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While she waited for a response from Oats, Mr. Southern boy, about the next time he'd take her on a sweet ride, her best friend's voice chimed in.

"You okay, sweetheart?" -@HushedWhispers

Immediately after her friend asked her that, Ely, nonchalantly, let go of her hand and ran the same hand through her untidy hair. She's had enough practice acting calm and collected.

"Yeah, just peachy, love. Don't you worry." She realized her brother's signature move gave mix signals... making Ely seem more vulnerable in that moment. She'd have to be careful... she didn't want her friends thinking she was depressed.

Listening to Lexi give them options for tonight's shenanigans, the grunge girl's eyes lit up. Blacklight party was totally up her alley and adding swimwear into the equation? Sexy bodies all around! She'd love to see Erin in a bikini. Her body screamed for attention. Ely wouldn't mind seeing a lot of skin tonight. Women were beautiful creatures, she couldn't deny the fact, but so were men.

"I swear, it's never just a party is it? There's always some kind ah gimmick, int thuh? S’long as ah can get pissed an’ stoned am ‘appy, anyway” -@OfficerHeadbutt

Rolling her eyes playfully, Ely jested, "Oh come on, Manks, like you don't want to see boobs just as much as me. Maybe next party we'll get high as fuck and sing kumbaya." She didn't want things to seem awkward between her and her ex, though in reality she wished she could avoid him.

Leaving Otis and Lexi's side, Ely glided to Grant, not in the mood to reprimand him of his idiocy, she whispered, "Better have some scooby snacks for me." signaling she wanted her dose of trippy drugs during or before the party. The young girl wasn't aware of how much her ex was paying attention to her.

Strolling to the cute Esme, gingerly, she grabbed a muffin and took a nice, deep bite into it, "Your father outdid himself" She savored every bite she made. This muffin was too good to be true. She went back to Lexi and Otis and grinned, "You know me, love. I want both."

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"What?" he asked, before turning to look at Erin, "Erin wouldn't do something like that, right?" Séamus wanted to comfort Jacen, but he didn't quite know how.

Jacen let out a scoff "Apparently, you'd be surprised my friend." He cast a side eye at grant and then looked to Esme as the muffins were offered.

"I'm down for a muffin." Jacen scored one out of the container and nearly devoured it whole before turning back to Seamus.

Hearing his friend agree to going off and having fun he grinned "We had better be off then-" he was stopped as Seamus, who was just finishing a joint he had been handed, offered it to him. He didn't even reply before he had the joint in hand, taking a long drag from it. "That was what I needed." He handed it back to the redhead and without a word to the others, began walking away. He beckoned Seamus with his hand to follow him.

"Where ya wanna go buddy? There's the arcade? Or we could grab a case of 'Adams with my fake ID and watch a movie marathon or play some video games. Or we could go to a strip club." He walked along, listening to what Seamus would have to reply. When they reached the parking lot he said "You wanna drive separate or ride together?"

He had half forgotten that Erin had ridden with him, but he didn't particularly care. She could find someone else to take her home for all he cared.

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Jun stood in front of a tall mirror within a rather large closet, wearing a beige sweater vest over a white, long sleeved polo. He ran a hand across the soft fabric, smoothing out the creases. Although he wasn't wearing any pants at the time, the upper half of him at least looked really good. However, it wasn't stylish enough for him. The Asian boy scowled and threw the entire outfit to the floor. His hands began to search for another shirt to wear in the sea of clothing that hung around him.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated twice on the bedside table next to his neatly made queen sized bed. Raising an eyebrow, Jun strode out of his closet in his deep blue boxer briefs and made his way through his spacious room to see who was texting him. His hands quickly typed in a four digit pass code to unlock his sleek and slender phone. Lexi's texted flickered up before his dark eyes, inviting the crew to their usual meeting spot at the lake.

To Everyone:
I'll be there in a jiffy. Still picking out an outfit. >_>'

Unfortunately, he would spend the next 50 minutes trying on different types of outfits, only to fail in appeasing himself again and again. Finally, after much trial and error, he was satisfied. The handsome Taiwanese boy wore a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Over this, a golden chain dangled to the center of his chest. To compliment the top, he chose dark grey pants and classy obsidian boots. To ensure his hair was intact, his head moved from side to side in the mirror, observing each angle to ensure perfection. Breathing a sigh of relief, he could finally get out of here.

Back to the bedside table, he collected his oversized phone, the keys to his SUV, and a checkered patterned wallet then hustled out of his parents' estate to the white Ford Explorer that awaited him. Buckling himself in, the dark haired kid fired up the engine and made his way to the lakeside, positive he was pretty late.

It took him roughly 12 minutes to get to the lake and another 3 just to park his SUV. If there was one thing Jun was pretty terrible at, it was parking a car. After all, he was pretty new to this whole "driving" thing. Amidst the struggle that was parking, he was almost positive his friends were watching him, laughing at his god awful skills. Eventually, even though he was taking up two spots, Jun gave up, locked his car, and made his way over to his friends' position.

Catching sight of the familiar group, he pulled out the finger guns and shot each of them with a strange greeting. "Hello, hello! Sorry I'm so la-" he commenced before he spotted the muffins Esme was holding. "Muffins?! Are you for serious?!" Jun practically sprinted up to the Spanish girl, seizing one of the those tasty, tasty treats from the Tupperware. The Asian boy's eyes rolled up in delight at the first bite and practically began to hop up and down as he feasted on the muffin. "Theesh are show goodd, Eshme!" he exclaimed while chewing.

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“I’ve got to get the taste of skank out of my mouth now…” Erin let out a 'tch' in response, brushing her long tangled mane back as she noticed Esme bringing out a basket of delicious muffins. One thing the girl couldn't deny was how delicious Esme's father's baking was. Without sparing a glance at Grant or at Jacen - who had still not looked at her since the whole kissing incident prior - the blonde pulled out a muffin, peeling the packaging before taking bites of it.

"Skank huh? And who was the one so desperate for my attention, resorting to hold things over my head?" The girl shrugged, "doesn't matter anyway, I've had better kisses anyway." She looked over at Jacen again, not caring whether he caught her eye or not, this was just for Grant to see.

Quickly glancing over at the head momma of the group, Erin pursed her lips in thought. "Try whatever, as long as there's food and booze, I'm in." She hummed, finishing the last of the muffin before scrunching up the packaging and tossing it behind her.

Noticing her ride walking away, beckoning Carrot-top to follow, Erin frowned slightly. She would either have to hitch a ride with someone else now, or walk all the way back home. Both sounded quite unpleasant, but the girl shrugged. "Right, you lot. I'll be off if I'm not quite needed any more. Gotta go slave at the diner."" Erin clapped her hand, "one of you can text me whatever the party's about. I'll see if I can bring in some of the leftovers from the diner when my boss isn't looking."

Raising her hand in a short goodbye, Erin walked off - might as well walk off my hangover. Fresh air is always the cure for everything.

Séamus began to walk with Jacen to his car, saying hello to Jun as he quickly passed.

"Apparently, you'd be surprised my friend."

Séamus followed Jacen's gaze towards Grant, and thought to himself, Grant wouldn't do something like that, would he? He wondered. Séamus made a mental note to perhaps ask him about it casually the next time the two of them were alone. He took the joint back from Jacen, and finished it off. "Ahh, that felt good, he said with a sigh, as he flicked the very end of it on the ground.

"Where ya wanna go buddy? There's the arcade? Or we could grab a case of 'Adams with my fake ID and watch a movie marathon or play some video games. Or we could go to a strip club."

"Hmm," Séamus pondered, whist scratching his chin a bit I'll have to shave before the party, he thought to himself, before continuing to Jacen's question, How about we go to my house and play some video games?" he asked, "There's plenty of booze at my house, and there's some weed there. There might even be some, eheh, harder drugs, that I might be willing to share with you."

Soon after, they were at the car park of Lakeside. "You wanna drive separate or ride together?" Jacen asked, I can drive the both of us, if you want," Séamus offered.

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Esme blushed as everyone complemented her dad's baking. She wished she could bake as well as he could but she was still just learning.
"See you tonight guys!" she shouted, waving at Erin, Jacen and Seamus. She didn't have anywhere to be today so decided to stay a little longer, especially when she spotted Jun wandering down to the group and laughed as he drove on her muffins. If there was one way to Jun's heart it was baked goods! "What took you so long munchkin?" Esme teased, wrapping him in a warm hug while being careful not to squish the remaining two muffins. "Get lost in your closet again?" she added, as she released and playfully elbowed him. "You missed us planning the party? Lexi's gonna have us all over tonight! Beachwear and Black light," Esme continued talking frantically, she was so happy her best friend had in fact been able to make it. She was starting to worry that they were going to have left before he got there. "You better be there!

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"Oh come on, Manks, like you don't want to see boobs just as much as me. Maybe next party we'll get high as fuck and sing kumbaya."

A smirk crossed Manky’s face as he listened to Ely’s comments.
“Boobs? Come on now Ely, you know am an arse man. And yes to that idea, we could even build a fire and roast marshmallows, tell ghost stories and all that shite.” He replied, the tone of sarcasm evident in his voice.

The way Ely spoke to him just made him think more about how she had changed. How she wasn’t the same girl he had been inseparable from for so long. It felt like he didn’t know this new Ely. And he sure as hell preferred the old one.

He put the thought to the back of his mind, and turned his attention around to Seamus and Jacen, who were heading off to the car park.

“Well, fuck staying ‘ere with yous lot, am off with them. In a bit, dick’eads!” He exclaimed to the rest of the group, before turning towards Seamus and Jacen and sauntering off towards them. He stopped after a few paces, realising something.

“ Aww shite, me bike. Oi lads, one of you come pick us up outside the pub in 5 minutes, yeah?”
5 minutes was of course a figure of speech. The pub was at least 10 minutes away on the bike. He walked to the bike, picking it up from where it lay sideways on the ground. He jumped onto the saddle.

“Alright then, boys an’ girls, ‘ave a good day. Seamus, Jacen, I’ll see yous soon, yeah?”
He didn’t wait for a response, and instead cycled off at a fast pace, making his way back towards the pub.

As he arrived, he opened the side gate, and locked his bike up on the gate inside. He stepped back out of the small car park, and stood infront of the pub, waiting. He pulled the tin out of his bag, and rolled himself a cigarette, put it to his lips and lit it using the lighter he had ‘forgotten’ to give back to Seamus.

He then pulled out his phone, sending a text to Jacen and Seamus.
To: Jacen and Seamus
Whenever you’re ready lads, I’m waiting for you.

[quote=@Prudence]

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Jacen listened to Seamus proposal. "Your place and videogames sounds damn good to me."

The Irish ginger was preparing to respond to Jacen's query about their riding situation when he heard someone approaching from behind. Turning his head he identified Manky. He had half expected it to be Erin here to try to explain herself away and get a ride to wherever she was going.

She's unapologetic

Listening as Seamus offered to drive, he also caught what Manky was saying.

"I'll drive separate carrot top. I'll pick Manky up at his place, and then meet you at your place. Sound good?" He didn't really wait for Seamus to reply before he was already on the way to his mustang.

~~~

The text came into his phone as soon as he was pulling into the parkinglot at the Pub.

To Manky:"I'm here. hurry up."

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Esme stood in front of her wardrobe flicking through her clothes absentmindedly with the High School Musical Soundtrack blasting out in the background. She couldn't decide what to wear to the party tonight. She didn't usually fuss so much over what she wore apart from to parties. "Dress to impress," Esme muttered under her breath with a smile. Eventually she selected a black bikini with tiny white sharks printed on it. Pulling it on, Esme posed in front of the mirror for a little while before pulling out a pair of black shorts. "Perfect," she smiled, twirling and pulling on a pair of white sandles to complete the look.


"Esme! I'm home!" her dad shouted as he walked in the door.
"Coming!" Esme shouted, twirling once more before jogging down the stairs. Her dad threw his backpack on the dining room table and turned to her with a smile.
"You're dressed up all nice. Going out tonight?" he asked, pecking her on the cheek as she hugged him.
"Yeah Lexi's having a party tonight for all the guys," she explained, jumping up onto the counter as her dad milled around the kitchen.
"Remember be careful and call if you need a lift home," he stated but this was a usual occurrence, he wasn't bothered about her partying as long as she was safe about it.
"Will do dad," Esme rolled her eyes jokily. She sat on the table plaiting her unruly hair into two long braids. She jumped down and pulled on her leather biker jacket.

Checking her phone she got the text from Lexi.
To: Lexi
From: Esme
On my way now. Is it cool if I stay over?
Esme hugged her dad quickly before sliding out the door and into her little light blue Fiat 500. It would be fine to leave the car at Lexi's if she had to get home after the party. If she stayed then she could drive home in the morning. Esme drove through the streets, still blasting out High School Musical tracks until she pulled up in front of Lexi's house. Jumping out of the car, making sure it was definitely locked, she pounded on Lexi's door.

Séamus was laying on his bed, facing the wall, and way from Jacen and Manky, as he pulled up his swimming trunks. After struggling with his changing, he called out to Manky and Jacen, asking if they too were done with their changing. When he heard from both of them that they were done, he turned around and sat up. He looked down at himself and flexed his abs, noticing that they were coming along nicely. His time in the gym and practising tae kwon do were clearly paying off. "Look at me," he told Manky and Jacen, "You'd do me, wouldn't you?" he asked. After pausing for a second, he said, "Of course you would," and chuckled.

After chatting with Jacen and Manky, Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand came on. Séamus quickly jumped up from where he was sitting on his bed, and grabbed his electric guitar, and turned it on. It was already plugged into the amp, and Séamus passed it to Manky. Séamus liked the guitar, but knew that Manky would be better than him. After passing his guitar over, Séamus jumped onto his drum stool, and began drumming along to the song, and singing the lyrics. He was fairly confident that Manky knew this song, so was hoping that his guitar playing wouldn't be too bad. He also thought that Jacen knew the song, and could sing along to it with him.