⋆•°.🤍*࿐LOVE IS BLIND!⋆౨ৎ˚⟡🫧🕯️˖ ࣪

WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK
new york, new york
april 1990, 1:30pm
tuesday

annie sat on a bench, her cream overalls sat perfectly under her sweater as she wrote a poem about the many things she saw. though her eyes were locked onto a man.

he walked through the park, he wore dark grey slacks, a dark blue button up, sunglasses, and had facial hair as he made his way over to annie.

annie's pen moved effortlessly over a small notepad as she captured the various sights and sounds around her.

the man looked familiar, but with his dark facial hair and sunglasses, it was hard to tell for sure at first glance.

he then settled onto the bench beside her, keeping his distance as he spoke in a familiar low tone. "do you like the mustache? it's a perfect disguise."

annie's heart skipped a beat as she immediately recognized john's low voice, despite the facial hair and glasses. she smiled, closing her notebook shut.

"oh please," she said with a twinkle in her eye, "you look like a detective from some cheesy '70s film."

"you definitely dig the look." he responded.

annie chuckled softly. "i will admit, it's a little sexier than i expected." she teased, giving him a playful nudge with her elbow.

he raised an eyebrow at her admission, his lips curving into a smirk. "only a little sexier?" he replied, a hint of faux hurt in his tone. "i figured it'd be a good look for us to go on a real date and not get spotted."

annie couldn't help but laugh at his playful faux hurt. "alright, fine, it's incredibly sexier. you look like an undercover spy."

she studied him for a moment, taking in his new look. the facial hair and glasses did make him more unrecognizable, but she could still see glimpses of the familiar features she loved beneath the disguise.

he chuckled, running a hand through his newly disguised facial hair. "i like to think of myself as a man of many skills."

annie smiled, enjoying this little undercover moment with him. "so, where are we going incognito today, mr. kennedy?"

"how about a walk around the park?" he asked as he stood up.

as they walked, annie noticed a group of nearby paparazzi begin to swarm towards them, cameras and microphones at the ready. her heart sank as she realized that they had been recognized despite the disguise.

john tried to keep a blank expression, but she could see the tension in his eyes as he braced himself for the onslaught of questions.

"i'm gonna-" she started to say before turning around, walking opposite of john and the paparazzi.

annie pushed through the crowd, her heart racing as the sound of shouting paparazzi grew louder behind her. she couldn't shake the feeling of guilt as she heard the reporters call out john's name, knowing that he was left to face the media onslaught alone.

she kept pace, putting more distance between her and the scene, glancing back occasionally to see if anyone noticed her, which no one did.

ANNIE'S APARTMENT
new york, new york
april 1990, 6:45pm
wednesday

"alright so you cooked dinner for me which you did not have to do at all. what do i owe to this pleasure?" john asked as he observed the pasta that was plated infront of him.

"well so far our secret dates have been a bummer, so..." annie said as she took a seat at her dining table.

john nodded in agreement, a small smirk on his lips. "yeah, they haven't exactly been the most romantic." 

annie let out a hum. "i don't know...leaving my boyfriend to hang out with the paparazzi is pretty romantic."

he raised an eyebrow mock offense, but couldn't help but let out a laugh. "so you ditching me at the first sight of paparazzi is romantic now?" he said, taking a bite of the pasta.

annie shrugged playfully. "i like to think of it as giving you some extra media attention." she took a bite of her own dinner, a playful glint in her eye. "plus, let's be honest here, you looked like a creep with that mustache."

he put a hand to his chest, feigning offense. "i did not look like a creep," he protested.

annie couldn't hold back her smile. "oh, please. you looked like a 70s porn star."

john chuckled before grabbing his phone as it rang, "you've got john." he said to the phone. "now?...i'm kind of in the middle of something- can it wait?"

she watched him as his expression changed to a more serious one, clearly engrossed in his call.

"fine. i'm on my way." john said as he hung up and turned to annie. "i've gotta go, i have to file some last minute motions before the courthouse closes at eight."

"life as a law student?" she joked.

he let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. "more like life as a law student with an over-involved professor. he wants these motions filed tonight no matter what." he got up from the table, heading for the door. before leaving, he turned to annie briefly. "sorry i have to cut this short. i'll call you later, okay?"

THE HOLLOW SHELF BOOKSTORE
new york, new york
april 1990, 7:10pm
thursday

"alright, basically no one is in here." john pointed out as he took off his sunglasses, following annie's lead to a more tucked away spot in the bookstore.

"i'm writing a poetry book." she told the man as she led him to the poetry section where a hidden nook with a single, well-worn couch and a vintage lamp that hums when it's turned on sat.

he smiled, following her through the bookstore to the secluded nook with the worn couch and the vintage lamp. it felt like their own little secret hideaway.

"a poetry book, huh?" he said, taking a seat on the couch. "that's pretty impressive. any idea what it's going to be about yet?"

"well it's a book full of all of my poems. every poem i've ever written since i was sixteen." she told him. "wanna hear the most recent one? it's called 'still, only you.'"

he leaned back into the couch, intrigued by the title of the poem she mentioned. "'still only you'? sounds like my kind of poem already."

"well i hope you'd like it, it's about you after all." she said, her excitement evident in her expression. she pulled out her notebook from her bag, flipping through the pages until she found the poem she was looking for.

john took notice of the notebook in her hand, curiosity piqued. he scooted closer to her on the couch, their shoulders practically touching. "i'm honored to be the inspiration of a poem." he said, his expression genuine.

annie chuckled before she read the poem aloud, "we meet again in the hush of almost, in the space between what was and what could be. years have passed, lovers have come, and gone. but they were only echoes of you. we speak behind closed doors, hands never touching in the eyes of others. not yet, not now. but haven't we always been searching? haven't we always been waiting? the universe only pulled the thread tighter, whispering what we both knew, that it has only ever been you." she read before looking up at him to hear an opinion.

for a moment, he was quiet as he absorbed the meaning behind the poem.

when she finally looked up at him, her eyes searching for his reaction, he had a look of admiration and understanding in his gaze.

"that..." he started, his voice trailing off, searching for the right words. "that is beautiful. absolutely beautiful."

she smiled softly, feeling a sense of satisfaction at his response. "really? you think so?"

he nodded, his gaze still fixed on her. "it captures everything so perfectly. the longing, the longing waiting. the quiet moments that are just for us, even if they have to remain hidden."

as they sat there, the soft hum of the vintage lamp providing a soothing backdrop to the moment, annie felt a sense of closeness between them. they may have to keep their relationship hidden, but the intensity of their connection was undeniable.

his gaze locked with hers, and in that moment, there was no holding back. he reached a hand up to cup her face, tilting her chin up toward him. without a word, he leaned in, their lips finding each other in a soft, tender kiss. it started slow, a meeting of kindred souls, but then it deepened, their mouths moving together in a harmony that was both comfortable and exhilarating.

"anyone back here?" an older man's voice could be heard as the two moved away from each other.

they pulled apart, both a bit startled at the unexpected interruption. they exchanged a quick glance, silently agreeing to recompose themselves before responding.

john cleared his throat, calling out, "yeah, we're back here."

the older man, wearing a plaid blazer and a bright smile, walked into their view. his eyes lit up in recognition as he took in annie sitting on the couch, and then john sitting next to her.

"annie munro, is that you?" he asked, his voice filled with surprise and joy.

she nodded, "that would be me, yes." she replied.

"big fan of your work, miss. munro! i heard you lived in new york and was waiting for the day you'd stop by my shop." he said. "i'm ezra whitmore...i've owned this store for over twenty years."

"no kidding." annie said as she stood up. "big fan of books?"

"you could say that...i taught literature at columbia for nine years." ezra explained. "and i have a bit of a sixth sense for recommending books and given that you two are in the poetry section." he said before handing annie a poetry book.

she took the book from his hands, curiously inspecting the cover. "thank you." she said, a small smile creeping onto her lips.

ezra noticed john sitting on the couch, observing the interaction between annie and himself. he chuckled softly, "i see you're here with another famous face."

"oh yes, john is an old friend of mine." she lied as she watched john and ezra shake hands. "and a big book lover as well."

ezra nodded in agreement. "well, i don't think there's any better way to bond than over a shared love of literature."

as the three of them continued to chat about books, annie couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt lying to ezra, knowing that john was so much more than just an old friend.

john joined the conversation as well, effortlessly hiding any hints of their secret relationship beneath a carefully constructed facade.

"i do hate to break up this bonding moment, but i close at 7:30 and usually i'd stay open late for you all but the mrs is expecting me home at 8pm sharp." ezra said.

"oh no worries, ezra." annie said with a polite smile as she followed ezra towards the front door. "we don't want to keep you."

ezra smiled, waving off her concern. "the book is a gift from me to you." he said as he began with the begin closing duties.

john and annie stood outside of the bookstore, "secret date ruined, yet again." john pointed out.

"it was good ruined, the man was sweet!" she said.

he laughed, "yeah, he was sweet. and clearly a fan of yours." he leaned back against the wall, his gaze fixed on her. "how about you just come home with me? stay the night, no interruptions..."

she raised an eyebrow playfully. "is that a proposition, mr. kennedy?"

he grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. "that depends on your answer, ms. munro."

"well, i have work early tomorrow. nine am early." she told him.

"work?" he questioned knowing she only wrote books.

"well i have to tell them about my poetry book." she explained.

john nodded in understanding, "and i have class early tomorrow. eight am early." he added. "so if you're worried about being late, don't be."

"so, your place or mine?" she asked, her tone lighthearted but with an underlying hint of desire.

john couldn't help but smirk, his hand slipping into hers as he pulled her closer. "mine."

JOHN'S APARTMENT
new york, new york
april 1990, 10am
friday

after a night of pure intimacy, laughter, and a sense of familiarity annie woke up that morning, met with the sight of john's messy brown hair, his face pressed into her collarbone, his arm draped lazily around her waist.

soft sunlight streamed in through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. as annie laid there, watching john sleep peacefully, she couldn't help but smile at the familiar sight.

her phone which was on the nightstand next to her then began blaring. "turn that damn thing off, it's been going off the hook for hours now." john groaned.

"annie munro," annie said to the other person in a tired voice.

"where the hell have you been? i've been calling you! it's ten am, you were supposed to be here an hour ago to discuss your poetry book!" her friend at the publishing company exclaimed.

"i'll be there in twenty!" she told him.

"twenty?!" he repeated.

"twenty!" annie exclaimed before hanging up and shaking john awake. "it's ten am!"

"yeah, you've made that abundantly clear." he groaned into her pillow, not wanting to move.

she chuckled, gently nudging him. "come on, sleepyhead. i need to get to work. and you have to get to class."

john finally sat up, rubbing his eyes with a tired yawn. "do i have to?" he mumbled, still half asleep.

she laughed at his childlike demeanor. "yes, you have to. law school waits for no one, mr. soon-to-be lawyer."

IRONWOOD PRESS
new york, new york
april 1990, 10:30am

"sorry that i'm late." she told the room full of staff who were seated in the conference room.

"and you were late because-?" the editor asked.

"manogram." she told the room full of men. "terrible, terrible delay they had."

the men in the room nodded understandingly, clearly sympathetic to her made-up excuse.

the editor, a portly man with a stern expression, looked up from his notes. "well, now that you're here...we have a lot to discuss about your poetry book."

annie took a seat at the table, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "i'm all ears."

"well, we've already got a working title for it." the editor said, flipping through his notes. "what do you think about 'letters i'll never send?' it's a name that sheds light on the romantic 'letters' because much like all of those poems they're romantic. which i love by way, you're switching up from your regular drama filled books."

annie nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "i love it. it fits perfectly."

the editor nodded approvingly. "great. we'll move forward with that then." he said as he jotted down some notes. "i also have some ideas for cover designs..."

housekeeping notes !

so many dates in one chapter my god