#i wasn't supposed to make it to my 18th birthday WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLOT

[jorgecrespo]

in two years (and a week) i'll be literally 30 lol what the hell who let that happen

[lowkeycasanova]

catching up

plot: you run into Vinnie after breaking up 3 years ago

masterlist

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Take out bag in hand from the pick up counter, focused on nothing and no one as you walked through the restaurant as you ordered an Uber to go back to the Airbnb.

But there he was, and he recognized you as you walked past each other. You didn’t even realize.

“Y/N?”

You nearly tripped over your own two feet and almost bumped into someone upon hearing your name called. You step aside and with a confused expression, you turn around to the direction of the voice.

“Vinnie.” You breathed out.

Before you could even process what was happening, he walked up and pulled you into a hug. Closing your eyes, you hugged him back.

“I can’t believe it’s you.” He said and pulled away. “You look amazing.”

“Yeah, so do you.”

He’s definitely filled out since the last time you saw him. He had more muscle, he grew out his hair, it was also more of his natural color, his previously bare hands were covered in tattoos and you knew he had more, and you swore he got a tad bit taller.

“God, it’s been a while.”

You pursed your lips. “Three years…”

*Flashback*

"What do you mean you're going to LA?" you asked him in disbelief.

"I just think this would be a good opportunity for me."

"You make random videos for fun. It's not a job."

"Not yet, but who knows, I could make a career out of this."

"Since when do you wanna be some entertainer? You've never mentioned anything like that." you argued back. "But that wasn't the plan. We're supposed to be going to college together. I was so happy when we both got accepted, but now you spring this on me a month before school starts?"

He sighed. "I know. I'm sorry, but having contacts out there could help push my modeling. And maybe I could get into acting. I've always wanted to try that."

"Again, you never mentioned that."

"Well maybe I kept my mouth shut because there would be no opportunity like that for me here in Seattle!" He raised his voice in frustration. "And now, I have it and I wanna take it."

You felt the tears forming in your eyes and tried to keep yourself together. Part of the reason was that you were just such a perfectionist, planning for things in the future, and when they don't go as planned, you don't know what to do.

Also, to you, it wasn't wise of him to just up and go. Sure, having one million followers was impressive, but, so what? Plus, he didn't have that much money. He's just hoping it all works out.

Vinnie left two days after his 18th birthday. You couldn't believe he actually got on that plane. No, you didn't like it, but you accepted it for what it was.

"So, how's school going?" Vinnie asked.

You two had moved over to the side of the entrance doors and leaned against the wall so you wouldn't be in other people's way.

"Um...you know, going into my last year. It's exciting."

"Still interior design?" he asked.

You nodded.

"So, what brought you to LA?"

"Um, just took a trip with a friend before school starts up again."

If Vinnie was disappointed that you didn't reach out to him upon arriving, he didn't show it.

"What would your major have been? If you stayed?"

"Mathematics and physics. But I'd probably still be an electrician on the side with my dad."

Talking about his what ifs made the memories come back.

*Flashback*

Just hung up the phone after talking to Vinnie. You sigh in disappointment.

He called to let you know that he wouldn't be able to come to the annual homecoming game on campus due to some photoshoot he had to do.

You tried to not let it affect you. It was just a football game. And Vinnie was seemingly starting to do the things he really wanted, so you wanted to be supportive of that.

It was then when you felt a shift in the relationship.

Putting on a happy face the day of the game, you ended up dressing up with your friends, decked out in purple and white, while sending pictures and videos to Vinnie.

He came back and visited for a few days before going back to LA. You were so consumed with school and wanted to focus on that.

There was one moment when you were up late doing homework. You began thinking about what it would be like if you finished up your first semester at the University of Washington and then transferred to Cal State or some school out there to be closer to Vinnie.

It was when you were reviewing the transfer requirements at UCLA when you thought, what the hell am I doing?, then exited out the website.

That wasn't what you wanted.

Vinnie was started to blow up at this point. It was hard to miss. And it was evident that you two started to talk less. You tried to make the effort. He'd been a bad texter at certain times but it was never frequent. You hated the possibility that he was somehow ignoring you but it only got worse when you'd see him in the media out with his new friends at restaurants and rumored to be dating this girl or that girl.

You wondered how he had time to talk to them and not you.

It got to a point where you'd drop everything when Vinnie did get back to you.

One day you got a call from him.

"I don't know if I wanna do this, Y/N. I just wanna come back."

Had he told you this a few weeks earlier, you'd would have no problem convincing him.

"Vinnie...you've only been out there for a short amount of time. As much as I'd want you to come back, I think you should stay a little longer. And if things still continue to not work out, I already know your parents would let you move back in. Stay and do the best you can."

He didn't say anything, only sighed on the other end.

You continued. "And to be honest, we should both be doing our own things individually."

"...what do you mean?"

You bit the bullet and told him that it would be best to break up. Thinking about it, but didn't want to say it because the two of you had grown so close. But y'all needed to do your own thing right now. You perceived the call from him as him holding back from striving to do his best in LA because he was tied down to a girl in another state. Vinnie obviously didn't want it, but he knew it was inevitable.

As you two continued to talk, a black car drove up and parked in front of the restaurant.

“Oh shit.” You said and looked down at your phone. “That’s my Uber. I gotta go. And I don't wanna gold you up from whoever is waiting for you inside."

“Oh.” He said and you could tell he was trying to hide his disappointment. "I'm the first one here. Just coming with friends. But sure, of course. Hey, maybe we could, hang out or something tomorrow. If…you want to.” And he nervously scratched the back of his neck.

You raised a brow. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’d love for you to meet my friends and see the house.”

He hoped he didn’t come off as bragging with that last part.

"Yeah, sure, I'll come."

He smiled. "Alright, cool." and he pulled you into a tight hug.

***

When you got back to the Airbnb, you told your friend about your run in with Vinnie and the invitation to go to his house. You'd known her while you were dating him, so she knew the story.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked.

You shrugged. "I don't see why not."

"Okay as your friend, I don't think you should go. I mean sure it'll be nice for a second, until we go back to Seattle and he stays here and you're back to where you started."

This was definitely going to open up old emotions. Oh well.

The next afternoon, Vinnie picked you up. He said he hoped you hadn't changed your mind.

When you arrived at the house, you noticed quite a few cars in the driveway and felt hesitant.

"I didn't know you had so much company. I could've came another day."

He chuckled when he realized why you said that. "These belong to me and my buddy Jett."

“Oh.” You smiled.

“We buy them and try to fix ‘em up.”

Vinnie opened the door up for you, allowing you to go in first. You smiled at how beautiful and lively it was. He told you his roommates were his best friends, but he also had other friends come over a lot.

You stood beside Vinnie and he introduced you. He wanted to have everyone’s attention. They stopped what they were doing to come and meet you. You didn't know where to look, trying to greet them. His friend, Jack, told you that Vinnie had mentioned you'd be here.

Vinnie told you to make yourself at home and you got comfortable on the couch in the living room, admiring all the instruments that were there. His friends Josh and Adam are sitting on the spot across from you. You started to get to know them, laughing as they're pretty funny.

Vinnie makes his way over, silently observing you, happy that you seem to be getting along with everyone. He always loved that about you.

"You guys better not be talking about me." Vinnie's voice catches you off guard.

"Oh we definitely were." you answer back. The boys laugh and someone else comes and grabs their attention for a moment.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" Vinnie asks, his fingertips barely grazing your shoulder.

"Yeah, sure."

You got up and follow his lead. He gives you a tour of the house on the way up to his room.

"Nice picture." you said, referring to the big frame that had his head and his cat's heat photoshopped onto it.

Speaking of Hera, she came up and purred against your leg like she'd known you forever.

"Oh thanks." he laughed while simultaneously trying to make the cords from his gaming setup look less chaotic. "My mom got that for me as a Christmas gift."

Maria.

You had gotten close with his family too. You two spent time at each other's houses a lot due to not being able to go to the same high school. After the breakup, his parents and younger brother still followed you on social media, but you hadn't spoke to them in person. It hurt that you had also lost your second family.

He motioned for you to sit on the bed next to him and you did. He seemed like he was trying to get his words together.

"Honestly, to start it off, I wanna tell you what went down as far as moving out here."

He looked at you, as if asking for permission to continue. You nodded.

"Um...I know that you felt this disconnect between us and you said it would be best for us to do things on our own. You were right. I was being distant...but it wasn't because I didn't love you anymore, I was just going through a really rough time. I mean, I was in two houses over the course of four months and before I moved into Hype, I almost didn't have a place to stay. I was nearly broke because I wasn't making money off my content yet. And I just...didn't know what I was doing or where I was going with my life at the time."

Your face fell as he told you this. You felt so bad. Guilty even. That the break up was while he was going through all this stress. Like a final nail in the coffin.

"It's not your fault." he said as he noticed your expression and put a hand on your shoulder. You just looked at your hands in your lap. " I don't blame you at all.

"I should have really asked you if you were doing okay."

"I would've lied about it. I didn't tell my parents, you, or my friends. I just kept everything inside and I distanced myself from you, my audience, some of my friends, and I started saying rash things online. Just becoming someone that I wasn't. I realize now I shouldn't have done that. I should have talked to somebody, anybody about it. So that's my fault.

"I'm really sorry. And I'm sorry for how things were handled between us."

"Don't be. I think I needed to go through that. If not, I probably wouldn't be where I am today."

You felt tears forming in your eyes and wrapped your arms around him and he embraced you back.

"You deserved to know. Thanks for hearing me out."

"Of course. I'm so proud of you."

You two eventually pulled away and he ran a hand through his hair.

"Hey listen, I'm not saying we jump right back into something, but....I broke your trust, and I'll like to earn it back, If you let me."

"So, what are you saying?" you ask, searching his face as if it had the answers.

"I just wanna be in your life again. As your friend. I want to get to know you now, and for you to get to know me now. And see where it goes from there."

You looked at him in silence, feeling butterflies as he was looking at you.

"Okay." you said, almost in a whisper.

"Yeah?" he begins to smile and you nod.

He pulls you into him again. "Thank you. I won't mess this up."