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softspiderling · 5 years ago

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you mocha me crazy | t.h.

Summary: an encounter at a coffee shop leaves you with more than a cup full of coffee

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Song I listened to while writing: Here With Me by Marshmello

Author’s Note: while doing research for this piece fell in love with the LA film school *sigh* Germany is so fucking boring. Also be proud of me, I finished writing to pieces today! *yay*

Warnings: swearing, otherwise only fluff!

Word Count: 1,8k cute words

It has been fairly difficult adjusting to the Los Angeles lifestyle, to say the least. Everything was so loud and bright, and the time difference was horrendous.

Los Angeles was nine hours behind your usual time zone; you haven’t even been here for a week and your classes have already started in full force. Even though the courses were so interesting and your fellow students were really nice, you just were so tired and barely found the motivation to smile at other people and exchange phone numbers.

Which was the reason why you were staggering into the nearest coffee shop after your first class of film history, inhaling the smell of freshly ground coffee beans. You stood in line to order as your eyes scanned the display of baked goods, contemplating whether you should pick up a cookie with your coffee.

“Hi, welcome to Yo Jo Coffee, what can I get ya?”

The greeting pulled you from your thoughts and you smiled tiredly at the cheery barista.

“Hey, can I get a large mocha and uh…” you trailed off, biting your lip as you were trying to pick between the cookies. “A double chocolate cookie please,” you decided and fished your wallet out.

“A mocha and a double chocolate cookie coming right up. Name?” the barista asked as her sharpie hovered over the side of a coffee cup.

“Y/N.”

“That’ll be six dollars and 41 cents,” the barista told you and you waved your credit card around, sticking it into the EC cash terminal to pay. As you were handed the cookie in a small paper bag, you moved to the side of the counter to wait for your coffee.

Juggling your cookie in one and your phone in the other hand, you stuffed your wallet back into your backpack, you looked around in the busy coffee shop.

Warm sunlight streamed through the windows and you fingered at the hem of your shirt, glancing down at your chest where your camera was usually hanging off your neck. Emphasis on usually. You were in such a rush in the morning, you forgot to grab the camera.

You broke off a half from the cookie and took a bite, wondering if you should try to capture a few pictures with your phone, when your name was called. You whirled around and smiled at the barista who prepared your coffee, your hand curling around the warm coffee cup.

“Thanks!” you called over your shoulder as you turned to leave, but before you could even take a sip from your mocha, you collided with someone, sending your cup flying and spilling the hot beverage all over you and the person you bumped into.

“Son of a bitch!” you cursed as the scalding fluid soaked your t shirt and most of your bare legs. Now you were really glad that you forgot to take your camera with you, you didn’t even want to imagine having to try to replace your camera. “Shit!” you heard from the other person and you looked up to see a brown haired guy you bumped into. You couldn’t quiet see his face, because he was looking down at his white t shirt. The white t shirt that was stained with brown blotches from your mocha.

“I am so sorry!” you said quickly and grabbed some tissues, starting to pat the other person down. “That’s quiet alright love, I wasn’t looking where I was going either,” he chuckled with a thick English accent and you furrowed a brow.

“You’re English,” you noted pleasantly surprised at the change from the usual American accent and looked up, finally catching a glimpse of his face. Your hands stilled as you see a face in front of you that has been plastered all over the movie posters, his brown hair tucked under a black baseball cap

“You’re Tom Holland,” you blurted out and Tom grinned boyishly at you. “Why yes, I am. Do you mind?” he asked and gestured towards his torso, where your hands were resting.

“Oh, yeah, sorry!” your cheeks tinged pink and you pulled your hands off of him, handing him a few tissues.

“Thanks,” he smiled at you and started dabbing at the stains, before grimacing and giving up. A barista, lugging a bucket and a mop behind him, gave you a dirty look as he started mopping up the puddle on the floor.

“Sorry!” you squawked and picked your empty coffee cup up from the floor before tossing it in the trash can, looking at it longingly.

“Come on, go order another one. My treat,” Tom said to you, noticing your expression. You turn your eyes back to him and he nodded in the direction of the counter, which made you shake your head quickly. “No, you don’t have to! I was the one who bumped into you, I should be the one buying you coffee,” you protested, which only made him chuckle.

“I insist. I am picking up coffees for my friends anyway, what’s one more?” Tom said and you eyed him before giving in, nodding.

“Fine. I guess you don’t get treated for a coffee from a famous actor every day,” you mumbled and he laughed, walking up to the counter.

“Hi, I’ll have two iced coffees, an americano and…” he trailed off, looking in your direction. “A mocha.” You added, tucking your hair behind your ear, while you watched Tom pay, before following him to the end of the counter.

“So, what do you usually do besides dumping coffee down other people’s shirts?” he asked you curiously.

“I am really sorry about that,” you said again, ducking your head. “I uh, just started at LA film school.”

Tom laughed a genuine laugh, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “I am just messing with you, love, it’s not a big deal. So, film school, huh? What are you there for?”

“Cinematography. I am really into making videos and uh, I guess photography,” you told him with a small smile.

“Oh that’s sick. You seem to have the same interests as my younger brother Harry. Can I see some of your stuff?”

You raised your eyebrows in surprise at his interest in you, before nodding, pleased. You liked sharing your work with other people, getting various opinions from different people. Art always affected people differently and you liked watching their reaction.

“Uh, yeah sure. I mainly shoot with my camera and I forgot to grab it when I left in the morning, so I just have a couple pictures on my phone that I can show you,” you reached for your phone and swiped to your gallery to show Tom some of your pictures.

“I took most of them back home, I haven’t been in LA that long, and I am swamped with classes so I didn’t really have the time to take a day off to take pictures,” you explained to him while he peered into your phone screen.

You had noticed that he was leaning over your shoulder to look at your pictures, and even though he wasn’t the tallest guy, you were still quiet shorter than him. His cheek brushed yours gently and you swallowed thickly, turning to look at him.

His face was only a few inches away from yours and you could see the faint freckles that were speckled across his cheeks.

“Your photos are really good,” he said softly and you stared at him, your lips slightly parted, before you cleared your throat and turned away with flushed cheeks. “Thanks,” you mumbled and tucked your hair behind your ear.

“I am not the best photographer, can you give me some pointers?” he asked and you look at him amusedly.

“I could try,” you chuckled and he lifted his phone with a grin. “Okay then, look away and act like I am not here, yeah?” Tom instructed you, making you laugh, before doing as you’re told. You can hear a few clicks of the phone as Tom snapped pictures of you, trying your hardest to strike a natural pose.

“I am pretty sure there are a few good ones,” he said proudly as he lowered his phone, swiping through the pictures with you leaning over his shoulder.

“Yeah, they’re not so bad,” you complimented him. Tom managed to capture you with a soft smile, the sun streaming on your face, giving you a golden glow. It was a rather good picture, you had to admit.

“We’ll make a photographer out of you yet.”

Tom smirked at you proudly, pocketing his phone. “I am just that talented.”

“Oh please,” you snorted and rolled your eyes good naturedly. “I got an order for Tom!” the barista called out and Tom lifted his hand, walking over to the counter. You watched his back as he fumbled around with the coffees for quite a while.

“You need any help?” you asked with a grin, your arms crossed.

“No no, I am all good love,” he called over his shoulder, handing the barista a pen before he turned around to you, four coffee cups in a carrier in his hand.

“Here,” Tom said, handing you your coffee.

“Thanks,” you smiled softly, taking a big gulp while the two of you walked out of the coffee shop.

“Well, I guess this is it,” you sighed as you stood outside the doors. Tom chuckled and nodded gesturing to two boys standing by the sidewalk.

“Yeah, my friends are waiting for me and their coffees,” he told you and you nodded. “I gotta get back to class, too,” you said slowly, waiting. You weren’t sure what you were expecting, maybe him giving you his number.

But when he waved at you with a friendly smile, and a “See you around, Y/N.” you realized this was probably your first and last time meeting Tom Holland. With a wave of your hand, you turned on your heel and walked the other way, your cheeks burning.

It was a dream, thinking Tom Holland, out of all people, would give you his phone number after one friendly conversation. He probably met hundreds of people a day, you were merely a friendly face in the mass, you thought bitterly as you sipped on your coffee, heading to your lecture for Digital Editing I.

“Hey, thanks for saving me a seat,” you said to Jane, a friendly girl you’ve met in class.

“Yeah, no worries,” she told you with a smile as you sat down. She eyed your coffee cup before grinning.

“Already picking up guys at coffee shops, huh?” she teased and you looked at her in confusion before turning the coffee cup in your hands, a smile spreading on your face. On the white paper cup, Tom had scribbled his phone number with a black marker, the number adorned with a wide smiley.

“I guess I am,” you chuckled sheepishly, already grabbing your phone. As the lights dimmed and the professor started the lecture, you were typing away on your phone.

Y/N: writing your phone number on my cup was a pretty risky move. What would you have done if I hadn’t seen it?

Your smile widened as your message’s status quickly changed from delivered to read, the ellipses popping up, before disappearing and then reappearing.

Tom: I guess we’ll never find out 😉

Taglist: @sunflowercth

#you mocha me crazy #my writing #tom holland fanfiction #tom holland fanfic #tom holland imagine #tom holland fic #tom holland x reader #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker fanfic #peter parker fic #peter parker x reader

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thenighttrain · 3 years ago

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Can you please recommend some songs other than Taylor i mean. i’m looking for some new things to listen and haven’t been able to find something good 🙌🏼

omg honestly i haven’t found anything great recently either hmm.. maisie peters’ you signed up for this album is really good, bleachers have some really good songs- my faves are 45, i wanna get better, chinatown and like a river runs, you’d like them if you enjoy 1989. if you like more pop-sounding songs: just another girl by the killers, ghost by confetti, leave before you love me by marshmello/jo bros. i actually love the jonas brothers’ happiness begins album too!

and if you’re into indie music then lmk because i also have an indie playlist lol. hope this helps!!!

#anonymous #ask

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donqhox-blog · 7 years ago

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EXO-K

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

EXO-K is a sub-group from boygroup EXO, under SM Entertainment. They consist of 6 members, and debuted at the same time EXO debuted.

Music video(s): What Is Love, History, MAMA, Overdose.

SUHO — 수호

Birth name: Kim Junmyeon — 김준면.

Birth date: May 22, 1991.

Birth place: Seoul, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: AB.

Height: 173 cm — 5′8″.

Weight: Unknown.

Sibling(s): One older brother — Kim Dongkyu (4 years older).

Position: Leader, vocal.

Super power: Water.

Training period: About 6 years.

Language(s): Korean, Mandarin, Japanese.

Education: Kyung Hee Cyber University Culture and Arts Business Department.

Ideal type: A girl with literary interests and long, straight hair.

Soundtrack appearances: Beautiful Accident (with fellow bandmember Chen), Saving Santa (with Jeong Eunji), Starlight (with Remi).

Collaborations: My Hero (with Super Junior’s Leeteuk, Kassy & Jo Youngsoo), Curtain (with Song Youngjoo), Dinner (with Jang Jane), Do You Have A Moment (with Jang Jane), Saving Santa (with Jeong Eunji), Beautiful Accident (with fellow bandmember Chen), Starlight (with Remi).

Movie appearances: “Attack On The Pin-Up Boys” (2007, cameo), “One Way Trip” (2016), “Middle School Girl A” (2018).

Drama appearances: “To The Beautiful You” (2012, cameo), “Prime Minister And I” (2014, cameo), “EXO Next Door” (2015), “The Universe’s Star” (2017), “How Are You Bread” (2018), “Rich Man” (2018).

Music video appearances: G.O.D - Dear Mom Remake.

Musical appearances: “School OZ” (2015), “The Last Kiss” (2017), "The Man Who Laughs” (2018).

BAEKHYUN — 백현

Birth name: Byun Baekhyun — 변백현.

Birth date: May 6, 1992.

Birth place: Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: O.

Height: 174 cm — 5′8″.

Weight: Unknown.

Sibling(s): One older brother — Byun Baekbeom.

Position: Vocal.

Super power: Light, sun.

Social media: Instagram, Twitter.

Training period: About 1 year.

Language(s): Korean, Mandarin, Japanese.

Instrument(s): Piano.

Education: Kyung Hee Cyber University Culture and Arts Business Department.

Ideal type: A woman full of charms.

Music video(s): Take You Home.

Collaborations: The Day We Met (as part of I Am Korea), One Dream One Korea (with various artists), Dream(with Suzy), The Day (with K.Will), Rain (with Soyou), Dear My Family (as part of SMTOWN), For You (with fellow bandmembers Xiumin & Chen).

Soundtrack appearances: Dear My Family (as part of SMTOWN), Beautiful, For You (with fellow bandmembers Xiumin & Chen).

Drama appearances: “To The Beautiful You” (2012, cameo), “EXO Next Door” (2015), “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” (2016).

MC appearances: Inkigago (2014).

Music video appearances: DJ DOC - Dance With D.O.C Remake.

Musical appearances: “Singin’ In The Rain” (2014).

Awards: 4th YinYueTai V-Chart Awards; Most Popular Singer South Korea, 1st Asia Artist Awards; Popularity Award (Actor) & Best Rookie Award, 8th Melon Music Awards; Best R&B/Soul (with Suzy), 18th Mnet Asian Music Awards; Best Collaboration (with Suzy), SBS Drama Awards; New Star Award, 31st Golden Disk Awards; Digital Bonsang (with Suzy) & Asian Choice Popularity Award (with Suzy), 2017 Fandom School Awards; Individual Popularity Award.

Knows hapkido and aikido.

Launched his own fashion brand “Privé by BBH” in 2018.

His ex-girlfriend is Taeyeon.

CHANYEOL — 찬열

Birth name: Park Chanyeol — 박찬열.

Birth date: November 27, 1992.

Birth place: Seoul, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: A.

Height: 186 cm — 6′1″.

Weight: Unknown.

Sibling(s): One older sister — Park Yoora; news anchor (3 years older).

Position: Rap, vocal.

Super power: Fire, phoenix.

Social media: Instagram, SoundCloud.

Training period: About 4 years.

Language(s): Korean, Mandarin, Japanese.

Education: Kyung Hee Cyber University Culture and arts Business Department.

Instrument(s): Guitar, drum, bass, djembe.

Ideal type: Someone cute, sincere and who smiles a lot.

Collaborations: If We Love Again (with fellow bandmember Chen), Let Me Love You (with Junggigo), Bad Girl (with Henry), Rewind (with Zhou Mi), Don’t Make Money (with Heize), Confession (with Yesung), Freal Luv (with Far East Movement, Marshmello & Tinashe), I Hate You (with Yuan Shanshan), Stay With Me (with Punch).

Soundtrack appearances: Last Hunter, I Hate You (with Yuan Shanshan), Stay With Me (with Punch).

Movie appearances: “Salut d’Amour” (2015), “So I Married An Anti-Fan” (2016).

Drama appearances: “High Kick!” (2008, cameo), “To The Beautiful You” (2012, cameo), “Royal Villa” (2013, cameo), “EXO Next Door” (2015), “Missing 9″ (2017), “Memories Of The Alhambra” (2018), “Secret Queen Makers” (2018).

Music video appearances: Henry - 1.2.3 (Acoustic), H.O.T - 빛 Remake.

Awards: 8th Korea Drama Awards; Best New Actor & Hallyu Star Award, 16th Top Chinese Music Awards; Most Popular Foreign Idol, 5th YinYueTai VChart Awards; Best Collaboration (with Yuan Shanshan) & Most Popular Artist, Asia Model Festival Awards; Asia OST Popularity (with Punch), 13th KKBox Music Awards; Best Korean Single of the Year (with Punch).

Appeared on television shows “Law Of The Jungle”, “Roommate” and “Salty Tour”.

D.O — 디오

Birth name: Do Kyungsoo — 도경수.

Birth date: January 12, 1993.

Birth place: Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: A.

Height: 173 cm — 5′8″.

Weight: Unknown.

Sibling(s): One older brother — Do Seungsoo.

Position: Vocal.

Super power: Force.

Training period: About 2 years.

Language(s): Korean, Mandarin, Japanese.

Education: Baekseok High School.

Ideal type: A girl who is kind and eats well.

Collaborations: Tell Me (What Is Love) (with Yoo Youngjin), Goodbye Summer (with f(x)), Dear My Family (as a part of SMTOWN), Don’t Worry (with Jo Jungsuk).

Soundtrack appearances: Dear My Family (as part of SMTOWN), Scream, Crying Out, Don’t Worry (with Jo Jungsuk).

Movie appearances: “Cart” (2014), “Pure Love” (2016), “My Annoying Brother” (2016), “Room No.7″ (2017), “Along With The Gods: The Two Worlds” (2017), “Along With The Gods: The Last 49 Days” (2018), “Swing Kids” (2018).

Drama appearances: “To The Beautiful You” (2012, cameo), “It’s Okay, That’s Love” (2014), “EXO Next Door” (2015), “Hello Monster” (2015, cameo), “Be Positive” (2016), “Dear Husband Of 100 Days” (2018).

Music video appearances: S.E.S - I’m Your Girl Remake.

Awards: 16th Seoul International Youth Film Festival; Best Young Actor, 3rd APAN Star Awards; Best New Actor, 11th Max Movie Awards; Rising Star Award, 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards; Most Popular Actor (Film, 2016), 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards; Most Popular Actor (Film, 2017), Korean Film Shining Star Awards; Newcomer Award (Film), 13th JIMFF Awards; Star Award, 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards; Best New Actor, 2nd Asia Artist Awards; Popularity Award (Actor).

KAI — 카이

Birth name: Kim Jongin — 김종인.

Birth date: January 14, 1994.

Birth place: Seoul, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: A.

Height: 182 cm — 5′11″.

Weight: Unknown.

Sibling(s): Two older sisters (9 and 5 years older).

Position: Dance, rap, vocal, visual, center.

Super power: Teleportation.

Social media: Instagram.

Training period: About 5 years.

Language(s): Korean, Mandarin, Japanese.

Education: School of Performing Arts Seoul.

Ideal type: Han Yeseul.

Collaborations: Pretty Boy (with Taemin).

Drama appearances: “To The Beautiful You” (2012, cameo), “EXO Next Door” (2015), “Choco Bank” (2016), “First Seven Kisses” (2016), “Andante” (2017), “Spring Has Come” (2018), “Miracle That We Met” (2018).

Music video appearances: Deux - In Summer Remake.

His ex-girlfriend is f(x)’s Krystal.

Was a part of project unit Younique Unit.

Knows ballet, jazz, hip-hop, popping and rocking dancing.

SEHUN — 세훈

Birth name: Oh Sehun — 오세훈.

Birth date: April 12, 1994.

Birth place: Seoul, South Korea.

Nationality: South Korean.

Blood type: O.

Height: 183 cm — 6′0″.

Weight: Unknown.

Sibling(s): One older brother (3 years older).

Position: Dance, rap, vocal.

Super power: Wind.

Social media: Instagram.

Training period: About 4 years.

Language(s): Korean, Mandarin, Japanese.

Education: School of Performing Arts Seoul.

Ideal type: A kind woman.

Movie appearances: “Catman” (2018), “Dokgo Rewind” (2018).

Drama appearances: “To The Beautiful You” (2012, cameo), “Royal Villa” (2013, cameo), “EXO Next Door” (2015), “Secret Queen Makers” (2018), “Busted!” (2018), “Dear Archimedes” (2019).

Music video appearances: Shinhwa - Yo! Remake.

Awards: 5th Gaon Chart Music Awards; Weibo Kpop Star Award, 6th Gaon Chart Music Awards; Artist of Fans’ Choice (Individual), 5th V Chart Awards; Most Popular Artist Tonight, Fashionista Awards; Global Icon.

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pen-masta · 8 years ago

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Peace and Coffee Part 3

Part 3 so close to completion one more left!

Briefly PG-13

1 2 3 4(Complete)

His plan to distract himself was not as easy as he had thought. His mind would wander during the day, reveries of their embrace playing through his thoughts. The inappropriate desires of his early adolescent years coming back with a vengeance. His mind was no longer a safe place to be. He focused every fiber of his being on work, on his family, his brothers, his nieces and nephews, his girlfriend anything he possible could to leave no time for ideal fantasies.

It was working. His brain buzzed with all kinds of topics and people that did not involve Joy. The only time he ever even thought about her now was Wednesday mornings. Of course he did have times when he wondered how she was doing on the other side of the world…but he didn’t let his untrustworthy mind stay there for too long.

Days were a struggle but he managed. Nights proved to be worse. At night he could monitor his thought patterns, but it was harder than it was during the day. Everyone he spoke to or spent time with during the day was asleep at night. He didn’t have that distraction. And if he dared to sleep he was doomed! His subconscious was a true Benedict Arnold!

He had finally laid to down to sleep one night and had a dream that made him never want to sleep again. It was so intense, so real, so heated. He was naked, in his bed, and was entangled with her. He was kissing her deeply. Her hands running over his heated skin, pulling at his hair. Her moans filling his ears. In his mind he imagined it was Martha, but when he had opened his eyes—he was staring at Joy.

He had shot awake instantly. Panting. Sweating. His boxers uncomfortable wet. He moaned and curled up in a ball. Not only were his own thoughts a battle zone, but now he couldn’t find any release in slumber. Gosh he has so many issues! He doubled the coffee and tripled the energy drinks to stay awake for as long as he physically could. And when he crashed he was out for about two or three hours, no more. Overwhelming incongruous dreams waking him from his rest. When he woke he left no time to reflect on his sick dreams. He immediately drowned himself in work churning out five new products within seventy-two hours. He managed to save face for the video chats and never talked about himself, always kept the conversation steered in the direction of her life in the Philippines. She had tried to that to him as well not trusting her words and emotions, but Castel was a headstrong, forceful, stubborn guy. He refused to answer any questions that he couldn’t answer in five words or less. The tension was back, it was underlying and neither wanted to address it—a limited video phone call not really the best form of communication to discuss such an intense matter.

Not wanting to face the taunting occurrence, they both suffered with their inner turmoil in their own ways. Castel repressing it and not sleeping, Joy spending as much time as she could with the people of the village and her Peace Corp groupies. Eventually it all passed. The feelings, the dreams, the longing—distance will do that they each guessed. They had fallen back into familiar comfort by the time Joy had come home on break for Christmas.

She had hugged him and he held her, happy to have her home again even if it was for a short time. As he had promised he took out to dinner in exchange for her setting him up with Martha. He had taken her to a restaurant they hadn’t been to in years—Dave & Busters. The only one near them was about a two-hour drive north, but neither of them cared. The drive was spent filled with laughter and singing along with the tunes she blasts from her playlist—from rap to country to hip-hop to Disney they sang it all.

When they got to the restaurant they weren’t that hungry just yet so Castel buys a bunch of tokens for them and they play in the arcade. Joy dominates the ski ball game and does her signature victory dance as Castel glares at her in mock anger that he lost, but he truthfully doesn’t care. He’s just happy to have his best friend back. They both dance and jump around as ‘Alone’ by Marshmello plays. Some people look at them funny, but neither of them care. They play the crane game; Joy’s skilled hand directs the crane over the prize she wants. Castel leans against the machine holding it still so the crane doesn’t shake around—a trick they had learned about the crane game years ago—as Joy grabs a mad scientist looking teddy bear. They watch the crane swing around and it wobbles a little just as it reaches the prize slot.

“Wait,” Joy says watching the crane with such intensity Castel is certain the metal will spontaneously combust under her gaze. “Waaaaaait.” She says and waits until the crane shifts to the right threatening to drop her bear just before the prize slot, “Now Cassie!”

Castel pushes hard against the machine lifting it up off the ground just enough to rock the crane to the left. The crane releases and drops the bear into the prize slot. Joy squeals and takes the bear out of the slot as Castel rights the machine again.

“I can’t believe after all these years they never caught on,” Joy giggles and hugs the bear.

“Well it’s just supposed to suck your wallet dry,” Castel smiles and puts his hands in his pockets. “It always drops your prize just before the slot. It’s a scam.”

“Unless your smart like us,” she grins and winks at him.

“Very true Jo-Jo,” he smiles and nods. “Are you ready to go eat?”

“Food sounds great right about now,” she bounces on her toes. “Lead on Casanova!”

The sit down at a booth and look over the menu for a few minutes. The waiter takes their drink orders and leaves.

“What looks good?” Castel asks Joy, looking at her over his menu.

“Hhhmmm,” she hums chewing her bottom lip. “How about we get the sampler?”

“For an appetizer?” He asks and she laughs.

“No for our meal,” she smiles sweetly at him. “Don’t you remember we used to love having appetizer dinners?”

He blinks as the memories flood his brain. He remembers always having mozzarella balls, jelly meatballs, mini corn dogs, pizza rolls, and mini quiches for dinner some nights as kids. He smiles as the memories cause a warmth of happiness to pool in his chest.

“I do,” he nods and smiles at her. “I’m sorry Martha has gotten me into the habit of always ordering you know, an actual meal.” He closes his menu, “I forgot how much I loved having just finger foods for dinner! It sounds great!” He laughs.

She smiles brightly and closes her menu as well, “Sweetness!”

In truth he hadn’t forgotten at all, but he hadn’t had just finger foods for dinner since he started dating Martha. He had ordered the sampler for his meal on their second date and she kind of made fun of him—called him a big kid. Since then he’s always ordered a burger, or steak, or something a little more…“grown up” as Martha had put it. Joy was never like that though, she always loved doing crazy and fun things. She didn’t care if it made her look like a kid she just enjoyed herself.

Martha was actually the complete opposite of Joy. She wasn’t loud and crazy, she didn’t tell dirty jokes to make him snort and turn red. She really didn’t like the whole greased up skater boy look he had going on. “You’re a celebrity now you need to dress like it” she told him as she tossed his Optimus Prime shirt into the ‘get rid of’ pile a few weeks ago.

Joy never cared how he looked. In fact, she had bought about half of the t-shirts he owns…owned. Now his room is cleaned and organized, no trash, no crumpled pieces of paper lying everywhere. His closet is jam packed with suits, cardigans, dress shirts, sweaters, all kinds off ‘dressy clothes’ that he can’t really say he liked…but Martha was happy so he was happy.

Joy smiles and looks Castel over as he places their order for two samplers. He looks very…different. His beard has been cut into a thin, trim goatee and his sideburns are very prominent now that his hair is cut. She was really thrown when she first saw him; his curls are gone. His hair is now cut sleek and even; his bangs are spiked up a little so his forehead is bare.

No t-shirt. No flannel. No sneakers. No wrinkled jeans. Instead he sits across from her in a navy blue shiny shirt, which is tucked into black dress pants complete with a black belt. Navy blue desert boots dawn his feet and…his cologne! It’s changed! He no longer has a sweet woodsy musky scent about him. No now he smells like…well she can’t quite place it, but it’s like a bitter citrus scent—she doesn’t like it.

This is not the Cassie I left, she thinks to herself. He turns from the waiter to smile at her. His eyes. They are the only thing that connects him to the Cassie of the past. Even though he looks so unlike himself, his eyes are still as bright as she remembers. Their deep chocolate color sparkles a little in the light of the lamp above the booth. No, no this is still Cassie. It’s still him.

“So,” she smiles and rests her chin on her hands. “What’s up with the whole extreme makeover look you got going on?”

He smiles, “Hah, just figured it was time for a change.”

“Really?” She quirks a brow.

He shrugs, “Well now that the business is growing so rapidly I’m going to more interviews, press conferences, I even have a photo-shoot coming up for Time.” He smiles, “And Martha said because of that I need to look more like a business man than a scruffy adolescent.”

Ah so this her doing!

“Oh,” she says feeling something curling in the pit of her stomach.

“Yeah,” he nods and sips his unsweetened iced tea—Martha’s orders no more, sugary drinks. “Gotta look good for the press darling” her voice rings his head. He clears his throat, “Yeah new wardrobe, cleanliness, new look, new—”

“Hair cut?” She asks cutting off his rambling.

He blinks and notes the slight hostility in her voice. But he doesn’t address it, “Yeah. She ah said I needed a cleaner look. My curls made me look like a seven-yea-old!” He chuckles and shakes his head, “My curls were an unruly mess anyway,” he says and shrugs. Although he kind of says that last part more for himself than her.

She made him cut his curls!? He did not look like a seven-year-old he looked cute! So what if they were a little unruly? The bed head looked for him! Wow…what’s Martha’s deal? I didn’t peg her for a control freak…why is she trying to change him? Shouldn’t she be dating him for who he is? Isn’t that why you date someone, cause you like them? What does she see him as her project? Wow…maybe I’m not that great of a match maker…but Cassie seems alright. Maybe I’m just overthinking this.

She nods and sips her soda before clearing her throat, “So Cubs Industry is soaring high in the sky, hm?” She smiles.

He chuckles, “Yeah! I’ve got about fifteen different items on the market. I’ve got so many buyers!”

“Sounds like that big brain of yours is racking in the dough,” she teases.

“Yeah,” he chuckles. “I’m actually moving out of my parents’ house.”

“What?” She asks and her voice cracks a little, but she manages to hold her smile. “You’re moving?”

“Yeah,” he sighs a little remember the discussion he had with Martha last week.

“It’s time to grow up,” she had said to him. “No celebrity lives with their parents. And now that you’re rich you can buy your own place.”

He shakes his head and smiles, “Not far though. Just a few streets over.” He says and stirs his tea. “There’s this huge house on James’ Street. It’s really nice.” He chuckles, “It’s got like twenty rooms! I have no idea what I’m gonna do with all that space!”

Her heart tightens. “Why do you want to move Cassie? I mean nothing for nothing but you are only nineteen. It’s not bad to be living with your parents still.”

He looks down into his tea, mesmerized by the slowly melting ice cubes. “Well…Martha suggested I get my own place now that I’m a big name.” He slowly stirs his tea again with his straw, “She had gone house hunting with me. She really liked this one and I don’t mind. It’s not that far from home I can walk over for a visit if I really want to.” He shrugs, “She really likes the house.”

“So is that why you bought it?” She asks careful to not snap.

“Well no, no I liked it too.” He looks up at her and smiles, “Lots of space that I can…do something with…” He trails off.

Oh my gosh…what have I done to him! I’ve hooked him up with this controlling, man changing chick! And Cassie just wants to please her, so he’s doing everything she tells him to do. My poor sweet Cassie! What have I done?!

She chews her bottom lip. This isn’t good. This is bad. This isn’t what I wanted to happen. He’s just coming out of his shell…only to get bossed around by this chick!

“Is everything alright Cas?” She hears herself ask.

He looks a little startled by the question. His eyes are wide and almost scared, and the way he looks at her makes her heart crumble.

No everything is not ok! He yells in his head, Yeah I really like Martha. She’s funny and smart and pretty but she’s really bossy and demanding…nothing like I thought she was when I started pining for her in high school. But it’s okay, everyone has flaws…but I don’t like all the changes…and I don’t know how to tell her that! I like making her happy…no. No you don’t. You’re only focusing on Martha to smother your darker feelings for the other female in your life. You have to love Martha. She’s the safer route…and change is good. Change is alright. You’re okay. You’re okay.

Words catch in his throat as he wants to tell her everything that’s been happening. How he feels, how unhappy he is, how he’s forcing himself to be happy with Martha. But if he did that she’d ask why is he staying with her? And that’d be a flaming ball of disaster because he’d have to reveal the reason he’s trying to learn to love Martha. Because isn’t that what good boyfriends do? Learn to accept you for who you are flaws and all? Even if those flaws happen to be overwhelming controlling over his life.

No he can’t say any of that. And honestly he could just break up with Martha…but then he’d be alone again. And it took him so long to finally ask Martha out! Who knows how long it’d take to ask another girl! Not that there are any other girls that like him. Most of the women he’s had in his life thought he was too nerdy, over the top, dramatic, insane, too intense, and an overall joke. And he is really liking the fact he can say he has a girlfriend…he doesn’t want to go back to being alone.

He grins and nods, “Yeah everything’s all good Joy.”

He’s lying. She knows he is. His eyes always shift everywhere else but the person he’s speaking to whenever he lies. Maybe he thinks she hasn’t noticed it, but she has. She always does. She looks down not sure what to do. Should she pry and get him to tell her the truth? That could end in a fight if he’s stubborn. Nope scratch that. Should she leave it be and wait for him to open up? Cassie is good at ignoring issues and masking his true feelings. Waiting for him to open could take months before he’d actually break down.

She looks up at him again, she opens her mouth not sure what’s about to come out but she’s cut short when the waiter walks up with their food. They thank him and smile at each other before digging in.

He pops a mozzarella ball into his mouth and smiles at the warmth of the dough, and the gooey creamy cheese that oozes out as he chews the little ball. Wow he really missed this—more than he thought. He looks up at Joy who nibbles on a mini quesadilla, her eyes are trained on her plate. She’s in deep thought, he knows because her one hand is twirling a lock of her hair around her finger.

He smirks a little and clears his throat. She jumps slightly and looks up at him and…gosh that look. She looks really surprised, her caramel brown eyes stare up at him, her finger has stopped mid-twirl letting her hair drop against her shoulder. She holds the quesadilla in between her teeth and it hangs down covering her bottom lip. Her eyes are so wide, her cheeks are tinted pink, and she just looks so…cute.

His heart starts pounding in his chest as he stares at her. Thoughts spin through his mind rapidly. Thoughts of his fantasies, daydreams during his alone time, his R-rated dreams, their kiss…Dang it! Stop! No! Why is that still there!? It was months and months ago!

He swallows on reflects and ended up gulping down his half chewed glob of cheese and dough—he gags a little having swallowed it way too soon. He sips his tea and clear his throat as his thoughts relentlessly replay their kiss, his sex dreams, every inappropriate thought he’s ever had about Joy. He runs his hands up and down his legs trying to stop it all, but it wont. It wont stop!

She feels his tension…although she’s not sure what’s got him suddenly so worked up, but she can feel his stressing. She decides to stay quiet thinking about everything Martha has changed about her best friend in the short time she was gone. She doesn’t like it, not at all.

Martha shouldn’t want to change him. There’s nothing wrong with him. He’s the sweetest kindest person she knows. He’s such a loveable dork, why would she want to form him into someone else? I would never do that. Not to anyone. Not any boyfriends. Not Cassie…wait. She pauses her thoughts and looks back at Castel—who is avoiding eye contact, still looking like he’s fighting himself.

Cassie isn’t my boyfriend. He’s my best friend, the other b word. He’s Martha’s boyfriend not yours. She practically shoves the entire mini quesadilla into her mouth as she mulls that thought over. He’s not yours. He’s Martha’s no need to get possessive…but what if he wasn’t Martha’s? Would I want him to be? Would it make things awkward? Why would it? Isn’t it better to date someone your friends with? Someone you already know; someone you already love? …do I want his relationship with Martha to not work out?? Wowie Joy when did you start getting selfish.

Her mind starts to wander as she remembers their kiss. Even after all these months it still plays in the back of mind. It haunts her dreams. Her heart starts to flutter as she remembers all to well what it all felt like. She bites her lip. Should she bring it up? Maybe not. But could he still be thinking about it? She should bring it up. They need to talk about it. She doesn’t even care what his response is but she needs to talk about it.

“Cassie,” she says and he jumps her voice startling him out his now nearly X-rated thoughts. She smiles a little, “I know it was a while ago but…can we please talk about it?” She plays with the hem of her shirt, “We’ve been drifting in and out of these awkward moments since it happened and…I don’t want it to be awkward.”

His eyes are wide and the look in his eyes—he looks like a wounded and scared animal. She chews her bottom lip. Sugar! She shouldn’t have said anything…no! No they need to talk about this no matter what happens they’ll still be friends, that much she can count on. But he looks so nervous and scared. She looks down and sighs a little.

She wants to tell him how their kiss affected her. She wants to tell him how she’s been thinking about it nonstop. She wants to tell him how much she loves him…maybe a little more than friends. She wants to tell him that it’s okay if he doesn’t feel the same, because after all he has Martha. She wants to tell him that no matter what she’ll always love him, that she will always be his friend. She wants to break through this awkwardness and tell him everything…but the scared look in his eyes is just too much for her.

If she were to open up to him anything could happen! He could say he felt the same, that he’s been thinking about it to. He could say he loves her more than just friends. There are so many happy endings to this! But there are more bad endings to this as well. He could get mad that she’s bringing it up now. He could get upset because why wouldn’t she tell him before. He could not want to break up with Martha. Would he really leave Martha for her? Does she want him to? He always gets himself so worked up over little things and it is possible if she reveals how she feels that he could panic because he just got with Martha…no, no she can’t do that him.

I’ll just let him off the hook, she thinks to herself and smiles sweetly at him. She decides to tell him what she has been practicing for months to say.

“Cassie it’s ok,” she says and he blinks a little stunned. “I just wanted to say that we can let it go alright? It’s causing so much tension between us even after all this time and…I don’t want it to be like this.” She looks down at her soda, “It was the heat of it all. We were both really emotional and we got a little caught up in it.” She smiles at him again, “It happened but it didn’t mean anything. We can let it go. You’re still my best friend and I’m still yours, I don’t want that to ever change.”

He stares at her really taken back. She has just said everything he’s been repeating in his mind. And even though he agrees with her it doesn’t change the fact that it really kind of hurts when she says ‘it didn’t mean anything’. He looks down at his tea then back at her. He smiles a little and nods.

“Alright,” he says. “I agree. It was just a mistake fueled by wild emotions.” Ouch, ok that still hurt, she thinks to herself. He pauses a moment, “I never want us to not be friends either.”

She smiles a little and nods, “So we just forget it?”

“Consider it forgotten Jo-Jo,” he smiles as he feels the tension in his chest release.

She smiles and breaths out, Good. It’s alright, as long as he’s still my friend that’s all I need. I can be happy with that. As long as he’s still here.

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