➟ word count: 961
➟ prompt: "we're not bruised, they're just party tattoos"
➟ warnings: n/a

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YOU AND TOM had just gotten out of one of your friend's birthday parties, light alcohol buzzing through your veins. California wasn't all that bad when it came to holidays with your best friend. Especially when that best friend was Tom.

The unusual cold Cali air hit your skin, automatically making you wish you had listened to your mother. Ever since you were a tiny toddler, your mother had always scolded for you for never taking your coat wherever you went. You had always dismissed the coat waiting in your closet, thinking that you wouldn't need it with the weather.

But as night crept into the air, the stars starting to shine through the clouds, the cold air from the lake drifted through the city. The number of people roaming around England was fairly unusual, but it was a Friday night. Y/n felt a hand on her shoulder, scaring her half to death. As she turned around, she came face to face with Tom; who was subtly trying to hide the colored sprinkles in his mouth.

"I hate you," y/n stated, trying to suppress the smile that was tugging at her lips. Instead of pretending to be hurt, Tom wrapped his arm around y/n's waist. Maybe it was the light alcohol buzzing through his veins, but he felt extremely at ease when he was around y/n.

She hummed in curiosity, leaning her head back to meet his shoulder. Y/n convinced herself that Tom wasn't sober enough to realize what he was doing, so she simply played along.

"You two are so cute! How long have you been together?" A couple had just strolled into the shop, admiring the two and their 'young love.' "Oh, we--we're not together." Y/n replied, moving away from Tom.

The girl shook her head at the pair, noticing how two young adults could not be anymore oblivious to their feelings for one another. Before y/n could get out another explanation as to why and how this was not a date, the pastel pink haired girl introduced herself. "I'm Gracie, and that is my husband, Dylan." She pointed over towards the guy at the front. "I'm y/n, and this is Tom." She replied back.

Gracie had looked about a few years older than y/n, and she seemed to be already married to her other half. Tom excused himself to the bathroom, noticing the number of colored sprinkles he had already eaten. As soon as he left, Gracie had pulled y/n aside, ready to give her advice on how to deal with the little admiration in her eyes.

"I can see it in your eyes that you really like Tom, y/n. I was like that once if I'm honest, with Dylan. You should act on your feelings," Gracie explained, y/n silently wondering why a stranger would care so much about a complete stranger's feelings towards someone. "We just met, I know, but trust me when I encourage you to tell him how you feel."

"Because when he finally gets to the point where Tom convinces himself that you don't return his feelings, your heart is going to be shattered into pieces when you see him with someone else. Believe me, I've been there." She continued, sympathy and sadness evident in Gracie's eyes. "Now look at us now!?"

Y/n took her advice seriously, looking at the ring on Gracie's left hand. The past sadness that was once in Gracie's eyes was filled with pure happiness, remembering the moment her life came together again.

"I have to go, but you seem really cool. We should all hang out, you know when you two become a couple." She winked, scribbling her number on a napkin and handing it over to y/n. She silently watched as Gracie returned to her other half.

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Y/n was leaned up against the brick wall, shivering at the cold New England air grazing her soft skin. Cold Friday nights and Saturday mornings were the worst. When y/n was just a little toddler, her mother would always scold her whenever y/n would travel without a jacket. Hell, she still gave her a hard time about her jacket! It was now three in the morning, and y/n was shivering from the brutal cold. Three degrees was not ideal for the pair.

"Tom?" Y/n whispered, a cloud of her breath floating through the air. Tom's gaze quickly moved from the girl across the street to y/n. His eyebrows curved up, becoming curious about what she had to say. "Gracie, the girl I was talking to in the shop, she made some points about-- something."

Y/n paused for a moment, searching Tom's brown eyes for some sign of interest. "I, uh, like you. More than a best friend." Her gaze quickly moved from Tom to the ground, now acting as if nothing happened, taking more interest in her shoes.

"Can I kiss you?" His voice echoed through y/n's ears. It took a moment for her to process exactly what Tom was asking, considering he had his eyes glued to the girl across the street for the past fifteen minutes. "Y/n?"

His fingers were placed beneath her chin, pulling her y/c/e eyes up to meet his. "I like you and only you, a lot too."

Y/n let a laugh slip past her lips. "You know, I never imagined that you'd be this sappy, hm?"

"You'd be surprised." Tom replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and warming up the two of them.

Life was fun, full of love, full of hopeful smiles.