#and having to study. the same. fucking. subjects. for the hundredth time...

[lynaferns]

Today I started going to a class (to finish high school education) and I spent the whole morning with a thousand yard stare

It was all so spontaneous

Last Friday I was with my counselor talking about what options I had, there was this place and it was the last day to register, so my mother grabbed me and suddenly we were there, and I was putting my personal information on a paper and showing one of the teachers my DCA art

And suddenly it's Monday, I went to the class and everybody stared at me because school started last week and they already made the presentations, so I said hi, traveled the room for a seat, put my stuff on it and stared back to the class which was looking at me in very justified confusion because a person they have never seen has kind of butt in here

The morning went by pretty fast. Somehow. I only slept 2 hours today and spent the rest of the night rolling in bed. I don't know how I'm still standing

And when it was finished and we were going all home these classmates approach me on the way out and ask me where I was from. One thought I was Chinese. I have. no Chinese features. what

I'm telling you all of this because when I got home I thought it was funny and I'm sleep deprived

[hansolmates]

jeongguk; a royal exchange (02)

feat. the rom-com college!jeongguk x princess!reader au no one asked for

she’s the man!au where the princess impersonates her brother yoongi in order to finish his degree on time while yoongi is thrusted into princely duties. jeongguk is in the mess purely through room arrangement.

notes: p.2 is a straight up roll of pure crack and fluff. lil sexy for like .2 seconds. super self indulgent and inspired by the princess diaries. princess is stressed the whole time and we live to see her suffer

w.c: 7.1k 

01, 02

“I’m sure this is probably the hundredth time you’ve heard since you’ve landed, but welcome to Illyria! The palace welcomes you to your new home away from home.” 

“Ho-ly,” Jeongguk slaps a hand in front of Taehyung’s offending tongue, in case swearing is forbidden on royal territory. Wouldn’t want their scholarships taken away over Taehyung’s potty mouth. 

“Excuse me, Mr. Hoseok, sir?” an exchange student from a university in New Zealand (yet Korean-born, ironically) pipes up, “why does the infrastructure of the building look like that?” 

The student is referring to the ravines of gold metal that stream the walls of the palace. While the architecture is classic, the sheen of the metal definitely gives it an air of regality. 

“Good question, Namjoon. The castle is wired and designed after our main export, Illyrium. The element was discovered in the early 1850s in what is now the ruins of Oros,” Hoseok quips brightly, patting the stone affectionately. “It has a conductivity percentage of 106% percent, more than silver. It is also quite durable.” 

Namjoon’s deep laugh echoes throughout the pavilion, “I was just asking because it makes the castle so beautiful. Thank you.” 

Jeongguk takes the time to snap more pictures of the castle, switching between his Sony and his phone. He zooms in on a low balcony overlooking the terrace they landed from. A figure rolls into his shot, stumbling barefoot with a ruby silk robe swishing between steps. You’re tired, sleep-laden as you clutch a snow white mug between your two hands, leaning your elbows against the metal bearing. You’re staring at nothing and everything, glazed over your backyard that seems to stretch on for eons. 

“You’re right,” Jeongguk marvels at your visage between his lens, “absolutely beautiful.” 

“Can I please get a better assignment, Jimin?” 

“Your highness,” Jimin frowns, following after you, “you love teaching the exchange students, what has changed?” 

“Exactly, Jimin,” you sigh, stopping in the middle of the hallway. Jimin’s nose nearly bumps into yours, “nothing has changed. I teach students every quarter, the same subjects every time. It’s not to say that I don’t love teaching,” you exhale, blowing into Jimin’s honeycomb bangs, “but can’t I have a more challenging assignment? Conversing with dignitaries, renovating the town square, I’ll even do culinary!” 

Your poor secretary squeaks, pushing up his rose gold iPad to carve some distance between you two. “You-you know those jobs aren’t suitable for a Princess,” Jimin cuts himself off once he sees your eyes soften in defeat, “b-but! I’ll see if Hoseok would be willing to take on another class? And maybe we could arrange a presentation to the King in regards to your proposals?” 

“Right,” you smile sadly, folding your arms and stretching the tight blazer your mother forced you in, “as if another Google Slideshow will impress him.” 

Jimin squeezes your shoulder, as if he could tell you all the things he could never say through body language. “Showtime’s in two minutes, your highness.” 

You nod, making haste to the large double doors that lead to the main living room. Normally, the scholarship program’s presentation is done in the throne room, a big show of bravado and an ego booster to your family. However, this particular class is entirely post-grad and under ten students, so you figure they were placed in a more intimate area for the sake of comfort. 

Jimin pulls a lint roller out of nowhere, careful to catch every bit of dust that dares meet your presence. You tug uncomfortably at your collar, and give the signal to the door bearer. You fight the urge to flinch at the usual bombastic announcement. 

“Introducing, the Princess of Illyria!” 

The students and staff are bowing when you enter, and you send a look to Yoongi, who only offers you a lazy smirk. It’s a look you’ve feared since childhood, an explicit tell that he knows something you don’t. Nevertheless, you tack on a smile, standing in front of the ten students who are still dutifully lowered. You have to hand it to them, the undergrads would already be turning heads to get a peek at the princess. 

“You may rise,” you voice floats. As mother always said, your voice must replicate a dandelion seed, bouncing in the wind. 

The student directly in front of you elevates, a pair of doe eyes taking his sweet time to appreciate the view. 

Jeon Jeongguk gives you a lazy smirk, mirroring your brother’s. The smile evaporates from your face, taking in the handsome man that you lived with for two months over two years ago. His eyes have certainly not lost their spark, but his hair is trimmed and showing off his forehead. A Sony camera wraps around his neck, held tightly by a strong pair of hands. He’s even dressed brightly, wearing a navy blazer over a plain white tee and a pair of dark jeans. Something twinges in your heart when you see that a familiar pair of black combat boots remain. 

Jeongguk is the first to break eye contact, deciding to at least pretend to care about Hoseok’s presentation on the flatscreen. An overplayed video about Illyria’s history drones on, while Hoseok and Jimin are exchanging schedules in between. You’re sure that Jimin is passing on your word about choosing not to teach this quarter, and now it’s personal. 

This urges the students to take seats on the couches, while staff floats around with various pastries and refreshments. 

Your family takes their respective seats, and you fight the urge to pinch Yoongi as you hiss, “You knew about this?” 

“Surprise,” Yoongi sing-songs, munching on a linzer cookie. “I handpicked all the students.”

“Couldn’t give your sister a heads up?” you snap hotly, making sure no one was looking as you pop a whole cream puff in your mouth. 

“Sorry,” Yoongi leans over the shell of your ear, “Your hot ex-roommate is here, just wanted to let you know before you eat the dessert table.” 

You mouth a fuck you, taking a stab at him under the table with your heeled foot. 

After Yoongi’s not-so-subtle reveal of each other’s identities in a crowded Chinese restaurant two years ago, you’ve since cut off all contact with Jeon Jeongguk as you resumed your life as Princess of Illyria. Simultaneously shocked, but not surprised due to the obvious hints of suspicion, Jeongguk had forgiven your lie and allowed you to leave in good spirits. You remember leaving him at the front door of your dorm, hugging you warmly and bidding you safe travels. 

It confused you, because it would've been easier to leave if Jeongguk had gotten angry at the complete breach of trust and kicked you out. 

Hoseok is now presenting a slideshow of the intended schedule and itinerary for all students. You’re now glaring at the back of Jeongguk’s head, trying your damn hardest not to shove three brownies in your mouth in the presence of guests. Your tiny dessert spoon picks pathetically at the measly crumbs, and Jimin is urging you to smile from his position opposite you. 

“And as always, our lovely princess will be conducting our class on Modern Illyrian Anthropology and will be organizing your field studies!” Hoseok practically shouts across the room, where you’re sitting wide-eyed with your family. You feel Yoongi reach over to dab the crumbs off your lips, enjoying your suffering. 

You shoot a look at Jimin who was supposed to take care of things, and he gives you a pained expression that reads don’t fire me.  

With a tight-lipped smile and feigning ignorance to Jeongguk’s interest in you teaching, you reply to the expectant students, “It’s always a pleasure to teach, I promise to not bore you with Illyrian history, that’s Hoseok’s job.” 

“Hey!” he scrunches his nose, then turns to the students who are hiding their giggles, “Better get on her good side if you want a nice field assignment.” he warns good-naturedly, giving you a mock glare. 

You suppose giving Jeongguk a field assignment far, far away from the castle. 

After the long-winded presentation and a handful of brochures, the royal family is escorted out to retire for the day. As the youngest in the family you're the last one to leave.

Out the doorway you hear Taehyung utter, "That's her? What a babe!" 

As to not arouse suspicion, it takes longer than anticipated to get a private moment with Jeongguk. No one but Taehyung and Jimin know of your circumstances, and it is to remain that way due to the fact that you and Yoongi committed fraud, royal or not. 

Jeongguk is a quiet student, surprisingly. Choosing a seat by the window, he spends most of your classes doodling and looking out the pavilion. As stimulating as Namjoon and Irene’s questions are, you’re a little disheartened at the fact that Jeongguk has made little effort to talk to you, even if it’s as impersonal as classwork or office hours. 

Today Hoseok’s teaching, and that gives you ample time to work out where you want to assign the students for field study. You’ve shaken off Jimin for now, and you’re currently roaming the halls with your phone, checking off your schedule. 

Called the Museum of Modern Illyrian Art for Namjoon … check. 

Sent staff to the villa in prep for the kiddies’ weekend getaway … check. 

Sent e-vites and physicals to the Genovian royals … next.

Find a quiet corner to stress cry before 2:30—

A hand flies out of nowhere, grabbing your waist roughly and throwing you in a small room. The hand clasped over your mouth swallows your scream as the door shuts tight. 

The captor turns on the singular lightbulb, grinning at you like a madman. “Hey Princess—what the fuck!” 

You grimace, putting down your switchblade that was dangerously close to Jungkook’s jugular. “What the hell, Jeongguk! I could’ve killed you!” 

“Dang, princesses are something else nowadays. Where on your body are you hiding knives?” Jeongguk marvels as if he wasn’t ten seconds away from being dead!Guk, patting down your lavender pantsuit in a way that’s highly inappropriate. “What are you, Ty Lee?” 

“Self-defense secret,” and under your breath you add, “and Mai’s the one who hides knives. Ty Lee’s the acrobat.” 

The grin easily returns to the tall boy’s face, burnt eyes shining against the naked bulb. This is the most emotion you’ve got out of him since classes started, and it’s doing nothing to ease the butterflies in your stomach. “So, come here often?” 

“To the storage closet?” you snort, “not particularly.” 

“And where’s a place I can go that you do come often?” 

“My office hours,” you deadpan, “in which you haven’t visited, by the way. As a friend and as a teacher, I’m insulted.” 

A low whine erupts from his throat, and he leans against the shelves, long arms spread across the three-ply toilet paper. “But your little secretary’s always there. It’s awkward when we’re not alone. I don't know if I should act like a friend or a student. Speaking of, where is he?” 

“Ah, Jimin’s getting Starbucks.” 

“Lit, can you tell him to pick me up a pink drink?” 

“No,” but you send a text to Jimin anyway. “Shouldn’t you be in class?” 

“I’m supposed to be coming back from the bathroom,” he air-quotes, “AKA, running around the palace until I can corner you.” 

You sigh, fiddling with the hem of your blazer. 

“Are you annoyed at me?” and for a second, Jungkook’s eyes betray a hint of vulnerability. “Am I being too forward? Or do you not want to catch up? I don’t know, I figured you’d be excited to see me but you’ve just been so busy.” 

“Jeongguk,” you put a hand on his shoulder, ceasing the rambling. He opens his mouth to add more, but you squeeze his bicep. “I’m not annoyed at you. I’m annoyed at the situation. I’ve missed you,” you offer him a shy smile, and he returns a small, hopeful one in return, “but you’re right, it’s been really busy with the usual duties and I’ve been a little on edge with keeping things together without letting any secrets out.” 

You’re also confused as to why you’re still harboring feelings for him, but that’s another secret you keep to yourself. 

“Well, your duty is doo-dy.”  Jungkook huffs, but is placated by your confession. “Don’t worry Princess, I’ll think of something.” 

A knock startles the both of you, and Jeongguk squeaks, brandishing a plunger in defense. With a dainty finger, you push the plumbing tool back to the ground, as the knockings did not stop. 

“Ohmygod—am I going to be beheaded for kidnapping the Princess?” Jeongguk panics and checks his phone, realizing his bathroom break turned into a straight up game of hooky. “Do you guys still behead? I mean if you’re pulling out knives from who knows where—” 

“Guk, relax,” recognizing it immediately as a code between you and your brother, you swing the supply closet open. 

Yoongi looks between the two of you, gauging the situation. When he notices that no, you two did not just romp between the 3-ply and were in fact only talking, he huffs. “Losers,” he mutters under his breath, hiding a grin as he leaves you two to splutter. 

It’s already well over twenty minutes past your class time, but Taehyung just wouldn’t shut up. 

You can’t blame him, he’s thrilled that you managed to snag him a field study with your personal couture designer. He’s lit up like a good boy on Christmas eve, getting his present early. He’s gushing about how excited he is to use authentic Swarovski crystals and rub noses with the fancy fabrics. 

“I’ll make you the perfect dress for the upcoming gala, Your Highness.” Taehyung’s vibrating in a manner you never imagined on a human before.

“Thank you,” you reply awkwardly, “I’m sorry, but what gala are you referring to?” 

He shrugs, “I’m sure there’s a gala you have to go to sometime. I’ve just always wanted to say that, makes me feel special.” 

“Tae,” Jeongguk is sitting on your desk, heels bumping into the mahogany. With a stiff jerk of his head, Tae’s lips morph into an ‘O’ and he finally gets the hint, bowing to you and scurrying off. 

“Y’know, his fashion’s kind of eccentric.” he nods over to the excessive fur lining on Taehyung’s slippers, “I’d make sure your designer keeps a close eye on him.” 

“And what do I owe the pleasure of your presence,” you click, “twenty minutes after class?” 

Jeongguk has the audacity to roll his eyes, rolling his head back to crack out the stiffness. “The chamber choir, really?” he exhales, dropping the itinerary you spent the better half of your nights preparing. 

You raise your eyebrows, “What? It pertains to your major.” 

“For the past six years all I've done is eat, sleep, and breathe music,” he says, and you’re suddenly reminded that you had a glimpse of that version of Jeongguk two years ago. A slave to the music, as much as he loved the subject, it sometimes felt like a tether that weaved far too deeply under his skin. “Can’t my field assignment be something different? More eclectic?” 

“Do you have anything in mind?” 

“In fact, I do.” Jeongguk lolls his head to the side, chestnut bangs falling softly. “For my field study, I want to shadow the Princess’ duties.” 

You slam your hands down, standing up so you’re nearly nose-to-nose with the young man. “Are you crazy? Do you want Yoongi and I to get caught?” 

“Listen, I’ve thought about it all throughout class—”

“—what? You didn’t listen to my lecture?—”

“—and today in class you mentioned that you graduated with a Master’s in Public Affairs, because in fact I always listen to you,” Jeongguk presses a finger to your lips when you try to cut him off, “and lo and behold, one of my minors was in public affairs! What better way to get more experience in the business when I have the master right in front of me?” 

“I don’t know, Guk,” you try, mulling through all the possible situations and horrors that could occur because of it. 

“Princess, we’re killing two birds with one stone!” Jeongguk pleads, giving you the puppy eyes, “not only do I get a far better field study assignment, but it’s far better because I get to spend more time with you!” 

You hate how absolutely weak you’ve become under his gaze. In the span of less than three weeks, Jeon Jeongguk has re-entered your life like he never left. He wanted to spend time with you. The selfish part of your brain says you wish the same. Who are you to deny such a simple desire? 

“Fine,” you spit out, putting up a front and pretending to be annoyed, “but you better not get all huffy around Jimin.” 

He shrugs, throwing his bag over his shoulder. “Worth it.” 

“You’re different,” Jeongguk states bluntly, actively ignoring the way Jimin tries to push between you two. Jeongguk continues to press into your shoulder as you weave through the gardens. You’re picking flowers for a specific theme arrangement and pattern. A diplomat from Spain is coming and he is bringing her young daughter. You've heard that she’s recently taken in interest in constructing flower crowns. 

“Well, two years can do that to a person,” you reply airily, dropping a tiger lily in the wicker basket Jeongguk insisted on carrying. 

Having Jeongguk follow you around like a duckling is fun, to be frank. Jimin is no longer hyper-focused on you, forcing him to spread his attention between you and your overly-attentive  student. Jeongguk can’t attend every single one of your events because some of the information’s sensitive, but when he does it makes your job feel less of a job and more like a fun group project. 

Like when you and Jeongguk would stumble in the farmer’s market every Sunday morning, hungover but aching to fill your bellies. You two were walking zombies, forcing yourselves out of bed to feed yourselves. But it was always fun because you were together, whenever it was Jeongguk’s turn to pay, you’d sneak in more KitKats for yourself. Whenever it was your turn, Jeongguk would smuggle more cartons of banana milk. 

“No, no. It’s not that,” your friend admonishes instantly, “your personality’s still the same, even though it was Yoongi-fied. Your heart hasn’t changed,” you turn your head sharply towards a field of carnations, concealing your flush. “I mean, you’re more confident.” 

“In other words,” Jimin pipes, looking up from his iPad, “an air of regality.” 

You scoff, putting a hand on your hip and looking expectantly at the two boys. “You’ve changed too, Guk,” you reason, shaking your head. “Old Jeongguk wouldn’t be wearing white dress shirts and shoving princesses in closets.” 

“You shoved the princess in a closet—!” Jimin starts, having half a mind to cancel the field study all together.

“Well, Old Jeongguk didn’t have a chance to really get to know you,” Jeongguk twirls a baby’s breath between his fingers, tucking it in-between your ear. “That’s New Jeongguk’s job.” 

“So, you’re the Princess’ head of security,” Jeongguk tilts his head to look up at the slightly taller man, his visage covered by a pair of shades. The bodyguard is never really present, only when citizens enter the castle or you’re out of town. “You know you’re inside, right?” 

The man only slightly inclines his head to acknowledge Jeongguk’s prodding. Hmph, he looks like a talker. 

“If you’re her head of security,” Jeongguk leans closer, trying to avoid any further attention to his conversation, “do you know where she hides her knives? Because sometimes she wears those tight pencil skirts and I can’t help but wonder—”

“That’s classified.” 

“Alright, where do you hide your knives—”

“Also classified.” 

“Jeongguk,” you relent, sliding your footrest next to your throne, “leave Seokjin alone and come here, please.” 

You can’t blame him. It’s always been a pastime of yours to ruffle Seokjin’s feathers, but you must admit that meeting with citizens is a long and frankly, boring process. The routine is fairly simple, the citizen bows and offers something for the table, and in return you lend your ear and offer assistance if possible. 

“For your table, Your Highness,” the next citizen bows, carrying a foil-lined tray filled with fresh baked bread. 

“Smells delicious, Bertrand.” you beam, ripping open the tin to snatch a hot slice off the top. Rosemary and thyme are egg washed atop the brown bread, and you proffer a piece to Jeongguk, as you could imagine the poor guy is as antsy as ever. “And may I introduce you to my student, Jeon Jeongguk? He’s studying my diplomacy for his field study.” 

Bertrand tips his head, “Lucky you, she’s a true leader.” 

Jeongguk nods shyly, nibbling on the crust. “Truly an honor.” 

Jeongguk offers to bring the gift to the table with the other offerings across the room, and you nod, conversing lightly with Bertrand. His worries are simple enough, he feels pressured by a catering request from an Illyrian Duke, and wishes to serve a party fit for a royal. In resolution, you offer to send a palace chocolatier and chef to help with the preparations. Jeongguk returns to his seat next to yours just as Bertrand leaves. He pulls up his iPad, feigning notes that he should be writing while observing you. 

The next citizen hobbles over, holding a large ivory wicker basket covered by a beige tarp. “For your table, Your Highness,” they bow, “I hope you like omelets.” 

If you weren’t on the throne with an audience of one-hundred, you’d be delivering a very confused expression, coupled with panic. “May I?” you inquire, forcing a smile as you lift open the tarp.

In the basket there are two small jars of marmalade, and one huge chicken sitting fat and proud that its skin overflows between the gaps of the wicker. Its head twitches in your direction, barely turning because its neck is hugely bulbous with excess weight. Its beady little eyes mock you. It smells fear. 

“Her name’s Dixie,” the citizen supplied helpfully. 

“Holy shit,” Jeongguk whispers next to you, but not soft enough for it to not echo in the throne room, “Dixie, you are a thick chick.” 

“Jeongguk!” you exclaim, which causes the whole room to reverb at your shrill cry. 

Of course the chicken has to freak out, flapping its wings and freeing itself from the confines of its package. The animal dives for you, and you press yourself as much as you can against the throne. Jeongguk knows no bounds, throwing himself in front of you to catch the large bird. Feathers weave unto his umber tresses as the bird meets gravity, Jeongguk unable to calm down Dixie. 

 It’s more or less a wild goose chase (chicken chase?) after that, Jeongguk follows Dixie down the platform and around the throne room. The citizens and staff are clutching their stomachs in laughter, endeared by the young man following the chicken. Jimin is laughing and slapping Seokjin’s shoulder, his face breaking in an unabashed smile. 

And you can’t help but laugh along with them, trying to smother your giggles by covering your face with a silk fan. You peek over the thin fabric to see Jeongguk looking especially concentrated on his mission. It wasn’t like the chicken was going to escape the throne room because the doors are closed, but surely it will be a workout as Dixie’s a trooper and isn’t going down without a fight. 

“Don’t worry Princess, I got this!” Jeongguk’s voice reassures you from the far edge of the throne room. He’s taken a break, but the glint in his eyes show he’s committed to catching Dixie as she scuttles in circles.

He flashes you a breathtaking smile, all gums and pearly whites as he runs a hand through his wavy locks. Your smile falls slightly, and you clutch your fan tighter at the realization. Oh, you are besotted. 

“Hoseok’s had me on my back about teaching a full class before your weekend getaway but I’ve long decided,” you lift your chin haughtily in a way only princesses do, jutting out your lip in confirmation, “that you should enjoy the time you have here. Summer’s almost over. You all should get a headstart on your packing so you can get to the beach early.” 

Your class erupts into hoots and hollers, the Powerpoint presentation about the minerals of Illyria long abandoned. Two months have already passed, and in a couple weeks they’ll be saying their goodbyes. A twinge of sadness hits you as you relish in your students’ happy smiles. As each semester passes, each group leaves something behind you’ll never forget. This summer, as much as you taught them, you’ve learned a lot from them as well.

Students are already starting to pack up, but Namjoon’s butt is firmly planted in his seat, raising his hand. “Sorry, I have a question.” 

You smile goodnaturedly, already used to his usual spiel. “I can email you the Powerpoint and we can go over whatever you want on Monday.” 

“Ah, no. I was wondering if you were coming with us,” Namjoon mutters sheepishly. 

You’re surprised, even moreso when Irene and Yerin insist that you should go. “Yes, you have to go!” Yerin bounces in her seat.

“Oh,” you blush, “I can’t. I don’t normally go on these things, wouldn’t it be weird to have your teacher at your party?” 

“Hell no!” Yerin gasps shamelessly. It’s one thing you liked about this class, after class is over, they always managed to make you feel normal. Maybe it’s the closeness in age and education, but they remind you so often that you’re still young. After all, they weren’t Illyrian, and while outside of class they put on the whole shebang for you, it didn’t take long for them to get comfortable around you. “We can show you what real college life is like! We can roast barbeque on the beach and tell scary stories!” 

Taehyung snorts, already halfway out the door, “I’m sure the Princess doesn’t wanna see you shitfaced in the ocean.” 

You placate Yerin with a small smile, “I have to work after this, but I’ll see what I can do.” 

Namjoon walks up to your desk as the rest of the students file out. He runs the spine of his journal along your desk, “Prince Yoongi and Hoseok will be there too, if it makes you feel any better. Hope you can come.” 

The room is soon vacated, leaving you and your Star Student alone. 

“‘I’ll see what I can do’, really?” Jeongguk rolls his eyes, plopping himself atop your desk. Your eyes snap to the way the dark denim cords around his thighs, and you make a deal of slamming your laptop shut. “C’mon, of course you wanna come. I’m not taking no for an answer.” 

“Not really,” you admit. “I used to really like spending the weekend at the villa. I loved getting to know each class and know what it feels like to be like you guys,” you downplay yourself, stuffing books and electronics in your briefcase. “But ever since we roomed together two years ago, I can’t bring myself to go anymore. It’s not the same when you’ve actually had a taste of it.”

Jeongguk’s eyes soften at your confession. You could feel that he wasn’t prepared for your honesty, and you don’t blame him. He swallows, Adam’s apple bobbing. “I leave in two weeks, you know.” 

“I know.” 

“Can you at least try to come, for me?” 

You lift your head up to reach his eyes, looking equal parts nervous and vulnerable. You’re suddenly thrusted back to two years ago, cornered in your dorm room where Jeongguk was upset at the thought of hurting him, lying to him. You didn’t want to hurt him, or yourself. 

But as Jeongguk’s large hand reaches across the desk to your smaller one, you don’t think to pull away. 

“Your Highness!” Jimin interrupts the two of you, and Jeongguk snatches his hand back with a glare. Jimin ignores him, looking breathless as he leans against the door of your classroom. “Your 3 o’clock is ready. We have to hurry if we want to get through the crowd.” 

With one last look, Jeongguk excuses himself, brushing past Jimin with a gruff “Bye, Princess.” 

“Today’s not your day to meet with citizens,” Yoongi mumbles next to you, looking disapprovingly at the way you wait for the next citizen to approach you. 

Seokjin holds the crowd off as you converse with your brother, who looks ready to leave to the villa. He’s dressed in a plain white t-shirt, foam slides and baggy slacks. If it wasn’t for the family crest proudly presented on his right breast pocket, he could easily be mistaken as the average citizen. “Mother insisted,” you reply shortly, growing more irritated by the second. 

“Really?” his brows disappear under his bangs, “because from the way she said it, you were looking for work.” 

Caught, you turn away from his watchful gaze. “I have a problem, okay?” you say stiffly, “I needed a distraction.” 

“Alright,” Yoongi shrugs, leaning close to your ear to murmur, “where’s the dead body?” 

You slap his arm, “Yoongi! I didn’t kill anybody!” 

“At this rate, it looks like you’re wasting yourself away.” Yoongi replies bluntly, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “C’mon, Loverboy was all pouty in my room not too long ago. Don’t disappoint him.” 

With that, Yoongi turns on his heel and walks off. Citizens bow at him like dominos as he exits, your break definitively over. 

Whatever is blooming between you and Jeongguk, is and never will be fair to the both of you. In your eyes Jeongguk isn’t the type to settle, not relationship-wise, but life-wise. He wanted to grow and cultivate his art, and taste freedom every step of the journey.

You weren’t freedom or growth, and you could only hope he realizes that before you become too selfish. 

“Your Highness?” you break out of your reverie when a young woman your age looks at you shyly, “My name is Wendy. I didn’t get anything for the table but, I got you a caramel macchiato.” 

She brandishes a venti iced caramel macchiato, condensation dripping from her fingers. Your face lights up, accepting the caffeinated drink. “I really needed this!” you perk up immediately, taking a sip and letting the cool flavor soothe your tastebuds. “Thank you, Wendy. What is it that you request?” 

“Advice,” she admits, a blush creeping from her neck. She looks down at her work boots, caked in grime. “I’m an engineer who works in manufacturing Illryian technology.”

“We are eternally grateful for your service to this country,” you reply evenly. Engineers are highly revered in your country, as your economy is dependent on their brilliant minds. 

“But I have fallen in love with a man who is under my station, and wishes to find work elsewhere,” she bites her lip, her eyes growing glassy. “I haven’t told him my feelings yet, however I’m also worried for my family who finds men like him to be unworthy of an engineer like myself.” 

“Ah, bound by duty and expectation.” you reply grimly, “a rock and a hard place, huh?” 

“Yes, forgive me for my crassness. I felt as if you would understand my predicament.” 

Putting your drink down, you reach for her hand. Oil and dirt cake her fingers, and she attempts to pull away as to not soil you, but you hold on tighter. “Tell him how you feel, Wendy.” you whisper, a conversation so intimate it’s only proper it be for her ears and her ears only. “Whether he leaves or not after you tell him is his decision. However, I assure you it will hurt far more if you don’t give yourself a chance.” 

Her voice cracks, “But what if it doesn’t work out?” 

You start to feel a little teary at her candor, and you run a thumb over her palm. “Then you’re one heartbreak closer to happiness. Nevertheless, you are a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman. Don’t let your fears reject that.” 

Wendy finds the strength to squeeze your hand, and you belatedly realize that if this piece of advice was personified, it’d be slapping the shit out of you. 

“You came!” 

Hopped up on bitter caffeine and potential regrets, you stand in the living room well past midnight, party in full swing. Jimin trails behind you sans iPad, feeling lighter in a pair of trunks and a black tank. A playlist of Namjoon’s organizing is blasting from the surround sound, coupled with the flatscreen television projecting an intense lap of MarioKart. Irene and Taehyung are shoulder to shoulder, concentrating on getting that Mushroom Cup. The sliding doors that lead from your villa to the beach are cracked open, wide enough to hear the conversations the other students are exchanging. 

It was always nice to have your villa occupied like this. Less empty, more familial. 

Yerin is the first to greet you, throwing her arms around you and smelling like seasalt and vodka. She’s drenching your clothes, clad in a yellow polka-dot one-piece. “This weekend’s gonna be killer,” she whispers in your ear, causing the hairs on your neck to rise. For a petite thing, she really wastes no time cutting to the chase. 

You detach yourself, holding up a bag of pastries. “Snagged some munchies for your inevitable drunk crash,” you smirk, placing the container on the kitchen island. 

Yerin gapes, red tinted lips mouthing an ‘o’ at your language. “You’ve been hidin’ out on us, haven’t you Princess?” Yerin then brushes past you, ready to get her fingers on the confections. You’re over her shoulder, pointing out both Illrian delicacies and pastries she’s familiar with. 

After Irene snags the Mushroom Cup they’re joining you at the island, lips coated in powdered sugar and jam. The girls laugh when some powdered sugar gets into Taehyung’s hair, Irene patting him a little too hard on his bangs. 

“You’re here!” 

You whip around to see Jeongguk sliding the glass doors hurriedly, bare feet slapping across the tiled floor to reach you. He’s dripping wet, ocean water rivering around his body. Your eyes can’t help but follow the flow of the cool liquid, finding purchase between the planes of his chest and honeyed abs, glowing from the heat. 

Three years of your life were spent studying preparation and execution for war or nuclear threat. Unfortunately, at this very moment you feel way more prepared for war than Jeon Jeongguk standing in your villa, looking like that. 

Instead of the usual pleasantries, you hold up a leather wallet. “You left this in the classroom,” you chide. 

It’s a baldfaced lie. Somehow, Jeongguk’s wallet had conveniently ended up in your office between reams of paper. The bastard himself has the audacity to feign surprise, coral lips gaping in relief. “Wow, Princess. Totally not a ploy to get you to come here.” 

“Right.” 

“Give it here, I’ll drop it off in my room.” 

“Wait, wait!” you hold up both your hands, centimeters away from Jeongguk’s pecs. You’re nearly eye level with them, and you force yourself to look up at his smug face. “You’re dripping wet on the tile! Your feet still have sand you heathen! Do not get our carpets dirty!” you hold the wallet to your chest protectively, “where’s your room?” 

He tilts his head adorably, droplets flecking from his slicked back mane. “Third door on the right.” he doesn’t dare to argue with your sudden passion to keep your villa clean. 

You nod, “go enjoy the water. I’ll be right out.” You don’t give him a chance to reply, kicking off your sandals as you reach the cosier part of the villa. Soft carpet meets your toes as you pad off to the guest bedrooms. 

Jeongguk managed to snag the corner room, albeit smaller, it’s a single with a full mattress. You see his Superdry backpack open on the floor, its bottom worn with the white lining peeking through. Despite only arriving in the afternoon, his fresh scent is palpable. You drop the wallet on his desk, and you notice that his laptop’s still on. 

The Macbook Pro glows confidently, his screensaver revealing a photograph of you on your balcony. 

“Snooping around, Princess?” 

You whip around, seeing Jeongguk appear fully clothed, running a towel over his hair. He is no longer dripping water or sand, but he still smelled like salt and fire. He nonchalantly closes the door behind him, taking a seat at the foot of his bed. 

“You know it’s illegal to take unsolicited pictures of royalty, right?” 

“And who should I answer to, hm? The Princess?” he teases, face blooming from the fluffy white towel. 

You’re not upset about the picture, he knows that. But there you sit, slumped over his desk, looking forlornly at his picture of you. 

“I’ve locked the door,” Jeongguk pipes up, looking at you worriedly. “Yoongi mentioned that the room’s are soundproof. He said you looked upset today. Tell me what’s on your mind.” 

The room feels smaller, swallowing you whole. You’re tired from today’s events, both emotionally and physically. Jeongguk is having nothing of it, reaching between the two of you to pull the arms of the desk chair, wheeling you between his thighs. 

“Jeongguk,” you start, “why weren’t you mad at me when you were right? Right about me hiding something from you.” 

His brows furrow, “You made a sacrifice and protected your brother. Why would I be mad at that?” he says honestly, “sure, I was upset at first. Who wouldn’t be? But you did it out of love.” 

You smile wanly, knowing that there wasn’t going to be a chance that he’d be upset at you. It was out of your devices. “I wanted you to be mad,” you admit, wringing your fingers between your skirt, “it would’ve made it easier to leave.” 

“It would’ve, wouldn’t it?” he replies, his voice cotton soft. “After you left, Yoongi wouldn’t let me talk to you on the phone. Said you needed time. But I got him to tell me stories about you, stories that made me realize that I missed getting to know you.” 

It’s then you feel the weight of today express itself onto your cheeks, the wetness dampening your skin. You feel his thumb brush away the tears. 

“Tell me,” Jeongguk requests softly, “tell me what you really feel.” 

You let your head collapse in his hands, relishing the warmth and comfort it brings. “I feel hurt. And confined.” 

“More,” Jeongguk bids, his other hand squeezing your thigh, “let it out, Princess.” 

You are a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman. Don’t let your fears reject that.

“I miss acting like fools at the grocery store, falling on top of each other half-asleep.” Everything tumbles out shamelessly, like a waterfall. “I hate how frustrated I am when you call me Princess, because while it is my title, it turns me on in the most devastating way when you say it.” you drop your head in the crook of his neck, embarrassed to see his reaction. “I want to laugh with you, hold you, I want you, so badly. But I want you to be happy, to make music and art, and travel the world to find your muse,” you shake your head, pushing yourself away from him. “I feel so stuck here, I can’t hold you back when you’re free and—”

“That’s enough bullshit,” and he’s kissing you, a clashing of teeth that has you sensitive and reeling. His hands grasp your cheeks, and you’re stumbling in your chair as the wheels make moves on their own. You squeak against his lips before you’re wheeled back to the bed. Hot hands pull you forward to teeter your body onto the bed, keeping you in place. 

The man in question breaks apart, but close enough that his lips brush against yours when he speaks, “I’ve never kissed a princess before,” Jeongguk says wryly, cupping your cheek, “but if you make one more gripe about freedom and your stupid self-righteousness and I’ll stop.” 

A pure, unprepared whine escapes your lips, shame be damned. 

“You’re my muse,” he plants a kiss on your forehead, “I bothered Yoongi for weeks, working tooth and nail for that scholarship,” a kiss on both your nose, “you’re what it means to feel free.” 

And that’s all it takes for you to surge forward, toppling over him until he’s pushed against the headboard. Capturing your lips with his, you catch droplets of saltwater and a flavor that’s so distinctly Jeongguk, feeling high off the taste. 

Your skirt rides to your waist, your underwear damp from the ocean and arousal. You straddle him, feeling so unbounded and free as Jeongguk lets you do what you’ve both wanted to do. With a roll of your hips Jeongguk grunts, forehead pressed to yours. “Princess,” he rasps, meeting your thrusts, “we have until Christmas to do this, no need to rush.” 

Wait, Christmas? 

Jeongguk grins, kissing away your surprise. For now, you’ll ignore the burn between your thighs. “Before we left today, Yoongi and I asked the King, your father, if he would consider extending my scholarship for a full semester. I mentioned that Yoongi and I had some unfinished projects from undergrad,” he pecks your lips, “and he’s going to help me produce a full album for my final thesis.” 

“That’s amazing!” you cheer, pulling him into a hug. “I’m so proud of the two of you!”  

“Mhm,” he nuzzles your neck, pressing featherlight kisses to your skin, “can’t produce anything without my muse around, so I’d say Illyria is the perfect location.” 

Your fingers thread into his damp locks, and you feel your heart swell with happiness. Here, under the gaze of the beautiful boy who wanted to offer you his heart and his world, you felt free. 

extra.

It takes the strength of both your hands to pull Jeongguk in the storage closet, but it isn’t like he’s putting up a fight anyhow. 

“Come here often?” you drawl, leaning forward to press a kiss to his cheek. 

“Impressive,” he chuckles, “usually it takes you an hour to shake Jimin off ya. It’s only been thirty-five minutes.” 

“I just wanted to show you something funny,” you pull up your Instagram, and play the featured video. While it was posted weeks ago, it started to pick up traction after Yoongi liked the post this morning. Jeongguk is dashing around the palace, sweating bullets and cooing “c’mon Dixie!” to the sprinting chicken in the throne room. 

“You’re viral!” you giggle, “you put Illyria on the social media map!” 

Under the lowlights, it’s still easy to see Jeongguk’s skin has gone placid. “If I ever hit it big, that shit better not haunt me,” he groans into your neck.  

“Please,” you roll your eyes, “every famous person has a backstory. Aubrey Graham had Degrassi and the Yodeling Wal-Mart boy–”

“Are you really gonna compare your boyfriend to the Yodeling Wal-Mart kid? Tell me what you really came here for,” And like a teenager, Jeongguk reels it back in, winding his hands around your waist. He gives you bedroom eyes like it's a session of Seven Minutes in Heaven, “so, we’re gonna make out or what?” 

[tricktster]

Do you regret your doctorate, or was it worth it?

WOOOOOORTH IT... but I am pretty aware that I’m something of an exception to the rule.

So, with rare exceptions, you can’t work in my industry unless you go through the other exact sort of program that I did, and it’s a tough one, and unlike other grad/post-grad programs (which you should really only do if your expenses are being entirely covered by the program, kids), this particular area of study doesn’t come with stipends - you gotta pay for it, it’s a LOT, and very little of it is fun. Even if you love the subject matter, it’s always a competition for the highest grade, the most prestigious extracurricular academic positions, the most speaking time, the best internships or research appointments... and because this field attracts a certain, uh, personality type, odds are good that you’re gonna hate a solid third of the people you’re competing against (not to mention the terrible people you have to impress...).

Now, there’s a carrot at the end of the stick, and some people do eventually get it. People in my industry decide to go into it because they have a pretty romanticized notion of what the day-to-day is like, or because they have a super rosy outlook on how much money you can make doing it, and neither of those perceptions are FALSE, exactly. For a small percent of people, they’ll make absolutely obscene piles of money... right up until they burn out from the endless hours and abusive treatment, quit their job, move somewhere far away, and consider becoming an homesteader but instead drink themselves to death.

The romantic version of the job actually exists too, believe it or not, and you can really truly do the romantic version! ... for roughly 38k a year - before loan payments - and essentially your tradeoff is that you never pay off your loans or buy a home or feel in any way financially secure and then you meet up with the rich burnout on his failing mung bean farm and you drink yourself to death with that guy.

But for most of us, how it shakes out is you make okay money, which is actually on the very low end of “okay money” after your loans, you have less free time than most people, your day-to-day ends up being pretty repetitive and boring while somehow also stressful, you drink more than you should, complain more than you should, sleep less than you should, and deal with the various types of people who you hated while you were in school who are now your bosses and coworkers, and everything just kinda goes like that right up until you get the hell out at age 65, look back at your life, and think “...the fuck happened there?”

That was almost my trajectory when I got my first proper job in this industry. Almost: I had the incredibly abusive boss, remarkably shitty pay, wild amount of stress... but against all odds, I stumbled into doing the one kind of work that wasn’t a repetitive grind? Normally, in order to do the kind of work I started out on, you need to do really boring stuff for years while you fight like hell to get any opportunity that brings you closer to the difficult, interesting, fun stuff. In retrospect, I got to start out doing the Fun Stuff because my boss did the Fun Stuff and needed help with it, but nobody with Fun Stuff experience in my field would ever work for that guy because he was so infamously awful, so he’d burn through someone fresh out of school every few years until he fired them or they quit. I didn’t know that at the time, I just knew that even though the environment was so bad and so poorly compensated that I regularly fantasized about quitting the industry, the work itself? That part actually ruled.

I stuck it out for two years, and then I hit my absolute limit one day. During the time I’d been there, I’d already seen a guy my age get hired, torn to bits, and then fired for a fuck up that was not his fault in the least (right after he signed a mortgage, and with a baby on the way!!!) I’d seen the only woman in a leadership role quit and take a new position because she simply couldn’t stand the abuse from my boss anymore. I’d had eight different people come to me in tears because they just couldn’t take it anymore. And one day, after possibly the hundredth time I’d observed my boss take credit for my work only to call me into a meeting an hour later to inform me that the thing he’d just stolen credit for was actually terrible (dude felt THREATENED by competent women)... I was just done. And by sheer dumb luck, I made the best decision I’ve ever made in my entire life: I texted the woman who had quit the word “Margaritas?????”

Three hours/margs later, I ducked my coworkers who had come out with us, cornered my former colleague in the bathroom, and said “I need to get the fuck out of this company. Does your company need a Me?” Two days later, I had an interview lined up, and on the night of that interview, one of the people who had planned on interviewing me had a conflict, so the owner of the company looked to see who was still in the office, and grabbed the first guy he could find to fill an interview seat. The seat filler in question went in knowing nothing about me, had absolutely no context for this interview, and had never hired anyone to work for him before because he did the Fun Stuff, and he had never encountered someone at an earlyish career stage who could also do the Fun Stuff. Still, one of the seats needed filling, and that, dear readers, is How I Met My Boss.

It was the single best interview performance that I have ever given. I was flawless. Boss told me several months after the fact that I answered one question so well that the owner started kicking him under the table. Interviews at this place normally take 3-5 rounds before the offer goes out. I got my job offer on the way home from the interview that night. And since then? Boss and I have accomplished things that were considered impossible. We’ve quadrupled our team’s business. Boss sets my salary so I’m finally getting paid. The actual work still rules, with the added bonus of getting credit for what I do. I am enjoying every single moment of this, the culture of abuse has been replaced with like... friendship? Friendly pranks? Genuine collaboration? And as a result, we’re kicking so much ass that we’re growing the team years sooner than we thought would be possible. We have a new graduate joining us soon, and with god as my witness, that new grad is never going to know how shitty this industry can be.

So, yes. TL;DR, for me, the luckiest asshole in the entire industry, dropping 6 figures of debt and years of stress and competition on this particular degree that granted me admission into this nightmare industry was worth it. With that said, even though I’ll personally do everything I can to ensure that the people who work for me feel the exact same way... I would certainly not recommend it for everyone.

[axwalker]

Tears in heaven (PROLOGUE)

Synopsis: Alexis O’Brien is about to get married but memories of her old life are coming back to haunt her.

MASTERLIST

Warnings: This story will deal with very dark subjects such as death, severe depression and suicide attempt (among others) if you’re triggered by any of those issues, please do not read this story.

Song inspiration: Tears in heaven (Eric Clapton) 

I’m participating in  @emceesynonymroll​  Wacky Drabbles.

This week’s prompt is: “ We’ve gone through Plan A and Plan B, what’s next?

Word count: 1250 (I’m getting better!)

Disclaimer: All characters belong to PB

I’m tagging my whole list for this FIRST chapter if you want to be tagged in future chapters please let me know:

@mskaneko​ @pedudley​ @burnsoslow​ @drxkewalker​ @fromthedeskofpaisleybleakmore​ @pug-bitch​ @lauzales​ @desireepow-1986​ @yukinagato2012​ @kingliam2019​ @drakewalker04​ @ac27dj​ @ravenpuff02​ @msjr0119​ @texaskitten30​ @i-bloody-love-drake-walker​ @loveellamae​ @nomadics-stuff​  @drakeandcamilleofvaltoria​

HUGE thanks @mskaneko​  who created ALL the edits in the center of the mood board. Love you

To my beta reader, @pedudley​    thank you for ALL your support, I LOVE you! 

Alexis took a deep breath before looking herself in the mirror. She was wearing a gorgeous long, laced white dress that had been made especially for her by the great Ana de Luca. She ignored the exact cost of the exclusive dress, but she knew it was extremely expensive.

An old memory started to creep into her mind. The memory of another white dress in another life, a life that seemed so far away now that she wondered if it all had been a beautiful dream or a terrible nightmare.

2010

“Guys, I’m getting married in less than a month! I need to find the perfect dress” She sighed looking around the retail store “Everything here is …generic”

“Well, Alexis you don’t have much choice. You thought the designer store I took you was too expensive, and you don’t like the retail store either” Olivia sighed annoyed “We’ve gone through Plan A and Plan B, what’s next?”

Max grinned “I know a little vintage shop just around the corner. They have great, original, cheap clothes”

Olivia couldn’t hide her disgust “Vintage?”

Alexis jumped into Maxwell’s arms “That’s just perfect Max!”

After walking a few minutes, they arrived at the store.

Alexis’s eyes wandered through the store “I hope I could find something that will leave him speechless”

“Please, Blossom, that guy is so lost for you, you could arrive in a jean shirt and he’d still be mesmerized”

Olivia arched her brow contemptuously “Well, that’s probably because that’s what he’ll be wearing himself”

Alexis warned her friend “That’s strike one, Liv. I don’t know why you hate him so much”

Olivia scoffed “He’s in last year of his Veterinarian degree but you’re about to start your second year, Alexis. Why do you want to get married right now? Do like everyone else, fuck him in every classroom of the university and move on” She squinted at her “Are you sure you’re not pregnant?”

Alexis rolled her eyes “First of all, you’re the only one that fucks in classrooms, Liv. And for the hundredth time, no I’m not pregnant. We’re just crazy about each other. I can’t even explain it” She sighed “he’s my whole world and I’m his”

Max talked while he looked through the racks “Well, I for one, think is inspiring, Lexie. I’ve never seen anyone more in love than the two of you”

Olivia nodded “Well, that’s true, you’re disgusting when you’re together”

Alexis shook her head amused. “Strike two, Liv” She turned to Max “Did you find something?

Max answered from the back of the store with his arms full of white dresses. “Only this, Blossom. Let’s the parade begin!”

After two hours trying different outfits, Alexis had chosen a long, white, bohemian dress, that would suit perfectly the simple wedding they were planning.  

Maxwell was almost jumping “You look gorgeous Blossom!”

Olivia nodded “The bastard won’t know what hit him”

Alexis looked herself in the mirror beaming, she had never felt so elated before in her life.

Maxwell saw the tears in his best friend’s eyes and took her by her shoulders “Is everything ok, Lexie?”

Alexis wiped the happy tears with the back of her hand “I was just thinking that I can’t wait to be his wife”

Drake entered the address Liam had given shaking his head, it was an exclusive, expensive store. He definitely couldn’t afford it. One day, Liam would understand that they didn’t belong to the same world.

“Drake, over here” Liam waved at him.

“Hi, Li. This store is way above my possibilities, man. I just need a suit”

“Come on, Drake. You only get married once, or at least that’s the plan” he teased.

Drake smiled thinking about her “There won’t be no one else, Liam. I’ve never been so sure about anything else before in my life”

Liam nodded “I know, Drake. That’s why I brought you here, plus, I’m the best man. The suit is on me. She deserves to have the best day possible”

“And she will if I don’t spend our whole budget in the damn suit. I appreciate your offer, but I can buy the suit myself. Let’s go to another store, one that I can actually afford”

They got into Drake’s jeep, and he started driving.

Liam watched his best friend, feeling almost jealous. Drake was going to marry the love of his life. Alexis. As usual, when his mind drifted to her, Liam tried to think about something else, he couldn’t allow himself to go there. “We have been friends all our lives, Drake. You can trust me, is money a problem? I could lend you some”

Drake shook his head. He had inherited his father’s house after he had passed and his internship at the veterinary clinic was a paid job. It was a small house and the internship didn’t pay much, but they would manage.

“It’s not that, Li. I’m just trying to be careful. Lexie is always exhausted from studying all day and working all night in that bar, so I’ll try to convince her to quit waitressing. I’m also saving to take her to that trip in South America she dreams about. We won’t be able to do It right away because of my internship, but maybe in the summer”  

Liam chuckled “I can’t get over the fact that the brooding, dark and cynic Drake Walker is so ‘in love’ that he’s planning a honeymoon. Who would’ve thought?”

Drake didn’t reply anything, but he was wearing such a mushy grin that Liam punched him playfully in the arm “You disgust me, man. Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?”

Drake shook his head “I don’t know what the fuck she did to me, Liam. I only know that I can’t wait to make her my wife”

Alexis spent her days trying to forget all about those days, the days with him. She was starting a new life in less than two months. And after all, she had been through, after all the heartbreak, all the pain, all those days in that horrible clinic, she deserved to be happy with a man that loved her. She deserved to forget everything about her old life and start all over again.

Maxwell entered the room and gasped “Oh my god, Blossom! You look gorgeous!”

“Thank you, Max. It was a great idea to hire Ana de Luca. The dress is beautiful” She gave him a small smile.

Five long years had passed since that dreadful day, but Maxwell still wasn’t used to the change in Alexis’s personality. The joyful, sunny girl he had met in college had disappeared and a guarded, broken woman had taken her place. However, Max knew his old Blossom was still there somewhere and he had made it his life’s mission to bring her back.

A few minutes later she had changed back into her clothes, and they walked to the exit.

“Thank you for coming to the fitting with me, Max. Are you sure you don’t want to join us for diner?”

“Sorry, Blossom, Rash is waiting in the house, I owe him a romantic night”

Alexis smiled “Oh, I wouldn’t want to interrupt that”

A flammant black Aston Martin pulled over in front of them.

“That’s your fiancé, Lexie” He kissed her in the cheek as he waved to the man inside of the car.

Alexis set herself in the passenger’s seat before turning her head and kissing her future husband “Hi, Liam”

“Hi, love”.

[universe-n-3276]

Carrying the Moon

Notes: First of all thank you so much to everyone who is reading this story even without leaving comments, likes, kudos, than thank you to everyone who gave me their feedback. It realy means the world to me. This chapter is dedicated to @gingerhead007 who took me on a little tour in Antwerp on Robbe’s birthday. You’re a sweetheart, thank you so so so much!

Chapter 6

Lucas and Jens were holding hands, walking toward a new place that Jens had discovered a few weeks ago, thanks to his classmates.

He was so excited about it, that he had told everyone about it, even his mother, probably.

That evening he had managed to drag his boyfriend with him, who had somehow persuaded Sander to tag along. But then again, Lucas could sell ice to the Eskimos, if he wanted to.

Since Jens slipped in front of him that Robbe had started dating again, Sander's mood had become darker than usual, and it certainly wasn't doing him any good. Lucas was worried about his best friend, and therefore he convinced him to take an evening off from parenting, despite Sander claiming, that Hero was the only one, that was still making him happy. As soon as the babysitter arrived, the three were out of the house, before Sander could change his mind for the hundredth time in just five minutes.

“You can still kiss in front of me. I won’t get depressed. Although, Jens, since you are the one who has to kiss Lucas..."

Lucas rolled his eyes, pretending to be offended by that remark. He was happy that, despite everything, his best friend still managed to be at least a little himself.

“Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny."

"I told you he would notice."

As for PDAs, Lucas and Jens were second only to Robbe and Sander. Not seeing them kissing, for more than two minutes, would have made anyone suspicious. In this case, even Sander who had his head somewhere else.

Arriving at the club, which wasn’t far from the building, where Jens had most of the classes, Sander and Lucas immediately understood why he was so enthusiastic about it. It was full of musical instruments, some were rare and had belonged to famous artists, others simply had unusual shapes or colors. The place was built on three levels, each of them was divided into two more rooms, which had different musical genre as a theme. Jens was studying sound technology and wasn’t at all as picky as Sander in terms of music, so he explained to the others, that depending on his mood, he always chose a different room, and that he had never been disappointed before.

Since he could be considered an expert on the subject, Sander and Lucas let him choose the room for the evening. Jens thought about it for a few seconds and then invited them to follow him.

"I want you to wear a shirt with my face on it when you come here without me."

The chosen place was the one dedicated to the LGBTQ + community and it was beautiful, colorful, and fun. Full of prints dedicated to films, musicals, or artists who had made the movement’s history. The speakers were blasting "I'm coming out" by Diana Ross and Sander was suddenly feeling great. He took Lucas's hand and spun him around, making him laugh.

“I'm going to get some beers.”

Jens gave Lucas a quick peck on the lips and walked to the bar. The place was quite busy because it was Friday night after all, however, finding a table was easier then they thought.

"How about that– shitshitshitshitshit."

Sander frowned, looking at his best friend, who had suddenly turned around and was still cursing under his breath.

"Luc, what the..."

Then he understood.

Robbe was sitting near one of the tables they had eyed and he wasn't alone.

Sander turned his back quickly, as Lucas peered in the previous direction.

“He saw us. He's waving. What the hell? Why is he waving? I'm gonna go there and make a scene."

It was like if everything was going at the speed of light around him, as he stood still in the middle of that room, unable to make any move. He should have tried to stop Lucas, who was taking the matter personally. He and Robbe had become friends over the years, but apparently, the friction had never been completely forgotten, at least by his best friend. Luckily, Jens’s arrival was able to bring Sander back to the present moment, and Lucas and his anger weren’t his problems anymore.

“Look! It's Robbe! I'm glad he came here to see this place as I told him."

"YOU WHAT? I WANTED TO CHILL WITH MY BEST FRIEND AND YOU INVITED HIS EX?”

"I didn’t invite him."

Jens looked extremely sorry, even though it wasn’t his fault. When the universe wanted to rage against someone, there was nothing one could do, except stay in the midst of the hurricane and hope to get as little harm as possible.

"It's fine. Let’s go there and just say hi. "

"I'm gonna go there just to bitch-slap him."

"Easy-peasy, tiger."

"Jens. I swear. If you call me tiger once again in public...”

Sander took a beer from Jens' hands and swallowed half of it in one sip. He was trying to prepare himself for the moment he was carefully avoiding for months.

He walked with his head held high towards Robbe and waved at him, trying to smile in the most relaxed and genuine way.

"Hey."

He heard Jens and Lucas’ voices greet him as well. His best friend's hand slipped into his and squeezed it. Sander couldn't be more grateful to him now.

"Hi, guys!"

Robbe was tense and Sander could tell it from the way he was scratching his arm. It was something he always did when he was nervous, and Sander hated himself for still noticing it.

"Noah, those are my best friend Jens and his boyfriend Lucas, and he is Sander my ex."

That’s what death by a thousand cuts feels like.

He found himself thinking while listening to the words "my ex". And it's funny how the human brain works because if you’d asked him, Sander would have sworn to you that he had never listened to Taylor Swift in his entire life, and yet the lyrics from that song got unconsciously stuck in his head, and they were the first thought that came into his mind at that moment.

He was hurting very badly, thus he tried to shift his attention to Robbe's new boyfriend, to distract himself. Noah was tall, with black hair, dark eyes, and full lips. He looked like Jens' cheap imitation, and it made Sander lose his mind because he thought Robbe's crush for his best friend was just something that belonged to the past. Instead, his type looked more like Jens than him. How great.

“Oooh! That Sander? The one with the baby?”

"Yeah."

He felt the strong urge to roll his eyes because now that Noah had opened his mouth, a single sentence was enough for him to sound like a perfect idiot. Sander swallowed the rest of his beer, immediately wanting another one. There was no way he could get over that night, being completely sober.

"That’s so cool, man! I love babies."

"I don't. I just love Hero, my son."

"You called him Hero? Duuude! You're a savage."

That was the cue he was waiting for to end the conversation. One thing was to be the idiot Robbe was dating, another was to hear him talk about Hero in that way.

“Okay. I'm out. I’ll go grab another beer.”

He was ready to walk away as fast as he could when he felt a feather-light hand rest on his shoulder. He could recognize that touch anywhere, feeling his body being drawn to it almost like a magnet, and start craving for more. So much more.

"You know you shouldn't drink. It fuck up with your-”

"It fucks up with your what? Are you still taking-"

Like a beautiful, fragile bubble that suddenly bursts, the peace that Robbe's touch had restored inside of him was abruptly cut off, making him feel something new. Anger. He turned back to face him, his gaze was sharp, his jaw clenched. It was again just the two of them, in a silent conversation, but this time, it was completely different from the many they had in the past. There was no need to express his thoughts out loud.

Not if Robbe was involved.

And it was over.

He didn't care about Lucas, Jens, Robbe, or that whole damned place.

He just wanted to leave.

Disappear.

“Sander wait! I'm sorry!"

Sander felt suffocated. He had never been so angry. Robbe had just told everyone he was still taking his anxiety medication. It was something only his parents and Robbe knew. He didn't think that the deep trust he had in Robbe should have vanished the moment they broke up. Sander thought that the other would always stay the same, but perhaps he had idealized him from the beginning. Robbe had talked about Hero to Noah, the first asshole who stopped by, and who knows how many other secrets he had revealed. Sander had entrusted him with his greatest fears and desires, trusting him blindly. He felt nauseated, angry, and sad. That evening had been a huge mistake from the beginning and now he just wanted to drink until he passed out. He wished to forget everything, his problems, and himself.

Then something made him focus on Hero, just as the bartender asked him what he wanted to drink.

"Water, please."

The thought of Hero brought him back to earth. He couldn't let himself go. He couldn't go home completely wasted and not be able to take care of himself and his baby. He had to keep himself stable, lucid, healthy for him. Sander realized at that moment, that despite everything, somehow, Hero’s presence was taking care of him. It was preventing him from drowning into the sadness and despair of having lost the love of his life. He had kept taking his medications, eating healthy, studying and attending classes, only thanks to that tiny angel, who was saving him every day.

He closed his eyes and breathed in the cold air outside the club.

He drank from the bottle he had just bought and started walking home, hoping to clear his mind.

Once he arrived at his house and dismissed the babysitter, he immediately made his way to Charlotte's old room, that he had turned into Hero’s bedroom. Sander had changed the color of the walls and drawn animals everywhere. The only trace of his sister, he hadn’t been able to erase was the poem by Rupi Kaur written on the wall with a black marker.

Seeing Hero asleep in his crib gave him the usual peaceful feeling. He stroked his hair, touching his cheek with his fingers.

Just a year ago, he saw Charlotte's belly grow and wondered how his sister would raise that baby, and yet, at that moment, Hero was his everything. He clung to him and his presence as the only thing that was keeping him sane. Most of the time it was easy, but tonight, after seeing Robbe in someone else's arms, everything had become more difficult. He didn’t even know how he hadn’t started screaming in the middle of the club. He felt like he was dying inside when Robbe introduced him as "my ex" because Sander couldn't think of introducing Robbe to someone without calling him "the love of my life”, “my soulmate”, “my boyfriend”, “my fiancè”, “my husband”. This was how he had always imagined it, the way things had to go, and he knew that no one would ever make him feel how he had felt all those years with him, so there was no point in trying.

The fact that it wasn't the same for Robbe had surprised him. He'd always thought their feelings were equal, with no differences, but maybe Sander loved Robbe differently, maybe he'd always been alone on that journey and Robbe was just someone he'd walked with.

His thoughts were going to a dangerous place and he had to stop them. He had to focus on the present.

Luckily, his little angel clenched his fists in his sleep, and Sander smiled because he was the most adorable thing in the world. He wanted to wake him up and hold him in his arm. Watch him sleep all night.

Then, suddenly, someone rang the bell.

It was late.

His mother wasn’t in town.

Maybe the babysitter had forgotten something.

He stood up and took the baby monitor, closing the door to Hero's room behind him.

They rang a second time.

Whoever it was had to be in a hurry.

"I’m coming, just a second."

He turned the key in the lock, finally opening the door, just to find himself face to face with the features of someone he knew too well.

[previous] / [next]

[xxpadfootxx]

🐾The Unexpected Wingman🐾

Summary: When your friends are so completely oblivious and hopeless when it comes to romance, you’ve got to push them together somehow. For Bakugo, that means by any means necessary

~~~

Izuku shuffled uncomfortably for the hundredth time that evening, his whole body on edge as he sat beside Ochako on the couch in the main dorm living space, the two trying to study for an upcoming exam. Despite his constant shifting, Ochako was too engrossed in her homework to notice, her face set in a calculated frown and her pencil tapping against her slightly parted lips as she analyzed her work. Izuku had been trying to work on the same project for the past hour but she was just so. damn. cute. How the hell was he supposed to focus when she was sitting so close to him, her outer thigh pressed inadvertently against his and her soft hair tickling his shoulder? He had tried to push the thoughts out of his mind but they had just come back with even more persistence, to his immense frustration. He needed to focus. He wasn’t too worried about this particular test, but he didn’t want to go into it blindly. Even though he had all of his books and papers spread out in front of him, he knew they wouldn’t be of much help if whenever he tried to remember the material he thought of Ochako instead.

“All righty, Deku,” Ochako said, snapping Izuku out of his reverie as she sat up and raised her arms above her head, the loud sound of her back popping echoing out. “I think I’m going to be done for the night. You should probably finish up sometime too, it’s getting late. Thanks for helping me study! I really needed help with those logarithms but now I’m not as worried!”

“It was no problem, Uraraka,” Izuku said, trying his hardest to fight the blush from rising in his cheeks as her warm smile lit up the room around them, making his heart pound. “See you later.”

“See ya!”

Izuku watched her leave, a look of longing in his eyes as she sashayed out of the room carrying all of her books. As soon as she rounded the corner, Izuku relaxed against the couch, throwing his pencil down on the coffee table in front of him in tired annoyance. He let out a sigh and ran his hands through his hair. He had had a crush on Ochako ever since she had kept him from falling flat on his face before the entrance exam that had only gotten stronger as he had become closer with her. But now it was starting to interfere with his hero studies. He had originally pushed any thoughts of romance away, not because he didn’t want a girlfriend, but because he wanted to focus entirely on achieving his dream of becoming the new Symbol of Peace. He had shoved down his feelings for the radiant girl deep into his heart and shelved it into a “never gonna happen” category. She was WAY out of his league and especially after their first year at U.A., her laser focus on becoming a hero started to rival even his own convictions. He didn’t want to get in the way of her dreams.

But now, the thought of pushing down his feelings was starting to fray at the seams. He struggled to think of anything besides Ochako nowadays. Izuku groaned and closed his eyes, leaning his head back to rest against the back of the couch as he tried to justify the problem in his head. He knew that the obvious answer would be to just tell her but he knew she would say no, his insecurities overflowing and leading to his fear of rejection, so he danced around that solution, trying to think of anything to give him at least some semblance of his sanity back. He sat like that for several minutes before finally giving up for the night, packing up his stuff and heading to his room as he concluded that he would just have to spend yet another day without her knowing his true feelings.

________________________

“Come on, Ochako! You HAVE to confess to him! What’re you waiting for!?” Mina squealed, her legs hanging over the end of Yaoyorozu’s bed.

Ochako covered her bright red face, desperately trying to cool the flames in her cheeks. She knew she shouldn’t have come to this little sleepover the girls had invited her to in Momo’s dorm. She loved them, but after accidentally letting it slip that she loved Izuku, she knew they would never stop pestering her.

“I can’t!”

“Why not?” Hagakure asked incredulously.

“Because he’s so amazing and so focused on being a hero! There’s no way he’d have time for a relationship! On top of that, he is way out of my league, there is no way he’d ever go for a girl like me.”

“Stop that!” Momo said sharply from where she was leaning against the pillows on her bed and brushing her hair. “You are just as amazing and Midoriya would be beyond lucky to have you as his partner.”

Ochako blushed at her friend’s words. She knew she shouldn’t put herself down but she just couldn’t help it. She knew her love was unrequited so what was the point of trying to make herself feel better about something that was never going to happen?

“Thanks, guys for being so sweet and trying to help but it’s just not going to work out. He’s much too busy, as am I. I just don’t want to be in his way,” Ochako said.

“You won’t be in his way!” Mina popped up again. “Are you kidding me? You guys have the same goal! You guys would totally help each other reach the top.”

“You really think so?”

“Oh my god, it is both a gift and a curse to see so clearly,” Mina said, causing the other girls to giggle a little.

“It wouldn’t really hurt just to find out, Ochako,” Tsu said softly, her finger pressed up against her chin in her signature thinking pose.

“But what if telling him makes our friendship weird?” Ochako asked quietly, staring at the floor as she sat on the edge of Momo’s bed.

“Come on, this is Midoriya we’re talking about! He’s not going to think about this too much. If he says no, I bet he’ll just go back to being normal friends with you the next day. Just so long as you don’t make it too overdramatic or weird then you guys should be fine. I know you love him but just so long as you also care for him as a friend, you should have all of the skills necessary to maintain your friendship with him,” Jirou said with a rare smile, giving her floaty friend a small pat on the shoulder.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Ochako said, still not entirely convinced.

The other girls eventually dropped the subject as they moved to watch a movie but Ochako still couldn’t stop doubting herself. What did she have to offer that he would ever want? She honestly didn’t even know if he was straight. She had no real reason to believe otherwise but she had never seen him show interest in any of the girls they were around, both in and out of Class 1-A. She tried to push the intrusive thoughts out of her mind as she turned her attention to the movie they had put on, wanting nothing more than to spend time with her friends and ignore the pit of despair and longing that had lodged itself in her heart.

____________________

Izuku gulped and raised his shaky fist up to the plain, unassuming door in front of him. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, mentally preparing himself for what he was about to do. He was still reeling from the fact that he had come to this decision in the first place but they say love makes you do crazy things. Finally steeling against his nerves, Izuku knocked on the door. He heard someone make their way to the door before it was flung open aggressively, revealing a very irritated Bakugo. Maybe now wasn’t the best time. Bakugo’s eyes narrowed once he saw who was on his doorstep.

“What do you want, you damn nerd?” Bakugo hissed.

“Um… Kacchan… I need your help with something,” Izuku said, his eyes darting to stare at the floor while his fingers twiddled mindlessly in front of him.

“Why the fuck would I want to help you?”

“Well um… you don’t have to, but I think you may be the only person who can really help me with this. Um… you know how you have been doing those weekly sparring sessions with Uraraka?”

Bakugo raised his eyebrow. The two had begun sparring shortly after the Sports Festival. Originally, Bakugo had been hesitant to work with her but Uraraka had been patient and kind with him, gently persuading him to work with her at least one time. It had eventually become a weekly regiment that Bakugo secretly enjoyed, the gravity girl containing much more skill than what meets the eye, allowing them both to expand on their quirks and hand to hand combat fighting skills. They had slowly developed a mutual respect for one another, the closest thing to a friendship the two had.

“Yes, of course, I know about the damn sparring sessions, what about them?”

“Well, since you’ve been spending so much time with her, I’ve noticed that you’ve learned a lot about her, what she is like, how she fights, how she uses her quirk-”

“Spit it out, Deku!” Bakugo snapped.

“Right! Sorry, um… do you think it would be reasonable to pursue a relationship with her?”

Bakugo was stunned for a minute, his eyebrows shooting up into his blonde hair. He had always guessed that the nerd had something for the gravity girl but he had never expected the kid to actually gain the balls to entertain the idea of courting her. Shaking himself out of his own jumbled thoughts, Bakugo looked down at Izuku.

“Tch, pathetic. I’m not gonna help you with some fucking love shit. Go ask someone who actually fucking cares.”

Bakugo then shut the door in Izuku’s face, leaving the green-haired boy down-trodden and tired. He let out a sigh of defeat. He knew he could ask any of his other friends but even Iida didn’t know Ochako like Bakugo and Izuku did. He could ask one of Ochako’s girlfriends but he was worried about them saying something to Ochako while they gushed about it. Padding back out into the main living space, Izuku tried to look as put together as possible and move on with the rest of his day. When Ochako smiled at him with the smile that always made the room feel several degrees warmer, Izuku felt the pit in his stomach increase and his heart flip as he mentally marked the day as another unsuccessful attempt of asking Ochako out.

_________________

The series of loud, furious pounding on his door later that evening made Izuku jolt in his chair where he had been trying once again to study for his exams. Standing up and making his way over to the door, he was surprised to see Bakugo standing on the doorstep, a determined glare in his eyes.

“Oh hey, Kacc-”

“Shut up and follow me,” Bakugo said before spinning on his heel and walking away, not checking to see if Izuku was following him. Izuku trotted after him, unsure of what was happening but unwilling to turn Bakugo down just in case it was something serious.

The explosive blonde made his way through the winding halls of the dorms and out the main entrance towards the U.A. school building.

“Kacchan where are we-”

“I said shut up!”

The pair scurried down the sidewalk and up to the side doors of the school, where Bakugo pulled out a small keycard and pressed it to the scan reader, allowing them in.

“I borrowed it from Aizawa so we could access the library,” Bakugo grumbled at Izuku’s shocked expression.

The boys then wound their way through the corridors until they arrived at the library. Bakugo used the keycard again and shoved Izuku inside, slamming the door behind them.

“Kacchan what is going on here?”

“I changed my mind.”

“What?”

“I changed my mind.”

“About what?”

“About the whole romance thing. I just didn’t want to talk about it with our other classmates there,” Bakugo snarled.

Bakugo then moved over to one of the work tables and sat down, gesturing curtly for Izuku to do the same. Wasting no time, Izuku sat down across from his childhood friend and rival.

“So what was it you wanted to ask me?” Bakugo asked. “I wasn’t really paying attention before, I don’t usually care for romance stuff.”

“Oh, I was just wondering, since you’ve spent the most time with Uraraka if she has ever mentioned wanting to be in a relationship.”

“No, she hasn’t said anything to me, why do you ask?” Bakugo said, his gruff voice echoing throughout the empty library.

“Because… I’m in love with her,” Izuku mumbled.

“I didn’t hear that last part, speak up, you fucking moron,” Bakugo snapped.

“I’M HOPELESSLY IN LOVE WITH HER!” Izuku yelled out in compensation for his nerves.

Bakugo looked at him with a slightly shocked, slightly amused expression.

“Well, I don’t know anything about romance, but if I were you, I’d just tell her how you feel.”

“But she’s not going to say yes, she’s way too good for me! I mean, look at her, she’s gorgeous, smart, talented, strong, stunning… I don’t deserve that! I feel like such a coward because I want to tell her how I feel so bad, but I don’t want it to ruin our friendship or break her focus on being a hero.”

“While I agree with you that she is way too good for you, I still think you should tell her. You might be surprised,” Bakugo said.

“I don’t know, I’m just so afraid of rejection. It’s stupid and childish, I know, but I just, care about her so much, I don’t really want to see the look of disgust in her eyes when she realizes that I’M the kind of guy she attracted,” Izuku said softly, letting his insecurities get the best of him.

“Well if you ask me, she doesn’t look very disgusted right now,” Bakugo said, his eyes glinting with mischievous amusement.

Izuku froze, his eyes widening as Bakugo’s words sank in. Turning ever so slowly, Izuku rotated in his chair to find Ochako standing behind him, her arms full of books. Her eyes were wide and her lips were parted with surprise, the corners of her mouth twitching as if she were trying not to smile or cry or both.

Izuku closed his eyes as his face flushed in embarrassment. So that’s why Bakugo dragged him all the way to the library. He knew Ochako was going to be here getting books for her project and brought him here to force him to confess. He looked up when he felt a rough hand on his shoulder.

“Your welcome, brat. You owe me now and I’m not doing this again. But I think you two will make each other happy. Just remember that if you hurt her, you’ll be nothing more than a stain on the ground, got it?”

Izuku nodded as a slight shiver ran down his spine at his friend’s low threat. Bakugo then stood up and made his way to the doors, patting Ochako’s shoulder supportingly on his way out. He may be aggressive most of the time, but he could also be rather gentle with those he cared about. He held no romantic feelings for the gravity girl, but he had grown to respect and even care for her in their time spent together and he was determined to keep her happy. For competitive reasons, of course.

“So… Deku? Did-did you really mean it?” Ochako asked softly.

Izuku looked up. Damn, she looked so adorable in her small skirt and button-up white blouse. The light from the sunset outside set her beautiful hair on fire, her whole face glowing in the evening light. It took Izuku’s breath away.

Standing up, Izuku made his way over to her. Looking deeply into the dark brown eyes he loved so much, he reached out and gently grabbed one of her smooth hands, cringing slightly as he realized how rough and scarred his own hands were.

“Every word,” Izuku said. He was still afraid of rejection but he knew that since he had already confessed, albeit, on accident, he had to go all the way.

“All this time…” Ochako whispered to herself. “All this time, I thought it was unrequited.”

Izuku’s heart leaped up in his throat at her words. He felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes but he forced them back. Now was not the time to get emotional.

“You-you like me back?” Izuku asked, almost tempted to pinch himself to make sure it wasn’t a dream.

Ochako didn’t respond, she merely reached up to cup his face in both hands and bring his lips down to hers. The movement of their mouths against each other was inexperienced and clumsy at first, but they eventually got used to one another and it felt so good, finally being able to hold each other like they had both dreamed of doing. Izuku suddenly gasped as he felt his world turn upside down… literally.

Ochako opened her eyes and snorted as she tried to hold back a laugh.

“I’m so sorry, Deku,” Ochako said in between barely suppressed giggles as she stared at Izuku, floating upside down in front of her.

Izuku began to laugh too before grabbing her face and kissing her this time, completely ignoring the fact that he was hanging upside down in front of her. He felt her smile against his lips and couldn’t help but beam at her, his eyes so full of love for the girl in front of him.

Unbeknownst to the two new lovers, several pairs of eyes were watching them from the library windows.

“Oh my god finally!” Mina whispered excitedly as the girls of class 1-A crowded around to gush at the new couple.

“Tch, who cares?” Bakugo said, turning away from the window with a look of disgust on his face.

“Oh don’t act all tough now, big guy, if you didn’t care you wouldn’t have interfered. You’re happy they’re together and you know it!” Hagakure said happily.

Bakugo grumbled incomprehensibly but didn’t protest, sneaking glances at the pair inside, watching as Ochako helped Izuku down and the two embraced once more. The tiniest smirk flitted across Bakugo’s features.

“Not bad, you damn nerd,” Bakugo whispered, his eyes following the new lovers making their way back to the dorms, the moon shining down on them from where it was just peeking over the edge of the horizon.

“Not bad at all.”

[dacrethehalls]

Wild Flowers

Summary: Samantha Harrington never expected to spend her entire spring break with Billy Hargrove and Billy Hargrove never expected to fall in love with Samantha Harrington.

Word Count: 9.9k

A/N: *RE-POSTED FROM MY OLD ACCOUNT* loosely based on the Chateau music video Dacre is in. credit to Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstine for the quotes in this, and shout out to all my faves who we name dropped in this.

******

"Hey....Emily.....No, Amanda? No-no, it's Laura!" Tommy H. sputtered, leaning against my locker. I rolled my eyes, grabbing my books and balancing against my hip.

"Tommy, we have literally been in the same class since we were seven and you still can't remember my name." I muttered, slamming my locker shut.

"Shit, it's Andy isn't it? Or is it...something that Starts with an R? Or is it a K? Kiki right?"

He could have gone on for hours guessing my name and would still get it wrong. I held up my hand, shaking my head,

"Stop before you hurt yourself. What do you want?" I asked, shifting the weight on my feet.

"Billy is busy today, he said his brother is in town or something and I was going to ask you to-"

"If you finish that sentence with 'ask Steve', I will punch you." I cut off, turning on my heel and strutting towards the parking lot.

"Aw, come on Regan lighten up! " He yelled as he ran to catch up with me.

"That's not my name either." I groaned, "Give it a rest will ya? And last time I checked, you and Steve are not friends...like... at all so go find someone else to blindly follow."

Tommy crossed his arms glaring at me,

"Oh my god. Yes, I'll talk to him."

He smiled at me as I kept walking,

"Thank you, Dot!" He yelled out as I stuck my middle finger in the air.

"That boy really needs to get his own personality." I breathed

I plod out to my car unlocking it,

"Maddie wait!" I let out a defeated groan. "What do you want Keith?"

"Can you cover my shift tonight?"

"I quit The Palace like, three weeks ago." I huffed, leaning on my car.

"And for the last time my name is Samantha. Like the show Bewitched"

"I thought your name was Krista?"

I rolled my eyes, getting in my car driving home.

******

"Not one, but seven. Seven different names Steve. All of which are nowhere close to mine." I grumbled laying across his bed.

"Sammy, relax."

"It's kinda hard to when you have lived in the same town your entire life and nobody can remember your name. Samantha." I drew my name out slowly, "It comes after 'Steve and'."

"Uh so i'm taking Dustin and the others to see a movie tonight. I won't be home until later."

"Way to change the subject, asshole."

"What?"

"I'm telling you that your friends are being pricks to me and you just mention going to the movies with some random kid."

"He's a good kid, Sam."

"Doesn't matter if he's the goddamn president of the United States, I'm telling you that something upsets me and you're blowing me off!"

"Sam, you can't let things like that upset you, okay? Now I gotta go or we'll be late for the showing."

"What I really need is to spend time with my big brother and just forget about this whole stupid thing."

"Maybe later!" He hollered, already out the bedroom door and trotting down the stairs.

I rolled my eyes, rolling onto my stomach and letting out a frustrated groan, blowing the hair away from my face.

Those were always the words I got from Steve when I asked if I could hang out with him; maybe later.

******

The next day at school was the usual, being ignored, people getting my name wrong, including teachers.

I had a nice cry at lunch in my car and ended my day in my favorite spot, a field full of wildflowers outside of the football field.

When the snow started melting away and the temperature went up I would spend my afternoon out there finishing homework and picking the flowers around me. I sat with my legs crossed, a pile of Johnny jump ups and dandelions beside me. I wound the stems together, finding the process relaxing.

"Samantha!" I jerked my head in the direction the voice came from, Billy Hargrove was striding towards me.

"Hi?" I questioned as he reached the blanket I was sitting on,

"Hey, so I was out of school for a few days," he chuckled, pointing at the disappearing bruise under his eye, "Basketball concussion, any way, we have third period chem together and I was wondering if I could copy your notes...and maybe your homework." He asked

Of course the only thing he wanted with me was to use me for my homework. At least he actually knew my name. I'll give him that. I leaned over to my bag, grabbing my chemistry notes handing them to him.

"Do you mind if I sit here with you incase I have questions? I know missing one of Mrs. Valentine's classes really means missing like, five classes. I've missed three so basically I'm fucked."

I chuckled, scooting over on my blanket to make room for him,

"Nah, Mrs. V has been out sick we've had a sub so you haven't missed much."

He offered me a soft smile, pulling his notebook put laying on his stomach, scribbling words on his paper,

"Man, you're pretty thorough, color coded and everything." He noticed, his eyes scanning over the highlighted words and pink gel pen. I hummed in acknowledgement, eyes focusing on the floral stems I held in my lap as I weaved them together.

"Jeez, I may as well just be reading the damn textbook... except at least this shit makes sense." He grumbled as he tapped his pencil against his notepad.

"Yup." I hummed, mindlessly twisting the stems around each other.

I still couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Billy Hargrove barely gave anybody the time of day, let alone me. Sure, he had his little groupies that followed him around, but they were nowhere in sight. Even Tommy was gone.

"So, uh, you got any spring break plans?" I questioned.

"Not really. My brother is in town, though."

"Billy Hargrove doesn't have any spring break plans?" I gasped, placing my hand over my heart, "What, you aren't going back to bright, sunny California?"

"Pfft, I wish." He scoffed, "Get the hell out of here. It's April and it's still cold!"

"Yeah, that's the midwest for ya." I sighed,

I plopped the flower crown I was weaving on to Billy's head making him break his concentration.

"What's this?" He huffed, poking away his curls from his face as his eyes darted up at me. His brows were knit together in confusion, almost going cross eyed as he attempted to get a walked at what was on his head.

"It's a crown." I beamed, placing the other one I made on my own head, "The purple and yellows in the flowers really bring out the blue in your eyes."

"What kind of hippie bullshit is this?" He questioned, plucking it off of his head and staring at it. Despite his gruff demeanor, I could see the blush creeping up on his cheeks.

"Oh, come on. It makes you walked... soft..." I hummed, gently taking it from his grasp and putting it back on his head.

"Soft?" He scoffed.

Of all the things he had ever been described as, it was never soft. He was more likely to hear a string of profanities and slurs directed at him than to be called soft. Hell, I was occasionally known to call him a dickhead every once in a while. Especially after what he did to my brother. I was about ready to take that spiked bat and go after the bastard myself.

"Balances out the black eye, you know? Actually... it kinda matches." I observed, staring at the eerie yellow color that crept under his eye and in towards his nose. A sign that the bruise was healing.

Billy took his crown off once again, setting it next to his notebook.

"Question." I blurted,

Billy hummed as I laid back on the blanket, looking over at him while he continued to scribble notes down.

"How the hell do you know my name?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow, staring at me, "I sit behind you in third and sixth period. I see you write it on your paper. Now your last name I don't know."

I let out a loud laugh, sitting up,

"You're kidding me right? Billy, you have to be joking."

The expression on his face led me to believe he was serious,

"Samantha Harrington, otherwise known as The Other Harrington, Steve's Sister, Hey You, Little Harrington, Dakota, Anna, Becca, any and every name that is not remotely close to Samantha." I huffed, blowing a strand of hair away from my eyes.

"You and Steve are siblings?" He pressed.

"He's a whopping 18 months older than me. My parents only wanted one kid, I was an accident. They sorta treat me that way too, the entire town does." I scoffed, rolling my eyes,

"They give me a credit card just so I wont bother them. But I don't use it. I don't need shit from them."

His eyes studied my features, eyebrow still raised as if he expected me to keep talking,

"When I graduate, I'm getting the hell out of Indiana." I sighed, fiddling with the stems of the flowers I had left in my lap.

"I want to travel, live in my car go on fun adventures with my best friend-if I had one. Find a house in a field of flowers. Make as many crowns as I want." I said, placing the flowers once again on Billy's head.

He let a grunt out in defeat as he moved the curls from his eyes once again,

"You know, if you got that cut off, you wouldn't have to keep brushing it out of your eyes." I commented.

"No way in hell I'm cutting this baby off." He replied, smoothing his hand over his hair after taking the crown off again.

I rolled my eyes for what must've been the dozenth time,

"Tommy mentioned something about your brother being in town."

Billy let out a disgusted groan,

"Unfortunately."

"That bad, huh?"

"That bad. He's the favorite son... Star football player, got a scholarship to some school he's way too stupid to attend." Billy griped.

"Does he have a better hair cut? When's the last time you brushed that rats nest?" I questioned, picking up the flower crown and placing it on his head for the hundredth time. Billy grunted in defeat, sitting up.

"According to everyone, he has a better everything then me." Billy rolled his eyes, pulling his cigarettes from his jacket pocket placing one between his lips.

"Bad habit." I scolded, taking it from his mouth and replacing it with a flower.

Billy grunted again, spitting the flower onto the ground as a dragonfly flew over us then zig zagged back, landing on Billy's shoulder. He glanced over at it with a soft expression before moving his shoulder so it would fly away.

"You know dragonflies are often thought to be loved ones coming to visit you after passing away. According to the Native Americans, they bring rejuvenation after hardship." I announced, watching another dragonfly zip past us.

Billy closed his book and sat up, "Thank you, Sam." He yawned, standing up.

"You're welcome, if you ever need my notes again just ask." I chuckled as Billy put another cigarette between his lips.

"I may take you up on that, Sam. Turn the B I have into an A." He laughed as he attempted to light his cigarette, "It's getting dark out, you okay out here by yourself? Or if you want I can walk you out to your car or give you a ride home."

"Thanks, but I might stay out here a little bit longer. The stars are almost out, I like watching them." I mused, earning a raised eyebrow from Billy.

"Okay. well, have a good spring break Sammie. Thanks again." He conceded, rocking back on his heels and heading towards the parking lot.

******

A tap at my window nearly made me jump out of my skin. I spun around in my desk chair, opening the blinds, assuming Steve was an idiot and forgot his key again. To my surprise, a familiar mullet-headed boy offered me a grin and a wave. I glanced over my shoulder to my bedroom door that was still ajar. I rushed over to close it, being careful not to slam it for fear of Steve finding out who was at my window.

I returned to the window sill, unlatching it and throwing it open. I watched as Billy climbed through my window, nearly knocking my glass of water off my night stand.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned.

"You want to travel? Go on an adventure? Let's do it." He panted, adjusting his jacket as he got his footing on the carpet.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Let's just forget about this shitty town and our shitty parents and step out of the shadow of our siblings."

I stared up at him, dumbfounded for a moment, only to notice a new bruise on his cheek. I furrowed my brows,

"Billy. What happened?"

"Don't worry about it, Sammie," He murmured, walking over to my bookshelf glancing at the books, various academic trophies, and my collection of porcelain horses.

He picked up my polaroid camera, pointing it towards me and snapping a picture of me.

"Excuse you!" I exclaimed, trying to snatch the photo out of his hand as he shook it.

"Not a chance, princess."

"Princess." I mumbled under my breath.

He placed the picture in his jacket pocket as he grinned down at me,

"Are you really that desperate to do something over spring break that you want to spend it with me? The other Harrington?" I questioned, crossing my arms.

"Sam, knock it off. You may be a little off your rocker but it's in an endearing way," Billy grinned, lifting the camera up and pointing it at me and getting into the frame as well.

"So what do you say? Hmm? Let's go on an adventure, use up some of mommy and daddy's money. Get out of Indiana or not." He clicked the shutter button, making the camera flash.

He grinned at me, placing that picture in his jacket pocket as well.

This boy was completely crazy, but I knew that Steve would be too preoccupied with the kids that decided he was the best brother figure they could find. He wouldn't even notice that his own flesh and blood sibling was gone. It would also drive Steve up the wall if he found out who I was with.

"Okay. Fine, let's go." I cheered, jumping up and grabbing my bag, packing a bunch of clothes for various occasions. Billy sat on my bed watching as I ran around my room gathering as many things as I could.

"I don't know if Steve is still awake or not so you gotta go back through my window. I'll meet you outside in like ten minutes." I whispered as Billy got up and started climbing out my window.

I shut it behind him, grabbing my bag and heading down the stairs.

"Hey Steve, I'll be home later." I called, walking past him and all his middle schoolers who were all yelling at one another.

Steve threw up a thumb, not even acknowledging me as I pranced out the front door. The thought of getting out of Hawkins sounded more and more appealing. I bumped my bag into Billy's butt, making him turn around.

"There you are." He grinned, taking my bag from my hands.

"We're taking the Camaro."

"No, we're taking Priscilla."

"What the fuck is a Priscilla?"

I grinned, nodding my head to my bright red 1965 Volkswagen Beetle, my baby that I had saved up for and bought myself after turning sixteen.

"I am not riding in that death trap."

"It's okay, Prissy. The mean mullet man didn't mean to call you a death trap. He's just intimidated." I cooed, patting her hood and smirking over at Billy.

"I'm not intimidated." Billy whispered under his breath.

"Then lets go!" I giggled, taking my bag from him and putting it in the back seat.

Billy shook his head, opting not to continue the argument. He grabbed his bag, placing it next to mine.

"You can park your car in the garage."

I pulled out, Billy replacing my spot in the garage with his car. I shut the door as Billy climbed into my car with a grunt.

"So, I didn't think I could actually talk you into doing this since we kinda just met, so I didn't plan this far ahead." Billy admitted, glancing at me.

"It's okay. I know a great place to go to start our adventure."

******

"What the hell is this place?"

"Some boujee country club my parents used to belong to." I replied, "It's disgustingly expensive."

"Then what exactly are we doing here?" He replied, raising an eyebrow at me.

"We're getting a room for the night. For free."

"For free? Yeah, right." He scoffed.

"You think I can't do it? What with my Harrington charm?" I drawled, twirling a strand of hair around my finger.

He rolled his eyes at me,

"Tell you what, let's make a bet." I proposed.

"Now you've got my attention."

I pursed my lips, humming to myself as I thought of what our wager should be,

"If we get in... you have to get your mullet cut off."

"Hey! No way in hell!"

"What, you worried that I'm right?"

"No." He scoffed.

"Then what's your wager if you win?"

"Priscilla." He smirked.

"You got a deal."

His smirk dropped as he realized that I had the confidence to bet my car, my baby. He knew he was getting that haircut.

"Come on, blondie!" I called as I skipped up to the front of the club.

Billy and I both wondered to the front doors, inside a fountain trickled in the background and the pristine white tiles reflected the lights from the ceiling.

"Welcome, how can we help you?" The woman behind the front desk greeted. "Hello, I'm Samantha..Harring...rove.. uh Hargrove," I chirped, glancing up at Billy who looked at me with shock, "And this is my Husband.....Billy." I snaked my arm through his, leaning my head on his shoulder hugging him into my side.

He put on an unconvincing fake grin, flashing it at the woman,

"My parents had a membership here and Billy and I are newly weds. They gifted us a membership under their names." I chided.

"Yes ma'am! What are your parents' names?"

"Timothy and Patricia Harrington."

The lady's head shot up at the sound of my parents names.

"I didn't know Timmy and Trish had a daughter! I thought Steve was their only child." She beamed as I dug my nails into Billy's arm.

He cleared his throat, slightly nudging me in an attempt to get me to loosen my grip,

"You know, your parents said this place was nice, but I hear there's a much better place upstate. Maybe we should cancel the membership and head up their instead."

"If you stay here, all of our newly weds get complimentary room service." The woman offered, startled by Billy's suggestion to take our money elsewhere.

"That sounds nice, doesn't it, sweetheart?" I encouraged.

He gave me a nod, letting out a sigh of relief when I retracted my nails from his skin.

"You'll be staying in suite 315, it's between the gym and the indoor heated pool." She instructed, pointing out the window behind her.

"Thank you." I cheered enthusiastically.

"Congrats!" She called after us as we stepped back outside. Billy pulled his arm from mine,

"I think you made me bleed." He commented, staring down at the half moon marks on the inside of his arm.

"Don't be such a baby." I retorted, going to the door of our room and shoving the key in the lock.

I let out a sigh of relief as the chilled air from the room hit me in the face. The bed was enormous, covered in crisp, white sheets with the logo of the club embroidered into them with green thread. Billy trailed in behind me, throwing his bag down on the floor by the bedside table. I slipped off my shoes, immediately hopping off the floor and landing face first on the bed.

"They're so soft!" I exclaimed, voice muffled by the sheets against my skin.

Billy laid on his side beside me, reading off the menu of the country club's overpriced restaurant,

"On tonight's dinner menu we have pacific caviar and braised lamb with whipped garlic parmesan mashed spuds." He mocked in the most obnoxious, rich old lady accent I had ever heard. And I had heard my fair share of obnoxious rich old ladies at my parent's stupid dinner parties, "Darling, I heard the wine selection is to dieeee for." I rolled over, flicking my wrist while holding my hand over my heart.

"How about we just order a pizza and go for drinks later at that bar we passed. Maybe do some golf cart races?"

"Sounds like a plan to me. But first we have to do something with that rats nest on that head of yours." I smirked, running my fingers in his curls.

Billy swatted my hand away, turning his head to glare at me.

"The mullet stays," he mumbled.

"But my dear husband, remember the bet we made in the car? The one where if I could actually get us a room here you would cut your hair." I giggled, tapping his nose.

"It's never going to happen. I don't remember shaking on that deal." He grunted.

"You lost fair and square buddy. Say bye bye to the mullet."

******

I smirked as Billy strolled out of the salon, his mullet was gone and replaced by a clean shave in the back and his natural curls still up front.

He looked even more handsome than before. I let out a whistle letting, him know I liked it.

"It looks like shit," He objected, crossing his arms.

"No it doesn't. Now come on, there's a club here we can go to. We'll have a few drinks then go back to the room and order pizza." I hummed, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the club.

"This place is obnoxious." Billy cringed, peering around at all the random couples spread throughout the bar.

"It's a country club. It's supposed to be obnoxious." I chimed, pulling Billy to a table and sitting down at it.

We ordered a few drinks and a appetizer as we people watched the rich folk around us.

The beginning of the song from Dirty Dancing started blasting through the speakers, making me gasp. I turned my gaze over to Billy with a big grin on my face.

I didn't even have to say a damn word,

"No."

"Come on please, I've always wanted to do it. Billy PLEASE!" I begged as I started swaying my hips along to the song.

I danced around his chair as he watched me with a deadpan expression,

"You're the one thing I can't get enough of!" I belted.

"No."

"AND I OWE IT ALL TO YOUUUUU." I sang as Billy groaned, standing up and walking away from me.

"Oh, come on! Where are you going?" I laughed as I kept dancing

"Are we going to do this or not?"

I let out a loud squeal, causing the people around to stare at us.

I started singing at the top of my lungs, walking towards Billy grabbing his hand as we started to twist back and forth along to the song.

"This will never happen again," He gibbed as I twirled around him.

"This is our first dance as husband and wife. We had to make it memorable." I quipped, doing a boogie away from him as the song built up. I kept swaying back and forth before running towards Billy and jumping as he caught me by the hips, lifting me above his head.

I crossed my legs, putting my arms out, smiling knowing that Jennifer Grey would be so proud.

I smiled down at Billy who had a huge shit eating grin plastered across his face. He placed me back on my feet, pulling me closer to him as we kept dancing.

"Ahem, Mr. and Mrs Hargrove, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the club for tonight. You are disrupting the rest of the customers."

Billy and I glanced over at the waiter, busting out in laughter as we ran out of the bar. "People don't know how to have a good time anymore." I groaned as we stumbled into the lobby.

Billy grabbed my hand, pulling me over to the grand piano in the corner.

"I noticed your keyboard in your room. You play?" He asked, sitting on the bench.

He cracked his knuckles, wiggling his fingers before pressing them on the keys, playing the beginning of Claire De Lune.

I glanced at him from my peripheral, pressing my fingers on the keys, playing along with him. "Been playing since I was seven. Rode my bike to my lessons every week."

Billy bit down on his lip before the corners of his mouth turned up.

"I think I started lessons at seven too."

"Who knew the Billy Hargrove has a thing for Debussy and ivory keys." I praised.

He swayed along to the music we were producing together,

"Ahem."

We both turned our heads over at the person behind the desk who was pointing at the giant sign behind us stating that the piano was not to be touched.

"Oops." I giggled, standing up, "Let's go back to our room before we get into more trouble."

"Nah, I'm sure we can find some more trouble we can get into." Billy chirped, standing up. We both shuffled outside and around the country club before coming up to a closed off section.

"You ever crash a wedding before?" I smirked, eyeing Billy as he lit a cigarette.

"Bad habit!" I scolded, taking the stick out of his mouth and replacing it with the pendant from his necklace.

"Will you stop that!" He grunted, taking the cigarette back from me, "We are not crashing somebody's wedding."

We continued our walk around the courtyard, coming across a golf cart. We both looked at each other than made a mad dash to the vehicle

Billy slid me over to the passenger side before climbing in the driver's side, pressing his foot all the way down on the gas pedal.

He drove off the sidewalk turning the wheel sharply making golf cart whip around in a circle.

Before long, the security guards pulled us over, screaming at us to stop and pointing at more signs stating boring rules for the boring people who actually paid money to stay at this place.

We laughed all the way back to the hall leading to our suite,

"Tonight was fun." Billy cackled as we walked into our suite.

"Yeah it was. I'll take the bed. Is the couch okay with you?" I questioned as Billy pulled his shirt over his head, throwing it on the floor and falling face first onto the couch.

"Mmhmm." He hummed.

"Good night, Billy." I whispered throwing a blanket over him.

He let out another soft hum.

"Good night, Sammie."

******

The next morning, I woke up and went down to the travel desk in the lobby, setting up all the things I needed to to surprise Billy with a small trip to California.

I tiptoed into the living room and over to the couch, shaking Billy slightly. "Wake up sleepyhead. Check out is in an 45 minutes and our flight leaves in an hour."

Billy grunted, lifting his head to walked at me.

"Did you just say flight?" He grumbled, his voice hoarse with sleep.

"Sure did. The in-laws bought us round trip tickets to California for the next two days." I beamed as Billy sat straight up, looking at me.

"Did you really buy tickets to go to Cali? Sam, you're shitting me."

Billy climbed over the couch, picking me up hugging me to him. "Thank you Sammie!"

I leaned in kissing Billy's nose, causing him jump a little from shock,

"Come on and get dressed!" I trilled, pushing him toward the bathroom.

******

The flight was longer than I expected it to be. Once we landed in California, I picked up the car I had rented. I eyed Billy who about fell on the ground when the blue convertible Corvette was brought to us. "That's the car you decided to rent!?" He exclaimed, almost drooling over it.

"Mmhm," I hummed, throwing my bag in the back seat and then climbing in the front.

"You know where the Chateau Marmont is?" I questioned, smiling at him.

"Did you get us a room there?" His eyes grew wide.

"Nah, it was too expensive, even for my parents. I booked a hotel overlooking the beach."

Once we got settled into the hotel, both of us were starving. We ventured out, finding some Mexican restaurant that Billy started raving about.

The food was decent and not too expensive but it wasn't like I was afraid of my parents finding out about me spending the amount of money I had in the past few days. They didn't care as long as I didn't bother them.

"Hey!" Billy yelled, catching up to me. "Uh..um.. I got you this," He panted, placing a heart shaped ring into my hand.

I examined it, smiling up at him, "Tanzanite, the December birthstone has energy for emotional healing from all worries. It brings happiness." I informed.

"Yeah..okay. I uh, just found a quarter on the ground and put it in a gumball machine. I mean, you're my wife and I didnt even give you a ring so." He grinned, gesturing to the ring.

"See, tanzanite brings happiness." I beamed as I slipped the ring on my left hand.

"So, does your mom live here?" I questioned as we made our way down the street.

"No. She passed away a while back." He sighed, a frown forming on his face.

"I'm sorry for your loss. You two were close?"

He nodded

"My mother was my best friend, she was a phenomenal woman. I never understood what she ever saw in my dad, he's a shit person." He chided through clenched teeth.

"Does he do this to you?" I asked, lightly touching the yellowing on his skin. He ignored me, walking ahead of me getting into the car.

"He does doesn't he? Are you going to be okay when we go back to Indiana?"

"Yes, Sam, I'll be okay." He retorted as we drove off into the direction of the hotel.

"Are you sure? If you ever need a place to stay you are we-"

"I'm fine Sam. Drop it." He snapped, cutting me off.

"Billy Hargrove is that you?!" Billy's head snapped to the car beside us at the red light we were stopped at.

"Sure is." He chortled, pulling his sunglasses down to his nose.

"Are you back for good?" The guy asked.

Billy shook his head "Nah, my....Sam and I came here for our spring break. We're leaving tomorrow night."

The guy in the car frowned as the light turned green.

"There's a party tonight at Olivia's place! Better see you there!" The boy yelled, driving off.

Billy's eyes lit up as he glanced over at me.

"Party tonight?" He questioned.

I pursed my lips together, rolling my eyes,

"Do we have to?" I groaned.

"Yes, I haven't seen these people in a long time!"

No matter how hard I tried to change Billy's mind, he wouldn't budge. And that's how I ended up at a party full of people I didn't know, sitting next to a Pug named Joe. Not exactly my ideal way of spending my first time in California. But I could tell that Billy missed his friends so I tried my best not to complain.

Music blared through the house as random teens danced around to Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne. I pushed past the crowd, finding Billy talking to some random girl by the keg as he poured himself another beer.

I was never a partier, when my brother dated Nancy Wheeler, she would always make him take me to parties. Most of the time it would end with me walking home or me hitching a ride from Jonathan Byers who hated parties as much as I did.

I stood next to Billy, nudging him with my elbow, frowning at him nodding my head towards the gate we had walked through when we arrived to the party.

"Sam, it's a party go have fun. Go drink." Billy shooed at me with his solo cup.

I rolled my eyes, walking towards the beach, digging my toes in the sand once I set foot on the grain surface. I plucked a few evening primrose from the steps, placing the stems into my plaited hair as I continued further down to the water. The booming music became more and more distant.

The beach was beautiful, and the California sunset even more so. What everyone considered a beach in Hawkins didn't even compare to this.

I took my time walking along the shore, picking up only the best shells and pieces of sea glass.

"Why aren't you at the party?" I heard a voice from behind me, I recognized it, so I didn't bother to look up,

"What're you doing?" He asked, watching as I scooped a sand dollar off the sand before the tide could pull it back in, "Collecting shells?"

"She sells seashells by the sea shore," I chirped, offering Billy the sand dollar. He rolled his eyes, taking it from me and throwing it into the ocean.

"Hey!" I hissed, crossing my arms.

"God dammit, Samantha can you not be weird for once? You're embarrassing me in front of my friends."

"I don't see anyone but us around," I shrugged, reaching into the water and picking up another shell.

"Sam. Please. Just pretend to be normal." He begged, reaching for the flowers woven into my braid and pulling them out.

"Excuse you!" I yelled, smacking his hands away, "Go party with your friends. I'll be okay by myself. Always have been." I fumed.

"I'm not leaving you out here alone. Just come back to the party, pretend to be normal and we'll come to the beach tomorrow."

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

"Are you really quoting Dr. Seuss? This is the shit im talking about. Normal people don't quote Dr. Seuss."

"If normal people don't quote Dr. Seuss, how do you know it's a Dr. Seuss quote?" I replied, and that was as close to a rebuttal as he was going to get from me tonight. I wasn't about to get dragged in to a Billy Hargrove argument. Especially not on spring break.

Billy continued to follow me as I kept examining shells and placing them into my pockets.

"Somebody has to go polish the stars, They're looking a little bit dull. Somebody has to go polish the stars, For the eagles and starlings and gulls have been complaining they're tarnished and worn, They say they want new ones we cannot afford. So please get your rags and your polishing jars, Somebody has to go polish the stars." I beamed, spinning in a small circle, kicking some water up at Billy.

He let out a frustrated groan,

"Harrington, you are really starting to piss me off." He snarled, grabbing my arm, "God, you're acting just like your brother." He snapped, "No wonder nobody bothers to get to know both of you, you're the same person."

I couldn't remain neutral any longer, I yanked my arm from his grasp and gave him a shove backward before turning on my heels and strutting back the way I came.

"Where the hell are you going?" He hollered.

I resisted the urge to turn around and scream back in his face as well as the urge to reach up to wipe the tears that had started to fall onto my cheek. I couldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing that he hurt me. My attempt at escape was thwarted when he ran up behind me, grabbing my wrist and spinning me around to face him,

"Let go of me, Billy." I hissed, straining against his grasp.

He gripped onto me with white knuckles,

"Not until you tell me where the hell you're going."

"Away from you." I spat.

"I'm not letting you leave here by yourself."

"You don't own me, you don't get to decide what I can and can't do."

"You're out here with me, I'm responsible for you."

"I'm responsible for myself, always have been. Find your own way home, asshole." I tore myself from his grasp, turning my back on him and making my way back to the car we rented, climbing in.

******

I drove around for at least two hours before heading back to the hotel. I knew that eventually the asshole known as Billy Hargrove would make an appearance, taking place of the boy I had been around for the past few days.

I figured it was from him being vulnerable with me and opening up to me about his father and mother. But the loss of his best friend and the fear of his father gave him no right to treat me or any other person that tries to get close with him the way he treats them.

I grew up almost raising myself, in a semI neglectful home with a vain mother, an absent father, a star athlete and a favorite brother. And that made me angry. That my own flesh and blood never took the time to come to my piano recitals, or come cheer me on for any academic achievement.

Hell, I doubt anyone in my family even knew that I was graduating a year early. I was counting down the days to graduation. I would be my own person, I would travel to places and do things that my brother would be too scared or stupid to do.

I opened the door to our hotel room to find Billy slumped on the couch asleep. I went over to him, taking his boots off and covering him up with a blanket.

"You're back." He grumbled, half asleep.

"Mmhm. Go back to sleep." I whispered, setting a glass of water on the table next to him then walking to the room, shutting the door.

******

I woke up the next morning to Billy shaking my arm. "Hey...Um I'm sorry about last night."

"I only accept apologies from assholes when there are pancakes involved." I grumbled, pulling the covers over my head.

"Sam..." Billy whined. I felt the bed shift as he sat next to me, resting his hand in the curve of my waist,

"Go away." I objected, kicking at his butt and wiggling out from under his touch.

A small chuckle left Billy's lips as he moved the covers from my head, "I really can't take you seriously when you're mad." He laughed.

I glared at him,

"You're a jerk. Get me pancakes and then we'll talk."

"Get up and get dressed. I'll take you to the best pancake place in town."

I wandered out of my room, passing Billy who was sitting on the counter with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

"Are you really not going to talk to me until I feed you?" Billy asked as he followed me into the elevator. I glared over at him angrily, not breaking our eye contact, pressing the button that would take us to the lobby.

"Sammie..."

I crossed my arms, examining the tiles of the elevator floor.

"I know.. I'm an ass okay? I'm sorry for what I said, you're nothing like Steve and it's a goddamn shame that nobody in that shit stain of a town doesn't see you as Samantha. You're crazy and quote Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein as a means to fight. You always know what to say and the right time to say it. I didn't mean anything I said last night."

My head still faced the opposite from where Billy was standing. I uncrossed my arms, reaching down grabbing Billy's hand.

"You're still an asshole" I asserted,

I could feel him relax underneath my touch. I glanced over at him, he was staring at me, cigarette still hanging from his mouth.

"Bad habit." I jeered, taking the cigarette out of his mouth and replacing it with a lollipop I found on the floor of the elevator.

Billy took the lollipop out of his mouth, dropping it to the floor gagging. "Gross!" "Still better than the cancer stick." I retorted, crossing my arms again and staring him down.

"You're an asshole." I repeated, skipping out of the elevator and outside to our car.

"These are some of the best pancakes you will ever have." Billy hummed as he started the car, heading in the direction of the diner he was taking us to.

He was right. They were some of the best pancakes I had ever had.

"So are you going to talk to me now?" Billy questioned, reaching for my hand and interlocking our fingers.

"I told you I would once you fed me." I quipped, pushing my plate away with my free hand.

"I'm truly sorry about last night Sam. I shouldn't have forced you to go to the party and expect you to want to stick around. And I'm really, really sorry for comparing you to Steve. You're not like him at all."

I squeezed his hand, peering up at him.

"You're an asshole. But, I forgive you."

******

Billy and I sat in comfortable silence on the car ride home from the airport. I couldn't help but have this feeling that once we got home and went our separate ways that Billy would go back to his friends and I'd go back to my flowers. Despite him profusely apologizing over our fight on the beach, I feared that he would go back to being his asshole self and only talk to me when he needed notes- maybe even to get under Steve's skin by being around me.

I pushed my feet up in the dash as Billy silently hummed to himself, tapping on the steering wheel.

"What's going to happen on Monday?" I questioned, peering over at him, "The past few days have been...amazing to say the least but once school starts back, are we going back to Billy Hargrove the king of Hawkins and The Other Harrington."

I started to nervously fidget with the ring Billy had given me, twisting it around my finger.

Billy reached over, grabbing my hand and squeezing it "When school starts back on Monday, I'll be Billy and you will be Samantha. I know im an ass, but I won't pretend this trip didn't happen, that I don't love you."

I turned my head at him in surprise over the fact that he just admitted that he loved me.

"Sammie, you make me less pissed. Not... not pissed, but I feel like I use to before I lost my mom."

"I saved that flower crown you gave me. It's in a box under my bed next to a flower crown she made for me on my fifteenth birthday."

Billy brought the back side of my hand to his mouth, placing a kiss on it.

"You promise?" I asked hesitantly. He sighed, pulling over on the side of the road.

"Sam, I'm not sure if you heard me the first time, but I'm in love with you. You somehow talked me into getting a haircut,-"

"You lost a bet and those were the stipulations." I corrected, earning an eye roll from him.

"I cut my hair for you, and I opened up to you about my father. And told you about the only other person that I knew that was as kind and loving as you are. It was a no brainer that I would fall in love with you. I just didn't expect it to happen as fast as it did."

I leaned over, kissing his cheek,

"You are an asshole with I really nice hair cut. I love you too, Billy Hargrove." I reached over, turning the volume up as the guitar riff to Highway to Hell blasted through the cars speakers. I started dancing along to the beat beckoning Billy to get out of Priscilla and join me on the side of the road.

Billy laughed, getting out grabbing me by my waist as we started dancing together. We danced and twirled around to the music, singing along to the words together.

Billy placed his hand on the small of my back, pulling me closer to him as his other hand snaked behind my neck, bringing my lips to his.

"So, uh, I was wondering if you wanted to go get dinner later? But not like friend dinner...uh like a date? And you be my girlfriend." He babbled.

I chuckled, kissing his nose,

"You're cute when you're nervous. Hasn't this week been one long date?" I questioned, intertwining my fingers with his.

Billy leaned in, his head resting it on mine. "I don't want to go home." He confessed, opening his eyes looking down at me.

"We have to go back to reality. And when graduation comes around, we'll pick back up where we left off, travel the world together forget about Indiana."

I twirled around Billy's fingers before wrapping my arms around his neck.

"So now I'm included in this adventure?"

"You are my husband, you kinda have to go with me." I retorted, resting my head on his shoulder as the song slowly came to an end.

Billy wrapped his arms tighter around me, placing a kiss on top of my head.

"Back to reality."

I pulled up in front of the Hargrove household, glancing over at Billy who was almost as pale as a ghost. "I'm going in there with you."

"No you're not. Sammie you are safe out here."

"But you aren't safe in there." I retorted, getting out of my car.

"He won't do anything to you in front of a stranger." I added, reaching down for his hand. We walked into his house to find what looked to be his father and brother sitting on the couch watching whatever game was playing on the television.

Both men drew their attention to the door. Billy's father glared at both of us his arms crossing over one another.

"Where the hell have you been?" He snarled, standing up from his recliner.

"Uh...um," Billy sputtered.

I squeezed his hand trying to give him reassurance as Neil turned his focus from his son to me.

"You were off doing God knows what with this whore weren't you?!" Neil boomed, not breaking eye contact with me.

"Um.. uh."

"That's not an answer, Billy."

I groaned,

"Yes, Mr. Hargrove he was with me. We went to my parents country club and then flew to California for a few days. It was a lot of fun. I found a lot of pretty shells. I see where Billy gets being an asshole from." I exclaimed as Billy's hand tightened against mine.

"I want you out of my house!" Neil howled, taking a step toward Billy and I. Billy instinctively took a step in front of me.

"You want me out? Fine."

Billy pushed past Neil, heading the direction of his bedroom, me following behind. He grabbed the remainder of his clothes from his closet, stuffing it in trash bags. I reached under his bed, grabbing a shoebox with his mother's name scribbled across it

"Can't forget your flower crowns." I whispered, sitting the box on the bed, helping Billy grab all of his belongings.

"You have nowhere to go." Neil laughed, standing in the doorway and crossing his arms.

"My house is big. He can live with me." I retorted, stepping in front of Neil, blocking his view of Billy the best I could.

"And your parents are going to be okay with that?" Neil challenged.

"I don't think it's any of your business how my parents react to Billy coming to stay with me."

Billy walked over to me with the trashbags full of his belongings.

"He isn't your concern anymore. You can fuck off." I spat, reaching back for Billy's wrist and bumping my shoulder into Neill as we walked in the the hallway.

"You'll be back after this slut gets tired of you." Neil yelled following after us. I stopped turning to face him.

"I can assure you, that I won't get tired of him. We got married when we were in Cali." I chortled, flashing my left hand up at him.

"Like I said, Billy isn't your concern anymore." I lifted my middle finger up at Neil as Billy pulled me out of the house and out to the car.

******

"Steve isn't going to be happy," I mumbled, pulling into my driveway.

Billy let out a small laugh, leaning over kissing my cheek. I faced him with a stern expression,

"Please be nice. I'll handle all the talking." I stressed, squeezing his hand. I placed a quick kiss on his lips before stepping out of Priscilla

"Where the fuck have you been, Samantha?" Steve gripped, walking out of our house and crossing his arms.

Billy slowly got out of Priscilla, walking around to stand behind me.

"Let me rephrase that, where the fuck have you been with Billy Hargrove." Steve seethed.

"California." I stated as a matter of factly.

"California!?" Steve blurted, his jaw dropping, "What did you do to her, Hargrove, kidnap her?!"

"He's my friend...boy," I said as Billy intertwined our fingers, "Err my boyfriend."

"Since when?"

"Since this morning."

"Sam, you don't socialize you go to school and come home."

I rolled my eyes, opening my mouth to say something only to be cut off by Steve,

"How do you two even know each other? God Samantha, leave it up to you to become friends with the biggest asshole in school. Do you even remember what happened to me in October?"

Billy stood between us placing a hand on Steve's chest. Steve quickly stepped away from Billy's touch, "Man, I know we have our issues. And I'm sorry for everything I've done to you." He began.

Steve crossed his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow and shifting his weight onto his heels, "But I actually give a shit about Sammie. And nobody appreciates her damn near as much as she deserves." Billy mused, glancing down at me.

"Stop acting like you care, Steve." I grumbled under my breath.

"You're my baby sister, of course I care."

"Really? Do you even care enough to know that most of your friends don't even know my name?" I fired back.

"What're you talking about?"

"In fact, most people don't even know my name. Not just your friends. And you know who did? Billy. You know who came and talked to me without prefacing it with 'can you tell Steve'? Billy." I defended, "He actually talks to me like I'm a real person and not just a means to get to you."

"Are you sure that isn't what this is? A means to get to me?"

"Is it really that hard for you to believe that somebody cares about me?"

"I find it hard to believe that Billy Hargrove cares about you."

Billy dropped my hand from his grasp, balling up his fist. I stepped ahead of him, blocking his path if he decided to make a move.

"Somebody has to! Mom and dad sure don't. And you're too busy running off with a bunch of middle schoolers who you call your siblings to pay attention to your actual younger sister!"

"Sam, this isn't about mom or dad or me or them!"

"Bullshit it isn't!" I snapped, "My entire fucking life I've been walking around in your shadow and I'm goddamn sick of it!"

"How many times have I told you that people don't know my name? How many times have I said that kids I've known my whole life, gone through kindergarten with, don't know my name? All I am is Little Harrington or The Other Harrington. I'm not Samantha. I'm not my own fucking person. And that's on you, Steve!"

"How is it on me that you don't do anything to get attention?"

I could faintly hear a rumble in Billy's chest,

"Because you've never taken me seriously! Never stood up for me when I needed you to. Steve, I needed you to be my big brother and protect me and you didn't!"

Steve opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but I cut him off,

"Go take care of the rest of your 'little siblings' hope you don't let them down like you did to me." I snarled.

Billy went back over to Priscilla, grabbing my bag from the car and following behind me.

"I don't think so. You are not going into my house." Steve said, grabbing his arm.

"Fuck you, Steve." I spat as Billy yanked his arm from my brother's grasp.

They squared up with each other, chest to chest. Neither of them particularly wanted to get into a fight, especially not in front of me. I intertwined my fingers with Billy's and took him inside with me.

"What the fuck is he doing here?" Dustin asked as the other kids stood up in defense.

"Ask your older brother, he seems to be pretty open with you guys." I sneered, pulling Billy up to my room.

I shut the door behind us, leaning back on it and letting myself cry.

"Hey, hey, hey, baby, no." Billy comforted, pressing his forehead to mine. "No crying." He cupped my face in his hands, making me look at him

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

I smiled softly at him as he kissed me,

"Normal people don't quote Dr. Seuss." I sassed, wiping my face with the back side of my hand.

"Well, as it turns out, I'm not as normal as you think."

******

Monday I could feel every single eye on me. The worst part of living in a small town was word got around fast.

"Christy, is it true you and Billy Hargrove robbed a bank over spring break?"

I rolled my eyes as I shut my locker door,

"No, it's not true." I grunted, walking past Carol and into Chemistry. A smile spread across Billy's face as I walked down the row of desks and took my usual seat at the one in front of him. He leaned forward in his desk, pressing a kiss to my cheek,

"I missed you," He whispered, placing another kiss on my shoulder.

"Two whole periods without me, how did you live!?" I exclaimed,

"It's not like you didn't just move in with me." I joked, leaning my head back so it was laying on his desk.

Billy chuckled, leaning forward connecting our lips together, earning various grunts and sighs from some of the girls in our class room.

By lunch people were well aware of Billy's status. People know knew who I was and who I was dating. But they still intentionally called me some random name.

Most of them probably figured that it got under my skin, so why would they stop?

"Sammie, are you okay?" Billy asked as we walked into the lunchroom together.

"Yeah, I'm just not used to being this...well known. And people are now purposely calling me different names." I sighed as I grabbed a juice and a banana in the lunch line.

"Mr. Hargrove, your new haircut looks wonderful!" Edna, the lunch lady chirped.

"Doesn't it?" I questioned, running my hand in his hair.

Billy rolled his eyes, swatting my hand away before paying for both of our lunches.

"Oh! Miss Hayley! Will you please tell Steve he still owes us money from before spring break."

I grinned at her, knowing that she didn't mean any harm by calling me the wrong name, unlike the rest of the school.

"Sure thing, Edna."

I followed behind Billy as we both sat at the lunch table with Tommy H. and Carol.

"Nicole are you lost?" Tommy H grimaced as I sat next to Billy. "No, I'm not." I mumbled. "Then why are you sitting here? Last I checked you weren't popular." Carol snorted.

The walked on Billy's face made me think he was about to kill everyone around him.

"Knock it off both of you. Samantha is my girlfriend." Billy chided.

"Ew, why would you want to date Kayla?" Tommy sneered, giving me a disgusted look "You know she's Steve's sister, right?"

In a flash Billy flew across the table, throwing his fist into Tommy's face. He then climbed on the table, placing his pinkies in his mouth and whistling.

"Just so we are all on the same page, This girl has a name, and It's Samantha. She's my girlfriend...Samantha Harrington is my girlfriend. If I hear anyone call her The Other Harrington or anything that is not Sam, or Samantha, one more time, you will really be wishing you didn't." He threatened, "Now what is my girlfriends name?"

In unison, the entire lunchroom sang out my name. I could feel my cheeks grow warm. I knew for a fact I was as red as a tomato.

"And if any of you mess with her? You'll deal with me," He yelled as one of the coaches marched over, pulling Billy off the table and escorting him out of the cafeteria.

I cleared my throat, poking at my plate as Tommy climbed back back up to the table, holding his bleeding nose.

"The chicken is really good today isn't it?"

******

The week was long and uneventful, and by Friday not only did everyone- including teachers knew my name, they also came up to me apologizing- something I'm sure was Billy's doing.

I didn't hate this new found fame but I didn't love it either. Billy made an ass out of himself at lunch, landing him a weeks worth of detention. So every day I would go sit in the field, making 2 floral crowns while I waited for Billy to get out of his detainment.

"How was detention?" I asked as Billy plopped down on the blanket next to me ,taking my floral crown from my head and placing it on his own.

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world." Billy sang, kissing my cheek.

"Quoting Dr. Seuss again are we?" I sassed.

"I love you," He uttered as a dragonfly flew by landing on my nose.

I chuckled, shaking my head startling the bug away.

"Looks like your mom loves me too."

Billy smirked, pressing his lips onto mine before stretching out onto the blanket, placing his head on my lap, staring up at me with the utmost adoration.

It didn't matter anymore to me that people got my name wrong, or how I would become a distant memory after graduation,

The soft boy with a hard exterior had the free spirited girl with a love for wildflowers.

We had each other, we made each other shine.

And that's all that matters.

[lunar-writings-love]

College!AU - Seonghwa (ateez)

I’ll be doing a college!au series of every ateez member and I thought I’d start off with Seonghwa because ,, yes 

Author’s note: it’s a bullet fic 

warnings: SUPER SOFT HOURS and also cussing i guess?

~~~~~~

Seonghwa: 

okay so ,, seonghwa i love him but that’s beside the point 

seonghwa’s majoring in biology

he’s a third year so he’ll be declaring his major soon and he’s thinking about narrowing his field of study a bit 

he doesn’t know to what exactly yet (anything but molecular biology 

he just ,, can’t with molecular biology that shit’s wack) 

seonghwa’s also minoring in nutrition

which makes sense,,,

i mean the boy carries around those organic, all natural, fun-free snacks; expecting for the members to eat them, not understanding WHY they all run away screaming when he pulls out his kale chips with non-dairy cheese

he’s super into fitness and keeping his own body healthy, so he’s always trying new recipes, keeping watch of his calorie and sugar intake,

he tried the keto diet, but then realized it did virtually nothing for him so now he just chose to increase his protein intake and work out more in the hopes of developing muscle (he can’t have jongho bullying him forever)

he regularly works out too and doesn’t understand why there always seems to be so many people taking breaks at the water-fountains near the treadmills where he runs whenever he works out 

at the university he shares his dorm room with hongjoong 

they bicker a lot and since seonghwa is always cleaning and cooking for the other boys, he’s earned himself the nickname mom

he doesn’t like it, but oh well

anything for his babies

seonghwa is also involved in a lot of different activities: he’s part of the school’s hip-hop dance team, is the treasurer for the university’s speech and debate club, etc.

he always takes part in the annual dorm cook-off (he never wins because he doesn’t understand that college kids want greasy food, not his fucking zucchini noodles zoodles)

he also show’s up to every member’s event/recital/performance etc. and cheers louder than any other person for his boys 

“YES THAT’S MY FRIEND DO YOU SEE HIM! GO JONGHO!”

jongho: oh my god, stop it mom

now, you were close friends with some of the other first years at the university 

you and jongho were neighbors growing up and when you found out the two of you would be going to the same uni you were ecstatic!

so naturally, since jongho was your closest friend in college, he often invited you to hang out with his other friends 

you had met seonghwa a couple of times before and found him to be absolutely drop-dead gorgeous 

you may have even developed a small crush on him after he offered to walk you to your dorm one night after hanging out with the boys but oh well you would never dare to say that out loud 

he was so nice, and strong, and hot, and nice, and funny, and kind, and nice, and you were ,,,, hopeless

but you figured an amazing and wonderful guy like him would never go for an awkward first year like you, so you just bottled those feelings up and shelved it 

you were a linguistics major, focusing on social linguistics 

you could rave for hours and hours about phonetics or the development of language

once the boys invited you and jongho over for late night snacks and after asking you about your major you went on a 13 minute spiel on the development of romantic languages and while the boys all started to ignore you after the first 2 minutes, seonghwa listened and thought it was cute 

so yeah ,,, you were so, so smart 

but when it came to anything science related , you were lost 

STEM subjects were really not your forte

you barely scraped through calculus and chemistry throughout high school, but biology, holy shit where do you even begin on that 

you couldn’t memorize cell functions or neuron transmitters to save your life and as your professor delved deeper and deeper into cellular biology, your grade sunk deeper and deeper 

you were desperate 

you pulled all-nighters at the library just to barely get passing grades on tests

you were getting seriously stressed and anxious, your mental health plummeting as the year progressed 

jongho found you for the hundredth time at the university library at four in the morning attempting to memorize evolutionary pathways  

he would never say it out loud because he’S a MaN, but he was worried about you and your mental health 

he coaxed you back into your room, and instantly had an idea 

whY NoT HavE SeoNgHwA tEacH YoU bIoloGy :O !!

when he told you a few hours later you screeched 

no

no way 

seonghwa must already think you’re weird, but stupid on top of that ??

no, sorry but not even you deserved that type of embarrassment 

jongho ignored you though and the very next day you were in seonghwa’s dorm room sitting near his desk as he opened up your biology book 

you wanted to die 

if possible, you wanted the ground to swallow you up whole and spit you out again years later as a successful and well-known linguist

please lord this is unfair the love of your life seonghwa teaching you biology was not okay please send you back to your dorm please please 

alas, life was never kind to you 

“so what are you struggling with?”

“everything”

“oh”

seonghwa was so patient with you though 

he meticulously went through the textbook and really made sure you understood the subjects before moving onto the next one 

you don’t even know how, but he made learning about macromolecules sexy mmmm

you were finally beginning to understand biology 

this arrangement had been going on for a few weeks now and your midterm for the class was soon approaching  

you were scared shitless 

yes, seonghwa was helping you, and yes, you were doing better on your tests and projects, but a midterm grade meant a lot and you could not afford to have to retake this class or have your final grade depend on the final test 

you were s t r e s s e d

and seonghwa caught on pretty quickly 

you had dark circles under your eyes 

you lost some weight 

you had breakdowns every day and seonghwa’s heart ached everytime he saw you like that 

he promised you he’d help you get a B on your midterm 

you didn’t think it’d be possible, but he swore on it and he was cute so you just went along with it 

the last chapter that would be covered on the midterm was ,, you guessed it ,,, molecular biology :’))))

it’s not that seonghwa was bad at the subject, he actually found genomics super interesting 

it’s just, it was way too much information to handle and trying to memorize all of that was a pain in the ass 

but when you guys had your next study session, seonghwa brushed up on his dna forensics and sat you right down

he was going to make you understand 

to be honest, as he explained chromosomes, gene therapy, and the likes to you ,,, you were lost as fuck 

what in the shit was cell division 

but you put up with it and paid close attention ,, your grade depended on you to understand this mess 

you guys had two weeks until your test, and after one week of teaching you molecular biology, that left you and seonghwa a week for you to review 

your review for the test took place at his dorm in case you had any questions and had to ask him anything

he’d go to the kitchen hall and make you some healthy snacks to get your brain juice flowing as you sat on his bed reviewing meiosis and dna replication 

to be honest, over the past couple of months seonghwa had been teaching you biology, you guys grew super close 

you were constantly over at his dorm

you two were always talking to each other 

when you and the boys met up, instead of sitting next to jongho you gradually moved to sit next to seonghwa much to hongjoong and jongho’s disapproval 

they missed their best friends :(((

but all the boys thought you two were super cute and watched from at the sidelines as your guys’ romance progressed  

if possible, these months with seonghwa made you fall even more for him 

it got way past of just being a crush, you were pretty sure you loved him 

you even grew to enjoy his weird avocado brownies and zoodles, and if that isn’t true love then i don’t know what is

it finally got around to being the day before your test and you were a n x i o u s as fuck 

even seonghwa was nervous for you ,, the week prior he had been talking hongjoong’s ear off about you and this damn test 

hongjoong couldn’t handle it anymore for the love of God someone please get these two together just make-out or something he didn’t want to hear about you anymore

you were at your dorm studying polymers, when you heard a knock at your door 

it was seonghwa gasp who would’ve known :)))

in his hand was take-out 

“sorry i’m a fake health fanatic i eat hella junk food when i’m nervous so i brought us burgers and fries and milkshakes and let me inside your dorm i need to sit down this is so nerve wracking”

you couldn’t help but laugh as you moved out of the way to let him inside 

“thanks seonghwa”

you two ate your burgers in silence before it got too awkward and you tried to make things better 

“i’m studying polymers right now, it’s not as bad as i thought it would be”

“See!! i’m glad you’re understanding biology. it’s a really cool subject when you understand the mechanics behind it”

“i guess so”

he stayed at your dorm room a few more hours reviewing subjects with you 

before you knew it, it was 10 at night and it was past seonghwa’s bed time (hA oLd man)

he told you to quickly take a shower and go to bed because you had to be well rested for your test tomorrow 

you agreed 

it was silent for a while, an unfamiliar awkward tension filled the air before seonghwa hugged you “byegoodlucktomorrowtextmewhenyou’redoneyou’lldogreatbye”

he then zoomed out your room 

you were a blushing mess as you closed your dorm room and got your bathroom supplies ready 

fuck you were in love with park seonghwa

the next morning, you took your midterm and were surprised that you actually knew what the fuck was going on 

dna replication? check 

evolutionary pathways? check 

lipids and cell functions? check 

oH mY gOD yOU UNDERSTOOD BIOLOGY !!1

you handed in your midterm and walked outside the lecture hall, you felt good about the test but you would only know your grade a week later 

as you left the hall someone grabbed onto your shoulders 

it was seonghwa

“WELL HOW DID IT GO?”

“I UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING ON THE TEST, I MEAN I CAN’T GUARANTEE ANYTHING BUT AT LEAST I KNEW WHAT THE QUESTIONS WERE ASKING”

he hugged you super hard and you two excitedly talked about the midterm 

he even took you out to ice cream to treat you 

“shouldn’t I be treating you for helping me so much?”

“hush and just let it happen”

“okay mOm”

it was at times like these you really, really wanted to kiss him 

but alas, he wasn’t yours to kiss 

and it was also at times like these, seonghwa really, really wanted to kiss you 

so the moral of the story is that both of you were idiots

a week later, it was time for the boys’ weekly friday night movie time and you were running a bit late 

they were all gathered in hongjoong and seonghwa’s room since it was the biggest (ahh the perks of being upperclassmen) when suddenly you opened the door and hurled in, your eyes wide and crazed

“SEONGHWA I GOT AN A ON MY MIDTERM”

“WHAT OH MY GOD REALLY?!?”

he ran over to you and picked you up spinning you around as you both laughed in disbelief 

you don’t know how you pulled that off you were a dumbass how did you get an A on your biology midterm??

then as soon as he put you down and you looked up at him, bam he kissed you 

you were :OOO

jongho was :OOO

all the boys were :OOO

except for hongjoong who was like ;)))

and then as soon as y’all were done, seonghwa realized what he did 

and in front of the Kids TOO 

“oh shit i’m so sorry i don’t know why i did th-”

you cut him off with another kiss uwu

all the boys cheered and catcalled you guys 

you guys were both blushing but you didn’t care because 

1) you and park seonghwa kissed

2) you got an a on your biology midterm

you guys held hands and did cute shit as you sat down next to seonghwa to watched the horror movie jongho picked for this week 

wooyoung was shitting his pants 

as the movie played on tho, jongho slowly looked backwards towards seonghwa and said 

“seonghwa i don’t care if you’re older than me if you break y/n’s heart i swear to Jesus i’ll castrate you”

and seonghwa believed him ashjgjasha have you seen that boy’s arms ??!

seonghwa assured jongho that he would never do that to you

things lightened up again and jongho smugly said you guys should treat him to dinner since he was the mastermind behind your love 

you flipped him off

anyways, that’s the story of how you and seonghwa became the university’s cutest couple 

the cute linguistics major and the hot biology major 

you guys had cute food dates, and you even agreed to go to the gym with seonghwa

surprisingly, people stopped coming to the water fountain a few days after you started working out with him

you scared them off after telling them to stop ogling at your boyfriend HA 

seonghwa also finally decided he wanted to major specifically in cellular biology

and you supported him all the way 

you mans was going places, doing things, getting his deGrEE

then one night as you two were up as you ranted about the social impacts of language and the human conditioning of language to seonghwa he pulled you closer and kissed you because honestly he loved hearing you talk about linguistics but he couldn’t handle it anymore please it’s 3 in the morning 

you cuddled into him 

he was almost dozing off when suddenly you spoke up from the crook of his neck 

“seonghwa?”

“hmm?”

“my biology final is in three weeks”

at that moment, he was alert and awake again 

all he did was sigh as he kissed the top of your head

here you guys went again 

~~~~

HOLY SHIT THIS WAS SO LONG AND IT TOOK ME FOREVER BUT I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED THIS. LISTEN SOFT AND DOMESTIC COLLEGE STUDENT PARK SEONGHWA MAKES ME REALLY SOFT AND I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT. 

REQUESTS ARE OPEN SO FEEL FREE TO SEND IN YOUR REQUESTS!

i think the next member i’ll write about is Hongjoong so wait for that because it’ll be out soon!

thanks and love you guys!

- luna 

[randomwordprompts]

If It’s Magic | Chapter 4

A/N: This was not at all planned, I wrote this at like 6am while listening to sad love songs. It’s not a happy chapter so buckle up.

Taglist: @bartierbakarimobisson @supersizemeplz @oceanscorazon @wakandas-vibranium @wakandan-flowerz @yaachtynoboat711 @babygirlofwakanda @storibambino @great-neckpectations @reaperdeldrunk

Three months. Three months Daniel watched his roommate deny that he was losing his hold on what he thought was a sure thing. Three months since Xavier and Amira last spoke, the argument loud enough in their living space to have the dorm director put him and Daniel on probation. In those same months, he watched Xavier go through a plethora of emotions. At first, he was indignant, insisting that Amira was simply trying to get a rise out of him and he was determined to not give her the satisfaction. By the second month, he realized she was actually hurt and had some self-reflection, trying to figure out the best way to apologize only to decide it wasn’t adequate enough. In the third and current month, he’d resorted to completely ignoring the entire situation, opting to focus on everything else from the BSU to classes and the various women he’d bring home on a whim. Tonight it was a blue-haired sophomore that looked like an off-brand version of the one he actually wanted at that moment.

However, Daniel wasn’t having it on this particular Tuesday night.

“Oh no, you gone have to take her back to her place. I’m studying for these finals and I will not fail because your ass don’t know how to quietly feed.”

Xavier turned to his roommate prepared to give a rebuttal only to be struck with a sharp pain to his chest, much like he’d been stabbed. It made him gasp and stumble, his meal struggling to hold him up as Daniel hopped up to help him over to the couch.

“Is he alright?”

“I don’t know, he’s never done that before. It might just be fatigue though, I’ll have him call you tomorrow...what’s your name?”

The girl, Taylor, sighed but gave a friendly smile and nodded before heading towards the door. Once she’d left Daniel grabbed a bottle of water and handed it to Xavier who held a hand over his chest with a confused look on his face.

“I think something happened to Amira...it felt like something was cut out of my chest.”

“Well, given your bond that’s definitely not good. Maybe someone else hurt her emotionally or something? What emotions are you feeling now?”

Xavier sat up and looked at Daniel with a slight wildness in his eyes.

“That’s the thing! I don’t feel anything. Like I just feel empty...”

As he voiced what he felt physically the reality of what happened hit him like a ton of bricks, the pain returning to his chest for a different reason.

“I think she blocked our connection.”

“Blocked it how?” Daniel questioned.

“There are certain spells that can dampen or block bonds between our kind. She’s skilled enough to do it, but I never thought she would.”

“Honestly, I’m glad she did. Maybe it’ll wake your stubborn ass up. You’ve been avoiding the girl for three months, which I find amazing as you’re both still involved with the BSU.”

“Me? She could’ve just as easily come to me and started the conversation!”

Daniel ran a hand over his face and sighed with exasperation, “She could have, but you’re the one that fucked up, nigga!”

Xavier groaned and threw his head back, looking to the ceiling for a moment before finally standing with a huff.

“I’m going to go talk to her.”

“Aye, don’t get yourself killed. I don’t have the patience for a new roommate.”

“You did WHAT?!”

“I blocked our bond.”

“Why the hell would you do that, exactly?”

Amira sighed into the phone as she laid across her bed, staring at the ceiling as she spoke to her oldest sibling, Francois.

“He was being an ass, Fran. First, he treats me like some toy then he avoids me for the past three months? On top of how I was already feeling his mood swings weren’t helping me at all.”

“Oi, that dickweed did what now?! I’ll drive down there and shoot him with my hunting rifle!”

At that Amira snorted but quickly spoke up.

“No, not necessary plus when you have to be bailed out I’m gonna have to explain why I didn’t stop you.”

“I guess. But if you change your mind just tell me. I’ll throw Jon in the car and we’ll come fuck him up.”

Amira laughed once more and made sure to let them know she’d keep it in mind, sighing as their conversation steered more towards school and how things were going back home with their parents. After a full check in and some updates on everything, they said their goodbyes and Amira was left alone with her thoughts. She didn’t mention how she’d been grappling with blocking Xavier for most of the three months they’d been apart, hoping he’d see where she was coming from. The thought took her back to the last time they’d spoken when they got into the fight.

Amira rolled her eyes and slapped a hand on her forehead as she repeated herself for what felt like the hundredth time.

“I never said I had a problem with you fucking other people, but we had an agreement! No emotional connections, and no changing plans with each other for a random. Those were the only rules and you couldn’t even last half the first semester without breaking that!”

“You’re making it sound like I told you not to come just to fuck her when that’s not the case! I still wanted to see you, nothing changed about that.”

“You still wanted to fuck me, X. If you had wanted to see me then you wouldn’t have made plans to feed off of that bitch!”

Xavier stood from where he was sitting, his frustration with still going over this subject at an all-time high.

“If you hadn’t seen her you wouldn’t have even known the difference so why do you care? It’s not like we’re together anyways!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew he’d fucked up. He expected her to yell, scream, cuss him out, or react in some loud and angry way, but what she did unnerved him even more. She grabbed her bag and turned to leave without another word. He could feel the swirl of emotions going through her like a molotov cocktail waiting to be thrown, but she didn’t show any of it. At least, not until he reached out and tried to lightly pull her back by her arm. Before he could even fully register her movement she turned around and landed a hard punch directly to his ribs, effectively knocking the wind out of him. He wheezed and dropped to his knees, unable to call after her when she walked out of the door with unshed tears in her eyes.

Amira was jolted from her thoughts as she heard two voices arguing outside of her bedroom door. When she opened it she was unsurprised to find Xavier and Lucy going back and forth, the latter waving a small frying pan in the former’s face.

“Listen, just let me by so I can t-”

“Nah, you got the game fucked up! You can’t just waltz your palm tree looking ass up in here after THREE MONTHS and think imma just let you talk to my girl! Nigga, I will knock what little brains you got loose if you don’t get the fuck up outta here!!”

“It’s alright Lu, I know why he’s here.”

Both parties turned to see Amira leaning against her door frame, her face not giving away the flutter in her stomach at seeing him.

“Mimi, can we talk somewhere alone?”

“There’s nothing to talk about Xavier, so you can go back home.”

“Nothing to talk about?! You blocked our natural bond!”

“Yes, because I was tired of feeling your emotions on top of mine.”

Xavier sighed, looking down for a moment before speaking again.

“Listen, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have broken our rules and I definitely shouldn’t have acted the way I have been. If you give me the chance I’ll make it up to you, but please don’t block me out.”

“No reason to be sorry, it’s not like we’re together anyways,” Amira spat with a bitter laugh.

Before he could speak again she put him out, ignoring the look of heartbreak on his face and how it made her chest tight.

[murdcck]

carelessgraces​:

@murdcck​ ( plotted starter )

The move is about as chaotic as she’d expected — job lined up, apartment lined up, and still, she’s stressed from the moment it starts until the moment it ends. Surprisingly few of her classmates stayed in New York. Plenty in Chicago, Washington, Boston, but less than she would have imagined here, as if the years at Columbia had been enough. 

     New York is too big, too anonymous. It swallows her. She misses Boston, and all of home. 

     It’s what prompts her to send the text, too late at night for it to be strictly polite, but she thinks that there must be some bond forged in the depths of hell ( the law library ) that cannot be shaken, a bond that permits her to send a text past eleven on a Tuesday night without being told to fuck off. Started work last week! Are you free soon? I want to buy you dinner and catch up. 

     She and Foggy haven’t kept in such regular contact. She’s not even sure that she has the right number for him anymore, but she’s sure Matt’s is right. He responds; they set a time and a day; she looks forward to it with an almost embarrassing eagerness. ( She’ll settle in soon enough. The job is great. The city is beautiful, if overwhelming. But for now, she could use some familiarity. )

     Dinner is a visit to a favored diner on the Upper West Side — study groups all hunched over their hundredth cup of coffee and a third or fourth shared dessert, everyone passing notes around and quizzing each other. ( She’d tended to prefer Matt’s company, truth be told; he’d always been better than her at this, and she’d always envied him that in the good-natured way of friends. No one else pushed her as hard. No one else inspired the same competitive drive. ) 

     Unconsciously, her lips curl up at the sight of him, and there it is, the familiarity. The sense that she’s where she should be. It hasn’t really been that long, but still. Still. 

     “Congratulations on the office. And the first client.” Just like before, she’s on her second cup of coffee, and she’s sure she’ll regret it when she’s trying to sleep later. Thank god tomorrow’s Saturday, and her suffering will be minimized; right now, she’s just pleased to be here with a friend. “Hell of a case to start with — conspiracy and masked vigilantes? I’m on a divorce case. I don’t think I’ve ever been more jealous in my life. But fill me in on everything — anything else lined up? How’s Foggy? What else have you been up to?”

           HE COULD FEEL HER EXCITEMENT UPON SEEING HIM AND, UNEXPECTEDLY, IT FILLS HIM WITH A FAMILIAR & WELCOME WARMTH. Truth be told, Matt can’t remember the last time he simply went out with a friend & enjoyed a cup of coffee. Everything’s been so chaotic lately, and the amount of danger he’s put their small firm through in just a year? Well, that certainly wasn’t normal. Foggy takes the time to remind him, too. Astoria was clueless on all that happened, and that made her a breath of fresh air. “ What can I say? ” A shrug of shoulders, biting the corner of his lip to prevent a smile, “ Foggy & I know how to pick ‘em. ” Not really. If they went the way Foggy WANTED their firm to go, they wouldn’t be in half as much… PAIN as they were now. Miscommunications, disagreements. Not how either of them pictured their career together.

          AT THE MENTION OF FOGGY, a dark cloud blooms across Matt’s face. “ We’ve have some… disagreements we’re working on, ” he admits, being as honest as he could without revealing too much. The nagging, the judgments — Matt can’t breathe without thinking it’s going to set his Foggy off into a tangent about his ‘nightly activities.’ “ It was a hell of a first case, but it might’ve been too... overwhelming. Two idiots in over their heads. ” He attempts levity here, only because this — this was a friend, a good friend, an old friend. She didn’t deserve to be subjected to drama she had nothing to do with. She knew how Foggy was, after all — she knew how MATT was. “ As of now, we’re working on smaller clients. ” Truth, again. “ How have you been? ”

          A CUP OF COFFEE HE ORDERED IS PLACED BY HIS HAND, and he goes to take a sip, grateful for the distraction & smell of ground beans. Vanilla, a little bit of smoky salt — yeah, this place had good brew.

[justalittlebluetiefling]

Chapter 36: Sometimes I Can’t See Myself

Rating: T Fandom: The 100 Pairing: Bellamy x Clarke Chapter: 36/? Word Count: 1058 Words

Chapter Summary: The one where Clarke can’t ever seem to get all of the paint off of herself after her painting class.

Also on AO3

Bellamy was surprised by how well Clarke was handling the subject material in their class. It wasn’t until after the first week (when they spent what he thought was a little too much time discussing human anatomy) that he realized that it probably didn’t faze her because her mother was a doctor. That was also when he realized how lucky he was that they were able to be in a group together. Of course, he occasionally had to hold his breath or pinch his leg through his pocket and pretend that someone else was talking about the things she was talking about, but she was smart as hell. He couldn’t have asked for a better teammate.

The thing that drove him the craziest, though, was the fact that her painting class let out literally right before their class. She would always rush in and he knew that she had run most of the way, because her cheeks would be flushed, her hair would be falling out of her ponytail a little, and she had always inevitably missed a spot of paint somewhere on her person. Each class started that way, with her dashing in and sliding into the seat next to him with a breathy grin. They had maybe a couple minutes to talk, and if he noticed it right away, he’d tease her about the paint spot. But sometimes he didn’t notice until it was too late to tell her to get rid of it.

It wasn’t like he was staring at her. If he was going to stare at someone, there’s no way it would be Clarke. Not that she wasn’t objectively attractive, but it was Clarke. He always focused on the lecture, but sometimes, she’d rub her forearm, or cross and uncross her legs, and he would start watching her out of the corner of his eye. This time, it was the way she kept tucking the same piece of hair behind her left ear and it would fall out after a few seconds. He was watching her do that for about the hundredth time, the lecture about human sexuality and the way it was adapted in each culture going in one ear and out the other, when he noticed it.

Really, it was stupid, but that green smudge drove him crazy. Not because it was there, but because he couldn’t understand why he was so fucking focused on the thing. But he stared at it and he could see the way she must have been trying to fix her hair and her thumb must have had paint on it, because it was a thin smudge that trailed into her hair. And then she turned to face him and smiled. He panicked for a moment until she spoke. “You ready for this?”

He realized she hadn’t caught him thinking about what it would look like if she… with the paint… she had asked him a question. “Uh… what am I supposed to be ready for?”

Clarke rolled her eyes at him. “You can’t keep depending on my notes to get you through this class, Bellamy. Are you ready to talk about our project?”

Oh, god. It was bad enough that he had to listen to her talk about sex when they were in the classroom, and when they studied before their tests, but now he had to hear her talk about it even more. He thought he would have become desensitized to it, because it was Clarke and taking this class with her shouldn’t have been that hard for him. “Sorry, I was focused on what a hot mess you are right now.” He groaned internally. ‘Hot mess’ was one of the stupidest phrases on the planet, yet it had fallen out of his mouth like word vomit. And she was pissed.

“Fucking hell, Bellamy,” she whispered. “Are you ever just going to bring it up like an adult? Where is it?” He tapped the spot under his left ear and she pulled a compact out of her bag to check for the offending mark. One time she had come in with paint down her shirt. He flushed remembering that. She had been kicked out of the classroom for the day, because she threw her textbook at him when he finally brought it up. When she found the mark, she let out a sigh that was really more of a growl and pulled a wipe out of her bag next.

Before he could stop himself, he leaned forward and grabbed it out of her hand. “Let me help.”

Clarke raised a brow at him before she turned slightly to the side. He tried to scoot his chair closer, but it still felt like an awkward angle, so he used his toe to pull Clarke’s chair closer to him. She let out a squeak and he chuckled under his breath as he pushed her hair out of the way gently. Breathing was a little difficult as he tenderly wiped the paint away. Every time he inhaled, he could smell the mixture of paint and lilacs that was Clarke. It was easy to ignore whatever attraction he was developing when she was at least five feet away. It was easier when she was in a completely different room. When she was practically settled between his legs and he had his fingers in her hair, it took more willpower than he had ever needed before to pretend that he wasn’t attracted to his best friend. He had to convince himself nothing was there, because she was smart. She would figure it out. It was already painfully obvious that she would never look at him as more than a friend who happened to be her best friend’s asshole of an older brother.

He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until after he was done wiping the paint away from behind her ear and she gave him the weirdest look when he exhaled heavily.

“There’s paint in your hair,” he said dumbly. “I can’t get it out.”

She rolled her eyes again. “It’ll come out in the shower later. Can we just start talking about the project?”

He sighed and the absence of her was heavy when she scooted away. He didn’t need to think about her in the shower, either. Fuck, this project was going to be hard.