[IC] Project Untamed

[Melissa]

_{Location: Cafeteria
Interacting with: Sam @BitchTheFuck and Sol @Rosalia}
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Leo sauntered into the cafeteria with Sol by his side, head held high and shoulders pushed back. Most people would walk in and immediately begin scanning their surroundings, but Leo wasn’t most people. He kept his gaze forward and unwavering. In his eyes, he didn’t need to explore his options in the way that other people did. He was confident in knowing that he was the leader of his pack and because of that, he didn’t bother looking around to see if his other friends were there- Leo knew they’d find him if they were present.

Making his way over to the line for food, Leo’s stomach growled. He didn’t realize how hungry he was until this very moment, which is how it usually went. When he arrived on campus, the boy was relieved to find out the food was tolerable, as well as the fact he was given a strict diet to follow and not left to his own devices. Since he took his external appearance quite seriously, he appreciated the school’s attention to detail and noted his need for protein packed meals. After all, he wouldn’t be able to lift with a body fueled by greens alone.

Leo instinctively tapped his foot against the tiled floor as they waited to be served, twirling his student ID in between his nimble fingers. He was about to say something inherently crude and colorful to Sol, but was stopped by Sam joining them in line. “Hey dude- not sure, but we’re about to find out.” Leo threw a head nod in the other boy’s direction, and was then prompted to scan his ID as he approached the front of the line. The cafeteria worker proceeded to hand Leo a tray with a plate that held 3 pieces of bacon, 4 sausage links, 2 eggs, and 2 pieces of toast. Feasting on his hearty breakfast with his eyes, Leo smirked. “As per usual, we’ve got protein, protein, carbs, and more protein. Just how I like it.”

The boy motioned with his chin towards an empty table in the center of the room, signaling to Sam and Sol that they should set up shop there. Leo leisurely walked over and took a seat, immediately taking a bite of his breakfast as soon as he was settled. Washing the eggs down with some water, he looked up at his friends with a devilish grin. "I vote we skip this stupid assembly tonight, who's with me?"

[Sugar and Spite]

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Talya had thought that being out in the open and pretending to study would allow her to spot something juicy happening. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The usual morning joggers, blooming couples and sunrise just wasn’t enough. She was tempted to call and try to let her mother get her to come home, but a gut feeling told her that wasn’t a good idea. Even if she womanned up enough, she seemed to have misplaced her mom's number, and no matter how many times she tried… she couldn’t remember it. Her mother hadn’t called her since Talya had come to San Agustin, a fact that made her frown. Thinking about the whole situation was making her head hurt.

Gathering her things and putting her books back into her bag, Talya threw her book bag over her shoulder before beginning to make her way to the lunchroom. While she wasn’t hungry, maybe she could find a familiar face.

Upon entering the lunchroom, the brunette easily spotted Erica. Giving a small wave to her friend, Talya figured it was best not to poke her nose into whatever Erica had going on at that moment. While this went against her very nature of being nosey, Talya wasn’t about to ruin something for her friend.

Instead Talyas feet lead her right on over to Charles Mallet - a boring looking young man with what Talya assumed to be an even more boring personality. Of course she hadn’t really made an effort to talk to Charles since arriving at the school, but… perhaps he could change her opinion.

Or at least she hoped.

”Morning Charles,” she said, sitting down at the seat across from him. ”How’s your morning going?”

[Grimoire Gaming]

_{A @GhostMami & @spooner Collaboration
Featuring Wesley Slater & Theodore Wallstrom}
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Wesley jogged along the trail he usually took around the San Augustin campus. The trees were very pretty at this time of year, turning from their vibrant summer green to a more warm yellow in the fall. That said, it was still hot as hell in New Mexico, even at the end of October, it was almost 75 degrees. Wes took a break to catch his breath and fan out his hoodie to try to get some air flow to his sweaty torso. Bending over at the waist and huffing, he contemplated why the hell he thought it was a good idea to wear a jacket while running. Stupid arms.

Having his headphones in, Wes didn’t hear the approaching footfalls of another jogger as he took his little five second breather. The sudden appearance of one very large man at his side caused Wesley to jump in surprise. “Jesus! Shit!” Wes exclaimed and raised a hand to his chest as his already-increased heart rate began to pump in overdrive. “How’s it going, man? You scared me, I was… in the zone. This playlist you recommended is dope.”

Teddy couldn’t do much else than to smile down apologetically at his friend. “I’m good… good good.” He stretched his tired body. “Just a bit groggy still you know?” he yawned. “Oh, hell yeah! I’m glad you liked it!” His smile grew larger. “How about you, how are you holding up?” he asked as they jogged along at a leisurely pace.

“Saammee” Wesley agreed with Theo’s statement of grogginess. His body protested as he began to jog again alongside Teddy, but he pushed through it. He had someone around now that he had to make sure to look cool in front of, keep up with the big guys and fit in. Survival of the fittest… literally. Plus, it was good for him to push himself! “I woke up in my bean bag this morning, so I guess my body decided that was my bed for the night. I could sleep for like 8 more hours, at least.”

The pair jogged past a nice little pond where there were some ducks floating along. Wesley got the sudden instinct to go chase them but managed to fight it back and shook his head. Chasing ducks would not be cool. “So, what do you think today’s assembly is about?” He asked instead, trying to make himself forget about the ducks.

“Bean bag huh?” Teddy mused letting out a little laugh. “I don’t think I would fit on one of those,” he let out a louder booming laugh. His brows furrowed at the mention of the assembly, he had always hated those things. “Dude, I don’t know… or even care,” he said shrugging his shoulders as they ran along. “Something stupid I bet… something that they are probably forcing on us.”

When they came back around to the courtyard his stomach growled loudly as they stopped in front of the cafeteria building. Teddy’s face was leaking with sweat so he decided to take off his shirt and use it as a makeshift towel swiping it all over his face before hanging it around his shoulder. “You want to get some food?” he asked, breathing heavily pointing towards the entrance.

“Oh my god, YES.” Wesley reacted with utter glee at the mention of breakfast. His stomach practically started doing backflips in joy. “I could eat a whole cow! I always wake up hella hungry, but this morning is something extra. I want, like, a double cheeseburger. They probably won’t have that for breakfast though…” The lanky boy’s shoulders sagged in disappointment as the pair headed into the cafeteria.

The disappointment was soon replaced by a roaring hunger as the wonderful culinary aromas greeted them at the door. Wesley scanned his badge and went to go retrieve his pre-assigned tray of food. “Isn’t it kind of weird that they decide what we eat? Like… that’s gotta be illegal or something...” The aspiring future lawyer mused quietly to Theodore. That said, he was entirely pleased with the tray of food that was presented to him. It was no double cheeseburger, but it was a healthy helping of sausage, bacon, eggs, and a buttered english muffin. And the eggs were just like he liked them too — barely fried and extra drippy — also what some might call entirely undercooked. “Oh, sick, drippy eggs!” He said, thanking the lunch lady that provided him with them.

“Yeah… but I mean there really is a lot about this place that doesn’t make sense” Teddy lamented as he too swiped his student card and his own breakfast was handed to him. On his plate, there was a nice piece of grilled salmon and roasted grains with a side of fresh fruit. “But at least they always seem to give us just what we need.” He could feel his mouth water as the pair made their way over to an empty table.

As he sat down on his chair the cold plastic reminded him that he was in fact not wearing a shirt. It was too late for him to care at this point, so Teddy just grabbed his shirt from his shoulders and hung it on the empty chair beside him before digging into his nice piece of fish.

Wesley plopped down in his chair with lightning speed. He was sweaty and felt gross but this food was going to be oh-so-delicious. Eggs were his favorite, so he ripped a piece of english muffin and dunked it into the runny yolk before popping the morsel into his hungry mouth. Chewing feverishly he swallowed and then stabbed up a piece of sausage with his fork before looking up at his friend for the first time since before they’d walked into the cafeteria together. The hulking bear of a man was sitting there, calmly eating his own breakfast in all his glistening, shirtless glory. With a sausage link still hovering on a fork in front of his lips, Wes stared with his mouth agape. “Uhh….” Wesley uttered in a lust-swept stupor. “Theo? Your… clothes?”

“Hmm?” Teddy was too focused on the plate in front of him to hear what his friend had said. He looked up to see Wes staring at him. “Oh… uh yeah sorry,” he said touching his shirt, it was still wet with sweat. “I just feel a little gross putting it back on, I will if it’s awkward for you though,” he offered, looking around the cafeteria seeing that some of their peers were actually looking at them. He realized that his friend might not be as comfortable as him with eating without a shirt on.

“No! It’s…” Play it cool, Wes. Quick recovery, witty remark, say something! “You do you, man, it’s fine.” He carefully concentrated on his food rather than the increasing number of eyes that were probably on them. You know, just two guys… eating breakfast together… in various states of dress. Wesley mustered up enough confidence to shrug and take a bite out of the hovering sausage link, “It’s a good look for you.” He said as nonchalantly as he could while chewing.

[AlteredTundra]

_{A @metanoia & @BitchTheFuck Collaboration
Featuring The Salvador Twins}

Still caught up in the details of last night's dream, Billie had hardly touched her food. The memes weren’t doing their job. Nothing anyone had shared this morning had been funny. Did everyone in this place lack a sense of humor? School mandated phones had to be one of the dumbest things she had ever heard.

Hearing her brother's voice, Billie looked up to see his overly familiar face. While she was bitchy and rude to just about anyone who breathed, Nick had always been the exception. A small half-smile forming on her face, Billie sighed and sat her phone down on the table.

”I… know that we’ve both been having those weird dreams, but… last night…. Mine got even weirder. And I don’t know how to feel about it.”

The Salvador twins had always been lucid dreamers for as long as they could remember. Like most of the kids their age and especially most with a bond as close as the one they had, their dreams were often connected to each other. Maybe it played into the whole twin thing. If that’s all it was, Nicholas wouldn’t feel as disturbed about it as he was feeling right now. Seeing how bothered Billie was by it, he had to wonder just how detailed was it this time? Was there a name? Or was it just the same as it always was.

“Same dream, huh?” He sighed, turning to face Billie, his back to everyone else. “So what was weird about it?” He asked.

Leaning forward and crossing her arms to prop herself up on the table, Billie lowered her voice to make sure that no one close but Nicholas could hear her.

”So… the same girl was there, but I wasn’t in that house anymore? You know usually I have a dream where she and I are making breakfast or whatever, right? Anyway. I was with her again, but you were there too, and instead of a kitchen we were at this weird workout dance thingy and --” Realizing how fast she was talking and that she had said all of that in nearly one breath, Billie took a brief moment to calm herself so that she could hopefully talk in a pace where Nick could understand better. ”But it wasn’t just me, you and her in that setting either,” she said, knitting her eyebrows as she concentrated. ”There was this man and woman there. The guy… He had our jawline, for sure. His skin tone was like mine and when he smiled, it felt… familiar. Just like the original girl. Then the other lady…. She was pale, like you. The way she held herself sort of reminded me of how you do that kind of cocky stance with your arms crossed. It was just weird. In the dream, you acted as though you knew them, and they obviously all knew each other, and I felt like I had been there before. I just… I dunno.”

Most who knew Billie probably couldn’t follow her usual tangents, but Nicholas wasn’t most people. He not only followed and understood what she said, but as she was trying to find the point of it all, he curiously hummed, the telltale sign that he was trying to piece it together. “That’s not exactly the same,” he noted, mirroring Billie’s position as he leaned forward. “Do you think it might’ve been from one of those shows you watch? I mean, it sounds like a scene from something you’d watch.” As much as he wanted to remain serious, there was that part of Nicholas’ personality that couldn’t stop but make an unprompted, comical remark.

Her face shaping into more of a pout as she realized that her brother could be right, Billie huffed. ”No one on Grey’s has gone to Zumba,” she said, shaking her head quickly. ”That’s all I’ve been watching for weeks… I just…. I don’t get it. Why do we both keep dreaming about the same people?”

“I wish I could tell you, sis.” He breathed out another sigh, this time it was one that showcased his own disappointment about the dreams they’ve been having. He was frustrated that he couldn’t remember her either, or the others that popped into his head. Every so often, one of them would say his name, but that’s the furthest it ever went. It was the mystery he didn’t know the answers nor the questions to. It’s been like this for a few weeks and he has more or less given up on it.

Turning halfway around, though his head was still partially facing his sister, he looked around and saw some familiar faces. “Let’s not think about it right now, yeah?” He smiled at Billie, placing a comforting hand on hers. As he squeezed it, he said, “If we sit around dwelling on this mystery of our elusive dreamfolks, it’ll drive both of us up a wall. Instead, we could focus on...other things.”

Halfway into that, Nicholas’ eyes had wandered away from his sister’s face and those steel blue eyes found themselves locked with TJ’s, who sat across the cafeteria with Savannah, the pink hair-clad spitfire and Erica, the beauty who knew a few rivals but was up there. Nicholas had locked eyes with the redhead a few times since making himself home at the table with his sister. He caught her staring at him earlier. He didn’t say anything or turn around but now that he was, he couldn’t resist. There had always been something about her that drew him to her. She was always the reverse of what Frankie was: when he was even remotely close to her, he felt her warmth.

Reluctantly nodding, Billie uncrossed her arms to slide her tray off food to proper eating distance. ”Yeah… you got a point….”

Picking up the spoon and beginning to eat her oatmeal, the young woman took a bite before trying to talk again. Instead, when she looked up and saw her brother staring off into what seemed like outer space, Billie turned around to look at what had caught his attention - or rather who.

”Tyler Jane again? Seriously?” she scoffed. Scowling as she looked back at her brother, she huffed. ”Why?”

”Why you ask?” Nicholas gently laughed, gesturing his outside arm over to the table with those three objectively attractive girls and the one that, to him, stood out of the bunch. “Just look at her: that hair, her smile, and don’t even get me started on those freckles.” He glanced back at his sister. “She’s not like most girls. She can be as sweet as a red velvet cupcake but get on her bad side and you’ll find yourself at the opposite end of a kick so fierce you’d think she was secretly a kickboxer.” As he spoke, his eyes yet again fell on TJ, gazing at her with as much interest in her that he had in himself. “She isn’t anything like that other one.”

Instead of responding right away, Billie grunted, clearly unamused and displeased with her brother's answer. While the twins had always compared each others current and potential partners, they didn’t always agree. Now was one of those times. Tyler Jane had been an annoyingly perky thorn in Billie’s side ever since the start of the school year, and nothing had changed that fact so far. ”She’s obnoxious and only ever acts tough when she wants to make a scene. Come talk to me when she actually kicks someone’s ass.” Waving her hand dismissively, Billie began to eat one of the pieces of toast from her tray.

“Perhaps.”

Nicholas knew his twin didn’t exactly like Tyler Jane. It wasn’t a surprise when you really thought about it. The two couldn’t be further from being alike even if they tried. Billie, while sweet when she wanted to be, had the terrible habit of acting nasty to certain people. And while he knew Billie tried to do the right thing, sometimes she didn’t always portray that clearly. So it wasn’t a surprise that she never took a liking to TJ. Nicholas could even agree about everything Billie said while describing the cheery redhead.

“You might be right, sis. She’s everything you said and more, but there’s something you’re forgetting.” He took a final glance at TJ before turning back around, smiling at Billie. “That’s what interests me the most. The fact she is so different from all of the others. I mean, take Soleil for example.” His eyes glanced over where he saw Sol and Leo. “Is she pretty? Of course but she is a case of ‘what you see is what you’ll mostly get’.” His eyes fixated on Sol for a moment longer before returning them to his sister once again. “Don’t misunderstand me. Sol is an amazing person and she is a dear friend of mine, but as far as being interesting enough in that way, she doesn’t make the cut for me. But Tyler Jane?” He smiled, leaning his head on his raised palm. “There’s just something about her that I can’t put to words, but out of everyone here, she’s easily at the top of my list.”

Wrinkling her nose in disgust as she took another bite of her toast, Billie glared at her brother. ”Different my ass,” she grumbled. Standing up from the table, and picking up her tray, Billie allowed herself to give her brother one last small smile. ”I love you, but this TJ fest is getting on my nerves and is about to make me late for class. I gotta run. Talk to you later?”

Nicholas could only laugh at how easily bothered his sister always gets when he started talking about TJ. He didn’t talk about the redhead to piss her off. The last thing he wanted to do was anger the beast that dwelled inside her. She might appear cute and seem like she won’t hurt a fly, but the last person who incurred her wrath ended up losing three of their front teeth. “Yeah see ya later. Try not to punch out anyone’s teeth on your way.” Nicholas joked, of course, but what was truly scary about his sister is she would do just that to spite him.

As Billie had walked away, leaving most of her breakfast behind, Nicholas shook his head. He joked and teased her a lot for being so rowdy and quick to annoy, but seeing how some of her favorite breakfast foods were still left untouched filled him with a certain feeling of dread. He should have expected it in all honesty. The way she talked about that dream and how he noticed a rare tension in her limbs and her voice was less confident than it normally was, that alerted Nicholas to just how dire the matter was for her. He just hoped that she didn’t do anything foolish in her state, especially since he knows how the tiniest thing would set her off.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” He had to reassure himself of that because nobody else was going to worry about Billie as much as her twin brother did.

Standing up, he took the time to snag a piece of her buttered toast. It was cold but it was still food. After the night he had, he worked up quite the appetite and Nicholas would need some energy as he found himself once again lovingly focusing on Tyler Jane. This time around he wouldn’t just stand from afar, gaze at her with peak interest. Instead, as he took a bite of the piece of toast in his hand and tossed it aside, not knowing where it landed, he eventually made his way across the cafeteria and boldly stood near the table where the girls were at.

He didn’t pay much attention to the others, though he gave them all friendly waves. “Morning girls,” he said, shooting them a friendly smile. “Lovely morning isn’t it?” He said, fixating his gaze solely on Tyler Jane. “Hey Red. You’re looking as radiant as always.”

[spooner]

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Quinn had almost thrown her phone with the fright she got from a familiar blonde head appearing on her lap seemingly out of nowhere - yanking her out of the deep sea of thought she had been immersed in. It only took a second for her to recover from her shock, however, as she grinned down at her friend, pulling the earbuds from her ears to ensure she could hear everything Frankie was saying. Her eyebrows quirked at her correct guess, and she absent-mindedly ran a hand through her best friend’s hair which was currently splayed across her leg.

"You know me so well." She smirked. Normally, she wouldn't be this comfortable being so touchy with another person, but - as always - Francesca Allensworth was an exception for Quinn. She always found herself far more relaxed than her usual self when in her counterpart's presence, and ultimately in a better mood. She let her guard down while around Frankie - a rare feat in itself.

"Had another run-in with a tub of paint, hmm?" She gestured down at the girl's colorful fingers.

The blonde girl held up her hands to so the sunlight streamed through her fingers. The shades of blue and green that stained her fingers more noticeable now that she was outside. “I can’t start my mornings any other way, you know that!” she giggled.

"Any nude models hiding in your room?" She tutted.

"And so early on a Monday morning, Francesca."

Frankie just smiled dreamily up at her friend. “Well, not this morning…” she stretched her tired body across Quinn’s lap. “But some visitors have come and gone over the weekend.” she stuck out her tongue cheekily. She shifted her eyes to the side when she thought about how she had spent Friday night with Nicholas having their special kind of fun where they roast each other for hours and then make up in the best way possible. And then there was Saturday with Leo which was dedicated to pure animalistic lust.

“But you know me Quinnie… I never want them to stay.” she giggled as she sat up straight finishing her coffee. She put her back against the same wall as her friend looking at all of the students milling about.

Quinn did know - perhaps a little too well given her good friendship with one of Frankie’s conquests, Nicholas. She was not a stranger to chatting with him about his feelings towards her friend, and sometimes another girl, too; so she was well aware of their relationship. She had also heard more than enough when it came to Frankie and Leo - the pair’s similarities had not gone unnoticed by the brunette.

“What about you Quinn… you got yourself out there yet?” Frankie asked nudging her shoulder with her own.

Quinn laughed at that, shaking her head and trying her best to ignore the face that automatically popped into her head as soon as Frankie asked her. She had yet to honestly admit the feelings she felt when it came to said face to herself, so, for now, she had no intention of making any moves on that front.

“Nah, I’m all work and no play. The usual.” She smiled sideways at the girl next to her and went quiet for a second before forcing her stiff muscles to comply with getting up out of the position she had been sat in for perhaps a little too long.

“Oh well, another day awaits us.” Quinn announced dramatically, holding out a hand for Frankie to take to help her up.

Frankie sighed and took Quinn’s hand and stood up with a groan “You really should look into changing that… I have it on good authority that a lot of boys around here are lusting after you!” she laughed as she brushed off her denim overalls.

“And to tackle such a day, we need sustenance!” And so the pair made their way to the cafeteria, arm in arm. Rolling her eyes at Quinn ignoring her, Frankie gladly followed her best friend.

Quinn found herself surprised at how many familiar faces she recognized as they entered the cafeteria, slowing slightly as they went to collect their breakfast. She had tried many times to request that she skipped the morning meal - personally detesting the way eating so early made her feel - however her requests had time and time again been denied, so she had long-since decided to just suck it up. The food they were given was never too bad, anyway; it always seemed to be exactly what she had been craving at the time. And this time was no different. She grinned as a bowl of fresh berries was handed to her.

Quinn used the time Frankie took to get her own breakfast to sweep her gaze over who else was in the cafeteria. She made a mental note to herself to avoid where Sol, Sam, and Leo had settled themselves, knowing the tumultuous nature of Soleil and Frankie’s relationship. She personally didn’t have any problems with the girl, but nor was she particularly interested in a confrontation transpiring so early on a Monday morning.

As they walked through the cafeteria Frankie watched as her friend studied the route she believed to be the best way to avoid any drama. But Frankie never being the one to care headed straight towards the table where the ‘alpha’ trio sat. But she wasn’t stupid she didn’t want to start something this early in the morning, so quietly just passed the table. But as soon as she was behind Leo she shifted her tray to her one hand so that she could stroke the broad back of her boy toy with her free hand. Without saying a thing she squeezed his shoulder and looked back at him giving a flirtatious wink at him as she caught up with Quinn.

Quinn’s eyes traveled further across the room, offering a small smile to anyone who happened to meet her gaze, before it halted on a sight she was certainly not expecting to see. Theo. Shirtless. She gulped at the sight - hands momentarily tightening on her tray before she forced her eyes away from his torso, fearing that she had already been staring too long.

“You heard about the assembly tonight?” Quinn asked over her shoulder, a slight tremor to her voice, as she fell into step beside Frankie as they made their way to a table.

Frankie raised an eyebrow as she scooted her chair closer to the table. “Yeah, I read something about it… I’ll probably skip it!” she smirked “I can’t sit still for that long!”.

Quinn rolled her eyes at her best friend’s words. Typical. Always the conscientious student, she spoke up. “Well I’ll be there taking notes for you. As per usual.” The statement was paired with a smirk and a wink so that Frankie would know she had no problems with that, however the ever-so-slightly tense tone to her words had still not left as she was well aware of who was sitting at the table behind them. God, she needed to get a grip.

Frankie looked at her friend’s nervous face studying it to see if she could locate the reason for that small quiver in her voice. When she couldn’t find it her eyes traveled over Quinn’s shoulder and there she spotted the big oaf of a man that was Theodore Wallstrom. “Ah… there it is!” a sparkle could be seen in Frankie’s eyes.

“So… when you say all work and no play… does that mean even in your dreams… in the shower?” Frankie asked pointing her fork toward hunkulese’s table throwing her head back, her singsongy laughter ringing through the cafeteria.

Quinn almost choked on the strawberry she was currently chewing on, knowing exactly who Frankie was referring to without having to look to where she was pointing to. Damn her and her keen eye.

“What, Theo? We’re just friends.” She laughed off her friend’s suspicions for a second before her face became serious, leaning in across the table and towards Frankie to make sure no one else would hear.

Frankie stifled a small laugh “I didn’t say anything about ol’ Teddybear, that was all you” she feigned shock clutching her chest. “I mean I don’t blame you… look at him!” she tilted her head to get a better look.“But be careful cause I’ve heard that him and So-” she began before Quinn cut her off.

“Seriously, Frankie. Just friends. And I don’t wanna ruin that.” The finality of Quinn’s tone suggested that she didn’t want to talk about it anymore - at least, not right now. She would perhaps be a little less apprehensive if there were less prying ears surrounding them.

Another eye-roll was sent Quinn’s way “Fine… whatever.” she sighed and turned her focus back to her fruit platter.

“Besides, we have more important matters to attend to.” The seriousness in Quinn’s expression melted into one of excitement. “If I’ve heard correctly, there’s gonna be a party Friday night. And I’m pretty sure we’re invited.”

“A party?” she perked her head up. “Where? With who?” she asked quickly as she turned around to spot the group of girls all deep in conversation about what she guessed was this alleged party. Quinn must’ve heard the planning as they made their way over to the table. “Well we need to at least make an appearance!” she said as she popped the last grape in her mouth.

[Kitty]

_{Mentions: Sam @BitchTheFuck, Soleil @Rosalia, and Leo@Melissa}

“Hana! Just in time! You’ve been invited to our shindig, this Friday night. Don’t even try arguing with me, Savvy here already lost that one.”

”But… I…” Hana gave up before even starting an argument there. She resigned to the fact she was going to be dragged to a party and she would probably just chill in the corner of antisocialness.

”Okay. I’ll come.” The girl returned to eating her apple, just listening to the other three idly chat as she finished her breakfast. When she finished she set the core in a napkin and folded it up to dispose of. She was getting ready to say goodbye to the others when she was interrupted by none other than Nicholas appearing at the table.

“Morning girls. Lovely morning isn’t it?”

The small girl’s eyes widened and she offered a small wave back only for it to falter as she noticed Nicholas wasn’t even paying attention to anyone besides TJ. She blinked a few times confused as to why he said hi to everyone if he wasn’t even paying attention to anyone besides Tyler Jane. Hana shrugged it off before getting up herself and waving a goodbye to everyone as she headed to throw away the apple core.

In a way only the small timid girl is capable of, Hana stumbled over her own two feet at the worst moment possible. Falling to the ground, face first, a small thud was heard. And who did she become a clutz by? None other than the alphas of the school; Leo, Soleil, and Sam. Hana’s face flushed bright red as she pushed herself up, stumbling a bit and looked to the three before fleeing. Her face was almost the color of tomato as she ran out of the cafeteria and back to the Arts building. Her safe haven.

[smarty0114]

_{Location | Cafeteria -> Arts Building
Interacting With: Hana Jeong@Kitty}

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Bradley sat at his table, his eyes glued to a small, paperback book in front of him. His attention had drifted from the doorway some fifteen minutes ago, and he’d pulled out the novel to kill the time. The tray in front of him was now mostly devoid of food, his teeth chewing up the last cricket of the morning. It was dumb luck, or maybe some really bad luck, that Bradley glanced up to see Wes walking through the cafeteria with a shirtless Teddy Walstrom.

His breath hitched, and suddenly, there was a black hole in his stomach, devouring every feeling he’d ever felt, the good and the bad. The only thing it left were the crickets, which had sprung back to life and kicked up an orchestra of anxiety, and he realized that this was why he’d avoided people for so long before San Agustin. They always got his hopes up.

Thoughts turned to his past rejections, the times where he’d felt the same emptiness in his gut, only to come up… blank. He tried harder, pushed further into his mind. Surely, he was just struggling to conjure up the specifics. He could see it, almost, the haziest form of a memory, a life he’d lived. With parents, his parents, and a brother, a younger brother, who’s name he couldn’t remember. Why couldn’t he remember his little brother’s name?

Bradley was pulled from his spiralling thoughts by a thud, and the sudden hush that fell over the cafeteria. Coming back to reality, he caught the figure of Hana Jeong running from the cafeteria. He pursed his lips, contemplating for a moment, before standing up and packing away his things. Backpack over his shoulder, he walked his empty tray over to the trash cans, where he set it on top, and then followed Hana out of the cafeteria.

As he jogged after her, his brain finally spit out the name he’d been looking for. Brandon. That was his little brother’s name. Brandon. He said it, over and over in his head. It seemed so obvious, and yet, the name felt alien to his mind. “Brandon,” he said to himself. It felt just as alien on his tongue.

He caught up to her at the entrance to the Arts building, panting ever so slightly, and pushed those troubling thoughts from his head, certain that he’d begun to lose his mind, and resolute in his choice to push it off as long as possible. “Had a feeling I’d find you here. Uh, are you, like, good? That just looked like, you know, kind of a nasty fall,” Bradley said, stumbling slightly over his words as he tried very hard not to come across as a complete nutcase. He and Hana weren’t exactly close, but they’d worked together a few times, and if no one else was gonna go after her, he figured he at least could. Not to mention, he needed to get his mind off… well everything.

[Sugar and Spite]

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Taking his tray from the cafeteria lady, Sam frowned as he looked down at todays breakfast. He wasn't a fan of sausage, and would rather have pancakes or waffles in place of the second portion of meat. Sadly, he didn't really have a choice. Making himself something back at the dorms was always an option, but he was feeling his fair share of Monday laziness. Thanking the group of ladies that made his food each day, Sam stood at the end of the line waiting on his friends.

Watching the scene unfold around him, Sam leaned up against one of the counters and picked up a piece of bacon before taking a bite. His growling stomach and teenage boy appetite waited for no one. Nodding his head at Leo's comment as he continued to chew, Sam swallowed his bacon before speaking.

"Yo, I'm in. I hate those assembly things. All of us packed in there like sardines while I try not to fall asleep? Nah. I'd rather skip it any day."

As Theo and Wesley entered the cafeteria, Sam couldn't help but chuckle as he sat down with his friends. No doubt most of the girls in this room were about to be staring Theo's way. Who could blame them? A muscular dude who had just finished working out, strolling in shirtless? Even Sam couldn't help letting his eyes linger for just a few moments. It would be none other than the innocent Hanna that would break him from his daze as she fell at his, Sol's, and Leo's feet.

Before he even had time to ask "Are you okay?" the young woman had already ran away with an embarrassed and terrified look on her face. Shrugging his shoulders, he sighed.

"Well that was weird," he said, placing his unwanted sausage on Leos plate.

[Ejected]

^{(FC: Zolee Griggs; Dialogue: #DE563C)}

Watching Bradley Barron chow down on his unusual breakfast was more than enough to make Zakya suddenly lose her appetite; the young woman shuddered and watched through squinted eyes as the young man picked up the very last cricket from his tray and popped it into his mouth. Yeah, that was the last straw. Zakya dropped the half-eaten piece of bacon that she'd been holding for the last few minutes onto her plate before pushing the entire tray to the center of the table. "I guess that's what I get for being nosey..." the young woman muttered under her breath before returning her attention to the journal in front of her. And at the very bottom of the page, the young woman scribbled down yet another task on her to-do list: Ask Bradley about the cricket thing.

Soon enough, more of Zakya's classmates began to arrive in the cafeteria. First came Nick Grey, someone who Zakya couldn't help but admire. Next came Leo and Sol, both of them as intimidating as they were good looking. The last person who caught Zakya's eye was none other than Theo Wallstrom; As usual, the young woman practically swooned as she watched him enter the scene with Wesley by his side. It didn't help that the guy was shirtless and... glistening with sweat. Boy, the things she would do if she were given the opportunity. It was as Zakya absently watched the pair make their way to the breakfast line that she overheard something that piqued her interest. "If I’ve heard correctly, there’s gonna be a party Friday night..." Zakya heard a female's voice say from a table not too far from her; she strained to listen as the girl went into a little more detail before donning a mischevious grin. A party, huh?

In swift motions, Zakya closed her journal, stuffed it into her over-sized purse, grabbed her breakfast tray, and stood from her seat. The young woman then made a beeline for where Theo and Wes sat, tossing her tray into the garbage can on her way there. She figured she'd get at least one thing on her to-do list done early; After all, why wait until class to get a little flirting in? Sliding into the empty chair next to Theo, Zakya offered the pair a warm smile before saying, "Well gooood morning, you two! Theo, lookin' good as always. How are you two doing this morning? Oh, I'm Zakya, by the way... if you didn't already know. I don't think we've ever been formally introduced or anything like that. But I see you around all the time!" While Zakya's attention was mainly focused on Theo, her last few introductory statements were directed more towards Wesley than anyone else.

"Word on the street is there's gonna be a party this Friday night... hosted by those lovely ladies over there." As Zakya spoke, she nodded her head in the direction of Erica and Tyler. "You two plan on attending? Cause you definitey should!"

^{(FC: Diggy Simmons; Dialogue: #751B27)}

The sounds of an all too familiar Ludacris and Mystikal song pumped through Dwayne's earbuds and drowned out the sound of his feet pounding against the treadmill belt as he began his final cardio workout for the morning. Large beads of sweat dripped down his face, chest, and back as he jogged along with the beat, and a half-smile was plastered across his face despite the slight burning sensation he'd started to feel in his calf muscles. Exercising never failed to make Dwayne feel alive. It made him feel like himself. Plus, it was during his trips to the gym that he truly got the alone time he'd often found himself craving. It was then that he'd be left with nothing but himself and his favorite music. It gave him the opportunity to get his mind right before he'd have to spend the next few hours sitting in a classroom.

Soon, Dwayne's breathing had started growing heavy, and he knew by then that it was time to hit the showers and get himself ready for the remainder of the day. But it was as he paused his music and began to lower the speed on the treadmill that a distant and oddly familiar voice suddenly broke his focus. "Don't tell me you're giving up this early, D."

Dwayne quickly yanked out one of his earbuds and craned his neck to see who it was that had spoken to him, but spotted no one else in the room. "Weird..." the young man said to himself, before shaking it off and reaching for the button once more.

"Aw, come on, D! Twenty percent talent, eighty percent heart! Don't give up on me now!" The voice said once more, this time a little clearer than before. And it was then that Dwayne decided to jump off the treadmill completely rather than wait for it to slow down. With wide, panicked eyes and a clenched fist, the young man spun around as he searched for the source of this voice. And yet again, Dwayne was reminded that he was completely alone.

It took Dwayne a few minutes to recollect himself; the young man stood in complete silence as he continued scanning the room, his breaths slowing with every moment that went by. "Maybe I'm just hearing things..." he muttered sarcastically under his breath before finally grabbing his things from beside the treadmill and leaving the gym. The young man, a little shaken up from what happened, walked a little faster than he normally would. He didn't stop speed-walking until he made it back to his bedroom, and even then it took a minute for him to rationalize what he'd heard. It wasn't like Dwayne to be so easily bothered; the feeling made him more than uncomfortable. As he took a few minutes to shower and get dressed, the young man decided that the voice had come from his headphones. After all, he had been playing his music through Spotify; it was probably just some stupid advertisement, right?

Yeah, that's what it was. An advertisement. Dwayne came to this conclusion as he stared at himself in the bathroom mirror and quickly ran a brush over his hair. And by the time he'd left his room and started walking towards the cafeteria, the young man had managed to push most of it all to the very back of his mind.

[Venus]

_{Interacting With: Leo @Melissa | Samuel @BitchTheFuck | Dwayne @Ejected
Mentions: Theodore @spooner | Wesley @GhostMami | Frankie @spooner | Quinn @Filthy Mudblood | Zakya @Ejected | Hana @Kitty}
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After greeting Samuel and grabbing her own protein-packed breakfast, Soleil followed her two friends to the preselected table and took a seat next to Leo. She didn’t notice how truly hungry she was until the sights and smells of her plate hit her nostrils, and it showed in the way she practically scarfed down her food. She’d been taking the last bite of her toast when Theodore Wallstrom walked into the cafeteria in all of his shirtless, chiseled and glowing glory.

Shady’s throat immediately became dry, her breath getting caught in her chest while her closed thighs tightened up. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t take her eyes off him, allowing Frankie and Sol's 'best friend' Quinn to go unnoticed as they walked behind them. She watched as he grabbed his own breakfast tray, took a seat at a nearby table and stroke conversation with his friend Wesley, and not long after his booming laugh was reaching Sol's ears. Suddenly, the events of the past night began to play in the young woman's head once again, but this time bringing a crucial detail back to the surface-

“He was naked.” Sol mindlessly blurted out without thinking, her green eyes the size of saucers. “Yesterday. At the pool. I thought we’d just stripped down to our underwear, but I forgot that he’d kicked off his boxers before I went in. Holy shit, he was fucking nak-” she stopped in her tracks as she watched the scene unfolding before her eyes.

It was as if an animal instinct had taken control of Soleil’s mind and body. The whole world was now under a red-stained filter, but her tunnel vision was centered on the way this girl was very obviously flirting with the ‘close friend’ she so desperately wanted. Her strong hands suddenly clenched themselves up into fists, nails digging so hard into her palms there would be crescent moons behind. The tiger green eyes burned like the sun now, her brows coming together in a deep scowl. And her beautiful face was transformed into a menacing scowl: wide nostrils, lip raised, teeth bared and a low, guttural growl.

Suddenly, slow-motion images of a large tiger leaping towards a peacock began to flash before her eyes. The striped animal was determinately rushing towards the colorful bird, who panickedly tried to make its escape… But it was far too late. The larger animal had pounced, sinking its sharp teeth into the base of the peacock’s neck and ripping it apart from the rest of its body. Crimson blood stained the feline’s fangs, and the decapitated bird’s head now hung limply on the proud tiger’s mouth-

The sound of Hana Jeong falling next to the table she shared with Sam and Leo pulled Shady away from the gruesome scene playing in her head. Before Sol could register what had happened, the girl was scrambling up and squirreling away, leaving her and her two friends almost shaking their heads.

"Well that was weird..." she heard Samuel said, but her attention to the table’s conversation was far gone.

“I need a moment,” the dark-haired girl brusquely declared, pushing the empty breakfast tray towards Leo and abruptly rising from her seat. “I’ll catch you guys later, ‘kay? Count me in for skipping the assembly, though. Text me the details of what we’ll do instead.” And with that, the young woman turned on her heel and rushed out of the cafeteria.

The hardest thing about keeping any type of relationship under wraps was not having the freedom to truly express what you really felt. For any regular person, this was a difficult but achievable task. But for a girl with Soleil’s temper, the challenge proved to be nearly impossible. The genetic anger inherited from both parents was always bubbling under the surface like scorching lava, boiling and waiting for the right trigger to make the volcano explode.

What intrigued her about this whole debacle was the newfound intensity of her emotions. Before San Agustin, exercise and breathing techniques were often enough to keep Sol level-headed most of the time. She released her negative feelings into the bags she punched, the weights she lifted, or the miles she ran. But lately, it seemed that no amount of physical activity could tame the overpowering feelings once they made themselves present. And frankly, it scared her to think that, one day, she could fly into a blind, mindless rage and cause any permanent or lethal damage to someone.

Lost as she was in these concerning thoughts, Shady failed to notice the direction in which she was going. It wasn’t until her lightly muscled arm and elbow sharply collided with that of another that the dark-haired girl’s attention was once again back in the present.

“Shit!” the girl muttered, rubbing the injured arm before realizing she’d literally bumped into none other than Dwayne Freeman. The very attractive young man was one of the very few people on her ‘cool list’, one of the best gym buddies she could ask for and one of those low-maintenance friends she knew she could count on despite not hanging out as much as they should. Huh. Maybe she should change that…

“Hey, D! Sorry about that, man. Didn’t really pay attention to where I was going. My bad!” she explained with an apologetic smile, her mood simmering down and her expression softening significantly.

[Bee]

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---

Charles Mallet was busy devouring his breakfast. Eggs, bacon, and sausage with copious amounts of tapatio never tasted so good in his life. It was like he was eating a piece of heaven, even though it was practically the same sort of breakfast that they usually served. Nothing new was put into it, but god damn did it taste like an entirely new thing. Charles was enjoying himself quite a bit, a sense of satisfaction within him as he stabbed at some pieces of sausage, bacon, and eggs.

It had taken him a bit to finish up his breakfast. It was hard to pace himself to be fast enough so that he wasn't spending all of his morning free time eating breakfast, but not so fast that he couldn't enjoy what was probably one of the greatest breakfasts he'd had in a while. It was Charles's biggest dilemma of the day, or in a while, actually. He was hoping today would be as smooth as his breakfast. Maybe he just woke up on the right side of the bed today? Maybe he should've been more of a morning person, because this was a great morning so far.

As he was about to finish up, he noticed a figure take a seat in front of him. Looking up, it took him a split second to figure out who it was, but once he figured it out, a small smile lit his face up. He hadn't really talked to Talya, but if she had come to his table specifically when there were plenty of tables around, well, he wasn't going to be opposed to it. "Hey Talya, what's going on?" Charles said, as he started to organize his eggs into a neater pile to stab with his fork, "Yo, you should try these eggs sometime. They're real good."

[smarty0114]

_{A @Melissa, @NeoAJ, @metanoia, and @smarty0114 Collaboration
Featuring: Tyler Jane Morrissey, Savannah Payton, Nicholas Grey and Erica Monet}

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All this talk about the trio’s impromptu party planning was really improving Tyler Jane’s Monday morning! It was exciting to think about having a normal weekend, especially after nearly two months of strict classes and not much traditional high school fun. In fact, she had been so engrossed in the conversation surrounding the “shindig” that she didn’t even notice when a certain someone approached the table. It took him wishing the girls a good morning in his elegant tone for Tyler Jane to realize who was really standing there.

In that moment, the redhead had never been more thankful that she reapplied deodorant.

Turning around to face Nicholas, a warmth crept up on Tyler Jane’s cheeks as she took in his features from up close. The two had exchanged stolen glances from a distance throughout the entire duration of breakfast, so she wasn’t completely surprised that he decided to make an appearance at their table. Did he just call her radiant? Swoon.

A master of the poker face, she quickly camouflaged her giddy emotions and let her lips settle into a subtle smirk instead. “Morning, Nicholas. Well thank you, you’re not too bad yourself. Care to join us?” Tyler Jane replied playfully, motioning to the empty chair next to her.

Nicholas brandished a charming, almost smug-like expression, taking Tyler Jane’s offer to join them with as much gusto as his overwhelming sex appeal was to most of those at the table. It wasn’t that Nicholas thought of himself as some sort of God among the humans, better than they were in every single way imaginable. He just knew how attractive he was and he embraced everything about that with as much confidence and arrogance as anyone else would in his situation.

The dark-haired boy sat with his right leg over the left and his hands rested in his lap near his overlapping thighs. “So what are we doing today, hmm?” His voice oozed with a natural curiosity that was his default setting. Though his eyes started on TJ, he let his gaze fall on the others as well.

Savannah was now cursing her decision not to hit the showers after her training session. Had she known that Nicholas freaking Grey was going to be gracing the specific area around her with his presence, she would have definitely cleaned herself up a bit. It was no secret that Nick was one of the hottest boys in the school. He moved with a debonair grace that Savannah could only describe as “equal to her own”, he knew how to avoid dangerous situations with ease, and that body… damn.

The second Nicholas sat down at the table, Savannah sat up, not wanting to let on just how much she wished she had chosen a better wardrobe for this moment. However, his attention seemed to be solely on Tyler Jane from the get-go. A reprieve, maybe? Although the fact that he was focused solely on her cliquemate was also a bit disappointing. Do I want him looking at me right now? Well, I’d take a little bit of attention, even if I look like I- SHIT!

Now he was looking at Savannah, and there was nowhere to run. Not without calling even more attention to herself. She fumbled around in her bag for the pack of Dentyne she usually had handy. At the very least her breath wouldn’t be bad. She popped a couple of pieces of gum in her mouth and relaxed just a little bit from the familiar flavors hitting her tongue. By the time she looked back though, his eyes were locked back on to TJ. So she spoke to draw them back. “Oh, you know Nicholas. Just another pleasant day at San Agustin. So classes, probably the gym later, bit of Netflix. The usual Monday stuff, right?”

As good as Tyler’s poker face was, Erica knew from late night gossip sessions that there was something going on there. Savannah’s sudden change in posture wasn’t lost on her either. As attractive as he was, Erica had never understood everyone’s infatuation with the Gray boy, especially not her friends’. Maybe his sister’s loud mouth had soured her opinion of him prematurely, but Erica had suspected that more often than not, the flirting was a game to him. Leo, if he’d been raised by sophisticated savants rather than neanderthals.

Despite her misgivings, Erica kept her smile friendly as Nicholas joined them. She nodded her agreement as Savannah spoke. “Y’know, you’d think you would’ve realized that you always seem to have a more interesting answer to that question than we do,” Erica said, punctuating her sentence by biting into a strawberry, and discarding the leafy top.

Genuinely smiling at the two (though he briefly had raised a brow at Savannah), he relaxed into the chair.“It’s good to keep it up at the gym. Health is essential for living your best life.” He spoke with a voice of mutual understanding of keeping the body fit and engaging in certain activities that helped with that. “I might be hitting the gym this afternoon as well. Maybe we could all spot each other.”

Tyler Jane smirked as Nicholas sat next to her, subconsciously brushing a piece of hair behind her ear that had fallen into her line of vision. She was glad he had accepted her offer to join them, and evidenced in the confidence that radiated off of him, he seemed happy too. She listened as Savannah previewed her day, and couldn’t help but notice she seemed a little… off. She couldn’t exactly put her finger on it but she shifted her focus to the conversation instead. At his mention of going to the gym, Tyler Jane quickly dismissed Nicholas’ idea with a small laugh. “Count me out, I spent nearly two hours at the dance studio this morning and I think my legs and feet are practically begging me to take a break. I’ll gladly lie in bed for the rest of the day.”

“We can definitely go to the gym together!” Savannah blurted out, almost making an ass of herself in the process. “I mean, I did all my cardio work earlier today, so I was going to hit the weights a little bit after P.E. and history, so I can definitely meet you there and spot you and do whatever you want to…” DAMN IT SAVANNAH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Shut your damn mouth and stop making such a fool of yourself!

Maybe it was just that need to feel like some guy was interested in hanging with her without offering up a bowl of fried ants or something, but there was an almost primal instinct urging Savannah forward. All of Sol’s talk during their gym sessions and the word around the school of all the sexual exploits others were getting into, it almost made Savannah feel like she was failing some unseen class by not letting some guy take her behind the bleachers already. But she wouldn’t just give it away. No, no it had to be someone worthy of her body. Someone like Nicholas…

“I can always use some extra motivation when I’m doing my leg pumps, ya know?”

Nicholas had originally intended to focus his efforts on TJ for obvious reasons, but that was because he never thought Savannah had anything past what came at face value. Not that he ever thought she wasn’t an interesting person. She had plenty to offer. But when it came to him, he had a strong lean to TJ because they were both cut from the same cloth and she was a breath of fresh air compared to the usual company he kept. But now, Savannah’s forwardness caught his eye in such a way that he charmed his way into a smile her way, leaning a couple inches forward. “There isn’t any better motivation than an excellent workout partner, which I have been called once or twice. One might even say I push my partners to their absolute limit.”

Erica’s eyes flicked between TJ and Savannah, trying and failing to keep her eyebrows from cocking ever so slightly. Savannah had gotten much bolder than Erica could remember seeing her. Damn Savvy. Ballsy. She was much less shocked by how easily Nicholas changed the focus of attention. Why couldn’t they see what a player this boy was? She considered making a witty comment about how fickle boys could be, but kept it to herself. No need to break the peace. “I’m gonna have to pass on that. No desire to see my absolute limit, thank you very much,” she said, smirking.

The redhead’s stomach nearly dropped to the floor seeing Savannah flirting with Nicholas literally inches away from her. The whole thing actually made Tyler Jane feel slightly uncomfortable, especially since she had previously confided in both Erica and Savannah that she thought the boy was quite attractive in more ways than one. But, her award winning poker face remained (to some extent); she couldn’t let Sav see she was bothered by this! Tyler Jane would have to subtly one-up her. With a forced laugh, she agreed with the brunette seated across from her. “I concur. I’d rather see my limits pushed elsewhere…” She let the beginning of her phrase linger, leaving just a little bit to the imagination before continuing on and purposefully shifting the subject. “...like at our party this weekend, I plan on drinking a lot if we could find some alcohol in this god forsaken place.”

Well, if TJ was going to try and out-flirt Savannah, that was a battle that the girl with the dyed blonde-and-pink hair was definitely going to lose. The chomping on her gum was intensifying as she watched her friend drop any hint of pretense and just go right for the jugular on Nicholas. Savannah didn’t have the ammunition, and didn’t have the confidence that Tyler Jane had, and she knew it.

But she couldn’t let TJ win that easily, could she? Sav knew that the redhead had eyes on the Grey boy from the get go, but damn, there was enough of him to go around, wasn’t there? Not that Sav was interested in any kind of timeshare arrangement, but there just weren’t any options in this school that made as much sense to her as Nicholas. She had to fight with her head here.

“Right! You’re so right, TJ. That would be a great time to really push some limits!” she confirmed. “I mean, I don’t want to brag, but back in Sweetwater, I was definitely known for my... limit-pushing abilities. So… yeah,” For fuck’s sake, Savannah, that’s the best you could come up with?

He had to admit something to himself: what was happening between the two girls was amusing. He was no stranger to at least feeling like the object of lust. Nicholas could make peace with the effect he had on others. From Dwayne and how flustered he was leading into the final moments before passion took them into the night to the girls with their claws out. If it were anyone else, there might be an empty seat at the table, but he truly loved being in the middle of this teaser of what potentially was to come. “So, tell me more about this party,” Nicholas interjected between the girls. He knew he couldn’t let them tear each other’s clothes off for his sake ...yet.

“Friday night, first floor common room.” Erica glanced across the cafeteria at Billie, and then back to Nicholas. “The Evil Twin isn’t invited though. We’re trying to keep this chill,” Erica said, the conviction in her words clear as day. Her and Billie’s contentious relationship wasn’t exactly a secret. “If a night of illicit substances and general teenage debauchery is your vibe, well, be our guest.”

”Evil twin, huh?” He laughed off that comparison to Billie Jean. It was amusing to him that they considered her the bad one. Guess the bad attitude doesn’t always win hearts.

Tyler Jane pursed her lips and let her eyes roll up to the ceiling at Savannah’s odd response. What was she even trying to accomplish with that? As much as the blonde was one of her closest friends, the way she threw herself into the equation was a little off putting to the redhead. Thank god Nicholas took the hint about the party though. She had wanted to extend an invitation to him privately later on before the assembly, but she guessed now was as good a time as ever.

She tried her hardest to hold in a chuckle at Erica’s statement regarding Billie. Tyler Jane had attempted many times to be friendly towards Nicholas’ twin sister, but for some reason, the dark haired girl never had any of it. They were complete opposites- one loud and the other gentle, one mischievous and the other proper. It simply wouldn’t make sense for the two of them to get along, but that didn’t mean Tyler Jane didn’t put an effort forth. Shaking off the ill feelings, the redhead spoke with a smirk. “We’re here for a good time, not for a long time- it’ll be fun.” She said deviously.

“Well, I do suppose Billie wouldn’t have that much fun if she were to somehow come into the possession of this knowledge,” Nicholas mused aloud, closing his eyes as he muttered something only he could make out. What he said aloud and what he knew to be a fact seemed to be two different things. He knew in his heart that Billie would have fun just to spite him and especially if he kept this a secret. He knew she had this nasty habit of making trouble for the two of them even if one didn’t actively seek it. Coming to this potential eyebrow-raiser, should she find out he never told her, it could spell trouble for everyone who kept it a secret. Taking only a single moment to reflect on the pros and cons, Nicholas shrugged. “Sounds like fun. Count me in.”

The dyed-hair girl looked away for a few seconds. She knew she put forth an incredibly weak effort in trying to match TJ’s game, but Savannah was determined not to let that feeble response be her final word in front of Nicholas Grey. Plus there was the look that Tyler Jane gave her. Like she knew what Savvy was trying and failing to do and wasn’t impressed. She knew she was stepping over her bounds a little, but dammit! Why couldn’t she be the alpha female for once?

Because alphas get singled out and picked off and get pregnant. That’s how it worked back home.

But she wanted this. Everyone else had a story that didn’t involve knocking themselves out in an office door. Why couldn’t she?

But she could. She could be the hero. She could impress Nicholas and restore her commitment to the friendship in TJ’s eyes. Maybe even get an approving nod from Erica. That would be nice. To feel like she was contributing to the plan of the pack that they concocted. Even if she was against it at first, it was happening now. And she could bring the hurt. She could bring the booze. She had a way. She didn’t understand why, but she knew how. Sometimes fate is funny like that. She wanted to avoid it. She didn’t want to risk expulsion, but she didn’t want to lose face in front of her best friends and her crush. Nope, it was time to stop playing dumb. It was time to go on the attack.

“It’s going to be a great time. Guaranteed,” Savannah boasted. “Because I know for a fact there will be plenty of potent potables there, because I will be acquiring them. So get your orders in now. I’m saving a bottle of Hpnotiq for myself, but you can have whatever you like.” ...As long as I actually know what it is. And can carry it. Maybe I can get Bradley to help. Why I am doing this?

Was she serious? Two seconds ago, Savannah didn’t even want anything to do with the party- Tyler and Erica had to convince the girl to go in the first place! She had even said that parties were played out! And now Sav was all for it and confident that she’d be the one to find the booze? Nope, no way. Tyler-Jane didn’t like this, not one bit. She didn’t lose her temper easily, but she was damn near close to it after hearing Savannah going to extremes. Whatever she was trying to pull here was ridiculous, and the redhead didn’t want to stick around to hear another word of it. So she wasn’t going to.

“Shoot, I lost track of time. I need to go back to my dorm and shower before class.” Tyler Jane lied, checking the time on her phone for dramatic effect. After all, she was still in her dance attire and couldn’t very well show up to her seminar looking like a greaseball. Tyler stood up and threw her bag over her shoulder. “Anyone else heading that way?”

As the tensions rose and the glares intensified, the small part of Nicholas that watched them go at it for his sake didn’t want it to end, but he knew all good things had a limited lifespan. Such was the nature of life. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t twist events in his favor and roll the dye to make things more interesting.

On that note, Nicholas stood up, straightening his pants and shirt. “I’ll walk with you, TJ. I’ve been meaning to change out of these clothes myself. Been in them since yesterday.” He never liked to remain in the same outfit for more than a day if he could help it but he desperately wanted a fresh change of clothes since his were getting sweaty (even though Dwayne’s enticing scent made it somewhat worthwhile).
“Maybe on our way, you can tell me more about your morning.” He flashed her a smile.

And with that, Savannah knew she had lost. Tyler Jane and Nicholas were heading to the showers together. And TJ had gotten in first. There was nothing she could say, to change his mind. There’s nothing she could do, that she hadn’t tried. And even the light that kept her out of sight broke her too. There was a song in there somewhere, but she couldn’t put the music to it.

Savannah did her best to maintain the serene grace that she was known for, but it was obvious that was hard enough as it was with Nicholas around, smelling like sweat and … other things… Of course, that could also just be her. She wanted to run away right now. But that would also lead right into their paths as they headed out. No. Now was the time to stay still.

Erica looked between Savvy and the receding form of TJ. She felt as if she’d just witnessed an entirely new side of the both of them, something, animalistic. Shaking her head, she finished off her fruit salad, popping a final strawberry into her mouth. “Well… that was interesting.”

The remaining girl lowered her head onto the table. “Erica, what the fuck did I just do?”

“I would describe it as, throwing yourself at Nicholas Gray. Nice confidence, bad taste though,” Erica said. “TJ might try to kill you later, so I’d keep that confidence stored somewhere.”

The thumping sounds of forehead on table started to grow louder. “Ugh, I know. I don’t know why I did that. It’s just… Nick does something to me. I don’t know. Tyler is gonna hate me for the rest of the week now. And I think claiming I could get all the booze made it worse. Is there even a place to get booze near here?”

Erica’s fingernails clacked against the hard grain of the table as she sorted through her memories, lips pursed in thought. “There was a liquor store, on the side of the road. I remember seeing it on our way here. It doubled as a gas station, but it couldn’t have been that far from here. Gold Star Liquor and Gas,” Erica said, the image of the station clear as day in her mind. “You’re a hot girl, you probably won’t even need an ID.”

That memory of Erica’s was amazing sometimes. Savannah couldn’t even remember the trip into San Agustin. It felt like she had been at this campus forever. But there was a road that led off the grounds. It was pretty visible. It had to be easy to get to the highway or something that this fabled watering hole of booze was on. “I’m not worried about needing an ID. I got that covered. I just… I’m going to need help. Would you? I mean, I understand if you don’t want to. I can probably ask Bradley to help. He has to have a way to figure out where this place is…”

Erica shrugged. “Eh, what the hell. Might be fun,” Erica said, a glint in her eye that seemed to assure it would be.

A wave of relief crashed over Savannah. She wasn’t going to have to try and atone for her mistakes alone. “Thank you, Erica! Thank you so much! All right, cool, so we can figure something out and we’ll be set for the weekend. Awesome. Yes. This will work.” She let out a huge sigh. “OK, between this and the run, I think I’ve had enough sweating things out today. I gotta go get ready for class.”

[AlteredTundra]

_{Nicholas Grey @metanoia and Tyler Jane Morrissey @melissa
Location: Cafeteria → Dorms}
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The dry heat of the plains hit Tyler Jane square in the face as she emerged from the cafeteria, a strange weight being lifted off of her shoulders as she abandoned the questionable situation behind her. The redhead had absolutely no clue what had gotten into Savannah that caused the girl to act with such bravado, but, at least Nicholas had taken the bait to walk with her back to the dorms so she could redeem herself from… whatever that was back there. Tyler turned to him, an unmistakable smug look on her face as she spoke.

“Did you pull an allnighter last night? Or do you often just wear the same thing to avoid the laundry room.” She joked, referencing his previous statement.

Nicholas chuckled, arms casually dangling at his side. “Something like that.” He hadn’t the heart to tell her the exact details about the night he spent with Dwayne or what it exactly entailed. Could he reveal it? Maybe. It’s not like there was anything to say really, but for the time being, Nicholas didn’t feel like admitting that to Tyler Jane, not yet at least. “So, how was your morning? Well--” He let his voice slip into a temporary silence and coughed as he would continue, “--I mean, before what just happened...happened, that is.” Nicholas knew he had to tread carefully when referencing the highly entertaining (for him) display of claw-on-claw actions befitting of two highly spirited girls.

Tyler Jane tried to contain herself, but couldn’t help letting out a stifled laugh at his attempt not to reference what had just occurred. She could care less that Nicholas had picked up on the girls’ not so subtle battle of words, I mean, it was hard not to notice. But, as confident as she was, all she cared about was making sure the boy didn’t lose interest based on her behavior. “My morning was definitely interesting, that’s for sure.” Tyler Jane shook her head, letting another laugh naturally tumble from her lips. Her statement was inclusive of their interaction in the cafeteria and all that occurred before it. “I was up at the crack of dawn as always, so I spent a few hours in the dance studio rehearsing.”

“Oh really?” Nicholas’ interest was piqued. He loved watching her dance. She always moved with an unrivaled grace with no wasted motion. Whenever he was presented with the opportunity, he liked nothing better than to enjoy her routines. Maybe there was a part inside him that felt at peace whenever he managed to catch her in the dance studio. He found she performed her best when it was just the four walls and her. “You’ll have to let me see it before anyone gets the chance to, especially if you were up at the crack of dawn practicing.That alone tells me it must be something truly special.”

“Trust me, it’s nothing too exciting. Just something I put together last week and have been perfecting.” Tyler modestly replied. She wasn’t one to gloat about her skills in the studio, as good of a dancer as she was. There were plenty of other dancers who were better than her, just none of them happened to be on this campus to upstage her. “Unfortunately though, due to an unwelcome visitor in the studio this morning, who mind you I promptly told to leave, someone beat you to it.” The redhead rolled her eyes. “Happens to be a friend of yours.”

He immediately scowled in a very Nicholas Grey way when TJ had mentioned there was another who saw what he wanted to witness first. Her description of the individual did a lot to reveal the identity of this person to him. Nicholas had a lot of friends, but there were only a few people he knew who fit that description. Of those, he knew he just had to deduce who would be up so early and around the arts buildings and only one person came to mind. “So, what did the meathead do this time? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” He took this moment to look TJ up and down and he didn’t detect any visible sign of harm, but then again Leo wasn’t the type to do that unless he really felt like fucking up. “Or was he his usual obnoxious self this morning?” He asked with a curious brow raised at the redhead.

Tyler Jane smirked, slightly enjoying the fact that Nicholas seemed concerned about her. “Oh just the usual, Leo deemed it an ‘open rehearsal’ because I left the door propped and when he decided to invade my personal space I kicked him out. Literally.” Most people on campus knew that the boy had a tendency to stick his nose in situations that didn’t involve him, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to Nicholas that his friend was asking for trouble. The redhead scoffed, “You’d think I’d let him hurt me? Pshh, there’s no way in hell he’d get close enough to lay a hand on me.”

Nicholas had known for a while that Leo was, to phrase it respectfully, a bit of an imbecile. He had problems with boundaries. As much as he cherished him and the unique friendship (?) he had with the boy, he also knew that sometimes in order to learn humility, Leo needed a swift kick in the privates to remind him that he wasn’t a god among men. He was just a surprisingly well-built boy. But at the same time, hearing TJ proudly state what she did to him, he couldn’t help but smirk. To stand up to Leo Brooks in such a way proved exactly why she was easily one of the few people at the school who was worthy of his attention (just as he felt worthy of hers as well).

“So does that mean if it were the right person, you wouldn’t mind letting them touch you?” The question lingered for a couple of seconds before he chuckled. “I mean, hypothetically speaking, of course,” he would later half-jokingly correct himself.

Tyler Jane’s cheeks tinged a delicate pink, complementing the many freckles strewn across her face. Nicholas was certainly a smooth talker, and clearly knew exactly what he was doing in order to make her blush. But, regardless, she didn’t miss a beat. “I mean, hypothetically, even if it were the right person, I’m not so sure.” She couldn’t let it be that easy for him, now could she? “After all, trust isn’t just granted.” The redhead explained matter of factly.

She always looked the cutest in those moments he caught her blushing smile, when in those moments, despite holding her own, signs of her vulnerability came through. Nicholas appreciated that. “How right you are. You should never let just anyone get that close to you.” He stopped walking as they reached the door to the dormitory building. He allowed his gaze to linger on her eyes, always finding himself entranced by her beauty. The way he looked at her expressed that as clear as a crystal bowl. He moved a few inches closer to TJ, leaning his shoulder somewhat against the closed door.“Being so close to someone, especially in an intimate way, could sometimes put you at a disadvantage, but if it’s with someone you know won’t hurt you, there’s nothing to fear.” Nicholas flashed his usual smile at her, though this time it was a lot softer than previous times.

The redhead’s breath hitched as Nicholas dared to move closer to her, his choice of words poetic but suggestive at the same time. Tyler Jane could feel her pulse quicken with the intensity with which he looked at her, almost as if he was searching for some kind of answer in her eyes. “Who says I’m afraid?” She asked, dropping the hypotheticals from the equation.

There was a moment even before she spoke where Nicholas saw it: the confirmation that she wasn’t afraid. It was at that very moment he moved closer, his hand touching hers. Only inches separated their chests from touching. To put it another way, they were close enough to where they would be able to hear the other breathe deeply as the heat of the moment went even further with Nicholas bringing his fingers to slowly and sensually trail on her hand, riding up her forearm. This was his move before the magic happened. “Maybe we should put it to a test.” His words oozed out in a breathy tone. Moments felt like they were being slowed down by the immense build up, the slow tension skyrocketing. Nicholas knew she felt it.

As he went forward, suddenly the door to the dormitory opened, causing a gap between them to form. Nicholas, who had been leaning partially against it, fell back and almost collapsed on the ground. A student, someone who he had seen around, apologized and Nicholas caught himself by gripping the side of the door with his hand.

Tyler Jane couldn’t be more certain that they wanted the same thing. Maybe it was because of how close he was, or the way his brow raised after she spoke that caused her to realize what was bound to occur. The redhead let her eyes flicker down to Nicholas’ lips and back to meet his gaze, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up as his fingers grazed the skin on her arm. She was caught up in the moment and his choice words fueled the fire. Nicholas could have said anything to her in that instant and she would have obliged- she was putty in his hands.

But alas, the world had other plans. As the door flew open, the girl jumped slightly, startled by the rude interruption. Tyler Jane snapped out of her daze, dissolving into a gentle laugh as Nicholas recovered from his near fall. Regaining her composure, she smirked at him. “Guess that test will have to wait.”

Nicholas chuckled and gave TJ a smile. “I’m sure there’ll be other chances.” He would boldly proclaim, holding the door open for her since this was their destination, anyway. “Like maybe at the party when we’ll have a lot more privacy.” Nicholas was usually more subtle than he was being right now, but when it was made clear to him that TJ wanted him too, he didn’t feel that he needed to.

The redhead raised an eyebrow at Nicholas as she walked past him and into the lobby of the dorm. The air conditioned room brought her even more so back to reality, the cold sending chills up her spine and goosebumps down her arms. Turning back to look at him, Tyler Jane let the right side of her lips tug up into a smirk. “Oh will there be now?” She sarcastically asked, beginning to wander slowly in the direction of the first floor residences where her room was located.

He proceeded down the hallway by her side but didn’t say anything (at least not yet). Truth be told, Nicholas wasn’t sure he should say anything. The fun was in the mystery of not knowing what might happen, but then again, they were probably past that point now. “The Magic 8-Ball says it is likely,” he joked, laughing at his own comment.

While the two walked down the hall, Tyler Jane shrugged her backpack off her shoulders, fishing in the side pocket for her set of keys. She looked back at Nicholas, chuckling to herself as they approached her door. “If the Magic 8-Ball said it, it must be true then.” She reasoned, stopping short in front of her room. The redhead’s name was written in cursive on a placard affixed to the door, making it somewhat evident that this was her stop. “Well, I better go get ready.” Tyler Jane stated, fidgeting with her lanyard that held her key.

As he watched her door open, the small part of him that didn’t want to wait felt a tug of following her inside and continuing their previous conversation right then and there. But then at the same time, Nicholas was a patient boy. He knew how to play the endgame and something about the party scene made him excited. Oh what fun they were gonna have come Friday. So, he gave her one last smile before turning and taking those first steps down the hall. “Be seeing you, TJ!” He spoke louder so she could hear him as he made his way to his own room, though it was on a higher floor than TJ’s was.

[spooner]

Teddy liked eating with Wes, there was never an obligation to keep talking. The two just concentrated on their breakfast and enjoyed each other’s company while doing so. But Teddy could feel Wesley’s eyes flick to him now and then, maybe he was making him uncomfortable after all. Theodore cleared his throat and moved his arms in front of himself as if to cover up just a little. He also eyed his still wet t-shirt hanging beside him, maybe he should’ve just sucked it up and put it back on… to save his friend from embarrassment. But just as he was about to ask Wes a second time another person joined them.

It was Zakaya, a girl that Teddy didn’t really know much besides a couple of chill hangouts. A very beautiful girl, but way too extroverted for someone like Theo. A tight smile could be seen on his face as he looked up from his food and faced the girl. “Hello, Zakaya…. how are you? This is Wesley, we’ve just come for a run” he said cracking a smile before looking down at his naked chest. “Uh hence the shirt…” he said gesturing to his shirt.

"Word on the street is there's gonna be a party this Friday night... hosted by those lovely ladies over there. You two plan on attending? Cause you definitely should!" she stated her light eye’s sparkling in the sunlight.

“Oh?” was all that Teddy could muster as he looked over his shoulder at the ladies who seemed to be deep in planning something. Parties were nothing that interested him in the slightest. Sure he liked to drink, maybe even a little too much sometimes. But when he drinks he likes to do it alone or with a couple of friends. He turned back to face the other two pickings at the remnants of his food. “Yeah maybe… what do you think Wes?” he asked. Not that the answer would change his mind… he would not attend.

[Melissa]

_{Location: Cafeteria
Interacting with: Sam @HaleyTheRandom and Sol @Rosalia
Mentions: Theo, Frankie @spooner and Hana @Kitty}
______________________________________________________________________________________

“Sweet, glad I’m not the only one who wants to ditch. What about you Shady, you in?”

As Leo tried to convince Sol to skip the assembly with him and Sam, the door to the cafeteria was flung open, revealing a one Theo Wallstrom sans shirt. The dark haired boy saw red and couldn’t help but roll his eyes- who did this kid think he was anyway? There was only room for one shirtless jackass in this school and that spot solely belonged to Leo. He seriously couldn’t believe that Sol had eyes for this guy. Leo glanced over at her and watched as drool nearly escaped from her mouth, jaw almost touching the floor.

Gross.

He was going to say something, but when he was least expecting it, the dark haired boy could feel someone’s touch graze his back, fingers playfully grasping at his shoulder and nails just barely digging into his skin. Leo had a sixth sense when it came to women, and without even looking, he knew it was Frankie just by the gesture. He craned his head in the direction that she was walking, smirking before letting his eyes drift to other parts of her body. Leo’s mind wandered to their evening together over the weekend- passionate, raw, and lustful, just the way he liked it to be. Just thinking about the things that woman could do was enough to make him go crazy.

His own lewd thoughts were interrupted by Sol seemingly losing all sense of self and unraveling right in front of him. Her eyes were glazed over and she blurted out that Theo had been naked at the pool and they went swimming.

Double gross.

Leo didn’t need to hear that, he didn’t want to hear that, not one bit of it. The thought of Sol going skinny dipping with that guy made him squirm, and not in a good way. He wanted Sol to shut up about her rendezvous for both of their sakes and was about to make that very clear, but was beat to the punch by some klutz falling over their own two feet directly next to where he was sitting, the girl’s face turning as red as a tomato. He immediately couldn’t hold back a fit of laughter, finding the situation too funny to disguise his emotions, even if it was to the poor girl's detriment. As he tried to calm himself down while she scurried away, Sol announced her departure, and hastened to gather her things and make an escape as fast as the girl who fell did.

“Bye, I guess.” Leo responded, annoyance clear in his voice that she left so quickly with not so much as an explanation as to her previous comments and without giving him a chance to bid her adieu. Looking back at Sam, he shrugged, letting out an exasperated sigh and shaking his head. He looked down at his plate, snatching up the extra food gifted to him and shoving it in his mouth chewing happily.

“Women, am I right?”

[Grimoire Gaming]

_{Location | Cafeteria}

Wesley really wasn’t trying to stare at Teddy. That would be rude, and Wes tried his best not to be rude. Meddlesome? Yes. Problematic? At times. Mischievous? Most definitely. But outright rude? Never! That was no way to make friends. That said… he couldn’t help that his eyes kept wandering back to his shirtless, hunky friend. Concentrating on his protein-packed breakfast, he prayed to any gods that there might be for some kind of distraction.

This blessing came in the form of a fashionable and somewhat flashy woman with long braided hair. Wes recognized her from around the halls, but they had never been properly introduced. Thankfully, the charismatic girl made quick work of rectifying that. “Well gooood morning, you two! Theo, lookin' good as always. How are you two doing this morning? Oh, I'm Zakya, by the way... if you didn't already know. I don't think we've ever been formally introduced or anything like that. But I see you around all the time!”

“Likewise, nice to finally meet you. Zakya’s a cool name, I’m Wes.” He replied with a wave and flashed one of his prize winning smiles. He couldn’t help but notice that her eyes were mostly on his breakfast companion. Not that he could blame her, so were his only a few moments ago. Teddy greeted her in return and explained his shirtlessness by stating that they had just gone on a run. Zakya seemed to act like it was no big thing, probably not caring why he was shirtless and just glad that he was shirtless. Once again, he couldn’t blame her there.

“Word on the street is there's gonna be a party this Friday night... hosted by those lovely ladies over there. You two plan on attending? Cause you definitely should!” Her eyes lit up as she dished the scoop on an upcoming party.

“Oh? ...Yeah maybe… what do you think Wes? Was Teddy’s lackluster response.

“What do you mean maybe?” Wesley’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion. It was as if his friend just said that he didn’t like ice cream or something. Everyone likes ice cream, even lactose intolerant people! “Hell yeah I’m going, this sounds like the most exciting thing to ever hit this campus. Literally. Do you think they’ll manage to get booze?” The wheels were already turning in the troublemaker’s mind.

“I’ll spread the word, hopefully it’ll be a banger. Anyway, I gotta get to class.” The lanky teen stood up and grabbed his lunch tray. “Catch ya later, Teddy, and nice to meet ya, Z.” He said with a wave goodbye and made his way to the trash to empty his tray.

Now empty handed, Wes walked over to his lab partner’s breakfast table, where he was still chatting with his friends. “Yo, Leo!” He greeted the jock. “You coming to class? We’re probably already late, man. But more importantly, have you heard about the party this weekend?”

[Sugar and Spite]

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Eggs? He opened the conversation with eggs? How absolutely mundane.

Fortunately for Charles, Talya was willing to give him a decent chance this morning. Just because the rest of her morning had been boring didn't mean that this conversation had to be - even if the current topic was eggs.

"Mmm.... no thank you," the brunette said, scrunching her face in disgust. "There's just something about scrambled eggs that disgusts me unless they're smothered in cheese."

Watching as Charles meticulously arranged his food, Talya was once again reminded how breakfast was her least favorite meal of the day. Sure, there were great things out there like pancakes and mimosas (those were more of a brunch thing though) - but even that wasn't enough for her to actually enjoy the most important meal of the day.

"I've not been up to anything here lately? Anything spicy happening in your life, though?"

As soon as the question came out of her mouth, the first school bell rang for the day. While Talya had a reputation for always being late, she was trying to stay out of detention for her tardiness. Grabbing a pen from her bag, Talya grabbed Charles unoccupied hand and quickly scribbled her number across his palm.

"Looks like I have to run off to class. But if there's ever anything worth talking about that comes your way - feel free to send me a message." Slinging her book bag over her shoulder, the young woman departed from the lunchroom.

[Ejected]

^{(FC: Zolee Griggs; Dialogue: #DE563C)}

Although slightly disheartened at Theo's unenthusiastic response to the upcoming party, Zakya kept her usual grin plastered across her face as she listened to him ask Wesley whether or not he'd be in attendance. She perked up instantly as soon as she heard the young man say "hell yeah," hoping that it would be enough to convince his friend to tag along. "That's exactly what I'm sayin'!" Zakya enthused, her attention now completely on Wesley. "It's about time we have some real fun around here. And I'm not sure about the booze thing, I'll have to get back to you on that one... But I'm sure that between the bunch of us we'll be able to manage something." As the young woman spoke, she couldn't help but begin to brainstorm ideas of how she'd get some bottles for the party. Maybe she'd be able to convince a male faculty member?

Soon, Wesley was saying his goodbyes, and Zakya's smile slightly faltered at his mention of spreading the word. Shit. What if TJ and Erica didn't mean to invite practically the entire school to their little shindig? If that were the case, they'd surely be in for a great surprise when word finally got back to them, or when they suddenly found themselves watching a sea of students come flooding through their bedroom door. Leave it to Zakya and her big mouth to start the gossip chain. Oh well, Zakya said to herself after thinking it over for only a second longer. They'll get over it when they start having fun.

"Well, as much as I love ogling you," Zakya said to Theo, only half joking. "I've got a class to get to. I really hope you change your mind about the party. I'll save you a dance, just in case." As the young woman spoke, she gathered her things once more, stood from her seat next to Theo, and began to strut away.

"See you in second period!"

[Venus]

^{An @Ejected and @Rosalia collaboration
Featuring Dwayne Freeman and Soleil Jameson}

Truth be told, Dwayne hadn't been paying as much attention to his surroundings as he probably should've been as he made his way down to the cafeteria. Maybe it was because he was still thinking about the craziness that he'd experienced a few minutes before leaving the gym. Or perhaps he was wondering how Nicholas Grey would act upon seeing him if he happened to still be in the cafeteria; would they go on as normal as he'd hoped, or would things be a little... awkward between them? Either way, the young man didn't snap back to reality until he felt a sharp pain hit him right in the lower abdomen; Dwayne let out a low groan and instinctively grabbed his stomach as he turned to see who'd done the damage.

"Damn, Sol. You tryna take me out or something? I thought we were cool peoples." Dwayne said jokingly, his expression softening considerably once he saw that it was none other than Soleil Jameson who'd bumped into him. "I'm cool though. But are you sure everything's alright with you? I mean, you seemed a little... upset." The pain in Dwayne's stomach went away almost as quickly as it had appeared; once it subsided, the young man returned to his original stance, his hands stuffed into his pants pockets and his shoulders slightly slouched.

Somehow, Soleil was able to muster up a fake smile. "Nah, man. It's all good. Don't worry about it," she reassured him, lightly punching him in the arm. "What's up with you, though? Normally you're alert enough to give me a heads up about things, but you look like you were kinda distracted yourse-" Suddenly, an idea came to her. "I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

Soleil was right, Dwayne normally would've spotted her coming from a mile away. He hadn't realized that he was so wrapped up in his own thoughts. The young man hesitated for a moment as he pondered Sol's proposition. Did he really want to disclose the details of what he'd experienced that morning in the gym? Was it worth the risk of being called crazy? Although Soleil was one of the few people at the school Dwayne considered a friend, and he was mildly curious as to why she'd been practically fuming a few seconds ago, he figured it'd be best to only tell half of the truth. "It's nothing," Dwayne said, shrugging his shoulders. "I guess I'm just a little more tired from the gym this morning than I thought. I've just been... out of it ever since I left."

“I heard that…” the young woman answered, rolling her eyes. “That’s kinda what’s happening with me too in a way, y’know? Before I came here, I felt like I had somewhat of a grip on myself. I mean, I wasn’t the best behaved person around or anything like that, but I knew when to take the high road and chill and when to let my anger out. But ever since I got here, it’s like I’m acting under instincts I didn’t think I had in the first place. I see things that upset me, and instead of thinking ‘oh well, I’ll just have to work harder at the gym later’, I just want to pounce at whoever’s pissing me off and make them bleed…” she trailed off, thinking back to that gory vision of the tiger and the peacock and immediately shaking her head to get rid of it. However, when she thought back to how weird her last statement must have sounded to Dwayne, Sol grimaced. “Fuck. Sorry! That came out a lot creepier than I thought…” she apologized with a small laugh in an attempt to ease any tension.

"Not creepy at all, Sol. But I am gonna pray for whoever it is in there that's pissed you off this morning. They're definitely gonna need it." Dwayne said, letting out a small, awkward laugh of his own as he nodded towards the cafeteria doors. "You know, I actually vaguely remember someone telling me that a lot of times, when you seem to be having trouble dealing with your anger all of sudden that there's probably some underlying cause or reason. And that if you want to get this anger under control, you gotta figure out what that reason is and resolve it. Not really sure if that helps at all... But you can always come to me and talk everything out before things turn... homicidal."

Soleil joined in with his initial laughter, and remained quiet and thoughtful of Dwayne's words, but she suppressed her instinct to groan at his suggestion. "I mean, I know what the cause of my bad mood is. The way to resolve it, however, is a little more… complicated. And risky…" she admitted with a sigh. "I could lose a friendship I really fucking cherish over it. That terrifies me."

"Soleil 'Shady' Jameson is scared to take a risk? This must be something serious." Dwayne said with a half-smile. "I ultimately can't make you do something you don't want, but what I can say is that maybe you should think more about the positives rather than the negatives. I mean, things could go how you say they might... but what if things go the way you hope and you don't lose a friendship? You won't know really until you at least try. Assuming that this is about a guy... I think he'd be pretty stupid to turn you down, Sol."

Although she smiled and was incredibly thankful for Dwayne's advice and kind words, Soleil's mind was racing. Here was yet another person advising that she grow some balls and face the music. As much as she hated to be wrong, there was no way she was this time. "Thanks, man. I guess we'll just see how it goes, right?" she told him with a small smile that fell just as quickly as it arrived. "Shit. I didn't mean to make this whole conversation about me. I'm sorry…" the dark-haired girl apologized, biting her lip. "Let's get back to you for a sec. Are you sure tiredness is all that's going on with you? Or do you think it might be something else?"

As soon as Soleil brought the conversation focus back on him, Dwayne could feel himself start to clam up. He was prepared to stick to his original story of being "too tired" from the gym until he came to a sudden realization. Soleil had been honest with him, so why shouldn't he do the same? "I uh..." Dwayne started, struggling to find the right way to word things. "I just had this freaky experience in the gym that really threw me off. I was running on the treadmill, listening to my music as usual. And then all of a sudden I hear this... voice in my head, basically telling me not to give up." As Dwayne spoke, he carefully studied Sol's face for any sort of reaction.

"And before you call me crazy, it's not like I'm just hearing things. I figure it was just a suppressed memory or something, maybe from when I was a kid. Except I can't picture who the voice belonged to, no matter how hard I try to remember..." Dwayne let his voice trail off at the end of his short story. And he only let a few moments pass before he said, "I know, it's not even that big of a deal. Not sure why I even kept thinking about it."

"Well that's strange…" Soleil mused, her green eyes now narrowed in an inquisitive expression. "Definitely a lot more interesting than me being hung over some guy, though," she joked with a smirk in an attempt to lighten up his mood while she mulled things over. "I don't think you're crazy: that's a fact. But I don't really have an explanation for what you're telling me, either. Maybe it's one of those cases in which you hear a voice in your head like you do when you're silently reading or thinking something, but under somebody else's voice?"

Dwayne let out a light chuckle at Soleil's joke, and nodded his head as she offered up a potential explanation. "Yeah, maybe you're right. That definitely makes the most sense," he said before checking the time on his watch. "Anyway... breakfast any good this morning? I'm starving."

"Oh yeah, it's great. Same as always. You know breakfast here is always good." Shady answered with a shrug and smile. "I'd walk in and have breakfast with you even though I just ate, but the hypothetical root of my problem is inside and I'm trying to buy myself some time before I face it…" she trailed off, instinctively taking a peek over her shoulder back at Theo before turning back to Dwayne with a sheepish expression. "So yeah! That was a nice talk! Think we could meet up again sometime soon? Maybe discuss more of our emotional and paranormal problems over some dinner?" she teased with a playful wink.

"Of course," Dwayne answered with a smirk. "Looking forward to it."

"Alright, cool! I'll see you later!" she told him with a smirk of her own, lightly punching his arm again in farewell before heading off in the direction of the dormitories. The prospect of dinner with Dwayne certainly made Shady smile and greatly improved her mood, but it also made her wonder why things couldn't be as simple as this when it cane to Theodore. Cry me a fucking river...

[NeoAJ]

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After bidding Erica a fond farewell at the table, Savannah made a quick angry walk back to her dorm room. The speed of her trek was much less about the her stated goal of getting ready for class and more about trudging off to lick her wounds from the battle she lost for the attentions of Nicholas Gray. She loved TJ like a sister, but sometimes it just felt like the redhead would tower over her and completely obscure her from any conversation.

It wasn't even about getting the attentions from some guy. There were enough guys who had tried to hook up with her already. That slimy Todd McClellan tried his luck on the first week and Savannah couldn't bolt away quick enough. Anyone doing that kind of thing with his tongue to try and attract someone needed to be avoided. Of course there was Leo Brooks, but the vibe off that guy told Savannah that even the flashing pleasures of physical contact weren't worth the risk of being eaten alive by that personality, that macho bullshit that he projected everywhere. No, it was as she confirmed. Nicholas Grey was the prime target. Maybe Dwayne Freeman, but who knew with Dwayne? Dude was so smart and it seemed like he could keep his eye on whoever he wanted, but he never turned around and glanced her way. Not yet.

Is that why she did what she did in the cafeteria? I just did everything short of laying out on the table and spreading my legs in front of Nicholas, and for what? Would that really be worth it? Why would I want him to look at me? Why would I want anyone to look at me? I'm just fine being that stealthy person that no one really thinks about after I walk by, right? I don't need to be a Zakya or something drawing all the attention to myself...

SO WHY THE FUCK DID I DO THAT? WHY DID I SAY I WOULD DO THIS? WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? I... UGH!

As Savannah opened the door to her room, she slung her gym bag off to the side by the laundry hamper and allowed herself a moment to collapse on the bed, her mind still racing over the breakfast that turned into a break in her brain. She had to breathe, take the moment to calm herself down. It was easier to do now that there was no prize to butt heads with her friends over. No tension. That's what this was all about, right? Erica said it herself. There had to be someway to get rid of all that tension, and apparently now they were going to be taking care of acquiring the methods of relaxation themselves. Probably for the best anyway. No need to bring in outside people. Although who knows? Someone like Charles would be a useful lookout or something. Or a fall guy. There was time to plan that trip later. Erica is so much better than me at coming up with plans anyway. Besides, I know what my job is going to be anyway...

Savannah hoisted herself off the bed and moved over to her wardrobe. On the shelf on the bottom, far away from all her pretty heels and expensive running shoes were an older beat-up pair of tall black combat boots. Honestly, the girl had no idea why they made the cut, of all the things that she could have brought with her limited luggage space. Who was going to invade the middle of nowhere? Besides, back home the only women who wore those swung their gaze from the eyes of the Lord towards the Devil's Temptations. At least, that's how her parents described them. Not that she believed too strongly in the scriptures anymore. Yet, here they were, serving a purpose that she didn't realize until she blurted out her booze-scoring abilities at the cafeteria table.

Reaching into the right boot, Savannah lifted up the padding of the sole and instantly found what she was looking for. A hard piece of plastic slipped into her fingers and was exposed to the air for the first time since she arrived at San Agustin. When she inadvertently discovered what she had in her possession on that warm September afternoon, she panicked and instantly buried it back into the darkness of those boots. It seemed like the smart thing to do. If she just tossed it out, even if she cut up the pieces really well, it was pretty clear what it was even from a fragment, and then there would be questions and expulsion. If she hid it in the boots and threw them out, that would just raise further questions. Also, she couldn't bring herself to disrespect quality footwear like that. It wasn't in her DNA.

No, as Savannah held the fake drivers license in her hands, her fingers started to tremble a little. Seeing the big bold "OKLAHOMA" lettering at the top, that Native American shield and feather, the picture of her smirking at the camera, the roots of her hair completely erased by bleach and more pink dye, it was like a crazy mistake from some alternate universe sat in her hands. Still, this was her ticket to getting out of the situation she had put herself in.

She went over to the mirror and stared into it for a moment with a steely gaze. There could be no trembling if she was going to pull this off. Savannah took another deep breath and stated, "Hello. My name is Kelsey Marston. I was born on December 7, 2013 in Vinita, Oklahoma, and I would like all of your finest alcohols for my friend's birthday party, please." She looked at her reflection for a moment and shook her head. "Just work on it, Marston. Don't sound like a dang robot. But don't sound so casual either..." She looked over at the clock. While Kelsey's problems could wait a couple of days, History started in 45 minutes. That meant Savannah had to get her shit in gear. "One crisis at a time," she told herself as she prepared for that quick shower she desperately needed before she sat down in class.

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