𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒅𝒔 .

      she  playfully  sticks  out  her  tongue  at  her  friend.  “  oh  i  know  ,  ”  her  tone  dips  ,  exaggerating  her  last  word.  “  we’ve  just  been  FAR  too  busy.  life  y’know  ?  sure  can  be  a  bitch  ,  ”  rhea  shakes  her  head  fondly.  she  grabs  her  phone  to  set  the  navigation.  she  didn’t  need  it.  it  was  just  habit  since  LA  was  KNOWN  for  its  traffic.  last  she  checked  ,  it  would  take  them  about  half  an  hour  to  get  to  their  destination.  now  ?  who  knows  ?

      once  that  was  settled  ,  she  shifts  gears.  “  not  gonna  lie  ,  it’s  kinda  weird  seeing  you  almost  everyday.  but  THIS  is  the  one  time  we’re  able  to  hang  out  with  no  interruptions.  ”

“   you know,   i was just thinking that.   ”   annie said,   taking a moment to fix the insides of her bag.   “   and it’s rather surprising because of the holidays and all that,   you know?   are you going to do something?   ”   she looked up from a tube of lipstick to look up at rhea,   leaning back against the seat before looking out of the window.

sebastian was having a somewhat decent time - mostly because he knew he’d been hogging all the alcohol, and he enjoyed annoying others. especially when he was already tipsy. other than the alcohol, this party was a complete bust. and he still wasn’t sure how he even got there. his somewhat moment of bliss was interrupted when someone decided to open their mouth near him, which was met with nothing less than a grumble from seb. he’d turned his head to study the culprit, brows furrowing with annoyance. “so what if i have any? it’s not yours.” he couldn’t help but scowl, wondering what the fuck this girl wanted from him. he wanted to be left alone to his alcohol, damnit. 

When Jaehyun accepted Annie’s invitation to a Christmas Party at her dance studio, the last thing he had expected was that after less than forty minutes there, they’d be running away with arms full of stolen food and a bottle of whisky. But honestly? He was having more fun now than in the time he spent at the actual party. “Faster, Annie! They’ll catch up to us.” He shouted, at his partner in crime, giggling as the pair ran down the street. They were attracting some attention from the people around, but the barista was too busy running to really notice. There were no signs that any of his friend’s coworkers were after them but better safe than sorry, right? This Christmas would definitely be one to remember. After a while, Jae noticed that Annie was struggling with her heels and slowed down before stopping briefly. “I’ll carry you the rest of the way. Hop on.” The barista offered, bending down so she could jump on his back. @simptica​

owning the grace and power of being able to run in six inch heels eventually got to bite annie in the ass.   their escape from the studio’s kitchen as culprits had been nothing but a fun success---   something that she knew she would cherish later on and laugh about it whenever it would come to mind,   but the quicker they ran away from the party,   the more she needed a break to rest her legs and feet.   with bags weighing her petite body down,   annie started to hope on one foot as her face scrunched awkwardly,   not even noticing yunnie’s halt until he started to speak.   “   mm?   ”   she hummed while opening her left eye,   giving him a quick look before she’s laughing at his newest position.   “   noo,   is it obvious these heels are killing me?   ”   she asked,   not even bothering to pretend that she was against the idea because she was already jumping on his back,   slim arms wrapping around his neck as she also wrapped her legs around his torso lazily.   “   i feel like we’ve been running for hours.   call us the anti batman and robin,   stealing from the rich.   ”   she laughed,   quickly looking behind them over her shoulder.   

“If you have to ask that question, you don’t know me at all,” Atlas commented with a strained chuckle, his arms stretching above his head as he contorted his body, trying to get rid of some of the kinks in his body. After running a hand through his already messy hair, the cashier took his hat off where it had been sitting on the counter and set it back on top of his head, getting ready to find the shift manager to complain and hopefully be sent home. “An hour? No, no. Sweet Annie. I have a lot of practice, this won’t even take five minutes,” he spoke with a wink, before disappearing to make his magic happen. 

annie continued to eye him just as he started to contort his body,   arching a sly brow at his words.   “   you’re making it sound like you’ve been squatting down for hours.   respect.   ”   she said,   taking a moment to say a little something that has been swirling in her mind ever since...   forever.   “   no wonder you have nice thighs.   ”   annie said as she drummed her knuckles against his thigh lazily,   looking up to snort and watch him as he disappeared.   “   i will count the minutes.   ”   annie called out as she checked her wrist watch,   leaning back against the counter to go through her phone. 

Tobi is so distracted that he almost misses the way the new position causes his ex to bite at her lip, a smirk forming along his own as he looks down at her. He knows her innocence is all a game, he’d explored enough of her body during their time together to know exactly what she was like. She was playing with him, or at least she thought she was. As if on queue, Tobi looked down at her with dark eyes as he feels nails scraping against the back of his scalp, fingers running through his hair as she once again, rolls her hips against him. Fuck. The giggle barely leaves the girl’s lips before Tobi is leaning forward, kissing her so deeply and so hungrily that he can barely hear the music around them for a few seconds. He wasn’t intending on wasting any time, a firm hand moving up to cup Annie’s jaw as he moves his own hips, rutting against her just enough so it wasn’t obvious to everyone around them, and causing his thigh to move against her once more.

if she had to admit that she was expecting tobi to close the distance between them himself,   annie was guilty as charged with her cocky simper.   was it an expected move from him?   yes,   as cocky as that sounded coming from her,   but with the way her chest and mind had lightened at the hungry kiss he had just pressed on her lips,   it felt like she didn’t expect it at all.   fingertips grip tighter on his hair as she pulls him closer into the kiss,   lips mirroring the hunger and the deepness of the kiss until his movements finally have her whimpering against him,   pulling away to take in a deep breath and tug lightly on the collar of his shirt.   “   tobi,   ”   she breathed out,   knees turning weak as her hips roll against him once again.   “   get me out of here,  ”   she paused,   blinking slowly before pressing a peck on his lips.   was she going to regret this?   she didn’t care,   not when she wanted this.   “   with you.   ”

now that angie thought about it, why had she never given annie a chance in the first place? she knew they were nice, efforts and times were made for angie just for an opportunity for them to be those typical ideal roommates… so why? they could’ve been close and talked a lot of things? too late to think about those now and she didn’t want to waste more of her energy in thinking about it too. but there was one question that she always found intriguing though. what was the reason why annie moved out? and so as she leaned back to her chair, angie looked at annie with a smile whilst tilting her head on the side. “hm… guess that makes the both of us. as you said, just like you, i’m just trying to survive in this hell of a place.” she scoffed. “a better roommate, huh? i wouldn’t say that. i mean, i had a few here and there but all did the same as you did. they moved out with a blink of an eye. too fast, way too fast for me to notice.” angie knew she stepped on a boundary she never should have and placed both of them in a position where one could probably say a thing or two to make them tight-lipped but she had to know especially when she went through shit, working twice as much as she did just to pay her rent. “but i don’t have anyone right now. maybe, you could come back? and no worries, you can leave any time you want again…if my services failed your expectations.” harsh, way too harsh. “so tell me… why leave? you never got to tell me anyways. don’t you think i deserved to know?”

although annie didn’t expect the way their civil conversation had turned a bit sour so quickly,   she didn’t even bother to flinch when angie mentioned her sudden departure as her roommate years ago.   truth be told,   the brunette felt like it’s been decades since the day she decided to move out of their apartment,   a never ending anxiety refusing to allow her to live in peace with the person her first love had cheated her with.   not like annie blamed their catastrophic break up on her,   obviously---   she had enough common sense to know that the one in fault was him and him only,   but it was still nerve wrecking to walk in into their apartment in fear of seeing him in the living room or their kitchen when she realized that her former roommate remained friends with him.   looking back at such thing and annie couldn’t help but find it rather comical in some way when it was mostly a bittersweet feeling,   but her expression remains blank as she slowly closed her magazine shut,   taking a moment to speak.   “   like i told you that day,   it was me,   not you.   your services as a roommate were good.   ”    she said,   lips stretching into a lazy smile as she placed her cosmo issue on the table between them.   “   it’s not important,   angie.   ”

      her small fit of laughter only egged him on further, his hands wanting to grip her tighter and turn her so that he could kiss her lips again. memories of her on the counter top and whimpering for him floating back into his mind as he held her close, wanting to touch her the same way he had three days ago. but this wasn’t that day. jae and annie weren’t longing after each other in the same way they were then, he was sure. this longing was sweeter, more innocent. one that left him wanting to hold her close, gently against his body as he looked down to her and told her all of the feelings she caused to course through his body. the kind of longing that left jae craving her kiss, but the soft, sweet ones that would leave her lips gracing his gently, his hands lingering on the soft skin of her body as he held onto her - hoping she felt as safe in his arms as he wanted her to feel. he knew it was dangerous to have her so close to him again, but there was no way in hell jae was able to help himself. had had been wanting to hold her for days now and if she was going to allow him to do so, he’d do it every single chance he got. “this place could be burning down around us right now and i probably wouldn’t even notice.” he whispered into her neck, not caring where they stood. all he wanted was a moment.

      from the space he sat in, jae could hear the girl’s voice travel from the other room, causing his lips to perk up in a insanely stupid smile now that she wasn’t around. his head fell, fingers pushing his glasses further up his nose as they fell. “i’m just glad you like them.” he voiced to her from where he sat, body shifting in his seat so that he could speak in her direction. the moment she made an appearance, though, jae could feel the tops of his ears start to burn - meaning just annie’s presence alone was causing him to become quite flustered. his hands interlocked and his fingers started to fiddle with one another, unable to even looking in her direction as she sat so far away next to him. instead, the boys dark hues landed on the vase she had placed down, him listening to her words as she spoke. “the day these die, i do, too. so you might wanna work hard to keep them, and myself, alive.” he teased, glancing over at the girl as a soft chuckle rang from his lips, permanent smile stretched across them as if it was were stuck that way. again, his ears burned up - annie putting the spotlight on his to speak causing the by to become flustered once again. it was stupid how easily she can get him like this - annoying, even. and if it were anyone else, jae was sure he’d push them away by now. as far as possible so he could avoid the feeling she filled him with. but it was annie. she was the only person he’d want to fill him up with such feelings he typically hated. and that said a lot. 

      “of course.” jae whispered as he took the packet of flower food, gently pouring it into the water that sat in front of him in the glass vase. “but, uh. my day hasn’t been anything special, really. well,” glancing up to her, his smile turned soft and shy before he looked away ad back to the packet he continued to pour into the water. “not until now, at least.” he placed the empty packet onto the table, body perking up as he remember something he wanted to share with annie. “speaking of brooklyn…” he trailed. jae’s body shifted against the cushion again, now facing the brunette with that same dumb smile plastered across his face. “i’m going to new york for a few days. i was invited to a friend’s opening. he has his own restaurant now and i was lucky enough to help curate some recipes for it. so he invited me as sort of a thank you and to credit me somehow, i guess.” he chuckled softly as he explained, eyes pulling away from her half way through his words to look down at his twitching fingers that wouldn’t sit still. “and, i don’t know. i thought while i was there, you could tell me all of the places i should eat and visit and shop. figured you’d have some good ones.” finally, the nervous boy’s attention turned back to annie, tongue slipping out over his lips quickly before they perked up into a smirk. “unless i just force you to come along with me.” teasing, of course, jae’s shoulders gave off a shrug as his sight pulled away from annie - the boy almost becoming a bit shy again as he softly spoke, “why’re you so far away?” 

“   oh,   you’re gonna die,   too?   ”   her timbre comes out playful as she turns her attention back to the male,   a single and sly eyebrow raising for just a moment.   imagine if he was being real with his words:   phew,   she would literally do anything and everything to keep the beautiful flower arrangement alive forever.   a bonus if he spent said forever with her.    “   thank goodness i have a lot of tricks up my sleeve,   then.   i would cry crocodile tears if you ever died on me.   ”   she said softly,   doe eyes floating away from jae’s marble features only because the redness at the top of his ears had caught her attention.   the pinch of color on his skin makes annie smile softly as earthern hues move back to focus on his own,   chubby cheeks gaining a certain color that resembled the pink upon the plump of her lips.   was she making him flustered?   she didn’t know,   because she was still stuck on the idea that this was incredibly unrealistic,   that this was nothing but a perfect made up dream because she still refused to believe that he would look at her the same way she would look at him.   she had to admit it,   though,   her enthusiastic self was holding onto his actions and the way he acted around her against her heart because it made her happy--   everything he did around her made her feel like she was the only girl in the whole world.   finally,   annie looked away from him to look down at her hands,   scissors working with the end of the flowers’ stem as a stupid,   little smile played upon her face.   she didn’t want to think too much of it,   she was just very happy she was spending some time with him. she nodded her head as a sign that she was listening,   careful on her work as her tongue pokes out from the corner of her mouth.   a sign of concentration along with the current little scrunch of her button nose.   “   not until now...   ”   she mumbled,   almost whimpering at the way her heart jumped to the middle of her throat.   “   am i making your day special,   baby?   ”   the brunette couldn’t help but be playful as she looked up from her work to give him a wide look,   an amiable smile refusing to fall from her features.   and the amount of power she had to put on herself not to admit out loud that he was the one making her day super special?   it was rather laughable.   eventually,   anastasia looked down at the pretty flowers in her hold   nodding her head as she listened and registered every thing he was saying to her and although the mention of new york makes both her chest and stomach twist with something akin to a bittersweet sensation,   the brunette was and sounded enthusiastic when she cut the last stem of the final flower and chirped the following.   “   oooo,   that sounds so exciting,   jae!   ”   she asked with a grin,   placing the scissors down on the table to shift her position on the couch and look at him.   “   you must be really excited,   hmm?   you are not going to get credits from your friend at the opening of their restaurant,   but meet a bunch of important people,   i bet.   ”   she smiled,   taking a moment to think over all her favorite places and shops from her hometown.   “   of course!   you know,   ”   she tapped her head with her index finger.   “   i may have some places in mind already,   including this one bakery shop near times square that makes the best cupcakes ever.   i will send you a list when you’re at the big apple.   warning,   it will be a looooong list.   ”   she tsked thrice,   shrugging her shoulder.  the idea of annie going to new york with him made her cheeks turn pink and her stomach churn.   she was just hoping that the flowers were able conceal the rosy color as she brought the arrangement up to her nose.   “   you don’t have to force me,   just ask.   ”   she said softly,   scoffing softly becuse with both the deja brew and the dance studio she teaches at,   she couldn’t even give herself the thought of having those kind of luxuries.   annie moved to set the flowers into the vase,   but she stopped almost immediately at his question.   she gave the male a confused look,   doe eyes moving down from him to settle on the space between them.   the observation makes her chest turn lighter.   did he want her as close as she wanted him to be to her?    “   so far away?   i’m literally sitting next to you.   ”   she said,   a giggle threatening to slip past her lip as she moved her body until she was,   literally,   sitting next to him,   thigh against thigh,   shoulder against shoulder.   annie brought the vase of water with her,   taking a moment to think over her thoughts as she looked up at him through her lashes and casually threw her legs over his lap,   holding the vase and flowers against her chest.   “   am i still far away like this?   ”   annie asked softly,   innocently placing the flowers into the vase while fixing them a little with her fingertips.   “   tell me,   is it going to be your first time in new york?   ”

kj: strawberry is not vanilla. it’s strawberry. kj: YOU’RE- kj: you’re that fucking small? i can’t. kj: please, i’m hungry. it’ll be my treat.

seb never showed up to parties anymore. he’d hated them ever since his parents dragged him to all of their prestigious galas. but here he was. drunk at a party he had no recollection of being invited to - all that mattered was that he was somehow there, and there was free booze. seb had a pretty high alcohol tolerance, so he wasn’t phased yet. he found himself lounging on the couch at - uh, wherever he was - about to start his third solo cup of beer when he thought ‘what the hell am i doing?’ the thought only lasted a fleeting moment before he shrugged it off in favor of not giving a fuck. he didn’t know how long he’d end up staying. part of him told him to go back home, the other part wanted as much alcohol as he could get. and a small part of him maybe just didn’t want to be alone. @simptica​

he laughed along, nervousness and insecurity easing away with every passing word with the other. this is great. this is progress. maybe soon he’ll be able to say HELLO to her in the halls of their shared apartment building and look her in the eye at the brew.  ‘ really ? you must be really good if you teach. i never really had the patience to learn an instrument — which is funny because my mom is a music teacher. ’  teddy reaches to dip his brush into one of the bigger tubs, but too distracted by their conversation, he doesn’t see the container of paint next to it and knocks it over, causing it to spill and run over the edge of the table, and in. to. annie’s. lap. he CHOKES out a noise akin to a dying cat, frozen in place by the sheer shock of the incident. 

***  you can find iveth here: @fllowereds​ !

☕ . ˚ ◝  (  kang seulgi. cisfemale. she/her. ) han iveth is a twenty five year old pisces sign. the florist’s go-to order is pomegranate and lime iced tea. they like to listen to clarity by kim petraswhile they wait for their order. the employees of the deja brew think they are kooky but swear they’re totally candid as well. maybe that’s why a bouquet of pretty flowers, finger gunning your problems away, tarot cards spread out on a table and a giggle at the funeral remind me of them. ( mimi. 22. she/her. mst. )