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atlafan · 4 years

Note

could u maybe write something ab harry and the reader reuniting after taking a break for a while 🥺 just something a lil angsty and fluffy

a/n: oh wow, I’ve actually been wanting to write something about this for a little bit, let’s see what I can whip up! Less angst in this than I thought, but super fluffy. Hope you liked it! This is an au, so ya boy’s not famous.

New York to London

It wasn’t easy, but you both decided to take some time apart. You both just graduated from college, and you needed to figure out what you were doing for jobs. If you needed to move somewhere for work, neither of you wanted to hold the other back. You were in love, but you were still so young. If it was meant to be, it would happen, right?

You ended up in New York. You loved clothes and fashion. Were a marketing major with a minor in art. You found yourself living in a cozy apartment on the upper east side, working remotely for a clothing app. You got to design and select outfits for people. It was sort of like Stitch Fix. Working from home allowed you to fill up your sketch books with design ideas of your own. Sometimes you would go out and work from the local coffee shop, just to have a change of scenery, of course making sure to buy coffee and food in exchange for the free wifi.

You and Harry agreed not to really talk, or fill each other in what you were doing. Neither of you wanted to fall into the “please, just come move here with me” trap. You weren’t entirely sure what he was doing, or if he had decided to go back to London altogether. You missed him, and it was a good relationship, but it had definitely run its course. You were with him for two years, you did a lot of growing up together, but you were never certain if he was the man of future.

Six months into your job, you had started making friends in the city. You found time to go out and enjoy the night life when you could. You had even gone on a few dates here and there, a couple of one night stands when you were sick of using your own devices to get off. Things a lot of young, twenty-somethings did. One day, out of the blue, you got a text from your ex-boyfriend.

Harry: hi love, is it okay if I still call you that? lol...anyways, I’m in NYC for a few days...work thing...would love to see you if you’re up for it...xx

You take a deep breath when you see the text. You hate the way it makes your heart flutter. You ended up dating Harry in the first place because he always had this way of making you nervous, but in a good way. You always had butterflies around him, and you always found it hard to say no. You were genuinely curious to see how he was doing, and what exactly he did for work, so after waiting precisely twenty minutes, you decide to text him back.

You: hey! course it’s okay ;p I’d love to catch up! dinner and a drink sound good?

Harry: sounds great, name the time and place

You and Harry decide to meet up at a restaurant near his hotel that Friday night. You didn’t want to go to some tourist trap, but you knew of a nice place near where he was staying. You made sure to look your best, maybe remind him a bit of what he was missing. You knew he’d do the same. You put on your best little black dress, put your hair up into a sleek high pony, and put on some makeup. You grabbed a pair of red pumps for a pop of color, and into your uber you went.

It was a nice, spring evening. It was getting warmer out, so you only needed a light jacket along with your dress. You wait in the lobby of the restaurant for him.

“Y/N?”

You’d know the sound of his voice anywhere. You turn around and smile. He was almost shocked, you had never looked better. He looked nice. Blue pair of slacks, white button up with the first few undone, and a salmon pink sport coat. Classic Harry.

“Hi!”

You wrap your arms around his neck and give him a kiss on the cheek.

“You look great.” He says, blushing slightly.

“Thanks, so do you. I put a reservation in for us online. Wanna see if the table’s ready?”

“Uh, yeah, sure.”

He puts his hands in his pockets and follows you up to the hostess. She checks you both in and leads you to your table a few minutes later.

“Come here a lot?” He asks as he sits down.

“Sometimes. Been here with some friends.”

You take your jacket off and hang it on the back of your chair. He gets a really good eye full of you. He smiles when he sees you wearing the necklace he had gotten you for your last birthday.

“So, you’re in the city for work?”

“Yup, I’m an admissions counselor for a small school up in New Hampshire. I got hired to do a lot of the traveling, so I’m rarely on campus.”

“Oh, that’s cool. Where else do you travel to?”

“Mostly the state of New York and Massachusetts.”

“What made you-”

“Hi folks, I’m Max, I’ll be your server tonight. Can I start either of you off with a drink?”

“I’d love a glass of pinot noir please.” You smile.

“Just a Corona for me, thanks.”

“Excellent, I’ll be back in a few minutes with those.” He smiles and walks away.

“Anyways, what made you want to become an admissions counselor?”

“I get to travel with all expenses paid. I really had no idea what I wanted to do after I graduated, so this gives me more time to figure it out. I can explore the various places I go to. S’not like I’m tied down, right?” He jokes.

“Right.”

He clears his throat.

“So, it seems like the city’s treating you well.”

“Very well!” You chuckle. “I love it so much. I get to work remotely too, so no one really bothers me, which is great. I’m able to work on my sketches in my down time.”

“Yeah, you’re working for like a clothing subscription service?”

“Mhm, it’s awesome. I love getting to know my clients and all that.”

“You seem happy.”

“I am. I feel really independent.”

The waiter comes back over with your drinks. You end up ordering a salad with some grilled shrimp, while Harry opts for a veggie burger. You clink your glasses together.

“So, it’s okay that I texted right?”

“Of course! I think I’d be a little upset if I knew you were so close by and didn’t even think to say hi.”

“I’ve wanted to reach out for a while, but...I know you said you wanted some space.”

“Well, we both agreed on that.”

“I guess.” He shrugs.

“Did we not?”

“No, we did. I guess all I mean is...I don’t know...takin’ a break has just been weird, that’s all.”

Before you can respond, your food is brought over. The conversation lightens up a bit as you eat. Harry really enjoys the food. Towards the end, he insists that he pays. You eventually agree to just split the bill.

“Wanna come see my place? I think you’ll like it, it’s cozy.”

“Sure! Thought I’d have to work a little harder for you to invite me back with you.” He smirks.

“Oh, stop it.” You swat an arm at him.

The uber ride back to your place is quiet. He was impressed by the building you were in. He couldn’t believe you could afford such a nice place.

“So, it’s a studio, but it’s not cramped.” You show him inside. “Like, I can stretch out in the shower.” You giggle. “Got really creative with the storage too.”

“View makes it all worth it, huh?”

“Yeah, it’s beautiful.” You both look out the window together. “Sit, sit. What can I get for you? I have more wine, and some beers int he fridge.”

“Beer’s fine, thanks.”

He sits down on your small couch while you get the drinks together. You come back over and him a beer.

“Thanks.”

“Sure.” You take a sip of your wine. “So, do you, like, have an apartment in New Hampshire?”

“Yeah, I’ve got a small place to call home when I’m not traveling.”

“That’s good.”

“Mhm.” He takes a sip of his drink. “Can I ask you something...sort of personal?”

“Um, sure.”

“You haven’t been, like, hooking up have you?”

“What?”

“Because I haven’t.”

“I never told you not to.”

“So, does that mean you have?”

“Harry...we’re not together, we’re broken up.” You frown and so does he.

“A break is different from a break up, though, right?”

“We agreed to end things so we could go off and find our career paths. I mean, I think about you a lot, but I guess I didn’t really think we’d actually get back together. It’s been six months, Harry.”

“I know...”

“I mean, I’m not seeing anyone. I’ve had a few dates here and there, but nothing serious. I don’t really have time for it.”

“Me neither...I guess the only difference is I haven’t wanted to even be with anyone else, random or not.”

“I find that very hard to believe.” You scoff. “If there was a day I couldn’t see you, you’d tell me how touch starved you were.”

“That’s true, but it was your touch I was starved for, no one else’s. You know me, I was never the hook up guy as it was. It’s gross.” He takes another sip of his drink. “Do you always hook up with different people or-”

“No.”

He nods his head.

“How many have there been?”

“What does it matter?”

“Just wondering if I need to catch up or something.” He scoffs.

“Harry, we never agreed on not hooking up with other people, we never even talked about it.”

“Because I just assumed we wouldn’t! Don’t you miss me?”

“I miss being in college and having zero responsibilities.” You sigh. “I try not to think about what I miss about you too much. And no offense, but I’ve actually begun a career. You’re still figuring things out. It wouldn’t good if we tried to get back together right now. I like living alone, and-”

“Alright, I get it, you’re better off without me.” He rolls his eyes.

“That’s not what I meant.” You put your hand on his shoulder, but he shrugs it away.

“Do you think I like not being good enough? I’d give you the world if I could, but I literally have zero idea what I’m passionate about. I feel like I wasted four years of my life. Now when I talk with these kids on where they want to go to school and the reasons they want to go...” He shakes his head.

“You’re a people person, you’ve always been that way. You have a stage presence to you. A room lights up when you walk in.”

“S’not exactly a transferable skill, love.”

“You’ll figure it out, Harry. I know you will.”

A year or so later you heard from a mutual friend that Harry moved back to London. He had gone off into the world of PR, and he was thriving. Your job had lead you to some opportunities to go to London, they had even asked you if you wanted to relocate there. Many of the clothing lines they had were exported from there, and they wanted you more on the buying team since you had such a great eye. You said you’d consider it and go for a visit to check things out. You and Harry hadn’t talked much since he had seen you in New York, but you wanted to pay him the same courtesy he given you.

You: Hey, Harry! It’s Y/N...I’m coming to London next week for a work thing. Might even be relocating there! I was wondering if you’d like to get together. Maybe you can tell me how great the city is, lol

You had deleted the text about five times before actually hitting send. Two hours later he got back to you.

Harry: Did you think I deleted your number?! Of course I know it’s you! That sounds great, let me just check over my schedule with my assistant and I’ll get back to you on when would work.

You: wow, an assistant, how fancy are you?

Harry: she keeps my head on straight, that’s for sure

You: well, I’m looking forward to seeing you...it’s been too long!

Harry: I agree

And just like that, you had butterflies in your stomach. You hoped maybe he was single, but you wouldn’t be surprised if he was seeing someone. He was a girlfriend guy, and you had basically told him you weren’t getting back together last time you spoke.

You were given a wonderful tour of the office you’d potentially be working in. Everyone seemed friendly, and you certainly wouldn’t be the only American working there if you decided to accept.

Towards the end of the week, Harry invited you over for a dinner at his flat. You were surprised he didn’t want to go out. Maybe you’d be starting at his flat and then go to a club? You were dying to see how the London night life compared to New York’s. You take a cab to his flat and text him when you’re there. He comes downstairs to meet you outside.

“Harry!” You practically squeal. You wrap your arms around each other for a nice embrace. “It’s so good to see you!”

“It’s good to see you too. Driver found the place okay?”

“Mhm.” You smile.

“Come on up. Just got dinner on the table.”

He leads you upstairs. Your jaw drops when you see how spacious his flat is. It was a one bedroom with a nice open concept. It looked like he entertained quite often. He had a bar set up in the living area.

“This is beautiful.”

“Thanks. Figured I could afford a nice place, why not have one?” He shrugs.

You use his hall bath to freshen up. He has you sit down at his dining table. He had made curry.

“This smells so good, thanks so much for cooking.”

“I figured you’d enjoy a real meal after eating out all week.”

“You figured right, thank you.”

“Oh stop.” He sits down. “Just eat, yeah?”

You moan after tasting the food.

“This is delicious.”

“Thanks.” He smirks. “So, do you think you really might move here?”

“I might, yeah. It seems like a really big step up for me.”

“No one back in New York to miss you?”

“Nope.” You grin. “Other than the few friends I’ve made.” You shrug. “My family is really supportive too.”

“That’s great. I’m really glad I came home. I feel like once I did the opportunities came flying in. I love PR. I make phone calls, set up events. And I get to meet so many cool people.”

“And you have an assistant.” You chuckle.

“S’not what you think. She’s not some young thing that’s enthralled with me. She’s like forty years old, has a couple of kids that don’t need her home with them anymore. She’s a great help though. I actually requested someone a little older.”

“Why’s that?”

“Some of the younger girls in the interview, when they actually came to speak with me, I don’t know, I just kept getting this weird vibe.”

“It’s because you’re so captivating. You’re intimidating, but charming.” You take another bite of food. “Sexy.”

“Oh, gimme a break.”

“I’m serious! You always made me feel nervous when we first started talking. You would always really sit back and observe the room before talking. You can be quiet sometimes. But that was you then, that’s just a version of you that I know, you could be different now.”

“I’d like to think so. Although, I think I’m just a good listener. I definitely like reading a room before I join a conversation.”

“I’m so happy to see you doing well.” You take a sip of your drink. “So...any lucky ladies or fellas in your life?”

“No.” He laughs. “M’way too busy for all that. I mean...I’ve had some fun here and there, I’m not celibate.” He takes a sip of his own drink. “What about you?”

“Nothing serious.” You shrug. “I haven’t minded being focused on my career, you know? I have a good work-life balance, don’t get me wrong, but like if I were in a relationship right now, I may not be making this move.”

“Tell me, if I didn’t live here would you still consider moving?”

“I don’t know. It’s a huge plus knowing I’d have someone close by, someone I know to show me around. If you had the time of course. You could even tell me what the good neighborhoods to live in are.”

“You could get a flat here. It’s a really nice building to be in. I bet you’d be able to afford it if I can. They want you to be a buyer?”

“Yeah, my boss thinks I have a great eye, and I always get the highest ratings from my clients.”

“That’s wonderful. I’m happy for you. I know last time we saw each other it didn’t seem like it, but I was really confused about the direction my life was going. I wasn’t happy.”

“You’re happy now?”

“Very much.”

“Good.” You put your hand over his. “It’s all I ever wanted for you, to be the best version of yourself.”

“Same here with you.” He rubs his thumb over the back of your hand. “I got some chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. Wanna move to the sofa?”

“Sure!”

You both sit down on his large sectional. You dive into the sweet treat.

“Do you entertain a lot?”

“Sometimes, yeah. I like it better than going to some stuff club. You can be out until four in the morning if you’re not careful.” He laughs.

“Well, I’d love for you to take me out to a club sometime.”

“Don’t have to ask me twice, love. I’ll take any excuse to dance with you.” His dimple peeks out in his grin, and it makes you melt. “When do you have to give them your decision by?”

“A few days. I’m headed back to New York tomorrow night.”

“How’s your hotel been?”

“It’s nice...not as cozy as this though.” You lean back into the cushions and look up at him.

“Yeah, I definitely don’t miss that about working in admissions. Different hotels all the time sounds like fun, but when you just wanna do your laundry and you can’t, it gets old really quick.”

“I can imagine.” You make a bold move and rest your hand on his knee. This time when you touch him he doesn’t shrug you away. “I think I may move here. I can home here and you can cook for me all the time, or you could bring me to your fancy parties.”

“Is that so?” He scoots a little closer to you. “It would get some people at the company off my back. They’re always askin’ why I never have a date to anything.”

“And why don’t you?”

“I don’t know, I’m there to work, not bring arm candy with me.”

“Ah, but that arm candy can help you network. I’m impeccable at networking.”

“Alright, so you’ll be my date then when I need one, is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s what I’m saying.” You smile.

“What about when there’s no fancy party? Can I call you for a date?”

“I’d like that.”

“Y/N?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I please kiss you?”

You nod yes. He leans in, cups your cheeks, and presses his lips to yours. They were soft, just like you remember. He takes them away a little too quickly for your liking though.

“What’s wrong?” You frown.

“I just don’t wanna, like, rush this, that’s all. I don’t even know what this is, but whatever it is, I don’t wanna mess it up this time.”

“Harry, you never messed anything up. We did the right thing before. I think we’re both in a place where we could have room to be together again. But, I think you’re right, one step at a time. Let me actually accept the job and move here before we dive into anything.”

“Exactly.” He sighs happily. “Okay, I’m gonna kiss you again, and then I’ll drive you to your hotel.”

You giggle as he smooches you again and again. Harry never really ever stopped loving you, and you could tell. You never really ever stopped loving him either.

#harry styles #harry styles fic #harry styles imagine #harry styles x reader #harry styles y/n #harry styles x y/n #harry styles fluff #harry styles fluff fic #harry styles angst

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ficdirectory · 6 years

Text

Disuphere Universe miniseries: When I Was 8: Pearl

Thursday, July 4, 1991

Pearl can’t wait to get out of the car. Driving around all day with Mom was boring. And she’s already read all of the Babysitter’s Club books she brought with her. They’re easy. But they’re fun. Plus, if they have summer reading lists for like numbers of books you read? This will definitely put Pearl way ahead.

Mom parks. It’s been a quiet ride except for the moment Pearl tried to compliment her singing voice. Annie Lennox had been playing on the radio. Mom was singing along. Pearl was in awe:

“You have such a good singing voice,” she’d said.

“No, I don’t,” Mom responded, serious.

“Seriously, you do. You could be on the radio. You could be famous like Madonna. That’s who Stef likes. You know, Madonna, the singer?” Pearl had pressed.

“Yes, I know!” Mom snapped. “Just because you live under a rock doesn’t mean all of us do. Leave Stefanie alone when we get there. She doesn’t want an 8 year old tagging along after her.”

So, Pearl lugs her 16 books, her backpack, her notebooks and all of her pens inside the tiny cabin next door to Frank and Sharon Cooper. Sharon’s fun. Frank is crabby. But Stef? Pearl would like to be her.

“Don’t forget your overnight bag!” Mom snaps. “I’m not gonna carry it.”

Pearl sighs. She goes and finds the neon yellow bag with the neon pink trim. It’s got all the faces of every single New Kid on the Block. She hadn’t known about them or really cared about them until Mom got her a tape of theirs last month for her birthday. She loves Cover Girl the most. But she’s trying to get more into Madonna.

She listened to Mom’s Madonna tape when she wasn’t home. Memorized all the lyrics to Like a Prayer. But Pearl’s not as great a singer as Mom. Or Madonna. Pearl stops unpacking to look out the window. Stef’s out there looking bored, hand on her hip, talking to her dad. Stef has her hair styled the same way as Madonna. Blonde curls to her chin. With bangs.

Stef is 19. Pearl would kill to be 19. Okay, she wouldn’t really kill. But she’d definitely be willing to get in some trouble if there was like, a Zoltar machine and she could make a wish to be big.

Pearl tries to remember what Mom said about not bugging Stef. She rereads Mary Anne Saves the Day because that’s the best Mary Anne book. By the time Jenny Prezzioso starts to not seem like herself, Mom yells to Pearl.

“Pearl, you are not going to sit inside and read all weekend. Go outside!”

“Okay!” Pearl says, jumping up off the couch and out the door. She tries to walk like she’s cool, like Stef. But instead, she looks like she has ants in her pants, because who knows how to walk cool when they’re eight?

She finds Stef on the step of the cabin. Leaning back. She’s got sunglasses on. Pearl should go get hers. Oh, they’re on her head. She puts them down onto her face. Hopes Stef won’t notice the Snoopys on them.

“Hey,” Pearl says, leaning one elbow on the railing and yelping.

“Hey. That’s hot,” Stef warns.

“I know. I mean, I didn’t know. I just found out. So… I like your Madonna hair.”

“Ha! Pearl likes my Madonna hair, Mother!” Stef calls through the screen door.

“Pearl, please don’t encourage my daughter to look like a rockstar…” Sharon says, but she’s not mad about it. She offers Pearl a beater to lick. It has Cool Whip on it.

“Thank you,” Pearl says.

“Hey, what about me?” Stef asks.

Sharon gives her the other beater, and walks back inside.

“So…” Stef says. (Even the way she licks a beater is cool. Pearl will never be this cool.) “No Barbies?”

“Mom wouldn’t let me take them. Too many accessories.” Pearl frowns. She thought about sneaking her Mary baby Barbie doll with somehow. But then she was pretty sure Mary would miss Katie. And Theodore and Billy. Her sister and brothers. So Pearl left them at home all together.

“So…” Pearl leans back on her elbows, imitating Stef. “No boyfriends?”

“There is this one guy...Mike? But he barely knows I’m alive,” Stef breathes, disgusted.

“Ugh, I know. Boy germs,” Pearl wrinkles her nose.

Stef blinks. “Right. What am I talking to you about boys for? Aren’t you going into third grade or something?”

“Fifth,” Pearl says, proud. “They kept letting me skip.”

“Wow,” Stef manages. “I mean...wow… If I was as smart as you, I wouldn’t be working at a corner store and babysitting, that’s for sure.”

“But that’s so cool!” Pearl gushes. “I bet you have a lot of money saved up.”

“Not as much as you think…” Stef remarks. “This takes work.”

“What?” Pearl asks.

Stef gestures to her face.

“Oh! You mean your makeup! My mom wears makeup. I can’t yet…”

“Yeah? Well, consider yourself lucky…” Stef mutters.

“Why?” Pearl asks. “I can’t wait to be 19. You can stay up as late as you want! Have your own money. Not have to listen to your mom.”

“Whoa there, little missy,” Sharon says, through the screen door. “Just because Stefanie is 19 does not mean she doesn’t have to listen to me.” She’s smiling, but Pearl still apologizes.

“I’m sorry,” she ducks her head.

“Come with me,” Stef invites, nodding to Pearl.

Pearl jumps to her feet. They go down to the lake. Pearl usually stays away from here, but with Stef she doesn’t feel so nervous. They find Mom, smoking a cigarette.

“Got an extra?” Stef asks, and Mom taps out one and gives it to her.

Pearl’s mouth falls open.

“Don’t you get any ideas,” Mom warns Pearl.

“I’m not. Smoking’s bad for you,” she says.

“You could always go see if my mom needs help in the kitchen,” Stef remarks.

Dejected, Pearl walks away. She can’t believe her role model smokes cigarettes! She’s going to die like eight years earlier now. That thought makes tears spring to Pearl’s eyes. She had already cried all of her tears over the idea of Mom dying eight years earlier and now she has to deal with the idea that Stef is gonna die, too?

She sits on the steps alone, this time. Tears drop off her face and onto her legs. Her Never Going to Be Madonna Legs.

“What’s shakin’, bacon?” Frank asks, sitting beside her on the steps.

Pearl pushes her glasses up on her nose. “What?”

“What’s all this? What are the--uh--tears for?”

“They wash your eyes,” Pearl explains. Maybe they didn’t learn science when Frank was a kid.

“No, I mean… What’s upsetting you?” Frank asks, flustered.

“Human mortality,” Pearl tells Frank seriously.

“Damn,” Frank swears. “Well, why don’t you help me at the grill? Handling meat always makes me feel better…” he grunts, getting to his feet.

Pearl squints behind her sunglasses, cocking her head. “Why?”

“Couldn’t say.” But he extends a hand her way. She follows.

She spends the next few hours forgetting all about Stef and Mom smoking by the lake. She puts cheese on burgers. Even though Frank said she might get to handle some meat to make her feel better, he seems to think better of it when she’s actually standing there. She doesn’t mind being on cheese duty. She loves cheese. Thinks about eating it all. The only thing that stops her is the idea that Mom might find out and Pearl might be in trouble.

That night, they eat the burgers and hot dogs Pearl helped with. There’s strawberry fluff that Mom made. And a cake that Sharon made. And raw veggies and brown beans and chips. Pearl eats a ton. Wondering if she’ll ever gain any weight or always look like a beanpole.

That night, they all get in Frank’s boat. Pearl shivers in her tee shirt and shorts.

“I’m cold,” she whispers to Mom.

“Well, you should’ve grabbed a jacket like I told you,” she says, whispering back.

Except Mom never told her to grab a jacket.

Pearl sits on one of the seats, huddled up as Mom rolls her eyes and laughs. “Pearl, it’s not that cold. It’s the 4th of July.”

But she feels something get draped over her shoulders. Stef’s jean jacket. “Here,” she says. It smells like smoke and Christian Dior’s Poison perfume. Like grapes times infinity. Uniquely Stef.

Pearl cuddles in the jacket. “Thank you.”

Now that she’s warmer, Pearl watches the sky, ready for when it explodes with color. Fireworks are so radical. It’s even better when Stef puts an arm around Pearl’s shoulders.

“I still have to listen to my mom,” she whispers.

“It’s okay,” Pearl reassures. “So do I.”

Stef kind of laughs. “I wanted to stay home this year, but Dad wouldn’t hear it. Mom either, so here I am…”

“It’s okay. We can hang out together,” Pearl reassures.

“Does your mom need a babysitter?” Stef asks as the sky explodes with the grand finale.

She’s so happy. Then the sky goes dark again. Then, Stef’s question really sinks in.

Pearl deflates. Mom doesn’t have extra money for anything. And Pearl left her saved allowance at home in the tiny cardboard box with the money slot. She has about $30 saved. Including birthday money.

“We can’t pay you,” Pearl says serious.

“What?” Mom budges into the conversation. “Pearl, don’t talk about money, honey, it’s rude.”

“She asked.” Pearl protests.

“I did,” Stef nods as they drive back to shore. “Wanted to know if you could use a sitter.”

“You know, I really could.” Mom answers.

Pearl keeps her mouth shut and listens. It’s not like Mom ever watches her anyway. But Pearl’s not going to do anything to ruin the chance to get to hang out with Stef more...even if it is to get money for watching her.

For the next two days, there’s a note on the table when Pearl wakes up that says to go next door and Stef will watch her. But at home, Pearl’s not allowed to go anywhere when her mom isn’t home. She hangs out inside, making sure her bed is made and she is dressed and has eaten breakfast before peeking out the window at the cabin next door. She won’t go over until she sees one of them go outside.

It takes two hours for Pearl to see Stef go outside with her book. Then Pearl runs out to meet her. “Hi!”

“Hey. Thought you were gonna be here at like 8:00. That’s what your mom said.”

“Oh. I didn’t wanna wake anybody up.” Pearl admits.

“So, did you like the fireworks?” Stef asks.

“Yeah,” Pearl smiles. Just saying it makes Pearl remember the warmth of Stef’s jacket and the arm around her. The grape gum explosion smell and smoke all mixed together with the fabric.

“Do you think I can still get paid for those two hours even though you weren’t here?” Stef asks.

“I won’t tell,” Pearl promises.

For a while, it’s fun. Stef reads aloud to her. Stef drives them to the Taco Bell and they have lunch. But after lunch, Stef goes back inside her cabin. Pearl follows. They’re showing Beverly Hills, 90210 all day. Stef looks like this is where she wants to be.

After a while, Sharon comes in and nods to Pearl. Pearl gets up and goes with her to one of the bedrooms. In it, she finds an old Barbie case. With Barbies from the ‘70’s inside. Pearl plays by herself, giving them names, and stories.

(They’re not the same as her Barbies at home, but at least they’re Barbies.)

All the rest of that day and all the next she plays with Stef’s old Barbies. She sees Mom at dinner time every day. And on Saturday, it’s time to go.

Pearl watches Mom give Stef a bunch of money. Pearl feels funny inside. Knowing she really only watched her for two hours. But Pearl promised not to say anything...so she just doesn’t.

“So, did you have fun?” Mom asks, bright.

“Sure. Did you?” Pearl asks.

“I really did,” Mom says back.

Pearl settles in with her books again, and thinks, as long as Mom’s happy.

If Mom’s happy, everybody’s happy.

#fic: when i was 8 #disuphere universe #disuphere things

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opepin · 8 years

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february: week 4

20: ho hum. i was in much dull pain in the morning. i did work from home today and i worked on looking into using camtasia and recording videos in between meetings today. kevin didn’t have work today so he spent his time making ratatouille pasta for us for lunch. thank you <3 it was delicious haha. he also gamed until he got sick of dota 2. i exercised after work. i did 45 minutes of kickboxing with weights and then i showered right after so that my hair would dry in time for sleep. everything felt good (other than my stomach) today. like it was nice to work out at like 5-6 pm again and shower at an earlier time. we spent the rest of the evening watching ‘izombie.’ it’s getting more interesting. we had pasta for dinner but also ate pizza... we were really hungry for some reason? we didn’t get full, which was weird. i looked up why i felt like i wasn’t full and it’s because it’s my time of month. apparently bodies burn more calories during this time lol. so we ate half a pizza and some pasta. kevin vacuumed and swiffered while i got ready for bed. then we played some pokemon and i ko’d before 1 am. zzzz. here’s to spending more time with kevin on a weekday <3

21: i felt energized when i woke up and ready for work. the train was a bit late though so i got to work a bit later than i expected and i also took a nap on the train...so then i felt really sleepy coming into the office. the office was pretty full today! hehe. cole, charles, and i went to kane’s donuts and started our mid-morning off right. i love my t7 team. :) john sat at my desk yesterday because the heater was on (no one was there to turn it off) and the building was like 80 degrees and being in the separate office was even hotter :O haha good thing i didn’t come in. jim was also melting... the morning was hard for me because i was sleepy but i did learn more about camtasia and made a to-do list for myself. i had 3 meetings today so i had to juggle videos and meetings like yesterday. i realized that i can’t do video work in the office because it’s an open space and that i will work from home to do video work from now on.

i was in meetings for the rest of the day. i bonded with charles and cole over pokemon LOL and john was a bit bewildered about our generation because cole and i brought in our 3ds’s to work :P i left work at 3 pm after a meeting to catch the train before my last one at 4:30 pm. i picked up my memebox package and then got comfy and got back to work. after the meeting, i looked up where to eat for boston’s restaurant week and i got super excited. hehehe. then i made shiitake rice and prepped the veggies for dinner. i started exercising after and kevin came back. i finished exercising while kevin finished cooking dinner. then we watched 2 episodes of izombie while eating dinner and kevin made me feel bad about spoiling the show but then he revealed that he also knew -__-” JERK haha. then i got ready for bed and ko’d at like 1 am.

22: mmm i had a late morning. kevin went to work and then i got up, ate cereal, and went straight to recording and editing these video tutorials. it’s a lot harder than i expected and i’m not enjoying it as much as making templates for clients right now, ahha. i’m not comfortable with making video tutorials yet. i took a short break for lunch and watched the latest episode of ‘jane the virgin.’ i went back to editing and messing with camtasia until around 5 pm. it was a really chill day. i played pokemon for a bit and then made dinner. kevin was really tired for some reason and asked if he could just chill on the couch for a bit. he ended up taking a nap :P i made pico de gallo (a very chunky one), shredded lettuce, washed the black beans, made rice, and baked chicken thighs. i was in love with the salad i got with cole so i wanted to make it at home. when i started eating it, i realized that i just made chipotle...LOL. i really liked the chicken but i think if the pico had smaller chunks of red onion and tomato, it would have tasted better. we watched two episodes of izombie and then kevin went to game. i played some pokemon; i’m trying to get a razor claw from jangmo-o T_T it’s so hard. i gave up and then did 20 minutes of obliques and 35 minutes of kickboxing. this video hurt more than the 45 minute one! maybe i should skip weights for now. i went to shower and then kevin and i played pokemon in bed before sleeping at like 1:30 am.

23: lol i guess i’m working from home the rest of the week? it’s been hard trying to motivate myself to make tutorials and videos. i feel like i’m bad at explaining things and i need feedback. hopefully, phil lets me know what he thinks today. i made a small to-do list for the morning and then put on some music and tried to pump myself up. oh, my facebook cleanse has been going alright. i still open up my chrome browser and pause and then close it again because that habit has been ingrained in me. x__x maybe i should go for a full facebook deactivation? that seems too intense though. i also need to stop going on snapchat so much. i’m gonna start that cleanse soon too. haha i waste too much time on these apps when i could be playing pokemon (not being on facebook opened that up) or even reading. that’s my other goal. i think if i keep with this cleanse, i will be able to fit in both. i won’t give up my youtube videos though. the downside is that i usually find weird and interesting things on facebook to read and stuff, but i can also educate myself with reading.

anyway, it was a pretty productive day. i figured out how i want to approach the tutorials and etc. i got to talk with phil and sultan as well. we had a somewhat late and long client meeting, which ended my day at about 6:45 pm... i also was frustrated with catching the ultra beasts in pokemon so my mood was kinda ruined for the rest of the day. we ate leftovers for dinner and watched ‘izombie’ after i had a tantrum x__x then kevin dropped the corner iphone on my eyebrow bone on accident and i cried again LOL. it hurt :( but i think it was also because of the shock. kevin went to game and then i pushed myself to workout even though i was super tired from my emotions. i did an intense 30 minute tabata workout and i did 15 minutes or so of hip hop cardio. i haven’t done hip hop cardio in a while. then i showered and kevin and i played pokemon before bed and then we went to sleep at around 1 or 2 am. i caught a good nihilego before sleeping toooo.

24: i got up and scheduled things for next week. it’s a bit of a weird week so i hopefully will be in the office for 2.5 days and then the rest will be wfh for videos and late-ish meetings. then i got on a two hour training session and then right after, i microwaved lunch and then went into another meeting and after that, another two hour session. i caught 4 fairly good pheromosas and took a break from pokemon after learning that xurkitree is a pain in the butt to catch and to get a good one without a synchronized abra. blech. i spent an hour planning to start a video series called, “2MINShowcase.” it will be a series of videos showcasing products, brands, and services that i love and enjoy. i’m excited to start! it’s hard organizing and curating these collections though. i think i have one to shoot tomorrow! i’m going to shoot with my iphone 7 and edit with camtasia as a nice little exercise for now.

kevin stayed later than he expected and didn’t go climbing right after work. instead, he came back right when i was going to prep the pork cutlets to make tonkatsu. lol, i would have started prepping earlier if i knew. i turned off my work phone when i was done with work for the day and kevin sent messages there so i missed it by 30 minutes or so. well, we talked while we cooked together. kevin did a really dumb thing: put cold water in a pot of super hot oil. omg...it made a big oily splash when he did that and it scared the shit out of me. sometimes, he just doesn’t think in the kitchen... no one was hurt though, thankfully. we finished preparing dinner with no more kitchen incidents. we had tonkatsu spring rolls while watching the newest episode of supernatural. then kevin went to game after i felt like he insinuated that i am fat (he told me to exercise and i asked him if i should and then he continued to say that people run in the morning all the time and he compared all of the exercises i do to that. -__- then he said that he knows not to lift everyday but it doesn’t really apply to cardio. idk if you would get offended, but i did).

i think i actually ko’d for a bit and then woke up and did my damn 500 calorie burning popfitness video. then i showered and washed my hair. i don’t remember the last time i washed it LOL. it’s been a while because i worked from home basically the entire week. hmmm. anyway, i’m getting a little crazy from staying inside. i watched the free episode of the ‘try guys’ youtube red series and then went to sleep at like 2 or 3 am.

25: uhhhh my body was awake at 9:30 am but i got up at like 12:50 pm LOL. kevin made us breakfast: egg mcmuffin with leftover pico. i think the pico i made has a bit too much red onion... it’s upsetting my stomach in a way. i think i need to stop eating it lol. i watched ‘reign’ while kevin watched a dota game. then he tried getting a haircut but he had to wait after 9 other people...so he rq’d and got us bubble tea and then came back. after kevin left though, i went straight to recording my video series. the iphone 7 camera is soooo nice. i hate that my oneplus one always tries to auto-focus so it kind of zooms in and out. it’s so not cool. for some reason, it took 1-2 hours for my iphone to upload 17 1-minute or less videos to dropbox... so i sat and waited and edited as each clip came in. ugh. oh, kevin came back and then went straight to rock climbing. lol i lost track of time because of editing.

then i had to take a break and ate leftovers for dinner with kevin. we watched two episodes of izombie and then i went back to editing. i finished and tried uploading but then i was slowing down kevin’s connection so he restarted the router and i stopped (even though i was super excited about uploading it to youtube and facebook) -____-” so i just did hip hop cardio while he gamed. he finished his game like 30 minutes later and asked and i said no because it was too late for people to even see it if i posted it. ugh. i came back and uploaded it after my workout. then youtube took down my video T__T so i spent a few hours looking up youtube rules and violations and etc. then i finally went to shower and then i got in bed and played a few minutes of pokemon. it was like 4-5 am by the time we went to sleep LOL. kevin was up watching a dota tournament.

26: we got out of bed at like 2 pm or something LOL gg us. then kevin made us pico with scrambled eggs. it definitely made the red onion more tolerable. then he gamed for a bit while i finally uploaded my video to facebook, curled my hair, and then got ready for groceries. oh, we also planned food this week in bed. we didn’t need to get much because we’re going to new york on friday. so excited! we went to kam man and got some drinks to bring over to winston’s and jeanne’s along with groceries. we actually had to stock up on a few things so we did a lot of grocery shopping in general. then we went to roche bros and finally stopped at bj’s. we spent like 2 hours grocery shopping because i had coupons for bj’s and there were two coupon books so we had to check if each item we wanted was worth or not. we ended up getting more than what we needed...like chicken nuggets for example haha.

we got back, unloaded, kevin started cooking hong shao rou, i started laundry and cleaned the bathroom and then went to cutting apples for our puff pastry apple hand pies. it took me forever to find the recipe michelle gave me for the filling of an apple pie and also the other recipe i used to bake the hand pies and how to seal them as well. it was crazy. we ate dinner while standing and waiting for other things to cook. then i assembled the pies, put them in the oven and then we put up all of the artwork and posters we have gotten for the apartment so far. while kevin was putting up the final one, i took down our christmas tree. kevin finished putting it in the box while i showered at like 12:30 am or something. it was late af. i finished folding the clothes and then i stayed up a bit watching clothesencounters’ new video. i went to sleep at like 1 or 2 am but i think i actually fell asleep asleep at 3 am or whenever kevin got into bed x__X; this is what happens when you get up at 2 pm when you got shit to do LOL!

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