overture | newsies imagines

ben fankhauser || truth-or-dare

There was a time when you were desperate for guys. When you still wore glasses and that pudgy stomach still existed under too-large sweaters and your face couldn't seem to decide whether it wanted to be clean of break-outs or covered in makeup. However, that was when were still surrounded by teenage girls obsessed with their bodies.

Now, you were an adult, and felt being independent was all you needed. No love, no crushes, no nothing. All you could focus on in your world was your career; which, currently, was going amazing. You were a featured actress on Broadway in the incredible show Newsies.

Of course, being surrounded by Newsies— at first— made you question whether or not you wanted to keep your self-made promises. But, after meeting everyone and bonding with them over late-night rehearsals, you figured they were much better seen as brothers than movie-dates.

And, currently, they seemed to unattractive, you were questioning your earlier motives.

The god-knows-how-many of you were splattered across the ensemble dressing room floor, playing truth-or-dare. The men were concocting the most disgusting of dares, ultimately making your decision between the former and the latter for you. Andy was dared to stick his head in the toilet, Tommy to lick Ryan's foot, Garett to eat Laurie's week-old birthday cake, and Jeremy to run around the building in his underwear.

They slowly went around the circle, until your name was called and you were asked to pick. "Truth," you quickly emitted, receiving many groans and eye-rolls. "Oh, shut up."

Jeremy, who was sweating and still shirtless, laughed and thought up a question, "Oh! If you had to date anyone of us, who would it be?"

He glanced to his right, where Ben, Garett, Ryan, and Tommy sat. You gave a suspicious look to all five of them, getting shrugs and wandering eyes in return. You shook your head and scoffed, "None of you. You're all so gross and like a family to me. That'd be practically incest."

Jeremy turned his eyes to the back of his head. "Just pick someone!"

You groaned, "I suppose, if I had to pick someone, it'd be Ben. He's sanitary, my age, straight, cute, and mature. I can't say the same to the rest of you."

You took a short look at Ben, thinking absolutely nothing of the blush on his cheeks. You complimented him, any normal person would be flattered. Jeremy rolled his eyes once again before you were asked to pick someone for the constantly repeated question.

"Ben," you flicked your brows to the sky teasingly, "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," he bustled out immediately, seemingly nervous to talk to you.

"Good choice," you winked at Ben, "I dare you to ask out your crush. Not now, or here, but sometime within the next twenty-four hours. Okay?"

"Okay." He turned an even deeper shade of red and began picking at the material of his blue jeans.

Slowly, the game shut down and everyone began to leave the theater. Rehearsals had ended hours ago, and everyone was beyond exhausted— physically and mentally. You were picking up some of the things from your dressing table, situating them in their right spots and fixing the mess you'd made earlier. A finger tapped your shoulder while you were straightening a bobble-head of your Newsies character.

You spun around to face Ben, nearly chest-to-chest with the tree-statured boy. His cheeks blossomed and he stepped back. You laughed awkwardly. "What's up?" You leaned against the counter, tapping your bare foot against the carpeted floor.

He stumbled over his words, fingers picking once again at his blue jeans. "I-I was wond-ering if-if you wanted t-to go to out with me-me somet-ime?"

You hung your head low and shook your head lightly. You felt dread completely wash over you, making your heart hammer in your ears and your hands to grow sweaty. "Ben, I'm sorry, I can't."

He took a shaky breath and turned his head. "Oh. Wh-why not?"

You sighed, "I really don't want to date anyone right now, okay? I meant everything I said earlier, about you being cute. And there's so much more about you that's amazing— but I just need to focus on myself right now, okay?"

"Yeah," you noticed him wiping at his cheeks, and reached out for him. He accepted the right embrace vulnerably, careful as to where his hands rested on your back.

When you tore apart and he went to leave, you grabbed his hand. "Mayb-maybe in a little while. Maybe when Newsies is over and I've gotten myself established, we can go on a date. Ben, I really do like you, but I just can't."

He left without saying a word.

[theres definitely going to be a part two.]