#I love how so many people heard the craft fair prompt and immediately jumped onto friendship bracelets

[hitwiththetmnt]

Greetings from the Cabin 9 Craft Fair! Ret Mikey is running a bracelet making workshop and is wondering if you’d be interested in taking part! He has all sorts of beads and bands for you to use!

(This is @tmnt-reticent btw! This is just my main blog!)

THERE’S SO MANY FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS!!!

@tmnt-fandom-family-reunion

Cabin #7 (7 Wonders of the Turtleverse)

[a-sad-excuse-of-everything]

Hard Candies, Hard Life

Hard candies, hard life

Pidge x Reader

Description: Pidge helps a rather odd senior at the school fair, and knowing her comes in handy in the end                                          

Prompt: Your main character is a young woman in her late teens, who can be quite secretive. The story begins at a fairground. Someone is driven out of their home. It's a story about pride. Your character attempts to keep a low profile.

Fair day was always interesting.

The last day of school before winter break, fair day always took place. All of the students gathered round and made booths for various reasons, college applicants, clubs, businesses, vendors, food, crafts, games, fundraisers, and more. It was something the entire school got involved in. If you were a senor getting some award or you had been a fair volunteer from day one, you got your own booth to do whatever. Some people made theirs into a garage sale, others just made it a hang out spot. But when (Y/N) (L/N) was asked if she wanted to do a booth, no one knew what to expect.

She was a great student, top of her class, but she was a bit spooky. She had no friends whatsoever, read mysterious, old books all the time, and was rumored to be seen walking alone in the woods at night talking to herself. She was an oddball, but everyone was quite curious to see what she would whip up. Since freshman year she was a manager of the fair doing whatever she could, so whatever was going to happen was going to be well executed.  

The day of the fair approached, and all was silent throughout the school as the seniors and others set up for the fair take place. The second half of school was going to be hectic, so everyone was running around and getting things done quickly, while also trying to be quiet enough not to disturb the students outside the gymnasium. In the farthest corner to the left side was (Y/N) setting up tables and taping colored paper to the wall. She turned at the sound of the door opening, relieved to see the freshman helpers had arrived.

Certain freshman who signed up could help seniors with their booths during fair week. Depending on the table, someone could have one partner to ten. Freshman signed up for the booths they wanted to help, so of course (Y/N) was expecting for no one to show up due to the favor to the more popular and sociable seniors. As they were given general directions to their selective booths. A few minutes passed and the volume in the gym had increased, and so did a voice behind (Y/N).

“Um, excuse me?”

She turned around to see a boy with auburn hair and circular glasses staring up at her from the step ladder.

“Yes? Are you looking for your booth?”

The boy laughed slightly and shook his head. “I signed up to help your booth, your (Y/N) right?”

They stood in silence for a little bit, (Y/N) registering that someone actually signed up to help her booth. Giving a small smile and excited for some interaction, she nodded.

“Alright, could you refill the tape dispenser?”

It stayed like this for about an hour. (Y/N) giving orders and the boy, who she found out was named Pidge, obliging to her requests. Some small talk was spoken in between, but other than that their interactions were quite bland. Eventually (Y/N) stepped off of her step ladder and wiped her hands on her pants, looking up. Pidge slightly gasped at the display.

The paper had formed an abstract river scene similar to ‘Starry Night’ by van gogh. The color scheme was purples and blacks, however, and the boy was confused. He turned to ask the senior he had partnered with, but she had disappeared under one of her three tables, dragging out heavy boxes behind her. Jumping slightly, he rushed to help the girl out. As he approached she waved vaguely at the box next to her.

“Start opening that one and unpacking the stuff in order to be sold, and don't break anything.”

He nodded and opened the box in front of him. Lifting the cardboard he looked inside and was surprised at what he saw. At this dark themed booth with this goth teenager, there were cupcakes upon cupcakes wrapped in their individual boxes ready to be sold, all being different and having a different ‘magic’ effect. He lifted one up and turned.

“Cupcakes?”

She got up from her own box, filled with pie slices, and nodded. “I made some witchcraft themed sweets for today. I have sold them before and they tend to sell, especially the ones with spells attached to them.”

He nodded and started to line them up.

Another hour later the three blank tables form the previous hour had been filled with gothic goods and the descriptions of what they’d do. Some cupcakes guaranteed true love, some slices of pie said to give you a mark to see your soul mate, and so on and so forth. Candy bracelets, cookies, chocolates, and more, and all for a reasonable price as well. They both looked back and smiled at their work.

Minutes later, the school was about to be let loose into the gymnasium. (Y/N) turned to Pidge and handed him a box.

“Ÿou are on register, I will tell people about the sweets. If you take anything I will find out about it.”

Pidge smiled and nodded at her request, getting ready to serve the hundreds of students about to be released into the area. Immediately things were not as bad as he thought. Looking around, only around five people crowded the spacious booth made by (Y/N), all surprised at her friendly atmosphere and excellent speaking skills. She entranced their heads with a silky soft voice and a small smile that could let her get away with anything. Pidge saw this and observed, ringing all who approached the booth up with the various sweets they intended to buy. The way her legs moved gracefully across the floor and her crisp yet dark clothes seemed to bring people in.

Soon, however, many busy hours passed and most of the treats on the table had vanished. The school bells had rung, and the regular students were set free onto their winter break, leaving the seniors and freshmen to clean the gymnasium of the afternoons activities. Pidge started to put some leftover baked goods into some boxes while (Y/N) counted the money received from a hard day’s work. She smiled at the fruits of her efforts, and tucked the bills safely into her wallet, hanging around fifty dollars in the boy’s direction.

“Here, as thanks for helping me today.”

He looked shocked, and pushed her hand away. “No thank you (Y/N), I signed up for volunteer work, you do not have to pay me.”

She smiled and shook her head, jabbing the money in his direction. “Take it.”

He shook his head once more, an idea popping into his head. “I don’t want your money, but I sure will take some of these sweets.”

She looked a little shocked at his reply, but nodded. Opening the only two boxes the leftovers filled (smaller ones then how she had received the sweets in the beginning) she pulled out many different cupcakes, pies, and candies, putting them into a custom bag with her sweets logo on it. She put it aside and continued to work in the pale light of the gym lights.

Soon the two were done, and they both stood outside of her car in silence. With a slight rinkle, she handed Pidge’s sweets to him in a purple paper bag. He smiled in reply.

“Thank you for your help today, Pidge, I really appreciate it.”

He nodded. “Thank you as well, (Y/N), I am sure me and my family will love your sweets.”

“Well I hope so.” She responded.

The two said their final farewells and went their separate ways. (Y/N) went home to her apartment and organized her things, happy that with the money from the sales she did not have to worry about rent for the next few months, while Pidge went home to his brother and father who were eager to hear about his day. As (Y/N) fell back on her bed in tiredness, Pidge spent all his time with his brother and father with a movie night to have something to remember them by as they were leaving the next day for a trip. All was well in their separate worlds.

Weeks had passed since the fair, and school was back in session. Since seniors and freshman did not have much long term contact, Pidge and (Y/N) had many encounters in the hall where a smile and wave showed their acquaintanceship. As (Y/N) made more and more videos and packaged sweet orders for her online shop, Pidge was at home alone studying and living by himself. Weeks went by and their only contact was a smile and a wave, not knowing what was to come soon enough.

Pidge was at home one Saturday afternoon, a book in one hand and a bowl of (Y/N)’s hard candies in the other. He and his family had eaten all the more perishable items early on despite looking very thin for the amount they consumed, but when he looked into the large paper bag one night urging to satisfy his sweet tooth, he found a bag of hard candies. He had hit the jackpot with these, the candies being his favorite out of all of her sweets (it was a tough call due to them all being so good however). While he was supposed to be reading his book, however, his mind drifted off into wonder. His father and brother worked in the military for quite a long time, and often came home late from missions before, but it never ceased to worry him. As he continued reading, in another short burst of focus, he heard a knock on his apartment’s door.

Getting up and placing the book and candies down, he reluctantly adjusted his glasses and went towards the door. Opening it casually, he was shocked to see two officers standing at his door, both being vaguely familiar from the rare parties he attended with his sibling and dad relating to their workplace. Looking up, he spoke.

“Can I help you?”

One man, known as Ryan, cleared his throat and looked at the short boy in front of him.

“Pidge, I am sorry to say this, but your father’s aircraft has disappeared. They have been announced disease at ten this morning. I am sorry for your loss.”

Pidge looked at the two men in shock, looking down when they handed him a few belongings relating to his father. Closing the door when the exchange was finished, he went to the couch and tried to withhold the sob that were inevitable. At that moment he had refused to believe they were dead.

It had been around a month, and (Y/N) was living her life well. She had seen Pidge in the halls around class, looking stressed and tired, but always seemed to brighten slightly at the sight of her. She was curious to ask what was going on, but did not dare due to only knowing the boy so much. She continued with her sales and eating alone at lunch, thinking and reading. Her mind often wandered towards family, but she shook her head and smiled, paying attention to whatever else was around her. As time progressed her worry for the auburn boy in the freshman class worried her. He had bags under his eyes and seemed to get sadder by the day. He seemed to have some friends, you had seen them in the halls before, but they even had yet to lift his mood.

Walking down the street another Saturday, (Y/N) twirled the lact parasol in her hand while walking about a local park. she adjusted the bag on her shoulder and looked around for a good spot to draw in. (Y/N) had gotten some brand new art supplies that day and wanted to draw some pigeons that resided by an ornate fountain she frequented quite often. Smiling when she saw the fountain in view, she walked towards it and noticed a familiar face there as well.

Pidge sat on the wooden bench in front of the fountain, staring deeply into its bubbling waters. He had a backpack next to him, and his head rested firmly between his hands. Sitting down next to him, she closed her parasol and looked over. He looked up when feeling the bench lean to the opposite side of him and seemed to be relieved to see (Y/N) staring intently at him. He wiped his eyes with the forest green sweater he was wearing and smiled weakly at her. She smiled faintly back, getting out her sketchbook and beginning a sketch of some friendly pigeons pecking at the ground below the two of them. Some even came by and pecked at her feet. (Y/N) giggled while doodling, but grew more and more curious towards why Pidge seemed to be so sad. Once again, however, she refrained from asking and continued to draw until the sun started to set.

Closing her sketchbook, she turned towards Pidge, still sitting there despite three hours of drawing. Thinking something was off, and the fact he seemed to have nowhere to be, she cleared her throat grabbing the boys attention.

“Would you like to come to my apartment for dinner? I just got some wonderful looking breads.”

He sighed and contemplated her offer. He did not want to intrude, especially if family was involved, but not having a good meal in awhile hit him hard. Getting up, Pidge replied.

“Sure, as long as I am not intruding.”

She smiled and shook her head.

“No, not at all! I live by myself, so some company would be greatly appreciated.”

She seemed to perk up at the thought of having a guest over for dinner, and he seemed to be relieved when he learned she lived alone. Walking back to her house, she invited him in and started prepping dinner. Two steaks, a few rolls, and some cheesy broccoli later, they both were talking comfortably. Pidge seemed to still be sad, but happier having a decent conversation with her. Her interest with what was going on still nagged at her, and she decided to ask despite the obvious consequences.

She placed down her napkin and looked at the table before looking Pidge in the eyes. “I have a question for you, Pidge.”

The boy looked a little taken back, but it was barely noticable. “Yes?”

She seemed to stall a little, clearing her throat and taking a sip of her water. “Well, I was curious to why you have been so sad as of late.”

He froze slightly, contemplating what to do. His initial reaction was to excuse himself and leave, but something about her seemed to keep him in his seat. Seeing his reluctant demeanor, (Y/N) apologised profusely.

“I’m sorry if I was being intrusive, you do not have to answer if you do not want to.”

He was about to take up that offer, but stopped. He could not keep this in forever, especially towards his friends who seemed to ask the same question every time they were around him. Sighing, he decided to tell her, thinking her three year seniorship would help guide him in this rough time.

“Well, my brother and father were recently lost on a mission, they work for the military. They were declared deceased, so of course I was left with everything. The rest of their savings were put in a trust declared by will, but it is not enough to pay rent. If I can't pay rent, then I will be taken away by child protective services, and I have too much here. I have considered working, but even after a full time minimum wage job it is still not enough.”

He rubbed his face in aggravation and worry, and (Y/N) looked at him with slight sympathy. Seeing the worry in his face, an idea popped into her head.

“You can live with me, I have an extra bedroom and I am sure whatever you can give to pitch in will be enough.”

He looked up out of his hands in victory, but decided to keep modest. “I would not want to invade, that is a lot to give to someone you barely know.”

She smiled and shook her head as she often does. “It would be nice. It’s lonely here alone, and your company would be appreciated. I trust you clean up after yourself and will not steal from me.”

Pidge smiled gratefully and reached his hand across the small table they sat at. She took his hand in hers and shook it, agreeing then and there they would be housemates.

The following Sunday you moved Pidge’s valuables into your rather spacious apartment and settled him into a bedroom. She learned he really enjoyed the color green, and was quite sentimental. He was settled into a room with an adjacent side room and a bathroom, so he had his own privacy. While (Y/N) learned about Pidge, however, Pidge learned about (Y/N). She seemed to be very gothic, yet bright at the same time. She did not have many mirrors, but had many photos from antique stores around town of people from the 1800’s. Why she lived alone he did not know just yet, but he was content with being here anyways.

And that is what started an amazing new friendship