American Cliché - Finneas story

Dinner and Laughter

Chapter Twelve: Dinner and Laughter

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As the credits rolled, Y/N stretched, letting out a soft laugh. “Okay, I’ll admit it—good pick, Finneas. You’ve got taste.”

Finneas smirked, giving her a playful nudge. “You sound so surprised. I thought you knew that about me by now.”

“Oh, I do,” Y/N teased back, her eyes twinkling. “I just didn’t want to inflate your ego too much.”

Billie rolled her eyes with a grin. “Alright, lovebirds, how about we get some food? I’m starving.”

“Agreed,” Y/N chimed in, her stomach rumbling slightly as if on cue. They opened up a food app, taking turns picking items to order. Y/N went for some classic comfort food, while Finneas tried to tempt her with his favorite dishes, slipping in a few gentle flirts that made her laugh.

“Come on, trust me,” he insisted. “You’ll love it. I have excellent taste, remember?”

“Fine, I’ll try it,” Y/N relented, looking at him with a smile. “But if it’s terrible, I’m holding it against you forever.”

“I’ll take my chances,” he replied, his gaze lingering on her for a second longer than necessary.

As they waited for the food to arrive, they fell into light conversation, Billie occasionally jumping in with questions for Y/N. The more Y/N spoke, the more Billie found herself genuinely charmed. Y/N’s words were refreshingly humble, each answer down-to-earth and thoughtful, with none of the pretentiousness Billie was used to seeing in people who knew her brother.

“So, Y/N,” Billie asked with a curious smile, “if you could travel anywhere, where would you go?”

Y/N thought for a moment, her face lighting up. “I think I’d love to go somewhere quiet, like a small town in Italy. Somewhere I could just explore and try new things without a schedule, you know? Just… take it all in.”

Finneas smiled at her answer, his hand finding hers again. “That sounds perfect. We’ll have to make that trip someday.”

Y/N’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at him, her expression soft. “I’d like that.”

Billie watched the way they interacted, the way Y/N naturally fell into a rhythm with her brother, and couldn’t help but smile to herself. Every so often, Y/N would crack a small joke or give Finneas a playful nudge, each one lighthearted yet affectionate, showing just how comfortable she felt with him.

Before long, the food arrived, and they all dug in, laughter and conversation flowing as they shared bites and swapped stories. Y/N was fully herself now, her laughter coming easily, and every so often, she’d throw a lighthearted flirt Finneas’s way, just enough to make him laugh and shake his head, a soft blush coloring his cheeks.

As the evening wore on, Billie leaned back, watching them with quiet contentment. Y/N wasn’t here for the fame, the attention, or any sort of hidden agenda. She was here for her brother, and Billie could see how much it meant to him. It was clear in every soft glance, every laugh, every subtle brush of hands.

And in that moment, Billie knew that Y/N was exactly who she’d been hoping Finneas would find—someone genuine, someone who could see him for who he was.