A brilliant red and orange sunset peeked out from behind the mountains in the distance, mirroring this morning's peaceful sunrise. Another day on campus was drawing to a close, and Dr. Wayman was getting ready to speak to the “students” in this evening’s all school assembly as their fearless Headmaster. The famed scientist could have had anyone impersonate the leader of the school, but he took on the responsibility, desiring the opportunity to get to know the test subjects first hand. Dr. Wayman needed to learn about them, understand them better, all while visualising their personality traits up close. No scientific paper or observation from afar could replace a first hand account.
Shrugging off his white lab coat, Dr. Wayman replaced the fabric that draped over his shoulders with a professional blazer, smoothing down the sleeves instinctively as he checked his watch for the time. If he didn’t leave now, he was going to be tardy. With a hurried gate, he grabbed his bullet points and rushed out of his office, ensuring that he closed and locked the door behind him. His suite was located in the farthest depths of the teacher’s wing in the academic building, completely unheard of and unseen by the “students”. There was too much valuable information in there to risk having a test subject stumble across something they shouldn’t lay their eyes on. The older man scurried towards the auditorium, not wanting to be late to his own assembly. After a few minutes of navigating through campus, Dr. Wayman arrived at his destination, already met with students relaxing in the plush stadium seating awaiting his presence.
Clearing his throat, Dr. Wayman- rather, Headmaster Wayman- meagerly approached the microphone, tapping it twice to make sure it was on. Once students had noticed him take the podium, and heard his impromptu mic check, they quieted down and waited expectantly for him to speak. The scientist was not normally a strong public speaker (he spent 95% of his time in the lab), but if he was going to be believable, he needed to put on a show. With his shoulders back and chest lifted, Wayman began to talk.
“Students, thank you for joining me this evening. We are nearly two months into the school year and I hope you have acclimated yourselves to our campus environment. I encourage you all to continue fostering positive relationships with your peers and the faculty. We want nothing more for you to feel at home here at San Agustin.” Dr. Wayman let his eyes drift down to the podium, shifting his papers to get a better look at his announcements. His colleagues had given him this list based on their observations over the past few weeks. Most of them were quite mundane, but nonetheless, he informed the students appropriately.
“Now, just a few orders of housekeeping from the campus staff. Firstly, please keep in mind that mealtimes are concrete. The kitchen personnel work incredibly hard to prepare 50 different catered meals three times a day so please respect them by showing up to the correct meals at the correct times. As a refresher, breakfast is served from 7AM to 10AM, lunch is served from 12PM to 2PM, and dinner is served from 5PM to 7PM. If you show up outside of those times, there is an array of snacks, fresh fruits, veggies, and smoothies to tide you over until the next meal.” In an experiment, you needed to keep everything controlled, and Wayman argued that the students shouldn't be left to their own devices. Meal times needed to stay the same- a routine was necessary.
“Additionally, Halloween is next week. Please feel free to dress up for class if you so desire as the administration is planning a series of events throughout the day in order to celebrate. There are some spooky surprises in store, so it’s sure to be a frightening day. After our on campus festivities, if you choose to observe Halloween in the way that young people seem to do… please do so responsibly.” Dr. Wayman wanted to let out a stifled laugh, already well aware that these students were planning on throwing a “get together” over the weekend, but he held it back. His staff had heard murmurings of it in the cafeteria this morning and quickly let him know that this would be occurring, as they hoped at one point during the experiment they would be able to see the effects of alcohol on the test subjects. They were looking forward to leaving the keys of one of the school vans out in the open for someone to find. After all, they weren’t just going to hand them the booze... they needed to figure it out for themselves or else they may catch on. Dr. Wayman set down his papers and looked directly at the students, knowing exactly what the last announcement was without looking.
“Lastly, and most importantly, on Wednesday the administration will be hosting a school wide scavenger hunt to promote community on our small campus. All students will be split into small teams and will complete both physical and mental challenges together. The goal is to complete each task and do so with the fastest time. The winners will receive a prize, which is still to be determined, but I assure you it will be worth your efforts.” Whisperings of chatter erupted in the auditorium. He could tell this came as a slight shock to some of the students, but nonetheless, he continued.
“Classes will be cancelled in order to accommodate the event. We hope you take this as an opportunity to work collaboratively with your peers in a new and fun way. Your teams are posted outside on the bulletin board and I implore you to connect with them before Wednesday.” Dr. Wayman let a grin slip out from his emotionless façade. He was looking forward to seeing how these kids worked together, for better or for worse. It sure was going to be fun, and not just for the students.
“That will be all. Have a nice evening.”
A scavenger hunt? Really? Who's grand idea was this?
After the assembly, news of the scavenger hunt is what everyone is talking about across campus (including those who admittedly skipped the campus mandated meeting), but even if you're not excited about the event, you're still going to try and enjoy your Monday night.
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.
Name Margaret "Maggie" Wilson Don't even think about calling her Margaret...
Gender/Preferred Pronouns Female, She/Her
Age 17
Birthday March 21
Sexuality Heterosexual
Appearance To sum it up in one word, Maggie can be best described as dainty. Standing at 5'4" with a slender build, her features and stature are reminiscent of her delicate nature- a small sloping nose, high cheek bones, and full lips with corners that are often upturned in a smirk. Her shoulder length hair currently resembles the color of wheat, with dark roots that reveal her natural coloring. Her doe like blue eyes are striking and capture your attention, while her arched eyebrows frame her feminine face. The blonde routinely wears neutrals such as black, white, brown, and beige, or pastels such as light pinks and light blues. She also enjoys a pop of color now and again. Her wardrobe mostly consists of sweaters, cardigans, skirts and flowy dresses.
Personality Maggie is a quiet, but thoughtful and considerate person. An introvert at heart, the blonde often keeps to herself by reading books and practicing spells on her own. She tends to steer clear of overly boisterous and abrasive company, but nonetheless is not too selective when it comes to who her friends are. A shyer soul, she'll be pretty reserved around those she does not know as well, but once you get to know her, she is talkative, friendly, and incredibly easygoing. Faithful and honest, Maggie is true to her friends and the ones that she cares about, even if its to her own detriment sometimes.
Even though she may be shy, that doesn't mean Maggie isn't strong-willed. She has a good head on her shoulders and a intuitive sense of right and wrong. One could even say she's stubborn when it comes to what she believes in and her motives towards certain aspects of her life. You'd be surprised that quiet Maggie has a fiery temper, and it's not one that most people get to see. This is due to the fact she has a tendency to hold in her adverse thoughts and feelings only to erupt and let it all go in solitude.
Biography Maggie's family has been associated with the Sisters of the Dying Branch for generations. Her ancestors on her father's side came to America from Scotland and settled down in neighboring Maryland. They associated with the coven quickly, finding solace in likeminded witches, and begun to devote their lives to the elders and the like. Her mother's side was American through and through, residing in Virginia since the beginning of time. Maggie's father met her mother in the coven and they had a love story like no other, resulting in the birth of her older brother Brent and eventually her.
Maggie was raised in a home with an abundance of love and support from her parents. She led a "normal" childhood, attending public school alongside Brent and getting a well rounded education. She was exposed to her heritage at a young age- making the hour and something trip every month to the coven alongside her family gave her parents the chance to tell the children countless stories and explanations regarding their involvement with the Sisters of the Dying Branch. Now, at 17, Maggie is ready to grasp hold of her future and devote herself to the coven like her parents did and those did before her.
Notable Rumors It was rumored that Maggie got so angry once that she shattered a window by throwing one of her books at it in a sheer rage. Most people didn't think the quiet had it in her, so it was passed over quickly as hearsay. However, this rumor is in fact true- she had to pay for the replacement glass herself.
Fears She is deathly afraid of spiders, no matter how small or unassuming they may appear. Her parents say its a foolish fear, but nonetheless, it's something that Maggie has never been able to shake.
Magic Maggie's greatest strength is potions. Something about mixing the exact measures of each ingredient is therapeutic to the blonde, and although the process is time consuming she enjoys nothing more than a quiet afternoon in the kitchen throwing potions, elixirs and remedies together. She possesses the delicate care necessary to create different concoctions successfully, which allows her to excel in this area. Additionally, Maggie is quite proficient in healing magic and enjoys using her abilities to help others.
Other FC: Malijn Pieterse | ACA1CD Font: Font Meme Red Velvet
Name Margaret "Maggie" Wilson Don't even think about calling her Margaret...
Gender/Preferred Pronouns Female, She/Her
Age 17
Birthday March 21
Sexuality Heterosexual
Appearance To sum it up in one word, Maggie can be best described as dainty. Standing at 5'4" with a slender build, her features and stature are reminiscent of her delicate nature- a small sloping nose, high cheek bones, and full lips with corners that are often upturned in a smirk. Her shoulder length hair currently resembles the color of wheat, with dark roots that reveal her natural coloring. Her doe like blue eyes are striking and capture your attention, while her arched eyebrows frame her feminine face. The blonde routinely wears neutrals such as black, white, brown, and beige, or pastels such as light pinks and light blues. She also enjoys a pop of color now and again. Her wardrobe mostly consists of sweaters, cardigans, skirts and flowy dresses.
Personality Maggie is a quiet, but thoughtful and considerate person. An introvert at heart, the blonde often keeps to herself by reading books and practicing spells on her own. She tends to steer clear of overly boisterous and abrasive company, but nonetheless is not too selective when it comes to who her friends are. A shyer soul, she'll be pretty reserved around those she does not know as well, but once you get to know her, she is talkative, friendly, and incredibly easygoing. Faithful and honest, Maggie is true to her friends and the ones that she cares about, even if its to her own detriment sometimes.
Even though she may be shy, that doesn't mean Maggie isn't strong-willed. She has a good head on her shoulders and a intuitive sense of right and wrong. One could even say she's stubborn when it comes to what she believes in and her motives towards certain aspects of her life. You'd be surprised that quiet Maggie has a fiery temper, and it's not one that most people get to see. This is due to the fact she has a tendency to hold in her adverse thoughts and feelings only to erupt and let it all go in solitude.
Biography Maggie's family has been associated with the Sisters of the Dying Branch for generations. Her ancestors on her father's side came to America from Scotland and settled down in neighboring Maryland. They associated with the coven quickly, finding solace in likeminded witches, and begun to devote their lives to the elders and the like. Her mother's side was American through and through, residing in Virginia since the beginning of time. Maggie's father met her mother in the coven and they had a love story like no other, resulting in the birth of her older brother Brent and eventually her.
Maggie was raised in a home with an abundance of love and support from her parents. She led a "normal" childhood, attending public school alongside Brent and getting a well rounded education. She was exposed to her heritage at a young age- making the hour and something trip every month to the coven alongside her family gave her parents the chance to tell the children countless stories and explanations regarding their involvement with the Sisters of the Dying Branch. Now, at 17, Maggie is ready to grasp hold of her future and devote herself to the coven like her parents did and those did before her.
Notable Rumors It was rumored that Maggie got so angry once that she shattered a window by throwing one of her books at it in a sheer rage. Most people didn't think the quiet girl had it in her, so it was passed over quickly as hearsay. However, this rumor is in fact true- she had to pay for the replacement glass herself.
Fears She is deathly afraid of spiders, no matter how small or unassuming they may appear. Her parents say its a foolish fear, but nonetheless, it's something that Maggie has never been able to shake.
Magic Maggie's greatest strength is potions. Something about mixing the exact measures of each ingredient is therapeutic to the blonde, and although the process is time consuming she enjoys nothing more than a quiet afternoon in the kitchen throwing potions, elixirs and remedies together. She possesses the delicate care necessary to create different concoctions successfully, which allows her to excel in this area. Additionally, Maggie is quite proficient in healing magic and enjoys using her abilities to help others.
Other FC: Malijn Pieterse | ACA1CD Font: Font Meme Red Velvet
⟢ 🎆 Respects ⟡ 🌓 Neutral ⟡ 👋 Acquaintance ⟡ 🙇 It's Complicated ⟣ ⟢ 💛 Friend ⟡ 💙 Good Friends ⟡ 💜 Best Friends ⟡ ❣️Ex-Friends ⟡ 😈 Frenemy ⟣ ⟢ 💘 Crush ⟡ 💓 Loves ⟡ 💗 Couple ⟡ 💕 Basically Family ⟡ 💞 Family ⟡ 💔 Ex-Lovers ⟣ ⟢ ♨️Tense ⟡ 💀 Dislikes ⟡ 😡 Hates ⟡ 👿 Enemy ⟡ 👹 Absolutely Loathes ⟣ 👋 Dakota Lawson 👋 "Dakota seems nice- she's very energetic and loud, which is the exact opposite of me. But, she's friends with Calypso, so that makes her okay in my books." Dakota and Maggie could not be more different, however, Maggie find's Dakota's impulsive and wild nature somewhat endearing. They haven't had the chance to interact too much, but in the future it's very possible for them to become closer friends. 💛 Calypso Barnes 💛 "Calypso and I used to be friends when we were younger! But as I got older, things changed, and we kind of grew apart. Maybe after this summer we'll get close again?" Both growing up in the coven, Maggie and Calypso became good friends. They used to play together whenever Maggie's parents and Calypso's mother would travel to the coven house for business. As time went on, the blonde grew shyer and therefore kept to herself, which had a negative impact on her friendship with Calypso. 🌓 Summer Abernathy 🌓 "She definitely has a reputation that precedes her, but I've never had any issues with Summer." Summer has not decided to mean to Maggie (at least not yet), so for now, Maggie doesn't have any strong positive or negative feelings towards her. 👋 Charlie Hamlyn 👋 "Since Charlie joined the coven later on, I don't know him as well. He seems nice- definitely kind of cute. His accent remind me of the characters I read about in my books." Charlie and Maggie are both quite responsible and level headed people, so they tend to align on things. Although Maggie hasn't gotten the chance to know him too well, she could see them becoming closer friends this summer. 👋 Jean-Luc Laguerre 👋 "I don't know much about Jean-Luc, but he reads, so that's cool! He seems very serious though." Maggie is a little intimidated by Jean-Luc, possibly because he often shows no emotion and is very intense. She's impressed that he can speak a few languages- she's always wanted to learn French. 💛 Hana Song 💛 "Hana is really sweet! I like that she's quiet like I am. Sometimes, when everyone is acting crazy, she and I just make eye contact and start to laugh." Maggie and Hana have very complimentary personalities. Both quiet and reserved, yet kind and loving, the two get along very well.
Name Margaret "Maggie" Wilson Don't even think about calling her Margaret...
Gender/Preferred Pronouns Female, She/Her
Age 17
Birthday March 21
Sexuality Heterosexual
Appearance To sum it up in one word, Maggie can be best described as dainty. Standing at 5'4" with a slender build, her features and stature are reminiscent of her delicate nature- a small sloping nose, high cheek bones, and full lips with corners that are often upturned in a smirk. Her shoulder length hair currently resembles the color of wheat, with dark roots that reveal her natural coloring. Her doe like blue eyes are striking and capture your attention, while her arched eyebrows frame her feminine face. The blonde routinely wears neutrals such as black, white, brown, and beige, or pastels such as light pinks and light blues. She also enjoys a pop of color now and again. Her wardrobe mostly consists of sweaters, cardigans, skirts and flowy dresses.
Personality Maggie is a quiet, but thoughtful and considerate person. An introvert at heart, the blonde often keeps to herself by reading books and practicing spells on her own. She tends to steer clear of overly boisterous and abrasive company, but nonetheless is not too selective when it comes to who her friends are. A shyer soul, she'll be pretty reserved around those she does not know as well, but once you get to know her, she is talkative, friendly, and incredibly easygoing. Faithful and honest, Maggie is true to her friends and the ones that she cares about, even if its to her own detriment sometimes.
Even though she may be shy, that doesn't mean Maggie isn't strong-willed. She has a good head on her shoulders and a intuitive sense of right and wrong. One could even say she's stubborn when it comes to what she believes in and her motives towards certain aspects of her life. You'd be surprised that quiet Maggie has a fiery temper, and it's not one that most people get to see. This is due to the fact she has a tendency to hold in her adverse thoughts and feelings only to erupt and let it all go in solitude.
Biography Maggie's family has been associated with the Sisters of the Dying Branch for generations. Her ancestors on her father's side came to America from Scotland and settled down in neighboring Maryland. They associated with the coven quickly, finding solace in likeminded witches, and begun to devote their lives to the elders and the like. Her mother's side was American through and through, residing in Virginia since the beginning of time. Maggie's father met her mother in the coven and they had a love story like no other, resulting in the birth of her older brother Brent and eventually her.
Maggie was raised in a home with an abundance of love and support from her parents. She led a "normal" childhood, attending public school alongside Brent and getting a well rounded education. She was exposed to her heritage at a young age- making the hour and something trip every month to the coven alongside her family gave her parents the chance to tell the children countless stories and explanations regarding their involvement with the Sisters of the Dying Branch. Now, at 17, Maggie is ready to grasp hold of her future and devote herself to the coven like her parents did and those did before her.
Notable Rumors It was rumored that Maggie got so angry once that she shattered a window by throwing one of her books at it in a sheer rage. Most people didn't think the quiet had it in her, so it was passed over quickly as hearsay. However, this rumor is in fact true- she had to pay for the replacement glass herself.
Fears She is deathly afraid of spiders, no matter how small or unassuming they may appear. Her parents say its a foolish fear, but nonetheless, it's something that Maggie has never been able to shake.
Magic Maggie's greatest strength is potions. Something about mixing the exact measures of each ingredient is therapeutic to the blonde, and although the process is time consuming she enjoys nothing more than a quiet afternoon in the kitchen throwing potions, elixirs and remedies together. She possesses the delicate care necessary to create different concoctions successfully, which allows her to excel in this area. Additionally, Maggie is quite proficient in healing magic and enjoys using her abilities to help others.
Other FC: Malijn Pieterse | ACA1CD Font: Font Meme Red Velvet
Location: Cafeteria Interacting with: Sam @BitchTheFuck and Sol @Rosalia ______________________________________________________________________________________
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?"
Once she’d gotten her tray of food, a bowl of fruit along with a plate of scrambled egg whites and some toast, Erica strutted across the cafeteria and took a seat across from Savannah, flashing a grin. “Savvy, you’re looking excellent, as always.” She took a bite of her food, and once her mouth was free, continued speaking. “If I try to take an 8:00 AM next semester, hit me.”
...
At that moment, Tyler finally spotted Savannah and Erica sitting across the room and made a beeline towards them, fumbling with her tray and nearly dropping her breakfast along the way. Choosing one of the seats that ensured her back was towards public enemy #1, she sat down at the table with her friends and gracefully slipped off her backpack, placing it on the floor beside her.
Trying to shake off the unsettling feeling in her stomach, the redhead offered a smile to her friends, hoping it didn’t come off too forced. “Morning ladies,” Tyler Jane greeted, relieved she didn’t need to eat alone, especially today. Taking a sip of her breakfast, she relished the delicious taste of fruit which masked out the flavor of the greens completely, just as she liked it. “What’s everyone up to today, anything exciting?”
Savannah bristled slightly at Erica’s compliment. Granted, she was flattered that even after an hour on the track she could still maintain a high standard in her appearance. However, at the same time, she knew that made her an attractive target. “I’ll try to hit you Erica, but you and I both know that’s a tough ask. Granted it’ll probably shake up my routine.”
Not that she wanted to. Sav liked the little schedule she had for herself now. Run, eat, school, eat, Netflix, sleep, rinse, repeat. The routine felt safe, like she almost knew where everyone and everything was going to be. It was a soothing thought in this crazy New Mexico world.
“Same as it ever was for me,” she confirmed to TJ. “Besides, you two are more exciting than I ever am. What’s the plan for y’all today?”
Erica chuckled at Savannah’s comment, and then turned to greet Tyler. “Hey TJ,” she said, a warm smile spreading across her face once more. Her attention was stolen for a moment, by one Samuel Costigan, and her eyes followed him until he met up with Sol and Leo. Erica quickly brought her attention back to her friends. She didn’t totally understand why the sight of Sol and Sam next to each other made her stomach do flips. She also wasn’t very keen on finding out.
“I’ve got Bio in a bit, and then P.E.” Erica said, shrugging. The tips of her fingernails tapped a quick rhythm against the table. “My calc teacher was saying something this morning about an assembly after dinner though.”
Tyler Jane popped a few pieces of granola into her mouth, washing it all down with a sip of her green smoothie. “Yeah, there’s supposedly some campus wide event on Wednesday and they’re telling us about it tonight. The administration wants to promote ‘community’ and ‘friendship’...” Emphasizing the two words with air quotes, she shook her head, a sarcastic laugh flowing from her lips. “Like that’ll ever happen.” As friendly as Tyler Jane was, the idea of being forced to socialize with people she didn’t get along with was not her idea of fun.
Instinctively, the redhead grabbed a strand of her hair and began playing with it as she spoke, one of her famous quirks when she got anxious. “Whatever, maybe it’ll be entertaining, who knows. All I’m focused on though is trying to survive the day, I’ve got a quiz in History later. As we all know, my memory sucks and I barely remember what happened last week so it should be interesting.”
The buzzwords sounded like absolute garbage to Savannah. Who wanted to try and bring this mishmash of students together? The school may not have a large student body, but that didn’t mean that she had to know everyone’s favorite romantic comedy to survive it, right? "Community? Friendship? Sounds like a bunch of bullshit to me. Besides, maybe there are some members of the community that I don’t need to be friends with.” The Texan looked right at Leo when she said that last sentence, staring a hole through the man who she was still steamed was with her workout buddy. “At least we’ll have something in P.E. that will help me deal with this unwelcome and unnecessary addition to the schedule, right Erica?”
Erica nodded along as her friends spoke, taking bites from her fruit salad and risking glances at Sam as the steady trickle of students through the line for food continued. “Oh come on,” Erica said, a sudden seriousness washing over her. “It might be fu-” Erica’s stoney stoicism was abruptly broken. She snorted, and burst into laughter, cutting off her sentence. After a moment she calmed herself, wiped a tear from her eye, and continued. “Jesus, couldn’t even say that with a straight face. Do they really think some stupid kumbaya session is gonna erase all the tension at this place?”
“Apparently so.” Tyler Jane stated matter of factly before catching Erica stealing glimpses in the direction of the breakfast line. Once she followed the girl’s gaze, the redhead quickly realized it wasn’t because she was hungry. After all, she had a plate of food sitting right there. “Speaking of tension…” Tyler drawled, raising an inquisitive eyebrow at Erica, taking another sip of her smoothie instead of finishing her sentence.
Sav had to stifle herself when Erica burst out laughing. She knew that Erica wasn’t down for this either. It’s like they almost shared a personality or something. They definitely shared the same concerns apparently, and there was no way Tyler Jane was going to let that one go. Savannah knew she always had concerns, but Erica? That was something else. The girl finished another dollop of oatmeal. “Yeah, Erica. I mean, I know why I’m tense. What’s up with you? Math really that terrible this morning?”
Erica smirked, and locked eyes with TJ and Sav. She could lie, pretend like it wasn’t that big of a deal, brush whatever it was that they might have noticed off. Erica Monet was not a liar though, and the way she saw it, there wasn’t much to hide. “Sam is just looking particularly good today,” Erica said, almost nonchalant. “I would go talk to him, if he wasn’t with those two.” Erica nodded her head towards the trio, ever so slightly.
“Oh really? Is that all?” Tyler Jane pried, trying to get just a bit more information out of her friend. Maybe it was something about the way that Erica looked at Sam that sparked curiosity. The redhead was a bit of a hopeless romantic, so she was all for any type of gossip relating to guys, especially when it came to the interests of her friends. But as Erica mentioned his compatriots, Tyler rolled her eyes and fake gagged out of pure disgust; a complete 180 degree switch.
“Ugh I’d stay far away from Leo this morning if I were you, total perv city. He tried to seduce me in the dance studio right before this. I kicked him.” Acting like it was nothing, Tyler gingerly picked up a piece of granola and inspected it before placing it in her mouth, repeating the same process with her next few pieces.
“Oh TJ, please tell me you neutered that douchebag with your kick!” Savannah commented, not ready for that tidbit of information. Granted, she always fantasized about delivering a solid boot of her own to San Agustin’s resident lover boy, but then she would have to get close to Leo, and that was a proposition the Payton girl had no desire to be a part of. So the fact that he tried to get close enough to Tyler to pull it off and received what Sav determined in her mind to be an exquisite roundhouse kick was validation for this morning’s bad vibes.
“I’m sorry, I mean, how could you do that Tyler Jane? The poor boy won’t be able to get laid for a week!” She laughed, but it also could explain why Sol was hanging so close to him this morning. As comfort. “Well, maybe Sol can tell me just how much damage you did to his psyche later on. Gotta be some good to come out of her hanging out with him so much. I don’t understand it…”
“Sorry to disappoint you Sav, but as much as I would have loved to kick that boy where the sun doesn’t shine, I over exaggerated. He had the audacity to get in my face while I was stretching- you know like a leg extension, foot to ceiling moment- so foot went to chest and I pushed him away. I surprised myself actually with how strong of a push was.”
“Good for you TJ,” Erica said. “It’s like he’s on a fucking mission to sleep with every single girl before the end of the year,” she said, rolling her eyes. She ignored Sav’s comment about Sol. She didn’t love that the two of them had gotten so close, Sol made her nervous, which was annoying to say the least. She would never say it out loud, but Erica was intimidated by her. That said, she liked Sav a lot, and she wasn’t about to jeopardize a friendship over some gut feeling. “One of these days, it’ll bite him in the ass. Karma’s a bitch, and sometimes she’s late, but she always gets there eventually.”
“Let’s hope so,” Savannah concurred. “I mean, let’s face it, I’m not going to be the one to do it, although I can guarantee I will block his attempt to fuck his way through the entire female roster of San Agustin. I don’t need dick that badly. He tries it, I’m just gonna take off on him. Let’s see him catch me.”
Tyler Jane laughed “You do run pretty fast. I doubt he’d be able to keep up even if he tried- I’m sure his ego would weigh him down.”
The redhead took one last sip of her breakfast before the dreaded slurping noise from her straw indicated there was nothing left of her smoothie. With a slight frown, she placed the empty cup back on the table and gazed around the cafeteria. Mondays always had this sort of bad energy that seemed to weigh over the day like a storm cloud, even if the weather outside was absolutely perfect (like it was today). Hopefully something interesting would happen to brighten the mood, and not just for her sake. With a grumble, she placed her forearms on the table and rested her chin on her hands, pouting her lips. “Can we skip to the weekend already? I really don’t want to take this quiz.”
“You’ll be fine,” Erica said, drawing out the last word in order to emphasize just how fine TJ would be. “Speaking of the weekend, we should do something, I don’t know, normal.” Erica’s head swiveled as she looked around the room. “We could have a little shin-dig,” Erica said, almost singing the last bit. “There are some cool people here.”
Savannah’s ears perked up at that notion, to the point where she was rubbing behind her left ear as her right hand tried to scoop up the last bit of oatmeal. There would be only one reason that Erica was doing her sneaky monitoring when she mentioned her plan for “something normal,” and that meant all kinds of trouble. “Are you talking about the kind of ‘shin dig’ I think you’re talking about? Because, one, it’s probably not the best idea on a campus like this where there aren’t a lot of places to pull that sort of thing off. Two, cool people may show up, but there will also be the uncool people, because everyone will know about this party. Including the king of the jackasses over there.” She nodded at Leo. “Three, we know no one here who is 21 and can score booze. Four, parties are so played out, aren’t they? What is this, Euphoria? I don’t need to be trying to think about that while I’ve got midterms coming up. And five,” Savannah held the hand out that she was using to illustrate her points but she was struggling to finish the job. “Five, I really wish I could think of another thing off the top of my head to make this even out, but I can’t.” Dissatisfied with herself, she officially finished off her oatmeal.
Tyler Jane’s head popped up as soon as Erica mentioned the word shindig. A quote unquote get together was exactly the excitement she craved on this dreary Monday morning and would easily help her sail through the week. Ever since arriving on campus, things felt a little too structured. Maybe it would do her, and the rest of her friends, some good to let loose a little bit. Especially after hearing the blonde next to her ramble on about every reason why it was a bad idea, made it seem even more like a good one.
“Oh come on Sav, just think of how much fun we’ll have!” The redhead exclaimed, nearly jumping out of her seat. “And we’ll worry about the minor details later. When there’s a will, there’s a way.” She stated, mostly in reference to the aforementioned alcohol. “This is the kind of thing that’s going to foster community and friendship, not some lame campus sanctioned event. We’ll simply do the administration’s work for them!”
“That is the spirit TJ,” Erica said, grinning. She turned her head towards Sav and cocked it, a playful smirk pulling at the corners of her lips. She held up one finger. “One, if anyone can keep this thing under control, it’s us. The boys upstairs will never even know anything is going on.” Erica brought up a second finger, to join the lonely first. “Two, wherever we throw this thing, it’s our party. We can always tell Leo to fuck off.” Erica’s usual confidence was on full display, her words laced with a nonchalance that came only from believing you were right.
A third finger went up. “Three, getting booze isn’t about being twenty one, it’s about being creative. I’m sure we’ll think of something.” As she finished her sentence, her fourth finger went up, leaving only her thumb resting against the palm of her hand. “Four, this is obviously Zoey 101, but also, parties are absolutely not played out. We’re seventeen! This is our chance to do stupid things before life shows up to beat us into submission!” Erica’s playful smirk was replaced by a triumphant grin as her thumb finally stretched out, and her five fingers stuck into the air. “And five, it’ll be hella fucking fun.”
Savannah was outnumbered. In more ways than one. She should have known better than to try and match wits with Erica, especially considering she was already warmed up with math stuff. Plus, there was no doubt that her small-town ideals are going to fall flat against Erica’s grand plans. There was no stopping her when she got on a roll like that. She was like a rampaging… avalanche.
She let her spoon fall to the bowl and threw her hands up in defeat. “All right, all right, you win. You both win. Party is on. But I don’t want things to get all crazy! This may be Zoey 101, but that doesn’t mean we have to do something stupid that leads to some touching moment at the end where we reveal we learned a valuable lesson about true friendship or something like that. Let’s keep it quiet, between OUR cool people…” She leaned in and spoke softly. “And if we can find some Hpnotiq, I’ve always wanted to try it. I heard it in so many songs…”
A gentle laugh escaped Tyler Jane’s lips, watching her friends banter back and forth. Something about the camaraderie between them was comforting in a way the redhead couldn’t explain, almost as if she wasn’t used to it, which didn’t make much sense since the three had been close since day one. “Beggars can’t be choosers, Sav. We’ll take what we can get, if we can get anything in the first place that is.” Drumming her fingers on the table, Tyler tried to brainstorm which student in their class would be the most resourceful when it came to smuggling in illegal contraband. With no name in particular coming to mind, she dropped the subject. “Regardless, this is going to be great. Now who will we invite…” The girl’s eyes searched around the cafeteria, analyzing which of their classmates would be on their unofficial guest list.
“Yes!” Erica hissed, thrilled that she’d gotten Savannah on board. She joined Tyler in scanning the cafeteria, weighing her classmates pros against their cons. “Charlie and Bradley are cool, Zakya too,” Erica’s voice trailed off as she racked her brain for those outside of the cafeteria. “Quinn and Frankie are fun, and if you invite one you’ll get the other. I trust your guys’ judgement.” Erica said. Before she could continue, Hana took a seat at the table, and Erica’s thoughtful visage was replaced by her welcoming smile.
“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 didn’t even go to the Great Bash! How is this fair?”
Nolan Murphy was pissed.
He had stormed out of the auditorium as soon as Emilia uttered her last word, steam nearly billowing out of his ears. Not only did he have to miss the Great Bash on account of a required Football team workout, but now he was on thin ice with the school even though he did nothing wrong. It was like someone had offered him a piece of cake, never gave it to him, and he gained 10 pounds anyway. It didn’t even make sense! Of course, he had wanted to go to the party originally. Nolan never passed up an opportunity to socialize, especially if there was alcohol involved. But after looking at the videos, specifically the one where Theo went all Hulk on Cassian, he was kind of glad he wasn’t there in person. He had too much on the line to fuck things up, which is why the news of his immediate academic probation was so frustrating. For once, he had done the right thing, but it completely backfired.
“I’m trying to get in touch with the administration, but everyone has conveniently turned their phones on do not disturb… absolutely ridiculous.”
The first thing Nolan did when he left the mandatory assembly was call his dad. He’d know what to do. This new status could very well mean his Football season might be put on hold indefinitely, which meant his father, the head coach, was going to be pissed too. Nolan felt relieved that his dad was assisting him instead of berating him, which in an alternate universe would have been the case if he had attended the Great Bash.
“It’s fucking bullshit. I’m not letting a bunch of idiots who can't hold their liquor ruin my chances of getting into-” Nolan stopped himself before he said anything else.
Medical School. That’s what he was going to say. Ruin his chances of getting into Medical School.
Nolan’s dad was completely in the dark about his intentions after graduation, so if he had completed his sentence, that would have opened up a whole can of worms. The boy feigned a slight cough and continued, choosing his words carefully. “...ruin my chances of a record breaking season.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get this all sorted out before Friday’s game. The school can’t risk benching their best player. You’ll be on that field, I promise.”
Phew, that was a close one. Nolan almost spilled the beans, but he was thankful that he caught himself before he could. His dad couldn’t know that was the real reason why he was stressed out about this whole thing. It wasn’t the fact that his placement on the football team could be at risk, it was the issue of junior year being the most important year academically for Medical School applications. It was Nolan’s last opportunity to prove to the top medical schools that he was worthy of being accepted. That in itself made his skin crawl.
“Okay, well call me when you get in touch with someone, or anyone for that matter. I’m going to the gym to try and get my mind off of this.” Removing the phone from his ear before his father had the chance to muster a goodbye, he ended the call and let out a deep exhale. The boy stood there silently for a moment, letting thoughts wildly race through his head. What the hell was he going to do? Everything he had been working toward over the past three years was about to crumble in right in front of him. He wasn’t even sure what emotion to feel- he went through the 5 stages of grief in the blink of an eye.
A gentle buzz from his phone took Nolan out of his all consuming thoughts. A new text message from Nate, of all people. What did he want? Opening it and reading the short sentence, he couldn’t help but laugh at the boy's stupidity. It was clear the text was not meant for the entire student body, but here he was, reading what was meant to be private. “Nate... what a fucking dumbass” Nolan scoffed, slipping his phone back into his pocket and walking in the direction of the student fitness center.
Member
AlteredTundra
Skai
Festive
Half Pint
webboysurf
Qia
Lord Wraith
PatientBean
Roman
Izurich
