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kitorin · 8 months

Text

journal.

in which, itoshi rin's midnight writing exposes what he's kept concealed from you.

contents. itoshi rin x reader, 2.878 k words, fluff, angst (in the past), itoshi backstory spoilers (mixed with a few headcanons), 1st person rin pov for a bit (journal entry), regular highschool au

a/n. is this my best? no. but is it the best i have for today? yes. happy birthday to rin <3 after assignments are done i'll definitely rewrite this (i gave up on proofreading)

10 / 09 / 2023 : SUNDAY, 12:04 am - 3:21 am

Solitude has never been a foreigner.

In fact, he's quite a familiar individual, an old companion that never seems to leave.

Even before Nii chan left for Spain, solitude was still there for me. During class I wouldn't utter a word to anyone else unless necessary, and contrariwise for said classmates. People still spoke to me; just not to the extent that they'd know what my favourite foods were, or what I liked to watch in my free time, not even bothering with it. I've never been invited to hang out with anyone after school, or been to someone else's house (not that I particularly cared, I was just sure that I was the only one).

But I was okay with it. I didn't want, or need anyone else when Nii chan bought me ice blocks, giving me the bigger piece as we'd watch the sun's warm hues bleed into the sky; the saccharine iciness contrasting how warm is was to be swallowed by sunlight together. Dad took us fishing a lot, he's always been well acquainted with the sea, taking us to locations well populated by bream; my favourite. On our way home we'd harvest kelp (Nii chan likes it in rice, salted) and take photos together on our yacht, admiring how the sun greets the world farewell, sinking into the aquamarine. Mum makes amazing food, I'm constantly astonished at how she manages to memorise every preference, from my love for ochazuke to being able to pour the perfect amount of tea; the rice never becomes too soggy (even I can't pour the exact amount I like). Solitude was close to me, but my family were closer.

There's a lot I could say about them, they've done more than remember what I love and ensuring I was happy; I'm thankful they've delivered the right for me to be comforted, to have a shoulder to cry on, to be able to freely ramble on about whatever fascinated me.

I've always been happy, even if I'm alone outside of the walls I call home. Because whether I laughed my heart out or sobbed to the point I couldn't form a coherent sentence, I'd always come home running to my family. Nothing can beat dinner; where we all relish mum's food, ask each other about our days' and offer solace or advice when necessary.

I miss that. Terribly, to the point my heart aches.

I knew that Nii chan's departure to Europe (Spain, to be exact) would change a lot. I'd have to score without his guidance, walk home alone and buy my own popsicles. Dinner time would have one less soul to laugh with, and home would have one less to embrace.

I just never expected it to be painful change. I never predicted that his return would result in losing us entirely. I didn't think his homecoming would cause my immortal resentment towards the snow, or how my eyes prickle a bit at the mere thought of an ice block. I'd say it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me, separation from him following it on the list of my worst experiences.

Solitude avoided me at home, but wasn't enough.

One time on the way home, I was overhearing the team's conversations (nothing particularly new really) and it was a discussion about the future. It was honestly surprising to find out only some of us intended to become soccer players; Nagi would rather stream or compete in professional gaming, Kurona wants to study marine biology in uni, and Yukimiya wants to give acting a go along with his modelling career. Even Isagi has a plan for if professional soccer isn't an option. He said he wanted to help others achieve their dreams if he fails to do so himself.

I remained silent as always, but had a lot more thoughts racing through my mind. Retreating to my room immediately that night, my first thought was to lie in bed, to neglect the clips I planned to analyse, to ignore muscle training for today and to slack off a bit. That's when I realized how sad the life I was living. I was sad because I was reminded of my reality.

I'm a mere myriad of distinguished achievements, though a hideous attempt of replicating genius Itoshi Sae. I'm a collection of formidable accomplishments, basking in the spotlight of glory and honour. The trophies and awards adorning my room prove it, standing tall with pride and flaunting my hard work.

That didn't mean anything. I had remained in a constant cycle of training, eating, and sleeping. My teammates were just as ambitious yet still worked hard on other things; Yukimiya enjoys modelling and Reo has a passion for economics, That must've been where I was lacking.

That's how I ended up writing again. It was an attempt to break out of this cyclical torture of constant training and sports.

I don't know how I remembered it, but I found my notebook from primary, all the stories messily scrawled yet legible. Scarlet adorned narratives birthed from child-like imagination, eulogising the prose, even though I almost flinched out of embarrassment.

Flipping through the pages, I had found the paragraph my teacher left me, insisting that I keep writing. Obviously, I never did. After getting into soccer I ignored everything school related, and would've found words on a page foolish anyways.

Many years later, I finally followed that advice.

The end result wasn't pretty. I paused a lot, struggled a lot, and almost gave up, a lot. It may have been hideous, but it was mine. A piece birthed from curiosity and memories from the past turned into another attempt. Another attempt morphed into extensive reading, I wanted to observe what was considered worthwhile or meaningless.

Writing rewove the early nights into late night reading, fully immersed in the author's thoughts translated into prose. Reading was the push to giving academics a go. Academics pulled me out of the endless cycle of soccer, there was more to life than training and diet regulation.

Books I can read. Words I can write. Exams I can study for and sports I can practice. Weights I can lift and competitions I can train for.

But to be loved, is so difficult.

It's not like an exam that you can study for and simply memorise the answers to. Or a match that has the security of a referee and reinforced rules. It's not something that can be guaranteed with a mentor.

People treat Isagi to his favourite whenever he has a bad day (he likes kintsuba). People advocate their favourite novels to Yukimiya and Chigiri, even going as far as memorising their preferences to curate their recommendations flawlessly. It must be nice, for someone to invest that sort of effort in you, even if it's simply remembering a hobby.

As my peers savoured the allure of love, estrangement and desolation constantly haunted me; a pest habituating the sleepless nights where I try to escape with a cup of coffee that's long gone cold.

It's lukewarm, praying for another's attention, care and love, to be hungry for one's time. I pathetically plead whoever manipulating my fate to provide me some sort of human connection. I shouldn't be so hopeful of others, yet I find myself dying of curiosity; what would it be like for someone to remember my birthday? Or tell me about the horror movie they adored?

I despise solitude's clinginess. But I hate how it makes me sob endlessly when no one watches.

I have myself. I have my thoughts which I've transcribed to oeuvre. I have the pile of books resting on my bedside table which sleep alongside with me. I have the trophies and awards I've won, I'll always appreciate my own talent and diligence, even if playing soccer brought me so much pain.

I think I'm somewhat pretty. I find my prominent eyelashes special to me, it's something unique to both me and Nii chan. My physique isn't too bad, either. I like the way my legs look, and my shoulders as I dry my hair.

I've always been proud of myself. I've always been enough and I always will be. Just not for others.

That's why I never expected my bond with solitude to be severed so easily. Especially because of y/n out of all people.

I still don't get how it happened. The oblivion to their presence became a peculiar first impression. An odd first meeting turned into abrupt yet regular greetings amidst hallways. Soon, I was sitting with them in every class, passing notes during tedious lessons and discussing our favourite media on the bus ride home.

Before I knew it, passionate rambles about books turned into watching movies together in my room. Whenever they greeted me their friendly wave was replaced with a tight hug, passing notes in class were accompanied with subtle kisses on the cheek.

Our relationship as friends was reimagined to lovers.

Something must've possessed me to blurt out the stupid crush I had on them, and I thank whatever drove me to do that. As awkward as I was it doesn't compare to the skip of my heartbeat when they accepted my feelings.

It's been almost a year since I met them, yet I still feel hot whenever they hold my hand, and flush red at every compliment they whisper. I still find myself stuttering sometimes whenever they're showing me a new outfit they've styled.

I love the way they smile, the creases of joy that adorn the outer corner of their eyes, and how they squint with glee and the sweet, melodious laughter that accompanies it; how breathless they sound whilst laughing. The expression they wear when deep in thought fascinates me, even if it's midway through an exam or them simply observing a video Bachira sent them. I adore their late night thoughts they text me at 3 am, the fatigue itching my eyes seem to evaporate when I notice their name on the notification. I treasure the notes we've scrawled on spare sheets of paper, they're still in between the pages of my books.

Even now, they're sleeping soundly in my bed, arms wrapped around the plush I bought them; I keep getting distracted by the sight of them so relaxed, chest rising up and down with each breath.

I would die for them. Because now I don't need to pretend to be invested on my phone to look less lonely. Now, I don't need to put my bag on the seat next to me to make it look like I sit alone by choice. I don't have to persuade the teacher to let me do group projects alone, or have to observe others with jealousy. Someone defends me from disparaging comments.

Because now, I'm not alone.

7:15 am

THE ENTRY COMES TO AN END, AND EMBARASSMENT DUSTS Rin's face a faint tint of pink. His eyes avoid contact with yours— as he waits for your input his latest piece.

"Well? What do you think?"

You're not sure where to start. You've always known about his strained relationship with his older brother, and how his friendship with his teammates wasn't the same in the beginning. But he never explained it in detail; you wouldn't've guessed that he had some sort of chionophobia, or even cried because he felt so secluded from others. The thought of him concealing his tears and pain from the rest of the world made your eyes prickle and sends your heart racing miserably.

"Doesn't matter—" He reaches for the notebook, closing it and tossing it onto his desk. "Forget it, you didn't see anything." He plops backwards again, head hitting the pillow and groaning as he covers his face with his forearm. "It was shit anyways, I'll rip it out and toss it later."

"It wasn't."

Rin stays silent.

You lie down, mimicking his current position and cup his cheeks with your hand. "You'll never be alone again—, I promise you that." Your voice falters ever so slightly, the thought of his pain makes you feel weak in the knees and sick to the stomach. "You're more than enough, you always have and always will be. You don't need anyone's validation to be beautiful, you never did."

Rin sighs, "I'm only like that because of you." Yet something seems to throb in his heart, the small but overpowering part of him that insists he requires another's approval to be important— someone finally proving that wrong.

"That's not true."

"Yes it is, our classmates still loathe me, so do people who barely see or speak to me." There was no lie in that; but it wasn't Rin's fault. "Yoichi and the others only spend time with me because of you."

"I was only the push for them to speak to you, you know they've always cared, they were just too nervous to speak to you. As competitive as he gets, Yoichi really admires you, to the point he gets so heated and ends up rambling about your skills." That's a secret that was supposed to remain in your private messages, but Yoichi doesn't need to know.

Satisfaction momentarily appears on Rin's face at the thought of his rival's great respect, though it doesn't last very long.

"He's my teammate so it's expected... everyone I speak to at school seems to have something against me, even our English teacher." The mistreatment at school is undeniable, it's not exactly bullying but there's no respect or human decency in how people behave towards him.

"Rin, love, you've done nothing wrong, hate isn't always rational. There will always be people who can't stand seeing others more successful, and that's not your fault."

"Really?" His eyes light up; despite having a sophisticated and cold demeanour all the time, he looks like a child again, hope dances in his wide eyes.

"Really." Your fingers take advantage of the opportunity and pinch his cheeks gently. "Don't listen to all those stupid rumours and assumptions, idiot. I'd fight anyone who tries to hurt you and win every time."

When your fingers let go he immediately kisses you, and it leaves you breathless; the way he pulls you in flexes his well toned biceps and his hand supports your head.

"Thank you." Rin whispers, pulling away a bit. "Thank you for appreciating me. Thank you for everything." It's a rare occurrence for him to sound so frail, same goes for the tremble of his bottom lip.

"Of course, I love you more than anything."

"I love you too." It's escorted by a peck on your nose, and a soft expression sculpted on his face.

Before Rin can throw a blanket over the two of you again, you interrupt.

"You shouldn't throw that entry away." You still haven't forgotten his initial intention with it. "I don't get why you think it's shit."

"It's rushed. And it's just me waffling on about my feelings and the past. There's no proofreading, and it's rushed. It's not even complete either."

"That's the whole point of writing, no? It's the expression of our words and thoughts." You reach towards his desk to pick up the notebook. "Not everything has to be written in one sitting, too."

Rin doesn't bother stopping you from looking through the notebook at this point. "It's still stupid. It's just that I had the urge and motivation to write in the dead of night."

"Well. I like it."

Rin's stoic expression crumbles, revealing the bashful side he keeps concealed from the world. "Then that's good enough for me." The red on his cheeks tell you that you've won the argument.

You turn back to the entry page, impressed with his barely legible yet pretty handwriting. "You should've slept instead."

"I don't get tired anyways." He's quickly betrayed by the yawn clawing out of his throat.

"Liar. Why would you stay up writing so late... your sleep is important you know?"

"Because you are love itself. I won't get a wink of sleep if it means I can think and write about you instead." Rin's pulls you in again, tossing his notebook elsewhere as he leans in. "I promise I'll finish that entry, no— I'll write a book about you one day."

"Writing this, writing that, sleep first dumbass." A smile tugs at your lips as you pull Rin back into the position you were cuddling in a few hours ago. Even though you were the one who slept a lot more, fatigue itched your eyes, and a yawn spilled out too.

In response, Rin tosses a blanket over the two of you, whispering good night as you begin to nod off a bit. He should rest too, he has training tomorrow and has to go to the gym as well.

The Itoshi Rin from before would've slept immediately. In fact, he wouldn't've stayed up in the first place, let alone date someone. But the Itoshi Rin now instead stares at you, admiring each and every feature of yours. You're his savior, the luminescent moon irradiating his world, guiding him away from the grasps of solitude and embracing him with love instead.

Tagging: @yuzurins (yumi you inspired this fic btw lol)

#blue lock #blue lock x reader #bllk x reader #bllk #fluff #itoshi rin #itoshi rin fluff #itoshi rin x y/n #itoshi rin x reader #itoshi #rin #blue lock manga #blue lock rin itoshi #blue lock rin

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jpmarvel90 · 8 months

Text

Don't let me down - Part 9

Y/n's POV:

Masterlist Scarlett Masterlist

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

Relationship: MamaScarlett x 16 yr old Reader

Summary: Whilst Y/n tries to distract herself from the impending court case with Mr Woodstock. She ends up having to face another hurdle she wasn't expecting.

Word count: 6993

Trying to focus on my schoolwork and soccer has been really hard since Danny came around and dropped the bomb that I'm likely going to have to testify against Mr Woodstock. Scarlett and Colin have been great and are supporting me more than I could ask. They're not pushing me, but they are there when I have my moments. I'm glad that I have them to go through this with.

When I told Laura, I've never seen her more angry. She started ranting about how unfair it is to make, not just me, but the other kids have to relive what we went through. She's spent a lot of time with me after school and I'm sure that her and Scarlett have been texting about me. Part of me is a little annoyed as I feel like I'm being watched, but then I'm grateful they care about me enough to check in with each other.

We had a meeting with the DA who is leading the case and he has confirmed that I will be asked a number of questions by himself and then the defence lawyer will have a chance to also question me. The thought of that terrifies me as I know that they are just going to try and prove me wrong or discredit my testimony. I've seen enough Law & Order SUV to know how it goes.

However, both Danny and the DA have assured me that they'll coach me in responding to the questions. I'll already know what they plan to ask me, so I'll be prepared from that point of view. However, we'll have no idea what the defence may say. So, we're going to do some sessions together where they'll prepare me as best they can.

Scarlett has tried to suggest that I do it via video link to give me an extra layer of protection, but I know that I want to be there. I can't bring my parents to justice for the years I spent being abused by them, but I can to Mr Woodstock. It's not just me he hurt and if I had the balls to do this earlier, I could have stopped the other kids getting hurt too.

When we left the DA's office, I felt dread over the upcoming court case. We have a month to prepare before I'll need to testify. Thankfully, I don't need to be there for anything else. It's one day and then hopefully they'll find him guilty, and I'll be able to move on and put my past firmly behind me. Allow me to focus on how my life is going to be better moving forward.

The sessions with Danny have been ok. He's predicted what he believes the defence may ask and then poses the question to me. We then work on how I can approach different elements. He also helps me to control my emotions and focus on breathing. Taking a breather is not a bad thing and will only reflect badly on the defence lawyer if he tries to move me on.

I think the sessions are helping, but I feel drained after every one. I cry in each one and I hate it. Reliving what happened is bad enough, but having to prepare to defend that I'm telling the truth is horrible. I just hope that this is all worth it.

Thankfully, we have our next soccer games this week and it's providing me with something to focus on. It's still hard to give me full attention, but I owe it to the team to still be the best player and captain that I can be. This week, Lizzie is joining Scarlett and Rose to watch. Unfortunately, Colin is working today so can't make it. Scarlett decided to leave Cosmo with Melanie so the three of them can enjoy the afternoon before coming to school to watch the game.

We're so far unbeaten this season. We had two preseason games that gave us a good platform to work from. But we've only play 5 league games. We're playing well and hopefully we'll be able to make it into the playoffs at the end of the year. But today's game will be the biggest test that we've had yet. Rochford High are a tough team and they are aggressive.

I use the warmup to get my mind completely on the game and make sure that I don't let it drift off to everything that is happening in my personal life. Laura is great at keeping me smiling as she jokes around, and we make sure our pre-game warm up doesn't change even though we're playing a tough team.

As we're taking on water, my eyes scan the bleachers, which are bursting tonight. It's like the whole local town has turned up. My eyes quickly land on my little sister who is jumping up and down and waving at me when she sees me looking. I wave back and pull a face at her whilst Lizzie and Scarlett wave to me also.

It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to see them in the stands. I never thought I would have people here to support me. Scarlett has been to every one of my home games. She even rearranged work to come to the one of them. It makes me feel wanted and loved and it's a strange feeling for me. But I like it and I couldn't be more grateful to see them in the crowd.

Coach Saunders calls us into a huddle and gives us an inspiring team talk. I gulp when I have to follow him up, but I make sure to be confident and re-enforce our teamwork and we win together and lose together. With our huddle over, I make my way over to the referee for the coin toss. I shake their captain's hand and internally fist pump when we win the coin toss. I decide to kick off first and we take our places on the pitch waiting for the whistle to blow.

The game is frantic from the first whistle. As expected, they play hard and are hitting us off the ball a lot. We change our tactic to have quick and accurate passing, which works and starts to frustrate them. They end up fouling us a lot more and the ref warns them about their actions.

We take advantage of this when Laura is on the receiving end of a beautiful freekick from Bella. Even though she's tasselling with the defender, she's able to get up higher than her and her head meets the ball. I watch as it flies past the keeper and into the back of the net.

The crowd go wild as we rush around Laura and Bella, cheering the perfect set piece. "I'm proud of you babe." I tell her as we walk back to our side of the pitch for the restart, my arm draped over her shoulder. "I need to keep impressing you." She smirks, nudging me. "Consider me impressed." I return, moving to take my spot.

We manage to dominate the first half but don't get any more goals. We've been able to adapt our play to make their efforts ineffective. We can see that it's just frustrating them more and that carries on into the second half. We're getting so many shots on goal but we're just not getting it in the net.

They manage to catch us on the counterattack, and I rush back to provide support in defence, with a well time sliding tackle I dispossess their striker as she's about to take her shot on goal. I quickly jump to my feet and sprint down the pitch to get myself into an open position.

Seeing I'm in open space, I call for the ball and trap it with my foot. Looking up I see it's just me against two defenders, my team still getting back into position from the counterattack. Not wasting anytime, I take on the first defender, getting around her with ease.

I look up hoping to see someone in the box, but I'm still the furthest up the field. With a swift nudge to the ball, I megs the final defender and run around her, despite her efforts to stop me getting to the ball. Just as she tugs my t-shirt, I manage to get a good connection with the ball and watch as it sails into the top corner. Though I'm now on the floor as a result of the shirt tug.

This doesn't stop the team celebrating with me, bundling on me on the floor. With our celebration over, Laura holds her hand out to me to help me back to my feet. "You just had to one up me didn't you." She teases. "Maybe I want to impress you too." I wink at her as she shakes her head at my antics. As I'm moving back for the restart, I look to the crown and wave to Rose who's still cheering. She really is my biggest fan, and she looks adorable in our team jersey.

With our energy up, we just seem to get better. With our third goal, the pressure seems to disappear and we're playing more freely. When we win a freekick near the corner flag, I'm on the hunt for a second goal. I'm stood on the edge of the box and hold my hands in the air to indicate the play we should go for.

As the ball is crossed into the box, I run in and go to jump to try and get my head on the ball. Their defender goes up with me, but I see her elbow wind back as she jumps. She's not looking at the ball and I'm helpless as I watch her elbow move towards my face. For a split second I feel pain as she makes a connection, but it soon disappears as I fade into darkness.

Scarlett's POV:

This is the best that I've seen the team play. They're working as a cohesive group and seem to be able to counter anything the other team throw at them. I'm so proud when Y/n scores and the three of us cheer along with the rest of the crowd as the team celebrate.

Y/n had talked about how difficult this game was going to be. The opposition are probably one of the only teams that can match their ability, but they just don't seem to be able to break the team down. Instead of regrouping they're just getting more frustrated.

It's great seeing the smile on Y/n's face. I've not seen her smile like that in a while since we learnt about the court case. Soccer has always brought her happiness and I'm glad it's giving her an outlet today.

The team get ready for another freekick, and it seems certain that it's only a matter of time before they score again. My eyes are on my daughter as the anticipation builds. However, when I see an elbow collide with her face, I'm instantly out of my seat shouting for a foul.

However, I instantly freeze when I see Y/n on the floor not moving, her leg bent in an awkward angle. "Lizzie, watch Rose." I call out as I rush down the stairs of the bleachers and jump over the railing. Coach Saunders sees me and waves me over as he's knelt down next to my unconscious daughter.

As I reach her, I can hear the team arguing with the ref and a couple of them scuffling with the other team, mainly the defender that hit her. "Is she ok?" I ask, panic filling my voice as I kneel down next to her. Laura on one side holding her hand tightly. My eyes look over her and I see blood on her face from her nose. My eyes then move down to her leg, and I have to fight back tears. "She fell awkwardly and landed on her leg as she didn't have control over her body." Coach Saunders explains, moving so I can get in closer.

Fear overrides me as I'm desperate for my daughter to wake up. "We've called 911 and they should be here shortly." One of the assistant coaches calls out. "Y/n baby, wake up for me please." I beg her, my hands gently cupping her face. "Come on sweetheart." I encourage her, hoping that she might start to stir. My eyes flick to Laura who's watching on with teary eyes.

I move my hand and place it over hers that is already holding Y/n's. "She's going to be ok right?" Laura asks, looking up to me hopefully. "Of course she is. She's strong." I reassure her, though I'm scared myself. Thankfully, we don't have to wait for long for the ambulance to arrive and almost simultaneously, Y/n starts to stir awake. "Y/n, sweetie. It's Scarlett are you ok?" I ask her as her eyes fill with fear. "Mom?" She whispers, making my heart clench at the name. I don't let it get to me and focus on her. "I'm here baby. You're ok. The paramedics are here." I tell her and she nods.

She obviously starts to feel the pain and she starts to cry out. "It's ok babe. You're going to be fine. They'll get you some good stuff soon." Laura tries to joke through her own tears. The paramedics soon join us, and we reluctantly have to move out of the way as they treat her.

I take a moment to breathe and notice the referee brandish a red card to the defender that hit her. I have to fight from going over to the kid and giving her a piece of my mind. But I have to remember she is just that. A kid. "Mommy! Is Y/n, ok?" Rose calls out to me. I glance to Y/n and see she's being looked after and right now I need to comfort my other daughter.

I walk over to her and pick her up instantly. "She's hurt, but she's being looked after. She's going to have to go the hospital, but she'll be ok." I reassure her as she nods in my neck. "I can take Rose home whilst you're with Y/n." Lizzie offers but Rose instantly argues with that idea. "I don't want to leave Y/n. Please!" She begs. "I can bring her to the hospital?" Lizzie offers and I think for a moment. "You have to understand that it's going to be boring." I explain to Rose, and she nods. "I want to be there to protect Y/n." She responds, making my heart warm at her cuteness.

"How about we go home and grab some things for you both and then we'll come to the hospital." Lizzie suggests. "If you wouldn't mind that would be great." I agree, looking back towards Y/n. "Go, text me where you are, and we'll see you later." Lizzie says when she sees my concern. "Thank you, Lizzie. I love you Rose, and we'll see you later." I say before rushing back to be with Y/n.

They're currently giving her some gas and air when I return, and the paramedic looks to me. "Are you mom?" She asks and I nod. "We're just stabilising her leg and then we'll get her to the hospital. They'll assess her there and give her some additional pain relief." She explains and I nod along, my eyes fixated on Y/n.

Seeing where my eyes are the paramedic continues to reassure me. "This may look scary at the moment, but we need to also to stabilise her head just in case there are any injuries to her neck. We're making sure we take every precaution to prevent further injury." I continue to nod along. Understanding why they're doing what they're doing. It just doesn't make it any easier to watch.

I take my place next to Y/n and provide her any comfort I can whilst she is being seen too. "Can I come with you?" Laura asks, looking from Y/n to me. "No." Y/n jumps in taking Laura by surprise, her eyes showing the hurt. "You need to finish the game." Y/n clarifies. "But..." Laura goes to defend but Y/n cuts her off. "I'll still be broken when the game is over. I'm ok and not going anywhere. Quite literally." She jokes, making us both chuckle. "Please, you need to make sure we win this game and then you can come and see me." She requests. Laura reluctantly agrees but doesn't leave her side until she's guided on to the gurney and moved toward the ambulance. "I'll keep you updated." I promise Laura who nods, reluctant to let go. "I'll see you shortly babe." She smiles, placing a gentle kiss on Y/n's lips, who gives a giddy smile.

I climb in the back of the ambulance and take a seat next to Y/n, reaching out to hold her hand. The paramedics get in and we start on our journey to the hospital. "It hurts mom." Y/n looks to me, tears in her eyes. My heart skips a beat again when she calls me mom. "I know. I'm sorry you're hurt. But I'm here for you." I try to comfort her. "The doctors will be able to get you some morphine when you're in the ER." The paramedic tells Y/n, which seems to appease her for now.

Thankfully, it's not long until we're at the hospital and we're being taking through to the ER where a doctor and some nurses are waiting for us. The potential injury to her neck is their biggest concern right now and they want to confirm there isn't any further injury before properly addressing her leg.

I stand to the side feeling completely helpless as I watch the doctors and nurses move around Y/n, calling out stats and information as they go. The whimpers from Y/n make my heart break. I wish I could take the pain away from here. "Let's get a canula set up and we'll get some pain relief." One of the doctors orders.

Thankfully, the morphine seems to start working quite quickly and Y/n's whimpers start to peter out as the medicine does its job. "Mrs Johansson?" The call of my name tears my eyes away from my daughter and to the doctor who is stood next to me with a kind smile on his face. "Hi, I'm Dr Greenwood. I'm the primary physician for your daughter." He greets me. "On initial examination, it's clear that Y/n has a broken leg and potentially a facial fracture too. We're confident there is no damage to her neck, but we want to be sure before removing the brace. So, we'll be sending her down for some x-rays and scans so we can get a full assessment of her injuries." He explains and I nod along.

"We've given her pain relief and that seems to be working and she's much more comfortable now. I know it's hard to see your kid in pain, but I can assure you we're doing everything that we can to make sure she is comfortable." He assures me, making smile. "Thank you. I appreciate everything you're doing." I respond. "I can get one of the nurses to show you to a private waiting room whilst Y/n is taken for imagery, and we'll come and get you as soon as she's settled in a room." He offers. "Can I see her first?" I request. "Of course. We're just waiting for the porters now." He responds and moves out of the way for me to see Y/n.

The madness around her has died down now and she's just got a couple of nurses monitoring different things. "Hi sweetheart. How are you feeling?" I ask Y/n as I take her hand and gently run my hands through her hair. "Tired and sore." She responds with a croaky voice. Her eye is already starting to swell and bruise, a reminder of the harsh act that led to her being in the hospital. "They're going to take you to get some scans of your leg and neck in a minute. I'll be waiting for you to come back." I explain. "Does that mean I can get this thing off?" She asks, tugging a little at the neck brace. "As long as the scans come back clear you'll be free of the prison." I respond with a smirk, happy that there is a smile on her face.

"We're ready to take her now." One of the nurses tells us. "I'll be right here waiting. I love you ok." I tell her firmly. "I love you too." She responds, taking me by surprise. I don't think she's ever said that to me before. It causes a tear to fall down my cheek as I smile at her lovingly. "Mom, you've got to let me go." She chuckles, just adding to my happiness. I try not to think to much of it, before she was in pain and now, she's on drugs. When she's more with it, we may be going back to Scarlett, but I'll take it for now!

I watch as they roll Y/n away down the corridor, taking a deep breath. I'm then guided to a private waiting room, which I'm very grateful for. I'd rather this not be how news of Y/n gets out. I want it to be on our terms and when she's comfortable. I quickly text Lizzie an update and she confirms they're packing a bag for Y/n as it's likely she'll be in overnight.

Now I just need to call my husband. He's at work today preparing for filming tonight. I hesitate in calling him, but I know that he'd want to be told that she was in the hospital. I hit his contact name and wait for him to answer.

Colin: Hi babe. How was the game? Did they win?

He asks instantly, excitement in his voice. I love how invested he is in Y/n's soccer games.

Scarlett: Uh I'm not actually sure. Y/n got hurt during the game and we're currently at the hospital.

Colin: WHAT?! Is she ok? What happened? How badly is she hurt?

He rambles down the phone, panic lacing his voice.

Scarlett: She was elbowed in the face by a defender when she jumped to head a ball. It knocked her out and as she fell, she landed on her leg awkwardly.

Colin: Oh my God. Was it deliberate? Actually, never mind. I'm leaving work now and I'm coming to the hospital. What did the doctor say?

Scarlett: Col, you don't need to do that. Y/n understands you're working and she's doing ok? She's currently having scans to see how badly her leg is broken and to rule out a neck injury.

Colin: Of course, I'm coming. She's my daughter. Family always comes first, you know that.

I smile down the phone when he refers to Y/n as his daughter. He did it so easily. I really need to bring up the whole adoption thing again. I don't think I can go much longer without having her legal be my daughter. I want her to know that she has a loving mom and dad who will be there for her no matter what.

As he's on the phone I can hear him explaining the situation to someone, I'm assuming the director, who easily agrees for him to leave. He then starts to rush around to get to the car.

Colin: "Ok. I'm about to drive. I'll see you in about 30 minutes. I love you.

Scarlett: I love you too. Drive safely.

And with that he hangs up. I wait nervously to hear that Y/n is back. I'm still worried she's going to have further damage to her neck. I know they said they don't think there is anything to untoward about it, but I can't get the worrying sick feeling out of my stomach.

"Mrs Johansson?" I look up and see Laura waiting hesitantly in the doorway. "How many times do I have to tell you to call me Scarlett." I smile at her, opening my arms to her. She instantly moves forward and melts into my hug. "How is she?" She questions as we move to sit. I fill her in on everything the doctor said, and she listens intently.

"Do you know how hard it was not to go and punch that bitch in the face." She fumes after I explain the extent of her injuries. "I probably shouldn't admit this as the adult in this situation, but I feel the same." I admit to chuckles. "Did you win?" I ask and a smile grows on her face. "We scored two more goals. It was 4-0 in the end." She responds proudly. "Y/n will be happy." I say and Laura nods. "Turns out playing for a teammate helped us to play even better. We wanted to do our best for our captain." She explains.

Not too long later, Colin comes bursting through the door, giving both Laura and I a heart attack. "Jeeze Colin!" I scold, my hand clutching my chest as my racing heart starts to calm. "S-sorry. I was just worried." He apologises. "How is she?" He asks. "We've not heard anything more since I called you. They said it could be a little while whilst she has the different scans and x-rays." I reply.

"Where's Rose?" Colin asks when he notices it's just me and Laura in the waiting room. "With Lizzie. They're getting a bag together, so Y/n has some things with her. Rose is adamant about being here for her big sister." I explain, earning an aw from Laura. "I can ask your mom to come and collect her later and keep the kids over night until we know more." Colin suggests. "I think that'll be wise. Rose can see how Y/n is doing and head to mom's before bedtime." I agree.

Colin places a kiss to my head and moves to the other side of the room to call my mom and explain what has happened. She already has Cosmo today, so she's happy to take Rose too. Though she's concerned for her granddaughter too. I think Y/n is going to be spoilt when she's home.

When Colin joins us again, he takes the seat next to me and wraps a supportive arm around me. I move to rest my head on his shoulder, taking in his comfort. "She called me mom." I say quietly. "What was that?" Colin asks. "She called me mom. When she was on the field, she called me mom and then again in the ambulance and here in the hospital." I explain in more detail. "I'm sure it's just because she's in pain and on drugs but hearing her call me that, it made my heart almost burst." I share, my emotions building once again.

"She means it." Laura speaks up from beside me. Both Colin and I turn to look at her. "Yes, she's in pain and high right now. But she means it. This has just given her the outlet to be able to say it. You've given her a safe and loving environment. Yes, it's taken her a while to be able get to this point. But you never pushed her. I don't think you realise how much that means to her." She explains with a soft smile on her face.

"All I have wanted is to be the mother she deserves. I never thought that she would forgive me, let alone get to a point she could call me mom." I admit, tears welling up in my eyes. "Family of Miss Y/l/n?" A nurse enters the room and calls for us. The sound of Y/n's surname bringing me down for a moment. "You need to work on changing her name." Laura smirks at me as we stand and follow the nurse.

She takes us to a private ward where Y/n is laid in bed, her neck brace off. I breath a sigh of relief knowing there is no injury there. Laura rushes in first and carefully hugs Y/n, pressing a kiss to her lips. "I'm so glad you're ok. It was horrible seeing you out cold." She tells her, cupping her cheeks and gently rubbing her thumb over her cheek. "Did you win?" Y/n asks, making us laugh. "I see you have your priorities right." Laura chuckles. "And yes, we won 4-0." She adds on. "See you don't need me on the team." Y/n responds with a sad smile.

We all get comfortable and wait for the doctor to come in and tell us the severity of Y/n's injury. Laura sits on one side, holding Y/n's hand tightly, whilst Colin and I flank her on the other side. "Aren't you filming tonight?" Y/n asks Colin. "Not anymore, I have to been here for my daughter." He responds, his words causing a wide smile to appear on Y/n's face. "Thanks dad." Y/n responds, her eyes glossed over. "D-did you. Did you just..." Colin stutters in shock. Y/n nods, smiling nervously. "I hope you both don't mind me calling your mom and dad. My experience of parents hasn't a good one. I don't really know what a good mom and dad looks like. But I'm pretty sure it's the both of you. I've not been easy yet you've both been there for me, supporting me and loving me. Especially these last couple of weeks with the court case. To me you are my mom and dad." Y/n shares, making both Colin and I cry.

"Oh, my sweet girl. I have been waiting, hoping, you may one day see me as your mother. Hearing you call me mom, it's everything I could ask for." I reassure her as I hug her gently, placing a kiss to her head. Y/n then looks to Colin who's a blubbering mess, making us all laugh. "Like I said, I've seen you as my daughter from the beginning. Being your dad is an honour I'm glad you've allowed me to have." He expresses, getting up and hugging her also.

A clearing of a voice gets all of our attention, and our heads snap to see the doctor in the doorway a file in his hand. "Sorry to interrupt this moment, but I have Y/n's results." He explains. "Please come on in." Colin composes himself and moves back to his seat as the doctor enters the room.

"Ok, Y/n, having examined your scans, I'm happy to say there is no injury to your neck. Though you probably know that as we removed your brace." He starts off. "However, you do have a fractured eye socket, so that is going to look pretty nasty for a few weeks. There's not much we can do other than provide you pain relief and wait for it to heal." He explains and Y/n nods in understanding.

"Now, on to your leg." I feel Y/n's hand tense in my own as we wait to hear the damage. "You have a displaced transverse fracture to your tibia. This means that it's a complete break of the bone and the two parts are not aligned. In this instance, we will need to surgically realign your leg and put in some pins to secure the fracture, allowing it to heal effectively." The doctor explains, showing us the x-rays of Y/n's clearly broken leg.

Y/n's breath hitches at the news, tears filling her eyes. "Will I be able to play soccer again?" She asks, fear lacing her voice. At the vocalisation of her worries, Laura sits forward and holds her other hand tightly. "I have every confidence that with a successful surgery and physio, you'll be playing again." He responds with a smile. Y/n's whole body relaxes at the confirmation, but I know there is still one question on her mind. "How long until I can play again?" She asks him.

"You'll be in a cast for about 6 weeks and from there you'll start physio. I would guess that you could be back into light training within 8 weeks and playing within 10." He replies. "Wow, that's a long time." Y/n whispers, her head dropping. "You'd be back in time for playoffs." Laura tries to comfort her. "And we'll still need our captain. You're more than the player on the pitch Y/n." Laura reassures her, placing a kiss to her hand. She nods unsurely before the doctor goes into more detail about surgery and recovery.

She'll be going in for surgery in the morning as it's already late this evening. She has a temporary brace on her leg which will stop any more damage happening before they're able to surgically fix her leg. We thank the doctor who leaves us to it. "How are you feeling kiddo?" Colin asks, placing a hand on her uninjured leg. "10 weeks is a long time." She replies emotionlessly.

Soccer has been her saving grace these last two years. It's been an outlet whilst she's been going through so much, and it's suddenly taken away from her. I just hope that now she has a stable home, a loving girlfriend and family, that she won't lose herself.

A knock on the door gains our attention as we all giggle as we see Rose on her tiptoes trying to look through the window. I wave them in and Rose rushes to her sister's side. "Sissy! Are you ok?" Rose asks worriedly, trying to climb up onto the bed. Y/n leans forward to pick her up, but I tap her hand away and do it for her.

Rose is really careful as she sits next to Y/n staring at her now closed up eye. "I'm much better now my sister is here." She responds happily, a smile plastered on her face to hide her pain. "Auntie Lizzie told me that we can't bring your flowers, so I brought you chocolate instead. It's you're favourite." Rose shares, turning to Lizzie holding her hand out expectantly.

Lizzie chuckles and pulls out the chocolate bar from her bag and hands it's to Rose. "Yummy. Thank you, Rosie." Y/n responds, placing a kiss to her head. "That girl was mean. I hope she got told off and grounded for hurting you." Rose huffs snuggling into her sister. "Well, she was sent off and I can't imagine she'll get away without the ban being extended." Laura explains with an angry look on her face. I notice that Y/n reaches out and squeezes her hand in comfort, instantly calming down her fuming girlfriend.

"When can you come home?" Rose now asks as Lizzie makes herself comfortable. "We're not sure yet sweetie. Y/n has to have surgery tomorrow so probably a couple of nights." I explain, making Rose pout. "But I have school tomorrow." She complains. "That's ok Rosie. When I'm home we can have a movie day. Mom, dad, and Cosmo could join us too. What do you think?" Y/n suggests to help placate the 7 year old. "Can Laura come too?" Rose asks shyly. "Of course!" Y/n replies happily.

Lizzie's eyes go wide when she hears what Y/n called us as both Colin and I smile. Lizzie looks to me and I nod to confirm she heard correctly. "I'm happy for you." She mouths to me, not wanting to disturb the kids who are rambling about what movies to watch.

We spend the evening together, chatting and laughing. It's really nice, considering we're sat in a hospital room with my injured daughter laid up in bed. But as it hits 8pm, the nurse comes in and tells us that visiting hours are over. "Are you sure you're going to be ok on your own?" I ask Y/n, worried to leave her. "I can always talk to them about letting me stay." I offer but she shakes her head. "I'll be ok mom. I'm pretty tired so I'll probably get some sleep." She reassures me. "Ok, I'll have my phone on loud so if you need anything, just call or text ok. I can be here in 20 minutes." I tell her and she nods.

I bid her goodnight, leaving a soft kiss to her head, reminding her how much I love her. Colin does the same before picking up a sleepy Rose. We leave Y/n and Laura to have a moment before we all leave together. "Do you want me to drop Rose at your moms?" Lizzie offers, but I shake my head. "Thanks, but we'll go. I'd like to see Cosmo." I respond and she nods. "How about I drive you home. That way this lot can get back." Lizzie suggests turning to Laura.

She blushes at the attention making me smirk. She's totally fangirling right now! "Oh, you don't need to do that Ms Olsen." She declines. "Don't me stupid, come on. Besides it gives me a chance to get to know my niece's girlfriend." Lizzie insists, making Laura gulp a little. "Oh, and don't call me Ms Olsen. I'm not old. Please just call me Lizzie." She adds on, earning a slow nod from the teenager. We all walk out to the car park together and say our goodbyes before heading home.

__________

The next morning, Colin and I are at the hospital as soon as we're allowed so we can be with Y/n before she heads into surgery. She's in a lot of pain this morning and had a bad night sleep, which is horrible to see. I think she's grateful that she's going to be unconscious for a few hours whilst they fix her leg.

The surgeon comes in and talks through the procedure, though most of it goes over my head. I'm just grateful that it seems to be helping Y/n. The nurses are then in to prepare her before we walk with them as they wheel her to the operating floor. "We'll be right here when you wake. Rose and Laura will be here after school too, so you've got that to look forward to." I tell Y/n, hoping to comfort her when I see worry in her eyes. "We both love you very much. Everything is going to be just fine." Colin says, pressing a kiss to Y/n's head. "I love you both too. See you in a few hours." She smiles. I hold her close one last time and watch as they take her away. Colin wraps his arm around me to comfort me as we begin waiting for her to return.

Instead of waiting around in a cold room, we head to the cafeteria and have some breakfast. We both skipped it this morning, worried about Y/n. We talk about what we can do to make things easier for Y/n when she gets home. She's going to be reliant on us for a while and I want everything to be as easy as possible for her.

"Shit, we need to call Danny?" I suddenly say. "Why? You're not planning on suing the kid are you?" Colin jokes, making me roll my eyes. "No. But it's the court case in 9 days." I point out and he lets out a quiet "oh." I know she'll still be able to testify, but she's not exactly going to be very mobile and it's just something else to add on to a stressful period for her. "Danny will know what to do. He's always got Y/n's interests at heart. I'll call him when Y/n is out of surgery, and we'll leave him to deal with anything that needs doing." Colin reassures me.

After about three hours, we move back to Y/n's room to wait. They said surgery will be around 4 hours, and I we don't want to miss her coming back. We settle in and I makes sure her pyjamas are out as I know she'll want to change as soon as she can.

Half an our later a nurse comes by to say that surgery went well and she's just in post op now before they bring her back. I let out a sigh of relief knowing that everything is ok. We can focus on recovery.

Colin and I both crowd around Y/n when they bring her back in. She's still unconscious but the doctor said she should wake shortly. We take our seats either side of our daughter, holding her hands and taking comfort that she's back with us. When she starts to stir, I move to gently run my hands through her hair. "M-mom." She stutters at a whisper. "I'm here sweetheart. Colin is too." I greet her as her eyes flutter open.

I give her the biggest smile I can which she tries to return. Her head then flops to the side to see Colin. "Hey kiddo. Glad you're awake." Colin smiles to her. "Hi dad." She returns. I don't think either Colin or I are going to get used to that, but I will love hearing it every time. I will never take for granted any of my kids calling me mom.

The doctor comes in when Y/n is more with it, confirming that surgery went really well and that he's confident of a full and complete recovery. This relaxes Y/n and I notice that she's become determined to get fit so she can be ready for playoffs when they come around.

That afternoon Laura and Rose come to visit. Laura kindly picked Rose up from school for us. Mom is going to bring Cosmo around dinner time so we can have some family time together. But thankfully, the doctor confirmed that Y/n can come home with us tomorrow. I'm grateful that she won't be in this hospital for longer. I want my daughter home with us so we can all look after her. She's got a stressful few weeks ahead and we want to be by her side, supporting her, through all of it.

Part 10

#scarlett johansson x y/n #scarlett johansson x reader #scarlett johansson fanfiction #scarlett johansson #celebrity fanfic #celebrity fanfiction

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magicshopaholic · 11 months

Text

Other People (Seokjin x OC)

Summary: You learn a new trick, while Seokjin discovers something unexpected at Big Hit.

Pairing: Seokjin x OC

Genre: Best friends; angst

Word count: 8.5 K

Rating: 18+

Warnings: language, alcohol, mention of diets, mentions of brain surgery, mentions of a car accident (again, Nari is a surgeon, so)

A/N: This got unnecessarily long; I would apologise for it, but I couldn't find a single thing I wanted to delete. It's also two am so I've made an executive decision to not proofread this. I wish I could predict the reaction to this fic but I honestly have no idea. Takes place approximately three months after The Test.

Tagging: @bbl32 @quarter-life-crisis2 @dreaming-with-happiness @meirkive @faearchives @margopinkerton @purpleseoul7 @kflixnet (italics could not be tagged; drop a message if you want to be added)

Listen to: "don't know why" by norah jones

seokjin masterlist | main masterlist

It’s cold and rainy in Seoul, even when it shouldn’t be.

The day had started off as a nice sunny winter morning in November, the sun a soft golden, a welcome respite from the low temperature. As noon arrived, so did the clouds. By late afternoon, they were grey and ample, sealing the city in a coffin.

Now, the evening doesn’t look at all like it’s continued from the same morning. The rain comes down in torrents, creating a constant din, loud enough for people to have to speak in slightly raised voices to be heard properly.

Nari stands outside the ER with a coffee in one hand and her phone in the other, waiting for the ambulance to arrive. The coffee is losing its heat with every passing second and she tries to gulp it down as fast as she can without burning her tongue in the process.

“What do we have?” Daeun appears from behind her, tying her hair into a ponytail, trauma gown already on.

“Two cars crashed into each other outside the mall,” supplies Nari. “Five victims, multiple contusions, broken bones and at least one head trauma. Coffee?”

Daeun accepts the cup with a nod and takes a noisy sip. “Ah, that’s good stuff. Shit, the rain is bad. I don’t think this will be our only car accident today.”

“Not even close,” mutters Nari, as two more fellow doctors join them. “I just hope we have the room.”

“We don’t,” says Jason, shifting from one foot to another. “Two of the trauma rooms are still unusable from the pipe leakage and the most of the X-ray machines are done after the Wednesday Soccer Team Incident. We have exactly one CT machine in working condition. The hospital is going to have to scrape money off the sidewalk to pay for all those repairs,” he adds, shaking his head in disappointment.

“Good thing they’re hosting a fundraiser then,” says Daeun dryly, just as the ambulance pulls in and the paramedics spill out. “A bunch of rich donors with their cheque books hanging out of their pockets - if that doesn’t work, I don’t know what will.”

Two patients, strapped to a gurney each are then lowered out of the ambulance. All four of them dash forward and tag themselves to a patient, hurrying inside as they listen to the paramedics rattle off their initial assessment and vitals on the field. Nari finds herself next to a woman, possibly in her thirties, with fresh cuts on her face and arms. Her t-shirt is drenched and her jacket has been ripped off, most likely by the paramedics themselves.

“Abdomen is tender so there might be internal bleeding,” says one of the paramedics. “There was no fire but there’s indication that she might have a swollen airway because of the fumes.”

“Alright, we need to get a CT,” says Nari, scanning the ER for an empty trauma room but finding none. “Damn it,” she mutters. “Okay, we’re going to have to keep her here - maybe we can use an ultrasound for now until we can move her.”

“Empty bed over here.” Jason steers the gurney over and immediately hooks the patient up to an IV. “I’ll get the portable ultrasound.”

“I’ll check her airway.” Nari gets to work immediately, trying to intubate the patient, who seems to have passed out entirely. She’s almost done when Jason returns, a nurse and the portable ultrasound machine in tow.

“This better work,” he mutters to her as the nurse begins positioning the patient correctly. “If we can’t find the bleed on this, we’re going to have to get in line for CT, which will take… hours.”

“Here’s hoping,” she agrees, standing back and observing the screen as he moves the transducer over the patient’s abdomen. She sighs and bites her lip when the image comes up clean. “Nothing. Move it to the left?”

Jason obliges, clicking his tongue. “I can’t believe the hospital doesn’t have a budget set aside to fix this stuff. This is a hospital,” he repeats, sounding appropriately frustrated. “Damn it, this bleed is really small. It’s barely showing up on the scan.”

“It has to be there. Here, let me try,” she offers, taking the transducer from him and moving it slower along the woman’s torso. “Do we all have to actually go to this fundraising thing, though? Can’t we skip?”

Jason scoffs. “It’s either dress up and smile at a bunch of rich people or stay here in the ER all night because all the attendings will be at the event. We’re not going to get a night off. The best we can do is make sure we’re all there so we at least have someone to talk to.”

It takes a second to click. “Shit, that’s it.”

“What is? Did you find the bleed?”

“What? No. Sorry,” she mutters, going back to the ultrasound, feeling an encouraging flutter in her stomach. I didn’t find the bleed, she thinks apologetically. I found a segue.

—

It’s hours later when Nari finally gets a moment alone. Sitting at a table in the residents’ locker room, a sandwich in one hand and her phone in the other, she stares at her last chat with Seokjin. It’s a depressing series of heys and what’s ups and not muches, which is all it’s been for months now, ever since they’d last seen each other in August.

It started with superficial questions and forced conversation, half-hearted plans to meet before he had to leave for Europe again, until they dwindled down to monosyllabic answers that Nari found herself too humiliated to keep going, for more than one reason.

For one, it didn’t help her newfound insecurity of being a clingy friend, especially to a man who had made perfectly clear that he didn’t see her as anything but a friend. On top of that, she had no way of knowing what he was thinking. He wasn’t angry; she knew what Seokjin was like when he was angry and if he truly was, she would know.

No, he wasn’t angry. He was… distant. Part of it could’ve been that he was busy, completing an entire promotional activity across Europe. But now that he’s back from their last stop in Japan, Nari knows that they have to get back on track. Being her date to a fundraiser isn’t her top pick, but it might just be the right balance between an organized event where he can’t ignore her and a public enough place that they won’t have to be alone at any point. Besides, if it doesn’t happen now, between his stint in Europe and his tour beginning early next year, she has a sinking feeling that their relationship will stagnate right here.

She swallows, her heart racing slightly. It’s the middle of the night; Seokjin is most likely asleep, which gives her a great excuse to text and not call.

Nari [01:11]

Hey.

She sends it before she loses her nerve, the soft whoosh sounding awfully final. Her stomach tugs uncomfortably with anxiety that she’s only recently started to associate with Seokjin, a strange and new feeling of not being able to expect what’s coming.

She continues staring dementedly at the phone, its screen dark, until she finishes the entire sandwich.

“It’s the middle of the fucking night, Nari,” she mutters to herself, standing up with a groan and stretching. There’s no point wasting her night worrying when she’s probably not going to get a response until tomorrow. She changes out of her scrubs and runs a hand through her unwashed hair, counting herself lucky that she can get a good six hours of sleep before she has to return in the morning.

The rain has slowed to a drizzle now; despite the cold, Nari tilts her head to the sky slightly, welcoming the fresh air. She runs her hands through her hair again, feeling the droplets cooling her scalp as her hair falls around her shoulders in clumpy strands. She doesn’t even make it past the entrance when she feels the unmistakable vibration of her phone in her bag, touching her hip.

Nari freezes. This is unprecedented; Seokjin is never awake this late. Fishing out her phone, she lets out a low breath when she sees a message from him. She can ignore it, to be sure, and deal with it tomorrow morning - but then she would come off as a coward.

Maybe it’s the fact that it’s ridiculously late, maybe it’s the fact that she just spent a better part of the evening fixing a bleed in a person’s abdomen - but the inner voice in her head simply sighs tiredly and goes it’s just Seokjin, prompting her to shake her head and open his message.

Kimbap [01:35]

Hey.

It’s anticlimactic, for sure, but still unexpected. Nari takes a seat on a bench near the parking lot and wipes the droplets off her screen with the sleeve of her jacket, hoping this isn’t going to be another one of their pointless conversations.

But he replied, didn’t he?

He did. Even though it’s the middle of the night. Encouraged, she responds.

Nari [01:39]

Didn’t expect you to be awake.

Kimbap [01:40]

We’re watching a movie at the dorm.

Nari [01:40]

Oh. Which one?

Kimbap [01:41]

Hereditary. I hate it.

Nari [01:41]

Jesus. Then why are you still watching it?

Kimbap [01:41]

There’s a bet and Jungkook is involved. It’s a long story.

Nari’s immediate response of I have time gets backspaced instantly. The honest truth is that she doesn’t have time and he clearly doesn’t want to talk about it. She can’t be sure how well a joke will land right now but she also knows that she needs to respond fast or this is doomed to be another one of their hopeless attempts at a conversation.

All of a sudden, her phone rings and Nari almost drops it. It’s Seokjin, his name blinking bright on the screen. Now fully panicking - because this was not part of the plan - Nari looks around wildly around the empty parking lot, as though hoping for someone to spring out of the bushes and tell her what to do.

The phone is still ringing. Before she realises what’s happening, her thumb does an awkward sort of spasm and lands on the screen, answering the call.

Here goes nothing, she thinks. “Um, h-hello?” she stutters.

“Hey.”

It’s like a football being kicked into her ribcage from the inside. Nari winces, wondering when her anxiety got this severe, to the point where her best friend’s voice is starting to cause her physical comfort. She leans back on the bench and tries to breathe slowly.

“Aren’t you, um, watching a movie?”

“Yeah. But if I’m on the phone, I have a decent excuse to get out of it.”

Oh. Nari feels her shoulders deflate. “Glad to be of help,” she murmurs, chuckling awkwardly. “How - how are you? Are you in Seoul?”

“Yeah, I am. Busy, though,” he adds quickly. “The album’s coming out in a week, so there’s a lot of work going on for it.”

“Right. Of course. How’s that going?”

“It’s fine. Hectic, as per usual. What about you?” he asks after a moment. “How’s the hospital, and the… surgeries and stuff?”

“Same. I mean, hectic. As usual.” Nari closes her eyes and feels her heart sink at the sheer effort this conversation is taking. She can’t begin to think about how they got here and it seems way too exhausting to even try.

“You sound tired.” Seokjin pauses, the sentence sounding incomplete. “Have you - I mean, are you still at the hospital?”

“Going home now. I just got a sandwich at the cafeteria,” she adds, hoping she’s guessed his half-question right.

“Now? I thought you hated the night cafeteria.”

“I do, but it beats the vending machine crap. Have to make do when the jajjangmyeon isn’t an option,” she jokes, bracing herself for his response.

But all he does is chuckle half-heartedly. “Yeah. What’s up? You texted?”

“Oh, right. Yeah.” Nari had barely worked up the nerve to text him about the fundraiser; asking him over the phone was a whole different ball game. “I was just thinking…” She trails off, her eyes widening as her vocal chords stay unwilling to go further.

“M-hm?”

Pull yourself together, woman.

“I was thinking that… we haven’t hung out in a while,” she ventures bravely, her knee jerking up and down. “And there’s a - there’s a thing later this week, so… that could be… you know.” She swallows, wishing Jason hadn’t put this stupid idea in her head in the first place. “... If you want,” she finishes lamely.

Seokjin is silent for a few seconds, during which Nari goes from anticipation to full-blown horror. “I’m sorry, are you - are you inviting me to something?” he asks, sounding confused.

“Um, kind of?”

“Like a party?”

“Well, no. Not a fun one,” she says wryly. “It’s a - there’s a fundraiser. And I have to go and… yeah, I was wondering if maybe you do, too. Since we haven’t hung out in a while.”

“Fundraiser, huh?” He doesn’t sound enthused at all. “Like, for charity? Wait, who’s the charity?”

“We are the charity,” she explains, rolling her eyes. “The hospital. Which means it’s just going to be all board members and senior doctors and other board members - and us. The residents.”

“Huh. Way to make it sound appealing, Nari.”

“It’s not appealing, at all. But it’s free food and booze and I get a chance to get out of my scrubs,” she points out. “Nice dress, straightened hair. And you’ll have to wear a suit,” she adds apologetically.

“Right.” There’s a soft sound and Nari realises a moment later that he’s laughing quietly. It makes her stomach feel uncomfortably heavy.

“What?” she asks, a bit defensively.

“Nothing,” he says, still chuckling. “We haven’t hung out in a while, so your idea was to do so at a… boring work event?”

Nari is quiet for a moment. The fact that he laughed is still prickling. “Well, I’d be open to other suggestions but you haven’t really had the time,” she can’t resist saying. “I work long hours; I don’t really get a lot of other opportunities to go out.”

“Yeah, Nari, I work long hours, too,” he reminds her, sounding irritatingly calm. “But if it’s either that or a hospital charity fundraising event filled with doctors… I think I’ll pick the long hours.” He chuckles again.

You’re a fucking idiot, Nari.

“Got it. See you around, Seokjin.”

“Nari, come on, I was joking -”

His words get cut off when she hangs up, fuming. She puts her phone on silent then, for good measure, and begins storming home in the cold. She won’t respond to any of his calls or messages tonight, the arse, she thinks. But fate must be on her side, for even after she gets home, changes and gets into bed, Seokjin doesn’t call or message.

—

Seokjin reaches the Big Hit building earlier than required. There’s no one in the rehearsal room yet, not even Hoseok, so he decides to get a much needed shot of caffeine from the cafeteria on the fourteenth floor. As he waits in line, he scans the food menu, each item like a gourmet creation.

Have to make do when the jajjangmyeon isn’t an option.

Seokjin sighs and tries not to think about what Nari had for dinner last night, but by the time his coffee is handed to him, he knows he’s a goner. It had taken him every ounce of restraint to not reach out to her again last night, knowing that no good would come of it. But now, in the light of day, he knows he can’t avoid it any longer.

He calls her before he can talk himself out of it. Looking out at the city from the floor-to-ceiling windows and sipping his coffee, he hears her phone ring continuously until it goes to voicemail. He tries not to read too much into it; she’s probably already at work and she rarely answers unless she’s taking a break. It’s better than the other option; the feeling of Nari being angry with him is too foreign for him to consider right now.

He dials her number again to be certain and when it once again goes to voicemail, he clears his throat and takes another sip of coffee for liquid courage.

“Hey, Nari,” he begins, then sighs. “Look, I’m sorry if I was a bit of a dick last night. You just caught me off guard. Honestly, I… I didn’t think you really wanted to hang out with me so when you said you did, it just kind of threw me. And your event does sound boring,” he adds, hoping she hears the teasing in his voice, “but I’ll be there anyway. Suit and everything. I want to hang out with you, too,” he says after a moment, knowing the words don’t even begin to explain the magnitude of how much he wants to see her again, how hard it’s been to distance himself since the last time he saw her. “So… yeah. Text me the details.”

He should be saying something more but he can’t think what. As he looks around, hoping the words will come to him, he spots a figure just outside the cafeteria doors and does a double take. His mind runs through a myriad of memories to zero in on the right one, when he remembers he’s still on the phone.

“Anyway, I have to go. Bye.” Locking his phone and heading out towards the figure, Seokjin pushes his shoulders back and hopes he isn’t wrong. She’s in a slim navy blazer, skinny jeans and very high heels, a sleek laptop tucked under one arm and her fingers flying across the keypad of a Blackberry.

He taps her shoulder with a feather-light touch. “Um, hi? I think I have something that belongs to you?”

When she turns around, face carefully blank, Seokjin is momentarily sure of two things: one, that she is exactly who he thought she was, and two, that her lack of expression can only mean that she doesn’t remember him.

“You do?” A moment later, her perfectly lined lips tilt upwards slightly. “That’s right. What was it again?”

“Um…” Seokjin licks his lips, glad that he didn’t just go up to a random stranger and interrupt her in the middle of what seems to be a very long email. “I think it was a collectible of some kind? Very glamorous. Had a name on the inside?”

Her smile widens. “Do you remember what it was?”

Seokjin gulps but keeps his face still. “Of course. It was… Seulgi.” The relief at her nod is unexpected. “You think I’d forget the person that saved my hand that night? How would I ever hold a mic otherwise? My career might have been over!”

Seulgi laugh, a nice, low laugh. Her teeth are perfectly lined and perfectly white, shining against light bronze skin without a single pore. Her hair is long, straight and black, not a strand out of place. She looks like she belongs on a pamphlet for corporate employees.

Which reminds him.

“Do you - do you actually work here?” he asks. “In Big Hit?”

“Yeah,” she answers, looking only very slightly apologetic. “I thought I recognised you that night as well but I couldn’t be sure. I only just moved to the Marketing team. Sorry.”

“Uh, no, don’t be.” Seokjiin shakes his head. “It’s good to see you. And now I can return the wrist brace to you, too! This is great.”

“I mean, you don’t have to. I told you, I have a bunch of them,” she reminds him, raising her left hand slightly. From under the sleeve of her blazer, a navy blue brace, just like the purple one she’d lent him, peaks out.

“No, no, I should,” he says anyway, shaking his head and glancing at the clock on his phone. There’s a message on his notification tray… “It’s back in my…” He wracks his brain, “... uh, flight. Which I took. The day after you lent me the brace.” He drops his face in his hands when she laughs again, low and husky.

“It’s really okay,” she says, touching his arm before taking a step back. “I actually do have a lot of them. And maybe they’ll help out some other poor soul who’s hurt his wrist.”

“That’s the hope,” he agrees, knowing his ears are reddening. “Man, I really wish I’d known you worked here. I would’ve… I don’t know. Broken the news about losing your brace sooner, for starters.”

“The loss would’ve been easier,” she agrees.

Seokjin bites his lip, preparing to let the awkwardness wash over him but it doesn’t. Seulgi’s warm, despite her appearance suggesting she’s about to walk into a room and fire a dozen people.

“I feel really guilty, though,” he repeats after a moment. “Can I - I don’t know… buy you a coffee? It’s no collector’s edition wrist brace, but still?”

“Oh, that actually sounds good,” she replies, and for a moment his heart skips a beat of relief, “but the line seems long and I have a meeting.” She holds her Blackberry up apologetically.

For the first time, Seokjin notices a Galaxy in her other hand – a personal cell and a work cell. She’s core corporate, he realises, possibly senior management. He doesn’t know why, but it’s slightly intimidating.

“Oh. Oh, okay. Sure.” He nods as she moves past him. “It was good to see you, though.”

“Yeah, you, too. Glad your wrist is better.” With a quick wave, she heads down the corridor and disappears from view.

Seokjin watches her leave, still cringing somewhat over the wrist brace he hasn’t thought about in months. She’d been the only person that night he’d had a normal conversation with - somehow, this doesn’t seem like the best way to show his gratitude.

It’s time to head for practice, anyway. As he steps into the elevator, he opens his messages and breathes a sigh of relief.

Nari [09:14]

[Location]

Nari [09:14]

Friday, 7 pm

—

It’s hours later when they’re finally done with practice. All seven of them, a choreographer and a couple camerapersons are the only ones left. Jimin and Jungkook are still standing, going over their portion of the choreography as Hoseok watches, even though they look like they might collapse any second. Taehyung is spread-eagled on the floor, his bowl hat on his face. Yoongi is sitting in one corner of the room, staring into nothing.

Seokjin feels too tired to move, every single muscle aching. He leans back against the mirror and tries to catch his breath. Next to him, Namjoon is lying on the floor and texting. Seokjin catches a couple of words and immediately looks away; It seems to be in English, so it’s a fairly easy guess who the other person is.

“Any plans tonight, hyung?” Yoongi trudges over and tumbles down on his other side, crossing his legs.

“Not a one,” answers Seokjin. “In fact, I don’t think I’ll be getting out of bed for a while so if you need anything, I’ll respond to you in two to five business days.”

“You need to be at the studio tomorrow morning.”

There’s a pause. “Fine, but apart from that,” he amends, wagging his finger in Yoongi’s face, “two to five business days.”

“There’s also the interview on Friday.”

“Damn it, Yoongi,” groans Seokjin, glaring at him. “Fine, but that’s the last one. I have plans to vegetate all weekend in my apartment,” he informs him, knowing that there’s no way he'll get the entire weekend off, but needing to put across the point, “so just… don’t ruin it for me.” He watches Yoongi make a motion that might be a chuckle and rolls his eyes. “And besides, the interview is on Thursday. So my weekend begins on Friday.”

“The interview is on Friday,” says Yoongi calmly.

“No, it’s not. It’s Thursday. The twenty-fourth.”

“Thursday is the twenty-third.”

“No,” repeats Seokjin, feeling his pulse start to race, “it - it was always on Thursday.”

“No, it’s Friday,” pipes up Namjoon from his other side, not looking away from his phone.

And thus, Seokjin is left to spend the rest of the day in a growing pit of guilt, knowing that he’s going to have to disappoint Nari yet again - this time, completely unintentionally.

Her hesitation last night had not gone unnoticed by him. It was hard to hear but equally hard to respond to, and Seokjin half-hoped that she would find it too hard to go through with actually inviting him somewhere and drop the idea altogether.

But she persisted and while it made Seokjin profusely glad that she still cared, it also meant that he would have to find a way to face her after avoiding her for months.

It doesn’t feel nearly as easy as it sounds, for Seokjin has absolutely no idea what to expect when it comes to Nari now. Part of him still feels guilty for lying to her the day after the wedding; her question had taken him completely off guard and lying about his feelings was the only way he’d been able to think of to avoid the situation getting worse.

It was a mess already but somehow, twenty-four hours later, it was So Much Worse. Somehow, Nari had come to him with a problem he couldn’t ignore. Somehow, he suddenly had to reevaluate his entire life with her in it, and somehow, in less than a day, his short-lived future with Nari as the mother of his child and best friend for life had been created and shattered.

It was hard to think of, and so much harder to talk to Nari about. Seokjin had been on the verge, dozens of times, of just breaking the ice and chatting with his best friend while he sat in cold European towns and watched Taehyung get his heart broken over and over again by Dilara Komyshan.

At least we’re not that bad yet, he’d tried to tell himself. He wanted to tell her, too, that they weren’t that bad, that they were okay, that he just needed some time. But the thought of confessing his surreal daydream, of irretrievably changing their friendship felt like too much of a responsibility - especially if she didn’t respond well. Avoiding her sucked, but it beat being around her with nothing to say.

Still, saying no to her outright, when she’d asked him point blank to accompany him to something was too hard. The fundraiser thing did sound boring, but he wanted to see her, too, so badly. It felt like a missing limb, not being able to talk to her.

Nice dress, straightened hair. And he would have to be in a suit. He shudders when he remembers what happened the last time she was in a nice dress and he was in a suit.

“Namjoon.” Seokjin jogs over to the leader as they’re heading out of the building to their cars in the basement. “About this press conference on Friday.”

“Yeah?”

Seokjin hesitates, already sensing a no-nonsense mood. It hasn’t been the best day for Namjoon; the choreography was a complicated one, he was having to negotiate schedules all day, and if he’s not mistaken, he and Kaya have definitely been having some disagreement all day.

“About this press conference on Thursday -”

“Friday.”

“- I was - yes, Friday -” Seokjin clears his throat. “How important would you say it is for all of us to show up, on a scale of one to… Grammys?”

Namjoon stares. “At least VMAs.”

Seokjin nods seriously, even though it doesn’t help him in the least. “Okay,” he says, changing tacks, “how long do you think it’ll go on?”

“Uh, I don’t know.” Namjoon sighs, scrolling through some document on his phone. “It should be done by six, but there’s a sponsors’ dinner after that - but that won’t be filmed so maybe we can leave early… of course, we’ll need to let management know so they have an exit plan…” He shakes his head and continues muttering under his breath.

“Okay, sure,” interrupts Seokjin, sensing that Namjoon is starting to lose the plot. “But what time do you think the event will actually end? Because I have to be somewhere else.”

“Where?”

“Uh… a thing. With Nari,” he adds shortly. To his relief, Namjoon simply raises his eyebrows but doesn’t probe.

“I - I don’t know, hyung,” he says, not sounding apologetic at all. It’s definitely a fight with Kaya. “We won’t know until we get there. Depends on the sponsors. If it helps, it’s happening right here, in this building.”

It does help, a bit, for the location is closer to the Big Hit building than the hospital is. Still, it could be better.

“Look, I just need to tell Nari if I can make it or not,” he says, no longer beating around the bush. “I don’t want to make her a promise I can’t keep.”

Namjoon licks his lips slowly and nods. “I think you’ve been in this business long enough to know the answer to that, hyung,” he says cryptically, patting his shoulder and walking away.

“What the hell does that mean?” Seokjin demands, but Namjoon just shrugs and continues walking away.

He does know what it means, though. But you’re a coward, Kim Seokjin, says the voice inside his head, sounding like Nari’s, as he prepares to text her later that night rather than call, knowing (and somewhat hoping) that she’ll be too busy to answer right away.

Seokjin [20:11]

I have some not so great news.

To his horror, she replies almost immediately.

Nari [20:13]

Bring it.

Seokjin [20:13]

Promise you won’t get mad?

Nari [20:14]

I’m two beers and a tequila shot down. This would be the right time to give me some not so great news.

Seokjin pauses. She’s drinking, which means she got off work at a reasonable time tonight. He should be glad about that, for her, but he can’t figure out what is also bothering him about it.

Seokjin [20:16]

Oh? No surgeries?

Nari [20:16]

Nope, I’m not on call tonight. I was going to go home and crash but the others convinced me to have a drink first.

Seokjin [20:17]

Sounds like more than a drink.

Nari [20:18]

I may have gotten carried away, but zero regrets.

Seokjin [20:18]

Do you have a ride home?

Nari [20:19]

I live half a block away from the hospital. I’m sure most of these guys will crash at my place when they’re too trashed to get home.

Seokjin [20:19]

Are you sure?

Nari [20:20]

Yes. You don’t have to worry about me, you know.

She’s drunk; her transparency makes that clear. This may be the best or the worst time to give her the news, but Seokjin doesn’t think he can continue worrying about this for the rest of the night.

Seokjin [20:21]

Okay. Look, I need to talk to you about Friday.

Nari [20:21]

Something came up and you don’t think you can make it?

Seokjin’s heart jerks. He may not have met Nari much over the last few months, but he still knows her well enough to tell when she’s reaching the end of her tether.

Seokjin [20:22]

It’s a press thing. I can’t miss it.

Nari [20:23]

Of course. Unfortunate that you found out about it only today.

Seokjin [20:23]

No, it’s not that. I actually forgot. I thought it was on Thursday but it turns out it’s actually Friday. It’s my fault - I mixed up the days.

Nari [20:24]

Of course. Some other time, I guess.

Seokjin can picture her scoff, locking her phone and placing it on a bar table, screen down. He scrambles.

Seokjin [20:25]

I’m just saying I’ll be a little late.

Nari [20:25]

Late? Are you sure?

Seokjin [20:26]

Yeah. I don’t know how late but I’ll be there. I’ll try my best anyway.

Nari [20:26]

I’m sure you will.

This time, her status goes from “online” to “offline” and he knows she’s gone. This is a side of Nari he hasn’t seen in years: snide and sarcastic. It’s incredibly rare, requires a mix of things to be going wrong in her life, and has never, ever been directed at him.

Seokjin feels squeamish and guilty and helpless all at once - but he’s also beginning to get mildly annoyed. He’s determined to show up now, if for nothing else than to prove her wrong.

Take that, Nari. He pictures showing up at the event, jogging up the stairs and bursting into a hall filled with white-haired individuals in conservative finery. Nari, in the same leaf-green bridesmaid’s dress with strappy high heels, would be at the end of the hall at the bar, looking victorious at the assumption that he hasn’t shown. The crowd would part then and she would turn, the satisfied smirk fading at the sight of him, late and panting - but there.

The next moment, Seokjin cringes at this ridiculous fantasy. Even the imaginary voice in his head that sounds a bit like Nari snickers.

—

Nari fingers the strap of her dress nervously, feeling rather odd at being this dressed up around people who only ever see her in scrubs. Most of the other doctors seem to be feeling similarly, though, and she tries to coach herself to remember that they’re still the same people - just wearing make-up and cologne.

“Hey,” comes Jason’s voice from behind her, and she turns, glad to see someone she knows. “You - wow, you look amazing.”

“Really?” Nari asks quickly, smoothing down her dress. It’s long and plain black, nothing fancy, with a thin necklace and the only strappy high heels she owns. “It’s not too low cut?”

“Um -” Jason frowns and immediately looks away. “I - I don’t know. It looks - I mean, I didn’t -” He stutters in confusion, his gaze darting around in panic. “I don’t - I mean, should I look?”

“What? No, of course not.” She shakes her head and sighs. “Sorry. I’m just not used to it.”

“Used to what?”

“This,” she says, referring to nothing in particular. “The dress and the hair and the - the make-up. I don’t do it very often.” Looking up to see him still deliberately looking away, she slaps his shoulder. “Damn it, Jace, you can look at me now.”

“Oh.” He makes a big show of slowly moving his gaze towards her, grinning when she chuckles begrudgingly. “Don’t worry, dude. You look great.”

“Thanks. You, too, by the way,” she says honestly, noting the suit and the neatly brushed hair. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen your jaw this smooth,” she remarks, turning his chin slightly.

“A last minute shave in the residents’ locker room changed the game.” Jason rubs his jaw and winces slightly. “Should I be concerned about my skills as a surgeon that I cut myself in two different places while doing it?”

Nari laughs, feeling slightly less nervous. “Not unless you’re the patient. Also, where the hell is everybody else?”

“Oh, Daeun got pulled into surgery - her motorcycle guy ruptured his spleen,” he answers, gesturing to the bartender. “She said she’d be back if it got over in time. Hyeri had to monitor her valve replacement lady to see if she’ll make it through the night. Oh, and Eunji is over there,” he adds, pointing to the other end of the hall.

Nari squints in the direction he’s pointing. “Who’s that she’s with?”

“Her boyfriend, probably.” Jason shrugs as the bartender comes over. “A chaebol type, from what I can tell. Hey. you want a drink?”

“Uh, sure. Beer. Wait, can we have beer?” She frowns.

“I don’t know. Not fancy enough, is it?”

“We don’t have beer,” volunteers the bartender.

“Right,” says Nari. “In that case, I will have a glass of your strongest… whatever is strongest.”

Jason nods seriously. “Two of those. Thank you.”

The bartender raises an eyebrow but nods anyway, going back to mix their drinks.

“So… it’s just you and me?” She leans back against the bar and scans the room. “Wait, do you have a date coming, too?”

“What?” Jason wrinkles his nose. “No. I’ve been on a neuro rotation all week - I haven’t had time to breathe, forget about looking for a date. You?”

“Have I had time to breathe?”

“Do you have a date.”

“Right.” Nari bites her lip. “Not exactly. I mean, I - I invited a friend. Seokjin - you met him, remember?”

“Yeah, of course.” Jason nods as their drinks arrive and they automatically pick theirs up. “Cheers. So why isn’t he a date?”

“Because he’s a friend.” As she says it, a terrifying possibility occurs to her: could Seokjin actually think this is a date? It would explain his random excuse to arrive “late” - if he does at all.

“He is? Really?” He looks mildly curious. “Because that night at Hyeri’s - I could’ve sworn he had a thing for you.”

Nari’s heart skips a beat. “You’re not the first person to think that,” she mutters into her glass, taking a stinging sip of what tastes like scotch. “Ugh, that’s disgusting.”

“It’s strong,” he remarks. “But I didn’t catch that. What did you say?”

“Nothing.” She shakes her head, the painful humiliation of that moment after the wedding seeping into her body again. “Just… he doesn’t. Have a thing for me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Really? I mean, because it seemed like -”

“Jason,” she interrupts him, needing this conversation to end. “He doesn’t. Believe me. I’m completely sure.”

For a moment, it looks like he’s going to say something else but then seems to think the better of it. Nari is thankful; reliving that moment is bad enough, but her mind is now also preoccupied with the possibility that Seokjin might be avoiding coming tonight because he thinks she’s asked him on a date - and because he’s nice and can’t reject her outright twice, he’s having to resort to half-hearted lies and work excuses.

It’s a grim thought. She and Seokjin haven’t spoken since he told her he’d try to make it - and she’d been less than gracious about it. It was the alcohol, she’d reasoned the next morning, and despite the annoyance with his flimsy attempts at avoiding her, she’d dropped him a cursory Seriously, don’t worry about it. She’d waited just long enough to get a I’ll still try my best, and tried not to think about it since.

Nari takes another sip of her disgusting drink, not sure which is worse - if he shows or if he doesn’t.

—

“There he is. Jerk.”

Seokjin’s ears perk up at Taehyung’s quiet snarl. He follows the younger member’s gaze and feels his mouth twist as well when he spots the one journalist who had pestered them relentlessly with questions, each one more backhanded than the previous one, ranging from their solo ambitions to accusations of plagiarism.

“Where’s Namjoon?” he mutters, looking around. “Let’s make sure he doesn’t run into that guy without other guests around. Or witnesses,” he adds.

“He’s over by the water,” supplies Jungkook. “I think he’s talking to one of the sponsors.”

“Let’s keep an eye on him, then,” says Yoongi dryly. “Just in case he decides to do something drastic, like get into a logically structured argument.”

Seokjin half-chuckles. He does want Namjoon to come over, partly to keep an eye on him but mostly to check when he can leave. He checks his phone; it’s almost eight. As much as Nari’s last message, days ago, hadn’t seemed at all confident that he would make it, it only made him more determined to show up.

Namjoon doesn’t come over, though. Eventually, Seokjin joins him, hoping to get a moment of his time between guests.

“Maybe you should take a break,” he suggests, after another one of the sponsors leave and Namjoon’s well-practiced public smile fades. “Eat something? Or even have a drink?”

Namjoon smiles wearily. “Thanks, hyung. Maybe later.” He runs a hand over his face. “God, I can’t wait to get out of here. Zoom date with Kaya,” he adds, answering Seokjin’s silent question.

“Then we should leave now,” he says immediately, jumping at the opportunity. “Or you’ll just get even more tired and you’ll have to cancel on Kaya.”

“Are you kidding? It’s the only thing I’ve been looking forward to all day,” he replies, shaking his head. “There’s no way I’m cancelling.”

Seokjin responds to this with a grimace; while he would ordinarily find it sweet, right now, this blatant happiness is just annoying. He tries to think of another line of reasoning that could convince Namjoon to bounce, but before he can, two middle-aged people, one man and one woman, join them.

There’s some initial greeting; Seokjin gets through it robotically while Namjoon goes from tired to charming in a microsecond. The topic predictability begins with the press conference that just took place, followed by both guests praising Namjoon for his wonderful answers that he receives with respectful gratitude.

“I’m sorry you all have to stay for the dinner,” the woman says to Seokjin while the other two speak about something else. “You’re so young; I’m sure you all have other plans tonight.”

Lady, you have no idea. But he forces a smile on his face. “We’re happy to be here. Besides, if I’m lucky,” he adds hopefully after a moment, “my plans might still be there after this.”

“Oh?” The lady seems most interested. “A fancy party you need to get to?”

“Something like that. I have to meet someone at an event.”

“Girlfriend?”

“No,” he answers hastily. “Just a friend. It’s a work thing at the hospital she works. She’s a doctor,” he adds for good measure.

To his surprise, the lady nods. “Oh, I know that. It’s a fundraiser, right? Seoul National Hospital?” When Seokjin raises his eyebrows and nods, she smiles in acknowledgement. “I have a couple of friends there, too. Those doctors do such good work - pity they don’t have the money to continue their work in peace. Your friend is smart, though,” she says after a moment, patting Seokjin’s shoulder with a knowing look, “inviting a BTS member to the event.”

Seokjin doesn’t immediately understand. “I’m sorry?”

“Well, they need the money, don’t they?” She chuckles, sounding almost impressed. “Not a lot of people have the contacts to bring in someone like BTS to be a donor.”

Something drops in his stomach. “Oh, I - I think you’ve misunderstood. She’s my friend and we - we haven’t met in a long time because we’ve both been very busy. It’s not a - I mean, I’m not a - a donor.”

The lady looks confused for a moment. “Oh. My apologies. It just seemed like a smart thing to do, you know?”

Seokjin swallows. “Sure,” he says shortly. “But, uh… it’s not like that.” He nods to himself, knowing he’s right. “Nari would never do that.”

—

Nari shuffles through the crowd to where she can see Jason with Eunji and her boyfriend, taking care not to trip in her heels. She sees them turn and spot her as she gets close, but she doesn’t have time for pleasantries.

“Incoming,” she states. All of their eyes dart up and behind her; Eunji is the first one to notice.

“Damn it. Come on, babe,” she commands her partner, taking his hand and setting off. “Let’s go dance before he gets us.” In a flash of a second, they’re both gone.

“Okay, it’s our turn,” she says hurriedly to Jason, placing her drink on the bar and gathering her long dress in her hand. “If Dr Jung gets hold of us, it’s going to be a repeat of the mixer.”

Jason grimaces. “Oh, God. You mean when he tried to recruit each of us one by one by using his holiday calendar as a selling point?”

“That’s the one. Come on, he’s already seen me, but maybe we can still make a break for it!” she whispers dramatically, getting ready to go but stopping when he grabs her wrist.

“It’s too late,” he says gravely. “We’re going to need another plan. Tell me about your craniotomy today.”

“I - what?” Nari’s eyes widen. “Did you not hear me?”

“I did. Now talk to me about something medical,” he instructs. “And make it seem like there’s a problem - like, just talk urgently. Come on,” he urges, shaking her wrist.

“Um - okay, uh, the patient came in with migraines and was having seizures so we did an MRI and found an aneurysm located in the temporal lobe of the brain -”

“That’s great,” he whispers, and Nari notices his gaze slide carefully to the left to watch Dr Jung reach them, before quickly looking back at Nari. “But his vitals still aren’t stable,” he says suddenly, at a regular volume.

Nari’s jaw drops before she realises what he’s doing. “His blood pressure is what we need to observe carefully or he’s going to need another surgery tomorrow.”

“Is there any chance the aneurysm could’ve burst anyway? Even after you clipped it?”

Nari stares, a little thrown by how convincing his acting is.

“Answer me!”

“A little over the top, don’t you think?” she mutters.

“The man is two feet behind you,” he replies, equally quietly, before tugging her closer and placing his hands dramatically on her shoulders. “What if it’s a brain bleed? What if -”

“How dare you?” She interrupts him, jabbing him in the chest. “My aneurysm was clipped perfectly, you son of a bitch!”

Jason’s eyes flicker with this unexpected turn of conversation but he plays along. “We still need to get an MRI to rule out any other complications, like a hematoma, or an air embolism or -” He pauses, craning his neck slightly, “... and he’s gone.” His shoulders relax and his hands slide off her arms.

“No way did that work,” she marvels in a low voice, turning around to check and see that he’s right.

“Of course it did. Nobody interrupts two doctors discussing a patient,” he says absently, rubbing a spot on his chest. “You may need some practice, though. I think you bruised my chest.”

“Don’t be a baby,” she tells him teasingly, asking for another drink and feeling a lot more relaxed than before. “But that was a pretty neat trick.”

“I can teach you many, young ‘un,” he says seriously, casually taking a sip of his third scotch. “But I don’t think we have the time tonight. Won’t Seokjin be here soon?”

Her drink arrives then and Nari takes it with a quiet thanks. Taking a larger sip than intended, she shakes her head. “He’s not going to make it,” she says, swallowing and wincing.

“Oh.” Jason frowns. “Did he call?”

“Nope.” Nari shakes her head, finding it a bit sad how unsurprised she is. “But he’s not going to make it.”

His frown deepens slightly and she’s sure he’s picked up on her change in tone, but she’s thankful he doesn’t mention it.

“Do you want to learn another trick then?” he offers.

Nari smiles, trying to look at the bright side: Seokjin would not have enjoyed this. He wouldn’t know anyone and he wouldn’t understand any of their conversation. A call would have been nice, but things aren’t the same anymore.

She’s here, she has a night off, and she’s not alone. It could be a lot worse.

“Sure,” she answers. “But I’m going to need to be a lot more drunk for the next one.”

—

The ETA on the map says forty minutes. Seokjin has no idea how long hospital fundraisers last, but he needs to try. He exits the building, already tired from the negotiating he had to do to leave early. It’s starting to drizzle, so he ducks into the nearest establishment - a small cafe - as he waits for his car. The traffic outside is ridiculous, though; he hasn’t the faintest idea how long it’ll actually take him to get to the fundraiser.

Nari hasn’t called or messaged, though. Neither has he, he knows, but her last message had implied such a lack of faith in his intention to show up that it had rankled him just a bit. Over the course of the week, it had festered until it’s now more of a challenge than anything else, for he can’t think of a single other reason as to why he’s going to this thing.

For Nari, says the voice weakly, sounding unconvinced. Nari, it seems, neither knows nor cares if he shows up, for all the interest she’s shown in his whereabouts. I’ll try me best, he’d said, meaning it completely, but she clearly didn’t believe it.

Seokjin sighs, mentally so exhausted that he can’t even muster the energy to be annoyed or hurt or confused right now. He’s just about to step back outside when he hears a voice he doesn’t expect.

“Can I get a bottle of water, please?”

He turns to see straight hair and a blazer, mint green this time, with the sleeves pushed up. “Seulgi?” he calls unsurely.

She turns and her eyes light up in recognition. “Hey, Seokjin. How are you?”

“Tired,” he admits. “You?”

“The same. Just trying to find the guiltiest pleasure on the menu to break my diet with tonight,” she says, pointing at the few items on the board. “It’s just been one of those days.”

“Tell me about it,” he murmurs, taking a few steps to stand beside her. “Anything catch your eye?”

“Not really. It’s just sandwiches,” she grumbles. “But I don’t really have a lot of options right now.”

Seokjin is quiet for a few seconds while she gets a bottle of water and takes a long swig from it. “I actually know of a ramen place close by. If you want. I break my diets there all the time,” he tells her.

“Really?” This time he isn’t imagining it; her eyes do light up. “How much?”

“Well… enough to feel like I’ve rebelled against the company for the night, but not so much that I can’t resume it the next day.”

“That’s the perfect amount.”

“Is that a yes?”

Seulgi grins tiredly, reminding him for a moment of Namjoon earlier tonight. “It is.” Her eyes flicker lower and her smile fades. “Oh, wait. You’re in a suit - are you going somewhere?”

Seokjin bites his lip. “I was at the press conference, and the dinner after that.”

“Oh.” She doesn’t look fully convinced. “And you were going… where?”

“Well, now I’m going to get ramen because it’s in my head.”

She cracks a smile. “I’m serious, though. You’re in a suit,” she repeats, adjusting the strap of her handbag on her shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t need to be somewhere?”

Question of the hour. But Seokjin knows that even if he does make it through the traffic, this will still be the easiest conversation he’s going to have all day.

“No. I don’t need to be anywhere.”

—

Thank you for reading. Don't forget to drop a review :)

#seokjin x oc #seokjin x reader #seokjin fanfic #thebtswritersclub #btshoneyhive #bangtanwhq #bangtantheatrenet #bangtanbathhouse #bangtanoasis #micdropnet #hyunglinenetwrok #k-vanity #wkcnet #bts jin fanfic #bts jin angst

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hellfirehaley · 2 years

Text

Strange Love Chapter Nine

CW/Trigger Warnings: THIS CHAPTER FEATURES A DEPICTION OF A SCENE OF A GIRL BEING ROOFIED. IF THIS CONTENT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SKIP THIS CHAPTER. Mentions of vomit, coarse language, underage drinking, marijuana usage, alluding to a scene of being roofied.

AN: So a bit about this week's chapter: its theme are a little harsh. It alludes to a compromising and real situation that happens to women all over the place to this day and part of the reason I decided to write this chapter is because this week of posting will be the sixth anniversary of my own assault. I wrote this chapter as a writing exercise to help escape from the nasty, negative, gross feelings I usually feel this time of year. If this is something you aren't comfortable reading, please feel free to skip the chapter because I don't want ANYONE to trigger themselves for the sake of a fanfiction.

With that being said, I promise I am going to be handling this delicate topic with as much care and sensitivity as possible. Thank you in advance. if you liked the previous chapters or this one, please feel free to like or comment or reblog it. I also have a taglist so I can keep you up to date on the current chapters when they are posted.

Songs Referenced: Brighton Rock and Killer Queen by Queen, Take On Me by A-Ha, Peaceful Easy Feeling by The Eagles.

Word Count: 4451

Shoutout to my babies @sunflowerharrington for helping me come up with the opening to this scene and @mvnsoneddie86 for helping me come up with the costume for Eddie this chapter. I was seriously stuck on that what to do and you saved my ass Kayla.

Masterlist: https://at.tumblr.com/hellfirehaley/strange-love-an-eddie-fic-chapter-one/qglrwxp3y002

Chapter Nine: The Party

Friday October 11, 1985

Homecoming came quicker than expected and the entire school was beaming with school pride: everyone was wearing their Hawkins shirts or their green shirts. The girls had all green and gold accessories and makeup on today. And all the extra effort was worth it because the best part is we won! 28-21. You were waiting on Robin and Ali to finish getting ready since you decided to wear a simple costume this year since it’s not even Halloween yet. You were wearing a slinky black dress, black stockings and heels with an old witch’s hat from a number of Halloweens ago. Ali and Robin were going as Claire and Allison from The Breakfast Club so they were layering their outfits while you started on makeup.

“So predictions on who is gonna hook up with whom?” you ask, looking in the mirror while you apply eyeshadow. The music in the background was fast and upbeat, Ali having chosen the I Love Rock and Roll album.

“Well John from French class was eying Madeline so I bet he makes a move tonight.” Ali noted as she adjusted her ankle length brown skirt.

“Blonde haired John or Soccer team John?” Robin asked.

“Blonde John,” Ali says.

“No shit!” you and Robin say.

“Saw it while they were conjugating verbs last Tuesday.” Ali said

“I think that Ben from Chem will finally ask out Samantha Greer.” Robin said.

“The choir girl?” you ask.

“Yep.” Robin said.

“Oh they’d be cute together,” you say.

“You know who else would be cute together? You and Eddie Munson.” Ali said.

“Oh my god yes. The King and Queen of The Freaks,” Robin said, spreading her hands out like she was announcing a movie pitch.

“You’re relentless, you two.” you say.

“And you’re an idiot who can’t see the obvious thing right in front of her!” Ali retorts, putting in her earrings.

“We’re friends!” you try.

“Who are totally into each other. Face it: he’s your Steve and you’re acting like Ali.” Robin said.

“Ouch!” Ali said, hitting Robin lightly.

“But you see my point?” Robin asks

“I suppose so but I barely know him,” you say.

“Get to know him then!” Ali said.

“I have been getting to know him or trying to but okay fine: I do like Eddie but I have to make sure, without a doubt, that he’s gonna be one that stays” you say.

“I get that. How can we help?” Ali asked as she adjusted her pink blouse.

“Just promise me not to let me get so wrapped up in him that I end up looking like a fool.” you ask.

“Of course dear,” Ali said.

“We’ve got you honey,” Robin said. You finish getting ready, deciding on a dark eye look for the night hoping to come off as mysterious.and witchy. Robin looked adorable in her black cardigan and skirt with black converse: the ultimate comfy and cute look. Ali was working on her makeup at the moment since she just needed to put on her slouchy brown boots.

“Five bucks says Eddie is gonna steal Y/N away tonight at some point.” Robin says.

“You’re making a pointless bet: I’m gonna see him at some point anyways since he was the first one to invite me to this party,” you point out as you go through Ali’s albums before deciding on Queen’s Sheer Heart Attack album. The whimsical opening sounds of Brighton Rock blasting through her speakers.

“I give it an hour,” Ali said, holding out her hand.

“I give her 30 minutes,” Robin countered, shaking on their bet. You rolled your eyes as you got down on the bed again, laying down while you waited for them, singing along to each track. The girls joined in on a rendition of Killer Queen as they finished their makeup.

“Alright we ready?” Robin asked as she grabbed her car keys. Ali was pulled on her boots and nodded at Robin.

“I’m good,” you say. Once Ali had her boots on and everything was situated, you three headed out the door and into the car. You sat in the back and they took the front seats. Robin turned on the car and Madonna was blasting through the car as you girls started to sing along. The drive was supposed to be only 15 minutes so it wasn’t too bad.

“So is your boyfriend gonna make an appearance tonight?” you ask.

“Yes he;s gonna meet us there just in case we get too drunk to drive.” Ali said.

“Aww what a sweet Mother Goose he is,” you say with a laugh.

“He is really sweet.” Ali agreed.

“I’m really happy for you Als. Like seriously.” you say earnestly.

“Thanks Y/N. You know we want that for you too right?” Ali said with the same amount of conviction in her voice.

“I know.” you say with a soft smile in the darkness. You arrive at where you suspect the party is based on the music and how many cars are parked down the street. You park a ways down and note how many people are here.

“Are we sure this is a good idea?” you ask as you are walking up to the house, nerves getting the best of you.

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?” Ali asked.

“Yeah Y/N. It's gonna be fun. Just us, some shots, dancing, seeing our friends. I promise it’ll be fun.” Robin said.

“You’re right; I’m just being paranoid for some reason.” you admit as you walk up the entryway to the house. Ali opens the doors and the house is packed with people all in costume. A lot of people were dressed as Greeks, movie characters or just dressed in their sports outfits. You smiled at how they decorated the place with black and orange streamers and a fog machine but also had a banner in big bold letters saying CONGRATULATIONS TIGERS! WAY TO GO!

You three immediately made a beeline for the kitchen, making a human chain to ensure not losing each other. Once you get to the kitchen and find bottles of booze just lined up along the kitchen counter. Ali takes some shot glasses and washes them out before pouring up some shots. You clinked glasses and drank down the clear, fiery liquid.

“Another?” Robin asked.

“Another.” you say smiling as she pours up the shots. You down them in a quick procession, grimacing as the liquor goes down your throat.

“Do you want to dance?” Robin asked.

“I wanna make a drink first,” Ali said, already having a bottle of rum in her hand already.

“Make me one too?” you ask. Ali nods as she pour rum and New Coke into a pair of glasses. She handed you yours and cheers-ed before taking a big drink and going to the “dance floor” in the living room. The group was dancing to Take On Me by A-ha, having the time of your lives. You hadn’t been to a party since last year so it was absolutely thrilling to let loose and have a good time. The song ended and changed to a Michael Jackson song.

“Hey I just saw Vickie walk in. I’m gonna go talk to her for a bit. Are you gonna be okay?” Robin asked, pointing in her direction. You nodded and smiled at her with a thumbs up. Ali soon followed her after dancing to a few more songs, seeing Steve show up. Duran Duran started playing and you smiled, taking a drink out of your cup while you swayed to the beat and moved your hips and arms. You finally felt free again and you loved it.

Until you feel a pair of unfamiliar hands place themselves on your waist.

“Hey there, sexy . Can I have this dance?” a voice said from behind you. You tense up a little bit and immediately feel anxious since you didn’t know the guy.

“Umm…”

“Oh come on, Miss Witch. I just helped carry home a win for us. Least you owe me is a dance,” he said in your ear. You shivered out of uncertainty.

“Fine.” you say, unsure of what would happen if you didn’t. The entire time, his grip on your hips was too tight and uncomfortable. His breath on your neck smelled like beer and it reeked of pot and something else. You looked desperately for your friends, who were unfortunately busy with their crushes. You tried to fake happiness when one hand left your waist, hoping he would be leaving.

“So what’s your name, Miss Witch?”

“Laura,” you lie, not trusting him one bit.

“”Well Laura, do you want a drink?” he asked.

“No, I already have one,” you say.

“Want another one?” he said, trying to sound sexy and coming off sleazy.

“No thanks. I’m trying to pace myself.” you reply.

“Suit yourself,” he says, returning his hand to your waist. The next few minutes felt like the longest of your life as you waited for the song to end. When it did end, you immediately came up with a plan.

“Hey stud I’ve gotta pee. Meet me in the kitchen?” you say coyly.

“Hell yeah baby!” he said as he raced to the kitchen. As soon as he walked away, you made a point to lose yourself in the crowd to avoid the creep’s gaze and downed the rest of your drink but you almost spit it out because it was either watered down or something just tasted off. More metallic than before. You immediately swallowed it and made a beeline for the patio doors, letting yourself out and closing it behind you. You immediately started to feel warmer and anxious after that interaction so you took a deep breath to calm yourself, thanking your Deity for your quick thinking. After a minute of deep breathing, you headed out to the back to see who all was out here. There was a little bit of everyone here tonight so you were happy to be able to blend in. You saw a big cloud of smoke coming from 50 feet away so you started to make your way out of it. The walk was a little wobbly from the heels and the alcohol but you made it to the source of the smoke and you were so glad you did because, as promised, there was your favorite person sitting by the bonfire laughing with his friends wearing just a pair of overalls, no shirt with his tattoos on full display. You started to make your way towards him, leaves crunching under your feet. The sound caught their attention and as soon as Eddie saw you, he smiled wider under the joint in his mouth.

“Y/N! You found me!” Eddie said smiling as you were in ear shot.

“Hi guys. How’s the evening? How was Hellfire?” you ask as you go towards Eddie to sit next to him.

“It’s going well. Hellfire was fucking rad! We got to fight a small army and won!” Gareth said, taking a drink of his beer.

“Well I’m glad it worked out well. Maybe I’ll sit in on a session one day and see how you run a campaign if that’s okay.” you say sitting next to Eddie.

“Of course Princess. I’m more than happy to show you the ropes if you ever wanna guest play” Eddie said with a smile.

“So how’s your night going Y/N?” Jeff asked.

“It’s okay. I lost my friends to their crushes so I danced for a while until this jerkoff jock forced me to dance with him,” you say with a shiver.

“What?” Grant said with wide eyes and an open mouth.

“Which one?” Eddie asked with a clenched fist, rings prominently visible and his bare chest visibly raising and falling rapidly.

“I don’t know. I tried not to look at him, gave him a fake name and told him I had to pee before I came out here.” you say with a slur, the alcohol starts to take its effects.

“Smart move!” Jeff said as the other agreed.

“You’re with me the rest of the night, got it?” Eddie said look at you with a serious expression.

“You won’t hear me complainin’” you say. You fade out of the conversation for a bit, watching the bonfire burn. You think about simple thoughts like what you would eat when you got home, how you’d maybe watch some tv or listen to music. You wondered if Robin was doing well with Vickie and what Ali had planned for her and Steve. You are pulled from your thoughts when a gentle hand touches your shoulder. You turn to your right and see Eddie looking at you quizzically. His touch feels amazing for some reason.

“You okay?” Eddie asks.

“I don’t know; I feel kind of weird” you say.

“What do you mean?” Eddie asks, full attention turning to you.

“I mean I feel drunk but also tired but then it’s like I’m fine,” you say. Eddie hands you a lit joint he had just rolled and sparked.

“Try hitting this once or twice. Small hits” Eddie said. You take the joint and take a few small hits before passing it to your left to Gareth. You sit there for a minute or two focusing on your breathing.

“Okay, at the risk of sounding like an asshole, how much did you have to drink tonight Y/N?” Eddie asks as gently as he can.

“2 shots and a rum and coke.” you slur

“Who made it?” Eddie asks.

“Ali did.” you say. Eddie was quiet for a minute or two, clearly deep in thought as he hit the joint Grant passed him. His eyebrows creased in thought, he finally turns back to you.

“Were you dancing with your drink in your hand?” Eddie asks. You had to think for a moment before nodding. Eddie passes the joint to Gareth, skipping you and causing you to pout.

“Did you drive?” Eddie asks. You shook your head no.

“R-R-Robin did. What’s with all the que-questions?” you slur, rolling the R in Robin’s name.

“OKay. I’m gonna take her home guys,” Eddie said to his friends who nodded in an agreed understanding. Eddie stood up and moved in front of you, offering his hands to help you up. You grabbed his hands and he helped pull you up to your feet as gracefully as you could manage. He moves a hand to your side where his arm is wrapped around you, to balance you and you do the same.

“How are you feeling? Can you walk?” Eddie asked as you started to nod. You two started to make your way back to the patio entry. Your walk was a little wobbly but you were okay in Eddie’s hands. He slid open the patio door for you and went through first, offering his hand to pull you through. The party was still bumping so you and Eddie easily slid through the crowd undetected as you searched for your friends. Eddie spotted the pair sitting comfortably on the couch talking to another couple. He led the way over to them.

“Hey Roberts.” Eddie said, grabbing Ali’s attention to him and you. You could see concern written all over her face.

“Hey guys, everything okay? What happened?” Ali asked.

“No, just…not here. I can explain tomorrow but just trust me, I need to get Y/N out of here NOW.” Eddie said calmly. At these words, Steve’s attention snapped to the conversation.

“You’re sure you’ve got her? We can take her if you want to stay.” Steve said with raised eyebrows, his protectiveness over his friend coming out.

“Yeah I’ve got her. Stay here with your girl and have fun, Harrington. I hate these kinds of parties anyways.” Eddie says.

“Okay if you’re absolutely sure man. Just please don’t leave her by herself.” Steve said.

“”I won’t. I’ll sleep on the floor with her dog if I have to,” Eddie said.

“Y/N, I’m coming over tomorrow first thing to check on you,” Ali said looking at you as you nodded at her. “I love you Y/N/N”

“I lubb you tew Ali and Steeb,” you say as Eddie leads you to the front door and opens it for you to go first before closing it and going back to your side.

“My van is like a block that way so the walk shouldn’t be too bad,” Eddie said, helping you get down the stairs.

“Okay Eddie. Are you mad at me?” you ask suddenly, hitting the magical level of fucked up where you say whatever comes to your mind.

“Where’d you get that idea from Princess?” Eddie asks.

“Earlier when you asked about my drinking.” you say.

“Y/N I want you to be safe. You can have fun, I’m not saying you can’t, but tonight…” Eddie stopped himself, deciding not to say it.

“I was fine until that jerk wouldn’t let me go.” you whine, getting to the final step.

“I know, pretty girl,” Eddie said softly.

“I just wanted to dance by myself or with…” This time it’s you who stops talking but Eddie has other plans.

“With who?” Eddie asks with something different behind his voice. Jealous? Possessiveness?

“I wanted to dance with you honestly.” you admit.

“Aww you wanna slow dance with me?” he asks teasingly and that does it for you.

“You don’t have to make fun of me! I know it’s stupid and I don’t need you to help either at making me feel it,” you say as tears start to prick your eyes, threatening to fall.

“Whoa hey Y/N I didn’t–”

“Just don’t then Eddie. I just wanna go home now,” you say, walking faster now, dropping your hand from around him to get away from him. Eddie watched from a second as you sped up, heels clicking loud and fast as you looked for his van. He wanted to kick himself right now for upsetting you; he just didn’t believe that out of all the guys at school, you wanted him. He wasn’t used to being picked first, let alone at all. He picked up the pace and caught up with you effortlessly. Within minutes, you reached the van in silence as Eddie wordlessly opened the door for you and helped you settle in. You put on your seatbelt as Eddie got in the van and started it, taking off at a slower pace for Eddie. For the first part, you looked out the window as the town started to pass you by and it didn’t take long to figure out just where you were going.

“Please don’t take me to the hospital,” you say seeing a sign for it on the road.

“Why not Y/N? That prick put drugs in your drink and we need to get them out of you before it really causes some fucking damage” Eddie asks.

“My mom works there as a nurse so if I show up to her work like this, I’m dead.” you say.

“So what? You want me to take you home where you could possibly OD in your sleep?” Eddie rambles.

“I don’t know Eddie! I’m fucking scared, I’m feeling tired and I just want to sleep,” you say.

“Fine. I’ll take you home but you’ve got another thing coming if you think I’m leaving you alone tonight,” Eddie states, turning right to start heading to your house instead.

“You can do whatever the hell you please,” you say, crossing your arms like a child. Eddie exhaled, trying to not laugh at you in this state right now as he looked back at the road.

“I’m gonna find that asshole who did this to you and kick his fucking ass,” Eddie said lowly, more to himself. You decide it best not to answer as you try to think of when he could’ve done that to your drink but the drug’s effects were already at work, causing you to doubt yourself and just forget. It really frustrated you that you couldn’t remember. You felt like a scared child and you hated it.

“What are you thinking right now? Talk to me” Eddie asked, when he was a few minutes away from your home. You had been muttering to yourself for a solid minute now and he had had enough, You looked at him in tears and he immediately softened.

“I want my Uncle Dave. He would know what to do,” you say as the tears fall down. Eddie’s heart hurts for a moment seeing it. He so badly wants to do anything to make you feel better.

“We’re a few minutes away from your house. What would you like me to do Y/N?” Eddie asked as he grabbed your hand, rubbing circles on the top of it.

“Call him,” you cry softly as Eddies nods. He lets you cry for a moment while he holds your hand and then he starts to sing along to the radio.

“I get this feeling I may know you as a lover and a friend. But this voice keeps whispering in my other ear, Tells me I may never see you again cause I get a peaceful, easy feeling that I know you won’t let me down cause I’m already standing on the ground. “ Eddie sings as you try to focus on him. He pulled into your spot in the driveway and parked, undoing his seatbelt and getting out of his side. You do the same, getting out and immediately feeling super drowsy and gross. Eddie places his arm around you and walks up to your door.

“Key?” he asks.

“Under the fairy,” you say. Eddie picks up the fairy ornament by the potted plant, grabs the key and unlocks the door before replacing the key under the fairy. You walk in and kick off your heels moaning from the relief as Norm rushes to your side, excited to see you.

“Go get some pajamas on and I’ll be up with some water here in a few minutes,” Eddie says as you nod, going up the stairs. Eddie went to the kitchen to the wall phone and looked for an address book. Luckily for him, the number was pinned next to the phone on a chalkboard. He dialed the number and waited. One ring…two…three, four, five rings, six…seven…

“Hello? Jameson residence, Dave speaking,” a groggy voice answered.

“Dave? Hey I don’t know if you remember me from a few weeks ago but this is Eddie Munson, Y/N’s friend?” Eddie started.

“Eddie Munson?” Dave groaned over the phone, clearly trying to wake up and pay attention to the conversation at hand.

“Yeah Y/N’s friend. Look I wouldn’t have called this late but it’s an emergency. I think Y/N got roofied at a party tonight and she’s scared. She wouldn’t let me take her to the hospital; insisted on coming home and she’s crying out for you. She told me to call you.” Eddie said, exhaling at the end. He could hear shuffling in the background and slight whispers.

“Okay Eddie. Get her to drink water, lots of it, and try to get her to throw it up. Everything. I’m on my way and I’ll be there soon. I’m five minutes away,” Dave says.

“Okay Dave thank you,” Eddie says as they hang up the phone. He went into the actual kitchen and got together a glass of water and a bag of frozen peas in case you got overheated. He looked around for aspirin but couldn’t find any so he went up to your room where he found you lying on your bed in shorts and a Black Sabbath shirt.

“Hey angel. How are you feeling after getting out of that dress?” Eddie asked.

“Yeah a little better” you say into your pillows.

“Okay good. Can you sit up for me and drink some water?” Eddie asked sweetly. You complied, sitting up with a groan and taking the water from him. You took a few big gulps and sighed.

“Good girl. Now I need to try and get that disgusting stuff out of you.” Eddie said.

“You mean…”

“Yeah sadly I do,” Eddie says as you groan, “Gotta get all that shit outta your body, baby girl. I know it sucks but we gotta do it. If it helps, Uncle Dave’s on his way.”

“You called him?” you say, feeling sheepish.

“Yep, he’ll be here any minute. I feel like you might listen to him more than me but he might have a lecture ready,” Eddie said. You sigh, nodding before getting up and going to the bathroom, locking the door behind you while you take care of yourself.

When Eddie went back downstairs to get himself a glass of water, he heard a key in the door and Norm barking. He looked through the open doorway and saw a long haired man walk in, greeting Norm with some pats. His black and gray tattoos on both sleeves on full display with his tank top and sweatpants. Eddie could tell he grabbed the first thing he had thrown on.

“Hey kid” Dave said, seeing Eddie in the kitchen.

“Hey thanks for coming. She’s in the bathroom right now and she drank about a third of her water so far,” Eddie informed.

“Thanks for the call. How’s she doing?” Dave asked, walking to the kitchen.

“She’s pretty shaken earlier but she seems okay for now, now that she’s home but knowing Y/N, she’s hiding how she’s really feeling,” Eddie admitted.

“Yeah she has always done that. She’s never been one to trust people easily so that’s why I’m glad she was able to at least trust you when in this situation. Thanks kid. I can take it from here if you’ve got places to be,” Dave said.

“I actually don’t. Would it be alright if I stayed? I probably won’t be able to sleep very well tonight if I don’t” Eddie admitted again, not wanting to seem like he’s overstaying his welcome.

“I respect that. How about you take my nephew’s room? He should have some sleep clothes you can borrow,” Dave said, pointing at the room across from yours. Eddie nodded as they heard Y/N open the bathroom door open and shuffle up to her room. Eddie sighed.

“You got her this far man. You did good, kid, now go rest up. I can watch her,” Dave said with a smile as Eddie nodded, starting up the stairs. “Oh and Eddie?”

“Yeah?”

“Sick Eddie Van Halen costume” Dave said with a laugh.

Taglist: @realeddiemunsonstandup @eddies-blunt @sharkbaitouhaha @spookyscoopstroop @bobbiewritesstuff @eveieforeve02 @apublicnotebook @madaboutmunson2 @grungegrrrl @riffcrusader @stardustworlds @tayhar811

#eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson angst #eddie munson fanfic #eddie musnon imagine #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x yn #eddie munson x you #strange love an eddie fic #strange love talks #eddie munson slow burn #eddie munson friends to lovers

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theworldwidebook · 5 months

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List Of Best Soccer Bets Today

Soccer bets involve predicting outcomes in soccer matches, including win, draw, or specific score lines. Consider factors like team form, player injuries, head-to-head statistics, and weather conditions before placing a bet. Researching odds from multiple bookmakers and practicing responsible betting strategies can enhance your chances of success. Remember to set a budget, bet responsibly, and avoid chasing losses for a more enjoyable betting experience. Read More

#bet #soccer #football #matches

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nascerlive · 1 year

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Barcelona VS Espanyol, Soccer Games Today

Barcelona and Espanyol have had a mixed season so far. Barcelona is currently in third place, while Espanyol is in the relegation zone. However, in football, anything can happen. Barcelona is the stronger team on paper, and they have some of the best players in the world. However, Espanyol is a disciplined team that is capable of causing an upset. In my opinion, Barcelona will win this match. They have too much quality and experience for Espanyol to handle. I predict a 2-0 win for Barcelona.

#soccer #live show #live streaming #sports #online #sportlive #tumblr live #football #livestream #games #gaming #sport news

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canisblack · 1 year

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Fake it Till They Make It (2)

AN: This is just going to be a set of connected drabbles for now. Their first fake date had actually been pretty fun. It was a bit awkward at first as they were a little uncertain about how to effectively fake things, but just like Sora had predicted that awkwardness had actually seemed to sell things to their parents. Apparently first dates between two people who knew each other and had history as friends tended to be a bit awkward according to her and since he had no frame of reference for that he'd taken her word for it.

The awkwardness had faded pretty quickly though as they'd gotten out of sight of their family and curious friends and made their way to the soccer match they'd chosen to be their first "date" and they'd begun to relax as they started talking about the game they were going to see, the teams, the players, the history, even the predictions of who was going to win and what sorts of plays they would see that day. The more they'd talked the more they'd relaxed until it felt like they were ten years old again and playfully bickering about who's favorite team was better and why they liked that team in the first place.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Tai looked over at Sora who was watching him curiously.

"No need to pay, I was just thinking about how much fun I ended up having. I don't think we've done something like this since before we first visited the Digital World, and it made me realize how much I missed it," he stopped and Sora stopped too looking at him curiously as he met her eyes trying to convey his feelings in a way he knew his words were usually incapable of, "how much I've missed having you as my best friend."

He could tell she got it as she smiled at him, not a simple or pure smile or anything like that. It was a mix of emotions, conveying happiness, sadness, regret and so much more.

"I've missed you too, Taichi, and I really did enjoy today a lot. More than I was expecting and I wasn't exactly expecting a poor outing either."

"So you wouldn't be against spending more time together? Just the two of us?"

"No, I wouldn't, though I don't think either of us could afford to do something like today too often," she said after shaking her head and smiling at him.

He, in turn, shrugged and smiled back before beginning to walk again.

"Wouldn't need to I don't think. We used to find our own fun when we were younger, I don't doubt we can again."

"I remember that I think. It wasn't so much about what we were doing as who we were doing it with," she mused and he agreed with her. Back then just spending time with her was enough.

#taiora #digimon #fanfic #epilogue what epilogue

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daddymus-papatron · 1 year

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inhale Ted Lasso I love you rant

For many, many reasons, this makes Ted Lasso one of the greatest TV show of this era, in my opinion... But mainly, because each week, Icewolf and I have a shared moment over something wonderful, no matter how bad the week had been.

Icewolf and I are very, very different people. They're a business analyst that love statistics, numbers and graphs, I'm a writer classically trained as a graphic designer that watch way too many TV shows.

They told me about Ted Lasso since day one, begged me to watch it but there was one catch: it was about football. So I said: "No."

No thank you even. "Soccer" Pah! I'm Canadian, we watch hockey. A game that ends in a tie is ridiculous and why is there 6 leagues but you always hear about the same 3 teams? I'll pass on this 'Ted Lasso'

How foolish of me.

You see, for me football was the very complicated "soccer" sport Icewolf enjoyed and raved about statistics with unbridled enthusiasm. As much as I enjoyed reading about random players hi-jinxes or the latest record broken, in the end, I had little to no care.

What compels me is good writing, the over achieving arcs of each seasons, how episodes teases and foreshadows what will happen later (looking at you WWDITS) So I did not see how a show about "soccer" would give me that satisfaction.

Then, came S2 and Tumblr started to campaign to promote it. Saw a few gifs that were hilarious, the dude with the funky hair is kinda cute, big eyebrow dude says fuck every 2 words... I might be interested into looking it up before S2 starts, you know.

Jason Sundkist is funny, I knew him from SNL, the rest was mostly unfamiliar. Hannah Waddingham is incredibly hot, holy shit. So sure, let's start with the first episode and go from there.

Then, the horrors. I will spare you the horrors but I need to mention them before moving on.

Which brings me to today. This 12th week of 2023 has been a shit show for both of us, without giving too much details it ranges from death to international travel going haywire.

Season 3 is coming out, one episode per week, Icewolf and I wait for each episodes with bathed breath, excited to rave about it together.

Only, the things we talk about are completely different. I cannot emphasis how different they are. Here's an example of how different:

Icewolf — Today at 10:39 AM Let me open Football Manager, I will show you

They then proceed to go into extreme details about a play called 4-4-2 and how on Ted Lasso it would become a 4-5-1, with diagrams from Football Manager and a 1k essay on how it would work on the technical side. Not mentioning who the newest player is based on in real life and where that player is now in his career.

Meanwhile, I'm screaming about character growth, how putting one player on the bench over the other would impact the team emotionally wise, how the pacing of each episode is a roller coaster of funny, sentimental, touching, then funny and back to sentimental and back to funny.

It's not overwhelming, the pacing is like a metronome, joke, feelings, jokes, plot, joke, feelings. When you sit in front of a new Ted Lasso episode, you know it'll be the best 45 minutes of the week.

There's very few TV shows that I will hands own recommend to ANYONE but Ted Lasso has earn that spot. In this era of binging, that Ted Lasso is released weekly is one of it's biggest strength in my opinion.

Even if you see the plot coming, either because you have deep knowledge of the intricacies of football or you can predict any plot of any TV show by watching 3 episodes, it's still so fucking enjoyable.

Of course the big player will come to Richmond, of course there will be conflict between the boys and their plays. It's a romcom. Ted keeps telling us that, in the 'Ted Lasso Universe' (TLU has been claimed I know) this TV show is a romcom. Constantly.

Yet you keep on watching, because it's funny, because it's heart warming, because the characters are real and deep, from Ted Lasso to Bumbercatch the 'less midfielder' (Icewolf's words).

#Ted Lasso

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tipsyprediction · 21 hours

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The Best Predictions For Saturday May 18 2024 How To Bet On Today's Socc...

Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF6mfFB0zMHO_RjjGfBsfEg/join This video will show you how to bet on today's soccer matches, and how to make the most of your money with the best predictions and tips. You will learn how to choose the right markets, how to use different types of bets, and how to manage your bankroll and risk. You will also see the predictions and tips for the most popular and profitable matches of the day Subscribe To Bet Lab Channel For Epic Tutorials https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa9yIJMz3PfFOmeNy4Y0A8Q/ How To Bet Like a Pro: Soccer Prediction Sites That Professionals Use Extra Tips And Tricks You Need https://youtu.be/pGgelsgZSrU Soccer Predictions Strategy To Boost Your Profit And Make Money https://youtu.be/qGtW3cd3XZ4 Win Big with Betting: Proven Strategy and Real Case Studies! You Need To Know https://youtu.be/i8xKhnsUVAo How To Win 99% Of Your Soccer Bets With These 7 Apps (Best Predictions Apps Revealed!) https://youtu.be/J41ht02DIPA Watch How To Predict Corner Kicks And Win Big Money (2 Simple Steps!) https://youtu.be/Pd_MY4fjRCA Watch This Bet Tutorial (Bet Winning Strategy You Need To Know) https://youtu.be/lnC7AZ3qAUo How To Predict And Win Long Bet With This Secret Strategy You Need To Know https://youtu.be/OAuMJUduDYI https://youtu.be/J41ht02DIPA Checkout Our Sure 2+ Monday-Thursday Matches Predictions 👉 https://1blogxyz.com/daily-football-predictions-tips/ Watch More Betting Strategy From This List Of Videos 👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuvowSsnPv4hkCwBmZfxkhvePOiUR3F9n Join Our New Created Telegram Channel For Betting Tips & Updates 👉 https://t.me/+UCDrV3m0kw85ZWQ8 Subscribe To This Channel To Get New Post Notifications And Updates 👉 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF6mfFB0zMHO_RjjGfBsfEg Disclaimer: The content of this video is for entertainment and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide any legal or financial advice.You are solely responsible for your own actions and decisions when betting online.Please gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. Thank you for watching and good luck!

#youtube

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betensured · 10 months

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Soccer Predictions Today

Betensured offers soccer predictions today. You will find accurate and detailed prediction on matches. Here you will find reliable predictions made by experts who use information, data and their own expertise to make these predictions. You will find all the information you need to make an informed decision. You will find data to support the decision so that you can make decision without any hassle.

#Soccer Predictions Today #Soccer prediction #Best football prediction site

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ramtracking · 27 days

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Corner Picks, best soccer bets, predictions, odds: Barcelona and Real Madrid battle in El Clasico, and more [ UEFA Champions League ]

Corner Picks, best soccer bets, predictions, odds: Barcelona and Real Madrid battle in El Clasico, and more [Highlights] This has to be one of the oddest seasons in the history of Germany’s Bundesliga. There will be plenty of words written about how the Premier… Inter Milan is one of our main picks for a soccer parlay today along with La Liga and Bundesliga matchups. It’s a great weekend action…

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ledenews · 1 month

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Dreams Coming True at The Highlands Sports Complex

There were 2,000 wrestlers, 125 basketball teams, and two soccer clubs from several states that competed at The Highlands Sports Complex. Last month, right? In March? Wrong. In fact, those statistics were tallied just this past weekend. General Manager Harvey Greenidge reported the Viper Pit Wrestling Nationals, the Slam Jam Basketball Tournament, and the Beadling and Victory soccer clubs all competed inside and outside the $30-million, 200-square-foot facility that opened less than four years ago in the middle of The Highlands. After all, there are six basketball/volleyball courts, full-sized indoor and outdoor turfed fields, four batting cages/pitch tunnels, a play-climb area, an arcade, a café, meeting and event spaces, and a second-floor mezzanine level so parents, coaches, and college scouts can watch from above. The interior of The Highlands Sports Complex can be configured in many ways for different events. This supercenter of sports in Ohio County employs around 100 employees with 10-15 full-time positions, and this past weekend more than 5,000 individuals entered and exited the building. So, OK, just a busy couple of days, right? What about this upcoming weekend? Well, Greenidge predicts much the same foot traffic for the Wheeling Area Chamber Home & Life Expo, the KC Productions Spring Craft Show, and the 2024 OVA Country Roads Volleyball Classic. “For this time of year,” Greenidge said with a smile, “this is normal for us. We typically have two or three tournaments or programs running at a time on Saturdays and Sundays, and we’re hoping for much more this summer. We want to keep raising the bar because we know our team and this facility can handle it. “People from across the country have visited this facility since we opened, and that speaks to the quality of what we have here,” he said. “Plus, we’re surrounded by so many stores and restaurants, so it just makes sense for the folks who come here.” The Highlands Sports Complex is an enormous structure in which fields, courts, and batting cages are located. The Commercial Count Just ask her and Christine Thomas from Quaker Steak & Lube will tell you. “When The (Highlands) Sports Complex is busy, we’re really busy here at Quaker Steak & Lube,” the eatery’s marketing manager said. “It’s really easy to explain. The sports complex is the best thing that could have happened for us after the pandemic, there’s no doubt about that. “We see the teams and the parents from all over the place,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect when I first heard about it, but what a great thing it is for us here at The Highlands.” There also is a multi-purpose turf field on the exterior of The Highlands Sports Complex. The multi-purpose development site right along Interstate 70 has been growing since Cabela’s Outfitters opened in 2004, and the sports complex added a tourism dimension that packs restaurants and fills hotel rooms 12 months a year. “It’s a terrific facility for a lot of different reasons, and it’s become a great source of traffic for all of the other businesses at The Highlands,” said Don Nickerson, the president of the Ohio County Commission. “I think it's a huge benefit to the restaurants and the hotels and even to the retail operations up there. I would have never imagined the sports complex could become what it is today, but the people who were commissioners before had that vision and it’s been very successful just like The Highlands has been through the years. “From a personal standpoint, when my daughter is playing basketball or my son is shooting archery, we always visit other businesses at The Highlands before or after their competitions,” he said. “And you always see the kids in their uniforms and with their parents at the businesses and restaurants, so there’s no doubt the sports complex is having a direct impact that’s been very positive.” Supply, Demand, and The Bottom Line “Incredible.” “Awesome.” “Amazing.” The Highlands Sports Complex is pleasing and popular among AAU tournament directors, sports camp directors, exposition organizers, and professional franchises like the Wheeling Miners, and the one comment the facility’s general manager hears most is, “Sure wish we had one of these back home.” “I hear that from our out-of-town people all of the time. Everyone who comes here wants to take it home with them because it’s a very nice facility,” Greenidge said. “But these facilities are regional so the children who live locally really are the lucky ones, and we do have a lot of local student-athletes that come here because of everything you can do on the inside. Birthday parties for local children are very popular at The Highlands Sports Complex. “The Highlands Sports Complex is really a great place for birthday parties, too, because we have a great arcade and the climbing area,” he said. “Kids have a great time here, that’s for sure.” Dollars and sense, Commissioner Nickerson explained, will determine when expansion should take place. “There have been conversations about what could be next at the sports complex and we have had requests for some outdoor baseball fields,” Nickerson explained. “And we’ve heard about ice and about a fitness center, too, and right now it’s a matter of economics because the sports complex still doesn’t pay for itself. The (Ohio) County Commission still subsidizes it. “And we knew that was going to be the case for a while after it opened, and we were told it would be probably a five-year break-even point and it’s close to four years at this point,” the commissioner added. “So, it’s just a matter of the economics when it comes to expansion.” The large arcade at the sports complex adds new games as they become available. Read the full article

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vijay01 · 2 months

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What Technologies are Suitable for Fantasy Kabaddi App Development In India

Sports hold a cherished place in the hearts of people worldwide, captivating audiences with unscripted thrills and genuine excitement. In our strengthening world, sports have discovered a formidable ally that amplifies the thrill and joy for enthusiasts: the sports fantasy app. With the rise of technology and widespread smartphone usage, entrepreneurs and business owners are increasingly turning to fantasy Kabaddi software development. This platform stands out as the primary Fantasy Kabaddi Solution for comprehensive statistics, scores, news, sources, and podcasts of Kabaddi Pro sporting events.

Such detailed information empowers both administrators and users to make informed predictions, leading to potentially lucrative rewards. According to a report by Statista, the distribution of fantasy sports in India in 2023 revealed that after cricket, kabaddi held a significant share of 26%, showing a strong preference among fantasy sports enthusiasts for the fantasy kabaddi app because of its provision of detailed stats and scores.

What is a fantasy Kabaddi app?

A fantasy kabaddi app is a digital platform designed for fantasy kabaddi fanatics, offering them the opportunity to engage in fantasy sports gameplay depending on kabaddi matches. Users can create virtual teams of real-life Kabaddi players, competing against each other based on the statistical performance of these players in actual matches. This app allows users to see statistical performance of these players in real marches Through the app, users can strategize, draft players, and earn points based on performing the selected players in the live Kabaddi matches.

Fantasy sports apps do not just cover kabaddi but a wide range of sports, including football and basketball. Cricket, soccer, and more provide a fun and engaging way for sports fans to submerge themselves in their favorite fantasy sports and compete with their friends and other fans.

Which platforms are best for Fantasy Kabaddi?

Here we present the top 5 fantasy sports platforms through which you can create your Kabaddi squad and win exciting offers and real money rewards:

Gamezy

Experience the thrill of Kabaddi like never with Fantasy Kabaddi on Gamezy! Dive into real-time action right from your mobile device, managing your own Kabaddi dream team. Compete for exciting prizes and enjoy seamless withdrawals for your winnings. Gamezy stands out as one of India's premier platforms, offering not just Fantasy Kabaddi but also a variety of other thrilling fantasy games. Join the excitement today and unleash your strategic prowess in the world of Fantasy Kabaddi!

MyFab11

MyFab11 offers a diverse range of fantasy sports contests covering an extensive array of sports, including football, cricket, handball, baseball, volleyball, kabaddi, and more. While their user interface could use some enhancements, there's no doubt about their reliability and trustworthiness. For the past few years, we've relied on MyFab11 for our Fantasy Kabaddi contests, and their sponsorship of a franchise in PKL 8 further solidifies their commitment to the sport.

My11 Circle

The My11 Circle fantasy Kabaddi app brings the electrifying world of Kabaddi to your fingertips. Dive into the excitement of creating your dream Kabaddi team and competing against other enthusiasts. With My11 Circle, you can experience the adrenaline rush of kabaddi matches like never, all from the convenience of your mobile device. Join the community of passionate Kabaddi fans and showcase your strategic skills to win exciting prizes. With its user-friendly interface and thrilling gameplay, My11 Circle is your ultimate destination for fantasy Kabaddi action.

Batball11

While Batball11 may be smaller compared to other fantasy sports apps, it has been making waves in recent months. Offering regular fantasy sports promotions, deposit codes, leaderboard contests, and more, Batball11 ensures users get the most out of their gaming experience. With attractive deposit bonuses, users can maximize their value on Batball11. With PKL Season 8 around the corner, we can expect exciting promotions tailored for Kabaddi fantasy enthusiasts on the platform. Keep an eye out for Batball11's offerings and elevate your fantasy sports experience.

PlayerzPot

PlayerzPot stands as a prominent name in the realm of fantasy sports apps, offering a comprehensive platform for sports enthusiasts to indulge in their passion. With a wide array of sports, including cricket, football, basketball, kabaddi, and more, PlayerzPot caters to a diverse audience. Whether it’s the pro Kabaddi League or other Kabaddi tournaments, Playerz Port provides a platform for fans to showcase their skills.

Suitable technologies for fantasy Kabaddi app development

Here are some technologies that can be used in Fantasy Kabaddi App Development:

Programming languages

For developing fantasy sports apps, several popular programming languages are frequently used. Among them are:

Python: Python is a widely used and versatile programming language known for its simplicity and readability. It's an excellent choice for developing fantasy sports apps because of its extensive libraries and frameworks, which streamline the development process. Python's flexibility allows developers to create both backend server logic and frontend user interfaces, making it suitable for full-stack development.

Java: Java, introduced in 1995, is renowned for its scalability and exceptional performance. Although commonly associated with desktop applications, Java's versatility extends to web development, enterprise applications, mobile app development (especially Android), and backend server-side programming.

Kotlin: It is a modern and concise programming language and is gaining traction in the realm of fantasy app development. Originally developed by JetBrains, Kotlin offers seamless interoperability with Java, making it an attractive choice for a Fantasy Kabaddi App Developer who is already familiar with Java.

Swift, Apple's programming language introduced in 2014, is well-suited for developing fantasy sports apps, particularly for iOS devices. With its modern syntax, Swift enables developers to write clean, concise, and maintainable code, reducing development time and enhancing productivity.

Flutter: Flutter offers the flexibility, performance, and efficiency required to build innovative and feature-rich fantasy sports applications. Flutter's rich set of widgets and customisable UI elements make it easy to craft visually appealing interfaces tailored to the specific needs of fantasy sports enthusiasts.

These languages offer robust capabilities for both mobile and web app development, making them ideal choices for crafting engaging and feature-rich fantasy sports platforms.

Front-end Development

React Native: This framework is excellent for cross-platform mobile app development. It allows you to build iOS and Android apps using JavaScript and React, sharing a single codebase. React Native provides a native-like experience with efficient performance.

Vue.js or Angular: Alternatives to React Native, these front-end frameworks can be used for building interactive and dynamic user interfaces. While not as focused on mobile app development as React Native, Vue.js and Angular are still viable options for web-based fantasy Kabaddi apps or progressive web apps (PWAs).

Back-end Development:

Node.js: Known for its scalability and performance, Node.js is a popular choice for building the back-end of web applications. It allows for non-blocking, event-driven architecture, making it suitable for handling real-time updates and communication.

Express.js: As a minimalist web application framework for Node.js, Express.js simplifies building robust and efficient RESTful APIs. It provides a lightweight, unopinionated structure that allows developers to create APIs quickly and efficiently.

Database tools and technologies:

MongoDB: A NoSQL database helps in storing data in flexible, JSON-like documents. MongoDB is well-suited for fantasy Kabaddi apps, as it allows for easy storage and retrieval of player profiles, match statistics, and other related data. Its scalability and performance make it a preferred choice for handling large volumes of data.

MySQL: an MySQL can indeed be a suitable choice for the database component of a fantasy Kabaddi app, especially if you're looking for a relational database management system (RDBMS) that is widely supported, stable, and scalable.

Redis is an in-memory data store you can use for caching frequently accessed data and managing real-time updates. Redis is excellent for improving the performance and responsiveness of fantasy Kabaddi apps, especially during live matches and updates.

Cloud Services and Deployment:

AWS (Amazon Web Services) or Google Cloud Platform (GCP): These cloud platforms offer a range of services for hosting and deploying fantasy Kabaddi apps. From server hosting and database management to storage and scalability, AWS and GCP provide the infrastructure needed to support the app's operations and growth.

Firebase: Firebase is a comprehensive mobile and web development platform that offers real-time database, authentication services, and hosting. It is an excellent choice for smaller fantasy Kabaddi apps or prototypes, providing a quick and easy way to get started with development and deployment.

Authentication and Authorization:

JWT (JSON Web Tokens): JWT is a safe and effective method for handling authentication and authorization in web applications. It allows for the creation of stateless authentication tokens that they can verify and decode on the server side. JWT ensures that only authenticated users can access the app's features and resources.

Real-time Communication:

Socket.IO: This library enables real-time bidirectional communication between the server and clients using WebSockets. Socket.IO is essential for delivering live updates, notifications, and real-time interactions during Kabaddi matches. It ensures that users receive timely information and updates with no constant refreshing.

Additional Tools and Libraries:

Redux or Vuex: These state management libraries are useful for managing application states and handling data flow within the app. They ensure that the app's state remains consistent and predictable across different components and screens.

Axios or Fetch API: For making HTTP requests to the server-side API. Axios is a popular HTTP client library for JavaScript, while the Fetch API is a built-in browser API for making network requests.

Swagger/OpenAPI: For documenting APIs and ensuring consistency and clarity in API design. Swagger/OpenAPI specifications provide a standardized way to describe and document RESTful APIs, making it easier for developers to understand and work with the API.

By combining these lucrative technologies, you can easily develop a robust, scalable, and feature-rich fantasy Kabaddi app that offers users an engaging and interactive gameplay experience.

Conclusion

In summary, the technologies outlined above offer valuable insights into the requirements for developing a fantasy Kabaddi app in India. With careful selection, developers can ensure that the chosen technologies meet the specific needs of the application while delivering a seamless user experience. Whether you're planning to develop a professional fantasy Kabaddi app or exploring the possibilities, the technologies discussed here provide a solid foundation to build upon.

FAQs

How to play fantasy kabaddi?

In order to play fantasy kabaddi, you need to:

Choose a match.

Create your team within budget.

Compete in contests.

Track player performance.

Earn points based on performance.

Win prizes based on rankings.

Is it legal to operate a fantasy kabaddi app?

The legality of fantasy sports apps, including fantasy kabaddi apps, varies by jurisdiction. In some regions, operating such apps may require obtaining necessary licenses and adhering to specific regulations.

What are the challenges in developing a fantasy kabaddi app?

Challenges may include getting accurate and timely data, ensuring fair gameplay, addressing legal and regulatory requirements, and competing with established fantasy sports platforms.

#Fantasy Kabaddi App Developer #Fantasy Kabaddi App Development #Fantasy Kabaddi Solution

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