Crooked Smile

Tatum Kendrick; nineteen. social work major at the U of V. Kappa Kappa Gamma You'll find that life is still worthwhile If you just smile.

[tatum-kendrick]

Making Sure You're Not Dead || Tadrienne

[tatum-kendrick]

She stared at her for a long moment, trying to decide whether or not she wanted to be trapped. Outside sounded nice. Alcohol sounded like long-winded confessions in her near-future.

Looking around at the books, the empty food wrappers, and the dirty clothes all over the floor, she sighed, straightening her posture.

“One drink.” she insisted. “One. No talking about… this stupid argument. Okay?”

Eyes lighting up at the fact that Adrienne agreed to her haphazard suggested, Tates perked up and stood to dig through Adrianne's clothes to find something clean for the girl to wear.

"This is perfect!" She smiled, throwing jeans Adri's way eager to get her going before she changed her mind. "It's happy hour at Mason's and no one is gonna be there because everyone gonna be at Tom Reid's because the game is on and you know they give out free shots every time the team makes a goal." There was no missing why Tatum had made her way into kappa house in her excitement, but she settled, remembering there was still a bigger deal at hand. "Does a shot count as one drink because I don't think it does."

[tatum-kendrick]

Making Sure You're Not Dead || Tadrienne

[tatum-kendrick]

“I - Callie did?” she shook the thought out of her head, pausing her pacing to look at the other girl for a moment, her expression softening a little.

“Tatum, you don’t need to be worrying about me. I’m alright, I just - the timing is bad. I’m in the middle of a lot of stuff, it’s stressing me out. It’ll pass.” It always does. This was her MO - letting things fester until she either woke up in a better mood or let it burn at her for, well, ever, turning into twisting paranoia in the pit of her stomach until someone or something brought it to light again. It could either become worse, or better - it usually depended on the person.

Worse wasn’t usually the state Kota left her in. In fact, she couldn’t remember being this stung since the vicious arguments they used to have when they were in high school, ripping at each newfound insecurity as it popped up for one another. That had been the old her, willing to literally hit him hard enough to crack her hands in response to whatever mean thing he’d said that he’d end up apologizing for later on. Ever since then they’d been careful, knowing where the lines were and which ones couldn’t be crossed, but she couldn’t ignore this. She couldn’t ignore words like controlling and obsessed and the build-up of everything that had happened over the last year, the absolute roller-coaster, it was beginning to feel like it was about to veer off the rails.

Tatum truly wanted to be subdued by the words of her friend, to shut the conversation down and go back to treading lightly around the issue, but it was too easy and most importantly it didn't sit right with the brunette as she but the inside of her cheek. She was determined to resolve the issue, but the issue itself was like cracking a safe, she needed better tools--and more incentive than just a gluten free cake.

"But it's not passing, Adrienne." Tatum replied with a soft tone. "You've been in here for like three days. And yeah your books are spread out everywhere but gave you been able to focus on anything else to actually get anything done?" She could hear her tone rising and bit her lip to calm herself. "Look, I can't make you talk things out, but can't we get out of here, let's go get a drink in a really quiet bar, let's just get outta here?"

[tatum-kendrick]

Making Sure You're Not Dead || Tadrienne

[tatum-kendrick]

“Yeah, but this isn’t like-” Tatum stopped to completely chew the cupcake in her mouth. “– regular sad, this is, something really bad was said and I’m sad about it” sads. So what happened?” She let her hand rest on Adri’s thigh and patted it. “Just tell me. If It’s something bad, you know I won’t judge… I’ve probably done worse… I think.” Tatum was willing to say anything to get Adri to let her in, and was ready to follow up every statement she set in front of the brunette to make it happen. every fiber of her ready to add positivity to the situation with a moments notice.

[adriennerixen]

“Tatum, don’t.” she knocked the girl’s hand away and stood up abruptly, beginning to pace back and forth in front of the bed. She didn’t know why she was feeling so jumpy, and on-edge, the tired sluggishness suddenly replaced with high-alert skittishness. “I - we just haven’t had a fight since we started… dating.” 

As if that was all that had changed - their title in relation to one another. She didn’t want to repeat what he’d said to her, she’d been trying not to think about it from the moment he’d said it. At the time, she’d forced it to roll off of her back quickly enough for her to keep up with him, for her to try to get her point across without being hurt by what he was throwing back at her, but now that she was alone again, the anger replaced with the slow sinking feeling of helplessness, it was impossible to ignore.

“Weren’t you tracking my every move, anyway?”

“What, so now I’m controlling?”

“Hey, your words, not mine.”

“Tatum, did Kota send you over here?” She just wanted to get to the bottom of this, say something quick to get the other girl either a) out of her hair or b) onto a completely different topic as fast as possible.

[tatum-kendrick]

There was no mistaking the look of hurt in Tatum’s face as Adrienne pushed away her hand and shot out of the bed, facing rejection from love ones for so many years made it hard for her to swallow, but swallow it she did. Clearing her throat and straightening her face, she focused back on her friend, Adri’s pacing and accusations forced her to remember her hurt feelings weren’t what was important in this instance, helping her friend was. there was a silent moment of forgiveness before Tate answered.

“Callie did, because she’s worked up about you.” Tatum made her vocals as soothing as she could make them. “Just like Kota’s worried, like I’m worried too...”

[tatum-kendrick]

Making Sure You're Not Dead || Tadrienne

[tatum-kendrick]

Tatum did the same with her own cupcake to fill the awkward silence as Adri slowly came around, there was frosting on her upper lip, but she ignored it to make room for the dark haired girl to sit on the bed. Tatum finally made eye contact while licking her lips again. “So are you gonna tell me what happened?” She asked. “Cause I’m guessin’ you and Kota got into it. I promise to be a unbiased party.”

[adriennerixen]

She shrugged, slowly moving forward to perch delicately on the edge of the bed. She didn’t know how much Tatum knew - and she didn’t ever really keep anything from the other girl but if Kota hadn’t already told her his plan, she didn’t want to accidentally spill it on his behalf.

“We argue all the time, it’s not that big of a deal. I told you, I’ve been studying. And procrastinating studying with Netflix.” she rubbed at her eye tiredly, sighing quietly as she turned to look at the other girl with an exhausted sort of sadness. 

[tatum-kendrick]

“Yeah, but this isn’t like-” Tatum stopped to completely chew the cupcake in her mouth. “-- regular sad, this is, something really bad was said and I’m sad about it” sads. So what happened?” She let her hand rest on Adri’s thigh and patted it. “Just tell me. If It’s something bad, you know I won’t judge... I’ve probably done worse... I think.” Tatum was willing to say anything to get Adri to let her in, and was ready to follow up every statement she set in front of the brunette to make it happen. every fiber of her ready to add positivity to the situation with a moments notice.

[tatum-kendrick]

Making Sure You're Not Dead || Tadrienne

[tatum-kendrick]

Sighing, Tatum set the cupcakes aside and bit her bottom lip. She was so bad at prying, always wanting to retreat at the first sign of discomfort, but this time it was harder to back off. Something wouldn’t let her.

“I know you’re not busy, eating pizza and watching horror movies is avoiding, not busy.” She fiddled with her fingers before looking back up at her friend. “I just want to help… Please talk to me.”

[adriennerixen]

“I only ate one pizza.” she grumbled, crossing her arms defensively and looking up at the other girl again. When did this pattern of people not just letting her have her way and be alone and miserable start? She tore the cupcake in half, separating the bottom from the top, and flipped the top, making herself an icing-sandwich. 

“I’m fine. I needed a break from studying.” she took a little bite out of the cupcake and sighed a little. Delicious, as always, she just felt like she couldn’t properly appreciate it. 

[tatum-kendrick]

Tatum did the same with her own cupcake to fill the awkward silence as Adri slowly came around, there was frosting on her upper lip, but she ignored it to make room for the dark haired girl to sit on the bed. Tatum finally made eye contact while licking her lips again. “So are you gonna tell me what happened?” She asked. “Cause I’m guessin’ you and Kota got into it. I promise to be a unbiased party.”

[tatum-kendrick]

Making Sure You're Not Dead || Tadrienne

[tatum-kendrick]

“What’re you doing here, Tatum?” she asked, instead, standing where she was. She did, however, take the cupcake, beginning to peel back the wrapper and tossing it onto the floor near the trash can.

“Not that I don’t like seeing you, I’m just - I’m kind of busy.”

Sighing, Tatum set the cupcakes aside and bit her bottom lip. She was so bad at prying, always wanting to retreat at the first sign of discomfort, but this time it was harder to back off. Something wouldn't let her.

"I know you're not busy, eating pizza and watching horror movies is avoiding, not busy." She fiddled with her fingers before looking back up at her friend. "I just want to help... Please talk to me."

[tatum-kendrick]

Making Sure You're Not Dead || Tadrienne

[tatum-kendrick]

She licked her lips for a moment, tempted.

“’Skinda a mess right now.” she warned. One (chipped) manicured hand came up to wipe at her face before dropping limply at her side again before she pulled the door the rest of the way open and stepped aside.

The room itself was dim, the only source of light being the lamp that was clamped to her desk, currently pointed at the bed where a mess of books was strewn about, open, in a semi-circle in front of the dented nest of pillows at the headboard. The floor was a mess of dirty clothes, her ex-roommates empty bed being currently used to house the three empty bins she usually used to sort laundry. A few candy-bar wrappers sat crumpled on the desk, the empty pizza box Callie had mentioned sticking out of her small trash can on an angle.

"Holy shit." As the door open the words had come out fast, Tatum regretted them the second they'd left her mouth. Still she was in shock, she thought when it came to Mitch's room she had seen the worst their truly was, but this made even her boisterous boyfriend look like he was organized.

"I mean-- oh jeez..." She moved to sit on the bed, opening up the cupcakes and holding on out to Adri. "I'd ask you if you wanted to talk about it, but judging from the state of your room, not talking about it isn't an option." There was an ever optimistic look on Tatum's face, patting the space next to her for Adri to join her so they could talk.

[tatum-kendrick]

Text ✉️ Kotabear🐻

Kota: i'm fine

Kota: just worry about her

Tatum: I don't wanna pry, but I don't want you to be freaked either

Tatum: texts hugs now and waffles tomorrow?

[tatum-kendrick]

Making Sure You're Not Dead || Tadrienne

[tatum-kendrick]

The clicking from the keyboard stopped almost immediately.

There was a long silence, where she decided whether or not to get up, followed by the shuffling sound of slippers on the faux-hardwood flooring. The door squeaked open, just enough for the brunette to poke her face out and eye the smaller girl. She eyed her for a long moment before croaking,

“Are those cupcakes?”

Tatum her nothing for almost a moment too long before Adrienne responded by opening the door a crack. She could tell by the dried and sullen eye locked on her face that her friend wasn't any where near having the best day. Taking her small victory, she presented the confections to her, hoping she would give in.

"Mhmm, gluten free." Tatum nodded with a sympathetic look then held them back. "Can't have'em if you don't let me in."

[tatum-kendrick]

Text ✉️ Kotabear🐻

Kota: we had our first like Big actual fight

Kota: she's probably... really upset that's why

Kota: fuck when you see her tell her i'm sorry okay?

Tatum: oh... Oh no.

Tatum: I'm gonna try to make it better, I swear.

Tatum: I will okay? Hey.., are you doing okay too? You can tell me.

[tatum-kendrick]

Making Sure You're Not Dead || Tadrienne

Tupperware dish with a half a dozen gluten free cupcakes in hand, Tatum made her way into Theta house with caution in her step. She honestly didn't know what she was getting into this situation, Callie's Netflix diagnosis still lingering in her head as she moved up the stairs and too the hallway. Still she moved to Adri's door with determination set in her eyes as the junior rapped her small fist on the girl's door. "Adri... I know you're in there... I can hear your laptop."

[tatum-kendrick]

Text ✉️ Kotabear🐻

Kota: uh

Kota: what's going on?

Kota: and why didn't callie text me... ok

Tatum: um I wish I knew???

Tatum: and she said she wasn't allowed to.

Tatum: I'm going to theta right now

[tatum-kendrick]

Text ✉️ Kotabear🐻

Kota: she's not here

Kota: she isn't answering her phone?

Tatum: really?

Tatum: No and um.... Callie texted me.

[tatum-kendrick]

Text ✉️ Kotabear🐻

Tatum: hey hey

Tatum: is Adri with you? I need her opinion on something and I can't get a hold of her

[tatum-kendrick]

SMS: Adri's Girlfriend

Tatum:.... Got it.

Tatum: Well I mean I can text Kota. That's easy, they're probably in the other room right now. I'm in Sigma right now.

Callie: that wasn't english

Tatum: yes it was.

[tatum-kendrick]

SMS: Adri's Girlfriend

Callie: only because mom's on a hell's kitchen bender and she leaves it on in the kitchen and the living room at the same time which is taking up two of the three screens so whenever godfrey's home i have no choice

Callie: ANYWAY

Callie: also i don't know if she's seen kota or if she's still studying or what but she won't answer my texts and i'm not allowed to text him so

Tatum:.... Got it.

Tatum: Well I mean I can text Kota. That's easy, they're probably in the other room right now. I'm in Sigma right now.

[tatum-kendrick]

SMS: Adri's Girlfriend

Callie: adri went through an entire season of laguna beach, and seven horror movies in the last couple of days.

Callie: like, she's probably not actually watching it but she hasn't left her room so i ordered her a pizza and the transaction went through on my card

Callie: could you maybe go poke her with a stick or turn her over in case she's in front of a window and gets a weird tanline or something

Tatum: are you looking through your sisters Netflix account???

Tatum: YIKES I better go check on her, I'll bake her something first, it might help the process.