#but man does it make me grateful in perspective that my friend circle has uh. Normal Fucking People In It y’know

[lesbianusahana]

You ever see one of those big-fancy PSA-type posts about the most batshit insane possible problems for things that shouldn’t even be problems in the first place that just makes you exhale a giant sigh of relief making you thankful your friend circle isn’t like any of that nonsense

[kim-ruzek]

To build a life, let us share our past

Summary: Adam takes Kevin with him to pick out an engagement ring, wendy and Nicole comes up and Kevin tells Adam he needs to tell Kim about her.

Fix-it, technically.

Word Count: 3.5k

Read on AO3

Notes: So many little things would be better solved is Burzek just communicated, so I'm writing fix it fics for them all! I hope y'all enjoy!

“You’re going to ask Kim to marry you?” Kevin stares at Adam, with shock and disbelief. Adam likes to think he can read his best friend’s face expertly—maybe not as well as Kim, who has known Kev for longer, but well enough—and if Adam knows Kev, then he knows there is also amazement and love in his expression as well.

Adam hopes there is, at least. He hasn’t been with Kim long, just a year, as of last week. This is fast, Adam knows that. But it’s real, and he knows more than he’s ever known anything else that Kim is his future, his ‘One’. And Kevin’s their mutual best friend, his approval means more than anyone else’s to Adam and Kim, and Adam knows an engagement wouldn’t feel right to either of them if Kevin had problems with it.

“I love her, man. She’s it.” Adam says simply, hoping to infuse the words with all his love, respect and care for Kim.

“I know you do, bro. The two of you together... You know you two are my family and I couldn’t be happier,” Kevin is a man of little words, but every one is from the heart, and Adam knows how earnest he is.

“I’d say congratulations but that’d involve Kim having said yes, so I know you’re not just telling me this.” No one could say Kevin Atwater is not a smart man, or a quick minded one.

“I need you to help me pick out a ring.” Adam tells him.

“Me?” Kevin blinks.

“Yeah. I don’t, this ring stuff is confusing. And you know Kim, you’ll know what she likes.” Ensuring that Kim gets the ring she deserves, the ring she’ll wear for years to come, the ring she’ll love, is something that is important to Adam, is needed. And so much jewellery looks the same to him, but he knows, knows, that Kevin has more of an eye for this stuff.

“We did used to window shop, on our slower patrol days,” Kevin muses. His words rings a bell inside his mind, a vague recollection of Kim telling him that when she was talking about stories from patrol. He had forgotten all about that, but now he feels even more confident in his decision to ask Kevin for his help.

“So you’ll help me?” Adam smiles hopefully at his friend. Kevin grins back, pulling him into a hug.

“Yeah, of course I’ll help you! Let’s go pick out a ring for our girl.”

The ring shop feels daunting, glass cabinets everywhere, jewellery of all kinds inside, and well dressed employees standing, waiting. The store feels delicate, and Adam feels way too out of place. Too tall, too broad, to masculine.

Deciding to go on a quiet day that they’re on call feels like a mistake now, Adam being way too aware of his gun on him, and how clunky it makes him feel. The only times Adam’s, really, been in a jewellery shop has been after a robbery, and without glass broken everywhere and no cops swarming the place, he feels like an imposter, like he doesn’t belong.

Of course, he’s been in shops like this before not related to work. The times he’s gone to buy his sister, or mom jewellery, and of course when Wendy’s best friend, Sara, dragged him to the store to point out which ring Wendy wanted. Those times didn’t feel as tense, as suffocating, as if everyone is staring at him like this does, and Adam can only attribute that to being because this is so much more important than those times, that he’s aware this could put a spanner into an otherwise good relationship, that he has so much more to loose.

Kevin is beside him, and Adam’s glad once more that he invited Kev to come along with him as his presence is calming. Logically, it feels like he shouldn’t, Kevin is taller and broader than Adam, and his presence also feels too big and clunky for this delicate store. But Kevin doesn’t seem the slightest bit fazed, and that calms Adam’s nerves.

“Here,” Kev leads him to a counter with rings on display underneath. Adam tries not to focus on the worker giving them a look.

Kevin had picked out what store to look at, saying of course they could look at several, but that Kim has mentioned she’d want a ring from a smaller, more ethical shop. Adam recalls conversations like that as well.

Adam looks down at all the different rings, feeling overwhelmed by it all. He has a roundabout idea of what to get, nothing too big or flashy—that’s not Kim’s style, especially in their line of work, you don’t want something like that while interacting with criminals—but something simple in its beauty. Like Kim, Adam thinks. To him she’s flawless, effortlessly, and so, so beautiful.

“This is so hard,” Adam groans to Kev, running a hand through his hair.

“Take your time, bro. It’s a process, just don’t stress.” Kevin calmly says back. Adam looks at his friend, speaking again as he remembers the whole purpose of him inviting him along.

“You seen anything?”

“I’m here to help you. And I will. But you know her better than anyone, even me, so just look yourself first. We have time. We can come back.” Kevin reasons.

“Right, right. I don’t know, man, it was easier with Wendy. She had already picked out the ring herself, and her friend told me which one. But this? Kim deserves the best, I just don’t want to get it wrong.” He laments.

The experience of picking out the ring for Wendy wasn’t exactly a magical experience or anything particular special. He showed up, rung his card, and that was that. And at the time he was grateful for the simplicity of the whole matter, and although right now a part of him wishes this was that easy, Adam knows, deep down, that as stressful as this is, he prefers this experience more. That he’s involved, that he’s excited, that he knows beyond everything that he wants to spend the rest of his life with Kim. This is everything that experience wasn’t, and Adam knows he would take on all this stress a million times over for Kim.

“Nikki was even easier. I mean, 40 dollar ring, impulse proposal? Guess though, this just says I’m getting it right this time.” Adam continues to muse out loud. Kevin gives him a strange look.

“Nikki? Were you engaged to another girl?” He questions and Adam is reminded that although it feels like he’s known his best friend forever, they haven’t even known each other two years yet, that there’s things he wasn’t around for. Adam’s social circles up until he was pulled from the academy was the same he had for years, and Kev’s met a few of his mates, so Adam forgets that Kevin and his friendship is still so recent.

“Yeah, I was. When I was like twenty, for like three months. It was a train wreck. A drunken thought took seriously,” Adam explains.

“I get you, bro.” Kevin says, but still, he’s looking at him curiously, a thought clearly on his mind. “Does Kim know?”

Adam raises an eyebrow at him. “Uh, I don’t think so? We don’t really talk about that stuff.”

“Do you think you should?” Kevin asks pointedly. Adam frowns.

“It was years ago, why should I? There’s no point just randomly bringing exes up,” he dismisses.

“Bro.” Kevin gets in front of him now, redirecting his attention from the rings. “You’re picking out an engagement ring for her. She needs to know you’ve been engaged twice before you propose. Because it will not go well if you don’t, trust me. I know you don’t mean anything by it, but this can quickly become a big deal.” Kevin’s tone is loving, caring, but firm.

“Just think about it. You were engaged when you met. You propose after a year. She finds out you had another fiancée. I know you love her, I know you’re meant to be, but just think about it from how it could look from her perspective.”

Oh.

Kevin’s words are wise, and realisation, and understanding of what Kev’s getting at, dawns on Adam.

“Yeah. Yeah, good point. I’ll tell her tonight.” Adam immediately agrees. “Just need to make sure not to tip her off to why I was thinking about my exes,” he grins at him.

“That’s a difficult task. She’s a quick one, Burgess is.” Kev replies, grinning himself. “But I’m sure you’ll find a no doubt disgustingly cute way to distract her.”

As his best friend, Kevin has unfortunately heard way too much about the inner details of their lives, details that since Kim is basically like his sister he’d have rather not known. But Adam can only focus on feeling sorry for him for a second, as he’s distracted, his eye catching sight of a ring in another counter.

“Kev. Look. This one.” Adam points it out to him, knowing, feeling, deep in his heart, that he had found The Ring, the one perfect for Kim. And by the looks at Kevin’s expression, his awe and smile, Adam thinks his friend agrees with that.

“That’s perfect.” Kevin grins at him.

“So, movie or tv?” Kim asks him as she adjusts the temperature on the oven. It’s the evening, and they’re at home—at his place, technically speaking, but he’s here and she’s here, which makes it home.

Kim had beat him home as usual, had let herself into his apartment like she always does, like they always plan, like they do automatically now without so much of a thought as their lives become more and more entangled with each other. She had already showered and gotten out of her work clothes by the time he had gotten home himself.

Kim’s dressed casually, lazily, only in some of her leggings and one of his old shirts with her hair tied up in a bun that’s coming undone. It’s a simple look, a no thought look, a behind the scenes, after look, a look for when Kim just wants to relax, to not be officer Burgess or even really a person, just Kim. A look for when she’s just her, unwinding from the day—a look only he is privy to.

Intimacy isn’t just knowing what the other likes in bed, how to make them blush, or what their favourite colour is. It’s this. It’s how they are with you in down time, the simple and unguarded way they are around you, how you’re not really no longer another person but almost an extension of themselves, that they can be who they are with no doubts or anything needing to be held up or any illusions to be set. Just them.

Adam wouldn’t exactly class himself as a romantic, far from it. And before Kim, he had seldom noticed these thing, not taking much note of the significance of it. It wasn’t important before, now it is. Maybe perhaps because Adam’s a cop now, he sees such things and it’s given him an appreciation for these sorts of things. Maybe because Kim was shot, Kim was kept captive and beaten, and being with her as she healed gave him a whole new look on what intimacy and love truly meant. And maybe it’s because Kim is his one, his reason for being, the beat of his heart.

Kim is an over thinker, in the most adorable of ways, and Adam thinks that if she was in his mind right now, her thoughts would be churning, trying to pinpoint the exact moment he started to appreciate things like this, because that’s who she is. Adam, he’s an over thinker in his own, different kind of way, but not this, this, Adam spares no real thought on it.

He doesn’t care about the whys, just what is, and he’s just grateful that whatever the reason is that these are things he notes now because getting to embed this memory into his mind, embed how his heart flutters at the thought of their causal intimacy with one another forever into his memories, is something he’s so, so appreciative of.

“Adam?” Kim calls to him, bringing him out of his mind, and to where she stands, still in the kitchen, waiting expectantly. “Movie or tv? And don’t think you’re going to be able to pull the tired card, you know the rules. One of us picks movie or tv, the other picks what it’ll be. Not one of us deciding both.”

This is how their evenings go now. When Adam was in his early twenties, the thought of having such a routine, of staying in most nights, of this normality, would be a suffocating one, but now the thought of spending his days like how he did is the suffocating one. That the thought of spending the rest of his days like this, with Kim, eating their dinner together and just cuddling, is one that fills him with content and his mind how back to the purchase made earlier, of the ring they picked for her, of how he imagines it’ll look on her finger.

“I’m not trying anything,” Adam replies, smiling at her. Anyone else, perhaps, that would make them let it go, but Kim narrows her eyes at him, questioningly, as if trying to suss him out.

“But darlin’, today, I was thinking,” he begins, his heart beating quickly as he hopes this will come across as casual as it’s meant to be. Hoping that she won’t realise there’s a deeper reason behind his sudden curiosity, of him bringing this up.

“That’s dangerous,” Kim has a glint in her eye. And Adam, despite himself, despite how she’s teasing him, smiles at that because goddamn, he loves this woman.

“Ha ha,” he replies dryly, before adjusting himself as he prepares to say his next sentence. He’s sitting on the sofa, but facing backwards, leaning his arms of the top of it so he can look at her as he speaks.

“I was thinking, with how we got together and all, you know we didn’t exactly go through the typical new relationship stuff. Like the ex talk and whatnot,” Adam hopes, prays, that his tone remains stable, casual, that he hasn’t activated that excellent cop instinct of hers and that she’ll sense there’s something deeper driving this conversation.

He wants to halt, to stop this, to not go near any topics that will tip her off to him having brought a ring, but Kev’s words echo in his mind and he knows he has to. Has to, if he wants to make sure that when he puts that ring on her finger, it stays on. Kevin is her best friend, the man Adam went to for help with the ring because no one else knows her this well, and so Adam takes what he says, his advice, very seriously.

“Hm. I guess we haven’t.” Kim says. There’s a slight guardedness to her tone and Adam wonders if there’s perhaps a deeper reason behind them not having this conversation before, besides them beginning the relationship in the way they did.

There’s a part of him that’s curious, that needs to know everything about this incredible woman, but there’s also a part that hurts, aches, at the thought of what possible bad experiences she could’ve had with exes, that has made her tense slightly in such a way. A part of him that wants to just reassure her that his bringing this up is not to dig into her past, but for him to share his, so that they can build a future.

“Well, you know about Wendy, obviously.” Adam cringes at having to mention his most recent ex, at the memory that he was in a relationship when he first got into her. Wendy is seldom mentioned, a part both of them would prefer to forget about, him particularly, with his assholeish behaviour—not his finest moments, that’s for sure. But he has to, has to start the conversation so casually like this is just what he thought while at work.

“Hm. Yeah.” Kim is just mindlessly reorganising things in the kitchen now, a tale-tail sign that she does not appreciate the reminder. Adam focuses on keeping himself calm, casual, so that he doesn’t accidentally start an argument.

“What about you? Did you date when in the academy?” Adam asks.

“I was busy. I’m a woman and all, I had to be the best.” Kim replies and he almost flinches at the edged tone to her words. Adam wonders if it’s still because him bringing up Wendy, or something else, and everything in him screams abort mission but he needs to, needs to, tell her about Nicole.

“What about when you were a flight attendant? Did you date much?” Trying to keep his tone light and not too curious, too pressing is proving hard, especially when this has nothing to do with her, and everything to do with him.

“A little.” She’s reorganising the cabinets now. Her tone is guarded, cool, and Adam’s split between whether to continue from where he is or if he should go hug her. Not wanting to make her think that he’s wondering about her clipped responses—knowing Kim, that’s even more dangerous territory—Adam decides to stay put, no matter how much his arms ache to have her in them.

“What about high school? At work, seeing all these teenagers insist their adults just remind me of my own teenage antics,” Adam offers up his own past a little, putting the attention back on him. There’s a lot of ‘teenage antics’ in his history, not much of which he’d particularly like to get into, but if Kim asks, he will. Because she’s clearly uncomfortable, and he’s doing that, and so he’ll be uncomfortable instead. He’ll do anything for her.

“I bet, canaryville,” Kim turns to look at him, smiling, her tone light for the first time in this whole conversation. Adam seizes the opportunity.

“God, the things I got up to. I wanted to be a cop, even back then, although I didn’t think it was in the cards. But you wouldn’t think it. I was canaryville through and through.” He reminisces. “The Beverly in me came out in my twenties, although canaryville, I’ll always be a canaryville boy. Got me the job, so there’s that. There was a time though that I really could’ve became very canaryville.” This is all stuff he’s touched on before with Kim, but she’s listening, intently, to him, because she always regards as whatever he says as important, just another reason he so desperately wants her to be his wife.

“I was even engaged at one point. Not Wendy, to this girl when I was twenty. You know, real puppy dog love. But marrying young isn’t uncommon in canaryville and well, I was young.” Adam casually drops. Kim was leaning against the counter, just listening, but at that, she pushes herself to stand up straight, staring at him.

“You were engaged? Before you were engaged?” She stares at him, shocked.

“Yeah, for like three months. Got engaged in the summer, we’d called it off by Halloween. We were young, thought we were in love, her mom was pushing her to move to Canada with her and wasn’t taking our relationship ‘seriously’ so we thought hey. I proposed with a 40 dollar ring,” He keeps his tone casual, even still, making sure to avoid details like they had only dated a year. Kim needs to know this, but she’s an over thinker, and if he tells her that and then proposes after they’ve been together only a year themselves, she’ll go into overdrive. That is not what he wants.

“I can’t believe you’ve been engaged not once, but twice,” Kim, thankfully, sees the humour in all this, all her defences dropping again. Adam feels a weight lifted off his shoulders that this went well, that she’s not mad at him.

“Third time’s the charm, hey?” Kim then says, grinning at him. Only for a second, before what she said registers and the grin has gone, replaced with a deep blush and wide eyes. “I mean, I didn’t mean, like us, not that I, uh—” Kim stumbles over her words, her adorably anxious mind in overdrive.

“Darlin’. Relax. I know what you meant,” Adam reassures her, standing up now to go to her. He kisses the top of her forehead, calming her thoughts, and smiling into her, allowing himself to feel happy that it appears that Kim’s at least briefly imagined them getting married, and that she seems open. His heart feels a little lighter, less nervous and more excited, and more confident in his decision to buy the ring.

“Now, is our food nearly done? Because we’ve got to choose; a movie or tv,” Adam diverts the conversation back, needing Kim to not focus on the thought of marriage too much, not when they’re a few weeks away from the surprise.

A surprise that Adam cannot wait for, which he notes as he watches Kim, smiling at her as she moves and talks to him, feeling more and more in love with her with every passing second.

[pikakehimesama]

Serendipity

First Story Posted! Woohoo! 

This is a one-shot inspired by Jimin’s solo song, Serendipity from the album Love Yourself - Her. It is also my favorite song on the album, as well as the best one, I think lol. 

Jimin x OC (You) Soulmate AU featuring Taehyung and Jungkook

Fair warning, extreme fluff, and teeth pulling from a dense character lol 

Every day, well almost every day I would feel an extreme of any emotion. They would range from pure happiness to laughter, to loss, to grief, to surprise, to even depression.

However, most days they would be pure happiness.  

Most people describe this feeling as your soulmate connection. Here in my society, whatever extreme of an emotion your soulmate is feeling, you’ll feel a tinge of it, whether or not it was happy or sad. It was weird growing up as a child, I had always felt the feelings of extreme emotions every day.

Growing up in society this day and age with the concept of soulmates, it’s very rare to find yours. Most ignore that sliver of emotion that they’ll feel and stick with whoever they’re with. Every day, I could tell, couples weren’t soulmates, just by the way they would interact. Some days I would see the woman, sometimes a man in the relationship experience that extreme of an emotion- usually happiness, however, the other wouldn’t express the same. Having parents who are soulmates does change your opinions on why it’s worth it to find your soulmates. To see my mom, even on her worst days, my dad would somehow always be able to change it to make it better. Some days you can’t help the bad days, but when your significant other is waiting at home with a cup of cocoa and your favorite takeout food after a horrible day, you know it’s worth having that soulmate around.

“Hey!” My best friend Jimin smiles at me, distracting me from my thoughts as he sits down next to me. “Did you finish that English assignment? Mr. Kim was saying it was worth at least 15% of our grade!”

Jimin is someone I met during elementary school, in kindergarten. He’s always been by my side- still don’t understand why, however, he has and is my best friend. With his floppy brown locks, friendly personality, cute eye smile and dimples, who wouldn’t be in love with him? However, he chooses to hang out with me, and five others but he chooses to be my best friend. Why? I’ll never understand what goes on his brain.

“Oh geez. I didn’t realize it was that bad...” Taehyung groans, another one of our friends and leans his head on Jungkook, his best friend (actually boyfriend but society is still ignorant in this day and age).

Jungkook rubs Taehyung’s shoulders, trying to comfort him. “I’m sure you did fine. Don’t worry about it, right Namjoonie? He doesn’t have to worry about anything yeah?” Jungkook turns to face Namjoon, another one in our friend group. He’s a year older, and Taehyung’s older brother.

Namjoon looks up from the book he’s currently reading and nods, “Mr. Kim just wants your perspective on the soulmate concept.” Namjoon explains and looks over at Seokjin, his soulmate and back at Taehyung. “I’m assuming you wrote your experience, which makes it a breeze.” Seokjin can’t help but blush and gives Namjoon a quick peck on the cheek.

“Ah geez,” I groan as I look at Namjoon and Seokjin. I love all my friends, but knowing they all have their soulmates and not me sometimes is quite the pain. Seokjin lets out a dramatic eye roll and looks at me, “I know you haven’t found yours but come on, Let me enjoy the fact Namjoon didn’t punch me for kissing him in public.”

Acknowledging that fact I just shrug my shoulders and stare at my binder which contains my copy of the assignment.

“How did yours turn out since, you know, since you didn’t find your soulmate?” Taehyung asks and all eyes are soon on me as I fiddle with my fingers.

“Uh, hopefully, alright. It’s a bit hard to write about soulmates when you don’t have one,” I trail off biting my lip.

It’s not hard to let that fact bother me. Every day it’s getting harder and harder to accept the fact my soulmate may not even believe in the concept of soulmates in this day and age.

“Look, she’s not the only one who hasn’t found her soulmate.” Jimin chimes in, and wraps his arm around me, and I feel a deep sense of gratitude towards him. He squeezes me a bit and I can’t hope but wish he was my soulmate. “Remember, my soulmate is still out there, and I haven’t found them yet, but I also did the assignment as well.”

“Well that’ll be interesting,” I see a grin grow on Namjoon’s face, as well as Seokjin’s.

“What do you mean by interesting?” Jimin inquires but the school bell rings, signaling this conversation will be put on hold for now.

“Meaning, have fun in literature class.” Seokjin laughs and gets up for class with Namjoon in tow. Everyone groans and grunts as they all have to go to class. Waiting for Taehyung, who always takes ten years to get ready I swear along with Jimin and Jungkook for that dreaded literature class.

“I wonder what they meant by interesting?” Taehyung asks as the four of us head off to class.

“Probably because we’re all in the same class.” Jungkook shrugs as he carries most of Taehyung’s books for him.

Entering literature class, we all take our seats, Jimin next to the window, me on the right of him and Taehyung and Jungkook in front of us respectively.

“Okay class, I hope everyone finished their assignments because now we’ll be doing a quick presentation on them for the rest of the class.” Professor Kim smiles and you can’t help but stare widely at Jimin who is just as shocked as you.

Maybe this is why Namjoon and Seokjin said class would be interesting.

Mr. Kim has us presenting row by row from right to left which makes me nervous. Most of the class opinion’s on soulmates were that even though they’re probably out there, it’s not worth the disappointment if your other half is currently with someone else so it’s better to just seek your own happiness. Others have the belief that you should wait and find your soulmate. One girl even talked about how even if it seems impossible, if the universe destined you to be with someone for the rest of your life, they would somehow make your paths cross eventually when the timing is right.

It’s finally Jungkook’s turn, as he’s the first out of the four of us to share. Hesitantly he stands up and looks at Taehyung then Jimin and I before beginning.

“I was born by parents who weren’t soulmates. They never believed in the concept as they realized their love was stronger than their soulmate connection. That was a phenomenon as both my sides of grandparents are strong believers of the soulmate connection. However, my parents didn’t care and gave birth to me and my sister. My sister found her soulmate when we were four, and I couldn’t believe it honestly. The concept of soulmates still astounds me. My sister found hers at four years old, my grandparents met when they were 29. My aunt just found hers and she’s about to be 60 years old. So soulmates, are weird, and I understand why some wouldn’t want to find they’re soulmates like my parents. However, I believe if you do have the opportunity to meet your soulmate, you should take it because you know they’ll understand you, even as the entire world is against you.” Jungkook finishes as he stares at Taehyung and gives a small smile to him.

The entire class claps as Jungkook’s one is probably the most insightful out of everyone who has presented.

“So mine isn’t as insightful as Jungkook’s so I hope it’ll suffice.” Taehyung jokes as he stands up, Jungkook giving his and hand a quick squeeze before letting go.

“I got to meet my soulmate in the most unconventional way ever I would assume. Sometimes my middle school self, was depressed because I was different compared to everyone else at my other school. I wasn’t rich like the other kids, I wasn’t into the same taste of music as others. I was raised quite differently than others. So the day I met my soulmate was the day I almost committed suicide.” Taehyung explains and the entire class goes silent.

I look at Jimin who’s just as shocked at my teacher. “My soulmate was walking home that day and somehow felt the same sadness so they went to where they feel when they’re lonely. Coincidentally it happened to be where I was about to commit suicide. Right next to a cliff that overwatch's the entire city. The moment they pulled me before I jumped, I knew whoever pulled me wasn’t someone who was just a random stranger. They were someone who was supposed to be in life. Looking back, the signs were there of the universe. The fact that I wandered to that specific location during a time of my depression. The fact I felt solace of committing suicide at that specific location. I don’t believe in the concept of a higher being, but I do believe that soulmates are there in the world for us when we feel down. They’re there to let us know, it’s okay, you’re not alone.” Taehyung finishes and the entire room starts clapping, some even ran to give Taehyung a huge hug.

Jimin and I clap, still staring at each other in shock. Taehyung never discussed this with us. All we knew from when we met Taehyung he came up to us with a bright smile and Jungkook next to his side, shy but still acknowledging our presence.

“I think yours might have not been as insightful as Jungkook’s but is the most heartwarming.” Mr. Kim gives Taehyung a smile before he has the next person to continue.

Feeling antsy as my nerves go up to a threshold, I can’t help but feel nervous about my paper. Taehyung and Jungkook’s were spectacular presentations and now mine? I have no idea how to feel about it.

I feel Jimin's hand on my thigh rubbing it in circles as he attempts to calm my nerves. I look at him grateful that I have a someone like him by my side. I hope my soulmate can read me as well as my best friend can.

Jungkook turns around and ushers me to stand, not realizing that it was currently my turn to present.

“Well, um.” I begin, feeling more nervous than ever to present, “I haven’t met my soulmate- I think. Some days, I feel like they’re so close but then others, I wonder where they are because I feel lost in their emotions. I always thought I would meet my soulmate quickly since I was able to feel their emotions for as long as I could remember. I remember the first time I felt it, it was when I was eating breakfast and I felt an extreme sense of happiness. I remember when I asked my parents what it was and they explained it to me. My parents met each other as freshmen in high school and we’re called the ‘high school sweethearts’ as they found each other as soulmates and were inseparable since then. It was the cliche bad boy turned good for the girl he loved. I was so inspired by their soulmate story, I just wanted to meet mine right away, I mean I always felt their emotions so why wouldn’t I? However, as the years went on, the more frustrating it got knowing I could always feel their emotions but I couldn’t find them, themselves you know? It felt like a dream where I couldn’t grasp their hands and tell them their day will get better, I’m here for you. However, I won’t give up. I may not have some tale of finding my soulmate, but I know they’re out there. I won’t give up for as long as I live to find them. If they somehow end up with someone else, I’ll support them and be their best friend. However I want to find mine, I want to tell them, life gets better and be there for them.” I explain and look at Jimin who looks winded as he stares at his own paper. He finds my eyes and gives me the warmest eye smile reassuring me I did well.

“That’s a very interesting point you bring up, finding your soulmate just to let them know that you’re there for them.” Mr. Kim brings up, “The soulmate concept is made to be this intricate love story from the thousands, no, millions of stories that are told from generation to generation, but I think the main that gets left out is the fact that your soulmate doesn’t have to be your lover, they can just be your best friend.” Mr. Kim pauses and looks at me, and at Jimin, “and sometimes you’ll have to step back and realize, maybe they were there all along as your best friend.” Mr. Kim then looks back at Jimin giving him a smile, “Jimin, how about you finish things on off with your presentation, as you are the last to present.”

Jimin gives a curt nod and I take his hand giving it a light squeeze. I can feel his nervousness and I hope it calms him down a bit seeing him shake his leg up and down intensely. Once he stands up he looks at Taehyung, Jungkook and then me. He holds my eye contact for a bit before I give him a smile and a nod, hopefully, conveying the courage he needs.

“Soulmates surround us. Not just as in yours, but with our families and friends. We probably have that one person we know who has an extravagant story of how they met their soulmate through the roughest and hardest part of their lives... Some don’t have that luxury, but I do feel if those were to search a bit harder, they would find they’re soulmates. Soulmates don’t have to necessarily be our lovers- just as Mr. Kim explained, but I do think there is a variety of them. Some are supposed to be your best friends. I also do believe in the fact that your soulmate can also be your dream job, the taste of the food you like, your taste in music. All of this can lead you to the person you’re soulmates with.” Jimin pauses and looks down at his paper, “And maybe sometimes your soulmate can be standing in front of you, without you realizing it, wondering why are you so goddamn dense and can’t see that we’re soulmates.” He lets out a breath and continues. “So what is my belief in the concept of soulmates Mr. Kim, I believe the concept of soulmates is unbelievably true as I feel my soulmates connection at an extreme level 24/7, however, I feel sorry for people like me. We know exactly who our soulmates are, or have a very strong idea but they’re too goddamn dense to realize it.” Jimin finishes, panting a bit, realizing he let his emotions get the better of him. Mr. Kim chuckles, “My boy Jimin, if you thought your situation was tough, wait till you've watched your soulmate hook up with over 20 different girls in college, date 3 people seriously, get married then go through a divorce while you were on the side being their best friend.” He chuckles which makes the entire room chuckle a bit.

“Well, I guess that concludes class. Leave your written report on my desk as you head out.” Professor Kim says as everyone rushes out except the four of you.

“Tae,” you begin and he just shrugs as he gives Mr. Kim his report.

“Shit-” Taehyung begins and looks at Mr. Kim who just shrugs and ushers him to continue, “shit happens. I mean, I have to thank my depression for letting me meet my soulmate.” a small smile appears on Jungkooks face and you can't help but smile as well. It's very understandable on why Jungkook and Taehyung are soulmates. Taehyung is wild and quite unpredictable, while Jungkook is the calm to the storm.

“Mr. Kim, a marriage, and a divorce? How did you handle it?” Jimin asks as he puts his report on the desk. Mr. Kim leans back and chuckles a bit, running a hand through his hair.

“It's a long story, my boy.” Mr. Kim says and Jimin takes a seat, pulling your arm so you're sitting down as well.

“We have all day. I need to understand how you finally confessed you were soulmates.” Jimin said with such determination that you could feel it too. It kind of stung that Jimin wanted to find his soulmate with that much determination. You didn't like the feeling, but if Jimin wanted this, you would support him.

“My story is just like your Jimin, just the long-term version. Long story short, I knew my soulmate, but I knew he wasn't gay so of course, I never said anything, but oh boy, I wish I did. I met him when I was about seven years old I would say. He was such an awkward kid, he just moved to Korea so he didn't speak much Korean and only spoke English and Cantonese. I felt bad since he had no friends so I started to talk to him. When I look back on it, the moment I talked to him was the first time I realized he was my soulmate because I felt such an intense feeling of happiness.  He became my best friend, and throughout school, as we got older he grew really popular. Captain of the basketball team, president of the Art Club, and plus he was super tall. Meanwhile, I was president of Chess, English, and student body. That's when I definitely knew he was my soulmate because,” Mr. Kim sighed and rubbed his temples. “Intense feelings aren't just happiness and sadness, if you get what I mean.”

I feel my jaw physically drop in pure shock. I side glance Jimin who shifts uncomfortably in his seat, then to Taehyung who is sneaking a peek at Jungkook, who gives off a knowing smirk.

“Mr. Kim,” Jungkook asks, “So when he felt those strong urges, did it make you feel them as well?”

“Yes it did, so if you know who your soulmate is, I'd say test it with that.” Mr. Kim and looks at Jungkook, “You do know I'm 110% gay so if you want to hold Taehyung’s hand in front of me, I really don't care.” he said as he looked at Taehyung and Jungkook, who were both floored.

“So, Mr. Kim, how did you confess?” Jimin asks, curious to know how it turned out.

“It wasn’t easy my boy. Confessing to your best friend that, one you’re gay, and two you’re his soulmate?” He chuckled as he leaned back in his chair. “That was a fun night. When I got plastered drunk and threw myself at him.” He looked off into the distance and then back at Jimin, “Here’s my advice. If your soulmate is too dense to realize you’re their soulmate just tell them straight up. Nothing can go wrong.” Mr. Kim and we all nod, thank him before exiting.

“So,” Taehyung swings an arm around Jimin’s neck with a knowing smirk plastered onto his facial features, “You know who your soulmate is?”

“More,” Jimin shrugs off Taehyung’s shoulder, evading the physical contact, “or less have an idea.”

“Woah, Are you going to tell us?” Jungkook asks excitedly looking between Jimin and I. Noticing Jimin starts fidgeting and uneasiness I try to step in but Taehyung covers my mouth with his hand.

“Not, not now.” Jimin lets a deep breath out before he runs to his next class.

Taehyung lets out a huge sigh, and rubs my upper back in what seems like sympathy?

“Next time, we’ll get that information out of him for you.” Taehyung smiles at me and heads off to his next class with Jungkook leaving me speechless.

Why do they want to know who Jimin’s soulmate so badly?

~~~~

Sitting at home bored on a Friday night is not my ideal type of night, especially when my parents are out of town, but it happens I guess. Sitting on the couch with the popcorn and my Chinese takeout on the table in front. I can’t believe there’s been so many TV shows and movies based on the plot line of soulmates. Channel surfing, I scroll through every movie and tv show playing.

DING!

From Jimin: please don’t tell me you’re stuffing yourself with unhealthy food

I scoff, how does he know me so well?

To Jimin: Uh, no?

From Jimin: I’ll be over in 5 minutes.

Sighing I toss your phone on the couch seat next to you. Jimin is always nagging me about my choices of food. Like why? I just wanted to pig out, sometimes, multiple times a week.

Jimin’s presence is well known in my house, so when my mother sees him at the door, she welcomes him in. My mother has taken a fond liking to Jimin over the many years we have known each other. She had even jokingly said he was her son.

“I brought you salad.” He holds a plate of Caesar salad with my favorite (I mean what makes the salad more tolerable) grilled shrimp on top, “And I brought you your favorite, Mint Chip ice cream because I assumed I was going to be forced into watching a cliche soulmate movie.”  He places the salad on the table, cleans up your leftovers and walks to the kitchen to put the leftovers in the fridge and the ice cream in the freezer.

Jimin always took such good care of me, and I always appreciate it. However, after class today, it made me worry. What if when he meets his soulmate he’ll leave me? Who is going to be watching cliche romance movies where I just complain all the time? Who’s going to bring me healthy food, and motivate me to live a healthier lifestyle so we can live longer together?

Jimin returns, plopping a seat next to me, with his arm stretched above me. Naturally, I curl up next to him, having the blanket cover both of us.

“So, I was thinking either High School Musical or 17 Again,” I suggest, looking at the choices on Netflix. I hear a sigh, next to me and I feel his eyes on me.

“Really, Zac Efron again? Can’t we watch another one, like Neighbors? It still has him in it.” Jimin suggests with a wide smile, trying appeal to my want of Zac Efron.

“Seriously?” I pout, putting on my signature puppy-dog face which gets me almost everything I want with Jimin. He throws a hand over my face, while his other reaches for the remote and chooses High School Musical.

“I know you secretly like this movie.” I smile and snuggle closer to him, as his arm wraps around my shoulder.

“Whatever,” He sighs and feeds me the salad.

I swear, Jimin is the perfect guy.

“Look, I don’t get why she’s caught up in believing they can’t be together. Is she that dense? Troy loves her clearly.” Jimin huffs in annoyance and I turned to him shocked,

“No way! Look at Troy pretending he’s soo cool while Gabriella is trying so hard to convey her feelings!”

“It’s not my fault Gabriella is so dense that she can’t even see what’s right in front of her.” Jimin sends me a pointed look, and I glare back at him.

“Maybe if Troy was clear with his feelings about her, she wouldn’t be so sad! I mean he disregarded her feelings during that recording stunt!”

“Or maybe if Gabriella understood the context of that situation, she would understand why he said that. Being a guy is pretty difficult when you're cornered for your feelings.” Jimin sighs.

“Oh yeah? When have you ever been cornered to say what you didn’t mean?” I ask now looking at him directly. I see him go speechless, noticing his breath quickens a bit, and his heart is beating a tad bit faster. His palms get sweaty as he wipes it on the couch’s arm.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I scoff, “You’ve never been cornered like that. It doesn’t happen Jimin with people who are your friends.”

“Today.” He cuts me off, and I see him taking deep breaths to slow his uneven breaths, “Today, when Taehyung and Jungkook asked me about my soulmate.”

“What do you mean today?” I ask, genuinely confused about the situation.

“They know who my soulmate is, and they tried to pressure me into saying it.” Jimin’s words are quiet but well enunciated.

“Why would Taehyung and Jungkook try to pressure you into saying if they know? That makes no sense.” I state the obvious.

“Why would they pressure me?” he laughs ironically and  tilts his head back and hand runs through his locks of hair, “Ironic don’t you think?”

“What?” I don’t understand, suddenly feeling nervous, but a slight surge of courage courses through my body.

“Because, for 12 years, I’ve known who my soulmate is, but she is so goddamn dense she can’t even figure it out.”

“If you have known for so long, why didn’t you say anything? Isn’t that kind of redundant of the whole soulmate concept? Why meet and realize who it is, but not tell them?” The gears in my head are turning but I cannot process why Jimin is acting like this. He’s honestly not making any sense.

“Because I wanted her to realize it for herself. But honestly, after today, I can’t. I wanted to continue having her try to figure out her soulmate is me, but I don’t think she’ll realize it,” Jimin sighs as he leans in so close looking at me in my eyes, feeling the ghost of his lips against mine, “even when it’s right in front of her.”

My heart stops as I stare at the boy in front of me.

My eyes go wide as I feel my heart beating rapidly as I feel the panic suddenly rush over me. I feel his hands grasp mine, as his thumb rubs gentle circles.

“You never thought it was weird, that I was able to always calm you down? How I could always read you? How today even, I knew you were going to be on this couch, trying to watch a sappy romance movie, with your unhealthy takeout? How, when you're sad, I always knew, or when you were happy, I always knew?”  

My mind is racing as every memory he mentions runs through my head and I feel like I’m spiraling out of control.

“Like right now, you can’t even process it, because you just realized your soulmate was right in front of you this entire time.” Jimin slowly pulls me closer onto his lap, with me straddling over his hips.

“Jimin... I... I...” the stuttering won’t stop as try to form what to say, or even words. My brain is in overdrive trying to process all this information. His arms wrap around me, as he rubs comforting circles on my back.

“It’s okay, I never expected you to get it right away.” Jimin chuckles and I see his eyes squint into those crescents where I know the smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

I don’t know what comes over me, but I find myself leaning over as I place my lips on his soft pillowy lips. His eyes shoot wide open stunned at first but slowly melts into the kiss. The kiss is soft, and loving and everything I ever imagined with having my first kiss with a soulmate. I could feel the gut feeling hit, the euphoric state kicks in full blast as I pull away, both of donning huge smiles.

“I love you,” Jimin says not even above a whisper, knowing it’s for my ears only.

“I love you too, Jimin” I smile and lean him to kiss him again.

*~*~*~

“I repeat, code Serendipity. Angel has finally realized Calico was her soulmate. I repeat, Angel has finally realized Calico was her soulmate.” The voice whispers into the phone as she watches the two on the couch, peering from the hallway.

*~*~*~*

“So, I take it you figured out who your soulmate was, huh?” Mr. Kim looks at Jimin and I holding hands as we sit in his class after it ends. After his talk with us the other day, we realized, maybe the dorky teacher was kind of cool.

“Took her a while to process the information.” Jimin chuckles as he rubs his thumb in circles on my hand, “But at least she finally processed it.”

“Oh! Mr. Kim! We realized it! It does work!” Taehyung bounces over with Jungkook in tow, who looks mortified.

“Oh, oh really? What works?” Mr. Kim asks, but I can see a ghost of a smirk linger on his lips.

Huh, I wonder why?

“The other forms of happiness! We tried it out last night and it worked! We both felt it!” Taehyung beams and I see Jungkook try his best to hide behind Taehyung and Jimin’s eyes widen with shock.

Why is Jimin feeling nervous? And, another feeling I can’t quite pinpoint.

“Taehyung,” Jimin seethes, with what I presume is anger? But why is he angry, none of his emotions are angry, “You have 3 seconds to run before I murder you for one, what you just said, and two, your conversation with her mom last night.” Jimin voice is quiet, but honestly, why do his emotions seem more out of embarrassment than anger?

“Oh, he caught on...” Jungkook mumbles as Taehyung slowly makes his way to the door.

“I’m glad you finally confessed Calico!” Taehyung shouts before he takes off down the hallway with Jimin on his heels.

“Calico?” I mumble and Jungkook chuckles placing a hand on my shoulder.

“It’s fine Angel, you’ll understand later.”

Hope you enjoyed it :) 

[onceuponamirror]

heart rise above

///// CHAPTER 3

summary: It wasn’t an experiment with freedom borne of some Americana fantasy; rather, a road trip of purely logistical intentions. The plan was simple. Drive from Boston to Chicago for his sister’s college graduation. That’s it.

Or, he drives a Ford Pickup Named Desire.

Mechanic!AU

fandom: riverdale

ship: betty x jughead

words: 11k

chapters: 3/?

[read from the beginning] [read the latest]

Oh, mirror in the sky What is love?

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He and Archie settle in next to each other as the tow truck roars to life. The Barbie Grease Monkey behind the wheel flashes them a bright smile once they're buckled in and starts to turn out of the diner parking lot.

“So the hotel is actually really close by,” she says conversationally. “Riverdale is a good town to walk in.”

“Great, considering we don’t have any other options,” Jughead grumbles. He fidgets next to her, hyper aware of his knee bouncing dangerously close to her own. How the hell did he get stuck in the middle seat?

He thinks he hears Betty inhale sharply, but the rumbling of the truck masks it and he’s not sure. Regardless, he’s definitely pushed her buttons already. And normally he wouldn’t care, but given she went through the trouble to give him a good deal and what he suspects is a rush job, he feels a bit bad about his attitude. It’s an unfamiliar emotion.

(Though, speaking of the unfamiliar, he’s still stuck on figuring out why a perfect stranger would be so plainly altruistic.)

A few minutes later, they pull into a little motel that exudes the same wholesome nuclear family vacation atmosphere as the diner. It’s inexplicably called the Flamingo Inn, but for what purpose, he has no idea, as there isn’t a palm tree or even a lawn flamingo in sight.

Betty cuts the engine and looks over at them. She pulls a business card from her breast pocket and a pen from the truck console and flips it over, scribbling a phone number on the back. “Here’s the garage number and my personal one, in case you need anything. It’s mostly just me at the garage right now so I’m there a lot, but on the off chance I’m not around, you can always try my cell. I open at 7.”

She passes it to Jughead, and he takes it with nimble fingers. Last time he’d touched her, he’d gotten a bit of a static shock, and he still isn’t quite sure what to make of it.

“I’ll come by tomorrow morning to fill out the paperwork. Have a good night. Thanks,” he sighs, grabbing his bag and following Archie out of the tow truck. Betty waves at them from behind the wheel, and then disappears back onto the road. He stares after the Ford jangling off the back until it’s out of sight.

Archie nudges him in the ribs. “Dude, she’s totally into you.”

Besides the fact that he’s confident that he’s offended her twice over already, instincts tell him that’s highly unlikely. Jughead scoffs and readjusts his duffel over his shoulder. “Yeah, I’m a real catch. A drifter with a defunct truck and freshly out 2 grand.”

“She gave you her personal number,” Archie insists knowingly as they head towards the inn.

“Because I’m paying her to fix my truck,” Jughead replies, rolling his eyes. “You think every conversation with anyone of the female persuasion is a veiled flirtation. But, my man, a girl like that does not go for a guy like me.”

“A girl like that? So you like her.” Archie grins, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Jesus Christ, Arch.” Jughead exhales noisily. “Just because I can acknowledge that she’s pretty and it’s cool that she knows her shit doesn’t mean I’m out shopping for diamonds.”

“I didn’t say anything about diamonds,” Archie laughs. “We’re stuck here for a few weeks. Have a fling, buddy.”

Jughead doesn’t have anything to say to that, partially because he doesn’t feel like defending himself against their polar perspectives on relationships once again. While he wouldn’t be so disloyal as to call out Archie’s unsustainable dating habits to his face, it’s not the first time he’s silently reflected on the trouble it causes. More trouble than it’s worth, in Jughead’s opinion.

“Well, I’m going to get Veronica’s number, if we’re sticking around,” Archie says after a long moment, without much tactful dodging of implication. “Here for a good time, not a long time.”

“Ugh, which of Reggie’s tank tops did you steal that slogan from?” Jughead mutters, approaching the front desk. The benefit of a small town motel is how cheap it is, and they can afford their own rooms. He’s thankful he won’t have to spend the next three weeks trying to wax poetic over the cavemen snores of his best friend.

That is, if he’s actually able to get any writing done.

He and Archie bid each other goodnight, and then he throws his bag down on his bed. He flops along next to it a moment later, bouncing slightly on the springy mattress. He falls backwards and scrubs his hand over his face, the last hour of his life catching up to him.

He stares at the ceiling and tries not to think about his bank account.

Despite blaming his habit of penny-pinching his way through life for this current problem (too cheap for A/C, too cheap to get the truck checked out anytime recently) he’s also grateful for it in this moment, because it means he’s got the flexibility to cover the truck repairs—even if it feels like he’s signed a death certificate for his savings.

But he knows it’s the deep-set irrationality of a kid raised on food stamps, and tries to tell himself that he had a good year for royalties, and he’ll be okay.

And Betty gave him a deal. Maybe it was just out of pity, or maybe she’d actually overpriced the estimate in order to seem like she was being generous. History tells him that, nine times out of ten, people are swindlers and liars—and yet, she turned her big green eyes on him and the next thing he knew, he was agreeing to half a new engine.

Betty. He hears Archie’s teasing in his thoughts again and tries to force it away. He’d meant what he said—he’s not blind, she is pretty, and she did seem genuinely nice and, rarer still, just genuinely genuine.

And sharp, he adds thoughtfully. She definitely knows what she’s talking about. And that little streak of grease above her eyebrow was cute.

He catches himself. What is he doing? Who is he, Archie? “Snap out of it, you idiot,” he mutters to himself. He’s not here for a fling, whatever his friend might say.

He muses that also it’s a big leap to presume a girl as cool and pretty as her is single, and anyway, there were two small children with a resemblance running circles around her. What if she’s married and takes off her ring while she works? What if she’s a single mom? No one would pick him as a father figure by choice, and anyway, he’s leaving town in over a fortnight, so he decides it’s best to assume Betty is beyond an option.

Besides, the only reason he agreed to stick around this hole in the wall of a town is because he’d had the first inspiration in months sitting in that diner. Hopefully, something is in the water here, and he’ll actually make some headway on his sequel.

Sighing, he decides he’s no longer got any professional wiggle room to avoid his editor and reaches for his laptop. He shoots off a reply to her notes on his first few chapters (“Well written, JP, but where’s the poignancy from the first book? Why should we care? Needs more work.”), telling her that he’s planning on scrapping what he has and moving the setting to a small town.

Once that’s done, Jughead looks around, unsure what to do with himself. It’s still early by his standards, and he feels wide awake. He glances at the clock, deciding to call his sister, knowing that the whole Jones family shares the same night-hawkish tendencies and that she’s probably still up.

She answers after a few rings. “Josh and JB’s house, JB speaking,” she says.

He almost drops the phone. “Who the fuck is Josh?”

Not that he’s trying to be some sort of overbearing Freudian figure, but their one rule is that they don’t keep secrets from each other. If JB has been dating someone long enough to move in within them, he’s downright offended that she hasn’t mentioned it.

“This is my iPhone, dumbass, I’m kidding,” his sister says in a mocking tone that he recognizes well. “Not a house phone. There’s no Josh. It’s just me and Chad.”

He pauses, unsure if she’s making another joke. “Still kidding,” she says, when she realizes he’s waiting for her. “Like I’d date a Chad.”

“I don’t think either of us are in any place to judge romantic partners based on their given names, Forsythia,” he points out.

JB groans loudly over the speaker. “Sorry, I suddenly went deaf and didn’t hear that,” she replies coolly. “Anyway, what’s up? Where are you guys right now? How’s the road trip going? How’s Archie? Did you remember to bring the extra duffel?”

“Uh, yep, I did, I brought it. Archie’s…good. We’re in upstate New York now,” he says slowly.

“You’re using your ‘JB, the bunny went to live at a farm’ voice.”

“The truck sort of…died on us,” he admits, chewing on his lip. “We’re stuck in East of Jesus for now. Don’t worry,” he adds quickly. “I’m not gonna miss your graduation. I’ll take a plane if I have to. I’ll even personally blackmail Richard Branson for his jet if it comes down to it.”

There’s a pause over the line. “You’re getting the truck fixed though, right?” Her voice sounds oddly small. “That was our family car.”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t worry, JB. It’s in good hands. I found a mechanic who knows her game.” He tosses his hat across the bed and runs a hand through his hair while releasing a long breath. “We had some good times in that truck as kids. I’m not giving up on it that easily.”

“You’re such a sucker,” she says fondly. “But we did have some really good times, didn’t we? Hey, remember when Hot Dog took a shit on the blanket Dad kept in the back of the truck?”

He chuckles. “Of all the memories, that’s the first one you bring up?”

“Memory, from the latin root mem. As in: to remember—as in: memorable,” JB replies.

“So you did take my Latin dictionary.”

“Whatever, you’re getting it back when I move in. Anyway. I’m gonna try to actually get some sleep tonight. I’ve got a final tomorrow. Keep me posted, and call me when you’re Chicago bound. Love you.”

“Love you,” he echoes. “Good luck on your final,” he adds, but she’s already gone.

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After getting off the phone with his sister, Jughead tosses restlessly for a few hours, mostly tortured by the childhood memories formed in the back of that truck. Their dad taking turns too wide, just to make them laugh as they swayed around in their seats. Camping out in the truck bed with their dog. The three of them driving JB to out Chicago to start college.

Of course, they haven’t all been together since.

With that thought, Jughead kicks off the sheets and angrily pulls on his pants, frustrated that he’d let his mind wander back there. JB is right; he is a sucker.

There are plenty of bad memories associated with that truck too. Taking the turns too wide was dangerous. They camped out in the truck the week the electricity was shut off and their dad tried to make it fun; convince them the stars were the only lights they needed.

And he hasn’t seen his father in over two years. It won’t do him any good to romanticize the past.

Besides, he’s getting the damn thing fixed. What else does he fucking have to do to appease this self-tormenting part of his personality?

It’s barely sunrise, but Jughead decides he’s going to go for a walk to try to clear his head. He throws his laptop in his saddle bag at the last minute, in case he gets another random burst of inspiration. He regrets not going for his laptop earlier, when he’d had the bug to write. If he’d pushed himself, he might’ve found his character’s missing motivation.

He ends up wandering back to the diner, which is already open. However, up close he realizes that it’s actually a 24-hour establishment. “Oh, you’re gonna hate me,” he says gleefully to himself, breaking for the door.

The same round-faced man from last night is behind the counter cleaning milkshake glasses with a white rag. He waves. “Hey! I remember you. Chips, pickles, and fries, right? Back for more?”

Jughead grins, and takes his pick of booths, as he’s quite literally the only person in the restaurant. It’s 5am, so he’s not shocked. A familiar-looking dark-haired and older woman appears to take his order and once she’s gone with instructions for pancakes, and as many as she can carry, he settles into his seat and stares out the window.

His eyes find the parking spot where his truck had met its maker and he thinks about how young JB had sounded when she thought it had been gone for good. It made him feel sixteen again, wrapping her up in his arms while she wailed and begged him once again to tell her why their mother didn’t come back.

Words he still doesn’t have die on his tongue.

He hadn’t realized the truck was important to her too. Betty promised it would run for another ten years with new parts, and while he does technically believe that’s what she thinks, he also just isn’t the type to put all his eggs in one basket. He should probably just try to learn how to fix the damn thing himself at some point.

Later, after he’s polished off as many pancakes as possible (and without a visitation from his muse), he decides there’s only so long he can sit twiddling his thumbs in the diner. Betty won’t open for another hour, but since he’s on foot, he might as well start to head over.

He pulls Betty’s business card from his pocket and enters the address into his phone. While he waits for it to load, he flips it over and stares at her number. He still thinks Archie is wrong about Betty’s intentions, but then again, his best friend does have a lot more experience in picking up women and he wonders if Archie understands something he doesn’t.

Not worth it, he thinks firmly, trying to dismiss the thought. Occam's Razor. The answer is always simpler than it seems. She's just fixing my damn truck. Google Maps hands him an arrow, and he distracts himself by following it.

The garage isn’t far from the diner, just over a mile, and the walk is surprisingly pleasant for a town the size of his neighborhood in Boston. He ambles his way towards the garage, unsure if he should prepare to be attacked by small children. Sure, it’s early morning in the middle of the week, but he’d been watching those two kids out of the corner of his eye last night, and they seem like the kind of perfect little hellions he has learned to avoid.

“Uh, hello?” He calls, when neither children nor Betty come into view. He’d expected to have to wait for her to open, but the doors are already rolled up and there’s soft music emanating across the garage, so he suspects Betty is in here somewhere.

“Be with you in a sec!” Her voice responds from—well, from somewhere, but Jughead has no idea. She sounds close by, but as he scans the garage, she’s nowhere in sight.

There’s a clanking of metal hitting the ground and the sound of wheels moving, and then Betty pops out from under the carriage of a nearby Volvo on a rolling dolly cart. She blinks up at him. “You’re here early.”

“So are you,” he counters, raising an eyebrow. It’s not even 6:30 yet.

“Well, birds and worms,” Betty sighs, pushing herself upright. He offers his hand to pull her up, which she takes. He doesn’t get the same static shock as before, but still has a moment to note the juxtaposition of calluses mixing with her soft skin.

Once she’s standing, she takes a moment to dust off her uniform. She’s wearing the big blue jumpsuit again and Jughead briefly wonders what she looks like under it. “Let me just change out of this blue teletubbie suit and I’ll be with you in a jiffy. Do you mind waiting for me in my office? It’s in the back, over there.” She points to a room with large windows overlooking the garage.

He nods, and she scurries off. He makes his way over the office, lingering momentarily in the doorway, as he’s unsure whether or not he should stand outside it. But Betty had said to wait in the office, so he crosses the threshold.

The room itself is somewhat small, or perhaps made to seem that way by all the framed photographs and children’s drawings plastered all over the wall. Jughead wanders over to her desk, where the collection only grows.

There’s one of her and Veronica, one of whom he assumes are Betty’s parents, and a large picture with what seems like all the redheads in the tri-state area. Betty stands next to the only other blonde woman in the photo, and he spots the children from last night, though they seem younger here.

“That’s my sister and the Weasley family she married into,” Betty says from the doorway. Jughead jumps back, realizing he’d been tracing a finger along the edge of the frame.

He looks at her, having gotten the answer to what Betty looks like under the uniform. She’s wearing blue jeans and a soft pink top that brings to mind the word fluttery, even though it’s just a cotton long-sleeved t-shirt. He can’t help but glance down at her hands—no ring.

He glances back at the photo; the other blonde woman is wrapped against a tall, redheaded man. Maybe the kids aren’t Betty’s after all. He clears his throat.

“So the two changelings from last night…”

She laughs, and he finds he likes the sound. “My sister’s kids. I was babysitting. I love them, but—never mind, I’m sure you don’t care. Have a seat,” she says, gesturing to the pair of armchairs in the back of the office. He pulls one up to her desk while she fiddles with a cabinet drawer, thinking perhaps that he needs to work on his attitude. He probably doesn’t care, but does she already think he’s that much of a dick?

But then she hands him a couple of forms and a pen, and he loses the train of thought as he sets to work. He puts them down as he finishes each one; he can feel her eyes on where he’s written his given name.

“Whatever you’re gonna say, please don’t,” he mutters, glancing up at the way she cranes her neck. She immediately looks embarrassed to have been caught. “It’s a dumb name.”

(Then again, he actively introduces himself as Jughead, so he’s never been quite sure what his glitch is.)

“I don’t think it’s dumb,” Betty says kindly. “I think it’s nice that you’re the third.”

“Well, it dies with me, that’s for sure,” he sighs, putting down the last piece of paper. He looks up expectantly; she’s watching him with a curious expression that he doesn’t know quite how to place. He wonders if he has something on his face. Or maybe he already did something wrong with the paperwork. “Anything else?”

“Oh,” she says, taking his papers and passing him a new one. “Nope, these look good. Here’s your written estimate.”

He takes it from her, waiting for a moment, as it seems like she’d like to say something else. But then she doesn’t, so he takes it as his cue to leave.

Jughead pauses in the doorway and swivels back to her, a thought occurring to him. “Hey, this is probably a stupid, inappropriate question with an answer I already know, but…” Her eyebrows raise high on her forehead, and he finds himself inexplicably flushing with color. “I really don’t want to find myself in this situation again. This truck is important to me and I realized I should probably know how to take care of it. Would it be possible for me to pop by when you’re doing the repairs, so I can learn for myself? Or at least learn what to look for?”

Betty leans back in her chair, seemingly appraising him. “Sure,” she says softly, surprised. She stands up. “Put your bag back down. We’ll start now.”

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