#fourth line boys have my heart💕 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

clumsy-jiminie · 3 months

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ɪɴᴇᴠɪᴛᴀʙʟʏ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱ | ᴘᴊᴍ | ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ

❝ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴅɪᴄᴋ ❞

↣ summary :: Kiara Smith had dreamed of true love for as long as she could remember. from being obsessed with the Disney princesses who found affection in the strangest situations to dressing up as a bride from kindergarten to fourth grade. it was the only thing she ever truly desired, so much so that a pleasant smile and kind eyes could have her smitten in seconds. right when she thought she found the one, a chance encounter with Park Jimin—the city’s famously perfect fuck boy with a smile so warm and a heart of ice—has her feeling quite the opposite. he knocks her off her axis and derails her life as she knows it, yet the universe seems to have another plan for the two.

↣ rating :: 18+

↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn

↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung

↣ word count :: 4k

↣ chapter warnings :: mature language, implied marking

↣ notes :: shit is about to get JUICY. from here on out will be the banter I mentioned before and I am SO excited. thank you for reading! 💕

↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢

ᴄʀᴏꜱꜱ ᴘᴏꜱᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴀᴛᴛᴘᴀᴅ

if you have any questions, comments, or concerns PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖

"maybe we could've been friends if I met you in another life."

- ꜱᴋɪɴ, ꜱᴀʙʀɪɴᴀ ᴄᴀʀᴘᴇɴᴛᴇʀ -

Kiara's shoulders slightly raised and dropped as she heaved heavily. She stared at the canvas ahead of her, tilting her head to the side as she reached down to grab another water balloon from the trays beside her. The concrete walls that surrounded her were stained with different colors. Despite the tarp on the ground, paint still made its mark on the grey slab. Shelves lined the walls adorned with various shades and hues of paint cans. The room was a mess, and she was a mess, but it was art. Every splash, every drop, every spill had a story along with it. This place was her safe haven, allowing all her ideas and feelings to flow without restriction. That's all her art was: a display of her feelings poured onto a blank canvas.

She bounced the somewhat heavy water balloon in her hand as she examined her canvas. Blues and teals spread over the once-white base with rough brushstrokes and thrown paint. She swung her arm back, throwing the paint balloon at the canvas. It exploded on impact, staining the middle of the two colors with a lovely blush pink. She smiled to herself as she wiped her hands off on her denim overalls, adding any leftover paint to the collection of stains. She left the piece to dry before adding her signature touch of gold or silver accents. As she walked out of the garage-converted studio, her phone buzzed sporadically in her pocket. She approached her kitchen, quickly washing her hands before pulling the device out of her back pocket. She answered the call without looking at the caller ID, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder.

"Hello?" She said as she dried off her hands.

"I have the best news!" She instantly recognized the voice as Aimee's as the girl squealed in her ear.

Kiara's brows squished together as her nose wrinkled at the sudden pitch that invaded her eardrum. "Yeah?" She questioned as she opened the fridge door. "And what would that be?" She glanced over at the various food items before grabbing a yogurt. She tried to pull the foil lid off with her fingers before using her teeth.

"Someone just brought out your new collection!"

The tub of yogurt fell from her hands, landing on the floor and tarnishing her kitchen tile with white. "What?! It hasn't even been a month since it's been out!"

"I know!" Aimee sounded excited for her. "We finalized the payment today! All six pieces, and at full price, if I may add."

It took a moment for the reality to sink in before it hit her like a brick wall. She began to squeal, causing the woman on the other line to do the same, as Kiara bounced on the balls of her feet.

"So, you know what this means," Aimee said after the girls calmed down.

“What time is the reservation?" Kiara asked as she cleaned up the spilled yogurt. Whenever someone brought out a collection of hers, she would have dinner with them to show her gratitude. It was a risk every time, but Aimee ensured she protected Kiara with an NDA and a few security guards. Keeping her identity a secret was sometimes challenging; it was a bit pricey but worth it.

"Seven. Remember to dress to impress!"

"When do I not?" Kiara chuckled before hanging up the phone.

It didn't take long for her to get ready. An hour passed, and she had showered and styled her waist-length hair into a high ponytail. She sat at her vanity in her bedroom, applying makeup as she heard the front door open. It wasn't long before the shape of Taehyung walked past her to put his bags down. He returned to her reflection, standing behind her before kissing her head.

"You look gorgeous as ever," he said as he pulled the suit jacket off his body. "You going out with the girls tonight?"

She shook her head before spraying her face with setting spray. "Client dinner!" She grinned as she fanned her face with her hand. "Someone brought out my latest collection." She stood up, turning to face him with a proud smile on her glossed lips.

He returned the same smile, his large hand finding her waist to pull her in. "I'm so proud of you." He kissed the top of her forehead carefully to make sure not to ruin her makeup. "My baby is such a hard worker and so pretty." He leaned in to kiss her neck, causing her to giggle. "Mm, and she always smells so good. What time is dinner?"

"Seven."

He glanced at the watch on his wrist before smirking at her. "You have time for a little quickie." She squealed as he leaned into her neck again.

"No, I don't!" She giggled as she escaped his grasp. "Plus, nothing is ever a quickie with you." She grabbed her purse off of the bed before walking to her closet.

"Are you saying I last too long?!"

"I'm not saying it's a bad thing!" She laughed as she slipped on her heels. "Just not good when you must be somewhere in 30 minutes."

He sighed dramatically, plopping himself on the bed as he took one last look at her. "What time will you be back?"

"Like ten, probably. Maybe earlier?" His lips formed a pout as she rolled her eyes, a smile present on her lips. "You know you'll be up, don't act like that." She leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "And when I come back, you can take as long as you want."

He looked up at her with his brown eyes glazed over with lust. "Yeah?" She nodded, goosebumps raising on her skin as his fingertips grazed her leg. He briefly bit down on his lower lip, eyes peering over her frame. She could always make a simple black dress look like a Met Gala gown. The material hugged her frame in a way that only provoked the imagination. "Let me get a little taste, at least." Before she knew it, Taehyung had already pulled her into his lap.

Kiara stepped out of her car and walked up to the restaurant. She cursed softly to herself, already feeling the tender spot of her neck stiffen and form a bruise. Taehyung had to be so convincing, making her nearly 20 minutes late. She pulled her faux fur coat closer, hoping to shield herself from the brutal wind. Dress to impress resulted in a tight black dress that stopped around her mid-calf with a sweetheart neckline. It was barely suitable for the winter, but usually, these dinners took place in warmer weather. She could remember how nervous she was for the first one. An older man with eyes so kind it calmed her within minutes. He was genuine and thoughtful as he purchased her collection for over the initial selling price. He told her to know her worth and never sell herself short; she took his words to heart. That one dinner sparked the custom into what it is today. As she entered the restaurant, chatting and soft music drowned out her heels clicking against the polished wooden floor.

She stopped to check in her coat before approaching the maître d', who stood with a broad smile behind a podium. His brunette curls contrasted with his sea-green eyes. Sun-kissed freckles littered his tanned skin, making the man's face appear more childlike. "It's always a pleasure to see you, Luna."

"As well as you, Eric." She smiled warmly, resisting the urge to pinch his cheeks. Despite being years younger, the man was taller than her, forcing her gaze to travel upwards to look at him constantly. "Is my guest already here?"

Eric nodded. "He arrived at least 15 minutes before the usual time." He said in almost a question as he ushered Kiara to follow after him. Her brows furrowed as she walked, wondering why that was.

They walked past tables with dining couples and families. The establishment had a nature theme, with flowers and vines intertwined with the wooden beams on the ceiling. A small bouquet of carnations sat at each table with twinkle lights intertwined between the stems and buds. She felt confident walking through here. The owner was a close friend of her father’s, and he was gracious enough to let her hold her occasional meetings here without asking many questions.

"Can you tell me what he looked like?" She asked as curiosity filled her. First, it was a he. Second, he brought multiple pieces at full price. And third, he was early? She just wanted to know if it was the older gentleman from her past dropping by to say hello. She wouldn't put it past him.

”Isn't that unfair now, Luna?" She could picture the smirk on the younger's lips, causing her to roll her eyes.

"Who's side are you on, Eric?!" She huffed as he laughed.

"I think you'd like him," he said before slowing to a stop in front of a black door. He turned to face Kiara, pushing the door open to let her slip through. She stared at him momentarily, hoping he would cave just a little and give up at least a hair color. But he didn't. Instead, he just waited patiently with a smile for her to pass.

"Screw you," she pouted as she walked past him.

He chuckled softly. "Enjoy your meal!" He let the door close, abruptly silencing the sounds from the other side. Quietness filled the air, making it heavy as her eyes connected with her guest for the night. Her eyes widened, and he mirrored the expression. Their contact broke as his eyes darted around briefly. His lips moved slightly, mouthing as if he was trying to find words that left his mind too quickly. Kiara walked over to the lone table, lowering herself into the seat across from no other than Park Jimin.

His brows furrowed as his eyes shamelessly scanned over her once again. Kiara gulped softly, her palms growing sweaty as her mind went wild. She's never had dinner with someone she previously met. All the people who knew were either family, friends, or under contract. But now there was him, the first person to figure out both sides of her. And though she was protected, she had yet to determine if he could buy his way out of the NDA or hire some expert lawyer to find the smallest of loopholes to run with. Did he plan this? Did she slip up somewhere when they first met? Or did Taehyung slip? Could he have caught on from—

"Well," he exclaimed, putting her rackety thoughts to a halt, "there goes my hope of flirting with my idol all night." His plump lips tugged into a slight smirk. He didn't miss a beat, oozing the same confidence from their first encounter.

Kiara raised an eyebrow slightly, her eyes falling over his appearance. He was dressed in a blue dress shirt with the first few buttons opened and a black suit jacket with a single silver chain to match the earrings that adorned his ears. The man knew he was attractive, and that was her problem. He was still remarkably handsome even after he was rude. She scoffed as she opened the menu, trying to keep up appearances like him. "For some reason, I don't believe you."

"What?" He gasped dramatically, causing a little smile to tug at her lips. "Me? Flirt with my friend's girlfriend? You think that lowly of me?"

”Yeah," she answered quickly. Her eyes met with Jimin's, matching his playful energy with ease. "If I recall, you kept checking me out even after discovering I was dating Taehyung."

He opened his mouth to say something before closing it soon after. He leaned back into his chair with a smirk on his lips. "OK, you got me there. You're just so beautiful; it's hard not to stare."

Kiara felt her cheeks flush with heat as she rolled her eyes. Her head shook from side to side as she looked at the menu again. "See, couldn't even last five minutes."

"Is calling it like I see it really flirting?" He asked as he tilted his head to the side.

"Yes, if you intend to get in bed with the person."

”Who said I wanted to do that?" She looked up at him again, seeing that smirk etched on his face as he bit his lower lip. He sat up, leaning his arms and chest onto the table. "Maybe I just like complimenting people. Maybe I like complimenting you." Her eyes widen before darting back to the words on the menu. She shouldn't be blushing this much, especially since she was in a relationship. But there was something about him. There was something about how his lips formed words, his tone dripped with sweet sultriness, and his eyes never left hers, taking every moment to drink her in. Even the way he smiled. He was too attractive for his own good. And she shouldn't be feeling this way. She shouldn't be this flustered.

"Oh yeah, I figured. What was it again? You hold a beauty one could only dream of containing." Jimin's eyes went wide as she let out a fit of giggles.

"Give me a break! It was a good line!"

"If I were a love-sick fool, maybe, just maybe, you would've had me," she laughed.

Jimin shook his head despite the smile on his lips. "You mean to tell me if Taehyung had you that line, you would've reacted the same?"

"Yes."

They stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Stone cold," Jimin said as he leaned back into his seat.

Kiara felt the nerves wash away as she continued to talk to Jimin. Surprisingly, he was a very entertaining person to talk to. He didn't question her about her work or what inspires her, but about herself. It was a change of pace. Most clients would praise her like a goddess and ask the same three questions: Who's your inspiration? How long does it take you to paint? Do you take commissions? It felt like Jimin wanted to know her for her and not for the work she does. It was nice. The conversation only slowed when they started to eat, switching the subject to the food quality.

"So," Jimin started once the waiter had collected their plates. He picked up his glass, putting it to his lips to take a sip of red wine. "Why do you hide?"

Kiara's brows furrowed. "Why do I hide?" She picked up her own glass of water as he nodded. "I don't hide, necessarily. I just don't think I need to show my face for people to understand my art. Plus, I enjoy still having a normal life."

His brows knitted together as his head tilted to the side. "A normal life?" He put his glass down. "I hate to say it, but it sounds like you're a coward, Kiara."

"What?" She asked sharply.

"Think about it; you're hiding your face and missing out on all the beautiful opportunities to have a 'normal life'. It sounds like you're scared of the fame."

"I'm not scared of the fame," she quickly objected. She could feel her heart beating in her face like she just ran a 5k. It was solid and brisk, spreading up to where she felt the pulse throbbing in her cheeks. "I just don't want people to take advantage of me."

"They'll take advantage of you whether or not your name is known. So what is it?" His eyes then narrowed as he straightened his back. His shoulders appeared broader than before. "Why do you hide?"

Kiara stared at the man for a second, eyes searching for an answer in his. She's been Luna for so long now. She couldn't even remember why she hid her name and face. Was it anxiety? Was it the fear of rejection? Was it the fear of being judged? It could've been all of the above at this point.

"It's OK to admit that you're scared."

His words were all but comforting. "I'm not! I just…." She trailed off, eyes leaving him and resting on the tablecloth before her.

"You had me sign an NDA before I could even step foot in this restaurant. There's this special section specifically made for you to have these types of dinners. There's even security at the door to get in!" He spat out before she even got the moment to gather her thoughts. She felt under attack, though it was just a simple question. Even his points were valid. She never prepared herself for a question like this.

"Sir," she started to reel back in the conversation, but his eyelids lowered at her. "I have these dinners to discuss my work, not to be disrespected."

"But Luna is your work. I'm asking you questions to understand why you actively chose to stay hidden. You have the opportunity to come out every day, and you ignore it every day. If it's not because you're a coward, it's because you're selfish."

"Excuse me?!" She fumed, her eyes narrowing at the man.

He didn't flinch at her glare. Instead, he chose to shift his position by leaning closer toward her. "Choosing to stay hidden robs you of the chance to do any public charity event. You have to let people see you or at least hear your voice. Right now, Luna is only a thought. No one even knows if she's human. People have the right to see who they're supporting, and you shouldn't have to make them spend over ten thousand to meet you."

The more he spoke, the more infuriated Kiara got. Being interrogated or called out wasn't the reason she had these dinners. This conversation was barely a discussion but a lecture from a 20-something-year-old nepo baby who thinks he can speak about how she chooses to live and spend her money. Her lips pressed into a taut line, keeping herself quiet when all she wanted to do was curse him out.

"And it's not like you could slap on some wig and be Hannah Montana. People aren't that dumb." As he continued, her eye twitched a little. "So which is it?" Jimin watched as Kiara nodded her head a few times. She grabbed the napkin off her lap and placed it on the table.

"And to think that maybe you were just having a bad day earlier." She chuckled softly as his brows furrowed. "Turns out that you're just an asshole regardless."

"Excuse—"

Kiara swiftly threw water in his face, drenching him and his hair as she stood up. He scoffed loudly, hanging his head down to keep any more water from going into his eyes. "Does that answer your question?" He looked up at her and locked eyes one last time, exchanging the same look of hate before she stormed off to the door. "Fucking dick," she mumbled to herself as her heels quickly led her through the restaurant. She dug her hand into her purse, feeling around until she grabbed her cell phone. She clicked on Taehyung's contact before putting it to her ear while getting her coat. It declined on the first ring, adding fuel to her fire before she tried again. Then it went straight to voicemail.

She groaned, putting her coat on and heading outside. She scrolled through her contact list as she reached her car, finally settling on calling her best friend.

"Hey!" He picked up on the second ring, sounding cheery as ever. She could hear the sizzle of a hot pan in the background. "You finished dinner already? It's kinda—"

"That guy was an absolute dick!" Kiara yelled, cutting the man off as she got in her car. "You know, I thought he was nice at first. We seemed to really get along, but then he had to open his dumbass mouth, and ugh!"

"Woah, slow down. What happened?"

Kiara began to drive home, trying to monitor her speed, but it was nearly impossible. "So I met one of Taehyung's friends at my last art show. He seemed nice until he made a slick comment about Tae. I thought maybe he was having a bad day, and me rejecting him was the icing on the cake. Turns out he was the one to buy my collection. We had dinner, and then he called me cowardly and selfish!"

The man began to choke on the food he was eating. "What?! You're the least selfish person I know! What would even make him think that?"

"Because I use a pen name and hide my face."

"WHAT?!" He practically yelled, prompting some annoyed muffling from his roommate. "How the fuck do the two even correlate?!"

"I don't know, JK! He was going on about how I can't donate because I don't show my face like people don't anonymously donate all the time! Like they can't write my name on whatever I donate! But of course, Mr. Nepo Baby is obsessed with pictures and showing everyone his good deeds."

"Wait, he's a nepo baby?" Jeongguk asked as he shoveled some more food into his mouth. "So that means he's loaded, right? Is he looking for an assistant?"

"Stay focused!" Kiara warned.

"Right, right," he said with stuffed cheeks. After he swallowed, he continued. "I wouldn't take what he says to heart, Ki. He's obviously a prick who doesn't know you or care to know you."

She sighed deeply, "OK…, yeah…." She wanted to change the subject but couldn't stop thinking about how he looked at her. It seemed like she was having dinner with a completely different person at the end of the night. She's never had someone look at her with so much disdain. It was jarring.

"You want me to beat him up for you?" Jeongguk asked unexpectedly.

Kiara laughed as she pulled into her driveway. "No! Why must you always resort to violence?"

"Some people just need to get beat up. These hands stay ready." Kiara laughed again, shaking her head as if he could see her. "You still coming tomorrow?"

"Of course!" She grinned. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"I'm glad you said that. I wouldn't want to have to beat you up." She could hear the smirk playing on his lips.

Kiara rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Just because someone is taking boxing lessons doesn't mean they're hot shit."

"You couldn't even beat me up on my bad day."

"You know what?" As she gathered her purse and phone, Kiara scoffed, exiting the car. "Remember you said that. I got something for that ass."

They laughed as she walked to her front door, bidding Jeongguk goodnight before stepping inside. The house was dark and quiet, signaling that Taehyung had fallen asleep. As she walked into the bedroom, her assumption was correct. She swiftly got undressed before slipping on one of Taehyung's t-shirts. After completing her night routine in the bathroom, she crawled into bed. She fell into the familiar spot on her boyfriend's chest before he sleepily wrapped his arm around her. But she was far from tired. All that consumed her mind were the events of tonight.

Why couldn't she answer him? Could she be one of the two things he called her? Or what if she was both? All these years, she thought she was being genuine. She thought slapping her signature on a check would be sufficient. Was there more to it? A coward. Selfish. Neither of those was supposed to be Luna's intention. She was supposed to be a safe sanctuary, unaffected by criticism. She was supposed to be someone that people understood. Someone who gets it. A friend. And people didn't even know she was a person. All she wanted to do was make art and have people experience her feelings, knowing someone out there felt the same. She never thought she would get this big; she only ever dreamed of it. And now that she was there, maybe she bit off more than she could chew.

↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢

#bts fanfic #bts fic #bts smut #fic: inevitably yours #jimin fanfic #jimin smut #jimin fic #park jimin fanfic #park jimin smut #park jimin fic #jimin x oc #park jimin x oc #park jimin series #jimin series #slow burn #enemies to lovers

20 notes · View notes

amoreva · 6 months

Note

I JUST BINGE READ ALL OF YOUR RACE FICS AND YOUR WRITING IS SO GOOD AAA💕💕 it feels like he’s real and the relationship is real and i’m actually in the world of the story holy shit,,, if you’re still taking requests can you write some race fluff, preferably in canon era, with like a cute lead up to him getting together with the reader (if you’re okay with it of course!) thanks!!

HOPELESSLY IN LOVE

—– ٠ ✤ ٠ —–· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • · —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —–

pairing: racetrack higgins x fem!reader

summary: the brooklyn newsies are strong and independent. they can hold their own and are respected; despite being a borough with a large amount of girls. so when one falls in love, her nature begins to crumble.

warnings: n/a

a/n: using the uksies as brooklyn, plus some from the broadway show. also, omfg i really appreciate it, thank you so much<3

—– ٠ ✤ ٠ —–· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • · —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —–

You never knew what romantic attraction felt like until you saw him at Medda’s Theater with his stupid blue eyes, his stupid blonde curls, his stupid cigar, his stupid cute smile—

Davey— that new Manhattan newsie was introducing your borough, respectfully, when you saw him. He was smiling at you, more so at your whole borough, ecstatic you showed up to the strike. That smile—that stupid cute smile made your heart flutter, your stomach churn with butterflies.

Of course, you knew what family love and platonic attraction felt like—you felt that for every newsie in Brooklyn. They were your brothers and sisters by heart. Yet, he stole your heart. Bastard. You ought to soak him.

Falling in love was a weird thing to do, especially since your priority was the sell papers to survive. You find yourself thinking about Manhattan’s second after the strike is won.

It didn’t help that he hugged you when Kelly announced the strike ended in their favor or when you guys talked during celebrations that night. The memories haunted your sleep.

A loud groan escaped your lips. That stupid smile of his. Your hands going over your warm, rose colored face as you sat on your bunk. Ritz and Hotshot peeked their heads into the girls bunk room, hearing you groan.

“What’re moping and griping about?” Hotshot asked, crossing his arms. His thick accent ringing in your ears.

You turn to look at you friends and remove the hands from your face. Before you could get a word in, Ritz is cupping your cheeks and feeling your forehead. “You’re burning up, Y/N!” Ritz exclaimed and shook your head side to side, lightly, to inspect your red cheeks.

“Ritz, please—” You begged the auburn haired girl to let your face go.

“Spot is going to be worried.”

“Ritz—”

“I think we have medicine somewhere.”

“Ritz, hang on—“

“Water and rest, that’s what my mama says.”

“I don’t have—”

“Spot ain’t letting you sell tomorrow.”

“Ritz!”

You shouted finally getting her attention. Ritz stopped her worrying. Hotshot stood up straight with raised eyebrows. You gently put your hands on Ritz’s wrists and removed them from your face. “I ain’t sick. I ain’t coughing or feelin’ bad.”

“Then what’s got your face so red, Y/N?” Ritz asked, she titled her head ever so slightly.

“A boy.” Hotshot spoke up.

You glared at Brooklyn’s second. Were you really that readable? Hotshot had to be a fucking psychic. A smirk danced on his lips. The silence said it all.

Ritz lit up like the Fourth of July. “You like a boy!” Ritz exclaimed with a wide grin. You slapped a hand across her mouth.

“Ritz, please don’t tell the others—” You begged to convey your seriousness. “You too, Hotshot.”

Ritz, still buzzing with excitement, nodded her head. You quickly shoved Hotshot into the girls’ bunk room and shut the door. “Who is it?” Ritz asked excitedly.

You pressed your lips together in a thin line. An internal dilemma with yourself. Would you rather suffer in silence, pin over a newsie in the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge or tell two people your crush which could potentially spread throughout the borough?

You decide to tell Hotshot and Ritz. Love is too confusing for you to suffer alone.

“It’s Manhattan’s second in command.” You mumbled, twisting your fingers as your face heats up. Just thinking about Race got your stomach all twisted up in a good way.

You didn’t think they heard you, but they did. Loud in clear.

“Race? Race!” Ritz confirmed.

Hotshot raised an eyebrow in amusement. “The one that “wanders” on our turf to bet at Sheepshead?”

“Yes.” You sighed exasperatedly and fell onto your bunk. “He’s just so—”

You couldn’t find the words to describe him, but then proceeded to go on a rant about Race for 10 minutes.

It wasn’t long before everyone in Brooklyn knew of your little crush on Manhattan’s second (and probably Manhattan). It was terrible with all the teasing and the questions on what you would do.

You didn’t know what to do! You would just lay in your bed and smile stupidly when you thought about him. “Pathetically in love” is what you thought.

Stray decided to do something.

With Spot’s permission (seeing you hopelessly in love was getting in the way of selling and Brooklyn’s reputation), Stray went to Manhattan. Stray had connections there. Her boyfriend and brother lived in Manhattan’s borough.

Stray told Specs, who told Elmer, who told Henry, who told Jojo, who told Mike, who told Finch, who told Race—that you liked him. When you got word that Race knew, you panicked.

Romance like that with him. You wouldn’t know how to act, what to do, or what to say. You’ve seen romance from afar; with rich couples, elderly couples, teenagers—all types of couples!

“Ya’ gotta relax, kid.” Spot patted your back after they found you contemplating your choices on your bunk. “If Racer is as half bright as you, he’ll see you’re a real gem.”

That gave you some confidence in yourself. You shouldn’t get worked up about some boy. Taking Mac’s advice seemed like the best option. “He’s just a guy!”

But, he seems real sweet and humorous and charming and ambitious. Keyword: seems. You might be setting yourself up for failure.

After days and days of dreading what you should do, Race came walking into Brooklyn, willy nilly, specifically to Graves’ and yours selling spot.

“Heya miss, can I get a pape?” Race asked.

You weren’t paying attention and grabbed a newspaper from your bag. Seeing him in front of you with his stupid blue eyes, his stupid blonde curls, his stupid cigar, his stupid cute smile—

You froze. A blush rising to your face. You spun on your heels and walked away. A fight or flight response.

Graves grabbed you with a smirk and turned you around. “Talk to him!” Graves whispered and pushed you towards Race.

He had that charming, amused smile on his face. “Hey.” He spoke, two hands on the strap of his paper bag.

“Hey.” You croaked.

“I—uh…got word, ya like me.”

“Mhm.”

Race looked at you awkwardly. If you looked hard enough, you saw a faint faint blush on cheeks. “You—uh…wanna go to the Sheepshead with me?”

“Now?” You asked incredulously.

“Now.” Graves spoke firmly. “You can sell at Sheepshead, don’t worry. I’ll be fine by myself.”

And so, you and Race went to Sheepshead Races. You held onto his arm like one of those rich ladies would do to a gentlemen. Conversation was made, no matter how awkward it was between you two.

The Sheepshead Races were loud and lively. You usually went here with Lucky and Scope when you had downtime.

“C’mon, they’ll start soon.” Race intertwined his hands with yours and pulled you through a crowd of people. “Gotta get the best seats.”

“Isn’t that the front row?” You asked, glancing back at where you and your friends would usually sit.

“Trust me, sweetheart. These seats are better than any front row.” Race grinned.

Your heart skipped a beat.

The name “sweetheart” sounded so right from his lips.

Race took you to a chainlink fence. You were close enough to see the jockeys’ faces and the horses shaking their head. The spot was at the bottom right of the original seating, in between the commentator’s box and the vendor.

He let go of your hand to lean against the fence. You frowned slightly, missing the feeling of his hand in yours. “Better than any front seat.” He repeated softly.

“Is this how you got your name?” You gestured to the races. Your nerves slowly disappearing. You were a Brooklyn newsie for Christ’s sake! Be confident!

“What?” Race shook his head as if you broke him out of his trance. “Oh—uh…kinda! That and I would be the first to the circulation gate. I’m pretty fast for a newsie.”

“You’re pretty for a newsie.” You responded without missing a beat.

“What’s that?” Race leaned in to hear you better. A smirk on his face.

Before you could respond, a gunshot sounded. Hooves slammed on the dirt track. The commentator spoke enthusiastically about the race. In no time, the horses and jockeys were passing you. The wind from them passing knocked off your newsie cape. You could practically see the sweat on the jockeies’ faces.

“Careful.” Race snaked an arm around your waist as soon as the horses passed. He pulled you towards him, concerned about your safety.

You yelped going face first into his chest. Race chuckled awkwardly. You pulled away slightly, but not out of his arms. You two met eyes, just staring. The sound of the hooves faded away.

His blue eyes, the same color as the East River, the same color as a beautiful day. No words were shared between you two. Race gulped. The tension palpable.

Cheering and groans were heard as the commentator announced the outcome. “If—you couldn’t tell…” Race spoke nervously, never tearing his eyes away from yours. “I think your cute—hell, I think your badass for being a Brooklyner.”

Usually when you saw a lady and gentleman like this, they share a kiss. Your heart was beating out of your chest. You never kissed anyone, but this seemed like the perfect moment.

“I don’t know how to kiss…” You admitted quietly.

“We don’t gotta kiss.” Race assured.

“But I want too.”

“…”

“Can I kiss ya then?”

“Please.”

The minute his lips met yours, the whole world froze. Your stomach twisted in a good warm feeling. Electricity and sparks flying with a single touch to the lips. Your brain was blanking. No words could describe a first kiss.

“Was that…okay?” Race pulled away.

“Better than okay.” You nodded firmly and pressed another kiss to his lips.

Both Race and you got a little more confident and kissed each other back. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was sweet. “There’s more to Brooklyn than the Sheepshead Races.” You pulled away this time.

“I figured.” Race laughed and ran a hand through his blonde curls. He picked up your newsie’s cap that flew off. Brushing off the dirt, he placed the cap back on your head.

“I wanna show you more places in Brooklyn.” You spoke without even realizing what you were saying.

“A date then.” Race smirked.

“A date.” You confirmed.

“Great.”

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