❝ hi ❞ y/n says. her voice is soft, much softer than mike is used to, only ever hearing it up close when she’s yelling out supporting words to the basketball team, and he wonders if that’s how y/n always talks to people one-on-one.

he also wonders if that’s how y/n ever talked to lucas, a memory of him feeling the most uncomfortable he’s ever felt after seeing her talk to him making each other laugh and acting casually with each other seeing y/n playfully smack his shoulder clouded his thoughts. its not everyday you see your crush talking to one of you best friends like, since forever. well not that i’d know, he internally chastises himself.

y/n is smiling and her eyes crinkle at the corners and mike doesn’t have it within himself to look away, even as he abruptly pushes his yearbook out in front of him and holds it there. mike’s heart skips a beat as y/n grasps it carefully, as her gorgeous eyes skip over his face again, as she uncaps a pen to start writing.

without a yearbook to hold on to, mike is left waiting with shaky hands and trembling legs, trying to grab on to just a fragment of a thought so he doesn’t float away. unsurprisingly, the first one he can seize is still distantly about y/n. it’s dustin’s voice, echoing once again in his head, just as it recurrently had since they last talked. about life, about love, about y/n.

❝ you need to go for it mike ❞ dustin had urged, his face unusually grim and serious. ❝ you need to let yourself have things, at least once. ❞

mike takes a breath, remembering all of his years - long longing and misery and idealism, and tries. he opens his mouth to say something, anything. if he can stomach it, he’ll ask for y/n’s number or, at least, say something that y/n could respond to.

he can give himself one conversation. he can give himself one syllable so he can at least say that he gave it an honest shot, so the flavor of regret he’s bound to taste will wash away faster.

but y/n closes the yearbook, and mike closes his mouth.

y/n holds the book out away from her, the same way mike had. like there was something burning inside it that she needed to let go of.

❝ here you go ❞ y/n says, closer to a whisper than anything mike’s ever heard.

something seems off. and mike can’t tell if it’s just that he feels caught out, with y/n looking at him as he was thinking about his irrepressible crush, or if it’s really right there in front of him. y/n is still smiling, but it’s small and a bit strained. her lips are pressed together and she looks… red? there’s a tinge of pink across her cheeks, coating her perfect features. She looks exerted.

of course she does, she just finished her cheer practice, you lovesick idiot. mike barely stops himself from covering his face in embarrassment. this is what he gets for trying, for thinking too hard and making himself look like a total and utter imbecile.

so, he overcompensates.

❝ wow uh thank you, so much, y/n really, ❞ mike replies, rushed and vaguely fearful. the adrenaline has worn off and he’s starting to feel the comedown of this prolonged period of stress.

he can’t tell if he wants to say more or if he merely, momentarily, considers it, but it doesn’t end up mattering. his traitorous legs betray him and spin him around, pushing him onward in the opposite direction.

now mike can feel the flush of deep, burrowing shame rising to the surface. he cringes and keeps walking.

once he’s far enough away, mike decides to open his yearbook and take a look at y/n’s signature before he inevitably throws up on it and renders it illegible.

mike doesn’t have to look long. he knows y/n’s handwriting, just like everything else even tangentially related to her, by heart. and he’s relatively certain that he’ll see what y/n has left behind in seemingly every other yearbook: a simple ❝ y/n ^_^ ❞ that evokes the image of her toothy, genuine grin without fail.

what he finds, though, leaves him frozen in the middle of the hallway. he is so taken aback that his limbs don’t even shake. It’s just his heart—his foolish, faithful heart—that does a little dance.

he gets stuck on his own name, ❝ mike ❞ in y/n’s charming scrawl. he never told y/n his name. he didn’t even dare to dream that y/n remembered his face.

mike reads on and lets a little gasp of laughter escape. he can’t tamp down his uncontrollable smile as his eyes trek across the words over and over and over again, as he quickly closes the book and opens it again to make sure the words haven’t somehow flown away.

he grins, wider than he can ever remember, before closing the yearbook again with finality and hugging it tightly to his chest. y/n’s words cycle through his mind, becoming new fragments for mike to grab on to. he doesn’t need to open his yearbook to be able to re - read the words that traveled straight to his heart. to be honest, he could probably recite the message word for word, letter for letter, with his eyes closed:

mike,

i think you’re cute

if you also think i’m cute

maybe we can do something about it ^_^

xxx xxx xxxx

have a summer as beautiful as you

y/n ♡

© MINA LEIGH 2023 - 2024