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makncheese12 · 11 months

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Top Shelf

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

Jenna Ortega x fem!reader

Masterlist

Summary: being the kid of a well-known book store owner was easy, so was running into famous people. But being book smart doesn’t make everyone people smart.

Warnings: my writing, language(bad words😯), my attempt at being funny, mention of gun shots and head shots, mentions of my favorite book(literally love Ruta Sepetys sm omg.

A/N: part 2? I am going to make you all suffer through the most oblivious slow burn. R if going to be so dumb/oblivious it’ll hurt you all🫶🏻

Word count - 3.6k

Credits: @novmoth (my friend from school who feeds into my delusions and gives me more ideas for this story🫶🏻)

(bare with me English is not my first language🥲 I’m getting help from my friend to edit it)

You were born to it.

The books. The films. The music and video games.

It was your life, literally. With your parents being owners of the infamous establishment called ‘top shelf’, you had no choice but to.

And you wouldn’t ever change.

Books upon books, movie after movie, games old and new and music that could last you weeks. Who would want to change such a life?

Your father was the first to start it.

He was poor man in Washington but had just enough money to buy it from the man who owned the small movie shop before he retired. He slowly started added book shelves and video games to the mix. Getting few customers but enough to survive day to day during the time of his early years

Your mother was a wealthy run away. Wanting something different and new in her life when she met your father. The man was playing on his game boy behind the counter before he saw her.

The poor boy and his run away wife, a classic really.

The rest after that is history.

As soon as they found out your mother was pregnant with you, they used the rest of her money they saved and went to New York where they bought the huge abandoned apartment complex.

They broke all the insides down and built what you now know as your second home. Hundreds of video games, films and music in one section and thousands of books in another.

Thus, Top Shelf was born only two weeks after you.

You met many friends there in the comfort section where students and business people worked as you all goofed off.

Your had also met your small friend group during your younger years, the four of you all never letting your father have the peace he wanted and dragging him all over New York.

With the thousands of books and hundreds of video games and films your parents sold, you had money. Lots of it.

But your mother made sure you never let that get the best of you, never. It went against everything she went for when she ran away.

She would make sure you would work for and earn everything you got, always.

She never let you have too much online activity, in case her family found you and made sure you were both street smart and book smart.

Your neighbors made sure you were street smart more than anything but you still gave her credit for trying.

Though, the book store was beautiful in every season. Winter was a favorite and when it was busiest. It was too your favorite.

Your father lighting the public fire place, your mother setting soft seasonal music, hell even the cheesy Christmas cartoons on the TV’s set the mood for the perfect bookstore vibe.

The lights dim just enough to where it almost felt like dark academy yet the plants that grew down the upstairs railing made the entire place feel more alive.

————

“Bullshit!” You yell out as you throw your head back onto the head rest of your chair, groaning loudly as the photo sound of your death snapped in your ears.

“Man, he’s fucking using cheats!” Dru calls out through the mic before his name pops up above to yours in dark red on the screen as you respawn.

“Of course he is, he’s a pussy.” Mj says, as her name, too, pops up on the screen.

“Oh come on, guys!” Lyle says through his staticky mic. “You all just suck.” He laughs

“Now I know your cheating, dude. Your mic is acting up again, just like last time!” Dru says, the sound of his voice booming louder than needed and you roll my eyes.

“DD, just because you like to replay games without using cheats doesn’t mean the rest of us do.” Lyle says in a matter-of-fact tone.

“It’s multiplayer, stupid! It’s meant to be fair for everyone!” Dru says making you snort. “Says the guy who chases around little kids and steals their horses making them cry.” Mj says making Dru blow into his mic making loud, unnecessary noises.

“Quit that!” You say taking one head phone off your ear. “Tsk tsk tsk,” Lyle starts. “Such a sore loser.”

“I’ll show you sore loser, get on Elden ring and we’ll test your irritation.” Dru says, mic now muffled by his own spit.

“Your tank build is not enough to stop me, comet azur will always save the day.” He says in a sing-song voice.

“And you call me a try hard, yet you’re the one always using a broken spell.” Dru complains. “Theres nothing I have to try hard at when I can just hold a simple button.” The sound of Dru’s groans become louder as his spit clears out from his Mic. “Same thing!”

You laugh once again before picking up your phone and looking at the time.

“Shit!” Your eyes go wide at the sight, 8:48 AM.

You quickly throw the head set off and push yourself out of the chair, opening your closet grabbing a quick pair of jeans and a hoodie before rushing to put it all on.

Your cat skids across the floor, startled by your sudden movements before a crashing in the your pile of books and out the door.

“Shit, shit, shit,” you mumble as you jump up and down to put on your shoes, failing at not falling and race toward the door. “Sorry!” You call to your cat who yells at you next to his food bowl.

You grab your keys and rush out the door before slamming it shut and locking it.

“Ay, y/n!” Your neighbor, Rosa, shouts from beside her door. “Quiet will you! I just put Nona to sleep!” She yells raising her news paper tapping your head with it.

“Sorry! sorry, Señora Rosa.” You whisper yell as you try to push her weaponized hand away. “I’m just a little late.”

“And I just got a moment of peace! Quiet!” She says giving you one last wack making you try and shrink away from her as you rush toward the stairs.

“You got your pepper spray, right?” She calls and you raise your key chain to show her the attached small can. “¡Buena niña!”

You rush down the stairs and push passed the glass door, almost slipping on the ice before running down the street.

Your phone buzzes in your pocket making you quickly take it out.

“Hello?” You ask without knowing who it was.

“Arthur Morgan would be very disappointed at your sudden disappearance from an important mission.” Lyle says before sighing.

“It’s multiplayer, there are no main missions.” You say, trying to avoid the ice on the ground before stopping at the red hand across the street. “Plus, we were in the middle of four way 1v1. He’d be more upset that we were going against each other.”

“Loyalty is everything in such a game,” he says, sarcasm in his voice and you imagine him shaking his head. “Of course he would be upset at my bullet in DD’s head.”

“Why’d you call me exactly?” You ask watching the hand turn into a green man walking before taking off again.

“Well, you just yelled ‘shit!’ Before disappearing on us, had to make sure someone didn’t break in and kill you.” He replies casually as if he knew that weren’t the case. “But after hearing you continue on your ‘shit’ rant and the door slam I figured it was okay, just had to call and make sure, y’know?”

“Ever heard of a text, loser?” You ask, barley missing a man walking and looking down at his phone. “Gross,” he says before making a gagging noise. “why waste such time typing when I can simply just hit one button?”

“You’re so lazy.” You laugh out loud as you run across another street. “Work smarter not harder, Y/N. You should know this with that big brain of yours.”

“What if I want to work both smarter and harder?” You ask, running up to the glass window to see the books lined up. “Well, then your just weird.” You roll your eyes.

“Just kidding. I guess you can do both, I just personally prefer the alternative.” He says as the sound of guns shooting fills the phone. “Yeah, also sorry about leaving.” You say pushing into the store being greeting with the familiar smell of books and the warm smile of my mother.

“I forgot I had to get ready for work.”

“You’re at top shelf?” He ask and you reply with a ‘mhm’. “I might stop by later to say hello actually, I need a new game anyway.” He laughs as the sound of Dru yelling in the back ground becomes more prominent.

“Sounds good, see you loser” You say as you take your sweat shirt off, leaving you in your tank top you hand before leaving. “Later,” you hear him say before hanging up.

“Good morning,” you hear your mother say as you pull the staff sweat shirt over your head and pull up your sleeves. “Mornin’,” you reply before kissing her cheek.

“Wheres dad?” You ask looking around before your eyes setting on the woman stack a pile of books into one pile.

“He’s going to be out of town for a few days,” she says carrying the pile to the check back station. “A vacation, I insisted as I continue your training.” She says making you smile.

“We both know he needs it, he’s getting older.” She says and your smile fades as you nod. “So are you.” You mumble and she, too, nods.

“You know him getting old is different from me getting old.” She states, sighing quietly.

“What’s todays task?” You ask, quickly changing the subject at the sight of her sad frown. She looks at you for a moment before smiling once again.

She moves to storage closet and unlocks it, allowing you to see the boxes upon boxes along with stacks of different other things.

“To be a good store owner, you have to know your customers.” She says returning with a large box that you quickly take from her.

“Just put it on that table — and to know your customers, you must socialize and help them throughout the store.” She finishes as you take the box to the table noticing the label romance written across it.

“That also means having to work while helping the customers, so you’ll be on stock duty as well.” She says with a smile.

Yes.

You mentally say to yourself. Stock duty required work of you finding the places of different books, movies and games which also meant finding new things you didn’t know about before.

“One more thing,” you mother says as she walks behind the counter to finish opening up the store. “No head phones.” Your eyes go wide.

“But ma!” You call out to the lady who switches the sign from closed to open. “What else am I supposed to do when I stock!” You call, holding onto the white cords and swinging them around.

“Help the customers and socialize.” She laughs out making you frown. “I should call CPS.” You mumble carrying the box to the sorted area before hearing the woman’s laugh.

“Sure, call ahead but don’t be disappointed when they decline a twenty year old.”

You roll your eyes before continuing down the aisle.

“And after you sort those, get the others out of the storage closet!” You huff quietly as you glance back with a small playful glare on your face.

“If I wanted to work out, I would have gone to the gym.” You say and she rolls her eyes. “You’ll be just as sore in the morning, trust me.”

————

Hours hand passed, since you last seen the romance box having moved on to the horror section of the films.

You search through their placement areas, looking at all the old cinematic master pieces, the many Dracula films placed neatly next to each other, in order of both year and name.

Horror was one of the favorites when coming here, your father being a collected through his years he had many people couldn’t get their hands on.

Sure you could watch it online now but where’s the fun in that when you have a real copy with the static noises and written voices on screen. Some people still had some class left in them.

You hear a book hit the floor making the library echo as heads turned toward the cause of the sudden interruption of their silence.

“Shit—” You hear someone say quietly, making you roll your eyes as you place the rest of the CD’s in their rightful places before making your way toward the aisle the noise came from.

You subtly make your way toward the aisle while acting like your checking the books before taking a peek around the corner.

You see a rather short girl — shorter than the third shelf — craning her neck to look up at all the books in front of her.

Just to your luck, your mother placed a box for that genre next to the end of the shelf and you picked it up.

You make your way down the aisle and set the box toward the middle before looking up the girl who was already staring, and boy was she something.

Freckles littered across her tan skin, strands of her short hair fell from her half up half down style, her eyes — damn her eyes — they were the prettiest brown you’ve ever seen.

You smile lightly before picking up the first book and reading both the authors name and the title while trying to slow down your racing heart.

Who was this girl? Matter of fact, what was she? She wasn’t a regular, that’s for sure but you always get random people coming in so it didn’t exactly matter.

After putting away a few books, you glance up to see the girl a few feet away and on her tippy toes, reaching for a book on the fifth or sixth shelf.

You snorted quietly catching the girls attention making you quickly look away to keep yourself from laughing.

“You think this is funny?” She asks and you begin shaking in quiet laughter.

After a few moments, you compose yourself and stand shaking your head.

“No, not at all. Would you like some help?” You ask taking step toward her. She narrows her eyes. “Are you making fun of me right now?” She asks, both amusement and annoyance in her voice.

“Why would I do that? It’s poor customer service.” You say with a smile before watching her own smile grow.

“It’s poor customer service to laugh at a customer.” She mumbles before stepping back. “Please.” You walk up and grab the book.

“Look how easy that was.” She says, taking the book you held out for her. “Being six-foot-two does have its perks.” She says looking over the back of the book.

You roll your eyes but your smile only grows. Looking down at the book you nod and raise your eye brows, “that’s a good one, read it a few years back.” You say, making your way back to box of books.

“I’d hope so, for all the work I had to do to try and get it.” She mumbles making you smile and shake your head. “Anything else good?” She asks, looking down to you.

“You’re asking me if there’s anything else good in here when there’s just by the look of it thousands of books here?” You ask, smirking at her when she rubs the back of her neck.

“Yes, there is, I’ve read more than I can count. My recommendation board is up by the front desk if you want to check it out.” You say before placing crave by Tracy Wolff into the slot.

“You must have come here a lot before working then? If you’ve read so many books from here.” She asks, following hot on your trail with the book tucked between her arm. “Oh, for sure,” you say nodding. “The owners and I are real close, we were together a whole nine months before I was born.”

Her eyes widen slightly at the information. “You’re parents own this place?” She asks, gesturing to the entire book store and you nod, smiling.

It felt like you were a teenage boy, flaunting his muscles to a girl he finds attractive.

“Wow,” she says looking around once again. Book still tucked tightly into her arm as she did so. “Just wow. Your parents have taste.”

“More like their people pleasers.” You say shaking your head. The real other reason why horror is so popular in the movie section is because of their request.

Every week they check their request list and buy everything people ask for. New books, new movies, new music and games, there’s always something new. You’re surprised there’s still room, then again the place would be as big you supposed.

“They like having their customers choice their number one priority. It’s good business.” You say looking up to the girl who had a look of wonder in her eyes as she stared down at you but there was also something else. Something you couldn’t quite place.

She stares at you for another moment before speaking again, “do you.. know who I am?” She asks and your furrow your eye brows in question.

“Should I?” You ask tilting your head. She stares for another moment again, eyes scanning your face and it’s features as if searching for something.

Her smile then grows, as she shakes her head. “You shouldn’t, or rather shouldn’t have to. It’s just a surprise.” She says, tucking her hair behind her ear.

You knit your eye brows together in confusion.

She walks out of the aisle and you catch the light smile on her face as she does.

What the hell? You wonder to yourself as you place the last few books away.

You were pretty sure that was the last section, unless your mother put out some more stuff you didn’t notice. You’d just check out the to-do list.

Your mother and father always had one for both you and their own sake. Adding things so no one would forget.

As you made your way to check out, you see the girl walking in the general distraction as well.

“All set?” You ask, placing the box inside the others, moving past the small door attached to the low counter.

“Yep,” she says once again staring at you.

You take the book you got for her earlier along with another you recognize almost immediately. “Between shades of gray?” You ask, looking at her as if she were serious.

“Your description seemed trust worthy enough to make me interested.” You glance over to see your board clearly flipped through before nodding.

You scan both books. “Careful, it’s sad, dark and traumatic. It’s one of my favorites though.” You say looking up at her, she pauses for a moment, staring at you once again and just smiles and shakes her head.

“I think I can deal with a few of those.”

“Bartering or buying?” You ask. “Bartering,” she replies and you nod. “Good, I need to get a review on what you think.” You say with a smirk and you see a glint of something in her eyes.

“Name?” You ask and she looks at you a little confused. “We have to know whose using our books, how else do you think we send emails threatening to charge or get them back?” You snort.

“Oh, your totally right.” she says quietly before taking out her credit card.

“Jenna Ortega..” she says and you nod, typing in the name before reaching for the credit. Her grip on the card tightens at your lack of response.

You pull the card gently but her grip is to hard for you to take.

“Can I… get the card?” You ask, looking around slightly uncomfortably with the stone like stare she was giving you.

“Are you sure you don’t know who I am?” She asks letting go allowing you to swipe the card.

“Again, should I?”

You both stare at each other, both confused and entrapped by the other.

You find is strange how she thinks you know who she is or why you don’t know her.

Maybe she was some big deal somewhere off and you still have yet to hear about her.

Her name did ring a bell but you weren’t sure. Was she a person you knew from your child hood? An old friend trying to reconnect? Maybe some relative on your moms sent by the older ones to investigate if it was really you.

“Miss Ortega?” You’re both broken out of your thoughts as two large men stand behind her. “Time to go.” he says gesturing to a few people who were standing and staring in your general direction.

One grabs the bag off the counter before quickly walking towards the door.

“Looks like I gotta go,” she says, smile now suddenly shy with others watching. “Don’t worry, I’ll return your book Y/N.” She says before walking toward the door, one of the men right behind her.

“Yeah, you bet-“ you pause after the the realization hits you. “Wait, how’d you-?” You begin to ask before watching her gesture to her chest.

You knit your eyebrows together, you look down to see the name tag right under the library symbol.

She was strange.. cute.. but strange

Read next sort here!

A/N : Some parts once again rushed🧍🏽‍♀️This is just an introduction I suppose, the details will get better I tried my hardest🥲

#jenna ortega #jenna ortega x reader #celebrity x reader #top shelf #book store #book store owner #scream #Wednesday Addams #Vada Cavell #tara carpenter #scream 5 #scream 6 #jenna ortega imagine #jenna ortega fanfic #jenna ortega x you

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makncheese12 · 11 months

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Top Shelf pt. 4

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

Masterlist

Summary: being the kid of a well-known book store owner was easy, so was running into famous people. But being book smart doesn’t make everyone people smart.

Warning: My writing per usual, R and J being oblivious to their ‘hang out’ being a date, angst? (Not the the couple kind, idk.)

A/N: I genuinely forgot what rings were and couldn’t remember what they were called, that’s it. R and J being seen more in public together?🫢 the scandal and perfection, they just want everyone to see them don’t they all while getting closer.

Word count - 4.6k

Jenna Ortega X fem!reader

Jenna sat in the back of the car, fidgeting slightly with her rings as she watches the many buildings go by as the car passes them.

She had asked you to hangout a few days ago, not long after the pictures and videos of you two walking down the street had gotten out into the public.

Of course it was a cover up as wanted to apology for it all but in reality it was all for her own selfish reasons of wanting to see you again.

She didn’t know why she wanted to but the few times she had seen and talked to you she felt a sense of relief that you didn’t really know her.

You seemed to have natural reactions to everything she said or did and eventually told the truth to her about what you thought or how you felt, especially through text.

The way you have much more personality through those than you do in real life made the girl feel giddy while texting you, the emojis only strengthening the feeling more. She wanted to break you out of that shell even more to see it all for real.

She loved the feeling she got when you cheeks seemed to go a darker shade of red when you told her your nerves were getting to you about texting her, and it wasn’t from the cold weather.

Now she sat here waiting to arrive at the spot she had sent you in order to be more discreet about hanging out.

Was it a hang out? She had only known you all but five minutes really but the few times she had spoken to you made her want to open her personality a little more.

So was it really a date? She wanted it to be even if you thought it wasn’t.

This all feels like a dating app to her for some reason, not knowing the person but wanting to made it all worse.

Her phone buzzed suddenly, snapping her out of her thoughts and she picked it up to see yet another notification about you or about the both of you, she didn’t really know nor care. It was all so annoying.

She of course loved her fans but there were some that seemed to really want to get into her business too much for her liking.

She opened her Instagram to find Lyle’s once again after so many times of seeing it. She scrolled down until she found the picture of you sitting in front of him and a chess board, leaning your head against your hand as you stared up at a woman or rather the space around her. The only thing out of place was another guy sitting in the back ground, his face inches from the computer screen that made her smile.

The man had a photographic talent, she had to admit. No wonder had so many followers even before your photo suddenly went viral.

She clicked on the linked tag and your Instagram pops up with a series of post with you and your friends, your family and even your cat. A lot of your cat.

She smiles lightly as she scrolls through, admiring all the pictures as she comes to a sudden realization. If you could see who viewed your profile, you’d probably be creeped out with how much she’s viewed it in the last few days.

She sucks across her teeth as her finger hovers over the follow button. Was it a good idea? People would see it and most importantly so would you. Would she look like a stalker for following you suddenly without you giving her your Insta?

She decides against it, not wanting to look like a stalker.

The car comes to a slow stop and Jenna looks out the window, searching for you across the street.

She eventually found you in the mass of people, leaning against the railing wall with plants lined up inside causing her to smile and pull up your thread of text.

Jenna

Look up

It’s all she says before her eyes find you again, a moment passes before you look down at your phone before immediately looking up.

You looked straight at her unbeknownst to you which makes her heart skip a beat for a moment before rolling down the window just enough for you to see her.

Your frowning face suddenly turns into a smile as she peeks over her sun glasses and at you before your making your way across the street, avoiding any cars as you do so.

She unlocks the door and pushes it open slightly as soon as you make it beside the car.

You pull the door open just enough for you to slip in before shutting behind you quickly.

“Hey,” you say with a smile that she returns. “Hey.” She replies as you settle into the seat, glancing toward the man who sat in the front passenger seat. The same body guard she had the night she met after your 7/11 trip.

“Where are we going?” You ask and she laughs before sending the driver the location she planned on taking you.

“So impatient.” She replies as the man began to drive.

“How are you?” She asks and you suddenly realize the indecency you. “I’m good,” you say glancing down at your boots as you try not to move them as much as possible so snow wouldn’t fall into her car.

“How about you?” You look back up to see her already staring at you before a large smile forms on her face. “I’ve never been better.” She chuckles and you give her a confused look.

“I did want to apologize for the, you know.” she sighs, folding her leg over the other. It still frustrated her how fast it all came, it was so sudden too and now it was only getting bigger.

She had came to the realization that if you two were caught in public again it would only get bigger. She didn’t fully think about that before she sent that text to you a few days ago.

But she was willing to take that risk if she got to see you again.

“Don’t, it’s not your fault you ran into me.” You reply looking out the window watching as you pass people. “Plus, you wouldn’t have my number if you didn’t so.”

She raises her eye brow. “So, you really wouldn’t have texted me then?” Challenge in her voice as she crosses her arms all while changing the subject completely.

Your eyes widen slightly before your stance becomes almost defensive. “Of course I would have, eventually that is.”

“Eventually as is a week or a few months?” She tilts her head slightly and you scoff knowing she was probably right.

“But at least you would get a text, if it was from me or Lyle.” You shrug making her knit her eyebrows together. “Lyle? Is that the friend that gave me your phone to put my number in?” She ask, leaning closer toward you.

“Yes, unfortunately.” You roll your eyes at the thought of the man who seemed to be jealous that you now have more followers than him.

“Has he always been like that?” She asks, curious about you suddenly for some reason.

“Lyle? Definitely, he’s always been the more enthusiastic one ready for whatever.” You say looking back at the memories you shared with him. “He’s also been dying to meet you again.” You let that slip out on accident and she raises her eyebrows.

“Me?” She asks and you clear your throat, face warming up suddenly. “He wants to meet me again” she asks in a more serious tone.

“Yeah, you two didn’t exactly talk much last time you saw each other.” They didn’t even talk at all. “And I guess he wants to make up for.” You say more of a question than a statement.

“Why would he want to meet me again, exactly?” She asks, genuinely curious about the man. Was it because of her fame? “Well, If you haven’t noticed, we have been texting a lot.”

Ah, right. You had mentioned how simple minded the man was before while texting her.

But you weren’t wrong, you both texted a lot. Most of the time you both texted back immediately so it just went on for forever.

She doesn’t even think she text her friends as much as she text you at this point.

She hummed in response. “That is true.” She looked out the window to see that you were getting closer.

“Would you like to?..” your voice quiet as you ask the question making her look back to you as you scratch the top of your head avoiding eye contact.

A soft smile appears on her face at the sight of your nervous state, it remembered her of when she asked for your number at the shop.

“I would love to,” she says, placing a hand on your arm which makes you finally look at her to see the softness in her eyes briefly before it changes to playfulness.

“But we can’t make him third wheel.” She says, mind wandering for a moment.

Third wheel? What did she mean by that? Like a date? Was this a date? No, it couldn’t be Jenna said you guys were gonna hang out.

Your mind immediately go to Mj or Dru but both of them would be horrible options paired with Lyle as either of the two would gang up with the lanky boy to embarrass the hell out of you.

Or you could just go with Jenna and make Lyle say he got sick or something. You’ve had your whole life to hang out with him, a little less time wouldn’t hurt.

“I actually have some of my cast mates coming up, maybe I could invite one of them?” Jenna asks breaking you out of your thoughts.

Your smile grows at the thought of not having either of the two come but rather one of Jenna’s friends. “That sounds good.” You agree as the car comes to a stop.

“How hungry are you?” Jenna asks as she grabs her coat.

————

You two sat across from each as you looked over the menu of the unfamiliar place, for once you didn’t know something that was in New York and it frustrated you immensely to have to look over a folder again.

You look up to Jenna who is doing the same, eyes carefully scanning over the paper with interest almost making you feel jealous of it.

You look back down before decided on one of the simplest things.

You glance over to the body guard who sat a few tables over with another man who was already waiting for your arrival having saved the seats.

You begin to think back to when you were in the car as you stare at the two. Was this a date?

If it was then would you have to flirt? It had been a few years since your last relationship in high school so to say you were a little rusty would have been right. Did you even remember how to flirt?

But then again this probably wasn’t a date so if you tried that, you would fail if she didn’t think it was one.

“Y/N?” Her voice calls out and your eyes snap to hers to see a confused look. “You good?” She asks, slight concern in her voice as she speaks.

You nod quickly before adjusting yourself a little. She eyes you for a moment before looking back down.

“Have you been here before?” She asks and you shake your head, not trusting your own voice for the moment as you look back down at the menu. She eyes you once again, longer this time.

You quietly clear your voice, avoiding her gaze. “I’ve heard a little of it though, never thought of coming.” You state as you finally meet her piercing gaze.

There was something in her eyes you couldn’t quite place. Uncertainty, maybe?

She quickly looks away and back down to the menu again, eyes trained on one specific part but she wasn’t reading it. She was more worried about what was wrong with you.

“Decide yet?” You ask as you close your menu and watch her trying to get a look at her menu to see what she was looking at.

She pulls it up straighter and continues to read over the board. “Don’t rush me.” She grumbles quietly as she continues to scan over the menu unbeknownst to your staring.

You take the moment to admire her like this, focused on one thing so intently. It reminded you of your walk you two took together.

She seemed to always gain more freckles each time you looked at her, her nose was strangely perfect and fit her face so well, her lips even more so as they hung open slightly reading the menu silently to herself as you continued to watch her.

The phone cameras go completely unnoticed by the both of you who seemed to be focused on your own things at a time.

“This may sound, like, really weird,” you start making the brunette look up toward you. Face resting in both of your hands as you continue to stare. “You’re eyes are really pretty.”

Her heart skips a beat for a moment as she stares back at you, this time she’s the one who gets the admire you.

Your eyes seemed full of adoration as your hands squish your face lightly, small smile on your lips as her face begins to warm up.

She can’t help the smile that forms across her face and the small giggle that comes out as she hides behind the menu.

Not because it was funny but because she was trying to hide the embarrassment and flush.

You huff out and sit back watching her shaking form, now embarrassed by your own comment as you try to cover up the sudden faint blush.

While behind the menu she tries to cool down her own face while covering it up with giggles.

You begin to regret it before she composed herself and came back from hiding.

“No, not weird at all.” She says, keeping a straight face before looking to you. She looks you in the eye, seeing your clearly red cheeks which only makes it worse and let’s out a noise you can’t quite put your finger on but you knew was a laugh.

She rest her head on the table, body shaking in laughter and you just nod along crossing your arms.

“Let it all out,” you say watching it only get worse. “You just thrive off my embarrassment don’t you?” You finishes as she begins to calm down.

“No, no it’s not that.” She says sitting up to allow the air to hit her face and cool down her burning cheeks.

“Really? Cause the way you were just struggling to breath says other wise.” Your voice defensive yet playful as she closes her menu, ready to order.

“No, it’s really not that.” She says, taking her turn to lean against her hand as she looks toward you. “You’re just really cute when you’re embarrassed.”

Now it was you’re turn to blush.

You move your hand to your face covering your eyes as a smile creeps up your face and you too shake in quiet laughter.

“See? Now you get it!” She gestures winding to you and you shake your head. “Yeah, yeah,”

You had hoped she meant it.

You look up to see her once again staring, the smile on her face still there along with the faint blush. It’s a sight many would be jealous you got to see.

Someone steps beside the table making you both look away and toward him. As soon as you look you’re face drops.

“Excuse me,” the much older man says as you scooch away stiffly. “But do I happen to know you?” He asks and you slowly shake your head.

“I don’t think so.” You speak up making the man continue to stare.

But you knew him.

You shift around uncomfortable as he continues his interrogation. “Are you sure? I’m more than positive I’ve seen your face somewhere.” He continues inching closer.

“No, I really don’t know you.” You reach for your keychain, ready to spray the man if he kept insisting. “I could have sworn Ive seen you, perhaps a family member? Mother or father perhaps?”

Your body stiffens even more and you pop the top off the bottle, wanting him out of your personal space.

Jenna’s body guards are quick to take notice before one could get up fully the waiter decided to make his presence known.

“Is there an issue here?” He asks, placing his hand on the man’s shoulder forcing him to back up a bit. The man glancing between you both before shaking his head, the determination fading from his eyes yet still there.

“No, I was just making my way out.” He states before walking past the waiter who watches him carefully.

Once the man is out of sight he turns to you both. “I’m so sorry about that,” he mumbles, looking toward the body guard who takes his seat quickly. “Are you two ready to order?”

Jenna watches you for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, we’ll actually take it to go if you can do that please?” She asks and the waiter nods knowingly before taking his pad out to write down on.

You feel a sense of unease as you wait for Jenna to take her order, the urge to message your mother growing.

————

You stare out the window as your thoughts go running through your head.

How had they found you? Was it because of the appearance with Jenna that they had found or were they already looking and just so happened to see you.

Your mind races, not noticing the way Jenna watches you from her seat next to you.

The whole interaction confused her yet you seemed worried so she started to worry for and with you.

She reaches out to touch your arm and you flinch lightly making her frown deepen as you looked back at her. “You alright?” She ask.

You nod slowly before your eyes stare at the seat in front of you, you wanted the thoughts to stop but they just wouldn’t. The way he looked at you gave you the same chills your mother described her father gave her.

You didn’t like it, not one but especially after having your father be you father, they both seemed very different.

“What happened back there?” She asks, clearly referring to the way the man spoke to you and how your mood changed so suddenly because of him.

“It’s a..” you start, thinking of the right words to say. It wasn’t really bad but you suppose it was. You’re mother did run away because of it so it couldn’t have not been.

“A, uh, long story.” I mumble, she stares at you for a moment before nodding and looking toward the bag of food you both brought.

“Well,” she starts before leaning back into her seat, missing the warm feeling of you under her hand immediately as she does so. “I think we have enough food to go over it a little.”

The smile she sends you seems to cheer you up a bit as you send her your own little smile. “I guess,” you say before noticing the the street you were on.

You suddenly light up as a thought crosses you mind. “Can you tell him to pull over really quickly?”

“Why?” She asks nodding to the driver who looks through the rear view mirror.

You don’t answer her as you rush out of the car. “I’ll be right back!” You say before running up the stairs and into the apartment leaving a confused Jenna to sit by herself.

————

You huff out in annoyance as you watch Jenna place yet another plus four into the pile, face smug as she stares toward your hand taking four cards.

“I think your cheating.” You mumble, as you look over your new cards and she takes a sip of the alcohol you had taken from Lyles fridge.

Too say he was confused and angry as to why you suddenly bursted into his apartment and starting taking his things was an understatement.

“Think what you want, the color is red by the way.” She replies before placing down a plus two red.

You groan out as you snatch two cards up from your pile.

Your food was mostly eaten and the alcohol was starting to get to you as you were originally the one winning non-stop.

“You never got to your story.” She states matter-of-factly before finally placing a regular card down.

“Right..” you mumble, it being your turn to tap a sip allowing you to drink the rest of the glass. Was this legal? Not fully. Was anyone going to stop two fully grown twenty year olds from drinking on the roof of the building your parents own in the middle of the night? No.

It was a small spot you and your group of friends made, a small patio with plastic curtains and fairy lights to block out the curtain weather.

“Basically my moms this really rich guys kid,” you start placing down your own card as she listens intently. “He was gonna make her marry some weird guy whose twice her age for political reasons or whatever and she didn’t like that as an eighteen year old.”

“I’m sure no one let alone a now grown woman would want that.” She adds and you nod in agreement watching her pick up a card from the pile making you smile knowing she only used to color to get you more cards.

“Anyways, she runs away and he goes crazy.” You start again as she pours more of the alcohol into both of your cups. “He’s looking everywhere and anywhere for her, sending out missing people things and just trying to find her. He’s obviously pissed that he still can’t find her after a few years and I guess he never stopped.” You finish placing down three of the same cards.

“I know that now, after today and shit. But it’s still so fucked up to think about and be apart of, you know.” She chuckles at how much you seem to be talking now, a cussing a lot more too.

This is what she wanted, you to open up to her more but to be told a family ‘lore’ story while intoxicated was a level Jenna didn’t think she’d be taking just yet, not that she minded.

She the more open you though, you talked a lot and she liked it when you talked; not that she’d ever admit that to anyone.

“That really is weird.” She states and you nod, agreeing with her. “Like, can’t he have any more kids? I mean, sure it’s fucked up to have more kids to do the same thing to but to hunt down the same one for so long is just straight up crazy.” She continues and you only continue nodding more.

“Exactly! And it doesn’t even feel like he has limits, he was willing to buy her from my father to get her back.” You say leaning forward to emphasize your next words. “Buy her, can you believe it? Like what?”

She giggled as you continue to ramble, usually she was the one talking a lot but she forced herself to be quiet in order to listen to you speak. She was only just tipsy after all.

What’s a little more going to hurt?

————

Jenna’s giggles reach your ears as you lean your head against the window, feeling her lean against you with all her weight.

“And he tried to say it was the chair!” She calls out, laughing harder at her own story than you. Your roles now switched, you being tired and her suddenly full of energy was definitely a sight to see.

After a moment she calms down, face in your chest as she takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “You smell nice,” she mumbles and you smile wobbly.

“Thank you, I put on my expensive perfume.” You say with a smile looking back at the after noon before where you had been so worried about if you stunk or looked good. Those thought now long gone with Jenna’s non-stop drunk compliments.

“No, I think you have some kind of natural musk.” She says, grabbing a fistful of your shirt to take another breath. “Musk?” You ask offendedly.

“I am not a man.” You grumble, the thought only making you angry because a lot of the men you’ve met in New York specifically on the train have stunk horribly of sweat and god knows what else.

She groans out dramatically, clearly annoyed with you comment. “That’s not what I meant, I just don’t know the word.” The car suddenly comes to a stop smacking you look out to see your apartment building with three men standing outside.

You sigh out before looking down to Jenna who was looking up at you through her eye lashes, inches away from you as your breath caught in your throat. If she could look anymore stunning, you were sure you’d simply be dead and in your own personal after life.

She’s close enough to feel her breath fan over your skin which sends goose bumps all over your body. You didn’t know how to react or what to do now, you were just kind of… stuck in this position.

You stare into her eyes for another moment, two more as she moves a little closer.

You hold your breath before a hiccup comes from her which makes her back up slightly putting a little space between the two of you and feel the relief of air flowing through your lungs.

“Shit…” she mumbles making you laugh quietly before opening the door and stepping out much to her disappointment.

“I had a good time hanging out with you,” you say, giggling to yourself as you hold yourself up using the car. “I hope we can do it again.” You finishes watching her sway slightly while nodding.

You give her a smile before shutting the door and stepping back to watch the car drive off slowly allowing you to watch it from where you stood before turning to the stairs where your neighbors stood.

“What are you guys still doing awake?” You mumble as you reach out for the closest one who quickly grabs you.

“No, what are you doing out so late, pequeño dama?” He asks as he begins walking you up the stairs. “You know Rosa doesn’t like you out so late.”

“But I was with a pretty girlll…” you drag out as he pulls you inside. “And she almost kissed me, the stupid hiccup!” You yell out and the others behind him laugh as Rosa comes out of her apartment.

“What we’re you thinking?” She says as she grabs for you, searching for anything that was out of place other than your coat you accidentally left in the car. “I was thinking I wanted to kiss her.” You slur as the woman drags you into your apartment.

She places you on your bed and you giggle at the sudden bounce you felt before feeling your phone buzz.

You pick it up before a smile graces you face with the sight of Jenna’s Instagram profile saying she now followed you on Instagram.

You clicked the notification before following her back unbeknownst the smile that sat on her face in her car.