”Last beer? Oh, oh... Ha, sorry dude.” King’s eyes were drawn automatically to the pill bottle in Jasper’s hand, and as the other man drew closer he reached out to snatch at the bottle and money. The bill came into his possession first, crisp and wealthy in both appearance and feeling. He eyed it irritably, then moved to grab the pill bottle, shifting it into his hand with a nick of the lid and a nearly broken fingernail. ”Never said I was going out, ya know~” He teased with a smirk, leaning forward to shove the bill in his back pocket before he twisted and tugged at the pill bottle cap, ”But just for you, Jay-baby, and for more deets on the Caldwell party that I am just hearing about right now what the heck? Social media failed me again this morning, I guess.” King gave a low laugh, lips still quirked, and then brushed passed his roommate to grab a cup of water and swallow down the remaining two pills.
While King went to grab water, Jasper trailed behind him, his sluggish speed picking up with a mission of retrieving a snack. Reaching up into one of the cabinets above the stove to get his first unhealthy meal of the day, he contemplated his options, quite use to the boombox in his head. There was an unreasonable amount of Hostess products in this one cabinet but most boxes only had one or two more left. Today, he decided to have a Wanger. Might as well fuel his body for inspiration. Inspiration to get his ass out the house and do something before the party. Maybe text a bud up and do meaningless things around NYC. That was always fun to do--avoid responsibility, get a hot dog from his favorite stand, watch some performers but “forget” to give them money, walk away from pigeons that liked to shit on him, talk to a homeless guy… what an ideal day he’d say. It wasn’t long before Jay strolled to the outside of his bedroom wall to lean up against it. His bedroom was directly in front of the entrance door and despite the fact that his room was one of the smaller ones, he liked having quick access to the Kitchen, the exit, and the blue bathroom. As he leaned against the chateau brown painted walls, Jay took a nice bite into the chocolate-will-probably-give-him-diabetes-cake.
Though the aching haze in his mind remained for a few more endless moments, King tried his best to compile the very short list given to him into something to remember. The hum of his migraine chased away words, however, and he was left with just the sound of swishing water in his mouth and the faintest indication of footsteps just beyond their front door. He turned back to Jasper after another quiet second, rolling the cricks out of his neck as he said in a sing-song voice, ”I’ll be heading out now then~! If you need anything else text me.”
And then there was knock at the door.
And King was suddenly hit with a memory that had evaded him all morning. It was as if he were moving faster than light as he whipped out his phone and scrolled through his messages again. Mom, mom, mom, Az, mom, Az, Az, dad, Bart, Az, Az-- Alex’s name stood out among the spam of countless others. Alex Novak. The girl King was almost able to call his best friend.
guess who's coming back into your life and giving it any sort of meaning!!!
I should be arriving at the apartment in about twenty. cant wait to see you again! <3
Perking his eyebrows with intrigue but also annoyance, Jasper mumbled to himself, as his ears listened to the movements of his roommate and his brown orbs stared fixedly at the door, “Who the hell wants to visit us?” Morning/day visitors weren’t a common thing for the two men since they spent most of their day out and about. It was more usual to have the occasional ladies or fellow bros raid their house at night.
”Oh man!” King yelped, voice raising easily above the subdued mumble he had sported before. He moved through the kitchen and living spaces like some kind of trained marine, hopping over discarded shirts and shoes and misplaced chairs with ease despite his still pulsating head. Before another knock could pound against both the door and the pain behind his eyes he slipped open the lock and pulled back, instantly opening up the apartment to the brunette standing in front of him. King fought back and utterly cheesy smile. ”Hey, Allycat,” He purred, eyes glittering in the half-light of the complex’s hall, ”Long time no see.”
Once King opened the door, Jasper’s eyes widened not expecting to see a fairly good-looking woman waiting on the other side. Being socially awkward at times, he took another bite out of his cake and stared at the woman, his big eyes contemplating what he was seeing. Nope, didn’t expect this at all.
And there he was: Richard King. While most people were generally captivated with his attractive, structured face and features, Alex could only see the boy standing in front of her as he was. She no longer looked at him and saw the cocky playboy that had caught her eye and made her approach him. When green eyes met vibrant blue, all she could see was this boy who loved his guitar and songwriting and was afraid of rainy nights and would press their foreheads and faces really close when one of them was upset and watch sports with her. Then he smiled... and she couldn't contain herself anymore.
Pulling her duffel bag off her shoulder and letting it fall to the side without any care, she let the briefest of breaths escape from her lips. The sound a strange mix of sigh and exhale that felt like the calm before the storm. "You're here," she whispered, as if she didn't believe he would be. Richard only got a glimpse of her emotional smile before she barreled into him with all the force her small, little body could muster, attempting to convey how extremely happy and relieved she was that he was here. Pressing her face into his chest as far as she could, she wrapped her small arms around his body, not wanting to let him go, a hum of contentment rumbled quietly in her chest as she smiled gently at the feel of being in Richard's embrace.
King grinned widely down at the small woman. He grinned and grinned and grinned until his cheeks ached and his headache flared like some kind of wildfire. With a teasing voice he purred, ”’Course I’m here. Have to be, kinda stay here, ya know?” and with whatever strength he could muster despite his screaming limbs he twirled and lifted Alex up into his arms. Choked laughter turn to a hiccuped groan, however, and after one or two spins around the entrance way he stalled and let his friend fall back down to her feet with a hefty thump. ”Jesus, no more of that for now.” He hissed, berating himself, and then he squirmed out of Alex’s arms and sat back on his heels, smile falling to a cocky smirk. It was brilliant in it’s own right, but nothing compared to the wild perk of the lips he revealed before.
Alex made a surprised noise at the feeling of being lifted a whole half a foot above the ground before laughing lightly while being spun, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck to prevent herself from falling. Exhilaration coursed through her as she buried the side of her face into Richard's neck, a giddy smile on her face as she came into contact with the taller boy once more. However, it quickly morphed into a frown as she was placed back on the floor unceremoniously. It was very rare for Richard to have any struggle with carrying her since she didn't weigh much and he was pretty athletic. Dropping her arms to her side, Alex furrowed her eyebrows and watched her friend as he attempted to compose himself, not being deterred from observing his movements by his smirk. "What's wrong?" she questioned in a serious tone that was rarely used with him. Standing on her tip-toes, she brought a hand up to press the back of it against Richard's forehead, a concerned scowl pulling on her lips.
”Hangover. No need to worry~.” King rolled his head to and fro, wincing as he literally felt his skull shift with the motion. A wish to be sick came and went, followed by a blind moment as he straightened and fought against the idea of vertigo shoving him off his feet. And then he was oddly aware of everything again and his smile grew into another grin. ”God, anyway-- how are you? Jesus it’s been forever. Have a good flight in? Everything going we--”
What the hell was this? Jasper wasn’t fond of not being acknowledged, he understood this woman could be one of King’s booty calls but man, really? Waiting rather impatiently for them to finish their sentimental-I-haven’t-seen-you-in-forever moment, the senior student took a larger bite of his cake. Not paying attention to his chewing, he felt a sudden, and oh so familiar, sting in his throat as he inhaled the cake into his lungs. Loudly, he started coughing up his Wanger, which would most definitely make his presence known. Beating his chest and trying to gain his composure once more, the older man had a moment of near death. After choking and DYING, the piece of bread made it out of his throat and back into his mouth. With minor tears in his eyes, he swallowed the cake back down.
“Don’t need to call an ambulance, I’m alive.” With a miniature piece of cake left, he stuffed the rest in his mouth. His gaze met with the woman’s green orbs as he chewed in silence. This time, without the choke. After he swallowed it with ease, Jay made his way to the female, cleaning his right hand fingers with his mouth, making that obnoxious sucking noise, and then wiping it on his pants. Crossing his arms, the artist surveyed the oddity.
“The name’s Jasper. Another babe?” He brought his attention to his roommate, still having no idea that this woman was going to be here to stay.
Alex rolled her eyes as an affectionate gesture as Richard explained why he was feeling so distressed. Pulling her hand away and landing back on her feet, she gently ran her fingers down the inside of his arms before stopping at his rough hands and holding them with her own. Just as she was about to smile lovingly up at the blonde, a loud sound from behind her caused her to jolt and turn in surprise. Unknowingly, the shorter girl pulled closer to her friend, an arm pressed to his front. Seeing some strange, older man in the kitchen coughing up food, Alex watched the whole event unfold with a creased brow and judgmental expression, not even making an attempt to help the choking man. After the whole ordeal was finished and the man did not die, the only verbal response the brunette gave was a very curt, "Ew."
As if the man didn't know he was a disgusting slob, he carried on with eating the cake he had apparently been choking on in an uncivilized manner, prompting Alex to only narrow her brow deeper and open her mouth in repulsion. Once he was finished eating (if it could even be considered that), he approached the two friends while cleaning himself in the most undignified way. Eyeing the stranger as he wiped his dirty fingers on his pants, Alex raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
She was just about to ask Richard who this man was when he introduced himself. She might have not taken his hand if he had offered it like a normal person but at least responded back with her name albeit reluctantly. Of course it was a moot discussion since what had actually occurred was nowhere close. Immediately, Alex felt offended at this "Jasper's" words. Taking on a more hostile expression now, the smaller girl turned around completely with her arms crossed against her chest to fully face whoever the hell this guy thought he was. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" she demanded, tone biting.
Although the tense atmosphere lasted for just a few seconds, Alex was ready to launch herself at Jasper at any given moment. Thankfully Richard sensed the mood and intervened before anything else could go beyond a few aggressive words. ”Uh! Allycat!” King stepped between the two in an instant, taking Alex by the wrists as he pulled her close and shared a secret, charming smile. Just for her, only for her. ”Ignore him, he’s-- uh. Drunk. Hunger over too." It if were anybody else, Alex would have foregone their attempts to pacify her and continue being verbally abusive to the person who had pissed her off. But it was Richard, so naturally she made the exception for him. Looking at him, she registered that he was using that smile, that smile he rarely ever wore because she could read it for what it was: a request from him. After a moment, the girl's expression softened, barely paying attention to the words Richard was trying to use to excuse the other man in the room.
Whatever, here,” He released her and gathered whatever bags she had brought into his arms, placing them in the living room beyond messily. It was more out of a wish to get her away from Jasper rather than a wish to help her settle. Once Richard let go of her arms to go bring in her items (with much ease, she saw), she returned to her default position of crossing them over her chest and staring hard at Jasper, widening her eyes in challenge. After everything was set inside King tugged Alex out of the apartment and into the hall. As the door drifted closed he shot Jasper an apologetic look, and then another crazed smile, and finally it was just him and Alex in the half-lit compex. Alone for the first time since… Well, the last time he saw her. However, the girl was still annoyed at what had just happened and was silently fuming by herself. King awarded the moment with another bear hug and a crisp laugh and only when the blonde pulled her into a tight embrace did Alex try to relax, being stubborn for just a few moments more before giving in and returning the hug.
The two friends were silent for just a moment as they basked in each other's presence, the momentary peace being broken when Alex commented, "I really hope that wasn't your one night stand from yesterday? I'd like to think you haven't lowered your standards that badly."
”Okay, yeah. That was, uh, Jasper. He kinda owns the place and he’s a bit of a boy.” King leaned in and whispered the last part, as if the word itself was drenched in something toxic. The fact he cocked his head and quirked his lips further, however, could show that it was anything but. At the new information, Alex's expression was one of surprise before clear indignation took over. Raising her eyebrows in a sarcastic manner when Richard called the other a boy, she grumbled under her breath,
"Sure, a really, really old boy that looks like a creep."
”He’s our roommate, and I need you to get along with him, ‘cause he knows the best parties and he’s not that bad when you get to know him-- even though he was pretty bad just then.” King glanced at the door with a painful sneer, then straightened up to card a hand through his still-damp hair. Raising her eyebrows once again as if to confirm with Richard on what he had just stated, Alex watched as her friend exhibited signs of repressed anger and stress. Exhaling heavily, she patted his bicep in comfort.
"Well let's leave this jackass to himself for a while," the brunette suggested before squeezing the boy's upper arm. Humming in contentment, Alex turned her eyes upward, looking at Richard through her long lashes in a sultry manner, a small smile slowly curling up her lip. Stepping a bit closer, Alex's chest came very close to his side. "Oh, you feel a bit bigger. You been working out?" she flirted suggestively, attempting to get Richard's mind off of what was stressing him and keeping a relaxed feel around them.
”He is not a jackass, and--” King smirked down at his friend, leading them out towards the nearest stairwell as he looped his arm with her’s, ”I’m just naturally this muscular. Ha! So, how about a stroll through NYC? I have some errands to run, and then maybe we can hang out a bit? Catch up?”
Immediately, Alex pulled back with an offended expression. What was going on? Richard rarely disagreed with her on people they were either fond of or not. But then he was trying to appease her and Alex thought better of getting into it with him. Being angry and fighting was not how she wanted to spend her first day with Richard after not seeing him for three months. Smiling lightly up at her friend, the brunette nodded her head before holding his hand, fingers non-interlocked.
Collaboration between lovely complex, reiko, and Liriia
