[IC] Palm Beach Royals: Senior Year

[SpicyMeatball]

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“Just a few seconds off, April. I know you can take that lap faster.” The voice of Jamie foster came over April’s helmet radio as she crossed the start line of the track, the engine of her car purring like a kitten. It was a gorgeous day at Palm Beach International Raceway, a track that her father owned a large share in and therefore could easily get it cleared for the day. Her father served much like a coach to her—he had been a formula one driver for a large chunk of his life—and thus was able to teach his daughter on how to properly race.

“Got it, I’m coming into refuel. Tires still feel fine.” April responded, guiding the beautiful McLaren P1 GTR down the straightaway of the track and into the pit lane. As she came to a stop, the track staff began their individual jobs. They refueled the vehicle and ensured that all of the levels—tire pressure, oil, suspension and air intakes—were all at the proper levels, before they gave the all clear and April took off back onto the track. This car was designed for pure performance on the track. No compromises meant that the beast was powered by both a 3.8L eight-cylinder engine and an electric motor. Combined, it meant that the car launched like a rocket and kept up that speed down the track with a whopping 900 horsepower. And April loved every single bit of it.

April took off from the pit lane and the moment it ended, she put the throttle to the floor. The engine roared and obeyed her command without question, sending the car off down the track at a bone rattling 180mph. She took the next lap slowly as the pit stop would cut into her overall lap time, but the next lap was hers. Jamie had held the record here for a while. It was time for new blood.

The car came down the straightaway and crossed the line in a near instant as April shifted the car up. The track-tuned car took every curve effortlessly as April guided it, her eyes flicking back and forth across the pavement. She glanced up ahead and a grin spread across her face. The final corner, and she was on track for a record lap.

April downshifted the car as she had done hundreds of times before, the car revving high as it slowed down for the curve. The tires dug in to the track as it rounded the corner, before April slammed down the gas and shifted the car back up with the paddles underneath her fingers. She glanced at the speedometer that was now just passing 200mph, the terrain outside of the car whipping by in nothing more than a blur in her peripheral vision. The finish line sat just in front of her, mere seconds until that record was hers.

“One minute, thirty-one seconds!” Jamie cheered over the radio, watching as his daughter slowed the car to a stop. From underneath her helmet, April couldn’t stop smiling. All of the hours she’d practiced this track, the hours she’d worked on the car, they’d all paid off. At last, the Foster family record had been passed down to the next in line.

A few hours later, April was back home in the garage. From the outside, only her legs were visible, the majority of her torso hidden underneath of the lifted-up Maserati. Though they were fairly routine and extremely basic, the oil change she was doing was a necessary thing to keep her baby running in top shape. There was a reason that she had been doing all of this though, the racing and the work in the garage. It was a distraction. She knew it inside. April couldn’t put it out of her mind. Her other baby. The one that was actually growing inside of her. Soon it would be too late to tell her father as her body would tell all that needed to be told. She put down the wrench on the concrete floor and just laid underneath the sports car, her mind lost in thought.

After a very long few minutes, she slid herself from underneath the car and grabbed her phone from the workbench. April paused the music that had been playing on the garage speakers, before she sent off a text to Santiago. April couldn’t keep quiet anymore. The two of them needed to talk about the extremely large elephant in the room.

You awake? We need to talk about our predicament.

[spooner]

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“I know a lot of things about a lot of people around here.” Julie smirked with that trademark MacMillan spark still in her eye. She turned to to give her best friend a cheeky glance before directing her attention back to Jordan. “Why? Is there something you don't want me to know about?” she raised her eyebrows in mock surprise. Her expression softened as she saw Jordan getting nervous.

“Don't worry, all I'm saying is that I think you two look cute together.” she smiled and stood up, a little more unsteady than when she had stomped over to the clearing. “I think it is time for me to head home. Are you joining me Coco?” Julie asks eyes glued to the screen of her phone as she ordered an Uber.

If you saw the MacMillan girl in the morning you would never have thought she had been out drinking the night before. This because she had a nighttime routine that she followed religiously. Julie's routine consisted firstly of drinking a big glass of water with 2 rehydration tablets. Then taking of all of her makeup, a hot shower followed by a rigorous skincare routine.

So waking up was no problem at all for her. It was almost infuriating how perky she was this Sunday morning. Early as it was the redhead had already had the time to make sure her father had his breakfast, helped with cataloging his new collection and gone for a quick jog.

Now she was lounging around on her bed with her great big windows open letting in the cool breeze that made her white cotton curtains flow all around the room. Julie sighed as she sat herself up and lent back on her headboard picking up her phone that had been charging on her nightstand. Her fingers tapping away on the screen as she sent Chanel a text

Text Message

A broad smile spread across her face as she had an bright idea. Julie sprung from her bed and skipped downstairs and in to her father's study. Her father was bent over his desk face first in the mock up of his lookbook for his fall/winter collection.

“Hey daddy? Can I grab some of these?” Julie chirped as she faced the mound of free products different companies had sent the designer in hopes that he would endorse them.

“Knock yourself out sweetie.” Jason MacMillan said without turning around.

“Thank you daddy! I'm heading over to Chanel and she probably needs a pick me up!” she said as she stuffed some sample sizes of expensive moisturizer and toner in to a MacMillan tote bag. She threw in some brand perfumes just for fun before floating over to her father and giving him a kiss on the cheek. “I'm leaving now, do you need me to pick up something on my way back?”

Her father looked up and removed his glasses “No I’m good kiddo, but tell Chanel to call Josephine. She’s taking care of the new interns and I told her to save a spot.”

His daughters face lit up “Oh! She’ll be so happy daddy! I’ll tell her to call first thing Monday!” with one last peck on her father’s cheek the young woman was on her way into the kitchen. There she grabbed the fruit salad she had prepared that morning and stuffed it into the tote bag as well before grabbing the keys to her father’s G-Wagon and heading to the garage.

Julie hated to drive, especially the monster that was her father’s car and especially in her Louboutins. But she couldn’t be bothered waiting around for an uber. She had to get to Chanel as fast as possible to bring her the good news. So after a careful ride over to the Martin estate Julie gingerly climbed out of the huge car, heels clicking on the driveway as she walked up the front door and knocked.

After a few moments the door opened to reveal a tall smiling man.

“Andre!” Julie exclaimed “I didn’t know you were home.” she whispered as she passed him walking inside.

“How’ve you been Jules? She’s still in bed, I’ll go get her.” Chanel’s big brother said and disappeared upstairs. The girl nodded and waited around the hallway looking at the pictures hat hung on the wall.

[Ejected]

_{Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high
Cause you never know when you're gonna go}

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Being the only child of an urban fashion designer often had its perks, Carter's favorite being that whenever his parents went on their monthly business trips to other parts of the world, he was almost always asked whether or not he'd like to tag along. More often than not, Carter would politely decline these invitations, offering up excuses such as how he didn't want to miss too many days of school and fall behind on his work. In actuality, the young man just wanted to have the house all to himself. See, Carter's parents trusted their son enough to leave him home alone for days, and sometimes weeks, at a time; they understood that he was a legal adult, after all, and rarely got into any sort of trouble with them. What Carter's parents didn't know, however, was what went down in their house once Carter got confirmation that they had finally boarded their plane. They didn't know that he would immediately pull out his stash and call over a few of his friends so they could hotbox the garage without having to worry about being checked up on every couple of hours. They didn't know that he'd throw these large "kickbacks" and then hire a cleaning service to tidy things up before they came back home.

But this time, things were different. This time, Carter Newton actually decided that he would accompany his parents on their most recent trip to New York City. After sitting through yet another pointless King's Academy senior assembly, Carter had come to the conclusion that he'd much rather spend his time sitting in the corner of multiple conference rooms pretending to pay attention than at some silly homecoming dance with a person he barely even knew. So that's how it all went; while most of the King's Academy students were using their Friday nights to prepare for the dance, Carter was stuck listening to his father go on and on about the future of men's fashion and exactly which company he should partner with in the near future.

He didn't touch back down in Florida until a few hours after the homecoming dance had ended, and by that time, he was way too tired to function properly. Rather than go on his typical late night rounds to make a few extra bucks, Carter headed straight for his bed. He didn't wake up until a little after eight o'clock the following morning. The first thing Carter did when he woke up on that bright Sunday morning, like most teenagers in the world, was roll over in bed and check his cell phone. He wasn't surprised in the slightest to see that he'd gotten a few text messages and missed calls from the usual customers, all of them asking to meet up and make a quick exchange. He took about a half an hour to get himself showered and dressed before grabbing the keys to his car and heading on his way.

Carter's first stop was to a smaller home about five minutes away that belonged to the family of one of his closest friends. Although this friend had been one of the last to shoot him a text, he figured that since he was so close by, he'd stop there first. Carter left his car running as he made his way around the back of his friend's house. As expected, he found Lamar Smith doing what he always did when he wasn't somewhere getting high: shooting hoops. The six foot tall boy stood on his backyard basketball court, the front of his tank top drenched with sweat and his shoulder length locs swinging in the breeze, practically screaming for a re-twist. He tucked the ball under his left arm as he watched Carter approach him. "I heard you pull in," Lamar said as he dapped him up, "sure took you long enough, man."

"You know I had shit to do this weekend, bro," Carter said with a light laugh, "My pop had me in those conferences for hours. I'm tired as fuck, so maybe you should just thank me for even showing up... ungrateful ass." As Carter teased his friend, he started to dig into his jacket pocket, only stopping when his hand found the small, zip-lock baggie. At the same time, Lamar had run over to a nearby porch chair; he fumbled around in his backpack before producing a thin wad of cash. The exchange was over in less than a second; as soon as Carter got hold of his money, he stuffed it where the bag had originally been and nodded his head in the direction of the basketball hoop. "So when are you gonna try out for the basketball team, huh? King's needs someone like you on the team. You're good enough."

"When are you gonna stop dealing drugs and finish filling out your college applications, huh?" Lamar said mockingly as he started to dribble his ball, "Morehouse needs someone like you, you're good enough." This earned him a scoff from Carter, who simply rolled his eyes as he began making his way back to the driveway. He'd just reached his car when he realized that his friend had followed behind him. "Nah, but for real though. You can't keep this shit up forever, man. I mean, I like being able to restock my stash at a discounted price, but you're better than this. I'm not tryna sound like your mom or nothing, but think about your future."

Ignoring his friend, Carter climbed back in to the drivers seat of his Lexus. It was then that he saw that he'd received yet another text message, but this time from someone he'd seen not too long ago; apparently, Shawna Josi was already in dire need of a refill. The boy replied in a matter of minutes, typing out a few words before tossing his phone into the passenger seat and rolling down his window. "Well, you know what they say," he called to Lamar as he began to back out of the driveway, "Live for today and not tomorrow's satisfaction... live in the present, don't worry about the future... Carpe diem?"

And then he was off.

texts

[spooner]

_{Albatros | 1993}

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Maybe it was the ocean breeze, or maybe it was the chill tunes that was still pouring out of his car. But Max had fallen asleep where he was laying on the ground. His unconscious mind wandering from rolling around in the sand with a unfamiliar blond to holding hands over coffee with someone all too familiar. His mind kept flashing to scenes depicting being cuddled up in bed, laughing while trying to cook. But ultimately ending in vicious shouting matches phones flailing like weapons.

SNAP

Max slowly blinked his eyes opened adjusting to the light. Disoriented he lifted his head from his makeshift sweatshirt pillow looking around. He had thought he was alone, heck he had thought he was the only one who knew about this little spot. But evidence showed that he was wrong when he spotted someone pointing a camera in his direction. His eyebrows knitted together in confusion as he strained his eyes to see who this person was. To his surprise it was a girl… a very cute girl. With this revelation Max’s face broke out in to a huge smile.

“I usually charge by the hour you know!” The young man teased as he turned from his back on to his stomach resting his body on his elbows still surveying the girl. He chuckled as he slowly rose from the ground dusting himself of getting rid of grass and dirt. He picked up his sweatshirt and threw it back in to his open car door and made his way over to the mystery girl.

Still smiling as he approached her, he slowly started to recognize the brunette. “Heey, we go to school together? Yeah we had english together last year. Georgia right?” he said as he thought hard and hoped he hadn’t messed up and said the wrong name. “Yeah… yeah! I’m Max! You got stuck with me on that poem writing assignment… uhm… sorry about that.” he remembered letting her do most of the work while he took the part of just expressively reading it for the class.

“So! How come you’re up here creepily taking pictures of me sleeping?” he asked letting out a booming laugh. “Can I at least see the outcome?” he asked still chuckling as he walked around Georgia to take a peek at her cameras screen. The picture was framed beautifully and the light settings made him look much nicer than the snoring mess he probably was. “Well look at me! I look very peaceful… or dead. Either way I dig it.” another booming laugh left the young man’s body.

[ineffable]

Interacting with Max Wallenberg

Georgie blushed as she saw that she had woken him up, turning slightly so he couldn't see the embarrassment framed on her features. Once she had recovered to an extent though, she turned back around and smiled.
"Hi Max. And you can call me Georgie...I remember that poem writing assignment. Our poem was shit, but maybe that was because I wrote it." She chuckled and brushed off his apology with a hand. She knew how boys like Max were but she didn't mind. If anything it was fun watching him read such a stupid poem in front of the class and it had been fun for a while there as they partnered up and did the task together.

She watched as he came around to her side and looked at the photo displayed on her camera screen. It was a nice one, she mused to herself as her eyes swept over the details. He looked as if his jock macho-ness had been stripped away, at least only for that moment. She flicked her glance upwards at his face and marvelled at the light that shone around the edge of his skin...man, was this boy photogenic. Georgie was interrupted from her staring when Max laughed and complimented the picture. She grinned in reply, Max always fit in wherever he was and he seemed like he was undeniably himself whenever he talk to someone. Georgie liked him.
"I can send the pictures over to you later if you want. And I'm sorry again for taking those without your permission, you looked too dead for me to pass up the opportunity!" Georgie joked as she closed her camera. She turned to look out at the water around her again and gave a small smile. The white tipped waves crashed against the sand as colorful blobs of people rushed around, building sand castles and tanning. A lone surfer was riding the waves and he traced lines through the blue water as people paddled around his near vicinity. Georgie loved the beach, the colors she found there and the people. All her photographs of it were her best collection of pieces she had. Something about it made her happy and if she was happy, her photos turned out well. Commenters on her blog had regularly picked up her interest in the beach and asked her why she liked it so much but all she could answer was that she didn't know. It was beautiful in an unassuming way, just like Max Wallenburg was, Georgie realised. A player who no doubt had broken the hearts of many girls without a care in the world, all a part of his spontaneous fun. But when he had been lying there heartbreakingly attractive on the edge of the cliff, he had looked angelic and as he spoke he didn't seem capable of breaking so many hearts without so much of a thought. But who was Georgie anyway, to psychoanalyse him?
"Well, I'd better get going. I'm sorry to have woken you up, I'll let you return to your blissful sleep now." Georgie turned to Max and lifted up a hand. It was better to leave him alone, she didn't really want to get absorbed into his web of girls yet and she had no doubt that he had the capability to do so with her. If she knew herself well enough she would've fallen for him in mere minutes. It was better for her to stay away if she knew what was best for her, right?

However, She was still a sucker for fun and Max Wallenburg was the definition of it.

[AlteredTundra]

I am selfish, I am wrong.
I am right, I swear I'm right
Swear I knew it all along and
I am flawed, but I am cleaning up so well.

---

Despite the Palm Beach Police Department being, in fact, a police department of a city that was highly regarded as the kind of city that catered to a high level of quality than most cities in South Florida, their jail cell wasn’t exactly up to code. When Kavi got there and was booked on bullshit charges (his words, not the cops), he was placed in a holding cell. And this was all after he tried to call his parents, but either they weren’t answering or they weren’t awake. Either way, Kavi had to spend the night in jail. As one might be able to surmise, that was just a fun experience.

As he sat there in the cold, somewhat damp cell, the only thing that crossed his mind and the only thing that would ever cross his mind in the almost five hours he wandered around the cramped cell, was how he landed himself in this position. His mind went everywhere from how he snuck his father’s prized, if not somewhat-hideous, Ferrari away from the garage and picked up April. Maybe he made the mistake of not choosing a more lowkey car from the collection. Or maybe Kavi’s biggest mistake was indulging in the need for speed and nearly getting away from the cop.

He kept going it over for multiple hours. Kavi was a point of actual confusion, but more to the point, he wondered why his parents didn’t answer when they did. It was a Saturday and he knew them to be up rather late on the weekends since neither of them had to work. Knowing both of his parents as he did, Kavi knew something was up.

That particular thought stuck with him even after he went over everything about last night’s dance in his mind. Every point during the night from when he danced with April (and had watched her leave) and his brief conversation with both Nadia and Ariel led him back to the exact moment he felt like maybe he had fucked up. A single moment when he had dated not one, but two girls in the same gap period of twenty-four hours without telling them.

That was his downfall. It was why Kavi had a makeshift nose cast on his face. It was why he had to get the cast in the first place. It wasn’t why he was currently sitting in a jail cell, but Kavi was certain the domino effect was how he landed in the predicament he was in. With no safety net, he knew it was his own fault. He knew the blame didn’t fall on anyone. It didn’t fall on his father for not taking extra precautions to prevent his car from being stolen by his own son nor was it April’s fault for appearing to egg him on during the car chase. It wasn’t Ariel or Nadia’s fault for how they fell for his charm.

This was none of their faults. He was the only one to blame and the only one who could truly know that he did this to himself.

“Salvador!”

Kavi didn’t hear it the first or even second and third time, but a fourth time was enough to bring the young man to turn his head towards the cell. He saw a single cop of middle age standing in front of it with keys that were turning inside the lock that separated Kavi from the freedom.

“Your parents are here. Let’s go!”

And in the deepest regions of his stomach, Kavi felt something was twisting it. Even as he walked side-by-side and he reached the front of the police station, Kavi knew his troubles were only getting started. Whatever waited for him, he knew with his mom’s usual temper always flaring at him and his father never really being anything but all smiles, when he saw both of their disappointed faces, Kavi Salvador knew whatever waited for him was nothing but trouble for him.

“Mom, Dad, I--”

“Not a single word. Now let’s go.” His mother’s cold tone hit him harder than Ariel’s fist did.

He wanted to say something, but there was nothing he could say that would make any of this better. So he didn’t. Kavi, for the first time, had felt the same fear that most, if not all, of the weaker kids he picked on felt when he tortured them. It wasn’t that she was his bully, but if anyone could strike the fear of God into him, it was Veronica Salvador.

And like he had known her for all his life, as soon as they were away from the police station and inside the family SUV, she began to unleash a known anger-led fury on him.

“I don’t know where to start with you, Kavi! We raised you better than this!” Vivi began, looking him dead in the eye as Kai drove. “We tried to understand you. From you constantly picking on those weaker than you, we knew you were just doing it to get attention or maybe to test us. And we’ve tried to do everything we could to give you space. But maybe that was our fault. Maybe you just needed a firmer hand. Honestly, though Kavi? I don’t even know where to begin!”

“You don’t have to--”

“Did I say you could talk!?”

Whatever breath Kavi was about to take, it had been broken by his mother’s sharp tongue that could cut steel and make it appear like it was butter.

“I’m so disappointed in you and angry with you, Kavi. I know this isn’t you. The boy I--” Kai coughed, ”--we raised isn’t like this. You aren’t this person. The person who bullies others, the person who steals and lies to us isn’t the son we raised. I just--”

Kavi went to speak, but in the time it took for his mother’s anger to be unleashed on him, they were already home. He was hoping to speak to his mother, but before the garage door even closed behind them, she left. She didn’t bother saying a single word. The only sound even remotely related to her was the sound of the passenger side door slamming and Veronica jetting into the house.

And if Kavi wasn’t feeling like a turd left in the desert, then he certainly was feeling that way right now. It was such a shock to him that he had not moved for a few minutes. Even after his father got out, his father who, for all of the disappointment he was feeling, was the gentler one of his two parents. This was proven to be a fact when Kai hopped in the back seat, next to Kavi, causing the teen to look at him.

“Dad, I--”

“Let me stop you right there. I’m still plenty angry with you, Kavi. You lied to us and used my car without asking. You know I would have given you permission, but you didn’t bother asking.” Kai tried not to let his ire show, but it was clear he had a difficult time doing that. “But I can see you are beating yourself up over it, so I won’t do more to you than you have yourself. Let me just say this: there’s going to be some changes from here on out.” Kai told Kavi, getting ready to exit the SUV.

“What kind of changes?” Kavi asked, a strange fear in his voice. It was almost as though he was afraid to know the answer, which was a rare feeling for him.

“We’ll talk about it Later. For now, get some rest. I’ve got to work, but your mother will be here all day.” Before Kai closed the door, he looked to his son. “And it should go without saying, you are grounded!”

---

So, this was Kavi’s new normal now. The reality of his past crimes firmly taking a stance. He may or may not have a criminal record and was going to be under the watchful eye of his two parents. As bad as everything that happened to him and that was said to him, none of it came close to how he was feeling. It wasn’t just the prospect of facing a judge at some point in the future or being grounded or even having a broken nose, it had everything to do with Kavi Salvador finally realizing the things he thought were harmless acts and what he thought was “no big deal” was, in fact, a very big deal.

He hurt people. And it wasn’t just random people he hurt. He hurt everyone who had known him up until a year ago when he started acting out. Because of Jason. Because Aiden moved away. Because everything that happened around the same time, Kavi became a jerk. He developed the terrible habit of inflicting the pain on others that he secretly felt himself. Oh, how he hated the way it made him feel, but moreover, Kavi hated that his actions drove away from the friends that he knew that thought he was their friend. People like Marisol, his cousin through the complex web of relation-by-marriage. People like Jun Wang who was a close acquaintance of Kavi’s before he became such an asshole.

Everyone became alienated from him because of some insecurities Kavi kept secret. But none of that was so prevalent than the one person who he treated the worst.

Ariel Gray.

From the get-go, unlike everyone else in his life, she sort of just stuck around. Whether it was because of her crush on him that was more obvious than Archer being gay or Stella being a klutz or her just being a genuinely good person, Kavi took advantage of that. Not only by using whatever feelings she had for him to further his womanizing agenda but when he had gotten what he wanted from her, he threw her aside without even telling her.

“Good going, right? Cause you’re just so great! Right?” Kavi said to himself as though he was looking at someone he barely recognized, someone he hated. The reminder that he needed was staring right back him. His broken nose, which was aligned to be healed, served as the proof that he was wrong.

“That’s quite the shiner you got there, dum dum!”

And if he wasn’t feeling bad, his kid sister always knew how to make it worse. “Isn’t it a little early for you to be up, Nikki?” Kavi didn’t bother to face her.

“So what if it is? Not like it compares to the shit storm you’ve created for yourself,” she pointed out.

Rolling his eyes, he walked past her and she followed him, causing Kavi to stop. “Is there something you need?” He asked her point-blank. He might be hating himself right now, but his patience for his sister's teasing was decreasing the more time ticked away.

She simply shrugged. “I just thought you’d be happy to know that, despite your royal screw-up, not everyone has joined the ‘I Hate Kavi Salvador Club’.”

He really hated his sister’s vague implications. She was never helpful and always had something clever to say. A clear indication she was truly the daughter of Veronica Salvador.

As he shrugged his mild annoyances brought on by his kid sister off, Kavi returned to his room, grabbing his phone from his dresser that was just a few feet from the door. He saw it was barely past ten and he yawned. Almost as soon as he opened his eyes up, sitting on his bed was the last person he thought he’d ever see, let alone in his room.

“Ariel? What are you doing here?”

[Ejected]

_{An @Ejected and @NeoAC Collaboration}

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As the Florida sun beat down on the pavement of Dunbar Avenue, the descendant of the Midwest quickly regretted her choice. Green’s was still a few blocks away, but she had already come this far. Shawna was going to have to tough it out for the life-sustaining greasy breakfast that was becoming far more commonplace than the scrambled egg whites that used to be her regular Sunday morning fare. The teenager checked her phone to confirm how much farther she had to go and saw the text from CJ, the life-sustainer of a different sort. “Damn it. I could have gotten a ride to the diner? Shhhhhhit.”

She pressed onward, quickening her pace a little bit knowing that there would be both food and drugs waiting for her. Now all she needed was alcohol and she would be set. But there would be time to see Ramiro later. The green-and-white awning was starting to come into view. She hustled down the street, sweat obvious on her t-shirt as she pulled into the air-conditioned glory that was Green’s Luncheonette.

Carter Newton sat at the counter not too far away from the entrance, his feet resting upon the ledge in front of him and his eyes fixated on the laminated breakfast menu. He’d arrived at the diner just a few minutes ago with his mind set on ordering a meal to-go. This was something the young man did more often than most since his parents weren’t too keen on cooking in the mornings—or at any given time, for that matter. His stomach rumbled in anticipation as he quickly made the decision to try out the steak and eggs.

The girl caught her breath and slowly walked over to the chairs, taking one next to her … well he was definitely at least acquaintance level, even in the relatively short time they had had contact with each other. Friends? Wasn’t farfetched. As least as friendly as a dealer could be to a client. Carter didn’t utter a word as he felt the young woman take a seat; he placed his menu back into its rightful holder before waving over the nearest waitress. “Water,” she rasped out to the woman manning the front. A quick spin brought a tall glass of icy liquid to Shawna, and she gulped it down, hoping to replenish what she thought was four pounds lost on that walk. Carter, on the other hand, requested a cup of coffee. “You know,” she finally addressed the boy next to her, “If you were quicker to answer your texts, I could have used a ride here.”

That was when Carter turned and saw the girl for the very first time that day, sweaty T-shirt and all. It didn’t take much piecing together for him to figure out that she’d walked the entire way to the diner; he shook his head and let one corner of his mouth turn up into a half smile. “Sorry, love. I had a few errands to run before I got here,” the boy said with a smirk, “But you do know that you could’ve taken a Lyft or something if you needed to. Would’ve made things a lot… easier. Less chance of having a heat stroke.”

“Tell me about it,” Shawna said, draining the rest of her water. “I dunno, I guess I wasn’t really thinking yet, just like, get to the food I don’t have to make.” She plunked her purse onto the counter and fumbled around for her wallet, just to have the money on hand to make both purchases she intended to complete. “So, you went north? How’d you manage to get roped into that? I didn’t think you were into that whole travelling scene.”

“Oh, I’m not,” Carter said as he stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets, “But I’m sure that visiting New York City for the first time was probably a whole lot better than spending a Saturday night in a country club with some random broad.” As he spoke, Carter pulled a black zip-lock bag from his pocket; he took a quick glance at the waitress to make sure she wasn’t nearby before gingerly placing it into Shawna’s purse.

The teenager pffted at hearing that. “Hey, beats my Saturday night. Unless you’re impressed I now have all the quiz answers to win Rachel and Monica’s apartment memorized.” She glanced down to make sure the product was now in her purse. “I mean, probably would have been better to do that not in a giant house by myself, but you know. Life is life, right?”

She was about to pull out some bills, but the waitress’ return halted that for the moment. “Figure out what you’re having, dear?”

Shawna hadn’t even touched the menu, but she had been to Green’s enough to know what she wanted. “Can I just get two eggs and bacon, with home fries, whole-wheat toast and a fruit cocktail?”

“Sure thing, dear.” The waitresses almost sounded trained to talk to seniors in here, but the home fries were to die for if hungover. “Anything for you, hun?” she asked Carter, who’d decided to take one last glance at the menu while Shawna was ordering her food.

“You know what, I think I’ll just get the western omelette to-go,” Carter said with a shrug, “But with an English muffin instead of toast.” The waitress hurriedly scribbled both of their orders onto her pad before leaving them once more.

“Shit! Can I get mine to-go too?” Shawna hastily added as the waitress departed. “Shit. If I had known my potential ride back home was going to depart so soon, I would have said that.” She looked into her wallet and pulled out a couple of crisp $20s, holding them under the counter for Carter to pocket. The boy simply shook his head and chuckled as he stealthily took the cash from Shawna’s hand and slid it into his jacket pocket. Carter originally had no intentions on dining in the small restaurant; as always, the plan was to purchase his food and eat whatever he could in the car as he drove to his next customer. This plan wasn’t likely to change, but it did seem that he’d now have to add an extra stop to his list of destinations.

“Oh, so you mean you didn’t want to walk back home?” he said teasingly as he pulled out a couple of wrinkled bills from the back of his phone case, “I hear that long distance walking is good for you. Great way to get in some exercise.”

“Well, you know what, CJ?” Shawna offered as she pulled a third $20 out for the waitress. “Since we’re such good friends, I’ll let you walk the nine blocks back to my house, and I’ll drive your car there, so you won’t have to make it 18 blocks. That way we can both get some cardio in, hmmm? Besides, I don’t need to break up my yolks until I get back to the crypt.” Shortly after Shawna had said this, the waitress returned to their spot at the counter, this time carrying two takeout bags in her hands. Suppressing a smile, Carter exchanged his bag of food for the crumpled dollar bills before standing from his stool.

“Tempting offer, really. But I’m gonna have to pass on that one,” Carter said as he began to make his way towards the exit, “I guess I still have a little time to kill. Won’t hurt to make an extra stop.”

Shawna picked up her change, leaving behind any singles for the waitress and grabbed her breakfast, as well as her purse. “I am very appreciative. I really am.” Her sunglasses were already catching the light from the window. “You don’t know how much sacrificing those four minutes means to me.”

“Yeah, well… you know what they say. Time is money,” Carter said, returning the sarcasm as the two of them walked through the half-full parking lot. They walked until Carter’s bright, cherry red colored Lexus came into view; the boy pressed one of the buttons on his key fob to unlock the vehicle doors as he approached the driver’s side. As soon as he got into his car, Carter reached over and began to clean off the passenger seat; one of his leather jackets, an old pair of sunglasses, and a nearly empty bottle of water were soon tossed into the backseat.

“Classy as hell, bud,” Shawna commented as she poured herself into the front seat. “Don’t expect any less from you.” She balanced her meal and her purse on her lap, the warmth from the bacon and potatoes immediately felt on her legs. “Gonna eat and then I might coma for a bit. Sounds like a smart plan after that run earlier.”

Nodding his head, Carter pushed the button on his dash to start the engine. Almost immediately after, the sound of some random talk show came over the speakers; the boy took a brief moment to switch radio stations before putting the car into drive and heading out of the lot. “Make sure you buckle up,” the boy said with a smirk as he pulled onto the main road, “You know, safety first.” The drive to Shawna’s house, thanks to Carter’s innate tendency to speed, only took a little under four minutes. Once they’d arrived, Carter eased into the driveway and then shifted his car back into park.

“Thanks, CJ,” Shawna said as she unbuckled. She paused before opening the door though. “Hey, you know, if you ever want a place to, you know, chill or stash some stuff or whatever, my place is still gonna be empty for a few months. Parents won’t be back until the new year. Stupid world cruise. Anyway, you know, open invite. Because you’re such a nice guy. And you get me high.” She did seem a little nervous offering, as if she hadn’t bothered to make such a gesture before. Which was true. Still, if she wanted to start experiencing life to the fullest instead of what was in those stupid textbooks, she had to start opening up and letting some people in. Might as well start with CJ. He’s been cool enough since we started engaging in transactions.

Carter listened carefully as the young woman spoke, and couldn’t help but lift a curious eyebrow when she mentioned that her parents had left her alone for several months. Carter could somewhat relate, seeing as though his parents often left him to his own devices for days at a time. But having the house to herself for months? Oh, how lucky was she. Carter waited for Shawna to shut the car door behind her before he rolled down the window. “You know what, Shawna,” the young man said as he put his car into reverse, “I think I just might take you up on that offer one of these days.” And then he was gone.

The 18 year old sighed. Well, I put it out there. At least it wasn’t an outright no. It’s a start, I guess. She looked down at the bag, puddles of grease starting to form in the brown paper. “All right, get this in me then fall asleep. Sounds like a plan. She clutched her purse tightly as she headed back inside the beachfront home in a familiar spot. Alone with her thoughts.

[CaliforniaState]

So shine bright
Don't go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to
I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you're moving too fast

Sunday service. Church was a staple for most people, but for the Kings it was the after after party. Aaliyah woke up that Sunday morning with the most triumphant stretch, the kind of stretch you feel through your whole body whilst letting out primal cathartic noises. With the crust brushed out her eye she couldn’t help but beam with radiance, what had spurred on such a reaction? While she might have been invisible at homecoming like she was in school, she had made strides to improve her social net worth. The memories raced through her head. Homecoming lasted all of two hours more or less, yet that didn’t deter her peers from going all out. Everything happened so fast too, one-minute Aaliyah was trying to get some punch and wait on JJ and the next there were sirens and all kinds of mess her mama would have said no one had time for.

The night played in her mind like a vcr, in her morning glow she hit the rewind button, turning the tape back all the way to the beginning. While everyone gathered Aaliyah was hoping no one would recognized her all glamed up. Fortunately for her, the queen of high fashion and style (Chanel) managed to find her like a bloodhound tracking a scent. "You're Aaliyah, right?" Aaliyah almost choked on her punch. After a few coughs she was finally able to gain her voice back, only to have been already humiliated by her own actions. Before she could even excuse herself and confirm that she was in fact Aaliyah, Chanel showered her with praise that only caused Aaliyah to become even more flustered as her cheeks gained a tint of red. Chanel probably thought the poor girl was a mute or something as she only reacted with her face rather than actual you know, words.

Between a laugh and sudden shock of hidden vodka, Aaliyah was ready to speak, that was until Jordan Henderson stopped by. Chanel had even managed to introduce the young wallflower to her date, titles and all. It was refreshing to have her biggest inspiration and role model vouch for her so vehemently, it only stung a little bit when she mentioned they weren’t friends. Aaliyah shouldn’t have gotten such a big head anyways, someone of her social caliber had no chance of being friends with someone so high up on the food chain. She tried her best to cover her fading happiness, which was rather easy since Lucas Anderson had managed to knock into Chanel and ooo child she was not having none of that. The shot heard around the world could be heard from Chanel’s monstrous slap, she might as well have slapped the heart and soul of that white boy. Aaliyah mouthed ”oof” as the heated Chanel had walked away shortly after throwing Jordan’s punch cup at Lucas.

Except that wasn’t the only blow of the night, just on the other side of the punch table near the bathrooms another fight had broken out, it was non-other than Salem and Sonny. Except, Sonny was on the floor instead of the DJ booth. Had Sonny been lucky enough he could have met up with Kavi, then they really could have been blood brothers. Sadly, Kavi ended up leaving in the back of a police car. Had Aaliyah not been socially inept, her powers as a wallflower and near invisibility could have led her to take photo of all that transpired and put it on the equivalent of Kings Academy’s gossip girl site. Instead she would just have to make do with her memories.

Now it was time for JJ. The two had finally managed to come together as the rest of everyone’s night was falling apart. She was slow on the uptake as her nervous heart was beating well over her normal heart rate. Yet he managed to calm her nerves without so much as that bright smile. She was wrong about him, maybe he wasn’t the stereotypical jock like the rest. He certainly didn’t find himself in the chaos of what could only be described as the animal kingdom. Aaliyah could have sworn some of those guys and girls acted exactly like lions and hyenas. No, instead the two just passed the night talking, about everything. He didn’t make any moves and respected her boundaries. All she left with was a hug and a thank you for such a great night. Aaliyah’s dad stared him down as she walked to the car which only made her laugh and end the night on a high note.

With the roller coaster of the night and emotions, Aaliyah was ready to tackle the day. She only realized she had no plans after church. Nevertheless, she wouldn’t let that defeat her on such a triumphant day. Aaliyah headed down the stairs, rounding the corner to speak with her parents.

“Why do you look so happy?” her mother said with a playful smile.

“Don’t get any ideas honey” her father said in a rather dry but direct tone.

“Oh, hush I was just having fun. You had fun right sweetie? You looked absolutely gorgeous last night. You should let me do that more often” she remarked.

Aaliyah’s grin crept back onto her face, “Thanks mom, you really did do a great job. Even that girl Chanel said something…well before she slapped the white off this kid” her parents both laughed in unison.

“Well I’m glad you had fun baby, you can tell us more on our way to church.” Aaliyah nodded happily as she made her way to the backseat of her father’s car. Next stop, church.

Now if you don’t know, there’s a few things about black church you might not know. White church usually starts at 9 am and finishes at 9:15, black church starts at 9am and doesn’t finish until next Sunday. The gospel/choir is basically an audition for the voice and let’s not forget the dress code, if you show up in jeans and sneakers lord have mercy on you. Luckily for the King’s, service was light and ended early today. “Ready to go home Aaliyah?” her parents asked, an idea she would probably regret later jumped out of her throat.

“Actually, can we go to the mall mom. I think its time for new clothes” both her mom and dad’s jaws dropped as if they saw the holy ghost behind her.

“S…sure baby, let’s go” and with that Aaliyah smiled from ear to ear.

Before she could get to the mall, she decided to make a twitter and Instagram. Her hands were sweaty as her heart raced through her skin. Finding Chanel and a few others on the timeline, she swallowed her fears and sent several outgoing friend requests. ”Hopefully JJ and Chanel don’t think I’m weird”

[Sugar and Spite]

A Collab between @Altered Tundra and @HaleyTheRandom

Staring Kavi and Ariel.

---

---

Dirty laundry is piling in her room
She's got her secrets, yeah I got mine too
I don't care about what you did
Only care about what we do
Dirty laundry
Looks good on you

---

---

Per usual, her nerves were a wreck. What was she thinking? Kavi didn't want to see her. She had broken his nose, embarrassed him, and pissed him off. Not to mention she had ruined his suit. To think it had only taken her a matter of minutes to do this… normally, she would be impressed that she had done such a thing. In Kavi's case, she wasn't. Was the damage she had caused much too big to repair? Only time could tell.

So there she sat, pulling the sleeves of her jacket down into her palms, picking at the edges of them. A nervous habit, of course, but it gave her something to focus on other than the million different ways that this conversation was about to go. Hearing Kavi's voice, her head snapped up immediately. Her mind went blank momentarily, allowing for a somewhat awkward silence as they locked eyes.

”I just, um… I wanted to apologize, Kavi. For last night. I didn't mean to hurt you that badly. It's just… I wanted to see you. I don't know how to explain it, I just did. And if you want me to pay to have your suit cleaned, I will.” The words were flying out of her mouth now, a burst of courage coming from out of thin air. ”There are some things that I've been meaning to say for a while now, actually. I just didn't and don't really know how to put them, if that makes sense?”

”I guess you and I have some things to talk about, then,” Kavi said simply.

He walked a little closer and pulled a chair from his desk that was across from his bed and pulled it near his bed, taking a seat in it. Leaning back, Kavi eyed Ariel. He wasn’t sure what she wanted to say. He knew what he wanted to tell her, but strangely enough, the teen was finding it difficult to find the courage to do so. It wasn’t easy for him to admit his fault. It was bad enough he had to admit it to himself, let alone say it to someone else.

“But since you came all this way, the least I can do is let you go first.” He gestured to her as if giving her the floor.

She took a deep breath. ”I guess the main thing - and forgive me for being so blunt - but you're a dick, Kavi. Well, you've been a dick. I know you aren't a total douche because I remember the old you,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear. ”It's no big secret that I have a crush on you, either. It never has been. But I've tried to be here for you in the only way that I know how. I don't know what flipped that switch inside you, but I've been here the whole time, ya know? And I'm tired of leaving myself open to get hurt over and over again.”

It was clear based off of Kavi’s reaction that he didn’t expect her to open up with that, but there was no turning back now. So he breathed out a small sigh. “I’m well aware of how you feel - or would it be felt - about me. I’ve known since our science project last year. You came up with just about any excuse in the book you could to come over.” Kavi recalled the days where they had hung out for two weeks straight because of that ridiculous Earth Science project. “It’s because of you my parents keep buying sour skittles even though I told them you haven’t been over in over a year,” he laughed, now realizing how long ago it was since they were in his room together. Alone.

That caused Ariel to smile ever so slightly. ”Wonder how they'd feel about me if they knew I was the one who broke your nose,” she said, sighing. ”What's all this talk of you going to jail?”

Kavi had laughed. Slowly. “Well, it’s not just talk,” he admitted somewhat nervously. “I spent a night with Palm Beach’s finest.” Somehow, that came out more like he was proud than how he really felt about it.

”You… God's Kavi,” Ariel said, rolling her eyes. ”Are you Okay? What are the charges? Are there charges?”

As he stretched, he let out a loud moaning sound. “It’s nothing major, but,” his voice trailed off, looking away from Ariel somewhat, though his gaze returned to her not long after it left, “something including high-speed chase, evading a police officer -- or may it’s engaging in a high-speed chase. Honestly, I don’t even know the proper terms. Oh!” He banged his closed fist into his other, open palm as though he remembered something. “In possession of a stolen vehicle. Can’t believe I nearly forgot that one.”

”Wha - you - huh?” she managed, obviously flabbergasted. ”Who's car did you steal? Why didn't you just pull over for the cop like a normal person?”

Kavi found himself perplexed by Ariel’s questions. “Are you not hearing yourself right now?” Kavi asked her, unable to hide his laughing grin. “I was in a stolen Ferrari. And the cops were following me. Why would I want to pull over and ruin a night that just began?”

”Why did you steal the Ferrari in the first place, you idiot,” she retorted, her voice going up an octave.

He offered her a shrug. “Dad wasn’t using it, so I figured why not? I was gonna be back before he even realized it was gone.” He told her. To him, his reasons justified the crime.

The young woman rolled her eyes once more. ”Your father's car, she said with a laugh. That just makes you seem less badass. But hopefully, your dad won't press charges. As for the cops, I don't know.” Ariel took a moment to collect her thoughts. ”Now what was it that you really wanted to tell me?

As he sat there, trying to put on a smile, which he did but it was more to bide himself just a little more time for what he knew he had to say. Whatever God was up there that Kavi may or may not believe in, he knew he had to be enjoying this. Kavi Salvador, the artist formerly known as The Bully, was in a position where he could at least make the attempts to start over. He may not be able to undo all the wrongs he has committed, but Ariel was at least a good place to start.

There came a sigh from him before he would just talk. “I’m not really good at this sort of thing. Admitting when I’m wrong has always been something completely foreign to me. I honestly never thought I ever was wrong. Everything I’ve done this year and during the summer hasn’t been my finest hours.” That was the first time he said that out loud. It was clear he was struggling. “I know I’ve hurt people. I tormented poor Elijah. I have distanced myself from most of the Misfits and my own fucking cousin of all people. And, yeah I get that a lot of harm has been done, but you were hurt the most, Ariel. You literally did nothing to deserve the way I treated you, both in how I acted when you reached out and how I assumed certain things about you - like when we were at Santiago’s party.” Kavi could still see her face when he pulled at her arm that night.

Ariel just sat there, nodding her head patiently at certain points to let him know that she was listening. One thing just about everyone could agree on was how good of a listener the girl was. It was both a blessing and a curse at times. But in Kavi's case, Ariel had never minded just… listening.

Suddenly very aware of every bruise on her body, she did her best to adjust the collar of her jacket over the one on her neck nonchalantly. ”You aren't the only one that assumed anything that night, Kavi. So many people looked at me like I was the crazy chick. They still do. But then again, maybe they aren't wrong.” She sighed, making eye contact with him once more. ”I'm not sure why you're apologizing, or if you've got some twelve step program figured out or whatever. But I think everyone has some amends to make this year. Just because you've done bad things doesn't make you a bad person. It's not like you've killed anyone.” Ariel sat up straight, suddenly getting serious. ”You…. Haven't killed anyone, right?”

Kavi leaned back, smirking. “If I had, wouldn’t that makeup for my supposed lack of badassery?” He asked, joking of course with his usual arrogant-like charm attached to it.

”Depends on if they ever found the body. And if so, how long. Then maybe you'd score a few extra points.”

“That sounds like a lot of work. I don’t think I would have the patience to make sure I got away with it. Besides,” Kavi paused, leaning forward, “I’d rather be charged with assault than premeditated murder,” he said low enough so no possible eavesdropping ears heard what he said. And as Kavi stayed hunched over, he happened to see something on her neck that raised a few mental eyebrows and a physical one. “What happened there? Did you fall down on something?” He asked, pointing to the slightly purple bruise on the right side of her neck.

Ariel felt a sudden panic rise throughout her body. Her weak attempts to cover said bruise had failed miserably, and now she had two choices: lie to Kavi, as she always did in these circumstances, or tell him the truth. The latter couldn't do that much damage since he already knew her secret, but still, it seemed that her mind was well attuned to old habits. ”Oh that's nothing,” she said, doing her best to play it off. ”I get bruises and scrapes and such all the time. Perks of being a klutz.”

Klumzy people didn’t usually get that kind of bruise. Kavi wasn’t sure which part was the truth nor did he know what the true story was behind it, but he knew that sort of bruise wasn’t an accidental fall sort. “Well, you have to be more careful next time. Shit like that can kill you,” Kavi told her, shaking his head. He wanted to push her on it, but maybe he was overthinking the worst case scenario. “There was something else I wanted to say. About the way our date last week ended. Before everything, we had a good time, right? The whole Nadia bit aside, it was fun, right?” Kavi asked. He figured a topic change was needed.

She knew he didn't buy her explanation, but he didn't push her for the answer that he thought he wanted to hear either. For that fact, Ariel was silently grateful. ”I thought we had a good time, yeah. You were actually the perfect gentleman. I was actually kinda proud of you. Why?”

As he swallowed whatever uncertainty had built up, Kavi took in a deep breath. When he exhaled, he just spoke. “Since I had a nice time and you had a nice time, maybe when all this mess with my pending court date is over and, or, when you don’t see me as too much of an asshat -- crazy talk, I know -- we can try it again. And maybe, the next one can be the real deal. No lies, no secrets, no hiding a second girl or parading around with whatever girl wants to date me, and no trying to think of the next score. Just you, me, and whatever follows.” Kavi boldly asked, a feeling in his stomach gathering that was, again, strange.

Kavi Salvador asking a girl for a second date for which he promised no gimmicks? Ariel wasn't sure which fact to be more shocked about. And that look in his eye - was that sincerity?”I'd really like that,” she said with a small smile, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. ”And I'm sure - if you wanted - my dad would represent you in court. I know your dad probably has lawyers on speed dial, but, eh.”

“I don’t know what kind of case there is. Seems pretty cut and dry: I stole a car and got caught, but if you think if he wouldn’t mind taking it up, then I can tell my parents. If anything, I'll get hit with a fine and community service. Nothing too major, I suppose.” Kavi shrugged at the thought. “But, uh--”

And before Kavi could get out another word, his door opened and, of course, it was his bothersome sister. “Just a heads up, mom’s movie is done. So, you might want to get out of here before he gets in more trouble,” Nikki said, warning both Ariel and Kavi.

“And here we were having such a good time,” he sighed, standing up. “I suppose all good things must come to an end, huh?” Again he let out a sigh. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

Ever so grateful to Nikki's warning, Ariel smiled at the girl as she got up from the bed. Don't forget we have to be in the principal's office tomorrow morning. God's am I dreading that,” she said as they made their way down the steps. Opening the door and stepping outside, she gave a small wave to Kavi.

He saw she was leaving and Kavi followed her. Despite his sister saying something, the door closed behind him before he could hear what she said. He caught up to her by her car. “Ariel, hold up!” Kavi called out to her. “There’s something I forgot to do,” he said, then suddenly kissed her on the cheek. “I’d give you a proper kiss, but this nose brace is gonna prevent me from doing any serious kissing for at least a couple of weeks.”

Her cheeks now turning a bright shade of crimson, Ariel smiled up at him. ”I think I'll manage. And again - I'm really sorry about the whole breaking your nose thing.” Walking towards her car and getting in, Ariel was pretty content with her decision to stop by.

[Ejected]

_{Location: Home Sweet Home
Interacting with: Big Brother, Julie MacMillan}

---

---

The sound of rugged snores filled the silent and nearly dark bedroom. The source of the snores, Chanel Martin, lay fast asleep in a crumpled heap on her king-sized mattress, her mouth slightly open and a trail of drool running down her cheek and onto her pillow. There was a gentle snuffling of air through her nose, but gradually, as she began to rise back to consciousness, it became a wheezing sound interspersed with a slight trembling of her body. With a dropped jaw, buggy eyes, and sweaty palms, the young woman’s hot, salty head popped up from the pillow in a heart-pounding state of emergency. But after a split second of massively intense panic, it suddenly dawned upon her that she was still, in fact, in her bedroom. Shortly after that, an all too familiar feeling began to well up in the pit of her stomach; in swift motions, Chanel leaned over the edge of her bed, reached for a nearby trash can and emptied the contents of her stomach.

Chanel couldn't recall most of what happened the night before; the alcohol had made sure of that. In fact, the only thing Chanel could remember after about half-way through the homecoming dance was stumbling back to the parking lot with Jordan and Julie so that they could all catch an Uber back to their respective homes. She wasn't entirely sure how she managed to make it back into her house, let alone up two flights of stairs to her bedroom.

The only source of light, thanks to her blackout curtains, came from the muted flat screen television that was mounted on Chanel's bedroom wall. She could tell that the eleven o'clock news was on, but realized that as she settled back into her bed, she struggled to read the subtitles without the usual aid of her contact lenses. Chanel began to feel around in the dark, her hands gliding over the bed sheets and the cool, wooden surface of her nightstand. She didn't stop doing this until her fingers finally closed around what she was searching for: her cell phone. The young woman took a quick look through her notifications, responding to a couple of texts and accepting a few new friend requests before laying back in her original position. It didn't take long for her to drift back off into a deep, peaceful sleep.

---

"Rise and shine, kid," Andre Martin said in his thunderous voice, causing Chanel to stir in her sleep as he began to draw the curtains. It was the bright beams of sunlight that shone through her bedroom window that finally woke her out of her slumber; she held up one of her hands, shielding the rays from her eyes as she grumbled and moaned in protest. Of course, her older brother ignored her as he continued on. "It smells like vomit and bad decisions in here," the boy said as he pulled open one of her windows, "Let's let some air in, shall we? Air out this funky ass room a bit." Normally, this would've earned him a smart retort from his little sister. But since she wasn't exactly in the necessary state of mind to go back and forth with him, she simply turned on her other side, putting her back to him and the sunlight.

"Get the fuck out of my room, Dre," Chanel said, "I just want to lay here."

"Nah, I'm good," the boy said as he made his way towards Chanel's bathroom, "It's almost noon; you can't sleep the day away. Besides, you got a visitor downstairs." Soon after he said this, the young man made his way out of the bathroom, a cup of water in one hand and two aspirins in the other. He set these items down on her nightstand before heading to the bedroom door. "Julie's waiting for you, so hurry up... and make sure you toss my clothes back into my room after you get dressed." After he shut the door behind him, Chanel reluctantly kicked off her comforter and sat up in bed, her head pounding and her body aching. It was in that moment that she realized what her brother meant by his last statement; looking down, Chanel saw that she was no longer wearing her homecoming ensemble. Instead, she was dressed in a loose fitting pair of basketball shorts and a wrinkled "I Love My HBCU" T-shirt. Vague memories of the night before suddenly flashed through her mind. She could faintly remember yelling at her brother as he helped her up the stairs... something about not wanting to ruin her beautifully handmade dress by sleeping in it.

In slow, painful motions, Chanel slid her feet into her slippers and stood up, stretching out her limbs as she did so. She then grabbed the pills and glass of water before exiting her bedroom and beginning her journey down the staircase. By the time she reached the bottom, she'd already swallowed down the pills, and her glass was in great need of a refill. Chanel spotted her best friend in the hallway staring at the pictures that hung on the wall. Unlike Chanel, Julie Macmillan looked pretty well put together; there was no way someone would be able to guess that she'd been drinking her weight in vodka the night before. "God," the young woman groaned as she approached her friend, "How are you even functioning right now?"

[spooner]

_{A collab starring Max@spooner & Georgia@ineffable}

---

---

Max kept looking at the picture displayed on the screen still smiling. "That would be awesome! I'll hang it right on the wall!" the young man exclaimed enthusiastically. "Here I'll give you one of these..." Max said as he fished for his wallet in the back pocket of his pants. From the wallet he presented Georgie with a business card that his lacrosse coach had made them print to hand out to college scouts. On the card was his contact information both phone and email.

He rubbed the back of his head as he handed the card over to the girl. "I know it's really lame but my coach said it will help me get a foot in at a few good schools.".

She took the card from him and turned it over with a small smile, shrugging as if to say that she didn't mind.

As Georgie started to pack up her camera and say her goodbyes Max looked to his car. He wasn't done with his interaction with this mysterious girl. "Do you need a ride anywhere? I guess I'll owe you for an awesome picture of me? of me?" he grinned broadly at her.

Georgie was seriously judging herself for thinking of taking up his offer. She already knew he was someone not to mess with, and knowing herself she'd probably get too caught up in his sense of fun, fall deeply in love with someone guaranteed to break her heart and be propelled back into cliched teenage angst. But again...It was Max Wallenberg after all, and he was pretty cute. Damn it! "I'm er...I'm not going anywhere at the moment."

"Oh... Ok! Well..." Max's shoulders slumped in defeat.

What a failure. She wanted to hang out with the guy but she was saying that she didn't need a ride? Georgie resisted an eye roll as she scraped her sneaker against the sandy floor. God, she'd have to come up with something to make him stay then.

"I'm free though, so you can owe me an adventure?"

A wide smile spread across the young man's face yet again when she made the proposal of an adventure. He face scrunched up as he thought about what they could get up to on a Sunday afternoon. As if a switch was flipped inside his head Max's face sit up like a light bulb. "Do you like dogs?!" his smiling face eager to hear her answer.

When Georgie heard him say that her face spread into a huge grin. She'd always wanted a dog but her dad was allergic so she took every opportunity to be near one."Are you kidding? I love them!"

"Alright! I think I have just the thing for us to do! Come on." he chuckled and jerked his head towards his car. As he approached it he took the sweater he had thrown in earlier and folded it neatly before he put it in the back seat so that Georgie could sit shotgun. When you thought of Max you would think that his car would be filthy and a mess but his car was something he kept clean, neat and always with that new car smell. He straightened up and held the door open for her huge smile still intact.

Georgie stepped into the car with a tiny nod of thanks as he held the door open for her with all of the boyish charm she would've expected of him. As she sat in the seat she fiddled a bit with her fingers and tapped her sneaker impatiently against the floor of the car. She considered asking him about the adventure he was planning but decided against it. Maybe they could talk about other things instead.

Max jogged around to the drivers side and got in carefully closing the door behind him. He turned down the music to a pleasant level so that it was more of a background notice before he reversed down the dirt road that led to the main road.

"So...How have you been since our English project?" Argh! What stupid question. Georgie smacked herself lightly on the leg before she waited for his answer.

He let out a laugh glancing quickly at Georgie before returning his gaze to the road. "Well you know, can't complain! Spent most of summer training and... uh you know." he cleared his throat remembering how his summer had ended. His smile faltered only for a second before it was back full force "What about you Georgie? I haven't seen you around school much. Was I too embarrassing during our poetry slam?" he let out another signature laugh.

Georgie noticed the absence of his smile, if only if it were for one second. Of course, he'd had so many girlfriends she'd forgotten about his latest one: Kellie. She didn't know the player felt.

"You were great, should've won an Oscar or whatever the poetry slam equivalent is! As for me, I've been fine. I've been gathering together a portfolio during the summer...you know how it is for college applications and everything." She rolled her eyes and waited for an awkward silence to ensue. She could ask about his ex, since that seemed to be the only recent news she knew about him...no, she couldn't do that. Georgie glanced out the window momentarily before she focused her attention to the front, bracing herself for no further conversation. Why did she think this was a good idea?

Nodding along as he heard her speak Max took the exit that lead back to his house. "I mean if your portfolio is as good as the picture you took of me? I know you'll get accepted to any school." he smiled at her again. Soon enough the car pulled up to the driveway outside the Wallenberg house. Max stepped out of the car and opened the passenger side door to let Georgie out. "I'll be right back!" he motioned for her to wait and disappeared inside the hose. After a few moments the door opened and a golden labrador bounded out towards the girl.

Georgie almost jumped in place with excitement as his dog raced towards her and she bent down, reaching out a hand to pet the golden lab as it circled laps around her.

"CHARLIE!" Max called as jogged after the dog as he excitedly circled Georgie barking joyfully. When he reached the dog he held Charlie down petting his belly "Sorry he loves meeting new people." He laughed looking lovingly down at his dog who now was on his back enjoying his belly rubs.

"It's no problem! What's his name?" She smiled down at the dog and got onto her knees so that she could also give the dog a couple of belly rubs. She laughed as he kicked at the air and flicked back her hair so she could get a better look at her surroundings. Man, were the Wallenbergs loaded...but weren't all students at Palm Beach this rich? Including her, of course. She scoffed to herself. Still, if this day would be just her petting this stupidly cute dog she'd be absolutely fine with it.

Max sat back down on the perfectly manicured lawn in front of his house leaning on his elbows as he watched his dog enjoying his new friend. "His name is Charlie and he's a real good boy! Isn't that right buddy?!" Max said giving him one last pet. Charlie turned around and jumped on the young man barking. The young man stood up brushing of his clothing. "I thought we could bring him along on the adventure. Come on follow me." He petted Charlie on the dog's side so that he would follow and headed towards the trail lined with tall bushes leading behind the neighbourhood.

Georgie reluctantly got up from her place on the ground, giving Charlie one last belly rub before she followed Max down the trail. What in the world was he planning for them to do? When she said adventure she thought he was going to refuse, or at least choose a normal levell thing like cliff diving or RV racing but this?

“Uhm Max, Where are we going?” She asked, turning to look at an all too eager Charlie passing along beside them. God was this whole family photogenic.

"You'll see!" He laughed, but then stopped and thought about it and then let out a signature booming laugh. "Oh! I just realized that this all looks and sound pretty weird right? Don't worry it's a public place!" and almost as soon as he said it they arrived at the end of the trail. A big man made lake came into sight and Charlie ran towards it but then excitedly ran back to them as to tell them to hurry up. "He loves the water. I think he's part fish actually." Max smiled as they arrived at the small pier leading ou the middle of the lake.

At the end of the pier Charlie stood waiting impatiently wagging his tail. Max grabbed a tennis ball that he had stuffed down his back pocket and threw it out into the water with Charlie flying after it with a big splash. "See?" Max said looking back at Georgie.

Georgie watched as Charlie took a big leaping jump into the water and laughed as he paddled around. The weather was unbelievable nice and Georgie felt the heat of the sun on her arms, making her shiver with delight. Wind rustled across the water and caused small waves that mimicked those she liked so much in the ocean. The smell of grass and freedom was on the air. She liked it.

”Are we going for a swim then?” She asked, smiling. Not too adventurous but not too tame an activity either. She was literally itching to get in the water and she didn’t care if she had to swim fully clothed. That lake was taunting her. So without waiting for a reply from Max she did something only Georgie would do. She placed a hand on his back and gave a small tiny push yelling out “Race you to the other side!” before she jumped in herself, flailing to keep from drowning and taking off at full speed.

"Oh really? Hell yeah!" The boy yelled after her. In a swift movement he took of his shirt and pants so he was only in his Calvin Klein boxers before he dove in. Charlie barking excitedly as he paddled around Max before hopping up to the pier again shaking his body to get rid of the excess water. Speeding after Georgie Max caught up to her about half way splashing water at her as he passed. "You know I used to be on the swim team right?" He taunted as he looked back at her.

Swimming fully clothed was beginning to be a problem but Georgie powered on, calling back to Max tauntingly “Oh really? Show off your skills then!” She smiled and kicked through the water. There was no doubt he was going to win but she always liked the idea of a challenge. As she raised her head over the water she saw the now fully shirtless Max and almost gasped, swallowing in a small amount of lake water before she shook her head at herself. Focus, Georgie. She was going to win.

His brilliant smile didn’t leave the boy’s face as he backstroked to let her catch up again. As they got close to the small pier on the other side Max reached out and tapped the wooden pier in victory. He hoisted himself up on it running his hands through his wet hair mimicking Charlie as he shook his head to get most of the water out. He laughed as Georgie came closer, he stretched his arm out and grabbed hers and helped her up on to the pier so that she could sit beside him.

Georgie panted as she grabbed onto his hand and pulled herself up, water droplets running off of her clothes staining the wooden deck beneath them. She pulled her now damp white shirt a bit away from it's position sticking tightly (and revealing quite a lot) to her body but sighed when she discovered it was a moot point. At least something was on her right?

“That was a close race! I’m impressed.” he complimented as he fell back and laid on his back breathing heavily.

"Thank you." Georgie took a mock bow with the tip of her head and brushed back her wet hair, leaning back and lying next to Max. "Thank you for bringing me out here by the way, you didn't have to. It was fun." She turned her head to the side so she could look at the boy and smiled a wide Georgie grin. Who knew Wallenberg could be so much fun? The sunlight beat down on them as Georgie waited for the water to dry on her skin. She closed her eyes briefly before opening them again and meeting his.

[eclecticwitch]

---

_{Location: Homecoming ===> Home
Interactions: Breifly with Stella
Color: AD74AD}

---

Penny stood from her table and joined some other friends in dancing and shenanigans and all-around fun. She’d had quite a bit to drink at this point but was barely feeling any of the effects. The party was soon over. She couldn’t find her date anywhere, Stella had disappeared, and she hadn’t gotten any assurance of getting with anyone this evening. Besides the fun bits with the fights, it had been a bust. Not to mention she never got the chance to drug a certain fuddy-duddy.

When she arrived home it was dark and quiet. The staff had gone home by this hour. Lonely. She ran a hand through her curls only to get her fingers tangled in her hair. She grimaced as she worked them out and tossed the clutch she had brought onto the kitchen counter. Penny opened up a bottle of vodka and some orange juice. She used it as a chaser for each sip of vodka she took from the bottle.

Plopping down on the couch she began to search through her phone to find anyone to spent the night with. Most of her usual lovers were out of town or with their families. She had even gone so far to text Max and even more desperately Kavi. Neither answered. She leaned her head back against the sofa and stared at the ceiling. She loathed being alone. It gave her too much time to think. So, she chugged from the liquor bottle and then a drink of juice. Maybe if she got black out drunk enough she wouldn’t have to think about things.

The next morning she awoke to find the empty bottle of vodka next to her on the couch and the orange juice spilled on the table. Blearily she rubbed her eyes and yawned before cleaning up her mess. She didn’t have much of a hangover and a line of coke did wonders to wake her up refreshed. The young woman showered and took the time to straighten her hair today. Make-up applied and a simple tank paired with daisy dukes and her school sweater completed her look.

Penny spent much of her day preparing snacks, drinks, and the pool for Stella’s eventual arrival. Her heart and smile beamed when she got the text message from her cute little star. Penny quickly wrote back:

Looking forward to it lovie. :kissyface:

---

---

---

_{Location: Homecoming ===> Home
Interactions: Breifly with Papa Ro
Color: E0633C}

---

Kavan, as any gentleman would, had worried over her. When there was the mention of calling an ambulance she had been adamant that she was fine. They should just go home. She hated ambulances. And the people inside of them. And she would rather die of a heartattack than ride in one of those death traps.

So home she went. On the ride her heart settled and she felt that she was doing much better - even talling Kavan so. The limo dropped them off. She waved awkwardly to Kavan and thanked him before going inside. She greeted her fathers who cooed and wanted to know all the details. Bea told them everything. Even about the part where her heart had started to hurt. The fathers of course worried and the girl was then rushed to the hospital where one of Papa Elliot’s doctor friends looked her over. She was pronounced completely healthy and it was likely just a panic attack.

Bea rolled her eyes at this diagnosis. She NEVER panicked. Okay, maybe she tended to panic but it tpically ended with things being thrown or a screaming breakdown. None of this heart hurting business. Her dads accepted this and back home they went. After a quick shower and make-up scrubbed from her face she curled up into her bed for a good night’s rest.

The next morning she was greeted by that lovely scent of coffee. She wandered down the stairs in her loose white long sleeve and She-Ra pajama pants. Rubbing her eyes she plopped down at the breakfast counter and found that a mug of black coffee had mysteriously appeared in front of her. The tired girl didn’t question it and just sipped. Peeled oranges, apples, and one buttermilk pancake were the next things placed before her. The syrup was in a small ramikan next to her plate, she could not stand it if the syrup was actually on the pancake. She had to dip it. She looked up to find Papa Ro leaning against the counter and sipping his own cup of coffee.

“Wheres Papa E?” she inquired.

“Called in to work, client needs to discuss a face lift right now or some such.” He chuckled lightly and the girl ate her breakfast with no other comment.

When she finished she asked, “Could I have some friends over?”

“Course, whoever. I’ll be in my office working on some designs if you need me.” He grabbed his cup, kissed the top of her bushy head, and disappeared down the hall. Bea flipped open her cell phone and individually sent out the same text message to each person while she finished her coffee.

Want to come over? Watch stupid movies and shit?

This text message was sent to Georgie, Jun, Mara, Millie, and Aaliyah.

She almost sent one to Jordan too. But the thought of him having had so much fun with Chanel. Never coming to say hello. Disappearing. Her heart began to hurt again and she clutched the front of her shirt. Breathing steadily the hurt went away. No… maybe it wouldn’t be good to invite him. Would she look too clingy? Bea flipped the phone shut again and placed the dishes in the sink.

[AlteredTundra]

_{Featuring Marco and Soleil Castillo}

The one thing that he hated most about having any form of an injury was how he always woke up uncomfortable and in some form of pain. And despite Sonny’s tough exterior and when he inflicts pain to others, when it came to dealing with pain himself, he was, as Drea would call him, a big baby who can’t handle a little pain. He usually would disagree, but boy-oh-boy, Sonny was not in the mood this morning to deal with anything but the other side of his pillow. Anything else could fuck off or wait until it was a little later.

Coming from the bathroom, the sound of a flushed toilet in the distance, Sonny walked rather casually, clad in Pikachu boxers and a Nirvana T-Shirt, he was halfway to his room when he heard the sound of his mother call out to him. She must have heard him wake up, or maybe she saw him and he didn’t see her. Whichever the case, he was at the crossroads where he could pretend he didn’t hear her and hope that he was just hearing things or he could do the responsible thing and go see what she wanted.

Sonny stood in a blind spot from the staircase that led downstairs to the foyer and where his room was. After taking a minute and hearing his mother repeat his name, Sonny let out a sigh and went back to his room. If it really was so important she see him, she could come to get him herself.

Now back in his bed, no more than a minute later as Sonny was finally comfortable, in came his mom - or so she thought she was. Little did she know, he locked his door. A mistake Sonny would soon pay for.

“Jackson Torvald Drake Jr!” Viola Banks screamed, banging on his door until it forced a now somewhat worried Sonny to crawl out of bed.

As he groaned, he unlocked his door. He came to the sight of his mother’s livid face. He scratched his ass and just looked at her with the most annoyed expression he could muster. “Yes, mother?”

“Did you not hear me calling you?”

Pretending he didn’t, Sonny shrugged. “It was hard to hear when you didn’t say anything. Why? What’s up?”

“Marisol’s parents are downstairs.”

“Okay. And..?”

“They want to know where their daughter is,” Viola clarified, resulting in Sonny's complete understanding of her urgency.

Before he said anything, Sonny wasn’t given the chance. The only thing he was able to do was to be forced out of his room in the little clothing that he had on. He didn’t think his mother was actually going to allow him to come downstairs, but something interesting happened. His mother’s sense of urgency had, as Sonny saw, a desperate factor. Like she was more worried about Marisol and whatever her parents were going through more than she cared about how her son looked to company. Luckily for her, he grabbed his silk robe before she yanked him out of his room.

When they reached downstairs and they went into the family meeting room where a somewhat worried Soleil Castillo and a more obvious distraught Marco Castillo sat, Sonny’s father, to the boy’s surprise, was actually home. “Amazing. You’re not out and about.” Sonny managed to say before he felt the pinch of his mother’s finger on his arm. He gave her a nasty look before she gave one of her own. “What can I help you two with?” He asked as genuinely as he could, given the circumstances.

Sonny was plenty cranky and in a lot of pain. Not a good combo when he’s expected to be helpful.

“What the fuck happened to you?” Soleil asked, seeing Sonny’s nasal fracture.

Whether it was his sleep-deprived mind or just the general lack of familiarity he had with Sol (or lack thereof), Sonny found himself not quite prepared for her bluntness, yet he smiled at it nonetheless. “I imagine you know how it happened more than anyone. I lowered my guard and a cheap shot was thrown.” What they didn’t know was Salem actually caught him off-guard, but the hell he was going to let Soleil, of all people, know that.

“My boy, you need to take better care of that face of yours,” Jackson said, shaking his head.

“It won’t happen again, that I can promise you.” That was the absolute truth. Sonny wasn’t going to ever to let Salem Rivera get the better of him again.

“Anyway,” Viola interrupted the men and tomboy of the group and looked at Marco. The older man was well on his way of crumbling and bringing on the waterworks. “Marisol’s parents are worried about their daughter. They wanted to--”

“She didn’t come home last night!” Marco interrupted Viola, looking at Sonny. “Did she say anything to you? Like who she was staying with?” Marco asked.

He scratched his head, looking over to his parents. He couldn’t say it out loud, but they knew what he was thinking and the shrugged at him. “Well, I and Marisol aren’t on speaking terms, as you might know. And if not, well now I’m telling you: her and I aren’t on speaking terms,” he admitted to them, not mincing any words, it seemed.

“But you must know something?!”

“Well…”

“Go on, Sonny,” his mother said to him, the familiar voice she often spoke with when she was about to punish and or berate him.

As he sighed, he found some comfort in Sol and Marco’s gaze. Guilt overtook him as he saw Marco who, for all of his bizarre weirdness, was a good guy. A bit goofy like his own father, but Sonny found his weakness in seeing him in pain. “I don’t know where she is, but you might want to ask her homecoming date, Salem Rivera.” Somewhere deep down, Sonny knew namedropping Salem was a low blow, but he didn't’ give two shits about that freak of nature. “If anyone can tell you where she might be, it’s him.”

When he had told them that, Sonny saw a bit of light return to Marco’s eyes. It was at some point he had stood up and brought the little Drake teen into a hug. Sonny let out a grunt from the sudden embrace but also how his nose scrunched up against Marco’s broad shoulders. It was only a moment, but Sonny swore he could see The Light. Or maybe that was from the chandelier hanging above them. Either way, as soon as Marco realized what he had done, he let Sonny down.

“I’m so sorry, Sonny. Are you okay?” Marco asked, concerned for Sonny's weakened well-being.

The teen gave him a thumbs up. “I’ll be okay. I hope you’re able to find her.” If nothing else, Sonny didn’t want Marco to come over to his parent’s house on the verge of crying again.

As Sonny and his parents saw them off, Sonny waved to Marco, though Soleil didn’t join her husband quite yet. “I know you didn’t ask me, but I’m going to give you my advice anyway. You and Marisol go so far back. Fix it so you don’t lose that friendship for good.” Soleil advised him, her usual bluntness showing a rare, supportive form.

And Sonny just smiled at her. He didn’t know what else to do. It wasn’t like he had the words ready, though it made him start to think. Even as he closed the door and started to head back to his room, Sonny still wasn’t sure what to do. Was he really so stubborn that he couldn’t try and make amends with Marisol? Of course, there was a lot that their parents didn’t know. And his mother had tried to get him to do the right thing. Now, Marisol’s mother was doing the same.

As he closed his bedroom door and laid back-first on his bed, Sonny just stayed like that for about ten minutes. His phone was near him. He glanced at it and he still had the photo of the lake where he and Marisol had their first time. That made him go through his photos and saw so many pictures of them from their Junior year. They were so...stupid. The expressions she made and the ones he made him cringe, but also made Sonny laugh.

“So stupid,” he muttered to himself, tossing his phone onto his nightstand and turned to his side. And then Sonny suddenly propped up. Somewhere between almost falling asleep and thinking too hard on some things, he couldn’t very well stay in bed.

So Sonny got dressed. He kept the shirt he had on, traded his boxers for something less cringy and put a pair of jeans on and got his signature orange hoodie. In less than fifteen minutes, he was rushing down the stairs and brushed past his father. “Whoa, where’s the hurry, Flash?”

“Gotta make something right.”

“Oh, okay be sure to tell your--” Before Jackson could get the rest of his sentence out, the door had closed and Sonny was gone “--your mother where you’re going.” And it fell on nobody’s ears but the family dog who was sitting in front of Jackson, whining somewhat. “Fine, you must be hungry.”

Meanwhile, halfway on the road, Sonny drove in his truck on his way to the mall, though as he came to a red light, he pulled out his phone and dialed Marisol’s number, though it went straight to voicemail. “I know you’re ignoring me, but we need to talk. I don’t care how mad you are, but if I meant anything to you, you’ll meet me at the mall.”

As he left that, Sonny took off, speeding towards The Gardens Mall. Whether Marisol showed up or not was up in the air. At most, he could get some quality thinking time.

[Hero]

---

---

Once she had sufficiently bruised Lucas' arm enough, Victoire had decided to leave the pair in his room and be on her merry way. Or at least she wasn't stomping out like she usually did. As she passed the kitchen she spotted her father and her mother-to-be speaking, the former giving some sickening lovey-dovey eyes to the latter as she held his hand. Neither noticed her walking by, either choosing to ignore her or just not noticing as she slipped into the garage. Her eyes searched for her Mercedes, only remembering once again its fate before climbing into the lesser Bentley. Truthfully the car was fine, she was just attached to her old car.

But there was little time to linger, and once she was settled in, she made sure to connect her phone via Bluetooth before opening the garage. Once she was in the clear, Victoire drove off, going up the familiar road. Her phone beeped with a message, and she assumed it was Mara until she was informed it was a photo from Jun of all people. A gif, actually, but she wasn't able to see it until she came to a stop at a red light. Of course. Why the hell was he able to get under her skin so easily? She wanted to blame stress, but really, she was just frustrated with how insistent his annoyances were.

"Text Moron," Victoire said, waiting for the little sound before she would continue. "Call me whatever you want as long as you leave me alone." Lame, but for fuck's sake she was going to get a permanent migraine if she had to continue to interact with him.

Once that passed, she would speak again. "Text Mara," She sighed, happy her phone was used to her exasperated tone. "I hope you're up already, otherwise I'll be your wakeup call. I'll be as loving and gentle as an old timey alarm clock so be up so we can have brunch, I'm starving."

After that was sent, she ran her ran through her hair, relaxing against the seat as her fingers tapped the steering wheel. Shit, she never did run into Stella at the dance. The girl was odd but she meant well, and with the Kavi disaster as well as dodging Jun all night she didn't even try to look for her. "Text Stella," She said, clearing her throat. "Hope your night went well." She probably should have said more but eh, good enough.

---

_{@Inkarnate@Altered Tundra}

[mickilennial]

---

_{Lubitsch Residence || Palm Beach, Florida
October 7th, 2018}

---

“You need to hold—stop, oh my god, you aren’t—hold your lane—don’t do it! Don’t. And you’re dead. Great. I would have the worst team and the worst luck today.”

Mara groaned, her fingers sliding across her keyboard as she tried to navigate the best attempt to salvage her situation. That solution being the video game she had been playing since she got home from Homecoming. As far as she was concerned, she wasn’t tired and hadn’t made a mistake since she had entered the game’s player lobby, though she did admit she was getting a little peckish. As she finished off the energy drink that had been sitting on her desk for the last half hour, she took a breath of relief as she looked over her K/D ratio and other stats following the loss caused by her overzealous teammate. At the very least, she couldn’t be upset at herself for failing.

As she went to re-queue, a discernable alert from her phone drew her attention before she could decide if she wanted to try another game or not. As she read the message she sighed. She had expected to stay indoors all day, not caring about her appearance and caring even less about her mother’s whining, but apparently it was today that she would be forced to have a social life. Fortunately enough, her disdain wasn’t all that extreme. After a night like Homecoming she couldn’t blame Vic for wanting to mentally wash herself of any leftover angst. Plus, food did sound real nice.

“Noted.” She sent a quick reply before closing the game out and heading for her bathroom for a long overdue shower.

[mickilennial]

---

_{Golden Lakes Park || Palm Beach, Florida
October 7th, 2018}

---

“Two weeks.”

J.J. took a light breath as he released the basketball from his fingertips. Keeping his eyes forward as it passed through the net. He had decided to wake up early so he could spend some time practicing on a court and not in what Crown Heights thought was good enough for their gated community. For anybody at Crown Heights who went to King’s Academy, the thought of not practicing at a proper court was laughable. Golden Lakes wasn’t too far of a drive and while it wasn’t up to par of the great parks around the country, it was about as good as J.J. could find on short notice. And good was way better than the alternative, especially since King’s Academy was due for their basketball tryouts in only two weeks.

He knew he was a great prospect with a great track record in New York, but he couldn’t risk getting passed over. And even if he knew he was an easy lock for the basketball team at this weird new school in Florida, he’d rather practice than sit at home agonizing over it as he went over the same youtube clips over-and-over of ESPN talking about the upcoming season in the NBA. He just wasn't the sitting still kind of guy.

He walked over to where the ball hit the ground, scooping it up. Dribbling back to the three-point line. His thoughts, however, weren’t entirely on the early morning practice of things. King’s Academy, as far as he could tell was a different type of school and the idea of how different things were honestly made him a little worried. Since he had transferred in he had experienced mandatory dances, a baseball-themed assault, and the most awkward Homecoming he had ever imagined. He was just glad that the girl he was paired with wasn’t like the girl who went apeshit in the parking lot that one day. Aaliyah King didn't seem the type to be a diva and ultimately he was happy about that despite Maya's 'lecture' making him second guess his treatment of the whole Homecoming situation.

As he tried for another jump shot his phone came to life, almost right as the ball hit the ground. He immediately went to his duffel bag and looked to see who was calling him at this time in the morning; though, he had a feeling he knew who.

Speak of the black devil.

He sighed, hitting the ‘answer’ button.

“You’re up early.”

“No shit. You still at that stupid ballpark?”

J.J. half-laughed as he went to grab his ball. He knew he was going to be dragged into something his sister needed from him. “Yeah. What's up?”

“I’d like to check out that mall nearby. The Gardens? Be cool if you’d help make that happen. I mean, it's not like you got anything better to do. Plus, you can tell me how disappointed Aaliyah was with your stupid ass self. I've gotta know if I have to disown you.”

“Yeah, fine. Was pretty much done here for the minute, anyway. I'll see you in fifteen.”

He sighed as he walked back to his car. So much for practice.

[eclecticwitch]

---

_{Location: The Mall
Interactions: None
Color: 98AC90}

---

For Guy homecoming was miserably boring. His date had wandered off, embarrassed to be seen with some guy in an ill-fitting hand-me-down suit and driving a car older than ten years. So he had spent most of his time in a corner, drinking the punch and watching others have fun. He hadn't quite fit in at the school since the beginning. Rich kids.

So this morning he decided he was at least going to do something teenagers did. Besides, his mom's birthday was coming up so he had to shop for a gift. Sipping at his smoothie he meandered from store to store. Nothing inside seemed to interest him much. Or rather, would interest his rather strange mother. He certainly didn't want to get her more cooking things. The woman had more than plenty.

As he was looking through a window at some heels, he spied in the reflection someone familiar. He turned and found Aaliyah going into a clothes store. He hesitated too long to go after her and say hi. Wouldn't that be silly to run after her? Maybe he could just sort of... go to the same store and bump into her? Why was he freaking out about this?

[Venus]

Cause I'm in too deep, and I'm trying to keep up above in my head instead of going under.

The Devil of Crown Heights was in deep shit.

The better part of his Sunday morning was spent with his head hanging over the toilet bowl, throwing up and questioning his poor decision-making. At some point, Santiago had finally mustered up the courage to trudge up from the floor and straight into the shower, vigorously scrubbing away the stench of vomit and regret that had stuck to his skin. When he was satisfied he was back to a halfway functioning human state, the young man had made his way down to the kitchen, wearing nothing but a pair of gray basketball shorts.

With it being the lovely Sunday afternoon that it was, Diablo had assumed his parents would take advantage of their day off to enjoy each other’s company: have brunch at some upscale Miami bistro, take a ride on the yacht, play a little tennis… Everything but be home. But, of course, life was having a blast with dealing him all the shitty cards in the pack. No sooner than his feet had reached the bottom of the stairs, he heard his parents’ voices coming from the dining room, laughing and conversing in fast Spanish.

“Puñeta...” the boy cursed under his breath, shaking his head in frustration. The one day where he needed his parents to be away was the day they’d chosen to spend some quality time at home.

“Hey there, handsome!” Gabriela called out to her youngest son the second Santiago entered the fray, shooting him a wink and blowing a kiss in his direction. “How’s my baby doing today?”

“I’m fine,” Diablo said simply, walking over to her to kiss her cheek even though he knew that sweetalking her wouldn’t soften the blow in any way.

“How was last night, champ?” Manuel asked him, taking a bite of his steak and eggs plate.

“Fine, it was fine,” Santiago replied, giving his father a quick hug and taking position in front of both his parents at the table. He could feel the questions about his suspicious demeanor beginning to form, so he decided to just rip off the bandaid and deal with the fallout that would inevitably come from his news.

“Look, there’s something I have to tell you guys, and… It’s not something you guys will like very much,” Diablo began, feeling the nervousness starting to bubble up in his empty stomach.

“Oh God…” his mother said, dropping her fork and letting it clatter loudly against the fancy china. Worry was painted all over her face as her hand moved to hold her chest. “Did something happen? Are you okay?”

“Is it the Lambo?” his father asked, grimacing at the mere thought of the high-end vehicle he’d paid an arm and a leg for having suffered a tragic fate because of his son’s recklessness.

“No, it’s not the Lambo…” Santiago stammered, mentally kicking himself for even starting this conversation in the first place. The young man cursed in Spanish under his breath, right hand immediately going to rub the back of his neck while his gray eyes darting everywhere except his parents’ faces.

“What is it, then?” Gabriela pressed, her usually warm tone now laced with growing panic.

There was a brief moment of hesitation before Diablo finally muttered in a low voice, “I got a girl pregnant.”

At the young man’s words, a tense silence came upon the Fernandez’ dining room. Gabriela’s jaw had dropped with shock, eyes wide and unblinking. Meanwhile, Manuel’s hand had jumped to his face, rubbing it as if it would wipe away the news his son had just shared with them. The silence permeated the air for a good few minutes until, finally, the oldest male decided to break it.

“Who’s the girl?” Manuel asked his son, blue eyes shut and with his hand still covering his face.

“April Foster,” the boy said in a low voice, looking down at his feet now.

“Ah, shit,” Manuel muttered, grimacing and shaking his head. “Jamie and I play tennis together sometimes. I bet he’ll have a lot to say about this...”

Gabriela, however, was not the least bit interested in hearing about her husband’s leisure activities with acquaintances, and wanted answers to the million questions now swimming in her head. The Latina’s shock had now given way to anger, and her death glare had since not moved away from her youngest son. The boy could feel her stare burning him down to his core.

“How long has this been going on, Santiago?” she questioned in a demanding tone, bringing the attention back to the bombshell that had just been dropped in her lap.

“Three years,” he mumbled with a shrug.

“Three years?!” the woman repeated in disbelief, suddenly standing from her chair and rising to her full height in front of her son. And although Santiago had a few good inches on her, the young man now looked more like a scared puppy than the alpha male that swaggered around the vicinity of Crown Heights. “You’ve been seeing this girl for three years, yet we’re just now hearing about her? How does that work, exactly?”

“It’s not that serious, Ma-” he began to protest, but was quickly cut off by his very upset mother.

“Are you hearing yourself right now, Santiago?!” Gabriela cried out, eyes wide with frustration at her son’s stupidity. “You have the nerve to stand here telling me that things between you and this girl ‘aren’t that serious’, but you’ve been sleeping around with her for three years and she’s pregnant with your kid?! How is that not serious to you?!”

“I don’t know, Ma!” Diablo whined, running his hands through his hair. “We were just messing around all the time. I never thought-”

“That’s exactly what you weren’t doing: thinking,” Gabriela interrupted, letting out a sarcastic scoff.

“I never thought I’d get her pregnant,” Santiago finished, shoulders slumped in defeat.

After glaring at her son for a few more seconds, Gabriela fell silent, and began pacing back and forth. Both Diablo and Manuel knew the wheels in her mind were turning, frantically looking for a solution for the mess the boy had done. It had always been like that with the Fernandez’: Diablo screwed up, he confessed to his parents in a bout of guilt, his mother chewed him out but eventually found a way to clean up after him. But judging from the serious expression in her face, both men were beginning to think that Diablo had finally gone too far.

“You have to marry her, Santiago,” his mother finally said, stopping her frantic pacing to stand face to face with her son again.

“What?!” Santiago and Manuel exclaimed in unison, staring at Gabriela like she’d lost her mind.

The men’s reaction only served to infuriate the Latina further, because her already raised voice now turned into vicious shouting. “What do you mean, ‘what’?! You fucking heard me! You already knocked the poor girl up, so the least you can do is make an honest woman out of her! You think you can get away with getting the milk for free but not buying the damn cow?! Not under my watch!”

“Ma, this isn’t the 1900’s. I’m not about to marry some chick-”

The crisp sound of an open palm hitting flesh echoed across the walls of the Fernandez household. “That ‘chick’ you’re speaking about is the mother of your child now, Santiago Emmanuel. You better show the girl some fucking respect,” Gabriela spat, glaring at her son as if he’d personally insulted her.

The young man just stood there, cheek stinging and red with the clear imprint of his mother’s hand. He didn’t dare say a word, resigning himself to listening to whatever she had left to say.

Meanwhile, Gabriela’s brown eyes now swam in unshed tears of anger, disappointment and -dare she say it?- shame. Her son’s actions were certainly not a reflection of the values she’d taught them at home, and yet she still felt like she’d failed as a mother. Had she been to lenient on him? Had she given him too much freedom, too much trust, and too little time? Whatever it was, it certainly was too late now. The damage was done, and because of her parenting fails, she was going to be a grandmother.

Finally, after wiping away the tears that escaped her eyes, Gabriela spoke again. “I don’t know how you’re going to do it, Santiago, but you’re going to cut the bullshit, you’re going to grow a pair and you’re going to make this shit right! I don’t care what it takes, but you will take responsibility for this mess! And not just for your selfish ass, but for that poor girl and that poor baby, who has no fault of your goddamn stupidity!”

And with those words still hanging in the air, Santiago’s mother stormed out of the dining room, leaving the two men alone with their thoughts.

[fledermaus]

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^{𝑺 𝑨 𝑳 𝑬 𝑴 𝑹 𝑰 𝑽 𝑬 𝑹 𝑨}

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The taste of sin shouldn’t taste so delicious, but that’s why it’s called temptation, Salem supposes. Salem woke up alone the morning after the dance, the side of his bed still warm underneath his searching palm. It’s been a long time since he’s felt – no, Salem shouldn’t go down that path of thought. Last night was a mistake, it was simply the booze and the testosterone getting in his head – it wasn’t the way Marisol felt against his hand or how sweet she looked underneath him, not at all. This was unfair to Gwen, no matter how you look at it; cheating is wrong, his father has proven that on multiple occasions.

It didn’t stop Salem from climbing into the shower with Mari only a minute later; Salem always has been enslaved by his desires rather than the other way around. But he couldn’t do this to Gwen – no, after today, he would be the perfect boyfriend. He would never complain about shopping sprees ever again and would take her to all the vegan restaurants. Sal and Mari pinky promised each other it would never happen again; silently, Salem also swore to Gwen he would never do it again.

It should have been a relief when Mari climbed into her uber and left, his temptation being snatched from him and he could breathe easy. He mostly felt alone, though. The house was empty, again, and he hated it when it was empty. Just another reminder his family is as broken as the rest of America’s. Well, it’s a weekend, so Salem could just sleep.

Like God heard his woes and decided to punish him for his wanting, just as Salem’s eyes closed, the door opened with a sharp snap and stiletto heels tapped a cruel rhythm on his floorboards.

“Good morning, cucciolo.” Caterina Rivera clasped her hands in front of her navy-blue pencil skirt and stared at Salem with a sly smile. “You are still in bed.”

“Astute observation, mamma. Is there a question in there?” Salem snarked back, rolling onto his back and looking up at his cold mother with a cheeky smile.

Caterina only smiled indulgingly, not bothering to react to Salem’s playfulness. “There are many questions there. I see your vocabulary hasn’t suffered while I was away.”

“Not a single bit.” Salem watched Caterina carefully as she walked around his room, moving her finger across his furniture. He wonders if she can smell the sex in the air, or if he’s just hyper-paranoid; his mother was a patient woman, in the scariest of ways, but she would like Gwen a lot more than she would like Marisol.

Caterina came home earlier than she was supposed to be. She was still supposed to be on her business trip for another week; it was an unwelcome surprised, if Salem was to be frank. While he loved his mother and missed her, the fact remained that if she was only thirty minutes earlier he would have been caught in his most indecent act (in both physical and spiritual matters). His mother paused at the window, before turning sharply on her heel and looking at him.

Pursuing her lips, Caterina gave Salem a stern look, “I’ve heard from Matteo.”

Salem has never been more relieved to talk about his father. “Did you?”

“I said I did, didn’t I?” Caterina always did hate beating around the bush and preferred speaking as precisely as possible, “He says you were quite mad at him last night. Call him by noon to apologize.”

Just like that, Caterina exited his room and clicked the door shut behind her.

Salem’s blood boiled at the command and he stared at the scratches on his knuckles from the night prior. He would rather die than apologize to his dick of a father, not now.

As if to remind him of his deadline, Salem’s phone began ringing from the floor where it had fallen out of his pocket when – Salem reached over his bed and picked it up. A stupid part of him hoped it was Marisol and his heart fell into his stomach when he realized it was from Gwen. He couldn’t talk to her after last night, not yet, and he didn’t want to talk to his father. Salem just wanted to sleep and be alone.

Before he even realized it, Salem had reared his hand back and thrown it against the wall. Huffing with anger, he scrambled into his clothes and grabbed his keys to stomp down the stairs to escape this hellhole. He passed by the dining room table where his mother was eating yogurt and typing on her keyboard.

“My phone broke last night.” Salem told her, his tone unapologetic, and he didn’t even bother trying to make it a convincing lie.

Caterina gently patted her lips with an embroidered napkin, “I am sure it did, cucciolo. Use the credit card I gave you to buy a new one and treat yourself to a nice lunch out. Remember to call your father.”

Salem didn’t reply, just stormed to his car and pulled out of the estate to drive to anywhere but here.