This Is The Day

“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.” cassandra maston | 20 | figuring it out

[genevieve-young]

"Corporate Pride is so weird but I guess suits get rights too," she laughed, if only because growing up at Trax the only person they'd ever expected to become a suit was Cass, who was now the furthest thing from it. How the turn tables, as they say. "Okay queen of kindness we see you, we see you." Gen snapped her fingers in applause. It was pretty cool to be able to sit there now and say they'd done the damn thing. Of course it was hard work but Gen knew she wouldn't change her trajectory for the world. "You're so busy I had to schedule a chat and now you wanna find time to throw a party? I know there's 24 usable hours in every day but you are allowed to use some of them to sleep, bitch. Yes though, obviously, we're throwing a party and it's going to be cunt."

[cassandra-maston]

"What can I say? I'm all for the people, you know? Especially the ones who want to pay me really well. And yeah I know that but what can I say? I am nothing without something to do. I can unpack that with a therapist later." She clapped her hands together, her smile growing wider. "And we'll do it the first weekend in July. Give us some time but it'll still be better than anything people had during June. I'll even go by Trax with a flyer. Talk to all the little stoners working there now."

[dovemitchell]

"Change the world is a little generous but sky's the limit I guess. Yeah you see that's how I know you're bias I'm like an entry level junior associate who spends half of my day making informative tik toks." Dove was being self-deprecating actually finding a lot of happiness and value in the work she fell into after college. "I love you in everything so next. But you know what? Yeah, no whimsey. What now?" She shrugged, "Yeah that sounds like a good idea, but do we have to invite Gen?"

[cassandra-maston]

"Not generous at all. You're like meant to change the world, my love. It's like written in the prophecies." Dove was good at bringing people to her cause and even more she didn't easily give up which was needed in this kind of work. "Well tik toks are important for this generation. Just because I'm bias doesn't mean I'm wrong. Both things can be true." Cass still found herself blushing, her favorite spotlight being the one where she was under Dove's gaze. It still made her feel all lit up inside. "No whimsy just means tons of lesbian angst. I think we've had enough of that in our lifetime." She rolled her eyes and laughed. "Yes, we do. I can't celebrate without her. It's a must or else I'll pout," she told her and did just thought. "And we wouldn't want that."

[dovemitchell]

Dove pretended to fan herself in response to being flown out. "The biggest indicator that life is unpredictable is the fact that you have a career as a DJ and I'm embarking on a career in a more traditional market, although I guess I don't know how traditional social justice is, you know what the fuck I mean. "I don't give a fuck what it is for real." She said as she moved towards Cass and behind her, snaking her arms around the taller woman and swaying back and forward. "Nah uh, I'm putting a ban this pride on cowboy hats and those clacking ass fans. Yeah, whimsey isn't allowed this pride." Though her voice was it's usual deadpan tone, she wasn't serious, if anything she wanted to be loud as fuck.

[cassandra-maston]

"Yeah you're gonna change the world, babe. And I'm going to bring the world good vibes. It's a beautiful balance. Plus what you do is totally badass. I've gotta source a bail fund for when you start doing more protests," she teased, happily leaning back into Dove's arms. "Says the woman who loves me in my cowboy hat. Is that your first action as Mayor? Outlawing whimsy?" She laughed as she thought about it and brought Dove's hands up to her lips. "I was thinking of having some of our friends over next weekend though. Something just for us. No corporate shit. Plus I want us to have a Pride event that doesn't include me or Gen working."

[genevieve-young]

"Okay but, like, how are you?" Gen smirked, shit stirring. Likewise she was busy, her social calendar beyond stacked. The fact that they'd even managed to have time to cross paths was quite the miracle. "DJing a Pride party for a medical company is certainly a way to get paid. What do they even do? Like, are they vibing or? At the very least you should get a lanyard and pen," she chuckled. "In all sincerity, I'm happier than ever to see us thriving."

[cassandra-maston]

Cass rolled her eyes and flipped her off even though Gen was probably one of the few people who could get away with that question. "Vibing and apparently giving out awards to queer employees. How cute. Oh you know I just love a lanyard. I said yes because the woman who reached out to me was so nice it felt criminal to say no and the check is...nice." Cass smiled wide at her best friends words because she was right. They were thriving. A long way from the stock rooms and dreaming about another life. "Yeah kind of nice to not be arguing with some hipster about the price of a CD right now," she joked, a little nostalgic but not all with the hope of going in reverse. "You know it's not too late for us to throw our own event. Post Pride Hangover with Gen and Cass."

[dovemitchell]

"Well removing the aforementioned items it's about...3 items long. Oh I'm all about squeezing all you can out of the harbingers of rainbow capitalism. It also does something when you start sounding like my sugar mama so yeah I'll come. But you have to step away from the booth and give me at least one dance."

[cassandra-maston]

"Does it really? Just wait until I start flying you out to all of my international gigs," she told her with a wink. That was the next goal on Cass's list. She had been doing well, earning popularity and had even traveled around the country a bit the past year. But she wanted to be bigger, wanted more and going abroad would be a pretty big deal to her. "At least one, I think we can manage that. I already know what song we're gonna dance to, but it's a surprise. And I most definitely will be wearing my pink cowboy hat to this gig."

[dovemitchell]

"Damn, there goes questions 1-14 on my things to ask Cass checklist." Dove snapped her fingers and shook her head faux lamenting. "Honestly sometimes you say the dorkiest shit. For a medical company? That is the most romantic gig to book. They must be paying good as fuck."

[cassandra-maston]

"How long is the checklist?" Cass raised an eyebrow. "Yes, for like people who do sales and invent shit to dance around and hit the open bar and eat finger food. They are paying good as fuck. That's our vacation fund, baby. And some rent money." Cass had to grin at that if only because her mother had sworn she wouldn't make any money being a DJ full time. "You wanna come with me? It's supposed to be on a rooftop."

[cassandra-maston]

"I need people to stop asking me how I am during pride month. Or maybe I should get a shirt that says 'gay and very busy.'" The amount of gigs Cass had booked for Pride month had her feeling like she hadn't slept in her own bed in days. "I need someone to invent a time stopper so I can just take a nap without missing something. Day parties, late parties, brunch parties, I'm supposed to DJ a Pride party for a medical company this week. Do you think they'll give me free IVs? Or can I like not write that in a contract?"

[animusrox]

[tessa-lisbon]

"That one looks like a rabbit on a motorcycle..." Tessa laid on a sun lounger by the pool, pointing up at the clouds. As usual she was in charge of guarding her sisters' bags, but that wasn't the worst task in the world. It was enough for her, being around the action without having to be at the centre of it. She'd learned that she tended to find herself in less trouble that way. "If I fall asleep here, just flip me over so I tan evenly, okay?"

[cassandra-maston]

"Thinking about a rabbit sitting on a motorcycle like a human is both hilarious and terrifying." Cass shifted her glasses for a moment to get a better look of the clouds and smiled. "I've got you. I'll make sure you don't burn. But honestly I might fall asleep first. My set went so late last night and this," she paused to yawn, "is not exactly keeping me awake." She sat up a bit and pushed her sunglasses up on her face. "Do you think the country club people would care if I ordered a pizza right now?"

[cassandra-maston]

[jess-suvari]

"You think i'm gonna stop you from cutting loose a little, grandpa? I'm more surprised you haven't hit your midlife crisis sooner." Harper teased, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. She was grateful to him for being so understanding with her and offering her support when she needed it but also allowing her space to figure out her feelings without speaking in her ear, trying to reason with her, like others. The difference between Harper and her siblings was that their dad had been locked up when she was old enough to comprehend what that meant for her family, and to witness such a drastic change in how they lived, so now that he was out and trying to fix their relationship she was being stubborn about accepting another change. And in a way she knew for a bit there it was effecting how she viewed her relationship with Felipe, all her fears and the ways things could go wrong taking precedence over everything else. But she was trying to get through that herself, so she didn't burden him or make him believe she was already on her way out of the relationship. "As long as I don't have to take up any of your responsibilities. I only know how to act and look pretty. I don't know the first thing about bills or how to cook anything that's not microwavable." She nodded and pursed her lips as if she was really pondering her answer when the truth was probably better than he expected. "Fine. Tough love then. Not bad. Not final girl material cause that's my territory. But you can probably make it to the final act as long as you keep the shirt off. You must have a pretty good teacher."

[cassandra-maston]

"Grandpa? Oof, yeah I think that alone could put me into a midlife crisis but I like to think I have a few more years before I'm mid life. Just a few though." He smiled at the kiss on his cheek and reached out to give one of her hands a squeeze, just happy they were out and enjoying themselves. That was his main goal for tonight, to have a good time and try to make sure she did the same. She loved Halloween more than most people he knew and he had been waiting all year to show how much he had learned from the horror movie bootcamp he had put himself through so he was better versed. It was definitely a lot easier than trying to impress her by learning coyote routines. Rose was still giving him shit about that. "I don't know, acting and looking pretty could take you a long way, babe. You're a star, that's worth a lot. Also it hasn't been totally proven you can't survive on just microwaved shit but just in case I'll my best to survive the horror movie. I'll tell the killer my girlfriend needs me to make dinner and pay the bills and they'll understand," he teased and leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead. "Ooo final act? Hell yeah, I'll take it. I'd be happy to sacrifice myself for the final girl, shirt off and everything. They'll say I was too pretty to be severed. Oh I had the best teacher actually. I think if she gave classes she'd go straight to master class. You having fun? Fun is are main goal for the night. You know before I have to go back to my old man life."

[jess-suvari]

"I think i'm a little more concerned about your susceptibility to peer pressure right now." Harper scrunched her nose in amusement as she gave him a quick once over, instantly shaking her head before kneeling down to get closer to his level. "If your students get the idea that you have no willpower they'll walk all over you. I should know, I was that kid." She said with a soft laugh. Ever since her dad had been released from prison she hadn't laughed as much. There just seemed to be a dark cloud hanging over her head more often as she let her resentment and frustration linger over her while she processed things. She worried that it was turning her into someone she didn't like and that others eventually wouldn't tolerate so she was trying harder. Even if it meant avoiding the issue and instead letting other things occupy her mind, like putting more of her attention on her boyfriend. "You want a real critique or you want the sugarcoated version?"

[cassandra-maston]

"What can I say? The adolescent chaos is seeping into my brain. I think you should be concerned." He opened both eyes and actually sat up, smiling when he heard her laugh. He knew things had been hard for her lately and he was just trying to do his best to support her. Family was always complicated and made it twice as hard for anyone to really process their feelings, he just hoped she knew that he really was there for her, good or bad. "Oh I want you to be honest. I can take it. Probably. I mean I doubt I'm final girl material but I can at least be like...fourth person killed off? Like chopped in half instead of being naked. Or maybe being killed naked is my best shot of being memorable? Who knows, I'm still an amateur at this."

[malcolmhclland]

"Sorry? You better be sorry." Lyrica said, whacking him one more time for good measure before making her way back up to her feet. "What do you mean were you really that good? How often to do you run into people choking where you gave some sort of gauge? Because, this is the first time I've dealt with this." She let him know with a shake of her head. "Yeah, I'd say it makes you a bit crazy." Lyrica sat back down where they'd just been, lighting up a joint as she definitely needed it now. "I'm fine, you just got me, you dick. Harper's definitely going to be proud." She said, her lips curling up into a small smile. "I'm still angry at you though."

[cassandra-maston]

"I am sorry! I could've sworn you turned pale. I might have just jumpstarted an extra ten years on your heart there actually. You're welcome," he teased and reached over to give her shoulder a squeeze so she knew he was being sincere. "I mean you've seen horror films right? Just compare it to that, I guess." He laughed again and waited for her to pass the joint as he caught his breath again. He hadn't even been sure he was going to make it to the party but now he was determined to have a good time. "Are you though? Are you really? How could you ever be mad at your oldest and bestest and funniest and most handsomest friend?" He smirked and handed her back the joint, watching their smoke in the air. "I'm gonna crush it with this haunted house. I'm surprised you're not spinning tonight, thought you'd love a halloween gig."

[malcolmhclland]

"Please, you've ate edibles with far more questionable names." Lyrica let him know, with a dismissive wave of her hand before joining him in taking a sip from her cocktail. While the only effect it'd had on Lyrica was tasting that this was indeed hard liquor, Felipe on the other hand appeared to be choking. "What the fuck?" She asked, springing into action as he fell to the ground. "Help, help. Someone call 911." Lyrica screamed, getting down to her knees to check on him. As she tried to think of ways to bring him back to consciousness, Felipe's eyes sprang open. "What?" She asked him breathlessly, before he began to laugh. "You're such a dick, for real." Lyrica said, as she whacked at his arm.

[cassandra-maston]

Felipe felt guilty when he heard her panic and held his hands up quickly. "Sorry! Sorry!" He laughed when she hit his arm before reaching up to wipe the drink from his mouth. "Was I really that good? Fuck, Harper is gonna be so proud. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you but it did kind of make me feel special. Does that make me crazy?" He finally sat up and reached for his cup again, taking a full sip this time. "It is kind of disgusting though, isn't it? Are you alright?"

[cassandra-maston]

"Oh no, I mean of course I'll drink it. It's only deep red, questionable in consistency and being called vampire's blood, it's fine." Felipe took a few sips and then froze, eyes wide as he let some of the drink spill out of his mouth before he fell to the floor. He put his hands to his neck for a moment, pretending to choke before he passed out on the floor. After a moment he opened one eye and laughed. "How was that? Scale of 1-10? I'm supposed to be doing to the haunted house at the high school this year. Think I need more practice though."

[cassandra-maston]

Since last time...

Felipe has embraced his status as everyone's new favorite history teacher and soccer coach at Rosewood Academy. He's finally starting to really make peace with his own soccer career not panning out, especially because he successfully helped lead the schools women's team to the semi-finals last year. He's still taking his older brother role seriously, doing his best to always spend time with Natalia and Eli. Natalia especially because he always worries about her, especially when she tells him not to. He's still calling his moms every day to randomly update him about his life but has officially signed for the ownership of his own little home as of a week ago that's closer to work. Still trying to be the best boyfriend he can be, especially since he has summers off and school holidays. He's hopeful that embarking on this home owning journey will help him be able to take some other next steps in his life. For now, he has to actually focus on unpacking, and hoping Harper won't mind a few trips to Ikea. Natalia is...still Natalia. A well put together hot mess who had a moment of disconnection and quite her job at Magnolia's over a year ago. Since then she's been struggling. Finding brief passions that don't bring her as much joy. She's depressed and it's pretty obvious to her family but she's hell bent on acting like she's not. After the bakery she did manage to get a part time job at a local bookstore so spends most of her days there shelving books with her headphones in, giving people questionable recommendations and reading books in the aisles like it's a library. She knows she should accept her family's help but she's stubborn so she's just going to keep vibing in the abyss until she eventually has to pull herself out.

[zanephillips]

DIEGO CALVA for GQ  by Julius Frazer (November 2022)