#but I tried to put the artists that sang it originally so :( haha

[takkforaltijd]

"I really had no idea what to expect from this evening" 2/2

Okay here's part two. A few things beforehand, did you know that Lucas is actually attending a Waldorf school in skamnl! Namely the St-Gregorius College in Utrecht! So I put this into the story. I also have no idea what the translation of "borrelnootje" is. It is a peanut with a kind of crispy layer around it. Here a picture haha. So I just called it crispy nuts.

Jens is home alone the weekend and has asked Lucas if he would like to come. Friday has arrived and the two have not talked about it. Jens sends a message if Lucas still wants to come over.

Also an evening with cards, drinks, good conversations and a first kiss. ———————————————————————

Jens zipped up his jacket and went to the front door. He felt in the pocket of his jacket for his bicycle key, but he was not in it.

"Fuck where's my key," Jens thought. He ran to his bedroom and looked at his desk. The key was not there. He looked quickly through his room, but he was nowhere to be seen.

He hurried to the kitchen, almost falling down the stairs on the way. Had he thrown it there when he got home? The key was not on the kitchen table, nor on the counter.

"You've got to be kidding me" the boy thought. He even checked the pantry to see if he had left it there, but the key was nowhere to be seen.

Jens's last hope was that he hadn't locked his bike at all. Then it was praying that he was still there.

"My god I'm such a idiot" Jens thought when he saw his bike with the key in the lock. How long had this taken? Almost five minutes?! Jens jumped on the bike towards the harbor. Why was he so extremely chaotic? He just couldn’t come on time.

...

When he arrived at the harbor, Lucas was already there.

"Sorry I lost my key. I really went all over the house to find it, but apparently my bike was not locked at all…” Jens said a bit breathless from cycling.

Lucas could only laugh. "I think this can really only happen to you"

Lucas might be right about that, Jens thought. "I am the absolute master of chaotic people," Jens said back with raised eyebrows and a cheeky smile.

The boys got on their bikes and headed for his house.

...

“We'll put the bike in the back, that's easier” the boys cycled through a narrow alley and not much later they were behind Jens's house.

"Well, here I live." The boys parked their bikes and walked in. Jens took off his shoes and hung his coat on the overfull coat rack. He saw Lucas look with a look that said, "there is no possibility that my jacket will go with this too without it collapsing." "Uh just hang it over something."

The boys went to the kitchen. "Do you want something to drink?" Jens asked with his head already in the fridge. "Yes please" he answered. "Uh we have juice, coke ... I don't know what you like?"

Jens didn't get an answer, so he looked around and what he feared earlier today was reality. Lucas was looking extensively at the old pictures on the wall.

“Uh yes old pictures are hanging everywhere in the house. Nice and embarrassing.” Jens said with a flushed cheeks.

"No this is amazing!" Lucas said enthusiastically. "Isn't this you?" he pointed to an old school photo, about nine years old Jens was there. Jens nodded. "And this? Is that your sister?”

"Yes, that's Lotte, she's only eight, by the way, which also explains the drawings on the fridge," Jens said while he closed the fridge. "Is Coke good?" and Lucas nodded.

"You said eight years, this really isn’t bad," said Lucas with admiration. "I couldn't do this when I was eight!"

"Do you draw then?" Jens aked. “Yes, I have always attended a Waldorf school in the Netherlands. So, there was always a lot of room for creativity. My mother thought that was important for my development. That's why started painting and drawing I think.” Lucas said almost shyly.

"So not just the skater boy I've seen so far," Jens joked.

"No not just a skater boy"

The boys sat down at the kitchen table with their drinks. "And you? Are you also doing something creative or are you really just the skater boy I've seen so far?” Lucas asked with genuine interest and a slight grin on his face.

"I play the guitar, but I don't think I can get much further than that," Jens replied.

"I should hear that one time," said Lucas with a smile on his face. "Only if I get to see your drawings" Jens said back teasingly "at least if that's not too personal" he quickly added realizing how personal art could be. But Lucas agreed. "Next time, then," the blond boy said.

Next time, Jens thought. That sounds good.

The boys' small talk went on for a while until Jens asked if Lucas would like to have another drink.

"a beer?" Jens asked. And Lucas replied as if he had never heard anything better. Jens took two bottles of beer from the fridge and put them on the table. He also took a deck of cards.

"Can you play cards?" he asked. To which Lucas replied with a provocative tone "and if I can play cards" and the boys both laughed at it.

...

A few games of cards and two beers later Jens gave up “how is this possible, people never want to play cards with me because I always win, and you just finished me like it was nothing”

"Oh… has Lucas destroyed jens his little ego," said Lucas in a teasing voice and half a pout. Both boys couldn't stop laughing.

Lucas took some more crispy nuts and put them in his mouth. "Do you know what my party trick is?" he asked. Jens shook his head. "I can float crispy nuts in the air," he said through his laughter. Jens had no idea what to imagine. "I must see that!" Lucas tried to back out of it, but Jens was steadfast. He had to see this.

"Okay, but then I have to lie flat." And not much later, the boys had moved into the living room with the bag of crispy nuts.

Jens looked wide-eyed at Lucas. "Dude how?!" he said in surprise. "I have to be able to do this, it is brilliant." So not much later Jens himself was on the couch.

"Okay, you need a round nut that isn't too big." So Jens picked up a round crispy nut. "Then you put it on your lips" Jens followed the instructions of a slightly tipsy Lucas. "And then you have to blow gently." Jens tried but failed very hard. He tried a few more times but failed really hard.

"How do you do this, it is impossible," said Jens, almost irritated. "You should blow softer," said Lucas. Jens had to be able to do it "even softer, that really is impossible!". Both boys burst out laughing at Jens's frustration. “You know what, I give up. You already destroyed my ego while playing cards” and Jens sat up straight on the couch. Lucas dropped down next to him and said with a grin “sorry…” “ah stop it” Jens said back.

"should I put some music on?" Jens asked, already getting up. Lucas nodded. “What should I put on. I really have no idea what the Dutch are listening to.” Jens said teasingly. "you can decide I listen to almost everything thanks to my friends in the Netherlands." Lucas replied. "Everything?" Jens asked in a provocative tone. Lucas put his hands over his head "oh god what have I started."

Little boy You are in this world so you will have to fight just like me I can know Life is not easy There is adversity at any time (translated from dutch)

Jens looked at a Lucas who sang this song with one hand on his hard. "The Dutch really like their Hazes or not," said Jens, laughing. "Who doesn't love Hazes." Lucas supposedly said back offended. "You are a real Dutchman," Jens said, shaking his head. "But Hazes is okay…. I think," Jens admitted. "okay?" Lucas said, his hands on his hard. "It's always time for Hazes!" and Jens didn’t dare go against it.

"But what do you really listen to, as in everyday life." Jens asked. "Uh that differs a lot, but I think artists like The 1975 or Bon Iver are chill", said Lucas. "I don't know Bon Iver," Jens admitted.

Lucas got up and took the phone from Jens's hand. "I'm sure you know this number."

Come on skinny love just last the year Pour a little salt we were never here My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer

"Isn't that Birdy her song?" Jens asked. Lucas looked at Jens and sarcastically said “ouch”. "No Birdy covered this. I think the original is better though.” And Jens joined Lucas's opinion.

Lucas returned the phone to Jens and plopped down on the sofa. Jens scrolled through the list Lucas had put on. "I'll keep this on," said Jens and sat down next to Lucas. Closer than he actually intended. The boys' shoulders touched.

If Lucas does not think this is chill then he will move to the side, Jens thought, but Lucas did not move.

A few songs passed and the conversation got back on track. "But why did you actually come to Antwerp?" Jens asked. Lucas took a deep breath which made boys touch each other even more. "Uh, it's quite complicated," said Lucas. Jens immediately felt guilty about the question. "You don't have to tell if you don't want to"

Lucas nodded, but opened his mouth searching for words. “No it's okay, I lived in Utrecht with my mother, but she is uh… bipolar. I don't know if you know what that is” Jens looked at Lucas and nodded “Yes I do. Sander, Robbe's boyfriend is bipolar ”Lucas nodded and looked for words to go on. “The three of us have decided that it is better for me not to live with her for a while, so now I am here with my father in Antwerp”

"Do you think you're going back to the Netherlands?" Jens secretly hoped not.

"Not any time soon. At least I want to finish my school here.” Lucas took a deep breath “it's just difficult, because my whole life is in the Netherlands. My friends, basically just everything.”

Jens understood Lucas exactly. The boy he has only known since this school year has just opened up here. Maybe it was good for him too.

"I think I understand you," Jens said cautiously. “When my father lost his job, we had to choose between living smaller here in Antwerp or leaving the city… I don't know how I would have managed leaving the city. Without Robbe. ”

"I really miss Kes and Isa very much" said Lucas "never thought I would even miss Jayden as much as I do" and the Boy laughed. "But I immediately felt accepted here." A smile appeared on Jens's face. "You, the boys and the girls were there for me from day one."

Silence fell between the boys. Not an awkward silence, it was a silence that said more than all the words spoken that night.

Jens knew that the feelings for Lucas were more than friendly. He had never felt this fot a boy before. He had never ruled it out, but it was still scary.

Jens felt Lucas's gaze on him, and his whole body heated. Kissing the boy, that's what he wanted all night. But Jens was afraid it would ruin their friendship.

Jens turned his head to Lucas's. Lucas's eyes fixed on his lips.

Without thinking, Jens closed the space between him and Lucas. His lips found Lucas's and Lucas kissed him back.

It was a small cautious kiss, and Jens pulled back gently.

"Uh ... sorry"

"You don't have to apologize," said Lucas with a smile. "If I hadn't wanted it, I wouldn't have kissed you back."

Jens's body simply stopped functioning, so all he could do was nod yes. He opened his mouth searching for words "it's just uh ... I’ve never done that before." He didn't even dare to look at Lucas.

"You are not my first boy." Lucas replied. That made Jens look up "as in ..." Jens started

Lucas finished "Gay".

A short pause followed, until Jens asked, "How did you know you're gay?"

"I am simply not attracted to girls, it just doesn’t work for me" Lucas replied.

"I never knew I could be attracted to boys," Jens said.

“That's okay, right? And that you kissed me doesn't make you gay” Lucas said “you don't have to put a label on yourself just because you kissed a boy.”

"No, I know, but at least I'm not straight." Jens Huffed. And both boys laughed.

"There is much more than gay and straight you know, you just have to discover it." Lucas said. And he was right.

...

"My god it's already half past two," said Lucas. "If I want to keep my father on my side, I really have to go home soon."

"I will cycle with you, because I don't think you really paid attention to how to get back to the harbor." Jens laughed. And Lucas admitted he had no idea how to go back home.

The boys put on their coats and shoes and walked over to the bikes.

"Do you have your key this time?" Lucas joked. And Jens nudged him.

...

Fifteen minutes later they stood in front of a modern apartment complex.

“Thanks for riding along!” Lucas said “next time at my place?”

That sounds good, Jens thought and agreed with the plan.

The boys hugged each other, and Lucas walked towards the door of the complex. Before he went in, he said "I really liked it tonight, would you send a message when you get home?"

Jens would do that. He took his earphones out of his pocket and put on Lucas's playlist.

Evergreens in a dream of an island town Draw a line in the sand and we'll smooth it down Will your side win, get to the middle Count them off one at a time And we'll try, to guess right

#van der stoffels #vds #jens stoffels #lucas van der heijden #lucas vdh #skam #skamnl #wtfock #wtfam

[honeykookheon]

[October 2019] Esquire Korea interview

~~~

Q: Do you like the photos taken for today? 🐶Y: Yes. First of all, the photographer is very talented. 🐰K: This is the second time we’ve shot with Mr. Kim Cham, he didn’t take care of himself while shooting.

Q: Initially, the pictorial that we thought of has more boyish feels. But how should we say this... 🐶Y: Aren’t we more manly?

Q: Hahaha. You’re right. Did it come out naturally, or did you want to express that kind of feel? 🐶Y: It was on purpose. 🐰K: He’s just kidding. (laughs) Rather than how we’ve done, I think they have prepared it all for us.

Q: There’s a difference in the feel between you two. We watched the video of “Highlight Compilation” made by the fans, we’re sure that it’s a video edit focused on Kookheon-ssi, but only Yuvin-ssi kept talking. Kookheon-ssi has only his ears on.. 🐰K: Because I’m the type who listen... 🐶Y: Kookheon hyung is a bit shy. He still doesn’t know how to put down his confidence. It’s a part that he needs to develop in the future.

Q: We’ve heard there’s this saying, “there’s Kim Kookheon who everyone doesn’t know and only I know.” Can you give us a hint? 🐶Y: He takes care of himself, originally he has a side. 🐰K: There’s a bit of a ‘crazy’ side. 🐶Y: But I don’t think he has much left. Sooner or later he will put it all down and reveal himself.

Q: There’s this comment in Produce X 101 video. “At that time I didn’t know these two were gag characters.” There seems to be a difference in the public image and the image that the fans feel for you two. Our first impression of the two was “neat and hardworking youths”. 🐰K: We didn’t intend to do it. Our fans have been watching us for so long, so we can be comfortable. That’s why we just showed our usual self. 🐶Y: But when we’re serious, then we’re really serious. (laughs) I think the image in the fans eyes are more accurate.

Q: The new song ‘Blurry’ is about the fans, right? 🐰K: It’s like a song dedicated to fans who have recognized us from Myteen activities and Produce X 101. This is the lyrics: “I still don’t know you yet, I’m a bit clumsy, but I know it’s going to be forever.” It’s got a message that we don’t want our relationship to end here and we want to keep going. 🐶Y: Since the first time I heard it, I really like the song, the melody and the lyrics. The recording was finished fast and the progress was advancing rapidly.

Q: It seems like Yuvin-ssi really likes singing. Today he kept humming whenever he had the chance. 🐰K: I know right. I’d like it if he at least doesn’t sing at 4 AM. Even when we’re in the same place in the airplane, he needs to control himself. 🐶Y: To become a good artist, you need to polish [your skill] everywhere.

Q: Haha. But it seems like the [airplane] cabin will be a problem. 🐰K: He’s not aware of himself well. It’s like a habit. I understand, but there’s something that makes me nervous. ‘Ah, at this rate I wonder if anyone’s going to say something.’ 🐶Y: I will be careful.

Q: Kookheon-ssi is not only good at singing, but also at everything. There’s a part in ‘Blurry’ where you sing and rap. 🐰K: I want to show that I don’t restrict myself. So I tried various kinds of performances on Produce X 101. I did hip hop based performance, I sang, and I also did dance-oriented stage. Rather than having one strength that stands out, I aim to be an ‘all rounder’.

Q: Then what do you think about each other’s vocals? A praise would be good, a tip would be good too. 🐶Y: It’s relaxing to listen to Kookheon hyung’s voice because he has a steady distribution between his breath and voice. He’s so quick in progressing and once I listen to the song there are times I would think ‘as expected, hyung is the hyung.’ Anyway, are’t we going to rival schools? From that standpoint, I’m going to give you a cold shoulder. We’re in the same class year, but Kookheon hyung took a gap year... 🐰K: That’s why you’re more great? Wah, this friend really. (laughs) Anyway, I think it’s great that Yuvin has a voice that doesn’t waver. Out of 10 days I think he can sing in the same condition for 9 days top. 🐶Y: I think I have more stories to tell about Kookheon hyung. I’ll tell you what, he’s a great friend who still have this much skills even though he’s on active duty, that’s what I think.

Q: We haven’t heard that Kookheon-ssi’s story. We could catch him that we almost passed it. 🐰K: Sigh, just put it like that on the interview. I think that’s what you want. (laughs)

Q: What do you think about each other’s dance? 🐶Y: There are no words needed for Kookheon hyung’s dance. Produce X 101 trainer Teacher Choi Youngjoon even said “You [Kookheon] can just join our team and become a dancer.” It’s powerful above anything else. Rather than expressing power, he’s expressing the sense of relaxation. It’s like a stone block. It’s heavy, but it’s pretty. 🐰K: Yuvin’s dance... actually when I first saw him I didn’t think there was a solution. ‘Wah, will there come a day when he will be a good dancer?’ But in Produce X 101 he practiced dancing all day long and he really improved. In the past, out of the 10 moves he did, 6 moves stuck out like a sore thumb, but now only one or two? He used to be a vocalist, but now he’s really an idol.

[translated by © itsyuvin]

#kim kookheon #kookheon #song yuvin #yuvin #김국헌 #송유빈 #interview #esquire korea

[missoneminute]

Evening with Carlos as requested - with some extra bits added as promised. 

Long post. This is being posted as a personal post. Do not reblog. After cut. 

Right at this point the shows are a blur but will write up some recollections on the plane home cos I know all y’all wanna know is about Carlos ha. So, myself and two lovely girls I met in Sydney, saw in Melbourne and tagged along with in Brisbane, went to Gary’s DJ set after the show. I spotted Carl at the doorway of the backstage area and the girls went down to say goodnight. Carl invited them in and they came and grabbed me to follow them and the door slammed and suddenly I’m standing on the balcony of the pub in the private artist’s area. Bit of a down the rabbit hole moment. Carl was in the doorway and I said “Hello again!” And he said a genuinely warm, “Heyyy! Hello you” and gave me a big hug because he’s the greatest.

Then we were just standing out there smoking with him, drinking his bloody complimentary Kraken. Was doing his brilliant Aussie accent again which I complimented him on. He started up on Neighbours again and I told him there was a video of his conspiracy theory rant and he said a quite genuine, “Is it embarrassing?” I said no it’s really entertaining. He asked two more times over the course of the night if it was embarrassing, and kept being assured it was not ha. I said he just said “Mrs Mangle” a lot and he said “yes! Mrs Mangle!” So glad I heard that in person. He declined to see the video ha.

He also likes Home and Away and was interested in my stories of being an extra on that show as a teen ha. He showed us on his phone a personal video message sent to him by the actress who played Sally that was organised for him because he’s a Home and Away fan. His phone was smaaashed. I asked if she liked the band and he said “No she hates us”. Which was funny.

He also rather enjoyed Scott and Charlene’s wedding from Neighbours and I was treated to him belting out a bit of the Angry Anderson song “Suddenly” (that was played during their wedding episode) in my face ha. He says he no longer watches Neighbours and the new episodes are crap.

I asked about the album and hotel, and he said they’re recording in about a month and should have a show at Albion rooms August or September but it’s likely the surprise show variety. We asked about how he liked Australia and he said he loved it, liked Melbourne best, but missed his kids and was keen to go home. He dug a bunch of picks out of his pocket and gave me one of his and two of Peter’s.

One of the girls said she loved Pete and he said “I love Pete too” which was lovely. She also said she was worried about Peter and Carl said, “Why does no one worry about me!” I said, “I did between 2004 and about 2007 if it makes you feel any better” and he said, “I’ll take it!”

Honestly can’t recall much else we all spoke about but then it was time to go and one of the girls asked if we could come along and Gary said it was fine with him so we just loaded into their van. It was pretty surreal just crossing the bridge with the warm breeze coming in the windows and Carl sitting in front of us talking about how Charlie Chaplain’s Smile was the best song ever written. One of the girls said CSMN was her second favourite Libs song and he asked, “What’s your second favourite soup?”

As we got out of the van he started taking about the Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan duet “Especially for you” also from Neighbours haha and sang a bit of the chorus as he pulled the chairs down in the van for us to climb out of the back.

Then we arrived at the hotel which was on the water, amazing view of a massive Ferris wheel, and suddenly strolling through the lobby behind Carl (what is life) and went up to Gary’s room. Such an amazing view over the river which Carl was envious of heh. Sat out on the balcony, Gary got drinks for us all, and just … chatted. Typical end of night stuff.

Carl was saying John has this game running where he tries to come up with really creative names for wanking, like “skinning a sausage” and whatnot. He also said that John used to be … quite the ladies man but he certainly didn’t put it as tamely as that haha. Gary had music on and Can’t Stand Me Now came on his mix and he was kind of flustered that he had it on there ha.

We ended up talking about #metoo and both Carl and Gary had thoughts on it. It became this discussion about feminism and what it’s become these days and the ramifications of that. That went on a bit and it was really cool to have that talk with them. There was a fair bit of talk about America and racism and Trump as well. Then Carl did this joke which went, “The Canberra national library burned down. Two books were destroyed. One of them was a colouring book”. No one got it so he did it again this time in an accent and still it took us a while haha, amazing.

Earlier one of the girls asked me what I do for a job and I said I edit this quasi feminist website and Carl said, “Is it Gusher?” Haha. He also complained (twice) that Peter’s dogs have run of the hotel and were pooping everywhere. He has a sore arm from playing he said and was rubbing it a bunch. He was worried he’d done a bad job on Can’t Stand Me Now (he didn’t) and said he feels like he’s trying to be cool and collected on stage but turns into Mr Bean, ha. He compared himself to Mr Bean multiple times. Also not true.

I told him about the Royal Albion seafront hotel in Brighton being the original Albion rooms and he said he didn’t know that but had stayed there in the 90s which is so cool. Carl also said he once made Russell Brand really mad because he put shaving foam in his hair haha. Other than that it was just chatter, I can’t recall much else! Honestly at that point me who never drinks was properly pissed.

Carl got super tried (he’d barely slept since Melbourne and missed his plane into Brisbane he said) and said he was off to bed, then gave us all a hug goodnight. We all cleared out after a chat to Gary. He was so lovely and said he never calls us fans, it’s friends of the band, and it means a lot to them to see the same people at shows all the time then gave us all a hug.

We left as the sun was rising and that was that and it was just, a super great way to end such an incredible week. Of course I was kicking myself for the 80 things I wanted to ask but you never do in the moment do you. But those two are some of the best humans on earth.

As promised, a few extra Carl things from Brisbane:

The lovely lass who was with me that evening reminded me that at the hotel, Carl mentioned he’d like to get Dirty Pretty Things back together for a tour, this year possibly. I was out of earshot getting a sneaky photo during this exchange!

Peter’s diaries came up on the balcony and I said I found them at times indecipherable to read. Carl said, “They’re a bit... yeah” and trailed off and made a slightly strained face. No idea why, but it was amusing and interesting.

Also on the balcony, we briefly discussed Carl’s book. He said he’d genuinely sat down and written it on his own. We all encouraged him to write more, but he said he struggles with procrastinating. Then the subject of the stories he’d told about Peter in his book came up, and he said, “I was very bloody kind to him!” and he laughed in a very bemused fashion, eyes all sparkly. 

At one point one of the lovely girls with me said she used to worry a lot about Peter. “You did!” he answered implying he worried more. This led into the complaint that no one worries about him, naw, that I mentioned earlier. 

I’ll make quick mention of something I won’t go into detail on, but when the issue of our various mental health quirks came up, Carl did say some very candid and honest things about his own mental health, and how he deals with it in various ways, which was a very cool thing for him to share. 

At the hotel, the lovely lass who was with me reminded me that Carl had said Russell Brand’s mind moves “a million miles an hour” and he related to that because his does too.

That led me to recall that Carl made colourful mention of the large bosoms attached to Russell’s then-girlfriend.

Carl also said John’s wife handles all his social media. “You’ll never get to John” he said, and both he and Gary laughed heartily.

I didn’t initially mention this but Carl went to bed after looking at his phone and saying, “My missus is livid” haha and he scooted off post haste. He was slumping down in his chair getting progressively more exhausted at that point.

Bonus round: The lovely lass with me that night reminded me that Gary called the playlist which included Can’t Stand Me Now his “SOS playlist of shame”.

#personal

[lovrodney]

Never a Dull Night - Jay Park

This is for  BigbangVIP94!

Request:  Well, I would love for them to be best friends (Both of them are known) they work at aomg but everybody knows they should go out together because the way they look at each other or stuff tells more than that, so Simon and the others tease them all the time :") after that they go to the club and somebody wants to dance with her so he takes her hands and he steals her and stuff..XD angst starts and then jay follows them idk but he kicks his ass. ALL the teasing of their mates makes them embarrassed but secretly like it . (Simon knows about their feelings both), and she is so beautiful that they ask him how he doesn't fall for her seeing how close they are, and seeing that he knows her from Seattle!... Of course Jay! Haha. And I would love for Gray and Simon to be the main Teasing asses (sorry haha) Can I add up some stuff to it, it kinda just fell in my head rn, I would want them to be shocked while handling a french business with perfect french.. then they tease jay about him missing the perfect woman hahaha  I would want them to end up with each other, can her name be Lea? Or Naya?

Naya and Jay should totally go out! They would be suuuuuuuch a cute couple!

Have you seen Naya and Jay lately?! They just need to get together already!

Nomination for the couple that needs to happen: Jay Park and Naya

Did you see that way that Jay looks at Naya?!?! It makes my heart melt! I wish a guy could look at me like that…

Jay + Naya = Jaya

Comments like these continued to roll in on social media from your last public stage with the AOMG artists. Scrolling through your phone, you couldn’t help but smile seeing all of the scenarios and thoughts that different people had on the topic. Tapping on the picture that they were all commenting on, you zoomed in to find you and Jay. With Jay standing behind you, his eyes lovingly lingering on you while you stood in front of him completely oblivious to the secret admirer. Saving the picture to your phone, curling a smile onto your lips, a text message showed up on the top notification bar of your phone.

Are you doing anything later? - Jay

Your lips pulled back further to show your teeth hidden behind your pink lips. Tapping your calendar app on your phone, you found the date and looked through all of the events and tasks that you had completed for the day. Upon further investigation of your schedule you discovered the rare event that you had the evening completely free.

Nope! It’s a miracle! Replying to Jay, you went back to read a few more comments before another text rolled in.

Gray, Simon and I are heading out to a club, would you like to tag along? - Jay

That would be great!

Can I come and get you in a half an hour?- Jay

That’d be perfect!!!

Rising from your spot on the couch, you slipped your phone into your back pocket while you made your way to your bedroom to change.

--

“So… what did she say?!” Gray questioned, seeing a smile set on Jay’s face

“Looks like it isn’t just us tonight” Jay lifted his eyes from his phone to see Gray and Simon both give a nod of approval.

“You should probably get ready, Romeo” Simon nudged Jay’s shoulder while Jay’s grew with an increasing tint of red.

“Yeah we are leaving in thirty minutes” Gray added as Jay shook his head, trying to shake the smile that tried to spread onto his lips.

“Alright, just don’t leave without me” Jay rose from the couch, slipping his phone into his right front pocket of his jeans while he climbed over the long limbs of his friends.

“Well we might, if you don’t hurry” Gray called after Jay, his eyes following Jay to his room before the door blocked off all vision he had of Jay.

Thumbing through the clothes in his closet, he settled on a simple yet classy look. Lifting his eyes from the grey toes of his socks, blue jeans fit his legs perfectly while the bottom hem of his white t shirt brushed over the top of his pockets. A grey plaid shirt infused with just the right amount of blue covered most of the white t shirt underneath. Taking in a deep breath, he lifted his hand and ran his fingers through his hair as he let his eyes wander over his outfit.

“Well this is as good as it gets” He sighed in hope that it would be enough to impress you.

“Yo, are you coming?” Simon knocked on Jay’s door.

“Yeah, I’ll be right out” Jay glaced at his reflection once more. Slipping his feet into a pair of black skater shoes, he trotted out of his room trying to catch up with the other two heading out of the front door.

Grabbing the keys to his car, he made sure his wallet was in his back pocket before closing the front door behind him. Jogging out to his car, he watched his two roommates roll out of the parking lot. Waving to the two of them, he slipped behind the wheel and started his car to come and pick you up.

--

Pacing in front of the door, your heels clicked against the hardwood while your arms folded across your stomach. Thoughts raced through your mind one by one, before they eventually morphed into one.

A knock on the front door caused all of your wandering thoughts to vanish instantly. Snapping your head in the direction of the door, you slowly made your way over to the door. Peeking through the peephole, you saw Jay standing outside as his hands rubbed against the side of his jeans in a nervous manner. Flipping the locks on your door, you pulled open the door with ease as you greeted Jay with a smile.

Lifting his eyes from the tops of his shoes, he saw the cute black heels matching a beautiful black dress that hugged all of your curves with ease. A worn jean jacket covered your exposed arms as black straps from your dress crossed in front of your neck in a halter neck like fashion. Your hair was lightly curled and pulled back slightly.

“Hi Jay” You cooed sweetly taking in the handsome figure in front of you.

“Hi ______, it’s so nice to see you” Jay’s eyes met with yours as you couldn’t help but feel your heart leap slightly with the eye contact.

“So nice to see you as well, it really has been too long” You smiled as he chuckled nodding in agreement.

“You saw me the other day” Jay stepped back as you exited your apartment and closed the door behind you.

“Still, that is far too long. Besides, do you remember the last time when we actually went out and did something fun together?” You questioned glancing over at him as he walked beside you.

“Maybe like a month or two ago?” Jay thought back, trying to remember the last time the two of you hung out outside of work. “It has been far too long.”

“It has been, but thank you for inviting me tonight” You stepped out of the lobby into the cool air of the night while Jay held open the door then walked beside you once more.

“Of course, I am just glad that the other two allowed it” Jay chuckled as he opened the passenger door for you.

“Do you need permission from your friends to actually see me?” You teased him, knowing Simon and Gray extremely well.

“Apparently I do” Jay winked at you as you eased yourself into his passenger seat.

“You know you can grow up” You teased him with a smile, peering up at him.

“I just don’t want to leave Neverland, just yet” Closing the door, Jay’s words sang into the quiet cab before he slipped behind the wheel and turned the key hearing the sweet purr of the engine while his guages spun up before he was ready to drive.

“So does that make me Wendy?” You questioned, “You know, if you are Peter Pan… I kind of figured you as one of those Lost Boys.”

“Well If I am one of those Lost Boys then I have found my own Wendy, much prettier than the original” Jay glanced over at you showing you one of his classy smiles before pulling out of your parking lot and heading towards the city club.

Catching up with one another, the two of you picked up where the two of you had left off, not skipping a beat. With smiles, laughter and two hearts pounding happily with one another, Jay pulled into an empty parking spot as he twisted back his key, silencing his engine. Glancing over at you, you unbuckled yourself before turning your head to see Jay gazing at you.

“You know if you stare at something too long, you’ll break it” You teased, your eyes not leaving his once you caught his gaze.

“If this beautiful being breaks, I’ll just hug her tightly until she is put back together” Jay whispered as he allowed his eyes linger on yours for a moment longer before someone knocked on his window.

“You two coming or just going to waste time?” Gray teased seeing the two of you gazing endlessly into one another’s eyes.

“We’re coming” Jay called back as he opened his door to the two guys waiting outside.

“Didn’t want you two to get too comfortable with one another” Simon winked at Jay before he trotted around to the other side and opened your door for you.

“Thank you for the interruption” You teased Simon and Gray before rounding the car and standing next to Jay.

“Anytime! Now let’s go inside, they have been playing some great songs!” Gray wrapped his hand around your arm as he pulled you along.

“I’m coming” You trotted up next to him in your heels.

Entering into the dimly lit club, bright lights moved over the slightly smoky atmosphere while excitement began to pulse with the beat of the music.

“We should go to the bar first for a few drinks!” Gray suggested over the deafening music.

Simon nodded in agreement before Gray stepped down three stairs to the lowered floor. Slipping through the dense crowd, Simon followed Gray before you and Jay. Reaching the bar’s edge, Simon found a gap between the bystanders against the bar for the four of you. Gray pulled out a bar stool and sat with a content sigh while Simon followed soon after. Leaning up against the bullnose counter, Jay stood behind you as he leaned on his arm on the waterproof lacquered bar top.

“What can I get for you this evening?” A male bartender inquired as his hand worked a white towel around a small glass cradled in his other hand.

“Can I get a fireball” Gray ordered with a lift of his finger

“A Jagerbomb for me” Simon ordered his

“________, please” You rattled off your favorite alcoholic drink without a second thought

“Soju for me please” Jay was the last to order before the bartender turned away to fulfill the orders.

Gray spun on his bar stool for a moment before turning his gaze towards the dancing crowd and moving to the beat of the live DJ performing on the slightly raised stage that was against the back wall of the bar..

“Hey remember that time that you two got dared to dance on that table top at the company party?” Simon brought up the old memory from when they were trainees.

“We were dancing really well… but then someone just had to walk in and catch Jay’s eyes” Gray teased knowing very well that you were new to the company and just happened to walk past the table that Jay and Gray were dancing on.

“What can I say, I’m attracted to exotics” You tipped your head towards them earning an approved hum from each of the men around you.

“Here you are” The bartender arrived with the drinks and placed the correct drinks in front of you.

Once all of the drinks were placed in front of you, Gray and Simon lifted up their small shot glasses to the air. Lifting yours up with theirs, Jay joined knowing it was customary for those two to propose a toast before the night of fun commenced.

“To friendship, to another week of work, to surviving the past week” Simon offered up the toast this time as everyone cheered before clinking their glasses together.

Simon and Gray knocked down their shot in one gulp while you sipped yours and Jay took a small sip of his soju. Simon and Gray asked for a refill on their drinks as the conversations began to start up between the boys.

“Hey, we should go play darts, just like the old days” Simon suggested as Gray added his nod to try and convince Jay to do so.

Catching Jay’s head peer over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of your eyes, you lightly nodded letting him know that he should have some fun with the others. Allowing his gaze to linger on your beautiful, you could easily read the predicament lining his worried eyes. Nodding once more, you reassured him that you would be fine at the bar by yourself.

“I’m sure I’ll beat you both again” Jay pushed himself off of the bar leaving his half emptied glass by yours.

“What are the wagers?” Gray questioned as the rest of their conversation began to drown in the change of songs that played overhead while they distanced themselves from you with every step they took away from you.

Watching them from afar, you eased yourself down on a bar stool. Lifting your feet so that they rested on the pegs between the legs of the stool, you pressed your lips against the smooth glass while the alcoholic liquid lined your lips. Sipping small amounts of your drink, you began to nod your head, feeling the deep bass of the songs move you from within. Watching the wandering lights happily from afar, a sea of people stood on the dance floor, jumping up and down and moving and morphing together as if they all were one.

--

“You know you shouldn’t have left a pretty girl like her at the barn alone.” Simon pulled the darts off of the board nailed to the wall. Glancing over his shoulder, Simon checked up on you to make sure that you were safe for the time being.

“I’m not worried, she can hold her own” Jay confidently told them, without a look over his shoulder before he began to gather his black darts in his left hand, readying his right hand to throw.

“Are you sure about that?” Gray questioned as he pointed in your direction, watching intently as a man pushed his shoulder off of one of the columns around the bar, heading over in your direction. Gray’s eyes continued to stay glued to the strange man as he slowly approached you.

--

Keeping your attention on the moving crowd, you noticed a tall, burly man began to approach you. Once he reached the bar he eased himself down to lean on his left arm, his eyes were filled with an unwelcome fire while you continued to keep your eyes forward.

--

Watching the man’s lips move, a smoldering smile curling on his lips while his eyes wandered down to take a glimpse at any exposed skin of yours. The three guys watched you decline his whispered words,  lifting your drink up to your lips as you were careful not to set it down again in fear of him slipping something while you weren’t looking.

--

Watching the man smile a little more and straighten up, Gray, Simon and Jay watched nervously from afar as they knew his game all too well. The stranger pointed into the crowd as you turned your head towards him, pausing a moment, you looked back at the crowd before you nodded your head.

Jay moved away from darts, his full attention now on you as he headed back over to their drinks. Picking up his glass, his nervous fingers brushed against the smooth surface that held the cool liquid within. His dark chocolate eyes followed you as the stranger brought you over to the edge dance floor.

--

Heading to the dance floor, the pulse of the songs began to infect you the closer you got to the speakers. Hitting the wooden dance floor, the crowd morphed around you, accepting you as one of their own. Allowing yourself to move under your own control, you allowed your body express its emotions towards the pulsating music. Starting off reserved, you tested the stranger next to you along with the other club girls around you. Holding the majority of your attention on the stranger, you continued to watch him out of your peripheral vision. Without the stranger making any moves or advances towards you, you slowly allowed yourself to become less reserved with each song.

With every song, the strange man slowly closed the space between you and him, using his dancing as an excuse to move closer to you. The crowd began to push the two of you closer together along with everyone else on the dance floor, building anticipation for the climax of the song.

--

Simon and Gray moseyed over to join Jay at the bar as they whispered to one another in question as to what the stranger’s next move would be. Half joking, half seriously they ran through possible scenarios to try and figure out a game plan if needed. Observing the stranger, Jay caught the stranger’s eyes scanning you while his tongue lustfully brushed over his own lips, hands lightly rested on your hips, he began to move your hips for you. The strength of the stranger's hands increased as they rested on either side of your hips, the stranger began to slowly but surely increase the strength in his hands as he started to move without your own will, catching onto the stranger’s game your hands rested over his in an attempt to pry his lustful hold from you.

Releasing his hands from you, you turned around and looked at him his eyes were filled with a darkened tint hinting you to his possible thoughts that were running through his mind. An unsettling feeling began to grow in the pit of your stomach at just the sight of the dark tint in the stranger's eyes. Formulating a silent plan, you started to dance further and further away from him in an attempt to lose him in the crowd. Distancing yourself from him, you kept your eyes on him from time to time making sure that he didn’t make any more advances on you while you still tryed to enjoy your evening.

Not spotting him through a whole song then another, taking in a deep breath, you held it in for a few seconds allowing relief to cleanse you. With another song and no stranger in sight, you danced til the end of that song before a pair of hips pressed against yours from behind, a pair of hands clasped onto the front of your hips and pulled you back against him once more.

“That wasn’t very nice of you to ditch me during a dance, darling” The deep husky voice brushed across the shell of your ear, sending shivers up and down your spine instantly. Feeling increasingly uncomfortable with every passing second, you placed your hands over his and tried to pry his grasp from you again. However, the familiar stranger continued tightening his grip on you, holding you tighter against him.

“Please stop” You tried to call out over the music.

“I thought you wanted to dance. So we are dancing” The stranger smirked while his lips turned against your warm skin as he placed a soft kiss underneath your jawline.

“I don’t want to dance like this, please let go” You became more stern as your grip began to increase to try and pry him off of you. Without feeling any release from the stranger, you began to struggle against his strong arms that soon found themselves fully around your waist. With panic quickly filling your chest, your eyes began to search around for any familiar face around the bar.

Jay watched at you searched for a familiar face, the stress on the man’s arms tensed as Jay saw the toned arms tighten around you. Not being able to take it anymore, Jay left his glass on the bar top before making his way through the crowd to you.

--

“May I have a dance with this pretty lady?” Jay questioned testing out the stranger to see how he wanted to play.

“Go get your own, there are plenty at the bar” The man said as he turned you away from Jay, your eyes peeped over the large man’s shoulder as Jay rested his hand on the man’s shoulder, turning the man back around to face him, in another attempt to try and not make a scene but to still make his point.

“I don’t want just any lady, I want this lady” Jay began to get a little more forceful seeing the fear behind your eyes.

“Just one last dance and then you can have her for the rest of the evening” The man reasoned with Jay, trying to make him a deal, man to man.

Jay turned his eyes to yours making sure that you had a say in this as well, a prolonged blink of your eyes agreed to one last dance, Jay moved his eyes back to the stranger’s dark ones “One dance”

“Thanks man!” The man smiled as he grabbed your hand and pulled you into the thick crowd, leaving Jay on the edge of the dance floor, alone.

Jay eyes followed you through the crowd, knowing that this stranger was acting really sketchy and Jay was determined not to allow you to get hurt or worse. Continuing to follow the two of you with his eyes, the crowd grew increasingly thick with the passing time of the song. Moving further into the crowd, Jay begins to search for you once more, from corner to corner of the dance floor. Anxiety began to push adrenaline through his veins while he continue to search the entire dancefloor for you. Unable to find you at the end of another song, yet again, Jay trotted back over to Simon and Gray, he continued to look around in panic.

“I can’t find her…” Jay informed the other two with a slight panting breath

“What do you mean, you can’t find her?” Gray questioned as Gray and Simon’s heart began to pick up in alert.

“I allowed that guy to have one more dance with her, but… but now I can’t find her anywhere on the dance floor.” Jay continued to scan the place as he kneeled on top of the stool to get a higher vantage point. Quickly scanning the place, his eyes caught the back door close.

“Keep looking in here, I’ll see if they exited out the back” Jay quickly rambled off orders before dismounting the stool.

Rushing his way through the crowd, pushing past strangers while keeping his eyes on the back door. Approaching the door, Jay’s warm hand met with the cool metal as he  pushed open the galvanized steel door allowing the chilling night air to flood into the scorching club.

--

“Help! Help someone, please!” You voiced echoed quietly between the back alley. Your heels dragging on the asphalt below, taking chunks of fresh skin along with the material of the heels that outfitted your feet for the night.

Another man quickly grabbed your legs as the original stranger adjusted his hold on you, crossing your arms underneath your chest and holding you as if you were in a straight jacket. Continuing to fight against the two bulky men, you tried to move your legs as the second man, the driver, folded your legs in the same manner and pinned you tightly against yourself.

--

A familiar voice’s whispering echo snapped Jay’s head to the right. A shadow trailed over the corner of the brick building. Picking up his pace, Jay’s thundering footsteps covered your cries through the alley. A ivory car sat at the ready, towards the end of the alley, Watching the struggle ensue in front of him, Jay shuffled to a halt, hiding behind a dumpster when he witnessed two men push you into the back seat of that car forcefully.

--

Hitting the cloth interior, you moved your legs back underneath you before scooting over to the other side of the bench seat. Slipping your hand in the door handle of the car, you began to pull it back towards you in hopes that it would open. Pushing against the door slightly, the door stuck tightly in the frame, hitting your hand and the weight of your body against the door in desperation, the door didn’t budge.

“These car doors, don’t work like that sweetheart” The familiar stranger eased himself down next to you in the back seat. His hands tightly still clasping yours together.

Pulling something out of his back pocket, he wrapped a zip tie around your conjoined wrists before tightening the tie as tight as it would go around your hands.

“Ouch! That hurts!” You cried while trying to twist and slip your hands from the restraint.

“That is just the beginning, doll” The stranger lifted his hand around the back of the seat, pulling you against him as his arm encased you. “You wore the perfect outfit today too” The stranger’s soft husky tone and wondering eyes, made your skin crawl with discomfort. Keeping your eyes forwards, they filled with fury while you took in the car’s interior in trying to find another way to plot your escape. Closing the door behind the stranger beside you, the driver began to round the trunk of the car.

--

Taking a chance Jay crouched and began to make his approach. His legs moving faster and faster with his prey approaching. With the stranger in reach. Jay grabbed his collar and pulled the driver back and threw him to the ground. Kneeling over the driver, Jay unloaded his vengeful fists on the driver. Crimson liquid coated his busted lip, cheek and forehead before Jay lifted his eyes to see the other man still in the car with you. Adjusting his grip on the stranger, Jay lifted the driver up by his collar, the driver trying to see through his swollen, black eye.

“I’m the only one who can drive her around” Jay muttered in a protective tone to the driver before dropping the man against the asphalt below.

Crouching, Jay began to make his second approach, peering over the trunk of the car, he watched as the man used his other hand to try and turn your face towards him. Watching you struggle some more. Jay crawled around the hind end of the car before standing up and opening the door.

Reaching inside, Jay pulled the stranger outside of the car. The stranger began to pull you out of the car with him, ripping your dress with your efforts to resist his movements. Prying the man out from the car, Jay slammed the stranger against the passenger door while holding the stranger tightly at his shirt collar.

“That wasn’t one dance” Jay spoke with rage saturating every word.

“I was going to take her home and have a dance with her there” The stranger smirked, winking in the process knowing that another man would understand what kind of dance he was referring to.

“You’re a sick man, you know that?” Jay hissed.

Hearing Jay’s familiar voice, you began to make your way out of the car on your own will. Peering around, you saw Jay holding the stranger hostage while the other man was still passed out on the pavement.

“I’ll take what I can get” The stranger smiled. Jay lifted up his right hand and pressed a powerful punch into the stranger’s left cheek.

“Not if I have anything to say about it” Jay hissed as he watched the stranger smirk, earning the stranger another punch from Jay. You stepped out of the car and carefully took off your heels, leaving them next to the car’s tire.

“Run, ________” Jay calmly requested. Nodding your head, you began to take off with a running limp. Starting off behind Jay and the stranger. You rounded the corner before the driver began to wake from his passed out state.

“Get her, she went to the right!” The stranger ordered the driver. “Take the car!”

The driver quickly slipped behind the wheel of the car, starting the engine. Jay lifted the stranger from the car just to slam him back against the body of the car.

“Call him off from finding her” Jay demanded

“But I still want her” The stranger smirked as the car began to move out from under them.

“Over my dead body” Jay hissed

“That can be arranged” The stranger slyly smile before quickly grabbing Jay and used the movement of the car to throw Jay to the ground. Kneeling over Jay, the stranger quickly threw a few punches to Jay.

Taking a few of the punches, Jay blocked one of the punches before he flipped over and got the upper hand on the stranger. Throwing punches all over the stranger’s body, Gray and Simon opened the back door, stumbling upon the sight of Jay kneeling over the stranger and releasing all of his rage.

“Jay! Jay!” Gray and Simon rushed over to his rescue, with Gray on one side of Jay and Simon on the other, they each took an arm and began to pull their friend from the situation.

“The driver has her” Jay panted as he stood on his shaking legs.

“We will take care of him, do you know where she went?” Gray questioned as they saw a glimpse of the hand to hand combat that ensued due to the damage present on Jay’s face.

“Where are your keys, Simon?” Jay wiped his thumb against his bloodied lip, seeing just a glimpse of the damage done.

“What are you going to do?” Simon held out they keys to his Ducati road bike.

“Going to save the girl” Jay took off running around the corner to mount the white road bike. Starting the engine, Jay slipped on the matte black helmet, shifting the bike into gear quickly, Jay peered around, trying to see which way the you could have gone. Hearing horns honk and a large pile up of cars he took off in the direction.

--

The screaming of the car engine began to close on you, trying to advert the car, you headed down a side street. Squealing of tires skidded across the pavement before headlights highlighted your figure through the narrow side street. Meeting up with another street, cars began to swerve as you ran out into oncoming traffic. Looking over your shoulder, you didn’t see the curb in front of you, tripping and falling over the curb, the car in pursuit pulled up behind you as the driver exited the car with a laugh.

“You think you could get away that easily, huh?” The driver questioned as he happily made his way over to you before kneeling next to you. “What do you say we go for a little drive?”

Wrapping his hands around your arms, he helped you up and proceeded to throw you into the back seat. Your body hit the back seat, before the door closed behind you. The driver slid behind the steering wheel and shifted the car into gear. Glancing back at your figure sprawled out across the back seat, a smile curled against his lips before heading out into traffic once again.

--

Weaving in and out of traffic, Jay continued to move through the backed up traffic. Spotting a white car through his tinted visor, he revved the engine and took off recognizing the car’s make and model. Watching the white car for a mile or two, he watched it run stop lights and stop signs as he continued to maneuver the bike between innocent vehicles and bystanders.

The white car slowed for a second before the brake lights faded and the car sped through a large intersection. Horns blared as headlights approached the windows of the car. Intercepting the car’s path, a large delivery truck pushed the white car in a completely different direction than the driver was intending.

--

Feeling the car slide, time began to slow as shattered glass filled the cab of the car, the driver’s body contorted in different directions while the white air bags began to deploy. Hitting something else, the car came to an instant halt. Curling up in a ball with your arms around your head, white smoke from the engine rose slowly as the smells of fluids combining welcomed your eyes back open.

--

The horrific crash caused Jay to slow his bike and pull it beside the totalled car. With the delivery truck on one side and a traffic light post crunching the car beyond repair. Shutting off the engine, he removed his helmet before rushing to the back door.

“________! _____!” Jay called your name as his eyes searched through all of the damage to try and find you.

“Jay…” You called back, your body mangled on the crumpled floorboards of the car.

Hearing the small peep of your voice, Jay began to work the pinned door open. Looking around, he grabbed a piece of metal that looked like a crow bar. Prying the door open, the sound of metal crunching caused your eyes to finally open to blurry vision.

“Jay” You called again, hoping that he was there.

“Right here” Jay reached out as you blinked a few times until he came into view. The warmth of his touch once it brushed across your skin, caused relief to flood through your body. “Give me a minute and I’ll get you out of here”

Nodding your head gently, you felt a weight get lifted off of your body. Crawling into the mangled car, Jay quickly assessed the damage of your injuries.

“Do you think you can stand?” Jay questioned, his fingertips running across your forehead to push some hair away from your eyes. “Anything hurt?”

“My wrists hurt…” You whispered lifting them up as they were still conjoined with the zip tie, “My ankles hurt too, and my head…”

“That doesn’t sound too bad, I can patch you up back at home” Jay brushed the backs of his fingers down your cheek as you nodded and leaned into his warm, comforting touch.

Pulling out a knife from his pocket, he released your wrists from the zip tie before helping you move your body from the confines of the car, Jay lifted you out from the dislocated back bench and the wreckage. Allowing his arms to hold you upright, you moved your legs underneath you before slowly starting to add weight to them.

“How do they feel?” Jay questioned as he peered into your eyes, looking for any sign of pain or discomfort.

“Like jello” You giggled, trying to make light of the situation.

“Alright this is the last time we go to a bar that has jello shots, or you will be making jokes like this all night” Jay smiled as he knew that you couldn’t have been too hurt if you were joking with him.

Helping you over to his bike, he mounted first and then helped you behind him. Handing you his matte black helmet, he started his bike as the sound of sirens began to blare through the city between the skyscrapers. Leaning forward, you tighten your arms around him as he sped off towards his home. Feeling every breath you take and your heartbeat, he continued to focus on what he could feel of your vitals to make sure that nothing was going to happen on the transfer home.

Pulling into the parking lot, he slowed the Ducati and pulled it into the usual spot. Allowing you to dismount first, he wrapped his arm around you before he took the helmet and helped you inside. Punching in the combination code to enter his condo, the door opened with a happy chime before helping you inside.

Guiding you through the condo, he lead you back to his bedroom. Easing you down onto a blue duvet covered his bed, his hand guided your head down to grey pillows rested against the headboard. A sigh of relief spilt from your lips as your eyes closed due to the comfy bed and the safety of his home.

“I’ll be right back with a change of clothes” Jay whispered as you nodded in agreement. Hearing a door within the room open, you took in another deep breath allowing your body to relax from the night’s events.

Jay watched from his closet door as he pulled out his phone and tapped a three way conversation with Gray and Simon.

______ is at the condo with me. - Jay

Flipping through his clothes, he settled on a black tank top and a pair of grey boxers, thinking it would be comfy and easy to clean your wounds as well. Stepping out of his closet, his eyes fell on your exhausted body curled up against his duvet. Approaching the bed slowly, he eased himself down on the bed as you felt the bed dip to accommodate his weight. Your eyes opened from the added weight on the bed.

“You want to change or do you need some help?” Jay questioned as you sat up slightly.

“I think I can manage” You whispered as you attempted to push yourself upright.

“Call if you need anything, I will just be outside the door” Jay made sure that you sat up alright before he stood up from the bed and made his leave.

Dropping your eyes, you saw the small pile of clothes sitting next to your knee. A black tank top sat on top as the grey boxers rested underneath. Smiling towards the door, you carefully peeling your jean jacket from your sore arms. Lifting your torn dress over your head, you then began to slip on his boxers then pull the tank top down over your head. Leaning back, the cool air pouring in from his open window brushed against your exposed skin before he knocked.

“May I come in?” He questioned not wanting to intrude

“You may” You replied as your tired eyes opened to see him enter back into the room with a first aid kit.

Jay’s eyes instantly fell on you and your figure underneath his clothes, causing an instant smile to pull on his lips. “Looks like my clothes fit”

“Not to mention comfy too” You complimented as he took a seat on the bed.

“These will help with the pain, and swelling” Jay unfolded his left hand, revealing two capsules cradled in the palm of his hand. Nodding your head, you lifted your hand up, in an attempt to grab the pills, your hands began to shake then proceed to ache as you leaned back and closed your eyes.

“Open up then” Jay whispered, not wanting to strain yourself. Leaning back, you opened your mouth as he rested one capsule on your tongue. Grabbing the water glass from his bedside table, he angled the straw between your lips before you drank down the first capsule then the second.

“I’m just going to clean you up, just relax” Jay smiled as he saw your half lidded eyes already start to fall over your beautiful eyes.

“Thank you” You whispered before you closed your eyes once more.

Starting on your legs, he began to tend to the cuts and scrapes that littered your flawless skin. Humming to various songs quietly, Jay continued to work while you fell fast asleep. Placing bandages, wraps and ointment on all of your wounds, he wrapped your wrists from the invasive ties before working lovingly on the cuts on your face.

Once he was all done, he peered down at your sleeping figure. Feeling overwhelmed with loving emotion towards you, he hesitantly leaned towards you, taking a big step he pressed his soft lips against your forehead, leaving you a kiss laced with his full emotions for you. Pulling back from the kiss, he cleaned up the first aid kit before placing a light blanket over your figure. Keeping a lamp on next to the bedside, he entered into the bathroom and proceeded to clean up himself.

Once he was all patched up with a t shirt and basketball shorts outfitting his figure, he exited the room and shuffled into the kitchen to satisfy his grumbling stomach, Not long after he started making enough dinner for not only you and him, but for the other two as well; Gray and Simon walked through the door.

“What took you guys so long?” Jay questioned as he allowed the water to boil to ramen.

“Police reports take f o r e v e r…” Gray whined, dragging out the last word in that sentence.

“How is she?” Simon questioned seeing a soft light come from Jay’s room.

“She is gonna live, she has a few bruises, a headache and cuts but nothing to take her in over” Jay reasoned as he added the noodles into the boiling water joined with spices.

“Tell us what happened then!” Gray happily sat on one of the bar stools in the condo as Simon listened in to Jay recount what had happened after he took off on Simon’s bike. Nearing the end of the story, Jay served the ramen into four different bowls.

“I’ll go see if she is awake” Simon offered as he carefully shuffled over to Jay’s door. Pushing the door open slightly, Simon peered in to see your body peacefully sleeping on Jay’s bed still. Heading back into the kitchen, they left your bowl in the middle of the three guys just in case you woke up to the scent of food.

“You know you two would really be cute together” Grey commented lifting a bite of noodles to his lips.

“She is just so gorgeous, not to mention talented, sweet and kind too.” Simon added blowing off his noodles before guiding the bunch of noodles to his lips.

“She is just a friend” Jay tried to reason, finishing off his bite in his mouth.

“Yeeeaaaah suuuuuure” Grey sung with a convincing tone in his voice.

“She is” Jay defended giving both guys a stern look.

“If she was just a friend, why did you look at her that way in the picture the whole fandom is talking about?” Simon turned his phone around to show Jay the captured picture.

“She is just a friend” Jay tried to convince them once again.

“Why did you go after her and fight for her if she was just a friend?” Grey questioned beginning the interrogation.

“Because that is what you do for friends” Jay reasoned as the two guys just smiled and shook their heads knowing Jay better than that.

“She really does like you though, like she is smitten” Simon confesses, knowing your feelings towards Jay and Jay’s feelings for you.

“You just need to make the move” Grey added with a smile as Jay looked back over towards the door.

“She really is beautiful, I don’t know how you manage to not fall for her when you two are so close” Simon added

“On top of that, you two have a history! Don’t you remember, when you moved here from Seattle, you couldn’t stop talking about this girl?! Well now, here she is waiting for you to make the first move. She went into the music industry, joined the same company as you and moved halfway across the world just to be with you!” Grey reminded, “If that doesn’t say love, I don’t know what will.”

The room went silent just before a phone rung originating from your room. Picking up the call, you began to speak in french, flawless french while working out a business deal with one of your parent’s clients back home.

“Do you hear this?!?!” Grey strained his whisper, “She speaks french… beautifully…”

“If that isn’t hot to you, then I don’t know what is” Simon smirked causing Jay to blush profusely

“That woman is literally perfect, in every way” Grey ran his hand through his hair.

“Dude, you really should just wife her up” Simon expressed his voice of reason.

“I’ll think about it” Jay remarked a smile not leaving his face anytime soon.

“What is there to think about?!” The two men replied in unison as they followed Jay back to the room.

Pushing through the door without another word, you ended the call with a smile just before lifting your eyes to see Jay enter your room with a bowl of food cradled in his hand..

“I was wondering what was smelling so good” You smiled as you pushed yourself upright on the bed.

“You’re too kind” Jay blushed as the other two stayed at the door, peering in through the small gap between the door and the frame.

-  4 months later  -

“I knew he would get the girl” Simon whispered as Grey and him spied on you and Jay cuddling on the bed, fast asleep as the movie continued to play, seeing a matching set happy grins pulled on both pair of lips.

#lovrodney scenarios #jay park #kpop scenarios #jay park scenarios #lovrodney #kpop jay park #kpop #scenarios #adventure #action

[sequoiann]

❧ c.sc | bad fame

pairing; seventeen s.coups x reader

genre; angst, fluff, a bit of swearing?

synopsis; you knew it was going to be hard, but not to this extent. you never imagined that it would be even half as bad as it was now — the idol life. seungcheol is your senior under the same agency, and with your bubbling popularity in a bad light, he recognizes you as you two cross paths in the office building.

but he knows you aren’t what the media makes you seem to be.

word count; 2.8k 

notes; i’m so sorry that seungcheol wasn’t there from the very start of the scenario, but this one is much longer so the front is more of a build-up! this scenario is much longer than my usual ones so i hope you guys enjoy it !! i haven’t been posting bc i was working on this HAHA do let me know what you thinkk ;)

As soon as you stepped out of your hotel room, you hastily slipped on your grey mask and sunglasses, pulling your hood over your head as your hand clutched onto your luggage handle. The need to hide your face has gotten more and more prominent as days passed, and it almost became a habit for you to not show any facial features of yourself when you stepped out into public. Even though you knew no one was going to be in the hallways of the hotel room you stayed in, you still did it as a precaution.

Your stylist, Rachelle, came out after you, and used her fingers to comb through the odd strands of light brown hair poking out of your hoodie, smoothing them out and letting some flow naturally down past your shoulders, so you looked less like you just got out of bed. A small exhausted breath escapes your lips.

“It doesn’t really matter anymore, doesn’t it?” you said softly, head tilted downwards.

Rachelle furrows her brows and presses her lips together in disapproval. “Of course it does, love,” she coos gently, and you manage a small smile even though it’s not seen. “Don’t think like that.”

You assume she could see your smile through your slightly risen cheekbones, because she returned the smile reassuringly.

Your manager comes out of the room next to yours, and he grabs the heavier hand-carry luggage you were holding on.

“Let’s go, the car’s at the lobby. It’ll take us straight to the airport,” he mutters, walking ahead of you.

You mumble a quiet note of acknowledgment, glancing at Rachelle for a second before following close behind your manager.

The three of you took the lift downstairs, where your two other co-managers were already waiting. The two were often not with you; they were the ones who just settled admin matters.

You knew it was going to have to take more than just three people around you as you made your way to the car at the lobby area.

Just as you predicted, the second the lift doors opened, your were greeted with five (or were there six?) bodyguards who worked at the hotel, and they immediately formed a barrier around you.

Fans, or rather, a mix of anti-fans and fans, swarmed around you, but the staff around you made sure they couldn’t come in direct contact with you.

It is the agency’s responsibility to take care of the physical and mental well-being of their artists, they say. Of course.

Random words were thrown at you, and you couldn’t decipher much except for the usual “I love you”s and “Look over here”s. You politely bowed as you were slowly led towards where you were supposed to be.

A few hands reached past the guards and started flapping around, and some had hit you lightly, brushed past you, nothing serious.

Until someone throws a relatively heavy bag of something at you. You stumbled back in surprise, and you felt someone hold you to stop you from falling. Although there wasn’t exactly any space for you to actually fall to the floor — you were legitimately surrounded.

“Oops!” you heard someone call out, before snickers erupted from a group. The insincerity, sarcasm, and deliberateness were almost deafening. You felt bright flashes hitting past your sunglasses and onto your eyes. You blinked a few times, the repeatedly blinking lights blinding.

“Please put your cameras away and make way! We have a flight to catch!” one of your managers shouted over the loud chatters, and you felt yourself being nudged forward a little. You shook your head and quickened your footsteps.

After five long minutes, you finally get to your car, and you scramble to the back seat as your managers and stylist took the front ones. You thanked the guards before your manager closed the car door, and you leaned back onto your headrest, pulling off your mask so that you could breathe easier, and let your eyelids fall close.

Rachelle glances back at you, assuming you were asleep, then sighs softly.

“Shouldn’t we do something about those kinds of threats?” she asked your manager, her voice awfully soft. You could almost visualize him shrugging it off.

“What can we do? What’s happened has happened.”

You squeezed your eyes shut, as if it would block out your hearing at the same time — and was then driven to the airport; to head back to Seoul.

The minute you arrived at the airport, you checked in quickly so that you could avoid anyone who was finding trouble. You knew they’d come chasing sooner or later.

The plane ride back to Seoul was peaceful enough, and you managed to get some well-needed rest while up in the air.

When you landed, you geared back on, your usual hood, sunglasses, and mask back on shielding your face. You knew full well of what was ahead of you the moment you step out of the arrival hall.

The same scenario happens. Guards encircled you, and screaming people flocked to you, immediately sensing your presence.

This time, it was worse than whatever that had happened previously. You heard no positive words; no words that would’ve come from a fan’s lips. Instead, all you heard was —

“Get out of Pledis!”

“Don’t blame others for your wrongdoing, you shameless person!”

“You call yourself an idol?!”

And the next thing you knew, you see an oval egg flying in your direction. You raise your hand in defense and it smashes into your arm, cracking and leaking its raw contents onto your sleeve.

“Ooh”s and “Aah”s were heard, and tears pricked the corners of your eyes. No, Y/N. No crying.

You let your hand fall to your side as if thinking nothing of it.

The guards became more aggressive after that, pushing everyone aside, and you briskly walked to the exit where the car that would take you back to the company building was.

You got into the car, your face still kept straight as you remove your sunglasses. The car drove off, back to the company building, and silence hung in the air during the drive. All that was heard was the light panting sounds from Rachelle and the managers.

The car reached the company building in approximately 30 minutes, and you grabbed your backpack, while your other luggage was handled by your managers.

“Go to the practice room and change into the spare clothing there. You have vocal training later,” your manager told you monotonously as if nothing ever happened.

“Right,” you answered, turning to Rachelle as you became aware of the worried look she was shooting you.

You shook your head as a translation of “I’m alright”. Rachelle wasn’t convinced, but you just went in first, to the lift lobby.

That’s when you felt yourself start to shake ever so slightly, and your muscles were aching as if you’d been holding yourself still the past hour.

Your unsteady hand hit the lift ‘up’ button, and you let your head hang low as you waited for it to come up from the basement. Your thoughts started to wander in flashbacks.

When you auditioned to become an artist under Pledis, you already knew being an idol wasn’t going to be easy. You knew the cons that would definitely come along with it, but you didn’t expect it to get so bad.

The debut album you released received a fair amount of positive attention. You were glad, you got off a good start. However, the second album you released was nowhere near that. The composer of the song had apparently plagiarized the introduction from another official soundtrack, but you were oblivious. No one knew, until your album was recorded, packaged, released.

Fans of the original soundtrack noticed the similarity, and it became your fault. When you tried to defend yourself by saying that you were not the one who had made the song you sang, it became a situation where you were trying to push the blame.

It resulted in horrible, unwanted fame.

You heard a soft ‘ding’, and the elevator doors opened in front of you. You sucked in a breath of air, stepped in, and noticed another person who was in there with you. You didn’t bother to check who, though.

You used your other hand to cover the stains that had been made on your sleeve by the raw egg, and teardrops started rolling down your cheeks.

“Hey.”

You flinched a little and turned to the person standing beside you, widening your eyes as your recognized him.

S.Coups. The leader of Seventeen. Your senior.

“S-sunbaenim,” you stammered.

Seungcheol — which was S.Coups’ real name — frowned, surprised at the sudden formalities you displayed.

“You alright?” he asked, cocking his head to a side as you looked ahead, naturally avoiding his eyes.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” you laughed a lightheartedly, surprised at how genuine-sounding it came out as.

You had signed in as an official Pledis trainee about six months before Seventeen had made their debut, so generally speaking, you had trained with them for that short period of time. You knew them well enough to hold casual conversations with them, but not to the point where you guys actually hung out.

It wasn’t supported by the company, after all. They didn’t like the male and females in the company to mix or to get too comfortable with each other. It sounded logical since you were aware of how fans outside easily misjudge and rumors would start floating.

Seungcheol was one of the trainees you talked to the most back then. When the two of you were still trainees. You were told that you suited debuting as a soloist, instead of being a member of a full group — which was what you aimed for at first — so you gladly accepted that position.

And you debuted a year and a half after Seventeen did.

Knowing that Seungcheol was the leader of the 13-member group, you often went to him for help and advice; since you knew you’d be all on your own.

Seventeen received a baffling amount of attention after they made their official debut, partially because of the promotions that they had been doing even before releasing their first album. Through all those, Seungcheol gained experience quick. He helped you tremendously, guiding you through what you should refrain from doing, and what you should daringly do. He mentioned the tiniest of details that you would’ve never thought about.

No matter how negative it sounded, he’d tell you. Because he knows if he doesn’t, it’ll be harder for you to handle when it happens.

He told you everything and anything — from how you should control your really hyper behavior to how you should never show your sadness to the public. He said that’s what they really wanna see. And you were aware that as an idol, you’d have to do what they want.

But Seungcheol never imagined that such a thing would happen to you at such an early stage of your debut. The online articles about what happened to you were endless, and unsightly videos of you were reposted and reposted, again and again until it went viral. Undoubtedly, Seungcheol saw them.

And seeing you in the lift, holding yourself up when he can see right through you and see your own walls breaking apart…

It hurt him.

He watched you more than you knew. He took care of you more than you knew. He peeks into your dance studio every now and then when he passes by to make sure you could cope. He even leaves random bottles of water by the door to make sure you stayed hydrated. He ordered food takeaways and anonymously delivers them to your photo shoots.

He silently took care of you like an older brother would.

Seungcheol’s eyes darted over to the discolored patch on your sleeve that you were uncomfortably trying to hide. That’s when his sense of smell kicks in and he effortlessly identified its origin.

“You need some new clothes,” he said, the elevator coming to the level that you were supposed to arrive at.

“Manager Do said there’re some in the practice room,” you told him, stepping towards the door that was going to open soon. “I’ll change into those.”

“They always say that,” Seungcheol mumbled softly, shaking his head. You didn’t hear him, though.

The elevator door finally opens, and you let out a quiet, heavy breath as you took stepped out. As soon as you did, Seungcheol grabs onto your arm from behind, pulling you back into the lift and pressing the ‘close’ button, and only letting you go after the lift doors closed shut.

You looked at him in annoyance. You weren’t in the mood to continue being polite and cheery like you usually was.

“I have practice, Seu—” you paused for a mere millisecond as you lowered your tone. “—sunbaenim.”

“That can wait,” he said easily, as if not listening to whatever you were saying.

The elevator proceeds up two more floors, before the doors open and you’re nudged out softly by Seungcheol. You unwillingly followed him to another practice room — the one you recognized as Seventeen’s. He pushes down on the door handle, opening it, and you catch a glimpse of the other members. You instinctively took a step back, your feelings mixed. You felt guilty, ashamed to see them in your state.

“Come in,” Seungcheol says, almost ordering you to.

“What for?” you questioned, your patience level running low.

Seungcheol raises an eyebrow, and, once again, pulls you in by your wrist. It wasn’t a forceful drag, but you weren’t happy with it.

You stumble in and the other twelve members turn to you. They recognized you instantly and wide, bright smiles formed on their originally worn out features.

“Y/N!” they chorused messily, Seungkwan actually running over to crush you in a hug. You smiled slightly — this time with it being a little more legitimate. Your clean arm wrapped back around him as you let your other stained arm hide behind your body. It was an awkward position, but Seungkwan doesn’t notice.

Seungcheol smiles at the sight,, but quickly tells them to get back to practice, and that he would join them in a while. They nodded and shot you a few last looks, before turning back to the mirror in front of them and returning to their practice.

Seungcheol then leads you to the vocal training studio that was connected at the back, and you lifted your wrist to check the time on your watch.

“Seungcheol, seriously, not now. I only have five minutes,” you deadpanned, getting more and more irritated as time passed.

He pays no attention to you as he grabs a beige hoodie from a chair, passing it to you.

“Change into these,” he said, and you declined.

“No, it’s okay, I don’t need it,” you said, pushing it back into his hands as you clenched your jaw. Your eye level was to the ground again.

“Y/N—”

And you just burst.

“I said I don’t need it!” you raised your voice. You knew at the back of your head that the vocal studio was soundproof.

“Stop being so nice to me! Stop asking me questions and looking at me like you actually care! I’m sorry I’m doing nothing for this company, I’m sorry I’m being a burden. I’m trying, I really am, but I don’t know what else to do. I’m guilty, I’m trying to avoid all of you, every single one of you, and you dragging me here isn’t making me feel any better! I don’t want to see any of you, don’t you get it!?”

You were screaming, your internal words just pulling themselves out of your throat without any sugar coating. Your tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down your face. There is static at the side of your head once more, the side effect of living with this constant stress and fear every single day. The muscles of your chin tremble like a small child’s, and you bit in your lips as you looked away from Seungcheol. Your fists balled so tight that you could feel your own nails digging into your palm, and then your fists, too, started shaking.

Seungcheol stands there, for a few seconds, just looking at you. Then he wrapped his arms around you and pulled you close, gently rubbing your arm as you just cried into his chest. You couldn’t hold it in any longer — you just couldn’t.

His embrace was warm, and his arms seemed protective around your frail self. He softly cooed you, swaying you side to side a little as an attempt to calm you down.

“It’ll be alright,” he whispered. “It will be.”

For the first time in the past five months, you felt like nothing could hurt you. Nothing at all. 

#seventeen #seventeen fluff #seventeen scenarios #seventeen angst #seventeen s.coups #s.coups #seungcheol #choi seungcheol

[ynibytina]

Meet Spencer Kane!!!

I fell in love with Spencer Kane's voice when I heard his song "One Of THE Kind" on Youtube. The message of the song is simple: everyone is different, so stand out and be yourself, and don't be a bully. I recently got to interview this Kendallville, Indiana native that is a spokesperson for PACER's National Bully Prevention Center and also is just about to perform on the 2013 iShine Live tour. If you want to learn more about him, you can check out his personal website, YouTube channel, or Facebook & Twitter pages.

Favorite Musicians: Tobymac, Lecrae, Trip Lee, Jor'Dan Armstrong, Jason Derulo, Capital Kings, The Ground Above.

Favorite Movies: Ace Ventura Pet Detective (#1) & any action movies.

Favorite Books: I Am Number 4 Series.

Favorite Color: Blue.

Favorite Holiday: Christmas.

Mac or PC: Both.

Twitter or Facebook: Twitter.

Blackberry or iPhone: iPhone.

Chocolate or Vanilla: Vanilla.

Winter or Summer: Summer.

Pancakes or Waffles: Pancakes.

Math or Science: Math.

Past, Present, or Future: Present & Future.

What's your favorite song off your new EP besides "One of THE Kind?"

Move-In The Right Direction is my favorite on the EP because even though I wrote 4 of the 5 songs on the EP, that is the one which I was most involved in creating the music and overall production. The other songs I sang and gave input, but they were more directed by the Executive Producer and Producer. I like them all, but Move In The Right Direction was almost like I was able to help assemble each piece of the song the whole way through. The others I would sing my vocals and then kind of wait for the producer to give me a rough cut with music that I could critique and just kind of wait to see what happened. MITRD was very hands-on in the studio in Nashville for me and that will always be my best memory of this EP.

What made you realize you wanted to pursue a career in music?

I believe it was when I was 13 and auditioned for a local version of an Idol competition in my county. There were like over 100 people who tried out in my age category (under 16) and I made the top 10 and actually finished 2nd place. (The video of this performance is on my Youtube channel). I sang Sunday Morning by Maroon 5 and the judges of that competition were professional artists and voice trainers. They all said I did well. So when I look back and see that someone other than family felt I may have a chance to do something with music, it sort of made it easier to choose to pursue it. But even then and until the past 6 months, I was still not sure if it was something I'd do as a hobby or pursue professionally. Once I met with iShine in Nashville and Robert Beeson (founder of Essential Records who originally signed Jars of Clay and Third Day, and like the winner of 6 Grammys and a bunch of Dove Awards) I was told I had good potential. So, I guess that made it even more clear that I should take it more seriously. I'm such a jock athlete, it's been hard to walk away from a life in sports and dream of playing at the highest levels, but right now I'm just like taking it a step at a time and hopefully this upcoming tour starting on February 15 will make the picture even more clear. LOL.

What can you expect to see in the fourth season of iShine Knect?

The show is based on a school of performing arts and students who are talented in a lot of ways. It centers around The Rubyz, Mission 6 and a few other regulars. This new season was my first and I play myself in the show (Spencer Kane). I have a few episodes where I have more speaking lines than not, but many where I am just an extra in the background. I do know we filmed me performing my entire EP on stage at a concert at TBN Studios in Nashville the beginning of December 2012. I know they will be showing me singing on some episodes. I really liked the scripts and the topics of each show and think the over 1 million kids who tune in each week will like it too.

Your song "One of THE Kind" is about bullying. You recently became a spokesperson for PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. How did that come along?

Yes. That song was based a lot on my own personal experiences in junior high and still even now being bullied for things. But it's also about some of the sad stories I've been told by fans around the world who face bullying in their own country just like here. Some places it's worse than here, but bullying is bullying. So the song is kind of my way of telling people to reach out and be kind and talk to people who may be hurting. PACER was a site that we submitted my song to in hopes they would tweet it or at least post a link on their site of the music video since it was based on what they are all about. That kind of led to a few phone calls from them to learn more about me and after a conference call with my manager in early December along with my dad and I, we sort of agreed to move forward in them helping me with bullying prevention curriculum to share at my live performances and them having me become a national spokesman for their organization. It's quite an honor since Demi Lovato has been their primary spokesperson for the past 5 or 6 years. They work with Disney and The Ellen Show as a partner against bullying, so it's really cool to know that they believe in my message enough to want to join together in our efforts to prevent bullying.

Someone once said write what you would want to perform over and over again. With that in mind, if you could only sing one song on stage (one of your own songs and one cover song), what would it be and why?

Great question. Right now I'd have to say "Be Alright" by Justin Bieber is one that I relate to and think I can sing well in a live performance. Reason To Be from my new EP is one that I actually like to sing because I believe the producer helped me to get the best out of my vocals on that song. I think people that hear the song really connect emotionally and in a live concert, that's what you really hope for.

What does a current day in your life look like?

Haha! Well, thank goodness right at the moment it's not been as crazy as it was from June until Christmas in 2012. But the tour is coming up in February and March and I'll be on the road for nearly 5 consecutive weeks and that will probably be crazy. But I'm a full-time H.S. student and varsity basketball player. I wake up early for school at like 6:15am and have to travel like 20 miles to get there one way. I usually have practice or a game 6 days a week, so I can usually plan on being up until 10pm working on homework, home chores, or cramming whatever other free time I have into something to do with music like chatting with fans online, or rehearsing music, writing music, listening to music, filming music videos or Vlogs, or even doing interviews or performances somewhere. Most people don't know HOW I fit my life in, but we seem to manage as a family right now. I'm sure my schedule after the tour may look different.

Besides music and sports, what do you like to do for fun?

I'm an Xbox gamer. I love playing online against friends or people I don't know. I'm very competitive so I like being able to try to beat my personal best score or be able to talk smack to a friend if I can manage to beat them. I play sports games or Call of Duty. Otherwise, I'm a movie guy. My parents and I watch a lot of movies when we have the time. I have a pretty beast-man cave in my basement where my dad and I just chill, so that's fun. Sometimes I go to the mall or hang with friends, but not very often.

What does your family think of your performances and how do they support you?

Well grandma's, of course, think I'm amazing. LOL. But honestly, my aunts and uncles are pretty supportive too. My best friend is my cousin Evan who is also 16 and he and I go to the same school. He is a huge supporter of me too. But my mom and dad are probably my biggest help. Dad owns a marketing company and is a photographer and videographer. He films all my music videos and edits them. He also does all my pictures so that is a huge help. He manages my marketing stuff like album cover art, and posters, and making my website. He like takes care of a lot of the business stuff for me like contracts and stuff. Mom is my cheerleader and is always checking out the "fangirls" to make sure they aren't up to something that will hurt her little boy. LOL. But I'd say that a lot of what I do with music is because God put me in a great family. My parents always try to make sure I have time to be a kid and have as normal a life as possible. So I guess that is a huge help too.

What's the best part about working with iShine?

I think the fact that I can be the artist I want to be and don't have to meet a stereotype that people expect when you're working with a Christian media group like iShine. I mean, the first time we ever met I explained that I'm definitely a Christian and always want my music to be morally positive, but I have NO plans or call to be a "Christian Artist". Like I don't envision me making albums of praise and worship type songs. It's not who I am or how I want to make music. iShine owners and management said they appreciated my sincerity and honesty and that it made them even more supportive of working with me. They believe my music will reach a broad group of young people who may or may not be Christians and that, I guess, is a good thing for them. So, they have been amazingly helpful in developing me and teaching me about the music industry. They let me work with Jeff Savage (Tobymac's Grammy Winning producer from the album Momentum and Diverse City and the writer of Irene and J Train). That alone was amazing to know I was working with him. He's awesome. He produced One of the Kind, 413 and Blue Sky from my new EP. So just working with him and then working with Zach Hall (producer of Newsboys "God is Not Dead" album) was also amazing. So I just think our goal in 2012 was to be able to work with professional and experienced producers who could help my music get to the next level, and iShine has definitely helped me to do that.

If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would you play and why?

I think anywhere in a huge venue with like 100,000 fans would be incredible. Even like 20,000 fans would be insane. I think the location isn't as important as knowing I would be able to perform for people who really wanted to see me perform. That's going to always be my goal. I love making music videos and seeing people like them on Youtube, but performing live in front of a huge audience would be fantastic.

[twilightprince102-blog]

Some Moral Support

Summary: A “Sing!” (2016) AU in which Meena has a friend that supports her along in her journey. But at what point does it turn into too much?

Chapter Seven: Frustration

In which anger is lashed out and self-reflection is made.

[Previous] [Next]

Going home after the first day of rehearsals was not the most relaxing experience for Meena. After Jude’s argument with Mike, the two had dedicated the rest of the day to try and perfect the song. Meena tried to mix up her singing style each time she sang “Beautiful”, and Jude kept giving constructive criticism where it was due. Sometimes she tried to sing like the original artist, but it seemed a little too bland for her taste. Then Jude suggested adding Meena’s personal flair to the song, but then it just sounded like she was trying too hard. At the end of the day, Meena’s eyes were heavy. She had memorized the lyrics, but still did not know how to sing it. She was ready to lie down in her bed and let her pillow take her away. But as the bus rounded the corner to her street, the two friends quickly saw that dream fade away.

Apparently Meena’s grandmother had decided her granddaughter deserved another celebration for getting into the show. However, instead of simply baking another batch of her delectable sweets or inviting one or two of her school friends to join, she went above and beyond and invited the entire neighborhood to join in the festivities! Meena covered her face and tried to sink down into her seat and let the bus pass by their stop, trying to avoid the oncoming commotion. Jude considered that they sleep on the bus that night, but it was already too late. Her family saw the two through the windows and gathered everyone to the door. So the two stepped off of their quiet shelter and into the crowd.

“Hey, at least they brought the good pizza!” Jude remarked, munching away on their breakfast. Meena almost didn’t hear her friend, as they kept nodding off as the bus rode on. The night before was the complete opposite of what she had wanted to come home to: quiet. Instead, she was surrounded by relatives, friends, and friends of the parents who assaulted her with questions and pictures. The quiet she had hoped for was replaced with constant chatting and loud music. It took until an hour after midnight for the guests to clear out and give the elephant some well needed rest, giving her barely enough time to do so. Jude meanwhile seemed like they had an entirely different night, as they seemed just as well rested as the days before. They offered a slice of leftover pizza to her friend (all of which was placed in a pouch for the two to eat throughout the day), but Meena had fallen back to sleep. Honoring her unspoken wish, Jude kept quiet.

As the ride went on, more animals boarded the bus to ride to their jobs, just like any other day. But for some unknown reason, it seemed to Jude that almost everyone was extremely noisy that day. Talking loudly on their phones, conversing louder than needed with other passengers, watching things on their phones with the volume blasting; it felt to Jude that everyone was trying to get on their nerves that day! The jaguar looked back at Meena, who was starting to look very annoyed at the lack of silence. Jude knew that they had to stand up for her. When Ash got on the bus with headphones in her ears, blasting rock music so loud that Jude could even hear it, they felt like they had enough. Jude waved Ash’s attention over to them, trying to put on their happy mask.

“Hey, can you turn down the music please? Meena’s trying to sleep.” Jude asked while smiling, accidentally making it look menacing with their fangs. Ash looked down at her popped out ear-bud, slightly confused at the jaguar’s request.

“But I’m wearing headphones, and I can barely hear anything from it this far.” Ash commented. With Ash’s failure to go along with Jude’s simple request, the jaguar tried to hold in their anger and attempted to kindly ask again. Instead, they did the exact opposite.

“I think the loud music could have damaged your hearing since I’m pretty sure you listen to it all the time, so I think you should know that even though you had headphones in, everyone else could still hear the music, so I think it kinda defeats the purpose of wearing headphones, you know? So please turn down the music so I don’t have to ask again, alright?” The jaguar flashed their fangs at the porcupine, signaling that she goes along with their demands or else. Ash put her hands up and scooted backwards on her seat, getting chills from Jude’s icy glare.

“Okay okay! Sheesh, sorry mom.” Ash complained sarcastically. The rocker did what she was asked, then put her earbuds back in at a satisfying level of quiet for everyone else. Jude leaned back in their seat, still annoyed at the remaining noise on the bus. Some animals behind the three, however, had decided to quiet down after seeing the predator’s fierce behavior. It was completely fine by Jude, ‘Any quiet is good quiet.’ Next to them, Meena snored with a slight flick of her trunk, restoring Jude’s mood. But then it went back down again when they heard the familiar sound of three frogs arguing. Jude slowly turned their head, peeking out the window and hoping that it was just their imagination. But to everyone’s disappointment, the frog trio was there and doing the same thing as the past two days.

Jude pressed their hands against their ears, trying to block out the noise. But somehow, mixed in with the other passengers from the back, it was even louder. The jaguar barely even noticed Rosita sitting down in her usual spot, holding one of her many kids. The mother of many looked at the jaguar, seeing the anger in their eyes, and knew that the noise only meant trouble. But before Rosita could reach out and calm down the Jaguar, they snapped and stomped their foot on the middle of the aisle, stopping the frogs in their tracks. The force from Jude’s foot was so strong, that it caused the rest of the bus to shake, making the rest of the passengers stop what they were doing and look at the action that was about to unfold.

One of the frogs who were already angry pointed up to the jaguar, not knowing what they were getting into. But when he saw Jude’s fangs, his knees turned to jelly along with the other two. Having enough of the trio’s constant bickering, Jude flicked out a claw and knelt down to their level, growling so low that one could mistake it for the bus’s engine. The entire bus watched in horror, intrigue and satisfaction as the frog trio started to shiver in fear.

“Listen up you slimy little idiots.” Jude growled deeply at the three, pointing the claw in their direction. “Everyone around you is sick and tired of your constant arguments. Honestly, haha, I don’t even have a clue to how you three are even still together doing this since I’ve only ever seen you three yell at each other instead of actually singing! But don’t worry, I understand that you might not have noticed since all three of you are so DENSE to do so! So listen closely!” The claw crept closer to the trio, causing them to group together.

“I don’t want to hear a PEEP out of you three for the rest of the competition. The only time it will be acceptable for me to hear you three will be if you actually practice for the competition, and if I hear any of you arguing, or people complaining about your arguing ever again, none of you will be able to argue or sing in any other singing competition EVER AGAIN! Now, did that message reach through your dense skulls, or must I give an example of what might happen if you DON’T FOLLOW DIRECTIONS?!” Jude pressed the claw to the supposed leader of the trio, making him go stiff with fear. The frog trio shook their heads as fast as they possible could, hugging each other out of fear for what the jaguar might do to them.

“Good.” Jude retracted their claw and sat up straight again, still glaring daggers at the three while waving them off. “Now run along now. And remember! Not. A. Peep.” The three ran to their seats so fast it seemed like they had rockets for shoes. As they ran out of sight, Jude took a long, deep breath to try and calm down. The rest of the passengers all seemed to go dead quiet after the standoff between predator and prey; possibly too terrified to speak up in fear that the jaguar might go for them next. Said jaguar didn’t seem to care about that, as they were just happy to get some silence for them and their friend. Next to them, Ash, Rosita and her piglet all stared in awe at Jude. For Rosita it was mixed in with horror, for Ash it was satisfaction, and amazement for the piglet. Jude didn’t care about them either, nor did they try to start a conversation with any of them. Jude took a look at Meena, who to their satisfaction, was still sleeping. The jaguar considered their job well done, and soaked in the silence, save for the bus’s engine.

Little did they know that Meena was already awake, waken up from Jude’s stomp from earlier. She had stayed quiet to only observe her friend, and from what she saw, terrified at just how far Jude might go for her.

“Meena, if this is what you want then it’s fine with me!” Jude tried to reassure their friend. They flipped through the DVDs while sitting on the table, trying to find anything that Meena might like. But with each flip Meena felt more and more unsure about her choices. “If you want a different song, we can practice a different song. It’s your choice, not mine.”

“I-I know, I know. But I already know most of the lyrics from the song. Wouldn’t it just be easier to do this one then?” The elephant began to pace back and forth, thinking about what would be better for the competition. The two were just in the middle of practicing when Meena mumbled it to herself as she sang “Beautiful” for the twenty-seventh time. But it came out so suddenly for her, and before she knew it, Jude had already tossed aside the disk for the song. ‘I already know all of the words. So why doesn’t this feel right?’

“But you said yourself that we should try different songs. Plus, it looked to me like you were starting to get sick of that song too.” Jude put down the pile of disks, thinking that all of the songs Meena might like was sorted. “Alright, I think you might like these ones. Don’t worry, I got rid of those teen pop songs, so you don’t have to worry about those.” Finally looking at their friend, Jude saw that she didn’t notice them calling her over. She was still pacing and tugging on her ears, trying to clear her head and make a decision. Jude was concerned for her; they could read her like an open book, and this is the most stressed they’ve ever seen her since high school. So her friend stepped into her pacing path and grabbed her shoulders.

“Meena, listen to me. You choose a song that you like, not one that will help you win. This is a singing competition, so the only way you’ll win is if you’re comfortable with a song. Do a song that you want to do, not one that you feel like you have to do, alright?”

“But”-

“Miss Therna!” The two friends were interrupted by the owner of the theater, who just popped in to check on the two. Since he showed up, he had no idea what the two were doing. Looking as chipper as ever in his suit, he gestured to the door. “You ready to start your stagehand training?”

“Oh, just Jude is alright. And, uh,  just a sec.” Jude turned back to their friend, who was still feeling unsure about the whole situation. Patting her on the shoulder, Jude put on a genuine smile.

“Listen, I’m going to go practice with Buster. How about you take a break for now and think about what to do? You’ve been singing for almost an hour now anyways, you deserve it.” Before Meena could get a word out, her friend was already leaving with Buster. Pulling herself out of her timid stupor, she tried to call out to them.

“Wait, Jude”-

“Just take a break for now, I’m sure that you’ll figure it out eventually!” They yelled from the hallway. Jude followed the koala through the halls of the theater to their first day of training, leaving Meena alone with her thoughts. Forced into solitude, she sat down and tried to think. She could finally think by herself, but she wasn’t sure if that was the best thing to do. Taking a deep breath, she focused and weighed her options.

On one hand, she practically mastered “Beautiful” by itself. She knew all of the lyrics and she could copy the singing one to one. If Meena stuck with this song, she would have much more time to do other things for the competition, such as picking out the right dress and make up some sort of routine for the show. ‘Jude did say that it would be a while before the actual competition, so I would be all set long before the actual competition.’

But on the other hand, something about this song just didn’t click with her. She may have mastered singing it one to one, but that just didn’t feel right. She couldn’t find the right way to convey it, but she just felt uncomfortable singing this just to sing it. A part of her wanted to try something new, but another made her feel obligated to stick with this song. The two thoughts clashed in her head until eventually, Meena flopped down and lied on her back, letting out a frustrated groan. She was absolutely lost.

She stared up at the ceiling, unmoving. A mix of various different music genres filled her ears, similar to the party from last night. Ash’s rock music mixed in with Pete’s opera singing, which didn’t mix well together along with Johnny’s piano upstairs. She suddenly felt tired again, but not exactly sleepy. It was after listening to the music mix of everything and thinking about her own frustration, she asked herself. ‘Why am I doing this?’

It seemed like it would be fun at first. She made new friends on her first day, she got to spend time with her old friend, and even got to do what she loved to do the most: sing! Sure, the tryouts were not the best, but she was sure that it would only get better from there now that Jude was at her side, promising that they wouldn’t do anything brash. But here she was three days later, wondering if this is really what she wanted or what somebody else wanted.

She thought about how she got into the competition in the first place. Jude showed up out of nowhere bringing the flyer so suddenly, her parents encouraging her to bring Jude along and her friend saying that they would support her. But she already knew that she was scared of crowds and people staring at her, and so did her parents. ‘I knew that everyone who has a TV would watch me on stage, and that I would just freeze up with people staring at me. So why did I decide to do it then of all times?’ Then the answer came to her.

It was Jude.

This was the first time ever since their High School graduation that they got to be together. It was like this ever since Freshman year. Meena saw them in class, but was never able to really see them. When they were paired in classes, they were always intent on trying to focus on work 100% and go for extra credit, never wanting to focus on the latest gossip of the school or talking. When they had lunch together, they could never sit together since her friend was working with the lunch-ladies. When they passed in the hall, Jude wasn’t even able to say hi to her. Their attitude changed completely seemingly overnight from the typical laid back attitude they had, to a student devoted to their studies and nothing else. She felt like her childhood friend was avoiding her, and it killed her not knowing why.

It was even worse outside of school. Whenever Meena tried to get together with Jude, they always said that they were busy. They were always busy no matter what day of the week it was, and no matter what holiday it could have been. But what was really strange was that sometimes, when her family all went out together, Jude seemed to be working everywhere. One day she saw them working at a movie theater, and the next Jude would be working at the local library, then the next day it would be at an ice cream shop! Sometimes Meena asked when they get off work so they could chat, even for a minute. But still, they only gave excuses.

“Gotta save up for college!” They said when they were found at a new job. “Saving up for student loans, you know?” Jude said when asked why they have so many different jobs. “Sorry, maybe some other time.” Jude said every single time they turned Meena down to catch up on life. It seemed exhausting to the elephant at how many jobs Jude had at once. She was worried not only that Jude could be overworking themself, but also that she might not ever meet with them ever again.

Jude showing up out of nowhere with the flyer was the first time in years she saw Jude outside of work. This competition was their first chance since high school they could talk together and hang out like old times. They got to sleep over, catch up on each others’ lives (even though it was mostly Meena doing that), and most of all, Meena got to see Jude give a genuine smile for the first time in years. It gave her a chance to be together with them, and that was what she had wished to happen for so long. ‘So I guess I did all of this, for them?’ she questioned herself.

‘...maybe I should go for a walk.’ she decided after pondering on that question for over a minute.

The elephant lifted herself up off of the floor and grabbed her phone from the table, checking it to try and distract herself for a moment before she headed out. Along with three missed calls, there were a couple texts from her mother. She opened up the messages and checked out what her mom had said.

“Hi sweetie! I hope you two aren’t too tired over there from the party last night. We’re sorry that you had to stay up late for everybody. So to make up for it, I got you a pretty dress that you can wear for the competition! I don’t want to give it away since I want to keep it a surprise, but I’ll just say this: it was my old prom dress! Can’t wait to see you tonight, love you! -Mom”

A tiny alarm went off in Meena’s head when she read the words “prom dress.” She had heard her mother talk about that dress before, several times. She said “I bought it last minute for prom on the day of the dance, trying to find something pretty enough to go dancing with your father. Then when I saw that dress, I KNEW that it was the one and bought it on the spot! I didn’t even bother to check the price tag or try it on in a fitting room, I just knew it was the one! So then when I walked into the hall and everyone saw me, they stopped dead in their tracks! Men, women, prey, predator, it didn’t matter who saw me, ALL of their jaws dropped for me!” Meena was worried that it might be too flashy and/or revealing for her taste, but she would just have to wait home to find out.

She texted her mom back, trying to sound polite.

“Thanks mom, I can’t wait to see it! And don’t worry, we were both well rested before we got here! Everything’s all good, I’ll see you tonight! Love you!”

Then stuffing her phone in her pants pocket, she walked out into the halls of the theater, hoping that she would be able to find a way to clear her head and make a decision on what to do for her song choice. However, the prom dress and thoughts of Jude didn’t exactly help the process.

#illumination #illumination studios #sing #illumination sing #sing movie #sing 2016 #sing movie 2016 #sing rosita #sing meena #sing ash #sing buster moon #sing movie rosita #sing movie meena #sing movie ash #sing movie buster moon #oc #ocs #my ocs #jude #jude therna #oc jude #sing jude #sing jude therna #sing buster #sing movie buster #sing caspar #sing movie caspar #my writings #my stories #some moral support

[gom-trans]

(G)I-DLE GQ Korea (Jan. 2020) Interview - Minnie

It’s like your eyes are half-closed. I feel like I’m going to get bewitched [by them].

I didn’t know if this was good in the past. Because I look like I’m sleepy, it was my complex. I’m thankful that [you/people] like them.

You have an aura of someone who does not belong to this world. When you sing the “Darkness, heart bruising” part (from Put It Straight), I really thought I was getting bewitched.

That’s the part that I like too. I really liked that I got to do it for the ‘Put It Straight’ stage. I thought I could do it well.

[You] felt like a mermaid, but also like a witch.

People said that I looked like the character ‘Tomie’ from the manga….

That’s a horror manga though.

Really? It’s something scary?

A scary beauty. Her voice is also deep/dark and languid.

My voice gets heavier and darker when I sing pop songs, but it gets a bit brighter when I sing Korean songs. I try to sing Korean songs with the tone I use for pop songs so that I don’t sound cute.

But you become bright and cute the moment you get off stage?

I think of it as acting when I go up the stage, like getting in character to match the concept. [I] wear a mask. I have to throw this [cute] Minnie away on the stage.

Which Minnie do you think is the real Minnie?

The current Minnie.

What kind of songs do you like?

Billie Eilish, Troye Sivan, and I like Charlotte Lawrence recently. I like songs where I can hear the artist’s voice clearly rather than songs with great musical instruments or arrangement.

Your self-composed song ‘Blow Your Mind’ was good. It’s light, captivating, and suits your voice well. Do you not have plans to compose another song like that?

It was a song that I have written a long time ago, but because it didn’t really fit the color of the team, [I] left it for the time being. Whether it’s a R&B song or a total pop song, I will try to write a variety [of genres]. I tried to write an exciting song this time. If it fits the concept of the next album, it may be included as a b-track.

I heard that you are rich in emotions. And have lots of tears.

Yes. When I watch a sad movie, I fall into it very easily and cry. But the problem with this is that sometimes, [I’m] in a situation where I shouldn’t be crying, but because I can’t control my emotions, I start crying. The other party is not at fault so they might misunderstand if I cry. So I tried very hard so it doesn’t cause misunderstandings. I can kind of control it now.

Do you get affected by the weather?

Very. I get gloomy on a rainy day. I like autumn, but [you feel] lonely during autumn. Haha.

Do you need lone time?

A lot. I play hard when I go out and when I’m alone, I’m totally alone. I usually play the piano alone. I have a few chords that I like. For example, I repeatedly play ‘River Flows In You’ in a variation of chords. I recently fell for drawing videos. I can’t draw, but my mood becomes better when I watch drawing videos.

You said you wanted to become a movie director when you were younger?

Yes. I like watching making films of movies and I like movies like <Call Me By Your Name>. There are movies where you don’t get it at first, but you get it after watching the second time, right? I like those kind of movies. I also wanted to become a photographer.

You were taking photos earlier too.

I fixed the film camera that my mother has been using for 25 years and [the photos] come out very prettily. Look at this, Thailand’s scenery, my parents. But I only take pictures well with the film camera and not the phone camera. Haha. I had various dreams, but I wanted to become a singer the most ever since I was young.

How was it like when you first came to Korea?

There was a period where I was the only foreign trainee when I came to Korea. I lived in the same form as another young trainee who was still a student and the kid would only come at night, so it was very lonely. Because it felt like I was alone. But the unnies and oppas took care of me well and I held on while thinking of my parents. With the thought, ‘I must succeed’.

How is your Korean pronunciation so good? It’s my first time seeing a foreigner as the main vocalist of a K-pop group.

I copied a lot. I sang while following [the original]. I repeatedly watched videos of the seniors I like and tried to follow them. Until it sounds like a Korean singing it.

Your motto is ‘Live as you imagined’. What’s the meaning of it?

Coming to Korea, to the past me, was something that I thought could never happen. Will I be able to go to Korea? Even debuting in Thailand is hard though? But I debuted in Korea and am doing activities well, right? If you put it as much effort as you dreamed, you can do it.

#minnie

[foolishbelievers]

Russell Dickerson 1/29/17

So I was originally supposed to go with my best friend to this “Country Brunch” thing with Russell performing. She couldn’t go, so my mom was going to come with me, and then she was sick today so my dad came just so I wouldn’t have to venture through NYC alone lmao. I could have, but it’s not appealing, and I don’t get to spend much one-on-one time with my dad anymore, so I’m glad he came. He was a trooper and stood through the show and went to the VIP with me and everything haha (he’s not a music person).

The venue is a (hipster-ish) country themed bar/restaurant that was really cool. Their food’s not great, but the drinks are, so it was fine. The stage was in the back (there was no backstage entrance, only one at the front of the stage), and there was a downstairs area where the kitchen was, and it had another room with another bar and some seats, as well as a pool table, a beer pong table, and corn hole; that’s where the VIP was before the show. 

They called us in by name for VIP, and I somehow ended up first. When we walked in we weren’t sure where exactly to head to, and some radio people gave us little gifts, and then I turned around and Russell was just... there... and since I wasn’t sure what was happening (what the setup was??) I didn’t go right up to him. But he walked right up to me with open arms and was like “hey!” and went for a hug and said he liked my shirt (I was wearing one of his merch shirts that says “runs on coffee and red wine”) and I responded saying “thanks! I like the song ;)” He also acknowledged my dad, who immediately made it clear he was my father (l o l) and that I’m the big fan blah blah blah and he was only there to make sure I got through NYC safely and I rolled my eyes a bit to myself and Russell laughed and was like “nah she’s fine” lmao. I mentioned having seen him earlier this month on LI and he was like “Oh! With Tyler Farr right?” and I was like “yeah and LNT” (bc apparently I can’t shut up) and my dad chimed in about me being a Thefthead (i was dying inside bc i didn’t want to make it about them but w/e Russell was v nice about it) and I tried to round out the convo by explaining that I’d found his music through their pandora station and that I’m now absolutely in love with his music blah blah blah and we talked a little more (i can’t remember exactly what abot bc i was just having a moment standing there trying to be cool talking with him bc he’s just... so sweet... not that it was surprising but the situation was so chill and adgkldgf) but not too long bc we didn’t want to take up too much time when there were other people (i hate being the first one at meet and greet type things lmao)

after he talked with people we took photos and one of the radio people took them for us. when it was my turn and i stood next to him, Russell pulled me into him and i freaking died tbh he had a fair grip on my shoulder and my head was literally on his chest bc we were so close (and it was nice bc i get self-conscious about personal space like i never want to cross a line even accidentally so it’s validating when the artist is cool with close contact idk). we took four pictures bc even tho my phone was on auto flash, the lighting where we were kind of sucked, so after the first pic the guy was like “oh that one is messed up, let me take another,” and after the second one, he said it was better but not good, so he showed it to me and Russell and we took another one (in all of this i didn’t really say anything, mind you lol), and that one, i thought was okay, but it was still a little dark? i guess? (my phone’s brightness was on the lowest setting so that might’ve made it look worse) i wouldn’t have complained it that was the one but Russell insisted on taking another one so we could have a pic that was just right and i wasn’t gonna complain so we took a fourth one, and while the guy was checking it, Russell kept holding me into his side and was like “just keep holding it! keep holding it!” jokingly like just in case that one came out poorly, too, and then he took my phone to check it and it was A+ so he gave me my phone back and I thanked him and walked away in half a daze

he also played a couple of songs which i didn’t expect. he played a little of Blue Tacoma which is my fave of his so i was pumped and he made direct eye contact with me during the song while i was singing along and he smiled and i ascended (usually the only eye-contact i make with artists/performers during performances is funny/awkward haha) and he obviously played Yours and it was so beautiful in that intimate setting

we hung out a little more downstairs. my dad unknowingly sort of made friends with the lead singer of the opening band while they were talking about, i kid you not, Irish-related topics ? ? ? it was funny idk. my dad and i went up early to grab a spot and drink and watched the opener. side note: i discovered that i like Bud Light today. 

highlights from Russell’s set:

we were all standing a little back from the stage (bc the only way to get on/off was the front, so we had left room) and he told us to get closer, and the crowd like, hesitated (these woman got in front of me last minute and weren’t moving and i was about to be like “biiiiiiitch if you don’t want to go up then let me through bc i will” lol) and Russell was like “I don’t know what personal space is” which ik from experience now hahahaha he also joked about it saying “it’s like a fifth grade dance in here” during MGNO, when he puts in I Wanna Dance With Somebody, he went out into the crowd and danced with some of us (he danced directly in front of me which was v awkward bc he’s so tall lmao) and it was really cool and honestly v cute like he was twirling girls around and stuff honestly i love him also HE PLAYED WHISKEY ON MY BREATH. I COMPLETELY FORGOT HE’S ONE OF THE WRITERS (THERE’S SO MANY LMAO) AND HE STARTED PLAYING IT AND I WAS DYING. I DIDN’T EXPECT THAT. AND PEOPLE IN THE CROWD SANG ALONG WHICH MADE IT EVEN BETTER. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT.

when i left i had absolutely no voice and it felt so fucking good to feel the cold air outside bc of how hot the damn bar was but it was so much fun and ughhhhhh i already miss it.

#concert stuff #russelled