Meet Cute.

[Nico Park]

Nico stared at the paper in his hands and the series of number scrawled across it in Poppy's handwriting. To a pure blood wizard or witch...it might seem like a puzzle or nonsense. But Nico recognized it as a phone number. A new friend perhaps. A friend of Poppy's from America.

Chewing on his lip slightly, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and typed the number into the address destination before beginning to compose a message.

His brothers were down the beach a little ways and Nickie was just enjoying a sip of water before he rejoined them...but when he had opened his bag to grab his water bottle, her number was still there. And now he was thinking about what Poppy had said.

"I'm sure you'd get along and she's always looking for friends.

So here he was...

Thumbing through his photo gallary, Nico selected the last selfie he had taken and attached it into a message.

Hi! Poppy gave me your number...I'm Nico."

He hummed to himself for a moment before sending it. Once it was gone, he grinned and tucked his phone into the pocket of his shorts before standing and running off to catch up to his brothers.

Kai Wilson

[Kai Wilson]

Kai didn’t usually give out her number to random strangers, but if there was someone she trusted with her entire life, it was Poppy Thomas. So telling her best friend that if she met someone cute in the UK that she thought Kai might like, then, yes. Please give them her phone number. At first it was something of a joke, but a vibration in her pocket one early morning caused her to pull her phone - the only person who’d text her this early was Poppy, but that would be strange considering she should be on the honeymoon with her new husband.

Man, it was crazy to think she was married - Kai still felt like a kid sometimes!

The young witch didn’t recognize the number, but opened the text anyway. “Hi! Poppy gave me your number...I'm Nico.” and it was accompanied by a very. Cute. Selfie. He looked strangely familiar, but Kai couldn’t place him. Before responding, she texted Poppy - Um… you didn’t tell me he was kpop cute! <3 Kai had tried getting Poppy into SHINee, but it was a no-go… for now.

Kai flipped back to the number she didn’t know - Nico’s. What a cutie. ”Hey! Nice to ‘meet’ you - I’m Kai!” and, as he had, sent a selfie Fortunately she was getting up for the day and had been… well, ready.

[Nico Park]

Laughing with Luke about something silly Jay had said, Nico felt a buzz in his pocket.

Pulling the phone out, he noticed she had texted back and attached her own selfie. His eyes grew wide for a moment as he realized she was the same absolutely stunning woman he had noticed at Poppy's wedding. He had tried all night to get the courage to ask her to dance, but by the end of it all...he had left there wondering 'what if'.

And now, he seemingly had a chance to find out!

His thumbs began to move across the screen as he replied, a small smile on his lips.

You're so pretty. I recognize you from Poppy's wedding!"

He hit send and paused, typing another quick message.

I hope that wasn't creepy 😅

[Kai Wilson]

Surprisingly quick reply and that she was a fan of. She smiled at his text, furrowing her brow and that's when it clicked and why he looked so familiar. Poppy's wedding - he was friends with her new husband if she remembered correctly, and brothers with one of Poppy's new best friends.

Oh! That's why you look so familiar. Definitely thought you were cute then and definitely think you're cute now.

While typing, his second message came through and she had to laugh. Not at all <3

[Nico Park]

Her reply came back quick and Nico smiled. He rather liked that. It meant her attention was on him! But as she called him cute, he felt his face flush.

What's got you making goo goo eyes, Nickie?

Nico looked up as Bo spoke and grinned.

"Just texting a friend," he offered as the other brothers seemed to direct their attention his way now. "Poppy introduced us!"

Thumbs tapping across the screen, he replied.

You thought I was cute? I was trying so hard to get the nerve to ask you for a dance!

He slipped his phone back into his pocket, hoping the attention was off him by now but as he looked up, all eyes were still on him. Blushing and smiling shyly, he playfully swatted Bo's arm.

"Guys stop," he whined with a laugh as they kept walking.

[Kai Wilson]

Yes, perhaps that was why Kai liked it too - it meant his attention was on her. She wondered what he was doing at the moment - like her, who was getting ready for the day. That wasn't going to stop her from texting the cute boy on the other end of the line, though. Absolutely not. The three dots appeared under his message and she felt herself smile as the anticipation for his next message grew. When it did come through, her eyebrows rose and she covered her lips with her hands, a habit she'd acquired over the years to hide any sort of blush. It had been a while since someone was able to do that to her - she was usually pretty cool.

You should have

she sent the text, bit down and chewed her bottom lip as she figured out how to word the next part of the message. would have saved the awkward nice to meet you texts not that I'm complaining She really wasn't. Honestly, when Poppy told her that someone might be texting her, she didn't think it would actually come to fruition... Why text someone you can't meet right away? Kai didn't mind. She liked getting to know people first anyway.

[Nico Park]

The boys continued teasing him as they walked...approaching the ice cream stand that was their destination.

His phone vibrated again and he immediately looked down at it.

You should have.

He swallowed a small lump in his throat. This was always the most exciting part of new friendships and relationships. The thrill of the new. Not knowing what was going to happen and being thrilled when it's going good. And Nico got caught up in it every time.

Next time I get the chance, I'll make sure I take it

He chewed on his lip for a moment and typed another message.

Should have messaged you sooner...Poppy gave me your number a while ago but I forgot about it with how crazy classes were! Didn't realize I was missing out this much.

[Kai Wilson]

Kai added lip gloss to her look - not sure why she was getting dolled up just to help her mom in the garden, but she liked... looking nice. And talking to Nico was making her feel all happy inside and she liked feeling happy. That's why when her phone buzzed again, she smiled knowing just who it was.

Except, it wasn't. You've seen pics of Bo, how did u not assume?? Kai rolled her eyes and texted Poppy back - Shhhh which, of course, was about all she could get in the text before Nico did actually text her back, and she smiled, sending her text to Popcorn before flipping it over to the new message.

Ah, this guy was smooth. Poppy also didn't tell her that - she just said that he was absolutely adorable and reminded her of Kai... with the whole sunshine as your personality thing. Maybe someone would have taken that as an insult, but Kai didn't... and in fact looked forward to with great anticipation for something she wasn't sure would have ever come. But... it did! And he was making her blush redder than the tomatoes in her mom's garden. It's okay! Totally get it. Exams can mess everything up, planned or not she started, pursing her lips as she considered what else she could say. It was the last bit of his text that brought the most color to her cheeks and she didn't want to act like she was ignoring it! not sure how much you'd be missing out on, but I'm glad you did!

[Nico Park]

C'mon sunshine...it's your turn to order.

Nico grinned and bounced forward, telling the worker what he wanted before feeling his phone buzz again. His eyes snapped down but he laughed when he saw a message from Alvin teasing him with a 'made you look'. Playfully shoving his older brother, he felt his phone buzz again and this time it really was her.

He smiled softly.

No need to be so modest.

He attached a winking emoji on the end and sent it off to America before sighing and leaning forward to rest his head on Erin's back and waiting for his sweet treat and a text back from the sweet girl across the ocean. The boy was aware he was much cooler sounding over a text message and he knew he'd likely have to let her know that. Especially if they got a point where they decided they wanted to meet up. But for now, he was okay with just enjoying this conversation.

[Kai Wilson]

"Kaili," her mom this time, and she sighed before picking up her phone and tucking it in her back pocket. "I have to go pick up Kennedy from the pool. Any chance you can get started in the garden without me?" Her mom's voice echoed up the stairs and of course, Kai would oblige. Her phone buzzed in the meantime, but she didn't feel like being pressed about her smiles just yet. She knew her mom would be paranoid about her texting someone who lived over the ocean - just like she had been when Kai told her about Poppy getting married. She wasn't sure where this paranoia stemmed but she wished her mom would just... let things be the way they were supposed to go. Nico wouldn't have texted her if he wasn't supposed to.

Her mom left the house and as soon as Kai heard the car start, she pulled her phone out. Cue a small smile, the blonde biting her lip as she reread the message. Have to be, she texted, pausing a moment to decide how to finish the text, you're way too cute to be texting me and here we are... of course I'm going to be shy she popped her sunhat on her head and headed outside to the garden, ready to start pulling some weeds.

[Nico Park]

Their treats came up and Nico nibbled at his cone before grinning and using his phone to snap another selfie. He sent it off to her about the same time her next message came through and his brow furrowed as he read it.

What? Take another look in the mirror. you're stunning!

He grinned as he caught Jay peaking over his shoulder and nudged him before showing him the selfie of Kai so he could understand where Nico was coming from.

She really was a beauty...and sweet as can be.

He tapped out another quick message.

What's going on in America today?

[Kai Wilson]

Kai smiled at the selfie that arrived just as her text went through. He was so cute - she honestly couldn't get over those freckles! He really was so sweet. Kai couldn't remember if she'd ever been called stunning before... Honestly the boys she'd experienced at home were... Far less suave. Nico seemed so genuine, and she wished she could have met him sooner. He seemed like a really great guy!

He asked about America and she sighed, looking around. Not a whole lot - Im sure some people are working and some are hanging out with friends... My sister is at swim meet practice and I'm helping my mom in the garden. She clicked another selfie, checking it over and biting her lip when she sent it.

[Nico Park]

Nico chewed on his lip before tugging on Bo's shirt to get his attention. None of the boys had girlfriends at this point...but Bo was Nico's best bet for advice. He didn't have a girlfriend by choice...he definitely had his pick of girls. Evan too probably but Nico was just so close with Bo.

"Slumber party in my room tonight?" he whispered, hoping no one else heard him. The younger Hufflepuff grinned and nodded before returning his attention back to the group.

Kai texted back and then another photo.

He almost swooned at the sight of it. She was so ethereal and gorgeous.

Beautiful...and the flower is pretty too!

He laughed softly to himself and shook his head before replying again.

I have to warn you...I'm not this smooth in real life!

And that message was off too. He bounced slightly on his feet in nervousness as he waited for a reply, thankful when Bo leaned against him to provide him with much needed physical contact to calm himself down.

[Kai Wilson]

Kai started pulling a few weeds after slipping her gardening glove over her hand. She knew her mom would have something to say if she didn’t get anything done, so she started to get some work done. She wouldn’t blame Nico if he had to get things done for the day, even if he was just hanging out with his brothers - but another moment her phone buzzed, and she slipped her glove so she could unlock her phone. Thank you she typed, before adding I grew it myself! she joked, not sure if he would take it the way she meant it, but didn’t have much time to think about it before his second text came through.

I’m sure I will like you just the same even so she said, biting her lip as she pressed send. Her mom popped around back just then and handed her a coffee - iced, as she liked it - and said she’d be back in a bit. Maybe someone else would catch the way she said she will like him, future tense, as in she’d be going to the UK - but at this point she didn’t know. The more she texted Nico, though… the consideration would get more and more prevalent.

[Nico Park]

Leaning into Bo, Nico smiled with his brothers as he clutched his phone. When it finally did buzz, he looked down to read the messages and grinned...forgetting Bo could look right over his shoulder.

Damn...are you two already talking about meeting? You work fast, Nickie.

Nico blushed and shook his head.

"I doubt she meant it that way," he said with a laugh.

I'm rubbish with gardening...herbology is one of my worst subjects.