Chapter Text
3 days till the party.
You were excited to see your friends but still uneasy about the events that occurred yesterday. You had been hit on before but the fear that filled you as your attempt at escaping the man's grasp utterly failed. Realising your vulnerability scared you. You've been a regular gym go-er for years but your size will always hinder you. Perhaps confiding in the girls would help ease your mind a bit.
Finishing up getting ready you put on a black top with lace lining the neck line, a pair of baggy jeans and your favorite pair of boots.
Mindlessly scrolling instagram while you are getting ready to leave, you come across various cat memes, pictures of your friends and one particular post of a very shirtless Hasan. He frequently posted his workouts and without thinking twice you had double tapped, liking the video of him covered in almost nothing but a layer of glistening sweat while he lifted weights.
Heat flushed you face as you quickly unlike the post and switched off your phone.
You had fed Willow, grabbed a banana and left for work. You left swiftly not realising you had forgotten your headphones at home. Cursing you decide to continue to work and attempt to enjoy your surroundings without the comfort of your music.
Arriving at work you are once again greeted by Ava.
"Good morning." She quips having just arrived herself. "Morning." You return, a content smile on your lips.
Placing your belongings into your designated locker you remember the conversation from last night. "Oh, I've invited Len to our lunch, sorry for the short notice!" You inform Ava of the slight change in plans. "No problem! I haven't seen her in ages." She turned to you while closing her locker.
"Same, I told her we would meet her at the little cafe just down the road at around 1." You say while pinning your name tag to your shirt.
"The one with all the book shelves? I think I've been there before. It's really cute." Ava's eyes light up at the thought of perusing their collection of fiction once again.
"Ok great. I've got a lot to tell you guys."
As you slug through the first half of your day the thought of catching up with your friends comforted you. Looking forward to lunch, you counted the minutes as you stacked record by record and served customers. Today you were very aware of your surroundings. Out of the corner of your eye you keep thinking you see the creep from yesterday but it's the trick of your mind to think the worst as it's always just a stack of CDs or a rack of band shirts.
You were constantly checking the shelf of various musical themed clocks. Your eyes locked onto a Metallica clock as it struck 1 and the clock played a low quality version of Ride the Lightning.
Finally. Time for your break.
Gathering your wallet from your locker you meet Ava. "Are you ready to go?"
"Ye, I asked the manger if both of us could have an hour break by the way. I said I was having another break down to give us some more time but only an hour." Ava said with fake tears in her eyes and a sly grin portrayed on her lips.
"Again? I'm not complaining but still." You questions with an impressed huff. "Okay then, let's go!"
The walk to the cafe was around 15 or so minutes. While walking Ava reveals. "Oh by the way, last night I broke up with my boyfriend." Not expecting the nonchalant confessesion you ask. "What? Are you alright?" Worry fills your face as you place a comforting hand on her arm. "I'm fine I guess. Maybe the breakdown I had infront of the manager wasn't all fake."
"Ava, why didn't you tell me earlier?" You plead in confusion. "Uhh, I don't know. I don't think I processed it till now."
"What happened?" You asked concerned for your bestfriend. "He said he lost feelings a few months ago. He was being really distant."
"What a bitch. You're sexy as hell and amazing in every way. Plus he had the personality of a wooden spoon." You say in a matter of fact way. "Ye I know. I've already got so many guys lined up. Look at this guy." She gets out her phone and opens Snapchat to atleast 15 notifications from guys. She opens one of the chats and scrolls through dozens of pictures of the most sculpted man I've ever seen. "Oh my God."
"Thats only one of them." She laughs and scrolls through, checking some of many other chats.
"Danm, I'm lonely girl." Pinching the bridge of your nose you ponder your previous relationships and life choices. Locking yourself at home and streaming takes up all your free time after work. Your social life consists of your co-workers and your cat.
"Girl you are a hot single lady. You just gotta put yourself out there. If I was a man I would have married you the second I locked eyes with you." Ava states, lust laced in her voice. "As much as I love you, I hope I won't have to marry you when we are 30." You fiddle with your necklace as your thoughts decend into the rabbit hole.
"Our pact meant nothing to you? You promised to marry me when we are 30." Sadness filled Avas voice.
Rounding the corner to the cafe you get a notification from Len.
Len left
You right
I'm so sorry but my brother needs me to baby sit. He got called in for an emergency at work!
Omg. It's okay, we can catch up another time :)
You turn to ava as you reach the door.
"Len isn't coming."
"Oh no, why?"
"She needs to babysit again. The usual."
"Her brother again?"
"Yeah he had an emergency at work she said. I told her we will catch up some other time." You say holding open the cafe door.
"Thank you." Ava smiled and entered first.
"I neeeed coffee. Get us a table." You say as you entered towards the register.
"Oki. I'll get us a cozy corner table by the bookcases." She replies as she zooms to inspect the collection of books accumulated in the corner if the cafe.
Ordering yourself and Ava's coffee you walk over to Ava. From the corner you hear a few familiar voices. You set the cups down and sit in the armchair across from your best friend.
Scoping out the room for the voices you heard your eyes lock on the large presence in the corner parallel to the one you reside in. The familiar face of your saviour from the previous day. Hasan, and next to him your new friend QT, aswell as two other men you weren't too familiar with.
Turing back to Ava you start. "So... you know how I was kinda off yesterday?" Your hands resting on your cup.
"Ye, that's what we're gonna talk about today." She sips her coffee.
"Yeah, sooo..." Taking a quick glance to the table of your acquaintances you shift your eyes down to your coffee. "Some creep yesterday grabbed onto me and was pressuring me for my number and 'asking' me to go out with him."
Shock filled Avas face leaving her mouth agape. "I'm gonna batter that bastard. I'm checking the fucking cameras when we get back." The shock now turned to anger.
"Well before anymore happened another man came over to me and scared the creeper-zoid off."
"Ooohhh. Knight in shining armour? Was he hot?" She places her cup down and rests her face on her interlocked finger.
"He is sitting in the booth over there." You point your finger in their general direction.
Her head swivels so fast you just stare at her to see her reaction. She slowly turns back with an approving grin. "He is hot. You should go say hi!"
"No!" You whisper yell. "Do you know who he is?"
"A hot guy?" She questions.
"Not just a hot guy! He's Hasan Piker." A blank look of confusion on her face. "He's like a famous streamer and political commentator. He's basically a celebrity."
"Ohhhh." She says sipping her coffee.
"Yeah. I can't just go say hi." Pondering that statement you honestly forgot who else was there. "Oh wait, QTs there. I told you about QT right?"
"Umm. Probably, I wasn't paying attention to be honest, but that can be your excuse! Go say hello to QT and the cutie." She winks with a mischievous smile.
Ignoring her antics you enjoy your coffee.
"Come onn, saying hi to your friend isn't illegal. Be nice." She encourages by lightly kicking you under the table.
Despite the lack of power in her kick it still hurt quite a bit. "Ow, fine."
Begrudgingly you rise from your chair tending to your aching leg. Your eyes facing your shin, examing what damage had been done. Straightening yourself to continue your social excursion you crash into what felt like a wall, stumbling back on your already pained leg you loose balance.
A hand slinks around your waist to the small of your back, preventing your ungraceful decent to the grimy floor of the little corner cafe. Your eyes trailed up for what seemed like years to meet your saviour once again.
"Hey." Hasan greeted, a warm smirk on his lips. You were lost in those deep brown eyes before you were snapped back by the realisationof the position you were in. "Shit sorry. I wasn't looking, I hit my leg." Turning back slightly to glare at your abuser (best friend) as she giggled.
Gaining your footing, his hand still lingering on your waist. You realised where your hand was placed. On his chest, his firm, warm chest. You quickly shoved your hands to your sides.
Your cheeks fully flushed as you say. "Thank you, again." His hand drops, the warmth still lingering on your lower back. "Of course. I was coming to say thank you actually." He stands to his full height, resuming a more natural stance. "QT loved the album."
"It's just my job. It was no problem at all." Your face was starting to ache from how much you are smiling.
The two of you stood there for a minute. Staring. Your eyes trailed along his hand to his fore arm, along his bicep to his chest up his neck to his lips then to his eyes once again. You notice his eyes trailing your body then lingering on your lips as he then meets your eyes.
"Who's your friend!?" You jump at the sudden interruption. "Uhm, Ava this is Hasan. Hasan this is my best friend Ava."
"Hi Hasannn." The mischievous smile still on her face.
"Hi, nice to meet you." He gives a small wave.
Side eyeing her she asks. "Do you guys mind if we join you?" She peers over to the table Hasan was previously sat at.
"Uh, I'm sure they won't mind." He turns to his table and gesturing for us to follow.
"No it completely fine. We should just go, I don't wanna bother you guys!" You respond frantically.
You hear your name called by QT as she waves you over.
"It would be rude not to." Ava holds your shoulders guiding you to their table.
Walking over to the booth QT is sat in she shimmies to make space for you to take a seat.
"Heyy, it's nice to see you in person!" QT greets as you settle in. "Same to you, you look even better in real life." You reply.
"It seems you already know Hasan but this is Austin and Will." She introduces you to the men across from you at the table. "Nice to meet you guys." You introduce yourself to them as Ava beings to speak. "Nice to meet you, I'm ava. I'm going to get another coffee, does anyone want another?" They all murmur and politely decline.
As she's leaving Hasan takes the place in the seat beside you as you continue your conversation with QT. "What a coincidence, we were just on break and came to get some fresh air and gossip."
"Ya, we were just planning an outing for a stream. What's the goss if you don't mind sharing?" She questions you, whispering the last question. You look at the rest of the table chatting amongst themselves. "I was just telling Ava about something that happened at work yesterday." You started telling QT about what happened yesterday. You noticed the warmth Hasan was emitting making his proximity overwhelmingly apparent. Trying to focus you continue your story. "This guy came up to me and was pestering me for my number and grabbed a hold of me insisting I go out with him. He eventually let me go." You glance towards Hasan and flash him a grateful smile. "Oh my God. That's horrible. While you were at work?" QT replied. "He only left because Hasan scared him off." You admitted to the table. "Ya I only scared him off so I could get her number." He said jokingly putting on a faked 'chad' type laugh.
"It didn't work. I just went back to work. I'm sorry I left so abruptly I was a bit shook." You apologised to Hasan, shrinking into yourself at your realisation of your rudeness. "It's totally fine."
"You're a streamer right?" The man you came to know as Will asked abruptly changing the subject. "Yeah, I do research on bands and artists and sing one of their songs. I love music and music history so I teach other people about it." You reply as Ava returns with her coffee pulling up a chair between QT and Austin. "What did I miss?" Ava chimes in. "I just asked about her streams." Will informed Ava. "Oh yeah. She's greattt." She says awkwardly sipping her coffee. "Ava you never watch my streams." You roll you eyes at her fake support, scoffing sarcastically. "You guys are all streamer then too? God, I could never. Being inside for hours sounds like hell." Ava asks being the only normie at the table. "We touch grass alot okay." Will defends his profession. "Not everyone is as extroverted as you. Outside is scary man." You re-enforce Will's stance.
"I actually go outside quite alot." Hasan pipes up from his corner of the booth, barley fitting into the seat. "I gotta polish these guns." He flexes his bicep that is being showed of by his self made tank top. The butchered sleeves of the white t-shirt he is wearing constricting his 'guns'. The table offers a murmur of half hearted laughs. Your eyes meet his for a moment as he flashes you a warm smile, as your face is flushed pink you turn your attention back to Ava as she says. "You need to go out more and get yourself a man." She says toward you. "I don't 'need' a man but one would be nice. Maybe I'll meet Prince Charming at your party. QT invited me by the way." You finish turning your slightly less flushed face to Hasan. "Oh yea, Lud couldn't come so I see she's invited you."
"You make it sound like a bad thing." Will calls out in a joking manner. "No no no, I don't mind. I can't wait to see you there." Hasan frantically denies his claims. You just laugh at his disarray. "I'm excited to go." You offer him a kind smile. "It will be the only time this month she leaves her house besides work and going to the store." Ava giggles while checking her phone. You kick her under the table while retaining eye contact with Hasan, a smile still firmly on your lips. "Ouch." Ava says under her breathe.
"Oh shit, we gotta go." She said noticing the time. "How is it almost 2 already?" You say in a panicked voice checking the time. "I'm so sorry we have to go." Rising quickly from your seat Hasan stands to make way for you to exit. "Thank you." You say as you shimmy past him not having time to savour the proximity. "It was nice meeting you guys, bye QT." Waving behind you while starting to leave you say. "Bye Hasan." You say in an unintentionally softer voice before anyone could reply Ava grabbed your wrist and pulled you out of the cafe.
"Ow, let go. I can walk by myself." You say as she releases your wrist, your other hand now rubbing the sore spot. "Don't walk, run. Our manager is tired of my shit." She says starting a jog.
You arrived back at work around 2 minutes late. Sneaking into the staff room you scope out the building looking for your manager but he was nowhere to be seen. You were safe. For now.
You continued the rest of your work day mindlessly doing your repetitive tasks, your idle mind shifts through various unimportant subjects; what should i cook for dinner, I cant wait to cuddle Willow when I get home and the phantom warmth of his touch lingering on the crook of your back. Heat flushing your cheeks signalled your brain to lock in.
After finishing your work for the day you check the time. Home time.
You gather your things and make your way home. Not seeing Ava on the way out you see a notification from her. She had left a few minutes before you.
Arriving home having to been left with your thoughts the whole walk from work you left your bag at the door and switched the TV on for some music. Putting on one of your random playlists on you greet your fur baby. "Hiii Willoww." You stroke the length of her spine and up her tail as she stretches into your touch.
Venturing to the fridge after hearing a roar from your stomach, you find it essentially empty exempt a few sauces. Sighing, you accept that you will have to travel all the way to the grocery store down the road.
As the sun was setting on the Los Angeles hills you decide to leave your headphones where you had forgotten them this morning and have your ears on alert. You feed your feline friend and leave your apartment, phone in hand as you make your shopping list.
You soon step out your apartment building with regret as the soon to be night air hits your bare arms. The few minutes you'd been home the temperature had dropped enough for you to have goosebumps spread across your exposed skin. You contemplate going back to fetch a jacket but decide to rush to the store and get it over with.
After speed walking the whole way, you arrive at your local grocery store. You grab a basket and make your way through the ilses gathering various vegetables. The next ilse you grab a few packs of frozen meat. The next you stock up on pasta and rice. The next isle you walk into is the pet ilse. You scan the shelves of pet treats for something you think Willow would enjoy.
With your thumb and your index pinching your chin you stand there pondering the best choice for your biscuit chef back home. You eventually choose a pack of fish shaped cat biscuits. Rising from the squatting position you had taken to reach the fish oil infused treats you turn to exit the isle and head to the check out. As you are about to reach the end of the isle you stop, almost crashing once again into the rock hard chest of Hasan. "You need to stop appearing so suddenly." You lecture gaining your footing. "Sorry?" He replies confused. "Maybe you need to stop crashing into me?" He says with a hint of sarcasm. "You always seem to pop up near me. Are you stalking me or something?" You jokingly accuse. "I could say the same thing. You could be trying to assassinate me for all I know." He says matter of factly.
You scoff in return. "You'd be surprised how much I have to worry about that." He says cockily. "I really wouldn't. You seem like the kind of asshole who would be assassinated." You laugh but soon realise how rude you were. "Sorry that was a but much." Your laugh turns nervous after your apology. "It's fine I deal with worse daily." A smile worms its way across his face. His smile alone brought heat to your cheeks as all your social skills have now gone out the door. "So, what brings you to the grocery store?" An awkward smile pushes it's way across your reddened cheeks. "I just needed to get some treats for kaya, my dog." His eyes trail to your basket, inspect your purchases. "Have you got a cat?" He questions your choice of cat treats. "No, I just really like fish." You reply sarcastically pulling a small laugh from the large man standing before you. "Can't relate. Anyway, I'll stop stalking you and let you be. For now atleast." His eyes trail down your figure, examining you from head to toe, venturing slowly back up your frame to meet your eyes that are glued to his lips, lingering on his every word as he finishes his sentence.
Swallowing the lump that had formed in your throat you reply. "How considerate." Sarcasm filled your voice. "It was lovely seeing you again. Small world I guess." Living in LA, seeing celebrities or influencers wasn't uncommon but running into Hasan, whether it be physically or metaphorically, so many times was a bit strange but you decided to leave it up to coincidence. "Yea, nice seeing you. I hope you enjoy your..." He picks up the cat treats from your basket and reads the label. "Omega 3 oil tuna biscuits." A short laugh flows from him and he places the packet back into your basket. "Mmm tasty." You reply. His laughter pulling one from yourself as you resume your walk to checkout. "Bye Hasan." You once again say over your shoulder. "See you again soon. Small world and all." He replies as you round the corner you reply. "Yup!" Just in ear range for him to hear.
'Yup? Yup? What is wrong with you!'
You go to the self scanner and put through all your items. Bagging up all your groceries you put your basket in the holder as you exit the store. As you leave the stark reminder of your mistake hits you as the now even colder night air pricks your skin. A shudder escapes you as you curse under your breathe. "This fucking cold... murmur.. hmph... should have brought a fucking jacket.... stupid stupid stupid." The self deprecating insanity gave your brain something to think about to focus away from the cold.
A long, cold walk later, you arrive home. Thanks to the cold your groceries are still well refrigerated. Leaving out what you need for dinner, you pack away the remaining groceries. Willow has already sniffed out her new treats as you hear her paws traverse the kitchen counter. You grab the packet and open the seal to take out a few fish shaped biscuits. "Here you go pretty kitty." You say placing one infront of her. Sniffing the new treat, she takes the fish and runs to her designated corner of the the couch.
You finally begin cooking dinner. Your music continued playing while you were out, adding a few songs to queue you make enough food for you to last a week. You finish up plating your dinner and put the rest in containers to store in the fridge after they cool.
Grabbing a short glass of ice, you measure put 2 shots of tequila. Pouring the shots over ice you dig in to your much needed dinner, sipping on your drink you slowly unwind from the general stress that had built up as the day went on. The chilled drink created a soothing warmth down your throat that accompanied the warmth of your meal perfectly. Your mind wanders as you continue your meal, often landing on your so called "stalker" who was infact your saviour.
His smile. His eyes wandering your body. His laugh. His...
'You just met him! What are you thinking?!'
You down the rest of your drink and place your empty crockery in your sink.
'I'll do the dishes tomorrow, I need a shower.'