[a] The "I Love You"

                                    

                                          
Imagine type: angst / 
                          
Warning: just pretend it's winter in obx😾 also unedited 
                          
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"It's so cold," you shiver, trying to shrink into your jacket as much as it would allow. 
                          
December had come around and everywhere had been covered with a fresh layer of snow. It was already dark out, but the snow made the sky look a pretty shade of purple. 
                          
Currently, you and JJ were walking to get a cup of hot cocoa. The walk wasn't very long, but the chilling wind blew at you and you found it harder to walk as your legs froze up. 
                          
"My face is so cold too," you mumbled, watching as your breath blew out in front of you. 
                          
"Your lips look frozen, you should let me help you thaw them," JJ grinned suggestively and you looked at him gratefully. 
                          
"Yes, thank you for paying for my hot chocolate. It will help me thaw my lips," you nodded softly and kept walking. 
                          
"You know that's not what I meant," JJ scoffed with a small frown. 
                          
"Well, that's what I meant," you responded. "Now hurry up, we're going to be become two human ice cubes soon." 
                          
Entering a small shop, the warm air welcomed you pleasantly and you and JJ quickly found a table near the back. 
                          
Excusing yourself to the washroom, you make sure to tell JJ to ask for extra marshmallows in your hot chocolate, to which he responds with a soft laugh. 
                          
Two blue mugs are already set on the table when you get back. 
                          
"Extra marshmallows, just you like you wanted," JJ says and winks, sliding you your mug. 
                          
"Perfect," you reply and place your hands around the cup, warming them up. You blow your cocoa softly, sipping it occasionally, only to burn your tongue. 
                          
"You look really cute right now," JJ says, adoring the way you focus so intensely on your drink, and your immediate response is humour. 
                          
"Not all the time?" You ask skeptically and you watch as JJ's eyes widen. 
                          
"Wai- no- I mean, yes," he adds hastily. "I meant, you do look cute all the t-"
                          
You place your hand on JJ's forearm and chuckle gently. 
                          
"I know, I know," you assure. "I was just kidding with you." 
                          
You watch as JJ visibly relaxes and you turn back to your hot chocolate. Priorities. 
                          
You frown when you realize all your marshmallows have melted and are now nothing more than a small white dot. 
                          
"Here," JJ says and scoops marshmallows out of his own cup into yours. "Mine are half melted, but they're still good." 
                          
"Thank you," you beam, the small action making your heart smile. "So, who's turn is it to pay this time?" 
                          
"I think I got the last round," JJ says cheekily and you narrow your eyes on him. 
                          
"If I remember correctly, and I think I do, you forgot your wallet and I got the last round," you grin. 
                          
"That was a dream." 
                          
"It wasn't and you know it," you scoff playfully and JJ laughs at your expression. 
                          
A comfortable silence falls among you two and you study JJ as he twirls a spoon around in his mug, swirling the leftover marshmallow at the top. 
                          
"JJ," you say softly and he looks up at you. A familiar feeling of butterflies erupts in your stomach when you lock eyes and you breath in deeply. 
                          
"I love you." 
                          
You weren't sure what to expect, but definitely not what happened next. You watched as the innocent look on JJ's face turned to a questioning, even hateful gaze. 
                          
"What?" He mutters, but you don't repeat yourself because you know he heard. 
                          
"You don't..." you start, but the sentence fails to come out of your mouth and your heart starts to beat faster once you realize what's happened. 
                          
"I can't- no," JJ says, avoiding eye contact with you, already getting ready to leave. 
                          
"You don't have to say it back," you add quickly. "I just... needed you to know that." 
                          
"Why are you being like this?" You hear in response and your eyebrows furrow in confusion. You were sure you hadn't said or done anything wrong. 
                          
"What do you mean?" You ask and this time it's your turn to send him a confused glare. 
                          
"I need to go," JJ mumbles and he grabs his jacket, hurrying out into the night, leaving you sitting alone in your booth. 
                          
"I guess I'm paying again." 
                          
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We're back with another angst ahah... 
                          
But seriously this will have a part 2 and it'll get better trust mee