the side character - l.mk
you see, people come and go all the time, but the way they leave always stays.
summary: jack and rose. bella and edward. romeo and juliet. it was a common knowledge that everyone's have their own partner in their life story. but here you are. the side character in mark's tragic lovestory. just another girl he had to go through. you hated to admit it but you're probably just a chapter in his book. after all, who cared for lavender brown when ron weasley was written for hermione granger?
genre: angst, lil fluff, full length fic, mark x reader
warnings: curse words, a long one, lots of timeskips
wc: 10.5k
an: this fic is originally for haechan but i figured that the character fits mark more so i had to make some changes!! also this one's a ride-- and it's a new story !! hope u guys enjoy it <3
•••••
you met him back in june. and the way you met for the first time wasn't your favourite. its safe to say that you two didn't get off the right foot.
you remember it like it was the back of your hands, how you met mark lee. it was a regular tuesday, it was rather cloudy. no signs of rain tho, and as the news said, pack your umbrella because weather can be a bitch sometimes.
you parked your lexus that your mom had gifted you when you turned 20 at the same spot you did for the past two years you've been driving it to school.
university was okay, you're in your last year so that's a plus, but what made your college life great was your friends.
"y/n!" you turn your back too see your friend, jake running towards you as you locked your car.
"here's your coffee, you lazy dog." you gave him the iced americano that he texted you to get him. it was a routine to you, you get up earlier and get ready, sparing time to get coffee at the local coffee shop. so it was fine for him to ask to get him one too. at first. it had been a routine for him also to ask you every single day.
"ey, you keep saying that but you keep buying me still." he said as he sipped his drink, earning a slight elbow in this side from you.
"so. apparently, there's a new kid." jake said as he walked with you through the hallways.
new kid? it's the last year of college, who's in their right mind to move to a different univeristy on the last year?
"that's dumb. we're literally graduating and they still moved schools? what a waste of--"
"oh, sorry!" your coffee almost spilled if you didn't move it up 0.5 earlier before you bumped into someone.
"holy fuck!" the boy almost jumped, avoiding the drink.
"watch it." jake's voice switched, now very stern as he looked at the guy. he put his hands between you and the person in front of you, to avoid any more unwanted contact.
the guy is very unfamiliar, you've not seen him here before. making you think that he might be the new kid.
what struck first to you is his eyes. he looked so good, he looked like.. someone who's really comfortable to be with.
"dude, she bumped me. you two were talking in a busy hallway, and you expect everyone to get out of your way?" one more thing to add, he's mouthy.
"you're being rude, you know." you muttered as you get your posture back.
"i'm not. i'm just saying that your friend here doesn't need to come at my face when you two were wrong." now, his eyes are on you and you watched as his gaze turned almost soft.
"i'm just protecting her-- dude you don't have to be an ass." jake, now standing in between you.
"look--" you pushed jake to the side, "i'm sorry. i'm sorry i bumped into you. now, can we go?" you asked.
he looked at you for what you felt like was a hot minute, before rolling his eyes and walking pass you two.
"what a fucking prick." jake continued to stare at the guy as you two continued to walk, turning his head as the guy disappeared.
"hey, he's right. we bumped into him."
"are you defending him?" jake now looking at you with exaggerated disbelief in his face.
"stop, you know we were wrong." you lightly slapped his arms.
"he doesn't have to be an ass about it." jake then took another sip as you two turned into the corner.
"plus i feel like he's just having a bad day-- its hard being a new student." you felt like you're justifying the guy's rude actions but you couldn't help it. you can't find a reason why, aswell. just-- he's just right.
"i know what this is." jake stopped walking, making you halt aswell. jake then. turned to you, and of course, in reflex you turned your body towards him.
"what?"
"you find him cute, right?" jake accusing you, making you furrow your brows and laugh. you shook your head as you walked.
"i guess he was fine."
*
the second time you met mark lee, its was a rather better interaction. you had stayed behind for one of your classes because your professor had a problem with your paper.
"it's really amazing, the way your mind works, y/n. don't get me wrong, you had the correct answer." your professor, flipping the pages of your paper.
"then what's the problem, mr. tan?" you're confused, as you sat in the first row seat in front of his desk.
"the way you solved it." he looked up at you and showed you the paper which had your written formula and solution.
you're a very impatient person, which why you would always find a faster way to do stuff. specially in academics, if you're really having a hard time with the formula that was given, you'll find another that also works, but faster.
"look, mr. tan. the important thing is i got it right, i just found the given formula---"
"mr. tan! oh, thank god you're still here." large footsteps filled the classroom, as a familiar voice entered.
and as you expected, the guy who bumped into you the other day walked inside. his strides were large, and his movements were panicky. i guess he really wanted to meet mr. tan.
"lee mark, be glad y/n held me up." your professor then shuffled in his desk, leaving you and mark, you think his name is, to notice each other's presence.
"hey." you initiated, which mark just nods without looking.
it rubbed you the wrong way, how he refused to even say 'hey' to you. was that incident the other day such a big deal? or is he just this distant with people he's not close with?
honestly, it shouldn't even matter. he's just a random guy. it shouldn't bother you the way it's bothering you right now.
you took a deep breath, "mr. tan, i think i should go. if you have a problem with my paper then it's fine." you gathered all your things and stood up.
you were about to step outside the room when suddenly your name was called.
"y/n, wait up." mark finished his talk with mr. tan when he suddenly called your name.
you stopped in your tracks, as you about to turn around he's already in front of you.
"uh-- i," he looked down swiftly, gathering his thoughts and looked up at you again.
"what?" you asked.
"i was thinking we should leave together." he blurted out rather quickly, before turning around quickly and started walking.
this confused you, so you took quick steps to follow him. "hey-- hey! can you walk slower?"
"oh, shoot, sorry." he stopped, waiting for you to take a few strides until you catch up.
"let's go-- but please step a little smaller, i've got short legs." you joked, hoping to lift the mood.
you can see him smiling but quickly hiding it, as he walked slower this time to match yours.
"so.. uh what's up?" you can't tell if you're just socially awkward, or its because he intimidated you. you're close to admitting that you're both.
"nothing.. honestly-- i just wanted to say sorry for the last time. i was a dick to you and your friend" he scratched the back of his neck as you two walked.
"it's okay. i mean, it is our fault so.." you shrugged your shoulders,
"still, i shouldn't have been such an ass."
"yeah.. wait why are you in such a bad mood tho?" you asked. honestly that was the thing that confuses you, is how he's so upset about the other day and then did a full 180 today being all apolegetic and stuff.
"for starters, i'm a new student here so it's.. kind of hard, you know, settling in a whole new different environment when you're used to your old life." suddenly he turned serious, as if he's thinking about something.
"i know. that's also what i thought. glad you cleared it up tho, at least i could cross out the asshole in front of your name." you smirked at him which he just chuckled in response.
"so, uh i'll go ahead. see you around, y/n."
"see you."
--
after that, your meetings with mark lee become frequent, as he asked you things about the university. you two would spend lunch, together with jake. jake hesitated at first, still holding grudges on the time he and mark had a little misunderstanding. but all ends well after three days of having mark around.
"dude-- so you're like very popular back in your school?" jake asked mark, before shoving his burger into his mouth.
"eat slowly, stupid." you noticed there's crumbs of the burger bread on jake's chin. you grabbed a tissue and wiped it off.
mark saw that, his eyes followed your hands when wiping jake's mouth. he doesn't know why but he found your gesture so admirable. how you take care of other people seems so sweet to him.
"if i wasn't on the volleyball team i wouldn't be." mark answered after looking away.
"that's why you were talking to mr. tan? you're signing up for try outs?" you looked at him after folding the used tissue and tossing it to the near trash bin.
"yeah, but because of my records at my previous school-- i didn't have to go through tryouts." he said, a hint of arrogance in his voice.
"so you're that good, huh?" you teased, raising a brow at him.
"i mean, if you put it that way..." he tilts his head, smirking at you which you just responded with shaking your head.
the little conversation you shared cut off early, when you heard jake coughing.
"you little shit, i said eat slowly!" you panicked, grabbing the water bottle that was on the table and quickly gave it to jake. you caressed his back as he was drinking, concern filled your eyes as you watched your friend recover.
this sight had mark in awe. the way you quickly reacted to jake almost-- well, i guess-- dying, the panic in your eyes as you struggled to open the water bottle, and the pure care as you watched jake drink. his mind filled with you-- the way you are.
and then it turned into worry, when he thought that there might be something with you and jake. is that why you're so thoughtful about him? why you two are always together?
he's nervous to admit, but he did feel uneasy.
no, mark, stop it. he told himself. he should not be thinking like this. maybe he just missed having someone to take care of him. that must be it. that should be it.
-
days turned to weeks, and before you know it its been a whole month since mark started hanging out with you guys. and you can tell, he's getting more comfortable.
"this fucking vending machine sucks." mark, pissed at the school's vending machine. he stepped backwards and from his posture, you knew what he was about to do.
"do not!" you quickly grabbed his arm and pull him, "do not kick the vending machine, mark. maybe that's why it keeps eating your money, dumbass." you said and pushed him slightly to the side.
"yeah- try it, y/n. waste your money on that god damn vending machine." he dared, crossing his arms.
and as he expected. the vending machine did not give you anything but it took your money.
"what the fuck?! this shit is rigged." you tapped the sides of the machine, before trying to shake it.
"are you trying to shake a machine thats three times bigger than you? and here i thought you were smart."
"--but i want that kitkat." you whispered, almost pouting, mouth watering at the sught of the candy bar displayed.
"not gonna happen." mark then pulled you and started walking. he grabbed your tote bag full of books you had borrowed from the library. it was a normal thing for him to do, carry your things. he said something about 'your spaghetti arms can't carry weight bigger than an aquaflask.' which of course, is a flat out lie because you've been borrowing the same amount of books for years and jake didn't budge and offer to carry it so you had to carry it yourself. but mark being mark, he had every excuse just to do what he wants.
maybe it was his chivalry, or maybe just the way he talked. everything about him seemed so.. comfortable. he's someone you feel like you can trust-- and that's a big deal for you, because you had trust issues and you just met the guy for a month and you feel like you can tell him your deepest secret.
as you opened your car, you turned around to face mark and asked for your things. which of course, he didn't give it, instead he walked pass you and put the books inside your car himself.
"text me when you get home." he then stooped down to your level and slowly, his hands slowly touched something under your eyes.
his eyes are fixtated on whatever he's doing. while yours are looking at him. his dark brown eyes, down to his nose, and then his lips. the distance between your faces were too close. you can feel his breath fanning over your chin. this is really-- ah, shit.
"eyelash." he leaned back, showing you his finger which in fact, had a strand of your eyelash. that's when you were reminded to breathe.
"yeah-- sure, whatever." you quickly jumped inside your car and closed the door, allowing your self to calm down. you looked at your left, and there you can see a confused mark staring from your car window.
you just waved you hand goodbye at him, before starting the engine. you looked at the rear mirror to see mark's figure slowly disappear when you drove.
okay, y/n, what was that? you asked yourself. are you flustered? you looked at yourself in the rear mirror, and hell, you were redder than the devil himself. this is not good.
as you hit the breaks, some of your books in the passenger seat fell out of the tote bag. you looked at it and there's something you noticed.
a kitkat bar, with a note -- 'drive safe, -m'
your lips parted. you stared at it for what feels like forever and that's when you realized, you're fucked.
-
"jake i think i'm gonna stay at the library." you nudged at jake as you two got up from your desk.
jake looked at you, "you're not gonna have lunch?"
"i came packed," you tap on your bag, pertaining that you had a pack of lunch ready and you're just gonna eat in the library.
"oh-- that's new. okay, i'll tell mark." jake seemed to be convinced, as he nods and smiled. you take that as your cue to leave.
the truth is you don't have a packed lunch-- and you don't need to go to the library. you just need to spend a little less time from mark until this silly little crush goes away. that's what you've decided when you had come to terms that you do have developing feelings for mark and what better way to destroy the tree is to cut it before it even starts to grow.
and that's how you spent almost the whole week. avoiding talking to mark at all costs, making excuses for jake to hangout with mark without you, which you're glad jake doesn't ask questions-- well at least, you thought.
"are you avoiding me, or mark?" jake said when he found you at the school fountain, eating a sandwich alone.
you rolled your eyes, "now, why would i avoid you?"
and it's too late to realize that you said the wrong thing because,
"so you're avoiding mark?" jake now sitting beside you.
you stared at him, contemplating to tell everything because again, he is your best friend. if the situation is different and you two hadn't gotten close with mark, you'd spill everything the day you knew. but jake and mark had grown close, so its a bit complicated.
"no, why would i?" you looked ahead, avoiding his judgemental stares as jake examined your face.
"you suck at lying, y/n."
you closed your eyes, you took a deep breath. of course he'll know when you're lying.
"fine. i am avoiding mark." you gave up, looking at jake with the eyes filled with worry as you confess.
"why? i mean, yeah he's kinda mouthy but he's fun to hangout around. plus he's good at grilling meat so food's not it, maybe because--"
"that's not it, jake. its the opposite."
"what opposite? i don't get-- oh." jake's face turned from confused to suddenly amused, as he smirked at you.
"yeah," the only thing you said when you wait for jake to tease you-- or at least scold you.
instead, he sighed heavily and smiles, "i knew this would happen."
you looked at him, "no, you don't."
"shut up," jake shushed you with his finger made your mouth shut, literally. you slapped it away, of course.
"so how long has it been?"
"have no idea. but i realized it about a week ago." there's no point in lying now, jake knows you from the inside out.
"so what, you'll avoid him until everything goes away?"
"that's the plan."
"well that's a shitty plan." jake chuckled, making you turn to him and hit him.
"what, why?!"
"cuz if its a great plan then why is mark walking towards us now?"
thats when you looked to the left, and as jake said, mark is walking towrds you both but his eyes are fixated on you. you quickly looked away and attempted to stand up.
"and here i am, thinking i'm wrong and you're not avoiding me-- yet you're getting ready to run with the first sight of me." mark's voice was different from usual, this time more serious.
"look, no one's avoiding anyone." you told him, holding onto jake's arm like your life depends on it.
"i think i left something--" jake stood up, but you quickly pull him back down. you can't be left here with mark, for fucks sake you're bad at confrontations!
"sit back down." you sternly said to jake.
"what's happening? did i do something?" mark's voice turned soft, as he stooped down on you since you were sitting and he's tired of looking down.
"nothing, mark. i'm just busy." you almost face palmed yourself with your answer. really, y/n? busy?
"do you really think i'd fall for that?"
"i really think i should go--" jake attempted to walk away but you just held his wrist.
"yeah we should really go. i forgot to get this book from the library." you stood up beside jake.
mark stands up aswell. "did i do something wrong?"
"nothing! nada-- opseo. you're fine, mark-- i just.. we should go." thats when you pulled jake with you and started to walk swiftly.
"you're being unfair, you know?" jake spoke, as he pulled his wrist from you.
"i know-- i just don't know how to manouver around him. you think i enjoy doing this?"
"you're making him believe that he did something horrible to you. that's gonna fuck with his head for sure."
"i know, i'll fix this, don't worry."
--
[13:31pm] you: can we talk?
after almost half an hour deciding on how you should approach mark, you decided to just get straight to the point. you know this is the right thing to do. to explain to him why you're acting so weird around him lately.
jake had said something around, 'its better to get rejected when your feelings are still shallow' and there's not much things you agree on when it comes to jake, but this one seems about right.
sure, maybe you and mark's friendship could be destroyed in the process and it would hurt like a motherfucker, but at least... shit there's no actual upside from this.
before regret even comes around your mind, your phone vibrated.
[13:34pm] mark: that's all i'm asking for. send me ur loc i'll come find you.
here goes nothing.
in the end, you two decided to just meet at the local coffee shop near the university where you get your morning coffees. you arrived early so you just went and find a table for two.
knees shaking, you kept on eyeing the entrance just to see if mark is already here.
you sipped on your iced vanilla latte-- before glancing at the door again and there you see mark, standing tall among others-- looking around. not long after he saw you and his face lits up before actually walking.
"aw, man you already ordered? i said it was my treat toda--"
"i like you. like, a lot."
he froze, his eyes widen and jaw slightly parting, and then his brows furrowed. you're examining every reaction that he made. after what feels like a whole five minutes, he slowly sat down in front of you.
"did i hear you right? you-- you what?" his face screamed confusion, as he's refusing to believe what he just had heard.
"i don't know, okay?! believe me, i'm not the type to develop feelings for someone i met a month ago. even this is weird for me. so just get this over with and say that you don't like me like that." words came out of you naturally without even thinking. you cannot even look at him in the eye. this might be one of the most nerve wracking moments this year for you.
what even surprised you is what he said after that.
"who said i don't like you too?"
--
and here you are, sitting in mark's passenger side waiting for him to get out of the 7/11. he was craving ice cream and you know him, he gets what he wants.
"uh! babe, they're so good, you'll gonna regret not wanting to buy one." he grunts as he entered the car. you rolled your eyes,
"i could always steal that from you." you joked, removing some of his bangs thats almost touching the ice cream that he shoved in his mouth.
"not this one-- it's too good." he moaned, making you chuckle as you pull out your phone to take a picture of him going crazy over some ice cream.
"wish you ate pussy like that." you joked as you typed in your screen. you laughed as you heard mark choking over his ice cream, completely shocked by your bluntness.
"y/n, jesus let me eat my ice cream in peace!"
well, it is safe to say that everything went well after your confession. mark liked you back, and everything goes smoothly after that. you can feel how he changed around you, treating you more like a partner more than a friend.
and that goes on for almost 5 months now. yeah, a lot of time had passed.
are you two officially together? no.
is he your boyfriend? you'd like him to be, but no.
are you exclusive to each other? yes. you never even had a thought about entertaining someone else. mark had proven it aswell, not showing any interest to the many girls that flocks around him.
"i need to leave-- babe. jake just texted me that he's already at the bazaar." you told mark, as you showed your phonescreen to him to show jake's texts.
"tell him to eat shit because i want to be with you more." mark had finished his icecream, now holding your hands while the other steers the wheel.
"baby." you tried to add more authority to your voice but it didn't budge mark at all, instead he just smirked and looked at you.
"you know i get turned on when you use your angry voice, babe." he licked his lip, smirking at you and then looking back at the road.
you hit him lightly, "come on, babe, i'll see you later at jiyeon's, okay?"
"fine. text him and say we'll be there by five."
you looked at mark in the driver seat, holding the steering wheel with his left hand and the other on your thigh.
you wondered, how could you love someone this quickly? yeah, you've had people come and go in your life, but never like this. it's like, you never wanna let go of mark, even tho you don't have anything to hold onto. you just wanna stay with him.
his shirt was oversized as usual, so the fabric showed a little more skin on his collarbone. you saw a glimpse of his tattoo. it's a rose, he said he had it back in highschool when he was dumb and stupid.
"i really like your tattoo." you blurted out.
mark's smile suddenly disappears, as he fixed his shirt to cover it up. it seemed strange, but maybe he just really regretted having a tattoo.
"a stupid decision, i hate it." he said so spiteful, that made you drop the topic.
mark drove you to the food bazaar, and ofcourse, you two shared a lil make out sesh before you actually get off the car.
"hmm, babe as long as i want to eat your face longer, jake's fuming mad and you know he's annoying when he sulks." you leaned away from mark's face, looking at him slowly opening his eyes, lips a bit tinted from your lipstick, as he chased for your lips one more time.
you chuckled, putting your palm flat against his pouty lips. "no. i'll see you later." you get off his lap, and pulled out your mirror as you retouched.
"i hate jake so fucking much." mark whined. you smacked him in his shoulder playfully.
"i'll go ahead-- i'll text you when we're headed to jiyeon's!" you opened the car door while you waved at him. he nodded and gave you a flying kiss which you dodged as a joke and shut his door close.
life is good-- you're with mark, probably the most perfect boy ever, maybe you're biased but he's just really exactly what you wished for.
except for the fact that you have nothing to hold on to.
no label. what keeps you going is the fact that he said he liked you too. that's it.
and for a while, you were fine with it.
--
"that's weird, mark still haven't texted me yet." you looked at your phonescreen for the ninth time, to see if mark had texted.
"you did say that you'll be the one texting when we're on the way to the party." jake, busy stuffing his face with food.
"but he would always-- always text me first. you know that."
"aish, fine. let's go, i'll just finish this," jake then shoved the entire food in his mouth before standing up.
you have no reason to be paranoid, but somehow tonight feels different. your gut tells you to just stay home and not attend the party. you know jiyeon would understand if you called and say you're sick, right?
"on a second thought, maybe i should just stay home." you said as you buckled up in jake's car.
"na-uh. i'm not wasting gas just to drive you home and drive all the way back to jiyeon's place. come on, stop being so weird."
so you did, get to the party. fullpacked, as expected of jiyeon, the school's cheerleader. she's such a sweetheart, honestly. that's why she's almost friends with anyone.
as you entered, your mind was focused on finding mark. you're sure he's here. that's what you guys planned.
you've been trying to call him but no one answers. jake said maybe he's just enjoying the party. you've got nothing to worry about.
and its not like you have the right to know everything about him. afterall, you're not his girlfriend.
"happy birthday!" you greeted jiyeon and gave her a hug.
"aw, i'm glad you could make it!" jiyeon hugged you back.
"yeah-- couldn't miss it, this is like the houseparty of the year."
"well, you know me." jiyeon chuckled.
"have you seen mark?" you can't help but ask, because you're starting to feel weird. you've been here for about twenty minutes now and you still haven't seen him.
"oh yeah, about that, he's here-- actually, he knows some of the friends i have in the other school! they said mark came from their school. so i think he's been hanging out with them." you felt a relief. mark's just hanging out with old friends.
you almost wanted to smack yourself for being too paranoid.
"they're at the back!" jiyeon wandered off to greet other guests, so you took that as a sign to walk towards the backyard.
as you get near, you already heard cheers, laughing and chatting coming from the backyard. there, you saw a small circle which was all unfamiliar to you. people here at the party are all familiar, but these ones aren't.
and the man you've been wanting to see all night, was there, having the time of his life laughing his soul out.
what sparked the most interest in you is the girl beside him. she's so beautiful. beautiful enough to make you worry.
"hey! you found him?" suddenly, jake appears beside you. when he saw where you're looking at, he recognized mark.
"there he is! dude!' jake called out, which you quickly tried to stop him. you blurted out, "don't!"
but its too late. mark looked at your direction, and his smile suddenly disappeared. he looked scared, and then nervous.
"he was with his old friends, jake, you shouldn't have." you said to jake before turning around.
something inside you didn't feel right. the way mark reacted upon seeing you at the party feels weird. it's like he's forgotten about you and was shocked when he saw you.
you were about to go to the other side of the house when your wrist was pulled. "y/n."
mark called you by your name. oh. something you haven't heard for months. usually he calls you 'babe' or 'baby'. maybe not this time.
"hey." you gave him a smile and peeked at his back, seeing the girl he was with, behind him and softly smiling at you.
"hi." she waved shyly, which you replied with a smile aswell.
"uh- y/n, this is ryujin." hesitation in mark's voice was obvious, as he introduced you to the girl.
the girl then offered her hands, which you shook immediately. she was slightly taller than you, medium length hair, and so pretty. what stuck out the most is her fair skin, and red lips. almost like a shade of a rose.
"nice to meet you. i'm mark's.." you got stuck. who are you to him? you didn't know. so you looked at mark and you saw his eyes was filled with nervousness as if he was anticipating what you were gonna say.
"--friend." that's it, that's the right answer. you were his friend. that's what it is. you looked at mark again and you saw him blink, realizing what you just said and taking a sharp breath.
"oh. well, i really want to stay and chat, but i have to pee. markie, where's the bathroom?" ryujin held onto mark's arms, and mark glanced at you before showing ryujin the hallway to the bathroom.
once they got further, thats when you loosen your grip on your drink. your breathing was back to normal and you felt relief.
and then, boom. you felt heartbreak.
who is she? that's the first thing that popped into your mind. you feel like crying, right here, right now. she seemed so important to him. more than you. and you wanted to ask him, yell at him, fuck, but you can't. because you're nothing to him.
the music got loud, that's when you snapped back into reality and looked whatever is happening. jiyeon is now in front, saying something about 'the party is just getting started'
yet you feel like you want to run and go home.
you then walked to the pool area, which no one barely goes to because the waters freezing. there's a few people in there, but most of them are in the backyard.
you tossed your shoe to the side and dipped your feet into the water. the cold made you shiver, but atleast even a mere feeling got you distracted.
you were lost. you forgot that he had a whole life before you met him. you've been together for six months. six fucking months.
and you weren't even official. so why do you feel so fucking upset?
for a moment, you felt your heart stop when another set of feet dipped into the water beside you. you looked up, and there he was. your baby.
"hi," he smiled at you. the very same smile that makes you crazy.
"hi." you turned away from his gaze, and watched your feet sway under the water.
"why are you here? the party's over there."
"jake's probably getting wasted by beer pong and you were.." you paused. do you tell him he was with his girl? "..busy."
"yeah, those were old friends from school." he scooted more over to your side.
"you should go back, she might be looking for you." there it is. the bitter tone that you held back, came out. you didn't mean to, but it did.
"y/n." mark tried to hold your hand, but you refused and moved it away, pretending to get your drink beside you.
"are you gonna tell me who she is?" you asked. this is the only thing you needed to know. just this, and everything else will be okay.
"she's.. she's my ex." boom. you expected it, but damn does it still sting.
"you still love her?"
"y/n.. please." mark now looked at you and tried to hold your hand once again, but you just stood up.
if he can't answer the question, then that's it.
"i think i need a drink." you then grabbed your shoe and wore it, before mark could even answer, you were already walking away.
--
the morning you woke up, your phone blew up like crazy. you had it turned off after you left the party and texted jake that you're heading home.
13 missed calls from my markeu <3
[11:01pm] my markeu <3: where are you
[11:02pm] my markeu <3: jake told me u went home alr
[11:04pm] my markeu <3: baby atleast tell me you're home safe
[11:06pm] my markeu <3: answer ur phone babe
and so many more messages from mark you didn't bother to read the rest because you felt really off. last night he couldn't tell you if he's still inlove with his ex. he was with her the whole night and didn't bother to text you. now he's bombarding you with texts.
you're so glad it's the first day of summer. you didn't have to go to school so avoiding him would be easy.
so, unlike everyone else, you stayed home. everyone was probably away from vacation, and here you are. in front of your laptop watching netflix.
but still.. your mind is stuck with mark and his ex.
an idea popped into your mind. you feel crazy for doing this, but you know your mind wouldn't rest until you find out about them.
you searched mark's instagram, and you went to the tagged pictures. at first you saw pictures from your school, the ones that jake had posted-- and as you scroll down, you saw pictures from his old school.
the most recent one are a post from a man named jaemin, its a photo of him, mark and other friends that was in the party last night. ryujin was also there. it seems like she's really close with them. the caption saying, 'gonna spend the summer with the whole squad!'
so, they're planning on staying here for the summer? that's.. fine.
and as you tapped in one picture, him with his friends, you looked at the comments. mostly are boys-- probably his friends. you scrolled down until you saw a picture from a year ago.
the first photo was mark's tattoo. a rose.
then the second one was a girl's tattoo. a daisy.
the caption,
ryuu_jin: happy 3rd anniversary to my daisy. love, your rose.
--
"so, are you coming? i mean, it's the annual summer party! everybody's gonna be there, you know, to start the summer!" jake tried to sound enthusiastic as he proposed to you about the summer slam in the falls.
its an annual summer party that your town have. booze, music and free drinks so you know everybody's not gonna miss it.
except for you. it has been three days since you avoided mark. he had made efforts to call you everyday, even asked jake for help but jake already knows what's happening. so he didn't help mark, instead, he's been with you.
"i don't know, i think i'll pass on this year." you have no interest in torturing yourself this time. because you're pretty sure that mark and ryujin, together with his friends are still in town.
jake looks almost pissed, sighing and calming his self down before sitting down at the edge of your bed.
"look, y/n, mark and his friends are gonna be here for the whole summer. so are you gonna shut yourself out the entire time? come on, don't be a bummer."
you looked straight at jake, "jake please, i told you i'm not feeling well! why don't you just go by yourself? its easier for you because you're not in my shoe, dude. i'm not like you, i can't pretend to be okay when obviously i'm not!"
"all of this and you're not even his girlfriend."
and that ticked you off. "what the fuck? yeah i'm not! and it still fucking hurts because i did love him, you asshole. fuck you, honestly. get out of my room." you covered yourself with blankets before a tear escaped your eyes.
jake seemed to realize that what he said was wrong, so he immediately softens, "i'm sorry, y/n. i didn't mean it like that. i'm sorry."
gosh, what is even happening? you and jake never argued like this before. all of this because of mark? this is not good.
you sighed. you slowly uncovered yourself and looked at guilty jake, giving you an awkward smile. "let's go to the party.
---
"wooh!" you screamed at top of your lungs after you took a shot of pure vodka.
jake clapped at your craziness, so proud of his best friend. everyone was either wet, or drunk. and right now, you're both.
"fuck that taste horrible." you mumbled after recovering.
"yeah, that's pure alcohol. if you keep doing that i might need to call the ambulance for alcohol poisoning." jake gave you a lemon slice which you gladly accepted.
"i'm really glad i went to this party." you gave jake a smile of approval and he just laughed in your face.
you were about to grab the keg hose to give yourself a beer, when suddenly someone got a hold of your wrist.
you looked at the person, and its probably the least person you wanted to see.
"y/n." okay, y/n, remember your rule. act fine, don't let this affect you. show him that you're okay.
"hey, mark! want a beer?" you smiled at him, offering him a cup.
he looked hella confused, "why did you block me?"
"phone's dead." you continued to pour yourself beer, ignoring his eyes at any costs.
"for a week?" he almost sounded offended, which almost makes you vomit. the audacity.
"yeah. anyways, have you seen jake--"
"cut the crap, i want to talk to you. please." his eyes begged, looking at yours with so much sincerity, the same eyes you know you can't resist.
"i don't know if there's still something to talk about." you whispered, gathering all your courage to slowly open the can of worms.
"there is. i want to tell you everything."
with final hesitation, you decided this needed to happen for your sake. you know you're dying to know everything--- to clear everything, your mind, your heart and soul. better to get over this now.
so you and mark decided to sit at the bench away from people at the party, away from the music.
"so.." you started, waiting for him to say something.
"we were childhood friends."
the first dagger to your heart. are you sure you can take more?
"--and we got into a relationship, for three years. i loved her-- god damn, i really did." the way his voice cracked, says a million words.
"what happened?" you asked as if the answer wouldn't shatter your heart.
"drifted apart. her interest was far from mine. she had a different view of our future. i wanted to be with her forever but she got scared. we were kids, of course she was terrified. she wanted to explore more-- but i was sure about her."
the threathening tears in your eyes started to feel warmer. you wanted to hear that one of them had cheated, you wanted to hear that she was a bad person. so you could have a reason to hate her. but fuck, of course she's not.
"you really loved her, didn't you?" you asked. again, as if the answer wouldn't send another dagger through your heart.
"i did." he didn't even hesitated.
"so.. what happens to me?" you looked at him and the way your voice broke just confirms that you're in the brink of tears.
"y/n.. please. what happened to me and ryujin really hits me hard. she was my first love-- i can't just forget her." his voice was pleading. which makes it harder for you because you can tell he's also hurting.
"i'm not asking you to forget, mark. i'm asking you to put me in my place."
"y/n-- i like you, so fucking much." he held your hand like he depended on it, and it burned-- the desperation on the way he held it, it feels foreign-- just a while ago you called him your home, yet now he felt like a stranger.
"that's not enough if you still love her." it wasn't his fault. so why are you hurting him like this?
"i can't lose you."
"you have no choice. because i'm not fixing a man that i didn't break."
--
you see, people come and go all the time, but the way they leave always stays. and with mark-- well, him and ryujin left with a bang.
an instagram post,
ryuu_jin 'he's mine, you may of had him once, but i got him all the time.'
and a picture of mark, smiling brightly at the camera while eating ice cream.
"fuck this shit." you tossed your phone and covered your face with your pillow and screamed.
what was the reason she had to caption it like that!? what a fucking way to rub it in your face.
"she's doing it on purpose, maybe mark had mentioned what happened to her. what a fucking prick." jake said through the phone. oh, he's pissed aswell.
one thing about jake is when he knows you're being ridiculed or being hurt by someone, he gets mad. he's protective about things like this.
he offered to message mark about it but you don't want to make a big fuss about it. you just don't want anything to do with them anymore.
you stayed home for almost a week. practically living off of mcdonald's chicken nugget and store bought ice cream. jake knew you were heartbroken so what better way to mend a broken heart than an unhealthy supply of fast food.
but today, you had no choice but to go to a coffee shop. you maybe heart broken but hell, that wouldn't stop you from getting your favorite caffeine drink from your favorite coffee shop.
"one americano for y/n." you heard the barista call your name so that's when you stood up and got your coffee.
you thanked the barista and quickly walked to the door but not quick enough, as your wrist were grabbed.
"what the--" you words cut off when you saw who pulled you.
"mark?"
"y/n. how are you?" voice laced with concern, he genuinely want to know how you're doing.
you pulled your wrist from him.
remember, y/n, you don't have to be bitter. you're better than them.
"doing great." you said. looking over him, seeing ryujin sitting at the chair where mark had been sitting earlier. honestly, if you've noticed that they're here, you would pass on coffee for today.
"i'm sorry about ryujin's post, i told her to delete it already." oh, so he didn't know about the stunt his girl pulled?
"don't worry about it, no big deal. i really have to go." you can only be nice for a while, but you can't spend your afternoon hanging out with him and his girl. you're not a saint.
"y/n, please, just let me.. fuck." he held your wrist again, he's in crisis. mark can never lie. you can tell when he's really in deep shit.
"let you what?"
"let me look at you. i fucking missed you." he whispered the last sentence but you picked it up.
you smirked. "you can't be that selfish, mark, right? now go, ryujin's already looking over here." she's already eyeing you and mark from a distance.
"shit." mark closed his eyes and squeezed your wrist gently, before letting go. you took that as a chance to walk away.
it felt nice-- the way you stood up for yourself.
you don't need him, you can go on fine by yourself. just a little bit of a kick start and you're off. its gonna be great. all's gonna be fine.
--
you know damn well this isn't happening to you.
you rang jake's phone again for a what feels like the ninety ninth time, but his service was out.
you see, what happened was jake had set you up with a friend. a really nice guy. 'something to take your mind off the canadian boy' in jake's words.
and you know jake knew what your taste in men are so he set you up with his good friend, jay.
he's good looking-- wait, no, he's fucking gorgeous. him and you had similar taste in music and all that cheesy stuff. you seemed to enjoy his company so you had spent hours talking to him.
he asked you if you could go with him at the slum city. a popular bar here in your town. something about a summer thing that the bar offers live band. you agreed, of course.
so here you are, sitting with him, listening to music you and him both like.
but why are you sweating buckets you might ask?
well because mark lee, and all of his friends are sitting at the other side of the bar. his arms around ryujin, them laughing about something that you're sure isn't funny.
"hey, you alright?" jay asked. poor boy, here he thought you would enjoy the vibe but you looked constipated.
"yeah. yep." you nodded at him to give him assurance.
you glanced over at mark's side of the bar and you saw him glancing over you aswell. you looked away swiftly and pretended to drink.
somehow, this large space where the music and chatters filled seemed so suffocating for you. you weren't even claustrophobic but the distance between you and mark feels so uncomfortable, you weren't ready to see him happy just yet.
sounds selfish, you know, but you can't help it. seeing him happy while you were on the opposite of the spectrum just didn't seem fair.
once you felt your chest tightening, you knew it was bad news. you need to get out of here.
"jay, i need to go to the bathroom." you whispered over to jay, which distracts him from watching the band in front. he looked at you with concern, and offered to walk you to the comfort room.
you gently refused, because honestly you weren't gonna go there to pee, you were actually planning to get out of the establishment. to breathe.
you stood there, hands in your waist, breathing the oxygen that the establishment failed to provide you.
you can still hear the music that the band played, but here its more lower. instead, it got clouded over some cars passing by and noise made by the highway.
"your boyfriend?" you almost jumped out of shock when you heard a female voice behind you.
you turned, and viola, the heather in your story.
"no. not yet." you replied to ryujin, although you were aware that your answer just opened the awkward silence that you were trying to avoid, there's not much you wanted to say to her.
"oh. that's nice." if you thought the situation couldn't be more awkward, her response just proved you wrong.
the whole minute that just passed feels like a lifetime. you were sure she went to you with a reason, and you were only waiting for her to say anything.
and just like you hoped, she spoke.
"you know, i've always wanted to meet you." her soft voice that fits her angelic face starting to annoy you.
you didn't answer, still finding a correct response to what she just said. before you could find it tho, she continued.
"you made him so happy. i can tell, i've been seeing his posts for the last few months."
at least she was aware that i was here for him.
"yeah well we both liked justin bieber so that's easy." you tried to lift the mood, which didn't really help at all.
she chuckled, damn, even her laugh sounds so angelic.
"but you know we've been together for 3 years, right?" mood turned sour faster than usain bolt. you can't help but look at her when she said that.
"and you two have been together for.. a half." hearing those words from her mouth just broke you. you've never felt so down, so embarassed and so mad at the same time.
"what's your point?" your tone started to get colder, wanting her to leave you alone. you can't argue with her, all she said was facts.
"that i'm his home, and he just went for a little vacation but he's still going back to me." her tone almost sounded like she's bragging, like she's proving that she's always the girl. which, she is.
"and i know that. but didn't you break up?" you wanted this conversation to be over, but god, you can't just let her step on you like everything was your fault.
"we did, for like-- a year. but guess who's driving me home tonight? him. he loves me and he will always do. so i suggest, stop wasting your time on him because he's mine. i know its a hard pill to swallow but you know i'm right."
how could you respond to that? she's got a point.
"i already ended things with him. so please, just leave me alone--"
"y/n? ryujin? wha- why are you two--" ah, the man behind all of this. mark lee.
"nothing, markie. just reminded her some things." ryujin came back with her innocent smile as she faced mark. yet, mark's eyes are on you.
"y/n? hey!"
the relief you felt when you heard jay call your name. right on motherfucking time.
you looked at him as he ran towards you, voice filled with concern as he looked at you and the couple around you with confusion.
"hey, sorry, got caught up with some.." you glanced at mark and ryujin, "..old friends."
jay wasn't convinced, still eyeing both of them as he consoled you and put his jacket around you.
"it's cold out here. you said you were going to the bathroom." you looked at jay.
you stared at him. this man, gives you everything you needed to be a partner, and you're sure he's got no ex that he's still not over with, and he's drop dead gorgeous. why can't it be him?
"i'm sorry. let's go--"
"y/n, can we talk?" a curse almost slipped your mouth as you heard mark.
you sighed. you're tired. you want to move on and get this all over with.
"yeah, let's talk." you gave jay an assuring smile and said that you'll be back, ryujin also had no problem with mark talking to you.
you needed to end this.
"who's he? your boyfriend? when did you--"
"what do you want from me, mark? cuz i'm sick and tired of the bullshit you're trying to play. if you choose your ex then stop bugging me! let me fucking move on because i can't be hung up on you like a stupid lovesick bitch!" there. the anger you've been trying to hide just flew out. and honestly, you don't care.
"i told you needed time to sort my feelings! it's hard for me too! i never expected her to want me back-- y/n, i thought we were over!" his voice sounded exhausted aswell.
"you were broken up but you weren't over her, mark. that's just not fair for me, because how could you start something with me when you're not even finished with her?" your tears started to flow.
"i genuinely liked you, fuck i might be inlove with you for pete's sake!" you ears rang after you heard word 'love'.
you wanted to believe him. you wanted to ask and confirm what you heard but you knew it wasn't true. it can't be love. no.
"you don't, mark." you gave up on yelling, completely breaking down in front of him.
"how can you dictate my own feelings, y/n?! you don't know me!" he's the one yelling now.
"you weren't inlove with me, you like me because the idea of me reminds you of her--"
"no!-"
"let me fucking finish!"
his mouth falls into a thin line, a tear slowly filling the brim of his eyes.
"mark, don't you understand? you're saying that you love me because you feel guilty. you feel like you owe it to me, because i got hurt. can't you see? i'm the other girl."
there it is. the fact that you hated. the truth that you despise. you were the side character.
"you two are meant for each other and i'm just the other girl who you had to meet when you're broken-- just like any other lovestory. and after the happiness you felt with me-- you'll realize that it's still her. i hate to admit it but that's what it is." your voice was trembling, but you had to get the point across.
"what are you saying? no, y/n, don't be like that--"
"it's okay. i'll be fine, mark. you don't need to say anything." you shushed him, giving him a smile despite the tears rolling on your cheeks.
you continued, "it fucking sucks that it had to be me, but what can we do? life sucks anyways. you don't need to blame yourself over this, mark. i'm okay-- i'll be okay."
you caressed his soft cheeks to get rid of his tear, one last time.
you took a sharp breath. "go, mark. be with her. i'll be here. you know that boy-- earlier? he's a great catch, i know he'll take care of me. it's okay, let go."
mark, finally processing everything that you're trying to make him understand.
he sniffed, leaning to your face, giving you a stare you knew you wouldn't see again, before kissing your forehead like his life depended on it.
after a few minutes he looked at you again.
"thank you-- and i'm so sorry." the last words he said before walking away.
A year later
that brings you to now, you were already settling down on a new job, an internship that your school had gotten you after graduating.
jay and you tried, but it didn't work. maybe you're still hung up over your college fling but mostly you really don't want to lead him on when you're still not ready to fall into another relationship again.
you were scrolling through instagram and one particular post caught your attention.
it was from ryujin.
ryuu_jin: i said yes!
a picture of her hand, wearing a diamond ring.
you smiled. you weren't gonna say it doesn't hurt still, but you're glad they got the ending they deserved.
mark took all of his effort to avoid you-- even changing his entire schedule just to make sure you two weren't in the same class anymore. you never saw him again-- literally as he moved back to seoul after graduation.
he had stopped hanging out with jake aswell which doesn't bother jake-- because he's still mad at him for hurting you.
you'd accepted the faith that you weren't mark's happy ending, you were just a mere side character.
"it's fine, you'll get your prince charming soon." you whispered at yourself as you fixed your skirt.
you dusted off your button up shirt as you walked towards the building where you walk.
and as you looked up, its way too late for you to notice that you're bumping with someone.
"i'm so sorry! i'm so--"
to say that you're stunned was a huge understatement. your jaws were dropped upon seeing the man in front of you.
"sorry." his deep voice followed, smiling at you, presenting his eye smile that oh-- just adds to it all.
"yeah- uh.." you didn't know what to say, as you forced your eyes away from his gorgeous face.
"do you happen to know where na corporations is?" na corporations? that's the company you're interning right now!
"i'm actually on my way there-- uh, i'm the new intern." you grabbed your id and showed it to him, which he saw, and immediately his brows furrowed.
"y/n?" he muttered your name to spark some memory in his brain, because he swore you felt familiar.
that's when it downed on him, "you're l/y/n?"
you blinked twice, softly nodding to him as you let your id down. he took his time scanning your face, and you took the opportunity to appreciate his gorgeous face aswell.
is this my prince charming? no-- i mean, it can't be that fast!
although you wished he is, because god damn, you'd be a lucky girl if you managed to pull this one.
"i'm lee mark's cousin, lee jeno."
oh you've got to be kidding me.
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The fanfic no one asked for, not even me. Based on characters from the Throne of Glass Series.
When Aelin and Elide have their car impounded by police, they turn to their boyfriends for help. Modern AU. Lorcan and Rowan are idiots together, bromance at its finest, I hope.
Boys Night Out
Despite the fact that he without a doubt loved his girlfriend and the fact that he would do anything for her—Rowan Whitethorn questioned her sanity more often than not.
“All I need is the cellphone charger,” Aelin assured him. Her slim fingers straightened the collar of his shirt before slowly running down his chest. A pert smile rested on her sinful mouth as she leaned into him. “And when you get back, I promise to make it up to you.”
Rowan groaned tilting his head back when she pulled away. She was going to be the death of him.
Humming to herself, Aelin flashed a dazzling smile as she delved deeper into the apartment she shared with her cousin. Without saying anything else, she began putting away the dishes that he had washed just a few hours ago.
“Aelin,” Rowan began, trying desperately to come up with excuses to get out her request.
“Charger, Whitethorn,” Aelin said. She pointed a knife at him before sliding it into the wooden block holder beside the sink.
“And silver pumps!” Elide, Aelin’s cousin, sashayed into the kitchen from her room down the hall. Her long, dark hair hung around her shoulders. She smiled pleasantly at Rowan. “I borrowed Manon’s shoes without her permission. I need them back.”
Rowan looked between the two girls. Between Aelin’s deft ability to throw a punch and sever a carotid artery and Elide’s charm and manipulation, Rowan knew he was cornered.
“I already called back up,” Elide said when Rowan hesitated. She flashed a brilliant smile before winking at a cackling Aelin. “He’ll be here—”
A knock thudded against the front door of the apartment. Without waiting for anyone to answer, the door swung open and Lorcan Salvaterre stood in the hall. His ever-present scowl was carved deep into the sharp lines of his face, though his eyes softened when they landed on Elide.
“See,” Elide chirped glancing back to Rowan, “back-up.”
The two men glared at each other. They’d been close friends, up until Rowan started seriously dating Aelin. Since, they’d only seen brief spurts of each other. Thing improved, barely, when Lorcan and Elide began seeing each other. Still, there was unresolved tension between the friends that Rowan had no idea how to fix.
“Great,” Rowan said.
#
“So, you’re saying that Aeilin’s car got impounded and she can’t live eight hours without her charger?” Lorcan asked as the two stalked around the outer fence of the Adarlan impound lot.
It was barely one o’clock in the morning making everything take on a dull stillness. Gratefully there was an almost full moon over head making the yellow streetlights a little less eerie.
“And Elide’s shoes,” Rowan added. He stared at the chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. “You think there are cameras?”
Lorcan grunted from beside him and hefted a large black bag from off his shoulder. “I came prepared.”
Tying his black hair out of the way, Lorcan opened the bag and pulled out a sleek black weapon.
“You brought your paintball gun?” Rowan asked, quirking a brow. “Seriously?”
“Always be prepared,” Lorcan said. He glanced over his shoulder at Rowan. “We were in boy scouts together, remember?”
“You hated boy scouts.”
“Doesn’t mean I didn’t pay attention.”
Rowan didn’t even want to know why Lorcan had a paintball gun ready and able in his car.
Kneeling next to the fence, Lorcan readied the gun. It was outfitted with a scope and everything. This was a bad idea. But Rowan had no room to protest as Lorcan took aim and shot out the camera perched on a tall post in the middle of the yard. It was a direct hit.
“Scouts?” Rowan asked unable to help the grin.
“You try playing paintball with Elide,” Lorcan replied. A ghost of a smile flashed across his mouth. “Ruthless.”
As would be expected of the petite girl. An old injury left her with a slight limp, but Elide never let that stop her. And while Rowan hadn’t spoken with Lorcan much in the past few months, he knew that a girl like Elide was just what his friend needed in his life.
“I’d say we have twenty minutes before security notices us,” Rowan said as Lorcan put the gun away. He put a hand on the fence and rattled it gently. There was a padlock and chains keeping it in place, obviously, but Rowan wondered if there was a way to slip between the two fence parts.
“You think there’s dogs?” Lorcan asked. He peered through the fence only slightly wary.
“You’re not afraid are you Salvaterre?” Rowan mocked.
“Dogs don’t like me.”
“I thought I heard Elide say you were going to adopt one?”
“She,” Lorcan emphasized, “she is going to adopt one.”
Rowan snorted back a laugh and examined the fence again. “I don’t hear anything. You know Mayor Havilliard’s cut police funding, there’s no dogs. Now start climbing.”
Lorcan cursed, but indeed began to climb. It was only when the two men reached the top of the fence, face to face with the barbed wire that they paused.
“My jacket’s leather,” Lorcan said. He glanced at Rowan.
“So, I’ll just sacrifice my shirt then?” Rowan looked down at his button up. It had been a hot day and the night had contained that heat leaving it unnecessary for more than a long-sleeved shirt.
They examined the barbed wire.
“Oh hell,” Lorcan said. With surprising ease, he slipped out of his jacket and slung it over the barbed wire. As he hefted himself as best he could over the top of the fence, he tried to remember why he’d agreed to this plan. “Because you love her, because you love her.”
“What?” Rowan hissed as Lorcan descended the other side of the fence.
“Reminding myself why the hell I’m here!” Lorcan snapped back. He dropped down the last five feet, landing in a crouch. “Don’t rip my jacket.”
“You sound like Aelin talking about her nightgowns,” Rowan said.
“I did not need to hear that.”
Rowan barked out a laugh and pulled himself and Lorcan’s jacket over the fence. He received no scratched himself, but there was no mistaking the soft rip of one of the sharp barbs on the jacket.
Cursing thoroughly, Lorcan snatched the jacket from Rowan after he’d landed. In the dim light of a few overhead lamps, he examined the rip at the left shoulder.
“Think of it this way,” Rowan said bumping into him lightly, “you can put some more of your boy scouting days to use. Wasn’t there a sewing badge?”
“Shut-up,” Lorcan said. He yanked the jacket back on and stared mournfully at the rip.
Rowan didn’t wait. He had a sinking feeling that they weren’t going to get out of this alive. Well, alive yes. But completely free? Unlikely. Especially if Chaol was an on-duty cop tonight. He was a good buy but had too much damn honor to let things go sometimes.
“Silver Lexus,” Rowan said. He looked over the lot and saw mostly beat up trucks or Toyota Corollas composed of ten different car parts. Was this the impound lot or the junkyard? Hell, it was going to be a long night.
“Of course the bitch-queen has a Lexus,” Lorcan muttered.
Rowan was certain his friend hadn’t meant to say it so he could hear, but Rowan had hearing better than most. He stooped over and grabbed a piece of plastic that had fallen off the bumper of the car next to him. He tossed it at Lorcan. The other man dodged the attack with ease and cast Rowan a vulgar gesture.
“Don’t talk about my girlfriend like that,” Rowan said. He glowered in Lorcan’s direction. Jaw setting, Lorcan shrugged and continued the search.
In all honesty, Rowan wasn’t certain what had transpired between the two. But in all the time Lorcan and Aelin had known each other, which was nearing on two years, there was little diplomacy or kindness shared.
Lorcan turned away from Rowan so he couldn’t see his reaction, but something told him it involved eye rolling.
“She’s a good person,” Rowan called out as the search continued. He glanced over to see Lorcan had launched himself onto the hood of a red corvette. Given that Lorcan was practically a giant, the action seemed a bit overkill to Rowan. “If you’d give her the chance you might actually like her.”
He heard a dark chuckle echo across the distance between them, but no answer beyond that.
“Sure, be all broody, is that what Elide calls it? Silent and broody.” Rowan said. He mostly just wanted to get a rise out of Lorcan, see how far he could push his friend. And of course, try and get to the bottom of the hostility that always seemed to be brewing. “Broody, broody, broody.”
“Whitethorn would ya shut-up?”
Rowan grinned and ducked down to peer through a car window, maybe he was missing something in the other row. If this was some wild goose chase Aelin had constructed, Rowan was going to murder her. Even if it meant facing Elide. And Aedion. And Lysandra. He’d need to think the murder through.
The two searched in silence for another few minutes before Lorcan let out a sharp whistle. “Over here.”
Rowan wove through the rows of cars until he reached Lorcan’s side. They stared at the sleek Lexus where it nestled between a Ford and a conglomerate contraption of at least four different cars. Aelin would have a fit if she could see her car now.
“Let’s get the stuff and get out,” Rowan said. Thankfully, Aelin had given him the spare keys to the car. As he unlocked the doors, Lorcan stiffened.
“Did you hear that?” Lorcan asked. His eyes narrowed and he looked around the lot.
Rowan threw open the driver side door and paused. He glanced toward the old guard station, but it was black, looking distinctly empty. Whatever Lorcan had heard didn’t sound again. Slumping into the car, Rowan poked around for Aelin’s charger. The car, miraculously was kept clean. A miracle considering how much chocolate cake Aelin ate on a regular basis and how often her snacking occurred in her car. The lingering scent of her perfume wafted from the seats and despite how annoyed he was at this lucrative situation; Rowan made a note that he should buy Aelin both chocolate cake and another bottle of perfume.
He found the charger in the glove box. “Found the charger. I don’t see the shoes.”
Rowan straightened to see Lorcan was still examining every inch of the lot. His brow furrowed in concentration. Rowan was about to ask what was the matter when he heard the distinct howl of a dog.
“Crap,” Rowan said. He and Lorcan met gazes, neither moving. “Someone could be walking by?”
Lorcan shot him a withering look when the bark came again. Louder and definitely closer. “Oh hell,” Lorcan hissed. The bark was joined by another dog. “Oh hell, oh hell.”
“Lorcan get the damn shoes!” Rowan yelled already spinning away from the car.
Lorcan dove into the front door, half splayed over the front seat as he dug around the back of the car. He flung one sliver pump over his shoulder to where it settled on the front seat. The other soon followed. Wiggling and cursing, Lorcan dragged himself out of the car, shoes in hand. He looked half-wild with his hair splayed over his face, dark eyes wide.
“Run you idiot!” Lorcan said. He clutched the shoes to his chest and dashed past Rowan as the barking took up in earnest.
“I’m not wearing the right shoes for this.” Rowan stuffed Aelin’s charger in his pocket and launched himself atop the closest car. His shoes, indeed were not conducive to jumping on top of cars and sprinting passed pissed off guard dogs. For some stupid reason he was still in his sleek office shoes that had no traction whatsoever. This is what he got for getting a 401K and benefits.
“You’re worried about your shoes?” Lorcan yelled back. He was already halfway back to the front fence intermittently jumping onto the hood of various cars and back down to avoid raging Cujo’s.
“You have your jacket, I have my shoes,” Rowan called.
The dog leaping toward him was a Doberman with sharp ears and sharper teeth. It snarled at him chomping its jaws wildly. With dexterity he’d forgotten he had, Rowan launched himself over the hood of the car behind Aelin’s and over the top towards a beat-up truck that was massive enough it should prevent the dog from getting to close.
“Rowan, get your ass over here!” Lorcan bellowed.
Launching himself on top of the truck, Rowan ran over the tops of the row of cars toward Lorcan. The dark-haired man was already out of his leather jacket and climbing the barbed fence. Despite his bulk, Lorcan could move damn fast if he wanted.
From somewhere behind Rowan the dogs gave chase. He could hear the heavy breathing, the nails on pavement, the growls. And then came the human shouts.
“Hey! Adarlan Police!” The voice, thankfully didn’t sound like Chaol’s. Though maybe Chaol would have been more pliable to let Rowan and Lorcan off with a warning.
In three long lunges, Rowan made it the final distance to the fence and began climbing. Lorcan was already up and over the fence, the bag with the paintball gun slung on his shoulder.
Rowan hauled himself unceremoniously over the top of the fence, grabbing Lorcan’s jacket in one fist and scrambling down the other side. He dropped too high off the ground, but managed to stick the landing. He looked over his shoulder in time to see the Doberman launch at the fence, claws rattling against the metal and slobber flecking out from it’s mouth.
“Hell,” Rowan gasped.
Lorcan grabbed his arm and began pulling him down the side walk in a brisk walk that quickly turned into a run. The two didn’t stop until they were as far from the impound lot they could get. Rowan’s car left forgotten along the street. They’d been so desperate to get away and avoid any sort of detection that the car seemed to scream trouble.
Nearly ten blocks later, after several pauses to curse Aelin for parking in an illegal zone, Rowan and Lorcan sagged against a the side of a building near a popular club. Music pulsed around them as well as the thick stench of smoke, alcohol, and vomit.
Lorcan spat before looking at Rowan. “So remind me, what is it about her you like so much? Her wilds schemes that land her into trouble? Or her wild schemes that land others into trouble?”
“You’re one to talk,” Rowan fired back. He brushed his hair out of his eyes. “You and Elide are polar opposites.”
“She sends you out at two o’clock in the morning to get a phone charger,” Lorcan continued.
“You’re holding onto those shoes like they’re gonna save your life.”
“Have you met Manon?”
Rowan snorted and shook his head. He paused as the bass from the club behind them rumbled. Whatever he said wasn’t going to help Lorcan see Aelin in a different light. But he could hope that it would mend whatever bridge had been broken between him and one of his oldest friends.
“Aelin makes me want to be a better person,” Rowan finally said. He shrugged glancing Lorcan over. “And I have a feeling the same could be said for Elide about you.”
Lorcan said nothing. He merely leaned his head against the brick behind them.
“Plus, I know I can do this,” Rowan added. He pulled his phone from his pocket and made a phone call. When the line connected, he grinned. “Hey Fireheart. We need a ride.”
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