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whatstruthgottodowithit · 7 months

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Here You Come Again [Part Fifteen]

Fandom: Elvis Presley, RPF, American Actor

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Original Female Character

Characters: Elvis Presley, Addison Goodwin, Original Female Characters, Priscilla Presley, Colonel Tom Parker, Vernon Presley, Gladys Presley, Minnie Mae Presley, Marci Cunningham, Jerry Schilling, Red West, Sonny West, Marty Lacker, Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, Lamar Fike, Alan Fortas, George Klein, Memphis Mafia

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 8422

Summary: When Addison Goodwin was seventeen years old her life was turned inside out after a chance encounter with her past. Now, fifteen years later her life is the best it’s ever been. She has a home, a good job and a daughter she loves more than anything in the world but will all that remain when an old familiar face rolls into town.

Tags: Angst, Fluff, Graceland, Las Vegas, The International Hotel, Elvis In Vegas, 1970s, 1970s Elvis, Friends To Lovers, Rekindled Romance, Parenting, Time Line is Sketchy, Guilt, Betrayal, Teenage Pregnancy, Hawaii, Hidden Pregnancy, Jealousy, Sex, Absence of Parent, Single Motherhood, Trauma, Oral Sex, Tension, Addison's Dress

Notes: Feel free to hate me because I hate myself rn.

[there's only two chapters and an epilogue left and I promise it gets better x]

LINK TO ALL PARTS // LINK TO AO3 // LINK TO PINTEREST

Anyone would think that being on a vacation with your ex in the most romantic place on earth immediately after having shot him down for kissing you would be awkward. Well for the most part they’d be right. However Addison was finding that wasn’t the case entirely. As with everything that Elvis did she had found that where most people fit into a mould he didn’t and even though their situation wasn’t exactly an orthodox one he managed to navigate through it with ease. She had been in the middle of packing, folding her clothes neatly into her case when he had found her, coming into the room via the bathroom, watching her closely though she hadn’t realised he was there.

‘Marty’s doing a last-minute run to the store if you need anything picking up,’ he said, his low gravelly voice capturing her attention and making her whip around like a deer in headlights. He smiled at her, kind of enjoying the way he had gotten her at odds – given he had spent the night the same way after their kiss.

‘You scared me,’ she said, shifting nervously before she added, ‘I’m good thanks.’

‘Well if you think of anything just let him know,’ he said with a nod. Addison nodded, her fingers tracing along the edge of the suitcase behind her as she tried to think of what to say. If anything she wanted to keep her mouth shut. Everything had been going so well between them and she didn’t want to lose that, but as he turned to leave she found the words coming out of her mouth, ‘Elvis about last night-’

‘Forget about it,’ he said with a smile, sympathy in his crystal blue eyes that made her heart flip flop.

‘But-’

‘Addie honestly don’t worry about it,’ he said, ‘it was just a kiss.’

‘Just a kiss,’ she agreed though he could tell she was still over thinking it from the way she was gnawing on her lip.

‘Now c’mon,’ he smiled trying to reassure her, ‘we’ve got a vacation to get to.’

But it wasn’t just a kiss. It had been all she had been thinking about for the past two weeks. He had stayed true to his word and if she didn’t know any better she’d say that he had forgotten it himself. Yet the way he was around her made her feel as through that wasn’t the case. Their dynamic didn’t change. He wasn’t any more caring or attentive than he had been beforehand, but he didn’t pull away either, become cold or distant like he had the first time they had been working through their feelings for one another. No, if anything he had been pretty damn perfect.

Yet she was a mess. She didn’t know what to do about any of it. Her mind was screaming at her to pull away. That her priority should be Jess, making sure she didn’t get hurt. After all Addison had been the daughter of a mother who thought only of herself and she refused to put Jess through anything like that. But her heart was screaming at her the other way.

It hammered against her ribcage whenever he was near her, whenever their hands touched or he sat down beside her. Warmth spread through her chest whenever he laughed, the sound of it something she wished she could wrap around her like a blanket. And desire. Desire flamed through her whenever she saw him in the outrageously tight swim trunks he liked to wear as he frolicked in the sea with the kids or when he came down for dinner in a relaxed pair of shorts and a shirt – totally at ease and peace.

It made her want to give into those delusions. To believe that they could be a normal couple, on vacation in Hawaii surrounded by their family and friends. To believe that they could leave the family dinner and go back to their shared room where they’d spend the night together, no longer confined to small gestures, their desires allowed to run free. She wanted to believe that when the plane touched down she’d be home in Memphis and not trudging back to the desert heat, working endless shifts and trying to balance being a mom, running a house and working full time. She wanted to believe that it would be that easy. That Elvis could take care of her like she wanted, like she so desperately needed, that it would be fine.

But with every thought like that came a seed of doubt. It came when he placed his hand on the small of her back or his arm around her shoulders and no one batted an eye – his displays of affection with God knows how many women becoming common place to those around him.

It came when she looked at Lisa, a child now torn between two homes because despite the love her parents had for one another it hadn’t lasted. It came when she looked at Jess. When she remembered how he had promised her the world at seventeen years old and it still hadn’t been enough. How her daughter’s love had been the only thing to keep her truly afloat. How she wouldn’t have made it if it hadn’t been for her.

She wanted to trust her heart but it had been wrong before. At least when she listened to her head it made the pain hurt a little less.

Their vacation was winding down and though two weeks of sun and sand had been nice the threat of normal life was looming. Jess and Addison were due to go back home, Lisa was due to fly back to California and Elvis was due to head out on tour yet again though this time only for a week. And as much as she had told herself that it was for the best, that it was what was needed for all of them, Addison couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Especially as she got ready for dinner, watching herself in the bathroom mirror, knowing that this would be one of the last times she would be doing it.

This time of day had become therapeutic for Addison. Whilst their days may have seemed lazy, only ever starting around noon, they were far from it. Elvis seemed to be intent on making this a fun vacation for the girls and so their days were spent on the beach, learning to surf or jet skiing, or in and around the pool playing endless games. Sometimes they were joined by some of the guys and their families, meaning that it was quite the rabble wherever they ended up, but sometimes they were alone, sitting out on the balcony of Elvis’ room as they watched the day go by. And though their nights were just as busy they felt completely different. Around dusk everyone would retreated to their rooms emerging back an hour or so later so they could have dinner where they’d spend the entire evening talking and laughing.

That hour had become important to Addison. It gave her chance to think, to breathe. Something that was becoming harder and harder to do whenever she was around Elvis.

As she slipped a new set of earrings into her ears, ones Jess had bought her for her birthday, she heard a knock at the door.

‘Are you ready?’ she heard Marci say from the other side. Addison gave herself one last glance in the mirror and then opened it finding Marci standing in front of her, practically leaning her ear up against where the door had been though she straightened up as Addison appeared.

‘Just need to get my shoes on,’ Addison said though as she looked past her friend she noted Jerry standing by the open door to their hotel room so she added, ‘you guys go.’

‘Are you sure?’ Marci said glancing at Jerry and then back to her friend.

‘Yeah, I’ll not be far behind ya,’ Addison said with a smile.

‘I’ll save ya a seat,’ Marci said before she headed to the door and slipped out with Jerry shutting it closed behind them.

Addison moved to the bed, grabbing her shoes from the closet so she could sit down and put them on. As she slipped on the tan wedges she found her eyes drifting around the room clocking every item that lay strewn around the place fresh from Marci’s wake of getting ready. Though it annoyed the life out of her that her room was in such disarray she couldn’t help but smile. Having her friend back for the past two weeks had been a blessing she couldn’t deny - a sense of normality in a chaotic world. Not to mention it had only taken being in close quarters for half a day before Marci had come clean about what had been going on with her and Tom.

She wasn’t happy. She had thought that her new life would be similar to her old one and that hadn’t been the case. Where she had expected to be able to start another shop, lay the foundations of their relationship before anything serious, Tom wanted to speed into a life together. He wanted marriage, he wanted babies, he wanted things that Marci wasn’t sure she was ready for yet and so when Elvis had invited her to join them she’d jumped on a plane without question hoping that Memphis and now Hawaii would bring clarity to what she did want.

It was news that broke Addison’s heart and made it sing at the same time. She felt heartbroken that her friend had been going through it but also glad that this might mean she was coming home. Which is why she hadn’t told her about her and Elvis’ kiss. She felt guilty that Marci had been sitting on all of this, unable to share it with Addison because of the whirlwind the last few months had been. She also didn’t want to sway her decision, force her to come back thinking that Addison would need her help getting over him like she had the first time. It was also why she hadn’t said anything as watched her and Jerry grow closer. Just because an old flame wasn’t right for Addison didn’t mean it wasn’t what Marci needed.

Once her shoes were on she grabbed a couple of pieces of clothing up off the floor and hung them back in the closet, smiling to herself as she went. It didn’t fail to amaze her how she had forgotten just how chaotic sharing a space with Marci could be. How their living arrangement had often felt as though Addison was living with two teenagers instead of one. And yet she couldn’t believe just how much she had missed it. How placing a couple of bathing suits up to dry properly could feel as though she was back home, before Elvis had strolled back into her life, when things were a little less complicated.

‘But were you happy?’ a voice in the back of her mind whispered making her snap back to reality. She wanted to say yes. That her life with just Marci and Jess had been a happy one. Because it had.

‘But Elvis makes you happy too,’ it reasoned. With that Addison slid the closet door closed with more force than she intended meaning the sliding door bounced back forcing her to repeat her action only gentler. This was what she had been living with. Every good thought countered by a bad one. Every bad one countered by a good one. It was exhausting, and she didn’t know how to stop it.

So she did the only thing she knew would help and headed out to dinner given that being around people, especially the buzz of Elvis and his entourage or the giggles of the girls, often forced her to tune those thoughts out.

As she left her room she could hear the rabble not too far away. Given the number of people they had in their group they had practically commandeered an entire quarter of the resort and their hotel rooms were all on one flowing line opposite a view of the exquisite resort gardens that eventually led down into the beach. The stone walkway led off to a courtyard, one covered by a thatch roof that housed a table for thirty as well as a fire pit and seats should they want to stay there. That’s where she was headed but as she walked down the path the door one room up from her opened and Elvis appeared. The timing of it made her wonder if he’d been waiting for her but he looked surprised when he looked up and noticed her coming towards him.

‘Hey,’ he said as she slowed down, his eyes roving over her outfit for a moment though he pretended he hadn’t, ‘I thought everyone was already at dinner.’

‘Just headed there now,’ Addison said gesturing for him to walk with her which he did.

‘No Mar?’ he asked checking behind them before they fell into step beside each other.

‘She headed down already with Jerry,’ Addison said.

‘That so?’ Elvis mused.

‘Yep,’ Addison said with a wry smile. Whilst Marci’s love life had taken her mind off of what was going on between her and Elvis it had also helped them. It had given them a talking point, one that meant they could keep their relationship just as it had been before any of the kiss business.

‘Where are the girls?’ Elvis asked.

‘Joe took the kids down to the games room I think,’ Addison said.

‘Poor Jess,’ Elvis chuckled as Addison looked at him puzzled, ‘all those kids.’

‘I don’t think she minds,’ Addison said suddenly feeling guilty. Though she and Jess had spent a lot of time together on this break there were pockets when she was lumped in as one of ‘the kids’, something Addison hadn’t realised might not have been a good thing on Jess’ end.

‘Well either way I bet she’ll be glad of five minutes peace,’ Elvis said, they were rounding the corner now finding they were the last ones down to the dining area. Most of the kids were gone from the party now save for Lisa, Jess and Dee’s boys who had congregated at one end of the table.

As Elvis took his seat at the head of the table Addison slipped into the only chair that had been left for her next to him. Jerry and Marci were sitting across from her, chatting away to one another, something she didn’t fail to notice made Elvis smirk as he unfolded his napkin and shifted it onto his lap. Fortunately he didn’t say anything and dinner kicked off without incident.

Elvis was enjoying himself, in fact he’d been the happiest he’d ever been on this vacation. He didn’t know how she had such an effect on him. How the past fifteen years felt as though he’d been living his life as though he was watching himself on TV. He remembered it all, every moment lived and yet it felt as though it was this other guy. This Elvis Presley that was somehow him and not him at the same time. With Addison he never felt like that Elvis. He felt like her Elvis. That boy from Memphis.

He knew he’d never truly gotten over her, though he had moved on and for a time he had been happy. But now it felt as though there had always been something niggling in the back of his mind, wanting to pull them back together. That was why he hadn’t pushed her. He hadn’t demanded she be ready to get back together, after all he knew pushing her might only make her pull away and that would devastate him. No he’d let her see that they were good together. That they could be a couple this time, a proper one. No hiding, no caring about what anyone thought or said. He’d let her see that their lives could finally fit together.

He was watching her, enjoying the way she laughed as she told Joe a story he was definitely not listening to given he was too distracted by the woman telling it. There was something about her tonight, something he couldn’t put his finger on. He always thought she was pretty, even when she was chastising him it still made him hot under the collar, but tonight was something else. Her skin had a radiant glow to it, her light brown locks glinted with streaks of gold from where they’d lightened in the sun, and her eyes, her eyes sparkled as she smiled. He wanted to believe it was just the radiance that came with being on vacation but as she noticed him watching her, a smile playing on her lips as she took a sip of wine, he realised what it was. Love.

It made him smile too though he was forced from his thoughts as Jess appeared in between them, looking down on them with a sweet smile.

‘Everything okay honey?’ Elvis asked making her nod.

‘Yeah, I was just wondering if I could go back to the games room,’ Jess said.

‘Alone?’ Elvis asked.

‘No with the boys they’re gonna play pool,’ Jess said looking to where Elvis’ stepbrothers were loitering at the other end of the table. Addison glanced at them. The games room wasn’t too far away though she didn’t like the idea of Jess being split from the main group, especially as night had fallen. It didn’t help that the last time Jess had spent a substantial amount of time with one of the Stanley boys she’d gotten drunk though she figured from the nervous way Rick was watching Elvis that wouldn’t be a problem this time. Not to mention that what Elvis had said was playing on her mind. Jess had done her fair share of being lumped in with the kids, maybe it was time for her to have a bit of time being a teenager. After all it was her vacation too. She could feel Jess’ eyes on her and even though Elvis had spoken he too was now watching her, waiting for her final say.

‘Can I?’ Jess asked watching her mother closely, unable to tell if her decision was falling in her favour. If it was an outright no she probably would’ve just told her so but at that moment she decided to let Elvis take the reins. He was her parent too and she trusted his judgement.

‘If it’s okay with your dad,’ Addison said looking at Elvis.

‘Oh uh, sure,’ Elvis said taken aback that she had deferred to him.

‘Thank you,’ Jess said wrapping her arms around his neck in a quick hug before she tore off to where they boys were waiting. As she disappeared out of sight his eyes drifted back to Addison who smiled at him. It was a small gesture. A barely significant decision in the grand scheme of things but for once she had let him have some control. They’d worked as a team, instead of Addison out there alone. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world.

‘Can I go?’ came a little voice that captured their attention. Lisa was standing at his other side watching Elvis with hope in her little face that made him sigh.

‘I don’t think so button head,’ he said making her pout.

‘Jessie gets to go,’ she said folding her arms across her chest indignantly.

‘Yes but it’s night time and Jess is a lot older than you honey,’ Elvis reasoned.

‘Yeah, besides you don’t wanna hang out with a bunch of silly boys, right?’ Marci said with a smile as she tried to coax her round.

‘Yeah Memphis,’ Jerry said nudging her cheek with his finger, ‘not when you could hang out with us.’

‘What do you say honey?’ Elvis said watching her.

‘Okay,’ Lisa said though there was still a definitive pout on her face as she climbed onto Elvis’s lap. She sat there quietly for a minute, her head resting against his shoulder as she sat astride his knee but then Addison watched as the cogs ticked over in her brain before she said, ‘Daddy?’

It was a good tactic Addison couldn’t deny. Her voice was sweet as sugar yet there was an air of disappointment to it that made Elvis frown as he said, ‘yeah baby?’

‘Can we go to the beach?’ she said looking up at him with hope in her big blue eyes.

‘I don’t know sweetheart,’ Elvis said, ‘it’s getting late.’

‘Please Daddy?’ she said, her bottom lip jutting out so much Addison had to take a swig of wine to stop her smirk from being too noticeable. She didn’t blame him. The sweetness, the puppy dog eyes and the fact she hadn’t failed to call him Daddy instead of Elvis as normal was the perfect trifecta and Addison could see he was falling for it hook, line and sinker.

‘Okay, we’ll go down in minute,’ Elvis said quietly.

‘Ooh can we have s’mores?!’ Lisa said immediately brightening.

‘Whatever you want honey,’ Elvis said stroking her hair as she fell back content with the way she had managed to bend his will so easily.

After that they stayed at the table for a while before eventually heading down to the beach. Whilst some of the group retired to their rooms a few couples joined them taking seats around the roaring fire Elvis had arranged to be waiting for them, along with everything they needed to make s’mores. Lisa sat between them allowing Addison to help her make s’mores though that didn’t stop her from getting a face full of chocolate which she didn’t think twice about wiping on her dress. And though she felt like teasing him something rotten for being able to be won over by a five-year old’s whim she couldn’t help but enjoy herself. Seeing him out there, unbothered and happy made her heart flutter.

Yet he wasn’t her Elvis out here. He was the new man, the one she was still getting to know, and yet the more she saw of him the more she felt as though the two versions of him could meld into one. As she watched him carry Lisa up the steps towards their rooms she felt as though this was what she wanted. All she wanted.

They didn’t take long to get Lisa settled. Jess was already in bed and fast asleep when they both walked into the girl’s room and with some silently skilled manoeuvring Elvis and Addison managed to get Lisa into her pyjamas and in bed without disturbing either of them. Yet as he clicked the door closed he found Addison watching him, that look of love back in her eyes.

‘What’s the matter with you?’ he asked as they walked slowly towards Addison’s adjoining room, neither of them wanting to go much faster as that would mean the end of their night.

‘Nothing,’ she said with a smile.

‘No go on smart ass,’ he chuckled, spinning around to face her as they stopped outside her door.

‘She wanted s’mores on the beach,’ Addison said simply.

‘Yeah and?’ Elvis asked.

‘And you just gave her s’mores on the beach?’ she questioned. Elvis shrugged.

‘Why not?’

‘And if Jess asked for a car tomorrow?’ she probed.

‘I mean I don’t think I’d manage to get it past you but if she wanted one, I’d give it her,’ Elvis said.

‘Just like that?’ Addison asked watching his face closely. There was still a smile ghosting his lips but she could tell what he said next was serious, from his heart.

‘I love her. I have the means and if it’d make her happy I’d do it…’ he said looking down on her as he added, ‘wouldn’t you?’

‘I try my best,’ Addison said honestly. She did try to keep Jess happy as much as she could but that wasn’t always feasible. Sometimes she had to do what was right, what was best for her daughter even if that didn’t always please her. Elvis seemed to be the opposite. He seemed to bend to his daughters will, to make them happy, hence why Lisa could wrap him around her little finger. And yet she couldn’t see that as an entirely bad thing because he acted out of love. Like she did.

‘To make her happy?’ Elvis said moving in a little closer.

‘Yeah,’ she said placing a hand on his chest trying to keep him at a distance though it didn’t do much to stop him.

‘And what about you?’ he asked moving her hair off her shoulder as she peered up at him.

‘What about me?’ she asked.

‘What makes you happy?’ he probed.

‘Lots of things,’ she said quietly, the scrutiny in his blue eyes making her heart beat so loud in her ears she wasn’t sure she had even spoken aloud.

‘There’s nothing you don’t want?’ he asked, his thumb brushing along her jaw making her heart beat even faster though she didn’t know how that was possible, ‘what do you want Addison?’

‘To go to bed,’ she said pulling from his grasp as she laughed nervously, ‘night.’

‘Night,’ he said watching as she threw herself inside her hotel room, the door closing heavily behind her. Elvis sighed and headed to his own door, stepping inside before he closed it gently behind him, resting against it. He was barely there two seconds before he heard a knock on it and turned back to open it. Addison was standing on the other side.

‘Addie-’

‘I want you to kiss me,’ she said and before he could say anything else she flung herself forward their bodies hitting one another in a frantic collision as their lips met. Elvis pulled her to him, allowing her to kick the door closed before she moved them towards the bed, pushing him down on it with a thud. She was on his lap in seconds, her fingers working on the buttons of his shirt as he kissed down her neck, his lips warm against every piece of skin on offer. Yet before he could tackle any of the buttons on her dress she was pushing his shirt off his shoulders and climbing off him, stationing herself between his legs as her hands immediately moved to his shorts. He wasn’t wearing anything underneath, the thin material of his shorts providing no barrier as she moved her hand against him.

‘Fuck Addie,’ he said. They should’ve slowed down. He should’ve taken time to absorb the moment, to enjoy that everything he had wanted for months, no years, was now coming true, but as she yanked his shorts from under him, her hand meeting his member as she swirled her tongue around his tip everything else was lost. As his eyes closed, his fingers running through her loose brown curls Addison continued to use her tongue against him. When they had first been together she had been a naïve schoolgirl. He had taught her everything and in those instances she had allowed him to lead, but not tonight. Tonight she wasn’t thinking about anything else other than what she wanted, what made her happy, even if that was how he groaned as she took him down to the back of her throat.

‘Ads,’ he panted, feeling his excitement speeding ahead with the way she worked him. He wanted everything she had to give and more but as he looked down and caught her eye he was snapped back to reality. He wanted everything but he wanted it with her. He didn’t want their first time back together to be some haphazard quick thing.

‘Addie,’ he said pushing her off him gently. She pulled back, moving to come and sit in his lap, her arms around his neck.

‘What’s the matter?’ she asked breathily.

‘Is this what you want?’ he asked, his blue eyes meeting hers as he watched for any flicker of uncertainty. It didn’t come.

‘Yes,’ she said.

‘Promise?’ he asked. He didn’t know why he was pushing, as if he wanted her to tell him no.

‘I want this Elvis. I want you,’ she said placing her forehead against his. He nodded, kissing her gently before he felt the excitement she had already created start to take hold once more. He stood up, her legs wrapping around his waist as she shrieked making him chuckle. As he placed her down on the bed she started to unbutton her dress, watching as he discarded his shorts completely and returned to hover over her, his mouth returning to her neck.

For a moment it was a frantic rush, a dash to get them completely barren of anything that separated them but once they were both there, everything seemed to slow. Fingers danced along skin, kisses became more languid and passionate, and they seemed to meld into one.

‘You ready?’ Elvis asked from where he had moved to kneel between her legs. She was resting on her elbows, watching him with a smile before she nodded. Elvis didn’t need to be told twice, instead he eased himself in with a groan, moving back so he could kiss her as he started to move his hips. She felt like heaven around him, the content little sigh she offered as he buried himself in her neck music to his ears. His could feel his climax coming, threatening to spill over any moment as if he was some teenage boy who’d just gotten hold of his first playboy, but he made him pace himself. Instead of focusing on his own excitement he watched her, committing every moment to memory, the way he had the first time they had ever done this.

He watched as her eyes fluttered closed, how her chest heaved against his, how she wrapped her legs around him forcing him to go deeper. He listened to her breaths, each now coming a little quicker and punctuated by moans as he did something to elicit them, immediately repeating his moves whenever they came.

‘Ads…honey I ain’t gon’ last much longer,’ he said with a groan as he felt that coil in his belly move to take over. Her eyes fluttered open at his voice, a smile on her lips.

‘I’m right behind you,’ she murmured, her fingers stroking his face gently giving him the go ahead. Elvis shifted, pulling back until they were no longer entangled and instead he was kneeling, her pulled onto his thighs as he moved in and out of her, his fingers playing with her clit as he did. Her head fell back with a moan, her own hands caressing her chest as she fluttered around him.

‘Fuck Addie,’ he grunted, any tenderness now thrown to the wayside for want and need.

‘Right there,’ she panted, ‘oh fuck.’

‘I’m gonna cum,’ Elvis said feeling himself start to spiral. Then she clenched around him and he was gone, spilling into her as she hit her own stride her walls locking onto him like a vice until he was completely empty. As he pulled out he flopped down beside her, immediately moving her onto her side so he could take in everything. Her eyes only opened as his hands found her waist and they fell quiet for a moment, Addison’s finger tracing the planes of his face as he watched her – his heart so full he thought it may burst.

‘Addie,’ he said after a moment but she shook her head silencing him.

‘Can we just do this for a minute?’ she asked hesitantly, ‘no autopsy, no dissecting, just…this, please?’

Elvis watched her. It didn’t escape his notice that she was employing the same tactics Lisa used whenever she wanted something. How her expectant gaze tugged on his heart strings. He could see she was hesitant, nervous even, that was why she was asking. But it didn’t worry him. That glow from before hadn’t gone and he could feel the love there, lingering between them. So if she needed him to take a minute, to allow her to breathe, he’d let her. He give her what she wanted.

✵✵✵

When Addison woke the following morning she was tucked into Elvis’ side, her hand on his chest, the steady thump of his heart underneath her fingertips. Yet it brought her no comfort, not when she knew she’d have to break it.

She’d allowed herself to lose focus, to give into what she wanted rather than what was best. When it came to her daughter she could make those decisions in an instant but he had this thing about him, this way of making her lose all senses. Senses that only came back into play when everything came back down to earth with a crash. She had spent the night watching him, analysing the planes of his face as though this would be the last time she’d ever see him. The way she had the day he had left for the draft. She supposed it was in a way. This was the last time he’d be with her like this, the last time their relationship would be truly okay before she wrecked it. And yet she couldn’t risk not doing. At least if she was the one to do the wrecking, if she got out before it all became a disaster she could minimise the damage. For all of them.

As he started to stir she realised she couldn’t lay there any longer. If he woke up and she was still in his arms it would give him hope, hope she’d have to spark out. So she slipped out of bed, throwing her discarded underwear on before she grabbed her dress off the floor. Yet as she started to button it he stirred, noticing he was lying in bed alone which forced him to open his eyes properly.

‘What’cha doing?’ he mumbled rubbing his eyes before he propped himself up on his elbow.

‘We slept in,’ Addison said continuing to button her dress though she refused to look at him, ‘the girls are probably wondering where we are.’

‘Daddy’s got ‘em,’ Elvis said though when she still didn’t look up he felt ice form in his veins. She was backing out.

‘Addie,’ he said moving towards her, wrapping the sheet around his waist as she picked her discarded shoes up off the floor.

‘I should check on them,’ she said though before she could get away he grabbed her by the waist, holding her still which finally forced her gaze to fall upon him. Her face was riddled with guilt, a quiver playing on her lips as he said, ‘Ads please don’t do this.’

‘Elvis,’ she said thickly.

‘Don’t, honey please don’t do this,’ he said, he was sure it sounded like begging but he couldn’t bring himself to think about pride at a time like this, ‘last night, last night you said you wanted me-’

‘I know,’ she said, tears brimming in her eyes.

‘So don’t do this,’ he said stroking her cheek, ‘please let’s just get back into bed and be what we want to be.’

‘I can’t,’ she said, her hand clasping around his wrist though she didn’t push him off unable to bring herself to get rid of the only comfort she had.

‘Why not?’ he said, ‘I thought we were finally-’

‘I thought so too,’ she said sadly, ‘but I just can’t.’

‘Addie,’ he said as she pulled his hand away and moved towards the door.

‘I’m sorry okay,’ she said, grabbing her purse off the floor, ‘I wish I could but I just can’t. Not again. I’m sorry.’

And then she was out the door barrelling down the stone walkway outside towards the patio area. She could hear him calling her name, unable to get out of the door to follow her quick enough given that he was still undressed. Tears were brimming in her eyes now, but she forced them back hoping she wouldn’t bring too much attention when she got to the courtyard. Fortunately there weren’t many people around and she found Jerry and Marci sitting at a table by themselves.

‘Hey, we were just wondering when you were coming down,’ Marci said though her smile disappeared as she noted her friend’s forlorn expression, ‘what’s going-’

‘Have you seen the girls?’ Addison asked cutting her off.

‘They’re on the beach with Vernon,’ Jerry said feeling just as worried as Marci was as he asked, ‘everything okay?’

‘Can you watch them? When they get back I mean,’ Addison said hurriedly, knowing it wouldn’t take long for Elvis to appear if he had chosen to chase her.

‘Sure, Addie what’s going on?’ Marci said reaching out to touch Addison’s arm but she moved it out of her reach, looking away as she felt those tears start to spill down her cheeks.

‘Just watch them please?’ Addison said and before either of her friends could protest she walked off heading in the opposite direction she had come. Marci watched her friend go. She knew she should probably chase after her, ask her what was going on, but she also knew her friend well enough to know that wasn’t going to help anything. Not yet.

Instead she flopped back in her chair with a sigh, finding Jerry’s eyes on her as he said, ‘what the hell was that about?’

‘I don’t know,’ Marci sighed, ‘but my guess is it isn’t good.’

‘You’re probably right,’ Jerry sighed the cogs turning in his mind for a moment before he said, ‘was she wearing last night’s clothes?’

✵✵✵

Addison didn’t come back that day. She didn’t even come back that night. The thought of facing Elvis, knowing he would watch her with that same heartbroken face he had looked at her with that morning was too much. Yet it didn’t hurt as much as losing him all together had. How knowing they’d been kept apart had torn at her, breaking her into fractions as she tried to jumble the pieces into something coherent enough to look after a child. It didn’t hurt the way being left on her own had, how much it would hurt if she were to lose him again.

As she lay bed, just on the other side of the hotel yet feeling a million miles away, she thought of everything.

She thought of Jess. She thought about how this might affect her. She knew she wouldn’t understand, not yet anyway, but she hoped that eventually she’d see that Addison was making the right decision. She hoped that she’d understand that this didn’t change anything. That no matter what happened between her and Elvis she’d always be her number one priority, like she had been from the moment she was born.

She thought of Elvis. She thought of how he had loved her both then and now. She thought of his touch, his lips murmuring loving whispers into her ear when he thought she was asleep. She thought of that boy who had fought for them and failed. She thought of that boy who had been torn away from her time and time again coming back a whole new man who had never failed to turn her life on its head.

And then she thought of herself. Well not herself as she was now but that scared seventeen-year-old. The one that had cradled her baby bump as she cried herself to sleep night after night wondering if the pain in her heart would eventually make it stop altogether. She thought of the exhausted twenty-year-old trying to comfort her inconsolable child enough to make her fall asleep when the only background music was the screams of girls on the set of the Frank Sinatra show, agog at the idea of Elvis Presley being back on US soil. She thought of the twenty-seven-year-old. The one who had to ignore the twinge in her chest as she listened to the old dears in Marci’s salon rave about the wedding of the century, Elvis and Priscilla.

She couldn’t protect any of them.

She couldn’t make any of them feel any better, heal the hurt in their hearts.

But she could do it for herself now.

She had to.

✵✵✵

To no one’s surprise when Addison awoke the following morning she found she was exhausted and she didn’t expect her day to get any better as she trudged across the resort back to where she should’ve been staying. As she walked through the beautiful scenery she couldn’t help but feel cheated, the sun shining down on everyone, yet a cloud of gloominess seemed to engulf her. When she reached their part of the resort she was relieved to find there was no one around, given the early hour she doubted that anyone would be up which was good because she didn’t feel up to seeing anyone else. The only person she needed to see was Elvis.

She stood outside his door trying to work up the nerve to knock on it. She didn’t know why it was this hard, it wasn’t going to hurt any less if she did it now or ten hours from now, but just as she moved her hand to knock it opened and a woman appeared, Elvis just a step behind her.

‘Oh, uh hi,’ the woman said smiling awkwardly at Addison who looked at her dumbfounded, yet the woman didn’t seem to give her much thought as she turned around looking back at Elvis as she said, ‘call me tonight?’

‘Yeah sure,’ Elvis said though his eyes didn’t leave Addison who was now looking away from the pair of them, a scowl on her face.

‘Well, bye then,’ the woman said before she glanced between them one last time and then headed off down towards the courtyard. Only when she was a way up the pathway did Addison look at him, irritation flaming behind her eyes.

‘You are unbelievable,’ she said, her jaw clenching as she felt anger surge through her forcing her feet to move as she headed towards her room. Whatever she wanted to say now was gone, replaced by anger and a sense of foolishness. Of course he had bedded someone else in her absence. She’d spent her life trying to get over him and yet he’d done it in a night.

‘Addison!’ he called, ‘Addie wait!’

‘For what?! Why you got someone else in there you want me to meet?’ she asked whipping around to find him a step behind her, regret plastered all over his face though it flashed to irritation at her words.

‘Hey you were the one who said no remember,’ he said quietly before he stomped off back to his room. He left the door open, anticipating she would follow him which she did slamming it closed behind her hard enough to make the wooden beams that kept the place together to sway in its wake.

‘So your immediate reaction is to jump into bed with someone else?’ she scoffed.

‘Believe it or not I wasn’t exactly feeling my best last night,’ he snapped making her run her tongue across her teeth, ‘what you don’t believe me? I mean it wouldn’t surprise me seeing as we don’t seem to know what each other’s feeling anymore. I mean I thought we were on the same page that night but then you just dump me like trash on the side of the road-’

‘It wasn’t like that!’ Addison objected.

‘Yeah, well that’s how it feels,’ he countered adding with a mirthless laugh, ‘I guess that’s just your MO.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Addison scoffed, immediately making regret flow through him. They were getting into dangerous territory and he knew it.

‘Nothing, just forget it,’ he said.

‘No go on, if you’ve got something to say, say it,’ she snapped, fury in her eyes as she awaited his answer. He knew he shouldn’t. He knew the words that were dancing on his tongue were bound to cut deep and yet he couldn’t stop himself. She had broken his heart and he wanted to hurt her just as bad.

‘Okay you want to know what I think?’ he asked as though her giving him permission would make it any more justified.

‘Hit me,’ she said sarcastically.

‘You’re selfish,’ he shrugged.

‘What?!’

‘You’re selfish. You pretend you’re not. You hide behind it pretending that you’re just thinking of other people but you’re not. You’re thinking of yourself. Doing what you want,’ he said honestly.

‘That’s not true,’ she protested.

‘Isn’t it?’ he laughed, ‘who were you thinking about when you stomped all over my heart yesterday? Not me. Who were you thinking of when you let me fall in love with you again? I mean did you have any intention of loving me back? Because when you said you loved me for some reason I thought you might be telling the truth-’

‘It’s not that simple!’ Addison shouted. Their voices were loud now, the hurt unable to keep either of them civilised as it poured out of them, fifteen years of anger pain and frustration rearing their ugly head.

‘Because of Jess?’ he asked.

‘Of course because of Jess!’ Addison screamed.

‘Really? Because I think she’s fine with it. I think she’s been fine with it all along. I think you’re using her because you’re worried about how it’ll hurt you. How if this thing collapses, which I don’t understand how you could believe that, how you’ll feel. Not Jess,’ Elvis spat.

‘Don’t I have that right?’ Addison said moving towards him, he was staring down at her, his jaw tight and his chest heaving from where they had been shouting but she pressed on anyway, ‘don’t I get to decide what’s best for me? After everything I’ve been through-’

‘And what about what I went through?’ Elvis retorted angrily.

‘Oh yeah I’m sure a pretty new wife and a cute little kid tore ya up real bad,’ Addison sneered.

‘How about not seeing my daughter for fifteen years? Where does that rate in the Addison pity scale,’ Elvis snapped. It was a low blow, he could tell from the way she inhaled sharply, the pain of the accusation hitting her square in the chest.

‘You said you understood,’ she said, quieter than she had been since this whole thing had kicked off.

‘I did.’

‘And what now I don’t want to get back together you’ve changed your mind? Now you can’t get me into bed I’m a bitch is that it?’ she said.

‘I’m just wondering when you’ll take off again. Hell maybe it’s a good thing I know about Jess. At least this time I’ll get a say in what’s best for her instead of you doing what you think is right like always,’ Elvis said bitterly.

‘How dare you!’ Addison screamed, ‘everything I have ever done is for Jess. She is my family Elvis. The only one who never left me.’

‘I left for us! To save us!’ he yelled at her, ‘hell I even got rid of the Colonel for you!’

‘I never asked you to do that,’ she replied.

‘No but I did it anyway! Because I love you Addison,’ he said his voice dropping in volume as his declaration of love spilled out, ‘but you can’t see past yourself to think about it.’

They were quiet for a moment, the tension in the air palpable as they watched one another. He had done enough, tore into her so much he was sure that any hope they had would be lost by now. He should’ve stopped. He should’ve kept the words inside himself and yet they were there once more threatening to come out as she watched him with pain splashed across her face. He wanted it to hurt. He wanted to make her feel the pain he had been living with the moment he had noticed she was going to bolt. And so he went for the thing that would hurt her the most.

‘You know maybe it’s better this way,’ he said with a mirthless laugh, ‘maybe it’s better if we don’t play happy families. Maybe it’s better if we just stay apart, hell, maybe she should stay with me full time.’

‘She wouldn’t leave me,’ Addison said in a whisper, ‘you wouldn’t dare.’

‘Wouldn’t I? I mean you got her for fifteen years why shouldn’t I? You know something? Maybe she’d be better off. She’d sure as shit learn a few things.’

‘Oh yeah like what? How to buy everyone’s love? How to pout like a petulant child when something doesn’t go your way?’

‘Maybe she’d learn that doing what you want, what makes you happy isn’t such a bad thing. Maybe she’d learn that you don’t have to be a god damn martyr all the fuckin’ time and that being miserable doesn’t make you any better than anyone. Maybe she’d learn not to run away at the tiniest hint of a problem,’ Elvis ranted.

‘That’s not what this is,’ Addison snapped.

‘Isn’t it?’ Elvis scoffed, ‘you know maybe the Colonel was right. Maybe you are just like Mona.’

He heard it before he felt it. The ear-splitting thwack as her hand slapped him hard across the face pain flooding to it in an instant though he didn’t know how anything could hurt as much as his heart did at that moment. His cheek was hot to the touch as he rubbed where hers had connected with it and yet it didn’t sting as much as the way she was looking at him did. It was a look of betrayal.

He knew he shouldn’t have said it, how his words would cut deeper than he had intended and given the way she was moving towards the door in haste he realised he was right.

‘Addie,’ he sighed stepping forward to follow her though she raised a hand to stop him.

‘Don’t,’ she said trying to remain stern though it was betrayed by the way she was gnawing on her lip trying to keep herself from crying.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said hoping she’d realise he was being honest.

‘You know what?’ she said sadly, ‘if you want me to stick around maybe you should stop giving me reasons to run away.’

And then she was gone, leaving Elvis standing there wishing he’d kept his mouth shut.

SERIES TAGS

@girlblogger2002 @sania562 @caitlin1996 @literally-just-elvis-fics @notstefaniepresley @artlesson8892 @18lkpeters @velvetelvis @jaqueline19997 @elvispresleyxoxo @amydarcimarie @presleyenterprise @everythingelvispresley @elvispresleywife @lillypink @richardslady121 @lettersfromvenus @louisejoy86 @ccab

#my writing #elvis #elvis presley #elvis presley x ofc #elvis x ofc #elvis and addison #here you come again

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uhlatcha · 29 days

Text

ROCK WITH U - SEVENTEEN 70s AU - CHAPTER ONE: THE BOYS IN THE ROCK BAND

WATTPAD | AO3 | PLAYLIST | ROCK WITH YOU MASTERLIST

SUMMARY: California, 1970's. After being discovered by a major label, Seventeen are rock's newest promise. But before they can get a deal, they need to prove their worth, so the label makes an arrangement with the company's most successful band, for the newcomers to go on tour supporting the veterans. But what begins with the promise of a promising tour ends up taking a tortuous path thanks to the "sex, drugs and rock and roll" philosophy that led the golden years of rock and roll. FANDOMS: SEVENTEEN WORDS: 7454 PAIRING: KMG X OC | CSC X OC | JWW X OC GENRE: FANFIC, ROMCOM, DRAMA, 70s AU, ROCK BAND AU NOTES: ENGLISH IS NOT MY FIRST LANGUAGE, ANY FEEDBACKS ARE WELCOME.

CHAPTER ONE: THE BOYS IN THE ROCK BAND

Spring Of 1979 - A Few Weeks Before "Heaven is Here" Tour.

When Mya and Tea got out of the car on that warm late spring morning and walked towards the doors of the company, they thought that it would be just another normal pre production meeting to finalize some decisions about the world tour that they would start in the summer.

The duo, who already had a few years of career, had already done three tours around the country and some international shows, mostly at festivals or special events and talk shows. They were used to being on the road, but this tour was different. It was their first world tour. They would go to three different countries. It seemed unbelievable that so many different people in so many different places could be interested in the music of two girls who grew up in Los Angeles, but there they were.

Tea, who had been born in England and moved several times before her parents finally settled in Los Angeles, had never imagined that life, not until she met Mya. She was the one who convinced her that music was worth giving up everything for, which was crazy but turned out to work out well in the end.

As soon as they entered the record company building, the girls went to Jihoon's room. Woozi, as he was known in the music world, was a short guy with feline expressions. Most people didn't take him very seriously when they first met him, which was a huge mistake, as he was extremely talented, and slightly aggressive towards those who made fun of his height. Woozi had worked with the top-notch bands. He had been working with Mya and Tea ever since they left the band they were in and became a duo. Woozi had produced all the girls' albums and was largely responsible for their success. And to the girls, he was much more than just a producer, Woozi was part of the family.

Tea knocked at Jihoon's door, but Minghao was the one opening the door. When the girls entered, they greeted Minghao and sat on the couch on the other side of the room while Jihoon finished a call, but it didn't take long before he went to greet them, carrying a folder that he placed on the table.

"Let's get down to business girls." He announced, after greeting them and asking his assistant to bring tea and drinks. "We have one more thing to discuss about the tour."

"I thought everything was already settled." Tea said, stirring her tea.

"Almost everything." Minghao pointed out "But there's one small detail that we have to discuss."

"Then why isn't DK here?" Tea asked. DK was their tour manager; he was the one settling everything when it came to hit the road.

"I thought it would be better to talk with the three of you and him separately." Jihoon explained.

Mya got up and headed towards the bar, sensing that something not very pleasant was about to be announced,

"I think I'll need a drink before you spit it out, Jihoon. "

She poured her drink then came back to her sit.

"What's the problem?"

"It's not a problem." He guaranteed. "The company just decided that it would be more practical, to have just one opening act for the whole tour instead of having an opening act for each city."

Tea directs him a suspicious look. They liked having a different band opening their shows in each city. It was a good opportunity to make new contacts and give opportunities to local bands. It was also great to avoid spending a lot of time with unknown people who could get in trouble along the way on such a long tour.

"So, you called us here to choose the opening band?"

"Not exactly." Jihoon commented, then looked at Minghao. They clearly talked about that before.

"Remember when you joined the label and to test your popularity before signing a real contract, we made you a contract to open for Day6?" Minghao asked.

"Of course," Tea answered, thinking about the days she and Mya were on tour with DAY6 "How could we forget? Everything was so amazing."

"Our first tour as High as Hope, supporting an amazing band." She said, "We couldn't have had a better start."

"And the audience loved you." Jihoon commented "Which yielded a very advantageous partnership for both you and the label."

The two agreed. They had nothing to complain about the label. Thanks to their popularity and good reputation, the two had a lot of creative freedom.

"That said, I think you understand what a good opportunity this type of contract can be and would like others to enjoy the same opportunity." Jihoon asked.

"Of course." Tea said, and Mya nodded.

"Okay, we already understood that you already chose the band." Mya pointed out "Are you going to tell who they are or not?"

"Seventeen. It's a band that's been quite successful on Sunset." Woozi began "I went to see some of their shows, and I think they have potential."

"If you think so they probably have." Tea said. She trusted Jihoon a lot, he had a very good ear for new talents.

"We recorded a demo, and the label is interested... But they don't have the best of reputations, so they want to test their behavior and popularity of the boys, before signing them definitively."

"I knew you hesitating this much wasn't a good thing." Mya commented, pointing from Jihoon to Minghao.

"But don't worry, I've had a lot of talks with them, and I'm putting together a temporary contract that includes a clause that guarantees they don't cause trouble. And they're desperate for a contract, they will behave. And if they don't, they're out of the tour, and lose their contract offer."

Tea and Mya exchanged a suspicious look, wondering if this was even a good idea.

"Here is the contract." Minghao pointed, giving a copy to each girl. "Read and tell us your impressions, if it's okay or if you want to change something."

"Is this a request we can refuse or has the label already decided?" Mya asked after reading the contract.

"You can refuse," Minghao said.

"But they're good people, and they're talented, they're just misfits. But I give you my word that if they cause trouble, you can kick them out of the tour." Jihoon added.

Mya looked at Tea again and could see in the soft-hearted girl's thoughtful look that she wanted to give the boys a chance.

"Can we meet them before giving a concrete answer?" Tea asked.

"I figured you would want this." Jihoon commented "They're playing at Troubadour tomorrow, if you're free..."

"We can go out for lunch, and you can watch the sound check and talk to them." Minghao suggested.

The girls were silent for a few moments, exchanging thoughtful glances.

"So, what do you say?" Jihoon asked.

"I'm up for it if Mya and the boys are up for it too." Tea said, talking about the rest of their band members, looking at her friend, with bright hopeful eyes that begged for a yes.

"I'm in if the boys agree." Mya agreed, still a bit apprehensive "But if I don't like them, forget about it." Mya said, pointing a finger at her friend, who clapped excitedly.

Tea understood Mya. She knew she was apprehensive about letting other people into their bubble. They've had problems before, with their old band and, but they eventually found they had each other and they are not so new band mates, people that they could trust. But it was hard for Mya to say no to Tea, who was soft-hearted and loved to give chances to anyone abandoned dog that appeared in his path. So, she decided to at least give it a try.

******

The phone rang at least five times before Seungcheol gathered the strength to get up and answer it, as none of the other boys dared to do so. He understood that everyone was tired, but so was he. But unlike the others, he couldn't ignore the call, it could be something important, and they couldn't miss important calls. Sometimes being the leader wasn't easy.

"Hello?" he said as he answered the phone in the kitchen, yawning.

"I talked to the girls today." Woozi announced, without even saying hello, and Seungcheol woke up immediately.

"What did they say?" Seungcheol asked, holding the phone tightly.

"They want to meet you before giving a concrete answer, '' Woozi announced, making him even more nervous. "I explained the whole situation, Tea is actually excited to meet you guys, it's not hard to win her heart, Mya it's a bit more suspicious, so she's the one you have to impress. And by that, I mean all of you members must cooperate. They must be the nicest, polite people, do you understand?"

That was the hard part. Seungcheol loved their friends, they were nice and talented people. but they weren't exactly polite and collected. They were crazy and chaotic. Buta that was important. If they behave, they will get a deal with a big company. They needed to make it work, their dreams were at check.

"They will behave." Seungcheol promised.

"I hope so." Woozi commented "The girls are coming to see you at Troubadour." He announced, "I'll take them to soundcheck so they can see you practicing, then we can have lunch together."

"Okay, we'll see you there." he said and Woozi hung up.

He put the phone back in the cradle and sat down at the counter. They were so close to what they always wanted. All they had to do was convince the biggest star from the company that they deserved a chance. It wasn't far that two girls that didn't even know then should decide their future. But it couldn't be that hard to make them like them, right?

He heard footsteps in the backyard then the door hung open as Jeonghan entered, hands full of paper bags with groceries.

"You are already up?" He asked, surprised. "What happened, did you fall from bed?"

"The phone was ringing."

"Was it an important call?" Jeonghan asked, emptying the bags.

"Yes" Seungcheol commented "Woozi."

"What did he say?" Jeonghan asked, excited.

"He said the girls want to meet us. He'll take them to the Troubadour tomorrow to watch our show."

"Good." Jeonghan commented, thoughtfully. "I'll call him later for more details."

"I'll wake the boys up. I have an idea and need to talk to them."

******

All the High as Hope members, accompanied by their manager, arrived at The Troubadour twenty minutes before Woozi's scheduled time and when they arrived, the stage was already set up for the show. Security said the band had gone out to eat at least half an hour ago, after setting up their gear. Which made Mya stressed, thinking they wouldn't be back any time soon.

"Who the fuck goes out to eat when you have a lunch appointment?" Mya, who was at the bar with Minghao and Joshua, and already had at least three drinks, complained. Minghao, who was really stressed that day, agreed, putting some sticks in the fire she was building.

Woozi, as always, arrived just in time to find Tea and Jun by the piano, playing together while Dino was playing with the drums on the stage.

Mya expressed her worries to Woozi, who went out to look for the boys. Tea and Jun had already played at least five songs on the out of tune piano that was in the corner of the stage. They were playing to try to make Mya join them in their distraction, but had no success, until Tea started playing Martha My Dear by The Beatles but changing the name Martha for Mya. What really caught the other girl's attention, making her softer.

Soon she was by the piano, asking Tea to play Abba's songs and singing along to the melody, pulling Joshua to dance around with her. They were having fun playing and singing Dancing Queen when they heard a commotion coming from the backstage door and soon a bunch of guys entered the stage room, laughing and joking around. Woozi was just behind them with an annoyed expression.

They were a group with a lot of presence, Tea noticed that the moment they entered the room, all dressed in black. They were all tall and fit, but one of the guys was so big she couldn't take her eyes off him. Until the thin blonde one ran towards dino with an unhappy expression.

"Hey, don't touch my set."

Mya stopped right where she was dancing with Joshua, staring at the boy who just scolded her brother.

"Sorry man" Dino said, getting up and walking away. "You were late, and we were all bored and the drums were right there so..."

"So, you are used to messing up someone's set like this?" The guy asked, annoyed,

Tea stopped playing and looked at Mya who was just beside Joshua, she could feel her friend were about to go feral, and so did Minghao and Jun, who ran towards the commotion straight to hold Mya down.

"Stop, let him take care of it." Tea heard Joshua whisper to Mya, who took a deep breath. She knew Dino didn't like her intervention on his business, but it was hard for her to see her little brother being looked down by a pretentious stranger.

"Sorry bro, it won't happen again." Dino said, rolling his eyes to the boy who was now checking his set to see if Dino messed something up.

"I'm sorry about Hoshi." One of the guys from the band who saw Mya giving the blonde guy a look that could kill him. "But since we are all musicians, I guess you understand the jealousy we have towards our instruments."

The guy was big and had sort of an intimidating aura but was really trying to look apologetic.

"And you are...?" Mya asked, not happy at all.

"Oh right, we were not introduced yet." He commented and stood his hand to the girl. "My name is Seungcheol, but you can call me Scoups."

At that moment she decided to never call him like that.

"I'm Seventeen's leader." He added.

Mya didn't take his hand, but Joshua who was right beside her did.

"Hi, I'm Joshua." He said as he pointed to the others. "These are Mya, Jun, Dino and the one by the piano is Tea!"

Seungcheol looked at the piano and Tea waved at him with a tiny anxious smile. She then got up and got close to the rest of the group, right between Mya and Joshua, interlocking her arms with theirs.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all." Seungcheol said. "We are really thankful for the opportunity to work with you."

Mya scoffed, crossing her arms.

"Nothing it's officially seated yet." She spoke. "And if you were really grateful you wouldn't be late."

"I'm really sorry about that." Seungcheol said, looking a bit irritated. "We had a long ride to get here, my members were starving."

"It's okay, we understand." Tea said with a comprehensive smile trying to ease all the tension. "Why don't you introduce us to the rest of the band?"

Seungcheol agreed and called the other members who were at the bar. The first to be introduced were Seungkwan, a very excited guy with orange dyed hair. He played the keyboard and we're very excited to talk with Tea about her technique and told them to call him Boo. Vernon, one of the guitarists, had a very odd sense of style and looked a little bit lost but was very polite. Hoshi, the blond guy who fought Dino earlier, looked like a hyperactive child, he wouldn't stop for a second. And then there were the last two ones. Wonwoo, the bassist, looked very collected and kind of intimidating with a distant vibe. His sharp eyes were very cold, and his deep voice only made him look even more intimidating, but he was very polite and didn't leave Mingyu's side for a second.

Mingyu... The guy who caught Tea's attention the second the group entered the stage room. But how couldn't he? The guitarist was the tallest of the group, and everything about him was big. He had broad shoulders, strong arms. Adding the tan skin and the long wavy black hair that framed his beautiful angelic face? He was stunning.

"Hi, I'm Mingyu." He said with a big warm smile and sparkly eyes. giving Tea his hand. She who was very short had to look up to meet his eyes and notice his point canines showing when he took her small hand in his. The fangs would look intimidating in a big guy like him, if he wasn't the brightest person she'd ever meet.

"Hi" she said, smiling timidly at him "I'm Tea, nice to meet you."

"I know who you are, you are incredible." He said "I know all of you. My little sister is a big High as Hope fan, I took her to one of your concerts last year. Jun, you're her favorite."

"She has good taste." Jun commented smiling proudly, messing with Dino who rolled his eyes.

"Jun is everyone's favorite." Tea commented looking fondly at the bassist.

"JUN IS YOUR FAVORITE?" Joshua shouted, being the dramatic person, he was. Tea patted his chest comforting him. "What about me?"

"You are my second favorite."

"Joshua is your second favorite?" Mya asked.

"You are my sun and stars, the reason for my existence." Tea said, hugging Mya who laughed.

"I'm jealous." Joshua said.

"Don't be, love." she said, letting go of Mya, hugging him instead, batting her eyes.

"What about me?" Dino asked.

"You are my son, my baby boy." She said going to pinch his cheek. Dino rolled his eyes, he hated being the youngest and being treated like the youngest, but because it was Tea, who actually respect him besides calling him baby, he just smiled and brushed it away.

Mingyu was watching the whole scene with a curious smile, Wonwoo right beside him didn't look very interested in the conversation. It was clear they were like a big happy family by the way they were messing with each other. Mingyu was good at reading the room, and the people. And that was why Cheol gave him a special mission that day. A mission he was eager to complete.

"High as Hope" Minghao who was back at the bar with Woozi and a long-haired guy called and all the members looked at him. "Can you come here for a second?"

They obeyed. Tea almost ran into the bar, she needed to stay away from mister tall and handsome who was eyeing her a little bit much with that bright smile. She excused herself and received another bright smile.

"Okay band, I Mya introduce you to YoonJeonghan." Minghao said, pointing to the long-haired man. "He is Seventeen's manager."

"Oh, so he's the one we should blame for not arriving on time?" Mya asked and Jeonghan raised an eyebrow at her.

"I'm sorry for the delay, but we had a long ride to get here." He said the exact same thing Seungcheol did. "The members were starving."

"We understand.'' Tea said again, making Mya a little bit annoyed. She always had to be so comprehensive and nice to everyone.

"Yeah, but I did my research." Mya commented. "Your band doesn't have the best of the reputations."

Neither do you. Jeonghan thought, but didn't say a word, just smiled politely. They had to be a little bit more submissive if they wanted to make a good impression after being late. But he also did his research. The band didn't have the shiniest reputation either. He heard the girls were previously in another band that broke up after a series of ugly events involving drugs, jealousy and matters of creative power.

"They will behave, I will do my best to guarantee that." He explained. "We understand the importance of this opportunity."

"I hope so." Mya said, crossing her arms and giving him a yellow smile.

"Can we hear them playing now?" Tea asked, excited.

"Yeah, so we can go out to eat, I'm hungry." Dino commented.

"Yes, sure." Woozi agreed and signed to Jeonghan.

"Cheol." He called and the other looked directly at him "Can you guys play something to our guests?"

"Sure!" He answered and went straight to the stage, followed by his members.

"Let's go to the front row." Tea said, grabbing Mya's hand and dragging her closer to the stage.

While adjusting his guitar, Mingyu gave Tea a wink, making her blush and look away. Mya didn't look very excited about hearing them and the others stayed in their spots by the bar. The first song they played was very energetic and had kind of a sexy vibe. It was a good song, with a catchy chorus and a good instrumental. Mya rolled her eyes to the lyrics sometimes, because that was a song about how cool they were, and she wasn't ready to admit they were right. But by the end of the song, she was humming along, just like Tea, who was really enjoying the song, besides being shocked about who good Boo's vocals were. He could reach some incredible high notes. And on the total opposite was Won's voice, that was even deeper than when he spoke. By the second song, a song that was a lot more energetic and fun, the girls were already clapping on the band commands along the rhythm.

The boys really had a good stage presence and were singing and playing like they were having fun. Tea liked them right away, even more because of how they were enjoying the show as much as her. It was the kind of thing that created a connection between artist and audience. They were good and had a lot of potential. The third and last song was the girls favorite, the song was also very energetic and had a very positive message, and a super catchy rhythm.

By the end, they bowed as everyone in the room clapped. Even Mya, who didn't look very welcoming at first.

"Wow, you guys are really amazing." Tea said, when they came off the stage.

The boys looked very happy with her reaction.

"Your vocal range is absolutely amazing" Tea said, coming closer to Boo "The high notes? splendid."

The red-haired boy looked excited and full of satisfaction with her comments.

"What about me?" Mingyu asked, getting closer to her "Did you like my ranges?"

She blushed and licked her lips, nervously.

"Yes. You have a lot of stage presence." she said, timidly, trying to look composed. He smiled, a big, beautiful smile that made her feel like her heart was about to explode, so she did the rational thing, she turned away and looked at Wonu. "You were also amazing, all of you. But the bass lines really got my attention, I love how your presence is subtle but strong, it's not easy to have this presence as a bassist. Congratulations on that."

"Thank you." he said, blinking surprised, then smirking with her comment.

"I make Tea's words mine." Jun said, "Your bass lines are amazing."

Wonu thanks again.

"The guys are amazing and everything." Mya said. "But what about we talk about this and sit in the restaurant?"

"Let's go then." Woozi said "I'll pay for the lunch."

******

"Come on, spill the tea." Tea instructed, looking at her reflection in the restaurant restroom "What is your honest opinion about them?"

"Their music is good, a bit rough, but they have potential and a good stage presence." Mya admitted now that she was alone with her friend. "And they are not bad to look at., but I think you already know that, since you wouldn't stop blushing to Mr. Tall and Handsome."

Tea blushed again but hurried to change the subject.

"Okay, so we have the yes, what about the nos?"

"I want to punch the drummer in the guts." Mya explained "And that leader of them... I don't like his attitude, I bet he will be a problem. The manager too."

Tea had to agree. Jeonghan looked a bit pretentious and Scoups looked like someone who was used to being in control, someone who doesn't like to share power.

"Your impressions?" Mya asked.

"As you said... They have potential. Boo's vocals got me really impressed, the bass work too. They are good, I think the audience will love them. Besides being late, they don't look that much of a problem."

"So, they are in?" Mya asked.

"If you and Shua agree..." Tea shrugged. Mya bit her nails down. She wasn't totally against the idea, but she would keep an eye on the guy's behavior before trusting them.

"Come sit with us." Boo offered, pointing out the seat next to him when Tea and Mya left the restroom. At one side of the big table were Dino, Jun and Boo, on the other side, Mingyu, Wonu and Hoshi.

"Sorry but I need her at the adults table." Mya apologizes, holding Tea's shoulders.

"The adults table?" Boo asked, confused.

"The table where the big decisions are made." Jun explained, waving to the table where Woozi, Joshua, Seungcheol, Minghao and Jeonghan were sitting, apparently discussing something serious.

"Tea is one of the founding members, so her opinion is important, just like my sisters." Dino added.

"Oh right, Mya is your sister." Mingyu commented. "My sister told me this, but I had forgotten about it."

"Tea, Mya come here." Joshua called.

"We can talk and get to know each other later." Tea said, shrugging and heading to the other table, where she sat beside Joshua, who put his arm around her shoulders, smiling fondly to her.

"Are they a couple?" Mingyu asked. He got that impression earlier when Joshua said he was jealous of her, and she immediately hugged him.

"Tea and Shua?" Jun asked, laughing. "No. They are more like siblings with different parents. They are childhood friends."

"Why did you ask?" Dino asked, suspiciously "Are you interested in her?"

"What? No." Mingyu said with an offended tone Dino didn't like "I'm just trying to understand your dynamics." He was watching the other table trying to figure out what was being said but had no success. All he could see was Tea leaning to whisper something in Joshua's ear.

"Mya said she's okay with Seventeen joining the tour." Tea whispered and Joshua nodded.

He already had figured that she would agree after all, because Seventeen's songs were good and they kind of had a fanbase, which could be good to sell tickets from a different audience.

"Good" he whispered back, smiling at the girl.

Joshua was confident that good things would come from that collaboration he couldn't wait for the tour to start.

******

Mingyu's lips raised in a smirk as he felt the warm lips trailing sloppy kisses up his neck. Tracy... or was it, Trina? He couldn't remember her name at that moment, was running her nails to his chest while kissing his neck and getting close to his body. That was what he called a good morning. He grabbed the girl's waist and put her on top of him, making her sigh in surprise. She smiled at him when she saw him smiling first before kissing her on the lips. He was deepening the kiss at the next moment, making her week with his tongue. He was arching her back and moaning when the knocks on the door started.

He cut the kiss and the girl hissed in protest.

"Get in." he ordered to the one who was outside.

Wonwoo opened the door, peeking cautiously from the doorframe.

"I'm sorry" he apologized. "Cheol asked me to remind you that we have a meeting, everyone else is already up and ready to go, they are waiting for the two of us."

Wonwoo was Mingyu's roommate and couldn't get ready soon because Mingyu was using the room. They were normally okay with that arrangement, the one who had someone over could use the room while the other slept in the living room, alongside Hoshi and Seungkwan. Last night it was Wonwoo's turn to sleep outside. Most of the time it was Wonwoo's turn to sleep outside.

"Fuck...." Mingyu cursed. He had totally forgotten about the meeting. They had to go to the label to meet the tour manager and finish some details from the tour. They were probably going to be late because of his little one-night stand. But that wasn't that big of a deal, right?

"Okay sweetie" Mingyu said to the girl touching her chin "It's time for you to go."

The girl sulked and tried to grab his arm, but he was already getting up from the bed.

"If you can do this quickly it would be good, as you heard, we have an important meeting to go."

She looked at him, annoyed with how rude he was, but collected her clothes from the bed and started to get dressed. Wonwoo was still by the door, arms crossed watching the whole scene.

"Can I see you again?" She asked as she got up. Wonwoo laughed, receiving a killer look from the girl.

"Of course, you can, baby girl." Mingyu said with a bright smile. "Come to our tour and look for me."

He kissed her one last time and she left, not even looking at Wonwoo, who was shaking his head in disapproval by the door.

"You shouldn't give them hope."

"How can I not? Have you seen her bright eyes? I would break her heart." he said, sulking.

"Lying and giving them hope will break their hearts either way." Wonwoo pointed, entering the room and looking for a change of clothes in his drawer.

"Well In my defense, it's not my fault if they believe me" he said with a playful smile, shrugging "I'll take a shower" he she announced going out of the room with a towel in hand.

The rest of the boys were by the table having breakfast, Hoshi was eating cereal straight from the bowl, with no spoon. Seungkwan was eating pizza leftovers from the night before and Cheol was drinking a big cup of black coffee, to deal with the stress that was probably to come. Jeonghan was nowhere to be seen.

"Are you seriously going to take a shower right now?" Seungcheol inquired with an unpleasant face and an annoyed tone.

"Do you want me to go to the meeting smelling of alcohol and sex?" He asked, "Miss nice girl will not find me interesting If I look like a mess."

That was enough to stop Cheol from complaining. Hoshi laughed and Seungkwan side eyed Mingyu, suspiciously as he started to walk to the bathroom, towel in hand while he whistled a melody.

"You have five minutes." Cheol announced before Mingyu closed the door "If you are not ready by then, we are going without you."

Mingyu laughed, it was funny how Seungcheol managed to sound a lot like a father most of the time. He was always scolding the members and saying things that Mingyu was pretty sure he heard before coming from his dad's mouth. And just like a kid who lives to annoy his parents, Mingyu loved to make Seungcheol's life a little bit harder every day. And the mission Cheol gave him was another weapon to use in his personal war.

Before they meet the High as Hope members officially, Cheol asked Mingyu to try to seduce one of the girls, to ease the girls and make them like them, since their futures depend on that. Cheol asked him to take care of Mya, but he knew the moment he saw her, that she wasn't going to fall for him so easily. She was too smart and looked like she already decided not to like them. He knew he could conquer her if he wanted, but he thought it would be easier with the other girl, what was her name again? Tea?

He didn't even do anything yet and she was already on her knees for him, he could see it. So he decided to change the plan a little bit. And watching the band dynamics on the first day, he was right about her being easier to conquer, and that the others had her opinion on high consideration. So, he took what he thought would be the easy road. Cheol didn't protest, he wouldn't, if they got the expected result at the end. And Mingyu was very good at getting what he wanted.

Created with Sketch.

"Considering we have two bands the label agreed to get two buses." Woozi announced. "But in terms of room sharing... You will have to work some miracles."

"The girls need their own room, for the sake of their mental health." Minghao pointed.

"Well... I know they dont mind sharing with each other." DK commented. "So, one room for the two of them and the boys from both bands can share. We can put four or five of them in each room."

"I bet Dino will complain." Minghao commented.

"Well... he can always sleep on the streets if he's not happy with sharing a room." DK announced.

Jeonghan nodded. The arrangement didn't look very fair, but he wasn't able to demand things yet. It was his first encounter with DK, the tour manager. He was tall and thin, he looked kind of dislocated from the other at first, with his bright orange suit, but besides his clothes, he had a very professional attitude. Since he first started talking, he seemed to know everything that needed to be set and done.

"Okay then. I suppose we talked about everything." DK commented on the bunch of papers he spent the meeting writing on.

"Not everything." Jeonghan protested. "The boys haven't signed the contract yet."

"That's on me." Woozi said "Hao and DK, you guys can go, I need to talk to Mr. Yoon alone."

The two men left the room, talking about going to lunch later to discuss some minor details. Jeonghan watched nervously while Woozi looked through his table for the document. The small man took a folder and gave it to Jeonghan, then sat right in front of him.

"I hope you and the boys understand the weight of this document," Woozi said, very seriously, handing him two copies of the contract "And the weight of the experiment this tour represents. You are going to work with our biggest and famous band. If their audience starts to support Seventeen, they are going to be as big as High as Hope is."

Jeonghan's eyes were glistening. They were going to succeed, the boys were charismatic and talented, they were great songwriters and performers. They were not only going to be as big as High as Hope, but they were also going to be bigger, so much bigger. They were going to be the biggest band of all time.

"I need you to read it." Woozi announced "I need all of them to read it. The clauses are normal, but we have a special one right here."

Woozi turned the contract page and pointed to one paragraph by the end of the second page. Jeonghan took a minute to read that specific part. Right, things were going to be good to be true. Basically, the clause said if the boys did anything to cause trouble or anything that affects the girl's success in the tour, the contract was over.

"This is not negotiable." Woozi added "They are the company's most rentable band. THey are our priority."

Jeonghan nodded, he knew that, and he also knew the boys wouldn't like that clause. All of them, including Jeonghan, Myabe especially him, had this thing of hating to follow the rules and living for disobey. But at least for a while, they would have to stay in line. It would be hard, but they had to.

******

"Knock knock" DK said, opening the studio door.

"DOKYEOM!" Tea exclaimed, jumping from her seat by the piano and running towards him. The man grabbed her by the waist, taking her foot from the floor. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, darling." he said, laughing.

Jun and Joshua came closer to greet their old friend; Dino just waved from his spot by the drums.

"Where is my lady?" Dokyeom asked, looking around for Mya.

"She's outside taking a drag." Joshua explained, going back to his place on the couch of the rehearsal room. "We are having a break."

"Oh, so you are not going to play me one of the new songs now?" DK asked, pretending he was about to cry, sitting beside Joshua.

"C'mon, you already heard the album." Joshua commented. "We're almost number one by now. And you heard it before everyone else, with Minghao and Jihoon."

"Yeah, but I wanted to hear it live." DK explained.

"You will, at least a hundred times, on tour. In soundcheck, rehearsals, on show nights and tv shows If we are lucky enough to be invited to them." Tea commented, going back to the piano.

"You will." DK guaranteed and Tea smiled at him, rooting for the man to be right. "The new songs are amazing."

"What's your favorite?" Tea asked, her eyes sparkling in anticipation.

"I'm not biting it." he said, shaking his head. "Last time you asked me that you didn't talk to me for two weeks because I didn't choose one of the songs you wrote. I honestly don't understand why you credit the whole band in all the songs if you are going to fight over lyrics credits unofficially either way."

"It's our charm." Joshua said, shrugging.

"Are you talking about me?" Mya asked entering the room with a smirk on her red lips.

"No, actually Joshua was talking about your endless narcissistic struggle for recognition when it comes to lyrics." Jun, who was laying the carpet floor said. He was playing with his own hands, covering the lamp light so it wouldn't burn his eyes.

"Oh, he's right, it's our charm." Mya agreed, getting closer to DK to hug him.

She sat right beside him, holding his hand, playing with his fingers while they talked.

"So... How is the excitement level for hitting the road?" DK asked.

"High as Jun is now." Dino said, DK laughed looking at the boy's situation.

"Have you meet Seventeen yet?" Tea asked, going to sit beside Jun, letting him lay his head on her lap. She started to caress his hair, running her fingers through his soft slightly long hair.

"Not yet." DK admitted "But I just met their manager, we had a meeting to arrange some details about the tour. Minghao will update you later." he explained before Mya could ask what they talked about in the meeting. "But I'm meeting the boys today for lunch."

"LUNCH?" Jun screamed, getting up from Tea's lap "Can we go with you? I'm hungry."

"Of course, you are, all that Molly would start to work sooner or later." Dino commented.

"Yeah, you guys can join us, I think it would be fun since you already know them."

"I don't think is a good idea to take a high Jun to a restaurant" Tea pointed out as Jun looked at her sulking, with pleading bright eyes, begging her to let him go.

"Oh, we are not going to a restaurant, we are having burgers at the good ol' Bib Boy" He said.

"I would love a Big Boy Burger." Dino admitted.

"I don't know if I'm in the mood." Mya said.

"Okay, don't come then." Dino said. "I'm going. "

"Me too." Jun said getting up. "Joshua?"

"I'll stay here working on something new." he explained.

"I don't think I'm in the mood either." Tea admitted "I'm a bit tired, I think I'll go home."

"You should at least come with us and catch something to eat, you don't have to stay," DK suggested.

"What do you think?" Tea asked, looking at Mya.

"I guess some French fries for the road wouldn't kill me." She shrugged.

"I would also love some ice cream." Tati added.

"You got me right there." Mya said, making an amused face, while taking her bag.

They were out in the hallway, next to Woozi's room when Jeonghan showed up.

"Hey dude, are you ready to go?" DK asked.

"Yeah sure, I think the boys are already waiting for us at Big Boy' by now." Jeonghan said, then noticed the girls "Oh, hello."

"Hi." Tea said, waving and smiling. Mya nodded to him.

"Are you coming with us?" Jeonghan asked.

"Not exactly" Tea explained "We are going to Big Boy to get some food, but we are not staying. At least not Mya and I."

"But we are." Dino said, pointing to Jun.

"Nice" Jeonghan said, not looking excited at all. "Let's go then?"

******

Cheol tried to stop the boys from ordering before Jeonghan arrived at Big Boy with DK, but they wouldn't stop complaining about how pizza leftovers and bits of cereal want exactly a good breakfast and how hungry they were, so he let them stuff their mouths, at least they would shut up.

When Jeonghan entered the restaurant accompanied by a tall fit man wearing an orange suit the boys were eating and barely noticed their presence. But Cheol was surprised to see that they were not alone, Jun, Dino and Tea were with them. But unlike Jeonghan and DK, the three of them didn't go towards the table, they went to the counter.

"Hey guys" Jeonghan announced, getting to the table "This is DK, the tour manager. DK these are the boys."

DK smiled, a bright smile, as always, while shaking the boy's hands. While he sat and started to talk with the boys, Cheol nudged Mingyu with his elbow under the table, nodding towards the counter, where Tea was reclining, looking intently at the menu.

A mischievous smile appeared on Mingyu's lips and a twinkle in his eyes as he excused himself from Wonu who was on the edge of the bench.

"I think I need a refill," he said, waving his half-full glass of soda. "And our friend DK must be hungry, I can order for you."

"Oh, don't bother, Jun and Dino came with me, they've already gone to order." DK said and tanked him.

"Oh, they're here? Cool. Good...I still need a refill. Anyone else want anything else?" he said, nodding towards the counter.

"I want a slice of cake." Seungkwan announced.

"Another portion of fries would be nice." Hoshi added.

"Apple juice, please." Wonwoo said.

"I still don't know what I want, you can send the waitress over here." Jeonghan said and Mingyu didn't even think twice before rushing towards the counter.

He walked over to Tea, sitting on the bench next to her. The attendant had just noticed her order.

"Excuse me, can you send a waitress over for month five?" he said, leaning over the counter and smiling prettily at the female lieutenant who looked not much older than he was. "The friends we've been waiting for have arrived."

"Of course," she said, blushing.

"And I also have a few more orders, a slice of chocolate cake, apple juice and another portion of fries." he said, and she started to write it down.

"I'll be there in a jiffy."" she announced smiling at him, Mingyu thanked him, giving her another one of his charming smiles, then she headed towards the kitchen.

Tea was extremely quiet beside him, trying to look busy as she peeked over the menu she already knew by heart.

"Hey" he said, turning to her a charming smile on his lips, the tone of surprise seemed extremely natural, as if he had just noticed the girl's presence at that moment.

"Hey." she said, smiling back at him, but turning back to face the menu shortly thereafter.

"Nice to see you here," he said. "You came with DK, are you staying? Come sit with us."

"Oh no, I don't want to disturb the meeting, Jun and Dino are interrupting enough, but they insisted on coming. I just took advantage of the fact that they were coming over to get some lunch for the trip. Mya is waiting for me in the car." She explained.

"Oh, too bad." he said, pouting "But at least I got to see you for a while and say hi." he said "I figured after that day at Troubadour I'd be seeing you more often on the label, but it seems our schedules don't really match. Which is a shame."

She smiled politely at the young man, then the waitress arrived with the to-go packages.

"It's twenty-five dollars." the woman announced and Tea started rummaging through her purse for her wallet.

"You can put it on the account of table five." Mingyu said.

"Oh no need to do that, I have the money right here." she said, showing her wallet.

"Please" he said "Consider a favor from a new colleague. You can return the favor when the tour starts. Will you?"

She nodded to him as he smiled full of hope, then turned to the waitress, nodding to her too.

"Thank you" she said, and he smiled proudly "It was good to see you, but now I have to go, Mya is waiting for me. See you soon."

"I can't wait for it," he said, then she nodded and waved to him before she left.

"Where is my cake?" Seungkwan asked when Mingyu came back to the table only with Wonwoo's box of juice in hand.

"The waitress will bring it in a minute," he explained. Then he went silent, thinking about the way Tea was visibly blushing when he offered to pay.

Later that day, when the bill landed on the table and Seungcheol was surprised by the extra amount on the bill and was about to complain to the waitress, Mingyu had to explain himself, but Cheol couldn't complain, he had done it for a reason, and in the future, they would reap the fruits of that small act. At least, Mingyu, hoped so.