Presents

Presents

750 word challenge. Basically the objective was to write a romantic ficlet in that many words. Since I have fluff cravings I did it more then once ><

Pairing warning: Joey Bartlett/Nora Holloway ; Joshua Shepherd/Scarlet Fitch ; Charlie Pendleton/Laura

Alternate Universe where all of them actually had the chance to grow up. All are teenagers. Warning: Cuteness, fluff, children from the game are portrayed as teenagers.


“What if we lived in a world where we didn’t die? I think we would have been happy. We would have been good together.” -Anna Star 2012

“Do you need something Joey? I’m reading.” The tall brunette cursed. He had been trying to sneak up on the bob-haired blonde but, somehow, she had caught him out again. Sighing, he crept out of the bushes, towards where the girl was reading on a lone log. “Yes... hello to you too Nora.” He said, brushing the leaves off his bag. “I’m just here to chill.” This was their favourite hangout place. It was the spot in the forest where the two of them (plus Josh and Scarlet) would hang out for hours and do whatever they wanted. “And do the homework you haven’t done?” That as well. He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. Joey wondered if Nora had psychic abilities. She seemed to know his every move.
 “Hehe... yeah... I was in the garden yesterday and I got distracted.” The brunette looked at her expectantly. “Could you help me? “Joey, you’re not going to learn anything if you don't do the work yourself.” She replied boredly, turning a page of her book. “Be quiet. This is a good part.” “Please Nora... you’re the only one who can tolerate Miss Mason’s work.” “Its not hard. Just stop procrastinating and put your head down” He grumbled, placing his bag down and walking over to the girl. With his giant shadow obscuring her sunlight, Nora finally looked up at the gigantic boy. “You’ve gotten taller again Joey? You’re gonna hit your head on the clouds at this rate.” He snickered. “Jealous? You’re short as ever.” As if to prove it, he suddenly plucked the worn-out book from her slim hands. “Hey! Give it back!” Joey examined the dirtied pages as Nora tried to reach for it. He didn’t like books (he wasn’t a good student and he hated the concept of chopping down trees to make them.) However, this was the only book he’d ever taken an interest in: Nora had shown him this a thousand times when they were kids. “Hey Nora... you’re reading Alice in Wonderland again?” Every page had a bend or a mark on it- signs not of neglect but overuse.” Nora nodded; as if she was expecting him to ask. “I can’t help it. It’s my favourite book and it gets more exciting every time. Is there a problem?” “Your gonna turn into a Mad Hatter at this rate.” She stared at him. “Then you’re going to turn us all into Wonderland characters and make us hold stupid tea parties.” Okay, even Joey had to admit that was a bit uncalled for. However, he didn’t expect a dark look to cross Nora’s face. “You’re a jerk.” “... Sorry.” That hurt him a lot. Apologetically, Joey Bartlett gave the youngest Holloway her crumbling book back. “I’m seriously sorry.”
 “Thank you. I forgive you.” She said stiffly as she sat back onto the log. “You should stop procrastinating. Get started.” “Fine...” Joey still felt bad. He pulled out his workbook, sat against Nora’s perch and began to work. They were there for a good twenty minutes, the only sounds passing between the two were pencil scribbles and page flicks. After deciding he was relatively useless in English, he looked up. Absent-mindedly, he noticed Nora’s bag was open and her textbooks in a used disarray. Nora loved books but was terribly untidy with them. He remembered the other reason why he came here. “Hey Nora?” “I’m not helping.” “No, it’s not that... I wanted to give you something.” He flicked through his brown satchel. Nora finally looked up and over to him as he pulled something out: a bouquet of lavender. “You mentioned you liked these. So, I started growing them.” “Huh?” Joey shoved the flowers into her arms. He then reached and took something out of his pocket. “Stop folding the corners of your books. Its harder copy your notes from them and it's annoying. This is easier” Confused, Nora took the laminated paper. It was a bookmark. There was a blue, pressed flower underneath its plastic as well as a crudely drawn caterpillar. “You made this?” She asked. “And grew the flower.” He shrugged. “I just thought... you know...” Nora said nothing for a moment. “You’re not so bad Joey.” She smiled at him as she put the flowers by her side. “So... will you help me now?” “No.” Joey smirked and continued his work.

Half a moment later, he felt Nora looking over his shoulder. “You’ve spelt these words wrong. Here... like this.”

“What do you think Scarlet?” She was only at his house to help him with some project he was working on. However, her mind still couldn’t process past the fact that she was now in his room, sitting on the lower bunk bed. Josh finished spreading out his photos. “They’re all great Josh. You’re doing really well as a photographer.” He smiled. “How come you want me to pick a few?” “Well... I have a bunch of photos I want to give to Mr. Townshend... but I’m having trouble picking which ones would be the best.” 
“For that competition? The one featured in the local paper?” “Yeah, that’s it. I can only submit three and I need to get them to him by Saturday. Could you help me pick the best ones? Your taste is better then mine.” Scarlet blushed. He was always complimenting her like the good friend he was; but that all it seemed... friendship.
 “Sure. I’ll be glad to help.” Josh grinned at her but she could barely look at him. No matter how many times she wanted to confess, she couldn’t find the courage. That didn’t mean she couldn’t talk to Josh though... she just... couldn’t say what she would have liked. She had accepted that a long time ago. Now she just had to focus on the task at hand. “This one seems good.” “That’s not bad...” “No. That looks horrible.” “Don’t choose that one! We could blackmail Joey!” The two laughed. At some point, Josh had taken out some of his older photos and the two squealed or chuckled at pictures. There were some photos of his parents; some of Alex and Elle; some of strangers and friends and even a few with her dad. The mood of the photos were a mix as well- silly ones, sad ones, odd ones... and all of them were beautiful.  The photos were mesmerizing and often distracted Scarlet. More then once her hand accidentally brushed against Josh’s; but before he could say anything, the girl would try to avoid a confrontation. Fortunately Josh let it slide and, despite the tension, they enjoyed the day. It was getting late when they had finally chosen: a picture of Toluca Lake; a rainbow in the sky; and a picture of Josh and Alex. Personally, Scarlet thought the last picture was the best. 
 “You’ve done really well with these. I hope you win.” Scarlet smiled. The boy looked happy with the choices. Scarlet was just happy when Josh smiled. “Thanks Scarlet! You’re so amazing.” Suddenly he gave her a hug. The reserved girl’s eyes widened and she became as red as her clothes. Thankfully her long, thick hair hid her face when they parted. “These are perfect. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
 “Ah! It’s no big deal. You would've figured something out.” He gave another joyful grin. “S- so... what are you going to do with the rest of these?” Scarlet asked. Josh pulled out a book. “I’m learning how to scrapbook. Alex helps me to put the photos in. Usually he’d be helping me now but I think I told him to leave us alone today.” He flipped open the colourful pages. “This looks amazing Josh!” Scarlet complimented as she looked down at the detailed book. “There must be something of everyone in here.” “Well... There’s not many of you...” Scarlet looked up. Did he sound disappointed? “I only have one solid shot of you. You haven’t let me take a picture of you since we were kids.” Scarlet remembered that. It wasn’t a fond memory because she had kicked him out soon after; for calling her dolls stupid. Now she would do anything to get Josh into her room... in the non-sexual way of course. “I’m not photogenic...” she mumbled, brushing that last thought away. “I know. It’s a pity. You’re beautiful.” Her head immediately snapped up and she stared at him incuriously. A few seconds later, Josh realised what he had said. He turned red as well. There was silence between them. “Josh?” “Scarlet?” He slid closer towards her. “Josh...” she tried to shyly look. down but Josh tilted her head up.

They leaned in closer. “You look nice.” He whispered. Scarlet closed her eyes. She could barely believe his soft lips pressed against hers. Then the door suddenly opened. 
“Hey Josh. I’m here to... Oh... Hi Scarlet.” Scarlet felt herself die from embarrassment as Alex stared at them. “Alex. Get out.”

“Charlie! I-idiot! You shouldn’t waste your money on unimportant things. Moron!” She wasn’t sure how she had gotten from trying to push Charlie in the lake to blushing insanely. The girl continued stammering and trying to shout insults, all while carefully holding a box in her hand. Standing across from her, the black-haired boy just smiled, watching the young girl’s face grow various shades of red. He gave a light chuckle, feeling more bold then ever. “Open it.” He said confidently but also softly, “I know you’ll like it.” The girl, instead, rebelliously looked away from it, instead staring at the hazel eyes of her mild-mannered boyfriend. He tilted his head in response. “You said you were broke. Where did you get this? You better not have stolen it!” He didn’t mind getting yelled at. He laughed. If it was possible, the other teenager grew even more red. “Have I ever stolen anything? Since when I ever done anything bad?” Charlie asked innocently, tilting his head again and grinning. The girl scowled as she hid her crimson face away from the young man, desperately trying to think of something that wasn’t as cheesy as ‘you stole my heart.’ “What about the time you stole that police car?” She finally asked weakly. Charlie laughed gently. “I didn’t. It was the Bogeyman.” The blonde gave him an aspirated look. “Yeah... but seriously, I didn’t steal it. It was Aunty Anne’s. Dad and I borrowed it and we upgraded her radio.” Her blue eyes bore into him. “...There was nothing illegal about that joyride. Come on, you know would have loved it if you were there.” “That’s not the point.” She crossed her arms, still holding onto the box. Her attempt to try be responsible was adorable. “It was still bad.”
 “I like bad things.” He moved over towards her, but the girl turned around, trying to act defiant. “I like you. I like you a lot Miss Sunderland.” “Mr. Pendleton ...You’re a dork. You’re the biggest dork I’ve ever met.” Charlie Pendleton smiled, taking his hands out of his jacket’s pockets and hugging the girl from behind.  “E-eh? Moron! Let go of me right now!” Charlie bowed his head, placing his forehead against the back of the skinny woman’s neck. The girl’s ponytail gently brushed against his face as he felt her struggling slow down. “Charlie...” “I’m sorry. I just want to cuddle my girlfriend.” The girl flushed again. Under the names and her attitude, Charlie knew she liked him. Maybe not as openly as he did, but enough for him to keep pursuing her. “You’re still a dork.” She muttered as his bear-hug tightened over her stomach. Her own hold on the wrapped box tightened. “Will you open it?” 
 “I’ll open it when I’m ready.” She mumbled, fingers fumbling against the neat bow. “... Moron. This isn’t another kite again, is it?” Charlie chuckled against her back, causing pleasant vibrations up her spine. She tensed up a little. “Nope. Relax... it’s nothing you haven’t already got.” The lid of the present and the ribbon dropped to the floor. She picked up the small object inside. “Explain this to me; knives aren’t the most romantic thing you can give a girl.” She shivered again as Charlie laughed. He moved up her body, resting his head against her shoulder. With one hand firmly around the young woman, Charlie turned the blade over- showing the small engravings around the edges of the handle. “You like cats. You like pocket knives and I wanted to give you something useful. Mr. Grady taught me how to engrave the handle. It took me ages to do.” The girl looked closer at the item, seeing the neat kitten head and her name in the metal. “‘I love you’ across the border? Could you be much more of a sap?” “I can’t help it... Umm... do you like it? I can get you something else instead...” She shook her head and turned around. The short teenager stared up at him before giving him a hug. “It’s fine. It’s... perfect.”
  “Just don’t get it confiscated by your dad.” “James is an idiot. He won’t find it.” She paused. “... thank you.”  The widest smile crossed Charlie’s face. Against his chest, she could hear his heart beat faster. Charlie wrapped his arms around the blonde and held her. “You’re so cute Laura.” The teenager pulled Laura away and kissed her on the lips. “Cute? I’m not cute. Moron...”

Cavities from the sickening sweetness ><