#if you’re a freshman then everyone’s new so don worry about it

[silvercrane14]

mom is making me one of my autism foods tomorrow. for dinner. bc she knows im gonna have a taxing day. cheese pasta yummy

Ooh cheese pasta yummy!!!

#idk how you are with sounds but my friend had these clonky headphones he called his autism phones that he brought to school #public school can be pretty loud and also tight #people will probably bump into you depending on how crowded it is idk #also befriend teachers even if it’s like. casual #the cool ones will let you eat in their rooms and then you can avoid the hot weather/crowded cafeteria #unless you’re a freshman toure probs gonna be the new kid so people /will/ want to talk to you just a warning #if you’re a freshman then everyone’s new so don worry about it #uhhh #make your schedule your Lock Screen so you don’t have to keep pulling it out #unless you have it memorized then like. go you #good luck :) #crane answers #lennie 🐶

[strangethlngs]

"If I get to live a million other lives, I hope I get to love you in all of them.” Eddie Munson fix-it fic.

(gif not mine, credit to dunadain)

Pairing: Eddie x female!reader

Summary: A quickly, sloppily written angsty + fluffy fix-it fic I cranked out in one sitting because this is my therapy in a post st4 vol2 world. This was written quickly and quickly proofread by a very tired me, so definitely not my best work but something I just wanted to get out in the open for everyone! Enjoy.

Warnings: Mentions of death, blood, gore, drinking, basically, everything from e9 except Eddie lives, suggestive dialogue but ultimately sfw. And obviously, spoilers ahead.

A/N: My first published fic! I hope u enjoy it, it’s not what my best work looks like (I’m working on a long ass AU fic that will be impeccably written and proofread don’t you worry), but, like I said, my brain just wanted me to get this idea out of my system, so here you go! Please be kind!

Word count: Almost 3k

"Let’s hope this works” Dustin mutters as he plugs in the extension cord to the amplifiers. You teeter over the chord, trying to maintain your balance atop the tin roof of Eddie's trailer. The trailer that held memories of some of your brightest memories with the long-haired dungeon master standing in front of you. You take in the sight in front of you, the world slowing down for a millisecond. bright red lightning crackled in the distance. Dustin’s hard breathing. Eddie’s warm brown eyes trained on you and only you. Upside-down flurries landing in the curls of his frizzy hair. Guitar slung lazily over the front of his torso. You remembered back to the first time you’d met him. 

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

You had just moved to Hawkins for your freshman year of high school, thanks to your parents moving for work. That first day at school, you’d taken your lunch to the bathroom, too nervous to eat at a table alone. It was on the billboard by the restroom door you had seen a poster for a local band playing at a bar close to your house that night. Back in your old city, you’d loved to go see live music. As you sat in the stall, you grasped for your backpack, digging out your wallet. There it was. staring back at you was the face of your freshly 21-year-old sister, her old id hiding in the back flaps. 

You arrived that night to the venue that night, breezing past the bouncer and heading straight to the bar. You didn’t mind being alone here, because at least here you didn’t feel like the targeted new kid like you did in the cafeteria. Oh, how you were so wrong; because, as you waited for the bartender to pour your beer, you heard a voice come from beside you. 

“You’re the new girl in my algebra class.”

You whipped your head beside you. The smell of weed and jack burned your nostrils. In front of you was a cheeky, long-hair brunette boy. And even in the dark ambient lighting of the bar, you could see his big, beautiful kind brown eyes. Oh my god, he was cute. In an attempt to stumble out a response, you just huffed out a “yeah” and handed the bartender some cash, swapping it with your beer.

"As part of the new-kid-Hawkins-high-experience, I was planning on asking you to sit at my lunch table, but you seemed to disappear in the few moments between algebra and lunch period,” he pressed on while you sipped, determined to talk to you for some reason.

“Oh yeah, I, um,” you stammered. You took in his full appearance now. He had a black tee with a flannel and leather jacket, black pants donning a chain, and white reebok shoes. On his fingers were a range of rings of different shapes and sizes. His ringed fingers wrapped around what you assumed was a jack and coke but was mostly gone.

“I promise sitting at our table is better than eating alone in the bathroom. Trust me, been there, done that...” he smiled, turning to stick his free hand out to you. “I’m Eddie.”

You told him your name and shook his hand, the cold from the rings shocking your skin. You chatted with small talk back and forth for a while. You told him your love for live music and excitement to see the band, and he told you about the DND club he loved. Hell, what did it hurt to befriend someone cute on one of your first days in a new town? He downed the rest of his drink before bowing to you. 

“Well, I would love to chat with you for longer, but I do have duties to fulfill. I’ll see you at lunch tomorrow?” he smiled, holding out his hand. Unsurely, you put your hand into his and he places a chaste kiss on it. The alcohol in your system bubbled a giggle in response.

“Tomorrow,” you bid him farewell. And then, to your absolute horror, he climbed the steps to the stage followed by a few other guys. He went up to the center microphone, slung a guitar over his head, and gave a smile directly to you before yelling his band name and playing the opening riffs to a metal song you didn’t recognize. 

And the rest was history.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

And at this moment, you saw that same boy. The same young boy with kind eyes staring at you from across the roof of the trailer. Suddenly you’re filled with fear at the gravity of what you’re actually doing. So many things could go wrong. You’re literally setting yourself up as bait. You can’t lose him. You can’t. 

Your arms and legs move faster than your brain as you trek over to Eddie, hands reaching out for his face and planting a kiss onto his perfectly ready lips. His guitar bumps against your front and you pull away, foreheads touching.

“I love you,” you whisper. “I just had to tell you before.”

Before he has a chance to respond, you back away next to Dustin, your hand reaching out to crank up the volume on the amp. Eddie’s eyes meet yours in the last moment of silence. His voice breaks it as he reaches up to his guitar pick on the chain around his neck and he mutters your name as he rips it off, eyes trained on yours. 

“This is for you.”

And then it all starts. the guitar riff to the Metallica song you knew all too well, because, well, Eddie was obsessed with it. You liked it too because it reminded you of how talented he was. He shreds the guitar as you watch. If this was any other situation, you would have a heat building between your legs at the sight in front of you, but considering the compromising nature of what was happening at the moment, you focused on the sound of the bats swarming closer. As the epic guitar solo comes to an end, you stumble off of the roof and into the trailer, choking out a sob of relief once you realize you’re safe. 

The first thing Eddie does after his cheering moment with Dustin is kiss you again, hard and passionately as if he didn’t just kiss you minutes ago.

“See, all worked out,” he cups your cheeks and your smile. Then, your smile fades as the bats ram against the roof. 

“Eddie, the vents!” you realize. Eddie mutters a ‘shit’ and rams his trash can lid weapon to the vent in the living room and you run, ramming yours into the one above his bed. But you’re too late. A bat narrowly escapes your attempt and latches onto your shoulder, knocking you off of the bed and onto the hard floor. 

You’re sure your arm is broken somewhere from the shooting pain paired with the pain of the bat gnawing on your flesh. You scream and Eddie quickly appears into your vision, beating the hell out of the damn thing. It finally dies and Eddie kneels down to you.

Eddie sits you up, blood gushing from the wound on your shoulder. 

“Oh, god, you’re okay, you’re okay” he coos. “Henderson” he yells and Dustin appears in the door frame, gasping out your name.

“I’m fine...” you attempt to get up, dizziness taking over you. “Woah-” you blink slowly, fighting the dizziness caused by the amount of blood dripping down your shirt.

“We gotta get her through the gate, out of here,” Eddie rapidly fires, and in your hazy state, you can tell he’s holding back tears. He grabs for a shirt of his nearby and holds it to your oozing wound. 

Your vision continues to blur. How were you losing this much blood? The world spun fast around you as Eddie walked you to the gate. Eddie.... 

“Eddie” you murmur out. Eddie looks at you, holding you up in his arms.

“I’m right here baby, right here. Now I need you to be strong and get yourself up that rope.” he manages to say, no tears spilling from his clearly-watering eyes. You muster up the strength you have and somehow manage to get to the other side of the gate. Dustin follows, coming to your side immediately to check on you. you gaze up at the gate and see Eddie staring back at you.

“Eddie...” you start, suspicious of him. And before you know it, there he is, cutting off the cloth rope between the two dimensions. Dustin starts to scream. You become numb with shock. Tears prickle your eyes.

“Get her to a hospital, Henderson. Make sure she’s safe.” 

And then he’s gone. In one fluid motion, tears bursting down your cheeks, you saunter over to a chair in the corner, pulling it to the gate.

“Dustin, I don’t care what you say, I’m going in there whether you want me to or not. So you can either help me or not. But I’m going” you manage to get out. 

He nods in agreement and you get yourself on the chair, using your good arm to pull yourself up. Dustin helps with your feet the best he can, and by some miracle in the universe, you land on your back on the floor of the trailer in the upside-down, crying out in agony. 

You don’t even wait for Dustin to come through before you’re scrounging up all the strength you have to run sloppily out of the door, hand pressed to your shirt-covered wound, blood already soaked through it.

You see him. He’s there, weapons up and at the ready, fighting the swarm the best he can. A scream gets choked in your throat as you run in his direction. When Eddie falls to the ground, that's when the yell building up inside you finally comes out, taking most of your strength with it. It’s a mix between his name and the word ‘no’, but it’s loud enough to get some of the bats flying in your direction. 

But then they all... fall. All at once. No bats even reach you before they’re dead and unmoving on the ground. But that doesn’t matter to you.

“Eddie!” you scream again, weaker than before. you hear Dustin's yells distantly behind you. 

When you reach him, your knees buckle at the sight of him. He’s bloody. Really bloody. It covers his torso and hands, even his face. 

“No, no no no” you shake your head. “Eddie no you can’t,” you start, fully sobbing now, tears mixing with his blood. “You can’t leave me.”

“I didn’t run away this time,” he choked. His voice gurgled. Blood splattered from his mouth to his teeth. 

“No, Eds, you didn’t.”

He manages a smile the best he can, and even with the blood covering parts of his face and teeth, he’s still the most beautiful boy you have ever laid your eyes on.

“You’re so beautiful,” you coo to him, brushing his hair with your shaky, bloody fingers.

“N- not more... b- beautiful than you” he chokes, shaky hand reaching to yours that was on his chest. Dustin finally arrives and falls next to you.

“I love you” he musters. 

“Stop that,” you manage through tears, shaking your head at him. “You’re making it through this.” he turns his eyes to look at Dustin.

“You’re gonna have to look after my little sheep for me, okay?”

“Eddie you are not dying, stop this-” you and Dustin protest at the same time and you bury your head in his blood-soaked hellfire shirt.

“And make sure you watch over her for me. Promise me,”

This breaks you. You audibly sob, not hearing anything of what Dustin responds to Eddie. 

“H- hey look at me,” Eddie grunts. you lift your head, brushing hair out of his beautiful, perfect eyes. 

“If I get to live a million other lives, I hope I get to love you in all of them.”

You can’t get words out at this point. You just lean forward and kiss him softly. You don’t care about the mess or the blood. When you pull away you choke out broken “I love you”’s over and over. 

You’re broken out of your trance by Steve’s distant voice. You whip around. 

“Henderson!” he yells, running over, noticing your compromising position.

“Oh my god, what happened-” Nancy starts but you interrupt.

“Bats. He needs help. A hospital. Bandages. Now.” you demand. Steve is already beside you, helping Eddie up. You go to the other side of him, holding him up carefully as the group quickly moves to the trailer.

“You’re going to be okay, Eddie. It’s going to be okay.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

It’s a few hours after the giant earthquake ripped through Hawkins. You return from the kitchen in Hopper’s cabin to the room Eddie was laying in with another bowl of water and a cloth. Somehow, someway, you and the gang were able to patch up the wounds, none being too detrimental. He pitifully laid on the bed, bandages covering most of his body. He seemed better and more sentient, just a little traumatized. You were too, your own uncovered gash dully throbbing at you. The others suggested one of them look at it but you refused, mind only focused on Eddie.

You sat beside him on the bed and he gave you a weak smile. You dipped the cloth in the water, continuing to wipe him down, this time wiping down his face. 

“Thank you” he simply stated.

“You don’t have to thank me” you smiled softly.

“You’re just... too good to be real,” he said, almost in a whisper. And then suddenly, his smile faded.

“What’s wrong?” you asked. His eyes trained on your shoulder.

“Please just let me look at it,” he states. You shake your head, continuing to wipe his face.

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not. Please, just let me look.”

You drop the cloth back into the water, sighing out in surrender. He manages to sit up and reaches a hand out, pulling your shirt down to reveal the gash. He sighs out your name.

“I’ve been applying pressure and I promise it doesn’t hurt as bad as it did earlier,” you protest. But, he’s already reaching for the damp cloth, pressing it to the wound, cleaning it. You wince but surrender to his touch as he softly and shakily cleans the wound. You shed your shirt and he grabs a spare bandage from the side table, wrapping it around the wound.

“There,” he lays back down and smiles. 

“Thank you,” you respond mimicking him from earlier, leaning down to sweetly leave a kiss on his lips.

“Circumstances aside, I do have to mention how sexy you look right now,” he cheekily smirks at you in your bra, even in his weakest moments still being the cheeky Eddie he always has been.

“Scooch over,” you tell him, shedding the pants you were wearing, and climbing into the bed next to him. 

The entire gang was fast asleep, too exhausted from the events of the night to manage a normal sleeping schedule. You nestled in next to Eddie, his bandaged arm coming to wrap around your side. 

“You know, I really thought I was going to lose you,” you look up into his eyes.

“Yeah, well... I didn’t want to run” he mumbles back.

“Running doesn’t make you a bad person.”

“I shouldn’t have run from Chrissy,” he says sadly, remembering back to his friend. You knew her, albeit not that well, but you had been with them in the woods. The night she died you weren’t with Eddie, but he found and told you right after. You helped him hide. You knew the guilt from that night ate at him.

“There was nothing you could do, Eds.”

“I know.”

“Running isn’t stupid. Especially when it’s in the best interest of everyone involved. You can’t leave me like that. ever. I won’t ever let you. You can’t go off and die being a hero and leaving me behind,” you say, not even realizing you’re crying. “Chrissy would be so proud of you from tonight, Eds. She’d be proud, but she wouldn’t want you to put yourself near death for the sake of not being a coward.” 

Eddie sniffs in response. You know he’s softly crying.

“Just promise me you won’t pull some shit like that again,” you whisper, looking up into his eyes again.

“I won’t. I’m sorry,” he wipes your tears and hugs you close to his chest. “Never again. I’m never leaving you.”

"Good. Because I’ll kill you first.” you smile. He softly laughs with you.

And everything is okay. Well, not in Hawkins, technically, but Eddie's okay. And you’re okay. And that’s all that matters at this very moment.

#stranger things spoilers #stranger things vol 2 #eddie stranger things #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson smut #eddie munson st4 #st4 spoilers #stranger things vol 2 spoilers #eddie fix it fic #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson angst #stranger things x reader #stranger things fluff #stranger things fic #stranger things smut #eddie #eddie my beloved #eddie my boy

[meetmypointlessaddiction]

So It's Gonna Be Forever

Summary: Joel Miller and Emily Harper have been best friends since 2nd grade and at the end of freshman year become something more. Will they last or will their new label ruin it all. OR Joel Miller gets some lovin' because god knows he deserves it.

Chapter 4

Warnings: Mentions of rough childhood and some violence between father and son. Mentions and allusions to smut but never actually turns into smut.

I understand that this might not be everyone's cup of tea so if it's not for you, just don't read.

If there's anything that is possibly triggering that I haven't mentioned in the warnings please let me know as this is not beta'd and it is very possible that I've missed something.

Warnings🏷: The aftermath of the fight between Joel and his dad so there is still the tags of abusive relationship and violence.

Series Masterlist

Wordcount: 2072 words

Joel had been taken back to the Harper’s place, laid out on the couch with a damp cloth on his forehead and a bandage around his knuckles. “What happened?” Emily asked, her boyfriend’s head in her lap as stroked back the sweaty hair from his forehead. 

“We had gone over to speak to him about Joel moving out, about possibly taking Tommy with him or Tommy coming to live with us until he was old enough to live on his own. He didn’t like the idea of having to care for himself and Joel came in just as he was insulting their mother and Tommy. Sure looked like he’d been holding it in for a while.” The boys' Aunt revealed and Emily and Carol nodded, Jerry finishing cleaning and bandaging Joel’s other hand. 

“He’s always been protective.” Their grandma, Louise, commented. “I remember when he first told my husband, Raymond, about Richard being a little violent towards my Maria. He swore he’d never let him hurt Tommy or his mother. Of course, Joel isn’t one for violence unless he’s sticking up for someone.” She clarified and Tommy spoke up. 

“He never told me that dad used to hit mom. Did he hit Joel too? Is that why he never left me with him?” Tommy asked quietly from where he had been sitting in the corner of the room and Carol nodded. 

“We don’t know for sure if he’s ever hit Joel but we know that he could get a little violent with your mother which is why we always offered the three of you a place here or to call a lawyer for a divorce but your mother refused to split up the family.” Tommy frowned and looked at Joel who was still out like a light. “Don’t take it too hard, Tommy. Joel always wanted to protect you, that’s all that ever mattered to him.” Tommy nodded slightly and Joel groaned, trying to push himself up from the couch but Emily held his head still while Jerry put a gentle hand on his chest.

“Lay down, cowboy.” 

“Easy, bud. Take it easy.” Joel just looked around and noticed the look on Tommy’s face and his eyes glossed over and his face turned stern. 

“Where is he? What did he do to you? I-.” 

“He ain’t done nothin’ to Tommy, he ain’t been near him.” Emily assured and Joel relaxed. “Just worried about you is all. We all are.” She added and Joel just scoffed. 

“Should have let me kill him.” Joel spoke, directing it at Jerry who just smirked. 

“How the hell are you meant to provide for my daughter if you’re behind bars, huh?” Joel just smiled and let Emily dab at his face with the cloth. “Come on, I’ll help you up, don’t want you passing out again.” 

Once Joel was sat up, his head settled against the back of the couch, he looked between Louise and Laura. “You think he’ll let me leave now?” He tried, a tired grin coming across his face and his grandma smiled.

“I think he didn’t care anyway but now you’ve solidified your freedom.” She said with a glint in her eye and Tommy chuckled. Joel looked at Emily and smiled. 

“Sorry ‘bout runnin’ out on ya earlier. And thank you for keepin’ Tommy out of the way.” Emily smiled and kissed his cheek. 

“More than happy to babysit Tarzan while you beat someone up.” She replied and Tommy rolled his eyes. 

“I don’ need a babysitter, your highness.” Joel just scoffed and chuckled.

“Tommy, I ran ‘round the corner to pick up a loaf of bread and when I came back you’d tried and failed to make yourself food and were convinced that sticking a fork in a toaster to get out your bread was safe. I ain’t leavin’ you unattended.” Tommy just sulked and Laura ruffled his hair. 

“We’ll have to put a bow or somethin’ in this. Your mama would have had a field day tryin’ out different hairstyles on you. She always wanted a girl. Woulda called her-.” 

“Sarah.” Tommy and Joel finished for her and they smiled. 

“Joel, can I ask you somethin’?” Jerry asked and Joel nodded. “We knew your dad wasn’t the nicest to your ma and Tommy has said that he ain’t never hurt him but-.” 

“A few times. He never managed to do me any real harm though. The first time it happened, he’d thrown a football or somethin’ at my head and he busted my lip. The only time it was ever worse than a little bruise was just before ma passed. You remember when Tommy broke his wrist after he fell off his friends bike?” Joel asked and he got a few nods. “He was pissed, was threatenin’ to hurt Tommy because he was havin’ to work a little extra because he was tryin’ to pay off two hospital bills and was gonna have it out with Tommy and his friend for goin’ on the bike. I told him that it wasn’t Tommy’s fault and that I’d pushed him off because he had broken the chain on my bike or somethin’ stupid like that. He roughed me up a little and when mama found out, it took me a while to convince her not to say anythin’ to him but she eventually agreed that it would only do more harm.” Joel explained, looking to Tommy. 

“I promised ma I wasn’t gonna let him hurt you like he hurt her and I ain’t gonna stop doin’ that just because she’s not here anymore.” Joel said and Tommy nodded, Emily squeezing Joel’s bicep. 

“Well, I doubt he’ll be chasing after either of you so, Joel, the house is yours as soon as the lawyer gets down to signing it over and, Tommy, you can stay with Joel or come and stay with us and we’ll take you to Joel’s whenever you feel like it, ok?” The boys nodded and Laura stood. 

“We’re gonna head back home, let you rest up some Joel or you can come with us if you want.” She said and Joel shook his head. 

“I promised Em I’d revise but Tommy has nowhere to be tomorrow, if you wanna go?” Joel looked to Tommy who just froze, never being that far away from Joel. 

“Hey, we’ll bring you right back here tomorrow, ok? Or, we could go to your dad’s and get some clothes for you both and you could stay with us for a while, until Joel has the house.” Tommy nodded and Joel smiled, both boys happy with that plan. 

“He’ll already be out of the house and out with his fishin’ buddies so we can go now. We’ll pack all our stuff up and I’ll leave my stuff here until I come tomorrow and Tommy can go ahead and get set up.” Joel pointed out and Laura and Louise just nodded, Tommy standing while Emily helped Joel get to his feet, wary of him going light headed again. “I’ll come back, if that’s ok?” Joel asked and Jerry nodded. 

“You know you’re more than welcome here, kid. Go on, get your stuff together and we’ll have some food ready for when you get back.” Joel grabbed his house key from off of the kitchen counter and walked slowly towards the car out front, climbing in the back with Tommy. 

“Are you sure you don’t mind us stayin’ with you, grandma? We don’t wanna-.” 

“Your father stopped me from seein’ you boys for over 2 years. I am more than happy to take you in and make up for what I’ve missed out on. Including the girlfriend.” She teased and Joel chuckled, Tommy nudging him gently. 

Joel dug through the storage cupboard next to his bedroom and found a few cardboard boxes that he and Tommy could throw their things in. “I’ll go help Tommy and Aunt Laura will come help you out. The sooner we’re out of here the better.” Louise said and the boys nodded, leading their assigned partner to their room. 

“Didn’t expect it to be so tidy.” Laura gasped and Joel shrugged. 

“I’m never here. I come home from school, tidy up a little and then head round to the Harpers’ house. I ain’t never got no reason to be here, ‘specially when he’s home.” Joel had always been close with Laura, his fortnightly visits meant he often bumped into her and she would always sneak him the candy and chocolate that his mother had said he couldn’t have. She was the one to sneak him his first beer. 

“So, you and Emily…” Laura started and Joel turned away from his clothes, smirking slightly. 

“What about it?” He asked and she shrugged. 

“Talk to me. Fill me in.” 

“Well, I asked her out at the end of freshman year and we kept it a secret for as long as we could. Ma knew after about a year when she saw us sneakin’ out the back door, so her letter said, Carol found out after I snook out of Em’s window a year after ma died, Tommy found out a few months ago when he came home early and saw us all bare ass and put the pieces together himself.” Joel explained and Laura smirked. 

“What’d her dad have to say? How’d he find out?” Joel gulped and threw the rest of his clothes into the box, coming to the conclusion that whatever didn’t fit him, Tommy could have or he’d donate his shirts to Emily, before he began packing photos and books and some memorabilia into another box. 

“I had somewhat of a mental breakdown a little while back after I’d been arguing with dad. I went down the road and he answered the door while I was cryin’ and red eyed. Let me in and when Em saw me, it’s like she didn’t care ‘bout keepin’ it a secret anymore. She was more than happy for him to know that I was just the kid she’d known since we were 7. The next morning, I managed to catch him before he went to work and we talked. Told me that he was more than happy about me datin’ his daughter but wouldn’t hesitate to end me if I hurt her, somethin’ along those lines. They’ve done a lot for me, all three of them and they don’t mind Tommy hangin’ around as well. Jerry offered me a job at the company he’s high up in so, soon as I leave school, I’ll be workin’ on the building sites with him.” Joel finished and Laura smiled. 

“Sounds like you’re well and truly in, huh? So, Tommy caught you butt naked then. Why exactly was she naked in your bed, Joel Miller?” Laura teased and Joel just shook his head, taping up the three boxes that held all of things and gave her a look. 

“Hey, I’m not stupid. We’re not tryin’ to end up with a mini us around anytime soon so you can skip the talk you were planning. I’ve already got it, multiple times from Carol and Jerry and a box of condoms ends up in the mailbox every other month so I think I’m set for a while.” Joel smiled sarcastically and Laura cackled, taking the box that Joel had left on the floor and following him out of the room.

“Ready to go?” They nodded and Joel helped load his and Tommy’s boxes into the trunk of the car before looking at the house and running back in. He lifted up his mattress and found what he was looking for, pulling out the two extra boxes and the duffel bag containing some of his mothers things that he managed to hide before his dad could sell them. 

“Where the hell did you pull those from?” Louise asked and Joel shrugged. 

“I’ll show you tomorrow because I think there’s some of it that would be better in your hands.” Joel muttered and she nodded, starting the engine as Joel climbed into the car. 

“We'll take your boxes back to the house and put them in your room for you, you can set it up how you want when you arrive tomorrow. Just means less worrying about getting it all in the car again tomorrow.” Laura explained and Joel nodded, saying goodbye and squeezing Tommy’s shoulder before heading back towards the house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't forget to like and reblog if you enjoyed!

#joel miller #joel miller fanfic #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller fic #joel miller x oc #pedro pascal #pedro pascal characters #joel miller fluff #joel miller series #joel miller the last of us #the last of us hbo #the last of us #So It's Gonna Be Forever #tlou #tlou hbo #tommy miller

[ddosie]

# 2 and soobin for the prompt please!

you wouldn't say you were the sentimental type.

things came and went. kids grew into adults. that was just how life was. people grew apart, sometimes closer, and it was all expected.

you just never thought you would have to face it yourself.

it was a problem that you had only read about in story books. the handmaiden watches the price she fell in love with get married. she moves on. the king lets go of the memories of his favorite knight. he moves on. the queen loses her son, her only son. she moved on.

they all moved on. so why couldn't you?

"class! class! let's start this school year by introducing ourselves! i'll go first. my name is ms. hilton, and i'm your english teacher for this year! i've worked at this school for a long time now, and i can't wait to teach all of you kids!

okay, now that i've done my introduction, shall we go along the classroom and introduce ourselves? starting from you sir, yes you with the white and black sneakers. please start by telling us your name and a fun fact about yourself."

you watched as the said boy stood up, pushing his hair back with his hand.

"uh... hi everyone, i'm soobin, and one fun fact about me is i went to Europe this year."

as the next person got up to introduce themselves, you found yourself staring at him.

jeez, he was tall for a middle schooler.

the sun is filtering through the blinds in your room, and rays of light are being painted across the walls. everything is a golden color, from the desk to the bedside.

"so... what topic are we choosing for this project?" you watched through the lens of your glasses as soobin furrowed his brow.

"do you think, maybe aristotle?" you nodded your head eagerly, so soobin stood up and walked over to the teachers desk. a second later he sent you a thumbs up.

"aristotle it is."

you twirled your pen in your fingers as soobin took a seat. "hey do you want to work on the project with me over the weekend? i know a really good café...?"

there was a small smile on your face, and you nodded.

"yeah sure, what time?"

you got up from your chair, grabbing a camera. in this lighting, the room was just too pretty to not take a picture of.

"y/n, for someone of that height, there is no reason you should be walking that fast."

you sent a small smile to the long-legged boy trying to catch up with you in the hallway.

"if you don't want to be late to class bin, you're going to have to put those legs to work."

you let soobin catch up with you, and you slowed down your pace from thereon so the two of you could walk side by side. soobin pointed at the trophy shelf.

"do you think we'll win this year too? i hope we do, yeonjun promised a party at his house if we get placed first."

you gave soobin a reassuring pat on his arm.

"you'll be finneee... if you win, i'll take you out to icecream after."

the boy turned to look at you, a smile creeping into his eyes.

"really?"

"really."

fiddling around with the camera, you brushed the light dust that had collected on the top off. you watched as the particles were swept away, dancing in the dying sunlight.

"we should do this every year."

you turned to look at soobin lying next to you, ice-cream sandwhich in one hand, while the other was tucked behind him, supporting his head. he was looking above, admiring the night sky.

"you mean climb some random apartment stairs to get to rooftops? and risk our lives every season game to see a different view of the city at night?"

soobin let out a small laugh. "yeah, well when you put it that way, it does sound bad." you smiled, lying down with your own ice-cream sandwich, propping an arm under your head.

"...i meant the icecream tradition. you'll be there for my next season game, right?"

now it was your turn to admire the night sky.

"of course. i wouldn't miss it for the world"

grabbing a tissue, you went to work at the camera, cleaning dust from all crevices and corners of the lenses. you were surprised. when was the last time you had even taken a photo on this thing?

"hey bin, what's up?"

grabbing your phone and placing it on your desk, you made yourself comfortable, ready for any facetime tea he would spill.

"ah, y/n..." you watched as he ran a hand through his hair from the other side of the screen. "i don't think... i don't think i'll be able to make it to your birthday this year."

there was a quiet silence. you felt like you'd been punched in the gut.

"if i can ask, um, why?" you fiddled with the hem of your hoodie, waiting for an answer.

"the schedules for the basketball game lineups just came out, and the final season game is happening on your birthday. i just wanted to tell you in case we do win that far and i won't be able to come."

you decided to smile at the way soobin had said just in case they win. the two of you were in your sophomore year, and he hadn't lost a game since middle school.

"yeah, don't worry about it soob. we can still get icecream after."

you felt a turn in your stomach when the boy gave you a relived smile, running a hand through his hair again.

"that's all i wanted to say, i've got to go now"

"hm? why?"

"chem tutoring. these freshman are horrible at science."

adjusting the camera, you zoomed in on random objects in your room. the bookshelf. your water bottle. the lamp. click. click. click.

“did you hear? that senior yeonjun will be throwing a bigger party than last year! are you going y/n?”

you shrugged. “when is it?”

“I think it‘ll be this saturday.”

"can’t. I’ll be out of town”

"for what?

“college. I sent an early application, and one of them reached out and wants me to tour the campus. if i go, I’ll have a guaranteed spot next year, and I probably won’t have to apply to any others.”

your friend let out a low whistle and patted your head.

"well when you put it like that, I guess you really can’t go… but maybe we could get something after the game? i heard the ice cream place was still open”

just like that, a mere sentence felt like a silent punch to the gut.

you looked away from your friends face, scanning the cafeteria unknowingly. you were met with the view of a senior tussling soobin's hair, an arm slung across his neck. you could hear their loud conversation even from where you were sitting.

"you coming to my house after the game? me and the guys we're planning to get some icecream and stay over at my house for the night."

you thought you saw something flash in soobins eye's before he smiled, nodding in agreement.

abruptly standing up, you tossed an apology to your friend about how you wouldn't be able to make it and you had just remembered you had some important emails to send. you didn't want to be around when the words of confirmation came out of his mouth itself.

so much for a flash. the last time you had icecream with him was two years ago.

adjusting the lens once more, you caught your eye on a ticket stuck between two books on your desk. you slowly pulled it out. it was blue and grey, your school colors. there was a hole punched on the bottom, indicating it was used.

"and it's the last two minutes of the game, and hybe high is in the lead! if they can make this basket, it will guarantee a regional win for the school. oh! there goes hyunjin... passing to donghyuck who... also just passed to eric who, jeez, passed to soobin...! look at that! look at that!! we are in the last minute everyone, and if captain of hybe high makes this basket, like i said they will be the regional winners!!"

you let the sound of the announcer wash over you, leaning forward in your seat to watch the game.

for some reason you kept coming back. to this gym. to the basketball games.

to soobin.

it had been over a year since the two of you had really talked, the last icecream run being well over three years ago (a promise to go before your birthday was conveniently broken), and the last facetime was to ask for calculus answers.

you knew that you had faded out of the life of the star basketball player.

you just couldn't accept it.

"and soobin gets closer to the rim... oh! it looks like taehyun from bighit acadmy is a pretty good blocker... anyways look at him go! we have twenty second left, and even if he doesn't score hybe is still in for a win... okay, okAY?? WAIT WHAT!! WHAT!!"

there's a loud screech of the intercom that mixes with the cheers of the crowd. you found yourself on your feet, fists pumping in the air in celebration alongside the students in the bleachers despite yourself.

"AND CHOI SOOBIN SECURES THE PLACE OF HYBE HIGH IN DISTRICT REGIONALS!! ONCE AGAIN THE ACE HAS TOPPED EVERYONE AND BRANG HIS TEAM TO VICTORY!!"

you held the ticket tenderly. on the backside was stamped senior, a marker that counted as a discount for the upperclassmen that wanted to watch the game. flipping it over again, you felt a wave of something hit your stomach as you took in the grey and blue.

"hey y/n, wait up!"

you whipped around at the sound of an all too familiar voice.

there, stood soobin, in all his six foot and one inch glory.

"you.." he panted, hands on his knees as if he had run a million miles. "you walk too fast. what's the rush? you were cheering for me so loudly."

there was that feeling again. of being punched in the gut. by that invisible hand that seemed to favor your stomach whenever soobin was around.

"ah, you know... just getting home."

you tried not to stare too long. soobin had grown, matured. the baby face he donned as a middle schooler was gone, only his dimples a reminder of the childhood smiles you shared together.

"you're not... going anywhere? going straight home?"

you gave him a small smile. "...yeah. i'm going soon, so i really need to pack. good game though! you really did good this time around."

"going soon... to where y/n? are you taking a road trip without me?" you sensed a wary tone under his teasing words. three years apart, and this was the news you would have to tell him. curse the fates.

"yup! im, ah... moving cross country. i got accepted a while back."

you could already see the question in his eyes. how far? which major? on campus or near?

why didn't you tell me?

there was a moment of silence while you rocked back and forth on your heels. soobin pushed his hair back, looking into your eyes.

the heaviness of a thousand unanswered questions weighed in the air.

"so... want to catch up over icecream?"

as you held the basketball ticket from senior year, you realized three things.

one: you were the sentimental type. you clung onto old memories and good times like they were life jackets, keeping you afloat in the mundanity of your new life.

two: you didn't really like the idea of always moving on. it seemed so easy in the story books, that after a couple years the queen goes back to her ordinary life, the king appoints a new knight, and the princess finds someone she truly loved. but was there a time where you would just stop caring? was there a day you would wake up and didn’t think about what could have happened, the if only’s and what if’s?

three: you couldn't move on. you prided yourself on being able to move faster, walking a pace before everyone else. life was a journey, and you were going places. quite literally. you were floating when everyone was sinking.

but you were only floating because you had your life jacket.

...

things came and went. kids grew into adults. that was just how life was. people grew apart, sometimes closer, and it was all expected.

you clutched the ticket in your hand, the end slightly wrinkled by your fingers.

you just never thought you would have to face it yourself.

#sorry for the angst anon 😬 #this was maybe quite possibly perhaps influenced by real events #txt #txt x reader #txt angst #txt imagines #txt scenarios #txt soobin #soobin #soobin drabbles #soobin imagines #soobin scenarios #soobin au #soobin angst #soobin x reader #choi soobin #soobin choi

[petri808]

Hauntober prompt Vampires

Nalu requested by @mccnfairy

“You guys are leaving already?” Natsu questions the group of girls as they get ready to leave his Halloween house party.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be back later.” Lucy pats the man on the cheek. “There’s just one more place we wanted to check out tonight.”

“Oh, okay cool! Just be safe out there, lots of creeps out tonight.”

“We will,” this time it’s Levy who responds with a giggle. “Besides, we have an Erza. Pity the fool who dares to harass us.”

It had really been a silly idea, but why not have a little spooky adventure this All Hallows’ Eve. The friends, Lucy Heartfilia, Levy McGarden, Erza Scarlet, and Cana Alberona had heard about this abandoned old mansion at the edge of town that was supposedly haunted. According to Levy’s research, the structure dated back to the days of the Civil War and may have been owned by a plantation owner killed by his slaves in revolt. Of course, there was no way to confirm it because town records seemed sparse or missing from those years and most of it became folk tales passed down through the generations.

At one point a haunted house attraction was actually run inside the building, but as of the last six years or so, it had been left vacant with only a fading ‘For Sale’ sign outside its massive iron gates. Until recently, that is. Someone has actually bought the property and according to the large sign out front it would be demolished in three weeks to make way for a new apartment complex. Hence the girl’s temptation to check it out before that happens.

“Be careful,” Erza warns the group. “We don’t know how structurally sound this place is.”

The four girls armed with flashlights slowly make their way into the creepy building. Every hair on the back of Lucy’s neck stands up as soon as she enters; she shivers. This was such a bad idea...

Wham!

The front door slams shut behind them causing everyone to jump and scream.

“I-It’s just the wind,” Erza reasons. “Just stay close everyone.”

All the nervous energy made the sounds around them seem heightened. Every creek of a floor board or scuttling of creatures through the debris. Broken windows allowed wind to funnel through creating eerie drafts to tickle their skin and the groans of the building were like fodder for a horror movie. But they pressed on, determined to explore.

‘There’s no such thing as ghosts,’ Lucy reminds herself. It’s all just made up stories to keep kids in line. She had no reason to believe that supernatural creatures existed.

“Look at all this stuff left behind,” Cana remarks as they pass through what used to be a kitchen. “It’s all the haunted house props.”

Even in the dark they could see fake blood splattered or holes cut in the walls for actors to pop their heads through. Rubber body parts, broken skeletons, old looking medical equipment, basically every cliche thing you could think of. Different props for different themes.

One by one they make their way through the first floor of the house. It was such a huge place. Sitting rooms, pantry’s, a game room, bathrooms, dining hall, a living room, and that’s just the first floor! A grand staircase took you to the second floor which had one long hall way leading to all the bedrooms, then further to a second staircase that took you to the third floor servants quarters and attic.

By the time the girls had made it to the second floor, their guards had been somewhat lowered. Despite the creepiness of the old building, there was nothing really paranormal to scare them. Lucy began to trail behind out of curiosity, stopping at each bedroom to take a better look inside. Some of the rooms still held old furnishings from a bygone era. Large postered beds and ornate dressers or armoires, oil lamps, and old ripped paintings on walls. She could imagine how grand this home must have looked in its hay day.

But when Lucy steps out of the room she was in, the sudden realization that she was alone fuels a wave of goosebumps to ripple along her arms. “G-Guys?!” She couldn’t even hear any of her friends voices. Oh no! Where’d they go? Upstairs? Back down stairs?! The house was as still as death, no more creeks and groans, just the empty darkness beyond the beam of her flashlight or moon glow filtering through the windows.

She books it back downstairs to the front door as the safest alternative. Eventually her friends had to leave, so she’ll just wait there patiently for them. While she waits, Lucy turns on her phone to distract herself from the silence. It was Halloween after all, and social media was flooded with photos of parties and trick or treaters.

A soft shuttling sound causes Lucy to stiffen up. ‘It’s just a mouse, it’s just a mouse, it’s just a—’

Measured thuds, boots over wooden floors in her direction! Wait! None of them were wearing boots! Lucy spins around with her flashlight gripped tightly in her hand. “W-Who’s there!” She gasps as the beam hits a human chest not three feet from her. “Natsu?! What are you doing here?!” But he was dressed differently. His hair was slicked down, wearing an old style black suit and shoulder cape like the dapper dons of the 1800s.

“Why, I live here, that’s why,” he grins wide, his pearly fangs catching the beam of her flashlight.

Was his fangs longer than she remembered? “What are you talking about?! We just came from your house.”

“Oh, that’s just one of my other homes. This,” he motions with his arms, “is where I lived centuries ago. You see I have to maintain a sense of normalcy to blend in.”

“Haha,” Lucy’s hands fall to her hips. “Very funny mister class clown. You’re just messing with me.”

He strides over without hesitation and grips her chin between two fingers, lifting it to meet her eyes. “Am I now?” His eyes grow hooded, amorous as his lips hover centimeters above her own. “It was I who started the rumors to peak humans curiosity. An easy way to lure victims for me to feed on.”

Lucy’s breathing slows and falters at the seriousness of his tone. This was nothing like the silly jokester they’d come to know and love! “Oh my god,” she breathes out. Her fear response screaming in her head but her body was frozen in place.

“There’s no god here tonight,” Natsu utters, then quick as a flash bites Lucy’s neck.

She screams with bloody intent as her heart pounds and pulse drowns out all sound, mind latching on the pain... that wasn’t there?! What the?!

Just as quickly as he’d bitten her, Natsu pulls away from the stunned woman, holding his stomach from laughter as she frantically checks her neck. “I so got you good!”

“What?!” Lucy screams and launches herself at him, pounding her fists against his chest. “You scared me on purpose?!”

He only laughs harder from her weaker strikes. “One of the guys overheard your plans and it was too tempting not to. I-I didn’t know which would end up the victim, but you came out first.”

“Omg so mean Natsu! You really scared me!”

When he focuses away from the amusement and realizes the true panic still left in the girls clouded eyes, Natsu felt a prick in his heart. Crap, maybe he’d gone a little too far this time. “Shit, I’m sorry Lucy, it was just a joke.”

She crossed her arms with a frown. “Well it wasn’t funny!”

At that point, more thuds coming streaming down the staircase. “What’s going on?!” They hear Erzas voice asking as the rest of the girls make it the first floor. “We heard a scream from the third floor and came rushing down.”

“Just a stupid joker,” Lucy points at Natsu. “He even fake bit me!”

“Wait, what?” Erza steps forward as Cana and Levy hold their breaths. “Natsu, you did what?!”

He pulls the fake vampire teeth out of his mouth and holds it up, “it was just, I was only teasing. Come on, it’s a Halloween prank.” When he sees Erzas eye brow raise, he holds up his hands. “Truce? I’m sorry!”

“Tch, you better be,” Lucy spits back. “Better make it up to me somehow.”

“I’ll do anything.”

“Take her out on a date!” Cana blurts out.

“Dinner and a movie!” Adds Levy.

Lucy squeaks in blushing embarrassment. “W-Wait! Hold up, that’s not what...”

“Pfft, I’ve been dying to do that since freshman year!” Natsu laughs and clasps his hands together in hope. “Whatdya say Lucy? I promise I won’t bite this time.”

With the other woman applying pressure through looks and hand gestures. Lucy groans and rolls her eyes. “Why do I feel like this was all a set up?!”

He pouts and gives her a puppy dog expression. “Is that a yes, or no?”

“Oh ya damn goof, I’ll go out with you, but yes! If you bite me this time I’ll return the favor!”

“Promise?”

#hauntober #nalu #vampire prompt #natsu dragneel #lucy heartfilia #nalu Au #nalu fan fic #nalu fanfiction #fairy tail

[xbaepsae]

can you blame me | part one

“You feel guilty for many reasons. You’re guilty for making your best friend question your loyalty. You’re guilty for not telling him about your new job. You’re guilty for every thought you’ve had about Taehyung because you know that it would kill Jeongguk if he knew.”

[american football player!taehyung x reader feat. best friend!jeongguk]

genre: slight rivals to lovers!au, high school football!au, angsty-ish

word count: 9.1k

rating: pg-13

a/n: i loved writing the first part of this fic so much! i also really love the whole football player x cheerleader trope (even though i am not athletic at all lol). already can’t wait for you guys to know what happens next. enjoy! xoxo

This feeling never gets old.

Maybe it’s the crowd, or the stadium lights—or even the brisk late summer air; all you know is, Friday night football is exhilarating. For as long as you can remember, you’ve breathed this sport. Your father had football playing on the television every weekend of your childhood; and when you picked up cheerleading in middle school, the sport became a part of you.

Of course, you still don’t understand every play the team makes, but you don’t need to. Your job is to cheer your players on—especially the one with the tousled, dark hair and bright eyes.

Jeon Jeongguk also picked up football around the same time you did cheer. Your father was ecstatic to know your best friend loved the sport equally as much. You can’t even recall the amount of times your father has pulled the boy aside to talk plays. After all, Jeongguk was the quarterback and team captain of the high school football team, and your father always wanted a breakdown of their plays.

Sometimes, you wonder who the real best friend is. But as you feel his eyes search for yours on the field, your position is secure.

You’ve known Jeongguk since diaper days. Since your mothers grew up best friends, it only seemed natural for the two of you to become close. Also, your birthdays aren’t far apart; so, there were many shared childhood celebrations.

Now that you’re thinking about it, you can’t imagine your life without the boy. Obviously, everyone thinks the two of you should date. It would be something organic since he’s the quarterback and you’re head cheerleader. Actually, it would be kind of perfect—like destiny. However, the thought of being in that kind of relationship with him repulses you. Thankfully, Jeongguk feels the same way.

You continue to feel his gaze penetrate your peripheral. Normally, you would look; but you’re searching for someone too.

On the other side of the field, your heart stutters for half a beat when you see him. Kim Taehyung is turned away from you, but you make out the number on his uniform—and all his glory. You wouldn’t say you like him; after all, you don’t really know Taehyung at all. However, despite this, you can’t deny your fascination with him. Plus, you’ve stalked his Instagram account enough to know he is so your type.

Unfortunately, your mild fantasy falls short when you feel a hand wrap around your arm.

“Earth to my best friend.”

You would know the grip anywhere. “Yes, Jeongguk?”

“You’ve been spacy all day. What’s wrong?” he asks, and you finally turn to face him. His helmet’s off, and sweat’s dripping down his forehead.

“Nothing,” you offer a smile. “Just excited for the rest of game, that’s all.” It was halftime.

He smiles. “Yeah, we’re going to crush the other team. We’re already ahead by a touchdown.”

Looking at Jeongguk, you search his eyes. It was one thing to dislike a team that rivaled your own, but you knew that your best friend’s hatred extended far beyond that. You don’t remember when or where it began, but he and Taehyung couldn’t stand one another. It was kind of funny, considering they both attended the same football summer camp for four summers.

If no one knew it before, it became obvious that they hated one another freshman year. It was Kim Taehyung’s school homecoming, so your team was playing on his turf. Maybe it was the advantage of playing at home, but they won. However, no one ever talks about the win. If anyone asks about that homecoming game, the only thing talked about is the fight between Taehyung and Jeongguk.

No one at your school talks about it though—at least, no one is supposed to. There is speculation as to who started the fight first, and what it was even about, but no one knows. The only people that know are the two who participated. It’s been three years, but Jeongguk still won’t tell you what actually happened.

Although the game was a bust, there was some good that happened. After all, it was the first time you had a good look at Kim Taehyung in person. Prior to that game, you had only heard about him from Jeongguk. And everything he said about Taehyung had been bullshit because when you saw him play, he was amazing.

Like Jeongguk, Taehyung is also the quarterback. In a way, you can understand their hatred. You don’t know what the root of it all is, but you know that it must suck for them to be constantly compared.

“If we win—which we will—party at Hoseok’s house,” Jeongguk continues, which brings you out of your mini daydream.

“Again?” you mock-roll your eyes.

He laughs, “What? His parents are fucking loaded, and they’re out of town again. It’s not like I make him host—he wants to.”

“I’m just teasing. I like Hoseok’s house anyway,” you say. “But the real question is, are you going to get wasted and crash there? Or get wasted and I drive you home?”

“I’ll just crash there,” he says with a shrug, “but thanks for the offer anyway. Why don’t you just sleep over too?”

You stare at him with a raised brow. “Uh, I can’t just sleep over with a bunch of guys?”

“I’m going to be there,” Jeongguk retorts like it’s so simple.

“Yeah, like that excuse is always going to work with my dad.”

“The man practically worships the ground I walk on,” he smiles, and you laugh because it’s basically the truth.

After a few moments, a sigh leaves your mouth. “Well, if you get recruited to play college football…yeah.”

Playing college football is the only thing Jeongguk worries about these days. You know that he’s more than good enough to get recruited, and everyone else knows this too. It’s just the matter of if he truly believes it as well.

As you watch your best friend mull over your words, you feel the sensation of being watched raise the hairs on the back of your neck. Without even thinking, you turn towards the other side of the field. Instantly, your gaze meets Taehyung’s.

By now, you are positive he knows who you are. You’ve never had a conversation with him, much less formally met him. Jeongguk would never allow that to happen. Yet, you feel a strange connection to him—like magnets are pulling you towards him. As if Jeongguk can sense this energy too, he follows your eyes.

You break from the gaze first and turn to your best friend. Within seconds, his eyes harden. “Kim won’t know what hit him.”

***

Unsurprisingly, your school wins and Jeongguk celebrates by parading you around the field on his shoulders.

This is actually a tradition the two of you have, which started sometime during sophomore year. By that point, the boy was finally a little taller than you and could lift you a little easier. Of course, now, he towers over you.

When he finally puts you down to grab a shower, the other girls on your team pull you over in their little huddle.

“Oh my god, you’re so lucky to have Jeon wrapped around your finger,” Sohee whines. “I would kill to have him treat me how he treats you.”

“Like a rag doll?” you laugh, bending down to collect your pom-poms off the grass.

Sohee rolls her eyes. “You know what I’m talking about.”

“Yeah,” Lou pipes up, “are you sure that the two of you don’t have a thing? I’ve never seen him treat any girl like that—and June dated him.”

“Thanks a lot, bitch,” June teases sarcastically.

You roll your eyes at all of them—they just don’t get it. “Please, the day I start to fall for Jeongguk will be the day hell freezes over. You girls just don’t know; I’ve known him since we were babies. He’s like the brother I never had.”

For a second, the urge to admit that someone else occupies your thoughts sits on the tip of your tongue. But you refrain from saying anything because as much as you love your team, all of these girls have big mouths. If they knew you were interested in the enemy, it would be the scandal of the year. And you’re trying to stay away from drama at all costs.

“Anyway,” you change the subject, “are you all headed to Hoseok’s?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!” the all say in unison.

Ten minutes later, changed and makeup freshened up, you make your way towards your car. As you pull out of the parking lot, with all of you cheer girls following behind you, you notice that a few other cars linger in the lot; cars you aren’t familiar with. As you drive by the cars, you slow down and realize that it’s Kim Taehyung and a few of his teammates. But they’re not alone; a few girls surround them as well.

Never have you been more thankful for tinted windows, because you hit the gas the second his posse turn toward you and make your way off school property. As you near Hoseok’s house, you wonder why Taehyung and his friends were still lingering at your school. If anything, you thought they left the second the game ended. But all thoughts of him fade when you pull into a massive driveway.

Even though you’ve been at this house more times than you can remember, it still leaves you shocked that someone you know lives here. Jeongguk wasn’t exaggerating when he said Hoseok’s parents were loaded. They are business tycoons or something, and never take a day off—that’s why they are never home.

After parking your car, you link arms with Sohee and walk inside the party.

“Let’s party motherfucker’s because we fucking won!” Hoseok shouts the second you make your way through his front door. In one hand, he holds a red cup; in the other, a half empty bottle of Don Julio. And without needing to be told twice, everyone cheers. When he notices that it’s you who walked through the door, he holds the red cup out. “Cheers, pom-pom queen!”

Even though you don’t care too much for tequila, you oblige. You can still operate under one shot anyway. Hoseok pours a bit of Don Julio into the cup and you nod, “Cheers.”

After downing the smooth liquor, Sohee and the rest of the girls follow suit. As they take their respective shots, you make your way deeper into the crowd of people. In just a few minutes, you find Jeongguk drinking a beer with Park Jimin.

“Good job tonight, Park,” you say when you’re within hearing distance.

Jimin turns at the sound of your voice, a slow—albeit smug—smile stretching across his face. “Thanks—couldn’t have made all those touchdowns without good ‘ole Jeongguk here though.”

“Nah,” Jeongguk shakes his head, “it was definitely a team effort.”

You watch at they both begin to faux banter about who carries the team, and all you can do is roll your eyes. Boys. You leave them to continue their battle of masculinity and walk through the rest of the house. You’re not surprised that majority of the school is here—everyone loves a good post-game party.

Walking into the backyard, people turn away from their conversations to say a brief hey or what’s up—that’s a perk of the title of head cheerleader you carry. Though, you don’t really care for the attention at all. If anything, you would cheer regardless whether or not popularity came attached with it.

Being a cheerleader isn’t as glamorous as the movies make it out to be. The sport makes you automatically more prone to injuries, and practices are often so intense you don’t have time for anything else. But, you wouldn’t trade the experience for the world.

Someone calls your name; and when you match the voice to the face, you smile instantly. Standing off to the side, with a red solo cup in his hand, Min Yoongi looks like he’d rather be anywhere else but here. And you think it’s absolutely hilarious. “Having fun?”

He huffs before rolling his eyes. “At least there’s free booze.”

“Oh, come on, don’t act like you don’t secretly love these parties.”

“Mmm,” Yoongi takes a sip of whatever is in his cup, “sure.”

If Jeongguk is your longest friend, Yoongi is your second longest friend. You met the boy back in elementary school. Even back then, he was a little punk. He sat behind you in class and threw disgusting spit balls into your hair. When you had finally had enough of his little act, you threw an equally disgusting—though much larger—spit ball right back at him.

You both ended up in detention, your first and only offense in school, and you forced him to become your friend. Well, more like you threatened to make his life a living hell if he didn’t stop annoying you. Somehow, it worked because Yoongi is still in your life. And he hasn’t complained, so that has to mean something. Right?

“At least tell me you were at the game,” you say.

“Wouldn’t miss you and Jeongguk prancing around the field for the world.”

Did you mention that you forced him to be friends with Jeongguk too? The two of them aren’t as close as you are with either of them, but they are amicable and respect one another.

“Even though the other team lost, they were pretty damn good—especially the quarterback,” Yoongi continues and your heart jumps a little at the mention of Taehyung.

“I thought you don’t speak football,” you tease to hide your sudden spiked heartrate.

He shoots you a look, “But I do speak talent.”

You can’t deny that. Yoongi did have a penchant for reading people in that way. There was one time he discovered some random SoundCloud rapper, AugstD, and messaged him saying that his music was great. Not even a week later, the rapper blew up. Maybe it was simply a coincidence, but Yoongi likes to give himself credit for that.

“Well, okay, mister I speak talent—what was so impressive about Kim?” you ask; however, before Yoongi can answer, there is suddenly commotion all around you. Everyone begins running inside like a herd of gazelles being chased by a lion.

“Hmm, wonder what’s got everyone going crazy,” Yoongi sips his drink.

The same thought crosses your mind and you’re about to let it slide, but Lou comes running out the door. She has the strangest expression on her face, and you run to meet her halfway. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh my god, you’ll never believe who just crashed the party,” she says, completely breathless. When you don’t seem to give her the right reaction, she rolls her eyes, “Fuck—it’s Kim Taehyung.”

Your traitorous heart is immediately thrilled with the idea of being in close proximity to Taehyung. And behind you, you feel Yoongi coming closer, “What are they doing here?”

Lou shrugs, “Beats me. But you need to come inside—now!”

That’s when it clicks in your head—why everyone rushed inside, why Lou seems so panicked. For a moment, you let your thoughts drift to only Taehyung that you completely forgot the most important thing.

“Oh no, Jeongguk.”

“Exactly,” Lou sighs before pulling you into the house.

Walking through a packed crowd is surprisingly easier than you thought it would be. Then again, Lou is a force to be reckoned with. And when everyone notices who is trying to push through, and they see you, they give you space. For once, you’re thankful for that.

As you get closer to the front of Hoseok’s house, you can feel tension piercing the air. Everyone is so quiet, and you hear Jeongguk before you see him. The tone of his voice sends chills down your spine; you realize that you’ve never heard him like this before. Gone is the bubbly boy you call your best friend—this is a man out for blood.

Lou leads you straight to the front door where everyone has formed a large circle around Jeongguk and Taehyung. But before you approach them, you look at who else decided to crash the party.

Standing on either side of Taehyung is none other than Kim Seokjin and Kim Namjoon. They were called the Infamous Kim’s for a reason—Taehyung and his friends had a reputation. And you saw them on the field earlier; they played hard, and you knew they could fight even harder. You just hope it doesn’t come to that.

Where Seokjin and Namjoon flank their quarterback, you notice that Jimin and Hoseok have done the same to Jeongguk. This looks like a scene straight out of a movie.

“Why are you here, Kim?” Jeongguk asks, arms crossed over his chest. “Came to lose again?”

The crowd gets a rush out of that, but Taehyung doesn’t look phased. Actually, he looks more amused than anything. “Maybe we let you guys win—haven’t you ever played chess before? You might’ve knocked a pawn over—or even the knight—but my King’s still intact.”

No one reacts to that statement, but you can tell that your best friends is heated from the way his shoulders are squared. Before Jeongguk can do anything reckless, you walk behind him and touch his arm.

He tenses for a moment before relaxing and turning to face you. “Hey.”

You offer him a quick smile, and then muster up the courage to look straight ahead. First, you meet Namjoon’s hard gaze and then Seokjin’s. Finally, you look at Taehyung and his dark eyes have you drowning. He is so close, yet so far; under his scrutiny, you feel like he can see all of your deepest darkest secrets.

“Didn’t know Jeon needed a girl to fix his problems,” Taehyung smirks.

Why did you have to be so attracted to him? He was such an asshole. “Girl has a name, thank you very much.” Someone yells you just got burned, dude and you try not to crack a smile. “And I think you need to leave.”

“Want me to leave that bad?” He doesn’t look away from you; in fact, he has the audacity to give your body a once over. Unfortunately, Taehyung has a damn good poker face; so, you don’t know what he’s thinking.

“Yes, please—with a cherry on top,” your words are laced with sarcasm and he’s smart enough to catch it.

Finally, he looks away and a slow smirk stretches across his face—tongue sticking out of his mouth and everything. “Don’t stress, we didn’t plan on hanging long anyway.”

“You shouldn’t have come in the first place,” Hoseok pipes up, and you remember that it’s his house after all. “You know, I could have you arrested for trespassing.”

“Under what legal pretense?” Namjoon laughs. “Do you own his house? Oh wait—no, your rich daddy does. And actually, if we’re talking about legality here, we could have you all arrested for underage drinking.”

That comment sends everyone into a frenzy. You know Namjoon isn’t stupid enough to call the cops because they wouldn’t risk themselves getting into any mess; also, you know that they wouldn’t dare jeopardize their potential to play college football. All of these guys wanted a taste of the big leagues.

“Just get the fuck out of here,” Jeongguk says through his teeth. “I don’t have time to deal with your shit.”

“See you on the field, Jeon.” With that last statement, Taehyung, Seokjin, and Namjoon leave—slamming the front door behind them. You release a breath you didn’t even know you were holding as Hoseok announces that the party is over.

Some people whine that the night just begun, but you know that everyone on the football team is tense from what just happened. Even you don’t think that you can enjoy the night after dealing with Taehyung, and you kind of like him for some reason. So, you can’t even begin to imagine how Jeongguk is feeling.

As soon as everyone files out—including all of the girls on your cheer squad and Yoongi—the only people remaining are you and the football team. You don’t even know why you’re still here, but one look from your best friend forces you from leaving. It wasn’t your place to meddle in football rivalry, but you supposed that you were kind of caught between two sides. Though, no one but you knows this.

“Well, that fucking sucked,” Jimin is the first to say anything in the tense atmosphere, and a few of the others nod in agreement.

“Understatement of the century,” Hoseok rolls his eyes and then turns to you. “But who knew you had balls to talk to Kim Taehyung like that.”

You shrug, “How else was I supposed to react? I mean, he had no right to be here in the first place.”

“Remind us to never get on your bad side.”

“You guys have nothing to worry about.”

Silence follows your words, and you realize that everyone is waiting for Jeongguk to say something. All eyes are turned towards their captain. For a moment, you are reminded of how your best friend commands the room—the power he exudes.

“We aren’t playing them for the rest of the season, so I’m not worried about Kim Taehyung and his rat pack,” he finally says, and everyone visibly relaxes.

Until Jimin pipes up with, “Unless they make it to playoffs too.”

A dark shadow is casted on the team again and the look Jeongguk gives him would make anyone wish to dig their own grave. Jimin quickly apologizes and things appear to go back to normal. Well, as normal as things can get right now.

The guys continue talking and everyone agrees that they’ll resume the party tomorrow—somewhere else. They don’t want to risk another run in with Taehyung and his teammates. After everyone helps Hoseok clean his house up a bit, they begin to leave too. Jimin ends up deciding to crash here, and you suspect that Jeongguk will too. However, he surprises you.

“Can you give me a ride home?”

“Sure.”

As you drive the short few minutes to his house, he’s awfully quiet. It’s a type of quiet that has you worried, so you ask him what’s on his mind.

“The next time I see him, I’m going to punch him.”

You’re startled by the venom in his words. “Why?”

“Did you not see the way he looked at you?” Jeongguk sounds disgusted. “A fucking prick.”

Was it wrong that you felt strangely giddy at the thought that Taehyung looked at you? You know that Jeongguk hates him, but your potential feelings for the other quarterback are definitely making this rivalry difficult. Why did you have to crush on the enemy?

“I doubt you’ll be seeing him anytime soon,” you say to appease him, but the comment makes you kind of sad. “Their school is in a different town.”

“Still,” he sighs. “I really hate him.”

You wish he didn’t.

***

The next week at school, everyone pretends that the party at Hoseok’s didn’t happen.

No one dared to bring up the mess that night turned out to be. Everyone pretended that the party hosted the day after, at another player’s house, was the actual winning celebration. And like everyone, you did the same. Or you tried too.

Every now and then, you thought of Kim Taehyung and his imposing presence. You were still angry at yourself for the interest in him. If Jeongguk found out, you’d be so dead. But it wasn’t like anyone knew anyway, and you were going to keep it that way. You would take it to the grave if you have to. Besides, it wasn’t anything more than fascination.

As football season continued, cheer practices weren’t getting any easier. But they were becoming lessened since your team recycled a lot of old routines. Besides, as much as you love cheerleading, but it isn’t your endgame. Cheering on the team is great, but—if you’re being honest—you’ve stuck with the sport for Jeongguk’s sake.

And your dad got free tickets to all the games, which you guess is a perk.

However, even as demanding as cheer practice is, you were already one month deep into the school year. And this mean that you were one month closer to college; because of that, your mom approached you with a suggestion.

“Honey, you know your father and I love you and want to support you in any way we can,” she begins, “but if you want to go to that hotshot university on the other side of the country, you’ll probably want to start looking for a part-time job.”

You understand where your mom is coming from—college really was super expensive. And you did want to get into your first pick school. So, it only made sense to start making some money. You were lucky enough to be an only child, but your parents couldn’t support you forever. The reality was you would probably need a job in college too. Why not start now?

So, to take your mind off school rivalry and a super-hot—but arrogant—boy, you start looking for a part-time job. Realistically speaking, you could only work at most three nights a week. You still had cheer practice every other day and football on Friday nights. Not to mention homework and finishing college apps. It would be a rough next few months, but you knew it’d be worth it.

The only place that ended calling you back was a little diner at the edge of town. And during your interview, you’re sweating bullets from nerves.

“Have you ever waitressed or done anything in the service industry?”

There was no doubt the bald-headed man in front of you was terrifying. He introduced himself as A—you weren’t sure if that was actually his real name or if he was just messing with you. “No, sir, I haven’t.”

“Have you ever had a job?” he asks, raking through your empty resumé.

You shake your head, “No, sir…I’m still in high school and I…and I cheer for my school.”

“Cheer,” A sounds rather unimpressed. “Your schools and your devotion to football. You know what, girly?”

“What?”

“This diner here is on the edge in-between two towns—I don’t want that damn football rivalry to cause trouble up in here, do you hear me?”

You don’t know what to say. All you can do is nod and offer a smile. “Of course.”

The man mumbles something unintelligible before raising his eyes to yours, “How many days a week can you work?”

“Three, maybe four—mostly weekends.”

He tells you that works, something about only needing a part-timer anyway. You’re completely fine with that. You still needed to balance school and your social life. Would you even have one after this? Hopefully you wouldn’t have to work too many Saturdays.

“When can you start?” he asks.

“Tomorrow?” you offer. Tomorrow would be a Tuesday—you didn’t have practice.

“You best be here by five o’clock on the dot,” he says, beginning to get up from his seat. Did you just get the job? “I don’t tolerate tardiness.”

You begin to get up as well, “Of course, sir—”

“Also, stop calling me sir—makes me feel damn old. Just call me A.”

“Okay…A,” you say rather awkwardly. “I’ll be here at five on the dot.”

Before you head home, A directs you to the manager, Minji, and she runs you through the basics—like what you have to wear and bring, etcetera.

“We’ll go through basic training once you get here at five tomorrow but remember to dress comfortable…and wear things you don’t mind ruining. You’ll be getting dirtier here than you’d like—trust me,” she says, and you must make a face because she laughs. “Don’t sweat it, dear; the tips will make up for it.”

When you get home, you let your parents know you got the job and your mom celebrates by making your favorite dessert. During dinner, they ask you about the interviewing process and the staff. You don’t exactly lie, but you omit the stuff about A—you don’t want your parents to be worried about who was running the diner.

“Your mother and I will have to come see you in action soon,” your father says, and you awkwardly laugh.

“Please—if you’re just going to come and embarrass me, I’d rather not.”

“We would never embarrass you, sweetie,” your mother says, and by the blinking of her eyes you know she’s lying. “Anyway, have you told Jeongguk about the job yet?”

Honestly, you haven’t even him that you were looking for anything. So, no, you definitely haven’t told him about your new job. “Not yet, he’s busy with football so…I haven’t had the chance.”

Utter bullshit. He literally texted you before dinner asking if you wanted to catch a movie tomorrow night—you had to decline. Making up some excuse about having a paper due. You don’t know why you’re scared to tell him about the diner job. Maybe it’s because you know he’s going to want to swing by; and with A’s words swimming in your head, you don’t want to risk anything.

“But I’ll let him know,” you continue.

“Yeah, that boy and football…that final play on Friday was crazy—” your dad begins his daily rant about football, and you tune him out.

For once, you don’t want to think about that.

***

“You should’ve come to the movie last night.”

Jeongguk blocks your way in the hall, so you have no choice but to give him attention. “Was it good?”

“Surprisingly,” he starts, “it was—though, Hoseok was screaming within the first five minutes.”

“I would’ve come just to see that,” you laugh.

“How was your paper? You never texted me back last night.”

Oh, that. You make up a lie about staying up most of the night. “That’s why I didn’t have time to text you back.”

In reality, you were at the diner until 11 o’clock. You were supposed to get off at nine, but Minji and the other staff needed help closing since someone called out. Besides the exhausting night, you really liked working at the diner. The other workers were nice enough, and the best part was that no one asked you about football or any of that stuff. No one had any preconceived notions about you or the crowd you associated with.

“That sucks. What class was the paper for again?”

“History,” the lie slips easily through your lips.

Jeongguk seems to think about that for a moment. “Really? Because I know you have that class with Jimin and he didn’t mention anything about a paper being due today—I mean, if he did, wouldn’t he have been pulling an all-nighter last night too?”

Shit. You forgot you had that class with Jimin. He sits in the back, so it slipped your mind. “Did I say History? I meant Psychology.”

“I know you lied.”

Your best friend was many things, but he wasn’t stupid. As other students scramble to get to class before the bell rings, you feel frozen on the spot. Jeongguk hits you with a look that fills you with guilt. But before you can offer an explanation, the warning bell rings—meaning, you have a minute to get to class before you get points taken off.

“I’ll explain—meet me after practice later?” you ask him.

“Coach has us doing an extended practice since it’s mid-week. You can come to the field after you get done with cheer,” he offers, and you agree before running off to class.

You slip into History just as the bell rings. With a relieved sigh, you walk to your seat—but not before you catch Jimin’s eyes and send him a scathing look. He visibly shrinks and mouths an I’m sorry as you sit down.

As class goes on, you barely pay attention to what your teacher is talking about. Instead, you think about how you shouldn’t be mad at Jimin. After all, how was he supposed to know you lied to Jeongguk? You two weren’t that close—not close enough for him to cover for you in that way. First and foremost, his loyalty was to Jeongguk.

Your loyalty should be to him as well.

The second class ends, you catch up to Jimin and apologize. “I forgot that we had this class together when I talked to Jeongguk last night.”

“You should just be honest with him, you know? Whatever it is, Jeongguk doesn’t care.”

“I know,” you say. “Sorry for putting you in an awkward position.”

Later, when you walk into Psychology, you settle into your seat beside Yoongi and bang your head against the desk. After a moment, you lift your head up and he sends you a weird look. “Are you good…?”

“No,” you’re honest with him. You never could lie to Yoongi. “I’m in hot water with Jeongguk.”

“What happened?”

You face him, “I got a job.”

Yoongi lifts a brow, clearly surprised by your words. “Really? I didn’t peg you as someone to get a part-time—especially since you are kind of busy.”

“Same,” you reply. “But my parents want me to start making money for college.”

He hums, “Let me guess, you didn’t tell Jeongguk?”

“In my defense, my first day was literally yesterday.”

“But why did you tell me and not him? Not that we aren’t close, but still—he’s your best friend, right?”

“Because I hate letting Jeongguk down,” you admit. “That mixed with the diner I work at; I feel like it would be a mess.”

Yoongi frowns, “Don’t tell me you work at the diner on the edge of town.”

For the first time in his conversation, you narrow your eyes at him. “And what about it?”

“You do realize that since it’s located where it’s at, both towns come and go as they please.”

“Yeah,” you nod, “the owner—A—mentioned not to get football involved there, which is a part of why I haven’t told Jeongguk anything.”

“I get that, and it makes sense—especially with how volatile the dude can be,” Yoongi says just as your teacher walks into the classroom.

However, you frown at his words. “What do you mean by that?”

“What I mean is,” he spares you a glance as the bell rings, “if Jeon Jeongguk rules this town, the other side of that diner you work at—the other town—is ruled by Kim Taehyung.”

***

To say that practice is rough would be an understatement.

“Where’s your head?”

You turn to Sohee, “Sorry—it’s been an off day.”

“Clearly,” Lou butts in, “and coach is making us pay for it—so stop being distracted so we can leave already.”

“Yeah, I’m already late for my appointment,” June complains as the whole squad gets back into formation.

Sohee smirks, “Your dick appointment?”

“With who?” that snaps you back to reality.

“No one.”

You furrow your brows, “If it’s someone on the football team, don’t bother. Apparently, they have an extended practice today.”

“It will be an extended practice for you girls too if you all don’t stop yapping it up!” your coach practically screeches, and you immediately plaster your fakest smile.

As coach blows her whistle, you tumble into a cartwheel and land perfectly onto your feet. But that isn’t enough to appease her, and she makes you all perform the routine from the top. Luckily, the routine is short; and everyone does their part flawlessly, thank god, so practice officially ends.

The entire squad rushes into the locker room and fights for a shower. Rather than insisting on a shower first, you reach for your phone. At the top of your notifications is a text from Jeongguk.

4:05 PM | Jeongguk: still in practice

You don’t bother responding since you know that he probably doesn’t have his phone on him. Besides, the message was sent forty minutes ago; if anything changed, he would’ve messaged you again. When a shower opens, you sink your body underneath the hot water. You let the water wash away all the pent-up stress you’ve been holding—half of which you didn’t even realize you had.

Once you’re clean, you grab all of your things and make your way towards the football field. Lou catches you on her way out and asks you where you’re going.

“Jeongguk,” you reply. “I have to talk to him about something.”

She wiggles her eyebrows, “Okay.”

You ignore her suggestive expression. “Yeah. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Don’t have too much fun.”

“I doubt watching a bunch of dudes tackle each other will be.”

Lou narrows her eyes playfully, “Oh, come on. There’s nothing hotter than a sweaty football player.” Immediately, your mind flashes to one player in particular. Lou catches the quick shift in your face and laughs. “See.”

“Ha-ha,” you collect yourself. “Get out of here.”

She bids you adieu, and you go out into the sun. For early autumn, it was still pretty warm. You like the warmth, but you also can’t wait for those chilly autumn nights—Friday night football in sweater weather is the best.

As you near the field, you hear the team before you can see them. From afar, they sound like a herd of animals being groomed by a whistle. In a twisted way, you suppose that’s actually the case. Their coach must really be on them today because the whistle keeps going off. You can already picture their exhausted faces in your head—especially Jeongguk’s.

And you’re right.

Walking right into the stadium, you take a seat on one of the lowest bleachers and watch as their coach grills them. Dead center in the middle of the group is your best friend; and not surprisingly, he looks annoyed. However, the second he realizes you’re here, some of the negative energy seems to lift off him.

In fact, he looks like he’s about to walk towards you. The second he takes a step towards the bleachers, you hold up a hand for him to stop. You mouth stay, and thankfully he doesn’t try to come any closer.

A few minutes turns into thirty and thirty turns into an hour. By this point, you’re half asleep and ready to go home. Even though you’re tired, the team is still going hard at drills and throwing balls around. The sun has also started setting, casting the field in gorgeous golden hour. But despite the picturesque scenery, you really have to pee.

Realizing that your bladder comes before your comfort, you get off and catch Jeongguk staring at you. You point to the field bathrooms, near the parking lot, and he seems to get the idea. After you empty your bladder, you’re ready to give their football coach a piece of your mind. You’re tired, hungry, and you bet everyone else on the field is feeling the same way.

You’re close to the field, only behind the bleachers, when a figure comes out from the shadows. Jumping back, you’re about to scream when you realize who it is. “Kim Taehyung?”

He stands about ten feet away from you, hands shoved into his pockets. Dressed in dark jeans and a simple t-shirt, he looks too good to be true. “And you’re Jeon’s girl.”

“Again, I have a name,” you roll your eyes. “Also, what the hell are you doing here?”

“What? I can’t size up the enemy?” Taehyung runs a hand through his hair—which was still damp—and you can’t help but wonder if he just got out of practice too.

“You do know that practices are confidential, right?”

He takes a step closer to you, “If that’s the case, then why are you watching?”

“Because I go to school here,” you say and take a step back. He was beginning to make you dizzy. “And you don’t. So, you should leave before someone catches you.”

When he doesn’t say anything back, you reiterate that he should go. But Taehyung only stands there, staring at you. There’s no doubt your heart rate is escalating; but instead of focusing on that, you ask him what’s his issue is.

“Nothing,” he replies.

“Okay,” you frown, “I think I just heard their coach say practice is over, so you really should go.”

In the distance, a whistle blows three times, so you know you were right. Taehyung briefly turns towards the field before looking back at you. “I don’t want to get Jeon worked up anyway.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

You don’t get a reply because he turns around and walks away. Without even saying goodbye. What the hell? Why are you even thinking that? Shaking your head of all thoughts about Taehyung, you make your way around the bleachers and come face-to-face with Jeongguk.

His presence makes you jump. “Shit. You scared me.”

“Sorry,” he steadies you, “didn’t mean to.”

“Are you guys done? Your coach sure seemed like he was grueling you guys,” you say.

“Tell me about it,” he groans. “He really made us bust our asses out there.”

You crack a smile at his agony, “Well, if it helps, I had an awful practice too.”

The two of you laugh for a moment before reality sets back in. You grow quiet under Jeongguk’s scrutiny. A deep sigh leaves his lips before he asks, “What’s really going on with you?”

Well, you see, I am kind of interested in Kim Taehyung—yes, the guy you hate. And he was actually here, like not even five minutes ago. Do I know that he’s an asshole? Yes. Do I know the history you two have? Yes. Do I still want to be around him for some reason? Yes. “Umm…I kind of got a job.”

That truth is easier to admit.

Jeongguk’s eyebrows raise, “How do you kind of get a job?”

You bit the inside of your cheek. “Okay, fine, I do have a job.”

“Really?”

“Yeah…”

“So, were you going to tell me?” he asks.

You nod, “Eventually.”

“Why do you have a job?”

“Why is it so hard for everyone to believe?”

“So, you’ve told other people before me.”

You’re exasperated. “Only my parents and Yoongi.”

“Why did you tell Yoongi before me?” Jeongguk’s more upset than you thought he would be. Why is he so upset?

“Jeongguk, I literally just started working yesterday—yesterday! Why are you so angry?”

“Because I thought I was your best friend and we’re supposed to tell each other everything,” he says, and guilt begins to eat you up inside.

You feel guilty for many reasons. You’re guilty for making your best friend question your loyalty. You’re guilty for not telling him about your new job. You’re guilty for every thought you’ve had about Taehyung because you know that it would kill Jeongguk if he knew.

“You are,” you reaffirm him. “I only told Yoongi about the job because I told him I lied to you. And I only lied to you because I didn’t want you to worry about me—because you always worry.”

“What? I can’t worry about you now?”

“I mean, you can; but we aren’t twelve anymore, Jeongguk. I can hold my own.”

He sighs, “I know that. Look, I’m sorry for making you think that you couldn’t tell me, okay?”

“I’m sorry too.”

Jeongguk opens his arms wide for a hug, and even though he’s sweaty—and definitely stinky—you fall into his embrace anyway. For a brief second, you can understand why girls like him so much. His hugs are really great, but it truly feels like you’re hugging your brother more than anything. “Where are you working?”

You pull away from him, “At the diner on the edge of town.”

“Okay,” he says like he still doesn’t believe you have a job. “Why are you working?”

“Because of my mom. Her and dad are helping me with college, at least a little, but she wants me to start earning so I can pay for most of it myself.”

“Wow—your parents sure aren’t letting you get off easy, huh?” he laughs. “Maybe I should start working too.”

You bust out laughing, “Yeah, especially since your parents already put your older brother through college already.”

“I think they’re betting on this football thing to work out.”

Immediately, you sober up and take in the sudden shift of emotion. “You’ve been having recruiters come out to watch you since last season.”

“Still,” he sighs.

“You’re damn good,” you tell him with the hopes that he really understands. “You’ll play in college, so stop worrying so much.”

You don’t know if your words appease him, but your best friend manages to smile—that has to mean something, right? After a moment of silence, he lets you know that he should probably go back to the locker room already. “The team is probably wondering where the hell I went.”

“True.”

“Thanks for telling me the truth,” Jeongguk says, holding out his right hand. You roll your eyes before extending your own. The two of you do your “secret” handshake—the handshake you both created in middle school.

Doing the handshake results in another eye roll, but you also can’t help the endearing smile that graces your lips. “Why do you always insist on doing this stupid handshake?”

“Because this stupid handshake is epic and a symbol of our everlasting friendship.”

“Ha, okay,” you chuckle. “Whatever you say, Jeongguk.”

***

“Rumor is you’re a cheerleader at your school.”

Looking up from your notepad, you stick your pencil behind your ear before turning towards the voice. “Yeah, so?”

Behind you stands another waitress—her name is Cara—and you know that she goes to the same school as Taehyung. You only know this because every shift you’ve worked with her, all she does is talk about how hot he and the rest of the players on the team are. You totally agree with her observation, but it still irks you that she seems to know him better than you do.

“So, you must know Jeon Jeongguk well, yeah?” she asks. Oh, that’s what this is all about?

To you, it’s obvious she has no idea how close you actually are to Jeongguk. This was a good thing; if she knew you were his best friend, it would be over for you. “I mean, I guess…yeah. At school, everyone knows him.”

“What is he like?”

Oh god. “I don’t know…he plays football? Every Friday night? I don’t know what you want me to tell you.”

“Like, how is he at school? I’ve heard all the rumors about him, and I just want to compare him to Kim Taehyung,” she bats her eyelashes.

“Umm, you do know that they have this intense rivalry, right?”

Cara laughs, “Duh—that is all anyone ever talks about at school.”

You look around for an excuse to get out of this awkward conversation. Looking over her shoulder, you see her tables. “You know what? How about we talk later…I think they need you over there.”

The second Cara turns around, you make a run for it. You walk behind the counter and send a distress signal to Minji. She gives you a funny look and just laughs. “You’ll get used to Cara.”

“I’m not sure about that,” you say as the diner door chimes. Minji greets them before you can say anything, and lets you know that the person sat down in your section. “I’ll be back.”

Walking over to your section of the diner, you approach the stranger who just sat down in a booth. They’re seated back facing you, so you have a split second to prepare yourself. In your head, you settle for the basic hello-how-can-I-help-you introduction and pray that you don’t make a fool of yourself. Once you reach the booth, you pull the pencil from behind your ear and get your notepad ready.

“Hello, how can I help you?” you ask on cue, flipping your notepad to a clean page.

“You know, it’s not very polite to not look at the customer while you talk to them.”

“Excuse me?” you ask as you look up and meet the person’s gaze. You blink a few times to make sure he’s really in front of you right now.

He smirks, “Hey, Jeon’s girl.”

“Kim Taehyung,” saying his name out loud sends chills down your spine. “And for the thousandth time, I have a name.”

“You know what I realized?” he asks but doesn’t give you a chance to respond. “This is the third time we’ve met, but you haven’t told me your name yet. Some would say that’s a little rude.”

For a second, you don’t even know what to say to him. If you weren’t stupid, you would think that he was flirting with you. Or was he actually flirting with you and you’re just too stupid to realize? Before you can say something you’ll regret, you tell him your name. “Also, how can I help you?”

“How long have you been working here?” he asks, and then slowly adds your name as if it was an afterthought.

“Like a week,” you tell him. “So, not long at all.”

“Interesting. I frequent this place—only when I don’t have practice, of course. I assume you only work nights you don’t have practice as well, right?”

Are you really having another conversation with Kim Taehyung right now? “Yep.”

He picks up your short, clipped answer and frowns, “What? Not happy to see me?”

For some reason, you intrigue me; so obviously, I’m ecstatic. “It’s just a little weird, you know. We just met and I’ve seen you on three separate occasions in the same month—anyone would be weirded by that.”

“Because you’re Jeon’s girl?” Why does he keep referring to you as that?

“What’s with you and calling me that?” you ask, tilting your head to the side and leaning your weight on one side of your body.

Taehyung mimics your movement, a smirk stretching across his lips. “You’re dating him, aren’t you?”

It takes a moment for his words to set in; but when they do, you’re overcome with laughter. The throw-your-head-back-hit-yourself kind of laughter. You laugh so hard you almost fall over from the sheer force of overwhelming humor. Through the tears in your eyes, you see him look at you like you’ve lost your mind. Thank goodness there aren’t too many customers inside the diner at this hour.

“Are you okay?”

Once you finally compose yourself, you take a deep breath and flatten your lips. “Just peachy.”

“You going to tell me why you reacted like that?” he asks.

“Why do you think Jeongguk and I are together?” you ask, crossing your arms. “Why does everyone seem to think that?”

Taehyung narrows his eyes, “You mean you two aren’t together?”

“Jeongguk is my best friend—not my boyfriend. I’ve known him since we were babies. He’s like a brother to me.” You don’t know why you’re over-explaining, but the words just seem to flow out of your mouth. “We don’t like each other like that.”

“Are you sure about that?”

It was your turn to narrow your eyes, “What are you insinuating, Kim Taehyung?”

“I think one would have to be blind not to see the way Jeon is protective over you,” his lips stretch into an almost smile, though you notice it doesn’t reach his eyes. They remain aloof as ever. Why was it so hard to read him?

“I think you’re reading into things,” you retort. “Jeongguk only feels that way because he has this older brother complex—though I’m the older one in our duo.”

Turning your attention away from his unreadable face, you look back at the notepad in your hand and repeat your earlier question. Taehyung replies simply that he’d like a strawberry shake, which surprises you a little. The second you jot down his order, you quickly excuse yourself and practically run back to the counter.

Once you’re behind the safety of the counter, you expel the breath you’ve been holding and sink to the floor. He thought Jeongguk was my boyfriend. The thought swirls through your brain and makes you dizzy. It was both equally hilarious and strange that Taehyung had this notion. But what thrilled you even more was that he knew you were single.

“Why are you on the floor?”

You look up and meet Minji’s concerned gaze. “Huh? Oh—I’m just…” you panic. “…just admiring the…floor.”

“Uh huh…sure,” she says, “so it’s not because of that cute boy over there.”

“What cute boy?” You play dumb, but Minji only raises a brow. “I have no idea what you’re talking about…also, he ordered a strawberry shake.”

“Are you going to make it?”

It was your turn to raise a brow, “Uh…I’m merely a waitress at this establishment, Minji.”

“Come, I’ll teach you,” she practically drags you off the floor. “So, on slow nights like these, you can make them yourself.”

Minji does as she says and teaches you to make the most delicious looking shake you’ve ever seen. It even has the whip cream and cherry on top; it’s perfect. It’s also huge—and you wonder for a moment who in the world could even finish a monstrosity like this.

When you finally bring it over to Taehyung, a brief moment of—what appears to be—joy flashes across his face. The expression takes you aback; it’s weird to see him so unrestricted like that. But as quickly at the emotion comes, it leaves after you blink. And the Taehyung you’ve encountered these last few weeks returns. “What took you so long?”

“Oh, please—I was barely gone five minutes,” you huff, setting the milkshake on the table.

“Five minutes too long.”

You suppress the need to roll your eyes. “Whatever. Enjoy your milkshake.”

For the rest of the night, you don’t speak another word to Kim Taehyung—not even as you watch him finish his milkshake or when you bring him his check, and especially not when he brushes against you to leave the diner. What a werido, you can’t help but think. You have no idea what his problem is, but you just hope that he’ll leave you alone.

However, that little nagging voice in the back of your mind likes to remind you of one issue to that sentiment: you kind of like him, still.

Curse your heart for feelings things.

#armiesnet #btsbookclub #bangtan bookclub #taehyung fic #v fic #bts fic #bangtan fic #kpop fic #taehyung #kim taehyung #can you blame me #angst #xbaepsae

[slippinmickeys]

I got a prompt not long ago from @monikafilefan here on Tumblr. It was: "how about Mulder and Scully accidentally end up as roommates when their old ones back out? An instant friendship blooms into something so much more. I can just feel the palpable sexual tension already" From there, it... got legs.

I’ll be posting one chapter a day for six days. Don your blue sunglasses and enjoy some trope.

Dana Scully was running late. Flustered and out of breath from running the few blocks from the Metro stop, she pushed through the doors of the coffee shop, startling a young mom who was pushing a stroller out the door.

“Sorry,” she said, apologizing, and then held the door open while the woman slowly navigated the stroller through the narrow doorway. When she was out, Dana finally stepped in and scanned the store, looking for familiar auburn curls.

Her sister Melissa held up a hand and stood as Dana approached.

“Missy!” Dana said, relieved to see her.

Melissa gave her a long, tight hug before reclaiming her seat. Melissa’s hugs were the kind you always wanted to get. Like she’d cultivated them in a field, each one grown in a tidy row, just for you.

“Everything all right?” Melissa said, as Dana, huffing and out of breath, shrugged off her jacket and swung her purse over the back of a chair.  

“No,” she said, laughing at herself and Melissa’s eyebrows came together in  sympathy, “but tell me about you first. How was your flight? God, it’s been so long!” She reached across and squeezed her older sister’s hand.

Melissa had flown back to the States only the day before, having spent the last two years living in England.

“I’m great!” Missy said, “living abroad has been incredible. I almost hated to come back.”

“Oh, I’m so glad,” Dana said.

In truth, she was glad. She’d missed her sister terribly, but Missy had needed a big change. She’d dropped out of college several years before, much to their parent’s horror, and Melissa had been too spirited to live long under their father’s roof. Her sister looked wonderful. Clearly the time abroad had been good to her.

“But, what’s happening with you? What’s going on?” Melissa said.

Dana blew a raspberry.

“I’m in a tight spot,” she finally said, “We just found out this morning that Ellen got the internship in Seattle for the summer. It’s the one she wanted, and I’m really excited for her, but it’s not paid, so she won’t be able to cover her half of the rent -- she leaves in two days and rent for next month is due in five. We’ve got three more months on the lease. I’ve got to find someone to sublease her room, like yesterday.” She felt panic bubbling up in her gut. “I don’t suppose you have any interest in staying in DC for the summer?” she asked Melissa hopefully.

“Oh, I wish I could,” Missy said, “but I’m registered for massage therapy classes at the National Holistic Institute in Baltimore for the summer. Mom and Dad have calmed down and I’m going to stay with them while I get certified.”

“Missy, that’s wonderful!” She tried to smile at her, but she knew it didn’t reach her eyes.  Dana was excited for her sister, but had been holding out a hope that maybe Missy coming back Stateside would be an answer to her prayers.

“What about Ethan?” Melissa asked, lowering her voice unconsciously, “Couldn’t he move in with you for the summer? It’s only three months, Mom and Dad don’t need to know.”

Dana bit her lip.

“We broke up,” she said. Melissa’s eyes widened.

“June and Ward Cleaver broke up?” Melissa said, in shock. “When? I thought….”

She didn’t need to finish the sentence. Dana knew what Melissa thought. What everyone had thought. She and Ethan, together since their sophomore year of high school and enrolled in the same post-grad program at Georgetown, were the all-American couple. They, and everyone else, had assumed they would be engaged after they got their PhDs, and married not long after.

“Last month,” Dana said, looking down at her hands.

Melissa reached across the table and put her hand on Dana’s arm.

“What happened?”

“We grew up,” Dana said simply, “we’re different people, now. At least, I am. I’ve been thinking about making some changes at school and Ethan… was not supportive.”

Melissa squeezed her arm.

“What kind of changes?” she asked.

Dana looked up at her sister, “I’ve been seriously considering med school for some time.”

“But you’re so close to your degree!” Missy said.

“That’s what Ethan said,” said Dana, “but he was just so… dismissive. Like he had this plan for me. Like what I wanted didn’t matter. It was bad, Missy.”

“God,” Missy said.

“Yeah,” Dana went on, “he found out I took the MCAT and lost it. I broke up with him then and there. I haven’t seen him since. Not even on campus.”

Melissa gave her a shrewd look.

“Can I say something that you may not want to hear?”

Dana nodded morosely.

“I’m so glad,” Dana shot her sister a look, surprised. Melissa went on, “I never liked him, Dana. I know Mom and Dad loved him, but he’s had a stick up his ass since high school and he always thought he was better than everyone else. I used to sneak out and sprinkle catnip under his bedroom window in the summers.”

Dana’s jaw dropped.

“He used to complain all the time about-”

“-Tom cats in the neighborhood gathering outside his house and howling all night? Yeah, that was me.”

“Missy!”

“He deserved it,” Melissa said, sitting up with an air of moral superiority, “I’m glad you broke it off with him.”

“To be honest, I am too,” Dana said, “but I’m in a real lurch with this roommate situation. I don’t want to take out another student loan and I don’t think I can ask Dad for more money. Especially when he finds out I’m abandoning the program.”

“So you’re quitting for sure?” Melissa asked.

Dana nodded. “I just got the MCAT results and I did really well,” she couldn’t hold in a smile, “I told my advisor last week. I’m finishing out the summer. I’m going to start applying to med schools.”

“Well,” Missy said, “I’m glad you’re following your heart. And I wouldn’t worry much about Dad. He’ll be thrilled to have a doctor in the family. But maybe not so thrilled about bankrolling a degree you don’t intend to finish.”

Dana squirmed in her chair.

Melissa leaned back, thinking.

“What about…” she stopped, assessing Dana for a moment. “I have this friend. Someone I met in England last year. Moving to DC to be closer to family.”

Dana sat up straight.

“Do you know if she needs housing? Oh my God, Missy, you’d be saving my life.”

“The thing is,” Missy said, “it’s not a she.”

Dana made a face.

“He’s a great guy, Dane,” Melissa went on, “PhD in Psychology from Oxford. I met him when he was dating my friend Emma. His parents passed away recently and he’s putting his sister through school. She was a freshman at American this year. I can call him if you want.”

“I don’t know…” Dana said.

“Dana Scully, you are a 25 year old woman and it’s almost 1990 for God’s sake. Surely you’re not so old fashioned that you wouldn’t consider a male roommate. Particularly one that I can personally vouch for.”

“I don’t suppose he’s… gay?”

“You heard me mention my friend Emma, right?” Missy said, “No, he’s most certainly not gay, and no one is going to care that he isn’t. This isn’t Three’s Company, Chrissy. You need a roommate, and he--last I heard--needs a place to live. It’s perfect.”

It was only three months. Surely in this day and age having a male roommate wouldn’t give her some kind of reputation. And she was desperate--she would at least meet the guy. She leaned back in her seat.

“He isn’t cute, is he?” Dana asked.

Melissa narrowed her eyes.

“Cute?”

“Attractive. Hot. Someone with pleasing facial symmetry who other people like to look at.”

“Like you?” Melissa said. Dana gave her an exaggerated eye roll, and her sister asked, “Why?”

“Because it’s the last thing I need right now,” Dana said.

Melissa took a demure sip of coffee.

“No,” she said, not making eye contact, “he’s not cute.”

Dana considered her sister a long minute.

“Okay,” she finally said, “call him.”

XxXxXxXxXxX

At precisely 3:00pm, there was a knock on her door. Shave and a haircut.  

He was punctual -- more than she could say for herself that day -- and that usually boded well.

Instead of sticking around to introduce them, Missy had said she had other friends she was supposed to see while she was in town and had taken off after setting up this meeting, though she promised Dana she would still come over for dinner.

Dana opened the door. He was tall. At least a foot taller than she was, and he stood in the doorway with a smile on his face. He was wearing a black leather biker jacket, jeans and black boots and was carrying a motorcycle helmet under one arm. Dana was momentarily taken aback by his good looks. She would kill Melissa.

“Dana?” he said, expectantly, reaching out for a handshake, “I’m Melissa’s friend. Fox Mulder.”

“I thought you’d be British,” she said,  the words fumbling out of her mouth before she could stop them.

He smiled.

Dana shook herself, embarrassed, and extended a hand.

“Dana Scully,” she said, “sorry. Come in?”

“I met your brother when he came out to visit Melissa,” he said as he shook her hand, “one more Scully and I win a set of steak knives.”

“You’re in luck,” she said, smiling, “we Scullys come in sets of four.”

He laughed and wiped his feet on the welcome mat before stepping past her and into the apartment. He stood a few feet in and looked around.

“Wow,” he said, “this is a really nice place.”

Dana nodded and closed the door. It was a nice place. Much nicer than two broke grad students had any business living in. It had cathedral ceilings, hardwood floors and a large, spacious living room framed on one side with immense sliding glass doors that opened to a long balcony that ran the length of the room. On the other end of the living room sat a modern kitchen with a large island countertop that sat three people on the living room side, and had a 4 burner cooktop on the other. The appliances were pretty new. There was a hallway leading from the other end of the living room that led to one bathroom and a bedroom (Ellen’s), with a small in-unit washer/dryer at the end of the hall. Stairs led up from the left of the doorway to the master bedroom (Dana’s) and en-suite bathroom that had a separate tub and shower. The place was filled with hand-me-down furniture from various parents and siblings, but was decorated well and was quite comfortable.

“Rent controlled,” she said, by way of explanation, “my roommate’s brother had lived here for years. We got really lucky.” He nodded, still taking in the space. “You want a tour?” she asked.

“Sure,” he said, smiling.

She showed him the living room and the trick to opening the sliding glass door, then ran him through the kitchen and on down the hallway to Ellen’s room, which was a disaster area filled with half-packed boxes.

“This would be your room,” she said, “I promise to clean it before you move in.”

“Nah,” he said, peeking his head in the closet, “I’d be happy to do it. When would move-in be?”

“You could be in in two days,” she answered, “Ellen flies to Seattle tomorrow night, though you wouldn’t know it to look at her room.”

He smiled.

“I don’t know if Melissa told you about my situation,” he said, “everything has been happening kind of quickly. You’d really be saving my bacon, here.”

“She told me a little,” Dana said, “I’m really sorry about your parents, Fox.”

“Thank you,” he said softly. He cleared his throat. “Though, I uh, prefer to go by Mulder.”

“Fair enough,” Dana said. “Though there’s no way you ever got Melissa to call you anything other than Fox. I bet she was delighted.”

He laughed, a melodious, warm sound. Upon hearing it, she decided she liked him.

“And then some,” he said. “So what do I need to know?”

“Well, it would be a sublease for three months, until Ellen gets back. I may or may not be moving out in the fall, and our lease goes month-to-month after that.” He nodded. “Otherwise,” she said, “I mainly do a lot of studying. I have office hours and classes three days a week. I’m not big on house parties, and I like things quiet.” She looked at him, and he didn’t seem thrown by anything she’d said so far. “Do you…” she was sure how to put it, “have a girlfriend or anyone who would be coming over a lot?”

He smiled.

“No girlfriend at present,” he said, “though my sister is at AU and she may come over every now and then if she’ll deign to visit her stuffy older brother.”

His eyes crinkled with affection when he talked about his sister, and Dana found herself involuntarily charmed.

“And what do you do for a living?” she asked.

He winced.

“I’m currently looking for work,” he held his hand up when she raised her eyebrows, “I have enough in savings to more than cover three months of rent,” he said, “so you don’t have to worry about that. But I only got into town a few days ago. I’m still trying to figure everything out.”

“Melissa vouches for you,” she said, “that’s good enough for me.”

He fiddled with the helmet, which he was still carrying, and took a long, slow turn, looking around the apartment, as if making a decision. He finally turned back to her.

“Well, Scully Number Three?” he said, holding out his hand once again. “You’ve got a new roommate if you’ll have me.”

“No need to remind me of my place in the pecking order,” she said, “if you’re Mulder, I think just Scully will suffice.” Scully. She let it roll down her spine and liked the way it felt. She reached out and gripped his hand firmly. It was warm, dry, and completely enveloped hers. “Welcome home, Mulder,” she said.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Melissa breezed past her in the doorway without a word, arms laden with plastic bags.

“I brought take-out!” she said over her shoulder, kicking off her shoes and making her way to the kitchen to unburden herself of the bags. “Is Fox still here?” she asked, looking around, a little out of breath.

“He left about an hour ago,” Dana said, coming to stand in the doorway of the kitchen. “Melissa,” she went on, and Missy wouldn’t look at her. “You said he wasn’t cute.”

Melissa opened the fridge and helped herself to a beer.

“He’s not cute,” Missy said, finally turning to her, “he’s gorgeous. You’re welcome.” She twisted off the top and then shoved herself up to sit on the counter, taking a long pull.

“Make yourself at home,” Dana said sarcastically.

“Thanks,” Missy said, brushing her off. “How’d it go?”

“You’re right, he was really nice. He’s going to take it,” Dana said, and then decided she could go for a beer as well. She opened up the fridge as Missy punched the air in a yes! gesture.

“What did I tell you?” Melissa said, “kismet.”

“Yeah,” Dana said, tamping down her own enthusiasm, “I hope it works out.”

“It’s going to be great!” Missy said, “He really is the best guy.”

“Did you guys ever…?” Dana asked, wondering if she really wanted to know.

“Me and Fox? No,” she answered, “not that I wouldn’t have liked to,” she went on, “but I think the whole ‘thou shalt not date your best friend’s ex’ rule is pretty universal. Even across the pond.”

Dana was surprised to find herself relieved.

“I am privy to some information, though,” Missy said, arching an eyebrow.

“Do I even want to know?” Dana asked.

Missy ran her tongue along the corner of her mouth.

“He’s very well endowed,” she finally said with a grin.

Dana felt herself blushing and took a deep swig of beer to cover for it.

“Unless it’ll help him pay the rent,” she said, swallowing, “I don’t see how that’s any of my business.”

Melissa shrugged, looking coy. “I’ve also heard he loves to eat out,” she said.

“What does that have to do with-“ Dana finally looked at her sister, caught her eyebrows in the air, suggestively. “... Jesus, Missy.”

Melissa smiled, took a sip of beer.

“I’m just saying,” Melissa said, “a generous lover is a generous man.” Dana looked to the sky as if for help. Her sister was clearly enjoying Dana’s discomfort. She finally jumped down off the counter and turned her attention to the bags of food. “You could do a lot worse than Fox Mulder.”

“I’m not going to do Fox Mulder, Missy,” she said, and Missy let out a bark of laughter. “I need a roommate, not a boyfriend. And anyway, I’m going to be in med school soon. I won’t have that kind of time.”

“Make time,” Melissa winked, and then dug around in the bags, pulling out carton after carton of Chinese food. “You hungry?”

Dana set down her beer and hugged her from behind.

“I’m famished, you snot,” she said into her sister’s hair.

#the x-files #fanfiction #fanfic #MSR #AU #my fic #a companion unobtrustive #chapter one #prompt

[8makes1cheese]

f2l with Song Mingi♡

Pairing: Mingi X Reader

RoommateAU, (and like High SchoolAU in the beginning and kinda CollegeAU?)

Tags: cursing, shitty attempts at comedy, fluff, kinda sorta suggestive?, ig drug use and drinking?(booze and weed)

Words: 2.5k

A/N: Okay so, this is my first bullet scenario thing? and its weird...like this is so weird but I tried XD it ended up this weird mix between bullet scenario and oneshot fic and i-

...............all I can do is practice and try to get better but yeah. SO HERES THIS :D (im srry don hate me T-T)

-Finding Your Best Friend-

this bb would be the best-est friend you would have in this world

probably why you fell for him in the first place, but let's not get to ahead of ourselves

you guys met freshman year of high school

your guys' mutual friend Yunho is really the reason why

you just moved to town, and since said town was small, it was clear to you that everybody knew everybody else

you felt pretty lonely on the first day because of that

second day of freshman year is where is all started to come together

you were looking for a nice spot to sit and have your lunch outside because you didn't want to look like the weird loner person eating by themselves in silence

you found a pretty spot under a big tree near the track field, you put a random cool cake making tutorial on your phone and ate your lunch

the video was at a part where they were placing intricate designs in frosting all over the cake when you hear "Whoa, that is so cool!"

you jump about 3 feet in the air and immediately gather up your phone and get up to spin around to see who interrupted your quiet time

a young man, not sure his grade, with peach colored hair and a worried expression on his face, raises his hands in a surrender pose

'okay but what the hell was he doing, watching my phone behind the tree?'

well reader, we'll never know

"I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to scare you that bad! Really, I am so so so sorry!"

you, still in shock, just nod at him

now you're both just standing in front of each other

not saying anything

....well

this is awkward

"I-I'm Yunho...by the way."

you clear your throat, not sure why, nervous habit

"[Y/N].."

"So, uh... Haven't seen you around here before.."

once you explained you were new, and new to the town in general. There was no escape.

you were now best friends with the giant teddy bear and there was nothing you could do about it

yunho immediately took you under his wing and showed you around the campus. Then the town itself after school was out.

but Ro this seems to be turning into a yunho x reader fic/ bullet scenario

stfu I'm getting there

what did this turn into even

so now you and Yunho are bffs

enter giant teddy bear 2.0

you and yunho are hanging out at lunch, it's become a usual for the past two weeks

and Yunhos other bff is becoming sus about why Yunho hasn't been eating with him at lunch or doesn't seem to have as much time after school for him

that's when giant teddy bear 2.0 (if you don't know that its Mingi then idek-) finds his bestie with some random chick

a really adorable random chick

"So this is where you have been?"

you and Yunho start, not expecting someone to find your guys' spot

Also, deja vu, amiright?

"Oh, hey Mingi!" Yunho greets the tall dirty blonde haired teddy bear

And you're totally not sitting there thinking, 'holy shit, he is...wow.'

and that's how it all started

he stayed and introduced himself and you hit it off just as well as you and yunho did

maybe even better..

he started showing up everyday, at the what was dubbed 'The Cool Kids Spot™️' by you all, with yunho

even tho we all know you guys were NOT the cool kids

then it went to him being at the spot before everyone showed up

so he could see you first

then it turned into him meeting you up after class so you both could grab your food together and meet up Yunho at The Spot™️

before you could even realize it, he became your person

you were the first person he ran up to and hugged after him and Yunhos dance group took home 1st place at a competition

he was the first person you called when you were told that your poem won an award

you were the person he'd come to if he needed any kind of advice

and he was the first person you went to if you needed to get out of your head or your anxiety was getting to you

the high school years went by so fast

a lot changed

but what never changed was Mingi, he may have grown

and damn he grew

but he was your constant (and yes, yunho too, we can't forget yunho bro)

-Knowing They're The One-

high school came and went

Mingi and Yunho were accepted by a prestigious performing arts school

you, however, were going to just a regular college

luckily, both schools weren't terribly far from each other

which is why, instead of suffering in dorms, you and Mingi decided to get a apartment together, not far from both schools

yunhos ass stayed with his parents because they live like right next to the school, lucky hoe

you all still make time for each other

but you and Mingi prefer to stay in, order takeout and watch random stuff on YouTube

whenever you or Mingi went out it was always together (unless it was classes)

Grocery shopping? Together. Doctors appointment? Together. Girls night? Together. Guys night? Together.

"So, you must be suffering right now" his friend Yeosang said to him on a rare guys night that didn't involve you.

Mingi looked at Yeosang perplexed, ignoring whatever Wooyoung was talking to him about

"What are you talking about?"

"You and [Y/N] are literally always together, the fact she isn't here surprises me."

Mingi laughed. "We're not always together."

A cacophony of "LIES" and "BULLSHIT" filled the air as all of Mingi friends called him out on his bullshit

Mingi could feel his face heating up

"W-well, so what if we are! Were best friends AND roommates."

"And lovers~" his friend San whispered in his ear from behind and laughed, dancing away before Mingi could hit him

"We're not together!" Mingi exclaimed, rolling his eyes.

"But you want to be."

Mingi turned to look at the owner of the voice. It was Yunho, leaning against the entrance of the kitchen everyone was gathered in

He was looking at Mingi with a smirk

Mingi knew Yunho knew how he felt about you

and not because he told him

well...he kinda did

FLASHBACK TIME

it was your guys' high school graduation

more specifically, the night of, and you were all partying and yunhos house

celebrating the fact that you all were officially adults now

lol you thought

and what better way to celebrate that than with underage drinking

be safe kids, don't drink irresponsibly

and Mingi. Got. Wasted.

by the end of the night, he was crying (and maybe puked once or twice...) in Yunhos arms about how beautiful you were, and how amazing and talented you were

wouldn't shut up about how soft and perfect you feel in his arms when he hugs you or vice versa

"She is my soulmate." After every other sentence mentioning how perfect you are

but wait, where were you while Mingi was crying and puking you ask?

That night you met Yeonjun, who is now one of your closest friends

  at first, a friend of Wooyoungs, who you all became friends with junior year, along with his best friend San

Yeonjun, who went to a different school across town, was invited along by Woo and San

you and Yeonjun hit it off so well, drinking and laughing, and talking about how much he loves his boyfriend Soobin, and maybe you drunkingly going on about how amazing Mingi is

however, Mingi didn't know Yeonjun

and what he saw that night was you, enjoying your time with someone who wasn’t him, laughing at jokes that weren't his, hanging all over someone who could never know you as well as he did (and that totally wasn't the reason that Mingi drank like 2 bottles of straight vodka, not at all)

and at that moment

he knew

he fucked up

he was in love with you

OKAY END OF FLASHBACK

Mingi wasn't sure what to say

he could deny it sure, but he knew it was useless

not after every person in the room gave him a knowing smirk after Yunhos comment

“She doesn't-”

“Oh, whatever. you guys are literally already a couple. And dont even try to deny that. If she was here right now, she’d probably be on your lap and you two would be sitting in some corner of the house whispering some weird drunk lovey shit to each other.”

well...

Mingi really didn't have a argument for that

that night he came home sober

but you didn't know that until months later when he told you he wasn't actually drunk

anyways when he got home you were sitting in the living room

music playing away on YouTube while you type away on your laptop

you didn't hear him come in, softly singing along to the song under your breath

he stood there for a moment and just..looked at you

your hair was a mess

you had on the same clothes as yesterday

probably haven't done a skincare routine in months

you were the most beautiful person he had ever seen in his life

he felt so much love swell in his chest

hes known it for a while now but at that moment all that was going on in his head was

“That’s my soulmate. I love her. I love her so much.”

“Hey.”

he wasn't sure if he had said it loud enough but apparently he had because you flinched and turned to see who the ‘intruder’ was

“Oh, Mingi! Shit, you scared me...” you laughed. “How was guys night?”

He made his was over to sit on the couch as you told him how your paper was coming along and then waited for him to answer your question

he sat for a good minute not saying anything

“Mingi?”

he looked at you

“you okay hun?” you asked, placing your hand on his cheek

and then he kissed you

it was so quick, you had no time to register that it was happening at all

and he left just as quickly

slamming the door to his bedroom and leaving you flustered and panicked

-So....Lovers?-

the morning after the kiss was the most awkward moment that you and Mingi had ever had

luckily it didn't last long at all

you two were silent, awkwardly making breakfast

then Mingi busted out with “Man, I’m so hungover! I barely remember anything from last night!”

“Do...do you remember anything from when you came home?”

“No, to be honest, I don't even remember coming home...”

-cue forced laughter-

-cue Mingi not trying to be disappointed when you looked relieved-

 he asked you if anything happened and tried not to feel sad about the fact you were going on about how nothing happened and he just came home and went to bed

why wouldn't you mention the kiss? maybe everyone had it wrong, you didn't feel the same. why else would you avoid it?

but everything went back to...normal

you two would cuddle every night on the couch

you showed up to every guys night like usual

(there may or may not have been more knowing smirks thrown Mingis way)

he showed up to the rare girls nights you'd have with your (like 2) girlfriends

(they literally just consisted of everyone chilling in some secluded spot and sparking up a blunt or two and bull-shittng)

but everything wasn't normal

because even though it lasted 0.0002 seconds long

Mingi cannot stop thinking about that kiss

neither can you for that matter

that's when you confided in your bestie Yeonjun

who knew all about your love for your other bestie

you went to Yeonjuns one Saturday afternoon without mingi

its been a month since the kiss and Yeonjun is only disappointed in the fact that you didn't tell him sooner

his solution was simple, just tell him how you feel

its so god damn obvious he feels the same

but who are you to do the simple thing right?

so what do you do?

you go with Soobins idea

and :) you:) go:) on:) a:) blind:) date:) with one of soobin and yeonjuns friends:)))))))

well

at least you were supposed to..

the night comes when you were supposed to meet at a nice cafe with their friend Beomgyu

you. were. lookin. FIRE BABY

slaayyyyy

you were in the kitchen grabbing your keys

and maybe prolonging the fact that your going out with someone who isn't MIngi

when Mingi walked out to heat himself up a noodle cup

and maybe one for you too because he didn't think you were going anywhere and was going to ask if you wanted to chill in his room and play mario kart

his jaw DROPPED when he saw you

he felt like he was just kicked in the gut, all breath left his lungs

and he may or may not have gotten an instant boner but-

he cleared his throat to get your attention

“You look...nice.” wow, Mingi, smooth

“O-oh, thanks, um... ill be back later okay?”

when Mingi asked where you'll be going and you said you had a blind date, he swears to this day he blacked out for a moment

next thing he knew he had you pushed against the counter

“Mingi-”

“No.”

“w-what..”

“You don't have a date.”

“But I do-”

then his lips were pressed against yours

and unlike the first, this one lasted a hell of a lot longer than 0.0002 seconds

it wasn't fireworks or butterflies or a sudden realization of unconditional love

it was rough and messy and filled with so many emotions including relief that your love for each other can finally blossom

you didn't say a word to each other when you parted

you stared at each other for a while, panting with big smiles on your faces

once your breathing returned to normal you gently pushed him back so you weren't pressed against the counter anymore

“I’m going to change in PJ's.”

Mingis smile lit up his whole face. “But I thought you had a date..”

“No, I don't.” you kissed his cheek and left to change.

-YES LOVERS FINALLY-

so you guys never really sat down and were like ‘hey so are we...?’

because you both knew you just....were

after that night you guys started acting like you had been dating for months

it was just like before

because of course, like always, Yunho was right

you guys already acted like you were dating

now kisses and a lot more were added to the mix

which just made everything 1000x better

everyone knew it was just a matter of time

you loved waking up to his arms wrapped around your waist and him softly snoring in your ear

he loved waking up to you peppering kisses all over his collar bones and neck

your loved bloomed♡

A/N pt2: Im sorry if the end seems so rushed as well, I started running out of steam and my mind blanked but I didn't want to prolong this and never post it...like i do with everything...

Thank you for reading!

#song mingi #ateez #ateez scenarios #mingi fluff #mingi scenarios #mingi x reader #ateez x reader #kpop fanfiction #kpop #kpop fluff #ateez fluff #8s place #ateez fanfiction #mingi friends to lovers #mingi f2l #ateez f2l #mingi fanfic #kpop fanfic #ateez au #mingi oneshot #song mingi oneshot #ateez oneshot

[artemismoon12writes]

Title: The Difference Between Hanging Out and a Date is Flowers

Daltonfic Big Bang; Week 9, Day 3; Julian Larson/? Julian is forced to go to the Valentine’s Day Fair, despite last year’s sparking a whole lot of horror for him. Can’t he just have one good day? 

---

The Valentines Fair was huge this year; so huge they’d teamed up with Dobry Hall and just rented a fairground outside of town. Julian had planned to just stay in his room all day, given what happened last year. Murdoch refused, telling him he couldn’t have any special privileges when everyone else was out helping with the event.

So instead, he was there… and doing nothing to help because fuck his fellow Stuarts. They’d been following him all week, babying him like this was supposed to help him out emotionally or something. He knew he had baggage, but that was his own business. Let him just ignore these dramatic boys and try, in vain, to have a good day.

Between Logan pretending he’d had feelings for him all along, Sebastian reappearing to say ‘le fuck your healing process’, and whatever bullshit Derek hadn’t grown out of; he was planning to just avoid anyone he knew. Maybe he’d find some of the Day students. Wait, no, Riley Paige would get him to help with something. Fuck; maybe he could find one of Royal’s booths and just chill with Merril. It was almost enough to make him give up on boys altogether; shit, girls were so much less dramatic than these assholes he lived with.

He was looking for Merril’s booth (she’d texted him a pile of apple and pear tarts, so surely he could just follow the smell?) when he saw a short girl chasing Dwight Houston and Bancroft’s sister through the tents, yelling something about rocks. They looked frantic, escaping through a hole in a Hanover tent while she slipped on some of the half-frozen grass; still frosty in the February sun. That sucks… he should do something.

“Hey, need help?” He asked, walking up cautiously; she could be a fan after all. “You took quite the dive there.”

“No, I got it.” She sighed, standing up and brushing herself off. Her hands were red, but not skinned despite the fall. “I just suck at walking I guess.”

“I couldn’t help but notice you trying to kill Houston and Bancroft. Anything those two idiots do to annoy you?” Julian asked, genuinely curious. Dwight Houston did a lot of stupid shit; but his first thoughts usually revolved around whatever Derek did to piss off girls, and that didn’t seem like Houston’s style.

She shook her head, “They lost the collection of gems I had on display for our booth for Prima. Now I have nothing to sell, so Royal is going to take the prize for Dobry.”

“And why’d you trust those two with it?” He knew them by reputation alone for getting into trouble; but not much else.

“Because those two happen to be my best friends.” The girl said, sounding like she couldn’t quite believe it herself. She put on a faint smile though, looking up and sticking out her scraped hand. “Sadie Moore, maybe you’ve heard of me.”

“Julian. Shame enough, I haven’t.” He shook her hand. “You’re new aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I transferred up here from Florida for Junior Year; but from the way the girls in Dobry go on, I’ve become some kind of one woman rumour mill.” She shivered. “It’s freaking cold up here. I don’t know how you all deal with it.”

“Don’t ask me. This winter is just as bad to me. I’m from California and everytime it snows here I get whiplash.” Julian smiled as she laughed. It was a nice laugh. “And one-woman rumour mill? What’s with that?”

She rolled her eyes, “Dobry girls see romance everywhere they look; a chunk of them think I’m dating Dwight, the other half won’t shut up about that time I kissed Laura, and the rest of them think I’ve gotten both of them, when like? Fuck you just cause I’m bi doesn’t mean I’m a slut. Jeez, it’s 2012, I just want to enjoy the Valentines Day Fair without all that.”

“You’re bi?” Julian asked, before he could stop himself.

She wrinkled her nose, suspicious. “Yeah. You got a problem with that?”

“No! Just, I don’t meet many people who just say that aloud to people they just met, you know?”

Julian didn’t like being on the back foot with people. Let alone being caught off guard. Sadie kept looking at him until her expression cleared and she judged him not a biphobic asshole- which, wouldn’t that be ironic?

“I guess you’re right. Hey, you want to walk around? I guess I’m off booth duty until someone can find my gems; unless you have your own booth to get to?” She looked over his jacket, “Stuart? I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

Julian laughed, “I was ordered to show up and nothing more than that. And gems? Like? Rubies or something?”

“Semi-precious at most.” She explained, launching into a long diatribe about online ‘healing crystals’ versus her own, far superior, ethically mined quartz.

By the time they rounded Hanover’s Ferris Wheel (the compromise for a less dangerous ride this year), Julian’d caught himself laughing at Sadie’s geology jokes; sharing the time he snuck up to the Hollywood sign; learnt Sadie liked heavy metal; and told the entire story of Clark, Marcie, and him engaging in a spicy noodle challenge back in LA. He hadn’t even realized they’d walked that far; engrossed in conversation.

The air was turning colder, nipping his ears and turning the tip of Sadie’s dark nose red. She coughed, sticking her hands under her arms. “Fuck, this place is shit. How do people live up here?”

“You were here for December right? You saw it snow, and that didn’t scare you away?” He asked.

“Oh no, snow is pretty!” She insisted, “I’ve gone skiing with my parents in Whistler, that’s fun! But this? Where it’s just grey and gross and cold? Uh, it’s so stupid.”

“Well you not wearing gloves, so maybe that’s why?” Julian pointed out.

She rolled her eyes. “Logic. Facts. Maybe I don’t like gloves?”

“You forgot them didn’t you?”

She flushed. “I lent them to Laura actually, she forgot her own back at Prima.”

Julian looked down at her biting the inside of his lip considering. Ah fuck it. He pulled off one of his own gloves and handed it to her. “Here, put your other hand in your pocket. It should be fine.”

Her eyes widened. “You sure?”

“Yeah, whatever.” He looked over at the booths; they were squarely in Hanover territory. Huh. How long had they been walking? He should say hi to Abbot. But he was probably busy running things over here.

“Thanks.” Sadie said, her left hand stretching experimentally with a too-large glove and the right nudging his elbow. “That was pretty nice of you Mr. Larson.”

He snorted. “I was wondering when you’d realize.”

“I don’t watch many dramas. So, it took a bit to realize you were that movie star who goes here.” Sadie said, “Sorry I can’t say I’m a fan of you stuff.”

She looked genuinely apologetic; he shook his head far too quickly. “No, no, that’s… that’s a good thing.”

Julian could count on one hand the amount of people he’d known who were fans first, who he’d genuinely come to like as people. It was nice to talk about work and that was it; it was just work. Half the reason he’d decided to come back to Dalton was to have just a slice of that normal experience. And if he was bombarded by fans? Well, how normal was that?

“Oh, okay.” She said, confused by the quick refusal. “I guess, you want to keep walking?”

“Yeah. Tell me more about skiing, I’ve never gone all the way up to Whistler. Are you good at it?”

It continued like that; making the rounds of the booths, pocketed hands bumping against each other as they avoided the clusters of people pushing their way forward. Every so often Sadie would spy another Dobry girl and lament the loss of her inventory for her booth; but thankfully, Julian was so out of context next to her, there wasn’t an awkward encounter. It was weird, every second Dobry girl they ran into seemed to ask about Bancroft or Houston, expressing surprise they weren’t with her.

“I guess you were right about the Dobry rumour mill. It’s going full force this year.” Julian joked.

Sadie rolled her eyes. “It’s annoying, but hey, considering they’re off hiding together the rumours will hopefully leave me out of it after today.”

“You’re not worried they’ll start to connect you and me then?” Julian asked, the notion suddenly appearing in his own head.

“Like half of them even realized who you were. You’re not going around advertising you’re the famous Julian Larson; and standing next to Dobry’s current resident witch doesn’t help put two and two together.” She pointed out.

“I just haven’t turned on the charm.” Julian joked; it was an old Hollywood myth, but it had some truth to it about hiding in plain sight. He could stride forward, and let everyone know who he was, but it was nice to not have to chase off a horde of teenaged girls (and boys) this year. God knows last year was a shitstorm for that kind of thing.

“Julian!”

“I guess you turned it on.” Sadie smiled, before turning to see Derek coming towards the two of them. She frowned. “Oh, its that guy.”

“You know Derek?” Julian asked before Derek cut him off.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere! You haven’t been answering your phone. We needed you to help with the Lunch Tent.” Derek was annoyed. That much was obvious.

“I’ve had my phone on silent. Murdoch told me to show up, and that’s all I’m doing. I don’t care if Stuart loses again this year; I just want to have a Me Day.”

Derek’s eyes flicked over to Sadie, “Me Day huh?”

“Come off it, not everyone is a Don Juan wannabe like you.” Sadie’s gloved hand went to her hip, daring him to say anything further.

Derek blinked, alright then. He looked back to Julian, reaching out to pull him away. “Come on, I’m not doing Logan’s prefect duties alone.”

“Why not just let Logan do them?” Julian countered, stepping backwards.

Derek gave him a look. “You know it’s a two-person job, if not a three person job trying to control these freshman on any project.”

“Sounds like not my problem.” Julian shrugged. “Ask Murdoch for help, I’m out of here.”

“Julian!”

“He said no.” Sadie said firmly before Julian reached out and tugged her hand, motioning towards the gap in the booths. His almost laugh met her mischievous eyes.

Before Derek even knew what was going on, Sadie and Julian had taken a page out of her own pursuit that morning and ducked between the booths, darting down and around staves and tent poles to lose him. Maybe they ran for longer than necessary, maybe that was half the fun. They reached the Windsors row, gasping for breath and laughing.

“Do you think he tripped and fell?” Sadie asked, brushing her curly, brown hair out of her face.

“No, he’s more coordinated than that.” Julian said.

Sadie shrieking with laughter and shoving him, “You’re so rude!”

“You’re the one who faceplanted!”

“By accident!”

“It was funny.” Julian pointed out, avoiding Sadie’s playful shove and instead catching her hands and looking down at her like he was lecturing her. “These are dangerous weapons, I ought to report you for use of deadly force. Except I won’t, because you’re tiny.”

“Short jokes? Really?” Her grin betrayed that she found it just as funny. “Well, at least I don’t hit my head on doorframes.”

“You laugh, but I always have to duck getting into limos.”

“Oh that is the most Hollywood thing you have said yet.”

“I’ve babysat Angelina’s kids.”

“Angelina Jolie?”

“I can go on.”

“Oh my god, you’re a dick.” Sadie laughed, “I’d hex you, but I don’t think it would stick.”

“So they’ve been saying about me, since the day I was born.” Julian said, dramatically put upon. “I endure such slings and volleys of-”

“If you start quoting Shakespeare, I will lose it.”

“Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage-” Julian grinned, ignoring Sadie’s protests to get him to quiet.

“I suck at English, come on!”

“And then is heard no more: it is a tale, told by an idiot,” Julian continued.

“Yeah! You’re the idiot!” She tried to interrupt.

“Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

“Yeah, my fury. Goddamn you actors.” She said, looking up with pink cheeks to stick her tongue out at him. “If I could just recall lines like that, I’d never have to use a spell book again, I’d just memorize them all.”

“It’s a gift. What can I say? Not everyone is as good as me.” Julian teased to Sadie’s exasperated smile.

They paused, realizing Julian was still holding her hands and sprang apart; not realizing how close they were. Julian felt his own face flush but hid it well enough. Now wasn’t the time, nor the day, to really get close to someone; even if she was quite pretty, he had to admit to himself.

“Uh, so back there you seemed to know Derek. Even though it took you a bit to realize who I was?” He tried.

She coughed, waving a hand carelessly. “Yeah, well everyone in Prima got to witness what can only be described as the most pathetic display of pining in the history of the world. Casey’s already told everyone to stay away from him because she said he’s a cheater; but then he showed up one day before Winter Break with this giant apology bouquet, and get this, it’s full of white lilies- which I didn’t know she was allergic to, but if you really feel that way about her, maybe? I don’t know? Know her allergies? But also, those are funeral flowers. As far as apologies go, it’s pretty shit.”

“You’re friends with Casey?” Surprise tinged Julian’s voice.

“Not friends per say, but she’s part of the welcoming committee. She’s pretty cool.” Sadie clarified. “How are you friends with a guy like that?”

Julian shrugged. “Derek’s pretty cool. He’s a really good friend when you get down to it, but yeah he is kind of shit with girls. I guess that’s what happens when your best friend since childhood is a gay guy. It’s not like he’s really been comparing notes. Logan and him aren’t that bad once you get to know them.”

“Well, I guess I have pretty biased sources.” Sadie said, waving around at the Windsor tents. “If my friend Morgan’s cousin wasn’t one of yours, I think I’d probably just see a Stuart badge and kick you guys on sight.”

“So violent Miss Moore.” Julian smiled. “We are kind of dicks though, so fair enough.”

“You’re not half bad though Mr. Larson.” She teased back. “You’re fun enough to hang out with.”

“I’m an exception to every rule I will assure you.”

“Don’t start quoting shit again. I will end you.”

“Only if you can reach that high.”  

“Oh you!”

“Hi Sadie! Oh, and Julian? I didn’t know you two knew each other.” Reed Van Kamp said from behind the table of the nearest booth. “You two enjoying the fair?”

The pair smiled; Reed was always a welcome sight, no matter who you were.

“Yeah, it’s been pretty fun. We’ve just been walking around. I thought you’d be out with Shane?” Sadie asked, coming under the tent top to talk more easily. “He mentioned something about Valentines plans.”

Reed looked down bashfully, “Well, last Windsor party got us all banned from Warbler activities; Blaine thought it’d be good if I was sitting down for all of the Fair. So, we’re doing our date on the weekend instead.”

“Aww, that’s cute. Then you won’t have to deal with Valentines Day crowding.” Sadie pointed out. “Really its working out in your favour.”

“I guess.” Reed said, then looked over at Julian. “I’m surprised to see you here. I thought I heard you were staying in all day.”

“What Murdoch wants; Murdoch gets.” Julian shrugged.

Reed smiled. “It’s good to see you anyways; at least someone gets to have a date today.”

“Oh we’re not-”

Reed flushed, “Oh heck, I’m sorry! I just assumed. That was bad of me. Here, have some cookies on me.”

“You don’t have to.” Sadie said even as Julian took what was offered.

He nudged her. “They’re good, take some. Wait, these are some of Kurt’s right?”

“Yeah, it took David and Wes all day to clean up the aftermath. He was a man on a mission!” Reed said, pushing a little ribbon-wrapped packet at each of them; then pushing them out as he cut himself on the edge of the plastic and had to call for a band-aid.

Julian and Sadie wandered off, happily snacking on their free cookies. They really were quite good, even if Sadie said there was nothing magical about them.

“You know, that’s the second person to assume we’re on a date.” Julian pointed out.

“And what of it?” Sadie asked.

“Well, what makes a date not a date?” Julian crunched down on another cookie. “You have two people sharing food and talking, and what makes it different between just hanging out and a date per say?”

“I think someone needs to ask and the other needs to accept. But yeah, its pretty arbitrary.” Sadie nodded. “Most people hold hands or some shit, or kiss. You saying you want this to be a date?”

“I’m just saying it could be an option.” Julian said, mulling the idea over in his mind. It would be nice to be on a normal date; not one where he had to sneak around with a guy and pretend they were just friends, or hide from paparazzi with a girl because his agent wanted maximum exposure for their upcoming film together. “It doesn’t need to be a thing. But I’ve liked talking to you. We should do this again, whatever you want it to be.”

She pursed her lips. “Hmm. I accept. You need to get me flowers though.”

“A date it is.” Julian confirmed, laughing at how easy that was. He offered his ungloved hand; hers slipping into it easily, with a crinkle at the corner of her eyes.

“So, flowers? What kind do you like?”

“Not lilies.” Sadie joked.  

“Belladonna maybe? What do witches like?”

“Well this witch likes roses.”

Julian froze, “Uh maybe something else?”

He face paled; she’d probably heard from Dwight and Laura. “Oh shit! I’m sorry! Look don’t worry about it.”

“No, no, it’s just, they’re not-”

“Marigolds then.” She said, hurried.

“I can work with that.” Julian recovered, the awkwardness still lingering. “You shall be showered in marigolds. You’ll be covered in pollen before the day is out.”

“Now that’s a picture.” Sadie said, letting him lead her towards the nearest flower booth and moving her head so he could tuck a marigold into her curls. “Aww, that’s so cute.” Julian agreed.

The rest of the day was much of the same. It was like they’d said; there wasn’t really much of a difference between hanging out and a date beyond the declaration of intent. It was fun though. He liked being able to wander around and feel like, yeah, this was a date. It was something he could say aloud. And she was nice. Maybe it wouldn’t go anywhere, but as far as dates went he’d had far worse ones. It was certainty better than dealing with all the romantic drama an all-boys school seemed to kick up.

By the time everyone started packing up, they were sitting on a bench near the entrance and exit gates, sharing a basket of chili fries. Sadie was telling him about her last boating adventure around the Florida Keys, and Julian’d been wistfully imagining a surf contest between the two of them if she ever ended up on the West Coast.

The Prima and Royal prefects were gathering their girls near the gate. Julian looked over, “Do you need to get going?”

“Probably. I wish I had been able to drive here on my own, but the roads are too icy for my bike.”

“Why the hell would you bike all the way here? The fairgrounds are like, ten miles from Dobry.”  

“No, motorbike. I ride sometimes with some other students, but I can’t do shit in the winters up here.”

“You have a motorbike?” Julian asked, “You realize that makes you like, ten points hotter.”

She blushed. “You’re an idiot. But yeah, I guess it does. Maybe I’ll take you out sometime when the weather gets warmer.”

“It’s another date I guess,” Julian said, crumpling up the paper from the finished fries. “Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around though? The girl clinging to the cool guy on the motorbike?”

“Well, it’s either you or Allison, and she’s still in her baby gay phase so I don’t want to mess with that.” Sadie stood, before bending down to kiss the corner of Julian’s mouth. She flushed. “I’ll see you around.”

Julian looked after her, a little shocked but in a good way. “Yeah, I’ll do that.”

She waved as she went to join the other Dobry girls at the buses. Maybe he’d have to join the rest of his own House at some point; but either way… it had been a good day. Yeah.

#daltonficbigbang2020 #daltonfic #oneshot #pg #otp #brotp #moorrson #julian larson #sadie moore #Derek Siegerson #reed van kamp #prima #royal #stuart #artemiswrites

[strxberri]

𝐉𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐇𝐀𝐍 | 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐃 [𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐃!𝐀𝐔]

→ 865 words | 4.7K characters

⇻ fluff, angst-ish

⤷ Jeonghan’s a rich kid who's also a basketball player, and he's the team's captain, who made a bet with his teammates that he couldn't get the most innocent girl to have sex with him.

Jeonghan walked in the gym door with his team already there, "Yo, bro, wanna make a bet," his taller friend, Mingyu asked him.

"You know I'm always up for it!"

Mingyu looked at everyone on the team then said, "Ok we all bet you 222492.00 wons (200usd) that you can't get the most innocent girl at this girl to have sex with you."

"Okay, you're all on," was all he said as their coach, Coach Seungcheol came walking in the gym.

"Are you boys getting into trouble this early in the season?"

"No, we're just fine," Jeonghan spoke to the coach.

After practice was over they all went over to Jeonghan's for the weekend, his little sister just so happened to be best friends with you and you came over almost every weekend, so he kinda had an easy chance to get this bet done and over with.

He had walked into Jeonghwa's room with the others following right behind him asking, "Do you guys want something to eat?"

"Do you guys need something, because you never ask me if I'm hungry?" Jeonghwa told her older brother.

You and Jeonghwa walked downstairs to see the whole basketball team donning out eating some pizza, "Hey, Y/N," you heard from one of the other boys' mouths, the voice belonged to your past guy friend Mingyu as Jeonghwa dragged Jeonghan off to the side talking to him.

“Jeonghan, you're up to something, and I'm thinking that it's got something to deal with Y/N, leave her the fuck alone, and you won't get hurt...And just because she likes you---"

"Wait she likes me?" he asked Jeonghwa, "Who the fuck doesn't, other than me and most guys?" Jeonghwa asked his little sister again.

It was Thursday and Jeonghan drove both you and Jeonghwa to school, that day while his sister kept giving him death glares. You and Jeonghwa got out of his car but he asked for you to stay back ask you something.

"So, Y/N will you be my girlfriend?" and you said, "Yes," obviously then from that day forward you two became boyfriend and girlfriend.

“Jeonghan what's the news now?" Mingyu asked him.

"Ooh, lemme guess. Nothing," Chan questioned.

"Guys I'm working on it don't worry about it."

"Listen. It's been at least a month you have to your the end of the year party," Joonhwi told the older boy.

"Okay guys, but that's in 2 weeks and she's not even that kind of girl."

When his practice was over you got a text from jeonghan telling you that your boyfriend, Jeonghan was texting you.

from: jeonghan: ‘babe r u coming to my party this year?'

from: y/n: 'yeah, jeonghwa invited me.' you responded to his last text.

Today is Jeonghan's end of the year party, you got to the front door hearing yelling from outside the door that was going on inside, you knocked on the door as the door opened Jeonghan gave you a hug and took you upstairs to his bedroom.

He pushed you down on his bed kissing your lips not breaking the kiss as he moved his hands up into your shirt, putting his other hand on your right thigh. "Hey!"

"What's wrong, " he happened to ask you.

"Do you have anything?"

"Yeah, it's right here," he told you while holding up the plastic-wrapped package. You two continued to make out on his bed.

Its been three months since You've last talked to Jeonghan, but you and Jeonghwa haven't been that close either since the party. After that party, Jisoo and you talked a little bit and he told you everything that Jeonghan was doing and how that it was all Mingyu's idea. Two months later Jisoo asked you to be his girlfriend and you said, "Yes!"

You've been getting bigger and bigger each day and you're just now starting to think that everyone at school is catching onto what's been going on with you. Jisoo and your parents both know, now that you and Jeonghwa are becoming friends again, she's been telling you that Jeonghan needs to know. Jeonghan is currently getting ready for practice when you told him the news. He walked through the gym doors with you following right behind him, as he hears you say, "Jeonghan, look, listen to m---"

"No! You listen to me, I just don't fucking understand why you wouldn't want me to be involved in my own kid's life?"

"Because---" he cut you off again saying, "Lemme guess, because I'm just the fuckboy, the screws every girl he can get his hands on. That's not even true when we went out there was something special there, I loved you, and I still love you, I've loved you since my freshman year."

"Okay, you gotta tell that to my parents, because they're sending me to an all-girls school after I have our child and they’ll have it put up for adoption."

~Two Years Later~

You just got back from an all-girls boarding school in California, Jeonghan has been taking care of your guys' two-year-old boy, Jaeyoung, and he looks just like his father you're now a senior, Jeonghan is in his second year of college.

#seventeen #seventeen carat #seventeen imagines #seventeen scearios #seventeen jeonghan #svt jeonghan #yoon jeonghan #jeonghan imagines #jeonghan scenarios

[zoanzon]

A note, to someone I once loved

I’d like to start with saying that you shouldn’t take the first line of this - ‘I once loved’ - to be romantic or sexual, or anything like that. I would count ‘in love with’ to encompass that way of interpreting ‘love’.

I say ‘someone I once loved’ because, despite how it feels sometimes, I don’t think you were the first person I called ‘best friend’, and so this is the next best way of describing what you meant to me. Sometimes, it feels otherwise: L was a friend, and the first friend who I kept in constant contact with electronically, not just catching up whenever we physically saw each other; and KC and S were - are, even if time and distance has somewhat loosened that bond - my closest friends in high school itself, but they became true friends my senior year. By then, I’d met you; and though it started slow, I came to see you as my friend, then something of an odd confidant for worries about what the next year - and the year beyond, potential colleges - might hold.

So in a way its untrue to say you were my first best friend; but you filled that title in a way that the others didn’t. Perhaps it was the oncoming loneliness: going to college for the first time means everyone is in the same place and equally as adrift and without connections. We had kept in contact, that past year: and so when we came in, we came in with a year’s worth of correspondence and - dare I say it - friendship. When dropped in to the loneliness, when scrambling to make new friends with everyone around me dealing with the same worry, to a degree we already had each other. So, I did love you: I loved you as one loves their first best friend, when something inside goes ‘oh; there you are’ for the first time.

Well, that was how I saw it. Perhaps, for you, it was me clinging ever tighter, a limpet that wouldn’t let go. Perhaps where I saw a best friend, the type stories are told about, you saw an annoyance.

Or maybe not. I think part of why this still bites at me so many years later is that not-knowing. Not-knowing just what it was I did wrong, not-knowing for how long whatever I might’ve been doing was hurting, not-knowing just why you decided to break off contact in the end.

Not knowing what I’d done that could make someone I saw as my first best friend to cut off contact, and scared that I would do it to someone else too, that the same thing would break another friendship. After all, if it brought what I’d thought was my first-best-friendship to such a halt, then it could easily kill other friendships.

So, I got anxious. Whether or not that anxiousness caused that wider friend group we were both attached to drive me out while you stayed, or if it was other actions and decisions, I don’t know. But I didn’t know, and so it made me scared; it made me doubt my own perceptions.

If I so-deeply misread this one dynamic, if I somehow managed to not see whatever shattered a year-and-a-half friendship, the first - not the only; but the first, and in most ways the closest - friend I’d made in that new space away, then could I trust my other perceptions regarding my own actions, or how others understood them?

...I’ve digressed. This is not what I wanted to talk about. Relevant, perhaps; but this is not what I meant to write to you.

Somehow, it still hurts. Somehow, I still miss you. Those feelings are painful, and complicated, and mercurial: even a few years ago, I was aware that I had no clue what reaction might occur if you suddenly reached back out. Would I say ‘I have moved on’ and not respond? Would I tentatively see what you wanted, and take things with a welcoming but wary approach? Would I just be so desperately glad to hear from you once again - to have my original best friend back - that I’d leap in without shielding myself from the same pain happening again?

I titled this ‘to someone I used to love’, and I noted at the top that I did not mean so in a romantic or sexual meaning. I will admit: yes, I did ask you out, that first quarter our freshmen year. I didn’t know what those feelings truly were, but I meant it when I’d told you, right after asking you if you would be down to try and do a date, that your friendship meant more to me than any hypothetical ‘further’. Whether you said ‘no’ - as you did - or you said ‘yes’ and we decided after a date that friendship was best, I just wanted to satisfy that niggling voice of ‘but what if?’

“What if, years from now, I wonder ‘would they have said yes?’ What if I wonder what-might-have-been?”

It was a puppy crush, in a way. You were my first best friend; and you were my closest friend in that new setting, who I was with near-constantly. (And I am sorry for that too, how much of that first semester was me stuck to you, rather than finding your place in things alone.) Friend and confidant, and also someone who I found attractive. So yes, I had a puppy crush: and even then, I had just enough anxiety to have that little ‘what if?’ voice in the back of my mind. Hell, I’d had crushes on a good deal of my femme-presenting friends, at one point or another; I was used to my brain getting puppy crushes on friends, then a month or two later settling back into a happy and content friendship.

But I also had grown up on just enough country songs that the idea of ‘looking back on might-have-beens’ was something I was aware of, and you were my best friend. I figured that, for once, I’d actually work up the courage to ask someone out, and I already held you close from being my best friend. Better to just check, one way or another, I figured: if you said no, no harm done, at least I had my answer, and we could go back to the friendship we had before I asked with that hypothetical laid to rest. What was the worst that could happen?

I guess I know, now. I know that, sometimes, that worst-case fear can actually come true.

...Or maybe it was always inevitable. Or maybe this, or maybe that, or maybe something else entirely. I guess I’m still reminiscing might-have-beens, if not the kind I expected; there’s no point trying to wonder where other choices might have led.

...I digressed, again. If, by any luck or leap of faith you end up finding this - that you have read it this far, rather than discarding it - then I would like to say I’m sorry for the length. It’s gone a bit longer than I meant; though I know better than to edit it, to try and condense things.

It’s written to you, but I know you won’t read this. You’ll never see this: I highly doubt you’re on Tumblr, and while it would be worthy of a story or movie - or a bad fanfic - for you to have secretly been one of my followers, I know that you won’t read this. It truly is written for you, but it’s also written for me. It’s written for me to put these thoughts and feelings and messiness in words, so I can try to understand just what it is I feel.

I tried reaching back out, one last time; and while I said that my offer was open-ended, that you could take all the time you wanted before responding - if you decided to respond, rather than ignoring me - I know better than to hope.

I love the idea of leaps of faith, of throwing aside ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’, but I thought that when I decided to broach my stupid question that night so many years ago; and I thought the same when I tried desperately reaching out the start of the next semester, desperately hoping that the month away from school had led to a change in your thoughts or decision.

I asked for C to reach out to you because I figured they would be able to get my message to you, and because you knew my sister too. I came to school knowing you; and I came knowing C and KB too - though I still kick myself over not having gotten their numbers like I got yours, that time we first met; what might have been, had we all been in contact for a full year? ...I guess that’s just another might-have-been - but I met my sister that first week of classes, and so too you knew her for just as long as I did.

I always wanted to have a true and proper ‘friend group’; I always wanted my close friends to be close friends with each other. So, you knew her too, from that first week. Perhaps not as close to her as I was; but you knew my sister from that first week too.

Despite what your friendship became, no matter the shape or the strength of that connection, I would be surprised if you weren’t grieving her too. That’s why I tried reaching out, one last time.

I do still wonder, what it was I did. What it was that meant even now, we can’t come together to properly grieve her; what it was that led you to break ties in the way you did.

And too, I do still wonder what I would do if we re-established communication after all this time; when I gave grieved for how our friendship ended, nearly three times longer than the friendship’s lifespan itself. What would I do, if I saw a text, a voicemail, a Messenger post from you? What would I do if C told me you had a message to convey to me?

But beyond that, you knew her as long as I did: you knew my sister from the first week of our freshman year. And so, I wanted to grieve with you; to set aside whatever it was that caused the rift between us, to come together so we could properly mourn the loss of one of the people we had departed from that first exploration of the abandoned crematorium, that first Urbex trip of our first week of our freshman year.

I reached out, through our mutual friend, and I knew even while I did so that I’d just get silence. I write this mostly to vent, to get my thoughts in order, to try and process just why I still grieve a friendship that has been dead nearly three times as long as the friendship’s lifespan...but I also hope in my heart-of-hearts that you’ll somehow see this, and that I’ll finally hear from you again. To yell at me, to try and figure out how to grieve this loss together, to try and figure out who we are four and a half years down the road and if that time has made it worthwhile to try and mend bridges after so long: I don’t know what would happen, or what I’d want to happen. And so, it is just as it is named: ‘a note, to someone I once loved’, because even while I know you’ll never read this, that it’s for my own benefit, I do hope otherwise.

I know that it won’t happen: life isn’t a story like that.

(I’ve been telling myself that from a month onward, a semester onward, a year onward.

Perhaps some day I’ll actually believe it.)

I reached out through that mutual friend - and I apologize to you, C, if you read this; I apologize for putting you in that awkward position, and for whatever feeling of conflict or discomfort reading this may cause - and I said in the message I asked to be passed on that I won’t try any more.

It’s been four and a half years, since you broke ties. The world seems like its ending, in a way. One of my oldest and best friends - who may not have been close to you, but was still an old connection - has been dead for little over a month.

If time hasn’t healed wounds enough-

-if current events shouting ‘if not now, then when?’ still leaves you choosing ‘not now’-

-if the offer to grieve together for a mutual friend doesn’t hold any weight for you-

then nothing will ever bridge the gap, will it?

So, yes. I might still grieve the loss of my oldest friendship, as well as whatever happened that I still puzzle to truly understand; and I might bitch to the universe in a public way, as this accounts for; but I won’t try and reach out any more.

I told you, as the next semester started, and you barely reacted to my interaction with you: “I don’t understand what happened, but I’ll honor your wish to be left alone.”

I did so for the rest of our time at school, despite the constant conflicting feelings that wished for something to change; and I broke my promise only now, after all this time, partly to offer support in face of grief and partly to try and finally get closure on something that has caused so much pain and confusion and heartbreak. But I’ll keep to my promise: I won’t reach out again.

...I guess I lied, in a way. I titled this ‘to someone I once loved’, but that’s not entirely true.

To an extent, I don’t love you. Your actions may have been understandable, if I was ignorant enough as to how my behavior could have been an issue; I was truly an oblivious numbskull, so it is possible that cutting me off was the objectively right - or at least, an understandable - choice. But they still hurt, hurt so bad, I think I’m right to somewhat hate you for it, even as I simultaneously don’t blame you for making an action which you thought was best for yourself; and so there is an undercurrent of pain, of rage and hate and ‘how could you?’, threaded through the emotional distance that comes from not having interacted with you for so long.

But you were, in some ways, my first best friend; and in that way, I loved you as someone loves a person who they think of as their closest and dearest friend, loved as the first person to truly fit that role inside my life.

I don’t think I can ever stop loving you. I don’t think I can ever stop hoping you’ll reach back out, some day: whether just to explain what happened before blocking me back out, or just to grieve together before blocking me back out, or to see if we can try to rebuild a tentative new friendship after so many years of growing beyond who we had been in that first semester of freshman year.

I know that leaps of faith never work for me. And I’m not going to leap; not again.

But, I guess despite my endless anxious pessimism, I can’t help but keep hoping.

#7/4/20 #for c and k and anyone else who knows in-person me: feel free to reach out if there's something you want to say about this #i don't know what shape that conversation would take; but if you were around for that friendship then you probably have thoughts on this #and no matter what they look like i would welcome hearing them #(in essence: don't worry about feeling like you need to act like you didn't see this) #(don't feel pressured to respond; but I would be willing to hear anything said about this) #(this or anything else that went down during our time in college together) #the monkey speaks #long post

[overwatchworks]

Mcgenji AU Week: Day 3

Mundane AU, university kids 

The alarm was blaring in Genji's ear, and he slapped it groggily, snuggling back into his pillow. His roommate hadn't showed up yet, so he figured he would take advantage of the quiet to sleep in. At least, he thought he would, until there was a loud rapping at his door, chattering and laughter soon following it.

"Genji luv! Hey, if you're still snoozing in there, get up! We got a party to go to, remember? It's almost five!"

A chirpy voice with a British accent floated through the door, and Genji groaned.

"But it's so earlyyyyy..."

There was a chorus of laughter from outside his door and it was shoved open. Four teenagers came bursting into his room, laughing and talking loudly to one another, and Genji squealed, pulling up the covers.

"What the hell you guys?! I could have been naked!"

Lena made a gagging noise, earned an "Aww man, that's gross!" from Lucio, and both Hana and Sombra laughed. Hana jumped onto his bed and shook him roughly, while Lucio turned up the music on his headphones so everyone could hear it. Lena bounded around the room, opening the shades.

"Are you actually naked under there?" Hana asked, popping her bubble gum in Genji's face. Genji smirked and waggled his eyebrows.

"Guess you'll have to find out."

Sombra yanked off the sheets with a wicked grin, phone at the ready. Genji yelped and fell out of the bed, and Sombra pouted at the sweatpants he had on.

"Aww, I thought I'd get a good picture to blackmail you with..."

Genji hopped up and ran a hand through his bedhead, grinning like he hadn't just fallen out of the bed for no reason.

"As if you could! I have no shame."

Lucio raised his brows and nodded, and Hana held up her hand for a high five. Genji slapped their hands together and Lena jumped onto the bed opposite Genji's thoroughly messy one.

"Well, you going to get ready or what?" She chirped, blowing a lock of spiked, chocolatey hair out of her eyes. Genji grabbed his phone and looked at the time, then groaned, noticing the reminder on the front screen.

"Aw, guys, I've got work tonight...Shit, I totally forgot about that..."

"What's this? Genji being responsible?" Lena gasped. Hana chuckled, blowing another bubble.

"As if. He can't even do his homework!"

Genji held up a finger and opened his mouth, but Lucio piped up.

"Nah way guys! I bet he can do it, just gotta give him a bit of encouragement, right?"

Sombra shook her head, scrolling through her phone absently.

"Uh-huh. You go Genji, work while we go and party, rock that job of yours, whatever it is. We'll rock the party for you amigo." She patted his shoulder without looking up from the device in her hands, voice as sarcastic as ever. Genji pouted.

"But I wanna go! We've been looking forward to this all week! It's the last one there is before classes start back up again..."

Hana backed towards the door, shrugging.

"Your fault for getting a job, loser! But you better pay for drinks next time we go out, since you'll be making the big bucks around here."

Lucio followed Hana out, grinning up at Genji.

"Don't worry man, you'll have fun! Just think about the money, if nothin' else!"

Sombra just walked out with an airy wave, and Lena hopped backwards out of the room.

"We'll send you pics, luv! See you later!"

The door clicked shut, and Genji sighed, dragging himself to the bathroom. He grabbed the clothes he would be required to wear; black, tight fitting, nondescript, the ones he chose perhaps a bit tighter than necessary, but Genji would casually ignore that. He ran a brush through his hair and styled it just so, then put in some neon green studs to match his hair. He hummed, looking over himself before snatching up the eyeliner and drawing on just a simple lining around his umber eyes. 

When he was through, he nodded at his reflection and walked out of the bathroom, grabbing the bag he had packed and shoving his phone in his pocket. Genji pulled on his bright orange high topped converse and laced them up, glancing at the clock and cursing. He hopped up and sprinted out of the room, waving and giving hasty greetings to all the people he passed as they tried to stop for a chat.

"Yo! Sorry, work!" He called over his shoulder, then made his way outside.

Genji ran the whole way, making it to the bar just in time for the start of his shift, tossing his bag into the employee's break room and fixing his hair before walking out to start. He'd done bartending before, so he wasn't worried about it, the job came naturally. 

When he walked out, there was another man at the bar, facing the opposite direction, and Genji gave him a once over. Twice over. Couldn't have been more than three times but damn did those skinny jeans look good on him. He was tall, well built and muscled underneath the close fitting black tee he was wearing, chestnut hair tied back in a short ponytail. Genji hopped behind the bar next to him and wrapped a small, black apron around his waist. The man turned to him, raising a brow with a devilish grin.

"Well, it's 'bout time I got some help here. Nice of ya ta stop by, sweetheart." The man's voice was deep, smooth, thick as honey, and just as sweet. Genji stared up at him, probably squeaked an apology, but he couldn't remember. The man had dark brown eyes flecked with gold that shone with mischief and warmth, a spattering of freckles across his tanned skin and a grin that made Genji's heart thud faster than it was supposed to.

"The name's Jesse McCree, but my friend's all call me Jesse. Wouldn't mind if you would too, sweet pea. Care ta give me a hand here?"

Genji nodded quickly, still trying to form coherent sentences, wondering when the last time he of all people had been flustered silly over someone he just met. Normally it was the other way around, him being the first one to say something, flirt, make a move, actually open his mouth and give him a name, idiot.

"I'm Genji, Genji Shimada." He said, voice-surprisingly-not betraying his inner turmoil. Jesse smiled and handed him a glass, eyes taking in his features before dipping down in a quick once over.

"Pleasure ta be workin' with ya, Genji Shimada. Ya mind if I just call ya Gen?"

Genji shook his head, taking the glass and shooting the man a sly look, slipping back into his normal routine.

"Not at all, Jesse. I don't think I could stop you from doing so anyways. Are you new here?"

Jesse poured out two shots and passed them to the customers who had ordered them.

"Oh, nah, I've been here a while, but I just got back from New Mexico for the break. Don't think I've seen yer pretty face 'round here, I woulda remembered otherwise."

Genji’s heart thudded faster at the compliment, but pretended not to notice, playing it cool.

"So you're a university student, hm? What a coincidence that I happen to be one as well. What grade are you in?"

Jesse raised a brow and looked over at Genji, who was casually cleaning out some glasses and putting them back under the counter. The taller man grinned.

"This'll be my second year. Ya look like a fish ta me, if I had ta take a guess."

Genji frowned and looked up at Jesse.

"A fish...?"

Jesse laughed, deep and rolling, making Genji shiver slightly.

"Just a nickname fer freshman, first year. Ya an exchange student, or studyin' abroad?"

"Yes, my brother and I are here from Japan. We're studying abroad, but we have a business back at home we'll be working for."

Jesse nodded, filling a glass to the brim perfectly with golden, bubbly beer and slid it to a waiting hand.

"Oooh, so yer one of them privileged rich boys, ain'tcha? Go ta a buncha parties and have fun all the time, yeah? Kind of like yer ‘must-have-life-of-the-party kinda guy’?"

Genji glared at Jesse, suddenly on the defensive, even if it was true.

"Yes, so? Is that such a bad thing? And I'm not a stereotypical anything!"

Jesse glanced over and grinned wolfishly.

"Never said ya were, sweetie. I'm thinkin' it's actually quite the opposite."

Genji's expression quickly changed and he glanced at Jesse with a sultry smirk.

"I think you might find I'm full of surprises, Jesse."

Jesse whistled and raised his brows, picking some of the liquor off the shelves and setting them on the counter in front of him.

"I'm sure I would..." He muttered, and Genji accidentally, definitely accidentally, bumped their hips lightly as he moved past the other man to grab a glass he may or may not have actually needed. He smirked at Jesse and took the money and order of another person sitting across the bar. Jesse just shook his head and continued to make the drinks he was working on. However, Genji did notice a faint flush in the taller man's cheeks, and he smiled triumphantly to himself.

The rest of the night went by faster than Genji thought, not getting too many chances to talk again with Jesse as the business picked up with the progression of the night. Before he knew it, he and Jesse were wiping out glasses, washing, and putting them away. Genji leaned over and wiped down the bar, scooting the chairs back in place and picking up stray receipts. Jesse took off his half apron and started cashing in the money that wasn't his in tips.

"Ya go on ahead an' get back. I'll close everythin' up here, don' worry."

He scribbled something down on the back of an old receipt and walked up behind Genji as the smaller man pulled of his apron as well with a grateful sigh. Genji almost squeaked when he felt a hand slip into his back pocket, leaving the scrap of paper and a squeeze, and he whipped around. Jesse smirked and walked past him, going to the doors and locking them, pulling down the shades as well.  

"Better head back, sugarplum. This is probably a one time offer, so get on outta here while ya can, mkay?"

Genji huffed, resisting the urge to check his pocket and what was on the receipt, and walked to the employee's room.

"Thanks, Jesse. See you around, maybe up at the university?"

"I'll be lookin' forward ta it! G'night Gen." Jesse called, and Genji pushed open the back door, heading into the early morning darkness. He checked his phone, which read four thirty in the morning, and saw that it had been blown up with messages and pictures from his friends. Genji scowled as he scrolled through them, still wishing he could have gone with them. 

Then he remembered the slip of paper in his back pocket, and he hastily pulled it out, unfolding it in the process. Jesse had written his number on the back of the receipt, with a little message reading, "Care to keep in touch, sugar?" and a little heart after it. Genji knew he was grinning like an idiot, and he quickly saved the phone number under a new contact labeled, “Hot Stuff” with a smirking emoji. He suddenly felt that maybe missing the party was worth it.

Genji got back to the dorm and showered as soon as he could, exhausted. He changed into a pair of sweat pants and shoved a toothbrush into his mouth, debating on what to send Jesse. He decided to go with something simple.

'Hey. You lock up and get back safe?'

The reply came almost immediately.

'Aww, you care about me! I'm touched sugar. 😚'

Genji rolled his eyes and snorted, spitting out the toothpaste and rinsing out his mouth. This man was absolutely ridiculous, and he couldn’t say he didn’t like it.

'Well, yeah, you did me a favour.'

'Betcha it's more than that. 😉😏'

Suppressing an exasperated sigh and a smile, he wandered back into the room and flopped back on his still unmade bed, holding up his phone and curling his legs up in the air.

'We'll see about that.'

He heard footsteps from down the hall, but dismissed it in favour of reading the text that popped up.

'Well, it wasn't a no! Making me a happy man sweetheart.'

Genji laughed and rolled to his side, eyes drooping a bit, but heart thudding a little faster than normal at the continued use of pet names.

'Oh?? Bet I can make you more than just a happy man. I'm exhausted though, I might have to get to bed soon...'

There was a small pause before the next message popped up.

'Noooooo! Don't leave me by my lonesome! 😭😭'

Genji snorted at the excessive use of emoji's, finding it oddly fitting.

'Well, are you almost back to your dorm, or wherever you're staying?'

There was a faint rustling outside in the hallway, and the reply popped up.

'Yeah, new dorm here. I just came back, so hopefully I don't have some idiot snoring all night like last time.'

Genji chuckled and was about to type something back when the lock on the door clicked. His head snapped up and he frowned, looking back at the texts. No way. The door opened and Jesse walked in, using his phone screen as a flashlight. Genji's eyes widened and he stifled a noise that was half way between a squeak and a gasp. Jesse tossed a suitcase under the bed, shutting the door and turning at the sound.

"Oh, sorry if I woke ya, I got a job bartendin' in town--" He stopped abruptly when the light of the phone caught on Genji's neon green hair.

"Holy shit. No way..."

Genji could hear the grin in the other man's voice, and he gave a two fingered salute.

"Yo! Guess we're roommates! What a coincidence."

"No kiddin'. Nice ta see ya again so soon, roomie."

The two of them burst out laughing in unison.

~~

#mcgenjiauweek #day 3 #university/college au #mcgenji #jesse mccree #genji shimada #lucio correia dos santos #lena oxten #hana song #sombra/olivia colomar #they're bartenders too yay #WhiskeyWrites #fanfic #long post #McGenjiAUWeek #sfw

[sequoiann]

by a thread

pairing; seventeen seungkwan x reader genre; angst, soulmate!au, ft. bestfriend vernon word count: 5.1k

synopsis; the ring finger of soulmates are connected by a red string. some people can see them but some can’t --- seungkwan can see them, but you can't. that means you never know whose string yours is connected to --- and that's pretty much the only way to find your significant other. if one soulmate dies, the threads will slowly turn black and fade away.

Your eighteen-year-old self sat drearily in your seat in the lecture hall, body slumped slightly as you rested your arms on the small little black table that was fixed to the chair. The pads of your left index finger and thumb gently rubbed themselves on the lower region of your right ring finger as you tried to picture how it would look if a red thread coiled around it like how it did around your friends' fingers.

The red string was something that would gradually appear as one grows older, but there is no specific age whereby one would be able to see the string. Some people claim that theirs had appeared at the age of a mere seven years old, while some others' strings only came into view at the age of thirty. People were indirectly classified into three categories --- the first being a group of people who had their strings solidified by the time they are 12, the second being a group who had their strings solidified at ages above twelve, and for the rest --- the third category that included you --- people who simply, and unluckily, do not have the ability to see the string with their two eyes. The third category has an unbelievably small population, you were told.

Vernon, your best friend, caught you going into a daze with your eyes fixated on your almost un-ordinarily empty finger. He grabs your hand and pulls it away from the other. You jumped slightly at his abrupt gesture and yanked your arm away almost too harshly, holding it to your chest as if he had just attempted to rip your arm out of its sockets. 

"What?" you asked, your eyes looking at him up-down. 

"What?" he parroted, his eyes reflecting surprise and disbelief at your seemingly exaggerated reaction. "Stop staring at your finger like that!" 

You blinked, noticing that you were subconscious about the fact that you were doing that. 

"I was just daydreaming," you defended. 

Vernon nods his head his mock belief. "Yeah, yeah." 

You rolled your eyes and lightly nudged him to the side. You suddenly became really sheepish as a visual craving popped into your mind. 

"Hey, Vernon?" you said in a soft voice, your eyes turning back to the lecturer every once in a while to make sure you don't get scolded for 'disrupting the class'. Mr. Bons wasn't very tolerant of his students talking during his lecture. 

"Hmm?" he hums, his fingers doing some fancy pen-twirling thing. His eyes stayed glued to the front of the auditorium, but he leaned slightly closer to you to show that he was listening. 

"Can I see yours again?" you asked, a meek smile playing on your lips. Red strings were invisible to others' eyes, unless the owner grants the opposite party permission to see it. 

"Y/N!" Vernon exclaims in a hushed tone, his focus breaking off the lecture. "You saw it just before the lecture started!" 

"Which was an hour ago!" you retorted.

"Those two students at the side," you hear Mr. Bons bellow, making you and Vernon jolt in shock and sit upright, facing the front again. 

"If you two would like to have to have your own little conversation, it'd be favorable to all of us if you stepped out," Mr. Bons said. "Would you like to?" His voice wasn't raised, but for some reason that made everything seem scarier and more... intense. The eyes of the students in the hall that were settled on you two were not helping either.

"No, Mr. Bons. We apologize," Vernon spoke, bowing slightly. Mr. Bons shoots you two another piercing glare before returning to his lecture. A chuckle couldn't help but bubble itself out of your mouth, and Vernon nudges you as a gesture to shut you up, but you could see the corners of his lips turned up too.

The lecture ended another hour later, and you and Vernon exited the auditorium with childish shoves and blame-pinning on who got who into trouble with Mr. Bons previously. You were still bent on seeing his soulmate string again, though --- it was like a drug; you couldn't get enough of it. 

Vernon sighed (not tiredly) and held his hand out to you, the relatively thick and solid red thread fading into view. You loved seeing the way it coiled around the length of his ring finger like a vine looped around a tree, leaving gaps at his finger joints so that Vernon could bend his finger without any restrains caused by the string. 

"Nice," you muttered, brushing your fingers across it, before it disappears again. 

You whine. "Vernon!" 

He smiles smugly, shrugging as he walked along. You sulked and followed. 

"Why are you always so unwilling to show it to me?" you asked, tightly hugging your moderately thick stack of notes to your chest. 

"Because you always become like that," Vernon said pointedly. 

"Like what?" 

"That," he said, his eyes looking to your pouted lips as he nodded towards it. "All whiny and sulky and sad." 

"I'm not sad," you huffed, crossing your arms under your stack of notes. "I just find it unfair that I can't see mine." 

Vernon smiles slightly. "Don't worry, you'll still find him. That's for sure. I'll help." 

You scoffed. It wasn't that you didn't trust Vernon and/or his words, it was just easier said than done. The possibility was really near zero.

"Have you heard?" Vernon asked, pushing the greens on his plate to the side as you two sat in the canteen. You teasingly pushed them back into the rice portion, mixing them up slightly.

"Eat up," you smiled, ignoring Vernon's narrowed eyes at you as you dug into your own food. "You were saying?"

"Seungkwan's coming back," he told you, and you thought you heard him wrong. You quickly gulped down your mouthful of food so that you could speak.

"Seungkwan? Boo Seungkwan?" you queried. Vernon nods in confirmation. Seungkwan used to study in the school you were in during freshman year, but he had transferred schools by the second year due to his parents' work, you had heard. You never knew him personally, but everyone in the school would've known of the name Boo Seungkwan --- he was quite popular for his easy-going-ness and his humorous personality. You never actually met him properly before, though. You've only seen him a few times on campus across the field or something. 

"I thought he left the province," you said. 

Vernon nods. "He did, apparently. But his parents decided to come back since their business isn't improving much there and Seungkwan likes it better here," Vernon said, putting a spoonful of rice into his mouth. "These are all rumors from the other kids, though. I'm not sure." 

Your mouth formed the shape of an 'o'. 

"And they also said Seungkwan's joining our main class, since they've mixed the classes up from freshman year. He can't exactly go back to his 'original class'," Vernon said pointedly, shrugging. "But then again, all rumors. We'll have to see tomorrow."

You pursed your lips --- you weren't very sure if you liked the idea of having someone new in your class. You've already grown accustomed to the current bunch, and a popular kid being thrown in seemed unnormal to you.

Your busy and packed schedule the next day made you nearly forget about the unsubstantial story about Seungkwan's arrival. Your class was in the middle of History, when you heard buzzing outside from the students from other classes who were seemingly having their break. Heads turned and you caught sight of the 'hot topic' stopping in front of your classroom door --- Seungkwan. He was nearly unrecognizable to you at first glance, but the way his teeth showed and the way his eyes turned to mini crescents when he smiled was still the same. He lost weight, that's for sure --- the chubbiness in his cheeks were less prominent now, and his hair had been dyed into a darker shade of medium ash brown. He donned a slightly oversized maroon hoodie, his bag slung over one shoulder.

"Oh, Seungkwan, you're here," your History teacher, Mr. Walter spoke, before Seungkwan had a chance to introduce himself. Seungkwan stopped in a half-bow in slight surprise. 

"Good afternoon, Mr. Walter," Seungkwan greeted, much to Mr. Walter's delight that he had remembered his name even after these few years. Seungkwan was directed to the empty seat behind you, since you were seated in the second last row of the classroom. You were never one who took seats at the front --- you didn't have to make it more difficult for yourself and get caught for dozing off in class. Vernon was actually the opposite, which explains why his notes always end up with you for at least 3 days.

Seungkwan took his seat behind you after fist-bumping a couple of students whom he was friends with while walking past them, and you found yourself shifting such that you were sitting upright. You told yourself to ignore the fact that he was literally right behind you, but you internally didn't want to come off as a bad and/or lazy student to him. After all, you are going to have to be his classmate for the whole of the next school year. 

You found yourself forcing your eyes to stay open through the two-hour lesson, your entire body starting to feel sore from being so tense. You'd usually just slump into your seat. But the lesson finally passed, and you had time to break out of your 'trance' and stretch as almost everybody crowded around Seungkwan and asking him how he's doing and whatnot. Even Vernon did, and you narrowed your eyes at him, pressing your lips into a line. He simply chuckled, pushing his shoulders up slightly as he cocked his head to a side. 

"I'm just being a sociable kid," he said, and you merely shook your head. 

The day went by slower than usual, but towards the end of the day's classes you just laid your head down on the table, but you still did listen to whatever the teachers were saying. When the last class ended, you felt the need to pop some confetti and throw a party --- you actually sat through the day's lesson without sleeping. 

"Hey." 

You continued packing your bag, stuffing your pencil case and books into your bag, which was placed on your lap. 

"Um, Y/N?" 

You frowned and stopped, turning around to the voice. Seungkwan was leaned forward on his desk, looking at you, and that only made you confused. 

You pointed an unsure finger at yourself. "Me?" 

Seungkwan nods, his innocent, child-like smile playing on his lips. "Yeah. That's your name, right?" 

You nod. "You know me?"

"Well, I believe we did attend the same lectures before," Seungkwan reminded, chuckling. "Though we're always on opposite ends of the auditorium. And I've seen you walking around campus too." 

"Oh," you said slowly, trying to recall if you actually ever took the same lectures as he did. As far as you remembered, you two were never in the same room before; but maybe that was just your short-term memory playing its cards on you. "I see." 

Seungkwan hums. "We’ve never actually talked though. So hi, I'm Seungkwan," he said, extending a hand to you, his lips pressed in a smile that resembled a seal's.

You chuckled at the similarity, shaking his outreached hand which was soothingly soft and warm. "Everyone knows," you muttered, not rudely. "You already know too, but hi, I'm Y/N."

Seungkwan giggles, and you couldn't help but mirror the ray of sunshine painted all over his face. "You've changed quite a bit," he told you, crossing his arms on the table. 

"I did?" 

He nodded. "You actually stayed awake through the whole day," he teased. "You used to be sprawled all over your desk during classes. Napping." 

You widened your eyes, feeling the tips of your ears tingle as blood rushed up your neck. How did he know? You didn't exactly sleep during lectures.

"I've passed your classroom a few times during freshman year," he explained, reading the question in your head off from your expression. "You're always in the window seat." 

You chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the nape of your neck. 

"The desk must be comfortable for you to always sleep so soundly on," Seungkwan said mockingly, lying down on the table, pressing his cheek onto the tabletop.

You laughed aloud. "It is, actually." 

Seungkwan clicks his tongue and sits back up, pressing his fingers to his cheek that was in contact with the table. "Not my type."

You laughed again at his statement, shaking your head. 

"Y/N!"

You turned around and saw Vernon with his backpack slung over both his shoulders, ready to go. He raises a reminding eyebrow when he sees you talking to Seungkwan.

"Dinner?" 

"Oh, right," you said, quickly shoving the rest of your items into your bag as you zipped it up, standing up and glancing over to Seungkwan. 

"I'll see you tomorrow, Seungkwan," you said as a goodbye. 

Seungkwan nods, waving as he stood up to take his leave too. "See you tomorrow, Y/N." 

"Actually," Vernon started out of the blue, and you looked up at him, expecting him to be directing his words at you. However, he was looking at Seungkwan instead. 

Seungkwan blinks, tugging on his bag strap as he turned his body to face Vernon. 

"Do you wanna join us for a meal?" Vernon suggested, and you widened your eyes, subtly nudging him so that Seungkwan wouldn't see your aggressive action.

"Why would you---" you muttered under your breath with gritted teeth, only speaking loud enough for Vernon to hear. Inviting Boo Seungkwan for a meal? It's his first day back, he'd definitely have his evening schedule packed.

"It's okay if you don't have time," you quickly added in. "We know you're busy."

Seungkwan laughs, shaking his head. "I'm free, actually. So sure, I'd be glad to."

Vernon smiles, almost proudly. 

Unexpectedly, Seungkwan became part of you and Vernon's two-man group. It wasn't just you and Vernon skipping unimportant classes together anymore --- it was you, Vernon and Seungkwan playing truant together. The two-seater table at the corner of the canteen that you and Vernon always took during lunch breaks was no longer used --- round tables or four-seater ones replaced that to make space for Seungkwan. 

Like that, two became three. 

Everything really did become brighter in the presence of Seungkwan --- it made you understand why he was so popular. He can literally make a serious situation become light-hearted and entertaining, and sometimes it would get you three into deep trouble, but it didn't really matter. There was something about his personality that was just so playful and bubbly, you can never not smile when you're around him. He was really the best friend you could find --- after Vernon, of course. You wouldn't forget Vernon. Vernon was the peacemaker of the group. You and Seungkwan were the ones who would do everything with a strong, burning passion --- and more often than not, too much of that. Vernon always has to make sure that no one dies when you and Seungkwan plan to go to amusement parks to replace the free time during skipped lessons. 

Vernon even teased you about neglecting him at times, ever since Seungkwan became a part of your little clique, as Seungkwan's dormitory room was actually closer to yours than Vernon's was. And that meant that your mornings were always greeted by a chirpy voice belonging to Seungkwan, and you two would walk to class together. But you knew Vernon wasn't actually hurt about it --- he wasn't that petty.

However, half a year passed and Vernon had to move. You literally felt the feeling of betrayal surge through your body at that point in time when the news was revealed to you and Seungkwan. Apparently, the reason was that his parents are convinced that Vernon would never find his soulmate in the state he was in. He'd been out and about quite often, and his parents were the kind who wanted him to have a stable future. Seungkwan reacted before you did after Vernon spilled the beans, shoving Vernon childishly, before starting to fake-cry and whining really loud. Vernon was still being all smiley and cheery, though, because he promised that he'd be in contact and he'd come back every once in a while. 

"Can't leave you two alone," he had said teasingly. "You'd burn down the entire school." 

You took his word for that, but you couldn't help but feel a little empty once he actually moved away. Not a 'little', actually. You felt pretty damn hollow.

Three became two again. 

The two of you started to take that two-seater table at the corner of the cafeteria during lunch breaks, and only two empty seats were in class whenever you two were absent --- most of the time somewhere in the arcade. But Seungkwan, being the sweetheart he was, really made up for the empty spot that Vernon had left behind, and you noticed that he had seemed to inherit some of Vernon's motherly traits. He always indirectly made sure you weren't skipping meals, but sometimes he just overfeeds you. If you have eaten but he hasn't, then it is equal to you not having eaten your meal yet, for Seungkwan never likes eating by himself. He also always makes sure that you don't get injured while running around like a headless chicken --- and you do that a lot, especially after long days at school. You played your part in taking care of him too, of course --- Seungkwan was one to trip over air and then start laughing to himself even though raw scratches were visible on his knee, really. 

You had also gradually come to know about the fact that he hadn't found his soulmate yet, and like the majority of the world's population, he did have the ability to see the red string around his finger. You've seen it a couple times, and it was a different shade of red compared to Vernon's. The red on Seungkwan's thread was softer, while Vernon's was more of a crimson shade. After you had told Seungkwan that you didn't have the ability to see your own red thread, he had frowned a little but you two didn't stay on the subject for long.

The year ended faster than you thought it would, and your family had planned a vacation to Genting Highlands, which was a theme park situated at the top of a mountain. It was going to be a 5-day stay, and Seungkwan had jokingly complained about you not bringing him along. He had never been to that place, but you, on the other hand, had been there a couple of times since you were a toddler. 

"You'd have to take a car up the mountain, right?" Seungkwan asked, scrolling through his phone of the images that he had Googled as he sat in your room at your actual house. You were packing your luggage for the trip and Seungkwan casually came over.

"Yeah," you said, seated on the floor too, rolling your clothes up so that there was more space for them to fit in the bag. "We're taking a bus, actually. My dad doesn't want to risk driving up by himself."

Seungkwan chuckles. "I thought he said he was a good driver."

You laughed, shrugging. "On the road, that is. He'd have to turn a lot on the mountains. The road isn't simple. You should see it for yourself someday. It's really nice once you get past the roads, though."

Seungkwan nonchalantly lies down, resting his head on your lap as he scrolled through more photos of the said place. You smile to yourself and briefly ruffled his hair before you continued folding your clothes, stuffing them into a ziplock bag before placing that into the luggage. 

"It says it's really cold at Genting," Seungkwan pointed out, and you nod. 

"Not very, but yeah. We're literally touching the clouds up there," you told him, chuckling. 

"Then what's with your short-sleeved clothes that you packed?" he asked, scorning. 

"I tolerate the cold well, Seungkwan," you argued. "It's really not as bad as you think."

Seungkwan pays no attention to your words and stands up, going through your closet and pulling out long-sleeved clothing.

"Bring these instead!" he exclaimed, removing them from their hangers and throwing them in your direction.

"Are you trying to die of hyperthermia, you small, little bean? You think you can withstand cold? No, you can't," Seungkwan sneered, placing them in your bag before you could stop him as he mentioned something about how you were tugging at his coat the other day when you guys were out and you were cold because you had underdressed.

You stared at him, removing the sweater piece that had landed on your head and stifling your laughter at his attempted insult. “You’re adorably annoying.” 

“I know, now continue packing. And don’t you dare remove those clothes I put in.” 

You left for Genting Highlands two days later with your flight being in the morning. Despite that, Seungkwan came to the airport and sent you off with a bright half-hearted smile, waving to you at the airport and then making faces once you checked in, a glass pane separating the both of you. Seungkwan then went home, and he simply anticipated your return in five days. 

Those five days --- ended up not to be five days. 

When Seungkwan heard the words "Genting" come from the television in his living room, he immediately brisk-walked from where he was --- the kitchen --- to the living room. The anchor on the news seemed particularly serious about the report, and Seungkwan immediately grabbed the controller, turning up the volume so that her words weren't so muffled. 

"The tour bus had departed to Genting Highlands at 4pm this evening, but it has been reported that the bus driver was unsober, resulting in the unstable driving and overturning of the bus which had fallen off the steep and curved mountain roads. The bus was carrying 23 passengers, all reported to have sustained serious injuries, except for 9 of them who are suffering from minor external wounds. All victims have been sent to the nearest hospital and are currently receiving treatment. The driver..."

The controller in Seungkwan's hands slipped out of his loosened grip as his tears started to fill his eyes, his lips quivering as horribly scary thoughts raced through his messed up mind. The image behind the anchor showed the broken pieces and debris of the severely damaged bus. Your name was continuously recited in his mind like a silent mantra. He quickly grabbed his phone, dialing your number as he placed the phone to his ear. 

The number you have dialed is not in service. Please...

Seungkwan roughly ends the call, re-entering your number into the dial pad. He knew the call would get through even though you were overseas. When the same words echoed from the phone, he shuts his eyes and bites down on his lip, hot tears pouring down his cheeks as he dialed another number --- your mother's. Then your father's. The same robotic voice comes through instead of whatever he wanted to hear --- the simple beep of someone picking up the phone and the voice of yours or your parents'.

Seungkwan speedily dials a different number, which was pretty much his last hope.

Beep.

"Hello?"

Seungkwan's heart was racing, his hands shaking, his palms clammy. "Vernon..."

Seungkwan took hours to get to wherever you were, and throughout the whole thing, he was repeatedly praying that the bus wasn’t the one that you were in. The trip was filled with random bursts of silent tears on the plane during the flight or on the bus. Vernon had freaked out after receiving the news from Seungkwan, but Vernon managed to keep his calm and cooled the desperate Seungkwan down a little. He was making his way to you too, but Seungkwan knew that it would take longer for Vernon to reach the destination. Seungkwan had found out which hospital the bus victims were sent to, fortunately.

Once Seungkwan reached the hospital, he immediately ran to the information counter, his eyes now puffy and bloodshot.

“The bus,” he lisped, breathless. “The bus that was on the way up to Genting. That accident. The injured people were brought here, right?”

The redhead counter lady frowns slightly, nodding.

“Did a girl get sent in too? She’s around 5’4, brown hair,” Seungkwan said, his arms frantically moving about as he described your features, recalling the outfit that you were wearing when you waved goodbye to him at the departure hall. “She’s wearing a beige sweater.”

The frown on the lady’s face deepens as she recalled the bloody scene when the victims got brought into the hospital, and she apologizes. “I’m sorry, we’re not allowed to…”

“Please,” Seungkwan cut her off, pleading as he placed his arms on the raised countertop, his head bowing for a moment before he looked back up. “She’s my friend, please.”

The lady hesitated, but relented in the end.

“What’s your friend’s name? I can check the records.”

Seungkwan let out a breath of half-hearted relief. It was ironic, really. He was comforted that the lady was willing to help him, but on the other hand, if your name was indeed found in the registered records…

“Y/N. Y/F/N.”

The counter lady types in your name into the computer, and her eyes briefly scanned through the monitor before she looks back up at Seungkwan, her expression falls subtly, reflecting sympathy and pity. “Room 104, level 3…” she said, trailing off as she considered adding a few more words. “You should hurry.”

Seungkwan ran even faster than he did when he got here. He didn’t even wait for the elevator, he just darted up the six flights of starts, dashing down the hallways of wards and muttering apathetic ‘sorry’s to the people whom he had accidentally bumped into, barely avoiding the other people in his way.

When he finally neared Room 104, he slowed down to a jog, stopping in front of your ward door. His hands suddenly seemed to lack the strength to just push open the door and go inside to see you, whom he had traveled miles for. He glimpsed inside and saw you. Was it you? He questioned even that. A large, white bandage was wrapped around your head, your chocolate-colored hair flowing over that, and a cervical collar around your neck as you rested uncomfortably, stiffly on the pillow behind you, your eyes shut close and an oxygen mask was pulled over your nose and mouth. Tubes were poking out of your arms. Both large and small scratches and cuts were visible all over your exposed skin, with angry red remnants of dried blood.

With shaky, pale hands, Seungkwan pushed the sliding door open and stepped in, closing it behind him. Seungkwan walked over to your bedside and squeezed already sore eyes shut, the beads of tears replacing his dried ones as he saw you in the state you were in.

“Y/N…” he sobbed, dropping to his knees beside you, taking your limp hand in both of his and clasping it tightly. Your fingers remained flaccid, not holding his hands back.

“Come back safe, okay?” he had said repeatedly, pulling you into a hug.

“Yes, yes, you naggy grandpa,” you chuckled, wrapping your arms around Seungkwan.

“I’m just being a concerned friend!” he retorted. “Really though, promise you’ll come back safe with no injuries or whatnot! I won’t stand that!”

“Yes, Mr. Boo! I promise!” you said astoundingly, laughing as Seungkwan pouted cutely.

Seungkwan’s tears couldn’t --- wouldn’t --- stop. “You promised, Y/N,” Seungkwan cried, burying his face in the sheets of your bed that smelled unfamiliarly like iodoform; the smell that all hospitals had. “I haven’t told you that I love you, Y/N, please.” 

Your fingers suddenly twitched ever so slightly, and Seungkwan shot his head up, his eyes on your face. Your expression remained monotone and unchanged, but your fingers slowly and weakly closed themselves around Seungkwan’s. Seungkwan’s eyes widened and he could feel the adrenaline and hope surge through him. “Y/N.” 

But that only happened for a brief period of time, as the next moment your fingers loosened its grip again, and a loud sound filled the room. The heart rate monitor beside your bed had a continuous beep sound, one after the next, as if a city truck was backing up on the street, alerting anyone nearby ---  almost verbally telling everyone of the urgency; Seungkwan didn’t even have time to react. Then just out of nowhere the monitor changed its tone --- this time the sound was constant. No breaks in between the beeps. Just a long, flat piercing sound that penetrated Seungkwan’s eardrums. A sharp burning pain was felt all over his ring finger, and the originally bright red thread coiled around it faded into black. The black wasn’t a color --- it was nothing, a void --- dull with an almost powdery sheen. Then it just disintegrates.

The monitor had flatlined.

You were gone. You, Seungkwan’s oblivious soulmate.

You were the person who held Seungkwan’s hands when he was cold even though it didn’t help much, and he would whine about how you were cold too. And then that would result in you two huddling together like penguins, with you squealing sometimes because he always used that as an opportunity to tickle you.

You were the person who crept into his room at night to bring him soup when he was sick, or stuff like seasoned chicken --- his favorite --- when he wasn’t. You would put yourself at risk of being caught by the patrolling teachers, but your little trip was always successful. You and Seungkwan would just sneak out together sometimes, and end up as a giggly mess when you two barely avoided the guards or teachers.

But now, there was no more ‘you’. Seungkwan now sits alone at lunch, even though he doesn’t like being alone, and usually buys instant food for dinner, even though he can practically hear you reprimanding him for being unhealthy. He’d rub his two palms together and stuff them in his pockets when it was cold. He’d have to treat his own wounds when he ‘trips over air’ and injures himself. You were no longer there to chide him for getting hurt, or shush him when he whines while you apply the yellowish medication to his wounds.

And two became one.

#seventeen #seventeen angst #seventeen scenarios #seventeen seungkwan #seungkwan scenarios #seungkwan #boo seungkwan #seungkwan imagines

[danithebookaholic-blog]

An Audio Book Extra

The Goldfinch

By Donna Tartt; Narrated by David Pittu

Over the last few years I have come across and, rather quickly, dismissed The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I can give no reason as to why, but for some reason I would see it sitting on a shelf, and then move on to the next book or item beside it. I never picked it up to hold it in my hands. I never turned it over to read the synopsis on the back cover. I never brushed my fingers along the golden feathers of the little finch that so much of the book is about. I simply saw it, judged it, and moved on. 

What made me buy it all of a sudden on Audible, again, I can't explain, but I'm happy that I did. The book kind of disappeared from view for me for a while and then all of sudden, there is was again, back in my life, much like the goldfinch does with Theodore Decker, the main character and narrator of the story. 

And since beginning this book - I won't lie, it has taken me a couple months to get through it - it has arisen time and time again since. Every time I have stepped into a bookstore, an airport, or even the supermarket, there it is, staring at me. 

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Some History:

Donna Tartt is an American writer who received critical acclaim for her first two novels, The Secret History and The Little Friend, which have been translated into thirty languages. Tartt was the 2003 winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for The Little Friend. Her novel The Goldfinch won the Pulitzer Prize in 2014.  The daughter of Don and Taylor Tartt, she was born in Greenwood, Mississippi but raised 32 miles away in Grenada, Mississippi. At age five, she wrote her first poem, and she first saw publication in a Mississippi literary review at age 13. Enrolling in the University of Mississippi in 1981, she pledged to the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. Her writing caught the attention of Willie Morris while she was a freshman. Following a recommendation from Morris, Barry Hannah, then an Ole Miss Writer-in-Residence, admitted Tartt into his graduate short story course where, stated Hannah, she ranked higher than the graduate students. Following the suggestion of Morris and others, she transferred to Bennington College in 1982, where she was friends with fellow students Bret Easton Ellis, Jill Eisenstadt, and Jonathan Lethem. At Bennington she studied classics with Claude Fredericks.  She divides her time between Virginia and New York City. (source)

The Synopsis:

It begins with a boy. Theo Decker, a thirteen-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his unbearable longing for his mother, he clings to one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art. As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love-and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle. The Goldfinch combines vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and suspense, while plumbing with a philosopher's calm the deepest mysteries of love, identity, and art. It is an old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention, and the ruthless machinations of fate. (source)

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The Review & Wrap-Up:

Let me start this review by saying that I gave this book a 4 out of 5 star rating with Audible. I gave it this rating for one reason, and that one reason is why I both liked and disliked this book: the imagery. 

Donna Tartt definitely did her research before writing this beautiful story. The amount of detail that she puts into this book was borderline Stephen King detail, but in a very good way. While King usually puts in too much detail, Tartt put in just enough for you to close your eyes and feel as if you're in the same room with Theo. Smelling the same smells, hearing the same sounds, having the same experiences. Her imagery made me want to visit New York during winter time; go to an antique store and look at the dovetail cut of a nineteenth century chest of drawers. It even gave me a wanting to go and try hard recreational drugs at one point! No worries, I did not, and don't actually plan to. But the details that she puts into these scenes makes you want to try these experiences for yourself to see if what she has written really happen in that way. 

But this extreme detailed imagery is also what will lose a lot of readers. The extensive detail of the history and brush strokes of a single corner of a single painting will wear on a reader after a while, especially if they are not into art - which this book deals with a lot! While I am a lot like Theo's mother, someone who can go to a museum and look at the fine brush strokes of a single painting for 20 minutes - that is as long as Jack is not with me - most people in today's society are a lot more like Jack, and would much rather the fast-20-minute-breeze-through-the-museum-tour instead.  

I enjoyed this book. There were times that I did get bored, or even a little lost because Theo would go off on some side description of some obscure thing, but over all I really enjoyed this book. However, I would not recommend it to everyone. If you enjoy art, imagery, history and a little crazyness and drama, then yes, you should pick up this book. If you enjoy something a little more straight forward (and don't enjoy any of the aforementioned items) then no. Move on, and don't let this goldfinch continue to haunt you like it did me or Theo.

 From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani

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Pair it with: Arrière-ban Appellation Lussac-St. Émilion Contrôlée, Red blend of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot.

Arrière-ban, or “call to arms” in French, is a befitting name for this Lussac-St.-Émilion wine, sourced from vineyards that were once the site of the Hundred Years' War. Sophisticated, rich and concentrated, the wine is built to last, prominently displaying black-fruit flavors of cherry and currant on the palate. Save this one for a special occasion and be sure to serve it with richly marbled meats to capture its full glory. Pairs with: beef, grilled red meats, marinated red meats, prime rib. (TR Wines)

Start a conversation: Have you ever had an object take such hold of you that it haunted you? What did you do to get it to let go?

Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.

#the goldfinch #donna tartt #audible #the secret history #the little friend #wh smith literary award #pulitzer prize #pulitzer prize winner #greenwood mississippi #grenada mississippi #university of mississippi #kappa kappa gamma #willie morris #barry hannah #bret easton ellis #jill eisenstadt #jonathan lethem #bennington college #stephen king #arriere-ban #red wine #red blend wine #cabernet franc #malbec #merlot

[bbwoulfc]

Rough Housing Ch. 2

Tikki is just a sweet character I swear. And Adrien and Marinette are just adorable as fuck and way too innocent....well, maybe.

You can read more here: http://archiveofourown.org/works/7297537/chapters/16574029

Chapter Two: Meet Your Residence Don

Walking through the electronic sliding doors of the dorm’s entrance, the four enter the large area of the lobby.  The lobby was nice in appearance.  The front desk on one side where students could check out rental equipment, movies, games, pay rent, and work orders for any issues that occur in residents’ rooms.  Across from the front desk in the other corner of the lobby stood two couches and two chairs, and a television to keep those waiting entertained.

Seeing the security guard situated near the entrance, the four take out their IDs and display them to the security guard to ensure that they were residents of the building.  Giving the young adults a nod, the four thank the officer and continue their way across the lobby towards the courtyard.

Exiting through one of the lobby doors, they enter into the nearest first floor hallway and make their way towards the elevator.  Stepping in the elevator, the four head up to the fourth floor, arriving on the south/east side of the building.

Hearing the ding of the elevator, everyone exits onto the fourth floor as Marinette and Alya lead the boys towards the south hallway where their apartment’s located.

“Where are your rooms located?”  Asked Marinette to the two boys, both her and Alya curious on how far their two other group members were situated.

Adrien was the first to respond to Marinette’s question.  “Our room is located on the north side of the fourth floor.  So not too far you ladies.”

“That’s good to know.  Now I don’t have to worry about traveling to far to get to Nino.”  Said Alya.

“I wonder why?”  Said Adrien, looking at Alya as he wiggles his eyebrows.

“I love you, Adrien, but I will slap that sunshine goodness out of you.”  Replies Alya playfully.  “I’m sure you’re smart enough to know why I’m glad yours and Nino’s apartment is close.”

A shiver and cringe of a feeling shoots through Adrien’s body.  If he’s speaking truthfully, he doesn’t even want to begin moving towards that area of conversation.

“Fair enough, Alya.  I just don’t want to go towards that area of discussion.”  Was all Adrien offers in return.

Chuckling, Alya and the others continue their way down the hallway, moving around other student residents and parents when all four hear a voice behind them greet them with a tone of sweetness to their voice.

“Hello!”

Turning around, the four friends look to see a young woman, just slightly taller than Marinette.  She was beautiful young lady with bright blue eyes, close to Marinette’s blue but a shade or two darker, a fair tan skin tone, and brownish red hair (mahogany red).  She looked like a sweet little thing.  A bright smile on her face.  She had to be no more than two years older from them.

“I hope you four have moved in nicely and made yourselves comfortable as well as getting acquainted with the dormitory.”

All four give the young woman a smile and nod.

“I’m glad.  Now, it’s probably best that I introduce myself.  My name is Tikki.  I’m the RA that watches over the south and east wing of the fourth floor.  May I ask your names?”

Taking the initiative to answer first, Adrien politely response, “My name is Adrien.”  Pointing to his friends in order, “And this is Marinette, Alya, and Nino.”

Giving a bright smile to the four, Tikki radiates in joy and excitement.  “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you four.  What majors are we to expect you four going into?”

This form of discussion wasn’t new for Tikki.  It was part of the duties as an RA to get to know the residents of the dormitory.  Besides most of the RAs, Tikki found meeting new residents, a majority being incoming freshman, found it thrilling to learn about the new students and what kind of career paths they decide to travel on.

Then again, how could one not talk to a Tikki as she looks to always be a ray of sunshine.  Marinette, Alya, and Nino feel like Tikki outshines Adrien of his sweetness and purity.  Never thought anyone could beat the sunshine child.  Well, they found to be wrong.

Blinking away from their short mental block, Marinette takes her turn to respond for her friends.  “I’m majoring into fashion and interior design with a minor in business, Adrien is majoring in physics with a minor in teaching, Alya is majoring in journalism with a minor in business as well, and Nino is majoring in recording arts as well as minoring in business.”

Tikki claps her hands a few times in a joyous moment, her smile growing.  “Oh how exciting.  All those majors sound thrilling and fun.  As for me, I’m majoring in history and archeology with a minor in teaching since I’m not sure whether I want to teach but it never hurts to have it under your belt.  I look forward to learning more about your four.  Are all of you residents of the south and east floor?”

“No.”  Replied Marinette.  She points to herself and Alya, “Alya and I are” -pointing to Adrien and Nino- “but Adrien and Nino’s room is located in the north side of the fourth floor.”

Tikki’s smile turns to a grin when she hears the information of Adrien and Nino being located in the north side of the fourth floor.

“The north side, huh?  Well, you boys will definitely enjoy your RA.  He can be quite the interesting character but he’s an amazing friend once you take the opportunity to get to know him.  He’ll act grumpy but it’s really his mask to prevent with dealing with residents he finds annoying, but he can be serious if the moment calls for it.  He’s my best friend and boyfriend, my partner as we both look after the entire fourth floor.  Your RA’s name is Plagg.  Trust me when I say it won’t be hard to miss him.  He’s a tall young man” -Tikki points to Adrien- “similar to your height.  Fair skin, black cat color hair, and green eyes.  To make it easier for you, Plagg repetitively smells like Camembert.  It’s not the greatest smell but you learn to live with it.”

“Good to know.”  Chuckles Nino.

Looking at her watch wrapped around her wrist, Tikki looks to see the hallways still crowded with students and parents.

“Well then, I don’t want to take more of your time and I probably should get back to seeing if any students and parents are in need of help.  I’m sure you four have plans and I wouldn’t want to keep you from them.  It was a pleasure taking the moment to meet all of you and I’m looking forward to getting to know you more.  If any of you are in need of anything, you can find me at my room in S401.  You four have a great day.”

Turning around, Tikki walks down the hallway towards a family needing assistance as Marinette and the others continue to her and Alya’s room a few doors down.  Once they reach the door, Marinette inserts her key card, hearing the locks unlock, opening the door when they hear Tikki calling out a second time.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Everyone looks back at Tikki and wait for her to continue.

“There’s a floor meeting for the fourth floor tonight at six this evening.  We’ll be in the courtyard and going over the dorm rules and such.  See you guys later.”

With that said, Tikki continues her way towards the family and the four enter inside the apartment.

Once everyone enters inside, Marinette closes the door behind them as the other three head straight for the couches.

Walking into the living room herself, Marinette takes a seat next to Adrien while Alya sits beside Nino.  Sitting closest to the coffee table, Alya reaches for the tv remote and turns on the television.  Flipping through multiple channels until stumbling upon a popular series that everyone agreed upon.

The nice thing that came with ability to stay at this particular dormitory is that all the apartment rooms came fully furnished.  Along with utilities, a flat screen television set in the living room, and cable both in the living room and individual bedrooms.  Honestly, it was very well set up for a dormitory.  And it doesn’t hurt to have all of this while being a freshman.

With the television on in the background, Alya turns to the others and brings up a conversation about planning a get together party.

“I figured while we’re all sitting here, I want to try and use this time to plan a get together party for tonight.  You know with all our friends from collége and lycée.  I wasn’t thinking of anything big, just big enough for all of us, you know simple for now.  Don’t really want to take the chance to ruin our new apartment when we just moved in.”  

“That would be awesome.  It has been a whole summer since we’ve seen everyone.  Of course, we wouldn’t have everyone here.  Who is it; Alix, Kim, Nathanael, Max, Rose, Juleka, Ivan, and Mylene that all ended up here at the same university as us?”  Responded Nino.

“Yea.  Though, I think Sabrina is here too.”  Added Marinette.

“What?”  Asked Alya and Nino in surprised unison.

“I thought she was with Chloe at the University de Akuma?”  Continued Alya.

“Oh no.  She ditched Chloe once she had the chance and official took a stand calling out Chloe’s controlling and manipulative ways.”  Adrien, Nino, and Alya look at Marinette with startled expressions.  They had no idea that Sabrina would actually escape the clutches of the she-devil herself.  “From the last time I talked to her, which was during the summer actually, when she stopped by the bakery one morning in which we got into a small conversation.  But anyways, Sabrina told me that she was also going to attend here and is majoring in law or something related to justice where she’s aiming to be a lawyer.”

“Wow.  That’s some sick shit right there.”  Nino was the one to speak.  “I’m proud of her.  To be honest, I always felt like Sabrina could be a fun girl to hang out with, but being stuck with Chloe completely prevented her from spreading her wings to truly enjoy a good time.  If you all agree, I think we should expand the invite to Sabrina.  Give her the chance to catch up on what she missed with actual friends.”

“I think that would be a great idea.  I’m sure Sabrina would appreciate the thought of us extending our circle to include her.”  Agreed Marinette.  “Though I think it would be best that we plan the get together party for another night.  Since it is move in this whole week, people will be exhausted and probably busy with family.  Plus, we our floor meeting with Tikki and the other RA in a bit.  Probably best to plan another night.”

“I think Marinette has a good point.”  Said Adrien.  “Personally, I don’t think I have it in me to plan a party after moving in.  Besides, posted somewhere in one of the hallways, I saw a flyer about a party along with other activities for the entire week of move in.  If I remember correctly, I positive that the party is tonight for all the residents down in the courtyard tonight.”

“Oooohhh, now that sounds amazing!”  Glee Alya.  “Okay, we’ll move our own party for another night.  Which is a good decision since it’ll give us more time to prep and plan a trip to collect alcohol and snacks, and whatever else we decide later on.  This exciting.  I can’t wait.”

“Alright, calm down, Alya.  It’s not like we haven’t thrown a party to the same level before.”  Said Marinette.  Remembering the crazy and chaotic party they through at her house during their last semester of senior.  She was more glad that Alya’s parents were gone for a short vacation meeting family.

“Yea, yea.  Whatever you say, Mari.”  Was all Alya had to say in response as she stands up and walks her way towards their kitchen.  Thinking of food, Nino stands up from the couch and follows his girlfriend into the kitchen to retrieve a beverage to quench his thirst.

While those two search the kitchen, back on the couch, Marinette and Adrien readjust in comfort and turn their attention to the television, their full focus on the show playing in front of them.  Marinette sits back with her hands resting in her lap as Adrien spreads his arms along the top of the couch.

In the moment of relaxation and as if on reflex, Adrien slides his right arm from the location on top of the couch and drops down to rest around Marinette’s shoulders.

Feeling the pressure and weight around her shoulders; keeping her body and head facing forward, Marinette lowers her eyes to gaze that the added weight was indeed what she expected it to be.  Seeing Adrien’s arm around her shoulders brings a smile on her lips.  Trying her hardest to remain relaxed while internally freaking out.

Now, it’s not like Marinette and Adrien haven’t snuggled before.  During their years of lycée, Adrien would appear multiple times at the Dupain-Cheng’s house where Adrien would seek comfort from issues consisting with his father.  Being the sweet and kind person she is, Marinette always opened her home to Adrien where in consisted giving him a good hearty homemade dinner with her and her parents, and then usually resulted to snuggling and watching movies where Adrien could just relax and try to bypass everything that happened that upset or destressed him previously.

She’s had Adrien put his arms around her shoulders before, even with the memory of his arms around her waist at their graduation, but for some reason having his arm around her shoulder right now felt completely different.

‘Oh my god.  I can’t believe Adrien has his arm resting around my shoulder.  Is this really happening?  There’s no way he would purposely do this, right?’

Beside her, Adrien was reacting just as much like Marinette with the internal freak out.  ‘I can’t believe I did that.  I have my arm around Marinette’s shoulders.  Holy shit.  Okay, okay.  She hasn’t pushed me or my arm away yet.  Does this mean she’s okay with this?  Dammit!  I’m not sure what to do!’

Thinking of multiple possibilities of what this one action meant, Marinette begins to hear Alya’s voice in the back of her head about taking risks.  She remembers having that discussion with her during the summer about taking risks and not be afraid when it comes to your happiness.  And Alya was right, she always was.  And she did agree that she’d give it a go once they entered university.

Well, here it goes.  Calming herself down and taking a quiet deep breath, Marinette takes her bold move and slowly leans against Adrien, moving closer until their bodies were touching.  She pushes her luck further by resting her head on top of his shoulder.

‘I can’t believe I did it!’  Gazing her eyes up to sneak a peek at Adrien, Marinette notices Adrien’s attention remaining on the tv in front of them but what caught her attention most was the redness covering his cheeks…actually, look more like his entire face.  ‘Is – is Adrien blushing?  No way.  Maybe I can work with this.  Alright, from here on out, no more of the nervous Marinette from lycée.’

If it couldn’t get any better, once she leant closer to him, Marinette could feel Adrien reflex, tightening his hold around her.  ‘Holy shit!  I can’t believe Mari is leaning against me.  What does this mean?!  Does this mean she likes me?!  I wasn’t expecting this when I agreed to taking risks.  Nino!’

Keeping his focus on the television, Adrien’s eyes widen further when he felt Marinette move and press herself closer against him.  The blush on his face only to grow a little darker.  Marinette felt lucky at the moment that Adrien couldn’t see her own blush.

From the kitchen, Nino and Alya watch on at the two, their own grins taking place along their face.  Quiet snickering only occurring once they saw Adrien’s first reaction.

Nino quietly turns to Alya, “Babe, did you see Adrien’s face?  Poor dude looks like he doesn’t know what to do.”

“I know.  I didn’t think he’d actually ever make a move.  He never did in lycee.”

“You’d have to thank me for that, Al.  I told my bro he had to start taking risks if he didn’t want to lose Mari to someone else.  He said he’d do it, but I was afraid he was lying.”

“Well, I think he proved you wrong.  Plus, it appears our Mari is finally flirting back as well.  Interesting enough, I told her something similar about taking risks.”

“Now that those two have started taking the steps, does this mean we can finally start that betting pool?”

“Oh sweetie, you know it.  I’ll text the others now.”

“This is going to be so sweet.”  Nino takes a sip of his drink while Alya sends a group text about meeting up with the others.  Hopefully her and Nino will be able to ditch the two oblivious children to meet up with their other friends.

                                                            *****

When six rolled around that evening, all four exited Marinette and Alya’s apartment and began heading their way towards the courtyard where the floor meeting was to take place.

Taking the hallway down to the elevator and down to the first floor, all four of them exit the hallway that led to the outside and made their way to the courtyard.  Reaching the general area, everyone could see other student residents gathering around the selected area.  Everyone crowded and secluded in their own little groups talking or playing simple games with one another.

With the amount of students scattered around the area, they search for any available spot to sit.

Glancing around, all four notice some small space openings near the back corner of the courtyard where a section of a small cement wall houses a small area of bushes and flowers.

Moving along the maze of students, Nino finds an open spot on the grass in the corner and ushers Alya over to sit beside him.  Wrapping his arm around her waist once she sat beside him.  Looking to the small concrete bed housing the garden, Adrien moves and settles on the top of the cold cement wall.

Looking beside him, Adrien watches as Mari remains standing facing the courtyard overlooking the other students.  With as congested as the courtyard is, he could see there wasn’t much available seating which caused him to take action on the next best thing.

“Uh, Mari?”

Marinette looks behind over her shoulder to Adrien.  “Yes?”

Taking a deep breath, Adrien swallows his nerves as he stares into her addicting bluebell eyes.

“Since there’s not much available space to sit…you can s-sit on my lap…i-if you want.”  Says Adrien while trying his damn near hardest to refrain the blush that’s attempting to creep along his face.  Then again, how was he supposed to act when you just offered your crush to sit in your lap.

Marinette’s shoulders stiffen from the words that uttered from her crushes mouth.  She knows very well that there’s not much space to sit in the courtyard, but receiving that offer was un-expecting, and just the thought of sitting in Adrien’s lap sounded amazing.

Attempting to hide and force down the blush threatening to appear on her face, she looks at Adrien fully.  “A-are you sure?  I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable or forced to feel obligated because there’s now available seating.”  She had no idea what had gotten into her.  She just promised herself that she wouldn’t be nervous anymore.  Complete fail at her first sentence.

Adrien rubs the back of his neck with his hand as he looks at Marinette shyly.  “I assure you, Mari.  Out of anyone I know, you are the one that could never make me feel uncomfortable.”  He stated confidently.

Offering him a sweet, shy smile, Marinette gives him a nod and walks over to Adrien.  Sitting himself up and shifting into a comfortable, relaxing position, he reaches for Marinette’s hand, which she gladly gives him, and pulls her towards him.  Turning around, Marinette leans down and sits on Adrien’s lap until she rested against part of his chest, her body in a partial sideway position.

With the height of the cement wall, both their legs dangle freely as Adrien wraps his arms around Marinette’s waist to ensure she wouldn’t slip.  Not that she would or just because he really wanted to hold her close.  That would be just…what, awkward?

Marinette twists her head to look at Adrien still holding her sweet smile.  “Thank you.”

“Anytime.”  Adrien muttered softly, falling victim to her wondrous eyes again.

As if a dome surrounded them, silence fell between them as they stared at one another adoringly.  The force between them growing heavy, both unknowingly gaze at the other’s lips.  Adrien felt drawn at the soft, curved, and fully pink of Marinette’s lips.  He didn’t even feel himself glide his tongue along his lips, imagining what her lips could possibly taste like.

The force drawing stronger, both unknowingly begin leaning towards the other, lips coming closer in contact when a loud feminine voice rung out through the courtyard.

“HELLO EVERYONE!”

Marinette and Adrien jerk back in retreat, looking at one another, red faced as they turn their attention to the new presence as everyone look to see Tikki in the center with a man beside her of the same age.  To the main four, they were sure it must be the other RA, Plagg.

“Good evening everyone!  Thank you all for coming to our floor meeting.  I can assure you that we’ll make this as fast as possible as I’m sure a lot of you are still trying to move in and unpacking.  So to start off, I would like to introduce myself.  My name is Tikki.  I’m the resident assistant that looks over the south and east side of the halls.  So if you need anything you can find me in S401.”  Posing her hand towards her partner, “And beside me is my partner, Plagg.”

Taking that as his cue, Plagg introduces himself.

“Evening everyone.  Like my partner had mentioned, my name’s Plagg.  I’m the resident assistant of the fourth floor as well.  I look after the west and north side.  If any of you need anything you can find me in room N405.”

Not always the talker, Plagg looks at Tikki in which she takes in as her cue to lead again and explain what they had to.

“For this meeting, we wanted to go through some of the safety and rules here at the dormitory.  First off, these are non-smoking buildings.  If you must smoke or whatever, please do it off the premises of the property.  If at all you smoke in your apartment and we are called up, it will result in a write up, documenting everything we see and find as a result.  We can’t confirm what the consequences will be as it’s the decision of the managers of the dormitory and the school.  So keep that in mind.  As for alcohol, we know a majority of you are of age.  All that we ask in accordance of alcohol is that all of you drink responsibly.  It would also be in your best interest to ensure that if there is any alcohol in your room that there is no one underage with you.  If we are called and find anyone underage, it will result with everyone written up.  For whatever reason should there be an emergency to arise and you need medical help, please don’t hesitate to come to me and Plagg.  We are here to ensure all your safety.  Both Plagg and I know it’s university, it’s the time of your life to explore and have fun.  All that we ask is that you all are careful and take it safely and don’t hesitate to come to us for help.”

Plagg steps up and begins speaking.  “Basically in simpler terms, we both want you all to have fun, just don’t be stupid about it.”    

Tikki turns and looks at Plagg with a serious expression, a brow raised.  Plagg just mouths ‘what?’ to her with a shrug of his shoulders.

Giving off a huff, Tikki shakes her head and stares back at the students to continue her speech.

“We also expect you all to get along with one another.  If you have any issues with your roommates or neighbors, we expect you to act like the adults you are and attempt to solve the situation yourselves.  If the issue however doesn’t get resolved, then feel free to come to either Plagg and I, and we’ll help and try to solve the situation.  We’re basically a big family where this dorm is to be a friendly community.  As for a curfew, there is no curfew.  Just make sure you have your key cards and ID’s to get back into the building.  There are a lot more rules, but we know you all are busy.  So please, take the time to read all the information and rules from our bulletin board that can be located by my room or Plagg’s room.  So without further delay, Plagg and I are happy to have you as our residents.”

“Like wise.  And before you all leave, we would like to mention that this entire week before school starts up next week on Tuesday, we as in all the staff here are holding activities and events to have fun and meet others.  For tonight, we have our casino and dance night beginning at eight in the gym or auditorium…or whatever you want to call it, ballroom, whatever.  The dancing will be held in there while the casino games will be scattered throughout the courtyard with a bar serving non-alcohol version drinks.  For tomorrow, there will be a hike where we’ll take residents to the nearest countryside for the hiking trails.  In the evening we have a battle of the bands show where upper classmen will play it out for you.  For Wednesday, it’ll be a shopping spree.  Some of us will take students to the nearest mall and grocery stores to stock up on whatever it is you still need.  So make sure you make a list.  On Thursday, we got tickets for the whole dormitory to watch the France’s soccer game.”  All the students perked up.  Who would have thought they’d get all these awesome opportunities in events?  “As for Friday through Monday, that’s your free day to prepare for your classes.  We will hold a campus tour of the university on Saturday for any of you who want help finding your classes.  So I think that covers it for you guys.”  Added Plagg.

“Thank you all again for coming and enjoy the rest of your evening.  We hope to see all of you tonight to have fun.”  Tikki stated lastly as students began standing up and making their way back to either their rooms or other locations of the dorms.

Tikki and Plagg waved all the students off and turned around to head back towards the main office and lobby area to meet up with the other staff members to finish up the last remaining tasks for the casino and dance night.

                                                         *****

With all the students trickling from the courtyard, a good majority of the fourth floor residents were heading back towards their apartments.

Taking the stairs this time, all four enter the fourth floor through the south east staircase and watch as the entire hallways were congested with students.  Squeezing their way through, Marinette and Alya split Adrien and Nino when the two girls bump into a group of three girls.

“I’m so sorry.”  Apologized Marinette.

The girl turns around to look at Marinette and Alya, the girl’s friends turning around as well.  The girl that Marinette bumped into gave her a smile.  “It’s alright.  The hallways pretty crowded.  So no harm done.  We were just trying to make our way through.  I’m assuming you two are doing the same?”

“Yes, actually.  Our room is at the end.  Room S414.”  Responded Marinette.  A smile on her face as well, feeling grateful that the three girls weren’t upset.

“No kidding.  Our room is S413 across from you.  We can make our way down there together.”  The girl replied.

Giving a nod, Marinette and Alya follow the three other girls as they introduce each other and zigzag through the maze of students.

Back near the staircase, Adrien and Nino stood near a corner talking to a small group of girls and boys.  They figured might as well make some new friends and get to know your neighbors or fellow residents.  Surprisingly, Adrien and Nino found out that the group they were having a conversation with lived in the north side of the fourth floor, making it easier to continue conversations through different topics.

As the group were in the midst of their discussion, Adrien couldn’t help but gaze up from the group and glance over down the south hallway to check on Marinette and Alya.  They haven’t decided their plans yet, but wouldn’t doubt that the four of them would relax in one of their apartments until the event started.

When he caught sight of their figures, Adrien noticed that the two were speaking to another three girls, all looking like they were getting along fine.

Until Adrien noticed a group of five boys turning their glances at Marinette and the others.  Just seeing the way those guys were eyeing Marinette and the others made Adrien’s neck bristle.  ‘How dare they stare at Marinette like that!’  The thought growling through Adrien’s head.

Taking notice of Adrien’s behavior, Nino looks at his friend and then follows his gaze until they feel on Alya, Marinette, and some other girls.  Seeing the group of boys heading towards the girls.

In mid conversation, the group of boys gather beside the group of girls and cuts into their conversation.

“Hey, ladies.”  Greeted one of the boys.

All the girls cease their conversation and all turn to look at the group of boys.

“You ladies heading to the casino and dance night tonight?”  Asked one of the other boys.

“As a matter of fact we are.”  Responded Alay, and hint of annoyance on her tongue.

“Then how about you lovely ladies accompany us gents as our dates?”

Alya snorts and chuckles, “Sorry; but some of us are already taken.”

Giving a smirk, one of the boys turns their gaze towards Marinette.  He rests one of his arms against the wall and leans towards Marinette’s space.

From across the hall in the corner, a growl escapes through Adrien’s lips.  Which didn’t escape earshot from Nino.

“Dude, did you seriously just growl?”  Asked Nino.

“Yes.”  Grunted Adrien, his teeth clamping further together tightly.

“Are you jealous?”  Continued Nino.

“No.”  Drawled out Adrien.

“Bro, don’t deny it.”

“Fine.  Though I’m more agitated than anything.  No one gets in my girl’s space.”

“Yet, she’s not your girl.  This is exactly why I told you not to wait and why you should have done it years ago.  I warned you that others would start taking notice.”

The two boys watched at the one boy in front of Marinette rested his other hand on the other side of Marinette.  Leaning slightly closer.  Adrien could see the uncomfortable look on Marinette’s face.  The entire action only drew another growl from Adrien.  ‘Oh hell no!  No man gets into my lady’s personal space!’

“May I make a suggestion?”  Adrien’s attention snaps to the girl beside him, drawing Nino’s attention as well.

Everyone looks at the girl waiting for her to continue.

“If you love that girl so much, you better make your move and show those competitors that your girl is taken and how to treat a lady.”  

The girl gives Adrien a smirk and wink.

Confused at first, everything sinks in as a mischievous grin forms on Adrien’s lips and eyes.  If this was his chance to take risks, Adrien gladly took it.

Rushing off from Nino and the group, Adrien slips through the crowded hallway with ease.  Nino was impressed, it was like his friend was nothing but mist as he glided through the crowds.  He had to say, Nino felt like this was going to be a fascinating moment to witness.

Gaining distance towards Marinette’s location, Adrien calls out, “Marinette.”

Hearing her name and the familiar voice, Marinette shifts under the eyes of the man in from of her and slips pass him as she moves towards the center of the hallway waiting for Adrien to reach her.  Waiting, Marinette kept her gaze on her crush until he stops in front of her, his eyes piercing down to hers.

“A-adrien.”  Asked Marinette dazedly.

Emerald eyes bore on Bluebell as Adrien made his decision without hesitation.  This will demonstrate to those vultures of boys and any other boy that’s witnessing this as Adrien claim’s what’s his.

Raising his hands up, Adrien places his hands on Marinette’s cheeks, rubbing them soothingly while looking deeply into her eyes.  Nothing but love sparkling and glistening through his pupils that he prays she can see too.

Everything moved quickly.  Without any chance of backing out, Adrien raises Marinette’s head up and crashes his lips together with hers.  The warmth of her lips was gratifying as he pressed further and feeling her respond in return.  Feeling victorious, Adrien’s desired word is the only word flowing through his senses.  And it felt oh so good.

‘MINE.’

#miraculous ladybug #university life #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #possessive adrien #tikki #plagg #tikki x plagg #fanfic #i'm not sure what else to tag #college au #no miraculouses

[chiefbeck]

Chapter 7: College

I went to Virginia Military Institute (VMI), enrolling as a freshman in 1984; I was very naïve, had barely any social skills, was still a virgin and was confused about who I was. With all that working against me, VMI was the perfect place for me. It was all regimented; everything came down to discipline, and everything ran on schedules. I was too busy to think about my inner struggle, or myself as I concentrated on stuff at school, sometimes just the wrong stuff.

Electrical engineering and I didn’t mix very well, and after almost three years of slugging it out in the physics laboratory, I was set adrift. I look back on those days and wished that someone would have smacked me in the head and said: “wake up”. I was too busy playing lacrosse and not studying as hard as I needed to. My priorities and study habits were mixed up. I needed to have someone mentoring me in the worst way, but no one came to my rescue. So again, as I found throughout my life, I was learning the hard way.

While at VMI, I set a record on the obstacle course. I also made a Division one lacrosse team with no prior experience in the sport. How did I do these things? I learned the lesson from my farm days; I could do anything as long as I kept at it and worked hard. I pushed myself to the limits in everything that I did. I will lose from time to time, but I will keep going, using my defeats as lessons to improve. I am not always the best at it, but I am there working hard and practicing to be better, and nearly all the time, I can catch up to the natural athletes and then pass them at their own game. I never quit, and most important, I never limited myself.

Although I was dismissed from VMI, I had a goal, and that was to earn a degree. I enrolled in a state college, raised my grades and was then accepted into Alfred University, which was a tougher school academically than VMI. Changing majors was a big help, deciding to concentrate on political science instead of electrical engineering, and I ended up graduating from Alfred University in 1989.

While at Alfred I played rugby. Rugby is a cool sport; it is a sport that rarely stops and is full of hard-hitting action. The added bonus was that all the tough guys played rugby, and it was a good way for me to continue playing the spy. What better way to hide the fact that you are

really a woman on the inside than to be tougher and manlier than all of the other guys around you.

Playing rugby was also a good outlet for some of my angst of my own inner struggle. I played with reckless abandon. I mean what did I care what happened to a body that I didn’t really belong to. I punished that body, going above and beyond the limits that it could endure. All the while that I was torturing my body by going to the extreme, I was commended by my peers. I was a man without equal. The only problem was, I wasn’t a man, but everyone was fooled into thinking differently. I also partied after the games with equal vigor. I went off the deep end with my drinking and did whatever crazy stunt fit the mood at the time. There were times when I would leap out of a second story window to land in the bushes below or mid-air grab a nearby pine tree to slow my decent. I drove a land cruiser that once lit on fire driving through the middle of the college town; I pulled up on the fraternity lawn a mile away in a puff of smoke and put the fire out with a garden hose. Ask Russ or Tim about some of these times; they were there.

The fraternity, oh the fraternity was a story unto its own. I was off the charts for what they normally dealt with. During the fraternity “hell week”, I kept asking for more. Nothing was ever enough; it wasn’t easy, but I was able to push past anything that was possible because I just didn’t care what happened to the masculine body that held me captive. No limits.

I was a bit off at times, and no one could understand what was going through my mind. I was still a kid inside, struggling with my inner self, living a life that was nothing more than smoke and mirrors. I was trying to prove to everyone how much of a man I was; even though I knew on the inside I wasn’t a man at all. But there was a fear of what would happen if I was found out. Spies are never treated kindly and even though I was a bit of a recluse, no one wants to be shunned by society. I was still a virgin and had no idea about most of what others around me felt. I felt like I was always mimicking what everyone else did in order to fit in and didn’t know if I was doing a good job at it. I was running and isolating and hiding and in constant worry with my inner being. There were times when I would escape into my private room at the college and was able to be who I really was. I had a set of clothes that I kept hidden, but when the need arose, I could escape from the fictional “man” life I was living and assume my real identity. I always wonder what my life would have been like if I

didn’t have this struggle or if at a young age I was allowed to bend the gender or become a girl. Where would I be now?

One of the times that my personal angst came out was after a rugby game on the way back to Delta, my fraternity house. I was returning from a rugby game the same night of a formal party at the fraternity.

It was suits and ties for the men and cocktail gowns for the ladies. I wasn’t too interested in those parties because I could never dress as myself and it was too much to don the formal prison uniform just to be miserable for a few hours. Anyway, I was returning from the game still in my rugby “kit” that was sweaty and muddy. Along the road, I noticed a deer lying in the snow. I pulled over; it was still warm and kicking – a new road kill. I finished it off with a knife from the glove box like any girl would, and threw it in the back of my FJ40 Land Cruiser.

I pulled into the fraternity house planning to hang my trophy from the keg room rafters. When I got there, I see the suits and ties. I groaned. The dang party was still going on.

I needed to bring the deer into the basement and this party that I wanted no part of was not going to stop me. I draped the deer across my shoulders. Blood running down my shirt, I walked into the frat house.

People started running away from me. I got to the top of the basement stairs that led into the party room and the keg room somewhere beyond. I lifted the deer up and threw it over my head toward the stairs.

The deer tumbled down the stairs throwing blood on anyone standing nearby. It was vile, stupid, out of control. It was Delta House. I walk down after the deer and dragged it to the keg room with everyone running up the stairs to get away from me.

Why did I do this? To this day, I have no idea; it seemed like a good idea at the time.

The Delta house got together the next afternoon to black ball me for ruining the event. I stood in front of the entire house and told them to fuck off; the deer and this story will be the only thing they will remember about college and this fraternity. If they were going to kick me out for something Balushi or D-Day would do, then I would rather leave. If they

wanted to keep me, then I would be at Alex’s Pub. I walked out and went up to the bar in town. A few hours later, a dozen brothers came into the bar and sat with me for beers. I was still a brother, but had to promise not to throw dead animals around the house. I agreed, it’s a good rule I could live with.

I didn’t know how great that brotherhood actually was back in those days. They provided a balance that I didn’t know I needed at the time. If not for them I may have become a hermit or suffer from agoraphobia or something like that. I see many of those brothers every now and then, and we are as close as we were back then. My coming out as transgender was a huge surprise to every last one, but they all took it in stride. “Any brother that has done everything you have done and come back alive can have some time of peace on this earth,” they said. “You’re still our brother, and the rule still stands not to throw dead animals around the house.” Ok, I can live with that. Tim, Shon, Russ, Dave, Auggie and a few others, thanks for keeping me alive.

#Kristin Beck #Lady Valor