[right][sup][color=darkgray]Timestamp: Beginning of game
[color=#edbab9]Celeste[/color], [color=#80e520]Piper[/color], and [color=#82a6ed]Athena[/color]
[@LovelyComplex], [@Aces Away], [@Melissa]
TW: Misuse/Abuse of prescription medication[/color][/sup][/right]

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[img]https://i.imgur.com/NAZM3Q1.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240614/40f1a2a7f0e0237068e5d09903af4fc7.png[/img]
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[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240614/fd79f20ca75d9af0a377c8ae208a3f7c.png[/img][/center]
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Piper stared at her perfect mask of makeup in the slightly foggy mirror, letting her dark waves cascade back over her shoulders as she took the clip out from atop her head. When her eyes caught sight of the bruise on her wrist that her emergency makeup wasn’t equipped to cover, she frowned and reached into her backup purse for some thick bangles that matched her outfit, slipping them on like it was any other day. The forearm length red leather jacket covered all the scratches from her run down the cliff and to the school, and her sore and cut up feet were resting in comfy fuzzy socks that were completely hidden by her backup boots. For all the world of Beverly Hill High School ever had to know, Piper simply went home to change her outfit for the game, ever the fashion icon to be ready with multiple themed styles each day. Finally ready, she pulled her phone out and sent Adam a quick text, just saying thank you and signing off with her name so he could save her number, before returning the device to her pocket. Celeste had been texting her non-stop despite Piper’s responses that she would be there soon, and the buzzing continued even after her latest reply, a constant reminder against her thigh that she was disappointing someone else that bothered to care for her. Putting on the smile across her dark red lips, the one she’s practiced in the mirror her whole life, Piper sucked up the pain that jolted through each stride as she began her strut out of the girl’s locker room.

Only to come up short as she opened the door and ran into the brick wall that was Butler. Even with the sunglasses on, she could feel his glare on her and she shrunk immediately, a lion becoming a scared kitten in an instant.

[color=#80e520]“Butler, I-”[/color]

[color=#5a8383]“You’ve been grounded.”[/color]

[color=#80e520]“But–!”[/color]

[color=#5a8383]“No buts. No Homecoming dance. No Party. You’re lucky your father is kind enough to still let you go to the game.”[/color] The mountain of a man scolded, and Piper went to bite her lip shamefully before she remembered her freshly applied lipstick and settled for just looking away from Butler instead. No dance? No party? She’d worked so hard to be allowed to go in the first place! She’d even gotten Celeste and Athena to convince daddy that she could be over one of their houses in the time leading up to the dance, and now it was all for nothing. She’d screwed it all up by acting like she had when she’d still had her mother and hope for a better tomorrow. She thought she’d learned better years ago, but that was before anyone had stepped in for her. Before Adam had taught her something new, given her something back she hadn’t realized she’d lost. [color=#5a8383]“I cleaned up your bloody footprints leading all the way here, you’re welcome.”[/color] Piper flinched, fighting back tears in the silent hallway. [color=#5a8383]“You’re late, by the way. Start walking.”[/color]

And she would. Normally, she really would, but Butler was here and had cleaned up after her, that meant he had time and last she’d seen him he was on the ground with Adam standing over him. So if he was here, if he had that much time?

[color=#80e520]“Is…is Adam oka-”[/color]

[color=#5a8383]“Walk, Piper, or I’m taking you home.”[/color]

Piper started walking immediately, glancing back only once as Butler started to shadow her and taking vindictive pleasure when she saw the way he limped before he began to properly compensate for the pain Adam had put him in. They said nothing to each other after that, and as Piper emerged into the fading evening sunlight and made her way toward the field and stands, she couldn’t help but breathe deeply and close her eyes on occasion, trying to listen for the breeze rustling bush leaves and the chirping of insects.

[center][h3][b][color=#edbab9]♥[/color][color=#80e520]♥[/color][color=#82a6ed]♥[/color][/b][/h3][/center]

Piper pulled out her phone just before she hit the bleachers and pulled up Ethan’s contact, hesitating over the keys for a moment as she tried to think of how to break the news to her boyfriend. Much like Celeste and Athena, Piper doubted he would be happy about the matter. He’s been so excited for his party ever since he started planning it, practically talking her ear off about it sometimes, and now she was throwing a wrench in his plans because she’d been selfish. Typical of her, as daddy would say.

[quote=Piper Rose 🌹] To: [color=#cba55a]Ethan[/color][color=#cccccc] 💋[/color]
[color=#80e520]Sorry baby[/color]
[color=#80e520]I screwed up[/color]
[color=#80e520]got grounded[/color][color=#00ff00] 😢[/color]
[color=#80e520]at the game but no dance or party…[/color]
[/quote]

With that done, she let out a breath and fixed her hair once more before rounding the bleachers, only needing to glance up at the spot Celeste always sat in to gain her bearings before she made a beeline to the blonde, a disarming smile on her face as she got to her best friend.

[color=#80e520]“Hey, sorry I’m late!”[/color] She announced, as she primly sat down next to Celeste and crossed her ankles. She ignored her Butler setting up post next to Celeste's and focused instead on the spotlight blonde beside her, forcing any thoughts about the day out of her head with practiced ease. [color=#80e520]“Atrocious to leave you alone, I [/color][color=#80e520][i]know[/i][/color][color=#80e520], but I had to change outfits.”[/color] Her chipped nails were hidden in fists at her sides in hopes of stalling any inquiries as long as possible, but she knew it would be clocked eventually. Celeste knew of her little disappearances, it was just that even she didn’t know [i][color=#d9d9d9]where[/color][/i] Piper went, it was the brunette’s one true secret from the blonde. [color=#80e520]“I can’t believe I beat Thena here, though. Like, where is she?”[/color]

[color=#edbab9]“God, watch us find out she has a boyfriend now and I’ll have to watch you both be happy without me,”[/color] Celeste protested, in an ornery mood because of a certain Spanish prince. Grabbing her purse, she placed it on her lap and rummaged through it to take out a few packs of gum. It was an assortment of brands and flavors. [color=#edbab9]“Want some?”[/color] She offered her best friend, her mood gradually lightening up in the presence of Piper. Her other half. As Celeste waited for her friend to say yes or no to gum, she complained, [color=#edbab9]“You wouldn’t believe who decided to come sit next to me! I’m so glad you’re here because now I don’t need to think about that awful experience. The nerve of that boy.” [/color]

Piper’s phone vibrated.  

[quote] From: [color=#cba55a]Ethan[/color][color=#cccccc] 💋[/color]
[color=#cba55a]Yeah, no. [/color]
[color=#cba55a]You’re going.[/color]
[color=#cba55a]We’ll talk soon.[/color]
[/quote]

[color=#80e520]“Oh? Here you were talking about Thena and I having boy distractions,”[/color] She maintained face as she read the text but that didn’t stop the pit of dread that dropped into her stomach as the messages flashed up at her. What did that mean? What was Ethan expecting her to do?  Daddy had already said no, already retracted the precarious permissions he had granted her with in the first place, there was no way she’d be able to convince him [i]again[/i], especially if Butler told him everything about the stunt she’d pulled. Her boyfriend was many things, but none of those things were [i]introduced to daddy as her boyfriend[/i], and as per their agreement to keep things as down low as possible, she doubted he ever would be. Even then…convincing Gabriel Lyon of anything was not an easy feat. Focusing back on her bestie before she sent Ethan her reply, Piper asked, [color=#80e520]“Who was it that dared think he could catch your eye, babe?”[/color]

[quote] To: [color=#cba55a]Ethan[/color][color=#cccccc] 💋[/color]
[color=#80e520]What? No.[/color]
[color=#80e520]Daddy would never let me.[/color]
[color=#80e520]He already said no.[/color]
[color=#80e520]I can’t just change his mind[/color][color=#cccccc].[/color]
[/quote]
[quote] From: [color=#cba55a]Ethan[/color][color=#cccccc] 💋[/color]
[color=#cba55a]You can’t.[/color]
[color=#cba55a]I can.[/color]
[/quote]

[color=#edbab9]“[/color][color=#edbab9][b][i]Álvaro[/i][/b][/color][color=#edbab9],[/color]” Celeste growled behind gritted teeth. When Celeste noticed Piper being distracted and ignoring her offer of gum, she shrugged and closed her purse, putting it right beside her. [color=#edbab9]“Me being the good samaritan that I am allowed him to sit next to me. I guess he couldn’t deal with his friends and all the football talk. It went well until he acted like he didn’t know I played tennis. At this school. I’ve literally seen him in the bleachers. That’s when I was like okay, this boy is up to no good and trying to make [/color][color=#edbab9]me his sloppy[/color][color=#edbab9] seconds. Like GROSS! He fucked Naomi. I don’t want to touch him. Not even with a 10 foot pole.”[/color] The more the blonde talked about this subject, the more heated she got. Clutching onto her skirt, she hissed, [color=#edbab9]“i’M tRyInG tO LeArN yOU. AS IF!”[/color] She didn’t care who was listening. She wanted the world to know the prince-of-nothing was not on her good side. He deserved the fall from grace. 

[color=#82a6ed]“You wouldn’t have been sloppy seconds, Cel, you would have been an upgrade.”[/color] Athena had slid into their row of the bleachers with ease, taking the seat on Celeste’s opposite side while she had been ranting. The blonde couldn’t help but laugh at her friend’s frustration, [color=#82a6ed]“I still can’t get over the fact that you let him sit here for long enough to have a conversation.”[/color] She leaned in to make eye contact with Piper and gave her a smile, [color=#82a6ed]“Is Ethan coming to the game?”[/color]

[color=#80e520]“UGH who knows!”[/color] Piper replied without a second thought as she threw her phone into her pocket with a pout. [color=#d9d9d9][i]I can.[/i][/color] Like, what? Ethan wasn’t making any sense right now and being asked about it was just frustrating her further. [color=#80e520]“He said he’d see me tomorrow in the text that he sent after the pep rally, but now I don’t know [/color][i][color=#80e520]what’s [/color][/i][color=#80e520]going on!”[/color] She crossed her arms and huffed, tilting her head to the other stunning blonde that completed the trio known as the Triple Crowns. Or, if you hated them as much as many in the school did, the Red Flags. [color=#80e520]“He just does what he wants, I never know what’s going on in his head,”[/color] She reached into her pocket and pulled one of her xanax out and tossed it back dry, no trace of relaxation from her meditation with Adam remaining in her body. [color=#80e520]“I got myself grounded, by the way, and now he thinks he can fix it? With daddy? As if. Anyway, Athena’s right, Princey boy is lucky you let him sit down at all, and then he tried to play a game with you? Gag me. He doesn’t deserve you.”[/color]

[color=#edbab9]“RIGHT?! And girl, Ethan doesn’t deserve you. I keep telling you, to get a boy like that to really notice you, you need to go radio silent. Then he’ll see what he’s missing and that’s a QUEEN. Like how dare he? And oh my god, speaking of queens,”[/color] Celeste went from one friend to the other. [color=#edbab9]“What was taking [/color][color=#edbab9][i]you[/i][/color][color=#edbab9] so long, my dearest Thena?”[/color] 

Athena sighed, pretending to act annoyed. Let’s just say she [color=#d9d9d9][i]hadn’t [/i][/color]let her best friends in on the Benji situation. Or the Jonah situation. In fact, both Celeste and Piper were completely in the dark about the two men in her life. Sure, they had met Jonah on the occasion, but the other members of the Triple Crown had no clue the antics the two got up to when it came to their business model. And when it came to the boy currently on the Football field, neither of her friends had a clue that she had been texting Benji all Summer and was harboring quite the crush on him. 

So… she lied. 

[color=#82a6ed]“Sorry, I had to talk with my Aunt about something. Family business always calls, y’know?”[/color] She shrugged, and diverted the subject. [color=#82a6ed]“Hold on, rewind. Piper you got grounded? Why?”[/color]

[color=#80e520]“Oh,”[/color] Piper froze when the conversation came back around to her, having hoped to slide right past her comment by focusing on Celeste instead, but she should have known that their thorough third would have caught on. She looked at them with wide eyes attempting innocence and uncrossed her arms to throw her hair over her shoulder distractedly. [color=#80e520]“I just, like…okay, I totally ditched Butler earlier and he fucking snitched like the bitch he is, so now daddy’s mad,”[/color] she revealed carefully while letting her annoyance at the scarred man a few feet from them seep into her tone. She was tempted, for a moment, to tell her girls about Adam and about everything else that had happened, but something about it felt personal. It felt like it would invite questions and judgements from two of her favorite people, and her pills weren’t working well enough for her to be ready to field them. She waved her hand carelessly, bangles clacking together, and sighed heavily. [color=#80e520]“No more fun for Piper after the game tonight.”[/color]

Flabbergasted and not pleased, Celeste snapped her gum in annoyance and complained, [color=#edbab9]“Your Butler is so TOXIC, Piper. My Butler would [/color][b][color=#edbab9]NEVER[/color][/b][color=#edbab9].”[/color] This would not do at all. Celeste wouldn’t dare go to a school function without her best friends. The audacity of Gabriel Lyon prevented his daughter from being a fun-loving teenage girl. [color=#edbab9]“Please tell me Ethan is stepping in? Do I need to call him and tell him to be a man? Do I need to be the man?”[/color] The Green Princess already had her phone out, ready to give her cousin a piece of her mind. [color=#edbab9]“Also, girl, we need to stop doing what daddy says and live our goddamn life. What are you going to do, Piper Rose Lyon? You do realize you not going to the dance is a CARDINAL SIN.” [/color]

Piper frowned at Celeste and hovered her hands over the blonde’s phone without touching it as though it would actually stop the glamorous girl from making whatever move she wanted. [color=#80e520]“It’s not that [/color][i][color=#80e520]easy[/color][/i][color=#80e520], Celeste,”[/color] She whined, her lip jutting out. Celeste would never get it. Neither of her best friends would. It didn’t matter if they knew that her bedroom door locked from the outside and not the inside, or that Piper’s Butler was meant to be Levi’s but failed his final test and was then hired by her father instead. They never seemed to understand that there were chains on her wrists and legs heavier than any real ones could hope to be. She huffed and retracted her hands from their place above the phone slowly, cautiously. [color=#80e520]“But yes, when I told him I wouldn’t be able to change daddy’s mind he just texted back [/color][i][color=#80e520]‘You can’t, I can’[/color][/i][color=#80e520], which like, what? Even my Bibi wouldn’t be able to convince him now. I mean, Butler got [/color][i][color=#80e520]hurt[/color][/i][color=#80e520] and he lost me for, like, an hour. I'd be surprised if I’m even allowed to go to my next photoshoot with how upset he must be.”[/color]

[color=#82a6ed]“Your dad could stand to learn a thing or two about parenting. Or he could just take a Xanax.”[/color] Athena shook her head, [color=#82a6ed]“If you need an escape plan, you know you always have a room at the Helmsley house.”[/color] She placed a comforting hand on Piper’s shoulder, [color=#82a6ed]“Maybe Ethan has something up his sleeve you don’t know about. Blackmail can get you far in this life, after all.”[/color] The blonde turned to Celeste, moving her head in such a way where their dark haired friend could not see her face, and raised her eyebrows in a slight panic. The other girl was right, not going to the dance was indeed a sin, and if there was a way out of this, she would try her very best to help. 

[color=#edbab9]“Whatever my stupid cousin has in mind, I’m sure he’s thinking his ego will carry him to success. So. How about this,” [/color]Celeste watched the field, loudly snapping her gum, thinking about an ingenious plan to get her best friend out tomorrow. She needed to double up on her cousin’s plan because she’d be damned if she didn’t have Piper when she went to the dance and party. [color=#edbab9]“Why don’t we force your dad’s hand? The fact your Butler got hurt is curious to me, seeing how our Butlers come from a very legit company, so we’ll need to talk about this… later. BUT if you, me, and Thena go to the dance together, all showing up at your house with dates ourselves, I don’t think daddy dearest would want to deny you then. What? Is he going to start a war with his business partners? That’s like social suicide. To add extra incentive, I’ll have my mommy come and take pictures of us. They can chat away and she can convince him you’ll be at my place afterwards.”[/color] Celeste instructed, thinking her plan would be better than Ethan’s, by a long shot. 

[color=#edbab9]“Baby,”[/color] Celeste turned to Piper and gently grabbed her hands, squeezing them with love but also showing through her gaze that she could not, would not allow Piper to go out without a fight. [color=#edbab9]“You’re only in highschool once unless you fail out. You really can’t miss this party. That’s like setting yourself up to drop out right now and how would your father feel about that then, hm?”[/color] She was losing her point but Celeste still talked with conviction and confidence, like she was the smartest girl on the bleachers. [color=#edbab9]“This is our last year to make memories and I’m not okay with you making those memories alone in your bedroom. Do you understand?” [/color]

Piper stared silently at the two blondes that made up almost all of the happiness and freedom that she ever experienced, and her frown became an empty, wooden smile as she swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. [color=#80e520]“You girls are my best friends,”[/color] she spoke quietly to avoid any shake that almost escaped in her tone while she also desperately hoped for both girls would keep their attention on her face and words and not her actions. She didn't acknowledge Celeste's comment about talking more on what happened with Butler later, knowing that whether she replied or not, Celeste would make sure to remember for the both of them. Athena’s own comment about Piper's father needing to take a Xanax was incredibly ironic to the brunette, given that her father had control over her own prescription and only allowed her a certain amount per week ever since the incident over the summer. She squeezed Celeste's hands with her own, as the blonde still had them in her grasp, and did her best to gently extricate herself from the dainty yet powerful grip before her friend decided to look down and catch sight of the bruises Butler's grip had left on her when Adam had sent him to the ground. [color=#80e520]“But [/color][color=#80e520][i]please[/i][/color][color=#80e520], please don't do anything that can make daddy upset. He'll just extend my punishment later even if he does let me go. At least this way it's just the one day…”[/color]

Athena raised her eyebrows at Celeste’s plan, her face contorting into one of surprise. How were they supposed to show up at Piper’s house with their dates to break Rapunzel out of her tower when they didn’t have any dates to begin with! She shook her head slightly, the other blonde always had a way with words and did not put thought behind her ideas when it was necessary. Like right now. But, not wanting to ruin their united front, she nodded. [color=#82a6ed]“Celeste has a point,” [/color]Thena gave her a pointed look, almost as if she was staring into her soul, [color=#82a6ed]“Your dad won’t be able to say no if we all show up, and if he’s upset he wouldn’t dare show his hand.” [/color]The blonde smiled softly, [color=#82a6ed]“We’d do anything for you, honey. And I promise we’re going to make this year count, starting with tomorrow night.” [/color]

[color=#edbab9]“See, I have a point!” [/color]Celeste crossed her arms, taking the validation near immediately. When the smart one of the group joined forces with her, she knew that she was onto something. [color=#edbab9]“And quit with the damsel shit, Piper. I know you have a fire in you. Use it. Like come on, you’re a Lyon. Be a Lyon and stop playing so coy.” [/color]The small blonde was getting more and more agitated by the second. She chewed her gum and glared at the field. This wouldn’t be the first time Gabriel Lyon ruined things for her.[color=#edbab9] “Is this really how the rest of your year is going to play out? Are you seriously going to let your father ruin everything? It’s like you’re already defeated when you never put up a fight.” [/color]Ugh. This was so typical of her. Quitting before she ran the race. She couldn’t survive without her, could she? 

[color=#82a6ed]“Cel,” [/color]Athena reprimanded through gritted teeth, [color=#82a6ed]“Not the time, nor place.”[/color] 

[i]Pop. [/i]

Celeste sucked her gum in as a response, watching the game and seething. She didn’t have anything to say to that. Athena knew she was right. 

It’s like they forgot that she used to have Scott to help her at home, to fight for her, and remind her of the fight she had in herself, to sit with her on her bed and remind her that she wasn’t as crazy or useless or [i]sma[/i][color=#d9d9d9][i]l[/i][/color][i]l[/i] as daddy made her feel. Piper had actually been the worse of the two Lyon children when they were younger, always running away and throwing tantrums in public and making it clear that just because daddy was the one that won custody of them from both of their mothers, that did not make him the one she wanted to be with. Piper had been a disruption, a stain to the Lyon brand and rambunctious tomboy when she wasn’t busy throwing fits or breaking down. Granted, Butler had always been there so she only actually got away with however much her father allowed. The extent of her freedom has been dictated by Gabriel Lyon since the moment her mother and Scott’s mother made the mistake of trying to file for full custody of them, and any time she reached for the sky in her cage she realized it was nothing more than paint on the ceiling. Scott had been just as trapped as her. Celeste and Athena had powered their way through early, of course, the girls an inseparable trio since single digits. Then, Bibi had come along and got her into modeling. Piper fell into routine.

But Scott left and it all went to shit at home, and then she got too fucked up and Butler brought her home and told daddy and things have been spiralling down ever since. She’d numb herself daily and she hadn’t cried the way she had with Adam since the night Scotty officially left her behind.

Celeste was wrong. It wasn’t that she never put up a fight, it’s that the fight had slowly been drained out of her along with her hope and now she was just existing as a bystander in her own life for her own sanity. The cliff, Adam, that had been the most [i]Piper[/i] that had risen to the surface since the summer, and look what happened.

It wasn’t her father that ruined everything, it was Piper. Being herself.

Cracked fingernails dug into her palms as she fisted her hands tightly in her lap before she reached for the last pill she had in her possession and tossed the final Xanax back with abandon, mood now sour after thinking about her brother. It’s not like any of the other ones had helped, but why not. The burn as the dry pill scraped down her throat kept her from responding to her friends until she was sure it was clear, and once it was she crossed her arms and responded to them both with more bite than intended.

[color=#80e520]“If you want me to fight for myself then stop trying to come to my rescue. Let Ethan do his thing, and if he fails and can’t get daddy to let me go to the dance then I’ll know that he’s not worth staying with any longer.”[/color]

[color=#edbab9]“So you do want your Prince to save you,” [/color]Celeste scoffed, not surprised. [color=#edbab9]“Fine. Choose a boy over us,” [/color]the Crown Green stood up, bringing her purse to her side. Nose high up in the air, she hmpfed in displeasure. Her day was turning horribly. First the prince-of-nothing, now her best friends. [color=#edbab9]“I’m done with this. We’re going to lose, I can feel it in the air. I can’t believe you made me wait and now I’m bored!” [/color]Putting her shades back on, flipping her hair over her shoulder, Celeste maliciously snickered, [color=#edbab9]“When my cousin fails, because he will, remember this talk. And remember my voice when I say: [/color][b][color=#edbab9]I told you so[/color][/b][color=#edbab9].” [/color]Surveying her friends and their facial expressions, seeing Athena gritting her teeth, Celeste rolled her eyes and brought her attention to the towel that prevented their bottoms from touching the dirty bleachers. Disposable. She had plenty of towels at home. [color=#edbab9]“Remember to toss that when you leave. We don’t need some perv trying to steal something our asses touched.”[/color] The thought of some gross person collecting their things gave her goosebumps. She had a stalker once but Butler took care of him. All was good in her world and she knew better than to allow someone the satisfaction of following her without her knowing ever again.[color=#edbab9] “Goodbye girls, this has been so… life changing. Not really. It was boring. We really do need to stop talking about boys. They’re not worth our time. I will see you tomorrow, or not.” [/color]Her gaze fell on Piper one last time before sauntering away. [color=#edbab9]“God Butler, please tell me something worth my while.” [/color]The Triple Crown girls were down to two, leaving Athena and Piper alone together. 

The remaining blonde sighed, shaking her head slowly. 

Celeste could be… well, a lot. 

It was no secret she was the drama queen of the trio, and Thena was always the one to clean up her messes, whether they were intentionally made or not. The girl wordlessly scooted next to Piper, closing the gap that their friend left upon her departure. [color=#82a6ed]“You know, she means well.” [/color]Athena rationalized, hoping that the girl would know well enough to understand. [color=#82a6ed]“It comes from a place of love, she’s just… protective.”[/color] 

[color=#80e520]“Well sometimes I just don't want to hear it,”[/color] Piper huffed, looking away from Athena so the blonde didn't see her tears of frustration. And after all the work she did to get her makeup back to perfect, wasted. [color=#80e520]“Does she think I don't know I'm pathetic? I don't need her telling me too. I don't [/color][color=#80e520][i]care[/i][/color][color=#80e520] anymore,”[/color] The words slipped out before she could stop them and she bit the inside of her cheek in self reprimand. She was usually better at holding everything together but that brief flame of hope with Adam had been suitably extinguished with the return of Butler's damning presence. Piper could play pretend all she wanted, but she wasn't her own person and she was getting too tired to carry on like she was. She had been reminded of how she used to be and then quickly reminded of why she was no longer that way. She loved her friends dearly, but she was bitter too. Athena would be able to read her like a book if she so much as glanced the blonde's way. Sniffing as an act of pretension just as much as it was to cover the stinging in her eyes, Piper watched the field without taking a single thing in, retreating within herself before the game could even really take off. She brushed invisible dirt off of her pants and dropped her chin into her palm, resting her elbow on her knee. [color=#80e520]“I only came to the dumb game for you two and now she doesn't even want to be around me, I might as well stop ruining things for everyone and go home too, get my grounding started.”[/color]

[color=#82a6ed]“No, Piper, don’t say that.” [/color]The blonde’s face fell, her brows furrowing at Piper’s devastating confession and the moisture she could see forming in the corners of her eyes. She sighed, brushing a piece of her friend’s hair out of her eyes. [color=#82a6ed]“I want you to be here, please stay.” [/color]Athena pleaded, hoping that her friend would take a breath and enjoy their evening together (even though it was partially for personal benefit since she didn’t want to watch Benji from the bleachers alone like a loser). [color=#82a6ed]“Let’s just forget that conversation even happened for now and we can talk about it later. I want you to have [/color][i][color=#82a6ed]fun[/color][/i][color=#82a6ed] tonight, you and me.” [/color]

[color=#80e520]“Okay…”[/color] Piper went along with Athena’s request, slumping against her friend’s side like a ragdoll and dropping her head on the blonde’s shoulder, a combination of the effects of her meds and the exhaustion of running all the way back to the school after climbing a cliff finally beginning to breach her awareness with the less judgmental approach Athena took with her. She was so fucking [i]tired[/i], and Thena was comfy. She took a deep, steadying breath and wondered if her best friend had intentionally used the words [i]escape plan[/i] when offering Piper a room at the Helmsley home, or if she was just being dramatic and intending to mean for a sleepover. As she watched the players move on the field like battling and racing ants, the brunette realized something. [color=#80e520]“Thee…why are we watching football? I like, I don’t even know what’s happening.”[/color]

[color=#82a6ed]“Shhh… don’t worry about it, just enjoy the game.”[/color]
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