Aewin

🦄 The Best Exotic

Ananya Sharma - the local

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^{"A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him." - David Brinkley}

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Name:

Ananya Sharma

Aliases:

Tita - A nickname given by her parents, originating from the ABBA song 'Chiquitita'
Anya - A common nickname that shortens her name

Age:

Twenty two

Birthday:

29th August

Ethnicity:

Indian

Birth Place:

Calcutta, India

Apartment Number:

Apartment 6 (second floor)

Gender:

Female

Major/Minor:

Reluctant Med student

Occupation:

Chef

Languages:

Bengali - fluent (it's her first language)
Hindi - fluent
Tamil and Punjabi - She knows the basics of both, due to her heritage, but she mainly knows how to swear in Punjabi, along with the usual basics
English - learning from living in the hotel. She only knows bits and pieces, so it's quite easy for her to mess up while speaking to the foreigners living in the hotel with her.

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Height:

1.6m (or 5'2")

Weight:

119 lbs

Build:

Petite, hourglass frame

Eyes:

Dark brown

Hair:

Brown

Skin Tone:

Medium, easily tanned

Tattoos/Scars/Piercings:

Other than the obvious earlobe piercings a girl usually has, Ananya has her nose pierced (but rarely wears any nose rings unless its a special occasion such as a wedding). Ananya doesn't have any tattoos, yet, but she wishes to have one on her wrist but hasn't decided on the design.

Personal Style:

Ananya has the look of childish innocence. Wide face, large doe-like brown eyes and full pinklips always curled into a soft, welcoming smile. Her cheeks still have an element of babyfat, giving her the youthful look she has, and with the way she styles her long dark locks? Instant youthful look. She has fairer skin than those in her family, hinting at her non-active lifestyle. She is a petite girl - not helping with her childish appearance - with a hourglass figure usually extenuated with the fitted kurtis she usually wears.

Ananya's style is strictly traditional. She wears and always has been wearing kurtis and salwar kameez in varying shades, colours and patterns. Though in her recent years after leaving her home in the state of Bengal, Ananya has been experimenting with more western clothing such as tank tops, dresses and skirts.

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Fun-loving * Skittish * Dreamer * Weak-willed

Sexuality:

Heterosexual

Relationship Status:

Single

Personality:

One way to best describe Ananya is a deer; small, elusive and easily frightened. Life for Ananya had always been about independence and hard work, each trait awarded with either a materialistic reward in the form of some new books or clothes, or a family outing to a place of Ananya's choice - though the latter was a lot rarer. Individuality didn't matter to Mr and Mrs Sharma, it was all about the amount of money stored in the bank account at the end of the day.

This oppressive environment was enough to grow a streak of rebelious behaviour within Ananya, buried deep where it could not cause any problems. Ananya's love for cooking comes partially from her inner rebellious self - one she satisfies by working at the hotel as a chef for some extra cash during and after college. Ananya loves to have fun once she's out of her little bubble: usually coming out during cooking or in a party. Though usually the end result of the party usually includes Ananya feeling guilty for going against her parent's wishes, and making up to them by studying twice as hard for her course.

Ananya is a big dreamer, wishing to be a chef rather than a doctor as her parents want her to be - but her weak nature forces her to keep silent against her wishes, forcing her to go along with her parent's dream without complaints. One day, she hopes to be able to tell her parents of her career plans, hoping that they'd accept her rather than push her away for going against them.

Habits:

• Biting her nails
• Always snacking on something
• Muttering & swearing in Punjabi when stressed/frustrated
• Is very religious and a vegetarian

Hobbies:

• Trying out new recipes

Fears:

• Spiders
• The dark (she always sleeps with the light on)
• Failure (due to her upbringing)

Likes:

• Success
• Cooking
• Food
• Fun
• Attending weddings
• Children
• Watching trashy telly dramas

Dislikes:

• Darkness
• Failing her parents and disappointing them
• Fighting/arguing unnecessarily
• Smell of petrol
• Cats (allergic)
• Rusty metal

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What Brings You To India:

Ananya has always lived in India. Granted, she was originally from Calcutta and the move to Jaipur was definitely a strange and shocking one. Ananya moved to try and escape her parent's oppressive nature, though it hasn't worked very well - but hey, at least they're not breathing down her throat every minute. Ananya took residence in the Best Exotic and eventually got a small-time job as a chef in the kitchens to help out the staff whenever possible, helping her grow her own skills as a chef in the meantime.

History:

Originally born in Calcutta (now known as Kolkata), Ananya was the forth child to two highly successful people. Her mother was a doctor at the local hospital, while her father was a highly influential politician. Her home life wasn't the most cushy and loved filled one, but Ananya never had anything missing from her childhood. Sure, her parents were busy and were often not home due to their busy jobs, but Ananya's brothers were enough to keep the young girl entertained for the first decade of her life. Ananya's three elder brothers were often both protective and dismissive of her, either wanting to keep her away from their 'cool games' or to protect her from other potentially dangerous children (even though it was just an exaggeration on their behalf, and they didn't want to admit that they actually wanted to protect their mousey little sister).

One thing Ananya was taught growing up that success was everything. Without a good education, one couldn't get a good job, without a good job, there wouldn't be enough money in their bank accounts and you wouldn't be marriage worthy if you were broke. Ananya's parents were strict on her education and were often harsh on her if she got anything less than a perfect score. It was a similar story for her older siblings, which brought the children together as they grew up over the years. Success was such a big thing for her parents that they even decided which career path the children would take: the boys would study engineering at the best college while the girl would study to be a doctor. It was set from their birth, and one that Ananya absolutely hated growing up. There was no way to go against their wishes, as proven by her eldest brother Rohan.

Rohan wanted to be a writer rather than study engineering. It was obvious, from his high scores in his English essays and creative writing skills compared to his other subjects, but it was a skill that Ananya's parents ignored. They pushed him, trying to get him to refocus and think rationally but Rohan was as stubborn as they were. Ultimately, Rohan committed suicide as a way to end everything - leaving Ananya alone in her bubble as she slowly realised that she also wanted to go against her parents wishes, to become a cook.

Ananya helped out the nanny (who was also the cook) as much as possible during her teenage years, hoping to learn the skills required to be a good chef. The nanny was the only one who knew of Ananya's dream, and often encouraged it behind her parents' back by letting her help in the kitchen, or to even cook some of the meals once she was ready. With the added pressure of her education, Ananya grew to be a hard-working individual - passing her Senior Secondary Examination with 92% in most of her subjects and clearing the entrance exams for her medical college in Jaipur.

In order to help Ananya grow as a self-sufficient individual, Ananya's parents decided to let her choose her lodgings as long as she kept up her high marks in college. It was easier said than done, but Ananya finally chose to stay at the Best Exotic. Eventually, Ananya took up a small role in the hotel's kitchens as an intern to help both herself grow as a chef, and to help the hotel in any way she could.

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Character Quote:

"I am a big foodie, so much so that I eat every half an hour. This is the secret of my glowing skin" - her bullshitting someone sometime probably

Theme Song:

Human - Daughter

^{Underneath the skin there's a human
Buried deep within there's a human
And despite everything I'm still human
But I think I'm dying here}

Anything else:

Anna's dilemma

Extra:

• She owns a Honda Activa i scooter which she affectionately named Violet
• She's the proud godmother of her cousin's youngest daughter, Mira (one years old)
• Despite being a vegetarian, Ananya has tried chicken and absolutely loves it, but has to stop herself from eating it on a regular basis

_{*By submitting this CS in its completion I am stating I have read all the rules for this Rp and am agreeing to follow them to the fullest with respect and courtesy.}

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Relationships

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"Har pal yahan jeebhar jiyo, jo hai sama kal ho naa ho. (Live every moment to your heart's content, time that's here may not be tomorrow.)"

☯ Acquaintance ║ ✿ Friend ║ ❅ BFF ║ ♡ Infatuation ║ ☣ Frenemy ║ ☢ Dislikes ║ ☠ Loathes

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✿/❅ Natasha Brinne ❅\✿

"Is ajeeb hotel mein woh meri pehli dost hai."
The closest to a best friend Anya ever had, she treats Tas as both a teacher and a friend. Teacher because of her wealth of knowledge (of both cooking and western medicine) and a friend because... well, she's her friend. And guinea pig, but Tas doesn't need to know that quite yet. Sometimes Ananya wonders whether she could ask Tas for advice on how to deal with her strict parents, but her lack of courage stops her from voicing out her questions.

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✿ Cera Thomson ✿

"Woh meri madat karthi hai samajne main."
Cera is another lady Ananya can go to if she needs help with translating. While she's not the hotel's official translator, there may be only certain things a girl can ask another to translate, right? Well, either that, or its the fact that Anya feels infinitely more comfortable with Cera due to their similar personalities. They're both food lovers - Cera often gives Anya new cooking and baking tips for her to try - and they're both easily scared. Whether the latter is a good thing or a bad thing, is up to you to decide.

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✿ Alcander Mires ✿

"Main use apni sanskriti ke baare mein jaane mein madad karna acha lagta hai."
Ananya acts almost like a tour guide for Alcander. While Anya hasn't been raised in Jaipur, being a Bengali, but she has visited many times and even has family living here. She tries to teach him whatever little history she knows about the local historical buildings and culture, and even invites him to the kitchens whenever she's cooking something Indian - which is pretty much all the time.

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☯ Tempest Fullem ☯

"Usase main door rehti hu."
Ananya holds nothing against Tempest. The girls are way too different to interact freely: Ananya being shy, and Tempest being reserved and closed off. Ananya has no opinion of her, and Tempest's closed off nature is enough to keep Anya clear from her path.

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✿ Dominic Mason ✿

"Mera ek aur bhai"
Being two very quiet individuals, it wasn't hard to imagine that Anya would go to Dominic whenever she needed some peace and quiet from the boisterous group she lives with. Over the past few weeks since they'd been sharing a roof, Anya has come to think of Dominic like another older brother of hers; the quiet protector that would always be there for her when she needs him. And she hopes that she could be there for him too whenever he needs her.

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☯/✿ Murphy McManus ✿\☯

"Woh ajeeb hai..."
He's... loud, to say the least. Ananya can appreciate his jokey easy-going nature, but sometimes too much can scare her back into a shell. Once she's used to that sort of behaviour, it's likely that Ananya would be a lot more open to befriending their resident translator. Sometimes, as a thanks for translating her words, Ananya teaches him what little she knows about Punjabi: the swearing. It's fun, and quite useful if in a brawl with another hyped Indian guy, something Murphy seems like he would enjoy.

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☯ Marcus Sun Lu ☯

"Usko main nahi janti."
Ananya doesn't know much about Marcus, except for the fact that his parents were open enough to let him pursue his dream for acting and arts. It was both admirable, and enough to evoke a feeling of envy inside Anya, which she hasn't told anyone about. Maybe if Ananya can get over her feelings, they could have a budding friendship?

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✿ Owen Masters ✿

"Main use pasand karti hu, voh buhot pyaara hai."
Owen was one of the first foreigners to meet Ananya in the hotel. It came as quite the surprise for her too: she had only just moved in, an a few days later, she returns from a long day to find a shirtless guy playing basketball by the hotel. Ananya was shocked, to say the least. However, by now, Anya and Owen have settled a mutually beneficial relationship - she teaches him Hindi (and possibly bits of Bengali) and he helps her out with her English.

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✿ Areum Lee-Jeong ✿

"Woh bahut achchee hai."
One of the first few friends Anya made since moving out of her extended family's home, Areum is a breath of fresh air compared to the stifling closed-minded nature of her family's. Ananya appreciates the girl's warmth, and will often try to return that same smile by giving the girl some extra food should she want some.

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Translations

IC Posts

Hindi

Bengali

Relationships

Hindi

Natasha:"Is ajeeb hotel mein woh meri pehli dost hai." - She's (one of my) my first friends in this strange hotel.
Cera: "Woh meri madat karthi hai samajne main." - She helps me understand (everyone else)
Alcander: "Main use apni sanskriti ke baare mein jaane mein madad karna acha lagta hai." - I like helping him learn about my culture
Tempest: "Usase main door rehti hu." - I (tend to) stay away from her
Dominic:"Mera ek aur bhai" - My other brother
Murphy: "Woh ajeeb hai..." - He's strange...
Marcus: "Usko main nahi janti." - I don't know him very well
Owen: "Main use pasand karti hu, voh buhot pyaara hai." - I like him, he's cute
Areum: "Woh bahut achchee hai." - She's very nice.

🦄 The Best Exotic

@Lady Amalthea I may have been way too excited to see this roleplay

🦄 The Best Exotic

@Lady Amalthea *slides my CS towards you and runs away*

^{also sorry for the amount of gifs, I got a bit excited}

Ananya Sharma - the local

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^{"A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him." - David Brinkley}

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Name:

Ananya Sharma

Aliases:

Tita - A nickname given by her parents, originating from the ABBA song 'Chiquitita'
Anya - A common nickname that shortens her name

Age:

Twenty three (going on to be twenty four)

Birthday:

29th August

Ethnicity:

Indian

Birth Place:

Calcutta, India

Apartment Number:

TBD

Gender:

Female

Major/Minor:

Reluctant Med student

Occupation:

Chef

Languages:

Bengali - fluent (it's her first language)
Hindi - fluent
English - learning from living in the hotel. She only knows bits and pieces, so it's quite easy for her to mess up while speaking to the foreigners living in the hotel with her.

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Height:

1.6m (or 5'2")

Weight:

119 lbs

Build:

Petite, hourglass frame

Eyes:

Dark brown

Hair:

Brown

Skin Tone:

Medium, easily tanned

Tattoos/Scars/Piercings:

Other than the obvious earlobe piercings a girl usually has, Ananya has her nose pierced (but rarely wears any nose rings unless its a special occasion such as a wedding). Ananya doesn't have any tattoos, yet, but she wishes to have one on her wrist but hasn't decided on the design.

Personal Style:

Ananya has the look of childish innocence. Wide face, large doe-like brown eyes and full pinklips always curled into a soft, welcoming smile. Her cheeks still have an element of babyfat, giving her the youthful look she has, and with the way she styles her long dark locks? Instant youthful look. She has fairer skin than those in her family, hinting at her non-active lifestyle. She is a petite girl - not helping with her childish appearance - with a hourglass figure usually extenuated with the fitted kurtis she usually wears.

Ananya's style is strictly traditional. She wears and always has been wearing kurtis and salwar kameez in varying shades, colours and patterns. Though in her recent years after leaving her home in the state of Bengal, Ananya has been experimenting with more western clothing such as tank tops, dresses and skirts.

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Fun-loving * Skittish * Dreamer * Weak-willed

Sexuality:

Heterosexual

Relationship Status:

Single

Personality:

One way to best describe Ananya is a deer; small, elusive and easily frightened. Life for Ananya had always been about independence and hard work, each trait awarded with either a materialistic reward in the form of some new books or clothes, or a family outing to a place of Ananya's choice - though the latter was a lot rarer. Individuality didn't matter to Mr and Mrs Sharma, it was all about the amount of money stored in the bank account at the end of the day.

This oppressive environment was enough to grow a streak of rebelious behaviour within Ananya, buried deep where it could not cause any problems. Ananya's love for cooking comes partially from her inner rebellious self - one she satisfies by working at the hotel as a chef for some extra cash during and after college. Ananya loves to have fun once she's out of her little bubble: usually coming out during cooking or in a party. Though usually the end result of the party usually includes Ananya feeling guilty for going against her parent's wishes, and making up to them by studying twice as hard for her course.

Ananya is a big dreamer, wishing to be a chef rather than a doctor as her parents want her to be - but her weak nature forces her to keep silent against her wishes, forcing her to go along with her parent's dream without complaints. One day, she hopes to be able to tell her parents of her career plans, hoping that they'd accept her rather than push her away for going against them.

Habits:

• Biting her nails
• Always snacking on something
• Is very religious and a vegetarian

Hobbies:

• Trying out new recipes

Fears:

• Spiders
• The dark (she always sleeps with the light on)
• Failure (due to her upbringing)

Likes:

• Success
• Cooking
• Food
• Fun
• Attending weddings
• Children
• Watching trashy telly dramas

Dislikes:

• Darkness
• Failing her parents and disappointing them
• Fighting/arguing unnecessarily
• Smell of petrol
• Cats (allergic)
• Rusty metal

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What Brings You To India:

Ananya has always lived in India. Granted, she was originally from Calcutta and the move to Jaipur was definitely a strange and shocking one. Ananya moved to try and escape her parent's oppressive nature, though it hasn't worked very well - but hey, at least they're not breathing down her throat every minute. Ananya took residence in the Best Exotic and eventually got a small-time job as a chef in the kitchens to help out the staff whenever possible, helping her grow her own skills as a chef in the meantime.

History:

Originally born in Calcutta (now known as Kolkata), Ananya was the forth child to two highly successful people. Her mother was a doctor at the local hospital, while her father was a highly influential politician. Her home life wasn't the most cushy and loved filled one, but Ananya never had anything missing from her childhood. Sure, her parents were busy and were often not home due to their busy jobs, but Ananya's brothers were enough to keep the young girl entertained for the first decade of her life. Ananya's three elder brothers were often both protective and dismissive of her, either wanting to keep her away from their 'cool games' or to protect her from other potentially dangerous children (even though it was just an exaggeration on their behalf, and they didn't want to admit that they actually wanted to protect their mousey little sister).

One thing Ananya was taught growing up that success was everything. Without a good education, one couldn't get a good job, without a good job, there wouldn't be enough money in their bank accounts and you wouldn't be marriage worthy if you were broke. Ananya's parents were strict on her education and were often harsh on her if she got anything less than a perfect score. It was a similar story for her older siblings, which brought the children together as they grew up over the years. Success was such a big thing for her parents that they even decided which career path the children would take: the boys would study engineering at the best college while the girl would study to be a doctor. It was set from their birth, and one that Ananya absolutely hated growing up. There was no way to go against their wishes, as proven by her eldest brother Rohan.

Rohan wanted to be a writer rather than study engineering. It was obvious, from his high scores in his English essays and creative writing skills compared to his other subjects, but it was a skill that Ananya's parents ignored. They pushed him, trying to get him to refocus and think rationally but Rohan was as stubborn as they were. Ultimately, Rohan committed suicide as a way to end everything - leaving Ananya alone in her bubble as she slowly realised that she also wanted to go against her parents wishes, to become a cook.

Ananya helped out the nanny (who was also the cook) as much as possible during her teenage years, hoping to learn the skills required to be a good chef. The nanny was the only one who knew of Ananya's dream, and often encouraged it behind her parents' back by letting her help in the kitchen, or to even cook some of the meals once she was ready. With the added pressure of her education, Ananya grew to be a hard-working individual - passing her Senior Secondary Examination with 92% in most of her subjects and clearing the entrance exams for her medical college in Jaipur.

In order to help Ananya grow as a self-sufficient individual, Ananya's parents decided to let her choose her lodgings as long as she kept up her high marks in college. It was easier said than done, but Ananya finally chose to stay at the Best Exotic. Eventually, Ananya took up a small role in the hotel's kitchens as an intern to help both herself grow as a chef, and to help the hotel in any way she could.

---

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---

---

Character Quote:

"I am a big foodie, so much so that I eat every half an hour. This is the secret of my glowing skin" - her bullshitting someone sometime probably

Theme Song:

Human - Daughter

^{Underneath the skin there's a human
Buried deep within there's a human
And despite everything I'm still human
But I think I'm dying here}

Anything else:

Anna's dilemma

Extra:

• She owns a Honda Activa i scooter which she affectionately named Violet
• She's the proud godmother of her cousin's youngest daughter, Mira (one years old)
• Despite being a vegetarian, Ananya has tried chicken and absolutely loves it, but has to stop herself from eating it on a regular basis

_{*By submitting this CS in its completion I am stating I have read all the rules for this Rp and am agreeing to follow them to the fullest with respect and courtesy.}

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🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

Ceasar, meanwhile, is in the back of a truck trying to stabilize a broken akle. @Aewin's character, Meg, is the only one in the group that can respond directly to the radio. Until then, El Jefe has no idea what's going on.

@Sigil

Gonna take a note of that. I'll post something up soon, if not tomorrow.

For Queen and Country

I'll catch up with IC and OOC when I'm back from college, I don't even remember what OOC page I was on anymore

CLOSED.

@AewinI don't get it

@Universorum

What don't you get?

Edit: nvm

CLOSED.

@AewinWait. what's panguin?

@Universorum

Another shippy name for them - panda + penguin lol

CLOSED.

Posted the first Panguin/Janna collab~

I feel I have diabetes now from all the sweetness, gosh.

^{now I really need to sleep I have class at 9 in the morning and its 3 whoops}

CLOSED.

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^{First cutesy Panguin collab with @Wintergrey
with mentions of Audrey @Dirty Pretty Lies}

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Alyssa had walked off not too long after Audrey had, leaving Anna in the now empty corridor by herself. Anna was glad that Alyssa didn't seem mad about the situation, that she didn't have two less friends in one day. Though, it was hard to actually confirm anything about Alyssa just yet. The Queen may not appear angry, but it could possibly mean otherwise for Anna - she wasn't even sure what to believe any more. In all fairness, Anna had all the right to be mad at Alyssa for saying all that in front of Audrey. But Analise knew she couldn't really blame her for it - it had all been her fault for sending that text. She could have easily just turned off her phone, put it on silent, anything other than send her the lie.

And it was all her fault.

"I don't think we can be friends any more, Arnette. But you sure have plenty of those, don't you? So it's not like I'll be missed or anything. See you around, then." The sarcastic laugh still rang in Anna's ears as her mind replayed the whole fifteen minutes in painful detail. If Anna was any other sort of person, she would have been glad to lose Audrey's friendship - who would believe someone they disliked over their best friend!? - but this was Anna and she hated having anyone unhappy with her, let alone losing their friendship.

Anna pressed the heel of her palm deeper into her eyes, hoping that she'd stop the tears from falling. She still had the rest of the day to go through, and even though Anna felt like absolute rubbish, she knew that there was no way she would feel any better even if she went home early. Analise was sure that her make-up was definitely being smudged, possibly all over her cheeks due to the way she was pressing her hands into her eyes. It would be obvious to anyone around her that Anna was absolutely miserable, but Anna didn't care. For that one moment, she didn't want to care about what others thought.

For one single moment, she wanted to think about herself.

Anna was suddenly wrapped in a warm embrace, the action startling her enough to make her move her hands away from her face, ready to push away whoever it was. However, she knew who it was. Her heart knew it too, with the way it suddenly picked up speed. And it definitely was not because of shock. Jackson wordlessly held her, letting Anna to take comfort in him and his presence. She appreciated the silence, the simple act was enough to make her heart flutter. "She was my friend." Anna muttered, her already quiet voice muffled into Jackson's chest. It didn't matter whether he heard or not, Anna just wanted release. "I care about her and Domi the most, they're my best friends. I- I would rather--" She stopped herself, taking a deep breath in.

Jackson felt terrible for Anna. She was feeling so much more than him. When he had told Audrey to piss of it had been easy, even relieving. He didn't have a weight on his shoulders anymore. He was free. Most of the time it had felt like Audrey was more of a burden then a friend. But watching Anna, it was clear to him that she wasn't feeling very free. One of her best friends had just left her, without even giving a logical reason.

Jackson stayed where he was holding onto Anna. He would've loved to say something to her. To reply. To answer her. Anything to make her feel somewhat better. Something intelligent to make her laugh. Something to get her mind off of Audrey. Unfortunately Jackson wasn't like that. He couldn't comfort people like others could. The right words never seemed to find their place in his mouth. His approach was usually a more physical one. He just hoped Anna would be okay with his silence.

After a few moments Jackson slowly pulled away and looked at her with his soft brown eyes. "Do you like coffee?" Jackson knew of a great place down the street. It was a small coffee shop, attached to a book store. He never did much reading there, or drinking coffee, but it did have a nice relaxing feeling to it. It didn't look like Anna was going to get much more work done today, after everything that had happened and Jackson could really use a break from calculus class.

Anna nodded, silently as she stepped back once. She was grateful for Jackson's concern, and selfishly, she didn't ask about Audrey. Anna knew that Audrey would've most likely gone to Jackson after - possibly hurting the poor guy for a mistake she made. Pointing at his shirt, Anna meekly commented "sorry about the mascara on your shirt," she apologised. Even if she stayed back instead of going home, Analise was sure that there was no way she could guarantee that she wasn't going to break down into tears again during biology.

She turned, pointing in the direction of the exit. "Shall we?" In the same manner (maybe a bit more sadly) that Jackson had gestured towards the beach back during the party, Anna looked at him for the first time since he arrived.

Jackson looked down at his shirt after Anna pulled back. "Honestly, I think i like it better this way." The black mascara mixed in with the black ink on the white t-shirt, creating an interesting pattern. It almost looked like a panda...

Once again Jackson was filled with the desire to kiss her and make everything better. She seemed so sad, even when she referenced his phrase from that wonderful night on the beach. The night that had led to her losing her friend... That didn't really make it seem like such a good night in that perspective.

Shaking his head of the negative thoughts he grabbed Anna's hand and led her out of the school to his car. They drove off quickly, making good time. A few short minutes after they left the school, they were parking outside of a small coffee shop on the corner. The entire time he held onto her hand, only letting go when they got out of the car and entered the shop.

Anna almost let out a laugh as Jackson looked down at the new pattern on his shirt. "I'll get it dry cleaned for you," she said. It wasn't an offer, she was going to do it. She didn't even realise that she had repeated his phrase earlier - it was something that just slipped out, something natural, which Anna would probably only realise she had said after looking back on her memories later in life. The drive out of the high school was short, arriving only a short few minutes later. They entered the small, but quaint looking café, the inside barely filled with many people. Well, other than the odd business person scattered across the small room.

Since the line was short, the two could get their drinks almost immediately and find a place to sit. Anna chose a cosy corner, beside the window. Sinking down on the comfortable looking couch, Anna sighed as she slowly felt the tense feeling in her go away. She took a sip of her drink as she thought of what to say to Jackson. Was it right for her to even ask if he was okay? He looked like it, but he was probably better at keeping his emotions at check than she was. "So... how's your first date with a raccoon?" She asked, wincing at her words.

'Very smooth, Anna.'

Jackson took hold of his drink in both hands. It was pleasantly warm compared to the cool weather outside. Taking a small sip he shivered in happiness. He didn't usually allow himself to drink coffee, but when he did he relished every single sip. It wasn't the taste of the coffee that really drove him crazy, but the smell of it. It was such a pleasant smell that is just filled him up with warmness inside.

Sitting down next to Anna, he took a deep sip and leaned lightly into her. He laughed quietly. "Raccoon?" Tilting his head he pretended to examine her, like he wasn't taking every opportunity to stare at her beautiful face. Even with the messed up make up she was so pretty.

Her cheeks had reddened as he examined her face, barely suppressing the urge to turn away to avoid his scrutiny. The way he was looking at her, it reminded her of the beach kiss. They hadn't even talked about it since that day, mainly because of Anna taking that time to gain the courage to talk to Audrey about it first. She knew it wasn't fair to keep Jackson waiting, but she was scared. Hell, she's still scared. She was pulled out of her thoughts as Jackson began talking again.

"I think you look more like a panda personally. A mousey panda. Panda mouse." Grinning at her with a wide smile that reached his eyes he said, "That's it. You're my mousey panda. Jackson could barely contain the bubbling laughter in his chest, "And for the record, my first date with a panda is going wonderfully."

...What.

Anna stared at Jackson, her drink still in her hand and her mouth open - possibly in shock. Her, a panda? A mousey panda?! Okay, well, she could agree with the mousey bit, but panda? The raccoon was just a joke, she didn't want to be known as his (cue blush) mousey panda! It was the sort of nicknames couples gave each other (cue another blush)! Anna faltered for a moment, looking down at her lap - staring right into the eyes of her penguin designed purse - before speaking. "Well- you're a penguin then." She said, proud of herself as she turned to look at Jackson again. "Call me panda, and you'll forever be known as penguin."

Maybe a bit of Audrey did rub off on Anna. It was definitely not threatening, but hey, at least she tried!

Jackson's smile only grew wider as she tried to threaten him. She was so caught off guard by his statement, it only made the entire thing better. "Penguin, huh?" Leaning in close to her, he bit his lip and looked deeply into her eyes. Moving passed her, his mouth came next to her ear. Quietly, he spoke in almost a whisper.

"Panda."

'Yep, he's definitely going to get me killed early.' The girl thought as Jackson leaned close to her ear, whispering. There was absolutely no way that Jackson didn't know the effect he had on her. She was sure he could hear her heart racing in her chest, sitting so close to her. It was a miracle that she hadn't dramatically swooned on the spot as a result.

Shrugging as he pulled back Jackson smiled again. "I guess I'll be known as penguin now." Glancing down at himself he jokingly said, "I do make a rather ravishingly good looking penguin. Though don't expect me to start eating sushi."

Leaning back into the couch and looking back over at Anna with a content look on his face, "So... a penguin and a panda on a date in a coffee shop. We are fucking adorable. Definitely never going to forget this moment."

"You're really cocky for a penguin, aren't you?" She asked, pouting into her cup of hot chocolate as she turned away. It was as if her previous sad mood was gone, replaced by the more normal, albeit childish version of Analise Arnette. "Penguin and a panda on a date..." She repeated, the words looping in her mind like a tape on repeat. Once again, the over-thinker was back.

'Did he mean something by that? I did sort of start it off with the raccoon comment...' Taking a sip, she used the time to overthink. 'But he continued it, so maybe he's trying to hint at something?'

Agh, boys are so complicated.

"Sounds like the beginning of a joke, huh." Well, that was one way to test the waters. To see what he thought.

Jackson watched her as she pouted. She was even a cute pouter. How could you possible be cute at that? It was such a simple action. There wasn't anything to it. She managed to so effortlessly drive him crazy. And then how she kept bringing up them being on a date. All it did was bring up memories of their kiss on the beach.

Since that night they hadn't really had any time together. This was the first time since the beach that they had gotten to spend together, alone. His heart thudded with desire to brush her hair behind her ear, just like on the beach. The desire to lean forward and kiss her without a second thought.

The desire became too much for Jackson, he couldn't hold back any more. Kissing her was the only thought in his brain, it couldn't even come up with a reply. A hand softly brushed the hair behind her ear, just like he had imagined. So lightly his hand grazed her ear. Leaning in Jackson stared into her eyes, waiting. Waiting for the look that would let him know he could continue.

And Jackson didn't have to wait long for the look. Anna's heart skipped a beat as his hand brushed her ear, pushing her hair back just like he had done back on the beach. His actions were almost exactly the same as back then too: first holding her hand, then brushing her hair and finally the look. The look that simply melted Anna on the inside. The look that made Anna throw caution to the wind and just live.

She had already lost Audrey, what was the point continuing on in fear of her wrath? She already hated her, so Anna might as well just do what she wanted. And that she did. This time, Anna leaned in close to Jackson, slowly but firmly pressing her lips against his. She had her drink held tightly in one hand, gripping hard as her other went up to the arm that was grazing her ear. It didn't matter to her if people were watching any more, only Jackson mattered in that moment. Anna never realised when her eyes had fluttered closed, the feeling of her lips pressed against his was too important in that moment.

The world was all but forgotten as Jackson and Anna kissed. Even the amazing coffee that only moments ago had encaputred his attention. All he felt was pure happiness. He felt her hand on top of his and held on. With his eyes shut, everything felt more intense. The taste of her lips, the smell of her sweet perfume, and the soft feeling of her hand in his.

Letting go of her hand, Jackson cupped Anna's face and kissed her again. And again. And again. Jackson pulled back just enough to be able to laugh. He felt high from the experience, not that he would know what that would feel like. Pressing his forehead against hers he continued to laugh, painfully aware that he had just made out with one of the most awkward girls in front of a bunch of strangers in a coffee shop. Oh, who cared about them. All he cared about right now was Anna.

Wow.

It was a simple word, to describe an overwhelming situation. Don't get me wrong, she was happy - elated even - to be making out with her crush, even if it was in a public place. Anna felt Jackson press his forehead against hers, her own laughter joining his in their quiet corner of the café. She felt the exact same rush of feelings she had done the first time they'd kissed on the beach: the fear, the happiness, everything. But this time, Anna didn't want to succumb to her fear.

This time, Anna wanted to know what Jackson wanted. She wanted Jackson to know what she wanted. "W-wow." She huffed between her laughs, her hand reaching up to rest on his shoulder. She took a moment to relax, for both of them to return from their high, before swallowing her fear and asking the dreaded question.

"Jackson, what d-does this make us?" She asked. God, she hoped they were on the same page. "Are we..." the word 'dating' was left in the air, her throat closing before she could finish her question.

Jackson's forhead furrowed in mock serious thought. "What are we? Hmmm..." He concentrated hard about the question. "What are we..? King and Queen? No, no, no that's not it. Though we'd certainly make great ones. Eve and Adam? Closer, but still not it!" Scratching his head he shrugged at her. "I don't know... I guess boyfriend and girlfriend."

Grinning at Anna to let her know he was only joking, he leaned in again and kissed her, briefly this time. "Analise, will you go out with me?" Hopeful eyes watched her carefully. Waiting just like before he kissed her, for the answer.

A sigh of relief escaped Anna's lips, feeling as if an entire weight had been lifted off her shoulders as she listened to Jackson joke around. It felt good to finally know where she -- they -- stood in all of this. And to know that he wanted her too? She felt happy. Well, happy is an understatement - over the moon, was the correct term.

Analise saw Jackson's hopeful eyes, and she couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't malicious, but more from relief as Anna pressed her forehead against Jackson's. "God, that's the best thing I've heard all day... yes, of course-- yes," she punctuated each yes with a kiss: on his cheek, lips, anywhere really.

It was amazing how Jackson was able to bring her back from the dumps, from feeling miserable to feeling herself again - without even trying. The fall out with Audrey before suddenly felt as if it wasn't the biggest deal in the world, not like how Analise was making it out to be. That everything was actually going to be okay. Getting together with your crush was literally every teenaged girl's (and possibly some guy's) dream, and to see that Analise getting with Jackson? Simply perfect.

For now, nothing else mattered but the two of them.

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Growing Up | It's Anything But Simple

<Snipped quote by Aewin>

Absolutely.

@Universorum

I feel bad for their poor ears, then.