Chapter Text
(Reader's POV) <3
Time: 5:47 PM, Wednesday
"Ugh."
The sound escapes your lips as you spin around on your office chair, sun filtering in through the westerly window. You've been sitting at your desk for hours, the clock ticking too loud against the wall behind you. If only your fingers could be clicking that frequently against your keyboard.
As long as you can remember, your dream was to be a writer. When you were a little girl, you wished on every star that it would come true. In high-school, you wrote your first novel, and by some miracle, it blasted off.
Reviews, events, more money than anyone should have, and last but not least, fame; all filled your life in a matter of months. It was like being reborn into a new life, and a completely new person. Sure, you were still just as sweet and whole-heartedly kind as you'd always been, but suddenly, there was a mountain of pressure on your shoulders.
After you released the following few novels in that series, as well as two stand-alone's, it only multiplied. Critics, manuscripts, your annoying publisher constantly emailing you, and with it, writer's block so bad you can't remember the last time a metaphor was typed onto your computer.
3 knocks on your office door pull you out of your thoughts, your eyes blinking in the setting sun coming through the blinds.
"Oh. Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. But.. I brought Chinese and the new episode of 'Love Island'?"
Your roommate, Ellie, stands in the doorway, a takeout bag in one hand and the TV remote in the other. She wiggles her eyebrows at you, and with a sigh and a bitten back smile, you close your laptop and follow her into the living room.
"So, how's the writing going?" She asks, so genuine it makes your stomach hurt.
Despite being your best friend of almost 20 years, you just haven't had the heart to tell her about your writer's block. Admitting it to Ellie feels too much like giving up.
"Um, good. I have a pretty good skeleton down." You lie easily, and it makes your gut twist.
Ellie clicks on the TV and you two eat fried rice and sweet-and-sour chicken together, your mind wandering almost immediately.
(Tim Bradford's POV) <3
Time: 8:04 AM, Thursday
"Come on, Kojo! I really don't have all day." Tim says, for what feels like the 12th time.
When he tugs on the leash, his dog, Kojo pulls the other way aimlessly, as if to say "screw you". Tim groans loudly, running a hand through his messy, close-cut hair. He has to be getting to work soon, but Kojo is stubbornly stuck in place, refusing to budge.
He looks around wildly, not sure what he's searching for. He spots a squirrel across the street, snacking on the remains of a bagel. A girl is jogging a few paces away, headphones blocking out any noise.
Tim tries Kojo's leash again, but he growls, showing Tim that he absolutely will not move.
The jogger slows to a stop a few meters away, catching her breath. Her eyes linger on Tim and his dog, and she smiles softly, slipping her headphones down around her neck.
Tim doesn't pay her any attention, muttering rather rude things to the stubborn pup.
"Dog trouble?" She quirks, making Tim look up. When his eyes fall on her, they don't soften, but narrow. The last thing he needs right now is a cocky girl trying to tell him how to walk his own dog.
"Can I say hi?" She asks, already smiling down at Kojo. He grunts, not having the patience of mind to respond kindly.
She crouches down, fingers falling across the dogs face, making his tongue loll out of his mouth. She giggles, and against Tim's better judgement, the sound makes him smile. He quickly wipes it away, thankful she didn't see.
"Are you a good boy? Yeah, you're a good boy, aren't you? Yes you are! Yes you are!"
Her voice is soft and playful, and Tim could've sworn he's never seen Kojo's tail swish so frequently. With a few more sweet words to the dog, she straightens up, looking at Tim.
She's a good few inches shorter than him and a good few years younger. He notes that she looks familiar, but can't place where he's seen her before.
"Your dog is so cute!" She says, her eyes bright with excitement. He's never met anyone so animated before.
"Thanks for letting me pet him.." Her voice trails off, leaving room for him to introduce himself. He sighs, not in the mood for overly-cheerful joggers. He checks his watch. Now he's really running late for work.
"Tim." He says gruffly, and she nods, smiling.
"Tim. Thanks." A few seconds pass, almost awkwardly, before she blurts out,
"Oh. Um, I'm Y/N. Sorry." She laughs nervously, fiddling with a thread on her sweater. Tim nods, forcing a smile on his face. It's not her fault, per se, but he really doesn't have the time to be having this conversation. She smiles brightly up at him, and he notes that if he ever met her again, he would call her 'cheers'. Because he has never, in his life, met someone so cheery.
"Well, I'll let you get back to your walk." She says, turning away, hesitating, then turning back.
"Try holding the leash closer to his body, then pull. And, uh, call him at the same time. He's more likely to come that way." She explains.
Then, she shoots him a thumbs-up and a huge smile, turns away, and continues her jog.
After a few seconds hesitation, (and after waiting to make sure 'Cheers' wouldn't see him doing it) he holds Kojo's leash closer to him and pulls, calling his name. Miraculously, the dog moves, and Tim runs home- Kojo in tow- praying to every god he knows that he won't be late for work.