#Ashton did make some good character steps though and it was cool they had a talk with Percy

[danwhobrowses]

Well another week of Tal and Ashley putting Callowmoore through the emotional ringer. I'm kinda okay with where it's at right now (okay less kinda but I can still see an end goal for them), of course it wasn't the most ideal direction I thought up in my head but it rarely ever is. There's time, there's room, and maybe in 2 3 (again guys? mental torment for 3 again?) weeks time - because no show on Thanksgiving and then Candela Obscura - Tal and Ashley will pull the trigger and not leave me an anxious mess like they have the last month and a half every Friday Morning when I have to work XD

#don't get me wrong I expected Fearne to show stress and it is good that Ashton apologized as personally as they could #I just desired a sweeter shippier flavour of events...but I can wait #not forever mind you I still crave the positive emotional payoff #kinda bummed after all that the shard rejected Ash though seems a bit like sour grapes from Matt - but it's his decision #like if you can make callowmoore a thing as an early birthday present that'd be cool just throwing it out there #Ashton did make some good character steps though and it was cool they had a talk with Percy #critical role #bells hells #ashton greymoore #fearne calloway #callowmoore #ashton x fearne #fearne x ashton #taliesin jaffe #ashley johnson #glad we can get rid of this manipulation discourse though they were pretty clear that it was just stupidity rather than manipulation #feel like they have to have their talk before going to the key so I'm hoping for something even more precious and irreplaceable being share #cr3 spoilers #critical role spoilers #c3e78 #the whole feywild 'couples retreat' would be a good way for Fearne to realise her fear of losing Ashton is because she loves him #the whole 'love is enduring pain' theme being thrown in a lot this ep #While Ashton uses the feywild to connect to the earth and be better and realise that he loves Fearne and they're (k)enough as they are now #probably some Orym guidance/ass kicking needed for that too #idealism of course but I need to hope it goes good because if it goes bad it just ruins my week(s)/life #Chet was great this episode with the tough love and challenging Ashton to be better but of course Laudna needs to be kept an eye on #I accept the character directions but mentally and emotionally I am not okay

[clickerflight]

Fleeting: Part 2 - Jaguar

I finished this earlier this week and just forgot to post it. Introducing a new character! She is very cool :)

Masterlist

Part 1

Content: Female whumpee, vampire whumpee, human whumpee, whumpee on whumpee violence, pet whump, captivity whump, dehumanization, interrogation, torture, broken leg, minor character death, cannibalism? I guess? Let me know if I missed anything this part is a bit crazy.

.......................................

Jaguar laid out on the cold stone. There had been a time where it had bothered me. At least, she was pretty sure there had been a time. She couldn’t really remember. She couldn’t really remember what it was like to be warm, to have soft things. She knew those things existed, she knew she had experienced those things, but she couldn’t actually picture what she was doing or where she was or who she had been when she last had those things. 

Now there was cold hard stone, silver chains coated in something to keep it from burning her, and hunger. There was always hunger. Even after she was fed she was hungry. There were just too many years to catch up on and too much silver and too many beatings to heal from for her to free herself from her exhaustion and hunger and aching pains. 

Speaking of being fed, Jaguar heard movement outside her enclosure. Out in the hall. The only thing she knew of besides this room as she caught glimpses of it through the door as it opened and closed for her prey. 

She sat up, licking her lips and whiskers, prowling back and forth now, her back hunched up as she paced on all fours as far as her chain would allow her, a soft clinking filling the room where the chain wasn’t coated and where her claws clicked on the floor. 

The sounds were close enough she could make out the words now. She knew she shouldn’t understand them. She was Jaguar. She was not a person, but she understood them anyway. It was a good thing, she reasoned. It meant that she obeyed even better. 

“Hear that?” a voice laughed. “Our Jaguar is hungry.”

She growled low at that. It was good that her Master was pleased after just hearing her moving around. 

“Come on, guys, I didn’t know that information was bad,” said an unfamiliar voice. It was shaky, scared. It was prey. “H-How did you even get a jaguar?”

“How about you take your guess since that’s what you seem to be good at. Guessing and telling us things as though it were fact.”

“Come on, Ashton, I swear I didn’t-”

There was a blow and the prey yelped in pain. It made Jaguar want to throw herself against her chains to try and get to the door. She was well trained, though. She wasn’t going to misbehave. Not when her Master was already on his way with food. She licked her tongue over her fangs, tail twitching as she waited. 

The door opened and there was her Master. There was a guard behind him who dragged her prey in. She growled, prowling forward, watching the way the prey’s eyes started to bug out of his head in fear, but her Master clicked his tongue. 

“Back, Jaguar.”

Jaguar, still growling low in her throat, did as she was told, her tail flicking back and forth behind her. 

“That’s an actual jaguar,” the prey gasped as the guard hauled up the overturned chair- Master had given her permission to knock it around and play with it as she liked when they were gone- and forced the prey down on it, tying his hands to the chair. 

“Not quite,” Master said, approaching Jaguar. He ran a hand over her head, rubbing her ear for a moment before he stepped back. “Did you know that many ancient vampires gain more powers as they age?”

“Y-yes….”

“Some of the really old ones can access animal forms,” Master said, grinning at the fear on the prey’s face. 

“That’s a vampire!? You can’t be serious! I thought you hated them!”

“Oh, but she’s not a vampire anymore. She’s my Jaguar.”

Jaguar purred at that. She was his Jaguar. No matter the complex thoughts in her head, she could always be his big soft cat when he needed. Or she could be his weapon. Whatever he needed. 

“Now, Nathan. How about you explain to me why you fed us that false information. I know for a fact you didn’t just make it up for some extra money. Who told you to tell us that?”

The prey struggled against his bindings. “No one told me! I overheard it from Yacy and his guys. I didn’t know it was false! Should I have done some extra research? Maybe, but how are you supposed to research a cult like that when the police have already licked up every scrap of information about them and hid it from the public? My police contact got busted last month, remember?”

“Mmhmm, I heard about that. Was it Muir?” 

“Yeah,” the prey spat. “No one can keep a contact in the police for more than a few weeks anymore because of that goody two shoes.”

“Mm, we have been meaning to deal with him. It’s tricky when he’s so ingrained in the community, nevermind him being Hemijeoa. But tell me, Nathan, if that were true, then what is this?”

Jaguar saw him lift up a device. She still wasn't certain about what they were for, but she knew they somehow conveyed information. But she was just a jaguar, it wasn’t like she needed to know how to use one. 

Whatever was conveyed, it made the prey go very pale and very still. Jaguar licked her lips, kneading her paws into the stone in excitement. 

“That’s what I thought. Wanna tell me what actually happened?”

The prey swallowed hard, but he set his jaw and shook his head defiantly. 

Master smiled, his eyes flickering to Jaguar. She sat ready at attention. 

“Ocelome.” 

She growled in response to her other name. He always mispronounced the words a little, but that was okay. The old words always soothed and excited something deep within her. Something that couldn’t really be remembered anymore. She just knew that she liked it, especially when the prey couldn’t understand it and it only made them more scared in return. 

“Xopitzactli.”

The command was clear and familiar. She threw herself forward, the sound of the prey’s scream echoing off the stone walls as she dug her teeth and fangs deep into the flesh of his leg. She felt the bone snap, tasted the fresh blood that gushed out onto her tongue, and ripped away with a large chunk of flesh that she eagerly threw into the air and snatched up again, mostly to impress her Master and scare the prey, but also to release her excitement over the feed as she began chewing on her prize. 

The prey was still screaming, thrashing and sobbing loudly as Master stepped forward, grabbing Prey by the hair to force him to look at him and keep him from toppling the chair over. 

“Wanna tell me the truth now? I’m happy to let my Jaguar play with you for a while if not.”

The man sobbed for another long moment, shaking and babbling on until Master shook him by the hair. 

“It was Cortez! Please, please! She blackmailed. Please, help me, please!”

“Cortez,” Master said, looking displeased. Jaguar hoped he wouldn’t take his anger out on her. 

He sighed. “Should have known. The boss won’t be happy about it. Ah, well. Thanks for helping out.”

Master turned, along with the guard. Jaguar licked her lips, whiskers quivering with excitement as she waited for the signal. 

“Wait! Aren’t you going to untie me?” the prey said with tears streaming down his face, shaking as his leg still bled on the floor, filling the room with the scent of his adrenaline and fear. 

“I know Cortez is good at swaying people, but I can’t have people thinking they can get away with lying to me. Jaguar, have your fun with him.”

With that, Master and the guard left and the door clicked shut. 

Jaguar leapt on the man, his screams echoing off of each wall as she scratched at him, the chair falling back. 

The force of Jaguar and the prey falling shattered the chair and the prey managed to free himself from her, skittering across the room to the far corner, Jaguar right behind him. She imagined digging her teeth into his skull, her fang sinking in through his eye socket as the other crunched right through the bone. She would-

She slammed against the end of her chain before she could reach the man and she fell back, choking and coughing, scrambling to get back to her feet. 

She was at the end of her line and he was in the corner. This had never happened to her before. There was so much blood smell, the prey was right there! She yowled, swiping at him, trying to reach him, but there was nothing she could do. 

The prey babbled and cried in the corner, cowering and pushing himself further against the stone. Jaguar tried, unsuccessfully, for ages to try and reach him. Still, her exhaustion got to her eventually and she went back to where the chair was, flopping down to lick up the blood from the floor. This was all she was likely to get. Would Master be disappointed in her for failing to kill him? But she was only a jaguar. Only a cat. How was she supposed to know what to do now? How was she supposed to succeed here? She couldn’t undo the collar. She didn’t know how. 

She resolved herself to bear whatever Master had in mind for her. She was only a cat. She couldn’t catch her prey when she was too stupid to undo her collar. 

…………………………….

Ashton came back to the room of his pet. The vampire wasn’t very healthy looking. He ought to feed her more often. She was all ribs and eyes and teeth. He was annoyed by how patchy her fur was starting to become. Why did she have to be so high maintenance? 

He opened the door to a surprising sight. His jaguar was laying in the middle of the room next to a broken chair. She looked up from where she was licking up blood, eyes big and sad and pleading, and he quickly realized why. Nathan was pressed into the corner, pale and shaking. Ashton was very aware that the corner was out of her reach with the collar. 

“Jaguar. You haven’t killed him.”

The vampire lowered her head, ashamed. 

Ashton sighed walking forward. He looked down at her and said, “What are we going to do with you? What good are you for if you can’t kill your prey when it’s all tied down.”

The vampire let out a whimper, laying her head against her paws. 

Ashton laughed and kicked her in the ribs, taking a moment to savor the way she curled in on herself before walking over to the wall, reaching up, and undoing the clasp on the chain. 

Jaguar looked up sharply when she heard the chain hit the floor. 

“Go get him,” Ashton said with a grin. The grin remained as he watched his jaguar, his prize and pet, jump at Nathan. The grin only grew wider when Nathan’s screams were replaced by a satisfying crunch. 

“Good girl,” he said quietly. 

Part 3

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From Dust to Ashes: @whumpsday @honeycollectswhump @writereleaserepeat @tragedyinblue @hyrules-sleepiest-knight @why-not-ask-me-a-better-question @thecyrulik @gt-daboss @currentlyinthesprial @pigeonwhumps @not-a-space-alien

#whump #fleeting #vampire whumpee #female whumpee #pet whump #captivity whump #dehumanization #whumpee on whumpee violence #human whumpee #interrogation #torture #broken leg #minor character death #cannibalism #jaguar

[tydelwve]

Withdrawal

Characters: Calum x reader

Word Count: 2727

Warnings: angst is the name. also smut (but not full fledge)

Summary: Calum goes through withdrawals of missing you.

Beta(s): none. all mistakes are mine.

Author’s Note: So basically this fic was born when @cxddlyash​​ asked me to make a fic out of the song Guest Room by Echos[bold]. With the help of supportsos, I was able to make it into the masterpiece it is! ITALICS MEANS PAST. Hope you guys like it! Feedback is always appreciated! enjoy xx

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I know that I'm better off on my own

I wish I’d never let you sleep in my room

Been thinking about a way that I could take back

The night I lost myself in you

“Cal! I’m so glad you’re back!” you got up from the booth to give him a hug and a quick kiss before he sat across from you. “How was tour?”

“It was really good. I missed you a lot,” he playfully pouted, placing his hand on top of yours.

“I missed you, too. I wish I could have come, but my boss…” you paused.

Calum nodded, “Is an ass. I know.”

You both laughed for a few seconds before it fell silent as you enjoy each other’s presence after being away from each other for so long.

“Tell me all about it,” you leaned back with a soft smile.

His eyes widened, “About what? Tour?” He shook his head, “I don’t want to subject you to crazy stories that could possibly take hours to tell.”

“Touring is a big part of your life. I want to know about it!” you remind him and urge him to tell you as much as he wanted.

He let out a sigh and started talking about everything that happened in the past months. You actively paid attention as he told you all the ups and downs that he encountered, sometimes adding your own opinions to make small talk.

After a few hours of catching up on his life and laughing, you guys noticed that it started getting dark.

“I guess we show head out, huh?” you suggest.

“We didn’t even talk about how you’ve been. We talked about me this entire time,” he said in disbelief. 

“We talk about me almost all the time, Cal. I want to get to know you better. Today was meant to be about you. You deserve to talk about anything and everything. I don’t want you to feel like we have to talk about me or you have to just listen to me. I’m here to listen to you, too. Always.”

Calum paused, unsure of how to respond to what you said. Not many people have deliberately told him that they want to hear him speak and value what he has to say. You’re the first girlfriend who’s ever felt the need to let him know that you wanted to get to know him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” you asked in concern as you both got up.

“I don’t think anyone has cared about me the way you do before.”

You gently placed a hand on his cheek with a smile. “Your mental health is just as important to me as my own. I’m always going to make sure you’re okay.”

In that moment, Calum swore he fell in love with you. 

You know that every time I hear your name I replay

Your fingertips against my frame and lose faith

Been praying for a way that I could feel saved

But I'll never get over you

Calum had zoned the boys out as he scrolled through his photos, looking at all the old pictures of the two of your together. 

He sadly smiled as the memories of you flashed through his mind at every photo. 

He swore he could hear your voice and feel your touch when he looked at them. It felt as if he could almost relive the moments and be happy again.

His thumb hovered over a video of you two that slowly became his favorite over the time that you were with him.

He hit play, not fully prepared to hear your voice after months of being without you.

You set up the camera with a grin before walking over to Calum and wrapping your arms around him as he made breakfast.

He raised an eyebrow as he glanced back at you with a small smile. “Good morning to you, too,” he hummed.

You placed a kiss on his shoulder blade with a soft sigh. “You’re never up this early. What do I owe this surprise?”

“It’s your big day. You have that final presentation in your class today, right?”

You nodded, “You didn’t have to do this for me, though. I could have had cereal.”

“The key to a good performance is a good meal so go get dressed, and I’ll let you know when breakfast is ready.”

You hummed, letting go of him with a pout. “No kiss?”

Calum chuckled, turning around to give you a quick kiss before turning back.

You walk towards the camera the camera as you say, “I love you.”

“I love you more,” he spoke before the camera cuts.

His head snapped up at the sound of Ashton calling his name. 

“Yeah? Sorry, I’m kind of out of it,” he confessed, sniffling a small bit. 

Ashton gave him a sympathetic look as he sat down beside him. “Maybe you need to get out of your house, Cal. You need some fresh air,” Ashton suggested.

“I just… I miss her. Everything I do reminds me of her.”

Wish that I had never let you love me

Although you said you never did

“I can’t be with you anymore, Cal,” you spoke as you gathered the things you had at his place.

Calum paused in his bathroom door frame as he looked at you. “What?” he softly asked, believing he heard you wrong as he took a few steps towards you.

“I want to break up,” you look at him.

“Did I do something? Tell me how to fix it. I can’t lose you, Y/N,” he ranted, coming up to you as tears formed in his eyes. 

“You can’t fix this.” You picked up your bags and walked out of his bedroom. 

He followed close behind you. “Let me try. I’m not going to just give up on you. How can I fix us?”

You turned around to face him with a shaky breath. “I don’t want to be with you anymore. I just don’t want to be in a relationship. I thought I was ready to settle, but I’ve realized that we’ve gotten a lot more serious. I’m not ready for that.”

“Is it because I asked you to move in? Please don’t do this, baby. I love you.”

He rushed in front of the door when he notices you turn back around to leave.

“Look at me. Baby, please.” 

You look up to see the tears rushing down his face. “Let me go, Cal. We’re done. We’re over.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know! Okay? I don’t have a good reason. I just know in my heart that you are meant to be something bigger than me. I know in my heart that I can’t see myself having a future with you anymore,” you exclaimed, not caring if the neighbors could hear you.

“I love you, Y/N.”

“Calum, let me go.”

“Look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t love me. Tell me that you don’t feel the spark when we’re together,” he reaches for your hand, “When we touch. Tell me that, and I’ll let you go. I just can’t let you leave without a fight.”

You took a deep breath. “I don’t love you. I don’t want to be with you anymore.”

Calum swore he felt the world crumble at his feet as those words left your lips. “Are you serious?” his voice was barely above a whisper.

“I never loved you.”

He looked at you in disbelief as he moved out of your way, watching his heart walk out with you.

I wish you would have slept in the guest room

Cause maybe I'd still feel alive without you

I’m pretty sure that all of this was my fault

I'm the one who kissed you first and took my clothes off

Calum rarely found it comfortable in his own bed most nights. You two had been together for so long that he had forgotten how it felt to not sleep beside hold you in his arms at night.

Even after months since you last laid on your side of his bed, it’s still waiting for you to come back and bring warmth.

He found himself sleeping on the couch, so he wouldn’t have to be reminded of one of the best nights of his entire life.

You sat in Calum lap as his hands gripped your waist tightly as he sat with his back pressed against the headboard. Your hands were tangled in his curls as you made out with him.

His hands made their way under your shirt, being a cool touch on your back as they slowly got up to your bra.

You broke the kiss, pausing to gather what was happening.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Calum questioned.

“I’m fine. I’m perfect! I’ve just never-- I haven’t done this before,” you confessed.

Calum’s hand fell back down to your waist, unsure if you wanted to continue. 

“We don’t have to keep going if you don’t want to. I’m fine with stopping here and just cuddling if you want. I don’t want you to feel as if you have to keep going for me,” he rambled, becoming quiet when you placed a gentle hand on his cheek to get him to look at you.

“I want to do this with you, Cal. You make me feel safe.”

Calum softly smiled, “Are you sure?”

You smiled back with a nod, “I love you.”

Calum looked at you in awe as soon as the words left your lips. “Can you say that again?” he requested.

You looked him in the eye as you repeated, “Calum Thomas Hood, I love you.”

“I love you, Y/N,” he confessed, bringing you in for a savory kiss as he maneuvered to get on top of you.

You let out a breathless moan as he moved to you neck, sucking and nibbling at your soft skin. “Make me yours, Calum,” you begged.

Calum shook his head, trying to forget the way you felt around him. 

It so hard to forget the taste of someone he found so intoxicating. 

Even more than that, he missed wrapping his arms around you as you fell asleep with a smile on your face.

You know how to make me feel all alone

But when I'm underneath your teeth it feels just like home

You said we should'nt make love and just fucking

Found another way to heal

The first month after the break up consisted of a lot of sex between the two of you. 

Every time he found himself looking into your eyes, wanting to tell you how much he loves you as he inched his way inside you as he reached his own personal bliss.

He did say it the first coulpe times you’d came by, but you shut him down by saying,  “Just fuck me, Cal.”

He’d gotten used to only being late night sex. Part of him believed that the only way he could get over of you was by literally being on top of you and fucking you senseless.

Yet, every morning when he woke up and you were gone, he felt the hole in his heart get bigger and ache even more.

You know you drain me of myself till I can't see straight

Been thinking 'bout your body in the worst way

Wish that I could remove you from my veins

Cause I'm sick of feeling so betrayed

Calum had been up for the past hour as you slept beside him. His mind was racing. You guys had broken up two months ago, yet here you were in his bed for the fifth time this week.

He ran a hand through his hair as he stared up at the ceiling, trying to figure out why he kept letting you waltz in every night when you were horny.

He knew that everytime he saw you at his doorstep with hooded eyes and a skirt way too short to be out in LA, he wouldn’t be able to resist.

He’d let you guide him to his own room, even let you lead the entire night if you asked him with those puppy dog eyes.

He knows how utterly in love with you he’s become, and seeing you wreath underneath on made him want you more. 

He groaned as he got up and went to the bathroom, careful not to wake you.

You phone went off a few times, getting on Calum’s nerves somewhat as he finished up in the bathroom. He walked over to the nightstand as you got a call from a guy named Chase.

He let the call fade out on his own before seeing a few texts from him on your lockscreen.

-Missing you tonight. 

-Definitely missing your taste. There’s still some of you on my fingers. 

-Let me know when you’re done with that bassist ;)

Calum’s heart broke when he read those messages. He thought that what you shared with him was still only his to have. 

Yet, here this Chase guy was ruining you as well. He felt so stupid to believe that you were still his. That he was the only person that got to please you and take you to other highs. 

Why did everything you had with him dissolve into nothing so quickly?

And I thought I'd mean something to you

More than skin to put your skin on

I thought I’d mean something to you

“Hey, Calum, have you seen my phone?” You look around as you walked into the kitchen to see him sitting there with tears threatening his eyes as he handed it to you.

“Chase called you, twice. Left you a couple messages about missing your taste, too,” he spoke barely above a whisper.

You look down at your phone to see the messages on your screen. “You went through my phone? What the fuck, Calum?” you raised your voice.

“I didn’t want to! Your phone was blowing up at 3AM, and you don’t have your messages hidden!”

“That doesn’t mean to take a look! It means to turn my fucking phone on silent, you ass,” you scoff, walking past him.

“I’m just amazed that after being together for two years, you find someone else in two months. Were you cheating on me the whole time we were together?” Calum’s voice cracked as he asked, refusing to turn and look at you.

You paused beside him. “Cal, you know me--”

“Just answer the question.”

You took a deep breath, confessing, “I was drunk the first time it happened.”

“So, it was a regular thing,” Calum threw his hands up, walking away from you. 

“What do you want me to say, Cal?”

“Why wasn’t I good enough for you? Why am I still not good enough for you?” he finally look at you as tears fell down his cheeks, “I have done nothing but love you and treat you like a princess.”

“I don’t know, okay? I don’t know why I did it. I just did.”

“How long ago did this start?”

“A year or so ago.”

“A year ago, you told me that you were a virgin. Were you lying about that, too.”

“Technically, I was.”

“Technically?”

“I was drunk, so it didn’t count,” you pointed out.

“Being drunk doesn’t just dissipate what you did! You lied to me for half of our entire relationship! You made me feel so special-- so important-- for what? To say that you slept with a celebrity?”

You didn’t respond, knowing you wouldn’t be able to give him the answer he wanted.

“Get the fuck out of my house,” Calum cleared his throat, giving everything in his power to be strong.

“I’m so--”

“You’re not, and we both know it,” he walked past you to open the door for you.

You look down as you took off the necklace he gave you so long ago and handed it to him. “I figure you’ll want this back, too.”

He gently grabbed it from you, watching you walk out and closing the door behind you.

I wish you would've slept in the guest room

'Cause maybe I'd still feel alive without you

I'm pretty sure that all of this was my fault

I'm the one who kissed you first and took my clothes off

~

tags:  @meganwinchester1999​​ @gigglyirwin​​ @cashton-queen​​ @fayesfairylights​​ @suburbanaesthetics​​ @flowers-on-the-graves​​ @lights-up-hazza​​ @hopelessxcynic​​ @lmao5sosimagines​​ @therainydays4​​ @charismaticcal​​ @youngblood199456​​ @uncrowned-cal​​ @sincerelycalum​​ @5saucewho​​ @watermelonhighs​​ @5secondssofssummer​​ @valentine-in-my-quinjet​​ @lovely-melissaaaa​​ @adcrjngs​​ @itjustkindahappenedreally​​ @claredolphinbear24​​ @norawashere​​ @tswizzlemyfizzle​​ @rosesfromcth​​ @jpgluke​​ @mycollectionofnuts​​ @calumsphile​​ @rosecoloredash​​ @freckleslikeflowers​​  @exoticcal​​ @satan-i-guess​​ @empathycth​​ @you-of-ghost​​ @lustingforwonder​​ @ohhmuke​​ @calssunflower​​ @cinaboncal​​ @wewanthood​​ @moonlightgodcalum​​ @marvelfan8​​ @hotcherrycth​​ @sunnysideblogs​​ @mysteriouslycali​​ @1dthewantedlove​​ @jetblackyoungblood​​ @calteehood​​ @softboycal​​ @larryologymajor​​ @all-i-want-is2b-loved-by-you​​ @5sosfanficrec​​ @fallfrxmgrace​​ @itsokaytobesadsometimes​​ @caswinchester2000​​ @lovey-doveycth @therealmrshale​​ @damselindistressanu​​ @cthoodsthetic​​ @josierosie​​ @clemmingstylins0n​​ @coincidence-ithinknots-blog​​ @bitchsike1​​ @desleur​​ @ashtonwahs @coolkimchiijoy16 @fluffsshawn​​  @afuckingunicornn​​ @sweetpeassweetpea @freewave28​​ @bcbycakes @bodaciousbonzi1996​​ @ilumxna​​ @keithseabrook27​​ @blocdmoney​​ @britishstan​​ @jazzyangel242​​ @g-l-pierce​​ @natdhamon​​ @mateisit-balsamic​​ @sunnysidesblog​​ @cxddlyash​​ @therealkatief​​​ @Weeweeloves @cashtonasff5sos​​ @cashworthy​​ @colorfulside​​ @calumiydk​​​

#calum hood x reader #calum x reader #5sos #5 seconds of summer #calum 5 seconds of summer #ty masterfind #supportsos #calum hood angst

[flowerpowell]

The Boy Next Door (Colt x MC / Logan x MC ???)

PART ELEVEN

A/N: I dont even know why I’m putting Logan x MC in the title at this point lol. Anyway, I thought I needed a break from writing this but I got so many sweet af messages from some of you that I wanted to continue it. Thank you so much! I’d love to hear your feedback cause it motives me to write more! Characters belong to Pixelberry.

Rating: PG-18 (nothing explicit but just in case)

Word count: 1375

Tagging: @brightpinkpeppercorn @lovehugsandcandy @desiree-0816 @walkerduchess @liamzigmichael4ever @emceesynonymroll @emichelle @hellomynameisdevi @client-327 @badchoicesposts @blackcatkita @pixel-thirsty @drakeismyweakness @donutsgirl36 @miss-raleigh-carrera @i-bloody-love-drake-walker @lovemychoices @mrskaneko 

“We... what?”

“Never had sex. Slept together. Hooked up. Fu--”

“Hold up,” Ellie stopped him, “hold up.”

Ellie walked over to Colt’s bed and sat down, trying to calm down. She took a few deep breaths while Colt was studying her.

“When I asked you about that night, you said I enjoyed myself,” she blushed at the memory. “You said I was good as for a first-timer. You made me believe we did sleep together. You lied!”

“I lied,” he nodded and Ellie wanted to punch him.

“But... why?” She was confused. She didn’t understand. Nothing made sense. Nothing.

“Ellie... just drop it, okay? I lied, I’m bad person blah blah blah. You’re not pregnant with my child so go celebrate.” He opened the door for her to leave.

“No.”

“What?” He turned to her confused.

“I’m not leaving this room until you explain why you lied.”

“Ellie...” Colt ran his hand through his hair.

“I’m listening.”

“I just,” he sighed, “I know it didn’t mean anything to you and I knew you got back with Logan right away. You seemed like you didn’t care so I wanted to hurt you the way it hurt me. Your indifference, I mean. So I made you believe we did it, just so you could regret it and feel awful. I know it was immature but I didn’t want to be the only one who felt bad,” he shrugged and turned away from her as if ashamed of his own confession. “It’s stupid. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not stupid,” Ellie got up and slowly approached him. “I-I understand. I actually thought you didn’t care. When I woke up alone and you were gone I thought you left me... again.”

“I never,” he turned to her only to take a step back when he realized how close they were, “I never left you. I just... I needed to think. I’ve seen you and Logan, how you act around each other, how you always wrap your arms around him, how he kisses your forehead. I wanted that too. But I know I couldn’t have it. And when I saw you and Logan kissing... I knew I wouldn’t ever have it. That’s just the way it is.”

“Colt... I thought you regretted it and that’s why you left.”

“I didn’t... I thought you regretted it.”

“I didn’t.” Her confession must have surprised him because his eyes widened as he turned to lock his eyes with hers. She chuckled. “I regretted doing it because I was mad at Logan. But I didn’t regret doing it with you. If that makes sense.”

He sat quiet as if thinking about what she said before she broke the silence again.

“Colt? What exactly happened then? If we hadn’t done it... why was I naked in your bed?” She asked when she realized something. Colt Kaneko saw me naked. Oh my gosh.

“We kissed,” he shrugged, “you tried to kiss me everywhere possible. Before we made it onto my bed, you already ripped all of your clothes and you took off mine.”

“You let me undress you??? Why didn’t you stop me??” She asked trying to cover her extremely red cheeks.

“Why would I? It was entertaining.”

Well, that’s embarrassing.

“So why exactly we didn’t...?”

“You weren’t completely sober, you know? And besides, at some point, you started crying. And I just couldn’t. I’m not a monster,” he added quietly. “So I just tried to calm you down as you cried yourself to sleep. And that’s the whole story.”

I don’t know what’s worse... The fact that Colt saw me naked or the fact that I was too drunk to remember him naked.

“Colt, I am so, so sorry, I... I can find a new apartement and move out and gosh, I can’t even, I--” She started hyperventilating. I dragged Colt to his bedroom. I ripped my clothes off. I undressed Colt. When we were making out I started crying like a baby. That’s it. I’m moving to Alaska. Or Australia. Or Cordonia. No one ever heard of Cordonia, I’ll be safe there.

“Hey, Ellie, Ellie. It’s okay. You were drunk and missing Logan, s’all good.”

“No I-- I don’t know... I just... Logan and I and then you and I--”she mumbled.

“Ellie. It’s okay. Nothing happened.”

“Everything happened,” she was almost crying. “Colt, do you have feelings for me?”

Gosh, woman, when will you stop embarrassing yourself. I wonder how much the tickets to Cordonia are...

“Ellie...”

“I just... I don’t know, sometimes I feel like you like me and then sometimes you’re a jerk again and I don’t know.”

“I don’t hate you, okay?” he turned his face away from her.

“But do you like me?”

Stoooop, Ellie, stooooop for crying out loud!!!

Cordonia sounds more and more amazing with every second!

“I don’t have any feelings. Not just for you, I mean, I don’t have any feelings. I don’t know how to like someone and how to care for someone. So there’s your answer. Take it or leave it.”

“But...”

Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!!!

“I’ll take it,” she gulped before extending her hand for him to shake. “Friends again?”

“Geez, if you make us wear friendship bracelets I’m kicking you out,” he rolled his eyes and shook her hand. She shoved him playfully and he laughed.

She felt so much better. She wasn’t pregnant, she never slept with Colt so she still could experience her first time and Colt and her were on good terms again.

Life’s pretty cool.

~~~~

Life’s awful.

Ellie was running to her class, almost late because Logan didn’t wake her up. He always kissed her goodbye and Ellie knew it was time to get up. Not today, though. He was long gone when she rolled out of bed and realized she should have got up half an hour earlier.

Even though Ellie’s sickness was pretty much gone, which only proved how much stress affected her, she still felt sick when Logan was nearby. She really needed to tell him soon.

But soon wasn’t today.

On the other hand, her relations with Colt were better than ever. They joked together, watched movies together when Logan worked, and Colt even smiled at her once or twice.

Ok, maybe life isn’t THAT awful.

She was almost out of breath when she ran into the university hall and collided with someone. One of the professors, she assumed.

“Oof, I’m so sorry!” she kneeled down to collect the papers that fell out of the professor’s hand.

“It’s okay, you probably have classes with Prof. Ashton, he hates latecommers,” the woman smiled warmly at her.

So not all professors are bad here! Huh.

“I actually do! I overslept a little,” she admitted and the woman nodded.

“I understand. I’m actually late too and it’s my first day working here. If you show me where’s the dean’s office I promise I’ll write Mr Ashton a note saying it was my fault you were late,” she winked at her. Ellie laughed.

“I’d appreciate that! Where did you work before?” she asked when they were walking down the stairs to the dean’s office.

“At Cambridge, in England. But I graduated from here actually. This is my hometown and I’m so happy to be back.”

“Cambridge? Wow, my boyfriend wants me to go to London with him and Cambridge was on my list of universities I could transfer to.”

“Really? I have many friends there, if you’re interested I could help you with teh paperwork.”

Ellie looked at the woman wondering whether it would be too inappropriate to hug her in the middle of the hall. She was the best professor Ellie ever met and she started wondering if she would ever have classes with her.

I hope yes.

“My name is Ellie Wheeler, by the way. And you’re...?”

I need check what classes she has so maybe I could take hers instead of Ashton’s. This guy is a freak.

“Oh right! Sorry, I’m professor Annya Kaneko.”

#ride or die: a bad boy romance #ride or die: bad boy romance #colt kaneko #colt kaneko x mc #colt x mc #rod colt #im not even tagging logan at this point #he will be back though i promise #choices #playchoices #choices fanfiction #playchoices fanfic #choices rod

[lovemesomesurveys]

Have you always known what you've wanted to do with your life, career-wise?  I thought I did. My freshman year in high school I learned what psychology was after having a health and psychology class and decided then it was something I wanted to pursue. Prior to that I knew I wanted to help people, but I was thinking like a counselor. I was always the friend people came to if they needed advice or just someone to talk to. In middle school I remember going on those AOL teen message boards and offering advice there. I loved trying to help people and being the one to lend an ear. In college I majored in psych and obtained my BA. And then that was it.  I have no plans or interest in pursuing anything further, so obviously a psychologist isn’t in the cards anymore.  I honestly have no idea what I want to do career wise. 

If you found out you couldn't bear children, would you be willing to adopt? I can’t have kids, but I also don’t want any.

Would you stay at a haunted hotel? Nope.

Could you live without the Internet? I mean yeah, the world would keep on spinning, but I quite enjoy my internet and would like to keep it.

Do you always remember to bring a towel? I always set out a towel before getting into the shower.

Spiders: Kill them or let 'em go? Well, I don’t do anything. Noooo way. I get someone else to get rid of them!

How do you feel about Paris Hilton? I don’t care. I very rarely hear about her anymore.

When drunk, are you: violent, crazy, clingy, talkative, or depressed? I got talkative and the word vomit liked to come out. I usually also ended up feeling depressed and lonely by the end of the night.

Do you know who is on the $5000 bill? (yes, it does exist!) James Madison. They don’t make ‘em anymore, though.

What is the best HAND-MADE present you've ever received? A quilt a friend of my grandma’s made for me when I was a kid during one of my hospital stays. 

Do you Yahoo? My email is Yahoo.

Have you ever gotten pizza delivered to your house that you didn't order? Nope.

What's the most disgusting thing you've ever encountered while at a hotel? I haven’t had a bad hotel experience, thankfully.

What would you do if Hugh Hefner hit on you? He died a few years ago, but anyway he wouldn’t have been interested in me. Which is perfectly fine haha I don’t want some pervy old man hitting on me.

Is the price always right? No.

Do you smell what the Rock is cookin'!?!? Nope. (And yes I know that was his wrestling tagline or whatever back in the day).

Are you gullible? I’m a pretty skeptical person. 

What's the craziest rumor you've heard about Marilyn Manson? That he was the kid from The Wonder Years lol. The friend to Fred Savage’s character. I have no idea how or why that rumor got started.

(Insert random song lyric of your choice here): “Cause I’m one step closer to the edge, and I’m about to break.”

Does unneccessary punctuation annoy you? It’s unnecessary. 

Do you know anyone who was born on leap year? Nope.

Do you follow a 5-second rule after dropping food on the floor? Ew, nooo. Once it hits the floor it’s trash.

Do you think that only unclean people get head lice? Nope, major misconception.

Are you skilled with balls? (like basketball or baseball, you perv!)  Nope.

Did you take Flintstone vitamins or any others as a child?  Blech, yes. Those were so gross.

What types of things do you think the government is hiding from us?  I know a lot of people think there’s something going on given current events. I’ve seen those comments.

What would you do if the Kool-Aid man busted through your wall? If something just randomly burst through my wall it would scare the shit out of me omg.

Have you ever been to an art museum? Yeah, a few.

How do you like your soda: Glass bottle is best, followed by fountain soda, but can and plastic bottle are fine, too. I used to love soda, but I don’t drink it anymore apart from when I take my medicine. 

Do you recycle? Yeah, we recycle cans and plastic bottles.

Can one person really make a difference? Yes.

Which is worse: elevators or escalators? Well, all I can take are elevators, so. The thought of being stuck in one scares me.

Are you gonna make your momma proud? I feel like such a huge disappointment. 

Ring the bell for service or wait patiently for a minute first? I’d wait a bit first.

Boomerang or Cartoon Network? Boomerang is cool cause it shows old stuff from my childhood. 

Have you learned anything valuable today? Not so far.

What's your favorite kind of Doritos?  Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch. Back when I could eat spicy food; though, I would have picked the Spicy Nacho ones. They have Flamin’ Hot Doritos now, which I’m sad I never got to try.

Do your parents have MySpace pages? No. They weren’t into social media stuff back then. They have a Facebook, though. 

If you had a time machine, would you go to the past or to the future? I’ve always wanted to go back in the past, but now there’s a big part of me curious to see past this coronavirus stuff. Like when will it end? Will it? That could also be terrifying, though. The future could end up looking even worse...

What if Darth Vader was YOUR father? So I could be a jedi? Sweet.

Do you honestly know how to play Monopoly or just make up rules as you go? I think I’ve played it the right way. For the most part, anyway.

Be honest...ever peed in the pool?  Nooo.

Do you ever fathom the amount of words in the English language? It’s pretty wild.

Have you ever pulled a fire alarm? Nope.

Do brain teasers tickle, confuse, or fascinate your brain? They definitely are often confusing, but I like them. 

You're hungry. All there is to eat is stale chips. Eat 'em or not? Mehhh probably not. 

Have you had your tonsils removed?  No.

If Ashton Kutcher punk'd you, would you feel the need to punch him?  No, but depending on the prank I might be upset or pissed off. I loved watching that show back in the day, though. I also had a crush on Ashton Kutcher at the time, ha.

Have you ever fallen off of a treadmill while walking/running?  I’ve never been on a treadmill.

Do you drink milk right from the bottle/carton, or pour yourself a glass? I don’t drink milk at all.

Isn't Chef Boyardee awesome? I wouldn’t say it’s awesome, but I do like Spaghetti O’s. 

Do you like marshmellows in your hot cocoa? Marshmallows are a must.

What reality show has been taken WAY too far? I’m just wondering why The Bachelor is still on. That’s one I never got into.

If you were going on a trip, would you Mapquest the directions first? I used Mapquest back in the day, like when you still had to print out directions. Now I just use Google Maps on my phone. 

Do you hide when Jehovah's Witnesses knock on your door? We just don’t answer the door.

Did you ever think any of your teachers were HOT?  Nope.

If you farted in front of your significant other, would he/she care? I’m single.

White Castle: nasty or absolutely yummy?!  I’ve never a fresh White Castle from the actual place, just the kind you can get in the frozen food section at the store haha. Those are good, though.

Must you grab a souvenir from almost everywhere you go?  Haha I’m a keychain gal. I also like getting a shirt or hoodie.

Have you ever walked out on a movie at the theater? Which one?  I remember doing that once, but I don’t remember what the movie was.

Did you enjoy making things out of Play-Doh as a child? Yeah, I loved Play-Doh. If I ever happen to be around Play-Doh and get a whiff of it, it instantly takes me back to childhood. It’s such a nostalgic smell.

#personal #text #survey #surveys

[choicesatnight]

Devoted Fiend

Title: Devoted Fiend

Pairing: James Ashton x Vivian (MC)

Rating: Angst n stuff..?

Word count:  2,048 words

My disclaimer:  This character is owned by PB, I just enjoy some elaboration. I really love James Ashton and I love Choices fanfics, especially nasty ass stuff but there isn’t much featuring my original bae, James Ashton from The Freshman series

So, I decided to put my amateur ass talent to work and write with James being the *star of the story*

A/N:  * is a separator due to scene change, use of Daddy, Italics are James thoughts

Four months later, Vivian is the only suspect in Reyna’s murder although they cannot link the poison to Vivian as the autopsy revealed Reyna’s cause of death as extreme amounts of black mamba venom. They did find an empty vial in Vivian’s purse which is the sole reason she is a suspect. Out on bail, thanks to James, she gave birth to a healthy boy who currently resides with his father.

After putting Logan down to sleep, James sits down to dial Comfort.

“Hey hun"

“Hey C, where are you?”

“Almost at your place”

“Good. Logan misses you.”

“Oh, does he? Logan's got some explaining to do"

“Uh oh.”

“I'm here.” She hangs up the phone and opens the door.

Comfort walks in wearing her usual type of outfit. An oversized top, formfitting jeans, and heels. The top is so long it hides the part of her bottom half that James likes to see the most.

“You look nice" he kisses her lips.

After the kiss, “I'm going to see Logan. Sit down, hun. I'll be right back.”

Seconds later she returns from the nursery and sits on the couch beside James.

 “He's sleeping.”

“Hopefully for a while. He’s quite the night owl.”

“That’s the complete opposite of you.”

James' eyes scrunch in confusion, why does she think I’m not a night person at all? I can hang late at night. Shouldn’t she know this by now?

“I guess. But it’s exactly like his mother.”

Comfort rolls her eyes,

“Why are you talking about murderers?”

“You know I believe in her innocence. Regardless, she’s still Logan’s mom.”

“She's a murderer which brings me to my next point. James. You paid for her LEGAL TEAM!?” raising her voice in absolute disapproval of what he’s done.

“Yes. She's Logan's mom”

“Babe. She's a damn MUR👏🏼DER👏🏼ER"

James smiles, “You called me babe.”

Like Vivian used to.

Her mouth flat and eyes full of anger

“Listen, if she gets free you will be responsible for a murderer on the loose. She's obsessed with you so I'm next and when I wind up dead it's on you. Know that.”

“Comfort, I'm sorry we disagree about her role in Reyna's murder but she's Logan's mother and I’m always going to look after the mother of my child.”

“Okay honey remember you said that when I'm dead and you ultimately end up back with her because you're soft for her.”

“Soft for her? Comfort, we were together for nine years. She's the mother of my son. I have a right, no – a VALID REASON to stay in her life and excuse me for being polite and using the money I have for things” He takes a breath before he continues, “and PEOPLE that are important to me! I’m only looking out for her.” His tone is elevated, he’s standing and looking at her with furrowed brows as he speaks. How dare she speak so ill of Vivian!

She stands up and gets in his face,

“Really James? Do you think raising your voice is gonna back me down off of the fact that you’re taking care of a murderer? I don’t care how long you were together, she’s a killer and this is not cool. You need to have a seat, get the hell outta my face and go tell her to stay in her damn place!”

Feeling even more frustrated, he sits down without a word. Comfort remains standing.

“Exactly. Sit down. Don’t try to argue with me about that damn murderer. I got this argument.”

Did she just tell me what to do?

Nothing. James says nothing.

“You act like you're still together. The only difference is that you're having sex with me and I have a key to your apartment.”

“Are you saying you think this is only about sex?”

“I hope not.”

 “I’ll talk to her, okay?” He has no intention of talking to her about this situation. She’s innocent and not even Comfort can convince him otherwise.

“That’s all I’m asking, at least. Man up.” James thoughts linger to Vivian. She would never talk to him this way, nor would she be so demanding.

“Okay, well…”

“Um, yeah, I’ll call you later, okay?” Comfort attempts to kiss James though he bends as if he’s looking for something and she leaves.

What Comfort doesn’t know is that James also paid her bail, so by her definition he’s already let a murderer loose.

**

Vivian sits at home alone. Thinking of the situation she's gotten herself in when her phone rings "Sweet Love" and steals her attention. Upon grabbing the phone, she sees its lit with notification. Today is...or would have been, her 10th anniversary with James. Imagining how amazing the day and night would have been if they were together and if she were not facing a murder conviction leads her to dial James. 

"Hey James"

"Hey" she can hear the tiniest cry near the phone. 

"Awww is that Logan?"

"Of course, it is. I'm feeding him."

"Can I come by? Do you have company already?" He knows she's asking about Comfort. She always avoids saying her name. Is Comfort equivalent to Voldemort to Vivian? 

"Only Logan and I are home. Come by." 

"I miss my baby. See you soon" she hangs up the phone and heads to James apartment.  

Once there, she kisses James on the cheek and sets her purse and keys on the table. Removing her coat reveals the low cut, form-fitting shirt she is wearing. He gets lost remembering the way she'd call him Daddy when he'd bite her nipples simply by staring at her top and maybe a little from the warm familiarity of her perfume. But he is pulled from his memories when Vivian repeats "I'm gonna go see Logan.” Until he responds “Okay.”

She walks to the nursery and rocks baby Logan in her arms while singing. "ABCDEF is for Frugal which your father is not. And hey! Father. F is for father GH is for Hoe. The kind of partner you shouldn't commit to IJ..." James walks in "Those ABC's don't sound appropriate for an infant." He smiles, only to show that he is not chastising her. "He'll know his letters and some adult lessons by the time he's three. He'll be a scholar and know how to avoid getting hurt. He'll be better than his mom. He'll be like his dad." 

James walks behind her wrapping her in his embrace, hands rested on her stomach 

"You're a wonderful woman." She softly places Logan in his crib

"I wasn't good enough for you."

He releases her from his embrace only to make her face him,

"Vivian, are you kidding me? You're the love of my life. You don't seem to understand the change I had to go through after realizing that you were not committed to me. It broke my entire person. But I emerged."

"And started dating her. I pushed you to her and that’s who you share your happiness with.”

“It’s not happy” Fuck! I shouldn’t have said that. Vivian doesn’t need to hear about this…

“What’s wrong, James? Why aren’t you happy?”

“Okay,” he visually relaxes after deciding its okay to share this with Vivian.

“We argued and she talked down to me. Spoke to me like I were an idiot. You know how intensely I feel for words. She changed the way I see her plus I’m still mad.”

She steps closer to James “So now she's talking you crazy. Treating you like less of a man. Babe. You don’t deserve that.”

James is hardly able to resist Vivian, she's like kryptonite to him, but with the strength he has he says “Give me a second, gotta take advantage of this time while you're here with Logan" he laughs heading toward the bathroom.

Vivian can't help but notice James phone left on the baby`s changing table.

“My trusting lover never fails me" she laughs at the ZERO methods of protection on his phone and looks for her name “Vivian (Logan's mother)” to change it to “Soul Mate (Logan's Mother).” She's proud of her son, there’s no reason to change that. Next, she looks for Comfort. And finds her under “My everything (Comfort ❤).” Thank goodness for his parenthesis or she wouldn't ever find her. She changes her name to “Temporary Bitch (Comfort)” and puts his phone down. Just in time as he is walking back to her.

Now in the living room, James returns to Vivian

“Thanks for allowing me that quick shower. I felt pretty grimy. Logan doesn't deserve a grimy dad" he laughs

She joins in the laughter.  “You're definitely the type for Dad jokes.” 

“Oh, I'm a comedian. Comfort has extracted parts of me I didn't know existed.”

“Did she do that when she was screaming at you what to do?”

James is silent. Vivian knows exactly how to finish James, how to make herself irresistible to him.

“Hey, come here” she grabs his hand, pulling him into the bedroom and sitting on the bed. She gets on her knees behind him, massaging his shoulders.

“Close your eyes. Just relax to my touch…Daddy”

James is ready to relax but the flame ignites when she calls him Daddy. He turns his head around to look at her and they begin to kiss as attempts to pull her unto his lap. The movements are a little tricky, but she ends up on his lap as they continue kissing.  He pulls away long enough to say,

“I need you, Viv" before returning immediately to kissing her, deepening the kiss unknowing where to let his hands roam. For once, he just wants to kiss her until they share breaths, but she pulls away

“I missed you so much"

“I missed you too, Viv. I didn’t know how much.”

“Will you come to court with me tomorrow?”

“Yeah, of course.” He kisses her. “I'll be there every day. I testify on Tuesday.” He kisses her again.

“I love you so much"

Vivian smiles, laying her head on James' shoulder. She’s getting everything she wanted in spite of Comfort still being alive.

“I love you too, James"

“Stay here. I’ll be with you tomorrow anyway.” His fingers combing through her hair as she sits on his lap.

“What about your place holder?”

He laughs when she refers to Comfort as “place holder"

“Who cares. She predicted this would happen anyway.”

“She predicted us getting back together?” she laughs

“Yup. She said I`m soft for you…but I'm definitely not soft right now"

She laughs even harder, “Freaky as ever! I missed that.”

They kiss. “It feels like home being back with you. It will be us forever, baby. You, me and Logan."

 “Yup."

**

DAY 1

THE PEOPLE VS. BLACK MAMBA

Both sides have presented their argument and Vivian stands with James and her attorney

“Sounds like the prosecution has no real evidence against you. They only called upon the testaments of forensic professionals. We're going to win.” The lawyer looks at James, “Who is this? Who are you? Vivian, are you entering a new witness?”

Vivian giggles and grabs hold of James' hand, “No. Michael. He paid for you to defend me"

Michael straightens his stance and offers his hand to shake “Mr. Ashton! Michael Board. It's nice to meet you, sir"

James laughs briefly while shaking his hand, “You're thinking of my dad. You can call me James.”

“Jay, Jim, Jimmy" he points finger guns toward James with expecting eyes.

“James.” James' voice is unmoving in tone, indicating tedium.

Vivian moves closer to James, still holding his hand “You can tell him anything. He's should be included in all of it.” James raises their intertwined hands to kiss hers.

“Are you married to James? Vivian, this will be amazing for your image.”

“Well, n-" James cuts of Vivian before she can finish answering

“Yes. I’m her husband.” He stares in her eyes as he speaks

“Perfect! The jury will not convict our brand-new mother and wife when she’s got no evidence tying her to this murder. Mrs. Ashton, consider this case won!” Michael is trying his best not to break out his “We're winning” dance moves when Vivian and James are still locked holding hands and staring into one another's eyes.

Teeny Tiny Tag List

@zigortega4life

@littlecrookedheart

#JamesAshton #TheFreshmanSeries #Choices #FreakyFics

[jamesashtonisbae]

That I Did Always Love

Word Count: 3,664

Pairing: James x MC (Lacey), Becca x Zig, Abbie x Tyler, Kaitlyn x Anissa

Rating: M

Warnings: Language, sexual content

Summary: It’s Lacey’s senior year, and she and James have been together since she was a freshman.  They’re in love with life and in love with each other.

Author’s Note: This is my first fic.  It is probably terrible.  The tenses are probably all screwed up.  No one is probably going to read it.  But here it is anyway!

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, they belong to pixelberry studios.  This is based on The Freshman Series.

…

Lacey was curled up under a blanket on the couch in her and James’s apartment.  A mug of coffee sat on the end table next to her as she flipped through The New York Times.  As she began to read the Lifestyle section her phone chirped with a message from Kaitlyn.

-hey, want to go to the salon today? Abbie, Becca, and I need our nails done asap.  You should join.  Going at 10!

Lacey considered it for a moment, trying to think through her day.  She and James had made plans later that afternoon to go walk through the park and check out some of the new food trucks there.  He was out that morning to get some writing done at his favorite coffee shop, so she was free for hours.

-sure, see you at 10!

She got up from her couch after briefly skimming an article on the benefits of buying a houseplant, lifted her kitten Austen off of her lap, and maneuvered to the kitchen without stepping on their puppy Poe.  

“House plant?” she wrote on the marker board on their fridge before cleaning out her mug and putting it in the dishwasher.  Poe yapped at her feet, looking up at her with his big brown eyes. Lacey laughed and reached down to pat his head.

“Dad will be back at noon, I know he’s your favorite.”

As she moved down the hallway toward the bedroom, Poe followed, his energy astounding. Quickly, Lacey slipped through the door and closed it behind her, keeping Poe from coming in with her. With a laugh, she peered into her lobster Gerald’s tank and noted he was sleeping, sort of, on the bottom.

“Oh, Gerald.  You sweet, simple boy.  Some days I want your life.”

Lacey shed her silk robe and pulled on a pair of light wash jeans, then her favorite pair of knee high brown suede boots.  She slipped into a navy cropped turtle neck, then put on the gold studs James had got her for their third anniversary.  A final glance in the mirror revealed she was ready, and so she pulled on her maroon trench jacket and her slate gray bag.  

She hurried out the door, kissing both of her fur babies on the way out.  Lacey scurried to the first floor of the apartment complex and hustled to her car.  Traffic was light, and she made her way to the nail salon in no time.

“Lacey!” Kaitlyn was the first to greet her, rushing over with more gusto than necessary at 10 am.

“Hey girls!  It’s so good that the gang is back together again!”

“Lacey, how are you?” Becca said, slipping an arm around Lacey’s shoulder and pulling her into her side.

“Good, Bex.  How are you?”

“I’m great.  Just finished up my last midterm yesterday, so I’m rewarding myself with a one day break from all things law school!”

“Well, that’s good!”

Abbie put her arms around the three girls, her curls tickling Lacey’s neck.

Lacey let out a laugh, “It is so good to see you all again.  I feel like I just hang out with James now.  And don’t get me wrong, I love the man, but sometimes I just need girl time.”

“Please, as if any of us have ever doubted for a second that you love James Ashton. That boy has got you wrapped around his finger,” Abbie added.

The four girls had made their way over to the nail stations and were each getting their hands cleaned.  Lacey had decided on a classic French tip, which was her go to.

“So tell me, how are things going?  I want juicy deets!”  Becca said, “From all of you!  Abbie, go!”

“Well, Tyler and I have been talking a lot about post-graduation things, and we’re thinking of moving to San Francisco.  His family is out there, he would be close to Silicon Valley, and I’m actually getting really into graffiti-style art, so that would be a cool place to study that and incorporate it into my repertoire, ya know?”

“What? San Francisco? Abbie that’s amazing!” Kaitlyn said, almost shouting, “but are you guys talking about the M word?”

Abbie quirked an eyebrow at Kaitlyn.

“Marriage,” Becca explained.

“Oh! Yes we have, we think it’s still a few years off for us actually.  We’re very happy, but just don’t see the need to move into that step right now. And we want to make a little money first so we can have a ridiculous wedding.”

“And Kaitlyn?  How are things?”

“Wow. So the band is great.  We’re getting ready for the tour over Thanksgiving. It’s going to be something new, pretty challenging, you know, all of that fun stuff, but I’m excited to see how we grow.  Plus, Anissa’s amazing, and we’ll get to spend more time with each other.”

“So things are going well there?” Lacey asked.

“Very well.  I guess, I do have one question, since the three of you are very sensual ladies. It’s pretty weird, but you know me, I’m just going to ask.”

“Kaitlyn, nothing you ask me could ever shock me, just go ahead,” Lacey added.

“So like, obviously it’s kind of different for me, since I’m with a woman and you all are with dudes, but like, what are your thoughts on butt stuff?”

Becca laughed, Abbie’s eyes widened, and Lacey shook her head, “Zero percent of me is shocked by this, Kaitlyn.”

“Well,” Becca began, “Zig and I don’t really do a lot of it.  I mean, when I give him BJs I definitely finger him sometimes, if that’s what you’re asking.  He goes crazy for it.  Nothing vice versa though.”

“Like no pegging or anything though?”

“No. Not that either of us would be opposed, just that our sex life is very satisfactory the way that it is.”

“Cool. Good to know.  Abbie?”

“God, I never thought I’d talk about this with anyone other than Tyler.”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“Nah, I will.  We don’t do pegging, but I’ve let him try anal a couple of times.  Both of us kind of like it.  He always goes down on me after, so that’s why I am unopposed.”

“Lacey?”

Lacey let out a short laugh, “Well, for starters, James is huge, so if we’re going to do it anal, we have to decide like two days before and I’ll wear butt plugs so that he doesn’t split me like a rail.  But when we do, I use a vibrator, which he loves, but we both come together at the very least, but yeah, he goes down on me when we’re done. Granted, he goes down on me an average of ten times a week.”

“Just how much sex do you guys have?” Becca asked.

“Lots. Like more than multiple times a day.”

“When was the last time you had sex?”

“This morning in the shower.”

“And before that?”

“Before we got in the shower when we woke up.”

“You guys have been together for four years!  How do you have it so often?”

“Literally nothing is off the table.  Except for sharing.  We won’t share each other.  We tried it once and it was not good.”

“Wait, with who?” Kaitlyn asked, curious.

“I don’t know if this will shock you or not, but it was with Logan.”

“What?” Becca exclaimed.  “Wait, how was it?  What happened?”

“Well, Logan and James didn’t touch each other, but Logan definitely went down on me while I gave James a BJ, and then they double teamed me, Logan in my ass and James inside me.  It was incredible, but he was very jealous seeing another guy please me, so we agreed never again.”

“Lacey, you are a minx!” Abbie exclaimed.

“Well…”

“No, you are.  No one would know by how prim and proper you are, but damn you are a sexual goddess. No wonder James will do anything for you.”

“He does anything for me in the bedroom too.  And often.”

“So wait, what I’m hearing is, butt stuff isn’t horrible?” Kaitlyn brought it back.

“No, not at all.  Like what type of butt stuff?”

“Anissa got us strap-ons, so that type of butt stuff.”

“You may be into it, you may not be.  I like it a lot,” Lacey added.  “But I like almost everything James tries.”

“Weirdest sex thing – go,” Becca asked.

“Well, I think it was probably this time when we were cleaning and started getting down and dirty and he lay me down on our counter and used a broom handle on me. It was amazing, but really weird for sure.”

“How is anyone else’s weird sex thing supposed to compare to that?” Kaitlyn asked.

“It’s not.”

They spent the rest of the morning gabbing and catching up, although they’d hung out a few weeks prior.  It was hard for Lacey knowing that she didn’t get to see them as often as she had when they were younger.  But their time was special nonetheless.

When they were finished, and Lacey had impressively manicured French tips, Kaitlyn had black bedazzled nails, Abbie had hers painted maroon, and Becca had hers painted nude, they paid and ran to McDermot’s for a quick bite.  As Lacey sipped her second coffee of the day and tried to maintain a semi-healthy take on lunch, her friends filled her in on their plans for the day, all being pretty vague about their nights.

“Oh, I’m just going to hang out with some friends, I think,” Kaitlyn mentioned.

“I’ll probably head somewhere with Zig, I guess.”

“Yeah, Tyler and I might do something tonight.”

“Wow. That isn’t descriptive at all.  I guess if I don’t see you later, then I don’t. James and I are going to go try food trucks tonight and he mentioned inviting people over for drinks later. If you guys are free you should come.”

“I’ll talk to Tyler and we’ll see.”

“Yeah, I’ll run it by Zig and see what he has to say.”

“Anissa and I should be down later, we’ll let you know.”

“Okay, sounds good,” Lacey stood, “I guess I’ll be on my way then.  I’m going to run home and throw around some article ideas before we head out.  Bye!”

Lacey drove home, thinking about what she may want to eat.  She always wanted tacos, and food trucks never disappointed, but James always tried to pick out obscure ones for them to try together. Hopefully she’d be able to persuade him to get just one taco the whole night.

As she fumbled with her keys to get into her apartment, James opened the door for her.

“Oh! Thanks, Babe.”

“Anything for my sunshine,” he said, pressing a kiss to Lacey’s cheek.  “How was your morning?  Do anything fun?”

“Yeah, went to get my nails done with Abbie, Kaitlyn, and Becca.”

“Let me see.”

Lacey held out her hand, which James took with a smile of approval, “They look beautiful, much like the woman to whom they belong,” he pressed a kiss to her hand, her knuckles, the inside of her wrist, up her arm as far as he could underneath her sweater.  Then, he pulled her to him, slipping his hand under the hem of her sweater, pressing his lips to her neck.

“We have a couple of hours before we’re going out.  How would you like to spend them?”

“Remember that thing you did to me with the broom handle?”

“Mmm, how could I forget?” he murmured against her neck.

“Would you want to do it again?”

“Yes, god, yes.”

…

“James, please?  I just want a taco!” Lacey said, taking one hand in both of hers and tugging him towards the taco truck to their right.

“Lacey, we’ve gone over this.  You need to branch out, Sunshine.”

“I will, but I want a taco first!”

“You’re insatiable, and I love you.”

“So, I get a taco?” 

“As if I could deny the most stunning woman in the world what she desires.”

Lacey leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek, “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

She skipped over towards the taco truck, James’s hand in hers.  As he followed her, he thought to himself God, I could not love this woman any more.

They decided to get two pork al pastor tacos with pico de gallo and feta cheese. While they wandered through the park, they each took bites of the tacos and talked a bit about the article they had each read about houseplants.

“How long would it take for Poe to destroy a houseplant, though?” James asked.

“I mean, not very long, but he can’t climb on shelves or counters, so we could keep it like on the entertainment center or our dresser, don’t you think?”

“Why do you want a houseplant, anyway?”

“I don’t know, I really like the color green, and I feel like in an apartment it’s so easy to feel removed from nature, so we could kind of make up for it if we got a house plant, don’t you?”

“I suppose you’re right, my dear.  We should go to Earl May over fall break and try to find one we like.”

“I’ve already kind of started researching some that would be good for us.”

“Real research, or “Design your apartment and we’ll tell you what houseplant to get” quizzes on Buzzfeed?”

Lacey let out a quick laugh and leaned into James’s side as he wrapped an arm around her, “A little bit of both.”

“Good, because I only make life decisions with the help of Buzzfeed quizzes.”

“I love you so much, James Ashton.”

“Lacey Morgan, I love you too.”

She pressed her lips to his in a quick but sweet kiss.  He grinned down at her, marveling at the perfect woman in his arms. How he had gotten so lucky was beyond him.

“Now, will you please come try a different food truck with me?”

“Of course I will.  Which one, Babe?”

“That Greek one looks good.”

“You know how I feel about Greek food…” Lacey began.

James’s face fell, “You hate it, I know.”

“But you also know how I feel about you,” she kissed his cheek, “so I’ll happily try yet another gyro with dill sauce for you my sweet man.”

After sampling a few gyros and deciding she still hated them and he still loved them, Lacey and James made their way towards the fountain in the center of the park. Night was beginning to fall, but the park was still well lit and it was easy to see the newly changed trees. Reds, yellows, and oranges were splashed across the background behind the fountain, and Lacey sucked in a breath at the beauty.

“What’s wrong?” James asked, nervously shoving his hand that wasn’t holding hers into his pocket.

“Absolutely nothing.  Everything is perfect.  It’s so beautiful here.  I want to remember this night forever.  I want to be here with you forever.”

James chuckled nervously, sitting on a bench, “It is the most perfect night ever. It truly is.”

Lacey sat down next to him, wrapping her hands around his, “Are you okay?  You seem a bit off right now, Love.  What’s going on?”

He cleared his throat, then turned to face her, taking both of her hands in his, “Lacey, you are the greatest gift I’ve been given.  Knowing you has made me a better man than I ever thought possible. Every single day, I think of a new way that I fail you and a new way that you amaze me and think that I can never deserve you and the love you give me.  You know how much I love Emily Dickinson, I know how much you do, and when I think of you I cannot help but think of that night we spent reading poetry during the spring of your freshman year.  Do you remember the “That I did always love” poem?”

“As if I could forget,” Lacey whispered, reciting, “That I did always love, / I bring thee proof: / That till I loved / I did not love enough. / That I shall love alway, / I offer thee / That love is life, / And life hath immortality. / This, dost thou doubt, sweet? / Then have I / Nothing to show/ But Calvary.”

“What I didn’t know then was that I was going to reach a point where any life I imagined without you was one I did not want.  Where you go, where you belong, I am going to go with you.  You are the most important thing in my life, Lacey Jae Morgan.  I love you. I love your morning routine, the way you roll over and press yourself against me for five minutes before you quietly get up and shower.  When you wrap your hair up in your towel and slip on your silky robe, then go eat a muffin and drink the darkest, most disgusting coffee known to man while you read the Times.  I love how you talk to Poe, and Austen, and Gerald as if they are human.  You are so sweet and caring, and think of things I never would when it comes to what they need and what makes them comfortable.  I love how you help me with my writing.  You never tell me what to do, you always listen and get me to believe in myself.  You’re so capable, you could tell me what to do and it would be phenomenal, but you always ask me to find myself when I’m stuck.  You’ve never forced your way onto me, and at the same time I feel like I become more like you every day.  Because of you, I am kinder, wiser, more thoughtful, better with people, more open, more joyful.  You’re the sun, Lacey Jae Morgan.  When everything is dark, you’re the sun.”

By now, tears were streaming down Lacey’s cheeks.  She was holding onto James’s hands, her forehead pressed to his as she gazed at him.  She was so in love with this man, she couldn’t even think straight sometimes.  But here they were, in a park by a fountain, sharing one of the most special moments of their relationship.  James was baring his soul, but begging her not to respond.  A small piece of Lacey knew that he was not done with what he had to say just yet.

“Lacey Jae Morgan, you are my everything.  I cannot fathom anything without you.  Every piece of my life has been so touched by you, that I will never be the same.  And frankly, I don’t want to be the same.  I want to grow with you Lacey.  For the rest of my life.”

James let go of her hands and stood.  He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a box.  Lacey’s hands flew to her face, covering her mouth.  She was full on sobbing now as James sunk to one knee in front of her.  A few tears streamed down his cheeks as he looked up at the love of his life, “Lacey, my sunshine, will you marry me?”

He opened the box, but Lacey didn’t even look at it.  She reached down to wipe a tear from his cheek, keeping her hand on his face as she gazed down at the man she adored.  As her face broke into a huge grin, she leaned her head down to press her lips to his.  They kissed passionately for a few moments before he pulled away and said, “So is that a yes?”

Lacey threw back her head, laughter mixing with the tears on her cheeks.  She stopped laughing and looked back down at him “Yes.  A thousand times yes.”

James rose and pulled her into his arms, spinning her around, the box now closed and in his hand.  They embraced for a long moment, before she pulled away and said, “I know that it’s not really that important, but I’d love to see that ring now.”

“It’s very important,” he said, pulling out the box, “I want you to love this ring so much that you’ll never want to take it off.”

“It doesn’t really matter what it looks like, I’ll love it because you got it for me.”

As she said that, he opened the box and her jaw dropped.  Had she envisioned her perfect ring, it would not have compared to the ring James had gotten her.  It was a vintage ring, with a thin gold band and a very large oval diamond.  Lacey began openly sobbing as James took her hand and put it on her finger.

“Oh James, this is perfect.  I know it wouldn’t matter if it were just a plain gold band but this ring is stunning and I wouldn’t have picked a better one for myself if I’d tried.  Oh,” she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing a kiss to his mouth.

They held each other and kissed for a few moments before James pulled away, “You know that rooftop bar we went to when you were a freshman?”

“Yes,” Lacey said, hesitantly.

“Well, I rented it out tonight.  Our friends and family are there right now if you would like to go join them.”

Lacey let out a laugh, then pulled him close again, “James George Ashton, you have thought of everything haven’t you?”

“Well, I should have, that’s for sure.”

“Oh and why is that?”

“Because I have been planning this day since I first met you.”

“James, you have not.”

“Really? You don’t think I have?”

“There’s no way.”

“When we get home tonight, I’ll show you my journal from the September of 2014. You’ll find that was the first time I called you sunshine or compared you to the sun.  You’ve lit up my life for years Lacey Jae.  And you’ll continue to do so for years to come.”

#james ashton #choices #the freshman #tf/ts/tj/ts #james x mc #becca davenport #abbie x tyler #kaitlyn x anissa

[ramblingromance]

Bite Me, Your Grace: Book Review

If you’re looking for a book with bite, then this, unfortunately, may not be the one for you. My hopes were pretty high when I ordered this one online, mostly because I was excited and eager to finally step foot into the supernatural element of romance. Now, I’ve read books with supernatural aspects in them before; The Harry Potter series comes to mind, as well as the Discovery of Witches, and of course, the infamous Twilight Saga. This, however, was going to be the first time that I delved into a supernatural tale that was in one of my very favorite genres: historical romance. At this point I wish there was something positive I could say about it, and perhaps I should have quit while I was ahead, but I’m stubborn and I pressed on anyway. So, without further ado, here are my thoughts, feelings, and rambles on....

I’m not really sure where to start with this, so we’ll just take it from the beginning, as one usually does I suppose. In chapter one, I felt there was some promise. We’re introduced to our heroine, Angelica Winthrope, a virtual bluestocking, right after her mother has just burned her copy of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft. A lot of classic works as well as authors are referenced here, and John Polidori is even a featured character a bit later in the story. But back to Angelica.... She could have had every opportunity to be super likeable, but unfortunately, she isn’t. Throughout the entirety of the book, Angelica has an air of “Oh, I’m not like other girls!” about her, and then wonders why she doesn’t have any friends. To be fair, most of the other women in this, besides maybe two, are pretty much written to be, well, bitches to put it not so lightly. Regardless, I did feel for Angelica in those first moments of meeting her, and I was more than ready to hate on her mother, that is until I realized she was written to be like a cheap, unlikable version of Mrs. Bennett, or that’s the impression I got anyway. 

Now, as for our hero, Ian Ashton, I was super unimpressed by him. He’s your run of the mill Alpha I suppose, strong and protective, and he just so happens to be a vampire. Quite frankly, he bored me to tears. There’s a couple other characters of note, mostly a few other vampires that I’m sure will get books of their own, as well as Rosetta, another vampire that ends up falling for John Polidori. 

As for the plot, well, it’s kind of a mess of misunderstandings that could be taken care of if people would just FREAKIN’ TALK!! There’s just so much happening at once, but at the same time, nothing happening at all? Angelica has to make a good match, because if she doesn’t her grandfather will take all of their money away due to the fact that her mother married a simple banker instead of a titled gentleman. Angelica wants to be an author that writes gothic stories though, and so she tries to deny convention at every turn. Despite this, she’s still a straight up babe apparently, and men want her nonetheless. It isn’t until she sneaks over to Ian’s manor for some inspiration for her next story that she becomes compromised, and a marriage of convenience ensues. This all works out for Ian who is sick and tired of people ogling him due to his odd habits, all sorts of wagers taking place on whether or not he is a vampire after the craze has taken England by storm. Not only is this sort of main plot taking place, but sometimes the POV changes to Rosetta and Polidori, and even to a Vampire Hunter as well. 

Aside from all that, a lot of things went unanswered for me. Eventually Angelica’s parents are just out of the picture, even after she has decided she wants to be turned into a vampire for goodness sake! One would think there would be a bit more talk of her humanity and what it means to lose it, and while it is talked about somewhat, it was all very brief and unsatisfying. There’s also this whole scene where Ian marks Angelica as his mate while she’s fast asleep, so it’s all taking place unbeknownst to her (which I know, not cool). The mark is later talked about a couple of different times, but never once does Angelica ask, “Oh when the heck did you mark me, and what the hell does that mean?!”.

In closing, I’d like to talk about the author a little bit. I don’t know anything at all about Brooklyn Ann, but the tone of this book almost comes across as if she doesn’t like romance novels, yet attempted to write one anyway. I mean, even her main character makes mention of how she would never in her life dream of writing romantic novels, that is until she fell in love herself. I don’t want to judge too harshly, because I know this could simply be a case where a book and I just didn’t click. No one is going to like every story they come across, and sometimes authors aren’t going to speak to our hearts and souls the way they might to others. Even after all of this, I think I might give Brooklyn Ann another chance, I mean after all, the other books in this series do sound interesting, but until then, I’ll eagerly be waiting for some of the preorders I’ve got coming my way this month. 

Trigger Warnings: Attempted rape, dubious vampire consent, violence, death 

#romance novels #historical romance #vampire romance #bite me your grace #brooklyn ann #book reviews #book review #romance community #romancelandia

[darley1101]

Keeping It Real With Damien and Ava (Perfect Match)

A/N Over the last couple of days I have had requests for the OTP questionaire. I started to write them the way they are usually written: us writers answering the questions for the characters. And then I remembered how much fun I had writing Jenny's blog in my 'Birthday Surprise' one shot for #LoveHacks. The idea of treating each OTP pairing as an interview with Jenny for her blog came to me and it wouldn't go away. I am certain that someone, somewhere, has done something similar so credit for the idea goes to them. Regardless, I hope you enjoy! If not, I will revert back to the traditional manner in which these are done. XOXO -D-

Book(s) Perfect Match; #Love Hacks

Characters: Damien Nazario, Ava Park, Jenny Collins, with mention of other characters

Rating: Mature readers only as there is reference to sexual activity

Warning: This story does contain mention of sexual activity

tagging: @blackcatkita @boneandfur @josieschoices @endlessly-searching-for-you @flynnomalleys @lizeboredom @writtenbycandy @clarissafics @damienazariostan @mfackenthal @tmarie82 @flowerpowell @mrsnazario1223 @kingliamthirst @debramcg1106 @jadedpixiescribbles @penguininapinktuxedo @confessionsofabrokegirl @theroyalweisme @kinkykingliam 

Keeping It Real with Damien and Ava by Jenny Collins

On a daily basis we are bombarded with articles and interviews featuring famous couples who are trying to show the world how normal they are. Don't get me wrong, I think its great that Matt Rodriquez will go through the In and Out drive through to get his fiancee Ashton Jones a large order of french fries with extra ketchup; or that NFL quarterback Chris Powell and his wife Aria's idea of a perfect date is miniature golf. I love knowing that these larger than life people aren't so different from the rest of us; except, you know, their million dollar homes and eight figure bank accounts. Do you know what I love more? Exposing how awesome normal, every day couples can be, because lets face it the average couple isn't going to have the same issues Matt Rodriquez and Chris Powell have with their significant others. That's why I am starting my 'Keeping It Real' series. I want to show case how its not just famous couples that lead interesting lives, but regular couples as well. In the interest of being fair, I will be asking each couple the same questions.

When you know as many awesome couples as I do, figuring out who to interview first can be a bit tricky. As luck would have it, fate stepped in and made the choice form of my hubby Mark making a business trip to New York and inviting me to tag along. While in the Big Apple, I caught up with our friend Ben's sister Ava and her live in boyfriend Damien. We met at this fantastic little cafe near Central Park and over coffee, cronuts, and Damien's leeriness to invite strangers into his relationship (he's a legit private detective guys!) we delved right in to what makes Damien and Ava, the couple, tick! I hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as I did.

First, I just want to thank you guys for doing this!

Ava: Of course! There's nothing I love more than telling world how much I love this big lug! (she elbowed Damien in the side before hugging his arm and pressing a kiss to his cheek)

Damien: And there's not much I wouldn't do for Ava. (He's still a bit tense and leery at this point but willing to give it a try since Ava is so gun ho)

So, inquiring minds want to know how you met. (Its me. I'm the inquiring mind!)

Damien: (this adorable smirk comes over his face) It's kinda funny. I was out having a drink when I seen this little John Lennon wannabe hipster trying to kiss this girl who kept leaning back (he laughs at the memory) and I couldn't just stand there and do nothing.

Ava: (She starts giggling so hard its almost impossible to understand what she's saying) It was awful! My cousin Nadia set me up with him. The whole night he kept asking about how much I made because he needed a woman who could support him and his art. I had no idea how I was going to get out of kissing him when he kept coming at me with his lips like this (she purses her lips into an exaggerated fish pout and starts making kissy noises) Out of no where this guy (she jerks her head towards Damien) shows up and says 'That's my future wife you're trying to kiss!

Me: And you've been together ever since? (they look at each other and start laughing)

Ava: I wish! No, actually I just thanked him and we parted ways. It wasn't until a week later when my cousin Nadia was being stalked by some perverted cartoonist that we connected. And then it was just as friends. (She looks sad for a minute and Damien puts an arm around her)

Damien: We became such good friends that both of us were afraid to say we cared about the other as more than a friend. (He cuddles her closer and I swear my heart just about melted) It wasn't until I thought I might lose her for good that I made my move.

Ava: Excuse me! (She shot him a pointed look) I believe I was the one to make the first move!

Damien: (Laughing and throwing his hands up) Okay, okay, Ava was the one who actually made all the moves that resulted in us getting together.

You guys are too cute! I'm almost afraid to ask this though...who hogs the covers?

(They look at each other and then both answer)

Damien: Ava!

Ava: Me! (she laughs and gestures towards her body. She's super tiny, with very little body fat) I mean look at me. I literally blow away when the wind gets too strong. It's embarrassing, not to mention annoying. (She lets out a sigh and starts toying with the end of her long fishtail braid) I can never get warm enough in the winter. It's awful.

Damien: You should see her. She'll come to bed wearing this ugly thick socks, leggings, and this hideous sweatshirt that goes to her knees. (He gives her a bemused look) One of these days I'm going to burn it.

Ava: (gasps) You better not!

Damien: Don't worry, I will keep you warmer than that ratty old thing ever could. (He cuddles her again and I swear to God Mark you better be taking notes! I need cuddles like this in my life!)

I just want the record to show I don't support burning Ava's sweatshirt. (I say this while laughing) Next question. Hopefully this one doesn't result in threats: who texts or calls the most to check in throughout the day?

Damien: I think its about equal. (He seems a little hesitant while saying this)

Ava: (She raises one of her brows) Are you sure about that? (She then looks at me, smiling) He's not wrong, but it sort of depends on what's going on. If I'm working on an article and I know I have a deadline approaching, I tend to loose myself in my writing. (She smiles at me again) I'm sure you know how that is!

Me: (nodding) Absolutely!

Damien: Alright. Fine. I tend to text or call Ava more. I used to be a cop and am currently a private investiagtor, so I've seen some scary shit. (He shoots me an apologetic look) Is it okay to say that? Or is your blog one of those PG ones?

Me: (laughing) My last blog was about how to achieve orgasm while pregnant. I don't think a little curse word like shit is going to offend my readers. (The look on his face when I tell him about my last blog is priceless. His tan skin turns this adorable red color)

Damien: (he's shifting around now, like he's a little nervous.) Uh right. Well, like I said, I tend to do most of the random check in's...

Ava: But not always. Sometimes I'm the one with the free time and I blow up his phone.

Damien: Which is not cool when I'm trying to stake out a potential cheater.

Ava: (shrugs) What can I say? I'm needy. But (she grins at him and squeezes him around the waist) you know I love you!

You guys are literally the cutest! Speaking of cute...lets talk gifts! Whose the most creative when it comes to gift?

Ava: (she blushes a little) We both really suck at buying gifts.

Damien: Its true. My last gift to her was an iron because she said she was tired of paying extra at the laundry. (I can't help but wince. Guys, irons are not romantic gifts)

Ava: And my last gift to him was a years supply of notebooks and pens. (She has the decency to look at her cronut)

Boy, you guys weren't kidding when you said you both sucked at giving gifts! (The both nod at me, laughing)

(Ava enjoying her tea after we left the cafe)

We take a slight break while Damien goes to answer a phone call from a client and I take my pregnant butt to the bathroom. When I return, Ava had ordered us some boba tea and these little spinach quiches that are almost too cute to eat. She gives me a sheepish look and admits she's basically a bottomless pit and needed more to eat than the cronut she'd devoured during the first part of our interview. We decide to go ahead with a few easy questions while Damien soothes a client. She tells me about him being an early riser and her sleeping like the dead until noon. We laugh over Damien being a sap during movies about animals, especially if the animal lead dies.

Ava: He cried like a baby during A Dog's Life and Marley and Me. (She peeks over her shoulder to be sure he's still on the phone) And you should see him at the end of Old Yeller.

Things are going so well, I decided to just go for the big guns!

So...Ava...between us girls who suggests new things in bed?

Ava: (her cheeks flush a little) That's a tough one because we're both open to trying to things. If I read an article or Damien hears or sees something during a stake out. (She's really blushing at this point) Lets just say we both like keeping things interesting.

Damien: Sorry for that. (He sits down and I catch him up. He's a little embarrassed that Ava outed him for getting misty eyed during animal flicks but gets her back) Did she tell you about her handcuff kink?

Ava: (At this point she's the same color of red as the crop top she's wearing.) Damien!

Any chance you like to give her a massage or two while she's cuffed? (I'm such a bad girl! I even winked. Who wouldn't after an announcement like that!)

Damien: Not the sort we're going to talk about here. (He actually winked back at me! He's definitely lightened up and gotten into the spirit of things) Besides, Ava's the one whose good at massages. She'll surprise me at work with Gray Papaya hot dogs and a shoulder massage.

Me: That's sweet! (Note to self, I need to surprise Mark with hot dogs and shoulder massages at work. Well, maybe not the hot dogs because San Fran doesn't do a dog the way New York does)

Ava: He's always so tense! I can't help it!

Does that sweetness cross into nursing him while he's sick? Or...

Ava: (Covers her face with her hands) I'm the worse when it comes to being sick.

Damien: Let her contract a simple cold and she acts like its the Ebola virus and she's on the verge of death.

Ava: (She drops her hands and scowls at him) I'm not that bad! (He looks at me and mouths that yes, she is that bad. God, these two are cracking me up!)

Lets talk jealousy.

Ava: (She looks at Damien, an amused look on her pretty face) Yes, Damien lets talk jealousy!

Damien: (This time he's the one blushing!) It was an honest mistake!

Ava: (She looks at me, trying not to laugh.) You know my brother Ben? (I nod as Ben is a dear friend) Well he showed up unexpectedly one day and naturally I was super excited-

Damien: Come on, Ava, do we really need to tell people about this?

Ava: You tackled my brother to the ground for hugging me because you thought he was some guy trying to cop a feel! (I have to cover my mouth so Damien doesn't see me laughing)

Damien: I didn't realize he was your brother! All I seen was some schmuck with his hands on my girlfriend! (he looks at me) next question please?

Sure (I am openly laughing now) how about something fun. Like who has the most embarrassing taste in music.

Ava: (She's adopted this stoic look and keeps clearing her throat)

Damien: Five words. (He shoots Ava a sly look) New Kids On The Block. (Ava groans and buries her face in her hands as Damien starts making oh, oh oh, noises.) You got the right stuff...(he elbows Ava) baby...

Ava: Please stop.

Damien: I love the way you (he's cut off by Ava placing her hand over his mouth)

Ava: Okay, fine, so I might have a few New Kids On The Block songs on my play list but you...(she jabs Damien in the chest with her finger) you like to listen to the Pussycat Dolls!

Me: Hey, I listen to PCD! (It's true. I have at least five of their songs, plus I seen them in concert)

Damien: There. You see. Nothing wrong with a little PCD. (We fist bump at this point and I feel like I've officially made a new friend for life.)

I'm almost afraid to ask if either of you collect anything unusual.

Ava: Do robots count? (They share a laugh and a look that has me thinking there is more to this story than meets the eyes.)

Damien: Ava has trolls.

Ava: (if looks could kill, I'm pretty sure I would be performing CPR on Damien right now) You leave my trolls out of this. (She looks at me.) Yes, I have trolls. My grandma collected them and when she passed away we each got to pick our favorites. I don't collect them though. They're around for sentimental reasons.

So...real talk...who takes the longest to get ready?

Damien: Believe it or not, I do.

Ava: I can take a shower, do my hair and make up, get dressed, and he's still perfecting his hair style.

Damien: Hey, it takes work for hair to look this good! (Let the record show that Damien really does have fantastic hair!

Does that mean he's the more organized and tidy of you two?

Ava: Ha! (She bursts out laughing so loud other guests in the cafe turn to stare.) Damien's idea of organized is keeping his fast food wrapper pile to the left of his desk.

Damien: You'd think, given my job, that I would be more organized. (He frowns slightly) Okay, let me rephrase that. When it comes to cases, I'm very organized. Personal space...not so much.

With the 4th of July having just passed, I need to ask: whose the most excited about holidays?

Ava: Neither of us? (She shrugs) Don't get me wrong, we love Christmas and Thanksgiving as much as the next person but we don't really go all out. I think that's mostly because my cousin Nadia never does anything halfway and we sort of just know she's going to go all out...so we just enjoy her efforts.

Damien: Yeah. I would have to agree with that.

Aw that's kind of a bummer. (But it explains why Ben doesn't really do much during the holidays other than show up for dinner) Cheer me up. You guys are clearly very cuddly with each other. (They're cuddled up again and I'm telling you Mark, they've built up expectations that you must live up to!) Whose the big spoon and whose the little spoon?

Ava: We do enjoy our cuddles. (She lays her head on his shoulder, their fingers twining together. I'm seriously jelly right now) During the summer, I'm the big spoon. Damien doesn't like to be hot, so he tends to throw off the covers, which leaves me freezing, so I have to cling to his back in an effort to stay warm.

Damien: So she claims. (He chuckles, his eyes twinkling) What about all those nights I've kept you warm by wrapping you up in my arms, huh?

Ava: You interrupted me before I could get to that! (She looks at me and rolls her eyes.) Men! I swear. (She rolls her eyes again) Before the big baby has a melt down...he's the big spoon in the winter. My own personal space heater. (She presses a quick kiss to his lips) There. Happy now?

Damien: I'm getting there....

You guys are both very competitive aren't you?

Ava: I'm really not. If I play a game a game, I play for fun. To me, its not about winning, it's about fun. It's why I was never any good at spots.

Me: What about you Damien? Are you in it to win it or just having fun?

Damien: I hate losing, that's all I'm going to say.

Does that carry over into arguments? (They both stare at me in surprise before laughing)

Ava: Not really. We bicker a lot. Sort of like we've done here, today, but we don't really have arguments.

Damien: More like disagreements that get heated...and occasionally the police show up.

Ava: One time! (she looks mortified that he brought up the police being called. Meanwhile. I'm thrilled that he's comfortable enough to do so) And I know it was your neighbor Mrs. Godowlski. (She looks at me) He made mad so I dropped a water balloon on his head from the window and the old biddy called the police saying I was throwing things at him.

Yikes! Sounds like your neighbor is a real winner there Damien. (He shrugs but there's a smirk on his lips) Anyways, Ben was telling me  you guys have the cutest little dog. Whose idea was it to get a pet?

(Tell me that Buddy is not the cutest dog ever?!)

Ava: I don't think we really decided to get a pet so much as Buddy happened and it was love at first sight.

Damien: He was this little stray who hid under the bench outside my office building. One night Ava, was able to get him to come to her and he's been with us ever since.

That is awesome. Rescues make the best pets.

(They both agree with me and take another break. This time so Ava can respond to the twenty texts her cousin Nadia has sent. Hm. That could be a good blog, right? How many texts is too many texts...and how to stop yourself from sending them.) Damien and I briefly chat off the record about why I'm doing this and he even goes so far as to say he thinks its a cool idea. Thanks, Damien, I think its a cool idea too. I ask him how he keeps things romantic and he melts my heart by saying every night he stops by a local flower cart and picks up a single sunflower. “Some days my job is really dark. I spend a lot of time breaking up marriages...” I have to stop him here and remind him that he doesn't break up the marriages, the actions of the cheating partners do. “Okay, you're right. My point is, Ava's smile can take the worse day and make it better. Sunflowers make her smile.” He just gives this little shrug, as though he has not clue how freaking sweet that is.

(I managed to talk Damien into one silly picture)

Ava: And I'm back. (She drops into her seat next to Damien and grins apologetically) Sorry, if I hadn't answered she would have started calling and none of us want that!

Its cool. (I consult my notes to see where we had left off) So...what traditions do you have?

Ava: You mean like couple traditions? (I told her that yes, that was exactly what I mean) Well, Damien likes to bring me sunflowers every day...does that count?

Me: Most definitely!

Damien: We have a joint Pinterest and once a week, I will pin a meal I want her to cook.

Me: Ava's a good cook?

Damien: Oh yeah. (Ava blushes but doesn't refute what he's saying. I kind of want to invite myself over for dinner right now) I burn water.

Any tv shows you guys like to watch while eating those Pinterest inspired meals?

Ava: Oh! Yes! (She squirms around, all excited) We both love watching this show called The Social Season. Its kind of like a telenovela. (She squirms again, her cheeks flushed) Its about this girl named Eliza and....oh gosh Jenny you just have to watch it! (She squeals when I tell her that I do watch it. How could I not? It's just that good!)

Damien: It is pretty good. (He looks embarrassed to admit that he watches a trashy romance series but I tell him he has nothing to be ashamed of. I tell him that Mark likes this drama known as Consequences of Secrets, which seems to put him at ease.)

Are these meals and shows watched alone or do you invite over other couples?

Damien: We spent a lot of time with Ava's cousin Nadia and her...boyfriend...Steve, as well as our friends Sloane and Hayden.

Ava: Yeah, we try to get together at least once every two weeks for dinner and games.

Damien: Drinking games

Ava: Not always! Sometimes we play monopoly.

Damien: While drinking.

We spend a few more minutes chatting and make plans for dinner later that evening. They want to introduce Mark and I to Ava's co-worker Lucy and her soon to be husband Flynn, as well as Flynn's sister Kate and her boyfriend Grant. Of course I jump at the opportunity. Who knows...maybe my next blog will be about one of them!

A/N Do you guys enjoy this method of answering the OTP or do you want me to go back to regular style? Let me know in a comment or reblog! Want to know more about Ava and Damien's favorite “shows” check out the fics: The Social Season and The Consequences of Secrets. Also, I  currentl have requests for Flynn x Lucy, Jamison x Adam (AME) and Becca x Zig but anyone would like to see other couples ‘interviewed’ like this let me know!

#otp answers #choices perfect match #choices lovehacks #choices damien nazario #choices damien x mc #long post

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After what feels like an interminable wait, Wu-Tang: An American Saga is back for a second season on September 8. The Hulu biopic series is finally getting the band together in its full glory for the first time as the story moves from backstory on Bobby Diggs (Ashton Sanders, Judas and the Black Messiah) and his friends to the way those friends become a second family and form the Wu-Tang Clan.

Plenty of plates are spinning at the start of season 2 before things can fall into place, though. Bobby’s best friend Dennis (Siddiq Saunderson) is juggling his right-hand man status with the new duties of fatherhood, while the soon-to-be infamous Raekwon (Shameik Moore, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) grows tired of being just Sha Raider. And U-God (Damani D. Sease) is being inducted into the world after a season of viewers clamoring for his introduction.

Related: Ashton Sanders Interview: Wu-Tang An American Saga S2

Moore, Saunderson, and Sease spoke to Screen Rant about returning to work in the midst of the pandemic and taking personal inspiration from RZA and the other members of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Screen Rant: Shameik, as we are inching towards Wu-Tang Clan’s phenomenal success, how do you envision Sha Raider stepping up to become Raekwon? What does that evolution look like for you?

Shameik Moore: Starting from the beginning of season 2, I just think his mindset is, “I gotta figure out a way. I don’t want to be on the streets and whatnot forever. I just gotta get up out of this. I’ve got to elevate.”

At the start of the season, I’m gonna do it alone by any means necessary. Then by midseason, it’s like, “Come on, Bobby! Come on, man.” And then by the end of the season, it’s like, “We here,” you know what I’m saying? Anybody step over here the wrong way, that’s a body. That’s what it is.

Dennis this season, he has Bobby and he’s got Shurrie (Zolee Griggs). What is it like juggling both sides of the family?

Siddiq Saunderson: Yeah, I think that it’s difficult. It’s definitely difficult [dealing with] the stress and the pressures of having Shurrie as now not only my girl but the mother of my child. She’s trying to be like, “I’m up here on the ranks,” and then there’s Bobby being about the music. “I’m putting you on this, and I’m doing this, and I need you to do these things.” Them kind of battling and leaving me in the middle is an interesting tension that occurs when that happens. Especially because they’re brother and sister, so they have their own tensions that exist within their relationship.

It’s a dope story, and I think audiences are going to be excited. And I’m excited for them to see how that all pans out with now me being a father, and Bobby being my brother but also the uncle of my kid – it’s just a lot of intertwining things. So, yeah, I love it.

Speaking of one big family, welcome to the family, Damani. We’re finally going to see U-God in all his glory, so what is it like stepping into these iconic shoes and having RZA as a guide?

Damani D. Sease: It honestly helped a lot, because he’s one of the founding members. Having him there definitely helped a lot.

While stepping into his shoes, I talked to him a couple of times, and I noticed that we had a lot in common. So, it wasn’t too hard. It was only certain things that I had to really focus on, like his voice – U-God is known for that bass-filled voice and rap, so that was probably the most challenging part. Honestly, just studying his mannerisms and watching interviews; talking to him and his son – that really helped me bring the character.

You guys had some time in between season 1 and season 2. What did you do to prepare for re-entering this space?

Siddiq Saunderson: I was just trying to stay alive and not catch COVID. Let me just start by saying this, because it seems everybody on Instagram was really pressing us. I’m sure, Shameik, you got it in the DMs – and everybody’s in the comments like, “What’s taking y’all so long?”

I really want the audience members to hear this from me: we are human beings. We are actors and artists and public figures and la la la, but we are also people. And so when COVID came and hit, I was dealing – [like] everyone – with if this is the end of the world. What’s happening? They’ve only got soup cans at Whole Foods, like, what’s going on?

I think, for me: staying healthy, staying sane, and focusing on my mental health were priorities. And then the show was like, “Okay, we coming back,” and I’m like, “Okay, cool. I can start to make money again. I’m working.”

But I think it definitely did take a little second to transition back into that go-go-go mode that is required when you’re on set. Because 2020 was a lot of things. It was great; it was a time for reflection and pause. But there was some trauma that existed, at least for me personally, that I felt to then have to come back to work. It just took a little bit of focusing my energy and really setting some good intentions before we started the season.

Next: Top 10 Moments From Wu-Tang: An American Saga Season One

Wu-Tang: An American Saga season 2 premieres September 8 on Hulu.

#marvel #avengers #marvelcomics #spiderman #mcu #ironman #comics #captainamerica #thor #avengersendgame #marvelstudios #xmen #dc #marveluniverse #art #cosplay #tomholland #hulk #disney #comicbooks #dccomics #peterparker #tonystark #blackwidow #marvellegends #endgame #deadpool #marvelcinematicuniverse #loki #bhfyp

The post Wu-Tang: An American Saga Season 2 Cast Interview | Screen Rant appeared first on undertheinfluencerd.net.

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halloween party 2.1 ( @foreverwednesday )

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie loved Halloween - she always had done. So a Halloween party seemed to be a no brainer and when her parents said they were going out of town for the night, she was over the moon. She knew that she couldn't get away with not inviting the people from the musical but she wasn't sure who would actually show up. Johnny and her were still on the outs and it wasn't like the rest of them were all that fond of her. "We should go downstairs." Hettie laughed as she looked over her shoulder to Johnny. There were already a few people downstairs and they were letting the others in. She had just needed to finish her makeup.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton sighed as he stepping into the house and he couldn't see Scott. He got on with the others, just not as well and he felt a little weird around Audrey now that she was officially with Caleb. He didn't understand it. None of that made sense to him but he knew better than to say something about it to her. He slightly though, as he spotted Betsy. "At least someone could be on time." He chuckled.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River laughed as she looked over to Audrey and Robyn. She had really enjoyed getting ready with the two girls. She wouldn't usually do something like this so it was nice. She wasn't used to spending time with other girls but it was fun. "Should we be getting going?" She asked with a laugh. The party had officially started five minutes ago. She was used to being late and the boys were waiting for them downstairs.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb smiled as he looked at Johnny, "Can you believe our bloody luck with those two?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. He hadn't believed his luck when Audrey said that she wanted him. And he couldn't wait to see how things went with them. They were already having a good time together. "But fucking hell - I think we're never gonna be on time anywhere ever again."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Alyssa squeezed Seths hand as she stepped into the house. "I always forget how insane this place is." She muttered with a shake of her head. She had never expected to ever set foot in a place somewhere this incredible. She was so happy to be there with Seth. She thought that they always had a lot of fun together - even if it wasn't what everyone else thought about the two of them.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Isaac was really nervous about stepping into the party on his own so he had texted Lucy to ask if she would meet him outside. He knew that, that probably sounded really stupid but he was glad that she had said yes. He smiled as he saw her. "You look great, luce. I like your costume." He nodded slightly. He felt really comfortable around her and she almost made him feel a little more confident.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn laughed as she listened to the others and nodded her head. She stood up and glanced to Audrey, "Come on." She laughed before she moved down the stairs. "Okay - can we have a shot before we go please?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow. "And a photo too! We look too cute to not have a photo." She smiled. She really liked Johnny - as a person. But she didn't know if there was much more than that. Which she knew probably wasn't really fair .

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie loved being the host of a party. She always enjoyed being in charge. Hettie smiled as she looked over at him, "I still wish you'd have let me do all of that makeup on you too." She muttered but shrugged her shoulders. She wasn't going to let that ruin her evening. She held out her hand to him. Though Hettie usually wouldn't think about anyone else, she knew that she needed to make sure that Amber was okay tonight too. She was pretty sure her friend had feelings for Caleb. "You look really nice in that suit." She smiled at him.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton nodded his head with a laugh as he listened to her. "To say the least, yeah." He chuckled. He had never understood other peoples need to be late. It was the only thing that he didn't miss about Audrey. He missed everything else though. He thought that things were starting to get on a good page again - and then she was with Caleb. He looked at his friend. "You look amazing, though, Bets." He muttered. He'd be blind to think otherwise.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River laughed as she listened to Audrey and nodded her head slightly, "I know that but we've gotta get there, right?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. She nodded as she looked over at Robyn. She wouldn't have ever put herself with these two - and she probably would have preferred to be with Johnny and Caleb - but she was having fun regardless.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn smiled as Audrey spoke. "Oh, perfect." She laughed. "Hey, Johnny!" Robyn called. "Get us some shots sorted please." She hoped that they wouldnt' be long before they were downstairs. Robyn hadn't seen Betsy since she had gotten with Johnny and she hoped that the other was there tonight. She really, really wanted to see her, though she still refused to admit it was anything more than friendship. It couldn't be. She was dating a boy. She was interested in a boy.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb smiled as he looked at his friend. He felt so happy that things were good with him and Audrey. For a while there, he had really thought that nothing was going to happen and he was so glad that, that wasn't the case. He liked that she wanted to be with him too. "It's kind of part of her charm though, don't you think?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. He was glad that Johnny had agreed to go to the party. He thought that they would all have a lot of fun.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "That's exactly it." Alyssa laughed. Her family weren't poor by any means but this was absolutely insane. She didn't think that anyone should have the kind of wealth that Hettie and Scotts families had. "Yes, a drink would be perfect." She smiled with a nod of her head. She had brought a bottle of wine with her which would probably do her the majority of the night.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Isaac always felt instantly more comfortable when he was around Lucy and he liked that. It had been difficult for him before to make any kind of connection with someone. He sometimes wondered if Lucy thought of him as more than a friend but he wasn't sure if she would. "Yeah, it's a video game." Isaac muttered with a nod of his head. He felt a little embarrassed for admitting that but he was pretty sure that Lucy wouldn't judge him for that.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "I don't wear makeup, I told you that." Scott chuckled. Wearing an actual costume was enough for him - usually, he'd do what the rest of the football team did and throw on some kind of dark shirt and call that enough, but he knew that wasn't going to fly at Hettie's own party. He smiled and took her hand, leaning down to kiss her quickly. "Runs in my blood, right?" He laughed. He wasn't exactly a stranger to wearing things like this.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Honestly, I'm surprised they're coming - they're like the bloody Brady Bunch or something, now. I would've thought they'd want to celebrate on their own." Betsy laughed, rolling her eyes - she was only playing around, but she did think the five of them had almost formed a little group that felt kind of separate. "Oh - thanks." She laughed as he complimented her. "So do you. Pros of time management, I guess." She grinned.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "I suppose so. We can go whenever you want." Audrey laughed, nodding her head. She wasn't really used to being around people who really cared about what time they got there, but she was pretty much ready, so she wouldn't hold them up if they all wanted to go now. She knew Caleb wasn't too bothered and she liked that - everything was so easy with him, it was like a breath of fresh air. She was trying to ignore the fact that with her, easy wasn't something she'd ever really looked for before in a boyfriend.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "On it!" Johnny called up the stairs with a laugh, getting up and setting out some shot glasses. "It's part of something alright. Is there anything you don't think is part of her charm?" He chuckled, obviously teasing. He poured some tequila into the glasses, waiting until the girls got downstairs to have his. He didn't think he'd feel as happy about going to Hettie's party if he didn't have Robyn - she made him care less about all of that.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Like Alyssa, Seth wasn't really impressed by this kind of wealth - almost the opposite. He thought it was crazy that some people could be this wealthy, whilst others lived on the streets. He didn't like it at all. "Where's your wine?" He asked with a smile, grabbing two of the plastic cups on the side. He'd only brought cider tonight, he didn't want to get too drunk. "How long has it actually been since we've all been together?" He asked, shaking his head. He didn't think they'd actually had a gathering like this since Rock of Ages had ended.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Lucy smiled as Isaac confirmed it was a video game character. "That's really cool, you're going to be the only one dressed like him. I bet there'll be at least three other Mia Wallace's." She laughed, raising an eyebrow. She wasn't the biggest fan of dressing up, but she knew that all of this lot would've made the effort, so she wanted to as well.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie rolled her eyes but didn't see the point in commenting further. It wouldn't do either of them any good. She was pretty sure that she was pushing her luck with him being in an actual costume anyway. Hettie smiled as he pulled away from the kiss and the blonde nodded her head, "It does. But you look better than any of the rest of your family so.." She shrugged her shoulders before she started out of the room.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "They're not here yet are they? They might not turn up yet." Ashton almost hoped that they wouldn't. He only got annoyed when he was around Caleb and he knew that Scott didn't like being anywhere near Johnny. It was probably better that they didn't get there. Ashton chuckled as he nodded his head slightly, "Yeah, that must be it." He laughed.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River shrugged her shoulders as she listened to Audrey, "It doesn't really matter, does it?" She asked her. She usually wouldn't care but she still wasn't really feeling like herself again. And she was really nervous about seeing Scott. She hadn't really been around him since the holiday and she wanted that to stay the same. She felt like an idiot still. And she knew that hettie would happily have her guts.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn smiled as she heard him call back. She thought that she was pretty lucky to have someone like Johnny. How could she not like him? He was everything that she could hope for. She'd be stupid to not think so. "Come on. The shots are waiting." Robyn laughed as she looked between the two girls. She was excited to see what was going to come from tonight.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb shrugged his shoulders slightly as Johnny spoke, "maybe not. But that stays between us." He laughed as he nudged Johnny. He didn't make any secret about how much he liked Audrey. He thought it was pretty obvious. She was the most gorgeous girl he had ever seen and she was so funny, so chill. He thought that she was pretty much perfect. "How're you feeling about tonight?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: This kind of wealth just seemed crazy to Alyssa. She didn't understand how people could sleep soundly when they knew that they could help people with the kind of money that they had. "Oh yeah." She laughed with a nod of her head as she pulled out the bottle of wine she had. She hoped that Seth would end up going home with her that night. Her mum was out so they had the house to themselves. "When we went on holiday? I think." Alyssa shrugged her shoulders. She had pretty much spoke to Lucy every day but that was about it.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Isaac chuckled as he nodded his head slightly, "Yeah, I guess you have a point with that one." He smiled. He liked that she was able to make him feel so comfortable like this. He thought that, that was one of the things he really liked about Lucy. "But you're gonna look the best - so it doesn't matter about the rest of them." He chuckled as he shrugged his shoulders. "Should we go in?"

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott didn't think anybody was ever going to get him like Hettie did - she was the person he trusted the most and that was why he knew them being together was right. "I'm glad to hear you say that, I'd be pretty pissed off if you thought my dad looked better." He teased, rolling his eyes. He followed Hettie out of the room and down the stairs, smirking slightly as he took in the party. She'd gone an excellent job, like he'd known she would.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Maybe you're right. I guess we'll find out." Betsy laughed, shrugging her shoulders. She knew she was mostly just saying this because she didn't want to see Robyn and Johnny - despite it not being the same for the other girl, Betsy had really liked her and now she just felt like she'd been an experiment. It hurt. "What are you thinking about the new show, are you gonna audition?" She hoped he did, she always like spending time with Ashton.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "No, like I said - we can go whenever." Audrey smiled, raising an eyebrow. She wasn't really sure why River was questioning her on it when she'd pretty much said she was easy, but she was happy to get going. She grinned as Robyn spoke, heading downstairs. "Look at this star treatment." She laughed as she saw the shots lined up, smiling up at Caleb.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Stays between us." Johnny agreed with a laugh, nodding his head. He was happy that his friend and Audrey were finally getting their chance and he really hoped it worked out for them. "I'm alright, you know? There are other places to go if it all goes to crap." He shrugged his shoulders. He smiled as soon as he saw Robyn. "Hey, look at you - I always thought the tin man had a thing for Glinda." He grinned.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Seth smiled and handed Alyssa a cup, before he started to pour his own. He liked that everything between them was so natural now - he had been so nervous all the time at first, but now they were so in sync and it was exactly what he'd always wanted. "Yeah, I thought so... That feels like it was a long time ago, but I guess it wasn't too far." He raised an eyebrow. He wondered how everybody was going to be with each other.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Lucy still liked Isaac, she wasn't the kind of person to get over something like that easily - but they hadn't really spoken about being anything more than friends since Greece and she knew that anything like that made him uncomfortable, so she hadn't brought it up either. She was happy just to be around him. "Oh, the highest of compliments. Thank you." She chuckled, nodding her head. "Yeah, we should - let's see all of these inferior Mia's." She laughed.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie knew that Scott understood her better than anyone else would ever. She thought that, that was probably why they would be together. But she was glad that things had been so much easier between them now. "I mean your dad is a silver fox but.." She shrugged her shoulders with a laugh. She had really enjoyed sorting out all of the decorations. And she thought that it all looked great.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "We certainly will." Ashton nodded his head. He really wasn't used to not being the girls first choice and while he wouldn't show it - it had definitely knocked his confidence that Audrey had decided to go with Caleb instead of him. He didn't really want to see her, though. He smiled as she mentioned the new musical and nodded his head, "Yeah, I probably will. Are you?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River nodded her head and quietly followed after the two girls. Though she had enjoyed getting ready with the others - as soon as she got downstairs, she felt like a fifth wheel. River almost wished that she had just stayed at home. She knew that Johnny was just trying to help her out of the slump she had been in and she was trying to make sure that no-one else really, realised... but she was definitely struggling. This had been the first time she had even seen him since Rock of Ages.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn laughed as she heard Johnny and shrugged her shoulders, "Well, that's good. Because I think if the Tin Man looked like that - she'd definitely have a thing for him too." She smiled at him as she reached up to kiss him quickly. She turned to the tequila then though, "Gather round, friends." She called to the others with a smile. She was looking forward to spending time with this group.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "You're the best." Caleb chuckled with a nod of his head. He hoped that things would be good with him and Audrey. If definitely felt like it was. They had a lot of fun together, what else mattered? "Alright, yeah, good. There's a big halloween event going on at one of the clubs - we can go there if you don't feel comfortable here. Just say the word." He nodded. He just wanted to make sure that he was okay. He smiled as Audrey came down the stairs. "Whoever thought that Dorothy could ever look so good?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Alyssa didn't think that she had to think about anything between she and Seth and she liked that. They had, had a bit of a bumpy road in the beginning but it seemed like things were much smoother now and she thought that, that was really nice. "Oh it feels like such a long time ago." The brunette nodded. She didn't know how good things were going to be with the little group now though.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Isaac never knew how to go about situations like this. He was so sure that Lucy didn't like him back and that she had only kissed him back because she felt sorry for him - but he wished that she would bring it all up. He really wanted to know whatever was going on between the two of them. "You're very welcome." He smiled with a nod of his head. He started towards the house, "Are Seth and Alyssa here?'

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott grimaced slightly as Hettie spoke about his dad, but he laughed. "Don't even start." He rolled his eyes. He'd been in a lot of trouble when he'd gotten back from Greece, especially after River had stood up for him and he and his dad still weren't really on good terms. His mum didn't seem to care enough to treat him any differently, but his dad had upped the dislike heavily. "Who do you want to see first?" He raised an eyebrow as they walked down the stairs.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "How do you feel about all of that, anyway?" Betsy raised an eyebrow. She thought she and Ashton were in pretty similar situations, but she obviously couldn't tell him that without outing Robyn and she would never do that. She wished she could, though. She thought it would probably be nice to talk about it. "Yeah, I will be - it's a dance musical, isn't it? Made for me." She laughed.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Oh yeah? Maybe I could make a look out of this Tin Man thing, if I look that good. An OnlyFans for scrap metal." Johnny laughed, kissing his girlfriend back happily. He appreciated Caleb saying they could go wherever, but he didn't want to talk about it in front of everybody - he didn't think it would even come to that, anyway. He smiled and grabbed a shot of tequila, handing another one to River. He was worried about her and he wanted to make sure she was okay tonight.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Audrey smiled widely as she heard Caleb, shrugging her shoulders. "Oh, you'd be surprised - lots of people, actually. It was genuinely hard to find a costume that wasn't made for a strip club." She laughed, shaking her head as she reached him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I love this costume, feels like I'm hugging a giant teddy bear. Which is weird, because I'm also still attracted to you." She laughed.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Yeah, it does. It probably isn't as weird for us because we see each other all the time, but I feel like it's probably going to be weird for a lot of the others." Seth raised an eyebrow. With the new show coming up, he kind of hoped they would all get to start hanging out together again - he had loved it in Spelling Bee, when they'd all hung out all the time. "Did you hear that Johnny and Robyn are together now?" He had been really shocked by that news.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Lucy had no idea that Isaac was still thinking about everything that had happened between them like she was, she thought he probably wouldn't care anymore. She had spoken a bit about it with Alyssa, but after they'd argued in Greece she didn't want to go too into it. "I think so, Alyssa told me they were setting off quite a while ago." She paused as she looked around. "I see them. Do you want to head over?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie laughed as she listened to him. She knew that things were still bad at home and that was why she had him there as often as possible. Hettie knew that she would never have been able to do what River did. She didn't have the balls to stand up to Scotts dad - not when she knew that it would get back to her own parents. And she resented River a lot for that. "Do you see Amber anywhere?" She asked him.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton shrugged his shoulders at Betsys question. "Fucking weird but they can do what they want, can't they?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. He wasn't going to show that he cared too much. Ashton would never do that. He knew that, that was probably part of the reason why things with Audrey had ended but he didn't really care. He just wanted to be done with it all now he thought. "Ah, of course. What you gonna go for though? That's the question." He smiled as he nudged her. He thought that Betsy was so talented.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Oh yeah, I'd absolutely be a fan of that." Robyn laughed with a nod of her head. She wished that she could be as into this as she knew that she probably should have been. She thought that Johnny was probably the perfect boyfriend and yet she was so sure that there was something missing between the two of them. She smiled as she grabbed her shot and quickly knocked it back.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River nodded her head slightly as Johnny handed her the shot, "Thanks." She gave him a quick smile before she quickly did the shot. She wanted to get tonight over with if she was completely honest. She hadn't seen Scott since the airport and it was absolutely setting her on edge - something she already felt on edge about before even thinking about having to see him.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb laughed as he listened to her, "Well, you know - I wouldn't have complained about that." He shrugged his shoulders. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He felt so content with her. Caleb thought that this kind of relationship was how it was supposed to be. It was so easy and it was exactly what he would have liked from a relationship. "Do we have a secret fury over here?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Oh yeah - it absolutely will be." Alyssa nodded her head. She, Lucy, Seth and Isaac still hung out quite often but she didn't think it would be the same for the rest of them. She thought that it was going to be interesting to watch people interact tonight. She nodded her head, "Oh god, yeah. I did not see that one coming, did you?" She asked as she looked up at him. She had thought that she had seen something between Robyn and Betsy but apparently she was mistaken.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Isaac really just wasn't sure what to do with himself around all of that with Lucy. He didn't want to make things awkward. He thought that if she wanted more from the kiss, she would have said so, she would have done something about it. "Ah okay." He nodded his head, a small smile. He hoped that she didn't think that this was awkward. "Yeah, sounds good."

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott wasn't finding things easy at the moment and he truly felt like he had nowhere to get away from it; he loved Hettie and she made it all feel better, but he knew her parents were in constant contact with his, so it still didn't feel much different being there. "Yeah, she's over there by the drinks, looking like she's feeling sorry for herself." He raised an eyebrow. He honestly didn't get why Amber was so upset - he thought she could do a lot better, so it all seemed pretty stupid to him.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy nodded her head. "Yeah, I guess they can." She loved Caleb and she was happy for them, but if she was honest she didn't think it would last - and she just didn't want him to end up getting hurt. "I'll be fine with whatever, really - I just don't want to play an old person." She laughed, raising an eyebrow. This was one of the only times she really, really wanted the lead - but she didn't like to show her cards, in case it didn't work out for her. "What about you?" She smiled. She was sure Ashton would get whatever he wanted.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Johnny really wanted he and Robyn to work out, to be something good - but he sometimes felt as though they were two friends hanging out rather than a couple, even though he thought she was absolutely gorgeous. He just wasn't sure why that was, because he definitely liked her. "I thought as much. I'd give you discounted rates." He chuckled, nodding his head. "Okay, we should get going - we're already late." He laughed.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "I know you wouldn't, but I'd probably have ended up freezing to death and then you'd have some complaints. Hopefully, anyway." Audrey teased, laughing softly. She had never liked going to parties early and ten minutes late still felt pretty early to her, but she knew the rest of them wanted to go. If she was honest, she was kind of nervous about it - it was the first time they'd been around everybody as a couple. "Oh, you've caught me. I've been waiting for this costume to come out all year." She laughed, rolling her eyes jokingly.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Seth was really glad that they'd made their little group of friends through Spelling Bee, but he'd also liked it when they all hung out together, when they'd been a big group of friends - he hoped they could get back to that. "Not at all. I was really surprised, honestly. They're not who I would've put each other with." He wasn't sure who he would've put them with, but it wouldn't be each other.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Lucy didn't ever feel that awkward around Isaac, really - she thought they understood each other well enough to not need to speak all the time, to know they both enjoyed silence. She smiled and nodded her head, walking over to the other two. "Hi guys, you look very sweet." She laughed, taking in their matching costumes.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie had no idea how she could make things easier for Scott. But he wouldn't talk to her about anything that was going on so she didn't know how much she could actually do. She sighed as she looked over at Amber. "I'm gonna go check on her." Hettie smiled as she nodded her head. She gave Scott a quick kiss before she moved over to her friend. She never wanted her to feel like she couldn't talk to her. Hettie wasn't the best friend in the world, she knew that, but she would always be there for a friend that needed her.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton really didn't want to have to think about any of that. He almost wished that Hettie hadn't invited them tonight. He was surprised that she had. It wasn't like they got on. He didn't even think that she had spoke to Johnny since they had stopped talking. He thought it was weird. "Well - you'd make a fucking fantastic Ariel." He smiled at her. He thought that Footloose might be her time to shine. He hoped so."Ren." Ashton spoke, shrugging his shoulders. He knew that he couldn't do Willard, he wasn't funny. And he didn't really want to play Chuck. He'd be fine with Shaw but it wasn't his choice.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn thought something similar to Johnny. She really wanted them to be something good - but she just didn't think there was that spark there. They got on really well and she thought that he was a good looking man but she couldn't help but feel like there was something missing, like they were just friends. "Oh yeah? Is that a girlfriend privilege, huh?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. Robyn nodded as she took a hold of his hand. "Come on then."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "I would definitely have complaints then but you could get in here with me. There's plenty of room for you." Caleb laughed as he shrugged his shoulders. He was quire the opposite of Audrey. He was really excited to spend time with everything now that he was with Audrey. "That's why you were so keen on this group costume thing then, huh?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River nodded slightly as Johnny said that they should get going. She didn't know why she was even doing this. She didn't know why there was any point in her going to this party. Her friends were going to be caught up in their relationships and she hadn't spoke to Scott since she had a go at his dad. She didn't know why she was going but she knew that she couldn't back out now.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Alyssa didn't think that it would be easy for them to get back to the friendships that they all had at the start of Spelling Bee. She thought that it was going to be really hard for anyone to get back to friendship after all of that. But she knew that Seth still hoped and she wouldn't dampen that. "No, absolutely not. Me neither." Alyssa laughed as she shook her head. She thought that, that probably made sense though - for how young they all were still. "Hi!" She smiled as she looked at Lucy, "I love your costume."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Isaac definitely felt like there was a good silence between him and lucy - he just wished he knew what she was thinking about. He thought that she was a brilliant, amazing person and he thought that she was one of the prettiest, kindest people. He was so sure that she wouldn't be interested in him. "Hey." Isaac smiled as they got to their friends. "How're you doing?"

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott had never been the type of person who felt comfortable talking about his thoughts and feelings - he thought that was why he'd been so emotional when he'd finally let down his guard to River in Greece. He was still absolutely mortified about how he'd been that night and it was probably one of the reasons he'd avoided her a little bit since. "Okay, tell her I said she needs to get over it." He grinned teasingly, knowing Hettie would know he was joking. He kissed her back with a little smile, moving to go and grab himself a drink.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy thought part of Hettie might know what she was doing; there was bound to be drama, there was bound to be some kind of kick off with all of these people in the same room - and she thought the girl would probably like that. She smiled as Ashton said she would make a good Ariel. "Yeah? Fingers crossed, then. I dunno, seems like the part everybody will be going for." She shrugged. She didn't think she'd get it over Hettie or Audrey, even though she knew she was the stronger dancer. "That makes sense. You'd smash it. I don't think you've got much competition with this lot." He laughed.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: If Johnny knew the real reason he and Robyn weren't clicking, it would make so much sense to him - but right now, it just felt like something he couldn't quite put his finger on, something just out of his reach. "Oh yeah, it's one of the many pros." He chuckled, nodding his head. For now, he was happy and he thought that was what mattered. He smiled and squeezed her hand gently, leading the way to the door. "Coming, Riv?" He smiled, holding out his other arm to her.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Holy shit, do the good parts of this costume never end? I'm definitely going to end up in there before the night is out, I want to freak people out by popping my head out when they didn't realise I was in there." Audrey laughed, nodding her head enthusiastically. She was hiding how she felt about going to the party pretty well, she thought - but she was definitely ready for a drink now. To take the edge off. "You've got me, I've been rumbled here." She laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, looks like we're going." She smiled, raising an eyebrow as she saw the others heading towards the door. She took Caleb's hand and followed. She just hoped it was going to be okay, that nothing would be awkward.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Seth knew he was probably being a little bit naive by hoping they would ever get the same dynamic back as they'd had at the beginning of Spelling Bee, before any of the relationships or the fall outs - he thought the way everything had been at camping had been pretty perfect, but he knew it was wishful thinking to think they might be able to go back to that now. He'd like everybody getting along and he'd liked feeling like he had a big group of friends. "Hey!" He smiled as he saw Isaac and Lucy. "Good! Well, good enough, to say I'm wearing tights." He laughed as he looked down at his costume, shaking his head. "How are you?"

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Lucy was good with slow, she was good with casual - but she didn't think she could handle getting to a complete standstill and that was where she felt like she and Isaac had landed. She was sure of herself, but not sure enough to keep on pressing when somebody didn't seem to be on the same page as her - but she hoped they might be able to get back to that. She still liked him, she still saw everything in him that she'd seen before. "Thank you! I love yours, I used to love Peter Pan." She smiled.

- joined the chat 16 hours ago

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HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Of course Hettie knew what she was doing when she was inviting everyone. She thought that drama was how you kept things interesting and they weren't going to get that unless they invited absolutely everyone. She found it a lot of fun anyway, so she thought that, that was all that mattered. Hettie rolled her eyes, though there was a little smile on her face, as she heard Scott. She quickly moved over to Amber then. "Hey doom and gloom." Hettie muttered as she reached her friend, "If you're looking like that, you haven't had enough to drink. Tequila?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton was under no illusion that there would be no drama tonight - he just really didn't want to be a part of all of that. He couldn't be bothered, if he was completely honest. He was just happy drinking with his friends - that was all he really wanted. He shrugged his shoulders, "Nah - it'll just be Hettie and you're a better dancer than her so.." He smiled at her. He was pretty sure he knew Audrey well enough to know she'd want Rusty. "Guess we'll see. There's always Seth." Though Ashton thought he was a better performer than Seth, he definitely thought that the other had a better voice.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn really didn't think that she was leading Johnny on. She wanted to like him so surely that showed her that she wasn't interested in girls? Surely whatever she felt for Betsy was just a blip? Logically, she knew that, that wasn't how it worked but that was what she was telling herself, anyway. "Many pros? Right. You'll have to tell me what they are later." She laughed with a nod of her head. Robyn smiled as she looked at River. She wasn't sure what was wrong with the other but she hoped that they could at least cheer her up before the night was out.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River nodded her head as Johnny spoke to her and she linked her arm through his. She had always been a quiet person. Most people didn't listen to her when she was speaking anyway so she never saw the point. She knew that her friend would do whatever he could to make things better and she knew that he would listen to her - she just didn't want to talk about it. She wanted to be on her own .

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "You definitely picked the wrong character of this lot. You should be so jealous of me." Caleb laughed as he looked down at Audrey. He thought that this was how a relationship was supposed to be and he hoped that she thought the same. He knew it wouldn't take long to get to the party and he was pretty excited now. He thought that it was going to be a lot of fun. Caleb nodded and squeezed Audreys hand gently before he followed after her.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Isaac laughed as he listened to Seth and nodded his head, "You not a fan, then?' He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. This was the most out there that Isaac had ever done for Halloween so he definitely didn't know how Seth felt about wearing that costume. "I'm good too though." He nodded. He was definitely a little anxious about being there but he didn't see the point in mentioning that.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Alyssa wasn't really sure what was going on with Lucy and Isaac but since their argument - she hadn't really wanted to ask. Things had been different between the two of them since then and she really hoped that it wouldn't be like that for forever. Alyssa really liked lucy and she thought that they got along well so they should be able to work through. "Oh my too. It's definitely the most underrated Disney film!"

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber looked up as she heard Hettie, laughing softly. She really didn't mean to be gloomy, she just felt pretty down recently - and she didn't know what to do about it. "That sounds like it's guaranteed to cheer anybody up." She giggled, nodding her head. She knew that if anybody could cheer her up it was Hettie, so she was happy to be spending a bit of time with her friend. Amber wasn't really used to feeling like this, usually the crushes she had (and she got them often) would go away within days, a week at most. But this one hadn't and it was making her sad.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy felt similar to Ashton, in that she knew there was going to be drama and she wanted no part in it. She didn't care anymore, if she was honest - she knew who she cared about and who cared about her and although she was upset about Robyn, she would deal with it. "I guess we'll see, then. Still tough competition." She shrugged. She knew she was good, but she also knew Hettie was good. She laughed as he spoke about Seth. "Please. He's got a beautiful voice, but it looks like he's gonna burst into tears everytime he gets on a stage." She laughed, shaking her head. "You beat him in Rock of Ages, anyway."

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "I can't believe you're acting like you don't already know them, that's so upsetting." Johnny pretended to pout, but broke off into laughter as they started to walk. He smiled as River took his arm. He wanted to make sure he got some time alone with her tonight, to chat to her about what was going on - he was worried and he wanted to know if he could fix anything for her. "Alright, it's this way to the tube." They had all had pre-drinks at his flat, so he was leading the way to the station.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "I am so jealous of you, I can't believe I've made a mistake this stupid. How drunk will you need to be before I can get you to swap?" Audrey laughed, raising an eyebrow. She really liked Caleb, she knew she did - and she had such a good time with him, she was always laughing... But part of her didn't think it was supposed to be this easy, it felt similar to when they were just friends. She pushed those thoughts to the back of her head. She smiled as he squeezed her hand, following after Johnny.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "It's not as bad as I thought it would be, but yeah - it's still not exactly comfortable." Seth chuckled. He was pretty sure he would've worn whatever Alyssa had wanted to, and he'd always enjoyed Peter Pan, even as a kid. "Good. It feels weird to be back around everyone, right?" He smiled, raising an eyebrow. He was pretty sure he and Isaac would feel the same way about it all and he liked that he could always rely on his friend to be on the same page as him.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Lucy definitely thought that Alyssa was one of the best friends she'd ever had and she mostly regretted the argument they'd had on holiday; she put it down to spending too much time with the same people and being so far away from home. If she was honest, she could really use a girls advice on what was going on with she and Isaac, but she wasn't going to admit that anytime soon. "Would you say it was your favourite, then?" She smiled.

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HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie laughed softly as she listened to Amber. She was a little worried about Amber, if she was completely honest. Amber was usually the most positive person that Hettie knew - she didn't like that her friend was so down about all of this. She thought that she could do so much better than Caleb, anyway. "I think so too." She laughed with a nod of her head before she turned to pour herself and Amber two shots each. She figured you might as well start as you mean to go on.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "We will see. Not long now." Ashton nodded his head with a smile. He actually really enjoyed auditioning. It was an adrenaline rush and he would much rather do that, then almost anything else. He almost preferred it to actually performing. He laughed as he heard Betsy talk about Seth, "Well - then I've got it in the bag, haven't I?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn shrugged her shoulders, "I just need a refresher every now and again, don't I?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. She loved that Johnny was a friend for everyone. She thought that it was really sweet and really showed how he was with people. "I can't wait to get there." She laughed as she nodded her head. She loved a good party after all.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River glanced at Johnny, shooting him a quick smile, before her gaze fell back to the floor. She knew that she wasn't exactly trying all that hard to act 'normal' but it was all she had. Before she became friends with Johnny and Caleb, it was easy for her to sink into the background. To go to school and go home and no-one really cared. She had her group of friends but they weren't all that close - they didn't check in all the time. Not like Johnny and Caleb always did.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb shrugged his shoulders, "Probably a lot less than you think it would take, honestly." He would always do something for a laugh so he was pretty sure the two of them would end up swapping costumes before the end of the night. He was sure people would find that a lot of fun. Of course all of this was easy and that was what Caleb wanted - he had no idea that she was doubting that.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Well better than the worst is a bonus, right?" Isaac asked with a small smile. It never occurred to him to ask Seth for advice on everything with Lucy. He thought that if he asked, then he would have to admit that things were more than what they were. He didn't want to say something in case he had been a complete idiot with it all. "Yeah - I don't think I've seen half of these people in forever." He laughed as he shook his head.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Alyssa didn't think she had a better friend than Lucy. She really enjoyed being around her and she thought that Lucy understood her more than any of her other friends. She wished that they had never argued but she was sure that things would be okay regardless. "Oh yeah, definitely. why'd you think this was my choice of costume?"

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber didn't think it was necessarily the fact that she liked Caleb that was getting her down, she would get over that easily - it was the insecurity she felt from that person not liking her back. That was what she didn't know how to deal with. She laughed as Hettie poured them two shots each, knocking them back one after the other with a little cough. "Ew." She laughed, shaking her head. "This is a great party, H. You've done an amazing job." She smiled admiringly as she looked around the room.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "You think it'll go back to how it was at the beginning of Spelling Bee?" Betsy asked curiously. She thought it would be nice for them all to be a bit closer again, but she also worried if too much had happened for them to ever be the same way they once were. "I'd say so, yeah - don't get too cocky though, your head will explode." She laughed, rolling her eyes playfully.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Yeah alright, I suppose I can do that." Johnny pretended to be annoyed, rolling his eyes - but there was a smile on his face. He just thought Robyn was the loveliest person, someone he could be around for the longest time. "It won't be long, only a couple of stops and then we're basically right near the house. Have you been to Hettie's house before?" He asked with a little smile. He thought it was amazing, even if it was a bit too showy for him.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "That's what I like to hear." Audrey laughed. She loved how easygoing Caleb was; she thought they were pretty similar in that way, they didn't really care how they looked as long as they were having fun. She smiled as they reached the station, following Johnny to the right stop and climbing on after him. "Think this is the weirdest thing the commuters have seen tonight?" She whispered with a laugh.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Absolutely!" Seth smiled. He didn't mind wearing costumes, dressing up like this - it was pretty similar to performing and he loved that. "I know, that's how it feels for me as well. I haven't seen most of them since the show finished." He shook his head. Once Rock of Ages had finished, it felt like a lot of the group distanced themselves a bit - and he was glad there was another musical.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Lucy smiled. "That makes sense. And you look lovely." She nodded her head. "Have you seen many of the others yet?" She wasn't totally sure who had been invited tonight, but she thought it was nice of Hettie to have them all there - she didn't have to, not after she had already taken them all on holiday, so she thought it was a nice gesture.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie laughed as she saw the look on Ambers face. She loved shots so it barely even effected her as they did one straight after the other. She smiled as Amber complimented the party and she nodded her head as she looked around the room, "Thank you. I think we're in for a very fun night." She laughed as she nudged her friend. She hadn't really planned much tonight but she was looking forward to seeing what would happen. "It's the first time we've all been together since the holiday. It'll be very interesting." Hettie laughed.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton shook his head, "Not a chance." He laughed. He had really enjoyed the early days of Spelling Bee. The camping trip, the first few parties but now everything just seemed to be too complicated. He thought there would soon to be a new normal for them though. "And we wouldn't want that, would we? Then who would you talk to?" He asked her, raising an eyebrow with a laugh.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Then we're both winners!" Robyn smiled at him then. She really did love spending time with Johnny. she thought that if she could pick her perfect man, then it would probably be Johnny. It was the man part that seemed to be the sticking point though. "I don't think I have actually, no." She laughed as she shook her head. She was sure that it was going to be absolutely amazing, though.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: That was why Caleb thought that he and Audrey worked so well together. They were such similar people. He didn't think he would do well with someone who was all that different to him. He thought that he would probably annoy a lot of people. Caleb shook his head, "Absolutely not. They'll have had uni students through her tonight. They will be in weirder stuff."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Costumes brought too much attention to him. That was why Isaac wasn't exactly the biggest fan of Halloween. He didn't like the attention being on him. He thought that, that was why he hadn't said anything to Lucy. He was so scared of what would happen if he said something and she turned him down. "You'll get to see them all again soon, right?

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Thank you." Alyssa smiled as Lucy complimented her. She definitely appreciated that. She shook her head at her friends question, "No. I haven't seen any of them yet. Johnny and Caleb definitely aren't here yet. We'd have been able to hear them, wouldn't we?" She laughed as she shook her head. She loved them, though. They were always a lot of fun.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber was a pretty big lightweight, so two shots in a row was bound to get her well on her way to being drunk - and tonight, she was grateful for that. "I hope so! Are you wanting to play games?" She smiled as she looked at Hettie. She knew there were some of her friends favourite things. "I know, I was thinking this... I hope it's not going to be weird, having everybody here." If she was totally honest, she wasn't even sure what a lot of people had been up to since the holiday.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "How come?" Betsy raised an eyebrow. She had her own thoughts as to why, but she was curious to hear his too. She had liked the way things were at the beginning, but she also thought they would all be able to find their way back now if they accepted how things had changed. If they accepted that things were different now. "Oh yeah, I'd be lost. Not like I have any other friends." She laughed, rolling her eyes. She considered Ashton one of her best where this group was concerned, though.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: The similarities between Robyn and Hettie did occur to Johnny, especially physically - he knew it was probably clear that he had a type, but he thought they were very different personality wise. He would be lying if he said he didn't miss the time he and Hettie used to spend together, though - but he wasn't going to say that right now. "It's pretty cool." He smiled, holding out his hand to the blonde as they got off the tube and started walking towards the house. "That's it, right there." He nodded over to the huge building, shaking his head slightly with a little smile on his face.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Audrey had tried not to let herself think about any alternatives since she and Caleb had been together; he was a good person, he was so good to her. He made her feel safe and wanted and those were the things she told herself she wanted; she had never quite known whether Ashton wanted her or not and she just didn't think she could deal with that, not when she'd liked him so much. "You are so right. I would love to sit on here all night and see what kind of weirdos come through." She laughed, jumping down off the step as they got off the tube.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "I suppose so. I mean, it's not like I was ever especially close to anybody - it just felt nice, being a group. Don't you think?" Seth shrugged his shoulders. He had never been loud or outgoing, things that most people in the group seemed to be - but he had felt like he fit in and he didn't often get that, so he felt sad that everybody seemed to be a little bit distant now. "Have you got a drink?" He asked, noticing his friends empty hands. He didn't know if he would want one or not, but he wanted to at least offer.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Lucy laughed, nodding her head. "Oh, you're absolutely right. How could I forget?" She chuckled. She didn't know how Johnny and Caleb had it in them to be so much, all the time - but it was one of their signature traits and she knew they'd be in full swing tonight. "Do you think it's weird, thinking about how different things are to when we all first met?" She raised an eyebrow.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie was absolutely making sure that Amber was drunk by the end of the night. She thought that the other at least deserved that much. They were absolutely going to get her mind off of everything that had happened. "Of course we are. What do you think we should do?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow. she hadn't decided what yet but she thought that it always caused a bit of trouble. "It won't be weird. we don't have to talk to anyone that we don't want to talk to so.." She shrugged her shoulders.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Too much has changed, hasn't it? Even if things do get better - there's still gonna be baggage, isn't there?" Ashton didn't think that anyone was going to get through all of that. He certainly didn't think that he was about to, any time soon. "Exactly. You're so lucky I'm here." He shrugged his shoulders. He really liked spending time with Betsy. She wasn't like anyone else that he knew.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn thought that it was pretty natural for a person to have a type. And while she thought that Hettie was beyond gorgeous, and she definitely wasn't anywhere near that, but she could see the similarities between the two of them. She thought that it made sense. "Oh fucking hell.." She muttered as she looked up at the house. She had never seen something that impressive. "Jesus... My house could fit in there like five times over."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb nodded his head with a laugh, "Oh and there's definitely going to be a few of those, for sure. Especially the later we sit in here." He laughed as he looked around the carriage. They weren't the only ones dressed up in there. He loved Halloween. It brought out the best in people he thought. It was a lot of fun. "Come on." He muttered as he took her hand and followed Johnny to Hetties house.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Yeah, I guess so." Isaac shrugged his shoulders. He felt more comfortable now that it was just a small group of them - now it was just the four of them. But he thought that explained the differences between him and Seth perfectly. "Oh, no." He laughed as he shook his head. "I brought wasn't really bothered about anything to drink so I thought I'd just steal some of the mixers." He shrugged.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Alyssa laughed as she nodded her head, "Is that how long we've all not been together?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow. She thought that Caleb and Johnny were a lot of fun but she didn't think that she would ever be able to be like that. They were so much all of the time and it was just too much for her personally. "I think it's expected." She shrugged. "People change and evolve, right?"

AM EH AM SD BC GCH WAL MS AG: Elias laughed as Fleur wrinkled her nose, rolling his eyes teasingly. "I said you wouldn't like it." He shrugged his shoulders. He'd grown up around his dad - who had obviously always been a big drinker, so by the age of twenty he absolutely knew what he liked, what did the trick best. Whiskey was usually his drink of choice and he didn't really like to mix it with anything.

AM EH AM SD BC GCH WAL MS AG: "Ah, but you can't leave me to come back all on my own." Wyatt chuckled. Especially with everything that had happened between he and Maggie, he needed Jude to be by his side when he came home at the moment - he felt a lot more confident when he had a friend with him. "I'll just have whatever you're having. What do you want?" He smiled at Savannah.

AM EH AM SD BC GCH WAL MS AG: "I genuinely kept thinking I'd fallen asleep with my eyes open. It felt like hours were passing." Ava laughed, shaking her head. She was exaggerating now, but she was finding herself funny. "I really think you should. It's a curse on my life, being attracted to only men." She sighed, shaking her head as she lit her cigarette and took a long drag. "I would be really mad if I wasn't the number one girl in your life, though." She laughed.

AM EH AM SD BC GCH WAL MS AG: Gomez loved being a dad - it had happened way earlier than he'd ever thought and he knew he wanted it to be a long while before he had another child, but he loved Wren with everything he had. He smiled as Maggie said she was going with him, laughing slightly as he headed over to his friends. "What, is somebody on fire or something?" He chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

AM EH AM SD BC GCH WAL MS AG: Aaron knew that he and Bridie had been young when they were together and that she regretted what she'd done - but it didn't mean he would take it again. He hadn't even realised how against cheating he was before she'd done it to him, but he couldn't imagine ever doing it to anybody else. He listened carefully as she spoke, nodding his head. He thought what she was saying made sense - there were definite similarities there. "Is that what you think is happening?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. He thought Alba's dad was pretty intimidating, and Elias even more so.

AM EH AM SD BC GCH WAL MS AG: Minnie shook her head, a little smile on her face. "I have no idea. I feel like I'm being an annoying little sister if I ask about it, so I just haven't." She laughed, shrugging her shoulders. "I think there's more than them just being friends, though - I mean, this is the second time he's brought her home." She smiled. "You're earning definite Auntie points here, aren't you?" She giggled, wrapping an arm around Sylvie as the others arm went around there. She and Milo had already discussed Sylvie and Barney being the baby's godparents and she couldn't wait to tell them.

AM EH AM SD BC GCH WAL MS AG: "You used to love me more than her." Barney said, pretending to be sad and sticking out his bottom lip. He was only joking, though - he knew Milo well enough to know that his friends were a priority and it was the same for Barney. He knew Sylvie felt the same, which was one of the many reasons he loved her. "I don't know... And I don't really want to. You know?" He whispered back with a shrug of his shoulders. "Hey! We just wanted to see you." He laughed.

BS FM SK AH SM HD JH CK MS: "Yeah and I heard you. So why would I act like I like it?" Fleur asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. She had never been able to handle her drink very well. But she enjoyed the feeling of being drunk, of doing whatever she wanted. "You want to go and see people?" She asked. It wasn't like there were many people there that liked her very much so she figured she'd just stay with Elais.

BS FM SK AH SM HD JH CK MS: "Oh of course. You wouldn't be able to stand that, would you?" Jude asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. He and Wyatt had always had a complicated relationship but they went through phases. Sometimes they never spoke - since going to uni, they would chat every single day. Wyatt was like his brother and it didn't matter what happened, he thought that would always be the same. He nodded as he listened to Wyatt, turning and ordered to whiskeys and the cocktail that Savannah asked for.

BS FM SK AH SM HD JH CK MS: "Fuck me - I can't believe we've only been here for half an hour." Bridie laughed. "I thought we were here for about a fucking year." She was pretty sure that she wasn't ever going to find anyone interesting. Elias was one of the funniest, most interesting people she had ever met. she didn't think that anyone was going to top that. "Aw, would you be jealous?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow. She took a hold of her friends spare hand - after she lit her cigarette - "You're always gonna by my number one."

BS FM SK AH SM HD JH CK MS: Alba shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know if it is but I definitely think that it could." She loved her brother so much and the last thing she wanted was to see him struggling like their dad was. She didn't want to have to constantly worry about both of them. She rested her head against Aarons shoulder. "Do you want to go and talk to him and Fleur?" She asked him. She wasn't sure how he was with Fleur - all she knew was that the two had slept together.

BS FM SK AH SM HD JH CK MS: Maggie followed after Gomez. She was nervous about seeing Minnie for some reason. The girl was her best friend in the entire world but she thought that it was pretty clear that wasn't the case the other way around anymore. She was sure that Minnie preferred to spend time with Sylvie and she worried that, that was because of what she had done to Wyatt. "Hey - you both look great."

BS FM SK AH SM HD JH CK MS: Sylvie nodded her head, "Then I need to ask Savannah." She giggled. She didn't really know the other girl that well but she thought that she was fun and she was sure that she could see what the other girl would think eventually. "They definitely look more than friends." She nodded. She thought that they looked good together as well. "Mhm. I need to be the best Auntie!" Sylvie smiled. She was so excited to meet Minnie and Milos baby. "Hi Maggie." Sylvie smiled as she looked at the girl.

BS FM SK AH SM HD JH CK MS: "I still do. Just don't tell her that." Milo whispered to Barney, a small smile on his face. He beamed as he realised that Gomez was finally there. He wrapped his arms around his friend quickly. "You've been gone so long! I missed your face. That is why we called you over. Right Barn?" He asked, his arms still around Gomez as he looked to their other friend.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber pushed the shot glasses away from her and started to fill up her cup with pink gin and lemonade, taking an experimental sip to test the strength before she put in her straw. "There's loads of stuff we can play!" She laughed, pouting slightly while she thought. "We could play truth or dare, there's never have I ever, who's most likely to... Or there's stuff like Mr and Mrs?" She smiled, shrugging her shoulders.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Yeah, but there was baggage anyway. Maybe it'll all be better than it was before, we never know." Betsy laughed, shrugging her shoulders. Part of her thought that people had sorted out their shit now, so it could be calmer - but with these people, she didn't think that things would ever be properly sorted for good. "Yeah yeah, you've had your nightly ego boost from me. Don't think you'll be getting another one." She laughed, rolling her eyes. "Jesus, they're really late tonight." She checked the time on her phone with a raise of an eyebrow. Even though she knew she shouldn't, she was waiting for Robyn to get there.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Johnny laughed, nodding his head. "I know, mine too - I think I'd get scared living somewhere like this, though. Wouldn't you always wonder if somebody was on the other side of the house waiting for you?" He chuckled. He liked his house the way it was, he didn't think he'd ever like living somewhere so flashy - he didn't know how anybody would be able to find it homely. He pushed open the door and let Robyn go first, grinning as he stepped inside. "Happy Halloween!" He called loudly, letting out a laugh.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "The states we're gonna see on the way home, that's gonna be the fun part. - Actually, take that back. We'll be the states." Audrey laughed, raising an eyebrow. She thought Halloween was the most fun holiday and she was excited to celebrate tonight, she just hoped it all went well. She smiled as he took her hand, heading into the house almost nervously. She couldn't help but laugh as she heard Johnny though, looking around the party with a little smile.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Seth smiled as Isaac spoke, nodding his head. "That's more than fair - cheaper, and you won't wake up with a bad head like the rest of us." He chuckled. He had never gotten as drunk as he'd been on the night of Audrey's party again and he didn't ever plan on it. He thought that was probably the worst state his body could get in, without him being in any actual trouble. He turned with a laugh as he heard Johnny's voice. "They've arrived, then." He chuckled.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "It must be, I'm starting to forget about everybody." Lucy laughed, shaking her head. She knew that wasn't the case, though - she'd loved getting to direct them all in Spelling Bee and she'd offered her help as the assistant director in Footloose for that reason. She was excited for it to start. "Yeah, you're very right... It's nice having people back together, though."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie sorted out her glass of wine as Amber sorted out the gin for herself. She was enjoying spending time 1 on 1 with Amber. It didn't happen all that often with their group of friends. She nodded her head, "There's loads of stuff to play but what's the most interesting thing. That's what I'm trying to figure out." She looked around the room. She smiled fondly, though, as she heard Johnnys voice. She had missed him a lot even though she knew that she probably shouldn't. "The rabble are finally here then."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "We never know but I doubt it." Ashton shrugged his shoulders. He really didn't think that anything was going to be good with the group. Especially not as he saw the look on Hetties face when Johnny walked in. He didn't think that Scott was going to like that very much. "It's alright. I don't need you to tell me. I know that you're agreeing with me." He smiled at her. "Guess they're trying to make it so late they don't have to spend much time here."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Somebody on the other side of the house - or Ghosts?" Robyn raised an eyebrow. she had watched too many horror films for that. She would be terrified living there. Robyn smiled as she looked around the room. She was pretty happy to be going there with Johnny and she really wanted to talk to Betsy but things felt weird since she and Johnny had started seeing one another.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River sighed as she followed after the others. She her arm wasn't still linked with Johnnys, she absolutely would have bailed before she stepped foot in the house. She looked to the floor though, as he started shouting. She really didn't want any attention to be drawn to her. She dropped her arm and quickly moved to the side of the room, to try and sort herself out a drink. she was not getting through this sober, that was for sure.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "We will absolutely be the states on the tube and I'm already looking forward to that!" Caleb laughed. He thought that they were going to have a lot of fun on the way home, that was for sure. "Happy halloween!" He called along with Johnny. He never really cared how he looked. And he knew that his friend didn't either. That was one of the things that he really loved about his friend.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Isaac nodded his head with a laugh, "Yeah. I have a bit of work to do tomorrow too so - need a clear mind, right?" He smiled as he shrugged his shoulders. He had been getting a bit busier with work and he was absolutely loving it. He was completely in his element. Isaac chuckled as he looked over at Johnny and Caleb. "They weren't going to enter quietly were they?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Are you an old lady? Is that what's happened? Is that why you've forgotten?" Alyssa asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. She was so grateful for working on Spelling Bee because it gave her some of her best friends - and her boyfriend. She definitely thought that it was worth it. "Oh yeah, I completely agree." She smiled as she nodded her head. Alyssa laughed as she heard the boys. "See - they had to make their entrance."

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber really enjoyed getting to be on her own with Hettie - the girl was one of her best friends but they rarely got to spend time just the two of them, because their group of friends was so big. It meant a lot to her, to be able to have time like this. "I guess we just have to see what kind of a mood everybody is in." She smiled, shrugging her shoulders. She laughed as Hettie called them the rabble, turning to see everybody. "Yeah, I guess so." She raised an eyebrow as she saw them all walking in.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber really enjoyed getting to be on her own with Hettie - the girl was one of her best friends but they rarely got to spend time just the two of them, because their group of friends was so big. It meant a lot to her, to be able to have time like this. "I guess we just have to see what kind of a mood everybody is in." She smiled, shrugging her shoulders. She laughed as Hettie called them the rabble, turning to see everybody. "Yeah, I guess so." She raised an eyebrow as she saw them all walking in.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy rolled her eyes as Ashton spoke, but she laughed. She liked that he was confident enough in himself that he didn't need anybody else's affirmation - that was how it seemed to her, anyway. "-- Looks like we were wrong." She laughed as she heard the voices of the boys. "And in a big group costume nonetheless..." She loved them all, but she thought that was pretty in character for them all. Her stomach still fluttered slightly as she saw Robyn and she tried to ignore the feeling.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Oh god, or ghosts - you're right. Or like, zombies, monsters, all of that lot... Either way - I couldn't live here. I'd probably die of fright." Johnny laughed, shaking his head. He grinned as he heard Caleb shouting along with him, heading further into the party. "Okay - we need a drink, the tube ride sobered me up significantly and I'm upset about it." He chuckled, putting down the bag of alcohol they'd brought with them. "What are you having?"

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott looked up from the conversation he'd been having with his friends as he heard Johnny's voice, rolling his eyes in irritation. The boy didn't bother him as much now he had a girlfriend, now he wasn't after Hettie - but he still got on his nerves, a lot. He couldn't help but notice River though and instantly he wanted to go and talk to her, but he knew that wasn't a good idea. She seemed down, sad almost - and he wanted to know what was going on. He wanted to help her.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Audrey didn't mind that they all lived pretty far away from the party - she thought the journey home was one of the funniest parts, everybody trying their hardest to be sensible and get home at the same time as being absolutely hammered. "You're like a bloody foghorn." She laughed as he shouted, shaking her head. She looked over at Hettie and shot her a smile - she thought it could be nice tonight, having everybody back together.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Yeah? What work are you doing?" Seth asked with a little smile. He liked to show Isaac that he was actually interested in what was going on with him - they might've met through the show, through college, but he definitely considered the other to be one of his closest friends by now and he hoped the feeling was mutual. "Absolutely not, I think I forgot where we were for a second." He chuckled.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "I think I've been an old lady since I was about twelve. Does that surprise you at all?" Lucy laughed, raising an eyebrow. She knew that she and Alyssa didn't act like the other girls their age, but she also didn't think that was really a bad thing. "Oh wow, look at their costume." She laughed as she saw the last group walk through the door. She thought they looked pretty sweet, all of them together.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie had no idea how things were going to be tonight but she was really looking forward to finding out. She rolled her eyes as she saw River go off on her own. she didn't see the point in coming if she was going to mope around but she wouldn't say anything. As long as she stayed away from Scott, she thought it would be all fine. "Yeah, exactly. See what will be the most fun." She chuckled as she raised an eyebrow. "You look amazing, ignore them." She whispered to her friend.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton had always been a pretty confident guy - but Audrey picking Caleb definitely knocked his a bit. He didn't know how to take that, if he was completely honest. He was the better choice ,wasn't he? He rolled his eyes as he heard the boys and turned to look at them with a sigh. "Fucking hell. Do they want to be any louder?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "You would absolutely die here. It's a good job you and Hettie didn't work out, isn't it?" Robyn laughed as she raised an eyebrow. She wondered if they were far enough removed from all of that for her to say that to him - she hoped he knew that she was only playing with him. "Oh - yes please. "She laughed with a nod of her head. She was still pretty tipsy but she could do with a little more. She refused to even look at Betsy though. She couldn't.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River really didn't think that she was going to be at the party very long. She already wanted to go home. She chewed on her lip for a moment as she felt someone looking at her. She didn't want to see who it was. She didn't think it mattered.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb was absolutely certain that he and Audrey were going to have a lot of fun on the way home. They would be drunk and it would be so fun. He knew that. Just like he was sure that the party would be too. He shrugged as Audrey spoke, "It's just one of the things you like about me, right?" He winked at her before he followed Johnny to the drinks table.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Oh - just building out a couple websites and stuff. It's pretty fun actually." Isaac shrugged his shoulders. he always got a little bashful when talking about his work with friends. It was something he was so passionate about but not something he ever really knew what to do when explaining it all. "That's alright. it's probably better wherever you thought we were." He laughed as he shrugged his shoulders.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Funnily enough, that absolutely does not shock me at all." Alyssa laughed as she shook her head. She thought that the same was probably said about her too. She had always been older than she actually was. She smiled as she looked at the others. "I think I love that though. They all look so cute." She had always enjoyed couples costumes, anyway.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber nodded as Hettie whispered to her, but she didn't really believe what she was saying - she felt almost silly compared to Audrey and Hettie, to the girls that boys wanted. She didn't put herself in that same class, although people were complimentary towards her. "It doesn't matter anyway. I'm not bothered." She laughed, shrugging her shoulders. She knew Hettie would know she was lying, but there wasn't much else she could do.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy laughed, shaking her head. "Please don't tempt fate, I don't want to know how loud they can actually get." She loved both boys, but she thought they could be a lot and especially tonight, she didn't think they seemed to realise the people they'd pissed off.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Johnny laughed, nodding his head. "Absolutely. I'd need to bring a night light every time I bloody came over." He liked that Robyn was chilled out enough to mention that he and Hettie had had a thing; he thought it made more sense than just pretending it hadn't happened and he didn't mind joking around about it. He got both of their drinks sorted out and handed Robyn's over with a little smile.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott knew how Hettie would react if the first thing he did was go over to River, so he knew he wasn't about to play with fire like that right away - but he did want to check up on her later, at least. She didn't seem right and for some reason, he felt like he needed to at least ask. She would do the same for him; she had done the same for him, time and time again.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Oh yeah, one of those lovable faults." Audrey laughed, rolling her eyes teasingly. She followed after the boys to the drinks table - she definitely wanted to be more drunk than she was. She felt like the party wasn't in full swing yet - that was why she liked to arrive late, so that she got there when things had already started and there was no awkward waiting around.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "That does sound fun! I mean, I'd have no idea where to even start - but it sounds like it would be a lot of fun to figure out." Seth smiled. He thought it was so cool that Isaac could navigate things like that. He laughed, nodding his head. "Not enjoying the party, then?" He smiled slightly.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "It shouldn't, I think it absolutely makes sense." Lucy laughed. She liked that she and Alyssa were similar in that way, she didn't feel like the odd one out when her friend was around. "They do. I feel bad for River, though. I don't think I'd want to be around two couples all night."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie rolled her eyes as she heard Amber. She knew that she would have said exactly the same thing if she was in Ambers position but it still bothered her. She didn't want her friend to feel like she had to pretend with her. Especially when she thought that she understood how her friend was feeling. Hettie was with Scott and she was so happy with him but she really missed Johnny. She missed spending time with him.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton laughed as he listened to the other. "No, I don't think any of us want to know that, actually. They're a fucking nightmare." He muttered as he shook his head. He didn't understand why everyone continued to put up with any of them but he wasn't about to start something tonight. He didn't see the point. "What's up with her?" He asked, nodding over to River.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn laughed, "Oh god. No wonder she went with someone else." She smiled as she looked at Johnny. Robyn would never really take things too seriously - not stuff like that. She liked that Johnny was the same. She thought that, that was probably why they got on so well, if she was completely honest. "Thank you." Robyn smiled as she took her drink from him.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: If she was completely honest, River thought that she was just a nuisance being there. She couldn't believe that Hettie had even let her into the house. River sighed as she looked around the room and she quickly turned to explore a bit of the house, away from the rest of them for a little bit. She thought a walk around the gardens would probably do her some good.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Faults? It's not a fault! How dare you!" Caleb laughed, as he shook his head. "What are you fancying?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. He knew that they were probably going to want to go pretty hard tonight so he was definitely curious about what she wanted to drink for tonight.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Oh, yeah. I've kind of taught myself so I dunno if it's right but people seem pretty happy with it." Isaac shrugged his shoulders. He really enjoyed stuff like that. He liked being on his own. He enjoyed plugging himself away and getting his work done. It was a lot of fun for him. He shrugged his shoulders, "You know me. I'm not a big party person." He laughed.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "It definitely makes sense." Alyssa nodded her head. She thought that she and Lucy were such good friends because they understood one another. They were pretty similar in almost everything so it made so much sense for them to be friends. "Oh, yeah, no. But it doesn't look like she wants to be either." She muttered, nodding to where she saw her leaving.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: It wasn't that Amber didn't trust Hettie - she trusted her more than a lot of people, but she thought that if she didn't pretend to be okay then everybody was going to know that she wasn't and she didn't want that. "Do you miss him?" She asked Hettie, obviously referring to Johnny. She knew Johnny missed her, even if he hadn't said so.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy laughed, nodding her head. "Come on, they're not that bad - just fucking loud." She smiled. She still thought both boys were good people, just that they were a lot to put up with sometimes. She looked over to River, shaking her head in answer to his question. "I have no idea. Probably the fact that she's fifth wheeling." She shrugged. She did worry though, because she'd seen River at some bad points - but this looked worse than any of them.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Johnny laughed, shaking his head. "Oh yeah, it was a wise decision for all involved." He grinned. He thought it was - at least, that was what he was telling himself. Surely he and Hettie wouldn't have worked? She wanted Scott and he was nothing like Scott. He still missed her though, he couldn't just switch that off and he wondered if she missed him. He wondered if she would speak to him tonight.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "It's okay to have faults! Or did I forget you were Mr Perfect?" Audrey grinned, raising an eyebrow teasingly. She loved that he was loud, because she was too - although probably not quite as loud. She just thought he was one of the most fun people to be around. "Hm... I'll have vodka, please. And whatever mixer we brought." She smiled. She was sure she wouldn't need to tell him to make it strong - she definitely wanted to be drunk tonight.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Seth smiled, nodding his head. "I think that must mean you're doing a great job then, mate." He chuckled. If people were paying for it, Seth thought Isaac must've been doing a pretty satisfactory job. "I know - me either. At least we can just chill out here, the four of us." He thought that was nice, that they could pretty much hide away and enjoy the night with their little group.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "No, it doesn't, does it?" Lucy commented as she watched River almost curiously. She would've thought she'd be having a great time with the boys, all dressed up - but she just looked sad and like she didn't really want to be there. "I wonder what's happened... Do you think maybe there's been an argument?" She questioned, shrugging her shoulders.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie raised an eyebrow as she heard her friends question and she turned to look at the other girl. She didn't know if she should tell her the truth or not. "Yeah, a little." The blonde sighed. She thought that her life would be so much easier if she could just pretend like Johnny didn't exist anymore. She was sure that Scott would prefer that as well.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton shrugged his shoulders. He thought that he was probably just a little jealous of the two boys. They both had gorgeous girls and he was on his own. "Loud and annoying but sure - not that bad." He rolled his eyes. He nodded slightly as he looked from River and then over to Scott. He saw her looking at her and he wonderedif Hettie had. He thought that, that wouldn't go down well if she saw it too.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Definitely for me." Robyn smiled as she looked at Johnny. She hoped that things could get better between the two of them. She really, really wanted for the two of them to be more than just this. She just didn't know if they were actually going to get to that point. Robyn wondered if Betsy was going to talk to her or not. She hoped that she would. She really wanted for the two of them to talk.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "I am Mr Perfect. I can't believe you've forgotten!" Caleb laughed as he shook his head slightly. Caleb had never seen the point in being too serious and it had cost him a lot of relationships - he was glad that Audrey seemed to like that side of him. "Alright." He smiled as he nodded his head. He quickly set about sorting her a vodka and coke and grabbed one of the beers he had brought with him. "Here you go." He smiled.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Isaac shrugged his shoulders, "Here's hoping." He chuckled. He knew that he was probably pretty annoying to be around but he was glad that Seth and the girls at least put up with him. "Yeah, that was what I was hoping for." He smiled as he nodded his head.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Alyssa shook her head. She had no idea what it was that was going on with River but she felt compelled to help her. She didn't know River very well though, so she didn't really know what to do. "Maybe.." She muttered with a nod of her head.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber nodded her head; she was glad Hettie had told her the truth, she hadn't thought she would. "I think he misses you too, H." She said softly. Johnny wouldn't say that to her, she knew he would never put her in the middle like that - but the look he got on his face whenever Hettie was spoken about was enough to make her think she was right. If she was honest, she thought Johnny would rekindle things with Hettie in a heartbeat. She didn't think Scott would be very happy to hear that, though.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy thought it was pretty crazy that somebody like Ashton was still single, after spending so much time around these people - she wouldn't say it, but she wondered if that was the way he wanted it, if that was why he'd seemed so closed off to anything with Audrey. "Most people in this group are loud and annoying, that's what you get when you decide to hang around theatre people." She laughed, raising an eyebrow. "What's going on there?" She raised an eyebrow as she saw Scott looking at River.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Johnny smiled as River spoke, leaning in to kiss her quickly. He really did like her and he thought they could be something great - they just had a few teething problems to work out, they still needed to probably learn who each other was. He thought it was crazy that he and Hettie had never really needed to do that - they'd had a pretty good grasp on who each other was from day one. "Everything okay?" He asked with a little smile - it seemed like something was on Robyn's mind, but he had no guesses as to what it was.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Oh god, I must be losing my marbles! How could I forget I was talking to the Mr Caleb Perfect?" Audrey laughed, rolling her eyes as she spoke. She liked just being able to forget about everything else with Caleb and just have a laugh - he always had the ability to bring a smile to her face, no matter what. It was probably the thing she valued most about him. She smiled gratefully as he handed her a drink, taking a sip. "Are you trying to get me drunk here?" She laughed jokingly, taking a bigger sip.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott watched as River seemed to head off into the gardens, raising an eyebrow slightly. He didn't think anybody seemed to be paying any attention to him and he thought it was normal to want to check if a friend was okay. He grabbed his drink and walked slowly out of the back, trying to act as though he wasn't looking around. He quickly saw her, though. "Hi..." He called, trying not to make the girl jump.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie sighed as Amber said that he missed her too. She thought that, that complicated things more. Hettie really wanted to be able to talk to him but the last thing she wanted was to annoy Scott. "I didn't want us to stop being friends, you know?" She asked her with a sigh. She knew that she could have handled that situation better but she didn't know what she could do about it now. "I don't think he'd talk to me, even if he does." She shrugged.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton had no idea why he was so unable to commit. He had always struggled with it. He thought that there was more to life than just a relationship but he wanted that with Audrey. He wished that he hadn't been such a fool. Ashton scoffed as he nodded his head, "Yeah, that's very true." He chuckled. He didn't know how any of them got a word in, sometimes. he was definitely glad to have a moment with Betsy before everything kicked off. "I have no idea." He muttered with a shrug of his shoulders. "Don't think Hettie would be too thrilled though, do you?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn happily kissed Johnny back. She tried to ignore that the feeling of kissing him was nothing like when she kissed Betsy. She thought that, that was probably a bit of an issue. She thought that it was pretty natural to go through trouble when they were starting a relationship. It was never going to be easy, she thought. "Yeah, yeah. It's fine." She smiled as she nodded her head. SHe didn't see the point in mentioning anything else. Because what was the point? What could she even say anyway?

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "I have no idea how you could forget that. It must be all that alcohol." He laughed. Caleb had so much fun with Audrey and he knew that the same must be said for her too. He was glad of that much, anyway. He laughed as he listened to her and shrugged his shoulders, "So what if I was?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. Though he was pretty sure that, that was what Audrey had wanted.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River just thought she needed a moment to calm down and then she would be ready to either go back into the party or to go home. She had no idea what she wanted to do - but she knew that she felt like she was being suffocated. She definitely didn't think that Scott would follow after her so she was pretty surprised when she heard his voice. She turned around to face him and nodded her head in response to him. She definitely didn't think that he had gone out there to see her.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber knew that things between Hettie and Johnny were complicated and she thought it was mostly because of the way Hettie had handled the situation, but she didn't think it was irreparable - she thought they could get back to being friends. "I know, but I think you hurt him H... He probably just needs it explaining." She shrugged her shoulders. Hettie and Scott getting together had come as a shock for Johnny, especially not hearing it from Hettie first. "He would. You know him, Hettie. He'd never ignore you." She raised an eyebrow.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy thought that if Ashton had sorted whatever his issues with commitment were, the situation would probably be very different right now - she didn't think Audrey would've actually been with Caleb if she thought the option to be with him was there, but she also didn't think it was her place to say it. She liked being an outsider, because it meant she got to observe a lot of things. She was trying not to look over at Robyn, but she so badly wanted to. She laughed as he spoke about Hettie. "Definitely not. I can't wait for that to kick off later." She rolled her eyes.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Johnny was pretty sure there was something that Robyn wasn't telling him, something that was prohibiting her from being her full self with him - but he also didn't think it was up to him to keep on pushing her. He just hoped it wasn't something he'd done. He had definitely noticed that something wasn't there though, that something was missing. He just hoped he could keep on ignoring it until it wasn't an issue anymore. "Okay, good." He smiled, reaching to take her hand and squeezing it softly.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Oh yeah, it must be. I promise I won't forget again." Audrey laughed, shrugging her shoulders. She knew that everybody expected her to be with somebody like Caleb - her family absolutely loved the bones of him, he fit into her friendship group perfectly... But there was something about the unexpected that Audrey had always found so much more exciting and she felt almost guilty because of that. "Then I would say how dare you, I don't get drunk." She shrugged her shoulders, laughing even as she spoke. He really was one of her best friends and she appreciated him so much.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott paused slightly as River just nodded at him; he wasn't really sure what to do with that or how to respond and it threw him for a second. He didn't want to go back inside, he didn't want to leave her out there alone. "What are you doing out here?" He asked softly, raising an eyebrow. He'd never even thanked her for standing up to his parents, but he wondered if she knew just how grateful he'd been.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie really hadn't meant to let things get so bad between her and Johnny. She had wanted to be able to tell him and she wasn't really sure why. If she really thought about it, she thought that she hadn't told him because she was afraid that she had made the wrong choice, that he would convince her that she should be with him. She wanted to be sure of her decision but she absolutely wasn't. "And Scott? He'd go ballistic." She shook her head. She thought that, that was probably why she hadn't properly spoke to the other by now.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Of course Ashton knew that if he proved to Audrey that he wouldn't hurt her, then they might have been able to work. But he didn't know what she wanted from him. He didn't know what more he could do. If she didn't trust him now, what was the point? Ashton chuckled as he listened to Betsy and he nodded his head, "Yeah - it's definitely not going to end well, is it?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn nodded her head slightly as Johnny spoke. She didn't even know how to explain to him about everything with Betsy - mostly because she didn't really know what was happening. She didn't want to admit that anything was happening. "What do you wanna do then?" She asked as she looked at her boyfriend. She wondered if it was normal to feel a little awkward around your boyfriend.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "You better not. Otherwise I'm gonna worry about your brain." Caleb laughed. He was really enjoying the time that he was with Audrey but he wasn't completely sure if the feeling was mutual. He thought that they had a lot of fun - but he didn't know if that was enough for Audrey. It was all that he had really wanted from a relationship though. "Oh yeah, of course you don't." Caleb shook his head slightly. "I'll remind you of that in the morning when you're hungover, then."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River just wasn't sure what to do around Scott anymore. She liked him and she thought that, that was pretty obvious - but then he had practically ignored her since the holiday. So what was the point in trying to talk to him? She didn't want to keep being the sad, pathetic girl anymore. River shrugged her shoulders as she listened to Scott, "I needed some fresh air." She sighed. "Didn't know if I was going to stay or not."

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber had her own opinions on who she thought Hettie should be with, but she wasn't going to share them - Scott was her friend and in her own way, she loved him... She just didn't think the two were very right for each other. She sometimes thought that they relied on each other so much, loved each other so much that they'd confused that for needing to be in love. "Yeah, I suppose he would." She nodded her head. She wasn't going to pretend that wasn't the case, but she didn't know if it was enough reason to not speak to Johnny.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy didn't think she was really in much of a position to give anybody relationship advice; sure, she thought Ashton had been a bit of an idiot and she was pretty sure there were still things he could do now if he wanted to, but she also knew the same could be said for her... She hadn't even spoken to Robyn since she'd found out about her and Johnny and she didn't plan on speaking to her tonight, either. She couldn't face it, she didn't want to feel sad about it anymore. She laughed, shaking her head. "Never does. I think I'll probably head out before there's another showdown, my ears can't take the screaming." She rolled her eyes.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Johnny shook his head slightly, a little smile on his face as he looked around. "I have no idea - everybody seems a lot more calm than I would've thought they'd be. Maybe we really should've listened to Audrey and got here later." He laughed, raising an eyebrow. He didn't often feel awkward around anybody, so he wondered if the fact that he sometimes felt awkward around Robyn was a sign of how much he liked her... Or if it really was awkward.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "You should already be worried about my brain, are you kidding?" Audrey laughed, shrugging her shoulders. She thought it was so easy for them to just chat about nothing and she really enjoyed that; it was something she had with her best friends, too. "Don't remind me of anything in the morning when I'm hungover, that's like Good Boyfriend 101. You're supposed to pretend I didn't do anything embarrassing and tell me I'm a good drunk." She laughed. It was pretty much a given that they would be staying at one of their houses and she liked that, she liked being guaranteed to go home with somebody at the end of the night, even just for company.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott wasn't a stranger to girls liking him; he was popular and a football player and his family had money... But most people just liked him because of the status he had, they didn't actually like him. In fact, Scott thought there were probably very few people who actually liked him - platonic or otherwise. Which was why River intrigued him so much. She had seen parts of him that even Hettie hadn't seen and yet she still seemed to want to be around him. "Why wouldn't you stay?" He asked quietly.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie was so in love with Scott. She didn't want to do anything that would rock that boat. But she missed Johnny and she didn't think that she would be able to stop herself from missing him until the two of them spoke. She really wanted to - she just didn't want to make things complicated. "So what am I supposed to do, Amber?" she asked her. And it wasn't a rhetorical question. She really did want to know what the girl thought she could or should do. Because she really wanted her opinion. She wanted someone to tell her that she should talk to him.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton tried not to think too much about him and Audrey. He didn't see the point. She certainly seemed happy with Caleb so it didn't matter what he thought anymore. Ashton laughed as he listened to Betsy and he nodded his head, "Yeah, maybe i'll come with you. We'd have to predict it first though - that's the thing with Hettie, isn't it?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn nodded her head as she looked around the room, "I guess that's what happens when everyone hasn't seen each other in a while, huh?" She asked him with a raise of an eyebrow. She had thought that things were going to be pretty hard for them to all be around like this. She wondered if things would pick up or if it was going to continue like this.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Oh yeah? Why's that?" Caleb asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. He wasn't even sure what the two of them were even talking about but he was having a lot of fun with it all. He really enjoyed being around Audrey and he thought that she could say the same about him. "Ah right, of course." He nodded his head "I will try and remember that for the morning. Can't give up being so perfect, can I?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. He liked that she seemed to already know that they would end up together that night.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River didn't know how to be when she was around Scott. She felt like such an idiot when she was around him. She already felt bad enough and she didn't want to deal with this. But she wasn't going to tell him to go away. Because River really, really wanted to talk to him still. She didn't know how to get her head wrapped around all of that. "Why would I stay?" She shot back. "It's not like anyone wants me here, is it?"

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber sighed; she totally understood what it was like to want other people to tell you what to do, because that was basically her whole life. She waited constantly for people to tell her what to do, how to make them happy. But she wasn't even sure what advice to give Hettie. She thought she just had to be honest. "I think you should speak to him. I know Scott won't like it, but... he doesn't really get to tell you what to do." She sighed.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy laughed, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think she's that hard to predict, do you?" She questioned. She was a pretty intuitive person and she liked to think she could predict what was coming, just by paying attention. "Don't worry, I'll let you know when it's time for us to make our exit. I'll look after you." She laughed. She thought the both of them were just pretty done with all the drama now.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Yeah, I guess it does. I know we all saw each other every night in Rock of Ages, but it felt like we didn't really spend actual time together since the holiday, don't you think?" He shrugged his shoulders. Things had been pretty awkward since the airport, with Scott's parents making a scene and he thought everybody felt that. They'd all kept to their little groups in Rock of Ages.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "If you don't know the answer to that question, I don't think you know me very well yet." Audrey teased, nudging her boyfriend gently. She knew that was a lie, he knew her extremely well. She laughed as he spoke, nodding her head in agreement. "I'll write it down for you, don't worry. I wouldn't want Mr Perfect to fall at the last hurdle." She grinned, shaking her head.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott felt a pang in his stomach as River spoke. He really hadn't known that she felt that way and he hated that she did - he didn't understand how somebody like her, somebody that everybody liked so much could feel like that. "I want you here." He blurted out, before he could even think about censoring himself. He regretted saying it, but it was the truth.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie wasn't used to feeling like this. She was so used to doing whatever it was that she wanted, regardless of the consequences, but she really wanted this thing with Scott to work. And she was doing whatever she could to make sure that it would. "Okay." She nodded. "Okay, I'm going to talk to him now." She smiled as she looked at Amber. "I love you." She laughed before she moved over to Johnny and Robyn. She knew that it probably seemed crazy for her to make such a rash decision but she didn't think that she was going to do it, if she left it to later. "Hey - sorry - Johnny, Can we talk, please?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton shrugged his shoulders, "I wouldn't say so but as long as you think so, we're going to be okay." He laughed. Ashton had never been able to predict when Hettie was about to lose her mind. He was always pretty shocked when she flew off the handle. "Alright. I appreciate that." He laughed as he nodded his head. He was pretty done with any kind of drama, he thought.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Yeah, exactly. That's probably why it's still a little quiet now." Robyn shrugged her shoulders. She wasn't completely sure but that was her guess, anyway. She wasn't really sure how to talk to many of the others after the airport. She felt really sorry for Scott though. She raised an eyebrow as she realised that Hettie was coming over to them and she glanced at Johnny, not sure what he would even do about it.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "I'm so confused." Caleb laughed as he shook his head slightly. He thought that he knew Audrey pretty well, though. And he was pretty sure that she knew that he did. Caleb nodded his head, "yeah, yeah, that would be a big help." He laughed as he nodded his head again. "Especially what you think is perfect. That's pretty interesting to me."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River didn't need Scott to feel sorry for her and even as he spoke, she didn't think that he really even meant that. River was so sure that people just put up with her, that they didn't really want her around. That they felt sorry for her and she never wanted that. River shook her head, "Yeah? For how long? 'Cause I don't think your girlfriend would agree." She hadn't been feeling herself for a while now and she thought that, that was pretty clear as she spoke to him.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "I love you!" Amber repeated with a smile. She was really happy that Hettie was going to speak to Johnny - she didn't think it was fair that the two of them hadn't been talking all this time just because Hettie thought Scott wouldn't like it. She loved her cousin and she thought he deserved far better than that. She'd seen how sad he'd been when Hettie had chosen Scott over him and it hadn't been nice.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "I think that's because you don't pay enough attention." Betsy laughed, nudging her friend teasingly. She thought Hettie was a pretty easy to read person, if you actually thought about it - although she definitely had the ability to surprise her now and again. "Not a problem. I can't be bothered with any fucking drama tonight."

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "I don't think you're wrong." Johnny smiled, nodding his head as though to back up what she was saying. He missed the times when they had all been one big group, though. It had all felt a lot easier in the days of Spelling Bee. He was about to say something else when he saw Hettie coming over - and he had no idea what she would want, but he was definitely shocked when she asked to talk to him. "Uh... Yeah. Yeah, we can talk." He said quietly, almost like he was trying to wrap his head around what was going on. They hadn't spoken properly in months. "I'll just be a minute, okay?" He asked Robyn.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Audrey thought Caleb was probably the best boyfriend anybody could ask for, which was why she knew any and all problems with the relationship were totally on her end - and why she knew she had to ignore them. He was almost too good to be true sometimes. "It is? How come?" She asked with a little smile. She had no idea what she would define as perfect - she didn't think it really existed, if she was honest.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Well I'm not my girlfriend, am I?" Scott snapped, sighing as he realised he was already getting defensive. He didn't know why he had to jump to his own defense everytime - except he did, and it was absolutely because he was used to everything being an attack at home. "Sorry. I just - Well, Hettie and I don't always agree." He muttered, shrugging his shoulders. He knew they wouldn't on this, because he really did want River there.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie smiled slightly as Johnny asked Robyn to give them a minute. She thought that she had owed Johnny this conversation from the very beginning. She had just been a coward and she hadn't wanted to think about anything other than Scott. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I should have told you - about Scott. I shouldn't have let you just find out." She shook her head. She wasn't even sure why she had - and even if she did have a small thought about that, she knew that she couldn't say that to Johnny, could she?

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn nodded her head, "Take as much time as you need. I'm gonna check in with Amber." She whispered to him before she moved over to the other girl. Since the holiday, she and Amber had become pretty good friends and Robyn liked spending time with her. "You look awesome!" Robyn smiled as she took in the sight of her friend.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Yeah, that's probably true." Ashton shrugged his shoulders. He couldn't be bothered in keeping up with Hettie and her mood swings. He thought that she was this way or that too often for him to really think about it for too long. "Yeah, no, me neither." He laughed as he nodded his head.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb had no idea that Audrey thought there was a problem in their relationship. He thought that she was in the same mind as him, that things were really good between them. Caleb shrugged his shoulders, "I want to know what you want in a person I guess. I wanna be that." He smiled. Caleb really wanted this to work - but he was never going to be that serious about it all. He didn't think there was much point. What would be, would be. That was basically Calebs moto.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River rolled her eyes as Scott snapped at her. She didn't see why he would be out there with her if he was just going to get angry at anything she said. Usually, she wouldn't let it bother her, not even a little bit. But this time was different - she wasn't herself. "Yeah, clearly." River nodded her head slightly. She sighed as she looked up at him, "Like how your dad treats you? Or is that just me and her?"

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Johnny was always going to give Hettie the time of day, he just wasn't sure what she could say to him to make any of it make sense - things had been going so well for them and he'd liked her so much... and then she had been with somebody else, without a word of explanation. He sighed softly as she spoke - it was far too late, but at least it was an apology. "Yeah, you should've." He told her, nodding his head. "I would've been okay with it. I mean, I would've been upset - but I would've been okay with it." It had hurt so badly, finding out from other people that Hettie had effectively ended whatever relationship they'd had.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber had poured herself another drink since Hettie had gone over to speak to Johnny and she was just pouring in the lemonade when she heard Robyn's voice, turning with a little smile. "Hi!" She beamed. Even though she wasn't totally feeling herself, she really liked Robyn and she was always happy to see her. "Thank you! You look super cute, I love The Wizard of Oz." She smiled. She thought that a month or so ago, she might've been invited to be a part of the costume.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Right, we're not standing around being bitter for the whole night. It's boring. Let's get drunk." Betsy laughed, shaking her head. She and Ashton had always gotten along and she knew that for their own reasons, they weren't necessarily feeling their best tonight - but she didn't think that was any reason that they shouldn't still try and have fun. She grabbed a bottle of vodka she'd brought from the table nearest and unscrewed the cap, taking a huge gulp of it straight from the bottle, before she wiped the top and handed it to him. "Go on, dare you."

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: It wasn't that Audrey felt like there was a problem - she knew there wasn't, not really. It was just something, a niggling feeling that things weren't right and it annoyed her. She knew that she should be absolutely, blissfully happy and not even thinking about anything else right now. She couldn't help but smile as he spoke though, reaching up to kiss him softly. "You are. That's why I'm here." She laughed, shaking her head at him. She knew he was probably the exact person she should be with.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott tensed up slightly as River mentioned his dad; he tried not to think about the day at the airport, about what had happened. It was probably the worst his dad had ever been and he had never been so embarrassed in his life. "Don't go there. Okay? Just don't." He was so grateful for what River had done, but he also understood why Hettie hadn't.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "I think -" She paused, not sure if she really wanted to say this to him. But she had started so she thought that she might as well finish. "I think I was worried that if I told you, you'd change my mind." She really, really liked Johnny and even when she had started with Scott, she didn't think that she was completely sure. "I think that if I had gone with you - then he would have always been in the back of my mind. The what if, you know?" She asked him .She hoped that he understood what she was saying. "I'm really sorry that I didn't tell you first." She had already apologised but she thought he deserved a second one. Especially since she had taken so long with the first.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn smiled at Amber before she started to pour herself another drink. She hadn't really had much to drink since they had gotten to the party so she thought that she probably had some catching up to do. She thought that Amber was one of the prettiest people she had ever met. She didn't understand why some people might not actually see that. "Thank you." She laughed. "I absolutely had to scramble this together at the last second though."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton clapped his hands together and nodded his head, "That sounds like an offer that I absolutely cannot refuse!" He smiled. Ashton really, really wanted to have some fun and he was sure that he could do that with Betsy by his side. He always had fun when he was around her, he thought. He scoffed as he listened to Betsy and nodded his head. He took the drink from her and took a long gulp, like she had. But he wasn't able to keep a straight face. He laughed as he shook his head. "I fucking hate vodka."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb thought that Audrey was probably the exact person he wanted to be with. She was exactly his type. Caleb smiled before he happily kissed Audrey back. He really, really liked Audrey and he definitely felt so lucky to have her. "But that's exactly why I need to be top of my game, isn't it?" He laughed as he raised an eyebrow. "Need to keep on like this for you."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River knew exactly what she was doing when she mentioned his dad, but she didn't really care. She scoffed as he spoke but nodded her head. She had thought that she had made a fool out of herself by standing up for him. She thought that she looked like a right idiot. But she couldn't take it back now, could she? "Fine. Is that all you wanted?" She asked as she looked at him. She had an overwhelming urge to burst into tears .She really didn't want to cry in front of him and she wasn't sure why she even felt like it. She was just such a mess recently.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Johnny was more than surprised as he heard what Hettie had to say; he would never have tried to change her mind if she'd told him she was serious about being with Scott, but he would've also told her how he felt about her. Properly. He'd never gotten to do that. "I still wish you'd told me, Hettie. Hearing from other people, it - that wasn't nice." He sighed, shaking his head. He nodded as she spoke, though. "I do understand that. And hey - you guys seem happy now, so. Right decision, I guess." As much as he wanted to pretend it didn't, that still hurt. That Scott had been the better choice all along. "It's okay. Really, it's okay now. Thank you for apologising." He told her, giving her a genuine little smile.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber was feeling pretty tipsy by now and she was glad about it, because it was helping her to cheer up. She knew she had no real reason to feel sad other than feeling a little bit overlooked, so she definitely just wanted to get past it and have a great night with all the people that she usually had fun with. "Oh really? Well, I can't tell at all, I promise. It looks lovely." She smiled. If she was totally honest, Amber had wondered a couple of times why Robyn and Johnny were together, but she wasn't going to question it.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy was pretty relieved that Robyn hadn't tried to talk to her, because she wasn't sure what she even had to say - it wasn't like they could talk about anything that had happened, because she didn't think Robyn would want to risk people hearing and Betsy wasn't the type of person who could just pretend something wasn't wrong. She didn't like being fake. She laughed as he pulled a face, rolling her eyes as she took the bottle back. "Aw, you're such a baby." She laughed teasingly. "I don't think it really tastes of anything." She shrugged.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Audrey thought one of the best parts about being with Caleb was how well they already knew each other - it was just like being two best friends who were also attracted to each other and she knew that he already knew her better than a lot of people did. "I don't think you'll have any trouble being yourself, you know? But even if you did, I'd still like you." She laughed, shrugging her shoulders. "Go on then, what do you want in a person? What do I need to work on?" She chuckled.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott didn't understand why River was being so prickly - although he'd told her he wanted her to stay and that was true, he didn't get why she was here in the first place when she so clearly didn't want to be. "Look, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. That was all." He sighed, shrugging his shoulders. He wished he hadn't come outside, because he'd clearly made things worse.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie found it really interesting that she was able to be honest with Johnny and not with Scott. She thought that it was because she didn;'t want to do something for him to kick off about. She really wanted things to be good. "I know. I know I should have." She nodded her head. SHe didn't know what more she could say about it though. Hettie smiled slightly and nodded her head, "Yeah, I guess we are." She muttered. Though a part of her wondered if it really was the right decision. She knew that she absolutely could not say that to him. "I really miss being your friend."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn smiled as she watched Amber. She seemed to be a little happier, which was a good thing, Robyn thought. She had thought that she seemed a little sad earlier on in the day. "Oh, well thank you." Robyn nodded her head slightly. she had really enjoyed putting together her outfit - even if it was a little plainer than she had thought it would be.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton kind of wanted to talk to Audrey but he didn't think he would be able to just go over there to talk to her. He thought that was too difficult. He wasn't going to make a fool out of himself like that. "Are you kidding?" Ashton asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. He shook his head. "That stuff is devil fuel. Though, that probably explains why you like it." He laughed as he nudged her.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb smiled and nodded his head, "Alright - that sounds good." He chuckled. He always enjoyed spending time with Audrey. She was one of his most favourite people. "To work on?" Caleb asked with a raise of an eyebrow - and pretended to think for a second. "I don't think you need to work on anything." He laughed as he shrugged his shoulders, "You seem pretty damn perfect to me." He kissed her quickly.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River knew that she needed to go home. She knew that she shouldn't have come in the first place - but she hadn't been able to say no to Johnny. She thought that she was probably going to go home soon though. she had been there for long enough. River stood up then, as Scott spoke, and turned to face him, "Well I'm not, so what are you gonna do about it?" she asked with a raise of an eyebrow.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Johnny knew that this conversation should've happened months ago, but he was just glad that he was getting an apology now - and that Hettie really did seem to understand that what she'd done had been wrong. He felt like he sensed some resistance as she said she and Scott were happy, but he wasn't going to call her out on it. "We can still be friends, Hettie. Just - maybe not the same friends we were before." He chuckled, trying to make a joke out of their situation.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber felt pretty out of place in this group sometimes and that wasn't really something she was used to feeling - at college, she was popular and well-liked and she knew people didn't necessarily dislike her here, but she had come in late. They'd all already made their friends and she hadn't really found where she slotted in yet. "You're welcome. Are you enjoying the party?" She asked, taking a little sip of her drink as she looked at the blonde.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy knew that the two of them getting drunk could go one of two ways - they could end up being fun-drunk and having the best night, or it could just serve to make them even more bitter... But she thought having a bit of liquid courage might actually help her to say what she needed to say to Robyn. "Oi, there's no need to be rude. Not that you're wrong, though." She laughed, rolling her eyes as she took another swig and held out the bottle again.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Audrey had already spotted Ashton when she'd come in and she knew instantly that she missed him; even just talking to him, but she didn't know if going over to talk to him would be fair to Caleb. She didn't want to hurt him. "Err, so cheesy." She teased as he spoke, shaking her head - her smile showed that she was kidding, though. She kissed him back happily, pulling away with a laugh,

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott was pretty surprised that River so openly told him she wasn't okay - he thought that was more worrying than anything else. "I wanna help you, but I don't know how." He admitted, purposefully making eye contact with the girl. He wanted her to know he was serious, he really did want to help. He would never admit it, not even to himself - but he cared about her. He wanted her to be alright.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Like Johnny, Hettie knew that they should have been having this conversation a while ago. She should have told him what was going to happen but she thought that it was better to be late than never. Hettie thought that she and Scott should be together - but she didn't really know how happy they really were. She knew that she didn't want it to end though. Hettie laughed as she nodded her head, "Yeah, somehow I don't think the friends we were before would work now." she nodded. "You seem happy though - with Robyn?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn would have hated to know that Amber felt out of place in that group. She really liked the other so she would never have liked to hear it. Robyn really thought that Amber was a good person, a lovely person. She didn't see why people might not like her. "Yeah - it's pretty chill tonight, huh?' She asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a smile.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton wasn't thinking about the consequences of the alcohol. He was pretty sure that if he did, he wouldn't be drinking because he would know it would put him in a worse mood. But right now, he was just going to have fun with Betsy. "I know i'm not wrong." Ashton laughed as he nodded his head. He never thought he'd get along with someone like Betsy - and especially not as well as he did. But he really liked spending time with her.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb would never stop Audrey from talking to whoever she wanted to talk to. If she wanted to talk to Ashton, he wouldn't think anything of it. They were friends after all, right? Caleb thought that he would like to talk to Amber at some point. They hadn't really spoke much and he knew that he definitely missed her. "Right - well I take it all back then." He laughed as he shook his head.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River sighed as Scott spoke. Even though she knew that he was telling her the truth, she didn't know if there was really anything that he could do to help her. She knew what this was and she just had to get herself through it. "Me neither." River muttered with a shake of her head. "I don't think there's much you can do." She shook her head with a sigh before she sat down.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: From what Johnny had seen, he honestly didn't know if he thought Hettie and Scott were happy or not - they seemed to argue and challenge each other a lot, but he knew that was maybe just how they worked. It wasn't up to him to judge that anymore. "Maybe not." He chuckled, nodding his head. "Yes. Yeah. I am." He smiled as she spoke about Robyn; he thought they were happy. He was happy, she was happy. Just maybe not together, but he thought that would come with time.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber nodded her head. "Yeah, very chill. I'm surprised - I expected shouting by now." She giggled. She was just joking, although part of her really had expected things to be a bit more dramatic than they had been so far. She liked it like this though, she liked not seeing everybody at odds with each other, waiting for a fight.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy didn't think she was a particularly hard person to get along with, but she knew she gave off the image and vibe of somebody that was - so she was usually on the outside of things and happily so. "At least I can drink it without gagging." She laughed, shaking her head.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Audrey knew Caleb was never going to stop her from doing anything, but it was more about not wanting him to feel weird - she thought he'd probably talk to him about it at some point. "Okay, good. You don't want me expecting that level of niceness all the time, do you?" She laughed, nudging him gently with her elbow.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott had never been good at anything like this, he was never the person people went to for help or advice and this was why. But he didn't like not being able to help River. He sighed as she sat down, moving slightly closer to where she was. "What's going on?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie thought that she was always going to be in a relationship where it was going to challenge her. SHe didn't think that she would ever properly settle things if she and whoever she was with, would just go along with whatever she thought. "Sorry to say." She shrugged her shoulders with a laugh. She definitely missed spending time with Johnny... In all ways. "Good. I'm glad that you are." She smiled.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn laughed along with Amber before he nodded her head, "Yeah, me too. I guess we just have to hope it continues like this, right?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. Robyn thought that it was pretty fun to see the drama but she was definitely glad that she wasn't the one in it. She thought that Robyn was pretty much the same too.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb thought he was really lucky to have Audrey so he wasn't about to do something which would possible wreck that. He liked being with her far too much for that. "Yeah it's only happening because i'm trying to make sure you're here for good. That's all." Caleb laughed as he shrugged his shoulders.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River sighed as Scott sat down next to her. She knew that he wasn't going to let it go like that but she didn't even know what to say to him. She chewed on her lip and looked at the floor. "I am clinically depressed, Scott. It'll pass." She was well aware of what was going on - she just had no idea how she was ever going to pull herself out of it - and she hoped that Scott understood that there wasn't much he could do.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie smiled as she heard Audreys voice. She had been trying to get away to have a moment by herself but she didn't mind spending time with Audrey. She always had fun when the other was around. "Yeah, it's pretty good ,huh?" She laughed as she raised an eyebrow. It had been quieter than one of her usual parties but she kind of liked that. Hettie nodded her head, "God, you're like a fucking spy. Yeah, I was talking to him earlier."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton laughed as he listened to Scott and he nodded his head, "Something to do with us being drunk, I think." He shrugged his shoulders. He and Betsy had basically had the whole bottle of vodka between them and now he was on the whiskey - it was safe to say that he was definitely drunk. "Did I see you sneaking off after that weird girl earlier?" Rivers name escaped him in that moment but he couldn't help but be nosey.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn had spent most of the night gossiping and drinking with Amber and she had, had a really nice night. And she was definitely well on her way to drunk. She was going to fresher herself up in the bathroom when she bumped into Betsy, her eyes went wide. She shook her head as she heard the other. "No - No. Don't go." She sighed and reached out to grab the girls hand. She really wanted to talk to her. That was all that she had really wanted the entire night. She knew that, that shouldn't have been the case but she couldn't help it. And she was more forward with her thoughts now that she was drunk.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Despite her better judgement, River decided to stay at the party. She thought that Johnny and the others probably needed someone to look after them when they inevitable got too drunk. She had had a couple of drinks herself but not that many. She was still pretty sober. "Hi." River smiled slightly as Johnny wrapped his arm around her. The brunette shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah, it's alright. How's yours?" She asked him. She hoped that he had been having a good time.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Caleb wasn't used to being by himself but he was able to keep himself entertained anyway. He smiled, though, as he heard Ambers voice. He had missed spending time with her a lot. She was a really nice person and Caleb and her really got along - he was so glad that they were friends. "Hey! Happy halloween. I love your costume." He chuckled as he looked over her for a second. "How's your night?"

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Yeah, really good. I feel like I've barely gotten to talk to anybody though." Audrey laughed, shrugging her shoulders. She had spent a lot of time with Caleb and the others tonight and now she wanted to make sure she got a chance to see everybody. They were all going to be doing another show together after all, they would be seeing a lot of each other. "I know, I'm pretty spy-like when I want to be. I pride myself on it." She laughed, shrugging her shoulders. "How'd it go?" She knew the two hadn't spoken since everything went crazy, so she was definitely curious.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Yeah, that would probably have something to do with it." Scott laughed, nodding his head. "I'm not as drunk as you, though." He couldn't handle vodka and especially not straight. He raised an eyebrow as Ashton called River the weird girl. "You know her name, man. Don't be a dick. And I wasn't sneaking off anywhere, I just went outside for a bit." He would refuse to admit that he'd sneaked anywhere, because then it would beg the question of why.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy was a pretty straightforward person, but when she'd had a drink she especially didn't have time to waste being false - which was why she'd tried to stay away from Robyn, because she didn't want to have to say what she had to say here. She looked back in shock as the blonde grabbed her hand, raising an eyebrow. "What's up, Robyn?" She asked with a little sigh. She just couldn't understand how things had been the way they had been between them and all of a sudden, Robyn had a boyfriend.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Yeah, it's been good." Johnny smiled. He'd asked River if she was okay a number of times, so he didn't want to keep bugging her by asking her again - he just wanted her to know that she could go to him if she ever needed somebody, that he would always be there. "Hettie apologised to me." He said, his voice a little quieter than it had been before. He had been dying to tell somebody, but he hadn't found Caleb yet. He didn't know if he was banking too much on it, if he was putting too much thought into it - but he was really happy it had happened.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Thanks! I love yours, it looks so comfortable. Aren't you boiling, though?" Amber giggled, shaking her head as she took in Caleb's costume. She loved how he was always down for a joke. It was easy for Amber to see why she'd had a crush on him, but she knew that was all it had been - she mostly just thought that Audrey was going to hurt him and she didn't like that, because above all else he was her friend. "It's been great, I was just with Robyn but I'm not sure where she went." She laughed. "How's yours?"

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "No, you've been too busy with that boy of yours, haven't you?" Hettie raised an eyebrow. She really liked Audrey and Caleb together. She thought that they were good together and it definitely seemed like they had a lot of fun together. She wondered if Audrey was really over Ashton though. She thought that, that was pretty interesting. She didn't know if she should ask her friend about that, though. "You're not stealthy enough for it, though." Hettie laughed as she nudged her friend. "Yeah, it was good." She paused before she added, "I apologised to him."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "I don't think anyone is as drunk as me right now. This is a bad idea." Ashton chuckled - before he took a big gulp of the glass of whisky in his hand. He didn't think that it would be long until he went on to water for a little bit. Ashton shrugged his shoulders, "I forgot! I don't remember it." He laughed then. He thought that she was pretty irrelevant so he didn't understand why Scott got so het up about her. "Which is where she was."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Now that Betsy had stopped, Robyn wasn't sure what to say to her. She had so much to say but none that she really felt like she could say. She wasn't willing to admit her feelings for the other girls. She couldn't even admit that they were real. The blonde shook her head, "I just - I thought we could hang out? We've not spoke for a little while?" She raised an eyebrow. she didn't think that the two of them had to stop being friends, just because she had a boyfriend.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Good." River nodded her head. The conversation she had, had with Scott earlier on had been playing on loop in her brain. She didn't know if it was good or bad. She couldn't really make sense of it but she felt pretty foolish. She had admitted more to him, then she had to any of her proper friends. She didn't know what it was what Scott had over her. She raised an eyebrow as Johnny spoke to her. "Really?" She asked him. "Too little, too late though, right?" She asked him .She could see he was happy and that worried her. He was just getting over all of that. She didn't want him being sucked back in.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "I am. But it's alright. The drink it kind of helping." Caleb shrugged his shoulders before he took a sip of his drink. He had, had to take a couple moments outside because he had gotten too warm. He was definitely feeling the heat. Caleb definitely thought that there was a little something there between him and Amber but he was happy with Audrey. So he didn't feel a need to try and explore that with the red head. "Oh yeah, you guys are pretty good friends now, right?" He asked her with a smile. "Yeah, it's good. You know i love a party."

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Audrey laughed, nodding her head. "Yeah, guilty." She smiled. She had been spending a lot of time with Caleb and she liked that Hettie seemed to be supportive of that. Everybody had been so far and it was pretty nice. "That's true. I'm fast, but fucking clumsy." She chuckled. She raised an eyebrow in surprise as Hettie said she'd apologised to Johnny. "Shit, really? Did he accept it?"

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott laughed, shaking his head as his friend went in for another drink. "I don't know how you're still alive right now, mate." He thought he was doing pretty well to even be speaking full sentences, the amount he'd had to drink. "Yeah. I just went to see if she was alright. Not a big deal, is it?" He shrugged his shoulders. He thought anybody would do that for anybody else, if they saw them looking down.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy raised an eyebrow as Robyn asked if they could hang out. This all just felt a little insane to her, because she knew she hadn't been making up what was going on between them. They'd kissed, they'd slept together - and now she was acting as though they'd been friends all along? "Well yeah, I don't really tend to speak to people that make me feel like a dick." She shrugged her shoulders. Betsy had been used as an experiment by more girls than just this one and she was sick of it.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "Well, I mean... An apology is an apology. Better late than never." Johnny shrugged his shoulders. He knew that it was late and he'd said that to Hettie, he'd told her that she hadn't been fair - but he also did want to accept her apology, because he missed her. He'd been missing her for a while now. It meant something that she regretted what she'd done and he couldn't ignore that.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "It's helping? I'm surprised it isn't making you warmer." Amber laughed, shaking her head. She always overheated when she was drunk, which was why she usually spent the majority of the night outside. She smiled as he spoke about Robyn, nodding her head. "Yeah, I guess we bonded in Greece or whatever. She's such a nice person." She laughed. she really did like Robyn. "Of course! Although it's a lot tamer than anything I expected Hettie to be hosting."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie wouldn't tell Audrey what she really thought about all of it, until Audrey asked her what she thought about it all. She wasn't going to shit on her friend if she was happy - and she seemed to be pretty happy. "You might be the most clumsy person I've ever met." Hettie laughed. She was so surprised that the two of them had managed to make it out of the situation in Greese with how clumsy her friend was. "Yeah, seems to be good between us now."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton shrugged his shoulders, "Ask me again tomorrow. Don't think I'll have the same answer, do you?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. Ashton was fully aware that he was going to have a bad hangover the next day but he didn't care that much. Not right now. Ashton shrugged his shoulders, "Depends if you're gonna mention it to Hettie or not." He thought that if he didn't, then it was pretty telling.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn was so confused as she heard what Betsy had to say. "Wait - what?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow. "Why - how did I do that?" She had no clue that Betsy was upset with her so she was genuinely asking. She refused to believe anything between the two of them was more than friendship so she didn't see why Betsy would think it was more. Especially since she hadn't said anything about it.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Yeah, I guess. Just don't know how much she means it." River shrugged her shoulders. She half wondered if it was because she knew that he was getting over her. She thought that, that would be something that Hettie would do. River really didn't want to see Johnny get hurt by her - again - and she thought that, that was exactly what he was going to do.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Maybe it's just wishful thinking." Caleb laughed as he shrugged his shoulders. He wasn't even sure what he was saying anymore but he was having a lot of fun, he thought. He was definitely glad to be spending time with Amber though. She was always a lot of fun. "Yeah. She seems to be. I like her. And she's good to Johnny so..." Caleb thought that someone lke Robyn was the least that Johnny deserved. "Oh don't jinx it."

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Audrey wasn't going to ask anybody's opinions, because she wasn't really sure she wanted to hear them - she was sure this was what everybody had thought she should do, what people had thought was the right thing. "You're not the first person who's said that to me, I'm starting to think you might all be right." She laughed. She thought it was a miracle she wasn't constantly in a cast. "Good - it was about time. It's always weird when somebody doesn't talk in a group situation, you know?" She shrugged. She hoped things would be a bit more normal now.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Scott laughed, nodding his head. "I don't think I'll be asking you anything tomorrow, you're going to need a few days recovery." He laughed again, rolling his eyes. He was a pretty good drinker, but vodka bad the ability to put him in bed for days. "Do I need to tell her about everybody I speak to?" The conversation was annoying him now; he'd gone outside to check up on a friend, he didn't think that had to be a big deal. Especially after what River had told him. He wasn't going to feel guilty for that.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Betsy didn't blame Robyn for not thinking the same things she had, or for not wanting to be with her - she wasn't that type of person, she knew that it wasn't a big deal. But she didn't like feeling used. She raised an eyebrow as Robyn asked why she felt that way. "Okay well, we went from talking all the time, we kissed, we slept together and the next minute you've got a boyfriend and we haven't spoken in weeks?" She shrugged her shoulders. "It's whatever, I don't care - but I'm not just an experiment for you to test your feelings on. It's a really shit thing to do."

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: "I feel like if she didn't mean it, she probably wouldn't have gone out of her way to say it to me, you know? She could've just left it. It wouldn't make much difference to her." Johnny shrugged his shoulders. He really wanted to believe that Hettie meant what she'd said, because he missed her and he needed to believe that she was sorry, because she's really hurt him.

SC AM JM LO SD BA AM: Amber laughed, raising an eyebrow. "Well, if it's working - then it's working!" She smiled. She really liked being able to spend time around Caleb, he always made her laugh and he was one of the rare people she knew who really didn't care about how they looked. "Yeah, she is. They look good together." Although Amber didn't really know how long it was going to last, she liked that they seemed to have a pretty easy relationship. "Sorry! I don't think anybody heard, so we're good." She giggled.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Hettie thought that Caleb was definitely the obvious choice for Audrey - but she had also seen how she looked at Ashton and she didn't think it was the same with Caleb. She wondered if she was going to turn out to be right, though. "I cannot believe you managed to get Sherrie over me. You can barely keep on your own two feet." Hettie laughed as she shook her head. She had thought that Audrey had done a really good job in the end - even if she was still a little bitter. "Yeah. Though i'm sure we're not done with problems just yet."

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Ashton chuckled before he nodded his head, "Yeah, probably. That sounds about right." He thought that he definitely needed a chill couple of days after this. Ashton shrugged his shoulders slightly as Scott spoke. "No. But you do when that person also kissed you a few weeks ago." He knew that he was pissing Scott off but he was too drunk to even care about that.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: Robyn had no idea that, that was what Betsy had thought. She thought that the other would understand what it was and she hated that she didn't. She stared at her, just blinking. "I ---" But what could she say? She couldn't physically tell Betsy that she wasn't just an experiment. She couldn't get those words out. Her eyes filled with tears and she shook her head. "Okay." She muttered before she pushed past her into the bathroom. She wanted so badly to be brave enough to tell her what she was thinking but her mouth wouldn't make the noises.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: River shrugged her shoulders, "You know her better than I do. I'm just - I don't want her to hurt you again." And she thought that, that would be obvious that, that was her concern. she loved Johnny so much. And she wanted him to be safe. She wanted him to be happy. River couldn't get her conversation with Scott out of her head. She hadn't even properly admitted that to Johnny or any of her other friends. Though she was sure that they could pretty much guess.

HD AK RW CK AM IS RM: "Exactly. That's all I need." Caleb laughed as he nodded his head. He really liked spending time with Amber. She was fun. He had definitely missed her the last couple of weeks. Caleb smiled as Amber spoke about Robyn and Johnny. "Makes more sense than the previous pairing, don't you think?" He asked her. He figured that Amber would have more of an opinion on Johnny and Hettie, than he did. "Okay, okay. Good." He chuckled with a nod of his head.

#chatzy

[unkindnessofone]

5SOS. Rooms You’re Tall In

It’s up! This was a much tougher one to write. I thought I knew where it would go, I had so many notes, but here we are. I would love to hear some feedback. Sending this one out as a thank you to the darling @gotsbadblood. They are always encouraging and supportive. I appreciate it. Also if you love Taylor Swift, it’s a blog worth checking out. 

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They had been there before together multiple times, but this felt different than following their parents around for their respective vocations and seeing Parisian life from the safety and comfort of their parent's laps. He was travelling the world as an actual musician, making money for his songs and hearing people that weren't from his neighborhood being impacted from feelings and words that had been produced by his fingers and mind. Then there was her, studying in the city to become a chef, being screamed at in a language she hardly understood while prepping plates for some of the most appetizing food she had ever seen. She wasn't Luke Hemmings daughter when she had her culinary whites on. He was still trying to shake off the shadow of his dad as it danced behind him every time he stepped on stage. 

Taking her bohemian dreams to a different level than she had been able to back home in Sydney, Penelope skipped steps on her way out of the subway pit as found herself in a more touristy part of town. She held the crochet strap of her usual purse over her chest as the bottom of her elephant pants, coloured teal, mustard yellow, and a rich purple, dragged delicately over the dirty street. Her eyes were tired, the bags beneath them almost matching the colour of her lightweight pants, but she had taken today as her first day off of work since moving to France. She couldn't spend the Saturday sleeping in and losing out on time with her best friend. Penelope walked straight into the hotel lobby as if she belonged there like any other guest and headed to the stairwell. Connor had texted her his room number and it would have been easier to take the elevator, br she had been surviving off butter, sugar, and jam. Besides, walking up the stairs felt exciting since her doctor and parents had banned almost every other physical activity. 

"Hi, rock star." Grinning from ear to ear, Penelope mustered up some energy from the vitamin she took upon leaving her place as soon as Connor threw the door open, his hair as light as it had ever been and terribly curly. As if they had a mental countdown between them, they hurried to hug one another - laughing as they did. 

"God, I missed you." Hugging her tighter, shaking at her touch, Connor moaned into her ears that were poking him back with her gold conch shell studs his mother had made for her. "You smell like...thyme? Is that thyme?" Chuckling, he asked as she started to slip out of his arms. 

Penelope lifted up her arm and smelled her elbow before yanking on the collar of her plain white t shirt and sniffing it next. She was low on laundry. From living on her own, she was learning she hated to do laundry. 

"Honestly, I smell like a pantry now. It's just my life." She shrugged, smacking her arms against both her sides. "I brought you something." She raised his brows with peaked interest as she unzipped her purse and reached around into its contents, producing a small jar of mixed berry jam. On the tightly sealed gold label, she had stamped 'Penelope Hemmings Jam' with a small conch shell in black ink. 

"Thank you." Connor held it in one hand, admiring her self made label and leaning in to hug her again, using one arm this time.

"So you can taste home wherever you go." 

"I have something for you too." He held his hotel room door open wider for her, allowing her in as he stepped through to where his suitcase was resting open on the queen sized bed. 

Fidgeting with the fabric of her pants, Penelope looked around and the room and concentrated on nothing. It felt uncomfortable to be alone in his hotel room. Connor was her best friend and they had been countless hotel suites together, but last time they had seen one another they had kissed. She wasn't sure if that had stopped meaning anything or where they were at yet. Over texts neither of them had brought it up. 

Penelope leaned her shoulders against the wallpapered stripes and watched him. He looked stronger somehow which made little sense to her as they hadn't been apart very long and she followed his life closely online. Penelope chalked it up to her head. She was trying to learn French and cooking with a permanent concussion, maybe it was making a mess of the way she saw things even a guy she knew better than the instructions to the perfect pancakes. 

"Here you go." Standing up straight again, Connor offered her a closed yellow envelope with her nickname written across it in his forever clumsy penmanship. "Four tickets to the show tonight." 

"I can't believe I am going to see you live in an arena tonight." Grinning, Penelope took the envelope and then held her arms up above her head to shake them around with wiggling excitement. 

Laughing, Connor stepped in to hug her again, picking her up and twirling her around which invited high volume laughter from his favourite girl. He snuggled his face into her neck, breathing in her new scent, but when he went to part his lips slightly and leave a kiss behind he was surprised that she leaned her neck and head away. Connor took the cue and politely put her down on an end corner of the bed.

"So are you best friends with your idol now? Or one of them." Penelope teased while leaning back comfortably onto her flat hands. Everyone knew that as much as he was inspired by the opening act, Ashton Irwin was Connor's truest idol. 

"Paul is cool." Humbly, Connor informed her. "He's living up to my expectations, but he definitely is more quiet and distant than I thought he'd be, ya know? With how crazy he is on stage." 

"People are full of surprises." She mused even though more often than not, Penelope found herself guessing what was about to happen before it did and being correct. She was a good judge of character and she figured that came from meeting so many people at once constantly as a little girl on tour. One had to learn fast who was good and who was just pretending. 

"Like Molly." Connor mused with a wiggle of his brows, sending them under his mess of curls that were someone else's nightly problem now. 

"I can't even imagine your Dad's face." Penny shook her head, eyes shut with disbelief. A dedicated cheerleader of a father, Penny imagine her Uncle Ash still hadn't picked up his frown from the floor since finding out Molly had been arrested.  

"They were way more upset she was in a relationship and didn't tell them." Honestly, Connor had been bummed out that his sister didn't confide in him either. He laid down on his back on the bed next to Penelope, hanging his legs off the edge. 

"He's really hot." Pen mentioned casually. When the news filtered through the many group chats, Emmeline had taken it upon herself to send everyone pictures from the Internet of Molly's rugby beau, Flynn O'Malley. Connor stared at her blankly, absorbing her comment and trying not to expose how much he didn't care for it. It had always been him obsessing over girls and Penelope blowing off the advances of everyone. Connor wasn't sure he had actually ever heard Penny call someone that wasn't on TV hot before. He knew now that it didn't make him feel good.  

"I guess." Connor tried to laugh it off, staring at her blond hair from where he laid like it could tell him a thousand secrets. "I got to go to a radio interview and sound check in a little but. How's your French? Can you translate for me?" 

"I could, but I'm not going to." There was nothing about a life that mirrored her dad's that interested Penelope. She wanted to stray as far away from living beneath a microscope as she could. Sometimes she considered using one of her middle names or her maiden name in place of ' Hemmings' just so she was less traceable. Penelope knew how much that would hurt her father though. They had talked about it. "People would start rumours I was your girlfriend if I showed up at interviews and your show with you." Penny laughed awkwardly.

He wanted to ask her if that would be so bad, but Connor wasn't sure his singer-songwriter could take the answer, "Is that why you're bringing a bunch of friends tonight? You don't want anyone getting ideas?" He asked instead.

"I'm just proud and I want to show the people I'm close with here to see my best friend and all can do." She was staring down at him with her usual loving eyes, but the sun bleeding through his balcony window illuminated her to look like his own personal angel. 

"You're the best." His hand reached to cover hers over the bed as they both shared smiles from one another. "I've missed you." 

"I've missed you too." She had been so busy in her new life that e didn't occupy her thoughts constantly, but once a day when she was sitting on the train or learning a new French phrase, he popped into her mind and lingered. 

Connor wanted to pull her down. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and moan how much he craved her over and over into her hair and neck. She was keeping her distance from him though and he knew he would pummel some guy who made her uncomfortable. Connor would never forgive himself if he was that guy. 

"You're coming to the party tonight after, right? I want you to meet some people. They hired a bassist for us and he's so dope. He's from South Africa and might be completely insane." 

"Can't wait." Penny joked. "I want you to meet my friends too." Along with her, she was bringing some of her petite Paris family that she had naturally put together. Alexandra, Cerise, and Jules. "They're excited to meet you as well. I've been playing your music for anyone who will listen." Her cheeks blushed a mauve tone which felt unnatural since very little made her nervous. "You should probably get ready, huh?" She knew he had a busy day ahead and was just fitting her in for a sliver of time this morning.

Like a child, he whined, "I don't want you to leave." It was the same way he felt when she was packing for France ages ago.

"You got to go be the Connor, the Rock God. I have no choice, I'm just a lowly culinary student." Penny fished her hand out from under his, beginning to slouch her way off of the bed entirely. She still had things to do on her day off as well. Nobody was trying to interview her, but she had research for school and she planned to cut her own hair in the bathroom before going to his concert. Plus she had to go to the open market to pick up more ingredients for homemade jam and salsa. Canning had become a fun past time to do in her tiny kitchen with friends. It was a love second to surfing. Nothing would ever replace a board and waves for Penelope Hemmings, but staying up in her kitchen until 4 in the morning in her pajamas with good music playing and fruit in a pan could tide her over. 

"There is nothing lowly about you." He said with great conviction, his eyes screaming his opinion as a promise to her as he took her hand again. "You're the amazing Penelope Hemmings." 

After wishing Connor luck, Penelope let herself out of his suite. His lips had tainted her as she said goodbye with their knees knocking. Penelope felt like there were too many things to consider. She was falling in love with her new life and her independence. He was on tour and had always taken up with other girls. She imagined he was meeting so many different bodies now that his career was on it's launching pad. Of course, there was also the new people in her life to think about as well. 

As she squeezed between two doormen squabbling in French, Penelope reached into her purse and pulled out a bent thin paperback to read on the subway along with her cell phone in its Australian flag phone case. She had missed two texts from her friend, Cerise. The first one in French and second translated to English. The two girls had paired up on the first day of class and became fast friends over their mutual disdain for the know-it-all guy who sat two stations ahead of them. 

"I will see you there." Excitedly, Penelope texted back and tossed her phone back into her purse before heading to her subway stop. Somehow, Cerise had managed to score a brunch reservation at Cafe Lola and it was on Penny's long list of places to eat it mostly because of their lemon curd that was apparently the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Penelope was starving anyway. Today was going to be perfect. 

As soon as she pulled the black glass door open to the busy spot, Penny was greeted by cutlery clanking against plates and chatter so frequent that it was just static around her. It reminded her of being in the restaurant kitchen just without the heat and pressure. Penelope loved when she was in the middle of chaos which was strange given how little interest she had in drama. It was just that when she was surrounded by noise and movement she felt closer to the feeling of surfing.  She was tranquility in something made without control. It was thrilling.

Her eyes scanned around the room for the vibrant red pixie cut she sat beside every week day in class. Instead, she spotted Jules sitting by himself with a cup of coffee and a kindle in front of him. He was waving at her up high by the time she linked her eyes to him. His smile sent her waking by the hostess stand and through waiting groups of patron.

"Salut, Penelope." He stood up and greeted her with a hug, one hand resting on her back. She loved the way he said her name in Picardy influenced accent. It always sounded like he meant to say 'antelope'. 

Penelope kissed around the stubble on his cheek before taking a seat right beside him, the spot across from her vacant for their third. 

After exchanging pleasant how are you's en Francais and flagging down a server to order a lemonade for Penny, the Australian-American reached into her purse and retrieved the paperback that she had tucked back in after reading it on the subway. Jules turned off his kindle and moved it to the side, leaning in to give the beautiful girl his full attention. 

"I like this one better than The Three Musketeers." She told him, flipping through a couple dry pages of Gaston Leroux's 'Le Fantôme de l'Opéra.' with Penelope being the type desperate for adventures, Jules had assumed she would love The Three Musketeers, but she had texted him somewhere around chapter two giving it five thumbs down emojis. Penny found the page that she had drawn neon orange highlighter marks on with his permission. It was his clever way of helping her with her French. He gave her books to read and asked her to keep track of the words she didn't know. She had gone from requiring him to read her whole pages while she cooked him dinner in her suite to just needing help with a few words every couple pages or so. Penny dragged her nibbled finger nail to the word and tried to read it before noticing Jules was rubbing at his right knee. 

"Are you alright?" Even though she could say it French, she said so in her native tongue to better express her concern. Jules would have detected it in the way she leaned in and dropped what she was doing.

"I love that I can still get you with that." Chuckling, Jules tapped at his prosthetic leg and watched Penny relax with a sigh and fix him her meanest mug that was cuter than it was cruel. 

They met at the tapas restaurant they both worked at. Jules played piano with the jazz band and met Penny while rushing through the kitchen late for a gig. He had snatched a piece of baguette she was using for a bruschetta platter and found his chin at the tip of her sharp blade until he put it back down onto the surface. It wasn't until she was mixed up with directions on how to get home that they found themselves talking and getting to know one another better. He fit in with her friends from school because he was relaxed and the girls were wild. He had quickly become a very close friend. One of the only people she actually liked talking to about her surfing accident.  

"You're a gomer." Her Aussie accent shone as she rolled her eyes at him and leaned back into her book, turning it around to show him the words she was struggling with. She often looked them up on her own, but it was nice to be with a local that she trusted and have him show her better pronunciation and how to use the word. 

"Did you have a nice visit with your friend?" Very interested, Jules asked while leaning in and looking at the book he lent her. She was at the part where Christine and Raoul were hiding from the Angel of Music in the roof of the opera house, vowing to protect one another and love each other for eternity. 

"Yeah, it was quick. He has press and stuff." Penny shrugged. "But it was really nice to see him. He gave me the tickets for tonight. Thanks again for coming." She liked spending time with Jules and, like her, he had a true appreciation for live music. It wasn't just about screaming and having drinks for him which Penny liked because she detested both. 

"This word, bagarre," With a clean fingertip he poked under the word she had highlighted. "It would be like...how do you say?" Jules bit down on his bottom pink lip,  a small scar in the middle that she had noticed as soon as they met. "It's like a duel, but less formal. A brawl!" As he was talking, he figured it out. "Raoul would step outside of himself and brawl with them phantom in order to look after Christine if he needed to." Jules didn't even realize that he had begun to use his hands in front of him to explain the story. 

"That's what I thought." The rest of the sentence only made sense that way, but it was still helpful to hear her friend say the word aloud. "Bagarre." Penny repeated and celebrated mentally when he shot her a thumbs up, a gesture he liked because it seemed American. 

"C'est bon! Oui." Celebrating with her proudly, Jules reached over and squeezed her arm right before her lemonade was set down in front of them. Penny would have watched his hand over her if the server hadn't shown up. She peeled her eyes off of his hands that were strong and worn out from a lifetime of playing music so she could order a tray of pastries for the table. She hadn't forgotten how badly she wanted to try their lemon curd. Penny nodded her head into her shoulder and watched as Jules watched her, the arrival of her French friend who reminded her so much of Emmeline interrupting their sweet, but nervous silence. 

"I'm here and I'm hungry." Kissing Jules cheek first, Cerise exclaimed as fast as she could in French before rushing over to greet Penny with a kiss as well. While Cerise put herself together in her spot, stripping off her pink jean jacket and talking about her morning, Penelope watched Jules listen. His side profile was what had caught her gaze and daydreams in the first place. She was confused. He was very much her first real crush from the excitement that tickled her stomach when he texted her to the nerves that took over her mind when he waved 'bonjour' when he saw her at work, but then there was Connor. He had lusted after her for so long, written songs about her, and they kissed before she left in front of so many people. Did she talk to Connor about a long distance relationship or did she keep dreamed about the French jazz musician with eyes that she swore had flecks of 24 karat gold in them. 

*************************************************

Penelope hadn't been wrong about her day. It started with a tight squeeze from Connor Irwin, followed by pastries that lived up their rave reviews, a little time sitting on a bench in Rene Binet garden with Jules, both of them reading their respective books while wishing they brought sweaters. Autumn was fast approaching. She went home in a dream-like state, having a little cheese and jam while cutting her split ends in front of her perpetually foggy bathroom mirror. 

She wasn't used to the confusion that seemed to swirl in her brain like creamer freshly poured into morning coffee. She felt like a moron the way her mind was drifting between imagining a hectic life that mirrored her parents with Connor Irwin and an easy melody with Jules where they could cook, dance, and create together. Penelope used to roll her eyes when her friends would stress about boys, but she was reading her textbook with her French to English dictionary on her bed and wondering what Connor's mouth between her knees would feel like it if the way Jules said her name would feel as good as it sounded. 

She was thankful when Alexandra texted her that she was on her way so they could get ready for the concert together. The two girls who worked in the male dominated kitchen could gab together about other topics. Alexandra dreamed of running her own catering business in the South of France, only working for the most elite events, and her dreams helped Penelope figure out where she wanted to take her new skills. So far, Penelope Hemmings just really liked making jams and salsa. It wasn't exactly a launchpad for a real career. 

Once in her favorite sweater, a blue and white check pattern that her Grandma Christie from her mother's side sent her, and slipped into a very worn out pair of black jeans, Penelope was ready to spend the night with both boys who were holding the logical side of her brain captive. She rested her butt on the edge of her claw foot bath tub and braided her friends hair, breathing in the third cigarette Alexandra had lit in the last fifteen minutes. 

"I listened to your friend's music the whole way here." The older girl spoke after her drawn out inhale, her thick almost black hair being massaged by Penny's nimble fingers. "I don't know him, but does he write about you? I felt like his songs, some of them, they were about you." Alexandra had obviously figured out that the tune 'Penny and Me' was all about her new beach loving friend.

"I think so." Forever modest, Penelope explained. They didn't have a deep enough friendship yet for her to be forthcoming. They usually just talked food and work. "We grew up together, you know? Our dads are best friends, they were in the same band. I don't think I had a day without Connor until I was, like, four." It was a slight exaggeration, but they did spend more days together than apart for most of their early years. It wasn't until they grew into preteens that they started to choose to run in the same circle. 

"It sounds like he loves you." Alexandra let the cigarette smoke curl upward as she glanced behind her to inform Penny. She wanted to see her reaction even if it was lackluster. "Do you love him?" She inquired as soon as she turned her head again.

"I didn't think we were going to talk about guys..." Nervously, Penny chuckled back. "Weren't you going to give me a recipe for some kind of bore entree?" Penelope was obsessed and wanted to soak in all the different techniques and meals she could. 

"I will." She rolled her eyes. They worked together, there was time to teach the blond how to make a bore lasagna. "Do you love him or do you still have, what do you call them, giggly eyes for the drummer?" Alexandra had been working with Jules since she was hired over a year ago. He didn't ever register in her world though until she investigated who the guy walking Penny home every night was even on the evenings he didn't work. Girls had to stick together and look out for one another, she figured. 

"Googly eyes!" Loudly laughing with her head back and her blond hair falling to the dimples above her butt, Penelope taught her. She supposed that giggly eyes still described her as well. "I don't know, Alex. I wish I did. I've never been in this situation before." 

"Wait!" Letting her second braid come completely undone as she yanked it from Penelope's hand, Alex looked up with an enlarged stare and almost blew smoke right into Penelope's almost nude face. "You're a virgin?!" It was a real plot twist for Alex. She just assumed that the daughter of an Australian rock star with legs as long as pi in its entirety would have banged out a boyfriend and a few wild strangers in-between. 

"No more. I'm not talking about this." Penelope drew her line in the sand. She readjusted her almost straight hips on the bath tubs edge and took to her friends hair again. The girl who was once known for how laid back and chill she was (like ice cubes in a finished glass of iced tea) was flustered and embarrassed. She felt like every time she entered a different room in Paris she was finding a different part of herself. It was the biggest adventure of all and she was not impressed with it.

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She was blaming it on her busy mind, but Penelope felt lost in the crowd during Connor's act at the Paul Shimnowski Band concert. She had no idea how many concerts that she had attended in her entire life, all of them she had loved, but this one she wanted to sit out. She had arrived so excited with her hair falling Cher style down her back and her phone ready to take a hundred pictures a second. Instead, she felt the headaches that she suffered randomly since her accident come on the moment she was a part of the large crowd in the concession areas. She followed Alexandra and Cerise, staying next to Jules as they squeezed through to find their floor seats. Maybe, it was because all of Connor's shows she had attended up until this point had been small venues, local ones that she had seen other decent and not-so-good bands in. This was a stadium. This was the kind of show she grew up watching her Dad put on, but of course, more folksy. The smell of weed lead the vibe of the entire show. She usually danced freely at Connor's shows. She was his biggest fan and former number one merch girl after all. She would raise her tanned arms above her space buns and turn her body in every direction she could without colliding with anyone, but not tonight. Tonight, she hugged her chest and watched her friend with a tight lipped smile. The kind that silently shouted, 'I am not okay'.

Connor looked every bit like his father with his mom's chin and jawbone. Somehow he managed to hone his mother's poise and grace while still embodying his father's goofiness and charm. It made it hard to pull your attention away from him when he was practically making out with the microphone and his hands were massaging the instrument he was playing, seducing the crowd by gyrating to his own songs. It could not be denied, as far as Penelope could see, Connor belonged to the stage. He always said he was born to play music for the world and she hadn't ever doubted him. Now she knew that nobody would be able to. The crowd around her was reasonably new to Connor. He had been relatively unknown outside of Sydney until Paul Shimnowski took him on tour, but she could hear over 5,000 other voices singing along to the song, 'Slipping Away', a ballad he wrote about her, about being with someone else and wishing he was with her, a song that Penelope had heard over a hundred times, but she couldn't remember any of the lyrics. Her head knew the words, her mouth was well acquainted with them, but her brain refused to connect them to her memory. It even struck her as a surprise when he whispered her name into the microphone, singing out loud how he felt clearly, 'Penelope she sleeps so soundly, somewhere in her bathing suit...'. She had heard the line before, even recalling the first time he played the song for her in his parent's backyard while she scratched at one of his big dog's ears, but the words were lost in the fog her head produced.

To her left, looking for sanctuary, Penny looked over at Jules by her side. He was standing still, just watching Connor with a contented look blanketed by a blue glow coming from the stage they were near to. She moved her attention down to the military green chinos he was wearing. She could see at the bottom of one pant leg the fabric outlined his metal prosthetic. He had opted to wear it over his one that better resembled a limb for reasons she knew not to be her business. The sight of his prosthetic, though covered, was a source of comfort to Penny and she leaned into him, knocking her arm against his and gaining his attention for herself.

“You're the Penelope, right?” Jules asked right in her ear, still saying her name how he knew it to be pronounced and not how Connor had just sung it. He had found her to be a small recurring theme in Connor Irwin's songs especially the sappier ones.

“Indeed.” She brought both palms to her chin as if to frame her face for him before laughing gently. “Connor invited me to an after party. Do you want to come?” She knew Alexandra couldn't because she worked in the morning and Cerise was all, but seething that she couldn't because she had obligations with her own boyfriend and his very religious family that attended church every Sunday.

“I'm going back to the restaurant.” Jules explained with a half-frown. Music was his life, just like it was Connor's, and even though he would gladly take any night off for a concert or if Penelope needed him to, he loved going to see his friends play and always wanted to find an opportunity to jump in and jam. He knew he wouldn't make it to the place they both worked at until nearly 11 pm, but he also knew that his seat behind the kit would always be warm and welcoming to him.

“I didn't know.” Penny shrugged. She didn't know which event she wanted to be at more, Connor's after party or her work where Jules would be playing with the rest of the jazz group. She felt obligated to Connor's since she had agreed to be there that morning.

“You'll be okay?”

“Oh yeah, I'll be fine. I just thought it would be fun for you to come too.” She knew it would be. He was a simple calmness that her life was missing. He chased adventures and liked new experiences as much as she did, but Jules was older by a year and needed time to lay in bed and relax. He forced Penelope to just slow down sometimes.

** * ** * ******

Still hugging her chest, Penny waited backstage against a cold white brick wall that she had once leaned against before as a three year old, waiting with a stomach ache for her Aunt Grace to take her back to the hotel for a medicine and a long nap. The way her Uncle Michael told the story was that she ate too much stinky French cheese and threw up everywhere, but the truth was just simply that she had a terrible stomach ache and both her parents were working their respective on-the-road jobs.

Penelope waited behind hoards of people. Some speaking French, but most gabbing back and forth in slang English. She wasn't invisible, eyes looked her up and down, but no one engaged with her, so she kept to herself. In her purse, she still had her copy of The Phantom of the Opera if she really needed it. From over top of a small balding man and very angry looking woman, she spotted Connor's sweat slicked forehead. Penny stepped forward in a lunge movement and waved. He was in the middle of being spoken to by two people at once, but as soon as Connor spotted her, he dove between his new manager and a label executive to talk to her.

“You were out of this world!” With delight and honesty, she squealed, throwing her arms around his neck as he twirled her around.

“You're here.” He moaned against her cheek with a smile that almost broke free from the confines of his face. “You're stunning!” Connor was never light on compliments around his favorite Hemmings, but since they kissed, he felt better about always saying how he felt and right now he felt that she was the most beautiful girl he had seen all day. “Where are your friends?” He looked around, certain that he had given Penelope more than enough passes to come see him backstage without any hassle.

“They all have cooler lives than me.” She excused, as if going to an after party for a concert wasn't anything to write home about. “You're stuck with just me.”

“I'll take you.” Connor threw his arm around Penny and started to walk her closer to the people he now shared his life with. “What did you think of the show?” Her opinion was the only one that truly mattered to him.

“I think you look like a young Ashton Irwin. It was so bizarre.” Penelope tapped both her cheeks with her open palms as she looked up at Connor. “Like, I'm not sure if you're my Uncle or not.”

“Don't be sick.” He playfully shoved her away just to pull her back with the same arm he draped around her like a useless scarf. “Did you like some of the new stuff? I'm just constantly trying out new material. Paul thinks it's the best way to figure out new music, play it live in front of as many people as you can and gage the reaction.”

“It was cool. You're getting kind of Dylan-ish.” Well acquainted in the world of music even though she didn't feel like she had much artistic talent herself, Penny critiqued him. “But like both his eras, you know? Folk and electric. I dig it.”

“Awesome.” Connor tightened his arm around her, bringing her in closer for a hug. He led her into his dressing room where his two best music buddies from back home were packing up their instruments. “I'm just going to get changed. You cool to hang with the guys?” He asked, but Penelope had already escaped his grip and was sitting on a coffee table next to a bowl of pretzels, talking to the guys she knew from spending all her free time at the Wax 'n' Wake by the beach back in Sydney. Connor watched as she easily made herself fit into any room effortlessly. He wondered if his new schedule would change how he felt for her, but his feelings were strong as ever. She was still the image that waltzed through his mind when he was working on new music or the voice he wished he could hear after a particularly challenging day.

** ** ** ************************************************

Outside, where the air was crispy through a hollow wind that was announcing October was just days away, Penelope was dressed perfectly in her cozy sweater and jeans. Inside of the club, she was cooking like one of her first attempts at baklava. It turns out hotter doesn't always make something cook faster. Penny excused herself from the booth that Connor and his ban were occupying, squeezing her way past two very drunk and very French girls to make it to the stairs. She didn't realize that Connor was following behind her until she almost slapped his face off by whipping the smoking door open and shut. 

"Are you okay?" Once outside, relief from the heat and noise greeted Penny. She moved away from the group of smokers huddled by the door and stood out in the open, admiring the street lamp between limp orange leaves in the trees. "I didn't know you were behind me." 

"It's okay. I didn't need my nose anyway." Wiggling it theatrically at her, Connor teased. "Are you doing okay?" He never quite knew where she stood on parties and clubs. She was a teetotaller which changed her experience from other people throwing back shots and sipping on mixed drinks. Even before her accident, Penelope didn't have any desire to drink. Still, Connor remembered Penelope as a staple at almost every beach bonfire or high school party he went to. She was always there with her usual cooler than the rest smile and the straps of her bathing suit top poking out of a neckline.  

"Yeah, I just couldn't breathe." Fresh air had become a requirement in Penelope's recovery. She spent her first few lunch hours at school walking outside around the building, breathing in the air, and she liked to keep a window of her bachelor suite open at all times. It helped her keep her mind clear or, at least, she felt like it did. "You seem really in your element. I can tell you're happy." It was nice to not have to check. With her brothers and Emmeline, she had to check, but Connor's joy stretched through him. It practically screamed into a room. 

"I'm even happier that you're here." Connor moved in close just as Penny was lifting up her arms to tie back all her hair, allowing a cool breeze onto her neck and her small chest to press against his. He had no complaints about the movement. "I wish I had more time here. You could show me around or I could see your apartment." He tightened his hands together behind her back, right where her dimples were. "We don't have a day off til Lyon and I'm assuming you wouldn't skip school on Tuesday to hang out there with me." 

She was shaking her head before he even finished speaking, "As much as I plan to go there, no way." If she missed a day of school, she missed an entire lesson. Culinary school was fast and Penelope wasn't as whip smart as she used to be. She really had to focus now where she could slack off before. "No." She finished the same sentiment. Somehow, and she wasn't quite sure how, Penelope's hands had left her hair and were both laying flat against his chest which made him flex out of insecurity. 

"I understand." He nuzzled his head closer to hers, making their conversation private from even the prying ears of the breeze around. "We will just have to take advantage of tonight then." It was only half past eleven anyway. Connor kissed her forehead and then her cheek. It felt safe and comforting. Penelope felt drawn in, but stepped back anyway. 

"Do you want to just go and hang out in my hotel room?" Connor asked and tried to follow her eyes that she was now hiding from him. It wasn't the first time someone had asked Penny back up to their room, but it was the first time she was tempted to agree.  

"Connor -" She sighed out his name with frustration. It confused him even though she meant to direct it at herself. Penny had a hand on her forehead and her heart in her throat. "Con, I don't know what to do." He was her best friend and she didn't want to start keeping secrets from him now. 

"We don't have to go to the hotel. I didn't mean that in a pressure filled way." Right away, he hurried to defend himself. "We could just, like, catch up or watch TV." 

"No, I'm not upset about that." She assured, her hand still massaging sat her temple. "I like you. There's a part of me lately that would love to go back to your hotel room." Enlarging Connor's pupils she surprised him. He instantly cleared his throat and fidgeted his arms at the sound that she had thought about being with him. "There's a part of me that thinks nobody could ever see me the way you do, but..."

"But?" He was stunned she could follow both those reveals with a 'but' and his voice showed it. 

Penelope stared at him, her hands finally both at her side, as she tried to read her own racing thoughts. They were four steps apart from one another and Penelope swore she could hear his nerves beating beneath the thin material of his black shirt, "I like someone else too." Like it was a sin, she admitted it, flicking the words out from behind her teeth at his frozen face with the tip of her tongue. 

It was obvious he was disappointed as his head instantly fell and a few of his lazily tamed tangles of hair fell free. Penelope figured other girls might apologize in this situation, but she didn't. She made a point not to just apologize unless she was sorry and she was not sorry for how she felt for either Connor or Jules. It was nearly autumn, the wind was cold, but she was slowly burning in the parking lot with Connor almost on fire just steps away from her. Their silence was aching and she could hear it's melody like someone slamming on out of tune piano keys. 

"It's that guy in your photos?" It took Connor a minute, but eventually he figured it out. He followed Penny's photo page online closely and the only two photos he hadn't liked was one of her in her white coat at work sitting with Jules in the walk in freezer of the restaurant and the other was just of Jules eating her jam with a large spatula on her balcony. Every other picture, he laughed and admired before giving it a heart tap. 

Penelope only nodded in response. She wanted to be truthful, not hurt him. 

"The guy with one leg?" It was obvious to Connor that the picture of them in the freezer, Jules in shorts, that he had a prosthetic limb.

"Yeah. His name is Jules." She didn't know if Connor would want that detail, but it came out of her anyway. 

"You brought him to the show?!" For a second, Connor felt stung, but he puffed out his chest as he told himself that he had put on a great set. "Wait, he's the drummer at your restaurant." It was coming together quickly now that Connor had the perimeter of the puzzle pieced. He remembered in one of their earlier phone conversations that Penny had mentioned she made friends with a musician, a drummer at the place she was working at, and he was going to show her around Paris. Connor had felt jealous initially, but when she never brought him up again he figured that it was nothing. "He's a musician." He didn't like that for some reason. Maybe it was because he didn't want to have anything in common with her crush or it was because he felt threatened. Connor was on tour and this guy worked with Penny night after night. 

"I've never known you to be into somebody." And he had known Her forever even when went through a phase where she wore a lollipop body mist that made her smell like sugar cane. Connor was flabbergasted. "I really thought tonight was going to go different. Honestly, I thought we would just pick up where we left off." Connor really did imagine Penelope's hand in his and the two of them kissing backstage, their young blood rushing around as she finally let herself be with him. 

"You want to be together while you're flying around the world?" It was Penelope's time to be surprised though she supposed she shouldn't be because Connor was always fanciful and believed in fairy tales. They were different that way. 

"Yeah. Why is that so bizarre?" She had a crooked smile on and her head was posed to the side, asking him to be real. 

"It would never work." Penny had gone over the situation in her head plenty of times. She was in school and couldn't visit him whenever and he was on tour and couldn't stop by Paris whenever he felt like it. They could never be there for one another. Right now they were too restricted. Plus, she didn't know Connor to resist the attention and affection of girls who were fans of his music. 

"And it's different with Jewel - ?" 

"Jules." She corrected before he could continue. 

"He plays music too. What is it just because he wasn't good enough to tour?" 

"Okay, easy, you're not David Bowie." Penny pointed out with her face holding a frown. She really didn't want to upset Connor, she just didn't want to lead him on either. "And Jules is really talented. There's a lot of talented undiscovered people, you know that!" It wasn't that long ago that he had been recording music in his bathroom and wishing someone would give it half a listen. "I really like both of you." She didn't even know if Jules had any feelings for her, she just knew thinking about him made her feel like there was a ticking time bomb inside of her. 

"He has one leg!" Connor laughed as he raised his voice.

"So?" She couldn't believe he was bringing that up so she made sure to narrow her eyes into him and step closer, letting him know just how crazy she thought he was being. "You have dirty blond hair." She said to try and show him how moot his point had been. 

"Well, come on, Pen, what's so special about him? I've never known you to be into someone." 

"He gets it."

"It? Gets what?" Connor squinted to better follow her. "I get you."

"He gets what it's like to have your whole world change from an accident." Sighing, Penelope told him with some embarrassment. She hated having to admit that things were different for her now. 

"Wait..." He put up both his hands and waved them in front of himself as if it helped him understand what she was saying. "You have a crush on him because he's disabled?"

"Okay, fuck you." Penelope said it like she was wishing him good luck. It was simple and sincere. On her toes, she moved forward to rush away. She didn't know where she was and she couldn't remember where Montemare was from where they were standing, but in that moment, she thought being lost would be better than arguing with someone she trusted to never hurt her. Her blond hair whipped behind her like a reptiles tail as she stalked away. She could hear Connor's voice painfully calling her name, pleading, as his feet shuffled closer. Penny inhaled deeply and ignored her instinct to keep walking when she spun around. Their chests were so close to colliding that, out of reflex, Connor jumped back. 

"You being cheesed right now is so hypocritical!" She threw her hands down in fists as she shouted into him. "I like both of you a lot, yeah, that sucks, but you dated your way through your yearbook in high school while writing songs about me the whole time!" In case e had forgotten, which he hadn't, Penny reminded him with one large breath. 

"I didn't think I had a chance with you." With Penny, she was a mermaid-like angel and, around her, he was just a human with all his flaws. Connor softened, guilt leaking into his previously burning throat, Penny wasn't finished though. He had crossed a line and poked a button. He had never seen her so wound up before and he hated that it was him who had made her feel so awful. He wished now that he could step back five minutes into the past and try to handle his emotions differently. 

"You know your parents and their perfect freaking marriage that you're lusting after? You are never going to have it if you don't like yourself on your own first. I was figuring out who I was then I had my accident and I had to figure myself out all over again. I'm not going to apologize for not having time to be your girlfriend and groupie because I was too busy figuring out who I was!" Her own impulsive foolishness had ripped memories and cognitive skills from her and Penelope was very proud of how hard she worked to become someone she liked again. 

Connor has never heard Penelope raise her voice. Any time she had been cross before, she played it off cool as a cuke. He had seen her unleash a little on her younger brothers before, not him. It stung and Connor wanted to sit down on the curb and cry. Instead, he ran all his fingers through his hair aggressively holding the ends down and trying to keep from coming undone in front of her. 

"Alright, so let's pretend there's no Jules. It's just you and me, you still wouldn't believe we could do it while I'm touring?" He couldn't change Penelope's heart. If she had feelings for two people than Connor couldn't yell at her until he got his way. "No chance?" 

"I just don't see...how." Down at the tips of her scuffed up white canvas shoes, she said quietly before looking up to notice how little he cared for her response. 

"Why?" Thrusting his chin forward, he asked assertively. "What? You think I'm going to be like your Dad?" 

"What?" 

"You think I'm going to stay out all night and get fucked up? You think I'll get caught with hookers -"

"That was a rumor and you fucking know it!" Like they were guitar strings, he was playing with her nerves now. 

"Whatever. You think I'm going to cheat and not come home just like him." 

"He didn't cheat on my Mom!" Penelope growled. She had asked her mom point blank once if he had and she promised that he never did. 

"You're still the same little girl who got teased in kindergarten because her dad was in the papers and on TV! You are scared of being happy with me because of my job. Admit it!" Connor huffed at the end. He was out of breath as it has run away with his mouth. Neither of them were used to behaving this way especially with each other. "Penny, what I should have said -" 

"Get fucked, you gomer." She didn't let him correct himself. Penny dragged her spiteful glance away from him and began to walk away. She figured she would walk until she was on a Main Street and then take the last subway home. Her emotions were so heightened that she couldn't think straight. Penelope stiffened up her mouth and fought with herself before taking her low battery phone out of her purse and calling her mom. She didn't know what she would say, but she hoped it would center her. It was almost ten in the morning back home on the next day, she assumed her mom would be up running errands or getting breakfast with friends. 

She nearly broke into tears when she heard the groggy voice of a freshly awaken Luke Hemmings pick up. It played back every horrible thing that her best friend had just said. Penelope pulled her face away from the phone and checked that she had actually clicked on her mom's name. 

"Penny? You okay?" Luke checked the time on his wife's phone as he had reached over her side to pick it up. She was in the shower. "Penny, its like midnight there. " He forgot that she was going to Connor's show that night. 

"Dad, I'm lost." She hated admitting defeat. Her frustration with herself was evident.

All at once, Luke panicked, but he chose to take a deep breath and follow the advice of Penelope's doctor and therapist. He couldn't always spring into hero mode. He had to let her learn. 

"Okay, that's okay. Can you call an uber to where you are?" He inquired, sitting up and adjusting his wife's pillow behind his back for support.

"I think I'm in a park. We went to a club to celebrate after Connor's show and...and I left..." 

"Without your friends?" He didn't hide that he didn't like that.

"It's a long story, Dad." Her sigh was long and held its exasperation until the end. "I know that I'm in Passy which is, like, less than a half hour by car to my place." He was glad Penny knew that because he neighborhoods of Paris were simply French words to him. "The subway station is by Radio France." She didn't know why she knew that, but at some point someone had mentioned that to her and it stuck in her brain. "I don't know how to get there." 

"Walk North, Penny." Luke coached her while reaching around to find his phone somewhere in the bed sheets. It was right beneath his pillow. He pulled open Google and began to search on the map for Radio France. Once he had the address, he opened up his GPS app that he used to track all three of his forever wandering children. He found Penelope quickly and changed what he told her,  "I'm sorry, Penny, turn around and go straight. I'll stay on the phone til you get to the subway or in a cab." He didn't prefer either. Luke just wished he could drive her around himself. 

"Thanks, Dad. I knew where I was and then I couldn't remember. It's been really good though until now." She had Jules to walk her home from work, but she really didn't need him to anymore. She just loved being alone with the drummer and all the tattoos that decorated his arms like lights and bulbs on Christmas tree. 

"Are you alright? You could go back to the club and get a car." 

"Yeah." Hearing his voice was giving her something positive to focus on. It made her feel closer to home even though they were just over the phone. "Maybe, I should. I just want to be home."

"You will be on December 24th." Luke reminded her while laying back down, feeling calmer now that she did. 

"I meant my apartment." 

"I know, I'm just teasing. We miss you." He told her that almost every day. "You close to the club?" He couldn't tell that on his phone app.

"Yeah, like, a minute away."  

"Just take an Uber, Pen. I will wire you some money." 

"I'm fine for money, Dad." Penelope was very proud of the fact that she supported herself. She could never be like her friends who lived off their parents back accounts. Still, Luke always helped her. It was one of the only ways he felt like he could help her from so far away. "I'm here. I'm at the club." She was standing right in the back parking lot where she and Connor acted like children fighting for no reason, but because their emotions demanded it. Connor wasn't there anymore and she assumed he had gone inside with his heart racing and hands playing with his hair.

"Okay. You feel okay?" He didn't want to patronize her and ask her to do some of her memory exercises, so Luke found a more vague way to investigate. 

"I'll be fine." She wasn't about to vent to him about how Connor hurt her heart. 

"Okay. Love you, Pen. Call anytime." He always reminded her that she could.

"Dad?" Penny didn't want him to hang up just yet.

"Yeah?" 

Sometimes, to help her recollection, Penelope would walk herself backwards through her day until she was the place she needed to remember. Right now, she was in the parking lot where Connor made her feel as small as Daphne Hood was. 

"You were a good Dad. I know you were away a lot, but I still liked having you as a Dad." Penny nodded and swallowed hard, telling herself as much as she was telling him. 

"Thanks." Luke ignored that she used past tense and softened. He had been criticized harshly by people who knew him and many who didn't, so hearing from one of the kids he raised that he earned a passing grade was as comforting as the blanket he was half beneath. "I love being your Dad." He informed her as she approaches the first cars outside of the front of the dance club. 

"I'm going to go. Goodnight. Well, morning." Once he said goodbye back, Penelope hung up and put her phone back into its bag. 

In an effort to save money and work out some of her conflicting thoughts, Penelope requested for the Uber driver to drop her off on the same block as the place she worked at. It was only a ten minute stroll to her home from there and she wanted to stop in to check her upcoming schedule for the rest of the month. 

Penelope squeezed in through the kitchen door where four line cooks were smoking and swearing about the busy night they were in the middle of. When the band came on and the cocktail specials were announced was when people started to pour in. It was a very popular after hours spot for their strong drinks and a generous tapas. 

Penny wiped off her shoes on the rubber mat and went to the wall by the office. She could hear the music playing, almost recognizing the staccato song playing. Right away though, Penny knew Jules wasn't on the drums. She checked to make sure she was given the day off before her upcoming exam and then forged forward through the boiling and hectic kitchen. Her eyes checked over moving shoulders as she glanced at different meals being prepared or plated. There was always an opportunity for her to learn. All around her, she heard her name and  greeting. She felt better already. This was her makeshift home, this was her out of town family. 

She moved closer and closer to the perpetually swinging door that separated the fun loving atmosphere for the dining room and jazz club from the stresses out sweat and swear zoo that was the kitchen. As soon as she had curled one hand around it to push it partially open, a waitress she recognized as Ismay flew by with an empty tray and an annoyed expression that could staple itself into anyone's mind. Penny glanced around the busy room and found Jules right away, sitting on a bar stool with an old fashioned and keeping the beat of the song with his hand on his knee. Due to enjoying the band, he swung slightly on his chair and waved over his head almost as soon as he spotted Penelope. He thought about nodding at her to join him, but it struck him as odd that she had left her friend's party and he could tell that something had happened. She was wearing a face he hadn't seen on her before and, while he thought she was ethereally beautiful, he did not particularly care for it. So Jules carefully hopped off the stool and moved to her. Penelope came out of the kitchen entirely, standing behind the bar in her casual wear. 

"Why did you leave?" Jules inquired, leaning into the small bar door that came up to his waist and kept them apart. "Were you not having fun with celebrities?" He couldn't resist teasing her, wiggling his brows as he asked. Jules was not impressed by fancy things and name brands. He grew up with a single mother and modest means between himself and his older sister. He played music and worked as a doorman at Le Royal Monceau.  Sure, he had dreams, but he was never impressed by anyone who flashed their success and wealth around. Jules just wanted to be happy right before he fell asleep at night. 

"No." Penny sighed and rolled her eyes halfway at the thought of it. "It was weird. I'm going to home now, I just needed to check the schedule." 

"Want a walking buddy?" It was a term she had coined for him around the third time he escorted her back to her apartment. 

"No. I got it." She was worried about getting lost again, but Penelope really did want to be by herself.

"Okay. Well I'll see you...mercredi?" He could never remember the days of the week in English. Jules hoped to see her before, but he knew that was when they would both be working together. He had picked up the habit of checking her schedule.

"Yeah." Penny promised. "Thanks for coming out with me tonight. Did you like the show?" She realized she hadn't asked after the concert. 

"Yeah, it was good. Both acts were good." He admitted while waving his hand back and forth to gesture that they were really just 'okay'. Jules wasn't a big fan of folk or pop music. He grew up on jazz and classic since that was what his grandfather that they lived with played. He was the man who taught Jules everything about rhythm and built him his first drum kit. "It was weird watching someone be so in love with you in front of all those people." He half-laughed through his awkward honesty. "Did you two date?" She had always just referred to Connor as her closest friend, but the performance has all three of Penelope's French friends wondering if they had once been more.

"No." She shook her head and reached around to tighten her ponytail. "We kissed once." She said and instantly wish she hadn't. She looked down into her purse to check the time on her phone noticing that it barely had any battery life yet. She was sitting at an uncomfortable 3%. Penny missed that Jules scrunched up his nose at what she said. 

"Do you like him?"

Penny puffed both her cheeks out and let them deflate with a long exhale at his question, zipping her bag back and wondering for a second if her feelings for Connor had changed after their fight.

"I have." Realizing it was a strange way to answer, Penny shrugged. "We sort of fought at the club and we've never fought before." Penny explained to Jules, wrapping her fingers around the bar door again. "I don't know." 

"What did you fight about? Was it bad?" He wished his English was better or that her French was more extensive in times like these. Jules felt like he couldn't be as good a companion to her when their was a language barrier between them. He didn't realize his hands had curls over hers, but Penny had and she could not stop looking at them. 

"It was just bad because it had never happened before." She spoke directly to their hands. "I hurt his feelings and then he hurt mine back." She supposed that she really just described every fight throughout history, but she wasn't quite feeling as smart as usual tonight. 

"What did you say?" In a joking manner, Jules scolded her. He narrowed his eyes in and shook his head very slowly. 

"You really want to know?" She asked before realizing that she didn't know if she wanted to honestly tell him. 

"Of course." Jules laughed and squeezed her fingers under his tenderly. He couldn't imagine her saying anything that he couldn't handle. His bet was that they just misunderstood one another or that her friend was too drunk to think before speaking. 

Penelope tightened her throat which made Jules chuckle at how strange it looked and she tried to come up with a lie. She tried to reason with herself and remember how to be the cool girl that she was known as back home on the beaches of Sydney. 

"I told him..." Penny looked up into Jules eyes, but that made the truth harder to share somehow. "I told him...I said...well..." She was embarrassed by how tongue tied she felt and just spat it out, "I told him I like somebody else too." 

"Okay." Like it was nothing, Jules accepted with a casual smirk that shrugged above his chin. "So he feels a little crushed. Anybody I know? Someone in your classes?"

"You." She had come this far. There wasn't much point in beating around the bush now. Penny sometimes wondered how different things would be with Connor if he had come out and admitted to liking her instead of just trying to tell her through poetry.

Jules hands loosened on hers and his eyes lightened as he gave her a smile she interpreted as pitying. 

"Okay, so I'm going to go jump in front of a car." Penelope uttered a sentence she had heard Emmeline say a dozen times before when she didn't get her way. The words didn't feel right in her mouth, but she pushed open the bar door and tried to squeeze past him. Jules tugged on her wrist, but she yanked it away. 

"Penelope! Penelope!" He chased her through the kitchen. After she pushed open the back door, she turned and stopped him from going outside with her. He looked concerned and as if his mouth was full of a hundred things to say.

"Don't. It's okay!" She put up her hand to stop him from coming closer or uttering a word. "Cause I like you both and I don't know what to do. So you don't have to say anything and make it more weird." She really needed to work on her eloquence. 

"Can I, please, walk you home?" Jules genuinely wanted to and took her hand in his to try and make that clear.

"I'll text you when I'm there." Penelope just assumed he felt obliged to make sure she was safe. She took her hand back and ran into the night, his eyes watching until she became a dot as dark as the sky was.

****************************

After plugging her phone in and taking a pear from her bottom fridge door, Penny ran a hot bath. She soaked in the bubble free water and watched her skin grow red from the heat. It was comforting and removed how perplexed, hurt, and rejected she felt. Penelope only ate half of her pear before her stomach couldn't bare anymore. She felt too upset and her stomach couldn't handle another bite. Once she was starting to drift off into sleep, she rose out of the bath tub and drained the dirty water. Penelope wrapped herself in her favorite multi-color striped beach towel from back home and picked up her phone from in the dry sink since she used it as a DIY speaker for the Soft Cell songs she was playing to drown out the furious pain from the evening. She noticed that she had four texts and read them as she dried off. 

"I'll be in Paris soon. MAKE TIME FOR ME AND ROMANCE MY PALE ASS!!!" Emmeline sent with a string of bright coloured emojis that had nothing to do with her sentiment. 

"Are you home safe? You didn't text." Jules wrote about twenty minutes after she arrived at her building.

"I'm really sorry, Pen. :(" Connor had sent around the same time as Jules.

However, Penelope only concentrated on her dad's message. 

"Your mum and I are really proud of you. Nice to start the morning with your voice." 

Once dry, she put on a pair of sweats and a stained 5SOS shirt from their first headlining tour way before she was born and slept on her futon. She was exhausted so she didn't even bring it down from its couch form. Penelope texted no one and fell asleep wondering where her perfect day went. 

#5sos au #5sos series #5sos imagine #luke hemmings imagine #luke hemmings one shot #penelope hemmings

[unconventional-hero]

Chapter 11-- The Plot Thickens.

Written by “Slug 5″

(In which there is a bank robbery.)

* * * * *

A year has passed. A year of infinite pleasure for Jack Morningstar. It seems so natural for this and the other one to call him “Ashton” and he has so accustomed himself to the polished ways and manners of the metropolitan that he finds himself wondering if afterall, it is the same old “Jack” who landed at the central depot in New York just a year ago.

But the aimless life, the careless, lazy, easy going life of the circle of young men into which he has been thrown, in which every day has no definite object or aim and where no thought is taken of tomorrow is far from him. He must be active; so the position he has taken as Mr. McClure’s cashier gives him both physical and mental employment. He has changed his abode to a neat but less luxurious suite of rooms on East fifty-ninth street, and walks to and from the bank. And then, too, he has need of economy-- Jim’s demands have grown large.

Jim Paxton has passed the year in the whirlpool of fashion ans still, under his sobriquet, is the “pet” of society.

Clyde is safely tucked away at Mrs. Brown’s. Ah! well, what good is there in life for some men if they can’t break a dozen hearts! Take away the most sacred thing of womanhood-- love-- basely throw it to the wind and then-- seek for more hearts to conquer!

* * * * *

“There is no use to throw away all these words Jack;  I tell you I must have it and that tonight-- tonight! man do you hear?”

Jim Paxton is seated before the cozy fire in Jack Morninstar’s parlor making demands for a financial loan which have come in frequently as late.

“And I tell you again Jim Paxton I’ll lend you no one, not even a brother, a cent to help them out of a gambling scrape!” says Jack as he walks excitedly up and down the floor.

“You won’t! You won’t d’ye say?” By-- by all the powers in hell I’ll make you! And he grinds his teeth in bitter enmity to the friend who has been far more than friend to him. “I must have the thousand and that tonight so if you’re not available old fellow-- well we’ll see-- Jim Paxton is not to be foiled yet-- and you’ll wish you had! But au revoir my fine man. It is now 1 o’clock and I’ll not bother you further.” With a mocking yet stately bow he moves to the door, lets himself down in the elevator and departs. He no sooner reaches the street than he whistles softly and the figure of a man emerges from the dark alley and joins him. He is dressed in a plain but neat looking suit of brown and low felt hat; below which a mass of silky black hair gleams in the gas light; in this garb no one would have recognized the red-haired valet of Jim Paxton, but that gentleman greets him familiarly as he reaches his side.

“Now, see here, Simon, no time is to be lost. Walk up the street a square or two with me; then take this back to the house I just left, call for ‘Mr. Ashton,’ and hand him this note-- this telegram rather. No explanation is needed; but mind now you stay in the shadow near the street door until you see him leave the house with a bundle in his hands and then lose no time in coming to me at the ‘Manhattan,’ where I will await you. Obey all my orders and a thousand of these are yours!” And he tossed a shining coin temptingly before his servant’s eyes.

“Yes, yes, trust me Mr. Morningstar! I’ll do anything for you. Shall I go now?”

“Here, yes take this.” And Jim Paxton thrusts a yellow-looking missive into the valet’s hands, and listened to his retreating footsteps as he himself turned and walked toward the hotel, with a sinister grin upon his face.

“It’ll catch the blockhead I know-- in three hours all will be done-- Ha! Ha! You’re no fool Jim Paxton!”

Jack Morningstar is still where Jim had left him; his hands on his knees deep in thought. He is greatly troubled; he despises with all his manly soul the mean traits of Jim’s character and yet he can not throw him off. He respects his hasty words. What if Jim should do something desperate to obtain the money; he felt as though he himself would be the cause of it, and he has almost made up his mind to give the money to his friend when a knock at the door startles him.

He arises hastily, flings the door open and a telegram is thrust into his hands, and the messenger departs like a flash. “For me-- what can it be-- why! why!” tearing it open and reading aloud:

“Bozeman, Montana

Sept 14 18--

Jack: Betty is dying; come quick.

Mrs. Tucker.”

He reeled backwards. “Betty! Betty! O, God, keep her alive till I get there!” He threw the telegram on the floor; jumbled a few articles into a portmanteau, snatched his hat and overcoat from the rack and started for the door. But upon reaching it he turned, walked back again to the escritoire and wrote hastily.

“Jim: Enclosed find bank note for one thousand. I leave for Bozeman tonight. Betty sick.

Jack.”

He sealed, stamped it, put it in his inside coat pocket, looked for his door and hurriedly descended to the street. A dark figure darted past him as he did so but he carefully deposited his letter in the mail box, hailed a cab and landed at the depot and in five minutes was on his westward journey, never dreaming of the conspiracy which has been so deeply laid for his destruction.

Meanwhile Simon hurries to the Manhattan where his master await him. Jim is watching for him and rises immediately upon his entrance.

“Is it all right?” he enquires hurriedly.

“All’s well,” replies the obliging valet. “Left five minutes after delivery. Baggage in hand.”

“Gone at last! By all the saints in the calendar-- here take this as part of your pay-- now follow me.” He tosses the meek looking valet a dollar and passes out into the night air.

It is the hour of two, and the part of the city through which they pass seems hushed and quiet. Now Jim Paxton speaks hurriedly to the man at his side and now he hurries on again. At last they turn down a dark forlorn looking alley and come up to the rear of the great bank of which McClure is president. They stop and peer cautiously about. All is quiet. By the selective lights within they can see the night watchman standing against a column with his back to the rear end of the room.

“Give me a lift Simon. Now’s our chance!” Jack whispers to his servant.

The valet stands erect beneath the iron barred window, and by his aid Jim Paxton mounts to the casement. One of the iron bars is loose. He discovered it by accident through the lense of his eyeglass while talking to McClure only yesterday. He inserts a chloroform syringe between the railing and then steps backward to note the effect on the watchman. A second and the man reels, staggers and falls to the floor. Jim loses no time. With a sharp hooked instrument he hastily wrenches the iron bar from its fastenings and climbs through the window; once in he fastens the bar into place again and then creeps along the floor to the watchman; gives him a double dose of the potion from the syringe makes sure he is safe, and then finds his way on hands and knees to the vaults. He has been a frequent visitor of late at the bank and while seemingly engaged in conversation with Jack and Mr. McClure has studied accurately through the powerful lense of his eyeglass the combinations and workings of the different locks therefore it is but the work of a moment to transfer a thousand dollars from the safe to his own pocket. Then he hesitates. If a thousand why not a million. The crime will be so much the heavier for Jack; for he has determined that Jack shall be implicated. Jack was supposed to be the only one of the employees who knew every combination. And his going away would cast the theft upon him immediately. So Jim Paxton snatches a larger roll of bills from the safe; puts them away carefully with the rest in his inside coat pocket; closes and adjusts the lock to its proper position; and creeps stealthily to the window again. -- The watchman stirs-- groans-- Jim is out of the window-- the bar is put back into place-- and no trace is left of robbery.

The next morning, in trimmest garb, Jim Paxton saunters leisurely down to the bank. He is cool, collected, and has an air about him of the utmost indifference. When he reaches the bank every thing is confusion; the members of the firm are standing in groups talking excitedly and the employees are hurrying to and fro. “Hello! any thing up?” he inquires of Mr. McClure as he carelessly takes his cigar from his mouth and picks up a morning paper.

“The bank last night was robbed of two million dollars!” replied Mr. McClure looking serious.

“Two million! By all the powers-- no-- Why McClure-- McClure, it can’t be!” Jim Paxton rises from his chair excitedly and stares at the banker with a look of deep commiseration.

“Yes, and what more it looks very much as if ‘Ashton’ knows something of the robbery. He has not been to the bank this morning and his rooms are deserted. They have been searched.

“No, no, not Ashton! Surely not Ashton! You must not think it of him. He’s too good, too noble.”

“So I thought, the worst men are sometimes hid in sheep’s clothing. Evidences are very much against him.”

“Poor Ashton! It can’t be that he is guilty. McClure-- I tell you it can’t be!”

“Yet I tell you he is. Every door and window was just as we left it last night-- he carried a bank key. We trusted him. And see! here is a handkerchief found in the vaults. Can you deny that does not belong to him?”

Jim examined it. On one corner was stamped in plain letters-- “Henry Ashton.” He recognized it as the one he had picked up from the floor on leaving Jack’s room the night before and which he had purposely dropped in the bank. A secret joy shot through his frame at this stroke of good luck but he looked horrified, and exclaimed in a tone of deep uncertainty;

“No, it can’t be Ashton! I’ll go search his rooms again. I may find a clue.”

He rises hat in hand and is about to depart, when his valet enters with a letter in his hands.

“Beg pardon Mr. Morningstar. A letter of importance was left for you sometime ago. You did not come so thought I’de bring it.”

“All right Simon; you needn’t stay.”

The valet departs and Jim opens the letter. It is the bank note Jack left for him the night before.

“Luck upon luck!” he feels like throwing his hat into the air and shouting, but only hands it excitedly to McClure. “You’re wrong. I told you so. He would never have written that were he guilty!”

“It is greater proof I think. I shall keep this, however, until the affair is straightened up. Where is it he says he is going, here?”

“Bozeman, Gallatin county, Montana.”

* * * * *

Meantime Jack Morningstar has reached his destination and is taking long strides up the hill to the little brown cottage which he remembers well. There are the old faded hollyhocks looking over the garden fence at him just as they used to look a year ago. He does not stop to recall old associations, however but hurriedly lifts the latch of the gate. The click of the latch startles both Betty and Mrs. Tucker and they come to the door to see who their late visitor may be.

“Why it’s Jack, ma, sure as I’m alive! O, Jack I’m so glad to see you,” and quite regardless of the fact that she is a “grown up” girl, she throws herself into his arms.

“You, Betty-- you-- but you don’t look sick-- are you-- what made you send the telegram, Mrs. Tucker?” says the astonished Jack.

“I never sent no telegram to no body, what do you mean?” and Mrs. Tucker is far more astonished than Jack.

“Didn’t send no telegram?-- What can it mean?” Jack passes his hand across his brow-- he is dazed-- “It said Betty was dying-- and your name was signed to it!”

“Mine! it’s a fraud! a conspirator! Jack Morningstar, them city dudes has got to be too much for you!”

“What does it mean? Whose work is this--” a sudden thought flashes through his brain that Jim may be the cause-- “Great Heavens! Betty, something’s wrong. I must go back to New York immediately!”

Betty claps his arm in terror. “O, Jack-- look! look!-- see there coming up the walk!”

Jack turns and sees the burly form of the city sheriff almost at his heels-- he stares in bewilderment but he has no time for reply-- that authority of the law steps up to him and clasps him firmly by the arm.

“You are wanted in New York for the robbery of the McClure bank, and I have a warrant for your arrest!”

#Victorian era #period drama #romantic drama #1800s #late 1800s #An Unconventional Hero #Slug 5 #volume 2