do it for the thrill of it all

this conversation was quickly becoming much heavier than micah had anticipated – “well, we do everything together,” he laughed, looking for an excuse to not seem so pathetic. “i want to…i don’t know, have fun? join a frat?”

“you do have a frat guy vibe.” cara conceded. “but i’m not sure that’s a compliment. frat parties are lit, though. i’m not the sorority type of girl, but my mom was a delta gamma, so sometimes i wish i was. just another thing aly can do to wow my dad that i’ll never be able to top.” she shrugged, partly because she wanted to seem nonchalant, partly because she was resigned. “i wanna go to a place where i can feel relief, you know? like breathe in and feel like i found my next adventure. i don’t wanna be bored.”

willspencer

Ian was almost going to jump to defending himself from the ‘accusation’, but the idea of not being the only one didn’t make it seem too bad. Plus he got a sweet new lead on where to go next, so all-in-all, he could accept the subtle step closer to the nerd-side. “Nice, thanks.” The paintings everywhere intrigued him; maybe they weren’t all the best level of expertise he’d ever seen, but considering art was meant to be subjective, it was equally possible that this had been what she had been going for in the first place. Cool. “Practice makes perfect, right?” he mused, leaning against the door frame, “If you keep your ‘art-ho-ing’ up for more than a week and become famous one day, can I be one of your models? I wanna be the new Mona Lisa, but like, Mona Ian——we’ll have to come up with a better name, though.”

Rolling her eyes at his apparent relief, Cara got up to wash the paint from her hands — and the rest of her body, for that matter. There was something bittersweet about his choice of words. She was never one to practice and, consequently, none of her one hundred hobbies were ever perfect. No. They bored her far too soon, bringing her back to square one week after week. “You want to be my muse? You know you can’t hunt pokemons while posing, right?” She smiled. “You see, I have commitment issues, so I can’t promise a second week, but if by chance it sticks, you have a deal. Mona Ian sounds terrible, but unique. Could be your drag queen name.”

#( chat: i. )#( ian. )

“no,” micah answered honestly. it was true - micah had no idea what he wanted to do. well, technically, he wanted to travel the world and pick up women and get high on top of mountains, but that wasn’t a major at any accredited four year university. matt, on the other hand, had a clear path in mind for himself, which was now obligated to be forgotten. “harper wants me to go to an ivy league.”

“oh” cara replied, amusement dripping from her smile and her raised eyebrows as she remembered their previous conversation. “harper wants you to go to an ivy league, of course.” she shrugged. “i don’t give a fuck about what harper wants, though. i asked you what you want.” she undestood it was a terribly difficult question, but knew that micah needed that answer.

“so, i started applying for colleges today. and by started, i mean i logged on to my laptop and googled ‘how to apply for college’. turns out, shit’s a lengthy process. the amount of time the application takes is honestly a deal breaker for the school.”

There. The college talk. It was a topic of extreme discomfort for Cara, because — well, she had absolutely no idea what the fuck she was going to do with her life. Luckily, she still had time to figure it out. The same couldn’t be said for Micah. “Do you even know what you wanna do? Where you wanna go? I don’t know, it seems like such a fucking huge commitment...you’re signing up to spend four or five years of your life in the same place doing the same thing.”

willspencer

The art studio and its surroundings were uncharted territory for Ian. He’d gotten word that there was an Electabuzz around there somewhere, and although he wasn’t obsessed with tracking down the rarer Pokemon (or so he liked to tell himself—and others), he didn’t see the issue in changing up his normal jogging route so that he could stop by and see if it was still there. Unfortunately his journey had ended in disappointment, but before he had a chance to fully give in and leave he found himself stumbling into what seemed like a technicolored war zone. “Hey, I didn’t say a word,” Ian’s hands lifted defensively as he heard her, his eyes glancing around the room, “Did you do all of these?”

“You’re playing pokemon.” Cara stated, amusement in her eyes. “Don’t worry about your rep, you’re the third guy this morning. The other two looked like jocks too, so you’re cool.” She shrugged, purple paint on her hair and everything. She knew cool, alright? “If you want a suggestion, you should try the patio.” Surely there were more than a few paintings done, pushed aside near the farthest wall to dry, but she didn’t pay attention to the number until he mentioned it. “I — yes. Well, I’ve had time.” She was in one of those days when her own company was perfect company but, for some reason, she wasn’t quite as annoyed at him as everyone else. Probably the pokemon. Yes, definitely the pokemon.

#( chat: i. )#( ian. )

brooklynpierce-blog1

Brooklyn was torn. On one hand, he really, really wanted to see that gory zombie movie playing at the drive-in, but on the other, he knew that Aly’s sudden and mysterious illness was a test of sorts. Perhaps not by her intention, but he knew he needed to pass, for himself, for the future, for the baby. Because, surely, that’s what the whole blagh was about. He gnawed on the inside of his cheek for a moment, trying to avoid Cara’s glare, but inevitably, his eyes locked with hers and he couldn’t pretend he didn’t see her mouthed words. “Please don’t hate me,” he mouthed back, although he knew she wasn’t so easily appeased.

“Are you sure you can’t come, boo? It wouldn’t be the same without you, please pleaase.” But forcing Aly to go when she was sick was worse than abandoning her, even Brooklyn knew that. The idea struck suddenly. “Well, you shouldn’t be all alone at home while you’re sick. We’ll just skip the drive-in and watch a movie at home with you! Right, Cara? …T-Trista could even come if she wants to.” He looked over at Cara, silently and desperately pleading.

alyssaangelic-blog

“Baby, I really don’t want an audience for this,” Alyssa said, but she placed a tender hand on his arm, her palm hot from the burning back of the phone still clutched tight to her chest. Brooklyn, adorable, beautiful, thoughtful-in-his-own-way Brooklyn, was not going to leave her. It was sweet. She made her heart swell up, repeating how sweet how sweet how sweet until it touched her lips, expressed in the form of a tiny, artfully weary smile. This was what she wanted. This was proof of loyalty.

More than that, it was a kind of … vindication. She did not need to wonder. There was no need for doubt. It had only been cast because–

Her mind stumbled, too slow to reframe the truth. Alyssa swallowed and picked up the loose ends of the lie, ready to tie off. “And I really don’t want Trista to get sick,” Alyssa added, this time looking to Cara, for Cara’s benefit. There was really no way for Trista to catch what she supposedly had, barring some super unlikely turns of events, but Cara had no way of knowing that. She fixed herself back on Brook. (When had he offered Cara the ride? At the party, probably, but Cara had seemed so mad about being ‘shadowed’ that she couldn’t quite fix the scenario in her head where they’d hash details. Afterward? She’d have to do a little light investigation on facebook, maybe.) “I’d hate to be trouble, like … I know you wanted to go see, um, what’s it called?”

#( para: a. )#( para: b. )#( p: almost double date. )#( alyssa. )#( brooklyn. )

There was definitely something out of the ordinary going on and Cara just couldn’t pinpoint what. It felt weird, not being the center of whatever it was that was out of plce, but she was certain something was going on with Aly, something that maybe even Brook didn’t know about. “It’s just one of the best horror movies in history. Very lovecraftian, which I love, but still a little gory, which Brook and everyone else love, so it’s a win-win kind of movie.” Cara sighed. “But we can all watch it some other time. I mean, I know it’s not really your vibe, but maybe once you’re feeling better?”

“I’ll text Trista to let her know what happened, I guess.” Cara told them while she closed the door. “Do you think you need to go to a hospital, A?” She asked, because as suspiscious as she was, that was her sister, so concern was obviously more important. “I mean, it’s not normal. It’s summer.” Then, she leaned slightly closer to Aly, trying to prevent Brooklyn from hearing. “Do you need to take your shot or something?”

k-kieran-blog

He rolled his eyes but he couldn’t deny the grin that broke out across his face. “Such a little shit,” Kieran muttered, shaking his head. He definitely wasn’t used to being wrong, especially at fuckin’ Sparks High School. It was a pretty strange feeling, and Kieran was absolutely sure he didn’t like it. His eyebrow quirked and with it, the corner of his mouth, which was dangerously close to revealing his seemingly ever-present smirk. “Yeah? Not exactly surprising. You’re an absolute mess, mate.” He didn’t even blink as he slid the money into his front pocket, hands already digging into his black rucksack for the totally inconspicuous neon orange pill bottles. “You should go for her first. Kill or be killed, y’know?” Kieran hesitated. “But film it, yeah? Love a good bitch fight.”

#( chat: k. )#( kieran. )

She just bit her lower lip. “This is what you live for.” Cara watched his expression attentively — neither of them liked to be outsmarted. For some reason, she felt like he liked that she watched him. Maybe he liked being watched. There was a quiet arrogance about him that she thought most enchanting, perhaps because she saw a lot of it in herself. “Oh, I’m a mess? You’re a drug dealer.” Cara scoffed, but couldn’t keep herself from smiling at his idea. “It’s my sister you’re talking about” but with a resignated sigh she continued “plus I don’t really have a reason to attack her.” She concluded, elbowing his ribs slightly at his last comment.

“yeah, you’re definitely not from the south. or anywhere relatively close,” he laughed, mostly at her accent, but a little at the ‘all american’ bit. “no. i feel like i have a super cool tattoo that no one else in the whole world has. and if they do have it - then, damn. they have nice taste.” he rolled his eyes at her sudden need to feel embarrassed, of all things. “what, a tramp stamp? or are we talking like…pornstar level ink?” micah laughed again, imagining how she’d come about getting a tattoo in an ‘unmentionable place’. “oh, i’m coming. especially because i have to give you shit for driving a red mustang. how predictable of you,” he teased. “hey. i am an adult. i have no curfew. but harper gets upset if i don’t show up on time.”

“Nah, I’m from the local hell hole. Two blocks from god-knows-why.” She answered, eyes rolling like it was most obvious. Cara felt tempted to ask Micah if his brother too had ‘Matthew’ somewhere, but she felt like it was still too soon to talk about him. She shook her head, resigned. “Not a tramp stamp. Not pornstar either.” Cara protested, slapping his arm playfully. So, my dad didn’t want me to get a tattoo before I turned 18 and ‘was my own problem’, so I had to get somewhere he would never see.” She explained. “I like cars. Dad would’ve bought me a mainstream one but this baby was beautiful, vintage and way cheaper. I saved the change for weed and art supplies. You drive either a jeep, a Porsche or a Range Rover, right?” The question was pure irony, like she expected him to prove her point for her without having to throw in much effort. “Oh, so you’re not a baby, but you’re Harper’s bitch. Well, no wonder your girlfriend is jealous.”

brooklynpierce-blog1

Brooklyn smiled innocently, hoping to alleviate the surprised tension in the foyer, but it was not reciprocated. Alyssa and Cara looked less than pleased. He gulped, regretting showing up already. He didn’t know what he’d been expecting exactly, but it wasn’t this: Aly in her pajamas—and not the tiny lacy ones he usually saw her in—and Cara ready to invite Trista (who he hadn’t spoken to since the whole party fiasco) to their little outing. Well, first things first.

Pulling Aly aside, Brooklyn spoke in a hushed tone, “She mentioned wanting to see the movie, and I thought it would be nice if we took her, kind of like an apology for the whole babying her thing at the party, ya know? C’mon baby, you have to come.” He nodded in agreement with Cara’s story, although the prospect of seeing Trista again wasn’t the most appealing. “Exactly! It could be like a… a double date, kinda!”

alyssaangelic-blog

“Oh,” she said, one word. So … did that mean Cara would get out of Brooklyn’s car and into Trista’s in this scenario? Why, if Trista was supposed to have a car at a drive-in, would Cara need a ride? Better question, could Trista even drive? She was younger than just about everyone. Whatever. Alyssa would figure this out later. When Brooklyn pulled her aside, she wilted, shaking her head like she was so, so sad. “Baby,” she whispered in his ear, with special emphasis on the word. “I really, really can’t. I’m sick. Like … blagh. Like every few minutes, blagh.”

Alyssa touched her throat to illustrate, in the vaguest terms, the problem. She glanced back at Cara, just for a moment. Her other hand clutched her phone so hard it should have cracked. “Just … go without me, okay? If you promised Cara the ride, then it’s not fair to her and Trista not to. You can … uh, you can text me what happens in the movie. Okay?”

She raised her voice so Cara could here. “It’s okay, Brook can still drive you, C.”

#( para: a. )#( para: b. )#( ft a and b. )#( p: almost double date. )

She hadn’t noticed Aly was that sick, but surely she was. Her sister would never miss a date with her perfect, oh-so-amazing boyfriend. And after all the world war level negotiation work she had done with Trista to go along ith the plan. Cara couldn’t protest the ride because she didn’t know what the actual fuck was going on in Brooklyn’s head. She tried to eye him over her Alyssa’s shoulder, quickly whispering “Did you plan this?” Because if he did, he was screwed. And yet she couldn’t deny the adrenaline she felt under all the tension, the overwhelmingly possiblity of getting caught always gave her butterflies.

Cara really didn’t know what to do. She felt bad for leaving her sister behind, but it wasn’t like she could just say she wouldn’t meet Trista anymore because they’d already offered her a ride. “You sure?” She left the question open in the air, so whoever felt like answering her was welcome to. “I’m sure Brook will miss you.” She forced a smile on, one foot already out the door.

texts | cara + trista

trista: again

trista: what do you want ??

cara: hang on

cara: i think we cool

cara: but wait til i know for sure aly's not coming

#( text: t. )#( trista. )

#( ooc. )

k-kieran-blog

Shooting her a mockingly judgement look, Kieran shook his head. “Animals? Jesus what is this, the sixties?” He tensed slightly as she she claimed the other ear-bud, the situation slightly more intimate than he was usually comfortable with. Surprisingly, Kieran didn’t pull away, instead hesitating to consider her requests. “I’m mostly holdin’ amphetamines right now. Little more…potent than you’re used to. Similar effect,” he bluffed, remembering the weakly cut pharmaceuticals he’d recently received. “Y’know I’m always good for MD though,” he nodded, skipping to the next song on the shared iPhone between them. “And babysit you all night in some meth den? Fuck off,” Kieran huffed, a small smile threatening to break through. “I’ll think about it.”

External image

#( chat: k. )#( kieran. )

When she smiled back at him, if was that evil little grin of hers. The one that matched the raised eyebrown in that look that said I know something that you don’t. “Animals the album. Pink Floyd’s.” She shrugged again. Complacency was easy during ther conversations. “I dig The Animals too, so either way fuck it.” Cara thought about it for a while. In a few moments of clarity she wondered if maybe she was in too deep. “It’s actually a cool place. And when did you ever have to babysit me? Did I tell you Alyssa told her boyfriend to be my bodyguard at Micah’s party?” The last thing she needed was another a d d i c t i o n, but she searched her bag for dollar bills and handed them to him anyway. “Trust me, right now I need them. I haven’t talked to Aly in days. She’s gonna kill me sooner or later.” She licked her lips. “I might as well be baked for it.”

“your sudden patriotism just surprised me, that’s all. don’t worry, i didn’t call you trump or anything.” her giggles were contagious, affecting micah until he was laughing too. “it’s pretty cool. i mean, no one expects it – it’s unique.” he lost it as tears rolled down her cheeks - micah knew he was funny, but damn? either she was in love with him or he was a comedian in the making. his ego liked either option. “oh, c’mon. you have to tell me, that’s only fair.” as she jumped in her car, micah sighed; he hadn’t planned on some sort of adventure. “it’s not cheating if she’s okay with it,” he mumbled, sliding inside the car, too. “i have to be home at ten. i’m sleeping over at harper’s.”