#surfer!au

Joanne had been on road trips ever since that summer where she met Harrison. He’d come over to London as well, from time to time. Joanne was often forgotten, she knew. She was the sister that everybody took for granted. The sister that was often shadowed by y/n. Not that it mattered, anyway. 

Joanne was seen as someone rather substantial, while y/n was seen as someone with layers. People often passed by Joanne. They thought that she would be happy with red lipstick and pretty clothes when it came to much more. 

Her sister’s happiness would finally bring her own happiness. A tea with her grandpa and a beer with her grandma. It was simple, sure. But it made her smile. 

People took Joanne’s smile for granted, quite often. They didn’t realize that the day her smile was gone, everything would turn into darkness. 

Because Joanne also was the Sun. It was rather incredible how alike she was to her sister’s lover. Not in a way that would make it creepy, or weird, but in a way that people would often forget. How warm they make their days, and how cold the days were while they were gone. 

Who would want a road trip without the sun? 

Joanne would often return to town. She’d often stay at her grandparents, the place felt cold and white, if a colour can ever be felt. She could feel it. It was quiet, numb. Not even she could make it happy. 

Y/N only started coming back months ago, and it was a mysterious path. The moon made it less dark. That’s what Joanne thought, always. You could have a cloudy day, and it would still be bright, but have a night without the moon and you will really meet darkness. 

Joanne used to love road trips. But this time, she decided not to go on one. 

Joanne arranged the bottles of champagne as Harrison wrapped his arms from behind and placed a sweet kiss on her cheek. 

“We need everything ready-” She whispered. She was wearing a golden dress, that only made her red lips swaddle her smile. Years had gone past. 

“Jo,” he said. “Relax.”

Joanne sighed. “I want everything to be perfect, this is really for us, but… It’s mostly for y/n and Tom.” 

Haz took a deep breath. “It’s perfect.” 

Joanne played with the finger in her hand, turning it around her finger. She sighed. “Why am I so nervous?” 

It wasn’t a feeling that Joanne had, not usually, really. But she wasn’t sure why she didn’t feel her best. The room had lightbulbs that warmed the atmosphere, tall tables covered with white tablecloths, and blue and golden and blue ornaments on top. All you could see were paintings hanging on the walls. 

Haz smiled as he turned her around slowly, a sad look upon his face. “It’s perfect, it’s alright.” 

Joanne took a deep breath and finally smiled at the pair of blue eyes that were staggering her. “Yes,” she said before connecting her lips with his. 

“Miss y/l/n?” Someone asked, Joanne turned to see the waiter. 

“Yes?” 

“Everything is mostly ready, I just don’t know where I can leave the seashells,” he said. “Do I--” 

“Yes, right,” she cleared her throat, smiling. “Eh, well they’re all part of it, so, maybe on the tables… Yes scattered around it.” 

Harrison smiled, and kissed her cheek. “This is incredible. It’ll be okay.” 

Joanne nodded. “Well, it’s time.” 

And without any further ado, music played, as if orchestrated, the people who were invited walked through. They were chatting, and Joanne walked around the room, greeting the people she knew and also the people she didn’t. Haz followed her around, as she explained how to walk through it. 

People had glasses of champagne as they walked through the bricked walls, and illuminated with the gentle light. The room that was once a scattered mess now was buzzing with people admiring the art, the story. 

Some familiar people were there, Marcus Jones had a glass on his hand as he talked to Alexa. They weren’t paying attention to the walls but they were rather quiet, staring at the door. 

Though there were lights in the room, and music, and golden strikes, it felt blue. And it wasn’t the blue that came from the paintings, that prevailed from the waves and the storms. No, it was a blue that Joanne had seen before, at the end of that summer that had started it all. 

Harrison would hold her hand and squeeze it. The Hollands were there, too. Harry approached Joanne and gave a polite smile. 

Sam had stayed admiring a photograph, not a painting, a photograph. Low quality but with so much story. It made anyone shiver. 

 Paddy was walking around the room, a small smile on his face. 

People who had been close to them were quiet, but smiling. That was a constant, smiles. But quiet. 

Joanne talked to her mother who seemed slightly better than she had seen her before. She talked with whispers but congratulated her daughter. They spent some time talking to Haz parents. Charlotte, Harrison’s sister took Joanne’s hands with a smile. 

Joanne got to the centre of the room and finally clicked a spoon against her champagne glass. Haz behind her took her hand. 

“Hello everyone,” she started. “I would like to first thank you all for coming, it means a lot to Haz and me. I...We couldn’t be happier to be sharing this with you,” Joanne smiled. “We…” She sighed. “Love exists, we’ve been proven countless times before. We’re here tonight to celebrate love, a love that will remain forever. Haz and I have learned from the best, from the people who are in this room and people who aren’t.” 

The crowd smiled. She felt watched. 

“Haz and I wouldn’t be here… celebrating an engagement if it weren’t for the people who inspired those paintings,” Joanne grinned. “My sister,” she felt her voice crack just slightly, “always wanted to open this gallery, to show her story… And we thought it would be selfish if we didn’t show the respect Tom deserves,” she smiled. 

Harrison grinned as he gulped. “This wouldn’t be happening if it hadn’t been for my best friend, Tom,” he admitted, he had to clear his throat. “I—Tom owed Joanne a favour and that’s how we met, a beautiful summer love, a beautiful summer story, that once felt it would be momentary. We decided to pay them back, by opening this beautiful gallery.” 

“The walls surrounding us come from a beautiful imagination… A summer full of color, that tells the story of a storm and  riptide, the story of the sun and the moon.” 

Harrison smiled as she nodded at his now fiancée. 

Joanne sighed. “It’s a beautiful story, if you see each painting you will see it. How it starts blue, with a blurry and dark storm, a story about how no one will notice if the sun stops shining, through the cloudy days, you’ll still find a light but how important it is for the moon to appear each night to brighten up the darkness. It’s a story of how the moon cleared out the path for the sun, and how the sun helped the moon to shine by its own,  a story about a girl and a boy and the story about the odds being against them. About the riptide and the waves… and how you can drown in them. But it’s a story about healing, and a story about—“she took a deep breath. “A Story of a lighthouse guiding a lost soul.” 

Haz squeezed her hand. 

“I’m afraid my sister couldn’t be today with us, but I’m sure she’s paying her own homage to the inspiration of every single memory that we’re walking through today. From the seashells that started all, to the last tear shed,” Joanne said. “This is for them, to Tom and Y/N, whom without we wouldn’t be here tonight and who inspired us, Harrison and I to fall in love and to reach for a love like theirs.” 

Jared was the one to approach them now, he was sober, thing which had surprised Joanne. 

“Beautiful words, what a perfect way to pay homage while celebrating an act of love,,” Jared said. “I’ve got nothing to say but, congratulations Harrison and Joanne on your engagement!” 

The cheers continued. Haz and Joanne shared a kiss to celebrate their union. They kept talking and seeing the paintings, and people would often stop at the picture of Tom’s back, with the grey and blue storm. 

Joanne knew that she had drawn the attention from her engagement to her sister, once again. Joanne was fine with that. She knew, that she was always shining and that y/n, even though she was outstanding, barely had her time to shine. Joanne decided to give it to her. And besides, she deserved it. 

Tom did. Tom deserved it. 

Haz approached Joanne after a while and handed over a letter. “It’s from y/n, she asked me to give it to you.” 

Joanne dedicated him a sad smile, as she kept the letter to herself. She’d have time to read it, later. When everyone was gone. 

Some people wanted to buy the paintings, others just admired it. Joanne was happy, this paid her sister back. And she knew this would mean a lot to y/n. 

So she was left alone, with the waiters cleaning up the tables and Joanne sitting down on the only chair that would be left behind. She admired a painting, a particular one that she knew didn’t involve Tom, but her and y/n. 

Joanne took a deep breath as she stared at the picture, a face that represented a star, her blue eyes and y/n’s. With the blue sky behind, bright and dark. She was holding the letter as Haz placed a hand on her shoulder. 

Joanne finally opened the letter. 

“Jo,

There’s no easy way for me to say this. I can’t believe you’re engaged. My little sister is engaged. Bloody hell, can you believe it? And to realize it all came to one summer. 

A summer neither of us will ever forget. I sent you my congratulations already, and I hugged you enough. But I still wanted to write this. I guess because I know we are now both convinced that love does exist. And love, Jo, it’s forever. 

I think I decided to write this because it’s always been easier for me not to speak, you’ve always known my favourite words consisted of saying ‘Yes’ and’ ‘No’. The fewer words the merrier. 

I wanted to paint you something, but I guess I don’t really know what I could paint to help you understand how happy I am for you. Or how with my little experience I wanted you to understand many others. 

It’s my duty as the older sister to tell you that love is not always about the beautiful sunset, but it’s about knowing that it’s alright to drown sometimes. I’ve had my share of storms and all I can tell you is, the sun does come out. Don’t give up. 

From these years, I’ll tell you, I’ve learned you’ll never get tired of the prelude of a kiss, make them interesting, make them even more thrilling than the kiss, you’ll enjoy it more. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. Because the prelude can come in so many forms, sometimes it won’t be pretty, it’ll feel like riptide, and sometimes it’ll be a beautiful sunrise. Enjoy both.

Find the amazing blue that comes from tears, and try to make everything golden. You guys have an advantage, you love gold and Haz has blue eyes. That’s unfair, I guess. Use it. 

If you ever find yourself looking for reasons as to why you have to love him, think about love per se, and how extraordinary it is that you’ve found each other. Never forget your first day at the carnival or your first kiss on that party. 

Never be calm. You’ll have time for that later. But never, ever, forget that it all started in a summer where everything was supposed to be blue, and how you ended up falling in love with the colour. 

I guess my advice is silly, it’s always been. But I mean it. And from the short time I had, I always tried to make the best time of it. I still do. 

Again, I’m sorry I couldn’t be there tonight, but I still need time to heal. You know me, but I’ll be fine, because I know I have you.  I think I didn't give you enough credit for getting me out of that blue place the first time. How you always stuck there. I’ll be fine. I know you always worry. I’ll be fine. I’ve learned a lot. I guess without you I wouldn’t be here. 

I’m alright, really. And I know I need to write otherwise I would expect you to be here tomorrow. I don’t. Enjoy your time, it’s your time to shine as the bright sun you are. 

Congratulations, my little sister, I love you,

y/n.” 

“She’ll be okay,” Haz assured Joanne as soon as she finished the letter. 

Joanne smiled. “I know.” 

And she was. 

Y/N loved road trips.

Tom and y/n had left quite a story. They had a couple of years together, not enough, never enough, not even a thousand years would’ve been enough for their love.

But y/n knew that she wasn’t alone even when that summer had turned into winter. Y/N wasn’t feeling blue even as she watched the kids eating ice cream, and the couples playing at pools. Singing the summer hits.  And she kept her promise. 

She had cried, who wouldn’t. 

At first she cried because London and the rain reminded her of all the times she had met him in the rain, with both running away from their feelings. And how she wished she had a beach to surf on. But there was no ocean in London, so she’d have to come back. 

She would cry because she hadn’t yet opened the gallery. 

And she had cried because she didn’t want to go back to town, because everything was a reminder of an incredible, cruel summer. But eventually, she smiled. Because she knew she would teach herself how to fly and she remembered the exact moment she had promised Tom that she would smile. And it came down to a boy accidentally bumping into her slamming ice cream to her chest, a surfer that owned her heart. 

A boombox, a song, a Ferris Wheel, and him serenading under the moon. How there was life after love. 

Dying ain’t so bad, y/n had thought, because he hadn’t left her. And even in his last moments, she knew he had kept his promise, he had loved her until his last breath. And she continued to love him even after his hands turned cold. And she had to keep her promise. 

Y/N loved road trips, and she had decided to have one. She went back to town. 

She was on the blue valley, after taking a bath in the ocean and after surfing some waves. The surfboard she’d painted summers ago was standing on the sand.  

 She sat down with Tom’s guitar in her hands, remembering how she had fallen in love with a work of art. Someone who hadn’t faded away. 

And just as the sun was setting and the breeze was covering her, she smiled, knowing he was right beside her, so she started to sing, in a gentle voice, dedicating him the song, knowing he had already woken up with the clouds far behind him, where the troubles melted like lemon drops. 

And she was calm, and she had shed a tear, but finally, as she looked far beyond, the water was no longer murky, the sea didn’t show any riptide. 

The water was finally clear.

The free hours after classes are spend by the beach. You sit in the little beach chair with closed eyes, enjoying the sound of the waves clashing to shore and the faint sounds of people laughing and screaming playin gin the water. It is heaven and it made you sad to think you only have half a year to enjoy this scenery before you have to go back home.

Your thoughts are interrupted when you heard footsteps, as you look behind you Renjun's surfer group came running towards you or more like the water. They were laughing and shouting silly insults at each other, blowing your hair into your face from the speed they ran past you. You couldn’t help but watch them when they started swimming out of the reef towards the open ocean. Your breath got stuck in your throat when you saw Renjun being the first one being on his board, riding small waves with the almost sunset in the background.

-

After watching them for what felt like 5 hours which were in reality only 15 minutes, you started packing you notebooks into your bag, putting the towel around your waist. As you got ready to go you heard your name being shouted behind you. You turned around to a really wet Renjun running towards you with his board. When he reach you he launched his board into the sand so it stands up beside him. “Yes?” he catches his breath before snapping out of it. “Oh yeah right, i wanted to apologize” Renjun saw your face get a confused expression so he added, “For your hip, i mean bumping into your hip.. with my board.” You were surprised he even remembers it, you really thought he forgot it the second he entered the water after it. “Oh- Don’t worry about it really, i grew up wrestling my friends on the playground when we were little, I can handle a bump in with a surfboard.” you tried your best playing it off but all you could think of was how cringy that sounded. You cursed yourself before you hear him chuckle. “Alright strong Y/N, since no harm was done how does roasted marshmallows and beer sound? Tomorrow at the campfire when the sun goes down.” Being a bit overwhelmed you couldn’t bring out words. “Renjun! Come on, some big waves are about to hit.” He looked back to his friends giving him a okay sign and grabbing his board walking backwards to the beach. “So? I’ll see you tomorrow yeah?” he grinned before turning around and running toward the ocean again.

-

Dumbfounded you find yourself back in your room removing your make up before you put on comfortable clothes for bed. You were about to turn on music before a grinning Yeeun came into the room. “You won’t guess what just happened while you were doing homework at the beach.” She said down on your bed. “Lee Taeyong, THE Lee Taeyong just asked me if i want to come to the campfire party tomorrow.” She let out a few small screams before running to her closet searching for a dress that “Fits Taeyong's standards”, Yeeun’s words. Being happy for her you decide to help her find a dress while the soft beats of DEAN play in the background.

-

You both decided on a simple black, rather short dress with minimalistic lace at the cleavage area which Yeeun was currently putting on. “You look stunning, i’m sure you will swoon Mister Lee.” You both chuckle while you are putting on a simple flowy summer dress over your bikini, which you wore in case of feeling the need to go into the water. Yeeun wanted to wear wedges heels whilst you put on simple nike sandals. “Ready?” you nodded at her.

“I still can’t believe he ran after you and asked you to come today.” Yeeun was ecstatic when you told her about the incident from yesterday. “I promised myself and my friends back home that i wouldn’t fall for a boy but here i am-“ “Crazy in love.” You scoffed at her exaggerated words and went into the elevator.

-

Walking along the beach way, looking at all the beautiful flowers that Hawaii offers. Snapping out of your thoughts you already hear the many voices of the students at the campfire and you already see Renjun sitting with Jeno and Jaemin, your palms start to sweat as you cling on to Yeeun. Stepping forward into their sight. “It’s the pretty girl!” Jeno yelled, now having the attention of his group, your cheeks started to mimic roses. “You know each other?” Renjun three into the conversation, confused to say at least. “I crashed into his boxes on my first day here-“ you got cut off by Yeeun butting in. “Yeah and this dork kept complimenting her in korean.” Jeno scratched the back of his neck and mumbled a few unintelligible words before Renjun stood up and hugged you. “Thanks for coming Y/N, let’s all have fun tonight, yeah?”

You all agreed and sat down, everyone taking some sort of alcohol and munching on roasted marshmallows in between.

-

After 20 minutes Taeyong started showing up, with his hand around a girls waist greeting the people. You squeezed Yeeun's shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, he’s dumb for not having that hand around your waist.” she gave you a weak smile and nodded. “Very dumb.”

-

After an hour of drinking and talking you felt like swimming, but being afraid of open water you hesitated, Renjun noticed that and gave you a questioning look. “I kinda want to to go swimming, but i don’t want to go in alone.” He nodded and took your hand going to ocean. “Where is your girlfriend by the way, if you don’t mind me asking.” Renjun shook his head. “She wasn’t my girlfriend more like a fling, but she stopped texting me because i’m quote on quote “too boring.” he empathized these words doing little quote chars with his fingers. “She’s dumb for letting a gem like you go- I mean don’t get me wrong you’re awesome so it’s her loss.” He laughed and you swore this was the most beautiful thing you ever heard coming out of someone’s mouth.

-

Both of your feet touched the water and you flinched slightly at the cold water. You took off your dress and he simply removed his shirt. “Are you scared of open water?” As if he could read your mind. “I just don’t like not knowing what’s under me... or sharks.” He nodded and took your hand again. “Do you go in if i’m by your side?” He started walking into the water backwards, his eyes not leaving yours, you nodded and followed him. “See? You’re doing it Y/N!” He said with noticeable excitement in his voice. You smiled at him and started swimming when you couldn’t stand anymore and Renjun not being that much taller than you started swimming too. You started to relax and enjoy the cool water, a heavy contrast to the hot weather. “What made you come to Hawaii?” He dipped his head back and closing his eyes, floating on his back. “My parents thought it would look good in my report if i studied aboard for a year, in all honesty i don’t want to go home at the end of the semester. Here i can surf after class as a way of relaxing and back home in China, there’s only studying after studying.” He opened his eyes looking at you. “No nice girls like you.” You scoffed at his cheesy comment and splashed a bit of water towards him. “What about you?” You only shrugged. “I wanted to something new and my parents offered me a exchange year in Hawaii, and the rest is history.” “Now you’re swimming with sharks in the ocean.” you shrieked and jumped on him. “Sharks? Where? Oh my god Renjun please take me out-“ He cut you off with picking you up with one hand using the other to hold himself above the water. “Relax i was just joking.” he said with a quiet voice. Feeling really embarrassed your head fell into his neck which vibrates due to his laughter. “You’re such a tease.” He nodded and swam back to the shore with you, the sky already completely dark. Yeeun came towards you two with two towels. “Y/N I’m going to sleep now, don’t get drunk. I’m trusting her with you Huang.” She pointer at him and gave him a stern look. “Are you sure you don’t want to keep drinking?” you asked with a slight pout. Yeeun only shook her head waving at you both before leaving the beach. Renjun picked up your dress and put the towel around you, for which you thanked him before you two sat back down on the beach chairs around the campfire. “Yah Huang, you cant just fuck in the ocean it might attract sharks to the shore.” Jeno thought his sentence was hilarious and slapped his thigh multiple times while laughing. “We just swam, you’re such a weirdo Jeno. And for the record if i want to fuck at the beach i would to it on the sand at the shore and not in the water.” You blushed at his comment and choked slightly on the drink. Jaemin and Yukhei nudged Renjun and laughed at his comment.

-

Many drinks later most people were already drunk including Renjun, Jaemin and you. Lightweights, like Yukhei said to you. “I think i should go back to the dorm.” Renjun stood up immediately which made you flinch slightly. “I bring you home!” he slurred and you just started laughing, finding everything funny in your drunken state. You stood up too and took Renjun's hand pulling him towards the dormitories. “Can you give me a piggy back ride?” You poured at him in a obnoxiously way but he found it hilarious and kneeled down for you to get on his back. You sat on his waist, not in the most elegant way, and wrapped your hands around his neck resting your head against his. Renjun stood up and jumped a bit to get you in place, grabbing your thighs and putting them around his waist. Renjun’s cheek turned a shade of light pink as he felt your breasts press against his back due to the thin material of your bikini. He blamed his drunken state for his hormones to be all over the place but he really wanted to kiss you when you both were swimming in the ocean with the seagulls flying around and the faint sound of music playing. “Renjun you’re so small and comfortable i just want to put you in my bed and cuddle you all night.” you slurred not really thinking about what you were saying and that you were thinking out loud. He giggled slightly entering the elevator.

-

He got to your room and opened the door thanking Yeeun for keeping it unlocked, stepping inside trying to be quiet and not waking up Yeeun or you. Renjun put you on the bed in the most gentle way possible and took off your sandals, pulling the blanket over you. Ready to leave he turned around but gasped slightly when he felt your hand around his wrist. “Thank you for tonight, for helping me with my fear and bringing me here.” you whispered faintly into the very quiet room. Renjun smiled at you and brushed your hair out of your face with his fingertips. “No thank you Y/N for giving me one more reason to stay here longer.” You didn’t quite catch the last part because his whispers were so faint but you smiled at him and told him good night which he returned before leaving the room to go to his own, making the room grow dead silent.

-

You woke up to a mild headache and the sound of 'DPR Live - Jasmine' playing. You looked over to a sad looking Yeeun who tried to cover up her dark circles with concealer. “You know the concealer won’t stick to your skin if you cry it off.” you said while standing up form your bed and going over to hers. She frowned and put the concealer to the side, giving up. “What’s the matter, sweetie?” you put a strand of hair of her cute bob cut behind her ear. “Lee Taeyong. That’s the matter.” and then her sad face turned into a angry one. “He really had the audacity to ask me to come to this party to then show up with a other girl.” “Maybe you read into his words too much, Yeeun. Maybe he asked multiple people to come. But don’t let yourself down like this, show him what he’s been missing out on and if he still doesn’t ask you out after that i’ll just kick his million dollar balls.” She giggled at your comment and nodded. You sprung to your feet. “Now- Let's show him that’s Jang Yeeun isn’t a snack, no, she’s the whole damn menu.” You went to her closet and picked out a really nice outfit for her to wear tomorrow for the three classes she shared with Taeyong. “So, how did it go with you and Renjun, your ocean action really looked intimate.” You give her a weird look over the shoulder before turning your attention back to her messy closet. “He joked about sharks being near us so i jumped on him out of reflex and that’s it, nothing happened.” “Sadly, I really thought y’all made out, like” Yeeun started making kiss noises and you looked at her, laughing slightly at her facial expression. “Aww Y/N~ lemme hold you and protect you from the sharks, give me a kiss as a thank you muah!” You shook your head at her overdramatic play and pulled out an outfit. “The only physical contact i had with him was the scenario in the ocean and my boobs with his back since he gave me a piggy ride.” “No way! He’s so cute to you, please get married!” You held up a hand to indicate that she should pause. “Stop exaggerating, I’m not even his type, if that girl he was with is his type at least.” She rolled her eyes at you and gave you a summer dress of hers. “Wear that tomorrow for class, you’ll kick him out of his socks.” You laughed at her words and nodded.

-

Monday. 08:15 AM

First class was biology, focused on the sea world. The first thing you saw when you walked into class was a sleeping Renjun, grinning to yourself you walked over to him shaking him awake. “I’m awake Jeno,” he looked st you with wide eyes, his eyes going lower looking at the dress you’re wearing. Yeeun insisted on a red off-shoulder summer dress that ends over your knees, saying it would 'make Renjun drop to his knee instantly'. “It’s too much isn’t it? Yeeun insisted-“ “You look pretty.” Renjun told you which made you blush slightly and you sat beside him looking at the whiteboard in front of you. Renjun smiled to himself, patting his shoulder mentally for making you blush. While taking notes you saw a little note making its way to your book, following the hand and arm that pushed it over to you, you see Renjun pretending to listen to the teacher but you see the corner of his mouth turn upside, suppressing a smile. You smile and took the little blue 'post it' note.

 “Want to try the best cake in Hawaii with me tomorrow at 12pm? ☺” you smiled at his smiley, writing a short little In color: “I would love to.”

-

Sitting in the aesthetically pleasing café, waiting for Renjun since you arrived earlier, you started fiddling with the hem of your dress, being too nervous to function. For a short moment you thought Renjun just pranked you all along then you heard the little bells over the door ring, turning your head to the direction of the door you see Renjun in a slightly oversized white shirt tucked into his black pants, looking absolutely mesmerizing with so little effort. He looked around the small café, finding your face in the crowd smiling st you with his million dollar smile. Renjun walked over to your table sitting in front of you. “Hi.” he breathed out. “Hey.” you said biting your bottom lip slightly. “Ready to eat the best cake in Hawaii?” “Couldn’t be more ready.”

-