"FMK" - A Short Snippet

Based on the commission, "I was hoping to request the snippet for Davy and my MC, Miles! I give you “they’re not you.” for a prompt if that’s okay! Crush stage, again if that’s okay."

In retrospect, maybe playing “fuck, marry, kill” with your crush wasn’t the best idea.

But, it is Friday. And, it is a terrace party. And, okay, you’re a little smashed.

“Okay, okay.” Ari narrows his eyes. “Interns only?”

“Interns only,” Reese chirps.

“Mmm, fuck Xiao—”

Xiao lets out a whoop, and Ari smacks him on the shoulder.

“Marry Diana—”

“Queen!” Reese shouts.

“And…” Ari frowns. “This is hard. What if I want to kill more than one person?”

“You have to choose—Riley or Naomi,” Laurel says.

Ari has the audacity to look offended. “Hey!”

Laurel shrugs. “I’m just stating the obvious.”

“Fine, fine—” Ari groans. “Naomi. I pick Naomi.”

“It’s because you’re secretly attracted to Riley,” Davy says, a sly smile on their face.

“What!” Both Ari and Xiao gape at them; Diana laughs. Davy just takes another sip of their drink.

“All right.” Ari tips his cup toward Davy. “Now you, then. Since you’re so smart.”

You turn your attention to Davy, suddenly nervous. You’ve been friends with them since day one, but it’s only been recently that you’ve noticed them in that way. At first, you couldn’t even puzzle it out—after all, you were close to them, and people who were close wanted to spend time with each other, right? And, Davy had a habit of flirting with almost everyone, including you at first—and you know for a fact, from the stories they’ve told you, that they’ve had more than one fling since the start of their intern year.

Still, you find yourself simultaneously eager and anxious to hear Davy’s answer. You resist the urge to lean in closer, keeping your face neutral—interested, but friendly.

“Hmm.” Davy leans on their hand. “Fuck Diana.”

You feel your stomach twist, but school your expression. Okay. That’s fine. Diana’s gorgeous—and fucking doesn’t really have feelings involved.

“Marry—”

Your heart pounds in your chest.

“Reese.”

Whatever Davy says next, you don’t hear—only aware of the knot suddenly forming in your throat. You try to swallow past it, find it impossible, and instead chug the rest of your drink. You don’t even taste the sting of the vodka, aren’t able to look anyone (least of all, Davy) in the eye. After an appropriate amount of time passes so that nobody will notice that you’re upset, you excuse yourself to refill your cup and try to keep your steps measured as you walk away.

You wait in line in front of the bar, your grip on your cup crushing.

Fuck.

You didn’t expect to be so…you don’t even know. Disappointed? No. Hollowed out? Too dramatic. You’re normally a level-headed person. And, Davy doesn’t even know about this crush of yours. But, if they liked you back, they’d have picked you, right? Even for fuck?

“Hey.”

You hear that familiar voice, and you instantly curse yourself. You need to get a grip. You can’t make this awkward.

“Hey,” you say, smiling at Davy. “Need a refill, too?”

“Something like that.” Davy meets your eyes, and you notice that they look serious—not the usual, teasing look they wear. “I—just wanted to check on you.”

“Me?” You feign nonchalant. “I’m fine—a little wasted, but fine. I’m not going to black out or anything.”

Davy nods. “That’s good.”

The silence between the two of you stretches out for what seems like eternity, but you know in reality it’s only a few seconds—max.

“Just so you know,” Davy says, “I only said Reese because it’s not really their business, what I actually think.”

You blink. The sentence makes sense rationally, but…that means…

“They’re not you,” Davy continues, and you feel a flush rise in your face, a happy shiver run down your spine. “I mean…this isn’t really the forum I want to—I don’t know. Have that talk in.”

“Forum,” you repeat.

Davy lets out an exasperated sigh. “Listen. This—” They gesture at the crowd. “This isn’t how I would, I don’t know. Normally have this kind of conversation. So.”

“I get it,” you say, and you think you see relief flash across their face. You don’t think you’ve seen them so off-kilter before, and you have to admit—it’s cute. “We’ll…talk when we’re both sober? And alone?”

“Yeah.” Davy blows out a breath. “Yeah—exactly.”

“So, brunch?” you say, feeling bold—you’re earlier shyness gone.

Davy smiles, that smile that you’ve come to love. “It’s a date.”