#they're probably gonna cut many of the irrelevant romances

[aquarines]

i'm a loustat enjoyer myself, but i need to see lestat being passed around like a blunt by his love interests in the forthcoming season

[jerzwriter]

By Chance...

Book: Open Heart (pre-series)

Pairing: Tobias Carrick x F!MC (Casey)

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Alcohol consumption, flirtation (nothing crazy)

Words: 1358

Summary: Sometimes, when plans go wrong, they're actually falling into place. During a night out while attending Hopkins, Tobias meets a fascinating woman.

A/N: So, here's the story. I have this idea in my head for an AU where Tobias & Casey meet when they're younger, and they're instantly smitten with each other. But there are obstacles in their way, the greatest of which is meeting the person who is right for you, at a time when you're not remotely ready for that kind of love. It would be a messy, messy romance. Am I going to write it? I don't know. I have so many open WIPs already, but I love the idea. And this is how I would envision it starting. (FYI, in this world, I HC Tobias to be 26, in his last year of Med School, and Casey is 22, finishing her senior year at NYU) This was done quickly, not edited... if I write a follow-up, I'll probably neaten it up as well. :) @choicesflashfics - Prompt in bold below @choicesjanuarychallenge - Day 7 - Before

In many ways, it was a typical Saturday night. Bouncing out of his Jaguar with a spring in his step, he tossed the keys to the valet. A black fitted t-shirt, his favorite pair of jeans, and a few generous sprays of Tom Ford Noir… a cologne that never let him down… he walked in like he owned the place, though he’d never been there before. That’s how he wanted it. A few buddies from Howard were in town, his kid brother too, and Tobias wasn’t one to mix worlds. He couldn’t have been happier when they suggested this spot.   

Sauntering up to the bar, he ordered a gin and tonic before manspreading atop the leather barstool. It was a decent place, not too different from the ones he frequented near Hopkins. Still, it was a welcome change. He was the first to arrive, and as he waited, he decided to visit the jukebox, which had to outage him by at least a decade. Dropping in a few coins, he was happy to see the music selection wasn’t as old. 

As he made his selection, a flirtatious giggle turned his head. A sweet little redhead in a low-cut top, her cheeks as red as her ruby lips, was smiling in his direction. Her equally hot friends encouraged her, and he swore he caught one of them winking in his direction, too. Nodding with his signature smirk, he confidently strode back to the bar. Making sure he gave them plenty to look at as he did. Yeah, he thought, the change of scenery was a good idea.

He had finished one drink and was about to order another when his phone rang. He shook his head with a chuckle when he saw his brother’s name; that kid would be late to his own funeral.  

“Yo, what’s up,” he answered. “How late you gonna be?”

“T, why do you have to be like that?” Jordan whined.

“So, you’re not calling me to tell me you’re going to be late?”

“Actually,” his brother stalled. “I’m calling to tell you I’m not coming at all.”

“And why is that,” Tobias asked with a shake of his head.

“You see, uh… it’s because I’ve been talking to this chick…online.”

Tobias motioned to the bartender for another drink. “Baby brother, what did I tell you about that? You’re a Carrick; you got the genes. Just meet someone in person. It’s a safer bet.”

“That’s just because you’re an old man.”

“I don’t know, twenty-six doesn’t exactly qualify me as old. But that’s irrelevant, so why are you ditching me to meet this girl?”

“On the contrary, I’m ditching you, so I don’t have to meet this girl.”

“Care to explain?”

“She lives in New York; I was only going to meet up with her because she’s in Baltimore for some reason, but….”

Tobias chuckled with a know-it-all grin. “… but for all you know, she could be a 65-year-old man named Sven,” he laughed. “I told you, cut the online shit.”

“I mean, she seems cool, but she doesn’t strike me as the ‘send pics’ type, so….”

“Her name is Sven,” Tobias snickered.

“I’ll come and see you next weekend instead, OK?”

“Works for me, but Jordan….”

“Yeah?”

“If it turns out her name is not Sven, and she’s hot? All bets are off, little brother.”

“Hey, finders keepers.”

“Not if you don’t have the balls to show. Take care.”

A few more minutes passed when his phone rang again. Tobias rolled his eyes as he answered.

“What’s up Tony, you’re late!”

“I’m more than late, brother. I’m heading back home.”

“What? I canceled plans to see you fools tonight!”

“I know, I know! I don’t want to, believe me. But there was an accident on the Parkway, we’ve been dead-stoped for forty minutes. As soon as we get to the next exit, we’re spinning this thing around. I’m sorry, man. Wanna try for next weekend?”

“Yeah, yeah, likely excuse.”

“I’m serious, T!”

“I know. I’m only joking. Fine, next weekend it is. Same time and place.”

He hung up the phone and slid it into his pocket with frustration, then downed the rest of his drink. He mulled over what he should do for the night and figured heading home was the best way to go. He was about to stand up with he heard that giggle again.

Better idea. 

The bartender was serving someone at the other end of the bar, but when he headed back, Tobias knew exactly what table he was sending drinks to. It might be a hell of a fun night, after all. He took out his phone and scrolled through messages while he waited.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

He lifted his head to see who blurted that out, to find a beautiful, blonde woman sitting on a stool about three seats away. She looked up and caught his eyes; her annoyance did not dissipate but seemed eclipsed by embarrassment.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “That came out a little louder than I anticipated.”

“No need to apologize to me,” he shrugged. “I’ve heard worse words than that.”

He watched her eyes drop, looking him over from head to toe, her face turning redder when she realized she had been caught.

“Still, I’ll try to keep it down.”

She turned back to her phone, and this time it was his turn to let his eyes wander, and, God, he liked what he saw. 

“So, what’s got a pretty woman like you so pissed off on a Saturday night anyway?”

She turned to him with a tilted head, “Is that supposed to be some sort of pathetic pickup line?”

He raised his hands in surrender, “No, ma’am. Not unless you want it to be,” he winked, delighted when she let out the softest of laughs. Emboldened, he continued. “So, you gonna tell me what pissed you off?”

“My date blew me off. I had no desire to come out tonight, but I did, and the fucker goes and blows me off.”

Tobias snorted, and this time it was him who was louder than he thought.

“Are you laughing at me?” She asked, and he wasn’t sure if he detected offense in her tone. “Tell me you’re not judging my choice of language.”

“We’ve already established I don’t have virgin ears. So, who was foolish enough to stand you up?”

“OK,” she laughed, “now that was a pathetic pickup line!”

“Only if it’s working,” he smirked, and she swore she felt something inside her explode. “So… is it?”

She looked at him with a coy smirk of her own and shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe? A little bit.”

Now, he felt something too. Captivated, he got up and took the seat beside her, sitting dangerously close. “Well, well,” he simpered. “My night just got better. Tobias,” he said, extending his hand. “And you are?”

Melting. She thought as her hand met his. She wasn’t prepared for the jolt of electricity that coursed through her body the moment they touched. Melting. With her hand lingering in his for a moment too long, she realized he was staring at her, awaiting a reply. If only she could remember her name.

“Uh..um. Casey. My name is Casey.”

“So, Casey,” she asked, summonsing the bartender to order her a drink. “Care to tell me the name of the fool I need to thank for standing you up tonight?”

“Nah,” she grinned, “fuck him.”

“Language!” He laughed with a crooked mile, “Language!”

“Again, are you offended?”

“Not in the least but Casey?”

“Yes?”

“The last thing I want to think about is you fucking him.”

“I’m not the type of woman that gets picked up at bars,” she teased.

“But there’s a first time for everything,” he winked. And there it was again, that adorable little laugh. “So, what do you say? Wanna get a table… no strings attached… we can just talk. I can already tell you’re fascinating, and I’ll be mad at myself if I let you go.”

Casey looked at her watch while flirtatiously biting her lower lip. 

“Sure, Tobias.  Lead the way.”

@openheartfanfics @choicesficwriterscreations

Reblogging separately.