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[color=slategray][sub]Collab Featuring:[/sub][/color] [color=80e5ff][sub][b]Shiloh Clay[/b][@Silent Observer][/sub][/color] [color=slategray][sub]&[/sub][/color] [color=9acd32][sub][b]Parker Ashford[/b][@Fabricant451][/sub][/color]
[color=slategray][sub]Day: Monday (flashback post)[/sub][/color]
[color=slategray][sub]Location: Mrs. Winship’s Homeroom → Halls of BHHS → After School Shenanigans[/sub][/color]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/GMRB6Sc.png?1[/img][/center]
[indent]Like any self-respecting, mediocre student, Shiloh had waited until the last minute to get a project started. To be totally fair, this wasn’t a schoolwork project, and it [i]was[/i] the first day back at class after winter break… so, could you really blame her for procrastinating? The project in question was, of course, her photography club “A Day in the Life of…” project. Many of her peers had already completed the project prior to or during the break, and Shiloh, well... Shiloh hadn’t even picked out her subject yet.

[i]What?[/i]

If there is one thing that Shi had learned from growing up being both surrounded and raised by musicians and eccentrics, it was that creativity could not be forced. In Shiloh’s mind, you could not and you [i]should[/i] not put a date, nor a deadline, on art. Teachers tried to do so, and teachers were stupid for it. Creation is like a sense, it should come naturally, unbridled and uncontrolled… at least that’s what Cooper’s influence on Shiloh had led her to believe, and Shiloh was nothing if not a product of her eclectic upbringing.

The pink-haired punk arrived well-past fashionably late to Mrs Winship’s homeroom, and gave absolutely no fucks about it. With a slightly out-dated professional grade [i]Nikon[/i] camera strapped around her neck, Shi stepped into the classroom like she owned the place. Everyone seemed to be thoroughly immersed in their conversations and, for a time, Shiloh simply stood in the doorway and observed the environment. She was like a lion, hiding in the tall grass, attempting to select the tastiest looking meal amidst a herd of antelope-like students.

Who would be her subject? Certainly not any of the It girls or their posse, they got [i]far[/i] too much attention as it was. Disgusting. Certainly not any of the Elite or jocks either, no thanks, that’d be too smelly of an endeavor. Shiloh was friends with many of the burners, so one of them would be a safe choice. Safe choices were boring. Shiloh was not boring. Finally, her blue eyes settled on the perfect specimen. No one was farther from phrases such as “safe choice” and “boring” than Parker Ashford.

With a wide grin and a sudden spike of inspiration, Shiloh made her approach. She loudly marched over in chunky combat boots that were so battered and worn that one might believe they had seen actual combat, rather than simply being a grunge fashion statement. Parker was sitting next to Henry and Min-seo, whom Shiloh knew enough about to recognize as her close friends. Shi knew a surprising amount about most of the BHHS student body, despite her stance on disliking the majority of them. Her guilty pleasure reading of the [i]Weekend Warrior[/i] blog helped with that knowledge. Seriously, whoever is the author of that blog is Shi’s hero, whether or not they know it. What a champ.

[color=80e5ff][b]“Hi!”[/b][/color] Shiloh greeted the group of her classmates in a cheerful tone. She pulled up a chair and sat beside them, as if this was her usual, everyday group of friends. It wasn’t, but she could be very friendly… when she wanted to be. [color=80e5ff][b]“You might know me as ‘that girl with the pink hair’, but my name is Shiloh. Or just Shi. So, hello to you. I have a proposal for Miss Parker, here. But first, would you mind if I…?”[/b][/color] Shi pointed a purple fishnet-gloved finger at the bag of gummy worms, requesting permission to partake in the goodies.

Parker wasn’t nearly as familiar with the students of BHHS as they might have been of her; she knew the names of those she was friends with and some names she was told to remember as a way of staying away from them, but given that Parker’s mind operated a bit differently than some there was little room for remembering everyone by name. Naturally when an unknown, but vibrantly hair colored, student joined the proceedings Parker looked towards Min-seo for answers but was met only with a shrug. There were two things Parker was certain of, though. The first was that this new girl had hair that was like cotton candy and Parker really wanted to know if it was, in fact, actual cotton candy. The second was that anyone who asked for a gummy worm probably wasn’t a bad person.

The short sophomore nodded to Shiloh and held the rapidly decreasing bag of worms out while Parker was still idly chewing on a yellow and green-colored one. Whoever this sugar-haired girl was, she wasn’t here just for the worms. [color=9acd32][b]“YOUR HAIR LOOKS COOL IS IT CANDY?”[/b][/color] Parker wanted to know. Parker [i]needed[/i] to know. So, of course, she simply asked. What she didn’t do, was wait for an answer, because she had finally processed what Shiloh had said. 

[color=9acd32][b]“PROPOSAL? OHMIGOD LIKE A WEDDING? YOU WANNA GET [I]MARRIED[/I]? OH WOW, I CAN WEAR A DRESS AND IT CAN BE PRINCESS THEMED AND MUSIC OH WOW.”[/b][/color] If Min-Seo hadn’t tapped Parker on the shoulder and told Parker to first hear out Shiloh, it was quite possible she still would have been rattling off ideas for a hypothetical marriage ceremony. If nothing else, Parker was now willing and able to hear about this sudden proposal of Shiloh’s.

Shiloh blinked at Parker. Oh yes, this was ideal. Parker might turn out to be the most fun school project that Shiloh had ever worked on. First though, she plucked a red and green gummy worm out of the bag that Parker had offered. Chewing on the treat, she frowned slightly. [color=80e5ff][b]“Awwe, they aren’t the sour kind. Sour gummies are best gummies, hands down. Speaking of candy, my hair is unfortunately [i]not[/i] cotton candy — but that would be cool! Rather unfortunate in the event of rain, but that is what it is… anyway, thank you for saying that! Cotton candy is definitely an aesthetic inspiration that I was going for. ANYWAY…”[/b][/color] 

Shiloh took a break in her response to catch a breath. It was obvious that she was feeding off of and matching Parker’s own enthusiasm. [color=80e5ff][b]“It’s not a marriage proposal, we’ve only just met, of course!”[/b][/color] Shi laughed lightly at that. [color=80e5ff][b]“I’m in the photography club,”[/b][/color] she said, holding up the camera hanging from her neck with emphasis. [color=80e5ff][b]“-- and we club members have a project due tomorrow to take ten pictures of a day in the life of a student in BHHS, and I would like for you to be my subject. Would you mind?”[/b][/color]

When Shiloh was done with her proposition, Parker didn’t respond right away. She was leaning forward, staring intently at the photographer’s hair as if she wasn’t convinced it wasn’t actually cotton candy. The diminutive sophomore started to extend a hand towards Shiloh’s hair for confirmation but it was quickly and lightly slapped down by Min-seo, who had once dealt with the grabby hand of Parker one morning after Min’s bed hair looked like ‘little black twizzler things’. Parker looked towards Min as if Parker had just been gravely offended, but it lasted for all of two seconds before Parker was back to normal and asking Min what Shiloh had said. Parker had been too focused on the cotton candy-colored hair. 

Min explained it as best she could and Parker understood the gist of it. If it were possible for her to widen her eyes in excitement more than they normally were, she would have done so in this instance. [color=9acd32][b]“I GET TO BE IN A MAGAZINE? COOL! YOU’RE COOL, I WANNA DO IT!”[/b][/color] In Parker’s mind, the only people that had professional photographers take professional photos were the famous people in the magazines with the fancy dresses and suits and therein was a flaw in the otherwise brilliant plan. [color=9acd32][b]”WAIT...I DON’T HAVE FANCY CLOTHES THOUGH. IS THAT BAD?”[/b][/color] 

Shiloh grinned at the exuberant sophomore. She was perfect. [color=80e5ff][b]“Yes, you’re gonna be on the cover! And, no, my magazine’s not for people with fancy clothes, so no worries.”[/b][/color] The club project didn’t originally include physically printing a zine, but for Shiloh, it did now.

[hr]
After receiving much-needed consent to photograph, Shiloh went about her task. Shi had ensured Parker that it would be best if she just, did all of the normal things that she did. Perhaps normal was the wrong word to use with Parker... She should just do all of the [i]usual[/i] things, then. No, that still wasn’t right. Just [i]be[/i] Parker — yes, that was perfect. Shiloh took the first of what would total to be a series of ten final photos right there in homeroom. Conversation had continued whilst Shi had sat beside the group, and she managed to snap a joyous candid of Parker eating her sugary treat. A yellow and green gummy worm (they must be her favorite) had hung limply from her lips while the blonde wore an expression of pure, childlike joy. It was an amazing candid shot, and Shiloh was pretty sure that she could even pitch it to [i]Black Forest[/i] for advertisement, maybe even make some bank on it. Plans to be decided later on that thought… 

Shots two and three were taken throughout the school day itself. Part of the deal that Parker may or may not have realized that she agreed to was that Shiloh was now going to be her consensual stalker for the next eight to twelve to who-knows-how-many hours. So stalk, Shiloh did. Shot number two was taken in the hallway. Shiloh had been following Parker from a slight distance, as to not spook her, or ruin any potential candid moments. Parker was switching out books in her locker and Shi managed to snap a pic of Parker looking up, her lips were parted slightly, as she reached up on her tippy toes to grab a book from the top shelf of the open locker. It was perfect — school brochure-worthy levels of perfect.

The third photograph came to life in math class, of all places. Well, not in the classroom, per se, but it was during that period. Parker seemed to be even worse at math than Shiloh was, because the teacher had assigned her to needing a tutor in the form of the upperclassman stranger-slash-genius, Sean Sterling. That was interesting. Shiloh wanted in. So, when the pair had taken their tutoring session outside, Shiloh found a way to follow. She was trash at math, but she was able to charisma check her way out of class for a few moments by name-dropping the photography club project. Shot number three was a beautiful sunny Californian afternoon picture, with Parker and Sean sitting under a tree working on math problems, surrounded by books and papers that fluttered up with the breeze.

[hr]
The final bell rang, indicating that the first day back to school was officially dead and gone. Finally! Thankfully, as they were both sophomores, Shiloh shared many classes with Parker, including this final one. She still had several more pictures to go before her project could be considered complete. Seven pictures, to be specific. Shiloh had reviewed and deleted all but three photos so far. Now the real fun could begin, now came the time to discover what a Parker does outside the confines of BHHS. [color=80e5ff][b]“So, where to next? Do you go straight home after school?”[/b][/color] Shiloh asked, skipping over to Parker’s side as they left class together.

When the bell rang, Parker was out of her seat with the first ding. On a normal day she would have ran out and practically sprinted her way to her locker or out the front door, but today she had to wait for someone and it wasn’t nice to run off. Fortunately she and Shiloh shared the last class of the day so Parker was able to wait by the door while bouncing on her heels like a puppy excited to go for a play outside. To say Parker fully understood the proposal from earlier would be a half-truth. She still didn’t know just why Shiloh was hanging around her all day, but it didn’t matter. Shiloh was nice and her hair, while decidedly not cotton candy, was really cool, so Parker had committed the photographer’s name to the banks of her memory vault. 

[color=9acd32][b]“SOMETIMES I HANG OUT WITH HENRY AND MINCY. DID YOU KNOW MINCY LIVES TOGETHER WITH HENRY? SOMETIMES I GOTTA PUT ON NEW CLOTHES AND GO TO A DINER. NOT TODAY BUT SOME DAYS. I DON’T HAVE A HOME!”[/b][/color] Parker let that last bit go without explanation as she picked the books she needed for homework out of her locker - though it was just as likely that her homework would be finished by Min-seo tomorrow anyway. [color=9acd32][b]“DO YOU WANNA SEE WHERE I LIVE? NORMALLY I DON’T LET ANYONE COME IN WITHOUT A PRESENT BUT YOU CAN COME IF YOU WANNA.”[/b][/color] 

[color=80e5ff][b]“Yes, I would love that. Just — take me through what you would normally do after school, and I’ll just follow along. I have seven more pics to get.”[/b][/color] Shiloh explained, walking beside her fellow loud and obnoxious sophomore. Shi was probably one of the few people in BHHS that didn’t mind Parker’s volume or eccentric behavior. It was interesting, and interesting people made the world go ‘round. [color=80e5ff][b]“You said you don’t have a home… so where do you live? Is it like an apartment or a trailer or something? Oh— and do you ride the bus usually? I can drive us if you want… I don’t have a super nice car like most people, but that’s because most people suck. I don’t suck. You need a ride?”[/b][/color]

Parker shook her head with an intensity that had never really been matched with her present and general demeanour. When she shook her head at the questions of housing, it wasn’t the playful Parker but one for whom it seemed the subject of living arrangement was a serious issue. [color=9acd32][b]“I WALK OR SOMETIMES THERE’S A CAR FOR ME AND THE DRIVER GETS ANGRY IF I DON’T TAKE IT.”[/b][/color] Parker wasn’t even sure the actual address of her house and fortunately she didn’t need to. Most days when she wasn’t going off with Min and Henry to play games or whatever, there was a car waiting for her to take her home; she didn’t know [i]why[/i] just that it was always there. Sometimes she ignored it and walked instead, but every time she got lost, and every time it was a small hassle. 

Today was one of the days where she opted for the car. She trickled outside as other students dispersed to go about their afternoons. She forgot to say bye to Mincy and Henry but Mincy would probably tell Henry the situation. The driver of Parker’s car waved at her and Parker pointed to the car for Shiloh’s sake as she skipped over towards it and jumped - dived really - into the back seat. Head first. 

The remarkable thing about being driven was the realization of how close Parker lived to the school. Her house, such as it was, was within walking distance, as it was only about a mile and a half away and tucked into a rather quaint suburban neighborhood. The house the car stopped in front of was a comfy, cozy upper middle class suburban two floor, three bedroom affair. But when Parker walked up her front steps she paused and turned to Shiloh. [color=9acd32][b]“WAIT HERE OKAY?"[/b][/color] 

[color=80e5ff][b]“Okay!”[/b][/color] Shi nodded at the blonde. She had managed to get shot number four in the back seat of the car on the way to Parker’s house… but… not a house? Shiloh was still a little confused about that. Anyway, the picture was an angled shot of Parker peeking out of the back seat window, her hands eagerly placed on the door frame as she watched the people and cars whiz by.

With the confirmation that Shiloh would stay, Parker opened the front door with the sole key on her key ring, and disappeared inside. Shi took a picture of the front yard of the home, being careful to avoid any address markers or anything else that would be uniquely identifiable. Shiloh didn’t want anyone to [i]actually[/i] stalk Parker after this project was through. Picture number five achieved — halfway there, now!

Less than a minute later, the front gate to the right of the house swung open. The top of the gate was pointy, which is probably why Parker didn’t just climb it. And because of her height. [color=9acd32][b]“OVER HERE, SHI-SHI”[/b][/color] Parker led the way again, this time to the backyard of the house and, specifically, the tent strategically placed in the center of it. [color=9acd32][b]“YOU CAN COME IN IF YOU WANT I’LL FORGET THE GIFT THING THIS TIME.”[/b][/color] There was even a little sign out front that said ‘No Entry Without Present’ that she found at a store not knowing it was just a joke meant for people to put on their roofs for Christmas decorations. 

Parker entered her home and plopped herself on the air mattress, the squeak of grape juice boxes sounding like a bed spring. Casa De Parker was a bit smaller than advertised. 

[color=80e5ff][b]“Oh man! You have a tent?!”[/b][/color] Shiloh snapped a photo of the entire tent from a distance. She then stepped forward and got a close-up shot of the sign out front, which was clearly holiday themed, and totally adorable. [color=80e5ff][b]“This is so fucking cool! My Uncle Lenny would love this, I bet he’s lived in a tent like this before.”[/b][/color]

Shiloh began to dig in her backpack then, her camera swinging loosely around her neck as she did so. After a few moments, a crinkling sound indicated that she had found what she was looking for. She pulled out a bag of [i]Flamin’ Hot Cheetos[/i] that was fastened closed with a chip clip. Shi offered them to the other girl upon entering her uncommon domicile. [color=80e5ff][b]“I ate some of them already, but, here! Now you don’t have to forget the gift thing.”[/b][/color]

The very first thing Parker did when settled on her air mattress (which was home to a single pillow with a pillowcase featuring Disney princesses) was open the cooler to the right of the mattress and pull out her half-eaten bag of Lucky Charms marshmallows. It was hard to tell how heavy the bag was at full volume, but it was at least well over a pound; the only other items in the cooler were plastic wrapped grape juice boxes. If there was ever any wonder about Parker’s hyperactive self, the fact that her diet was sugary cereal marshmallows and sugary grape juice helped answer some questions. 

Parker shook her head at the bag of red corn puff snacks. Red stuff was generally bad and it made her mouth hurt. She unfurled the marshmallow bag and stuck her arm in, grabbing a handful and going straight to town as if it were the most normal thing in the world. And in Parker’s world it absolutely was. [color=9acd32][b]“I FORGOT TO ASK,”[/b][/color] Parker didn’t wait until she had finished chewing her marshmallows, or rather swallowing them given how easily they broke up under any bit of moisture. [color=9acd32][b]“AM I GONNA GET GRADES ON THIS BECAUSE I GOTTA TELL MINCY TO MAKE IT GOOD.”[/b][/color] 

[color=80e5ff][b]“No, no. No grades!”[/b][/color] Shiloh assured her cheerfully. When Parker had turned down the offering, Shi shrugged and opened the bag of spicy cheese corn snacks to partake of them herself. She knelt down and laid belly-side down on the floor beside Parker then. [color=80e5ff][b]“It’s just for fun, we’re almost done, too. Wanna see?”[/b][/color] Shi brushed the cheese dust from her fingers off on her jacket before pulling the camera strap off of her neck to go through the photos.

That was a relief at least. It was the easiest project Parker had ever been part of. All she had to do was hang out with Cotton Candy and that was definitely something she didn’t have much of a problem doing. Another scooping of marshmallows went from palm to mouth as Parker shifted over to get a better look at the photos taken thus far. They had almost been unrecognizable and the little blonde was utterly amazed by what she saw. Her gasp was audible and she even set aside her marshmallows which was only further proof of her opinion on the pictures. [color=9acd32][b]“WOW, YOU DID THAT? IT’S LIKE BETTER THAN MAGAZINES. YOU’RE REALLY REALLY GOOD AT THAT.”[/b][/color] It may not have taken much to impress Parker, but her genuine nature made her enthusiasm all the more authentic. 

[color=80e5ff][b]“Thanks!”[/b][/color] Shiloh said with a wide grin, clearly pleased by the praise. [color=80e5ff][b]“It helps to have a good model, I told you it would be fine if you just… did Parker things.”[/b][/color] The pink-haired girl then repositioned the camera so that the lens faced them, selfie-style. [color=80e5ff][b]“Quick, make a goofy face!”[/b][/color] Shi instructed, sticking her tongue out at the camera whilst holding up a Cheeto with the free hand that wasn’t holding the camera.

A goofy face? Now Shiloh was speaking Parker’s language. It didn’t take much provocation for Parker to comply. Her mouth opened and her head tilted back like she had just smelled something foul while one eye opened wide and the other was hovering near to shut, stuck in almost a wink. She left her tongue in place but her teeth were showing in her rather strange expression that more and more looked like someone that just drank sour milk. One thing Parker was sure of in life was her affinity to contort and express her face in a variety of ways. And judging by the pictures she saw, Shiloh was sure to even make this silly one look good.[/indent]