vinnie hacker imagines

before I go

plot: you're spending your last few days before uni at your bestfriends house and her older brother keeps lingering around you

- fluff

- relationship: friends to lovers

warning(s): swearing

_

i'm sitting cross-legged on maddie's bed, a pile of my clothes folded beside me and an open suitcase at my feet. her room is a mess of laundry, makeup, and half-empty iced coffee cups, but we're too busy talking to actually clean any of it.

"i'm so ready for university," maddie says, flopping down next to me. "like, actual freedom. no parents, no curfew, no one telling us to do laundry—"

"you know you'll probably just not do laundry," i cut in, smirking.

she grins. "yeah, but still. and the boys—"

i roll my eyes, laughing. "oh god, here we go."

"what? i'm just saying, hot guys everywhere. and like... i've been deprived, okay? i need to make up for lost time." she says it dramatically, like she's announcing a political stance.

before i can respond, the door creaks open and vinnie leans against the frame.

"yeah, you can get rid of that idea right now," he says, pointing at her. "it's not happening."

maddie groans. "why are you even here?"

"because i heard my little sister talking about getting with random guys at my university." he folds his arms. "gross. absolutely not."

i bite back a laugh, pressing my lips together, but a little giggle still slips out. vinnie catches it, his eyes flicking to me with a faint smile before he looks back at maddie.

"you're so annoying," she mutters.

"i'm protecting you."

"protecting me from what? being happy?" she fires back.

he shrugs. "if that's what you call it."

after a minute, he leaves—only to come back like three minutes later holding a bag of chips.

"you guys want some?"

"you literally just came in here," maddie says, narrowing her eyes.

"yeah, well, i was hungry. figured you might be too." he tosses the bag onto the bed, then sits down on the floor like he belongs here.

i shake my head. "are you seriously just gonna hang out here now?"

"maybe," he says casually, opening the chips.

over the next half hour, he keeps disappearing and reappearing—asking random questions, making dumb comments, stealing maddie's hairbrush for some reason. finally, maddie snaps.

"okay, vinnie, what is your deal? why do you keep coming back in here?"

he raises an eyebrow. "wow. sorry for wanting to spend quality sibling time before you leave."

"you don't want to spend quality sibling time, you want to be annoying," she says flatly.

he grins. "same thing."

maddie groans, "yeah, okay. i'm going downstairs to get coffee. maybe the caffeine will help me tolerate you more," she mutters, getting up and heading for the door.

the second she's gone, vinnie sits down on the floor across from me, leaning against the side of his sister's bed like he's been waiting for this moment.

"don't forget about me when you go off to university," he says, his voice lighter than his expression.

"can't promise that, I think its already started." I joke.

"i'm serious," he says, tilting his head slightly.

i soften, my smile fading just a little. "okay fine. i'm kidding. i'm actually really gonna miss you."

his eyes flick over my face for a moment, and i feel that flutter in my chest i always get when he looks at me too long.

growing up, vinnie had been woven into every single memory i had with emily. sleepovers, family trips, late-night snack runs—he was always there, just as much a part of my life as she was. somewhere along the way, the boy who used to tease me about my braces and steal my fries became the guy i couldn't stop noticing.

"i have to admit something," vinnie says suddenly, his voice quieter now.

"what?"

"i've... kinda always had feelings for you," he admits, running a hand through his hair like he's not sure he should've said it.

my stomach flips, and for a second, all i can do is stare at him.

"you have?" i finally manage.

"yeah," he says, a small smile tugging at his lips. "and now you're leaving and—i don't know—i just didn't want you to go without knowing."

i can feel my heartbeat in my ears. "funny thing is... i've always liked you too."

we both pause for a couple seconds feeling a tension rising between us, like we're both waiting to see if the other one's going to move first.

and then, he leans in and I meet him halfway. the kiss is warm and sweet, but he was a really good kisser. I had always dreamed about it but I never imagined that one day it would actually happen.

the door bursts open, and we pull apart instantly. emily's standing there with her coffee, looking down at her phone.

"shit, y/n, you have to leave," she says, glancing up. "your parents are on their way."

i stand up quickly, my head still spinning, and vinnie gets to his feet too. i give him one last hug—quick, tight—and then wrap my arms around emily before grabbing my suitcase.

"i'll miss you so much y/n" emily says as I stand at the door. 

"i'll miss you too but you'll come visit right?". 

"of course" she reassures me with a smile. 

my parents pull up to the front and emily runs up the stairs, "i'm gonna wave you off from my balcony"

I leave their house and smile looking back at vinnie at the door.

"guess i'll see you around" he says.