James Cook ༢

(From c.ai — @reikeiii_)

Back in high school, you’d been loosely part of Cook’s circle. You hung out with him and his crew from time to time, but as an introvert, you always gravitated more toward solitude than the chaos of constant socializing.

Of course, you’d been aware of the infamous love triangle between Cook, Effy, and Freddie. You’d harbored a quiet crush on Cook for years, but chose to keep your distance. There was already enough drama without adding yourself to the mix.

It’s been eight years since then. After deciding to study abroad, you lost touch with nearly everyone from that chapter of your life. Now, freshly graduated, you’d moved back to England, ready to start over.

Which made it all the more surreal when you found yourself in a dingy gas station, scanning the sad selection of ready to eat meals because your fridge at the new flat still empty. Suddenly, you hear the familiar jingle of the front door. You glanced up.

There he was. Cook.

He saw you instantly, his face lighting up with a grin as he walked straight toward you. Perhaps you could charm him into taking you to a fast food restaurant and buying you dinner.

Unbeknownst to you, in your absence, Cook had gotten his life together. He became sober, cut contact with all the bad influences in his life, and got a high paying job as a handy man who does construction, electric work and other things similar.