lead me to the garden

[jamesteller]

wes: lord if you weren't a lesbian you'd be a dad. but I guess both have the same energy? have I come onto something?

wes: gah. why can't I just let things go y'know? we're just both back for summer it's not anything special.

wes: matty out here still texting me too and I'm also engaging. 0/10 I'm having a not good time.

james: damn you've discovered our secret, the BDE: big dad energyTM

james: there's a daddy joke in there somewhere but i'm tired

james: a lot can happen in a summer

james: do i need to confiscate your phone?

[gvzel]

[jamesteller]

wes: you're a beautiful potato. like a sweet potato.

wes: we're gonna have to coin toss it.

wes: put it back in your pants, woman. just the diner, was weird but nice seeing her. old feelings came up though. i'm lame.

james: that's the *sweetest* compliment i think i've ever received

james: old feelings, huh?

james: are there any other kind, though

[jamesteller]

theohollis​:

“ marshmallows? they might have some. they serve hot chocolate, right? and marshmallows are closely associated with hot chocolate. want me to ask? “ theo inquired, raising a quizzical brow, bracing himself to get up and ask for marshmallows. he offered james a sympathetic smile, thinking that it was probably hard for others ( and not just him ) that specific people were back in town for the summer, some people that either of them had probably seen since high school. “ well, if you need a human shield, i’m your guy, “ he offered with a chuckle. “ well, there’s my lovely brother, of course. i’m shocked our parents convinced him to finally come home. “

this was why she loved theo. well, one of the many reasons. right now though? his willingness to assist her on her eternal quest to make her coffee more of a dessert and less of a morning beverage was right up there. for a moment, she considered it - marshmallows in coffee would be like hot chocolate, only caffeinated. a win-win. “nah,” she decided. “but thank you for your valiant offer, my knight-when-it-comes-to-sugary-treats. i should probably save all my favors,” she warned with a teasing smile. “there’s a very real chance i’ll have to take you up on that human shield thing. it’s a good thing you’re tall.” 

james rolled her eyes at the mention of theo’s brother. she didn’t mind miles per se - their verbal sparring could be mildly entertaining, even - but the relationship between the two Hollis boys was A Whole Thing, and if sides had to be taken, well. she was throwing down for team theo, no questions asked. “how’d they do it?” she asked, curious. “please tell me they didn’t buy him a pony, or i might die of jealousy.”

[jamesteller]

inezxklein​:

“is it even a party if you don’t make a bad decision or two?” she shakes her head with a short laugh, still fiddling with the clothes on the rack. there wasn’t much she missed about lake wisteria, but the freedom to get wasted with a bunch of people she loved was one of them. being surrounded by strangers was fun, but not the same, and she’d missed the feeling. she smiles at her friend, holding the top up to her chest and looking in the mirror, “it… is kind of perfect, huh? maybe just not for a party.” 

james didn’t even have to ponder that presumably rhetorical question, just immediately shook her head in enthusiastic agreement. “i mean, it’s not a day in my life if i’m not making a bad decision or two,” she replied blithely. “but that’s where things get interesting, right?” actively encouraging nostalgia did not sound like a good time to james - she exerted an inordinate amount of effort to do quite the opposite, in fact. but a party, with all the subsequent drunken shenanigans that would aid in both the forgetting and moving forward aspects? she’d drink to that. “what kind of ‘party’ look are you going for?” she asked, amused. she was more the type to rock the same pair of worn denim cut-offs and random tee, whether she was lounging about at home or attending any kind of party, it was all the same to her. 

[jamesteller]

wes: what about bassist? chicks like the nimble fingers.

wes: :( I like the big city

wes: like I dunno, obv seen theo and stell. bumped into miles (which was a pleasure...) owen and I may not may not have met inez for lunch idk.

james: well we small town potatoes thank you for deigning to grace us with your presence

james: small town potatoes isn't a terrible band name, either

james: now there's a dream menage a trois. where'd you guys go?

[jamesteller]

theohollis​:

“ eh, “ theo started, squinting his eyes just slightly at his childhood friend. he considered the concept of putting cream cheese into coffee, and while james was right in the sense that it was dairy, it didn’t seem like it would bode well going into a liquid medium such as coffee. “ it might be a little too thick to be put in coffee. it’d probably just float to the top like a marshmallow. “ he laughed, stirring his coffee with the spoon. he let out a sigh at james’ next statement, as he knows exactly how she feels about everyone being home for the summer. her last question warranted a deadpan look on his face. “ are you kidding? you know i’d still hang out with you, regardless. – talk to me, though, what’s got you so worried? “

james stared into her coffee with a wistful expression. “what are the odds that they have any marshmallows here?” she asked, unable to keep the longing out of her voice. note to self: next time bring her own. maybe carry marshmallows on her person 24/7, even. “thanks, buddy.” she reached over and patted his hand appreciatively. “not worried, exactly. just… certain intel about certain people being back in town.” she gave him a significant look. “but enough about me and my delightfully checkered past. anyone returning home this summer that we need to be in avoidance mode over on your behalf?”

[jamesteller]

inezxklein​:

inez studies her friend carefully, debating whether or not to touch on the topic. high school seemed to be an interesting time for all of them, to say the least, but she’d be lying if she said she hadn’t enjoyed a lot of it. it’d been when she seemed to blossom into who she was meant to be, or at least who she thought she was meant to be and she’d been with theo. and if she was honest, that’s the kind of nostalgia she was longing for. “oh, you know, just like six…ty people or so.” 

james may have let out an audible sigh of relief. odds weren’t exactly in her favor with the kind of guest list an inez part would demand, but a crowd that large would allow for easy hiding, should anyone be in attendance that she’d need to hide from. “a party sounds great,” she said, nodding enthusiastically. “i am totally down for getting drunk and making bad decisions, not necessarily in that order. that sounds… perfect, even” she proclaimed, her eyes falling on one of the items in inez’s arms. “just like that top.”

[jamesteller]

theohollis​:

a short laugh escaped theo’s lips as he watched james struggle with the container of cream cheese. “ yeah, i don’t think you’d want cream cheese in your coffee, j, “ he replied, reaching over to grab the half and half from the counter and passing it over to his friend. “ what’s got you all distracted, huh? “

“distracted?” she gasped, raising one hand to chest in mock offense. “whatever gives you that impression?” she raised an eyebrow, smiling weakly as she dumped a generous helping of actual creamer into her coffee. “actually, cream cheese in coffee might not be terrible. it’s all dairy, right? just not very pourable…” she met theo’s eyes and sighed. it was like he was telepathically calling her on her shit. “why ever would i be distracted about everyone we’ve ever known suddenly showing up for the summer?” she made a face. “will you still be seen with me in public when i have to start wearing sunglasses indoors?”

[jamesteller]

wes: hot tubs on mars would be a bitching band name.

wes: but anyway I'm back and it's weird. I've been bumping into everyone. gone from a big city to a small town again and all.

james: sold. can i be the drummer? chicks dig drummers.

james: aw, poor little city boy

james: define... "everyone" *side eye emoji*

[jamesteller]

wes: you hit the nail on the head. and that's exactly why I'm *back in town* to buy you a hottub, show you my new piercing and save you from the end of the earth by flying us to mars. how's that?

james: yessssss. wait, why bother with the hot tub if the end of days is upon us? do they have hot tubs on mars?

[jamesteller]

wes: hey, guess what?

james: you won the lottery and are going to share your newfound wealth? you got a septum piercing and it looks awesome? there's an asteroid headed straight for earth and we only have 72 hours to live?

james: stop me at any time, I can keep going

[jamesteller]

inezxklein​:

“thank you,” inez grins, deciding to take the comment as a compliment. she eyes the ruffled item, considering it for a moment before deciding against it. even that was a little too much for her. “babe, do you honestly think i need a reason for a new outfit?” she says with a shake of her head, disappearing into the changing room and speaking through the door, “but if i’m honest, i’m thinking about throwing a little house party. i think it’d give us all good dose of high school nostalgia.” 

“you’re you, so good point,” james laughed. “high school nostalgia, huh?” she didn’t quite meet inez’s eyes, her gaze falling somewhere on the store’s polished floor instead. on the one hand, a party sounded like fun, but the rest of that statement incited feelings that were.. decidedly not excitement. she supposed a lot of people probably felt wistful over their high school days, but nostalgia wasn’t exactly the word she herself would have chosen when it came to remembering the summer after, in particular. “how little of a house party?” she asked, unable to contain both her curiosity and her growing concern.

[macwalsh]

closed starter for @jamesteller​

“what do you think about this one?” inez asks, holding up the sixth or seventh dress she’d picked up off the rack against her chest, “too pink?” her brow furrows for a moment as she turns back around to the mirror, sighing heavily, “just let me try like two- three more tops, and then i promise we can go, okay?”

[jamesteller]

“too pink? Is there such a thing? for you, I mean.” james continues rifling idly through the nearest rack, pausing to make a truly horrified face at a particularly ruffled item before continuing. “i like to imagine that you’re what would happen if elle woods and barbie were able to procreate, so I don’t think that’s even possible. what do you need a new outfit for, anyway?”

[ouiouiouiouiouiouioui]

[theohollis]

“ hey, um, “ theo started, cocking his head to the side as he watched the individual standing before him struggle. “ maybe that’s not supposed to go there, you think? “

[jamesteller]

“What?” James said, blinking herself to attention at the sound of Theo’s voice. “Oh!” she exclaimed, noticing what, exactly, was in her hand and what she was obliviously attempting to do with it. “No wonder that wasn’t working,” she noted, putting down the portion-sized container of cream cheese that she had absentmindedly been trying to add to her cup of coffee. “Trade you for actual half and half?” 

[jamesteller]

source: reposae