#(Gossip Girl is trash TV and they know it)

[icedteaandoldlace]

Pffft speak for yourself. I simply choose to hate his guts for all eternity, like a normal person. :)

[heechwe]

lost in wonderland | 𝐩𝐬𝐡

୨୧ pairing: park sunghoon x fem!reader ୨୧ word count: 12k ୨୧ genre: smut, semi-angst, fluff ୨୧ tags: mentions of drug use, fake dating au, rockstar!sunghoon, popstar!reader, enemies to lovers au, jerk to down bad sunghoon, pet names (baby, doll, love, etc.), dirty talk, nipple play, oral (f receiving), belly bulging, spanking, unprotected sex, creampie ୨୧ synopsis: Park Sunghoon, one half of popular rock band Into Eden, is on thin ice with his management and the general public. What does his manager Jay decide to do? Set him up with the leader of rising pop girl group PrismHeart. And while it starts as two stubborn people living in a lie, growing feelings cannot hold anything but the truth. ➸ This one's dedicated to my lovely betas: Ley @pars-ley), Ally @lovetaroandtaemin, Kiki @wonwovy, & Lola @monamipencil)! I'm so grateful to y’all and the love you’ve given this story; I hope everyone else loves it too 🤍 Also the ending song and inspiration for the title is from Boys Like Girls's song "Lost in Wonderland"!

“PARK SUNGHOON: ANOTHER HEARTBREAK UNDER HIS BELT?”

“IS HEESEUNG TIRED OF HIS BANDMATE’S GAMES? IS ‘INTO EDEN’ IN TROUBLE OF DISBANDING?”

“DID SUNGHOON RUIN ANOTHER GIRL GROUP, AND HIS EX’S CAR?”

Sunghoon laughs at the headlines plastered across his manager’s desk. The gossip rags are the only vibrant thing in the office, the monochrome black and white color scheme creating a strict atmosphere that suffocates the rock star to no end. Who knew such bullshit could provide such humor? 

The sound dies on Sunghoon’s tongue when he sees Jay’s displeasure pervade the older man’s entire face. His arms are crossed, and Sunghoon can see the veins in Jay’s neck tighten.

“You think this is funny?” Jay asks, his voice even-keeled, but his body language anything but.

“No, Mr. Park.”

“Hoon.” Jay says his talent’s name with admonishment. He sits back down in his chair across from Sunghoon, the large desk separating them. “You know I hate when you call me that.”

“What should I call you, Mr. Park? Bro? Dude? J-Man?”

Jay can’t help the chuckle on his lips, but he shuts it down to go back to the discussion at hand. “Simply put, the label’s pissed. All that we should see two months before your tour is good press, not this shit. And you know Yeji is going to do more than just comment in a couple of tabloids.”

Sunghoon rolls his eyes. “She has nothing to say, besides the fact that it ended mutually.”

“You call making out with Lia ‘ending mutually’?”

Sunghoon raises his hands in defense, a smirk on his lips. “Don’t know what you were told, but that happened after we broke up.”

“Okay, that’s it.” Jay takes the multitude of tabloids and throws them in the trash next to his desk. “The label is going to chop my balls off if I don’t fix the problems you created.”

Sunghoon, in his mind, isn’t a problem child, per se. He simply pales in comparison to his golden boy best friend and musical partner, Lee Heeseung. It isn’t his fault that Heeseung is squeaky clean. The only crazy thing the guy has ever done was dye his hair red for their recent cover shoot. 

Sure, Heeseung has been committed to one person for years, long before the two men ever became a name in the public eye. The guy never partakes in recreational activities, choosing to spend his free time with his girlfriend or in video game chat rooms rather than in nightclubs like his counterpart. And he’s always been a media darling, giving signed photos to fans and providing the paparazzi with his undivided attention without complaint.

 Sunghoon likes to live without restrictions or red tape. If he has to be judged for that, constantly not measuring up to the pedestal his best friend lives on, so be it.

“It’s time for Plan B,” Jay says, breaking Sunghoon from his thoughts.

After Sunghoon’s brows furrow in confusion, Jay turns on the TV stationed behind his desk. The news video on display shows the members of PrismHeart, the label’s rising girl group, attending the AMAs with bright smiles and matching sparkly ensembles.

“This is Plan B?” Sunghoon asks, releasing a breathless laugh.

“No.” Jay points to you in the center of the LED screen. Your hair billows in the wind as your face shines with the same quality of the cameras capturing your essence on the red carpet.

Sunghoon is taken aback by you without hearing you speak a single word, and he suspects something devious brewing behind his manager’s eyes when he says, “She is.”

The nightclub is packed with D-list celebrities and upcoming starlets, ready to post to their respective social media accounts. With the right touch, the news will work its way to the trending page without fail.

Thankfully, Jay, Sunghoon’s manager, knows how to set the scene for a piece of tabloid fodder. It’s part of his job to make sure that, for better or worse, Sunghoon gets his time in the spotlight.

As for you, all you’re expected to do is mingle with your new “boyfriend,” look pretty in your little black dress, and set the trap. 

You asked your own manager, Momo, if you could bring one of the girls along to break the ice and make the “meet cute” look more believable, and both she and Jay agreed.

So here you are, sitting across from Yujin with a strawberry martini in one hand and your cellphone in the other, waiting for the signal.

“He is pretty cute. You can’t deny that.” Yujin scrolls through Sunghoon’s Instagram feed, multiple gym pics and rehearsal photos lining the grid of his main profile.

When Momo produced Jay’s offer to her, she marketed it to you as the perfect way for PrismHeart to skyrocket from simmering stardom into true mega-fame. All it took was a handful of white lies and scheduled meetups. No harm, no foul, right?

Like a devoted group leader, hands in your lap and a demure smile on your face, you said yes. You would do anything for your team and the girls who were your second family at this point. Not disclosing the truth was an easy thing to do, and nobody’s feelings would be sacrificed in the process.

It would also be a welcome distraction from the destruction of your last relationship. The back and forth with Jake proved to be too much on both your work and personal lives, 7 months of happiness leading to a slow and bitter end.

Maybe a cute boy with no attachments and some light flirting could be a nice way to bounce back into the game. Then, when a real relationship would be possible for you again, you’d be ready.

You nod and take another sip of your drink, the alcohol leaving a burning aftertaste in your throat. “He is,” you agree. “He’s terrible at time management, though, clearly.”

Yujin rolls her eyes and continues scrolling. “Take off your micromanaging hat tonight, babe. Have fun. Kiss your new fake beau.”

“Say it louder,” you chide, lips on the rim of your glass again. The drink was taking the edge off of your nerves, but you still couldn’t shake the desire to make sure things went perfectly.

For both work and personal reasons, you need this to go off without a hitch.

A second later, your phone buzzes on the top of the bar. Sunghoon’s face lights up your screen, along with his message.

[Received at 10:46 PM]: Walking in with Jungwon. U?

You internally roll your eyes at the cryptic text. Jake was so good at making his messages personable, and although you could put a dagger in him for breaking your heart, the least you can do is recognize that was one of his better qualities.

You just hope Sunghoon is better in person than he is on the page. Or phone, so to speak.

[Sent at 10:48]: By the bar with Yujin.

Sunghoon saunters through the club’s double doors, the notorious half of Into Eden smiling ear to ear with his friend Jungwon in tow. Your ex Jake and Jungwon hung in similar circles due to their statuses as popular actors, but Jungwon was always nice when you ran into him.

He greets you with a smile but stops short when he sees your best friend, his cheeks turning a red hue. “Sorry, you’re just even more beautiful in person.”

As Yujin stutters over her next words, sharing a similar blush with the man in front of her, Sunghoon saunters over to your side and grins. As you look closer at him, you can discern the pink around his irises and the flimsy edges of his smile.

He’s high. So much rides on his cooperation on this plan and he’s fucking high?

“Park Sunghoon, pleased to meet you.” He gives your hand a sloppy kiss when your fingers link together in a handshake, and you retract immediately. Sunghoon pays no mind to your distaste, immediately ordering a beer and downing it the second it slides across the bar.

“Do you think you should be mixing alcohol with…whatever’s in your system?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.” Sunghoon winks at you and scoots closer on his barstool to you, tracing the skin of your thighs with his eyes. “I think this is the part where we dance?”

You scoff and down what’s left of your martini. You flag the bartender down for another, incredulous but trying to mask your anger with another drink. “Maybe we should get to know each other first?”

“What’s there to know? Jay gave me all the cliffnotes this morning. And we can just learn as we go, you know?”

A part of you wants to run into this without a roadmap, but it’s not in your nature. And it would be a lot easier to let yourself relax if you knew you were walking into this plan with a person as serious as you are about it.

But no, you get a stoned rockstar as your new “boyfriend” instead.

The bartender hands you your second martini, and you hop off the barstool with it in your hand. You take a light sip before you motion to the dance floor. “Let’s go.”

You have a tight grasp on the stem of your glass as Sunghoon takes your free hand to walk towards the dance floor. You notice Yujin and Jungwon dancing in a far corner together, the two of them hitting it off incredibly well.

Your hips sway to the song, your body trying to follow the music that’s thumping loudly through the speakers. It’s a remix you don’t recognize, but you enjoy it nonetheless. You smile as the pulse of the song thrums through your veins, your nerves at their lowest since arriving at the club.

What you don’t expect is for Sunghoon’s hands to settle on your hips, pulling you closer to fall into rhythm together. He moves well considering his prowess lies in rock rather than pop.

“You’re a pretty good dancer for a bassist,” you tease.

“I have a lot of talents,” he remarks back, the club lights gleaming across his face in purple and pink strobes.

He looks better in person than in all the interviews and tabloids you read prior to meeting him tonight. In your efforts to gain intel for the meetup, you couldn’t deny how well he cleaned up, even when he acted poorly.

The slosh of your drink makes you stop dancing for a second, and you laugh. “Probably shouldn’t have brought this on the–”

Sunghoon captures your lips in a searing kiss. The taste of ale lingers on your tongue the longer both of your mouths are linked. He is a good kisser, no doubt, but where does he get off assuming you wanted him to? All you had to show for tonight so far was some small conversation. Is that his typical green light to dive straight into making out? 

You immediately push him off, the contents of your martini glass spilling on him in the process. “What the hell?” Sunghoon asks, touching his jacket and feeling the leather soaked in sugary liquor.

You’re stunned at how brash yet nonchalant he is about what he just did, caring more for his clothes than your personal space that he just invaded. 

“You’re such a bastard,” you whisper loud enough for only Sunghoon to hear, his eyes immediately widening at your words. You walk away from him stunned and drop the glass on the counter where you were initially sitting. Not wanting to take Yujin away from her success of a night, you run outside to a handful of cameras flashing and your failure coating your skin.

Late into the next morning, you sip a hefty cup of tea for breakfast as you scroll through your latest mentions. The socials are blowing up from your recent outing with Yujin, Jungwon, and Sunghoon. You half expected to wake up to the ending of your career, but to your relief, the event was nothing short of a success.

Despite your embarrassment on the drive home and sadness before bed last night, your followers and many of Into Eden’s fans seem to have taken the bait. Some took shots of you exiting the nightclub, Sunghoon following shortly behind with a smile on his face. They also edited short clips of the two of you on the dance floor. Incredibly, none of them caught your mishap with your martini on video.

Better yet, they found the prospect of you and Sunghoon not just exciting but fitting somehow.

@edenenthusiast: hope she can whip him back into shape, miss the old hoon.

@sunghoonsluv71: sad he’s off the market but they’re actually cute together??? 

@prismshearts_09: she looks so happy!! suck it @jaeyun_sim.

In the next second, your phone blows up from a mention on Sunghoon’s most recent story. Your handle is hidden in a far corner of the black screen but the words plastered across the screen say everything they need to.

“Love at first spill? 🍸😏”

All of your band members and Momo light up your group chat with their excitement. In the chaos of the chat, you thumb-up a text from Yujin about Jungwon giving her his number.

Then, a single text pops up from Sunghoon that makes your glee transform into anxiety.

[Received at 11:52 AM]: Lunch on me? :/

You feel a part of your chest flutter. There’s a hope that maybe in the light of day you’ll get a chance to see the real Sunghoon. No drugs, no cameras, no need to impress. Maybe if he’s away from the attention, he’ll realize you deserve an apology for his actions.

[Sent at 11:56 AM]: Lunch and dinner or get lost.

You see the quick succession of bubbles following your text, his response hot on the heels of your last message that he reacts to with a laughing emoji.

[Received at 11:58] I think I can handle that.

You sit across from Sunghoon on the balcony of his apartment, two BLTs cooked to perfection on the patio table in front of you. He kept to his word, laying a spread of food out for you in exchange for your time.

You quirk an eyebrow. “Did you make these yourself?” You ask.

Sunghoon shakes his head, bashful. “Jay helped me. Not only is he a great manager, but he’s actually an amazing cook.”

You nod and smile, grabbing a bite as Sunghoon’s blush and your quiet chewing fills the silence.

“I wanted to say that yesterday got out of hand, and I shouldn’t have gotten wasted before meeting you. It was unprofessional, and I apologize.”

 You tap your fingers on the wicker table, your gut warning you to be cautious. “Did Jay tell you to say that?”

Sunghoon stutters on whatever words he planned to say next and quickly runs a hand through his hair. “I mean it, what difference does it make? I really am sorry, okay?”

You roll your eyes. “So you’re apologizing using someone else’s script? That’s supposed to make me believe you?”

Sunghoon scoffs and presses his palms to the table. “You’re fucking impossible, you know that?”

“I’m impossible because you got loaded and decided to stick your tongue down my throat? Oh, and I bet the next words out of your mouth were going to be how stubborn I am because I expected you to actually want to make up for how shit you acted last night.”

“Wow. Are you just mad because you didn’t expect to like me kissing you that much?” Sunghoon says his question with a pestering but sultry tone, the words completely rhetorical.

You huff and make your exit from the table. “Fuck this, I should never have come.”

Before you can walk away from the balcony, Sunghoon takes your wrist in his hand. His eyes express his frustration, his mouth in a grim line. “Don't leave, please. Can we just pretend that the last twelve hours never happened? Start from scratch. We both know we need each other here.”

You take a deep breath and cross your arms, walking back to your side of the table with a stone expression. “I think it’s a good idea to create some rules for…this arrangement.”

Sunghoon stares you down, still irritated but agreeable. “I’m all ears.”

“First and foremost,” you start, “whenever we’re scheduled to meet, no drugs. Do it in your spare time.”

Sunghoon nods. “That’s fair.”

“Second, no PDA unless there’s people around that need to notice it. And we have to agree on it before either one of us initiates anything.”

“What,” Sunghoon laughs, “like a secret bat signal?”

“Sure Batman,” you jest. Does he have to joke every time he decides to speak? Against your better judgment, a small piece of you finds it endearing.

He ponders the thought and then taps two fingers to the side of his neck. “How’s that?”

“Fine,” you agree. “Do you have any other rules you think we should add?”

The word “we” slips so easily from your tongue. In spite of the way he stirs up every ounce of frustration inside of you, already you see him on the same team as you. That has to be a good sign.

He rubs his index finger and thumb under his chin, half teasing but half reflecting on what he could add.

“Only one more thing,” Sunghoon says. “When we don’t have plans to spend time together, what we do in our private time is our business.”

You raise your hands. “Not a problem for me.”

Sunghoon reaches his hand across the table. “Deal?”

What the outcome of your arrangement will be besides the expected results remains up in the air. Whether it will reap what you want is really anyone’s guess. But if it means you do your duties as a good bandmate, you will take whatever comes at you.

You grasp his fingers in yours, shaking them gingerly. “Deal.”

Into Eden’s most popular song “Salvation” plays on the stereo speakers in the photography studio of Vogue magazine’s headquarters. The two men on set act incredibly comfortable, Heeseung’s arm wrapped around Sunghoon’s shoulder. The older musician’s red hair is stark against the chosen clothing for the shoot, but he makes it work.

He always does, Sunghoon thinks with a repressed sigh. His hair is slicked back in contrast to Heeseung’s messy mop of wind-blown tresses, creating the contrast between the two that highlights the shoot’s concept. TWO SOULS COLLIDE: THE LEADING MUSICIANS OF NEW AGE ROCK.

Sunghoon stays still for the next shot of him and Heeseung, but he can’t help himself from following you with his eyes when you enter the studio with a bag of breakfast treats and a to-go tray of coffees.

He did not expect to see you show up to his photoshoot, and Jay didn’t give him any warning for the event on his schedule being one you would share space with. He’s not against it though. In the sea of gray suits and media lackeys, you’re a breath of fresh air. You have already taken his attention away from the mundane nature of the task he’s assigned to complete today.

He can’t deny that Jay’s plan has already made shifts to his image in the public eye. It’s only been a week of public paparazzi candids and social media mentions shared between his and your accounts, and fans are eating it up.

And, though he might never say it out loud, something about your presence levels him in a way Jay’s and Heeseung’s doesn’t. He quantifies it to you also understanding the pressures of the music industry, the feeling of someone outside of his circle who can relate to him foreign but welcome. Your relationship may be manufactured, but he has to look at the positives it’s already created in his life.

Jay runs over to you with a bright smile. “You’re an angel, thank you.”

You grin and take a breakfast sandwich from the bag to give to Sunghoon’s manager. “Least I could do for a member of my boyfriend’s camp.”

Jay winks over the rim of his coffee cup and goes back to the photographer’s side, overseeing the shots with a bit of sausage sticking out of his mouth.

You give Sunghoon a slight wave and stay a few steps away from the large lights capturing the shadows and highlights on the men’s faces.

You haven’t met Heeseung up to this point, so interacting with Sunghoon’s bandmate will add a new dimension to your “relationship.”

In contrast with Sunghoon, Heeseung exudes seriousness in every movement. You’re unsure if it’s because of his maturity or dedication to everything he does, similar to yourself, but it shows in the way the men stand next to each other. Where Sunghoon is fluid like water, transforming into whatever he needs to be, Heeseung is stoic and certain of himself, solid like a stone.

You wonder how such different people managed to be friends and bandmates. Then again, you’re in a group with four other girls, and your personalities are anything but similar.

“Alright, I think it’s time for individual shots. Mr. Park, we’ll do yours first!”

Heeseung runs to his chair in front of the vanity. It’s set up in a corner of the room for retouching his and Sunghoon’s hair and makeup. He beckons you over with a polite smile, and you oblige the silent request.

“Sorry I haven’t been able to greet you since you came in. You know how it is,” Heeseung’s lips turn up at the corners as his makeup artist dabs at his forehead with a clean powder puff. “I’m Lee Heeseung.”

You respond with your name and shake his hand, your nerves spiking. You expected Heeseung to be both attractive and polite, but it’s another level in person compared to his media appearances.

“Have you always been interested in music?” You ask.

Heeseung nods, still smiling. “Since I was old enough to hold a guitar. Both of us, actually. I don’t know if Hoon told you, but he was the one that started the band.”

Your eyes widen in surprise. “No, he didn’t say anything at all. He doesn’t really talk about his work. Neither of us do.”

Heeseung laughs. “Yeah. He’s a closed book a lot of the time. But he’s got a great soul, he just doesn’t let a lot of people see it.”

You look down at your shoes, smiling. “I’d offer you a bagel, but I think the team would kill me if I let you mess up your makeup.”

Heeseung releases another chuckle. “Save it for Hoon, then. Make it a little lunch date.” When the photographer’s assistant calls for Heeseung, he winks at you and leaps off of the chair.

Sunghoon finds you in the next second, smiling warmly before taking the bag of food from your hands. “Please tell me there's an everything bagel in here.”

You nod. “With extra cream cheese.”

He beckons you to the free armchairs on the opposite side of the makeshift vanities. You sit down across from him and find your croissant in the bag, ready to eat it whole at this point.

“You could’ve eaten before I finished. You didn’t have to wait for me.”

You shrug and bite into your food. “Force of habit. I always make sure the girls eat before I do.”

He nods and takes a chunk out of his own bagel. “Like a good leader. I knew Jay liked you for a reason.”

You scoff, practically choking on the egg and cheese in the croissant. “Says the guy who started this whole thing. You didn’t tell me you were the one who made Into Eden.”

Sunghoon shrugs, his mood shifting. “It never came up. Besides, Heeseung took the proverbial role of leader a long time ago, anyway.”

You shake your head, picking at your food. “I bet everyone would give you more of a lead if you proved you could handle the responsibility.”

 Sunghoon is taken aback, there’s no doubt about that. When has he not been serious and responsible about his commitment to the band, save for the past year?

Sure, he hasn’t made great decisions recently, especially with his new…habit, simply put. But he’s never stopped caring, no matter how the tabloids turned on him or Heeseung overshadowed him when he began to fall short.

Maybe he needs to put some good will back in, even if he feels justified for being jaded at this point in his career.

Wanting to turn the tide of the conversation, Sunghoon spots a random guitar in the studio and grabs it eagerly. He sits back down with a newfound interest, plucking the strings to ensure it’s in tune.

You laugh and stuff the crumb-filled wrapper in the bag. “Avoiding the subject, I see.”

“Hey,” Sunghoon defends himself. “When I see a guitar, it’s only natural to play it.” He strums a few chords, satisfied. “Have any requests?”

You lift your shoulders, intrigued.

Sunghoon begins playing the opening strings of Oasis’s “Champagne Supernova.” It’s a bittersweet song, one with a beautiful instrumental but somber lyrics. Seems fitting for the man playing it somehow.

He begins to sing the first lines, the fried timbre of his vocals lulling you into a state of relaxation. By the introduction of the first chorus, you’re singing along with him, matching his tone with your saccharine harmonies. 

It makes the crowd around you pause to look on for a moment, mesmerized at two stars seeming to shine at the same second. They must resign it to fate, two talents coming together in music and love, unaware of the reality of your situation.

Or maybe, they see the shades of something blossoming that you and Sunghoon have yet to recognize yourselves.

You flip through the newest issue of Vogue, excited to read Sunghoon’s part of the interview. It takes a handful of turns before you make it to the spread, the interview intertwined with shots of Heeseung and Sunghoon clad in V-necks and leather jeans. Their outfits coincide with the grunge aesthetic. You flip through the discussion about their newest album, “Under the Sun,” until one specific segment catches your eye.

VOGUE: So, it’s safe to assume this new album is about dedication, or the commitment, to one’s desires. It shows in your new single off this album, “All For You,” as you said Heeseung, but how do you feel about it Sunghoon?

PSH: I agree with Hee a hundred percent. Sometimes you don’t realize how devoted you are to something or someone until you’re caught in the middle of it. And sometimes that can be beautiful and intoxicating, a reason to go on that keeps you alive in so many ways.

VOGUE: I sense something or someone on your mind besides the album.

PSH: You could say that.

You left hours before the boys began their interview. It could’ve been a million things on his mind when the writer made note of his reaction, but you know the online forums and fandoms must be exploding over the snippet.

“Whatcha reading?” Ningning asks. She walks into your kitchen, looking for a cup to fill with ice water. She may live a few apartments down, but she never fails to use her status as the youngest to barge in whenever she wants.

You show her the front cover when she turns her head back in your direction. “His new article just came out.”

“Any mentions of his new love affair?” She wiggles her eyebrows and you threaten to throw the magazine at her head.

“Drop it already, Ning! It’s not real anyway.”

“Come on. The guy is cute, you’re cute, have some fun with it!”

“I would if he didn’t have so many walls up.”

“Like you don’t?” Ningning tests the waters, the air suddenly thick with tension. “You’re always so serious. You know we love you, but you never let yourself loosen up.”

You sigh and drop the magazine on the counter. “There’s a lot of responsibilities on the line. I can’t just shuck them whenever I want.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to worry every second about them, or about us. Let go sometimes,  babe.”

Before you can respond, your doorbell rings. You’re both surprised, not expecting anyone to show up today, but you answer the door anyway. 

Sunghoon stands before the threshold with a bag of takeout and a shy smile. His eyes are not bloodshot, his outfit looks purposefully put together, and his posture tells you he’s on a mission. “Figured since you brought food last time, I oughta return the favor.”

Ningning saunters up behind you with a smirk, arms still crossed. “Speak of the devil.”

“Easy, that’s not me,” he jokes. “Probably more of an associate.”

Ningning laughs and takes the cue to exit the apartment. “Have fun, you two, but not too much fun!”

You press your hand to the back of your neck, the heat on your cheeks rising at an alarming rate. “Didn’t know we were supposed to meet today.”

“We weren’t,” he admits.

A corner of your mouth quirks up. “I thought whatever we did in our private time was our business. You’re using the space in your schedule to hang out with me?”

“Don’t flatter yourself.” Sunghoon bops you on the nose with his index finger and drops the bag of takeout on the counter. “I didn’t know what you’d like so I got a little bit of everything. Wontons, crab rangoons, egg rolls…I guess I kinda went overboard, didn’t I?”

You shake your head, the other part of your mouth turning up until your face cracks into a full-blown smile. The uncertainty on his face, the wind-swept hairdo covering a part of his eyes, the rapid motions of his hands taking the containers of food out of the bag.

In any other circumstance, you would consider this an awkward but real first date. And because your heart is not functioning in tandem with your head, you feel the flutters in your stomach all the same. “I’ll eat whatever you brought.”

The sun sets into the clouds surrounding the apartment complexes near yours, the high-rise bathed in orange and yellow hues from the day coming to a close. Your stomach is still overwhelmingly full from the food Sunghoon brought over, but you’re in a comfortable space as you both sit on your couch together watching another episode of New Girl.

“Can I ask you something?”

Sunghoon turns to you, his smile not meeting his eyes. “‘S a free country. But I get to ask you one also. Quid pro quo and all that.”

You ponder how to word your next sentence, not wanting to cross an unspoken boundary. “Why did you start using drugs?”

He sighs, rubbing the palms of his hands on his jeans. “Honestly, I didn’t know the reason until I stopped taking them a few weeks ago…when we started this thing. It helped to take the edge off of things, off of me always worrying about how I was measuring up to Hee. And then they just helped with everything else, until they didn’t.”

Your heart aches at his answer, the explanation one you did not expect to be so in-depth. Like most starlets and singers at your age, it just seemed to be around and available to take whenever you wanted. Not that you or any of the girls in PrismHeart partook, but it was still there.

You didn’t realize that his proclivity started from a place of genuine need for something else. Anything else, if it meant he could escape.

 “My turn,” Sunghoon says, turning his full attention to you on the couch. “Why do you never let yourself relax?”

His question and Ningning’s words haunt the deep recesses of your brain in an instant, the unspoken fears inside of you coming to a head as you try to create an answer. “Being able to sing professionally has been something I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember. I guess somewhere deep inside I’m worried if I don’t take it seriously, I’ll lose it forever.”

Sunghoon ruminates on your answer before he traces the outline of your hand with his fingers, the touch setting off sparks on your skin. “We’re more alike than I thought.”

You laugh and throw the pillow under your back at him. “What? It’s not like I’m a robot or something.”

He chuckles and stands up from the couch. “Okay, well, either way, we need to liven the mood again.” Sunghoon scrolls through a playlist on his phone and finds a song that immediately makes his face lighten up. “Perfect.”

He connects his phone to your Bluetooth speakers, the guitar riff of The Darkness’s “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” cutting through the silence from moments before.

“What the hell-“

“Stop thinking for five minutes and dance with me or so help me God.” His eyebrows quirk up in an unspoken challenge, and before you can stop yourself and use your logical brain to think first and then decide, you’re up off of your feet with your best cockney accent to match the lead singer’s tone.

You may be off key and breathless, and Sunghoon may look ridiculous as he riffs on an air-guitar, but it’s the first night in years where you’ve truly felt free. No obligations or restrictions are there to stop you from doing what you please.

That night when you go to sleep, you save the ridiculous song to your Apple Music account and think about Sunghoon’s smile before shutting your eyes.

The flash of cameras is nothing new, especially on a red carpet. What adds a unique dynamic to the situation is Sunghoon standing by. He watches you pose for the cameras, the press doting over you for a shot of your outfit and presence at Into Eden’s album launch party.

His eyes on you burn brighter than the lights strung across the space. You blush to yourself and keep smiling for the multitudes of paparazzi. The next minute, Sunghoon puts a hand on the small of your back gently to lead you in the direction of the club a dozen feet or so away.

“Sunghoon, one picture! Just one!”

You turn your eyes to him and press two fingers to your neck, feigning it off as nervousness in front of the public. Sunghoon smirks and pulls you into his chest, letting the vultures beg for more as he holds you close.

He puts a hand up to say goodbye and walks away with you, palms intertwined. Even as you enter the club, seeing Heeseung and his girlfriend Ryujin waiting for you both, Sunghoon doesn’t let go.

“Do you want a drink?” Sunghoon asks, his thumb rubbing the back of your hand.

“No thank you.”

“Who are you and what have you done to Sunghoon?” Ryujin asks, mystified at his newfound etiquette.

“He’s still around, Ryu. Just trying to be on his best behavior for once.” Sunghoon ruffles her hair before walking away to greet Jay at the bar riddled with executives.

She huffs and fixes the flyaways Sunghoon caused, but smiles at you when she’s done. “Whatever you’re doing to him, keep it up. I haven’t seen him this way in forever.”

Clearly Ryujin’s not aware of the circumstances of yours and Sunghoon’s relationship, but something has changed in him both in and out of the public eye. Many posts and headlines showcased your numerous outings and discreet meetups in the weeks you’ve spent together. However, there were more moments shared between you that the public had no insight on.

Nights in the recording studio, rehearsals for PrismHeart that turned into goofing off between the both of you, and rides on his motorcycle that almost made your head spin.

It’s hard to tell now where the truth stops and the lies begin, and vice versa. How can you tell yourself the smiles that he gives you aren’t genuine? How do you respond to Ryujin without feeling like your answers are coming from the depths of your heart?

“Babe, there’s that director! Let’s go say hi!” Ryujin runs over to the eponymous man with her hand tightly wrapped around Heeseung’s. He smiles apologetically before being stolen away.

You wait for Sunghoon to come back, but not before you witness Yujin and Jungwon linked arm in arm, followed by the last two people you expected to show up tonight.

Jake’s hair is newly dyed, the ash blond of his hair striking under the lights of the club. He doesn’t notice you, only shakes hands with Jungwon and continues on his path to the bar. His date and Sunghoon’s ex Yeji has her body wrapped tightly around his, even as they walk through the crowds of people.

It’s been months since you last saw him, and in spite of your desire to stay and show your pride for Sunghoon and his newest album, you want nothing more than to run out of the club and never come back. Your heartbeat quickens, the thumps of it rattling your chest with no guarantees it’ll calm down.

Like a magnet, Sunghoon is by your side immediately and looking into your eyes with concern. “What’s wrong?”

“Jake’s here. Yeji’s with him.”

Sunghoon scans the crowd and lands on the two at the bar. Jake catches the younger man’s eyes and lifts his drink in congratulations, a smug smirk on his face.

Before he can walk over to the idiot’s spot, you hold onto his arm tightly to stop him. “He’s not worth it, Hoon. Trust me.”

Sunghoon knew enough of your history with the C-list actor from your own admissions and your friend’s anecdotes to want to kick the guy’s teeth in. Jake didn’t just make it harder for you to make your relationship a priority in your life, but he made every issue between the two of you your fault somehow.

And as far as Sunghoon could tell, no-one could be more devoted to the things that mattered to them than you.

“Why the fuck would he show up here?” Sunghoon asks nobody in particular, still fuming at the man’s audacity and his effect on your wellbeing. “The least I can do is show him the door.”

“No, please.” You grip onto the lapels of Sunghoon’s suit jacket, emphasizing your need to have him close. If he leaves you, you might fall apart. “Dance with me?”

Sunghoon’s anger transforms, lightly scoffing at your request with a soft smile to follow. “I don’t think this song is good to dance to, love.”

The term of endearment makes your knees weak, the word on his lips making your fingers tremble against the fabric of his jacket. Yes, the remix of one of Into Eden’s new songs “No Doubt” is more suited for a mosh pit than a couple wanting to dance, but you don’t care. “Dance with me anyway.”

You lead him to the center of the club. Both your worlds look on as you hold him close and try to match the rhythm of the remix. It’s a pointless endeavor, the beat changing right when you think you’ve mastered it. Your attempts to follow make Sunghoon smile. “If it helps, I’m not a big fan of this version of the song. Glad it’s just a B side track.”

You roll your eyes and grin. You rest your head on his chest, deciding to sway softly instead of thinking about the music pumping or the strangers’ passing glances.

“I think we’re breaking rule number two, love,” Sunghoon whispers into the crown of your head.

You move to stare up at him, running two fingers to the side of his neck exposed over the collar of his shirt. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”

In the haze of blinding lights and blank faces, Sunghoon’s is the only one that matters as he bends down and presses your lips to his.

In contrast to the first kiss you ever shared, this one is not entwined with alcohol or unwelcome shock. It’s ingrained with weeks worth of tension and words that you could not read before, the lines between your agreement now crystal clear. 

You gladly accept his mouth on yours, your body on fire when his tongue touches the roof of your mouth. His hands slip down to the curve of your hips, squeezing the skin through the confines of your clothes.

The sounds of shuttering cameras and surprised voices intercut with the music are of no priority to you. All that matters is that this kiss never ends. That the feelings you’ve been harboring never have to be concealed again.

Sunghoon walks into Jay’s office with a heavy heart, unsure how to present the situation he will unfold to his manager. He’s been ducking your calls and texts, unsure how to go about his next moves before discussing his predicament with the person he trusts the most in this world, save for Heeseung.

“I could kiss you!” Jay says when he sees Sunghoon walk in, pointing at him with pure glee.

“Please don’t,” Sunghoon responds.

 “Streams of ‘All for You’ hit an all-time peak last night, the projected numbers are predicting this record to be your best selling one since the first album, and you’re a golden boy in the press again!” Relief washes over Jay’s face, the success of his plan evident in the easy posture of his body. “Not gonna say I’m a god, but I'm definitely a genius.”

Sunghoon claps his hands together, giving his manager the praise he deserves. “That’s great, Jay. Really.”

“You should be happy, man! We’re on the straight and narrow again. Now I just have to come up with some sweet and easy way to end the whole thing and we’re good to go.”

Sunghoon wants to interject, but Jay continues on with his thoughts, letting them run free out loud. “It should be pretty easy. Just gotta find another event to have you guys attend and then we’ll pull the plug—“

“Jay, I can’t.” Sunghoon blurts out the three words that have been on his mind since he walked into the label’s building. His heart rests in his throat as he holds nothing back. “I like her. Really.”

Jay stops walking around the room and stuffs his hands in his pockets. He blows the hair in front of his face, puzzled. “Well, that’s a pickle.”

“I didn’t mean for it to go this far,” Sunghoon admits, because it’s the truth. He never intended on actually finding you endearing, funny, attractive, all the positive adjectives he can come up with in his mind. “And then the album party happened…and I just can’t.”

Jay sits down at his desk, his face becoming a mask of professionalism. “You know that’s not possible, Sunghoon. I mean, think about it. She has her band, you have yours. It would be a disaster trying to keep it up. The only reason Hee and Ryu are still together is because she isn’t involved in any of this shit.”

Sunghoon shakes his head, vaguely listening to his manager’s words but not giving them weight. “You don’t know her like I do.”

Jay shrugs. “You may be right. But you could barely handle a relationship, real or fake, when this started. Do you think a real one is manageable right now?”

Sunghoon leans back into the armchair, some of his manager’s words hitting too close to home to deny. Would he truly be able to keep a true relationship with you alive when he was always under public pressure and eventual scrutiny?

Sunghoon walks out of the office with more questions than answers, more unsure than he was before.

You sit in your bed, undecided on whether you should try to text Sunghoon again or not. The downpour outside reminds you of the onslaught of emotions pooling in your gut, a mixture of hurt and anxiety weighing heavy on your heart.

He kisses you because you both wanted him to and then he decides to leave you without a single word for days? What kind of sense does that make?

Yujin and Ningning want to cut his heart out with a rusty knife, but you assure them you’re as confused as he probably is, unsure where to go from this point forward.

If only he could give you some signal he’s still alive, you would feel more at ease.

A knock at your door makes you run to answer it, expecting Ningning to show up with Sour Patch Kids and the newest film on your To Be Watched list. “Ning, you better have ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ in your hand or you’re not coming in!”

You open the door to Sunghoon soaked through from the rain. “Sorry I came empty handed.” Sunghoon trails his eyes down your body, smirking at the Hello Kitty pattern of your cotton shirt and shorts. “Nice outfit.”

You shake your head, incredulous that he’s at your door without any word to warn you. “What are you doing here?”

“I had to see you,” he says honestly. He walks through the door and makes you back into the hallway wall. His wet body traps you against him and the walkway. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”

You give him a lopsided grin. “You have a funny way of showing it.”

He chuckles, swiping his wet hair off his face. “I know, I’m an idiot.”

“And a jerk.”

“And a jerk,” he parrots, eyes full of sincerity. “But I want to be better for you. I want to be worthy of being yours.”

The confession makes your body buckle. The breath that was still in your lungs escapes in one gust from your lips. How can he think he isn’t worth it after all the vulnerability he’s shown you? “You already are, Hoon.”

He places his hands on either side of your face tenderly, his mouth inching closer. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

You mirror his expression, covering his hands with your own. “I might have been told that once or twice.”

His lips collide with yours, the action soft but the emotions charged behind the kiss heavy. Where that kiss in the nightclub was chaste compared to this one, you can only imagine how the rest of the night will play out.

Sunghoon discards his jacket onto the floor, your hands automatically sliding across his damp shoulder blades. Your touch makes him shudder, a moan escaping his throat. “You’re so warm.”

You smirk. “My bed’s warmer.”

The tangle of clothes and tongues leads to your position in his lap on your bed, the comforter discarded somewhere in the rush to get him to sit down and hold you closer.

Your body writhes against his, his pants the only thing left that he’s wearing. He holds you tighter against him, groaning against your lips. “Fuck, are you trying to get me to come already?”

You blush and kiss his neck. “Wasn’t my intention, but I don’t mind.”

Sunghoon chuckles. He flips you onto your back on the mattress, taking your bra off to reveal your breasts. Your nipples perk up once the air hits your skin, and Sunghoon can’t fight the groan that escapes his lips. “You’re fucking beautiful. I could stare at your tits all day.”

Most compliments make you feel like the person giving them is obligated to, not because it’s true. But when you hear such explicit thoughts leave Sunghoon’s mouth, you believe every word he says.

He covers your body with his own, taking one nipple into his mouth as he kneads the neglected breast with one hand. Expertly, he uses his other hand to slide into your underwear, finding your clit in record time.

He swirls his index and middle finger around the bud, using your essence that has already pooled in your panties as lubricant.

You mewl, grasping Sunghoon’s hair in your fingers for purchase on something, anything.  “Fuck, that feels good.”

Sunghoon releases your nipple with a pop, his mouth trailing up the valley of your breasts to stop at your lips. “I’m not done yet, darling.”

Suddenly, he has both hands pulling your underwear down your legs, leaving the fabric dangling on the curve of your ankle. He wastes no time settling his face at the apex of your thighs.

He kisses your clit, making your body buck into his face at the quick act. By the time his tongue is inside of you, prodding deliciously at your walls, you’re practically at the brink of an orgasm.

“You like that?” Sunghoon asks, his voice wicked against your pussy, the vibrations of his mouth reverberating against your skin. “Like how I stretch you open, love?”

You nod vigorously. “Yes, Hoon, you know I do.”

He licks a long stripe up your center, from your perineum to the hood of your clit. “I have to be inside you right now, darling. But I promise, I’ll make you come on my tongue later.”

You clench down on nothing, eager to have his body conjoined with yours. He takes his jeans and boxers off in one motion, his cock long and thick. You want nothing more than to take him in your mouth, feel the taste of him on your lips, but you’re too excited for what’s to come when you look in his devilish eyes.

He settles on top of you once again, certain he’s prepped you enough for him to enter you. He looks into your eyes for confirmation, and you kiss his lips to emphasize your eagerness.

He slips inside without issue, his girth stretching you more than his tongue did. Your eyes roll into the back of your head, a curse flying from your mouth when he fills you completely.

“That’s it, baby,” he says, his voice anchored to the skin of your neck. He can practically see the outline of himself on your lower belly protruding through the skin. “Feel all of me.”

His hips push himself in and out of you, his tempo slow and torturous. The rational part of you thinks he’s only doing this for your comfort, but you know him better than most deductions of logic.

 Sunghoon knows you want him to go faster from the feeling of your nails digging into his back and your moans in the shell of his ear. But because he loves to tease, he’ll drag this out for as long as he can.

Until he hears you beg for more, that is. And you don’t mind groveling for what you want.

“Hoonie,” you plead, trying hard to meet his hips with your own for more force. “Please fuck me harder.”

Sunghoon kisses your forehead before saying, “Flip over for me, love. All fours.”

You do as he commands. Once you’re in an acceptable position, he slams himself inside of you.

The tempo barely compares to the previous one, giving you no time to do anything but relish in the pistoning of his hips as they make contact with yours. He smacks your ass for good measure, a moan escaping from your lips as he rubs the reddening skin.

“You wanted this,” He reminds you, smacking your other cheek harder as he drills himself in and out of you without any sense of stopping. “Wanted me to ruin you like a good little doll.”

“Yes, yes, please don’t stop,” you beg, stuffing your face into your pillow.

“None of that, my love.” He takes your hair into a makeshift ponytail to raise your head from the bed. “Want everyone to hear how good you feel, how well you’re being fucked. And I want them to know how beautiful you sound when you come.”

You’re limp by the time your orgasm rushes through you, your body wrecked to no end as you’re bathed in ecstasy.

“Holy shit,” you mewl, still feeling the aftershocks.

Sunghoon continues on with his relentless attention, his speed not letting up. He moves you against him and vice versa as he pleases, seeing the white coating of your essence on his cock as it disappears inside of you.

“Fuck, baby, where do you want me to come?” He asks, unsure how much longer he can hold it in.

“Inside of me, please.”

Don’t have to tell him twice.

A groan rips from Sunghoon’s throat as he releases inside of you, knowing his entire load is painting you white. If only he could see it, see how much of him is a part of you now.

He runs his hands up and down your body when you both come down from your highs. He kisses the reddened skin of your backside as he drags a washcloth between your legs, making sure not to overstimulate you in the process of cleaning you up.

You stare at each other, both in lingering rapture as well as disbelief. He hums a song into your ear as your eyelids flutter closed, the gravel in his voice the perfect lullaby.

You wake up the next morning to Sunghoon playing the chorus of “Wonderland,” PrismHeart’s first hit on the Top 100. You grin to yourself, holding the comforter close to your chest. “Trying to record that music video was such a pain.”

Sunghoon turns and smiles at your awoken form, putting the guitar against your side table. He takes you into his arms, kissing the top of your forehead. “How so?”

“They wanted us to do this themed shoot. White rabbits, decks of cards, me dressed as Alice. But every time the director tried filming the segment where we all went down the rabbit hole, it just kept going wrong.” You laugh and run your fingers across Sunghoon’s chest.

He chuckles and kisses your shoulder. “They didn’t think to try a different concept out?”

You shook your head. “We all agreed on it. Besides, the story is actually one of the inspirations for the songs. I read a lot of Lewis Carroll growing up, but I always loved ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ the most.”

 Sunghoon runs his lips across your neck, his hand tracing circles into your waist. “A beautiful girl lost in her fantasies. Sounds nice,” he whispers, his breath creating delicious waves of heat across your skin.

It still doesn’t feel real, having him so close and naked against you in your bed. It could be a dream, one action of your subconscious playing on your deepest desires. And if that were true, you wish you would never come out of it, too happy for words to express.

When Sunghoon slips under the covers and between your legs once again, you wonder if the faraway place that held your dreams could hold a space for Sunghoon too.

It only takes one weekend for your happiness to come crashing down. Whatever you and Sunghoon were building is destroyed, all in the span of seventy-two hours.

Sunghoon is helping you cook a plethora of pancakes when your front door opens in a slam. Yujin and Jungwon bust through with worried expressions.

“You guys haven’t seen it, have you?” Yujin asks, frown lines etched on the sides of her mouth. She hands you her phone, and you and Sunghoon look over the article headline on the screen.

“‘INTO EDEN’ & ‘HEARTPRISM’ CAUGHT IN DATING SCHEME? IS IT REAL OR JUST FOR SHOW? EXCLUSIVE INSIDER TELLS ALL!”

Sunghoon pulls out his phone to call Jay, stalking into your bedroom. The conversation immediately bursts into a screaming match, the sounds of Sunghoon’s anger apparent.

“I swear to God, Jay, if you don’t find out whoever leaked this shit, I’m gonna have your head on a plate right next to theirs.”

Yujin and Jungwon grow quiet. With the news shared, your friend hugs you and walks out the door with Jungwon in tow. 

Sunghoon throws his phone onto your bed and walks back over to you, clearly worn out from the information he told Jay and the facts that were given to him by his manager.

You give him a close-lipped smile and envelop him into a hug. Sunghoon strokes your hair as you promise him, “It can be fixed, Hoon, and it will.”

A few days and one interview later prove that in spite of your hopes, not all things are fixable. 

Jay sets up a quick interview with Buzzfeed under the guise of discussing the new album. Everyone knows the sole reason for its existence is to quell the rumors of your false romance. It started that way, yes, but that doesn’t mean you or Sunghoon have to divulge that information to the public.

Heeseung and Sunghoon discuss the inspiration for their songs and the creative process behind the album. And when the questions come up regarding the rumors, Sunghoon plays them off with a smile.

“I’m not desperate enough to need to fake a relationship with anyone! How stupid would I have to be to do that?”

The interviewer quirks an eyebrow. “Are you saying your girlfriend was desperate to date you?”

“All I’m saying is that she pursued me that night in the club, and I was more than happy to see where it would go. And as they say, the rest is history.”

Heeseung looks at Sunghoon with wild eyes, his face practically screaming: That’s the best answer you could come up with?

When Sunghoon comes to your door that night to explain himself and how his words got twisted after the fact, you open the door only to throw the jacket he left in your apartment in his face.

“Desperate,” you seethe. “That’s the word you thought best described me, huh? So I guess I’m also stupid enough to want to date you, too?”

“No, I didn’t say that! I didn’t say any of those things!”

“So the interviewer was lying? Just another person or thing out to get you, right Sunghoon? When will you take responsibility for once and own up to the shit you said about us, about me?”

The girls huddle behind you as the tears stream down your face. “Just leave me alone, Sunghoon. Get away from me, use this as the out you wanted since day one.”

You slam the door in his face, not bothering to address the fist that slams into your door or Sunghoon’s pleas for the two of you to work this out.

His heart shatters from the force of his mess, a mess that not another soul can be blamed for but him.

Weeks roll by into painful silence, not a single exchange shared. You blocked him on all social media in hopes to avoid taglines of your name in relation to Sunghoon, but it’s of no use. The time comes where the girls have to keep your phone away in hopes you’ll stop searching online for comments related to the Buzzfeed article. “Babe, it’s not gonna do you any good,” Yujin sighs, powering off the device.

You nod, resigning yourself to the fact that whatever relationship you had is over, and there was no way to prevent it. You could not control or change Sunghoon anymore than he could change himself, and unfortunately, he was still in the process of doing so and shattered your heart in the quest to be a better man.

Sunghoon, on the other hand, tries everything to repair what he’s destroyed. He pleads with Jay to make contact through Momo, but his hands are tied. “She doesn’t want to talk to you, man. If I keep pestering Momo she’s going to have my ass, and not in a fun way. I’m sorry.”

The first few weeks of the tour comes and goes in a haze, Into Eden beginning their string of tour dates up and down the eastern coast of America. The only time Sunghoon is coherent enough to remember anything is in the mornings before he falls into another night of misery. He doesn’t go back to his usual routine of drugs and booze, keeping his promise religiously. Instead, he goes on in a blur, playing his instrument and performing his parts of the songs without a hitch.

He may not be happy, but at least he’s doing something he‘s always been meant to do.

One afternoon of rehearsals, Sunghoon decides to use his break time on the roof to his advantage. The sounds of the city, its car horns and speeding pedestrians, keep him sane for once in a long time. 

Of course, Heeseung has to ruin the solitude with his presence. “Sunwoo said I’d find you up here.”

“Sunwoo needs to learn to shut his mouth and focus on sound mixing,” Sunghoon grumbles, strumming the electric guitar in his lap and avoiding Heeseung’s gaze.

Heeseung sighs and sits next to his best friend. Both of their legs dangle over the edge of the building as they take in the bird’s eye view of New York City. “If you want to fix things, you just have to tell her how you feel.”

“Thanks, Yoda. Where would I be without you?”

Heeseung laughs at the young man’s ridiculous attitude, Sunghoon’s stubbornness unbroken since they became friends. “Just because you may not like my advice doesn’t mean I won’t give it to you.”

“What nuggets of wisdom could Mr. Perfect give me that I haven’t heard a thousand times over?”

“Is that what you think of me?” Heeseung runs a hand over his face, mystified at Sunghoon’s words. “I don’t know where or when you got this notion in your head that my life is perfect, but it’s complete bullshit.”

“Look at you and look at me, Hee. Everyone has said it for years. How much more talented you are, how much better you handle the spotlight compared to me, the list goes on and on.”

Heeseung closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “Ryujin and I almost broke up last year.”

Sunghoon looks at his best friend, stunned. “Fuck, really?”

His best friend nods. “The last album’s release…I was never home. Ryujin kept getting on my case about us not spending time together, and we took a break for a few weeks. Once I realized how dumb it was for us to be fighting in the first place, things went back to normal. Well, normal and one relationship counselor later.” Heeseung sighs. “Jay kept it quiet from everyone, including you.”

“You could’ve told me,” Sunghoon says, guilty he had no clue.

“I know. But everyone has their secrets, just like you.” Heeseung emits another breath from the depths of his lungs. “I’m glad you know now, though.”

Sunghoon nods. The reality of what he’s done, coupled with the fact he’s spent so long misunderstanding one of the only people to love him so earnestly, hits him hard. Against his will, a few tears escape his eyes. “I really fucked up, Hee.”

Heeseung takes Sunghoon by the shoulder and makes Sunghoon look him in the eyes. “Then fix it. And let me help you.”

Sunghoon smiles, his first real smile in weeks. “How?”

Heeseung smirks. “I may not be as good at making plans as Jay, but I have a few ideas.”

The arena is alive with the sounds of the audience chanting and the instrumental intro to “All for You” exploding from the main stage and stadium speakers. Sunghoon tries to brush off his sudden nerves, the gravity of what he’s about to do shaking him to the core. It could go terribly wrong or do nothing to fix his problems, but he has to try, right?

Heeseung puts his hand on Sunghoon’s back, his bandmate providing the reassurance and stable ground he needs. “You got this, Hoon.”

The two men step on stage, the crowd screaming an octave higher when they take their instruments off their stands. Sunghoon raises a hand, motioning for the band to go quiet and the audience to silence their cheers.

“As you know, a few months ago I met a person that really matters to me. I want her and all of you to know that she still does. And if she’s listening somewhere tonight, she should know that this is for her.” 

Sunghoon begins playing the first chords of the song he’s written, nobody but Heeseung and the band aware of this change in the setlist. “This isn’t off of our new album, but I hope you all like it. It’s called ‘Lost in Wonderland.’”

Sunghoon begins the song on his guitar, Heeseung following behind him with backing vocals and a bass. The audience sways to the song, enraptured by the lyrics and melodies of the two musicians. Sunghoon pours his heart into the chorus, hoping by some luck that you’ll be able to hear this if nothing else.

“Maybe I’ll see you in Brooklyn, maybe I’ll see you in France. As long as the waves keep on rolling in. Things don’t always go the way they’re planned.

“Maybe I’ll see you in Jersey, maybe next year in Japan. Sometimes it’s so hard to find a friend, you’re the only one that just might understand.

“Lost in wonderland…”

By the time the final chorus rings out, the notes of Sunghoon’s guitar flying through the air gracefully, Sunghoon feels a million times lighter. All he can hope for now is that his plea will reach you amidst the sea of screaming fans.

Sunghoon runs off the stage as soon as the band finishes playing their last song, unable to hold his composure any longer. What stops him short from running to the green room is your face riddled with tears.

Sunghoon is unsure what to do next. Hold you in his arms and not let go, the last time he saw you being too long for him to accept as reality? Or confess what he said on stage was only a fragment of what he holds in his heart?

You beat him to the punch, your words coming out practically on top of each other. “Momo booked me a red eye to get here in time. She said Heeseung told her something had happened to you before the concert and—“

“I love you,” Sunghoon interrupts, the three words and eight letters no longer able to be kept inside of him.

You smile, eyes puffy but shining. Before you can ask him if what he just said is true, he repeats it until the words go stale, but they don’t. “I love you,” he says, “and I’m so sorry I made you think I didn’t.”

He runs to you immediately and kisses you with all the energy he has left in his body. The feeling of your mouth on his and your hands gripping tight onto his shirt fixes the part of him that broke the second you told him to get lost.

He knows he’ll never let you go again, never take you for granted for another second, and always remind you how much of you is home to him now.

When you part, you ask him, “Did you really write that song for me?”

Sunghoon smirks. “Every single line.”

You nod, running your thumb across his chin. “I love you, too.”

The resounding sound of the bustling audience leaving the venue and the crew packing up fills the background as you kiss Sunghoon again, making up for the time you lost, and preparing for all the times to come.

1 YEAR LATER

PrismHeart’s new album cover is plastered across the press wall. The red carpet is dyed neon pink to accentuate the colors of the title, “Love Language.” It’s a fitting name for the project in your opinion, many of the songs directly inspired by your personal life.

Yujin fusses with Jungwon’s suit once they’re away from the press wall, their matching ensembles making you smile. They’ve been together for as long as you and Sunghoon have at this point. Sharing your songs and thoughts for the newest record has been easy thanks to a fellow member being stupidly in love like you.

Sunghoon steps onto the carpet for his round of paparazzi photos. His suit and jewelry are completely black except for the shirt he picked out that coordinates with your dress. It may be too pink for his taste, but he’d do anything to make you happy, and he knows how to stay on theme for a special occasion.

You add on a few brownie points in your mind for how incredible he looks, the suit emphasizing the contours of his body that you know too well by now. 

When Sunghoon’s done with his pap walk, he has to hold himself back from running to you and kissing you hard on the mouth. His composure hangs by a thread through seeing the top of your chest accentuated by the sweetheart neckline of your bubblegum pink dress.

He holds you close and kisses you on the cheek, a halfway point between what he should do and what he wants to do to you, the audience around them be damned.

The audience in question goes crazy when his lips linger on your cheek, the candid shot perfect for the slew of tabloids that will come out tomorrow.

“You look fucking incredible, just so you know,” Sunghoon whispers in your ear.

You smack him on the chest softly, beaming. “Language, Hoon!”

“Hey, forgive me. Words of affirmation and all, y’know. My love language.” He winks, and you chuckle into his chest.

“You and your dad jokes. You’re lucky I love you.”

“I am,” he confesses, taking a free lock of hair between his fingers. “Very lucky.”

Before you can tell him you feel the same, you hear the sound of your name on an interviewer’s lips. You walk hand in hand with Sunghoon to greet her before she begins her parade of commentary, both of you all smiles as you discuss your latest single.

The show must go on, the multitude of cameras and questions second nature by now. But with Sunghoon’s hand in yours and your heart completely his, you know that none of the fame will compare to the happiness that his love has brought to your life.

@yvnempire @sjylouvre @mini-mews @jayparked @heesuncore @yoursjaeyun @sungbeams @jenoslutie @loserlvrss @pars-ley @lovetaroandtaemin @wonwovy @monamipencil

𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 ౨ৎ˚₊

@kvanity-main @sweetvenomnet @onedoornet @sayxonet @violetanet @svthub @whipped-kpop-creators

[intheupside]

Survey Says: Guilty pleasure TV?

A lot of people aren't too proud of some of the TV shows they may watch, whether it's some bad reality show or a teen drama.

I wanted to know what Penguins players' guilty pleasure TV shows were for this Survey Says, and it turns out there's a lot of reality TV fans in the locker room (or now formerly of the locker room, in the case of some of the recently-traded). Here's what they all said.

Owen Pickering: I love "Gossip Girl." I'm so into it right now. I started two weeks ago and I'm two seasons in. It's so good.

Matt Grzelcyk: "Love Island," but the U.K. version. My girlfriend started watching it, and it's one of those where you don't want to admit, in the background, but then you start asking questions a little bit. Then I just watched the whole season. That's one I hate to admit.

P.O Joseph: "Gossip Girl" is great. "90210," "Californication," "Entourage," those are just some.

Marcus Pettersson: You know, I do watch "Love Island." My wife has probably watched "One Tree Hill" 100 times, I have watched that with her. So maybe "One Tree Hill" or "Love Island." We also watch "Paradise Hotel," a show in Sweden.

Sidney Crosby: I don't watch any reality TV at all, I barely watch shows. I don't have any guilty pleasure ones.

Drew O'Connor: I don't like the reality ones as much, I'll watch once in awhile. Probably "New Girl." If I need something to watch, I'll throw "New Girl" on for a couple episodes.

Sam Poulin: I'm watching "One Tree Hill" right now. I'm not obsessed with it yet, but it might become like that.

Vincent Desharnais: I really like the comfort shows like "The Office," "Friends," all those shows I can binge watch over and over again. I know all the seasons.

Ryan Graves: I used to like "The Bachelor," but I haven't watched that in years. I actually like "Big Brother", too. But the ones now are trash, like "Love Island" and those ones. No good. I liked "One Tree Hill."

Bryan Rust: "Friends." It's on Nick at Night still, for like three hours a night. It's played on repeat basically every night.

Phil Tomasino: I'm not into that stuff, reality TV, you know? Honestly, I don't have one. I'm a very serious TV show critic. I don't have a stupid one. I watched "Too Hot to Handle," the first season. Didn't watch it after, so I wouldn't even consider that a guilty pleasure.

Matt Nieto: I'm watching "Love Is Blind" right now, that's it right now.

Boko Imama: "South Park." Just a nice little background show that I like to have on.

Joel Blomqvist: One of those "Love Island" shows back home, or something. I've watched a season.

Jesse Puljujarvi: (Equipment manager Jon Taglianetti chimes in, 'He watches the Mormon wives show.') NO! I don't have any.  

Kris Letang: Does it have to be tacky? "Lucifer."

Tristan Jarry: Probably "Yellowstone," or any murder mystery show. I watch a lot of those on the plane.

Blake Lizotte: It's not really guilty pleasure, but I'd say "Friday Night Lights."

Alex Nedeljkovic: I used to watch "The Bachelor." Maybe "How I Met Your Mother." My wife's into that Vanderpump show. 

Jack St. Ivany: Oh, "Gossip Girl." We watched it in college, like all our roommates did. We acted like we hated it but I loved it. It was a great show.

Kevin Hayes: I don't watch it anymore, but my favorite show growing up was "One Tree Hill."

Noel Acciari: "Below Deck," all the charter ships and sailing.

Valtteri Puustinen: I watch so many Finnish TV shows, not much from the U.S. or Canada. One Finnish TV show, I've been watching all my life. It stared in 1999, and I've been watching it maybe 20-something years -- It's "Salatut elämät" (a Finnish soap opera that translates as "Secret Lives")

Anthony Beauvillier: "How I Met Your Mother," and "One Tree Hill."

Rickard Rakell: I watch "Paradise Hotel" right now. It's a Swedish reality show kind of like "Love Island."

Ryan Shea: I have seen "Love Island" a couple of times, it's so catchy. At first I watched it because I thought it was kind of crazy, the whole concept of it. But it's actually catchy.

Cody Glass: "Gossip Girl" is a big one. I've been grinding "How I Met Your Mother." And "Ted Lasso" is always a feel-good one.

Michael Bunting: I was actually huge into "Love Island" in Toronto, a lot of us would watch that. I'm kind of off of it now. But you know what? The last one I watched was "Love is Blind."

Erik Karlsson: I watch all of them. "Love Island," "The Challenge" is really good. I stopped watching "The Bachelor" and "Bachelorette," I'm over it.

tanger watching lucifer and erik watching ALL the reality tv shows is so on brand

[dontsupressthejess]

Lions and Music

MV/LN x Reader

Just something floating in my head tonight. Yn is a singer/actress who's laptop with unreleased songs is stolen. The songs are about people in her life. Past. Present and foreseeable future?

See what happens when they begin to get leaked and her fans and haters get an even closer look at her life through her music.

Also of course it’s Formula1 related! :)

Well here we go…..

🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️

Celebrity GossipMag

Breaking: Singer/Actress Yn/Ln’s home has been burglarized while young IT girl away was filming for new Netflix show.

A source close to the young singer says the home was broken into in the early hours of this morning. Luckily no one was in the home at the time of the robbery but sadly valuables were taken from the home.

Among these items were jewelry, designer handbags, cash and various electronics. But the source says the main concern is… a missing laptop. Not just any laptop, you know the one. Y/n mentioned it in a recent interview "It's almost like my diary, but it’s songs ive written for different people at different times in my life. Some are happy, some are sad, some are dirty and some are just plain mean. No ones’s spared.”Quote from recent Vogue Jan. 2024 issue).

If you follow her music you know the singer often writes about life experiences and sometimes her personal relationships (she's had plenty! Some more controversial then others.) We have to wonder who made the cut? Who could have a song or two on this laptop? Could it be old beau Drew Starkey? Joe Kerry? Rumored older man Sebastian Stan among others(bad girl) or could it be her most recent rumored man? A certain papaya wearing Formula 1 Driver? The two were crossing paths quite often last year but we could never confirm the gossip.

Our source tells us Yn/Ln's team is in shambles. Unreleased music is potentially out there that the singer/actress seems to have had no intention of releasing. How bad can it be y/n?

Our team will be covering this story and providing more details as we receive them. Let’s hope our "close source" stays close.

🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️

The headlines were every where, one of her songs got leaked.

"This. Is. A. Fucking. Nightmare!" Y/n said into her phone. She wasn't even at home yet but from what she was told - the house was trashed. She had let her team sort it, to gutted to see the violation her personal space had went through. She had to sell the place now.

Walking in to her hotel room she switched the tv on and threw herself on the couch.

"Why does crap like this happen to me!" she continued.

"You have to relax, i cant imagine what you’re feeling right now, But you cant keep stressing over this." her manager Neal said.

She groaned.

“You know the media is gonna says its about him! It's gonna bring all his fangirls back to my socials. My Instagram comments were finally easing up with the death threats. The guy tore me apart, but im the one who got the hate. Now he's gonna be on cloud fucking nine, thinking I’m stuck on him. Everyone will assume it’s about him. I was done, I moved on, had my single time and got back out there. I have the bestest Boyfriend ever, It's going great and now this happens. Poor guy is gonna be scared away. Thank god he's busy at the moment" She said watching the cars on the tv.

She couldn't help what she wrote - it just happened. It was the only way to lay feelings to rest at times. Most of her songs were flirty, sexy fun, but the last ones..

Her last relationship had really put her through it. It started out like magic, then it slowly turned into something dark. The media and his fans started catching wind of it and just turned it into something twisted. He soon didn't want to be seen with her, she was hidden away in a corner, watching from the outside as he kept the playboy image "he wasn't ready to make it official, but he only had eyes for you"

She never used to be the girl that would let a guy walk all over her, but i guess every girl has that one person that puts you under their spell.

She was now seeing someone knew, boy did it take some convincing on his part at first. The man was persistent. Since she first met him she always found him attractive, and his confidence when it came to pursing her was hot as hell.

She kept him at arms length for months, she didn't want to start anything but the man would not leave her alone, and soon enough she was talking to him every day and night. Both of them secretly flying to each other’s homes for friendly visits. But his persistence paid off and once it did, the man could get her on her back, her knees, on the counter, bent over a car… you get the picture. They were electric. She did still have some lingering insecurities because of her ex, waiting for something to ruin her happiness again. But its been almost a year of secrecy and they were it. She knew it.

They were making plans together, how to ease into a more public relationship. He would definitely put her more in the spotlight. He was kind of a big deal.

The drama would be there just because of who they were to each other, but now he would hear not only things written about himself, but about her ex.

"Y/n im sure he will understand. I think if you just talk to him, give the guy a little warning on what else could come. Maybe go visit? You've wrapped up filming with OBX, we cleared your schedule for the next couple weeks. He's been wanting you to go visit. Go" Neal said.

"I don- -" she started.

"Go! If the worse happens, and it all comes out. It wont be as bad as you think. Your fans have always wanted more music from you anyway. We can spin this to your favor. Just go and spend time with that filthy man of yours, and dont worry about his reaction. I've heard some of the songs you wrote about him. He will NOT hate it. No guy would, not that the guy needs it but it will be an ego boost…..I just want your two hands on me at all times baby, if y- -

"STOOOOP" she shouted in embarrassment. Her cheeks flushing. Hearing her manager singing her lyrics back to her was not on her bingo card this year.

He chuckles "Im just trying to make my point, He wont have a thing to worry about if any of songs about him come out. The other guy however…yikes."

Y/n sighed.

"Seeing him would be nice” she said.

"It's already booked babe" he said.

You smiled, so like Neal to know you were gonna cave.

"Guess i got some packing to do.. send me the details, and we'll talk later about how we could spin this."

LEAKED SONG INCOMING

Mustang Baby - Yn/Ln

I just wanna be that little Mustang I can make your heart race, baby (baby, baby) Kiss me doin' 90 on the highway You can make a good girl crazy (crazy, crazy)

You're such a cowboy, baby And I've never been anywhere I like the gold on your tooth And you like the wind in my hair I've never tasted freedom You live so wild and free You lit a fire, somethin' wild in me

I just wanna be that little Mustang I can make your heart race, baby (baby, baby) Kiss me doin' 90 on the highway You can make a good girl crazy (crazy, crazy) Mustang, Mustang, Mustang baby Good girl, good girl, good girl, crazy I just wanna be that little Mustang Be your little Mustang, baby

I just wanna drive a little Mustang I want her to feel it in her bones We get loud, no, she don't wanna slow dance And I think that it's pretty when she moans Ridin' shotgun, put your hands up Fuck you on the 101, mm-mm Fuck me on the 101, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah

I just wanna be that little Mustang I can make your heart race, baby (baby, baby) Kiss me doin' 90 on the highway You can make a good girl crazy (crazy, crazy) Mustang, Mustang, Mustang baby Good girl, good girl, good girl, crazy I just wanna be that little Mustang Be your little Mustang, baby

Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby Mustang, baby, Mustang, Mustang Mustang, baby, baby, baby

Say I'm your favorite cowgirl And I'll let you ride it all night Show me how bad you want it (ooh, oh) From sunset to the sunrise Ridin' shotgun with my hands up Fuck me on the 101 ('01), ah-ah Fuck me on the 101, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah

I just wanna be that little Mustang I can make your heart race, baby (baby, baby) Kiss me doin' 90 on the highway You can make a good girl crazy (crazy, crazy) Mustang, Mustang, Mustang baby Good girl, good girl, good girl, crazy I just wanna be that little Mustang Be your little Mustang, baby Baby, baby, baby

————————-

CelebGoss - It's happened! The first leak of many we are sure, has come out! Yn/Ln why were you keeping this from us, and it looks like we got a featured artist as well on this one! Who do we think this is about? We have a obvious guess but what do you think? Have a listen at the link below and drop your thoughts in the comments" 432,967 likes 324,987 comments

@landoswhoreis: Sooo desperate to get back with lando, its embarrassing. @Y/nsNumber1: Hate that it came out without her putting it out herself. But damn do it love it! My Hot AF Queen. Go off! @quadfour: I'd Fk to this. @user50384: Are we sure this about Lando? @formulahottie: @user50384 Who else would it be about? @nor1sslover: @lando kissing her doing 90 on the highway is dangerous sir! @papayapiastri: @nor1sslover tagging him is just messy lol @anoyngirl: this dropped 4 minutes ago, the amount of likes is crazy @Ferraifwend1655: Mustang? girl its a Mclaren. @user8970: "say im your favorite cowgirl.. i'll let you ride it all night"!! GAWWD! @Fewnorrisell: if the rumors were true, he's regretting letting her go after hearing this! @landfandom4: @Fewnorrisell Maybe they're together still! We never got confirmation if they were together or not. Only rumors!

view all comments

🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️

Maybe another part soon! Also disclaimer: I don’t own the song! Nessa Barrett does!!

[jeongsoob]

lost in wonderland —⋆˚࿔ 𝐩𝐬𝐡

SFW version of my fic posted here on @heechwe .ᐟ ✿ pairing: park sunghoon x fem!reader ✿ word count: 12k ✿ genre: semi-angst, fluff ✿ tags: mentions of drug use, fake dating au, rockstar!sunghoon, popstar!reader, enemies to lovers au, jerk to down bad sunghoon, pet names (baby, doll, love, etc.) ✿ synopsis: Park Sunghoon, one half of popular rock band Into Eden, is on thin ice with his management and the general public. What does his manager Jay decide to do? Set him up with the leader of rising pop girl group PrismHeart. And while it starts as two stubborn people living in a lie, growing feelings cannot hold anything but the truth. ➸ This one's dedicated to my lovely betas: Ley @pars-ley), Ally @lovetaroandtaemin, Kiki @wonwovy, & Lola @monamipencil)! I'm so grateful to y’all and the love you’ve given this story; I hope everyone else loves it too 🤍 Also the ending song and inspiration for the title is from Boys Like Girls's song "Lost in Wonderland"!

“PARK SUNGHOON: ANOTHER HEARTBREAK UNDER HIS BELT?”

“IS HEESEUNG TIRED OF HIS BANDMATE’S GAMES? IS ‘INTO EDEN’ IN TROUBLE OF DISBANDING?”

“DID SUNGHOON RUIN ANOTHER GIRL GROUP, AND HIS EX’S CAR?”

Sunghoon laughs at the headlines plastered across his manager’s desk. The gossip rags are the only vibrant thing in the office, the monochrome black and white color scheme creating a strict atmosphere that suffocates the rock star to no end. Who knew such bullshit could provide such humor? 

The sound dies on Sunghoon���s tongue when he sees Jay’s displeasure pervade the older man’s entire face. His arms are crossed, and Sunghoon can see the veins in Jay’s neck tighten.

“You think this is funny?” Jay asks, his voice even-keeled, but his body language anything but.

“No, Mr. Park.”

“Hoon.” Jay says his talent’s name with admonishment. He sits back down in his chair across from Sunghoon, the large desk separating them. “You know I hate when you call me that.”

“What should I call you, Mr. Park? Bro? Dude? J-Man?”

Jay can’t help the chuckle on his lips, but he shuts it down to go back to the discussion at hand. “Simply put, the label’s pissed. All that we should see two months before your tour is good press, not this shit. And you know Yeji is going to do more than just comment in a couple of tabloids.”

Sunghoon rolls his eyes. “She has nothing to say, besides the fact that it ended mutually.”

“You call making out with Lia ‘ending mutually’?”

Sunghoon raises his hands in defense, a smirk on his lips. “Don’t know what you were told, but that happened after we broke up.”

“Okay, that’s it.” Jay takes the multitude of tabloids and throws them in the trash next to his desk. “The label is going to chop my balls off if I don’t fix the problems you created.”

Sunghoon, in his mind, isn’t a problem child, per se. He simply pales in comparison to his golden boy best friend and musical partner, Lee Heeseung. It isn’t his fault that Heeseung is squeaky clean. The only crazy thing the guy has ever done was dye his hair red for their recent cover shoot. 

Sure, Heeseung has been committed to one person for years, long before the two men ever became a name in the public eye. The guy never partakes in recreational activities, choosing to spend his free time with his girlfriend or in video game chat rooms rather than in nightclubs like his counterpart. And he’s always been a media darling, giving signed photos to fans and providing the paparazzi with his undivided attention without complaint.

 Sunghoon likes to live without restrictions or red tape. If he has to be judged for that, constantly not measuring up to the pedestal his best friend lives on, so be it.

“It’s time for Plan B,” Jay says, breaking Sunghoon from his thoughts.

After Sunghoon’s brows furrow in confusion, Jay turns on the TV stationed behind his desk. The news video on display shows the members of PrismHeart, the label’s rising girl group, attending the AMAs with bright smiles and matching sparkly ensembles.

“This is Plan B?” Sunghoon asks, releasing a breathless laugh.

“No.” Jay points to you in the center of the LED screen. Your hair billows in the wind as your face shines with the same quality of the cameras capturing your essence on the red carpet.

Sunghoon is taken aback by you without hearing you speak a single word, and he suspects something devious brewing behind his manager’s eyes when he says, “She is.”

The nightclub is packed with D-list celebrities and upcoming starlets, ready to post to their respective social media accounts. With the right touch, the news will work its way to the trending page without fail.

Thankfully, Jay, Sunghoon’s manager, knows how to set the scene for a piece of tabloid fodder. It’s part of his job to make sure that, for better or worse, Sunghoon gets his time in the spotlight.

As for you, all you’re expected to do is mingle with your new “boyfriend,” look pretty in your little black dress, and set the trap. 

You asked your own manager, Momo, if you could bring one of the girls along to break the ice and make the “meet cute” look more believable, and both she and Jay agreed.

So here you are, sitting across from Yujin with a strawberry martini in one hand and your cellphone in the other, waiting for the signal.

“He is pretty cute. You can’t deny that.” Yujin scrolls through Sunghoon’s Instagram feed, multiple gym pics and rehearsal photos lining the grid of his main profile.

When Momo produced Jay’s offer to her, she marketed it to you as the perfect way for PrismHeart to skyrocket from simmering stardom into true mega-fame. All it took was a handful of white lies and scheduled meetups. No harm, no foul, right?

Like a devoted group leader, hands in your lap and a demure smile on your face, you said yes. You would do anything for your team and the girls who were your second family at this point. Not disclosing the truth was an easy thing to do, and nobody’s feelings would be sacrificed in the process.

It would also be a welcome distraction from the destruction of your last relationship. The back and forth with Jake proved to be too much on both your work and personal lives, 7 months of happiness leading to a slow and bitter end.

Maybe a cute boy with no attachments and some light flirting could be a nice way to bounce back into the game. Then, when a real relationship would be possible for you again, you’d be ready.

You nod and take another sip of your drink, the alcohol leaving a burning aftertaste in your throat. “He is,” you agree. “He’s terrible at time management, though, clearly.”

Yujin rolls her eyes and continues scrolling. “Take off your micromanaging hat tonight, babe. Have fun. Kiss your new fake beau.”

“Say it louder,” you chide, lips on the rim of your glass again. The drink was taking the edge off of your nerves, but you still couldn’t shake the desire to make sure things went perfectly.

For both work and personal reasons, you need this to go off without a hitch.

A second later, your phone buzzes on the top of the bar. Sunghoon’s face lights up your screen, along with his message.

[Received at 10:46 PM]: Walking in with Jungwon. U?

You internally roll your eyes at the cryptic text. Jake was so good at making his messages personable, and although you could put a dagger in him for breaking your heart, the least you can do is recognize that was one of his better qualities.

You just hope Sunghoon is better in person than he is on the page. Or phone, so to speak.

[Sent at 10:48]: By the bar with Yujin.

Sunghoon saunters through the club’s double doors, the notorious half of Into Eden smiling ear to ear with his friend Jungwon in tow. Your ex Jake and Jungwon hung in similar circles due to their statuses as popular actors, but Jungwon was always nice when you ran into him.

He greets you with a smile but stops short when he sees your best friend, his cheeks turning a red hue. “Sorry, you’re just even more beautiful in person.”

As Yujin stutters over her next words, sharing a similar blush with the man in front of her, Sunghoon saunters over to your side and grins. As you look closer at him, you can discern the pink around his irises and the flimsy edges of his smile.

He’s high. So much rides on his cooperation on this plan and he’s fucking high?

“Park Sunghoon, pleased to meet you.” He gives your hand a sloppy kiss when your fingers link together in a handshake, and you retract immediately. Sunghoon pays no mind to your distaste, immediately ordering a beer and downing it the second it slides across the bar.

“Do you think you should be mixing alcohol with…whatever’s in your system?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.” Sunghoon winks at you and scoots closer on his barstool to you, tracing the skin of your thighs with his eyes. “I think this is the part where we dance?”

You scoff and down what’s left of your martini. You flag the bartender down for another, incredulous but trying to mask your anger with another drink. “Maybe we should get to know each other first?”

“What’s there to know? Jay gave me all the cliffnotes this morning. And we can just learn as we go, you know?”

A part of you wants to run into this without a roadmap, but it’s not in your nature. And it would be a lot easier to let yourself relax if you knew you were walking into this plan with a person as serious as you are about it.

But no, you get a stoned rockstar as your new “boyfriend” instead.

The bartender hands you your second martini, and you hop off the barstool with it in your hand. You take a light sip before you motion to the dance floor. “Let’s go.”

You have a tight grasp on the stem of your glass as Sunghoon takes your free hand to walk towards the dance floor. You notice Yujin and Jungwon dancing in a far corner together, the two of them hitting it off incredibly well.

Your hips sway to the song, your body trying to follow the music that’s thumping loudly through the speakers. It’s a remix you don’t recognize, but you enjoy it nonetheless. You smile as the pulse of the song thrums through your veins, your nerves at their lowest since arriving at the club.

What you don’t expect is for Sunghoon’s hands to settle on your hips, pulling you closer to fall into rhythm together. He moves well considering his prowess lies in rock rather than pop.

“You’re a pretty good dancer for a bassist,” you tease.

“I have a lot of talents,” he remarks back, the club lights gleaming across his face in purple and pink strobes.

He looks better in person than in all the interviews and tabloids you read prior to meeting him tonight. In your efforts to gain intel for the meetup, you couldn’t deny how well he cleaned up, even when he acted poorly.

The slosh of your drink makes you stop dancing for a second, and you laugh. “Probably shouldn’t have brought this on the–”

Sunghoon captures your lips in a searing kiss. The taste of ale lingers on your tongue the longer both of your mouths are linked. He is a good kisser, no doubt, but where does he get off assuming you wanted him to? All you had to show for tonight so far was some small conversation. Is that his typical green light to dive straight into making out? 

You immediately push him off, the contents of your martini glass spilling on him in the process. “What the hell?” Sunghoon asks, touching his jacket and feeling the leather soaked in sugary liquor.

You’re stunned at how brash yet nonchalant he is about what he just did, caring more for his clothes than your personal space that he just invaded. 

“You’re such a bastard,” you whisper loud enough for only Sunghoon to hear, his eyes immediately widening at your words. You walk away from him stunned and drop the glass on the counter where you were initially sitting. Not wanting to take Yujin away from her success of a night, you run outside to a handful of cameras flashing and your failure coating your skin.

Late into the next morning, you sip a hefty cup of tea for breakfast as you scroll through your latest mentions. The socials are blowing up from your recent outing with Yujin, Jungwon, and Sunghoon. You half expected to wake up to the ending of your career, but to your relief, the event was nothing short of a success.

Despite your embarrassment on the drive home and sadness before bed last night, your followers and many of Into Eden’s fans seem to have taken the bait. Some took shots of you exiting the nightclub, Sunghoon following shortly behind with a smile on his face. They also edited short clips of the two of you on the dance floor. Incredibly, none of them caught your mishap with your martini on video.

Better yet, they found the prospect of you and Sunghoon not just exciting but fitting somehow.

@edenenthusiast: hope she can whip him back into shape, miss the old hoon.

@sunghoonsluv71: sad he’s off the market but they’re actually cute together??? 

@prismshearts_09: she looks so happy!! suck it @jaeyun_sim.

In the next second, your phone blows up from a mention on Sunghoon’s most recent story. Your handle is hidden in a far corner of the black screen but the words plastered across the screen say everything they need to.

“Love at first spill? 🍸😏”

All of your band members and Momo light up your group chat with their excitement. In the chaos of the chat, you thumb-up a text from Yujin about Jungwon giving her his number.

Then, a single text pops up from Sunghoon that makes your glee transform into anxiety.

[Received at 11:52 AM]: Lunch on me? :/

You feel a part of your chest flutter. There’s a hope that maybe in the light of day you’ll get a chance to see the real Sunghoon. No drugs, no cameras, no need to impress. Maybe if he’s away from the attention, he’ll realize you deserve an apology for his actions.

[Sent at 11:56 AM]: Lunch and dinner or get lost.

You see the quick succession of bubbles following your text, his response hot on the heels of your last message that he reacts to with a laughing emoji.

[Received at 11:58] I think I can handle that.

You sit across from Sunghoon on the balcony of his apartment, two BLTs cooked to perfection on the patio table in front of you. He kept to his word, laying a spread of food out for you in exchange for your time.

You quirk an eyebrow. “Did you make these yourself?” You ask.

Sunghoon shakes his head, bashful. “Jay helped me. Not only is he a great manager, but he’s actually an amazing cook.”

You nod and smile, grabbing a bite as Sunghoon’s blush and your quiet chewing fills the silence.

“I wanted to say that yesterday got out of hand, and I shouldn’t have gotten wasted before meeting you. It was unprofessional, and I apologize.”

 You tap your fingers on the wicker table, your gut warning you to be cautious. “Did Jay tell you to say that?”

Sunghoon stutters on whatever words he planned to say next and quickly runs a hand through his hair. “I mean it, what difference does it make? I really am sorry, okay?”

You roll your eyes. “So you’re apologizing using someone else’s script? That’s supposed to make me believe you?”

Sunghoon scoffs and presses his palms to the table. “You’re fucking impossible, you know that?”

“I’m impossible because you got loaded and decided to stick your tongue down my throat? Oh, and I bet the next words out of your mouth were going to be how stubborn I am because I expected you to actually want to make up for how shit you acted last night.”

“Wow. Are you just mad because you didn’t expect to like me kissing you that much?” Sunghoon says his question with a pestering but sultry tone, the words completely rhetorical.

You huff and make your exit from the table. “Fuck this, I should never have come.”

Before you can walk away from the balcony, Sunghoon takes your wrist in his hand. His eyes express his frustration, his mouth in a grim line. “Don't leave, please. Can we just pretend that the last twelve hours never happened? Start from scratch. We both know we need each other here.”

You take a deep breath and cross your arms, walking back to your side of the table with a stone expression. “I think it’s a good idea to create some rules for…this arrangement.”

Sunghoon stares you down, still irritated but agreeable. “I’m all ears.”

“First and foremost,” you start, “whenever we’re scheduled to meet, no drugs. Do it in your spare time.”

Sunghoon nods. “That’s fair.”

“Second, no PDA unless there’s people around that need to notice it. And we have to agree on it before either one of us initiates anything.”

“What,” Sunghoon laughs, “like a secret bat signal?”

“Sure Batman,” you jest. Does he have to joke every time he decides to speak? Against your better judgment, a small piece of you finds it endearing.

He ponders the thought and then taps two fingers to the side of his neck. “How’s that?”

“Fine,” you agree. “Do you have any other rules you think we should add?”

The word “we” slips so easily from your tongue. In spite of the way he stirs up every ounce of frustration inside of you, already you see him on the same team as you. That has to be a good sign.

He rubs his index finger and thumb under his chin, half teasing but half reflecting on what he could add.

“Only one more thing,” Sunghoon says. “When we don’t have plans to spend time together, what we do in our private time is our business.”

You raise your hands. “Not a problem for me.”

Sunghoon reaches his hand across the table. “Deal?”

What the outcome of your arrangement will be besides the expected results remains up in the air. Whether it will reap what you want is really anyone’s guess. But if it means you do your duties as a good bandmate, you will take whatever comes at you.

You grasp his fingers in yours, shaking them gingerly. “Deal.”

Into Eden’s most popular song “Salvation” plays on the stereo speakers in the photography studio of Vogue magazine’s headquarters. The two men on set act incredibly comfortable, Heeseung’s arm wrapped around Sunghoon’s shoulder. The older musician’s red hair is stark against the chosen clothing for the shoot, but he makes it work.

He always does, Sunghoon thinks with a repressed sigh. His hair is slicked back in contrast to Heeseung’s messy mop of wind-blown tresses, creating the contrast between the two that highlights the shoot’s concept. TWO SOULS COLLIDE: THE LEADING MUSICIANS OF NEW AGE ROCK.

Sunghoon stays still for the next shot of him and Heeseung, but he can’t help himself from following you with his eyes when you enter the studio with a bag of breakfast treats and a to-go tray of coffees.

He did not expect to see you show up to his photoshoot, and Jay didn’t give him any warning for the event on his schedule being one you would share space with. He’s not against it though. In the sea of gray suits and media lackeys, you’re a breath of fresh air. You have already taken his attention away from the mundane nature of the task he’s assigned to complete today.

He can’t deny that Jay’s plan has already made shifts to his image in the public eye. It’s only been a week of public paparazzi candids and social media mentions shared between his and your accounts, and fans are eating it up.

And, though he might never say it out loud, something about your presence levels him in a way Jay’s and Heeseung’s doesn’t. He quantifies it to you also understanding the pressures of the music industry, the feeling of someone outside of his circle who can relate to him foreign but welcome. Your relationship may be manufactured, but he has to look at the positives it’s already created in his life.

Jay runs over to you with a bright smile. “You’re an angel, thank you.”

You grin and take a breakfast sandwich from the bag to give to Sunghoon’s manager. “Least I could do for a member of my boyfriend’s camp.”

Jay winks over the rim of his coffee cup and goes back to the photographer’s side, overseeing the shots with a bit of sausage sticking out of his mouth.

You give Sunghoon a slight wave and stay a few steps away from the large lights capturing the shadows and highlights on the men’s faces.

You haven’t met Heeseung up to this point, so interacting with Sunghoon’s bandmate will add a new dimension to your “relationship.”

In contrast with Sunghoon, Heeseung exudes seriousness in every movement. You’re unsure if it’s because of his maturity or dedication to everything he does, similar to yourself, but it shows in the way the men stand next to each other. Where Sunghoon is fluid like water, transforming into whatever he needs to be, Heeseung is stoic and certain of himself, solid like a stone.

You wonder how such different people managed to be friends and bandmates. Then again, you’re in a group with four other girls, and your personalities are anything but similar.

“Alright, I think it’s time for individual shots. Mr. Park, we’ll do yours first!”

Heeseung runs to his chair in front of the vanity. It’s set up in a corner of the room for retouching his and Sunghoon’s hair and makeup. He beckons you over with a polite smile, and you oblige the silent request.

“Sorry I haven’t been able to greet you since you came in. You know how it is,” Heeseung’s lips turn up at the corners as his makeup artist dabs at his forehead with a clean powder puff. “I’m Lee Heeseung.”

You respond with your name and shake his hand, your nerves spiking. You expected Heeseung to be both attractive and polite, but it’s another level in person compared to his media appearances.

“Have you always been interested in music?” You ask.

Heeseung nods, still smiling. “Since I was old enough to hold a guitar. Both of us, actually. I don’t know if Hoon told you, but he was the one that started the band.”

Your eyes widen in surprise. “No, he didn’t say anything at all. He doesn’t really talk about his work. Neither of us do.”

Heeseung laughs. “Yeah. He’s a closed book a lot of the time. But he’s got a great soul, he just doesn’t let a lot of people see it.”

You look down at your shoes, smiling. “I’d offer you a bagel, but I think the team would kill me if I let you mess up your makeup.”

Heeseung releases another chuckle. “Save it for Hoon, then. Make it a little lunch date.” When the photographer’s assistant calls for Heeseung, he winks at you and leaps off of the chair.

Sunghoon finds you in the next second, smiling warmly before taking the bag of food from your hands. “Please tell me there's an everything bagel in here.”

You nod. “With extra cream cheese.”

He beckons you to the free armchairs on the opposite side of the makeshift vanities. You sit down across from him and find your croissant in the bag, ready to eat it whole at this point.

“You could’ve eaten before I finished. You didn’t have to wait for me.”

You shrug and bite into your food. “Force of habit. I always make sure the girls eat before I do.”

He nods and takes a chunk out of his own bagel. “Like a good leader. I knew Jay liked you for a reason.”

You scoff, practically choking on the egg and cheese in the croissant. “Says the guy who started this whole thing. You didn’t tell me you were the one who made Into Eden.”

Sunghoon shrugs, his mood shifting. “It never came up. Besides, Heeseung took the proverbial role of leader a long time ago, anyway.”

You shake your head, picking at your food. “I bet everyone would give you more of a lead if you proved you could handle the responsibility.”

 Sunghoon is taken aback, there’s no doubt about that. When has he not been serious and responsible about his commitment to the band, save for the past year?

Sure, he hasn’t made great decisions recently, especially with his new…habit, simply put. But he’s never stopped caring, no matter how the tabloids turned on him or Heeseung overshadowed him when he began to fall short.

Maybe he needs to put some good will back in, even if he feels justified for being jaded at this point in his career.

Wanting to turn the tide of the conversation, Sunghoon spots a random guitar in the studio and grabs it eagerly. He sits back down with a newfound interest, plucking the strings to ensure it’s in tune.

You laugh and stuff the crumb-filled wrapper in the bag. “Avoiding the subject, I see.”

“Hey,” Sunghoon defends himself. “When I see a guitar, it’s only natural to play it.” He strums a few chords, satisfied. “Have any requests?”

You lift your shoulders, intrigued.

Sunghoon begins playing the opening strings of Oasis’s “Champagne Supernova.” It’s a bittersweet song, one with a beautiful instrumental but somber lyrics. Seems fitting for the man playing it somehow.

He begins to sing the first lines, the fried timbre of his vocals lulling you into a state of relaxation. By the introduction of the first chorus, you’re singing along with him, matching his tone with your saccharine harmonies. 

It makes the crowd around you pause to look on for a moment, mesmerized at two stars seeming to shine at the same second. They must resign it to fate, two talents coming together in music and love, unaware of the reality of your situation.

Or maybe, they see the shades of something blossoming that you and Sunghoon have yet to recognize yourselves.

You flip through the newest issue of Vogue, excited to read Sunghoon’s part of the interview. It takes a handful of turns before you make it to the spread, the interview intertwined with shots of Heeseung and Sunghoon clad in V-necks and leather jeans. Their outfits coincide with the grunge aesthetic. You flip through the discussion about their newest album, “Under the Sun,” until one specific segment catches your eye.

VOGUE: So, it’s safe to assume this new album is about dedication, or the commitment, to one’s desires. It shows in your new single off this album, “All For You,” as you said Heeseung, but how do you feel about it Sunghoon?

PSH: I agree with Hee a hundred percent. Sometimes you don’t realize how devoted you are to something or someone until you’re caught in the middle of it. And sometimes that can be beautiful and intoxicating, a reason to go on that keeps you alive in so many ways.

VOGUE: I sense something or someone on your mind besides the album.

PSH: You could say that.

You left hours before the boys began their interview. It could’ve been a million things on his mind when the writer made note of his reaction, but you know the online forums and fandoms must be exploding over the snippet.

“Whatcha reading?” Ningning asks. She walks into your kitchen, looking for a cup to fill with ice water. She may live a few apartments down, but she never fails to use her status as the youngest to barge in whenever she wants.

You show her the front cover when she turns her head back in your direction. “His new article just came out.”

“Any mentions of his new love affair?” She wiggles her eyebrows and you threaten to throw the magazine at her head.

“Drop it already, Ning! It’s not real anyway.”

“Come on. The guy is cute, you’re cute, have some fun with it!”

“I would if he didn’t have so many walls up.”

“Like you don’t?” Ningning tests the waters, the air suddenly thick with tension. “You’re always so serious. You know we love you, but you never let yourself loosen up.”

You sigh and drop the magazine on the counter. “There’s a lot of responsibilities on the line. I can’t just shuck them whenever I want.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to worry every second about them, or about us. Let go sometimes,  babe.”

Before you can respond, your doorbell rings. You’re both surprised, not expecting anyone to show up today, but you answer the door anyway. 

Sunghoon stands before the threshold with a bag of takeout and a shy smile. His eyes are not bloodshot, his outfit looks purposefully put together, and his posture tells you he’s on a mission. “Figured since you brought food last time, I oughta return the favor.”

Ningning saunters up behind you with a smirk, arms still crossed. “Speak of the devil.”

“Easy, that’s not me,” he jokes. “Probably more of an associate.”

Ningning laughs and takes the cue to exit the apartment. “Have fun, you two, but not too much fun!”

You press your hand to the back of your neck, the heat on your cheeks rising at an alarming rate. “Didn’t know we were supposed to meet today.”

“We weren’t,” he admits.

A corner of your mouth quirks up. “I thought whatever we did in our private time was our business. You’re using the space in your schedule to hang out with me?”

“Don’t flatter yourself.” Sunghoon bops you on the nose with his index finger and drops the bag of takeout on the counter. “I didn’t know what you’d like so I got a little bit of everything. Wontons, crab rangoons, egg rolls…I guess I kinda went overboard, didn’t I?”

You shake your head, the other part of your mouth turning up until your face cracks into a full-blown smile. The uncertainty on his face, the wind-swept hairdo covering a part of his eyes, the rapid motions of his hands taking the containers of food out of the bag.

In any other circumstance, you would consider this an awkward but real first date. And because your heart is not functioning in tandem with your head, you feel the flutters in your stomach all the same. “I’ll eat whatever you brought.”

The sun sets into the clouds surrounding the apartment complexes near yours, the high-rise bathed in orange and yellow hues from the day coming to a close. Your stomach is still overwhelmingly full from the food Sunghoon brought over, but you’re in a comfortable space as you both sit on your couch together watching another episode of New Girl.

“Can I ask you something?”

Sunghoon turns to you, his smile not meeting his eyes. “‘S a free country. But I get to ask you one also. Quid pro quo and all that.”

You ponder how to word your next sentence, not wanting to cross an unspoken boundary. “Why did you start using drugs?”

He sighs, rubbing the palms of his hands on his jeans. “Honestly, I didn’t know the reason until I stopped taking them a few weeks ago…when we started this thing. It helped to take the edge off of things, off of me always worrying about how I was measuring up to Hee. And then they just helped with everything else, until they didn’t.”

Your heart aches at his answer, the explanation one you did not expect to be so in-depth. Like most starlets and singers at your age, it just seemed to be around and available to take whenever you wanted. Not that you or any of the girls in PrismHeart partook, but it was still there.

You didn’t realize that his proclivity started from a place of genuine need for something else. Anything else, if it meant he could escape.

 “My turn,” Sunghoon says, turning his full attention to you on the couch. “Why do you never let yourself relax?”

His question and Ningning’s words haunt the deep recesses of your brain in an instant, the unspoken fears inside of you coming to a head as you try to create an answer. “Being able to sing professionally has been something I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember. I guess somewhere deep inside I’m worried if I don’t take it seriously, I’ll lose it forever.”

Sunghoon ruminates on your answer before he traces the outline of your hand with his fingers, the touch setting off sparks on your skin. “We’re more alike than I thought.”

You laugh and throw the pillow under your back at him. “What? It’s not like I’m a robot or something.”

He chuckles and stands up from the couch. “Okay, well, either way, we need to liven the mood again.” Sunghoon scrolls through a playlist on his phone and finds a song that immediately makes his face lighten up. “Perfect.”

He connects his phone to your Bluetooth speakers, the guitar riff of The Darkness’s “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” cutting through the silence from moments before.

“What the hell-“

“Stop thinking for five minutes and dance with me or so help me God.” His eyebrows quirk up in an unspoken challenge, and before you can stop yourself and use your logical brain to think first and then decide, you’re up off of your feet with your best cockney accent to match the lead singer’s tone.

You may be off key and breathless, and Sunghoon may look ridiculous as he riffs on an air-guitar, but it’s the first night in years where you’ve truly felt free. No obligations or restrictions are there to stop you from doing what you please.

That night when you go to sleep, you save the ridiculous song to your Apple Music account and think about Sunghoon’s smile before shutting your eyes.

The flash of cameras is nothing new, especially on a red carpet. What adds a unique dynamic to the situation is Sunghoon standing by. He watches you pose for the cameras, the press doting over you for a shot of your outfit and presence at Into Eden’s album launch party.

His eyes on you burn brighter than the lights strung across the space. You blush to yourself and keep smiling for the multitudes of paparazzi. The next minute, Sunghoon puts a hand on the small of your back gently to lead you in the direction of the club a dozen feet or so away.

“Sunghoon, one picture! Just one!”

You turn your eyes to him and press two fingers to your neck, feigning it off as nervousness in front of the public. Sunghoon smirks and pulls you into his chest, letting the vultures beg for more as he holds you close.

He puts a hand up to say goodbye and walks away with you, palms intertwined. Even as you enter the club, seeing Heeseung and his girlfriend Ryujin waiting for you both, Sunghoon doesn’t let go.

“Do you want a drink?” Sunghoon asks, his thumb rubbing the back of your hand.

“No thank you.”

“Who are you and what have you done to Sunghoon?” Ryujin asks, mystified at his newfound etiquette.

“He’s still around, Ryu. Just trying to be on his best behavior for once.” Sunghoon ruffles her hair before walking away to greet Jay at the bar riddled with executives.

She huffs and fixes the flyaways Sunghoon caused, but smiles at you when she’s done. “Whatever you’re doing to him, keep it up. I haven’t seen him this way in forever.”

Clearly Ryujin’s not aware of the circumstances of yours and Sunghoon’s relationship, but something has changed in him both in and out of the public eye. Many posts and headlines showcased your numerous outings and discreet meetups in the weeks you’ve spent together. However, there were more moments shared between you that the public had no insight on.

Nights in the recording studio, rehearsals for PrismHeart that turned into goofing off between the both of you, and rides on his motorcycle that almost made your head spin.

It’s hard to tell now where the truth stops and the lies begin, and vice versa. How can you tell yourself the smiles that he gives you aren’t genuine? How do you respond to Ryujin without feeling like your answers are coming from the depths of your heart?

“Babe, there’s that director! Let’s go say hi!” Ryujin runs over to the eponymous man with her hand tightly wrapped around Heeseung’s. He smiles apologetically before being stolen away.

You wait for Sunghoon to come back, but not before you witness Yujin and Jungwon linked arm in arm, followed by the last two people you expected to show up tonight.

Jake’s hair is newly dyed, the ash blond of his hair striking under the lights of the club. He doesn’t notice you, only shakes hands with Jungwon and continues on his path to the bar. His date and Sunghoon’s ex Yeji has her body wrapped tightly around his, even as they walk through the crowds of people.

It’s been months since you last saw him, and in spite of your desire to stay and show your pride for Sunghoon and his newest album, you want nothing more than to run out of the club and never come back. Your heartbeat quickens, the thumps of it rattling your chest with no guarantees it’ll calm down.

Like a magnet, Sunghoon is by your side immediately and looking into your eyes with concern. “What’s wrong?”

“Jake’s here. Yeji’s with him.”

Sunghoon scans the crowd and lands on the two at the bar. Jake catches the younger man’s eyes and lifts his drink in congratulations, a smug smirk on his face.

Before he can walk over to the idiot’s spot, you hold onto his arm tightly to stop him. “He’s not worth it, Hoon. Trust me.”

Sunghoon knew enough of your history with the C-list actor from your own admissions and your friend’s anecdotes to want to kick the guy’s teeth in. Jake didn’t just make it harder for you to make your relationship a priority in your life, but he made every issue between the two of you your fault somehow.

And as far as Sunghoon could tell, no-one could be more devoted to the things that mattered to them than you.

“Why the fuck would he show up here?” Sunghoon asks nobody in particular, still fuming at the man’s audacity and his effect on your wellbeing. “The least I can do is show him the door.”

“No, please.” You grip onto the lapels of Sunghoon’s suit jacket, emphasizing your need to have him close. If he leaves you, you might fall apart. “Dance with me?”

Sunghoon’s anger transforms, lightly scoffing at your request with a soft smile to follow. “I don’t think this song is good to dance to, love.”

The term of endearment makes your knees weak, the word on his lips making your fingers tremble against the fabric of his jacket. Yes, the remix of one of Into Eden’s new songs “No Doubt” is more suited for a mosh pit than a couple wanting to dance, but you don’t care. “Dance with me anyway.”

You lead him to the center of the club. Both your worlds look on as you hold him close and try to match the rhythm of the remix. It’s a pointless endeavor, the beat changing right when you think you’ve mastered it. Your attempts to follow make Sunghoon smile. “If it helps, I’m not a big fan of this version of the song. Glad it’s just a B side track.”

You roll your eyes and grin. You rest your head on his chest, deciding to sway softly instead of thinking about the music pumping or the strangers’ passing glances.

“I think we’re breaking rule number two, love,” Sunghoon whispers into the crown of your head.

You move to stare up at him, running two fingers to the side of his neck exposed over the collar of his shirt. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”

In the haze of blinding lights and blank faces, Sunghoon’s is the only one that matters as he bends down and presses your lips to his.

In contrast to the first kiss you ever shared, this one is not entwined with alcohol or unwelcome shock. It’s ingrained with weeks worth of tension and words that you could not read before, the lines between your agreement now crystal clear. 

You gladly accept his mouth on yours, your body on fire when his tongue touches the roof of your mouth. His hands slip down to the curve of your hips, squeezing the skin through the confines of your clothes.

The sounds of shuttering cameras and surprised voices intercut with the music are of no priority to you. All that matters is that this kiss never ends. That the feelings you’ve been harboring never have to be concealed again.

Sunghoon walks into Jay’s office with a heavy heart, unsure how to present the situation he will unfold to his manager. He’s been ducking your calls and texts, unsure how to go about his next moves before discussing his predicament with the person he trusts the most in this world, save for Heeseung.

“I could kiss you!” Jay says when he sees Sunghoon walk in, pointing at him with pure glee.

��Please don’t,” Sunghoon responds.

 “Streams of ‘All for You’ hit an all-time peak last night, the projected numbers are predicting this record to be your best selling one since the first album, and you’re a golden boy in the press again!” Relief washes over Jay’s face, the success of his plan evident in the easy posture of his body. “Not gonna say I’m a god, but I'm definitely a genius.”

Sunghoon claps his hands together, giving his manager the praise he deserves. “That’s great, Jay. Really.”

“You should be happy, man! We’re on the straight and narrow again. Now I just have to come up with some sweet and easy way to end the whole thing and we’re good to go.”

Sunghoon wants to interject, but Jay continues on with his thoughts, letting them run free out loud. “It should be pretty easy. Just gotta find another event to have you guys attend and then we’ll pull the plug—“

“Jay, I can’t.” Sunghoon blurts out the three words that have been on his mind since he walked into the label’s building. His heart rests in his throat as he holds nothing back. “I like her. Really.”

Jay stops walking around the room and stuffs his hands in his pockets. He blows the hair in front of his face, puzzled. “Well, that’s a pickle.”

“I didn’t mean for it to go this far,” Sunghoon admits, because it’s the truth. He never intended on actually finding you endearing, funny, attractive, all the positive adjectives he can come up with in his mind. “And then the album party happened…and I just can’t.”

Jay sits down at his desk, his face becoming a mask of professionalism. “You know that’s not possible, Sunghoon. I mean, think about it. She has her band, you have yours. It would be a disaster trying to keep it up. The only reason Hee and Ryu are still together is because she isn’t involved in any of this shit.”

Sunghoon shakes his head, vaguely listening to his manager’s words but not giving them weight. “You don’t know her like I do.”

Jay shrugs. “You may be right. But you could barely handle a relationship, real or fake, when this started. Do you think a real one is manageable right now?”

Sunghoon leans back into the armchair, some of his manager’s words hitting too close to home to deny. Would he truly be able to keep a true relationship with you alive when he was always under public pressure and eventual scrutiny?

Sunghoon walks out of the office with more questions than answers, more unsure than he was before.

You sit in your bed, undecided on whether you should try to text Sunghoon again or not. The downpour outside reminds you of the onslaught of emotions pooling in your gut, a mixture of hurt and anxiety weighing heavy on your heart.

He kisses you because you both wanted him to and then he decides to leave you without a single word for days? What kind of sense does that make?

Yujin and Ningning want to cut his heart out with a rusty knife, but you assure them you’re as confused as he probably is, unsure where to go from this point forward.

If only he could give you some signal he’s still alive, you would feel more at ease.

A knock at your door makes you run to answer it, expecting Ningning to show up with Sour Patch Kids and the newest film on your To Be Watched list. “Ning, you better have ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ in your hand or you’re not coming in!”

You open the door to Sunghoon soaked through from the rain. “Sorry I came empty handed.” Sunghoon trails his eyes down your body, smirking at the Hello Kitty pattern of your cotton shirt and shorts. “Nice outfit.”

You shake your head, incredulous that he’s at your door without any word to warn you. “What are you doing here?”

“I had to see you,” he says honestly. He walks through the door and makes you back into the hallway wall. His wet body traps you against him and the walkway. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”

You give him a lopsided grin. “You have a funny way of showing it.”

He chuckles, swiping his wet hair off his face. “I know, I’m an idiot.”

“And a jerk.”

“And a jerk,” he parrots, eyes full of sincerity. “But I want to be better for you. I want to be worthy of being yours.”

The confession makes your body buckle. The breath that was still in your lungs escapes in one gust from your lips. How can he think he isn’t worth it after all the vulnerability he’s shown you? “You already are, Hoon.”

He places his hands on either side of your face tenderly, his mouth inching closer. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

You mirror his expression, covering his hands with your own. “I might have been told that once or twice.”

His lips collide with yours, the action soft but the emotions charged behind the kiss heavy. Where that kiss in the nightclub was chaste compared to this one, you can only imagine how the rest of the night will play out.

Sunghoon discards his jacket onto the floor, your hands automatically sliding across his damp shoulder blades. Your touch makes him shudder. “You’re so warm.”

You tease him by saying, "My bed's warmer."

In the late hours of the night, you stare at each other in both lingering rapture as well as disbelief. The two of you never saw the other coming, and now it feels like you're two magnets forever linked to each other.

Sunghoon hums a song into your ear as your eyelids flutter closed, the gravel in his voice the perfect lullaby.

You wake up the next morning to Sunghoon playing the chorus of “Wonderland,” PrismHeart’s first hit on the Top 100. You grin to yourself, holding the comforter close to your chest. “Trying to record that music video was such a pain.”

Sunghoon turns and smiles at your awoken form, putting the guitar against your side table. He takes you into his arms, kissing the top of your forehead. “How so?”

“They wanted us to do this themed shoot. White rabbits, decks of cards, me dressed as Alice. But every time the director tried filming the segment where we all went down the rabbit hole, it just kept going wrong.” You laugh and run your fingers across Sunghoon’s chest.

He chuckles and kisses your shoulder. “They didn’t think to try a different concept out?”

You shook your head. “We all agreed on it. Besides, the story is actually one of the inspirations for the songs. I read a lot of Lewis Carroll growing up, but I always loved ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ the most.”

Sunghoon runs his lips across your neck, his hand tracing circles into your waist. “A beautiful girl lost in her fantasies. Sounds nice,” he whispers, his breath creating delicious waves of heat across your skin.

It still doesn’t feel real, having him so close. It could be a dream, one action of your subconscious playing on your deepest desires. And if that were true, you wish you would never come out of it, too happy for words to express.

When Sunghoon snuggles in closer to you under the covers, you wonder if the faraway place that held your dreams could hold a space for Sunghoon too.

It only takes one weekend for your happiness to come crashing down. Whatever you and Sunghoon were building is destroyed, all in the span of seventy-two hours.

Sunghoon is helping you cook a plethora of pancakes when your front door opens in a slam. Yujin and Jungwon bust through with worried expressions.

“You guys haven’t seen it, have you?” Yujin asks, frown lines etched on the sides of her mouth. She hands you her phone, and you and Sunghoon look over the article headline on the screen.

“‘INTO EDEN’ & ‘HEARTPRISM’ CAUGHT IN DATING SCHEME? IS IT REAL OR JUST FOR SHOW? EXCLUSIVE INSIDER TELLS ALL!”

Sunghoon pulls out his phone to call Jay, stalking into your bedroom. The conversation immediately bursts into a screaming match, the sounds of Sunghoon’s anger apparent.

“I swear to God, Jay, if you don’t find out whoever leaked this shit, I’m gonna have your head on a plate right next to theirs.”

Yujin and Jungwon grow quiet. With the news shared, your friend hugs you and walks out the door with Jungwon in tow. 

Sunghoon throws his phone onto your bed and walks back over to you, clearly worn out from the information he told Jay and the facts that were given to him by his manager.

You give him a close-lipped smile and envelop him into a hug. Sunghoon strokes your hair as you promise him, “It can be fixed, Hoon, and it will.”

A few days and one interview later prove that in spite of your hopes, not all things are fixable. 

Jay sets up a quick interview with Buzzfeed under the guise of discussing the new album. Everyone knows the sole reason for its existence is to quell the rumors of your false romance. It started that way, yes, but that doesn’t mean you or Sunghoon have to divulge that information to the public.

Heeseung and Sunghoon discuss the inspiration for their songs and the creative process behind the album. And when the questions come up regarding the rumors, Sunghoon plays them off with a smile.

“I’m not desperate enough to need to fake a relationship with anyone! How stupid would I have to be to do that?”

The interviewer quirks an eyebrow. “Are you saying your girlfriend was desperate to date you?”

“All I’m saying is that she pursued me that night in the club, and I was more than happy to see where it would go. And as they say, the rest is history.”

Heeseung looks at Sunghoon with wild eyes, his face practically screaming: That’s the best answer you could come up with?

When Sunghoon comes to your door that night to explain himself and how his words got twisted after the fact, you open the door only to throw the jacket he left in your apartment in his face.

“Desperate,” you seethe. “That’s the word you thought best described me, huh? So I guess I’m also stupid enough to want to date you, too?”

“No, I didn’t say that! I didn’t say any of those things!”

“So the interviewer was lying? Just another person or thing out to get you, right Sunghoon? When will you take responsibility for once and own up to the shit you said about us, about me?”

The girls huddle behind you as the tears stream down your face. “Just leave me alone, Sunghoon. Get away from me, use this as the out you wanted since day one.”

You slam the door in his face, not bothering to address the fist that slams into your door or Sunghoon’s pleas for the two of you to work this out.

His heart shatters from the force of his mess, a mess that not another soul can be blamed for but him.

Weeks roll by into painful silence, not a single exchange shared. You blocked him on all social media in hopes to avoid taglines of your name in relation to Sunghoon, but it’s of no use. The time comes where the girls have to keep your phone away in hopes you’ll stop searching online for comments related to the Buzzfeed article. “Babe, it’s not gonna do you any good,” Yujin sighs, powering off the device.

You nod, resigning yourself to the fact that whatever relationship you had is over, and there was no way to prevent it. You could not control or change Sunghoon anymore than he could change himself, and unfortunately, he was still in the process of doing so and shattered your heart in the quest to be a better man.

Sunghoon, on the other hand, tries everything to repair what he’s destroyed. He pleads with Jay to make contact through Momo, but his hands are tied. “She doesn’t want to talk to you, man. If I keep pestering Momo she’s going to have my ass, and not in a fun way. I’m sorry.”

The first few weeks of the tour comes and goes in a haze, Into Eden beginning their string of tour dates up and down the eastern coast of America. The only time Sunghoon is coherent enough to remember anything is in the mornings before he falls into another night of misery. He doesn’t go back to his usual routine of drugs and booze, keeping his promise religiously. Instead, he goes on in a blur, playing his instrument and performing his parts of the songs without a hitch.

He may not be happy, but at least he’s doing something he‘s always been meant to do.

One afternoon of rehearsals, Sunghoon decides to use his break time on the roof to his advantage. The sounds of the city, its car horns and speeding pedestrians, keep him sane for once in a long time. 

Of course, Heeseung has to ruin the solitude with his presence. “Sunwoo said I’d find you up here.”

“Sunwoo needs to learn to shut his mouth and focus on sound mixing,” Sunghoon grumbles, strumming the electric guitar in his lap and avoiding Heeseung’s gaze.

Heeseung sighs and sits next to his best friend. Both of their legs dangle over the edge of the building as they take in the bird’s eye view of New York City. “If you want to fix things, you just have to tell her how you feel.”

“Thanks, Yoda. Where would I be without you?”

Heeseung laughs at the young man’s ridiculous attitude, Sunghoon’s stubbornness unbroken since they became friends. “Just because you may not like my advice doesn’t mean I won’t give it to you.”

“What nuggets of wisdom could Mr. Perfect give me that I haven’t heard a thousand times over?”

“Is that what you think of me?” Heeseung runs a hand over his face, mystified at Sunghoon’s words. “I don’t know where or when you got this notion in your head that my life is perfect, but it’s complete bullshit.”

“Look at you and look at me, Hee. Everyone has said it for years. How much more talented you are, how much better you handle the spotlight compared to me, the list goes on and on.”

Heeseung closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “Ryujin and I almost broke up last year.”

Sunghoon looks at his best friend, stunned. “Fuck, really?”

His best friend nods. “The last album’s release…I was never home. Ryujin kept getting on my case about us not spending time together, and we took a break for a few weeks. Once I realized how dumb it was for us to be fighting in the first place, things went back to normal. Well, normal and one relationship counselor later.” Heeseung sighs. “Jay kept it quiet from everyone, including you.”

“You could’ve told me,” Sunghoon says, guilty he had no clue.

“I know. But everyone has their secrets, just like you.” Heeseung emits another breath from the depths of his lungs. “I’m glad you know now, though.”

Sunghoon nods. The reality of what he’s done, coupled with the fact he’s spent so long misunderstanding one of the only people to love him so earnestly, hits him hard. Against his will, a few tears escape his eyes. “I really fucked up, Hee.”

Heeseung takes Sunghoon by the shoulder and makes Sunghoon look him in the eyes. “Then fix it. And let me help you.”

Sunghoon smiles, his first real smile in weeks. “How?”

Heeseung smirks. “I may not be as good at making plans as Jay, but I have a few ideas.”

The arena is alive with the sounds of the audience chanting and the instrumental intro to “All for You” exploding from the main stage and stadium speakers. Sunghoon tries to brush off his sudden nerves, the gravity of what he’s about to do shaking him to the core. It could go terribly wrong or do nothing to fix his problems, but he has to try, right?

Heeseung puts his hand on Sunghoon’s back, his bandmate providing the reassurance and stable ground he needs. “You got this, Hoon.”

The two men step on stage, the crowd screaming an octave higher when they take their instruments off their stands. Sunghoon raises a hand, motioning for the band to go quiet and the audience to silence their cheers.

“As you know, a few months ago I met a person that really matters to me. I want her and all of you to know that she still does. And if she’s listening somewhere tonight, she should know that this is for her.” 

Sunghoon begins playing the first chords of the song he’s written, nobody but Heeseung and the band aware of this change in the setlist. “This isn’t off of our new album, but I hope you all like it. It’s called ‘Lost in Wonderland.’”

Sunghoon begins the song on his guitar, Heeseung following behind him with backing vocals and a bass. The audience sways to the song, enraptured by the lyrics and melodies of the two musicians. Sunghoon pours his heart into the chorus, hoping by some luck that you’ll be able to hear this if nothing else.

“Maybe I’ll see you in Brooklyn, maybe I’ll see you in France. As long as the waves keep on rolling in. Things don’t always go the way they’re planned.

“Maybe I’ll see you in Jersey, maybe next year in Japan. Sometimes it’s so hard to find a friend, you’re the only one that just might understand.

“Lost in wonderland…”

By the time the final chorus rings out, the notes of Sunghoon’s guitar flying through the air gracefully, Sunghoon feels a million times lighter. All he can hope for now is that his plea will reach you amidst the sea of screaming fans.

Sunghoon runs off the stage as soon as the band finishes playing their last song, unable to hold his composure any longer. What stops him short from running to the green room is your face riddled with tears.

Sunghoon is unsure what to do next. Hold you in his arms and not let go, the last time he saw you being too long for him to accept as reality? Or confess what he said on stage was only a fragment of what he holds in his heart?

You beat him to the punch, your words coming out practically on top of each other. “Momo booked me a red eye to get here in time. She said Heeseung told her something had happened to you before the concert and—“

“I love you,” Sunghoon interrupts, the three words and eight letters no longer able to be kept inside of him.

You smile, eyes puffy but shining. Before you can ask him if what he just said is true, he repeats it until the words go stale, but they don’t. “I love you,” he says, “and I’m so sorry I made you think I didn’t.”

He runs to you immediately and kisses you with all the energy he has left in his body. The feeling of your mouth on his and your hands gripping tight onto his shirt fixes the part of him that broke the second you told him to get lost.

He knows he’ll never let you go again, never take you for granted for another second, and always remind you how much of you is home to him now.

When you part, you ask him, “Did you really write that song for me?”

Sunghoon smirks. “Every single line.”

You nod, running your thumb across his chin. “I love you, too.”

The resounding sound of the bustling audience leaving the venue and the crew packing up fills the background as you kiss Sunghoon again, making up for the time you lost, and preparing for all the times to come.

1 YEAR LATER

PrismHeart’s new album cover is plastered across the press wall. The red carpet is dyed neon pink to accentuate the colors of the title, “Love Language.” It’s a fitting name for the project in your opinion, many of the songs directly inspired by your personal life.

Yujin fusses with Jungwon’s suit once they’re away from the press wall, their matching ensembles making you smile. They’ve been together for as long as you and Sunghoon have at this point. Sharing your songs and thoughts for the newest record has been easy thanks to a fellow member being stupidly in love like you.

Sunghoon steps onto the carpet for his round of paparazzi photos. His suit and jewelry are completely black except for the shirt he picked out that coordinates with your dress. It may be too pink for his taste, but he’d do anything to make you happy, and he knows how to stay on theme for a special occasion.

You add on a few brownie points in your mind for how incredible he looks, the suit emphasizing the contours of his body that you know too well by now. 

When Sunghoon’s done with his pap walk, he has to hold himself back from running to you and kissing you hard on the mouth. His composure hangs by a thread through seeing the top of your chest accentuated by the sweetheart neckline of your bubblegum pink dress.

He holds you close and kisses you on the cheek, a halfway point between what he should do and what he wants to do to you, the audience around them be damned.

The audience in question goes crazy when his lips linger on your cheek, the candid shot perfect for the slew of tabloids that will come out tomorrow.

“You look fucking incredible, just so you know,” Sunghoon whispers in your ear.

You smack him on the chest softly, beaming. “Language, Hoon!”

“Hey, forgive me. Words of affirmation and all, y’know. My love language.” He winks, and you chuckle into his chest.

“You and your dad jokes. You’re lucky I love you.”

“I am,” he confesses, taking a free lock of hair between his fingers. “Very lucky.”

Before you can tell him you feel the same, you hear the sound of your name on an interviewer’s lips. You walk hand in hand with Sunghoon to greet her before she begins her parade of commentary, both of you all smiles as you discuss your latest single.

The show must go on, the multitude of cameras and questions second nature by now. But with Sunghoon’s hand in yours and your heart completely his, you know that none of the fame will compare to the happiness that his love has brought to your life.

@hyperdramas @tocupid @hursheys @slytherinshua @yvnempire @sjylouvre @mini-mews @jayparked @heesuncore @yoursjaeyun @sungbeams @jenoslutie @loserlvrss @pars-ley @lovetaroandtaemin @wonwovy

𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 ౨ৎ˚₊

@kstrucknet @k-films @kvanity-main @sweetvenomnet @keopihaus @onedoornet @sayxonet @violetanet @svthub @whipped-kpop-creators

[sunflowersonatas]

marauders + favorite tv shows: headcanons

JAMES would be binge watching the great british bake off on a weeknight. any kind of cooking show or other cheesy network show; real estate shows like house hunters or property brothers, TLC shows like my strange addiction? oh my god he's LOCKED IN. james change the channel wtf we are currently watching a girl eat her mattress. he's like i know.... it''s so fascinating.....

SIRIUS would pretend to watch all these deep intellectual dramas, i can see him having a big peaky blinders phase. he would be rly into game of thrones and (not exactly a show but) star wars the franchise. but his real guilty pleasure? any trashy dating show. love island us/uk/aus he's seen them all. too hot to handle, love is blind, 90 day fiance, THE BACHELOR/BACHELORETTE. he has embarrassingly strong opinions about every contestant. "no i just don't think she's there for the right reasons!" "sirius it's been two episodes." "THAT'S ENOUGH"

REMUS would watch a lot of period dramas and like historical shows you don't quite understand. typical boy stuff, some war dramas, some documentaries on the history of the printer, y'know. definitely watched a whole documentary on the sinking of the titanic and then when you made him watch titanic (1997) he smugly pointed out all the inaccuracies. his guilty pleasure? true crime, he's half-convinced he's figured out who jack the ripper was...

REGULUS honestly hates tv and mostly watches things just so you'll stop bugging him about it. he likes the darker, weirder shows more. if you're ever watching criminal minds, one of the rly spooky twisted ones? oh he's paying attention for sure. but if he ever does get bored in his own free time i feel like deep down he would be an anime guy, like the most pretentious unheard of anime. you just don't get it

EVAN would love all the crime-centric shows, i can see him loving money heist, breaking bad and its spinoffs, narcos. anything action packed and fast paced and this man is sat. also sports like duh, but he would sit and watch all the behind the scenes documentaries and after-game footage. his guilty pleasure would 100% be gossip girl or greys anatomy or one of those "girly drama" teen shows. the snippy little comments he'd make during... she's right though, serena's hair does look like trash

and last but not least, BARTY would love the dark, cynical, offbeat shows. black mirror, manifest, the boys. something that leaves you wondering what the hell you just witnessed. also unironically LOVES rick and morty and will go on unprompted rants about how genius it is. the sociopolitical themes bro. late at night when no one else is around, he gets deep into conspiracy theories. dunno, love, the moon landing footage looks a bit shabby to me. yeah, see, the shadows? totally misaligned. fake news.

☀️🌻 masterlist

[kat-thepoet]

Invisible string

CHAPTER SEVEN

A/N: Don't forget to comment and like! And let me know if you want to be tagged for future chapters! ENJOY!

Previous chapters: CHAPTERS

Word count: 3825

I woke up on the floor, my head pounding with every heartbeat. Squinting against the blaring sunlight filtering through the window, I groaned, the events of last night slowly trickling back into my memory—drinking, dancing, and, of course, the endless gossiping. I winced as I tried to sit up, my back aching from having spent the night on the hard floor.

As I surveyed the room, I couldn't help but laugh under my breath at the sight before me. Pizza boxes were strewn across the floor, along with empty cups and shot glasses cluttering the TV stand. Raven lay sprawled on the floor next to the sofa, looking like she had rolled off it at some point during the night. Storm was curled up on the bed, still sound asleep, and Jean was huddled on the bed bench, wrapped up like a human burrito in one of the blankets.

I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the throbbing pain in my skull. "Definitely not doing shots again anytime soon," I muttered to myself.

Groaning, I carefully stood up, stretching my sore muscles as I tiptoed through the wreckage of our impromptu girls' night. Memories of the night came back in flashes—Raven teasing me about Erik, Storm laughing so hard she nearly fell off the bed, Jean pulling out another round of shots. I smiled, despite the headache. It had been fun, but now I was paying for it.

Stepping over Raven, I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was pretty early, and I wondered if anyone else was feeling as rough as I was. I looked at the mess surrounding us and sighed. "This is gonna be fun to clean up," I mumbled, rubbing my neck, which was still sore from sleeping in such an awkward position.

I was just about to start tidying up when Raven stirred beside me. She let out a groan, rolling onto her back with a squint. "Ugh... why is the sun so loud?"

I snorted, shaking my head. "You mean bright?"

She waved a hand dismissively. "Whatever. It's too much." She squinted up at me, her eyes bleary. "How are you even standing right now?"

"Pure willpower," I replied with a weak smile. "And a desperate need for water."

Storm shifted on the bed, muttering something under her breath before covering her face with a pillow. Jean, meanwhile, remained blissfully unconscious on the bench.

Raven pushed herself up, groaning dramatically. "Never letting Jean talk me into that many shots again."

"You said shots didn't affect you much," I teased.

Raven narrowed her eyes at me, but her playful smirk betrayed her. "Next time, you're the one doing the shots, Miss I lived with nuns."

I laughed, my headache easing slightly with the banter. "Yeah, well, let's try to survive this hangover first."

"Deal," she muttered, flopping back down onto the floor with a groan.

I looked around the room again, taking in the mess we'd created. Despite the headache and the sore muscles, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the night we'd shared. It was chaotic and a little reckless, but it reminded me that, for all the tension and drama that had come with being here, I had found people who genuinely cared about me. People I could call friends.

Even if we were all a little too hungover to admit it right now.

I started cleaning up a bit, picking up the empty pizza boxes and stacking them near the door. The mess didn't seem quite as overwhelming once I got going, though my head still throbbed with every step. Raven, still lying on the floor, lazily watched me as I worked, before eventually groaning and pushing herself up to help.

"You're a saint," she muttered, grabbing the cups and shot glasses. "I can't even look at food right now without wanting to die."

I chuckled. "I'm not feeling much better, but this room's a disaster. At least if we clean up a little, it'll hurt less to look at."

After gathering most of the trash, we left Storm and Jean sleeping and quietly made our way to the kitchen, both of us moving a little slower than usual. As soon as we walked in, I headed straight for the fridge, desperate for some water.

Raven slumped against the counter, watching me as I filled two glasses. "I swear, Jean could put a professional drinker to shame," she muttered, rubbing her temples.

I handed her a glass, giving her a sympathetic smile. "Yeah, remind me never to take her up on that shot challenge again."

Raven took a long sip of water, sighing in relief. "No kidding. So... how's your head?"

"Like someone's using a jackhammer in my brain," I replied, leaning against the counter. "But other than that, I'm great."

Raven gave a tired chuckle, taking another drink of water. "We really know how to party, huh?"

I smiled, despite my headache. "Yeah, we do."

We stood there in silence for a moment, the cool water doing its best to revive us. It was nice, the quiet of the early morning, just the two of us sipping water and recovering from the chaos of the night before. Even though my head was still pounding, I felt a sense of peace—a rare moment of calm before the day really began.

Raven glanced over at me, her eyes still a little bleary from the hangover. "So," she began, her tone light but teasing. "Last night was... interesting."

I gave her a look, already knowing where this was going. "Raven, please, don't."

She raised her hands in mock surrender, grinning. "Hey, I'm just saying. You were pretty quiet when we brought up a certain someone."

I groaned, feeling the headache intensify slightly. "I thought we agreed not to talk about that."

Raven laughed softly, taking another sip of her water. "Alright, alright."

I couldn't help but smile, even though my face heated slightly at the memory of last night's conversation. "Let's just talk about this later, okay?" 

"Fine," Raven said, clinking her glass against mine. "Here's to surviving the aftermath."

We both took another drink, the cool water slowly bringing us back to life as we leaned against the counter, letting the morning unfold around us.

I parted ways with Raven, heading back to my room for a much-needed shower. My muscles ached slightly from the night spent on the floor, and my head still throbbed from the aftermath of last night's drinking. All I wanted was to feel refreshed.

The moment the hot water hit my skin, I sighed in relief. It was like the warmth washed away the lingering heaviness from the hangover, and for the first time that morning, I started to feel human again. I closed my eyes, letting the water cascade over me, melting the tension in my body. 

Once I stepped out of the shower, I felt instantly better. I grabbed a towel, wiped down the steamed-up mirror, and noticed the faint outlines of my bruises on my neck. They were fading—slowly but surely. I pressed my fingers against the lighter marks for a moment, acknowledging them before shrugging it off. 

With my hair still slightly damp, I slipped into something comfortable—black leggings and a loose gray sweater. I wasn't in the mood for anything fancy, especially after the chaos of last night. I put some money in my bra because I haven't bought a wallet yet.

I glanced at the clock—it was only 7 in the morning. My stomach still felt unsettled from last night's drinking, so eating was out of the question. Instead, I decided to go for a walk around the campus. The cool morning air would probably help clear my head.

Stepping outside, I was greeted by the soft, golden light of the early morning sun. The air was crisp, refreshing even. I took a deep breath, letting the clean, cool air fill my lungs as I started walking. My footsteps were quiet on the stone paths that wound through the campus, which was still in a peaceful lull. Most people were probably still asleep or just starting their day.

There was something calming about the stillness, a welcome contrast to the whirlwind of the past few days. I walked without a destination, letting my feet guide me past the training grounds and through the gardens, which had quickly become my favorite place on campus. The flowers were vibrant and full of life, the scent of lavender filling the air. It was a place I found myself retreating to when I needed a moment of quiet.

Eventually, I found a bench nestled between the lavender bushes and decided to sit for a while. The scent of the lavender mixed with the fresh morning air, calming me. I leaned back, closing my eyes for a moment and just letting myself breathe, enjoying the serenity that surrounded me.

I stayed there for a moment, just watching the birds dart between trees and the bees hovering over the flowers, absorbing the pollen. The peacefulness of the garden always had a way of calming me, centering my thoughts. But then, a sound from behind me broke through the stillness. I quickly turned, half-expecting to see one of the students or perhaps Raven.

To my surprise, it was Logan.

I smiled, genuinely happy to see him. "Hey, Logan."

He gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "Mornin'."

We fell into easy conversation, catching up about how he was settling in at the mansion. "So, how are you fitting in?" I asked, curious about how he was adjusting.

Logan shrugged in his usual nonchalant way. "It's... different. But not too bad, I guess. People mostly keep to themselves, which suits me just fine."

I smiled at that, finding his quiet, reserved nature refreshing compared to the whirlwind of personalities in the mansion. We chatted a bit more, the conversation light and easy, until my stomach gave a slight growl, reminding me that I hadn't eaten yet.

Logan noticed, raising an eyebrow. "Hungry?"

I laughed softly, nodding. "Yeah, I haven't had breakfast yet. I think I'm just about to head back for some."

Logan gave me a sideways glance, something mischievous flashing in his eyes. "How about we don't eat here?"

I tilted my head, curious. "What do you mean? Where else are we supposed to eat?"

He crossed his arms, a slight grin pulling at his lips. "I'm talkin' about somewhere else. Like a diner."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the suggestion. "A diner? How do you propose we get there?"

Logan's grin widened, and he gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. "When I was walkin' around the mansion, I found a garage full of cars... and a motorcycle."

I blinked. "A motorcycle?"

Logan nodded. "Yeah. Figured we could take it for a spin."

For a second, I hesitated. "I don't know, Logan. I should probably tell Charles or one of the others before we just leave the mansion."

Logan rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed by the idea of asking for permission. "Come on. We're adults. We can go out for breakfast if we want. Who's gonna stop us?"

I thought about it for a moment, my mind going back and forth. He had a point. It wasn't like we were sneaking out in the middle of a mission—we were just getting breakfast.

"Okay, fine," I relented, though I added with a small grin, "But let's not take too long. I don't want them thinking we disappeared."

Logan smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "Fine by me."

We made our way to the garage, and sure enough, just as Logan had said, there was a motorcycle parked among a collection of sleek cars. It was black, shiny, and looked well-maintained. Logan walked right over to it and picked up a set of keys hanging nearby. I noticed the keyring had a small tag attached to it.

"Scott," I read aloud, realizing who the motorcycle belonged to. I shot Logan a look. "Wait—shouldn't we ask Scott for permission first?"

Logan shrugged, clearly unfazed. "Why? He won't even know it's gone."

I bit my lip, feeling a little unsure. "I don't know, Logan... stealing someone's motorcycle doesn't exactly scream 'let's keep a low profile.'"

Logan smirked, swinging his leg over the bike and turning the key. The engine roared to life, making me jump slightly. "It's not stealin' if we bring it back. Besides, we'll be back before they even realize we're gone."

I sighed, still feeling a little hesitant, but at the same time, the idea of escaping the mansion for a bit was tempting. "Alright," I said, giving in. "But if Scott gets mad, I'm blaming you."

Logan just chuckled. "Deal. Now hop on."

With a mix of excitement and trepidation, I climbed onto the back of the motorcycle, wrapping my arms around Logan's waist. The engine vibrated beneath us, and before I could second-guess my decision, Logan revved the throttle and we sped out of the garage, the wind whipping through my hair as we raced down the driveway.

Maybe this was a little reckless, but I had a feeling it was going to be fun.

We drove into town and we pulled up to a small diner, the kind of place that looked like it hadn't changed in decades. The smell of frying bacon and freshly brewed coffee wafted out as we walked in. The place was quiet, with only a few patrons scattered around, each lost in their own worlds of pancakes and scrambled eggs.

Logan and I grabbed a booth near the window, the sun shining through the glass and warming the cracked vinyl seats. As we settled in, a waitress with a notepad and tired eyes came over, pen poised and ready.

"What'll it be?" she asked, barely glancing up.

Logan ordered a black coffee and a double stack of pancakes with a side of bacon. I went with scrambled eggs and toast, keeping it simple. The waitress jotted everything down, gave a small nod, and shuffled off toward the kitchen.

For a few moments, we sat in comfortable silence, listening to the low hum of the diner. The clatter of dishes and the sizzle of the grill in the back created a peaceful background noise that filled the space between us.

"So," Logan said after a minute, breaking the silence. "You always this reckless? Riding off with guys you barely know?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "No, definitely not. But... I figured I could make an exception."

Logan raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Lucky me."

We fell into small talk as we waited for our food, the conversation light and easy. Logan asked a bit more about my time at the mansion, and I asked him about what he remembered from before the experiments. He was vague, his answers clipped, but I didn't press him. I knew better than to dig into something that clearly caused him pain.

Eventually, the waitress came back with our plates, setting them down with a nod before wandering off to the next table.

Logan and I ate in silence for a bit, the clinking of forks against plates the only sound between us. I couldn't help but notice how hungry he was—he practically inhaled his food. I guess it made sense, considering how big he was. 

But as I chewed my toast, a thought occurred to me, and I paused, glancing over at Logan. "Wait a second... how are you planning to pay for this?"

Logan froze mid-bite, his eyes flicking up to meet mine, confusion crossing his face. Clearly, he hadn't thought that far ahead. Considering everything he was wearing belonged to the mansion, and the fact that he'd been kept captive for who knows how long, it probably hadn't occurred to him that eating out required money.

I couldn't help it—I burst out laughing. "Logan, you need money to eat out."

He looked at me like he'd just remembered a crucial detail of modern life. "Shit," he muttered, setting his fork down. "I didn't think about that."

I waved him off, still chuckling as I reached into my bra, pulling out a couple of bills I always kept stashed for emergencies. "Don't worry about it. It's on me."

Logan's eyebrows shot up. "You keep money in your bra?"

I grinned, handing the money over. "You never know when you'll need it."

He shook his head, clearly amused but also a little embarrassed. "I'll pay you back."

I shrugged, still smiling. "Don't worry about it. Just promise you'll let me know next time you plan on 'borrowing' Scott's motorcycle."

Logan chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. You got it." He leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms as he watched me for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face.

Then, out of nowhere, he asked, "So, what's the deal between you and Erik?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What do you mean?"

Logan shrugged, still watching me closely. "I dunno. He just seems to have this... vibe towards you. Like he's always pissed off around you. Is he your ex or something?"

I nearly choked on my drink, coughing a little as I set the glass down. "Erik? My ex?" I shook my head, trying to wrap my mind around the idea. "No, definitely not. We barely get along as it is."

Logan raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Could've fooled me. He's always got that look whenever you're around. Thought maybe there was some history there."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Trust me, there's no history. I don't even know why he's so... hostile. He just doesn't like me. Every time I try to talk to him, he either ignores me or throws some sarcastic comment my way. It's exhausting."

Logan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "So, you really don't know why?"

"Nope." I shook my head, still feeling frustrated by the whole situation. "I've asked myself that a thousand times. The others keep saying he'll warm up eventually, but honestly? It doesn't feel like it."

Logan grunted, leaning back again. "Some people are just assholes for no reason."

I snorted, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "Yeah, I'm starting to think you might be right about that."

There was a moment of silence between us, and I could feel Logan still watching me, like he was sizing up the whole situation.

Finally, he nodded, like he'd made up his mind. "Well, whatever it is, don't let him get under your skin. Not worth it."

I gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks. Easier said than done, though."

Logan smirked, his usual tough exterior softening just a bit. "You'll figure it out. Just like you did the other night at dinner."

With that, the conversation shifted back to lighter topics, but Logan's question about Erik lingered in the back of my mind. What was his deal?

We finished our meal, and as I pulled the cash from my bra and paid, I couldn't help but feel a little anxious about heading back to the mansion. The idea of sneaking out felt fun in the moment, but now I was hoping that nobody had noticed we were gone.

Logan and I rode back to the mansion, the hum of the motorcycle underneath us. The wind on my face was refreshing, and despite my worries, I found myself smiling. It had been a nice break from everything. But as we pulled back into the garage, that brief moment of peace shattered.

Standing in the garage, waiting for us, were Scott and Erik. They were both leaning against a car, arms crossed, with expressions that made my stomach drop.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, glancing at Logan.

Logan parked the motorcycle and hopped off, completely unbothered by the sight of them. Meanwhile, I slowly climbed off, my heart racing. Scott's eyes immediately went to his bike, and Erik, well, Erik was glaring at me with that usual mixture of irritation and something I couldn't quite place.

Scott stepped forward, eyeing Logan. "That's my bike, you know."

Logan shrugged, completely nonchalant. "Figured it was. Rides nice."

Scott didn't seem amused, though. His gaze shifted to me, and there was more curiosity than anger. "Didn't think you two were the type to sneak out," he said, though his tone wasn't harsh.

"We just grabbed some breakfast," I explained quickly, trying to sound casual. "Didn't think anyone would mind."

Erik, however, wasn't so easily brushed off. He stepped forward, his eyes locked on me with that sharp, familiar look. "Sneaking out without telling anyone. Interesting choice. You do realize you're supposed to be part of a team, right? Or do you just do whatever you want?"

His words hit harder than I expected, making my face flush. I felt Logan tense slightly beside me, ready to step in, but I wasn't about to let Erik get to me again.

"I didn't realize grabbing food was such a crime," I shot back, trying to keep my voice steady. "We were gone for what, an hour? No one needed to worry."

Erik's eyes narrowed, and for a second, it looked like he was going to fire back with something cutting, but Scott stepped in, placing a hand on Erik's shoulder. "Relax, man. It's not a big deal."

But Erik wasn't letting it go. "Next time, at least let someone know where you're going. We can't afford mistakes, especially not from someone who's still figuring things out."

The accusation stung, and I felt a flare of anger rise in me. "I don't need a lecture from you, Erik. I'm not a kid, and I can take care of myself."

Logan took a step forward, his expression hardening as he looked at Erik. "What the fuck is your deal, pal?"

Erik didn't hesitate, his eyes sharp as they flicked between us. "My deal?" He gestured to the motorcycle we'd just parked. "You two didn't ask permission to leave. Did you think no one would notice?"

Logan crossed his arms, unbothered by Erik's accusation. "We don't need permission. We're adults. And last time I checked, this wasn't a prison."

Erik's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping coldly. "We don't need a caged animal running loose." His words were biting, directed squarely at Logan. "Especially one that can't control himself."

Logan's jaw tightened, but before he could respond, I stepped in. "That's enough, Erik," I said firmly, feeling the heat rising in my chest. "We didn't do anything wrong. We just went for breakfast."

Erik's gaze didn't leave Logan. "Next time, think before you act, Flora. There are rules for a reason. You're not out there on your own anymore."

I could feel the anger bubbling inside me, but I forced myself to take a breath, unwilling to give Erik the satisfaction of getting under my skin again.

With that, I glanced at Scott, my voice apologetic but firm. "Sorry for taking your motorcycle, Scott."

Scott raised an eyebrow, but he didn't say anything, just gave me a small nod.

Before Logan could say anything else that would escalate the situation, I grabbed his arm and tugged him away from Erik, practically dragging him across the garage. Logan gave a low chuckle, but thankfully, he didn't resist.

As we walked away, I could still feel Erik's piercing gaze burning into my back, but I didn't look back. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.

Once we were out of earshot, Logan shook his head, still amused. "That guy's got a real stick up his ass, doesn't he?"

I sighed, releasing Logan's arm as we reached the hallway. "You have no idea."

🏷️ @nizem8 @maximumchilddreamland @mostlymarvelgirl

Chapter eight coming soon

[gunsknivesandplaid]

Imagine if Max gets her sight back but also develops powers where she can see things in the future. (Eddie's gotta be alive and somehow they pulled Chrissy back too thanks to El.)

Like at first she just thinks her dreams coming through is a dejavu thing until she's practicing on her skateboard outside of a store and has a vision of a little kid running out in front of a car and saves him minutes later.

Lucas and her have a fight but she runs to his house to convince(stall) the whole family to let her go for pizza with them; saving them from a car accident.

Sometimes it's silly like saving Mike from tripping in the cafeteria and landing on the trash cart. Sometimes it is that they're going to have a pop up test so they all meet up to study.

She has a vision of her mom passing out at work from exhaustion and gets her to stay home that day. She has a vision next week that Ned comes back and starts beating her mom while she's seizing in the other room and is on the phone with Hopper so fast her mom trips coming around the corner of the kitchen. They go to doctor and notice her mom does indeed have a seizure disorder now from the alcoholism.

She convinces Joyce to come over with a casserole and avoid the nosy neighbors stopping by to gossip about how she moved back. Suddenly they're having more girls nights where Max El Joyce and Susan bake cookies and paint each other nails and watch movies the boys aren't all that interested in. Eventually it becomes a book club.

Then sometimes it's sad, like She sees someone in her friend group(it doesn't have to be any party member she could join like drama or something)being abused by their partner and saves them.

She sees a school bus rolling over and convinces will and El to steal cones from hopper to block that road and nobody gets hurt.

She has a vision that Steve's house is on fire and runs across the street to get Eddie to help her warn Steve.

She has a vision that the bleachers where the band sit has a screw loose and manages to convince the janitor to go check them saving Robin from a broken leg.

She saves El from being attacked by a bear when roaming the woods when her powers are weakened.

She warns Dustin that he might want to stay away from home or he'll catch his mom kissing her new boyfriend, then throws Skittles at him in the back of Steve's car to cheer him up.

She warns Nancy she might want to switch shoes before her TV reporter debut so she won't break a heel in the church fundraiser fair parking lot.

She gets overwhelmed sometimes but she also knows that whatever this is, it's important.

[dragon-creates]

@angelxd-3303's Mario au has taken over my life in the best way possible, so I’ve got some headcanons that have been spinning in my head for a while and wanted to share. (Some of the ones with Mario are based on my dad.)

The first time Bowser saw Luigi be reckless and try and pet a piranha plant, he picked him up like a mama cat picking up a kitten by the scruff of its neck.

Mario used steal borrow VHS tapes of Disney movies and watch them with Luigi on an old TV he managed to fix up. (Luigi’s favourite was beauty and the beast.)

Luigi and Daisy are actually childhood friends and she decided to go look for him when he and Mario went missing. She arrived in Sarasaland through the pipe and after defending it from Tatanga, and finding Mario and Luigi, the citizens of that desert kingdom decide to make her their princess. “Wait, I’m a princess now?....aaaahhhhh!!!!” Yeah, she kind of freaked out a little bit.

Despite how warm it is in the Darklands, Luigi still gets chilled quite easily, so Bowser is more than happy to keep him warm.

(This is based off my dad) Mario LOVES Taylor Swift, specifically her more country themed songs and constantly belts them out. Peach thinks its adorable, Luigi is begrudgingly used to it after listening to Mario’s singing for years.

Contrary to everyone’s beliefs, DK prefers strawberries to bananas.

Kamek and Peach get together to gossip with each other and talk about the latest fashion trends. Sometimes they bicker about who should get the best dresses for Luigi.

(Based off my dad again) Mario loves to knit, whenever winter comes round, he loves for everyone. He’s knitted little scarfs for the toads, a sweater dress for Peach, a jumper for Luigi, a blanket for Bowser (due to him being a reptile and cold-blooded) and gloves for DK. He even knits the ugliest Christmas sweaters for everyone when the holiday comes around.

The first time Luigi wore a dress was when he was five. It was a Belle dress that Daisy got him (since she knew beauty and the beast was his favourite movie) but the moment Giovanna found him wearing it, he made Luigi throw it in the trash while Aurora stood there and watched, wanting to intervene but couldn’t find it within herself to go against her husband. Luigi let Mario hold him as he cried.

The second time Luigi wore a dress was when he was captured by Bowser and dressed as Princess Peach to help Bowser practice with his proposal. He loved it so much that Kamek took note to make a green one for outside of rehearsals.

When the koopalings are playing a video game with a really hard level, they always get Luigi to help them finish it.

Peach and Daisy invite Wendy around for a regularly scheduled girls’ night and play dress-up together, do make-up and nails and watch the sappiest rom coms. Mario joins in occasionally, though he always cries when watching the movies.

Bowser used to have an alliance with King Boo after his father passed, but one day, before they got together, Luigi came to visit Bowser and the latter noticed the bruises and the tired look in his eyes, he tenderly lifts Luigi’s chin with his finger and asks, “Who did this to you?” (You know that classic trope.)  Luigi then explains how he tried to look for Mario and got trapped in a haunted mansion and tried to fight off the boos and their king. Bowser is enraged at the thought of the poltergeist hurting his closest friend and breaks off their alliance.

After King Boo finds out about that, he tries to hunt down Luigi. He gives the plumber and few scrapes, but before he could do any proper damage, Bowser is crouched over Luigi in an instant, protecting his from King Boo and demands that the ghost to not even look in his direction unless he wants to find out if he can die a second time.

Bowser is the type of guy that is “dad gets attached to a dog he doesn’t want” with Polterpup. This first time Luigi brings him home, the kids love the pup, but Bowser is a bit uneasy and jealous since he used to work with King Boo (even though Polterpup was controlled by the ghostly king), but overtime he comes to adore the pooch and spoils him with treats and toys.

Mario and Peach both wore dresses on their wedding day. Peach wore the most poofy, sparkly and pinkest wedding dress you could ever imagine (a pink version of the dress that Amy Adams wore in ‘Enchanted’) while Mario wore something close to the wedding dress from Odyssey.

There are times when Mario clings to Donkey Kong’s back and just buries himself in his fur because its so soft and warm and it makes him feel safe. However, DK doesn’t even feel Mario doing that and constantly thinks that the plumber is missing when really, he’s just fallen asleep clinging to his back.

Junior loves it when his uncle Mario throws him up into the air and catches him, as if he weighed at much as a basketball being sent soaring into the sky.

Since they were on the run, Luigi didn’t see Daisy since his parents left and only reunited when he and Mario started their business.

Peach’s favourite colour is the most specific shade of pink. Whenever you ask her, she always says that her favourite is a ‘sweet pea pink’.

(Another one based off my dad) a jackdaw bird sometimes flies into the garden of the mushroom palace and comes very friendly and close with Mario. He starts leaving food and water out for her and names her Peggy. She kind of becomes his ‘unofficial pet’.

(This one is based off me and my dad) Mario’s favourite movie growing up was ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ and introduced Luigi to it while they were still young. They grew up with the trilogy (they sobbed at the end of the third movie) until they fell throw the pipes.

Luigi glows whenever he’s happy, due to his thunderhand. Whenever he gets excited, he starts glowing like a star. Bowser finds it both adorable and beautiful.

Mia – Mario’s cat – was actually a stray when they found her. Once they took her in and nursed her back to health, they realised that she had a good temperament to be a therapy animal for Mario. They’ve been inseparable ever since. Both she and Polterpup are very close and love whenever their owners meet up so they can play.

Bowser reads to Luigi at night to help him sleep. Even if he wakes up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, Bowser will always read to him until he feels safe enough to fall back to sleep.

Luigi is also an insomniac to whenever he can’t sleep, he bakes instead. Bowser found him one night taking cookies out the oven, picked him up and carried him back to bed.

This is all I’ve got for now, there might be more soon. I hope ya’ll like them.

[derangedanomaly]

Songs that I listen to while drawing the boys

(super random post- but I just thought I'd share this with ya lol. All of these songs fit them btw)

CHAOS:

Lana Del Rey: Diet Mountain Dew, Trash Magic, I want it all

Asteria: EYES ON ME, WHAT YOU WANT

Melanie Martinez: The Contortionist

6arelyhuman: Faster N Harder

DPR IAN: Don't Go Insane

Laurie Anderson: O Superman (ISTFG THIS FITS HIM SO MUCH)

Slowdive: When The Sun Hits

Lady Gaga: Heavy Metal Lover

Grimes: Genesis

Billie Eilish: What Was I Made For? (THIS ALSO FITS HIM SO MUCH)

Rihanna: Breaking Dishes, Disturbia

T-Pain: Take your shirt off

Chart: HEAVEN SAYS

Adele: Skyfall

Madonna: 4 Minutes

Bambee: Bumblebee

Elvis Presley: Can't help falling in love with you

NIGHTMARE:

Isabel LaRosa: Older

Mitski: Me and My Husband, Your best American Girl

Black Gryph0n: INSANE

Axie: I'M SANE, TERRIBLE THINGS

Insane Clown Posse: Halls Of Illusions

Beetlejuice musical: That Beautiful Sound

Namika: je ne parle pas français

Lana Del Rey: Once Upon A Dream

Dev: Monster

Slipknot: People = Shit

Lydia the Bard: Cover of TOXIC (Sadder and darker)

Heathers, the musical: Meant To Be Yours

Ayesha Erotica: Shitzu, Where you at, Hands Up!

Adele: Million Years Ago

Lady Gaga: Bad Romance

Theory of a Deadman: Bitch came back

ACE:

MCCAFFERTY: BeachBoy

Cigarettes After Sex: Cry, Sunsetz, Crush, Sweet, Apocalypse, K

Mitski: Lonesome Love, First Love / Late Spring

Mindless Self Indulgence: Lights Out

JT Music: Anytime You Smile

Miike Snow: Genghis Khan

Charlie XCX: Speed Drive

Tom Cardy: Red Flags

Connie Francis: Stupid Cupid

Arctic Monkeys: I wanna be yours

Jamie Foxx: Fly Love

Måneskin: GOSSIP

Melanie Martinez: Evil

Beyoncé: Beautiful Liar

Wheatus: Teenage Dirtbag

Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody

J. Cole: She knows

TV Girl: Lovers Rock

BLADE:

Lustra: Scotty Doesn't Know

Rammstein: Sonne

Tally Hall: Two Wuv

Mother Mother: Problems

6arelyhuman: Hands Up!, GMFU

Elvis Presley: Jailhouse Rock

Kreayshawn: Go Hard (La.La.La)

Toy-Box: E.T.

Boygenius: Not Strong Enough

4 Door Theater: Porcelain Face

Britney Manson: FASHION

Psychosticks: I can only count to four

Ryan Gosling: I'm just Ken (he's a fan 😔✋)

Tom Cardy: H.Y.C.Y.BH, Best Friends

Owl City: Good time

Dazey and the Scouts: Wet

TED:

Melanie Martinez: EVIL, Cake

Cavetown: Boys Will Be Bugs, Devil Town

Faouzia: Born Without a Heart

Maddie Zahm: Fat Funny Friend

Soddiken: Hansel

Mitsuki: Abbey

The Dresden Dolls: My Alcoholic Friends

Radiohead: Creep

Sarah Cothran: As The World Caves In

Skillet: Monster

TOOPOOR: Crazy Girls

Lady Gaga: Government Hooker (I just can't help but imagine the man's voice as Ted's- 😭)

6arelyhuman: XOXO

Insane Clown Posse: Halls of Illusion

Why did I actually spend my time doing this? 💀

[azlinz]

Georgia Stars 

Solo Sikoa x original character 

 Synopsis- Georgia and her best friend Naomi have been living their dreams, and everything has been going perfectly until Georgia finds her boyfriend cheating on her. Who will be there to comfort her?

if anybody likes this, and wants a part 2 let me know lol

Georgia and Naomi have been best friends for as long as they can remember. They met in elementary school and instantly clicked. Sleepovers every weekend, lunch dates, and gossip sessions. They did everything together. So when Naomi wanted to fulfill her dream of becoming a professional wrestler, Georgia was right beside her all the way. Of course, Naomi wanted her best friend to follow her dreams as well, so when she noticed how much Georgia loved watching YouTube, she told her to start her own channel. That is how they became Naomi and Georgia. The fans loved them. Naomi became a fan favorite, quickly rising up the WWE roster. Georgia, on the other hand, gained 4 million subscribers on YouTube and is a huge influencer. Fans loved that they got to watch Naomi on their TV every week, and then they could look at Georgia’s videos to see all of the behind-the-scenes footage of their adventures together

Being around Naomi so much meant Georgia was also around Naomi’s husband, Jimmy, as well as his twin Jey. The four of them were practically always together, so it took little time for them to all get close. It was always a party with them. Georgia knew Jimmy and Jay came from a big family, but she never really met any of them. Jay would talk about his wife and kids, but not so much his other siblings, except for their younger brother Solo, who she has met on occasion, considering he is also a superstar like his brothers. But unlike Jay and Jimmy, Solo was extremely quiet. In fact, he’s only ever looked at Georgia. He’s never said a word to her. Naomi, Jimmy, and Jay made frequent appearances in Georgia’s YouTube videos, and Georgia even made a couple of backstage appearances on Raw and SmackDown. That is where she met her boyfriend of two years, Finn Bálor. Well, that was until today. Today, Georgia was walking backstage and found her boyfriend cheating on her. To say that Georgia was shocked would be an understatement. She thought that her and Finn’s friendship was the best it could be. She thought that they would be getting married and having little babies. So that’s where we find Georgia now, sitting with Naomi and Jimmy, while they try to convince her that Finn isn’t worth it and she’s so much better than that.

“Georgia, for real, I’ll beat his little stick ass; you just have to say the word, uce,” Jimmy told her. The three of them were sitting on a couch, backstage, in the bloodlines locker room. “It is what it is, Jimmy; it’s just really unexpected.” I looked down at my hands in my lap. I feel like my head is spinning. It’s all just so overwhelming. “Fuck men, girl, fuck that guy. I cannot believe he would do that to you. Men are trash.” Naomi spoke up, looking pretty flustered. I just let out a sigh, not knowing what to say at this point, when the door opened, and Jey and Solo walked in. Jey looked confused seeing Jimmy and Naomi looking upset and you with tear-stained cheeks. “What’s going on, uce?” Jay asked, looking at Jimmy for clarification on what the hell is happening. “Georgia's scumbag of a boyfriend was in the bathroom fucking another girl. That’s what happened. You and I should go beat his ass, Uce.” Jay was visibly shocked by this information, wide-eyed and all. He turned towards Georgia and then back to Jimmy, “Oh fuck that; we are going to go teach his ass a lesson.” Jey responded, already starting to walk to the door, Jimmy not far behind. Naomi then stepped in front of the door, putting a hand on Jay’s chest. “No one’s doing anything. Georgia already said she doesn’t want you guys to, plus you guys have a match next, so we’re gonna go take our asses out there and give Georgia some space.” The two of them looked at Georgia with soft eyes, both giving her a hug, telling her that it’s gonna be OK and that they will always be there for her. Naomi did the same, giving her best friend a hug, telling her that she’s a bad bitch, before all three of them walked out the door. Georgia thought she was alone now, letting out a shaky breath, but a voice startled her. “ You were too good for that guy anyway.” Georgia looked up at Solo. His facial expressions stayed the same: extremely neutral. Georgia let out a surprised expression because this is the first time she’s ever heard him speak. “Oh, you—you don’t need to say that.” Solo looked at her for a second before saying, “I mean, he was a dumbass. You need a man that can take care of you and treat you right.” Georgia looked at him with her mouth slightly open before saying, “I thought you didn’t like me.” solo’s facial expressions Stayed the same, except for a slightly raised eyebrow. He walked slowly towards her before gently touching her cheek. “Did I ever say I didn’t like you?” Before walking out the door.

[ninetyminutes]

Can you please expand on Lorne being sad about break up due to cheating and everyone noticing it and tries to cheer him up pls?

There was a line in Lorne's biography that mentioned how everyone on the cast became "comfortable crying in front of each other." And I promise that's a direct quote, I just don't have the book in front of me to dig through. Still, I'm sure that Lorne would try to focus entirely on the show and refusing to acknowledge any struggles in his personal life. They have a show to put on and he can't afford to be caught lacking or else the show is in jeopardy. I can totally see him neglecting his own needs and thoughts because if he thinks about it for even a couple of minutes he could just break down.

Of course everyone starts to pick up on the fact that somethings up with him, so they send Gilda to try and talk to him because everyone knows Lorne can never say no to Gilda. And he's trying to tell her he's fine like "it's nothing, I promise. I've just been stressed dealing with the network and Jack broke up with me and I'm trying to figure out how we're going to make this sketch work-" and Gilda is immediatey like "omg you poor thing."

I absolutely love the idea of Gilda declaring a girls' night at Lorne's apartment. Like I just love visual of Lorne sitting on a couch surrounded by all of the girls who are comforting him and shit while they all trash talk his ex. They have ice cream and popcorn and wine while they watch whatever shitty romcom is on TV or something. Maybe they gossip a bit about people within the tv industry or talk about their worst exes or worst lays they've had, and some other stereotypical girl things. Maybe truth or dare. Basically, they have this super awesome sleepover at Lorne's.

At some point Laraine is just like "men are stupid, no offense Lorne" and all of the girls agree. And Lorne is like "yeah I guess I kind of am stupid for thinking it would go well” because he probably blames himself for the cheating/relationship falling apart like Lorne is definitely insecure about his failed relationships. Maybe Lorne admits he didn't even really like his ex all that much, that he just missed everything that came with being in a relationship in terms of having someone be your person.

Let’s be real, Chevy and the boys totally crash the sleepover and they make it this whole thing with everyone. And Lorne probably cries because she’s just so grateful for them and shit.

[foxydivaxx]

More Gossip Girl AU Headcanons: The Roronoas

-Everyone calls Zoro Prince-sama because he acts like one

-Zoro resembles Arashi a lot which many suspect to be a reason why Terra treats Zoro like trash

-Idol by Yoasobi in this universe is sang by Miku and that song is actually referring to not only herself and all idols in general but that song is her way of telling people about Zoro's situation. The fact that it was released around the time of the #FreeZoro movement makes it more awesome and heartwarming. Zoro cried when he heard the song and thanked Miku for it

-The #FreeZoro movement was secretly started by Kuina, Perona and Zoro's backup dancers

-Miku and Zoro got their talents from their dad which is why their mum behaves the way she does. She envies her kids and her husband

-Arashi watched his kids on TV whilst in asylum. What Terra did not know is that Mihawk found out about Arashi and figured out a way to free him and whisk him off to Japan to be free. When the #FreeZoro movement begins, Arashi returns to America to reunite with his son. He also gains the strength to confront his wife and proceeds to finalise the divorce proceedings that she tried to delay years ago

-The Roronoa/Dracule clan are all great dancers

-The family now host movie nights every weekend to watch old Roronoa and Dracule classics

-Arashi and Mihawk have been best friends for years since they were kids. Terra drove a wedge between them

-Both Arashi and Mihawk go out together a lot these days and many suspect that there could be more to their relationship especially since Mihawk helped them a lot.

-Mihawk paid back the debt he owes to the Roronoas who saved him during his own struggles.

-Enma, Kitetsu and Wado are Zoro's cousins in this verse and they are all famous actors

-Grandma Roronoa is a top actress and Grandpa Roronoa is a singer and actor.

-Grandpa Roronoa passed away a year before Zoro's birth

-Grandma Roronoa always makes rice balls for the kids, especially Zoro and even taught Sanji how to make them

-The reason Zoro did not become like his mum or worse is thanks to Mihawk and Boa Hancock who serves as his lawyer and is now his new manager

-Some aspects of Zoro's life mirrors Arashi's in a lot of ways and also Mihawk's too as both father figures had turbulent relationships with one abusive parent.Arashi had a toxic relationship with his dad and Mihawk had to separate himself from his mother

-The Roronoa/Dracule family all live under the same roof. Zoro started living on his own once he turned 18.

- Sora and their kids plus Zoro’s other friends and their families are considered part of their family

- When Zoro started adapting a sexier image (similar to Koda Kumi), it rose a lot of eyebrows at first as people were so used to him being cute, baby Zoro. Eventually, the general public accepted it as they realized that he suits the sexy image better

- Sometimes whenever the family is having a dance party, Zoro’s inner sexy tiger comes out and next thing everyone knows, those sexy dance moves he exhibits onstage begin to manifest. The thing about Zoro is once the music comes on, he changes completely. Sanji too is like that

- Speaking of Sanji, people have been calling him Sanji Roronoa way before he and Zoro finally married

- Arashi has tried to get Zoro to tone down the sexiness albeit in a joking manner similar to Whitebeard and Sanji

- Zoro got his love of fashion and bling from his two dads who are pretty snazzy dressers. (Picture Zoro wearing bling similar to Sasha Banks)

- Once the cameras stop rolling and once Zoro is offstage, he becomes a cute little kitten. Onstage, he is a sexy tiger, similar to his dad. Sanji is similar in that regard except that one is a sexy fox xD

- Zoro’s natural singing voice is a lot deeper and sensual. He knows how to manipulate his voice to get the desired results out of a song, something that shocks Japanese netizens a lot

- Yosaku and Johnny are the pranksters of the family

- Perona and Kuina always go shopping together and help Zoro get clothes

- Miku’s normal speaking voice is a lot more matured compared to her idol voice

- Zoro and Miku write a lot of their songs especially now that they are older and wish to express certain things themselves

- Miku does her hair herself

- Miku is always portrayed as a bunny and Zoro is a mighty green tiger and often times is portrayed as an adorable black kitty with green stripes in fanart

[blairhepburn]

﹟ BLAIRHEPBURN ﹕ an independent and semi private blog for 𝑏𝑙𝛼𝜄𝑟 𝑤𝛼𝑙𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑓 from tv show gossip girl, written by alexandria ﹙ she / her, +21, latina ﹚ TEMP RULES UNDER. sideblog to @myssticvamp

DISCLAIMER: i'm not affiliated with leighton meester or any of the gossip girl's crew team.

I﹚ hello there! my name is alexandria. 21 + and a pure latina and i go by she/her pronouns. i’m a major in sociology so i attend school most of the week; but i'm 99 percent of the time here and my dm and askbox is always open for you to reach out to me.

II﹚ MUTUALS ONLY. i will be highly selective with whom i'll follow; i need to feel comfortable and happy and i need my dash to be a safe place. i'm not one to softblock or block, but if necessary, i will. if i don't see our blogs interacting, i will simply unfollow. NOT DUPLICATE FRIENDLY.

III﹚ CHEMISTRY ALWAYS. i’m shipper trash when it comes to blair; you can either come bug me via dms or i'll come to you, either way, i'm very open to potential new ships aside the canon ones shown in the show.

IV﹚ +21 so i'm legally allowed to have nsfw content in my blog. MINORS DO NOT INTERACT. regardless, i will always tag everything accordingly. and if there is something that makes you feel uncomfortable, please let me know or just softblock.

V﹚ DO NOT INTERACT if you support: racism, homophobia, transphobia, toxic behavior, gaslight, called-out, sexism, ableism, incest.

©﹚CREDITS goes to @bibblepsds

[lucianaxalvarez]

Luciana laughs, her eyes playfully rolling as Grace places her arms around her. "You know you'd always have a place in my heart," she glances over at her, there's a small part of her that kind of wants to ask Grace if it's normal that her and Jude haven't necessarily defined the relationship but she likes the idea of Jude being her boyfriend so she doesn't say a thing. "I'm sure he'll be okay with you having a place in my heart." She chuckles. Her eyes move over to the menu. "Yeah, last thing you want to is work out after eating pizza. All that grease," she teases. "So, I will make you work out tomorrow. We'll eat, go binge trash tv and gossip like a real girl's night. What do you think?"

@gracecromwell

"Awe...Luciana," She said as she wrapped her arms around the others shoulder and grinning. "I knew I had a place in your heart. Your boyfriend better watch out." She said jokingly as she stood back up and glanced over the menu. "So, what are we thinking? Eat to our heart content then work it off in the gym? Well, not right away, tomorrow because I would probably die."

[flows9bomi]

I’m so bored

I hate that it’s up to me to create my own reality

Why can’t life/people just be more interesting

I hate that I have to show you results for you to support me

I hate that I have to make you believe me

I hate being so smart. It’s not fun. Everything and everybody gets dull.

Which sounds pretentious. But what if you truly ARE smarter/more self aware than most people. Then nobody believes you and gets mad if you point it out/prove your point. So you stop talking. Now YOU’RE boring

Sometimes I wish I was dumb. Or at least more ordinary. Mainstream even. Didn’t particularly have dreams. Those people seem to have fun being kinda lame. It looks fun

To know about ordinary stuff and talk about fun tv shows and the latest trash celebrity gossip. Be excited about the newest shoes or clothes. Enjoy the guy/girl games

To have never even heard of the dao or quantum physics or metaphysics or suicide or profound thought. To NOT be able to outsmart people. To look at THAT guy and wonder what he’s even talking about or gossip about why he always looks like that or why he never says much

I miss drugs. Being broke is lame smh

I miss not feeling eternally borderline bored. I miss being ignorant

It’s not even sad. It’s just really annoying