#birthday invite

[atths--twice]

Chapter Fifteen

It's Ivy's birthday and an invitation has been extended to Fox to join them for her special dinner.

Tuesday 

“I have something for you,” Dana said, coming to Fox’s table Tuesday afternoon before she left for the day. 

“Do you?” he asked, smiling at her. 

“I do. Ivy wanted to give it to you herself, but we’re having dinner with my hairdresser friend tonight. Tomorrow we have to get some things done before we go to my sister’s for Christmas and we need to get the birthday goodie bags ready for Ivy’s classmates on Thursday, so we wouldn’t have time to swing by before then.” 

“Okay,” he laughed when she had run out of breath. She smiled and handed him a small envelope covered in birthday stickers. 

“It’s an invitation to join us for her birthday dinner on Thursday at our apartment.” 

“Oh,” he said, peeling off a large pink balloon, opening the envelope, and taking out the card inside. 

Uneven lines had been drawn across the blank card and words were spelled out in a child’s handwriting. Words had been left to continue onto the next line, the space having run out, but he could understand what it said. He grinned as he nodded, his finger touching the smiling panda sticker beside Ivy’s name. 

“Can you make it?” Dana asked softly. “You will be the only guest as my family is too far away to come down for the night. We’ll celebrate when we see them soon.” 

“The only guest?” he asked and she nodded. “A very high honor indeed. Please tell her that I’d like nothing more and I’d be delighted to attend,” he said and she laughed through her nose as she nodded. 

“She’ll be ecstatic to hear it.” 

______________

He stood outside their apartment on Thursday evening, having held the door for a man who was laden down with Christmas gifts. Their muffled voices could be heard through the door and he smiled as Dana laughed. 

He knocked on the door, shifting his gift for Ivy from his right to his left hand. It grew quiet as he waited, but a few seconds later, the door was opened and Dana stood before him in black yoga pants and a dark green sweater, her hair down and wavy, smiling happily at him. 

“Come in,” she said, stepping aside and reaching to take the large rainbow colored bag, with the many pieces of brightly colored rainbow tissue paper inside, from him. 

“That’s okay. I got it,” he said, nodding as he walked inside, breathing in a wonderful aroma of whatever she was cooking, and she closed the door. “Sorry for not calling up, I followed one of your neighbors inside.” 

“That’s okay. We were just-”

“Fox!” Ivy yelled, running into the room and stopping short, her eyes widening when she saw the bag he held in his hand. 

He smiled as he looked at the outfit she wore. Over black leggings, she wore a vivid rainbow colored tutu, a dark purple long sleeved shirt that had the design of a large cupcake with a pink shiny wrapper, white frosting, rainbow sprinkles, and six multicolored candles, and a pink headband with rainbow letters that said Happy Birthday on her head, her hair in two long ponytails. 

“Is that for me? For my birthday?” she asked and he nodded. 

“It is,” he said, handing her the bag and smiling when she wiggled happily as she held it. “Happy birthday, Miss Ivy.” 

“Thank you, Fox! Oh, it’s heavy! Can I open it right now, Mommy?” 

“Sure, baby. It’s your birthday.” 

“Yay!” she shouted and set the bag on the floor, pulling out the tissue paper excitedly and dropping it to the floor. 

She took out the first gift and tore off the purple tissue paper to find a large box that held a pop up pink castle tent, and her jaw dropped. 

“Ohhhh! Wow! It’s a castle! I love it!” 

“Do you already have one?” Fox asked nervously, watching her reaction. 

“Nope! My cousin has one that has mermaids on it, but this is so much better! It’s a castle!” She smiled at him and he sighed in relief. 

“Good. I thought maybe you and Pandy would like to play in it.” 

“Ohh… Yes! Hang on!” She set the box down and ran to her bedroom. 

“She’ll love that. Thank you, Fox,” Dana said quietly and he turned to look at her. She smiled softly and he nodded. 

“You’re welcome.” 

They continued to look at one another, neither of them speaking, until Ivy returned and his attention diverted to her. 

“Pandy! Look, it’s a real castle! Just like you’ve always wanted!” 

“Oh!” Ivy said in Pandy’s high British voice. “It’s simply beautiful! But it looks small. Is it small?” 

“No, Pandy,” Ivy, in her regular voice, said with a giggle. “It’s not out of the box yet. It will be much bigger.” 

“I see,” she continued as Pandy. “Then could we have it built? Excuse me, Mister Fox, could you please build the castle for me?” 

“And me!” Ivy said, raising her arm into the air and jumping up and down. 

“Of course,” he said, grinning and then laughing, as he glanced at Dana who was covering her mouth and hiding her smile. “Give me a couple of minutes and I’ll have it up in no time.” 

“Good,” Ivy said as Pandy and Fox pointed to the gift bag. 

“How about you check out the rest of the gifts and then we could put up the tent?” 

“Tent? No, it is a castle,” Ivy said as Pandy, shaking the panda’s head and sighing loudly. 

“My apologies, your Highness. It is indeed a castle. Let’s wait for Ivy to open the rest of her gifts and then I will build the castle.” 

“Thank you.” Ivy bowed Pandy toward him and he laughed. She set Pandy down on the table and looked into the bag once again. 

Taking out a flat gift wrapped in red tissue, she tore it off and smiled. 

“A coloring book!” she said, dropping the tissue onto the floor. “Oh. No, it’s not. What is it?” 

He laughed and took the book from her. It was the notebook he had bought at the bookshop with Dana, of which he had carefully removed the previously filled pages. Now it was blank and ready to be filled. 

“So, it’s a journal, but it has places on each page to also add a picture to correlate, to go with, your story. Like the picture you drew of Funny Bunny? Well, you could draw the picture here,” he said, showing her a blank page. “And then you could have your mom help you write the story, or you could do it yourself, explaining your picture. I thought you would like having all your stories in one place.” 

She took the book back and thumbed through the pages, nodding as she started to smile. 

“I could put lots of stories in here. Thank you!” 

“You’re welcome.” 

He smiled at her and she smiled back as she set the book onto the table and reached into the bag for the last gift. 

She ripped off the blue tissue paper from the box and it also fell to the floor. He glanced at Dana and she shrugged with a smile. 

“Ohhhhh! It’s a… it has lights! Ohhh! I love it.” 

“It’s a night light for you to make, however you want it to look.” 

“It has bunnies! And a tree with pink leaves! And mushrooms!” 

“They’re called toadstools,” he corrected her and she nodded. 

“Right. I heard that word before. Can we make it now? Will you help me, Fox?” 

“Sure!” he said, turning his head and looking at Dana. “Are we eating soon?” 

“It can keep. If you want to do it now,” she said, smiling at both of them. 

“You sure? I don’t want…” 

“It’s stew and bread. It can keep.” She smiled again and he frowned. 

“Stew?” 

“You don’t like stew?” 

“No, I do. I love it, actually. I’m just surprised because… didn’t you say she picks her birthday meal?” 

“I did,” she said with a grin. “And every year that she’s been able to express what she wants, it’s been stew.” 

“Well,” he said, raising his eyebrows and smiling. “She’s got good taste. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good stew.” 

“Mommy makes the best stew in the whole entire universe,” Ivy said, looking at the night light kit box. 

“The entire universe? Even better than her chocolate milk?” He teased her and she raised her head, tilting it in consideration. 

“Yes. But the chocolate milk is still very good.” 

“It is,” he agreed and Ivy nodded. “Okay! Let’s get started on that night light!” He clapped his hands together and began to unbutton his coat. 

__________

“So why do you pick stew as your birthday meal?” Fox asked, a half an hour later. 

The night light had been made and was currently sitting in the middle of the table, the small strand of lights shining. The bunnies had been placed beside a toadstool each, the tree standing in the center, and the clear lid had been placed over it.

He had also put the castle up, blowing a pretend trumpet to announce when it was finished. 

“Thank you, Mister Fox,” Ivy said as Pandy, bowing to him once again. “It is a truly splendid castle.” 

He had bowed in return, holding the door flap open for her as Ivy walked inside of it with a giggle. Showing Pandy around, she had then decided to add blankets and pillows to the castle as he had cleared away the mess he had made. 

“No one should have to clean and help with boring things on their birthday,” he had told Dana as he threw the trash away and she had ladled steaming stew into a white bowl with rainbow colored polka dots. 

“Of course not,” she had said, smiling at him. “Or eat out of boring, everyday bowls. These are special occasion bowls.” 

“I like the way you do birthdays,” he had said and she laughed as she reached for the next bowl.

Fox watched Ivy fish a carrot from her bowl and eat it, then dip her bread in the stew before he asked her again. 

“Ivy?” 

“Yes?” she replied, taking a bite and looking at him. He smiled and handed her a napkin to wipe her mouth. 

“Why do you pick stew for your birthday meal?” 

“Because I like it.” 

“I can see that you do,” he said with a chuckle. 

“And Mommy says that having special things on your birthday is how it should be celebrated.” 

“Okay,” he mused, taking a bite of what was possibly the best stew he had ever eaten. “So what if you asked for stew next week?” 

“But my birthday is today,” she said, looking at him as though he had lost his mind. He started to laugh and nodded his head as he chewed. 

“Okay. I understand now.” 

“Okay,” she said and ate a big piece of potato, wiping her mouth on her napkin. 

“Yeah,” Dana said, catching his eye and smiling as she handed him another piece of bread. “Best not to question things sometimes.” 

“I’m beginning to find that’s the case,” he laughed, taking the bread from her. “Thank you. This is delicious.” 

“I didn’t make it. I bought it at the bakery.” 

“No, I meant the stew,” he explained and she smiled as she tilted her head. “Oh, I see. You’re both gonna tease me? The enigmatic Scully women find my confusion comical… how kind.” 

“Oh, enigmatic… I like the sound of that,” Dana said, taking another bite of her stew. He laughed and then they fell silent as they ate their meal. 

When they were finished and Ivy had gone back to her tent, Fox helped Dana clear the table and offered to wash the dishes. 

“You don’t have to, I got it.” 

“I don’t mind,” he said with a smile, turning the water on to warm up and pushing up the sleeves of his dark gray sweater. 

“You like folding laundry. Like washing dishes,” she said and he looked at her over his shoulder as he scraped and rinsed off the dishes. 

“I’m not sure like is the word I’d use, but I don’t mind doing it,” he explained and she hummed. 

“And you’re still single, why?” she asked in a teasing tone and he nearly dropped the plate he was holding. 

“Mommy!” Ivy called and thankfully Dana’s attention was diverted and she did not see how red his face had become. 

He paid better attention to the task at hand, not saying anything to Dana when she set the dirty crock of the slow cooker beside him and gently touched his back. 

“I got her an adorable cake,” she said softly and he nodded, still not trusting his voice. “A small one, as it’s just us, but I really like how it turned out.” 

“That’s good,” he said, clearing his throat. 

“Yeah.” 

Dishes done, he washed and dried his hands. Turning around, he saw she was standing behind him watching Ivy as she played in her tent and talking to her stuffed animals that had been brought inside. 

“Life goes by so fast,” she whispered, shaking her head. “She was a baby… and now she’s six. So big and so grown up.” She sighed and he looked over at Ivy, hearing her laugh as she moved one of her animals. 

“She’s still little,” he said, trying to reassure her. 

“Oh, I know,” she agreed with a small smile. “It’s just… things change so fast. It doesn’t seem like it when you’re in it, but they do. I was thinking about when she laughed for the first time, a really deep belly laugh. I cried.” She looked at him and rolled her eyes as she smiled. 

“That’s understandable.” 

“Yeah…” she said with a sigh. “When she rolled over, crawled, walked… I cried every time. And when she said mama for the first time…” She shook her head and he saw tears in her eyes. She laughed and then exhaled a crying breath. “I was a mess.”

“She’s your child. That’s your heart living outside of your body. Of course you cried. You experienced first hand the love that your heart holds.” He smiled and shrugged as her mouth opened slowly and tears slid down her cheeks. 

“That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard,” she breathed and his eyes widened as more tears fell. 

“I didn’t mean to make you cry. I’m sorry.” 

She took a step closer to him and grasped two of his fingers, squeezing them gently. He smiled softly as he stared into her eyes, raising his hand to wipe away her tears. She closed her eyes and he drew in a deep breath. 

“Can we have cake now, Mommy?” 

Dana’s eyes flew open and she let go of his hand, her cheeks very pink. She wiped her face and stepped back two steps. 

“Mommy?” 

“Yes, baby. Let me get it ready.” 

“Okay.” 

“Dana,” Fox said softly and she shook her head as she looked away from him. 

“Could you get the plates? They’re in that cupboard there.” 

She pointed, not meeting his eyes as she opened the refrigerator to take out a pink bakery box. He sighed as he nodded and took out three plates that matched their dinner bowls. 

“It’s okay,” she said, cutting the tape from the box with a knife. “I’m just a little emotional today. Don’t mind me.” 

“Dana,” he said again and she smiled at him with a nod. 

“It’s okay. We’re good.” 

“Okay.” 

“Now,” she said, opening the box. “Take a look at this cake. Ivy, love, come here and see it.” 

He watched Dana as Ivy squealed and ran over to join them in the kitchen, but he did not see any further signs of sadness or awkwardness. She hugged Ivy and kissed her repeatedly on the head before Ivy pulled away, laughing and asking to see the cake. Dana lifted her up and Ivy gasped as she saw it. 

“It’s so beautiful!” 

“Do you love it?”

“I do, Mommy! Thank you!” Ivy squeezed Dana around the neck and she laughed as she hugged her back. 

“I’m glad you do, Ivy, Ivy bo-bivy,” Dana said and Ivy giggled. 

“Mommy, mommy bo-bomy,” Ivy replied and they both laughed. 

Fox smiled even as he felt the familiar pang of loneliness inside of him that he had been feeling lately, especially when he was around them. He felt like an outsider, even though he had been invited in, and he found he did not like it. 

Did not like feeling apart from a life he now realized he dearly wanted. 

And not just a life, but this life. A life with them. With the woman who had intrigued him since their first meeting. Her intelligence and sense of humor  had pulled him in immediately. Finding out about Ivy had only drawn him in further. 

He wanted to be a part of their life, but he knew that voicing his desires could possibly scare her and destroy the best relationship he had ever had. 

Friendship, he reminded himself. You’re just friends. 

“Fox, do you like my cake?” Ivy asked and he blinked his eyes as he let out a sharp hum, his thoughts miles away. 

“What?” he asked, frowning as he shook his head. “What did you ask me, Ivy? I’m sorry I didn’t hear you.” 

Dana was still holding her and they were cheek to cheek as they stared at him. Ivy was smiling, but Dana was wearing a concerned expression. 

God, he wanted to hug them both, to pull them to him and squeeze them tight. To laugh at their inside jokes and make his own with them, hearing them laugh at something he said. 

Instead, he smiled and shook his head again. 

“I’m sorry, I was thinking about what you could possibly wish for when you blow out your candles since you already have an actual castle in your living room.” 

Ivy giggled and turned to look at the castle near the Christmas tree. 

“Maybe an even bigger castle?” she asked with a sly smile and he snapped his fingers as he pointed at her. 

“That’s some good thinking,” he said and she laughed as Dana set her down. 

“Go to the table and I’ll bring out your cake so you can make that wish,” Dana said, patting Ivy’s bottom and giving her a small push toward the table. 

Turning around, she looked at Fox and he smiled with a nod. 

“Candles?” 

“The drawer behind you,” she said, pointing to the left. He nodded and went to get them. 

He selected six pink and white striped ones and brought them over to her looking at the cake for the first time. 

It was round with teal frosting, pastel colored confetti sprinkles along the bottom, and pink swirly dollops of frosting along the top. 

“Perfect cake,” he said, as Dana took the cake from the box. 

“Thanks,” she said and he held the candles out to her. “You can do it if you’d like. I’ll get the lighter.” 

“Oh… yeah. I can do that,” he said, smiling with a nod. 

He placed them in carefully and smiled again when he was done. 

“Could you get the lights?” Dana said softly as she started to light the candles and he nodded, looking around for the light switches. 

Every light was extinguished aside from the lights on the tree and he looked at Ivy as Dana carried out the cake. 

“Happy birthday to you,” Dana started to sing and he joined in, watching Ivy’s grin grow as the candlelight lit up her face when the cake was placed in front of her. 

“Happy birthday dear Ivy,” they sang and she took a deep breath, rising up onto her knees in her chair. “Happy birthday to you.” 

She took another deep breath and closed her eyes, her mouth moving but no sound coming out. He glanced at Dana and saw she was smiling at Ivy. He smiled and turned his attention back to Ivy who was still speaking without sound, her hands planted on the table. 

“A long wish,” Dana said under her breath and through her teeth. 

“Hope you’re up for it,” he said back in the same manner and she snorted softly. 

Ivy drew in a very deep breath and blew out all of the candles in one go, smiling up at them when she was done. They clapped and Fox went to turn the lights back on while Dana grabbed the plates and utensils. 

The cake was confetti pink, he was informed when he exclaimed over it as Ivy was given her piece. 

“It’s the best cake,” Ivy said as she took a big bite. 

After tasting his own piece, he could not disagree. It was delicious. 

Plates and cake cleared away, he knew he needed to leave soon. Ivy had school in the morning and still needed to take a bath before bed. 

Reluctantly, wishing beyond anything that he could stay and find his place in this little family, he stood up and rubbed his hands together. 

“Well, I should be going,” he said, smiling ruefully. “Thank you so much for inviting, me Miss Ivy. I had a fabulous time.” 

“Thank you for my castle, Fox,” she said, coming over to him and hugging him around the waist. He smiled as he patted her back and rubbed her head, her headband long gone. 

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you and Pandy now have a castle.” 

“Me too,” Ivy said, squeezing him tightly. He laughed and she let go, smiling up at him. 

“I like my night light too. I’ll sleep with it in my room tonight.” 

“Good,” he said with a nod. She smiled again and then went back to her tent. 

He turned around to see Dana smiling as she leaned against the wall by the door with her arms crossed. He put his coat on and buttoned it, taking his scarf from his pocket as he walked toward her. 

“Thank you for inviting me,” he said quietly and she nodded. 

“Thank you for coming.” 

“You’re welcome.” 

He stared at her as he put his scarf around his neck. The sudden urge to kiss her was very strong, but he pushed it away, smiling as he put his hands in his pockets. 

“See you tomorrow,” he said and she nodded. 

“Tomorrow.” 

She moved to stand directly in front of him, her eyes holding his as she breathed in deeply. Her hands came up a little and then she put them back down, swallowing as she let out her breath. 

“Goodnight,” she whispered, turning to unlock and open the door. 

“Goodnight,” he whispered back, taking his hand from his pocket and gently squeezing her upper arm as he passed her. 

At the top of the stairs, he looked at her, smiling with a wave. She waved back and he began to walk down the stairs. Halfway down, he looked up and she was staring at him, her expression one he had never seen before. 

He waved again and she waved back, but her expression did not change. 

He thought about it the entire time he walked home and as he laid in bed attempting to sleep, wondering what had caused her to look at him that way. 

[littletroubledgrrrl]

[salarymanwaka]

[dogsstew]

Something about making sure your art looks like a Polaroid that I constantly fall victim to. Oh well, here’s too loser dweebs.

Alt vers below! V

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[azgfggf]

Saw this in a dream

[jjoneechan]

Happy National Best Friend Day!

To the trio that sticks together through it all!

💚🧡💙📚🍏🍊🫐🟩🟧🟦

[royalarchivist]

Pepito: [Blows his horn for Bobby]

Bad: Bobby chingon. Hey Bobby.

Pepito: I invited him to my birthday. Sunsets don't eat candy

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Bingqiu ponies (Happy Birthday @Piosplayhouse!)

[maxphilippa]

OJ: I just lost 300,000 dollars but it's okay cause I got 700 bucks back!

OJ:

OJ: Please never form an gambling addiction, Mic. Don't be like me.

[ellies-enrichment]

emily wilson translation of the iliad // aiskhylos tr. by anne carson // petrichara on tumblr // junehart on tumblr // right now, gracie abrams // unknown // mary oliver // how do i say goodbye, dean lewis // eden robinson // anna kamienska

[beary-good-finds]

🌈 Vintage birthday invitation by Gibson Greetings 🌈

See the matching paper party plates here!

[deathshallbethelastenemy]

i'm crazier for you (4)

TEEN!gojo x FEM!reader (soulmate AU)

No warnings just fluff, unless bad words and a little tussle is worthy of TW⚠️!

1. what you see, i see

2. where you go, i go

3. you know i adore

She knew she should've asked him before he left yesterday, if he wanted to go to the school festival with her today. Now, she was looking at an unsent text massage she typed in the morning.

_____._: if you're not busy do you want to come to the school festival with me? It's okay if you can't I know you're busy with training and missions and curses, so if you have time, i'd love it if you stop by.

She couldn't send it. Everytime she read it, it sounded more awkward. Worse, she sounded desperate and she was not desperate. No matter how pretty Gojo Satoru was. Instead, she texted Geto Suguru, surely his best friend knew if he was busy.

_____._: Hello! I just wanted to ask if you knew if Satoru's busy today? I wanted to invite him to the festival. If you're not busy too I'd be great if you'd come. Shoko too!

This turned out to be another unsent message. Texting his best friend somehow reeked of more desperation, not to mention, he would no doubt show Satoru the messages. The thought alone made her want to drown in embarrassment.

There'd be other festivals for her to invite him to. Festivals where she would ask him to go with her with ample time.

No, yes, no - she should just ask him. The worst thing he could say was no, right?

Just as she was going to press send, someone tapped her shoulder from behind.

Ito Haruki, student council treasurer.

She flipped her phone closed, "What's up?"

Haruki smiled nervously, "I wanted to know if you wanted to go to the festival with me. I mean you're not dating that guy, right?"

Her heart leapt to her throat. She wasn't dating Satoru. She and him were just friends - friends who cuddled and held hands and kissed each others cheeks and foreheads. Friends who had consistent midnight rendezvous of him teleporting into her room just to see her - it was easier than sneaking him.

She remembered when her mom almost caught her sneaking him into the bakery, she had to push him under a table. The grin that was plastered on his face that whole night as they snuck in pastries from downstairs into her room. Their hushed whispers as they ate until their sweet tooth was satisfied, which for her soulmate, was never ending. She had to stop him before he ate the entire store up and started bouncing off the walls. Satoru teleporting in her room was efficient as well as an efficient way to sneak out of her room without her mother noticing.

The coffee nights were the best. His was always far too sweet and looked more like milk with the amount of creamer he put on his coffee. Their midnight walks where he would give her his jacket because she got too cold. Those same walks, he would sneak his hands under her sweatshirt to keep warm, until finally, they would warp back into her room and fall asleep in each other's arms.

But they weren't dating - Oh, who was she kidding, they were practically dating.

"You mean Satoru?" Still, she shouldn't lie and it was her decision to go slow, "He's my friend," but she didn't want to see anyone else, so she quickly added, "but we are talking about being something more."

Haruki's smile dropped, "So it's like that."

Her phone buzzed in her hand:

1 TEXT MESSAGE from Gojo Satoru

Gojo.S: something more huh? ;)

How long has he been watching what she was doing? Had he seen that embarrassing text message? She hoped not. She quickly backspaced her old text message and typed:

____._: stalker :/

"Is that him?" Haruki said behind her.

She flipped her phone closed again, "Uh, yeah."

"You smile alot around him," he said, "why aren't you dating him already?"

Her phone buzzed again.

"Well," she said, "we're taking things slow, you know, starting as friends."

Another buzz.

Haruki's gaze was full of disappointment but he left her alone and moved on to another girl.

Buzz- She looked at her phone.

3 TEXT MESSAGES from Gojo Satoru

Gojo.S: :'(

Gojo.S: when are you gonna send me that text???

So he had seen it.

Gojo.S: tell that guy that I'm not afraid to fight >:(

She giggled and typed:

____._: stop stalking me :|

____._: soooooo are you free?

She waited in baited breath for his next text.

Gojo.S: free for what :)

He was the absolute worst.

____._: do you want to come to the festival with me?

Two seconds...

Gojo.S: idk i mean it is pretty last minute

She smirked.

____._: that's okay. i'm sure Geto, Nanami and Haibara are free :)

Gojo.S: >:O

Gojo.S: so that's how it is now

She didn't answer and she flipped her phone close. Now, she was hoping he was watching.

Buzz. Ignored.

Buzz. Ignored.

Buzz. Ignored.

Buzz. Ignored.

Satoru opened his eyes and stared at his phone in shock. He sent another text- nothing. He poked his best friend's cheek annoyingly.

Suguru poked his cheek back harshly, "What," poke, "do" poke, "you", poke, "want?"

Satoru shoved his phone in Suguru's face.

Suguru laughed. He actually laughed at him as buzz came from his phone. He slid it open:

____._: wanna come to my school's festival today? i already texted Shoko, she said yes. I don't have Nanami's # or Haibara's # can you invite them for me?

Suguru grinned, "Guess who just texted me?"

Satoru whirled his head to him and lunged for him, "Give it to me!"

Suguru narrowly evaded his tackle as he typed:

Geto.S: sure, we'll be there

It was only a matter of time before Satoru tackled him to the ground and ripped the phone off his hands. He tumbled to the ground as Satoru's infinity keeping him safe from Suguru's curses.

"I can't believe she actually asked you!" Satoru flipped his phone and started to press the buttons furiously.

Suguru chuckled underneath him, "You should've just said yes when she asked you." He got his hands free from Satoru's hold and landed a double hit on his torso making him double over in pain, "and that's what you get for letting your infinity down."

He picked up his phone from the ground.

1 TEXT MESSAGE from ____ ______

____._: see you later :D

Satoru grabbed him by his pant leg, "Tell her to invite me!"

Suguru smiled in the way that he always had - one that seemed soft and genuine, "No," and slid the door shut on Satoru's hand. The door stopped right before it crushed his hand- Satoru had just turned on his infinity at the knick of time.

Satoru reached for his phone on the floor and stared at the small screen willing his soulmate to text him back.

He closed his eyes and focused. It didn't take much for him to be able to see everything she saw or hear her surroundings. Seeing through her eyes doesn't stop his six eyes from working. It was suppressed to a point where he could and couldn't see curses like he was seeing through two different lenses. It was jarring at first, but he was used to it now.

She was taking notes from her textbook.

He frowned. Suguru was right he should've just said yes.

Satoru doubted Suguru would do anything but he wanted to spend time with her alone in front of her classmates like a real boyfriend. That's where they were headed he knew that but he'd very much like their relationship to be official. He supposed she was making him work for it. He had said some pretty awful things before they met knowing she was watching. Then he died-ish and while he was up in the clouds feeling like he could take on the world - she was alone and full of sorrow. Fear and pride were keeping her from taking the plunge. All he had to do was keep at it and not fuck up.

He flipped his phone closed. He fucked up. Not too badly, though. It was a minor fuck up, nothing, he couldn't fix.

He fixed his sunglasses to cover his eyes completely. Not being invited to events has never stopped him before and it won't stop him now. He had an hour to think of a game plan, but just in case, he called her.

Her phone rang as she walked to the library to ensure that it was locked before people started showing up. She hadn't meant to ignore it. She was going to answer it, truly. She was only teasing him before, but one of her underclassmen needed her help. How could she possibly refuse? And she had meant to call him back but with the last minute preparations and the teachers not wanting to oversee anything meant it was all on her. By the time, she got around to calling him people were already rolling in and she had to greet them.

All she could do was hope that Satoru would show up today, even if she didn't explicitly invite him.

She smiled and waved at classmates and other guests. She smiled brightly when she saw Shoko and Suguru arrive with Nanami and Haibara, only for her smile to slip a little when she didn't see a fluff of white hair towering over them.

Suguru lagged behind to talk to her, "You seem a little disappointed." A soft smile played on his lips, "Upset Satoru didn't show up?"

Pink dusted her cheeks, "No- I mean, yes." She sighed, "It's my fault. I had meant to call him right after, but all of this," she gestured to the school, "got in the way and I forgot."

More people shook her hand and waved.

"Do you have to do this the whole time?" Suguru asked.

She looked at her watch, "Just for twenty more minutes."

Another handshake from a stranger.

From the corner of her eyes she saw Suguru grab a male student from the scruff of his neck and took off his school blazer from him. The student looked at him and seemed like he was about to say something to him, but one daring look from Suguru and he had left without a word.

He quickly replaced his jujutsu tech jacket with the school uniform blazer, "Go, call him." Suguru whispered in her ear, "I've got it from here."

"Are you sure?" She said, "This is my responsibility and-"

"It's fine," he smiled, "I didn't steal this blazer for nothing."

Smiling, she hugged him. "Thank you, Geto. You're the best." She squeezed his arm gently before leaving to call Satoru.

With her phone pressed to ear she waited for him to answer. What if he didn't answer? What if he was angry with her? Seven rings later and the phone went to voicemail. Her heart sank a little but she called again.

No answer.

Satoru usually answered at the first call, even when he was on missions. He must be angry with her. Calling again would probably only annoy him further, or get him to be more upset with her. She thought about texting him but what would her message say: I'm sorry I invited all your friends and not you because of a teasing comment you made.

She went too far this time. She shouldn't have invited everyone and excluded him. She should start the text message with that, so she started typing.

A hearty laugh snapped her out of her message. Suguru's laugh.

She paled. Oh God, he was laughing at someone. She would get in trouble for sure. She quickly moved to apologize for his rudeness (despite what Geto Suguru claimed, him and Satoru were best friends for a reason), and saw a mountain of an oversized pokemon Eevee plushie locked in someone's both arms overcrowding the school entrance.

She pinched Suguru as she helped the poor person get inside the school, "I apologize for my friend's lack of manners." She smiled nervously, "He didn't mean to laugh." She shot him a pointed look, "Right, Geto?"

"Yes, I did." Suguru chuckled, "Satoru looks ridiculous."

Satoru poked his head on the side of the large Eevee and flashed her a wide grin. Extending the plushie in his arms and with a teasing tilt in his voice, he asked, "Aren't you glad I'm here?"

She took the pokemon plushie from him. She loved Eevee.

She leapt his arms, "I really am glad you're here," she grinned up at him, "and not just because of Eevee."

Satoru's grin widened, "I know, I know, I know, I'm great."

She tip-toed and kissed his cheek. He let out a satisfied hum as he rested his head on top of hers to look at his best friend.

"Suguru," Satoru said, "what are you doing?"

"Greeting," Suguru gently smiled at passersby's and gave them warm soft-spoken welcomes.

Shit, she forgot he was there.

She handed Eevee back to Satoru, "Geto, I can do the rest." She said as she took his place at the entrance, "Thank you again for helping me." She waved to them both, "I'll catch up in a few more minutes. Have fun!"

Satoru's smile faded, "How many minutes?"

"Welcome," she told one of her classmates and then turned to Satoru, "Just a few."

"But-"

Suguru yanked him by his collar.

"Ow!"

She couldn't help but laugh.

The festival was looking to be a great day.

Gojo: *bullying a teacher*

Shoko: *smoking*

Geto: *trying to hide the smoke coming from the classroom Shoko's in*

Nanami: why are we here?

Haibara: bc it's fun :D *pops balloons in a dart game*

Let me know if I missed anyone!!

Part 5: baby, you're the life of the party

Part 6: something's made your eyes go cold

@phoenix666stuff @96jnie @mr-underhills-things @whatamidoing89 @wbad-world @ancientimes @whippedbyikemen @sammyiguess @pumpkindudeishere @witchofthecoffee @arminswifee (there was a problem with this one it would not let me tag you 😭)

Part 5 will probably be the aftermath of the KFC break up scene, if not then Gojo's birthday when he turns 17 in December

[punkrockgrantaire]

the great thing about The Nice Guys is it feels very much like a sort of buddy cop movie with one insane loose canon and one total straight man because March is an alcoholic madman with both anxiety and the self preservation of a wet paper bag who cons old people for a living and then half way through the movie Healy goes ":) The only time I've ever felt alive was when I stepped in front of a man with a shotgun :)" and you realise oh. OH. literally no one in this movie is normal.

[jaynaneeya]

Raise a glass to Sinéad Persaud!

Happy Birthday, Sinéad!!! I hope you have a fabulous day and year. Thank you for sharing your brilliant, clever, creative stories with the world. Here's to another year of TV writing and Shipwrecked projects and dreams coming true 🥂

[ryllen]

x

[jakeperalta]

my mum is getting married next weekend and when they asked me last year if I'd bake the wedding cake I foolishly said yes and now I have to make 120+ individual brownies with my one little oven and minimal equipment and nowhere to store them