omgg cortis is in paris rn and I had this idea of james x 6th member of cortis reader and theyâre just strolling through Paris alone at midnight just doing romantic things and all that and then somehow get caught? Like jennie and taehyung vibe
yess i've been seeing all the post of the saint laurent show today and they both looked amazingđ»đ» i love this idea!! ill definitely get to work on this ASAP
(first ask kinda nervyđ i hope to do it justice!)
"I wanna dance with you all night, when its dark until its bright"
2.5k
( syn. ) james is a famous choreographer and all you've ever wanted to do is dance. You eventually find a way to sneak your way into some dance lessons.
loosely based off the movie "another cinderella story"
01 | 02
You'd gotten used to the rhythms of this place.
Which rooms got used the most, which mirrors smeared the fastest, which instructors ran over time and which ones cleared out early.Â
After enough weeks it stopped feeling like work and started feeling like routine. You knew this building the way you knew a song you'd heard too many times. Every beat exactly where you expected it.
So when you pushed open the door to Studio 4 at eight forty in the morning, you were not expecting anyone to be in there.
You were expecting another empty room.
What you got instead was James Zhao, sitting on the floor against the mirror wall with one leg extended and his phone face down on the hardwood beside him like he'd been there long enough to stop looking at it.
You froze.
Not because you didn't know who he was. You knew exactly who he was. That was precisely the problem.
"Oh." The word came out before anything more could follow it. You gripped the handle of the cart. "Sorry, I thought your class didn't start for another hour."
James looked up. His expression didn't do anything dramatic. Didn't shift into annoyance or surprise.
"It doesn't," he said.
A beat passed.
You waited for the part where he told you to come back later. That was how it usually went with the instructors. Polite enough, but the implication was always the same, this is my space, come back when I'm not in it.
"Go ahead," James said instead. He reached over and picked up his phone, tucking it into the front pocket of his hoodie as he stood. "I'll stay out of your way."
You blinked. "Are you sure? I can start on another room and come back â"
"It's fine." He moved toward the far corner of the room, giving you the length of the studio. "Dont worry, do what you need to do."
It was such a simple thing to say. Like you were a person rather than an inconvenience with a mop. The rational part of your brain knew it wasn't anything to think on for too long. But the other part of you honestly appreciated it.
You started with the mirrors.
â--------------
James stood in the corner with his back to the glass and his arms crossed loosely, watching nothing in particular.
He'd come in early because he needed to think, and his apartment had stopped being a place where he could do that because of his 4 other roommates. The studio was better. It always was. Something about the quietness of the room, the particular quality of the silence in here before anyone else arrived. It settled him in a way that was hard to explain to people who didn't understand what it meant to have a space that was yours.
He had not come in early to run into the cleaning staff.
And yet here he was, watching someone work their way across his mirror wall with the particular efficiency of a person who had done this exact thing so many times it had stopped requiring thought. There was something methodical about it. Not robotic, more like conserved.
His gaze dropped without meaning to.
Her shoes.
They were worn at the toe in a way that work shoes weren't. That was dance wear. Old dance wear, the kind that had been broken in properly over a long time.
James filed that away and said nothing.
That's when he also noticed the mp3 player attached to her belt loop.
"You can put music on if you want," he said instead, because the silence had started to feel like something he was imposing on her. "I don't mind."
She glanced at him over her shoulder. Like she was checking whether he meant it.
"I'm okay," she said. Then, a second later, "Do you want music on?"
James almost smiled. Almost. "I asked you first."
She turned back to the mirror. He watched her try to suppress something at the corner of her mouth and not entirely succeed.
"I like the quiet in the mornings," she said. "Before everything gets loud."
James looked at the room for a moment. At the way the early light came through the high windows and made the hardwood look warmer than it actually was.
"Yeah," he said. "Me too."
â----------------
It became a thing without either of you deciding it would.
The next week you were working your way down the hall when the door to Studio 4 was already open and the lights were already on. You hesitated in the doorway. James was in the center of the room this time, standing with his weight on one leg and his head tilted slightly, staring at some middle distance like he was listening to music only he could hear.
He noticed you in the doorway and said nothing, just nodded once toward the mirrors like go ahead.
You went ahead.
You worked in the quiet for a while. It wasn't uncomfortable. That surprised you more than anything, you'd gotten used to sharing space for the short span of time. When you would clean other rooms you always felt vaguely aware of being in the way. This was different. He moved around the room and you moved around the room and somehow you didn't collide and somehow it didn't feel like an imposition in either direction.
"Can I ask you something?"
It came out before you'd fully decided to say it. You saw him turn slightly in your peripheral vision.
"Sure," he said.
"The six count in that sequence you've been running with the Wednesday class." You kept your eyes on the mirror in front of you, cloth moving in slow circles. "Why a six count? It feels like it wants to be a five."
The silence that followed was long enough that you started thinking of an apology in your head.
"I changed it because the six count works for my students more. The five was too tricky for them"
You thought about that.
"Oh I see," you said.
"You've seen the Wednesday class?"
Your hand stopped on the mirror for exactly one half second before continuing.
"I've heard it," you said. Careful. True enough. "Sound carries in this building."
James was quiet for a moment.
"It does," he agreed.
You didn't look at him. You moved to the next panel of glass.
"For what it's worth," he said, "you're right that it wants to be a five. It was a compromise. I don't love it either."
You looked at him then, because you couldn't help it. He was watching you with an expression that was mostly neutral but had something underneath it you couldn't immediately name. Not suspicion. Something more like attention. Focused and unhurried.
"I'm Y/N," you said, because it felt suddenly important to be a person with a name in this conversation.
He nodded once.
"I know," James said. "You've been cleaning my room for months."
You laughed before you could stop yourself. Actually laughed. And something in his face shifted at the sound of it, briefly and unmistakably, before settling back into careful neutrality.
"Right," you said. "I guess you probably did know that."
"James," he said anyway, like an offering.
"I know," you said. "You're kind of hard to miss around here."
This time he did smile. Small and a little reluctant, like it had gotten out before he approved it.
"I'll take that," he said.
â-----------
The friendship built itself in the margins of the morning.
Twice a week, sometimes three times, you'd arrive to find Studio 4 already occupied. It stopped being surprising. It started being something you didn't examine too closely â the way you started finishing the east wing mirrors first on the mornings you knew he'd be in early, so you'd end up in his room instead of starting there. The way he started having two coffees sometimes when you arrived and would leave one on top of the sound system without mentioning it.
You talked about dancing the way people talk about something they love too much to be casual about. Carefully at first. Then less carefully.
He asked once what made you interested in choreography structure and you gave him a half answer about watching a lot of videos growing up, which was true, and he accepted it without pushing.
You asked him once why he became an instructor instead of a performer and he was quiet long enough that you thought you'd overstepped.
"Performing is about being seen," he said finally. "Teaching is about seeing other people. I think I'm better at the second one."
You thought about the way he watched his class. The way he noticed things.
"I think you're probably right," you said.
You didn't think about what it meant that he noticed things.
You should have.
â------------------
It was a Thursday morning when it happened.
You'd gotten comfortable. That was the problem. Comfort made you careless and careless was something you could not afford to be here. however, three weeks of easy mornings in Studio 4 had broken down all the carefulness you'd been sure to instill these past few months.
You were wiping down the last panel of the mirror wall, the one closest to the door, when James spoke from behind you.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," you said. Automatic. Easy. The same way you'd been saying it for weeks now.
"How long have you been working here?"
You glanced at him in the mirror. He was sitting on the floor again, back against the opposite wall.
"About six months," you said.
He nodded slowly. Like he was doing math.
Your hand kept wiping the glass.
"So you know the building pretty well by now," he pushed.
"Well enough." You moved the cloth in a slow circle. "Why?"
James moved closer slowly, choosing his words carefully.
"The storage room," he said. "Right next door. You ever go in there?"
Your hand stopped.
Just for a second. Just long enough that you felt it, the pause, the way your body betrayed you before your brain could intervene. You started moving again immediately but the damage was done, at least to your own nervous system. Your heart was suddenly performing at a tempo that had no business existing this early in the morning.
"Sometimes," you said. Careful. "If I need supplies."
"Right." He nodded again. "That makes sense."
You waited.
The silence stretched in a way that silences don't unless someone is deciding whether to continue. You kept your eyes on the mirror. You tried to keep your expression as something you hoped read as mildly curious rather than the complete internal freak out it actually was.
"I think someone's been using it," James said.
You turned around.
Not because you planned to. More because your body made the executive decision before consulting you. You turned around and looked at him and he was already looking at you with that expression you'd come to recognize from your hours of observing from the other side of the mirror. Focused and unhurried, giving nothing away.
"Using it?" you repeated.
"As a dance room." He said it simply. Like it was the least strange thing in the world. "I noticed the footprints about a month ago. The pattern of them. Whoever it is has been in there more than once â probably a lot more than once. And they're not just walking through." He paused. "They're practicing."
You did not move.
You were very focused on not moving.
"That's â" you started.
"Interesting," James said. "I think it's interesting." He tilted his head slightly. "The room's got the old mirror wall on the shared side. The one that didn't get installed right."
Something cold moved through you.
"Oh so it's see through from one side," you said slowly, because you needed to hear how that sentence sounded out loud.
"From the storage room side, yeah." James looked at the middle distance briefly, thoughtful rather than accusatory. "So whoever it is, they've had a front row seat to everything I've run in that practice room. Every class." He let that sit for a second. "Which means they're not just practicing. They're learning."
The room was very quiet.
You were acutely aware of your own breathing. Of the cloth in your hand. Of the fact that your dance clothes were currently layered under your uniform and had been since this morning when you got ready.
You turned back to the mirror mostly because you needed somewhere to put your eyes.
"So what are you going to do about it?" you asked.
"That's the part I haven't figured out yet," he admitted. "I was kind of hoping, since you're in and out of that whole hallwayâ that maybe you might have noticed something. Or someone?" He said it simply, no pressure behind it. Just someone asking a person they trusted for help with something that had been bothering them. "Anything at all."
You kept your eyes on the glass in front of you.
In the reflection you could see him watching you now with an expression that was patient and unhurried and entirely without suspicion.
He wasn't looking at a person who had answers.
He was looking at a friend he hoped might help him find them.
"I'll pay more attention," you said. "When I'm cleaning this side of building"
"Yeah?" He looked genuinely relieved. "I'd appreciate that. Like I said, I'm not trying to blow the whole thing up. I just want to understand what's actually happening before I do anything."
"That's fair," you said.
"Thanks." He picked up his coffee. "Sorry, I know that's a lot to drop on you at eight in the morning."
"It's fine." You moved to the next panel of glass. "You can drop things on me"
It came out more sincere than you intended. You heard him go quiet for a second in a way that felt different from his regular quiets.
"Good to know" he said.
And that was it. He moved on. Started running something in the back half of the studio, leaving you to your mirrors, and the conversation folded itself back into the regular morning rhythm.
You made it all the way through finishing the room.
All the way through a normal goodbye, collecting your cart, getting yourself out into the hallway.
The door to Studio 4 clicked shut behind you.
You stood there in the corridor for a moment, one hand still on the cart handle
He was looking for you.
He'd been turning it over for weeks, quietly, on his own, trying to figure out the fair thing to do. He'd decided the person behind those footprints deserved the benefit of the doubt before anyone jumped to conclusions.
And then he'd asked you to help him find them.
You pressed your lips together.
Somewhere down the hall an early class was starting up, music bleeding faintly through a closed door. The building coming back to life around you.
What, you thought, staring at the ceiling, are you supposed to do with that.
You didn't have an answer.
But you pushed your cart down the hall anyway, toward the east wing, toward the storage room that was waiting for you like it always was.
You just walked a little slower than usual.
/
/
authors note: thank you guys for your patience on this partđ this is my first time writing a longer fic so any feedback is appreciated!!! thank you guys for the love
ALSO! i know nothing about dancing so all the dance talk/lingo is stuff i got from watching a tiktok videođso if it's not correct or sounds stupid i'm just larping pls enjoy
( syn. ) james knows your probably missing your family as much as he misses his, so he plans the day out in order to distract you
baseballplayer! james headcanons
jars of it (series)
01 | 02
( syn. ) james is a famous choreographer and all you've ever wanted to do is dance. You eventually find a way to sneak your way into some dance lessons.
hi everybody! i apologize for being kinda m.i.ađȘ since im a college student and the school year is winding down ive been focused on writing final papers and getting ready to move out which is why i haven't updated in a while. Now its finalsđ BUT good news is my school year officially ends in a few weeks and then i'll have plenty of free time to write for you guys!! until then thank you guys for the love you've been showing my fics𫶠Jars of it pt.2 SOON
"I wanna dance with you all night, when its dark until its bright"
1.8k
( syn. ) james is a famous choreographer and all you've ever wanted to do is dance. You eventually find a way to sneak your way into some dance lessons.
loosely based off the movie "another cinderella story"
01 | 02
Ever since you were little dancing was your passion. You can recall being 7 years old and watching the music video channel on the television all day long. Being inspired by how serene and carefree the background dancers would look. You would spend so much time trying to mimic the moves of the popstars on your screen.Â
You remember begging your parents to go to dance lessons after you met a girl at school who told you about her dance class. At your young age, you didn't understand that those classes cost money. Money that your family didn't exactly have. You sulked for days on end.Â
As you got older the passion for dance never went away. It transformed into something different. Dance became a solace for you. Something that could clear your mind from the everyday stress. Something you could turn to as a way to turn your mind off.Â
One day you saw a job listing for a dance studio in the town over. In your head it was the best of both worlds. Everything you've ever asked for. Getting to step foot in a dance studio was your dream, and getting paid while doing it?? You were determined to get this job.Â
In the weeks leading up to the job you researched everything about the company from the famous dancers that have come out of the studio to learning the owner's whole life story. You spent hours creating and practicing a routine that could show off your strengths. Sure, maybe you didn't have the experience that the rich girls who attended the dance studio did, but you knew deep down this job was yours.Â
And that it was, because you were the only one who showed up to the interview.Â
What the ad failed to tell you was the âvacancy within the companyâ, was a custodial position.
Your job was to clean the dance rooms and mirrors after the classes ended. You were essentially cleaning up after the spoiled brats that attended the classes here. You knew not all the people that attended the classes were trust fund brats, but you've dealt with enough intentional spills and careless litter to grow a disdain for the girls that attend the classes on a regular basis.
Yeah sure, maybe some of it was jealousy because they got to actually attend classes here and you were stuck cleaning mirrors.
As tiring as the job is, there is one reason you stayed.Â
James Zhao.
Well more specifically. You stayed because on your first week on the job, you found an unused dance room. When you asked your boss about it he said they stopped using it since the ventilation broke and the glass wall was installed improperly. They never bothered to get it fixed and now use it as a makeshift storage room. This abandoned dance room just so happened to reside right next to the practice room of the one and only, James Zhao.Â
You knew of him before landing the job. Your extensive research of the company showed you that he was one of the company's most esteemed choreographers. He'd won countless competitions and all his students would testify to how amazing of a teacher he was. You never actually saw a picture of him but you never in a million years would have thought thee #1 dance instructor James Zhao would be your age??
All this to say, since the mirror wasn't installed right, it worked as a kind of window into his dance room. And the best part is, you couldn't be seen from the other side.
You actually found this out one day when your boss asked you to get some electrical tape that they had stored in the room. You were stopped in your tracks when you were met with a full class of about 30 people staring right at you. Except they weren't really staring at you.. More like through you. You rushed to apologize until you realized they couldn't hear you, and once you began walking towards the middle of the room and their eyes stayed planted in the same spots you realized they also couldn't see you. In fact all their eyes were unwavering in their gaze towards their instructor.
James just had that effect on people. His energy was just infectious and that magnetic presence only grew once he would dance. At least, that's how you felt whenever you would sit in that room during your break just to get a chance to watch his choreos.Â
That's how it started out. You would purposefully time your breaks to whenever James had a class. You knew you could never tell your boss, or anyone really. Because you were essentially attending a class that would have actually cost you your whole paycheck. At first you would reason, it's not like you were following along with his instructions. You were merely observing, soaking up all the knowledge.
But then it got to the point where you would go home to recreate a dance and you would hit a wall. You would try to think back to how James would do it and it just wasn't clicking in your brain. As the moves in his choreos became more intricate you could no longer simply watch from your place behind the glass.
So you began to get cocky.
You started wearing dance clothes under your uniform. You would follow along with Jamesâs instructions and would rush to make yourself presentable by the time your break would end. You knew at this point you were being careless. This job was your one way into a world you've always dreamed of being a part of, and you were putting it in jeopardy. So, you were very careful and particular with your little secret to ensure no one could find out.Â
-
James wasnât the kind of person who missed details.
It was part of what made him good at what he did. Timing, precision, the way a shoulder sat just slightly too high on the fifth count. He noticed everything. Or at least, he liked to think he did. So when something felt off, it lingered. At first, it was small.
The storage room door.
It never sat quite right in its frame, but he knew exactly how far it usually stayed open. He would walk by it everyday to get to his designated dance room and it always bothered him how the door was never closed properly. Opened just enough to leave a sliver of darkness visible from his view when he would walk by. One afternoon after leaving a class, his eyes flickered toward it out of habit.
Closed.
Huh. odd, but probably nothing.
A few days later there was another instance that kinda threw him off. This time, it wasnât the storage room door but his dance room mirror.
Or ⊠more so, the reflection
He was facing the class, correcting a studentâs posture when something shifted in his peripheral vision. A flicker like movement that didnât belong to the thirty bodies in front of him. James turned his head slightly, gaze dragging toward the glass wall. Everything looked normal.
Rows of dancers. Perfect alignment. No one out of place.
Still something about it felt delayed. Like a reflection that had caught up a second too late.
âAgain from the top,â he said, sharper than intended.
The music restarted. The room moved in sync. But this time, James watched the mirror more than his students.
By the end of the week, James made the decision to further investigate his suspicions. He decided once class ended today we would take a look into the room next door. As he wrapped up today's session he made his way over to his bag and a few students followed.
It was normal after class for a few students to hang back and ask him any lingering questions about what they learned that day. But once the room cleared he gathered his things and made his way next door.Â
As he slowly opened the door, nothing stood out to him. He'd been in here a few times to get supplies but even from his few visits there there wasn't anything in particular that could answer his questions. That's when he realized he didn't know what it was he was looking for exactly. All he knew was there were multiple little inconsistencies that didn't add up.Â
Standing now in the dark abandoned classroom, he reluctantly began to convince himself there was nothing really out of the ordinary. All that looked back to him in the dark room was a bunch of boxes and shelves full of cleaning supplies. He was just simply in his head. Something that happened more times than he'd like to admit.Â
He spins on his heels and is on his way out of the room, when a particular glare from the floor sticks out to him. It was small and practically imperceptible.
Footprints.Â
James begins to walk around so the the sun catches the glare better from the position he was looking at the floor. Now that he was looking at it from a different angle, it was unmistakable. Footprints all over the dance floor.
Now James knew this room was made to be a dance classroom but to his knowledge, it was never actually used for dancing. These footprints puzzled him. He can't recall when this room has even been used in general, how could these footprints have been made?
Because this wasnât random. And it definitely wasnât nothing.
James exhaled through his nose.
âThink,â he muttered under his breath, though there was no one there to hear it.
He stepped back toward the footprints again, studying them more deliberately now. If someone had been coming in here unnoticed, they were doing it in a way that avoided obvious disruption. Still, assumptions were dangerous. He knew that better than most.Â
There were a dozen reasonable explanations he could force this into if he wanted to ignore it. Cleaning staff, maintenance, a forgotten use of the room. But none of them explained the repetition. None of them explained the pattern.
James stood there for a long moment, unmoving, eyes still tracing the faint impressions across the floor as if they might rearrange themselves into something logical if he just looked long enough.
They didnât.
Instead, the conclusion settled in quietly.
If someone was coming in here then they were doing it on purpose.
And if they were doing it on purpose, they would come back.
James slowly turned his attention toward the room again, this time with something sharper behind his expression.
If there was a pattern, it meant there was timing.
And if there was timing, it could be controlled.
He looked toward the storage room door, his mind already moving ahead of the situation.
Whatever was happening here, he didnât have enough information yet. But he would. He just needed a way to catch it in the act.
James straightened fully, brushing a hand through his hair as he made a silent decision in his head.
Tomorrow, he wouldnât just be watching.
Heâd be waiting.
And whatever was leaving these traces, would start to make sense.Â
authors note: a little short because i'm hoping to do a part 2 if you guys like it!! thanks again for all the love on my homesick fic u guys are amazing. talk soon!! ALSO GREENGREEN SOON WHOS HYPED?
i stayed up last night till 1am to watch and i loved the music video and seeing them have fun !! and now that i've listened to it a few times i definitely see the visionđââïžđââïžSO HYPED FOR THE REST OF GREENGREEB
baseball player james! who you first meet in your english10 class who you later find out is the star shortstop of your school's baseball team
baseball player james! who you never really interacted with until he was apart of your group for a project for the class
baseball player james! who you assumed would slack on his part of the work since most of the student athletes you've worked with love to make you and your group members do twice the work
baseball player james! who you find out is actually very studious even though he seems to be very busy with the extraneous schedule his coach has for him
baseball player james! who you actually find yourself getting along with and making good conversations with when your group went to a cafe on campus to finish off the projectÂ
baseball player james! who specifically seeks you out the day after you guys finish your group project to invite you to go to one of his gamesÂ
baseball player james! who you get to see absolutely shine on the fieldÂ
baseball player james! who finds you after the game with sweat and dirt still stuck to his skin to let you know how glad he is you came
baseball player james! who you eventually go to every home game to see play
baseball player james! who seeks you out in the crowd whenever he's up to bat
baseball player james! who gives you a wink anytime you guys make eye contact while he's on the fieldÂ
baseball player james! who finally mustards up the courage to ask you out to have dinner at your local diner after a game. This eventually becomes a tradition for you guysÂ
baseball player james! who gifts you an old jersey of his that you now wear to every game
baseball player james! who absolutely loves seeing you sporting his number and jokes with you after the game that seeing you with his last name on your back made him play better
baseball player james! who makes the last out to win the championship and goes straight to you after celebrating with his teamÂ
baseball player james! who finally kisses you in the heat of the moment, filled with adrenaline from his winÂ
baseball player james! who asks you if he could be your boyfriend that night over a celebratory dinner at the diner you guys had your first date
Â
authors note: short one because I was pretty busy with school this week sorry y'all! also I knew I had to do something baseball related after seeing this look because I actually LOVE baseball so this is definitely my niche. more coming soon! thank you guys for all the love I appreciate it sm
synopsis : james knows your probably missing your family as much as he misses his, so he plans the day out in order to distract you
This upcoming weekend was finally a time free of schedules or performances. A time where there were no responsibilities expected of you or the other members. The only difference for you is you didn't have family nearby to visit on your few days off.
 You weren't super sad about it at first. Who wouldn't be excited about a quiet dorm and no one stealing your snacks. It wasn't until the days leading up to the holiday when your other members began constantly talking about how excited they were to go home that it began to hit you. Hearing them talk about not being able to wait to have their moms homemade cooking or going shopping with their family stirred something in you. It's not like you weren't happy for them. You know from all the days spent in the practice room and all the nights spent in the studio that these boys work hard. They deserved time off to rest and spend time with their loved ones. You just couldn't help but be a little down at the thought of not being able to sleep in your childhood bed and go to eat with your family at your guy's favorite restaurant. However, you found comfort in the fact you were not going to be entirely alone this holiday.Â
The truth is James knew how you felt. In fact, he was having the same thoughts all throughout this week. Even though you never vocalized it to the team he knew there was a part of you that wasn't as excited about the upcoming days off that you lead on.Â
He knew you all too well.
So, he made a silent promise to himself to make sure you never had too much time to think about what you could be missing out on.
You woke up on the first day off with a beautiful smell wafting throughout the dorm. It took you a second to process that it must have been someone cooking from the kitchen. On a normal day you would describe the smell that omits from the kitchen as somewhat questionable. Oftentimes smelling something like a mix of smoke and burnt toast. But today it actually smelt⊠pleasant? Your sleepy body reacted immediately as you made your way to the kitchen to see the source of that delicious smell. As you made your way into the kitchen you were met with the equally delicious image of James in a wife beater and sweats working over the stove. You must have made some noise because he turns around at the sound of you entering with a smile on his face that you wouldn't normally see on him this early in the morning.
âWell good morning sleeping beautyâ he greats you with that playful smile
You're used to his playful flirting at this point. It's a ritual that has become normal between the two of you. James gives playful and most of the time, very cheesy, pick up lines to you. And in return you roll your eyes and pretend it has no effect on you.Â
This is all your relationship can be given the two of you are in the same group and live under the same roof. The two of you both know entertaining this little unspoken thing you guys have is a big no if you want to stay in the company's good graces. That doesn't stop your brain from thinking about him every night before you go to sleep. That also doesn't stop James from his slick little flirty comments like the one he gave right now.Â
âWhat's all this for?â you motion towards all the pans he has cooking on the stove and you plant yourself on the counter behind him, successfully ignoring his earlier comment.Â
âOh you know, just wanted to make some stuff before it expiredâ he says dismissively in a way
âJames the fridge was literally empty yesterday.â You mention, calling his bluff. You're immediately amused because you can visibly see him trying to backtrack in his head.
âOkay okay I may have stopped by the market for a few thingsâ
âRight a few things, got itâ
It was definitely more than a few considering he was using all the stoves for whatever he was concocting. You take this moment to peek around his shoulders from the counter you're perched on to catch a glance of what he's working on. You make note that he got a few breakfast items from your home country that you haven't had a chance to have in a long time. This immediately makes you perk up with excitement.Â
The closest market that sells this food is at least a 30 min walk. You were caught up in why he would have gone so far just for normal breakfast foods when your thoughts are interrupted.
âCan you get some plates so I can serve these up?â
Breakfast flies by mostly in silence. You were honestly too caught up on the taste of your home food to even think about talking. James obviously liked it too as he scarfed everything down in record time.You would occasionally feel James' eyes on you. Trying to gauge your reaction to the food. If your groans each bite were anything to go off of, he decided his breakfast was a hit. As you guys finished up you offered to do the dishes as a thank you for the amazing breakfast he made. HoweverâŠ
âNo no no I can do thatâ and he's immediately snatching the plates out of your hand and you let out an offended gasp at the speed in which he took the plates from youÂ
âYou have to go get ready, the movie starts at 2â he says in a huff like this is the 10th time he's had to remind you. Which is weird to you because this is your first time hearing anything about a movie? You stand there for a second at a loss for words as your brain tries to keep up with this train of events. James turns around from the place he's taken at the sink to wash the dishes and he notices your shocked expression but continues his nonchalant act.Â
âYou better hurry, we can't be late. You know I love watching the trailersâ
So now here you guys are at the movies, popcorn and slushie in hand. James got you guys tickets to some action movie full of explosions and fast cars. You honestly weren't giving too much attention to the movie anyways. All that was plaguing your mind was James' actions today. It isn't like James was ever mean to you by any means. But today he's been nothing but extra attentive and kind. He even snuck in some packs of your favorite candy to snack on during the film. It's not like it's out of James' character to be nice. No, what was messing with you was that all of his actions had you feeling what a 10 year old girl would call âbutterflies in your stomachâ. I mean you felt like a little girl with her first recess crush right now. Breath catching in your throat because you're sitting right next to him. Hands brushing in the popcorn bucket like a cheesy 90âs romcom. His presence in the seat next to you in the theater is almost suffocating. It's almost like James can feel the nerves radiating off of you when he finally takes a hold of your hand.
His touch is light as he places his hand on top of yours on the divider between your seats. He drags his thumb on the inside of your palm in a way that seems like he's trying to calm you. However, you can feel his heart racing from the pulse going through his hand as he keeps his gaze fixed on the movie screen.
His touch does calm your nerves but it does absolutely nothing for those butterflies that have made themselves at home in your stomach.Â
His touch only leaves once the credits roll and you're making your way out of the theater.Â
As you guys are leaving the theater, there is a very heated discussion happening between the two of you on what rating you'd give the movie on letter boxed.Â
âThere was just way too much going on. It was definitely a 3 for meâ
âWHAT are you kidding me that was at leastt a 3 and a half. It was shot so beautifullyâ
âYeah well the shots are overshadowed by the horrible dialogue. Who talks like that??â
Your discussion is halted when you spot a sweet shop across the street and an idea pops into your head.
âJames we need to go check that place outâ you say like it's the best idea you've ever had.Â
When james looks to were your pointing at you see his face light up before something comes over him and his expression becomes almost apologetic
âNahhh I was thinking of going to that one place you've been wanting to go for dinnerâ
This puzzles you, âBut every time I've suggested that place for dinner you and the boys always say noâÂ
âIts always good to try new thingsâÂ
You could smell something fishy about the tone in his voice. From living with him for months you could tell when he was lying.
âJames when have you literally ever said no to sweetsâ you say matter of factly.
ây/n im not a kid. I can resists sweet treats if i want toâÂ
âWell now I know your lyingâÂ
This seemed to stump him as he took a few seconds to redirect his train of thought. As he took a second to pause, you began to make your way across the street to the sweet shop. Determined to take a look and find something that James might want in order to change his mind. James is immediately on your tail, grabbing your hand to stop you.Â
âNo please y/n this wasn't part of the planâ
This stops you in your tracks. What was that supposed to mean? Plan? Was there some kind of plan surrounding today that you weren't aware of? It seems like he realizes his slip up as he immediately begins throwing out explanations to make up for his words.
âWhat I mean is that we're gonna go get cheesecake after dinner. Remember? you said it was your favorite.â
You remember that conversation he's referring to. There was a day when everyone was sharing foods they hated and cheesecake was the food James chose, something about the crust being the only good part. That was when you told him all about why it was your favorite dessert. You're surprised he remembers that conversation since it was kind of overshadowed by the craziness that ensues when the whole team is together and everyone is talking at once. Yelling over each other to get a word in.Â
âYou don't even like cheesecake thoughâ you say almost like a question. Confused on why he was so insistent.
âYeah but you said it reminds you of when you were home and you would have it with your family to celebrate big daysâ
That's when everything clicked. The breakfast with your favorite foods, going out to see a movie, finally going to that one dinner place, all of it. This was all James' effort to make you feel better about not being home for your day off. You're immediately softened.Â
âJamesâ you let out in a whisper. Its all your able to let out as your emotions began to overflow
You almost can't believe that he would really go through all this trouble to make your day off exciting.
James can tell by the look on your face and the tone of your voice that you've figured it all out. He closes the gap between you guys as he takes your hands.
âI just want today to be perfect for you.â he says gently, not needing to speak loudly since you guys are so close. âSo can we please head over for dinner before it gets too lateâ he lets out in one big breath.
You realize in this moment that James truly is a selfless person. He planned out this whole day to ensure you never had time to feel bad about not being home. But in doing so did he forget about himself?
âJames as much as I appreciate everything you've done for me today, what about you?â you ask as you squeeze his hands that have yours in a grasp.Â
âHuhâÂ
âToday's your day off too you should be spending it doing things you enjoy aswellâ Why would he spend this whole day finding things to distract you when he could have been out shopping or getting treats, things he would actually enjoy doing. As you give your reasoning, you can tell by the quizzical look he's giving you that he doesn't quite understand the point you're trying to make. âim just saying, you spent so much time today babysitting me im sure there many things you'd much rather be doingâ
He shakes his head at your words
âI'm not babysitting you y/n.â he states firmly. You realize now that he's been slowly inching his way forward. Somehow closer than he was before. Your hands still in his grasp, he moves one hand up to reach towards your face. Your breath catches in your throat as he puts a hair that's fallen behind your ears. âEverything I did today was because I wanted to do it.â he says definitively
âYes of course I miss being home-â You're saddened by his words. Here you were so caught up in the thrill of spending your day with James that you never stopped to think what this day might feel like for him. Your hands travel up to his forearms as you go to comfort him.
â-But being in your company, i-it makes me feel safe and I forget about all my worries. Whether we're eating together or watching movies or even having stupid arguments, all I see is you. I wouldn't have wanted to spend my day any other way. To me you are home y/n.âÂ
By the time he finishes his speech your hands have found their way to the sides of his face pulling him even closer. He worked himself up with his words so you can feel his quickened breath brush your face. Your eyes find their way to his only to find them already looking at your lips.Â
You feel his hands drop from your forearms to your waist pulling you in, eliminating any gap between you two. Then your eyes finally meet and it's like all the emotions that have been bubbling between you guys for the last couple of months have finally boiled over. He doesn't have to say it for you to know that the soft look on his eyes is his way of asking if he can take control and finally close the distance between your lips.Â
Before you know it you're tilting up to meet him halfway when your lips finally connect. A little squeak escapes you at the feeling. There's a moment of astonishment before you soften into the contact. The kiss was deep and quick as you both chase each other's touch. Caught up in the moment, you break apart quickly as it hits you both that you're still in a public place.Â
As you both take a step away and take a second to catch your breath you also take a moment to gauge each other's reactions to the kiss. There's a slight feeling of doubt in the air as you both are somewhat terrified that the other didn't enjoy it the same way they did. But the second your eyes met for a second time and you saw just how fidgety James had become, you knew.
In the blink of an eye you're taking James hand in yours and leading him into the sweet shop just a few paces away and any doubt either of you had is gone.
âSo how about a cheesecake for me and a Purin for youâ you state playfully
You look up to him as you walk for an answer and catch James' expression of pure admiration. He gives a curt little nod as he follows you into the shop.
In the end he honestly succeeded in his goal. Because as you looked back on the past 24 hours you couldn't think of a single time where you felt down thinking of home. In fact, the only thing you could recall racking your brain all throughout the day, was James.
James and his endless kindness. James and his light touches. He was the one who brought you comfort and made you laugh. You didn't even have to think about how you couldn't travel home because he brought home to you.Â
authors note: Thank you guys for all the love on my first work! I appreciate all your guys comments. I hope we can interact more!! if you haven't seen my pinned post I am a college student so updates will most likely only come on the weekends when I have time but I will definitely post whenever I can :)
Having a brother that's only barely a year older than you means there were many years where you were his shadow. When you were four and he was five it meant following him around the living room and following along with whatever superhero storyline he was constructing. When you were six and seven it meant you would spend all day racing in the backyard. Once he got into middle school it was no longer cool to have his little sister follow him around. Most of his new cool middle school friends would tease him when your guy's mom would let you tag along on their mall hangouts. But your brother had one friend that never gave him a hard time.
Over the years, he became a regular at your house. Even though you were a pretty outgoing kid, you became uncharacteristically quiet whenever your brother's friend was over to play. Your brother thought it was odd but chalked it up to you not caring much for his new friend taking your place as his partner in crime. James believed you to be a shy kid so he tried his best to be nothing but kind to you when he was over. He tried his best to break you out of your shell. What he and your brother didn't know was that James was your first ever crush. I mean, to a 5th grade girl, having a middle school boy be actually nice to you was world changing.
He was there when you were too embarrassed to admit to your brother that some girls from your grade had started picking on you. He had stumbled across the scene when he was walking home one day. He could recognize your bright blue backpack and fluffy keychains from a mile away. What he didn't recognize, were the three girls holding said backpack who were rummaging through it like it was their own while you stood cornered, looking at the floor with a dejected look. He didn't even think twice before walking over and letting out a loud cough to make his presence known. Of course the girls knew who he was. James Yufan, the cute upperclassman that girls would flock to catch a glimpse of between classes. The James Yufan that played hockey at the local rink that coincidentally would have way more girls showing up the days he would be there for practice. All this to say he was the talk of the town for the girls in your grade. So when your three bullies turned around to see him looming over them they stopped dead in their tracks. All it took was one stern look from him and the bullies' reactions were instant. Suddenly your backpack was back in your possession, one of the girls going on about how she âfoundâ the 10 dollars you dropped out of your wallet. and they were gone in the blink of an eye. He walked you home that day in silence. You didn't know what to say, you knew you should thank him but you were so embarrassed about him seeing you in that situation that the words caught in your throat. He didn't force you to talk. He just led the way to your doorstep without a word. Once you finally arrived he finally broke the silence.Â
âi won't tell your brother if you don't want me too. Trust me, i know how he gets.âÂ
a slight laugh slips out from you at the thought of him being on the receiving end of your brother's wrath from time to time. You could tell he was trying to lighten the mood.
âbut you have to promise to tell me if those girls are giving you any more trouble, okay?âÂ
All you can do is give a nod to show you understand and then your rushing inside.Â
The last thing you want is for James to think you're just a weak little girl that lets bullies walk all over you like a doormat. You're more than humiliated that he was the one to be there, but there's a little part of you that was softened by the kindness he showed you. And after that day you never had another run in with those bullies.
It was when your brother and james entered high school that you decided to give up on your silent little crush on james. It seemed like every weekend james was at your house in your brothers room getting ready for another âhangâ which was the cool, highschool way, of saying a party. As in a place where both genders congregate. As a 8th grader with your secure little group of girl friends this was a foreign concept. You were sitting in the living room watching the new episode of your favorite show as your brother and james were rushing out the door sending a haphazard âsee you laterâ and âmake sure to lock the door behind usâ. That was when you got in your head about your crush on james. It was clear to you that he never saw you as more than his best friend's little sister. You remember him making a comment about how, as an only child, he liked being at your house so he could feel what it was like to have a little sister. As sweet as the sentiment was, it definitely stung. You would hear those words in your head whenever you catch yourself staring for too long, trying to ground yourself back to reality. Because at that very moment he was probably at some cool high school party with girls from his grade that he didn't see during their awkward braces phase. So, you told yourself there was no point pinning over james when he was never going to feel the feelings you felt for him. Plus there were plenty of guys in your grade! How hard could it be to find a new crush?
So, then came the time during sophomore year where you were asked out on your first date. Your brother almost didn't believe you when you first told him. You could hear the disbelief he had while on the phone with james, even from your room. Your heart fluttered as you pressed your ear to the wall separating your two rooms in order to secretly listen to the conversation. You couldn't hear much coming from your brother's phone besides quiet mumbles. In that moment, you couldn't help the tightness in your chest as you wondered what james thought about the news. Then you pause. Why did it matter to you what he thought? you were going on a date with a boy that liked you. You didn't want to think about why you cared so much so you focused on getting ready for your date.
When you came back, your brother and james were playing video games in the living room. You couldn't help but feel his eyes as you made your way past them to the kitchen. As you poured yourself a glass of water you reflected on your date. You were excited, still a little giddy from the conversations that were had. He complimented you and the conversation flowed nicely you thought. You can admit you were a little hesitant before agreeing to the date since you didn't know him that well, he had only just joined the art club that you were in and seemed really interested in getting to know you better. Your thoughts are interrupted from a voice coming from the entrance of the kitchen.
âHow did it go? You have fun?â
You turn around with your glass in hand to be met with the sight of james leaning by the door. God he looked so good. What did he ask you again?
âit was goodâ you give a light nod â we went to the pizza place in town and shared a pizza, he was really niceâ you don't know why it came out like you were trying to convince him you had fun. You did have fun, right? you weren't really questioning it until now. That's when your brother joined you guys in the kitchen grabbing his own glass of water.
âThis âniceâ guy, did he do all the gentlemenly things? yknow like pull out your chair, pay for the bill? he didn't try anything weird right?â your brother asked all while taking a sip from his water.
You feel your eyes roll. âWhen did this turn into an investigation?â you groan playfully.
âgod forbid I want to make sure my sisters first date went wellâ he repliesÂ
âwell if you need to know, yes he was a gentleman. And we split the bill.â you state matter of factly
âwell if he was actually a gentleman he would have paid for everything. let's start thereâ james voice cuts through quick
you start to feel defensive âhe was a gentleman! he was nothing but nice to me the whole time and we have a lot in common! it went really wellâÂ
âJames is right thoughâ your brother joins in and you send him a glare. âJust saying a real gentleman would have paid for you too, not just himselfâ he adds with his hands up in defense.
âWe're only sophomores. I don't expect him to have to pay for me!â you try to reason
This was met with nothing but a scoff from james as he looks away, silently shaking his head like he can't believe what he's hearing.Â
For some reason this irritated you. Why does he care? You understand it's just a simple conversation and he means well. He doesn't know about your old feelings for him, he's just trying to be nice. He simply sees it as looking out for his âlittle sisterâ. You think deep down, that's what irritates you.
You let out an annoyed huff âlike i said, he was nice. how about you guys go back to your video game and stop worrying about meâ and with that you put your glass in the sink a little more aggressively then you intended and made your way to your room. Of course things didn't really end up working out with you and the boy. You both decided that you were better off as friends. But still, why was it that it seemed things were going so well until you were reminded that james existed?
That brings us to now. Your brother and james have just graduated and coincidentally your parents are going on a business trip this weekend. Meaning, tonight all the graduated seniors will be at your house for a graduation party. Your brother has been stressing you out all week about how this has to be the best party ever thrown ever apparently. That is why you're currently hanging up metallic foil fringe on your living room walls. You're standing on a wobbly kitchen chair trying to hang the final piece when you catch yourself losing your balance. In an instant hands are on your waist steadying you. You let out a gasp and grab on to the hands to steady yourself further. When you look down your met with piercing brown eyes focused on easing you off the chair
âHere, why don't you let me do thatâ james says coolly, hand gliding off your waist and instead taking the fringe from your hands and attaching it to the top of the wall without the help of the chair.Â
You were startled since you didn't even know james was over yet. You were still in your pajamas, a large off the shoulder top and little shorts. Even though he's seen you in your pajamas plenty of times when he's been over, you can help but be conscious of it considering how close he was only a moment ago.Â
âWhy are you here so early? The party doesn't start till 9â you ask, trying to think of something that wasn't the lingering feeling of fingers on your waist.
âThought id come help your brother set up but it looks like you're on top of it alreadyâ he says taking a second to look at all the decorations you set up throughout the day. It wasn't anything impressive, just some more metallic fringe lining the walls and you even put in some elbow grease and pushed the coach against the wall.Â
âWell you can help putting all the glass and breakable stuff in my brothers room while i get readyâ
At this james head whips around âwho said you were invited? Its gonna be a bunch of older guysâ He makes something like a disgusted face thinking about it. You can tell he was being playful but you can't help but let out a little huff â This is literally my house I don't need an invitation. And you act like you guys are sooo much older then me when weâre barely a few months apartâ It seems like james doesn't like this answer but gives in anyway â yeah yeah whatever, go get pretty then. I'll finish everything upâ at that you spin around with a little pep in your step as you make your way to your room. Excited at the thought of getting ready. It's not like you had anyone to impress, sometimes it's just nice to get pretty and feel yourself a little, yknow?Â
You took your time to get ready, doing your makeup and hair just right. You put on a sparkly silver spaghetti strap and black leather shorts. You waited in your room until your friends told you they were here. Doing one last look over, you made it downstairs and the party was already in full swing. Base booming through the walls and lights shining through the darkness. You find your friends immediately and compliments are flying around as everyone takes in each other's look for the night. Spinning each other around and hyping everyone up. Once you guys settle in, you're all headed for the drinks. It's not something you'd usually do but you're in your own house so you rationed to yourself this is the best environment to have a little fun in. Worst comes to worst there's always your brother who you know would look after you and james as well you suppose. And you were having the time of your life with your friends. You're currently packed into the living room all dancing together without a care in the world. Maybe you're imagining it but the music was now bumping through the floor and traveling through you. You felt electric.
Even though you weren't that aware of your surroundings you couldn't shake the feeling of eyes on you. There was some part of you that hoped deep down it was james. You tried your best to maneuver your way around to see if he was anywhere in your vicinity. Instead, you were met with another guy standing in front of you. When he saw you finally notice him his eye lit up and he was already grinning down at you. He says something but the sound doesn't reach your ears.
You let out a loud âHuh!?â trying your best to convey to him that you hadn't heard what he said. He takes the opportunity to lean in closer to your ear so you could hear him clearly.Â
âI said it's nice to meet you, you're beautifulâ he says loud and slow enunciating to be sure you heard him this time. You take a moment to look him over since you hadn't took the time to do so before. He definitely wasn't ugly, he was actually very handsome but you definitely weren't gonna tell him that just yet. Instead,
âThank you! it's nice to meet you tooâ you say as you step on your tippy toes trying your best to say it closer to his ear. It's then when you realize how close you are. The dance circle was already packed and you had to be extra close in order to hear each other. The realization of your closeness makes you nervous and it seemed like he found this endearing.
âand how come i've never seen you before?â he asks somehow, making the distance between you too even smaller. Your brainâs obviously not working fast enough to put space between you guys. âprobably because i'm not a part of the graduating class, im a year below you guysâ you somehow manage to string together. âoh yeah? what's your name then beautifulâ a shock goes through you as you're suddenly bumped into each other as the people dancing around you guys grow more rowdy. You put a hand on his arm in order to not eat it in front of everyone. He also places a hand on your hip to keep you steady. âmy names y/nâ you finally reply and you see something in his face shift. âoh shit. is your brother?-â
âyeah, so hands offâ a stern voice cuts in and separates you two.
It all happens so fast. A hand interlocked with yours. One minute you're weaving your way through the sea of bodies the next you're being sat down on your bed in your room. Once your brain catches up with the moment you look up to someone closing the door, their back facing you. That's when it hits you james had taken you to your room and he had been the one to separate you and- what was his name again? you didn't even get to hear his name. It all catches up to you and your immediate reaction is rage. Who does this guy think he is?
âjames what the hell is your problem!â Despite your words james stays facing the door and doesn't react. âJames, I'm serious you're not my babysitter what's the point of dragging me in hereâ your words are hissed out
âI did you a favor, trust meâ is all he says as he turns around finally making eye contact with you. If you weren't so mad you would have noticed that he looked a little guilty. âwhat's that supposed to mean?â you try asking while james makes his way to sit next to you on your bed exhaling loudly. A moment passes before james finally replies âlisten I know that guy okay? he's one of our friends. one of your brother's friends. He shouldn't be messing with youâ You don't know what comes over you but the weight of his words hits you hard. Before you can stop yourself your eyes are watering and you let out a little whimper as you let out a large breath. This alarms james and his eyes are on you immediately. As soon as it registers to him that you're crying his hands are on your face. Thumbs wiping the tears before they can fall.
âhey hey what's wrong? i'm sorry i shouldn't have pulled you away so harshly i'm sorry okay?â he's immediately cueing softly to you. It was all too much. it was all too intimate. Something about the alcohol in your system and the way he had your face in his hands made you soft and your mouth began speaking before your brain could process.
âIs that how you see me? am i really only ever gonna be your best friend's sister to you?â
james immediately stiles at your words.
it's clear something in the air has shifted with your implied confession. You finally pointed out something that has been lingering in the air for years. Something that was never meant to be addressed and now it was all out in the open.Â
james began to take his hands off your face but you grabbed them before they could go far. The silence drags as all you guys can do is look in each other's eyes. james is the one who looks away first as he closes his eyes and starts to shake his head clearly going through his own mental battle.
then he finally speaksÂ
ây/n⊠you know i care about you. i doâ you wait for him to say something more. anything more.
The pause he makes gives you too much time to think. For a split second you let yourself wonder
did he feel it too?
No. He's obviously trying to find a way to let you down easily. but you decide if you're gonna go, you might as well get it all off your chest. If he's gonna hate you after this, at least you can say you let it all out.
âjames look- I know you're loyal to my brother but just let me say this.â you take a second to take a long breath. preparing yourself âIt's always been you james. always. and trust me i know you don't think of me like that-âÂ
And suddenly his lips are on yours. It happens so quickly you don't react at first. All at once he's got a hand on your hip and a hand behind your head. That's when you sink in. Lips connect with a gentle force and your body is immediately on fire. It's quick but deep and then he's pulling away. His forehead resting on yours and his breath still brushing your lips.Â
âYour wrong yn, i've thought so much about this- about youâÂ
How can he even think of following those stupid unspoken rules when youâre sitting right in front of him, looking up at him like heâs the only person youâve ever seen?
âi've thought about you since 6th grade when you fell off your brothers skateboard and i had to put that hello kitty band-aid on your kneeâÂ
a smile instantly blooms on your face at his confession and james face lights up seeing you happy.
âThere's that smileâ james says, placing a gentle kiss on the side of your mouth. Hands now cupping your face. Your hands move to rest over his and you both let out a relieved laugh. Â
And you might not know how this is gonna play out tomorrow or what's gonna happen next. But you do know that here you are sitting in front of the boy who has had your heart since 5th grade. The weight of the years you spent waiting seems to lift. Replaced by the simple, grounding pressure of his hands on your face. You might not know what's gonna happen next, but for the first time in a long time, you aren't afraid of the answer.
author's note hi guys!!! My first ever fic so pls be nice :â) I'm very new and still figuring everything out but I'm open to some constructive criticism if you have any and I would love to hear from you guys if you're reading this! Okay thats it see you guys soon >.<
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