NEIGHBORS.MARK

sixteen

On the night of Ava's birthday, Mark surprised her by telling her to get dressed up. She wore a tight green dress and Mark wore a nice suit. They got teddy together, then hopped in Mark's car. As they drove, they listened to their favorite music and told fond stories until they got closer to their destination and Mark handed Ava a blindfold.

"A blindfold? Kinky." Ava teased him as he made her slide the bandana over her eyes.

Mark nearly drove himself off the rode, "I'm sorry what? This is not the time to be saying provocative shit like that. Don't make me pull over. Because I fucking will. I will pull over so fucking fast that we both get whiplash."

"You know what else could give me whiplash?" Ava grinned, her eyes covered by the bandana.

"This is so not fucking funny. Please be quiet and go to sleep or something."

Ava laughed, hearing Mark get increasingly flustered, "Are you thinking about it?"

"Siri FaceTime the DREAM BOYS groupchat."

"FaceTiming the DREAM BOYS."

"What are you doing?" Ava asked still blindfolded, but now facing Mark in confusion.

"Shut up Ava, I'm-" Just as Mark was about to justify himself, the boys all began to pick up. First Chenle, then Jeno, and then Renjun, Jisung, Jaemin and Donghyuck.

"What's up?!" They all asked in a hyper tone as the FaceTime call was quite unexpected.

"Please say sad stuff! Like such sad stuff! Like stuff that'll make me so sad I cry." Mark pleaded as Ava laughed.

"Why? Also, hyung, you look nice! Where are you headed?" Jisung asked as Mark answered quickly.

"It's Ava's birthday so we're headed to dinner. But please that is besides the point. I'm like driving, right? And I asked Ava to wear a blindfold so I can surprise her."

"Kinky." They all said as Ava started screaming 'right?!'

"No not kinky! Just a simple gesture to surprise her, and her comment was completely uncalled for and then she said something about whiplash. And now I need you to tell me sad things so I don't fucking explode into a million pieces of sexual repression." Mark screamed as half of the boys laughed and the others looked on in disgust.

"Ava, please let Mark hyung have sex with you so he stops complaining." Jeno pleaded as all the boys agreed.

Ava laughed and Mark got flustered which resulted in him telling them he was hanging up and them wishing Ava happy birthday once again. After that, he put his music back on and they continued to drive under the light of the moon and the stars.

|

"Mark, reservation for two." He told the waiter at the front desk of the fine dining restaurant he had taken Ava to for her birthday. It was a large rectangular building with two stories. The walls were covered in wide windows that allowed for a picturesque view of the mountains and night sky. The concept of the restaurant is fine dining under the stars. It's secluded in a canyon that is far from light pollution, which is perfect for viewing the stars.

Ava was in awe when she had gotten out of the car and the blindfold was removed. She thanked Mark and told him she loved it.

They were seated on the second floor of the restaurant. There were couples and families throughout the building and the hum of classical music wavered faintly in the background. Their table was seated next to a window that had the perfect view of the sky and of the beautiful mountains.

After talking for a bit, ordering and eating their entrees, the couple placed an order for some dessert that would be taken to them on the top of the restaurant. The roof was elegantly furnished with couches and chairs, as well as heaters so customers could enjoy the night sky comfortably. Ava and Mark made their way upstairs, Ava leading the way as Mark trailed behind her, holding her hand. He quickly used his hand that she wasn't holding onto to transfer the jewelry box that he would be gifting her from his suit pocket into his pant pocket.

Once they reached the top, Ava gawked at the view and hugged Mark tightly.

"It's gorgeous here." She smiled as her hand was placed over his chest.

"It is, isn't it?" He grinned as he placed a kiss on the top of her head.

Ava shivered and rushed her hands over her arms to warm herself up, "It's chilly up here."

Mark guided her to the couch that was underneath an outdoor heater that radiated warmth from fire. He then draped his jacket over her shoulders and kissed her lips before sitting next to her. He saw their wait for the dessert they had ordered as the perfect time to gift her the necklace.

"Ava." Mark started as she looked at him with her soft brown eyes, "These last several months with you have been the best of my life. I've never smiled as much, laughed or even thought as deeply as I have with you. As I've gotten to know you, I've realized how insane the universe must be to have allowed you and I to have our stupid and bad thoughts intermingle."

Ava laughed at his sincerity, "I've also felt a strong gravitational pull towards you. I don't know how to explain it, just this weird force that makes me want to be with you. Always. And I guess that's what some might define as love. A love that is much more than love. Not something so tangible as others make it seem. But something far more fantastical... cosmic, I guess. And sitting out here with you, underneath the lights of all the stars and the shadows of the mountains, I've realized why you like to imagine the stars shine just for you. Because you're extraordinary. A complete gem that I found by chance. Your heart is wide, your thoughts are fascinating and your love for what you do makes you a wonder. And all these qualities make me understand that the stars surely shine just for you. They do... they have to."

Mark stopped as he saw the waiter from the corner of his eye arrive to give them their dessert. He waited as the waiter placed down the sweets and then continued once he had left.

"I know it might seem like I'm rambling." Mark started again as Ava held their eye contact, "My point is, I can feel the love from the stars seeping through. And I feel it all around us. Every ounce of it just for you. And I love that I get to love you."

As Mark finished, he pulled the box out from his pocket and opened it for her. Ava put her hand over her mouth as she was shocked at the necklace's beauty. Mark laced it onto her neck as she repeated 'thank you'. As he sat down again, Ava kissed him deeply and snuggled into him as they enjoyed the night and the sweets they had been brought.

"I love you, too, Mark." Ava whispered as she looked him deeply in the eyes.

And that's when Mark saw them.

The stars and cosmos swirling in her eyes.

They twinkled and danced like delicate ballerinas in the night sky. They stared into his soul and made him feel such a comfort that he had never felt before.  He watched as they blinked shut and open. His heart starting to feel that pull again. The gravity pulling them together. The cosmos aligning just for them. The circle of cosmic energy swallowing them.

And that is how they wanted it to be.

———-

That's the end of Neighbors!!!! I hope you loved it 👉🏼👈🏼.

Make sure to watch out for my other 7DREAM books, as well as support my ongoing Chenle fic!!!

Love you all!!

-Mames