ˢᵃᵘᵈᵃᵈᵉ

alan frog 𝔁 fem! reader
𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕝𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕓𝕠𝕪𝕤

❝ you don't go to santa clara high, do you? ❞
❝ uh, yeah... i've been in your
class since seventh grade. ❞

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞. "That woman is totally going to bury you alive," you rushed out, glancing over your shoulder before giving into the giggles of your friends, Maisy and Laura.

"From what I've heard, we wouldn't be the first," the latter joked. 

"Yeah, we all know Old Sarah has a hundred graves dug up," Maisy added, tickling your arm with her manicured fingers. "Legend says, she's waiting for her last victims to complete her graveyard."

"'Legends says?' She's only fifty," you laughed, shaking your head as the girls snickered.

This was a regular occurrence, walking around Santa Clara at night. The board walk was great, open every night of the week and never failing to attract old and new customers. You and your close friends always hung out by the docks, seeming to find a new stall each time you went.

Glancing up, your eyes locked onto a bright sign illuminating the words 'Frog Comics'. Your interest was piqued, and your friends could only watch with confusion and amused smiles as you walked towards the store. 

Out in the front of the shop, a cart was placed in the center of the walkway which carried, what looked to be, hundreds of comics. You hummed in wonder, picking one up and padding through the pages as Maisy and Laura came up behind you, stationing themselves on either side of you. 

"This place is a dump," Maisy stated bluntly, looking further into the store with an incline of her head.

"I think it's cute. Quirky," Laura defended with a frown, smiling sweetly at a couple that walked past her with a plastic bag containing some comics.

"Brandon's been obsessed with the Batman ones," you absentmindedly stated, glancing up from the comic you were looking at. "I'll see if they have some."

"His birthday is coming up," Maisy nodded before cooing, "I can't believe he's turning seven. Your brother is adorable."

"He's also a little shit," you sighed, rolling your eyes. "He's at that age when all he does is whine and cry."

"Yeah, but I bet it's precious," Laura countered, laughing and bumping your shoulder with your own when you huffed.

Venturing deeper into the store, you looked around for signs to see if there was any indication of what isle you should be looking in. 

Finding none, you sighed, deciding to take initiative and walk towards the front desk. Upon arriving, your brows furrowed in confusion when seeing the old couple sleeping against the wall, their mouths parted, and eyes covered by round black-rimmed glasses. 

Leaning forward with a bite of your lip, you checked to see if anyone was packing something into the cupboard, before tapping the bell on the desk. 

It rang loudly, and you waited for a moment for anyone to arrive. A sudden shuffling from behind had you turning around, only to find two boys around your age. One was shoving the other's shoulder, to which the blonder boy hissed and cursed. The former turned to fully face you with a look of bewilderment, taking in your form with a blink. 

"Uh, hi," you interrupted his reverie with a small smile, waving softly. "Do you guys work here?"

The black-haired boy didn't answer, instead opening and closing his mouth in a sad attempt to speak, but no words seemed to come out. 

"Yes," his friend supplied, his voice incredibly deep and forced. 

"Oh, great," you breathed out. "I'm just looking for the Batman comics. I'm getting a gift for my little brother. Could one of you help me find them?"

"Sure." He didn't sound all that interested in your reasoning, instead focusing his attention on the boy beside him. Looking back at you, he nodded whilst placing a hand on his shoulder. "My brother, Alan, here can show you."

With a rough shove, Alan was pushed towards you and could barely brace himself against the counter without squishing you. You glanced up at him with an amused grin as he busied himself with moving away from you.

"This way," he muttered, and as you glanced over at your friends with a wave, he used the opportunity to push his brother just as roughly, the boy falling into one of the book stands. 

You snapped your head over to the side, wondering what had made such a noise, however, Alan's grunt urged to look back at him. He was standing by the aisle, his eyes focused on you as you walked closer.

"Oh, perfect," you smiled upon seeing the familiar black-clad hero on the cover of the glossy comic, delicately lifting the book into your hand. It was the proper copy, the next in the series and you decided that due to the price, you would grab the forthcoming three. "I'll just grab these, thanks."

"Your brother has good taste," Alan spoke up, glancing at the comics in your hands.

"Yeah, he's obsessed," you chuckled. "My dad got me some when I was a kid, but I never really got into it. One day, Brandon found them in the corner of my cupboard and next thing I know, he's begging me to get some for his birthday."

"You're a good sister."

The compliment threw you off, and you looked up at him with a raise of your eyebrows. You thought it was incredibly sweet of him to say, and you thanked him softly with a kind smile. Alan gulped upon the sight of it, reaching a hand to his neck and scratching it. 

It was only then that you got a better look at him that you... recognized him. Tilting your head, your scrutinizing gaze must've made him nervous, for he cleared his throat and averted his eyes, a flurry of red painting his cheeks.

"Wait... I recognize you," you mumbled with a squint of your eyes. "You don't go to Santa Clara high, do you?"

"Uh... Yeah," Alan murmured. "... I've been in your class since seventh grade."

Your eyes widened, a hand slapping over your mouth in shock. "Oh, my God, I'm so sorry!" you apologized, a horrified look overcoming your face. "I can't believe I said that."

"It's fine, really," he assured gently.

"Maybe it's the school air...?" you offered in hopes of saving yourself from a moment of embarrassment, although it came off as a questioning remark.

"Right," Alan nodded with a quirk of his lips, huffing out softly through his nose.

There was an awkward tension as he led you back to the checkout, slipping around the desk and taking the comics from you and scanning them through. You were watching him apprehensively, embarrassment and remorse flooding your body. 

Quietly, he placed the comics into a plastic bag and read out the price, "That'll be eighteen dollars and ninety cents." You pulled out some cash, handing him the green bills as he nodded. 

"I'm really sorry, Alan," you apologized again, taking the bag from him when he handed it over the counter.

"It's okay, Y/N," he said, looking up at you from the cash register with a soft tilt of his lips. "No need to apologize. You've got a busy life, I've got... something like that, so it's fine. Really."

You sighed, nodding before waving at him. "I'll see you at school?"

"Sure."

Turning, you nibbled on your lip, meeting Maisy and Laura at the storefront. They questioned you on why you looked so sad, and you explained half-heartedly about the encounter. 

"Oh, yeah, the Frog Brothers," the latter remembered. "I remember them. Kind of. They were labelled as weirdos."

"Yeah, don't feel bad, Y/N/N," Maisy shrugged.

"But I do!" you huffed. "He was so sweet, and I just stood there staring at a kid who's apparently been in my grade for the entirety of high school."

"Oh, my God," Laura giggled. "You seriously don't remember him? He was your partner last year for the biology assignment."

You nearly cried, crying out as you buried your head into your hands. Maisy and Laura could only console you with a pat on your shoulder.

Back inside the comic store, Alan sighed longingly as he watched your figure melt into the crowd outside. His brother, Edgar, approached him with deep-set frown, shoving his shoulder harshly.

"Would you stop doing that?" Alan yelled, pushing Edgar back with just as much force.

"Look, I know you've been pining for that girl for like four years now, but that doesn't mean you reduce sale price for her," his brother huffed.

"Shut up. It was only..."

"Twenty dollars then the original price?" Alan huffed, glancing away from his brother who simply sighed. "It's not my fault she doesn't know who you are."

"Hey, at least she recognized me."

"Barely," Edgar snickered.

A few days later, you found yourself back in front of Frog Comics. Walking inside, you looked around the store and found it to be relatively empty, except for three or four dawdlers. Taking a deep breath, you walked towards the point of sale and smiled shortly when you saw Alan leaning against the wood of the desk, eyes tracing the words and pictures of a... Batman comic.

"Alan," you called, coming to a stop in front of him.

His eyes lifted from the page so quickly that they nearly rolled into the back of his head, and he lifted himself up from the desk, blinking rapidly as he looked at you.

"Y/N," he breathed. "Wha- What are you doing here?" 

"I was wondering if you-." You shrugged a shoulder. "If you wanted to hang out at the board walk."

Alan's mouth opened for a moment as he processed your proposal, before closing it and glancing around the shop. He cursed gently, sighing deeply. "Edgar's not here... And I would have to close store."

"Oh, that's fine," you said, shaking your head. You didn't want to admit that you were dejected, instead fixing him with a small smile and a lift of your shoulder. "Maybe another time, then."

"Yeah," Alan mumbled, the tone of his voice just as disappointed as his face.

You left the store with a goodbye, wishing you could leave with him instead. Your mind flurried with thoughts as you stepped out into the walkway of the small shopping lane, the familiar arching circle of the Ferris wheel at the end of the aisle.

Back in the store, Alan sighed, pinching his eyes with calloused thumbs as he scowled to himself. 

"Why'd you lie, man?"

He looked up, finding his brother, standing across the counter with a box full of comics and a scowl. 

"Get lost, Edgar," Alan huffed, glancing away.

"You're an idiot," the boy frowned deeply, annoyance painting his features. "I mean, you've been in love with her for years and she asked you out? And then you reject her?"

"It's not that simple."

"Oh, man up!" Edgar groaned, racing around the desk and wrenching Alan by the arm, forcing him towards the storefront. Shoving him outside, he gestured wildly to the start of the boardwalk up ahead, where your figure was walking, short dress billowing softly in the wind, hands stuffed in the pockets of your jacket. "Look at her, man. You're dream girl is walkin' away from you and you're just gonna let that happen?"

Alan stared wistfully at you, shoulders drooping for a moment. He hated to admit it, and probably never would out loud, but his brother was right. For all his dumb, frizzy haired worth, Edgar was right on one thing; He was a goddamn idiot for letting you just walk away. 

"When did you become so wise?" Alan asked, taking a step forward and glancing at him.

"Always have been, you were just too busy looking for any possible flaws," Edgar shrugged, sending him a pointed glare. "Which I don't have. Now go!"

Alan nodded, and not a moment later, he was racing towards you, your name slipping past his name in a shout. Your head lifted, and your body turned, eyebrows pulled into a confused frown before softening when you recognized him. 

The boy stopped in front of you, slightly out of breath as he regained his composure, dipping his head forward to meet your eyes. 

"You... You found someone to watch the store?" you wondered gently.

"Yeah..." he nodded, his lips quirking. "Edgar arrived just in time."

"Remind me to thank your brother."

"I wouldn't want you to build his ego any bigger than it already is."

You chuckled, and he immediately joined you, his snicker deep and resonating through his chest, just like the coarseness of his voice. Glancing towards the board walk, you shrugged a shoulder in gesture.

"So, you still keen to hang out?" you asked.

"Definitely," he answered immediately, awkwardly smiling.

You returned it with your own, before excitement overwhelmed your body, and you were gripping his large, tanned hand in your own and leading him towards the stalls. The board walk was busy at all times of the day, but night always seemed to attract the most attention. 

You and Alan spent a good hour or two exploring the stalls and shops, waiting in long lines to go on a few rides. It was only the third ride that you realized Alan was terrified of heights. As he hurled over the side of the bin in a dark corner by the Wind Twizzler, you consoled him with soft pats at his back and later dabbed at his sweaty face with a wet towel you got off a food vendor. 

"You should've told me," you sighed, lowering the towel when you had cooled his face.

"You were having fun," he mumbled. "Why would I ruin that?"

Your heart squeezed at the words, but you shrugged nonetheless, pointing him with a disapproving raise of your brows. "I don't think your idea of fun was throwing up, though."

"As long as you enjoyed yourself... I'd throw up any day."

You couldn't help but giggle, shaking your head as his face heated up in embarrassment. "That was corny."

"Too corny?"

"Mm, just the right amount."

Helping him stand, you took a moment to slide your hand down his arm before linking your fingers with his own. Alan watched the entire time, eyes wide and a blush covering his cheeks. Leading him towards the ice cream stall, you ordered two chocolate and strawberry swirl cones before walking towards the beach with the cold treat. 

"I still want to apologize for what happened the other day," you said when you had found a comfortable spot on the sand, overlooking the dark beach. Groups of people in different numbers dotted along the sand, some by campfires and others simply walking together. "You probably thought I was an asshole, didn't you?" you asked with a nervous smile.

"N-no! Of course not," he reassured within a second, placing a hand on your upper arm in a moment of comfort. "I mean, sure, my ego was a little bruised, but I'll live."

You nodded with a smile, nodding your head whilst Alan watched you with a tilt of his head. Sighing, you looked over at the ocean again before looking towards the boy beside you.

"Tonight was really fun," you stated honestly. 

"It was," he agreed, his tone soft. "You know, I always wanted to do something like this with you." The confession had your eyes widening, and you pinned him with a questioning gaze. Alan breathed in deeply through his teeth before continuing, "It's gonna sound pathetic but even though you didn't know who I was... I've had a crush on you since freshman year."

"You're joking," you breathed out.

"I wish," Alan sighed. "And I probably just ruined whatever was happening here with that."

"No, you didn't," you assured almost immediately, leaning forward to catch his eyes which were downcast. "Don't worry about it, okay? Let's just... sit. Talk."

Alan looked at you, and he gulped, nodding. "I can do that."

"Good," you smiled. "Cause I wanna do it in the future. A lot."

The grin that pulled at his lips was adorable, and you linked your arm with his, resting your head against his shoulder as you breathed in the salty air. 

"I can do that too."