compos mentis

nathaniel ballantyne. eighteen. senior.

[allfcrncthcniel]

selflesschxrity·:

Calum had not planned to be caught sobbing to himself while hugging his knees in the empty English classroom and he certainly didn’t expect to be walked in on by the person currently staring at him from the doorway. He knew there wasn’t any lessons for the rest of the day so there was no reason for anyone else to be there, the whole reason that he snuck away from his friends in the first place was so as not to be seen being a wimp.  “Uh- sorry, I’ll just um…” Calum frantically wiped his face and stood up, unsure of how to get out of this very awkward situation. 

Nate, who had stayed back late to study as always, couldn’t help but ignore the person that was in the room where he had planned on studying. Nate didn’t say anything, however offered no advice in return. He just stared at eth crying stranger for a second, completely unsure of what to do. “... the only way this conversation can continue is if you’re crying about calculus. Because I am about to study calculus.”

[allfcrncthcniel]

imessage → all

piper: uhhh listen

piper: just like don't think of me differently bc of this

piper: and for the record, i'm p sure he's still in jail.

nathaniel: how can i think of you differently when i never thought of you at all before this

[allfcrncthcniel]

catalinacarv·:

Catalina paused, tilting her head. “I hope you’re taken and you never get given back–then again, I don’t know if Hallie would keep you. You’re annoying.”

Nate pretended to stab himself in the chest. “Wow, you cut me so deep.” He couldn’t help but furrow his brow - most students disliked him, by his own design. But it amused Nate how much Cat really wanted him to disappear. “Annoying ? If you want to converse with me, you might want to upgrade your insults a touch.”

[allfcrncthcniel]

nxahbly‌:

Noah: no…?

Nathaniel: Then stop feeling sorry for yourself. Get over it.

[allfcrncthcniel]

catalinacarv·:

“I’m sure Halloween will be less eventful than the dance,” Cat paused, a nervous look on her face. “…Right?”

Nathaniel rolled his eyes at the other. “How is a normal day of a routine, and a scheduled event at all comparable ? I’m sure campus security is crawling around given the events that occurred, and if you do get nabbed, the probability of anything happening... given the fact the other kid that went missing was returned unharmed, means it is doubtful you’re going to die.”

[allfcrncthcniel]

chcrlottes·:

“wait, stop right there,” charlotte spoke, smiling softly as she pulled her camera out of her bag. “this is a total yearbook opportunity. it’s a fall vibe kind of picture, you know?” she snaps the photo, examining it on the screen. “damn, i made you look good,” she spoke approvingly. “come see.”

the second he heard someone in his proximity, nathaniel whipped his neck around to glower at the source of conversation. not at all prepared for a photo, the flashing light blinded him temporarily. an anger bubbled away inside him. “i guess permission means absolutely nothing to you. not at all surprising you can’t use anything remnant to logic.” nathaniel snapped, snatching the camera from her hand. “the only photos of myself i allow in the yearbook are those where i’m holding a trophy, or that improve my character. this does neither. so delete it.” nate knew he was an attractive guy, and normally wouldn’t take quite the offence he had. but he just simply wasn’t in the mood for this today - he was on edge enough as it was ( at least, he told himself that ).

[allfcrncthcniel]

oftheodores·:

with a start, he wakes up. the first thing theo notices is that it’s somehow daytime. he’s still wearing the fur coat, he notes next, pulling the jacket tightly around his cold body. “i must have gotten really drunk,” he mutters, scraping himself off the ground and heading in the direction of the quad. he stops the first person he sees, asking “do you, uh, know what time it is? sunday practice starts at 10 and coach’ll have my ass if i’m missing.”

his face in a book, nate was walking across the quad to his next class when he saw an unsightly figure emerge. the first thing he noticed was the disgusting fur coat draped around him, then nate scanned others at the quad that all looked at theo in horror. it then clicked for nate that this was the boy who went missing - no worse for wear. well, if you don’t count the coat. “huh,” nathaniel mused, as the other innocently asked him a question. “you’re not dead, that’s comforting,” he delivered in a completely deadpan voice.

[allfcrncthcniel]

nxahbly‌:

Noah: you’re definitely the first to say that

Nathaniel: Am I supposed to play a violin for you or something ?

[allfcrncthcniel]

txt 📱 don't know, don't care

holden: 12 and a half

holden: can i ask u something? just how large is the stick up your ass? and how far is it wedged up there? wanna kno for science.

nathaniel: no proverbial stick will justify indignant responses to your infantile behaviour

nathaniel: why do you even have my number?

[allfcrncthcniel]

txt 📱 anyone

holden: the circumstances of the past few days have been an absolute train wreck, & i can't look away.

holden: like the DRAMA is fuckin wild. i hate the stereotype is that only hs girls can gossip bc i am always here for the tea. always.

nathaniel: are you fucking twelve years old

[allfcrncthcniel]

nxahbly‌:

Noah: this is bull crap

Noah: I get outted because y’all didn’t like my costume?!

Noah: screw that

Noah: also they weren’t that much younger than me, 2 years isn’t that much

Nathaniel: I literally couldn’t give less of a shit

[allfcrncthcniel]

pipcrhayxs·:

“do you really think that our forefathers wanted us to stay inside doing homework all day? this is ridiculous,” piper let out a dramatic sigh, turning her body slightly so that she was now sitting upside down in the chair she had been sitting in. “we should go do something, like outside. it’s not healthy that we’re staying inside, you know. you in?”

nathaniel screw up his nose at the other’s disdain towards homework. “our forefathers would have wanted us to learn as much as we could, understand each and every fact we are capable of and ensure that we can progress in our lives,” pausing for a moment, nate even snickered. “if you want to sell yourself short, then go and be my guest. but i have my priorities straight.”

[allfcrncthcniel]

sms ✉ ???

zakiyah: i know u see me as a monster but i really need a friend rn

zakiyah: don't put shit on me just help me

nathaniel: legally speaking, your inconsolable actions could be considered manslaughter

nathaniel: so i'm not putting shit on you, you put shit on yourself

[allfcrncthcniel]

ofvivicnnc·:

it’s like time stops, the minute she actually sees him. suddenly she’s ten years old again running down the streets of her old neighborhood, following the little boy in front of her, who is suddenly all grown up. “nate,” she breathes out, absolutely frozen. for a moment, the only thing she can do is look at him. then suddenly everything snaps back into place, and she darts forward to hug him. “oh my god,” she murmurs. “how - why are you here?”

nathaniel didn’t know how to react. how could he. people change and grow and evolve all the time - it’s part of the human experience. but viv.... she was such a fundamental phase in nate’s life that he had no idea how to consolidate the changes since then. how he had undoubtedly become a different person. how viv probably wouldn’t like who he’d become. but it didn’t matter to nate. looking at her, into the eyes that fostered a million dreams, a million adventures, a million worlds. it was enough to give nathaniel some pause, and for once, he hadn’t concerned himself with the meaning of something. “scholarship, i, uh... it’s been... so long.” six years struggled on nathaniel’s lips, as the usual smooth-talker was at a loss for words. “how, uh, how are you ?”

[allfcrncthcniel]

kpritzker·:

“The parties on campus aren’t that bad–free booze and an easy place to make out. It’s… a nice break from the strenuous activities of being in all AP classes, if we’re being honest,” Kennedy shrugged, tossing a bit of hair behind her shoulder and watching him. Nate wasn’t someone she really understood–every time she thought she understood him, he did or said something that completely threw her off, and she was back at square one. “Whatever you wanna think, Nathaniel,” she smirked at him, slouching a bit so her head would no longer be touching the underneath of the table. “Hey–I never denied that,” her smirk turned into a smile and she looked down. “I can’t believe I’m sitting under the snack table with you right now.”

Nate tried not to act shocked when Kennedy had mentioned making out. Part of him pretended that never happened. It would be easier that way, after all. But... the thought lingers, as it always did. And he couldn’t help the palpitations that made him furious with himself. “Some people aren’t big drinkers. Or enjoy being in the company of others for prolonged amounts of time.” Nate didn’t even look annoyed or disgruntled by Kennedy. He just pursed his lips, and looked at her earnestly. “Don’t act like you’re too good for the snack table and I. If anything, here is where you’ll find the best company. It’s very exclusive, under this table, so don’t take this offer lightly.” Nate managed a laugh, a casual laugh, as his eyes fell to Kennedy once again. “So... your costume. I’ve been doing the maths in my head, and I can’t decide what you’re supposed to be. You wouldn’t happen to be a pile of leaves that need to be swept during fall ?”

[allfcrncthcniel]

clexdxwns·:

Cleo giggled and shook her head. “Please, you’re allowed to be my friend too you know.” She said and looked him over. “I’m a bunny.” She said and turned around to show him her little tail and then pointed to her ears. “And you I see are here as pi which is very on brand for you.”

Friend. The word was foreign to Nate, and he didn’t know what to do with it. It didn’t help that up until this point, there were only two ways that Nate had thought about Cleo - and neither of them were friends. “Leather bunny, huh ? What freaky rabbits have you seen running about ?” Nate shrugged at the mention of his ‘costume’, and moved his swim mask to the top of his head. “I didn’t think I did too bad, considering I wasn’t coming to this until about 3 hours ago.” Pausing, Nate could feel the tenuous strain in the air starting to lift. Maybe it was their tutoring lessons that had lessened Nate’s intimidation. Either way, Nate wasn’t sure if he was comfortable with this development. However, the jury was still out. “We can both agree that I am the best dressed, though. No need to deny.”

[allfcrncthcniel]

masxncxxper·:

Mason was on top of the world tonight and he wouldn’t change anything about it. He was relaxed for the first time in a long time and he was dancing freely. He stopped to get a drink and winced at the burn of the alcohol. “Jesus, whoever spiked this put a ton in.”

Nate watched a travesty of a display before him. A youth, having fun. Happily brooding to the side of the dance-floor, avoiding everyone at all costs, he couldn’t help but notice the athlete. He’d seen him in multiple classes, and by all accounts he had some merit of intelligence. Nothing akin to Nate of course ( as no one was superior to Nate in his mind ), however he had some semblance of respect for him. Besides for now, as he was dancing like the inflatable tubes put outside car dealerships. “I am going to need twice the amount of punch to remove the horrid sight of you dancing from my mind.” Nate took a sip of his lemonade.