Peas in a Pod
Elias 'Stack' Moore x reader
Warnings - swearing, fluff, reader’s nickname is Pea
Word count - 4814
a/n - this was supposed to be posted like two weeks ago after I saw the film, but I couldn't figure out an ending lol. I'm currently out for the summer so hopefully more time for imagines, but no promises. I hope you enjoy and thanks for reading :) Part 2 out now!
Summary: After years have passed since the twins left town, you figured your feelings for one of them had dissipated and you had moved on, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
“I know that ain’t Pea I see,” you hear a voice say from behind.
It’s a voice you haven’t heard in years, but it sounds just as familiar. You’re looking at the selection of produce in front of you, but you freeze at the sound. It only takes you another moment to turn around to reveal Stack standing there before you.
You had been a friend to the twins ever since you all were children. You spent most of your childhood ignoring the chores your mama had instructed and hanging out with the twins instead.
As you all got older, the boys started making a reputation for themselves, and of course your mama would tell you to leave them alone, but you never stopped. The twins weren’t that bad. Well, at least not around you.
You would be lying if you were to say you never had feelings for one of them. After spending the majority of your life with them, it became inevitable and you found yourself developing feelings for the more eccentric twin, Elias, but everyone called him Stack.
It wasn’t a secret that you were closer to Stack, though everyone just figured it was because of Smoke’s more quiet and laid back demeanor. You never told anyone about your crush except for Mary, one of your close friends, and of course she encouraged you to confess, but you never did.
When the twins left home after their father’s death, you weren’t mad at them. How could you be? You were happy for them. You knew what they had to endure, and you were just glad they took the first chance they had to live out their dreams.
You also thought your feelings for Stack would fade over time, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“Stack? Is that really you?” You question, your eyebrows raised at the man in front of you.
Stack’s hands are tucked in the pockets of his dress pants, which match the rest of his nicely tailored suit. A hat sits atop his head as he stares back at you with a handsome smirk on his face.
“Yes ma’am, it is,” he nods. He removes his hat as he takes a couple of steps closer towards you.
Stack was definitely in shape before he left town, but that doesn’t compare to how he looks now. You’re taken aback, but before you end up staring too long, you clear your throat to say something.
“I almost didn’t recognize you with that giant bush sleeping on your lip,” you joke, referring to the thick, but neat mustache growing above his lip.
You can’t help the small smile that spreads across your face as you hear him chuckle.
“That’s real funny. I should be the one surprised, though. I mean, look at you. You finally grew into that forehead of yours,” Stack smirks.
You scoff. “How dare you,” you playfully say as you fold your arms across your chest, your tone light.
“No, how dare you. The ladies happen to love how I look, especially the mustache,” he grins proudly, rubbing his fingers over the facial hair.
“What are you trying to say, that I'm not a lady?”
A loud laugh leaves Stack this time.
“Well, if the boot fits,” Stack says, holding his hands up in surrender. He knows how much you hate him saying that. He watches with a smile as you roll your eyes and shake your head at him. “I’m just playin’, Pea, you know I’d never say such a thing.”
Pea was a nickname you had become stuck with after meeting twins. One day while the three of you were out playing as children do, an older woman that everyone knew from the church had pointed at how you all resembled peas in a pod.
After that, Stack had decided to call you ‘Pea’ once as a joke to which you just brushed off. Somehow, though, the nickname stuck and ever since then everyone refers to you as Pea.
Hearing that name come out of his mouth after these years makes your stomach flutter and your skin heat up, which only makes the hot summer sun feel worse. The sweat on your skin suddenly feels more prominent with Stack’s eyes on you.
You start using the hand fan you were holding to try and provide yourself with some relief.
“What brings you back in town, Stack? I know it isn’t just some friendly conversation.”
“And why can’t it be?” He asks, furrowing his eyebrows. You give him a look calling his bluff, and he easily quits the act. “You still know me well, I see.”
“Unfortunately,” you smile.
“Smoke and I are openin’ our own juke joint. We figured we split up so I can recruit some entertainment while he handles some other business. Tonight is the openin’ night. That is, if we get everything situated in time.”
Your expression contorts in confusion. “Juke joint? Where?”
“One of the abandoned barnhouses not too far from here,” Stack responds, motioning in what you assume is the direction of the barn house.
“Where the hell did you get the money to buy all of that, and who was dumb enough to take it?” You ask, lowering your voice as you look around you.
“You know how those folks are—all they care about is the cash. It wasn't a problem.”
“And they just took your money like that with no questions asked?”
“Oh, the man asked questions,” Stack nods, “he just didn’t get the answers he wanted.”
The two of you are quiet for another moment, both work for the other one to crack, before you both burst into laughter.
“Still the same after all this time, huh?” you ask once you both settle down, although, it’s not really a question.
“I’m not changin’ for just anyone,” Stack responds, shooting you a wink.
Before the two of you could continue catching up, someone else runs up behind Stack calling his name. You didn’t notice how much the two of you were stuck in your own world until Stack turns away from you, breaking you out of the trance.
“What the hell do you want, Sammy?” You hear Stack ask.
Your eyes widen as you move to look around Stack’s frame, but your confusion turns into surprise as you take in the young man standing in front of him with a guitar hanging from his neck. “Sammy? As in lil’ Sammy? As in Preacher boy?”
When Sammy finally notices your presence, he gives you a shy smile and a tip of his hat. “Oh, Pea, what are you doin’ out here?”
“I should be asking you the same thing? Does your mama know you’re all the way out here?” You raise an eyebrow at him.
“She knows I’m with the twins, that’s all that matters,” Sammy says.
“I’ll take that as a no then,” you give him a look.
Sammy opens his mouth to say something else, but Stack hits the back of his head before he could continue. Sammy lets out a yelp as he looks up at Stack, while one of his hands rubs his head.
“You better have a damn good reason for comin’ over here and interruptin’ us.”
“Slim’s gettin’ tired of waitin’. He said to hurry up before he changes his mind because he’s getting older by the minute. He also said that there’ll be plenty of time to talk to pretty women t’night,” Sammy explains, glancing at you for the last part, but it goes over your head.
You follow Stack’s eyes when he looks over to Slim in the distance, a harmonica in one of his hands and a bottle in the other. Classic.
Stack mumbles something that you can’t quite hear, before telling Sammy to run off and that he’d be over in a second.
“I usually wouldn’t listen to a drunk, but he’s right. Daylight is wastin’ and I got some other things to take care of before tonight,” Stack admits. “You’ll be there, right?”
Oh.
“And what if I had plans?”
You don’t.
Stack laughs. “Oh, really? What plans?”
“You say it like you don’t believe me,” you raise an eyebrow.
“Oh, no, no. I’m just curious about these plans.”
“I’m a grown woman, I don’t have to tell you anything,” you huff.
“Fair enough, fair enough,” Stack nods in agreement. When he realizes you aren’t going to say anything else, he continues. “C’mon, Pea, it’ll be worth it. There’ll be good food and drinks along with good entertainment.”
“I take it that Sammy and Slim are part of that entertainment?” You ask.
You tear your eyes away from Stack and to the small crowd beginning to form around the musical pair. Even from a distance you can hear Sammy’s powerful voice accompanied by Slim’s skilled fingers playing his harmonica.
“You know I only like the best of the best,” Stack smirks. “So, what do you say, Pea? It’ll be just like old times.”
“Hm, I don’t know. It’s not safe for a lady at night,” you say.
Yes, you do want to go, but parties were never really your thing. You usually chose to stay home when someone asked you, especially when the twins would try to encourage you to sneak out when you were kids.
“And I’ll make sure you’ll get home safe, there’s nothin’ to worry about. C’mon, I know Smoke is bringin’ Annie, don’t make me be the only one without a date.”
“Oh, so that’s why you want me to come, so you won’t be alone?” you give him a look.
“Of course, why else would I want you there?” he plays along, trying to keep a straight face, but fails.
“There’ll be plenty of other women without a date there to keep you company.”
“Yeah, but that don’t matter if I want you to be the one keepin’ me company,” Stack tells you.
And just like that all of those feelings that you thought were gone resurface, fluttering through your heart and stomach.
You hesitate for a moment, before finally giving him an answer. “I guess I could come. Besides, I want to be there to see if this juke joint of yours fails.”
“Now, that’s just wrong.”
~
Later that night as you’re getting ready, you can’t seem to calm your nerves. It’s just the twins—it’s just Stack.
And it’s not like it’s a date anyways because why would it be? Or maybe it is? No, Stack just invited you so you could keep him company and so the two of you could catch up. But, why do you specifically need to keep him company?
You’re checking your appearance in the mirror, stuck in your thoughts as you turn from side to side,, when Mary walks into your room already dressed and ready to go.
“By the time we get there, the damn party will be over. What is the hold up?” Mary throws her hands up for dramatics.
“Would you relax? The party doesn’t start for, like, another 30 minutes, and we don’t want to be too early do we?” You tell her, looking at her through the reflection in the mirror.
“I just figured you’d want to be early in order to have as much time with Stack as possible.” Mary smirks at the glare you give her. “I mean, it’s been so long since he’s last been in town, aren’t you excited? I would be.”
“I don’t know if that’s the word I’d use.”
“Why, what’s wrong? Don’t tell me you're nervous.”
Your silence is enough of an answer. You fiddle with your dress and adjust yourself in order to avoid looking over at Mary. Mary scoffs and walks over to stand next to you as you look in the mirror.
“Oh come on, you can’t be serious. There’s no reason you should be nervous over that man. You guys have been friends since birth-“
“Not birth, it was more like-“
Mary raises a hand to cut you off and finally makes you face her. “You know what I’m trying to say. You guys have practically known each other since the beginning. Stack knows everything about you and you know everything about Stack—well, that is excludin’ whatever the hell the twins have been doing these past couple of years.”
“That’s exactly my point,” you throw your hands up before taking a step back and placing your hands on your hip. “I mean, yeah, we’ve written to each other while he’s been away, but it’s been a while since we’ve actually talked face to face. It seems like he’s still the same, but if he’s not? What if he actually has changed?”
You can feel your nerves picking up at the thought of talking to Stack tonight and all the possibilities of how tonight will go.
Mary knows you like the back of her hand, and your overthinking doesn’t go unnoticed.
Mary rolls her eyes. “Please, that man is exactly the same as he was the day he left here. Besides, you saw him earlier today, were you nervous when you were talkin’ to him then?”
“Well, not really, but I didn’t exactly have time to be. He snuck up on me while I was shopping and we just started talking.”
“Exactly, the two of you are so close that you started talkin’ like nothin’ has changed. Believe me, everything’ll be fine, and when Stack sees you in this dress, he’ll fall to his knees to propose. If he doesn’t just come and find me so I can handle his ass.”
You snicker as you walk away from Mary to finish getting ready. She follows right behind you.
“Relax, Stack is not going to pick me to propose to out of all the beautiful women in this town. Not to mention all the women he’s probably encountered during his travels.”
“A girl can dream can’t she? Just suckin’ all the fun out of my night.”
-
The noise from the juke joint can be heard all the way down the road, the sounds only getting louder and more clear as you and Mary approach. Your heart speeds up in both anticipation and nervousness as you take in the scene.
Dozens can be seen either arriving on foot or by car, their excitement obvious from miles away. The land outside the farmhouse is packed with vehicles and it’s obvious there will be many more given the constant flow of traffic.
Cornbread’s eyes widen in surprise as he watches from the entrance as you and Mary walk up. He greets you with a smile.
“You two look gorgeous, but I’ll be damned, Pea. What brings you here? I know this ain’t your kinda scene,” he points out.
You playfully point at Mary, “You’re looking right at the culprit. She convinced me to come.”
“I shoulda known,” Cornbread shakes his head in amusement, but then his expression shifts to confusion as he looks at Mary. “Wait a minute, ain’t you married? What are you doing out this late?”
Mary folds her arms across her chest. “I could ask you the same, don’t you have a family to take care of?” Mary asks while folding her arms across her chest.
Cornbread puts his hands up in surrender. “Stack offered me a good amount of cash to be here tonight, I’m not turnin’ that down.”
“And I don’t blame you. Now, are you going to let us come in or are you going to leave two ladies stranded outside all night?” Mary questions.
Cornbread lets out a laugh, but quickly moves aside to let you both in.
The dusty, rundown appearance of the barnhouse from the outside is a completely different vibe from the atmosphere on the inside.
Slim is playing his heart out at the piano at the front of the room while people laugh and dance to the music. Lights are hanging from the ceiling, illuminating the space as guests move around freely. The mouthwatering smell of freshly fried catfish fills the air along with the smell of sweat and alcohol.
“Wow, the twins definitely outdid themselves didn’t they?” Mary admits as the both of you take in everything.
“They really did,” you murmur mostly to yourself, your mind still stuck and amazed at how Smoke and Stack pulled this off.
“We can’t start dancing without a drink,” Mary smirks.
“Yeah, you can, it’s easy,” you say.
Mary gives you a look before saying, “Well, if you’re going to talk to Stack, you’re gonna need a little something in your system.”
You open your mouth to object, but you decide against it.. Alcohol does loosen you up, which would help you get through the night.
When Mary doesn’t hear a response, she pulls you towards the bar. After Mrs. Chow hands you both your drinks, the two of you decide to linger at the bar.
“Is that Lil Sammy over there flirtin’ with a girl?” Mary asks you.
You turn to look in the direction of Mary’s eyes to, sure enough, see Sammy flirting with a woman—a woman who looks a little bit older than him.
“Isn’t she married?” Mary continues.
“Well so are you, but you’re still here tonight,” you say.
This makes Mary whip her head back towards you and send you a glare, one you pretend to ignore as you take a sip of your drink and pretend to be really interested in the guests dancing to the music.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” she says after you don’t respond, before a smile grows on her face.
Suddenly you hear a gasp come from behind the bar, catching your attention and making you turn around. You see Smoke, Stack, and Annie come from a back room.
“Am I seein’ things or is that really Pea standin’ in front of me at a party?” Annie smiles, her hands on her hips.
You playfully roll your eyes. “No, you’re not seeing things.”
Annie makes her way from behind the bar to give you a hug, and after she pulls away, Smoke comes up to do the same. The way Stack looks you up and down as you hug Smoke goes unnoticed by you but not by Mary as she watches with a smirk. Stack notices Mary’s eyes on him and quickly clears his throat.
“I’m glad you came,” Stack says, smiling at you as he comes up to hug you last.
“Well I couldn’t miss the famous Moore twins’ big grand opening,” you beam, motioning to the large crowd that has formed. Smoke smiles at your compliment. “I don’t know how you guys pulled it off, but everything looks great. I’m impressed.”
“Nothin’ is too out of reach for us,” Smoke adds with a nod. Stack claps his brother on the back as a sign of his agreement.
“Alright, enough of this lovey dovey shit. Let’s get this place poppin’ like fish grease and get it started for real!” Stack exclaims with a smirk.
Stack walks over to Sammy, pulling him away from the woman he was talking to and motions to the stage. As Sammy joins Slim at the front, people begin to gather around to listen.
Now, you knew Sammy was talented, but watching him sing his heart out and play the hell out of his guitar gave you goosebumps and made you emotional.
It was obvious that you weren’t the only one who felt this way as you notice everyone’s expressions change as they begin to cheer and clap while they move their bodies to the rhythm. Close friends, couples, and singles make their way about the room.
Much to your dismay, Mary pulls you into the dancing crowd. You’re uncertain of what to do with yourself at first, but after seeing everyone in their own world, the body movements just come naturally.
You watch with admiration and a smile as Smoke grabs Annie to join him for a dance. Even after all of that time apart, Smoke and Annie still seem to be as in love with each other as the first day they met. The little bit of alcohol you have on your system does make a difference.
Your eyes wander just a little bit to the right and you see Stack dancing with two women. It’s no secret that the twins are attractive, but oh how you wish for just one night where women didn’t climb all over them—mainly Stack.
After a while, you become overheated and overstimulated with all the hot bodies surrounding you. Once you tell Mary that you’ll be back, you leave to find a place to take a breather.
You come across a set of stairs and somehow find yourself overlooking the inside of the entire building.
You catch sight of Mary from your spot and laugh to yourself at how easily it is for her to find some stranger to dance with.
Eventually, someone else makes their way up the stairs and stands next to you. Your nostrils become aware of him before your eyes do.
“Too much goin’ on down there?” Stack asks as he leans on the railing and takes in the view.
“Just needed a little break,” you shrug, your eyes still on the crowd below you. “What about you, don’t you have some guests to entertain? This is your place after all.”
“As an owner, I have people to do the entertainin’ for me. I just make sure there are no problems,” Stack responds, the smirk evident in his tone.
There’s a moment of comfortable silence that grows between the two of you. Earlier you were stressing on what would happen once you saw Stack, but here he is, and your heartbeat is still somewhat calm.
“How’s everything, Pea?” Stack asks, breaking the silence.
“Oh, you know, just getting through day by day and taking things slow,” you shrug.
“What are you up to these days?”
“Helping my mama out with the shop most days. When I’m not working I’m running errands around town or helping others out.”
“How’s the shop and your mama doin’?”
“Mama’s great. Her happiness really comes from the shop and being able to have a safe place for people to come back to over and over again. We’re still getting plenty of customers, and we’ve recently renovated it.”
Stack nods along. “That’s good, that’s good. How are you doing though?”
You raise an eyebrow at him. “You already asked that.”
“I phrased it differently this time, though. First time was more of a casual ask and this time I wanna know what’s really goin’ on with you.”
You’re slightly taken aback by his forwardness, until you remember that this is how Stack has always been.
Stack turns his body to face yours, keeping an elbow on the railing. “Come on now, Junebug. It’s been a long time since we’ve sat down and talked down and talked, y’know?”
“Is this really the time to be having a conversation like this?” you ask.
Stack is quick but genuine with his reply. “For you, there’s always time.”
The nerves the alcohol had been holding back, finally hit you with full force after hearing his words. Your heart rate begins to pick up, and you’re suddenly extremely aware of the high temperature in the building.
You wish you had brought a fan with you.
Stack’s eyes never leave yours as he waits for an answer, not even when you hear a glass bottle break somewhere in the crowd below you.
You give him a shy smile, but you have to tear your eyes away from him.
“I’m fine, really Stack. You know, you never told me exactly how you got the money for all this.”
Stack scoffs. “I know you didn’t just try and change the conversation.”
“It worked didn’t it,” you laugh. Stack shakes his head in disappointment, but he can’t help the laugh that slips out.
“That’s alright, Pea. There’ll be plenty of time to talk since Smoke and I aren’t goin’ anywhere anytime soon.”
Your heart flutters.
“Really?” you ask, and you wish you would’ve been able to stop your voice from changing pitch.
Damn.
“Just admit that you missed us,” Stack smirks.
“I don’t know, I mean, I feel like everyone’s life has been calm without you and Smoke being here to terrorize everyone.”
“That was one time! Plus, Jimmy had it comin’. I can’t let anyone steal from us and just walk away without a scratch,” Stack throws his head back as he laughs.
“Well, yeah, but that doesn’t mean you had to chase him all over,” you join in, beginning to double over in laughter.
“It was either me or Smoke, and that boy Smoke was fumin’ when he found out, so it was better that Jenkins dealt with me instead of him,” Stack snorts.
“Whew, I remember that day like it was yesterday. Y’all had the whole town confused with Jimmy running by screaming bloody murder.”
“And I hadn’t even done anything to him yet!”
You clutch your stomach as you try to collect yourself, wiping the tears from your eyes as you blow out a breath. Stack does the same alongside you.
“I really did miss you, y’know,” Stack admits.
And there goes your breath.
“Of course you did, why wouldn’t you,”you say, causing Stack to smile, “but I’m sure you and Smoke had plenty of fun on your adventures with seeing new places and meeting all those new people. You didn’t meet any women after all this time?”
“There were a few women, but none of 'em kept me interested.”
You roll your eyes. “Oh, yeah, I forgot who I was talking to for a second. No one is good enough to tie you down, right?”
Stack pretends to think to himself for a second, before speaking, “Well, there is one person that I’m thinkin’ about.”
Your heart drops so low it almost hits the first floor of the barnhouse.
You clear your throat and keep your eyes in front of you. “And does this woman know that you like her?”
“I don’t think so.”
“What makes you say that? I’m sure you’ve made your flirting pretty obvious.”
Stack has never been one to keep his feelings to himself. If he sees a lady he likes, he’ll pursue her and most likely succeed.
“She’s on the shy side, so I don’t think she realizes. She keeps to herself and thinks others don’t notice her.”
Who has he been hanging around with? Didn’t he just get back in town.
“I’m sure she does.”
“Nah, I don’t think she does,” Stack shakes his head with a sly smile. “You wanna bet?”
“I don’t have anything to bet, but sure.”
“How about if I’m right and she doesn’t know, then you have to dance with me,” Stack smirks, raising his eyebrows at you.
“And if I’m right?”
“What would you like in return?”
You contemplate for a moment. “For you to tell me in detail how you got the money to afford this barnhouse.”
Stack rolls his eyes. “You’re on.”
“So, who is it?”
Stack turns toward the railing once again, a teasing look on his face. “You sure you just don’t wanna know because you’re jealous?”
“You think you’re funny, huh?”
Stack chuckles in response, before going quiet. Then, there’s a moment of silence where you give him a look as you wait for an answer.
“You.”
You.
You feel your heart stop. “Me?” you ask, not fully believing him yet. Stack gives you a nod, and you try to look for any sign of lying on his face, but you can’t find any. “Stack, be serious for a second.”
“I am, Pea.”
All of a sudden, the music being played in the background just sounds like noise. You feel nauseous, relieved, confused, and happy all at once.
“What the hell do you mean?” you ask. Your voice is quieter now as you look up at him.
Before Stack could give you an answer, he’s interrupted by a voice from down below.
“Yo, Stack, come on down he-!” Sammy shouts, but cuts himself with the look that Smoke shoots at him.
Stack clenches his jaw and whips his head towards Sammy. “Sammy, I’m gonna come down there and beat your ass. You need to learn when to read the room. Matter o’fact, I should come down there and break that damn guitar.”
“But you gave it to me.”
“And now I’m about to come take it away,” Stack replies causally. He makes a move to turn and walk down the stairs, but stops himself to look at you. “We’ll finish this conversation later, I promise,” he tells you, before giving you a quick wink and continuing down the stairs.
Then you hear, “Don’t run now, Sammy.”
Mary’s eyes meet yours from below, giving you one of her signature smirks.
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