#Writing a full fanfic in English required a lot of brain power from me but it was so much fun!! ♡

[dollxhime]

BSD Rarepair Week: day 2, 3 & 6

💐 // Pining

Lucy wasn't into girls. Or at least she thought so.

It's not like she had time to think about romance before when her life revolved around needing to be useful or else she'd be thrown away like a rag doll that had no value.

Ever since Lucy had started working at the Uzumaki, she would get up early, get ready, do the dishes downstairs and prepare fresh coffee just before opening hour. She could have a share of it too; the owners were very nice to her and she was grateful for that.

Her usual routine had become something so average, so normal, it slowly began giving her time to think about other things instead of obsessing over usefulness. And that's where she comes in.

'I'll have something that helps pick me up', she would usually say. And just as asked, Lucy would bring it to her and go back to her usual chores behind the counter. And then one of those days went differently.

"Hey, waitress. Lucy, was it?"

She looked up from the soapy dishes in her hands to look at the doctor. "Yeah, what do you want?"

"I have some shopping to do today. Want to come with?" she said nonchalantly.

Huh???

"Come with you??? Why?" was all she could blurt out.

"Do you ever do anything else with your time other than working at the cafe? Every woman could use some 'ladies time out' now and then."

Lucy didn't even have time to ask where she was getting at; when she realized, she was already being dragged out the door. Though she protested and flailed her arms in the first moment, she had no choice but to eventually surrender to the doctor's will.

And when she realized again, she was actually having fun.

She had never had friends so she had never done the kind of stuff friends do together like the pointless talks while roaming around doing window shopping, trying out dresses and makeup, stopping at someplace to have tea and snacks.

"No one ever wants to come along," Yosano casually complained. "So thank you for coming with me. It's much less boring with company."

"It's not like I had a choice anyway..." Lucy pouted, making the doctor smile at her.

"But you had fun, didn't you?"

Yosano arched her brows, the shameless smile of someone who knew a little too much plastered on her face when Lucy looked away angrily and flushed.

"Well-"

"If you'd like, we could do this more times. I had fun too," she asked without waiting for Lucy to voice out her fake complaints.

And after that, Lucy started looking forward to it every weekend without even realizing it. She couldn't see the smile that appeared on her face whenever the time came to hang her apron and leave with the doctor in tow, but everyone noticed.

Lucy could try denying it all she wanted but she came to enjoy the company. Her heart beat fast and her face flushed when the doctor complimented her appearance when an outfit looked good on her, for once she'd feel beautiful. And when they exchanged words about their interests, she would feel compelled to want to know more even when the things they liked were so mismatched it was almost like they lived in different worlds.

She wanted to listen and see more. What was the perfume she used? It had a really good fragrance. She had very pretty nails too, she once noticed when they were sharing nail polish tips. And was it too weird if she wondered if the lipstick she wore had a peachy taste like she imagined? Better leave that thought well-kept, it is weird.

And then one night as she was getting ready to go to bed, it hit her.

Wait a minute.

Could she possibly...? be crushing on the doctor???

She wasn't into women, was she? The first time she had ever felt that kind of longing toward someone, it had been that stupid tabby cat but he was so dense he couldn't pick up a hint to save his sorry life, much so she figured it would be easier to just bottle it up and give up on it. Thing is, he was a guy. What was with this new development???

No, that couldn't be. She was just overreacting... right? It was the first time she had gotten direct and constant attention and affection from someone else, a very pretty woman whom she wanted to become friends with at that... So she was just thrown off balance like that because it was something so new she didn't know how to process it.

That must be it.

The next time she saw Yosano after all that self-questioning was the time that put the last nail in the coffin and diagnosed Lucy with terminal gay and she could no longer deny it.

"Mornin', Lucy!" she greeted spiritedly. "Ready to go?"

The simple mention of her name made her heart race so fast it felt like she needed to gulp very hard to send it back to her chest. Lucy glared at the doctor with a bewildered look while her face went through all the shades from pink to red one could find in a paint catalog before rushing out the door.

"SORRY! SOMETHING CAME UP TODAY!!!"

Yosano stared at the cafe's door flipping on its hinges, confused.

🌹 // Lucy

Okay, I thought to myself.

You can't keep avoiding her forever, it's been weeks. Just keep it together and act normally. If I end up losing her because of this streak of screw-ups, I'll be very upset with myself. If possible, I wanted to keep being friends at the very least.

Yeah. I did it once, I can do it again.

The bell on the cafe's door rings once it's flung open and my heart skips a beat as soon as I see her. Our eyes meet and I feel myself steering back and before she approaches the counter, I flee into the kitchen's backroom.

I can't do it at all!

Grunting in frustration, I force my brain. Think, Lucy, think. You have to do something, you can't keep just running away forever.

My eyes notice the notepad we use to account for inventory and an idea comes to me: if I get too nervous to even say anything, I could write down a note and give it to her.

I pat onto my apron's pockets in search of the pen I keep there, and once it's found, I begin writing. I'm not sure any of this sounds impressive or fancy, it kinda feels more like a diary page of a girl going off about her school's crush if anything but it'll have to do. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

Leaving the backroom, I return to an empty cafe save for the master working on his coffee as usual. He notices me and the frown on my face, asking if everything's alright.

"I'm fine, don't worry. Where did she go? The doctor."

"Oh, she just left. Said she had come for you but since it looked like you were busy, she went on her way."

There was still time to catch up; good thing the agency was literally next door.

"Thanks! I'll, uh... Just excuse me for a moment, okay? I'll be back soon!"

Before I could even reach the staircase, I felt something latch onto my wrist and tug at me to pull me into a corner. My face immediately flushed when I noticed who was in front of me.

"I figured you'd come looking for me soon enough," Yosano said. She looked into my eyes, a serious look on her face.

I swallowed and tried to still my nerves. "Y-yeah. Yeah, I was looking for you."

"You've been avoiding me, haven't you? I noticed."

Man, detectives are scary. But being subtle wasn't my forte so even a moron would be able to tell anyway.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, now looking concerned. "Did I force my whims on you too much? I know I may come off as forceful sometimes, so if that's the case-"

"No... That's... not it," I feebly mumbled, unable to keep eye contact.

"What's up then? Is everything alright with you?"

"Yeah... I mean, uh..."

Maybe not? Maybe yes, I don't know anymore. This feels too different and I've never felt my heart beat this fast.

"There's something I gotta tell you. Something personal, so..."

"Yes? I'm listening."

"I, uh..."

"Don't worry, no one will hear you down here. The office's door upstairs is pretty thick."

I inhale deeply. This would be the best moment to hand her the hurried note I wrote but I completely forget about the damn thing until it's too late.

"I think... I like you. Would you... Would you go out with me?" I mumble nearly incoherently.

Yosano's brows knit together. "What? Sorry, I couldn't quite catch what you just said-"

I explode before I lose all my courage. "WOULD YOU GO OUT WITH ME ON A DATE???"

🪻 // Yosano

I blinked.

"I think I have a crush on you!" Lucy blurts, face as red as a tomato. "That's why I've been avoiding you! I'msorry!"

"Oh my," is all I muster to say at first. She continues, talking so fast her accent starts making words hard to understand.

"Lucy," I call.

"AndwhenIrealizedIwassodownbadandI'venevergonethroughthissoIhaven'tthefaintestideaofwhattodo-"

"Lucy!" I call louder while I bring my hands to her shoulders and gently shake her. "Calm down. It's okay. I'm glad you finally told me."

The maiden looks completely puzzled for a second. "Y-you knew?!"

"Girl, I'm a detective," I smiled, letting go of her. I could tell she could use some personal space to still her nerves. "And a woman. We're keen observers."

"Y-you could've told me earlier! Gosh, I feel so stupid now!"

"Sorry, I just didn't want to intrude. Sometimes we need time to process our feelings, it's something that only us can do."

"You sound oddly okay with it..." Lucy points out, suspicious. Her face suddenly lights up, "D-does that mean...?!"

"Oh, dear," I said with an apologetic tone. "It's unfortunate, but I can't reciprocate your feelings. I'm sorry."

Lucy deflated like a popped balloon as a heavy sigh left her but recovered very fast. "Well, at least now I know. Should have figured you weren't into girls... That'd be too good to be true."

I blinked at her again. "I never said that."

"Huh???" she sounded truly puzzled.

"I swing both ways, cutie pie," I explained with a sly smirk. "But even if I didn't, I wouldn't treat you any differently because of it. It's completely okay."

"Wait, so..." Lucy frowned as if creasing her forehead would give her brain an additional help to make 2+2. Realization then hit her. "Oh! Ooooh."

"Yeah, I'm already... You know," I chuckle.

"I'd never be able to tell."

"You never asked! We're pretty reserved about it for reasons," I shrug, doing my best not to laugh at the irony that it had been specifically Lucy to crush on me. Apparently, I'm a redhead magnet. "Regardless, it's still a big flattery to be someone's gay awakening," I winked playfully at her. Lucy's face flared up in red again.

"You can tell even that?!"

"Been there, done that," a wry smile escapes me. "So, how do you feel right now?"

"Much lighter, actually," the maiden sighed in relief. "At least now I know, just need some time to let it go. I, um... Would like to keep things as they are between us though. If that's okay with you...?"

She still sounded a little unsure of herself, so I made sure to smile as sweetly as I could at her. "Yes, of course! I wouldn't mind that at all."

"Okay... Okay, cool," the way she repeated it sounded like she was still trying to convince herself, so I took the wheel instead.

"Would you mind if I hugged you? It helps ease the nerves and you Westerners are much more open to this kind of thing between friends."

"Woah, hold up there, that's maybe a little too soon," Lucy complains, hands on her hips. "I've just been rejected by you, I need time to process that, you know!"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Fair enough."

"Actually," she quickly backtracks. "You know what? Forget that, I will accept that hug."

I carefully pull her into my arms, taking care not to smother her but still feel warm and comforting enough to do its intended job. "You're an amazing and beautiful woman, Lucy. You'll find the right person for you one day," I say, gently patting her shoulder. "And I'll be there to give you dating tips, of course!"

Much to my surprise and relief, she's smiling when we pull apart. "Thanks," she says, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye before it dared to drop. "I'll remember that."

"So, now that this has been settled, what are your plans for tomorrow? It's been a while we don't do shopping together but it's perfectly alright if you don't want to come along."

"You bet I do! I've missed doing it."

With a lighter heart, I smile at her. "Then same time as usual. And make sure to wear comfortable shoes, we have a lot of catching up to do!"

Credits: ♡ English revisions & co-author: @shiroganeryo ♡ Edits & graphics: me! °ʚ(´꒳`)ɞ° ♡ Image sources: Bungou Stray Dogs manga, drawn by Harukawa35; Bungou Stray Dogs Official Anthology, Vol.1 Ch.3 - As You Wear It drawn by Hirahara Akira; free stock resources from Pngtree

[all-hail-the-witcher]

im in high school and it sucks do you have any advice you could give me

aright ive been thinking about this one for a little while, trying to actually come up with something helpful. in interest of accuracy, i graduated high school in 2019 and am about to enter my sophomore year of college. 

first and foremost, you're in high school. i dont know what grade you're in, but at most you've got 4 years left. and after that you never have to see Any of the people you go to school with ever again if you dont want to. i know this one might seem kinda stupid, but it was one of the few thoughts that got me through junior and senior year. (also when i was home on college breaks (and right now during *this*) the only people ive seen from school are the ones that i choose to see and if i happen to run into someone else we either wave or just ignore eachother. i also live in a fairly smallish town) 

find a spot to eat lunch thats not the cafeteria if possible. idk what kinda school you go to, and this is not possible at all schools, but if it is, take advantage of it. i would eat lunch in the crafts room 99% of the time and work on whatever project i was currently doing. sometimes my friends would join me and sometimes id be by myself, but either way it was nice to get away from the nonsense for a little bit. 

make fun of your awful teachers. not to their face obviously, but with your friends. it makes the class that you absolutely cant stand so much more bearable. i had a teacher in my senior year who was absolutely awful and my friend and i who had the class together would make fun of him outside of the classroom.

doodle. some teachers do notebook checks, so dont do it in that notebook, get some plain lined paper or do it in a different notebook entirely, but doodling is a great way to relieve some of the stress and shit that goes on in class. 

go on your phone. i probably shouldn't be advising this one, but i spent a fair amount of time on my phone in high school, esp as i got into senior year. i think i might have spent more time on my phone than paying attention honestly. theres definitely an art to it. but once you figure it out, its pretty simple. just make sure you're still getting decent grades. 

snacks! figure out which of your teachers let you eat food in class and bring snacks. you'd be surprised how much snacks improve your mood. (maybe not this year tho cause of the whole pandemic thing. but if you're taking classes from home, do it!)

try to take at least 1 class that doesnt require a lot of brain power. my classes of choice were dance and crafts. if your school offers stuff like that, its nice to have a break in your schedule that doesnt require you to be sitting and taking notes and thinking about things. 

know your limits when making your schedule. just because you place into all honors or get reccomeded for ap classes doesnt mean you Have to take them. obviously, parents (and sometimes guidance counselors) dont agree with this. but if theyre cool with it, only take honors or aps in areas that you actually enjoy. that way you will be more motivated to do the work. it also gives you a break in your other classes. when i was in high school, the bulk of my honors and ap classes were in history and english because that was what i was better at and liked more. i took non honors science and math when possible. those classes had significantly less homework, which left me time to do my homework for my harder classes without feeling stressed. 

determine which classes you *actually* have to pay attention in. there will usually be one or two ones that you actually have to pay 100% attention in, and then you can kinda get away with not completely paying attention in the rest of them. 

listen to music whenever possible. if you have a teacher that lets you have your earbuds in, take full advantage. or listen to music while changing classes, or during lunch. music does so much to improve your mood and its something to look forward to. just be careful of that one teacher every school has that makes you take out your earbuds. dont get in trouble.

give yourself an outlet. something that you can enjoy that is absolutely not connected to high school. it could be a youtube channel, a fandom, writing fanfic, a book, a movie, some form of media. and let yourself indulge in it after (or even during) school. i wrote a lot of fan fiction in class. i wrote character maps, hcs, song lists with themes, shit like that. and then when i got home i let myself watch like an hour or so of youtube before i did my homework. just because you're in high school doesnt mean you cant give yourself breaks. again, parents can be annoying about that because they see you not doing your homework and think you're a bad student, so dont get in trouble. but definitely give yourself breaks when doing homework. 

try not to start or get mixed up in drama. its a lot easier said than done, but it makes everything so much better. also in the grand scheme of things, high school drama is not important. 

find a few friends to be close with and stick by them. if you have one or two close friends in high school you're pretty much set. of course you can go through high school with no friends and make it out, but its easier to have a few close friends. it makes it fun. and if you dont have any friends at your school, internet friends work too. 

dont get caught up in the whole college application thing. yes its stressful, but whatever school you end up at will be fine. and people often get so consumed by the process that they get incredibly stressed and forget to take care of themselves. make sure you're still hanging out with your friends and making time for yourself. 

high school seems like the most important thing in the world when you're in it. but it's not. and you'll get through it. i hope this wast least a little bit helpful. if not feel free to message me or send me another ask!