[saintlytherese-blog]

"I didn't really want to go, at first, but I'm glad I did. It was nice to get away from here and see friends back home. That being said....I'm so glad I'm back... I missed it here. Anything happen while I was gone?"

[iammadshowell-deactivated201512]

Is it cool if I sleep over tonight?

[saintlytherese-blog]

I can ask my parents! I'm sure they would say yes, I mean, how could they not, right??

[lilythemundie]

[nevwheeler-blog]

Nev perked up a bit at the mention of university. “Columbia. With a major in Film Studies, and a concentration in Visual Arts. If I have time.” She knew this sounded far fetched, but it was a goal, and if she pretended that it would just happen, then it would be more likely to actually happen, in her mind.

[saintlytherese-blog]

The way the girl perked up caused Therese to smile broadly. “Wow, that’s amazing. Why Columbia?” she asked, with a tilt of her head. She had always thought of the different places she would go, but never much about which college. She supposed it would be easiest to stay with her family in California, but there were always options that she had never thought to explore. 

[namijung-blog]

For the first time that day, Nami flashed the girl a genuine smile.  Really, there was nothing special about their rice rolls.  It was just a mixture of ingredients that their mother had recently picked up, all wrapped up in rice and seaweed.  Still, it was nice to have someone compliment their cooking, though hardly any effort had been necessary.  “Really?  Thank you!”  They let out a chuckle, sticking out a hand to catch some rice as it fell from her roll.  “Try eating it in one bite.  It’s much easier that way.”

[saintlytherese-blog]

Therese giggled, trying to catch the crumbling rise ball in order to not make such an enormous mess. “Sorry, sorry!” She said with a more robust laugh. “So, is this your favorite food? Or dish to make?” 

[wildkatastrophe]

“You bet.” Kennedy wasn’t shy about sharing their artwork. After all a lot of the time they placed it somewhere the whole world could see. They placed the open sketchbook on Therese’s lap and offered her a smile. What they were currently working on was an elaborate sketch of different versions of Rosie the Riveter, each one of a different race or gender expression. But their book was filled with lots of varied artwork, some more crazy than others, from sea creatures to things even they couldn’t make sense of. “Feel free to look through it all. But that one, it’s sort of a intersectional version of Rosie the Riveter, who’s a big feminist icon.”

[saintlytherese-blog]

Therese peeked over with interest, scooting just a tad closer so that she could see properly. She flipped the pages, lost in the wonder of it’s beauty. She didn’t have much of an artistic talent so she envied those who did. “This is beautiful...” She murmured, her eyes locked in the colors and designs. “How did you become so good at this?”

[dontcallmejosie-deactivated2015]

When Therese explained what she wanted to do, Josiah gazed at her with admiration and such a big smile, he thought the corners of his mouth might crack. He thought changing the world for the better was so important and Therese apparently felt that way, too. It was nice to be around someone who felt the same way. “That is so amazing, Therese! You should definitely do it. Man, you’re gonna change so many lives.” He smiled broadly, shaking his head in disbelief and pride. “I really want to be a motivational speaker. Or maybe a counselor, I don’t know, I really can’t decide. I know I want to help people going through hard times emotionally. It’s just a matter of deciding exactly how.”

[saintlytherese-blog]

Therese could feel herself blushing when his gaze remained on her. She wasn’t sure why he was staring at her like she was some sort of anomaly, but it did make her cheeks red. “I hope so, I really do. My mom said I could start doign summer mission trips next year. This year I’m just helping at the church camp.” She looked back up to him, her smile bright, and her voice light, “You could totally do it. You’re so energetic and positive, I can definitely see you doing that!”

[actuallyungraceful]

“Nice. Yeah. I know the feeling. It wasn’t what I expected either.” Grace responded with a light smile, thinking back to her recent first kiss again and how she’d felt. She nodded her head. “I understand. I’m just being nosy. I’m sorry if you think it won’t happen again, if you want it to, I mean. But you’re amazing Therese. Someone’s gonna fall crazy in love with you, I have no doubt about it.” She put her hand on her friend’s shoulder for a moment. “And thank you. That’s really nice to hear.”

[saintlytherese-blog]

“I mean, it would be nice, but... there’s two people involved in a kiss and it just...it just is complicated.” Therese shrugged her shoulders and sighed softly. She didn’t let her slight lingering sadness show on her lips, or hover in her tones. Instead she turned a bright smile on, and gently leaned in to her friends touch. “So, what have you been up to? Plans for summer?”

[callmeluca-blog]

If Therese hadn’t been smiling, then Luca might have actually worried at the words she was saying. Although, admittedly, he wasn’t a great person, there were still some redeeming qualities if you managed to search far enough down. One being that he didn’t like or add to any gossip spreading about people. If Luca felt he had good enough reason then he might bad mouth someone to a trustworthy person, but gossip was something he detested. Being near the top tier of Westwood meant that there were constantly rumours flying around about him and even once he’d dropped it hadn’t changed. It was just another thing to get through.

Chuckling, he replied. “I don’t date, or do girlfriends. Tried it once and I’ve never regretted anything more,” and although it was a total lie, he seemed convincing enough. Luca knew that without her then he could’ve turned out much worse, but somehow losing her still felt like a stab straight to the heart. “Church, shit, yeah. You’ll see me there hopefully,” Luca replied, his tone as conflicted as his mind. Somehow still attending church felt wrong, but he needed the place. It was some sort of beacon of hope for him, not to mention it was good PR to make up for the incident.

Luca’s eyebrows furrowed, listening to her as she stumbled through some sort of explanation that she definitely didn’t owe him. His questioning had been more of a panic response rather than genuine curiosity. Although his insides were twisting and begging to hear the truth, even his foggy mind knew that this was wrong. It was time for the speech that felt over-rehearsed by now; something his lips had echoed time and time again. Luca was in fact rather glad that his high had worn off by the time Therese approached because there was no doubt in his mind that the wrong thing would’ve been done without a second thought.

“Therese,” he began. His voice was low and although the amber eyes swivelled to the jacket being offered back, Luca didn’t take it just yet. “The thing you have to understand about me, is that I’m poison. That’s not some sort of self-deprecation, it’s the truth and what’s sweet is that you can’t see that, but I can’t lie to you as much as you can’t lie to me. I’m a teen father who’s addicted to cocaine even though not only did it nearly kill me, but I was in rehab and yet here I am again. I know I fucked things up by kissing you but I told you I’m not good with emotions — not that that’s an excuse. Point is, you deserve better than someone like me. I can’t be reformed, I can’t change and I can’t be saved. You understand?”

[saintlytherese-blog]

Therese didn’t argue when he mentioned the mistake of dating. She didn’t know what she would argue, but she didn’t quite see how knowing there was someone always there, always loving you, keeping you company could be so bad. Her vision of things was highly romanticized, but it was all the girl really could go off of. She simply nodded her head, allowing him a buffer of silence to explain if he chose to.

It was the change in his voice that caught her attention first. Her eyes shifted from the ground where they had been looking back up to his amber pools. She didn’t know what she saw in them, she couldn’t decipher an emotion. To her they seemed void, and the words almost empty. “You’re not poison.” She could hear her voice shift just an octave higher as she tried to wrangle her emotions in. her heart broke for Luca. How could someone think themselves anything like poison? How could they compare themselves to a toxin when they had done nothing but bring joy to hers? Her grip on the jacket tightened and she shook her head. “No. I don’t understand.” She said, the words firm.

“I don’t understand how you think you don’t deserve happiness, or to be saved, or to be loved, or to reform. I don’t understand how you give up so easily and think that there isn’t hope for you. I don’t get it.” She said with a shake of her head, feeling a lump form in her throat. “I don’t understand how you don’t see that you being here brings joy to the lives of those that matter. Your daughter, mine, your parents, and other friends. I don’t see how you can cast a blind eyes to that and think you’re not worth it. Because to me, and to all those that really, really c are about you, you are. You’re worth every second.” She murmured, her grip on his jacket now tight. “I knew something felt off about you…. I didn’t want to think it was…drugs, but…it is and that’s okay because addiction is a sickness, it’s a vice, it’s the devil ad he keeps pulling you back into his grasp.” Therese reached out and put a hand on his arm, a firm hold. “But you can fight this, and you can win, and you deserve a life of happiness with your daughter, and with someone you find love with in the future. You deserve to be saved because your life is beautiful and your existence makes peoples happy. You are worth saving and I don’t care if you become angry with me after this, but I want you to know that you will be saved. And I will be there ever single step of the way. Even if you hate me, even if you despise me at the end of it. Because you are a treasure to me and you are a child of God and you are a father and a friend, and so much more. And you will see it, eventually. I can promise you that.”

[namijung-blog]

  “I don’t like it very much,” they explained, fingers digging out one of the rice balls wrapped in dried laver.  As someone who spent a lot of time doing their hair and makeup, water was their worst enemy.  A smile found its way to their lips, bringing up their own snack to take a bite, “I did.  They’re very simple, so don’t try to give me any credit.”

[saintlytherese-blog]

Nami was interesting to her. She knew her mother would question the lifestyle the young man had chosen, but like everyone else, they accepted the person for their being, their existence, their soul. Though, she didn't quite understand how easily it was for someone to look so gorgeous all the dang time. "I love rice, so I will give credit where credit is due. Mine is never perfect." Therese admitted, taking another bite. "This is so good, you can sit by me any time!"

[wildkatastrophe]

  Kennedy had been working on a new sketch in the library when the librarian announced she was going out and everyone needed to leave. So they gathered their things and went in search of a new spot, feeling a bit overdramatic like a nomad or something. In the end they chose the courtyard, annoyed by the lack of seats but about to plop down in the grass. When Therese moved, Ken was relieved and sat down next to her. “Thanks. I’m great, thanks. Really excited about the new sketch I’m working on.” They had an idea for some dope artwork they were going to put on the side of a building near their house. It was going to look fucking awesome once they figured out where to go with it.

[saintlytherese-blog]

Therese welcomed her colorful new company with a bright, curious smile. "Ohhh? Sketch?" She quickly shut her notebook and moved to the edge of the bench, hoping to catch a glance at something. "What of? May I see?"

[actuallyungraceful]

Grace shifted around and let out a little gasp when Therese told her that she’d received her first kiss. She knew all too well what that was like, the kiss was fresh in her mind. There was also the nagging thought that she was pretty sure she’d hijacked Hanna’s first kiss, something she felt supremely guilty about. “Well, you can’t just tell me that and not give me any details!” She perked up, eager to talk about something that involved Therese and not herself. “How did it feel? Where did it happen? Who with? Do you like him?” Grace knew she was pretty safe to assume it had happened with a guy. “Oh! Thank you, you like the red? Um, Noemi did it..she said it looks good but I wasn’t sure so I just took her word for it…”

[saintlytherese-blog]

Therese wanted to squeal but instead she hugged her journal to her chest, shrugging her shoulders. "It was nice, and fuzzy, and I don't know... it was different than what I had thought of. But it was nice." She released her journal from the embrace, looking down to the doodled on cover, "I can't tell you. it wouldn't be right of me....and plus, I don't want to put that person in some weird predicament." Therese said with a little sigh. "I don't think it will happen again, though." She admitted, her lips lifting in a smile, "Anyway, your hair. I love it. red was a good choice for you."

[dontcallmejosie-deactivated2015]

  Her blush made him grin. Therese was just so damn innocent and it was really nice to be around someone like that. “You’re welcome.” Josiah responded with a smile still present on his lips. He sat down next to her and put his arm on the top of the bench. “Do you want to be a writer?” He asked her curiously.

[saintlytherese-blog]

"For a living?" She looked over to him, shaking her head with a soft smile. "No, I wouldn't want to do it for a living." She replied, tapping her pencil along the cover of the journal. "I'd like to do mission work, I think. Doctors without borders sort of thing, you know?" A hand smoothed the cover of her journal, "And write about that, so that other people will want to do it too."

[nevwheeler-blog]

  “Um.. Yes.” She nodded. “You’re not in any of my clubs, are you?” She found it strange that someone might recognize her art, even though it was much more prominent and in the world than anything else about her personality.

[saintlytherese-blog]

 "Um, no....but I know people that are..." She said with a little shrug. "Do you plan on attending an art university?"

[ladyxjane-blog]

  Arabella had a good day, she found way to much stuff while she spent almost the whole morning and noon on the mall until she decided she may go back because she couldn’t carry that much. “No, don’t worry, it’s fine. My bags are just really heavy, guess I shopped to much stuff.“ She grinned and sat down, quite exhausted. “Yeah, it is.“

[saintlytherese-blog]

 It was curious to see the petite redhead overloaded with bags. She had found that shopping was a huge hobby here at Heffes, and some of the best shops could be found here. She had never quite treated herself to them, seeing as some of the clothes wasn't appropriate, but one day she would She promised herself that. "What all did you get? Seems like so much!"

[namijung-blog]

  Nami felt their lips curling into a smirk, amused by how optimistic the girl was.  They always thought optimistic people were the best kind to be around.  “I don’t really swim,” they admitted, reaching into their bag to pull out a plastic container.  Popping it open, they held it out as an offering, “Rice ball?”

[saintlytherese-blog]

 "You don't? Why?" Therese asked, cocking her head to the side with curious eyes. "Because you can't or because you don't like it?" Therese eyed the plastic container looking at the offering. "Ohhhh....really? Yes! Please!" she took one of them, biting into it cautiously, not sure what to expect, "Did you make these?"

[dontcallmejosie-deactivated2015]

  Josiah didn’t know her very well–only as a quiet but good vibes kind of girl that he’d seen around. He didn’t really know many Prayer Circle kids, but there was something about the way she was smiling that caught his attention. He stood there for a moment, watching her and wondering what she was thinking when she burst out speaking. “Oh, you don’t need to do that…I was just on my way, but I could talk for a minute if you want?” He put his backpack down and slid in beside of her. “I’m great, really enjoying this weather for sure. If I’m crossing the line here just tell me so, but what were you smiling about a second ago? You have a really pretty smile.”

[saintlytherese-blog]

 "Don't worry, it's just a scooch to the left, not a big deal!" She left the area next to her available just in case he actually wanted to take a seat. His next words made her blush, her head dipped instinctively, "I, uh... thanks." was all she could really offer him. "I just was writing, and writing makes me happy. That's all."