Ariadne looked like an angel. This much she had been assured by Wally as he sat at the end of her bed, shirt artfully rumpled, watching as she teased fluffy curls into her bright blonde hair with a curling wand. Her outfit had been pulled from the back of her closet, and prior to that, had been lifted from the wardrobe department of an amateur production of Macbeth. She'd been the understudy to a Lady Macbeth clad in virginal white (an ambitious and divisive wardrobe choice), bell sleeves trailing across the stage as she delivered a monologue Ariadne knew by heart and hadn't gotten to give. She'd taken the dress as payment for services not rendered, and shorn the bottom of the skirt till it hugged her thighs.
She'd started the night looking lovely, the envy of every beautiful girl and boy pining after her date for the night. They were unaware he was lovesick for another blonde, although Ariadne wasn't sure if this was her kind of party. Sullivan May certainly wouldn't be caught dead standing on a street corner at the end of the night, red wine splattered down one side of her dress like so much gore.
Ariadne had kissed Wally goodbye and fished around in the bottom of her bag for her phone, enough alcohol in her system to justify calling Jasper. She'd found herself smiling despite herself as she yelled down the phone, that gorgeous accent flooding her with warmth as he promised to come and get her. Lovely, loyal, gorgeous Jasper.
The click-clack sound of her boots against the pavement sped up as she saw Jasper's car in the distance. No longer feeling the cold, she rounded the side of the car and tapped her nails against the glass playfully, catching sight of Jasper in the driver’s seat. She gave the handle an almighty tug, still fighting with the thing when suddenly, Jasper was beside her.
"Oh, hello." she greeted, giggling as he leaned over to jimmy the car door open. For a split second, she'd thought he was actually leaning in to hug her, and she swept her arms upwards in a half-aborted movement, the misunderstanding heightening her fit of giggles when the door swung free.
"Thank you, darling." she chirped, sliding into the passenger seat. She'd never been in Jasper's car before, but she already decided she liked it. Ariadne let her eyes slide shut for a moment, imagining all the times Professor Kent had sat where she sat, the two of them driving to work together, drinking tea and discussing fine literature. A dopey smile crossed her face. It was sickening how badly she wanted to be their friends - both of them. She really was a teacher's pet.
Her eyes flew open as the car door beside her shut, and Jasper retook his place at the wheel. It was only now she was able to get a proper look at him. Gone was the well worn Professor's garb, replaced by a plain tee and a soft-looking Jasper, stubble creeping in around his jaw. How was it possible that he looked even better dressed down?
"I spilled my drink." she pouted, hitching up the stained skirt of her dress around her thighs, displaying the damage for all to see. "And after that, the party got very dull very quickly."
She reached out, hand finding Jasper's forearm and closing around it, the tips of her acrylics just kissing his skin.
"I don't want my roommate to see me like this." she said, "Even though she's probably too busy boning her skinny boyfriend. I just wanted somewhere... someone to sober up with."
tangentwithtanner
gummygunk
gamechangershow
2087
gracieabrams
dailybridgerton
vaporwave
