nineofhearts4

[nineofhearts4]

Final poll for tonight regarding the proposed Klaine fanzine…

#klaine #I think maybe a few loose buckets that it can be organized into #like what-ifs #canon compliant #post-show #AU #for flexibility and cohesion without too strong curation

[nineofhearts4]

#going to be honest with myself and everyone here and say that if it is pdf #I will never ever print it and I will never look at it again #but! I get how that would be a much more accessible option for many people

[nineofhearts4]

Hey there, Klaine fic writers and artists!

I’m going to have some time this summer, and I’ve been away for a while and probably won’t ever fully be back. I’m also not running any more challenges or events. However, I would love to do one final labor of love to celebrate what remains of the fandom and those of you still out there selflessly creating for us all.

So…I’ve been learning a lot about zines recently, and I think it would be a great experience to produce one that everyone will have a chance to own a copy of, either physical or digital (or both?). I’m going to put out a series of polls about it, and here’s the first:

#Klaine #I'd definitely be most likely to participate if I could use something I've already written but I love the idea!!

[nineofhearts4]

“And that I shouldn’t let fear stop me from taking risks. Not when it can lead to something—something really good.” His voice drops down on this last part, his eyes locking onto hers. Warmth burrows into her. She feels her heart speed up. She tilts a little closer to him. “That sounds like good advice,” Nancy says, almost a whisper.

skin starts to shiver (there’s creaks in the house) by @ghostmaggie (submitted by @flythesail )

#nancy drew #nace #help I love this

[nineofhearts4]

Double Date

One of the prompts for the latest @nacediscord sprint event was "double date," and being on Spring Break meant that I could spend the whole day writing. The result? Three times Nancy and Ace accidentally end up on double dates, and one time they get a double date all to themselves

A Preview:

“Would you like to join them?” the waiter offered when he noticed the foursome standing around the table, casually chatting. Nancy couldn’t be mad – he clearly thought he was helping – but then it was too late to say no, too late to find a polite way to tell her dad and step-mom that she really didn’t want to be on a double date with them. “I’ll make it up to you,” Ace promised, his breath hot against her cheek as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “You’d better,” she murmured, squeezing his thigh once under the table before she pulled her hand away, the picture of poise as she joined Jean and Carson’s debate about their latest case.

Read the rest on AO3

#excited to read this! #nace #nancy drew

[nineofhearts4]

He scanned the dining area. “Ah,” he grimaced. “Avoiding your ex?” “Yes,” she grumbled. “Wait- how do you know about him?” “I’m a man of many secrets, Nancy Drew.”

-And if you ask me if I love him, I'd lie by @nineofhearts4 (submitted by @flythesail )

#aww #fun fact: I wrote that line and then later decided that I needed a different fake dating path #but I liked that line so much I figured out how to incorporate it

[nineofhearts4]

I heard you calling

Julie dug her hands into the sand again and again as the light slowly faded from the sky.

It had been a shit day of an even crappier week and she just wanted to hide away from the world for a little while. It was why she’d told her dad she was studying at Flynn’s and then told Flynn she was tired and was going to call it an early night.

It’d taken her nearly an hour to ride her bike out to the beach but it had been worth it to let go of her thoughts in the sound of the waves and ground herself in the sand under her feet.

It’s not like she could hide in the studio.

That had been occupied by three ghost himbos for almost six months now.

Don’t get her wrong, she loved the guys and Flynn and her dad and even Carlos, for the most part, but sometimes a girl just needed to wallow in some self-pity by herself.

Her tears had dried a while ago and she was just staring out at the waves and the retreating sun when she heard the unmistakable sound of a ghost poofing in near her.

She didn’t even turn to look at him as he kicked off his vans and plopped down beside her scattering some sand on her own bare feet.

“Hey.”

Julie sighed and started digging in the sand again. “How’d you find me?” She looked down at the sand she was playing in, in case anyone was watching.

“You called me.”

She turned to Luke with a frown, the thought of anyone thinking she was crazy for talking to air flying right out of her head at his words.

“I did not!” She hissed. “I’ve only talked to my dad and Flynn. I certainly didn’t call the band phone. I was actually trying to be alone for a change.”

He shrank a little at her ire before shaking it off and leaning back on his hands. “I don’t know what to tell you Jules.” He shrugged. “I heard you call.”

She looked at him skeptically, “You heard me in your head, calling your name?” That would be new and weird and she wasn’t sure she wanted that ability, especially if she hadn’t meant to do it.

He leaned forward crossing his legs and bit his lip.

He ducked his head and was quiet for a moment before shaking it and looking back up at her through his lashes, “No, not in my head.”

The sun had nearly set and she could barely see his eyes in the fading light but he looked nervous all of a sudden like the answer was something she wouldn’t like.

As annoyed as she’d immediately been on his intrusion to her pity party she couldn’t help sliding her hand closer to his in the sand until their pinkies touched in a silent peace offering.

He wrapped his pinky around hers with a little tug.

The moment they touched Luke’s eyes cleared of their worry and she felt the tightness that had been pressing on her chest all day ease slightly. 

Julie pulled her knees up to her chest and laid her head on them before she whispered. “Explain, please?”

He sighed as he turned to face her a little more directly, careful not to move their hands still touching in the sand. “Ok, I guess heard is the wrong word…”

“Luke,” she sighed and squeezed his pinky. “Just spit it out. Why are you being weird?”

“Cause it is weird Jules.” He reached up to rub the back of his neck with his free hand. “I’ve had this feeling in my chest all day that something was wrong.” He dropped the hand on his neck to press against his chest like he was showing her where it hurt. “I asked the other guys if they felt it and they didn’t and…” He dropped the hand on his chest to lay on top of hers in the sand and fiddled with her rings. “I just knew you were sad or upset or something and I’ve wanted to check on you all day but you’ve told us not to come to the school anymore and then when you didn’t come out to the studio to see us this afternoon I…”

She flipped her hand over slowly and laced their fingers together keeping her head on her knees and her eyes on Luke. He looked up at her as a smile finally started to tug on his lips.

Julie and Luke had always been more in tune with each other than the other guys. She’d thought it had something to do with how they had shared pain about being disconnected from their moms or how they wrote music together like they shared a brain, but maybe it was more than that.

“Ok,” she nodded slightly. “Let’s disregard that you knew I was having a terrible day, we can analyze that later. That still doesn’t explain how you found me.”

He sighed, “I’m not sure explaining how I found you will be less weird. Honestly it was like some wizard shit.”

Julie giggled pressing her mouth to her knee trying to muffle the sound. Her giggles set his off and before long they were both shaking with laughter.

She unfolded herself and laid back on the sand keeping hold of Luke’s hand and he laid down beside her.

“Ok, I still need you to explain the wizard shit even if it is weird.”

“Ok, ok, I said that because you know in Harry Potter, in one of the last movies that part where Ron leaves and then finds his way back to them, back to Hermonie, with the little light in his chest telling him where to go?”

Julie frowned trying to follow his ramble. “You followed a light in your chest?”

“I mean kinda.” He groaned and rubbed his face. “I’d been feeling so off all day and when you didn’t come see us after school I started to get even more worried and then dinner time passed and we still hadn’t seen you. I needed to know you were ok.” He dropped the hand that had been on his head to his side and looked at her with so much concern. “I needed to find you so I just… did.”

He just did. It made a weird sort of sense. “So you just, what, closed your eyes and thought about me and here you are?”

He nodded, his eyes wide, “Yeah, exactly.”

They looked at each other a long time as they lay in the sand side by side holding hands. She briefly wondered what she looked like to anyone glancing in her direction.

“I’m sorry I worried you so much today. I’m ok, really.” She squeezed his hand. “I had no idea you knew how bad my day had gotten or I would have come to see you before I left.”

“Julie,” he rolled on his side to face her. “You didn’t know and really…” He dropped his eyes and stared hard at her shoulder. “It’s not your job to make sure I’m ok.”

She squeezed his hand again and he looked up at her with those sad puppy eyes and she melted like she always did. “Ditto.”

He grinned and shook his head. “I couldn’t help it.”

“You could have texted me.” She let go of his hand and rolled onto her side propping her head up on her hand. “You could have texted me.” She bit her lip. “What if I’d been in a bathroom or something when you came looking for me?”

He gaped at her. “I…I…” he started to laugh. “That would have been mortifying!”

“You think?” Julie giggled. “So text first…please.” She laid her hand on his in the sand. “I promise I’ll reply. Especially now that I know…”

Luke nodded, ducking his head. “Just so you know…” He started fiddling with her rings again. “Sometimes I know when you’re extra happy too.”

“Yeah?” She grinned at him and kicked his leg. “You don’t come find me then do you?”

He shook his head and looked up at her biting his lip. “We’re usually together.”

She laughed, of course they were. Luke wasn’t the only person that made her happy but ever since he fell into her life she couldn’t deny that she had more than friendly feelings for him.

Feelings that made her almost irrationally happy sometimes.

Luke smiled and pressed his hand against his chest. “You’re happy again now.”

“You seem to have that affect on me.” She bit her lip and ducked her head as she felt her cheeks heating up.

“Hey,” Luke tugged on her chin, gently forcing her to look at him. “You make me happy too Jules.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah…” Luke ducked his head and rubbed the back of his neck. It was too dark to know for sure but she thought he might be blushing like she had too. “I don’t know what I’d do without you boss.”

They looked at each other for a long time, neither wanting to say any more than they already had.

It was enough… for now.

Julie took a deep breath and blew it out hard. It was time to head back home, back to reality which luckily included three ghost boys that made amazing music with her and one that she…

“Alright, party’s over,” Julie said pulling herself up from the sand and dusting her jeans off. “It’s gonna take forever for me to bike home.”

Luke stood up with her, keeping her hand in his. It was fully dark now. Anyone would be hard pressed to notice how Julie’s hand might look like it was holding something invisible.

“Mind if I go with you?” He chewed on his lip. “I really don’t like the idea of you being alone in the dark like this all the way home.”

“I’ll have to walk.” She chuckled, “Unless you wanna run beside me?”

He laughed, “I’ll run for a bit and then you can sit on the handlebars and I’ll bike.”

Julie burst out laughing. “That would look crazy!”

“Exactly,” Luke grinned. “Anyone that saw you would think they were nuts.”

She bit her lip and shook her head at him as they headed off the sand toward her bike. There was a stretch of neighborhood they would need to go through where very few people were likely to see them.

“We’ll see.” She winked as she slipped her shoes on after unlocking her bike from the stand.

She glanced over at Luke as they left the beach area. Maybe she would let him bike for a bit. What did it matter if some stranger thought she was crazy, or they were?

She was already feeling pretty reckless… after all…

Julie looked over at Luke again to see him already looking back at her.

She was in love with a ghost.

#Cute!! #Juke #Jatp

[nineofhearts4]

One of the sweetest things is when you post a new work on AO3 and then one of your old works gets a comment because it means that somebody read the new thing and liked it so much that they went and checked what other stuff you wrote and they liked that enough to tell you about it and I just think that is so fucking precious!! thank you thank you thank you to the people who do that, keep doing it it's the best feeling as an author

#Someone has been reading through all of my Klaine fics lately and leaving kudos #And like thank you to that person because I am SO flattered #And so happy that stuff I wrote 10+ years ago is still being appreciated

[nineofhearts4]

Movie Night

Inspired by a matchmaker prompt from @creativepromptsforwriting and a conversation with @nineofhearts4 about Bess making Ace watch romcoms, my contribution for the @nacediscord Valentine's Day Vigil features the Drew Crew in a series of movie nights where George, Nick and Bess play a bit of matchmaker

A preview:

“It’s not Bill Murray’s fault that our town is haunted,” he joked. She couldn’t hold in her laugh at that, covering her mouth a second too late to try and muffle the sound. George turned around to shush her. “Does that mean it doesn’t make your top five?” Ace asked when she had calmed down, her body shaking out the last little giggle. “Princess Bride,” she finally whispered. “Excellent choice. What else?” “Pretty in Pink, Say Anything, When Harry Met Sally,” she paused, remembering the last time she and her mom had watched it together. Ace waited patiently, giving her space in the way she was just starting to get used to. “And Breakfast Club, of course.” “Obviously.”

Read the rest on AO3

#Obviously a must read if you like a little hijinks and a platonic friends WHO CLEARLY LIKE EACH OTHER #Nace #Nancy drew #Sorry I'm fine I'm normal it's cool #Nancy drew fic

[nineofhearts4]

Fanfiction Readers and writers, Reblog this and tell in the notes your favorite fic from the person you Reblogged from, and if you’re feeling extra nice, why?

#The lucky one (I think it might be you) #But I have now been reminded that firefighter luke is in NY to read pile still and that cannot be!!! #Juke #Jatp #It's such a fun meet cute and I love how they both inspire the other to live a bit differently #And face their fears

[nineofhearts4]

SPRINT DAY - JAN 2024

What is Sprint Day?

Every month, our discord gets together to 'sprint' writing fanfiction based on a couple of prompts.

Maybe people end up with something they want to publish, maybe they don't, but the point is to have some fun and encourage anyone who’s ever been interested in writing to join in--whether it’s your first time or your 100th.

Sprint Day is not a competition. We don’t aim to compare word count or quality. The idea is to create a fun spirit of community bonding over the varied takes we can all have on a common idea!

When does it start?

This month's Sprint Day kicks off tomorrow, Friday 26th January 2024 at 10am ET (3pm GMT) and will run until the evening.

What are the prompts?

Season 1 Body Swap/Character Exchange

Pre-Series backstories

Valentine's Vigil Prompts

There is more info about Sprint Day in the discord server -- so come on and join us!

#I'm a bit biased #But this is my favorite event. Very fun energy and encouragement of fun writing

[nineofhearts4]

my dream as a fanfic writer is to write a story which people want to talk to me about and send asks about afterwards and discuss things the characters did and the symbolism and meanings behind certain lines and I'll be all "hehe thanks" but irl I'll be in literal tears because I wrote something that means something to someone

#Always

[nineofhearts4]

join us for valentine's vigil (13-15 feb) ❤️

hello friends and WELCOME to the have a nace day discord's very special valentine’s day fanworks event.

as the door closes on secret sleuth for the year, we're eager to keep those fires burning and the creative juices flowing. so, we're proposing a 3-day fanwork bonanza over 13-15 february to celebrate our spooky little romantic show.

💖 what: a fanworks challenge for the nancy drew (cw) fandom. you have one month to create something (like a fic or gifset) ready for valentine's day. ideally it should be on theme (eg, romance!) but it's up to you how heavy you lean into that.

📅 when: you have 4 weeks starting now to create your fanwork. it should be posted over 13-15 february 2024.

🕵️‍♀️ who: anyone who loves nancy drew cw can get involved! and your works don't have to be nace-focused. they can be about other ships on the show too.

📍 where: you can post your works wherever you'd like! whether it's tumblr, ao3, twitter, etc. just make sure to tag us here if you're posting on tumblr.

✨ minimum requirements: there are no rules, just right. make your fic, gifset, video etc. as big or little as you'd like.

the prompts:

to help get your started, we have a bunch of prompts that should work for whatever you plan to create. keep in mind you DON'T have to use these, but this may help kick off the creativity. see suggested prompts below:

first valentine’s day / first date

fake date / fake couple

“it’s not a date” / everyone thinks we’re dating

supernatural entity ships It

love spells gone wrong (or right?)

only one bed / forced proximity

they had feelings for each other here

the oh moment

the couple that sleuths together

physical touch

love languages

protect the ones we love

missing romantic moment

we hope you'll join us in celebrating valentine's with some fun romantic fanworks! <3 let's go! ❤️❤️❤️

#Maybe I will finish another fake dating fic in time for this #Tbd #But I swore to myself that I won't start anything knew because I have like 6+ wips I'm actively working on #Nancy drew #Valentine's vigil

[nineofhearts4]

❄️Klaine Secret Santa Gift Exchange 2023 Masterlist - Part 2❄️

16. I will give the world to you by @daisyishedwig / Daisyishedwig for @caramelcoffeeaddict

17. Calcio by @teilo / Teilo for @bitbybitwrites

18. Bonjour, Monsieur Hummel by @cryscendo / cryscendo for @nineofhearts4

19. Blaine meets Kurt while he's doing a photoshoot for Vogue, Kurt is the producer and stylist. by @worththejourneying for @cryscendo

20. What I Can’t Say to You by @nineofhearts4 / nineofhearts for @quizasvivamos

21. A Love That Lasts Forever by @imtryingokay01 / imtryingokay for@godsoquickly21-blog 

22. A beautiful day in the neighbourhood by @forabeatofadrum / maanorchidee for @twinkkurt

23. Something There All Along by @burkleswinifred / koholintdream for @kurtsascot

24. Influence My Heart by @madas-ahatters-world / MadAs_AHatter for @jackabelle73

25. Pas de Deux by @cerriddwenluna / Cerriddwen for @esilher

26. Change of Heart by @special-bc-ur-part-of-it / izwordsoup for @grlnxtdr30

27. The Air In My Lungs by @jayne89 / JButler for @backslashdelta

28. Like Snow On The Beach by @godsoquickly21-blog  ThankYouForTheMusicKlaine for @madas-ahatters-world

29. The Purrfect Crime by @justgleekout / justgleekout for @spaceorphan18

30. To Find Each Other Again by @snarkyhag / snarkyhag for @shame-is-a-wasted-emotion

31. Broadway Revival by @jackabelle73 / jackabelle73 for @rockitmans

32. Falling For You by @bitbybitwrites / bitbybit (puttingittogether) for @mynonah 

❄️Still craving more? Check out last year's batch of fic and art!❄️

#Klaine #Glee #Klaine fic #Stuff I'm in #So much good fic

[nineofhearts4]

Vote for the type of event you want to participate in;

The Big Klaine Mashup Bang would be all crossovers, putting our favorite boys into other fandoms. This would be an opportunity to introduce Klaine to new people, as well as to introduce people to other great fandoms.

#The number of wips I have on my computer....

[nineofhearts4]

how about 'meticulously planning 'candid' photos' for the fake dating prompts ‼️

I gotchu.

][][][

"So, we're doing the grocery store-?"

"Next week, but only after we do the restaurant date on Friday and only IF you come back with me."

Luke frowned. "Wait, if I come back with you, where am I gonna sleep?"

Julie waved him off, focusing on the whiteboard they'd thrown together in the basement where Luke's studio was located. "I have a couch. Or, like, a sleeping bag."

"Sleeping bag! You're going to make your boyfriend sleep in a sleeping bag?!"

"You're not actually my boyfriend," Julie corrected him, flashing him a bright smile. Something in Luke faltered and his smile dropped. Then he straightened, leaning toward Julie and fluttering his eyelashes at her. Julie rolled her eyes.

"Everyone thinks I'm your boyfriend, so maybe I should at least sleep on the couch or something. What if they think we're having a fight and then the planned beach pictures next Thursday get ignored in favor of drama."

Julie turned away at Luke's words so that he couldn't see the blush on her cheeks. She stared at the whiteboard, biting her lip, thinking about how Luke had suggested beach pictures three times before Julie had agreed.

"If we do the beach pictures," she said, "we should do mall pics."

"What are we buying at the mall?" Luke hummed thoughtfully to answer his own question. She heard him lean back in his seat and finally turned around, unable to keep her eyes off him for too long. He was staring at the ceiling before he turned his grey eyes toward her. A smile quirked at his lips.

"I dunno..." she said slowly, unsure. "I guess I could use a new bag. Or... maybe we do a music store?"

Luke sat up. "Music store. Let's go to a music store. If you wanna go shopping in exchange for beach pics. Put that on the board!"

"Will it be convincing?"

"Probably, I mean, I love music stores. And the beach. I can't believe you want pics of us grocery shopping. That might actually be a call for help on my end. I don't do well in grocery stores."

Julie rolled her eyes again. "It'll be cute! We'll get stuff to make bread or something."

"Very PR," Luke said, tapping against the armrest. "Relate to the people. I like it."

Julie felt herself blush again and she whirled back toward the whiteboard.

The whole reason for them meticulously planning what pictures would be taken of their dates was so that Luke could present a more "wholesome" persona to the public during his court case against Bobby Shaw, who'd stolen his songs and run when Luke had gotten into an accident when he was seventeen.

Julie had been Luke's best friend and also one of the biggest pop-rock stars in the last few years and while they hadn't talked in a long, long time before this... well, Julie's both glad she ran into Luke at a party and a bit mortified. He'd not been doing well when she'd found him crying on the bathroom floor of a mutal friend about the whole Bobby thing.

He needed help. Really badly needed help.

And she was still helplessly in love with him.

Julie turned back toward Luke. "Music store next Thursday if we do the beach in two weeks?"

Luke beamed and Julie's heart stuttered. "Deal."

#!! #Jatp #Juke #Juke fic #“I can't believe you want pics of us grocery shopping. That might actually be a call for help on my end. I don't do well in grocery stores.

[nineofhearts4]

"if we do this, we need rules" "rules? for dating? seriously?"

for Juke as requested, of course! :D

Okay merry chrimas! Sorry this is late. Also I wrote so much I’m so sorry. Also this is a 1995 fake dating au. I kept the reasons for it very very vague.

][][][

Julie leaned across the table and shoved the stop button of Luke Patterson's walkman so hard that she nearly shoved it off the table.

"HEY!"

He scrambled to grab it, eyes wide, and Julie watched him catch it and then turn, whirling to glare at her. In one swift motion, he took his headphones off and hung them around his neck.

“You could’ve just asked me to take them off!” he exclaimed, tracking her as she slid into the bench seat across from him.

Julie pursed her lips and plopped her backpack on the seat next to her. He deflated when she didn’t speak, eyeing her warily.

It was unnaturally cold for California in the autumn, and Luke’s hair ruffled in a cold breeze that sent a shiver down Julie’s spin. He frowned at her and looked down at his flannel.

“Do you want my—?”

“No,” she said. “I’m actually here to discus the rules with you.”

Luke blinked at her and then leaned into the picnic table. He narrowed his eyes. “I’m sorry— did you just say rules?”

Julie mirrored him, leaning across the table, smiling nervously and with less confidence than she had possessed moments ago. “Yes, Luke. Rules. For fake dating?”

Luke glanced around, but there was no one around here who knew them. They were the only two out of their admittedly-not-overlapping friend group who had third block lunch. Julie normally spent it by herself and Luke normally spent it by himself. Julie in the lunch room and Luke on the outside picnic benches by the senior parking lot.

“Wait, we were serious about that—!?” Luke hissed.

“Yes!” Julie exclaimed. “And lower your voice! You need help to stay in school and I can tutor you, and I need everyone off my back about—.” She huffed, running her hands over her hair nervously. “—I need Nick off my back too and also we both need Carrie off ours and a million other things and my dad is so way less likely to bother me about doing stuff if he thinks I’m dating.”

Luke blinked at her. “I don’t even know if I’m allowed to date.”

“You’re seventeen.”

Luke shrugged, fiddling with the audio jack on the Walkman. The thing was old and beat up, scratched where Luke had probably dropped it on the ground. “My cousin wasn’t allowed to date until she graduated high school.”

“Well,” Julie huffed, “it’s fake anyway and you don’t even have to tell your parents if you don’t want to. Okay? But if we are doing this, if you were serious, we need rules.”

But Luke didn’t look convinced. He leaned away from the table, folding his arms protectively over his chest. A breeze swept past them and Julie regretted not snapping her jacket from her locker before she’d come out here. She shivered.

“Rules? For dating? Seriously?”

“Yes, number one, no kissing.” Julie snapped opened her composition book and clicked her pen in his face. He watched her warily, looking just as surprised as he had when she’d ran into him a few nights ago and this whole thing had become, well, a thing.

“No kissing? How is that going to be convincing?” He leaned forward to peer at the list she was numbering.

“We’ll be taking it slow,” she explained thoughtfully, shrugging. She looked into his eyes where he was gazing at her intently. She hadn’t realized they were blue— she’d actually thought they were green. No. Maybe grey?

“Okay,” he grumbled, grey-blue-green-whatever eyes flickering down to her lips momentarily. “Number two… no telling anyone.”

She looked up sharply. “Anyone?”

“No Reggie, or Alex, or Bobby. No Flynn. Or Kayla.”

Julie slowly placed her pen down. “I’m not… against it… but why?”

Luke shrugged and glanced down at his half eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “Makes it easier. Plus, if we can convince them, we can definitely convince Carrie and Nick.”

She had to give him that. She wrote the rule down. “Okay. Number three. Dates. How regularly? I think once a week, and we alternate who picks what.”

He looked thoughtful, glancing at her and then up at the sky. He shrugged after a moment. “Sure. I have a few ideas.”

Julie was wary of where Luke Patterson of all people would take a girl for a date. She knew he often spent time down by the strip, busking or trying to get his band name out there. She knew he’d dated a girl from their junior high for a few months before she moved across the country.

What he would do for a date… well, Julie didn’t exactly see Luke hanging out at the mall.

He wasn’t exactly top of the totem pole. At least, he hadn’t been before Carrie.

Julie shook herself from her thoughts. “Okay. Next. Can you drive?”

Luke blinked in surprise. “Um. I can. I mostly take my bike to school though.”

Julie shook her head. “I’m not riding on your bike with you to school. Do you have a car you can drive?”

He shrugged, and then nodded. “We’ve got an old wagon, yeah. I can grab that probably.”

“Good enough. Okay—.”

Luke reached over and grabbed a piece of her lunch that Tia had brought over to keep them from eating more leftover spaghetti.

“Hey!”

“We share lunches.”

She glanced down at his peanut butter and jelly and scrunched her nose in distaste. “I do not want your lunch.”

“I’ll pack some apples.”

“No, Luke—.”

He rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’ll buy you lunch.”

Julie hesitated, pen hovering over her notebook. “Pizza Fridays.”

“Fine. Pizza Fridays I buy you lunch.”

She hummed thoughtfully and titled her head down at her list. “What about parties or school events?”

Luke scowled. “Julie, I don’t go to school events. I barely even want to be here.”

She titled her head at him. “We’re trying to keep you here so you can get your parents off your back, right? That’s what you said the other day?”

He shrugged, glancing away and toward the doors of the school. She pursed her lips in thought.

“One school event a month, and as compromise I’ll… um…”

“You have to come to Sunset Curve gigs.”

Julie blanched and then shook her head. “Luke Patterson, no way am I doing that. You know I don’t do that sort of stuff anymore. Major problem.”

But Luke’s eyes grew big and round. He stared at her, a pout on his face. “Julie Molina please! And come on! No one will believe that you’re my girlfriend if you’re not showing up to gigs!” This was true.

“You guess don’t even have gigs. No one even knows who you are.” And this was also true— sure, people knew some kids in their grade had a band, but it wasn’t like that band was doing amazing. Julie had seen Luke’s friend Reggie putting up handmade posters for their gigs up around the school. She wasn’t even sure if the name until Luke had said it just now.

It also wasn’t completely true. People did know Luke. But it wasn’t like Sunset Curve had groupies or anything. At least, Julie didn’t think they did. Now she wasn’t so sure.

“Okay, that hurt, because we do have gigs so actually you have to come to them. You can choose all the dates for all I care, you just gotta come to the gigs when we have them.” Luke said excitedly, leaning toward her.

“I think you just want bodies there,” Julie grumbled, but added it to the list.

Luke peered over the table to look at it. “What number are we at?”

She counted seven, listing them off with a whisper in her voice.

“That is feeling very Heavy in your favor,” Luke said, turning the notebook to look at it. He reached for her pen, turning it fully so that it sat in front of him.

“What are you—? ‘Julie comes over three times a week to help Luke study’.” She leveled him with a dry look. “Three times a week?”

But he was looking between her and her notebook. “You can read that?”

She glanced down at his handwriting. “Yes? Listen, Luke, I know I agreed to help you study—.”

“I’ll drive you,” he said quickly, hurriedly speaking over her. He looked nervous. “I’ll pick you up and you don’t even have to worry about it. My mom will probably insist you stay for dinner too.”

Julie pursed her lips thoughtfully. “How about… twice a week in person and once by phone. My dad will believe me if I say I have a boyfriend and I’m hogging the line to talk to him all the time.”

Luke nodded firmly. “Deal.”

She tore a piece of paper from the back of the notebook, scribbling down the numbers she’d had memorized since she was little. “Here’s our phone number. My abuela calls every Sunday night so that’s off limits.”

He saluted, taking the Molina number and pocketing it in his jeans. “Got it, boss.”

Julie tried to hide the blush at that words, startled to find she didn’t actually mind it that much. She cleared her throat. “Okay. That’s eight. How do we feel about—.”

“I walk you to your locker in the morning,” Luke said, nodding toward the school. “That’s number nine. And ten is…”

“No falling in love,” Julie said, her voice quiet. Luke’s eyes found hers. “I just mean. It can’t get messy. What with Nick and Carrie. No feelings. Nothings real.”

Luke just stared. After a moment, he nodded. “Yeah,” he said, “okay. No falling in love.”

Julie finished the list and then snapped the notebook shut right as the bell rang shrilly in their ears. She winced. Luke was already moving, shoving his lunch into his backpack. Before she knew it, as a gust of wind blew against her curls, Luke was shrugging off his jacket and rounding the picnic table.

He laid it over her shoulders and leaned against her, his chest pressed against her back. Students stared as they passed, heading back into the school. Julie felt the blush from earlier return full force. His hands rested on her shoulders and he squeezed once.

He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Is kissing on the cheek okay?”

“Um… yes… that’s okay.” She closed her eyes as his breath washed over her skin.

“Got it, boss.” He pecked a soft kiss against her cheek. And then he was gone.

Julie stared at the closed notebook, blinking in surprise. What had she gotten herself in to?

When Flynn called after school that day to say that everyone had seen Julie and Luke Patterson making out during the third block lunch and screamed so loud into the receiver, Julie’s dad heard it from the room over, Julie thought maybe this wasn’t a good idea.

Or maybe it was at least good they had rules.

#Juke #Jatp #Fake dating #Oh this is so fun #Jatp fic #Fav line: Luke blinked at her. “I don’t even know if I’m allowed to date.”