Disclaimer: Nope, don't own anything.
Author's Note: I've hit a little block in Serendipitous Scandal, so I thought I'd explore some new plot bunnies in the mean time.
For this specific oneshot, I wanted to explore a different PPG theme. All my fics so far focus on dual identities and the Reds having to hide their real identity from each other, whether it's professional like in TMSA, superpower like in Two Lives, or spy like in Serendipitous Scandal.
So in this oneshot, the Reds are perfectly aware of each other, but come to some new understandings concerning "good" and "bad". I've set this in a no-powers, regular-AU, so Brick's not evil, just "bad".
I got the idea from the cute little tumblr quote: "Every girl wants a bad boy who's willing to be good just for her. Every boy wants a good girl who's willing to be bad just for him". I thought it fit the Reds perfectly.
Anyways, this is a little taste of what my contest prize would be. A Reds oneshot, but the winner will be able to choose the premise, plot, whatever! It'll be completely up to you what you want, and I'll bring your idea to fanfiction through an awesome oneshot. SO ENTER MY CONTEST! Guidelines are up on my profile and you've got until July 15th. I haven't had a single entry yet, so there's not much competition so far. PM me if you have questions. I'll be sporadically available on the internet due to summer vacation, but I'll try to get back to you ASAP.
Enjoy! And knowing my overactive imagination, there'll be more fun Reds oneshots here soon! :)
...
Blossom frowned deeply as her pink eyes lingered on the sweaty, virile chauvinist she knew as Brick Jojo. On her way home from the library, she didn't mean to take the shortcut that went through the football field, but as she neared the area her grim look darkened. She really ought to pay more attention next time. Because there was nothing, no one else in the world she loathed more than Brick Jojo.
Her attention once again lost in her thoughts, the college senior slammed into something hard. Something warm. Someone undeniably male. She felt taut pectorals and sweaty arms wrap around her and warmth crawl up her neck in embarrassment. She was the epitome of grace, and such clumsiness was completely unlike her. Swallowing her pride and biting her lip, the petite redhead looked up to apologize for her lapse in attention and balance but when her gaze locked onto to smirking crimson eyes her lips immediately grew downward.
"Blossy, this is a pleasant surprise," the odious quarterback grinned at her obvious discomfort in his arms. He had turned for a split second to call out to a fellow player when he felt a lithe, curvy body slam into his own. His arms worked by reflex as they gathered the voluptuous woman towards him and it wasn't until he caught her cold stare when he realized who she was.
In four years at Princeton, Brick had found a myriad of words to describe her... Pedantic. Cold. Haughty. Supercilious. Incorruptible. Righteous.
But never once had the word sexy come to mind. Dressed in a pleated rose maxi skirt and flowy white top that hid her curves well, he would've never been privy to what they held within. But her every curve pressed up against him belied the truth. Her fiery copper locks and angry pink eyes only seemed to augment her appeal.
Unnerved by his treacherous thoughts, he quickly let go, hoping she'd tumble to the ground. But Blossom caught her balance easily and now two steps away from him, she could glare at him with more objectivity.
"I don't like to be manhandled, Brick," she said coldly.
He scoffed, "As if any man would want to handle you. And If I didn't know better, I'd say you were checking us football players out just now," he smirked.
Her coral orbs narrowed, "You're always so full of yourself."
"And you've always got a stick up your ass. What's new?" the taller redhead threw his head back as he took a swig of water, offering Blossom a golden view of his bobbing adam's apple. She loathed his complacent sense of masculinity. How he could have any woman he wanted for the night, only to discard her the next morning. Any woman except Blossom, that was.
"Considering you're still a horrible person, I'd say, not much," she replied tersely.
"You ought to lighten up, goody two-shoes. Getting laid might work wonders for you. If you could find someone willing to do it, that is," Brick chuckled.
Anger flashed in her pink eyes. It was irresponsible to solve every problem in the world with sex. She abhorred his subscription to that belief and loathed the actions he took to support it. He was a profligate- he drank, he gambled, he slept around. He toyed with women for his own amusement and then eagerly dumped her the minute he lost interest.
"You're disgusting Brick," her nose crinkled in incensed revulsion.
"One of my best qualities Pinky," he shrugged cockily. "You should try it some time when you're not busy saving orphans or feeding the poor," he spat.
"You make that sound like a bad thing," she narrowed her eyes. How dare he belittle her acts of humanity?
"You wouldn't know bad if it bit you in the ass," Brick snorted.
The petite redhead just glared at him furiously before storming off wordlessly, unable to put her indignation in words.
...
Biting her plump glossed lip, Blossom fleetingly wondered if she made the right decision that night. After her heated meeting with Brick, she left feeling uncharacteristically insecure. Excelling in academics, holding leadership positions in a plethora of university organizations and being an outstanding member of society were normally enough for Blossom. But that afternoon, Brick's words cut deep. She resented his carefree, reckless attitude and for once, she decided to give into the urge to try it.
As Blossom tugged on the hem of her sparkly magenta miniskirt, she sighed a breath of relief. One night of crazy partying and she could put these silly doubts to rest. In order to maintain her glittering reputation and remain a role model, the redhead had judiciously chosen to visit a club on the outskirts of town, far away from the university campus and the students who would immediately recognize her.
She took in a deep breath and exuded a confidence she didn't yet feel as she strode to the bar to the rhythm of her strappy ribbon-around heels. She flashed the bartender a dazzling smile and gracefully slid into a seat beside a promising potential dance partner.
...
Brick ran a hand through his perfectly disheveled auburn locks as he confidently strutted into the new club in town. He had grudgingly changed plans at the last minute when his regular hangout had been unexpectedly closed. Deciding he'd seen too much around the campus area, Brick decided to visit the new establishment in hopes of meeting some fresh blood.
Grinning and nodding at the people who flocked towards him, a glimmer of red caught the corner of his eye and the quarterback craned his neck to gain a better view. At the end of the bar stood the most perfect woman he'd ever seen in his life. Long, shiny copper locks, tight curves highlighted by a ruffled black spaghetti-strap tank and glittering pink skirt that revealed long, milky legs that stretched on for miles- she was the most amazing specimen of woman Brick had ever laid eyes on in his life.
At that moment, he knew he wanted her. He had to have her. There was no way he'd let such a beautiful woman escape his grasp. Smirking, he returned his attention back to the crowd of people gathered around him and casually took his goodbyes before he set out for his next conquest.
Turning towards the bar and assuming his lazy, magnetic smirk, Brick's eyes darkened to see that she had completely vanished.
...
Blossom rubbed her elbows as she looked at the skyline, her eyebrows crinkled and her smile long faded. She had escaped the massive horde of people in the club by escaping to the empty rooftop with an incredible view of the town. The crisp spring wind blew her auburn locks to the side and she drew her arms close around her to escape the chill.
Blossom sighed. This is what she wanted, right? She wanted one night where she could abandon her good-girl persona and engage in profligacy. She drank, she flirted, she danced... That's what people like Brick did every single night instead of studying at the library or volunteering at the shelter. She had an opportunity to be bad. Why couldn't she take it? Why didn't she feel the rush of adrenaline that she'd heard so much about and secretly longed for? Why didn't being bad feel as good as she thought it would?
She shook her head and let out the breath she forgot she was holding. She had to quit wallowing in self-pity if she wanted to experience life and do something completely un-Blossom-like. And she had a chance. The night wasn't over just yet.
Not by a long shot.
...
"I've been looking all over for you," a smooth voice rumbled from behind the scantily clad redhead.
Her eyebrows crinkled. Why did that voice sound familiar? She turned around to face the man who approached her when her eyes widened. "Brick!" she exclaimed in realization before whipping around to face him, coral orbs wide.
If he had to guess the identity of the mysteriously sublime girl he'd followed up to the club roof, Blossom Utonium would've been the very last person in the world he'd have thought of. She was an arrogant goody-two-shoes who never showed skin, let alone could even think about hanging out at a club like this. He felt his jaw drop and a strange swirl of emotions curled up within him. Shock, lust, curiosity... And something else he couldn't exactly name.
"What are you doing here?" she asked anxiously, her harried expression marring her porcelain face.
Brick shut his jaw, then opened his mouth to reply, "I think the better question is, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the library studying for Keane's final tomorrow?" he questioned, still incredulous of Blossom's appearance at such an unholy establishment.
Her mouth twitched upwards in what was almost a smirk, "I didn't think you kept up with your classes, Brick."
"I don't," he grit his teeth, angered that she thought he was doing something good. He was a 4.0 student, but he took pains to hide his grades from his peers. If word got out that Brick Jojo studied and actually took his education seriously, his reputation would crumble and his fellow classmates would roast him alive. Especially Blossom. Hell, she'd lead the entire thing. He frowned, "But you never answered my question. What's a good little girl like you doing at a place like this?"
"Maybe I'm tired of being a good little girl," she answered quickly without thinking. Once the words escaped her mouth, she regretted them. She had told him too much.
"Oh, really?" he chuckled, taking a step closer to bridge the distance between the two. "I never would've guessed," he whispered, taking a lock of her perfectly curled hair in his fingers by reflex. He should've let go of her hair and made a bee-line back downstairs, but he felt an indelible tug towards her. He didn't want to leave.
Blossom was as surprised at his action as he was. What was Brick Jojo, the worst person she had ever met, doing right now? And why did she like talking to him, being so close to him? Why did she feel more excitement in the past few minutes when he had appeared than she had the entire night?
"What are you doing, Brick?" she murmured as his hands snaked around her dainty waist.
"Something I never thought I'd want to," he answered honestly as he pulled her close to him while they rocked to the muffled rhythm of music below. Blossom should've laughed at the absurdity of the situation, but she couldn't bring herself to extricate herself from Brick's arms. She was playing a dangerous game right now, but it felt too good for her to quit just yet.
Impulsively, she stood up on her toes and grabbed Brick's neck to kiss him. She felt her lips mold with his warm ones and was surprised when he deepened the kiss. She knew he knew what he was doing, but she was exactly the type of woman he wouldn't do it with. She eagerly complied and ran her hands through his copper locks and down his muscled torso.
She felt a wave of disappointment wash over her when he pulled back. Confused, Blossom looked into his dilated pupils, feeling arousal blanket her. Why had he stopped? Was she not good enough for him? A rush of cold air assaulted her as he took a step away.
"You need to go, Blossom," Brick said gravely, his mouth a grim line.
A familiar jolt of fury shot up in her. Brick Jojo could not dictate what she did! "I don't think so," she narrowed her eyes at his use of her actual name. He always had ridiculous pet names for her, but never had she heard him refer to her by her given appellation. A surge of confidence prompted her next comment, "Why'd you pull back, Brick? Chicken?" she taunted.
His eyes darkened at her and for the first time, Blossom felt herself quaking under his smoldering glare. "Damn it, woman. I'm trying to do the right thing here," he growled.
"The right thing?" Blossom murmured bemusedly as she took a step towards him to study his sudden change in behavior. "Are you feeling alright?" she asked, placing a hand on his forehead to check his temperature. It was blazing.
He swatted her arm away from him, keeping her at a distance. He couldn't let himself give into temptation. One kiss with her had inflamed passions he'd never felt in his life, but Blossom was too good for him. He couldn't hurt her like he hurt other women. She was different.
"Don't touch me," he scowled, trying to scare her off. At her vulnerable, wounded expression, Brick felt a piercing feeling stab him in the side. When had he started to care for her feelings? All of a sudden, why did he want to wipe the sadness from her eyes? Why did it matter to him? He wasn't supposed to give a damn. But now he did. "Blossom," he croaked. "Don't do this. I won't be able to stop myself if you come any closer." It came out like a plea.
At his words, her eyes lit up and she smiled a genuine smile. "I don't want you to stop, Brick," she whispered, taking a step towards him and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Don't. Blossom, you're too good for this," he said weakly, completely undone by her radiating beauty and sacrosanct goodness.
"You're not as bad as you think you are, Brick. Not as bad as I used to think you were," she murmured, her fingers grazing down his stubble. "Plus, it feels pretty good to be a little bad," she confessed as she kissed him once more.
And as he returned her kiss with plenty fervor, Brick had to concede that being good wasn't really all that bad either.
...
What'd you think? I hope you liked it! Don't forget to review! :)
And I hope you consider writing an entry for my contest! It'd mean the world to me!