A/N: Things are heating up! There's a lot going on in JJ's head. Honestly, most of her thoughts come directly from me haha. It's a busy world in the head of an overthinker!

"So, how many frat parties have you passed out in?"

Laughter broke out from her laptop. Alone at home, JJ had taken the opportunity to FaceTime with Lani, who was across the state studying at the University of Pennsylvania. As much as Lani was considered a party animal and a wild child amongst her friends and family, she was an exceedingly bright girl who had worked hard to get accepted into not one, but three Ivy League schools.

"Only one," Lani giggled, shifting on her bed. "In this guy's bed. But I wasn't trying to sleep with him because obviously I'm still with Clay, and neither was he, because he's gay"

JJ laughed. "You always manage to outdo yourself, every single time"

"I might be at an Ivy, JJ, but I still know how to party"

"I expect nothing less"

Lani smirked. "At least I'm still maintaining a 4.0 GPA"

"I honestly have no idea how you do it," JJ laughed, unscrewing the cap off her water bottle and lifting it towards her lips. "I struggled to keep my GPA up to graduate"

"Yeah, but you were training for the fucking Olympics, Jayje, not juggling studying and underage drinking," Lani snorted. "So tell me... have you fucked Will yet?"

JJ choked, accidentally slopping water down her front as Lani started to laugh. Immediately, she could feel her cheeks turning a furious red. "I... no... not... not-"

"Aw come on, you've gotta put all our hard work to good use!"

JJ raised an eyebrow. "Your hard work?"

"Yeah. Literally all of us have been trying to get the two of you together since eighth grade"

"How did I never notice this? Seriously," JJ laughed. "Apparently Will's been head over heels since he was about ten, even my mom knew!"

"Jayje... you have the observational skills of a brick wall," Lani said dryly, getting another laugh out of JJ. "And Will wasn't exactly subtle. You know one time, when I had that pool party a couple of years back, he just about died when you stripped down to your bikini. He had a bit of a situation going on down there"

JJ's cheeks flushed again. "I never even noticed"

"Again... brick wall, girl, brick wall!" Lani giggled. "Don't worry, we love you and your blissful ignorance"

A silence washed over them as JJ mulled over the question that had just popped into her head. She knew she could ask Lani... Lani was an open book. Sometimes she could be downright crude, but at the same time, JJ had always appreciated her blunt honesty.

"Hey Lani... when you first had sex, were you nervous about it?"

"God yeah," Lani replied, pushing herself up until she was sitting cross legged. "I nearly threw up a little bit in my mouth"

JJ snorted. "Nice"

"Nah, I wasn't that bad. But I was nervous. And honestly, I don't think there was a point where I wasn't nervous. I just... kinda bit the bullet and dove in. But because I was nervous, it didn't mean I wasn't ready, you know? I was with Tyson, and I really trusted him and cared for him. So I was simultaneously scared shitless and ready for whatever came next. And even with Clay... I mean, by the time Clay and I started dating, I'd been having sex for like a year, but I was still nervous the first time with him because he was a new partner. It's normal"

"I know, that's what my sister-in-law said as well, but... I feel like I have an unnatural level of anxiety about this. I know I shouldn't... but the fear of the unknown is killing me," JJ said softly.

"You'll know when the time is right. You'll probably still be nervous, but there's a difference between nervous and unsure. If you're sure it's something you want to do, you'll know. And it'll be ok. As much as I gave him shit for being a charmer, Will is genuinely a complete sweetheart. Nothing bad is gonna happen to you with him, and he'll understand if you're getting somewhere and then decide to back down. It's completely fine," Lani said reassuringly.

Looking down at the time, JJ smiled. "Sorry to cut this short, but I've gotta go. I'm going to Will's for dinner"

"Staying the night?" Lani said, wriggling her eyebrows suggestively. JJ giggled.

"Most likely"

"Alright, I've got a ton of coursework to do anyway, so I'll chat to you another time. Trust me girl, everything with Will will work out when you're ready. I promise!"

"Thanks Lani. I miss you!"

"Miss you too! Keep me in the loop!"

And then, they were bidding goodbyes, and Lani was gone. JJ shut her laptop, letting out a sigh. Speaking with her best friend had really helped. She knew she was overthinking everything. She couldn't help it. But Lani had helped her sift through some of those thoughts, and already, she was starting to feel a little more relaxed.

Rain was hammering down on the roof above her when JJ dragged her eyes open early the next morning. Thunder rolled somewhere in the distance, making her feel warm and safe beneath the blankets. Stretching out slightly, she rolled over beneath the covers, burrowing even further into them. As she wakened even more, she came face to face with the soft fabric of Will's t-shirt. She was pressed right up against him, his arm draped loosely over her side as he slept on above her.

She felt so safe… so protected. Smiling, she closed her eyes, nuzzling a little closer to him. Even in the early morning slumber, he smelled so good. It was almost too good to be true. That after all those years of denying what she now knew had been budding feelings for her best friend, that they had found something so strong and so special with each other, even in its early days.

Shuffling around a little so she could see his face, she smiled to see him sleeping peacefully. He almost looked like he was smiling. Happy to be with his girl.

She moved her leg slightly, getting a little more comfortable. As she did, something hard pressed into her thigh. Freezing, she swallowed hard. She was pretty certain she knew what that was.

"Hey," Will mumbled, sleepily pressing a kiss to her forehead before shifting onto his back.

"Morning," she whispered, wriggling up to press small kisses along the underside of his jaw. He smiled as she went, making her giggle.

"Are you having fun there?" he mumbled, his voice still caught in the throes of sleep.

"Of course," she said against his cheek. He turned, wrapping his arm tightly around her and rolling her onto her back. She laughed as he pinned her to the bed and sleepily nuzzled her neck. He shifted his weight so as to not hurt her, but all of a sudden he froze.

"You ok?" she asked softly, bringing a hand up to his cheek. He suddenly lifted his face, shuffling backwards.

"I'm just gonna… I'll be right back… I-" he stammered, clearly embarrassed as he started fighting his way out of the blankets.

"Wait," JJ said softly, placing a hand on the back of his neck to stop him. He froze, staring down at her with pink tinged cheeks. "Come here," she beckoned, pulling him a little closer. He obliged, sinking back down and allowing JJ to pull him right up to her. She pressed her lips to his, kissing him deeply and noticing when his entire body seemed to relax.

"JJ," he murmured between kisses, his head coming back to rest on his pillow. "JJ, that's… not helping"

"I know," she whispered, sliding a hand down his stomach. Pushing his shirt up, she ran her hand over the toned muscles of his abs, his warm skin soft beneath her touch. She took an inward breath, before slipping her hand beneath the elastic of his boxers. Her fingers immediately found him, completely erect and warm to her touch.

'Well, this is… different,' she thought as she closed her hand around him. She didn't know what she'd been expecting, but it probably hadn't been this. He was smooth beneath her hand, apart from a few small veins straining against his skin.

"Oh my god," Will groaned in a breathless whisper as she tightened her grip a little.

"Shh," she reminded him, silencing him with a kiss as she slowly stroked him from base to tip. Gaining a little confidence in what she was doing, she steadily pumped her hand a few times along his length.

"Run your… the tip," Will said breathlessly, unable to formulate a coherent sentence. Knowing JJ hadn't understood, he brought his hand down to hers, lifting her thumb up to the tip of his penis. Getting the message, JJ ran it around, making Will hiss and buck into her hand. As he did, she gripped him tighter, turning his hiss into a strangled moan.

"You need to be quiet," she whispered, stretching up to kiss him as she began to speed up the movements of her hand.

"JJ," he whispered, his voice coming out as nothing more than a breathless whine. "I'm gonna…"

"What were you dreaming about?" she breathed in his ear. "Were you dreaming about me?"

"Yes," Will hissed.

"Was I naked?"

"Yes," he hissed again.

"What were you doing to me?" she asked in a soft voice. Will bucked into her hand again, squeezing his eyes tightly closed as the dream replayed in his mind.

"Uh… oh my g… JJ!" he cried out, fighting to keep his voice as low as possible. JJ felt something thick shoot into her hand, coming in creamy strings. Unfazed, she gently stroked him through his release, watching with a small smile as his face relaxed into a content expression.

"Better?" she asked with a giggle. Will chuckled breathlessly, turning his head to look at her.

"Way better… you're amazing," he said softly.

"I try my hardest," she giggled, making him laugh.

Pulling her hand out of his shorts, she couldn't help but grimace slightly as she realised it was covered in his cum.

"Here," Will said quickly, tugging his shirt over his head. Bringing it to her hand, he wiped it clean for her, before tossing the shirt over towards his laundry hamper.

Looking up at him, JJ was suddenly aware of a dull ache between her legs. She felt a lot hotter there than she'd felt a few minutes earlier.

Will leaned over, his weight shifting across her body again as he pressed a deep kiss to her lips. One of his hands came to rest on her hip, and in that split second, JJ made up her mind. Covering his hand with hers, she gently pushed it across her stomach, before bringing it down to the waistband of her pants and pushing it underneath.

Breaking the kiss, Will looked at her for a moment, not needing words to ask if she was sure. She nodded, lifting her hand from his and relaxing beneath his touch. He slowly slid his hand beneath the elastic of her underwear, giving her plenty of time to stop him if she so wanted. His fingers glided across smooth skin, much to his quiet surprise. He pressed a kiss to the corner of JJ's mouth as her breath hitched in her throat. Dipping a finger down between her folds, he felt all the blood in his body starting to rush south again. She let out a soft gasp as he touched her for the first time, her eyes fluttering closed as he dragged a single finger through the wetness gathered there.

"Is this ok?" he murmured against her warm cheek.

"Yes," she breathed, clutching at the pillow beneath her head as Will's fingers found her clit. When he circled it with deft fingers, the gasp that left her mouth was much louder. She pushed her hips up towards him, seeking out more pleasure.

"That feels good," she said breathlessly. "Keep doing that"

"As you wish," he murmured, leaning down and pressing a deep kiss to her lips as his fingers found a steady rhythm against her clit. Dragging them a little further down, he touched the tip of his finger to her opening. JJ immediately nodded, her legs falling apart as he slipped his finger deep inside her.

'Oh wow,' she thought, her eyes falling closed as he moved his finger in and out of her wet heat. 'This feels incredible'

When he shifted his hand so the heel was pressing against her clit, she rolled her hips up towards him, prompting him to quicken his pace. Then he curled his finger, hitting an incredibly sensitive spot deep within her. Something snapped inside her, pulsating waves coursing out from her core as she let out a breathless cry. Her hands clenched around fistfuls of the linens beneath her, searching for grounding as her entire body seemed to soar through the clouds.

When she came down from the high, she let out a soft laugh, her eyes finding Will. He was hovering above her, smiling as he watched her enjoy the pleasure of the moment.

"That was… wow," she whispered, laughing softly as Will lazily played with a strand of her hair.

"That good huh?" he asked, a glint of confidence shining in his eyes.

"Well, yeah… I've never… I mean I've had them… but never that good," she stammered, a little too breathless to form her sentences. She let out a little laugh. "Obviously your hands are much better than mine"

Will chuckled, settling back down beside her as he pulled her into his arms.

"Why are we awake this early anyway?" he muttered, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

"Because you're dating a gymnast," JJ said dryly. Will laughed.

"I'll take waking up early any day… as long as it's always next to you," he said warmly, nuzzling her neck before bringing his lips up to hers and pulling her into a deep kiss. She sighed, relaxing against him as the rain continued to hammer down outside.

Yes. This morning was perfect.

"Mom?" JJ said, her voice somewhat cautious as she poked her head into her parents' bedroom. Her mom looked up from where she was sitting on the bed folding laundry, smiling at her daughter.

"Hey, I didn't realise you were home from Will's," she said softly. "What's up?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure honey," Sandy said gently, moving over and patting the bed beside her. JJ slipped into the room, closing the door behind her as she did. Somewhat nervously, she crossed the room, dropping down beside her mom on the bed. She locked her hands together, taking a deep breath.

"Would you… would you get mad at me if I had sex?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sandy frowned. "No? What makes you think I would? You're an adult, JJ, it's your body and it's up to you what you do with it"

"I just… everyone makes it out like it's got to be some big secret from their parents because they'll get upset"

"I mean, if you were 15, maybe I would be a little upset, but only because when you're younger, you're more vulnerable to being taken advantage of and you may not be totally aware of the risks that come with having sex. But you're 18. You're mature enough to understand everything, and you're at perfect liberty to do what you please," Sandy said gently. She paused for a moment, studying her daughter closely. "Have you had sex?"

JJ shook her head defiantly. "No, no, I haven't"

"Ok," Sandy said. "You know you can tell me when you do? I mean, you certainly don't have to if you don't want to, after all it's your business, but if you wanted to… I won't judge or get mad"

JJ nodded, still avoiding eye contact with her mom. She pulled her legs up from the floor, crossing them as she twiddled her fingers together.

"JJ… why do you seem so scared of sex?"

She looked up at her mother in surprise. "I'm not"

"Are you sure? Because your body language is telling me otherwise," Sandy said gently. "It's ok to admit it's a little daunting"

JJ sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's just… it's such a huge thing, and everyone always goes on about it and builds it up… I just feel like… it's going to change me. Like I won't feel like the same person anymore"

Sandy wrapped an arm around JJ's shoulders, giving her a warm squeeze.

"It doesn't have to be such a huge thing if you don't want it to be. Sex is normal, natural, and healthy. And maybe you won't feel exactly the same, and that's ok. Sometimes it just makes you feel… different. More grown up. More confident. Maybe even a little powerful. And those are all good things," Sandy said gently. "But if you have sex and you feel different in a bad way, that's ok too. Maybe you just weren't as ready as you thought you were, and it's totally fine if you want to back off a little and wait until you feel more secure"

JJ leant her head against her mom's shoulder, taking in everything she was saying.

"You can do whatever you like. So long as you and Will both consent to it, and it's not affecting anyone else. And don't worry about what I, or anyone else will think. It's your business. It's no-one else's place to pass judgement," Sandy said, pressing a kiss to the top of JJ's head.

"You don't think it's too soon?"

Sandy chuckled. "Honey, you and Will have been thick as thieves for years. I wouldn't have been surprised if you two had had sex when he first asked you out. But understandably, you're not quite ready. There's no such thing as too soon. If both of you are ready, and both of you consent, you go for it. But there's absolutely no harm in waiting. You take all the time you need for this"