&&. morally corrupt was something that described caleb well, he did things that most people would consider wrong and illegal without thinking twice about it ( in most cases ). out of all the things caleb did to U N B A L A N C E the moral scale that every individual seemed to hold in their soul, he tried his best to do some good to balance out his misdoings. telling the truth was one of those things, he tries his best to tell a l m o s t the whole truth as often as possible. tipsy caleb’s lips were almost always filled with truth, instead of the defensive/guarded words that left his sober ones. though D A N C I N G around the truth was something he had to do constantly around hayden. she wanted the truth but once given the truth, t w i s t e d it in a way that made him seem like a complete imbecile every time. his alcohol enhanced loose lips wanted nothing more but to confess his attraction to the brunette, but previous attempts at sweet words were often answered with salt. this time would be nothing different than the last. “ i DIDN’T say that. “ caleb responded briefly before skipping to the next topic of conversation. “ hm, well i guess if i had to choose one that would more specific i would say A L A D D I N. though i unfortunately have no monkey, genie, or flying carpet but the night’s still young.” he teased with a small smirk, knowing very well that he had not answered her question in the way she wanted him to; that was how their relationship worked though. he asked for one thing she would ignore it and give another. it was clear proof that the girl had something to hide besides her bag of MISCHIEVOUS tricks.
&&. “ OW? ” the boy grumbled, holding his hands up in defense. “i didn’t even take anything.” yet, when taking the wallet he had thought about slipping out a few extra bucks for a bar tip but decided against it at the last moment. “what klepto? of course not, don’t be R I D I C U L O U S hayden. “ though unbeknownst to himself a kleptomania was exactly what is was. he had compulsive behavior, impulsivity , and found pleasure and sometimes and urge to steal things that were worth basically n o t h i n g. afterwards there was some guilt but he really did feel like he was stealing because he HAD to instead of stealing with no reason behind it; making what he was doing morally sound, or so he thought. “some things are better left UNSAID.” caleb tapped his fingers against the bar counter, shrugging his shoulders with ease. “i’ve just been snatchin’ stuff for so long it doesn’t really bother me anymore. “ his eyes searched the bar for another drink but knew better than to fill his body with more false courage. he had more than enough to last him the night in the passing minutes. “ see you say that, but there are still so many things about you i don’t know. you’ve got secrets, e v e r y o n e has secrets. “caleb said as he searched her warm hazel eyes for what her lips were not divulging. “you know, earlier, when you said i called you ugly. i don’t think you’re ugly. “ he confessed, his eyes glancing over to hers. in what seemed like a split second, caleb momentarily met his lips with hers before backing away to keep from being hit. “ WELL, on that note I think I’m going to stop drinking. “ he replied with an awkward chuckle. “ guess you really can hold your drinks better.”
&&. although hayden knows she should S T O P, her impulsivity prevents her from doing so. the brunette should S T O P doing a lot of things -- downing another shot, pranking, r e s e n t i n g society, mourning zander’s death, pushing caleb to the breaking point, thinking with her overzealous, romantic heart rather than her rational mind, & the list goes on. her emotions are scattered as if swept in & out by the alcohol’s tide, drowning in the sea of liquor she’s consumed. although her body’s overly warm thanks to the hot summer night & the alcohol, goosebumps still stand attentively on her body. hayden l o n g s for the warmth only her brother’s touch could give her, smaller frame enveloped in his larger one as strong arms would wrap P R O T E C T I V E L Y around her ( zander had a penchant for being the protector, everyone’s savior -- especially hayden’s ). “ ya’ didn’t have to, ” hayden murmurs sullenly, will overpowered as her hand mechanically reaches for another shot. the brunette grunts, wearily eyeing the other as she replies, “ hmm, so ya’ thieve for yourself ? i would’ve liked it better if you had a cause. if all the goods are going to you, shouldn’t ya’ be richer by now ? i mean surely you’ve been doing this for y e a r s. ” like a sponge, hayden intends to squeeze all the information out of caleb until her curiosity is satiated, until she U N D E R S T A N D S the fascinating male. she cracks a small smile, “ i think the alcohol’s gotten to your head, but hey, lemme know if ya’ find one. i’ll assume ya’ stole it. ”
&&. “ you took the fuckin’ wallet, don’t try & be smart with me. ” hayden retorts as she glares at the other, hazel hues burning with the unspoken, ‘ put it back before i do it again. ’ doubling over, hayden begins to cackle, reaction fueled by her current drunken state. her abs ache as the laughter continues to tumble from her plush lips like a child rolling down a steep, grassy hill. “ seems to me like ya’ are. all ya’ do is thieve. & for what ? what was the fuckin’ point of takin’ that poor man’s wallet ? ‘m sittin’ right here, i’ve clearly got enough to cover us both, yet you’d rather take money from a stranger ? it was so impulsive, ” hayden trails off, hazel hues widening with her discovery, “ you’ve got to be. ” the last phrase is whispered, tone filled with wonderment as her gaze studies the other as if he were a fascinating exhibit. most would call hayden immoral, the way she spoke & acted was enough to prompt the most pious to urge her to attend church or to repent for her actions. yet, a certain superiority overtakes her as he mentions thieving, a ten commandment, no longer bothers him. it makes the brunette feel better about herself, yet a piece of hayden knows that type of thinking is d a n g e r o u s -- it’s the same type she abhors when her peers would treat others disdainfully due to their lack of status. instead, a new thought takes root as hayden prompts, “ how’d ya’ learn ? ” the moment feels I N T I M A T E, in a way hayden both loathes, yet secretly c r a v e s. her mouth feels dry, gaze unable to leave the others as mocha melts with toffee. “ yeah well, ” hayden murmurs softly, “ ya’ never really ask. at least not in the way ya’ need to to get to know me. besides, you’re so caught up in thinkin’ ‘m puttin’ on this grand F A C A D E, but what’s hidden isn’t large. unlike your secret, mine w o n ’ t put me in jail. ” coughing slightly, the brunette forces herself to rip her gaze away, body suddenly much warmer than it was previously. his words shouldn’t kickstart her heart the way they do, mind chastising the fragile organ that flits excitedly in her chest. when soft lips briefly touch her own, hayden’s body freezes in shock as a hand falls delicately onto his shoulder, suddenly reminded the other is still shirtless. she chokes on her own gasp, unable to breathe as her pulls away so quickly it makes her inebriated mind question whether this is R E A L I T Y. before she can speak, he does & it makes her stomach drop in a different way -- disappointedly. her b i t t e r mind scoffs at her candy heart for being so naive ( it was just a D R U N K E N mistake ). “ told ya’. ” hayden murmurs, gaze intently studying the floor. “ guess ya’ make a lotta mistakes when you’re drunk, huh ? ”
