I created this fic with Idreamt_once on Ao3 and she write a lot of it so basically all credit goes to her. GO READ HER FICS

China Line

smol_dolphin: why is ten crying again

Kunniang: johnny left him on read

Sichenggg: johnny's taking a dump rn

Sichenggg: maybe thats why

Injunnie: tmi, bro

yuk-HEY!: i hate this chat

smol_dolphin: the door is over there

Injunnie: dang ok chenle, no chill

"Taeyong!" Ten called out. The red-haired man whipped around at the sound of his name, a smile blooming on his face when they made eye contact.

"Ten!" Taeyong hopped up, pulling Ten into a hug.

"I can't believe this went through," Ten said. A devilish sparkle twinkled in his eyes.

"Why do you look like you planned this?" Taeyong asked suspiciously.

"I'm just excited, that's all."

"'M tired," Taeyong groaned. He and Ten had finally learned all the choreography. Six hours spent in the dance studio. Taeyong's phone lit up. Ten passed it too him, but not before glancing at the screen. Jaehyunnie.

"You have a text," Ten said. He made a mental note to make fun of Jaehyun later, but his heart softened at the expression of joy on Taeyong's face.

"You're so whipped," Ten said. Taeyong ignored him in favor of reading the text.

"I know," Taeyong replied airly, not glancing up. Ten rolled his eyes. Sappy romance made him want to throw up. Taeyong giggled at his phone. Ten got up to check his own phone.

Kunniang: [johnnyugly.jpg]

Kunniang: still think he's hot?

Nine: where tf did you even get that picture

Kunniang: yukhei

Kunniang: but thats not the point

Nine: still a hot hunk

Kunniang: [johnnyugly2.jpg]

Nine: wtf is he doing

Kunniang: according to yukhei

Kunniang: he's pissed off

Nine: good

Kunniang: ohmy god

Nine: that was my entire goal

Kunniang: i'm not even going to question

Nine: good, dont

Kunniang: you should talk to him

Nine: if he talks to me first

"I hate my life," Johnny said for the eight-hundredth time that evening. Yukhei learned to tune him out after the first three times. Taeyong still wasn't back from practice, which meant that the other members were either sleeping (Jisung), doing homework (Renjun and Jaemin, hopefully), eating (Yukhei), or doing shady stuff in their rooms (Yuta and Sicheng). And of course, Johnny was in the depths of his despair, moping around in his room. He wasn't jealous of Taeyong, per se. Ok, he kind of was jealous that Taeyong got to hang around Ten. He had half a mind to drive the the dance studio and, under the guise of picking Taeyong up, make a move on Ten. He buried his face in his pillow. Yukhei's loud chewing echoed in his mind.

"Can you chew any louder?" Johnny groaned into his pillow. Yukhei paused for a moment, before resuming at twice the volume.

"Don't be sad, big baby," Yukhei said, mouth full, "everything is going to be alright."

China Line

Kunniang: alright

Kunniang: i am sick and tired of ten complaining

Kunniang: lets make a plan

Sichenggg: everytime taeyong leaves for a practice

Sichenggg: johnny mopes around

Sichenggg: hes getting on our nerves tbh

Injunnie: wait but why us

yuk-HEY!: i'm so down

yuk-HEY!: johnny is getting annoying

Injunnie: hes been annoying for the whole week

Injunnie: since taeyong and ten started rehearsing

smol_dolphin: i have an idea

smol_dolphin: but does johnny have a car

Sichenggg: yeah

smol_dolphin: alright, listen here

"This is such a bad idea," Jaehyun said when he parked the car in the lot, right next to Johnny's. Johnny shrugged.

"You want your man, I want mine," Johnny said. Jaehyun crossed his arms.

"And how do you plan on making this work out?" Jaehyun asked.

"I mean, we've texted several times," Johnny said, "I think we're chill?" Jaehyun face-palmed.

"Last time, and then we should go home," Taeyong promised. Ten reluctantly stood up. Once they had finished, Ten and Taeyong packed their backpacks and went downstairs. Jaehyun was waiting at the foot of the stairs, a smile on his face.

"I'm not sure if you're here to pick me up, or to pick Taeyong up," Ten said teasingly. Taeyong's face flushed scarlet.

"I'm here to pick up the more attractive one, of course," Jaehyun said cheekily. Ten brushed past Taeyong.

"Thanks for picking me up, I really appreciate it!" Ten sang. Jaehyun gave Ten a shove.

"Screw off, go get a ride from your own man," Jaehyun laughed. He walked forward and took Taeyong's hand.

"Call up our manager," Jaehyun said to Ten, "he's gonna drive you home. I'm taking Yongie out for a ride."

"Wait, we could take him..."Taeyong started. He promptly froze when Jaehyun leaned down.

"Let's go, sweetheart," Jaehyun whispered in Taeyong's ear, leading him right past Ten and out to the parking lot. Ten stood there in false shock. How dare Taeyong and Jaehyun be a happy couple right in front of him! Ten stood awkwardly in the lobby, waiting for his manager.

"Don't bully Ten like that!" Taeyong said as soon as Jaehyun had started the car.

"Don't worry, I'm not bullying him," Jaehyun said. Taeyong huffed and looked away.

"Wait, isn't that Johnny's car?" Taeyong asked, eyeing the car that was turning away from them. Jaehyun put his hand on Taeyong's knee and drew small circles, temporarily distracting Taeyong.

"I'm the one taking you out tonight, stop looking at Johnny boy," Jaehyun said. Taeyong looked at Jaehyun.

"I thought you were taking me home?" Taeyong asked.

"Yeah, but did I say whose home?" Jaehyun smirked at Taeyong's flushed cheeks and panicked expression.

Ten was scrolling through his phone when a car pulled up. Thinking it was his manager, he got up and walked towards it, only to realize: it was not the company car.

"Hop in, hot stuff," the driver said, rolling down his window.. Ten squinted at him, but he pulled open the passenger side door anyway.

"Didn't expect you to come," Ten said lightly.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to get into a car with strange men?" Johnny retorted, pulling out of the lot.

"You're not a stranger," Ten muttered. He felt the butterflies in his stomach flutter; a new feeling, Ten was always confident, but something about Johnny makes him shy and want to be hugged. Such a bottom, Doyoung would say.

"Well, sit tight, we're having some fun tonight," Johnny said, "put on your seatbelt. No protection no fun." Ten's face flushed. Johnny glanced to the side, loving the way the passing streetlights reflected in Ten's dark eyes.

"That was such a bad joke," Ten said, slapping Johnny's arm. Johnny grinned.

"I've got more, want to hear them?" Johnny asked.

"No, but yes," Ten said. He loved hearing Johnny talk, loved the way his voice was deep and soothing. Johnny cleared his throat, willing the confidence to bubble up.

"I'm taking you for a ride, and hopefully, tonight ends with another kind of ride."