word vomit

carnivals & crappy dates (exo - byun baekhyun)

"So, we'll meet back here in two hours, sound good?"

No, it did not sound good at all.

Your best friend had finally gotten a date with the boy she'd been crushing on since freshman year, on the condition that she get a date for his best friend, who was, in fact, a totally arrogant and slimy dick.

Of course, she had no one to turn to but you. And, of course, you couldn't say no to her.

So, now you were stuck alone with the king of conceit for the next two hours. Little children ran around you, clinging to each other's hands and munching on giant puffs of cotton candy, and you could only wish that you were having as good a time as they were.

"So, (Y/N)," your date said, flashing what he hoped to be a charming smirk (but it just wasn't working for him), "I heard that you like stuffed animals, don't you?"

You nodded, your face as blank and unimpressed as ever, but he was oblivious to your disinterest. You took a bite of your churro, only half-listening to whatever he was saying.

"How about I win you that?" He pointed to an adorable stuffed teddy bear with tan fur and a white ribbon wrapped around its neck. "Of course, in exchange for a kiss."

You wrinkled your nose immediately, eyeing him with distaste. "I'll pass, thanks."

He wrapped an arm around your shoulders, making you instinctively recoil, and led you toward the pop-the-balloon booth. "Trust me, I've definitely got this. It's easy."

You sighed, watching as he placed five dollars on the counter, and the teenage girl manning the station gave you a pitying look as she took the money, placing three darts on the counter. You bit into your churro again as your date picked up a dart and squinted at the board of balloons to perfect his aim. He threw the dart, and it bounced off of the wooden board, between two balloons.

He chuckled, clearly flustered. "I-I was just practicing. This one will make it in for sure."

He missed again. And again, and again, and again.

He wasted forty dollars on the stupid game.

You rolled your eyes, glancing at the line of waiting kids and impatient parents behind this idiot that your best friend stranded you with. "Can't you just give it a rest already? There are other people who want to try, too."

He rolled his eyes. "I already told you, I can do it, dammit." He threw down another five, and the employee handed him another three darts. He missed again.

"Let's just go. We've wasted twenty minutes here," you argued, and he sharply turned to you, nostrils flaring and face red in embarrassment and anger. The parents in line quickly averted their eyes and began to herd their children away from the scene. The young girl in charge of the stand stood silently, unsure of what to do.

"We are not—"

Two dollars were slammed onto the counter.

"One, please."

She turned to the other customer, and your date fell silent. There, on the other side of your date, stood a young man. He looked about your age, a kind smile gracing his soft features, light brown hair lightly falling onto his forehead. He was clad in a large gray crewneck, black joggers, and white sneakers, but you couldn't help but compare him to the most handsome knight in shining armor.

The attractive stranger caught your gaze as he picked up his single dart from the counter, and his smile quirked up further, a twinkle that you could not decipher gleaming in his eyes.

He took one shot, and popped a pink balloon right in its center. You had to bite down a smile as your date began fuming, so mad that steam virtually came out of his ears. You could see the employee also holding back a grin as she handed the cute little teddy bear to the stranger, and she made eye contact with you, raising both eyebrows suggestively.

You didn't have time to respond to her as the stranger walked around the furious man, whom was turning in disbelief to stare at the unfolding scenario, and held the stuffed toy out to you. Your date audibly scoffed, forehead creasing to look like wifi bars as his temper increased.

"I'm Baekhyun, by the way," the stranger introduced, and you accepted the teddy bear from his grasp, holding it to your torso and fiddling your shy fingers.

"(Y/N)," you replied, your bottom lip rolling out of the bite you'd held it in.

"Um, excuse me, but I'm her date," a voice so angry it was shrill sounded from behind Baekhyun. (You couldn't see the source because of how broad his shoulders were.) You both faced the absolute child that you couldn't believe your best friend left you with, and you rolled your eyes.

"You're not my date by choice. Frankly, you're quite the douche," you plainly stated, and Baekhyun snorted. "Leave me alone, and unless you change your attitude, don't go on another date again—with anyone. It won't end well."

He blinked, as if he couldn't comprehend that someone could even say such a thing to him, and the two of you left him standing there like a statue.

You and Baekhyun sat at a shaded table, sharing a funnel cake. Your fingers played with the artificial hairs on your new teddy as your other hand cut into the sweet treat.

"Sorry if that was, um, weird for me to do," Baekhyun apologized as he dug his fork into the sugary food. "I saw when he put his arm around you and you didn't seem to like it, and I couldn't help but intervene when he was about to scream at you, especially in front of all those kids."

You shook your head, giving him a grateful smile. "No, it's fine, really. Thank you. It's just that my best friend got to go on a date with the guy she liked, with the exception that she had to get a date for his douchey friend. I couldn't leave her hanging."

Baekhyun rested his cheek on his fist, dreamily grinning at you. "You're quite the best friend, aren't you?"

"She's liked the guy since we moved up here for college, more than a year ago. She's hopeless," you deadpanned, and he laughed.

When he laughed, little crows' feet appeared in the corners of his eyes. When he laughed, he laughed with his whole body: chest vibrating, mouth forming the largest grin. When he laughed, his smile shone like the sun, and his eyes glittered like the stars beside it.

You never wanted him to stop laughing.

He pressed his lips together, shyly looking at you. "So, are you up for a second date? I promise there won't be any other jerks like the one you were stuck with."

You immediately nodded, smiling back at him.

"Of course."