You realized a you sipped on your 2nd dirty Shirley. Your best friend, who at this point seemed everyones but yours, has left you by the bar to mingle with guests. To her they were old friends and to you they were faces you have only heard of or seen on screen. It wouldn’t have been a problem if it was a family gathering (which you thought it was up until about 15 minutes before the two of you left her house), since her family was practically your family, but it turned out to be a bit… more.
Noah, your best friend, was always ambitious. You suppose that stemmed from her family. Her mother was an artist, she owned multiple galleries and was well known in the Artist community. Her father was a chef. In fact, the party was thrown to celebrate him opening his own restaurant in L.A.
You were more than happy to celebrate with Noah and her family, in fact you were ecstatic! But now you wren drowning yourself in the low lights and the loud music playing, and of course the free alcohol.
The whole place was bustling with conversations and laughter. You enjoyed people watching, seeing the stars themselves act like fools from too many drinks, or gossip about people you did not know but now took great interest in. Because who knew that Phill from work was not reliable? Now you know.
You silently cursed Noah for being a social butterfly and kept swirling the straw in your cup. You weren’t a big drinker, so you weren’t sure why you even ordered a second glass. Your next victim would have been the bartender, who seemed to be the only person in the whole place willing to talk to you, even though he was probably hoping you were some nepo baby and would leave a huge tip. Big mistake Jeremy.
Jeremy was saved just as you stuck your straw straight through the cherry at the bottom of your glass. Someone came up to you, not just in the seat next to you, but right next to you. You would not have noticed if not for their looming shadow. You slowly looked up, trying to fix your posture that won’t look like one jerky movement. You meet the warmest and kindest blue eyes, that held a bit of an anxious edge to them. A little surprised at seeing none other than Lewis Pullman you glanced at the bartender who’s eyes lit up with dollar signs. There you go Jeremy, you manifested yourself a nepo baby. But when you looked back up at Lewis, he was still looking down at you with a shy smile.
You froze a little, not letting go of your straw but barely holding on to it, almost like you forgot you were murdering the cherry a moment ago. You were snapped out of your slight daze by a “uh… hi.” Then his smile grew a little as you said hi back. It was a boy-ish type of smile, though Lewis was in his early 30’s. You noticed his hair, which curled a little but was slicked back. Lewis picked up on the way you studied him and quickly ran a hand through his hair, well you suppose that is where the hairstyle comes from. You knew a couple of his movies, heard about him from TikTok as “the white boy of the month,” giggled at a couple of edits, and ultimately moved on. You had no time to gush over men. Being a 20 something year old in L.A. is a lot of work, okay?
“What are you drinking?” Lewis points at your red glass.
“Oh, a dirty Shirley.” This wasn’t a sophisticated woman drink and you knew it. As much as you wanted to match your Pinterest board, you could not force down some disgusting drink just because the old ladies who always had a wild story to tell drank those. One day, maybe when you collect enough stories, the knowledge of how to down liquor like its juice will come to you. But now you can only look up to those old ladies. Snap out of it, you were in the middle of a conversation. To fill the silence you lifted the glass, “do you want a sip?”
What.
Do. You. Want. A. SIP?
You were deadly afraid of catching some weird disease off of someones mouth, that is why your first kiss happened literally a year ago. Lewis looked a bit surprised, and you mirrored his expression because you have never let anyone put their mouth on your drink. Not even Noah. But you can not back down now, not when you were already lifting the glass a little more towards him.
With a hesitant hand, Lewis plucked the cup from you, your manicured fingers brushing softly against his slightly calloused ones, before he brought the cup to his lips. Eyes on yours that felt for a bit too long before he finally took the sip and set the cup down. “So,” he wiped his mouth with his thumb, which brought your attention to his lips for a second before you mentally scolded yourself and looked back up into his eyes. Looking at any part of him seemed dangerous, he was handsome quite literally everywhere. “Who do you know here?” And that smile was back.
“My best friends dad actually opened this place,” you moved the cup back towards you, to have something to fidget with and not look insane. In return his eyes widened, along with his smile, and he let a little chuckle slip. It was a surprised sort of chuckle, but so deep and smooth you felt it run through your veins for a short second.
“Your best friends dad, huh? That’s…” his jaw worked slightly before he murmured “quite the age gap.” Before you could question it, he was talking again. Not that you would complain, you found that his voice is a melody you could use for an alarm and not be irritated in the mornings. “So you’re here with your friend.. where is she?” You wish she would wear a bell on her sometimes, but that was hopeless, Noah would lose that as well. You simply shook your head, which earned you another chuckle. Apparently you were on fire tonight, even your nonverbal actions caused laughter.
You flushed slightly and turned back towards your cup. You hated small talk, you hated getting to know new people, and most of all you hated being left alone to socialize. Lewis, being an awkward guy himself, watched you for a second, biting his lip in contemplation. “Listen I-“ he took a moment as you looked up at him again, feeling suddenly too perceived by him, and all of the sudden Noah’s dress, which you borrowed last second, was too tight, and your leg was bouncing too much, and you were not even sure if your makeup still looked fine. Another nervous chuckle and a hair combing motion with his hand later, he continued “I never asked for your name.”
Blinking up at him for a second or two, just admiring him in the low lights, you finally spoke, your own name sounding a bit strange on your tongue. Was your name cool? Was it the type of name he would remember? You mentally shook yourself out of this self-doubting mentality and spoke just slightly over the music “you’re Lewis, right?”
He seamed a bit surprised but pleased that you knew his name. Like this actor that is gaining popularity was genuinely unsure if you knew him.
He proposed he would buy you another drink after he noticed you would not drink out of the cup he touched, and you slowly began opening up to each other. He stood as close as before, seemingly unbothered as he kept the conversation going. Maybe it was the rising alcohol level, though your cup was still more than halfway full, or the fact that he was actually sweet and funny that made you cling to his every word and glance. He made you want to tell him all of your secrets only so he would stay for a little longer. But you did not need to, he stayed on his own accord. Kept asking, kept talking, kept paying you so much attention it felt as if it were only two of you at the whole opening.
Before you knew it, you were giggling, truly entertained by his stories of behind the scenes, or when he first started playing drums. In return you would share some of your stories from when you began partying with Noah and your University experience, along with some random rambles. He could have swore your irises were star shaped as you gazed up at him, all wide eyes and petty flushed cheeks, but you snapped out of it by a delicate hand on your shoulder.
You memorized the pressure of that hand since you were 12, Noah was behind you. Grinning like she did not leave you alone for longer than two hours. Her sweet smile and slurred words struck you with the most horrible realization, she’s drunk. And drunk Noah was a menace. You saw a flash of every embarrassing thing you have ever done or said, you could basically hear Noah exposing you with her charming storytelling that would make it seem almost like a compliment. That’s how she made a lot of people feel in her life, as if her simply calling their name was a privilege. As if her gaze on them was as warm as a thousand suns.
While you and Lewis weren’t talking about anything serious, you still flushed. You were caught with a boy. A man. You two were just talking, right? Why does it matter? But you knew Noahs tendency to point things out, and you could almost see the realization loading in he alcohol induced brain. You gently steadied Noah as she began babbling about some guy and his very funny story she simply could not help but tell. You threw Lewis a ‘I’m so sorry’ glance and began to stand up, ready to leave the function.
“It was great meeting you,” you smiled. Genuinely. Not one of those fake smiles you give a barista after they tell you the outrageous price of your coffee. And maybe that was the final straw that broke Lewis because he reached out, gently stopping you with a hand on your waist.
“I was… hoping I could get your number?” And there you go. Flushing more. With a slightly trembling left hand you wrote messily on a half wet napkin that was under you cup, Noah still hanging off you right arm like a little monkey. With a small chuckle you handed him the napkin.
“I really have to go,” you apologized again and quickly made your way out. Lewis waved goodbye with an unsure hand and stared down at the napkin. The numbers were… more like Egyptian inscriptions and the damp napkin that looked like it would tear if you stared at it too hard did nothing to help.
But this was a battle Lewis was willing to fight for an awkward smile, a pretty laugh, big eyes, and a fascinating mind.
theres this one jeonghan x reader fic that i read like year ago that I'm looking for, where jh and reader are both actors. it is set in Paris. exes to lover. y/n is a doomed actress and jeonghan is very successful one. they meet in a museum and then jeonghan takes her on a date to the eiffel tower, where the press catches them. lots of slow burn and angst and heartbreak.
the story is so vividly engrossed in my head. I remember everything about it YET I cannot find that masterpiece. I read it like a year ago and have been searching for it since then because my ass forgot to reblog or like it. my greatest fear is that the author may have deleted it or is ia.
Synopsis: You get your period and Pedro comes home from all the touring.
Pairing: Pedro Pascal x Jewish!fem Reader (vague description. I mention her having curly hair)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: sexual innuendos, cursing, talk of menstruation
Word Count: 1,717
Note: This is super self indulgent cause I just want to cuddle this dork. Also this wasn’t beta’d and please let me know if any of the Spanish is incorrect.
------------------
I sighed and curled up on the bed as the next episode of Stargate started up. I didn’t have the energy to watch anything else and to be honest after getting the “I’m coming home” text from Pedro, I didn’t really want to put anything on that required my full attention.
I looked at my phone as it buzzed again. I picked up and read the text from my friend.
F/N: Did you watch the new episode of TLOU yet?
I sighed and turned my phone upside down. I had been working on keeping up with the series but had fallen behind when I met up with Pedro during his London premier red carpet.
And of course, the universe decided to laugh at me and bestow my period on me the moment I got home.
I groaned and curled up more as a wave of pain went through my back. PCOS can be a real bitch.
“Baby? I’m home.” When I hear Pedro yell, I realize I should have just put the Mandalorian on just to fall asleep to the sound of his voice. Or the video of interviews I had saved on YouTube.
“Bedroom.” I yelled out. I sat up and ran my fingers through my hair hoping to tame some of the curls.
When he stepped into the doorway, I couldn’t help holding my arms out and making grabby hands towards him. It may have only been a few days since we saw each other last but I always got needy while on my period. He chuckled softly and walked over climbing into the bed next to me before pulling me into his lap.
“What’s wrong with my sweet girl?” he asked as I nuzzled into his chest.
“My period started yesterday.” I mumbled as I felt strands of my hair get caught in the stubble of his beard.
He hummed and gently messaged my lower back. I whimpered before sighing as the pain passed. He kissed my temple and nuzzled his nose against my cheek making me giggle. “What can I do to make you feel better?”
I turned my face to nuzzle my nose against his. “You’re already doing it,” I wrapped my arms around his neck.
He held me close and fell back making me giggle.
“I’ve missed that giggle.” He mused nuzzling his nose into my hair. “I’ve also missed this bed.”
“Well, that’s what happens when you have two shows premier less than a month apart and have an SNL guest appearance and decide to meet up with all your friends while traveling.” I looked up at him.
He sighed, “The price of fame.”
“I saw your Graham Norton interview; I know you are enjoying the attention.” I smirked at him.
He pouted, “Okay, maybe a little.” Pedro rolled us so he was hovering over me, caging my body between his legs. “Doesn’t mean I don’t miss you or our bed.” He moved my hair back.
“I did enjoy watching you break character... twice while watching SNL.” I grinned. “Oscar even called me the next day to ask about my thoughts.”
Pedro dropped his head on my shoulder. “Of course, he did.”
I cleared my throat and let my tongue settle on the bottom of my mouth. “Ya know,” he peeked at me as I mimicked the LA voice. “That LA voice, was the best.” I moved my jaw. “God how did you do that for that long.” I said in my normal voice.
He laughed and kissed my cheek. “Eleven months on the set of The Last of Us gave me great practice.”
I hummed and pushed his hair back. “Yes, and I now get to have nightmares because my friends convinced me to start watching it.”
He hummed, “My poor bebe.” He kissed the tip of my nose.
I wrinkled it up and squirmed a little. “At least you make good eye candy.”
He smirked, “Is that so?”
I hummed, nodding my head. “Tumblr is all about Joel right now.”
“Anything good?” He asked settling next to me and gently messaging my stomach.
I bit my tongue to keep from moaning when he pressed on a specific spot. “Um a lot of smut.” He laughed at that and shook his head. “One account had polls of your characters of ‘who does it better’ and many are Joel vs. Frankie.” I whimpered and squirmed as he pressed down on another sensitive spot.
“Anything of interest to you?” he asked, letting his finger lazily trace the band of my panties.
I knew his hand wouldn’t go further; he was simply trying to distract me. We both learned quick that sex on my period was a very bad idea. In any form.
I hummed, “I’ve actually been reading a mix of your other characters. Joel just gives my brain too much horror.” I thought, “Some people have even written about your SNL characters which is quite interesting to read.”
He chuckled. “Of course, why am I not surprised.” He kissed my temple before shifting me to my side with him tucked behind me. “I’m gonna guess you didn’t sleep well last night.”
“José,” I looked up at him. “Are you giving me permission to take a nap while you spoon me?”
He rolled his eyes. “Only person outside my family that even uses that name on me anymore.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
He reached over me and grabbed the remote. “I’m going to watch my dumb shows while you nap against me, yes.”
I hummed and wiggled into him. He grunted making me smirk before I settled against my pillow, feeling comfortable for the first time in the last 24 hours.
----------
I slowly woke to the smell of beef cooking. I sat up and stretched ignoring the cramping in my lower back. I climbed out of bed and walked towards the kitchen.
The sight I found was one I didn’t see often. I could hear Spanish music coming from the stereo and Pedro moving to the beat while cooking. He didn’t always cook but when he did it usually stemmed from a form of homesickness, he couldn’t place.
I walked over and wrapped my arms around his waist. “What’s cookin’ good lookin’?”
He chuckled and looked at me over his shoulder. The upside to being only a few inches shorter than he was. “Cazuela, though taking your advice I cooked the beef before adding it to the stew.”
“That US versus Chile snacks got to you huh?” I’d watched the interview and having been dating Pedro for a few years now, I have tried each item that was set before him.
He shrugged and went back to cutting up the corn on the cob to make it more manageable. “You just make all these great meals from your childhood.”
I moved to lean on the counter next to him. “Pedro, I’m Jewish. My people learned to carry our recipes with us wherever we ended up.” I nudged his hip with my own. “If you want, I could message Javiera and see if she has any Balmaceda family recipes.”
He gave me a soft smile. “I would actually like that.”
I stood on my tip toes and kissed his cheek. “You do so much for me. From not eating bread around me during Passover to making sure I keep to my fast on Yom Kippur. The least I can do is learn some family recipes to make you feel as happy as you make me feel.” I stroked my thumb against the V tattoo on his wrist.
He kissed my head before scrapping the corn into the pot next to him. He set the knife and cutting board down before grabbing my hand and pulling me to him and swaying us. “It may just be my age catching up with me, but I’ve been craving the meals I had as a kid more and more.”
I wrapped my arms around his next as we swayed. “José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal, there’s nothing wrong with a little nostalgia.”
He groaned, “I love when you say my whole name.” He dropped his head to my shoulder and rested his hands above my ass. I rolled my eyes. “Makes me tingle all over.”
I lightly shoved him away. “Such a weirdo.” I smiled as he gasped and laid his hands over his heart.
“I’ve been wounded mi amor.” He leaned against the counter.
“Aww poor baby.” I pouted at him.
He glared at me, “Alright Dinah Rachel--” I quickly covered his mouth.
“Okay, okay. No need to pull my Hebrew name into this.” I sighed. “You’re getting better.”
I moved my hands from his mouth. “Well, I did work with Gal, picked up a few things.”
I tilted my head at him. “You started learning to pronounce Hebrew when we were just starting out?” I felt my pulse pick up.
A light dust took over his cheeks and he rubbed the back of his neck. “It was important to you, and I know Spanish is much easier.”
I bit my lower lip to keep from crying. “That-” I sniffled.
“Oh no,” he quickly moved and hugged me close to him. “I’m so sorry baby.”
I nuzzled his chest and gripped the back of his shirt. “That’s so sweet.” I whimpered out.
He rubbed my back. “Aw baby.”
I looked up at him. “You really are the best.”
He smiled and I stood on my toes pressing my lips against his. He hummed kissing me back and gripped my waist. I wrapped my arms around his neck letting my fingers tangle into his curls.
His tongue brushed against my lower lip and as we began to explore each other’s mouths, a sizzling sound pulled us apart. We looked over at the stove to see the broth for the soup overflowing.
“Shit,” he reached over and turned the burner down. He shook his head and grabbed two bowls from the cabinet. “Let’s eat and then we can continue.”
I hummed and grabbed the spoons as Pedro filled the bowls. “I like the sound of that.”
He smiled and we walked over to the couch before settling in.
It was going to be nice having him home, even if only for a few weeks before his next project.
Note: I picture Piper's music voice and style as Emlyn. I DO NOT OWN HER MUSIC OR ANYTHING!
Chapter 1: Dublin
Piper Frost pushed through the crowd of people to try and get into the building. Cameras were flashing and reporters called out her name.
"Miss. Frost! Miss. Frost! How do you feel about the rumors circling you and Henry Cavill?"
"We are friends!" Piper yelled back just as she finally got into the building. She sighed with a small chuckle. Of course, people thought she and Henry were a couple. One music video and BOOM in love. As if. Piper stretched her arms above her head with a groan.
Piper becoming a Popstar was a true accident. She was just singing Christmas music for some extra cash when the one and only Billie Eilish sat down next to her and joined in. Billie took Piper to meet Halsey and many more later on. It seemed like overnight she became famous. A few awards later and here she was.
She was in Dublin for a concert for the next few days.
"You and Henry?" Irene West laughed. Irene was Piper's manager, "I've heard weirder rumors."
Piper rolled her eyes, "Henry and I would never happen. He is sweet though."
"You two are fuck buddies, don't lie!" Irene whispered. Piper shrugged. That was true. Henry wanted them to be more but Piper thought her young years since she was only twenty-three, was for fun and music. Henry was. . . great in bed to say the least.
Piper pulled out her phone and sent him a quick message:
What are you doing? Any plans this weekend?
Piper smiled wickedly at Irene who rolled her eyes, "Okay Miss. Popstar. Come on. Your room is ready and we have to go over all of the stage directions for tomorrow night with your dancers!"
It was late and Piper couldn't sleep. She looked to her left to see Henry sleeping. Piper threw on some sweats and a hoodie before grabbing her wallet. She slipped down the hall to the elevators. Her back to the wall, she pressed the first button.
As soon as the doors opened, a large Shepard dog barreled into her legs.
"Oh fuck! Koda! I'm so sorry. I got him to excited!" A thick Irish accent made her head whip up. She was met with ocean blue eyes, "Well then. Miss. Piper Frost in the flesh."
Barry Keoghan stood before her, a crooked smirk on his lips.
"I guess this marvelous beast is yours?" She asked.
"Yeah. Koda, that's not how we treat a lady!" Barry scolded lightly. Koda immediately went to his master's side. His blue eyes met hers again, "I heard you have a concert here this weekend."
Piper nodded, her heartbeat in her ears, "Yeah, you and Alyson want to go?"
"You know Alyson?" Barry asked.
"In passing, yes."
"We broke up a bit ago, so no."
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Piper knew how breaks up were. She fished through her wallet, "Here." She handed him four VIP tickets to her concert, "Having fun always helped me get over someone."
Hello and good afternoon everybody! So this is a request that I have had done for the past couple of days but I’ve been on a deadline with another request that I’m trying to get done before their bday tomorrow (I’m about half way done with it) but this one is probably my first ever Hemsworth story I had ever done (So I’ve done half of the Chris quartet). Now my knowledge of Disneyland is minimal to none cause I’ve never been to Cally so the only Disney experience I’ve had is Disneyworld down in Florida, but I hope I still did some justice for this fic.
No warnings except PURE, UNADULTERATED, TEETH-ROTTING G RATED FLUFF!!!
I was packing up the car getting ready to prepare for the 2 and a half hour drive to downtown LA so that the kids and I could go to Disneyland. My name is (y/n) (l/n) and I’ve been a single mom for three years. My ex-husband and I were having some problems, constantly fighting until finally one stupid mistake on his part landed him in the LA prison.
Furious and disappointed, I filed for divorce because I didn’t want his bad influence to affect our children and it was hard on us, especially my eldest son Dean. He and his daddy were close ever since he was born, but when I was forced to tell him that his daddy wasn’t ever gonna get out of prison, it was hard for him to cope.
It was tough raising not only 2 growing boys but a newborn baby girl at the same time. My little girl, Leia will never get to know her father because of his stupidity and I don’t want to expose her to him. At first I thought I’d never get to have the father figure my kids needed because it was just me and my sister and my mom who was helping me raise my kids, my dad sadly passed away due to a stroke shortly after my second son Henry was born.
That was until by sheer luck of fate as I was coming home from the store when I accidentally dropped all my well-paid food, that a handsome blonde stranger came into my life.
I had no idea at the time who he was until Dean (whose obsessed with all things superheroes both Marvel and DC) that when we saw the second Avengers movie Age of Ultron, it was shocked to see that it was him. Chris Hemsworth.
We kept in contact and whenever he wasn’t too busy, he’d come over for a visit and we’d have a couple of dinners. Soon couple dinners turned into months’ worth of dinners, then starting a relationship until just recently about a year ago he moved in with me and the kids. Right now he was busy filming “Avengers: End Game” down in his homeland of Australia.
One night as we were all facetiming with each other, Chris had given us a surprise. He said that he and the entire cast would be in Disneyland to help promote the film and not only that, he got all four of us tickets to go throughout the park and spend an entire day at Disneyland. The kids were so excited that they were finally gonna go to Disneyland, especially my little girl since she’s finally big enough to ride some of the rides.
Which leads us to here. As I was putting the bags into the car I said.
“Dean, don’t forget to bring your chargers okay?”
“Yeah mom.”
“Leia, do you got your Simba plushie with you?”
“Right here mommy.” She exclaimed as she held out her stuffed Simba plushie that Chris had given her last Christmas.
“Henry you’ve got your lightsaber right?”
“Yeah, do you think I could really fly the Millennium Falcon?” he asked me.
“We’ll see. Okay Got the bags, toys, gaming consuls, DVD is all set up. Everyone got everything?” My kids all cheered out in choir unison. “So whose ready to go to Disneyland?” they all cheered and raised their hands and I continued, “Alright. Tickets are in my purse and off we go!” I started the car and started up the installed DVD player which played Leia’s and Henry’s favorite movie “Hercules”.
Thankfully with the help of a movie and Dean busy playing on his Nintendo, there wasn’t much complaining from the kids (which was perfect for me). Finally after the long drive, we finally reached the archway of the entrance into Disneyland.
“We’re here! We’re here! Look over there I can see Woody!” All my kids were in pure awe as we drove under the archway, I could just feel from the front seat the energy these kids were about to unleash. I was now waiting in line to pay for parking and when I had gotten up I greeted the worker and handed her my license and money.
But when she saw my picture she handed me not only my license but the cash back as well and she told me.
“No payment necessary ma’am, we’ve actually been told of a special reserve spot for you to go to.” At first I was confused but then it dawned on me.
“That Aussie I tell you what.”
“One of our workers will escort you to your special reserved spot.” It was then another worker came up and he asked if he could hop into the car so he could be my navigator. I allowed him in the passenger seat and he told me exactly where to go.
We drove around for about 5 minutes till we reached the reserved front corner entrance where standing there with sunglasses on was Chris. He grinned and waved to us and the kids waved back to him. I parked in the parking spot and as soon as I turned off the engine, all the kids raced out and glomped him.
“There are my favorite three little munchkins!” Chris proclaimed as he wrapped his arms around all three of my kids at the same time and even lifted them up and spun them around, making them laugh and cheer.
“And what about me? Am I just the cabbie driver? Or just some old maid here to serve your favorite three munchkins?” I teased. Chris set my kids down and he said.
“On the contrary, you my lady are the beautiful good witch who protects and nurtures them. A witch that has put even a god like me under her spell.” He wrapped his arms around me, swaying me gently from side to side grinning down at me. I grinned up at his sweet talk before our lips joined together only to be disrupted when a choir of voices cried out.
“EWWW!!!!” We separated to see all three of my kids with a look of disgust on their faces.
“Ahh no it’s not gross. Be patient soon enough all of you will be doing this.” Said Chris.
“Over my dead body.” I mocked. “I want my babies to stay this young forever! Especially my little man.” I said as I walked up to my kids before hugging my eldest son close. I swarmed his face with kisses and ruffled his ‘lion mane’ like hair that he inherited from his father.
“Mom! Mom, you’re messing with my mane!” Dean cried out as he tried to get out of my embrace. When I finally released him he backed away and tried to readjust his hair to that sweep-over hair that looked like it belonged back in the 1980’s.
“I need to plan an appointment to get your haircut mister.”
“No!” he then raced over to Chris and hid behind him.
“No worries mate, I won’t let any barber cut this hair of yours.” Chris said as he stroked my son’s hair.
“Coming from the very man whose worn the same long blonde wig for years.”
“Hey the last few movies I didn’t have to wear one. But this meeting isn’t about haircuts, now whose ready for a full fun day at Disneyland?!” The kids all raised their hands crying out ‘me! Me! Me! Me!’ “Awesome, already got our tickets, so let’s go out there and have a full day of family fun!” We all cheered before racing onward into the park.
There were so many rides that it was almost impossible to pick just one. However my daughter who has always favored the merry-go-round no matter whether it was a state fair, amusement park or whatever, anytime she saw a Merry go round she wanted to go on it.
So as a nice little warmup, we all got in line for the merry-go-round. We waited for I don’t know 5-10minutes in line before they let the next several people to go aboard. My sons went straight for the two twin black horses while my baby girl went for a white stallion with a pink saddle on it. As I was about to get on my horse, Chris came up and he said.
“Allow me my lady.”
“Why thank you good sir knight.” I mocked in probably the worst British accent I could muster. I felt his hands go to my waist and he gently hoisted me up and I ended up rising side-saddle but then what I didn’t expect was for Chris to get right behind me. “Uhh Chris, I don’t think we’re allowed to do this.”
“Relax love, it’ll be okay.” He assured me. The bell soon sounded off and soon an accordion version of ‘A dream is a wish’ started plaything through the speakers and the ride began.
All around us, kids were cheering and waving to their parents who were standing along the railings watching their kids ride all by themselves, young couples riding side by side holding hands or riding in the sleighs nonchalantly kissing each other.
I felt Chris take my hands in his and I felt his head gently lean against mine and a kiss at my temple. I smiled and nuzzled against him as the ride continued to go on.
After the ride we continued to walk around the park riding more rides like the Mad Hatter’s teacup ride, and Toy Story Mania that was until we finally reached the famous Splash Mountain.
“Ohh mom look! Splash Mountain!” Henry proclaimed as he was now riding on top of Chris’ shoulders.
“I see it Henry.”
“Can we go on that next, please?”
“I guess we can, but I’m not sure if everyone’s tall enough to ride it.” I teased as I looked down at my daughter who was holding my hand.
“Yes I am mama! We measured me last month! I’m big enough.” She said as she pulled on my hand.
“Ohh that’s right, well let’s get a second opinion from the official park height measurements.” We all headed over to the line entrance of Splash Mountain and Leia immediately went up to the height chart. “Okay, now stand still baby girl.” She hummed happily as she could barely contain her excitement. “No cheating now.” I told her in my mom voice and that made her stand still.
In the end, she was eligible to ride Splash Mountain.
“Okay, everyone stick together now.” Leia cheered happily and her brothers high-fived or fist-bumped her and even Chris did a double fist bump with her as he cheered and picked her up.
“Alright that’s my girl! I told you were growing like a weed!”
“Okay everyone let’s get into the line before it gets too long.” We all got in line and we waited. After what felt like forever and the kids complaining about when the line would move faster, hanging off both mine and Chris’ hands and arms, we finally got closer to the ride. Since there were five of us we decided to divide up the group, I took Henry and Leia while Chris and Dean rode together, being the big boys that they were.
I got in the log first with the help of the ride attendant and I told Leia to get in first so that way she would be in the middle and Henry could ride up front. Once we were buckled in and the guy gave us the all clear and the worker at the controls gave a thumbs up and soon we were off.
We went along the trail before going up the first hill. Hearing the ticking of the controls as it took us up higher and higher before finally dropping us downward on the small uphill. We were all cheering and laughing as we allowed the current to push us faster than we did when we first went out.
We were now shrouded in darkness as we were now inside the mountain before we would go off the big hill that would take our picture.
“Is this the big drop yet?” asked Leia.
“Yeah Leia, and watch this, this time I’m gonna have both my hands up in the air!” proclaimed Henry.
“Just make sure you don’t unbuckle yourself Henry.” We soon saw the light at the end of the tunnel and I said as I hugged my daughter’s waist. “Here we go.” As soon as we went off the drop-off we all screamed before finally splashing down at the bottom, getting soaked with water. Both my kids were laughing and clapping. “So Leia, was it everything you thought it would be?”
“It was better mama! We went up and up and up till we went SHOOSH!!” I smiled down at her and I saw Henry was about to get out as soon as we saw the exit point.
“Hold on Henry, wait till we come to a complete stop.” Another worker soon placed their foot on our log and she said.
“Please watch your step as you exit the log, and we hope you have a good rest of your day at Disneyland. And don’t forget about our fireworks show tonight at 8pm in front of Cinderella’s castle.” She helped my kids out and I got out on my own with a bit of help from her. As we collected our stuff, we waited at the bottom of the exit point for Chris and Dean.
A few minutes later we saw them coming down (well Dean was more like racing down while Chris was the one walking).
“Did you boys have fun?”
“You bet we did, and how about you Princess? Was it exciting?” Chris asked as he scooped up my daughter and she laughed giddily.
“It was soo much fun, can we go on it again?”
“Maybe later, for now let’s go see our pictures.” He answered. We walked further down the trail till we reached the giftshop and went up to the picture booth and waited and that’s when I pointed out for Henry and Leia.
“Look there we are.” All three of our faces filled with screams or joy. Henry as promised had both of his hands in the air and his eyes were wide. Meanwhile I turned and saw Chris and Dean’s pictures. Chris had covered Dean’s eyes with his hands while his blue eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his sockets, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Shall we get a copy?” he asked.
“I don’t know…..”
“C’mon this is my treat.”
“Baby I don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage of your well-earned—”
“You’re not. This is me treating my lovely girl and her children on a day of fun.” He pecked my cheek before turning to the kids giving them the signal to back him up.
“Please mama, please!” They all ganged up against me giving me the puppy dog eyes, Chris included as he had all my kids in his arms looking right up at me.
“Ohh…..alright.” The kids cheered and then turned to Chris telling him what they wanted. In the end Dean got a keychain, Henry got a small picture frame and Leia got a small locket, and Chris got him and I a copy of a picture frame of our picture.
After a few more rides, we all began to get hungry so we found ourselves a nice little food court restaurant called “Mickey’s Italian shop”. As we ordered out food, like you would see on Youtube of the characters coming up to the guests just to hang out with the customers.
So we ended up having Mickey and Pluto coming over to our table. Pluto being my daughter’s favorite Disney dog was thrilled and gave him a big hug and of course Pluto hugged her back before using that tongue that always hangs out to give her a ‘doggy kiss’. It was so adorable that I just had to get a picture of them together, I also got some pictures of my boys with Mickey and Chris took one with me, Pluto and Mickey.
The day continued to press on and soon it was nightfall and everyone gathered at Cinderella’s castle to grab the best spot for the fireworks show that was about to happen in the next 7 minutes. Even with the crowd of people that were already sitting down, we still managed to get good enough seats to still see the castle’s full stature.
After waiting a few more minutes the lights went off and we all cheered as the castle first lite up a lightshow for us. Showing images and clips from various Disney films as ‘Circle of Life’ blared from the speakers. Chris and I looked at each other before leaning against one another watching the light show and seeing the kids stare in awe. Then the big event happened.
A giant red firework shot up and exploded into the sky. Everyone oohed and ahhed as more fireworks began to fly into the sky before exploding into various colors and sizes.
“Did you have a good time love?”
“This was the most wonderful time I’ve ever had at Disneyland. Even when I was a kid, it didn’t compare to this.”
“I think this might get a little more interesting.” He said. I was about to ask him what he meant by it but he pressed a finger to my lips and turned my chin back toward the sky. We continued to watch the fireworks but then something happened I had never seen happen at a Disney firework show.
One firework that went off created an image of Mjolnir, Thor’s famed hammer before three fireworks fired off immediately spelling out.
“YOU AR WORTHY TO ME.” My jaw slowly dropped and I felt my heart stop. Soon another phrase spelled across the sky, “WILL YOU LET ME BE WORTHY OF YOU?” I turned to Chris who now stood on one knee holding out a small ring. A spotlight came down onto us and I could hear everyone gasp and cry out around us.
“(Y/n), these past few years have been the best years of my life. I didn’t think I would be happy, until you came into my life. Will you make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me?” he opened the box revealing the ring sparkling under the spotlight’s bright light. I was in tears as I was covering my face with my hands.
Everyone around me, including my kids telling me to say yes. I nodded rapidly and kissed him with as much passion as I could muster while all around us, everyone was applauding and my kids cam around us and hugged us.
“Ladies and gentlemen we’d like to have the honor of introducing Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth and his new fiancée!” I cupped his cheeks and he kissed my forehead, down my cheek before reclaiming my lips with his.
Picture Perfect (Alex Høgh Andersen x Reader) Oneshot
Synopsis: Sometimes, the view is too good not to snap a quick shot.
Word count: 7.8k
A/N: Yes I know I said I wouldn’t write for real people anymore but this was initially written for a good friend’s birthday, because she loves Alex, and I didn’t want to leave it sitting in my fanfics folder, collecting metaphorical dust.
MASTERLIST
The snow just kept getting on his lens, and the gods help him, he was slowly losing patience. Like every week-end he took a stroll around town, finding a reasonably deserted park or street and tried to capture a few moments. He should have known to bring his bigger camera today as it was snowing – not heavily but enough to be a nuisance.
He cleaned his lens for the umpteenth times and quickly placed the camera back in front of his face the second he heard footsteps approaching, the soft crunch of the snow under their boots betraying their presence.
First a little dog in a sweatshirt came into view, making him smile and snap a picture – just for laughs – then its owner entered the range. An old man, followed by a second dog. He was white haired, his face wearing the signs of time, and his jacket looked a bit large on him.
Alex snapped another picture just when the man reached for treats in his pockets and the two dogs immediately sat in front of him, waggling their tails in expectation of what was to come. He smiled as he tossed the treats, sending them both running after them.
Looking at the photograph he just took, Alex smiled to himself. Over time he had become good at capturing just the right moment, the exact expression he wanted. After that he went on the move again – this place was a bit too void of people for his taste. He usually liked to be able to pick his subject and not have to mind the crowd around him, that's why his preference leaned towards open spaces with few people.
It was Sunday after all, he should have expected not many people would willingly brave the Danish Winter on a day off. So instead of his usual spots he decided to head for town until he found a place he deemed appropriate.
It was freezing today, but at least it wasn't too humid. Alex rubbed his hands together, cursing himself for wearing fingerless gloves – but it was necessary if he wanted to be able to whip out his camera and take a picture when the opportunity for a good shot arose. As he made his way towards the most lively part of Copenhagen he stopped at a coffee shop and ordered the first hot drink he saw on the menu, just so his fingers wouldn't fall off.
While he stood in the coffee shop he undid his bun, then put his beanie back on, in an attempt to warm up his ears too. He really picked the worst day to scout the streets of the city in hopes of finding the perfect subject. Well, he only had himself to blame, he should have gotten to work yesterday but instead chose to sit in front of a video game all day long.
With a discouraged sigh, he exited the warm premises. His feet took him to the small, narrow alleys perpendicular to the big shopping streets – he always marvelled at how few people strayed from the path and actually explored those streets with nothing but tiny stores, tattoo shops, not very well known coffee places, and art galleries.
He liked to hang out there in between classes instead of going back to his apartment, where it was lonely and silent. Here he had the background noise from the nearby shopping streets, and the tranquillity of half-empty cafés.
In the end he had to cut short his day because it was simply too cold and windy to spend the day outside without catching his own death. After the third hot drink of the day he deemed he was caffeinated enough, and when the effects of the last coffee wore off, he called it a day.
But it was just then, round a corner and sitting on a bench that he saw the perfect picture. A girl sat there, searching for something in her bag – and not finding it according to the frown on her face. A handful of seconds later, her whole face lit up and she pulled a glove out of her purse. She sighed in content as she put it on before rubbing her hands together, bringing them to her mouth and exhaling hot air on them, no doubt to bring her frozen fingers back to life.
The bench she was sitting on faced one of the city's numerous churches, and the street was nearly void of people short of the two of them. If Alex didn't start moving soon, she would notice him observing her.
He detailed her for a short while, taking in her appearance. Her hair was a bit of a mess, but that must be the wind's fault. She wore a thick beige winter coat that hugged her waist and reached her thighs, black tights and brown leather boots that went up to her knees, and a gigantic scarf.
Suddenly she took a book out of her bag and she opened it. Alex's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Who in their right mind would come out here in the cold to read a book? That's also when he realized it had stopped snowing – though it was still very windy.
She didn't seem to mind though, and a fond smile adorned her lips as her eyes scanned the page, as if she was amused by whatever she read.
Without thinking, Alex grabbed his camera and snapped a few shots, capturing the odd but dainty sight before his eyes.
Before the girl felt his eyes on her, Alex walked away, not even looking at the result of the pictures he took – he knew they were the best ones he took today, and by far.
*
It wasn't intentional at all or at least that's what Alex told himself – but three days later, when he had two hours of free time in between classes, he ended up at the exact same spot he saw the mystery girl the week-end before. It was ridiculous, the chances of this girl hanging out at the exact same bench to read her book were so slim it border-lined on desperation to come here again.
He felt stupid now, standing here, staring at an empty bench as though she would appear out of thin air if he stared hard enough.
It wasn't hit fault, he just couldn't get her out of his mind. After returning to the warmth and comfort of his apartment he nearly jumped to his desk, immediately plugging his camera to his laptop to see how the photos turned out. They were incredible, he couldn't remember being so happy with his photographs in his life. Maybe he had found his perfect model, and he let her slip through his fingers because he didn't want to look like a creep taking pictures of strangers in the street.
Which he did. So perhaps he was. He chased that thought away. The point was: he needed to find her again, he needed more pictures, and if it meant coming here every fucking day of the week, then he would do it. Clearly she lived here – first off all it wasn't tourist season at all, and secondly, if she was only here to visit she wouldn't spent her days reading a book on a bench.
Granted Copenhagen was a big city, but he could hope, right? Fortune smiles upon the bold – or something like that. So Alex began to walk the surrounding streets, peeking inside every café he walked past, just in case, and ended up where he started.
Maybe fortune would smile on him tomorrow.
*
The doorbell rang when she stepped inside the small, darkly lit shop, and she smiled to the owner – she was a loyal customer and she knew her way around this little shop better than her own place. The owner, an old man with frame-less spectacles nodded as she walked past him, and gestured towards a freshly delivered pile of books.
She had the privilege of looking through the new stuff before he put it on the shelves for the other customers.
“Read them all already?” The man asked, sitting down behind the front desk.
“Not all of them,” she answered, already kneeling down to have a closer look. It was a small second hand books shop where all the books were piled onto each other, making the whole place look packed. “But I had some errands to ran around here, so I thought I'd come.”
“You're the first person to come today,” the man sighed. “People just don't read as much as they used to.”
“I know,” she said.
They fell into comfortable silence after that and half an hour later the girl had picked five books and paid for them. She left with a heartfelt goodbye and went on her way. She closed the door behind her, making the bell ring again, and when she turned around she nearly bumped into a passer-by and tripped on her feet when she tried to avoid them.
“Gotcha!” The person exclaimed when they caught her in extremis before she face planted on the cold hard ground, along with her bag of books. “You okay?”
She quickly regained her balance, and when the other person let go of her she blushed like nobody's business. Attracting this kind of attention was the worst – now she would forever be the girl who tripped on her own feet to this strange. An attractive stranger at that, which only made her lose more of her composure.
As far as first impressions go, she could do better.
“I- I'm sorry, I'm fine. I'm really sorry, I... wasn't looking,” she stammered out, not knowing what to do with herself – if she could just vanish on the spot that would be ideal. “Thank you,” she added when her last two brain cells caught up on the situation and reminded her of basic social rules.
She damn near ran away from this young, hot stranger with blue eyes before she could further embarrass herself and all of her ancestors by stuttering out some more basic nonsense. When would she learn how to speak? You'd figure a twenty-something cinema major who destined herself to be a screenwriter would know how to use words even in awkward situations, but she just didn't.
Granted this was a particularly cliché situation – she could literally name ten movies off the top of her head that used the girl-runs-into-hot-guy as a first meeting trope – but that only made it worse that she fled like a coward. She should know the dialogue by heart by now. She should be able to turn the tables and walk away with dignity.
But she didn't. She has always been more comfortable with writing than speaking, but this was a huge fail, even for her. She wasn't usually that socially impaired. She face palmed and walked on, hoping that this was the last she saw of the stranger.
*
He couldn't be a hundred percent sure, but Alex thought he bumped into his unknowing model last week in town. It all happened so fast he couldn't be certain it was her, but she was once again holding books and her hair was a mess, and she also wore a beige coat.
Then again this description matched a lot of girls. She scurried away so fast he didn't even get a chance to say anything to her, let alone ask her if she was his mystery girl.
This time around he didn't have his preferred camera, but his silver process camera that he used for softer pictures, and a more authentic finish result. Nonetheless, he snapped a quick picture of the girl while she walked away, her coat longer than he remember billowing slightly behind her as it caught the wind.
And now he waited. He waited because he only brought his camera to his local shop two days ago to have his photos developed, and he was told to come pick them up tomorrow. Talk about an impatient man, Alex couldn't wait to compare this new shot to the previous ones, to see if it was the same girl, despite the different angle and the fact that he couldn't see her face on the second one.
A lead was a lead, and if he somehow accidentally found a book store she shopped at, it would be the perfect setting for a meeting.
“Hey man, snap out of it!” Franz snapped his fingers in front of Alex's eyes to make him come back to earth. “You know it's freaky as hell when you zone out, you just stop blinking altogether.”
“Sorry,” Alex apologized and tried to bring his attention back on the lecture.
It wasn't his favourite kind of classes, lectures. He tended to get bored really quickly as he was a very energetic person – though some people might just say he has minor ADHD – and he liked it better when he could expand his knowledge through experience rather than boring lectures given by a teacher speaking in a monotonous voice.
“Still thinking about that girl, huh? It's a wild goose chase you're on. I'd let it go it I were you, there are literally hundreds of thousands of people living in this city, how the hell do you think you'll find her?”
“I'm counting on luck and fate,” Alex replied with a sly smirk, knowing it drove Franz crazy when he did that.
It was his thing to rely entirely on external influences to achieve his goals, and it was maddening to everyone around him that it worked - most of the time. It was indecent to be this lucky, but it wasn't magic either, and Alex had ended up in situations that ranged from awkward to severely bad because of this.
“Of course you are,” Franz grumbled, returning his attention to the teacher and leaving Alex to his delusions. “If you somehow find this girl and she agrees to go out with you, I'll even pay for your first date,” he snickered.
“Who said I wanted to go out with her? I just want her to model for me,” Alex replied, his eyebrows shooting up. “But you know what? I'll take it. A free dinner is a free dinner.”
“So where d'you plan on taking her? Do I need to make a student loan?” Franz continued to snicker, making fun of Alex's optimistic nature.
“Why do you insist I want to take her out?”
“Man, no one is obsessed with a girl just because she looks pretty on a picture,” he stated in a flat tone, as if he thought is was too obvious to even say out loud. “You have a bad case of love at first sight.”
“I do not,” Alex argued, cringing. “I'll prove it! I'll find her first, and then-”
“Then what?”
Damn Franz, he sounded so cocky what with his raised eyebrow and dumb grin.
“Then I'll take more pictures and nothing else, I'm not looking for a girlfriend,” he huffed, pointing his finger at his friend. “And you'll take back what you said!”
“And you'll pass up a good opportunity to take a pretty girl out at my expenses, so who's really winning in this situation?” Franz pointed out.
“I hate you,” Alex grumbled, short of having a good answer.
They became silent again and simply stared blankly at the board and the teacher. Alex mulled over what Franz said, and he eventually came to the conclusion that he was right. Whatever the outcome, he'll win. In both cases Alex would have a new model, and either prove a point to his friend or he'd get a date with a beautiful girl.
So why fret? All he needed to do now was find her. And get this damn photograph developed.
*
The paranoia became real after the fourth time she thought she heard the click of a camera while she was out in town. As a creature of habit, she spent a lot of her free time at the same places – the same local book-store, the same coffee shop that made her favourite drink, the same bench that was somehow always unoccupied, as if waiting for her.
But these days she felt like the bench wasn't the only one waiting for her. Which was an insane notion, because who on earth would watch her? Did she have a stalker now? Had she watched too many thrillers lately? A possibility.
So she waved off her worries and sat down to read as per usual, if the weather permitted it. Until another week later, when she walked down the stairs of the coffee shop that made the best chai tea in town, and she heard it again. This time there was no mistaking the sound, she didn't just hallucinate it, and there was someone, somewhere taking pictures – possibly of her.
So far her curiosity prevailed, and instead of running away and scream bloody murder, she decided to discreetly look around to find her stalker. If stalker there was. And she was not disappointed.
From a seat at the coffee house across the narrow street, Alex snapped a shot of the girl. He'd received his second photograph, the one of the girl from the book store, and established that it was indeed his mystery girl. From then on he just went to the book store again and again, day after day, in hopes of seeing her there – for a week straight.
She didn't come, but he saw her again by coincidence – though at this point one could argue they were past sheer coincidence. This was fate at work. He had to talk to her.
But every time an opportunity showed, he missed the window. Instead of manning up and introducing himself, Alex ended up taking a picture or two – or three – and left. Each shot was better than the previous one, each more stunning, more natural. It felt like the elements worked in her favour too, the wind blowing her hair just at the right time, the rain making her clothes heavier, the snow clinging to her, the sun shining on her brown hair and giving her a soft halo.
Alex was awestruck each time, and he hated it because it meant Franz was right, and Franz couldn't be right. He needed a model, he found a muse. He didn't dare think she could become anything more.
The thought itself was abstract and a bit of a stretch. To become anything else but the stranger he stalked on the streets, Alex would first need to get it together and introduce himself.
He almost did it today, he very, very nearly did it. She was walking down the flight of stairs leading to the door of this small café probably no one but her knew about, shielded herself from the elements with her umbrella while she sipped her drink.
He should buy her a coffee next time he spots her reading on her bench, and explain he's been taking pictures of her. Or maybe a cold drink, just in case she decided to throw it in his face. The more time he allowed to pass, the weirder it became to take these pictures – it didn't sit right on his stomach.
On the one hand it wasn't like he wore camouflage and hit in bushes, waiting for the right time to steal yet another pictures of this girl. He still took loads of other pictures, other people than her. She was simply the best, therefore he always came back. And then on the other hand, his folder of stolen pictures was growing, and he had to admit he would be weirded out if someone did to him what he did to her.
After another while, Alex stopped seeking her out on purpose, yet he still found himself in all the places where she hung out. He'd spent so much time walking around to find her that he got used to this part of town, he found some nice places he liked to go back to. And more often than he would like, he still ended up taking pictures.
Now she was everywhere. She was on his mind, in the streets, on the pictures. Maybe he was going crazy? Maybe she didn't even exist, and he'd lost it? Franz thought so anyway, even though Alex showed him some pictures. He agreed that they were good, great even, but he didn't understand Alex's fixation.
Clearly there was more to it than what he said. No matter how much he argued that he only wanted her as model, his friend didn't believe a word of it. He was smitten, and that was the end of it. This revelation felt like a cold shower, and from then on, Alex tried to keep his stalkerish ways to a minimum. Then again, it was easier said than done, especially when he spotted her casually walking by while he was out to finish an assignment at a café or something.
A lot of the time it actually felt like she was posing, just waiting for a photoshoot to start. If he didn't know any better he would think she knew he photographed her – but let's be real for a hot second, no girl in her right mind would let a stranger take pictures of her.
Because that's what he was: a complete and total stranger. She couldn't possibly remember him from the one time she bumped into him, and even if she did, it still didn't make him anything but a stranger to her, they didn't talk, they didn't exchange names.
Alex wished he knew her name.
*
She wanted to die. A few days of hyper awareness of her surroundings made her spot her mystery photographer, and when she recognized him she felt her soul depart her body and astral project into another plane of existence.
The hot guy with blue eyes. The guy she made a fool out of herself in front of. The guy to whom she apologized to several times despite doing nothing wrong, and then ran away from like he was a diseased.
Now that his identity wasn't a mystery anymore, she felt a little better. Her brain seemed to think that having a hot stranger take sneaky pictures of her was a lot better, a lot safer, than if it was an old disgusting creep. She didn't say anything to her friends because surely they would think her mad. Uhmm yes a really hot guy I ran into on the street is now obsessed with me and follows me around to take pictures. Have I mentioned that he's really cute? They would laugh in her face and tell her to stop watching American teen movies – her guilty pleasure.
Instead of allowing herself to properly freak out over this and run to the police station to report him, she willed herself to calm down and think about the situation. First she needed to determine if he was a mentally imbalanced creep and if her life was threatened. So far it didn't seem so, he stayed far away, didn't try to communicate. Maybe she was imagining things and he took pictures of a lot of different people around this part of town?
Yes, that was entirely possible, if not the most logical explanation of all. She wasn't stalker victim material, she was too boring for that. Nothing ever happened in her life. A tired groan fell from her lips at that thought.
Although he was very attractive, and she caught herself thinking it wouldn't be so bad to have become the reluctant object of desire of a cutie like him more than once. God, if only I didn't embarrass myself in front of him! I wish I'd met a guy like that under different circumstances, make a better first impression, get a chance to shine in a better light! A girl can dream.
Yet, as though the gods heard her wish, the very next day when she went to class, she saw him. At least she thought she saw him, maybe she had become more paranoid than she first thought and started seeing him everywhere. She stopped dead in her track, alarming her friends, and stared without an ounce of shame or care for being discreet. Her friends shook her out of her state of daze and she gathered her wits just in time to see him walk through a door, his signature camera around the neck.
“Hey!” She called him, but she knew she was too far away, and he wouldn't know she was calling him out of all the people in this hallway. “Hey wait!”
“Who are you talking to?” Her friend asked, frowning a bit in concern and tugging at her sleeve. “It's time, we have to go to class.”
She nodded, still trying to see where exactly he went, what room it was.
“Who was it anyway?” Her friend pressed her.
“I just... I thought I recognized someone,” she answered vaguely, but she was one hundred percent sure it was him. She knew what he looked like, she just knew.
Could she be any more lucky?
*
Could Alex be any more unlucky?
He sat at the park, leaning back on his elbows and soaking in some sun now that the days became warmer. He waited for a friend, and even left his camera at home, which he rarely ever did. Then, right there, he saw his mystery girl. He was far from her usual hangout spots, he wasn't looking for her, he wasn't expecting to see her – he actually hadn't seen her in over a week now.
He took the habit of going to town to take pictures now, despite not searching for her anymore – he had somewhat given up on ever talking to her. She was an ethereal being, surrounded by mystery, and he was scared that putting a name on her face was going to ruin what he found so captivating about her, so she would remain so.
Ridiculous. He just chickened out of chatting her up. As the days, then weeks went by, he realized that Franz had been right all along. Alex had developed feelings for someone he didn't even know, and he felt it was too late to introduce himself now.
There was no chance in the world this girl would agree to be anywhere near him. He spent weeks sneaking shots of her, and looking for her like a true creep in his own right. If he could rewind the tape of his life and go back to that first day when he saw her read in the cold, he would do it in a heartbeat. He would say hi, ask her if she wanted to go grab a coffee, even if he already had three at this point in time.
But he couldn't go back, and he couldn't wipe the slate clean, because the slate was full of photographs of her he took without her consent. He didn't do anything with them in the end, didn't turn them in for one of his assignments, didn't use them for any project. He didn't feel like he had the right to. They sat in a folder on his desktop, and he looked at them when he needed inspiration.
So he didn't move a muscle when she walked past him, oblivious to the fact that he knew her - to her he was just anther face in the crowd.
Then Alex's heart skipped a beat, and he swallowed thickly. Their eyes locked for the briefest moment – so brief he couldn't swear it actually happened. But he knew in his heart of hearts that she looked his way. No just his way, but straight in his eyes. Not in the way one roamed the crowd and locked eyes with a random person, no. She looked him in the eyes, on purpose, as if she recognized him.
It messed with his head a little bit, and Alex felt uneasy enough to get up and walk to another hill in the park once she was out of sight.
What a strange day. And stranger the rest of the week would be, unbeknownst to him.
*
The more time passed, the less worried she became.
The little voice in the back of her head told her she should be at least a little bit concerned that some guy she saw once outside a book store suddenly developed an obsession with her to the point where he stalked her and took pictures of her. The little voice even suggested she goes to the police.
But she did her own fair share of stalking in return, and the day she saw him in her building on campus was the day she stopped worrying altogether. The attractive boy from the book store was an Art student majoring in photography if she did her stalking right. Who else would go to class with a heavy camera bag and a tripod?
When she realized she became the accidental muse of a photographer in becoming, she relaxed. Now she was amused more than flustered or embarrassed at the thought, and reassured, in an odd way, by the notion that he might simply be too shy to ask her to pose. Who knew she would enjoy the attention? She caught herself playing along on more than one occasion, posing for her secret admirer, and putting more care in her choice of outfits.
She hoped it didn't show too much, but still looked the way he wanted it to.
What started worrying her was when he slowly stopped waiting for her at her reading bench, or by her coffee shop. She learned to spot him easily – his long brown hair, either falling free or tied in a bun, his big black framed glasses, his hooded sweaters layered with a jacket, his grey sweat pants.
Disappointment showed its ugly face when she realized he probably lost interest in her. Until that day at the park, when she saw him. He wasn't taking pictures for once – in fact it was the first time she saw him without his camera. And she got caught staring. For a second that lasted a lot longer than that in her mind, they couldn't tear their eyes off each other.
But luckily her feet kept walking, and when she exited the park she could breathe again. She felt reinvigorated, as though a new life was breathed into her. And she decided to stop being the girl on the pictures. Next time she saw him, she would talk to him.
She wasn't that shy once the ice was broken, but she needed to give herself a good pep talk before taking the oh so scary first step.
*
Like any girl would do when she was on a mission, she dressed in black, wore sunglasses even though there was no sun, and a beret. Because berets were so inconspicuous and so... so French. Al right, she had no idea what she was doing, but she was doing her best, it had to count for something.
She counted on the little episode at the park to spike his interest again, and hoped he would come out of his lair to find her today. It was Monday, which was the day she saw him most often, the day she usually read on the bench in between classes over lunch. She picked a café with tables outside, one that had a perfect view of her bench, and sat in a corner, next to a huge plant that would hopefully hide her.
And she waited with a coffee in hand, and a book in the other. He sometimes sat here to take her picture so chances were he would pick a table here too. Her plan was flawless on paper.
She finished the fifth chapter when she caught the familiar sight of him from the corner of her eye, and she closed her book abruptly. He ordered something, and when the waiter left, she took a deep breath, mentally braced herself, took off her sunglasses and beret, shoving them in her bag, and she stood up.
Her heart speed up like a race horse on the startling line. She closed her eyes, stopped breathing, and sat down across from him, to his visible astonishment. It was done.
“I wasn't sure you'd show up but I'm glad you did,” she told him, surprising herself with how smoothly it came out. Why was it so difficult to talk to pretty boys?
In the few seconds it took him to recognize her, understand what was happening, and decide on a course of action, she had the time to settle down and even her breathing.
“This conversation is long overdue, isn't it?” He eventually said, leaning back against his chair, a crooked smile dancing on his lips. God he was attractive.
She nodded, because she was momentarily struck dumb by how good he looked.
“I- uhm... I'm curious as to how you're going to explain why you've been following me around, taking sneaky pictures. You do realize I could have gone to the police?” She somehow managed to say, though not helping the little hesitation at the beginning.
“Why didn't you?” He replied, crossing his arms over his chest and raising his eyebrows.
Oh, he wanted to play it like that? Fine. As hot as he was, she wasn't going to turn the other cheek. She came here to get answers to her questions.
“You first, smartass!” She snorted, mirroring his own stance.
He looked up, as if deciding whether or not to oblige her. In the end he sighed and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and pointer finger, finally speaking up.
“I was just out, hunting for a good shot. I photograph people, that's what I do. But don't worry you can't even see your face on any of the shots I made of you, except one. The first one,” he told her. He said that as if it was supposed to reassure her in some way. “When I saw you reading your book on that bench I thought it was... picture perfect. Couldn't resist.”
“So when exactly did I become your Woman in Red?" She asked in a rare show of boldness and sarcasm.
She usually went about things with a dash of subtlety.
“My what?” He frowned.
“It's- it's just a movie,” she said, chasing away the thought. She was used to people not getting her references, but this guy seemed to wait for her to continue her explanation. “About a man who sees a beautiful woman dressed in red and becomes obsessed with her, he desperately wants to meet her, but he's already married.”
Alex thought about it, and let out a little interested 'huh', while staring at her. He nodded, approving her comparison and mentally taking note to watch that movie.
“I actually just wanted to find you to ask you to model for me, but things didn't go as planned,” he groaned, rubbing his face in frustration.
It was hard to process that the mystery girl was sitting across from him right now, fishing out information. And when he said things out loud they sounded ten times worse than in his head.
“Do elaborate, I'm all ears.”
She was so glad her voice and face didn't betray her today, because she wouldn't have survived another round of whatever the bell happened outside the book store weeks ago.
“The book store.” This seemed to prompt a reaction from her even though she tried to keep it cool. “It was you, right? I knew it! But I wasn't sure when it happened, you ran away so fast!”
“Sorry about that,” she apologized with a faint blush.
“I took a quick picture of you that day just to compare it to the first one, to make sure it was really you. When I decided the resemblance couldn't just be a coincidence I thought 'great, now I know what book store she goes to'. I decided to hang out there so I could talk to you then, but you never showed up.”
He seemed to have finally decided to spill the beans and tell her everything.
“Every time I saw you it was like you were just waiting for me. Already posing for the perfect picture, so I took one. And another. And another. And the more time passed the less inclined I was to talk to you, because at this point I knew I'd have to admit I was taking pictures without your consent and I'd have to explain that I started hanging out here just in hopes to get a good shot of you. You do understand that I wasn't fond of the prospect? A girl with more common sense than you would obviously have gotten a restraining order against me.”
“Hey!” She protested. “I have my reasons for not going to the police I'll have you know. Just like you have your reasons for not just saying 'hi, can I take a picture of you?'”
“Touché. Anyway I thought it was too late to introduce myself now, so I settled for taking a picture when I saw you, and I stopped trying to force a meeting. Thought I'd leave you alone.”
“What made you change your mind?” She now asked out of sheer misplaced curiosity and no longer to get answers to her questions. He'd answered them all anyway.
“Hey, hey, hey, enough with the questions! First you answer mine and then I tell you all my secrets! Christ this is worse than a police questioning!”
“Oh you have experience in that department I see,” she teased him. “It's simple I knew you weren't some psycho who had an altar with a wall covered in blurry pictures of me, so I let you take pictures.”
She shrugged and Alex seriously put her sanity in question.
“You think you're good at taking pictures discreetly? You're not. You're the worst ninja photographer of all time. When I finally realized someone was watching me, I paid attention. I saw that it was you - the guy from the book store - and from then on I knew what you looked like and one day I saw you at uni. We have class in the same building by the way. I'm in cinema and I know you're in photography.”
“What a small world!” He said, his voice dripping in irony.
“So yeah. Not some creep with a voodoo doll that looks like me, just a student taking pictures of everyone he saw. No biggie. Though it is flattering that you kept coming back to take mine, I admit.”
“This is so far from the reaction I expected in case you ever found out. I can't believe you spied on me like I spied on you. I feel weird...” Alex made a face and ran a hand over his chest as if he could better put a word on it by touching the source of the feeling directly.
“I'm sure you do. It's called getting a taste of your own medicine.”
“So you've known I was taking your picture for some time. Yet you let me do, and you say its flattering? Does this mean I wasn't imagining things when I saw you pose for me?”
“Couldn't help myself.” She shot him a mischievous smile. “What else was I supposed to do? You weren't asking me to model for you, and it was always better than freaking out.”
“My bad.”
“Now back to my question! You stopped coming here lately, what made you change your mind?”
Alex didn't answer and instead chose to focus on the empty coffee cup sitting on the table, his fingers spinning it around.
“Was it perhaps our little moment at the park yesterday?” She ventured. Alex flinched and the cup slipped from between his fingers, falling to the ground. “I take this as a yes.”
“So what? You've tricked me into coming back? You could have talked to me at the park,” he huffed, slightly offended that he got played so easily.
“There was no point in talking if you'd abandoned the idea of photographing me, I wanted to see if you were still interested.”
She now leaned on her elbows over the table.
“And instead of sitting on the bench I picked this coffee shop. Today's Monday, the day I see you most often. And I know you like this coffee shop best to sneak pictures, it has a good view of the bench. So I sat in the corner over there and I waited patiently,” she started explaining, pointing at the table she was sitting at earlier. “You're late, you know that? Made me wait over an hour. I was starting to think you'd stood me up.”
“It would need to be a date to stand you up,” he pointed out, trying to play smarty pants with her.
“Well there must be something you like about me given how many times I caught you looking at me.” She shrugged and he stared in shock. “Besides I think it's high time we introduce ourselves. We at least ought to get to know each other's names given how much mutual stalking has been going on between us.”
“Fair point, I'll give you that. You played your cards very well, I admit my defeat.”
“So in case you need to put a name on your stalker folder, I'm (Y/N)," she laughed. “And yes, I would love to go out with you.”
“Alex Høgh Andersen, full time photography student and stalker in training,” he said, holding out his hand for a very formal but sarcastic handshake. “And I don't remember asking you out,” he added with a sly smirk.
“Really? My bad, I must have heard wrong. I thought you said you were meaning to talk to me but chickened out, and that's why we're in this situation in the first place.”
“I said I wanted to ask you to model for me.”
“Isn't that art student code for 'i want to take her to a candle lit dinner, bring her home, ravish her against a wall, and in the morning when the first rays of sunlight hit her sleeping form I'll take an aesthetic nude of her with my Polaroid camera and hang it above my bed'.”
Alex looked like she'd just smacked him with a wet towel across the face. He felt like choking on thin air, and didn't know to say to that.
“I honestly am not aware of a code for such a specific thing,” he ended up saying. She was smiling a bit, mischief still glowing in her eyes, and despite the odd situation and the unlikelihood of it all, he smiled back and braced himself. “But I guess we can coin this code word if you want. My bedroom wall is in need of some tasteful decoration after all.”
“Do you want my number or is it already in your stalker folder?” (Y/N) asked, raising a reading brow.
Alex held out his pointer finger.
“I do not have a stalker folder. I'll let you see all the pictures if you want. I can guarantee they are all anonymous, no one can see your face.”
“Inviting me to your place already!” She laughed. “I can't wait to see your work.”
She winked playfully but she sounded sincere, and suddenly Alex wondered why he was so scared of talking to her. She was a lot funnier than he expected - she looked so serious and dignified when he looked at her through the camera lens.
He took his phone out of his pocket and let her dial in her number while he did the same with her phone. The exchange was quick though their conversation lasted longer than he suspected. They were soon asked to leave because the place was closing, and so they walked away.
“You're different from what I thought. After you almost bumped into me when you came out of the book store I thought you were one of those introverted bookworms with zero social skill and confidence. Another reason why I didn't talk to you, even after I established you were the girl from the bench. If I had asked you to be my muse and you had refused, I would have had to stop, of course. But as long as you didn't know, you couldn't say no.”
“Sketchy logic Alex! Very sketchy!” (Y/N) told him, shaking her head in disapproval.
“I know, but thank you for pointing it out,” he retorted, making her face and rolling his eyes.
“I also notice I got an upgrade from model to muse. This is getting better and better.”
If she wasn't smiling so big and bright and so genuinely Alex might have felt insulted, but he could only smile back.
“They're not the same thing. And they are not mutually inclusive either.”
“Oh I know, I'm just mentally ticking off all the titles you have for me,” she chuckled.
They had started walking aimlessly through the empting streets - neither of them lived in that direction (unbeknownst to each other), they only walked to get some more time together at this point.
“One more thing-” Alex began, gaining her full attention. “I have a friend, Franz. He was so sure you'd blow me off that he bet me a full date, dinner included, that you'd never go out with me even if I decided to talk to you.”
“Well I think I'm the one who talked to you, so...” Alex snorted and he bumped against her shoulder. “Are we going to be nice and do the classic movies and pizza date?”
“Absolutely not. We're gonna make him regret ever betting against me, name whichever fancy place you've ever wanted to go to,” Alex snickered and smiled in a twisted way.
(Y/N) had a strange thought that if they were in a cartoon he'd rub his hands together and do an evil laughter. It brought a grin to her face.
“I'll think about it. Before we go any further I have to tell you something though.” They stopped dead in their tracks, Alex tensed at the seriousness in her voice. “I... I actually live in the other direction.”
The confession first surprised him, then made him laugh, and she swatted him for laughing at her.
“Me too," he said, continuing to laugh. “Me too.”
Bonus
“Oh wait!” Alex stopped walking to look inside a small printer shop, yanking (Y/N), who was holding onto his arm, back. “It's still open, great. I have a quick errand to run. Wait here.”
He didn't give her a chance to argue and simply ran inside. (Y/N) quietly stood there, studying the window of a galerie across the road, humming to herself like an elevator playing background music. A couple minutes later he came back with a small plastic bag in hand.
“What is it?” She asked out of curiosity.
“Polaroid film.” He smirked down at her.
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