seen from Poland
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seen from United States
seen from Canada
seen from South Korea
seen from United States
seen from Brunei
seen from China
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CATALYST
all is fair in love and war, but what if love creates bad blood?
hinata: “i’m used to waiting but every single day im regretting without realizing it. you came to me so easily, so it’ll be easy to leave me.”
𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 - 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘵. 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.
if you’re curious, here’s the original (unfinished)
read on ao3: here
You’re all I need (the air I breathe)
thirteen - in which they go home and Stella gets the love letters
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love-at-first-sight, falling-too-fast, uni au that will make your heart ache (in a good way)
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The first letter that showed up in Stella’s mailbox came as a surprise. It made Stella stop in her tracks, the ice cold air cutting through her pajama pants. It sent a chill down her spine that pulled her from her thoughts, gripping the envelope in her hand.
The scribbled Niall Horan and his address, all the way from London was enough to melt Stella from the inside out.
Stella sat down on her bed, cold fingers ripping the envelope. Her eyes glanced over the letter, quick and fleeting. Her lips, unable to help themselves, spread into a smile.
December 13
Dear Stella,
I saw you yesterday but I miss you. And by the time you get this, it will be days since we saw each other. That means that I’ll miss you even more than I did when I wrote this. Think about that, stel. Now there’s only 26 days until we see each other again. Maybe sooner if you play your cards right.
- Niall
Stella called him, hoping to play her cards the most right she possibly could. She collapsed on her bed, waiting for Niall’s smiling face to greet her.
He did just the way she expected, disheveled hair and flushed cheeks like he’d ran a marathon. “Stella Stella,” he said, eyes glancing down. “To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing your pretty face?”
“I got your letter,” Stella told him, an achy smile on her face.
“Oh yeah?” He asked, meeting her eyes. He has a glint in them that she could see even through the grainy camera. “Which one?”
And thus began the never ending number of letters that showed up in her mailbox. It was enough to make Stella want to burst at the seams. Each letter was returned with a FaceTime where all Niall could do was grin at her loss of words.
“I said I’d write you love letters,” Niall chided, all knowingly.
“You were high when you said that,” Stella emphasized, eyebrows raising. “And I didn’t think you remembered.”
“Of course I remembered,” Niall chuckled. “I say what I mean.”
“I know,” Stella murmured, rolling her bottom lip between her fingers.
Stella tried to think of all the ways she could get him back. Nothing compared to a love letter, so she wrote him one. A long one where she told him just how much she was missing him and his smile and his touch and his laugh- and his jumpers.
By the time Niall got it, it was Christmas Eve and Stella was delightfully tipsy, on a high after spending so much time with Ludo. A figurative high, of course.
Niall’s call came well after midnight when all their guests had left. Stella was still in her nice dress, eyes a bit blurry but she pulled herself away from the lively conversation she was having with Ludo and her mother in the living room.
Stella answered as she closed her bedroom door behind her. Niall was there again, hair disheveled again and she could see the plaid of his dress shirt. “Niall,” she said.
“Happy Christmas, lover,” he murmured, lips spreading into a smile. “I got your letter. I loved it.”
Stella tried not to think about how that was the first time he’s ever called her anything but Stella. She’d never imagined herself as a lover. Maybe a love. But if Niall thought she could be a lover, maybe she could.
She felt so far away from him. Maybe it was the alcohol in her that made her eyes sting, looking at him. He was talking about his night, how dinner with his mum and her boyfriend was fun and not at all dreadful the way he thought it was.
Stella didn’t realize she was crying until Niall asked, “what’s wrong?”
Stella wiped at her eyes carelessly not worrying that she’d smudge her makeup. “I think I’m drunk.”
“I think you are too,” Niall mused. “Anything wrong, though?”
“Just miss you,” she shook her head. As an afterthought, she added, “loads.”
“Miss you too,” Niall murmured, chuckling. “But you had a nice night?”
“Mm,” Stella hummed a whole new wave of emotions rushing through her. She had fun. Drank. Laughed. Ate. There was nothing to complain about. “No complaints,” she said.
“I’m sure you have some.”
“I do,” she agreed. “Just don’t want to say them out loud.”
“Do you have New Years plans?” Niall asked after a moment, voice soft.
“Just with Louis and Veda. Maybe Eleanor too. She’s in Leeds right now.”
“I know it’s a few days away but...” Niall trailed off, letting out a soft breath. “My mam is heading to New York. Her boyfriend- Will- that’s his name. Will has a flat there. They’re spending New Years there.”
“Hm,” Stella hummed. “What are you doing?”
“Dunno,” Niall chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.
Stella knew he was nervous, had something on his mind that he was working up the nerve to say. Stella laughed, “Niall just say it.”
“You guys wanna spend the new year in London?” Niall asked with a chuckle. “I dunno is it rude to ask you to come out. Like come see me, you know?”
“It’s not rude,” Stella shook her head, rolling into her side. “I’ll ask them. I’ll be there, though. For sure.”
“For sure?” Niall asked, eyes lighting up at that.
“For sure,” Stella confirmed with a smile. “Wouldn’t miss an opportunity to kiss you.”
“Mm fuck,” Niall chuckled, running his fingers through his hair, disheveling it even more. “I’m glad. Really glad you said that. I can’t wait.”
Stella couldn’t either. She let out a sigh, trying to memorize his tired face, his happy tired face that she couldn’t wait to see. Until then, she’d settle for love letters and FaceTime calls.
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The Wish [ Chapter Three] | Naruto
prompt: See chapter one and two.
pairing: Naruto ◊ Hinata
notes: Here we are chapter three, took me a while to write it how I wanted to. I hope you all enjoyed chapters one and two, I had fun writing them. If you like what I write and want more you just have to let me know by reblogging it and liking it! (Or send me cute messages, I like those best.)
The feeling of her in his arms again made his knees weak and his breath catch in his throat. She was here, even if she didn't know him, even if this wasn't really her, she still had that same warmth about her, and the ability to grip hold of every cell in his body without letting go even if she wasn't aware of it.
This moment, this infinitesimal moment, meant everything to him because there was still hope to bring her back to him.
"Hinata..I.." Strong arms wrapped around her tighter now, making her strain against him. "I.." The words caught in his throat and would stay there now because she had moved away from him, away from the warmth he wanted to give her. He was left feeling cold and unwanted, still he reached out to her, fingers still wanting to trace that beautiful skin again.
"No," she shook her head rapidly, lavender eyes wide, "I don't know you."
.
.
.
.
"Neji.." The words came out like a whispered prayer.
Deep lavender eyes narrowed and his lips went into a hard line. "Why are you crying?" His words had an odd disgusted quality to them, but then a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Idiot."
Why was he here? Why was he alive in this world. Naruto had watched him sacrifice himself for Hinata, for Naruto and for the war but here he was, standing in front of him with long brown hair, the curse mark of the Hyuuga clan hidden underneath white bandages and wearing a casual grey yukata. But those eyes, those eyes he had seen the life go out of were so full of light now, the pale lavender of them were as bright as ever, the genius of Konoha was here, alive, breathing and smirking at him. He had missed Neji, just like the rest of the village missed him, but this was too much, to bring back the dead was too much.
Quickly Naruto wiped the tears that had stained his cheeks, laughing it off like a fool. "Nah, I just had something in my eye-ttebayo."
Neji quirked an eyebrow at him, disbelieving but not pressing further. "Uh-huh. I thought maybe Sakura had broken up with you. Guess I was wrong. But more importantly, I thought you were supposed to be on a mission." Neji walked up to him now, eyeing the blond some.
Naruto's blue eyes couldn't look into his. "Was I?" how was he supposed to know what this world's Naruto was suppose to be doing? Hell, he didn't even care, it wasn't like he was going to adapt to this life. His real life was more important to get back, Hinata was more important than anything.
The Hyuuga Branch member looked at him skeptically. "Yeah, with Kiba and Shino."
"What? What about Hinata?"
A crude laugh came from the male. "Hinata-sama? Why? She gave up being a ninja after the preliminaries for the Chuunin exam years ago. She just wasn't cut out for it." The way Neji looked now it seemed he was looking back on some distant memory but then returned to Naruto, grinning. "There was just no one to really encourage her or motivate her. She didn't have a goal Naruto. Why are you talking about Hinata-sama, do you know her?"
Naruto's fists clenched, why wasn't Hinata a ninja anymore? There's no way her not knowing him would lead to that. Hinata was strong, she would never give up. What about her ninja way?
No..Her ninja way was also his and if she had never met him, then of course she wouldn't have a way. But still, this was wrong.
"No, I don't know her, but I thought..Nevermind." He shook his head, deciding against his previous idea.
"You're acting odd Naruto." Neji deduced, his eyes seeing right through him. "Something wrong?"
He paused, thinking over all of his words before he spoke. "Neji..." Blue eyes caught lavender. "I missed you."
The Hyuuga stared at him, really stared, as though he hadn't heard what Naruto had just said to him. But before he could respond to him and get an answer for his confusion Naruto left him. As much as it pained him to leave Neji standing there in the middle of the night with befuddled expressionism he needed to go. He needed to go because there was something going on inside his head that he needed to plan out, he'd spend the night in the park if he had to just to clear his thoughts, but mostly because he didn't know where home was. In his world home was wherever Hinata was, and right now that home wasn't in existence yet.
He'd make that home again if he had to.
---
The morning the woke up he still had images of Neji trapped in his thoughts. These thoughts made this nightmare that much more real to him, so he couldn't rub it off as some craved dream. So he sat up from the bench he had claimed as his own for the night and went over his plan in his head again.
He'd go to the Hyuuga compound and ask to see Hinata. Just ask to speak with her privately, figure out what kind of person she was in this world and take her out...No, he had decided against taking her out, it was too soon, or was it?
"Damnit, I'm having second thoughts again, this is so fucked up. I just want Hinata back!" He screamed the last bit and a few black crows fled from the tree behind him, their wings flopping in panic from the outcry.
"Oi, Naruto, can you not scream so damn loud this early in the morning, you're killing Akamaru's sensitive ears." Kiba was walking past the gate to the park when he had seen Naruto, his ever loyal pooch at his side with an equally annoyed expression on his face.
At Kiba hadn't changed, still a sarcastic little shit like always and still reeked of that dog smell Naruto knew and hated. It was refreshing to see a unchanging face. Shino trailed behind him, clad in his usual get-up that hid nearly his whole body, and as silent as over, only offering a small nod of his head to the blond.
"Kiba, Shino!" Naruto jumped up from the bench, nearly slamming the two down when his arms embraced them, chuckling at the familiar feeling he got from the two.
"Oi, oi! Get the hell off me." Kiba pushed away from him while Shino simply slipped out of Naruto's grasp, adjusting his posture.
"Sorry guys, I'm just glad to see regular faces." Naruto rubbed his nose a small blush coming to his cheeks.
"You saw us yesterday, idiot." The dog man rolled his eyes smiling some.
"Mm." Shino added with a small nod, then added, "So Naruto...are you going to tell us why you got Hokage-sama to postpone the mission?"
Kiba side-eyed Shino, his canines could be seen with the wide smile he was giving. "He was probably doing something good with Sakura-chan, eh Shino?" His dark brows wiggled as he nudged Shino who only stayed staring at Naruto.
Naruto stared right back, confusion would clearly be seen on his face now. "Postponed?" A light clicked on in his head, remembering that this world was different. "Uh, yeah, sorry about that guys. I needed to get some other..business..done, ehehe." A nervous sweat trickled down his temple now, this was so clearly the worst lie he had ever told.
Kiba saw right through it, of course. "Uh-huh, riight." He winked, making Naruto flinch.
"You shouldn't have done that, now we're behind schedule and not due to set out for one more week..." Shino's eyebrows furrowed, even more annoyed now with Naruto lack-luster answer.
Kiba reached into his pocket, pulling out a few treats for Akamaru and fed the dog before speaking. "So, any news on your proposal to Sakura? Did you buy the ring yet?"
If Naruto had water in his mouth he would have spit it right now, but instead his jaw opened, nearly hitting the floor. "P-proposal? What?? No, I wouldn't propose to her. Never!" His mind kept saying 'no' over and over, this world was so messed up. But right now he knew this must look strange to them, because in this world Sakura and him were... "I mean, I'm just nervous-ttebayo. Sorry, I didn't mean to act all crazy just then, I'm still thinking about the whole thing-ttebayo." His hands clenched and unclenched over and over, this situation was getting out of hand now as the two males and even the dog seemed to be skeptical of Naruto now.
But then Kiba slapped him on the back, jerking Naruto forward. "Don't worry Naruto, you'll be able to do it. Once you get over those nerves of course, heh'." Below Akamaru barked in agreement and Shino nodded and Naruto felt like he was going to faint.
Naruto needed to change the subject now, he didn't want to talk about Sakura it was getting too uncomfortable for him. "S..So what are you guys up to this morning?"
"We're headed to see Hinata." Shino answered very monotonously.
The sound of her name perk up his mood, a new emotion coming to his word. "Hinata? Really, why?" This could be his chance to get into the compound without the threat of being killed.
Kiba narrowed his eyes at him. "We heard someone trespassed on the property last night and we wanted to make sure she was okay."
Naruto's mood sank again at realizing that this was about him and that if he stepped into the compound he would surely be arrested. Still, he needed to see her again.
"Do you know Hinata?" Shino chimed in as a couple of bugs landed on his skin.
"I--I..Uh--No. Is she nice?" God was he sweating.
"Well, she's had it pretty rough, after her decision to stop being a ninja, she kind of folded in on herself, she's not very lively, but she's really a great person. Just leading a pretty unfortunate life. There's been talk that she's going to be put in the branch family because her father sees no use for her now that Hanabi has already become a Jounin at her young age, the clan head position is on her shoulders now. But that's why we still come to see her, pretty sure we're her only friends still." Akamaru whimpered a bit giving the same sad expression Kiba was.
The Uzumaki's heart felt like it was going to burst, now he had to see her, no matter what happened when he showed up. He needed to speak with her, to touch her, to smell her, to hold her and to comfort her. He cursed this world for damaging her like this. It was too cruel.
"Can I come? I'm not doing anything today, and I've got nothing better to do. Maybe I can make her smile or something, she seems like a pretty dull person-ttebayo." Inwardly her cringed at the odd lots the males were giving him, but these were the only words he could come up with.
Shino sighed, "I don't see why not."
Kiba blinked for a moment and then howled with laughter. "Sure, sure. You are really acting odd today Naruto, did you eat some bad ramen?"
"Heh...yeah.." With Kiba's arm wrapped around his shoulders they made their way towards the Hyuuga compound, his heart clenched up at the thought of seeing her again, but mostly he was glad Kiba keen senses didn't pick up on his desperation to be with her. His acting had paid off, now he just needed to keep it up.
"Say Naruto, why were you sleeping in the park?" Kiba asked, giving him a quick sniff, his nose crinkling at the smell he gave off.
"Well you see..." Naruto's voice trailed off now as they walked, the words coming out in a fast lie, stacking more on top of the others.
___
During the day the compound was different, many people walked and shuffled about trying to prepare for the day. This is how he always saw the place, filled with busy people but they always had time to say hello to him, knowing that he was now married into the family. But right now not a single person paid him any mind nor to Kiba or Shino. It was like they didn't exist to them and everything was the task that they were working on.
"They're getting ready for the announcement of Hanabi's acceptance to be the heir of the clan. They don't even pay attention to us anymore." Kiba had leaned in to Naruto's ear to whisper the words while a few curious pale eyes glanced their way.
They made their way into an empty room where Naruto assumed that meetings were held in due to the numerous amount of seat cushions that were stacked in a corner. Akamaru sniffed at the floor, licking a spot that tea or food at spilled on at some point.
"Oi, I'll go get Hinata, don't fuck around with anything Naruto." His dark eyes gave him a warning glare, as if trying to communicate a past mistake that had happened with him. Naruto couldn't recall such event. Next to him Shino chuckled.
His heart was racing in his chest, and he could hear the thudding of it while the blood rushed to his head. Just breathe, don't be so nervous, he thought. But he didn't really believe that it was nerves gripping hold of his body but more so the anxious need to be with her and make her his once more, it was borderline obsessive the way she was running through his head now. This world was making his crazy, he just wanted things to be normal again but he felt there was a lesson to be learned from what was happening to him. And if he needed to get Hinata to fall for him he would do just that.
When the sliding door pulled open his heart leaped into his throat, and he choked on the air he needed to breathe. She was beautiful, her skin glowing like the moon on the darkest night and eyes that looked with such sadness. Her posture was introverted and cold looking, like she wasn't even comfortable being among friends, but her was pulled back into a high pony-tail showing off the curve of her flushed cheeks and slender neck and sharp collar bones. How he wanted to lay his lips on that flesh and kiss those plump pink lips, but he held in place waiting for her eyes to meet his, but they never did, not until she greeted Shino did she know he was sitting there on the floor in silent agony.
"Eh..? Kiba-kun..who..?" Lazily her eyes looked to her canine companion.
"Oh, yeah, you don't know Naruto, this is Naruto Uzumaki. He'd the guy who saved the village." Kiba pointed a finger at him, grinning like an idiot.
"Naruto..Uzumaki-kun..?" There it was, his unfamiliar name gracing her lips again, like she had never heard it before, but now those eyes widened, the knowledge of what happened previous night coming to mind. "Y-you're the boy who..who trespassed on the property last night..!" Her fingers cupped over her mouth, a shocked expression crossed every face in the room, including the dog's.
Naruto face flared an ugly crimson color at the mention of his adventure, still he tried to deny it. "N-no, it wasn't me, I mean, yes, but..I uh, was lost. Yeah, lost-ttebayo!" Nervously he rubbed the back of his head but inwardly he was ripping his hair out of his head, loathing himself.
"Naruto..did you really?" Shino asked cooly.
"I. Got. Lost." The blond spat the words out, steaming.
Then there was a laugh, it wasn't Kiba's or Shino but Hinata's. It was a giggle that he admired, that he got to hear in the comfort of their bedroom when he would tickle her under the covers or nibble on her earlobe or say something complete ridiculous. For a moment he thought that he was in his world, but as easily as the sound came it was gone.
Kiba clapped his hands together the sound echoing through the room. "Haven't heard that laugh in a while, maybe it was wise to bring Naruto after all, eh Shino?"
"Mm." The bug boy replied, nodding.
The the dog boy's eyes turned on Hinata, cocking a smile at her. "How about some tea, Hinata? And some snacks if you have any." He walked over to the stacked cushions and started throwing them on the floor, one for each of them.
"Ah..right.." She nodded, taking her leave and making haste down the corridor towards what Naruto assumed was the kitchen.
When she was gone Naruto let out a deep sigh of relief which Kiba responded to. "Thanks for that Naruto, Hinata hadn't laughed like that for years, I think, it was really refreshing." Next to him Akamaru flopped himself on a cushion, covering the entire thing.
All Naruto could do was nod to his thanks, that wasn't even the hard part.
___
They had stayed there for hours, talking about recent missions, which Naruto tried to comment on but Shino quickly corrected him with what had actually happened and Kiba rolled his eyes saying how much of an idiot he was. Hinata had laughed some more at Naruto's out bursts when he lashed at Kiba for calling him names or Shino for saying something smart he was oblivious to.
They also talked about Naruto's ring he was going to get Sakura. Hinata had taken an interest to the topic so Naruto started describing the ring he had gotten her, in as much detail as he could without taking his eyes off of her. he also talked about what kind of wedding it would be, bringing back the memory of their wedding to words which made her mouth part and her breathing falter at the sheer beauty he was describing. Everything, down to the cups they drank out of was described, and of course the males looked at him oddly, asking him questions like how did he have every little thing planned out already.
"I saw it in a dream that I'm pretty sure was reality." Naruto shrugged, smiling at his love who blushed and looked away.
Before they were about to leave Kiba announced that he was going to take Akamaru out so he could do his do and Shino announced that he needed to relieve himself as well, thus leaving Naruto and Hinata alone for a short while.
It was awkward, the silence, it filled the air and suffocated them. he needed to speak, to say something, but before he could Hinata spoke up, her voice small but relaxed.
"So..you really love Sakura-san?"
The question through him off, how was he suppose to answer this? he said the only word that was true, because he felt the truth needed to be said. "No."
Those eyes he loved to much stared in shock at his blunt reply. "But you talk about her with such...love. How can you not love her?" Her body leaned forward, desperate for answers.
he would give them to her, but he needed to be closer to her, so he got up, taking the few strides between them with ease. He stayed standing, offering her hand to her to stand as well, their eye contact never breaking while he spoke. "I'm in love with someone else, and that's who I've been describing this whole time."
The Hyuuga girl was awe struck with the intensity in his eyes, she was being enveloped by it, embraced by it, caressed and loved by it. It was such an unfamiliar feeling to her all she could do was fall into him. And all Naruto could do was wrap his arms around her as tight as he could.
The feeling of her in his arms again made his knees weak and his breath catch in his throat. She was here, even if she didn't know him, even if this wasn't really her, she still had that same warmth about her, and the ability to grip hold of every cell in his body without letting go even if she wasn't aware of it.
This moment, this infinitesimal moment, meant everything to him because there was still hope to bring her back to him.
"Hinata..I.." Strong arms wrapped around her tighter now, making her strain against him. "I.." The words caught in his throat and would stay there now because she had moved away from him, away from the warmth he wanted to give her. He was left feeling cold and unwanted, still he reached out to her, fingers still wanting to trace that beautiful skin again.
"No," she shook her head rapidly, lavender eyes wide, "I don't know you."
As quickly as she had fallen into him she had fallen away from him and was gone. The door to the room slapped shut behind her and he was left clutching the air, a single tear dripping from his eyes.
Deception - Chapter Three
I sigh as I move a single step up in line at the express lane of the grocery store. The lady in front of me, her two kids dangling off her legs and pulling at the hem of her purple workout shirt, is arguing exasperatedly with the cashier about how "even if coupons are expired that doesn't mean I can't use them," and I'm starting to think I might have to resort to spontaneous combustion just to put myself out of my own misery. I contemplate the various ways I could achieve it, my eyes trained on the abandoned foil birthday balloons that always seem to manage to find their way into the rafters of the grocery store ceiling, when my day is worsened just a little bit by one of the kids falling on his face and starting to cry.
But the lord must seriously be fucking testing me because the commercials on the radio - which had really been nothing but white noise to me before - are now replaced by what could just possibly be scientifically proven to be the worst song made in the history of human existence. And what makes it just absolutely unbearable - I am seriously starting to reconsider that spontaneous combustion plan right about now - is the fact that the person in the line behind me is humming along.
I hold myself back from throwing a glare over my shoulder to shut the guy up, because, manners. Right. The song finally ends - and now the lady in front of me is yelling about "calling your supervisor," and "this store is losing a valuable customer," as the bored cashier finally starts to scan her million items - and I breathe a genuine sigh of relief as I hear the announcer on the radio come back on and the music fade out. And then I groan in agony as the second worst song in the world starts up, and there's a chuckle from behind me. I finally can't help myself and turn around to glare at the guy, and instead come face-to-face (okay, not face-to-face, I have to look up because he's got a few inches on me, but whatever) with a pair of big blue eyes and mussed-up blonde hair.
"Don't like these songs, eh?" he says with a noticeable Irish lilt. So not from around here, then. I shrug noncommittally, turning back around and suddenly feeling self conscious. I curse the blush that's starting to creep up my cheeks.
"This isn't much of an express lane, is it?" he tries for conversation again, peeking around me to see what's taking so long. His arm brushes mine, and he's close enough that I can smell the very subtle scent of cologne on his neck. My breathing stutters embarrassingly, but he doesn't seem to notice. Breathe, Teddy, breathe. You're cool.
"This is getting ridiculous," he says. The lady is trying to shove the coupons in the cashier's face again, and he literally has to dodge his head away from her flailing hand. I feel bad for the guy.
"Tell me about it," I grumble, turning to face him as I lean against the bubblegum rack. He smiles at me, one eyebrow slightly higher than the other, and for some reason I feel like I have to keep talking. "So you sound Irish," I say. "What are you doing in Manchester?" He looks at me with a bit of happy surprise for a second, like he can't quite believe I just asked him that, before clearing his throat.
"Yeah, um," he laughs, "I'm here for the summer, staying with some...friends. And actually, they should be expecting me right now, if the line would just hurry up." He winks at me, and I can't help but laugh.
"This grocery store is always packed," I explain. "Even in the summer. But it's got the best deals, so I always come here."
He grins at this, one of those grins where I can tell that he's on the same level about that kind of stuff, that he understands. He reaches out to touch my arm. "Sorry, I didn't catch your name."
I'm halfway through responding when the cashier calls out, in a loud and incredibly bored voice, "NEXT."
I turned back around quickly and smile at the man, in a better mood than a few minutes ago, and I step up to the counter and watch as he picks up my few things off the conveyor belt and starts scanning them. I think I hear him growl something about, "Hope you don't have any more fucking coupons," as he's scanning the cereal, when my eyes wander toward the magazines that sit on the rack in front of me. I never actually cared what went on with celebrities, so I never had bought one - it's a bit of a waste of money, anyway - but I do occasionally glance at the covers. Before I get a chance, though, the blonde boy behind me jumps forward and grabs the entire stack of magazines on an impulse and shoves them in his cart. I stare at him.
"Like magazines much?" I ask, looking back at the upturned pile of them in his cart behind him. There's a hint of red in his cheeks when he answers.
"Yeah, something like that," he says casually, grinning. I snort, turning back around to the cashier.
"That'll be sixteen pounds," the man says flatly. I fish my wallet out of my pocket and flip it open and pull out everything that's in there - not all that much - and count out fifteen. Crap, I was one short.
"I...uh, one second," I mumble quickly, mentally swearing to myself for letting this happen. I stick my hand into my wallet once more, find nothing, and then stick my hand into my wallet again.
Nothing.
Nada.
Zilch.
Not a single pound. Not even a coin.
"Here, let me-" the Irish boy tries, but I shake my head, feeling my face grow hot from embarrassment.
"No, it's fine, honestly. I'm sure I have something here," I mutter, sticking my hands into my shorts pockets even though I know it'll be a bit pointless. It's not like I have extra money, ever. The babysitting gig is kind of all I got to keep us afloat. But the boy just smiles sincerely and reaches a hand into his back pocket and hands me a pound. "Here, please. Take it."
I feel tempted, but I shake my head anyway. I hate being a charity case.
"No, I didn't really need the, erm..." My eyes search through my items, looking for the most expendable thing, and my gaze lands on the waffles. "The waffles. I don't need the waffles. Can I return the waffles, please?" I direct this at the cashier, who rolls his eyes and goes to pick them up. But then I hear the boy beside me laugh.
"Stubborn, eh?" He smirks as he hands the cashier the pound, and the cashier, sick of standing around waiting for me to decide, takes the matters into his own hands and grabs the note and bags my items quickly. I feel my cheeks grow ten times redder.
"Your receipt." I take it sheepishly and then pick up my bags, looking back at the boy to see him smirking just a little bit. I search his eyes to figure out why he's finding this so amusing, but he just smiles at me and winks again, handing his own things to the cashier and then swiping his card.
I rush out, just wanting to go home, have a cup of tea, watch some crap television, and forget this ever happened.
Hurrying, I cross the parking lot and shield myself from the drizzle with my free arm, and finally reach the car, awkwardly shifting around the shopping bags so I can get to my keys. (Well, not my keys. My friends' keys. This isn't exactly my car, but they let me use it whenever I need to and in return I'm just the best fucking friend ever.) As I'm reaching into my pocket, basically about to drop everything onto the ground, a hand grabs hold of the shopping bags and takes them off my arm, holding them and his own shopping bags easily as another hand rests casually against the side of the truck. "Need help?"
I spin around. He smirks, dropping his hand. The boy with the blonde hair.
"You?"
"Can't even get a simple thank you?" he says teasingly. I blush.
"Right. I mean, thank you...?" I pause, remembering he hadn't told me his name.
"Niall," He says, moving in a bit closer and looking down. "And your name?" I bite my lip, sweeping my auburn hair out of my face. "Theodora. But they call me Teddy." I smile, grabbing my bags back from him and tossing them into the passenger side seat, and swing around to the other side of the car to hop in behind the wheel. I look back at him before I pull out of my spot. "Teddy O'Connell."
