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hopekiedokie · 3 years

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Mall is Life | INTRO : She’s Broke, He’s Broke, We’re All Broke!

Summary: Your dad thinks it’s best for you to pay off the credit card that you just maxed out. Meaning, it’s time for you to finally get your very first job…at the mall. As a true blue spoiled daughter from a very rich family, what could possibly happen? Form a labour union and overthrow the oppressive government with 7 other underpaid and overworked guys??? Or maybe just form a bond with them and have the best time of your life?

Pairing: bts x reader

Genre: mall!au, lowkey a sitcom, fluff, eventual angst, and a whole lot of pure crack

Word count: 5.3k+

Notes: As I’m doing final rewrites for this, I overheard my co-teacher call one of our students a “crack” and I honestly have never related hard to a student. Anyways, transferring this from gdocs to tumblr took sooooo long. I literally aged 10 years. I didn’t think writing in this style would be such a pain so I really do hope you enjoy this! Keep safe and hang on while the world still seems like it’s on its way to destruction.

Posted on: 8th of Jan, 2021

— • masterlist | Character Guide | INTRO | next • —

Red

Red is all you see.

Your vision has been clouded by the colour red since the moment you stepped inside the mall.

Sale season is upon you and red tags are everywhere!

Buy one get one for a girlfriend sized “boyfriend t-shirt”, a free cookie if you get 7 drinks, 5% off on your next purchase from Kucci and… Gasp! 75% off for a light sabre handheld immersion blender???

Do you even cook or watch Star Trek or whatever it’s called? Heck no.

bUT IT’S MORE THAN HALF OFF and it looks cool so might as well get it.

Right?

You saunter off towards the sights of free or marked down signs to start making damages.

“Ehem.”

The sound of your best friend, Taehyung’s voice, freezes you in place and you feel like a kid caught in the act of stealing a candy.

Literally, you have both your hands in front of you with your mouth open and watering.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” His hands are placed on his hips, like a slightly inconvenienced Karen.

“Oh, uh...I was just, you know!? About to admire the general splendour!”

He was like, ya right sweetie.

“Shut up. This isn’t a Jane Austen book.”

Well, one can dream.

And lowkey, you were kinda expecting him to not get the reference.

…or even understand what you just said.

Damn.

You really need to give Taehyung some credit.

He is after all, your best friend and that is an achievement in itself.

“Focus, y/n. FOCUS. We’re here on a mission, don’t get distracted.”

Ugh, right.

Reality hit you again like a ton of bricks.

“And as if you can afford anything! Unless, you’re in for some service water.”

You scoff hard.

Though he isn’t lying.

See, the thing is, your family is rich.

Like rich 𝑹𝑰𝑪𝑯.

Like “rent a whole stadium for your dad’s morning run” rich

You, alone, though?

ʰᵉ ʰᵉ ʰᵉ

“Sorry, you’re absolutely right. We’re here for one thing only and that is to find a job! We’re not leaving until we get one.”

And that’s what you did for the next two hours

Job hunting

You might be wondering, “If we're so rich then why are we looking for a job?”

Well kids, let me tell you a quick story.

Here’s what happened

A week ago, you had probably the most embarrassing yet most eye opening experience of your life.

You were shopping

(like duh do you have anything else to do?)

And your credit card got…

Wait for it…

…………….

🚫DECLINED🚫

◉.◉

Like, that can happen????

Next thing you know, you’re on the phone with your dad and he is MAD

You don’t even know why he is so pressed about it.

Okay, so you maxed out one of his seemingly endless supply of credit cards.

BIG DEAL.

It’s not like he lost a bunch of money.

Maybe to a normal person, yeah…

BUT to you guys?

Come on! He can earn that money back in like two days.

Besides, he always goes on saying that he'd willingly give everything for you, his one and only princess.

bUT NOoOOoo! He has to teach you to be rEsPoNsIbLe with money! You need to be a 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏.

"What? You think I'm a money making machine here?"

Well, tbh he kinda is.

"You think money grows on trees?"

Well, technically, money is paper so...ya it kinda does.

"I don't slave around just so you could plunge yourself in all of your whims!"

Uh, actually.

You kinda do though if we refer back to your whole willingly-give-everything-to-you shtick.

So that wasn't real, huh?

ＡＬＬＭＥＮＤＯＩＳＬＩＥ.

smh

Taehyung, on the other hand...

Well, his mother’s old but rich sugar daddy just recently passed away and unfortunately all his money and prized possessions were inherited by his one and only beloved son.

All they got was a couple of stupid jewelry, which did allow them to pay for a new (less glamorous) apartment, but still

Eh.

What a complete disappointment.

11+ years of being a sugar baby, all for nothing.

So now it’s back to the slums for the both of them.

Sad reacs for a fallen warrior.

I’m talking about Tae’s mother, not the sugar daddy...

THOUGh rip for him. Uh,,,,

He’ll be missed? I guess???

(1 like of this post = 1 respect for him)

DW about his mother though. She doesn’t seem quite fazed by it.

“This is why if you find a rich old bastard, make sure he doesn’t have any kids. That or have an affair with their kid. Oh well, on to the next one.” She told you and Tae during the funeral.

It’s been three months since.

She’s currently working at a hair salon and also,,,,

Taehyung thinks she’s seeing someone again cause she’s been using her designated “𝑠𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔” parfum.

WHICH you still don’t know if you should be impressed or be concerned about.

Nonetheless, you respect the hustle of this woman. ✊✊✊✊

Unfortunately, her efforts are still not enough to satisfy their expensive needs so that brings us to the present situation.

Actually, it couldn’t have been more perfect though!

You and your best friend coincidentally just happen to be in the same dilemma.

Kind of

Well, not really

Plus, it’s not really the most pleasant circumstance bUT STILL

The point is, you’re in this together and that’s enough for the both of you.

:’)

“Ugh, this totally blows.” Taehyung says as you both sit on one of the food court booths.

“Which one, us not getting any jobs yet or the fact that we’re hanging at the food court?”

“Get used to it, princess. Honestly, you'll find that the food here isn't as disgusting as you think they are." He says as he fishes for his phone in his man purse.

"Well, at this rate, I won't be able to get used to it since I sTILL haven't found a job. Why are the good stores so demanding? Like, an intensive classroom and in-store training only to have a possibility to get hired??? To think that I'm a loyal Louie Button customer!"

(A/n: This is actually a real procedure for Louis Vuitton, at least in my own experience. But I only applied and never went through with the training cause I figured that it just ain't for me.)

You continue ranting your little heart out about how you could sue these stores for unfair treatment.

Taehyung, though, has long tuned you out and has pointed his full attention to his phone.

This is turning out to be a lot more disastrous than what he anticipated.

So he needs to phone a friend in.

Orrrrr a couple.

He's getting desperate, okay??

The entire spring collection was practically screaming out to him when they entered Kucci.

He's a 𝓚𝓾𝓬𝓬𝓲 𝓫𝓸𝔂 through and through.

He hasn't missed a single Kucci season collection in years.

IN YEARS, PEOPLE!

He can feel his right eye twitch at this blasphemy.

"I'm telling you! These stores are absolutely ungrateful-hEY! Are you even listening??"

"No. I thought that was obvious the second I whipped my phone out."

( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)

Rude

He didn't even try to deny it.

"You know, I really don't need you to be mean to me right now."

"Sorry y/n but this…" He lifts his phone up, "is more important right now."

What could possibly be more important than your current problem??

If you don't leave today with any form of productivity, you just might have to sell the entirety of your closet.

And we all know that ain't happening.

"By 'that', you mean?"

His phone vibrates a couple of times, indicating that he just received a bunch of messages.

He instantly opens them, disregarding you once again.

I-

Seriously, thIS bOy!

"Hello???? I'm still here and we're still hideously unemployed!"

He looks up to you with a smile that seems a tad bit too eerie.

Okay, this is somewhat alarming ngl.

"I called in some reinforcements."

Reinforcements... Huh?

What's that supposed to mean?

You stare at him with scrunched brows and mouth slightly agape.

And as if on cue, a male voice rings from behind you.

"Tae! We're here!"

"Jimin! Seokjin hyung!"

Ohhhhhhh

*Looks at the camera*

Them.

♫︎DUN DUN DUN♫︎

For everyone's information, Taehyung grew up a hair away from the poverty line.

He was in his preteen years when their family found success through his mother's sugar daddy.

He didn't grow up rich whICH there's NOthing wrong WiTh THAT.

A person's financial status does not define them.

Taehyung's friends, however, already have a collective definition in your head.

One word

༼ つ ◕◡◕ ༽つ MESS™

♫︎DUN DUN DUN♫︎

A hot mess you are so not willing to become a part of.

Tae keeps them away from you because he knows that they are not the type of people you would associate yourself with.

Which is why you've never met any of them.

...Until today.

♫︎DUN DUN DUN♫︎

Guess being besties with a broke Taehyung means it only makes sense that you finally meet them.

♫︎dUN dUn- ok that's enough of that.

"We got the Code 17 message. I can't believe I'll ever get that from you. This is history, man! We need to celebrate!" Someone says accompanied by what sounds like someone wiping a window.

You look at Taehyung with a very displeased look.

May god and every higher being out there give you strength.

He doesn't even look the slightest bit bothered by what might be one of the boldest crossovers to ever happen.

Also, "Code 17"??? Wth?

"What's wrong? You never ask to meet at the food court… And who's this with--oh." A different, softer voice talks this time.

"You guys remember my bestie, right? Y/n? Well, I think it's time you guys finally meet."

From behind you, Seokjin and Jimin share a slightly wary yet excited look.

Jimin, being the natural people lover that he is, instantly thinks that he's about to have another best friend.

From what he's heard from Taehyung, you two are slightly alike, being a total softie.

So don't be surprised if a montage of things like the two of you going on picnics at the mall garden or watching the premiere of the next Disney movie plays in his head.

Seokjin, on the other hand, being the woman lover that he is, instantly thinks that he's about to score big time.

He's heard a lot about you from Tae but the only thing that stuck (and pretty much the only thing that matters) is that you are HELLA rich.

$ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕓𝕒𝕓𝕪 $

So are we even surprised that what he imagines is him breezing through the luxury section of the mall, with his personal butlers in tow, and having everyone swoon at him?

“Y/n,” Taehyung gives you a pointed look as if telling you to be nice. “Meet Seokjin hyung and Jimin, two of my other best friends.”

Alright, you heard that these people work here at the mall.

So you’re gonna have to suck it up if it means being stuck with them for god knows how long.

You just hope they have some level of bearableness.

(Oh and some form of acceptable fashion taste too please, thank you very much!)

As much as you're not in the mood to smile, you still plaster on the sweetest one you can muster and turn around to face the two----

(o.O)

oh oh oh oh ho ho ho ho

Hello

hELLO indeed.

One of them has a white button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, black slim fit trousers, and a brown newsboy cap like a cherry on top.

He's also wearing a brown apron with a small name tag that says 𝓙𝓲𝓶𝓲𝓷.

The other guy's more casual with his baby pink t-shirt, french tucked into his black ripped skinny jeans.

Personally, you wouldn’t really call them amazing outfits…

bUT SWEET BABY JESUS ARE THEY DOING THINGS.

GREAT THINGS

(Tbh maybe it’s their handsome faces that do it for you)

"Hi, I'm Jimin! It's very nice to finally meet you."

He extends his hand and you take it in a heartbeat because my god that smile.

Wooooooooooo

Now, that's what greets you into heaven.

"Tae says a lot of good things about you and I think- oof."

Cute pink shirt guy (rudely) shoves him to the side.

Jimin almost topples to the ground and it makes you want to stand and check up on him.

The poor cutie.

For some reason, you feel like Taehyung and pink shirt guy get along well.

"AND I'M Seokjin!"

This time, Seokjin swiftly takes your hand without any warning which leaves you feeling flustered.

“Umm… Nice to meet you..?” You manage to politely croak out.

He gives your hand a kiss and then drops you a sultry wink.

Thank god you're sitting right now.

You'd be a lying fool to say that that didn't make your knees weak.

But ngl, that’s a face that definitely greets you into hell.

Like, no offense to his handsome face but you are sure there’s something completely devious going on underneath.

No one can change your mind on that.

"OKAY! Enough introductions, we’ll have plenty of time for that later... Where are the others??”

“Hoseok hyung said that he's with Jungkook and they're on their way to get Namjoon hyung." Jimin says as he fixes his hat that slightly slid off.

"Well, they better hurry!"

Taehyung DEFINITELY did not have any reasons to cut your introductions off.

He just did not like how you are practically drooling over Jimin and Seokjin.

He’s nOT JEALOUS OR ANYTHING

It’s just...

It’s not like you’ve never been close to any hot guys before.

Uh hello???

HE’S HOT

And you’re with him 24/7

Wait…

Do you even think he’s hot???

Okay now that’s a thought he never considered before.

Damn bro

Now Tae’s having an existential crisis…

anD hE’s dEfiniTEly NOT jEALous!!!

ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ

"WE'RE HERE!"

All four of you direct your heads to the sound of a new voice and you start to think that Taehyung might actually be playing a joke on you.

Come on!

THREE 👏 MORE 👏 HOT 👏 GUYS 👏

???

This can't be real.

This is literal heaven!

Gasp!

Are.

You.

DEAD?!

Maybe you're right about Jimin being what greets you into heaven!

It all makes sense.

“Dude, we came as soon as we could. We even pulled Namjoon out of his rabbit hole.” The handsome one wearing a sports jersey says.

“This better be important. I didn’t even get to ask permission to take a break! I’m supposed to be stocking utensils right now.” The handsome one wearing an atrocious outfit of a bright blue shirt and a much brighter yellow pants chimes in.

The handsome one wearing loose fitting jeans, a plaid button up and a black t-shirt underneath just stayed at the sidelines not saying anything.

Out of all of them, you think he’s the most stylish one.

Your eyes meet while you are assessing his outfit but he instantly looks away.

A noticeable blush blooms on his cheeks and you almost swoon.

Awww he’s extra cute.

“Yeah, cause organising cutlery is more important than a friend in a literal crisis.” Taehyung says in a sarcastic tone.

“So what are we doing here?”

“What is this ‘crisis’ you are referring to?”

“Yo, who is she?”

Namjoon, Jin, and handsome jersey boy all talk at the same time.

Ugh you need a massage.

Being surrounded by these broke handsome men is making you lightheaded.

“This is Y/n. You know, my other best friend.”

“Oh, your money buddy.” Handsome jersey boy butts in.

Uh EXCUSE YOU, WHAT’S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?

You scoff hard and loud.

Taehyung clears his throat and you thought he was going to make a comment defending you or something.

Oh honey, you are wrong.

Because for the nth time today, he just brushes you off.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Anyways, Guys, meet Y/n. Y/n, this is Hoseok hyung, Namjoon hyung, and Jungkook.”

You didn't think it'd be possible but for the first time ever, you so badly want to rip someone's hair out.

And not just someone, it's Taehyung.

Normally, a sassy, moody, rude boy Taehyung doesn’t affect you at all.

But then again, his negative vibes were never really directed to you.

And given the current circumstance, you’re also not in the best mood as well.

So you aren't as inviting as you usually are when you shook hands with the three boys.

Somehow, even their overflowing handsomeness did not do anything for you now.

Your presence, however, did something to the three boys.

AND I MEAN A LOT.

Confused, attracted, intimidated, confused, in awe, slightly scared, nervous, confused, hungry…

What? Hoseok hasn’t had lunch and coincidentally, he started feeling his tummy rumble when he looked at you.

…..

Fun fact: Hoseok is DEFINITELY NOT A CANNIBAL NOR HE EVER PLANS ON BEING ONE.

If ever you were thinking...

“Okay, so here’s the sitch.” Tae starts to explain your situation and everyone listens to him intently.

Little did you all know, the final member of the friend group just arrived at the food court and is now walking towards where you all are.

It wasn’t difficult to spot your group with Namjoon’s obnoxiously brightly coloured towering self and the few girls hanging around.

Probably Jimin’s fanclub.

“And so, here we are!” Tae finishes, keeping everyone updated.

"Wow, so you two are looking for an actual job? Like, here? At the mall??" A very baffled Seokjin asks.

Tae rolls his eyes.

"Yes. Is that really hard to believe?"

"Actually, yes. It is."

Another male voice is heard coming from someplace.

“Yoongi hyung!”

Oh great! Another one.

Surely, this guy’s not that interesting.

I mean, what are the fricking odds that he’s also an immaculate being??

You turn around and your mouth drops to the floor.

No no no no no.

No way!

Another freaking gOOD LOOKING GUY HAS WALKED UP TO YOUR GROUP.

Okay, this is getting unbelievable now.

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

Like, where and how on earth did Taehyung manage to get and round up SIX insanely good looking guys??

What is this? Are you on The Bachelorette??

Wait no

It's like Oprah!

And instead of cars, she's giving away handsome men

You get a hot Asian man, you get a hot Asian man, you all get a hot Asian man!

OR MAYBE

Are you on MTV Punk'd?????

Statistically speaking, a hot guy can have two or maybe three equally hot best friends

BUT SIX???

ARE YOU KIDDING?

Is Taehyung like Thanos? Collecting the six infinity stones?

Thanos? lol.

If anything, he's more like Henry VIII with his six wives.

“So you guys didn’t even wait for me, huh?”

Yoongi, oh so casually, just takes a seat beside you

Without even giving you a single glance or whatnot.

“I didn’t know you'd be here at the mall today?”

“Yeah, what are you doing here?”

Yoongi raises an eyebrow. “It’s a free country, I can be here whenever I want to be.”

Well, can’t argue with that logic.

The mall is practically your second home at this point.

“... Also… uTunes is hiring and uh… I’m applying...”

You don’t understand why but everyone else looks either shocked or annoyed at Yoongi’s announcement...

Are you missing something here?

“Man, you need to give it up! That place can suck it.”

Yoongi gives Seokjin one of the scariest glare you’ve ever seen.

It could rival against your dad’s famous death glares that he gives to his incompetent subordinates.

Namjoon shakes his head disapprovingly, “You’re applying there again?? I can’t believe it.”

Yes, again.

This is going to be the seventh time he’s applying at uTunes Records, the most popular music shop there is.

So many people flock to it even though we’re already in the digital age.

But he doesn’t question it.

All he cares about is getting a job there because the employees get to play their own music in the store.

Do you know how much of a popularity boost that is?

A CRAP TON.

On top of that, one of the employees gets a chance to get signed by a record label every year.

And if you're not awarded by that chance, you can still meet agents and get signed through their many parties.

Because of that, so many people also apply for a job there.

But they unfortunately have such high standards which is why even after three years, he still hasn’t passed their vibe check.

"Listen, seven's a lucky number. I have great feelings about this one. Besides, I've built up a strong résumé. Winning one of uTunes' own rookie dj contests must mean something, right? They can't not take me!"

Wow.

You've only known Yoongi for a solid three minutes, but you can already tell that he's quite passionate about this.

"Hyung, all we're saying is that maybe you should consider doing something else? You could do so much more than run after that store." Jimin says and pats Yoongi's hand a couple of times.

"All of you perfectly know getting a job there could quite possibly set my music career!"

"Is that really it? Or is it because of a certain Daphne??" Seokjin teases him.

The rest just mutters an "ooh" or an "aah".

You seem to have been turned into an accessory.

You so cannot relate to anything they've talked about since Yoongi came.

It's like you're at one of your dad's social gatherings and all you can do is smile and nod.

"ANYWAY," Yoongi interjects in their teasing. "So Tae, you're also looking for a job?"

Jeez FINALLY.

Something you can talk about that involves you.

It felt like you were just back home watching some random show that doesn't require your input.

Taehyung gives an overly dramatic heavy sigh.

"Unfortunately, yes. Y/n and I both need one badly. But all the stores had been rejecting us left and right. Like, the audacity!" Taehyung rants all over again.

Jimin, listens to him intently as if he hasn't heard all of this before.

Seokjin seems to have been entertaining the surrounding ladies for a while now.

[by giving some ( ˘ ³˘)♥︎ and some (•̀ᴗ-)☞ ]

Across the table, Namjoon complains to Hoseok about getting in trouble with his boss.

Jungkook, well, he's just staring at the beautiful pizza this kid next to you guys is eating. (Someone's hungry too, okay?)

While Yoongi just openly stares at you.

Welp.

What the frick are you supposed to do now?

Is Taehyung or anyone going to properly introduce you two?

No???

Okay fine.

Seems like you're gonna have to get used to doing things on your own.

You smile at him and timidly hold your hand out.

"Uh hi. I'm Y/n. I don't know if Tae's ever mentioned me to you before but--"

"Oh, trust me. He's mentioned you plenty. He actually never shuts up about you."

ʰᵉʰ

You don't really know if he was stating that as a fact or if he's trying to be mean…

"Oh ha ha… That must be really annoying then."

"Yeah, it is actually."

Your small polite chuckle died down your throat.

Wow and you thought Taehyung can be rude.

hE'S STILL JUST STARING.

"Uh…" You finally lowered your hand that he obviously isn't going to shake.

That is definitely going in your top 10 most embarrassing moments ever.

God, can someone get you away from this guy?

What's his problem?

"SO, can any one of you help us? Like, any tips or something?" Tae concludes his really long and repetitive rant.

Everyone's eyes FINALLY focuses on Tae again.

Seokjin snorts loudly.

Eww.

He opens his mouth to say something but Tae immediately holds his hand up to stop him.

"Anyone except you hyung. I don't think you're classified."

Everyone laughs to that and again,

ARE YOU MISSING OUT ON SOMETHING HERE?

Seokjin raises one finger like he's trying to make a point. "If anyone is classified to give tips on how to get accepted, it's me!"

"Yeah, just not on how to last on one." Namjoon loudly whispers to Tae.

"HEY I HEARD THAT!"

Ohhh….

So,

Does he constantly get fired from a job?

Well, that's just sad.

Hopefully you don't end up like him.

😳

"Actually," Hoseok starts, "how do you end up landing on so many jobs? Like, don't they know your reputation?"

And that's your cue to finally insert yourself in the conversation.

"Uh, what reputation?"

"Sweetheart, you don't really want to know! It's not that big of a deal." Seokjin quickly steers you away from the topic but the other guys didn't allow it to happen.

"Oh, you know. Just that, he's known to be the "job eater" here. Cause he pretty much eats a job and moves on from it in a flash." Namjoon graciously fills you in.

So you were right.

That's kind of impressive though…

But a huge waste.

"Still! It makes me very much qualified to give the unemployed a tip!"

"Save it hyung, you might need it for your next job once you get fired from Uncle Aang's."

Seokjin gives everyone a sheepish smile.

What's that about?

It almost looks as if he…

"YOU GOT FIRED ALREADY?!"

"Oh you bet I did."

To be fair, how could he not stop himself from eating the free samples? Those pretzels are literal drugs.

"You just got that job four days ago. I can't believe it!"

"I can believe it." Yoongi says out loud.

Can't he say anything nice?

"Whatever! Point is, these stores still hire me no matter what."

"You know what, that is a good point." Taehyung mutters, slowly turning convinced by Seokjin.

Namjoon groans. "Are you for real Tae? If you want some job advice, maybe ask one from us who has only had one permanent job all throughout."

"Guys, let's give Seokjin hyung a chance!" Jimin, ever the sweet positive boy, suggests.

"Of course you would say that."

Not wanting to fade into nothingness, you insert yourself again in the conversation.

"I want to hear what he has to say."

Once those words left your mouth, you instantly regret it.

A.) Seokjin gives you another wink and gives you a flying kiss that has you weak in the knees again- I MEAN WHAT. I SAID NOTHING.

And B.) Yoongi is clearly not a fan of you sharing your opinions with the group.

Despite the obvious protests of Namjoon, Seokjin still gives his number one "professional" advice

And that is to have a perfectly 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 résumé.

"A high quality résumé? YOU? What the fuck are you talking about?" Yoongi says, slightly amused and slightly tired of the older guy's shenanigans.

"Don't believe me? Fine. But I'm telling you, it's all here on paper!" Seokjin takes out a folder from his backpack and waves it around.

Namjoon immediately snatches it from him

"5 pages long?? Are you for real?”

Seokjin hums and watches smugly with a cocky grin as the guys read through his résumé.

“Hang on, since when did you do balloon modelling?”

"I don't."

Hoseok gasps. "But bro, isn't that lying?"

"Yeah, duh! How else are these people gonna hire you? You have to sell them what they're looking for."

"What if they ask you to use these skills that you clearly don't have?"

"Then you're just gonna have to fake it till you make it, baby!"

Huh

No wonder he doesn't last long on a single job.

"And how's that working out for you?" Yoongi presses on.

"Well at least I get hired, Mr. 7th Time's the Charm!"

Yoongi is like ᶠⁱᵗᵉ ᵐᵉ ⁱ ʷᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʰᵉˢⁱᵗᵃᵗᵉ ᵇⁱᵗᶜʰ (ง'̀-'́)ง

"That's not really the point of having a job, but I guess, whatever floats your boat, dude!" Hoseok finally sides with Seokjin.

"So everyone is looking for a job then?" Taehyung realizes, "this is so cool if all of us get hired! We'll all face the real world together."

"All of us except Jungkook though."

Who?

Oh that extra cute shy boy.

You forgot he's here.

Boy really hasn't said a word at all.

"Did ya hear that? All of us are getting jobs!"

"You should get one too!"

"That would be so cool!"

"So what do you say? What are your plans Kook?"

"Guys, don't pressure the kid!"

The guys talk simultaneously, ultimately kind of pressuring Jungkook to say something before he even thinks about it.

The table falls silent and everyone eyes Jungkook.

The guys are like ( ･ิ ͜ʖ ･ิ) and ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)

Jungkook is like (ʘ ͟ʖ ʘ)

Then the guys are like (≖ ͜ʖ≖)

So jungkook is like (¬‿¬ )

In the end, they are all like

(☞°ヮ°)☞ ☜(°ヮ°☜)

And through it all, you are just ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

What the heck is going on?

"Yeah, why not?" Jungkook simply concludes and the guys make various celebrating noises.

Gasp!

He can talk???

"Okay, everyone calm down! Let's wait until after everyone gets hired before we celebrate." Namjoon scolds everyone.

"Well that might take a while considering Y/n and I can't find one!"

Namjoon places a comforting hand on Tae's shoulder. "Oh relax, there's like ten thousand stores in the mall!"

"Actually, there are only 613 stores in the entire mall." Hoseok points out a matter of factly.

You all look at him dumbfoundedly.

Aaaand he just stares back at all of you.

Is this some kind of trivia that you need to know if you work around here?

Are you gonna have to memorise a lot of facts about the mall???

Oh, you don't like that.

Seokjin was the first one to react.

"Dude?? What the hell?!"

"I got bored once while I was on a break and counted."

Huh.

Makes sense.

Yeah, sure.

Why not?

Why wouldn't you just go and count the total number of stores out of boredom???

…

THAT WAS A SARCASTIC REMARK IF YOU DIDN'T GET IT.

"Even if there are 600 stores here, there are only like, 20 good stores that exist!" Tae remarks

You want to say you can't agree more but you stop yourself because you don't think you can handle another cold stare from Yoongi.

"Are you perhaps pertaining to the high end stores?" Namjoon muses.

"Yeah. What else?"

Jimin's eyes widen in shock. "Hold on. So you two have only been looking at that small section of the entire mall?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Yoongi chuckles condescendingly.

"Bros, you know that saying… 'Beggars can't be choosers'?" Hoseok tries to enlighten you two.

You and Tae look at each other.

What an epiphany.

A very disgusting yet important epiphany.

"Are you… Are you guys saying that… We need to find a job… Outside of that section??"

They all nod.

Ughhhhhhh

You and Tae make an annoyed sound.

"Welcome to the real world, peasants!" Seokjin warmly tells you.

Could things get any worse?

"Hey, at least we'll all be here together!"

Ha ha

Great . Awesome. Wow.

"Well, on that note, I really need to get back to work. Lady and gentlemen, may the odds be ever in your favour. Good luck!"

Namjoon stands and walks away.

One by one, the other working guys went back to work as well, leaving you unemployed slackers.

Hey they didn't even give any actual help!

Wasn't that the reason why Tae called for a… What did they call it?

Code something something.

Oh whatever!

Anyways,

So to summarize things

You might end up working at an awful low end store.

And you're unwillingly stuck with the wrong set of people.

One of them is a total flirt and an actual pain to society.

Another one might possibly hate you for unknown reasons.

This tall dude seems to be really uptight.

Then there's this guy that seems really weird.

The other one, well… He's cute and doesn't really have any negative points yet BUT you're sure something's wrong with him.

And the last one literally said one thing during the entire time!

Oh, you've got a really really long way before you can pay your dad.

Good luck to you, indeed.

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westcoastrry · 3 years

Text

Tracing The Stars Chapter 7

Harry's POV

I haven't spoken to Blair in three days.

I mean did I want to see Blair? Usually, when I hook up with girls that's it. We hook up and there really isn't much more to it. The strange thing is Blair and I didn't even have sex. If we did have sex, I just know I would not be able to hold myself back. Sex has been a stress relieverto me. No feelings, no sort of love of any kind, and because I use sex as an outlet to get my fustrations out I tend to be rough.

I would have railed into her.

That's another reason why I declined her offer for a blowjob. First reason being that night was supposed to be about her, not me. Also, I don't have a single ounce of self control. I was surprised I didn't completely lose it when she started squirting.

If being coaches daughter didn't seal the deal, seeing how little she seems to know about sex defiently does. I'm not the type of a guy for girls who are inexperienced. I don't even deserve to have sex with her. She deserves better than me. She deserves a guy who can take his time with her, learn how her body works so he can pleasure her, and a guy who can be gentle and work her up the ladder.

That guy was just simply not me.

So, I just helped her out and gave Blair her first orgasm. I didn't get a single thing out of it, and I surprisingly didn't really care. The fact that she thought her vagaina was broken was absolutely absurd. I knew there was no way she was having good sex with her ex boyfriend.

Something told me to check on Blair and to make sure she was okay. When I gave her a ride home after the incident with Justin she didn't speak at all. She just mumbled a quiet "thank you" when I dropped her off.

So I had texted her a couple times over the past three days.

Hey, just checking in wanted to see if you were okay.

Not be clingy or anything I just want to make sure you are good.

I wonder if she has touched herself since that night. Maybe it's a good thing Blair didn't respond back. I wanted to make sure she was okay, but I also knew I was slowly falling in deep. I'm very much attracted to Blair. Watching her last night orgasming all over my hand was one of the sexiest things I have seen. Almost every day since that night I have jacked off to image of her pressed up against my chest, flushed cheeks, screaming my name and riding out her oragasm.

She basically was the one who got herself off at first, I was just guiding her fingers. It was mind boggling how she thought she was incapable of orgamsing.

Not to mention how fucking scared she looked when Justin approached her. I didn't really think much about him showing up to Gabe's party. People from a bunch of different highschools always show up. I also didn't think it would affect Blair that much. She was shaking so much, and even looked like she might have cried.

What the hell went down last summer?

Fuck, I think I care about Blair.

I'm attracted to her too.

I really can't afford feelings right now. I have so much on my plate.

But the butterflies that erupt in the pit of my stomach when I see her is such a good feeling, and the way that she completely melts under my touch is something I wouldn't mind seeing often.

But I wasn't the guy for her. I definitely don't deserve her.

"You're not hungry?" Maya asks, noticing that I haven't touched my burger.

I was hungry. We just had a two hour practice. I just couldn't shake Blair out of my mind.

"Alright, so who was the girl you had up in my room?" Gabe asked. "That's probably why the guy won't eat, he can't stop thinking about the shag he had."

Maya slams her hand flat down on the table in shock. "Harry! You did what? You weren't going to tell me? You know I have been trying to hook you up with a girl this summer!"

"Maya I really didn't need your help." I answer back truthfully. "I got off just fine this summer. Also you both need to mind your own business," I said wagging my finger between the both of them

"Well your business squirted all over my sheets."

I palm my face in embarrassment. When I was changing the bedding, Gabe had walked in to see why I was taking so long getting blunts and it was pretty obvious as to why I was changing his sheets.

"Harold! Who the hell is the mystery girl? Maya asks, throwing a fry at me.

I try to keep my sex life not the topic of conversation with my friends. For starters, it's quite extensive and they don't need to know every girl I have hooked up with.

"My bet is on Blair," Gabe interjects. "Which is a completely horrible idea since she is coaches daughter."

"Can we not try to guess who I'm sleeping with or who I'm not sleeping with please."

The worst thing that could possibly happen is Blair standing at our table, and with just my luck here she is in a loose white apron black leggings and black shoes.

"Uhhh, your server left so here is your check whenever you are ready." She awkwardly says placing the check on the table.

I know she heard what we said, the confused look on her face was very apparent.

"Here." I responded handing her my card.

Once Blair leaves, Gabe gets up from his chair and Maya follows right along with him. "Alright, I'm going to take Maya home, you fix this situation with your girlfriend."

As they both walk away laughing their ass off, I make sure to throw them my middle finger.

After a couple minutes Blair comes back dropping my card off at the table.

"Hey," I said quickly, grabbing her attention, making sure she didn't walk off. "We weren't talking about you, I would never tell them about that."

"I believe you," she says. "And, thank you for giving me a ride home the other day."

"It was no trouble, don't even worry about it. I didn't know you worked at Joe's cafe."

"Yeah, got a job here last summer. I needed to start saving money for senior stuff, and college." She replies.

I bite my lip trying to conceal my reaction to how effortlessly beautiful she looked today. "When are you off? I could take you home if you want."

" I'm okay." She hesitates before continuing. "I'm off in ten, and I usually take the bus."

I frown at her, "Just let me take you home, the bus will take you awhile. I'll just wait in my car, you know the black Jeep Wrangler right?"

"Alright." She stubbornly agrees.

I only wait in my car for about fifteen minutes when I see Blair quickly walking to my car, with a big brown bag on her shoulder.

"Why are you so nice to me?" She asked, getting in the passenger seat of my car.

I shrug my shoulders. "We used to be somewhat friends, Blair."

She shakes her head. "We used to party together. We don't know each other that well."

I know she didn't mean it in a bad way. We technically didn't know each other that well.

"Doesn't mean we can't start."

She sarcastically rolls her eyes. "So is this how you get girls, Harry."

"No," I responded, pulling out the parking lot. "Normally, I just flash them my charming smile, and they fall in love instantly with my good looks and an amazing sense of humor."

She laughs, like genuinely laughs. A big smile, with a loud chuckle throwing her head back.

It was a good feeling to see her happy.

"See, look at you, you are already falling for me."

She smirks, "Oh how you wish."

"I wouldn't mind." I answer immediately, letting my mouth work faster than my brain.

She doesn't say anything this time.

"That incident at the party, with Justin. He doesn't bother you like that all the time does he?"

She clutches her brown bag, "I haven't seen him since the end of junior year, so not really. We had a rough breakup."

"What happened?"

She takes a deep breath before answering. "He was just an asshole at the end of our relationship. He was really aggressive about sex and wasn't the nicest to me. He hurt me a lot and I think I'm still recovering from it." Her voice was quiet, barely speaking above a whisper.

I clench my jaw in anger. I knew that asshole fucked her over. I wanted to ask her more out of curiosity, but I also didn't want to push her to talk about something she clearly didn't want to talk about.

"I'm just tired of being insecure because of him." She confessed. " I don't want to be self-conscious anymore; it's draining."

"I don't want you to be self-conscious anymore either. You have no reason to be. You gotta work on that."

"I want to work on that, I really do," She replies.

"Well, let's work on that together then."

"What do you mean?" Blair presses.

"Let me take you somewhere."

#Tracing The Stars #harry styles fic #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles one shot #harry styles au #harry styles fluff #Harry styles smut

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sceneweed0 · 3 years

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unnecessarywriting · 4 years

Note

Heeeya love, can you please write about Luke in which Luke is your sugar baby? I couldn't find a imagine like that. If you do that, it would be really appraciated by me. Have a good day angel xx 💖

My Sweet Boy - Luke Hemmings

Sugar baby!Luke Hemmings x Reader

A/N: Hello. I kinda took this on in a different manner. I hope you all enjoy it, and I am willing to add on to this world more! Requests are still open!

As the CEO of a very successful company, you made quite a lot of money. You worked very hard to get to where you are today. The constant business meetings with people around the world just furthered that idea. The only problem...You’re a woman in a man’s world. If you weren’t being looked down on by all of the old white men, you were being hit on by them. It’s not your fault that you’re younger than them, beautiful, and insanely successful. Well, successful at work. The relationship department of your life was always lacking, especially with your long hours and rushing around the world to make sure deals didn’t fall through.

One day, you decided to get your own coffee. Typically, your errand boy or personal assistant would do it for you, but you had time to kill, and it wouldn’t hurt to walk into the office 15 minutes late. What was going to happen? You firing yourself?

As you walked into the coffee shop, you stood in line behind a young man. He ordered his coffee, but as he went to pay, his card was declined. He was digging through his pockets trying to find any spare change.

“It’s on me.” You say behind him.

“That’s not necessary.” He turns to look at you. When your eyes reach his face, you can't help the small intake of breath. He is absolutely stunning. What a handsome man. Picking your jaw up from the floor, you begin to speak again.

“Listen, I’ll buy the coffee this time, but you can at least drink it with me.” The smirk he sends your way brings up an idea.

You walk over to a booth over by the windows. Both of you sit down before he starts to speak.

“I guess I should say thank you.”

“Well, I guess you should. I will say it is nice to have company in the morning, so I think I should also be thanking you-” you look at his cup, “Luke.” He smiles down at you and thus a small conversation about anything pops up. After about 20 minutes of mindless conversation, you get the nerve to strike up your proposition.

“Listen Luke, I think you are very attractive. You do, however, seem to be struggling in the financial department of your life.” He avoids eye contact with you, most likely out of embarrassment.

“I would like to employ you.”

“Doing what exactly Y/N?”

“I go to plenty of events, and the media is quite fond of my life these days. I am willing to provide you with whatever you may need, so long as you fulfill your duties to me.”

“And what exactly do I have to do?”

“Well, it would start by attending these events with me, but also going on public dates. I’m not saying that we have to really be dating, but you will be paid well for your time spent by my side. Anything else that happens behind closed doors, is up to what you are comfortable with, but I will say it again, I do find you very attractive.” You say the last part staring him deep in the eyes with a hint of seduction in your tone.

He continued to gaze into your eyes before he nodded his head.

“Okay. So, what should I call you? My sugar mama? Because that seems to be what you are.”

You laughed in his face at the thought. You exchanged numbers and told him that you would be seeing him soon.

----

Clear your day and night. We’re going shopping and then to a gala.

Come to my office now

Luke looked at your texts and couldn’t help but smile. He did really like you, but he somehow couldn't stop thinking about what you meant about things behind closed doors. Did you really see him more as just eye candy?

He got out of the Uber and walked up to your office. Your assistant led him in, where you were on the phone, angrily yelling at someone to get off of their ass. You slammed the phone down on the desk before looking up at the amused expression on Luke’s face.

“Is that the kind of treatment I’ll get if I do something wrong?” His words were lightened by his playful tone. You smile in response.

“C’mon. We have to get you a new suit for tonight.” You say grabbing your coat and ushering him out of your office.

“So what exactly are we doing tonight?”

“Like I said in the text. We are going to a gala, so I need you looking extra sharp.”

----

A few hours later, he was on your arm as you entered the overly extravagant ballroom.

“This is your world?”

“Sadly, it is.” You groan and find a waiter with some champagne. This night needs to be done as soon as possible. Luke catches your glance and frowns. Sure, he may just be seen as the attractive young man on your arm, but he can make these events as fun as possible for you. To be fair, you did pay for his suit, and a few other things while you two were shopping.

“Hey, you see that guy over there. He’s in the red suit.” You turn in the direction of his pointing finger.

“Yeah. What about him?”

“Nothing, except I can’t seem to figure out if he has a mole on his face, or if he’s sharing his face with a rodent.” Luke watches your face as a smile begins to form.

The whole night continues like this. Whenever you’re talking to someone, he is whispering terrible jokes and observations about the rich assholes that seem to be a part of your life.

A while later, you two were outside of his apartment, sitting in your car.

“Thank you for making my night fun. I typically go home afterward, grateful that I no longer have to be in that room.”

“Well, isn’t that my job? You give me anything I could ever want, which is wonderful, but I feel like I should do something more than just stand around and look pretty.”

“You’re right. Thank you again. Goodnight Luke. I’ll talk to you soon.”

He gets out of the car and walks up to his apartment. You drive home with a smile tattooed to your face.

When Luke enters his apartment, he starts to undress. In his jacket pocket, he feels a card and note.

Spend what you want. There’s no limit. Have fun.

The credit card sat in his palm. This was his payment. He did his job, and nothing more. That was how you saw it. You could never have real feelings for someone like him. Of course, but he just needed to get that through his head.

----

A few months had passed since the first night you two had worked together. Things had been, well, different than you had initially hoped. You thought that with time, you two would spend time together, the money would act as a sort of aphrodisiac of sorts, and then you two would be together for real. That was not the case. This became ever apparent at this moment.

You were in the middle of some friendly small talk in hopes of developing a relationship that could ensure that there would be business deals in the future. You had left Luke at the bar when a young tall blonde had made her way to him. You kept glancing over at their conversation. She was laughing and rubbing her hands all over his body. Now, you weren’t a jealous person, but this was unacceptable. He seemed to be enjoying her company.

Little did you know that Luke hated this. He was trying to not indulge her, but this girl just wouldn’t leave him alone. When he glanced over at you, you were deep in a conversation with another man, most likely about business. The girl next to him continued to speak, so he just started laughing, hoping that she would be fulfilled with that. Soon enough, you made your way over to him, saving him from his personal hell.

“Hey, honey. I think it’s time to go.” Your voice was too sweet. It was more fake than he thought you could ever muster. The other girl scowled and huffed as she walked away reluctantly.

In the car, you were more silent than usual. Typically, there was music playing, and your voice showed through lightly as you hummed along. The silence was deafening to Luke. despite his trials of reminding himself that he was only your employee who was spoiled beyond belief, he couldn’t help but fall for you. Everything you did sparked some interest and by the end of the first month, he was in love. He was just oblivious to your passes.

You are inexperienced in real love, so you tried to buy it. Neither of you knew that you were so in love with each other.

“What’s going on with you?” Luke looked over at you trying to figure you out.

“I buy you everything. I give you money, cars, a new apartment, all the clothing you could ask for, and yet I’m not enough for you. Yes, I am your sugar mama or whatever you call it, but all I want is to be someone you love. And God Dammit, I don’t know what else to do.” You pull up to the apartment you bought for him. “Just go. I have to go home and sleep. I haven’t slept in a few days, and I just need to be alone.” Luke got out of the car, stunned. Before he could process anything, you sped off. He could almost smell the tire burning at how fast you had left. You had feelings for him. There was no way, but he knew that he needed to show you how much he cared.

----

You woke up the next morning with mascara all over your face and pillow. You didn’t care to take off your makeup. You were too exhausted and your tears were represented by the makeup being pushed around everywhere. You knew that this was your fault, but it was time to put an end to whatever it was that you had with Luke. After a shower, you made some coffee and sent a text to him.

I’m sorry Luke, but I can’t do this anymore.

You can keep the card. I feel terrible about leaving you behind like this, so spend all the money you want.

Thank you for working for me.

When Luke woke up, he checked his phone. You ended things with him. He didn’t even get a chance to tell you. He got up and walked around his apartment. Everything in there was paid for by you. You were everywhere, and he couldn’t help but feel terrible. He moved around his place getting ready to see you.

A couple of hours later, you were sitting in your house watching nonsense television hoping to take your mind off of Luke. There was a knock on your door, but you were too unmotivated to go and answer it.

“Y/n! I know you’re in there. Can you please open up?”

You rolled off of the couch and opened the door, but immediately you made your way back to the couch.

“Can we talk?” Silence.

“Fine. I’ll talk. You listen. I have fallen for you. I kept trying to tell myself that you could never feel that way about me, but then you confessed, and I don’t know. I was shocked that you could feel that way. I don’t need the money, but I’m not gonna lie, I do enjoy having it. I want to be with you, not just as your employee, but something more.”

“You love me?” he reached over the couch and took your face in his hand. He pulled your face to his and pressed his lips against your forehead. Then to your nose. And then his lips reached yours and you fell deeply into it. It was better than you could have ever imagined. It felt right.

“So, am I still your sugar mama?” He threw his head back and laughed.

“Of course. You think I could afford to keep up with your lifestyle?”

You beamed up at him. His eyes looked past you and saw your gift to him.

“What..is that?” You turned your head and saw it.

“Well, before I confessed like an idiot, I bought this to thank you and hopefully make a more successful advance.” He got up and picked up the guitar you had specially made just for him. He returned to you and swallowed your body in his.

“I really do love you. Thank you for being the best sugar mama in the world.” You giggled.

“I love you too, my sweet boy.”

#luke hemmings #5sos imagine #5 second of summer imagines #5sos #5 seconds of summer #luke hemmings x reader #calum hood #ashton irwin #michael clifford

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kylorensdestroyingthings · 4 years

Text

Sunshine | Reylo

ao3 link

a/n: I really love AU reylo sue me okay? requests are open!!

warnings: fluff, BAND AU, Soulmate AU

Rey sat in the middle of her physics lecture, listening to her professor drone on and on about a topic she'd learned in high school. Beside her, Rose was scribbling words onto her arm. After each word she'd wait a moment until more appeared on her opposite arm. It was her soulmate. Rey rolled her eyes at the girl as she giggled silently at something Finn had said. They'd been writing each other since they first turned 18. Rose and Finn were madly in love and it made Rey want to barf, just the thought of it made her gag. Sure she was happy that her best friend was in love, but the thought of writing endless love notes on her body never appealed to her.

Typically, when people turned 18 the first thing they did was write on their skin- to see if they'd get a response. Just about everyone had a soulmate, but there were the few rare occasions that someone was born without their other half designated by the stars. Rey never wrote on her skin because everyone left her. She didn't want to be reliant on someone's handwriting. She wanted to be her. Luckily, she never got some type of declaration of love and she was fine with that. Nobody could leave her if they didn't reach out. That was her philosophy in life.

She'd always been very careful not to write anything on her skin, for fear of a response. Anytime she accidentally got marker on her hands called for an immediate trip to the bathroom to scrub the ink from her skin. As soon as the lecture ended, Rose and Rey walked to the local coffee shop on campus, their daily routine in order to study. Rose claimed them a spot in a booth away from the door while Rey went to stand in line to order their coffee and tea.

___

Kylo Ren was about to lose his mind, or commit a felony. It was only the second week of the First Order tour for his band Knights of Ren, and he was contemplating if it would be worth looking for another bassist if Hux didn't just shut the fuck up. Seriously, the pale red head was way too loud on their cramped tour bus. Phasma gave him a glare before shaking her head. "It's not worth it." She had told him. "It might be if it gets us some peace and quiet." He grumbled throwing one of Hux's own drumsticks at his head. The red head grumbled. "I fear for whoever has you as their soulmate." Hux scoffed rubbing the back of his head tenderly. "And I mourn for Phasma, considering her's will be dead in a matter of seconds." Kylo snapped angrily. Hux knew soulmate's where a tough topic with Kylo, yet he brought them up at every single god damn opportunity he had.

Kylo didn't mind not having a soulmate. Well, he didn't know if he did, they never reached out and he had no desire to himself. He just tended to assume that he didn't have one. His parents were soulmates, but they seemed to be pretty bad parents. His nights as a child were spent listening to his parents fight thinking he couldn't hear them. Maybe they were in love before him, that was a good bet but growing up they seemed to hate each other.

"Ha, yeah right Ren." Hux said throwing a marker at Kylo. Catching it, he looked around for a piece of paper. Once he couldn't find it he decided his skin worked best, somewhat forgetting that it wouldn't just appear on his own. "Yeah, look it's on my to do list." Kylo said showing his wrist.

To Do

1. Murder Hux

___

Rey returned with her tea and Rose's coffee. She handed the cup to Rose whose eyes suddenly widened.

"Uh Rey, have you talked to your soulmate lately?" Rose asked cautiously, knowing the subject was touchy for the young adult.

"Jesus Rose, you know I've never spoken to them in my life and have no desire to." Rey said with a scoff sitting down in the booth directly parallel to her. "Well, um you might wanna look at your wrist?" Rose squeaked and Rey's eyes snapped to her wrist where a simple to do list was written out.

1. Murder Hux

"Oh my god." Rey said almost spitting her tea out. "I didn't write that"

"Yeah no shit! What kind of name is Hux!" Rose almost yelled. "You gotta write back man."

"Hand me a marker." Rey said shocking herself. All of this defiance of not writing her soulmate and for what? To give that up the moment they wrote her? Rose quickly scrambled for the pen she used to write Finn all the time. Once in her hands, Rey wrote out a simple question. "God, I hope they're not a psychopath."

Does this mean I'm an accessory to murder?

Rey waited a moment, her heart rate had accelerated. She'd never done this before. It was a foreign feeling like no other. Talking to her soulmate. The thought even felt weird, nonetheless when the words appeared on her skin this time, she felt a tingle. Maybe it was because she was consciously focusing on the words, who knows.

So you do exist came the mysterious reply. Rey laughed rolling her eyes as she scribbled on her arm again. Maybe she could understand the appeal to it now.

You never answered my question. Rey replied, dodging how her soulmate knew of her negligence to reach out. But technically the blame could go two ways.

No, I'm just threatening my Bandmate. He's annoying.

Rey let out a hearty laugh, as if that made sense. Rose watched on in awe, still completely shocked at what was happening.

___

Kylo was surprised when a response showed up, he'd completely forgot about the chances that someone out there was made specifically for him. He felt like he didn't deserve a soulmate. The fates decided otherwise. Maybe he was worthy of someone.

You're in a band? They asked and he felt the tips of his ears growing red. What if this person was an obsessed super fan? He felt narcissistic even thinking that, but it wasn't rare that people drew the same words on their arms thinking he'd be stupid enough to believe them. He hesitated answering, almost scared it would be someone who knew him.

We're actually on tour currently he wrote. Plenty of bands were on tour, surely whoever they were wouldn't single his out.

Anything I might know? The words appeared on his skin. Surely whoever it was had to know who they were. They'd been on every radio station, youtube interview, and all over social media. They blew up pretty much overnight, and went from playing in small venues barely selling tickets to sold out concerts at arena's.

It's an Emo/Alternative band, nothing too special. His arm was covered in writing at this point, he was receiving strange glances from Phasma who, thankfully had managed to keep Hux quiet.

My roommate is super into that stuff, always dragging me to shows with her whenever they come to town.

"Let's go pretty boy, rehearsal in 10." Hux said calling to him. He hadn't even realized when the bus stopped moving.

"Be right there." Kylo said looking back down at his arm. Hux only scoffed and walked away from the scene, as if he hadn't been this enamored the first time him and Phasma made contact in high school.

Sorry to cut this short, but I have rehearsal he wrote apologetically. He genuinely did want to stay here and talk to the stranger all night if he could. And I have a show tonight

Oh no worries, I have an exam to study for. Break a leg :) For the first time in ages, a genuine smile crossed Kylo's face. That was a rare occurrence, and a complete stranger managed to make it happen.

Thanks :)

___ The two chatted over the next two months, growing closer. He told her about concerts, groupie's, and of course Hux and his never ending mission of annoying Kylo. She told him about her exams, her classes, how much she worked because she was stressed about money. He always offered to help her, but every time she declined, telling him that she needed to work for it herself.

He admired her for that, but let her know that if she ever needed help, he'd find a way. She still didn't know the name of his band, and he didn't mind that. She knew him as Ben. Something to differ her from the rest of crazy fans. As he was thinking about her, he felt the familiar tingle on his skin.

Today's been absolutely horrible. He frowned at that. Every once and while, she had bad days but his were more common. Knowing she felt bad made him want to destroy whoever made her feel that way.

What happened sunshine? He asked her awaiting the response. Slowly each word showed up, and when the ink smudged almost like someone was wiping it away in certain places he could tell she was crying, it smeared the ink.

I went to turn in my paper, only my computer crashed and i lost everything so I wrote a horrible paper just to meet the deadline, and then someone stole my wallet at the coffee shop so I have to get a new card and then a bird pooped on my backpack, and it's just not a great day.

Hey don't cry sunshine. He wrote the words down quickly, his heart physically aching at the thought of her crying. Kylo wanted to hold her and never let go. Unfortunately, being soulmates didn't mean you could find one another physically quickly. Another thing was that any attempt at getting a phone number or basically anything other than a first name was off limits. It just meant, there was someone out there made especially for you. Everything is going to be okay, you're strong, your paper is amazing, and you can wash your backpack.

I wish you were here love Kylo's heart fluttered at the words.

Me too, sunshine He wanted more than anything to be there. To finally know what the girl he loved looked like. To hold her in his arms, and keep her to himself. Enough about the bad, what's good that's happening soon for you?

They did this a lot when one of them had a bad day. It tended to help and get their minds off of whatever was feeling wrong to them. Typically, Rey was always the happy one who was making Kylo feel better.

Rose is dragging me to a concert this weekend that she won tickets for, I don't know who but they're always fun. He smiled at that. For some reason, Rey was always letting her roommate drag her everywhere but she always had fun doing whatever Rose's plan was for the week. He was thankful for the girl because from what he could tell, Rose always looked after Rey well.

That will be fun, try not to fall for any of the band members ;) He laughed at his own joke, startling Phasma.

"Talking to your girl again?" She asked looking up from her book. "Yeah," Kylo said smiling. "I want to write a new song, for our next show."

"About her?" Phasma said cocking a blonde eyebrow. "Fan's will certainly love that."

"They all know they never had a chance anyways." Kylo said rolling his eyes.

"Tell them that." She spoke flipping a page in her book. "But I like the idea."

___

That Saturday night, Rey stood in front of her mirror looking over her outfit with uncertainty. The green overall dress and black shirt she wore under it were out of her comfort zone, but she knew she didn't want to stick out like a sore thumb if she wore something else. She borrowed some of Rose's boots that were always for these concerts they went to. They were hard would prevent her feet from getting smashed when they were at the barricade.

She tucked a pen into her pocket, just in case, she had told herself. That was a lie, she always wanted to talk to Ben. Suddenly she felt the familiar tingle, looking down at her wrists Ben's handwriting appeared.

Be safe tonight sunshine <3.

Always am love <3.

___

The crowd for Knights of Ren was dense. Their first album had been what got them on to the top 100 charts. Rose made Rey listen to them on the ride over, and Rey completely understood why. The lead singers voice was one of an absolute angel. The bassist was pretty amazing too. Somehow, they'd manage to get tickets about 3 rows away from the right side of the stage.

Rose squealed from beside her. "Dude this is going to be so amazing!"

Suddenly the lights went down, suggesting the concert was about to begin. Kylo Ren was absolutely gorgeous and she could tell he loved being on stage. After playing through the entire album Kylo spoke into the mic for a little bit.

"Okay, so I actually have a surprise for you guys here." He spoke, his deep voice traveling through the arena. "We're playing a new song, one I wrote very recently, for someone very special. This is Sunshine."

He nodded at Phasma who began to strum the first couple cords. Rey listened to the song carefully. It was really beautiful, and one of the best songs she'd ever heard of.

The words appeared on my skin

you said baby i've had a bad day

and I told you

Sunshine don't cry

I'm only a couple thousand miles away,

and love, you wish I was there

but I'm right here in your heart

always there to chase the rain away.

Sunshine, don't cry.

Rey's eyes widened. Remembering the conversation she had with Ben meerly days ago. One of the first things he told her was that he was in an alternative band. She scrambled for her pen in her pocket looking at Kylo with certainty before writing on her arm.

I'm right here

____

As he finished the first chorus, he felt the tingle. Subtly, he looked down towards his wrist where the words appeared. Frantically, he looked up searching the crowd, his leather gloves with the fingers cut off clutching the mic tightly.

____

She noticed his eyes searching the crowd as soon as he looked at his wrist. The same one she had wrote on. His eyes screamed one question Where? Quickly, she wrote down her location within the crowd.

My right, third row.

Despite there being thousands of people in that arena and the crying girls throughout the entire row her and Rose were in, she locked eyes with Kylo, well to her he was Ben, immediately. His eyes widened, almost in disbelief before he hopped off the stage, walking straight towards the barricade. Rey found herself pushing through the crowd of screaming girls to reach for him, Rose following hesitantly behind her. When they finally were face to face, he let the last line of the song fade away before speaking quietly, away from the mic.

"Sunshine" He spoke, making her heart burst into flames. For the past two months, she'd been imagining his voice saying his name for her. Finally, here they were. Staring at each other face-to-face in a crowd of thousands of people.

"Ben." She whispered and he put a large hand to her face cradling her cheek.

"It's you."

"Yeah, it's me love." With those words she kissed him deeply and lovingly. His arm came to the small of her back, holding her against the barricade as close as he could get her. Her hands held the back of his neck softly, but hungrily. He was finally in her arms and she never wanted to let go. Suddenly, the sound of fans screaming excitedly broke them from each others trance.

He turned to Rose quickly. "I owe you so much for bringing her here. Anything you want."

"Name your firstborn after me." Rose said in her typical fashion but also getting over the shock of what was happening.

"Sure, anything." Ben said before looking back to the crowd awaiting him. "I'm bringing you backstage, wait for me to finish?"

"Of course." Rey spoke grabbing his hand gently. Ben nodded towards security and then towards Rey before lifting her over the barricade and pressing his lips firmly against hers once more.

"I'll see you soon, Sunshine."

#reylo #reylo fic #reylo au #ben solo #kylo ren #rey #star wars fic #star wars fanfic #reylo fanfic #soulmate au #band au

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szopenhauer · 4 years

Text

What type of friend are you? funny mom friend so like... dad friend? XD

Have you ever been friends with someone for longer than 7 years? nah

Do you have a family member you hate? could say so

Does your family accept who you are? it’s complicated

Have you ever puked in school or at work? luckily not

Do you hate puking or does it make you feel better? hate

Have you ever coughed up blood? nope

Do you lie to your doctor? sometimes we all have to but nothing important

Have you ever been misdiagnosed? yup

Do you think you have an disorder but havent been properly diagnosed yet? that too

Is self diagnosing good or bad? depends

Do you think sex is overated? it is

Is it important for both genders to understand eachothers bodies? I’m not dating men, I don’t want to have a son and I am not a doctor so I don’t care about male bodies, sorry

If someone was a virgin and was raped, did they lose their virginity? ...

Have you ever dated someone more than twice your age? nooo

Have you ever been cut off by a bartender because you were too drunk? I don’t drink

Have you ever borrowed money from your mom & lied about why you needed it? I don’t think so

Have you ever dated someone just because they had money? no

Have you ever lied to your spouse about the money you spent shopping? it wasn’t a lie but I bend the truth a little

Have you ever gone on a first date with no underwear? I might go without a bra but because I don’t wanna wear it and not because I might have sex

Do you treat attractive people better than others who aren’t as attractive? nope

Are you more comfortable with friends that are less attractive than you? not less but not more as more attractive might make me feel insecure at times

Have you ever hated a job to the point that you tried to get fired? I would if they let me stay in few places but luckily they didn’t care much about me as their worker hahaha

Have you ever lied about your weight on a driver license? there is weight on a driving license? :o

Have you ever lied during a job interview? meh

Have you ever lied to your boss to get out of work? I exaggerated feeling sick once to not get a job in a horrible place if that counts

Have you ever lied under oath in court? I wouldn’t!

Have you ever bought alcohol for someone underage? I said NO

Have you ever switched tags on an item to pay less for it? I only took tag from an identical item, just different color, as someone tore it out before and I really wanted that particular color, so no

Have you taken any pics of yourself that you wont want your parents to see? umm... yeah ^^”

Did you ever tell your BF/GF you like their outfit when you really didn’t? there are different types of like - like as I would want to wear that myself and like as I enjoy it in general but also like it on particular person etc.

Do you feel accepted by your BF/GF ’s family? could be worse lol

Do you lie about your age? what for if everybody think I’m younger anyway

Would you risk your life to save a total stranger? maybe

Have you ever trashed your ex’s car after an argument? hell no

Have you ever snuck out of the house to go out with friends? not really

Have you ever shoplifted? no way

Have you ever done something because of peer pressure you are ashamed of? yup Have you ever been embarrassed to introduce your parents to anyone? omg

Have you ever held back a well deserved compliment because you were jealous? I don’t recall

Do you guilt people into giving you what you want? hope not, I try not to, it’s manipulative and I already am seen this way due to my BPD so...

Would most ppl consider you better than average looking? pfft Would you prefer to have hot body or high IQ? good health

Are you embarrassed to tell people your job? I’m ashamed to tell them that I don’t have a job

Would you give up your car to save the planet? if I had one...

Are you more likely to believe a man or woman? woman :x

Has your credit card ever been declined? I don’t use a credit card

If you ran over an animal would you keep driving? oh no...

Do you think your parents are too critical of you? my mother is

Ever blame a sibling for something you did wrong? I usually have to take the blame for her instead

Have you ever accepted credit for someone else’s work? just my alters lmfao

Did you ever buy something expensive,wear it once and return it? I didn’t, I have no money to buy and no heart to act like this either

Have you ever re-gifted something? shitload of times

Do you really care about saving the planet for future generations? not for future ppl, just for itself

Do you own anything from IKEA? not furniture

What was the last task that you required the use of scissors for? I just dropped them and let them lay on the floor under the table because I am unable to reach ‘em

Look around the room and name any item that’s grey. stuffed bad from Biedronka that I got on a flea market

Do you know what any of your close friends did yesterday afternoon? me and M. been spending time together while my parents were at home

Can you recall the last time you woke up in a bad mood? Why was that? I always do?...

Who was the last person to send you a message with a heart emoji? my gf obviously

Does your hometown have many good bookshops? none

What would be your typical outfit for a party? I don’t attend parties

If your girlfriend/boyfriend broke up with you tonight, what would you do? oh...

last dream you had: K. 3D printed or smth almost identical album as the ones I had as a baby and her and my current partner gave it to me as a gift :3

do you think a lot of people think bad things about you? I aware of that

is your best friend pissing you off at this exact moment? I informed my father that I dropped scissors and now as I picked them up he asked me when and how they ended up there while I told him about it few minutes ago - I was more worried than annoyed tbh

Why aren’t you texting the last person you kissed? she’s taking a nap

Sex ruins relationships, right? it can happen

Last person to stand up for you? hmm...

The last person you kissed, how many times have you cried in front of them? I lost count which is weird because I cry in front of my family members only (not even my grandma until I was a baby), I know that sometimes I cry in public but because I don’t give a fuck about strangers as much as I used to, close ones in the other hand... Nat hates the most when someone sees him so vulnerable

Something good going to happen tomorrow? doubt it

The last person you kissed hates you. Why? would have reasons

What do you usually do when the clock turns 11:11? it’s a secret you can unlock in a very high level of our relationship

Do you like your cell phone? it’s ok

So, what if you married the last person you kissed? we’re engaged so that dream ain’t that unreal

Have you ever had a really big fight with a best friend? uh oh

Do you plan on moving out within the next year? I wish

What are you listening to at the moment? mom and dad talking <rolling my eyes>

Do you think you��ll be married in 5 years? or never

What’s your favorite high school memory? I have a bunch of those

Do you wish you had more money? absolutely

Team Jacob or Team Edward? team hate Twilight

Do you have a problem with bisexual, gay, or bicurious people? with bicurious maybe, definitely not gay

Have you ever held hands with the opposite sex? I have

Are you a patient person? weirdly unpatient Do you think you are a good person? am not

Honestly, have you ever eaten raw cookie dough? ewww

Is there a difference between the word ‘best friend’ and ‘friend’? there is

How was your week? rollerclaster XD

Does it bother you when an artist remakes a song that one has previously done? usually

When was the last time you cried? recently

What letter is the song you’re listening to under? M if vocalist/band B if title of the song

Would you rather visit the 60s or 70s? 60s I guess

Do your socks say anything on them? I have no socks with anything said on them

Name a TV channel that only has three letters in it. BBC

Gray or Grey? grey

Will you be buying concert tickets any time soon? I won’t

Have you seen the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower? Did you like it? yasss, it was fine

How many weddings have you been to? less than 5

When you smile, are you confident? I am not

Have you ever not done something because you were afraid of getting in trouble? of course

Was the weather beautiful today? it’s cold

Do you have to have a fan on when you sleep? I don’t own a fan Would you rather have an orange, red or gray bedroom? walls? orange

Would you ever dye part of your hair blue? why not whole

Is Finding Nemo a favorite movie of yours? I dislike it

Does/Did your school have a uniform? middle school only and that was a great idea

Turn on the TV. What channel are you on? not gonna

What’s your favorite thing to do? nothing

If your house was haunted, what would you do? depends

What’s worse: Slow internet or slow walkers? slow internet

Are you a fast or slow walker? which alter? :P

Do you usually have to wear a belt with your pants? I must buy belt for Nat

Are you usually the person to try new things with your hair? no comment

What age do you look forward to reaching? I live on borrowed air...

What exercise do you hate the most? awkward ones

Do you know anyone that has a gecko as a pet? no

What color shirt is your mom wearing today? she’s wearing a striped pajama and light blue sweater atm

Does any part of your body hurt right now? mor than one

Do you like Greek Mythology? not a fan

When was the last time you had Pepsi? ages ago

What was the last question you answered, not on surveys? it was more an order than a question coming from my mom

Do you own anything Polo? used to

Do you know anyone with exaggeratedly big muscles? neighbor

What is your favorite endangered animal? are elephants still endangered?

Do you like to dance? kinda, from time to time Who was the last person who screamed your name? mom’s calling me again, grrr...

Which underwater creature do you find the most badass? what do you mean?

How do you usually find out what the weather will be like for the next week? someone tells me, I ignore them, they were wrong all along

Why have/haven’t you joined Twitter? I left as it was boring and irritating Are you good at rhyming? but don’t like to rhyme

When’s the last time you were woken up in an obnoxious way? lately it’s common

Why do you/don’t you enjoy horror movies? they’re disgusting and pointless

Do you have any celebrity’s perfume? I don’t use perfume

How well do you do at Scrabble? in polish or english?

Who is your favorite Scooby-Doo character? Velma I suppose

Have you ever played or been interested in playing World Of Warcraft? been interested, liked the movie

What kind of cake/other dessert treat did you have for your last birthday? nothing?

Who do you think does the best job at cartoon voiceovers? Jarosław Boberek

Does your dad wear a watch all the time? years ago frequently

How much ice cream do you think you’d be able to eat before you got sick? only a bit

Do you know anybody under 40 with grey hair? I have some myself

Do you think you have the potential to be a good stalker? oh well...

Why did you read the last book that you read? I watched film and heard it has a different ending so wanted to check it out

Have you ever cross-dressed? clothes have no gender but I drew mustaches and such

Which sport are you the best at playing? unihokej/floorball or however it’s called

Do you know anyone who has gotten pregnant despite using contraception? possibly

What would you do if you were in that situation? I’m an asexual and I’m into girls

Are you planning on buying a house in the near future? not possible

Do you prefer on-campus classes or online classes? online

What was your favorite family vacation you went on as a kid? personal

What’s something about you that others might find unpleasant or off-putting? my skin for example (not color)

What gaming consoles do you own? I only play PC and android

Have you ever been so sick you had to be taken to the hospital? been to ER few times

Do you know any lesbian couples? I’m in one ;)

Have you ever lived in an apartment building? just when I was staying with my grandmother

What was the last topic you asked someone for their opinion or advice on? not sure which was last

Is your house visible on Google Street View?- barely

What’s the largest thing you currently have in your refrigerator? *shrug*

Do you know anyone who has never had a pet? I believe

Would you ever get a tattoo on your collar bone? no thx

Would you take the 3 minute beatdown to be in a gang? neither Do you check your texts right away when you receive them? not every single time, it’s impossible!

Does it make you uncomfortable when you receive a compliment? sorta, I think they’re lying/want something or make fun of me (even if just slightly teasing for fun)

When you are home alone at night and hear strange noises, are you afraid someone is going to break in? I’m more “ghost” type of person hahaha

Do you wake up cranky? mhm

What is on your wrists right now? sleeves

Are you a beach, country, or city person? country or small town

Are you an official couple with the last person you kissed? we are

What’s the greatest thing that happened to you today? ex - I got a gift and found a shirt for Nat and myself :3

How old do you think you will be when you finally have kids? -

Are you waiting for something? food

Something you do a lot? suffer

How many chances do you tend to give people before enough is enough? it’s not about the amount

What’s a fact about the last person you kissed? she likes hugs

How long have you liked the person you like? it’s a long story

Did anyone see you kiss the last person you kissed? not our last kiss

Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 months from now? I worry

Have you ever given your ALL to someone who walked away?

Have you ever kissed the last person you texted? we kissed

Are you one of those people who are always cold? not always but often

Do you tend to waste a lot of money? I still feel like it even tho I don’t, I thrift often but spend little for those trinkets

Did you sing at all today? może coś nuciłam, nie pamiętam, w headspace?

Would you rather be able to control the weather or control traffic? weather

Do you own any articles of clothing with skulls on it? gave it away to John

Are you faster at text messaging or typing on the computer? typing on the computer

In your opinion which is the stronger emotion: love or hate? hate

Tongue piercings - cute or trashy? trashy

When it comes to jeans: skinny, flared or boot cut? skinny

Would you rather be a star ballerina or a star break dancer? none

They say diamonds are a girls best friend; what do you say? I don’t care for diamonds

Has anybody ever told somebody one of your secrets? plenty of times

Do you get on better with funny or serious people? smth in between

Do you have mood swings around the time of the month? I don’t need period to have mood swings, it’s stereotypical!

Have your friends met the last person you kissed? aha

What if you got stuck in a lift with the last person who Facebook messaged you? we would end up having sex? jk

When/where did your last hug take place? today

Have your parents ever told you about their love lives, and any previous relationships they had before they met? kind of

Do you and your friends have any inside jokes? and with family

When you listen to music, do you ever find that the songs affect your moods and change how you feel? no shit Sherlock!

What’s one thing about today that you didn’t like? don’t wanna talk about all that

Who is the last person that you said i love you to, besides family members? my fiancee

Would you ever go back to any of your past relationships? done

Do you still talk to the first person you kissed? we’re together again

Do you have a picture of you kissing someone? :D

What’s a cuss word you use often? there’s a whole list

Who’s the last guy you texted? dad

Have you ever not been able to get someone out of your head? this question...

Do you remember the first conversation you had with the person you have feelings for? I remember how we met

Do you believe that people talk about you behind your back? ha!

If you had twins, would you give them rhyming names? yuk

What are you listening to? Tame Impala - Let It Happen

Did you do something mean to someone today? she deserved it!

Is there anyone that you wish was IN your life who used to be? babcia...

Give us a lyric from a song you’re listening to: The truth of it is it doesn’t get better than this

Is your birthday in less than 6 months? whoops

What brings out the worst in you? better not say that out loud

How’re you feeling right now? bad

Are you afraid of the future? very

Do you believe in true love? I’m trying

Do you believe that every one has a soul-mate? not everybody

Was today a good day? should be better

What woke you up this morning? woke up on my own

Do you look people in the eye when you talk to them? I don’t

Have you ever played naked twister? wut...

Is your hair longer than your shoulders? not yet and don’t plan to keep it that long

Would you get in trouble if you came home drunk? that would be a shock to my family (and to me)

Do you ever think about things and start to worry? 100% of the time

Are you one to get annoyed easily? that me!

Is the last person you kissed yours? we don’t own ppl...

Was it a boy or a girl to text you first today? girl

Are you scared of spiders? am not

Do you hate the last boy who talked to you? I love my parent

Do you tend to make things complicated? not on purpose

Have you ever gotten to the point where you’ve said “I’m done trying”? gqe1gIQASGCK...

Do you think things will change in the next few months? I’m afraid for worse

Do you like when people play with your hair? it’s strange

What are you wearing right now? bluzę w czarne i białe paski, zieloną bluzkę z długimi rękawami i szare legginsy z niebieskim wzorkiem

Ever feel like you have been replaced? more than once

Would you rather write a paper or give a speech? write

Are you lying to yourself about something? thx a lot for this ask...

Is the person you last texted single? she’s with me

Do you think any of your exes will eventually want to be with you again? tha hell

If you could move away, no questions asked, where would you move to? just my own apartment

Which do you prefer, relationship or a one-night-stand? relationship

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yes-i-am-happyaspie · 4 years

Text

I Scream for Ice Cream

Summary: Tony falls asleep in the lab and has a nightmare. One that involves buying his favorite spider-kid copious amounts of ice cream and then... Well, the end results have him jerking awake with a shout. Peter tries to be comforting but in the end, all he can do it laugh... [This is not going to go how you think it's going to go.]

Warnings: None

Tags: Fluff and Humor, Nightmares, Precious Peter Parker, Random and Short... ....

Word Count: 2123

Link to Post on AO3 I Scream for Ice Cream- happyaspie

"Hey, Mr. Stark? Can we get some ice cream?", Peter enthusiastically inquired from the passenger side seat of Tony's favorite Audi.

Seeing as he couldn't think of anything else that required his attention at the moment, Tony shrugged his shoulders and pulled in to the next ice cream shop they came across. "Sure, kiddo. What do you want?", he asked as the little bell on the door rang out to notify the employees that they had entered.

"Can I get a double scoop?", Peter returned with a grin and Tony was quick to nod his head. The kid could have asked for a quadruple scoop and he would have been fine with it. He knew the kid could eat it and even if he couldn't the cost of a heaping pile of the frozen confection was like pennies to him.

As soon as the young man reached the counter, Peter placed his order for two scoops of double-chocolate-chunk in a cone while Tony requested a single serving of chocolate chip in a cup. It didn't take long for the man to collect their order and once the tab was paid, they walked out the door. Then, just as they reached the car, Peter leaned in to lick his cone but as he did so, the stacked portions went tumbling to the ground with an audible splat.

"Whoops.", Peter sheepishly spoke as he looked down at his ice cream that was now melting into a pool at his feet.

Tony rolled his eyes and waved his hand towards the nearby trashcan. "Just throw that away. I'll go get you a new one.", he flippantly replied and began to wander back into the shop where he purchased a duplicate of the kid's previous order. Then, on a whim, he grabbed a stack full of napkins on his way back out. "Here you go.", he said as he handed over the cone to his favorite spiderling. "Let's take it for a walk, though. I'm not sure I trust you with that in my car.", he continued with a smirk.

Chuckling in response, Peter carefully licked around the cone where the chocolate was starting to drip and accepted the wad of napkins the man was holding out for him to take. "That makes sense.", he said with a smile and started down the sidewalk.

As they continued on their way, Tony watched as the kid oh so cautiously ate his ice cream and smiled. It was so hot out that it was already dripping over his hand and no amount of licking or napkins was keeping up. It was turning into a huge syrupy mess. "Are you getting any of that in your mouth?", he teased eliciting a small frustrated noise from his young mentee's mouth.

"I'm trying, Mr. Stark but it's really hot out here and it's melting faster than I can eat it.", Peter explained with indignance.

Shaking his head, Tony looked down into his own cup and saw that his treat was fairing much better. It just wasn't making a mess. He ended up eating the last few semi-solid bites with the pink plastic spoon before tipping it back and drinking what was left while Peter continued to struggle. "Look, how about we ditch the cone, you wash up and I'll get you a something in a bowl.", he suggested and could see the wheels in the boy's head turning.

After some thought, the kid reluctantly agreed and they ended up backtracking to the same store, where Tony made a third purchase. The ice cream shop employee had just stuck the spoon into the cup when Peter exited the bathroom looking far less sticky. Nodding in satisfaction, Tony handed over the cup and for some unknown reason, they decided to resume their walk rather than sitting inside the air-conditioned building until the snack had been consumed.

Peter walked ahead, peeking into all of the shop windows, commenting on the various items he saw inside between bites as Tony followed causally behind. He'd just paused to look at something himself when he heard Peter start shouting and looked up in surprise. The kid was standing there waving the hand that wasn't holding onto the ice cream filled paper cup towards several pigeons who seemed to have decided that they too wanted something to cool down with. The boy was only able to dodge them for so long before the brightly colored container was being dropped, landing on its head, thus rendering the remainder of the treat inside inedible.

"You're just not to meant to have any ice cream today, huh, kiddo.", Tony howled with laughter as Peter frowned back at him. "I swear this kind of stuff only happens to you."

Peter huffed and kicked the cup aside, startling the birds that had happily surrounded it and pouted. "It's fine. I got to have some of it anyway. We can just go home."

"Nope. You wanted ice cream. You're going to get ice cream. We'll make it a milkshake this time.", Tony said, then walked into the cafe that just so happened to be right there and ordered a large chocolate shake. "The good news is, you can have this in the car. It has a lid. What could possibly happen?", he teased as he passed the handspun milkshake over with a smile.

Though he soon found out exactly what could possibly happen when they got almost back to the car and Peter tripped over his untied shoelaces, sending the cup flying. "I give up.", the kid grumbled as he picked himself up and leaned down to tie his laces. "You're right. I'm not meant to have ice cream today."

"Yeah, well I don't give up. Look, the ice cream shop we started in is right there. We'll give it another try. Maybe this time we'll sit down and let you finish it in there. No heat, birds or untied laces.", Tony suggested as he looked down at his disheartened mentee. "Maybe we'll buy you some light up velcro shoes while we're out.", he added with a playful grin.

Rolling his eyes, Peter stood up and crossed the distance between himself and his mentor. "It's fine. You don't have to buy me anything else.", he said, ignoring the obvious jab.

Tony scoffed and threw his arm over Peter's shoulders, leading him right back into the small shop they'd started in. "I'm a billionaire, kid. I think I can afford to buy you another bowl of ice cream.", he said as he deposited the kid at one of the white, cast-iron parlor tables and made his way back to the counter.

"One more time. Double scoop, double-chocolate-whatever in a cup.", Tony told the man as he chuckled lightly at the situation. The ice cream there wasn't cheap and he was pretty sure his patronage had just paid the stores light-bill at minimum. Not that he was complaining. It was good ice cream and the place was nicely kept. Besides, he had boatloads of money to cover the costs. With that in mind, he strode up to the register and ran his card through the machine. 'Declined' Giving it very little thought, he wiped the magnetic stripe on the back of the card off with a napkin and ran it again. 'Declined'

"There must be some sort of a mistake.", he mumbled under his breath before pulling out another card. 'Declined.' Then he pulled out another, also declined. Followed by at least three more, all instantly declined.

"Looks like you've hit the bottom of the bank account.", the man behind the counter taunted and Tony could feel his heart-beat quickening as his breath grew short.

"No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.", he whispered in horror as he started to rapidly type commands into his phone. While he waited for the information he'd requested to come up, he glanced across the parlor at his smiling companion. Then with a hard swallow, he looked back at his phone. 'Current balance $3.14' All he could do was scream.

...and that's how he woke up. Screaming.

"Are you okay, Mr. Stark?", Peter asked having been startled from his task by the man's shouting.

Having already jerked his neck up off of his arms, Tony wildly searched the room for confirmation that it had all been nothing more than a dream. "Yeah.", he finally panted out, once it had registered that he was in his lab and not in some over-priced ice cream parlor. Then just to be on the safe side, he hurridly checked his bank balance and stocks, finding them to be just as he would have expected. Relief washed over him as he leaned back in his chair. "Oh, thank God."

Giving the man a scrutinizing look, Peter closed the distance between himself and his mentor. "Did you... have a nightmare?", he asked, his brows wrinkled with concern. While the man had told him he'd had nightmares in the past, he'd never actually been there to witness one before.

Tony cut his eyes towards Peter and sighed. The adrenalin was starting to wear off and he was finally beginning to catch his breath. "Something like that.", he responded as he ran his hand over his sweaty forehead. God, it was hot in the lab. He really needed to check the cooling system in there.

"Oh. Well, do you want to talk about it? You always tell me it helps to talk about it.", Peter questioned because that seemed like the right thing to do. As many times as the man had been there for him, he wanted to be there to return the favor.

Now feeling ever so slightly flustered by his reaction, Tony tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling. "It was nothing. I'm fine. I don't even know where that came from.", he honestly replied. He had no idea why his sub-conscious would come up with something like that.

Feeling more intrigued than ever by the man's evasive answers, Peter tilted his head to the side and smiled with curiosity. "If it was nothing, then why can't you tell me?"

While he knew he absolutely could have made something up and that Peter would believe him, he couldn't bring himself to do it. So, as frustrating and marginally embarrassing as it was, he broke down spat out the gist of it. "I went broke okay! I tried to buy something and my card was declined. All of them.", he said with a roll of his eyes that turned to a half-hearted grumble when the kid began to cackle beside him. "Stop laughing! It was... horrifying.", he exclaimed but now that the teenager was laughing he was having a hard time not laughing, himself.

Nodding his head, Peter tried to get a hold of himself. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark it's just that... that's so extra.", he said before losing it and started to laugh all over again.

For a few seconds, Tony let the kid have his fun. Then he peered towards his watch and sighed. He'd not realized how long he'd been asleep. "Oh, hush you.", he began with a smile. "Why did you let me fall asleep on you like that anyway? Look, it's already time for me to drive you home."

Peter shrugged his shoulders and sat down in the chair directly beside his mentor. "I figured if you fell asleep your head on your desk then you must have been pretty tired. Besides, I had it under control. See? They work now.", he said as he snapped his most current web-shooter design onto his wrists and shot and web across the room.

As he watched the web float down from where it hadn't attached its self to anything, Tony smiled with pride and remorse. He was supposed to have helped with that. "Good job, Buddy. I'm still sorry I konked out on you instead of hanging out with you though."

Not feeling the least bit daunted by this mentor's impromptu nap, Peter looked at the man with a huge grin. "It's fine. You can make it up to me by buying me some ice cream on the way home.", he declared with a nod of his head. It was typically pretty easy to get the man to agree to buy him some sort of treat during their trip back to Queens but the way the man was looking at him with wide eyes didn't go unnoticed.

"Nope. No way. No how. I'll buy you absolutely anything but that.", Tony promptly replied and when Peter raised his eyebrows at him he crossed his arms defensively over his chest. "Don't ask and I'll buy you a few slices of pie instead."

______________________________

Author's Note: This story was written at the request of my fifteen-year-old son who wanted to see Tony go broke buying Peter ice cream. Seeing as that was too audacious to be 'true' I made it a nightmare. 😂

#Marvel #MCU #ao3fic #tony stark and peter parker #peter parker #tony stark #attempts at humor #cross-post

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fuck-customers · 5 years

Text

I actually love everything about this

I'm a front end supervisor at a grocery store. We're really bad about cross training in that almost no one knows how to do anything other than cashier, so when the service desk associate has to go on break I have to cover the desk while also attending to my supervisor duties (turning keys, handling any customer issues at the registers, assigning incoming cashiers to registers, making sure everyone is getting their breaks, getting baby formula out of the lock case, etc.). It's only for 15 minutes but the multitasking gets HECTIC and I feel like I'm being pulled in 5 different directions.

I'd just sent the service desk associate on break when this older woman approached the desk with a loaf of bread, hamburger meat, and some paper towels. She puts the stuff down on the desk and asks for some cigarettes. So I infer that she's going to make me ring her out. Great. idk about other stores but at mine the service desk can get super busy so we really don't appreciate people bringing their purchases up expecting to be rung out. Even if they only have a couple things it holds the line up for other people who can only get what they need done at the desk, whereas if you're just buying stuff you can go to a register or self checkout.

So I go to start ringing her out and she tells me that the bread and meat is going to be separate from the paper towels and cigarettes. Great. I ring up the bread and meat and she tries to hand me a debit card so I have to direct her to the pin pad that's right in front of her. She's moving at the rate of a particularly slow snail and inserts it. A man gets in line behind her and I ask him what he needs help with on the off chance it's something simple like him wanting to ask where something is but unfortunately for him he wants to do Western Union so I have to finish with the woman first.

She's having issues at the pin pad because she asked for cash back but is trying to run it as credit. I explain to her that if she wants cash back she needs to put in a pin. She grumbles and starts digging through her purse and eventually pulls out a little notebook. She leisurely pages through it, apparently looking for her pin, no regard whatsoever for the man waiting in line behind her. A cashier calls out for a key so I excuse myself, telling them I'll be right back.

When I get back she's STILL flipping through the notebook. She eventually finds a number and types it in but my screen tells me it's the wrong pin. Great. I tell her it was the wrong pin and to try again. She flips through her notebook some more. Eventually she gives up and says she just won't get cash back, so I have to cancel the payment and have her reinsert. I have to stop her from trying to request cash back again.

It's at this time that the phone rings, which I have to answer. It's a service desk rule that the phones need to be answered even if you're already with a customer. So I pick it up and am thrust into the most excruciating conversation of my life. The woman on the other end launches into this story about how she was in the store earlier that morning and how the service desk associate was just SO RUDE to her!!! I ask her if she'd like to speak to a manager about it and she tells me no, that she already talked to the store manager. But she wants me to pass on a MESSAGE to the service desk associate.

I interrupt her because a) I don't know who the opening service desk associate was and b) I'm not passing on some petty message. I tell her that I'm not sure who she'd encountered that morning (I could easily find out, but she doesn't need to know that) and that if she already talked to the store manager about it that the associate would already have been "counseled", so there was no point. She's not taking no for an answer and just keeps talking. "I just want you to tell her that I talked to the store manager and HE said that I get to use the phone WHENEVER I WANT and that I don't have to WAIT IN LINE or ASK normally I only have to use it once to call my mother but sometimes like today I have to use it more than once because there was something wrong with the car's tire and I don't like that she was RUDE to me and I'm ALLOWED to use the phone I just want you to TELL HER THAT!" And that is actually a highly condensed version of what she said.

I'm dying because this woman is just spewing this never ending crap, the most boring story I've ever heard, and it sounds like a verbal run-on sentence because she never pauses (how does she breathe?) and I have absolutely no intention of passing on her stupid message to anyone. I'm also dying because the slowpoke woman in front of me is clearly super displeased that she's having to wait on this and it's fucking hilarious. I'm on the verge of laughing. She's getting a taste of her own medicine and it's oh so sweet.

I can't get the phone woman to stop and at some point the service desk associate comes back from her break. She starts helping the Western Union guy (thank GOD because that poor man did nothing wrong). She can't help the woman because the transaction is on my terminal and we have rules™ about that (actually I probably could have gotten her to finish the woman's transaction first but fuck her tbh). And unfortunately for the woman, the phone doesn't stretch far enough for me to me to try to deal with her transaction at the same time. I glance over at the screen and see that the card went through but that it looks like she'd accidentally changed the amount to something that didn't cover the entire total (of course she did), so some money was still due.

I'm finding the situation hilarious but I also am 100% genuinely trying to get the lady on the phone to stop. I ask her AGAIN if she wants to talk to a manager and she declines. I straight up tell her that I'm really busy, I have a line forming (someone else had gotten behind the woman and my coworker was still busy doing the Western Union transaction), that I'm not going to pass on her message because it would be unprofessional considering she'd already talked to the store manager about this. The piece de resistance? She's like, "Oh, well do you want me to call back later when it's not busy?"

This woman is the personification of obtuseness. The patron saint. Monuments should be erected in her honor. I realize I'm going to have to stop pretending to be polite and I tell her in no uncertain terms that I am absolutely not passing on any message to the opening service desk associate, that she can talk to a manager if she wants (she doesn't), but that I need to GO and have a nice day! And I hang up. Like, sorry not sorry but you're being ridiculous. From what I could gather this woman likes to just barge up to the service desk and help herself to our phones without asking first which is RUDE AS FUCK so I don't fault my coworker at all for giving her some flak.

I apologize to the woman in front of me who's been waiting, even though I believe she got exactly what she deserved. Came and held up someone else with her bullshit, got the same thing in return. I lay it on thick though, telling her I am SO sorry and that I just couldn't get that woman off the phone! I get her to pay for the rest of her first transaction and ring out her second and she's on her way, just as inconvenienced as she felt comfortable inconveniencing others. If you want one-on-one hand holding attention from a cashier while paying for your groceries you need to go to a register, booboo. It would have been faster for you. The service desk is for handling specific types of transactions and issues. It's not here so you can avoid waiting in line at a register.

🍒 Cherry on top: She ended up calling the store a couple hours later to complain about me. Told the service desk associate that I shouldn't have answered the phone and that I was rude for making her wait. Literally the best way this story could have ended.

#submissions #fuck customers #cashier problems #happy ending #retail justice #submission

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xbaepsae · 5 years

Text

heartbeat | part two (m)

“You want to be angry with him, hate him; but you can’t. And why is this? It’s stupid, but the truth—because your heart still steadily beats for him, despite you not wanting it to.”

[musician!yoongi x reader | jeongguk x reader]

genre: angst, smut

word count: 13.5k

a/n: & here is part twoooo. the final part of heatbeat. going back and rereading this series has made me get the feels all over again lmao. i hope you guys enjoy this and thank you to everyone who left messages on part one--they were all really sweet! xoxo

part one | part two

To say that confusion plagues your mind would be a total understatement. Because honestly, what the hell was your life?

You think about the cards fate has dealt you and you’re speechless; life was absolutely cruel and merciless in the way it had treated you. First of all, you were cursed to love someone who did not love you back. But secondly, you learned to move on and you met someone else who made you smile. However, and thirdly, life wasn’t done with you yet and now has you questioning everything you’ve believed for yourself.

Although you aren’t sure about many things, one certain thing is that you love Jeongguk—you really do. He is the sun and so, so good to you. But as present as the sun is in your life, there is a shadow that is Yoongi. And with him, comes the love that you thought you had buried long ago.

It has resurfaced once again.

***

“What time do you get off tonight?”

You turn around and see a disheveled Jeongguk standing in the doorway of your bedroom. As he rubs the sleep out of his eyes, you can’t help but briefly think about how adorable he is. “My shift is short today; I get off around four.”

He nods, “Want to grab an early dinner?”

“Don’t you have a job of your own?” you muse, reaching to grab your house keys.

“All I do is program computers and shit all day,” he says taking steps closer to you. “Besides, I’d rather hang out with my favorite person.”

You smile when he’s close enough to wrap his arms around your waist. “And who might that be?”

He smiles down at you and leans to press a chaste kiss to your lips, “Her name is y/n, have you met her?”

“Lucky girl,” you say and look at the clock to see that you’re already running late. “I’ve got to go. But if I see her, I’ll make sure to let her know.”

Jeongguk kisses you one last time before letting you walk out the door.

Your walk to the music store doesn’t take very long and you make it there just as your shift is about to start. Clocking in, you greet your manager before walking out into the front of the store. There, you begin to organize the various music racks and add the newest CDs in the standing displays. You’re nearly done when you hear the door chime open. Looking in the direction of the door, you smile widely.

“Hello, welcome—” you begin to greet whoever walked in, but you suddenly stop and find that the words are lost to you when you see a flash of pink hair.

“Y/n?”

You struggle to breathe properly, “Y-Yoongi.”

He lets the door close behind him and walks closer to you. “What are you doing here?”

“I work here.” You point to the nametag on your shirt for him and offer an awkward smile. He stares at your nametag for a brief second before raising his eyes back to yours.

“Have you been working here long?”

“Just a little over a year,” you say, playing with the album in your hands. “What are you doing here?”

“I just came to buy a few of my albums,” he says, and your immediate response is to ask why. “Because everywhere I go I like to buy a few, sign them, and give them to fans who maybe don’t have the money to purchase one. You know, especially since those fans used to be me.”

You watch as Yoongi walks to the alphabetized racks and grabs every one of his CD’s off the shelf. He walks to the checkout desk and you follow, ringing up the albums. You let him know the total price and he hands you the money to pay for it. Throughout this entire exchange, neither of you really talk. And although you don’t know what to say, you wonder what is rolling through his mind right now.

“Can I have a sharpie?” he asks and you rummage through a few containers and hand him one.

As he signs each album with his stage name Suga, you can’t help but ask, “Why are you here?”

He stops writing, “I’m buying—”

“No,” you interrupt, “why are you here? Why are you home?”

Yoongi caps the sharpie and looks at you, “Why? Am I not allowed to come back home?”

He holds your gaze for what seems like an eternity. And under his scrutiny, you feel so incredibly exposed. Yoongi has always been able to read you well; from all the years of your friendship, no one knows you better than him. Whether that was a good or bad thing, you really didn’t know anymore.

“That night in the club,” you begin and his eyes darken, “you said that you missed me, is that true?”

“I told you it was true,” he sighs.

“Then why didn’t you call me?”

You don’t remember how many times you asked him that question when you saw him for the first time again, but you just wanted to know exactly why.

He runs a hand over his face, “Because I was a coward, is that what you want me to say?”

“But you promised me,” you say through shaky lips.

Yoongi looks away from you, down to the CD in front of him. “I’m not proud of many decisions in my life, but I’m not lying when I say I regret not calling or coming back to see you.”

And as much as you try to suppress the growing pressure in your chest, you struggle and sense the overbearing urge for tears to spill over. You clench your hands into tight fists and feel the beginnings of deep crescent indentations in your palms.

You wanted to believe Yoongi, you really did. But you remember how hurt and depressed you were when he left; it’s an experience that you’ve tried to put behind you, but it never seems to go away. His departure from your life has changed you immensely, and you aren’t the same person he once knew before.

“You can say that you miss me all you want, but I wasn’t kidding when I said that I’ve moved on. I really did get tired of waiting.” Yikes. Even your own words sound harsh to your ears.

He looks back up, jaw tightening. “Yeah, I saw you leave with that guy.”

“He’s my boyfriend,” you correct him.

“I thought you said that you loved me,” Yoongi says, slamming the permanent marker down on the counter.

“I thought you said that you didn’t feel the same way.” And your words cause him to stop, taking a step away from you. Just as Yoongi moves away from you, you hear footsteps coming close and you turn to see your manager. You bow immediately, preparing to be scolded.

“Y/n, what is going on out here?” your manager asks, crossing his arms. But before you can explain the situation, Yoongi speaks up.

“It’s my fault, sir,” he says with a bow. “Y/n didn’t do anything wrong.”

Recognition spreads across your manager’s face, “Aren’t you Suga?”

“I am,” Yoongi nods and holds out a hand, “nice to meet you.”

“I can’t believe Suga is here in my store,” your manager looks down to see the signed CD’s in front of him, “and you’re signing albums!”

Yoongi smiles, “It’s nothing, really. I actually like to purchase my albums and give them out.”

“It’s everything!” your manager smiles before turning to you. “Y/n, you can leave.”

Your mouth drops, “What?”

“I think you have caused Suga enough trouble for the day.”

This is unbelievable. What did you do wrong? If anything, he should ask Yoongi to leave since he was distracting you from work. “Then, who is going to work?”

“I’m thinking a last minute meet-and-greet, what do you think Suga?” your manager looks at Yoongi expectantly. But you see that his eyes have gone wide. “Therefore, I can handle everything.”

“Wouldn’t a meet-and-greet mean needing more help?” Yoongi suddenly asks. “I mean, you can’t possibly do everything on your own.”

For a moment, you think that maybe his mind has been changed; however, your manager just waves him off, “Nonsense, I have a new hire coming in today around two.”

“Is that why my hours have been shit?” For the past month or so, you’ve started noticing that you haven’t been working as much as before. You thought that maybe it was because business was just slow, but now you know the real reason.

“Your per cap sales have been declining lately y/n…”

You nearly fall back from this news. Ever since you started working here, you have given it your all and this was how your manager repaid you? How unfair. And now you were being replaced with a new employee. Your hands begin to tighten again before a string of words leave your lips. “I quit.”

“Y/n!” Yoongi calls your name, sounding concerned. But you don’t even look at him. Instead, you rip the nametag off your shirt and drop it on the floor before running to the back to grab your things.

With your bag in your hands, you briskly walk towards the front doors and push it open. You are greeted with bright sunshine, but you feel like shit. Pulling out your phone you press the messenger app and begin typing.

10:58 AM | You: i just quit lol

Within seconds, you see the text bubble pop up.

10:58 AM | Jeongguk: WHAT

10:59 AM | You: long story…heading home

10:59 AM | Jeongguk: want me to head over?

10:59 AM | Jeongguk: i can bring some take out

You smile at his message.

10:59 AM | You: nah it’s okay

11:00 AM | You: you’re probably busy

11:00 AM | You: come over after work

11:01 AM | Jeongguk: okay babe. hope you’re okay

And then he proceeds to send a bunch of emojis that have you laughing. Your only reply to them is a smile and you stick your phone into your bag.

You find yourself waiting at a stoplight when it suddenly hits you: you don’t have a job anymore. This was definitely reckless and totally unlike you—at least, the person you were trying to be now. You haven’t always had your life figured out, but at least you kind of had a direction you wished to go in. Now, you were simply headed into the unknown. The light is still red when you suddenly feel a hand press onto your shoulder. You turn around and realize that Yoongi is inches away from you.

“Why did you quit?” he asks, breathing heavily.

Your eyes are wide, but you just shrug. “It just felt right, I guess.”

“God, y/n,” he sighs, dropping his hand.

“Aren’t you supposed to be there? I mean, you know for the impromptu meet-and-greet.”

Yoongi scratches the back of his ear, “I may or may not have cursed that guy out for letting you just walk away.”

“You did what?” you ask, not really understanding him.

“Let’s just say, I’m never going back to that music store again,” he shakes his head. “I also kind of stole these.”

You look down and see a few albums in Yoongi’s other hand. At first, you want to remind him that he already paid for his albums; but then you realize the albums aren’t his own—they’re from different artists and were on the standing displays. Suddenly, you don’t know what comes over you but you burst into laughter. In fact, you laugh so hard you nearly fall over onto the pavement. But fortunately for you, your body doesn’t hit the floor; Yoongi catches you before you can.

“I’ve missed your laugh, y/n,” he says, eyes boring into yours.

Your face flushes and words are lost to you. And you swear Yoongi is leaning closer to you, but he freezes when a phone begins ringing. He pulls away and you realize that it’s your own ringtone and frantically search your bag. Once you find it, you realize Jeongguk is calling you.

“Jeongguk?” you answer and Yoongi visibly tenses up in front of you.

“Y/n, hey. Are you home yet?”

You scrunch your eyebrows once, “No…not yet. Why?”

“Well,” he breathes, “you said we should just meet later, but I couldn’t help it.”

“What are you talking about?” you ask.

“Turn around.”

You hesitate, not so sure what he means; but you do end up turning around and see Jeongguk standing on the other side of the street. He drops the phone from his ear and waves to you with a bright smile. And although you should be mad that he’s ditching work to see you, you smile back anyway.

The street lights end up turning green and he jogs over to you. Once he reaches you, he pulls you into a hug and presses a kiss against your forehead. Warmth fills your insides immediately at his touch and you squeeze him back, but you’re pulled back into reality when someone coughs behind you. You move away from Jeongguk and look at Yoongi; in a short span of time, his eyes have narrowed into slits and his jaw has tensed up.

“Jeongguk this is Yoongi…” you hesitate, “an old friend.” At that moment, you realize you’ve never mentioned Yoongi to Jeongguk before. “And Yoongi this Jeongguk, my boyfriend.”

Both men look at one another before Jeongguk’s eyes round in interest, “Hey, aren’t you that rapper Suga?”

“Yeah,” Yoongi’s body becomes a little less tense. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Jeongguk replies, looping an arm around your waist. He looks down at you with a smile, “Ready to go?”

You blink, “Sure.”

With that, Jeongguk tells Yoongi goodbye and pulls you away. You look back at Yoongi once and see that he has already begun walking in the opposite direction. So, you look forward and try to shake this entire situation away. But if you would have looked back again, you would’ve seen Yoongi stop walking and turn around only to meet the gaze of Jeongguk.

If you would have looked back again, you would’ve seen the two of them share a look that screamed whatever just happened between the three of you, was only the beginning.

***

Jeongguk ends up taking you to his place, where you know for a fact that there is no food at all. The reason you had this knowledge was because if he was hungry, he ordered pizza or came over to your apartment. He didn’t cook very much, so why need food at all?

“Damn, we should’ve grabbed food on the way here,” you say as you step through his front door.

“We can grab food later,” he says, throwing his keys onto a table next to the door.

You shut the door behind you with a nod and proceed to take your shoes off. Just as you kick your shoes to the side and place your bag next to Jeongguk’s keys, he picks you up as if you weigh nothing and throws you over his shoulder.

“What are you doing?” you ask, eye-to-eye with his ass—it was a very nice ass, by the way.

But your boyfriend doesn’t say a thing and before you can become too lightheaded, you’re suddenly flipped onto his bed. You lean up on your forearms and blow a few strands of hair out of your face. And as you do so, you notice Jeongguk leaning down to press a kiss against your lips. It’s a bit unexpected, but not unwanted; you respond back and move your lips against his own.

He lifts his lips off of yours after a bit and begins trailing kisses down your chin, to your jaw, and then to your neck. Jeongguk begins to softly suck on the skin below your ear before whispering, “I want you.”

And although his voice does send your body into a frenzy, you’re confused. “It’s literally noon, Jeongguk…and you’re horny?”

He doesn’t say a thing, only softly nuzzling his head against the crook of your neck.

“Jeongguk,” you say his name again, “what the hell?”

With your words, he stops and roughly snaps his head up. The sultry eyes that had stared at you just moments before have now narrowed, becoming closed off and cold. Jeongguk separates himself from you, moving a few steps from his bed. This newfound space allows you to sit up and fix your shirt that has unknowingly slipped up a bit. As you fix your hair, you realize that Jeongguk is still giving you that look. You ask him what’s wrong and he rolls his eyes at you.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” he scoffs. “You should be asking yourself that.”

You scrunch your eyebrows. “What?”

“Why don’t you want to have sex?” he asks, crossing his arms.

“Like I said, it’s noon…and I’m hungry,” you widen your eyes, not understanding him right now. Jeongguk and you have never argued about being intimate with one another, so you’re confused as to why it has suddenly become an issue.

“Is this because of Yoongi?”

Now your eyes are really wide, “What the fuck, Jeongguk?”

“How do you even know him?”

You can’t believe that he is really bringing Yoongi up right now. “I told you that he was an old friend of mine.”

Jeongguk’s hard gaze doesn’t waiver, “Then why have you never talked about him before? I mean, I’ve told you about all my friends. I figured you would tell me about yours too, considering the fact that he’s kind of famous.”

“I haven’t talked to him in years; why would I bring him up?”

“I don’t know, y/n,” he begins to raise his voice, “I just want us to be honest with one another.”

You clench your fist into the bedsheets. “There’s nothing to say.”

“Really?” Jeongguk stares at you like he knows you’re hiding something from him, and you can feel your heart pounding against your ribcage. He needs to let this subject go.

“I’ve already argued with Yoongi today, I don’t need shit from you too.”

“Oh,” you can hear the mockery in Jeongguk’s voice, “so the two of you have that close of a relationship.”

“Why do you even care?” you practically yell, feeling frustrated.

Not only are you becoming increasingly mad at him, but you’re also mad at yourself. Why can’t you just tell Jeongguk everything? What is holding you back? Everything was becoming too much, and you don’t know how much longer you can suppress the growing turmoil inside of you.

“Because you’re my girlfriend,” he says it like it’s so simple, and it honestly should be. You don’t know why it feels so complicated to you.

“Then you should care about me, and not us having sex or Yoongi.”

His jaw visibly tightens, “Well, that’s kind of hard when I saw the way he looked at you.”

Your breathing stops momentarily; he saw that? When? You think back to your interactions with Yoongi and when Jeongguk could’ve possibly seen anything, and you realize he must be talking about when he met up with the two of you on the street earlier. And suddenly, you feel embarrassed at how wrong things must’ve looked to him—how close Yoongi had been to you, and all.

“It was nothing,” you say, getting off the bed and walking out of the room.

Jeongguk follows you into the living area. “It wasn’t just nothing, y/n.”

“Let it go, Jeongguk.”

“I’m not fucking blind, y/n,” his voice getting louder by the minute.

“I said let it go!”

“It wasn’t nothing because it’s the same way I look at you.”

You stop where you are and nearly fall to the ground at his words. You feel dizzy, disorientated; like you can’t see anymore and the world has just collapsed onto your shoulders. You can barely breathe. You can’t think. It’s like everything you have been keeping buried inside has suddenly exploded.

Silence seems to pass infinitely between you and Jeongguk, neither one of you know what to say. But you do turn around and see all the emotions that pass through his eyes—anger, confusion, hurt. And you can’t begin to catch them all.

“I…” you don’t even know how to begin to explain everything. You bring a hand up to swipe a few loose strands of hair behind your ears and notice something hot and wet pooling beneath your eyes and down your cheeks. How pathetic of you to be crying right now.

“What is he to you, y/n?” Jeongguk’s eyes are wide, voice demanding to be answered.

You try to find the words to say that Yoongi means nothing to you anymore, but they’re completely lost to you. Besides, it would be a lie to say that you no longer harbored feelings for the man who once broke your heart. Everything was too confusing and you just don’t know what to do. So you run. Slipping your shoes on, you grab your things and bolt out of Jeongguk’s apartment. And as you run, he calls out your name but you don’t stop to hear what he has to say or if he’s even following you.

As you make it onto the street, you’ve nearly forgotten the reason you ended up there in the first place: you don’t have a job anymore. And the reality of how fast everything has changed in the last few hours is enough to make you curse the world and horrible it is.

***

You don’t answer any of the phone calls from Jeongguk.

But it’s not like you really even know if he calls anyway, especially since your phone ran out of battery two—maybe three; you’ve lost track—days ago and you haven’t bothered to charge it. If you were being honest with yourself, you haven’t been doing much of anything at all. Day after day, you find yourself stuck in bed. You can’t remember what day it even is, how much time has passed—or the last time you even showered. It’s like you have lost all motivation to do anything, and that includes talking to your boyfriend…was he even that to you anymore?

From the closed door of your bedroom, and underneath all your covers, you swear you hear knocking at the door at least three times a day. Do you get up to answer it though? You don’t budge a muscle. Although you don’t see who’s at the door, a part of you knows that it’s Jeongguk; however, you can’t bring yourself to face him.

You feel stupid, really. Mainly because somewhere in your mind, you thought that you could just live your life with Jeongguk. It seemed simple in your head; he obviously loved you and you felt the same way—so why was it suddenly not what you had previously imagined? This game of house the two of you have been playing for the past few months did not include Min Yoongi walking back into your world.

Yeah, you feel really stupid. And you’re such a coward. Yoongi had called himself a coward earlier, but now you believe that perhaps you’ve been the real coward all along.

Also, it didn’t help that you quit your job at the music store—that move was even stupider. Now, you don’t have a thing to do; it was both a great feeling and the absolute worst thing ever.

“Great job at fucking everything up, y/n,” you say to no one but yourself.

Although life was currently pretty sucky, you had much to weigh on your plate. You kind of need another job; you had some money saved up, but that can only last so long. Also, you realize that you can’t stay cooped up in your room forever. Eventually, you have to talk to Jeongguk again and sort out what happened.

So you finally pull yourself out of bed and plug your phone to its charger. Walking to the bathroom, you switch on the lights and proceed to strip out of your clothes and hop into the shower. You let the hot water wash away whatever has been plaguing your mind these last few days. And when you’re done, you get out and brush your teeth. As you do this, you stare at yourself through the fogged mirror; despite being in bed for the past however long, a person with dark eye bags stares back at you.

Who have you become?

You barely recognize this person you see in the mirror.

But before you can stare too long at yourself, you hear a series of rings and vibrations coming from your room. Your phone has turned back on and those are all the messages and missed calls you’ve received.

Walking back to where your phone lays on the floor, you sit down and pick it up—that’s when you notice that it’s just past eight in the morning. And this morning alone, Jeongguk has called you five times. You scroll through the older notifications and see that he’s called and texted every day since you ran out of his apartment, which was almost five days ago. Fuck—you were MIA longer than you originally thought.

You click through the messages and notice that they’re all pretty much the same.

11:08 PM | Jeongguk: i’m sorry

11:09 PM | Jeongguk: call me back

12:01 AM | Jeongguk: i miss you

02:22 AM | Jeongguk: i fucked up

All the messages revolve around those four phrases and you’re speechless for a second. It seems like there are hundreds and hundreds of messages from him. You switch to the phone app and realize that there are equally the same amount of voicemails waiting for you.

You listen to a few of them before deciding that you should probably just call him back. The phone rings only twice before he picks up, “Y/n?”

His voice sounds melancholic and rushed, and your heart aches a bit at the fact that you’ve hurt him.

“Y/n?” he repeats your name, much softer this time.

You clear your throat before answering, “Hey.”

“I was beginning to think you’d never call.”

“I’m sorry,” you apologize, bringing a band up to run through your damp hair. “I didn’t know what to do.”

“You don’t have to apologize for anything!” he immediately says. “I shouldn’t have brought that subject up—you don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want me knowing.”

Fuck, why is he like this? Always so good to you. “No, I should tell you things like that. I was wrong for not saying anything and overreacting.”

“Forgive me?” he asks you.

“Of course,” you reply, “the real question is: will you forgive me?”

And for some reason, you know he’s smiling on the other side of the phone. “Always; I love you.”

Your heart skips a beat, “Love you too.”

“Hey, meet me for coffee in an hour?”

“Sure,” you say, nodding even though he can’t see you.

He suggests a café that you’re familiar with, which you agree to meet at, and then says he’ll see you later. You return the sentiment before hanging up the phone. And after you do, you drop the device from your ear and release a breath you didn’t even realize you were holding in.

You take a minute to compose yourself before getting up. As you do this, you suddenly remember you’re still only wrapped in a towel. You quickly move towards your closet and open it up. Jeongguk wanted to meet in an hour, which really didn’t give you much time to get ready at all. You get the chance to glance through all the various clothing items in your closet once before you hear your phone vibrate again.

A curse leaves your lips at the fact that Jeongguk probably texted you again. Did he change his mind? Did he still want to be mad at you? Rushing back to your phone, you pick it up and the name that lights up your screen isn’t the person you thought. It was actually a text from Yoongi, which makes you want to curse even louder.

You contemplate about what to do before deciding to see what his text says. It was shocking enough that he even still had your number saved onto his phone. You thought that after he made the move to Seoul, he would’ve gotten a new phone and number. That would’ve made you feel better about the fact that he never contacted you. Pushing past that fact, you swipe at his name and read over his text.

08:36 AM | Yoongi: hey y/n, idk if this is still your number…but if it is, watch channel 4 tonight around 9 if you want a better explanation than the shitty ones i’ve given you.

A better explanation.

It would be a lie to say you weren’t even vaguely interested in whatever Yoongi was trying to pull by sending this text because you really want to hear what he has to say. Even though you keep questioning why and begging for answers that aren’t being given, a part of you has already forgiven him for doing all of this to you. You want to be angry with him, hate him; but you can’t. And why is this? It’s stupid, but the truth—because your heart still steadily beats for him, despite you not wanting it to.

***

This feels so weird. Your nerves are buzzing and you can’t seem to stop fidgeting with the cup of coffee in your hands.

The fact that you’re even nervous annoys you; this is Jeongguk—the person who has seen all sides of you. You shouldn’t feel so anxious, but you are and you don’t know what to do with yourself. Checking your phone, you notice that it’s just a bit past nine-thirty; which is the time Jeongguk wanted to meet up.

You arrived at the quaint little café earlier than you were supposed to, ordering two coffees and settling yourself in a small corner of the room. Business is relatively slow; there isn’t anyone else here besides you and the barista—except for the random person that walks in, ordering a coffee to-go. So you sit there and stir your coffee, waiting for Jeongguk to walk in. And every time the door chimes open, your eyes fly to where bits of sunlight pool in and expect to see him there but he isn’t.

Soon, nine-thirty becomes nine-forty-five, and nine-forty-five becomes nearly ten o’clock. And he still isn’t here. You’re becoming more and more restless at this point.

Then, your phone rings and Jeongguk’s name lights up your screen.

“Where are you?” are the first words out of your mouth as you accept his call.

You hear him sigh on the other side, “I’m sorry.”

“What?” you aren’t sure you’re hearing him right.

“Something came up and I can’t make it to the café.”

Jeongguk begins to explain that he has to go to work to fix an issue, which means you’ve been waiting at this café all this time for no reason. He apologizes profusely, promising to meet you another time. “Maybe tomorrow?”

“Sure,” you try to force a smile through your words, although you can feel your body trembling a bit. “That’s fine.”

“I’m sorry, y/n,” he apologizes again before hanging up, and you’re left feeling even more alone than before.

You set your phone down and bury your face into your hands. This day was not turning out the way you had hoped. You imagined yourself spending the day with Jeongguk, explaining your entire situation to him. And in your head, he takes the whole conversation well and everything is okay. But now—now you don’t know if you’re going to get to explain yourself at all.

The anxiety you felt just minutes ago is now replaced with a tinge of annoyance—you’re annoyed at Jeongguk, but mostly at yourself for finally getting out of bed and coming here only to be disappointed.

After finishing up your coffee, you throw the second wasted cup away and bid the barista goodbye before walking out of the café. You could stay annoyed and disappointed in that café, but the day was rather beautiful so you decide to leave.

Maybe the day will turn for the better.

***

You end up taking a walk by the river for a while before going into the city to scout for new jobs.

Although you don’t find many openings that interest you, you pick up a few brochures detailing a life abroad which you do find rather intriguing.

By the time you return home, the sun is just beginning to set and you feel much better than when your day first started. You make yourself dinner and then settle yourself on your couch, switching your tv on. That’s when you remember it’s Tuesday, the day you and Jeongguk usually dedicate as movie night.

This thought pangs you a bit and you briefly consider calling him, but you stop yourself and pick a random movie to watch instead. As the movie rolls through the previews, you take a moment to scroll through your phone and delete all the notifications from Jeongguk that you haven’t touched. And as you’re about to delete the ones from today, you see Yoongi’s name in bold and remember that he wanted you to do something.

Checking the time, you’re relieved to see that it’s five till nine and you have time. You change the TV from movies to regular cable and scroll until you find the one he was talking about. And when you find it, your eyes go wide and you immediately turn the volume up.

It was a music show in your city that many other famous artists have gone and performed on, and now Yoongi was a guest. You vaguely remember him talking about the show years ago, and how one day he wanted to perform on the same stage as so many have before him. The fact that he has achieved this brings a smile to your face.

Is this what he wanted you to see? How leaving for Seoul was actually the best for him?

Suddenly, you feel a bit selfish for your thoughts. All you’ve ever wanted was for Yoongi to reach his dreams; how could you be mad at him for leaving to pursue that?

You watch as he lifts the mic to his mouth and begins to speak, “Good evening, everyone.”

The audience in that room cheers for him and he smiles wide, the curve of his lips revealing his gummy smile that you haven’t seen in forever. You can’t help but smile wider too, the joy blooming from him is contagious.

“I’m going to be performing a new song,” the crowd screams louder, “and I wrote it for an old friend of mine…who means the world to me. I was just bad at expressing how I felt, and I hope you will forgive me.”

As Yoongi says this, he looks straight into the camera and in that instant, you can’t look away.

“I’m also going to invite a singer because you know, I rap,” Yoongi says as someone you don’t recognize walks on the stage, settling into the far left. “This is Seokjin, a friend I made in Seoul.”

You watch the young man, who has wide eyes and an angelic smile, wave to the crowd. And then the music begins.

“I empty my drink but it gets filled with loneliness. I should’ve just given in, why did I argue all the time?” Yoongi raps, voice filled with passion and you can’t look away from him. He has you trapped in his spell. “I can only see you. I can only see you alone.”

Is Yoongi talking about…you?

“Hold me tight, hug me. Can you trust me? Can you trust me? Can you trust me?” Seokjin sings. “Without you, I can’t breathe. I’m nothing without you.”

And immediately you flashback to reckless eighteen-year-old you running down by a bridge, with Yoongi trailing behind you. He was laughing his ass off at you and god, who even remembers what bullshit you were spewing. But what do you remember is that you wanted to feel the breeze in your hair. That meant you had to climb on the railing of the bridge, yet you hesitated.

“I’ll help you,” Yoongi offered and you slowly climbed up.

“I better not fall off into my death, Min Yoongi.”

“Can you trust me?” he whispered as he clutched you tightly. And you also remember that you felt extremely flushed at that time, warmth pooling through you from his touch.

“I think of you without stopping. I hate it all, I hate every single day. It makes me cry,” Yoongi raps and your mind focuses back on the present time.

For some unknown reason, you begin to feel tears pool underneath your lashes. Were you seriously crying right now? It was just the lyrics that are making you emotional…right?

“If there’s a chance, I’ll catch you. I’m running, it’s starting, count down. I’m ready to be cut by your rose-like embrace,” he continues and your heart is pounding against your chest.

As much as you want to, you can’t tear your eyes away from him. Even when Seokjin sings, you can’t spare him a single glance. Yoongi has your full attention and you breathe in his words like they’re a drug.

“But I can’t let you go. Don’t talk, don’t leave—just quietly hold me,” he practically whispers these words out.

You listen as Seokjin finishes up the song with a final, so I can feel you, hold me before the stage goes black. Immediately, the crowd erupts in cheers and screams. Tears are still streaming down your face and you can feel a sob threatening to make its way out of you. Gradually, the lights flicker back on, and Yoongi and his friend bow once before exiting the stage. Quickly, you wipe the tears from your face and search frantically for your phone. You have to call him. Now. Dialing his number, it rings a few times before he breathlessly answers.

“Y/n?”

You swallow, “Was that song for me?”

He sighs, and it sounds more like relief than anything. “You saw it.”

“Yoongi…” you start, “I don’t even know what to say.”

“The fact that you watched it means everything to me,” he tells you. “I’ve never been very good at explaining myself. Music is what I know best.”

You understand that now. “I’m sorry.” For being so angry, for not listening.

“I had to perform that song before I went back to Seoul,” Yoongi says. “It’s you, y/n. It has always been you.”

“You’re going back?” It feels like you just got him back, and he was leaving you already. But you guess Min Yoongi was never really yours to begin with.

“Tomorrow.”

You’re quiet at this news. Yoongi just spilled everything through a song and he was leaving like he never came home at all.

“Come see me tonight before I go back,” he breaks your thoughts and your breath hitches. “Please.”

And you don’t know what makes you say it, but you do. “Okay.”

***

Come to the old studio.

After you showered and made sure you looked decent, you walked somewhere you never thought you would be again—Namjoon’s studio. Since Yoongi left, you haven’t had a reason to be here. But despite the time away, you still know exactly where it is; the location is forever ingrained in your memory.

Walking past the ramen shop and down the stairs, you stand in front of the studio and breathe once before pushing the doors that are never locked open. Inside, the studio looks the same as it always has—that dingy old couch still sits by the window. The only thing missing is Namjoon. For a brief moment, you wonder how the guy is doing but that thought fades when you hear someone shuffling in another room.

You follow the noise and find Yoongi in his old room. The second you step through the door, he looks up and stops whatever he is doing.

“What are you doing?” you can’t help the small smile that lights your face.

“Just looking through old stuff,” he says, mimicking your smile. “You actually came.”

You walk closer to him. “Of course.”

“I just—I didn’t expect you to. You know, since you have a boy—”

“Did you mean everything you said in that song?” you cut him off. You watch as Yoongi sets down the papers in his hands and looks into your eyes.

He nods once, “All of it.”

And then before you know it, you close the distance between the two of you and kiss him. You can feel your heart pulsating through your chest.

With Yoongi’s lips against yours, you’re on top of the world—floating above the clouds to pure and utter ecstasy. He responds the second you make contact with him, magnets seeming to pull the two of you closer together. With gentle hands, he brings one to cup your face and another to curve around your hips.

And he begins to push you backwards, until you feel a wall pressed firmly behind you. Here, you move your hands from his waist, feeling the hard ridges of his body, up to his pink hair. You fist his soft strands in-between your fingers, tugging gently; and when he moans, you can’t help but smile into the kiss. Yoongi lifts his lips off of yours, letting you breathe for a moment, before leaning further down to press kisses to your jaw and neck.

“I could fucking kiss you, everywhere, forever,” Yoongi breathlessly whispers against your skin, raising the hairs on your body.

All you can feel is heat, all over your body. His words ignite this flame inside of you and it’s incomparable to anything you’ve felt before. You’ve shared this experience with many others before him, but you never thought that you’d actually be here with Yoongi right now and it’s already better than you’ve imagined.

And you’ve imagined it a lot.

He continues to press the slightest of kisses all along your skin while you become putty in his hands. You feel his lips everywhere, until he reaches the top edges of your shirt—there, his fingers maneuver their way down your body and underneath your shirt. The fabric lifts over your head and falls to the floor. And with only your bra covering the top half of your body, Yoongi begins to piano his fingers all over your abdomen; wherever his fingers graze, his lips do the same.

You expect him to suddenly take you there against the wall, it’s an image that has burned hotly in your fantasy, but he doesn’t move; he just stares at you. His eyes leave a trail as they begin slowly from your toes all the way to your eyes. And the look Yoongi gives you makes you feel wanted; he looks at you like you’re Aphrodite herself. The blush that suddenly pinks your cheeks can’t be stopped and he presses another kiss to your lips before leading you away from the wall and to the black loveseat further into the room.

He sets you down on your back and proceeds to take his clothes off. As Yoongi lifts his shirt over his head, you see black lettering etched onto the skin above his left hip bone and you gasp. “You have a tattoo?”

You can barely make out what it says, the majority of the tattoo still concealed by the rest of his clothes.

Yoongi chuckles, pulling the waistband of his underwear down. “For the last year, yeah.”

Sitting up to get a closer look, your fingers lightly press against his skin, and your eyes narrow at the tattoo. They were numbers, and you read them out loud. “What does it mean?”

Looking up at Yoongi, he smiles a bit sheepishly before bringing a hand to caress your face. “It’s kind of silly, really.”

“What?” you smile. “Tell me.”

“Well…” he bites his lower lip, “these numbers represent my heartrate…how fast my heart beats…when I think of you.”

Your mouth drops. “Really?”

He nods, “I had to go to the doctors a few months after I got to Seoul, nothing serious, but they ran some tests and had me react to different words—like sadness or music. And when they said the word love, I immediately pictured you in my mind and,” he laughs, “my numbers were off the charts.”

And you suddenly don’t know why, but you cry. You just can’t believe that this has been bottled up inside of Yoongi for so long, and you never had a single clue. He wipes your tears away and presses more kisses against your lips. You both take the opportunity to peel the rest of your clothing off—your jeans become discarded on the floor and he languidly slides your underwear down your legs. The entire time he does this, his eyes don’t dare to stray from yours and you swear that nothing this hot as ever happened to you.

“Yoongi,” you whisper his name once you’re completely bare to him. A part of you should feel awkward being so naked, but you’re strangely not.

You undo his jeans and slide them down his legs and then pull his hard member out, eagerly taking him into your mouth. Yoongi hisses at the way your lips envelop the tip of his cock, gently licking and sucking. “Fuck, y/n.”

This goes on for a while before he hastily pushes you back down and whispers that it’s his turn to please you. The moment his lips latch onto your sensitive clit, you nearly scream. Your hands immediately reach for his hair, moving your hips against his tongue for the most amount of pressure you can get. Moans leave your lips like a song and that only pushes Yoongi to work his mouth harder and faster along your core. But just before you topple over the edge into paradise, he stops and raises his head.

Your juices coat his lips and it’s the most arousing sight you’ve ever seen.

His lips find your own again and you taste yourself, pushing him closer to you. The two of you mold your bodies together until you can feel his erection graze your stomach. Yoongi lifts his body off of you for a moment, sliding a condom on, before aligning himself at your entrance.

Biting your lip, you both don’t say a word as he begins to slide in. There was no need for any extravagant words at this moment—you just wanted him inside of you already. And the stretch feels amazing; you can barely contain the breathy moans that leave your mouth as Yoongi moves himself in and out of you. His pace is painfully slow, dragging this moment out for as long as possible. And he also doesn’t hold himself back vocally; he isn’t afraid to tell you how you’re making him feel.

“Fuck—you feel so good,” Yoongi flicks out his tongue to wet his lower lip, beginning to move a little faster. You offer another moan as a response.

Soon, he begins to build a faster pace; your hands run along his back, nails marking little crescents into his skin. You tell him that you need more, feeling your orgasm approaching. But instead of doing what you say, he pulls out and you’re confused. “Yoongi…”

He doesn’t explain what he’s doing, but suddenly flips you over so you’re on your stomach with your ass in the air. And then without a warning, he enters you again and begins slamming into you. Yoongi’s hands dig into your hips, you’re almost positive there’s going to be marks there in the morning, while simultaneously squeezing your cheeks together. Another string of curses leaves his lips and he tells you again how great you feel wrapped around him.

With each thrust of his hips, you moan and tell him that he’s making you feel so good.

“Yeah? It feels good, baby?” he practically coos to you.

And you almost want to cry at the pleasure, “S-So good.”

Before you know it, that same overwhelming pressure begins to build inside of you again. Your hands fist whatever you can of the couch as your head begins to spin. You tell him that you’re close, feeling your orgasm approaching, and he presses a few gentle fingers on your sensitive little nub. His touch is all it takes to send you over the edge.

“Yoongi!”

With tightly shut eyes, you scream out his name. You lose the strength to hold yourself up completely and fall into the couch. Behind you, you can feel Yoongi continuing to thrust into you and you turn around to see him smirk a little at you. “Did you think we were done already, love?”

“Oh fuck,” you moan as Yoongi’s pace slows. He slows down to the point where his cock pulls out of you and then pushes into you, completely bottoming out each time.

“I’ve been waiting forever for this moment,” he grunts before flipping you back onto your back.

At this point, you don’t think is possible for you to come undone again but you see the determination in Yoongi’s eyes. He begins moving his hips faster, hands latched onto your breast.

“Oh my god…” you moan, “I’m close.”

“Come on, baby,” he says, his cock deeper inside of you.

His body lowers down until his head is nestled into the crook of your neck. And he continues to fuck you like that until you reach your climax and let out the most beautiful sounds Yoongi has ever heard. After a few more strokes, muttering fuck, fuck, fuck, Yoongi also reaches his own climax.

For a minute, all that can be heard are the both of you trying to catch your breaths. Once your breathings become even, it’s quiet in Yoongi’s old studio.

Suddenly, he gets up and you turn your body asking him where he’s going. He offers you a smile, telling you that he’s just grabbing a towel to clean up the mess. And as he walks over to the other rooms, you can help but stare at his cute ass.

“So why did you dye your hair?”

Yoongi laughs as he walks back to you, “You literally just gave me the best fuck of my life, and you’re curious about my hair?”

His words flush your face pink, “I-I mean…I’m just curious.”

You watch as Yoongi wipes you down, looking into your eyes the entire time. It’s a simple act, but the thought of him being inside you again crosses your mind more than once. Unfortunately, you suppress such lustful thoughts and keep your hands off of him. After he’s done, you slip on his discarded shirt and sit up on the couch. He settles next to you, pulling his jeans back on, and pulls you into his arms. And as cliché as it sounds, being in his embrace is the best feeling ever.

“Well,” he begins, “I was actually blonde for a while before I decided to go pink. Let me show you.”

Yoongi fishes in his pockets for his phone and pulls up a picture; and sure enough, he’s platinum blonde. You voice that he looks good with that color, but he just laughs.

“Why pink?” you ask.

He shrugs, “I guess I just wanted to do something a little different.”

“I’ve always loved you with your natural black hair too,” you smile. “But seeing you with all these colors makes me realize you’d probably look good in anything—just don’t let all your hair fall out.”

“Of course,” he says and then leans down to presses the faintest of kisses on your forehead. Suddenly, a yawn escapes your lips and you realize how late it must be already. You’re exhausted from the rollercoaster of emotions you’ve had. “Sleepy?”

You shake your head, yawning again, “No…”

He laughs, “Sure…go to sleep, y/n.”

And you do—you fall asleep to the steady beating of Yoongi’s heart.

***

You wake up in tangled limbs and a blanket over the two of you.

As you open your eyes and look around the room, Yoongi is still peacefully asleep next to you. His lips are slightly parted and a gentle snore is released with his inhales. You smile at how soft and sweet he looks here, at this moment. The number of times you’ve imagined waking up beside him are countless; you wish that things can always be like this.

But that’s not realistic and life isn’t how you imagined.

It never really is.

Despite sharing your soul with Yoongi last night and his love confession, you’re unsure of everything. Life might be perfect right now, but what happens when you walk out of this studio? What happens when you both return to your lives?

In the back of your mind, hidden away the moment you turned on the TV last night, Jeongguk’s name is lit up brightly—flashing like one of those neon signs. Your stomach sinks; do you regret what you did with Yoongi? You look at his beautiful sleeping face, your heart clenching a bit, and you know for sure that there are no regrets there. A part of you does feel for Jeongguk, but you will never regret anything to do with Min Yoongi.

After all, he is the reason your heart beats.

You stare a little longer at his face, trying to carve it into your memory. And after you’re nearly positive that you’ve memorized every little freckle and perfect imperfection, you gently lift his arm that’s laying over your waist up and off your body. You get up from the couch, put your own clothes back on and search for your phone.

When you find your things, you quietly begin to walk out of the room. You only look back once, to make sure he isn’t awake yet and thankfully he isn’t. When you’re out of the old studio room, you run out of the building and into the early rays of daylight.

You let out a deep breath and wipe the single tear that falls from your eye.

This is the best thing. Besides, isn’t Yoongi leaving for Seoul again anyway? What were the odds of seeing him again before or after that? Seeing him during his short stay back home was just a small gift life decided to give—it’s not going to happen again. While you are here, still trying to figure life out…Yoongi was successful and would be just fine without you. And you finally understood that.

Life gave you what you always wanted—for Yoongi to love you back. And now that you knew, you’re good. That was all you needed.

As you walk back to your apartment, you pull out your phone and see a series of messages from Jeongguk. Your eyes scan their contents, the majority of them apologies again for the no-show yesterday. And as you pull up the most recent one, you notice that he asks you to come over today if you’re free. You text him back, letting him know that you’ll be there as soon as you possibly can.

You continue home and once you get there, you immediately walk into the shower. While you wash off Yoongi’s scent that still lingers on your skin, you try to clear your mind and think positively. You weren’t sure of many things, but you knew that you had to tell Jeongguk everything today.

He deserves to know.

Quickly, you get out and dry yourself down before slipping on some casual clothes. You head over to Jeongguk’s place, feeling anxious and nervous. And you don’t really know why you’re feeling this way; it wasn’t like you two were strangers. Yet somehow, it feels like it’s been so long since you’ve seen his face.

What are you even going to say to him?

Are you going to hug? Kiss?

All of these normal things the two of you did now feels foreign. But before you can ponder further about seeing Jeongguk, you’re at his front door. You hesitate to push the key you have into the door—do you even have that right anymore? So instead, you ring the bell.

Jeongguk answers within seconds, pulling the door open to reveal a rather disheveled version of him. He looks…tired; there’s no better way to describe it. He looks like he hasn’t slept in weeks.

“Hey,” he says, scratching the slight stubble that has begun to grow along his chin, “come in.”

You awkwardly duck underneath his arm and take your shoes off. “Hey.”

“How are you?” he asks, and shuts the door behind you.

“I’m…okay,” you turn around and offer a small smile. “You?”

He smiles back, “I’m doing okay, too.”

The two of you walk into the space where his couch and TV are set up. He tells you to go ahead and sit down, while also asking if you want anything to eat or drink. You tell him the usual and watch as his eyes light up for a brief moment before he leaves you sitting there alone. The usual is the little cans of coke you placed into his fridge—you know Jeongguk never drinks those because the first time you did it, he drank them all and you were mad at him for a week. The memory must’ve crossed both of your minds just now.

As he leaves you there to stare at blank white walls of this room, you can feel that anxious feeling returning.

Footsteps paddle across the wooden floor of Jeongguk’s apartment as he walks back to you—a coke in one hand and his own drink in the other. Before he is even beside you, that pressure reaches its max. And when he is beside you, you can’t even bring yourself to look him in the eyes. “What’s wrong, y/n?”

He must notice how tense you are because you don’t even move. Jeongguk brings a hand down to your shoulder, but you flinch away. He retracts his hands away instantly, taking a step back from you. As a sigh leaves your lips, you muster up what little ounce of courage you have and look at him.

When you look at him, you see the dark circles that taint his wide eyes; he looks restless and it’s all because of you. You’ve changed him, and not in the good way.

“Jeongguk…we need to talk.”

“If this is about yesterday…I said—” he begins, but you raise a hand to stop him.

“No…it’s—it’s more than just that,” you try to get the right words out, but fail miserably.

“Is it him?” Jeongguk asks, dropping the drinks and fisting his hands. “Is this all because of Yoongi?”

You finally look at him, “Of course not!”

“Then what did I do wrong, y/n?” he falls to his knees, reaching for your legs. “Tell me how to fix this…”

You try to pry his hands away from you, because it will only make this all harder. “There’s nothing you can do, Jeongguk.”

“Just tell me what I did wrong,” he says, eyes swelling with tears, “and don’t give me that it’s not you, it’s me bullshit. I love you...don’t you love me too?”

Tears begin to swim in your vision, “I do…I care about you deeply. You make me smile, but I can’t love you the way you deserve to be. Jeongguk, you’re too good for me…I-I am a shell of the person I used to be. I gave myself away to someone who didn’t love me back and then you came and—and I thought it would be fine. Enough. But…”

Jeongguk grabs your hands, “No one is too good for you, y/n.”

“You are,” your tears are no cascading down your cheeks, “you’re way too good for me.”

He drops your hands and begins to wipe the tears away from your face.

“See!” you exclaim, showing him that everything he does for you is something you can’t give him.

“It’s called being a nice person,” he sighs.

You shake your head, “Not everyone’s willing to love a girl who can’t give her whole heart to them.”

“So, who has the parts of your heart that you can’t give to me then?” You don’t even have to answer him; Jeongguk is no fool. You watch as his jaw begins to clench. “Over and over again, you say that he’s not the reason why…but he is.”

He was partially right, but there was still was something he didn’t get.

“When you met me, I became this person that I wanted to be for you. I wanted to be as good to you as you were to me,” you say, “but that girl you fell in love with…wasn’t genuine. And you don’t deserve that.”

It’s quiet in the room after that.

“Are you…” Jeongguk takes a deep breath, “breaking up with me?”

You swallow the tears that are threatening to spill over and look away from him. Why was this suddenly so difficult? “You deserve someone better than me.”

“Are you choosing him over me?”

“I’m not choosing anyone,” you tighten your hands into fists.

Jeongguk runs a hand through his hair, “So after this, you’re not going to run to him?”

“No,” you look back at him, letting the tears escape freely.

Suddenly, he pulls you into his arms and you crumble. Your sobs make themselves apparent and you let out everything you’ve held inside of you since Yoongi left you for Seoul. As Jeongguk’s arms tighten around you, he whispers continuous words of comfort until you’ve said everything you needed to say and the tears subside.

And for a while, the two of you just stay like that—you wrapped in Jeongguk’s arms. It’s comforting in the most platonic way and also bittersweet; when will you ever get to be like this with him again?

“I’m sorry,” you break the silence.

“It’s okay,” Jeongguk replies, “if it’s meant to be, it will be…right?”

You take a deep breath, “Right.”

***

You leave Jeongguk’s apartment with a final hug.

The embrace the two of you shared probably only lasted a few seconds as most, but it felt like one of the longest moments in your life.

Even though you’ve accepted everything, you are surprised that Jeongguk let you go without another objection. You were sure that he was going to beg you to stay with him; but as you make your way home, you realize that Jeongguk was just being himself—even after all this, he was still too good to you.

The moment you walk back into your apartment, it’s like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders. You fall onto your bed with a deep sigh, feeling very different all of a sudden. For the first time in what seems like forever, you feel…okay. Nothing is plaguing or filling your mind with anxious thoughts. You feel free, and you never thought that you would feel this way.

And Jeongguk was right, what is meant to be will be. You weren’t lying when you said that you weren’t choosing anyone.

Being with Yoongi in that emotional way was enough for you; you didn’t need anything else from him. And the fact that he loved you too was all that you needed to live a happy life. But you couldn’t be with Jeongguk after everything either. It would’ve felt like a lie. Both of them deserve the best things in life, and that is more than you can offer.

Now, instead of worrying about both of them and how the hell your life tied into theirs, you’re ready for the next step.

First things first, that job situation. Pulling yourself off your bed, you grab your laptop off the floor and begin to scroll through different job listings. What did you even want to do? What could you even see yourself doing? Working in that music store was a way for you to connect with Yoongi, which now seemed honestly so silly of you, but it was all you could ever really see yourself doing.

Just as he crosses your mind for the briefest of moments, your phone begins to ring somewhere. You ignore the call, mind preoccupied already. But it doesn’t ring just once. It doesn’t take you much to guess who it must be. You get up to check anyway, finding your phone sandwiched between some clothing, and see Yoongi’s name lighting up the screen.

You could answer the phone—god only knows how shocked he must’ve been when he woke up and you were gone—but you ignore the few phone calls he makes to you because you can’t talk to him. If you hear his voice again, you’ll run back to him and that would not be the greatest idea.

Was this too cruel of you? To just suddenly ignore him when all you’ve wished for these past years is to have him in your life? Turning your phone off, you chuck it somewhere and find those brochures you grabbed absentmindedly yesterday. Looking at the brochures again, you see the traveling abroad ones at the very top. For a second, you imagine yourself somewhere else other than here. Because what did you even have here in this small town?

Leaving has never been on your agenda. It wasn’t like you hated living here, but there really wasn’t anything for you. Granted, some of the best things have happened to you here…but perhaps, a little change would be okay.

Perhaps, it could be even great.

***

two years later

“I can see your passport is nearly full, ma’am.”

You offer the airport attendant a smile, “I’ve been…busy these last few years.”

She stamps one of the few empty spaces in your passport before handing it back to you, “Last stop in your journey is South Korea?”

“Just going back home,” you say.

“Well, I hope you have a great flight there.”

You walk further into the airport and to your gate, handing the flight attendant your boarding pass. And as you walk into the airplane, you settle into your seat and let out a breath you’ve been holding.

After that rather eventful day, you decided to make something of your life. You sold almost everything you owned, except for a few things you could carry in a backpack, and bought a one-way ticket to Paris. It was reckless and honestly so unlike you, but it was also one of the best decisions you’ve ever made in your life.

Even though there was no real destination or course you were traveling on, it was still a wonderful experience. You kind of liked the fact that you were not on a specific schedule. Because of this, you’ve been able to go all over the world. You were able to spend a few weeks in Paris, a month in London, another month or so in Cairo. It was absolutely wonderful.

On the few phone calls you made back home, mainly calling to appease the worries of your mother, everyone said you must’ve been so nervous about the uncertainty surrounding your trip. But you assured everyone by saying you weren’t worried—you just lived.

As you fly home, you stare out the windows of the plane and remark on all the different places you’ve been. It has opened your eyes to realize how small you really are compared to the vastness of the world. And you have also met a lot of interesting people. For one, you met that adorable couple in Rome and that boy in San Francisco who also spoke Korean. What was his name again? Jimin, you think.

Things between you and Jimin had been strictly friends with no benefits, but he reminded you so much of Jeongguk and Jeongguk always made you think about Yoongi.

You often wondered how they were doing. One of the phone calls you made abroad were to Jeongguk, which surprised even yourself. It was probably six months into your trip and you just called to see if he was okay. And he was great—more than just okay. You two couldn’t talk forever, it’s fucking expensive to make calls overseas as someone with no money, but what you did talk about was extremely reassuring. He was over whatever tides had risen between the both of you.

“I don’t hate you, y/n.”

You remember just letting out the biggest sigh of relief, “Really? You’re one-hundred-percent positive?”

“You’re quite possibly the greatest person I’ve ever met…how could I hate you?” he said.

You probably could’ve cried at that moment. The phone call ended with you promising him a coffee date once you returned from your spontaneous trip. “You have to promise me.”

“I have no idea when I’ll be back,” you told him honestly. “You can’t possibly wait forever.”

“So, what? You’ll come back home eventually—I want to know what you’ve seen and been up to.”

“What if everything’s different then?” you asked.

He paused for a moment before saying, “The only different thing is that we’ve changed. But we’re also still the same—I’m still the same Jeongguk you met at the music store.”

Jeongguk was contradicting himself, but making some sort of sense still. He was right, you guessed; the two of you had changed a lot, you’ve grown in these last two years and you’re sure he’s moved on with his life as well. But inside, you both are still just y/n and Jeongguk.

You haven’t talked to him since then, but sometimes you managed to get hold of the internet and search up his social media. You deactivated your phone before you left, so you just purchase a phone card when you need it. The last time you looked, he posted a picture with the prettiest girl—a potential girlfriend, perhaps? Whoever she might be, you’re happy for him.

He didn’t need you to breathe after all.

***

The moment you land and walk onto Korean soil, you see his pictures taped on nearly every wall. You have no idea how old they are, but they can’t be too old since his hair isn’t pink anymore.

Since you deactivated your phone, you have no idea what’s up with him anymore. Granted, you have looked up Yoongi’s name online and from what the internet told you, he was doing quite well. But you kept things extremely surface-level—no digging into his personal life like you’ve done with Jeongguk.

You also didn’t call him while you were away, and you don’t know why. Maybe it’s fear? You’re not entirely sure. But what you did know was that these last two years seemed to go by faster than the previous two years. Wasn’t it a bit ironic that you were now the one who left him after he left you?

Walking through the airport, you call a taxi to take you to the train station.

On the train back to your hometown, it feels surreal that you’re actually back after so long. What are you supposed to do now? For one, you managed to call your old landlord and rent out your apartment again. It was a relief actually; when you decided to come back home, you were kind of freaking out about where you were supposed to live again. Thankfully, since you’ve been gone, no one else has rented out your small place. Or if someone did, they didn’t stay for long.

So, at least you have a place to live.

That was a start, right?

After a few hours, you begin to see the scenery of your hometown. And surprisingly, you begin to feel a bit nostalgic all of the sudden. As much as you don’t really want to admit it, you missed home while you were away. Two years isn’t that long, but at the same time, it is.

Getting off the train, you walk down the familiar streets you grew up on and can’t help but smile. Everything looks different, new buildings and streets, but feels exactly the same as it did when you left.

And although you’re somewhat unsure what lies in the future, you honestly are excited to see what life has in store.

***

A few days after you get situated back into your apartment, you finally decide to hop on that phone situation.

Since you’re back, for now at least, you might as well get a phone. On your trip, you were able to save what little money you made from taking on miscellaneous jobs. It wasn’t much, but it’s brought you this far. You get the first phone the worker tries to sell to you and all is well in the world.

And with a phone back in your life, you give Jeongguk a call to fulfill the promise you made him a while ago. Thankfully, his number hasn’t changed at all and he’s more than excited to meet you for coffee. The two of you decide that tomorrow afternoon will be a good time and you swear that you can’t sit still until then.

Jeongguk tells you the name of a shop for you to meet him at and you arrive there first, getting a coffee for the two of you. When he arrives, you are equal parts surprised and relieved. He hasn’t changed at all. The moment he walks into the café, your eyes meet his and it feels like two years haven’t gone bye. It feels like you never left at all.

You don’t even know what you both talk about—probably nonsense—but you’re there for hours. And you guys laugh…a lot. It’s something you didn’t think you’d be able to do again with him. While you’re at the café, you learn that he is dating again and all you can feel is joy for him. He deserves someone good; someone who can give him the world. Jeongguk also asks about your love life, to which you say is nonexistent.

“I’m sure he’s out there.”

You laugh, “I’m actually super content with being single for the rest of my life. Like, these last two years have really shown me how to properly live and I don’t think I need someone to do that.”

“Have you called Suga—I mean, Yoongi?” Jeongguk asks, rather out of the blue, and you’re surprised.

“No,” you tilt your head to the side, “I haven’t.”

He takes a sip of his coffee, “Dude’s making it big these days.”

That was an understatement. In the time you’ve been back, it seems like you can’t escape Yoongi. His pictures are everywhere; he’s in his music prime. Every girl is obsessed with him, and every guy wants to be invited to his parties or be his friend. You can hear his music being played all over town as well. It’s absolutely crazy.

“I’m happy for him.”

“I think you should call him.”

You stare at Jeongguk for a moment, wondering why he is so intent on you calling Yoongi. “Why do you care so much? From what I remember, you weren’t fond of him at all.”

Jeongguk feigns indifference, shrugging. “I’m not his biggest fan, but I figured since we’re talking…you should try talking to him too.”

A part of you wonders if something went down between Jeongguk and Yoongi while you were gone. The moment from the street, the only time you remember both of them meeting, flashes across your mind for a second. You can still feel the tension rolling through the air from that day; you could tell that every word had been forced.

“I’ll think about it,” you say, and the conversation about Yoongi ends there.

***

Life works in mysterious ways.

About three weeks after your homecoming, there are three precise knocks on the door. Without even thinking, or looking into the little peephole of your door, you just open it. And time seems to stop. You didn’t know what to expect, but it surely wasn’t this.

“Hi.”

You stare at him before rubbing your eyes to make sure this is reality. Are you dreaming? When your hands fall from your face, he’s still there.

He looks a little different; dark hair lays tousled on his head instead of the pink you remembered. Damn, you were just getting used to it too. In fact, you kind of miss it now that you’re thinking about it. But it seems like time is on his side—he doesn’t look like he aged at all. It doesn’t even seem like fame has fazed him either.

“Hey,” to your own ears, your voice sounds off. Do you always sound like this?

“How have you been?”

“I…” As much as you’re still in mild shock that he’s standing in front of you, you’re confused. What is he doing here? Why is he here? How did he even know you were here in the first place? “I’m good…you?”

Yoongi smiles, “Better.”

“So…uh…what are you doing here?”

“Heard from someone that you’re back home,” he shrugs, “and figured I would come by. I can’t believe you live in the same apartment still.”

You roll your eyes, “This place is functioning, okay? Besides, I’m just thankful the landlord let me have it back.”

It’s quiet between the two of you after that. Yoongi just stares at you for the longest time before reaching out to push a strand of your hair behind your ear. “Why did you leave?”

“Are you talking about that night or Korea in general?”

“Everything,” he says. “Do you know how many times I called? I was so worried. I was so desperate for an answer I even called Jeongguk, and when he told me you broke up with him…god…I was so fucking happy—is that wrong?—but then when he said he had no idea where you went off too…I-I can’t even explain how I felt.”

“Now you know how I felt,” you mutter under your breath.

But Yoongi hears you, “Is this to get back at me for going to Seoul?”

“Of course not!” you tell him. “I’m not that crazy. I left because I thought it was best—I told Jeongguk that I wasn’t going to choose between the two of you.”

“Are you stupid? In what world did you think I would okay if you’re gone?” Yoongi asks and your mouth shuts. “Did nothing I say to you mean anything?”

“It meant everything.”

“But you still left.”

You rub your forehead, “Yoongi, I didn’t leave because I didn’t love you. I left so your life would be better. You don’t need me. Jeongguk didn’t need me. I was okay with loving you from afar and—”

You stop talking when Yoongi’s finger moves to your lips.

“Shut up,” he says.

All you can do is nod.

“You’re wrong,” he begins, “I need you in my life. I’ve been miserable for years without you…and I was a fool to believe otherwise.”

You nod again, “Okay…but let’s start over, yeah?”

With all the stress and heartbreak surrounding the two of you over these past years, it feels like it would just be better if you both begin this new chapter in your lives fresh. You want to get to know Yoongi again—not just who he used to be, but who he is now. Has his favorite food changed? How is Seoul? What does he do now during his free time?

Thankfully, a smile stretches across his face. “I would love that.”

“So, if that’s the case,” you return the smile and stretch out your hand, “I’m y/n.”

“Hi, I’m Min Yoongi.”

The moment your hands touch, you seem to feel everything. Blood rushes through your body, heart beating erratically. You’re excited about the future—a future with Yoongi was something you didn’t think was possible. And whether or not the two of you will be together romantically, who even knows, all you care about is the fact that he wants you in his life.

That in itself is the greatest feeling ever.

***

“Wait…aren’t you supposed to be in Seoul?”

“…Maybe.”

“Don’t tell me you took the train here. That must’ve caused an uproar since you’re oh-so-famous now.”

“I’m not that famous…and I took my private plane.”

“…you have a private plane?!”

“I’m kidding; I drove my car. Want to come with me to Seoul?”

“Are you asking me out on a date, Min Yoongi?”

“I think I am.”

#armiesnet #bangtan bookclub #networkbangtan #bts #bangtan #bts scenario #bts fic #yoongi fic #jeongguk fic #bts smut #bts angst #xbaepsae

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howveryheather · 4 years

Text

good time (the 2010s + me)

10 years of Heather... YESSSSSSS.

I mulled over various drafts of what you’re going to read today.

There was a draft where I summed up everything, literally everything, that happened to me over the last 10 years. The more I read that draft, the more it felt increasingly like a diary entry that did not warrant publishing of any kind.

I had a draft where I was only going to recap the good things that happened to me. That read like I had the world’s worst blinders on.

I weebled, I wobbled, I tried to organize my thoughts using bullet points. None of it worked and all of it sounded like noise, even though I was technically going in order of the last 10 years. So, I’m just going to keep it simple and focus on the basics.

I went on two pivotal journeys in the last 10 years. The first is the start of my writing career and the second was repaying my student loans. Note that the latter half of that sentence is written in past tense. In 2019, after nine years in debt, I paid off all my loans in full!

I want to talk about the loan journey first because it had an expiration date, even though I did used to think I was gonna die with those loans. Rather than sound like a broken record rehashing the story of how I paid everything off again, I want to share two aspects of paying off student debt that nobody talks about online.

The first one is that once it happens, after your debt is paid in full, you’re not rich. You have a little more money every month, but you can’t go out and change your lifestyle radically. If anything, you have to remain in place a little bit longer and remain on a budget. There’s certainly irony in debt repayment. The debt is gone, but you are not exactly free yet. You have to recoup the losses.

The other aspect of student loans is how quickly you forget about it once it’s paid off. And I mean all of it — the emotions and experience associated with loan statements and making monthly payments. I spent years lying in bed unable to sleep at night stressed out about my loans. I never think about it now.

Paying off my debt alone was really difficult, but deep down I think I always knew that this was going to be my journey. My debt was not going to disappear, no matter how much I wished for a genie’s lamp or hoped a dead relative would throw me some bones in a will or I could magically find a spouse to marry who would assume the payments for me. I made a lot of lifestyle sacrifices to get out of debt. I prepared a few years in advance because I knew that what was ahead was going to be miserable. I remained disciplined, I treated my life with a Spartan mentality, and I crawled my way out under the 10-year deadline to freedom. Sometimes that’s what freedom looks like. It’s not a climb or a sprint to a finish line. It’s a crawl.

Onward to writing!

I was still in college at the start of 2010. Back then, I was an extremely green writer with few clips under my belt outside of an internship at the Ventura County Star and a column in The Echo (CLU’s newspaper). As a post graduate, every writing experience I have had has been a combination of good luck, timing, location, and the willingness to push myself and work hard.

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to write in the entertainment space. I always loved reading the pop culture section of the USA Today and soaked up my subscriptions to Entertainment Weekly and Premiere Magazine like a sponge. I was determined to break into entertainment however I could, and I got in on the ground floor of BettyConfidential and HelloGiggles as a contributing writer in 2011.

The early 2010s was a short-lived timeline before most of the major media moguls began buying these sites out. I remember this time as one — and everyone who started during this time will say the exact same thing, trust me — where everyone really was each other’s friend in the media space. Content felt fresh. It was new. It was also really kind. There was a lot of room to share your story and experience and receive incredible, positive feedback from readers.

BettyConfidential... What a wonderful group! Was there anything better than waking up at 5 AM the morning after the Golden Globes to email over my best-dressed picks? (Sometimes emailed over the night before, I must admit.) I wrote my heart out in that LA Correspondent gig, covering fashion and celebrity news. It gave me so many opportunities to lead the kind of life most people who move to California never get the chance to have. I had the good fortune to go to red carpet events and awards ceremonies and gifting suites and sit in on movie sets and chat with celebrities (often in more candid spaces than is the norm) that I would never have had otherwise. Betty gave me a much-needed glimpse behind the camera of celebrity and the etiquette for how to be a reporter in this space. My experience at HelloGiggles differed from Betty in that it was much more social media driven. That was definitely the site where you earned your following and found your people in the Twitter space.

Collectively between Betty and HG, my favorite memories were...

1) The first time I went to New York City to cover Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. I went to as many shows as I possibly could in Lincoln Center, took photos with my iPhone, stayed up writing and writing with my photos at the hotel afterwards, and did it all over again the next day for 3-4 days. I also packed very poorly for February 2012 weather. A trench coat and flats in 20 degree weather with snow... but I still looked good!

2) I went to an event celebrating L’Oreal’s 40th anniversary of their “Because I’m Worth It” tagline (an early foreshadowing of my future in writing in advertising). I wrote a nice article about the event, shared the story, and went about my merry way into the rest of my workload. A few weeks later, I received a gift in the mail from their team: a huge gift card to Saks Fifth Avenue! There has never been a Cinderella moment in my life quite like the way I spent this gift card. I went to the Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills and bought a beautiful designer day dress that I wore everywhere (and still have in my closet).

3) The first time I went to, and covered, the Pillsbury Bake-Off for HelloGiggles. (Look at all that foreshadowing!) The Pillsbury Bake-Off is such a delightful experience and not just because there’s a life-size Pillsbury Doughboy walking around either. The events are held in hotels with convention-sized rooms where one can fit 100 ovens. 100 finalists all bake at the same time and compete for a chance to win a million dollars with their recipe. Bake it like you mean it! I even had dinner one table away from Martha Stewart at the Orlando Bake-Off.

I tried not to decline any opportunities. I made everything work, as much as I could. As far as regrets go, the only event I turned down was an opportunity to go backstage and cover the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The logistics and timing were really off. There was absolutely no way I could have flown to New York in time for it... but I will always wonder what if!

In a post-Betty and HG world, which is where I was in 2014 when both gigs wrapped, I began pivoting toward a new vertical: advertising. My discussions with Advertising Week began in late 2014 and I started writing for the website in 2015. Initially, this was a situation where I filled in the gaps with whatever content I was asked to write. A lot of it had pop culture tie-ins with Mad Men. (Shout out to my brain for already being a fan of the series and intricately understanding the ins and outs of its characters that tied in with advertising’s heyday!)

The first major series of articles I worked on were sponsored by Adobe, so there was an increased expectation to go above and beyond in the manner I wrote, the amount of research conducted in each article, and understanding the audience. I was ready to meet the challenge and was met with high praise for this hard work. During this time, I also briefly worked in transcription for Flaunt Magazine. I transcribed interviews for one of their writers, which made me feel as though I came a little full circle yet again to entertainment.

In March 2015, I received the opportunity to go to Chicago to the Museum of Broadcast Communications. It was for an event called “A Salute to Advertising’s Greatest Icons” which honored 10 of the greatest brand mascots in advertising. My favorite character, the Pillsbury Doughboy, was one of the honorees. Even more exciting, the creator of the Doughboy Rudy Perz would be in attendance. I immediately asked AW if I could cover the event and they agreed. However, a great tragedy occurred days before the event. Rudy passed away. I was completely crushed. As a lifelong Doughboy fan, I realized I would never get the chance to tell him how much of an impact that character had in my life.

In the 24 hours I spent in Chicago, I got to tour the museum space, meet and spend time in the studio of JoBe Cerny (the voice behind the Doughboy’s giggle!), and attend the event and its dinner. Each menu course was inspired by the 10 brand mascots. It was so much fun! I promptly wrote up the article and gave it to my bosses.

This article sparked the beginning of how I have carved a name out for myself in advertising. Brand mascots. We started discussing how to create content about characters, which I jumped at the chance to write. Before long, I had written so many character-based articles that the content spilled over the website. It required its own platform, PopIcon, which officially launched in 2016.

The greatest joy of my writing career so far has undoubtedly been PopIcon. There is so much to cover that I have gone through stages in writing. The initial stages of introducing the character to the world, the stage of updating everyone on the character’s current events (these critters are more active than you think!), and the historical narrative behind the mascot. There is only so much information a PR person can provide you before you can’t work with a one-sheet condensed timeline anymore. You have to get out there and behave like a journalist, finding creatives to talk to and share their stories. My favorite thing is when someone tells me that they have nothing to say. Then, they launch into a narrative of what life behind the scenes was like animating Lefty from Hamburger Helper or recruiting a voiceover actor for an ad campaign. That’s a lot to say! There is no absolutely story that is too small. Every bit of it is history and it has a place to be shared.

I struggle to pick my favorite PopIcon piece. At any given point, every article I have written has been my favorite. They are all jewels in a crown to me, which is a unique way to view your writing. Really, it’s how I hope every writer views their body of work as it grows and progresses.

However, if you must read anything... try these pieces on for size!

Leo Burnett’s Oral History, As Told By 8 Former Creatives (Part One & Two)

Putting The “Kool” Back In Kool-Aid

How Seth Werner Turned A Cluster Of Grapes Into The California Raisins

Monsters! A Brief History Of The Monster Cereals Icons

Ken Stewart, Creator Of The Coca-Cola Polar Bears, Reflects On Their 25th Anniversary

AW has been responsible for sending me back to New York City. In 2017, I went to New York to attend my first #AWNewYork event. My articles ran in their print publication, I hosted a panel, and I appeared on NASDAQ’s Closing Bell ceremonies live on CNBC and HLN. In 2018, I did the same rounds plus an Icons Gala which I worked on at the same time I was paying off my student loans. The Icons Gala was a massive success and I am so proud of it because it was really tough work. And in 2019, I came back for another #AWNewYork event and celebrated with all my mascot buddies once again.

Outside of PopIcon, I have my hand stuck in a series of freelance honey pots. I always like to keep the wheel rotating, as a means of avoiding stagnation and growing my work. It never ceases to amaze me where the wheel naturally rotates next. I wrote for Brit + Co when I lived in Orange County in 2016. I had a few pieces run on The Drum. I wrote for Ed2010 for two years, which felt like a return to my roots because Ed was the reason I got in with BettyConfidential. I still write with Business Insider, Coin, and Fairygodboss, all outlets I’ve been with for a few years now (minus Coin which started in 2019). Weirdly enough, I was fact checked in an obituary this year in The New York Times.

“Dabble in something new” was my fortune I received from a fortune cookie in the spring of 2019. Good timing. What could I do next that felt new? Where could I start to grow?

I have had my eye on weddings for awhile now, in more ways than one. You can’t help but notice when everyone you know is getting married. You really can’t help it when you’ve been a bridesmaid three times. When I think of the last frontiers of verticals where pure joy exists, it all goes back to basic life rituals. Marriage is one seeped in love, history, and etiquette. I started writing with the aptly-named wedding app Joy a few months ago. Finally, I was able to break into modern wedding editorial.

That has been the last ten years of my writing career, in a nutshell. Upon writing this out, I realized just how lucky and fortunate I am that everything looks so neatly tied together. The gaps have been few and far in between. Regardless of what was going on in my personal life or when things were difficult, doors kept opening for me. And I did everything I could to walk in when it happened.

Doesn’t it look like the land of Oz over here sometimes? It has been 10 years. If you juggled this much writing on top of a full-time job, nonstop for a decade while aging from a twentysomething into your thirties, you would probably run into some issues keeping your self-sustained sausage factory running. It’s not a realistic story if the heroine isn’t facing growing pains.

I am not a perfect writer. I’m never going to act like the Heather cup of tea is for everyone to drink up because it’s not.

I have had countless nights where I have been up late writing, researching, or editing drafts. My interviews with creatives sometimes last for a few hours. I have procrastinated my workload until the last possible minute, leaving me frantically pinned against a wall pushing all the puzzle pieces around until they fit in the eleventh, in the twelfth, hour.

I’ve had my brain switch completely off into a “duhhhhhhhh” setting. In this setting, I shut myself in and watch reruns of TV shows I have already seen before. I have to mentally peace out from the world. This is because operating at eleven every single day takes a lot out of you.

I have been rejected by a few outlets. Totally happens. I have also been told I am overqualified on more than one occasion.

In 2019, I finally seized the opportunity to buy my domain, which was not previously available, and create a space for my work.

I’ve learned a lot about one other person in the last decade: myself.

I know exactly who I am. I’ve hit reset on my life multiple times over the last 10 years, switching jobs, cities, and freelance work. I can reinvent some of me, but I can never leave myself behind. Nor would I ever want to do that. I love myself. She is still a work in progress, but it is progress I will do anything for, even if it means crawling alone for years on end. I do it for her.

Everything is up to timing. In time, everything will be as it is supposed to. That time will be the right time.

If you are ever unsure of what to do next, look to the past for guidance. Everything I loved as a child is coming full circle into my life as an adult.

I think the greatest thing I can do, now and in the next decade, is to continually work at making the younger version of me happy with her adult self. If the 10-year-old version of you could see you now, what would she think? Would she be proud of the person you grew up to become? Certainly I think the younger version of me is probably a little upset I don’t read as many books as I did in my Scholastic book club days (I’m working on it!). But, I do think she would be pleased with the woman I am in 2019. The things I have already accomplished and feathers in my hat. My personality and work ethic. The dreams ahead of me and the goals I still have left to achieve.

While I have no idea where I will go in the next 10 years, I am excited to see everything that comes my way in 2020 and beyond. I will keep writing. I will keep working. And I will continue to keep not telling anyone what I’m doing until it happens. I have found life is a lot more fun when you whip out a good, unconventional “surprise!” on everyone that nobody saw coming.

Keep your pen at the ready. It’s gonna be a good time.

#personal #2010s

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machihunnicutt · 5 years

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whoops i kind of failed fic-vember (so have an Anne fic)

Hey ya’ll. Finals happened and then the holidays happened and I gave up on the last week or two of fic-vemeber. Here’s an Anne fic to say sorry.

Like My Heart is Hitting the Ground

(Or read on ao3.)

Anne had been firm in her demand not to work the same shifts as one Gilbert Blythe. She’d managed to get away with it, most of the time, eyieng the schedule every time her manager made it and adjusting her availability as needed. Her intense dislike of Gilbert (Diana called it a grudge but Diana wasn’t there at the inciting moment) began his first day on the job, when, while she was dusting a new batch of scones with powdered sugar, he pulled her braid and called her “carrots.” He got a face full of powdered sugar in retaliation.

But it was Christmas (and therefore winter break at the university) and Anne and Gilbert were the only two in town to run the shop.

“This will work out just fine if you stay over there and I stay over here,” Anne said, gesturing to the imaginary line that divided the back of Avonlea Coffee and Bakery.

Gilbert’s dark eyebrow rose into the mess of curls that fell over his forehead. “So I take all the orders and you’ll make everything.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“What if you need help with something?”

“I won’t,” she said, tightly. “I can handle myself.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t, Anne,” Gilbert said, meeting her eyes. She hated it when he did that. It reminded her that Gilbert Blythe wasn’t bad to look at. He had a crooked, self-satisfied sort of smile and his gaze was effortlessly warm and guarded by long lashes. And if she was being completely honest with herself (which she wasn’t, she usually counted on Diana for honesty) he was entirely her type: big knitted hand-me-down sweaters, dark cuffed jeans, Converse, messy hair, and a plastic watch with a million pre-set alarms. Anne was attracted to exclusively nerdy wannabe hipsters.

Gilbert Blythe had apologized for the carrots incident, profusely in fact, but Anne wasn’t in the habit of trusting too easily.

“Good, then count the cash in the register and I’ll wipe down the counters,” she said.

“The spray bottles are on my side.”

“Fine, will you please hand me a spray bottle Gilbert Blythe?”

“Why do you do that?”

“What? Say please?” She crossed her arms over her chest and planted her feet firmly on the tile. Her apron had a few leftover stains and one of her braids was starting to come undone, but she maintained her show of authority.

“Call me by my full name, like it’s some sort of comic book name,” he frowned.

“I don’t know what you’re referring to,” she replied.

“You know, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Peter Parker, Charles Xavier...Gilbert Blythe,” his mouth quirked up into half a smile and Anne rolled her eyes.

“Give me the bottle, Wonder-boy,” she said, and he obliged. “And to answer your question, I’m just trying to maintain a professional work environment.” She began wiping down the countertops, briskly, with the intention of ending this conversation.

“Could’ve fooled me, Anne Shirley-Cuthbert.”

Anne had started working at Avonlea Coffee her second semester as an education major at the university. Her scholarships covered housing and a good portion of her tuition, and Marilla and Matthew had sent her off with enough money for textbooks, but she realized her summer job savings weren’t going to cut it the hard way. The second week of spring semester her card got declined when she was buying groceries. Luckily she was there with Diana (angel among men), who covered for her. The next day she sent out a slew of applications. Now she’d been at the shop for two and a half years.

“Welcome to Avonlea Coffee and Bakery. What can we get started for you?” Gilbert’s smile when greeting customers managed to hide the bags beneath his eyes.

“I can’t believe you’re open on Christmas,” the woman at the counter said. She was the twelfth to say so in the last two hours. Nevertheless, Anne had a steady stream of orders to make.

“If you want to switch, let me know,” Gilbert said, halfway through the shift. It was the third instance of Wham’s “Last Christmas” on the shop’s holiday playlist and Anne was tired.

Gilbert was counting the remaining scones in the case. They were down to five and she desperately hoped she wouldn’t have reason to put in another batch.

Outside it had begun to snow, big white clumps that reminded her of walking in Green Gables, at dawn when the snow was heavy and untouched, blanketing the grass.

She hadn’t been back to Green Gables since school started, though she called Marilla and Matthew at least once a week. She’d tried to get them set up on FaceTime, but neither was technologically savvy enough to complete a successful video call. The longer she was away the more her gable room showed up in her dreams: fluffy white comforter that smelled of lavender and detergent, tiny wood desk where she’d studied for her slew of AP exams, Marilla’s lacy curtains that just managed to keep the sunshine out in the morning, and of course the cherry blossoms outside.

“Do you have a ride home? Or are you walking in all that?” Gilbert asked. He looked out at the icy sidewalks and she watched his jaw tighten.

“I’m walking, but I’ll be fine. Thank you,” she replied.

“Are you sure? I’d be happy to...”

“What brings you to the Christmas day shift, Gilbert Blythe?” She interrupted.

“Oh,” he blinked. “Well, I could use the extra money.”

“You’re not going home for break?”

He shook his head and looked back down at the scones. “My dad died earlier this year and I...I sold the house, so I don’t really have a home to go back to. I have a friend back in my hometown, Bash, who invited me to stay with him and his wife for the holidays, but I thought it would be easier and cheaper to just stay here and pick up some extra shifts.”

“I’m sorry,” Anne said. “I didn’t know.”

He laughed nervously. “It’s fine. It’s good to be here when campus is empty, I can catch up on studying. Pre-med and all that. What are you doing here, Anne?”

“My...Matthew, my guardian, is sick and we don’t really have the money to spare for me to fly home. He’s fine, getting better I know, but having a whole big Christmas at home would be a lot right now and I didn’t want to cause my adoptive parents any trouble. Of course they protested.”

“Of course,” Gilbert smiled. “Who wouldn’t want to spend Christmas with Anne Shirley-Cuthbert?”

Anne rolled her eyes and turned away to restock the paper cups and hide the blush spreading over her face. The shop was just warm. “Are you all alone then?” She asked, after a moment.

“My roommates have all left for home, so yes,” he said.

Anne thought about Gilbert Blythe all alone in his apartment, pouring bowls of cold cereal or opening cans of Red Bull, or whatever sad, lonely, study food he ate.

“Well, if you like you can join my roommates and I. We’re all still in town and decided to do our own Christmas. They’re both working today too, so we saved the gift giving for tonight.”

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“You wouldn’t be,” she shot back, suddenly hell-bent on keeping Gilbert Blythe from a Christmas alone. It was sad enough not to have a home to go back to. “Join us, please.”

The front door bell dinged and another wave of customers came in out of the cold, putting the conversation on hold for a moment.

“What do you think?” Anne asked. It was nearly closing and she was halfway through cleaning the espresso machine.

“Okay,” Gilbert said. “If I can drive you.”

“Deal,” Anne said, extending her hand to shake his.

“You’re on my side,” he said.

***

Gilbert Blythe started work at Avonlea Coffee and Bakery at the beginning of his junior year. It was his second job. He worked assorted evenings at the automotive garage down the street from his apartment, and divided his remaining time between a full schedule of classes, homework, and the occasional handful of hours of sleep.

The day he met Anne Shirley-Cuthbert she had flour on her freckled nose and was expertly crafting a latte. She didn’t pay him any attention as their boss trained him, and continued to effectively ignore him the first shift they worked together.

“Do you know Anne very well?” He asked his co-workers during their break. Billy and Charlie were vaping in the alley beside the shop. He sidestepped clouds of vapor and tapped his foot.

“She’s bossy. She’s worked here forever,” Billy said. “I hear she’s got a whole orphan sob story. I’d keep my distance if I were you.”

“Not much to look at anyway,” Charlie put in.

Gilbert considered this for a moment. “Well, I should be getting back.”

“We have five more minutes,” Billy said.

“I know, I’d just rather spend my break inside, and not with you two.”

He tugged on her braid to get her attention. Childish? Absolutely. But he couldn’t think of another way, and he’d never purported to have the best judgment.

He hadn’t worked with Anne much since, but he’d seen her at the end of her shifts, when he took over for her. She was great with customers; she knew all the regulars by their orders and their names. She added special touches to all the cakes she decorated: buttercream roses, dainty chocolate work, tufts of spun sugar. And Anne always looked pretty in a way that he had to try really hard not to stare at all the time. When it was warmer she wore long, flowy, floral dresses that fell to her knees and clashed with her heavy work boots. In the winter she wore the same dresses with tights and cardigans and long scarves wrapped around her neck. Her hair was almost always braided. He’d seen it down once, curled on her birthday when their boss had brought her a box of her favorite lemon cupcakes.

“You can turn here,” Anne said. She was in the passenger seat. Her dress was red with tiny black flowers. The navy cardigan and coat she had over it nearly swallowed her small frame. “My house is on the right."

This was a pity invite, he knew, but there was still something exciting about Christmas with Anne. Maybe they were turning over a new leaf.

Anne scooped up the box of discount pastries she’d salvaged and led him up the steps to her house.

“Anne’s home!” He heard a call from the kitchen and a woman with dark hair and unevenly cut bangs looked back at them. She was stirring a pot of something that smelled like apples and cinnamon and she seemed to be Anne’s stylistic opposite: heavy eyeliner, dark turtleneck and pencil skirt, nose piercing, and ruby red lipstick. “Oh, hello. Who’s this?” She said.

“Diana Barry, this is my co-worker Gilbert Blythe. Gilbert, meet my roommate Diana.”

“Gilbert,” Diana repeated, giving Anne a look Gilbert couldn’t read. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” he replied.

“He’s joining our band of stranded misfits for the evening,” Anne said. “If that’s alright.”

“It’s alright with me. Just be warned that Jerry’s on his third glass of rosé already, and quite torn up about his most recent breakup.”

“Jerry’s an international student. His family's in Paris. He doesn’t fly home for breaks usually,” Anne explained.

“And my family’s abroad in London,” Diana said. “A trip they planned before they knew I’d paid for January term classes already. Either way, it’s much nicer to be with my lovely Anne.”

“It’s much nicer to be alone together,” Anne concluded.

“Alone?” Came a strangled howl from the living room.

“Anne, will you tell Monsieur Heartbreak that this apple cider will be done in five minutes and he better have his present for me wrapped by then?”

Gilbert followed Anne into the living room to see her other roommate sprawled face down on the couch. He turned his head toward them when they came in and moaned.

“Anne of Green Gables how could you bring a new beau to this sacred gathering of singles?”

“He isn’t,” Anne said, at the same time as Gilbert said “I’m not.”

Jerry rolled onto his back and put his head in his hands. “I am destined for suffering.”

“Wrap your present for Diana. Cider’s ready in 5 minutes. This is Gilbert, my co-worker. Please refrain from regaling him with stories of the many sorority girls who have broken your heart until I get back. I need to get my presents from my room.”

Diana brought the cider and offered Gilbert a glass of rosé, which he accepted along with the ten minute recounting of Jerry’s failed relationship. Anne came back and sat next to him on the couch. They all had wine and cider and cookies that Anne made with a recipe from home. Diana ordered pizza and over the exchange of gifts Gilbert learned a number of things:

1) Diana was a music student who studied classical piano for class but made her own songs on synth and guitar in her spare time. She came out as a lesbian last year and went to her first Pride with Anne that summer. Thus her gifts from Anne and Jerry were (respectively) a framed photo of Anne and Diana covered in glitter with bright grins and pride flags, and a pair of musical note earrings.

2) Jerry was an English major, despite the fact that he was dyslexic and it was his second language. He met Anne freshman year in their professor’s office hours and had had a spirited debate about Jane Eyre, which they continued over lunch every week while she edited his (otherwise excellent) essays for typos. He had the unfortunate habit of falling for sorority sisters and writing them embarrassing poetry that often found unsympathetic audiences on ex-girlfriend’s Instagrams post-breakup. Anne got him a mug covered in Brontë quotes and Diana got him a journal and a mood ring she insisted was stuck on “love struck.”

3) Anne’s friends really cared about her. They got her a joint gift, a silver heart locket that made her face light up when she opened it. “For all your love, kindred spirit,” Diana said. Gilbert couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

“Could you do the clasp for me?” She asked him.

“Of course.”

Anne swept her curtain of red hair from her neck and Gilbert undid the clasp and put the necklace on her. He had some trouble doing the clasp up again because his hands were suddenly very sweaty and Jerry, seated next to Diana and thoroughly drunk by now, started laughing as Gilbert could feel his face heating up.

“I’m cutting you off, Jerry,” Anne said as Gilbert finished with the clasp. “I’m going to put on some music,” Anne said. She rose to her feet and turned around to look at the three of them. Her form was glowing in the light from the kitchen and her hair became a halo of orangey light around her head. “Any requests?”

Gilbert shook his head dumbly and Anne disappeared into the kitchen.

“Mon amie, you are gone on her. I can tell,” Jerry said. He got up with Diana and the two of them began swaying to the song Anne had chosen.

“I’m not...I don’t...”

“Oh leave him alone,” Diana put in. She winked at Gilbert.

Anne had returned. “What do you think? It’s my usual playlist.”

She outstretched her hands and pulled him up off the couch. “Do you dance, Gilbert Blythe?” She asked. Her face was flushed too, no doubt from the wine, and she held him by his waist.

“Sometimes...” he muttered.

“I’ll have you know that tonight means nothing in the grand scheme of things.”

“The scheme of things meaning you’re always going to be angry with me?”

“If you keep giving me reasons to be,” she said, but she was smiling.

“What song is this?” Gilbert said. His head was buzzing.

“It’s called Townie,” Anne said. “I put Mitski on all my playlists.”

“We rotate,” Diana said. “Whenever we’re all together and need to play music.”

“Like at work,” Gilbert said.

“Like at work,” Anne repeated.

There's a party and we're all going And we're all growing up.

Anne swayed close to him. “I’m sorry, again, by the way. For pulling your hair like a grade schooler. I really didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with you.”

Somebody's driving and he will be drinking And no one's going back.

“You didn’t?” She asked. “I was sure Billy and his goons had turned you against me.

'Cause we've tried hungry and we've tried full and nothing seems enough.

“Billy’s a dumbass."

So tonight, tonight The boys are gonna go for More more more.

“Well I guess we can agree on one thing.”

And I want a love that falls as fast As a body from the balcony, and I want a kiss like my heart is hitting the ground.

I'm holding my breath with a baseball bat, though I don't know what I'm waiting for. I am not gonna be what my daddy wants me to be.

The rest of the night blurred out in a haze of laughter, dizzy dancing around the living room, and Jerry pulling him aside to lecture him in slurred, half-French about the perils of love.

“Merry Christmas Gilbert Blythe,” Anne said, as she saw him off.

“Merry Christmas.”

***

The next week Anne and Gilbert had more shifts together. When it was his turn to pick the music Anne heard Mitski on his playlists, in between his old music.

“Why is it that all of your music sounds like it belongs in a 50s diner?”

“Hey, I don’t complain about your music.”

“Yeah, because my music’s good,” Anne said. She was assembling a batch of macaroons as quickly as she could. Since Christmas they’d been engaging in a number of competitive games. Right now it was timed macaroon preparation. Yesterday it was who could make the most complicated latte art.

“I’ve got to beat you now since you beat me yesterday.”

Gilbert leaned against the counter beside her. “What did you expect, Anne? A doctor has to have steady hands.”

“Yeah, yeah, time! How fast was that, Gil?”

“Gil?” Gilbert repeated, smile growing wide on his stupid face. “Since when do I have a nickname?”

“You don’t! I...didn’t. Did I beat you?”

Gilbert glanced down at the time. “You got me, Anne. Well done.”

As it had turned out, Gilbert Blythe wasn’t the absolute worst. The past couple of times they’d worked together she’d let him drive her home. He had one of those tree shaped air fresheners hanging from his mirror; it smelled like apples and cinnamon. He always cranked the heat up to make sure she wasn’t cold, though she never was. That’s what Gilbert Blythe was becoming to her: apple cinnamon and warmth, wrapping her up as he turned into her driveway.

“Do you have plans for New Years?” He asked.

“Diana’s spending the night with her girlfriend and Jerry’s with his French friends. They both said I could tag along but I don’t want to feel like the odd one out,” Anne said. She’d been the odd one out against her will for years; she wasn’t about to do it voluntarily.

“Well, if you want...I mean I was going to ask you if...uh, if you wanted to come to my place for New Years, in exchange for Christmas.”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“I know that. I’m just...” he flushed. “Asking, Anne. I didn’t really have a plan. Pizza, probably, and champagne, watching the festivities on TV.”

“And at midnight?” She met his eyes.

“At midnight I can drive you home,” he said quickly.

“Okay,” Anne said, before her brain fully processed what she was agreeing to. She didn’t want to ring in the new year by herself, not when every day of the past year had been nothing but work (good, rewarding, exhausting work) and the coming year promised more of the same.

“Okay?” Gilbert replied. “That easy? I thought I was going to have to bribe you.”

Anne rolled her eyes. “Don’t make me change my mind.”

Diana insisted that Gilbert Blythe’s invitation was more than it seemed.

“He obviously likes you,” she said, sprawled on Anne’s bed playing Nintendogs on her beat up DS.

“He’s my friend,” Anne said, flipping through the hangers in her closet.

“Then why are you so concerned about your outfit?”

Anne sighed.

“It’s okay if you like him too, you know?” Diana sat up and looked at her. “I know you think you don’t have time for romance, with school and work and Green Gables, but you deserve something all consuming and tender and warm and...” Diana trailed off. They’d known each other for years. Maybe Diana knew her better than Anne knew herself. “I don’t mean to pry. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she said. “Thank you. Happy new year.”

Diana hugged her goodbye. Anne stared at herself in her bathroom mirror and debated whether or not to put on red lipstick. When she was younger she’d look in the mirror and hate her face: mud splatter of freckles, tired eyes, fiery hair framing her features. Now she and her face were on better terms. Would lipstick tonight be overkill? She looked at herself intently. An all consuming love, that’s what Diana had said. Anne smiled, and put on the lipstick.

***

Anne sat cross legged on Gilbert’s couch with a breadstick in one hand and wine glass in the other. He tried not to grin.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” She said, but she was smiling. There was a crescent of lipstick on her glass’s rim. “I thought you were making dessert.”

“About that...” he said, taking a seat beside her. He held up a package of Oreos. “I’m not much of a baker on my own time.”

She laughed and selected a cookie from the package. “I’ve got you beat in the desert arena then. I make pies back at Green Gables.”

It was 11:30. She’d spent part of the night teasing him for the poorly hidden heap of laundry in his bedroom and overly animated voice on the phone when ordering pizza, part of it playing cards and watching TV with him at his living room coffee table, and part telling him stories of Green Gables.

“I’m sorry my New Years is so boring,” he said. On TV crowds were huddled in the snow, waving noisemakers and throwing confetti.

“It’s not,” she said. She moved so her shoulder was pressed to his on the couch. “Thanks for having me. It’s nice not to be alone. I wanted to have the holidays at home this year. I feel like all I do is work and go to class now, like I'm racing to an invisible finish line. It’s hard to be away. And with Matthew sick I...anyway, thanks.”

"And what if you get to the finish line and it isn't everything you thought it would be?" Gilbert added. "I know the feeling." He sucked in a breath. “It’s the first holiday without my dad,” he said. “I’m glad I’m not alone either.”

Anne put her hand over his. It was small and warm and he didn’t move a muscle for fear she would take it back.

“What’s that song?” He muttered. “That Mitski song, from Christmas?”

“It’s called Townie,” she replied.

“Do you want to listen to it? Would you dance with me, Anne? Like at Christmas?"

She looked over at him and smiled. “It’s nearly midnight, Gil.”

He’d become Gil, so quickly, without either of them knowing. He’d become someone she looked at softly. She’d become someone who made his heart feel like it was jumping around in his chest.

“But okay,” she said.

He didn’t know when the clock struck midnight. He was swaying with Anne in his living room. Her head was on his shoulder. His heart was hitting the ground. When the song was over she tilted her head up to blink at him.

“I have to work tomorrow,” she said. “At 7, But I don’t even care.”

“Can I kiss you, Anne Shirley-Cuthbert?”

“Yes, Gil, you can.”

He did, and she kissed him back. He took her face in his hands and kissed her for a long time. It still felt too short.

“You have lipstick on your face,” she told him. Her own face was flushed and her lipstick was smudged. “Happy new year.”

“Happy new year, Anne,” he said. He could hear fireworks, but it could just be in his head. It was a firework kind of night, new year or no new year.

“It’s going to be a good one,” she said. “I have a feeling.”

#anne with an e #shirbert #anne with an e fic #anne shirley cuthbert #gilbert blythe #diana barry #jerry baynard #coffee shop au #fic-vember 2018 #awi's fic #anne shirley/gilbert blythe

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