your laughter, his memory
warning: nothing
pairing: dean di laurentis x fem!reader
summary: Running into Dean Di Laurentis again wasn't part of the plan. Neither was finding out he remembered you.
author's note: english is not my firts language so please excuse any mistake! now enjoy your reading <3
part i
For the rest of the party you were completely out of it. You looked like a zombie, you were so absent-minded. But you couldn't escape your own thoughts when so many things were swirling around in your head.
You were grateful he hadn't recognized you; you didn't want to face everything so suddenly. On the other hand, it broke your heart to know that the future father of your baby didn't remember you.
Damn, it would be difficult with him being part of the same group of friends.
"I know I made you come here, but there's no need for that grumpy face," Allie whispered, pacing back and forth to avoid standing still.
You just smiled and took a sip of water.
"Okay, tell me what's wrong"
"Besides the fact that I'm pregnant? Oh, nothing, I'm great."
Two girls who were walking past you gave you a strange look before continuing on their way.
"Oh my god, do you think they listen to me?." You said and drank more water.
Allie rolled her eyes at your nervousness.
"First, we don't even know those girls, second, don't go crazy"
Allie placed your glass on a table near you before taking your hand and pulling you into a small, empty, secluded room.
It was already routine for that girl to take you everywhere.
The room was small, not big enough to store things, and barely enough for the two of you and a few clothes hanging on the wall to fit.
"Look, maybe I've realized now that bringing you to a party wasn't my best idea, but I know there's something else on your mind because until a few minutes ago you didn't seem so worried."
You'd never heard your friend so serious, but it gave you a sense of security to see her so focused on you.
"Allie, if I tell you this, you'd better not scream."
"No yelling," she said, making a gesture of closing her mouth like a zipper. "I promise."
You inspected her face looking for something you clearly didn't find.
You took a breath and placed a hand on your forehead as if it were a support before dropping the bomb.
"The father of my baby is Dean"
Allie's eyes opened wide, and her jaw almost hit the floor.
"Are you referring to Dean di Laurentis? The same hockey player from Briar? The one who's out there like thirty paces away from us?"
"Do you know another Dean di Laurentis, Allie?"
"Okay, no, sorry, I'm not helping, but what? How is this possible?"
"Well, Allie, when two people feel mutual attraction for each other... "
"You know what I mean, it's just... wow, I just... I don't even know what to say"
"You should probably tell me something like, 'You're a loser who ended up pregnant by a stranger who doesn't even remember her.'"
"You're not a failure, honey, what you're going through could have happened to anyone." Allie took your hand from your forehead and squeezed it between hers. "Don't be so hard on yourself, okay?"
You closed your eyes for a second and let her words calm you down a little.
"Thank you, Allie"
"Now...are you going to tell him?"
"I was going to, but he didn't even recognize me when he saw me. And I'm... so scared, Allie. I don't know if I can do this, really. I want to tell him, but I don't know how he'll react.
"Listen... I know Dean. He might seem like a wrecking ball, and he's terrifying when he's on the ice, but he's a good person. And from everything you told me about the summer, you seem to know that well." allie step closer to you. "I know you're scared, and that's okay and normal because this isn't just any old thing you're dealing with. But you'll have to tell him sooner or later."
"I know, I will. It's just that I'll do it when I've fully processed it too."
"That's my girl," she said, and with a smile opened the door. "Now, let's enjoy what's left of this evening. Soon we'll be changing diapers and making feeding bottles instead of drinks."
“Wow, you really know how to cheer people up.”
“Cheering is my middle name.”
You and Allie carried on as if nothing was wrong.
On one hand, you tried to avoid Dean like your life depended on it, on the other, you seemed to be looking for him every second that passed.
But you hid it well. If he was nearby, you looked away, until your body reacted when he walked by. If he spoke while you were both in the circle with the group, you ignored him, until he said a word similar to your name and you couldn't help but make a small jump. If he mentioned something he had done over the summer, you played dumb, until you realized you kept drinking to keep your mouth busy and not say anything.
Well, maybe you weren't handling it as well as you thought.
Hannah gave you a strange look when she noticed you kept touching your hair and tucking it behind your ear. Your friend knew you well enough to know that it was a normal thing you do when you were nervous.
Allie, Hannah, and you looked at each other.
Allie raised an eyebrow as if to ask, “Can I?” and you nodded, not having the willpower to drop the bombshell on your own again. Allie, who was standing next to Hannah, leaned in and whispered something in her ear. It took two seconds for Hannah’s face to transform into a mixture of complete horror and confusion. She glanced at Dean, who was on the other side of the kitchen, then at you, then back at Dean again, before finally settling on your face and freezing.
“Okay, I really wasn’t expecting this,” the redhead said when she found the words.
“Me neither,” Allie chimed in.
“Well, trust me, I didn’t plan this at all. I’m just as stunned as you are.”
“And why are you stunned, ladies?” Garrett asked, appearing out of nowhere.
He had one arm around Hannah’s shoulders and the other in his pants pocket.
“Um, it’s just that…” his girlfriend tried to explain.
“I’m stunned because I drank like 30 glasses of water and I still haven’t gone to the bathroom,” you said, almost slapping yourself. “And you know what? I think I have to go now, so… excuse me.”
You squeezed past the three of them and headed upstairs, looking for an easy way out of the situation. You got in line for the bathroom; the 30 glasses weren’t a lie. Upstairs, the music was quieter, cooler, and you could breathe without the smell of alcohol clogging your nostrils. You leaned against the railing overlooking the stairs and waited with two other girls in front of you. You let your head fall back, closing your eyes and inhaling deeply.
“Rough night?” they asked from behind you.
It had to be a joke.
You squeezed your eyes shut before turning to the blond guy who seemed to be your new curse.
“Just a little tired, let’s just say I was dragged here,” you managed to say without stuttering.
"Well, for me it was the opposite, I was the one who dragged the guys here", said Dean, and you almost melt at his perfect-toothed smile.
You were sure it had shone.
But you wanted the earth to swallow you up, just like you did with the news he had a right to know.
You didn't know whether to laugh at his comment, add something else, or leave the conversation there.
Dean titled his head slightly.
"So... " he said eventually, the corner of his mouth lifting into a crooked smile. "Have you survived your first week at Briar?"
he looked completely at ease, as if talking to strangers came as naturally as breathing.
You hated that.
Or maybe you hated how easy it made it for you to answer him.
You let out a breath through your nose.
"It's been... a week."
You tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear, mostly to keep your hands busy.
If you looked nervous enough, maybe he'd assume it was because you were new.
He laughed quielty.
"That bad?"
You wouldn't imagine Dean
"I've gotten lost at least six times."
You said instead
"Only six?" he raised an eyebrown. "You're doing it better than i did."
He laugh was quieter this time
Warm.
Familiar.
And you wished it wasn't.
You looked at him, unconvinced.
"You?"
"Oh, absolutely." He nodded with fake confidence. "Second day on campus I walked into the women's locker room."
You narrowed your eyes, trying to decide wether he was joking or simply impossible to read.
Considering everything you new about him, which wasn't much, you chose both.
You blinked.
"No, you didn't."
"I did."
"You're lying."
He placed a hand over his chest in mock offense.
"I can't believe you'd accuse me of something like that."
"You have the face if someone who lies for fun."
Dean stared at you for a second before a grin slowly spread across his face.
"...Okay, maybe a little."
A laugh escaped you befoire you could stop it.
For first time this night, your shoulders relaxed.
Just for a second.
His expression softened almost instantly.
"There it is."
Your smile faltered.
"What?"
"That laugh."
Your smile lingered for barely a second before reality settled back over your shoulders.
Dean tilted his head slightly, studying you with an amused expression.
"I've been trying to get that out since we started talking."
Why?
Why would he care whether you laughed?
To him, you were supposed to be a stranger.
But now he was looking at you as if every smile, every little expression, mattered.
dean leaned one shoulder against the wall, his fingers absentmindedly spinning the cap of his beer bottle.
"You know..." he said, his eyes drifting over your face for a brief moment. "I wasn't sure it was you."
Your smile disappeared.
"...Me?"
He nodded once.
"From the summer."
Your pulse came to a screeching halt.
For a split second, all you cold hear was the music doenstairs and the blood rushing in your ears.
He remembered.
He actually remembered.
You had spent weeks convincing yourself that you had been nothing more than another girl. Another party. Another summer night he'd probably forgotten before the sun came up.
Apparently, you had been wrong.
Dean scratched the back of his neck, almost sheepish.
"I kept thinking, 'There's no way that's her... then you laughed." His gaze met yours once more.
Something inside your chest tightened painfully. It wasn't just that he remembered your face. He recognized your laugh, just as you remembered his jokes, the softness of his touch, and the calluses that roughened his fingertips.
The realization made your throat go dry.
"I..." you sallowed, forcing yourself to look away. "I didn't think you'd recognized me."
He frowned, like the idea of that surprised him.
"Why would't I?"
Because that's what people like you do.
Because it was just one night.
Because you left without asking for my last name.
The words piled up behind your teeth, but none of them came out.
Instead, you gave him a small shrug.
"I don't know."
Dean studied you another second. There was something in his face that you couldn't quite place.
Something between curiosity, confusion or even relief.
"I looked for you, actuallt."
"You did?"
"I went back the next day."
His smile turned almost apologetic.
"But, well, you were already gone."
The floor suddenly felt unsteady beneath your feet.
You had thought about going back too, more than once. But life had gotten in the way bfore you'd even had the chance.
Neither of you said anything. The silence wasn't umcomfortable but heavy, maybe too heavy.
Your phone vibrated inside your pocket.
The sudden sound made you jump.
Relief wshed over you so quickly you almost laughed.
Saved.
You pulled your phone out with slightly trembling hands.
Allie: Where the hell are youuu?'? Hannah and I lost you.
Perfect.
You slipped the phone back and looked at Dean.
"I should probably go."
His smile returned, softer this time.
"Your friends?"
You nodded and gifted his a smile like his.
"They're probably wondering if I got kidnapped."
He chuckled.
"Well... I'm glad I found you before they did."
Your heart almost squeezed.
Almost.
This time your smile didn't quite reach your eyes.
"It was nice seeing you again."
"The same goes for you... um, I'll see you around." he said.
You turned, ready to head back to the party. But then he called your name before you'd taken a step. You looked over your shoulder.
Dean shited his weight, absentmindedly rubbing the back of his neck.
"This might sound a little random.."
He let out a small breath, almost laughing at himself.
"Would it be weird if I asked for your number?"
"My number"
Shut up you butterflies, you thought when you felt that familair snese in your stomach.
"Yeah." He shrugged, trying to sound casual. "I mean... you live with Allie and Hannah now, right?"
You nodded slowly.
"We're all probably poing to end up hanging out sooner or later." His eyes never left yours. "It'd be easier than making them play messenger every time."
He made it sound practical burt the slight pink tint creeping up his neck betrayed him.
He was nervous
You couldn't remember the last time that someone had asked your number with that much genuine hestitation.
"Sure" Youy heard yourself saying.
His face brightened instantly.
"Really?"
"Really."
You took his phone when he held it to you. Your finger brushed for the briefest second. It was barely a touch. Yet it was enough to bring back flashes of warm summer nights, salt in the air, and hands that had once held yours for reassons entirely different.
You quickly typed your number before handing the phone back. Dean looked down at the screen, the corner of his lips curled upward.
"Guess I won't have to rely on Aliie after all."
"Guess not."
"I'll text you." He said, looking at you again after he put his phone away.
Your heart skipped.
"Okay."
On this occasion, when you turned to leave, neither of you stopped the other.
You didn't dare tell him, not yet. You knew that eventually you'd have to drop the bomb, but you weren't ready yet.
me partí la espalda escribiendo esto y ni siquiera me gustó, pero era eso o actualizar la historia en 2035 perdón x tardar tanto <3
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