#val gorchakov

He had waited weeks to set his plan in motion. Well, the truth is, Griff wasn’t smart enough to come up with something decent. There were many things to consider and he was far too busy (more like, impatient) to deal with it all. So, in typical Griff fashion, he had paid someone to come up with it instead. The person in charge assured him it was foolproof. Griff threatened to bankrupt him if that wasn’t the case. Now all he had to do was put his best acting skills to good use. “Moon, a word, if I may?”

Finally, she was alone. Thank the heavens the others were downtown for whatever reason. Only Thorsen remained but he wasn’t a threat. Parker on the other hand would’ve noticed something was off right away, which he couldn’t afford, and God forbid he was around.

“Of course.” She looked up, placing her sketchbook down on the picnic table beside her. She had been drawing outside, seated on the edge of said table “What can I do for you?”

He took a step closer “I’d like to apologize for the way I behaved in the car. It wasn’t fair of me to lash out at you like that.”

Moon assured him there was nothing to apologize for. “I’m the one who should apologize. I was acting out of line.” The poor girl was making this far too easy for him. How naïve. It must be so tiring to always see the good in others.

Griff shook his head. “No, you did nothing wrong. This was all on me.” It wasn’t like him to apologize, let alone take accountability for his actions. He didn’t recall ever apologizing to any of them. Yet Moon did not seem to be alarmed when he did just that. “You see, the reason why I reacted the way I did was because… well, I was stressed. It was a lot to take in and a lot has happened that day.”

Moon nodded. It was a big event, she couldn’t even fathom how taxing it must have been for him to represent the lot of them. They had all been stressed, he needn’t tell her twice. “I understand. It was a lot of weight for us to carry. You did great.” If only he could hire her to praise him on a daily basis. The others could learn a thing or two from her. He took another step to close the gap between them. Now that he had a closer look at her face, it only now occurred to him how she looked at him: an expression filled with genuine adoration. If money and fame hadn’t clouded his judgement perhaps he would’ve realized that what he was doing was very, very wrong.

“Would you like to go get coffee? Just the two of us. It’s been a while.”

She beamed at him. “I would love that!” And so, they grabbed their coats and made their way downtown. Griff could only hope he wouldn’t come across his team but again, he wasn’t as smart as he believed to be. Already he was taking a huge risk. “So, I would like to talk to you about this soirée a week from now…”

--

“I can’t wear that!”

“And why the fuck not?” Eve demanded, hands resting on her hips. She gave the brunette an all-too-knowing ‘speak up’ look.

In Eve’s defense, the dress was drop dead gorgeous but also quite daring for Moon’s standards. Moon’s aunt had gifted it to her on graduation day, for when the time came she’d be able to wear it. Well, at long last, the occasion called for it. It was a white, asymmetric long sleeve one shoulder dress covered in sequins.

“Well… What if, you know…” She was almost too embarrassed to say it out loud “... My breast pops out?” Truly nothing slipped past her. She always thought of every possible thing that could happen. Granted, Eve wasn’t a fan of wardrobe malfunctions either but the doom thinking was getting old at this point.

“That’s what nipple guards and double-sided tape is for.”

“What an interesting concept.” The brunette seemed fascinated. Eve on the other hand wondered if she had been living under a rock.

“You’ve never heard of these?” Eve asked while raising her brow. The brunette shook her head. How had she survived without them all this time? Oh, right, she always wore things twice her size.

“Girl, you have a lot to learn.” Eve sighed as she shook her head.

Freya chimed in “You have a lovely figure, show it off.” She complimented as she was flipping through this week’s fashion magazine.

Now Sorian butted in. “And if your tit does pop out it will give those corporate fucks something to talk about. I bet that’s more action than they’ve had from their wives in twenty years.”

Eve laughed while Moon looked horrified. Freya glared at him. Sorian simply shrugged. Ever the protective figure, she threw her magazine on the blonde’s lap and turned her attention back to the girl. “It won’t happen, so don’t worry.”

Moon took a deep breath. “Alright, let’s go with that one.”

Eve squealed in delight. She loved getting ready with the rest of the girls and additionally, whenever he felt like crashing, Sorian. “So, for hair and makeup, what were you thinking about?”

Moon asked if Eve was familiar with the ‘mermaid tear’ trend. Eve nodded. It was a good choice. As for hair, Moon was hesitating between three looks: the wet, slicked back look; straight and parted in the middle or the K-pop-inspired hairpin look.

Eve didn’t expect the girl to come forward with such a bold suggestion but now that she did, she was going to take advantage of that. It was about time she outed herself a little more. Freya on the other hand argued that the last look was more true to her personality. In the end they went for a compromise: the wet look, with a strip shape rhinestone pin placed right above the ear as finishing touch. Incredibly pleased with the final look, Moon thanked them and went to retrieve her makeup brushes. Bored with the stale gossip the magazine had to offer, Sorian accompanied her.

While Sorian was busying himself with the brunette, both Eve and Freya took this as an opportunity to get dressed. Eve had opted for a skin-tight plunging metallic mini dress with long sleeves. It was loud, it was fun and it was glamorous. She looked absolutely stunning and she knew it. For makeup, she had opted for a colorful cut crease. For hair, she wanted to rock her natural curls.

Freya on the other hand had opted for an elegant, pink pin-up dress. She too, liked to show off her curves and damn right she was. Who in their right mind wouldn’t when you had a rack like hers? For hair, she went full Jessica Rabbit. To compliment tonight’s style, she had picked a beautiful retro glam makeup.

Suddenly, Eve remembered Griff’s comment a week prior. “This isn’t a frat party so dress accordingly. Important people will attend this event.” He had told them. So naturally Eve had decided otherwise just to spite him. She was going to shake what her mama gave her, just like the song says, whether Griff liked it or not. Unlike him she wasn’t afraid of color (or fun).

--

As for Sorian, unlike Griff and Val, he wasn’t much of a suit guy. If he had to wear something fly however, you best believe he was going all out, Sorian style. So there he was at the bottom of the stairs, wearing jeans, while waiting for the others to come down.

“What the fuck are you wearing?” He heard Griff yell at him.

“What do you mean? I’m wearing Gucci. Be happy I didn’t go full ‘Old Town Road’ like Lil Nas X.” He retorted nonchalantly. Granted, his brightly-colored silk ruffle dress shirt was fancy as fuck but he didn’t expect Griff to understand it. Griff didn’t know what Nasex, a fucking nasal spray, had anything to do with this and he dared not question it.

“Get changed right this instant or so help me God.” Alas, it was already too late. He could hear the girls giggle upstairs and a door slamming shut behind them. They were ready.

“What’s up?” He heard behind him. Great, Aguilar looked like a clown too. This was going to be a nightmare once again. Why did he even bother to bring them along? At this rate he could cover every single act in Cirque Du Soleil with the way they were dressed.

“What the fuck are you two wearing? Didn’t any of you understand the brief?” Skylar was wearing a black suit vest with a white dress shirt underneath. The blue denim pants and brown dress shoes really tied his look together. To his credit, he looked the part. To Griff? Not as much.

Skylar’s companion, Mac, had actually given his outfit some thought. Skylar could only guess he had done it for Eve’s sake. The rapper was wearing a dark green velvet suit with a bowtie. He had opted for a golden chain and brand new sneakers to complete his look. In all honesty, even though he wasn’t pleased in the slightest, Griff had to let that one slide.

Skylar shrugged. “We do, we just don’t give a fuck.” The free drinks and hotties is where it was at, really. The Dominican knew all too well this event had nothing to do with them. Griff just trudged them along to showcase them like cattle on an annual fair. Whatever would make the sponsors happy, he guessed.

Finally, Thorsen had shown his face. “Are we ready to go?”

Griff pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. He, too, looked absolutely horrendous. A white band jacket paired with a leopard top hat, really? Not to mention the graphic black metal band shirt he was wearing underneath. This was an event, not a rock concert. “Do you see Parker anywhere?” He asked the Norwegian.

Ty gave him a sheepish look. “No?”

“Then no, we’re not. Parker is late again. Always the same.” Griff complained.

“I heard that.” Freya snapped back as she made her way down with Eve. They hadn’t even left and already he was complaining. Freya huffed, this was going to be a long night. Griff gave the redhead a disgusted look. Needless to say, he didn’t approve of her attire either. Had they somehow conspired against him? It sure seemed like it. Ty, on the other hand, couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. He thought she looked stunning. She always did.

Mac didn’t hesitate and went straight for Eve, pulling her closer. “You look hot, babe!” The girl giggled in response, running a hand through her thick curls. She knew she looked hot but always appreciated his compliments nonetheless.

There was one member missing. “Where is Moon?” Griff asked as he glanced at his watch, tapping his foot impatiently. The cab could arrive any minute now and they couldn’t afford to be late.

“Here!” She replied as she traipsed down the last steps, giving her friends an apologetic look. “My apologies, I’m not used to wearing heels. I didn’t want to tumble down the stairs.”

When Griff had finally bothered to look up, he didn’t quite know what to say. He was met with an unexpected sight for sure. His mouth hung slightly open but no words came out.

Freya and Eve high-fived each other. Their work was done here. A job well done in Freya’s opinion. Moon was no longer the wallflower of the bunch. She looked fantastic, even if she didn’t realize it. All the girl needed was a gentle push to come out of her shell. With newfound confidence, Moon beamed at him.

“You… look different.” Griff said stupidly. He had one job and blew it. Freya sighed. He was hopeless.

Moon wasn’t sure what he meant by that. She clutched her dress nervously as she glanced down at her feet, then back at him. Was the dress not formal enough? Did she look ridiculous in it? Granted, she knew they weren’t used to seeing her like this but still, this was a huge deal for her. “Is that a good or a bad thing?” She asked him.

At least someone understood the assignment. Of course it was a good thing. Wasn’t that obvious? His compliment was spot on. She should be grateful he was complimenting her at all. “Well, um…” He stammered, until Skylar came to his rescue.

“What Simmons is trying to say is that you look stunning, Moon.”

The girl blushed “Thank you, Sky. You’re far too kind. You look dashing yourself, as per usual.” Without further ado, Skylar offered the girl his arm, which she gladly took.

“We’re done here.” The Dominican stated as the group now made their way outside with Griff left behind. Skylar took the opportunity to turn to face him, lifting his index finger and thumb in the shape of an L on his forehead. Griff truly couldn’t say something nice about someone even if his life depended on it.

--

They had seated themselves at the bar. Well, most of them. Upon entry Val had been dragged off by a handful of women. This time however, Griff had provided them with a VIP area from the start, unlike some festival they had been part of a little while ago. Security on the other hand wasn’t necessary. This place reeked of ‘friends in high places’. They weren’t the kind to ask them for pictures, tug at their clothes nor declare their undying love for them. ‘Favors’ and business deals on the other hand weren’t off the table, if you catch my drift. The whole scene disgusted Skylar.

“Fuck this.” He announced before downing his drink and heading outside.

Freya didn’t blame him. This party was boring as fuck. The music was shit and the people were so fake it hurt to watch. She had lost count of the amount of pretentious laughs and two-faced personalities present in the room. At the end of the day, these rich, haughty fuckers were all the same. She was surprised none of the old sods had dropped dead while they were there.

Moon was visibly uncomfortable by older men ogling her like vultures hovering over their prey. Freya felt for the girl. Unlike her she wouldn’t flip them off or tell them to scoop out their eyeballs and toss them in the bin where they belonged. She also didn’t have someone to protect her and keep the creeps away, like Mac or Ty. Instead, she simply turned her attention to her friends and tried to make the best out of the situation. Bless her heart.

“Well, I don’t know about y’all but I wanna dance. Let’s go, babe.” Mac didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

Freya grimaced. Dancing wasn’t her thing. At least not in public. Luckily, it wasn’t Ty’s either. Lord knows he had two left feet and she wasn’t particularly excited at the thought of having hers stepped on. “No thanks, you have fun.” She needn’t tell Eve twice. The redhead then turned her attention to Moon. “What about you, love?”

The girl smiled, eyes glittering like a child in a candy store. “Oh, I’d love to… But I’m not sure if now is a good time. He seems quite busy.”

Freya understood who she meant. He’d be dumb not to but this was Griff they were talking about after all. You know what they say, if you don’t expect anything at all you can’t possibly be disappointed, right? Perhaps this time he’d surprise her in a good way. Freya could only hope that was the case, for Moon’s sake. “It’s a party, isn’t it? You won’t know unless you try.”

Moon nodded. Freya was right. A little while ago the brunette wouldn’t have been able to gather the courage to ask something so… bold, for the lack of a better word. Over time, she hadn’t necessarily become more assertive but more comfortable in her own skin. She still had a long way to go, but Freya was proud of her nonetheless. Perhaps this was why Freya was so protective of her. She saw a lot of her younger self in the Belgian girl.

Moon closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Right. You’re absolutely right.” There’s a Flemish saying that goes as follows: ‘gedachten op nul en ga ervoor.’ Which roughly translated to taking action before your thoughts and doubts got the better of you. Moon thought it was particularly fitting. “I’ll be right back.” She announced before taking her leave.

--

“Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me. Mind if I borrow him for a minute?” Moon gave his companions her most charming smile. Seeing no issue with her request, they let her do as she pleased. “Be my guest, darling.” One told her. She thanked them and led the American away, holding him by the arm.

“What is it?” Griff asked, albeit not unfriendly.

Perfect timing, seeing as ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ by Elvis Presley just started playing. It was one of her favorite songs, if not her favorite slow. It was now or never. She wasn’t going to get another chance for a long, long time. “I was wondering if you would like to dance?” She asked.

“Not now, I’m busy.”

Her smile faded. Oh well, it was worth a shot. At least she gave it a try, that’s what she tried to tell herself. “I understand. My apologies, I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation.” She reassured him. He nodded, then made his way back to his business associates. As Moon turned her heel, she could’ve sworn she heard them laugh. Maybe it was her imagination. If it wasn’t, she could only hope they weren’t making a mockery out of her and additionally, her request. Perhaps she was being rude. The last thing she wanted was to embarrass him in front of his friends.

“And?” Freya asked interestedly as Moon made her way back to them.

Moon smiled faintly. “He said, and I quote: ‘not now, I’m busy.’”

“Prick.” She huffed as she took a sip of her cocktail.

“Well, it wasn’t a no.” Ty interjected. Freya glared at him. His timing was always spot on.

“What? I’m not defending him or anything. I’m just saying.” He made a fair point but still. It was his loss, really. Fuck him, she could do so much better. He’s had his chance.

“It’s perfectly fine, honestly. I should’ve known better than to interrupt.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Freya asked. She couldn’t really tell what Moon was feeling but she didn’t seem defeated either. That was a good sign, at least.

Perhaps Sorian would like to dance, Moon thought as she scanned the room looking for him. It was always a good time with him. Upon a closer look however it seemed the blonde had company. He was on the other end of the bar, chatting away (more like, flirting) with a very pretty redhead male. Thus, not wanting to interrupt another person, she decided otherwise. “I’m going to get some fresh air, see what Sky is up to.”

Freya thought that was a good idea. It’s been a while since she’d seen his face. Lord knows what he was up to indeed. “Good call. You have fun, alright?” Freya didn’t feel like mingling with the business tycoons either. Dancing was one thing. Flaunting wealth was another thing entirely. Granted, perhaps she had passed out on a once in a lifetime opportunity (and a lot of money) but she was willing to take that risk. Anything beats the stench of fakeness. Besides, she was doing damn well on her own, thank you very much.

“I will.” The brunette promised, smiling.

--

“There you are! Are you alright?” He looked up to see Moon smiling down at him. He had no idea where she had found a blanket but there she was, holding one. “Mind if I sit?”

“Be my guest.” He replied as he motioned to the empty seat beside him.

“Aren’t you cold?” She asked him as she sat down, concerned. Granted, it was a little chilly outside but it could be worse. At least it wasn’t snowing.

“Nah, the booze keeps me warm.” He joked as he pulled out a bottle of whatever he had gotten his hands on. Moon giggled. It was rather full still. Over time Sky had started to drink less. That didn’t stop him from enjoying a drink from time to time however. Especially if it took the boredom of this fucking party away.

To answer her previous question, Skylar told her he was fine, it’s just that whatever was going on inside wasn’t his cup of tea. She understood. She too felt very out of place despite growing up in a privileged environment. “How’s you, though?” he asked.

“I’m alright, thank you for asking.” Here, in Skylar’s presence, she felt safe. She knew she could be herself. From up here, the view of the city down below was absolutely stunning. The lights, in contrast to the starry night sky, were oddly comforting. She understood why he’d rather hang out here. It was so quiet, so peaceful.

“Aren’t you bored out of your mind with these people? All they talk about is their expensive yachts and shit. Gross.”

“It’s certainly a topic of conversation among many. Perhaps they’ve exhausted every other one.” She chuckled. Her answers were always so calculated, the poor soul was far too kind for her own good. She was more tactful than he was, for sure. Skylar preferred a to-the-point-zero-bullshit approach, Moon spoke and acted according to an etiquette, even if she spoke truthfully. Skylar thought that must be exhausting as fuck but seeing her upbringing, it didn’t surprise him.

“Why do you think I nap so often?” She joked. Skylar laughed. The difference between them is that at some point, Skylar stopped giving a fuck while she cared too much. She should do the same, really. It’s freeing. Once in a while however, when she felt like it, she’d show this side of her: a more carefree, impish side to her. One day, he would teach her how to diss Simmons. That was a promise.

They had talked for what felt like hours while enjoying each other’s company, completely engrossed in their conversation. Why here of all places? Who knew. Did it really matter? Moon believed that was how some of the most treasured memories were created. Just talking about anything and everything that came to mind. Truly getting to know a person, their heart and soul. Skylar was someone she had clicked with from the start. They shared a lot of similarities despite having a different upbringing. Over time, she had grown fond of him. He truly was someone she’d do anything for, like a big brother she never had. This made her question something…

“I wonder why it wasn’t you… and if it ever could have been you.”

“Who knows what the fuck is going on in an alternate universe, am I right?” Skylar replied, giving her an if-you-know-what-I-mean look. Amused, Moon laughed. Who knew indeed.

It would make perfect sense. They had great chemistry and they’d make such a cute couple. She knew all too well both Eve and Freya would love to see it happen. However, Moon was a firm believer that everything happened for a reason. The truth of the matter is, they didn’t have feelings for each other. She’d never deny that Sky was very attractive but it was what it was. Then why Griff of all people? Why was it Tae in the past? Love worked in weird ways.

Sorian didn’t give her the time to ponder over it. “Hey, hey.” He greeted them in a sing-song voice. Clearly he was having a great time. Or maybe he’s had a couple of drinks already. “Will you come dance with me? These people can’t fucking move. Pretty please?” He pouted.

Skylar declined his offer. Moon however, frowned in confusion. “What about the gentleman you were talking to earlier?” She asked.

“Ugh, he’s so boring. He refused to dress up as a café maid. Besides, he didn’t even know what pegging was, can you believe it?” In all honesty Moon didn’t know what it was either but knowing Sorian she dared not ask.

She turned her head to face Skylar. “Will you be alright?”

He assured her he was going to be fine. Anything was better than heading back inside and getting judged by these asshats.

Sorian reached out to her, implying that she had to take his hand. She did as she was told and followed the blonde back inside, leaving the blanket behind, just in case Skylar got cold.

--

“Where is Moon?” Griff asked.

“Well, that depends.” Freya replied as she put her drink down on the counter beside her. “What’s your business with her?”

Griff didn’t appreciate her attitude in the slightest. Who did she think she was? It was none of her damn business to begin with. “Forget I ever asked.” he spat. Freya was glad to be rid of him. That didn’t take her as long as she thought. Probably a personal record, if she was honest.

A couple of minutes later, he had found his way outside. Of course Aguilar was making a prime example out of himself again, bottle in hand and everything. Griff sighed. The Dominican was going to be his best bet, whether he liked it or not. “Where is Moon?” He asked him.

Skylar didn’t look up. For a moment he contemplated on whether or not he should lead him astray but he wasn’t in the mood for games. The sooner he got rid of him the better. So, instead, he simply told him “I don’t know.”

Great. How helpful. Griff was back to square one. Defeated and utterly exasperated, he headed back inside. He dared not ask Eve, who was now by Freya’s side. Both Mac and Ty were utterly useless so that wasn’t an option either. Val on the other hand just happened to enter his line of sight. Now that the Russian was alone Griff was going to have to seize the opportunity. He only had so long before he’d get swept away by women. “Have you seen Moon?” He asked him as he grabbed him by the upper arm.

The Russian, seemingly unaware of Griff’s presence at first, stopped dead in his tracks. “On the dancefloor, I think.” He simply told him. Griff was lucky, if it weren’t for him being his boss he dared not think of what he’d do to someone holding him back by the arm. Never cross a Russian spy’s boundaries. It was both bold and dumb. Griff dismissed him as he made his way to the dancefloor. How difficult was it to track down a girl in a flashy dress?

It didn’t take long for him to find Sorian. It was hard to miss him since he was about as colorful as a box of neon highlighter pens. He blamed whoever he had convinced to dance with him. Until he took a good look at his dance partner’s face. Griff almost choked on his own spit. He cursed inwardly. This was bad.

Panicked (and furious), he did what every regular person would do: demand answers. Who thinks before they act, right? “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He hissed as he pulled Moon away to get in Sorian’s face. Taken aback by his brusque action, she let out a small yelp.

Sorian on the other hand wasn’t impressed in the slightest. Irritated, yes, but impressed? Nah. “What does it look like we’re doing?” He replied curtly. Wasn’t it obvious? They were just having a great time. Jeez, he made it seem as if they had robbed a bank or something, Ivy and Harley style. Now that was a sexy concept, Sorian thought.

Moon on the other hand blinked in confusion. Did she do something wrong? Did she say something she wasn’t supposed to say? “Is everything alright?” She asked, concerned. Frankly, Sorian had no idea what he was talking about either but he did find his outburst endearing. Griff was such a hothead. He’d be lying if he claimed it didn’t turn him on a little.

“You.” He was waving his finger in her face now. “You asked me something earlier. What was it again? I’ve been looking all over for you, damnit.”

“Oh, W- Well...” She muttered. “I’ve been meaning to ask you for a dance.” So of all people she had come to Sorian. Fan-fucking-tastic.

“Well, I’m here now. Let’s dance.”

Moon frowned. She was having a blast with Sorian. She didn’t want to ditch him on the spot. Besides, with the way Griff was acting, was it really okay? She wasn’t so sure. Sorian giggled.

Aggravated by Sorian’s reactions, Griff glared at him. “Do you think this is funny? What’s the big idea here, huh?”

“Please calm down. I’m not sure what’s going on but whatever it is, we can discuss it.” Moon suggested in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Griff was clearly fuming and she wanted to fix it. She needed to fix it since this was likely her doing. Besides, she could tell Sorian didn’t appreciate Griff’s comment in the slightest. She didn’t recall ever seeing the blonde mad but here they were. First time for everything?

“Shut up! I’m perfectly calm!” Griff retorted hotly. Moon flinched. Somehow she wasn’t convinced but she dared not talk back.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Sorian asked, aggravated.

Griff couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Was he really standing up for her? Against him? What the actual fuck? “Why are you of all people coming to her defense?!” he accused.

“Because she’s my friend?!” The blonde retorted as he hugged Moon close. Now Griff was really losing it. He had done everything in his power to keep the two separated. How was it that they got along? His plan was perfect, where did it go wrong?

“Friends?” Griff blinked in confusion. “Friends?! Since when?”

Moon looked crushed. “I- I don’t understand… Why wouldn’t we be?” She asked. Yes, they may not have much in common but their differences had brought them closer.

Sorian agreed, squinting. “Yeah, Simmons. Why wouldn’t we be? Opposites attract, babe.”

This was way worse than he ever imagined. Not once did he consider the possibility of them getting along, which was a huge mistake on his part. On talking terms? Sure. They were co-workers after all and they had been working together for a while now. Even so, they almost never hung out, so he just assumed friendship wasn’t an issue (more like, didn’t have to deal with keeping them apart). Shit. This made things way more complicated… Seems like his foolproof plan wasn’t so foolproof after all.

He was going to sue the shit out of Robert or whatever his name was. Griff shuffled uncomfortably. The damage had already been done, is there anything he can do to salvage it still? Once again he was back to square one and frankly, it annoyed him greatly. “You’re trying to ruin my reputation, aren’t you? This is why I can’t have nice things, huh? Figures.” The American accused.

Moon was desperately trying to puzzle the pieces together. What was going on? She didn’t have the chance to do so however. Before she knew it, she saw a fist flying. Then, there was a grunt. After that, Griff was on the floor, holding his jaw as he spat out what looked like a tooth. When it finally dawned on her, Sorian was on top of him.

From across the room, Freya heard a panicked scream. If she had to guess, one of the women had seen a rat crawl out of the kitchen. Sadly these places weren’t as clean as they pretended to be. When she turned her head to where the scream came from, she noticed a familiar figure trying to yank someone off another on the floor. “Please stop, both of you! This is not the answer!” She heard the girl plead. She sounded like she was on the verge of crying “Someone please help!”.

“Fuck.”

Without a second thought Freya rushed to the scene with the rest of Team Griff following suit. “Don’t just stand there, do something!” She yelled at no one in particular. Déjà vu much? She didn’t expect any of these rich bastards to dirty their hands for the likes of them but it was worth a try. If they were so busy gawking at them they might as well lend a hand. Moon was still desperately trying to yank Sorian off but to no avail. The blonde didn’t let go. At least she knew better than to get in between.

“What the fuck?! Are you serious?! Cut it out!” Freya barked as she pulled at one of Sorian’s arms. How the fuck was he so strong? What the fuck did Griff do to piss him off this badly? Team Griff had never seen him like this. Whatever had happened here, Griff definitely deserved it, although suckerpunching Simmons was usually Skylar’s job.

Luckily Val came to their rescue not long after. With one decisive pull he managed to yank Griff away by the shoulders, ripping Griff’s suit in the process. Oops. Oh well, his safety came first. Surely he understood? “Enough!” Val bellowed as he tossed the American aside like a ragdoll in an attempt to create distance.

Now that Sorian no longer had a grip on Griff (except for the tuft of hair in his balled fist), Moon, with the assistance of Freya, restrained Sorian by the abdomen, as if hugging him from behind, with Freya holding him back at the front, hand pushing against his chest. Ever the kind soul, Moon apologized profusely for having to take such drastic measures. It was for his own good. He needed to regain his senses.

Clearly he had underestimated the blonde. Five foot four power bottom, my ass. More like, five foot four fury. Humiliated, Griff resorted to verbal assault. “You’re fired!” Griff screeched. “How dare you put your filthy little hands on me, Griff Simmons! King of the mountain! My father will hear about this!”

Welp, if Griff had ever contemplated plastic surgery in the past, he definitely needed it now. Sorian was bleeding as well but Griff clearly got off worse. It was rather impressive, really.

“Did somebody order a cherry pie?” Mac joked in an attempt to lighten the mood. Eve glared at him. Now was not the time. Embarrassed, the DJ lowered his head.

“That’s fine, honey. Tell your daddy I said hi.” The blonde taunted, biting his lower lip in anticipation. If Griff wasn’t currently restrained by Val he’d have no lips to bite on. He was shaking with anger. Flamboyant half breed, he thought.

In typical Skylar fashion, he was late to the party. Seemingly unaware of what went down, he addressed the crowd by asking them why the music was turned off. While most remained silent, a handful of women were either giggling with their phones pulled out. Skylar raised his brow. “What the fuck?” Great. Now Griff had another headache to concern himself with.

Eventually, his gaze fell on the trio that was Freya, Sorian and Moon. Then, on the other side, stood Val with Griff. “Someone punched Simmons and none of you told me? Damn, that’s cold.” Whoever re-arranged Griff’s face had done one hell of a job. “Who did this?” Skylar asked, grinning.

Of course Aguilar was utterly pleased with this discovery. Griff expected no less from him.

“Take one fucking guess.” Freya told him.

Welp, seeing as there was only one other bloodied figure in the room, it didn’t take long for Skylar to find out and boy, was he happy when he did. Oh my fucking God. This was gold. Skylar couldn’t believe he had missed out on Sorian going ham of all people. The Dominican laughed out loud while Griff groaned. Beat a man while he’s down, why won’t you?

At long last, one of the wealthy bastards, which Freya could only assume was the one who had organized the event, finally bothered to show his face. The man in question went straight for Griff, clearly concerned with his well-being. Typical. They wouldn’t even do so much as lift a fucking finger but when it came to the one percent everything else came after. Disgusting.

“This is outrageous! Leave the building at once, young man.” The chairman ordered. Moon understood Sorian had no choice in the matter. She believed they’d call the police otherwise, which wasn’t an option.

Freya realized this as well. “Let’s go. We’ve clearly overstayed our welcome.” She spat, finally letting go of Sorian. She could’ve verbally ended Griff’s career right there and then but Sorian came first.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Griff scoffed as he pointed at Moon “You’re siding with them, really?” Once again, Moon was on the verge of tears. This was never about picking sides. She couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. She already felt terrible for being unable to put a stop to their fight. She couldn’t leave Sorian alone. He needed medical attention, as did Griff.

The audacity was astounding. Freya couldn’t believe her ears. If she had a drink in hand she’d be sure to throw it at him. She gently placed her hand on Moon’s shoulder. This was not her burden to bear. She did nothing wrong. “Leave her out of this. You’ve done enough.” The redhead snapped back. “You should be ashamed of yourself. Your head is so far up your ass you can’t even hear the shit that comes out of your mouth.” Before turning her heel, she addressed the chairman one last time. “I assume your precious Republican insurance will cover this, yes?”

He didn’t respond.

“We’re done here.” She announced, escorting both Sorian and Moon out of the venue alongside the rest of Team Griff.

--

“Why do we work for him again?” Eve complained. “Seriously, has anything good ever come out of it?”

“Nope.” Freya replied as she took a sip from Skylar’s bottle.

“What the fuck is a Suzuki Jimny?” The Dominican asked.

“The fuck do I know? Google it.” Freya replied.

“I can’t. Reception is shit.”

“Great.” She sighed.

“We could always take the bus?” Ty offered.

“Ew, I’m not taking a fucking bus.” Eve retorted. Frankly, they were running out of options. It was already way past midnight and snow was starting to fall. While the lodge wasn’t that far away, going by foot was out of the question. Val couldn’t carry Sorian all the way home, it was far too dangerous with the black ice on the pavement.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to call an ambulance?” Moon asked.

“Fuck that.” Sorian interjected. He refused to go unless he’d get to wear a sexy nurse outfit, which wasn’t possible. She still believed it was the smartest thing to do but she couldn’t force him. His injuries would need to be checked at the lodge by SSX’s medics instead. They were used to it by now anyways.

“There’s a night shop across the street, why not ask for help regarding our ride?” Moon suggested instead, pointing at the shop in question. She, too, was holding on to Skylar.

“Good idea.” Well, it’s not like they had much else going for them. Freya was willing to try anything if it meant avoiding the upcoming snowstorm.

“Let’s split up. We’ll meet you back here.” Moon said as she took her leave with Eve, Skylar and Mac while the rest would wait for them on the other side. It shouldn’t take long and with a bit of luck, their Uber would stop by.

--

‘What the fuck is taking them so long? I’m freezing.” Freya hugged herself in an attempt to keep warm. While Ty (bless him) had draped his jacket over her shoulders to provide her with extra warmth, it didn’t change much if she wasn’t moving around. For how long had they been gone? Surely it mustn't have been longer than twenty minutes but it was still far too long to Freya’s liking. She had expected them to hop out of the store as fast as they had gone in.

Freya then decided she had had enough. Fuck it. “Stay here.” She ordered as she crossed the street after checking left and right for incoming cars. Head held high, she failed to see the slab of black ice down below. First, she heard a crack. Then, she was on the ground, a sharp pain spreading throughout her foot and up her leg towards her knee. Freya screamed in agony as she clutched her right ankle tightly. It was probably broken. Just her fucking luck. She didn’t know what hurt her more, her now swollen ankle or her dress getting all dirty.

“Freya, are you alright?!” Impeccable timing as always. Did she look alright to him? She knew Ty meant well but right now she wasn’t in the mood. She tried to speak but no words came out. All she managed to do was grunt and grit her teeth. The pain was so unbearable she honestly felt like she was about to pass out. So naturally, Ty being Ty, tried to lift her up. Freya let out another scream. It was impossible to put any weight on it. It was far too painful.

Meanwhile, Val was stuck with Sorian in his arms. Well shit. Freya clearly needed help but he just couldn’t leave the blonde behind now, could he? He was in no condition to fend for himself. What now?

“Hey, get away from her, you creep!”

“Yeah, didn’t your mama teach you not to hit women?”

“Hit women?” Ty frowned, confused. As fate would have it, three passerbys had heard the scream and decided to investigate. Much to Ty’s dismay, they had somehow interpreted this as him trying to assault her. Just his fucking luck. Even Ty had to admit the situation looked hella suspicious. He was holding her purse while she was on the floor, screaming. “I can explain.” He stammered, letting go of the purse and holding both arms up in defeat. “It’s not what it looks like, you see-”

Freya’s saviors didn’t give him the time to explain however, as one of them sent Ty flying with a fist to the nose. “Making up excuses, huh? That’s what they all say! People like you should be rotting in jail!”

“Scum of the earth! To Hell with you!” He heard another yell.

The third was busying himself with Freya instead, asking her if he should call emergency services. She shook her head. Right now, she wasn’t the one who needed it the most. Once again she tried to speak but she couldn’t quite catch her breath. The pain was too overwhelming. Freya cursed inwardly. How did things get fucked so quickly? She reached out to Ty, but to no avail. He was curled up on the ground, begging his assailants to stop.

“Let me fight!” The blonde yelled on the other end of the street, witnessing the whole ordeal. Sorian couldn’t just stand by either. He had already gotten in a fist fight tonight, why not another?

“Absolutely not!” The Russian warned as he tried to hold Sorian back while Ty was getting the beating of his life. Damnit, Val was wasting time. He should be out there helping for crying out loud. “Will you please comply?!” he growled. His plea fell on deaf ears, Sorian was having none of it.

“Yo, what the fuck is going on?!” Freya heard someone yell. The voice sounded strangely familiar. Mac? Then there was a scream. Was this Eve?

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” This was definitely Skylar. They sure had taken their sweet time. Did they not hear her scream earlier? Christ.

The stranger now turned his attention to Skylar “Are you defending this shithead or something? He was robbing the poor lady!”

Distraught at the absolute state of affairs, Moon pulled her hair. Robbing? This was clearly one big misunderstanding. “That’s her boyfriend!” She yelled, panicked at the state both of her friends were in.

--

“Well, it’s definitely broken.” Great. Exactly what she wanted to hear. “You got lucky, can’t say the same for your partner.”

Why not rub the salt in the wound while you’re at it, doctor? Surely that would make me feel so much better, she thought. “I’m filing a police complaint.” She simply stated instead.

“You’re starting to sound like Simmons.” Skylar chuckled. She knew it was a joke but right now she wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. If Freya could move she’d choke him with the cord of her infusion.

“Piss off.” She replied as she folded her arms across her chest. Needless to say, she didn’t exactly envision spending her night at the hospital but when did her outings ever end up the way she wanted? At the very least, she wasn’t alone. Ty was in the bed beside hers, gently squeezing her hand as he was throwing up while Mac was patting him on the back, encouraging him to let it all out. The doctor was right, the scoundrels hadn’t spared him.

Across the room was Sorian. He, too, could’ve been off worse. Aside from the black eye and bandaged hands, of course. While Moon was discussing follow up treatment with the medic in charge, Eve wanted to pay the cafeteria a visit. “Do you need anything?” She asked her best friend as she got up.

Freya smiled faintly. Anything to undo tonight’s events. “A spa day would be great.” She replied instead.

Val ran a hand through his hair “I wonder what Simmons has in store for us this time.”

Eve folded her arms across her chest “Ugh, probably another complaint, knowing him.” She huffed, already dreading whatever was awaiting them. Mac simply shrugged. The DJ couldn’t care less.

“What do you think he’ll moan about this time?” Skylar asked, turning his attention to Ty.

The Norwegian gave him a sheepish look “How am I supposed to know? We piss him off all the time.”

“Cheers.” Freya interjected.

“Let’s at least hear him out. It likely won’t take long.” Moon suggested in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Still a waste of my fucking time.” The redhead added.

--

“You’re late.” He growled.

Freya rolled her eyes. “Good evening to you too.” Griff pretended not to see that. “Sit down.” He simply ordered, gesturing towards the chairs placed in front of them. Ever so obedient, Moon did as she was told. The rest, not as much. He expected as such but it was worth a try nonetheless. “We don’t have all day, just say whatever it is we did wrong, we’ll apologize as per usual and go about our day.”

Griff sighed. “Believe it or not, I didn’t gather you all here to point out your mistakes.”

“What?” Skylar frowned in disbelief. That was unexpected.

Griff sighed again. “Yes, Aguilar, I’m sure this comes as a shock to you but I assure you it’s the truth.” He continued while resting both elbows on the table. He already regretted his decision. How he hadn’t fired any of them so far was honestly beyond him. They had caused him nothing but trouble… or money. “Actually, as much as I hate to do this, I am asking you for your input.”

“On what exactly?” Eve asked, squinting. “Fashion? Sense of humor? Optimism? Lord knows you could use it.”

“Trends.” Griff simply stated. “Please do not disappoint me for once.”

“What were you leaning towards?” Moon asked interestedly.

“Whatever it is the youth is into these days.” He replied. Griff didn’t bother with social media. He had a team to take care of that for him. Besides, he was so busy he simply didn’t have the time to keep up with it either way.

“The fuck? You’re the youth, you’re supposed to know. You and Moon are the youngest ones here.” Skylar objected, pointing at the pair of them.

“For crying out loud can’t any of you do as you’re asked? Just for once?” He threw his arms up in defeat. At this rate it was going to take all day.

“K-pop.” Moon suggested, a warm smile gracing her lips. “The genre has gained worldwide attention. Some of the biggest names have even made it to mainstream Western media.”

Finally, he thought. “Go on.”

“Adventure time!” Ty chimed in excitedly.

“Preferably something more engaging, Thorsen.”

“Tik tok.” Skylar added.

“Yes, I am familiar with tok tik, thank you very much. Anything else?”

“Fortnite?” Mac added, unsure of his answer. “Or was it Minecraft… No wait, it’s Roblox!”

“Saving the planet, as well as sustainability.” Moon added, providing examples such as straws, clothing and much more. Griff simply nodded in response while taking mental notes. Much to his surprise, they weren’t completely useless for a change. Unexpectedly, they had actually given him suggestions he could work with.

It was Sorian’s turn “Gay rights, diversity, inclusivity and alcohol. Oh, and cancel culture. Which totally doesn’t work by the way.”

Freya rested her hands on her hips “Drama channels.”

“Taking down the patriarchy.” Eve added.

“Enough! That’s enough. That will do.” Exasperated, he leaned back in his chair. “You’re all dismissed.”

That was it? Surely there was more to it. “Uh, not so fast. What do you need this for anyway?”

“For now, it doesn’t concern you. You’ll know when you need to know.” Freya wasn’t pleased with that answer which frankly, wasn’t an answer at all to begin with but that was all she’d squeeze out of him. Griff sighed. “Believe it or not, I care.”

At this, Skylar laughed out loud. “That’s a good one. Perhaps he does have a sense of humor, Eve.” The girl scoffed in response.

“Let’s just say it’s a surprise. From me, to you.” Team Griff looked at each other in disbelief. Griff waited for an answer but was met with silence instead. It was awkward, really. Moon, ever the mediator, eventually broke it. “We’re looking forward to it.”

--

“How nice of him to do this for us.”

“Yeah, well, don’t get your hopes up. This is Simmons we’re talking about.” It had been three weeks since Griff had gathered them in his office. They had tried to get him to spill the beans on numerous occasions but Griff didn’t budge. He didn’t even drop a hint. Eve and Freya even went as far as to break into his office and go through his computer. Their efforts proved fruitless. Whatever it was Griff had organized, it was a complete surprise and Freya hated surprises.

“Pack your essentials. I expect you to be ready at seven in the morning. Whoever fails to show up on time will be left behind.” was all he had told them the evening before.

“Don’t you think it’s kinda sus he wouldn’t give us any details, though? He just dumped us in a cab and that’s it.” Skylar yawned. The trip was going to be four hours according to the driver’s GPS.

“Rich bastard couldn’t even spare us a private jet. I mean, what the fuck are we even working for then?”

Sorian shrugged “Whatever, we have booze.” He was resting on Moon’s lap, which the girl didn’t mind one bit since she loved playing with his hair. Over time, they had grown quite close despite not having much in common. Amused at her friends’ antics, she chuckled.

“Seriously though, what part of him thought it was a good idea?” Freya turned to Moon, offering her a drink which she politely declined. “He couldn’t even bother to travel with us.”

“I’m excited to find out where we’re heading to.” Moon replied truthfully. Freya held her hands up in defeat “Afraid you’re the only one here.”

As soon as they had arrived at their destination it became evident that Griff’s so-called surprise was nothing more than a PR stunt in disguise. At face value the event looked like any other festival. Three stages, food trucks and tents… The whole shabang. Upon a closer look Griff had done everything in his power to cater to a younger, more impressionable audience. So much for caring. Yet Moon, for whatever reason, insisted on giving him the benefit of the doubt.

“Welcome to CULTURPOP!” he stated proudly, as if he had organized it all. Freya was willing to bet he saw an opportunity to make money, slapped their names on promotional posters and called it a day. When asked about the program, he told them “All in due time.” Great. When asked about their location, he ignored them. Also great.

“So basically we’re at your mercy. Fan-fucking-tastic.”

“Of course, Parker. You always are, I write your paychecks.” It took every fiber in Freya’s being not to flip him off right there and then. Ginger bastard.

Sorian, for one, was excited to let loose for a change. He knew he was going to regret it in the morning but fuck it, you only live once. This was a festival for crying out loud, what better excuse to party like there’s no tomorrow?

Griff however had other plans. “Where are you going?” he questioned, to which the blonde responded “To party, of course.” as if that was a perfectly reasonable explanation. Griff laughed. Not on his watch.

He proceeded to usher them backstage with the promise of having a good time. Skylar scoffed. Griff’s definition of a good time was vastly different from his. “Now, we don’t want to make our guests wait, do we? Move it.” After being pushed onto the stage, Team Griff had started their day off by holding, in typical Griff fashion, a press conference. Of course the media was involved. Of course it all came down to exposure. Of course views, clicks and likes mattered more than what they wanted. Most members were understandably upset at the reveal but tried to make the best out of it nonetheless.

Until Sorian had decided otherwise. On the topic of hobbies, some clueless journalist had asked him about what he liked to do when he wasn’t snowboarding. “What a stupid question.” He retorted. “Seriously, do you even do your research beforehand?” In his defense, he had heard the question countless times before and his answer had always been the same. Fuck the media, he was going to give them a piece of his mind for a change, not some pre-cooked script their entourage had come up with. “Why don’t you ever ask me real shit like: if dinosaurs were still alive, what would they taste like or whatever.” Sorian wasn’t finished. “If you must know, darling, it’s sucking your daddy’s dick.”

Both Griff and Moon were horrified while Skylar was laughing his ass off.

“What are you standing there for?! Cut his microphone!” The American grit his teeth. The crew swiftly did as they were told. Griff then promptly made his way to the stage to avoid further casualties. He was going to murder him. He quickly thanked the press for coming, stated that Team Griff wasn’t responsible for any emotional damage and proceeded to kick his team off the stage. “Someday you’ll be the death of me.” He accused, to which Skylar responded he could only hope that was the case.

After that fiasco Griff had decided it would be best to give his team a break. Both Sky and Sorian considered this an open invitation to start drinking, much to Freya’s dismay. Griff on the other hand was on the phone discussing ways to minimize the damage Sorian had done. Much to his surprise, the majority of the attendees (he had the fanbase to thank for that) had sided with the blonde, stating how awful the paparazzi were and how they shouldn’t exist in the first place. Crisis averted? Frankly, Griff didn’t understand what was going on but that no longer mattered. This somehow turned in his favor and he was going to take full advantage of that. Looks like Sorian got to live another day.

Thus, the team had decided to attend the first performance of the day. This stage was much bigger and across to where the press conference had been held. It was a heavy metal band no one was familiar with except for Ty. Excited or downright clumsy, the Norwegian had slipped on spilled food (or vomit, no-one could tell the difference), hit someone on the back of the head with his elbow which in turn resulted in him accidentally starting a mosh pit.

Mac had lifted Eve in his arms in an attempt to keep her safe, only for Eve to be swept away by a stranger. The guy had somehow interpreted this as Eve wanting to crowd surf and who was he to turn down a beautiful girl’s wish? Mac’s stomach dropped when he noticed she was no longer in his grasp. She was going to kill him. Eve tried to wrestle her way out but to no avail, she was already making her way to the front. Mac stupidly ran after her, as if that made any difference at this point.

To top it all off, both Sky and Sorian were starting to get tipsy while both Freya and Moon were holding on for dear life. “Fucking hell, where is security when you need it!” the redhead yelled. They were on lunch break, by the looks of it.

It didn’t take long before Sky had thrown himself in the middle of the pit. It was now up to Val to retrieve him before he got hurt. Meanwhile, the poor bloke Ty had knocked the fuck out was getting trampled by the crowd. “Don’t just fucking stand there!” Freya screamed at no one in particular “Get the medics!”.

Griff already dreaded an incoming lawsuit but once again, much to his surprise, the victim turned out to be Norwegian… and a big fan of Ty at that. Battered and bruised, that did not stop the fan from asking Ty for a selfie, which he happily took. The fan was so grateful he almost burst into tears and with that, was brought to the nearest hospital. Another crisis averted. Was this the power of team Griff, he wondered? It couldn’t be. It was just a game of expecting the unexpected with them. It always was.

Anyways, Griff then decided it was time to move on to a meet and greet. What could go wrong with those, right? Well it didn’t take long for him to find out. By this time both Sorian and Skylar were getting pretty drunk. It was useless trying to give them water, they had rejected it at every occasion. “It’s a fucking festival.” Skylar growled. Freya had warned him they’d be more likely to comply if he just let them be but Griff ignored her as per usual. Well, be careful what you wish for. It was only a matter of time before they had started drawing all kinds of inappropriate things on their photos (while giggling, mind you) instead of actually signing them. Sorian almost went as far as to sign a baby but was luckily held back in time by Val.

While the Russian was distracted, two girls had started a cat fight over whoever got to take a selfie with him first. It seemed one of them had cut in line and decided to be petty about it. Griff quickly motioned security over before things truly started getting out of hand. He was used to this but his employees had yet to taste real stardom, naturally.

As both drunks were egging the girls on and chunks of hair were falling to the floor, one superfan adorned in Freya merch had taken the opportunity to sneak up to the redhead and declare his undying love for her and additionally, her rack. She calmly warned him to, in her words, “Get out of my space before I rearrange your face to look like a cherry pie.” and debated on whether or not she should throw him a stick, since he was slobbering all over her tits like a fucking dog. She finished off by telling him to “Make an Onlyfans, people are into dog play these days.” Give an inch and they take a mile, right? That didn’t scare the fan off in the slightest, since he only tried to get closer, claiming they were perfect for each other. Ty had to get in between and lord knows he was a terrible meat shield.

Finally, the guard body slammed the poor bastard and escorted both him and the girls from the scene. Griff gave them a signed picture of both Freya and Val respectively as compensation before heading back to the stage, reassuring the crowd that everything had been taken care of and that the meet and greet would resume as scheduled shortly. Skylar gagged. He despised the fact that Simmons was acting like the fucking hero after doing jack shit but this was Griff they were talking about. Such behavior was to be expected from him.

And so, Team Griff was dismissed for the time being because God forbid Griff would ever willingly share the spotlight with them. Their morning had been so...eventful they didn’t realize they were starving until the crew had asked them what they wanted for lunch. Probably against Griff’s wishes (or schedule, not that anyone cared) they went to explore the food stalls at the back by themselves, since those were stationed in a designated area reserved for staff only.... and it showed. Team Griff already regretted setting foot outside and contemplated on whether or not they should go back backstage. They then decided anything was better than seeing Simmons’ punchable face, waving about and posing like some fucking republican president.

Of course Griff wasn’t going to let them mingle with other artists unless he could supervise the whole thing. Of course Griff had done the bare minimum when it came to them (sparing no expenses, my ass). Of course the stalls were placed right across the port-a-loo’s, merely separated by event fencing. While it wasn’t as smelly as she thought it would be, it sure as hell no longer made Eve feel hungry. She scrunched up her nose in disgust.

“This area is all to ourselves?” Ty wondered.

“Yeah, right next to the fucking shits. How considerate.” How very considerate indeed. It summed up how Griff treated them according to Freya.

This gave Sorian an idea. He waddled over to where Skylar was standing and tugged at his sleeve. “See where those port-a-loo’s are?”

“Yeah?”

“I dare you to climb one and scare the shit out of whoever is inside.” Great thinking, since the victim was already on the toilet.

The blonde had Skylar’s attention. While their speech was slurred, they seemed to understand each other just fine “And what’s in it for meeeee?”

“A bottle of Mama Juanaaaaa?”

The Dominican grinned wickedly, oh how long it had been since he last drank that “Deal.”

--

“Where is Aguilar?” Griff demanded. He had finally bothered to show his face. "We are to resume the meet and greet this instant."

“Dead in a ditch.” Freya replied sarcastically as she took a bite from her sandwich. If only that were true, Griff thought. He’d be the first to arrange his funeral. “Ha! Maybe he did amount to something after all.” This time it was Freya who ignored him.

“I thought he had to pee?” Ty asked, confused. Come to think of it, both he and Sorian had been gone for a while, their food untouched. “Oh for fuck’s sake.” It didn’t take long for Freya to realize the two of them were probably up to no good. It was one thing to lose them at a festival, it was another when they were also shitfaced. Who knows, they might be on the other side of the country by now. Luckily and unexpectedly, she needn’t look far.

Mac was shielding his eyes from the sun with one hand (which was ironic since he was wearing a baseball cap backwards) and pointing towards the toilets with the other. “Yo, is that Skylar? My man!”

Both Griff and Freya spun their heads in the direction the DJ was pointing at. Indeed, there he was, standing on top of a port-a-loo in all his drunken glory. Moon gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.

Griff’s blood was boiling. He just couldn’t catch a break, could he? One day, just one day where they’d all behave and do as they’re told. Was it really so much to ask for? It seemed like with them, everything was destined to turn to shit. Yet he couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. They were his responsibility, whether he liked it or not. Oh, he was going to give Skylar far more than an earful. “My father will hear about this. Aguilar will be the death of me someday, you just wait. I will sue him from my grave.” Griff hissed as he stomped towards the toilets. Ty wasn't sure how Griff's father had anything to do with this. With no time to lose and their jobs on the line, Freya jumped into action with the rest of Team Griff following suit.

--

It seemed the Dominican had already drawn a crowd. They were all cheering and clapping like the fucking sheep they were. Griff thought it was pitiful and classless. He had to push his way to the front, not apologizing once for all the toes he had stepped on nor the drinks he had knocked over. His eyes were locked on Skylar. “Aguilar!” he bellowed, “Get down there this instant or I will yank you off myself! Insurance is not going to cover this!”

“Might need a ladder, not sure your short legs will get you far!” Skylar taunted. “Use your ego instead!”

“I’ll shove it right up where the sun doesn’t shine, alright!” The American retorted hotly. Sorian, who was now being carried by Val, thought that was rather kinky. Ty on the other hand could’ve sworn Griff was foaming at the mouth. Quite frankly, it scared him a little.

“Sky, please be careful. We don’t want you to get hurt!” Moon shouted out, concerned for her friend’s well-being. She was holding her hands in prayer. In Freya’s opinion she was being too kind once again.

"Sweetheart, let me handle this." Drunken Skylar wouldn’t relent unless you used brute force, Freya had learned this the hard way. She strode forward, pushing Griff aside. The American had lost his balance and landed sideways in the mud. Or shit, no-one could tell the difference. While Griff was yelling all sorts of profanities at Freya, the redhead was busying herself with Skylar instead.

“Get the fuck down there! If you break your legs you can crawl to the hospital yourself!” she'd break his arms on his way out for good measure. To be fair, she was just as irritated as Griff. Skylar had a talent for ruining her outings. This was no different, even if she had decided she was going to hate it from the start. Yet the Dominican knew how to make himself forgiven time and time again. She knew this was going to be no different. Freya sighed.

“Pfff, I’ll be fine! Don’t be a party pooper, Freya. Look!” He exclaimed, speech slurred, as he jumped over to another portable toilet. Team Griff collectively held their breaths.

“See? What could possibly happen?” He said perhaps a tad bit too soon. As fate would have it, the roof caved in and with it, Skylar. There was a scream, which they guessed came from Moon, then another, which came from inside the toilet itself. Task failed successfully? If Griff had to guess, it likely came from Aguilar… or at least he hoped that was the case. Yet again the American dreaded an incoming lawsuit. Now Skylar had definitely signed himself up for more than just an earful. The loo’s door swung open and out limping came Skylar. He was holding his fist up in the air, posing as if he were Freddy fucking Mercury. Once again the fans were cheering and clapping like fucking blockheads. Griff was flabbergasted. He was truly surrounded by idiots.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” He heard Freya screaming Aguilar’s ears off.

“I’m fine! Relax.” He groaned as he rubbed his left knee. He winced. She was going to beat him with his prosthetic. She retorted by saying she was perfectly calm and escorted him from the scene, grabbing him tightly by the arm. “You’re going in time-out.” she stated, then pointed at Sorian “You too.” the blonde dared not anger her further. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

A wardrobe change later, Griff was already threatening the press to hush up about their fuck-up. Lord knows how much this was going to cost him. For good measure, he had lawyered up (you can never be too sure when it involved his team). Yet again, much to Griff’s surprise Mac had recorded the whole thing and had uploaded it to tik tok. In a matter of seconds, the clip had gone viral with the majority siding with Skylar. They called him “a fucking legend” among other things. Upon seeing the amount of views and exposure the clip had gathered the American pulled a one-eighty and congratulated Skylar on a job well done. “That’s a wrap for now.”

“For now? You mean there’s more?” Eve complained.

“More? You’ve done the bare minimum, Shephard.” Truth be told Griff had two interviews scheduled for the evening but due to some unforeseen circumstances (thanks a lot, Aguilar) he had to cancel his plans. “Now go enjoy the main event before I change my mind.” they hadn’t exactly done anything to earn that privilege according to him but he had hoped that it would boost their motivation.

--

By the time the main event was about to start, both Sky and Sorian had started to sober up. Val and Mac had to fight tooth and nail to get them to drink water and they eventually managed it. They totally didn't force it down their throats to the point both had almost choked to death. Not that Sorian minded. In fact, it almost felt like he was into it.

Griff also realized, albeit way too late according to Freya, that it was perhaps for the best to move his team to a VIP area where they wouldn’t be mobbed by a horde of fans… or mugged… or groped. No more mosh pits this time. Needless to say, Team Griff’s day had been nothing short of boring and security had been nothing but utterly useless.

“So much for a fucking surprise.” Skylar complained. Little did the Dominican know that one of his fellow members, the one who managed to remain somewhat spared by today’s events, was about to have the biggest surprise of them all.

“Fortunately we get to see the main event.” Moon chimed in, ever the sunny disposition. Freya threw her arms up sarcastically “Surprise!”. Sorian opened his mouth to give his two cents about the event as well but was promptly interrupted by the announcer. At long last, the main act was about to hit the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen, lovely people of CULTURPOP!, the main event you’ve all been waiting for: please give a warm welcome to international K-pop sensation N-SANE!"

The brunette gave Skylar a puzzled look. She had one hand wrapped around his arm and was holding her drink in the other. “Did you catch that?” He shook his head “Dude almost shoved his mic down his throat. I’d be surprised if anyone caught that.”

She giggled. Whatever it may have been, the crowd seemed excited and she was more than content with that. While pretty much everyone was cheering and clapping, team Griff included, the Belgian girl couldn’t help but notice the majority of women seemed particularly excited. If she had to guess, it was likely a male performer… and a popular one at that. Right she was. Seven young men took the stage, taking turns in introducing themselves in a language she was familiar with. Upon closer inspection, one particular individual stood out to her.

Her eyes widened in shock. Moon was clumsy, so it didn’t come as a surprise when she had dropped her drink. Sorian ran a hand through his hair. He needn't look who had done it. As a matter of fact, he was surprised it hadn't happened earlier. “I get it, they’re crazy hot but keep it in your pants, will ya? If I can, so can you. Your jaw is practically on the floor.” Moon tried to speak but no words came out.

Val, ever the gentleman, seemed to be the only one to notice something was off. He glanced down at her, grasping her shoulder tightly “Are you alright, dear? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Moon tightened her grip on Skylar’s sleeve to hide the fact that her hands were shaking. How her legs hadn’t given out at the revelation was beyond her. She didn’t know the song, nor the lyrics or the dance for that matter. What she did recognize was the face. She’d recognize it anywhere. There was no doubt in her mind.

“That’s my ex.” Was all she eventually managed to say.

Eve wasn’t sure if she heard her right. “Come again?! Where?!” She had practically shoved Skylar out of the way to have a look at the crowd below. She tried to follow Moon’s gaze but couldn’t make out who she was staring at “Well then?” she urged.

“Wait… so you’re not a virgin?” Sorian interjected.

“Sorian!” Freya glared at him.

“What? I’m just asking!” he shrugged “No offense, honey.” To be fair, Moon was so vanilla she might as well be.

Moon shook her head “None taken.”

She swallowed hard. A whirlwind of emotions attacked her at once. What were the odds? She knew they weren’t going to let this one go anytime soon. She had already said too much. Eve was staring at her impatiently. Shakily, she managed to lift a finger to point at the stage “The one who’s currently at the front, with the two-toned hair… His name is Park Tae-Min and he’s my ex.”

There was a moment of silence. Then it dawned on them. “Your ex is a fucking pop star?!” Team Griff yelled in unison.

“And you only told us now?!” Eve’s eyes widened in shock “Bitch, we have a lot to talk about.”

“I can explain.” The brunette stammered, holding both hands up in a defensive gesture.

“Sis, you better start speaking.”

“It’s a long story. I don’t know where to start...” Moon spoke softly.

“We have all day.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew she wasn’t going to weasle her way out of this one. “Alright, let’s start from the beginning.” she sat down while her friends had formed a circle around her, hanging onto her every word. She started off by telling them how they had met in Davos, Switzerland, while on vacation with her parents. She had bumped into him by accident, which surprised no-one. She made sure to leave some details out, as she believed this was not her story to tell. They didn't need to know about how he had fled his country after a dispute with his parents nor how they had tried to force him into stardom. How they had abused him both verbally and physically, how they had hunted him down and forced him to return to South Korea… Or how they had threatened to hurt her if he didn't comply. In the end, it seemed they had gotten what they wanted.

However, she did explain that his parents did not approve of their relationship because she was a foreigner, despite Moon’s best efforts to learn what she could about their culture, language and social etiquette. She finished by saying his parents made sure there wouldn’t be any way for them to keep in touch. No matter what they tried, they were always a step ahead.

“I understand this all sounds incredibly unrealistic but I assure you it’s the truth. Here, let me show you.” To further prove her point, not that they didn’t believe her to begin with, she showed them a couple of archived pictures of them together. Even though he had a different haircut then, surely enough, it was him. Freya believed they seemed very happy… and madly in love. “He was my first love. After almost three years… We didn’t want to break up but we had no choice.”

“A series of unfortunate events.” Val sympathized. He hit the nail right on the head.

“Yes, precisely.” She nodded while fighting back tears. All this time she had hoped that despite what had happened, he was happy. That one day, they’d meet again… On their own terms. She didn’t want to cry in front of her friends but her emotions got the best of her. On the other hand, she trusted them and felt comfortable enough to show vulnerability. She was blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people.

“That’s fucked up, yo, I’m so sorry.” Mac pulled Eve closer who in turn asked “Do you still love him?”

"Let's just say that if it had been up to us, he would've been my last." She smiled faintly as she wiped the tears away from her cheeks. Eve knew there was more to it but she didn’t want to press her. She had been through enough. "I believe you all know who has my heart, despite my best efforts to hide that fact." She chuckled this time. “Perhaps in another lifetime Tae and I will be reunited.” It was a beautiful yet sad way to look at it. “Thank you for your support, truly. I am touched.”

"From a pop star to Simmons? Talk about a fucking downgrade." Freya knew all too well you didn't get to choose these things but even after almost a year of living together, she failed to see whatever it was Moon saw in that asshat.

Moon chuckled again "Ah, that is also quite the story." Freya gave her a warm smile in response. “Perhaps later. It would be rude not to pay attention to their performance. We’ve already missed a part.”

Val agreed “Indeed, it would be rude not to. An opportunity like this one only comes once in a lifetime.” He gave Moon a reassuring smile, which she returned. He felt for the girl. Right now, she could use the distraction to collect her thoughts.

--

Well, that didn’t quite go as she had hoped. Moon had sincerely tried her hardest to focus on the performance but she simply couldn’t bring herself to enjoy it the way she had hoped. Her eyes always seemed to fall back on him and when they didn’t, she’d stare at the void, memories once buried deep creeping back up. The more she tried to repress them, the more vivid they became. She remembered it all: his smile, his laugh, how he’d blink when hungry, how he’d frown when thinking, his touch… all of it. Every single thing she loved about him. It was painful.

Skylar was impressed. “They’re damn good performers, I’ll give them that. I can see why you like K-pop so mu-” Eve pushed him aside before he could finish. He was getting used to it at this point.

“Can I see the pictures again?! Pretty please?” Eve asked. Moon nodded as she drew her phone from her pocket. She opened her mouth to speak but was abruptly interrupted by a door slammed open. Both girls jumped in surprise.

“There you are, I’ve been looking all over for you!" Oh no. "Where have you all been?! Not a single one of you even did so much as text me. Talk about loyalty. I need to be able to contact you all at all times. Understood?" He was angry for sure. Now was not the time. Eve quickly grabbed Moon's phone and shoved it in her pocket. If he wanted to see those pictures he would have to pry them from her perfectly manicured hands. Griff, unfazed, continued his rant. "Well? Explain yourselves!"

"Where the fuck else were we supposed to be? You locked us in here." Skylar objected. Griff dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

“We were discussing the main event. It was quite the performance.” Val lied in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

Miraculously, it worked. “Yes, speaking of which, I had a word with JetSet Entertainment and managed to get you all backstage. You can thank me later.”

Moon’s stomach dropped. She had made her peace with seeing him from afar. In fact, she believed it was for the best. There was no use in rehashing old wounds now, was there? “Pardon?” she asked meekly.

Griff raised his brow. “What’s the matter with you?” He asked.

How was she supposed to tell him? Team Griff looked at her in anticipation. The girl took a deep breath to calm her nerves before saying. “Well, the truth is-”

“Ah, but of course. You’re a big fan! You did tell me you liked K-pop on numerous occasions. See, I care. I remember.” Only Griff could interrupt someone else to pat himself on the back.

This was going to be a nightmare. Even she had no clue how to remain optimistic in this situation.

She couldn’t blame him. He had no clue, it wasn’t his fault. He was simply doing his job and if it had been any different it would’ve indeed been a once in a lifetime opportunity. One many, many fans were willing to sell their soul for being in Team Griff’s shoes. She was supposed to be grateful. “Yes, precisely.” She simply responded.

Griff cleared his throat. At least someone appreciated his efforts. He proceeded to explain how the meeting was going to be recorded and how they were expected to interact with the members.

“So basically you want us to merge two fanbases.” It was smart, but way too sneaky and manipulative to Skylar’s liking. Griff wasn’t at all impressed. “Will you look at that! The class clown understood the assignment for once.” Skylar was so ready to punch him in the face. Luckily, Val was quick enough to hold him back.

“We can’t do that.” Ty interfered.

“And why is that?” The American questioned.

Ty was at a loss for words. He looked at Freya, then at Moon, then back to Griff. He couldn’t just tell him what his fellow European had said. It didn’t feel right to him but then, what else was he supposed to say? Ty was a terrible liar and Freya knew this. The redhead waved her hand horizontally across her neck, urging Ty to shut the fuck up. “Well, what I’m trying to say is…”

“...Is that we don’t mean to disturb them. They’re probably exhausted and would like to rest.” Moon swooped in to his rescue.

“Yes, exactly that!” Griff seemed to buy it. Crisis avoided.

“Nonsense. Their management reached out to me with the proposal. We cannot refuse.”

Or not. “Understandable. How kind of them to make time for us.” Moon murmured, already mentally preparing herself for the worst.

Griff continued “I expect you all to be professional. This isn’t a fan meeting, it’s a creative collaboration. Now let’s go, time is money.”

--

Moon was not mentally prepared for this confrontation. She wanted to scream, or run, or both. ”Are you alright?” Val asked. She shook her head. A million thoughts were racing through her head. What was she going to say? What was he going to say? Did he know she was there? If so, how was he going to react? How was she going to react upon seeing him up close?

Eve realized this backstage looked vastly different from theirs. The hosts had spared no expenses to tend to the artists’ every need, unlike someone she knew. She glared at him, this was the kind of treatment she deserved and expected. She hesitated on whether or not she and Freya should make a run for it and explore the backstage by themselves but Griff was breathing down their necks. Sneaking away was going to be impossible.

“Your assignment is to record a segment together. This special will, once edited, be broadcasted on national South Korean tv, as well as uploaded to their youtube channel. It will also be part of their upcoming tour documentary. It’s a collaboration with Netflix so don’t disappoint me. We’re in charge of posts, tweets and reels.” None of them were paying attention to what he was saying but that didn’t stop Griff in the slightest. “Understood?”

“Sure, whatever.” Sorian responded.

Moon lifted her hand.

“This isn’t middle school. Speak.” He barked.

“Uhm, before we get started… is there a restroom nearby? I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience.” Griff wasn’t at all impressed. Why the hell was she shaking so much? For how long had she been holding it in?

He sighed. “Down the hall, be quick about it.” She thanked him and promptly left.

--

Truth be told, she didn’t exactly have to go. She simply needed a moment to come to her senses. Deep breaths, Moon. It’s going to be okay is what she told herself on repeat in an attempt to calm down. There was no way out, it was going to happen whether she liked it or not and she had to accept that. A part of her was thrilled to see him again after so long although she wished it had been under different circumstances. Perhaps she was asking for too much. Her heart was racing. She wanted to throw up… or was she about to faint? She was so preoccupied with what to say that she didn’t consider the possibility for Griff to find out about him being her ex.

Welp, it was too late now. “Wow, careful! Watch where you’re going.”

How typical of her to bump into someone. It happened so frequently it might as well be her signature move at this point. Well, she deserved it. That’s what you get when you’re not paying attention to where you’re going. “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry! I wasn’t paying attention. I feel so bad, are you alright?”

There was a chuckle. Moon could have sworn she had heard it somewhere before. The mystery figure was holding onto her arm tightly, offering her the support she desperately needed to stay on her feet. “I’ll survive.” He joked “You okay? You hit your head pretty badly.” he asked with genuine concern as he pulled her up.

“I’m okay, thank you. I’m so sorry about that.” He assured her it was fine which didn’t stop her from apologizing profusely anyways. Finally, she looked up to face her companion and froze when she realized who it was. For a moment, time stood still. They were staring at each other, with their mouths slightly hung open, for what felt like an eternity. Could it be? A part of her knew very well who she was facing yet she failed to process the information.

Eventually, he spoke. “Uhm… Hey.”

She finally remembered to breathe. “Tae-Min.” she exhaled.

“So uh… How have you been?” He asked.

“I can’t believe it…” He couldn’t either. Was this really happening or was it just a dream? She didn’t give him much time to ponder over it as she pulled him close, burying her face in his chest. She didn’t realize she was crying until she felt a warm liquid trickle down her cheeks. There was so much she wanted to say but words failed her. They say your first love holds a special place in your heart and it couldn’t have been more true.

“Hey, please don’t cry. It’s weird.” He patted her head awkwardly. Welp, whatever reaction she expected out of him, she hadn’t expected him to be so… cold? Indifferent? She knew he was rather stoic but still. This was awkward and it was about to get worse. Dare she say his reaction upset her? Did she even have the right to feel this way? Was she in the wrong?

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” She muttered as she broke the hug to wipe away her tears. He assured her that wasn’t the case. Judging by his tone, she wasn’t so sure but she’ll take his word for it.

“Are you safe? Are you okay? Your parents… There’s so much I want to ask, I don't even know where to begin.”

“Easy, easy.” He held both hands up in a defensive gesture. He told her no one had troubled him since they had parted. It wasn’t the truth but he assumed that was what she wanted to hear. She sighed a huge sigh of relief.

“I was so worried… I’m glad you’re okay.” She spoke truthfully. She hadn’t changed one bit, that much was clear.

There was an awkward silence. He shuffled uncomfortably. Compared to her, he didn’t quite know what to say. What does one say to an ex they accidentally ran into? “So uh…” he trailed off “What about you?”

She beamed at him. Moon explained what she had been up to ever since they had parted ways. How she had graduated, how she had joined SSX and why she was here now. He was happy for her. She seemed to have picked herself up and carried on “Good.”

“What have you been up to? Tell me all about you.” She had a fair idea but wanted to hear it from him. He hesitated, which she noticed. She lowered her head. Perhaps she was being too invasive. It had been years since they last spoke. She didn’t mean to be rude. It was none of her business after all. Yet here she was, making him feel awkward while all she wanted to do was make him feel more at ease.

“Have you seen the performance?”

“Yes.” She nodded.

“When I came back, that’s what I was signed up for.” So his parents had gotten what they wanted… so what he had said earlier was a lie. She apologized. He wasn’t sure what for but knowing her it was probably because she sympathized with his situation.

“If you don’t mind me asking… Are you happy?” It came from a place of genuine concern. Truth was that he wasn’t but he had kind of made his peace with that. It was what it was.

“I love performing but I hate being an idol.” He, in turn, explained how he’d come to an agreement with his parents. It wasn’t exactly what he had hoped for but it was more than he had expected. “I’d do my part until my contract expires. After that, I’m finally free.” She could only hope they’d keep their word. He understood where she came from, he had his doubts as well but it wasn’t like he had a choice.

Moon couldn’t imagine what he had been through. If only she could’ve been there for him. If only she had tried harder. If only she had fought tooth and nail for him… Perhaps things would’ve been different. She blamed herself for his suffering, even if it wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t his either.

There was so much more she wanted to elaborate on but unfortunately for them their reunion was cut short. “Moon!”

She yelped. Now she was really in trouble. “A word, if I may?” Griff was tapping his foot impatiently.

Crêpes. She quickly wiped the rest of her tears from her cheeks as she strode towards him “W-What can I do for you?” She stuttered. How long had he been standing there? Did he hear it all? What did he see? She could feel her palms getting sweaty already.

“When did you plan on telling me?” Welp, it’s official. She was royally screwed.

“I’m sorry I didn’t speak up earlier… This is hard for me to admit but-”

Griff interrupted her “What? What’s so hard about admitting to speaking Korean?”

Wait, what? “Pardon?” she blinked in confusion.

“Why didn’t you tell me you could speak Korean? How and why, you know? Can you imagine the possibilities?! The sponsors are going to gobble this up!” Apparently she had been speaking Korean this entire time.

“Oh… Well, I-” She was interrupted once more.

Griff seemed incredibly pleased with this discovery. “Nevermind that for now, it’s great! Ah, I see you’ve met their leader.” He motioned Tae-Min over. Just by this condescending gesture alone Tae-Min had already decided that he disliked him. “Do a skit together after the special, the fans will love it. Now let’s go, JetSet is waiting.”

--

Team Griff was exhausted. Recording the whole thing had taken them much longer than expected (more like, longer than they had hoped for) since Griff insisted on adding more segments. “The fans won’t know what hit them.” he claimed. The closing act had taken the longest. None of them, with the exception of Moon, spoke Korean so naturally their pronounciation was shit according to Griff (who knew fuck all about Korean himself).

“Can you sound more enthusiastic? Like you actually want to be here?” he complained. Skylar thought that was especially rich coming from him. He had asked Jin, one of the members, the translation for ‘asshole’ in Korean, to which Jin laughed out loud in amusement.

The relief when the producer had told them “That’s a wrap! Let’s take a breather.” was real. Finally they had a moment to themselves. Team Griff took this as an opportunity to get to know the members better, especially Tae-Min, as well as thank each other for their hard work since Griff wasn’t going to.

“Your boss does sound like a real pain in the ass.” Tae stated matter of factly.

“I like him.” Skylar grinned, “You and I will get along just fine.” Tae had no doubt about that. He was a bit of a trickster himself when he wanted to be.

“Agreed.” Sorian bit his lip. Now that he saw them up close he liked what he was seeing. “And this one is handsome too.”

Eve squealed excitedly “I ship it. You two make such a cute couple.” Moon was now a blushing mess thanks to her friends, which only worsened when Tae pulled her close. It confused her. Earlier he had been so distant… What made him change his mind? Was he finally feeling more at ease around her? Had she just been imagining things all along?

“Thank you, Eve! I think so too.” He offered the smaller girl his most charming smile. Oh, how Moon adored that smile. It made her swoon every time.

“Just wondering, have any of you ever punched him in the face?”

Moon gasped at the unexpected question, covering her mouth with both hands.

Skylar laughed, “We’ve lost count.” Tae expected no less if it meant having to work for him.

"Lost count of what exactly?" Great. Playtime was over.

"It's nothing important." Eve retorted, clearly annoyed with Griff butting into their conversation. Of course it wasn't since he wasn't part of it. That much was evident to Griff.

"Stating the obvious, Shephard." He dismissed her and turned to face Moon. “Perfect! You’re already paired up. Stand over there so we can do the skit. Parker, Aguilar, see to it.”

Freya rolled her eyes for what felt like the billionth time today. Did he ever think of anything else besides exposure? At this point he might as well breathe and consume it. She was willing to bet he found it more nutritious than actual food. “Sure, Freya! Thanks a lot for your hard work, Freya!” Reluctantly, both did as they were told but only because Moon was involved. Griff could go fuck himself for all they cared.

“Your parents…” Moon spoke in Korean just loud enough for Tae to hear, brow furrowed in worry. He understood what she was hinting at.

“They can’t hold this against us. This is work-related, we didn’t know.” They hadn’t arranged this meeting, higher-ups did. While this was true, Tae was certain his parents would find a way to blame this on him somehow. Even they couldn’t have predicted this. He could only hope they wouldn’t find out but his chances were slim. However, he couldn’t have her worry about that. She had to worry about herself first. While she understood, Tae wasn’t sure if he had convinced her. He still felt awkward about seeing her again unexpectedly. It wasn’t her fault, he simply didn’t like surprises. Rather, he liked to prepare beforehand.

While both Moon and Tae discussed what they wanted to do, Skylar offered to upload bits and pieces to his tik tok while Freya would send the rough material to their media department. It was a good idea. The redhead figured it would cover the majority of their socials. Even Griff should be pleased with it.

“What are we supposed to do in the meantime?” Ty asked.

Exasperated, Griff sighed. Lord help this poor soul. Perhaps comparing him to a labrador wasn’t so far-fetched after all. “You sign the jacket you’re wearing and put it up for auction on Ebay.”

“Really?”

“Of course not, you cretin. You pack your things and get your asses in the van. We’re leaving after this.” Perhaps Ty’s response would’ve entertained Griff if it wasn’t so pathetic. Can he even tie his own shoes? Wipe his own ass? Griff sighed again.

“I’m sorry about that, they’re usually more… competent.” Even Griff didn’t buy that. Tae simply pretended not to hear what he’d just said. He already disliked Griff so the way he talked about his team did not do him any favors. It reminded him of his trainee days. If this was the way he treated them in front of others, God knows what was going on behind the scenes. The thought of Moon under his rule did not sit well with him at all, even if he didn’t show it. The rest could fend for themselves, that much was clear. It didn’t seem like he had much influence over them anyways. Moon was another story entirely. Yet she didn’t seem miserable in the slightest.

Tae-Min squinted “They’re far better than I am.”

“What do you mean?” Griff asked, intrigued. He could smell money from miles away. Perhaps the description of a dog was a better fit for him, Skylar thought.

Tae shrugged “I know a thing or two about boarding. It is my first love besides, well…” He turned to face Moon, winked at her, then back to Griff. “Performing, of course.” It was a lie. Moon stared down at her feet, blushing. Griff was seeing too many dollar signs to notice any of his blatant flirting. Not that Griff knew anything about flirting to begin with. Even if he proclaimed to be a true ladies’ man he couldn’t keep a woman happy for a hot minute even if his life depended on it.

Freya had a bad feeling about this. She couldn’t quite tell what was going on but something felt off to her. Moon seemed upset while Tae-Min seemed pretty laid-back. Nonchalant even. Was this truly the person Moon was talking about earlier? Was this the reunion the Belgian girl had imagined? Did he simply not know how to act around her? Especially after so long?

“Interesting… Very interesting indeed. I could definitely use Asian representation on my team. I hereby invite you to join Team Griff.”

Amused and slightly troubled with his reasoning, Tae chuckled nervously. What kind of person names a team after themselves anyways? How ridiculous.

“It wasn’t a question.” Griff urged. Moon pursed her lips. She knew Tae well enough to know he wouldn’t appreciate his tone. The Korean had a tendency to be blunt, especially if people got under his skin. It was the one thing he was criticized for time and time again by management. As the leader, he had to remain professional at all times. As a performer, he had to be obedient and desirable. As much as he despised it, complying was better than being punished.

Tae kept his cool despite being irritated. “No can do, I’m afraid. Our contracts expire two years from now. Until then, I am obligated to stay with JetSet.”

“Give me a call in two years then.” Griff slipped him a business card, to which Tae responded that he’d think about it. Displeased, Griff excused himself to retrieve the rest of his team.

Skylar was glad to finally be rid of him. “Let’s get this over with. That way he’ll leave us alone.” He told the couple in an attempt to distract them. He could tell Moon wasn’t her usual cheery self. She probably sensed something was going on with the singer. Or was it?

Moon gently poked Tae’s arm. He jumped in surprise. “Are you alright? I’m so sorry about that. He tends to be quite invasive. Especially when he’s interested.”

“You can say that again.” Freya scoffed.

Tae-Min, once again, assured her everything was fine. “You’re right, let’s do this. Let’s give the fans something they’ll love.” The brunette agreed. The fans came first. If Griff’s goal was to bring the two fandoms together they were going to make it happen. Besides, if both companies had a good relationship this might open doors for future collaborations, especially if there was a demand for this type of content. This possibility consoled the brunette… One could only hope.

--

“Simmons will cream his pants when he sees the views on this. Give it an hour or so before it explodes.” Skylar gave the pair of them a thumbs up.

Freya pulled a disgusted face. “Speak of the devil, he just texted us to hurry up.” So now naturally she was going to take her sweet time just to spite him.

Moon understood this was Team Griff’s cue to leave, even if she didn’t want to. What if she never got to see him after this? It was a possibility, no, it was likely going to be the case if neither company kept in touch. Against all odds fate had brought them back together, was it really supposed to end this way? This thought deeply saddened the girl. She was staring at the floor, lip quivering, which Tae immediately picked up on.

He gently cupped her face and gave her a warm, reassuring smile, finally letting his guard down. “I may not be able to contact you for the time being…” He had decided that was what was best for her safety, which she understood. She didn’t want him to get in trouble and he didn’t want her to get hurt, especially because of him. “Give me two years, okay?” It was a promise. He had always regretted letting her go without putting up a fight. This time, if he could change the course of time at all, it was going to be different. He’d come back for her once he was free. “Can I have your phone for a second?”

She nodded and handed the device to him. Looks like Eve had slipped it back in her pocket earlier. “Of course.”

The password was still the same. While he dared not give her his number he did take the opportunity to snap a selfie. A picture of him, just for her. A picture no superfan will ever come close to obtaining. A reminder of his promise to her, a reminder that everything was going to be okay. Years ago she had been the one to tell him so. This time, it was his turn. He felt like she needed to hear it. She had taken their reunion way harder than he had by the looks of it.

He gave her phone back to her and told her to stay put while he went to retrieve something. She wasn’t sure what he was up to but did as she was told. Moments later, he had returned with another member. She believed his name was Gi-Hun. Moon couldn’t make out what he was holding until he had handed it to her. “Here.” He stated. “A souvenir of our reunion.”

“Oh, thank you so much, Tae! I will hold on to it tightly.” She exclaimed excitedly. He didn’t doubt her one bit. She was grateful for the goodie bag and insisted on giving him something in return. He assured her it wasn’t necessary.

“I hate to do this but we have to go. I’m sorry.” Freya hated being the bearer of bad news.

Tae nodded. “Can I ask you two for a favor?” The pop star was going to pay them back for their kindness somehow.

“What’s up?” Skylar asked as he put his phone away.

“Would you please look after her for me? I can tell she cares deeply for you all.” He didn’t trust Griff in the slightest, especially not when it came down to having her best interests at heart. He needn’t tell Skylar twice. To him, she was like the little sister he never had and he knew the feeling was mutual. Not to mention he couldn’t fucking stand Griff either.

“Of course.” Freya gave him her word. Ever since Moon had been part of team Griff she had somewhat taken the younger girl under her wing, whether she realized that or not. Team Griff had each other’s back. While it may not seem like it, they did look out for each other. They stood alone, together. Tae felt slightly less worried knowing she was in good hands.

--

“Everything alright? it took you a while.” Val questioned as Sorian was busying himself with his drink. Looks like he somehow managed to sneak in booze unbeknownst to Griff.

“Sorry, that’s on me. Thank you all for your patience.” Moon apologized as she fastened her seatbelt. Val noted she sounded somber. He let it slide.

Simmons arrived not even a minute later. “We’re leaving. You all better be ready because I’m not going back to retrieve your belongings.” And with that, he slammed the door of the van shut and barked at the driver to get a move on.

The drive back was incredibly awkward. It was quiet… way too quiet to Griff’s liking and it was driving him crazy. Judging by the way his team was acting, he suspected they knew something he didn’t. Why the hell was Aguilar rubbing Moon’s shoulders? Why were none of them being their usual loud selves? Why did Moon of all people look like she just witnessed the death of a puppy? What the hell was she holding? This wasn’t like them at all, especially not her. He didn’t recall ever seeing her not smiling. Except for that one time Aguilar had broken his nose at a halloween party. He hated being left in the dark, especially if it concerned him. “So…” he started off, turning to face Moon who was seated at the other window end. “How come you speak Korean anyways? I’ve been meaning to ask.”

She didn’t respond, which again wasn’t like her. She was simply staring out the window, lost in thought. Earlier Eve had asked her if she still loved him. Back then she was convinced they had both moved on. Now, she was not so sure.

He frowned and leaned over to pinch her in the arm. Dragged out of her stupor, she spun her head to face him. “Pardon? Sorry, I was lost in thought.” Clearly. “What can I do for you?”

“I need to know. The sponsors will love it.” Of course they would because numbers are all that matter to you anyways. Freya rolled her eyes.

Moon understood what he was hinting at. There was no use in hiding it any longer. He was going to find out eventually, by any means necessary if needed be. Now that she had the choice, she’d rather have him hear it directly from her. “My ex is South Korean.” she replied truthfully. Team Griff collectively held their breaths. “I wanted to be able to communicate with him in his native tongue.”

Silence. It would’ve made sense for her to learn the language since she was a fan and wanted to understand the lyrics or whatever but never in a million years did he expect this to come out of her mouth instead. Griff pursed his lips and averted his gaze from her. Usually she’d get a little flustered when he was staring at her. He suspected it was because she was intimidated by him. Who wouldn't be? This time however, he was the one to break eye contact first.

“I see.” He sounded bitter.

Skylar couldn’t help himself. “Jealous, Simmons?”

It seemed the Dominican had hit a nerve. “Mind your own damn business, Aguilar. The grown-ups are speaking.”

“Oh he totally is.” Skylar mused while plopping himself back in his seat.

“This conversation doesn’t concern you.” Griff reprimanded.

Skylar grimaced. “What the fuck? This doesn’t concern you either, though?!” Sky was right but Griff told him to shut his trap anyways.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He continued, ignoring the taller man. His tone was more stern this time. Moon was a little taken aback by his reaction but obliged nonetheless. “Oh, I’m sorry. It was never brought up. Besides, I didn’t think it was relevant.”

It was the truth. Damn her. “I’m your employer. Of course it is relevant, I need to know my employees’ history.”

This time, Eve butted in. “You need to chill.” she told him, waving a finger in his face. The American was having none of it. It didn’t take long for them to start hurling insults at each other and Freya coming to her best friend’s defense. “This isn’t a fucking interrogation.” She exclaimed while holding Freya back from scratching Griff’s face. “You’re acting like she committed a crime.”

Moon felt the tension rising and knew she had to do something before someone ended up in the hospital. Again. “Guys! I appreciate you all looking out for me but it’s quite alright.” Reluctantly, both Eve and Freya backed down, the latter watching Griff like a hawk.

Griff took a minute to compose himself then shamelessly continued his assault on the poor girl “So, this ex of yours, do I know him?”

No backing down now. “As a matter of fact, you do.”

Griff frowned. Now he was really confused. Moon knew he was smart enough to put two and two together but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall who he could’ve met that matched the description. Then again, Griff met so many people on a daily basis. “You seemed to like him.”

Still no response.

“So much so that you asked him to join Team Griff.” The look on Griff’s face was priceless. Suddenly, tonight’s events all made sense. This was bad. Out of all the members she was the only one that actually listened to him. A part of him knew damn well he had no control over the others, even if he’d never admit it. They simply did what they felt like. As for Moon, that was another story entirely. She never once complained or defied him. She trusted him and did everything in her power to make him happy.

Dare he even say she was essential to keeping this circus afloat? No, surely not. She was merely a pawn in the grand scheme of things, right? She wasn’t an actual friend, right?

No, that was irrelevant. He simply couldn’t afford to lose the one member he had a grip on, that’s all. This… Distraction was a nuisance to her commitment. Her devotion was to him and him alone and he would see to it one way or another. She made him money… a lot of money and he was going to milk every drop of it. No, he definitely couldn’t afford to lose control over her either. Not the one employee that took her job seriously. Perhaps he misheard.

He was in her face now “You’re joking.” She shook her head. She was dead serious. Perhaps a bit scared by his sudden outburst, as she clutched the goodie bag tightly to her chest, but definitely serious. Well shit, he hadn’t misheard.

Val had had enough. “Leave her alone, will you? Can’t you see that you’re scaring her?” Even Griff dared not question the now angry Russian. Moon silently thanked him for coming to her rescue. She owed him big time.

Reluctantly, Griff backed down. “Fine.” He whined “But this conversation is far from over.”

--

It’s been a week since the festival and Griff was at his wits’ end. The situation had bothered him more than he was willing to admit and Griff wasn’t exactly patient to begin with. He hated not being in control. He hated things not going the way he envisioned. He hated the fact that she had been listening to their songs all week and wearing the merch she had gotten her hands on. He hated the fact that he, whatever his name was, was in the picture. He had to get rid of him somehow… The faster, the better.

Since Ty was from up North, he was in dire need of Western European representation. She was loved by both her country and the States. Little girls looked up to her. Everything with her name and face on it sold like hot cakes. He couldn’t afford to lose the money she raked in, corporate was going to throw him to the wolves if he did.

He had retreated back to his office to come up with a plan but to no avail. Exasperated, frustrated and irritated beyond belief he decided that getting some fresh air might help get his creative juices flowing. As he made his way to the back, he couldn’t help but overhear some members of his team talking and giggling. Griff naturally decided that whatever they were discussing was his business and eavesdropped on their conversation.

“No way, dude. Pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza.” Of course their topic of conversation was boring and trivial. He didn’t expect them to discuss anything remotely intelligent. Just when Griff decided he had had enough of Aguilar’s opinion on food toppings he heard Shephard mention his name.

“Ah, yes. I did promise I would tell you, didn’t I?” Now it was Moon who was speaking. He’d recognize her accent right away.

Freya rubbed her hands together “Let’s hear the dirt on Simmons.” Griff Grimaced. Of course Parker was here too, poisoning Moon’s mind with her vile tongue like the snake she was. As far as he could tell, that was all of them. Either way, now that his name had been thrown around it definitely concerned him. Of all people, he didn’t expect Moon to be the one to talk behind his back but here she was, about to spill whatever it was she had on him. I knew I had to make them all sign an NDA upon hiring, he thought to himself. He was going to make her pay for this one way or another.

“Well, we’ve known each other since we were twelve. There was no one else remotely close to our age on the roster so we naturally gravitated towards each other. We had similar interests in gaming and sweets as well.” It made sense to Freya for them to get along, especially since they were only children. Griff however frowned in confusion. Where was she going with this?

Moon explained how they’d often go out boarding together and how they’d sneak out at night to stuff their faces with sweets from the local night shop. How they’d trade pokémon on their gameboys, how they’d build snowmen around the lodge and how they’d often fall asleep at the root of the gigantic pine tree and be found by staff in the morning.“I had such a wonderful time and can only hope he felt the same.” Griff wasn’t sure if he did. With time, the memories had faded. It was hard for him to remember how he felt. Still, what point was she trying to make?

She then explained how she was pulled from the roster due to an injury. Skylar knew what she was hinting at, as they both had bonded over leg injuries. Griff also knew this was about Allegra. Now he could see the picture of her lying unconscious in the snow very clearly. He shook his head, he’d rather not think about it. “Upon departure, he insisted on giving me his signature sweater as he believed it would bring me luck.” She chuckled, “I still have it.” This was true. Griff smiled the faintest of smiles as he recalled this particular memory. He had plopped himself on the floor now, the back of his head resting on the wall.

“While I was recovering at home, we kept in touch via MSN. We’d speak often, actually.” When the On Tour era started, they’d arranged to meet up, much against her parents’ wishes. She made sure to leave that out as it wasn’t relevant to the story. “While I wasn’t allowed to board, I did have the chance to spend time with him as well as show my support to the friends I had made two years prior. I made sure to wear the sweater he gave me.”

The more time they spent together, the more evident it became that she had come to like him. “It was just the two of us. I remember us sharing an infinity scarf and my hair somehow got caught in it. He gently brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. I can’t explain what happened except for me realizing that, from then on, I liked him. A lot.”

This came as news to Griff. It now became clear to him that she wasn’t talking badly about him at all. Guess she got to live another day. Eve thought it was really sweet. She also recalled having seen her around, albeit from afar. Moon confirmed this. This was also brought up when Moon had joined forces with SSX to take Griff down. “I dared not tell him the way I felt. I was too afraid. Besides, I didn’t know if he felt the same. I didn’t want to ruin the friendship we had.”

They had kept in touch after that as well. “By the age of sixteen we had arranged to meet at a snowboarding competition. He had invited me to come see him. I planned on confessing for a while but now I had the chance to do it in person. I really wanted to see him.” And so they did. They didn’t get to spend much time together but she cherished the times they did dearly. “He showed me a pine tree covered in lights and asked me if I thought it looked like the one we used to go to when we were twelve. Funnily enough, it did!” It was beautiful. He couldn’t have picked a more perfect setting. It’s as if the universe was trying to tell her something. “My heart was beating like crazy. I was so nervous. I don’t remember much except for us laughing and then… we were leaning in for a kiss.” It never came to be, as they were interrupted by what she assumed was his manager looking for him. “Maybe it was just my imagination.” She was blushing. Embarrassed, she lowered her head.

Eve took a sip of her drink. “Perhaps he does have a soft spot for you still, even if he’s too self-absorbed to realize it.” Griff had to admit he did treat her differently, whether he realized it or not. For starters, he called her by her first name. Second, he wasn’t as tense around her. They rarely hung out but when they did, he wasn’t on the verge of getting an aneurysm. Nah, he was hallucinating. Those were just intrusive thoughts, nothing more. This was so long ago, where was she getting with this? What was she trying to prove?

“I don’t know what happened after that. Over time, we’d talk less and less until he stopped responding completely. I have no ill will towards him at all for doing so. I understand he was incredibly busy. I wasn’t a priority and I respect that. I just couldn’t help but wonder if it was something I did or something I said.” It wasn’t but Griff would never admit this.

“Nah, he’s just a prick.” He expected no less from Parker.

Moon shook her head. “I tried reaching out to him on numerous occasions but to no avail. I didn’t want to bother him any further so I put it to rest.” Whatever it was, Moon believed he had his reasons and it was up to her to give him the space he needed. “I had to respect his decision. He was doing great and I was genuinely happy for him. I still am. He deserves nothing but the best.” Out of sight and out of mind. Over time she had moved on and focused on other things instead, such as her education and re-introduction to the joys of snowboarding: her first love. Two years later, she met Tae-Min. Her first true love.

Four years down the line she was recruited by Zoe to take on Griff’s challenge. Eve, Freya and Sky all knew this, as they were there in the flesh when it all went down. Griff was annoyed to seemingly be the only one who didn’t know what had happened behind the scenes. Then again, Griff didn’t particularly want to recall his humiliating defeat either. These simpletons his team consisted of were already embarrassing him enough.

“Oh, the look on Simmons’ face was priceless.” Skylar spoke in a mocking tone which Griff didn’t appreciate in the slightest. Of course that was ingrained in his memory instead of, I don’t know, proper work ethic.

“I hadn’t heard from him in weeks. Frankly, I was starting to get worried. However, I was also determined. I had given him the space he needed in the past… This time, I was going to put my foot down. I’m not one for confrontation but it was long overdue… necessary, even.” She believed it was rude and inconsiderate of her to force him, even if he had been the one to come to her at his own volition. “I was the one who had damaged our friendship so it was also my responsibility to fix it.”

That wasn’t exactly the way Freya, Eve or Skylar saw it but they let her continue. She knew it was going to take a while for him to trust her, he had said so himself. In fact, she didn’t know if he had grown to trust her at all. It had been almost a year since their face-off. It was true that Griff had asked Zoe (more like, demanded) to transfer her over to him so he could keep an eye on her. She was a traitor and more importantly, she was the bridge between him and SSX. Yet she never once spilled the beans on them. Still, she was reliable. Perhaps he did trust her. He didn't actually care for her, did he? She was nothing more than an employee, right? Yes, of course… duh. Makes perfect sense, Griff, he thought to himself.

“Ever since the transfer, we’ve been at his side.”

“Unfortunately.” Skylar sighed heavily. Both Eve and Freya chuckled. Moon simply smiled.

“The times Griff and I hang out are far and few between… but I cherish them all the same.” It reminded her of when they were younger… when times were simpler. Every once in a while he showed her a glimpse of his former self, the self she had fallen for once. Perhaps it wasn’t so far-fetched that she had fallen for him again. While she hadn’t forgotten Tae-Min and didn’t think it was possible for her to move on at all, over time it had gotten easier and she believed he had moved on as well. Especially since there was no way for them to contact each other. Not that they had a choice to begin with.

“One particular evening Griff and I were gaming.“ She had bought it on sale and he had asked her about it. She explained they had been struggling to clear a certain level. “Until we managed to do so.” Team work makes the dream work and this was no different. “We were so happy we both jumped up and started dancing.”

This sounded particularly funny to Skylar, as it was completely out of character for Griff.

“Then, out of nowhere, he hugged me tightly.” She hugged herself to demonstrate. “My heart jumped. It was so unexpected. It was at this moment that I realized I had fallen for him once again… and my feelings for him have only gotten stronger since. I’m in love with him and that’s the truth… But after what happened last week I’m not sure how to feel. It’s gotten complicated and I’ll need to think about it.”

This came as an even bigger shock to Griff. Moon was in love with him? Everything that had happened in the past year suddenly made perfect sense. Sure, she would’ve made the perfect daughter in law. She knew his parents and vice versa, she was rich and had a great reputation. She was adored by millions, his fans included. Come to think of it, it wasn’t the first time social media staff had brought this to his attention. They called it ‘shipping’ and explained how some fans couldn’t agree on whether to call them ‘Moffin’ or ‘Griffoon’. Frankly Griff didn’t understand what it meant at the time nor did he care to (then again, the fans enjoyed pairing all team members with each other). This was a different story however. In fact, it was perfect.