“Annoying Bieber.”
Originally written: Sometime in 2018 <3
Transferred from 825th.tumblr.com (deleted account)
How can Y/n write about a love that she doesn’t believe exists in today’s world without sounding too pretentious; without sounding like she’s trying too hard to know what Romeo and Juliet went through? Why can’t she just know? Why hadn’t she fallen in love yet? At least, a little bit; a fraction of what Juliet felt for Romeo. A fraction is good, because being all the way in love like they were resulted in their deaths. They were too young to die. She’s too young to die.
But, of course, she doesn’t want anyone hanging over her. Or being jealous. Or wanting to know where she is at all times of the day. But she does want flowers. Marigolds wrapped in crisp newspaper, to be exact. And maybe sometimes hold hands? Only when it’s cold, though. And the borrowing of his sweatshirt that smelled like cologne. That could be nice.
“Romeo and Juliet. A classic.” A familiar stature molded her peripheral, his blond hair catching the light of the dimly lit library. Justin sat down in front of her and leaned his back against the fantasy section. His legs nearly wrapped themselves into hers. “I know all about those guys.”
“Oh, really?” she asked, but didn’t look up.
“Who doesn’t? The whole Montagues hating the Capulets. Romeo and Juliet being from either family and falling in love with each other. The families forbidding it. Them dying. It’s a classic.”
“It’s alright, I guess. Why’re you reading it?”
“It’s for my English class. I have to write a paper about love.”
He sported a smirk that she missed. “Ooh, love, my favorite subject.”
“Oh, I know, Mr. I-can-have-any-girl-I-desire.”
She looked up then, and caught the glimmer in his eyes. His smirk trampled into a boyish grin. He’s failed time and time again when asking her out. His charming words were enticing, and the romantic gestures were convincing, but they were no match for the wall she put around herself.
“Well,” she closed the book, “almost any girl.” She placed it inside her bookbag and got up, walking toward the entrance. He was hot on her tail.
“How come every time I come around you suddenly have to leave?”
“It’s your bad timing,” she said. “I’ve been at the library since five.”
Darkness waged over the campus, street lamps lighting their path. She tightened her sweater around her as the wind blew, rustling the bare trees.
“Since five? It’s almost ten."
"Ooh, look at you. You can tell time.”
“Oh, ha-ha. I’m just saying that you’ve really been in the library for five hours? I didn’t see any essay you were writing.”
“Well, right now I’m just studying romance.”
“You can’t study romance,” he spoke incredulously. “At least, not theirs.”
“Why not? They were in love.”
“Well, wouldn’t you be a psychopath too if you were in love?”
“Maybe so,” he said, and grabbed the base of his chin. “But, what I’m saying is, how can you study romance? Like, dying. How can you write a paper on what it feels like to die if you never experienced it?”
“Well, that’s kind of far-fetched. No one can write about how it feels to die. Anyone can write about love – wing it, at least. Like when lonely people write romance novels.”
“But, it’s not real. It’s not authentic.”
“And what’s real nowadays, anyway?” She looked at him and he looked at her. “What do you know about love?”
“Enough? You’ve been in love before?”
“I’ll be glad to share that with you over hot chocolate and scones.”
She rolled her eyes. “Justin, no.”
“Why not? Why don’t you wanna go on a date with me? An eligible bachelor?”
“First, you’re too eligible. How many girls did I see you with last semester?”
“Why? Were you jealous?” he grinned, closing in on her face. “Jealous girls are kind of hot.”
“And so is your breath,” she laughed, and pushed him sideways. “Get away."
They came up on the sidewalk where the intersection was. Not many cars passed, but those that did left a bitter wind in its wake. Y/n squinted her eyes. "Okay, I’ll guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
"You live three blocks down. I am not going to let you walk by yourself.”
“I think I can handle myself, Justin.”
“Something bad can happen to you.”
“I’ve been walking myself home the entire four years I’ve been in college. If something bad were to happen to me, don’t you think it would’ve already happened?”
“Awful occurrences don’t have a time stamp.”
She sighed. “You are one persistent person.” They walked when the little man on the traffic screen turned green. “Why do you bother me, anyway? Am I some kind of challenge for you?”
“Remember when we first encountered each other? It was at the museum in George Town. You were looking at a sculpture and I came up beside you. I talked a little about the art, but I didn’t really care for it. It was all so boring to me. What made it exciting was the pretty girl in the Ugg boots.”
“Yup, I remember precisely. The whole ‘what’s your name, beautiful?’ line you pulled on me.”
“And you know what you said?”
“To be honest, I was shocked,” he smiled. “I didn’t expect to be dissed. I thought you were gonna be like the other girls. Blush, and do that giggle. But, I was like, ’ooh, this girl is feisty, I got to get to know her’.”
“So, what’s your whole goal here? Bothering me like you do?”
“Well, to get you to go on a date with me. But, in the process we’ve kind of became friends.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Friends? Who said we were friends?”
“It’s kind of one of those unspoken things. I just know that even though I get on your nerves, which I love doing, you don’t think I’m terrible.”
“You are incredibly annoying.”
He wrapped both his arms around her, and kissed her several times on her forehead. “Girl, you know you love me. Here, let me take this.”
She tightened her grip on her bookbag. “I got it, Justin.”
“Listen, you wanna learn about romance? Let me be romantic.”
She didn’t want to argue, so she gave it to him. He threw it over his shoulder and put his arm back around her. She shoved him away.
“You’re not my boyfriend.”
“I can be your boyfriend. Your prince charming. Your lover. Your best friend. Your first love,” he trailed off. She shoved him away again. “I can be anything you want me to be, baby!”
“Shush, you’re too loud. You’re going to wake the neighbors.”
“I don’t care! I want them to know I want to be your man!”
“Justin, please be quiet.” She pressed her hand over his mouth, and he kissed the pads of her fingers. "This is the annoying thing I was talking about.”
"I’m sorry. I just like you so much.”
“You’re a problem.”
“Enough with the cheesiness, already. Actually, you know what? I’m starting to think that you’re not charming at all. You’re just cheesy.”
“I act this way because it makes you laugh, and I love seeing your smile. But, if you want me to be some Casanova, then I’ll be that.”
“I don’t understand why you won’t give me a chance. I can treat you so right. I’ll always be sweet and loving and kind. I’ll be attentive and buy you things. I’ll protect you and always will be there for you. You can be the jelly to my peanut butter; the pumpkin to my pie. And I’ll make out with you like there’s no tomorrow because you have some nice, full lips—”
“Justin"—they stopped in front of her town home. Her mother had Christmas lights wrapped around the railings of their small, concrete staircase—"You’re just not my type. Sorry.”
He squinted, and walked closer.
“See,” she said. “You don’t make me nervous, you don’t cause my heart to race—” He slid his hands across her waist. A sensation kissed her sides and made the tips of her fingers tingle. She bit down on her tongue and found the courage to push him away again. “And you definitely don’t cause butterflies in my stomach.”
“Really? Because you tensed.”
“You felt something, alright.”
She scoffed. “Just give me my bookbag.”
“I will, but you have to promise me we can hang out tomorrow.”
“I don’t have classes tomorrow,” he challenged. “I can do this all night long.”
“Why are you so stubborn?”
“I can ask you the same question.”
“Maybe I just really don’t want to go on a date with you. Not every single girl wants to jump on the Justin train. Besides, you’re a heart breaker.”
“Are to. You made Karen cry.”
“It’s not my fault that she took my kindness as flirtation. Flirting is what I’m doing with you. You know, working my magic—”
She snorted. “What magic?”
“—with Karen, I made conversation like: 'hey, how are you?’, 'you look nice today’,” he continued as if she didn’t interrupt him, “not ’you can get your bookbag back once you promise to go on a date with me’.”
“Karen really liked you, you know?”
“I’ve apologized. But, honestly, I’m not obligated to show my affections to someone just because they have a crush.”
She got closer to him and snatched her bookbag away. “Exactly.”
He folded his arm around her back and held her tight against him. “But, you like me back.”
“I can see it in your eyes.”
She laughed heartily. “You’re delusional.”
“I’m gonna get that date. I guarantee it.” Then he kissed her on the forehead and he let her go.
She opened the door to her home. “Never gonna happen.” The warm air floated past her head, tickling her ears. “Goodnight, Justin.”
“Goodnight, Princess. See you tomorrow.”
“Quit kissing me.” She rolled her eyes again and closed the door behind her. “So annoying.”