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Book, Needle, Pin and Coiny all swung on the swings, along with Fries and Tennis Ball. Woody and Golf Ball were there too, but they weren't swinging. BFDIA had just ended, and Pin begged Book and Needle to swing with her. She also asked Coiny, but he always stuck by Pin’s side, so it wasn't that much of a hassle to do. Needle agreed pretty quickly, Book was a little reluctant but followed Needle either way.
To Book, the swings weren't insanely fun, it was a little awkward, nobody really talked to each other, but they still swung together. Everyone looked like they were having fun, well, except for Fries. He was practically dragged onto the swings with Pin and the others, and unsurprisingly, was the first to get off.
Fries groaned, “I'm bored!! I'm leaving,” He hopped off the swing, not knowing where else to go. He wanted to go find Evil Leafy, but she got ripped apart in a black hole…or something. Everyone else didn't pay much mind to him as he wandered around.
After less than a minute, Tennis Ball jumped off the swings too, “Okay I’m also bored,” He ran over to Golf Ball almost immediately, “Come on, Golfie! Wake up!” He dragged her away as she quickly woke up, but not quite quick enough to get up and run with Tennis Ball.
Book heard giggling towards the other side of the swing. She tried to swing a little higher so she could see what was going on.
Coiny snickered, “He still says he doesn't like her. In my opinion, that's just INSANE! You know, Nickel told me the other day that literally all he talked about was GB…” He continued yammering, he frequently talked about how Tennis Ball and Golf Ball were crushing on each other. He hopped off the swing, Pin wasn't swinging at all so he stood in front of her to talk.
Book slowed down her swinging, and her eyes laid on Needle. She swung just barely, staring at the Yoyle Needy and how it made a silhouette against the sunset. Her calm expression made Book’s heart flutter, and she immediately looked at her feet as she tried to swing a little less awkwardly. By the time she looked up again, Coiny and Pin were already running off somewhere else, Woody was also gone too.
It was just Book and Needle now in awkward silence. That same silence was broken by Needle the second the two of them were out of range from Coiny and Pin, “Y’know… It's funny to me that Coiny is always onto TB about denying his feelings for GB, but he does the same with Pin!” She spoke in that high-pitched tone that wasn't loud or squeaky, but soft.
“Huh? Oh… heh.. Yeah…” Book stammered, she tried to find her words again but her mind was oddly cluttered and her heart was pounding, she had no idea why either. She looked around, trying to focus on something else to make her brain shut up, when she suddenly noticed Needle stopped swinging, staring at Book with a little worry in her eyes. Book quietly chuckled to herself.
Needle was silent for a moment before checking in, “Book? Are…Are you okay?” She didn't even let Book try and come up with an answer before speaking again, “Just now, you've started acting…up, I guess. Like you're nervous.”
Book also stopped swinging, trying to awkwardly look at Needle without making a fool out of herself, “Me? Ha! Do…do you even… I mean… I just won the season, and I was thinking about what else was gonna happen next.” Book swallowed, and smiled, “I- I guess we technically already had that conversation… But.. But i mean-”
“Yeah there's definitely something up with you,” Needle interrupted, “You never stutter as bad as this, I'm not stupid. So… what's going on??” She stood up, still holding onto the chain of the swing. “Sorry, I'm not trying to force you to tell me anything, I'm just worried..About you.”
Book placed a hand on her elbow, trying to figure out something to say. Why was she even acting like this? What the hell really was going on? She's never like this. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Needle walk towards her, and stand in front of her with her hand out. “Here… why don't we hang out at my place? You can even stay over if you want.”
Book was hesitant to go with Needle, but she ended up doing it anyway, “Um… I told Pencil and the others I'd hang out with them.. B-but im sure they won't care! Right?” Maybe she'd feel better being with Needle some more. She placed her hand in Needle’s, and was yanked out of her swing almost instantly, causing her to let out a little yelp. Book couldn't help but admit that Needle always made her smile a little, but something this time was off.
The way her hand gripped onto Book’s made her face get hot. She finally looked up from her feet, to Needle’s hand, to Needle herself. Time felt slower, she watched as Needle turned around to face Book, smiling wide, and how her eyes felt warm in the lighting of the sunset. She didn't want to admit it, but there was something between the two of them that Book loved, or was it Needle that she loved..? She shook her head, trying to shake out all her thoughts.
When the two of them entered the real part of the city, Needle slowed down, allowing Book to catch her breath. She originally had let go of Book’s hand, but couldn't resist reaching for it again as they walked the streets of Yoyle-City. “So… Book, is there anything in particular you're hoping to do? Now that the competition is over?” Needle said, she didn't whisper, but she was still quiet enough that nobody but Book could hear her. “I know we kinda talked about this already.. like you said… but like the small things. Y’know, like something we could do together?”
Together… huh..
Books cheeks turned red as she came up with something on the spot, “Uh… I mean… It’d be nice to just… hang out with everyone… there's really not all that much to do here… since it's abandoned.” She awkwardly chuckled, trying to not explode from the fact that she was just casually holding Needle’s hand.
Oh my word… What is wrong with me right now?
She tried to shake it off and continue their small-talk conversation, but her mind couldn't focus on anything. Needle said something, but she couldn't even pay attention properly. She just responded with a simple “Mhm” and tried to get her mind out of the gutter. Needle randomly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and turned towards Book.
“Are you sure you don't want to talk to me about…” Needle gestured her free arm at Book, “...whatever is going on with you?”
Book tried to laugh it off, but she was very clearly still wandering in her mind, “Needle, I'm fine… It's nothing!” She smiled at Needle, and looked her in the eyes, not expecting to see her looking upset.
“Book.. Is it because of me?” Needles grip on Book’s hand loosened, causing her heart to ache. Technically, it was about Needle, but not in the way she thought. “I don't know, suddenly you're acting all uncomfortable with me.” Book put her other hand on Needle’s and held it up to her face, fighting the urge to kiss it.
It took a lot out of Book to speak up, more than she'd like to actually think about, “I… It’s not that at all! I'm just… It's been an interesting day and all, there's nothing bad about you I swear!” Her breath got a little wobbly, but she didn't feel the need to cry or anything. “Let's keep going, shall we?”
“Yeah…” Needle smiled slightly at Book, making her cheeks flush again. She didn't want to look away from her. Book felt Needle’s hand wrap around hers again, her stomach twirled again. The two of them started walking again, Needle caught Book staring at her a couple times along the way, each time she'd pretend she's looking around her, but she wasn't very good at it.
Needle cleared her throat and slipped her hand out of Book’s, slightly disappointing them both, “We’re here! Ta-daa..!” Needle unlocked her door and pulled it open, letting Book in first, "It's not all that fancy, but it's nice for an abandoned city!”
Needle showed her around quickly before leading the both of them to her room. She sat down on her bed, and moved over, opening a spot for Book to sit. She patted the spot next to her, and Book carefully sat back in it.
Her bed wasn't very big, so the two of them were slightly squished against each other, neither of them thought that was bad, though. Needle broke the short silence between them, “Do we wanna watch a movie or something?”
“Oh… that sounds like fun..!” Book looked for a remote on a nightstand or something, before Needle crawled over her, lifting her whole body above Book with one hand, the other rummaging through a drawer. Book hovered her shaky hands below Needle, ready to catch her if she fell over. She could smell Needle’s perfume from this distance, it smelt like a vanilla-lavender combo, but she was obsessed with it.
Book didn't mean to speak, but she ended up blurting out, “...You…you smell… pretty good.” Needle found the remote, but paused upon hearing that, looking up at Book who had slouched a little, trying to hide her embarrassed blushing, “Sorry! I- I uh…”
“Really?” Needle interrupted, “I do?” She sat up, staring at Book’s flustered appearance. Book looked like she was about to say something, but stopped herself, and nodded. “I thought you might like it…” Needle added, before cutting herself off, “That's not meaning i bought it BECAUSE i thought you'd like it… it was just… a thought.” She quickly sat back down on her side of the bed. She pointed the remote at the TV across the rooms a few times before it actually powered on.
The air between the two of them was thicker than usual…as if both of their feelings were the same.
…Maybe?
No. There's no way.
Book cleared her throat quietly before speaking up again, “So…what are you thinking we watch?” She fought the urge to completely melt into Needle’s arms just looking at her, "I'm fine with anything.” The main reason she didn't really care is because she accepted the fact that she might end up falling asleep, or just staring at Needle…
Needle wrapped her arm around Book’s waist and pulled her closer, making her lean on Needle’s shoulder. Book was a blushing mess, she loved the way her arm felt around her. She listened to the silence other than Needle’s soft breathing and the outside world. Needle picked out a random movie, it didn't matter, it's not like either of them would actually even be focused on the movie anyway.
Halfway through the movie, Book felt herself drifting asleep slightly, she fought to keep her eyes open. She glanced at Needle, who was staring at her, smiling. Book felt herself blushing for at least the millionth time today, but she didn't turn away. She sunk into Needle’s shoulder more.
Although she was barely asleep, she managed to mumble out 4 words. The first four she could think of, to let Needle know she was still awake,
“Mmhm…I love you, Needle.”
She didn't even notice what she had truly said until Needle gasped a little bit, before responding with definitely more energy than she had, “I…love you too…Book…” Those words made Book almost immediately sit up and WAKE UP.
“I just said that…” Book whispered to herself, she looked up at Needle, who was also blushing like she was. After the two just stared at each other for what felt like 30 minutes, Book started laughing. Nothing was funny, but she just laughed. Tears slowly welled up in her eyes. She wiped them with her palm and quickly stood up, facing away from Needle to make sure she didn't see her pitiful expression.
“Hah… I think I'm gonna go use the restroom real quick…” Book speed-walked towards the door as Needle tried to catch up to her but her leg got stuck in part of her blankets.
She tugged her foot out of her bed, trying to stop her, “Wait! Book! I-” She got cut off by the sound of her bathroom door shutting and locking. It felt like the whole world went completely silent.
As soon as the bathroom door was locked, Book dropped to her knees, probably about to start crying her eyes out, with an occasional breath hitch. She took off her glasses to wipe her eyes, a couple tears fell from her face into her hands. She was trembling like crazy. What the hell was she thinking? Confessing out of nowhere? Right when she thought the two of them were getting somewhere. She stopped crying, put her glasses back on, and stood up, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
She heard a quiet voice from the other side of the door. Needle’s voice. “Book… I really do love you… I- I don't know if you meant that or not… but I do.” The door slowly creaked open. Book looked up at Needle’s watery eyes, and immediately pulled her into a tight embrace.
“I'm sorry, Needle.” Book said through her tears, “I love you too. Really…” She pulled away and examined Needle’s face, before being unable to look away from her lips. Book lifted her hand up and wiped Needle’s tears.
She smiled at Book before pulling her in by the waist, their faces being inches apart. “I think I know what was up with you earlier..” Needle snickered, “I just think you were just in love with me…hm?” Book cupped Needle’s face with her hands, and pulled her in, pressing their lips together.
Needle froze for a moment, before stumbling into the kiss, pushing the both of them against the sink in the bathroom. Book was the first to pull away, knees weak. Needle had pinned her to the counter, while Book still had her hands cupped on her face, afraid that if she let go, she’d lose her.
“Oh my word…” Book whimpered, she was about to say something else until Needle pulled her face in again, this time more passionately than before. Book could taste the chapstick she had applied, and it only made her go crazier. She ran her hands through her straightened hair, tangling it around her fingertips. Needle parted from her, attempting to catch her breath, but she was pulled back in almost instantly. This time, Book’s tongue rubbed against her lips, feeling her lip ring as well, teasing an entrance. Their tongues intertwined against each other, and Needle slid a hand up Book’s back.
They both pulled away for a moment, panting like crazy. Needle stared into Book's eyes as she tried to calm her breathing down. Needle leaned in to kiss her again, when Book’s phone started ringing. She sighed and reached into her pocket, still pinned to the counter by Needle. It was Match. Match never really calls her, leaving the both of them torn on whether or not to answer it. She decided to just answer.
The moment she answered, she heard Match’s voice, “Book!! Where like, are you??” Not even a hello, she tried to collect herself and not seem suspicious.
“Sorry, I uh… can’t make it tonight” Book shakily answered, she could feel her heart beat out of her chest, and she couldn’t keep her eyes off Needle and her lips, which made her heart beat even more.
She heard Pencil’s voice, muffled, “We could always invite Needle over I guess,” Needle looked Book in the eyes, and giggled a little.
“Heh..Hi guys!” Needle cheerfully said into the side of Book’s phone, “Yeah, um…I can’t make it either…Sorry.” She wrapped her arms around Book tighter, fighting the urge to kiss her again.
You could hear Pencil on the other side get closer to the mic, “Wait, Needle and Book are together?” Pencil questioned, “Is something going on over there?”
“No! Nothing's happening. Bye.” Book frantically tried to say some sort of goodbye/excuse mix before hanging up on her, but it only made Pencil more suspicious.
The second Book hung up, Needle pulled Book in to kiss her again. She was taken by surprise, before wrapping her arms around her neck again. Book slid her hands down Needle’s shoulders while slowly leaving small kiss marks around and on her jawline. She carefully moved her head down towards Needle’s neck, and pecked kisses there too.
Book pulled away from Needle, staring at her with a soft smile, before burying herself in her chest. “I love you so much…” she whispered, playing with a few strands of her shiny hair.
Needle pressed her lips on her forehead, and held her in her arms for another minute or two, “I love you too. I’ve loved you since forever…” She ran her hands up and down her back. Needle didn’t want to pull away, she didn’t want to get off of her.
The smell of Needle’s perfume on her glimmering satin shirt practically left Book hypnotized. Needle pulled away, looking Book in the eyes “Oh, I just remembered I have something for you…” Book looked up at Needle as she dragged her into her bedroom, looking for something under the bed. She pulled a small box of things out from under her bed.
She watched as Needle sat on her bed with that little box of trinkets in her lap. She took a couple things off the top, and pulled out a huge, silky, red ribbon. She ran up to Book and handed her the ribbon, “Here! I thought it would look cute on you”
Book held the ribbon up, looking at the edges. It almost resembles a bookmark… Needle spun Book around and took the ribbon out of her hands, “Needle? What are you doing?” Book was honestly pretty happy to see Needle this excited about something.
“Shush! You’ll see…” Needle finished tying up Book's dark, wavy hair. She brought Book to a mirror in her room. The two of them stared at the girls half-up-half down ponytail, wrapped in a big red bow. Her bangs had green and blue highlights in them, perfectly clashing with the ribbon. “Oh my silver, how am I supposed to think of anything else when you look this gorgeous?” Needle smiled at Book, and placed a small kiss on her cheek. She smiled at her back in the reflection, and turned around, pulling her into a tight hug.
After they both pulled away, Needle yawned, reaching for her phone to check the time. It wasn't too late at night, but Needle wasn't the type to stay up late and get up late. Book reached into her pocket to peek at her phone too, she probably had a thousand missed texts from Pencil. She skimmed through them, seeing Pencil’s contact over and over again. She had said all kinds of things.
“book i swear if ur staying the night at needles i will flip!!!!!”
“nvm match just told me u were.”
“I know there's something fishy between you two!!!! you guys were breathing heavy wtf was up with that huh??? dont even try and make up some lame excuse”
She sighed as she tried to reply to Pencil, without making it obvious she had just been making out with Needle for a while. She sat on the bed as Needle picked out some of her favorite pajamas from her drawer, she also handed Book a thin zip-up jacket and fuzzy black shorts to sleep in.
“Pencil, relax!! We are just hanging out, okay??!?!?”
“suree whatever”
“if you arent gonna tell me i GUESS ill just stop texting you.”
Book placed her phone down on the side table by Needle’s bed, and looked at the clothes she was going to let her wear, she had no idea where she even was, so she quickly slipped on the jacket and shorts. The second she finished getting them on, she smelt Needle all over her. Her heart practically beat out of her chest, remembering the fact that they had been kissing against the counter not that long ago. Her cheeks flushed a deep red. The bedroom door creaked open, and Needle walked back in with her cutesy pajamas, something neither of them would have expected from such a tough, athletic girl like her.
Seeing Book wear her jacket made Needle want to kiss her for hours, it almost looked better on her than it did Needle herself. She sat down next to Book, who still had the ribbon tied in her hair. She stared at her, noticing every little detail in her face. Her big doe eyes and heterochromia, her red and gold oval glasses, the freckles around her nose, the vitiligo patches on her face and under her eye, everything. She stared at the smile on her lips, and slowly leaned in to kiss again.
This kiss wasn't as wild and impulsive as their first one together, but this time it was soft and sincere. To be honest, it made the both of them go crazier for each other. Needle leaned over towards Book, holding her hips with one hand, and the back of her head with the other. Book had her arms wrapped around Needle's stomach and up to the top of her back the whole time, sometimes digging her fingertips into her velvet pajamas.
Needle pulled away, catching her breath, and yanked Book onto the other side of her bed against the wall, giggling for no reason. Their arms and legs intertwined, leaving no room between the two of them. Book couldn't help but snicker at the fact that the competitive and tough version of Needle was clinging to her like her life depended on it. She slowly brushed her fingers through her sleek hair. After a few minutes of silently staring at each other, Needle’s eyes fluttered shut.
Book typically always was the first to fall asleep at things like sleepovers, but Needle was surprisingly the first. She smiled, watching Needle try and stay awake but failing. “I love you Needle…” She kissed the top of her nosebridge and hugged a little tighter, soaking up all of her warm touch. Barely awake, she tried her hardest to say it back, “I…love you…even more…” she muttered, “You’re so pretty…I love you, Book…” She finally went to sleep, buried in Book's shoulder.
Even though she found it absolutely adorable, watching Needle fall asleep made Book get sleepy too. She closed her eyes, unable to stop thinking about the beauty of a girl in front of her. Needle’s body against Book’s made her mind a chaotic mess… she loved it. Eventually, she went to sleep, holding the love of her life tightly in her arms.
–
By the time they both woke up, it was around 10:30, which was late for Needle, but she didn't want to wake up Book by moving around. Book rubbed her eyes with her hands. She couldn't see very well without her glasses, so she tried to feel her way up. Noticing that Book was awake, Needle sat up too, guiding her. Book’s vision wasn't the worst, but it wasn't good. She could see the shape of Needle, and laid her head on her shoulder until she woke up a little more.
Needle placed a short, sweet kiss on Book’s lips, “Good morning Book…” She moved some of the messed up strands of hair out of Book’s face, trying to get a better look at her face. Book sat up a little more. She turned towards the bedside table, trying to spot her glasses, but Needle beat her to it by grabbing them and putting them on for her.
After she successfully got them on her face properly, she turned towards Needle, “Good morning,” She smiled at Needle, who clearly rolled around in her sleep. Book fixed her shirt wrinkles and untwisted her sleeve for her. “You’re adorable when your hair is a mess,” Book giggled, “I can’t- I… um…” she started stammering as Needle got a little closer to her.
Needle reached over Book’s head and adjusted her big red ribbon that she put in, making her face warm up almost instantly. Needle left her arms wrapped around her head, laying her elbows on her shoulders. “You were saying?” she teased, she knew Book wouldn’t be able to focus on her words. The both of them burst into laughter. Needle dragged Book towards the kitchen to eat breakfast, nudging each other on the way down the hall.
Book barely even thought about the fact that she won Dream Island.
She couldn’t think about anything else.
She truly loved Needle, and she promised herself she’d never stop loving her.